Title: January US swap Reveals Thread
Description: Put em here!
Description: Put em here!
nursiegirl42 - January 23, 2008 10:52 PM (GMT)
No Talkie talkie!
EllyMae58 - January 24, 2008 03:50 AM (GMT)
My reveal is:
Accidental It Girl by Libby Street
What comes around...
Photographer Sadie Price is known for her thick skin and infallible instincts. A lofty education has made her skilled in her craft, and a fear of poverty - and love for Jimmy Choo - has made her one of the East Coast's most savvy paparazzi. She keeps her exhilarating but sometimes hectic life manageable by staying on the right side of the razor-thin line between celebrity photographers and the stalkerazzi. But all that changes when Sadie locks horns with one of Hollywood's hottest bachelors.
...goes around.
Something about Ethan Wyatt's charisma and startling good looks throws Sadie off her game. Something about Sadie's dogged determination - and a very compromising picture she snaps - throws Ethan off his. Hatching a scheme befitting the silver screen that made him famous, Ethan sets out to give Sadie a taste of her own medicine. And when her life almost instantly becomes as frenzied as those of the "It Girls" she follows, Sadie starts to see her career, her love life, and Ethan Wyatt in ways she never had before...
chambejd - January 24, 2008 03:54 AM (GMT)
Nursie's reveal:
Isabella Moon by Laura Benedict
Sheriff Bill Delaney has his hands full. There's a new lead in the case of a nine-year-old who vanished from a commune two years ago, and a local woman has been viciously murdered, stabbed in the back with a pitchfork. Worst of all for Bill, the heat being generated by upset local citizens has put a strain on his happy marriage. When he discovers the body of the nine-year-old in the corner of a remote cemetery, he's at a loss to explain to the media just how he found it. That's because Kate Russell, new in town, told him where to look, claiming the little girl came to her in a dream and led her to the burial spot. But a little investigation leads Bill to conclude that Kate is not who she claims to be, and his healthy skepticism over all things supernatural puts Kate at the top of his list of suspects. Benedict creates an entertainingly lurid atmosphere as she peoples a small southern town with not one but two psychopaths, a ghostly apparition, and various neurotic young women with some pretty twisted views on romance.
Isabella Moon by Laura Benedict
Sheriff Bill Delaney has his hands full. There's a new lead in the case of a nine-year-old who vanished from a commune two years ago, and a local woman has been viciously murdered, stabbed in the back with a pitchfork. Worst of all for Bill, the heat being generated by upset local citizens has put a strain on his happy marriage. When he discovers the body of the nine-year-old in the corner of a remote cemetery, he's at a loss to explain to the media just how he found it. That's because Kate Russell, new in town, told him where to look, claiming the little girl came to her in a dream and led her to the burial spot. But a little investigation leads Bill to conclude that Kate is not who she claims to be, and his healthy skepticism over all things supernatural puts Kate at the top of his list of suspects. Benedict creates an entertainingly lurid atmosphere as she peoples a small southern town with not one but two psychopaths, a ghostly apparition, and various neurotic young women with some pretty twisted views on romance.
ramson - January 24, 2008 05:46 AM (GMT)
Ladii's reveal is:
The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney (ARC) - Trade PB - Suzanne Harper
From Booklist
As the seventh daughter of a psychic, great things are expected of Sparrow, but she wants none of it, going so far as to begin her freshman year at a new high school, a bus ride away from Lily Dale, a real-life New York town centered on spiritualism. Nor has she mentioned to her family that she has been talking to spirit guides and seeing ghosts since she was five.
But her life plan to eschew the psychic limelight begins to unravel when Luke, a teenage ghost, appears to insist she help him resolve issues that are keeping him from reaching the other side. It won't take readers too long to realize that the sullen (but handsome!) boy she's paired on a project with is Luke's brother, who vehemently denies ghosts and fervently believes his brother is alive.
Harper gets everything right here. The intriguing premise is developed into a well-plotted story featuring a range of compelling characters, only some of whom are flesh and blood. A wistful subplot about Sparrow's missing father stays hauntingly unresolved.
