The Den

National Donut Day (June 3)

2011-06-02T18:10:00.000-04:00

National Donut Day - Friday, June 3, 2011

Yes, it is true - the first Friday in june is National Donut Day. In 2009, thousands of independent shops joined the national chains in this Sweet Celebration. So, stop by the donut shop and get your favorite sweet treat! !

What's your favorite donut??

History:
National Doughnut Day started in 1938^[1] as a fund raiser for the Chicago Salvation Army. Their goal was to help the needy during the Great Depression, and to honor the Salvation Army Volunteers of World War I, who served doughnuts to soldiers.

The original Salvation Army Doughnut was first served by Salvation Army in 1917. During WWI, Salvation Army "lassies" were sent to the front lines of Europe. These brave volunteers made home cooked foods, and provided a morale boost to the troops. Often, the doughnuts were cooked in oil inside the of the metal helmet of an American soldier. The American infantrymen were commonly called doughboys. Salvation Army lassies were the only women outside of military personnel allowed to visit the front lines. Lt. Colonel Helen Purviance is considered the Salvation Army's "first doughnut girl".

Note: The word "Doughnut" is often shortened to "Donut. So, if you see the term National Donut Day, its the same day.

Quick Pick: The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

2011-05-31T14:36:00.001-04:00

The Castaways
Elin Hilderbrand
ISBN 10: 1600246222
ISBN 13: 9781600246227

Hachette Audio
Read by Katie Hale

Unabridged 11CDs/13hrs

A Summer read that is good anytime of year! A copy of this audio book will take you away from whatever is bothering you and transport you to the beautiful shoreline – where you can live vicariously through an endearing cast of characters that will not soon be forgotten.

Description

Greg and Tess MacAvoy are one of four prominent Nantucket couples who count each other as best friends. As pillars of their close-knit community, the MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are important to their friends and neighbors, and especially to each other. But just before the beginning of another idyllic summer, Greg and Tess are killed when their boat capsizes during an anniversary sail. As the warm weather approaches and the island mourns their loss, nothing can prepare the MacAvoy's closest friends for what will be revealed.

Author Cassandra Clare Discusses Her Audiobooks

2011-05-31T13:09:00.001-04:00

Watch a short video of Cassandra Clare talk about the Clockwork Angel audiobook and narrator Jennifer Ehle

By: Cassandra Clare • Narrated by: Jennifer Ehle

http://www.simonandschuster.com/

Also available from

Pulitzer Prize Winning Author, David McCullough, returns with his latest addition to an impressive historical series…. The Greater Journey, Americans in Paris “is an enthralling, inspiring – and until now, untold –story of the adventurous American artists, writers, doctors, politicians, architects, and others of high aspiration who set off for Paris in the years between 1830 and 1900, ambitious to excel in their work.

From Lucy & Stephen Hawking

Description

George is heartbroken when he learns that his friend Annie and her father are moving to the US. Eric has a new job working for the space program, looking for signs of life in the Universe. Eric leaves George with a gift—a book called The User's Guide to the Universe. But Annie and Eric haven't been gone for very long when Annie believes that she is being contacted by aliens, who have a terrible warning for her. George joins her in the US to help her with her quest—and before he knows it, he, Annie, Cosmos, and Annie's annoying cousin Emmett have been swept up in a cosmic treasure hunt, spanning the whole galaxy and beyond.
Lucy Hawking's own experiences in zero-gravity flight and interviews with astronauts at Cape Kennedy and the Johnson Space Center lend the book a sense of realism and excitement that is sure to fire up imaginations. The book includes essays written by Professor Hawking and his colleagues, in which they provide the latest thoughts on space travel.

The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker

2011-04-30T15:26:00.002-04:00

The Bride Collector
Ted Dekker
Read by John Glover
ISBN-13: 9781607881872
ISBN-10: 160788187X
Hachette Audiio
Hardcover, 448 Pages
ISBN: 1599951967
ISBN: 978-1599951966
Fiction/Suspense-Thriller/Mystery
Visit the author’s website

FBI Special Agent Brad Raines matches wits with a serial killer unlike any other in Ted Dekker’s The Bride Collector.
Determined to terrorize, murder and display seven beautiful brides He has no desire to maim or disfigure his victims… No…with this killer…perfection is the key. He manipulates the bodies leaving only the slightest trace of twisted presence.
To understand and hopefully stop the serial killer, terrorizing Denver, Agent Raines turns to the Center for Well-being and Intelligence. Within the walls of this psychiatric hospital we are introduced to several interesting, caring and highly intelligent characters. But it’s Paradise Founder, a shy, agoraphobic patient with a deep seated fear of men, that could help solve this case with the touch of her hand. Detective Raines is drawn to Paradise, like a moth to a flame.
The Bride Collector brews to a steady boil, with each action leading towards the inevitable confrontation between good and evil. Although the pace is slower than that of most psychological thrillers, the personality of this story is multi-tiered, in that most every thing veils a secondary meaning. What is perfection? How do you define crazy?

Happy Reading!
RJ

BURIED SECRETS trailer

2011-04-26T19:55:00.003-04:00

Have you "met" Nick Heller? Nick Heller is the charismatic, smooth talking, take no prisoners, lead character in Joseph Finder's new suspense-thriller series. Vanished, the first book in the series, kept readers on the edge of their seats and glued to the pages right up to the stunning, cliff hanger ending. Which left us anxiously awaiting the second book... Well the wait is almost over -

Buried Secrets will be in stores, June 21, 2011!! So if you haven't read Vanished, grab a copy and get hooked on the hottest new thriller series in years!

The Ghost Writer by Robert Harris

2010-05-12T11:29:00.001-04:00

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING EWAN McGREGOR & PIERCE BROSNAN

The Ghost Writer
by Robert Harris

read by Roger Rees
Audio 5CD’s

ISBN: 0743583043
ISBN: 978-0743583043

Simon & Schuster Audio

Visit author, Robert Harris

CLICK HERE to Listen to an audio clip of The Ghost Writer

Robert Harris’ latest novel, The Ghost Writer sounds like an insider’s account, with all the sordid, juicy stuff we all want to know but will not admit we want to know. Mixing some recent history with fictional characters, in a real world, easily recognizable setting and the result is an entertaining listening experience!
The retired, disgraced British Prime Minister tapped his trusted aide, Mike McAra to help him write his memoir. After the mysterious, untimely death of McAra, a new ghostwriter is hired to iron out the wrinkles, add a little more detail and put the finishing touches on. The ghost joins Lang and his entourage, which consisted of a small security detail, several secretaries, his assistant and many speculated mistress, and his wife, Ruth, on Martha’s Vineyard, where they have rented a mansion. Adam Lang has created this cocoon, surrounding himself with those who are necessary or wanted, eliminating everyone else, including the citizens who turned on him.

Adam Lang’s smooth, charismatic demeanor catapulted him to the top of the political ticket, where he enjoyed high approval ratings. Then the world changed, as the war on terrorism branched off in an unpopular direction, taking with it Lang’s political popularity and casting a long, dark cloud over his legacy. Already being tried in the court of public opinion, the people unabashedly blame Lang for their suffering, as the UK has been the repeated target of terror attacks. And then it goes from bad to worse…Lang may be asked to stand before the International Criminal Court and answer to the charge of war crimes.

Robert Harris is as light with his pen as Fred Astaire was on his feet! Giving us a view of the inner sanctum is like pulling the curtain aside, revealing to the world there is no wizard…when all is said and done we are all human. And that’s what is at the heart of this story…people…living, breathing and flawed.

Narrator Roger Rees brings the characters to life, painting each with stunning audio detail, making them memorable and believable. The audio will keep you riveted, you are sure you have it figured out, only to be twisted in a new direction the very next chapter. You will laugh out loud and nod your head in agreement more than once. Even if you have read the book, the audio offers you a whole new experience!

Happy Reading,
RJ

Accustomed to aging rock-stars, the ghost is out of his element in the political arena, however, he will soon discover the two have more in common than he ever imagined! Ugliness and secrets abide here too…the difference…politicians “bury their stories.”

Author, Robert Harris allows us a bit of insight into his thoughts on the difference between good and bad books -

And what they have in common, these bad books, be they novels or memoirs, is this: they don't ring true. I'm not saying that a good book is true necessarily, just that it feels true for the time you're reading it.

- and he couldn’t be more right! The Ghost Writer definitely rings true, the characters are believable, displaying the kind of behavior we have come to expect from politicians. Of course, the actions aren’t always good and more often than not it is the mistakes, mess ups and out right corruption that catapult their memoirs to the top of the charts.

Additional covers:

Also by author Robert Harris, Conspirata -

National Bestseller

Publishers Weekly Bestseller

Description

On the eve of Marcus Cicero's inauguration as consul of Rome, the grisly death of a boy sends ripples of fear through a city already wracked by civil unrest, crime, and debauchery of every kind. For Cicero, the ill forebodings of this hideous murder only increase his frustrations and the dangers he already faces as Rome's leader: elected by the people but despised by the heads of the two rival camps, the patricians and populists.
Caught in a political shell game that leaves him forever putting out fires only to have them ignite elsewhere, Cicero plays both for the future of the republic and his very life. There is a plot to assassinate Cicero, abetted by a rising young star of the Roman senate named Gaius Julius Caesar -- and it will take all the embattled consul's wit, strength, and force of will to stop it and keep Rome from becoming a dictatorship.
Robert Harris once again weaves a compelling and historically accurate tale of intrigue told in the wise and compassionate voice of Cicero's slave and private secretary, Tiro. In the manner of I, Claudius, Harris vividly evokes ancient Rome and its politics for today's listeners, documenting a world not unlike our own -- where the impulse toward dominance competes with the risk of overreach, where high-minded ideals can be a liability, and where someone is always waiting in the wings for a chance to set the world on fire.

CLICK HERE to Listen to an Audio Clip:

Also from Simon & Schuster -

Available June 1, 2010

The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris

2010-04-28T14:44:00.001-04:00

The Unnamed
Joshua Ferris
ISBN: 1600248772
ISBN: 9781600248771
Unabridged Audio, 8CDs

Read by Author, Joshua Ferris

Hardcover available,
Little, Brown & Company

Hachette Book Group

www.joshuaferris.com

The Unnamed takes us inside the world of Tim and Jane Farnsworth. Tim’s successful law practice allows them to enjoy exotic vacations, beautiful homes, and all the material things exclusive to those with money. Married twenty years, parents of a rebellious teen daughter, Becka, the Farnsworth’s seem to have it all…But, they share a secret, Tim suffers from an affliction that has no name, no list of symptoms to refer too and no cure. This “illness” causes Tim to walk, uncontrollably for hours and hours, or even days on end, until he literally collapses from exhaustion. After sleep has refreshed Tim’s body and mind he calls his wife to pick him up. The long hours Jane is forced to wait for the phone call are excruciatingly painful and are taking a physical and emotional toll on her. When we join the story Tim is once again under the influence of this mysterious ailment that has visited them on two separate occasions in the past.

When this undefined, unnamed illness presents itself, their lives are uprooted and thrown, as if a leaf, into the eye of a hurricane – never knowing where it will take them, how long it will last or if they will survive it! As the story progresses Tim is overtaken again and again; forced to roam aimlessly by the nameless disorder. Becka and Jane aren’t entirely certain they are dealing with an authentic physical ailment. And I must admit that I teetered back and forth, one minute believing it was a figment of Tim’s imagination and the next, being convinced it was an extremely rare condition. Author, Joshua Ferris uses symbols throughout the story, to bring the pain and emotional turmoil this family is suffering front and center.

The Unnamed is Ferris’ second novel and although he has avoided the sophomore slump it doesn’t quite reach the level of its predecessor. That said, the two novels are completely different and thus cannot be fairly compared. The Unnamed is part mystery, part domestic drama with neither being fully explored. Ferris does an excellent job narrating the audio version, (available from Hachette Book Group.)This is not the typical story where all questions are answered and everyone lives happily ever after. It is an unusual story that explores what it is to be human, how we love and to what extent we will go for those we care about.

Definitely worth a listen!

Happy reading,

RJ
Facebook | Twitter | FriendFeed |

Joshua Ferris's first novel,
Then We Came to the End, won the
Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, the
Barnes and Noble Discover Award,
and was a National Book Award finalist.

JANUARY 2010 - BEST BOOKS of the MONTH

1.

Just Kids
by Patti Smith
Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

Amazon.com Review
Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010: Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe weren't always famous, but they always thought they would be. They found each other, adrift but determined, on the streets of New York City in the late '60s and made a pact to keep each other ...

2.

Bloodroot
by Amy Greene
Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010: Bloodroot is that rare sort of family saga that feels intimate instead of epic. Set in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, it’s told largely in tandem voices that keep watchful eyes on Myra Lamb. She is a child of the mountain, tied to ...

3.

You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto
by Jaron Lanier

Avg. Customer Review

Hardcover

Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010: For the most part, Web 2.0--Internet technologies that encourage interactivity, customization, and participation--is hailed as an emerging Golden Age of information sharing and collaborative achievement, the strength of democratized wisdom. Jaron Lanier isn't buying it. In You Are Not a ... Read more

4.

The Unnamed
by Joshua Ferris

Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010: It's back. With those words Tim and Jane Farnsworth reenter a nightmare they know so intimately it needs no other description. "It" may not be found among an insurance company's diagnostic codes, but the Farnsworths, a couple made wealthy by Tim's ...

5.

The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers: A Novel
by Thomas Mullen

Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010: Set against the bleak backdrop of Depression-era America, The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers is the story of Jason and Whit Fireson, a fictional pair of bank-robbing siblings, and their flirtation with immortality. Famous for daring heists and impossible ...

6.

The Lock Artist: A Novel
by Steve Hamilton
Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010: Mike Smith is a "boxman." He can open any safe, padlock, or locked door without a combination or a key--a talent that lands him in prison at the age of eighteen. He spends his time writing down the story of his ...

7.

Mr. Shivers
by Robert Jackson Bennett
Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010: With his debut novel, Mr. Shivers, Southern writer Robert Jackson Bennett presents a pulpy, Great Depression horror story where a mysterious killer "trails death behind him." After his daughter is brutally murdered, a revenge-seeking Marcus Connelly leaves Memphis on a hunt ...

8.

Bunny Days
by Tao Nyeu
Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

PreSchool-Grade 1—The bear from Nyeu's Wonder Bear (Dial, 2008) returns in three simple stories. In each tale, six white bunnies are lounging around when Mr. or Mrs. Goat comes by and disrupts them. Bear comes to the rescue and repairs the damage. Each story ends with, "Everyone is happy." ...

9.

Eighth-Grade Superzero
by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010 They don’t call it middle school for nothing. Reggie McKnight (aka "Pukey") is trying hard to stay under the radar after a really embarrassing start to the school year. But, he’s somehow been drawn into the middle of a ...

The Bone Chamber by Robin Burcell

2010-04-06T21:51:00.001-04:00

The Bone Chamber

Robin Burcell

ISBN: 0061122297
ISBN: 9780061122293
Fiction/Pp400
Paperback

HarperCollins

Visit Author’s Website

Calling all conspiracy, thriller, Da-Vinci Code readers…. Robin Burcell’s The Bone Chamber will keep you intrigued, guessing and reading way past bedtime!

Sydney Fitzpatrick is called to Quantico to put her special skills as an FBI Forensic Artist to work, recreating the face of murder victim. However, just as quickly as she had been summoned, she is dismissed. But Fitzpatrick doesn’t get dismissed quite so easily – the young woman she helped to identify was the daughter of the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. The mystery is further compounded by the death of a mutual friend and colleague, in a supposed hit and run. Following agent Zach Griffin to Rome, Fitzpatrick finds herself a player in a very real game of life and death, dating back to the dawn of civilization and encompassing many of todays most hotly debated conspiracy theories.

The links to historical places, people and conspiracies are many, and taking apart the layers one by one, reveals new dimensions and takes the reader in unexpected, thrilling directions!

Robin Burcell’s The Bone Chamber is an exciting read that I found difficult to put down. (Even with heavy eyes and sleep beckoning me… I had to read just one more chapter…) Which of course, lead to just one more!

The author’s 20 year background in forensics and law enforcement adds a sense of realism that simply cannot be faked. Mixing arms dealers, Freemasonry, Templar Knights, terrorism and ancient plagues dating to the days of Moses is a tall order…and Burcell pulls it all together – the result…a highly entertaining read that will take you away from whatever is bothering you and set you in the heart of a mind bending race through some fascinating settings. Whether in the catacombs beneath Rome or the streets of Washington, you will almost swear you know this place – the detail is so spot on!

