In My Mailbox (13)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. To see this weeks list of participants go here.

With Christmas in the mix this is the last two weeks of Mailbox Monday.  Thanks to the great authors, publishers and publicists who sent me these books.

I have to admit to being lazy this week and just taking picture of the books.  Another reason is I like looking at other people's actual pictures of books so I thought I would do the same.  Let me know what you like - stock cover pics or my pics (I'll try to do better ones next week, I was in a hurry this week).

I'll be reviewing One Perfect Word this week, - a great book for the New Year, I received it from the publisher Howard Books.  Lovesick by Spencer Seidel came from Meryl L. Moss Media Relations for tour in February.  The Sound of Red Returning by Sue Duffy and Unhallowed Ground are tour books for Kregel Tours.  Love Blooms in Winter by Lori Copeland is for a FIRST Wild Card Tour and came from Harvest House Publishers.  And finally, behind the beautiful forevers: Life, death and hope in a Mumbai undercity by Katherine Boo was received from the publisher Random House through Shelf Awareness.  It will be released in February.

Everneath and Where It Began were tour books and A Perfect Storm by Lori Foster came from Meryl L. Moss Media Relations for tour in April (I love this series and can't wait for this book.).  What Happened To Hannah by Mary Kay McComas and More Than Words Can Say by Robert Barclay came from William Morrow.  The Jerk Magnet by Melody Carlson came from Revell Books for tour later this month.

The Black book is Strange Flesh by Michael Olson and it's coming from Simon & Schuster in April.  I love that title is black on black raised, which doesn't show up well in the picture.  And what is funny is the spine says: "This is a story about SEX and GAMES."  That should be fun to read around the kids ;)  Actually I can't wait to read it and may bump it up on my pile if I can get ahead.  I received Cobbogoth by Hannah L. Clark and I also received a second autographed copy for a giveaway as well from the author.  Kill Switch by Neal Baer and Jonathan Greene came from the publisher, Kensington and I am excited to read it. Beautiful Disaster was a win from Luxury Reading.  Artist of Disappearance by Anita Desai came from the publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, through Shelf Awareness.

Happy New Year 2012 Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Happy New Year 2012 Giveaway Hop sponsored by I Am A Reader, Not a Writer and Babs Book Bistro.  Up for grabs is a book of the winner's choice at The Book Depository up to a $10 value.  It's open international (if The Book Depository ships to your country).  Just fill out your name and email so I can contact the winner in the Rafflecopter below and you are entered.  All other entries are optional.


NOTE: Some of you are expressing problems with entering your name and email addresses.  Let me reassure you there is no problem, you are probably signed into Rafflecopter with Facebook. As part of the new and improved Rafflecopter when you are signed in with Facebook it puts your name and email in automatically.  I have checked your entries and they are fine as long as you hit enter for that first entry (name and email).  If you don't sign into Rafflecopter with Facebook you should still have to put in your name and email.  So sorry for all the confusion.  If you still feel you are having problems with this or any other problems with the form, email me at crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com.  Thanks!




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Slideshow for The Hurt Machine by Reed Farrel Coleman + Giveaway

Hurt Machine by Reed Farrel Coleman

View more presentations from Fauzia Burke

About Hurt Machine:
 
"The biggest mysteries in our genre are why Reed Coleman isn't already huge, and why Moe Prager isn't already an icon."—Lee Child

At a pre-wedding party for his daughter Sarah, Moe Prager is approached by his ex-wife and former PI partner Carmella Melendez. It seems Carmella's estranged sister Alta has been murdered, but no one in New York City seems to care. Why?

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Waiting on Wednesday (12)

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

I found this one through the Goodreads giveaways.  I enjoyed The Secret Year, and this looks good.

Try Not To Breathe by Jennifer R. Hubbard

Publish Date: 1/19/2012

A dark and provocative novel from the author of The Secret Year

Ryan spends most of his time alone at the local waterfall because it’s the only thing that makes him feel alive. He’s sixteen, post-suicidal, and trying to figure out what to do with himself after a stint in a mental hospital. Then Nicki barges into his world, brimming with life and energy, and asking questions about Ryan’s depression that no one else has ever been brave enough—or cared enough—to ask. Ryan isn’t sure why he trusts Nicki with his darkest secrets, but that trust turns out to be the catalyst that he desperately needs to start living again.

