A Royal Wedding Giveaway

 

In some sort of mailing snafu, I ended up the proud owner of two advanced reader copies of Royal Wedding. This book is the latest installment in Meg Cabot's beloved Princess Diaries series. So of course, I'm doing what any good blogger should do - host a giveaway! 

This is my first time using Rafflecopter, so fingers crossed that everything is working correctly!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Virtues of Oxygen

The Virtues of Oxygen

By Susan Schoenberger

Lake Union Publishing July 2014

229 pages

Received for review from TLC Book Tours and the publisher

Holly is at the end of her rope. She desperately misses her husband who died several years ago. Her teen sons are constantly hungry and constantly growing. Her small town newspaper is faltering and Holly fears that she doesn't have the funds anymore for her family to keep their beloved home. Across town, Vivian has a different set of worries. As a child, she contracted polio and has spent the rest of her life living in an iron lung. She must depend on the kindness of her friends and neighbors to keep her alive. Can the two women find a way to help each other?

This book is somewhat lighter fare than I usually read. We have the small town setting with a colorful cast of characters. We meet many quirky citizens who volunteer to help Vivian or work at the newspaper with Holly. Some of the plot points are rather predictable. When a handsome and mysterious man arrives in town, the reader assumes (and rightly so) that Racine will become a love interest for Holly. You may also put together the ways in which Holly and Vivian will be able to help each other, even before they do. 

In spite of this, this is a greatly enjoyable book. It's so refreshing to read about regular people with regular problems, both personal and financial. There are so many stories out here about the crises of the wealthy (I'm thinking specifically of recent reads such as We Were Liars and Seating Arrangements). But I think there is something important about a story that is more familiar to many of us - worrying about finances, rearranging to make the ends meet, and either helping or being helped out by our families. 

While the main storyline follows Vivian and Holly in the future, we learn about Vivian's past through flashbacks and through the podcasts that she records. Vivian has such an interesting story to share with her neighbors and with us. In spite of her physical limitations, she decided to do big things. Vivian was one of the first people in town to learn about and own a computer. She used her computer skills to teach others and earn her degree in business. Her know-how allows her to invest in businesses which gives her renewed purpose and brings new life to her beloved but floundering town.

This book is a quiet but important read as we are reminded of the importance of taking care of each other. Holly and Vivian are characters you root for as they fight for their relationships, for financial stability, and sometimes just for the next breath.  The Virtues of Oxygen is an uplifting read about the importance of community.

Wondering what other bloggers think about The Virtues of Oxygen? You can visit 23 other tour stops here!

Giveaway: I have one copy of The Virtues of Oxygen to give away to one awesome reader. To enter, leave me a comment on this post and include your email address. I will choose a winner two weeks from now (August 18).

Review: Sleeping in Eden (with a giveaway!)

Sleeping in Eden

By Nicole Baart

Howard Books May 2013

368 pages

Received for review from publisher

Lucas Hudson is a small town doctor filling in as the coroner. Lucas' friend Alex, the police chief, expects that the man hanging in his own barn will be a quick open and shut case. But when the investigation reveals a body buried beneath the barn floor, Lucas has the sinking feeling that he knows the victim. Could the young woman be the girl who brought Lucas' wife such joy and sent cracks through their marriage?

This book has dual storylines. The second revolves around a teenage girl named Meg Painter. Meg also lives in the small town of Blackhawk, Iowa. She is a bit of a rebel who prefers learning tricks on her bike or starting a girl's football league to worrying about boys. But when she becomes friends with the new boy in town, it's not long before their relationship becomes more.

The stories of Lucas and Meg work wonderfully in tandem. With Lucas, we follow a man who is holding on to his marriage by the skin of his teeth. We know from the beginning of the novel that he and Jenna are on the rocks, but the reasons for the rift are revealed slowly. In contrast, Meg is experiencing love for the first time. She finds herself unexpectedly torn between a friend she has known for years and the enigmatic new boy who she can't seem to ignore. Meg experiences surprising challenges with both boys and learns that love is never as easy as we hope.

The driving force of this book is the mystery. Who is buried in the barn? Lucas thinks he knows from the beginning and I thought I had the mystery figured out two or three times before Baart finally brings all the threads of the story together perfectly. While trying to figure out the puzzle will leave readers flipping through the pages, Ms. Baart doesn't skimp on character or description. Her characters often make poor decisions, but you can always understand their motives. She depicts the small town of Blackhawk beautifully, noting those little details that bring a location to life for a reader. Sleeping in Eden is a twisty mystery entwined with a story about love - first love, love for family, and the love that we will fight to keep.

To the ladies and gents of the FTC: I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Giveaway Time!

I am thrilled to be able to offer a copy of Sleeping in Eden to one reader who lives in the US or Canada. To enter, just leave me a comment.
The contest will run until Friday, May 21. 

Review: Double Blind

Double Blind: A Novel

By Brandilyn Collins

B and H Publishing Group October 2012

325 pages

Received for Review

Lisa Newberry is deep within the grips of depression. She has recently lost her husband after several heartbreaking attempts to have a child. On top of everything, she is attacked by a robber in a parking lot. She is utterly without hope until she receives a strange letter. She is offered the opportunity to become a part of a new medical trial. The Cognoscenti company will implant a chip in her brain that will emit electrical impulses. The researchers believe that this chip will cure depression. The catch is that Lisa will not know whether she is implanted with a real chip or a placebo. Is it worth the risk? And what will be the side effects of this promising new procedure?

