Wonderful Wins: A Luscious Assortment of Books

I haven't participated in Mailbox Mondays for the last few weeks because of an overwhelming schedule, but I want to express my appreciation for some Wonderful Wins that I've received over the past few weeks.  My TBR pile is pretty well stocked with a lucious assortment. Now, if I could just finagle a few days off from work . . . 

 GONE WITH THE WIND

75 Anniversary Edition

by Margaret Mitchell

a win from Brenda

of Curling Up With a Good Book

THE GHOST OF GREENWICH VILLAGE
by Lorna Graham

a win from Heather
of Bewitched Bookworms

SISTERS OF THE SARI

by Brenda L. Baker

a win from Rebecca

of Number One Novels

TWO FOR SORROW
by Nicola Upson

a win from Kat
of Reviews from the Heart

BECOMING MARIE ANTOINETTE

by Juliet Grey

a win from Anna

of Diary of an Eccentric

FIFTH AVENUE, 5 A.M.
by Sam Wasson

a win from Kat
of Reviews from the Heart

THE GIRL IN THE GARDEN

by Kamala Nair

a win from Laura

of Booksnob

THE DIVINER
by Melanie Rawn

a win from Patrick
of Pat's Fantasy Hotlist

SUBSTITUTE CREACHER

by Chris Gall

a win from LB-Kids

(Little Brown and Co.)

Thank you to these and all the wonderful bloggers who generously offer their time and energy to host giveaways. I know from my own experience how much work it can involve. And thank you to the publishers and publicists who make these giveaways possible. Everyone's efforts (as well as the prizes!) are much  appreciated.

Wonderful Win: THE HERETIC'S WIFE by Brenda Rickman Vantrease

THE HERETIC'S WIFE

by Brenda Rickman Vantrease

St. Martin's Press, April 2010

ISBN: 978-0-312-38699-3, ISBN10: 0-312-38699-0

6 1/8 x 9 1/4 inches, 416 pages

I started waiting for this novel back in September when I wrote about it in a Waiting on Wednesday post. (You can view that post here.) Then in January, Marcia of The Printed Page spotlighted it in her feature Cover Attraction and Wish List. As part of her Read it Forward program, Marcia then offered to send me her copy after she had received, read, and reviewed it. I was so thrilled by her generosity. I felt as though I'd won the Lottery!

Well, I don't know when Marcia's review will appear, but she sent her copy out last Friday, and I found it in my mailbox when I staggered home from the office late last night. I was so tired, I almost didn't even check the mail! Needless to say, I found the energy to read late into the night.

A giant THANK YOU! to Marcia for sharing what for most people would surely be a Keeper!

Here's a bit of info about the book and author (from the publisher):

From the bestselling author of The Illuminator comes a magnificent tale about the power of love and the perils of faith.

Tudor England is a perilous place for booksellers Kate Gough and her brother John, who sell forbidden translations of the Bible. Caught between warring factions—English Catholics opposed to the Lutheran reformation, and Henry VIII’s growing impatience with the Pope’s refusal to sanction his marriage to Anne Boleyn—Kate embarks on a daring adventure that will lead her into a dangerous marriage and a web of intrigue that pits her against powerful enemies. From the king’s lavish banquet halls to secret dungeons and the inner sanctums of Thomas More, Brenda Rickman Vantrease’s glorious new novel illuminates the public pageantry and the private passions of men and women of conscience in treacherous times.

BRENDA RICKMAN VANTREASE is a former English teacher and librarian whose bestselling debut, The Illuminator, was translated into over a dozen languages and chosen as a BookSense Reading Group Pick. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Wonderful Win: THE WIVES OF HENRY OADES by Johanna Moran

Last night when I arrived home from work, I was thrilled to literally trip over my newly delivered copy of THE WIVES OF HENRY OADES by Johanna Moran. I don't mind falling down if it's over a great new book! I'd won my copy in a giveaway hosted by Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit. And it was delivered FAST! Thanks for hosting the contest, Serena!

You can read Serena's review here.

