Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at
The Printed Page. To see this weeks list of participants go
here.
I had another good week, check out what I received and feel free to leave
your links so I can see what you received also and add to my wishlist. I received a bunch of books this week and most came on Monday. Sorry for the Amazon links - the image alone wasn't working and this was the one quick and easy way to see the book covers.
ARC/Review Copies of:
Out with the In Crowd by Stephanie Morrill
Publisher: Revell
Publish Date: January 1, 2010
Paperback, 252 pages
For a Revell blog tour in February
She knew changing her life wouldn't be easy--but she never expected it
to be this hard. Skylar Hoyt may have vowed to change her partying
ways, but it's not so easy to change her friends. Even though the old
Skylar is gone, she's still not sure who this new Skylar really is. Add
to that two parents battling for her loyalty, a younger sister
struggling with a crisis pregnancy, and a new boyfriend wishing for
more of her time, and Skylar feels like she can't win. After all, how
do you choose favorites among the people you love most? Stephanie
Morrill is a twentysomething living in Kansas with her high school
sweetheart-turned-husband and their daughter. She is the author of Me,
Just Different and loves writing for teens because her high school
years greatly impacted her adult life. That, and it's an excuse to keep
playing her music really, really loud.
Abigail by Jill Eileen Smith
Publisher: Revell
Publish Date: February 1, 2010
Paperback, 368 pages
For a Revell Blog Tour in February
Abigail's hopes and dreams for the future are wrapped up in her
handsome, dark-eyed betrothed, Nabal. But when the long-awaited wedding
day arrives, her drunken groom behaves shamefully. Nevertheless,
Abigail tries to honor and respect her husband despite his abuse of
her. Meanwhile, Abigail's family has joined David's wandering tribe as
he and his people keep traveling to avoid the dangerous Saul. When
Nabal suddenly dies, Abigail is free to move on with her life, and
thanks to her brother, her new life includes a new husband--David. The
dangers of tribal life on the run are serious, but there are other
dangers in young Abigail's mind. How can David lead his people
effectively when he goes against God? And how can Abigail share David's
love with the other wives he insists on marrying? Jill Eileen Smith,
bestselling author of Michal, draws on Scripture, historical research,
and her imagination as she fills in the blanks to unveil the story of
Abigail and David in rich detail and drama. The result is a riveting
page-turner that will keep readers looking forward to the next book in
this trilogy.
The Cougar Club by Susan McBride
Publisher: Avon A
Publish Date: January 26, 2010
Paperback, 336 pages
For a TLC Book Tour in February
Meet three women who aren't about to run and hide just because the
world says they should be on the shelf and out of circulation.
Kat
Her life seems perfect until she loses her high-powered advertising job and catches her live-in lover in a compromising position—with his computer!
Carla
This sexy TV news anchor is in danger of being replaced by a
twentysomething blond bimbo. Wasn't it just yesterday that she was the
up-and-coming star?
Elise
A married dermatologist, Elise thinks her plastic surgeon husband is playing doctor with someone else.
Kat
firmly believes that aging gracefully isn't about giving up; it's about
living life with your engine on overdrive. So this unofficial "Cougar
Club" quickly learns three things about survival of the fittest in
today's youth-obsessed society: True friendship never dies, the only
way to live is real, and you're never too old to follow your heart.
Absolute Power by David Baldacci
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Publish Date: January 16, 2010
Audio CD, reader - Scott Brick
For review from the publisher(I love Scott Brick as a reader!)
Available for the first time Unabridged on CD in an all-new recording
by Scott Brick, the first of the blockbuster thrillers by New York
Times bestselling author David Baldacci. The book that will change the
way you think about Washington - and power - forever.
In a
heavily guarded mansion in a posh Virginia suburb, a man and a woman
start to make love, trapping a burglar behind a secret wall. Then the
passion turns deadly, and the witness is running into the night.
Because what he has just seen is a brutal slaying involving the
president of the United States.
