"Which of you brave Knights of the Round Table will fight me?" Isobel called out.
"Me! Choose me! Isobel, choose me!"
~ Opening paragraph of the prologue, “Knight of Pleasure ARC (All the King's Men, Book 2)" by Margaret Mallory
*Note that this is the advanced reader edition, and the final book may be slightly different.
About the Book (from the back cover):
THE GREATEST PASSION Lady Isobel Hume is an expert swordswoman who knows how to choose her battles. When the king asks her to wed a French nobleman to form a political alliance, she agrees. But that's before the devilishly charming Sir Stephen Carleton captures her heart-and tempts her to betray her betrothed, her king, and her country.
IS WORTH THE GREATEST PERIL Sir Stephen Carleton enjoys his many female admirers-until he dedicates himself to winning the lovely Isobel. So when a threat against the king leads Isobel into mortal danger, Stephen has a chance to prove that he is more than a knight of pleasure...and that love can conquer all.
I always look forward to reading everyone's teasers! ~ Wendi
Many thanks to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting Mailbox Monday every week!
It is so much fun to see what everyone is getting in the mail.
Thanks for taking the time to visit ~ I just love hearing from you! Please let me know if you have read any of these books - I'd love to hear how you liked them!! :)
Here are the books that came into my house last week:
From the Cover: Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy by Mary Tomer ~ Non-Fiction / Fashion ~ Received courtesy of Hachette Book Group for review
Celebrated for her style and substance, Michelle Obama has transformed the role of first lady and become a 21st century icon, attracting attention from all over the world. The qualities so admired in her - intelligence, strength and charisma - radiate through her personal style, which has united accessibility with high-wattage glamour. The clothes, like the woman, feel both familiar and inspirational. Readily mixing high-end labels with more affordable brands, with a focus on craftsmanship and artistry, Mrs. O has elevated the notion of real value and ushered in a new era of "fashion democracy".
Building on the success of Mrs-O.org - the Web site that chronicles Michelle Obama's style - MRS. O: THE FACE OF FASHION DEMOCRACYtakes a closer look at America's modern style icon, featuring more than 120 photographs of the first lady and delving into the back story of her clothes and accessories. It also goes behind the scenes with interviews from her favorite designers, including Isabel Toledo, Jason Wu, Michael Kors, Maria Pinto and Isaac Mizrahi.
Opening with a brief overview of Michelle Obama's early years, the book goes on to provide rarely seen photos from behind-the-scenes on the presidential primary trail through the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the monumental events of election night, the inauguration and early chapters of life in the White House. The final chapter hears the opinions of Mrs. O's adoring fans - giving the last word to the people.
Original photographs of Michelle Obama's most iconic looks, along with commentary from fashion experts, top off this tactile visual feast. Woven together with sketches and illustration inspired by the first lady, the book reveals the story of a new era of American fashion.
Petite Sweets: Bite-Size Desserts to Satisfy Every Sweet Tooth by Beatrice Ojakangas ~ Non-Fiction / Cooking / Baking ~ Received courtesy of Sellers Publishing for review
From the Publisher: A shot glass of velvety chocolate mousse. Itty-bitty key lime pie. Two-bite whoopie pies. Mini-desserts are one of the hottest food trends around, according to the National Restaurant Association. In Petite Sweets, renowned cookbook author and James Beard 2009 Cookbook Award Nominee Beatrice Ojakangas serves up more than 50 recipes for bite-size desserts that will satisfy every sweet tooth.
So You Want to be a Work-At-Home Mom: A Christian's Guide to Starting A Home-Based Business by Jill Hart and Diana Ennen ~ Non-Fiction / Business and Economics / Careers / General ~ Received courtesy of the authors for review with an upcoming WildCard Tour
From Amazon: Home-based businesses are estimated to be a $427 billion-a-year industry. In recent studies it was found that as many as 105 million people in North America alone were working at home. Considering this information, it is obvious that home-based businesses can be successful and authors Jill Hart and Diana Ennen will help you succeed with your own.