Grab a copy and quiet corner - and Enjoy!

Happy Reading!
RJ

Product Description

Mysteriously summoned to Quantico to help re-create the face of a murdered, mutilated young woman, FBI forensic artist Special Agent Sydney Fitzpatrick knows immediately this is no ordinary crime. The hit-and-run death of the forensic anthropologist assisting her—a close friend—and Sydney's abrupt dismissal from the case by covert government investigators only strengthen her need for answers. Now her hunt for a killer is carrying her from Washington to Rome to the hidden chamber of a legendary tomb—on the trail of a fabled treasure of the Knights Templar . . . and a curse.

For buried deep in the mysteries of the Freemasons and the Vatican's Holy See is a secret that could rock the world. Suddenly an ancient map is pointing Sydney toward something the Templars wished to hide away forever—something that could unleash an unstoppable tide of blood and devastation.

This is Robin Burcell’s second novel to feature Forensic Artist Sydney Fitzpatrick

Gutshot Straight by Lou Berney

2010-04-06T21:16:00.001-04:00

Gutshot Straight
Lou Berney

ISBN: 0061766046
ISBN: 978-0061766046
Fiction/Pp 304
Hardcover

William Morrow an Imprint of HarperCollins

Visit Author’s Website

Click here to view “TRAILER”

2009 Dashiell Hammett Award FInalist

The opening scenes may give crime thriller readers a sense of dejavu, however, once Charles “Shake” Bouchon is released from prison, author Lou Berney takes the wheel and makes this his story. Gutshot Straight is full of surprises and lots of pop culture references that make this an exciting read, with just enough tongue in cheek humor to put a smile on your face, just before the action takes your heart rate through the roof!

A three year stint in prison for grand theft auto has taught Bouchon just enough to get him into a heck of a lot of trouble. An all too simple errand that sounds too easy and too good to be true – takes the idea of one last job before adhering to a crime free life to a whole new level. It all sounded so easy.. delivering a package and retrieving a brief case. The first indication that this wasn’t the drop and go Bouchon signed up for was when he was introduced to “The package” …a pretty, young housewife named Gina.
But like everything else tied to this “job” all is not what it seems with Gina either.

Being a nice guy, Bouchon can’t bare the idea of what will happen to the attractive, young housewife IF he turns her over to the four hundred plus pound Vegas Strip Club Owner, known as “The Whale.” So, having more heart than brain, Bouchon opts to set the lady free, forgiving her of whatever debt her bonehead husband owes The Whale. However, Dick Moby isn’t quite so understanding and Bouchon’s good deed will NOT go unpunished!

These are characters that will stay with you long after the book has been returned to the shelf. Memorable scenes, emotional drama and heart pounding action make Gutshot Straight a sure-fire hit! Vegas odds just got more deadly than anyone could have imagined! Roll the dice if you dare, but don’t miss this one!

Happy Reading!

RJ McGill

Facebook | Twitter | FriendFeed | ♥ ♥ ♥

What others are saying:

"An exciting read you can't put down. A definite must read." (Abraham Rodriguez, 2009 Dashiell Hammett Award finalist and author of South by South Bronx )

"GUTSHOT STRAIGHT has my vote for, among other things, Best McGuffin Ever. Just when you think it can't get any weirder or quirkier, here comes the scene where... well, I better not give that away. Energetic, droll, and wheezingly funny." (Stephen Harrigan, New York Times bestselling author of Gates of the Alamo and Challenger Park )

"Virtually every character is memorable, and the chemistry between Shake and Gina is brilliant. The plot turns are constant, and the dialogue is sharp. The bad guys are wonderfully scary, and the locales are vividly drawn. Elmore Leonard might be very pleased to call GUTSHOT STRAIGHT his own." (Booklist (starred review) )

"(A) fast-moving caper.smoothly blends humor, action and romantic frisson." (Publishers Weekly )

"A literary sucker punch -- surprising, funny, effervescent. It's a cocktail that won't let you off your barstool till closing." (Ted Griffin, screenwriter of OCEAN'S ELEVEN, MATCHSTICK MEN and BEST LAID PLANS )

Product Description

A crime caper in the tradition of Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen, this fast and funny debut is the story of "Shake" Bouchon, fresh out of prison and ready for life on the straight and narrow—well, maybe after *one* last job. . . .

When Charles "Shake" Bouchon, professional wheel man, walks out of prison after a three-year stretch for grand theft auto, he's got only two problems: he's too nice a guy for the life he's led and not nice enough for any other.

So he says yes when he's asked to run a simple errand for his former boss and lover, Alexandra Ilandryan, the formidable pakhan of the Armenian mob in Los Angeles. All Shake has to do is deliver a package to Las Vegas and pick up a briefcase.

Only the package turns out to be a wholesome young housewife named Gina whose husband has run afoul of Dick Moby, aka "The Whale," an unpleasant four-hundred-pound Vegas strip-club owner. Shake hates to think what's going to happen to Gina when he delivers her to The Whale, so in a move that's as noble as it is boneheaded, he decides to set her free.

Now Shake and Gina are on the run to Panama, hoping to unload the very valuable—and highly unusual—contents of The Whale's briefcase. Shake could end up a rich man, but first he'll have to outmaneuver two angry crime bosses, a murderous Armenian thug plagued by erectile superfunction, a former pro football player who blames Shake for his romantic woes, and a billionaire swindler with a flair for the theatrical. Not to mention, and not the least, Shake will need to survive his own heart, since he's going to discover that wholesome housewife Gina is even more intriguing, and a lot more complicated, than he ever imagined.

Full of blindsided double-crosses and hard shots to the head, Gutshot Straight is a tale of love, luck, and larceny against the odds.

Vanished by Joseph Finder

2010-04-06T15:30:00.001-04:00

Vanished
Joseph Finder

ISBN: 0312379080
ISBN: 978-0312379087

Hardcover, 400 Pages

www.josephfinder.com

St Martin’s Press

Click to watch Video

With his not so subtle wit and his oh so charming demeanor, Nick Heller is a man’s man, the new, “anti-hero” – he’s all about being straight forward and sticking to his guns, but a hero, well, that’s going a bit far…and such a reference would likely bring a quick hint of red to the face of this private investigator.

While the brother’s haven’t been close, since their father’s fall from grace, Nick has a special place in his heart for his brother’s family. There’s been at attack and Nick’s brother, Rick, is “missing.” The clues are few and far between and cryptic messages add to the mystery. Is this an abduction? A kidnapping for ransom? Or something even more sinister? Nick is certain his brother’s strange disappearance is tied to the work he’s been doing at Gifford Industries. (Gifford is a high tech, high powered consultant company, utilizing the special skills of former military and CIA agents.)

Clever plot twits, intrigue the imagination and bring the reader into the fray of the pages…Finder makes it easy to put on your detective cap and try to figure it all out – but just when you are certain you have it, the talented writer takes a sharp, unexpected, yet very believable turn…then you find yourself whispering, … now why didn’t I see that coming? Well, because you were so rapt up in the characters, the emotional drama, the corporate setting and the delicious hint at romance that nudges you throughout the story to see anything except the next sentence. (Or if you are indulging your senses with the audio version – the next phrase!)

The audio version takes the story to a whole new dimension, Holter Graham’s vocal range is incredible. From the nasal sounds of a teen boy, to the heartbroken cries of a wife, the dramatic emotional entanglements are brought to life and will leave you nearly breathless at times. I found myself rewinding and listening a second or even a third time, just to make sure I had taken it all in. . .

Vanished is a thriller and it most certainly does…and beyond that, it is entertaining! Don’t miss this introduction to a brand new leading man that will surely be around for a long time – I look forward to the next Nick Heller novel – I am anxious to get to know more about this intriguing character – what makes him tick, is there a lady in his future? Or maybe one returning from his past? There are so many possibilities and Joseph Finder will do his research, take the publics pulse and then deliver to us another exciting novel. I can’t wait!

Vanished… is an exceptional novel – Don’t Miss it!

Read by Holter Graham

Joseph Finder on Finding a Hero for Vanished
A few years ago I was in London on book tour when I got a call from one of my best sources, a senior CIA operative involved in some really secret covert operations. He said he was in London too and wondered if I was free for dinner. There was someone he wanted me to meet.

I hadn't talked to my CIA friend--I'll call him James--in a few years, so I was glad to hear from him. I always enjoyed talking with him. Over the years he'd learned to trust my discretion (I never burn my sources) and--since I write fiction instead of reporting for the New York Times or something--he knew he could tell me things he could never tell a journalist.

I didn't ask how James had gotten my cell phone number. Or how he knew I was in London. I figured that, in his line of work, he just knew stuff.

When I got to the fancy restaurant in Mayfair, I found James sitting in a booth in the shadowed recesses with some very well dressed Arab-looking guy.

This guy wouldn't tell me his name. All he'd say was that he was an arms dealer from a certain Middle Eastern country. It took a while, and several bottles of expensive Bordeaux, but he started talking. And the stories he told me about how the international arms trade really worked, at the highest levels, blew me away. It was as if there was this whole subterranean world where terrifying things happen and decisions are made that affect us all, by faceless men whose existence we know nothing about.

Later, when I thanked James for getting us together, I asked him how things were going at the Agency. And that was when I got the biggest surprise of the evening: James wasn't working at the CIA anymore. He'd gone private. Now he was doing the same sort of spy work that he used to do, only for a lot more money. He worked for corporations and politicians and foreign governments. In fact, sometimes he even worked for the CIA, as an outside contractor.

But now, since he was no longer constrained by pesky U.S. government laws, he could actually do more. Go places that were once off limits. Do things he wasn't able to do before. He was an international investigator for a private intelligence firm.

He was a private spy.

And when I heard that, I knew I'd just found the hero of my next book. My first series hero, in fact: a character who could come back in novel after novel. My own Jason Bourne or James Bond--only he'd fit right in with the real-world corporate intrigue that readers really seemed to respond to in my novels like Paranoia and Killer Instinct and Power Play. But he could also do some really amazing spy stuff. He could be an action hero, but my sort of action hero--smart, connected, funny, real.

I named him Nick Heller, and I decided to introduce him to the world in a very personal, very high-stakes adventure in which he delves into his own troubled family history and, at the same time, digs up some very scary stuff about what really happens behind the scenes in Washington, D.C.

You'll meet him prowling around a private airport outside of L.A., where he's been hired to locate a missing shipment of enormous value. You'll meet his evil father, Victor, who's in prison in upstate New York for a massive investment fraud. And his fourteen-year-old nephew Gabe, who's kind of "emo" (as my daughter would say) but actually pretty cool. And I'm pretty sure you'll be astonished by what he finds at the end of the story.

I think you'll enjoy spending time with Nick. I know I did.

Oh, and that arms dealer I met in London? He'll be showing up in one of the Nick Heller stories soon.

Mommy Where Are You? by Barbara Rockaway

2010-04-06T13:40:00.001-04:00

from Cedar Valley Publishing

For those who have lost a parent, especially at a tender age, this book will help with the transition. Learning to see, hear and feel the presence of their missing parent in everyday activities will bring warmth, understanding and a sense of peace, where the death of their parent has left a deep feeling of nothingness and confusion. If those negative emotions are left unresolved the child never has an opportunity to grieve and thus will carry a heavy heart throughout their lives. I know, having lost my Mother when I was five years old, I didn’t understand what was happening and I certainly didn’t grasp the concept of my Mom being in Heaven with the angels – all I knew was I missed her and I wanted her back… I wanted to know what I had done wrong to make her leave… and the adults around me seemed clueless as to what to say – so they opted to say nothing. I was left in a state of confusion, surrounded by silence and my heart was breaking.

This little book wouldn’t have made everything alright, but it would have gone a long way in helping me learn how to live without my Mom and that it was okay to smile and to have fun. It would have made things a lot easier on the adults in my life as well, giving them a tool to refer too – something to open the conversation and make it okay to talk about the hard stuff.

If you or someone you know has lost a parent, pick up a copy of this book – it will help!

Bang Goes a Troll – An Awfully Beastly Business (series)

2010-03-11T08:46:00.001-05:00

An Awfully Beastly Business

An Awfully Beastly Business Book 3
Bang Goes a Troll
The Beastly Boys -David Sinden, Matthew Morgan,
Guy Macdonald
Youth/YA Fiction/Pg 208
Ages 8+ – Grades 3+
ISBN: 1416986510
ISBN: 978-1416986515

www.beastlybusiness.com

Aladdin/Simon & Schuster Children’s

Xtra’s: Listen to an audio clip

The Beastly Boys, a trio of 30 something writers otherwise known as Matthew Morgan, David Sinden and Guy Macdonald, put their heads together to create a fun, highly imaginative series that’s centered around very real issues. Bang Goes a Troll is the third book in The Awfully Beastly Business series. In the first two installments we were introduced to the main characters, each with reoccurring roles in subsequent books. The cast includes an orphaned werewolf, rescued by Dr. Fielding the RSPCB’s Vet, a fairy, a 15 foot gentle giant, a gargoyle, a twisted face villain and several others. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Beasts (RSPCB) is a worldwide organization dedicated to the welfare and protection of rare and endangered beasts and is the center of the series.

Dragons, ogres and fairies …Oh My!

Part fantasy, but playing on reality, Bang Goes A Troll pits our favorite werewolf, Ulf against an evil, beast hunter that’s trapping trolls to use for sport hunting. The RSPCB is much like our ASPCA and numerous wildlife protection groups, with their main goal being the protection and survival of these fantastical creatures. Ulf’s heart is in the right place, but will he be able to save the trolls?

Although part of a series, you can read this book without having read the previous installments. However, the stories are quite fun, so, if you enjoy this one, by all means pick up the other books…you’ll be glad you did! * Simple storyline, interesting creatures, plus some snot and other grossities…put it all together and the result is a book that younger readers can enjoy independently – especially boys, age 8-10.

Happy Reading!

Beastly Event – Activity Pack ..CLICK HERE

An Awfully Beastly Business Book 4
The Jungle Vampire
The Beastly Boys - David Sinden, Matthew Morgan,
Guy Macdonald

ISBN-10: 1416986529
ISBN-13: 9781416986522
Ages: 8 – 12 | Grades: 3 – 7

www.beastlybusiness.com

Aladdin/Simon & Schuster Children’s

Click Here to listen to an audio clip

As with previous installments, Ulf and his friends at the RSPCB are forced to go toe to toe with the evil Baron Marackai. Even though the participants are the same, the situation which brings them together is different in each book. (I would liken it to many of our favorite cartoons and TV shows from yesterday – Sylvester is always after Tweety, the Coyote is forever more chasing the Roadrunner and both pursuers fall short every time and pay tremendous prices for their chase and yet, the very next episode, they are at it again!) It is this same type of simple, quick storyline, loaded with action, interesting characters and real world issues that are easy to relate too that make An Awfully Beastly Business a good solid read.

Most of the dialogue takes place in the jungle, where the whole gang is equally involved in the story. (Well, almost, there’s one character we see briefly at the beginning and then again at the end.) Ulf has been invited, as part of his official training, to accompany the other members of the RSPCB, as the journey deep into the jungle in search of the elusive, mythical vampire. Of course, the teams nemesis is never far away, and this time he’s much closer than anyone realizes. Why track and search when he can simply follow the RSPCB team right to the vampire’s den?

Will Baron Marackai kill the legendary creature? Or will the team discover his presence and save the vampire?

Happy Reading!

**Book 5 – Battle of the Zombies is scheduled for 2010 release – ***

Meet the Characters -

Ulf is an orphaned werewolf, raised at Farraway Hall. Dr. Fielding,
the RSPCB veteran, rescued him over ten years ago when he was a
small werecub. On the night of the full moon, Ulf undergoes a complete
physical transformation from boy to wolf. He is brave and kind, and
his best friend is Tiana the fairy. He helps care for the beasts at the
RSPCB, and even assists Orson the giant and Dr. Fielding with mucking
out the enclosures and performing beastly operations.

Tiana is a woodland fairy, the size of a dandelion, with clothes made from
petals and stitched with spiders’ silk. She lives with other fairies in the
Dark Forest just beyond the paddock at Farraway Hall. She’s mischievous
and fun and sparkles as she flies. You’ll often find her in the flower
garden at Farraway Hall, collecting nectar. She’s Ulf’s best friend, and
even though she is a little scared of ghosts and doesn’t like the sight
of blood, she’ll do anything to help him.

