Kids Can Earn a Free Book This Summer from Barnes and Noble

Here's How It Works:

1. Kids read any 8 books.

2. Kids use the Summer Reading Journal to tell us their favorite part of each book. A parent/guardian signs it when it's complete.

3. Children bring their completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store between May 29th & September 2nd, 2008.

4. We'll give them a coupon for a FREE book! They choose from a list of exceptional paperback titles.*

* Eligible books will be listed on the coupon. Choices must be made from eligible stock. No special orders. Limit of 1 form per school-age child (grades 1-6), please. Incomplete forms will be ineligible for free books.

Release Your Favorite Reads into the Wild

If you love it, set it free — if it's a book, that is. Register your favorite reads with BookCrossing.com, then release them into the wild for someone else to discover and enjoy.

Track your most cherished tomes (or the books you're just ready to pass along) across the globe as they travel from one reader to the next. Getting your book ready for its journey is much easier than actually letting it go. Just create a free account at BookCrossing.com and have a BookCrossing ID number assigned to your novel, textbook, encyclopedia or whatever it is you want to share. Label it with the BCID number, then leave it somewhere. A park bench, subway station, coffee shop — anywhere you think someone will find it. That's it!

You can use the site to locate "wild" books, too. Search by city to see if any have been left in your area. With nearly 65,000 members in over 130 countries, there's bound to be a book close by! But if there isn't anything at the moment, turn to BookCrossing to keep you occupied with forums where you can discuss authors, characters and your favorite books in dozens of genres with other users.

Go ahead and share your love of literacy with the world — you may just get some book-love in return! Visit Book Crossing

Book Review: “The Paper Doorway” Poetry by Dean Koontz

I recently gave my 12 year old son the assignment to reflect on poetry that he had recently read. His response was that he could not do the assignment, as he did not like poetry and had never really read any poetry.

My response to him went something like this “but you love poetry, and you recently were telling me about all the great little ‘stories’ you were reading in your Dean Koontz book.”

His response “That’s not poetry, I liked that book. It was full of funny little stories.”

We had a long discussion after about how poetry takes on many forms and brings many different emotions. The emotions that were felt with Koontz’s poetry made my son feel happy. All poetry is not like that and my son did later admit he enjoys poetry, especially Koontz’s poetry.

“The Paper Doorway” is filled with humorous, whimsical poetry for children of all ages. There are wonderful illustrations on nearly each page and each illustration contains a mouse for your child to find.

This is a must have book for all young readers which will expose them to the joys of poetry.

Lover Revealed by JR Ward

J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood is back, and in the latest installment of this bestselling paranormal romance series they're bigger and badder than ever. In Lover Revealed, Butch O'Neal, the hard-living ex-homicide cop goes even deeper into the world of these vampire brothers, with their revved-up sex-drives, strange language (a glossary is provided!) and violent turf wars with the "lessers," who are de-souled humans in the evil Omega's Lessening Society. The only human allowed into the inner circle of this band of "brothers," Butch falls for Marissa, a female vampire who's an aristocratic beauty way out of his league. Needless to say, this complicates his life just a little bit...

What is loved about this installment is watching all the characters grow and evolve—Butch especially comes into his own here. Richly layered, this book is far from "vampire-lite" chick lit, with the exception of Ward's occasional "brand name" dropping. It's gritty, suspenseful and not for the faint of heart, with plenty of strong sexuality and even stronger language.

Preview Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward (Chapters 1-4) on sale 3/6/07, paperback original, $7.99 list price http://www.bzzagent.com/member/campaigns/7608883881/LoverRevealedexcerpt.pdf

J.R. Ward Ward is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the erotic paranormal romance series The Black Dagger Brotherhood. Frighteningly addictive, these books have a great, page-turning effect and have deservedly earned Ward an Anne Rice-style following. She also writes contemporary romance novels under the name of Jessica Bird. She currently lives in Kentucky with her husband. Visit her website at jrward.com.

