Win Arrival: Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons

Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons

I won this from Nely at her All About {n} blog. Thank you so much Nely for hosting this giveaway - I am really looking forward to reading this.

From the back cover:

Acclaimed novelist Anne Rivers Siddons's new novel is a stunning tale of love and loss.

For as long as she can remember, they were Cam and Lilly--happily married, totally in love with each other, parents of a beautiful family, and partners in life. Then, after decades of marriage, it ended as every great love story does...in loss. After Cam's death, Lilly takes a lone road trip to her and Cam's favorite spot on the remote coast of Maine, the place where they fell in love over and over again, where their ghosts still dance. There, she looks hard to her past--to a first love that ended in tragedy; to falling in love with Cam; to a marriage filled with exuberance, sheer life, and safety-- to try to figure out her future.

It is a journey begun with tender memories and culminating in a revelation that will make Lilly re-evaluate everything she thought was true about her husband and her marriage.

Now I must confess: I have never read Anne Rivers Siddons, but I have several of her books and have always wanted to read her. Now I will - this books sounds excellent and I can't wait to read it.

Friday Finds (Aug. 14)

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. Hell's Gate by Stephen Frey - he's been a favorite of mine for a few years now and this new one comes out next Tuesday.

2. Vanished by Joseph Finder - another favorite of mine. I read Power Play when it first came out and then started on his backlist - this one I am anxiously awaiting, it's also out on Tuesday.

3. Darcy's Story by Janet Aymler - not a new release but an older book that is new to me. I am new to all of the Jane Austen fiction besides her actual works, and this appealed to me as it is told from Mr. Darcy's side of things. I read about it in my Harper Collins newsletter and currently it is a free read on their website.

That's it for this week. I need to do some more blog catch up. So what did you find this week?

Author Interview with Nicole Barker (Dancing With Ana)

In honor of the release of Dancing With Ana, her first published book, Nicole Barker allowed me to ask her some questions for an author interview. So read on to hear about Dancing With Ana and learn a little more about her. The Dancing with Ana website is here.

How did it feel to see all of your hard work come to fruition with the publishing of this book?
Surreal. There are moments when I look at the book and don't connect myself as the author. The disbelief is slowly fading though..

Do you get time to read? What are your favorite types of books to read?

If I have time to read, I write. Don't get me wrong, I love reading, but I'm not the type to devour a book in one sitting. The books I read sit on my nightstand and I go to them when I need an escape.

What is your favorite room in your house?

My bedroom, always has been.

What is your favorite spot to read in?

The bath, surrounded by candles and good smells..I know it's cliché but it's awesome.

What is your favorite snack food?

Pistachios

Do you have a schedule for writing each day or do you just do it when you can?

I attempt to have a schedule. If something comes to me, I stop whatever I'm doing and write. I've been known to write on napkins at restaurants, the back of receipts...my hand.

Where did the idea for Dancing With Ana come from?

I'm not sure actually, it just came to me. I wanted to write a story about the incredible bond that exists between true friends. The rest just came as I wrote...there were days the book wrote itself, I was just the vehicle.

Where did your character of Beth come from?

Once I realized that Beth was going to go down this journey, I wanted her to be as “normal” as possible. It's hard for society to digest a situation like this when the victim resembles a friend or a family member. The attitude of, “Why would she do such a thing? She has a perfect life!” is very prevalent. The thing is, most people don't wear their pain on the outside.

Where did the title "Dancing With Ana" come from?

If you put yourself in a room with a hundred people, the chances are pretty good that one of them will appear anorexic. She/he will be terribly thin, bones protruding, limp hair, dull skin..empty eyes. Chances are there's another ten people merely dancing with ana. Their pain, their suffering, isn't as obvious. Anorexia is a brilliant disease. It slips in quite unnoticed and slowly takes over. Some victims only dance for a little while, then leave on their own. Others can't leave without help. Some never leave.

