Book Talk With Charla

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

2012-03-02T16:17:00.000-06:00

Title: Catching fire

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Version: Kindle

Size: 479KB

ASIN: B003086FMW

Source: Borrowed from amazon Prime

This book was every bit as good as the first one. Like the first one, you will not be able to put it down until you are finished. I read this one in a day too, just like the first one! And, thank goodness, there is one more book after this one. If you read the first one, The Hunger Games, then you absolutley have to read this one too! It takes you even deeper into this world of turmoil, survival, and love. This book is just as spellbinding as the first! And, If they do a movie of this book as well, I think Adele's song, "Set Fire to the Rain" should be used in the sound track!

The Hunger Games by Syzanne Collins

2012-03-02T15:48:00.000-06:00

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Paperback

Publication date: 9-1-2009

Version: Kindle

Size: 482kb

ASIN: B002M9YFW

Source: Purchased from Amazon

Well with 469,300 ratings, I doubt there is anything new that I can say about this wonderful book. I will say that it was absolutely awesome! This book has action on every single page, and it took me only one day to finish it, because every page leads into the next action packed page, and I just could not stop until it was finished. Then, of course I immediately started on the next one. I am looking forward to the movie on March 23 because from the trailors that I have seen, it is going to be a huge hit! It is so well written that it takes you off the page and into this post apocalyptic world, where you feel that you are part of the story! Read it, you won't be sorry! In fact, if you don't read it, you will wish you had!

**Amazon Prime has all thre of the HungerGames books for borrowing for 0.00 right now!

Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist

2012-02-23T14:20:00.000-06:00

Title: Maid to Match

Author: Deeanne Gist

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Date: 2010

ISBN: 9780764204081

Pages: 359

Source: Purchased

I would describe this book as a "feel good read," because that is how I felt when I finished reading it! This story gives us a look into what the life of Service was like here in america for those working for some of the most wealthy Americans in the late 1800's. This in itself makes it a very interesting read. There is an abundance of stories about British servants, but not as much about the life of American Servants. But this story offers so much more. It is focused on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. If you have ever been there and visited this wonderful place, then you should enjoy this story. Although the story is a work of fiction, there are moments of historical accuracy and it allows the reader a peek into what life was really like on this grand estate. It combines romance and history into a most enjoyable read.

The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomans

2012-02-20T17:59:00.000-06:00

Title: The House at Tyneford

Publisher: Penguin Group

Publication Date: 2011

ISBN: 9780452297647

Pages: 359

Source: Purchased

I tend to like a book that evokes strong emotions within me and this one certainly did just that! This is a beautifully written story about loss, love and survival. If you are a Downton Abbey fan, then you will love this book. It is the story of Elise who is a member of the Austrian Bourgeoisie during WWII. Elises' mother Anna is a well known opera singer and her father is a well known author. Her sister, Margot is also a a musician. Elise is the only family member that does not seem to have any great talents. Both Elise and Margot have been papmpered all of their lives but their lives are changing drastically, thanks to Hitler.Since they are Jewish and things are not going well with the war, Anna and Julian feel it is best to get out of Austria. The plan was to get the girls out of the country and then to meet up with the girls in new York at a later date. Margot marries and moves to california and Elise is sent to england to be a parlor maid at The House of Tyneford. Once at Tyneford, she has no idea what has become of her parents and she rarely hears from Margot. She learns how to be a good parlor maid and along the way she encounters new love tinged with more loss. This story is at times heart wrenching and at times, a happy story and overall it is one great read!

Lazurus Cane

2012-02-19T22:53:00.000-06:00

Title: Lazurus cane

Publisher: Damnation Books

PublicationDate: 2011

Pages: 222

ISBN: 9781615725410

Source: AuthorI would call this story a sort of Dexter story with a twist. The twist is what makes this story so compelling. Anyone that loves a story where the bad guy gets what he deserves will love this one. There is just enough violence, sex and weird goings on that you just can't help to keep flipping those pages to see what happens next. I highly recommend this book and think that Jeremy Kline has a great future as a writer! I will be looking forward to his books in the future!

Until Next Time by Kevin fox

2012-02-19T22:33:00.000-06:00

Title: Until Next Time

Author: Kevin Fox

Publisher: Alonquin Books of Chapel Hill

Publication Date: 2012

Pages: 388

ISBN: 9781565129931

Source: book Browse

This is a story about an Irish family that seems to be living in a cycle similar to celtic knot. The story is written as journal entries by Sean Michael corigan and Michael sean Corigan. One is living in 1972 and the other is living in 1996. even though the story constantly flipsbetween the two time lines and sometimes can be a little confusing, overall the story is a good one. It is full of suspense and drama and little romance that keepsyou glued to the pages. It takes you from New York to Ireland and into two different, but at the same timei similar worlds.

"Even as I dreamed it, I knew I was dreaming, I even turned back to the schoolhouse and it wasn't there. This dream came before the schoolhouse. I wasn't scared anymore, even though I was sweating with fear and my heart was beating wildly. I'd had this dream before, it seemed, because I knew how it ended, I knew what happened next." Page 161-Sean 1996

Happy Valentines Day!!

2012-02-14T13:54:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentines Day to All! I hope that your day is all that you want it to be! I will be reviewing several books later this week! First, I will review Until Next Time by Kevin Fox:

Next I will review Lazarus Cane By Jeremy Kline:

And, lastly I will review The House at Tyneford by Natahsa Solomans:

So, until then I hope you all have a most wonderful day!!

Claude and Camille by Stephanie Cowell

2012-01-30T15:55:00.001-06:00

Title: Claude & Camille

Author: Stephanie Cowell

Publisher: Broadway Paperbacks

Publication Date: 2011

Pages: 330

ISBN: 9780307463227

Source: Purchased

"The pain passes, but the beauty remains."

-Auguste Renoir

This is one of the best books that I have read in a long time! It is the love story of Claude Monet and Camille Doncieux. Camille left a privileged life to be with the man she loved. Over the years they suffered through war, hunger, poverty, and the loss of many friends. But through it all, Claude and Camille stuck it out together. This book is the story of their love and how they held on to each other through many difficult times. Also this book touches on the lives of the other Impressionist artists of that time, because they were all good friends. Stephanie Cowell suggests that as you read, you keep a book of Monet's work, to view while you read. I second that idea, because it brought so much more to the story. I can honestly say that after reading this wonderful book, I have a much stronger love of Monet's work.

"He had never painted anything like this in his life.
She lay there very pure and pale and still but he saw colors rise and swirl about her. He painted her face as almost a spirit, with a violence of color about her, slashed and feathered with his brush, He painted against time. You are light, he murmured, and if something of you remains here yet, it is leaving me. He gritted his teeth as he painted, murmuring, "Stay, stay. I don't want life without you. Is this all that life is then, Minou, in the end, suffering? Do we ever know another person truly? It is better to go than to feel this."
He heard only the sound of his brush. As long as I paint, she's not yet gone, he thought. And then the painting was done and still she lay there."
-page 321 Claude & camille

The lines quoted above touched me so much that I felt compelled to share them!

Winter's Respite Read a Thon Wrap up

2012-01-30T14:48:00.000-06:00

I finished two book for the read a thon, Song for the New Depression, my review can be found here
http://booktalkswithcharla.blogspot.com/2012/01/songs-for-new-depression-by-kergan.html

and The Cater Street Hangman which can be found here
http://booktalkswithcharla.blogspot.com/2012/01/cater-street-hangman-by-anne-perry.html

I finished Claude and camille by Stephanie Cowell today and will be posting the review later today! Thank you to everyone that participated!

Winter's Respite Mini Challenge Winner!

2012-01-30T14:42:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Julie le!! She won the Sephora Gift card for the Mini Challenge for the Winter's Respite read a Thon! I loved all of the "do Over" Scenarios! They were great! Thank you to everyone that entered!

My Giveaways!

2012-01-25T15:51:00.000-06:00

Please click on the links in the sidebar for my giveaways! I have the rafflecopter giveaway still going on and the Winters Respite Sephora Card giveaway!

Songs For The New Depression by Kergan Edwards-stout

2012-01-25T15:48:00.000-06:00

Title: Songs For The New Depression

Publisher: Circumspect Press

Publication Date: 2011

Pages: 252

ISBN: 9780983983705

Source: Author

This book touched me at the core of my being! It gives a real look at what life is like with AIDS. It is a story of love and devotion, and a self examination of a dying man. It takes you inside of Gabes head and as you read, you suffer along with him and sometimes you laugh. You will find that his concerns are the same as your own. I think that is why this story had such an emotional hold on me. I'm not just talking about the disease and the suffering because of it. I am talking about the path that each persons life takes them down. This book will have you examining your own conscious and the things you have and have not done in your life. Like another reviewer, I suggest that you keep a box of tissue handy because you will certainly need them. I am so glad that I read this because it has brought to mind things that I had not thought of before. If you remember anything that I have said about this book, please remeber this; It is a story of love and devotion! I read this book in just a couple of days because I could not stop once I started reading.

Fierce Reading Book Swag Bag Contest!

2012-01-25T14:49:00.000-06:00

I just joined the Fierce Reading Virtual Book Tours! They re having a great giveaway at the moment and you should check it out!
http://fiercereadingvirtualbooktours.blogspot.com/2012/01/book-swag-bag-giveaway.html

The Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry

2012-01-23T20:37:00.001-06:00

Title: The Cater Street Hangman

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Publication Date: 2008

Pages: 287

ISBN: 9780345513564

Source: Purchased

This is the first book in Anne Perry's Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. I tend to be drawn to British writers and I love the 1800's, so this book was satisfying in many ways. I loved the characters in this book, especially Grandmama. Well, actually, my feelings for her were of the love/hate kind. She was funny and aggravating at the same time, and she certainly added spice to the story. I thought I had the mystery figured out early on, but I was wrong! So, this one kept me guessing throughout the story. I love a good mystery that keeps me guessing! There are several surprises in this book. Most of the stories about the mid 1800's keep sex out of the story, but this one takes a good look at sex and the differences of expectations between men and women during this era. You also of course get to know Charlotte and Thomas from their beginnings in this book. I plan to read the others in this series because I enjoyed this one ever so much!

"Couldn't he? Charlotte looked at him, then surrepettiously at Dominic. How much of people really showed in their faces? Did any of them guess the wildness of feeling in her?" page 104

A Winter's Respite Read a thon January 23-29/Sephora Card $25

2012-01-22T10:03:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the 2012 Winter's Respite Read a thon!! It is hosted by http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com to which I send a huge Thank You! I am hosting a mini challenge! Simply follow my blog and then Please briefly describe a "do over" for a character that you read about during the read a thon! The winner will be chose randomly by rafflecopter. Also, don't forget to click on the link and visit all of the other participants! Below are the books I am now reading!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter Ipad and Kindle Giveaway is still going on!!

2012-01-19T15:53:00.000-06:00

Keep on scrolling down for the Rafflecopter Ipad2 and Kindle giveaway!! It is still going on, but you may have to go to older posts to see it, or use th link in the sidebar!

Dreaming of Books Hop Winners!!

2012-01-19T13:57:00.000-06:00

The Dreaming of Books Winners are for the $15 Gift Card is Sara and the $10 Gift Card is Fairy Whispers!! They have both been notified! Thank you to everyone that participated!

Scroll down for my giveaways!!

2012-01-17T12:40:00.001-06:00

I am having two giveaways right now. The Dreaming of Books Hop is for two Amazon giftcards and the Rafflecopter giveaway is for an ipad2 and a Kindle Fire! Please scroll down to enter!!

The Keeper by Natalie Star

2012-01-17T12:32:00.002-06:00

Title: The Keeper

Author: Natalie Star

Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company

Publication Date: 2011

Pages: 230

ISBN: 9781613330005

Source: Author

The Keeper was a most enjoyable read! From the first page to the last, I was held captive by this story. The characters are very believable and you cannot help but get caught up in their lives. Especially the life of Billie, the girl that hope for the entire world rests upon. It is also an emotional story that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. And, you might even shed a few tears. I did! The story is full of fantasy, mystery, intrigue, and even romance, so it offers something for everyone, not just YA readers. The fact is that I rarely read this genre, but I am so glad that I did this time, because this was one of those books that I did not want to put down . If you are looking for a new book to read that is different from anything else on the market right now, then you should read this book. There are no vampires or witches in this story which seems to be what everyone else is writing about these days.

