Pudgy Penguin Perusals

Mailbox Monday

2012-01-29T16:51:00.000-05:00

Mailbox Monday is being hosted throughout the month of January by Alyce at At Home With Books.

This is a feature where we share what books entered our homes in the past week.

Caveat: MM can cause TBR lists to expand exponentially.

Paperback, 320 pages

Expected publication: February 7th 2012 by NAL Trade

ISBN: 0451237080 (ISBN13: 9780451237088)

From the publisher:
In this stunning debut set in the summer of 1944 in Tuscany, Giovanna Bellini, the daughter of a wealthy aristocrat and vineyard owner, has just turned seventeen and is on the cusp of adulthood. War bears down on her peaceful little village after the Italians sign a separate peace with the Allies—transforming the Germans into an occupying army. But when her brother joins the Resistance, he asks Giovanna to hide a badly wounded fighter who is Jewish. As she nurses him back to health, she falls helplessly in love with the brave and humble Marco, who comes from as ancient and noble an Italian family as she does. They pledge their love, and then must fight a real battle against the Nazis who become more desperate and cruel as the Allies close in on them...

Received from Berkley Nal for review

Hardcover, 352 pages
Published January 17th 2012 by HarperCollins Publishers (first published December 27th 2011)
ISBN: 0061995568 (ISBN13: 9780061995569)
series: Wedding Cake Mystery #2

From the publisher:Piper Donovan accepts when the owner of Elysium, an exclusive spa and plastic surgery center, offers her an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles to create a dazzling and unique wedding cake. The job also gives Piper the time and distance she needs to sort out her feelings for handsome FBI agent Jack Lombardi.

The ultra-luxurious spa caters to the rich and famous in need of a little “refreshing”—a nip here, a tuck there, a little Botox, a little detox. Nestled in the Hollywood Hills, Elysium seems picture-perfect: the grounds, the staff, even the guests. But no sooner does Piper arrive than a guest is brutally murdered in one of the private bungalows. Someone, it seems, wants to make sure Elysium’s beautiful director, Jillian Abernathy, never gets to walk down the aisle. Piper soon discovers that beneath the glamorous surface of this idyllic oasis lies an ugly truth—and a cold-blooded plan for murder.

Received from Harper Collins for review/giveaway.

Saturday Snapshot

2012-01-28T07:37:00.012-05:00

TBG has scanned some old photos into the computer for Family Tree. Just thought I'd post one of my favorites. The student driver (lol) is my dad and the teacher is my grandmother, Carrie. I never post photos of me on the internet but TBG and my kids say I look just like my grandmother in this photo (in my younger days, of course!). In other ones I have of her, I don't at all. Weird, huh!

I'm not sure when this was actually taken but my guess is 1910 or so. Don't you just love the hats?

Q & A & Giveaway : Erin Kelly, author of The Poison Tree

2012-01-26T15:37:00.001-05:00

Today, I'd like to welcome Erin Kelly, author of The Poison Tree and The Dark Rose. Erin is here to tell us a little bit about her latest book, The Dark Rose. After her Q&A, there is a giveaway. Let's see what Erin has to say.

Q. Is any part of THE DARK ROSE autobiographical, or is it wholly imagined?

A. Of course parts of me leak into my characters. I can only tell you about the aspects I am conscious of. I’m sure there are more. As one British reviewer recently told me, ‘Your readers know you better than you know yourself.’

The Dark Rose is told from the alternating points of view of 19-year-old Paul and Louisa, the older woman who eventually becomes his lover. Both of them embody different aspects of me at various times in my life.

Like Louisa, in my late teens I was a sucker for anything that was prefaced by the word ‘alternative’, whether music, therapy or religion, and it was great fun revisiting those years. I also had a terrible weakness for pretty boys who wanted to be rock stars, although in my case that did not prove fatal.

And like Paul, I grew up in Essex, the infamous county to the east of London that follows the Thames out to the North Sea. My home was bookish and sensitive, but the wider culture there is neither of those things, and when I was writing him I drew on memories of isolation that I sometimes felt growing up.

Q. Most of us have flirted with dangerous situations or people during adolescent and young adult years, but few pay the price that your protagonists, Paul and Louisa do? What inspired you to write about adolescence?

A. Late adolescence is when life really begins; those years are a perfect storm of freedom and curiosity, responsibility and impulsiveness. Life has not yet blunted the edges of our passion so little wonder we cut ourselves from time to time.

On a more practical level, during this period, life is relatively transient and that suited my plot. Without mortgages, careers or families to tie them down, my characters could easily uproot themselves, run away, begin new lives, and hide.

Q. Why did you choose the backdrop of a sixteenth-century English garden as the backdrop for this novel? Can you explain the title in the context of having chosen this as your setting?

A. I’ve always found inspiration in ancient places, and a few years ago I was walking in the gardens at Cawdor Castle in Scotland, when I found half-hidden in the grounds, a battered old VW Camper Van. The juxtaposition between this modern vehicle and the centuries-old garden got me thinking. What sort of person would stay in a place like that? Are they part of the life of the castle or separate from it? What’s their story? From there the character of Louisa slowly grew. She is so scarred by her past that she has rejected all the comforts and threats of contemporary life, content to immerse herself in history rather than deal with the present. This suited her character but also worked on a practical, plot-serving level. It’s not easy these days to live off-grid or under the radar, to remain untraceable, but when we meet Louisa at the beginning of the story, that is just what she has done.

Kelstice Lodge, the ruined Elizabethan hall whose garden Louisa is restoring, is my own invention, but is loosely based on a similar project at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire. It’s a huge, eerie place. Its crumbling red stone walls have witnessed blood-curdling scenes more powerful and violent than anything I could invent. While I was thinking about Louisa’s character, I happened to see a documentary on the English Heritage project to restore the gardens to the way they looked in 1575, when Elizabeth I came to stay.

The Kelstice Lodge project is on a much smaller scale, and infinitely less professional, but the seeds of inspiration were sown. (Incidentally, I got the name Kelstice from the pictures tacked to the wall in my study; a postcard showing a page from The Book of Kells was next to a flyer for a summer solstice party.)

As for the title, it’s open to a number of interpretations. There is a scene in the book where Louisa describes to Paul the curse of gardeners everywhere of Rose Sickness, a phenomenon whereby a newly-planted rose will fail to flourish in soil where another rose has been. (I believe it’s something to do with nitrates in the soil, but that’s as far as my understanding goes.) In Paul, Louisa thinks she has found the replacement for someone she loved and lost in violent circumstances when she was a girl. It is only when she accepts Paul on his own terms, rather as a simulacrum of someone else, that their relationship begins to deepen and flourish.

Q. What kind of research did you do for this book?

A. The Essex and London scenes I drew from memory, but to create Kelstice Lodge I visited Kenilworth Castle and other stately gardens. I also read an inspirational book called The Lost Gardens of Heligan by Tim Smit, which described a garden restoration project in Cornwall. I urge everyone to read it: beautifully written, it’s full of fascinating detail and has a wonderful true-life cast of quintessentially British eccentrics. Its romantic, shambolic spirit encapsulates life at Kelstice.

Funnily enough, the more technical knowledge about garden restoration I amassed, the less made it through into the text. What I didn’t do was actually pay any attention to my own little garden in London; I wrote much of The Dark Rose in the summer months, while the grass and weeds grew waist-high.

Q. In THE DARK ROSE you explore the extremes of obsessive love and loyalty, devotion and desperation, what about these themes inspired you to write about them?

A. What I have noticed on re-reading the novel is that obsessive love is just the springboard for the real issue; that is, how far we can all be pushed, the extraordinary potential within ordinary people – for good, as well as evil. As in my first novel, The Poison Tree, I’m interested in blurring the boundaries between good and bad, guilty and innocent, and obsessive, desperate love is one way to make people cross borders that previously seemed impassable. Throughout the novel, I also explore the idea of whether guilt can ever be shared, or if one party is always to blame, if it is always a case of strength versus weakness.

Q. Why did you decide to make the older character a woman? Do you think the story would be received differently had the ages of Paul and Louis been reversed? Was it easier to write the character of Louisa for you?

A. I did not consciously decide to write a love story between an older woman and a younger man; that’s just what character, and then plot, dictated. Of course, the dynamic would be different if the genders or ages were reversed but then it would not have been such an interesting story to write. Louisa is actually a classic case of arrested development, emotionally stunted and frozen at the age of 19, when her lover died. And Paul is in some ways sensitive and mature for his age, so in that sense it becomes a more equal relationship than the age gap would suggest. Actually, I think that their different upbringings – she comes from money and privilege, his background is far humbler – would be more of a stumbling block than the years between them.

As for writing Paul, there are some details of male adolescence I can only draw from imagination, but I can remember with cringing clarity how it feels to be a sensitive teenager overawed by the opposite sex.

Thank you so much, Erin, for visiting with us today. Your book sounds fascinating! Now for the giveaway details.

Pamela Dorman Books/Viking
On Sale February 6, 2012
ISBN: 978-0670-02328-8

Through the publisher's generosity, I have 3 sets ( 1 pb copy of The Poison Tree and 1 hc copy of The Dark Rose to a set) for giveaway. Open to US only . Deadline to enter is February 5th at 5 PM. Bonus entries available :

+1 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.

+3 for following through netwoked blogs

+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Affairs of Steak in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!

Wordless (sort of) Wednesday

2012-01-24T18:44:00.000-05:00

Do teens no longer talk to each other at all? Is it all texting or THIS? Here's how a girl asked my grandson to go to the prom. If she's waiting for him to bake a cake to answer- it will be a long time! I don't think the kitchen in my daughter's house gets too much use. (other than microwaving popcorn!)

For more wordless Wednesday, see HERE.

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intro: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

2012-01-24T07:22:00.000-05:00

Hardcover, 326 pages

Expected publication: February 7th 2012 by Putnam Juvenile (first published January 25th 2012)

ISBN: 0399257454 (ISBN13: 9780399257452)

edition language: English

original title: Born Wicked

series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1

"Our mother was a witch, too, but she hid it better. I miss her.
Not a single day goes by that I don't wish for her guidance. Especially about my sisters.

Tess runs ahead of me, heading for the rose garden-our sanctuary, our one safe place. Her slippers slide on the cobblestones, the hood of her gray cloak falling to reveal blonde curls. I glance back at the house. It's against the Brothers' strictures for girls to go out of doors uncloaked, and running isn't considered ladylike. But we're concealed from the house by tall hedges. Tess is safe. For now."

I don't know about you but I'm hooked! And you?

Yes?
No?
Maybe?

Mailbox Monday

2012-01-22T21:56:00.002-05:00

Mailbox Monday is being hosted throughout the month of January by Alyce at At Home With Books.
This is a feature where we share what books entered our homes in the past week. Three very different books showed up this past week, all looking interesting in their own way.

Paperback, 288 pages

Published November 1st 2011 by Berkley

ISBN: 0425244601 (ISBN13: 9780425244609)

edition language: English

series: Memphis Barbeque Mystery #3

setting: Tennessee(United States)

From the publisher:

BBQ-joint owner Lulu Taylor knows pretty much everyone in Memphis who lives ribs. But one person she'd rather not know is Tristan Pembroke, a snooty pageant couch with a mean streak. When she finds Tristan's dead body stuffed in a closet at a party, the police are suspicious- especially since Lulu's developed a taste for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Caught in a situation stickier than molasses, Lulu must clear her name, or risk getting fried...

Won from Karen at Bookin' with Bingo. Thanks again, Karen!

Paperback, 396 pages
Published December 27th 2011 by Voice
ISBN: 1401341675 (ISBN13: 9781401341671)
edition language: English

From the publisher:

It's been a busy few years since Jo Mackenzie lost her husband. Life has brought adventure, surprises, unexpected pleasures and, of course, lots of knitting. Jo's seaside yarn shop, with a brand-new cafe, has taken off, keeping her busier than ever. And being a single mum to two boys and a headstrong toddler, Pearl, is just as exhausting and enchanting as she thought it would be. On top of all that, celebrity diva Grace has a secret, Jo's firecracker best friend, Ellen, is launching a new television series, and lovable but hapless Martin continues his oft-misguided attempts to woo Jo. Just when Jo thinks she has about all she can handle, Daniel, Pearl's globe-trotting dad, turns up out of the blue...

With a little help from her friends and her beloved Gran, Jo is building a new life for herself by the sea, stitch by stitch.

Warm and witty, Knit One Pearl One will delight new readers to the Beach Street series and give the legions of existing fans a chance to visit the British seaside again, without having to worry about the weather.
Received from LT for review.

Hardcover, 326 pages

Expected publication: February 7th 2012 by Putnam Juvenile (first published January 25th 2012)

ISBN: 0399257454 (ISBN13: 9780399257452)

edition language: English

original title: Born Wicked

series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1

From the publisher:

Blessed with a gift...cursed with a secret.

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship - or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood - not even from each other.

Received from SA/putnam

Paperback, 432 pages

Published November 1st 2001 by Onyx (first published 1984)

ISBN: 0451410130 (ISBN13: 9780451410139)

original title: Spy Dance

From the publisher:

Someone has found him-and is blackmailing him to enter the dangerous game of international espionage once again. But there's one very deadly difference: this time, the target is his own country.

Received from the author as "consolation " prize for not winning his latest book, China Gambit. Works for me!

Review & Giveaway: Affairs of Steak by Julie Hyzy

2012-01-21T08:08:00.006-05:00

Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages

Expected publication: January 3rd 2012 by Penguin Group (USA)

ISBN: 0425245837 (ISBN13: 9780425245835)

edition language: English

series: A White House Chef Mystery #5

From the publisher:

White House chef Olivia Paras and her arch nemesis, White House Sensitivity Director Peter Everett Sargeant, must work together to solve the double murder of one of the First Lady's assistants and the Chief of Staff-before they become the next victims of a merciless assassin with a secret agenda.

My thoughts: Another fun culinary adventure with Ollie Paras and the staff at the White House. Hyzy consistently delivers the goods - well drawn characters, superb sense of place, excellent suspense set up, twists, and non-stop action. I swear my heart rate increased several times during this read, but in a good way of course!

It's obvious that Hyzy has done her homework regarding the day to day ops at the White House. With every book in the series I've read, I've learned something new while feeling that I was on hand with the characters as they went about their daily jobs.

Even though this is #5 in the series, it is easily a stand-alone. The advantages to reading from the beginning is that you can follow Ollie's career, all her escapades and her relationships. All books have numerous recipes at the end. A fun must-read for cozy fans! 4****

Julie Hyzy, a Barry and Anthony award winner, is also the author of the Manor House Mysteries. Julie can be found at her website and on facebook.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Due to the ever so generous Berkley, I am able to offer a giveaway of one copy of this book. Open to US only with the deadline to enter being Jan 29th at 5 PM (est). Bonus entries are as follows:

+1 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for following through netwoked blogs
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Affairs of Steak in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!

Winners of If Fried Chicken Could Fly by Paige Shelton

2012-01-19T08:12:00.001-05:00

Winners! We luv 'em here at PPP!

Who are the latest winners?

Through the generosity of Berkley I had one copy to give away but then Paige Shelton, the author of If Fried Chicken Could Fly, offered to send a copy to the second winner. Don't you just love wonderful authors like that?

So, without further ado, the two winners selected by random.org are :

Wendy and Margot. Congrats, those bonus entries paid off! An e mail has been sent.

Didn't win this one? Affairs of Steak by Julie Hyzy giveaway is coming up shortly. I just finished the book and it's a good one!

First Chapter First ParagraphTuesday Intros

2012-01-17T07:16:00.024-05:00

Hardcover, 416 pages

Published June 23rd 2011 by Michael Joseph (first published May 2011)

ISBN

0718154959 (ISBN13: 9780718154950)

edition language: English

original title: Blue Monday

series: Frieda Klein #1

(excerpt taken from an ARC)

In this city there were many ghosts. She had to take care. She avoided the cracks between the paving stones, skipping and jumping, her feet in their scuffed lace-up shoes landing in the blank spaces. She was nimble at this hopscotch by now. She had done it every day on the way to school and back ever since she could remember, first holding on to her mother's hand, dragging and jerking her as she leaped from one safe place to the next; then on her own. Don't step on the cracks. Or what? She was probably too old for such a game now, already nine, and in a few weeks' time she would be ten, just before the summer holidays began. Still she played it, mostly out of habit but also nervous about what might happen if she stopped.

Verdict?

Keep reading or say "nuts to this" and throw it in the DNF pile?

Monday Mailbox

2012-01-15T20:30:00.002-05:00

Mailbox Monday is being hosted throughout the month of January by Alyce at At Home With Books.
This is a feature where we share what books entered our homes in the past week.

Caveat: Mailbox Monday can lead to exponentially exploding tbr/wish lists.

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication: uary 7th 2012 by Penguin Group (USA) (first published February 22nd 2011)

ISBN: 0452297605 (ISBN13: 9780452297609)

series: Elm Creek Quilts #17

From the publisher:

In 1862, the men of Water's Ford, Pennsylvania, rally to President Lincoln's call while Dorothea Granger marshals her friends to "wield their needles for the Union." Meanwhile, Anneke Bergstrom hides the shame she feels for her husband's pacifism; gifted writer Gerda Bergstrom takes on local Southern sympathizers in the pages of the Water's Ford Register; and Constance Wright struggles to help her husband gain entry to the Union Army-despite the color of his skin. As the women work, hope, and pray, the men they love confront loneliness, boredom, and danger on the battlefield. But the women of the sewing circle also forge a new independence that will forever alter the patchwork of life in the Elm Creek Valley.

