Wednesday, July 7, 2010

What's Releasing (07-07-10 edition)

Available the week of July 12, 2010:

Damaged by Alex Kava In Pensacola Beach, the Coast Guard braces for a Category-5 hurricane that has entered the Gulf of Mexico. During a routine patrol of the waterways, the aircrew spots a massive fishing cooler floating a mile offshore. The guards suspect that the icebox contains smuggled drugs, but when they open it, they’re shocked. It is filled with body parts. Criminal profiler Maggie O’Dell is sent to investigate as the rest of Florida holds its breath for the storm’s impending arrival. Eventually, Maggie is able to trace the torso in the cooler back to a man who mysteriously disappeared weeks earlier after a hurricane hit Port St. Lucie, on the Atlantic side of Florida. How, then, did his body end up six hundred miles away in the Gulf of Mexico? Cliffhanger chapters, behind-the-scenes forensic details, colorful characters, and satisfying twists have become the trademarks of Alex Kava’s psycho- logical thrillers. In Damaged she ratchets up the suspense by sending Maggie into the eye of a monster storm to track down a killer.


Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron is a prison unlike any other: Its inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated cities, and unbounded wilderness. The prison has been sealed for centuries, and only one man, legend says, has ever escaped.
Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, can’t remember his childhood and believes he came from Outside Incarceron. He’s going to escape, even though most inmates don’t believe that Outside even exists. And then Finn finds a crystal key and through it, a girl named Claudia. Claudia claims to live Outside—her father is the Warden of Incarceron and she’s doomed to an arranged marriage. If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return. But they don’t realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know. Because Incarceron is alive.


Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran
The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony's vengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two—the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander—survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian's sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian's family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra's Daughter. Recounted in Selene's youthful...


Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer

Readers fell in love with teenage waitress Hope Yancey when Joan Bauer's Newbery Honor—winning novel was published ten years ago. Now, with a terrific new jacket and note from the author, Hope's story will inspire a new group of teen readers.







Also available this week:

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Book Giveaways in Blogworld (07-03-10 edition)

Note: A reminder that you are free to email me about any giveaways that you are having, if you want me to blog them, and I'll be happy to try to post them even if I am not entering them. Just include a link to the giveaway, what you are giving away, how many copies are being given away, and the deadline in order to assure being included. Email me at nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com.

Here is a list of some giveaways going on in Blogworld*. Please note that new giveaways that were added this week are indented in Blockquotes:

Savvy Verse and Wit is giving away 3 copies of Unfinished Business. Deadline is July 4. US/Canada only.

Readaholic is giving away Paul is Undead. Deadline is July 4. US only.

Number One Novels is giving away an autographed copy of The Lotus Eaters. Deadline is July 4. US only.

Freda's Voice is giving away a copy of Secrets of Newberry. Deadline is July 5. US/Canada only.

Radiant Light is giving away 2 copies of The Secrets of Newberry. Deadline is July 5. US/Canada only.

The Book Chick is giving away $60 for CSN Stores! Deadline is July 5. US/Canada only.

Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf is giving away a copy of Salvaged. Deadline is July 6. International!

A Good Addiction is giving away a copy of 13 to Life. Deadline is July 6. International!

Luxury Reading is giving away Georgia's Kitchen. Deadline is July 6. US only.

In the Hammock is giving away 5 copies of To Surrender to a Rogue. Deadline is July 6. US/Canada only.

Crazy for Books is giving away Shiver and Linger to one winner. Deadline is July 7. US only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away The Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives. Deadline is July 7. US only.

Fantastic Book Review is giving away 13 to Life. Deadline is July 8. US/Canada only.

Lori's Reading Corner is giving away 4 copies of Panic Zone. Deadline is July 8. US only.

Crazy for Books is also giving away 4 copies of Panic Zone. Deadline is July 8. US only.
Simply Stacie is giving away 3 copies of The Broom of the System. Deadline is July 8. US/Canada only.
So Many Precious Books, So Little Time is giving away up to 3 copies of the audiobook The Lion. Deadline is July 9. US/Canada only.

Jo-Jo Loves to Read is giving away up to 3 copies of April & Oliver. Deadline is July 9. US/Canada only.

The Eclectic Reader is giving away The Confessions of Catherine de Medici. Deadline is July 9. International!
A Musing Reviews is giving away a copy of April and Oliver. Deadline is July 9. US/Canada only.
Knitting and Sundries is giving away 3 copies of Sugar. Deadline is July 10. Anywhere the Book Depository ships!

Freda's Voice is giving away 5 copies of Barely a Lady. Deadline is July 10. US/Canada only.

