The Printed Page

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

If you’re new to Mailbox Monday welcome! Thank you to everyone who stops by Mailbox Monday. Whether you comment or visit I appreciate your taking the time to drop in.

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Knight of Pleasure by Margaret Mallory (new-to-me author/Hachette) (Donated to local library)

THE GREATEST PASSION Lady Isobel Hume is an expert swordswoman who knows how to choose her battles. When the king asks her to wed a French nobleman to form a political alliance, she agrees. But that’s before the devilishly charming Sir Stephen Carleton captures her heart-and tempts her to betray her betrothed, her king, and her country.

IS WORTH THE GREATEST PERIL Sir Stephen Carleton enjoys his many female admirers-until he dedicates himself to winning the lovely Isobel. So when a threat against the king leads Isobel into mortal danger, Stephen has a chance to prove that he is more than a knight of pleasure…and that love can conquer all.

Doubletake: A Memoir by Kevin Michael Connolly (new-to-me author/Shelf Awareness) (Donated to local library)

Kevin Michael Connolly is a twenty-three-year-old who has seen the world in a way most of us never will. Whether swarmed by Japanese tourists at Epcot Center as a child or holding court at the X Games on his mono-ski as a teenager, Kevin has been an object of curiosity since the day he was born without legs. Growing up in rural Montana, he was raised him like any other kid (except, that is, for his father’s MacGyver-like contraptions such as the “butt boot”). As a college student, Kevin traveled to seventeen countries on his skateboard and, in an attempt to capture the stares of others, he took more than 30,000 photographs of people staring at him. In this dazzling memoir, Connolly casts the lens inward to explore how we view ourselves and what it is to truly see another person. We also get to know his quirky and unflappable parents and his spunky girlfriend. From the home of his family in Helena, Montana to the streets of Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur, Connolly’s remarkable journey will change the way you look at others, and the way you see yourself.

Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay (new-to-me author/thank you to Dar from Peeking Between the Pages)

Sydney Blake’s summer is shaping up to be typical for a teenager: she’s spending it with her father, and she has landed a part-time job at a local hotel. One night, Syd fails to come home from her shift, and her father Tim begins to panic after he visits the hotel and the manager claims that Syd has never worked there. As the list of unanswered questions grows, all Tim knows for certain is that he must continue searching for his daughter no matter how high the stakes become.

Yellow Moon by Jewell Parker Rhodes (new-to-me author/publicist contact) (Donated to local library)

A jazzman, a wharf worker, a prostitute, all murdered. Wrists punctured, their bodies impossibly drained of blood. What connects them? Why are they rising as ghosts?

Marie Levant, the great-great granddaughter of the Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau knows better than anyone New Orleans’ brutal past—the legacy of slavery, poverty, racism and sexism—and as a Doctor at Charity Hospital’s ER, she treats its current victims.

When she sleeps, she dreams of blood. Rain, never-ending.

The river is rising and the yellow moon warns of an ancient evil—an African vampire—wazimamoto —a spirit created by colonial oppression.

The struggle becomes personal, as the wazimamoto is intent on destroying her and all the Laveau descendants. Marie fights to protect her daughter, lover, and herself from the wazimamoto’s seductive assault on both body and spirit.

The Life O’Reilly by Brian Cohen (new-to-me author/publicist contact) (Claimed by Vicki)

On the outside, Nick O’Reilly has it all: a high-flying legal career, as a partner of an elite Wall Street law firm, and financial security, with an apartment overlooking Central Park. Having grown up in a working-class family, as far back as Nick can remember this was his dream. But at the age of thirty-six, after several years of sacrificing his personal life for professional gain, Nick has started to ponder his future and consider the mark he wants to leave on society both professionally and personally-his legacy.

