My Friend Amy

The Sunday Salon -- A Book Pulls Me Out of the Funk, Bookish Movies and TV Shows

mypalamy@gmail.com — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:36:23 PST

Earlier this week I posted my frustration with my reader's indecision which was causing me to be unable to finish any books, even though the books were good. When I get into these weird moods, I really try not to read anything I'm anticipating will be good, because I want to give the book a fair shake, and I don't want to ruin a good reading experience with my moodiness. This time, I picked up a book I got over the summer and was so so so thrilled to be so completely sucked in by it. It's one that got pretty good reviews around the blogosphere, but to me it was a great reminder that...hey I really do like this reading thing. The book, by the way, was The Adoration of Jenna Fox.

This week is usually the start of the holiday season for me. Of course I still very much believe in celebrating Thanksgiving and the spirit of it, but November is a really good time to sort out Christmas details, like shopping, cards, what special events I want to partake in, planning my time off, etc. In the past, I always attended an event at my parents former church that was focused on Christmas and had a shopping boutique with handmade crafts for sale and the like. This year, the event was not at all for Christmas, but instead decorated for harvest. For some reason, I found it to be a huge disappointment, even though it was still enjoyable. The other tradition for this weekend is Hallmark's Holiday Open House, which was also massively scaled back this year, there was no new roll out of ornaments, no special Christmas CD, and our Hallmark which usually has a nice refreshments table for the event had only some candy out. The poor economy, I believe, is really showing this year.

Of course these things don't make the season, and aren't that important in the long run. They are just a reminder that life is always changing.

Movies
I've been wanting to write about Where the Wild Things Are since I saw it a few weeks ago. I really really loved it, I found it to be beautiful and bittersweet. I haven't seen many other book blogger reviews, but I also have had my blog reading time be massively shortened. Has anyone seen it? What did you think? I've seen a lot of negative reviews in general, so I'm interested.

I also saw The Box and let me tell you something....I feel like this was a story that had huge potential, a fantastic concept, but just absolutely insisted on being WEIRD. The beginning and the end worked for me, but the middle? No, no, no, no. A big disappointment.

TV
Okay, I have a confession to make. I did NOT like the turn Supernatural took this week. SPOILER ALERT Why did they have to make the Trickster an angel????? That episode started out so awesomely, I loved the whole television show thing, couldn't stop laughing in fact, but then they pulled that the trickster-is-really-Gabriel business...and I think maybe they thought it was brilliant but I thought it was a huge disappointment.

BUT, the true bookish TV thing I want to discuss is Rizzoli! I'm a huge fan of Tess Gerritsen as you may know and very interested to see how this show will turn out. The casting is in full force and the role of Jane Rizzoli..one of my favorite bookish characters has been cast....Angie Harmon will be playing Jane.

I have really mixed feelings on this. I like Angie Harmon, but she did bring to life Lindsay Boxer and that show failed. And she's not quite how I pictured Jane Rizzoli. But I'm willing to give her a chance...and I really hope they make this show interesting and that someone really awesome gets cast as Gabriel Dean. :) Any other Gerritsen fans out there care to weigh in? (Sasha Alexander has been cast as Maura Isles)

Well that's all I've got for the moment. Here's to finishing lots of books this week! What are you Sunday plans? Books, relaxing, work? Tell me all!

Faith 'n' Fiction Saturday: What Makes a Book Stick?

mypalamy@gmail.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:29:30 PST

Welcome to Faith'n'Fiction Saturday! If this is your first time participating, please read this post to learn more!

Two Announcements!

1) Deborah and I are a hosting a reading challenge to encourage the reading of the Christy nominated and awarded books. If you sign up by November 15th, you have the chance to win some pretty fantastic books (hint: recent Christy winners!) I hope you'll go sign up and and join in the fun of a year of discovering some great Christian fiction!

2) Now that twitter has lists, I want to make a list of Faith'n'Fiction participants who tweet! So if you participate in Faith'n'Fiction Saturday and you use twitter, please leave a comment with your twitter name and I'll make a list!

Today's Question and my Answer all Mixed Up in One:

As I was going through the Christy list to try to pick a few top recommendations, I realized that nearly every book that made it onto my top list of recommendations had a small, specific part of the book that was incredibly thought provoking to me. Something that I still come back to contemplate or see as a turning point in the way I think about things. And I realized that sometimes it's not the big package that makes a book meaningful, but all of the little treasures inside as well. I will never get over this amazing mystery of reading, that the simple turn of a phrase can open up understanding or meaning to something. And that's what makes a book really stick for me... a new way of thinking about things, or a new way of feeling.

What about you? What makes a book memorable long after you've turned the last page? The characters? The surprising plot? The spiritual truth? The gorgeous writing?

Just write up your answer and drop your permalink below!

Progressive Dinner -- Sign Up Now!

mypalamy@gmail.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

The holidays are for celebrating and what better way to celebrate than with food? Unfortunately, we all live so far apart that we can't get together but that shouldn't stop us from celebrating in style! So Nicole, Julie, and I put our heads together and came up with the Progressive Dinner Idea!

Here's your Invitation:

Who: You, of course, silly! And all the other fab bloggers who want to join in.

What: A Virtual Progressive Dinner (in which each blog hosts one part of the meal)

When: December 7-11

Where: The hub will be at the Book Blog Social Club

Why: Because we are party animals! Hopefully the fabulous recipes and ideas for entertainment and decoration will give you everything you need for the holiday season.

How will it work?