Get a 25% discount off of any of the books offered in this BzzCampaign by going to us.penguingroup.com and entering the code BZZFEB when you check out. Hurry, this offer expires on April 17th!

J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood Novels are Earning Rave Reviews

Praise for LOVER REVEALED:
"[T]hese erotic paranormals are well worth it, and frighteningly addictive...it all works to great, page-turning effect...In just two years, the first three books in the series have earned Ward an Anne Rice-style following, deservedly so; this entry should prove no less popular." —Publishers Weekly

Praise for LOVER AWAKENED:
"[A] raw, gritty tour de force, creating an array of ugliness and beauty, pain and pleasure in a tale that sparks enough plot stunners to keep readers fascinated for years to come. Not for the faint of heart—strong sexuality and stronger language rule here—this genre-bending third novel in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series...is a perfect fit for those who like fast-paced urban fantasy rich in both fury and poignancy."—Booklist (starred review)

"J.R. Ward's third entry in the fabulous Black Dagger Brotherhood vampire series is all adrenaline all the time, starting from page one."—BN.com

"Best new series I've read in years! Tautly written, wickedly sexy and just plain fun. Now here's a band of brothers who knows how to show a girl a good time."—New York Times bestseller Lisa Gardner

"[U]tterly absorbing and deliciously erotic. The Brotherhood is the hottest collection of studs in romance, and I can't wait for the next one!"—USA Today bestseller Angela Knight

"J.R. Ward's unique band of brothers is to die for. I love this series!" —New York Times bestseller Suzanne Brockmann

"When it comes to tormented heroes, few can top the dangerous and tortured Zsadist. In a change of pace, it's the hero who has sexual issues resulting from his violently abusive past as a blood slave. Both the hero and heroine have suffered greatly, but it's Zsadist's journey to self-acceptance that makes this book so compelling. Ward pulls no punches in this dark, dangerous and at times tragic series. Waiting for successive installments is getting harder and harder."—Romantic Times, Top Pick (4½ stars)

Praise for LOVER ETERNAL:
"Like any good thrill ride, the pace changes with a tender story of survival and hope and leaves readers begging for more. Fans of L.A. Banks, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Sherrilyn Kenyon will add Ward to their must-read list."—Booklist

"[A] fun ride."—MonstersAndCritics.com

"[I]ntense paranormal thriller that will have new fans and old begging for more."—BN.com

"Extremely intense and emotionally powerful...colorful, dangerous and richly conceived. With both intricate plots and believable characters, she has penned a surefire hit."—Romantic Times, Top Pick (4½ stars)

Praise for DARK LOVER:
"[A]n awesome, instantly addictive debut novel. It's a midnight whirlwind of dangerous characters and mesmerizing erotic romance. The Black Dagger Brotherhood owns me now. Dark fantasy lovers, you just got served."—Lynn Viehl

"A dynamite new Vampire series — deliciously edgy, erotic, and thrilling! In DARK LOVER, J. R. Ward has created a wonderful cast of characters, with a sexy, tormented, to-die-for hero and the spirited woman who proves his soul-mate. What a fabulous treat for romance readers!"—New York Times bestselling author Nicole Jordan, author of WICKED FANTASY

"J.R. Ward makes an exceptionally polished debut in this intense paranormal romance."—BN.com

"It's not easy to find a new twist on the vampire myth, but Ward succeeds beautifully. This dark and compelling world is filled with enticing romance as well as perilous adventure. With myriad possibilities to choose from, the Black Dagger Brotherhood series promises tons of thrills and chills."—Romantic Times, Top Pick (4½ stars)

"J.R. Ward takes you deep into her intense, dark world of vampires and holds you captive until her last breathless word. This is the first in her series 'Black Dagger Brotherhood,' and it's sure to satisfy lovers of vampire romance everywhere." —Affaire de Coeur (Reviewer Pick, 5 Stars)

Remove books from a library?