The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney (ARC) - Trade PB - Suzanne Harper
From Booklist
As the seventh daughter of a psychic, great things are expected of Sparrow, but she wants none of it, going so far as to begin her freshman year at a new high school, a bus ride away from Lily Dale, a real-life New York town centered on spiritualism. Nor has she mentioned to her family that she has been talking to spirit guides and seeing ghosts since she was five.
But her life plan to eschew the psychic limelight begins to unravel when Luke, a teenage ghost, appears to insist she help him resolve issues that are keeping him from reaching the other side. It won't take readers too long to realize that the sullen (but handsome!) boy she's paired on a project with is Luke's brother, who vehemently denies ghosts and fervently believes his brother is alive.
Harper gets everything right here. The intriguing premise is developed into a well-plotted story featuring a range of compelling characters, only some of whom are flesh and blood. A wistful subplot about Sparrow's missing father stays hauntingly unresolved.
FranciJo - January 24, 2008 01:36 PM (GMT)
Good Man Hunting
by Lisa Landolt
Sandra Greene knows men don't go for women like her: the invisible ones, the plain ones scrambling to make a living without benefit of the right connections, college degree, and fashionable clothes. But her life is changed forever when, at an old friend's wedding, she meets the wealthy socialites of the Hunt Club. They proudly claim they made that wedding possible, and they make Sandra an offer no woman can refuse.
Sandra is guaranteed to marry any man she wants—no matter how good-looking, rich, powerful, or successful. All she has to do is play their matchmaking "game." Seduced by the promise of makeovers, money, and matrimony, she quickly joins the Hunt Club and can't wait to go after the husband of her dreams—a sexy Hollywood actor.
At first it all seems too wonderful to be true as she changes her life and is about to get her guy—until the FBI steps in asking questions. Just how far will these women go to get what they want? That's when Sandra begins to realize that matchmaking is really murder...possibly in more ways than one!
(note: this is an ARC/uncorrected proof)
CdnBlueRose - January 24, 2008 04:53 PM (GMT)
Terra57's Reveal:
| QUOTE |
 Synopsis THE SECRET BETWEEN US explores the limits of responsibility—mother to daughter, daughter to father, husband to wife. After Deborah Monroe picks up her sixteen-year-old daughter, Grace, from a party, they are driving home when their car hits a man in the dark. Although Grace was at the wheel, Deborah sends her home, insistent on facing the police alone. Her decision then turns into a deception which takes on a life of its own, threatening their family, as well as the special bond between mother and daughter. Once again Delinsky has written a superbly crafted book, perfectly targeted to reading groups and fans of provocative fiction. My Review at Bookcrossing |
chambejd - January 24, 2008 05:00 PM (GMT)
wss4's reveal:
The Darkest Evening of the Year
by Dean R. Koontz
Pub. Date: November 2007
Synopsis
With each of his #1 New York Times bestsellers, Dean Koontz has displayed an unparalleled ability to entertain and enlighten readers with novels that capture the essence of our times even as they bring us to the edge of our seats. Now he delivers a heart-gripping tour de force he’s been waiting years to write, at once a love story, a thrilling adventure, and a masterwork of suspense that redefines the boundaries of primal fear—and of enduring devotion.
Amy Redwing has dedicated her life to the southern California organization she founded to rescue abandoned and endangered golden retrievers. Among dog lovers, she’s a legend for the risks she’ll take to save an animal from abuse. Among her friends, Amy’s heedless devotion is often cause for concern. To widower Brian McCarthy, whose commitment she can’t allow herself to return, Amy’s behavior is far more puzzling and hides a shattering secret.
No one is surprised when Amy risks her life to save Nickie, nor when she takes the female golden into her home. The bond between Amy and Nickie is immediate and uncanny. Even her two other goldens, Fred and Ethel, recognize Nickie as special, a natural alpha. But the instant joy Nickie brings is shadowed by a series of eerie incidents. An ominous stranger. A mysterious home invasion.
And the unmistakable sense that someone is watching Amy’s every move and that, whoever it is, he’s not alone.
Someone has come back to turn Amy into the desperate, hunted creature she’s always been there to save. But now there’s no one to save Amy and those she loves. From its breathtaking opening scene to its shocking climax,The Darkest Evening of the Year is Dean Koontz at his finest, a transcendent thriller certain to have readers turning pages until dawn.
