Category: Tour-Hachette-2009

TITLE: Sins of the Flesh
AUTHOR: Caridad Pineiro
PUB DATE: November 2009

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Caterina Shaw’s days are numbered. Her only chance for survival is a highly experimental gene treatment-a risk she willingly takes. But now Caterina barely recognizes herself. She has new, terrifying powers, an exotic, arresting body-and she’s been accused of a savage murder, sending her on the run.

Mick Carrera is a mercenary and an expert at capturing elusive, clever prey. Yet the woman he’s hunting down is far from the vicious killer he’s been told to expect: Caterina is wounded, vulnerable, and a startling mystery of medical science. Even more, she’s a beautiful woman whose innocent sensuality tempts Mick to show her exactly how thrilling pleasure can be. The heat that builds between them is irresistible, but surrendering to it could kill them both . . . for a dangerous group is plotting its next move using Caterina as its deadly pawn.

MY THOUGHTS:

I love taking part in Blog Talk Radio shows when I get the chance to listen in. This time I have to thank Kathy from Bermudaonion for telling me about this one. If you would like to listen to the interview Anna did with Caridad you can listen here

I was lucky enough to get on the blog tour with Grand Central for this. So I have to thank Anna from HBG for allowing me to be a part of the tour and for sending me this book to read and review.

Sins of the Flesh is part romance, part mystery and part paranormal. Just a warning there is some adult content in this book. Its mainly in the last 1/4 of the book.

With that being said I really enjoyed the book. I found it to be a page turner and there was enough action going on that peaked my interest and left me wanting to read more of the book. You know its a really good book when you have a hard time putting it down and that was the case with this one for me.

I admit that I don’t read alot of romance/paranormal books but when I get the chance I really enjoy them and this one is no exception. If you like reading this genre of books I am really sure you will enjoy it.

Caterina’s life is short lived because she has a tumor that is eating away her brain. She has tried every thing until she is offered something new figuring she has nothing to loose she agrees to this new treatment. Its an experimental gene treatment. Little did she realize what this new treatment would entail and how it would effect her in the long term.

When Dr. Wells is brutally murder, Caterina is named as the killer and is on the run.

Mick Carrera who is a mercenary and comes highly recommended because he is an expert in capturing who is paid too. He is hired by Dr. Edwards to find Caterina and bring her back to him. He soon discovers he is not the only one looking for her but his old arch enemy who is a ruthless killer and will stop and nothing to catch and kill who he is looking for.

Can Mick catch Caterina before Mad Dog?

Will Mick be able to protect Caterina when he does catch her? Is she really the cold bleeded killer that Dr Edwards protrays her to be?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Caridad Piñeiro wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project: write a book for a class lending library. Her love of writing continued through high school, college and law school. Shortly after the birth of her daughter, her passion for the written word led to a determination to publish and share the stories she loved with others. In 1999, Caridad’s first novel was released and a decade later, she is the author of more than twenty novels and novellas.

Caridad’s website is: http://www.caridad.com/

I am dying to read Stronger than Sin as that is the next book in this new exciting series. I was trying to find out when it was going to be released but I couldn’t find anything.

This book was provided for review by Hachette.

PUB DATE: July 7, 2009

The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand is part of the July blog tour by Hachette.

Thank you to Miriam for sending this book. I am always honored to be part of the tours of books that Hachette offers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and traveled extensively before settling on Nantucket, which has been the setting for her five previous novels. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Greg and Tess MacAvoy are one of four prominent Nantucket couples who count each other as best friends. As pillars of their close-knit community, the MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are important to their friends and neighbors, and especially to each other. But just before the beginning of another idyllic summer, Greg and Tess are killed when their boat capsizes during an anniversary sail. As the warm weather approaches and the island mourns their loss, nothing can prepare the MacAvoy’s closest friends for what will be revealed.

MY THOUGHTS:

Elin Hilderbrand is a new author to me. She has written seven previous books and from the descriptions of the books they all sound like they will be fun summer reads. I have them all on my wish list of books to read.

The story takes place in Nantucket. It involves four couples. These four couples are all the best of friends that live in Nantucket all year round. The chapters are told by the eight characters involved in the book.

The characters are:
Greg & Tess-Greg is a womanizer & in a band. Tess is a mother with two kids.

Deliah & Jeffrey-Deliah is a mother of two kids and party girl. Jeffrey is a local farmer

Phoebe & Addison-Phoebe has a drug problem, loves to spend money and a trophy wife. She use to have a twin, Reed, but he died jumping from a window at the World Trade Center on September 11th. Addison is a rich real estate agent on Nantucket. He is divorce with a sixteen year old daughter.