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

2012-01-13T18:51:00.001-06:00

Title: The Peach Keeper

Author: Sarah Addison Allen

Publisher: Bantam Books

Publication Date: 2011

Pages:273

Source: Purchased

This is another great book by Sarah Addison Allen! It is filled with intrigue, mystery, romance, magic and southern charm. I love the way the writing has the power to wrap you up in the character's lives and make you feel like you are part of the story. I believe this is a story that almost everyone will be able to connect to their own life. It is set in a small southern town and about the love and friendhips of several people that grew up together and then grew apart as they became adults. Two old ladies that are in a nursing home helps to bring them all back together. The getting back together and discovering what they want out of life is what makes the story come alive. Like Sarah Allen's other books theis story is also full of southern lore which is always fun. Did you know that a pink sky is a sign of someone discovering love? Or that when you hear a bell ring you should hold your hands to scoop up the good fortune? Well, according to southern lore that is exactly what you should do!

Dreaming of Books Hop

2012-01-12T21:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome everyone to another wonderful hop hosted by my friends Kathy over at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf

I am giving away two Amazon Gift Cards, one for $15.00 and one for $10.00, or if you are international, You can choose books from The Book Depository as long as they ship to you for free. Have fun and please visit all of the other wonderful blogs in the hop!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Face Thief by Eli Gottlieb

2012-01-09T20:26:00.002-06:00

Title: The Face Thief

Author: Eli Gottlieb

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: 2012

Pages: 248

ISBN: 978-0-06-173505-9

Source: Book Browse

The way the people's lives in this book intertwine is fascinating. At first I found myself wandering what one person had to do with another, but I kept reading and soon found out how they were all connected. They were all linked together by one woman. This womans name was Margot and she was hell bent on destroying every man that she came in contact with. She is definitely an interesting character and she is not a nice person. She is about as self centered as anyone can be, but it goes much deeper than just Narcissisim. She is also dangerous. It may be that she has finally crossed the wrong person because she has had a bad accident or was it really an accident?

Rafflecopter is giving away an Ipad2 and a Kindle Fire!!!!!

2012-01-09T18:41:00.001-06:00

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas Reading Challenge 2011 Wrap up

2012-01-06T20:54:00.001-06:00

I enjoyed this challenge very much because it helped put me in the Christmas Spirit! First I want to say that I watched the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life" as I do every year. Watching this movie has been a Christmas tradition for me and my husband for 25 years. It just doesn't feel like Christmas until I watch it and it never gets old!

I read several Christmas books this year and loved them all. You can see my posts here:

http://booktalkswithcharla.blogspot.com/2011/12/mischief-of-mistletoe-by-lauren-willig.html The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willlig

http://booktalkswithcharla.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-journey-by-anne-perry.html A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry

http://booktalkswithcharla.blogspot.com/2011/12/merry-christmas-mr-baxter-by-edward.html Merry
Christmas Mr. Baxter by Edward Streeter

This puts me in the Mistletoe Category! This was fun and I will definitely do it again next year!

Newyears Hop Winners!!

2012-01-04T17:19:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Aeicha for the first prize of $25.00 amazon gift Card and Pete who won 2nd prize of a $15.00 Amazon gift Card!! Thanks to all that participated, I appreciate all of you very much!

Happy New Year Hop! Win One of Two Prizes!

2011-12-29T17:23:00.001-06:00

Thanks to I am a Reader, not a Writer and Babs Book Bistro for hosting this hop!
This hop will run December 30 until January 3, 2012! This giveaway is for one of two prizes, First prize is for either a $25 Amazon Gift card or $25 Worth of books from the Book Depository and the Second prize is for one $15 Amazon Gift Card or $15 worth of books from The Book Depository if you are outside of the United States. I hope that each of you have a wonderfully Happy New Year!!

The only required entry here is to follow by GFC and there are 4 extra entries but they are not required. Good Luck and don't forget to visit all of the other blogs!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig

2011-12-25T15:54:00.001-06:00

Title: The Mischief of the Mistletoe

Sub Title: A Pink Carnation Christmas

Publisher: Penguin Group

Publication Date: 2010

Pages: 339

Source: Purchased from Amazon

ISBN: 978052595872

This was a wonderful book to read for Christmas! It has so many things that I love! It has romance, mystery, intrigue, suspense, and humor and it is all wrapped around a Christmas Pudding! Yes, I said a Christmas Pudding. It is a wonderful mystery that is written in the style of Jane Austen, and the mystery begins with a message found in a Christmas Pudding! This is the first book in the Pink Carnation series that I have read, and it was wonderful. The book does not have to be read in any particular order, as I was able to know what was going on without having read any of the other books. I loved the characters in this book, and even Jane Austen herself makes a few appearances. But, my favorite character is Turnip Fitzhugh. He is handsome, smart, athletic and just seems like a perfect hero. I will definitely be reading more of Lauren Willig's books! I am a big Jane Austen fan and of course I have read all of her books, so I am always looking for books that are written in the same fashion as hers. Sometimes I am disappointed, but not with Lauren Willig's stories. In the book Jane Austen Made Me Do It, Willig's story was one of my most favorites and after reading this one, I suspect that she will be permanently in my favorite authors list. I look forward to reading her other books.

Here is a little sample of the humor that is found in this book. "As he clasped her right hand with his left, prancing in a circle with Danforth and Lucy Ponsonby, she smiled up at him and unselfconsciously gave a little puff of breaath to blow a stubborn lock of hair out of her eye.

It was the most uncously seductive thing he had ever seen. Turnip nearly lost his footing.

Of course at this point, she could debone a kipper with a fish knife and he would find it seductive, he was that far gone."

Merry Christmas!!!!

2011-12-24T11:22:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas to all of my lovely followers!! I wish each and every one of you a Blessed Christmas!

Flame of Surrender by Rhiannon Paille

2011-12-21T01:24:00.001-06:00

Title: Flame of Surrender

Author: Rhiannon Paille

Publisher: Coscom Entertainment

Publication Date: 2011

Pages: 280

Source: Received from the author

ISBN: 978-1927339022

This book is a beautiful love story even though it does not seem possible for the couple to be together.. It is the story of Kaliel and Krishani, two people that you will soon love. The story is beautifully written and even though it is a book of fantasy, you will find much in the story that relates to your own life. The world created in this story is as beautiful as nature itself. I love the way flora and fauna are a major part of this story. Sometimes fantasy can be confusing and the writer can get bogged down in the details and this can make it hard to keep up with. But, that is not the case with this story. It is easy to read because it is written so well. The story seems to flow from Rhiannon as if she just had to get it out! I am finding it difficult to talk about this story without giving too much of it away, so take my word for it and read it! You will be glad that you did. This story is full of magic, danger, suspense, and romance. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Dangerous Lies by Lisa April Smith

2011-12-21T00:25:00.001-06:00

Title: Dangerous Lies

Author: Lisa Smith

Publisher: Wingate Publishing

Publication Date: 2001

Pages: 254

Source: Received from Lisa Smith

ISBN: 978-0970598301

This book is wonderful and it will keep you glued to every page. The heroine is Bettina Berenson, but, Bettina is not just an ordinary woman. Bettina is not only drop dead gorgeous, but gutsy and intelligent. Even though she is smart, she still manages to get involved with some dangerous characters, and every time it seems that her life is finally on the right track, she gets thrown a curve ball that takes her down a different path. She eventually gets herself involved with some mafia types and has to testify against them which puts her life in danger. The characters in this story are very well developed and the story is written so well that you cannot help but get drawn into the action. This is the type of story that you can't stop thinking about when your not reading. When your not reading it, all you want to do is stop what your doing and get right back to the story. After the first few chapters, you can't seem to turn the pages fast enough to find out what is going to happen next. I just can't stress enough that the depth of the characters is so profound that you cannot help but get caught up in the action.

A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry

2011-12-15T14:54:00.001-06:00

Title: A Christmas Journey

Author: Anne Perry

Publisher: Headline Paperbacks

Publication Date: 2004

Pages: 160

ISBN: 978-0755321155

Source: Purchased

This is the first Anne Perry Book that I have read, however, it will not be the last. I loved the imagery, the victorian era, the story line and the fact that it was a short read! Lady Vespasia(what a name!)is attending a dinner with many other wealthy folks and one lady insults another lady in front of everyone. The insulted lady is then found drowned, an apparent suicide. It is assumed it is because of the insult. Lady Vespasia and the insulter are sent on a trip of atonement to the see the dead girls mother byt the Host of the party. The journey is long and hard and they meet with several tribulations along the way. The setting is in the freeing cold and it is nearing christmas. So, the snow and ice are sure to set you to thinking about Christmas!
"If Isobel is indeed guilty of anything,or if Bertie is, then all of us agreeing upon a form of expiation would absolve them of guilt, after which we would make a solemn covenant that the matter would be considered closed." A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry

Merry Christmas Mr. Baxter by Edward Streeter

2011-12-15T14:05:00.001-06:00

Title: Merry Christmas Mr. Baxter
Author: Edward Streeter
Publisher: Harper & Brothers
Publication Date: 1956
Pages: 181
Source: Purchased Used

This book was like taking a walk back in time. It was written in 1956. I grew up in the 60's, so, much of it was famialiar to me. I am a big fan of old black and white movies and my favorite all time movie is "It's a Wonderful Life." Edward Streeter wrote that too! Maybe that is another reason I loved this book. It is a quick read that will put you in the Christmas Spirit. The story is that of Mr. Baxter and his Christmas dilemma of wanting to cut down on expenses and not get as worked up over the holiday season as usual. The story takes you through his daily life from October through Christmas. Mr. Baxter lives in New York City and his story takes you on a nostalgic trip of Christmas in New York. It is a pleasure to relive such wonderful days! Even though things were so different then, in many ways they are still so much the same!

"Nothing irritated Mr. Baxter more than people who dawdled over their food. New Yorkers were supposed to bolt their meals, but this crowd reminded him of a herd of Guernseys in a May Meadow."
Merry Christmas Mr. Baxter, Page 70

Jane Austen Made Me Do It Edited by Laurel Ann Nattress

2011-12-15T12:55:00.001-06:00

Title: Jane Austin Made Me Do It

Publisher: Ballentine Books

Publication Date: 2011

Pages: 432

Source: Ballentine Books

ISBN: 9780345524966

This wonderful book is full of stories written in Jane Austen fashion. Each writer was asked to pair a story with their favorite Jane Austen Quote. It is editied by my friend Laurel Ann Nattress over at Austenprose.com. Laurel Ann also wrote the introduction which is great all by itself! This book is for all Jane Lovers! I found that as I was reading the stories, I would forget that I was not reading Jane Austen. The stories are that good! There are 22 original stories and each one is as good as the first. If my saying over and over how wonderful this book is doesn't make you want to read it, then look at some of the authors names, because that should change your mind and give you reason to read it! Here is a list of the wonderful authors in this book: Syrie James, Jane Odwie, Lauren Wilig, Stephanie Barron, F.J.Meir, Monica Fairview, Adriana Trigiani, Jo Beverly, Beth Patillo, Margaret Sullivan, Elizabeth Aston, Amanda Grange, Janet Mullany, Maya Slater, Myretta Robens, Diana Birchell, Alexandra Potter, Jane Rubiano and Caitlen Rubiano-Bradway, Pamela Aiden, Brenna Aubrey, Carrie Bebris, and Laurie Vierra Rigler.
Now that is an impressive list! I cannot pick a personal favorite, but I will say that I loved how some of the stories incorporate Jane Austen in the stories and the way she interacts with her own story characters. If you are a Jane Austen fan, you really need to read this book! And who knows, it may even inspire you to write your own Jane Austen story!

The Alienist by Caleb Carr

2011-12-15T11:37:00.001-06:00

Title: The Alienist
Author: Caleb Carr
Publisher: Bantam Books
Date: 1994
Pages: 597
Source: Purchased
ISBN: 0533572997

The Alienist takes you into the dark, sleezy life of New York City during the late 1800's. This dark world was kept secret in the 1800's and you rarely hear about it today. But, there is no doubt that it existed and that life was scary and difficult for the people that lived in this dark world. In The Alienist, there is a serial killer wandering through this dark world and he is targeting young boys. But, not just any boys, he is focused on boys that are selling their bodies to survive. The government and the police are ignoring the killings. They do not want the public to know this part of NYC even exists, so they just sit back and hope that it will go away.
But, not everyone is content to just sit back and ignore these killings. After all the victims are children. No matter what type of life they are living, they deserve protection from this evil killer. There is an Alienist in the city that wants the killer stopped. His name is Kreizler and he is what today is known as a Psychologist. Kreizler forms a group of friends to try and stop this killer. The group initially consists of Moore who is a New York Times Reporter and Sarah who is a Secretary at the Police Department. The little group eventually expands to include Kreizlers servants and a couple of ex Police Officers. This group will take you into the belly of this dark world and it is sometimes very graphic because when this killer kills a victim, it is very gruesome and even worse because his victims are children.
Kriezler feels sure that the killer is not insane. But, he needs to meet the killer and talk with him before deciding if he is insane or not. He believes that something occured in the killers childhood that made him this way. Therefore, Kreizler is driven to find him so that he can make an effort to answer this age old question. Is this killer insane or just evil?

