Winners - Bait - J. Kent Messum

And the three lucky winners of a copy of Bait by J. Kent Messum, courtesy of Plume Books are:

1. Anita Yancey
2. Christa
3. Charlotte

Congratulations! I've contacted you by email for your mailing addresses. Please respond within 72 hours - after that time a new winner will be chosen. Thanks to all who entered - check the sidebar for ongoing giveaways.

The Last Camellia - Sarah Jio - Review AND Giveaway!

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I first discovered Sarah Jio's writing when I picked up her debut novel, The Violets of March. (my review) I really enjoyed it (it's still my favourite) So did a lot of other readers - it went on to be a New York Times Bestseller, as did her second book Blackberry Winter.

Newly released is Sarah's fourth book - The Last Camellia.

You've probably heard that different flowers have different meanings - yellow roses are for friendship, for example. The meaning of the camellia flower? My destiny is in your hands.

 Definitely, no one's destiny is of their own making in The Last Camellia. Jio returns to a form of storytelling that I've quite enjoyed in previous books - a  dual past and present telling of a story, that seem to mirror each other - seventy years apart.

Livingstone Manor in England is home to one of the rarest camellias of all - the Middlebury Pink. It is coveted by botanists world wide and prized by flower thieves. In 1940, young New Yorker Flora Lewis is blackmailed into helping one of those thieves. She heads to England to work as a nanny at Livingstone Manor - but her real job is to hunt down the Middlebury. But Flora is not the only one with a secret -the Manor and its inhabitants have their own secrets.

In 2000, New Yorker Addison Sinclair is also being blackmailed by someone from her past. To keep her secrets hidden, she agrees to spend the summer at an estate in England that her in-laws have purchased. Yes, you guessed it - it's Livingstone Manor. Addison starts to piece together the mysteries of the Manor as she strives to keep her own past hidden from her husband.

The Last Camellia has a Gothic feel to it, with a rambling old manor,  hidden rooms and wings, a family beset by tragedy, and an omnipresent housekeeper who straddles both time lines and more. Jio's plotting this time is quite involved, with many links and coincidences. The plot seemed to take precedence over character development in this book. I found I quite enjoyed the character of Flora and her love story, but didn't really feel the same for Addison and her husband Rex. That being said, the plotting moves the book along very quickly - it was a two sitting read for me.

The descriptions of the conservatory, gardens and flowers were wonderful and added much to the story. The Last Camellia is a lovely little summer read to curl up with on the porch -  by the garden, of course, where you can smell the flowers. (As a aside - I think the covers of Jio's novels are always quite beautiful.)

See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Last Camellia. Book clubs - there is a reading group guide available.

You can find Sarah Jio on Facebook and on Twitter. Watch for Sarah Jio's fifth book - Morning Glory - releasing in November 26/13.

See what other bloggers on the TLC book tour thought. Full schedule can be found here.

And thanks to the lovely folks at Plume - I have FIVE copies to giveaway. Yes, you read that right - five. Open to US and Canada. To be entered - leave a comment with the name of your favourite flower. Winners will be randomly chosen. Ends Sunday July 21/13.

Why Can't I Be You - Allie Larkin

Allie Larkin's latest book Why Can't I Be You? has just released and I have to tell you - I absolutely adored it!

Jenny Shaw thinks she has a pretty good life. She doesn't love her job, but she thinks she's pretty good at it. And it looks like she's finally getting some recognition - she's being sent to a conference by her boss. Well, okay it's because her boss can't attend. And she's pretty sure her relationship with her boyfriend Deagan is about to go to that next level.....

And it does, only it's not the level Jenny had envisioned. Deagan drops her off at the airport.....and drops her altogether, saying he needs to explore his feelings for another woman. Stunned, Jenny stumbles on the plane and heads to the conference. When she arrives at the conference centre, she thinks she hears someone calling her name....but they're saying Jessie. The woman is so glad to see 'Jessie' - she had no idea that she'd be attending the school reunion!

And with that hug, our Jenny steps into someone else's past. It's been a number of years and they really do resemble each other - enough so that the group of friends from Jessie's past welcome her back into their circle. And though she knows she should come clean...."For a little while, I wanted to forget me."