Received from SA/Plume

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: February 14th 2012 by St. Martin's Press

ISBN: 0312658516 (ISBN13: 9780312658519)

From the publisher:

Maya is an accomplished psychiatry resident with a terrific boyfriend, loving family, and bustling New York social life. When her grandmother dies in India, a family squabble over property results in a curse that drifts across continents and threatens Maya's life. Or so her father says-- Maya (being a modern woman, an American, and a doctor, for goodness' sake) doesn't believe in curses, Brahman, or otherwise. But when her father suffers a heart attack, her sister miscarries, and her career and relationship both start to falter, Maya starts to worry. A trip back to India with her best friend Heidi, Maya reasons, will be just what's needed to remove the curse, save her family, and to put her own life back in order. Thus begins a journey into Maya's parallel world-- an India filled with loving and annoying relatives, vivid colors, and superstitious customs--a cross-cultural, transcontinental search to for a chance to find real love.

Received from SA/St. Martin's Press

Waiting on Wednesday: Joshilyn Jackson

2012-01-11T08:15:00.001-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating! Want to participate? Post your own WOW entry on your blog, and leave your link at Breaking the Spine.

Hardcover, 352 pages
Expected publication: January 25th 2012 by Grand Central Publishing (first published January 1st 2012)
ISBN: 0446582352 (ISBN13: 9780446582353)

A GROWN-UP KIND OF PRETTY is a powerful saga of three generations of women, plagued by hardships and torn by a devastating secret, yet inextricably joined by the bonds of family. Fifteen-year-old Mosey Slocumb-spirited, sassy, and on the cusp of womanhood-is shaken when a small grave is unearthed in the backyard, and determined to figure out why it's there. Liza, her stroke-ravaged mother, is haunted by choices she made as a teenager. But it is Jenny, Mosey's strong and big-hearted grandmother, whose maternal love braids together the strands of the women's shared past--and who will stop at nothing to defend their future.

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

2012-01-10T07:01:00.026-05:00

Hardcover, 384 pages

Expected publication: January 24th 2012 by Harper Collins / Balzer + Bray

ISBN: 0062071130 (ISBN13: 9780062071132)

edition language: English

original title: Everneath

series: Everneath #1

characters: Nikki Beckett, Jack Caputo

(Excerpt from an ARC)

I was picturing his face--a boy with floppy brown hair and bown eyes--when the Feed ended.

     At first I didn't know what had happened. I didn't know where I was or why it was so dark. I knew only that the pain inside of me--the feeling that I was being drained from the inside out--had subsided, and now everything was numb. Maybe I no longer existed.

     I wasn't alone.
                                                ............................................................................
*Shiver* Creepy with a capital C! Yow!!

What say ye? Yea or nay to reading more?

Mailbox Monday

2012-01-08T20:36:00.008-05:00

Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: February 2nd 2012 by Penguin Group USA, Inc

ISBN: 0670023280 (ISBN13: 9780670023288)

From the publisher:
Paul was led into a life of crime by his boyhood protector, a bully named Daniel; but one night, what started as a petty theft turned into a grisly murder. Now, at nineteen, Paul must bear witness against his friend to avoid prison. Louisa's own dark secrets led her to flee a desperate infatuation gone wrong many years before. Now she spends her days steeped in history, renovating the grounds of a crumbling Elizabethan garden. But her fragile peace is shattered when she meets Paul; he's the spitting image of the one person she never thought she'd see again.

These two, scarred and solitary, begin a secret affair. Louisa starts to believe she can again find the happiness she had given up on. But neither of them can outrun his violent past.

A story of secrets and guilt set among the ruins of a sixteenth- century English garden, The Dark Rose explores the extremes of obsessive love and loyalty, devotion and desperation. Like Kelly's critically acclaimed debut novel, The Poison Tree, this fantastically creepy, atmospheric novel thrills until the final shocking moments.

NOTE: Sounds good, doesn't it? The author, Erin Kelly, will be visiting P.P.P. sometime this month and there will be a fantastic giveaway for 3 sets of Erin's books. A set will include one hardcover copy of The Dark Rose and one paperback copy of The Poison Tree. How's that for a generous publisher!!

Review & Giveaway: If Fried Chicken Could Fly by Paige Shelton

2012-01-08T08:06:00.015-05:00

Paperback, 304 pages

Expected publication: January 3rd 2012 by Berkley

ISBN: 0425245853 (ISBN13: 9780425245859)

edition language: English

series:Gram’s Country Cooking School Mystery #1

From the publisher:

At Gram's Country Cooking School, Betts and Gram are helping students prepare the perfect dishes for the Southern Missouri Show-Down, the cook-off that draws the first of the summer visitors. Everything is going smoothly until they discover the body of local theater owner Everett Morningside in the school's supply closet, and Everett's widow points an accusatory finger at Gram. Now, Betts has to dig deep into Broken Rope's history to find the modern-day killer-before the last piece of chicken is served.

My thoughts: It's not going to be easy for Betts to clear her Gram's good name as Gram is not too forthcoming with info about her relationship to the victim. Having Cliff, the former love of her life, back in town as part of the police force is throwing her for a loop. She's still hung up on him. Along with this she has to keep the cooking school up and running.

Paranormal elements in a cozy mystery don't really appeal to me but somehow, in this one, it worked. Some of the things I liked about this mystery were the characters and the history about the fictitious small town of Broken Rope, Missouri. Gram, Betts and the ghostly Jerome were likeable, well fleshed out and rang true to me even though one was a ghost. Go figure!

One thing I would have liked to have seen more of is viable motives at the beginning. The book is well under way before motives start to pop up even though the body is discovered right at the beginning. That's another thing I do like - action right off the bat!

This is the first in Gram's country cooking series and I think I would read the next one. The recipes included at the end sounded really tasty. All in all, a good start to a new series. 3***

Paige Shelton is also the author of the Farmer's Market series. Paige is a Goodreads author and can also be found at her website.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Due to the ever so generous Berkley, I am able to offer a giveaway of one copy of this book. Open to US only with the deadline to enter being Jan 18th at 5 PM (est). Bonus entries are as follows:
NOTE: Paige just e mailed me she will send a copy also. So, now the giveaway will be 2 copies! US only.
+1 for being a follower, old or new on GFC . .OR

+3 for following on Networked blogs. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.

+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Win Fried Chicken in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!

Don't you just love it?

2012-01-04T16:46:00.001-05:00

I can't wait for season 2 to start. I'm in love with these characters! Maggie Smith is fantastic in her role. Do you like the setting and the costumes? How about plot, timeframe and dialogue?

For me, it's all of these elements together.

Are YOU a fan?

Watch Downton Abbey, Season 1: The Costumes on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros

2012-01-03T07:45:00.004-05:00

Hardcover, 363 pages

Published November 15th 2011 by Razorbill

ISBN: 1595143394 (ISBN13: 9781595143396)

edition language: English

original title: The Space Between

(excerpt from an ARC)

I'm watching North by Northwest when the picture goes out on the TV. It's at the part where Thornhill is being chased by the airplane and the scene is very tense. The the sound cuts off abruptly and Cary Grant dissolves into a sea of tiny dots.

My mother's silhouette appears in the glass, dim and faceless. When she speaks, her voice comes from far away, distorted by the hiss of static. "I need you to come up here".

She vanishes again before I can answer and the picture doesn't come back I know I should go up and see what she wants, but just for now, I don't move.

Hmmmmm . . . interesting. What does the mother want? Is some melodrama about to unfold?

Wadda ya think?

Read on or say "phooey" and cast it aside?

Off the Shelf Challenge reading list 2012

2012-01-02T12:48:00.024-05:00

Goal Hoarder level - 76 - 135 books

January

An Irish Christmas by Melody Carlson (e-book)
The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson (e-book)
Perfect Timing by Jill Mansell (e-book)
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery (e book)
Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maude Montgomery (e book)
Anne of the Island by Lucy Maude Montgomery (e book)
Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun by Lois Winston (e book)
Siam Nights by J.F. Gump
Never Buried by Edie Claire (e book)
Mitigating Circumstances by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg
Millie's Fling by Jill Mansell (e book)
Scandalous Spirits by C.B. Scott (e book)
The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley (e book)
The Island of Dangerous Dreams by Joan Lowery Nixon
To Speak for the Dead by Paul Levine (e book)
Fudge-Laced Felonies by Cynthia Hickey

Cruising Thru the Cozies Challenge reading list

2012-01-02T12:47:00.008-05:00

January

The Moon Spinners by Sally Goldenbaum
If Fried Chicken Could Fly by Paige Shelton
Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun by Lois Winston
Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Never Buried by Edie Claire
Affairs of Steak by Julie Hyzy
Scandalous Spirits by C.B.Scott
To Speak for the Dead by Paul Levine
Fudge-Laced Felonies

Read in 2012

2012-01-02T08:39:00.029-05:00

Here is where I plan to keep a record of books read and to be read. Once I finish the book it will be rated. If there is no rating, it means I just want to read that book in that month.

Ratings criteria or what I call the "put down, pick up factor":

1* put it down and leave it down, couldn't stand it, best used as a paperweight, doorstop or kindling.
2* meh, could take it or leave it but mostly leave it. I could put it down and not care if I picked it up again or not
3* okay enjoyable read, although I liked it, I could put it down easily and not rush back to continue
4* I really liked this one, I could put it down but reluctantly and was anxious to get back to it
5* Loved it! Couldn't put it down and if I absolutely had to ( if something was on fire or flooding) I couldn't wait to get back to it.

January

Moon Spinners by Sally Goldenbaum 299 pp 4****
An Irish Christmas by Melody Carlson (nook) 145 pp 3.5***
The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson (nook) 132 pp 3.5***
If Fried Chicken Could Fly by Paige Shelton 296 pp 3***
Perfect Timing by Jill Mansell (nook) 370 pp 4****
Sea of Poppies by Amitov Ghosh 468 pp 2.5**
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery (nook) 4****
Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maude Montgomery (nook) 196 pp 3***
Anne of the Island by Lucy Maude Montgomery (nook) 170 pp 3***
Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke 322 pp 3.5***
84 Charing Cross Road by Helen Hanff 2**
Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun by Lois Winston (kindle) 3.5***
22 Britania Road by Amanda Hodgkinson 321 pp 3***
Siam Nights by J.F. Gump 285 pp 2.5**
Affairs of Steak by Julie Hyzy 292 pp 3.5***
Never Buried by Edie Claire (kindle) 4****
Mitigating Circumstances by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg 416 pp 3***
Millie's Fling by Jill Mansell 512 pp (kindle) 5*****
The Darlings by Christina Alger 338 pp (arc) 4****
Scandalous Spirits by C.B. Scott (kindle) 3***
The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley (kindle) 3.5***
To Speak for the Dead by Paul Levine (kindle) 3.5***
The Island of Dangerous Dreams by Joan Lowery Nixon 186 pp 2**
Fudge-Laced Felonies by Cynthia Hickey (e book)

February

Justice Denied by Robert Tanenbaum
Voices of the Dead (PIC tour)
Knit One Pearl One by Gil Mcneil (LT)
The Look of Love by Mary Jane Clark (hc)
Cake on a Hot Tin Roof by Jacklyn Brady (berkley)

March

Haunted Ground by Erin Hart (winter challenge, own books)
Bad Boy by Peter Robinson (winter challenge, own books)

April

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T17:53:00.000-05:00

glitter-graphics.com

Review: The Crossley ID Guide Eastern Birds by

2011-12-31T12:51:00.002-05:00

Hardcover, 544 pages

Published February 21st 2011 by Princeton University Press

ISBN: 0691147787 (ISBN13: 9780691147789)

edition language: English

From the publisher:

This stunningly illustrated book from acclaimed birder and photographer Richard Crossley revolutionizes birding by providing the first real-life approach to identification. Whether you are a beginner, expert, or anywhere in between, The Crossley ID Guide will vastly improve your ability to identify birds.

Unlike other guides, which provide isolated individual photographs or illustrations, this is the first book to feature large, lifelike scenes for each species. These scenes--640 in all--are composed from more than 10,000 of the author's images showing birds in a wide range of views--near and far, from different angles, in various plumages and behaviors, including flight, and in the habitat in which they live. These beautiful compositions show how a bird's appearance changes with distance, and give equal emphasis to characteristics experts use to identify birds: size, structure and shape, behavior, probability, and color. This is the first book to convey all of these features visually--in a single image--and to reinforce them with accurate, concise text. Each scene provides a wealth of detailed visual information that invites and rewards careful study, but the most important identification features can be grasped instantly by anyone.

My Thoughts: Obviously, a weighty book of this size (8" x 10" x 1 3/4") is not meant to be stuck in your backpack or pocket while out bird watching but it's to be savored at home in a comfy spot.

The Crossley ID guide contains a wealth of info in the introductory pages telling you all you need to know in interpreting the data. I liked the way the cover and first few pages break the guide down into categories and sub-categories such as: waterbirds; swimming, flying and walking. Game birds, raptors and songbirds are several more categories. There are almost 200 pages alone on songbirds. Just gorgeous photos!

Covering eastern North America and Canada, the book contains some 640 color plates showing the birds in lifelike scenes in their natural habitat, from close ups to far views. It's the way we see birds in nature. Below each plate, are the common names, scientific names of the species and th 4 letter abbreviations used commonly in bird guides. Also included is the average length of the bird.

Although there is a map with every plate showing the habitat of that particular bird, the back cover page shows a large map of the areas covered in the entire guide complete with color key. An extensive index is also included at the end of the guide.

My only quibble, and that's just me, is that I found the print to be quite small. Be sure to have your reading glasses handy. I found the book to be a lot easier to use than The National Audubon Field Guide for North American Birds that we currently use. What a wonderful gift this would make for beginner birders or for those very experienced. It is not only informative but truly a feast for the eyes.

For an interactive website you can visit here.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by PT Reviewer rewards in exchange for my honest opinion.

Mini-reveiw: Orchestrated Murder by Rick Blechta

2011-12-29T09:05:00.015-05:00

Paperback, 128 pages

Published October 1st 2011 by Raven Books

ISBN: 1554698855 (ISBN13: 9781554698851)

When Detective Pratt arrives at Symphony Hall to see what all the brouhaha is about, he is told that Luigi Spadini, the orchestra leader is dead; not of natural causes judging by the cello wire wrapped around his neck. Detective Pratt and his rookie squad member, Ellis, start the investigation in the normal way but are flummoxed when they find out the entire orchestra has confessed to his murder. Really? Seriously? I ccouldn't get 4 people to agree on dinner, never mind getting a large crowd to lie about committing a major felony. A little implausible to say the least.

As it turns out, of course, everyone hated Spadini; admittedly a genius but he was a tough taskmaster, a womanizer and just a plain old SOB. It seems the orchestra members used to joke about the different methods of doing him in. I guess someone really meant it!

Even though Ellis is brand new in the department, he is skilled in technology while Detective Pratt is pretty much just putting in time until his retirement and thinks technology a waste of effort. Good old-fashioned police work should suffice. You guessed it! The rookie shows up the veteran detective.

Quite the clichéd plot we have here. No sense of place and with little character development along with a few weak plot points, this book was a "meh" read for me. The best thing about it is it's brevity.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Raven Books/ LT in exchange for my honest opinion.

Waiting on Wednesday: A Hundred Flowers by Gail Tsukiyama

2011-12-28T05:29:00.042-05:00

A Hundred Flowers by Gail Tsukiyama

288 pages
Expected publication: August 7th 2012 by MPS
ISBN 1429961694 (ISBN13: 9781429961691)

Ever since I read Women of the Silk and the sequel, Language of Threads, I've been a huge fan of Tsukiyama's books. The Street of a Thousand Blossoms is one of my all time favorites. It's been a long wait for this new one but I'm sure it will be worth it.

*Sigh* Is it August yet?

From the publisher:

A powerful new novel about an ordinary family facing extraordinary times at the start of the Chinese Cultural Revolution China, 1957. Chairman Mao has declared a new openness in society: “Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend.” Many intellectuals fear it is only a trick, and Kai Y ing’s husband, Sheng, a teacher, has promised not to jeopardize their safety or that of their young son, T ao. But one July morning, just before his sixth birthday, Tao watches helplessly as Sheng is dragged away for writing a letter criticizing the Communist Party and sent to a labor camp for “reeducation.”

A year later, still missing his father desperately, Tao climbs to the top of the hundred-year-old kapok tree in front of their home, wanting to see the mountain peaks in the distance. But Tao slips and tumbles thirty feet to the courtyard below, badly breaking his leg. As Kai Ying struggles to hold her small family together in the face of this shattering reminder of her husband’s absence, other members of the household must face their own guilty secrets and strive to find peace in a world where the old sense of order is falling. Once again, Tsukiyama brings us a powerfully moving story of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances with grace and courage.

2011 Wrap up

2011-12-27T07:46:00.006-05:00

Wow, it's that time again. Where has the year gone? Time for the end of year look back on what was read, what was enjoyed the most and what was the most disappointing. I'm just posting a link to my read in 2011 post in case you're interested. Honestly, I don't know how I even read 280 books. Okay, maybe I do. My closets need a good cleaning out and so does a lot of other places here. The yard needs a ton of attention. Let's just say when I get into a good book, housework/yardwork gets put on the back burner. Luckily, TBG doesn't mind helping out in the house and is a fair hand in the kitchen.

So, lets get to it. Although I read a lot of excellent books this year, ones that I just couldn't put down for anything were few and far between. Only 4 books earned that elusive 5* rating from me.

The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman
Summer in the South by Cathy Holton
The Peachkeeper by Sarah Addison Allen
The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston

Most Disappointing: I had read positive reviews and was really hoping for better.

