Winners of Friday Pick May 14, 2010

CONGRATULATIONS 

to the Winners of Friday Pick May 14, 2010

Linda chose Shades of Twilight by Linda Howard

AND

PNR chose Bloodlines by Dinah McCall

Please email me with your snail mail info and whether you prefer sweet and sensual bookmarks or any kind.
Thanks to everone who played at Friday Pick!

Spring Giveaway!

I kept getting busy and didn't get this post up. 

If I don't post it soon, Spring will have moved on and it will be summer already!

Spring Giveaway!
I thought these were so cute I had to order them.

Prize One

Prize Two

I will add a nice dishtowel with each package, some mints, mood pencils and bookmarks.  

I did get a new camera for Mother's day but I don't have the pics of the dish towels yet. I'll try to add them soon.

To enter just comment telling me something you love about Spring!

• US/Canada entries may enter by telling me whether you want #1 or #2.  You may enter for both but you will only be allowed to win one package.

• International visitors are entering for a chance to win a gift certificate of your bookstore choice for $6.00.

The giveaway will run until 10pm Central June 4.  Then I can mail the packages to arrive before Summer gets here!!

Winner of Waiting for An Eclipse by Karen Wiesner

CONGRATULATIONS

to the Winner of Waiting For an Eclipse: Book 2 of the Wounded Warriors Series

 The winner is:

I am awarding a copy of the first book in the series, Reluctant Hearts to Margie who commented on the review and every interview post! That deserves a reward in my book...so to speak!
I think you will both enjoy these books!

Thank you everyone who entered and commented on the interview posts and thank you Karen for graciously sharing with us and offering this giveaway.
I will e-mail Elise for her snail mail address.

I apologize for taking a few extra days to get this Winner post up.  It took my wonderful DH two days of testing EVERY phone jack in our house to find the short that had our phone and internet out over the weekend!

Review The Brothers ofGwynedd by Edith Pargeter - Book One, Sunrise in the West

The Brothers of Gwynedd: The Legend of the First True Prince of Wales by Edith Pargeter
Part One: Sunrise in the West


Paperback: First Book 186 pages of 772 total pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark; Reprint edition (May 2010)
ISBN-10: # 140223760X
ISBN-13: 978-1402237607

Rating 5.0

Product Description

A Burning Desire for One Country, One Love, and One Legacy That Will Last Forever.
Llewelyn, prince of Gwynedd, dreams of a Wales united against the English, but first he must combat enemies nearer home. Llewelyn and his brothers-Owen Goch, Rhodri, and David-vie for power among themselves and with the English king, Henry III. Despite the support of his beloved wife, Eleanor, Llewelyn finds himself trapped in a situation where the only solution could be his very downfall...
Originally published in England as four individual novels, The Brothers of Gwynedd transports you to a world of chivalry, gallant heroes, and imprisoned damsels; to star-crossed lovers and glorious battle scenes; and is Edith Pargeter's absorbing tale of tragedy, traitors, and triumph of the heart.

Review:  This story presents a remarkably life-like portrait of the battle for leadership and freedom in Medieval Wales.  It is the tale of the rise of the first true Prince of Wales, Lleweyln of Gwynedd. 

The tale, and fictionalized history is told as though through the journal or memoirs of Samson.  Samson, the son of a lady’s maid and nurse, grows up with the Gwynedd family in the household of Lady Senena, the mother of the four brothers who will vie for power.  Llewelyn and Samson were born the same night and raised together for six years before Samson is sent of for schooling. When Samson returns he helps take care of the younger boys, Rhodri and David, learning their natures and personalities.

Lady Senena decides to take her young sons to England to gain protection from the King and petition for release of her husband and their eldest son. Llewelyn chooses to run off to live with his Uncle David in Wales, rather than go with his family to England. Thus Llewelyn is the son who is ingrained in the Welsh culture while the other brothers have a close exposure to England.

Samson describes the determination of the boys’ strong willed mother and the developing characters and motives of each of the brothers.  Samson’s memories are fleshed out and enhanced by his mature reflections of the past and by the end of the first book you feel as if you are living the times with the characters.

The story is rich with the political intrigues of the era.  Through the insightful and intriguing memories and observations of Samson the author reveals the struggle between the English and the Welsh and also the wrangling for land and power among the Welsh clans. The brothers themselves are at odds, fighting for shares of inheritance and more importantly the power to lead Wales during this tumultuous time.

Although there are a number of characters, once you distinguish who they are, it is not difficult to follow and it is interesting to watch how the relationships and interactions among the brothers play out.  I really like Samson and his fair observations and his deep loyalty; traits which all of the brothers respect in him. There is some unrequited romance and lots of manipulation to keep your attention in the story.

I will be interested to learn what happens in the next three parts of this book.

XXX

On May 24, from 7-9 pm EST, Passages to the Past will be hosting the first Sourcebook Summer Reading Club discussion about this novel.Meet us there if you would like to join in.

Here are the postings for the other reviews of Part One.

