WINNERS: The Heretic Queen and Cleopatra's Daugher

Wow! Not many entries on this one, which is really surprising! Perhaps because book blogworld was inundated with contests for these two books. Well, lucky for the 7 entries-- that makes for good odds!

So our two winners of these books are:

Staci stacijoreads AT gmail DOT com
Sue s.mickelson AT gmail DOT com

Congratulations! Since Staci is winner one, and both winners didn't have a preference for book, I'll give Staci first dibs. She can choose which book she would like, and Sue will get the other.

I'll be emailing you. Thanks for entering!

And for those who did not win, don't forget that you can buy The Heretic Queen now, and Cleopatra's Daughter goes on sale tomorrow!



Congratulations again to the two winners! Oh, and I would be remiss if I did not thank Michelle Moran for the wonderful giveaway. Thanks so much, Michelle!

Mailbox Monday (09-14-09 edition)

Mailbox Monday is brought to us by The Printed Page. In my mailbox last week I got:

Winnings...

Seduce Me by Robyn DeHart
Won from Drey's Library

Fielding Grey is the second son of the Marquess of Eldon and fortune hunter by night. He's on a mission for the Legend Hunters—a group of wealthy, titled, and heart-breakingly gorgeous men, each of whom are after the find of the century—he has his eyes set on obtaining the illustrious Pandora's Box. But before he finds it, he encounters an equally alluring treasure—the woman bold enough to look inside.

Esme Worthington can't resist taking the tiniest peek inside when fate drops the real Pandora's Box in her lap. Thus, she unleashes one of Pandora's irresistible curses: the curse of lust. Now, both Esme and Fielding must deal with this passionate curse—or blessing?—before unknown implications of Pandora's Box overpower them both.

Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz by Belinda Acosta
Won from Peeking Between the Pages
All Ana Ruiz wanted was to have a traditional quinceañera for her daughter, Carmen. She wanted a nice way to mark this milestone year in her daughter's life. But Carmen was not interested in celebrating. Hurt and bitter over her father Esteban's departure, she blamed Ana for destroying their happy family, as did everyone else. A good man is hard to find, especially at your age Ana was told. Why not forgive his one indiscretion? Despite everything, Ana didn't want to tarnish Carmen's childlike devotion to her beloved father. But Ana knows that growing up sometimes means facing hard truths. In the end, Ana discovers that if she's going to teach Carmen anything about what it means to be a woman, it will take more than simply a fancy party to do it...

Bought for myself...

The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs

With the Bible in hand, Jacobs sets off to spend a year attempting to follow the innumerous laws of Scripture in order to achieve the supposed claim of fundamentalists who say the Bible should be taken literally. Many obstacles stand in the way of this Jewish Manhattan father with a wife expecting twins by year's end. Through his journey, Jacobs does experience a spiritual awakening of sorts that reminds him of the importance of religion. He also reveals the scriptural selectiveness practiced by even the most zealous fundamentalists. While the abridgment generally works in providing listeners with the highlights of Jacobs's year, there are times when it seems to refer to material not covered in the audio. Sometimes too, the entries are too abrupt or trimmed. Jacobs reads the audiobook with adequate tone, speed and emphasis. While his soft nasal voice isn't particularly compelling, what he has to say about his adventures in living biblically will certainly keep people listening.

Book Giveaways in Blogworld (09-13-09 edition)

Sorry I'm late getting this up. I really haven't done giveaways this week, so I don't have too much to add for this list, but I may add more later this week. 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:

Peeking Between the Pages is giving away The Day the Falls Stood Still. Deadline is September 13.

A Journey of Books is giving away 5 copies of Highland Rebel. Tell 'em nfmgirl sent you! Deadline is September 15.

LI Reviews is giving away 3 copies of The Last Song. Deadline is September 15.

A Journey of Books is giving away 5 copies of Dark Hunger. Tell 'em nfmgirl sent you! Deadline is September 15.

