Sunday, March 20, 2011

Monday Memes

 
Mailbox Monday is hosted this month by I'm Booking It.  Stop by to see what other book bloggers got in the mail (or email as the case may be) this week.

Via snail mail I got:
Doctor Confidential: Secrets Behind the Veil
The unique stories in Doctor Confidential speak directly to anyone in medical training or considering a career in medicine, but also to the patient in all of us. Pulling back the veil of secrecy that too often surrounds medicine, Doctor Confidential provides compassion, humor, and ultimately hope that, when sick and most vulnerable, each of us can be heard, understood, and deeply touched by our physician.

After a mistake at her infertility clinic, Carolyn Savage learned she was carrying another couple’s baby. In this memoir that belongs at the top of any truth-is-stranger-than-fiction list, she and her husband tell the tale of why they decided to go through with the pregnancy and deliver a healthy boy to the biological parents. (Basically, it’s because of their religious beliefs.) The book, which shifts between Carolyn’s and Sean’s perspectives, would have been better had biological parents Shannon and Paul Morell contributed, too. From the beginning, Carolyn seems to resent Shannon for not being sufficiently appreciative, and even after she says she is giving up baby Logan with no strings attached, she is peeved that Shannon sends her the same birth announcement “in the same way that she had announced him to her extended family and distant friends.” Ultimately, the Morells bring Logan to meet the Savages, but it’s unclear how often they will see each other.

NetGalley also sent me several books this week:

Vanish in Plain SightA young mother VANISHES in plain sight...

Since she was a little girl, Marisa Angelo has been haunted by the image of her mother walking away, suitcase in hand, to return to her Amish roots.

Marisa and her “Englischer” father never saw or heard from her again. Now Marisa has received a shocking call from police. Her mother’s bloodstained suitcase was found hidden inside the wall of an Amish farmhouse.

Desperate for answers, Marisa heads to Lancaster County. But no one—not the police or Marisa’s tight-lipped Amish relatives—can explain what happened to her mother.

Only one man is as determined as Marisa to unravel the mystery— Link Morgan, the handsome ex-military loner who found the suitcase in the house he inherited from his uncle. Because both Link’s and Marisa’s family members are implicated in the decades-old disappearance.The secret lies somewhere in the quaint Amish settlements. But someone will do anything to ensure the truth remains hidden forever.


Malled: My Unintentional Career in RetailAfter losing her job as a journalist and the security of a good salary, Caitlin Kelly was hard up for cash. When she saw that The North Face-an upscale outdoor clothing company-was hiring at her local mall, she went for an interview almost on a whim.

Suddenly she found herself, middle-aged and mid-career, thrown headfirst into the bizarre alternate reality of the American mall: a world of low-wage workers selling overpriced goods to well-to-do customers. At first, Kelly found her part-time job fun and reaffirming, a way to maintain her sanity and sense of self-worth. But she describes how the unexpected physical pressures, the unreasonable dictates of a remote corporate bureaucracy, and the dead-end career path eventually took their toll. As she struggled through more than two years at the mall, despite surgeries, customer abuse, and corporate inanity, Kelly gained a deeper understanding of the plight of the retail worker.


 
Creed's Honor (The Creed Cowboys) Conner Creed knows exactly who he is: a hardworking rancher carrying on his uncle’s legacy in Lonesome Bend, Colorado. Maybe a small-town cowboy’s life isn’t his dream, but he owes the man who took him in as a kid. Until the identical twin brother he’s been estranged from for years reenters his life.

Conner struggles with identity issues as he gets to know his wilder brother. And then he meets Tricia McCall, a beautiful woman who knows a thing or two about living someone else’s dreams. Together, they just might find their own dreams right here in Lonesome Bend.…

Blackberry Summer
Claire Bradford needed a wake-up call.

What she didn’t need was a tragic car accident. As a single mom and the owner of a successful bead shop, Claire leads a predictable life in Hope’s Crossing, Colorado. So what if she has no time for romance? At least, that’s what she tells herself, especially when her best friend’s sexy younger brother comes back to town as the new chief of police.

But when the accident forces Claire to slow down and lean on others—especially Riley McKnight—she
realizes, for the first time, that things need to change. And not just in her own life. The accident—and the string of robberies committed by teenagers that led up to it—is a wake-up call to the people of Hope’s Crossing. The sense of community and togetherness had been lost during those tough years. But with a mysterious “Angel of Hope” working to inspire the town, Riley and Claire will find themselves opening up to love and other possibilities by the end of an extraordinary summer…