Click here to connect to other blogs stops on the tour organized by TLC Book Tours.

THE WIVES OF HENRY OADES

by Johanna Moran

Pub. Date: February 2010

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

Format: Paperback, 384pp

ISBN-13: 9780345510952

ISBN: 034551095X

Description (from the publisher):

When Henry Oades accepts an accountancy post in New Zealand, his wife, Margaret, and their children follow him to exotic Wellington. But while Henry is an adventurer, Margaret is not. Their new home is rougher and more rustic than they expected—and a single night of tragedy shatters the family when the native Maori stage an uprising, kidnapping Margaret and her children.

For months, Henry scours the surrounding wilderness, until all hope is lost and his wife and children are presumed dead. Grief-stricken, he books passage to California. There he marries Nancy Foreland, a young widow with a new baby, and it seems they’ve both found happiness in the midst of their mourning—until Henry’s first wife and children show up, alive and having finally escaped captivity.

Narrated primarily by the two wives, and based on a real-life legal case, The Wives of Henry Oades is the riveting story of what happens when Henry, Margaret, and Nancy face persecution for bigamy. Exploring the intricacies of marriage, the construction of family, the changing world of the late 1800s, and the strength of two remarkable women, Johanna Moran turns this unusual family’s story into an unforgettable page-turning drama.

Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to view the Reader's Guide.

Click here to visit the author's website.

About the author (from the publisher):
Johanna Moran comes from a long line of writers and lawyers. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her husband, John. The Wives of Henry Oades is her first novel.

Wonderful Win: YOU ARE HERE by Christopher Potter

A few weeks ago, I won a copy of this book from Alyce of At Home With Books. It arrived the other day, and I thought I'd give you a sneak peak. I like reading science but, mostly, it just hurts my brain. I'm excited about this one because supposedly it's written in layman's terms - in other words, there's a one in gazillion jillion chance I'll understand it!  Kinda like my place in the universe.

Thanks again, Alyce!

YOU ARE HERE:

 A Portable History of the Universe

by Christopher Potter

Pub. Date: February 2010

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback, 294pp

ISBN-13: 9780061137877

ISBN: 0061137871

Description (from the publisher):

You Are Here is a dazzling exploration of the universe and our relationship to it, as seen through the lens of today's most cutting-edge scientific thinking. Christopher Potter brilliantly parses the meaning of what we call the universe. He tells the story of how something evolved from nothing and how something became everything. What does a material description of everything and nothing look like? What is it that science does when it describes a reality that is made out of something? In between nothing and everything is where we live.

Here, for the first time in a single span, is the life of the universe, from quarks to galaxy superclusters and from slime to Homo sapiens. The universe was once a moment of perfect symmetry and is now 13.7 billion years of history. Clouds of gas were woven into whatever complexity we find in the universe today: the hierarchies of stars or the brains of mammals. Potter writes entertainingly about the history and philosophy of science, and he shows that science advances by continually removing humankind from a position of primacy in the universe, but the universe responds by placing us back there again.

With wisdom and wonder, Potter traverses the cosmos from its conception to its eventual end—while exploring everything in between.

Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to visit the author's website.

About the author (from the publisher):
Christopher Potter is the former publisher and managing director of 4th Estate. He has a Masters in the History and Philosophy of Science from the University of London, and has written for the Sunday Times, The Independent, and The Standard. He lives in London and New York City.

Wonderful Wins: THE CHRISTMAS MAGIC and THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING

Just in time for Christmas, I was lucky enough to win two beautiful books in a giveaway sponsored by Scholastic, Inc. and hosted by Shauna at Book Giveaways. Though stylistically very different, both books have the most gorgeous illustrations. If I was reviewing these, they would each receive 5/5 Stars.

Thank you to Scholastic and Shauna!

THE CHRISTMAS MAGIC

by Lauren Thompson

illustrated by Jon J. Muth

Pub. Date: September 2009

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Format: Hardcover, 40pp

Sales Rank: 945

Age Range: 4 to 7

ISBN-13: 9780439774970

ISBN: 0439774977

Description (from the publisher):
Far, far North, when the nights are longest and the stars shine brightest, the spirit of Christmas fills the air with Magic. Santa gathers his reindeer, feeds them parsnips and berries, and polishes his bells and his sled. Then with great care, he chooses toys for every child in the world. For Santa loves them all dearly — and he knows what each one desires more than anything.