Library Lounge Lizard is giving away 3 Catching Fire prize packs of book, tee and pin. Deadline is September 15.

Book Love Affair is giving away 3 Catching Fire prize packs. Deadline is September 15.

GreenBeanTeenQueen is giving away 3 Catching Fire prize packs! Deadline is September 15.

Frenetic Reader is giving away 3 copies of Catching Fire along with some swag! Deadline is September 15.

Pop Culture Junkie is giving away 3 copies of Catching Fire and swag. Deadline is September 15.

Booking Mama is also giving away away 3 copies of Catching Fire and some swag. Deadline is September 15.

And Luxury Reading is also giving away 3 copies of Catching Fire and swag. Deadline is September 15.

Zoe's Book Reviews is giving away a James Patterson prize pack to 2 winners. Deadline is September 17.

Park Avenue Princess is giving away 5 copies of How To Tame a Modern Rogue. Deadline is September 18.

At Home with Books is giving away a hardcover copy of The Unlikely Disciple. Deadline is September 18.

Find Your Next Book Here is giving away a copy of New Moon. Deadline is September 18.

Savvy Verse and Wit is giving away a gently used copy of A Disobedient Girl. Deadline is September 19.

Presenting Lenore is giving away a Stolen One prize pack valued at over $100! Deadline is September 19.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 5 copies of Sand Sharks. Tell 'em nfmgirl sent you! Deadline is September 20.

Jenn's Bookshelves is giving away any book of your choice ($20 max). Deadline is September 21.

Debbie's World of Books is celebrating her 1-year anniversary, and is letting us join her on the celebration! She is offering to one lucky winner their choice of 3 of her 16 favorite books. Deadline is September 21.

Park Avenue Princess is giving away a copy of How It Ends. Deadline is September 23.

Park Avenue Princess is giving away a bookcase! Deadline is September 24.

Park Avenue Princess is giving away a copy of Year of the Cock. Deadline is September 25.

A Place for Wicked Good Books is giving away a James Patterson Prize Pack to 2 winners. Deadline is September 25.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away a bookcase from CSN! Deadline is September 26.

J Kaye Book Blog is giving away Flowers for Elvis. Deadline is September 26.

Libby's Library News is giving away 5 copies of The Smart One and the Pretty One. Deadline is September 28.

The Book Chick is giving away 5 copies of The Smart One and the Pretty One. Deadline is September 28.

A Journey of Books is giving away 2 copies of The Greatest Knight. Deadline is September 30.

*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!

Poetry Sunday (09-13-09 edition)

I love Roman poet Ovid, but haven't found any "short" works to offer up. So instead I am going to offer the beginning of one of his poems.

Either She Was Fool...
by Ovid (43 BC-17 AD?)

Either she was fool, or her attire was bad,
Or she was not the wench I wished to have had.
Idly I lay with her, as if I loved not,
And like a burden grieved the bed that moved not.
Though both of us performed our true intent,
Yet could I not cast anchor where I meant.
She on my neck her ivory arms did throw,
Her arms far whiter than the Scythian snow.
And eagerly she kissed me with her tongue,
And under mine her wanton thigh she flung,
Yes, and she soothed me up, and called me "Sir,"
And used all speech that might provoke and stir.
Yet like as if cold hemlock I had drunk,
It mocked me, hung down the head and sunk.
Like a dull cipher, or rude block I lay,
Or shade, or body was I, who can say?
What will my age do, age I cannot shun,
When in my prime my force is spent and done?
I blush, that being youthful, hot, and lusty,
I prove nor youth nor man, but old and rusty.

Referencing Friday (09-11-09 edition)

Beastly Abodes: Home for Birds, Bats, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife by Bobbe Needham

Barnes and Noble didn't have a real synopsis for this book, but this is a favorite of mine. I love this book so much that I bought a copy for my brother.

Beastly Abodes is filled with do-it-yourself projects that you can build to lure wildlife to your yard. From bird houses to bat houses to toad houses, this is a great way to get started!