After being chastised in the press for turning a cold shoulder to the community, the firm calls upon Nick to help rehabilitate its image by handling its first pro bono case. Nick is asked to represent Dawn Nelson, a domestic violence victim who is fighting for custody of her young son, Jordan. A far cry from Nick’s specialty of defending the misdeeds of Corporate America, it is up to Nick to set Dawn and Jordan on a path to a better life. But Nick gets much more than he signed on for, as Dawn forces him to reassess his life choices and, ultimately, be true to himself. Only when Nick finally realizes what is truly important in life does he face his toughest-and possibly final-challenge: a battle for his own survival.

Giv: The Story of a Dog and America by Boston Teran (new-to-me author/publicist contact)

My name is Dean Hickok, sergeant, late of the U.S. Marines. I nearly ran down a dog one night on a back road during a Kentucky rainstorm. The dog, it turned out, had been made to suffer and left to die in a crate. But his will to survive, his determination to overcome the many cruelties inflicted upon him, and the ultimate and unabated goodness that abided in him afterward, are the actual reason these pages bearing my name exist at all. I was profoundly wounded of heart and empty of purpose as I drove through the Kentucky darkness that night. I had recently returned from Iraq, the lone survivor of my squad, when my headlights bore through a sweeping rain to find him there, stumbled and fallen. Both of us being on that same road, on that night, and at that moment, was not an accidental happenstance but the poetry of fate. For as much as I saved a dogs life, he saved mine.

The Cost of Dreams by Gary Stelzer (new-to-me author/publicist contact)

Flora, a Mayan teenager, has escaped Talapa, her civil war-torn Central American village where herparents have been slain-and where even being seen in native wear could result in summary execution. Following her dream with nearly superhuman determination, she makes her way to San Diego, and against all odds, becomes a wife, mother and teacher. By hard work and shrewdness, she even obtains legal U.S. status.

But her life takes a horrific turn when she’s shot by her drug-dealing brother in-law. As she lays unconscious and bleeding in front of her house, Mexican immigrants traveling on a freight train kidnap and claim her as their daughter, caring for her on a long, grueling cross-country flight.

Nearly a year later, still gravely wounded and disfigured, a freed Flora arrives at the Lake Michigan home of Kate Bowman, an American aide worker who had previously befriended Flora in Talapa. Kate’s nephew had vanished on that mission, leaving Kate devastated and overwhelmed with guilt for permitting him to remain in a civil war ravaged Central America while she returned home.

Now Flora, eager to heal her injuries and desperate to restore what remains of her family, reignites in Kate a fire to learn the fate of her long lost nephew. The two women embark on a harrowing journey that takes them to the ancient caves of northwestern Mexico in the Barrancas del Cobre, an exceedingly vast abyss of canyons, in search of a storied Indian healer. The cost of healing borders on the unendurable.

Small Kingdoms by Anastasia Hobbet (new-to-me author/Librarything) (Claimed by Wendy)

Hobbet’s compelling novel is set in Kuwait between the Gulf Wars, with the country poised for the next wave of unexpected terror while coming to grips with the last: He’d expected to see some scars of the war. But there was nothing that spoke of the violence, not even a tank posed as a public memorial. Hobbet’s disparate protagonists come from different classes, countries and faiths: devoutly Muslim, wealthy Mufeeda; her young Indian cook, Emmanuella; California doctor Theo; Theo’s Arabic teacher, Hanaan (a Palestinian); and timid American housewife Kit (also Mufeeda’s neighbor). Each character is, to varying degrees, a misfit in a society beset by violence and ancient practices. When news of murdered maids begins circulating, several characters undertake a precarious plan to save a maid in danger, a dangerous mission with the potential to change all their lives permanently. Hobbet’s extensive knowledge of Kuwait’s people, customs and political landscape combine to make an immersive, authentic novel about Middle East life.