The Lake by Banana Yoshimoto
Cemetery Girl by David Bell
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

Surprise reads: (never heard of the author but really liked the books). Actually there were quite a few of these but the standouts are:

Front Porch Prophet by Raymond Atkins
Home to Woefield by Susan Juby
A Pinch of Love by Alicia Bessett

Worst book read:

I Shall Not Want by Debbie Viguié ( a cozy mystery, no less)

Here is just a reiteration of how I rate books, mainly to remind myself how I felt about the book while reading.

Ratings criteria or what I call the "put down, pick up factor":

1* put it down and leave it down, couldn't stand it, best used as a paperweight, doorstop or kindling.
2* meh, could take it or leave it but mostly leave it. I could put it down and not care if I picked it up again or not
3* okay enjoyable read, although I liked it, I could put it down easily and not rush back to continue
4* I really liked this one, I could put it down but reluctantly and was somewhat anxious to get back to it
5* Loved it! Couldn't put it down and if I absolutely had to ( if something was on fire or flooding) I couldn't wait to get back to it.

I'd also like to take this time to thank each and every person who stopped by for a visit here at Pudgy Penguin Perusals. Your thoughts and comments are always much appreciated.You all make the on-line reading community the special place that it is. I've really enjoyed reading your blogs; your thoughts, friendships, creativity and posts that let me get to know you better and for all of your recommendations that expanded my reading. Here's hoping for a fantastic year ahead with good books to read and share, good health and happiness to all of you and yours.

I'd also like to thank every publisher who sent me a review book, provided 52 copies for giveaways, and every author who graced these pages with their thoughts in a guest post.

There you have it! I can't wait to see your lists. What were your faves and disappointments? Loves and hates? Do you have any plans to do anything differently in 2012?

Mailbox Monday

2011-12-25T19:31:00.004-05:00

Mailbox Monday, originally started by Marcia is now on a rotating schedule. December's host is Let Them Read Books.

Caveat: MM can lead to exponentially exploding TBR lists.

Received from Berkley for review/giveaway

Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: January 3rd 2012 by Berkley
ISBN: 0425245853 (ISBN13: 9780425245859)
edition language: English
series: Gram’s Country Cooking School Mystery #1

From the publisher: Gram's Country Cooking School, Betts and Gram are helping students prepare the perfect dishes for the Southern Missouri Show-Down, the cook-off that draws the first of the summer visitors. Everything is going smoothly until they discover the body of local theater owner Everett Morningside in the school's supply closet, and Everett's widow points an accusatory finger at Gram. Now, Betts has to dig deep into Broken Rope's history to find the modern-day killer-before the last piece of chicken is served.

Received from Berkley for review/giveaway

Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: January 3rd 2012 by Penguin Group (USA)
ISBN: 0425245837 (ISBN13: 9780425245835)
edition language: English
series: A White House Chef Mystery

From the publisher: White House chef Olivia Paras and her arch nemesis, White House Sensitivity Director Peter Everett Sargeant, must work together to solve the double murder of one of the First Lady's assistants and the Chief of Staff-before they become the next victims of a merciless assassin with a secret agenda.

Received an ARC from SA/Viking

Hardcover, 416 pages

Published June 23rd 2011 by Michael Joseph (first published May 2011)

ISBN: 0718154959 (ISBN13: 9780718154950)

edition language: English

original title: Blue Monday

series: Frieda Klein #1

From the publisher: Monday, the lowest point of the week. A day of dark impulses. A
day to snatch a child from the streets ...

The abduction of five-year-old Matthew Farraday provokes national outcry and a desperate police hunt. And when his face is splashed over the newspapers, psychotherapist Frieda Klein is left troubled: one of her patients has been relating dreams in which he has a hunger for a child. A child he can describe in perfect detail, a child the spitting image of Matthew.

Detective Chief Inspector Karlsson doesn't take Frieda's concerns seriously until a link emerges with an unsolved abduction twenty years ago and he summons Frieda to interview the victim's sister, hoping she can stir hidden memories. Before long, Frieda is at the centre of the race to track the kidnapper. But her race isn't physical. She must chase down the darkest paths of a psychopath's mind to find the answers to Matthew Farraday's whereabouts. And sometimes the mind is the deadliest place to lose yourself.

Won from Bookreporter.com Holiday contest

Hardcover, 256 pages
Published October 27th 2011 by Penguin Group USA, Inc
ISBN: 0670023116 (ISBN13: 9780670023110)

From the publisher:
An evocative and stunning photographic tribute to America's railroad stations.

For much of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the railroad station or depot was the communal hub of every American town that could boast of train service. There, citizens gathered before they sent loved ones off to college, marriage, or war-and where they greeted them on their return. Most of these buildings were architectural gems, and while many are still in service, certain others now house museums, banks, restaurants, and more. In fact, in cities like Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, renovated stations are destinations unto themselves even for those not boarding the train. And in other places, whole sections of towns have been remade around these structures, restoring their vitality in novel and interesting ways long after the last train has left the station.

In America's Great Railroad Stations, award-winning photographer Roger Straus III, and two lifelong railroad buffs, Ed Breslin and Hugh Van Dusen, join forces to tell the astonishing story of these enduring structures and the important role they still play in the country's landscape. Journeying from the Pennsylvania Railroad to the Union Pacific to Michigan Central and more, readers will be dazzled by the Beaux Arts monuments of New York and the adobe buildings of the Southwest. Filled with both new and archival photographs and drawings, this volume is a glorious salute to the institution that transformed our nation.

This one made a nice little gift to TBG as he is a railroad fanatic.

Review & Giveaway: The Last Word by Ellery Adams

2011-12-20T13:58:00.000-05:00

Paperback, 304 pages

Expected publication: December 6th 2011 by Berkley

ISBN: 0425245004 (ISBN13: 9780425245002)

edition language : English

series: A Books By The Bay Mystery #3

setting : Oyster Bay, NC

From the publisher:
Olivia Limoges and the Bayside Book Writers are excited about Oyster Bay's newest resident: bestselling novelist Nick Plumley, who's come to work on his next book. But when Olivia stops by Plumley's rental she finds that he's been strangled to death. Her instincts tell her that something from the past came back to haunt him, but she never expects that the investigation could spell doom for one of her dearest friends...

My thoughts: What worked so well for me, besides an extremely good mystery plot with some wonderful characters, was the emotional growth in Olivia. It's as if her formerly cold heart has been melted. Meeting the half brother and his family she didn't know existed a while ago, has really changed her. She's not the aloof loner she once was. Finding some family has done Olivia a world of good. It's made her into a very likeable and vulnerable character.

I loved the fact that the author took historical facts from WWII and wove a story around them. During WWII POW camps existed throughout North Carolina. In the author's note, Ellery tells how quickly and easily assimilated the prisoners became to the area even though the camps were very secretive and not a lot of Carolinians knew about them.

Their story comes to life as Ellery's character, Olivia, searches for a reason why the famed author, Nick Plumley, was so interested in the house her friend, Harris Williams was buying. Did Nick have ties to the house or the area? Digging into the house's past and Nick's past leads Olivia in some very interesting and exciting directions while looking for clues to Nick's murder. Even her writer's group is put on hold as Ellery conducts her investigation.

"Talk to the chief." Olivia rose and carefully shouldered the tote bag. "And forget about critiquing my chapter on Saturday. We've got more important things to do."

Harris absently put a hand to his throat. "Like staying alive."

Hmmm... ayup, that could be the tricky part!

This is one of Ellery's best books so far in my opinion. Ellery has developed her characters fully and placed them in a lovely shore setting. Another of the elements I appreciated in the story was the sense of place; Ellery has the beach setting feel down to perfection. Elley Adams, pen name of J.B. Stanley is one of my favorite cozy writers and has been for years with her supper club series but this latest Books by the Bay series is outdoing the supper club. The first book, Killer Plot, set in Oyster Bay was good, but this one tops that by a mile. Well done, Ellery! I can't wait for # 4, Written in Stone. 4****

For more about the author, you can visit her at her website or FB page.

Due to the ever so generous Berkley, I am able to offer a giveaway of one copy of this book. Open to US only with the deadline to enter being Dec 28th at 5 PM (est). Bonus entries are as follows:

+2 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Win The Last Word in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review and Giveaway: Threadbare by Monica Ferris

2011-12-18T08:04:00.001-05:00

Hardcover, 272 pages

Expected publication: December 6th 2011 by Berkley Hardcover

ISBN: 0425243583 (ISBN13: 9780425243589)

original title: Threadbare

series: A Needlecraft Mystery #15

From the publisher:

When an elderly homeless woman is found dead on the shore of Lake Minnetonka, she's wearing something that holds the key to her identity but also opens up a mystery. Embroidered on her blouse is her will, in which she bequeaths everything she owns to her niece-Emily Hame, a member of the Monday Bunch at Betsy Devonshire's Crewel World needlework shop!

Emily's aunt turns out to be the second homeless woman to be found dead under mysterious circumstances. It's up to Betsy to discover the common thread between the deaths-and to determine if a murderer may strike again.

Betsy gets drawn into the investigation at the bequest of Margaret, one of her customers. The first homeless woman was Margaret's cousin and there was a bit of bad blood between them. Of course, the police upon hearing of this determined that Margaret was a person of interest. She begs Betsy to look into it since Betsy has the reputation as a successful amateur sleuth.

The problems begin when numerous motives are uncovered and suspects start to pop up. With the help of Annie, another homeless woman who knew the two deceased women, Betsy carries out her investigation from Excelsior all the way to Fargo. One of the big problems is who was the intended target? The first body found or the second? Who actually died first? Since they were both found frozen in the snow, it's hard to determine. Even with some "inside" help, it's going to be a case that is all tied up in knots and Betsy has her work cut out for her untangling all the threads in the lives of these two women.

Although this is # 15 in the series, I don't feel like I missed anything by only having read a couple of the previous books. This one is easily a stand-alone. As far as the mystery goes, this was a good one due to the two deaths that had a lot of things in common. The fact that the women knew each other, both had relatives in town, and both had stayed at the same shelter made for some intriguing reading. The reader is not quite sure who the intended target was if not both. Why on earth would someone have it in for homeless women. Why would a homeless woman who owns next to nothing even make a will in the first place? Veddddy vedddy interesting!

Due to the ever so generous Berkley, I am able to offer a giveaway of one copy of this book. Open to US only with the deadline to enter being Dec 27th at 5 PM (est). Bonus entries are as follows:

+2 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Win Threadbare in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Saturday Snapshot: One more

2011-12-17T07:35:00.001-05:00

I can't believe Christmas is only a week from tomorrow!

Giveaway/guest post by Susan Frasier King, author of Queen Hereafter: A Novel of Margaret of Scotland

2011-12-16T08:29:00.000-05:00

I'd like to welcome Susan Frasier King to PPP today. I asked her to tell us a little bit about Margaret, the lead character in her new book, Queen Hereafter. Here's what Susan has to say. Giveaway opportunity at end.

Researching Margaret

Queen Hereafter tells the story of Margaret of Scotland, queen of Scots in the 11th century—a Saxon princess, Hungarian-born, she was descended from Alfred the Great and became a refugee from the Norman Conquest. Shipwrecked with her escaping family along the Scottish coast, she married her protector, King Malcolm Canmore, who had defeated Macbeth for the throne of Scotland. Margaret succeeded Lady Macbeth as queen of Scots, and so she seemed a perfect subject for a sequel to my novel about Lady Macbeth—and Margaret was an intriguing woman in her own right.

A good deal is known about Margaret, which is unusual in an early medieval queen and made the research and the writing easier in some ways than my novel about Lady Macbeth—and in some ways more complicated, as so much was known that some, inevitably, had to be cut from the novel. The contrasts in Margaret’s life and character were fascinating—piety and worldly power, gentleness and temper, obedience and mischief, saintliness and temptation: all those angles were part of her. She emerges from history as a real young woman thanks to a rare medieval biography written by her friend and confessor, Bishop Turgot—who seemed a pretty dry character in history until I discovered that Turgot, or Thorgaut, was a Viking name, and that this priest and monk had previously escaped from a Norman prison and had been shipwrecked and rescued by monks, so that he joined their order after his recovery. Tor, as he’s called in the novel, idealized his friend Queen Margaret, but in his biography of her, he left tantalizing hints of a vital, fascinating young woman.

Her biographer seems to have fallen under Margaret's spell—which says something about her personality. Reading between the lines of Turgot’s biography, Margaret comes across as a very real and fascinating character. And there is a lovely fairytale element to her true story that has such naturally romantic elements that a story was easy to develop: a beautiful, exiled young princess, a shipwreck, love at first sight (so says Turgot!), a brawny royal husband who adored her, eight healthy children, and enough charm and determination in this foreign queen to win the affection of the resistant Scots and then change them, bringing them from the Dark Ages, basically, into the Middle Ages. Margaret’s influence in that transition was quite significant, as medieval historians note about her. Yet some inner torment kept Margaret from being truly happy despite all she had – her story was hard for a historical novelist to resist.

Margaret is a crucial part of Scottish history at a critical moment, the period of the Norman Conquest of England, which threatened Scotland’s well-being too. She had a cosmopolitan upbringing in Hungary and then the English court; Edward the Confessor was her uncle, and after his death, when the Normans invaded England, she and her mother and siblings fled. Their ship wrecked on the Scottish coast and they came under the protection of Malcolm Canmore – and Margaret’s contribution to Scottish history, and to the history of women in power, began.

Turgot created an amazing document in his Vita S. Margaretae, written for Margaret’s daughter—it’s full of wonderful anecdotes about her, insights into her character, and verifiable facts. Other sources mention Margaret and her family, such as in annals and charters. The rest of the picture is provided by historical events and the actions of her husband, Malcolm Canmore, her brother, Edgar the Aetheling, and others.

Despite the amount of information available about the real Margaret, writing a novel about her required filling lots of historical gaps, extrapolating and leaping in order to bring history to life. I wanted Margaret to emerge in the novel as a real, vulnerable, sympathetic character. Part of the challenge was that she was represented as perfect and virtuous in her lifetime, a woman who later was named a saint. But along with the perfection were hints of flaws and quirks, such as her temper, her sharp intelligence, her impatience, her tendency to be very hard on herself and others, all revealed by her biographer along with her more idealized qualities. I was looking for the real Margaret, a young woman in a strange land, who was not always so sure of herself—a young woman who fell in love with a man who was very nearly her complete opposite—a love match that even the earliest historical sources attest—and a woman who loved deeply, passionately, not only her husband and children, but her loyalties, her causes and charities, and her adopted country of Scotland. I discovered that Margaret of Scotland was a complex woman who seemed very real to me—and I hope she seems that way to readers of Queen Hereafter too.

Thank you, Susan, for visiting today and letting us see how you did such extensive research. Quite fascinating!

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published December 7th 2010 by Crown (first published December 2nd 2010)

ISBN:0307452794 (ISBN13: 9780307452795)

edition language: English

characters: Saint Margaret of Scotland

Like what you read? Would you like your own copy? Thanks to The generosity of Crown Publishing, 2 giveaway copies are available. Open to US only. Just leave a comment saying you would like to be entered. Be sure to leave an e mail in your comment. Deadline to enter is Dec 23rd.

Wordless Wednesday: Ack! Interloper, interloper

2011-12-14T06:30:00.020-05:00

For more Wordless Wednesday see HERE.

Ack!! Warning: Intruder, interloper!

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intro

2011-12-13T07:15:00.002-05:00

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published December 7th 2010 by Crown (first published December 2nd 2010)

ISBN

0307452794 (ISBN13: 9780307452795)

edition language: English

characters: Saint Margaret of Scotland

"Caught between two willful queens, I am, and should have taken more care to tread lightly--like crossing a stream over slippery stones when the current is strong and cold. Now that I have stumbled deep, who can say whether my two queens will forgive me or condemn me for what I did at each one's bidding. No servant, I am free to do as I please. Margaret and Gruadh disagree."

Wow! I know I want to keep reading to see what the narrator did that needs forgiveness or will bring condemnation. What do you think? Keep reading or say "no way" and chuck the book aside?

The author, Susan Frasier King, will be guest posting here shortly and the publisher is allowing me to hold a giveaway. Don't miss Susan's post!

Mailbox Monday

2011-12-11T18:18:00.001-05:00

Mailbox Monday, originally started by Marcia is now on a rotating schedule. December's host is Let Them Read Books.

Hardcover, 544 pages

Published February 21st 2011 by Princeton University Press

ISBN: 0691147787 (ISBN13: 9780691147789)

edition language: English

This stunningly illustrated book from acclaimed birder and photographer Richard Crossley revolutionizes birding by providing the first real-life approach to identification. Whether you are a beginner, expert, or anywhere in between, The Crossley ID Guide will vastly improve your ability to identify birds.
Unlike other guides, which provide isolated individual photographs or illustrations, this is the first book to feature large, lifelike scenes for each species. These scenes--640 in all--are composed from more than 10,000 of the author's images showing birds in a wide range of views--near and far, from different angles, in various plumages and behaviors, including flight, and in the habitat in which they live. These beautiful compositions show how a bird's appearance changes with distance, and give equal emphasis to characteristics experts use to identify birds: size, structure and shape, behavior, probability, and color. This is the first book to convey all of these features visually--in a single image--and to reinforce them with accurate, concise text. Each scene provides a wealth of detailed visual information that invites and rewards careful study, but the most important identification features can be grasped instantly by anyone.

Received from PTA Reviewer Rewards for review.

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published December 7th 2010 by Crown (first published December 2nd 2010)

ISBN

0307452794 (ISBN13: 9780307452795)

edition language: English

characters: Saint Margaret of Scotland

From publisher:

Shipwrecked on the Scottish coast, a young Saxon princess and her family—including the outlawed Edgar of England—ask sanctuary of the warrior-king Malcolm Canmore, who shrewdly sees the political advantage. He promises to aid Edgar and the Saxon cause in return for the hand of Edgar’s sister, Margaret, in marriage.