Ms. Collins knows all about suspense and writing incredible twists and turns. Each time you think you have figured out what is happening, Lisa (and we as readers) find out that it can't possibly be what we thought. This book is full of intrigue as Lisa becomes a part of the shadowy world of pharmaceutical trials in which you sign away your right to fight and your fate is in the hands of an unknown few. The science presented seems entirely plausible, but the plot of the story is not overshadowed by medical jargon. 

It is easy to feel compassion for Lisa as you read Double Blind. You truly feel her desperation as she wonders how she will get through another day and then her exhilaration as she imagines a new life not darkened by depression. Depression is presented as a deeply crippling condition and I think Collins gives the illness the respect it deserves. Lisa is an engaging character and it is easy to cheer for her as she tries to leave her dark days behind her and search for the truth of what is going on with this medical trial.

I also really enjoyed what this book says about relationships. From the beginning, we learn that Lisa has a very strained relationship with her mother. Collins paints a realistic picture of a daughter who feels she can never live up to expectations and a mother trying to do her best to support her child. The journey that mother and daughter go through during this story feels realistic on every page and I think it gives the reader hope  that even the most broken bonds can be salvaged.

Double Blind is a page-turner that will do that thing that the best mysteries do - keep you up at night. You want Lisa to finally get a break from all of the difficulties of life and find happiness. Her desperation is palpable because you want to find answers just as much as she does. Ms. Collins has written a realistic story about the pain of depression, the promise of science, the dark side of power, and a thrilling search for justice. 

Want a copy of Double Blind for yourself? I am thrilled to be able to offer one copy of this book to a reader, courtesy of the DeMoss Group. If you want to win, leave a comment with your email address and let me know if you would ever get a chip implanted in your brain. I will announce the winner next Wednesday.  

To the ladies and gents of the FTC: I received this book from the DeMoss Group in exchange for an honest review. 

Giveaway winners revealed!

Hello readers and Happy Tuesday!

I am psyched to announce the winners of the Literary Lindsey giveaway.

The first book up for grabs was an ARC of:


Another Piece of My Heart
By Jane Green

The winner is: Tanya Patrice of Girl xoxo


The second book is:


The Parting
By Beverly Lewis


The winner is: Nicole K of The Awesome is Silent


Congratulations to the winners! Tanya, look for an email. Nicole, I can't find your email address! Email me at Lindsey.Stefan@comcast.net with your mailing address.Your books should be en route soon.

I move, you get a book, everyone wins!

As I have mentioned, our happy little family will be moving at the end of this month. We have filled many, many boxes to the brim with our books and we are looking to lighten our load a little bit.

That means...it's giveaway time!

Today, I have two books for the giving! I will be sending both books on their merry way in the middle of next week.

Book #1
Another Piece of My Heart (ARC) - the link goes to my review
By Jane Green



Book #2
The Parting - link goes to Goodreads
By Beverly Lewis



So, here's the deal. Leave me a comment telling me how many times you have moved plus the book you would prefer and your email address. I will pick two winners on Monday night and send an email their way. Hooray!

Happy 100th Post Day!

Well friends, this is my 100th post here at Literary Lindsey. Woo and also hoo. Balloons and streamers and cake. I wish we had cake.

This book blogging is fun stuff, people. I'm finding new books, talking to people about said books, and telling people what they should and should-not-under-any-circumstances-if-it-were-the-last-book-in-the-world read.

In celebration of this auspicious event, I am holding the very first Literary Lindsey giveaway! (And the crowd goes wild!)

What am I giving away, you ask? Well, I like options in my life and I think you might as well. So I am giving the winner the choice between one nonfiction book and one fiction book.

The first choice is The Invisible Line by Daniel Sharfstein. This is the second book that I reviewed here on the blog. The author looks at three families who toed the color line throughout history. Sometimes they are perceived as black and sometimes they pass themselves off as white. It is an interesting look at how we construct racial identity. The book is hardcover and in great condition.

The second option is The Echo Maker by Richard Powers. This is a novel I read for my modern lit course during my senior year of college. It's about a man who has a car crash. When he wakes up from a coma, his sister has come to care for him. He believes that the woman at his bedside is an impostor. This novel won the National Book Award and was a Pulitzer finalist. My copy is in great condition, if you can look past the collegiate bookstore stickers affixed to it.

                

Here are the rules, ladies and gents. I am in full Christmas spirit, so leave me a comment and tell me about your favorite Christmas (or Hanukkah or Kwanza, etc.) tradition. Also leave me your email address because if you don't, I cannot get your address and send you a book. I will use the random number generator to pick a really awesome winner. Please only enter once. You do not have to follow my blog, because Google Friend Connect is going the way of the dinosaurs in a few months. You should, however, come and visit me again.

The giveaway will be open through January the 2nd, when I will return from my lovely holiday bloggy break.

Happy 100th post to me and happy giveaway to you!