HUMP DAY SPARKS: WAITING ON “THE WONDER BREAD SUMMER” — MAY 1

Welcome to Hump Day Sparks, where the excitement we feel about upcoming releases ignites and is spreading throughout the blogosphere.  Check in at Breaking the Spine to see the links!

The Wonder Bread Summer, by Jessica Anya Blau, is coming on 5/28/13!  Yay!

Jessica Anya Blau, author of The Summer of Naked Swim Parties, delivers another darkly hilarious, heartbreaking coming-of-age novel with Wonder Bread Summer.

In The Wonder Bread Summer, loosely based on Alice in Wonderland, 20-year-old Allie Dodgson has adventures that rival those Alice had down the rabbit hole. Or those of Weeds’ Nancy Botwin.

Allison is working at a dress shop to help pay for college. The dress shop turns out to be a front for drug dealers. And Allison ends up on the run—with a Wonder Bread bag full of cocaine.

With a hit man after her, Allison wants the help of her parents. But there’s a problem: Her mom took off when Allison was eight; her dad moves so often Allison that doesn’t even have his phone number….

Set in 1980s California, The Wonder Bread Summer is a wickedly funny and fresh caper that’s sure to please fans of Christopher Moore, Carl Hiaasen, and Marcy Dermansky.

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I like the sound of this one, from the setting to the time period.  Not to mention all the similarities to other favorite things in my life.  What are you sharing today?

HUMP DAY SPARKS: WAITING ON ” THE LAST CAMELLIA” — APRIL 17

Let’s ignite some passion for upcoming book releases today, and join the folks at Breaking the Spine for Waiting on Wednesday!

What are you excited about?  I’m drooling over a new book from Sarah Jio, coming on 5/28/13

The Last Camellia is “an intoxicating blend of mystery, history and romance, this book is hard to put down.”

On the eve of the Second World War, the last surviving specimen of a camellia plant known as the Middlebury Pink lies secreted away on an English country estate. Flora, an amateur American botanist, is contracted by an international ring of flower thieves to infiltrate the household and acquire the coveted bloom. Her search is at once brightened by new love and threatened by her discovery of a series of ghastly crimes.

More than half a century later, garden designer Addison takes up residence at the manor, now owned by the family of her husband, Rex. The couple’s shared passion for mysteries is fueled by the enchanting camellia orchard and an old gardener’s notebook. Yet its pages hint at dark acts ingeniously concealed. If the danger that Flora once faced remains very much alive, will Addison share her fate?

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I have adored every Sarah Jio book that I’ve read thus far, so naturally I am eagerly awaiting this one.  What are you waiting for?

WEDNESDAY SPARKS: WAITING ON “THE WEDNESDAY DAUGHTERS” — MARCH 6

Welcome to another thrilling Waiting on Wednesday, our day to eagerly drool over books we’re anticipating.  Join Jill, at Breaking the Spine, to see what everyone else has picked.

Today I’m very excited about a book coming on July 16:  The Wednesday Daughters, by Meg Waite Clayton.  Appropriate feature for our Wednesday event!

In the tradition of Kristin Hannah and Karen Joy Fowler, Meg Waite Clayton, bestselling author of The Wednesday Sisters, returns with an enthralling new novel of mothers, daughters, and the secrets and dreams passed down through generations.

It is early evening when Hope Tantry arrives at the small cottage in England’s pastoral Lake District where her mother, Ally, spent the last years of her life. Ally—one of a close-knit group of women who called themselves the Wednesday Sisters—had used the cottage as a writer’s retreat while she worked on her unpublished biography of Beatrix Potter, yet Hope knows nearly nothing about her mother’s time there. Traveling with Hope are friends Anna Page and Julie—first introduced as little girls in The Wednesday Sisters, now grown women grappling with issues of a different era—who have offered to help Hope sort through her mother’s personal effects. Yet what Hope finds will reveal a tangled family history—one steeped in Lake District lore.

Tucked away in a hidden drawer, Hope finds a stack of Ally’s old notebooks, all written in a mysterious code. As she, Julie, and Anna Page try to decipher Ally’s writings—the reason for their encryption, their possible connection to the Potter manuscript—they are forced to confront their own personal struggles: Hope’s doubts about her marriage, Julie’s grief over losing her twin sister, Anna Page’s fear of commitment in relationships. And as the real reason for Ally’s stay in England comes to light, Hope, Julie, and Anna Page reach a new understanding about the enduring bonds of family, the unwavering strength of love, and the inescapable pull of the past.

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I can’t wait!  Which is why I’ve preordered it.  That task somehow alleviates the angst of waiting, knowing that it will appear without further action on my part.  What are you waiting for?  Come on by and let’s chat.

