In My Mailbox

Hey everyone!

Hope you all had a great week! Mine was fantastic. I'm done my first out of four weeks of internship at school. I only taught one class so far but next week I'm teaching three classes a day. I'm nervous a bit but also excited.

Anyways, this week I didn't get a lot of books but I'm going shopping tomorrow so I might add a few more books to my list.

Won from the author, The Vision by Cynthia Meyers-Hanson.

Here's a bit about the book :

Helen is born legally blind. Does she ever gain her vision? Her physical disabilities slow her learning as well as chances at a good education. Will she ever succeed in life? Compounding her vision issues, her dad suffers with bipolar disorder wreaking havoc on her family life? Will she break those dysfunctional chains? SEE how the girl gains sight and insight! This fiction is based on a real girl's life story. The intention is to inspire the reader to reach for their own vision.

Until next time, happy reading my friends!

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine.

Title : From This Momen On
Author : Shania Twain
Publication Date : May 3rd 2011

When she was eight, Shania Twain was singing in smoky Canadian bars, doing her part to help with her family's severely strained finances. By the time she was ten, the girl born as Eileen Regina Edwards was writing songs and performing in after-hour shifts while most other children her age were dreaming of sugar plum fairies. From these gritty beginnings, the renamed Twain became a living music legend, winning five Grammy Awards and selling 75 million albums. At times heartbreaking, this memoir describes Shania's rocky road from her hardscrabble youth to her present fame. From This Moment On covers events including the tragic car crash, the traumatic breakup of her first marriage, and her first experiences in Nashville.


 

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Shania Twain! Please, don't ask me to choose a favorite song! From You're Still the One to Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under, I love 'em all.
 
Anyone one else planning on reading Shania's book?

Cover Love : Hex : A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wray

I read a review of Hex : A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wray on Jessica's Vision and the cover immediately caught my eye.





Isn't it pretty? I bet this book could win the cutest book cover award! I'd pick this book only because of the cover without even reading the blurb.




Synopsis :

Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life. So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed.

Sounds good, doesn't it?

In My Mailbox

Bought :

Close to the Ground by Jeff Mariotte

Honeymoon by James Patterson & Howard Roughan

Nighttime Is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark

Slow Dancing on Price's Pier by Lisa Dale (Read my review here)


Hope you guys had lots of great books this week in your mailbox!

Until next time, happy reading!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Happy Easter to you all! Hope the Easter Bunny left you lots of chocolate and maybe some...books! Have a great day everyone and don't eat too much chocolate!

Webweaver's Free Clipart

Review : Slow Dancing on Price's Pier by Lisa Dale

Title : Slow Dancing on Price's Pier
Author : Lisa Dale
Published : April 5th 2011 by Berkley Trade
Blurb :

Fifteen years ago, Garret Sorensen's family, trust, and heart were destroyed when Thea Celik betrayed him and married his brother. Now they are divorcing. Garret's ready to finally mend his relationship with his brother. But being back in Newport, Rhode Island, triggers a lot of memories-all leading back to Thea.





Thea's not ready to let go of the Sorensens-even if it means being around Garret. As they cautiously circle around each other-finding themselves drawn together-they realize following their hearts could cast them adrift.

********************




My Thoughts

Lisa Dale has done it again! After reading and enjoying her two previous books, Simple Wishes and It Happened One Night, I couldn't wait to get my hands on her new novel. Slow Dancing on Price's Pier turns out to be her best novel so far.

Thea and Jonathan Sorensen are newly divorced and the subject of gossip around town.  Jonathan's brother, Garret, who's back in town after being cut out of his family's life, doesn't seem to like Thea.  When they were in high school, Garret had a thing for Thea and always thought he would end up spending his life with her.  He never thought his brother would be the one marrying Thea and having a child with her : Irina, a ten year-old girl behaving badly ever since the news of her parents' divorce. Just when Thea's trying to adjust to her new single life while working at the coffee shop she owns and taking care of her daughter, Garret comes back in her life after all these years. Will old feelings return? Will the Sorensen family be torn apart again?

Slow Dancing on Price's Pier is simply wonderful! Lisa Dale has created believable and lovable characters. Although, I must admit, I hated Garret at first but the way he cared about Irina made me like him.  I felt Irina's pain from her parents divorce through the author's writing. I truly wished a happy ending for these characters I grew to love as I was reading.

Before every chapter, there's a post from The Newport Examiner in which Thea has a column called "The Coffee Diaries". In this column we learn about the history of coffee, the reasons why people drink it and so on. Just a little suggestion : make sure you have a cup of coffee while reading this book, because you'll be wanting some! I found these posts really enjoyable and couldn't wait to get to them.

Slow Dancing on Price's Pier is the kind of book you want to read curled up in a nice warm blanket...with a cup of coffee! It's the perfect novel for those romance lovers out there or those who just love a good heartfelt story.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

First Look at Cruelty to Innocents : The 911 Abduction Series by CK Webb and DJ Weaver

Synopsis:

Who’s abducting children from 911 emergency scenes?



What if you were in your car alone with your small child and you came upon an emergency scene? Would you stop to help? What if, while you are trying to assist a victim of an accident or mugging, you left your young child alone in the car, thinking he or she would be safe. What if, instead of help, the call to 911 brought a terrifying, sinister result?


Someone’s abducting children from 911 emergency scenes in Aberdeen Maryland, while their parents call for help and lend aid to accident victims. Someone who’s also listening in, is a monster and vicious child abductor. In the midst of the chaos and confusion of the scene, that monster slips in and steals the innocent children leaving behind no trace for authorities.


