Giveaway - A Week in December - Sebastian Faulks

Thanks to the generosity of Doubleday Publishing , I have two copies of Sebastian Faulk's latest novel - A Week in December to giveaway.

From the publisher:

"From the author of the bestselling Birdsong comes a powerful novel that melds the moral heft of Dickens and the scrupulous realism of Trollope with the satirical spirit of Tom Wolfe.

London: the week before Christmas, 2007. Over seven days we follow the lives of seven major characters: a hedge fund manager trying to bring off the biggest trade of his career; a professional footballer recently arrived from Poland; a young lawyer with little work and too much time to speculate; a student who has been led astray by Islamist theory; a hack book reviewer; a schoolboy hooked on reality TV and genetically altered pot; and a Tube train driver whose Circle Line train joins these and countless other lives together in a daily loop.

With daring skill and savage humor, A Week in December explores the complex patterns and crossings of modern urban life; as the novel moves to its gripping climax, its characters are forced, one by one, to confront the true nature of the world they—and we all—inhabit."

Read an excerpt of A Week in December.

Like to own it? Just comment to be entered. Sorry - this one is for the US only, no po boxes please. Ends Saturday May 1st at 6 pm EST.

Winners - Worst Case - James Patterson

And the three lucky winners (chosen by random.org) and of an audio book copy of Worst Case by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge courtesy of the Hachette Book Group are:

1. Martha Lawson
2. lanie
3. purplepassion126

Congratulations! I've contacted you by email for your mailing addresses. Please respond within 72 hours. Thanks to all who entered and check the sidebar for ongoing giveaways.

Happy Easter!

Over the Counter #2 Garden Gnomes - A History

Yes, Garden Gnomes - A History from Shire Books caught my eye this week as it passed under my scanner. I think it was the gnome with a gun....

From the publisher:

"This is the intriguing story of garden gnomes and how they have come to reside in the flowerbeds of gardens across Britain. Originating in Europe, gnomes made the leap across the channel in the nineteenth century, where they were welcomed warmly by wealthy Brits who saw them as the must-have garden accessory. But the fortunes of the humble gnome were not to last, and they soon found themselves sneered at by serious gardeners. Turned away from fashionable gardens, the little gnomes found a friend in many a working class gardener, who adopted them in increasing numbers, and in a variety of humorous poses. Today, gnomes are as popular with the masses as ever, and this entertaining illustrated history will appeal to those who love, and hate, these small bearded characters."





And this little portly fellow lives in my library - yes I have a library gnome - and it looks suspiciously like my husband. ( It was painted to resemble him - he has a liking for gnomes.)

..........Beware......they're everywhere - even on Easter.........

( Over the counter is a new irregular feature in which Luanne realizes she cannot physically read every book she sees at work)

Worst Case - James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

James Patterson's Alex Cross series used to be my favourite. But I think I'm going to say it's now the Mike Bennett series. The last couple of Alex Cross books have been overly violent in my opinion, going for the shock and awe component.

I find the Bennett series entertaining without being offensive.

Children of wealthy New Yorkers are being kidnapped. There is no ransom though - instead the kidnapper gives the children a test. Pass - you live. Fail - lights out. How high is their social awareness of the world's plight?

The 'villain' of the last Bennett book was the Teacher - obsessed with social niceties and politeness. This time around it's social injustices and the state of the world.

I listened to Worst Case in audio format - as I will for all future Bennett books. The character of Mike is read by Bobby Canavale. I can't imagine a more perfect narrator - his voice is all New York, it's quick, rough and expressive. The 6 disc set also features two other readers - Orlagh Cassidy as the female Fibbie who's on the case with Mike and John Glover as the bad guy. Glover was particularly effective - his calm, clipped modulated voice made the kidnapper seem even more menacing. Cassidy was a good reader as well, but I just never warmed up to her character - I'm rooting for M.C. - the Bennett nanny.

True to form, Worst Case is short, snappy chapters, ending with cliffhangers, persuading you to listen to just one more chapter. The plot isn't overly complicated and there's a fun secondary plot involving Mike's love life. A thoroughly entertaining listen.

Giveaway - The Pocket Therapist - Therese Borchard

Thanks to the generosity of The Hachette Book Group, I have three copies of The Pocket Therapist by Therese Borchard to giveaway.

I really liked the cover and the inside sounds even better....

From the publisher:

"Whenever Therese Borchard was weathering a personal storm, and help was nowhere to be found, her one guiding light was the question, "What would a therapist say?" The result was a sort of therapy scrapbook for rough days--a quick reference for anyone who needs a dose of encouragement, support and tried and true ways to cope.

THE POCKET THERAPIST is a compact and accessible guide filled with techniques and advice to help combat everything from addictive behavior to negative thinking."

Read an excerpt of The Pocket Therapist. Therese also has a blog at beliefnet.com or you can find Therese on Twitter.

Hey - we could all use a little help once in a while. If you'd like a copy of this book, just comment to be entered. Open to US and Canada - no PO boxes please. Ends Saturday April 24th at 6 pm EST.

Shattered - Karen Robards

Karen Robards is a New York Times best selling author with over thirty books to her credit. I had never read Robards before Shattered.

Little Marisa Garcia is afraid of the woods near her new home. She knows there are shadow people hiding there - and they're watching her.....and she's right.

Fast forward thirty years. Lisa Grant has been assigned to work cold cases for Scott Buchanan, the District Attorney. While going through the file of a family gone missing - the Garcias - Lisa is stunned by a photo in the file. The mother of the family is a dead ringer for herself. As Lisa follows up with the case, it seems that someone is just as determined that she won't. Complicating things further are her feelings for Scott - their pasts are intertwined -will their future be as well?

