Exciting news today, people!
My friend Marni — a.k.a. Eco Lassie at the Eco Women — has just published her first book! It’s called The Blue Virgin by M.K. Graff, which is the first in a mystery series starring Nora Tierney.
Here’s a description from the website:
The mysterious death of Bryn Wallace draws American author Nora Tierney to Oxford to clear her close friend Val Rogan, who has been wrongfully accused of Bryn’s murder. Or has she? Nora quickly becomes embroiled in the murder investigation, much to the dismay of Detective Inspector Declan Barnes and the illustrator of Nora’s children’s book, Simon Ramsey. Simon’s efforts to save Nora from herself become increasingly frantic as Nora is forced to use her wits and wiles to prove Val’s innocence.
I have to tell you that the description doesn’t even come close to conveying how gripping this book was. Plus, the characters were so interesting and some had personality or physical traits that were totally unexpected.
I’m a big fan of supporting first-time authors, especially when it’s someone I know or e-know. So I was really excited when my signed copy arrived in the mail a couple of days ago. I started reading…
… and couldn’t stop. I read all afternoon and evening and the only thing keeping me from staying up late to keep reading was the 100.5 fever I started running due to the nasty cold that someone — cough *Pete* cough — shared with me.
Anyhoo, I finally finished the book on Sunday morning and loved it. So much so in fact that I want to give it away here. I have bought not one, not two, but THREE copies. I’m not 100% certain, but I believe they’ll be signed by the author herself.
So here’s the dealio: Leave a comment here between now and the end of Friday and tell me your favorite book or author. I’ll randomly choose three commenters next weekend and announce the winners next Monday.
Good luck!
BTW, I asked if the next Nora Tierney book is in the works and it is! Woot! Marni dropped a couple of details, which I’m not going to mention here, but the action picks up not long after the book ends and it sounds like it’s going to be just as gripping.
In other news, it’s Spring Break here in Jenworld. Lest you start imagining us jetting off to England again or some sort of tropical getaway, think again. We’re all in desperate need of R&R here in Virginia, which is what we’re going to do. Plus, remember how I mentioned that fever a few paragraphs ago? Well as I type this on Sunday evening, it has returned and knocked me flat onto my butt on the soft-as-clouds sofa. Naturally, I have the laptop with me purely to keep me warm as I shiver through this. This weekend marks the first time that I’ve had a fever in something like 25 years, so clearly I’m run down or something.
So… I’m going to take the week off. Rest, recover, recuperate. I’ll be back next Monday to announce the winners of the book giveaway, as well as continue with the funny and the snarky and the sometimes perplexing.
Remember to leave your comments for the giveaway. Have a good week. And, try to stay out of trouble while I’m gone, okay?
(Updated Saturday April 10 — Comments are now closed.)
Ohhhh that sounds like my kind of book!
Favourite book: Toss up between: Coming Home – Rosamunde Pilcher and Sofies World – Jostin Garder
Favourite Author: tos sup between: Nora Roberts, Diane Mott Davidson, Kathy Reichs and Shakespeare.
I refuse to choose.
(Jostein Gaarder – not Jostin Garder… close though!!!)
Ooh, exciting. Sounds a good read!
My favourite author? I can’t narrow it down between Ian Rankin, Stieg Larssen and Henning Mankell.
That sounds like a great book!!
My favorite author is Shakespeare, by far (although Stephenie Meyer is a close second — heehee). My favorite book is Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare. Can I also say I like Nicholas Sparks without a shoe being thrown in my direction?
Congrats to your friend!
I love Louise Erdich and always read the latest Jodi Piccoult.
Feel Better!
Cool! Please count me in!
Favorite author or book? Hmmmm. Favorite author has historically been Stephen King. One of my favorite books is Swan Song.
I’ll add your giveaway to my book giveaway list for others to see!
I go through periods of fanning and unfanning authors. I am a huge King fan but sometimes he irritates me. I also have been known to settle in long periods with Stephanie Plum tales.
Poor Jen! All that gardening did you in
I always read the newset books by King, Picoult, Hiaasen, Evanovich. Always looking for new and interesting authors. Would love to give her a test drive!
Pick my favorite author? That’s like asking me to pick my favorite child! I love them for different reasons.
Jen Lancaster makes me laugh out loud. Jodie Picoult keeps me interested until the very end of the story.
Have a wonderful, restful Spring Break. I loved your Easter pics.
Well this will have to be added to my ever expanding Good Read list.
Authors: Jen Lancaster, Jennifer Weiner, Emily Giffin, and Chelsea Handler
Books: Bitter is the New Black, Good in Bed, Pride and Prejudice.
I read so many wonderful books, it’s hard to pick favorites…but I always like Stephen King.
I just finished U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton.
A free book that’s gripping. That’s my kind of contest.
My favorite author is Barbara Kingsolver or maybe Tony Hillerman or Sue Grafton.
I hope you feel better soon.
Well I’m with Little Miss S.S. – please don’t make me choose! I will say I collect Stephen King and am rarely disappointed. But right now I’m a bit, um, taken (we will not say obsessed) with Jim Butcher and his character Harry Dresden.
Congrats to Marni! If I don’t win this is definitely going in my “to read” list!
