Review and Giveaway - Wait Until Twilight by Sang Pak

Wait Until Twilight by Sang Pak





rating: 4.0/5.0










From Goodreads.com:

A debut coming-of-age novel about a motherless teenage boy who discovers a terrifying secret in his small Georgia town, and finds that sometimes the most gruesome monsters are those inside ourselves.

What I need to do, needs to be done before it gets too dark . . .

Sixteen-year-old Samuel confronts his own inner monster when he discovers a set of deformed triplets whose mother believes they were immaculately conceived. Soon, the babies have taken hold of his waking and sleeping thoughts, and, unable to escape them, he decides to save them, but their shutin mother and violent older brother want nothing to do with him.
Samuel must fight the trouble within him and the trouble he sees around him to determine who he will become in a year that forces him to grow from motherless boy to self-defined man. Set in a small Georgia town, this psychologically complex story of survival and self determination explores the dark, often contradictory worlds of young contemporary life, laying bare the ugly truths and secrets that haunt all of us.

This is a very interesting book - it starts out like a horror book, but really it is a coming of age tale, with some serious suspense and horror to go along with it. This is my first coming-of-age story of a boy that I have read and I really enjoyed it. Boys and girls are very different and this really gave me some insight for the future with my boys.

A very enjoyable novel - it feels real from the perspective of Samuel who is dealing with the loss of his mother while finishing up high school and just trying to be as normal as possible. His friends are introduced throughout and all of them seem like pretty normal teenagers too. The characterization in this novel is wonderful - I really felt like I got to know Samuel. And the plot is amazing - paced just right to hold my attention throughout and make it hard to put down.

I highly recommend this book to everyone - I think it has something for every reader, not just young adults to take away from it and it's a good story too.

Thank you to the author and his publicist for sending me this wonderful book!

Binding: Paperback
On-sale Date: August 1, 2009
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 240

Also I would like to give away my copy which is an arc. I will open the contest today through August 29th. US and Canada residents only please. Please enter by:

1. Commenting on my blog, make sure I have a way to contact you. (+1)
   
2. Become a blog follower or let me know if you are already a follower (+1)
3. Tell me any other young adult books with male main characters you have read and enjoyed (+1)
4. Tweet about this review and giveaway, use @cfulcher in the tweet so I can find it (+1)
5. Follow me on Twitter (or let me know if you are a current follower) (+1)
6. Blog about this contest and let me know the link (sidebar or post is fine) (+1)

So there you go - 6 ways to get an entry into this contest. You can leave them in separate posts or one post, it doesn't matter, I will make sure you get your entries, just make sure to let me know what you do.

Review: Seven Up by Janet Evanovich

Seven Up by Janet Evanovich





rating: 4.0/5.0






From Amazon.com:

BLOWN UP
All New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has to do is bring in semi-retired bail jumper Eddie DeChooch. For an old man he's still got a knack for slipping out of sight--and raising hell. How else can Stephanie explain the bullet-riddled corpse in Eddie's garden? Who else would have a clue as to why two of Stephanie's friends suddenly vanished? For answers Stephanie has the devil to pay: her mentor, Ranger. The deal? He'll give Stephanie all the help she needs--if she gives him everything he wants . . .

MESSED UP
As if things weren't complicated enough, Stephanie's just discovered her Grandma Mazur's own unmentionable alliance with Eddie. Add a series of unnerving break-ins, not to mention the bombshell revelation leveled by Stephanie's estranged sister, and Stephanie's ready for some good news. Unfortunately, a marriage proposal from Joe Morelli, the love of her life, isn't quite cutting it. And now--murder, a randy paramour, a wily mobster, death threats, extortion, and a triple kidnapping aside--Stephanie's really got the urge to run for her life . . .

Another fun romp with our favorite Jersey girl, her family and the men in her life. I was reading this one on the treadmill at the gym and I know people around me were wondering why I was laughing the whole time. You know the kind of laughing that you do when you are somewhere you aren't supposed to be laughing. That was me - tears streaming down my cheeks laughing on the treadmill. Oh well - it's another good Stephanie Plum book.