So You Want to Be a Work-at-Home Mom details all the basics of starting a business in a spiritual, motivational, and comprehensive manner. From deciding what type of business to start to keeping your family and faith first, this helpful tool details every aspect of establishing a business. With proven success tips utilized by the authors and others who own work-at-home businesses, this inspiration approach will provide you with the resources you need to start your own home-based business.
So You Want to Be a Work-at-Home Mom includes: Detailed information on types of businesses to start Ideas and assistance for setting up, operating, and marketing your business Definitions and descriptions of work-at-home terminology and processes Help for developing your Web site Explanations of the business nuts and bolts, including bookkeeping, taxes, and more
What was in your mailbox last week??
If you would like to participate in Mailbox Monday, head over to The Printed Page and grab the logo. Make sure to visit other blogs hosting Mailbox Monday and comment/leave your link!
Simon's Cat by Simon Tofield Grand Central Publishing (September 24, 2009) ~ 240 pages Entertainment / Humor
Edition Reviewed / Special Thanks: Paperback review copy courtesy of Hachette Book Group ~ I do not receive additional compensation for posting my review ~
Perfect for : Personal enjoyment, Gift for a fan of comics, Coffee Table book
In a nutshell: I am one of those people who enjoy looking up things on YouTube when I'm stuck trying to figure out some craft, cooking project, movie clip, etc. I had no idea that Simon's Cat originated on YouTube, and that it has a huge following of fans (25 million fans on YouTube seems huge to me!), so was amazed when I picked up this book and found a little more about it.
First off, let me say that this is a fun and humorous book, done in black/white/gray tones, in a comic strip type style. The situations that Simon Tofield has created for Simon and his cat are so funny - one of the first drawings had me laughing: it was Simon in bed, trying to sleep, with his cat on top of the covers, comfortably spread out on about 90% of the bed sleeping VERY nicely (while Simon is desperately trying not to fall out of the bed, and seems to be wide awake). :) Anyone who has slept with a pet in their bed has got to get a kick out of this one.
Really, I could go on and on here. There are so many silly situations that Simon's Cat has created, gotten into, is about to do, etc, that the book will entertain fans of comics for quite some time. Plus, if you ever get bored, pull out some crayons or colored pencils and color away! I've enjoyed picking up the book during spare moments and flipping through so I can laugh for a few moments. This is also a great book to keep on the coffee table, as I've had multiple guests comment on how fun it is to look through.
Illustrations: Fun pen/ink drawings in black/white/gray tones Story-Line: N/A ~ humorous, comic book style pictures Readability: enjoy all the drawings! Other than the copyright and acknowledgement pages, there really isn't anything to read. Overall: A very entertaining book of Simon (character) and his cat, who seems to always be causing trouble Garfield style :)
From the Publisher's Site: Simon Tofield's animations have taken YouTube by storm. Now, the feline Internet phenomenon makes his way onto the page in this first-ever book based on the popular animated series. SIMON'S CAT depicts and exaggerates the hilarious relationship between a man and his cat. The daily escapades of this adorable pet, which always involve demanding more food, and his exasperated but doting owner come to life through Tofield's charming and hilarious illustrations.
Video / Excerpt:
About the Author: (from the publisher's site) Simon Tofield is an award-winning animator who lives in London.
Giveaway Details ~ 5 Winners: 1. Leave a comment here telling me your favorite place to read the comics/funnies/humorous books and include your email if it is not in your profile (1 entry) 2. Post a link to the giveaway on your blog and/or Facebook and report it here (1 entry) 3. Become a follower (link is on the right hand sidebar) and leave a comment here (or "remind" me you are already a follower so I know you want to be included in this giveaway) (1 entry) 4. Fave Wendi's Book Corner on Technorati by following the link on the right hand sidebar just above Followers (1 entry)
The drawing will be held October 31st-ish. Winners (5): I will send you an email, please reply with your address so I can forward your contact information to the publisher!