From the Hardcover edition.
Annotation
Dear Reader,
The Darkest Evening of the Year is meant to be (but you'll be the judge) an edge-of-the-seat, funny, uplifting novel about dogs and the wonderful people who rescue dogs that have been abused or abandoned. It's about an exceptional woman, Amy Redwing, and a mysterious golden retriever, Nickie, who go on a magical journey through some dark territory that will require all the courage and all the faith in each other they can muster. I hope you'll think I've done dogs proud, because I've known few human beings who can match the goodness of the average dog!
--Dean Koontz
The Darkest Evening of the Year
by Dean R. Koontz
Pub. Date: November 2007
Synopsis
With each of his #1 New York Times bestsellers, Dean Koontz has displayed an unparalleled ability to entertain and enlighten readers with novels that capture the essence of our times even as they bring us to the edge of our seats. Now he delivers a heart-gripping tour de force he’s been waiting years to write, at once a love story, a thrilling adventure, and a masterwork of suspense that redefines the boundaries of primal fear—and of enduring devotion.
Amy Redwing has dedicated her life to the southern California organization she founded to rescue abandoned and endangered golden retrievers. Among dog lovers, she’s a legend for the risks she’ll take to save an animal from abuse. Among her friends, Amy’s heedless devotion is often cause for concern. To widower Brian McCarthy, whose commitment she can’t allow herself to return, Amy’s behavior is far more puzzling and hides a shattering secret.
No one is surprised when Amy risks her life to save Nickie, nor when she takes the female golden into her home. The bond between Amy and Nickie is immediate and uncanny. Even her two other goldens, Fred and Ethel, recognize Nickie as special, a natural alpha. But the instant joy Nickie brings is shadowed by a series of eerie incidents. An ominous stranger. A mysterious home invasion.
And the unmistakable sense that someone is watching Amy’s every move and that, whoever it is, he’s not alone.
Someone has come back to turn Amy into the desperate, hunted creature she’s always been there to save. But now there’s no one to save Amy and those she loves. From its breathtaking opening scene to its shocking climax,The Darkest Evening of the Year is Dean Koontz at his finest, a transcendent thriller certain to have readers turning pages until dawn.
From the Hardcover edition.
Annotation
Dear Reader,
The Darkest Evening of the Year is meant to be (but you'll be the judge) an edge-of-the-seat, funny, uplifting novel about dogs and the wonderful people who rescue dogs that have been abused or abandoned. It's about an exceptional woman, Amy Redwing, and a mysterious golden retriever, Nickie, who go on a magical journey through some dark territory that will require all the courage and all the faith in each other they can muster. I hope you'll think I've done dogs proud, because I've known few human beings who can match the goodness of the average dog!
--Dean Koontz
CdnBlueRose - January 24, 2008 05:53 PM (GMT)
Ramson's reveal:
| QUOTE |
 The Land of Mango Sunsets: A Novel Dorothea Benton Frank Miriam Elizabeth Swanson's life is one big pity party. Her husband of 20-plus years has traded her in for a newer model, her grown sons avoid her like the plague, and, likewise, her so-called society friends treat her like she's the poster girl for the Ebola virus. If all that weren't bad enough, her once-deluxe Manhattan town house has been carved up into apartments because she needs the rent to make ends meet, and her mother has morphed into a pot-smoking, aging hippie down at the family homestead in the Carolina Low Country. But when a new young tenant is brutally attacked by her lover, who happens to be married to one of Miriam's erstwhile friends, Miriam experiences an epiphany that transforms her from a dour, nay-saying shrew into an upbeat, understanding confidant. Shedding her emotional baggage along with, let's face it, a few pounds, Miriam learns the redemptive power of forgiveness and turns her life into a joyous celebration of family and friends |
CdnBlueRose - January 24, 2008 06:35 PM (GMT)
Chambejd's reveal:
| QUOTE |
