2011 100+ Reading Challenge

I am very excited to see that My Overstuffed Bookshelf has decided to host this challenge for 2011!  Let me be honest with you right now.  I don't expect to read 100 books during 2011, but I am joining this challenge for 2011, just like I did for 2010 so I can have a complete list of the books that I read during the year.  I've read 50 books in 2010 and I'm going to see if I can surpass that in 2011!

This is a very flexible challenge but you can read all the details and sign up for yourself here.  I will update this post as I read books for this challenge.

1. Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez--Completed 1/6/2011
2. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens--Completed 1/12/2011
3. The Missionary by William Carmichael and David Lambert--Completed 1/14/2011
4. Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas--Completed 1/31/2011
5. The Brave by Nicholas Evans--Completed 2/1/2011
6. Sweetie by Kathryn Magendie--Completed 2/6/2011
7. Nefertiti by Michelle Moran--Completed 3/4/2011
8. The Bourne Objective by Eric Van Lustbader--Completed 3/4/2011
9. An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin--Completed 3/17/2011
10. The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry--Completed 3/23/2011
11. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows--Completed 3/31/2011
12. A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay--Completed 3/31/2011
13. Night Road by Kristin Hannah--Completed 4/09/2011
14. Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson--Completed 4/15/2011
15. The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair--Completed 4/24/2011
16. They Almost Always Come Home by Cynthia Ruchti--Completed 5/2/2011
17. When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson--Completed 5/9/2011
18. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin--Completed 5/23/2011
19. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley--Completed 5/29/2011
20. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein--Completed 5/31/2011
21. The Good Guy by Dean Koontz--Completed 6/10/11
22. The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno by Ellen Bryson--Completed 6/15/11
23. Too Jewish by Patty Friedmann--Completed 6/27/11
24. Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith--Completed 7/1/11
25. Sweet Jiminy by Kristin Gore--Completed 7/2/11
26. Dreams of Joy by Lisa See--Completed 7/17/11
27. Lamb Bright Saviors by Robert Vivian--Completed 7/25/11
28. The Camel Club by David Baldacci--Completed 8/2/11
29. The Help by Kathryn Stockett--Completed 8/7/11
30. The Traitor's Wife by Kathleen Kent--Completed 8/19/11
31. The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard--Completed 8/30/11
32. Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand--Completed 9/6/11
33. The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy--Completed 9/10/11
34. Everything We Ever Wanted by Sara Shepard--Completed 9/24/11
35. Angel Sister by Ann Gabhart--Compleed 10/4/11
36. To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal--Completed 10/7/11
37. Testimony by Anita Shreve--Completed 10/16/11
38. The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta--Completed 10/31/11
39. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls--Completed 10/31/11
40. One Summer by David Baldacci--Completed 11/12/11
41. The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley--Completed 11/15/11
42. House Rules by Jodi Picoult--Completed 12/6/11
43. Iron House by John Hart--Completed 12/14/11
44. Room by Emma Donaghue--Completed 12/20/11
45. The Snow Angel by Glenn Beck--Completed 12/24/11
46. All the Flowers in Shanghai by Duncan Jepson--Completed 12/27/11
47. A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg--Completed 12/31/11

New Author Challenge 2011!

I'm very excited to see that Literary Escapism is hosting the New Author Challenge again for 2011.  This is one challenge that I have participated in, and actually completed, for the past 2 years and I've really enjoyed it!  So head on over to the sign-up page to check out the guidelines, which are pretty minimal I might add, and join in the fun!  I think I am going to shoot for 25 new authors again this year, as that seems to be a lucky number for me with this challenge.  I will list the new authors on this post as I read them.  So what are you waiting for?  Go, go now!

1. Dolen Perkins-Valdez--Wench--Completed 1/6/2011
2. Chevy Stevens--Still Missing--Completed 1/12/2011
3. William Carmichael and David Lambert--The Missionary--Completed 1/14/2011
4. Nicholas Evans--The Brave--Completed 2/1/2011
5. Kathryn Magendie--Sweetie--Completed 2/6/2011
6. Eric Van Lustbader--The Bourne Objective--Completed 3/4/2011
7. Steve Martin--An Object of Beauty--Completed 3/17/2011
8. Brunonia Barry--The Map of True Places--Completed 3/23/2011
9. Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows--The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society--Completed 3/31/2011
10. Kamala Nair--The Girl in the Garden--Completed 4/24/2011
11. Cynthia Ruchti--They Almost Always Come Home--Completed 5/2/2011
12. Kate Atkinson--When Will There Be Good News--Completed 5/9/2011
13. Tom Franklin--Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter--Completed 5/23/2011
14. Alan Bradley--The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie--Completed 5/29/2011
15. Garth Stein--The Art of Racing in the Rain--Completed 5/31/2011
16. Ellen Bryson--The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno--Completed 6/15/11
17. Patty Friedmann--Too Jewish--Completed 6/27/11
18. Kristin Gore--Sweet Jiminy--Completed 7/2/11
19. Robert Vivian--Lamb Bright Saviors--Completed 7/25/11
20. Kathryn Stockett--The Help--Completed 8/7/11
21. Margaret Leroy--The Soldier's Wife--Completed 9/10/11
22. Sara Shepard--Everything We Ever Wanted--Completed 9/24/11
23. Ann Gabhart--Angel Sister--Completed 10/4/11
24. Tom McNeal--To Be Sung Underwater--Completed 10/7/11
25. Tom Perrotta--The Leftovers--Completed 10/31/11
26. Jeannette Walls--The Glass Castle--Completed 10/31/11
27. Walter Mosley--The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey--Completed 11/15/11

E-Book Challenge for 2011!