Chief & Andrea-Eddie (The Chief) is the police chief. Andrea is Tess’s cousin and is a mother to two kids. She use to date Jeffrey.

In my opinion it appears as though Greg and Tess are the golden couple of the group. Greg and Tess have had their fair share of trouble from countless miscarriages Tess has suffered to the possibility of Greg’s infidelity that almost caused them to end their marriage.

Tess and Greg managed to over come it all and planned on celebrating their 12th anniversary together and planned to sail from their home in Nantucket to nearby Martha’s Vineyard and possibly spend the night. On the way their, their boat ends up capsized and both Greg and Tess are killed.

The rest of the group is dealing with the sudden lose of Greg and Tess and are trying to cope with their deaths. Out of the group its Addison, Andrea and Deliah who seem to be having a harder time dealing with the deaths. But why? Could it be that Addison and Deliah have secrets that no one in the group knows about?

We know Andrea would be having a difficult time handling Tess’s death because they were very close and were cousins. She at times felt like a mother to Tess. She decides that since Tess and Greg had no provisions in the will regarding the two kids she decides that since she is family she will take them. This comes to much disappointment in Deliah.

I enjoyed the book. There was tons of secrets going on within the group and it made you wonder how will it play out and would they be revealed. Looking forward to reading more by Elin.

This is the third day of the tour with two more days to go.

If you want to read more reviews you can check out the following bloggers that will be hosting this tour today:
http://debbiesworldofbooks.com/
http://www.reviewfromhere.com/
http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com/
http://www.chickwithbooks.blogspot.com/
http://frommipov.blogspot.com/
http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/
http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
http://jennsbookshelf.blogspot.com/
http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/

Many of the bloggers above are giving away copies of the book so if your interested in reading it then enter their contests.

PUB DATE: March 2009

Thank you to Miriam at Hachette for sending me this book to read and review. This is part of the Early Bird Blog Tour.

Here is a list of some of the participating blogs touring the book today:
Participating Blogs:
http://www.writeforareader.blogspot.com/
http://bfishreads.blogspot.com/
http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/
http://bookopolis.blogspot.com/
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/
http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/
http://www.readingwithmonie.com/
http://www.myspace.com/darbyscloset
http://epicrat.blogspot.com/
http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/
http://jennsbookshelf.blogspot.com/
http://wendisbookcorner.blogspot.com/
http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com

My Review of the book:

Sarah Dunn is the author of The Big love which I haven’t read yet.

First I have to tell you my favorite part of the book. It was this passage on page 109.

“So, on this particular Sunday afternoon, before she has so much as walked through the bookstore’s front doors, Holly had made a few rules for herself: (1)she could only buy books she actually intended to read; (2)they had to be light enough that she could take the subway home; and (3) she couldn’t spend more the thirty bucks.”

I could relate to this in so many ways as I am always saying something like that before I walk into a bookstore. Thankfully the second works really well if I go downtown to the bookstore as I am busing it and then the metro. Needless to say and I admit I don’t follow the rules. What fun would it be to do that?

Secrets to Happiness is about Holly Frick who is a divorced (she is still in love with her ex, Alex)television writer. Her career is slowly dwindling. She’s written a novel called Hello, Mr Heartache but it sold less than 500 copies. Not your typical best seller.

Trying to get over Alex has been hard for Holly. She is still hoping that they will get back together. She still loves him. When Holly attends a baby shower given by her old friend Betsy she meets Betsy’s 22 year old brother Lucas and begins an affair with him. She figures she should have some fun if Alex is.

Amanda is Holly’s best friend and she’s married to Mark. They have a thirteen month old son named Jacob. Amanda tells Holly about her affair with Jack. She tells Holly that she has to meet him. When Holly agrees to meet him she doesn’t like him. Then a chance meeting she sees him and they agree to go out for coffee.

Amanda ends her affair with Jack when she realizes she doesn’t want to loose what she has. Amanda insists that Holly contact him. Really what kind of person would do that? I don’t think I could do that, could you?

Holly and Jack begin to date. Dating Jack, Holly ends her affair with Lucas. Shortly after Amanda and Jack decide to continue their affair and realizing he still cares about Amanda he breaks up with Holly.

I should also mention that in the beginning of the book Holly decides she is going to adopt a dog. She goes to the animal shelter to adopt a dog. There is one that catches her eye a dog named Chester. Chester has a brain tumor she finds this out after being drawn to him. His owners brought him to the shelter cause they couldn’t afford the operation. A vet has offered to do the operation so that Chester will live. I think this was a great thing that Holly did to adopt a sick dog.

There is alot going on in the book and at times it can be confusing. I know at times I had to flip back a few pages. Over all I enjoyed it. I was even laughing out loud at a few spots.