We just need you to fill out this fun form and tell us what part of the meal you want to host. Don't cook much? Don't worry! We need people to give us ideas for decorating and entertainment, too! Then pretty please spread the word about the dinner via facebook, twitter, and your blog! We'll go through and figure out which team we can put you on, and send you an email with your teammates names. Then, your team will figure out if you want to have a theme and who will post what. The week of the progressive dinner, we'll host Mister Linkys up at the Book Blog Social Club, and you can put in your link. by the end of the week, we'll have a fabulous collection of recipes and party ideas to celebrate with!

What are you waiting for? Fill out the form!

Loading...

Waiting on Wednesdsay: Travis Thrasher Books

mypalamy@gmail.com — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:36:35 PST

There are a few authors whose books I anticipate and Travis Thrasher has become one of them! He has two new books coming out in 2010, both of which I really want to read! I still have many books on his backlist to go read, but that doesn't keep me from longing for the new ones!

Coming from Faithwords in May is Broken:

Laila had it all--love, family, wealth, and faith. But when her faith crumbles, her world falls apart and Laila finds herself living an empty, dangerous life as a call girl in Chicago.

When she is threatened, Laila shoots and kills a client in self-defense, sending herself into a spiral of guilt and emptiness. Six months later, she is trying to move on, but she's haunted by the past. She hasn't told anyone about the man she killed, and she's still estranged from her family.

When she is approached by a stranger who says he knows what she did, Laila has no choice but to run. But the stranger stays close behind, and Laila begins having visions of the man she killed. Little does she know she's being hounded by something not of this world, something that knows her deepest, darkest secret.

Scared and wandering, will Laila regain her trust in God to protect her from these demons? Or will her plea for salvation come too late?

And from Cook in August is a new YA series, Solitary:
His Loneliness Will Soon Turn to Fear….

When Chris Buckley moves to Solitary, North Carolina, he faces the reality of his parents’ divorce, a school full of nameless faces—and Jocelyn Evans. Jocelyn is beautiful and mysterious enough to leave Chris speechless. But the more Jocelyn resists him, the more the two are drawn together.

Chris soon learns that Jocelyn has secrets as deep as the town itself. Secrets more terrifying than the bullies he faces in the locker room or his mother’s unexplained nightmares. He slowly begins to understand the horrific answers. The question is whether he can save Jocelyn in time.

This first book in the Solitary Tales series will take you from the cold halls of high school to the dark rooms of an abandoned cabin—and remind you what it means to believe in what you cannot see.

I really love both of these covers and look forward to reading the books! What do you think? Have you read any books by Travis Thrasher?

Her Dream is My Dream, Too

mypalamy@gmail.com — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:10 PST

I've been reading The Secret Life of Kat pretty much since Kat started it. Kat was a blogging mentor to me in many ways, even though she doesn't have a book blog. I used to not have a book blog, either. :)

Anyway, Kat loves music and she's especially passionate about great singer/songwriters who write Christian music. She's done things like start the Bloggable Music Network to get the word out.

She has the most fantastic word of mouth story that resulted in good success for an artist she loves over on her blog right now.

That's my dream, too.

Not with music so much (though I've worked HARD on behalf of Andrew Peterson) but with books. I would love to think this little blog might actually genuinely help great books get noticed, get more attention. And that book blogs as a whole might one day play that role.

I know that we do make a difference on a small scale. And I know a lot of bloggers don't care.

But I do. I care because sometimes I read a book and it's so beautiful and true that I wish everyone would read it. Or it's funny and clever that I can't imagine why people wouldn't fall in love with it. Or it's so exciting and such a page turner that it grieves me that it's missing in stores.

It's part of why I have this blog. It's part of why I bother to review books, why I accept books for review that might be a little different than what I normally pick up, why I add books to my wishlist from bloggers who read different books than I do. I do believe that these hidden treasures are out there.

Because a dream come true for me? Would be to know that it matters, that it makes a difference, that someone found a book they loved because I took the time to blog about it.

What about you? What's your dream for your blog? If you don't have a blog, what's a book you wish would get more exposure?

A Slow Burn by Mary DeMuth (one of the books I didn't get to)

mypalamy@gmail.com — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:54:58 PST

About the Book: She touched Daisy’s shoulder. So cold. So hard. So unlike Daisy.

Yet so much like herself it made Emory shudder.

Burying her grief, Emory Chance is determined to find her daughter Daisy’s murderer—a man she saw in a flicker of a vision. But when the investigation hits every dead end, her despair escalates. As questions surrounding Daisy’s death continue to mount, Emory’s safety is shattered by the pursuit of a stranger, and she can’t shake the sickening fear that her own choices contributed to Daisy’s disappearance. Will she ever experience the peace her heart longs for?

The second book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, this suspenseful novel is about courageous love, the burden of regret, and bonds that never break. It is about the beauty and the pain of telling the truth. Most of all, it is about the power of forgiveness and what remains when shame no longer holds us captive.

Will I Ever Finish Another Book?

mypalamy@gmail.com — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:01:06 PST

Lately, I feel like I just don't have any time to read. When I do start reading, I usually enjoy what I'm reading, but I'm quickly distracted. I also didn't do a very good job of keeping myself from taking on any other commitments after BBAW. I just love doing things around the blogosphere and my mind is constantly going...seriously, I wish there was a way to stop it sometimes.

I still haven't finished the book I was reading all last week, because I tried to read my book club book, but ran out of time and didn't get very far in it. I started reading yet another book tonight, and while it's actually extremely interesting, it's non-fiction and will probably take me quite awhile to get through. I have never felt so ADD about my reading before! Everytime I go to read, I pick up something different and because I don't actually have very much time to read, I'm just not getting very far in anything.

I think I need a readathon every week. Yes, I think that's the answer. I'm not even watching much TV these days!

So how about you all? How is your reading going these days?