The Ladybug Reads is generous enough to host the E-Book Challenge for 2011!  You can check out all of the rules here, but I will tell you now that this is another very flexible challenge. 

Here are the levels of participation:
Curious – Read 3 e-books.
Fascinated – Read 6 e-books.
Addicted – Read 12 e-books.
Obsessed – Read 20 e-books.

I'm going to only sign up for the Fascinated level myself and see where I end up at the end of the year.  I will update this post as I complete books for this challenge.

1. Sweetie by Kathryn Magendie--Completed 2/6/2011
2. The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair--Completed 4/24/2011
3. They Almost Always Come Home by Cynthia Ruchti--Completed 5/2/2011
4. Too Jewish by Patty Friedmann--Completed 6/27/11
5. Sweet Jiminy by Kristin Gore--Completed 7/2/11
6. The Traitor's Wife by Kathleen Kent--Completed 8/19/11
7. Everything We Ever Wanted by Sara Shepard--Completed 9/24/11
8. Angel Sister by Ann Gabhart--Completed 10/4/11
9. House Rules by Jodi Picoult--Completed 12/6/11

Current Giveaways!

Here are a few giveaways that I found recently to help us ring in the New Year!  If I happened to miss your giveaway please feel free to leave the link in the comment section below.

Laura's Reviews is giving away The Polski Affair by Leon Gildin--Contest ends 12/31.

The Girl From the Ghetto is giving away Hidden Wives by Claire Avery--Contest ends 1/4.

Peeking Between the Pages is giving away the audiobook of Rescue by Anita Shreve--Contest ends 1/15.

Good luck everyone!  This is my only day at work this week so it was a real bummer dragging myself out of bed this morning...so wish me luck too!  lol

What's in a Name Challenge 3 Completed!

Wow, I just barely squeaked by with completing this challenge since I just finished reading the last book early this week!  But it was a fun one and I intend to participate again for 2011.  Thanks again to Beth Fish Reads for hosting this challenge for 2010.  Here were the categories that were required for 2010 along with the books that I read for each category.  You should be able to click on the title if you would like to read my review.

1. A book with a food in the title.
Espresso Tales by Alexander McCall Smith-Completed 2/10/2010

2. A book with a body of water in the title.
The Swimming Pool by Holly LeCraw-Completed 12/27/2010

3. A book with a title (queen, president, sir) in the title.
The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini-Completed 3/31/2010

4. A book with a plant in the title.
The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani-Completed 3/2/2010

5. A book with a place name (country, city) in the title.
Black Hills by Dan Simmons--Completed 5/17/2010

6. A book with a music term in the title.
Absolute Power by David Baldacci--Completed 7/20/2010

Review: The Swimming Pool by Holly LeCraw

Here is a summary of The Swimming Pool from the Random House website:

Seven summers ago, Marcella Atkinson fell in love with Cecil McClatchey, a married father of two. But on the same night their romance abruptly ended, Cecil's wife was found murdered—and their lives changed forever. The case was never solved, and Cecil died soon after, an uncharged suspect.

Now divorced and estranged from her only daughter, Marcella lives alone, mired in grief and guilt. Meanwhile, Cecil's grown son, Jed, returns to the Cape with his sister for the first time in years. One day he finds a woman's bathing suit buried in a closet—a relic, unbeknownst to him, of his father's affair—and, on a hunch, confronts Marcella. When they fall into an affair of their own, their passion temporarily masks the pain of the past, but also leads to crises and revelations they never could have imagined.

In what is sure to be the debut of the season, The Swimming Pool delivers a sensuous narrative of such force and depth that you won't be able to put it down.

My Review:
This novel takes us into the lives of the family members that were victimized by an unsolved mystery that took place years ago.  When Betsy was found murdered in her Atlanta kitchen she leaves her children, Jed and Callie, and her husband Cecil, to deal with the aftermath of the event.

The book opens in a summer home that the McClatchey family has always owned on Cape Cod.  Even though both of their parents are gone, Jed and Callie decided to keep the home in the family.  Callie has married and has two children of her own while Jed can never seem to be a part of a committed relationship.  It is clear that Jed and Callie are both a couple of broken, disheartened souls and they have decided to spend the summer, along with Callie's husband and children in the Cape Cod home.

Jed finds himself drawn to Marcella, a woman that he vividly remembers from his youthful days when his parents were alive and the neighborhood in the Cape was bustling with fun and energy.  When he confronts Marcella it is quite a surprise to find that they are both full of passion for one another.  This summer affair will lead to secrets revealed, some secrets kept, and finally a tragedy that is unavoidable.