Luther Whitney is the career
break-in artist who's in the wrong place at the wrong time. Alan
Richmond is the charming U.S. president with the power to commit any
crime. And Jack Graham is the young attorney caught in a vortex between
absolute truth and... ABSOLUTE POWER
The Khan Dilemma by Ron Goodreau
Publisher: iUniverse
Publish Date: June 23, 2009
Paperback, 300 pages
For review - received through Bostick Communications
Las Cruces, California is a gritty town full of political corruption
and social turmoil. The District Attorney, Rich Danko, is in the midst
of a federal probe when a cabal of Washington, D.C. elites, fronted by
a sinister FBI agent named Ross, takes an interest in a local double
homicide. A young Muslim suspect has murdered two mysterious
businessmen in a quiet, upscale neighborhood and for some reason the
administration is scrambling to cover it up. Max Siegel lands the case
and gets caught in a spiraling vortex of deadly intrigue with a
dangerous mix of characters that threaten to consume his career and his
life!
Island Sting by Bonnie J. Doerr
Publisher: Leap Books
Publish Date: December 15, 2009
Paperback, 280 Pages
Received for review from Around The World Tours
Kenzie didn't expect her first summer in the Florida Keys to be murder.
Or cute guys, awesome boats, endangered species, and gun-toting
thugs... When city girl Kenzie Ryan moves to a Florida wildlife refuge,
she plunges straight into an eco-mystery. Kenzie trades New York
streets for Keys pollution cleanup, and now, instead of hailing cabs,
she's tracking down a poacher of endangered Key deer. Her new home does
have some benefits-mainly Angelo, an island native, who teams up with
her to nab the culprit. But will they both survive when the killer
turns from stalking deer to hunting humans? Island Sting includes notes
on the endangered Florida Key Deer and the National Key Deer Refuge.
Freaksville by Kitty Keswick
Publisher: Leap Books
Publish Date: December 15, 2009
Paperback, 328 pages
Received for review from Around the World Tours
Every woman in the Maxwell family has the gift of sight. A talent
sixteen year old Kasey would gladly give up. Until Kasey has a vision
about Josh Johnstone, the foreign exchange student from England. The
vision leads her into deep waters, a lead in a play, and into the arms
of Josh. But Josh, too, has a secret. Something that could put them all
in danger. To solve a mystery of a supernatural haunting, they must
uncover the secrets of the haunted theater when they are trapped on the
night of the full moon.
Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Publish Date: March 16, 2010
Hardcover, 256 pages
Received for review from 1-ARC-Tours
When an immaculately dressed
woman steps out of an iridescent bubble and asks you if you'd like to
become a substitute princess, do you
a) run
b) faint
c) say Yes!
For
Desi Bascomb, who's been longing for a bit of glamour in her Idaho
life, the choice is a definite C--that is, once she can stop pinching
herself. As her new agent Meredith explains, Desi has a rare magical
ability: when she applies the ancient Egyptian formula "Royal
Rouge," she can transform temporarily into the exact lookalike of any
princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right?
Well, Desi
soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a
tiara and waving at cameras. Like, what do you do when a bullying older
sister puts you on a heinous crash diet? Or when the tribal villagers
gather to watch you perform a ceremonial dance you don't know? Or when
a princess's conflicted sweetheart shows up to break things off--and
you know she would want you to change his mind?
In
this hilarious, winning debut, one girl's dream of
glamour transforms into something bigger: the desire to make a positive
impact. And an impact Desi makes, one royal fiasco at a time.
Katy's New World by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Publisher: Zondervan
Publish Date: February 1, 2010
Paperback, 208
Received from the publisher for a FIRST Wild Card Tour
Katy has always enjoyed life in her small Mennonite community, but she
longs to learn more than her school can offer. After getting approval
from her elders, Katy starts her sophomore year at the public high
school in town, where she meets new friends and encounters perspectives
much different than her own. But as Katy begins to find her way in the
outside world, her relationships at home become restrained. Can she
find a balance between her two worlds?
Spring Breakdown by Melody Carlson
Publisher: Zondervan
Publish Date: February 1, 2010
Paperback, 208 pages
Received from the publisher for a FIRST Wild Card Tour
The six Carter house girls plan to join Mrs. Carter in Florida for a
“quiet” spring break, but quiet is impossible when Harry and his guy
friends stay in a condo nearby. Focused on her newfound faith and
sobriety, Taylor is trying to behave, but Eliza has no such intention.