As parents and educators, we may want to protect our children. However, it is important to remember that individuals must make their own choices in life. We should strive for our children and students to have opportunities that will enhance their understanding of different beliefs, cultures, and value systems which will enable our children and students to make informed decisions.

Second, even though as individuals we all have our own ideals it is equally important for us (as a society) to remember that there are other opinions and ideas present in the world and we should not be ethnocentric concerning those ideas. We should not limit our or others desire to explore literature whether we agree with it or not.

Finally, if we enable different education boars to limit what can be placed or taken out of school libraries, we send a message to those children that material that one group of individuals does not agree with should be censored or removed and students should not be individuals free to delve into what ever topics that spark their interest in the educational system.

Therefore, I agree with the Pico case decision in which local school boards should “not be permitted to remove books from school libraries simply because it dislikes the ideas contained in the books” (Alexander, 2001, p. 289).

Reference:
Alexander, K., Alexander, M. D. (2001). American Public School Law. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher

If you loved Harry Potter, but wish he had a little more edge and a few years on him, this is your kind of book. Proven Guilty is the eighth installment in Jim Butcher's fascinating "Dresden Files" series (Dead Beat, etc.), which follows Harry Dresden, Chicago's only wizard consultant. Proven Guilty finds Harry taking on "phobophages," creatures that feed on fear and plan an attack at a horror-film convention. This book is both frightening and funny…and the comic relief is certainly welcome in Harry Dresden's world of vampires, magic and murder. And if you get hooked, you'll be happy to know that the "Dresden Files" series is ready to take off with the debut of a major television series on the Sci Fi Channel premiering on January 21st. And who's producing the series? Why Nicholas Cage of course!

Preview Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher (Chapters 1–5) on sale 2/6/07, paperback
http://penguin.bzzagent.com/member/campaigns/7961745729/ProvenGuilty_ch1-5.pdf

Get a 25% discount off this book offered in this BzzBlast by going to us.penguingroup.com and entering the code BZZJAN when you check out. Hurry, this offer expires on March 8th!

Unwound by Jonathan Baine

What happens when life imitates art? For the central character in Unwound, it's a nightmare. As this chilling novel opens, Peter Robertson has written the year's bestseller, which has inspired a cult following—a haunting story about the sordid world of a teenage prostitute. But celebrity has its price, as Peter learns when he becomes the obsession of a girl named Angel who bears an eerie resemblance to the character in his novel. This book will have you on the edge of your seat. I won't give anything more away, but let's just say that Angel has her reasons for stalking Peter, and they're not what you would guess.

You will also not be surprised to discover that author Jonathan Baine (a pseudonym) is actually the award-winning filmmaker Gorman Bechard. The guy certainly has some serious dramatic flair!

Preview Unwound by Jonathan Baine (Chapters 1–5) available now, paperback original
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Get a 25% discount off this novel books offered in this BzzBlast by going to us.penguingroup.com and entering the code BZZJAN when you check out. Hurry, this offer expires on March 8th!

Are you Omega-3 deficient?

The LCP Solution by B. Jacqueline Story, Ph.D. and Malcolm J. Nicholl

This is one book where I have truly learned how nutritionally deficient in a particular nutrient a person can become. Before reading this book, I had not even thought of whether my children were consuming enough Omega-3’s in their daily diet.

The LCP Solution gives an excellent history of how as humans we have deviated from the normal staple of food our species once had consumed. Past humans depended on the intake of fish, but today with fast food and so many other options, fish is not normally put on the dinner table daily. In my house, we are lucky if we have fish every other week.

Further chapters delve into the details of exactly why Omega-3 is necessary for our bodies and more specifically our mind. Deficiencies can not only produce skin disorders but also mind disorders, which are manageable through the supplementation of Omega-3’s back into our daily diet.