Orson is a 15-foot tall mountain giant, who came to Farraway Hall when
he was made homeless in the wild (giant habitats are shrinking). He is
strong but gentle, and works as the RSPCB’s beast handler. He’s too
tall to live in the house, so he sleeps in the feed store on a mound of
grain. He wears baggy trousers made from a ship’s sails and drinks his
tea from a bucket. After a hard day’s work, there’s nothing Orson
likes more than a barrel of apples followed by a snooze

Dr. Helen Fielding is the RSPCB veteran. She has degrees in cryptozoology
and veterinary medicine. She is an exceptional pilot, mountain climber and
scuba diver. She performs all the medical operations at Farraway Hall, as
well as monitoring beast activity in the wild and promoting conservation
campaigns worldwide. She has written scientific papers on griffin flu,
the conductive properties of electrodactyls and the causes of cavern
fever, as well as patenting an anesthetic mask for larger-beaked beasts.

Druce is a gargoyle and can turn from stone to flesh. He has a long yellow
tongue and feeds largely on insects. He lives on the rooftop of Farraway Hall,
and gets into mischief, scuttling down drainpipes, peering in windows,
and blowing raspberries to passers-by. He took up residence on Farraway
Hall soon after it was built, and many years ago he knew Professor Farraway.
Druce likes to scare with his ugly faces and nasty rhymes, but he is very
good-hearted and fiercely loyal to the RSPCB.

Professor Farraway was the world’s first cryptozoologist and founder of
the RSPCB. He dedicated his life to the protection of rare and endangered
beasts, studying them in their natural habitats, pioneering veterinary
procedures, and campaigning for beasts to be protected by law. Farraway
Hall was once his family home, and although he has been dead for many
years, his portrait still hangs in the library. When Professor Farraway
died, he left everything he owned to the RSPCB, but there are dark
secrets that prevented him from resting in peace!

Baron Marackai is the most villainous beast hunter in the world.
He is evil, with a face as twisted as a rotten apple core, and he’s
out to get revenge! He has a vendetta against the RSPCB and a
deep dark secret that he holds in his cold heart. He hates beasts,
and would rather exploit them through acts of cruelty than
protect them from harm. Together with his henchmen Blud
and Bone, his plan is to send the RSPCB to their doom!

An Awfully Beastly Business Series:

Book One -

Book Two -

Book Three -

Book Four -

Danny the Dragon by Tina Turbin (children’s)

2010-03-10T15:52:00.003-05:00

MEET

Wonderful new children's series by author, Tina Turbin.

Danny the Dragon
Meets Jimmy
by Tina Turbin

ISBN: 0980072115
ISBN: 978-0980072112
Age 4-8 / Pg 32

Imagination Publishing Group

www.dannythedragon.com

**Best Book Award Finalist**

What a wonderful story! You will love Danny the Dragon!

This hardcover children’s book is the first in a new series from author Tina Turbin. The first thing you will notice when you pick up Danny The Dragon is that this is an oversized book, allowing for large, detailed images. I was pleasantly surprised by the thicker pages, because popular books in our house tend to be well worn, rather quickly – the publisher seems to have recognized and taken this fact into account when putting this book together. The artwork is amazing, for example, Jimmy has large expressive eyes and freckles, most kids can easily and quickly relate to this character. In the story Jimmy finds a very, very special shell at the beach – the shell TALKS! But like Alvin and Chimpmunks, when the shell is put on display infront of Jimmy’s family, it remains silent. Jimmy takes the shell home and it doesn’t take long for the star of the series to make himself known – Danny the Dragon lives inside the shell. Oh, along with his traveling sidekick – Skipper.

This is a children’s adventure tale that sparks imagination, and entertains through a combination of visual imagery and excellent story telling. Focusing on politeness, manners and friendship, Danny the Dragon reminds me of the “good old fashioned story books” my Mom read to me years ago. These are important building blocks for children and unfortunately these kinds of stories are becoming a rare find. We are certainly looking forward to the next installments of Danny the Dragon and will be reading and sharing each one with you. This book will be on our bedside table for a while – If you are searching for a new book to share with your little one – I highly recommend Danny the Dragon.

Danny the Dragon

Dreams – audio CD

ISBN: 0980072131
ISBN: 978-0980072136
Age 4-8
Imagination Publishing Group

www.dannythedragon.com

**Best Books Award Finalist**
Story time – then it is off to Dreams – If you have a fussy sleeper, this CD may be the answer you are looking for!

Danny the Dragon “Dreams” – is a delightful Audio CD – The first chapter opens with the story, Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy read by Janice Welch. The narrator does a wonderful job of utilizing her voice to express the emotion of the story…the excitement, fun and curious nature of both Jimmy and Danny the Dragon are translated brilliantly. This story harkens back to a “safer” time – when politeness, manners and friendship were key ingredients in building character. Beautifully done and a must have for every parent that can’t be there to read a story every night. This audio CD packs a one two punch – a good story that is followed by 10 chapters of soothing piano led pieces that are an ideal bedtime treat. (With the last chapter being Danny the Dragon’s Theme Song.) There’s nothing stirring or jolting within the musical arrangements, making it the perfect CD to lull your little one of to Dream land.

DVD available April 13, 2010

Danny the Dragon
Meets Jimmy

DVD - 21mins

ISBN: B0033G9OBO
Age 4-8
Imagination Publishing Group

www.dannythedragon.com

Available everywhere on April 13, 2010 – Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy takes the 32page hardcover book and puts it on the screen with narration and sign language for the hearing impaired. This is a wonderful DVD for those with hearing impairments – unfortunately there’s a limited amount of children’s stories that offer sign language and I congratulate the author, Tina Turbin, for taking the initiative and adapting this delightful children’s story, so that it can truly be enjoyed by all kids.

In the story we are introduced to Jimmy and his family. They spend a day at the beach, where Jimmy finds a beautiful sea shell…and this isn’t just any ol’ shell… it Talks! Of course, when he shows it to his family the shell is absolutely quiet. After taking the shell home, Jimmy discovers that it really is special…a dragon lives inside. Danny the Dragon and his worldly-wise travel companion Skipper share some amazing tales of their travels with Jimmy. And with this being the first installment in a new series, there’s lots to look forward too.

Pick up your copy of Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy – hardcover
Danny the Dragon “Dreams” – Audio CD
Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy – DVD

Reviewer Note:

Big thank yous to author, Tina Turbin and her assistant, Rosie for the opportunity to share Danny the Dragon with my family, and now with you our visitors! What a delightful series – we have read the book several times – it has already earned a spot in the backpack and on the bedside table. Keeping the attention of a curious, rambunctious four year old is no easy feat, however, the images (both on screen with the DVD and the large, beautiful pictures in the book) kept him still…and asking questions and pointing out various objects. For those who worry about hidden agendas in children’s stories – there’s no need for concern with Danny the Dragon – this is a straight forward imaginary tale of friendship, with a healthy dose of manners that’s presented so subtly your child doesn’t realize they are actually “learning.”

Be sure to visit Danny’s website and friend Danny the Dragon at Facebook & MySpace

Danny the Dragon BLOG

Danny the Dragon @ MySpace
Danny the Dragon @Facebook

Visit Author Tina Turbin’s Website

http://GlutenFreeHelp.info

http://TinaTurbin.com

cover art courtesy of Imagination Publishing Group and author, Tina Turbin

Timescape by Robrt Liparulo YA

2010-03-02T14:25:00.001-05:00

Timescape
Dreamhouse Kings series (book 4)
Robert Liparulo
   ISBN: 159554500X
   ISBN: 978-1595545008
   Hardcover, Pg 304

Dreamhouse Kings

Thomas Nelson Publishing

Dreamhouse Kings Youth Series:
House of Dark Shadows (book 1)
The Watcher in the Woods (book 2)
Gatekeepers (book 3)
Timescape (book 4)
Whirlwind (book 5)
Frenzy (book 6) available May 2010

Mysteries, Secrets & Mutants OH MY!
The King children are growing up right before our eyes – but, I guess running for your life every time you enter a door in your own home would make you grow up pretty quick! Family values, strong moral character and subtle Christian concepts are mixed with historical settings and lots of action – the result… a good read!

Still holding his creative cards close to the vest, Liparulo lures us deeper into the house and ever closer to the King Family. Throughout Timescape the search for Mom continues and the kids are feeling more desperate with each failed attempt. Even though there’s danger lurking everywhere we are introduced to new friends along the way…Keal, Jessee’s caretaker quickly becomes a strong ally and the source of much needed support. Although they continue to demonstrate a resolve, dedication and loyalty far beyond their tender years, the dangers feel closer than ever before…and even more serious. And they couldn’t be more right! Taksidian will stop at nothing to get them out of the old house and they will soon come to understand there’s much more at stake than their address ~ much, much more!

As has been pointed out by others, where we were left hanging at the end of book three, Liparulo scoops us up and takes off like a streak of lightning. Unlike other books where the opening chapters are dedicated to recapping previous installments, Liparulo starts anew from sentence one, for this reason I suggest reading the books in order.

*As always, parents should utilize their own judgment when selecting titles – based on your child’s maturity, fears and reading level. The narrative describes severed body parts and other gory references that some may find objectionable or inappropriate.*

Happy Reading,

Rj McGill

Dreamhouse Kings Series by Robert Liparulo

House of Dark Shadows (book 1)
Robert Liparulo
159554491
Hardcover, Pg 295
YA *age 12+

Watcher in the Woods (book 2)
Robert Liparulo
1595544968
Hardcover, Pg 292
YA *age 12+

Gatekeepers
Robert Liparulo
1595544984
Hardcover, Pg 307
YA *age 12+

Timescape
Robert Liparulo
159554500X
Hardcover, Pg 308
YA *age 12+

Whirlwind
Robert Liparulo
1595548157
Hardcover, Pg 314
YA * 12+

COMING MAY 2010

Frenzy
Robert Liparulo
1595548165
Hardcover, Pg 320
YA * age 12+

Deadlock by Robert Liparulo

2009-12-10T13:25:00.001-05:00

Deadlock
(A John Hutchinson novel)
Robert Liparulo
ISBN-10: 1595541667
ISBN-13: 9781595541666

Hardcover, 480 Pages

Robert Liparulo

Thomas Nelson Publishing

Blending military expertise with genuine human compassion Robert Liparulo delivers a one, two punch that results in a knock out with Deadlock, the second book featuring John “Hutch” Hutchinson and his nemesis, Brenan Page.

Denver newspaper columnist John Hutchinson matches wits with ex-soldier turned military-techno-trainer, Brendan Page. Page’s company, Outis, utilizes online war games to target players who have an eye for strategy and good kill scores. These gamers are then recruited to take part in real world missions, where one shot one kill is just that and there is no reset button.

I would liken Outis to a futuristic version of Blackwater, all the soldier of fortune bravado of present day with the added technology of tomorrow. The most significant being the “mask” worn by the soldier, it’s sole purpose is to manipulate the environment, altering any element that might cause the soldier to hesitate. For example, the soldier is more likely to shoot an armed individual VS an unarmed, a soldier VS a civilian, a male VS a female, an adult VS a child, therefore, regardless of the reality, the mask “creates an ideal target” for the soldier.

Laura and her son Dillon (from book 1, Deadfall) are in town visiting Hutch from Canada. Page suddenly decides to call Hutch’s bluff – agreeing to meet with him. Momentarily torn between spending time with his children and his out of town guests or meeting with the elusive, murderous Page, Hutch opts for the latter and is off to Page’s corporate headquarters…in Seattle.

When Hutch’s son, Logan is kidnapped, his obsession is thrown into high gear, blinding him to the danger and propelling him forward through seemingly insurmountable odds.

In Deadlock, we are given a glimpse, (that will hopefully remain fictional), into the chilling possibilities and consequences that go hand in hand with advancing technology, especially when money, status and greed replace integrity, morality and accountability. The futuristic element is just beyond the setting sun of tomorrow, but not so much so that it becomes unforeseeable. The situations that play out are frighteningly similar to those we have seen on the news in recent months. The combination of fantasy and reality, creative imagination and good research have yielded an interesting, provocative novel, that moves quickly and keeps the reader involved.

Happy Reading!

Also available: Paperback

John Hutchinson book 2

John Hutchinson book 1

The first, Deadfall, followed Hutch to Fiddler Falls Canada for two weeks of hunting and fishing with three friends. However, rest and relaxation were quickly side-tabled, when he discovers the townspeople are being held hostage and terrorized. With not much more than his trusty bow and a bit of good sense, Hutch manages to save the day and the town and make a good friend in the process.

www.robertliparulo.com

Don’t forget Robert Liparulo is the author of the best selling
Dream House Kings youth series!
If you’re looking for an excellent series to share with your
tweens & teens – you gotta check out the

DreamHouse Kings!

Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Read our review
Book 4

JUST RELEASED Dec. ‘09
Book 5

www.robertliparulo.com

www.dreamhousekings.com

Dear John

2009-11-30T08:13:00.008-05:00

Dear John written by bestselling author, Nicholas Sparks
read by Holter Graham

An unforgettable tale of a man who must make the most heartrending decision of his life~ in the name of love...

"Dear John," the letter read. And with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives changed forever."

When Savannah Lynn Curtis comes into his life, John Tyree knows he is ready to turn over a new leaf. An angry rebel, he had enlisted in the army after high school, not knowing what else to do. Then, during a furlough, he meets Savannah, the girl of his dreams. The attraction is mutual and quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah vowing to wait for John while he finishes his tour of duty. But neither can foresee that 9/11 is about to change the world. Like so many proud men and women, John must choose between love and country. Now, when he finally returns to North Carolina, John will discover how love can transform us in ways we never could have imagined.

Movie-Tie-In Paperback Available December 7, 2009

Movie Trailer from Sony Pictures

Visit Nicholas Sparks Website

Timothy Hallinan, Book Tour Stop – Nashville, TN

2009-11-24T12:01:00.001-05:00

I have been a fan of Timothy Hallinan’s since his Simeon Grist (see list below) – I really enjoyed that series…But, I must admit I was blown away when I read the first novel in this new series, "A Nail Through the Heart” – the only word that comes to mind was “WOW!” It’s an excellent novel, which I have read a total of three times now. Hallinan’s writing is so different from the other selections on the shelf that you simply have to read it to understand what I mean…His ability to convey a wealth of information that in the hands of a less skilled writer would bog the story down in a lot of factualized yadda-yadda- stuff, comes through interesting and informative. The city of Bangkok is more than the backdrop for these novels, it is one of the central characters – playing a distinct and very important role in the story. And Hallinan is able to take the city apart and transport it to the reader in bite sized chapters that feel more like visiting miniature movie sets, because the narrative is so descriptive. I feel in love Poke Rafferty and this is one of a very, very few series that I actually make a note of the next release date and count it down… So when I found out that the book tour for the third novel, Breathing Water had a stop in Nashville, TN – I was determined to find a way to get there!

Although Nashville is 300 miles from home…some things are just worth the extra effort – and this was one of them! And to make the trip even more exciting, my hubby actually took a vacation day so he could make the trek with me. So here’s how it went down -
Of course, I “Googled” the location of the book signing – and printed out the wonderful “turn by turn” directions. (Which I will tell you these were right on the money – down to the mileage noted for each section of the journey. I was amazed at the accuracy! It’s great!) Okay, so I now I had the directions and a pretty good idea of where we were going, what was around where we were going, how long it would take to get there and the exact route we would be taking to get there. The morning of – I couldn’t sleep – I’m like a little kid on Christmas – the excitement kept me up! So, at 5am I just gave up on sleep! But, since the book signing wasn’t until 7pm there was no need to get on the road 14 hours early! :)
So, we piddled around and finally at 11am we made our way to Starbucks – for one of their absolutely yummy Pumpkin Spice Lattes (which I love!) –

Now, we are “on the road again!” We listened to the news for a few minutes and decided that was entirely too depressing – so we put Vanished (the new novel by Joseph Finder) into the CD player and listened to that for awhile. (This is a really good book & the beginning of a new series with a new main character for Finder as well – which I will be posting a review for soon.) Anyway, we stopped a few times to stretch our legs and to get a bite to eat…then we found ourselves on a very crowded interstate with the average speed being about 85 (although the posted limit was 70) – so, off goes the CD so we can pay attention. Finally we made our way into this beautiful community in Nashville, called Lenox Village, where the Mysteries and More bookstore is located. Of course we are very early – it’s like 3pm …OOOPs … No it wasn’t 3pm, it was actually 2pm, because Nashville is an hour behind Kingsport…So we were even earlier than we thought! (haha!) Okay. So, I made my way into the bookstore, where I met the owners, Greg and Mary. Oh My Goodness, these folks are just wonderful – southern hospitality at its finest! The store is quaint, adorable and very inviting – a fantastic environment. We talked briefly and they were kind enough to give us directions to a restaurant. I took a few photos and off we went to find the steak house!

