Winners of Friday Pick May 21, 2010

CONGRATULATIONS

to the Winners of Friday Pick May 21, 2010

Terri C. chose Gypsy Lover

And

Kara chose Cloud Nine.

Please email me with your mailing addresses and whether you want any bookmarks or just sweet and sensual.

Review and Giveaway - Iron Man 2 by Alexander Irvine

Title: Iron Man 2
Author: Alexander Irvine
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1 edition (April 1, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0446564583
ISBN-13: 978-0446564588

Hard to rate - For literature it would be lower but for fun, entertaining read I’ll be generous and give it a 3.75.

    Product Description

    "I am Iron Man." With those words, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark revealed his secret identity. Now a famous high-tech superhero, he uses his powers to protect mankind. Yet things are not going well for Tony Stark. The U.S. military demands control of the most powerful weapon on earth--the Iron Man suit. His beautiful new assistant has a strange, mysterious agenda while his best friend, Rhodey, has betrayed him. And Tony is hunted by a vengeful Russian criminal armed with a lethal technology that may be stronger than Tony's suit. But even as he fights his demons, the hero faces his greatest threat--one that no armor can defend against . . .

REVIEW: This is a fast and entertaining read.
I find Tony Stark to be a hard character for me to like.  He is the epitome of a wealthy, self absorbed playboy.  At least he is a good scientist so he isn’t “playing” all the time.  Also, I don’t care that he is hiding a secret, he doesn’t treat his top executive, Pepper Potts, nor his good friend, Lt. Col “Rhodey”, as good friends should be treated.

As I noted, this book is entertaining but it does have a cartoon-like quality. The hero is bigger than life and always steps in (arrogantly I might add) to save the day against what would appear to be impossible odds.  There is a lot of action and some good snipping dialogue. There is some techno jargon that you may or may not understand but... who cares?  It’s a superhero story after all.

The Russian criminal Ivan is a single minded, fanatical genius who is focused on taking revenge against Tony for “stealing” his father’s technology. Ivan does make a good villain/enemy.  Meanwhile, Tony’s old competitor, Justin Hammer, is just a truly greedy idiot who allows a clearly dangerous Ivan to take over his laboratory!

Sounds like a mix for explosive trouble? Yep,  it is.  This isn’t a book for a “literature lover” or “romance lover” but if you want a quick action packed romp - this will work.

THANKS ONCE AGAIN TO HACHETTE AND ANNA for the opportunity to give away my copy of this book.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for my copy of the Book:

1. For your main entry tell me your favorite superhero! Don't forget to leave your email so I can easily contact you.

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For another entry, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Three total entries possible.)  MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL!

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* This contest will close Midnight (Central) on June 4, 2010. The winners will be randomly selected from all entries.

Review of Yesterday's Promise by Delia Latham

This review has been posted at You Gotta Read Reviews.
Title: Yesterday’s Promise
Author: Delia Latham
Publisher: White Rose Publishing
Buy Yesterday's Promise Here!

Rating: You GOTTA Read

Reviewed by: MarthaE

A whirlwind romance amidst the natural splendor of Yosemite National Park.

A spur-of-the-moment wedding near Bridalveil Fall.

A young bride who awakens the morning after to find her new husband gone with the mountain wind.

Songbird Hannah Johns supports the child born of that ill-fated union by singing in a dinner lounge. Her dream of someday owning the elite establishment and turning it into a venue more suited to her Christian values is shattered when an unexpected transaction places it in the hands of Brock Ellis, the handsome biker who abandoned her in their honeymoon suite.

Ensuing sparks fly high, revealing buried secrets and forgotten pasts. Seeking to find peace with her painful past, Hannah returns to Yosemite, and Brock follows hard on her heels. Back where it all began, she finds herself in danger of losing her heart yet again to the man who shattered it the first time around.

REVIEW: This story grabs your attention and doesn’t let go!

Hannah is a dedicated singer at a dinner lounge. She dreams of saving her money to buy the lounge from her beloved, “fatherly” boss, Kip, and turn it into a Christian bookstore and coffee shop. That is hard to do as she struggles to raise her three year old son as a single mother.