Book Bloggers Celebrate the Holidays, Too!

mypalamy@gmail.com — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:10:19 PST

Two things you need to know about to celebrate the holidays in style!

Buy Books for the Holidays is a go again! I'm so excited by the fantastic team I have this year and all the plans we have! I hope you'll hop over and check out our fab new design and sign up to promote the gifting of books this holiday season!

There's also an awesome Book Blogger Holiday Swap going on! The fabulous Nymeth has done it again, and I hope you'll join in the fun and sign up to swap gifts with another book blogger!

You can follow both of these fun events on twitter at @books4holidays and @holidayswap

And you could kill two birds with one stone by signing up for a secret santa and then buying them books! Just sayin! :)

The Christy Awards Challenge!

mypalamy@gmail.com — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:24:47 PST

Deborah and I have been working on this forever, inspired in part on an idea of Shauna's.

But when you are as overcommitted as I am, sometimes the actual details take a bit to get into place.

We love Christian fiction and we read a lot of it, but we've noticed that some book bloggers have very definite ideas about Christian fiction that keep them from reading it. Also, some people have shown an interest in reading it, but don't know where to start. And still others are extremely enthusiastic about it.

We thought we'd celebrate Christian fiction by having a challenge that focuses on books that were both nominated and won the Christy Award. We hope that from this very extensive list of books you can find a few titles that look interesting to you that you would like to read. Our challenge will be especially awesome since Deborah's done a fantastic job of getting a ton of interviews with the authors of the books both nominated and winning.

If you sign up by November 15th, you have a chance to win an almost complete set of the 2009 winners. (David C Cook...there's still time to make it a complete set!)

We hope you'll join...there are several levels of participation, including a perpetual challenge and there will be more giveaways throughout the year. And did I mention we hope you'll join??????

Check out the challenge blog for full details! Don't be shy, join in!

Faith 'n' Fiction Saturday: Are Angels the New Vampires?

mypalamy@gmail.com — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:51:49 PDT

Welcome to Faith 'n' Fiction Saturday! If this is your first here, please read this post to learn everything you need to know!

Today's Discussion
Anne Rice became quite famous for her books about vampires but when she converted back to her Christian faith, she left her vampire stories behind much to the dismay of her fans. She felt there were no redemptive stories to tell about vampires. Meanwhile, Christian fiction has been releasing a few more books about vampires.

So my question for you today is...what do you think about these kinds of stories? Do you enjoy the fictional vampire stories or the fictional stories about angels? Are you more likely to read a story about an angel than a vampire? What do you think is the appeal of these books?

(For further reading see this interview with Tracey Bateman on Christian vampire books and this article where Anne Rice asserts angels are the new vampires)

My Answer:

It may surprise you, but I'm far more comfortable reading a vampire story than a story about an angel. I think the difference is I think vampires are fictional, while I believe angels actually exist. And we have very little knowledge that has been revealed to us about angels. I generally think they are close to God, i.e. they see Him and serve Him directly and don't ever doubt His existence. They aren't humans, though. They are very mysterious! I watch the show Supernatural and I have to say that the portrayal of angels on that show constantly makes me cringe! It is interesting to think about, but I really don't enjoy fictionalized angel stories very much.

However, I am willing to give another angel book a try if you know of a good one that doesn't malign the character of God feel free to leave a comment with your suggestion!

Currently Reading Eye of the God by Ariel Allison

mypalamy@gmail.com — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:04:43 PDT

I've been reading this book all week and still didn't finish in time! It's been a really busy week. I'm enjoying it...it's a fun read.

Here's the publisher's synopsis...I'll replace this post with a review when I finish!
eye of the god takes the fascinating history surrounding the Hope Diamond and weaves it together with a present-day plot to steal the jewel from the Smithsonian Institute.

We follow Alex and Isaac Weld, the most lucrative jewel thieves in the world, in their quest to steal the gem, which according to legend was once the eye of a Hindu idol named Rama Sita. When it was stolen in the 17th century, it is said that the idol cursed all those who would possess it. That won’t stop the brilliant and ruthless Weld brothers.

However, they are not prepared for Dr. Abigail Mitchell, the beautiful Smithsonian Director, who has her own connection to the Hope Diamond and a deadly secret to keep. Abby committed long ago that she would not serve a god made with human hands, and the “eye of the god” is no exception. Her desire is not for wealth, but for wisdom. She seeks not power, but restoration.

When the dust settles over the last great adventure of the Hope Diamond, readers will understand the “curse” that has haunted its legacy is nothing more than the greed of evil men who bring destruction upon themselves. No god chiseled from stone can direct the fates of humankind, nor can it change the course of God’s story.

Baby-sitters Club Week November 9-13

mypalamy@gmail.com — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:03:05 PDT

Hi Everyone!

I'm so happy to share with you that Baby-sitter's Club Week will be November 9-13. The following blogs have signed up to post. But don't worry...it's not too late to get in on the action! But I need your help! I forgot to ask for your email addresses last time and I really need them. So if you could please fill out the form again, with the day that works best for you and your email address, I'll be in touch with details! If you didn't sign up the first time around, you still can by filling out the form below.

The Following Blogs Expressed Interest in Participating:

Notes from the North --Memory Post
Booking Mama --Review
Books, Movies, Chinese Food --Memory Post or Character Spotlight
Deckled Edges --Memory Post
Shannan Loves Books and Movies --Review
Debbie's World of Books --Review
Read What You Know --Other
A Bibliophile's Bookshelf --Review
The Olive Reader --Review
One Librarian's Book Reviews --Memory Post
Bonjour Cass --Review
The Book Resort --Review
Book Addiction --Review
Stella Matutina --Review
Mode a la Pie --Character Spotlight
Cover to Cover --Memory Post
The Novel World --Character Spotlight
Book Crumbs --Memory Post
Ashley's Library --Character Spotlight

Even if you name is on the above list PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM AGAIN! Thank you so much! Also, anyone out there that can make a button for us? Let me know by shooting me an email at mypalamyATgmailDOTcom.

