The Last Refuge - Giveaway

If you like books by Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn and Brad Thor you will like the new novel by Ben Coes.  My review of it is here.  The publisher has generously made a copy available and it will be signed by the author.  To enter the giveaway follow the (not too onerous) rules to the right of this post.  Giveaway ends July 13.  Winner chosen by random.org

Giveaway Winner!

Margaret at hotmail is the winner of the Portrait of a Spy audio CDs.  I've emailed her but the email has bounced back.  Please get in touch and reconfirm your email address.

Giveaway Winner!

Heather L. is the winner of the Harlen Coben novel shelter.  She has been  notified and has 48 hours to contact me.  Thanks to all who participated.

Shelter - Review and Giveaway

Shelter: A Mickey Bolitar Novel by Harlan Coben, Putnam, September 2011

Mystery lovers of all ages enjoy!

Shelter is published as a teen novel, but I thought it was a pretty good adult read. Harlen Coben introduced Mickey Bolitar in Live Wire and now gives him his own story. He is a bright, energetic, high school student who is having a really bad year. He has witnessed his father’s death and is now dealing with his mother’s drug addiction. Forced to live with his uncle Myron he starts the school term by meeting an enchanting girl, Ashley, who quickly becomes his girlfriend. Just as quickly she goes missing without a trace. Working with some quirky new friends he has made at school Mickey tries to find Ashley. He uncovers a conspiracy and along the way finds out some things that cause him to question his father’s death.

The writing is good, the wry humor that Coben is noted for is fully present and actually sounds realistic coming from a teenage boy. The plotting is also good; the action moves right along. I think this will be a successful series for Coben and will bring new young readers to the mystery genre. Mystery lovers of all ages enjoy!

I am happy to giveaway my gently used copy of the novel.  Follow the rules posted to the right of review.  Giveaway ends September 9, 2011

I read an advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

Giveaway Winner!

Julie at knitting and sundries is the winner of a copy of  Save Me by Lisa Scottoline. She has been notified by email and has 48 hours to contact me with mailing information.  Thanks to all who entered!

Save Me - Review and Giveaway

Save Me

by Lisa Scottline, St. Martin's Press, April 2011

Scottoline fans will enjoy this one; it is a good, suspenseful read.

Save Me, Lisa Scottline’s new thriller is a disturbing book! The story centers on one decision made in a  few short minutes by a young mother during a fire at her daughter’s school. Rose McKenna, a volunteer lunch monitor, interrupts a bullying incident and addresses it with the girls involved. At that moment a fire and explosion engulf the room. McKenna has choices to make, save the girls she is with or go and rescue her own daughter. She is able to work a compromise that seems successful. Without giving away too much of the story McKenna is vilified for her decisions. Throughout most of the story McKenna is unfairly judged, hounded, and denigrated by the community. Scottoline presented this scenario so realistically right down to the use of Facebook as a public humiliation forum that it made me cringe.

The plot is vintage Scottoline – fast moving, emotional and just slightly over the top. McKenna meekly responds to the community actions until she develops a spine and become the “action hero” mom. She is finally motivated to remove the suspicion and implied guilt from her family. She investigates the fire at the school and finds that it was not accidental. A strong thread though the story is the love of a mother for a child and how it drives her actions. The character descriptions, as always, are right on the money. With a well chosen phrase Scottoline is able to bring to life her characters.

The author has left behind downtown Philadelphia as her setting and moved to the suburbs for this story (as I think she has done in real life). I personally miss the Philadelphia scene; those descriptions were always right on the money. Scottoline fans will enjoy this one; it is a good, suspenseful read.

I have one copy of this book to give away.  If you'd like it take a look at the rules in the column just to the right of this post and leave you email address in the comments section.  The giveaway closes at midnight on April 24th.



I read a copy of this book provided by the author.

Finally a Giveaway!!

To be a real book blog, it seems you have to have book giveaways.  Thanks to the generosity of Hachette Book Group I have two copies of New Tricks by David Rosenfelt to give away.  Follow this link: http://bookdiary2010.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html