In an attempt to win Harry back, Eliza continues to push the envelope
and her partying spins out of control. When Eliza goes missing,
everyone is left worried and afraid for her safety. Will Eliza wake up
and see that her life is built on sinking sand? Or will this quicksand
claim her instead?
The Marriage Project: 21 Days to More Love and Laughter by Kathi Lipp
Publisher:
Publish Date: December 1, 2009
Paperback,
Received for a FIRST Wild Card Tour
More love, more laughter—more lingerie.
What would marriages look like if for 21 days, husbands and wives put their marriage on project status? Plenty of books describe how to improve marriage, how to save a marriage, and how to ramp up the intimacy in a marriage. In The Marriage Project, Kathi Lipp shows readers how to put the fun
back in marriage with 21 simple yet effective projects, such as doing
something they enjoyed together before they got married or flirting
with their spouse via e-mail or text messages.
Each of the projects contains:
- a project description
- suggestions for how to complete the project
- reports from other couples on how they accomplished the project
- a prayer
- a place to record project results
In addition to the daily projects, three bonus projects encourage couples to turn up the heat in the bedroom.
For couples who haven’t given up on the dream of being head-over-heels with their spouse again, The Marriage Project provides just the right boost.
Included are tips on how to use The Marriage Project to revitalize marriages in a local church or small group.
A Note from an Old Acquaintance by Bill Walker
Publisher: iUniverse
Publish Date: June 11, 2005
Paperback, 360 pages
Received for a Pump Up Your Book Promotions Tour
Brian Weller is a haunted man. It's been two years since the tragic
accident that left his three-year-old son dead and his wife in an
irreversible coma. A popular author of mega- selling thrillers, Brian's
life has reached a crossroads: his new book is stalled, his wife's
prognosis is dire, and he teeters on the brink of despair. Everything
changes the morning an e- mail arrives from Boston artist Joanna
Richman. Her heartfelt note brings back all the poignant memories: the
night their eyes met, the fiery passion of their short- lived affair,
and the agonizing moment he was forced to leave Joanna forever. Now,
fifteen years later, the guilt and anger threaten to overwhelm him.
Vowing to make things right, Brian arranges a book- signing tour that
will take him back to Boston. He is eager to see Joanna again, but
remains unsure where their reunion will lead. One thing is certain: the
forces that tore their love asunder will stop at nothing to keep them
apart. Filled with tender romance and taut suspense, A Note from an Old
Acquaintance is an unforgettable story about fate, honor, and the power
of true love.
Love and War: Finding the Marriage You've Dreamed Of by John and Stasi Eldredge
Publisher: Doubleday Religion
Publish Date: December 15, 2009
Hardcover, 240 pages
Received from the publisher for a book tour in February
What the Eldredge bestsellers Wild at Heart did for men, and Captivating did
for women, LOVE & WAR will do for married couples everywhere. John
and Stasi Eldredge have contributed the quintessential works on
Christian spirituality through the experience of men and the experience
of women and now they turn their focus to the incredible dynamic
between those two forces.
With refreshing openness that will
grab readers from the first page, the Eldredges candidly discuss their
own marriage and the insights they’ve gained from the challenges they
faced. Each talks independently to the reader about what they’ve
learned, giving their guidance personal immediacy and a balance between
the male and female perspectives that has been absent from all previous
books on this topic. They begin LOVE & WAR with an obvious but
necessary acknowledgement: Marriage is fabulously hard. They advise
that the sooner we get the shame and confusion off our backs, the
sooner we'll find our way through.
LOVE & WAR shows
couples how to fight for their love and happiness, calling men and
women to step into the great adventure God has waiting for them
together. Walking alongside John and Stasi Eldredge, every couple can
discover how their individual journeys are growing into a story of
meaning much greater than anything they could do or be on their own.
The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni
Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam
Publish Date: March 4, 2010
Hardcover, 368 pages
Received from the publisher for review
Sebastian Prendergast lives in a geodesic dome with his eccentric
grandmother, who homeschooled him in the teachings of futurist
philosopher R. Buckminster Fuller. But when his grandmother has a
stroke, Sebastian is forced to leave the dome and make his own way in
town.