Now having never read Robards before I had no idea of her writing style. For those who love romantic suspense, I would say - put her to the top of your list. She skillfully combines romantic tension with an interesting plot. I was happily ensconced on my couch for the day with a wicked head cold and was quite happy reading steamy scenes and smoldering glances. The mystery is really not the main thrust of the plot, more the vehicle to carry the relationship between Lisa and Scott.

I do prefer my mysteries a bit more convoluted, if you will. I did have the plot figured out before the end. The 'bad guys' are easily identified, as are the red herrings. But it was a thoroughly entertaining read for the day.

Read an excerpt of Shattered.

Fans of Sandra Brown, Linda Howard or Julie Garwood would enjoy Karen Robards.

Winners - Slip of the Knife

And the three lucky winners chosen by random.org of a copy Denise Mina's Slip of the Knife, courtesy of The Hachette Book Group are:

1. Betty C

2. Stephanie

3. BohemianBarbie

I've contacted you by email for your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who entered and check the sidebar for ongoing giveaways.

Absolute Power - David Baldacci

I've been a fan of David Baldacci's political thrillers for a while now, but realized I had never read Absolute Power - the one that started his string of bestsellers. (17!)

Luther Whitney is a master burglar. For the last twenty years, he's tried to keep his nose clean. But he pulls one last job for an old friend. He breaks in without incident, but is suddenly forced to hide when the owner and some others come home. He is stunned when the unthinkable happens - even more unbelievable is the perpetrator - the President of the United States.

Luther turns to lawyer Jack Graham - the ex boyfriend of his estranged daughter.

What a great premise for a story! And Baldacci does it masterfully. The plotting is tight and the action non stop. I enjoyed discovering Baldacci's 'beginning.' He has made the secret service/White House thriller genre his own.

But the reader in this case was fantastic. Scott Brick is an award winning audio book narrator. His voice is rich and resonant, conveying the suspense of this novel, keeping me on the edge of my chair. His voice conveys so much, from the malevolence of the bad guys to the uncertainty of a bewildered daughter.

There was a bonus short story included on the last disc (17!) of this set. I didn't realize that this book had been made into a movie starring Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman in 1997.

Listen to an excerpt of Absolute Power.

Winner - Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven

Thanks to everyone who entered - it was great fun to read everyone's travel stories.

The winner of a copy of Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman, courtesy of The Hachette Book Group is:

Sarah

Congrats - I've contacted you by email for your mailing address.

Over the Counter #1 - Weekends at Bellevue - Julie Holland M.D.

This is the first entry of a new feature at A Bookworm's World. I'm sadly coming to the realization that I cannot physically read every book that catches my interest as it crosses my counter at the library. But, I can mention them and maybe one of them will catch your eye as well!

I love memoirs and this one looks fascinating.

Weekends at Bellevue by Julie Holland M.D.

The subtitle: Nine years on the night shift at the psych ER.

From the publisher Random House:

"Julie Holland thought she knew what crazy was. Then she came to Bellevue.

New York City’s Bellevue Hospital, the oldest public hospital in the United States, has a tradition of “serving the underserved” that dates back to 1736. For nine eventful years, Dr. Holland was the weekend physician in charge of Bellevue’s psychiatric emergency room, a one-woman front line charged with assessing and treating some of the city’s most vulnerable and troubled citizens, its forgotten and forsaken—and its criminally insane. Deciding who gets locked up and who gets talked down would be an awesome responsibility for most people. For Julie Holland, it was just another day at the office.

In an absorbing memoir laced with humor, Holland provides an unvarnished look at life in the psych ER, recounting stories from her vast case files that are alternately terrifying, tragically comic, and profoundly moving: the serial killer, the naked man barking like a dog in Times Square, the schizophrenic begging for an injection of club soda to quiet the voices in his head, the subway conductor who watched a young woman pushed into the path of his train. As Holland comes to understand, the degree to which someone can lose his or her mind is infinite, and each patient’s pain leaves a mark on her as well—as does the cancer battle of a fellow doctor who is both her best friend and her most trusted mentor.

Writing with uncommon candor about her life both inside and outside the hospital—her professional struggles, personal relationships, and the therapy sessions that help her crack the hard shell she’s formed to keep the pain at bay—Holland supplies not only a page-turner with all the fast-paced immediacy of a TV medical drama but also a fascinating glimpse into the inner lives of doctors who struggle to maintain perspective in a world where sanity is in the eye of the beholder."

Read an excerpt from Weekends at Bellevue.

If you've read and reviewed this book, let me know - I'll link your review.

Review and Giveaway - Last Snow -Eric Van Lustbader

Last Snow is the sequel to Eric Van Lustbader's bestselling novel First Daughter.

The prologue opens with a scene that sets the stage for the rest of the book. The murder of an American senator on the isle of Capri - when he's supposed to be on a political mission to the Ukraine - sets off a series of events that has far flung consequences.

Jack McClure, a presidential advisor, is asked by the President himself to investigate the murder personally, but quietly. The President's daughter, Allie, insinuates herself into the investigation.

I felt like I was playing a bit of catch up as I had not read First Daughter. A terrifying event has scarred Allie and she looks to Jack as her protector and confidant. I had a hard time warming up to the character of Allie in the beginning - she came across as manipulative and spoiled. The fact that her parents are okay with her going off on a 'mission' with Jack seemed a little far fetched. And I do question Van Lustbader's explanation of Grave's disease to explain Allie's diminutive stature.

Getting past that though, Van Lustbader has crafted an incredibly complex plot involving rogue Russian agents, criminals and crooked politicians. There are twists and turns galore - I had to play close attention to keep all the plot lines straight. Van Lustbader inserts a personal story into all the intrigue as well. Jack is a flawed character, suffering great guilt over the death of his daughter Emma - she appears in visions to him. He is also dsylexic.