You wrote this book in a way that appeals to young adults obviously, but also I think it appeals to the older generation too. We all remember our teenage years and the tough issues we faced. But I think the key was you didn't distance the older reader with too much of now's technology and phrases, but kept it fresh for the younger reader too (I know the girls text, but a lot of us do and for those that don't the texts read like phone conversations too). Was this intentional?

It was very intentional. I wanted this to be a contemporary story that could be respected and appreciated by a young adult audience. At the same time, I knew there are many people like me who remember their teen years and could relate. I also wanted it to be a book that both parents and their kids could have in common.

What book are you working on at the moment?

I'm working on another young adult book. This one takes place in the Northeast. My main character is Lily and she has two best friends. There's a love story...

Any book signings/conferences/public/blog appearances in the near future?

Yes! Updates are always posted on the website. There is also a Dancing With Ana Facebook group that receives regular updates, or you can follow me on Twitter.

Any last words on Dancing With Ana or anything else that you would like to sha

I loved writing this book and I hope the readers enjoy it. I also love hearing from my readers!

Thank you Nicole for answering my interview questions! Dancing With Ana can be purchased now and I highly recommend it. My review is coming - but here's a hint - it gets 5.0/5.0! A Giveaway is also coming so stay tuned.

My Favorite Reads - August 13th

Alyce at At Home With Books has started hosting a weekly meme with her favorite reads of the past. I decided to join in on this great idea so I can remember some books that have stuck with me through the years. To see other favorite reads and join in go here.

For my first week joining I am going to go back to one of the books that really got me back into reading about 6 years ago. I have read all along but like a lot of hobbies, reading would take a complete backburner at times. On that fateful August day over 6 years ago my sister-in-law was reading a Nora Roberts book and she told me what a great author she was. Of course I had heard of Nora Roberts, but had never read her. So after talking to dear SIL, I went to ebay and promptly began bidding on books. One of the first sets that came in was Nora's Three Sisters Island Triolgy so I promptly started with:

The Description:

When Nell Channing arrives on charming Three Sisters Island, she believes that she's finally found refuge from her abusive husband -- and from the terrifying life she fled so desperately eight months ago...

But even in this quiet, peaceful place, Nell never feels entirely at ease. Careful to conceal her true identity, she takes a job as a cook at the local bookstore café -- and begins to explore her feelings for the island sheriff, Zack Todd. But there is a part of herself she can never reveal to him -- for she must continue to guard her secrets if she wants to keep the past at bay. One careless word, one misplaced confidence, and the new life she's created so carefully could shatter completely.

Just as Nell starts to wonder if she'll ever be able to break free of her fear, she realizes that the island suffers under a terrible curse -- one that can only be broken by the descendants of the Three Sisters, the witches who settled the island back in 1692. And now, with the help of two other strong, gifted women -- and with the nightmares of the past haunting her every step -- she must find the power to save her home, her love... and herself...

I absolutely fell in love - I was enthralled from the first page. I loved Zack and Nell, I loved the other characters, I loved the background story of the island. And I fell in love with the writing of Nora Roberts. Reading one of her books now is like coming home - I always remember my first read by her and how great it was.

Of course after finishing that one I promptly went on to the next two in the series and then on to more of her books and branched out to other authors and other genres too, but this is the book that launched me back into reading and I haven't taken a break since.

Review: Scenarios 2 All That Glitters by Nicole O'Dell

Scenarios 2: All That Glitters by Nicole O'Dell




rating: 4.0/5.0






From Amazon.com:

Product Description

Drew Daniels finally has what she thought she wanted—popularity and a cute boyfriend. But now she’s faced with choosing between pleasing her boyfriend and doing what’s right. Tween readers make the choice in this interactive story and see how the consequences change Drew’s life. Includes a contract and prayer to remind the reader of the importance of making godly decisions.

Book Description

Decisions, decisions! How is a girl supposed to choose? Lessons of right and wrong are put to the test in the Scenarios series, where you can test your decision-making abilities in an eye-opening, but safe, way. Each book follows a character up to the point where she has to make an important, life-changing decision—then it’s your turn to choose. Will your choices lead to a happy ending?

