Carol's Notebook

Thanks to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting Mailbox Monday. I love coming home after work and finding a package or two waiting for me.      The Holy Bullet by Luis Miguel Rocha An international journalist, a war-weary Portuguese veteran, a Muslim with visions of the Virgin Mary, a rogue priest and members of the world’s most powerful—and secretive—organizations come together in another gripping Vatican thriller. After the suspicious death of Pope John Paul I, a few operatives bold enough to penetrate the Vatican’s shadowy inner circle will investigate what went wrong—and try to prevent the popular new Pope from meeting the same fate. But unfortunately for them, a passion for truth and justice can be dangerous, especially to John Paul II. The Hidden Man by David Ellis J ason Kolarich is a midwestern Everyman with a lineman’s build and an easy smart-ass remark. He’s a young, intelligent maverick, but he’s also struggling with an overwhelming emotional burden—one that threatens to unravel his own life, and...

I thought I’d let you know some of the giveaways I ran across this week. If you have one you want added to next week’s list, let me know in the comments. As always, my current giveaways are listed on my sidebar and make sure you check out West of Mars- Win a Book!, where's there's always a ton of links to great contests. The Vixen Manual by Karine Steffans, at Wendy's Minding Spot (ends July 9, US and Canada, no PO boxes) Dark Haven and The Blood King (ARC) by Gail Z. Martin, at SciFiChick.com (ends July 24) I'm Perfect, You're Doomed by Kyria Abrahams, at A Reader's Respite (ends July 13, international) Olivia Kidney by Ellen Potter, at J. Kaye's Book Blog (ends July 25, US and Canada) A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand, at Booking Mama (ends July 8, US and Canada, no PO boxes) Your Home Library: The Complete System for Organizing, Locating, Referencing, and Maintaining Your Book Collection by Kathie Coblentz, at Lori's...

(I'm getting ready for a weekend full of games.) 1. She had a great train route. 2. My well-polished sword is by my side, always. 3. I know this: Minerals are better than sheep. 4. I can't believe you're in the gun battle still. 5. These words apply to me:  uncooperative and an occasional cheater. 6. Maybe the sun was shining. 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to playing games, tomorrow my plans include going to the Origins Game Fair and Sunday, I want to eat at the Starliner Diner! (hint, hint) Join in!...

Congratulations to the winners of I Hate People! by Jonathan Littman and Marc Hershon! kim kathemc gwendolyn b. Emilie S ShootingStarsMag I've e-mailed all the winners. I just need your mailing address so I can pass it on to the Hachette Book Group....

Now that summer is here (in the northern hemisphere, anyway), what is the most “Summery” book you can think of? The one that captures the essence of summer for you? (I’m not asking for you to list your ideal “beach reading,” you understand, but the book that you can read at any time of year but that evokes “summer.”) I was trying to think of a book that evoked summer for me and having no luck, but then I thought of Jimmy Buffett. His songs, attitude, everything screams summer to me, as do his book titles. Maybe I'll pull a couple of his out of the pile downstairs and read them this summer, finally. I know I have Tales from Margaritaville and Where Is Joe Merchant? somewhere. What about you? Join in at Booking through Thursday....