Political thriller aficionados will enjoy this series. Fans of Robert Ludlum's Bourne novels will really enjoy this series. With Ludlum's death, Van Lustbader has written the last two Bourne novels.

Read an excerpt of Last Snow.

Want a copy for yourself? Thanks to The Book Report Network, I have a copy to giveaway. Open to US and Canada. Leave a comment to be entered. Closes Saturday, April 17t at 6 pm EST.

Winners - This One is Mine

And the three lucky readers to win a copy of Maria Semple's This One is Mine, courtesy of The Hachette Book Group are:

1. Karrie
2. Nancye
3. billiondollarprincess

I've contacted you by email for your mailing addresses. Please respond within 72 hours. Thanks to all who entered and check the sidebar for ongoing giveaways.

Winners - The Moon Looked Down - Dorothy Garlock

And the five lucky winners (chosen by rando.org) of a copy of The Moon Looked Down by Dorothy Garlock, courtesy of the Hachette Book Group are:

1. syntar
2. Kathy Pease
3. Jennifer @ Mrs. Q: Book Addict
4. Lisa
5. May Shultz

I've contacted you by email for your mailing addresses. Please respond within 72 hours. Thanks to all who entered and check the sidebar for ongoing giveaways.

Happy Blogiversary Giveaway

Woohoo! Today is A Bookworm's World 2nd Blogiversary! I wrote my first post two years ago and thought I would just record my thoughts on the books I read. Wow - this has turned out much bigger than I ever thought possible. And so much fun!!

This year it's been a little harder to keep up with my reading - both books and blogs. I went from part time to full time work and it's really cut into my reading and blogging time! Although, I must say, I have a pretty excellent job - I work at a public library.

With that in mind, and my inability to read every book I see, I'm going to launch a new feature - Over the Counter. (Unless any of you can come up with a catchier name....) I'll be mentioning books that pass under my scanner and over the counter at the library that I find interesting, but don't have the time to read cover to cover.

And to celebrate my second blogiversary I have a giveaway. I have a brand new copy of Bitten by Canadian Kelley Armstrong to giveaway. (Watch for my review next month) And this one's international. Just leave me a comment to be entered. Ends. April 18th at 6 pm EST.

Thank you to each and every reader, commenter, subscriber and all my bloggy friends out there!

Stolen - Lesley Pearse

I have a fondness for British authors, but hadn't read Lesley Pearse before. The premise of Stolen sounded good.

A beautiful young woman is found washed up on the shores of Sussex. Against all belief she is alive - but has no idea who she is. When her picture is put in the paper, two past co workers from a cruise ship recognize her as Lotte, a fellow hairdresser. They haven't spoken to her in the past two years - and neither has anyone else. Where has she been? What has happened to her?

Pearse seems to have a trademark style. She puts an innocent into a dangerous situation and against tremendous odds, they survive tragic events and triumph. To this end, she sponsors an award - The Lesley Pearse Women of Courage Award.

I was drawn into the plot immediately - I really wanted to find out what had happened to this girl. There is a good cast of supporting characters. They are all clearly drawn leaving no doubt as to who the 'bad' ones are, although they were a little over the the top. I had a hard time connecting with even the 'good' characters though. Lotte never became 'real' for me, despite the circumstances she goes through. It sometimes seemed like Pearse thought of every bad thing that could befall this girl and wove it into her plot. I found some of the storyline transitions a bit jarring - they didn't seem to flow naturally.

But - Stolen has lots of adventure, intrigue and romance to keep readers turning pages.

Sometimes a reader notices small things that really don't contribute to the overall picture, but stick in their head. For me I found myself counting the number of times the characters 'grinned' by the end of the book. (A lot...) And I found the use of exclamation marks somewhat overdone!

This was a good read - I'd give it a 3/5, but not really the one for me. Fans of Sandra Brown or Danielle Steele would really enjoy Lesley Pearse.

Never Look Away - Linwood Barclay

David Harwood is a newspaper reporter. He's been working on a story about a for profit prison being built in his small town. The editor keeps killing his story, even after he uncovers some shady dealings with local politicians. But he's really worried about his wife Jan. She's been acting oddly lately, saying disturbing things and just isn't her usual self. When she suggests a trip to an amusement park with their four year old son, he readily agrees, happy that she is acting more like herself.

What happens at the amusement park is the stuff of nightmares. And that's just the beginning...

And on that note, I absolutely refuse to give you any more of the plot! Suffice it to say, that Never Look Back had me on the edge of my seat. Barclay has crafted a non stop roller coaster of a plot, full of twists and turns that I never saw coming. The book starts off action packed and just never lets up. Barclay's foreshadowing had me reading just one more chapter long after the lights should have been out...

Have you read Linwood Barclay yet? If you're a suspense/thriller fan, than you will love this Canadian author!

Read an excerpt of Never Look Away.

Watch a video of Barclay discussing Never Look Away.

Hell Gate - Linda Fairstein

Linda Fairstein is firmly on my list of must read authors. She has a fantastic series featuring Alex Cooper of the New York P.D. Sex Crimes Unit and two homicide detectives - Mike and Mercer. Hell Gate is the 12th book in the series.

Alex, Mike and Mercer are called out to a shipwreck. Not usually their type of case - until the cargo is discovered to be human. Among the dead is a woman with connections to a prominent politician. The deeper the three dig, the more the past collides with the present. Human trafficking happened in New York City hundreds of years ago - but it looks like it's still happening.....

The plotting is believable, combining political intrigue with crimes ripped from today's headlines. What I always find fascinating in Fairstein's novels is the level of historical detail used. New York City is always the background, but I would wager that even native New Yorkers would not be aware of the history behind many of the settings.

The camaraderie of 'Coop', Mike and Mercer is a major part of the success of this series. The banter between Alex and Mike is a source of amusement and the attraction between the two grows stronger with every book. (Linda - you're making me crazy - will they or won't they?!) Mercer provides the calm voice of reason.