We found it and had lunch (or dinner I guess) – unfortunately, I have to say the food was terrible…a big disappointment as we had never dined at Longhorn’s. But, we weren’t going to let this ruin our trip. So we made our way back out onto the main road and to the nearest Starbucks! (That’s a cure all for all that ills you!) We spent an hour just hanging out and taking pictures of sites we recognized – i.e. Hard Rock, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, etc.)

The book signing was awesome! Absolutely great! Mr. Hallinan arrived almost an hour early (to set his display up and so forth) and I had an opportunity to introduce myself (and my hubby) and talk with him. Which was INCREDIBLE! I have communicated with Mr. Hallinan via email, however, meeting someone you admire face to face is both unnerving and exciting - - - The presentation was highly information and very entertaining, after which he took questions, signed books and talked with readers. This was the best signing I have attended yet and I fully intend to be present next year when Mr. Hallinan tours with book four of the Bangkok Thriller series!

Of course, all good things must end – and it did – and it was time for the L-O-N-G drive home. (which did seem to be much longer going home – I guess because we were tired and all the jitters and excitement are gone….now we just want to get home and stretch out, after hours and hours cramped up in the car.) Thankfully we made our way home, in the rain, safely…even though it was after 2am when we pulled into the driveway. I dragged myself into the house, was greeted (excitedly) by my lil’ Yorkie – after giving him lots of kisses and hugs, I convinced him to let me take my shoes off…he snuggled up with me and I fell asleep within 2 minutes. It was a long way to go for a book signing – yes – but it was worth it. I enjoyed it and I can’t wait to do it again. (Although I am keeping my fingers crossed the tour will add Knoxville to calendar so I can trim hours off the drive.) :)

Read our review of “Nail”

Read our review of “Fourth Watcher”

Read our review of “Breathing Water”

Simeon Grist series
The Last Four Things (1989)
Everything But the Squeal (1990)
Skin Deep (1991)
Incinerator (1992)
The Man With No Time (1993)
The Bone Polisher (1995)

Breathing Water by Timothy Hallinan

2009-11-24T12:00:00.001-05:00

Breathing Water
A Bangkok Thriller

Timothy Hallinan

ISBN 10: 0061672238
ISBN 13: 978-0061672231
Hardcover, 352pages

www.timothyhallinan.com

William Morrow
an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers

A Nail Through the Heart (book 1) {review}
The Fourth Watcher (book 2) {review}

Breathing Water is the third novel in the Bangkok Thriller series from best selling author Timothy Hallinan, and the story keeps getting better and better…for the reader…which translates to fictional chaos and danger for our favorite travel writer, Poke Rafferty, his beautiful wife Rose and their adopted daughter, Miaow. As with the two previous installments, Breathing Water stands alone, independently strong, full of colorful characters and real world dilemmas delivered with a degree of realism that reaches off the pages into the heart of the reader. However, as a series, each book builds upon the last, taking you deeper into the lives, psyche and history of the characters, for this reason I highly recommend reading all three.

The scene opens on a late night poker game, orchestrated by Poke’s friends at the police department. Unbeknownst to some of the players the game was set up as a training exercise. When Khun Pan joins the table, he is not amused and a misunderstanding puts Arthit’s career on the chopping block. To save his best friend, Poke makes a bet with Khun Pan and wins! The prize? Pan’s biography, sought after by Thai journalists and writers for years, Pan had never before agreed to allow, much less participate in such a project. Making this a once in a lifetime opportunity. A flamboyant and controversial figure, Khun Pan is loved and admired by those who view him as a champion of the poor and absolutely despised by the affluent, many of whom are threatened by his political ambitions. Of course nothing is ever easy for Poke and word travels fast about the impending biography – While one side is paying for the book to be written, Poke is contacted by the opposing side and informed the cost of writing this book will be the lives of his beloved Rose and their daughter Miaow. Thus pitting the Rafferty family against some of Bangkok’s most powerful and influential people. And these ruthless people will do whatever it takes to maintain their status and keep their secrets hidden…whatever it takes!

In the background of this high stakes face-off is yet another link in the organized crime chain, stolen babies, modern-day-slavery and sex tourism. It is within this web we meet a young farm girl named Da and are reunited with Miaow’s long lost friend, Boo. Captured and forced to beg on the streets of Bangkok, Da is dumbstruck when she’s given a baby to care for. Bewilderment gives way to fear when she discovers the baby, she named Peek, will only be with her temporarily, used on the streets as a prop until it is sold to a wealthy family. Boo, a tough, young lad we met in A Nail Through The Heart (first novel) as “Superman,” now, a few years older and much the wiser, is the leader and protector of a group of street kids and holds the key to Da’s escape.

Hallinan merges the two storylines effortlessly, as he reunites Boo with the Rafferty family.
Together with Arthit and his friend Kosit, they formulate a complex, multilayered plan that has no room for error, each step must be executed with military like precision in order to be successful...all of their lives depend on it.

Breathing Water is an exceptional novel – showcasing Hallinan’s appreciation and understanding of Thai culture which is masterfully translated through the narrative, allowing readers a front row seat on a 300 page journey through Bangkok. (For many, like me, this is as close to Bangkok as we will ever get.) His portrayal of Bangkok brings the city right into your living room, which is no simple task as this is a city of fluid contradictions, where you can visit a message parlor type of establishment and pray on your way out at one of the many beautiful statues. For years Thailand has been teetering on the brink of civil war or total collapse, awash in every conceivable type of corruption, as organized crime bosses maneuver, manipulate and control all aspects of Thai life, from the street vendor to the political arena, but because of its dependence on tourism and this underworld control we are not likely to see such reports on CNN. Hallinan delivers the story with an unbridled passion that is intoxicating, addictive and incredibly entertaining. If you are looking for a genuinely good book, written with heart and doesn’t assume the reader lacks intelligence, look no further…Breathing Water is a rock solid selection you will not regret! (And pick up the first two installments while you’re at it! You won’t get much sleep for the next several days, but it is so worth it!)

I could say the third time is the charm – but that would insinuate that the two previous books were in some way lacking – and lacking is something you will not find in a Hallinan novel. The characters are drawn with such meticulous detail that it is impossible to distinguish fiction from fact, the emotional attachment the reader forms with the characters and your involvement with the story itself becomes a part of your life, a relationship that is missed with the closing of the cover. But is quickly rekindled with each new release…So, until the fourth installment…I wait and wonder what’s next for the Rafferty’s…

A Nail Through The Heart
(book 1 – Bangkok Thriller series)
Read our review of “Nail”

The Fourth Watcher

(book 2 – Bangkok Thriller series)
Read our review of “Watcher”

Breathing Water
(book 3 – Bangkok Thriller series)

William Morrow an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers

Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

2009-11-24T11:59:00.001-05:00

Cemetery Dance
Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

ISBN 10: 1600242650
ISBN 13: 9781600242656
Grand Central Publishing

Unabridged Audio, 12CDs, 13.5hr
Read by Rene Auberjonois’

www.prestonchild.com

Hachette Audio

Cemetery Dance

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child have long been known for their ability to stand out amid a very crowded genre – and they certainly carved a niche’ with Cemetery Dance. Agent Pendergast has worked his share of interesting cases and had more than his fair share of close calls, but this time he has to risk much more than his physical safety…in Cemetery Dance, Pendergast dances with the devil, stepping in between the shadows on a journey that will take him places even he never imagined.

The narrative opens on the remnants of a wedding anniversary celebration interrupted by a knife wielding assailant, that leaves New York Times reporter William Smithback Jr dead and his wife, Nora Kelly (Museum of Natural History anthropologist) clinging to life. There seems to be no question as to the identity of the assailant – several neighbors within the Upper West side apartment complex readily identified the attacker as one of their own, a neighbor, Collin Fearing. But that is impossible…Collin Fearing had been dead and buried for nearly two weeks. Thus setting the stage for an intriguing tale that will take our team of detectives into the lair of a modern day cult in the heart of Manhattan.

Vodou rituals, mysticism, sorcery, within this realm the Obeah is the most dreaded and the most feared of all practitioners. The Obeah or Obeahman is believed to have virtually limitless powers, including the ability to resurrect the dead, which seems to be what someone wants the residents of New York to believe. Digging into this case, Pendergast will find some unusual characters hiding sinister motivations beneath the cloaks of the cult.

With several well known and beloved characters reprising their roles in Cemetery Dance fans are in for a real treat – however, as with their other novels, this one stands alone. So, there’s no reason to hold back – if you have never read a Preston/Child novel before, you can pick this one up and dive right in. Their writing is so spot on, detailed and character driven there’s nothing missing accept you! And with Rene Auberjonois’ providing the narration even those who have read the print version will be intrigued by his incredible presentation. His portrayal of Agent Pendergast breathes life into the fictional character, pulling him off the pages of the book and presenting him in living color. I was amazed by the depth and range Auberjonois employed throughout, going so far as to incorporate gutteral, zombie noises into the narrative. Which I must admit gave me a shudder and added a bit of “oh my” to the vibe. The audio version of Cemetery Dance (from Hachette Book Group) is exceptional and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys an exciting novel that doesn’t fit into any of the pre-determined, cookie-cutter classifications. Preston and Child do an extraordinary job delivering highly unusual material in an intelligent manner that enlightens the reader and engages your senses on a variety of levels. The information revealed in the novel was so provocative, it peeked my curiosity, prompting me to dig deeper into the topics. This is entertainment at its finest, from two of today’s most popular authors. Knowing this and accepting the story for what it was intended allows you to sit back, relax and thoroughly enjoy this unique work.

Happy Reading!

In several interviews the authors have mentioned some of the “strange facts” associated with Cemetery Dance…

in Haiti, people are sometimes buried face down if there is a fear that they will come back to life.
Consecrated hosts and ground up corpses are sometimes used to make Vodou charms.
The classic prefrontal lobotomy was performed by sticking an object, similar to an ice pick, into the eye socket, behind the eye, and driving it into the brain with a mallet.

Cabinets of Curiosities (*audio from Hachette Book Group)

CLICK HERE to view a short video at Amazon.com

FROM HACHETTE:

Pendergast-the world's most enigmatic FBI Special Agent-returns to New York City to investigate a murderous cult. William Smithback, a New York Times reporter, and his wife Nora Kelly, a Museum of Natural History archaeologist, are brutally attacked in their apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Eyewitnesses claim, and the security camera confirms, that the assailant was their strange, sinister neighbor-a man who, by all reports, was already dead and buried weeks earlier. While Captain Laura Hayward leads the official investigation, Pendergast and Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta undertake their own private-and decidedly unorthodox-quest for the truth.

Novels:

Relic
Reliquary
Cabinet of Curiosities
Still Life with Crows
Brimstone
Dance of Death
Book of the Dead
Wheel of Darkness
Cemetery Dance
Mount Dragon
Riptide
Thunderhead
The Ice Limit
Thriller

SOLO NOVELS:

Lincoln Child:

Utopia
Death Match
Deep Storm
Terminal Freeze

Douglas Preston:

Impact
Monster of Florence
Blasphemy
Tyrannosaur Canyon
The Codex
Cities of Gold
Ribbons of Time
The Royal Road
Jennie
Dinosaurs in the Attic

Technorati Tags: book review,reviews,novels,best sellers,new releases,authors,Cemetery Dance,Lincoln Child,Douglas Preston,Preston Child,Bosch,Bosch series,Mickey Haller,Lincoln Lawyer

SlimShots

2009-11-18T13:07:00.001-05:00

(My experience with SlimShots)

Being the new product on the shelf, combined with some creative advertising, SlimShots has received quite a bit of buzz for its ability to carve a whopping *30% off the plate without leaving you feeling hungry, so we gave it a try. Upon receipt I read all the enclosed information and then spent an hour or so researching the product. The following morning I contacted my Family Physician (HCP, health care provider) and got the green light.

What’s in the box? Fourteen day supply of SlimShots, which consists of 14 individually wrapped containers that are best described as restaurant style coffee creamers, that come in vanilla or chocolate flavors. This individual, chocolate flavored liquid contains a mere 20 calories, with two active ingredients, oat and palm oil. I know oats are primarily fiber and fibrous foods delay digestion adding precious time to the hunger clock. As for the Palm Oil, some reports link the medium chain triglycerides in the oil to an increase metabolic rate, but more research is needed.

Day 1-14
I have to admit I was excited to get started, however, that quickly gave way to a feeling of ickiness when I got my first taste of the SlimShot. Oh my goodness – the flavor is just awful…on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being absolutely intolerable and 5 being scrumptious, I would have to give this a 1.5 or 2. During this experiment I tried mixing the SlimShot with a variety of drinks only to find that doing so simply prolonged the unpleasant taste. For me the best way was to just down it quick. Over the next several days I continued with one SlimShot at breakfast, but found this wasn’t curbing my appetite, so on day 5 I added a second SlimShot pod at lunch. (This is in accordance with the instructions/suggestions provided by SlimShots.) This did seem to suppress the appetite- although I can’t accurately measure the amount of food eliminated or avoided, I made a conscientious effort to reduce the amount food on the plate and did not return for seconds. (This is a matter of self-discipline, not as a result of any product.) As far as side effects, I didn’t experience anything other than some mild stomach discomfort on days two and three, which I link to the additional fiber. I only mention it because I want to be thorough. No jitters or nervousness or anything like that – because there are no ingredients in SlimShots to cause such side effects.

In a nut-shell.
I would classify SlimShots as a maintenance tool –at best, as I don’t see it resulting in weight loss. Of course individual results will vary, as will opinions, but for me, this experiment did not result in weight loss or even satisfactory appetite suppression. It seems to me this is more a placebo effect – if you believe it is benefiting you, you benefit from it. And if that works for you – great! However, after evaluating my results and weighing the cost of the product vs the minimal benefit, and the unpleasant flavor, I could not, in good faith, recommend this product. That said, I must give credit to the company for not advertising SlimShots as a cure all but as a tool that will achieve best results when used in conjunction with proper diet, exercise and possibly a second dietary supplement. On their website there’s a list of suggestions that make it clear weight loss or maintenance must be a part of a complete “life style change.” And this is refreshing, since most diet aids make monsterous claims and rarely, if ever, suggest the need for any exercise or portion reductions.

Wal-Mart.com

Weight loss, weight control, appetite suppressant – despite the tag line attached the goal is the same, to shed some pounds, quickly and hopefully painlessly…and it is the addition of those two adjectives that causes the problem…Because we live in a society where everything is super sized and speedy fast we have come to expect the same with respect to health issues, especially weight loss. Unfortunately it seems that we are just going to have to accept the facts: 1) the weight gain did not happen over night, so conversely weight loss cannot be obtained over night. 2) there is no magic pill or remedy that will allow us to sit on the sofa snacking and lose weight 3) weight loss requires a life style adjustment, that includes eating healthy and some exercise 4) self discipline is a key ingredient, because when all is said and done it comes down to personal choices.

*The statements by SlimShots have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. SlimShots is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Parents’ Choice Awards

2009-10-27T12:45:00.001-04:00

Designed to help parents and caregivers of all achievements and backgrounds make informed decisions about which new products are right for their children, the Parents' Choice Awards is the nation's oldest nonprofit program created to recognize quality children's media. The Parents' Choice Awards program honors the best material for children -

Parents’ Choice Audio Award Winners – Fall 2009

Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow

Ages: 10 & Up - CD Price: $27.99

The Scrambled States of America

Ages: 4 - 9 yrs. - CD Price: $9.99

Alvin Ho Collection: Books 1 and 2

Ages: 6 & Up - CD Price: $19.95

The Journey of Billy Boom Train

Ages: 4 - 9 yrs. - CD Price: $14.95

A Fine White Dust

Ages: 9 & Up - CD Price: $14.99

Hana's Suitcase

Ages: 8 - 12 yrs. - CD Price: $19.99

39 Clues #4 Beyond The Grave

Ages: 9 - 12 yrs. - CD Price: $19.95

The Chosen One

Ages: 12 & Up - CD Price: $24.99

THE GECKO & STICKY: The Greatest Power

Ages: 8 & Up - CD Price: $25.00

Extra Credit

Ages: 8 & Up - CD Price: $19.99

A Chair For My Mother and Other Stories

Ages: 3 - 8 yrs. - CD Price: $13.99

We Are the Ship

Ages: 9 & Up - CD Price: $19.99

EON: Dragoneye Reborn

Ages: 12 & Up - CD Price: $36.99

Captain Nobody

Ages: 8 & Up - CD Price: $28.00

Tikki Tikki Tembo

Ages: 4 - 8 yrs. - CD Price: $9.99

Baseball Great

Ages: 8 - 12 yrs. - CD Price: $22.99

Addition & Subtraction Rap CD

Ages: 6 & Up - CD Price: $12.99

Parents’ Choice Audio Awards

STORYTELLING:

Tell Me A Story 3: Women of Wonder

Ages: 5 & Up - CD Price: $18.95

More Second-Hand Tales

Ages: 5 & Up - CD Price: $14.97

Parents’ Choice Award Winners: MUSIC – complete list – Click Here

Banned Books Week Sept 26-Oct 3

2009-09-02T21:04:00.001-04:00

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
(Challenged & Banned because it contains racial slurs & adult themes)

The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss
(challenged for “criminalizing the foresting industry”)

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
(banned for its language & explicit portrayal of sexual abuse)

What's the difference between a challenge and a banning?