Sloanne Kelly is unprepared for what awaits in her hometown as she travels back to Maryland. Her goddaughter is one of the victims and the clock is ticking. Together with her best friend and a local fireman, Shawn Tyler, Sloanne will face the most insidious of criminals and fight to recover the children before there is anymore, Cruelty to Innocents.

***************

Mark your calendars! Cruelty to Innocents comes out May 26th and on June 8th, I'll interview these ladies. If you'd like to ask them a question, leave it in the comments.


To read the prologue or to find out more about CK and DJ, click here.

Review : The Taker by Alma Katsu

Title : The Taker
Author : Alma Katsu
Published on April 14th in UK and on September 6th in the US by Simon & Schuster


Book trailer :



Blurb from Goodreads:

Described as an "epic supernatural romance," The TAKER combines historical fiction with a supernatural element for a dark romantic story that's "astonishing... heartbreaking and magical."


In the novel, set in the 19th century, a girl from northern Maine falls for and gets impregnated by a wealthy local out of her social league. When she flees to Boston to have the baby, she gets swept up by a group of immortal beings, and a tricky love triangle develops after the leader of the undying crew falls for her and gives her everlasting life.

ARC provided by Simon & Schuster Canada

My Thoughts

 

Dr. Luke Findley is getting tired of living in St. Andrew but refuses to leave. When Lanore, an immortal suspected murderer, arrives at the hospital, Luke's life is about to become a little less boring! Lanny requests his help in order to escape but he isn't sure if he should trust her.  To gain his trust, Lanny recounts her dramatic story.

Lanny's story takes us to St. Andrew two hundred years ago where we start to learn about her eventful past. Lanny turns out to be a very selfish woman who'd do anything to get her childhood friend, Jonathan, to love her.  Her love for him is quite obsessive throughout the book.


A pregnant Lanny is then forced by her family to leave for Boston.  That's when things start to get more intense. She meets Adair on her first night in town.  From that point on, Lanny's life is about to change forever.


The Taker is simply the kind of book that sticks with you long after reading it. I've read that a few people are comparing The Taker with Twilight. I disagree! It's much better than Twilight, in my opinion. It's darker and more magical. But don't be mistaken, this is not a book about vampires!


The Taker is an unforgettable love story with a great twist that takes you on a journey through time.  It's one of those books you want to read slowly in order to make it last longer.  Katsu has created an amazing debut novel. I wouldn't be surprised to see it on the bestsellers list!


This is a perfect book for those paranormal romance and historical fiction lovers. If you want to read a book that won't disappoint, The Taker is perfect for you!

4 stars!!

Looking For An Easter Book?

If so, check out An Easter Tale, written and illustrated by Cynthia Meyers-Hanson. Perfect Easter gift for your kids!

WHO WANTS TO BE THE NEXT EASTER BUNNY? This (paperback) book is about coloring eggs for the Easter Bunny. One of the Foot Family bunnies, also, wins a contest and gets to take care of the Easter Bunny’s job while he is vacationing in The Tropics!!!!

About the author : Before cancer won, ‘Mom’s on the Roof and I Can’t Get Her Down’ (copyrighted in 1994) follows my mother’s journey to Heaven and back. Her story brings deathbed predictions and miracles. Meanwhile, I ghostwrite similar stories for people who defy potentially life ending situations and come back with Divine Messages as well as inspirational tales. Some are written as fictions- others as non-fictions. My goal is to write uplifting pieces centered on goodwill and miracles. Recently, I faced a life changing trip; I had to overcome a partial shoulder replacement, which almost led to amputation. My left arm rejected typing as well as other tasks for months. While recuperating, with one hand, I wrote ‘My ArmOr’ (My Life); it’s about my recovery. I, also, created ‘The Vision,’ which is about being born legally blind in a dysfunctional family. After landmark eye surgery, God guided vision as well as insight, which is shared with the read in a fiction format.









For more information, click here.

In My Mailbox

Won from Tigris Eden Surrender to Me by Shayla Black

For review, ARC of The Taker by Alma Katsu

An unexpected surprise, two copies of How to Get Out Your Own Way by Tyrese Gibson

Have a great week everyone! Hope this week brings you lots of books! :)

Review : The Map of Time by Félix J. Palma

Title : The Map of Time
Author : Félix J. Palma
Published by Atria Books, June 28th 2011

ARC provided by Anneliese from Simon & Schuster Canada.

What a masterpiece!! The Map of Time is one of those books you can't put down and can't stop thinking about it once you're done reading. 

The three intertwined stories are set in Victorian London during which the population is fascinated by time travel thanks to H. G. Wells' book, The Time Machine.

In the first story, we learn about Andrew who lost his lover. She was murdered by Jack the Ripper. When his cousin hears about Murray's Time Travel, he hopes Andrew could go back in time to kill the Ripper before he murders Mary. But Murray's Time Travel only travels to the year 2000...

The second story is about Claire Haggerty. She feels she's been born in the wrong time period and would love to be able to live in the future. What will happen when she travels to the year 2000?

Finally, the third story is mostly about the author H.G Wells trying to save some of the great literary classics from being erased from history.

H.G. Wells is present throughout the book.  There's also an appearance by the elephant man (John Merrick), Bram Stocker and more. I love that the author included real historical figures in his novel.

Everything about this book is amazing. The plot is full of twists and turns. The characters (real and imagined) are excellent. The writing is magnificent. It's a must-read!

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!!