Seductive Musings is giving away 5 copies of Barely a Lady. Deadline is July 10. US/Canada only.

Peeking Between the Pages is giving away both Shiver and Linger to one winner! Deadline is July 10. US/Canada only.

Michelle and Leslie's Book Picks is giving away 3 copies of Dangerous Desires. Deadline is July 10. US/Canada only.

Lori's Reading Corner is giving away 5 copies of A Killer Plot. Deadline is July 11. US only.

Crazy for Books is giving away 5 copies of A Killer Plot. Deadline is July 11. US only.

A Journey of Books is giving away 5 copies of Desire Me. Deadline is July 12. US/Canada only.

A Journey of Books is giving away 5 copies of To Surrender to a Rogue. Deadline is July 12. US/Canada only.

Bookhounds is giving away a copy of Delivering Happiness. Deadline is July 12. US/Canada only.
Bookin' with Bingo is giving away a copy of For the Eyes of Willie McGee. Deadline is July 12. US only.
Reading with Tequila is having a huge 750 follower contest! Lots of books up for grabs, and lots of winners! Deadline is July 13. International!

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 3 copies of Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English. Deadline is July 13. US/Canada only.
Readaholic is giving away a copy of Her Fearful Symmetry. Deadline is July 13. US/Canada only.
A Sea of Books is giving away 3 copies of the audiobook Innocent. Deadline is July 14. US/Canada only.

Just Jennifer Reading is giving away 3 copies of Wrong. Deadline is July 14. Tell 'em nfmgirl sent you! US/Canada only.

Just Jennifer Reading is giving away 3 copies of The Castaways. Deadline is July 14. Tell 'em nfmgirl sent you! US/Canada only.
Radiant Light is giving away 2 copies of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake. Deadline is July 14. US/Canada only.
Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 3 copies of April & Oliver. Deadline is July 15. US/Canada only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 3 copies of The Barbery Pirates. Deadline is July 15. US only.

Libby's Library News is giving away 3 copies of Delivering Happiness. Deadline is July 15. US/Canada only.

A Journey of Books is giving away a copy of Masked by Moonlight. Deadline is July 17. US only.

Jo-Jo Loves to Read is giving away up to 3 copies of the audiobook Private. Deadline is July 17. US/Canada only.

A Good Addiction and La Femme Readers are holding a joint Summer Bash with six books up for grabs by 6 winners! Deadline is July 18. International!
So Many Precious Books, So Little Time is giving away up to 3 copies of Queen Pin. Deadline is July 18. US/Canada only.

So Many Precious Books, So Little Time is giving away up to 3 copies of The Disappearing Spoon. Deadline is July 18. US/Canada only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 3 copies of the cookbook Farm to Fork. Deadline is July 19. US only.

A Musing Reviews is giving away a copy of The Nobodies Album. Deadline is July 19. US only.

Broken Teepee is giving away 3 copies of Dangerous Desires. Deadline is July 20. US/Canada only.

In the Hammock is giving away 5 copies of Barely a Lady. Deadline is July 20. US/Canada only.

Just Jennifer Reading is giving away 3 sets of five Rita nominees! Deadline is July 21. US/Canada only.

Just Jennifer Reading is giving away 5 copies of Barely a Lady. Deadline is July 21. US/Canada only.

Bookin' with Bingo
is giving away 4 copies of Cowboy and Wills. Deadline is July 21. US only.

Simply Stacie is giving away a copy of Hidden Wives. Deadline is July 21. US/Canada only.

The Book Chick is giving away up to 3 copies of Cold Rock River. Deadline is July 23. US/Canada only.

All Ruby Cakes is giving away 2 copies of The Disappearing Spoon. Deadline is July 26.

Wicked Good Books is giving away a copy of Twenty Boy Summer in celebration for her 1st blogiversary! Deadline is July 31. US/Canada only.

The Eclectic Reader is giving away your choice of four books. Deadline is July 31. International!

Reading with Tequila is giving away up to 4 gently read books. Deadline is July 31. US only.
Queen of Happy Endings is giving away your choice of three books. Deadline is July 31. International!

A Journey of Books is giving away 5 copies of Barely a Lady. Deadline is August 1. US/Canada only.
Pure Imagination is giving away 4 books in a summer celebration. Deadline is August 8. International!
Peeking Between the Pages is giving away a 5 book collection from Hatchette Book Group! Deadline is August 8. US/Canada only.
Bookin' with Bingo is giving away a 5 book collection from Hachette Book Group! Deadline is August 12. US/Canada only.