Thanks!

Loading...

FIRST: Last Breath by Brandilyn and Amberly Collins

mypalamy@gmail.com — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:37:45 PDT

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Brandilyn & Amberly Collins

and the book:

Last Breath (Rayne Series #2)

Zondervan; 1 edition (October 1, 2009)

***Special thanks to Lindsey Rodarmer of ZONDERKIDZ for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Brandilyn and Amberly Collins are a mother/daughter team from northern California. Brandilyn is a bestselling novelist, known for her trademarked "Seatbelt Suspense". Amberly is a college student in southern California. She and her mom love attending concerts together.

Visit the author's website.

Here's a video about the first book in the Rayne Series:

Product Details:

List Price: $9.99
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Zondervan; 1 edition (October 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310715407
ISBN-13: 978-0310715405

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Your father sent me.

The last words of a dying man, whispered in my ear.

Were they true? What did they mean?

Your father sent me. The stunning claim drilled through my head, louder than the crowd’s screams.

Guitars blasted the last chord of Rayne’s hit song, Ever Alone, as Mom’s voice echoed through the Pepsi Center in Denver. The heavy drum beat thumped in my chest. With a final smash of cymbals the rock song ended. Multicolored laser lights swept the stadium, signaling the thirty-minute intermission.

Wild shrieks from thousands of fans rang in my ears.

I rose from my chair backstage. Tiredly, I smiled at the famous Rayne O’Connor as she strode toward me on high red heels. In the lights her sequined top shimmered and her blonde hair shone. She walked with confidence and grace, the picture of a rock star—until she stepped from her fans’ sight. Then her posture slumped, weariness creasing her beautiful face. Mom’s intense blue eyes usually glimmered with the excitement of performing, but now I saw only the wash of grief and exhaustion. How she’d managed to perform tonight, I’d never know. Except that she’s strong. A real fighter.

Me? I had to keep fighting too, even if my legs still trembled and I’d probably have nightmares for weeks.

Your father sent me.

I had to find out what those words meant.

“You’re a very brave young lady,” a Denver detective had told me just a few hours ago. I didn’t feel brave then or now.

“You okay, Shaley?” Mom had to shout over the screams as she hugged me.

I nodded against her shoulder, hanging on tightly until she pulled back.

The crowd’s applause died down. A heavy hum of voices and footsteps filtered from the stadium as thousands of people headed for concessions and bathrooms during the break.

Kim, the band’s keyboard player and alto to my mom’s lead vocals, stopped to lay a darkly tanned hand on my head. A strand of her bleached white-blonde hair was stuck to the gloss on her pink lips. She brushed it away. “You’re an amazing sixteen-year-old.”

I shrugged, embarrassed. “Thanks.”

Mick and Wendell, Mom’s two remaining bodyguards, approached without a word. I gave a self-conscious smile to Wendell, and he nodded back, sadness flicking across his face. His deep-set eyes were clouded, and the long scar across his chin seemed harder, more shiny. At five-eleven, Wendell is short for a bodyguard but every bit as muscled. Tonight his two-inch black hair, usually gelled straight up, stuck out in various directions. He hadn’t bothered to fix it since the life and death chase he was involved in just a few hours ago. Seeing that messed-up hair sent a stab through me. Wendell was usually so finicky about it.

Mick, Mom’s main personal bodyguard, folded his huge arms and stood back, waiting. Mick is in his forties, ex-military and tall, with a thick neck and block-shaped head. I’ve rarely seen emotion on his face, but I saw glimpses of it now. He and Wendell had been good friends with Bruce, Mom’s third bodyguard.

Bruce had been killed hours ago. Shot.

And he’d been trying to guard me.

My vision blurred. I blinked hard and looked at the floor.

“Come on.” Mom nudged my arm. “We’re all meeting in my dressing room.”

Mick and Bruce flanked her as she walked away.

Usually we don’t have to be so careful backstage. It’s a heavily guarded area anyway. But tonight nothing was the same.

Kim and I followed Mom down a long hall to her dressing room. Morrey, Kim’s boyfriend and Rayne’s drummer, caught up with us. He put a tattoo-covered arm around Kim, her head only reaching his shoulders. Morrey looked at me and winked, but I saw no happiness in it.

Ross Blanke, the band’s tour production manager, hustled up alongside us, trailed by Stan, lead guitarist, and Rich, Rayne’s bass player. “Hey.” Ross put a pudgy hand on Mom’s shoulder. “You’re doing great.” He waved an arm, indicating everyone. “All of you, you’re just doing great.”

“You do what you have to,” Stan said grimly. His black face shone with sweat.

Narrowing single file, we trudged into the dressing room. Mick and Wendell took up places on each side of the door.

Marshall, the makeup and hair stylist, started handing out water bottles. In his thirties, Marshall has buggy eyes and curly dark hair. His fingers are long and narrow, deft with his makeup tools. But until two days ago, he’d been second to Mom’s main stylist, Tom.

“Thanks.” I took a bottle from Marshall and tried to smile. Didn’t work. Just looking at him sent pangs of grief through me, because his presence reminded me of Tom’s absence.

Tom, my closest friend on tour, had been murdered two days ago.