Lauren Thompson, known for her extraordinary ability to touch the hearts of the very youngest children, has created an uplifting and beautiful Christmas experience.

Jon J Muth's warm, enchanting artwork thrums with the kind of magic that makes reindeer fly!

THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING

by E.T.A. Hoffman

illustrated by Gail De Marcken

Pub. Date: September 2009

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Format: Hardcover, 56pp

Sales Rank: 12,374

Age Range: 4 to 8

ISBN-13: 9780545037730

ISBN: 0545037735

Description (from the publisher):

On Christmas Eve, Godfather Drosselmeier has arrived with gifts of marvel and enchantment for his young godchildren. Delicious dancing figurines, a wonder-tree, beautiful books, an enticing castle, and a handsome Nutcracker doll. Goddaughther Marie falls in love with this bewitching doll and claims him as her own.

Yet when the clock strikes midnight, something terribly amazing happens to these handcrafted toys...they come alive. Marie is swept off her feet on an incredible journey with her Nutcracker in this astonishing classic story by E.T. A. Hoffman. Critically acclaimed artist Gail deMarcken's stunning and gorgeous illustrations capture this spellbinding tale of adventure, honor, and family.

Wonderful Win: AMERICA'S TABLE by Margot Theis Raven; illustrated by Mike Benny

I received this Wonderful Win from a giveaway

hosted by Dawn at She is Too Fond of Books.

Thank you, Dawn.

And thank you to Sleeping Bear Press.

This is truly a wonderful book to help us all
remember what we have to be thankful for.

AMERICA'S WHITE TABLE

by Margot Theis Raven

illustrated by Mike Benny

Pub. Date: May 2005

Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press

Format: Hardcover, 32pp

Sales Rank: 14,137

Age Range: 6 to 12

ISBN-13: 9781585362165

ISBN: 1585362166

 
Description (from the publisher):
The White Table is set in many mess halls as a symbol for and remembrance to service members fallen, missing, or held captive in the line of duty. Solitary and solemn, it is the table where no one will ever sit.
As a special gift to her Uncle John, Katie and her sisters are asked to help set the white table for dinner. As their mother explains the significance of each item placed on the table Katie comes to understand and appreciate the depth of sacrifice that her uncle, and each member of the Armed Forces and their families, may be called to give.

It was just a little white table . . . but it felt as big as America when we helped Mama put each item on it and she told us why it was so important.

"We use a Small Table, girls," she explained first, "to show one soldier's lonely battle against many. We cover it with a White Cloth to honor a soldier's pure heart when he answers his country's call to duty."

"We place a Lemon Slice and Grains of Salt on a plate to show a captive soldier's bitter fate and the tears of families waiting for loved ones to return," she continued.

"We push an Empty Chair to the table for the missing soldiers who are not here . . ."

Margot Theis Raven has been a professional writer working in the fields of radio, television, magazines, newspapers, and children's books for 30 years. Margot's first children's book, Angels in the Dust, won five national awards, including an IRATeacher's Choice Award. Her first book with Sleeping Bear Press, Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot, was the runner-up for the 2004 Texas Bluebonnet Award. She lives with her family in Charleston, South Carolina.

Mike Benny's illustrations have appeared in Time, GQ, New Yorker and Sports Illustrated Magazines. He has also been awarded two Gold Medals from the Society of Illustrators. This is Mike's first children's book. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife Mary Ann and daughter Adele.

Click here to visit the illustrator's website.

Wonderful Win: THE MIDNIGHT GUARDIAN by Sarah Jane Stratford

THE MIDNIGHT GUARDIAN
by Sarah Jane Stratford

A contest win from The Story Siren. Thanks, Kristi!