I have to admit that I didn't really enjoy this book, but it still kept me turning the pages.  It held a very depressing element to the storyline and the affair between Marcella and Jed seemed quite unrealistic to me.  I can understand why Jed would find himself attracted to the older woman that Marcella was, but would he really stay attracted to her once he found out that his own father had an affair with her years before?  And as far as Marcella goes, would she really have an affair with the son of the man that she claimed to love years ago?  I guess this is a possibility considering how broken all of their lives were, but it just didn't add up for me.

Like I said earlier, I found that I couldn't put this book down for I had to see how this scenario was going to end.  The most broken character in this novel appeared to be Callie and I wish we really would have gotten to hear more of her story, rather than focusing on Jed and Marcella's affair.  This is one of those books where I can say I didn't find a liking for any of the characters, but I have found in the past that if the writing is good I can still find enjoyment of the book.  I obviously did find a substantial amount of enjoyment but I didn't particularly like the writing style either.  It didn't seem to flow well and was also a bit choppy for my taste.  But after reflection of the storyline it could be that this is what the author meant to accomplish. 

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  This book was provided to me from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Giveaway: Hell's Corner by David Baldacci

Thanks to Anna from Hachette I am able to give away up to 2 copies of this book!   Here is a summary of Hell's Corner from the Hachette website:

John Carr, aka Oliver Stone-once the most skilled assassin his country ever had-stands in Lafayette Park in front of the White House, perhaps for the last time. The president has personally requested that Stone serve his country again on a high-risk, covert mission. Though he's fought for decades to leave his past career behind, Stone has no choice but to say yes.

Then Stone's mission changes drastically before it even begins. It's the night of a state dinner honoring the British prime minister. As he watches the prime minister's motorcade leave the White House that evening, a bomb is detonated in Lafayette Park, an apparent terrorist attack against both leaders. It's in the chaotic aftermath that Stone takes on a new, more urgent assignment: find those responsible for the bombing.

British MI-6 agent Mary Chapman becomes Stone's partner in the search for the unknown attackers. But their opponents are elusive, capable, and increasingly lethal; worst of all, it seems that the park bombing may just have been the opening salvo in their plan. With nowhere else to turn, Stone enlists the help of the only people he knows he can trust: the Camel Club. Yet that may be a big mistake.

In the shadowy worlds of politics and intelligence, there is no one you can really trust. Nothing is really what it seems to be. And Hell's Corner truly lives up to its name. This may be Oliver Stone's and the Camel Club's last stand.

Now for the giveaway!

I will be giving away one book for every 10 entries with a maximum of two audiobooks to give away.

Winners will be subject to the one copy per household, which means if you win the same title on another blog you will receive only one copy of the title.

To enter this contest you must be at least 18 and live in the U.S. or Canada. No PO Boxes please.

For one entry leave me a comment including your email address below.

For two additional entries, blog about this contest or add the link to your sidebar.

Please include your email so I will have a way to contact you if you win. Use a spam-thwarting format such as myemail.address AT gmail DOT com or myemail.address [at] gmail [dot] com.

You will have until January 15th to enter and I will draw for winners on or after January 16th.

**This giveaway is closed.**

Winner of The Brave!

I am very excited to announce the winner of the audiobook giveaway for The Brave by Nicholas Evans.  The winner is

nfmgirl

Congratulations Heather!  I will be contacting you shortly to get your mailing information to forward to the publisher. Thanks again to Anna from Hachette for offering this giveaway on my blog!

Mailbox Monday from my Secret Santa!

Thanks to Marcia of The Printed Page for starting the Mailbox Monday Meme that has us list the books that we received last week. Although Marcia isn't going to be hosting Mailbox Monday any longer, she set it up so different bloggers have the opportunity to host this meme for a month at a time. This month the host is Let Them Read Books and you can go to her blog to see what everyone else got last week or to play along.

The only book that I recently received in the mail was actually from my Secret Santa, Nonsuch Book.  Along with the fabulous book that she sent me I also received a box of chocolates...yum!

Here is the book I received:

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

I am so excited to sink my teeth into this book!  Thanks again Frances!  I hope you all have a wonderful week.  I planned on taking a few days off this week so I really don't know how often I will be reading blogs and updating mine.  The only day I work this week is Thursday, so the only thing that I know that I will be doing over the next few days is a little reading and probably watching Little House on the Prairie in the afternoon.  So was there anything fun in your mailbox?

Merry Christmas!

Well I hope you all are having a fabulous Christmas weekend!  I know that we sure are!  This is really the first chance that I have even had to check my blog since Wednesday.  Among all of the fabulous gifts that I received from my family yesterday, was also a gift from the Book Blogger Holiday Swap.  I was lucky enough to receive some delicious chocolates and a copy of Freedom from Nonsuch Book.  So Thank You Frances...this is actually the only book that I received as a gift this year!

About a week ago Red-Headed Book Child tagged me in a fun holiday meme that has you share some of your favorite parts of Christmas.  Well since Christmas is  my most absolute favorite holiday I couldn't pass this one up. 