Mom, Ross, Rich and I sank down on the blue couch—one of the furniture pieces Mom requested in every dressing room. Denver’s version was extra large, with a high back and overstuffed arms. To our left stood a table with plenty of catered food, but no one was hungry. I’d hardly eaten in the last day and a half and knew I should have something. But no way, not now.

Maybe after the concert.

Stan, Morrey and Kim drew up chairs to form a haphazard circle.

“All right.” Ross sat with his short, fat legs apart, hands on his jeaned thighs. The huge diamond ring on his right hand was skewed to one side. He straightened it with his pinky finger. “I’ve checked outside past the guarded area. The zoo’s double what it usually is. The news has already hit and every reporter and his brother are waiting for us. Some paparazzi are already there, and others have probably hopped planes and will show up by the time we leave.”

Is Cat here? I shuddered at the thought of the slinky, effeminate photographer who’d bothered us so much in the last two days. He’d even pulled a fire alarm in our San Jose hotel the night before just to force us out of our rooms. Now by police order he wasn’t supposed to get within five hundred feet of us. I doubted he’d care.

My eyes burned, and my muscles felt like water. Little food, no sleep, and plenty of shock. Bad combination. I slumped down in the couch and laid my head back.

Ross ran a hand through his scraggly brown hair. “Now at intermission folks out there”—he jabbed a thumb toward the arena—“are gonna start hearing things. Rayne, you might want to say a little something when you get back on stage.”

Mom sighed, as if wondering where she’d find the energy to do the second half of the concert. “Yeah.”

I squeezed her knee. If only the two of us could hide from the world for a week or two.

Make that a whole year.

Rich frowned as he moved his shaved head from one side to the other, stretching his neck muscles. His piercing gray eyes landed on me, and his face softened. I looked away.

Everyone was so caring and concerned about me. I was grateful for that. Really, I was. But it’s a little hard to know you’ve been the cause of three deaths. Under all their smiles, did the band members blame me?

Ross scratched his hanging jowl. “We got extra coverage from Denver police at the hotel tonight. Tomorrow we’re supposed to head out for Albuquerque. It’s close enough for Vance to drive the main bus without a switch-off driver, and the next two venues are close enough as well. But that’s just logistics. We’ve all been through a lot. Question is—can you all keep performing?” He looked around, eyebrows raised.

“Man.” Morrey shook back his shoulder-length black hair. “If three deaths in two days isn’t enough to make us quit …” His full lips pressed.

I glanced hopefully at Mom. Yeah, let’s go home! I could sleep in my own bed, hide from the paparazzi and reporters, hang out with Brittany, my best friend—who was supposed to be here with me right now.

But canceling concerts would mean losing a lot of money. The Rayne tour was supposed to continue another four weeks.

Mom hunched forward, elbows on her knees and one hand to her cheek. Her long red fingernails matched the color of her lips. “I almost lost my daughter tonight.” Her voice was tight. “I don’t care if I never tour again—Shaley’s got to be protected, that’s the number one thing.”

I want you protected too, Mom.

“I agree with that a hundred percent,” Morrey said, “but at least the threat to Shaley is gone now that Jerry’s dead.

Jerry, one of our bus drivers—and a man I’d thought was my friend—killed Tom and Bruce, and then came after me earlier that night. A cop ended up shooting him.

Kim spread her hands. “I don’t know what to say. I’m still reeling. We’ve barely had time to talk about any of this tonight before getting on stage. I feel like my mind’s gonna explode. And Tom …”

She teared up, and that made me cry. Kim had been like a mother to Tom. Crazy, funny Tom. It was just so hard to believe he was gone.

I wiped my eyes and looked at my lap.

“Anyway.” Kim steadied her voice. “It’s so much to deal with. I don’t know how we’re going to keep up this pace for another month.”

Mom looked at Ross. “We can’t keep going very long with only Vance to drive the main bus.”

Ross nodded. “Until Thursday. I’d have to replace him by then.”

“With who?” Mom’s voice edged.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to jump on it.”

“You can’t just ‘jump on it.’ We need time to thoroughly check the new driver out.”

“Rayne.” Ross threw her a look. “I did check Jerry out. Completely. He had a false ID, remember? That’s what the police said. I couldn’t have known that.”

“You might have known if you’d checked harder.”

Ross’s face flushed. “I did—”

“No you didn’t! Or if you did it wasn’t good enough!” Mom pushed to her feet and paced a few steps. “Something’s mighty wrong if we can’t even find out a guy’s a convicted felon!”

What? I stiffened. “How do you know that?”

Mom waved a hand in the air. “The police told me just before we left the hotel.”

We’d huddled in the manager’s office after the policeman killed Jerry.

I stared at Mom. “When was he in jail?”

Mom threw a hard look at Ross. “He’d barely gotten out when we hired him.”

Heat flushed through my veins. I snapped my gaze toward the floor, Jerry’s last words ringing in my head.

Your father sent me.

How could my father have sent Jerry if he was in jail?

“Rayne,” Ross snapped, “I’ve told you I’m sorry a dozen times—”

“Sorry isn’t enough!” Mom whirled on him. “My daughter was taken hostage. She could have been killed!”

Rich jumped up and put his arms around her. “Come on, Rayne, it’s okay now.”

She leaned against him, eyes closed. The anger on her face melted into exhaustion. “It’s not okay.” Mom shook her head. “Tom’s dead, Bruce is dead. And Shaley—”

Her words broke off. Mom pulled away from Rich and hurried back to the couch. She sank down next to me, a hand on my knee. “Shaley, you’re the one who’s been through the most. What do you want to do?”

My throat nearly swelled shut. Go home! I wanted to yell. But I couldn’t. It wouldn’t be fair. This wasn’t my tour. I didn’t have to pay the bills.

