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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
By Jeff Kinney

The highly anticipated third book in the critically acclaimed and bestselling series takes the art of being wimpy to a whole new level.

Let’s face it: Greg Heffley will never change his wimpy ways. Somebody just needs to explain that to Greg’s father. You see, Frank Heffley actually thinks he can get his son to toughen up, and he enlists Greg in organized sports and other “manly” endeavors. Of course, Greg is able to easily sidestep his father’s efforts to change him. But when Greg’s dad threatens to send him to military academy, Greg realizes he has to shape up . . . or get shipped out.

Greg and his family and friends, who make the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books a must-read for middle school readers, are back and at their best in this hilarious new installment of the series, which is sure to please current fans while attracting new ones.

Publishers Weekly-1/19/2009:

The third book in this genre-busting series is certain to enlarge Kinney’s presence on the bestseller lists, where the previous titles have taken up residence for the past two years. Kinney’s spot-on humor and winning formula of deadpan text set against cartoons are back in full force. This time, Greg starts off on New Year’s Day (he resolves to “help other people improve,” telling his mother, “I think you should work on chewing your potato chips more quietly”) and ends with summer vacation. As he fends off his father’s attempts to make him more of a man (the threat of military school looms), Greg’s hapless adventures include handing out anonymous valentines expressing his true feelings (“Dear James, You smell”), attempting to impress his classmate Holly and single-handedly wrecking his soccer team’s perfect season. Kinney allows himself some insider humor as well, with Greg noting the “racket” children’s book authors have going. “All you have to do is make up a character with a snappy name, and then make sure the character learns a lesson at the end of the book.” Greg, self-centered as ever, may be the exception proving that rule. Ages 8–12. (Jan.)

The Associate

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

The Associate
By John Grisham

If you thought Mitch McDeere was in trouble in The Firm, wait
until you meet Kyle McAvoy, The Associate

Kyle McAvoy grew up in his father’s small-town law office in York, Pennsylvania. He excelled in college, was elected editor-in-chief of The Yale Law Journal, and his future has limitless potential.

But Kyle has a secret, a dark one, an episode from college that he has tried to forget. The secret, though, falls into the hands of the wrong people, and Kyle is forced to take a job he doesn’t want—even though it’s a job most law students can only dream about.

Three months after leaving Yale, Kyle becomes an associate at the largest law firm in the world, where, in addition to practicing law, he is expected to lie, steal, and take part in a scheme that could send him to prison, if not get him killed.

With an unforgettable cast of characters and villains—from Baxter Tate, a drug-addled trust fund kid and possible rapist, to Dale, a pretty but seemingly quiet former math teacher who shares Kyle’s “cubicle” at the law firm, to two of the most powerful and fiercely competitive defense contractors in the country—and featuring all the twists and turns that have made John Grisham the most popular storyteller in the world, The Associate is vintage Grisham.

Review
“GRISHAM HAS A FIELD DAY…The Associate grabs the reader quickly and becomes impossible to put down.” —Janet Maslin, The New York Times

“Grisham’s confident style hasn’t changed, and THERE’S SUSPENSE APLENTY.” —People

“Grisham makes it easy for us to keep flipping the pages…A DEVASTATING PORTRAIT OF THE BIG-TIME, BIG-BUCKS LEGAL WORLD.” —Patrick Anderson, The Washington Post

“Throughout, Grisham unwinds the spool of his narrative at a MASTERFUL, page-turning pace that pulls readers in and keeps them wanting more…The Associate is an absorbing thriller that's A FITTING FOLLOW-UP TO THE FIRM.” —The Boston Globe

“COMPULSIVELY READABLE…You're peering into a secret world of power and money. What more could you or any red-blooded American ask for?” —Time magazine

“A PAGE-TURNER…Kyle McAvoy recalls Mitch McDeere from Grisham's breakout novel The Firm. He's young, idealistic, handsome, a little too cocky for his own good, but a brilliant lawyer who gets pulled in over his head and given an education in how the world really works.” —The Los Angeles Times

About the Author

JOHN GRISHAM has written twenty previous novels and one work of nonfiction, The Innocent Man, published in 2006. He lives in Virginia and Mississippi.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
1

The rules of the New Haven Youth League required that each kid play at least ten minutes in each game. Exceptions were allowed for players who had upset their coaches by skipping practice or violating other rules. In such cases, a coach could file a report before the game and inform the scorekeeper that so-and-so wouldn’t play much, if at all, because of some infraction. This was frowned on by the league; it was, after all, much more recreational than competitive.

With four minutes left in the game, Coach Kyle looked down the bench, nodded at a somber and pouting little boy named Marquis, and said, “Do you want to play?” Without responding, Marquis walked to the scorers’ table and waited for a whistle. His violations were numerous–skipping practice, skipping school, bad grades, losing his uniform, foul language. In fact, after ten weeks and fifteen games, Marquis had broken every one of the few rules his coach tried to enforce. Coach Kyle had long since realized that any new rule would be immediately violated by his star, and for that reason he trimmed his list and fought the temptation to add new regulations. It wasn’t working. Trying to control ten inner- city kids with a soft touch had put the Red Knights in last place in the 12 and Under division of the winter league.