I don't read  many of the current vampire books, but this one has such an intriguing premise, I couldn't resist. Besides, it has a gorgeous cover and just might be the first in a series.

Description (from the publisher):
It’s 1938, and the tentacles of Hitler’s terrifying Third Reich have commenced their stranglehold on Europe. The Nazi empire will soon be clean of all bloodlines deemed tainted or undesirable…including vampires.

London’s ancient tribunal of vampires is aghast at the destruction taking place on the Continent. Though vampires try not to interfere with human politics, Hitler’s terrible plans force them into action. They resolve to send five of their most formidable vampires to Berlin— millennials that have lived over 1000 years and whose age and wisdom make them close to invulnerable— to infiltrate, disrupt, and destroy the growing Nazi war machine.

The brilliant and beautiful millennial Brigit is loath to go, but her powers are needed if the mission is to have any chance of success. She must summon all her strength to endure the separation from her lover Eamon, whom she made almost eight centuries ago, but whose lack of millennial status makes him an unacceptable choice for this operation. Though he longs to join her, his duty to Brigit is best served from afar, by nurturing their deep psychic connection and reinforcing her spirit with his fierce devotion and memories of his tender embrace.

But as the millennials attempt to penetrate and sabotage Hitler’s armies, they discover that the Nazis are more capable than any human force they’ve yet encountered and more monstrous than they'd ever imagined. Forced to take bolder, more dangerous steps, they soon attract the attention of specially trained vampire hunters loyal to Hitler and his vision of a vampire-free Europe. Exposed, deep inside enemy territory, with vicious Nazi officers and hunters at her heels, Brigit must attempt a daring escape from the Continent, guarding precious cargo that marks the only hope of salvaging their mission.

Wonderful Win: THE LAST DICKENS by Matthew Pearl

THE LAST DICKENS
by Matthew Pearl

I campaigned hard to win a copy of this book -- what can I say? I'm on a tight budget! I was thrilled to win and ever more thrilled when it showed up in my mailbox!

Thanks to everyone who hosted author Matthew Pearl on his blog tour and especially to Kathy at the Brain Lair who hosted the giveaway which I won. Matthew Pearl wrote some wonderful guest posts on his tour with TLC Book Tours last month. Click here to see the list of sites he visited and to locate his posts. Thanks Matthew!

Wonderful Wins

I don't just like to host giveaways . . . I like to win them, too!  Thank you to my fellow bloggers for hosting and to Hachette Book Group and Simon & Schuster for sponsoring these giveaways. These books all arrived at my house within the last couple of days.

THE BIBLE SALESMAN
by Clyde Edgerton

A contest win from ninthfactor.org   Thanks, Kelly!

Preston Clearwater has been a criminal since stealing two chain saws and 1,600 pairs of aviator sunglasses from the army during the Second World War. Back on the road in postwar North Carolina, now a member of a car-theft ring, he picks up hitchhiking Henry Dampier, an innocent twenty-year-old Bible salesman. Clearwater immediately recognizes Henry as smart but gullible, just the associate he needs--one who will believe Clearwater is working undercover for the F.B.I.; one who will drive the cars Clearwater steals as Clearwater follows along in his own car at a safe distance. Henry joyfully sees a chance to lead a dual life as a Bible salesman and a G-man.

During his hilarious and scary adventures, Henry grapples with doubts about the Bible's accuracy, and we learn of his fundamentalist upbringing, an upbringing that doesn't prepared him for his new life. As he falls in love with the captivating Marleen Green and questions his religious training, Henry begins to see he's being used--that he is on his own in a way he never imagined.

ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS
by Kristin Harmel

A contest win from Bless Their Hearts Mom.  Thank you, Nicole!

Thirty-four-year-old Manhattan accountant Cat Connelly has always lived life on the safe side. But after her little sister gets married, Cat wonders if she has condemned herself to a life of boredom by playing by the rules. She decides to take a chance for once, accepting an invitation to spend a month with an old flame in Italy. But her reunion with the slick and gorgeous Francesco is short-lived, and she finds herself suddenly alone in Rome. Now, she must see if she has the courage to live outside the lines for the first time - and to face a past she never understood.