 As Dead As It Gets by Cady Kalian This is the first book in the Maggie Mars mystery series. Published in 2006. From Publishers Weekly Screenwriter Kalian's sometimes frenetic, often funny debut introduces screenwriter Maggie Mars, who was a New York investigative journalist until a piece for Vanity Fair catapulted her to Los Angeles, where she serves as a board member of the Creative Artists Union (aka CAU, "irreverently known as COW"). Maggie is also working on a screenplay about an investigative reporter who's an alter ego. The novel's wonderful supporting cast includes Maggie's current boyfriend, a top-flight defense lawyer; a homicide cop ex-boyfriend, who's not entirely out of the romantic running; and a roommate who's a fount of Hollywood gossip. When CAU's executive director, Roger Urban, is found dead in the bathtub in an unoccupied house, wearing only a red garter belt and bra, Maggie goes into investigative mode on both coasts, takes some lessons from her alter ego and ends up with one of her dreams coming true. Kalian milks plenty of stereotypes, but does so with panache and enough originality to be refreshing. |
xallroyx - January 25, 2008 02:47 PM (GMT)
My reveal is:
Girl Most Likely To (Red Dress Ink)
by Poonam Sharma
With meticulous career planning and a couple of dirty martinis, there is very little that New York City investment banker Vina Chopra can't do. And now that sh's decided to get serious about if nding her mate, there is very little that Vina won't try—even if it means letting her parents get involved. After all, what does she have to lose? Her longest-term relationship thus far has been with the ulcer she ultimately named Fred (unless you count the ex-boyfriend who won't go away).
Amid a series of dates with 'the nice Indian doctor' and an office scandal that could permanently end her career, Vina starts to question everything sh's been working for. Who has she been trying to please all these years? Is this the life that she really wants? Can she if nally learn to put aside her family's expectations long enough and become the girl most likely to if nd a happiness all her own?
Girl Most Likely To (Red Dress Ink)
by Poonam Sharma
With meticulous career planning and a couple of dirty martinis, there is very little that New York City investment banker Vina Chopra can't do. And now that sh's decided to get serious about if nding her mate, there is very little that Vina won't try—even if it means letting her parents get involved. After all, what does she have to lose? Her longest-term relationship thus far has been with the ulcer she ultimately named Fred (unless you count the ex-boyfriend who won't go away).
Amid a series of dates with 'the nice Indian doctor' and an office scandal that could permanently end her career, Vina starts to question everything sh's been working for. Who has she been trying to please all these years? Is this the life that she really wants? Can she if nally learn to put aside her family's expectations long enough and become the girl most likely to if nd a happiness all her own?
CdnBlueRose - January 25, 2008 04:16 PM (GMT)
Redhot-brat's reveal:
The Woods by Harlan Coben
Twenty Years ago, four teenagers at summer camp walked into the woods at night. Two were found murdered, and the others were never seen again. Four families had their lives changed forever. Now, two decades later, they are about to change again.
For Paul Copeland, the county prosecutor of Essex, New Jersey, mourning the loss of his sister has only recently begun to subside. Cope, as he is known, is now dealing with raising his six-year old daughter as a single father after his ife died of cancer. Balancing family life and a rapidly ascending career as a prosecutor distracts him from his past traumas, but only for so long.
When a homicide victim is found with evidence linking him to Cope, the well-buried secrets of the prosecutor's family are threathened.
Is this homicide victim one of the campers who disappeared with his sister? Could his sister be alive? Cope has to confront so much he left behind that summer twenty years ago:his first love,Lucy; his mother,who abandoned the family;and the secrets his Russian parents might have been hiding even from their own children. Cope must decide what is better left hidden in the dark and what truths can be brought to light.
The Woods by Harlan Coben
Twenty Years ago, four teenagers at summer camp walked into the woods at night. Two were found murdered, and the others were never seen again. Four families had their lives changed forever. Now, two decades later, they are about to change again.
For Paul Copeland, the county prosecutor of Essex, New Jersey, mourning the loss of his sister has only recently begun to subside. Cope, as he is known, is now dealing with raising his six-year old daughter as a single father after his ife died of cancer. Balancing family life and a rapidly ascending career as a prosecutor distracts him from his past traumas, but only for so long.
When a homicide victim is found with evidence linking him to Cope, the well-buried secrets of the prosecutor's family are threathened.