The fun thing is I usually listen to these on audio and this time I was reading one, and now the voices from the audio come through when I'm reading - so that makes it even more interesting.

So if you haven't read it, catch up with the series and check it out. If you have - then you know it's a fun book. Now I just need my library to reopen so I can get Hard Eight, because this one ends very interesting and I'm dying to know what happens next . . .

Binding: Paperback
On-sale Date: June 4, 2002
Publisher: St. Martin's
Pages: 352

From: My local library

Review and Giveaway: I Can See You by Karen Rose

I Can See You by Karen Rose





rating: 4.5/5.0










From Amazon.com:

New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose delivers her latest pulse-pounding suspense novel, where the line between the virtual world and everyday reality blurs when it comes to murder.

Eve Wilson's face was once scarred by a vicious assault. Terrified and ashamed, she escaped to the online realm, where she could choose the face she allowed people to see. Years later, her outer scars faded and inner scars buried, Eve has fought her way back to the real world and is determined to help others do the same. Now a graduate student moonlighting as a bartender, Eve researches the addictive powers of online communities. When her test subjects begin turning up dead as a result of apparent suicides, she doesn't know where to turn.

Homicide detective Noah Webster is one of the few people who believe the victims are connected murders. Eve becomes Noah's online guide and realizes that the handsome detective may have secret scars as painful as her own. As Eve and Noah chase a killer who is always one step ahead of them, together they try to overcome the tragedies of their pasts and learn to trust again, but they soon discover that danger is much closer than they think.

Wow what a wonderful thrill ride. It doesn't start slow at all and the speed to picks up along the way just about leaves you breathless. The suspense is great, the killer evil, the heroine tough yet in need of saving and the hero, very hot, capable and has a few demons of his own. All of this adds up to another great romantic suspense by Karen Rose.

I loved the characterization, the use of the online world the suspense and of course the cops of the Hat Squad - I can't wait to read more about them. Eve's character debuts in Don't Tell which I have not read, but I don't feel that I missed anything. I will make a point to go back and read that now, but I don't think you have to to read this first installment in Karen Rose's Hat Squad series.

Binding: Hardcover
On-sale Date: August 5, 2009
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 496

Thanks to Miriam Parker at Hachette books I have one copy of this wonderful romantic suspense to give away. Contest will be open through August 29th. US and Canada residents only please, no P.O. boxes. Please enter by:

1. Commenting on my blog, make sure I have a way to contact you. (+1)
   
2. Become a blog follower or let me know if you are already a follower (+1)
3. Tell me any other Karen Rose books you have read and enjoyed (+1)
4. Tweet about this review and giveaway, use @cfulcher in the tweet so I can find it (+1)
5. Follow me on Twitter (or let me know if you are a current follower) (+1)
6. Blog about this contest and let me know the link (sidebar or post is fine) (+1)

So there you go - 6 ways to get an entry into this contest. You can leave them in separate posts or one post, it doesn't matter, I will make sure you get your entries, just make sure to let me know what you do.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week

From the Book Blogger Appreciation Week Website:

Announcing the Second Annual Book Blogger Appreciation Week September 14-18, 2009

Last year over 400 blogs came together to celebrate the art of book blogging during the first ever Book Blogger Appreciation Week! I am so pleased to announce that the second annual Book Blogger Appreciation Week will be taking place September 14-18.

WHO Anyone who blogs about books is invited to participate. In fact, we want everyone who blogs about books and reading to be a part of this week!
WHAT A week where we come together, celebrate the contribution and hard work of book bloggers in promoting a culture of literacy, connecting readers to books and authors, and recogonizing the best among us with the Second Annual BBAW Awards. There will be special guest posts, daily blogging themes, and giveaways.
WHEN September 14-18, 2009
WHERE Here at the new Book Blogger Appreciation Week Blog! (Please note that this year there are three separate blogs and feeds—one for the main event, one for giveaways, and one for awards.)
WHY Because books matter. In a world full of options, the people talking about books pour hard work, time, energy, and money into creating a community around the written word. I, Amy, the founder of Book Blogger Appreciation Week love this community of bloggers and want to shower my appreciation on you!