May 17 Reviews
The Burton Review	http://www.theburtonreview.com/
The Bibliophilic Book Blog	http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/
Rundpinne	http://www.rundpinne.com/
A Reader's Respite	http://readersrespite.blogspot.com/
History Undressed	http://www.historyundressed.blogspot.com/
Linda Banche Blog	http://lindabanche.blogspot.com/
A Hoyden's Look at Literature	http://caramellunacy.blogspot.com/
Royal Reviews	http://theroyalreviews.blogspot.com/
May 18 Reviews
Between the Pages	http://www.betweenthelinesandmore.blogspot.com/
The Broken Teepee	http://www.brokenteepee.blogspot.com/
Books and Coffee	http://bookswithcoffee.wordpress.com/
Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell	http://books-forlife.blogspot.com/
Tanzanite's Shelf and Stuff	http://shelfandstuff.blogspot.com/
Passages to the Past	http://www.passagestothepast.com/
The Book Faery	http://tbfreviews.net/
A Girl Walks Into a Bookstore	http://agirlwalksintoabookstore.blogspot.com/
Martha's Bookshelf	http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/
May 19 Reviews
Beth Fish	http://bfishreads.blogspot.com/
Deb's Book Bag	http://debsbookbag.blogspot.com/
Book Tumbling	http://booktumbling.com/
A Work in Progress	http://danitorres.typepad.com/workinprogress/
Stiletto Storytime	http://www.stilettostorytime.wordpress.com/
Queen of Happy Endings	http://alainereading.blogspot.com/
May 20 Reviews
The Literate Housewife	http://literatehousewife.com/
Reading Adventures	http://readingadventures.blogspot.com/
Books Like Breathing	http://bibliophile23.wordpress.com/
Kailana's Written World	http://myreadingbooks.blogspot.com/
Confessions of a Muse in the Fog	http://muse-in-the-fog.blogspot.com/
Wendy's Minding Spot	http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Q Book Addict	http://web.me.com/quirion
The Life and Lies of a Flying Inanimate Object	http://www.haleymathiot.blogspot.com/
Starting Fresh	http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
May 21 Reviews
Loving Heart Mommy	http://www.lovingheartmommy.com/
Peeking Between the Pages	http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/
Celtic Lady's Ramblings	http://celticladysreviews.blogspot.com/
Bookfoolery	http://bookfoolery.blogspot.com/
One Literature Nut	http://mjmbecky.blogspot.com/
The Book Tree	http://thebooktree.blogspot.com/
My Reading Room	http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com/
May 23 Reviews
Carla Nayland's Blog	http://www.carlanayland.org/index.shtml

Mailbox Monday May 17, 2010

OOPs - I had this titled as May 10 since I started to draft it last week.

This Meme starts with Marcia at The Printed Page

This covers the last two weeks as I didn't get the post out last Monday!
I got in several review books and these items that I won.

Week ending May 7, 2010

This was a Blogmania Win! I won 4 Children's DVDs  from A Mom After God's Own Heart.  Thank you PBS and Shirley!

I won the eBook No Other by Shawna K. Williams from a contest at author Diane Craver's Blog

Thank you Shawna and Diane!

This sounds like a lovely read!

Product Description

In the aftermath of WWII all Jakob Wilheimer wants is to get over his pain, get on with life, and if at all possible, forgive those who've wronged his family -- including himself. But it's hard to do when there are constant reminders. One of them being his former schoolmate, now teacher, Meri Parker -- Miss Port Delamar Pearl, Mayor's daughter, Belle of the town -- Meri Parker.

After enduring the stigma and isolation associated with the internment camp, the awkwardness of going back to school should've been a cake walk. But Jakob didn't expect to find himself inexplicably drawn to Meri. Or to discover that the pain and loneliness of her life surpassed his own. She needed to be rescued from the wretched people seeking to control her life. And more than anything, he needed to be the one to save her.

Week ending May 14, 2010

Blogmania win:  I won this lovely Latte Canvas from Susan at Blackberry Jam Cafe.

THANK YOU SO MUCH Susan!

Susan described it as: 
An original 12" x 16" vintage look canvas for a Latte Lover.  The canvas is gallery wrapped, and combines canvas, fabric, and ribbon with a vintage picture of a woman and her Latte in Paris.

I haven't quite decided where to hang it.  In truth, I chose this and hoped to win it with the thought to give it to my sister who is a bigger coffee lover than I am! She is also more domestic so I will probably give this to her the next time I see her or for her Birthday in June.  Until then I plan to enjoy looking at it in my office!

I won A Daughter's Legacy (Love Inspired) by Virginia Smith at her website.
Thank you Virginia!  I am really looking forward to squeezing this into my reading schedule - I am due for a Love Inspired read!

Product Description

To receive her inheritance and make peace with her late mother, Kelli Jackson must abide by the woman's will. Even though it means working as a zookeeper for six months—with animals that terrify her. How can she possibly explain her fears—and her past—to her handsome boss, Jason Andover? The glimpses of kindness— and painful secrets—she sees in his eyes slowly have her sharing everything. But then she makes a startling discovery—one that may tear them apart forever. Unless she can return the gift of love he's given her.