So here we go:

When do you usually know and feel that it's finally the holidays?
When I hear Christmas music almost everywhere I go.

What do you want for Christmas this year?
I actually had a few things on my list.  I already have some Fiesta Ware Dinner settings so I really wanted to get some serving pieces to go along with that set.  (check...got that!)
I also asked for a nice cable knit sweater. (check...got that too!)

Do you go all out with decorations?
My Christmas decorations consist mostly of items placed within my home.  I don't think I go overboard, but I do like enough things around that say...this family really enjoys Christmas!

What are you doing Christmas Eve?
We don't usually plan much for Christmas Eve because we don't have much family to celebrate with that live close to us.  So we usually go to church and then go home and make something easy for dinner.  This year after church we had frozen chicken kiev and instant mashed potatoes and it was delicious!  We all also open one gift later in the evening.

What are you doing Christmas Day?
Upon waking up on Christmas morning the first thing we do is raid our stockings!  I put an egg bake in the oven so by the time we are done opening our gifts our breakfast is usually ready.  After that we just kind of take it easy for the rest of the day, maybe watch movies, read, play with our new things, but definitely nothing demanding!

It's Christmas time. What are you reading?
I am actually still trying to finish reading The Swimming Pool for the What's in a Name Challenge, but after that I will need to quickly read Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah.   This is our book club selection that I will need to have read by next Wednesday.

Favorite movie to watch during the holidays?
Definitely A Christmas Story!  This movie amazes me every time I watch it and I was shocked to find out one of the gals I work with has never watched it, or even heard of it!

Favorite Christmas song?
White Christmas by Bing Crosby, but now Oh, Holy Night by Josh Groban is a close second!

Favorite holiday drink?
There is actually a Christmas Wine from Door County that I have always enjoyed, but for some reason I didn't pick any up this year.  I will probably have to do that before New Year's.

How is your Christmas shopping going?
This went well for me and I wasn't rushing at the last minute this year!

If you could spend Christmas Day anywhere else, where would you spend it?
Hmmm...this is a tough one and I would say as long as my family is with me I don't really care where I am!

Any holiday traditions?
We do open one present on Christmas Eve and over the last few years we started having lasagnae for our Christmas Day dinner.  We all are loving this tradition because we get a great meal that I actually prepared a day or two in advance so there is limited time in the kitchen on Christmas Day.

Favorite thing about the Holidays.
Everything!  As long as we remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.  I love the food, the treats and candies, both giving and receiving gifts, and just spending some down time with the family.  I don't have to go back to work until Thursday and I am going to savor every moment!

Well that's it for me, if you feel like sharing your favorite things about Christmas consider yourself tagged!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!

 

Wondrous Words Wednesday-Dec. 22

Bermudaonion asks you to share new words that you have learned during your reading adventures in the last week. Feel free to join in the fun!

Here are some new words that I've learned while reading an ARC of The Swimming Pool by Holly LeCraw:

Muntin:  a bar for holding the edges of window panes within a sash.

Here is how muntin was used on page 47:
He had not pulled down the shade of the window next to the bed, and moonlight was pouring through, so bright that the shadow of the crossed muntins fell on his chest.

Cuckold:  the husband of an unfaithful wife.

Here is how cuckold was used on page 75:
He tried to look Marcella's former husband and cuckold in the face without flinching.

Tacit:  understood without being openly expressed; implied.

Here is how tacit was used on page 142:
She suspected Jed had made a tacit pact with himself not to leave a trace.

So how about you?  Have you learned any new words in your reading adventures lately?

Teaser Tuesday-Dec. 21

Check out Teaser Tuesdays from Should Be Reading.  TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

This week my teaser is from The Swimming Pool by Holly LeCraw:
His only wish was to grab truth by the shoulders and look it straight in the eye, but he could not seem to get hold of it.  He knew his father did not have the same wish.

pg. 131
***Please note that this is from an Advanced Reading Copy so the final printing may change.

Audiobook Review: Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Here is a summary of Private from the Hachette website:

The police can't help you

Former Marine helicopter pilot Jack Morgan runs Private, a renowned investigation company with branches around the globe. It is where you go when you need maximum force and maximum discretion. The secrets of the most influential men and women on the planet come to Jack daily--and his staff of investigators uses the world's most advanced forensic tools to make and break their cases.

The press will destroy you

Jack is already deep into the investigation of a multi-million dollar NFL gambling scandal and the unsolved slayings of 18 schoolgirls when he learns of a horrific murder close to home: his best friend's wife, Jack's former lover, has been killed. It nearly pushes him over the edge. Instead, Jack pushes back and devotes all of Private's resources to tracking down her killer.

Only one place to turn: Private

But Jack doesn't have to play by the rules. As he closes in on the killer and chooses between revenge and justice, Morgan has to navigate a workplace love affair that threatens to blow the roof off his plans. With a plot that moves at death-defying speeds, Private is James Patterson sleekest, most exciting thriller ever.