For this group of friends is warm and loving and fun - everything that Jessie realizes has been missing from her life. And with every day that goes by, it gets that much harder to admit the truth.

Jenny was such a great character - she was the kind of person you'd like to really have as a friend. Larkin does a great job taking us on Jenny's journey to discover what she really wants and needs from her life. I laughed out loud, I empathized and I crossed my fingers, hoping for the best for Jenny. And for the rest of the cast as well. Larkin has also created a great group of supporting players, just as likable as Jenny.(And one is named Luanne!) I found myself often stopping to think about my own friends from high school as I turned pages.

Yes, Why Can't I Be You definitely has chick lit elements, but it's much more than that. Larkin explores relationships - family, friends, co-workers and romantic all with a keen eye.

"Nothing is as it seems, and then you get older and get to decide if you want to go back and see everything the way it really is or if you just want to move on."

Does she get found out? You'll have to pick up the book to find out. Get a sneak peek - read an excerpt of Why Can't I Be You.  I can totally see this book being made into a movie! You can find Allie Larkin on Twitter.

The Lion is In - Delia Ephron

I'm always interested in the origins of a book - how do writers come up with their ideas? Does something specific spark that first line? In Delia Ephron's case the answer is yes......

"This book happened because of an anxiety attack. I was worried about something… something that I knew wasn’t going to be resolved for a while, and I thought how can I ever get through this? And that night when I went to sleep, I had a dream. A most vivid dream about three women and a lion. When I woke up, I wondered for a second if what I dreamed was real. Then I knew it was my next novel."

Lana and Tracee (who is wearing a wedding dress) pull over to the side of the road with a flat tire. And along comes Rita, calmly walking down the side of the highway, on her way to - well, she doesn't really know where. Rita helps fix the tire and accepts a ride to wherever the young women are headed. The trip ends in North Carolina when the old Mustang breaks down again. Between the three of them, they have little money, no clothes, no anything. So, they break into a shabby looking roadhouse for the night. And discover that the name of the bar - The Lion - is, in fact reality based - there is a huge old lion in a cage inside. And so begins The Lion is In.

I was engaged right away - I wanted to know the reasons behind that wedding dress and the older woman walking alone on a highway. A lion in a bar promised quirky and Ephron delivered on that promise.

Each of the characters (including the supporting cast)is flawed or wounded to a certain degree. But they're all trying to find their footing and break away from what's holding them back. And segue to the lion - Marcel -yes, that's his name - though caged, is the catalyst and the impetus that sets them free.

The Lion is In was a quick, fun read for me. Yes, you have to suspend disbelief a few times, but if you're in the mood for a heartwarming, feel-good read, this is a good bet. Nothing too deep, although I did like Tim's Theory of One. " All you need is one person to make a difference in your life. You can have the world's most awful life....but if one person believes in you, you'll be okay."

Delia Ephron is also a screenwriter - remember that movie - You've Got Mail? The Lion is In has the same feel - lots of off-centre, quirky characters (Tim is a favourite), odd situations and the hope that it will all work out in the end. I could easily see this book being made into a movie.

Read an excerpt of The Lion is In. Book clubs - there is a reading group guide available as well.

You can find Delia Ephron on Facebook and on Twitter.

The Singles - Meredith Goldstein

 The Singles is Meredith Goldstein's debut novel.

Have you ever attended a wedding and realized that there was a table at the reception with single attendees, not couples? That's the premise behind Goldstein's book.

Beth Evans has every detail of her fairytale wedding planned, until the singles upset her seating plan. Five singles to be exact - Hannah, Vicki, Rob, Joe and Nancy (who sends Phil in her stead). The story is told from the viewpoint of each of the characters in alternating chapters.

I did find myself making notes as to who was who and what they 'did' in life to keep everyone straight in the beginning. It took me about a third of the book to get a firm grasp of everyone.

We are privy to the hopes, dreams, disappointments, memories and more of each of the characters.  I did find some of the stories quite sad rather than the humour the flyleaf hinted at. I was expecting more of a chick lit read, but still enjoyed the social commentary Goldstein has woven into her narrative. Why must we all be paired up? I enjoyed how each of the stories eventually intertwined with the others.

Although the ending seemed abrupt, I think Goldstein was wise to not neatly tie up all the loose ends, instead leaving the reader to imagine where each character's life will go next.