This giveaway is open to residents within the United States and Canada, no PO Boxes.
A Sportscaster's Guide to Watching Football: Decoding America's Favorite Game by: Mark Oristano Synergy Books (August 1, 2009) ~ 160 pages Non-Fiction / Football Guide
Edition Reviewed/Special Thanks: Paperback - many thanks to the publisher and Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists for sending me a copy to review!
Perfect for : Personal Use, Gift for the significant other of a football fan
In a nutshell: I enjoy watching football with my family and friends (although I wouldn't call myself a die-hard fan), and even enjoy hosting get-togethers complete with a nice choice of snacks and drinks! And while I do understand the basics of the game, there were MANY things I was in the dark on. . . until now. A Sportscaster's Guide to Watching Football is both informative and entertaining!
While I am certainly no expert, it was nice to know that I was learning from one. Mark Oristano spent over 30 years as a professional sports broadcaster. With this book, he shares the wealth of information he gained over the years, including everything a novice wants to know about the game, some obscure football rules and funny events that actually happened (some of these are shown in "Time-Out" boxes, so they are easy to find!).
Other bonus items throughout the book: "Cool Things to Say During the Game," diagrams of the positions of the players on the defense and offense, "Question to Trip Up Your Football Friends," and a wonderfully helpful Glossary at the back of the book.
The great thing about this book? My husband (who is a HUGE football fan) saw me reading the book and promptly plucked it out of my hands so he could browse it. Shortly after starting to browse, I saw him nod, then laugh. So fans - even you may find some useful and fun information in this handy little book!
Content: Fun, entertaining, and HELPFUL Format: Easy to follow Readability: An enjoyable read with plenty of examples and stories. Overall: This is a fun and helpful book for people who want to know more about football, or who want to understand and participate in what their friends/relatives are all yelling about. I'd even go so far as to say a true football fan would like the stories and some of the facts provided in this book. Mark Oristan wrote this book with a nice touch of humor throughout, that any fan (new or old) will enjoy.
From the Publicist:
The San Francisco 49ers’ defensive end, Jim Marshall is remembered in NFL history for committing a major blunder: mistakenly scoring a touchdown for the other team during a 1964 game. Outraged fans shouted resounding disapproval, while others shook their heads in disbelief. If a professional player can get turned around, how can a brand new viewer keep up?
A sportscaster for the Dallas Cowboys amidst the glory of the 1970’s, Mark Oristano, shares 30 years of sports wisdom, in his new book, A Sportscaster’s Guide to Watching Football: Decoding America’s Favorite Game (Synergy Books, August 2009, ISBN 978-0-9821601-1-4, $15.95), which focuses on what new fans need to know about football to keep up with industry pros. Using a back-to-basics approach, Oristano covers the spread giving specifics on the nature of the offense and defense as well as the rules of the game.
As an industry expert, Oristano gives inexperienced fans an inside look at football’s most notorious and infamous moments, strengthening their connection with the sport. In special “time-out” sections that accompany each chapter, Oristano shares anecdotes from his broadcasting days, detailing the hilarious and meaningful interactions he has had with coaches and players. Whether you are interested in the NFL or NCAA, Oristano offers professional sports wisdom that will take you from pre-season to the big game and beyond.
In “A Sportscaster’s Guide to Watching Football,” you’ll learn the answers to questions like: • What is that yellow line on the field, and why does it keep moving? • What down is it, and why do I care? • What is the difference between a “running back” and a “tight end”? • What are “special teams,” and what makes them special? • Why can’t Brett Favre stay retired?
Excerpt: [Note - I simply had to include this great excerpt as an example of Mark's great humor]
HOT RECEIVERS
No, it's not about players who are incredibly good looking. The "hot" receiver is the receiver who has gone into an area vacated by a blitzing defender. (page 56)
About the Author: (From the publicist)
Witnessing the greatness of NFL legends like Roger Staubach, Charlie Waters and Drew Pearson, Oristano saw first-hand how the game was meant to be played as a sports reporter and sideline camera man.
