Feature: Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon

My son and I started the Dragonbreath series by Ursula Vernon and took quite a liking to them. Seeing there was a new book by her and a stand alone, I was intrigued.

This one is on my son's nightstand to read for the summer. Sounds super fun!

"When Molly shows up on Castle Hangnail's doorstep to fill the vacancy for a wicked witch, the castle's minions are understandably dubious. After all, she is twelve years old, barely five feet tall, and quite polite. (The minions are used to tall, demanding evil sorceresses with razor-sharp cheekbones.) But the castle desperately needs a master or else the Board of Magic will decommission it, leaving all the minions without the home they love. So when Molly assures them she is quite wicked indeed (So wicked! REALLY wicked!) and begins completing the tasks required by the Board of Magic for approval, everyone feels hopeful. Unfortunately, it turns out that Molly has quite a few secrets, including the biggest one of all: that she isn't who she says she is." (Goodreads)

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Mystery Lovers Check out these titles!

Lately I haven't had too many chances to read but that doesn't stop the offers for review requests. To compromise, because I still love knowing what is new and hot, I have offered to do Features! to appeal to my A-Z Mystery Author Challenge folks.

So today I have many wonderful mystery/thrillers to let you know about that cover quite a few different  sub genres within the mystery genre.

Gathering Prey by John Sandford
Sandford is a local boy for me. He is from Minnesota and is very well loved. His Prey series especially is always popular and the list is long, especially at the library I work at.
"They call them Travelers. They move from city to city, panhandling, committing no crimes—they just like to stay on the move. And now somebody is killing them.

Lucas Davenport’s adopted daughter, Letty, is home from college when she gets a phone call from a woman Traveler she’d befriended in San Francisco. The woman thinks somebody’s killing her friends, she’s afraid she knows who it is, and now her male companion has gone missing. She’s hiding out in North Dakota, and she doesn’t know what to do.

Letty tells Lucas she’s going to get her, and, though he suspects Letty’s getting played, he volunteers to go with her. When he hears the woman’s story, though, he begins to think there’s something in it. Little does he know. In the days to come, he will embark upon an odyssey through a subculture unlike any he has ever seen, a trip that will not only put the two of them in danger—but just may change the course of his life."

Midnight Crossroads by Charlaine Harris
What? A new series by Charlaine Harris. Sign me up. Obviously a huge fan of True Blood here. This is a little different but looks just as fun.

"Welcome to Midnight, Texas, a town with many boarded-up windows and few full-time inhabitants, located at the crossing of Witch Light Road and Davy Road. It’s a pretty standard dried-up western town.

There’s a pawnshop (someone lives in the basement and is seen only at night). There’s a diner (people who are just passing through tend not to linger). And there’s new resident Manfred Bernardo, who thinks he’s found the perfect place to work in private (and who has secrets of his own)."

Dry Bones (A Longmire Mystery) by Craig Johnson
Now this is a new series and genre for me. But I have heard amazing things about the TV show. Anyone read these before? Adding it to my challenge...

"Longmire, the TV adaptation of Craig Johnson’s New York Timesbestselling Walt Longmire Mystery series, has ratcheted up demand for the Wyoming sheriff’s written adventures. Publishing on the heels of the Longmire boxed set, Dry Bones is certain to join Johnson’s four most recent Longmire novels when it moseys on up the New York Timesbestseller list.

When the largest, most complete fossil of a Tyrannosaurus Rex is discovered in Absaroka County, it would appear to have nothing to do with Walt. That is, until the Cheyenne rancher who finds her is found face down in a turtle pond. As a number of parties vie for ownership of the priceless remains, including rancher Danny Lone Elk’s family, the Cheyenne tribe, the Deputy Attorney General, and a cadre of FBI men, Walt must recruit undersheriff Victoria Moretti, Henry Standing Bear, and Dog to investigate a sixty-six million year-old cold case that’s starting to heat up fast."

A few extra books to add to your mystery pile, right?

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Feature: Aunt Dimity and the Summer King by Nancy Atherton

There are so many mysteries out there that it is hard to keep up! The Aunt Dimity series has been around for many years and I sort of overlooked them until now .I was given the opportunity to feature the newest title, book 20! I couldn't pass it up. I didn't realize they had a paranormal twist. That is certainly right up my alley.

 

Has anyone read any of these? What's your opinion?

They sound delightful.

Cozy mystery lovers’ favorite paranormal sleuth is back with her twentieth otherworldly adventure

There’s trouble in Finch. Four recently sold cottages are standing empty, and the locals fear that a developer plans to turn their cozy village into an enclave of overpriced weekend homes. But for once Lori Shepherd can’t help.

Her infant daughter, her father-in-law’s upcoming wedding, and the crushing prospect of her fortieth birthday have left her feeling inadequate and overwhelmed. Until, that is, she has a chance encounter with an eccentric inventor named Arthur Hargreaves. Dubbed the Summer King by his equally eccentric family, Arthur is as warmhearted as the summer sun. In his presence, Lori forgets her troubles—and Finch’s.

