Library Loot - March 31, 2010

Okay, I didn't just get these books, but they are up next on my shelf. I have decided to do my library loot a little at a time. I think I got a group of pretty good books. Once I get through these, I will post the other books that I have.

Bad Apple by Laura Ruby

I had this on my list to read and it looked good, so I requested it. It is about a high school junior named Tola who has green hair, nose ring, attitude problem, and everyone thinks she is crazy. Rumors start going around and she is the center of a scandal. Mr. Mymer is suspended for what everyone thinks is an affair, she has no choice but to break her silence.

Next is Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton

This is the 1st in a series of books which introduces Anita Blake, vampire hunter, the monster she's sworn to kill becomes the man she can't live without.

Now this is my kind of book, it's about time I got another vampire book!

The last book I will list for now is Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal by Julie Metz

I have a new pen pal for April and we have decided to read this book.

"A breathtakingly honest, gloriously written memoir about the complexities of forgiveness--the story of a young widow who discovers her husband's secret life only after his suddent death."

Teaser Tuesdays

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!

Irreplaceable by Stephen Lovely

The jury felt that Jasper had been adequately cautious, and that his reaction time hadn't been impaired. They felt that Isabel had been far enough out into the road to bear part of the blame. p.78

Review - The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

Published: 2009
Pages: 273

After reading a few books that didn't really appeal to me, it was so refreshing to open this book. I loved this book!

The main character in this book is Lillian. Her mother was so immersed in books that her "face became a series of book covers, held in place where eyes, nose, or mouth might normally appear" (p11). Lillian got to thinking that maybe smells were for her what printed words were for other people, so she decided maybe she would try and cook her mom out of what ever rut she seemed to be in.

She ended up meeting up with Abuelita who gave her "a six-inch-long stick with a rounded bulb on one end with ridges carved into it like furrows in a field" (p28). Lillian thought that it was a magic wand.

She went on to own a restaurant and hold a cooking school every Monday night. There were all kinds of different people that attended.

Each person that attending this cooking class had a chapter devoted to them. The book goes on to talk about each person and how they ended up at the cooking class and how it changed each of their lives.

I have to admit that this book really made we want to cook something and smell all of the great flavors that are mentioned. I did eat my supper while reading part of this book and it made it seem to taste that much better.

I definately recommend this book!

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!

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

P 34

The chocolate made a rough sound as it brushed across the fine section of the grater, falling in soft clouds onto the counter, releasing a scent of dusty back rooms filled with bittersweet chocolate and old love letters, the bottom drawers of antique desks and the last leaves of autumn, almonds and cinnamon and sugar.

Into the milk it went.

Review - The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I really wanted to like this book. Me and my March pen pal decided on this book together, but we both really didn't get into it. I got to Chapter 5, and I just couldn't get into it. I kept skipping over to other books. I guess at that point I just need to stop and maybe read it at a later date. I will lend it to my friend Staci to read, and hopefully she gets more out of it than I did.

Mailbox Monday

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



Raven Stole the Moon by Garth Stein



I got this book from my friend Staci http://www.lifeinthethumb.blogspot.com/. Here is her review:

http://lifeinthethumb.blogspot.com/2010/03/review-raven-stole-moon-by-garth-stein.html. She gave it a great review, so I can't wait to read it. Thanks so much Staci!

Grundish and Askew by Lance Carbuncle

I signed up to win this book from Goodreads. I didn't win it, but the author sent me a message and said I could get a discount and signed copy if I went to a certain link to buy it, so I did!

From Goodreads: Strap on your athletic cup and grab a barf bag. The Dr. Reverend Lance Carbuncle is going to kick you square in the balls and send you on a wild ride that may or may not answer the following questions: what happens when two white trash, trailer park-dwelling, platonic life partners go on a moronic and misdirected crime spree?; can their manly love for each other endure when one of them suffers a psychological bitch-slap that renders him a homicidal maniac?; will a snaggletoothed teenage prostitute tear them apart?; what is the best way to use a dead illegal alien to your advantage in a hostage situation?; what's that smell?; and, what the hell is Alf the Sacred Burro coughing up? Carbuncle's latest offering, Grundish and Askew, ponders these troubling questions and more. So sit down, put on some protective goggles, and get ready for Carbuncle to blast you in the face with a warm load of fictitious sickness.