I glanced around at all the band members. Morrey was holding Kim’s hand. Stan and Rich watched me, waiting. A canceled tour wouldn’t just affect them. Rayne had three back-up singers, one of them Carly, who’d been such a help to me. Plus all the techs and roadies. They’d all lose money.

Wait—maybe Mom would let me go home and stay with Brittany. Now that Tom’s and Bruce’s killer was dead …

“Shaley?” Mom tapped my leg.

“I don’t … I can’t stop the tour.”

Ross exhaled. “Rayne?”

Mom looked at the wall clock and pushed to her feet. “We can’t decide this now. It’s only fifteen minutes before we have to be back on stage. I still need to change.”

Stan stood. “I say we figure on doing Albuquerque, and then we can decide about the rest.”

“Yeah, me too.” Rich got up, along with everyone else. I could see the business-like attitude settle on all their faces, including Mom’s. Soon they had to perform again. Every other concern must be pushed aside. In the entertainment world the saying was true: the show must go on.

Within a minute everyone had left except Mom, Marshall and me. Mom threw herself into a chair by the bright mirrors so Marshall could adjust her makeup. When he left she changed into a steel blue top and skinny-legged black pants.

I sat numbly on the couch, four words running through my mind. Words, I sensed, that would change my life.

Your father sent me.

Mom didn’t know what Jerry had whispered to me as he died. I needed to tell her.

But how? Like me, she was running on empty. It would be one more shock, another scare. I wasn’t sure she could take anymore and still perform.

Had Jerry told me the truth? Had the father I’d never known—the man my mother refused to talk about—purposely sent a killer to join our tour?

I needed to know. I needed to find out. Because if it was true—the danger was far from over.

Wisdom Hunter and Shadow Government

mypalamy@gmail.com — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:09:27 PDT

The introduction to Wisdom Hunter makes it sound like the most incredible book ever written. The author lost several friends and was fired from his position for writing out against legalism. It sold thousands of copies. I was excited to read it, but didn't make it past 100 pages. The writing was too simple for me and the story felt predictable. It's possible it took unexpected turns, but I just wasn't feeling it.

Book Summary: Pastor Jason Faircloth knows what he believes. His clear faith, in fact, is why he is one of the most prominent pastors in Atlanta. He relies on it to discipline his daughter, his wife, his church. He prays daily that others would come to see God’s ways as he does.
And it is about to cost him everything.
Groping for answers in the face of tragedy, Jason begins a search for the only family he has left: the granddaughter kept hidden from him. Soon he finds himself on an international adventure that will take him straight into the depths of his soul. He is determined not to fail again.
A fast-paced suspense novel rich in spiritual depth, Wisdom Hunter explores what it means to break free of Christian legalism—and discover why grace can mean the difference between life and death.

Shadow Government I didn't even start to be honest. It looks a wee bit like paranoia to me.

Book Summary: Security cameras, surveillance of private financial transactions, radio frequency spy chips hidden in consumer products, eavesdropping on e-mail correspondence and phone calls, and Internet tracking. No one is protected, and privacy is a thing of the past.
An ultra-secret global elite, functioning as a very real shadow government, controls technology, finance, international law, world trade, political power, and vast military capabilities. These unnamed, unrivaled leaders answer to no earthly authority, and they won’t stop until they control the world.
In Shadow Government, prophecy expert Grant Jeffrey removes the screen that, up to now, has hidden the work of these diabolical agents. Jeffrey reveals the biblical description of Satan’s global conquest and identifies the tools of technology that the Antichrist will use to rule the world.
Readers will have their eyes opened to the real power that is working behind the scenes to destroy America and merge it into the coming global government. Armed with this knowledge, readers will be equipped to face spiritual darkness with the light of prophetic truth.

Waiting on Wednesday: Oh how I'm Waiting

mypalamy@gmail.com — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:12:28 PDT

I adored Pamela Binnings Ewen's The Moon in the Mango Tree and I've eagerly been looking forward to her next book. In our present time of authors cranking out books sometimes twice a year, waiting two years seems like such a long time! Her next book is slated for release in mid 2010 from B&H Fiction. Here's the scoop:

In the steamy city of New Orleans in 1974, Amalise Catoir sees Phillip Sharp as a charming, magnetic artist, unlike any man she has known. A young lawyer herself, raised in a small-town Christian home and on the brink of a career with a large firm, she is strong and successful, yet sometimes too trusting and whimsical. Ama's rash decision to marry Phillip proves to be a mistake as he becomes overly possessive, drawing his wife away from family, friends, and her faith. His insidious, dangerous behavior becomes her dark, inescapable secret.

In this lawyer's unraveling world, can grace survive Ama's fatal choice? What would you do when prayers seem to go unanswered, faith has slipped away, evil stalks, and you feel yourself forever dancing on shattered glass?

Oh the wait!!! The wait is killing me!!!!!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where bloggers lust after forthcoming books.

(HT: Relz Reviewz)

Review: Japan Took the J.A.P. Out of Me by Lisa Cook

mypalamy@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:30:00 PDT

First off, I should say this title slightly offends me. I recognize it's meant to be a clever play on words but I'm not sure it's something that should ever be played on like that. But I tend to be overly sensitive about these things, so it's possible most people simply don't care.

For some reason that didn't register with me when I requested to review this book. All I saw was Japan...and I wanted to read it because I also spent a year and a half in Japan and love reading about similar experiences from different perspectives. Unfortunately, I really didn't enjoy this perspective at all.

Yes, I recognize that I was supposed to be aware that Lisa was spoiled...and so I expected some humorous tales about her adjustment to life in Japan. Unfortunately, I never really found her humor funny, or her arrogant ethnocentric mindset very forgiveable.