Marquis was only eleven, but clearly the best player on the court. He preferred shooting and scoring over passing and defending, and within two minutes he’d slashed through the lane, around and through and over much larger players, and scored six points. His average was fourteen, and if allowed to play more than half a game, he could probably score thirty. In his own young opinion, he really didn’t need to practice.

In spite of the one-man show, the game was out of reach. Kyle McAvoy sat quietly on the bench, watching the game and waiting for the clock to wind down. One game to go and the season would be over, his last as a basketball coach. In two years he’d won a dozen, lost two dozen, and asked himself how any person in his right mind would willingly coach at any level. He was doing it for the kids, he’d said to himself a thousand times, kids with no fathers, kids from bad homes, kids in need of a positive male influence. And he still believed it, but after two years of babysitting, and arguing with parents when they bothered to show up, and hassling with other coaches who were not above cheating, and trying to ignore teenage referees who didn’t know a block from a charge, he was fed up. He’d done his community service, in this town anyway.

He watched the game and waited, yelling occasionally because that’s what coaches are supposed to do. He looked around the empty gym, an old brick building in downtown New Haven, home to the youth league for fifty years. A handful of parents were scattered through the bleachers, all waiting for the final horn. Marquis scored again. No one applauded. The Red Knights were down by twelve with two minutes to go.

At the far end of the court, just under the ancient scoreboard, a man in a dark suit walked through the door and leaned against the retractable bleachers. He was noticeable because he was white. There were no white players on either team. He stood out because he wore a suit that was either black or navy, with a white shirt and a burgundy tie, all under a trench coat that announced the presence of an agent or a cop of some variety.

Coach Kyle happened to see the man when he entered the gym, and he thought to himself that the guy was out of place. Probably a detective of some sort, maybe a narc looking for a dealer. It would not be the first arrest in or around the gym.

After the agent/cop leaned against the bleachers, he cast a long suspicious look at the Red Knights’ bench, and his eyes seemed to settle on Coach Kyle, who returned the stare for a second before it became uncomfortable. Marquis let one fly from near mid- court, air ball, and Coach Kyle jumped to his feet, spread his hands wide, shook his head as if to ask, “Why?” Marquis ignored him as he loafed back on defense. A dumb foul stopped the clock and prolonged the misery. While looking at the free-throw shooter, Kyle glanced beyond him, and in the background was the agent/cop, still staring, not at the action but at the coach.

For a twenty-five-year-old law student with no criminal record and no illegal habits or proclivities, the presence and the attention of a man who gave all indications of being employed by some branch of law enforcement should have caused no concern whatsoever. But it never worked that way with Kyle McAvoy. Street cops and state troopers didn’t particularly bother him. They were paid to simply react. But the guys in dark suits, the investigators and agents, the ones trained to dig deep and discover secrets–those types still unnerved him.

Thirty seconds to go and Marquis was arguing with a referee. He’d thrown an F-bomb at a ref two weeks earlier and was suspended for a game. Coach Kyle yelled at his star, who never listened. He quickly scanned the gym to see if agent/cop No. 1 was alone or was now accompanied by agent/cop No. 2. No, he was not.

Another dumb foul, and Kyle yelled at the referee to just let it slide. He sat down and ran his finger over the side of his neck, then flicked off the perspiration. It was early February, and the gym was, as always, quite chilly.

Why was he sweating?

The agent/cop hadn’t moved an inch; in fact he seemed to enjoy staring at Kyle.

The decrepit old horn finally squawked. The game was mercifully over. One team cheered, and one team really didn’t care. Both lined up for the obligatory high fives and “Good game, good game,” as meaningless to twelve- year- olds as it is to college players. As Kyle congratulated the opposing coach, he glanced down the court. The white man was gone.

What were the odds he was waiting outside? Of course it was paranoia, but paranoia had settled into Kyle’s life so long ago that he now simply acknowledged it, coped with it, and moved on.

The Red Knights regrouped in the visitors’ locker room, a cramped little space under the sagging and permanent stands on the home side. There Coach Kyle said all the right things–nice effort, good hustle, our game is improving in certain areas, let’s finish on a high note this Saturday. The boys were changing clothes and hardly listening. They were tired of basketball because they were tired of losing, and of course all blame was heaped upon the coach. He was too young, too white, too much of an Ivy Leaguer.

The few parents who were there waited outside the locker room, and it was those tense moments when the team came out that Kyle hated most about his community service. There would be the usual complaints about playing time. Marquis had an uncle, a twenty-two year-old former all-state player with a big mouth and a fondness for bitching about Coach Kyle’s unfair treatment of the “best player in the league.”

