Carol's Notebook

Thanks to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting Mailbox Monday. Here's what I found in my box this week.     So Into You by Sandra Hill I won this at Socrates' Book Reviews. Thanks! Angel Sabato has been in love with best friend Grace O'Brien for 10 years--but he's only just realized it. Too bad she doesn't take him seriously when he tells her about his feelings. Reeling from the rejection, Angel hightails it out of town. Now Grace is left to wonder if her problems from the past are keeping her from opening herself to love. But she brushes these "useless" musings aside, concentrating instead on the work she's doing as an apprentice to folk healer Tante Lulu and keeping up with the old woman's good deeds. Such as starting a foundation to help families still homeless after Hurricane Katrina. One family consists of 5 children who lost their parents. The eldest, only seventeen, has been struggling to take care of her siblings and lying...

I was having trouble deciding what game to spotlight this week. This one's out of print, but you might still be able to find it at a yard sale or on E-Bay. Betrayal at House on the Hill Designers: Bruce Glassco, Rob Daviau Manufacturers: Avalon Hill Artist: Scott Okumura Year: 2004 Players: 3 - 6 Time: 60 minutes Ages: 10 and up Build a house of terror -- tile by tile. It's never the same game twice. As one of the twelve mysterious characters, you'll explore a house filled with deadly secrets. As you play, you'll build the house. But beware! One of your fellow players will betray you. The traitor will test your sanity as you use all your skills to survive. With fifty fiendish scenarios, Betrayal at House on the Hill puts you face to face with legendary monsters, modern nightmares, and ... your friends. This is one of those games where you just have to relax and enjoy the theme. It's kind of a B-horror movie in a box. You...

I thought I’d let you know a few of the giveaways I ran across this week. As always, my current giveaway is listed on my sidebar and make sure you check out West of Mars- Win a Book! where there's always a ton of links to great contests, interviews and guest posts. Cleopatra's Daughter and The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran, at Well-Mannered Frivolity (ends September 14, International) The Treasures of Venice and The Wild Sight by Loucinda McGary, at Booking Mama (ends September 17, US and Canada) The Curse of the Good Girl by Rachel Simmons, at She Is Too Fond of Books (ends September 19, US and Canada) The Treasures of Venice and The Wild Sight by Loucinda McGary, at Drey's Library (ends September 22, US and Canada, no PO boxes) The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson and Martin Dugard, at The Tome Traveller's Weblog (ends September 24, US and Canada, no PO boxes) Not books Ozone socks, at Lipstick to Crayons (ends September 22, US...

Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey I've mentioned before that a book's setting can be just as important to me as the plot or characters. This is one of those books. The culture, history,  and landscape of Ghana are integral to the storyline. Detective Inspector Darko Dawson is from his station in Accra, the capital, to a small village to investigate the death of a female medical student. Darko's not thrilled about leaving his family, a wife he loves and a son with a medical condition, but he knows the area's native language. His aunt lives in the village and it was the last place his mother was seen before she vanished years ago. As he investigates the murder he also learns the truth behind his mother disappearance. Darko is torn between his modern sensiblities and the age-old customs that still persist, like the trokosi, girls who are given as wives to the local priest in exchange for good fortune for their families. He steps on a lot...