*Courtesy Note: Please keep in mind the many, many hours of work that goes into me compiling this list each week. Please be courteous and thoughtful, and do not steal my text. Either recreate your own list, or link to this list and direct your readers here for giveaway information. Thank you so much for your consideration.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

REVIEW: The Saving of Aris by NovaMelia

Synopsis
This is the story of Aris Ball, a young boy whose life is tossed about by circumstance and fate and who constantly seeks to sort some meaning out of its tangle. He searches inside himself and he searches outside himself. He wants to be one of them, but he's not sure who they are. He wants to belong, to fit in. He wants to find out why other kids make fun of him and call him names.
His source of truth is his uncle Joshua, whom he believes at first is his father. Joshua would sort things out for him, telling him what was the truth and what was made up stuff.
Aris also believes he may have two mothers, but he isn't sure of that. He discovers that he can learn a lot by listening at doors, especially when there's an argument going on. But, as his uncle Joshua had predicted, he eavesdropped once too often. He finds out that Max got his head cracked wide open, but he doesn't know who Max is or why he got his head cracked wide open. He learned some things about himself, too that he didn't know before. Ultimately success comes by fate from a chance meeting in an alley. And it comes from one avenue he didn't explore, his own ignorance.

About the Author

from the back cover

NovaMelia was born in England and came to the USA when she was 17 years old. She attended the University of Pittsburg where she studied Creative Writing and Psychology. She spent many years living in southern Florida. She now lives in Tucson, AZ with her husband, George.


My Thoughts


Aris is born into one messed up family. His mother never really wanted him, he wasn't sure who his father was, even thinking that his uncle (his mother's brother) may be his father, his "holy-roller" grandma is overbearing and controlling, and his grandfather is a little off his rocker. The kids at school call him names and make up stories about him and his family.

But Aris' biggest problem is himself.

This story was a bit of an enigma for me. I'm not sure how to describe it, and I'm having a hard time deciphering my feelings regarding it.

In the beginning, the story spoke to me. I could really hear the characters in my head, speaking their muddled words. This book made me think of the movie Beloved, and I could imagine it becoming a movie like Beloved-- not quite for everyone, but appealing in its own right.

It is one of those books that requires you to pay attention, as it can ramble at times like a story with ADD. The story mostly comes from Aris' own mind, and his thoughts can be difficult to harness in.

Complicating matters is the fact that this book wasn't edited, having been self-published, and therefore it is riddled with typos and errors. It can be really difficult following who is saying what, or what is even dialogue and what is simply thought or narration, given the incorrect usage of quotation marks.

I was left a little frustrated with this story. I was always left grasping for something, and always coming up short. And then the last 50 pages lost me. It rambled around so much that I had a hard time following what was happening, and basically as a result I just got bored.

So this book started out great, but petered out in the end. Overall I'm glad that I read it, but I hoped for so much more for this story and Aris.


My Rating: 7.5 out of 10

(My thanks to Bostick Communications and the author for the book in exchange for my honest review.)

Friday, July 2, 2010

I Wanna...Chasing the Dead by Joe Schreiber

Chasing the Dead by Joe Schrieber

In the hope of saving her daughter from a kidnapper whose origin seems darker than anything she could ever have imagined, Sue will discover just how much trauma and fright the human body is capable of absorbing.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Introducing...The Good Son by Michael Gruber

The phone rang at a little before one in the morning and I knew it was my mother. I didn't even have to look at the number there on the little cell- phone screen, I just said, "Mom."

Next to me, my not- really- girlfriend, Gloria, heaved over and jammed a pillow on her head and said nasty stuff about people calling in the middle of the night. I ignored this and added, "Anything wrong?"

My mother said, "No, of course not. Why do you always ask that when I call you?"

"Because that's what people do when they get a call at one A.M. You forgot about the time zones again."

"I didn't forget. I thought soldiers always rose at dawn."

"When they're on duty," I said, "which I'm not. I'm at Gloria's place. What's up?"

"I'm at Heathrow on a plane for Zurich. I'll be gone for a couple of weeks. Could you tell your father?"

"Why don't you tell him yourself ? I think they still have phone service in the District of Columbia."

"Please, Theo. If I call him we'll get into a big argument, and I don't need that just now."

"Because you're going to Zurich for a few weeks? Why should he object to that?"

"Because I'm not going to Zurich. I'm just changing planes there. I'm going to Lahore."

That stopped me; sweat popped on my arms where they stuck out of the quilt. I said, "Lahore? Mom, you can't go to Lahore. There's a fatwa out on you. You can't go to the Muslim world anymore."

(A bit more than just a paragraph this time!)