"Whilst part of what we perceive comes through our senses from the object before us, another part (and it may be the larger part) always comes out of our mind." William James, The Principles of Psychology

Book Lovers Holiday Hop Winner!

2011-12-06T21:29:00.001-06:00

Jada won the $20.00 Amazon Gift Card and has been notified! Thank you to everyone that participated!

Black Friday Hop Winner!

2011-12-02T01:06:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Violette S. You won the $20.00 Amazon Gift card! Thank you all for entering! I am having more giveaways between now and the endo of the year, so be sure and check back often!

Book Lovers Holiday Hop Dec 2-6th Win a $20 Amaon GC or Book Depository

2011-12-01T23:32:00.001-06:00

Win a $20.00 Gift Card from Amazon or $20.00 Worth of Books from the Book Depository for the International floowers! Thanks I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Kid Lit Frenzy for hosting this hop!

Gratitude Hop Winners!!

2011-12-01T23:06:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Gray, Carol and Dark Bloddy Vamp! Each of them won a $20.00 Gift card or 20.00 ob books from Book Depository if they are otside of the U.S. I am emailing them now and they have 48 hours to respond. Thank you to everyone that participated! Also, there were a few that tried to enter after RaffleCopter closed, but I put their names in for the drawing also. I am working on the winners for the Black Friday Hop Now and will have those soon! Come back soon as I am giving away more gift cards between now and the end of the year!

Gratitude Giveaway Problem with Rafflecopter!

2011-11-27T23:52:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone! I went out of town for Thanksgiving and just found out that rafflecopter closed my giveaway early! Maybe I did something wrong, it was the first time I have used rafflecopter. If you tried to enter, and couldn't, or could not even leave a comment, please leave me a comment on this post and I will add you to the giveaway! I am very sorry for this problem and will do everything I can to get this problem cleared up. Please leavew me a comment on this post if you tried to enter and couldn't!

Black Friday Book Bonanza-11-25 thru 11-27 $20 Amazon GC or Book Depository

2011-11-24T23:00:00.000-06:00

The hosts for this hop are Heather from Book Savvy Babe, Jenn from The Bawdy Book Blog, and Lisa from Alive on the Shelves. Thanks so much ladies for hosting this hop! Just enter below for your chance to win and then go visit all of the other great blogs in this hop!

http://www.booksavvybabe.com/posts/blackfridaybookbonanza/
http://www.thebawdybookblog.com/
http://aliveontheshelves.com/

2011 Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge11/21-01/06/2012

2011-11-20T17:05:00.001-06:00

Join us for the Christmas Spirit reading challenge for 2011!! I am commiting to the Mistletoe level of 2-4 books. The first book that I plan to read is The Mischief of the mistletoe by Lauren Willig.

Giveaway! Win one of 3-$20.00 Amazon GC or Book Depository

2011-11-16T23:08:00.000-06:00

A Big Thank You to I am a Reader, Not a Writer and All consuming Books for hosting this hop! This hop is just for our blog followers and it is our way of letting them know that we are grateful for them! To show my Lovely followers just how muh I appreciate them, I am giving away 3 -$20.00 Amazon Gift Cards or $20.00 worth of books to the Book Depository if you are outside the US! Make sure to visit all of the blogs in the link below! Good Luck!!!!

The Tardis has landed in our yard!

2011-11-05T17:47:00.000-05:00

We discovered Dr. Who the week after we got married, and that was 30 years ago( I guess I am giving away my age here)! Anyway, when my husband found Dr. Who, the honeymoon was over! We have both been fans ever since, but he has been a HUGE fan. We live in the country and have a well and the well is in the front yard. This is something he has wanted to do for a long time, and this weekend, the Tardis finally landed!

Before the landing!

After!

The Dress Lodger by Shari Holman

2011-11-02T17:28:00.001-05:00

Title: The Dress Lodger

Publisher: Grove Press

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 0802144926

Pages: 320

Source: Purchased from BN

I finished this book over a week ago and I have waited to write my review because I wanted to let it sink in before I wrote about it. While reading this book, I found myself flip flopping back and forth from loving it, to hating it. I think this is because the characters are surviving in such a dreary place in such a terrible time in history. There is filth everywhere and a threat of Cholera looming over everyone. The main character is Gustine, a 15 year old prostitute. Gustine is not an ordinary prostitute. Thanks to her horrible land lord, Gustine's customers are higher class than the average working man. This is because the landlord has supplied her with a fancy blue dress that makes her look like a lady. In turn, she sells herself, and he keeps a roof over her head. But, he has her followed constantly to make sure she doesn't run off with his expensive dress. Her keeper, is an old crone called, the Eye. She is called the Eye because she only has one and the other side of her face is deformed. Gustine gets herself mixed up with a Doctor that is teaching medicine. She helps the Doctor round up dead people to be used in his teaching. This all adds up to an adventure like no other. There are times when the story is being told by dead people. It is the story of a struggle for survival during a time of disease, filth, poverty, pestilence, and yes even love. I have never read a book with more interesting characters. For example, in the beginning of the book, it is being told by a woman that makes her living by painting the ends on match sticks. She glows blue because the paint is full of phosphorous. Overall, I believe this book is a good depiction of what it was really like for the people of this era. If you want to read a book that is captivating, then you need to read this one!

Join me and Goodreads for the best books of 2011! Cast your votes!

2011-11-02T16:51:00.001-05:00

2011 Goodreads Choice Awards: Favorite Book of 2011

Vote now for your favorite books!

Halloween Scream $100.00 Giveaway!!

2011-10-24T20:32:00.001-05:00

Please scroll down to enter the giveaway!

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

2011-10-24T20:30:00.001-05:00

Title: The Sugar Queen

Author: Sarah Addison Allen

Date Published: 2009

Publisher: Bantam

Pages: 294

ISBN: 978-0553384840

Source: Purchased

I loved, loved, loved this book! It is the story of Josey Cirrini who lives alone with her wealthy mother. Josey is in her late 20's and still lives with her mother out of guilt. Over the years she has lost track of herself. Josey no longer knows who she is. She has almost turned into a recluse and the highlight of her day is a visit from the mailman. But, then a local girl named Della Lee comes into her life. She shows up in Josey's closet. She tells Josey that she will only be there for a few days because she can't go back to her abusive boyfriend. There are many reasons why Josey doesn't like this plan, but the main one is that this closet has a secret door that leads to her secret stash of candy! The last thing Josey wants is for her Mother to find out about the secret stash, becasue God knows that her Mother is already critical of her enough. During Della Lee's stay, many things change for Josey. Some good and some not so good, but everything that goes on is very interesting and brings some much needed excitement into Josey's dull existence. Josey learns a lot about herself, her mother, and her dead father. This is a great story to welcome winter because it is set in the snowy season of North Carolina. Also, every chapter in the book is named after a type of candy, and the candy name is actually tied into the chapter topic.

Halloween Scream $100.00 Giveaway

2011-10-11T21:35:00.002-05:00

For a chance to win $100.00 Just follow me with GFC and then go check out all of the other ways to enter! Thanks so much for stopping by!

The Restorer by Amanda Stevens

2011-10-03T22:26:00.001-05:00

Title: The Restoyer

Author: Amanda Stevens

Source: Bought from Amazon

Publisher: Mira Books

Date: 2011

Pages: 376

My Review:

I was drawn to this book because I love walking through old cemetaries and this book just spoke to me. After all, its subtitle is The Graveyard Queen Series. I was not disappointed with the amount of time the plot was actually in the cemetary. Most of the book takes place in a cemetary by the name of Oak Grove,in Charleston S.C. Along with a wonderful story line, I learned some new things about old cemetaries, such as the meanings of some of the symbols seen on old tombstones. Also, there are some wonderful epitaph's in this book along with their meanings. The epitaph's are the things I love most about old cemetaries. The main character is Amelia and she is an Archeologist who specializes in Cemetary restoration. But, she also has an ability to actually see the dead, whose graves she is restoring. She inherited this ability from her father. While working on the Oak Grove Cemetary, there is a series of murders that take place in the cemetary. Amelia gets herself involved with the Detective in charge of the case and together they will take you on a romantic, ghost story ride like you have never been on before. The next book in the series is due out in November, and I can't wait to read it! The name of it will be The Kindom and in May, 2012, the 3rd book will be The Prophet.

Banned Book Kindle Winner!

2011-10-03T21:25:00.000-05:00

To Faith HOpe andCherrytea!

The winner was chosen by random.org!

Thanks to everyone that entered, Stay tuned because I will be having lots of giveaways between now and the end of the year!

October is Netgalley Month! By Red house Books

2011-10-03T06:48:00.001-05:00

Click the link below to join this challenge!

http://redhousebooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/netgalley-october-is-here-declare.html

Thank you Emily, this is a wonderful idea. I was wondering how to get caught up with my Netgalley reads, and I know this will help!

This past April and July, Red House Books hosted and celebrated a month long NetGalley read-a-thon

I failed slightly in July but I still had a blast and I know a bunch of you did too.

So! We're doing it all again :)

NetGalley October is here! Confetti and fireworks and rainbows and puppies! Woo hoo!!!!

Basically, NetGalley Months are month long read-a-thons in which we all read as many NetGalley books as humanly possible.

For those of you that don't know, NetGalley is a service for people who read and recommend books. Publishers upload galleys to the site for NetGalley members to request.
One of my favorite things about NetGalley is that anyone who reads and recommends books can use it for free. If you haven't already, you can register here.

New Website that you gotta see! Pinterest!

2011-10-02T12:16:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone!
My daughter, Maegan recently introduced me to this new website that is so fun! It is at http://pinterest.com Seriously, you have to just go try it to understand how awesome it is. It is basically like a bulletin board for the internet. You can download a Pin it button into your favorites, and anytime your searching the internet, you click pin it to save it into your favorite category. The arts and crafts and book sections are fabulous! So, just go take a look, you'll see! oh, and look me up-charla wilson.

Banned Books Giveaway! Win a Kindle!! Click the link below

2011-09-29T23:56:00.001-05:00

http://booktalkswithcharla.blogspot.com/2011/09/read-on-charla.html

This Bird Flew Away by Lynda M. Martin Book Tour

2011-09-29T23:53:00.001-05:00

Lynda M. Martin, author of This Bird Flew Away

Lynda was born in Dunfirmline, Scotland in 1953, emigrated to Canada with her parents as a young girl. She grew up on the vast prairies of Western Canada, and loved the open wide spaces of that wild land. She was educated in Medicine Hat, Alberta, a town in the southeast corner of that province, and spent most of her time riding horses, barrel racing and hanging around rodeos and cowboys.

In 1968, the product of a troubled youth and a dysfunctional family, she found herself on her own at the age of fifteen, two thousand miles from her home, and knows first hand the dangers facing girls on our streets and the predators that prey on them. She was one of the lucky ones. She survived.

Later in life, she went east to Montreal for her education, graduating from the University of Montreal with a degree in Business Administration, which provided a fine income, but little in the way of personal satisfaction. Still in her twenties, she became a volunteer with social services to work with troubled teen-aged girls, and took every course the social agencies offered.

Title: The Bird flew Away
Author: Lynda M. Martin
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Date: 27 January 2011
Pages: 312
Source: Nurture Book Team
Pages: 312

My Review:
I was interested in reading this book because I am a Psychology student with a huge interest in Child Psychology. I felt like this book might depict real life situations that so many children are living with everyday. I was right about that, as it is very realistic with such real characters that you are likely to forget that it is just a story and the characters are ficticious. Lynda martin has written a wonderful story that will knock your socks off!

This book was awesome!! Seriously, it was hard to put down. Bria, the main character, will take you on a journey that is so full of emotion that it reaches out and grabs you and does not let go until the very end. Unfortunately, there are way too many Bria's in this world and sadly that makes this story all the more compelling. She is confronted with things that no child should ever have to face and at times the things she has to deal with are just gut wrenching. Thank goodness for Jack! He is her saviour! I only wish there were more like him in the world.