Fairstein knows what she writes. She herself was chief of the sex crimes unit in Manhattan for over 25 years and is a noted expert on sexual assault and domestic violence. Her novels have the unmistakable ring of truth and authenticity to them.

Read the first chapter.

Hell Gate is a fantastic read on it's own - but I'm sure you'll be hunting down the rest of the series!

Giveaway - Black Hills - Dan Simmons

Thanks to the generous folks at The Hachette Book Group I have three audio book copies of Dan Simmons' latest book Black Hills to giveaway.

From the publisher:

"Paha Sapa, a young Sioux warrior, first encounters General George Armstrong Custer as Custer lies dying on the battlefield at Little Bighorn. He believes--as do the holy men of his tribe--that the legendary general's ghost entered him at that moment and will remain with him until Sapa convinces him to leave.

In BLACK HILLS, Dan Simmons weaves the stories of Paha Sapa and Custer together seamlessly, depicting a violent and tumultuous time in the history of Native Americans and the United States Army. Haunted by the voice of the general his people called "Long Hair," Paha Sapa lives a long life, driven by a dramatic vision he experiences in the Black Hills that are his tribe's homeland. As an explosives worker on the massive Mount Rushmore project, he may finally be rid of his ghosts--on the very day FDR comes to South Dakota to dedicate the Jefferson face."

Get a head start - listen to an excerpt of Black Hills. Or read an excerpt of Black Hills. Watch a video of Dan discussing Black Hills. You can also find Dan Simmons on Facebook.

Open to both US and Canada, no po boxes please. Leave a comment to be entered. Closes Sat April 10, 6 pm EST.

The Last River Child - Lori Ann Bloomfield

The Last River Child was next on my pile of books to be read. I thought I'd pick it up just before bed, read a chapter or two to get into it and then take it work to read at lunch. Well - 2 1/2 hours later, I looked up and saw what time it was! I had become completely lost in the story.

The Last River Child opens in 1914 in Walvern, a small rural village, set in Ontario, Canada. Seth Staynor, his wife and two daughters, Peg and Sarah, live on a farm on the outskirts, near the Walvern River.

The inhabitants of Walvern are a superstitious lot. Every child is told the story of the river child - a spirit trapped beneath the water. It will try to lure a child close enough to look in their eyes and escape to dry ground. Once there, it will cause trouble and bring bad luck - droughts, crops will fail and more.

Peg Staynor has been branded as a river child from birth. She is shunned by the town folk and even her own father. Her mother has always protected her, but when she dies just as war is declared, Peg's position is even more precarious.

It is Peg's journey and strength that made this such a captivating read. Despite her treatment, Peg has no urge to leave the farm. Not so with her sister Sarah - she yearns for the city. As war is declared and the world changes, those changes reach Walvern as well. Peg will be the last river child.

Bloomfield has captured the feel of small town Ontario perfectly. Her descriptions of the farming and town ring true. Her prose are smooth and effortless. I especially enjoyed the letters written between Peg and a young man from Walvern stationed in France.

This is Lori Ann Bloomfield's debut novel and it was a gem of a find. I look forward to reading more from this author.

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag - Alan Bradley

Oh I've been waiting and waiting for The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag! I fell in love with Alan Bradley's writing and his precocious protagonist - Flavia de Luce - in the first book in this series - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. (you can read my rave review from last year)

It is 1950 and eleven year old Flavia is passing the morning. pretending to be dead in the churchyard in the small English village of Bishop's Lacey. Her reverie is interrupted by someone's crying. Flavia of course, is not one to let anything that captures her interest go uninvestigated. She finds that the caravan belonging to Porson's Puppets has broken down. While waiting for the van to be fixed, Rupert Porson agrees to put on a puppet show for the village. The show takes an unexpected turn when Rupert is killed. Accident or murder?

Well, this is right up Flavia's alley. Having solved a murder just last year, she is quite happy to assist Inspector Hewitt with the investigation. Inspector Hewitt isn't quite as thrilled.

"There, like a doll in a box, lay Rupert. Was I frightened out of my wits? I'm afraid not. Since the day I had found a body in the kitchen garden at Buckshaw, I had developed a fascination with death, with a particular emphasis on the chemistry of putrefaction."

Flavia is uncannily clever - indeed, her hobby is working in the old chemistry lab in the rambling mansion she shares with her absent minded father and two sisters. Her speciality is poisons. The 'war' between the sisters is always entertaining.

The mystery is quite interesting and well plotted, but it is the character developments that are the stars of this book. Every quirky village character is well drawn and I immediately established a picture of them as I read. But for me, it is Flavia that makes this series such a hit. Her curiosity, her keen observations, her disarming view of life utterly enchant me.

"Hullo! I shouted. It's always best to announce one's self heartily when trespassing. (Even though I had invented it on the spot, this seemed to be a good general rule)."

Flavia's Father - "You are unreliable, Flavia, " he said. "Utterly unreliable."

Flavia's response - not verbalized- " Of course I was! It was one of the things I loved most about myself."

What's not to love? Flavia is a thoroughly enchanting protagonist. I've always loved mysteries, especially when I was younger. I devoured the entire Nancy Drew series and always imagined myself solving mysteries along with them. I'm older now, but having just as much fun seeing the world through Flavia's eyes and helping to solve the mystery.

Flavia has a fan club - and of course I'm a member.

Alan Bradley is working on the next book in The Buckshaw Chronicles titled A Red Herring Without Mustard. Sigh - it's a long time til next year....

Winners - Absolute Power - David Baldacci

And the three lucky winners of an audio book copy of Absolute Power courtesy of The Hachette Book Group are:

1. Princess Golden Hair
2. Denny, Alaska
3. chlorinebrain

Congratulations! I've contacted you by email for your mailing addresses. Please respond within 72 hours.