The Queen’s Dollmaker by Christine Trent (new-to-me author/author contact) (Claimed by Laura)

On the brink of revolution, with a tide of hate turned against the decadent royal court, France is in turmoil – as is the life of one young woman forced to leave her beloved Paris. After a fire destroys her home and family, Claudette Laurent is struggling to survive in London. But one precious gift remains: her talent for creating exquisite dolls that Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France herself, cherishes. When the Queen requests a meeting, Claudette seizes the opportunity to promote her business, and to return home…Amid the violence and unrest, Claudette befriends the Queen, who bears no resemblance to the figurehead rapidly becoming the scapegoat of the Revolution. But when Claudette herself is lured into a web of deadly political intrigue, it becomes clear that friendship with France’s most despised woman has grim consequences. Now, overshadowed by the spectre of Madame Guillotine, the Queen’s dollmaker will face the ultimate test.

Where Armadillos Go to Die by James Hime (new-to-me author/publicist contact) (Donated to local library)

Sylvester Bradshaw owns the Bouree restaurant, home of the best catfish within a hundred miles of Brenham, Texas. Besides being known for his cooking and for being one of the town’s nastiest residents, he also happens to have invented a machine that several venture capitalists and one former NFL star would like to invest in at almost any cost. But Bradshaw—stubborn and miserly—can’t be enticed no matter what offer they put on the table. Nobody gets a look and nobody gets to know how the device works, not even his family.

When the restaurant is ransacked and he goes missing, the only person willing to take his disappearance seriously is Jeremiah Spur. The retired Texas Ranger and rancher is a dedicated customer, if not a friend, which makes him the only man on whom the Bradshaws can pin their hopes.

James Hime’s Where Armadillos Go to Die eloquently captures the voice and spirit of a small Texas town with troubles every bit as big as the whole state, making for some of the most engaging crime fiction on bookshelves today.

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What books came into your house last week? Don’t forget to fill out Mister Linky or leave a comment with a list of books if you don’t blog. If you’re interested in Read It Forward you will need to leave a comment in addition to filling out Mister Linky.

• In the “Your name:” box, please enter either your name or your blog’s name.

• In the “Your URL:” box please enter the URL/link that will lead directly to the post you are submitting (also called the permalink). This is not the URL to the blog’s home page.

Mailbox Monday Participants

1. The Bookie Bunch (Laura) 2. Elysium 3. Karissa’s Reading Review 4. Bluestocking 5. Vicki@Reading At The Beach 6. Cathy@Kittling: Books 7. Shelly (Write For A Reader) 8. Library of Clean Reads 9. CelticLady 10. Kristi -(Books and Needlepoint) 11. Katy (A Few More Pages) 12. Zia@My Life In Not So Many Words 13. Wordsmithonia-Murder Never Takes a Holiday 14. Laurel-Rain Snow 15. Wrighty’s Reads 16. gautami tripathy 17. Gina @ BookDragon’s Lair 18. Kim: (page after page) 19. Mary (Bookfan) 20. Samantha (Bookworms and tea lovers) 21. Mo 22. Kristen (BookNAround) 23. Amy @ Just Book Reading 24. Socrates’ Book Reviews 25. Savvy Verse & Wit 26. Allison (Well-Read Reviews) 27. Kathy (Bermudaonion’s Weblog) 28. Stephanie–Reviews by Lola 29. Staci-Life in the Thumb 30. Kim (metroreader) 31. Jess – A Book Hoarder 32. Blodeuedd (Bookgirl ofMur-y-Castell) 33. Les in NE 34. The Burton Review 35. Robin 36. Jo-Jo 37. Allie ~ Hist-Fic Chick 38. Rose City Reader 39. Alayne (The Crowded Leaf) 40. Alyce (At Home With Books) 41. Cynthia 42. Jaime @ Confessions of a Bibliophile 43. Jo (Books to the Rescue) 44. Nicola (Back to Books) 45. Caribousmom 46. Kitty 47. Diary of an Eccentric 48. Beth(bookaholicmom) 49. Jonita (The Book Chick) 50. Bekah @bekahs bytes 51. Crazy-for-Books

Powered by… Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets.