Jared Whitcomb is a chain-smoking sixteen-year-old
heart-transplant recipient who befriends Sebastian, and begins to teach
him about all the things he has been missing, including grape soda,
girls, and Sid Vicious. They form a punk band called The Rash, and it's
clear that the upcoming Methodist Church talent show has never seen the
likes of them. Wholly original, The House of Tomorrow is the
story of a young man's self-discovery, a dying woman's last wish, and a
band of misfits trying desperately to be heard.
Dare to Surrender by Lilli Feisty
Publisher: Forever
Publish Date: January 26, 2010
Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
Received from the publisher for review
HE MEETS HIS MATCH.
SHE MEETS HER MASTER.
Art gallery
curator Joy Montgomery has never liked her body's generous curves. And
she's always been too shy to explore her wild side. But tonight,
everything is going to change . . . Desperate to save her job, Joy
approaches bad-boy artist Ash Hunter and asks him to exhibit his erotic
work at her gallery. Ash agrees on one condition: Joy must pose as his
model. But business soon turns to pleasure, as Joy experiences a
passion beyond her wildest imaginings and Ash finds more than just
inspiration in his voluptuous new muse.
Countess of Scandal
Publisher: Forever
Publish Date: January 26, 2010
Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages
Received from the publisher for review
As children, Eliza Blacknall and William Denton ran wild over the
fields of southern Ireland and swore they would be friends forever.
Then fate took Will away to England, while Eliza stayed behind to
become a proper Irish countess.
Years later, Will finally makes
his way home-as an English soldier sent to crush the Irish uprising.
When he spies the lovely Eliza, he is captivated by the passionate
woman she has become. But Eliza's passions have led her to join the
Irish rebel cause, and Will and Eliza now find themselves on opposite
sides of a dangerous conflict.
When Ireland explodes in bloody
rebellion, Will's regiment is ordered to the front lines, and he is
forced to choose between his duty to the English king and his love for
Eliza and their Irish homeland.
We The Children (Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School) by Andrew Clements
Publisher: Atheneum
Publish Date: April 6, 2010
Received from Simon and Schuster for review
We the Children asks: Can a kid change the course of history?
Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett
Publisher: Tyndale House
Publish Date: March 1, 2010
For a FIRST Wild Card Tour
Four American women, all with their own challenges, embark on a mission
trip to South Africa. Their lives are changed as they encounter a group
of South African women who suffer from AIDS yet demonstrate great joy
and faith in the face of overwhelming adversity. When the Americans
discover the amazing beadwork that has been taught to generations of
women in the community, they uncover a way to help these proud people
support their families by selling their craft.
McKenzie's Montana Mystery by Shari Barr
Publisher: Barbour Books
Publish Date: March 1, 2010
Received from the publisher for review
When Bailey and McKenzie arrive to help at a horse ranch in Montana,
they’re immediately entrenched in mysteries: a horse disappearing into
thin air, spookiness in an abandoned western town, and ranch hand
upheaval. And with all the unexpected action going on, how will they
ever find time to prepare for their rodeo competitions? Can the Camp
Club Girls successfully combine their skills to help Bailey and
McKenzie save the ranch…and the rodeo for Sunshine Stables?
A
lexis and the Sacramento Surprise
Publisher: Barbour Books
Publish Date: March 1, 2010
Received from the publisher for review
If dinosaurs are extinct, then why do they seem to come to life each
night? When Alexis’ friend, Miss Maria, tries to save her business by
importing mechanical dinosaurs to her nature park, Alexis and Kate are
instantly on the spot to show their support. But the Camp Club girls
are soon embroiled in surprises when they soon have to not only deal
with mechanical dinosaurs appearing to have minds of their own, but
also the local media, which also seems determined to destroy Miss
Maria. Can the girls crack the case and keep Miss Maria’s dreams—and
business—alive?
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books for teens, women, and children. Before publishing, Melody traveled around the world, volunteered in teen ministry, taught preschool, raised two sons, and worked briefly in interior design and later in international adoption. "I think real-life experiences inspire the best friction," she says. Her wide variety of books seems to prove this theory.
ivakaruni
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