Mailbox Monday- January 18

Mailbox Monday
is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page.
We share what books that we found in our mailboxes last week.

Fireworks Over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff
** This is an ARC that I requested last year. I like to read a good love story every now and again and I think this one will hit the mark.
Synopsis:
Lily was married for just days before her husband was sent abroad to fight in WWII. Now, he and the other soldiers are returning, and the small town of Toccoa, Georgia plans a big celebration. But a handsome and kind Italian immigrant, responsible for the elaborate fireworks display the town commissioned captures Lily's heart and soul. Torn between duty to society and her husband, and a poor, passionate man who might be her only true love--Lily must choose between a love she never knew and a commitment she'd already made.


Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds
** I won this from Serena at Savvy Verse & Wit.
Synopsis:
In this sexy Jane Austen sequel, Elizabeth Bennet accepts Mr. Darcy's first marriage proposal, answering the "What if...?" question fans everywhere have pondered

What came for you?

Six Sentence Saturday

Welcome to Six Sentence Saturday.

Where I try to express my thoughts on recent reads using only 6 sentences!!!!.
At the end of each review I will post a
rating scale of 1-5 using the cute and original (lol) Playing Cards.
Rating scale will be as follows:

5 of Hearts- You must read this book NOW!!
4 of Hearts- A great read, put it on your TBR list.
3 of Hearts- Glad I read but no big deal
2 of Hearts- Why did I finish this?
Joker Card - Don't bother (why did I?)



A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick
** What a lovely book!! There wasn't a part in this novel that I didn't enjoy or truly believe could happen. I'm a big sucker for stories that involve women, hardship, friendships, and some sort of craft, this one has it all. I wanted to live in their town and be friends with all of them. I could so see myself learning how to quilt with the help of Evelyn, the main character.Thankfully, there is a sequel, A Thread of Truth, which is resting happily on my library loot shelf!!

My Rating:







Crossing Stones by Helen Frost
** I'm not sure how I heard about this book, but I'm very happy that I picked it up to read. What I loved the most was the free form poetry that Frost incorporated into the story. She also designed her words to simulate the lake and the stones that the characters crossed daily to visit with each other. I haven't read many books that are about WWI and this one brought the horrors of the war to me without the gore. Eighteen-year-old Muriel will capture your heart, she's a feisty young lady who questions the reasons for this war and finds out that even in the United States you must watch what you say or write. Highly recommended for history buffs, young people, those that love poetry, and anyone looking for a fast-moving story.

My Rating:







Bone Volume 2: The Great Cow Race by Jeff Smith
** I can only gush when I talk about this charming graphic novel series. I am so in love with Fone Bone and his sheer innocence. His heart is filled with love for Thorn and there are some amusing moments when they're at the town festival and a sweet talker tries to take Thorn away from him. If you are looking for a book to get your reluctant reader to read, I would ABSOLUTELY tell you to grab this series. The best part is that you, an adult, will enjoy this just as much as your child!!! I'm so happy that I have many more installments to look forward to!!

My Rating:

Teen's Perspective: Hole in the Sky

Synopsis:
As the story opens, a fatal influenza has killed off most of the earth's population, leaving behind the unexposed and the Survivors, who are now immune but suffer losses ranging from sensory impairment to being delusional. Four successive narrators include 16-year-old Ceej; his friend Tim; his spiritual Hopi girlfriend, Isabella; and his mute, Survivor sister, Harryette, all living "at the edge of the world" (near the Grand Canyon). The plot unfolds gradually: the few adults in their lives are being murdered by a cult of Survivors who believe it their God-given purpose to infect people with the flu, offering them up to the "Judgment of the Divine"; led by the charismatic Mother K (who hears voices), the cult offers a sense of wholeness to the damaged Survivors and a lure for Harryette. Meanwhile, Isabella follows her unshakable belief in a Hopi portal that will lead her (and Ceej) to another, better world. The plot lines intertwine in a crafty climax that, like much of the novel, leaves it to readers to draw their own conclusions. Hautman's ability to tell a story while offering simultaneous interpretations should draw a strong response from teens.

I just finished Hole in the Sky, by Pete Hautman. This book is seriously one of my favorite books of all time. When I was reading this book there was never a moment where I couldn't see the scene in my mind. The story felt so real, almost like it had already happened. It was easy to see myself in the situation that the characters were in. If I could say anything about this book was that its idea made me believe the story within the story. That may make little sense to you, but if you read it you won't just understand, you will feel the same as me. Not reading this book is like a big old slap to the cheek.

Reviewed by Marc
He's #25 the one in the air tackling 29 in blue. Yes, he's crazy about football!!!

Let's Visit Canada!!

I was browsing through my current Book Links magazine and came across some really great suggestions for books that take place in Canada. I have several blogging friends that reside in Canada and I know that my reading doesn't take me there near enough. So, just in case any of you are thinking about visiting Canada in your reading here are some titles to consider!