Cutie Pies: 40 Sweet, Savory, and Adorable RecipesPraised by Bon Appetit, DailyCandy, and Sunset magazine, the secrets behind Dani Cone's signature handmade, aPraised by Bon Appetit, DailyCandy, and Sunset magazine, the secrets behind Dani Cone's signature handmade, all-natural miniature pies are revealed for the first time inside Cutie Pies: 40 Sweet, Savory, and Adorable Recipes. Whether you're grabbing the perfectly portable Flipside on the way to work, enjoying a Piejar as a tasty afternoon treat, or looking for a fun and impressive dinner party dessert, Cutie Pies provides the perfect morsels to satisfy sweet and savory cravings alike.Inside Cutie Pies, Cone presents 40 exclusive recipes inspired by the unique line of compact pastries she serves at her Seattle-based Fuel Coffee and High 5 Pie locations, which have received a Best of Seattle Weekly award. Sweet, one-of-a-kind treats like a Mango-Raspberry-Lemon Piepop mingle with savory recipes like Cone's Curry Veggie Piejar, all in a distinct and delightful design.Cutie Pies is illustrated throughout with more than 20 mouthwatering, full-color photographs, and its contemporary fashion and straightforward recipes enable bakers everywhere to create these tiny treats with big flavor.ll-natural miniature pies are revealed for the first time inside Cutie Pies: 40 Sweet, Savory, and Adorable Recipes. Whether you're grabbing the perfectly portable Flipside on the way to work, enjoying a Piejar as a tasty afternoon treat, or looking for a fun and impressive dinner party dessert, Cutie Pies provides the perfect morsels to satisfy sweet and savory cravings alike.Inside Cutie Pies, Cone presents 40 exclusive recipes inspired by the unique line of compact pastries she serves at her Seattle-based Fuel Coffee and High 5 Pie locations, which have received a Best of Seattle Weekly award. Sweet, one-of-a-kind treats like a Mango-Raspberry-Lemon Piepop mingle with savory recipes like Cone's Curry Veggie Piejar, all in a distinct and delightful design.


The Summer We Came to LifeEvery summer, Samantha Wheland joins her childhood friends—Isabel, Kendra and Mina—on a vacation, somewhere exotic and fabulous. Together with their mixed bag of parents, they’ve created a lifetime of memories. This year it’s a beach house in Honduras. But for the first time, their clan is not complete. Mina lost her battle against cancer six months ago, and the friends she left behind are still struggling to find their way forward without her.

For Samantha, the vacation just feels wrong without Mina. Despite being surrounded by her friends—the closest thing she has to family—Mina’s death has left Sam a little lost. Unsure what direction her life should take. Fearful that whatever decision she makes about her wealthy French boyfriend’s surprise proposal, it’ll be the wrong one.

The answers aren’t in the journal Mina gave Sam before she died. Or in the messages Sam believes Mina is sending as guideposts. Before the trip ends, the bonds of friendship with her living friends, the older generation’s stories of love and loss, and Sam’s glimpse into a world far removed from the one in which she belongs will convince her to trust her heart. And follow it.


It's Monday, What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila over at BookJourney.  She asks bloggers what they read or blogged about last week and what they plan to read this week.
I posted reviews of the following:
  In Name Only My Review
Bless This Mouse My Review
The Dashwood Sisters Tell All My Review
Bridge To Happiness My Review
The Welcome Home Garden Club: A Twilight, Texas Novel My Review

I finished reading
Bumped and will get a review up the first part of April

What's up next?  Well, I'm in the middle of
Mine Is the Night: A Novel

14 comments:

  1. You had quite a week and it looks like some excellent books coming up, enjoy. My Monday: http://www.rundpinne.com/2011/03/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-31.html

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  2. What to comment on first? When I fist saw the blurb for Inconceivable, I was so tempted to get it for review, but I've been trying to slow down on review requests until I get caught up. I kind of regret that, because I've already had two discussions with people about what happened in it. I will just have to buy it (that way, I won't feel too rushed to read it and get a review up) - I just can't imagine how horrible that situation would be.
    Net Galley is da bomb! I try to limit my requests there as well, but was sorely tempted by some of your picks (I DID, however, succumb to Cutie Pies - look at the yumminess on the cover that could be a part of my own meal!). I also believe I requested the Summer We Came to Life (I don't list my Net Galley books until I actually download them to read) - I read the blurb, and kept thinking about it, so had to go back to request it!

    I'm going off to read some of your reviews, especially Bless This Mouse, as Lois Lowry is a favorite of mine and there are always children around me that would love this book, I'm sure!

    I have bumped on my review pile as well; I hope it's as good as it looks to be! :)

    Enjoy your reading week!

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  3. A formidable array of books - all looking good as well.

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  4. I'm listening to Inconceivable in my car right now and I know exactly what you mean about Carolyn. What she did is very generous, but she turned right around and asked another woman to do the same thing for her.

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  5. Great Mailbox! Vanish in Plain Sight and Blackberry Summer appeal to me the most. And Cutie Pies sounds divine! Thanks for visiting my Mailbox. Happy reading!

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  6. What a full week! Inconceivable looks really interesting - looking forward to your thoughts on it. I am also immediately drawn to Vanish in Plain Sight. Amish fiction is one of my weaknesses and I haven't read Marta Perry yet.

    Here is my Monday post:
    http://handsandhome.blogspot.com/2011/03/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_20.html

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  7. I've been seeing that book "Inconceivable" around a lot lately and it sounds so sad.

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  8. What a great mailbox! I have not read any of these books. I hope you enjoy them all.

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  9. The Summer We Came to Life sounds interesting. I don't think I'd be able to read Inconceivable, just so much I don't agree with there as a Catholic. A wide collection of topics. Enjoy your reading!

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  10. So many great books -- lucky you! I especially like the looks of Doctor's Confidential, Inconceivable & the Pie book (yum).

    Happy reading!

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  11. Inconceivable is a book I want to read. The Amish fiction book sounds very good too. You had a great week!

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  12. Great mailbox list. Inconceivable intrigues me. Hope you enjoy them all!

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  13. I think I'd like to read Malled.

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  14. The book Malled sounds like it could be interesting. I enjoy reading stories about the situations of people just like us and our neighbors. There for the grace of God....

    Lee
    Tossing It Out
    Twitter hashtag: #atozchallenge

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