Click the link for the Banned Book Giveaway!

2011-09-25T11:54:00.001-05:00

http://booktalkswithcharla.blogspot.com/2011/09/read-on-charla.html

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

2011-09-25T11:52:00.001-05:00

Former academic Setterfield pays tribute in her debut to Brontë and du Maurier heroines: a plain girl gets wrapped up in a dark, haunted ruin of a house, which guards family secrets that are not hers and that she must discover at her peril. Margaret Lea, a London bookseller's daughter, has written an obscure biography that suggests deep understanding of siblings. She is contacted by renowned aging author Vida Winter, who finally wishes to tell her own, long-hidden, life story. Margaret travels to Yorkshire, where she interviews the dying writer, walks the remains of her estate at Angelfield and tries to verify the old woman's tale of a governess, a ghost and more than one abandoned baby. With the aid of colorful Aurelius Love, Margaret puzzles out generations of Angelfield: destructive Uncle Charlie; his elusive sister, Isabelle; their unhappy parents; Isabelle's twin daughters, Adeline and Emmeline; and the children's caretakers. Contending with ghosts and with a (mostly) scary bunch of living people, Setterfield's sensible heroine is, like Jane Eyre, full of repressed feeling—and is unprepared for both heartache and romance. And like Jane, she's a real reader and makes a terrific narrator. That's where the comparisons end, but Setterfield, who lives in Yorkshire, offers graceful storytelling that has its own pleasures. (Sept.)

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Title : The Thirteenth Tale
Author: Diane Setterfield
Publisher: Atria Books
Date: 2006
Source: Purchased
Pages: 708

My Review:
Ahhh! I do not really know where to begin in reviewing this book because there are so very many great things to be said about it. The first thing that comes to mind, are the many different paths that it takes the reader down. It will keep you guessing for all 708 glorious pages. Just when you think you have something figured out, there comes along another unforeseen twist.
The characters are awesome! Each of them have such depth that they become real and leap from the pages right into your reality. This story is being narrated by a lovely girl named Margaret. Margaret is a bibliophile, a biographer, and in a way she is also a detective. She is writing the life story of the world's most beloved authoress, Ms Winter. Along the way, Margaret gets herself caught in to the mysterious past of Ms Winters. Not only is Margaret writing the biography , but she is also trying to solve the mystery that she has gotten herself mixed up in. All the while she is lost in Ms Winter's story, she is also dealing with her own personal demons.
You will form many, many questions along the way, but not to worry because they will all be answered in the end. Don't you just hate to read a book that leaves you hanging? Well, The Thirteenth Tale will not do that. Every mystery that is uncovered during this story will be answered.
You will not be disappointed with this book! It has something new to discover around every corner!

Banned Books Week Giveaway Win a Kindle

2011-09-23T16:19:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Banned book Celebration!!! I will announce the winner of the Kindle Oct 3,2011! Good Luck! Please scroll way down for the entry form!

Welcome to the Banned Book Giveaway. It is being hosted by the lovely http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2011/09/banned-books-week-giveaway.html
and http://jenbigheart.blogspot.com/ Thanks ladies for the wonderful blog hop! I am going to give one lucky winner a Kindle from Amazon. For A great banned book , I suggest a book by William Faulkner ( Being a Mississippi girl, I felt I had to recommend a Faulkner book)

My banned book suggestion is As I Lay Dying (1932)

by William Faulkner
In 1986, Graves County, Kentucky, the school board banned this book about a poor white family in the midst of crisis, from its high school English reading list because of 7 passages which made reference to God or abortion and used curse words such as "bastard," "goddam," and "son of a bitch." None of the board members had actually read the book.
http://www.amazon.com/As-I-Lay-Dying-ebook/dp/B004JHYRMW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1316813637&sr=1-1
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Ashfall by Mike mullin

2011-09-15T06:31:00.001-05:00

From AmazonMany visitors to Yellowstone National Park don't realize that the boiling hot springs and spraying geysers are caused by an underlying supervolcano. It has erupted three times in the last 2.1 million years, and it will erupt again, changing the Earth forever.

Fifteen-year-old Alex is home alone when the supervolcano erupts. His town collapses into a nightmare of darkness, ash, and violence, forcing him to flee. He begins a harrowing trek in search of his parents and sister, who were visiting relatives 140 miles away.

Along the way, Alex struggles through a landscape transformed by more than a foot of ash. The disaster brings out the best and worst in people desperate for food, clean water, and shelter. When an escaped convict injures Alex, he searches for a sheltered place where he can wait--to heal or to die. Instead, he finds Darla. Together, they fight to achieve a nearly impossible goal: surviving the supervolcano.

With nonstop action, a little romance, and realistic science, debut author Mike Mullin tells a mesmerizing story. Readers will turn Ashfall's pages breathlessly, and continue to ponder Alex and Darla's fate long after they close the book.
Title: Ashfall
Author: Mike Mullin
Publisher: Tanglewood Press
Date: 27 September 2011
Isbn: 1933718552
Pages: 476
Source: Goodreads

My Review

I loved this book! It was hard to stop turning pages just for a bathroom break! Alex and Darla are two teenagers trying to survive in a world that has been turned upside down by a super volcanoe eruption. The world has completley changed overnight. Everything is covered in Ash, there are massive food shortages, people are acting crazy and violent and these two teenagers are trying to survive in this mess. Both Alex and Darla find out just how tough they really are. They are trying to walk over a hundred miles to get to Alex's parents, or to find out if his parents even survived the disaster. Along the way, they constantly have obstacles to overcome. Their journey is a fascinating one! You will love Alex and Darla. They start out as innocent kids and will surprise you over and over again with what a couple of kids can accomplish. Although they have to grow up fast, they still manage to hold on to some of their innocent qualities. Alex and Darla show us that in the wake of horror, you can survive and no matter how horrible your existence may be, love can get you through.

Write a Post, Help a Dog

2011-08-29T00:55:00.000-05:00

Write A Post, Help a Dog!

I saw this on Books and Things blog http://melissawatercolor.blogspot.com/ and just had to help out. I have two beautiful Weimaraners and love them so much. It always makes me so sad to see a homeless animal and I wish I could take them home. Well at least this is one way we can help.

Deets:

Pedigree is resurrecting is insanely successful Write a Post, Help a Dog program. In 2010, 391 bloggers wrote about the program and with each post, Pedigree donated 20 pounds of its Healthy Longevity dog food to shelter animals. In all, 7,820 pounds of food was donated to two shelters renowned for their care of senior dogs: Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco and Castaway Critters in Harrisburg, Pa.

How you can help in 2011

Simply spread the word about Write a Post, Help a Dog 2011 and once again Pedigree will donate 20 pounds of food for each blogger's post. Here's all you need to include in your post:

The Write a Post, Help a Dog program is aimed at raising awareness and food for the more than four million dogs that wind up in shelters and breed rescues each year.
For each blog post mentioning the Pedigree Foundation from now until midnight ET on September 3, Pedigree will donate 20 pounds of its new dry Pedigree recipe food for dogs -- its best recipe ever -- to a shelter, because every dog deserves leading nutrition.
The Pedigree Foundation -- a 501 (C)(3) nonprofit organization is committed to helping dogs by providing grants to shelters and rescues and encouraging dog adoption. This year the Foundation has already raised more than $376,570 against its goal of $1.5 million to carry out its work to fund grants that not only help shelters operate, but to further shelter innovations.

The Pedigree Foundation depends on charitable contributions from individuals to carry out its mission to help dogs find loving homes. In addition to writing a blog post, here's how you can help:

Donate online at http://pedigreefoundation.org/donate.aspx
Apply for a shelter grant from the Pedigree Foundation by completing a form atwww.pedigreefoundation.org
Purchase Dogs Rule Gear at www.dogsrulegear.com where the proceeds go to the Pedigree Foundation to help loving dogs find a home. SPECIAL OFFER: Get 10 percent off Dogs Rule Gear by using the promo code BlogPaws10 from August 22 - September 30.

Then, link up to our Blog Hop below, hosted by the Pedigree BlogPaws bloggers to help spread the word about Write a Post, Help a Dog.

A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd

2011-08-23T19:59:00.001-05:00

Title: A Bitter Truth
Sub Title: A Bess Crawford Mystery
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 340
Source: Book Browse Uncorrected Proof

My Review:
The setting for this story is during World War I in London, England. The heroine is Bess Crawford, a battlefield nurse. During one of the coldest winters London has seen in a very long time, Bess encounters an emotional lady with a black eye on her doorstep. By nature, Bess cannot turn her away. But , litttle does Bess know about the trouble she was inviting into her life. By befriending this lady, Bess' life became very complicated. This one good deed takes Bess to a remote, spooky town where she gets tangled up in several murders.

Lydia, the lady that Bess had helped has a wealthy husband named Roger. Lydia and Roger live in a huge house with his family. It turns out that the black eye Lydia has, came from her wealthy husband and the reason she was on Bess' door step is because she was running from him. Lydia convinces Bess to go back home with her because she thinks if she tells Roger that she was with a friend, that maybe Roger will not be as angry as if she had just ran away from him. So, Bess ends up with this complicated family in a spooky town, in a scary house. It becomes even more scary when a family friend is murdered near the house and Bess and Roger's Mother finds the dead man. The family is already trying to get over the loss of two family members, so this death adds to their grief. When it seems they are beginning to accept the death of the family friend, there is another death. This time it is the family Doctor and he is found on their property.

Bess is caught up in this families problems and even becomes a suspect in the murders. To clear herself and find the murderer, Bess has to go to France. All of this is happening at the same time that the War is raging. In France, a beautiful orphan child is rescued from a fire by one of Bess' patients. This child becomes a very important part of the murder mystery.

This is a wonerful mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. I had no idea who the bad guy was until the end, which is the way a good mystery shoud be.

Tuesday Teaser A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd

2011-08-23T16:35:00.000-05:00

http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"She hesitated an instant too long, and I touched her sleeve again, urging her inside. I myself was shivering with the cold now, and I knew she must be chilled to the bone. Even for a London December, it was unbearably wretched."

Page 6

The Glass of Time by Michael Cox

2011-08-12T18:56:00.001-05:00

Title: The Glass of Time

Sub Title: The Secret Life of Esperanza Gorst

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co.

Publication Date: 2008

Source: Purchased

Pages; 583

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Set in 1876, Cox's gripping second gothic thriller (after The Meaning of Night) follows the fortunes of 19-year-old orphan Esperanza Gorst, whose guardian charges her to go undercover as a lady's maid. Without knowing precisely why she's doing so, Gorst insinuates herself into the inner circle of Baroness Tansor, the fiancée of the preceding volume's villain, Phoebus Daunt. The fake maid soon learns that her mistress has many secrets, and may, in fact, have been complicit in the death of a former servant. Cox excels at conveying his heroine's conflict over deceiving her employer, especially after learning the role the lady played in her own difficult personal history. While readers unfamiliar with the first book will find themselves deeply engaged by the elegant descriptive prose, those with the benefit of the full context and nuances of The Meaning of Night will better appreciate this sequel. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

The author’s first novel, The Meaning of Night (2006), set in London in 1854, was told from the viewpoint of a scholar turned murderer, but this sequel, set some 20 years later, is narrated by an innocent, 19-year-old Esperanza Gorst. Orphaned as a child, she has been raised in relative luxury in Paris by her guardian and given an excellent education by her tutor. However, her world is upended when they inform her that she is to leave for England in two months, where she will be employed as a lady’s maid by the widowed Baroness Tansor on the vast estate of Evenwood. It is to be the first step in what they call the Great Task, but Esperanza’s ultimate goal will only be revealed to her in phases. Although she appears far too refined for her occupation, Esperanza is immediately embraced by the family, but Lady Tansor proves to be a difficult employer, given to hysterics due to her tragic past—the love of her life, the pretentious poet Phoebus Daunt, was murdered by an old friend. Cox so cleverly incorporates the plot of his first novel that his new one can be read by both those who are familiar with The Meaning of Night and those who have never read it. Great period atmosphere, a cunning plot, and an intelligent narrator make this one a special treat for those who like some history with their mystery. --Joanne Wilkinson

My Review:

To all of the readers of The Meaning of Night ,you need to read this book! This is the story of Esperanza Gorst, narrarated by herself. Her parents both died when Esperanza was very young. She has been raised by a family friend and her tutor, Mr. Thornhaugh. At the request of her guardian and her tutor, she seeks employment at Evenwood as Lady Emily Tansor's Ladies maid. Esperanza knows very little about her parents, but has been told that it is her duty t complete a Great Task by her Guardian and Tutor. She does not know what the Gr eat Task is, she only knows that it has something to do with her parents. Slowly, the details of the Great Task are revealed to her and she goes along with the plan, even though she does not understand why. Having secured a position as the Ladies maid, her next step is to befriend the Lady Tansor.