My Review:
This was another action packed audiobook that Patterson offers to us that actually puts us on the trail of a few mysteries that Jack is trying to solve.  The 'easy on the eyes' Jack Morgan runs Private, a private investigation agency that caters to the stars, but finds himself needing to confront his personal demons before he can move on in his own life.

Jack has never forgiven himself for an event that happened in Afganistan and it has seemed to torment him every day of his life.  Because of this memory he put up an emotional wall that won't allow him to live his life to the fullest.  Once Jack realizes how he has been living, he becomes frustrated at how he has treated those that really care about him.

Jack helps to reveal an NFL scandal that is operated by the mafia and while investingating this case, he finds information that is mafia related to another case.  This book is packed with action, suspense and romance as Jack solves not only these cases, but also helps to catch the serial killer that is murdering the school girls.

Although I loved the quick-paced action that this book kept feeding me, I found myself wanting to know more about Jack's character.  More than anything I wanted him to be able to forgive himself for what happened in Afganistan so he could move on with his life and deal with his family issues.  This was a great audiobook that was read by Peter Hermann and if you are a Patterson fan I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  This audiobook was provided to me from Anna at Hachette in exchange for an honest review.

Java With Jo

Is this week over yet?  Soon enough, I know!  It has certainly been a whirlwind this month trying to get ready for Christmas, but now most of my shopping is done, my home is decorated, and I just have a few more gifts to wrap.    

My daughter came home from college last night and tomorrow we are planning to bake cookies all day long.  It should be a fun and exciting day for that.  Maybe when we are done with our day of baking we will relax with a movie and do a little knitting and crocheting.  I taught her how to crochet when she was home over Thanksgiving and that inspired me to pull out a couple of projects of mine that I had started years ago.

Last week I finished reading my first Kindle book and I can tell you that I loved the experience.  Of course I still love real books, but reading from the Kindle was just so convenient.  It was much easier to read at my desk over my lunch hour while eating as I didn't have to worry about trying to keep the book open with random desk items.

It looks like I will be able to complete all of the reading challenges I signed up for except for the 100+ Reading Challenge.  I didn't really expect to complete this one so I'm not really heart broken about it.  My main goal with this challenge was just to compile a list of the books that I have read during 2010 so personally I have completed my goal with this challenge!  So even though I failed it is still a personal success...what a way to put a spin on it, hey?  The last challenge I am working on is the What's in a Name Challenge.  I am currently reading The Swimming Pool, which is the last book needed for me to complete this challenge.

I'm sure I will be quite busy next week also, so in case I don't get a chance I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

What's in a Name 4 Challenge!

I was very excited to see that Beth Fish Reads has decided to host this challenge for 2011.  I've had a lot of fun participating in this challenge for the last couple of years, although I'm still not quite done with the 2010 challenge.  I know I'm cutting it close but I think I will be able to do it!

Here is what is lined up for the challenge for 2011 as indicated on the sign-up page:

Between January 1 and December 31, 2011, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a number in the title: First to Die, Seven Up, Thirteen Reasons Why
One Summer by David Baldacci--Completed 11/12/11

2. A book with jewelry or a gem in the title: Diamond Ruby, Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Opal Deception
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls--Completed 10/31/11

3. A book with a size in the title: Wide Sargasso Sea, Small Wars, Little Bee

4. A book with travel or movement in the title: Dead Witch Walking, Crawling with Zombies, Time Traveler's Wife
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein--Completed 5/31/11

5. A book with evil in the title: Bad Marie, Fallen, Wicked Lovely
The Traitor's Wife by Kathleen Kent--Completed 8/19/11

6. A book with a life stage in the title: No Country for Old Men, Brideshead Revisited, Bog Child
The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair--Completed 4/24/11

I really appreciate that this is a pretty flexible challenge in that you do not need to make a list ahead of time and you can use various modes of reading, such as e-books, audiobooks, or even the real thing!  I will update this post as I read books for this challenge.  So what are you waiting for?  Head on over and sign up now here to join us for 2011.

Review: The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

Here is a summary of The Heretic's Daughter from the Hachette website:

Martha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and willful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live. Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft. This is the story of Martha's courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived.

Kathleen Kent is a tenth generation descendent of Martha Carrier. She paints a haunting portrait, not just of Puritan New England, but also of one family's deep and abiding love in the face of fear and persecution.

My Review:
This was a fascinating book that gave us a glimpse at what life was like for those persecuted during the times of the Salem Witch Trials.  This book is actually Sarah's story, who was a young girl that was thrown in prison along with her mother for practicing witchcraft.

Events spin out of control as the town slowly turns against the Carrier family.  The Carrier's were just another hardworking family that were just able to make ends meet.  After surviving the smallpox epidemic with minimal casualties one would think that life would get back to normal for the family.  But when the family took in a young girl, Mercy, to help with the farm chores, little did they know how this one girl would impact their future.

After Mercy has a falling out with the Carrier's she is sent to another farm to work.  Mercy obviously is harboring ill feelings over what took place and decides to make implications towards Martha Carrier every chance she could get.  It still amazes me to think that one girls claim of witchcraft could cause the incarceration and eventually the death of an innocent woman.