Jennifer R. Hubbard has created a riveting story about a difficult but important subject.

So what are you waiting on this week?

Book Review: Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe

Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe

Publisher: CreateSpace

Publish Date: April 5, 2011

Paperback, 322 pages 
Fiction, Young Adult
 ISBN: 978-1461071792
Birthday Trilogy #1

My Review:
Happy Birthday to Me was a very surprising book.  I found it hard to put down and liked that it had a great message along with a humorous storyline.  Cameron is a very interesting character and I love how Mr. Rowe really works with him in this novel to show him coming full circle in his character.

I like to start with characters because while I love a good plot, I still find that I need really good characters to make a book stellar for me.  Happy Birthday to Me had some very interesting characters.  First there is Cameron who in the beginning is the typical popular jock, dating the school beauty queen guy.  He gets what he wants when he wants and he knows it.  You get a sense there is more to him, but he can't quite get to it because of the image he needs and wants to project.  He has his best friend since grade school Wesley, who isn't the popular guy's typical best friend, but they keep hanging out anyway.  They don't always see eye-to-eye, but Wesley is a good friend to Cameron and I hope to see some more of him.  There is also Cameron's parents and sister who actually play a role in his life.  His mom a little more than his dad, but his dad is a busy plastic surgeon.  I like that Mr. Rowe really portrays a real family situation with Cameron's family.  It is far from perfect, but I would say it is pretty typical.  There are several other characters who are great but I don't want to give too much away.  Cameron is definitely the star of the show and it's his transformation that makes the book.

As for the plot.  This definitely kept me turning the pages.  As I opened the book I thought I would read the first few chapters and take a break.  The next thing I knew I was halfway through the book.  It just flew by.  I was hooked.  The chapters are broken up by the day as Cameron ages and I was completely drawn into the story and how Cameron and his friends and others around him handled his disease and what would eventually happen to him.

In the end I loved this book and I look forward to reading the second installment in this trilogy for review as well.  Mr. Rowe has a writing style that flows easily and makes reading his book a joy.  I also look forward to seeing what will happen in the next book - I'm not giving anything away, but it should be interesting!

My Rating: 4.5/5.0

Parental guidance: Definitely for the 14+ age group.  There is some language, but it is spaced throughout so it's not like it's in every sentence.  There are also some sexual references throughout the book that makes it for the older age group.  Again as I have mentioned in other reviews, probably nothing that 12+ hasn't read or heard before, but if you like to be careful about what your kids read, here is the information.  Nothing over-the-top that made me think it was too much for a young adult book. It seems very typical for a 14+ book.

About the Book:
Seventeen-year-old Cameron Martin has a huge problem: he’s aging a whole year of his life with each passing day. High school is hard enough; imagine rapidly aging from seventeen to seventy in a matter of weeks, with no logical explanation, and with prom, graduation, and the state championship basketball game on the horizon. That’s what happens to Cameron, a mischievous pretty boy who has never had to face a day looking anything but perfect. It starts with a slowing metabolism, followed by gray hair, wrinkles, and heart palpitations. Within days his girlfriend dumps him, his plastic surgeon father forces him to get a facelift, and his terrifying high school librarian seduces him to have sex with her. All he wants to do is go back to normal, but no one, not even the best doctors, can diagnose his condition. When he finds love with a young woman who may or may not be an all-powerful witch, he realizes that the only hope for his survival might be with the one person who instigated his condition in the first place...

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
Writing Fiend. Book Devotee. Film Fanatic. Constant Dreamer. Author of SLATE and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.

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FTC Information: I received this book from the author through Teen Book Scene for an honest review.  I do make money from purchases made at The Book Depository and B&N.com, but all money is used to fund giveaways and shipping for giveaways from the blog.

Got a new ereader? Here's some freebies for you!

Did you get a new ereader for Christmas?  Or do you already have one?  I got a tablet for Christmas to add to my Kindle and I was excited to get this email from one of my favorite author/friends the other day about some freebies he is offering this week.  So if you haven't tried out Scott Nicholson, here's your chance.  If you have, then here is your chance to score a few of his books you may not have.  And while you are there, be sure and check out some of his other books, I'm a huge fan of The Skull Ring which is one of today's freebies.  His books are different and can't really be pigeon-holed into one particular genre, so as you can see there is something for just about everyone below.  If you are afraid you are too squeamish for his books, the ones I have read aren't too bad (and I can get squeamish).  And the ones I have read have a great amount of suspense along with interesting characters to make great books.  So check these selections and his other books out!