HUMP DAY SPARKS: WAITING ON “BREAKING NEWS” — SEPT. 5

Welcome to Hump Day Sparks, our place for celebrating upcoming new releases.  Check over at Breaking the Spine for all the titles being touted today.

I just discovered a new series by Fern Michaels, and today’s feature will be released on 9/25/12.  It is Breaking News (Godmothers).

Life Is Full Of Surprises

Teresa “Toots” Amelia Loudenberry has her quirks, but no one–especially not her trusted friends Sophia, Ida, and Mavis–would ever question her loyalty. So it’s no surprise when Toots decides to extend her stay in Charleston to help care for her ailing housekeeper.

Though the Charleston air is drenched with azalea and honeysuckle, and there’s always a pitcher of sweet tea close to hand, the ladies have little time for relaxing. Ida’s new line of cosmetics is about to launch, and Toots, Mavis, and Sophia are relishing new careers as models. And Abby, Toots’s daughter, is getting hitched. In the middle of so much change, Toots is almost too busy to notice her own unexpected romance. After eight husbands, she’s sworn never to get involved again. But fate–and her friends–may have other plans. And every godmother, fairy or otherwise, loves a story that ends with happily-ever-after. . .

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What are you excited about today?  I hope you’ll stop by and share your comments and links.

HUMP DAY SPARKS: WAITING ON “HEART LIKE MINE” — AUGUST 29

Welcome to another Hump Day Sparks, in which we will celebrate the upcoming releases we are anticipating.  Visit Jill, at Breaking the Spine, to find out about all the celebrated WOW posts today.

I am very excited to shout out about another Amy Hatvany book coming in early 2013:  March, as a matter of fact.

Heart Like Mine promises to be another excellent read.

 

When a young mother dies under mysterious circumstances, those she leaves behind begin looking for answers in the past—and find a long-buried secret they could have never imagined.

Thirty-six-year-old Grace McAllister never longed for children. But when she meets Victor Hansen, a handsome, charismatic divorced restaurateur who is father to Max and Ava, Grace decides that, for the right man, she could learn to be an excellent part-time stepmom. After all, the kids live with their mother, Kelli. How hard could it be?

 

At thirteen, Ava Hansen is mature beyond her years. Since her parents’ divorce, she has been the one taking care of her emotionally unstable mother and her little brother—she pays the bills, does the laundry, and never complains because she loves her mama more than anyone. And while her father’s new girlfriend is nice enough, Ava still holds out hope that her parents will get back together and that they’ll be a family again.

 

But only days after Victor and Grace get engaged, Kelli dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances—and soon, Grace and Ava discover there was much more to Kelli’s life than either ever knew.

 

Narrated by Grace and Ava in the present with flashbacks into Kelli’s troubled past, Heart Like Mine is a poignant and hopeful portrait about womanhood, love, and the challenges of family life.

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Doesn’t this sound wonderful?  I know I can’t wait!  Now…what are the rest of you excited about?

HUMP DAY SPARKS: WAITING ON “MIDNIGHT EXPOSURE,” — AUGUST 22

Welcome to another Hump Day Sparks, in which we celebrate Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill, at Breaking the Spine.

Today I’m excited to share Midnight Exposure, a book from author Melinda Leigh; it was released today, but I am still waiting for my copy which is coming from the author.

I love the cover…and thoroughly enjoyed the author’s previous book, She Can Run.

Blurb:

Point, click, die.

When two hikers disappear, their hometown in Maine blames the blinding storms. But the truth is far more sinister. Unaware of the danger, tabloid photographer Jayne Sullivan follows an anonymous tip to find the most reclusive sculptor in the art world. Instead, she finds sexy handyman Reed Kimball—and a small town full of fatal secrets.

Five years ago, Reed buried his homicide detective career along with his wife. But when a hiker is found dead, the local police chief asks Reed for help. Why was a Celtic coin found under the body? And where is the second hiker? Avoiding the media, Reed doesn’t need a murder, a missing person, or a nosey photographer. Then Jayne is attacked, and her courage is his undoing. Reed must risk everything to protect her and find a cunning killer.

Don’t miss this sexy thriller from the author of International Thriller Award nominee She Can Run.

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Now I’m off to see what else is coming soon….I hope you’ll stop by and share.

WEDNESDAY SPARKS: WAITING ON WEDNESDAY — THE LANGUAGE OF SISTERS – JULY 11

Welcome to another Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill, at Breaking the Spine.

Today’s feature is coming very soon!  On July 31, I expect to receive The Language of Sisters, by Amy Hatvany.