A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. Due to the commitment of librarians, teachers, parents, students and other concerned citizens, most challenges are unsuccessful and most materials are retained in the school curriculum or library collection.

CLICK HERE to view an Interactive Map listing Bans & Challenges by State

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2008

Out of 513 challenges as reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group
His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman
Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, and violence
TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, and violence
Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, and violence
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, and unsuited to age group
Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
Uncle Bobby's Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen
Reasons: homosexuality and unsuited to age group
The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
Flashcards of My Life, by Charise Mericle Harper
Reasons: sexually explicit and unsuited to age group

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2007

Out of 420 challenges reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, sexism, and unsuited to Age Group
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: offensive Language, sexually explicity, violence
Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit
The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman
Reason: religious viewpoint
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Reason: racism
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit
TTYL, by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
Reason: sexually explicit
It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
Reasons: sex education and sexually explicit
The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2006

Out of 546 challenges reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Reasons: anti-family, homosexuality, and unsuited to age group
Gossip Girls (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar
Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group
Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Reasons: offensive language and sexually explicit
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
Reasons: anti-family, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicity, and unsuited to age group
Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
Reasons: insensitivity, occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, and violence
Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
Reasons: homosexuality and offensive language
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
Beloved, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicity, and violence

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2005

Out of 405 challenges reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom

It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health, by Robie H. Harris
Reasons: homosexuality, nudity, sex education, religious viewpoint, abortion, and being unsuited to age group
Forever, by Judy Blume
Reasons: sexual content and offensive language
The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger
Reasons: sexual content, offensive language and being unsuited to age group
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: sexual content and offensive language
Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher
Reasons: racism and offensive language
Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn Reynolds
Reason: sexual content
What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones
Reasons: sexual content and being unsuited to age group
Captain Underpants (Series), by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: anti-family content, being unsuited to age group and violence
Crazy Lady!, by Jane Leslie Conly
Reason: offensive language
It’s So Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families, by Robie H. Harris
Reasons: sex education and sexual content

Authors (challenged/banned)

Amis, Kingsley
Angelou, Maya
Aristophanes
Auel, Jean
Baldwin, James
Balzac, Honore de
Bamford, James
Bannerman, Helen
Benchley, Peter
Bennett, D.M.
Bett, Doris
Beveridge, J
Blume, Judy
Boccacio, Giovanni
Bonner, Raymond
Bradbury, Ray
Bryant, John
Burgess, Anthony
Burroughs, Edgar Rice
Cabell, James Branch
Carrol, Lewis
Calhoun, Mary
Chandler, David
Chomsky, Naom
Coleman, Benjamin
Cormier, Robert
Davis, Deborah
Debray, Regis
Defoe, Daniel
De Sade, Marquis
Dos Passos, John
Dreiser, Theodore
Duesberg, Peter
Ellison, Harlan
Ernst, Morris L.
Farrell, James T.
Faulkner, William
Favel, J.
Feuchtwanger, Lion
Fitzgerald, F. Scott
Flaubert, Gustav
For, Dario
Foucault, Michel
Frank, Anne
Franklin, Benjamin
Friedan, Betty
Fuentes, Carlos
Gautier, Theophile
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang
Golding, William
Green, Graham
Guest, Judith
Hawthorne, Nathaniel
Heller, Joseph
Helper, Hinton
Hemingway, Ernest
Holmes, Peter
Huxley, Aldous
Jackson, Gordon
Jones, James
Joyce, James
Kauffann, Stanley
Keyes, Daniel
Khair-Eddine, Mohammed
King, Stephen
Klein, Norma
Kundera, Milan
L'Engle, Madaleine
Lawrence, D.H.
Leary, Timothy
Lewis, Sinclair
Livingston, Myra Cohn
Louys, Pierre
Luise, Reuban L.
Lurie, Reuben
MacElroy, Wendy
Machiavelli, Niccolo
March, J.M.
Marchetti, Victor
Marks, John D.
Marks, Percy
Marquez, Gabriel Garcia
Mather, Increase
Maugham, Somerset
McGeehee, Ralph
Mencken, H.L.
Miles, Austin
Miller, Arthur
Miller, Henry
Milosz, Czeslaw
Moore, Carol
Moravia, Alberto
Morse, Ann Christensen
Murdock, Iris
Nin, Anais
O'Neill, Eugene
Orwell, George
Paine, Thomas
Parsons, Jonathan
Plath, Sylvia
Pound, Ezra
Protagoras
Pynchon, William
Rabelais, Francois
Reich, Wilhelm
Remarque, Erich Maria
Rice, Anne
Rouseau, Jean-Jacques
Rushdie, Salman
Salinger, J.D.
Sanger, Margaret
Sartre, Jean-Paul
Sewall, Joseph
Shakespeare, William
Shaw, George Bernard
Sinclair, Upton
Snepp, Frank W., III
Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr
Stein, Gertrude
Steinbeck, John
Stern, Howard
Stopes, Marie
Swift, Jonathan
Thompson, Linda
Tolkien, J.R.R.
Tolstoy, Lev
Twain, Mark
Velikovsky, Immanuel
Vidal, Gore
Voltaire
Von Mises, Ludwig
Vonnegut, Kurt
Walker, Alice
Whitman, Walt

courtesy of the ALA

Support the Office for Intellectual Freedom by purchasing Banned Books Week posters, t-shirts, bookmarks, & buttons through the ALA Store.

CLICK HERE TO visit the

Alex Cross’s TRIAL by James Patterson & Richard Dilallo

2009-09-01T15:49:00.001-04:00

Alex Cross’s Trial
James Patterson & Richard Dillalo
ISBN: 1600248535
ISBN: 978-1600248535

8CD’s, Unabridged
Read by Dylan Baker featuring Shawn Andrew
Hachette Audio

Available in Hardcover (Little, Brown & Co)

www.jamespatterson.com

“The Cross family had more than one hero…”

Alex Cross’s TRIAL, bridges the gap between generations of Cross men – taking us back in time to a turbulent and frightening era in American History, when folks were separated by color and justice was in deed blind…

This novel is a departure from the strong crime drama Cross series – written by the fictional character “Alex Cross” (as was “Big Bad Wolfe”). Thanks to Nana-Mama’s memory and Ben Corbett’s personal journals, Alex was able to put this haunting story on paper and share it with the world. He writes in the introduction – “…it is a story that helps illuminate why so many black people are angry, hurt, and lost in this country, even today. I also think it is important to keep this story alive for my family, and hopefully for yours.” And he couldn’t be more right – it is important…no matter how painful our past, we must learn from it – because those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

Attorney Ben Corbett had made quite a name for himself, as a white man, the son of a prominent Mississippi judge, he represented defendants of color during a time in the nation’s history when to do so put your career, family and even your very life in jeopardy. The story opens with Corbett defending a black servant accused of murdering her wealthy white boss. Of course, it comes as no surprise when the all male, all white jury returned a guilty verdict. This sets the stage for an amazing narrative – that follows Corbett
back home, to Eudora, Mississippi on a special, top secret assignment, requested by the President of the United States. Corbett had served under Roosevelt in the military and the President trusted him to conduct an “off the record” investigation and report directly back to him. Rumors of lynchings, terrorist like activities, civil rights violations, etc., if the stories were true, the Klu Klux Klan was alive and well in the south. President Roosevelt gave Corbett the name of the man he wanted him to talk too…Corbett’s contact…Abraham Cross.

Ben Corbett is impressed by Abraham Cross from the moment they meet, he knows Cross is a very special and wise man. At first Ben has a hard time believing the horror he witnessed as a young man is still occurring, however, after one afternoon with Abraham ‘touring’ lynching sites he realizes the Klan is thriving and everyone knows it. As the story continues tragedy strikes the Cross family and the Klan comes calling to collect their “just dues” from Ben Corbett. Will he become a chapter in this secret story he was sent here to uncover? If the Klan has their way…the answer is a resounding and absolute YES!

An incredible, moving story, that hurtles towards the ending with such ferocity you feel as though you are standing on the edge of a mountain and could teeter off at any second.

James Patterson and Richard Dillalo have delivered a story that is as disturbing as it is exciting – the no-holds-barred narrative is so “in your face” it stings and the lynching scenes are drawn with such meticulous detail you can almost smell the lingering odor of death as you read these haunting depictions. The pain, heartbreak and fear is palpable throughout as the eyes of a nation fall upon Eudora, Mississippi. The text is so point on you cannot help but feel flushed with emotion. Alex Cross’s TRIAL is emotionally charged, action packed and tells the story of how a family’s struggle against injustice gave one man the strength to stand against his own for what he knew to be right…not for posterity, fame or fortune – simply because it was right!

There’s nothing conventional about Alex Cross…narrators Dylan Baker and Shawn Andrew tell this story with heart, courage and absolute dedication to the characters, breathing life into it and with each succeeding chapter they draw the scenes and put you in the center of each…You will be angered by this story, you will probably tear up (or cry, I sure did!), you will feel the pain of those who are hurting and the joy and pride of those who find the courage to stand tall. In a nutshell, you won’t regret the hours you spend with this book.

Happy Reading,

RJ McGill

The Alex Cross Series:

Along Came a Spider
Kiss the Girls
Jack & Jill
Cat & Mouse
Pop Goes the Weasel
Roses Are Red
Violets Are Blue
Four Blind Mice
The Big Bad Wolf: A Novel *(Alex Cross novels)
London Bridges
Mary Mary
Cross
Double Cross
Cross Country
Alex Cross’s TRIAL*(Alex Cross novels)

Beat The Reaper by Josh Bazell

2009-09-01T15:42:00.001-04:00

Beat the Reaper
Josh Bazell

ISBN: 9781600244322
ISBN: 1600244327
Little, Brown & Company

Hachette Book Group
Unabridged, 6CD, 7hrs
Read by Robert Petkoff

www.joshbazell.com

Hachette Audio

Set in Manhattan’s worst hospital, Josh Bazell paints a dismal, picture for the main character, intern, Dr. Peter Brown. Working long hours, surrounded by an uncaring, overworked staff, that are unaffected and uninvolved, he finds himself waging a one man war to help his patients beat the reaper. But for Peter Brown, the war is much more personal, he too is trying to outrun or outwit death…and Brown knows all too well, that the reaper has many faces.

Through flashbacks and memory spurts, we learn Peter Brown a.k.a. Pietro Brnwa is hiding more than a few skeletons in his hospital locker. Rescued from his neglectful parents by doting, devoted grandparents only to see them brutally murdered at the tender age of fifteen. He became determined to a state of near obsession to find those responsible for his grandparents death. He joins the Locano Family, who quickly put his hatred and anger to work as an assassin, known as Bearclaw. Experiencing a change of heart, Pietro flips sides, entering the Witness Protection Program, from which he is now on the lam. Adding fuel to this multi-level fire, Brown is recognized by one of his new patients- the chart lists him as Mr. LoBrutto, but this long time mafia associate was at one time known as, Eddy Squillante and he harbors a deep grudge against the good Doctor Brown and knows numerous other mobsters who would kill him on sight.

This edgy story is littered with street humor, that borders on crude at times and yet it is perfectly suited for the depressing, death trap hospital scenario Bazell has designed as Brown’s stomping-group through-out “Beat the Reaper.” The mature language and detailed violence are not suited for younger audiences or those who are offended easily by brash, over-the-top cursing and blood, guts and gore. It says something about the author’s ability to write the material and the narrator’s ability to convey it that this one needs a “Mature Content” warning label. However, as most adults will agree some things are for children and others are not –and that’s okay - ….”Beat the Reaper” is a grown up tale that will having you snickering one second and out right laughing the next. So, if you are looking for a good story to take you away from the ordinary for a few hours, Beat the Reaper is an excellent choice.

Happy Reading,

RJ McGill

I am looking forward to Josh Bazell’s future works!

Paperback available September 14, 2009

LISTEN TO A SAMPLE CLIP
from Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell

The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly (audio)

2009-08-11T17:23:00.000-04:00

The Brass Verdict
Michael Connelly
ISBN: 1600244017
ISBN: 9781600244018
www.michaelconnelly.com

Unabridged, 10CDs, 11.5hrs
Hachette Audio
Read by Peter Giles

Hardcover, 432 Pages
Little, Brown & Company

New York Times Bestselling author Michael Connelly takes a leap of literary faith uniting two well known characters in one novel and lands softly amid adoring fans and rave reviews. Actor Peter Giles narrates, bringing the characters to life with special wording, accents and voice inflections, individualizing each, making the characters recognizable and believable.

In 2005’s The Lincoln Lawyer, we were left with Haller’s promise that he would return – and return he has…albeit divorced, estranged from his daughter and recovering from both the gun shot wound and an addiction to pain killers. With his ex-wife (Lorna) as secretary/manager and her fiancée (Cisco), as his lead investigator, Mickey plans to slowly recoup his clientele and rebuild his rolling practice. Operating a lucrative law office from the backseat of a Lincoln town car was but one of his signature tricks and he was determined to reassert himself as the quintessential Lincoln Lawyer.

But his plans for a slow comeback are fast tracked when fellow attorney Jerry Vincent is found murdered in the parking garage adjacent to his office. Summoned to a closed door meeting with Chief Judge Holder, Haller is unceremoniously informed he has inherited Vincent’s practice and is responsible for his case load. A laundry list of cases was the last thing Haller wanted, so he quickly disposed of most of them. However, there was one case he hoped to maintain – that of millionaire, studio executive Walter Elliot, accused of murdering his wife and her lover.

It would appear Vincent’s untimely demise handed Haller the goose that laid the golden egg, wrapped in box with a beautiful bow…but, then again, nothing is ever as it appears, is it?

Attorney Mickey Haller, from The Lincoln Lawyer’s and Detective Harry Bosch (33 year veteran of the police dept), from the celebrated Bosch series, share the spotlight in this murder-mystery-legal drama, sparring and teasing each other throughout with bits of carefully worded information meant to illicit more than it reveals. Forever questioning the intentions of the other, on the surface they seem to represent polar opposite points of view, but they have a great deal more in common than either is willing to acknowledge.
This novel barely scratches the proverbial literary surface of this brotherly relationship and I am anxious to see Connelly explore this further in the future.

Exciting, interesting and filled with twists that satisfy fully - “The Brass Verdict” is a solid good read!

Happy Reading!

RJ McGill

CLICK @HERE@ to read an excerpt from The Brass Verdict (via Open Book)

Brass Verdict = cop slang for an execution

Paperback
available August 29, ‘09

Reading Group Guide:

"It's called rope a dope."
1. The Brass Verdict begins with a courtroom scene from 1992 with Mickey Haller for the defense, against Jerry Vincent, for the prosecution. Mickey refuses to compromise his ethics when Vincent asks him for a favor. Yet at the same time, Mickey is defending a man who is clearly guilty of murder. Mickey ends up winning the case and the murderer goes free. How do you reconcile Mickey's personal ethics with the reality of being a defense attorney?

"Everybody lies."
2. That's the opening line of The Brass Verdict. Is Mickey cynical and bitter or a realist and insightful? Do you agree with Mickey's statement that a trial is a contest of lies?

"There's nothing you can do about the past, Patrick. Except keep it there."
3. Mickey is making a comeback as a lawyer after a year spent in rehab and recovery. What did you think of his relationship with his driver, Patrick Henson, another recovering addict? Why do you think Mickey wanted to help him?

"I never met him before today but the name…I know the name."
4. Mickey Haller met Harry Bosch for the first time in The Brass Verdict. Did you know about their family connection before you read the book? How are these two half-brothers alike? How are they different?