Is this homicide victim one of the campers who disappeared with his sister? Could his sister be alive? Cope has to confront so much he left behind that summer twenty years ago:his first love,Lucy; his mother,who abandoned the family;and the secrets his Russian parents might have been hiding even from their own children. Cope must decide what is better left hidden in the dark and what truths can be brought to light.
CdnBlueRose - January 25, 2008 11:32 PM (GMT)
]The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Amazon.com
Settle down to enjoy a rousing good ghost story with Diane Setterfield's debut novel, The Thirteenth Tale. Setterfield has rejuvenated the genre with this closely plotted, clever foray into a world of secrets, confused identities, lies, and half-truths. She never cheats by pulling a rabbit out of a hat; this atmospheric story hangs together perfectly.
There are two heroines here: Vida Winter, a famous author, whose life story is coming to an end, and Margaret Lea, a young, unworldly, bookish girl who is a bookseller in her father's shop. Vida has been confounding her biographers and fans for years by giving everybody a different version of her life, each time swearing it's the truth. Because of a biography that Margaret has written about brothers, Vida chooses Margaret to tell her story, all of it, for the first time. At their initial meeting, the conversation begins:
"You have given nineteen different versions of your life story to journalists in the last two years alone."
She [Vida] shrugged. "It's my profession. I'm a storyteller."
"I am a biographer, I work with facts."
The game is afoot and Margaret must spend some time sorting out whether or not Vida is actually ready to tell the whole truth. There is more here of Margaret discovering than of Vida cooperating wholeheartedly, but that is part of Vida's plan. The transformative power of truth informs the lives of both women by story's end, and The Thirteenth Tale is finally and convincingly told.
Amazon.com
Settle down to enjoy a rousing good ghost story with Diane Setterfield's debut novel, The Thirteenth Tale. Setterfield has rejuvenated the genre with this closely plotted, clever foray into a world of secrets, confused identities, lies, and half-truths. She never cheats by pulling a rabbit out of a hat; this atmospheric story hangs together perfectly.
There are two heroines here: Vida Winter, a famous author, whose life story is coming to an end, and Margaret Lea, a young, unworldly, bookish girl who is a bookseller in her father's shop. Vida has been confounding her biographers and fans for years by giving everybody a different version of her life, each time swearing it's the truth. Because of a biography that Margaret has written about brothers, Vida chooses Margaret to tell her story, all of it, for the first time. At their initial meeting, the conversation begins:
"You have given nineteen different versions of your life story to journalists in the last two years alone."
She [Vida] shrugged. "It's my profession. I'm a storyteller."
"I am a biographer, I work with facts."
The game is afoot and Margaret must spend some time sorting out whether or not Vida is actually ready to tell the whole truth. There is more here of Margaret discovering than of Vida cooperating wholeheartedly, but that is part of Vida's plan. The transformative power of truth informs the lives of both women by story's end, and The Thirteenth Tale is finally and convincingly told.
ladiibbug - January 26, 2008 05:57 PM (GMT)
Sejent Reveals:
Slummy Mummy by Fiona Neill (ARC) (TBR)
"Lucy Sweeney has three sons, a husband on a short fuse, and a tendency toward domestic disaster. It has been years since the dirty-laundry pile was less than three feet high, months since she remembered to have sex, and weeks since her toddler started using the trash can as a toilet.
Far from an intimidatingly perfect 'Yummy Mummy,' Lucy is living in a permanent state of emergency--and the white lies to cover up the trail of 'Slummy Mummy' destruction are escalating. When she begins a flirtation with the Sexy Domesticated Dad, a father from the school carpool lane, the string of white lies threatens to unravel and disaster looms, making it harder and harder to remember exactly why she gave up a career and her sanity for this."
Slummy Mummy by Fiona Neill (ARC) (TBR)
"Lucy Sweeney has three sons, a husband on a short fuse, and a tendency toward domestic disaster. It has been years since the dirty-laundry pile was less than three feet high, months since she remembered to have sex, and weeks since her toddler started using the trash can as a toilet.
Far from an intimidatingly perfect 'Yummy Mummy,' Lucy is living in a permanent state of emergency--and the white lies to cover up the trail of 'Slummy Mummy' destruction are escalating. When she begins a flirtation with the Sexy Domesticated Dad, a father from the school carpool lane, the string of white lies threatens to unravel and disaster looms, making it harder and harder to remember exactly why she gave up a career and her sanity for this."