But Lori snaps out of her happy trance when she discovers detailed maps of Finch in the Summer King’s library. Next, a real estate agent comes knocking. Is Arthur secretly plotting Finch’s demise?

With Aunt Dimity’s otherworldlym help—and her new daughter in her arms—Lori mounts a crusade to save her beloved village from the Summer King’s scorching greed.

IndieBound

Though my list is long, I will add this one to my pile and maybe scratch off the letter A in my Mystery Author Challenge.

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Featured Book: Children of Liberty of Paullina Simons

At the turn of the century and the dawning of the modern world, Gina from Belpasso comes to Boston’s Freedom Docks to find a new and better life, and meets Harry Barrington, who is searching for his.

The fates of the Barringtons and Attavianos become entwined, on a collision course between the old and new, between what is expected and what is desired, what is chosen and what is bestowed, what is given and what is taken away.

As America races headlong into the future, much will be lost and much will be gained for Gina and Harry, whose ill-fated love story will break your heart (Goodreads)

This was sent to me for possible review and with my schedule I haven't had time to read it. Paullina Simons is an old favorite author of mine, even though I've only read one of her novels. The one I read I loved SO much, I recommended to everyone I knew at the time. Red Leaves is the one that knocked my socks off. My friend Cheryl bought it to my attention many years ago when we were roomies.

When this book came to my attention I was immediately curious. She has written several more books, more in the historical fiction category and I've heard wonderful things about them. 

Check out her website for a full bio and list. 



Author Website:
Paullina Simons

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Feature: Far from the Tree: Parent, Children and the Search for Identity by Andrew Solomon

I am so intrigued with this massive nerdy delight of a book. Yes, it's over 900 pages and the likelihood I finish it anytime soon is, well, not likely. So there. But I couldn't wait. I wanted to talk about it and atleast feature it so all of you would know how truly remarkable it is.

I have read several parts so far and have also requested it on audio to shake it up a bit. It is wonderful. Andrew Solomon, award winning author of The Noonday Demon, is masterful in his delivery of such complicated and dense subjects; from Dwarfism to Autism to Schizophrenia. Over 250 people were interviewed and their stories shared here. Over 10 years in the making. My fascination with development and psychology and what makes us who we are definitely makes this book for me. 

Check out this feature in Shelf Awareness which prompted me to blog about this book today, long before I actually finished it.

Andrew Solomon, Shelf Awareness.

Also, check out a sample of the audio here.

This book is hefty and probably wouldn't make the ideal holiday gift but it's worth a read, even if it's in small chunks. My mind is still spinning from information. 

Far From the Tree; Parents, Children and the Search for Identity
Publisher: Scribner
Genre: Non-Fiction
Release Date: November 2012
Price: $35.00
Pages: 976

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Feature: The Car Thief by Theodore Weesner

Title: The Car Thief

Author: Theodore Weesner

Genre: Fiction

Purchase: IndieBound

From Goodreads:

It’s 1959. Sixteen year-old Alex Housman has just stolen his fourteenth car and frankly doesn’t know why. His divorced, working class father grinds out the night shift at the local Chevy Plant in Detroit, kept afloat by the flask in his glove compartment and the open bottles in his Flint, Michigan home.

Abandoned and alone, father and son struggle to express a deep love for each other, even as Alex fills his day juggling cheap thrills and a crushing depression. He cruises and steals, running from, and to, the police, compelled by reasons he frustratingly can’t put into words. And then there’s Irene Shaeffer, the pretty girl in school whose admiration Alex needs like a drug in order to get by. Broke and fighting to survive, Alex and his father face the realities of estrangement, incarceration, and even violence as their lives hurtle toward the climactic episode that a New York Times reviewer called “one of the most profoundly powerful in American fiction.”

I have been slowing down, waaaay down on what I am accepting for review. But that hasn't stopped me from offering up a chance to "feature" a title that seems interesting to me. I did a bit of this last fall and earlier this winter to "catch" up on some of those titles that have been sitting on my shelves waiting for a little attention from me. It doesn't feel as satisfying as a full on review from my heart but I do feel better knowing that I am giving some attention to some seemingly interesting and unique titles.

This title is even more interesting in that it is part of a launch of "Digital First" Publishing, Astor + Blue Editions. Titles that were first published in digital format are given a chance to be published in print. Check out the article in Publisher's Weekly. 

Thank you to Serena at Blue Dot Literary for bringing this title to my attention. 

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Sikander by M. Salahuddin Khan (Feature and Giveaway)

This is an unique post because it is one of the first author/books that I have featured that will also be at the bookstore I work at.

