Jenn's Bookshelves

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This post is specifically geared toward those individuals who have discovered this blog after meeting me at BEA in NY, or for those new to this blog. Here’s a quick summary of some of the projects featured on this blog:

• Tales of A Formerly Reluctant Reader-This is the feature I’m most proud of!  My son, a formerly reluctant reader, reads and reviews middle-grade books.  He specifically explains why the book engages him, as  formerly reluctant reader.  He recently wrote about a visit to his school by author Eric Wight and his most recent review was for Tighty Whitey Spider by Kenn Nesbit
• Literary Road Trip- a project in which bloggers volunteer to showcase local authors. This showcase can be anything the blogger wants to make of it – book reviews, author interviews, giveaways – as long as they are  working with an author local to them.

Following are some of my most recent reviews:

• On Folly Beach by Karen White
• Dismantled by Jennifer McMahon
• The Enemy by Lee Child
• Blood Oath by Christopher Farnsworth
• The Prophecy by Dawn Miller

Upcoming Project:

I know it’s still a few months away, but I’m already planning for a horror/thriller themed October!  If you would like me to feature your book, please feel free to email me at jennsbookshelfATgmailDOTcom or fill out my Review Request Form.  If you are a reader of my blog and would simply like to recommend a book to be featured, please feel free to email me as well!

I am currently accepting books for review for the months of July and beyond.  Please read my review policy before submitting a review request.  Any questions? Please feel free to email me at jennsbookshelfATgmailDOTcom or fill out my Contact Me form.

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Today is the official release date of Storm Prey by John Sandford and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate it other than to give away some books!  So, without further ado:
The winner of Eyes of Prey is :

The winner of Storm Prey is:

Thanks to all who entered.  Winners: I will provide your address to the publisher. They will ship your book to you directly.

Congratulations again to all the winners!

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This time next week I’ll be on a train en route to NY for Book Expo America 2010.  I’m beyond thrilled to say the least.  I attended last year and by far the best thing I got out of that trip was meeting up with other book bloggers and publicists I’ve worked with in the past.

This year I know it will be no different.  I have meetings set up with my favorite publishers.  I have a list of books from my son, the Formerly Reluctant Reader, to obtain for him to cover for his feature. I just hope I have enough time to do at least half of the things I’ve scheduled.

Are you going to BEA and want to get together? Send me an email at jennsbookshelfATgmailDOTcom or leave a comment here.  I’ll be in NY next Tuesday afternoon through Saturday early afternoon. Dawn from She Is Too Fond of Books  is in the process of creating a database of contact information for those bloggers headed to BEA.  Interested in being part of this database? Sign up now!

For those that follow this blog and will not be in NY, I do have a few posts scheduled for next week so you don’t feel completely neglected .  I will have a sticky post for all those who come across my blog after meeting me at BEA, but there will be other content as well.

If you aren’t going to BEA, you still have a chance to participate. Several bloggers have set up a blog for Armchair BEA, where they will be “announcing daily blogging themes (inspired by Book Expo America (BEA) conference sessions), giveaways hosted by participants, sign-ups for the Book Blogger Convention (BBC) agenda-topic roundtables we’ll be conducting, and more.”

So head over and sign up!

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“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

About the book:

All Patrick Davis ever wanted to do was make movies.  But after he got his big break and sold his first screenplay, his life collapsed. His Hollywood dreams crumble almost immediately, sending him back to his dreary day job, and also he finds his storybook marriage on the rocks. 

Then, ominous DVDs start being delivered to him. DVDs which show that someone is watching him and his wife, that the two of them are being stalked and recorded by cameras hidden around and within their house.  Next the e-mails start, and someone offers to fix everything, to take the mess his life has become and make it all right. Patrick figures it’s the offer of a lifetime.

But Patrick couldn’t be more wrong.  With every step he is deeper and deeper into a web of intrigue that threatens everything he still has and values in this world.  Before he knows it, he’s in and in deep – and the only way out is to outwit and outplay his unseen opponents at their own game. 

Sounds exciting, right? I loved Hurwitz’s other books, Trust No One and The Crime Writer.  Although, I have to contribute my love of his writing to Jen Forbus from Jen’s Book Thoughts. I had his books in my library for some time.  When I met Jen earlier this year, she spoke of his writing. Boy oh boy! I didn’t realize I had two gems just waiting for me to read them.  I don’t know how long it would have taken me to get to them without Jen’s suggestions.  She’s a phenomenal reviewer of crime fiction. Oh, and she’s great at recommending books based on your prior reads.  There hasn’t been a book she’s suggested that I didn’t like.

Ok, back to the book! They’re Watching is published by St. Martin’s Press (one of my favorite publishers!) on July 6th!  Are you a fan of Hurwitz?  Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter, and be sure to check out his Web site!

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The original winner already received a copy of the book, so using random.org, I selected a second winner.  That person is…

Congratulations, Kerrie.  Your mailing information has been passed on to the publisher.  Thank you again to all who entered!

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Congratulations Esme! Your book will be sent directly by the publisher!

Thanks to all who entered!