The Singles was just an okay read for me. The idea behind the book is not new, but Goldstein does a decent job with her interpretation. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Singles. There's a reading group guide available as well.

Meredith Goldstein is an advice columnist and entertainment reporter for The Boston Globe. Her column Love Letters is a daily dispatch of wisdom for the lovelorn that gets about 1 million page views every month on Boston.com.

Guest Post & Giveaway - Rainbow Rowell - Attachments

I reviewed Rainbow Rowell's debut novel Attachments last year and adored it. (see review here) The softcover is newly released and I'm lucky enough to have a copy to giveaway. I think that Attachments would make a great rom/com movie, so I'm even luckier to have Rainbow stop by with her thoughts on who would star in a movie version.

But first to catch you up if you haven't yet had a chance to read the book. From the publisher, Plume:

"Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . "

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.

By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.

What would he say . . . ? "

And now for Rainbow's casting call.....

"It’s tricky to think about casting the book because most actors and actresses are far too beautiful to play my characters. I’d love it if Attachments were made into a movie! There is a producer attached to it, so you never you know . . . maybe someday.

I imagined Lincoln and Beth as maybe the most attractive people in the room – not the most attractive people in the whole world.

Generally, I don’t care if actors look exactly the way characters are described in books – but I do think that whoever played Lincoln would have to be big. That’s such a key part of his personality – the way he feels heavy and clumsy. His gentle giant vibe.

There are two actors I like for Lincoln, and they’re both very different from each other:

Cory Monteith. The guy who plays Finn on Glee. He’s actually the perfect age, 29, and even though he looks pretty on Glee, I think they could dress him down – let his eyebrows go, put him in a pair of cargo pants. Monteith plays a shy guy on Glee, he does a good job of quietly expressing deep feelings. There’s something vulnerable about him. Vulnerability and sincerity are Lincoln’s key characteristics. Also, I like the way Monteith seems a little too big for his body. He walks like a big guy. When he puts on a suit, his proportions seem a little off, like his arms and chest kept growing after the rest of him stopped.

Chris Pratt. Andy from Parks and Recreation. Okay, I know he plays a dufus on Parks and Rec, but Chris Prett looks perfect, I think. Big and exactly the right kind of handsome. Manly. Solid. I always imagined Lincoln as the kind of guy who could look really normal/unnoticeable some days and really adorable others. Which is totally Chris Pratt. And again, very vulnerable and sincere. I think he could rein in the goofiness to play Lincoln.

For Beth, I think the most important characteristic is funny. It would have to be an actress who can be authentically funny. Good-natured. Confident, but not arrogant.

My first choice for Beth would be Kat Dennings, from Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist and Two Broke Girls. SHE IS PERFECT! She’s genuinely hilarious and genuinely genuine. Sometimes when actresses are funny, they come off hard. Closed off. Beth isn’t closed off – she’s funny and smart, but she’s still a romantic. And I just think Kat Dennings could inhabit her, make her seem like the kind of girl you could fall in love with before you ever met her.

I also like Laura Prepon for Beth. Prepon played Donna on That ‘70s Show. She comes off funny and likable and cool. Also, she’s not teeny-tiny. Beth is described as tall with broad shoulders. Laura Prepon is 5-foot-10.

For Jennifer, I like Mindy Kaling  who plays Kelly on The Office. She can be neurotic and bitter, yet still really funny and likable. Actually, I think Mindy Kaling could pull off either Beth or Jennifer – and I’d love to see her star in her own romantic comedy – but I can practically hear her saying Jennifer’s lines. She would plus the whole character."

Great choices Rainbow! Thank you so much for stopping by!

And readers, if you'd like a chance to win a copy of Attachments, simply leave a comment! Ends April 26. Open to US and Canada.

Julia's Child - Sarah Pinneo - Q&A AND Giveaway!

I'm thrilled to welcome Sarah Pinneo, author of the newly released Julia's Child to A Bookworm's World today for a quick Q&A session!

But first, a little about Julia's Child...