Belated Blog Award Thank You's!

And now for some very overdue thank yous!


Thanks to Sherrie at Just Books for passing on The One Lovely Blog Award to me. Very much appreciated Sherrie! Make sure you check out Sherrie's lovely blog!

Thank you to Pinkilili at Sandals and Snowshoes for The Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award - one new to me! I'm flattered! Pinkilili is a wonderful bloggy friend from Finland!

And last, but certainly not least, thank you to Yvonne from Socrates' Book Review. How nice of you to think of me! Check out Yvonne's cozy blog!

Motorcycles & Sweetgrass - Drew Hayden Taylor

Nanabush (the Ojibwe Trickster) has been dormant for awhile. He is startled back into action by the impending death of a woman he loved from his past.

Lillian was made to leave the reserve when she was younger to attend residential school. She turned her back on Nanabush when she left. Once at school she muses "I thought the world was full of magic. I don't think it is. Maybe once it was. Not any more."

She did return to the reserve and on her deathbed, has called Nanabush to Otter Lake - an Anishnawbe community in Ontario. She is worried about her family - her daughter Maggie, who is now the chief of the reserve, her youngest grandson Virgil, who really can't be bothered with school and her eccentric son Wayne, who lives alone on an island developing an aboriginal martial art form. Will he come? Is there still magic in the world?

Otter Lake is quite taken aback when Nanabush, now calling himself John, arrives in town riding a 1953 Indian Chief motorcycle. And this time, he's decided to present himself as a handsome young white man.

Although John is able to charm Maggie, Virgil and Wayne are suspicious of John and his intentions. And the raccoons don't seem very happy to see him either. They have a long standing feud running with Nanabush. " It was him. and he was back. This was good. In this part of the country, revenge was furry and wore a bandit's mask."

Motorcycles & Sweetgrass open with the line "Hey, wanna hear a good story? Supposedly it's true one. It's a long story but it goes something like this..."

Taylor had me laughing out loud, with the raccoon's revenge and John's antics. But his writing is thoughtful as well, touching on the the importance of family, community and the land. And hopeful - the belief that yes, there is magic left in the world.

The novel ends with "And that's how it happened to cousin of mine. I told you it was a long story. They're the best 'cause you can wrap one around you like a nice warm blanket."

Absolutely! I really enjoyed this book, from first page to last.

Drew Hayden Taylor is an accomplished writer, journalist, film maker and screenwriter. (Canadian readers - remember North of 60 and The Beachcombers?)

Motorcycles and Sweetgrass is his first adult fiction foray and is one of Random House Canada's 2010 New Faces of Fiction. You can vote for the Reader's Choice award here.

You can get your hands on a copy on Tuesday March 9th!

Giveaway - Worst Case - James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Detective Michael Bennett is back in James Patterson's latest release Worst Case!

And thanks to the generosity of The Hachette Book Group, I have three audio book copies to giveaway!

From the publisher:

"The son of one of New York's wealthiest families is snatched off the street and held hostage. His parents can't save him, because this kidnapper isn't demanding money. Instead, he quizzes his prisoner on the price others pay for his life of luxury. In this exam, wrong answers are fatal.

Detective Michael Bennett leads the investigation. With ten kids of his own, he can't begin to understand what could lead someone to target anyone's children. As another student disappears, one powerful family after another uses their leverage and connections to turn the heat up on the mayor, the press--anyone who will listen--to stop this killer. Their reach extends all the way to the FBI, who send their top Abduction Specialist, Agent Emily Parker. Bennett's life--and love life--suddenly get even more complicated.

Before Bennett has a chance to protest the FBI's intrusion on his case, the mastermind changes his routine. His plan leads up to the most devastating demonstration yet--one that could bring cataclysmic devastation to every inch of New York. From the shocking first page to the last exhilarating scene, Worst Case is a non-stop thriller from "America's #1 storyteller"

Want a sneak peek? Read an excerpt of Worst Case. Or listen to an excerpt of Worst Case. Watch a video of James Patterson talking about the Michael Bennett series.

Simply comment to be entered. One entry per person please. Open to both US and Canada, no PO boxes please. Closes Saturday April 3 at 6 pm EST.

The Swan Thieves - Elizabeth Kostova

The release of The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova was highly anticipated, following the best seller success of her first novel The Historian.

It did not disappoint. The cover art is 'Leda' c.1832. Art is at the heart of this novel.

Robert Oliver is an extremely talented artist. When he attacks the painting 'Leda' in the National Gallery, no one can understand why. Oliver ends up in a psychiatric hospital with Dr. Andrew Marlowe assigned to his case. Marlowe himself paints for a hobby. Oliver refuses to speak, but continues drawing and painting - the same woman over and over again. Robert has in his possession a packet of letters from the late 1800's. They may hold the key to the mystery woman. Marlowe himself becomes obsessed, seeking out the women in Robert's past in an attempt to help Robert. But the search and the need for answers soon consume Marlowe as well.

The mystery is of course a large part of the plot, but Kostova's prose play just as large a part. Her language is beautiful and the letters from the 1800's completely capture the time, societal aspects and emotions of the painter Beatrice de Clerval -Vignot. The layers are subtly built, story upon story as we learn of both Robert and Beatrice's lives.

I listened to this in audio format. I was thrilled by the format Hachette Books used to produce The Swan Thieves. It is a full cast production with five readers. Treat Williams plays Marlowe. His voice is calm, modulated and perfectly portrays a psychiatrist. Anne Heche read as Robert's wife. At first I wasn't sure about this casting, but again, perfect for the part. Three other lesser known but perfectly cast actors rounded out the ensemble. One role is that of the French female painter from the 1800's. Once in a while I found myself thinking 'wascally wabbit' of her French accent, but this is only a very minor observation. It was like listening to a full radio play.