BREAKING THE BANK
by Yona Zeldis McDonough

A contest win from Crazy-for-Books.com   Thanks, Jennifer!

MONEY ISN'T EVERYTHING

Mia Saul is down on her luck. Dumped by her husband, jettisoned from her job, and estranged from her adored older brother, she and her young daughter, Eden, have had to make a downscale move to a crummy apartment, where their neighbors include a tough young drug dealer and a widower who lets his dogs use the hallways as their own personal litter box. Juggling a series of temporary jobs, wrangling with her ex-husband over child support, and trying to keep pace with Eden's increasingly erratic behavior have left Mia weary and worn out.

EXCEPT WHEN IT IS

So when a seemingly functional ATM starts handing Mia thousands and thousands of dollars -- and not deducting the money from her account, because it sure isn't in there -- she isn't about to give it back. Her newfound cash stash opens up a world of opportunity, and a whole lot of trouble. Worried friends, family, and in-laws start questioning her judgment about everything, and the cops really, really want to know where all that cash is coming from. And then there's Patrick, a man Mia most definitely would never have met if things hadn't spun out of control. Mia is beginning to think that maybe somebody, somewhere, is trying to teach her a lesson about what matters in life, and what doesn't....

Wonderful Win: ACCORDING TO JANE by Marilyn Brandt

I found a nice surprise when I arrived home from work this evening -- an autographed copy of ACCORDING TO JANE by Marilyn Brandt.  I won it just a few days ago from a giveaway hosted by Kelly Moran on her blog, Author Kelly Moran's Blog. That was a really fast turnaround! A big thanks to Kelly for hosting the giveaway. And a HUGE thank you to Marilyn along with CONGRATULATIONS on
the publication of your debut novel! I'm looking forward to settling in with Ellie and Jane.

Click here to read Kelly's terrific interview of Marilyn.

ACCORDING TO JANE
by Marilyn Brant

Pub. Date: October 2009
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Format: Paperback, 352pp
ISBN-13: 9780758234612
ISBN: 0758234619

Synopsis (from the publisher):
In Marilyn Brant's smart, wildly inventive debut, one woman in search of herself receives advice from the ultimate expert in matters of the heart…

It begins one day in sophomore English class, just as Ellie Barnett's teacher is assigning Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. From nowhere comes a quiet "tsk" of displeasure. The target: Sam Blaine, the cute bad boy who's teasing Ellie mercilessly, just as he has since kindergarten. Entirely unbidden, as Jane might say, the author's ghost has taken up residence in Ellie's mind, and seems determined to stay there.

Jane's wise and witty advice guides Ellie through the hell of adolescence and beyond, serving as the voice she trusts, usually far more than her own. Years and boyfriends come and go—sometimes a little too quickly, sometimes not nearly fast enough. But Jane's counsel is constant, and on the subject of Sam, quite insistent. Stay away, Jane demands. He is your Mr. Wickham.

Still, everyone has something to learn about love—perhaps even Jane herself. And lately, the voice in Ellie's head is being drowned out by another, urging her to look beyond everything she thought she knew and seek out her very own, very unexpected, happy ending…

Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to visit the author's website.

About the Author (from the publisher):
Marilyn Brant has been a classroom teacher, a library staff member, afreelance writer and a national book reviewer. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and son, surrounded by towers of books that often threaten to topple over and crush her. A proud member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, Marilyn's debut novel featuring "Jane" won the Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart® Award. When not working on her next book, she enjoys traveling, listening to music and finding new desserts to taste test.

Wonderful Win: THE WHITE QUEEN by Philippa Gregory

THE WHITE QUEEN
by Philippa Gregory

I'm so excited! I just found out I won a copy of THE WHITE QUEEN by Philippa Gregory from the giveaway hosted at A Girl Walks Into a Bookstore. Thanks, Katherine, for hosting this wonderful giveaway!

If this is a book you're salivating for, check out my sidebar for a list of other blogs which are hosting giveaways for THE WHITE QUEEN. Good luck!