A foreign queen in a strange land, Margaret adapts to life among the barbarian Scots, bears princes, and shapes the fierce warrior Malcolm into a sophisticated ruler. Yet even as the king and queen build a passionate and tempestuous partnership, the Scots distrust her. When her husband brings Eva, a Celtic bard, to court as a hostage for the good behavior of the formidable Lady Macbeth, Margaret expects trouble. Instead, an unlikely friendship grows between the queen and her bard, though one has a wild Celtic nature and the other follows the demanding path of obligation.
Torn between old and new loyalties, Eva is bound by a vow to betray the king and his Saxon queen. Soon imprisoned and charged with witchcraft and treason, Eva learns that Queen Margaret—counseled by the furious king and his powerful priests—will decide her fate and that of her kinswoman Lady Macbeth. But can the proud queen forgive such deep treachery?

Saturday snapshot: Waste not, want not

2011-12-10T07:43:00.025-05:00

Our holly tree was getting out of control so TBG had to do some judicious pruning. I love it when the berries come out; it just makes the tree look so pretty. Since we don't get any plantings down here that even resemble anything wintery or Christmasy, I thought why let those branches go to waste. As my mother used to say, waste not, want not so I cut a few small ones and put them on the mantle where I would normally use fake evergreens.

I like the fresh look of the real leaves and the berries are just enough color to tie in with the penguin's scarf and santa hat. Isn't he a cutie? He's made out of wood and when I first saw him, I knew he would be going home with me. Seriously, I could not leave him in the store!
Could I???

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intro

2011-12-06T08:00:00.008-05:00

Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the sea posts the opening paragraph (maybe two) of a book she decided to read based on the opening paragraph (s). Feel free to grab the banner and play along. I like this meme and decided to play along with her this week.

Hardcover, 416 pages
Published September 20th 2011 by Crown (first published January 1st 2011)
ISBN:0307452891 (ISBN13: 9780307452894)
edition language:English

These two paragraphs are from the preface to Death in the City of Light by David King.

"A thick black smoke streamed into Jacques and Andrée Marcais's fifth-floor apartment at 22 rue Le Sueur in the heart of Paris's fashionable 16th arrondissement. The smoke had begun five days before, but now, in the unusually warm weather, it was getting worse, seeping through closed windows and soiling the furniture. In the air was a nauseating smell described variously as burnt caramel, burnt rubber, or a burnt roast of poor quality. The source of the disturbance, it seemed, was a building across the street. "Do something," Andrée Marcais told her husband, when he returned home just before six o'clock that evening, and she sent him over to investigate.

Neither Jacques nor his wife knew who, if anyone, lived in the neighboring, two-and-a-half storey townhouse at 21 rue Le Sueur. A man was sometimes seen riding there on a green bicycle, towing a cart whose contents were concealed under a heavy canvass. On rare occasions, he appeared to receive visitors, who arrived almost invariable at night curiously lugging a couple of heavy suitcases. "

What do you think? Would you keep reading or say "meh" and toss it aside? My first thoughts were what is in the suitcases and what is hidden under the canvass? Nosy, aren't I? I'd just have to keep reading to find out more.

Review: A Pinch of Love by Alicia Bessette

2011-12-05T07:57:00.006-05:00

Paperback, 320 pages

Published October 25th 2011 by Plume

ISBN: 0452297117 (ISBN13: 9780452297111)

edition language: English

If I could only use two adjectives for this book, they would be charming and delightful.

First published under the title, Simply from Scratch, A Pinch of Love is Alicia Bessette's debut novel. It sure didn't read like a debut novel; Bessette managed to grab my interest right away and then my heart with such characters as: Zell, a young work-at-home medical illustrator whose husband Nick has been dead for close to a year. Zell is having a real hard time getting back into the mainstream of life. She's clinging to Nick's memories and still reads the e-mail he sent her prior to his fatal accident in New Orleans while on a relief mission.

Her new neighbors, single father, Garrett Knox, and his nine year old daughter, Ingrid, are instrumental is bringing Zell out of her grieving despair. When Garrett needs a babysitter, he begs Zell to keep Ingrid for a night while he attends school. Zell, being childless, has no clue what to do with a pre-teen until Ingrid gets her interested in trying to come up with a winning recipe for a bake-off. Ingrid is obsessed with Polly Pinch and her cooking show as she is convinced Polly is her mother and this make for some sticky but ultimately heart-warming moments.

Coming up with a winning recipe looks hopeless at first until they get a little inspiration from Ingrid's step-grandmother, Trudy, who just happens to be Zell's old home ec teacher. Back in the day, she was known as Ye Olde Home Ec Witch but now she's a chain saw wielding sculptor. I adored Trudy; what a hoot she was.

Zell has some very caring friends in town who also want her to get back into life. EJ, Nick's friend who was with him in New Orleans, knows eventually Zell will be able to resume their friendship. There is a minor romantic sub-plot with EJ and the woman he met in New Orleans that enhances the sweetness of the story. I just fell in love with these characters and was rooting for them all the way.

Bessette captures the small New England town feel perfectly, with characters that know each other and their families well and who all seem to have a vested interest in the well being of their neighbors and friends. At times, predictable but that's okay as the characters made the reading journey truly pleasurable. I hope to see more stories from Ms. Bessette in the near future. 4****

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Plume in exchange for my honest opinion.

Weekend cooking: We like it chunky!

2011-12-03T08:03:00.044-05:00

This is my contribution to Weekend Cooking, a meme hosted by Beth Fish Reads. Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs.

What's one of the best sides with pork? Home made applesauce! None of that overstrained stuff in the jar from the grocery store for us. We like to make a big batch of our own and then freeze what we don't eat that night. I put a serving for two in a sandwich bag, lay flat on a tray and freeze. When the bags are frozen I then put them in a larger bag and vacuum pack it. Stores easily in the freezer this way.

The other day I had TBG peel about 8-10) apples ( a combo of galas and granny smiths). We then microwave them in an 8 cup glass pyrex measurer with a little bit of water for about 8 minutes checking at about 5- 6 minutes. Still hard! The granny smiths take a little longer than the galas but the combo makes for some great sauce. You need to adjust your microwave (on high) according to the number of apples.

When we get the consistency right, I add a little sugar and cinnamon to taste. TBG was mashing them and I reminded him not to get too vigorous because . . . . WE LIKE IT CHUNKY! Just reminded me of this song. So for a little silliness and your listening pleasure . . .

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros ~ The Darlings by Christina Alger

2011-11-29T08:35:00.002-05:00

Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the sea posts the opening paragraph (maybe two) of a book she decided to read based on the opening paragraph (s). Feel free to grab the banner and play along. I like this meme and decided to play along with her this week. The Darlings will be published in February of 2012. The following is from an ARC I received from Viking.

"Paul slipped in through the side door just as the applause was ending. He stood at the edge of the ballroom until the clapping faded and the music started up again. His wife, Merrill, was up front near the stage. She looked on as a photographer snapped pictures of his mother, Ines, the gala's chairperson. Around him, partygoers wafted from table to table; a giant amoebic mass, shimmering in the incandescent light of a thousand cocktail glasses and candles. As Paul wended his way toward his wife, he caught a couple of cold stares tossed in his direction. His hand shot reflexively to the knot of his tie, atraightening it. It was one of his favorite ties; part of what Merrill called the "first-string rotation" in his closet. he felt good in it, usually. Tonight, amid the sea of tuxedos, it felt woefully inadequate. He kept his eyes trained on his wife and tried, without luck, to recall the name of Ines's charity."

The first paragraph really set the scene for me and I could picture it easily. What do you think? Would you continue reading or say pffft and toss it aside?

Review: The Temple Mount Code by Charles Brokaw

2011-11-28T08:25:00.006-05:00

Paperback, 496 pages Published July 7th 2011 by Penguin (first published June 23rd 2011)
ISBN: 0141047607 (ISBN13: 9780141047607)
series : Thomas Lourds #3

From the publisher:

An old friend summons dashing linguistics professor Thomas Lourds to Jerusalem to examine an ancient text. But Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also wants the same document. Khamenei and many others believe that the book contains a secret that will allow its owner to rule all of Islam and wage a Global Jihad the likes of which has never been seen before.

Arriving in Jerusalem, Lourds discovers that his friend has been murdered and his apartment ransacked. With the help of Miriam Abata, a beautiful Iranian-American Jewish graduate student, he races against the clock to seek the dangerous document: Lourds seeks to save civilization while his enemies hope to destroy it.

Continuing the New York Times bestselling series that includes The Atlantis Code and The Lucifer Code, The Temple Mount Code will appeal to readers interested in history and treasure hunting in the Holy Land and is perfect for fans of Dan Brown, Brad Meltzer, James Rollins, and Steve Berry.

My thoughts: In his latest book, Brokaw pens a complex plot into an intriguing thriller. From several different locations, the reader is methodically introduced to numerous characters. I found it a bit overwhelming at first until I got them all straight in my head as to who was who, why they desperately wanted to find the book and the scroll and to what lengths they would go to get it.

Key players: Thomas Lourds: Harvard linguistics professor and discoverer of ancient artifacts and civilizations. Lourds is extremely intelligent and likeable even though he has quite the ego and a penchant for women. At least he is honest with the women that his work is his life and it will always come first. Lourds is a good man to have as a friend; he's loyal, dedicated and would do all in his power to help out a friend. He wants to finish what his friend Lev started; decipher the found document and search for the book and scroll to keep it from falling into the hands of the wrong people. Several of those people include:

The Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: supreme leader of Iran, wants to find the book and scroll in order to unite the entire Muslim world and wage Jihad upon all the unbelievers. With his fervent sense of religion and growing stockpile of nuclear weapons, he is prepared to use anyone and do anything to achieve his goals. Nothing escapes his notice. Two of his worst accomplices are:

Klaus Von Volker: one of the most despicable characters in the book. He's one of the leaders of the Austrian People's Party and uses his position to supply Iran with weapons. What fuels his unlimited ambition are greed and power. He has no use for religion and doesn't believe in anything but power. He wants the Ayatollah to succeed because a united Muslim front would mean the end for Israel. He wants Austria and Germany to be united in an anti-semitic state with him at the head.

Colonel Davari: one of the Ayatollah's henchman sent to trail Lourds and find the book and scroll for Iran. Davari is one man who seems to have no conscience at all and is perfectly willing to abide by the Ayatollah's commands.

Alice Von Volker: Klaus's wife who was a student with Thomas Lourds years ago when they shared a love affair for quite some time. Alice still has warm feelings for Lourds and only loathing for her husband. This makes for some complicated situations.

Muffaraji: reports directly to the House of Saud. He's on the side of those who would do whatever it takes to keep the Ayatollah from obtaining the book and scroll. Muffaraji shows up in some unexpected places but just at the right time.

No one is going to achieve their goals without a lot of violence. They all have eyes and ears on the ground wherever their enemies are and keep themselves apprised of the others' actions. Clashing ideals, overpowering greed and political aspirations on all sides leads to an exciting, action packed story with a few twists along the way.

This is my introduction to a Charles Brokaw effort and it definitely won't be the last. I liked his style of writing and how the characters were developed to the extent that I felt I knew them well. One thing I greatly appreciated in the story was the fact that Brokaw did not feel the need to use expletives every third word. He just tells a good story. Sometimes I've found these adventure/thrillers have characters that can't speak without swearing. I also liked the sense of place, described so well it made me feel as if I were right there along with the characters and all the action.

Since this is a work of fiction, some suspension of disbelief is necessary and I'm okay with that as long as a story is well plotted. This one fits the bill entirely. The publisher mentions Steve Berry in the blurb. I've read and enjoyed every Steve Berry book written to date and think The Temple Mount Code is actually better plotted and developed. TBG agrees and liked it as much as I did. 4*

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Tor/Forge Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Guest post: Anna Patricio, author of Asenath

2011-11-26T07:38:00.003-05:00

Today it is my pleasure to welcome Anna Patricio, author of Asenath. I asked Anna to tell us a little bit about her debut novel. Here's what she had to say.

MY IDEA FOR 'ASENATH'
by Anna Patricio

My debut novel 'Asenath' is about the wife of Joseph of the
coat-of-many-colours. Upon telling people I have written about her,
the most common reaction I get is, "I didn't know Joseph was married!"
Indeed, Asenath is hardly known, probably because she is mentioned
only in passing. All we are told about her is that she was given in
marriage to Joseph as his reward for interpreting Pharaoh's dreams.
That, and she was the mother of his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
After that, Genesis is silent on the rest of her life.

So why did I choose to write about this obscured, nearly forgotten
woman of the Bible? To begin with, I love the Joseph story. Though I
have known it all my life, it was only some years ago that I realised
what a powerful and moving tale it is. Joseph's strength is admirable.
He endured the countless travails that befell him - being sold into
slavery, accused for a crime he did not commit - and yet remained
sweet and kind.

As I delved deeper into Joseph's story, I became curious about the
Egyptian priestess he married. It was as if Asenath was a tiny yet
persistent voice, begging and waiting to be heard.
I then did some research and found hardly anything on her. There were
some stories of her not found in the Bible, such as the first-century
Greek tale 'Joseph and Asenath.' But they were all fictional. I was
given no information on her background, her life before and after
Joseph.

These large gaps then gave way to imagination. I then grew inclined to
perceive Asenath as a strong person, just as her husband was. Perhaps
she too had her own story of travail and triumph.

Perhaps, being the operative. To quote famed historical novelist
Eloise Jarvis McGraw (author of 'Mara, Daughter of the Nile' and
'Pharaoh'): "I am not saying this is how it happened. I am not even
saying this is how it might have happened... I am only saying, 'What
if it happened this way?'"

Most of the fiction I had read about her portrayed her as either a
self-centered aristocratic who changed upon meeting Joseph, or a
neglected trophy wife mostly ignored by her husband. Maybe she was
such a way (though I really wouldn't want to believe the latter). But
maybe, she wasn't. I guess when I didn't see any novel that portrayed
Asenath the way I imagined her, I decided to write one for myself.

Hence, 'Asenath.'

Thank you, Anna, for visiting with us today. Your new book sounds most intriguing and one that both fans of history and romance will enjoy. Here's a little bit about Anna's book.

Paperback, 224 pages

Published September 28th 2011 by Imajin Books (first published August 28th 2011)

ISBN: 1926997263 (ISBN13: 9781926997261)

Two Destinies...One Journey of Love

Destinies...One Journey of Love

Like her, Joseph was taken away from his home, and it is in him that Asenath comes to find solace…and love. But just as they are beginning to form a bond, Joseph is betrayed by his master’s wife and thrown into prison.

In a humble fishing village on the shores of the Nile lives Asenath, a fisherman's daughter who has everything she could want. Until her perfect world is shattered.

When a warring jungle tribe ransacks the village and kidnaps her, separating her from her parents, she is forced to live as a slave. And she begins a journey that will culminate in the meeting of a handsome and kind steward named Joseph.

Is Asenath doomed to a lifetime of losing everything and everyone she loves?

AUTHOR BIO:

Anna Patricio is a lover of ancient history, with a particular
interest in Egypt, Israel, Greece, and Rome. She is also intrigued by
the Ancient Near East, though she has not delved too much into it but
hopes to one day.

She undertook formal studies in Ancient History at Macquarie
University. She focused mostly on Egyptology and Jewish-Christian
Studies, alongside a couple of Greco-Roman units, and one on
Archaeology. Though she knew there were very limited job openings for
ancient history graduates, she pursued her degree anyway as it was
something she had always been passionate about.

Then, about a year after her graduation, the idea to tackle historical
fiction appeared in her head, and she began happily pounding away on
her laptop. ASENATH is her first novel.

Recently, she traveled to Lower Egypt (specifically Cairo and the
Sinai), Israel, and Jordan. She plans to return to Egypt soon, and see
more of it. In the past, she has also been to Athens and Rome.

Anna is currently working on a second novel, which still takes place in Ancient Egypt, but hundreds of years after ASENATH. Anna can be found at her website

Challenges 2012

2011-11-25T07:18:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year to decide what challenges, if any, to join for 2012. Since my main goal for the coming year is to clear out more books from the looming piles and the ever increasing e-books on my Nook, I decided to join this challenge, Off the Shelf hosted by Bonnie at Bookish Ardour. Okay, so Cheryl at CMash loves to read was my inspiration. Her enthusiasm is catching. So, I'm jumping in with both feet and going for the "Hoarder" level. I love the fact that it is both e-books and physical books. That should start to make a dent in the stacks.

Off The Shelf 2012

This is the second year running for Off The Shelf!, with last year being an overwhelming success (over 300 participants), and we hope this year it does just as well! There are some differences this time, thanks to a new year, new place, and some experience. Have a read below, if you have any questions ask away, and the most important part of it is to have fun!

What It’s All About

Do you love books? Do you love them so much your to be read list seems to keep growing, and growing, and growing? Is space on your bookshelf taken up with unread books? Is your eBook library burgeoning with unread stories? We’ve been there at BA and we still are!

This challenge is to read those books you own a copy of, print, digital, and audio, you have been meaning to read, but never gotten to. If you don’t own enough books for the challenge you can read your TBR list instead. And no, you do not need to get rid of your books afterwards, that’s completely your choice, this challenge is only to read them.

The Deets

•The Main Rule: Do not include books acquired during 2012, it defeats the purpose, read those books from before 2012 started!

•Running Dates: 1st of January – 31st of December 2012
•When Can I Sign Up: All the way up to the last two weeks of December!
•Crossover Genres: Anything! The name of the game is to turn those unread books into read ones.
•Mr Linky: To use the Mr Linky you’ll need to click on the graphic then enter your link. These will be updated and posted into this page every couple of weeks or so.
•Further Details: Crossover challenges are fine, you can change levels at any time, this is eBook, short story, and graphic novel friendly, and you don’t need a blog to join in (read further for details).