"I've been waiting five months to clear my name."
5. When you first read about Walter Elliot's case and his adamant claims of innocence, did you believe him? How about later, after he told Mickey about his mob connections? Did you believe that story?

"It was only at times like this with my daughter that the distance I had opened in my life came closed."
6. Mickey's relationship with his ex-wife, Maggie McPherson, is strained because of his past drug abuse. He was trying to earn back her trust and improve his relationship with his daughter. Do you think he was successful? Can you make any predictions for their future?

"I'm in."
7. Mickey decided to work with Bosch to draw out the killer. Why do you think he was willing to do that when he didn't seem to trust Bosch? Did his theory that everybody lies end up applying to Bosch too in the end?

"Do you know you look a lot like your father?"
8. We saw Harry Bosch through Mickey Haller's eyes. What kind of impression did Bosch make on Mickey? Do you think they liked each other?

"I guess that makes us flip sides of the same mountain."
9. In the end, Mickey said that he and Harry were flips side of the same mountain because they live on opposite sides of the Santa Monica Mountains, also known as the Hollywood Hills. You could say their father was a mountain of a man in terms of fame and character. Neither really knew their father. What kind of effect do you think that had on each of these men?

"You could say the brass verdict was my last verdict."
10. Whether you approve of the job or not, did you admire Mickey's skill as a defense attorney? Do you think he is really going to quit?

Reading Group Guide courtesy of Book Reporter’s online RGG community

www.michaelconnelly.com

www.hachettebookgroup.com

Drood by Dan Simmons

2009-08-11T15:00:00.001-04:00

Drood
Dan Simmons
ISBN: 9781600244636
ISBN: 1600244637
www.dansimmons.com

Hachette Audio
Read by Simon Prebble

Dan Simmons has penned an intricate Victorianesk work of historical fiction that is filled with all manner of characters – from well-to-do Londoner’s to those from the darker side of town, called Undertown. A dangerous area where the affluent and well respected sneak off to enjoy a whisp of opium from time to time…(for the pain of course!) Woven within the pages of this chilling tale are factual details from Dickens’ life. It is important to note that Dickens’ was notorious for exaggerating and telling over dramatized versions of his past experiences. Combine this with narrator Wilkie Collins’ drug use and it quickly becomes clear there’s no way to be certain of much of anything. And yet the tale of these two men and their unusual interests and escapades makes for an entertaining read.

Friends, occasional collaborators and bound by extended family ties (Dickens’ daughter married Collins’ brother) both men enjoyed success, however despite his abilities Collins never attained the status or recognition of “the Inimitable” Charles Dickens. This became a source of intense jealousy and as the story progresses Wilkie develops a nearly murderous obsession, as well as, what can best be described as a hallucinagenic manifestation he calls the “second or other Wilkie”, no doubt both fueled by his laudanum addiction and Inspector Field.

The catalyst that would be the beginning of the end for these long time friends, their sanity, careers and ultimately Dickens’ very life, occurred in June 1865 -Charles Dickens, (age 53) traveling with his female companion Ellen Ternan and her Mother were involved in a horrific train crash. Ten were killed, many more were injured, and Dickens suffered physical and psychological injuries from which he would never recover. It was here, at the site of the Staplehurst derailment that Dickens is introduced to the thin, deformed, Egyptian known as “Drood.”
This chance encounter between Dickens’ and “Drood” had a profound, disturbing and ghoulish effect on the writer. Convinced he could create a new genre with his powers of mesmerism, utilizing special lighting and dramatic, theatrical story tellings, Dickens shocked audiences, who night after night would sit in stunned silence until the climatic conclusion brought them to their feet with frenzied applause. Dickens’ spends much of his time searching for and obsessing about “Drood,” and he wasn’t alone…

Retired Inspector Field uses his own powers of persuasion to get a reluctant Wilkie to spy on Dickens. Field believes the “fiend” a.k.a. “Drood” is responsible for nearly 300 murders – making him the single most prolific serial killer of all time and yet only a select few have ever heard of him? According to the Inspector not all the killings were by Drood’s own hand, no – it is his powers of mesmerism that makes him so very dangerous and deadly. His ability to call upon his minion of followers, those from the darkened crypts and waterways that snake beneath the streets of London. Whether a psychological manifestation, drug induced hallucination or a true evil being, three otherwise intelligent, well respected men have fallen under the spell of this elusive being.

Mesmerism, magnetism, opium dens, dissolving corpses in lime, feral children and distinctly 19th century language swirl together like the smoke of a fine cigar…intoxicating the reader, making the unbelievable absolutely real, if only in the mind of the character and if only for a moment or two. Simmons teases the reader throughout the story – with each successive event you are at first convinced it is Collins that’s delusional and in the very next breathe sure it is Dickens’. All of which works well together, making the lengthy text hurl as quickly towards the conclusion as the train cars did off the edge at Staplehurst. Simmons delivers this fictionalized version of Dickens’ incomplete novel “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” smoking hot and on a classic silver platter.

Happy Reading,

RJ McGill

Many may find the archaic language difficult, but give it a few chapters and you are likely to discover that it adds an air of authenticity to the story that just simply could not be achieved any other way. If you enjoy an original work, that ventures into the dark side more than a few times and one that leaves the reader to make the final judgment you will love Drood.” A thriller, chilling, interesting and unlike anything on the adjoining shelves!

A novel by the bestselling author of “The Terror”
includes bonus short story “The Signal-Man” by
Charles Dickens

Wordsworth Dances the Waltz by Frances H. Kakugawa

2009-08-09T16:16:00.001-04:00

Wordsworth Dances the Waltz
Frances H. Kakugawa

ISBN 10: 0979064732
ISBN 13: 978-0979064739

Children 9+

Hardcover, 32pages

Watermark Publishing

Wordsworth Dances The Waltz features a family of mice, living much as any family – enjoying their day to day lives, when time creeps up on a them…

Wordsworth first love is poetry – for a long while now it has been his source of comfort and understanding…writing is this little mouse’s way of dealing with life. And so when his beloved Grandma comes to stay with the family Wordsworth is shocked and a bit frightened by the changes that have taken place. The once vibrant, boisterous home, filled with the sounds of music and laughter has fallen quiet and his parents talk in hushed voices…whispering about how Grandma is losing her memory and things just aren’t the same.

Wordsworth is saddened and very disappointed when his father tells him Grandma can’t attend the special Grandparent’s program at school. Before class that morning Wordsworth sits beside his Grandma’s bed and writes a poem, expressing his feelings – ending with – “She’s still my Grandma, isn’t she?”

What follows is a touching reunion of family, with a new found understanding of how they will interact from this day forward. This is a beautifully written, heartfelt story that addresses dementia, Alzheimer’s and loss of independence, subjects families are dealing with everyday. Seniors are an integral part of the family tree and it’s important to maintain close bonds and continue to interact with and allow children to enjoy the time they have with them…it is precious!

I highly recommend this story to all families – there should be a copy in every elementary school, library and nursing home. Especially senior care facilities – this book would be an excellent tool to ease youngsters fears, answer questions they may not be able to express and reassure them Grandma or Grandpa may be different, but they love you and they’re still an important part of the family!
If you or someone you know is facing any of these situations, pick up a copy of this book!

Happy Reading!
RJ McGill
3Rs Den

Additional Comment:

The language utilized is age appropriate and the author speaks with a delicate, parental touch that’s warm, supportive and kind. Many of the words are defined quickly, within the sentence, providing an educational side to the book as well.
Ex: “….dojo, or school”
“gi, the white robe worn by karate students,…”
I cared for my Grandmother and although she was not suffering from dementia, this book would have been a real blessing when talking with my daughter about the changes that were taking place within our family. I will not hesitate to share this book!!

Kudos & Congratulations to author, Frances H. Kakugawa for delivering a well written, helpful story that is beautifully illustrated.

Awards & Recognitions:

named a Mom’s Choice Awards® Silver Recipient in the category “Crossing Generations.”
received the Bronze Award in the Best Book Overall category,
as well as the award for Best Illustrated Children’s Book from the Northern California Publishers & Authors (NCPA) group.

Wordsworth’s first book

Oxygen by Carol Cassella

2009-08-07T17:26:00.003-04:00

Oxygen

Carol Cassella

ISBN 10: 1416556109
ISBN 13: 97814116556107

Simon & Schuster
Audio

Now available in Paperback

Simon & Schuster Publishing

I could not have picked a better time to read this book – with healthcare front and center on everyone’s mind, you can’t turn on the TV or radio without hearing the subject being debated and argued from almost every conceivable angle. Oxygen, the debut novel from Carol Cassella takes the reader into the operating room and the heart and mind of anesthesiologist, Dr. Marie Heaton.

This is the story of a compassionate, caring doctor, that put her personal life on hold to pursue a career. Yet despite her dedication and vigilance finds herself in the midst of a nasty malpractice suit that threatens to destroy her well crafted world. She quickly discovers that many of those she trusted and called friends have alienated her, except Dr. Joe Hillary, her ex-lover who appears to be her lone supporter. Marie’s family relationships are typical of most, on one hand there’s her sister Lori and her niece, Elsa with whom she has a warm, loving bond. While on the other hand there’s her father, a retired history professor, who’s struggling with losing his independence.

The carefully choreographed chaos of the operating room, where trained professionals and monitors interact in a delicate dance to sustain the lives of their
patients has always remained somewhat “off-limits” to the lay person. Cassella opens the door and lays bare the cold, hard truth from the OR to the board room. She paints with broad deliberate narration that utilizes every word, the result is a tight, concise, eye opening novel that entertains every step of the way.

Happy Reading!
RJ

The Gate House by Nelson DeMille (audio)

2009-08-07T17:26:00.001-04:00

The Gate House
Nelson DeMille

ISBN 10: 1600244106
ISBN 13: 978-1600244100

Also available in Hardcover

Hachette Audio

Nelson DeMille Online

The long awaited sequel to DeMille’s 1990 hit, “The Gold Coast” reunites readers with the Sutter’s, Stanhope’s, Bellarosa’s and all the foo-foo, high class pretentious folks that call the North Shore of Long Island home. Although almost twenty calendar years have elapsed, within the novel, it is half-as long, and begins months after the tragedies of 9-11.

John Sutter, returns to the Gold Coast to handle the final arrangements for an ailing, elderly woman, who had been a dedicated family servant. After sailing around the world and residing in England, it feels almost like a bad case of dejavu, because it seems he is right back where he started. His beautiful ex-wife has also returned and they are now neighbors. It doesn’t take long for the two to find their way to each other and like everything else in this novel, the outcome is predictable. What ensues is a long winded, over blown and excruciatingly slow journey to an all too perfect ending, for characters that are nearly impossible to form any kind of emotional attachment with. The Gate House was disappointing on several levels, mostly because there was simply no element of suspense…even the occasional reader could discern the outcome long before the revelation. Although the narration did add a bit of humor and made the journey a bit easier we’ve come to expect a tighter, more concise story from a best selling author of such caliber.

Here’s to hoping this is the last of the Sutter’s and that DeMille sharpens his pen and returns to the strong, character driven, suspenseful ways of old.

Happy Reading,
RJ McGill

The Gold Coast
Nelson DeMille

Gatekeepers by Robert Liparulo (Dreamhouse Kings series BK3)

2009-08-06T14:51:00.001-04:00

Gatekeepers
Book#3, Dreamhouse Kings series

Robert Liparulo

ISBN: 1595544984
ISBN: 978-1595544988

Thomas Nelson Publishers

Hardcover, 307Pages
Youth, ages 13+

Imagine living in a big, creepy house, with countless rooms to explore…now that would be cool! Now imagine some of the doors were actually portals to a historical time period…that would be super cool! And what if your actions and choices while in the portal changed the future? Wow! Well, that’s the basic premise of Robert Liparulo’s third Dreamhouse Kings book, Gatekeepers. Although a new novel, it reads like the simple continuation from the previous chapter, for this reason I highly recommend you read the first two action packed installments. (Watcher in the Woods, Dreamhouse Kings Book #2, House of Shadows, Dreamhouse Kings book #1)

The King children are determined to rescue their Mother from one of the houses’ time portals. After two failed attempts and barely escaping, the boys have been labeled hostile, convincing David that this mission will depend on Toria. Complicating matters further, the King’s nemisis, Taksidian continues to spin his evil web, bribing the police, having Mr. King arrested and thrown in jail. However, the kids aren’t without adult guidance, Jesse, a frail old man, wise to the special ways of this house reveals himself and offers to help. He emphasizes the importance of the children understanding how their actions while in the other worlds affect present day.

Several new characters are introduced in Gatekeepers and each plays an important role in developing the story and connecting the worlds hidden within the portals.
As the adventures continue more information is revealed, and the King’s begin to realize the extent of their inherited responsibilities as gatekeepers, as well as, the importance of family, loyalty and trust.

The characters, although experiencing extraordinary events, are quite ordinary and easy to relate too. You can’t help but be emotionally invested in this family, saddened by their struggles, cheering for their success, concerned for their safety and angered by evil Taksidian. All of which are the result of an exceptionally well written story by a talented writer that understands his target audience and believes in his characters. Interesting historical scenes and heart pounding action combine to make it quite difficult to find a place to stop for the night. So if you are reading this with your children, be prepared to hear “just one more page, please!”

This may be a youth series, however, adults will find themselves wrapped up in the smooth narrative, creative use of time travel and vivid imagery. These stories are filled with knuckle busting action, genuine emotion and lots of really interesting stuff that just has to be seen to be believed.

*I recommend those with younger children read the stories themselves prior to engaging your child because the intensity may be too much for some. And this is an individual decision only you, the parent can make for your child.

Happy Reading,
RJ McGill

The Dreamhouse Kings Series by Robert Liparulo

BOOK #4 Timescape is now available
BOOK #3 Gatekeepers
BOOK #2 Watcher in the Woods
BOOK #1 House of Dark Shadows

MWA 2009 Nominees & Winners

2009-07-27T12:58:00.003-04:00

The Edgar® Awards - Nominees and Winners

2009 Edgar Nominees & Winners

Best Novel Nominees

Missing by Karin Alvtegen (Felony & Mayhem Press)
Blue Heaven by C.J. Box (St. Martin's Minotaur)
Sins of the Assassin by Robert Ferrigno (Simon & Schuster - Scribner)
The Price of Blood by Declan Hughes (HarperCollins - William Morrow)
The Night Following by Morag Joss (Random House - Delacorte Press)
Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz (Simon & Schuster)

Best First Novel By An American Author

The Kind One by Tom Epperson (Five Star)
Sweetsmoke by David Fuller (Hyperion)
The Foreigner by Francie Lin (Picador)
Calumet City by Charlie Newton (Simon & Schuster - Touchstone)
A Cure for Night by Justin Peacock (Random House - Doubleday)

Best Paperback Original

The Prince of Bagram Prison by Alex Carr (Random House Trade)
Money Shot by Christa Faust (Hard Case Crime)
Enemy Combatant by Ed Gaffney (Random House - Dell)
China Lake by Meg Gardiner (New American Library - Obsidian Mysteries)
The Cold Spot by Tom Piccirilli (Random House - Bantam)

Best Fact Crime

For the Thrill of It: Leopold, Loeb and the Murder That Shocked Chicago by Simon Baatz (HarperCollins)
American Lightning: Terror, Mystery and the Birth of Hollywood, and the Crime of the Century by Howard Blum (Crown Publishers
Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost It to the Revolution by T.J. English (HarperCollins - William Morrow)
The Man Who Made Vermeers: Unvarnishing the Legend of Master Forger Hans van Meegeren by Jonathan Lopez (Harcourt)
The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale (Walker & Company)

Best Critical/Biographical

African American Mystery Writers: A Historical and Thematic Study by Frankie Y. Bailey (McFarland & Company)
Hard-Boiled Sentimentality: The Secret History of American Crime Stories by Leonard Cassuto (Columbia University Press)
Scene of the Crime: The Importance of Place in Crime and Mystery Fiction by David Geherin (McFarland & Company)
The Rise of True Crime by Jean Murley (Greenwood Publishing - Praeger)
Edgar Allan Poe: An Illustrated Companion to his Tell-Tale Stories by Dr. Harry Lee Poe (Metro Books)

Best Short Story

"A Sleep Not Unlike Death" - Hardcore Hardboiled by Sean Chercover (Kensington Publishing)
"Skin and Bones" - Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine by David Edgerley Gates (Dell Magazines)
"Scratch a Woman" - Hardly Knew Her by Laura Lippman (HarperCollins - William Morrow)
"La Vie en Rose" - Paris Noir by Dominique Mainard (Akashic Books)
"Skinhead Central" - Mystery Writers of America Presents: The Blue Religion by T. Jefferson Parker (Hachette Book Group - Little, Brown and Company)