As they imprisoned these women, one after another from erroneous claims, they eventually would arrest the children for practicing witchcraft also.  Most of the children were released after admitting to the practicing of witchcraft, as long as they were able to survive their time in prison.  The conditions in the Salem jail were as inhumane as I could possibly imagine.  Everyone was housed together from babies to old men and women, there really was no segregation or privacy allowed, except for separating the individuals that were sure to be hung.

Eventually Sarah was incarcerated with all of her family, given the exception of her father.  Unfortunately she did not get the opportunity to be with her mother during this time since she was on the other side of the hall.  When she was able to inch close to the hall she could catch a glimpse of her mother who would always offer survival tips and words of encouragement.  This part of the story was just horrifying for me and some may find it difficult to read.

This was a very engaging story that taught me a lot about the events that took place during the Salem Witch Trials.  I really did not have much knowledge about this part of our history before reading this book.  Since my entire book club also enjoyed this book I do not hesitate in recommending this book for your group.  There are some great discussion questions and more information from the author available at the Hachette website here.  With themes of love, honor, pride and family this book will keep you turning the pages.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  This book is from my personal collection and I read it for my own entertainment.  I actually received this book from Alyce from At Home With Books as a gift from the Book Blogger Holiday Swap from a couple of years ago...so thanks Alyce!

Books Won Reading Challenge Completed!

I am very pleased to announce that I have officially completed this challenge.  I was thinking about waiting to post about completing this one, in the event that I read more books that I had won before the end of the year, but I don't see that happening any time soon!  I want to give a special Thank You to So Many Precious Books, So Little Time  for hosting this challenge!  As you can see from my original post I signed up for the Bronze level, which means reading 4-6 books that I have won.  Well I successfully finished this challenge by reading the 6 following books that I have won.  You should be able to click on the titles to see my reviews.

Matrimony by Joshua Henkin--Completed 1/27/2010
The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris--Completed 3/14/2010
The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova--Completed 5/17/2010
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith--Completed 6/2/2010
Cross Country by James Patterson--Completed 6/19/2010
Absolute Power by David Baldacci--Completed 7/20/2010

So there is another challenge completed!  Have you participated in any reading challenges this year?

Mailbox Monday-Dec. 13

Thanks to Marcia of The Printed Page for starting the Mailbox Monday Meme that has us list the books that we received last week. Although Marcia isn't going to be hosting Mailbox Monday any longer, she set it up so different bloggers have the opportunity to host this meme for a month at a time. This month the host is Let Them Read Books and you can go to her blog to see what everyone else got last week or to play along.

Here is what I found in my mailbox:

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

I received this one for a blog tour that I will be participating in towards the end of January so stay tuned!  Was there anything fun in your mailbox?  And yes, I am sad that the Packers lost yesterday!

Winner of Brava, Valentine!

I'm very excited to announce that the winner of Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani is.....

skkorman

Congratulations!  I will be emailing you shortly to get your mailing information so I can get this book sent to you in time for Christmas!  Thanks to everyone for entering the contest!

The Winner of Oogy!

I am so happy to announce that the winner of the Oogy audiobook is

Ruthie

Congratulations Ruthie!  I will be emailing you shortly to get your mailing information to forward to the publisher.  I've absolutely loved listening to this audiobook and I hope you do too!  Thanks once again to Anna from Hachette for offering this giveaway on my blog.

Current Giveaways!!!

Here are some giveaways that I found recently that might interest you!  If I missed posting about your giveaway please feel free to add the link in the comment section below.

A Sea of Books is giving away the audiobook of The Reversal by Michael Connelly--Contest ends 12/10.

Bookin' With Bingo is giving away Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff--Contest ends 12/21.

At Home With Books is having her December Bookshelf Cleaning Giveaway--Contest ends 12/26.

The Eclectic Reader is having a Festive Season Giveaway--Contest ends 12/30.

And don't forget to check out my giveaways on my sidebar!  Good luck everyone!

Audiobook Review: The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

Here is a summary of The Island from the Hachette website:

Birdie Cousins has planned a getaway with her daughter Chess on rustic, charming Tuckernuck Island off the coast of Nantucket, a chance to bond before Chess's upcoming marriage. Birdie's been through a difficult divorce herself, so she knows the big commitment that marriage entails. She's only recently dared to tiptoe back into the waters of romance.

When Chess abruptly breaks off the wedding and her fiancé shockingly dies in a rock climbing accident, it leaves Chess feeling guilty and deeply depressed. Birdie circles the wagons, convincing her younger daughter Tate, and her own sister India to join them on Tuckernuck for the month of July. Secrets and intrigue soon make their way to the surface, as Elin Hilderbrand once again weaves a masterful story of summer suspense.

My Review:
I really enjoyed this audiobook that brought me into the lives of these women that found themselves needing to rely on each other as they were dealing with their own personal problems within their lives.  When they decide to go spend a month on the island of Tuckernuck at the family's summer home that barely has running water and no electricity, they really have no idea how much stronger their family bond will become.