Ri - January 27, 2008 02:42 PM (GMT)
My reveal:
Midori By Moonlight
by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga
From Publishers Weekly
Aspiring Cinderella Midori Saito does not heed her mother's warning-"Running off with a foreigner will bring you nothing but trouble"-in Tokunaga's delectably frothy debut. Trouble is exactly what Midori finds after following English teacher Kevin Newbury from her native Japan to San Francisco, where Prince Charming quickly becomes Prince Alarming after a nightmarish engagement party. After Kevin dumps her to return to his ex-girlfriend, Midori doesn't want to tell her parents or return to Japan, although with little savings, no green card and only a temporary visa, she may have to. Fortunately, Kevin's old friend Shinji Nishimura, who met Midori at the ill-fated party, offers Midori refuge while she figures out her next moves-she's a talented baker-and Shinji ponders his. Tokunaga, author of the self-published No Kidding, depicts Midori's determination to create her own version of the American dream with exuberance.
I loved this book! Here is my review for Armchair Interviews:
Chick lit has traditionally (if you can say that about a genre less than 20 years old!) portrayed a white woman living in New York/London fumbling through her love life while working in the publishing/fashion industry. Wendy Tokunaga's novel, Midori by Moonlight bursts forth as a leader and shining example of an emerging subgenre, multicultural chick lit. A modern tale with a hint of green tea and wasabi, this novel carries readers on a fast-paced journey they won't want to end.
Midori is a Japanese woman brought to the United States by her American fiancé who promptly dumps her for an old flame less than a week after her arrival. What Midori lacks in English language skill, she more than makes up in gumption and a quirkiness that draws people to her. Having never felt as if she really fit into traditional Japanese culture, she sets out to make a life for herself in the US while the clock ticks away on her fiancée visa.
What makes this novel really stand out is the attention to detail that enlivens the characters and brings to light idiosyncrasies of both American and Japanese cultures. Readers familiar with contemporary Japan will smile at references such as the "Engrish" business name "Let's English" and describing unmarried Japanese women as Christmas cakes. Even Midori's fascination with beautiful baked sweets highlights a subtle Japanese trait. Midori maintains many Japanese characteristics, photographing and documenting desserts in a journal for example, while expressing parts of herself that feel much more American - her independent spirit and willingness to do whatever it takes to earn a living. Side characters such as Damian and Tracy portray the many American fascinations with and distortions of Japanese culture. While glimpses are seen through the character Akina, additional description of modern Japanese women living in Japan would have created a stronger foil for Midori's independent spirit, further revealing how she truly is caught between two cultures.
More than just a story about Japanese and American cultures, Midori by Moonlight is a story of expressing your true self to find your own path in the world. Tokunaga creates an endearing character in Midori that readers will root for, laugh with and love to befriend over cup of green tea and a decadent slice of cake.
Midori By Moonlight
by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga
From Publishers Weekly
Aspiring Cinderella Midori Saito does not heed her mother's warning-"Running off with a foreigner will bring you nothing but trouble"-in Tokunaga's delectably frothy debut. Trouble is exactly what Midori finds after following English teacher Kevin Newbury from her native Japan to San Francisco, where Prince Charming quickly becomes Prince Alarming after a nightmarish engagement party. After Kevin dumps her to return to his ex-girlfriend, Midori doesn't want to tell her parents or return to Japan, although with little savings, no green card and only a temporary visa, she may have to. Fortunately, Kevin's old friend Shinji Nishimura, who met Midori at the ill-fated party, offers Midori refuge while she figures out her next moves-she's a talented baker-and Shinji ponders his. Tokunaga, author of the self-published No Kidding, depicts Midori's determination to create her own version of the American dream with exuberance.
I loved this book! Here is my review for Armchair Interviews:
Chick lit has traditionally (if you can say that about a genre less than 20 years old!) portrayed a white woman living in New York/London fumbling through her love life while working in the publishing/fashion industry. Wendy Tokunaga's novel, Midori by Moonlight bursts forth as a leader and shining example of an emerging subgenre, multicultural chick lit. A modern tale with a hint of green tea and wasabi, this novel carries readers on a fast-paced journey they won't want to end.