Best Juvenile

The Postcard by Tony Abbott (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
Enigma: A Magical Mystery by Graeme Base (Abrams Books for Young Readers)
Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff (Random House Children's Books - Wendy Lamb Books)
The Witches of Dredmoore Hollow by Riford McKenzie (Marshall Cavendish Children's Books)
Cemetery Street by Brenda Seabrooke (Holiday House)

Best Young Adult

Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd (Random House Children's Books - David Fickling Books)
The Big Splash by Jack D. Ferraiolo (Harry N. Abrams Books - Amulet Books)
Paper Towns by John Green (Penguin Young Readers Group - Dutton Children's Books)
Getting the Girl by Susan Juby (HarperCollins Children's Books - HarperTeen)
Torn to Pieces by Margot McDonnell (Random House Children's Books - Delacorte Books for Young Readers)

Best Play

The Ballad of Emmett Till by Ifa Bayeza (Goodman Theatre, Chicago, IL)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson (Arizona Theatre Company)
Cell by Judy Klass (International Mystery Writers' Festival)

Best Television Episode Teleplay

"Streetwise" - Law & Order: SVU, Teleplay by Paul Grellong (Wolf Films/NBC Universal)
"Prayer of the Bone" - Wire in the Blood, Teleplay by Patrick Harbinson (BBC America)
"Signature" - Law & Order: SVU, Teleplay by Judith McCreary (Wolf Films/NBC Universal)
"You May Now Kill the Bride" - CSI: Miami, Teleplay by Barry O'Brien (CBS)
"Burn Card" - Law & Order, Teleplay by Ed Zuckerman & David Wilcox (Wolf Films/NBC Universal)

Best Motion Picture Screen Play

The Bank Job, Screenplay by Dick Clement & Ian La Frenais (Lionsgate)
Burn After Reading, Screenplay by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen (Focus Features)
In Bruges, Screenplay by Martin McDonagh (Focus Features)
Tell No One, Screenplay by Guillaume Canet & Phillipe Lefebvre, based on the book by Harlan Coben (Music Box Films)
Transsiberian, Screenplay by Brad Anderson & Will Conroy (First Look International)

Robert L. Fish Memorial Award

"Buckner's Error" - Queens Noir by Joseph Guglielmelli (Akashic Books)

Raven Awards

Edgar Allan Poe Society, Baltimore, Maryland
Poe House, Baltimore, Maryland

Grand Master

James Lee Burke
Sue Grafton

The Simon & Schuster - Mary Higgins Clark Award

Sacrifice by S.J. Bolton (St. Martin's Minotaur)
The Killer's Wife by Bill Floyd (St. Martin's Minotaur)
Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer (Random House - Doubleday)
A Song for You by Betsy Thornton (St. Martin's Minotaur)
The Fault Tree by Louise Ure (St. Martin's Minotaur)

BoneMan’s Daughters by Ted Dekker

2009-07-23T09:21:00.001-04:00

BoneMan’s Daughters
Ted Dekker

ISBN: 9781600246043
ISBN: 1600246044
Unabridged, 9CD, 10.5hr
Center Street Publishing
www.teddekker.com

Hachette Audio
read by Robert Petkoff

*Special conversation with author @CD9”

Ted Dekker, author of 20+ best selling novels, beloved by a dedicated following..so how is it possible that many booklovers aren’t familiar with this incredible body of work? Because Dekker’s books have been classified spiritual or Christian – and that tag caused readers to leave the book on the shelf, thus missing out on some of the most prolific, character driven writing penned in recent years. BoneMan’s Daughters showcases Ted Dekker at his dark thriller best!

Good vs evil? Right vs wrong? That fine line that divides the two sides, the one that is usually so easily defined, can, in the right, or should I say, wrong set of circumstances, blur – when confronted by the unimaginable, the impossible becomes not only plausible, but almost understandable, maybe even excusable, right?

BoneMan’s Daughters opens somewhere in the Iraqi dessert, with Military Investigator Captain Ryan Evans’ convoy being attacked. Evans is taken hostage and held in a bunker by a man named Khalid. The newspapers would refer to the kidnappers as insurgents or radicals, neither is accurate. The truth, is far more frightening, Khalid, like Ryan was a father, and his child was killed by a Coalition bombing. The anger and resentment that grew within this man was palpable and he would force Ryan to experience “collateral damage,” first hand! Khalid presented Ryan with a choice, murder an Iraqi child or sacrifice his family in the child's’ place.

The events in the desert changed Ryan Evans – he realized he had neglected his family, that it would take a long time to heal the wounds his absences had inflicted upon those he loved, but he returned to Austin determined to make things right with his wife, Celine and their adopted daughter, Bethany and move on with their lives. However, fate had yet another twist in store for Ryan Evans, it seems Celine had already moved on…and into the arms of the District Attorney. As for Bethany, well, at 16, with images of NY City and a new modeling gig dancing in her head, she wasn’t interested in Ryan’s new found Fatherly love. With horrific images from Iraq haunting him day and night, divorce looming and losing his daughter, Ryan is on the verge and retreats into himself. And then, the story heats up, shifting into overdrive and barreling straight into Ryan Evans heart.

And the hits just keep on coming…

News Flash - notorious serial killer, BoneMan released from prison on a technicality… BoneMan, that single word conjured up disturbing, hellish memories for locals. The name refers to his method of murder, meticulously breaking the bones of his teenage female victims, without perforating the skin. After a two year hiatus, a teenage girl is abducted…BoneMan’s quest to find the perfect daughter continues. It would seem all eyes would be on the recently released prisoner – but not so…some very well informed investigators see the two year lull coincides quite nicely with Ryan Evans deployment. But Evans doesn’t have time to be upset or offended by such outrageous accusations…BoneMan has his daughter, Bethany and if Ryan can’t find her in time, she will suffer the same fate as the six young girls before her, becoming forever one of BoneMan’s Daughters.

A spine-tingling tale of family, betrayal, suffering, and survival. The narrator’s use of strong inflections, varied accents and emotional tones and speeds breathes life into these fictional characters, making each feel not only real, but personally familiar. Dekker’s use of current events and headline worthy subplots adds yet another level of chilling realism to BoneMan’s Daughters. A well written, well delivered novel that demonstrates Dekker’s ability as a first rate writer and assures us (readers) we have a lot to look forward too.

Happy Reading!

RJ McGill

Also available in Hardcover & Large Print Hardcover

“To sin by silence when we should protest makes cowards out of men.”
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Cast Your Vote

2009-07-21T12:28:00.002-04:00

100 Best Beach Books ~ EVER!

NPR asked and readers answered - sending in some 600 nominations for the best beach reads list... With the help of book reviewers, editors and producers the list has been whittled to 200. And now it's time for the final vote! Cast your vote(s) - everyone gets 10 ... so lobby for your favorites!
The final list of winners will be announced on July 29.

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

What is a "beach book?" While all the books on the list should be enthralling enough to inoculate vacation-goers against the vagaries of missed flights and bad weather, many "great books" aren't great "beach books." Tone, setting and sheer length play their parts. On the other hand, status as a classic isn't an automatic disqualifier; both The Great Gatsby and Pride and Prejudice were popular nominees. In the end, you'll decide what makes the top 100.

Sponsored by NPR

Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst

2009-06-19T13:56:00.003-04:00

Promise of the Wolves
Dorothy Hearst

ISBN 10: 1416569987
ISBN 13: 9781416569985
Hard Cover, Fiction, 352 pages

Simon & Schuster
www.simonsays.com

www.dorothyhearst.com

Available July 7, in Paperback

Dorothy Hearst’s debut, Promise of the Wolves takes you inside the realm of these beautiful, secretive and long ranging animals. Since the dawn of man we have been fascinated by the strength and charisma of the wolf – now, Hearst, delivers a heartwarming tale of friendship and adventure that will leave you longing to run with the pack!

A prehistoric fantasy, set 14,000 years ago, centering around the mythical society of the wolf and demonstrating that even at this early stage of organization and communication, mans impending effect on the ecological and environmental systems were showing. Part legend, part lore and all heart, Dororthy Hearst has struck fiction animal fantasy gold.

A young member of Swift River pack, Kaala is finding acceptance in her adoptive family elusive. The moon-shaped mark on Kaala is thought to be a sign of bad luck and therefore, Ruuquo, the leader, doesn’t trust her. And her desire to be with and interact with humans breaks the most important law…”never associate with humans.” However, the more alienated Kaala becomes -from the pack, the stronger her need to be with the humans grows. Unbeknownst to anyone, Kaala is guided by a spirit-wolf that obviously shares her desire to bring the humans and wolves together, so that they can coexist peacefully. With the help of her pack-mates, a silly raven named Tlitoo and otherworldly guidance from Spiritwolf, Kaala learns the value of friendship and that the future cannot depend solely upon the legends of the past, that there are no absolutes and that survival may well depend on their ability to embrace change. But can she convince the Greatwolves? Or will her need to bridge the divide between wolf and man destroy both of them?

Well researched, historically accurate, but more importantly, the animal personalities and respective voices are so point-on, you can’t help but wonder if Hearst consulted Dr. Dolittle while writing this book. Laying the foundation for such an imaginative trilogy can be cumbersome, run long and become overly factualized, however, Hearst manages to sidestep each of these pitfalls and deliver an interesting, invigorating story that familiarizes the reader with the characters and concepts, yet holding enough back to keep us wanting to know more. I look forward to continuing this series and for a few hours, embracing the fantastical!

Happy Reading!

-RJ McGill

The Year of Disappearnaces by Susan Hubbard

2009-06-01T13:16:00.002-04:00

Available June 16 in paperback -

The Year of Disappearances
Susan Hubbard
ISBN 10: 1416552715
ISBN 13: 978-141655710
Simon & Schuster
Fiction, 304 pages
www.simonsays.com

www.susanhubbard.com

Susan Hubbard delighted vampire lovers with her morally refined, deeply emotional tale of a young girl, half human, half vampire and wholly exiled from both cultures for the first thirteen years of her life, in her debut novel, “The Society of S.” The sequel, Year of Disappearances, reunites us with Ariella Montero and takes us inside her search for that ever elusive sense of normalcy.

Ariella’s story is a voyage through adolescence, with a vampire twist – struggling to find your place in the world is hard enough as a teenager, but trying to secure a spot in two diametrically opposed cultures, simultaneously, spells trouble with a capital T. After the death of her best friend, Ari left New York, moved to Florida with her vampiric mother, where she learns more about her unusual genealogy, makes new friends, is targeted by sinister forces and becomes a murder suspect. And if this weren’t enough to give Ari premature wrinkles, her father falls ill, the water is contaminated, honeybees are dying or disappearing, a vampire is positioned to run for president and her old nemesis Malcolm lurks in the darkness.

Hubbard’s ability to imagine an incredibly detailed environment and fill it to the brim with really cool concepts has been a bit overdone in Year of Disappearances, there’s simply too much going on, especially considering the age of the main character, Ariella. There are several creative ideas that really grabbed me, unfortunately, my excitement was short lived, as many of these ideas were reduced to not much more than an introduction… To see such innovative, fresh narrative twisting in the wind was disappointing and I hope these concepts will be revisited in future novels and fully fleshed out, utilizing Hubbard’s unparalleled story-telling voice.

In a nutshell, Year of Disappearances is a good read, that will hold your attention and give you something to talk about around the water cooler, however, when compared to Hubbard’s stellar performance in Society of S it falls a bit short. That said, I am looking forward to the next installment in this unique series, because when Susan Hubbard has her finger soundly on the vampire jugular, her novels grab you by the throat and barely allow you to breathe.

The Society of S (click here to read review) the first book in the series - where it all began!

Happy Reading,
RJ

follow on

Dressing Up The Blog

2009-05-24T21:11:00.000-04:00

Personalize A Little Golden Book

2009-04-28T14:23:00.006-04:00

Little Golden Books -

Did you have a favorite? or two? I certainly did! And still to this day when I retrieve one of these tiny treasured titles from it's storage container my heart is flooded with wonderful memories - my face is immediately contorted by a ridiculous smile that simply will not take no for answer...
:)
My Mother shared with me her love of reading and her insatiable appetite for books! She and my Father spent countless hours reading to me - and our weekly visit to the local grocery store became an outing I looked most forward too - because (now, I shall date myself and show my age), way back in my day, the magazine aisle offered much more than just monthly or weekly issues of popular magazines, puzzle books and horoscopes, they also had a selection of books...children's books...and I was allowed to choose a new LGB ...all by myself! I remember there were so many - each with it's very own adorable character calling out to me from the cover...of course, I wanted them all...but, I had to pick just one! On the way home I would flip through the pages searching for a word I could recognize, trying to figure out what it said - wanting more than anything to be able to read those words, the way my parents did!
I can't imagine my world without books - magical, relaxing, eduational - there's just no limit to what we can find inside a book.

Little Golden Books are special - however, you can personalize your favorite title, making it an original, extra-special, one of a kind gift, sure to be treasured always!

Happy Reading,
~ RJ

D.E.A.R. Recommended Reading

2009-04-20T11:53:00.002-04:00

Drop-Everything & Read

Favorite Read-Aloud Titles for Families of D.E.A.R. Readers
Compiled by children’s reading experts from Reach Out and Read, NEA, and Reading Rockets

For Families with Soon-to-be Readers
(Age 4 and under)

Amelia Bedelia’s Family Album by Peggy Parish

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman

Baby Says by John Steptoe

Bigmama’s by Donald Crews

black is brown is tan by Arnold Adoff

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak

New Shoes for Sylvia by Johanna Hurwitz

Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

“More More More,” Said the Baby by Vera B. Williams

Pete’s a Pizza by William Steig

For Families with Up-and-Coming Readers
(Age 5 to 7)

Big Max by Kin Platt

Chato’s Kitchen by Gary Soto

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel

The Fairy’s Mistake by Gail Carson Levine

The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

Morris Goes to School by B. Wiseman

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

A Three Hat Day by Laura Geringer

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by John Scieszka

For Families with Growing Readers
(Age 8 – 11)

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

Dragonwings by Lawrence Yep

Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Lyddie by Katherine Paterson

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

My Daniel by Pam Conrad

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

For Families with Sophisticated Readers
(Age 12 and older)

Boy by Roald Dahl

The Cry of the Wolf by Melvin Burgess

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck

The Mennyms by Sylvia Waugh

The Pinballs by Betsy Byars

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech

Sabriel by Garth Nix

The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Watership Down by Richard Adams

Start a Series!

Artemis Fowl

The Borrowers

Chronicles of Narnia

Little House

Magic School Bus

Marvin Redpost

Redwall

Series of Unfortunate Events

Warriors

For Families Who Prefer Reading Silently
These read-aloud titles make great silent reads as well! Then after D.E.A.R. time, everyone can share their reading experience. Or create a D.E.A.R. theme that gets family members reading books about the same topic. Focus on fiction, nonfiction or a mix!

More Drop-Everything Reads
Multi-Cultural Read-Aloud Titles for D.E.A.R. Families

This list was compiled by the Quicklists Consulting Committee of the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.

Ages 0-4

Bebe Goes Shopping by Susan Middleton Elya

Bee-Bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park

Hands Can by Cheryl Willis Hudson

Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler

Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems

My Grandma = Mi Abuelita by Ginger Foglesong Guy

Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora

Ages 5-7

The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice N. Harrington

Little Mama Forgets by Robin Cruise

Little Red Riding-Hood by Jerry Pinkney

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale by Carmen Deedy

My Father’s Shop by Satomi Ichikawa

Oscar’s Half Birthday by Bob Graham

Ages 8-11

Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

Indian Shoes by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything by Lenore Look

Rules by Cynthia Lord

The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin

Younguncle Comes to Town by Vandana Singh

Ages 12 & Up

Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

If A Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata

The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt

Share the magic of imagination with your family - Read Together!

Bloggers Unite

2009-04-10T21:28:00.008-04:00

BlogCatalog.com Partners With Heifer International, For Bloggers Unite For Hunger And Hope

BlogCatalog.com, the leading social network for bloggers on the Internet, is partnering with Heifer International, a global non-profit with proven sustainable solutions to end hunger and poverty by providing livestock and agricultural training to improve lives, to launch a global social awareness campaign to end hunger and provide hope. April 29 and asks bloggers from all over the world to post about how people can end hunger and find hope with programs like Heifer’s that create self reliance. Collectively, their posts will reach people all over the world, in real time,, including those countries where hunger and poverty are a part of daily life for millions.