I must also note that Scott seems like an awesome person through email and vacations near me so that makes him even cooler.  So go get his freebies and then buy some of his books on that coolness factor alone ;-)

Monday/Tuesday: Duncan the Punkin color children's book great for Kindle Fire families

http://www.amazon.com/Duncan-the-Punkin-ebook/dp/B004S2CQFS

Tuesday/Wednesday: The Skull Ring suspense thriller

http://www.amazon.com/Skull-Ring-Julia-Stone-ebook/dp/B003980ELA

Tuesday/Wednesday: As I Die Lying psychological thriller

http://www.amazon.com/As-I-Die-Lying-ebook/dp/B0041D88TW

Wednesday/Thursday: October Girls YA paranormal fantasy

http://www.amazon.com/October-fantasy-paranormal-romance-ebook/dp/B00433TD0I

Friday/Sat/Sunday: Head Cases horror story collection

http://www.amazon.com/Head-Cases-ebook/dp/B004G5Z4HO

Book Review: Full Tilt by Creston Mapes (Rock Star Chronicles #2)

Full Tilt by Creston Mapes (Rock Star Chronicles #2)

Publisher: Multnomah Books

E-book, 400 pages 
Fiction, Christian fiction/thriller/suspense/court drama

My Review:
I was excited to read book #2 in the Rock Star Chronicles, my review of Book #1, Dark Star can be found here.  Full Tilt did not disappoint.

Mr. Mapes uses more of the back and forth writing to keep the story interesting, this time going back and forth between the characters instead of back and forth between times.  And while the focus is still mainly on Everett, Full Tilt starts to include more of Everett's family as well.

It's definintely a wild ride and at times scarier than some of the horror books out there.  As a mom, I find "meth" a terrifying drug.  We actually had the first "meth" bust in our county just down the road from my house (we live in a rural area and thankfully drugs aren't a huge problem yet).  But meth is just bad and Mr. Mapes emphasizes that in this book.  Everett is back in this book trying to walk the Christian walk and do all he can to bring others to know Jesus including his brother, Eddie and his family who are still in shambles dealing with his son's death.  It's heart-wrenching at times and at others you just really want to smack Eddie and Sheila (and that's the point).

Mr. Mapes has done another great job crafting interesting characters and making a captivating and believable plot that kept me turning the pages.  The action was so great at times I had a very hard time putting the book down.  I felt very invested in the characters and look forward to the next installment in the series.  I think Mr. Mapes does a great job crafting the story around a Christian theme.  The Christian element never seems forced.  I enjoyed the book as a whole and cannot wait for my tour stop for book #3 next month.

My Rating: 4.5/5.0

Check back next month on December 22, for my review of the next book in the series Full Tilt.

About the Book:

What Good Can Become of Psychotics, Meth Users, or the Mob? In this sequel to Dark Star, rock star Everett Lester is eager to share the redeeming power of Christ’s love with the world through his music. But reaching his family in their twisted lives is another issue altogether. His gambling-addicted brother, Eddie, and the rest of his deteriorating family greet Everett’s attempts with disdain and hatred. When the Mob gets involved, dangerous threats become a haunting reality. And when Eddie’s son, Wesley—who blames Everett for his brother’s death—hooks up with psychotic Tony Badino, the two meth-using antichrists will stop at nothing to bring Everett down and secure his demise!

About the Author: 

Talented storyteller Creston Mapes graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1983 with a BA in magazine journalism. Since then, he has written for major corporations, colleges, and ministries. He has written for Coca-Cola, TNT Sports, Focus on the Family, Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, and The Urban Alternative. His stories have been featured in magazines including Private Colleges and Universities, In Touch, Leaders for Today, and The Hockey News. Creston makes his home in Georgia.

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The rest of the tour schedule can be found here.

FTC Information: I received this book through Media Guests for an honest review.  

I do make a small commission on purchases made through the links to The Book Depository and B&N.com on this blog.  Money made through these links will be used to host giveaways and to pay shipping on giveaways for the blog.  Thanks for helping.