This book will answer any questions you might have after reading The Meaning of Night. The Glass of Time is written as well as The Meaning of Night. It is also every bit as exciting! Both of the books are right up there with the likes of Wilkie collins. Even though they were written in totally different worlds, these books read like they were written in the mid 1800's. I don't know how Michael Cox did it, but he writes as if he lived in the mid 1800's. Both The Meaning of night and The Glass of Time are going on my all time favorite list.

Quote from The Glass of Time
" i stare constantly into the glass of time, that magic mirror in which the shifting shadows of lost days pass back and forth in dumb show before the eyes of memory. As for the present, the days come and go in pleasantly uneventful- yes, and often dull - succession."
page 568

Book Journal Winner!

2011-08-12T11:42:00.001-05:00

Margaretsaid

True Random Number GeneratorMin:Max:Result:1Powered by RANDOM.

Congratulations to Margaret!

Thank you to all who entered! I will host another giveaway very soon so please check back

Called Home: Two Hearts Answer by Gloria Shuman

2011-08-11T12:23:00.001-05:00

Title: Called Home

Author: Gloria Shuman

Publisher:Savant Books and Publications LLC

Publication Date: 8 May 2010

Pages: 342

ISBN: 0984117571 (ISBN13: 9780984117574

My Review:

This story starts off with a bang! It actually starts off with a tornado. And from there, it is a tornado of emotions. Emma has recently moved back home to help her Mom with the family farm. David is a well known author that has recently fled the busy life of New York City. They have known each other in the past but have not seen each other in a long time. But when they meet again, the sparks begin to fly. Emma is a very independent, stubborn girl and it is hard for David to get past her tough exterior. But there is something about her and he cannot stop thinking about her.

Despite the fact that she keeps blowing him off, he continues to make sure that he has reasons to be in her company. It is not an easy task to get to know her. But, he keeps at it until finally she seems to relax a little. This book is a wonderful, clean story. There are some passionate kissing, but no graphic sex scenes. I think the reason I liked this book so much is because Emma reminds me of my Grandmother( in her younger days). Like Emma, she was a self sufficient, strong willed, stubborn, independent, beautiful woman. It was interesting to see a woman with these personality traits being pursued by a successfull, Handsome man. I kept thinking, Girl what is your problem! Go for it!

Tuesday Teaser The Glass of Time by Michael Cox

2011-08-09T20:53:00.001-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Title: The Glass of Time
Subtitle: The Secret Life of Miss Esperanza Gorst
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 583
Source: Purchased

Page 305
"He made no attempt to greet me, but I was not dismayed; for I instantly read again everything I had seen before in that glorious book of his smile, and in the way he regarded me-as if he had wished to see no one else on God's earth but me."

Hey Kids, Want Some chocolates? by Melitta Strandberg/George E. Pfautsch

2011-08-09T13:11:00.000-05:00

Title: Hey Kids, Want Some Chocolates?
Sub Title: My Family's Journey to Freedom
Author: Mellitta Strandberg
Co Author: George E. Pfautsch
Publisher: Author House
Publication Date: 1 December 2011
Pages: 67
Source: From the Author-Melitta Strandberg

My Review:

This is not the type of book that I normally review here, since it is not fiction. It is a biographical story of a search for freedom following WWII. But, I was interested in this book because I have been helping my best friend, Gwyn do some genealogy research. Her Grandmother died in a concentration camp. We have yet to discover her ancestral roots. It is as if she never existed, other than the record of her death in the concentration camp. But, the research into this really peaked my interest and I have since, been reading more about this era in history.

Melitta Strandberg is really a walking miracle. She was taken away from her mother at birth in 1944 at the hospital in Weimer Germany. She was taken for the purpose of experiments ordered by Hitler to be conducted on newborns. This was part of his quest to obtain what he thought was the perfect race. The babies chosen for these experiments were from mothers of Romania, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Poland. Melitta's mother was Hungarian, therefore not of the pure race. Therefore, her daughter was perfect for experimentation. This is just another example of the lengths that Hitler stooped to because of his obssession. There is no way of knowing just what Melitta was subjected to during the 6 months she was in the company of the Nazis.

This is a compelling story of a family's fight for freedom and the things they had to endure to reach that goal. Yes it is a sad story, as most from this era are. But, they do finally find freedom and take the last refugee train to Augsberg, Germany. When they get off the train, there are American Soldiers offering the children chocolate. (hence, the name of the book) This was the children's first taste of freedom.

Quote from the book:
"Sometimes the citizens of this nation take freedom for granted. Apathy is a great risk to the preservation of freedom. Governments must sometimes be reminded of the words of our second President, John Adams, "You have rights antecedent to all earthly goernments; rights that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws; rights derived from the Great Legislator of the universe." When any government forgets those words, it also forgets the reason for governments to exist."

Follower Appreciation Giveaway! Book Lust Journal by Nancy Pearl

2011-08-04T13:15:00.000-05:00

"Open International"

Open until next thursday August 11, 2011

I will email the winner on Friday August 12,2001

Good Day to you all! I am giving away a new copy of Book Lust Journal by nancy Pearl. All you have to do is be a follower and leave me a comment. If for some reason blogger is acting up(it has been doing that alot lately), email me your comment to charlawilson@me.com.

Thsi is a great book journal and I was so impressed by the introduction by Nancy Pearl. She includes books from her lists and there are many books on her list that I have not heard of, but now want to read! The Journal is divided into 4 parts. 1 Book notes( I am using this to help me keep up with my NetGallery reviews), 2 Book Passages to Remember, 3 Books I want to Read, and 4 Books on Loan. Even if it did not have journal pages, this book was worth the price for Nancy Pearl's introduction. Be sure and visit her at http://www.nancypearl.com/ She has a great site and lots of info, and also a shop that shows all of the wonderful journals she has published.

Thank you all of my lovely followers! This Summer has been a very emotional Summer, between loss and School, I have not been here as much as I would have liked. But, everytime I am here, I just love seeing all of your lovely faces on my GFC gadget and it always makes me feel a little happier! Thank you all for being there!

My Jones Soda!

2011-08-03T14:07:00.001-05:00

For a limited time, you can save 10% off your My Jones Order. These make wonderful gifts, momentos, even memorials. Right now you can get a customized six pack for 16.99 pl. us shipping. Just click on one of the banners in my side bar and place your order, and remember to use the MY10JONES code to save 10% from your order.

Here are my recent My Jones orders and I am so pleased with them. The green apple one is of my dog, Cooper with a turtle in his mouth(the turtle was not harmed in any way) and my dear friend Joe Mckay, doing what he loved, riding his Harley. I gave these to his wife on his birthday, 28 July 2011. On the back of the bottle is printed 28 July 1960-11June 2011, Riding with the wind!" She loved them and was able to share with their son, Little Joe. Around here, we all love these drinks. I think my favorite is the Strawberry lemonade, but the green apple looked better with Coopers eyes. If you visit their site, You can enter your own photo's into their gallery and your photo may be chosen by them to print on their drinks. One of my photos made it to the editor's choice once. If you type my name in the search in the gallery (charla wilson), you can see my entries. Anyway, I guess you can tell that I love this product!

The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox

2011-07-30T20:06:00.000-05:00

Title: The Meaning of Night

Author: Michael Cox

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company

Date Published: 2007

Genre: Gothic Victorian

Pages: 703

Source: Purchased from Amazon

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Resonant with echoes of Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens, Cox's richly imagined thriller features an unreliable narrator, Edward Glyver, who opens his chilling "confession" with a cold-blooded account of an anonymous murder that he commits one night on the streets of 1854 London. That killing is mere training for his planned assassination of Phoebus Daunt, an acquaintance Glyver blames for virtually every downturn in his life. Glyver feels Daunt's insidious influence in everything from his humiliating expulsion from school to his dismal career as a law firm factotum. The narrative ultimately centers on the monomaniacal Glyver's discovery of a usurped inheritance that should have been his birthright, the byzantine particulars of which are drawing him into a final, fatal confrontation with Daunt. Cox's tale abounds with startling surprises that are made credible by its scrupulously researched background and details of everyday Victorian life. Its exemplary blend of intrigue, history and romance mark a stand-out literary debut. Cox is also the author of M.R. James, a biography of the classic ghost-story writer.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

My Review:

Wow! This is THE Best Book I have read in a long time, possibly one of the Best of this genre I will ever read! I will even go beyond what others are saying in comparing him to Wilkie Collins, Charles Dickens, etc., and say that in many ways he is Better!

This is Edward Glyver's story, or rather it is Edward Glyver aka Edward Glapthorn's story and it is told by him. It starts out with him commiting a murder and the excitement just builds from there. Edward Glyver believes his birthright has been stolen and he is obssessed with regaining it. There is almost nothing he will not do to get one step closer to his claim. Even though Edward has a dark spot in his character, your heart will still go out to him. He has been ecieved by almost everyone he ever loved. Everytime he finds happiness, he seems to be struck down. The things this gentleman edures is enough to drive anyone mad. Even though he is full of revenge and teeter tottering on the brink of madness, he has a good, kind heart in his chest. He has just enough goodness within him to cause you to fall in love with him Edward is truly a man after my heart. He is a bibliophile, and a photographer. I love old photography and I loved reading about his photographic endeavors. I also loved the history in this story. It is full of it, and anything that needs more explaining is included in a footnote.

I was sad to finish this book, because I wanted more! But, guess what! He has a sequel and the name of it is The Glass of Time, which I am now devouring.

Quotes from the Book:
"AFTER KILLING THE RED-HAIRED MAN, I TOOK MYSELF OFF TO QUINN'S for an oyster supper. It had been suprisingly-almost laughably-easy."

"The first word I ever heard used to describe myself was: resourceful."

Sadly, I just found that Michael Cox died in March of 2009. It is a shame that we will not have any new material from him. But, thank goodness he finished these two books. I think The Meaning of Night was a fufillment of a life long dream. When he found out that he was ill, he decided to to write the book he had always wantd to write.

In My Mailbox #3!

2011-07-30T17:13:00.001-05:00

I told you I was behind! So, here is another group of books that I won recently! I won these from Rhiannon Paille! I won 3 great books from her blog. http://rhiannonpaille.blogspot.com/ Thank you so much Rhiannon! I am looking forward to reading them!

Wondrous strange by Lesley Livingston.
I love the coer of this book! And here is a random quote from it.
"The music drifted over to where they stood, coiling through the late October night like a slow, lazy serpent. Beautiful, a little disturbing." page 145

Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston and another beautiful cover! Here is a quote from the book:
"At her side Kelly heard Cait draw breath in a hiss. She followed Cait's gaze. Selene, another Janus, was hiding far up in the shadows, picking off lost Fae one at a time with her deadly accurate arrows." page 161

And last but not least

Darklight by Lesley Livingston with yet another wonderful cover!

And here is the quote from this book:"

"The summer Queen glanced around as if expecting that Tyff should already be in attendance. I sent for her and I did see her arrive earlier," she said with only a faint hint of annoyance."

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

In My Mailbox #2!

2011-07-30T16:39:00.001-05:00

Hello again! More catching up here! I won these two books a few weeks ago at Lady and the Books blog. Yay! I can't wait to read them!
http://www.ladyandthebooks.com/

Here is a random quote from Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

"Uncle Morris materializes in the kitchen and we all jump except for my mother, who seems to have regained her composure. She stands swiftly and tucks her hair behind her ears, a useless motion as it just springs out again in, all its corkscrew-curled glory." Page 206

The Iron Witch by Karen MaHoney

Here is a random quote from this book:
"Tears pricked her eyes. "How can I possibly see something as beautiful when, every time I look at them...every single time...they remind me of what I've lost."

I am really looking forward to reading these two books!

In My Mailbox!! Number 1

2011-07-30T08:54:00.001-05:00

Helloeveryone!
I know that I have been away for a few weeks, but this Summer has been extremely trying. It has been emotionally devastating. We lost a family member unexpectedly last month and the loss has truly been draining. Not only is he missed constantly, but his wife is my best friend and watching her suffer has been the hardest thing of all. I want to take away her pain or at least lessen it, but sometomes I just feel so helpless. Also, I have had some extremely difficult classes this summer, but they are over for a few weeks, and for that I am so glad! Anyway, these are the reasons that what you will see here over the next few weeks or so is an attempt to catch up on some things. I hope everyone is having a great summer! Also, I just want to tell all of my wonderful followers that I love you all and appreciate you so very much!