Lisa agrees to move to Japan with her husband the day after their wedding without really thinking about it at all. Okay I do get that she's madly in love and wanting to follow her husband around, but she's not 18, she's 29. Surely, it must have entered her mind to at least google "life in Japan"??? But if I'm to believe the way the story is told, she basically moves there without thinking about it at all, and wants to go home immediately.

Japan is not the United States this is true. And there is a lot to get used to, especially if you don't normally do your own laundry. Sometimes reading her thoughts was a reminder of all the negative things my co-workers and fellow ex-pats would say when I was in Japan. I don't know why but a lot of the things mentioned never really bugged me. I got that some Japanese people would be uncomfortable sitting next to me on the train, and that people would stare. But for all of those situations, there was always so much good to outweigh the bad.

Also, I was actually a huge fan of the public transportation. Sure, there were times I wished I could go in a car, and I was spoiled to have close Japanese friends who had a car but I think the public transportation for the most part was excellent.

So pretty much the whole book was Lisa complaining about Japan, about the mindsets and attitudes towards women, so on and so forth. But she got to travel to a lot of incredible places! It wasn't until she went to the Peace Museum in Hiroshima that she came around a little bit and I think that's a testament to just how powerful an experience that place is. I was also incredibly humbled by the atmosphere and the hope that exists here. I really wish everyone could go there.

Anyway, there's a ton of profanity and I really didn't need to know all about her and her husband's sex life. I found this account to be a pretty superficial account of Japan, but maybe a more interesting story about the first year of marriage between a former Marine and spoiled Jewish American Princess.

Anyway, I don't think Lisa ever really came to appreciate or love Japan. (as evidenced by the panic attack she had when going to a Japanese restaurant once back home) And that's sad. So I hope not too many people read this, as I do appreciate and love Japan and I think there's a lot more interesting stories and narratives about life there to be found. Despite all her negativity, though, it did make me want to go back!

Rating: 2.5/5
Things You Might Want to Know: Lots of profanity and sex
Source of Book: review copy from publisher
Publisher: Downtown Press (Simon and Schuster)

Review: A Little Help From My Friends by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt

mypalamy@gmail.com — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:57:55 PDT

Being a Christian isn't about being good. It's about walking the path of truth and light, and when something isn't right, not being afaid to stand up and say, "Not today, not if I can help it, not without a fight."

I have really been enjoying this series so I was eager to read this installment as well. The Miracle Girls is a group of four high school friends who met their freshmen year and became friends. Each book covers another year of high school through the first person perspective of one of the girls. This time it was Zoe's turn, the daughter of a couple of hippies who became Christians during the Jesus movement.

Zoe's got a boyfriend and her best friends and she really thinks it's going to be a great year. But....there are problems at home and her dad moves out. An arrogant new guy from New York is her partner in history class and Zoe can't quite figure him out or the confusing feelings she has when she's with him. And her friends still haven't figure out a way to reinstate their English teacher who lost her job.

A Little Help from My Friends covers all of these conflicting experiences in Zoe's life as she fights to keep her parents together. It's fun and light like the others and engrossing. I loved Dean, the new guy a lot, really he's my favorite love interest in the books so far. But even while I enjoyed this one, I think the second book remains my favorite.

These books are, fun, not terribly deep and light on the spirituality. I look forward to reading all of them and I am really interested to see how Riley's story plays out. I think that I'll be sad when all the stories are done though!

Rating: 4.25/5
Things You Might Want to Know: It is Christian fiction but like I said earlier, pretty light.
Source of Book: Review copy provided by publisher
Publisher: Faith Words (Hachette)

Blog Tour: Flesh and Fire by Laura Anne Gilman

mypalamy@gmail.com — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:57:56 PDT

I started to read this book during the wee hours of the Read-a-thon and it simply wasn't working for me. I hope to approach it with a fresh outlook later. It's gotten quite a lot of praise. :) Yes I received this from the publisher but less than a week before the blog tour date.

Publisher's Description:
Once, all power in the Vin Lands was held by the prince-mages, who alone could craft spellwines, and selfishly used them to increase their own wealth and influence. But their abuse of power caused a demigod to break the Vine, shattering the power of the mages. Now, fourteen centuries later, it is the humble Vinearts who hold the secret of crafting spells from wines, the source of magic, and they are prohibited from holding power.

But now rumors come of a new darkness rising in the vineyards. Strange, terrifying creatures, sudden plagues, and mysterious disappearances threaten the land. Only one Vineart senses the danger, and he has only one weapon to use against it: a young slave. His name is Jerzy, and his origins are unknown, even to him. Yet his uncanny sense of the Vinearts' craft offers a hint of greater magics within -- magics that his Master, the Vineart Malech, must cultivate and grow. But time is running out. If Malech cannot teach his new apprentice the secrets of the spellwines, and if Jerzy cannot master his own untapped powers, the Vin Lands shall surely be destroyed.

In Flesh and Fire, first in a spellbinding new trilogy, Laura Anne Gilman conjures a story as powerful as magic itself, as intoxicating as the finest of wines, and as timeless as the greatest legends ever told.

The trailer:

Review: Strangers by Taichi Yamada

mypalamy@gmail.com — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:41:44 PDT

I spotted this book on another book blog and was instantly intrigued. Part of the intrigue lay in the fact that the blogger hadn't actually written an English review--only one in Dutch!

Anyway, I got a copy rather quickly and devoured it the day after the readathon. Which is saying something, I think.

Strangers takes place in Tokyo and is the story of an aging TV scriptwriter who has just finalized his divorce with his wife. Left a bit poorer as a result, he has moved into his office as it's the only place he can afford. Most people use the apartments as offices and the story opens with our narrator feeling the building is unusually quiet.