Oristano is best known for his work on both the Houston Oilers and Dallas Cowboys Radio Networks as a successful sportscaster. In addition, he has also served as a television sports anchor, sportswriter and radio producer for NFL Films. He currently resides in Dallas, Texas, home of his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys. www.guidetowatchingfootball.com
If you have reviewed this book and would like me to add a link to your review, please include a link in your comment!
Welcome to another week of Tuesday Thingers! We always love to hear from regular participants as well as new people.
This week's Thinger topic is another great topic from Caite, over at A Lovely Shore Breeze, who suggested we take a peek into Tagmash this week. :)
Ever wanted to search for a book based on tags? Well, according to the Library Thing Tagmash WikiThing (instructions), the Tagmash feature lets you search for books using two or more tags. The great thing?? You can specify tags to include with a +, and those to exclude with a -.
Tim, over on the Library Thing Blog wrote up a great post here. He talks about some of the basics of using Tagmash, but also introduces us to a new feature called Tagmash Overlap ~ which (if I understand correctly) shows you tagmashes that occur within your shelves, based on how others have tagged the same books. Sound confusing?? If you are logged in, click here to check it out for yourself. This feature is also shown on your Profile statistics page.
Questions: Have you searched for books using the Tagmash feature on the search page? If you took a look at the Tagmash Overlap, what did you think? Anything surprising pop up under the tagmashes? Any suggestions for next week's topic?
My Answer: You know, I had noticed that you could search tags, but didn't really understand the benefit until Caite sent me an email suggesting the Tagmash as a subject of Thingers. Then it hit me ~ like a ton of bricks! If I enjoy the Pride and Prejudice books, I can search tags for +pride and prejudice, +fiction, and up pops a great list of books - some I've read and MANY I haven't! What a great feature!
I recently read a really great paranormal romance that took the classic King Arthur legend of the Holy Grail and threw in a mixture of paranormal romance, so I did a search of tags for +historical fiction, +paranormal and got another great list of books.
I can see how this feature will really come in handy and cause a huge increase in my already large wishlist!
Looking forward to reading everyone's answers!!
~ Wendi
If you are new to Tuesday Thingers: Welcome! The meme was originally created as a way to network with other bloggers and to learn about Library Thing! I'd like to encourage you to join us. If you don't know what Library Thing is - you are in a great place to learn about new things, and if you are an old pro, stick around and share your wealth of information! Visit Library Thing here. To join in, copy the picture and question into your post and link back here so people can read other responses. Make sure you leave a comment here with a link to your post so we can stop by! If you don't have a blog, feel free to leave a comment here!
Miss Johnstone smiled in a superior manner, making Mary aware for the first time of the gap between her front teeth. "As her sister, I suppose you would defend her. But mark my words: Her impudence will cost her dearly one day."
[Although I have not reached this point in the book yet, I believe Miss Johnstone is talking about Lizzy, now Mrs. Darcy ~ please also note that this is an ARC edition, so the final version may differ slightly form this one.]
~ p. 197, “A Match for Mary Bennet ARC" by Eucharista Ward
About the Book (from Amazon):
From Amazon: A unique and inspirational Pride and Prejudice sequel that will resonate with all readers who can relate to Mary Bennet's determination to live according to God's wishes
Written by a Franciscan nun, this is a sympathetic tale of the middle Bennet sister from Pride and Prejudice. Pious Mary Bennet tries to do her duty in the world as she thinks God envisions it.
Initially believing (mistakenly) that her sister Elizabeth married well only in order to provide for her sisters, Mary is happy to be relieved of the obligation to marry at all so that she can continue her faithful works.
But she begins to have second thoughts after further studying marriage through her sisters' experiences as well as spending time with two young men. One is a splendid young buck whose determined courtship must have ulterior motives; the other is a kindly, serious young clergyman whose friendship Mary values more and more. One day she realizes that God very much made man and woman to be together...but which is the man for her?
I always look forward to reading everyone's teasers! ~ Wendi