I really enjoyed this look into teenage life that reminds me of the old Choose Your Own Adventures books I use to read. Except these help tweens and teens see the consequences of choosing one of two scenarios. One is obviously the morally correct choice and the other is the often popular/go-along with the crowd choice.

In this look at twins Drew and Dani as they start high school, I felt the story played out very realistically. Dani is the serious twin and she's just trying to find her way in a new situation and keep her morals about her. Drew is wanting to change and change as much as possible. She's ready to break out of her shell and make whatever decisions she needs to in order to become more popular.

I enjoyed watching both Drew and Dani and the situations that they came across. I read both endings and feel they were both well done and very representative of the choices and consequences that are out there, without being too preachy or anything that will turn a teen/tween off at this point in her life.

If I had girls I would definitely have these on hand for them to read and would encourage parents to read them also as a guide to what is out there and good ways for parents to handle these challenging years also. I know I took away things that I hope will help me in the years to come as my boys approach their teen years.

But apart from the moral and teaching value - these books have a great entertainment factor. They move quick and the characters are fun. It reads like teenagers act and creates a great storyline. I enjoyed every minute of reading the book and look forward to going back and reading Truth or Dare and for the next two in the series that will release in April 2010.

Binding: Paperback
On-sale Date: August 1, 2009
Publisher: Barbour Books
Pages: 192
Reading Level: Young Adult

I read this through NetGalley.com - thanks to Barbour Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Waiting on Wednesday - August 12th

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My "can't-wait-to-read" selection for this week is:

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Release: September 8, 2009

Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alientated from her parents, especially her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church.

The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels--first love, love between parents and children -- that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them.

Nicholas Sparks is the local boy (lives in New Bern about 1 hour away from where I am) and his books take place in NC so I am a sucker for them.

So what are you waiting on this week? Go here to see what everyone else is waiting on.

Review and Giveaway - Love's First Light by Jamie Carie

Love's First Light by Jamie Carie





rating: 4.5/5.0



From Amazon.com:

New from Jamie Carie, today’s most awarded new Christian romance writer.

Christophé, the Count of St. Laurent, has lost his entire family to the blood-soaked French Revolution and must flee to an ancient castle along the southern border of France to survive. But the medieval city of Carcassonne proves more than a hiding place. Here Christophé meets the beautiful widow Scarlett, a complex and lionhearted woman suddenly taken by the undercover aristocrat’s passion for astronomy and its influence upon his faith. Although their acquaintance begins brightly enough, when the Count learns that Scarlett is related to the man who murdered his family, he turns from love and chooses revenge. Heaven only knows what it might take for Christophé to love again, to love his enemy, and to love unconditionally.

I read Wind Dancer by Jamie Carie a few months ago and loved it, so I was not surprised at all to fall in love with Love's First Light also. This time Ms. Carie uses the French Revolution as the backdrop for her story which starts in Paris and moves to the French countryside and returns to Paris. This is another time frame I am not familiar with at all, but it came alive for me. I feel like I learned things about the people during this very tough time when the country was in transition.

Christophe was your basic tortured hero and so much more. He lost his family to the revolution and fled Paris for his decrepit family castle to live the life of a hermit, but instead stumbles upon Scarlett, the pregnant widow.

Scarlett was not married long before the Revolution took her husband and left her widowed and pregnant. She returns home to her mother and sister and with the help of her husband's uncle they make baked goods to support themselves. Then Scarlett's restless soul happens upon Christophe and a friendship grows into love.

The characters of Scarlett and Christophe are amazing. Christophe is flawed, Scarlett is naive, but yet worldly. There love feels real. I enjoyed the secondary characters of Scarlett's family and Christophe's familiy friend in Paris. The action kept the story moving and so did the characterization.

A well-written and well-executed novel from the first page. I was swept up in the story and didn't want to be put down at the end.

Binding: Paperback
On-sale Date: July 1, 2009
Publisher: B&H Books
Pages: 320

I received this from The Library Thing Early Reviewers Program courtesy of the publisher.

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 Jamie Carie 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.