First let me show you the great books I won last month at http://melissawatercolor.blogspot.com. Melissa has a beautiful blog and you can find her button in my sidebar. It says Books and Things, or use the the link above. Here are the Beautiful books that I won on her blog:

Oh! I cannot wait to read them both and when I do, You know I will share them here with you!

Vote for Cooper on Jones Soda!!! please!

2011-07-18T16:06:00.000-05:00

Please use this link to vote for my dog, Cooper!! Thanks so very amuch!!
http://www.jonessoda.com/gallery/view.php?ID=1255873&search[category]=7&offset=37

Jane in June Challenge Winner!!

2011-07-08T13:21:00.001-05:00

Hello Everyone! Happy Friday! I apologize for this being so late, but I have a winner for the Jane in June Giveaway. The winner is: Andreea Congratulations Andreea! She won a pre ordered copy of Jane Austen Made Me Do It by Laurel Nattress and the first book in the Stephanie Barron Jane Austen Mystery series. Thank you to everyone that entered!

Scandal at the Farmhouse by Cody Young

2011-07-05T21:02:00.000-05:00

Title: Scandal at the Farmhouse

Publisher: Salt Publishing

Publishing Date: Feb 2011

Version: Kindle

290kb

Cody Young, the author of this book brought it to my attention, and I am so glad she did. This book was wonderful! It is the story of a relationship that was forbidden by society. It was forbidden because of the social differences between the man and the woman. The woman, Clara, came from a high society family, Ned had inheretid his money from a dead relative. He did things different from what the neighbors thought was proper. For instance, he would ntake his shirt off at the well and rinse it out. Anyway, the friendship started innocently enough. Clara wanted him to help her get out of marrying a man her father had chosen for her. The plan was to have the fiance see her kissing Ned in hopes that the fiance would call off the wedding. But, when that did not work, Clara was in a very difficult position. The way she chose to get out of it is most interesting and oh my, what a steamy relationship comes from all of her troubles.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

2011-07-05T20:40:00.000-05:00

Amazons Review

Amazon Best Books of the Month, June 2011: As a kid, Jacob formed a special bond with his grandfather over his bizarre tales and photos of levitating girls and invisible boys. Now at 16, he is reeling from the old man's unexpected death. Then Jacob is given a mysterious letter that propels him on a journey to the remote Welsh island where his grandfather grew up. There, he finds the children from the photographs--alive and well--despite the islanders’ assertion that all were killed decades ago. As Jacob begins to unravel more about his grandfather’s childhood, he suspects he is being trailed by a monster only he can see. A haunting and out-of-the-ordinary read, debut author Ransom Rigg’s first-person narration is convincing and absorbing, and every detail he draws our eye to is deftly woven into an unforgettable whole. Interspersed with photos throughout,

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

is a truly atmospheric novel with plot twists, turns, and surprises that will delight readers of any age.

Title: Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children

Author: Ransom Riggs

Publisher: Quirk Books

Pages: 348

Source: Purchased from Amazon

My Review

Ransom Riggs definitely has a winner on his hands! I must admit that I was drawn to this book for the vintage photographs. I collect vintage and antique photographs and was intrigued with the idea of a story built around a set of old photo's. The photographs used in the book have been unaltered. When you see the pictures, you may question this, but I own several weird, old pictures that makes you wonder how the photographer took the picture. The story was developed around a set of strange photographs. I originally thought the book might be creepy and horrific, which is not a genre I usually read. But, I decided to read it anyway, and I am glad that I did. The book was neither creepy or Horrofic. I would describe it as a historic Sci Fi genre.The story begins with Grandfather Portman telling his grandson, Jacob stories about his childhood. The stories were strange and unbelievable by almost everyone. However, Jacob had a special bond with his Grandfather, and believed his stories for many years. When the grandfather is dying, he tells Jacob to go to his childhood home and warn them that the monsters were coming for them. Jacob thought maybe his Grandfather had really lost it, but he went to his Grandfather's homeland anyway. He decided he needed to go and just see what he could find. Once there, Jacob is faced with his grandfather's monsters and a whole lot more. He is on the adventure of his life and he can't discuss it with anyone for fear they will think he is crazy. His adventure involves time travel, romance, mystery, History and Monsters! I truly loved this story and couldn't put it down.

Midsummers Eve Winners!

2011-06-28T17:50:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Kristen and SpicedIce. Kristen won $20.00 Amazon gift card and Spicedice won the $15.00 Card!! Thank you everyone for participating. Thank you to all of my followers! I have sent both cards to the ladies and I hope they enjoy using them. Happy Reading to all!

Midsummers Eve Winners!!

2011-06-26T23:57:00.001-05:00

Even though my followers did not reach 400, it is so close that I decided to go ahead an up the gift cards. The Winners of the Midsummers Eve Blog Hop are...1st for $20.00 is Elizabeth and the 2nd is Kristina for $15.00 gift card, both are from Amazon. I have emailed both ladies and hope to hear from them soon. I just want to send a really big Thank you to everyone for participating!!!!

Midsummer Eve Blog

2011-06-26T07:33:00.000-05:00

The MidsummerEve Blog Hop is over and I will post the winners soon! I wilol contact the winner by email and they will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen!

The Night Train by Clye Edgerton

2011-06-25T13:59:00.000-05:00

From the back of the book:

In 1963 at the age of 17, Dwayne Hallston discovers James Brown and wants to perform just like him. His band, the Amazing Rumblers, studies and rehearses Brown's Live at the Apollo album in the storage room of his father's shop in their small North Carolina town. Meanwhile, Dwayne's forbidden black friend Larry, aspiring to play piano like Thelonius Monk, apprentices to a jazz musician called the Bleeder. His mother hopes music will allow him to escape the South.

A dancing chicken and a mutual passion for music help Dwayne and Larry as they try to achieve their dreams and maintain their friendship, even while their world says both are impossible. In THE NIGHT TRAIN, Edgerton's trademark humor reminds us of our divided national history and the way music has helped bring us together.

My Review

Title:The Night Train
Author: Clyde Edgerton
Publisher: Little Brown & Company
Date: July 2011
Pages: 212
Source: Little Brown Publsihing/Anna Balasi
Genre: Fiction

I was born and raised in the South. So, I am ashamed to admit that I had never heard of clyde Edgerton until Anna from Little Brown & Company contacted me about this book. I have since learned that not only is he Southern author, he is a great Southern Author that has many book credited to him! However, it may have the first book I have read by him but it will not be the last.

This was a wonderful story set inrural North Carolina dudring the early 1960's. While the rest of the world was being turned upside down by Civil Rights issue, the folks in Starke North Carolina went on with everyday life as normal. Unknown to them they were also making progress toward equal rights for everyone.

This is a story of two teenage boys and the friendship they shared, even though society frowned upon friendships between white and black children. Dewayne was white and Larry Lime was black Their mutual love of music forged a clear path that allowed their friendship to grow.

Dewayne loves James Brown music and has a band called The Amazing Rumblers. His immediate goal is to get his band on the Bobby Reese Show that is sponsored by the local Dog Food Factory. Larry Lime is taking lessons from a guy called the Bleeder at a bar called The Frog. He wants to play Jazz music. They love to lisiten to and love James Brown's Live at the Apollo Theatre album and especially The Night Train number.

This story is leading up to the bid night of whehter the Amazing Rumblers will be on The Bobby Reese show or not. Along the way, you will laugh with the boys and sometime be a little sad. But, you will alsosee how people managed to overcome their differences by just living their lives. both Dewayne and Larry Lime were interesting characters, but by far my favorite was Larry Lime.

I truly loved this bookand if you (like me) have never read a Clyde Edgerton book, I recommend that you remedy that situation soon! You will be glad that you did. Also, this would make ab awesome summer book for a teenage boy.

Quotes from the book:

Don't you want some more butterbeans? said Donnie's mother to Crystal, Donnie's seven year old sister.
Now the child be farting all night, thought Aunt marzie. She done ate her plate clean.
I o-'ont no more, said Crystal.
Thank God, thought Aunt marzie.

We laughed our Asses off sitting there on the couch, Baby Mercy and me-I-and we came up with the dog food eating idea early on-after about a year, I think- and that's when the show took off for sure.

Mid Summers Blog Hop Giveaway

2011-06-20T19:21:00.001-05:00

First I want to send a Big Thank You to I am a Reader Not a Writer and Too Busy reading for hosting this fantastic Blog Hop! i hope everyone is enjoying their summer. It is so hot and humid here in Biloxi, MS that I have not been able to get out much. Besides the high heat, it has been so dry here. I am praying for RAIN!

For my part of the hop giveaway, I will be giving away 2 gift cards from Amazon. The first one is for $15.00 and the second one will be for $10.00. If my Google Followers goes to 400, I will up the two prizes by $5.00. The first will be $20.00 and the second will be for $15.00. If it goes to 500, I will make the first one $30.00 and the second one $20.00. Once you are done here, please visit the other blogs! There are around 300 in this one. Soo, get Hopping!!

Borgia Betrayal by Sara Poole

2011-06-20T18:04:00.000-05:00

Title: Borgia Betrayal

Author: Sara Poole

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: 2011

Source: Book Browse

Pages: 389

This is the 2nd book in the series. The first book was "Poison". But, you need not have read it to enjoy this one. It is a stand alone story. I have not read Poison, and never felt I was missing anything while reading this one.

I loved that the main character was a woman, not just any woman, but a woman doing a mans job in the year 1493. Francesca Giordano was athe Poisoner for Pope Alexander VI, aka Pope Roderigo Borgia. Francesca's father had been his poisoner unitl he was murdered. Then Francesca killed the man that was supposed to take her father's position. She became the poisoner because she knew more about her father's job than anyone.

Francesca's life is overflowing with potential danger to her life. She is part of a group called Lux. The members of the group are interested in Science, and if they are discovered reading and learning, it may be deemed as heresy which is punishable by death. Not just any death, but by being burned at the stake. Her affiliation with this group is very dangerous since she is so close to the Pope and her job is to protect the Pope at all costs.
Francesca is also sleeping with Cesare Borgia, the pope's oldest son. It is rumoured that Pope Alexander VI will make Cesare a Cardinal, which would put him in line to putting down a foundation for a dynasty of Borjia's to rule all of Christendom. The fear of this possiblity increases the opposition to Pope Alexander's rule. The main threat is from Morozzi, the mad priest. Morozzi is a threat to the Pope, and Francesca is hell bent on killing him with her own hands.
Not only is Francesca's life filled with danger, but it is also filled with romance. There is one steamy love scene in the Papal office that is un forgetable. There is man that lives near Francesca who is a glass blower. He has a son, but his wife has died. Francesca realizes that she has feelings for this man. His name is Rocco and his son's name is Nando. Rocco and Francesca have feelings for each other, but Francesca will not admit to her feelings for him. Rocco wants a mother for Nando. He gives Francesca the opportunity to voice her feelings, but she will not. He tells her that he is going to marry Carlotta d'agnelli. Inside, Francesca is very sad and longs to be the kind of woman that could be a mother and wife.

This story is full of intrigue, romance, and adventure. Most historical fiction novels are centered on the Kings and Queens of the era. The view in this book is from the opposite side-the Church. It is an interesting view that I have explored very little. The people of the church were as corrupt as anyone could ever be. The Popes had misstresses and dozens of illigetimate children. They were not beyond murder or anything else in orer to keep their positions.

Blood Magic by Tessa Graton Giveaway atParanormal Wasteland

2011-06-15T21:33:00.000-05:00

Visit Paranormal Wasteland for a chance to win 1 of 5 copies

http://paranormalwastelands.blogspot.com/2011/06/200-followers-giveaway.html

You have until June 23rd 2011 to enter!

Virgin and the Crab by Robert Parry

2011-06-11T12:17:00.000-05:00

Title: Virgin and the Crab
Author: Robert Parry
Source: Bought
Publisher: Create Space
Date: September 29, 2009
Pages: 492

My Review
This was by far one of the best books I have ever read! It was the best book I have ever read about Queen Elizabeth I. From the very first page to the last sentence I was held spellbound! I usually do not like for a movie to be made of a great book, but in this case, I would love, love, love to see a movie made of this book. I think it would be a box office hit, if it was done well. The story is awesome and it is from such a different angle from the usual Queen Elizabeth story that I think it could be the most interesting movie ever made about Queen Elizabeth I. After all, it was the most interesting book I have ever read about her.