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Read It Forward details

I’m a very visual person and love beautiful, or interesting, cover art. It entices, and invites, me to stop and take a peek instead of walking right on by. Here’s a cover that caught my eye. Title: Bloodvines Author: Erica Spindler (auto-buy author for me) Release date: February ’10

Thirty-something Alex Owens knows very little about her childhood or who she really is, her only family an absent, emotionally fragile mother. Alex spent most of her adulthood searching for the missing link, drifting from job to job, relationship to relationship. But when an infant’s remains are unearthed in her hometown in back-country California, Alex suddenly realises that she has a connection to the case. As if opening Pandora’s box, long-lost memories start flooding in, dark and terrifying nightmares that haunt her every waking moment. When she arrives in Sonoma, the tight-knit community greets Alex with silence and suspicion, but Alex presses on, determined to get to the heart of a secret no one wants to see uncovered. As more violent deaths and a series of deadly rituals shock the small town, Alex is finally forced to confront the terrible truth about a single night that changed her family’s lives forever…

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What book cover caught your eye? Leave a post link and share with your fellow readers. Jill at Breaking the Spine hosts Waiting on Wednesday. Stop by and check out the great books your fellow readers can’t wait to get their hands on. What book are you waiting for?

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

If you’re new to Mailbox Monday welcome! Thank you to everyone who stops by Mailbox Monday. Whether you comment or visit I appreciate your taking the time to drop in.

Here’s hoping my mailbox is overflowing when I get home.

***

What books came into your house last week? Don’t forget to fill out Mister Linky or leave a comment with a list of books if you don’t blog. If you’re interested in Read It Forward you will need to leave a comment in addition to filling out Mister Linky.

• In the “Your name:” box, please enter either your name or your blog’s name.

• In the “Your URL:” box please enter the URL/link that will lead directly to the post you are submitting (also called the permalink). This is not the URL to the blog’s home page.

Mailbox Monday Participants

1. Wrighty’s Reads 2. gautami tripathy 3. Gina @ BookDragon’s Lair 4. Bloody Bad 5. Mary (Bookfan) 6. Kristen (BookNAround) 7. Savvy Verse & Wit 8. Diary of an Eccentric 9. Tam @ Bailey’s and Books 10. Staci-Life in the Thumb 11. Kathy (Bermudaonion’s Weblog) 12. Reading WIth Mo 13. Shelly (Write For A Reader) 14. Stephanie–Reviews by Lola 15. The Burton Review 16. Bluestocking 17. Blodeuedd (Bookgirl at Mur-y-Castell) 18. Caitlin (chaotic compendiums) 19. Caribousmom 20. Jo-Jo 21. Wordsmithonia 22. Tiina (A Book Blog of One’s Own) 23. Katy (A Few More Pages) 24. Jaime @ Confessions of a Bibliophile 25. Elysium 26. Alita 27. Renee (Black ‘n Gold Girl’s Book Spot) 28. Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books 29. Jonita (The Book Chick) 30. Andrea (So Many Books, So Little Time) 31. Carrie K. (Books & Movies) 32. Nicola (Back to Books) 33. Toni – A Circle of Books 34. Anesthezea (I Heart Paperbacks) 35. MariReads 36. Tara (Tales of a Book Addict) 37. Warren (The Pew Reviews) 38. CelticLady (Blog O’The Irish) 39. Michelle (The True Book Addict) 40. Beth(bookaholicmom) 41. Zia@My Life In Not So Many Words 42. Carol’s Notebook 43. MarthaE (Martha’s Bookshelf) 44. gwendolyn b. (A Sea of Books) 45. Amy @ Just Book Reading 46. Kim –Metroreader 47. Alayne (The Crowded Leaf)

Powered by… Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets.

** Of course there was a Mister Linky issue this week. Thanks Shel for letting me know. Hopefully I’ve been able to fix the link issue. If you posted a link some time Sunday US day/time you will need to post your link again. Forgive me pretty please . I’m still in New Zealand so it’s Monday evening for me. **

If Mister Linky fails please leave a comment with a link to your Mailbox Monday post. I’m currently of town and can’t fix any issues. ***

Read It Forward details