WANT TO PARTICIPATE?
Please help us spread the word about Book Blogger Appreciation Week by posting about it on your blog, stumbling this post, twittering about it, and telling everyone you know that it’s time to have a party and celebrate book bloggers!

I'm joining in this year and you should join in too!

But wait!! We don’t want those of you who didn’t participate to feel left out, so if you didn’t participate last year, how about these questions?

They asked some questions on the website and here are my answers - I'm a newbie to the week:

1) What has been one of the highlights of blogging for you?
Contact with wonderful authors and publicists, comments from readers, knowing there are so many others out there that have a passion for reading makes me feel great!

2) What blogger has helped you out with your blog by answering questions, linking to you, or inspiring you?
J Kaye's Book Blog is one of the ones who has inspired me. Also Books and Needlepoint and all my regular commenters.

3) What one question do you have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer?
What can I do as a new blogger to help make the week successful?

Friday Finds (Aug. 21)

Friday Finds is hosted over on Should Be Reading. It's all about what great books you have heard about/discovered in the past week. Here is my entry, and head over to the Should Be Reading Blog to read others and find books to add to your TBR pile!

So here are a few of my finds:

1. The Ghostwriter by John Harwood - seen at Melody's Reading Corner for her best recent read answer for Booking Through Thursday. I immediately put this on reserve at the library.

2. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks - seen at Everything Distills Into Reading as the Booking Through Thursday best recent read post. Another one I have reserved at the library.

3. Nothing But Ghosts by Beth Kephart - seen at Word Lily - another Booking Through Thursday post.

So check out these books and these bloggers. What did you find this week?

Book Arrival: Two Shall Become One by Sharon Lathan

Two Shall Become One by Sharon Lathan

I received this from Paperbackswap.com.

Through the honeymoon and then the challenges of Elizabeth assuming the role of Mistress of Pemberley, the Fitzwilliams' passion and love for each other grows. To Lizzy's delight, Darcy's sister, Georgiana, returns home just as Christmas preparations are underway, but all is not calm -- the marquis of Orman, whom Elizabeth first encounters at the Twelfth Night Ball, has sinister intentions.

I have a current addiction to all things Austen (as you can see as this is the second P&P type book I've gotten this week). I will be posting soon about joining the Everything Austen challenge.

I wanted this one because I heard good things about the second one in the series, but me being the type of person that I am, can't skip straight to the second one so I went to PBS and requested this and got it quickly. Can't wait to start reading it.

Book Arrival: Darcy's Story by Janet Aylmer

Darcy's Story (Pride and Prejudice told from a whole new perspective) by Janet Aylmer

I received this from Paperbackswap.

Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice has long stood among the most beloved novels of all time. The story of Elizabeth Bennet's blossoming romance with "haughty, reserved, and fastidious" Fitzwilliam Darcy has enchanted readers for nearly two centuries. Yet, Mr Darcy has always remained an intriguing enigma--his thoughts, feelings, and notivations hidden behind a cold, impenetrable exterior...until now.

With the utmost respect for Austen's original masterwork, author Janet Aylmer lovingly retells Pride and Prejudice from a bold new perspective: seeing events as they transpire through the eyes of Darcy himself. One of the world's great love stories takes on breathtaking new life, and one of fiction's greatest romantic heroes becomes even more sympathetic, compelling, attractive, and accessible, all through the imagination and artistry of a tryly gifted storyteller.

This was a recent Friday Find and I was thrilled to see that Paperbackswap had it. I now need to join the Everything Austen challenge since I seem to be interested in all these different tellings/additions to Pride and Prejudice.