From the publisher:

"A delectable comedy for every woman who's ever wondered if buying that six-dollar box of organic crackers makes her a hero or a sucker.  Julia Bailey is a mompreneur with too many principles and too little time. Her fledgling company, Julia's Child, makes organic toddler meals like Gentle Lentil and Give Peas a Chance. But turning a profit while saving the world proves tricky as Julia must face a ninety-two-pound TV diva, an ill-timed protest rally, and a room full of one hundred lactating breasts. Will she get her big break before her family reaches the breaking point? In the end, it is a story about motherhood's choices: organic versus local, paper versus plastic, staying at home versus risking it all. A cookbook author's hilarious fiction debut, Julia's Child will have foodies and all-natural mamas alike laughing, cheering, and asking for more."

--- What was the inspiration behind the idea for Julia's Child?
Food and business have always fascinated me. And the question of what children ought to be eating is such a pervasive one. I began to daydream about the novel when I realized just how much fun it would be to explore the collision between a mother’s lofty ideals and the harsh realities of owning a business.

---And I have to ask - would/did you buy the $6.00 box of organic crackers?
Luckily, there are lots of boxes of organic crackers available for less than $6. But the more I read up on the topic, the easier it is for me to pay the organic premium, especially for things like vegetables and meat. I’m fortunate to live in a place where I have access to a lot of wonderful organic food grown in Vermont and New Hampshire. A girl with a large freezer in her basement can buy in bulk! My husband grew 75 pounds of organic potatoes last summer. I’ll almost be relieved when they’re gone.

--- You have two children - how much of Julia is from your life?
Well, I’ve never even thought about starting a food company, but the mommy guilt I feel while trying to have a writing career—even from home—is the most autobiographical part of the book.

--- Your previous book was non-fiction. How hard was it to make the leap to fiction?
To be honest, it was very difficult. I loved writing my cookbook, but in my heart I've always wanted to write fiction. My first attempt at a novel was not successful. But I realize now how much better Julia’s Child is than the first one I wrote. It's coming out more than four years after my cookbook’s publication, so you can see how tricky I found it. This is a leap that I feel very fortunate to have landed in an upright position.

--- I'm always fascinated by what authors are reading - what's on your nightstand? Fave authors? Influential books?
I read everything, and I love women’s fiction. But Julia’s Child reflects my appreciation for Carl Hiaasen and Christopher Buckley. Those two guys write hysterical, zany comedies, but at the heart of their work always lie issues about which they care deeply. I've tried to follow in their silly footsteps.

Thanks so much for stopping by Sarah! And thanks to Plume Books, I have two copies of Julia's Child to give away to two lucky readers. Open to US only. Simply leave a comment to be entered. Ends Sat. March 10.

You can find Sarah on her blog and on Twitter.

The Bungalow - Sarah Jio

I read Sarah Jio's debut novel The Violets of March last year - and loved it. (my review) I had no doubt that I would enjoy her latest book, The Bungalow, as much. But I was wrong - I actually enjoyed it more!

Anne Calloway is ninety when her granddaughter Jennifer brings her a letter - one that asks questions about a murder in 1943 and so Anne begins to finally tell her story...

Anne has already gone against her well to do family's expectations for her. She and her friend Kitty both added nursing qualifications to their college degrees. "What we'd do with these credentials was of great concern to our parents. Heaven forbid we actually use them."

Anne's future is already planned for her - marriage to Gerard Godfrey, the local banker's son. "Mother and Mrs. Godfrey had planned the union since I was in infancy, of course. Calloways would marry Godfreys. It was as natural as coffee and cream."

But, it is 1942 and the War is on. When Kitty announces that she has enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps and is shipping out for the South Pacific, Anne does the unimaginable - she follows her heart and signs up as well.

Kitty and Anne land in Bora Bora. Kitty sees it all as a grand adventure, while Anne is more reserved. But Anne is inextricably drawn to Westry, one of the soldiers on base. Together they discover an abandoned beach hut and it is here that they fall in love - and plan for a life together when the war ends. But the locals say the hut is cursed. And it may well be - a horrific event puts an end to their sanctuary  -  and their plans for the future.

Jio has again woven the past and present together to create an absolutely addicting story. But it is the past that captured me the most. I loved the character of Anne, her decisions to follow her heart, her kindness and her innocence. Jio has captured the naivete of a young woman discovering herself in a turbulent time period. I initially enjoyed the character of Kitty as well, drawn to her sense of adventure. However, by the end of the book I quite disliked her. The setting itself is a character in the book as well. I was able to picture clear blue water, white sands, palm tree, island breezes and of course, the little bungalow.