Review - Kisscut by Karin Slaughter

This story began at a roller rink. A teenage girl (Jenny) came out of the bathroom with blood on her, and Sara (pediatrian) who was at the roller rink went in and found a fetus in the bathroom that was mutilated. Meanwhile, the girl went out in the parking lot and pointed a gun at a boy named Mark. Jeffrey (Sara's ex-husband) and police officer, tried to get her to drop the gun, but he ended up having to kill her. The book goes on to explore why Jenny was trying to kill Mark, and who the baby belonged to that was found in the bathroom.

Many people were discovered in this book that were invovled in child abuse, many children were involved, and the end is shocking in who ends up being involved.

This book took me long time to read. I would stop and start again and be reading and have to go back and try to get back into the story. I kept having to flip back and figure out the characters and I just had a hard time keeping track. I know a lot of people really liked this book, but I just had a hard time when I stopped reading it trying to get back into what I was reading. I almost thought of just not finishing it, but I finished it. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars.

Teaser Tuesdays - March 16

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!

Kisscut by Karin Slaughter

She repeated, "Shoot me now or I'm gonna shoot him."
With that, she lifted the Beretta toward the boy's head. P 15

Review: Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter

The story begins with Sara who is a pediatrician. She is eating lunch at the diner. She went into the bathroom and found Sibyl Adams, a college professor, on the toilet. Sibyl was stabbed and blood was filling the toilet and dripping onto the floor. Sara tried to save Sibyl, but she couldn't. Sibyl had been raped and stabbed in the abdoment and under her breasts, so that it made a cross.
Sibyl had a twin sister Lena who is a police officer. Their mom died two weeks after giving birth to them, so they were taken care of by their uncle Hank who was a drunk and drug addict. Sibyl was blind, and it was the fault of Hank who did something careless when she was very young.

After Sibyl was killed, a student named Julia Matthews came up missing at the college. The manman would nail the victimes hands and feet to wood, like they were being crucified. Several suspects were under the radar, but this person is not revealed until close to the end. I was surprised at who the rapist and killer really was.

The descriptions in this book are very graphic and really turned my stomach at times to think that a person would be such an animal to rape and torture women. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I did like the book overall, but it did have some slow parts.

Giveaways

Enter to win a copy of Raven Stole the Moon by Garth Stein from my friend Staci's blog at

http://lifeinthethumb.blogspot.com/2010/03/review-raven-stole-moon-by-garth-stein.html

Ends March 14 Win a copy of

JUST LET ME LIE DOWN
BY
KRISTIN VAN OGTROP

Click on this link:

http://dkschildrenspage.blogspot.com/2010/02/just-let-me-lie-down-book-giveaway.html

Click on this link to win this book:
http://kandksblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/giveaway-3-day-cleanse-by-zoe-sakoutis.html

Here is another blog with the same book in a giveaway:

http://www.mgpblog.com/2010/02/giveaway-3-day-cleanse.html

Montana Legacy - To Win this book go to: (giveaway ends 3/27)
http://www.mgpblog.com/2010/02/giveaway-montana-legacy-by-rc-ryan.html

Jordan by Susan Kearney giveway is at:
http://www.mgpblog.com/2010/02/blog-tour-giveaway-jordan-by-susan.html


This One Is Mine giveaway is at: (ends 3/14)

http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/2010/02/giveaway-3-copies-of-this-one-is-mine.html

Laura Rider's Masterpiece- Click on the following link to enter contest: (ends 3/12)

http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/2010/02/giveaway-3-copies-of-laura-riders.html