The How To

1.Choose Your Level:These are listed further down and you can change levels at any time.

Challenge Badge

2.Grab The Badge: Place it somewhere on your blog, profile, or in a signature where possible and link back (main page or this page, it’s up to you).
3.Sign Up Post: Create a post on your blog, in a group, or on a forum (only if allowed) to let others see what you’re aiming for (a predefined list of books is optional).
4.Link Up: Grab the direct URL to your sign up post, not your blog, click the Mr Linky graphic and enter your link!
5.Blogless? Don’t worry, you can sign up with your social network profile (YouTube, Twitter, GoodReads, Shelfari included), just make sure you link to your review list, shelf, tweet, or category. If you don’t have any of those feel free to comment!

Afterwards

1.Your Reviews: Reviewing is optional! But if you do review we’d love for you to share them by submitting them on the Review Page (including social networks).
2.Finished: When you’re done it’s completion post time and you can share these on the Completion Post page!

Challenge Levels
1.Tempted– Choose 5 books to read
2.Trying – Choose 15 books to read
3.Making A Dint – Choose 30 books to read
4.On A Roll – Choose 50 books to read
5.Flying Off – Choose 75 books to read
6.Hoarder – Choose between 76-135 books to read
7.Buried – Choose between 136-200 books to read

Extra Challenges

If you feel like that extra kick to your reading challenges here’s a couple you can choose from.
•World: Choose a country as your theme, reading only books from that country or where it’s the setting. For how high you go you can choose more than one country;
•Level Tempted and Trying: Choose one country
•Level Making a Dint and On A Roll: Choose two countries
•Level Flying Off to end of Hoarder: Choose three countries
•Level Buried: Choose four countries.
•Gender Battle: Read books only by female or male authors. Another alternative is to read equal amounts of both.

Since I read a ~~ginormous~~ fair amount of cozies, I thought why not join the cozy challenge hosted by Yvonne at Socrates Book Reviews. I signed up for the super sleuth level.

From Yvonne:
"Welcome to the second annual Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge! My interest in the cozies hasn't diminished in the past year. If anything, it has increased. LOL So, this is one reading challenge I plan to continue hosting.

I love cozy mysteries and I want to read more of them this year. To find out exactly what a cozy mystery is, check out Cozy-Mystery.com. This site is dedicated to cozy mysteries and does a great job of defining them as well as giving a list of cozy mysteries. This challenge is NOT restricted to what is on their list, it's just to be used as a guideline in case you need some hints on what to read.

So, here are the rules...

1. Choose the level you wish to participate:

Level 1 - Snoop - Read at least 6 books
Level 2 - Investigator - Read 7-12 books
Level 3 - Super Sleuth - Read 13 or more books
2. The challenge runs from January 1, 2012 and ends December 31, 2012.

3. You don't have to choose your books in advance. If you do, you can change your list at any time during the year. Books can overlap with other challenges.

4. Books can be in any format - paper, audio, ebooks...it all counts!

5. You don't have to post a review, but I'm sure others would love to know about the books you are reading and may even want to add it to their reading lists.

NOTE: If you don't have a blog and want to participate, that's fine. You don't have to have a blog, just post in the comments section as you finish books.

6. Take the button above, put it on your blog and post about the challenge. Then add your name to Mr. Linky below...Please use the link of your challenge post, not the link to your home page.

Have fun!"

Well, these two should keep me occupied during the year keeping to my goals. How about you? Have you signed up for one or two challenges or maybe close to a dozen like "someone" I know? *giggles* Happy reading in 2012 and have fun with it. After all, reading is a pleasure!

(Not so) Wordless/Outdoor Wednesday : Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T21:19:00.004-05:00

For more Wordless Wednesday see HERE. For more Outdoor Wednesday, hosted by Susan @ a Southern daydreamer, see here.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! It's almost hard to believe it is already the end of
November. No matter what has happened during the year, we can always find something to be thankful for.

May your day be blessed with loving family, good food, good health and the sound of laughter.

Blog tour: Katie's Way by Marta Perry

2011-11-21T08:44:00.007-05:00

Paperback, 352 pages
Published November 1st 2011 by Berkley Trade
ISBN: 0425243222 (ISBN13: 9780425243220)

Still grieving over a broken heart, Katie Miller moves to Pleasant Valley to open her very own quilt shop. Back home she worked in her mother's quilt shop so she has some experience to fall back on.
Not only did Katie lose Eli, the man she loved, she lost her best friend who married Eli almost four years ago but she is one young lady who is determined to succeed. She has one year to prove to her family that she can make a go of the shop.

One way to draw in more customers is to offer quilting lessons and Katie runs with this idea. Soon, both Amish and Englisch are mingling amiably together in the shop. Not only does Katie have the business to worry about but her parents left her younger, somewhat rebellious sister, Rhoda, in her care. Rhoda soon finds her own place in Pleasant Valley and she and Katie become a good team but it's not easy at times. The shop is a little off the beaten path and business is not as brisk as Katie would like so some of the town's merchants cook up an advertising scheme to promote Pennsylvania Dutch Days. A few of the townspeople feel they don't really want too many tourists overrunning the area but the plan goes ahead.

When acts of vandalism start to occur, everyone is worried about why this is happening. Is the outside world trying to intrude or could one of the Plain People be taking matters into their own hands? Caleb, who shares a storefront with Katie, has his own feelings about the situation. He too is nursing a broken heart and spirit. Just being able to make his furniture and a living is fine with him. He doesn't need too much interaction with other people but life has a funny way of helping people heal. It's almost a foregone conclusion he and Katie will be attracted to each other but how they decide to handle their feelings is a big part of the story.

" Endings. Beginnings. That was what made up life, wasn't it? She'd just like to know whether she was at an ending or a beginning."

Well, I like the ending and the beginning and all the pages in between! 4****

Lately, I've gotten into reading Amish fiction and found I really enjoy it. In Katie's Way, Marta Perry introduces some loveable characters along with a solid plot. There's a little bit of mystery to the story along with the romance, sense of community, life choices and friendship. After reading this book, I tried another one of Perry's books, Hide in Plain Sight, and liked that one very much also.

About the author: A lifetime spend in rural Pennsylvania and her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots led Marta Perry to write about the Plain People who add to the rich heritage of her home state. She is the author of more than thirty-five inspirational romance novels and lives with her husband in a century-old farmhouse. You can read more about Marta at her website.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley Trade in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks also to Pump Up your Book for allowing me to participate in the tour.

Mailbox Monday

2011-11-20T15:32:00.004-05:00

Mailbox Monday is currently on tour and this month's host is Marcia, our original host. MM is a gathering place for readers to share what books came into their home last week.

Caveat: MM can cause wish lists to explode exponentially! Here's what arrived chez-moi last week.

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: February 2nd 2012 by Pamela Dorman Books

ISBN: 0670023272 (ISBN13: 9780670023271)

edition language: English

A sophisticated page-turner about a wealthy New York family embroiled in a financial scandal with cataclysmic consequences.

Now that he's married to Merrill Darling, daughter of billionare financier Carter Darling, attorney Paul Ross has grown accustomed to New York society and all of its luxuries. When Paul loses his job, Carter offers him the chance to head the legal team at his hedge fund. Thrilled with his good fortune in the midst of the worst financial downturn since the Great Depression, Paul accepts the position. But Paul's luck is about to shift: a tragic event catapults the Darling family into the media spotlight, a regulatory investigation, and a red-hot scandal with enormous implications for everyone involved. With echoes of a fictional Too Big to Fail and the novels of Dominick Dunne, The Darlings offers an irresistible glimpse into the highest echelons of New York society--a world seldom seen by outsiders--and a fast-paced thriller of epic proportions. An arc was received from SA/Viking

Hardcover, 230 pages

Published October 4th 2011 by NAL Hardcover

ISBN: 045123474X (ISBN13: 9780451234742)

series:A Chocoholic Mystery #11

Lee McKinney Woodyard discovers a dusty trophy inside TenHuis Chocolade that belongs to her aunt Nettie and her old high school singing group, the Pier-O-Ettes. It's a trophy that brings back terrible memories of an unsolved murder years ago.

Before Lee takes aim at the past, someone is murdered in the here and now. Lee needs to keep her eyes on the prize, hoping the trophy is a clue to finding the killer-before she's a target herself.

Won from Karen at Booking' with Bingo.

Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: December 6th 2011 by Berkley
ISBN: 0425245004 (ISBN13: 9780425245002)
edition language: English
series: A Books By The Bay Mystery #3, A Books By The Bay Mystery
characters: Olivia Limogies
setting : Oyster Bay, NC(United States)

Olivia Limoges and the Bayside Book Writers are excited about Oyster Bay's newest resident: bestselling novelist Nick Plumley, who's come to work on his next book. But when Olivia stops by Plumley's rental she finds that he's been strangled to death. Her instincts tell her that something from the past came back to haunt him, but she never expects that the investigation could spell doom for one of her dearest friends..
.
Received from Berkley for review. Look for a giveaway in December!

Hardcover, 272 pages

Expected publication: December 6th 2011 by Berkley Hardcover
more details...ISBN: 0425243583 (ISBN13: 9780425243589)
original title: Threadbare
series: A Needlecraft Mystery #15

When an elderly homeless woman is found dead on the shore of Lake Minnetonka, she's wearing something that holds the key to her identity but also opens up a mystery. Embroidered on her blouse is her will, in which she bequeaths everything she owns to her niece-Emily Hame, a member of the Monday Bunch at Betsy Devonshire's Crewel World needlework shop!

Emily's aunt turns out to be the second homeless woman to be found dead under mysterious circumstances. It's up to Betsy to discover the common thread between the deaths-and to determine if a murderer may strike again...

Received from Berkley for review. Look for a giveaway in December!

Saturday Snapshot: How'd I get here so fast?

2011-11-19T09:05:00.009-05:00

Snapshot Saturday is hosted by Alyce of At Home with Books. To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.

The other day as TBG was working in the front yard, he noticed some cars slowing down as they came over the hill. Then he noticed this little guy sitting in the middle of the road so he went out and carried him across the street in the direction he was heading. *sigh* My hero!

There used to be a larger one of these turtles that had a home out in our back yard but we haven't seen him for a long time. There was a turtle who got run over quite a while back and that may have been "our" turtle. This is a much smaller one. I'd like to think it is the older turtle's offspring.

** Since I couldn't reply to Edgar's
comment by e mail, I thought I would add a little note here. These are actually endangered gopher tortoises and if anyone would like to find out more about them, here is a great link.

Book tour & Giveaway for Hometown Girl by Mariah Stewart

2011-11-14T08:36:00.003-05:00

Hometown Girl
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN13: 9780345531216
Publisher: Ballantine Books (September 27, 2011)

From the publisher:

Life was always just about perfect for Brooke Madison Bowers. She was the prettiest, most popular girl in small-town St. Dennis, Maryland, a prom queen, local pageant star, and the pride and joy of her loving parents. She even married the man of her dreams. But the promise of happily ever after fell to pieces when her husband was killed while serving in Iraq. Brokenhearted and longing for the solace of better days, she returns to the idyllic world of St. Dennis, and the familiar comfort of the family farm. Surrounded by her loving family and friends, she’s determined to build a new life, complete with her own cupcake bakery. She’s equally determined never to fall in love again.

For Jesse Enright, life has been a challenge. A fourth-generation attorney, he’s spent his life fighting to escape the shadow of his irresponsible father. Now he’s moved to St. Dennis to run the family law practice, and he’s ready to find the right girl, get married, and settle down. But his carefully laid plans go out the window when he meets Brooke and finds himself caught between the unbreakable law of attraction and Brooke’s resolve to go her way alone—despite the undeniable feelings Jesse stirs in her. But just like catching lightning in a bottle, is it possible to fall head-over-heels, heart-and-soul in love all over again?

My Thoughts: Ahhhh, it's like coming home again and reconnecting with old friends and getting to know some new ones better. In this story, we get to see Brooke and Jessee start a relationship and watch as the two slowly fall for each other. I love the way Ms. Stewart develops her characters and their relationships so realistically. With each book we get to see one couple as the star of the show, so to speak with, the characters from the preceding book weaving in and around the main characters' lives. It's just like real life; families with their ups and downs, joys and sorrows and credible feelings.

Both Jesse and Brooke have some issues to work out; Brooke is still feeling afraid to trust her heart again after the pain of losing her beloved husband and Jessee is afraid he will turn out like his father even though he is nothing like him. With the help of each other, this couple should be able to live life full on for a very long time to come and I want to be there to witness it.

Even though a happily ever after is almost a guarantee in her stories, Ms.Stewart captivates the reader along the journey. The little town of St. Dennis on the Chesapeake is almost a character in itself with caring residents and long time traditions being carried out. Along with the plot this small town atmosphere is very appealing to me.

I've read and thoroughly enjoyed the first three in this series and the latest, Hometown Girl is just as fresh and delightful as the first three. Last year I read and reviewed Coming Home the first book in the series, and Home Again, the second book. In May I reviewed Almost Home, the third book in the series. If you visit Mariah's web site and click on books, you can read excerpts from the first two.

Hometown Girl is book # 4 in The Chesapeake Diaries series. Any of these books can be read as a stand alone, but in my opinion, it's best to start from the first one to see how all the relationships develop besides, you don't want to miss out on some truly wonderful stories. 4****

About Mariah Stewart: Mariah Stewart is the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of twenty-nine novels of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. A native of Hightstown, New Jersey, she lives with her husband and their dogs amid the rolling hills and Amish farms of southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she gardens, reads, and enjoys country life. She is currently working on the next book in her bestselling Chesapeake Diaries series.

Connect with Mariah on her website or on Facebook.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by TLC tours and Ballantine Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to the generosity of Ballantine Books I am able to give away one copy of Hometown Girl. Open to US & Canada. Be sure to leave an e mail address in your comment. Deadline to enter: Nov 24th at 5 PM (est).

Bonus entries are available as follows.

+2 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Win Hometown Girl in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!

5 winners of The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt

2011-11-13T14:29:00.001-05:00

Are you a winner???

You too??

And you??

And you? That just leaves me.

What? I am a winner too???

All 5 of us? Yippee, we're ALL winners!!

What a fantastic giveaway and a fantastic book to win!!

Harper Collins is indeed most generous to give away 5 copies of The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt.

So, without any further squawking, here are the winners:

Wfnren

RAnn

Anna

Amy

Ruthi

Congrats to all. I'm sure you will love your new book. It's a treasure, for sure!

Weekend cooking: Lunch al fresco ~ Podunk style

2011-11-12T06:26:00.004-05:00

On Halloween, we trekked down to Tampa airport to pick up our daughter, Steph, coming for a visit from Delaware. We planned on spending our birthdays together but she had to go home the day before mine. Boo hoo! I miss my baby girl already but we did have a fun time. A week ago yesterday we schlepped to the airport once again to drop her off for her mid morning flight home. When we got almost back to Podunk , TBG asked me if I wanted to stop for lunch at this "quaint" place he had heard about. Alrighty! Birthday dining a day early! Hmmmmmmm ...

We pulled into the ~~swanky parking lot~~ bare grass just off the road to a little place called Pudgee's. Yes, Pudgee's!! Although spelled ~~weirdly~~ different than the norm, I like it. Luncheon dining outside in the glorious Florida sunshine overlooking ~~a fine view~~ cars whizzing up and down the county highway, geez, does it get any better than that?

I suppose you want to see pictures ~~or not~~. . . . well, guess what. I'm showing them anyway. The first is the front of the fine establishment that is Pudgee's. You can even have your photo taken in the midst of a box of french fries. Who wouldn't want such a fine memento? Alas, we passed on that golden opportunity.

We did have a lovely chat with the owner, John, who was most friendly and didn't mind posing for a photo. He told us he and his family would travel miles and miles to try out a restaurant and kiddingly named themselves the Pudgee family.

So, when he retired, he wanted to set up his own eatery and his mother-in-law is the one who told him to name it Pudgee's. Great choice! And the rest is history, so they say.

Obviously, there is no inside dining room! But the outdoor tables were covered with ~~the finest linen~~ red checked plastic. We decided to go with a basic hot dog and an order of cheese fries which I have to admit were both very tasty. John makes his own relish along with numerous hot dog sauces such as his meaty "coney" sauce or his Greek sauce and a red onion sauce that sounds really good. "The onions are simmered until plump and tender with a light tangy red sauce."

If just a plain hot dog isn't adventurous enough for you, Pudgee's also cooks up Italian sausage Chicago style on crusty French bread with the option of adding either green peppers and onions or giardiniera/hot peppers to it. Polish sausage, Italian roast beef, and several different 100% Angus burgers round out the menu. A lot of the selections come with Pudgee's homemade cole slaw. Next time ( oh, yes, there will be a next time!) I'm going to try the Polish sausage or maybe the Italian roast beef. I think the Chili cheese fry burger might be a little over the top for me.

Oh, by the way, before you think TBG is a big cheapskate, he did take me to Ruby Tuesdays for a "real" birthday dinner.

So next time you're in Florida craving a tasty hot dog, burger or sausage with fries and find yourself ~~lost and~~ ~~miles from civilization~~ in Podunk, stop in at Pudgee's. There are lots of choices and the prices are very reasonable. Maybe a "Florida swamp dog" complete with sauerkraut would be to your liking!

Review & Giveaway: Mrs. Jeffries and the Mistletoe Mix-up by Emily Brightwell

2011-11-10T08:03:00.004-05:00

Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover (November 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425243575 ; ISBN-13: 978-0425243572

All Detective Inspector Witherspoon wanted was a quiet Christmas and some time to buy his new god-daughter a gift but something got in the way - a little something called . . . . . murder. DI Witherspoon and his Scotland Yard partner, constable Barnes, are called in to solve the case of death by sword. An odd choice of weapon? Maybe not for this victim!