Now, make Pete whip up some chicken soup for you!
Don’t enter me in your giveaway–I’m buying my own copies! But her book does ROCK. I hope you feel better soon–it’s no fun being on break if you’re in bed the whole time.
Fantastic news for Marni! Congratulations!!!!
My all time favorite book is The Mists of Avalon. I think I’ve read it 3 times and it’s over 900 pages. It’s about King Arthur and the people around him, but told by the women in the story. Quite a feminist twist on things and I get lost in the story every time.
Hope you’re feeling better soon!
I love mysteries. I’m with jen: Ian Rankin is my fave mystery author, but also Reginald Hill, Deborah Crombie, Elizabeth George, Dana Stabenow, Minette Walters, and my latest addiction, Louise Penny.
Feel better soon.
PICK ME I NEED NEW BOOKS!!!
But thanks for asking the most impossible question ever. Freak. I love all books. Well, not all, but all my favorites are MY FAVORITES and I love MY FAVORITES like my own children.
Authors: Jen Lancaster is HILARIOUS, Mercedes Lackey, Mark Steele, Scott Westerfield (or feld, I can’t remember) JK Rowling, obviously. Shannon Hale.
There are way too many books for me to list here. Although as far as mysteries go, one of my all time favorites is The Thirteenth Tale. That’s a good one.
Sue Grafton, Patricia Cormwell, Charlotte Brontë, Harper Lee, Jan Karron, Adrianna Trigiani, Lisa See, Willa Cather….oh good Lord I’ll just stop now this could go on all day!
Ugh, I hope you feel better! I’m glad you’re taking the week off to recoup and hang with those adorable girls.
The book sounds awesome!
My favorite book is by my favorite author: John Irving–A Prayer for Owen Meany. I have loved every one of his books.
I also love Philippa Gregory’s historical trash novels (sue me) and other than really hating one of her books, I’ve enjoyed most of the Jodi Piccoult books. And a shout-out to the recently departed Robert Parker whose books my husband and I devoured.
I hope you feel better soon! I love whatever I’m reading at the moment.
Oooh, I love supporting new authors! I hope I can win a copy!
One of my favorite books is Time Traveler’s Wife.
I’m not too late, am I? This book sounds amazing. My all time favorite book is Pride and Prejudice and my favorite author is Jane Austen. I do love lots of other books, including Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King (very unlike his gory thrillers..this one is more fantasy) I also love the writing of Timothy Zahn. I’ve only read his Star Wars novels, but he is such a fabulous writer, I want to read more of his work.
Happy Time-Off!! Good for you. I am looking forward to a mini-break (read: NO plans) this coming weekend.
Would be hard to narrow down a favorite author but one of my favorite books I have read in recent years was The Dive from Clausen’s Pier by Ann Packer.
I have bought (in Hardcover, no less!) all the Steve Berry books- they follow one man in general- Cotton Malone. It is a bit like Indiana Jones but I always learn about a fascinating topic with each adventure. I have learned about the Amber Room, the Secrets of Fatima and the Templars. I have also loved each Janet Evanovich- Stephanie Plum book. I have devoured Jodi Piccoult, JK Rowling, and am reading the Percy Jackson series with my 7 yr old son, Grayson.
(I secretly read all the Twilight books, just to see what the fuss was about- don’t hate me!)
I just had to delurk for this give-away! The book sounds terrific. Congratulations to Marni!!!
So many choices – Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books; Carl Hiaasen; Donna Andrews; P.G. Wodehouse….the list could go on forever. I just finished another first novel – The Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville, starting reading it Sunday night and couldn’t put it down until I finished it.
Hope you feel better!
Books! Books! Books! They make me so happy!!! There is no way I can pick just one author. What kind of mood am I in? Trash romance? paranormal? mystery? fiction with history tied in? Here are a few I enjoy on a constant basis:
Debbie Macomber
Nora Roberts
Diane Mott Davidson
Joanne Fluke
Fern Michaels
Leon Uris
I read anything and everything! I am in dire need of a new book, I have been re-reading books that I own and stealing my daughters schoolbooks! I won’t have the time to go to the book sale at Gordon Ave(yes, I am local and a lurker) and I need a new book!!!
Please don’t enter me in the giveaway as my bedside stack is too large. I’ll put Marni’s book on my library list.
Way to support first time authors, Jen.
A book giveaway!! Please count me in!
My favourite book is a toss up between the Harry Potter series (all of them) and A Time to Kill by John Grisham.
Favourite author is probably James Patterson, closely followed by John Grisham.
Sadly, I don’t read often enough. And with two small children…even less! Unless you’re counting children’s books
I used to love reading Maeve Binchy.
Two of my favorite books are:
- Like Water for Chocolate, by Thomas Christensen
- To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Hope I win! And feel better
my favorite book is watership down. the bunnies make me cry every time i read it. but i’m such a huge reader, i have loads more that i happily read. i get that from my mother being a librarian and her aunt before her. we love books in my family.
I love so many authors and books. Do I really have to pick one? ARGH! I want to win the book! Okay, Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind. I still love it. Now, pick me. Please.
Okay, also? It is 11:13 PM on Friday here in San Diego. Is that still Friday enough according to the rules? I hope so, because I may or may not have mentioned that I want to win a book.