Real-life stores are included as well as relevant studies and research. The medical and homeopathic communities are beginning to fully embrace the topic. In fact, my son’s ADHD Pediatrician, as well as his regular Pediatrician both recommend Omega-3 supplementation.

Omega-3 supplementation has become a nutritional priority in my house because of The LCP Solution. And I am very happy to report that my 11 year old’s eczema has completely resolved, his language arts and reading skills have increased, and his ADHD has become manageable. I am not professing that you will have such miraculous results, but this book is definitely worth a read.

Visit Dr. Stordy’s website which includes new research, resources, book reviews, stories, and you can subscribe to her newsletter. http://www.drstordy.com/

Eragon and Eldest by Christopher Paolini

This book review was written by my 11 year old son, Marshall. Marshall is homeschooled and worked very hard writing and typing his article today. Positive feedback would be appreciated, as I will be sharing your comments with him. Enjoy!

Kvetha Fricia. (Greetings, Friend.)

If you have seen Eragon but didn’t read the books you’d probably think there’s no need to read the book because you saw the movie. But here’s the catch, you’re wrong. If you read the book it gives you way more details about the real story behind it all. Even though I haven’t even seen the movie, I know the books are better.

Have you read the Harry Potter books and seen the movies? If you have, you would know the books give a lot more detail than the movies. My advice is to stop watching TV and playing video games and start reading the Eragon trilogy, by Christopher Paolini, because you have a long way to go!

Summary: Book 1, Eragon
Eragon, a 15 year old farm boy, found a big blue rock. One night, while he was sleeping, he was startled awake by tapping noises. He discovered it came from the rock, then all of a sudden it hatch into a dragon! Eragon discovered the rock was a dragon egg! Soon after he named her Saphira and becomes a legendary Dragon Rider! He then leaves his town to become an even stronger Dragon Rider and rescue the remaining dragon eggs, and defeat the evil Dragon Rider King, King Galbatorix!

Summary: Book 2, Eldest
After defeating the Shade, Durza, Eragon awoke in a room for a healer to work on a victim, he remembered that Durza cut his back. He felt it and to his horror, a huge scar from his shoulder to his opposite hip was all that was left of the slash. Soon after he regained his strength he left to be trained by a Legendary Dragon Rider named Oromis and for his dragon, Saphira, to be trained by Oromis’s legendary dragon, Glaedr.

Se onr sverdar sitja hvass! (May your swords stay sharp!)
Marshall

P.S. Don’t read ahead or skip chapters, because it will ruin the story and it won’t make sense.

Se mor’ranr ono finna. (May you find peace.)

Inside Every Woman by Vickie Milazzo

Do you love your life? Do you wake up excited and energized to start the day and then fall asleep at night fully satisfied, wishing for nothing? As happy as you are, I’ll bet you have at least one important goal that you haven't yet accomplished. What is it for you? A career change? Do you want to start your own business? Run your first marathon? Or, maybe your goal is to find more time to work in your garden and enjoy other hobbies.

So why aren't you doing it? Well, if you're like me, undertaking new goals can seem like a lot of work. The process becomes overwhelming and we don't know where to begin. We need motivation and a clear direction for how to move forward. What if someone could show you how to tap into powerful strengths you may not realize you have, so that you can accomplish your personal and professional goals?

That's just what Vickie Milazzo does with her empowering and enlightening bestseller, Inside Every Woman: Using the 10 Strengths You Didn't Know You Had to Get the Career and Life You Want Now. Vickie shares her experience starting with a dream and $100 in her bank account and shows how she turned her vision into a $14-million enterprise. Based on Vickie's own success, she writes for ANY woman who wants to realize her dreams for career and life.Inside Every Woman is a very personal book, both in terms of the stories Vickie shares, and also the process of getting to the heart of your own dreams.