Daniel McCourt, a vain, egotistical and mean spirited man has a passion for collecting oriental antiquities and loves to gloatingly show off his latest acqusitions. When he invites some of his rivals to tea, he never gets the chance to show them anything. A small paraffin fire in the servants quarters sends everyone, except Daniel, outside to escape the noxious odor. Yes, he is that stubborn! He thought it was a fuss about nothing. Too bad he didn't exit with the crowd because the next time we see him, he is a messy corpse. Someone took the opportunity of a wide open house to enter his study and strike him with a sword on both sides of the neck. Eeeeeuuuwwww!

DI Witherspoon, unbeknownst to him, gets some help from a surprising source. His housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries, loves a good puzzle. She and several other members of the household staff along with a few friends know how to ferret out clues and follow up on them. It's a group effort with them all having their roles to play.What hangs them all up is figuring out why the killer took the time to hang a sprig of mistletoe over the victim.

Quite a different format for a cozy to have a myriad of characters do the sleuthing instead of one lone amateur. Mrs. Jeffries helps DI Witherspoon along with the investigation almost subliminally by suggesting places he might look and people he might interview while making him think it is his own idea. Can Mrs. Jeffries nudge him along in time to solve the crime before Christmas comes along?

At the beginning, the reader has to pay extra attention as a lot of characters are introduced in short order. At times, I had to flip back to see who was who but soon got it straight in my mind. The Victorian time frame was delightful reading - quite nice to not be reading about cell phones, computers and other modern day contrivances for a change. Even though Mrs. Jeffries stretches the reader's belief a tad, that is to be expected with most cozies, this was still an enjoyable seasonal read.

This was my first reading experience with Mrs. Jeffries. Not sure I would rush out and read the others
in the series so this one earned a 3* rating from me.

Due to the ever so generous Berkley, I am able to offer a giveaway of one copy of this book. Open to US only with the deadline to enter being Nov 20th at 5 PM (est). Bonus entries are as follows:

+2 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Win Mrs. Jeffries in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!
Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: To Catch a Leaf by Kate Collins

2011-11-08T09:03:00.001-05:00

Paperback, 336 pages

Expected publication: November 1st 2011 by Signet

ISBN0451235231 (ISBN13: 9780451235237)

series: A Flower Shop Mystery #12

All is looking rosy for flowershop owner, Abby Knight; she just announced her engagement to the hunky Marco, owner of Down the Hatch bar and grill and her flowershop, Bloomers, is finally showing a profit. Yep! Life is definitely good . . . . . until she hits the cat or at least thought she did. This mysterious kitty will play a large part in the story.

When Grace Bingham, Abby's assistant, receives a considerable inheritance from her friend, the wealthy Constance Newport, she is flabbergasted that Grace would be so generous. The inheritance becomes a burden when it is determined that Constance did not just fall down the cellar stairs, she was pushed and Grace was the last person to be seen at Constance's house. The generous inheritance becomes a viable motive in the eyes of the law.

Of course, Abby and Marco, who have been known to solve a few murder cases around town, are determined to help Grace out by finding the real killer. This is not what Abby had in mind for her spare time as she is in the midst of wedding planning and trying to subdue her future mother-in-law's lavish wedding plans. Digging into Constance's family is a head trip in itself. What a dysfunctional bunch they turn out to be; they all have their own agenda and it's not exactly legal or moral. This investigation is not going to be a bed of roses, that's for sure!

A huge part of the fun with this series is the characters. Kate Collins comes up with some terrific characters that the reader can easily envision. Abby's mother is a hoot and always good for some laughs. I see a lot of promise with Francesca, Marco's mother. This new character is so believeable and so much fun, I just hope she becomes a recurring character.

Although this is # 12 in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. However, if you are interested in seeing how Abby becomes the owner of Bloomers and the progression of her relationship with Marco, I would suggest you start with the first in this fun series. 4****

To read more about Kate and her books, please visit her website or on the flowershop facebook page.

Disclosure: An unsolicited review copy of the book was provided by the author, Kate Collins, in the hopes that I would review it. Thanks, Kate!

Mailbox Monday

2011-11-06T15:56:00.001-05:00

Mailbox Monday is currently on tour and this month's host is Marcia , our original host. MM is a gathering place for readers to share what books came into their home last week.

Caveat: MM can cause wish lists to explode exponentially! Here's what arrived chez-moi last week.

Hardcover, 368 pages

Expected publication: November 8th 2011 by Forge Books (first published June 23rd 2011)

ISBN: 0765328712 (ISBN13: 9780765328717)

series: Thomas Lourds #3

From publisher:

An old friend summons dashing linguistics professor Thomas Lourds to Jerusalem to examine an ancient text. But Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also wants the same document. Khamenei and many others believe that the book contains a secret that will allow its owner to rule all of Islam and wage a Global Jihad the likes of which has never been seen before.

Arriving in Jerusalem, Lourds discovers that his friend has been murdered and his apartment ransacked. With the help of Miriam Abata, a beautiful Iranian-American Jewish graduate student, he races against the clock to seek the dangerous document: Lourds seeks to save civilization while his enemies hope to destroy it.

Continuing the New York Times bestselling series that includes The Atlantis Code and The Lucifer Code, The Temple Mount Code will appeal to readers interested in history and treasure hunting in the Holy Land and is perfect for fans of Dan Brown, Brad Meltzer, James Rollins, and Steve Berry.

Received from publisher for review.

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: November 15th 2011 by Razorbill

ISBN: 1595143394 (ISBN13: 9781595143396)

primary language: English

From publisher:

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

Received from SA/Razorbill.

The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher

2011-11-03T20:41:00.001-04:00

Introducing The Keeper, the first in the Stoney Ridge series by Suzanne Woods Fisher. I've been really getting into Amish fiction lately and this one sounds great! To find out more about the author, please visit her blog.

Doesn't this sound wonderful? It's official release date is January 2, 2012 but is now available for pre-ordering.

Review & Giveaway: The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures by Caroline Preston

2011-11-01T10:08:00.022-04:00

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published October 25th 2011 by Ecco

ISBN:0061966908 (ISBN13: 9780061966903)

About the author:

Caroline Preston is the author of three previous novels, "Jackie by Josie" (a "New York Times" Notable Book), "Lucy Crocker 2.0", and "Gatsby's Girl". She has collected antique scrapbooks since she was in high school, and has worked as an archivist at the Peabody/Essex Museum and Harvard University. She and her husband, the writer Christopher Tilghman, live in Charlottesville, Virginia.

My thoughts: Not only is this a fascinating concept, the story to go along with the book is delightful. Frankie is such a spirited character! We follow Frankie as she graduates from high school in the very small New Hampshire town of Cornish through her college years at Vassar to her grand adventures in Paris and right back to Cornish where she finally finds just what she was looking for. We feel for her when she experiences the pangs of new love found and lost. It's probably this experience that got her her first writing job!

     "I think I know something about sorrow, Mr. Macfadden. My father died young, leaving my mother to support 3 children."

     "Most of our stories are about heartache. What do you know about that?"

     I pause--just say whatever it takes to get the job. "I was involved with a man who turned out to be married." Straight out of True Story!

     He looks pleased. "But you lived to regret it?"

     "Yes, sir, I did."

     "Atta girl. Sin, suffer and repent. That's our motto. You're hired."


The visuals in the books are just stunning. I loved the idea of using old postcards, vintage ads and
other memorabilia from the 1920's all arranged in scrapbook fashion. Some of the items I even recognized from my childhood. Wow, did that make me feel old!! Please be sure to listen to Caroline Preston's trailer as she tells how this book came about.

This is one of those books you could just keep perusing over and over. The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt would make a wonderful gift, (once you have your own copy!). It's definitely a keeper to be savored time and again. 5*****To see some sample pages from the book, please visit Harper Collins.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided Harper Collins by in exchange for my honest
opinion. Thank you, Heather!

Through the generosity of Harper Collins, I am allowed to give away up to 5 copies of this book. Open to US only. Deadline to enter is November 12th at 5 PM (est)

Bonus entries available for this contest are as follows:

+1 for posting on your facebook page with link to giveaway
+2 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you wish to enter but cannot leave a comment, you can e mail me at florida982002[at]yahoo.com with Win The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt in the subject line. Leave your name and e mail.

Good luck!

Mailbox Monday

2011-10-30T21:39:00.001-04:00

Mailbox Monday is currently on tour and this month's host is Serena from Savvy Verse and Wit.
MM is a gathering place for readers to share what books came into their home last week.

Caveat: MM can cause wish lists to explode exponentially!

From Pump Up Your Book for November tour

Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: November 1st 2011 by Berkley Trade
ISBN: 0425243222 (ISBN13: 9780425243220)

From the publisher:

After a thwarted romance, Katie Miller starts over by moving to Pleasant Valley and opening a quilt shop. Soon Amish and Englisch turn the store into a lively spot...to the consternation of Caleb Brand, who crafts furniture next door. Then Katie's sister joins her, to escape rumors of her wild rumspringa, and Katie feels the burden of responsibility for a restless teenager. Even worse, her efforts to bring more people to Main Street arouse resistance among local businesses. When acts of vandalism threaten Katie's shop, she turns to Caleb for comfort, and their friendship deepens. But will Caleb's secret past prevent him from embracing a future with Katie? Or will their fragile romance develop the strength to last a lifetime?

Won at Man of La Book

Paperback, 256 pages
Published August 27th 1998 by Touchstone (first published 1995)
ISBN: 0684852683 (ISBN13: 9780684852683)
original title: Le Testament français
literary awards: National Book Critics' Circle Award Nominee (1997), Prix Goncourt (1995)

Dreams of My Russian Summers tells the poignant story of a boy growing up amid the harsh realities of Soviet life in the 1960s and '70s, and of his extraordinary love for an elegant Frenchwoman, Charlotte Lemonnier, who is his grandmother. Every summer he visits his grandmother in a dusty village overlooking the vast steppes. Here, during the warm evenings, they sit on Charlotte's narrow, flower-covered bacony and listen to tales from another time, another place: Paris at the turn of the century. She who used to see Proust playing tennis in Neuilly captivates the children with stories of Tsar Nicholas's visit to Paris in 1896, of the great Paris flood of 1910, of the death of French president Felix Faure in the arms of his mistress. But from Charlotte the boy also learns of a Russia he has never known, of famine and misery, of brutal injustice, of the hopeless chaos of war. He follows her as she travels by foot from Moscow half the way to Siberia; suffers with her as she tells of her husband - his grandfather - a victim of Stalin's purges; shudders as she describes her own capture by bandits, who brutalize her and left her for dead. Could all this pain and suffering really have happened to his gentle, beloved Charlotte? Mesmerized, the boy weaves Charlotte's stories into his own secret universe of memory and dream. Yet, despite all the deprivations and injustices of the Soviet world, he like many Russians still feels a strong affinity with and "an indestructible love" for his homeland.

Visit, birthday celebrations, and a slight blog break

2011-10-30T11:57:00.000-04:00

Yippee! Our baby girl, Steph, is coming to visit. I can't wait! We haven't seen Steph since the end of April. Tomorrow we make the big schlep to Tampa to pick her up. I hope flights from Philly are not having any problems.

This coming week will be a blast just catching up and this year we are getting the chance to celebrate both our birthdays together since our birthdays are only three days apart. Okay, she's going to be 42 years old on Wednesday but hey, she's still my baby girl as far as I'm concerned. Mmmmmm . . . sounds like lots o' cake and even ice cream.

This will be a good opportunity for me to send my laptop to our computer "guy". It's been acting wonky for a while now. So, I am apologizing in advance for not getting to visit too often this coming week. I'll try to catch up when Steph goes home. I do have a post scheduled that includes a fantastic 5 copy giveaway of The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt. Be sure not to miss it.

Have a wonderful week!

Opinion: Cemetery Girl by David Bell

2011-10-27T08:10:00.004-04:00

Paperback, 400 pages

Published October 4th 2011 by NAL Trade

ISBN: 0451234677 (ISBN13: 9780451234674)

primary language: English

From Publisher:

Four years after Tom and Abby's 12-year-old daughter vanishes, she is found alive but strangely calm. When the teen refuses to testify against the man connected to her disappearance, Tom decides to investigate the traumatizing case on his own. Nothing can prepare him for what he is about to discover.

My thoughts: Well, I am in a quandary as to this one. While I love suspense and thrillers and the first three-quarters of the book had me riveted to the pages just to see how the plot progressed, the last quarter of the book not so intriguing and I'm not sure exactly why.

I think part of it is I didn't really like any of the characters. Oh, sure I could empathize with them but as to liking them, it was a no. At times they acted contrary to their character development at the beginning. Obviously, it's not necessary to like every character but there has to be at least one
you can root for. I didn't find that in this book.

Tom and Abby were going in two different directions after Caitlin went missing. Even though Tom was fanatical in his efforts to find out what happened, towards the end I found some of his actions and thoughts hard to figure out. At times he struck me as entirely self-centered.

Abby seemed convinced Caitlin was not coming back so she turned to her church and Pastor Chris. She had a large monument made and held a memorial service and then said she had "moved on". Hmmmmm . . how does a mother even do that? Needless to say, this had a terrible effect on their marriage.

Caitlin, I didn't like as a sly, lying little six-year old and I still didn't like her when she was returned to her parents as a foul-mouthed, belligerent teen. At first, she was all over Abby while saying she would not talk about the last four years as they didn't know what "happened to her". Sounds like the ordeal was horrible, doesn't it? But, the next thing you know she is sneaking out a window to return to her captor who she says she loves. Which is it, Caitlin?

Tom's brother, Buster, was another unlikeable character; too brash, crass and a little too creepy in his attention to Caitlin. Actually, Buster made my skin crawl. At several points Tom remembers when Buster would shelter him from an abusive step-father which gives the impression he was a caring older brother but later in the story certain rumors come to light which belie this. At one point he's beating Tom to a pulp and then turns around to help him the next day leaving me to think he's an unreliable character. I don't want to give specifics because it would include spoilers.

The unsatisfactory ending left too many unanswered questions for me. A 3* rating to me is I liked the book and it was over all a pleasurable reading experience; 2 is "meh" could take it or leave it. Unfortunately, I think this one falls somewhere in the middle. Of course, this is just my take on the book, you may love it.

David Bell is currently an assistant professor of English at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. David can be found at his website.www.davidbellnovels.com

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by SA/ NAL in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blog Tour: Laurel Dewey, author of Promissory Payback and Unrevealed

2011-10-25T07:15:00.001-04:00

PUBLISHED BY: The Story Plant

ISBN-13: 9781611880076 ISBN: 1611880076
Genre: Suspense

Synopsis from publisher:

PROMISSORY PAYBACK:

Laurel Dewey’s Detective Jane Perry is quickly becoming one of the most distinctive, dynamic, and unforgettable characters in suspense fiction today. She’s rock hard, but capable of extraordinary tenderness. She’s a brilliant cop, but she’s capable of making life-altering mistakes. She’s uncannily talented, and she’s heartbreakingly human.

In PROMISSORY PAYBACK Jane is called in to investigate the gruesome murder of a woman who profited greatly from the misfortunes of others. The case leaves Jane with little question about motive...and with a seemingly endless number of suspects.

PUBLISHED BY: The Story Plant

Unrevealed ISBN-13: 9781611880236 ISBN: 1611880238
Genre: Suspense

UNREVEALED

In UNREVEALED, Dewey gives us four indelible portraits of Jane Perry:

ANONYMOUS: One of Jane's first AA meetings leads her to an encounter with a woman in need of her detection skills...and a secret she never expected to uncover.

YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER: Forced by her boss to speak at a high school career day, Jane meets a troubled boy and finds that his story is only the beginning of a much more revealing tale.

YOU'RE ONLY AS SICK AS YOUR SECRETS: An early-morning homicide call introduces Jane to a mystery as layered as it is unsuspected.

THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM: Jane finds herself sharing a 2:00 am conversation at a downtown bar with an old acquaintance. Will the bloody night that proceeded this moment complicate Jane's intentions?

My Thoughts: Frankly, I had never heard of Laurel Dewey before this but I am so glad I agreed to the tour because I was intrigued by this character. By her own words she is somewhat flawed; a recovering alcoholic who is not really a touchy-feely kind of person yet she is extremely interested in human nature. She does not embrace the sponsorship aspect of the AA program. She just prefers to recover alone.

In all these stories, Jane Perry presents a kick-ass character who is not afraid of detecting by her instinct and intuitions or as she calls it, her "gut". She is a keen observer of other people and quite introspective. Each story lets the reader know of her struggles with alcohol. In a couple of stories were references to childhood abuse and a father who never let her think she was "good enough".

"My dad, Dale Perry, taught me all about body language, and he was damn good at it. That is about the only good thing I can say about him because he also taught me how to be a great drunk, how to fear, how to hurt, how to hate, how to see life as continual struggle and how to never feel that I’m good enough. Jesus, now I sound like a damn victim and that’s the last thing I want to be. I despise victims. Not victims of crimes…victims of life. People who can’t build a bridge and get over their inner turmoil. I’m actually particularly drawn to people who’ve had to walk the harder path and come out better or worse on the other end. Survivors. Yeah, that’s who I champion. Maybe that’s because I see myself in them. I have great empathy for the survivors of this world because I know what it takes to climb out of severe trauma and reach deep within your heart and soul and resurrect yourself into a new reality."
Quote taken from You Can't Judge a Book by it's Cover pg 23/24.