Pass On The Gift campaign,

Disturbing statistics....

Bloggers Unite to Delete Hunger & Deliver Hope

Starvation accounts for nearly 60% of deaths worldwide
For the price of one missile, a school full of hungry children could eat lunch every day for 5 years
Throughout the 1990’s more than 100 million children will die from illness and starvation. Those 100 million deaths could be prevented for the price of ten Stealth bombers, or what the world spends on its military in two days!
The World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the world is well-fed, one-third is under-fed one-third is starving- Since you’ve entered this site at least 200 people have died of starvation. Over 4 million will die this year.
One in twelve people worldwide is malnourished, including 160 million children under the age of 5.
Nearly one in four people, 1.3 billion - a majority of humanity - live on less than $1 per day, while the world’s 358 billionaires have assets exceeding the combined annual incomes of countries with 45 percent of the world’s people.
3 billion people in the world today struggle to survive on US$2/day.
Half of all children under five years of age in South Asia and one third of those in sub-Saharan Africa are malnourished.
About 183 million children weigh less than they should for their age.
To satisfy the world’s sanitation and food requirements would cost only US$13 billion- what the people of the United States and the European Union spend on perfume each year.
The assets of the world’s three richest men are more than the combined GNP of all the least developed countries on the planet.
Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger.

Together - We CAN make a difference... PLEASE join thousands of bloggers, worldwide, on April 29, write something about world hunger and post it on your blog... That's it!

Need another reason to get involved?

• Right now, more than 500 million people are living in "absolute poverty" and more than 15 million children die of hunger every year.

• World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the population is underfed and another third is starving.

• Even in the United States, 46 percent of African-American children and 49 percent of Latino children are considered chronically hungry.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Visit Heifer International to learn more about Pass On The Gift.

• Make a small donation or take some other action to end world hunger.

• Post about world hunger on April 29 with links to solutions all over the world.

click here to open "30 days in April" via Heifer.org

CLICK HERE to view an interactive introduction to Heifer & explore their world

In the 21st century, no person...man, woman or child should ever know the pain associated with hunger... so many of the issues being discussed today seem insurmountable, but not this one - this is something we CAN solve - We have the answer, We have the anti-toxin, We have the cure - all we have to do is get it to those who need it and together we can make that happen!

Surfin' With Style

2009-03-30T17:55:00.003-04:00

GetGlue.com

The Circle

2009-03-20T19:45:00.001-04:00

Our New Den Buddy

2009-03-19T17:22:00.002-04:00

Introducing "Harvey,"the Happy Reading little Huggle Wuggle -
He's our new Den Buddy...When you see this little guy, he'll be pointing out some kind of special feature, a new listing on the site, an important safety issue, a contest or give-a-way, etc...

huggle

2009-03-19T17:21:00.001-04:00

illusion

2009-03-19T17:16:00.001-04:00

Resident Reviewer

2009-03-19T13:43:00.001-04:00

Preview - Boneman's Daughters

2009-03-17T20:56:00.007-04:00

Novel News

Available April 14, 2009

From best selling author, Ted Dekker - Boneman's Daughters

Click the open book resource from Hachette Book Group below to check it out!

Order your copy today from

- - - -

The Fourth Watcher by Timothy Hallinan

2009-03-02T16:16:00.005-05:00

The Fourth Watcher
A Novel of Bangkok
Timothy Hallinan
ISBN-10: 0061257257
ISBN-13: 978-0061257254
Harper Collins Publishing
www.harpercollins.com

www.timothyhallinan.com

To say that Timothy Hallinan’s second installment in the Bangkok series starts off with a bang is…well, exactly what it does…from that initial blast to the closing words you are immersed in the chaotic world of Poke Rafferty. Whether you’re an international traveler, well versed in Asian cultures or a homebody like me, The Fourth Watcher brings Bangkok to life. The vivid, lush imagery, believable characters and high stakes plot line will keep you turning pages. Hallinan utilizes every tool at his disposal to deliver a complete reading experience. Even the chapter titles add flavor to this remarkable read!

Poke is an ever-so- likable character you simply can‘t help but cheer for! He‘s quick witted and absolutely devoted to his fiancee’ Rose and their eight year old, adopted daughter Miaow. Determined to provide a better life for his two best girls, he decides to write an espionage thriller. Realizing he needs to be familiar with the topic in order to be authentic, he hires Ex-CIA Agent Arnold Prettyman to assist him with his research. Stumbling upon information concerning a recent flood of counterfeit money from North Korea puts Poke and Rose in the Secret Service’s crosshairs. However, the plot thickens when Rose is accused of passing the fake bills through her cleaning business.

If this weren’t enough to complicate their lives, Frank, Poke’s estranged Father re-enters the picture after years of silence…and he isn’t alone. Poke is apprehensive, but Rose encourages him to give his father a second chance. As usual, where Frank is concerned, trouble is not far behind and this time his connections to the underworld have endangered Poke’s family too.

Throughout the novel Miaow is nothing short of a subtle hero. The adorable, street wise Miaow displays a degree of maturity that is far beyond her tender years. This child’s ability to rise above all the tough, lonely times she endured is amazing, but to do so without becoming jaded is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the healing power of love. The Fourth Watcher is masterfully written, highlighting Hallinan’s knowledge of the culture and his genuine affection for its people. Rich, alluring details draw the reader in, providing a deeply satisfying read. The characters have been assembled with the care of a loving parent and the scenic imagery is worthy of a spot in Louve. I recommend this book to all who enjoy an intriguing story with memorable characters, some easy to love, others, very easy to despise. And with the third book in the series releasing this summer, now is the ideal time to get to know Timothy Hallinan’s Poke Rafferty.

Happy Reading!
~ RJ

In a nutshell the title of chapter 14 says it best, “It’s not coming from the direction you expect.”

Click Here to read our review of A Nail Through the Heart!

Baby's Going Ga-Ga

2009-02-16T12:32:00.003-05:00

Sophie the Giraffe

Natural rubber and non-toxic paint have made Sophie a huge hit with parents...especially with concerns mounting after the disturbing lead paint reports. However, Sophie is also a smashing success with the little ones...and that's what's important!

* Product Description
From the Manufacturer
Sophie the Giraffe, full of discoveries and activities to awaken baby’s senses. Sight: The dark and contrasting spots all over Sophie the Giraffe’s body provide visual stimulation and make her easily recognizable to baby. She soon becomes a familiar and reassuring objet. Hearing: Her squeaker keeps baby amused, stimulates his hearings, and helps him to understand the link between cause and effect. Taste: Sophie the Giraffe is very flexible and has lots of parts for baby to chew like ears, horns, legs. She is perfect for soothing baby’s sore gums when teething and is completely safe. Made of 100% natural rubber and food paint. Touch: Sophie the Giraffe is perfect for baby’s small hands. She is very light and her long legs and neck are easy for baby to grip. She is very soft to touch, just like baby’s mummy, stimulating soothing physiological and emotional responses. Smell: The singular scent of natural rubber from Hevea tree makes Sophie the Giraffe very special and easy for your child to identify amid all his other toys. Phthalates and BPA free.

Live, Laugh & Love,
-RJ

Exposed by Alex Kava (Maggie O'Dell novel)

2009-02-13T20:15:00.004-05:00

Exposed
Alex Kava
Hardcover, 320 pages
ISBN: 0778325571
ISBN: 978-0778325574
Mira
www.MiraBooks.com
www.AlexKava.com

Alex Kava’s latest installment starring FBI Profiler Maggie O’Dell and Assistant Director Cunningham is an interesting and entertaining read that includes a possible life and death dilemma for our heroine.

Since this is, at its’ core, a police drama, it is only fitting that the story begins with a box of donuts. As O’Dell selects her favorite, chocolate covered of course, AD Cunningham spots an envelope in the bottom of the box. The note inside sends O’Dell and Cunningham to the address of a “crash,” however, upon arrival the agents quickly realize they have run, headlong into a well laid trap. They had expected a bomb, what they found was much more terrifying. A mother near death and her daughter not far behind, both infected by a deadly virus that had to be intentionally introduced. Who would do such a thing? And why? Because the agents were exposed to the virus, they were hurriedly quarantined, placed in an isolation ward, at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease. (USAMRIID) Not only has FBI Agent Maggie O’Dell never matched wits with such a cunning foe, but she must find the murderer while locked in an isolation cell, with only her experience, a telephone and a computer, all this while pondering her own mortality.

This killer seems to have thought of everything and is one, maybe two or three steps, ahead. Carefully choosing his victims so they appear random and unrelated, leaving false clues to frustrate and hamper the investigation…it was all part of his arcane plot to rid the world of everyone that wronged him. Even though his identity is revealed early on, he blends like a chameleon with his environment, allowing him to hide in plain sight and maneuver much closer than anyone imagined. The admiring apprentice is a mystery and he is kept in the shadows right to the very end. Together, this duo unleashes a campaign of murder and terror that plays on our darkest fears.

A killer seeking revenge, with a “god complex,” an apprentice with a deep respect for his master’s craft, utilizing a highly contagious, easily transmitted disease as their weapon of choice, each with a signature delivery accredited to a famous killer from the past…there’s something on every page to make you want to read the next! Thrilling to the very last satisfying word, with a few secondary storylines left teetering at the end to give readers something to look forward too in future novels. Alex Kava’s Exposed is a solid suspense thriller that tingles, tempts and terrorizes!

Happy Reading!
-RJ McGill
3Rs Reading Den

Visit Alex Kava Website

Novels by Alex Kava
Exposed
Whitewash
Thriller (32 stories by top genre writers: Lee Child, James Grippando, Denise Hamilton & others)
A Necessary Evil
One False Move
At The Stroke Of Madness
The Soul Catcher
Split Second
A Perfect Evil

Online Safety - (For Parents)

2009-02-13T12:57:00.010-05:00

As parents we are bombarded with information, tips, tricks, advice, opinions and everything else - most for well meaning folks that only want to help - but, it's hard to sort through it all...especially with most working at least one job, maybe two or three and still not being able to make ends meet. These are difficult times and anything that makes life a little easier is a welcomed relief...Which is why I had to post these links and share them with all the other parents that have visited my site over the last two years. Internet (or online) Safety is a huge concern for parents and rightly so. Unfortunately it appears to be getting worse instead of better, with each evenings news cast reporting yet another horrific story -

I hope you find one or all of these links helpful, as each offers a wealth of information that is easy to navigate, concise and to the point and directed at children and teens. (In other words, exactly what we're always looking for!) :)

"I Know Better" The Internet neighborhood is full of fascinating facts, games and people. But, just like a real world neighborhood, it also has liars, thieves, and predators. INOBTR has gathered lots of helpful tips, trends, and resources that will help you and your family stay safe. Let’s keep our neighborhood safe for everyone to play and learn.

I Keep Safe is also on FaceBook (@Click Here)
Are you familiar with the three main risks to our children online? Visit IKeepSafe.org and click on the Parent Resource tab for a detailed explanation and lots of helpful tips on this topic and many more.

Net Smart Kid

An interactive children's site loaded with games, educational tools, E-Cards and so much more! Check out this colorful, animated site.

Point Smart. Click Safe.
Control. Education. Choice. This website contains of wealth of up-to-date information related to internet safety, choices for parents, teaching children how to use the Internet safely, archived articles, as well as, what are the cable companies doing?

Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the media and entertainment lives of kids and families. Providing trustworthy information and tools, as well as, an independent forum, so that families can have a choice and a voice about the media they consume.

Happy Surfing!
-RJ

Oh - and Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Curse of the Bayou by Mary Cunningham (YA)

2008-07-22T16:27:00.006-04:00

Cynthia's Attic series, Book #3: Curse of the Bayou
by Mary Cunningham
ISBN 10: 1590805755
ISBN 13: 978-1590805756
Echelon Press Publishing
http://www.marycunninghambooks.com/

The third time really is the charm for author Mary Cunningham, as her latest installment in the Cynthia's Attic series is the best of the trio. While books one and two are delightfully entertaining, within a few pages of book three, it is apparent that the writer has grown right a long side her two main characters. Blending parallel universes with very real human issues while allowing the reader to suspend the need for reason is a huge undertaking, and one that Cunningham has met and far exceeded with Curse of the Bayou.

On the edge of thirteen, in the year 1964, best friends and time traveling companions, Cynthia and Gus are at it again, drawn to the old trunk in the attic that magically melts the seams of time. The girls land in the year 1914, deep in the Louisiana swamp and quickly find they aren't swimming with dolphins...it's alligators! But, this is to be only the first of many heart stopping thrills as they search for Cynthia's great-grandfather, Beau Connor, who was last seen traveling down the Mississippi River to sell produce.

The girls receive helpful hints from old friends and stern warnings from new ones. It seems the Mississippi River is home to the meanest, most orneriest pirate ever...one Buzzard Jack LaBuse. A long the way our gutsy tweenies find themselves facing off with shifting plants, scheming baddies and a thieving parrot, just to name a few. Traveling back and forth in time, the girls land in Southern Indiana, on the old Connor farm, where they discover a link between Beau Connor and pirate Jack. Could a family curse be the cause of Great Grandpa's sudden and mysterious disappearance?

Curse of the Bayou is the ultimate stage for Cunningham's cooky cast of characters to act out their story. Just as the most intricate web begins with a single strand, so it is with a good series...there's a basic idea upon which each individual story is built. And while each must stand alone, it must be linked to the original. With three complete books in the series, the supporting cast and their respective back stories can get quite confusing, especially for the target audience, for this reason I would love to see a character list included with future installments. There are so many directions the author can take with these characters and an endless list of issues, both real and imagined that can be filtered in, that not even the sky can limit this series...

Kudos to author Mary Cunningham for delivering a good old fashioned family story, with all the sci-fi perks and jigs to light the imagination of today's young reader.

Happy Reading!
- RJ

CLICK HERE @ to read our review of books 1 & 2

The Den

National Donut Day (June 3)

Quick Pick: The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

Description

Author Cassandra Clare Discusses Her Audiobooks

The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker

BURIED SECRETS trailer

The Ghost Writer by Robert Harris

National Bestseller

Description

The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris

The Bone Chamber by Robin Burcell

Product Description

Gutshot Straight by Lou Berney

Product Description

Vanished by Joseph Finder

Mommy Where Are You? by Barbara Rockaway

Bang Goes a Troll – An Awfully Beastly Business (series)

An Awfully Beastly Business

Danny the Dragon by Tina Turbin (children’s)

Timescape by Robrt Liparulo *YA*

Deadlock by Robert Liparulo

Dear John

Timothy Hallinan, Book Tour Stop – Nashville, TN

RELATED Articles, Links, Pictures, Slides, Etc….

Bangkok Travel Guide

Street Eats in Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand

Letters: Bangkok Street Food (January 20, 2008)

Breathing Water by Timothy Hallinan

Breathing Water A Bangkok Thriller

Timothy Hallinan

Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Cemetery Dance Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Hachette Audio

Cabinets of Curiosities (*audio from Hachette Book Group)

CLICK HERE to view a short video at Amazon.com

Novels:

Relic

Reliquary

Cabinet of Curiosities

Still Life with Crows

Brimstone

Dance of Death

Book of the Dead

Wheel of Darkness

Cemetery Dance

Mount Dragon

Riptide

Thunderhead

The Ice Limit

Thriller

Technorati Tags: book review,reviews,novels,best sellers,new releases,authors,Cemetery Dance,Lincoln Child,Douglas Preston,Preston Child,Bosch,Bosch series,Mickey Haller,Lincoln Lawyer

SlimShots

Parents’ Choice Awards

Banned Books Week Sept 26-Oct 3

What's the difference between a challenge and a banning?

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2008

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2006

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2005

Alex Cross’s TRIAL by James Patterson & Richard Dilallo

Beat The Reaper by Josh Bazell

The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly (audio)

Reading Group Guide:

Drood by Dan Simmons

Wordsworth Dances the Waltz by Frances H. Kakugawa

Oxygen by Carol Cassella

The Gate House by Nelson DeMille (audio)

Gatekeepers by Robert Liparulo (Dreamhouse Kings series BK3)

MWA 2009 Nominees & Winners

The Edgar® Awards - Nominees and Winners

BoneMan’s Daughters by Ted Dekker

Cast Your Vote

Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst

The Year of Disappearnaces by Susan Hubbard

Dressing Up The Blog

Personalize A Little Golden Book

D.E.A.R. Recommended Reading

Bloggers Unite

Surfin' With Style

Timescape by Robrt Liparulo YA

Breathing Water
A Bangkok Thriller

Cemetery Dance
Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child