Those looking for a fast paced, suspenseful read would not enjoy this book. It is a slow, thoughtful listen, one to enjoy - which I did. I must confess though that I was somewhat disappointed by the ending, which after 17 hours of build up, was over in about 5 minutes. The mystery is solved, but the resolution with Robert was left wanting in my opinion.

Penguin Luck - Kay Mupetson

Well, from the cover I thought I was in for a chick lit read. Sassy photo, cute font and a photo of a stuffed penguin on the back cover.

Penguin Luck opens with Doreen Lowe, a young attorney on the subway....with her ghosts - three spirits of child Holocaust victims, who insist that Doreen 'carry on for them' and that they 'must be replaced.' I was caught off guard had to reread to confirm. The Penguins are Doreen's name for her balding, waddling male relatives (father and uncle) that survived the Holocaust.

Back to the chick lit elements - engaged to the wrong man, marries someone else spontaneously, female friends as the supporting cast - one very outgoing, one reticent. This alone would have made an entertaining book.

But the combining of this light hearted fodder with the serious story of a woman coming to terms with her Jewish heritage and family's Holocaust history was especially jarring. Again, this storyline on it's own would have been a good novel.

The two just didn't mesh for me. It was choppy and didn't flow freely. Mupetson is an attorney and was counsel for a telecommunications company. Guess what Doreen and her husband work at? It almost seemed like Mupetson has taken vignettes from her personal life and inserted them into a novel format. I found the minute details of the telecommunications deals, history, promos and takeovers boring and skipped most of them.

The story 'jumps' in many places, covering the time period from 1989 to 2002. At the end, it seemed almost rushed in order to tie it all up with a bow.

Too much, too busy, too contrived. Some of the prose were incredibly awkward. For example - remembering a friend who has died. "Tears came to my eyes as a vision looped through my neural organ."

Many lawyers have turned to novel writing with varied verdicts. I think you can guess mine, but here are some other arguments.

Bookjourney, Bookbinge, Momma's Gone Over the Wall, Adventures of a SWAHM, Alexia's Books and Such.

Winners - I Am Ozzy - Ozzy Osbourne

And the three lucky winners (chosen by random.org) courtesy of The Hachette Book Group of an audio book copy of I Am Ozzy are:

1. Daniel M
2. Janice Golden
3. karryknisley

Congratulations! I've contacted you by email for your mailing addresses. Please respond within 72 hours.

Winners - From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris

And the five lucky winners (chosen by random.org) of a copy of From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris, courtesy of Penquin Canada are:

1. Wanda
2. 409cope
3. Stephanie
4. Belinda M
5. Nicola

Congratulations! I've contacted you by email for your mailing addresses. Please respond within 72 hours.

Giveaway - Slip of The Knife - Denise Mina

Denise Mina is a fantastic Scottish crime author. If you haven't discovered her yet, here's your chance. Is your book club looking for a great mystery to read? Consider Slip of the Knife. And there's a reading group guide for you to use as well.

From the publisher:

"Paddy Meehan is no stranger to murder--as a reporter she lives at crime scenes--but nothing has prepared her for this visit from the police. Her former boyfriend and fellow journalist Terry Patterson has been found hooded and shot through the head. Paddy knows she will be of little help--she had not seen Terry in more than six months. So she is bewildered to learn that in his will he has left her his house and several suitcases full of notes. Drawn into a maze of secrets and lies, Paddy begins making connections to Terry's murder that no one else has seen, and soon finds herself trapped in the most important--and dangerous--story of her career."

Get a head start - read an excerpt of Slip of the Knife. Watch a video with Denise talking about this book and Paddy, the recurring character in this series.

Thanks to the Hachette Book Group I have 3 copies Slip of the Knife, to giveaway. Open to Canada and the US, no po boxes please. Simply comment to be entered. Ends March Saturday March 27th, 6 pm EST.

This is one I'm looking forward to reading - watch for my review.

Thirsty - Kristin Bair O'Keeffe

What an interesting read Thirsty was. Kristin Bair O'Keeffe drew upon her own family's history in writing this debut novel.

Klara Bozic is 16 when her mother dies. She realizes that the only way to escape both a life of drudgery and her physically abusive father is to marry. A traveller comes knocking at the door one day. The family extends him hospitality and when he leaves for America in 1883, it is with Klara as his wife.

When they reach the steel mill town of Thirsty, Pennsylvania, Klara is disheartened. It is dirty, loud and nothing like she had imagined. Even worse, her husband Drago is just or more abusive than her father. The only saving grace is her neighbour Katherine. When Klara's only daughter is also the victim of spousal abuse, Klara realizes it has to end.

Thirsty covers 40 years in Klara's life. The premise behind this book was the exploration of domestic abuse through generations and the need to stop the cycle from repeating again and again.

I enjoyed the historical setting as a vehicle for this exploration. O'Keeffe brings to life the desperate, harsh conditions of the time. The steel mill squats over the town, dominating and dictating life for these families. The women waiting by the fence for news of who has died is especially memorable. Sorrow is a constant visitor to the town.

Interspersed are moments of joy - the unexpected clouds of butterflies that swarm the town, the small kindnesses afforded by those with very little, the friendships that Klara forms.

One criticism would be the 'jumps' in the story line. I would just become invested in a time frame and the novel would unexpectedly move ahead a number of years.

Klara, Katherine and the two men who become Klara's 'saviours' are fleshed out and well drawn. Her daughter Sky was a bit of a wraith - I never really 'felt' for her. Her two sons are really just names in the book. When tragedy strikes, I couldn't connect as these characters were never fleshed out. Drago is guilty, but he is just as disappointed with life in Thirsty. We are afforded small glimpses into his background and thoughts.