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You may notice that this review has a bit of a different look to it!  I’m participating in TLC Book Tours “Days of Preys” Tour to celebrate the release of John Sandford’s newest book, Storm Prey.  Each blogger participating in the tour reviews one of Sanford’s 20 books in the Lucas Davenport series!   Great idea, right? It gets even better!  Instead of writing reviews, we will each answer a series of 20 questions about the book.  Have no fear; I’ll still be inserting my own thoughts about the book! So, without further ado:

Title and series number of the book you read: Eyes of Prey, the third book in the series

Year published:First published in 1991

Tell us about Lucas Davenport:

• What is Lucas doing when he first appears in the book? Set up the scene.

Lucas has hit rock bottom.  In the previous book, some sort of disagreement takes place between him and his ex-girlfriend and his daughter has been taken from him. He’s angry and not afraid to show it.

He and his partner, Del, are sitting in a bar waiting for Randy, a young pimp, to make an appearance.  Randy severely cut up the face of one of Lucas’ snitches, and Lucas wants payback.

• Give us a sense of time and place.

The setting is Minneapolis, near the end of winter.

• Lucas’s occupation or professional role?

Lucas is a Detective for the Minneapolis Police Department

• Lucas’s personal status (single, dating, married):

Lucas recently (last book!) separated from his girlfriend.

• Lucas Davenport is a known clothes-horse; did you notice any special fashion references?

At the beginning of the book, Lucas is wearing a leather bomber jacket, cashmere sweater, khanki slacks & cowboy boots.  I don’t think I’ve ever known a detective to wear cashmere

Let’s talk about the mystery:

• Avoiding spoilers, what was the crime/case being solved?
  

Initially, the murder of Stephanie Bekker.  She was found mutilated in her home.

• Does the title of your book relate to the crime?

Yes: Stephanie’s eyes were gouged out.  This was a trademark of the killings that took place within this book. The eyes were nearly always removed.

Who was your favorite supporting character, good or evil?

Cassie, a theatre actress, friend of another murder victim.  She had a lot of life in her. It was obvious she’d been through a lot, but overall she was very optimistic. She had a great outlook on life.

What was your favorite scene or quote?

*Spoiler*-near the end of the book, Lucas dresses up as the killer’s accomplice. The killer has recently killed this man, but he’s haunted by him.  He didn’t remove his eyes, the windows to his soul, so he sees him everywhere. Lucas, as this man, drives up right next to the killer and looks him straight in the eyes.  I was laughing out loud, just trying to picture the look on the killer’s face when he sees his accomplice, once dead, but now alive!

Finally, how do you envision Lucas Davenport?  If he were to be portrayed in a movie, what celebrity would play him?

Lucas is a very hard, tough guy.  He’s been dealt a difficult life so it’s surprising to see he still has a soft side.  He’s going through a lot mentally and emotionally, it’s obvious that without some sort of intervention, he’s going to burst.   Physical appearance: he’s attractive, fairly physically fit.  He loves to wear expensive, quality clothing.

What celebrity would play him?  Hmm…obviously, someone very attractive, yet a bit on the rough side.  I’d say Hugh Jackman

Ok, enough of the drooling over the eye-candy! Back to the book!

This is my first experience with Sandford’s writing.  Within the first few pages, I was hooked and I immediately bought the first two books in the series.  While this is a series, I don’t think they have to be read in order.  There was obviously a bit of back story going on with Lucas and his ex-girlfriend, as well as something that happened in the recent past that gave Lucas his bad reputation, but the storyline carried my attention throughout and I don’t feel as though I lost anything by not knowing Lucas’ history.

This is one of those thrillers/crime fiction novels in which the killer(s) are known up front and it’s up to the authorities to pull the case together.  Usually, I’m not a fan of these sort of novels, I like to attempt to solve a case on my own.  However, Eyes of Prey didn’t fail to keep my attention!  There were plenty of twists and turns in the plot;  I was floored a number of times. I also can’t wait to read more about Davenport’s character. I’m interested in seeing where Sandford takes him!

This is definitely a series I plan on continuing with!  Thank you one again to TLC Book Tours for giving me the opportunity to participate in this tour.

Be sure to check out the other stops on this tour:

Monday, May 3rd:

Rules of Prey:  Rundpinne

Shadow Prey:  Boarding in my Forties

Tuesday, May 4th:

Silent Prey:  Chick with Books

Wednesday, May 5th:

Winter Prey:  The Bluestocking Guide

Night Prey:  Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books

Thursday, May 6th:

Mind Prey:  Jen’s Book Thoughts

Sudden Prey:  Starting Fresh

Friday, May 7th:

Secret Prey:  Fantasy & SciFi Loving News & Reviews

Certain Prey:  My Two Blessings

Monday, May 10th:

Easy Prey:  Lesa’s Book Critiques

Chosen Prey:  Reading with Monie

Tuesday, May 11th:

Mortal Prey:  Musings of a Bookish Kitty

Naked Prey:  Dan’s Journal

Wednesday, May 12th

Hidden Prey:  Novel Whore

Broken Prey:  You’ve GOTTA read this!