Inside Every Woman is a book to be read, shared, and discussed among groups of women. In fact, it's a perfect book group pick. As you read, you'll feel like you're sitting down for coffee with a good friend… a really smart friend who gives you the confidence you need to live the life you want. See, often what we need to start living our dreams is simply permission to focus on ourselves and our goals. Vickie gives you permission and more—she gives you the plan!

Inside Every Woman shows you how to tap into your 10 feminine strengths and put together an action plan. It begins with making 5 Promises to yourself that will help you establish a positive outlook and forward momentum toward reaching your goals. From a commitment to live passionately, to reaching out to other women around you with Female FusionSM, each strength is accompanied by daily actions, savvy advice, real-life stories from other women, and plenty of wisdom to inspire you on your new journey. You'll find a take-away on every page.

We all know that the benefits of living a fulfilling, passionate life are enormous to both our mental and physical well-being. Isn't it time to start living your dreams? Are you ready to help other women start to live theirs? Vickie Milazzo is ready to show you how!

Want to learn more about the author? Read Vickie Milazzo's biography.

For reviews, media appearances, a reading group guide and more, visit InsideEveryWoman.com.

Read the complete list of 10 Feminine Forces.

The Book Review Group

A new group has formed

The Book Review

This group is for those who love books and would like to share their thoughts on any book they may have read or plan to readIf you would like to join simply reply and I will make sure you get an invite

or

just go right to our Group

http://thebookreview.gather.com/

The ADHD Affected Athlete by Michael E. Stabeno

My 11 year old son is a gymnast with ADHD. This past Saturday, his coach, asked if I would share any information about ADHD with him. On Monday night I brought him the book "The ADHD Affected Athlete" by, Michael E. Stabeno.

I described the book to the coach telling him that it will give him an overview of ADHD in simple to more complex discriptions. The book then continues with hints and tips and real life stories from an actual coach.

Most books about ADHD are written from a medical point of view. I liked the fact that this book is written from a personal perspective. My son's coach was thrilled to receive the book and wanted to get started reading it right away. He said that he would share what he learns with the other coaches at the gym.

Brother Odd by Dean Koontz

Preview Brother Odd now!

Go ahead, download the excerpt PDF here and share it with others looking for the season's hottest new read. For best results, right-click on the excerpt link below and choose "Save Target As..." to save the excerpt to your desktop. Let me know what you think!!

Brother Odd (Chapters 1-3); New hardcover; 11/28/06 pub date

Even if you've never read a novel by Dean Koontz, chances are good you've heard of him. As one of the most prominent authors in the world, his books have been published in 38 languages and regularly top the New York Times' bestseller list. And if you think Dean Koontz writes horror or science fiction books, trust us, he doesn't. Suspenseful, yes. Provocative, absolutely. All blood and gore? No way.

So what kind of a writer is he?

More than anything, Koontz is all about creating unforgettable characters. He writes smart thrillers with thoughtful underlying themes. And the three Odd Thomas books are no exception. In addition to being a fan favorite, Odd is an author favorite, too. In fact, before creating Odd Thomas, Koontz had never written three books focusing on the same character. But as Koontz says, "I find Oddie's innocence refreshing and his humility endearing. I cannot turn away from his story." So what is his story? And what is it about Odd Thomas that makes him so ... oddly compelling?

Odd is a short-order cook from a small California town. And, well there is something that makes him a little bit different: He can see the lingering dead; they come to him for justice. He didn't ask for this ability, but he can't ignore it either. And as the unofficial ambassador between our world and theirs, he feels a duty to do the right thing.

Far from a superhero or a hotshot detective with swaggering bravado, Odd just wants to fit in. It's a little bit harder when you're Odd. And it's this push-and-pull between normal and extraordinary that makes Odd Thomas so fascinating and utterly relatable.

Brother Odd takes Odd Thomas to St. Bartholomew's Abbey, a haven for abandoned children and the eccentric monks and nuns who care for them. Here he hopes to find a little solitude in which to rest and recover. (From what, we can't say—we wouldn't want to give anything away.) But trouble has a way of finding Odd. And this time it's in the form of an enemy who eclipses any he has yet encountered.