Her dreams are shattered when Kip tells her he is selling out because of his deteriorating health. That is tough enough to take but becomes even harder when she discovers the buyer is Brock, the man who walked out of her live three years before after their wedding night. Add insult to injury when Brock shows absolutely no recognition of Hannah.

Brock is handsome and protective, if a bit overbearing. He is completely puzzled by Hannah’s antagonism towards him but still drawn to her and her impishly sweet son with whom he strikes up a quick friendship.

Hannah keeps her secrets out of pride and Brock hides his secrets for other reasons. The repartee and dance between them is engaging and endearing. Hannah struggles to allow her Christian faith to govern her actions rather than be controlled by her anger and resentment. Can she get past her hurt and open her heart to learn the truth and give healing forgiveness? Can Brock allow himself to heal from his injuries and discover the past he has lost?

The Yellowstone scenery is described exquisitely so that you want to go visit the setting. The supporting characters have enough depth to add to the story without distracting or detracting from the main protagonists.

The story moves along quickly as you wait to see how God will work things out for these two characters. Hannah’s steadfast faith, even laced with some natural doubt and human struggles, is wonderful to read. The romance that is revealed is warm and beautiful. This is just a superb story and I have added Ms. Latham to my “must read” author list!

Author's Website 

Winner of The Highest Stakes by Emery Lee

CONGRATULATIONS 

to the Winner of

The Highest Stakes: A Tale of Passion, Retribution and Horseracing

The very lucky winner is:

I will email Diane for her mailing information; she will have 72 hours to claim the book.
Thanks to everyone who entered!

Mailbox Monday May 24, 2010

This Meme starts with Marcia at The Printed Page

Another Blogmania win - two books
from Luxury Reading.  Thank You Vera.

Valley of Bones (Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy) 

Product Description

For millennia, two groups of immortals have roamed the earth in a spiritual chess game for human souls. Now they enter the time of Final Vengeance.

On one side are the Collectors--unholy, undead entities who feed on misery and blood. In opposition are the Nistarim--saints raised from their tombs during the Nazarene's resurrection, who work to protect mankind.
Natira, a powerful Collector infused with Judas's blood, is on the verge of finding the last of the Nistarim. To destroy them all in one master stroke, he must find the Nazarene's Crown of Thorns which is believed to be buried near Jerusalem.
But the Nistarim have a potent weapon of their own, a boy who carries immortal blood. He has been hiding and waiting until now, when both sides collide in a battle of biblical proportions at Israel's historic Valley of Bones.
The Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy takes readers on a riveting journey, as imaginative fiction melds with biblical and archaeological history. 

AND

My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers Book 2) by Rachel Vincent

Product Description


When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.

So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can't cry for someone who has no soul.
The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad's ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend's loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can't possibly understand.

Kaylee can't let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk….
 
 

I won another two books at the 25 follower's Giveaway at Rayment's Readings, Rants and Ramblings.

Thank you Jennifer.

Meerkat Mail by Emily Gravett - I picked this one for my Grandson!

Product Description

Sunny Meerkat lives in the Kalahari desert with his family. Under the hot sun, Sunny and his brothers and sisters work together, play together, eat together, learn together, and sleep together. Sunny needs a break, so he decides to take a trip to visit some relatives. Through a series of postcards--that actually flip open for children to read--Sunny documents his journey for his family. But as he travels from the barnyard through the forest to the city, Sunny realizes there's no place like home.
 
AND

Countess of Scandal (The Daughters of Erin)

Full Description

As children, Eliza Blacknall and William Denton ran wild over the fields of southern Ireland and swore they would be friends forever. Then fate took Will away to England, while Eliza stayed behind to become a proper Irish countess.
Years later, Will finally makes his way home-as an English soldier sent to crush the Irish uprising. When he spies the lovely Eliza, he is captivated by the passionate woman she has become. But Eliza's passions have led her to join the Irish rebel cause, and Will and Eliza now find themselves on opposite sides of a dangerous conflict.
When Ireland explodes in bloody rebellion, Will's regiment is ordered to the front lines, and he is forced to choose between his duty to the English king and his love for Eliza and their Irish homeland.


I also got in a lovely pair of earrings from Shawna K.Williams that went with the book No Other that was included in last week's Mailbox!  Sorry I don't have a picture yet.  Thank you Shawna!