Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Books in For Review

Check out this list of books that have come in for review recently.  And yes, those first two books are Christmas books!



A Woodland Christmas Tale - Hannah Whitty (illustrator) This beautifully illustrated Advent calendar and storybook includes a charming Christmas tale featuring woodland animals plus a detail-packed two-page Christmas illustration that includes 24 flaps for children to lift and discover Christmas surprises. The woodland animals are planning a Christmas party, and Owl has invited a mystery guest. As young readers follow the excited woodland animals, they must try to guess the identity of Owl's mysterious guest. Color illustrations throughout.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert May In 1939 Robert L. May, a copywriter working at Chicago's Montgomery Ward & Co., wrote a holiday story at the request of his employer. Almost two and a half million copies of the little tale about a reindeer with a shiny red nose were given away to all the children who visited Montgomery Ward stores that year. The rest is history. Over seventy years later, the beloved classic is once again available in a hardcover faithful facsimile of the 1939 Rudolph, with original text and original Denver Gillen illustrations.

The Sauvignon Secret: A Wine Country Mystery Among the world-class vineyards of the Napa Valley, “Virginia’s favorite vintner-detective” (Library Journal) and her winemaker ex-beau investigate the role of a secret society in two mysterious deaths— and whether there is hope for their rocky romance. When Lucie Montgomery finds the dead body of a prominent wine merchant hanging from a beam in his art studio, she is unwittingly dragged into his murky past and its dangerous implications for a family friend. The puzzle sends Lucie to California wine country where she teams up with former lover Quinn Santori. Soon they are embroiled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game to discover whether a killer is seeking vengeance for a longago cover-up. As Lucie and Quinn examine clues from the past, they must also decide whether they have a future together. Ellen Crosby blends an intriguing mystery with an absorbing plot, vivid characters, and a richly evoked setting in a charming tale that should be savored like a glass of fine wine.

Willful Impropriety: 13 Tales of Society, Scandal, and Romance edited by Ekaterina Sedia The Season has finally arrived, filled with the magnificent balls, scandalous gossip, and clandestine romances that every lord and lady in good society has come to expect. But far within the walls of lavish estates and in the dark corners of the city lies a world that the aristocracy dares not touch, with rules and risks that glamour cannot overpower. Yet true love has no boundaries, and heiresses and street thieves alike must use their savvy and strength to create new beginnings and happily-ever-afters. Sometimes luck is enough, but every once in a while, a touch of magic may be needed.

Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom by Jennifer Holland Written by National Geographic magazine writer Jennifer Holland, Unlikely Friendships documents one heartwarming tale after another of animals who, with nothing else in common, bond in the most unexpected ways. A cat and a bird. A mare and a fawn. An elephant and a sheep. A snake and a hamster. The well-documented stories of Koko the gorilla and All Ball the kitten; and the hippo Owen and the tortoise Mzee. And almost inexplicable stories of predators befriending prey—an Indian leopard slips into a village every night to sleep with a calf. A lionness mothers a baby oryx.

Killer Librarian by Mary Lou Kirwin Minnesota librarian Karen Nash decides to go on her London vacation anyway even though her boyfriend has jilted her the day they are about to leave. Then she sees him at the airport boarding the same plane as she, only with another woman. Karen’s thoughts turn murderous and later spill over in what she assumes is an idle pub conversation with a sympathetic stranger. Only later does she realize this man might have taken her at her word when she angrily said wanted her ex dead. Meanwhile as Karen gets better acquainted with Caldwell Perkins, the owner of the charming B&B where she is staying, she discovers they have a lot in common—he might well love books as much as she does. Things are starting to look up when all of a sudden a dead body turns up in Caldwell’s B&B sitting room—and several of the guests have reason seem suspicious. Karen can’t help but play detective, and clues begin to fall into place as she visits museums, used bookstores and the Chelsea garden show. With that mystery solved, Karen realizes it’s time to put her hurt and anger behind her. But is it too late?

Blood Crave by Jennifer Knight Headstrong heroine Faith Reynolds returns in this thrilling sequel to the paranormal romance Blood on the Moon! After surviving being kidnapped by a vampire, Faith would just love to focus on some alone time with her hot (though occasionally furry) boyfriend, Lucas. Unfortunately, with a vampire uprising on the horizon and her best friend, Derek, about to wake up and find himself transformed into a half-werewolf, half-vampire being without a beating heart, Faith has a few other things to take care of first. Faith is not without help, in the form of her newfound powers of sensing people’s emotions and being able to influence werewolves’ actions, not to mention her begrudging but rather helpful boyfriend. Even so, convincing a werewolf packmaster to prepare for an epic battle may be difficult to do without solid evidence. Lose yourself once more in the deliciously suspenseful world of werewolves versus vampires, otherworldly boys with deadly charm, and addictive, spine-tingling action and romance!

Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Download the Weird by Geoff Tibballs For the legions of dedicated Ripley's fans, and anyone else on the planet who loves the unbelievable, the latest annual in our bestselling series is a feast of delights. As well as the jaw-dropping images and strange facts, we present intriguing interviews with some of the astounding individuals who feature in the book, and informative "Ripley's Research" boxes that give the scientific explanation behind some of the most incredible tales. In addition, there are fascinating black and white photos from the Ripley archive, numerous lists, and a brand new Ripley's Weird Records feature.

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