Middle-Grade Fiction

The Crazy Man by Pamela Porter
** Setting: rural Saskatchewan in the 1960's
When a freak farm accident cripples 12-year-old Emaline and her father abandons the family, her mother hires a patient from the local mental hospital to help with the farm work. Porter's free-verse narrative explores prejudice, fear, and disability with quiet grace.





Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
** Setting: Ontario's Buxton Settlement, a community established for for escaped and freed slaves.
In 1860, 11-year-old Elijah struggles to not be so "fra-gile" and to make sense of the scam artists he encounters in the adult world.




A Perfect Gentle Knight by Kit Pearson
** Setting: Vancouver in the late 1950's
Struggling to come to terms with the death of their mother, the Bell children become involved in an intricate role-playing fantasy in which oldest brother Sebastian takes on the role of Sir Lancelot. Eleven-year-old Corrie recounts the siblings' story, conveying her growing concerns as she watches Sebastian lost his grip on reality.




YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Another Kind of Cowboy by Susan Juby
** Setting: Vancouver Island
Note- I'm going to read this one for my YA Challenge and GLBT Challenge
Sixteen-year-old Alex, who hides his homosexuality from his macho father, meets spoiled, rich-girl Cleo when the two share a dressage trainer, and their unlikely friendship helps both teens realize their identities and strengths.



The Landing by John Ibbitson
** Setting: Muskoka District of Ontario
In 1934, 15-year-old Ben works as a handyman for Ruth Chapman, a wealthy American widow who comes to summer in the Muskoka District of Ontario.






Mistik Lake by Martha Brooks
**Setting: Mistik Lake in Manitoba








Skim by Mariko Tamaki
Setting: private girl' school in Ontario
Note- I read this last year...great book for the Graphic Novel Challenge. Would also cross over to GLBT Challenge.





Would You by Marthe Jocelyn
** Setting: small-town Ontario
Note- I will be requesting this book to read sometime this year.







I have only listed Middle-Grade and YA books, but if you're interested in picture books and non-fiction click on my link in the first sentence.

Library Loot- January 13

Hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Marg at Reading Adventures.
We share what we each picked up at the library during the week.

Saturdays are a bad day for me to go to the library. Why? Because I feel no stress to be anywhere else or to rush home to fix dinner, laundry, or tend to anything pressing. So what happens???? I have a lot of time to browse which in turn results in me bringing home more books!! But I do want you to know that I talked myself out of checking out 2 more! ! I've got a little bit of willpower...not much, but just enough!

Here's what I dragged in the door:

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
** I've read some great reviews on this one and seriously felt like I had to GET IT NOW!










The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir
**For some reason I'm on an Elizabeth kick again!!!









The Virgin's Daughters: in the court of Elizabeth by Jeane Westin
** I mentioned above my Elizabeth I obsession...so when I stumbled on this one I had to get it. The story of Elizabeth told through the eyes of two ladies-in-waiting.








The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti
** The Stark Raving Bibliophile wrote an incredible review of this book and immediately prompted me to request this from the library!! it's about a young girl who suffers from Panic Disorder....having that problem myself I thought this would be a great read.







Stitches: a memoir by David Small
** Graphic novel that I just had to get my hands on. I'm always fascinated by stories of kids coming from horrible lives/circumstances and making it through to the other side. Told in graphic novel form only makes the story that much more interesting to me.







Books Read in 2010 to date: 8
Number of Books Checked out from the library:15

Teaser Tuesday and It's Tuesday...Where Are You?

It's Tuesday...Where Are You?

I live in Charleston, South Carolina selling real estate. I just inherited an old run down mansion that I must renovate. Down side- it's haunted and only I can see the ghosts. And not all of them are nice!

The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
____________________________________________

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

"Are you all right? He put the camera back down and shivered. "And something's wrong with your central air-conditioning. It's freezing in here." He reached for the shirt he'd thrown on the bed and began putting it on.
My voice was stiff. "There isn't any."
He stopped buttoning midway up the shirt. "There isn't any what?"
"Central air," I whispered, barely able to speak.

p.114 from The House on Tradd Street

Mailbox Monday- Jan 11

Mailbox Monday
is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page.
We share what books that we found in our mailboxes last week.

Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Patillo
Isn't the cover gorgeous????

Synopsis:

Claire Prescott is a sensible woman who believes in facts and figures, not fairy tales. But when she agrees to present a paper to a summer symposium at Oxford on her ailing sister's behalf, Claire finds herself thrown into an adventure with a gaggle of Jane Austen-loving women all on the lookout for their Mr. Darcy. Claire isn't looking for Mr. Anyone. She's been dating Neil -- a nice if a bit negligent -- sports fanatic. But when a tall, dark and dashing stranger crosses her path, will the staid Claire suddenly discover her inner romantic heroine?

What came for you?