This is the story of John Dee, An Astronomer, and a mathematician as well as a host of other abilities, and his friendship to Queen Elizabeth I. Their friendship began at an early age and lasted a lifetime. It is a story of devotion, a fight for survival and the struggle for freedom.

King Edward, Henry VIII's only son is a sickly King that finally succumbs to his illnesses. This left his sisters, Mary and Elizabeth in line for the throne. Mary, the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon takes the throne. She then has Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, imprisoned in the tower, in the very room occupied by her mother while she awaited her execution. Mary is a very disturbed lady. She is obsessed with putting the Catholic Church back into power and will do just about anything to make it happen. She earns the name 'Bloody Mary' because of all the people she had executed while she reigned. The execution method of choice started as beheading (just like her father), but then became burning people at the stake. So many were burned during her reign that the air was constantly filled with the smell of burnt flesh. I found it interesting how Robert Parry portrayed her. Not only was she a very devout Catholic woman, but she seemed to be obsessed with the teachings of the faith and her beliefs became toxic. She was also very afraid of having sex. Her biggest fear in marriage was the wedding night. Her beliefs were not just a self interest, but she believed everyone should feel as she did. She did finally marry. She married Prince Phillip of Spain. Soon afterward she became pregnant. At least that is what everyone was led to believe. After her due date came and went and still no baby, it was finally determined that she was not pregnant.

Most everyone knows that Elizabeth did finally become Queen of England. But not everyone knows just how close she came to being put to death, not just once, but many times. This story gives us a look at Queen Elizabeth from an angle not ever seen before, at least not to my knowledge. It is an angle that I found intriguing. It is told by John Dee and he is truly the hero of the story. This is the first story that I have ever heard mention him and yet he played a very important role in Queen Elizabeth's life. He is such an interesting character that I cannot believe I have not read about him before.

This story is full of Mystery, Intrigue, Suspense, Horror, Jealousy, Determination, and Devotion and I just did not want to put it down. When you add all of those things to Historical fiction as well as Historical facts, it just adds up to a perfect story. I did find myself wondering how Robert Parry can write such stories that hold you captive. He writes almost as if her was there when these things took place. Then I remembered one of the characters in the book was named Thomas Parry. I looked Thomas Parry up and found that he was the the Comptroller of the Household for Queen Elizabeth I. So, then I realized that he may be one of Robert Parry's ancestors and maybe this helps Robert write such awesome stories because it is in his blood!

Robert's book, "The Arrow Chest" is just as good as this one. So, if you haven't read that one, you are in for a real treat! I will miss reading this book as I almost hated for the story to be over. I do hope he is working on another one and when it comes out, I will be the first in line to buy it!

Teaser Tuesday/ The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox

2011-06-07T10:36:00.000-05:00

"How would I be avenged? I turned the question over and over in my mind, imagining the ways in which Phoebus Daunt might be made to feel what I had felt, and envisioning the means by which his hopes could be destroyed."

Title:The Meaning of Night A Confession
Author: Michael Cox
Publisher:WW Norton and Company
Date:2006
Page: 153

Splash into Summer Winner!!

2011-06-01T14:17:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Marjorie-she won her choice of $25.00 gift card to Amazon or Book Depository. I have sent her an email. Oh how I wish I could give you all a gift card! I appreciate all the wonderful comments and thank you all so much for following my blog!!!!

Jane in June Challenge/Hop/ Giveaway June 1 thru June 30, 2011

2011-05-31T21:47:00.001-05:00

Thank you Book Rat for hosting this lovely Challenge!!

http://www.thebookrat.com/2011/01/jane-in-june-invitation.html

This is open Internationally as long as Book Depository will ship to you. If in the U.S. I will have it shipped from Amazon.

I am giving away a copy of Jane Austen Made me do it by Laurel Ann Nattress. It is not going to be published until October 11, 2011, but I will pre order it for a lucky winner and have it shipped to you the day it comes out. You can visit Laurel Ann's blog at She has a great Jane http://austenprose.com/ Austen blog that I think you will love. In addition I will include a copy of Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor: Being the first Jane Austen Mystery by Stephanie Barron.

To enter please follow my blog and fill out the form below. That's it! Please visit all of the other participating blogs by clicking on the link above or the picture in my side bar.

I will notify the winner on July 1, 2011!

22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson

2011-05-29T19:06:00.002-05:00

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Best Books of the Month, April 2011: By the end of World War II, Silvana is a ghost of the wife Janusz once had. She and their 7-year-old son Aurek travel from Poland to England to reunite their family--a family that has been separated for 6 years. That's where 22 Britannia Road, Amanda Hodgkinson's stunning debut novel, begins. As the past unfolds from multiple points of view, it becomes clear that despite their determination to make a fresh start, the hidden secrets of the past threaten to destroy Silvana and Janusz's dreams of becoming a family once again. The irreversible events that passed during their years of separation still linger, including the horrors of war, Janusz's betrayal by a love affair with another woman, and the devastating secret that Silvana will do anything to conceal. Hodgkinson's poetic voice is impossible to forget, and the shocking and hopeful ending of her remarkable historical novel will leave readers reeling--and satisfied. --Miriam Landis

Title: 22 Britannia Road
Source: ARC won at Goodreads
pages: 320
Publication: Pamela Dorman Books/Viking 2011

My Review
Janusz, Silvana and their son Aurek are a young Polish family just beginning their lives together when Poland is invaded by the Russians and Germans. The family gets separated. Janusz joins the Military and eventually ends up in England. Silvana and Aurek are left in Poland to fend for themselves. In order to survive, Silvana and Aurek take to the forest. For six long years, they wander from place to place just trying to survive. They hide in hollowed out trees, and are constantly filthy and are on the verge of becoming as wild as the animals they live amongst. They eventually end up in a refugee camp, where Janusz finally locates them. Janusz is living in England and brings Silvana and Aurek to England with hope of finally having the life with his family that they all deserve. Unfortunately, all three have changed very much since before the war and they all have secrets they keep from each other. These secrets threaten to tear the family apart.

It is hard to believe that this is Amanda Hodgkinson's first novel. Just when you think you have learned everything about Janusz, Silvana and Aurek, Amanda Hodgkinson totally surprises you with new information. She puts so much emotional feeling into each character that sometimes their suffering threatens to rip your heart out.

I won this book on goodreads, but I had planned to read it anyway. So, when I won this copy, I was very happy. I highly recommend this book as I have enjoyed it very much!

From the last page in the book(this passage sums the story up so well, i had to include it)

"Forgetfulness comes softly over the years. In time, Aurek will grow up thinking of England as his home. But still, as an adult, when he sees his mother staring out of the window or his father silent in his armchair, he wonders how hard it must have been for them both, leaving Poland to give him a safe life. A shadow of a memory will move in his mind then, quick, like a small boy playing hide and seek, running barefoot through through the rooms of 22Britannia Road.

Thee shared ghost, he believes, of their old country."

Splash into Summer Blog Hop May 25-31st, 2011 $25.00 Gift Card to Amazon or Book Depository

2011-05-24T12:00:00.001-05:00

Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop

Co-Hosted by Page Turners Blog

The Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Page Turners. It will take place from May 25th to 31st.

Thank you I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Page Turners for hosting this awesome Giveaway Hop!!
I am giving away a $25.00 gift card of your choice, either from Amazon or Book Depository!! Please fill out the form below and Have Fun and Good Luck!! The winner will be randomly drawn and I will notify the winner sometime on June 1, 2011 by email and post the winner's first name or Alias here.

***It appears that Google Friend CONNECT IS HAVING PROBLEMS. Please look at the top of the blog and the follow button there will work. I have noticed this problem on many blogs the last few days.

The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery AAmes

2011-05-19T15:07:00.000-05:00

Title: The Long Quiche Goodbye
Author: Avery AAmes
Publisher: The Berkley Publishing Group
Publcation Date: 2010
Pages: 326
Version: Signed Paperback Copy won on Goodreads

From the back of the book:

"Welcome to the grand opening of Fromagerie Bessette. Or as it's more commonly known by the residents os small town Providence, Ohio...The Cheese Shop. Proprietor Charlotte Bessette has prepared a delightful sampling of bold Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, delicious tortes of Stilton and mascarpone, a taste os sauvignon blanc, and for the piece de resistance, a little crime of passion..."

"Charlotte has barely began melting like fondue in front of a handsome artisanal cheese supplier named Jordan when a blood curdling shriek disrupts the festivities. Right outside the shop, Charlotte finds a body, the victim stabbed to death with one of her prized olive wood handled knives. As the police leap to conclusions, it's up to Charlotte to find the real killer..."

My Review:

When I am asked what my favorite food is, I always answer that it is cheese! So, that being said, this book was pure joy to read. Because not only do you get a great mystery, you also get an education of pairing the perfect cheese with the perfect wine. The cheese and wines mentioned in the story are real, I know because I looked them up. I learned many new things about cheese, and there were many mentioned in the book that I must try! For example, there is a dish mentioned, called artichoke hearts drenched in Taleggio! Taleggio is from the Valtaleggio region in Northern Italy, near Lombardy. I had never heard of Taleggio until I read this book, and now I have to find some! I would never have guessed that I would learn so much from a murder mystery book. But the cheese and wine information is just an added bonus to the story.

The main character, Charlotte Bessette, is taking over the cheese shop owned by her French grandparents. Soon after she took over the shop, someone is murdered at a party that is given inside the shop. Charlotte's Grandmere is falsely accused of the murder and Charlotte takes up sleuthing in order to prove her grandmother's innocence. As she does this, you meet and learn much about the inhabitants of Providence, Ohio. We meet the hunk, Jordan, that Charlotte has her eye on and we find that there is much mystery surrounding him. We also meet Rebecca, the shop clerk, that has left the Amish way of life for modern society. Charlotte's Grandmere is a very interesting lady. She is the Mayor of Providence and her hobby is putting on theatrical plays that are quite different from what would be expected from a 72 year old grandmother. For example, she is currently working on a Ballet of Hairspray. Avery AAmes has created an atmosphere that I would love to live in. There are victorian houses, old china sets, and roses along with modern day subjects like website building. Charlotte is a woman with many talents. She is able to make everything she does a little more elegant. For example, she decides to go see her neighbor on the spur of the moment and on her way out the door, she grabs an old wine bottle, clips some lilacs and puts a lavender ribbon on the neck of the wine bottle. What a lovely gift to present to your neighbor! With this book you get good Food, and good Wine, along with a great story. What more could anyone want? I am literally hungry for more!

Along with the book are included several recipes and a preview of Avery AAmes next book, Lost and Fondue. I am looking forward to reading it soon! In the meantime, I am going to try some of her recipes, such as the Ham and Pineapple Quiche and the Polenta with Taleggio and Basil!

Tuesday Teaser The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery AAmes

2011-05-17T15:36:00.001-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Should Be Reading. This meme is tons of fun. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read

*Open to random page

*Share 2 “teaser” sentences from that page

* BE CAREFUL NOT TO SHARE SPOILERS!!

* Be sure to share Title and Author so other TT participants can add the book to TBR lists!

Here s my Tuesday Teaser:

"The Skin on his face clung to his bones. Some people said he was a womanizer, but I couldn't see it. The Grim Reaper held more appeal."

Book Title: The Long Quiche Goodbye

Author: Avery AAmes
Publisher:Berkley Prime Crime
Page: 19

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron

2011-05-16T20:24:00.001-05:00

I started this series as part of a reading challenge. This is the first book in the series and there have been eleven written so far. This book read just like you would expect a Jane Austen Novel to read. Jane, herself is telling the story and in the telling of the story, you get to know the real Jane Austen. Stephanie Barron has managed to weave some of the real Jane Austen's life into the story. The book has footnotes to help with some of the language used during Jane's life, and I found the footnotes to be as interesting as the story. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical about this series of books and did not expect to like them. But, If they are all as well written as this first one, then I will read them all. <br/><br/>The story is about a friend of Jane's named Isobel. Isobel has recently married a man much older than herself, and Jane has come to stay with the newly weds for a Ball being given in honor of the bride. While there, Isobel's husband is murdered and then later on, one of Isobel's maids is brutally murdered. Isobel and the man she loves are accused of the murders and it is up to Jane Austen to help prove their innocence. I have always been pretty good at solving a mystery long before the story comes to an end, but this one kept me in suspense up to the end. If you love Jane Austen and you love mysteries, then you are sure to love this series by Stephanie Barron.