Who Owns the World Giveaway is at: (ends 3/11)

http://therempels4.blogspot.com/2010/02/who-owns-world-book-review-giveaway.html

The Moon Looked Down giveaway:

http://www.luxuryreading.com/2010/02/giveaway-moon-looked-down-by-dorothy.html

Teaser Tuesdays

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!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Miss Celia, fore I get going here, I need to know. Exactly when you planning on telling Mister Johnny bout me? She eyes the magazine in her lap. "In a few months, I reckon. I ought to know how to cook and stuff by then." P41

Mailbox Monday - March 8, 2010

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

I received Ecstasy Unveiled by Larissa Ione

DEMON ENSLAVED

Lore is a Seminus half-breed demon who has been forced to act as his dark master's assassin. Now to earn his freedom and save his sister's life, he must complete one last kill. Powerful and ruthless, he'll stop at nothing to carry out this deadly mission.

AN ANGEL TEMPTED

Idess is an earthbound angel with a wild side, sworn to protect the human Lore is targeting. She's determined to thwart her wickedly handsome adversary by any means necessary-even if that means risking her vow of eternal chastity. But what begins as a simple seduction soon turns into a passion that leaves both angel and demon craving complete surrender.Torn between duty and desire, Lore and Idess must join forces as they battle their attraction for each other. Because an enemy from the past is rising again-one hellbent on vengeance and unthinkable destruction.

This is the 4th book in the Demonica series. I haven't started this series yet, but I am excited to get started on it!

Thank you to Dina of Just Another New Blog for choosing me as a winner in this giveaway!

http://justanothernewblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/blog-tour-and-giveaway-ecstasy-unveiled.html

Review: The One Day Way by Chantel Hobbs

There are a lot of diet books on the shelves, but this is the first one I have read where it is stressed to just take one day at a time. Just stick to a plan and count calories today. If you mess up, don't worry. Tomorrow is a brand new day and you can get it right tomorrow.

The one thing in this book that I didn't agree with is fasting for a day. I was going to try it but got talked out of it. It was good in a way that I was going to try it, because it made me really savor what I did eat (which was very healthy too).

Chantel tells you to challenge yourself and instead of (in my case) eating a candy bar or two every day like usual, instead of doing that go for a walk to take your mind off it somehow. Also, the first few bites that you take of something are the best and after that, you are just eating because something is in front of you. Don't just eat something out of habit.

Food is necessary for survival, which is why it's one of the most
difficult addictions to control. The fear of not having enough food makes humans and animals do unthinkable things to protect their supply. P103

Another part of this book is something that I heard before and need to keep in the back of my mind at all times. Its the fact that we need to learn to eat to live and not live to eat! Food is fuel and not the meaning of Life.

Also, sometimes it's better to eat the same thing from day to day. It's easier to count your calories and being bored with food robs food of its emotional power over you.

It's ironic that we have all these gadgets designed to save time and make our lives easier, and because of them, we now have to schedule sweating! P144

If you are looking for a new view on losing weight, this book is for you! I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

My friend Staci from Life In the Thumb let me borrow this book, and I am so glad that she did! Thanks Staci!

Review - Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

I put off reading this library book and got down to it being the last on my shelf. I don't know why I waited to long to read it. It was a good book.

Twins Julia and Valentina's Aunt Elspeth died in London. She left her flat in London to them, provided they live there for a year. Julia and Valentina decided to go there and move out of their parents' home (their mother is Edie, who is Elspeth's twin).

They move to London to find love, ghosts and some surprises.

I gave this 4 out of 5 stars.

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!

Too often your best efforts get sabotaged by worries about the future. If it's June and you're already worrying about how you're going to eat throughout the holidays, stop! Focus just on today. P. 62

"Hey" she said, "how did the ghost do it?" She had decided to put aside her disbelief in the ghost for the moment. Julia liked the idea of a ghost that made itself useful. P 155

Library Loot - March 1, 2010

Kisscut (Grant County #2) by Karin Slaughter


I have the first book on my shelf from the library, so now I have both books!





Irreplaceable by Stephen Lovely

I saw this book when I was looking on Goodreads and registered to win a copy. The author sent me a message thanking me for adding this, so I decided to get it from the library.