Birdie is the divorced mother of both Chess and Tate, who really has never wanted for anything in her lifetime.  She has led a very fortunate life married to Grant Cousins, a successful lawyer, but found herself unhappy in the relationship as she was emotionally abandoned.  While Grant put all of his time into his career, his family life deteriorated before he knew it and his marriage ended in divorce.

Birdie tried to move on with her life as she is starting a relationship with a gentleman as this novel begins.  Even though Birdie is trying to take control of her own life she also wants to try to take care of her daughters in a way that she didn't in the past.  As Chess's upcoming marriage falls apart Birdie decides this is a good time to head to Tuckernuck for a little vacation.  Birdie is surprised when Chess accepts her invitation to go on vacation with her, but is even more surprised when her other daughter Tate calls her asking if she can go too!  Birdie is ecstatic with the possibilities of this girls vacation that lies ahead, but is also a little nervous about it so decides to ask her sister India to join them.  Wow, are we in for a ride!

Their little vacation on Tuckernuck grows into a month long hiatus for these ladies and as we are there with them, day in and day out, we get to learn their secrets, hopes, and fears.  We learn the reason for Chess's broken engagement and why Tate has never had a true romance within her life.  Although Birdie and India are older they learn about each other in a new way. As they discover things about each other they also learn new things about themselves that help them appreciate life in a whole new way.

This was a wonderful audiobook that gave me such a vivid picture of what Tuckernuck must look like.  Denise Hicks did a great job narrating by giving a believable voice and attitude to each of the characters.   I found that I didn't want their vacation to end because I didn't want to leave Tuckernuck either!  With themes of love, family bonds, and carefree living this book is great for both a book club discussion and to bring along on vacation.  I highly recommend this book.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  This book was provided to me by Hachette in exchange for an honest review.

You can check out more great book reviews at Cym Lowell's Book Review Party Wednesday!

Winners of The Swan Thieves!

I was just looking over a few things yesterday and realized that I still hadn't picked the winners of The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova!  So my apologies for the delay, but the winners are

Donna

Cheryl F.-The Lucky Ladybug

Congratulations ladies!  I will be emailing you shortly to get your mailing addresses to forward to the publisher.  Thanks again to Valerie from Hachette for offering this giveaway on my blog.

Giveaway: Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson

Thanks to Valerie from Hachette I am able to give away a copy of Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson.  This has been made into a Lifetime movie and will be aired TONIGHT at 9:00 PM ET/PT, 8:00 PM CT.  I am definitely going to have to set my DVR for this!

Here is a summary of the book from the Hachette website:

AN IMAGINARY FRIEND
Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, the powerful head of a New York theater company, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can't stay forever, though. On Jane's eighth birthday he leaves, promising that she'll forget him soon. He was there to help her until she was old enough to manage on her own, and now there are other children who need his help.

AN UNEXPECTED LOVE
Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets Michael again--as handsome, smart and perfect as she remembers him to be. But not even Michael knows the reason they've really been reunited.

AND AN UNFORGETTABLE TWIST
Sundays at Tiffany's is a heart-wrenching love story that surpasses all expectations of why these people have been brought together. With the breathtaking momentum and gripping emotional twists that have made James Patterson a bestseller all over the world, Sundays at Tiffany's takes an altogether fresh look at the timeless and transforming power of love.

Now for the giveaway!

To enter this contest you must be at least 18 and live in the U.S. or Canada. No PO Boxes please.

Winners will be subject to the one copy per household, which means if you win the same title on another blog you will receive only one copy of the title.

For one entry leave me a comment including your email address below.  Use a spam-thwarting format such as myemail.address AT gmail DOT com or myemail.address [at] gmail [dot] com.

For two additional entries, blog about this contest or add the link to your sidebar.

You will have until December 26th to enter and I will draw for winners on or after December 27th.

**This giveaway is closed.**

Mailbox Monday-Dec. 6

Thanks to Marcia of The Printed Page for starting the Mailbox Monday Meme that has us list the books that we received last week. Although Marcia isn't going to be hosting Mailbox Monday any longer, she set it up so different bloggers have the opportunity to host this meme for a month at a time. This month the host is Let Them Read Books and you can go to her blog to see what everyone else got last week or to play along.


Only one book in the mail again and here is what it was:

Falling Home by Karen White

I just love the cover of this book and it makes me yearn for summer already!  So did you get anything fun in your mailbox?

Java With Jo

Oh I am so glad that it is Friday!  This has been one busy week and although the weekend is still looking busy I do have some fun things planned.  Tonight my husband and I are going to go out for dinner and then we bowl on the Friday Night Mixed Couple League.  That should make for a fun evening.  Tomorrow I don't have a lot planned as I have to work at the video store in the evening.  But Sunday we are planning our annual Christmas shopping trip to Duluth.  Even though our kids are in college now and we definitely don't buy as many presents for them as we used to, we still enjoy some Holiday shopping and just spending some fun time together.

It feels like I've been barely able to stay afloat with all of the events taking place right now.  I am also feeling some major job dissatisfaction (from my day job that is) and that is emotionally draining me.  I'm just wishing that God would make it more visible to me as to what it is that he wants me to do, because I really don't think that he wants me to feel like this every day.  I don't mean to be such a bummer but this has been heavy on my heart lately.