On his birthday, he decides on a whim to go back to Asakusa, the place of his childhood home. He hasn't been there since his parents died in a tragic accident when he was still quite young. While there, he sees a man who is the spitting image of his father. Is it his father? And if so, how did he get there without aging a day?

Strangers drew me in immediately with it's strange atmosphere and somewhat tragic voice of Harada. Throughout the story, I certainly had my own suspicions about what was happening and what was going on, but I just couldn't stop turning the pages. I took a short break to do some shopping, and longed to get back to the book. And even after turning the last page, I was still thinking about it. Yes, on the surface this is a ghost story, but I really just think it's so much more than that. It's a story about loneliness and isolation, it's a story about putting the past to rest so the future has a chance. In fact, it's a heart twisting portrait of the way the past drains us until we let it go.

This isn't really a scary read, though there is an overall eerie factor to it, but it is a worthwhile one. I think I will be thinking about it for a long time to come.

Ratings: 4.5/5
Things You Might Want to Know: ghosts. oh and a very very very little bit of sex.
Source of Book: I bought a used copy on Amazon.
Publisher: Vertical

Wrapping up my 14 Hour Readathon

mypalamy@gmail.com — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:51:54 PDT

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
erm, the first hour? I was still sleeping in my bed! :)
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
I really enjoyed The Broken Teaglass, but for me, the key is to read several different kinds of books.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Not really...I think it's important for each person to individualize the experience to get as much out of it for them personally
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
Actually for me, it worked well to not try to do 24 hours but to start at a comfortable time, schedule some breaks and go to bed at a decent time. I still got a lot of great reading time in, but I also still really enjoyed every part of it.
5. How many books did you read?
2 and a 1/2. Or about 900 pages.
6. What were the names of the books you read?
The Broken Teaglass, A Little Help from my Friends, Japan Took the J.A.P. out of Me
7. Which book did you enjoy most?
The Broken Teaglass...it was a little bit mysterious, a little bit funny, with fantastic characterization and writing
8. Which did you enjoy least?
Japan Took the J.A.P. out of me...I couldn't stop being offended by the narrator...will share many many thoughts in my full review.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? N/A
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
I will participate if it's a date that works for me....ever since I heard of the Readathon I have participated--I've been lucky that way that's it's always worked out. I love having the time to read and knowing that 300 other passionate readers are reading as well. It really is so much fun.

A huge thanks to everyone behind the scenes who organized the event, Trish, Ana, Hannah, and Eva, all the mini-challenge hosts, and all the people who did little things here and there. It is very much noticed and deeply appreciated.

Readathon: Mid Event Meme

mypalamy@gmail.com — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:21:38 PDT

1. What are you reading right now?

The Broken Teaglass by Emily Arsenault which so far is fabulous. I'm really enjoying it.

2. How many books have you read so far?
HA! The equivalent of a whole? (2 halfs)

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

Mmmm...I don't know what other books I'll read yet so I don't actually know! I am considering The Knife of Never Letting Go as well as Pretty Little Liars

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
No not really. My life is pretty easy.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

Yes tons! Woke up late and keep getting distracted by this here computer!

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
No surprises really....this is my fourth readathon.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Nope, I love everything about the Readathon. Though admittedly, a later starting time would work better for me.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
Nothing!

9. Are you getting tired yet?

Yes very which is why I'm doing this survey. I only slept a few good hours last night.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

No tips, but is it normal to keep getting distracted by all the fanatastic snacks I have? :)

An Update on the Readathon!

mypalamy@gmail.com — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:37:07 PDT

It took longer than anticipated but I finished A Little Help from My Friends by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt. I will write a review, but the verdict is good. :)

I have also been happily munching away on cheez-its and drinking diet mountain dew while also waiting for pizza to come soon. The picture of health, I am.

I'm starting The Broken Teaglass by Emily Arsenault now...has anyone read it? We'll see how it goes.

I hope everyone else is having lots of fun!

I'm here!

mypalamy@gmail.com — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:32:42 PDT

Well I stayed up late reading. And so I got a late start. But I'm here now close to finishing a fun YA book, A Little Help from My Friends. I'll be checking in again soon! :)

Hopefully there will be a fun challenge I can do this afternoon!

Review: Over the Holidays by Sandra Harper

mypalamy@gmail.com — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:18:09 PDT

As I've mentioned before, I really love holiday stories and so I jumped at the chance to review this book. I actually like all sorts of different kinds of stories at Christmas...I even indulge in quite a bit of Harlequin reading for the holidays. If you've ever had a time period in your life where nothing felt like Christmas, you might understand the value of books that bring the spirit of the holidays to life. Which is to say, that's what I prefer. Stories that are about hope and love and compassion and generosity and miracles and family and friendship.

But I also enjoy a good fun story with lots of laughs and Over the Holidays is a bit more to that side. It's funny and cute and easy to read, but there is a fair bit of crass language and too much on the commerical side of Christmas to make it the perfect Christmas read. But it's a fun one for when you're just starting to anticipate the upcoming holidays.

There's a big cast of characters in the book, and maybe only too many different perspectives. Vanessa and her sister Thea, Vanessa's sister-in-law, Vanessa's niece...well you get the picture.

Basically this book is about how the holidays are hectic, busy, and never quite what you expect. It sort of reminded me of one of those original Lifetime movies. It was fun, but not necessarily my style of Christmas book.

Rating: 3.75/5
Things You Might Want to Know: Lots of language, and some sex
Source of Book: Publisher provided review copy
Publisher: Pocket Books (Simon and Schuster)