JKS Communications is a literary publicity firm that I have worked with during Sandra Brannan's blog tours and have had the pleasure of meeting Marissa and Sami at BEA last year. They are wonderfully smart, passionate folks who are talented in their book advocacy.

When offered the chance to read and review another author they represent, I was hesistant due to my busy schedule. But I knew I could atleast feature it and also mention the author's book signing at the store I work at.

Marissa has also been kind enough to offer a copy to giveaway. Please take a peak at the description and enter if you are interested.

Also, if you live in the Twin Cities area, stop by Magers and Quinn Booksellers to meet the author.

Book Description from Goodreads:

It's 1986, a time when Ronald Reagan's commitment to the mujahideen of Afghanistan is steadfast. It leads 17 year-old Pakistani student, Sikander, to admire just about everything American and while yearning for the freedom of his ethnic Pashtun brethren in Afghanistan, he also longs to study and live in America. But when Sikander shames his family by being naively indiscreet about their financial difficulties, the resulting verbal lashing from his mother and overbearing father, who also strikes him physically, provokes Sikander into leaving the comfort of his upper middle-class Peshawar life.

Author's Website:

M. Salahuddin Khan

Event Info:

Magers and Quinn Booksellers

Minneapolis

Saturday, May 5

2:00

Contest Info:

Contest Runs from April 29- May 6.

No restrictions

Please leave an email address

Book will be sent directly from JKS

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Featured Book (4): The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield

The Details:

Title: The Homecoming of Samuel Lake

Author: Jenny Wingfield

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Random House

Format: Finished Copy from Publisher

Description from Publisher Website:

Every first Sunday in June, members of the Moses clan gather for an annual reunion at “the old home place,” a sprawling hundred-acre farm in Arkansas. And every year, Samuel Lake, a vibrant and committed young preacher, brings his beloved wife, Willadee Moses, and their three children back for the festivities. The children embrace the reunion as a welcome escape from the prying eyes of their father’s congregation; for Willadee it’s a precious opportunity to spend time with her mother and father, Calla and John. But just as the reunion is getting under way, tragedy strikes, jolting the family to their core: John’s untimely death and, soon after, the loss of Samuel’s parish, which set the stage for a summer of crisis and profound change.

In the midst of it all, Samuel and Willadee’s outspoken eleven-year-old daughter, Swan, is a bright light. Her high spirits and fearlessness have alternately seduced and bedeviled three generations of the family. But it is Blade Ballenger, a traumatized eight-year-old neighbor, who soon captures Swan’s undivided attention. Full of righteous anger, and innocent of the peril facing her and those she loves, Swan makes it her mission to keep the boy safe from his terrifying father.

With characters who spring to life as vividly as if they were members of one’s own family, and with the clear-eyed wisdom that illuminates the most tragic—and triumphant—aspects of human nature, Jenny Wingfield emerges as one of the most vital, engaging storytellers writing today. In The Homecoming of Samuel Lake she has created a memorable and lasting work of fiction.

Why I want to read it:

This book came to my attention right around the time I was reading The Help. I don't know if The Help would be considered Southern Fiction but the setting was the South and I liked that. I thought I would enjoy another book set in and around the south. I've read some favorable reviews from some of my favorite bloggers. I've included one below for you to take a peak at. This book was in consideration for one of our book club choices over the fall. I am hoping maybe come spring, we will decide on it and read it. If not, I will read it in time. Thanks to Tom at Random House for sending this to me to consider for review.

Fellow Blogger Reviews:

Staci from Life in the Thumb

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Featured Book (1): Violets of March by Sarah Jio

The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

The Story: (from back cover)

In her twenties, Emily Wilson was on top of the world: she had a bestselling novel, a husband plucked from the pages of GQ, and a one-way ticket to happily ever after.

Ten years later, the tide has turned on Emily's good fortune. So when her great-aunt Bee invites her to spend the month of March on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, Emily accepts, longing to be helped by the sea. Researching her next book, Emily discovers a red velvet diary, dated 1943, whose contents reveal startling connections to her own life.

A mesmerizing debut with an idyllic setting and an intriguing dual story line. The Violets of March announces Sarah Jio as a writer to watch.

Why I wanted to read it:

Layered familial dramas intrigue me. I like books with secrets and hidden things in old houses. I like imaging living by the sea. I like mysteries and discovering things. This book had it all and was ripe for my reading but unfortunately time ran out for me and I made the mistake of reading too many books that were similar in nature around the time I received this one. This book will certainly be given its time in my hands with my nose buried in it but perhaps, not this year. My purpose of my new Featured Book posts is to shine a little light on these books that I have fallen behind in. I have read so many wonderful reviews of this book and now she has another novel out as well. Below I will list her website. She has a lot of info on there including an Ultra Violet Challenge!

The Details:

Publisher (Penguin) ISBN ( 978-0-452-29703-6) Price ($15.00) Genre (Fiction) Format (Paperback) Author Website (Sarah Jio)

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child