 

Ten years ago, Nicole Hunter left her troubled home behind her, unable to cope with the demands of a life with her disabled sister, Jenny. Though her search for happiness—both in career and in love—has fallen short of her dreams, Nicole pretends that all is well. Then a shattering event turns her world upside down, and suddenly, she is back in her hometown, caring for her pregnant sister and trying to heal her embattled relationship with her mother.

Reunited with her family and forced to confront the guilt that haunts her, Nicole finally has the chance to be the sister she always wished she’d been. And when she is faced with the most difficult choice of her life, Nicole rediscovers the beauty of sisterhood—and receives a special gift that will change her life forever.

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What are you waiting for?  I hope you’ll stop by and share….

WEDNESDAY SPARKS: WOW! — A DIFFERENT KIND OF NORMAL — JUNE 27

Welcome to another Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill, at Breaking the Spine.

Sometimes our wishes are fulfilled long before we expect, as my last week’s WOW brought a lovely book onto Sparky, my Kindle, way ahead of time.

Today’s feature is coming fairly soon:  July 31.  It is A Different Kind of Normal.

The cover hooked me…and the author, of course.  Here’s a brief description from Library Thing:

Description: From acclaimed author Cathy Lamb comes a warm and poignant story about mothers and sons, family and forgiveness—and loving someone enough to let them be true to themselves…

Not much to go on, but I’m already sold because of the author’s previous works.

What are you excited about today?  Come on by and share….

HUMP DAY SPARKS: WAITING ON WEDNESDAY — BETWEEN YOU & ME — 4/11

Welcome to Hump Day Sparks, my place to feature this Waiting on Wednesday event, hosted by Jill, at Breaking the Spine.

Today I’m spotlighting a book to be released on June 12, 2012:  Between You and Me, by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus.

From the authors of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Nanny Diaries comes a new novel that takes readers behind the scenes of stratospheric celebrity—what it means to be worshipped by millions and still feel loved by none.

Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have proven again and again that they are masters at exploring the nuances of family relationships—as they intersect with the current trends in the culture at large.

 In Between You and Me, twenty-seven-year-old Logan Wade has built a life for herself in New York City, far from her unhappy childhood in Oklahoma. But when she gets the call that her famous cousin needs a new assistant, it’s an offer she can’t refuse. Logan hasn’t seen Kelsey since they were separated as kids; in the meantime, Kelsey Wade has become one of Fortune Magazine’s most powerful celebrities and carrion for the paparazzi. But the joy at their reunion is overshadowed by the toxic dynamic between Kelsey and her controlling parents. As Kelsey grasps desperately at a “real” life, Logan risks everything to try and give her cousin the one thing she has never known—happiness. As Kelsey unravels in the most horribly public way Logan finds that she will ultimately have to choose between saving her cousin and saving herself.

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What are you excited about today?  What are you drooling over?  Come on by and tempt me….

HUMP DAY SPARKS: WAITING ON WEDNESDAY — THE LAST KIND WORDS — APRIL 4

Welcome to Hump Day Sparks, my place to feature this Waiting on Wednesday event, hosted by Jill, at Breaking the Spine.

Today’s spotlight shines on The Last Kind Words, by Tom Piccirilli…to be released on June 12, 2012.

Amazon Description:  From International Thriller Writers Award winner and Edgar Award nominee Tom Piccirilli comes a mesmerizing suspense novel that explores the bonds of family and the ways they’re stretched by guilt, grief, and the chance for redemption.

Raised in a clan of small-time thieves and grifters, Terrier Rand decided to cut free from them and go straight after his older brother, Collie, went on a senseless killing spree that left an entire family and several others dead. Five years later, and days before his scheduled execution, Collie contacts Terry and asks him to return home. He claims he wasn’t responsible for one of the murders–and insists that the real killer is still on the loose.

Uncertain whether his brother is telling the truth, and dogged by his own regrets, Terry is drawn back into the activities of his family: His father, Pinsch, who once made a living as a cat burglar but retired after the heartbreak caused by his two sons. His card sharp uncles, Mal and Grey, who’ve recently incurred the anger of the local mob. His grandfather, Old Shep, who has Alzheimer’s but is still a first-rate pickpocket. His teenage sister, Dale, who’s flirting with the lure of the criminal world. And Kimmy, the fiancée he abandoned, who’s now raising a child with his former best friend.

As Terrier starts to investigate what really happened on the day of Collie’s crime spree, will the truth he uncovers about their offenses and secrets tear the Rands apart?

Walking the razor-sharp edge between love and violence, with the atmospheric noir voice that is his trademark, The Last Kind Words demonstrates why Tom Piccirilli has become a must-read author.

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Exciting?  I think so…and I really can’t wait to break the spine on this one.  What are the rest of you awaiting?  Come on by and share….