I'm also very excited to get my package ready to send out for the Book Blogger Holiday Swap.  I will definitely be looking for some fun items to include in there while I am out shopping this weekend.  I just love everything about the Christmas season, especially the music, which I have been listening to for the last month! 

Have a great weekend everyone and don't forget to check out the giveaways that I have on my sidebar right now!

Blog Tour, Review, and a Giveaway: Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

I'm very excited to be able to participate in this blog tour for the second installment of Adriana Trigiani's Valentine series.  So first of all I want to give a special Thank You to Trish from TLC Book Tours for inviting to be a part of this!  After reading Very Valentine there was no way I wanted to miss out on this opportunity.  You can still read my review here for the first installment if you missed it.

Here is a summary of Brava, Valentine from the Harper Collins website:
Very Valentine, an instant New York Times bestseller, introduced the contemporary family saga of the Roncalli and Angelini families, artisans of handcrafted wedding shoes in Greenwich Village since 1903.

As Brava, Valentine begins, snow falls like glitter over Tuscany at the wedding of her grandmother, Teodora, and longtime love, Dominic. Valentine's dreams are dashed when Gram announces that Alfred, "the prince," Valentine's only brother and nemesis, has been named her partner at Angelini Shoes. Devastated, Valentine falls into the arms of Gianluca, a sexy Tuscan tanner who made his romantic intentions known on the Isle of Capri. Despite their passion for one another and Gianluca's heartfelt letters, a long-distance relationship seems impossible.

As Valentine turns away from romance and devotes herself to her work, mentor and pattern cutter June Lawton guides her through her power struggle with Alfred, while best friend and confidante Gabriel Biondi moves into 166 Perry Street, transforming her home and point of view. Savvy financier Bret Fitzpatrick, Valentine's first love and former fiancée who still carries a torch for her, encourages Valentine to exploit her full potential as a designer and a business woman with a plan that will bring her singular creations to the world.

A once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity takes Valentine from the winding streets of Greenwich Village to the sun-kissed cobblestones of Buenos Aires, where she finds a long-buried secret hidden deep within a family scandal. Once unearthed, the truth rocks the Roncallis and Valentine is determined to hold her family together. More so, she longs to create one of her own, but is torn between a past love that nurtured her, and a new one that promises to sustain her.

Brava, Valentine, Trigiani's best novel yet, delivers a hilarious and poignant mix of colorful worlds and unforgettable characters as only she can create them.

My Review:
Although this is the second installment in the series, I really feel that one could read this book without reading the first because of the good job that Trigiani does of bringing the reader up to speed.  She also provides stimulating descriptions of two destinations that I long to visit, both New York and Italy.  And after closing this book my desire to go to Italy has only blossomed.

The novel opens in Italy as Valentine and her entire family travelled to Tuscany for her grandmother's wedding.  And as you can imagine, with the joining of two Italian families there was not a dull moment during the entire event.  Valentine finds herself looking forward to laying her eyes on Gianluca once again, but will the reunion go as she would like?

Gram has a surprise for Valentine after her wedding when she explains to her that she has decided to take Alfred, Valentine's brother, as a partner.  With his financial background Gram figures that Alfred is just what is needed for the Angelini Shoe Company.  There has always seemed to be a friction between Alfred and Valentine so one would think that this partnership would never work, but not only did they make it work and help the business flourish at a new level, but they also found a deeper respect and understanding for each other.

Secrets are uncovered in this novel, both from the present and the past.  When Valentine takes a business trip to Buenos Aires she uncovers a long kept family secret that will not only strengthen Angelini Shoes but also the relationships with her extended family.  While in Buenos Aires she finds some time for pleasure as she is surprised by the handsome Gianluca.  She feels the pull of her heart towards Gianluca and enjoys the time that they spend together, but can Valentine make the commitment that is needed for this relationship to blossom?

I loved so much about this book, from the cobblestone streets in Italy to the family squabbles back in New York City.  I love how Trigiani brings out the real feelings in her characters-they do not live perfect lives and they do make mistakes.  With themes of family dynamics, love, friendship, and sacrifices, this book was an excellent follow up to the Very Valentine.  I recommend this series but even moreso if you feel like being whisked away to fabulous destinations.

And remember how I said this book makes me want to go to Italy?  Well someone out there is going to be lucky (hopefully me!) as Adriana Trigiani is giving away a trip to Italy!  Yes, she actually has her own tour company and you can sign up to win this fabulous vacation here.  You can also find out more about the author and view all of her works here.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  This book was provided to me by Harper Collins to participate in this blog tour and provide and honest review.

Thanks to the publisher I have a copy of this book up for grabs!
To enter this contest you must be at least 18 and live in the U.S. or Canada. No PO Boxes please.

For one entry leave me a comment including your email address below. Use a spam-thwarting format such as myemail.address AT gmail DOT com or myemail.address [at] gmail [dot] com.

For two additional entries, blog about this contest or add the link to your sidebar.

You will have until December 11th to enter and I will draw for winners on or after December 12th.  Just enough time to use this as a Christmas gift if you want!

**This giveaway is closed.**