Thirsty is a novel I enjoyed. O'Keeffe's prose are beautiful and the message clear - the cycle can be brought to an end.

Giveaway - This One is Mine - Maria Semple

Doesn't that cover just make you want to dig into This One is Mine by Maria Semple? This would be a light hearted selection for a book club - you can find the reading guide here.

From the publisher:

"Violet Parry is living the quintessential life of luxury in the Hollywood Hills with David, her rock-and-roll manager husband, and her darling toddler, Dot. She has the perfect life--except that she's deeply unhappy. David expects the world of Violet but gives little of himself in return. When she meets Teddy, a roguish small-time bass player, Violet comes alive, and soon she's risking everything for the chance to find herself again. Also in the picture are David's hilariously high-strung sister, Sally, on the prowl for a successful husband, and Jeremy, the ESPN sportscaster savant who falls into her trap."

Get a head start - read an excerpt of This One is Mine. Or check out the Facebook page.

Listen to a blog talk radio interview with Maria.

Thanks to the generosity of The Hachette Book Group, I have 3 copies to giveaway. Open to the US and Canada, no po boxes please. Simply comment to be entered. Ends Saturday March 20th at 6 pm EST.

Review and Giveaway - Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven - Susan Jane Gilman

I first read Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven last year in hard cover and loved it. The Hachette Book Group has just released it in trade paperback and I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader.

The review below is a reprint from April 2009.

"I'm a big fan of Susan Jane Gilman. Her first memoir Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress had me laughing out loud. I was pretty excited to read Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven.

In 1986, Gilman and Claire make a momentous, drunken, four a.m. decision in their local IHOP (International House of Pancakes). Their place mats feature "Pancakes of Many Nations. So - " Staring at it , we'd had a jolt of inspiration. Why not eat pancakes of many nations in many nations? Why not travel the world? Oddly, barreling headlong into developing countries with a backpack somehow seemed far easier to us than simply getting a job."

Claire is from a privileged background. Gilman has grown up in subsidized housing and attended university on financial aid. They don't know each other that well, but go forward with their plan to travel the world. The first stop is Hong Kong and from there to China. China in 1986 has just opened it's doors to foreign travel.

What starts as an carefree adventure soon develops problems. At first Susan is able to explain away and ignore Claire's small idiosyncrasies. But when Claire mentions to other backpackers that she has heard voices and that there may be a terrorist cell after them, their carefree adventure takes a frightening turn. Stuck deep in a country where they don't speak the language, are physically ill and dependent on the goodwill of others, Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven is almost unbelievable. Yet as Gilman says; " All these events happened, and the people are real. God knows, I couldn't make this up."

An absolutely riveting read. Gilman writes with both humour and pathos - you won't be able to put it down until you turn the last page."

Check out Gilman's blog - always entertaining! Or you can find her on Facebook.

Listen to a clip or read an excerpt. A neat choice for a book club - there's a reading club guide too.

If you like to win a copy to read, simply leave a travel related comment - favourite place to visit, horror story (or a good one). Mine? Well I discovered the joys of Chicago's O'Hare airport last year as an international visitor. A little bigger than the one at home! Open to both US and Canada, no po boxes please. Closes Wed. March 24th at 6 pm EST.

The Sea Captain's Wife - Beth Powning

Oh, can I tell you how much I loved The Sea Captain's Wife!

Azuba is the daughter of a shipwright in 1860's New Brunswick, Canada. She has grown up around the water and dreams of being a sea captain's wife sailing with her husband around the world. Her dreams seem like they will come true when she marries Nathaniel - a veteran captain. But when she falls pregnant with their first child, he insists she stay on land. But a scandal necessitates Nathaniel reluctantly taking Azuba and their daughter with him on his next voyage. Azuba's dream is at last realized. But is it at the cost of her love and marriage to Nathaniel? What about the physical dangers? Has she put her child in danger or exposed her to the adventure of a lifetime? (This is the kind of adventure I would love!)

I always think I was born in the wrong century and this is the kind of book that greatly appeals to me. Historical - and really, the detail and research that Beth Powning has included in The Sea Captain's Wife was outstanding. I had wonderfully clear pictures of the town, their home, the ship and the ports in my mind as I read.

Azuba is a wonderfully drawn character. Bound by the social mores of her time to do the right thing and be a 'good' wife she still yearns for adventure. Powning skillfully explores Azuba's emotions and feelings as she struggles to balance the two in her life.

The novel is full of adventure as well - storms, exotic ports and what would the high seas be without pirates.

I honestly could not put this one down. A rich tale from an excellent Canadian author. Five stars for me. Read an excerpt of The Sea Captain's Wife.

Winner - Spin - Catherine McKenzie

And the lucky winner (chosen by random.org) of a copy of Spin by Catherine McKenzie is:

fredamans

Congratulations! I've contacted you by email for your mailing address.

Winners - The Swan Thieves - Elizabeth Kostova

And the three lucky followers who have won an audio book copy of The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova, courtesy of The Hachette Book Group are:

1. amanda 18228
2. Dawn M
3. Sue T-K

Amanda 18228 just let me know she had already obtained a copy, so on to the next on the list - Victoria!

I've contacted you by email for your mailing addresses. Please respond within 72 hours. Thanks to all who entered and check the sidebar for ongoing giveaways.

The Year of No Money in Tokyo - Wayne Lionel Aponte

I am a big fan of memoirs in general and especially travel memoirs.

Wayne Aponte , a black American, quits his job in Tokyo at just the wrong time. He had been living a hedonistic lifestyle, not worrying about his spending, but in 1995 Japan suffered a major economic downturn. This is The Year of No Money in Tokyo. Rather than going back to the US, he decides to stick it out, sure that he will find something. As his money dwindles, he moves to shabbier living quarters, sharing a six mat room. It is here that the book is born.