Midori is a Japanese woman brought to the United States by her American fiancé who promptly dumps her for an old flame less than a week after her arrival. What Midori lacks in English language skill, she more than makes up in gumption and a quirkiness that draws people to her. Having never felt as if she really fit into traditional Japanese culture, she sets out to make a life for herself in the US while the clock ticks away on her fiancée visa.
What makes this novel really stand out is the attention to detail that enlivens the characters and brings to light idiosyncrasies of both American and Japanese cultures. Readers familiar with contemporary Japan will smile at references such as the "Engrish" business name "Let's English" and describing unmarried Japanese women as Christmas cakes. Even Midori's fascination with beautiful baked sweets highlights a subtle Japanese trait. Midori maintains many Japanese characteristics, photographing and documenting desserts in a journal for example, while expressing parts of herself that feel much more American - her independent spirit and willingness to do whatever it takes to earn a living. Side characters such as Damian and Tracy portray the many American fascinations with and distortions of Japanese culture. While glimpses are seen through the character Akina, additional description of modern Japanese women living in Japan would have created a stronger foil for Midori's independent spirit, further revealing how she truly is caught between two cultures.
More than just a story about Japanese and American cultures, Midori by Moonlight is a story of expressing your true self to find your own path in the world. Tokunaga creates an endearing character in Midori that readers will root for, laugh with and love to befriend over cup of green tea and a decadent slice of cake.
ramson - January 28, 2008 03:19 AM (GMT)
lovemylife's reveal is:
Tag. You're It! - Penny McCall
Alex Scott has been doing just fine on her own, studying mountain lions and living alone in a log cabin 75 miles from anywhere. The last thing she needs is some cocky guy, even one with looks to die for, falling from the sky...
All FBI Agent Tag Donovan wants is to find the mobster who killed his partner. But when he finds himself pushed off a low-flying plane, only to land facedown in the snow in a hail of bullets, survival is the one thing on his mind - until he gets a look at the beauty who drags him to safety.
Ignoring each other isn't going to work when there's no one else around, especially when Alex could be the key to solving Tag's mystery. And though Tag's aching body wants nothing but bed rest, Alex's smoky voice makes him think of more exciting uses for the bed...
Tag. You're It! - Penny McCall
Alex Scott has been doing just fine on her own, studying mountain lions and living alone in a log cabin 75 miles from anywhere. The last thing she needs is some cocky guy, even one with looks to die for, falling from the sky...
All FBI Agent Tag Donovan wants is to find the mobster who killed his partner. But when he finds himself pushed off a low-flying plane, only to land facedown in the snow in a hail of bullets, survival is the one thing on his mind - until he gets a look at the beauty who drags him to safety.
Ignoring each other isn't going to work when there's no one else around, especially when Alex could be the key to solving Tag's mystery. And though Tag's aching body wants nothing but bed rest, Alex's smoky voice makes him think of more exciting uses for the bed...
wss4 - January 30, 2008 02:10 AM (GMT)
Rebecca's Reveal
Bite by Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, MaryJanice Davidson, Angela Knight, Vickie Taylor
FEEL THE TOUCH OF DARKNESS...
Follow a vampire hunter who can be as deadly as her prey. Meet a down-home southern girl who's found out, much to her chagrin, that vampires are her type. Feel the euphoria of fear in the shadow of a reluctant Queen of the Undead. Step closer to the hot-blooded edge of passion as a strange new mythology of the night is unveiled.
The bite is back in vampire fiction as today's most provocative authors cast their irrisistible spells on you...
Bite by Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, MaryJanice Davidson, Angela Knight, Vickie Taylor
FEEL THE TOUCH OF DARKNESS...
Follow a vampire hunter who can be as deadly as her prey. Meet a down-home southern girl who's found out, much to her chagrin, that vampires are her type. Feel the euphoria of fear in the shadow of a reluctant Queen of the Undead. Step closer to the hot-blooded edge of passion as a strange new mythology of the night is unveiled.
The bite is back in vampire fiction as today's most provocative authors cast their irrisistible spells on you...