Jio's writing flows easily and effortlessly. I was caught up in the story from first page to last. It's hard to pigeonhole The Bungalow into one genre slot. It's historical, but there's a (not too hard to solve) mystery as well, but the romantic thread is the most compelling. Yes, there are coincidences that tie things up quite neatly in the end, but you know what? - It works. For a feel good read to warm you up on a cold winter night, pick up The Bungalow. Releases Dec. 27/11.

Read an excerpt of The Bungalow. Book clubs would enjoy this story - a reading group guide is available as well. I'll be watching for Jio's third book - Blackberry Winter, due out in Fall 2012. You can find Sarah on Facebook  and on Twitter.

The Puppy That Came for Christmas - Megan Rix - Q&A AND Giveaway!

I'm thrilled to welcome author  Megan Rix to A Bookworm's World today. She was gracious enough to answer a few questions about her latest book The Puppy That Came for Christmas. Make sure you enter for a chance to win a copy!

You’re quite a diverse/ prolific writer. What does your writing day look like? My day starts early - usually at around 6 but occasionally 5.30am. Ian gets out of bed and our two dogs, Traffy and Bella, jump on (if they’re not already there.) Traffy’s the star of my first memoir 'The Puppy that Came for Christmas' and Bella’s our latest addition and just one year old.

Ian brings me up a mug of coffee before he leaves for work andif it’s still dark outside (like it is now) I usually do some longhand writing in bed while the dogs snooze if I’m lucky and play boisterously on the bed if I’m not.

Coffee drunk I take Traffy and Bella to the river which is close by. We usually walk there for about an hour and meet up with dog and human friends. When we get back we all have breakfast and then I get down to writing at my desk in front of the computer. At around 12-00 we're all usually getting a bit stir-crazy so we head off for another walk - usually in the opposite direction along the river bank.

And then I'll do a few more hours of writing in the afternoon while Bella and Traffy have a snooze on the bed. (Very occasionally I'll join them and it’s heavenly!) I stop writing for the day any time between 4 and 6pm when Ian comes home from work. I don’t usually do any writing once he's back as it's nice to have some family time before it starts all over again the next day!

I've heard that there may be a second memoir in the works? Can you tell us anything about it?
Currently I’m working on 3 different books: ‘Traffy at Two’ (working title) my second memoir about Traffy and Helper Dogs, ‘Cat Magic’ (written as Ruth Symes – it’s the fourth in the Bella Donna series of children’s novels – the first three have just been sold to China – can’t wait to see them in Chinese!) And last but not least - my first children's novel written as Megan Rix, published by Puffin, and coming out in the summer of 2012. It’s called ‘The Great Escape’ and is about 3 pets who narrowly escape death in World War 2 and cross the country meeting Winston Churchill on the way (he was a huge cat fan) to be reunited with their evacuated owners. I loved doing the research!
I swap between the books as the mood takes me. Sometimes I set myself targets like writing 1000 words a day. I think targets are good to have for motivation - but at the moment my deadlines are all looming so I don’t have time to think I'm not in the mood today - I just have to get on with it!

What's actually involved in taking in a dog to train?
A lot of patience and a lot of love.

What types of disabilities are they being trained for?
Helper Dogs are mainly to work with people with limited or no mobility but often they have extra training to cater to an individual’s specific needs.

Have you kept in touch with the dogs you 'fostered'?
Yes I have – Emma got to be a bridesmaid at her disabled partner’s wedding this year and Freddy’s still the life and soul of his new family. I’ve written about them in ‘Traffy at Two’.

Are you still involved in any way?
Very much involved – although Traffy’s now a therapy dog rather than a demo dog.

Why do you think animal memoirs seem to be all the rage lately?
I don’t know but I love reading them – so long may they continue! Read an excerpt of The Puppy that Came for Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by Megan! You can find Megan on Facebook and on Twitter.

Now while we can't offer up a puppy for giveaway, we've got the next best thing - a copy of The Puppy that Came for Christmas. Open to US and Canada, simply comment to be entered. Closes Dec 11.