Thursday, May 13th:

Invisible Prey:  Booktumbling.com

Friday, May 14th:

Phantom Prey:  The Novel Bookworm

Monday, May 17th:

Wicked Prey: A Bookworm’s World

Tuesday, May 18th:

Storm Prey:  Bermuda Onion

Thanks to the publisher, I have two great books to give away!  For those new to Sanford’s work, enter to win a copy of Eyes of Prey.  For long time fans of Sanford’s writing, enter to win an ARC of his latest book, Storm Prey.  To enter, please fill out the form below.  Winners will be announced Tuesday, May 18th. US & Canadian residents only, please.  No PO Boxes.

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The grand prize winner, winner of the entire Chelsea Cain series is:

The winner of the Heatsick audiobook is:

Congratulations to both of the winners! Your packages will be mailed in the next several days.

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Today my family and I put to rest my dear Grandma.  She played such an important role in my love of reading, so I thought it would be appropriate to honor her here on my blog.

Mary Casto was born in 1926, one of nine children. Her family, the Boswell’s, were pioneers who decided to settle and farm in Western Virginia in the late 1700s.  The family home was in a hollow and she had to walk several miles a day to get to school, but this never hindered her.  She seldom missed school.

She met my grandfather, Arnold Casto, at a church function. Grandpa was in the service and knew one of her brothers.  He wrote her under the pretense of finding where her brother was stationed. They began writing to one another every day.  They eventually began courting, and were married after my grandfather returned from service.  Arnold and Mary Casto had three children: Judith (my mother), Mary Ellen, & David.  David preceded my grandmother in death; he died just a few years ago of prostate cancer.

Grandma started working at the public library in 1972. At that time, the library was housed in the basement of the town hall, with a collection of 2,000 books.  While the collection was small, my grandmother brought so much love and enthusiasm about books and reading to the children and families of the small town.  To many, this was the only access they had to books and she did her best to instill a love of reading and respect for literature in each and every one of them.

The library moved in 1989 to a new location. Grandma worked at the library until she retired in 1995. The libraries collection grew by leaps and bounds in this time, it now houses more than 26,000 books, CDs, & DVDs.  I spent many a summer with my grandparents, and I distinctly remember spending countless hours in this library. It was here I discovered the work of Stephen King, read Gone with the Wind and other pieces of fiction that impacted my life.

Grandma & Grandpa’s home was also always full of books. Their den is lined with built-in bookshelves.  It is here that I discovered Nancy Drew and the Boxcar Children. I could grab a book of the shelf, curl up and lose myself in another world.

As I grew into adulthood, my grandmother continued to play an important role in my life. When I met my husband, Grandma and Grandpa both accepted him as part of our family immediately, although interracial marriages weren’t something that was necessarily accepted in their small town. When we were blessed with children, they loved and spoiled them like only grandparents can.

It saddens me to know that my boys won’t get the opportunity to know Grandma as I did, but we can keep her memory alive through the stories we tell of her.

It is hard to put into words just how much my grandmother impacted my life, but I do hope this post does justice to a woman who impacted the world so dramatically.

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I’m pleased to welcome Stephanie Cowell, author of Claude & Camille, to Jenn’s Bookshelves.  One of the key aspects in Claude & Camille is friendship, and today Stephanie writes about how important friends are.  

How My Friends Save My Life When I’m Working On A Novel
 

One of the most important things a writer can have besides talent and a gift to tell stories is great friends because you will really need them. The writer John Gardner in his book On Becoming a Novelist said that the novelist is the long distance runner.
 
Your novel often starts with a few sentences, maybe a whole draft paragraph and a very long time later, after years of writing and finding an agent and then a publisher ―  and every phrase of the publishing process from editing to proofing to cover to press releases to the first reviews —  you have one major resource and that is your friends. Friends who know what you are doing and believe in it and cheer you on.
 
I have the most supportive friends in the world. I am really fortunate. Some read through two or three drafts; others sent me encouraging e-mails supportive e-mails or call me. “You can do it. “Believe in your work.” “The book will make it.” Two friends e-mailed me every single day for four years. My family has been amazing. I think I want to give my husband the best present in the world, which will be not to say the words “my novel” again in his presence for at least a month. (I have managed half a day, but the novel is just coming out so….) When Claude and Camille was in submission, a friend forwarded me an animated e-card of a mouse praying in church. And my younger son sent me endless messages saying, “Everything is going to be great.” My older son took me on long walks and fed me lovely meals and compared the process of multi-drafts to his work designing computer systems.
 
Writing a novel can be one of the loneliest things a person can do. Every novel is original so there are no guidelines. (“Is this the 13th draft of the 4th major revision?” my husband would wistfully ask.)  Friends keep me going. In turn, I am godmother or auntie to many novels, some published, some in progress. I love being involved. I read drafts and cheer people on. I blurb for books when I can.

 
In this profession, as in every other area of the world, friends are the best.

And now, thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of  Claude & Camille.   To enter, please fill out the form below. Open to US and Canadian residents only, please.  No PO Boxes.  Winner will be announced on Friday, April 30th.

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