"I have no job prospects. I have no idea how to lift myself from the edge of the underclass, from the edge of starvation in Tokyo, umpteen miles away from my home in New York City. So, I shall dedicate the early morning hours to telling the story of this period of my life in Japan- to pass the time, to keep from going insane in the year of the wild boar, the year of no money."

The book begins with a series of descriptions and vignettes detailing the prejudice he faces as both a foreigner and as a black foreigner. I found these sections eye opening.

I also found myself questioning why he chose to stay, when he was clearly very unhappy. He states his need for privacy, yet has chosen to live in one of the most crowded cities in the world. He seems to have adopted the Japanese value of saving face.

"Going back home to America, of course, might help. Some kind of work would turn up. At the very least, I wouldn't worry about a place to stay. But returning home poorer than when I left, or even mentioning my condition on the phone, would look like defeat. It would be an utter embarrassment. A person must maintain his sense of self, such as it is; and for me, portraying my time abroad as a professional success story was important."

So, to avoid that embarrassment, he decides to contact women he has had relationships with in the past.

"The choice between homelessness and using people for access to their homes and food is a matter of survival. I do what is necessary to live better, without compromising my principles completely. If that means relying on others, so be it."

It is here that I found Aponte's choices unpleasant and abhorrent. His choice to save face in America by using women in Japan is selfish and self serving.

When Aponte returns to the US for a visit, he is upset that he is asked for money! Hasn't he been doing the same thing in Japan?

"I want to relax during my rare visits home in a calm and tranquil environment, without having to feel that acts of kindness are a prelude to inquiries for money....I can't spend money on people because they'll think that they can use me. They'll read my kindness as weakness. They'll regard my visits home as a potential payday. And when I'm in need, who can I call? Who can I run to for assistance? Who's got my back? I'm on my own. That partly explains why remaining in Tokyo broke is much easier that returning home broke: You can manage to get help in Japan.

The book is well written and Aponte definitely has a way with words. He has worked as a journalist in the past. I applaud his honesty and candor in telling his story. Once he does find a job, he seems to take a second look at his life.

" I can trace almost every catastrophe in my life to the distractions of lust."" Maturity can be a rough and painful path, but I commit to beginning a more productive relationship with myself."

To that end, he has added a coda as the last chapter - a collection of lessons learned and resolutions to live by. "My rehabilitation is nearly complete."

Aponte stayed in Tokyo, having lived in Japan for two decades according to the author note. Although the book really covers the one year, I wonder how the intervening years in Tokyo have treated the author. Definitely an intriguing read.

Read an excerpt of The Year of No Money in Tokyo.

Giveaway - The Moon Looked Down - Dorothy Garlock

Thanks to the generosity of The Hachette Book Group I have 5 copies of The Moon Looked Down by Dorothy Garlock to giveaway.

From the publisher:

"The new Americana romance from bestselling author Dorothy Garlock, this time set against the backdrop of WWII. Sophie Heller's family immigrated from Germany to Victory, a small town in Illinois, before WWII began. Now that the war has affected the town, the townspeople discriminate against Sophie and her family. When a train derails, it is an accident but the Heller family is blamed. Coming to Sophie's rescue is a teacher from the high school, and despite their cultural differences, a romance starts to bloom."

Read an excerpt of The Moon Looked Down.

Simply comment to be entered. Open to both US and Canada, no po boxes please. Ends Wednesday March 17th at 6 pm EST.

A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents - Liza Palmer

I first discovered Liza Palmer when I read her debut novel Conversations with the Fat Girl. Chick lit with charm that I really enjoyed. So I was looking forward to reading A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents - and I wasn't disappointed.

Grace's father took off when she was young and her mother raised her and her three siblings single handed. And did a great job. But when Grace was thirty her beloved mother was killed unexpectedly. Grace can't handle it and takes off, literally leaving everything behind. A devoted boyfriend, her two brothers and sister. For five years she has no contact with them. Until her sister calls and says that their father - the one who left them - is dying and needs to see them.

What follows is an absolutely charming tale of the tenacity of family bonds. How far they'll stretch and how much strength they really have. Palmer explores the complicated relationships between parent and child and between siblings with both humour and pathos. You may find yourself thinking about your own family relationships. There's a delicious sub plot in the form of the evil step family that I won't giveaway.

A fast read that I really couldn't put down and thoroughly enjoyed (but you might want to have a tissue handy......) Read an excerpt.

Family Day in Canada

Well, some of us in Canada have the day off to celebrate Family Day. Here's some background.

In most of Canada, Family Day is a statutory holiday occurring on the third Monday in February. This corresponds with Presidents Day in the United States. (So I guess most of you south of the border have a day off too!)

Family Day was first held in Canada in the province of Alberta in 1990. It is supposed to reflect the values of family and home that were important to the pioneers who founded Alberta, and give workers the opportunity to spend more time with their families. Family Day was introduced in Saskatchewan in 2007 and in Ontario in 2008. One of the reasons for introducing Family Day was that there was a long period when there were no holidays from New Year's Day until Good Friday.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Winners - Try Darkness - James Scott Bell

And the three lucky winners (chosen by random.org) of a copy of Try Darkness by James Scott Bell, courtesy of the Hachette Book Group are:

1. justpeachy36
2. karenk
3. alexa1959

I've contacted you by email for your mailing addresses. Please respond within 72 hours. Thanks to all who entered and check the sidebar for ongoing giveaways.

Winners - The 8th Confession - James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

And the 3 lucky winners of a copy of The 8th Confession, courtesy of The Hachette Book Group are:

1. pjgirl74
2. artmarcia
3. ladyt64

Congratulations! I've contacted you by email for your mailing addresses. Please respond within 72 hours. Thanks to all who entered and check the sidebar for ongoing giveaways!