Well, to my mind, she proved him wrong time and time again solving cases that were very difficult while still managing to be a survivor. She could have grown up bitter, cynical and feeling like a victim not doing much with her life but she did become a successful detective in Denver Homicide and later a PI. Even though it might seem she has built a shell around herself, I think a lot of it was a self defense mechanism but when compassion was needed for a suspect, Jane showed the softer side of her character. I liked her a lot!

Some of the language was a little rough but it seemed to fit with the character. Normally I'm not a fan of short stories but Dewey managed to give me vivid images of Jane's character in each story. I felt like I knew her very well. In 25 pages or so Dewey can give a reader more insight into her characters than some authors can do in a full length novel. Now, that's definitely talented. Just when you think you know where the author is going, there's a little twist that keeps the reader on his/her toes; no where is this more evident than in the short story Anonymous in the novelette, Unrevealed. This won't be the last Laurel Dewey work for me. 4****

About the Author: Laurel Dewey was born and raised in Los Angeles. She is the author of two nonfiction books on plant medicine, a Silver Spur-nominated Western novella, hundreds of articles, the Jane Perry novels, PROTECTOR, REDEMPTION, and REVELATIONS, and the Jane Perry novelette, AN UNFINISHED DEATH. She lives in Western Colorado with her husband, where she is currently working on a standalone novel. Laurel can be found here:

Website: www.laureldewey.com

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laurel-Dewey-Author/200115782067

For your reading pleasure, here is an excerpt from PROMISSORY PAYBACK:
Detective Jane Perry took another hard drag on her cigarette. She knew she needed to quiet her nerves for what she was about to see.

Another victim. Another senseless, gruesome murder that she would add to the board at Denver Headquarters. When Sergeant Weyler called her half an hour ago, she hadn’t even finished her third cup of coffee. “This one is odd, Jane,” he told her with that characteristic tone in his voice that also suggested an evil tinge behind the slaying du jour. “Be prepared,” he said before hanging up. It was a helluva way to start a Monday morning.

As Jane drove her ’66 Mustang toward the crime scene in the toney section of Denver known as Cherry Creek, she tried to look on the bright side. If she’d still been a drinker, she’d be battling an epic hangover at that moment and doing her best to hide it from Weyler. But since becoming a friend of Bill W., her addictions involved healthier options such as jogging, buying way too many pounds of expensive coffee and even briefly joining a yoga group. She stopped attending the class only because the pansy-ass male instructor wasn’t comfortable with her setting her Glock in the holster to the side of her mat during class. Since she was usually headed to work after the 7 AM stretch session, Jane was obviously carrying her service weapon. She wasn’t about to leave it in her car or a locker at the facility. Nor would she be so careless as to hang it on one of the eco-friendly bamboo hooks that lined the yoga room.

So for Jane, it was obvious and more than natural for the Glock to lie next to her as she attempted the Salutation to the Sun pose and arched into Downward Facing Dog. In her mind, there was no dichotomy between the peacefulness of yoga and the brain splattering capacity of her Glock. As the annoying, high-pitched flute music played in the background—a sound meant to encourage calmness but which sounded more like a dying parakeet to Jane—she felt completely safe knowing that a loaded gun was inches from her grasp. The other people in the class, however, did have a problem and they showed it by arranging their mats as far from Jane as humanly possible. None of this behavior bothered Jane until the soy milk-chugging teacher took her aside and asked her to please remove the Glock from class. Since Jane wasn’t about to take orders from a guy in a fuchsia leotard who had a penchant for crying at least twice during class, she strapped her 9mm across her organic cotton yoga t! op and quit.

That’s what predictably happened whenever you shoved a square peg like Jane Perry in a round hole of people and situations that don’t understand the real world. Crime has a nasty habit of worming its way into the most unlikely places—churches, schools, sacred retreats and possibly yoga studios. The way Jane Perry looked at life, yoga might keep your flexible but a loaded gun kept you alive so you could continue being flexible. She knew what it felt like to be the victim of circumstance; to be held hostage by another person’s violent objective. Even though it was a long time ago, she’d never wash the stench from her memory. Her vow was always the same: Nobody would ever make Jane Perry a victim again.

But somebody apparently had made the old lady inside the Cherry Creek house a victim. Jane rolled to the curb and parked the Mustang, sucking the last microgram of nicotine from the butt of her cigarette. Squashing it onto the street with the heel of her roughout cowboy boots, she flashed her shield to the cops standing at the periphery and ducked under the yellow crime tape that was draped between the two precision-trimmed boxwood shrubs that framed the bottom of the long, immaculate brick driveway.

Disclosure: A PDF copy of the novellettes were received from Partners in Crime tour group in exchange for my honest opinion.

Mailbox Monday

2011-10-23T18:03:00.076-04:00

Hardcover, 272 pages

Expected publication: November 1st 2011 by Berkley Hardcover

ISBN: 0425243575 (ISBN13: 9780425243572)

primary language: English

original title: Mrs. Jeffries and the Mistletoe Mix-Up

series: Mrs Jeffries Mystery #29

Under a bundle of mistletoe, art collector Daniel McCourt lies with his throat slit, a bloody sword next to his body. Inspector Witherspoon is determined to solve the case-preferably before the eggnog is ladled out on Christmas Eve-but of course he will require assistance from the always sharp-witted housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries, who has a few of her own theories on why McCourt had to die by the sword.

Won from Karen at Bookin' with Bingo

Paperback, 304 pages

Published September 6th 2011 by Signet Book

ISBN: 0451234545 (ISBN13: 9780451234544)

series: A Ballroom Dance Mystery #1

What if your dance partner, business partner, and fiancé was stepping out with another woman? That's exactly what happens to Stacy Graysin, who shares ownership of a ballroom dance studio with the man who broke her heart, Rafe Acosta.

But when Stacy discovers Rafe's dead body in the studio one dark night, the police suspect her of killing him. To clear her name and save her studio, Stacey teams up with Rafe's estranged cousin from Argentina, Tav, to find the real killer. And if Stacy doesn't watch her step, the killer may make this dance her last.

Won from Dru at Dru's Musing

Paperback, 288 pages

Published September 6th 2011 by Berkley

ISBN: 0425243761 (ISBN13: 9780425243763)

series: Button Box Mystery #1

Working out of her button shop in a Chicago brownstone, Josie Giancola has become one of the country's leading experts on buttons. Her reputation draws a Hollywood starlet to the Button Box to shop for one-of-a-kind buttons to adorn her made-to-order wedding gown.
But after the Button Box is ransacked and the actress murdered, Josie's cozy world is thrown into chaos-and a killer is out to keep Josie's lips buttoned up...permanently.

From SA/Plume

Paperback, 320 pages

Expected publication: October 25th 2011 by Plume

ISBN: 0452297117 (ISBN13: 9780452297111

Rose-Ellen "Zell" Carmichael Roy doesn't cook, but she wears her late husband Nick's camouflage apron every day. That's her widow style. It's been more than a year since Nick's tragic death during a post- Katrina relief mission in New Orleans, but Zell can't bring herself to move on. Then, a postman's error spurs her to enter a baking contest in the hopes of donating the grand prize to the hurricane survivors in Nick's memory. After Zell's first attempt at baking goes embarrassingly awry, she meets Ingrid Knox-her motherless nine-year-old neighbor-and the two forge an unlikely friendship that will alter both their lives forever.

From Doubleday

Hardcover, 387 pages

Published September 13th 2011 by Doubleday

ISBN

0385534639 (ISBN13: 9780385534635)

primary language: English

"Opens at Nightfall; Closes at Dawn." The Le Cirque des Rêves is a circus unlike any other, just as this magical debut novel is equally unique. At the center of The Night Circus spectacle are two specially gifted young magicians, Celia and Marco, pitted against each other in professional competition, drawn towards one another in love. Erin Morgenstern's literary fantasy has already drawn raves for its captivating evocativeness: "A world of almost unbearable beauty.... A love story on a grand scale: it creates, it destroys, it ultimately transcends." "A novel so magical that there is no escaping its spell... If you choose to read just one novel this year, this is it."

Won from Cheryl at CMash Loves to Read

Paperback, 256 pages

Published September 1st 2011 by Reagan Arthur Books

ISBN: 0316126470 (ISBN13: 9780316126472)

Forced together on a trip from Manhattan to Rhode Island, a father and son attempt to renew their bond over lobster, cigarettes, and a buried secret. A pure-hearted artist finds his devotion cruelly tested, while his true love tries to repent for the biggest mistake of her life. Unwittingly thrust into an open marriage, a man struggles to reconnect with his newly devout son. And in the book's daring first story, an arrogant businessman begins a forbidden affair during the High Holidays.
Written in clear, crystalline prose, The Book of Life comprises seven stunning tales about faith, family, grief, love, temptation, and redemption that signal the arrival of a bold and exciting new writer.

Review: Sunrise on Cedar Key by Terri DuLong

2011-10-21T08:41:00.007-04:00

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication: November 1st 2011 by Kensington (first published October 25th 2011)

ISBN : 0758268653 (ISBN13: 9780758268655)

From the publisher:

Set on the enchanting island of Cedar Key, Terri DuLong's new novel weaves a warm, welcoming tale of second—and even third—chances, of long-held secrets, and newfound loves. . .
For the second time in ten years, Grace Stone is starting over on Cedar Key. Grace first moved to the serene island to escape a disastrous relationship. Now a visit with her Aunt Maude is interrupted by unwelcome news: Grace's apartment and coffee shop have been destroyed by fire.
Grace is devastated, yet ever-practical Maude has a plan. While she helps Grace resettle, Maude even has a business venture in mind—weekend knitting retreats where women can craft, chat, and support one another.
But other surprises await, including the return of Grace's estranged sister, and a tentative romance with the local bookstore owner. Knitting together her past and future will mean untangling the painful threads Grace left behind. But the result could be a vibrant new life—and the courage to live it fully. .

My thoughts: Reading about the community in Cedar Key is like a visit with very good friends that always leaves me with feelings of warmth. In her stories, DuLong celebrates womanhood, family relationships, love and friendships. Not all is sweetness and light. Her characters are strong women who have hurdles to jump but are finally able to put the past to rest and to face the future with courage and hope. It's how her well developed characters handle their hurts and joys that appeals the most to me. Although sometimes there is sorrow and we may have to say goodbye to some while welcoming others; it's just like in real life with a balance of pain and pleasure. A visit to Cedar Key is always a much anticipated joy!

Sunrise in Cedar Key is # 3 in the Cedar Key series. Any one of these books can be read as a stand-alone, however I would recommend starting with the first in the series. Each book features one of the residents of this wonderful community with the rest of the residents playing a very supportive part. As Aunt Maude says, everyone has a story and I for one can't wait for the next adventure from Cedar Key!

You don't have to be a knitter to enjoy these heart-felt stories. 4****

Terri DuLong hails from my home state of MA and now lives in Cedar Key just about an hour north of Podunk. Be sure to follow the link to Cedar Key to see more about the characters and the locations in Terri's books. Terri can be found on Facebook and at her website. Her previous novels include Casting About and Spinning Forward.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by the author, Terri DuLong, in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you so much, Terri, for another wonderful visit in Cedar Key!

Winner of Death by the Dozen

2011-10-20T08:24:00.002-04:00

Ayuh, we do have us a winner here at PPP!

Death by the Dozen by Jenn McKinlay, a totally fun cupcake bakery cozy, has been won by . . . .

Margie. Congrats, Margie!

Review: The Deception at Lyme by Carrie Bebris

2011-10-19T08:12:00.000-04:00

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: September 27th 2011 by Tor Books

more details...

ISBN076532797X (ISBN13: 9780765327970)

From the publisher:

In Jane Austen’s Persuasion, the Cobb—Lyme’s famous seawall—proved dangerous to a careless young woman. Now it proves deadly.

Following their recent intrigue at Highbury, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy visit the seaside village of Lyme on holiday. Family business also draws them there, to receive the personal effects of Mr. Darcy’s late cousin, a naval lieutenant who died in action.

Their retreat turns tragic when they come upon a body lying at the base of the Cobb. The victim is Mrs. Clay, a woman with a scandalous past that left her with child—a child whose existence threatened the inheritance of one of her paramours and the reputation of another. Did she lose her balance and fall from the slippery breakwater, or was she pushed?
Mrs. Clay’s death is not the only one that commands the Darcys’ attention. When Mr. Darcy discovers, among his cousin’s possessions, evidence that the young lieutenant’s death might have been murder, he allies with Captain Frederick Wentworth (hero of Jane Austen's Persuasion) to probe details of a battle that took place across the sea . . . but was influenced by a conspiracy much closer to home.

The Deception at Lyme (Or, The Peril of Persuasion) is the delightful sixth installment in the critically acclaimed and award-winning Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mystery series by Carrie Bebris.

My thoughts: Having never read this author before nor recently reading any of Austen's works, I was pleasantly surprised to see how Bebris seemed to pick up where Austen left off. It felt like I had just recently read Perusasion or any other of Austen's books; the sense of place was there (loved the descriptions of Lyme) and the characters' voices had that authentic Regency era feel to them.

As for the mystery itself, it was quite complex but Bebris handled it with a deft hand. Richly drawn characters with their complicated relationships, clues and red herrings were introduced at a perfect pace. These Georgian era characters did more than just sit around drinking tea or attending balls. There were a lot of things going on in this mystery; murder, possible murders, adultery, theft, extortion, conspiracies and smuggling. Talk about action packed and excitement all around! Darcy and Elizabeth worked well together to help solve the mysteries. That's one of the things I like about their personalities; they are so well suited to each other. Plus, as Staci says, Darcy is HOT!

If you are a Jane Austen fan, a lover of Regency era/Georgian period fiction or historical mysteries, this one should be on your must read list. Definitely an enjoyable story and one that should be savored; it's refreshing to read a slower paced and more genteel mystery after reading a lot of contemporary suspense fiction. Pen and ink maps at the beginning and an interesting note from the author at the end give the reader more insight into the location. 4*

Carrie Bebris has also written several fantasy novels and is a contributor to the anthology, Jane Austen Made Me Do It. Carrie, a Goodreads author, can be found at her website.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Tor/Forge Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

2011-10-18T07:26:00.008-04:00

ISBN: 9781402258589

By: Susanna Kearsley

Published: September 2011
Paperback, 478 pages

Eva Ward and her sister Katrina spent many a happy childhood summer in Cornwall staying with family friends. So, when Katrina passes away at a young age, Eva leaves her home in California and takes Katrina's ashes to strew them in Cornwall, hoping to reconnect with a happier past.

Eva visits her friends, Mark and Susan Hallett, brother and sister owners of Trelowarth house. Mark is continuing the long tradition of raising heirloom roses while his sister is contemplating opening a teashop in their greenhouse.

The first morning Eva wakes up to the sound of men's voices and thinks they are in the room next to her. When she asks Susan about it, Susan tells her no one else was in the house. Chalking it up to jet lag and grief for her sister, Eva thinks no more until she has another strange thing happen. The usual path to the cliffs opens into two paths and nothing is familiar about the grounds but Trelowarth house is still there looking like it might have looked centuries before.

Between working on plans for the teashop with Susan, Eva begins to have visions that begin slowly as she slips between time spans landing back in the 18th century. When she returns to the present day, it's as if she had never left. How to explain this time warp?

" I'd just come halfway round the world myself in hopes that at Trelowarth I could touch the past and hold what I had lost a little longer, and now here I was. I'd touched the past all right, but I had missed Katrina by three hundred years, and in this strange place I felt more alone than ever."

The feeling of being alone and strangeness does not last as she becomes more and more familiar with the time frame and becomes enamored of the then owners of Trelowarth; Jack and Daniel Butler along with their compatriot, Fergal. A romance across the centuries with Jack begins as Eva watches history unfold before her very eyes. Along with the dangerous occupation as smugglers, Jack, Daniel and Fergal are also embroiled in a daring plot of rebellion. As time elapses, Eva comes to the conclusion it's not the location that makes you happy but the people you love. Time for Eva to make a decision for her future once and for all.

Kearsley pens a tale that grabbed me right away. Just say "Cornwall" and I'm on board anyway, but this story is so fascinating. I loved the historical aspect of the Jacobite rebellion, the descriptions of the clothing and the unique romance portrayed between a couple from different centuries. I felt like I was really there with the characters. It's as if I could hear the waves thundering against the rocks, the wind in the ship's rigging and the creaking of the wooden boat as the smugglers went about their business. The end just about blew me away with a twist so unforseen, I had to read it several times to make sure I understood the connection. Fantastic job, Ms. Kearsley! if you liked Ciji Ware's A Cottage by the Sea, you are sure to enjoy this one. 4****

Susanna Kearsley’s previous works have won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award and were finalists for both the UK Romantic Novel of the Year and the RITA awards. Her books have been translated into several languages, selected for the Mystery Guild, condensed for Reader’s Digest, and optioned for film. She lives in Canada, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Her website can be found here.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Sourcebooks in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review & Giveaway: The Woman Who Heard Color by Kelly Jones

2011-10-13T08:39:00.002-04:00

Paperback, 400 pages
Expected publication: October 4th 2011 by Berkley Trade
ISBN: 0425243052 (ISBN13: 9780425243053)
primary language: English

From the publisher:

Lauren O'Farrell is an "art detective" who made it her mission to retrieve invaluable works stolen by the Nazis during the darkest days of World War II. Her quest leads her to the Manhattan apartment of elderly Isabella Fletcher, a woman who lives in the shadow of a terrible history-years ago her mother was rumored to have collaborated with the Nazis.

But as Isabella reveals the events of her mother's life, Lauren finds herself immersed in an amazing story of courage and secrecy as she discovers the extraordinary truth about a priceless piece of art that may have survived the war and the enduring relationship between a mother and a daughter.