By the way, it's okay if you haven't read the first two Odd Thomas books. They each stand on their own, so go ahead and jump into Brother Odd. We're guessing that you'll want to go back and see what came before. In fact, we predict you'll find yourself entering serious fan territory after previewing Brother Odd. Want to know more about Oddie? Visit OddThomas.tv. If you're looking for more info about Koontz and all his previous books, check out DeanKoontz.com to read his reader-posed Q&A; hear his podcast, where he shares stories about the writing life, his Odd Thomas character, his Hollywood experiences and more; and meet Trixie Koontz (his dog).

The Reasons I Won't Be Coming by Elliot Perlman

Get a 25% discount off this book by going to us.penguingroup.com and entering the code BZZDEC when you check out. Hurry, this offer expires on January 15th! Follow the link below and prevew chapter 7... let me know what you think!!
http://penguin.bzzagent.com/member/campaigns/5613518444/Reasons_ch7.pdf

The Reasons I Won't Be Coming by Elliot Perlman

How many times have you wished you could be a fly on the wall? Probably more than once, right? The Reasons I Won't Be Coming, from acclaimed Australian author Elliot Perlman (Seven Types of Ambiguity), gives you that chance. The stories in this collection take you inside the complex and often heartbreaking lives of poets, lawyers, immigrants, students and murderers. They tell of corporate betrayals and lost opportunities, of obsessions, hopes, fears and, most of all, of love—especially, of love gone sour. More than a collection of stories, Pearlman has really created a collection of narrators. Each one is completely fascinating, wholly unique and entirely relatable, and the voice of each story leaves a lasting impression

Born to Lead by Bill Lamond

Get a 25% discount off this book by going to us.penguingroup.com and entering the code BZZDEC when you check out. Hurry, this offer expires on January 15th! Follow the link below and prevew chapters 1-3... let me know what you think!!

http://penguin.bzzagent.com/member/campaigns/5613518444/BornToLead_ch1-3.pdf

Born to Lead by Bill Lamond

When we picked up Born to Lead, a guide to helping women get the life they want, we noticed immediately that it is written by a man. But after reading it, we have to say that Bill Lamond knows what he's talking about, even if he hasn't walked a mile in our Jimmy Choos. A respected therapist and business coach, Lamond has helped thousands of women find everything from a more satisfying career to a happy relationship. Through personal stories and guided exercises, you'll understand how your behavior models affect your life and how you can identify personal areas where you're thriving—or just surviving. Most importantly, you'll learn how to use this new information to transform your life into the one you want to be living. After all, as Lamond says, "Every woman possesses a genius for leadership" that can be applied to any goal you have. Who are we to argue with that?

The American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, the Epidemic that Shaped Our History

Get a 25% discount off this book by going to us.penguingroup.com and entering the code BZZDEC when you check out. Hurry, this offer expires on January 15th! Follow the link below and prevew chapters 1-4... let me know what you think!!

The American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, the Epidemic that Shaped Our History by Molly Caldwell Crosby

http://penguin.bzzagent.com/member/campaigns/5613518444/AmericanPlague_Prologue_ch1-4.pdf

The American Plague by award-winning journalist Molly Caldwell Crosby is an up-close look at one of the deadliest of epidemics. It took more lives than the Chicago fire, San Francisco earthquake and Johnstown flood combined. Crosby's highly visual account relates arresting tales of illness and primitive treatment methods, as well as the heroism of nurses working in this quarantined "city of corpses." Though she focuses on the summer of 1878, Crosby also describes more recent outbreaks in Africa, where yellow fever is making a frightening comeback despite the existence of a vaccine. Called "frequently engrossing" by the New York Times Book Review and already a Barnes & Noble Discover New Writers Selection, The American Plague is for all readers who love the work of writers such as Dava Sobel or Simon Winchester.