Teaser Tuesday

2011-05-10T12:11:00.000-05:00

"In the flickering glow, Lord Scargrave's face appears as ravaged as it did in the dim light of his death chamber: not the manner in which such a man would wish to be remembered. Were it not for the superstitions of the local folk, who come to pay their respects in a silent, shuffling file, Isobel should never have ordered the casket closed: but the Earl of Scargrave must be seen to be truly dead by all the surrounding country before his heir may take up his title."

Title: Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor

Author: Stephanie Barron

Spring Carnival Winners!

2011-05-09T07:31:00.000-05:00

Thank you all so much for the great comments! This was my first giveaway and it was very fun! I wish I could give everyone the prize, but of course I cannot afford that. However The winner of the comments is

krysykat said..

Thank you for the giveaway!!
I am a GFC follower- Krysta Banco

The number generated for the winner was 92. I'm sorry, but I couldn't figure out how to put the actual widget with the generated number in my post(I'm sort of new at this). Anyway Congratulations Kryskat!

Katia M won the other card from the follower drawing! Congratulations!

I will be participating in the Splash into Summer Hob at the end of the month with a$25.00 gift card, So come back soon!

Cousin Phillis by Elizabeth Gaskell

2011-05-07T18:59:00.000-05:00

Amazons

Product Description

Elizabeth Gaskell has long been one of the most popular of Victorian novelists, yet in her lifetime her shorter fictions were equally well loved, and they are among the most accomplished examples of the genre. The heart of this collection is Gaskell's novella Cousin Phillis, a lyrical masterpiece that depicts a vanishing way of life and a girl's disappointment in love: deceptively simple, its undercurrent of feeling leaves an indelible impression. The other five stories in this selection range from a quietly original tale of urban poverty and a fallen woman to an historical tale in which echoes of the French Revolution, the bleakness of winter in Westmorland, and a tragic secret are brought vividly to life. Heather Glen's illuminating introduction is the first to offer extended consideration of Gaskell as a writer of short stories, discussing Gaskell's pre-eminent role in developing the genre and setting each story in the context of their original periodical publication. The volume includes a chronology, bibliography, and invaluable notes.

About the Author

Heather Glen is Professor of English Literature at the University of Cambridge.

This bok completes the Gaskell Challenge for me. This book was pretty good, but in no way compares to "Ruth". Although the writing was equal to that in "Ruth," the story was not nearly as compelling. The story is being told by Phillis' cousin. He introduces her to his friend, Mr. Holdsworth. Mr Holdsworth is a very educated, well traveled young man. Phillis, on the other hand has led a very sheltered life. She is an only child of a minister and they live on a country farm. Mr Holdsworth tells his friend that he is in love with phillis, but he has to leave for an extended trip for his job. After he leaves, Phillis seems to become despondent, so her cousin tells her about Mr Holdsworth's love. She gets better, but Mr Holdsworth does not come back, he marrys another woman. So, Phillis is left alone after all. Although I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, it will not deter me from reading more of Elizabeth Gaskel's works.

MISS Rimmers Review Carnival Blog Challenge

2011-05-07T11:48:00.000-05:00

Over at Miss Rimmers Review, she has a challenge called, It's a bad world. It is focused on Dystopian fiction and she wanted us to answer a few questions about it and then post our answers. So, here are my answers. here is her link:http://www.missremmersreview.com/

First I have to admit that I have not read any Dystopian Fiction. But, If I win this then I will have no excuse! She asked why it is so popular, what does the popularity say about our society and what implications it has on our society?

I think that the reason it so popular is that it gives us hope, hope for a better future. I believe we want to read about worse societies than our own, because it allows us to see that no matter how bad conditions are, they could always be worse. Maybe it helps us to feel better about our own. I think the main implication it has on our society is that people want a better world to live in.

Please scroll down for the Spring Blog Giveaway!

2011-05-03T17:01:00.000-05:00

Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell and Gaskell Reading Challenge

2011-05-03T16:54:00.000-05:00

Title: Ruth
Author: Elizabeth Gaskell
Publisher:
Date: March st 1998 (First Published 1853)
Version: Kindle
Pages: 432

The first thing I should mention about this book is that it is the first time I have read a Elizabeth Gaskell novel, and it was so wonderful that I cannot wait to read another one! This book took my breath away! It was so beautifully written that I did not want to put it down. Elizabeth Gaskell has a way with words that evokes such strong emotions in the reader. Her words provide such imagery throughout the book that you can actually smell the fragrance in the air, and most importantly, to feel the emotions the characters are experiencing.

The setting is the mid 1800's in England and Ruth Hilton is a twelve year old orphan that has been signed over by her guardian to woman that has a sewing business. The work conditions are deplorable and Ruth has no relatives or friends in the city. Ruth is extremely beautiful, however she does not believe that beauty has much value. Her beauty causes the other working girls to be jealous of her, therefore she is an outcast which makes her even more lonely. She misses her parents and longs for someone to care for her.

One Sunday, after church she notices a boy playing near a stream. The boy falls in and is close to drowning. Ruth screams until a young man comes to help her with the child. The young man's name is Mr Bellingham and he is immediately enamored by her beauty. They begin to go on walks after church and become good friends. One day, Mr Bellingham talks Ruth into going for a long walk to the house where she was born, because she misses it very much. On the walk back, it begins to get dark and a coach approaches and in it is the woman she works for. The woman tellsRuth that she cannot have such loose girls working for her and that she is not to go back to work. Mr. Bellingham convinces Ruth to go traveling with him. And the rest is history!

You will fall in love with Ruth. She is such a sweet, loving person that you just have to fall in love with her. She has an extremely difficult time making her way in the world. It is interesting to read about the differences between then and now, and to see just how the female has risen above such terrible ideas of how a woman is supposed to act and what is expected of her.

2011-05-02T22:40:00.000-05:00

Interview and Giveaway with Mayandree Michel

I was lucky enough to recently read a pre-release of Mayandree Michel's debut novel Betrayal, the first in her new The Descendants series, thanks to the wonderful author herself.
I have to say, usually historical’s aren't my kind of thing, but Mayandree manages to weave an incredible tale full of Greek Myth, romance and the paranormal world we all know and love.

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to interview her and to celebrate the release of Betrayal, Mayandree has offered up a SIGNED paperback copy to ONE lucky reader as well!

Interview:

Hi Mayandree, first I’d like to thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I’m very excited to talk to you and have the opportunity to interview you....

Congrats on the release of your debut novel, Betrayal, that was released recently. What can readers expect from it?
Thank you. I’m pretty excited about it. Readers who give Betrayal a try should expect an exciting and original story filtered with the magic of Greek mythology, romance, and shocking scandal. I hope that they come away feeling refreshed by the unique story.

There are so many fabulous characters in Betrayal, is there anyone who has an extra special place within your heart?
They all do… even the villains.

Where did you get the idea for Betrayal? Is it something that just came to you?
The idea for Betrayal came from my obsession with Greek mythology, the love stories and the violent tragedies and time travel. I love reading anything to do with either so I figured why not write about that. I had actually written a few short stories based on vampires but I knew the YA market was saturated with it. But I love vamps and werewolves so I knew I would incorporate both in my books but not as the focus.

If you had the opportunity to travel back in time to any era which would it be and why?
I would love to go back to the Victorian era (mostly for the gowns), and around the time of the Trojan war (I’m guessing 500 b.c.) – just to dress in a gorgeous toga and a gold wreathe crown and maybe catch a quick gladiator fight (pretty gory I’d imagine but good).

Who is your fave Greek God?
I have two: Athena (she exudes strength) and Nemesis ( who doesn’t like a little revenge).

Have you always hoped to write and publish a book or was this just something that fell into place?
I’ve always enjoyed writing, whether it was just short stories or poetry. No, I never ever thought to publish a book. Most people who know me know me more as an artist which is what I’ve always focused on. But one day I told my husband the idea I had for The Descendants series, and he loved it and told me to go for it. And so I started to write Betrayal.

What’s the best advice you’d give to readers who wanted to follow in your footsteps and have a novel published?
Read and familiarize yourself with the genre you wish to write in and write a little every day, and read even more. I chose to self-publish because I felt it left me in more control over what I choose to write. It may not be the route another writer may wish to take but it works for me.

Considering this, what is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
I think the best advice I’ve been given as a writer is to write every day.

Who has inspired you the most throughout your childhood and adult life?
My mother. She has always encouraged me to read…everything from books to the newspaper and I believe that her push led me to write.

Who is your favourite author/s?
As an adult I enjoy Anne Rice and Edith Wharton, and when I was a kid, Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary’s works the most.

If you could only ever read one book for the rest of your life, which book would it be?
Wow, I have a few with my own included but I’d have to say Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson. It was renamed ‘Somewhere in Time’ after the movie was made.

Do you have a favourite book series? If yes, which one and why?
No, because I usually end up only liking one or two out of the series.

6 Quick questions:
1. Favourite colour? Turquoise
2. Favourite ice-cream flavour? Rum Raisin
3. Lucky number? Ha! I wish I had the lucky numbers for the lottery! LOL!
4. Vampires or werewolves? Vampires, of course, the meaner the better!
5. Heels or Flats? Depends on the occasion but mostly flats
6. Dogs or cats?Definitely dogs!

Betrayal

Where there is love and power, there is always... betrayal.

At seventeen, Cordelia is an ordinary teen with an extraordinary and frightening secret. A secret that induces vivid dreams which she not only experiences true love, but crippling fear while barely escaping with her life each night.

After a life altering event, Cordelia has an unexpected encounter with Evan, the mysterious boy from her dreams, who reveals who and what she is; a descendant of the Greek gods. At that moment everything she knows of her world is a lie, and she must leave the present and go into the past to assume the role she was put on this earth for; safeguarding her ancient empire amidst evil forces that toil hastily to destroy it.

In a race against time, Cordelia must decide if she is truly a part of this dangerous world, or risk defying the gods, and ultimately lose the boy who has put a claim on her heart.

**Read my review of Betrayal here: http://rachybee-the-rest-is-still-unwritten.blogspot.com/2011/03/book-shelf-betrayal-descendants-1-by.html

**Find out more about Mayandree Michel at:http://mayandreemichel.blogspot.com/

**Read the excerpt for Betrayal here:http://betrayalthedescendants.blogspot.com/p/excerpt-of-betrayal.html

**Buy Betrayal as paper back or ebook from Amazon here:http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=BETRAYAL+mayandree+michel&x=9&y=24

Now for the GIVEAWAY.....

~It runs from the 1st of May until the 8th of May 2011. The winner will be contacted afterwards
~It’s open to US and AUSTRALIAN applicant’s ONLY.
~You MUST be a follower to enter. ~The winner will be chosen by random.org and notified by email. If you do not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.

To enter simply fill out the FORM here:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGRzU1pWb253ejFzNkEtTFRaYnI3OXc6MQ

Spring Blog Carnival May1 thru May 8th and Two Barnes & Noble Gift Cards!

2011-04-30T23:56:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Fortune Teller Booth!

I predict that there will be two people that visit here will win a Barnes and Noble Gift Card. To be eligible, please leave a comment. One comment will win a $15.00 gift card and one of my followers will win a $15.00 gift card. So, for two chances, leave a comment and follow my new blog. On May 8 around midnight, 1 random followers and 1 random commenter will win a $15.00 Barnes & Noble Gift Card. Thank you so much for visiting and I hope you enjoy the Blog Hop! Also, Thank you to the ladies at Pure Imagination, Candaces Book Blog, Book Swarm and Reading Angel for hosting this Blog Hop

The black and white photo came from:

http://arestlessgypsy.blogspot.com/

http://www.candacesbookblog.com/
http://www.bookswarm.blogspot.com/
http://www.readingangel.com/
http://www.pureimaginationblog.com/

Challenges

Reading Angel: Haunted House
Reading Teen: Fortune Tellers Booth

May 2nd-
Candace’s Book Blog: Food Court
The Mod Podge Bookshelf: House of Mirrors

May 3rd-
The Book Swarm: Roller Coaster
Actin’ Up With Books: Karaoke Booth

May 4th-
Pure Imagination: Kissing Booth
Lovely Lit: Once Upon a Time Booth

May 5th-
Awesomesauce Books: Gaming Booth
Books R Us: Medieval Booth

May 6th-
Extreme Reader Book Reviews: Guessing Booth
Colloquium: Cotton Candy Booth

May 7th-
The Minding Spot: Teacups Booth

Miss Remmers Review: It’s a Bad World Booth

PS-This giveaway is open fro everyone-International included!