My thoughts: First off I have to say I do not care for this cover; it smacks of cheesy romance or light chick lit. There's nothing wrong with romance or chick-lit but it definitely does not do justice to this wonderful story. Get past that and what you find inside is an intriguing story set during two different time frames. Kelly Jones did a terrific job of seamlessly shifting between pre WWII Germany and modern day New York City.

Isabella tells Lauren it's about time the story of her mother, Hanna Schmidt, and a Kandinsky painting was told and what a story it is! We first meet Hanna as a young girl who leaves her family farm to visit her sister in Munich. I found Hanna's story to be fascinating as she became involved with the Fleischmann family both at home and at the Fleischmann Gallery. Hanna had no art education at all, but she had a real love of and feel for the contemporary artists of that era. In time she became not only very knowledgeable but was considered to be an authority on such art.

What was also interesting to me was after Hitler's rise to power, it was his subsequent derogatory judgement of contemporary art that led Hanna to use the position Hitler had thrust her into to try to save some of the ill-fated art works. What was seen at the time as Hanna's collaboration with the Nazis was a disguised attempt to preserve certain paintings for future generations. I thought the Nazis stole art works for their value not for condemnation. A lot of the paintings were sold to finance the Reich but Hitler determined a lot of the contemporary art was not fit to be seen and had it destroyed. Jones skillfully weaves German art history into fiction that made the whole story come alive.

Between the two time frames I think I enjoyed Hanna's story the most; it was interesting to see how Jones developed Hanna's character from a naive sixteen year old farm girl to a talented and caring businesswoman and mother. The ending in modern day was wonderful and such an apt ending to Hanna's and Isabella's stories. If you are a fan of historical fiction, art or WWII fiction, I'm sure you would love this book. The end includes a readers guide. Most enjoyable! 4****

Kelly Jones can be found at her website. Her previous novels include The Seventh Unicorn(Berkley Books, 2005), inspired by The Lady and the Unicorn Tapestries in the Cluny Museum in Paris, France, and The Lost Madonna (Berkley Books, 2007), set in Florence, Italy.

To celebrate the release of The Woman Who Heard Color, Berkley is allowing me to host a giveaway for one copy of the book. Open to US and Canada and the deadline to enter is October 23rd at 5 PM (est). Please be sure to leave an e mail address in your comment. Bonus entries available for this contest are as follows:

+1 for posting on your facebook page with link to giveaway
+2 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot leave a comment, you can e mail me at florida982002[at]yahoo.com with Win Woman Who Heard Color in the subject line. Leave your name and e mail.

Good luck!

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley Jove in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review & Giveaway: Death by the Dozen by Jenn McKinlay

2011-10-10T08:11:00.003-04:00

Paperback, 286 pages

Published October 4th 2011 by Berkley

ISBN: 0425244059 (ISBN13: 9780425244050)

primary language :English

series Cupcake Bakery Mystery #3

In this year's Scottsdale's Food Festival, Angie DeLaura and Mel Cooper, owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery, are bound and determined to beat out their rival, Olivia Puckett. Olivia, not one to play nice, runs a rival bakery and has been a thorn in their side since they opened the doors to their own bakery.

Even though one of the judges, Vic Mazzotta, is an old mentor to Mel, the competition will still be a tough one. How can one prepare for the bake off when the mystery ingredient could be just about anything? As it turns out several of the other judges are known to be rivals in their own right which really heats up the competition but when Vic is found dead in a freezer truck, the competition takes on a whole new dimension. Mel and Angie can't help but be involved as Vic was a close friend to Mel and they found the body. They'll have to keep their wits about them to stay several steps ahead of the cold-hearted killer and help solve the crime; not to mention winning the bake off.

Jenn Mckinlay has become one of my favorite cozy writers in the last year due to her well plotted mysteries and loveable characters. The newest addition to the bakery is Oz, a character I just fell in love with and hope he is here to stay. I like the way she introduces the characters/suspects and their possible motives in an orderly fashion. No oddball killer comes out of left field; Jenn plays fair with her readers. The witty dialogue, romantic plot threads among the mystery, and some of the hilarious situations the characters get themselves into are the icing on the cake, or should I say cupcake!

Although there is a continuously running relationship thread from book one, it's still easy to pick up any of these mysteries and dive right in. Death by the Dozen is the 3rd in the Cupcake Bakery series. At the end of the book is an excerpt from Red Velvet Revenge, the next in the series, along with some scrumptious sounding recipes featured in the story. 4****

To celebrate the release of Death by the Dozen, Berkley is allowing me to host a giveaway for one copy of the book. Open to US only and the deadline to enter is October 19th at 5 PM (est). Please be sure to leave an e mail address in your comment. Bonus entries available for this contest are as follows:

+1 for posting on your facebook page with link to giveaway
+2 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

Good luck!

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Win Death by the Dozen in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Review & Giveaway: Skeleton Letters by Laura Childs

2011-10-04T08:55:00.003-04:00

Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: October 4th 2011 by Berkley Hardcover

ISBN

0425243893 (ISBN13: 9780425243893)

primary language English

series A Scrapbooking Mystery #9

Carmela Bertrand, owner of Memory Mine Scrapbooking Shop and her best friend, Ava Gruiex, owner of Juju Voodoo Shop, are both volunteering at St. Tristan's church one morning when they hear a blood-curdling scream and then spot a woman wrestling with a figure dressed in a brown robe complete with cowl. Carmela and Ava are not sure what is going on until the brown robed figure smashes a statue down on the head of the woman and then takes off.

Carmela and Ava are almost dumbstruck but quickly stir themselves into action, rushing toward the woman who is now slumped over on the floor. Despite Carmela's best resuscitation efforts, the woman is dead. Both Carmela and Ava are overcome with grief as they realize the victim is one of their good friends, Byrle Coopersmith. What a horrible way to go; killed by a statue of one saint in another saint's church. If you're not safe in church, where are you safe? Not only is her death a tragedy but a unique gold and silver crucifix is missing. Is it personal or was Byrle trying to stop a robbery and just in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Since the murdered woman was such a good friend of Carmela and Ava, they naturally want to help in the investigation. Of course, the police tell them to back off even though the unlikely pair has been instrumental in helping to solve some of the murders in their New Orleans neighborhood. But, they are determined to get justice for Byrle and let nothing get in their way. Well, almost nothing. Word gets out that they are poking around in the murder and their lives are in danger. If they could just figure out who has a vested interest in the antique crucifix and with a little help from an unexpected source. . . . they might be able to solve the case.

Laura Childs always writes a fun cozy mystery and she has been one of my favorite authors over the years whether it is her Tea Shop series, the Scrapbooking series or her Cackleberry Club series. I always get the feeling I am right in the scene. Sometimes I figure out whodunnit, other times I don't and sometimes like this time, it takes me almost to the end of the book. It's an entertaining journey to the crime's solution anyway. Scrapbooking tips and several recipes are included at the end of the book.

For more info on Laura Childs, please visit her website or Facebook page. The link to Berkley below will also give you a chronological list of Laura's books.

To celebrate today's release of Skeleton Letters, Berkley is allowing me to host a giveaway for one copy of the book. Open to US only and the deadline to enter is October 14th at 5 PM (est). Please be sure to leave an e mail address in your comment. Good Luck! Bonus entries available for this contest are as follows:

+1 for posting on your facebook page with link to giveaway
+2 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Win Skeleton Letters in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Mailbox Monday

2011-10-02T17:04:00.045-04:00

Published September 27th 2011 by Ballantine Books

ISBN: 0345531213 (ISBN13: 9780345531216)

series: Chesapeake Diaries #4

From Goodreads:

Life was always just about perfect for Brooke Madison Burke. She
was the prettiest, most popular girl in small-town St. Dennis, Maryland, a prom queen, local pageant star, and the pride and joy of her loving parents. She even married the man of her dreams. But the promise of happily ever after fell to pieces when her husband was killed while serving in Iraq. Brokenhearted and longing for the solace of better days, she returns to the idyllic world of St. Dennis, and the familiar comfort of the family farm. Surrounded by her loving family and friends, she’s determined to build a new life, complete with her own cupcake bakery. She’s equally determined never to fall in love again.
For Jesse Enright, life has been a challenge. A fourth-generation attorney, he’s spent his life fighting to escape the shadow of his irresponsible father. Now he’s moved to St. Dennis to run the family law practice, and he’s ready to find the right girl, get married, and settle down. But his carefully laid plans go out the window when he meets Brooke and finds himself caught between the unbreakable law of attraction and Brooke’s resolve to go her way alone—despite the undeniable feelings Jesse stirs in her. But just like catching lightning in a bottle, is it possible to fall head-over-heels, heart-and-soul in love all over again? ( From TLC tours and Ballantine for review and giveaway in November. )

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published September 27th 2011 by Tor Books

ISBN: 076532797X (ISBN13: 9780765327970)

From Goodreads:

In Jane Austen’s Persuasion, the Cobb—Lyme’s famous seawall—proved dangerous to a careless young woman. Now it proves deadly.
Following their recent intrigue at Highbury, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy visit the seaside village of Lyme on holiday. Family business also draws them there, to receive the personal effects of Mr. Darcy’s late cousin, a naval lieutenant who died in action.
Their retreat turns tragic when they come upon a body lying at the base of the Cobb. The victim is Mrs. Clay, a woman with a scandalous past that left her with child—a child whose existence threatened the inheritance of one of her paramours and the reputation of another. Did she lose her balance and fall from the slippery breakwater, or was she pushed?
Mrs. Clay’s death is not the only one that commands the Darcys’ attention. When Mr. Darcy discovers, among his cousin’s possessions, evidence that the young lieutenant’s death might have been murder, he allies with Captain Frederick Wentworth (hero of Jane Austen's Persuasion) to probe details of a battle that took place across the sea . . . but was influenced by a conspiracy much closer to home.

The Deception at Lyme (Or, The Peril of Persuasion) is the delightful sixth installment in the critically acclaimed and award-winning Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mystery series by Carrie Bebris.
(From Tor for reveiw in October)

Saturday Snapshot

2011-10-01T08:15:00.002-04:00

Fall in Florida - this is as close as it gets!

Guest Post and unique 10 copy giveawy: Quinn Barrett, author of Invisible Snow

2011-09-30T08:33:00.009-04:00

Today, it is my pleasure to introduce Quinn Barrett, author of Invisible Snow. I asked Quinn to tell us a little bit about her debut novel. At the end of the guest piece you will find numerous links on where to find Quinn and details on her over-the-top generous giveaway.

Invisible Snow in a Nutshell
by Quinn Barrett

Kate Snow married the wrong man for the wrong reasons. Paul Delacroix was smitten with Kate the first time he laid eyes on her and was willing to do anything to have her. Raised in a large, impoverished family near the slopes of Sun Valley, Idaho, Kate was once a child skiing prodigy with dreams of greatness, but fate derailed her ambition when she least expected it.

Paul was the sole heir to his family’s Los Angeles-based business—an international distributor of premium alcohol. Despite her Mormon heritage, Kate’s family enthusiastically supported their union because Paul was happy to bankroll her family’s future financial security. Kate found it hard to decline his proposal knowing her decision affected her struggling family. She married Paul to lighten everyone’s burden but her own.

After 19 years, Kate has become a beautiful, socialite wife and mother of three, but is finally realizing the gravity of her choice to marry a man she didn’t love. Most thought it was a fairy tale romance, but it wasn’t.

Paul was addicted to power and control. Kate’s survival techniques were denial and compliance. She went along to get along and became invisible in her own life. Their marriage began to unravel when she accidentally discovered a mysterious, private safe room, which harbored her husband’s darkest secrets.

As Kate begins to awaken to the reality of her marriage, she also discovers the paradoxes of her own life choices. She leaves the insulation of her Bel Air estate and returns to her roots in Idaho, a journey that changes her life.

Along the way, she enlists the aid and support of various women who offer wisdom, strength and security—essentially giving her a crash course in awareness. She is a modern day Dorothy on a journey of empowerment. Daring to challenge her husband’s authority, Kate’s life is transformed from obliviousness to understanding.

While skiing in Utah, Kate begins to remember who she is and reconnects to the strength within her. She is ready to take on the secrets controlling her. For the first time in her adult life, she feels powerful. Kate returns home, resolved to reclaim her life from her egomaniac husband. But nothing can prepare her for the labyrinth of deceit that awaits her.

Paul is equally determined to re-establish the boundaries of his strict dominion and is willing to use any means necessary to keep all that he owns. The legacy of the family business is at stake, but power is not always about money. Kate and Paul’s confrontation results in a shocking twist of fate—a destiny Kate never saw coming.

Invisible Snow is a classic family drama about wealth, control, greed, and redemption. Marriage is a delicate dance of power between lovers, but Kate and Paul are strangers caught in a disparate union between betrayal and truth. Facing their true selves for the first time results in an epic clash of wills where only one will prevail.

Quinn Barrett is a native of Southern California, currently residing in the West Los Angeles area. After graduating from UCLA with a degree in English, she worked as a corporate business development strategist specializing in emerging growth technology, software and Internet companies. She is married and raising a teenage son. Her hobbies include reading, walking, golf, cooking, and travel. Invisible Snow is her first novel.

Quinn Barrett can be found on:

Website & personal webpage

Facebook

Facebook (Invisible Snow)

Twitter

Invisible Snow is available at:

Amazon (kindle)
Barnes & Noble Nook:
Smashwords
Amazon Print Book:
Create Space:
PDF eBook, ePub, .Mobi, etc.

Invisible Snow Giveaway

Connect with me (Quinn) on Facebook, like my Invisible Snow fan page, and follow me on Twitter to become eligible to receive an Invisible Snow eBook. Once you connect with me, email me at info@quinnbarrett.com. My first 10 new friends, fans and followers will receive an Invisible Snow eBook in the digital version of their choice: PDF, .mobi or ePub.

Thank you Quinn for visiting and sharing the details of your new book with us. Wow, Quinn, that is extremely generous to give away 10 copies. Okay, readers, you heard the lady. Go connect on Facebook and twitter and e mail Quinn ASAP!

Spotlight: The More the Terrier by Linda O. Johnston

2011-09-29T09:26:00.001-04:00

Paperback 304 pages
Expected publication: October 4th 2011 by Berkley
ISBN: 0425243796 (ISBN13: 9780425243794)
series: Pet Rescue Mystery #2

From the publisher:

Shelter manager Lauren Vancouver, “an ardent advocate for homeless pets,” has taught herself a new trick: sleuthing. Now she has a chance to hone her skills, as animal hoarding leads to one less human life...

When Lauren finds out that her old mentor, Mamie Spelling, is an animal hoarder, no one is more shocked, and she jumps in to help rehome the cramped critters. But Mamie’s troubles don’t end there. She’s accused of murder when the CEO of a pet shelter network is found dead. The aggressive businesswoman was bullying Mamie to join her organization by threatening to expose her hoarding, but that was before Lauren took control of the situation. Now Lauren’s dogged determination to clear her former friend of murder may put a killer on her tail...

Sounds like a fun cozy! Linda, a strong pet rescue advocate, is also the author of Beaglemania, the first in the Pet Rescue series. She has also written numerous books in the Pet Sitter series. You can check out the list at at the Berkley Signet webpage. Linda can be found at her website along with some links to rescue organizations.

Review: A Rather Remarkable Homecoming by C.A. Belmond

2011-09-27T10:51:00.005-04:00

Paperback, 416 pages

Expected publication: September 6th 2011 by NAL Trade

ISBN0451234618 (ISBN13: 9780451234612)

From Goodreads:

Penny and Jeremy are just returning from their honeymoon, only to be greeted by eccentric friends of Prince Charles bearing a rather royal request: to rescue a historical village on the coast of Cornwall, England. A property developer is bulldozing his way across the countryside to build a monstrous new development, and he's heading straight for Grandmother Beryl's old homestead where the newlyweds first met long ago as kids. Can Penny and Jeremy solve an ancient puzzle in time to save Grandma's house-and the entire village-from total destruction?

On the romantic rocky cliffs of Cornwall, amid Celtic lore and tales of Shakespeare, smugglers, and shipwrecks, Penny and Jeremy must contend with a rakish cast of local characters: a bird-watching earl, a famous TV chef, a vain actor, a New Age farmer, a pair of thuggish real-estate tycoons, a rebel rock-and-roller, and a band of determined "eco-warriors." Following a trail of cryptic clues, Penny and Jeremy's new caper takes them to the lush island of Madeira and the legendary castle of Tintagel, in a race against time to find the astonishing truth... before the wrecking ball strikes.

My thoughts:

Having never read this author before, I was not sure what to expect but the word "Cornwall" grabbed my attention right away. For some reason, I love stories set there even though I've never seen it. The location conjures up vivid images of rocky cliffs, pounding waves, shipwrecks and smugglers. Heady stuff!

What I found was a most delightfully witty story with a tremendous amount of atmosphere, a fun mystery and fantastic characters. Penny and Jeremy have been likened to Nick and Nora but they reminded me of Christie's Tommy and Tuppence; a delightful pair who sleuth with style and flair complete with vintage auto!

The story was fast paced and the mystery first rate. No lag of interest in this one at all. The pages seemed to turn themselves as I was immersed in the locations of Cornwall, a short visit to the island of Madeira and the exploits of the newly weds Jeremy and Penny; characters so well fleshed out and likeable they felt like old friends by the time the book ended.

Although this the fourth book in the series, I had no feeling that I was missing anything. The other three are on my tbr list as I enjoyed this one so much. A 4**** read for sure!

C.A. Belmond's "Rather" series includes her debut novel A Rather Lovely Inheritance and the sequels A Rather Curious Engagement and A Rather Charming Invitation. C.A. Belmond can be found at this website.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Nal Trade in exchange for my honest opinion.