From the locker room, there was another door that led to a dark narrow hallway that ran behind the home stands and finally gave way to an outside door that opened into an alley. Kyle was not the first coach to discover this escape route, and on this night he wanted to avoid not only the families and their complaints but also the agent/ cop. He said a quick goodbye to his boys, and as they fled the locker room, he made his escape. In a matter of seconds he was outside, in the alley, then walking quickly along a frozen sidewalk. Heavy snow had been plowed, and the sidewalk was icy and barely passable. The temperature was somewhere far below freezing. It was 8:30 on a Wednesday, and he was headed for the law journal offices at the Yale Law School, where he would work until midnight at least.

He didn’t make it.

The agent was leaning against the fender of a red Jeep Cherokee that was parked parallel on the street. The vehicle was titled to one John McAvoy of York, Pennsylvania, but for the past six years it had been the reliable companion of his son, Kyle, the true owner.

Though his feet suddenly felt like bricks and his knees were weak, Kyle managed to trudge on as if nothing were wrong. Not only did they find me, he said to himself as he tried to think clearly, but they’ve done their homework and found my Jeep. Not exactly high-level research. I have done nothing wrong, he said again and again.

“Tough game, Coach,” the agent said when Kyle was ten feet away and slowing down.

Kyle stopped and took in the thick young man with red cheeks and red bangs who’d been watching him in the gym. “Can I help you?” he said, and immediately saw the shadow of No. 2 dart across the street. They always worked in pairs.

No. 1 reached into a pocket, and as he said “That’s exactly what you can do,” he pulled out a leather wallet and flipped it open. “Bob Plant, FBI.”

“A real pleasure,” Kyle said as all the blood left his brain and he couldn’t help but flinch.

No. 2 wedged himself into the frame. He was much thinner and ten years older with gray around the temples. He, too, had a pocketful, and he performed the well- rehearsed badge presentation with ease. “Nelson Ginyard, FBI,” he said.

Bob and Nelson. Both Irish. Both northeastern.

“Anybody else?” Kyle asked.

“No. Got a minute to talk?”

“Not really.”

“You might want to,” Ginyard said. “It could be very productive.”

“I doubt that.”

“If you leave, we’ll just follow,” Plant said as he stood from his slouch position and took a step closer. “You don’t want us on campus, do you?”

“Are you threatening me?” Kyle asked. The sweat was back, now in the pits of his arm...

The Love Dare

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

The Love Dare
By Stephen Kendrick, Alex Kendrick

Too many marriages end when someone says "I've fallen out of love with you" or "I don't love you anymore." The Love Dare discusses how these statements reveal a lack of understanding about the fundamental nature of true love.

As featured in the popular new movie Fireproof, from the team that brought us the #1 best selling DVD Facing the Giants, The Love Dare is a 40-day guided devotional experience that will lead your heart back to truly loving your spouse while learning more about the design, nature, and source of true love. Each reading includes Scripture, a statement of principle, the day's "dare," and a journaling area and check box to chart progress.

Dare to take The Love Dare, and see your marriage change forever.

Eat This Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Eat This Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution
By David Zinczenko, Matt Goulding

Features of the Eat This Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide: - the 20 Worst Foods in the Supermarket - the Ultimate Supermarket Label Decoder - 17 Secrets the Food Industry Doesn't Want You to Know - Shop Once, Eat for a Week - How to Stock the Perfect Pantry Investigative, comprehensive, and compelling, this guide helps consumers navigate their shopping carts through the thousands of nutritional pitfalls in every grocery store to help you lose weight, save cash, and bring home the tastiest, healthiest choices every time.

Amazon.com Review
With tens of thousands of products crammed into the walls of the neighborhood supermarket, trying to find a reliable snack, pantry product, or frozen dinner can be a serious challenge for the time-strained consumer. The Eat This, Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide changes all of that, offering discerning shoppers everywhere a simple plan for finding the healthiest foods for them and their families. Beyond homing in on the best and worst in the world of packaged foods, the Eat This, Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide scours the aisles to help you pick the most nutrient-packed produce, the leanest, tastiest cuts of meat, exotic cheeses that double as healthy snacks, and the best contaminant-free fish the ocean has to offer.

About the Author
DAVID ZINCZENKO, editor-in-chief of Men’s Health magazine, is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Abs Diet and The Abs Diet for Women. Once an overweight child, Zinczenko has become one of the nation’s leading experts on health and fitness. He is a regular contributor to the Today show, and has appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America, and Primetime Live. MATT GOULDING is the food and nutrition editor of Men’s Health. He has cooked and eaten his way around the world, touching down in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he divides most of his time between computer and stovetop.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment
By Steve Harvey

Steve Harvey, the host of the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, can't count the number of impressive women he's met over the years, whether it's through the "Strawberry Letters" segment of his program or while on tour for his comedy shows. These are women who can run a small business, keep a household with three kids in tiptop shape, and chair a church group all at the same time. Yet when it comes to relationships, they can't figure out what makes men tick. Why? According to Steve it's because they're asking other women for advice when no one but another man can tell them how to find and keep a man. In Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, Steve lets women inside the mindset of a man and sheds lights on concepts and questions such as:

—The Ninety Day Rule: Ford requires it of its employees. Should you require it of your man?

—How to spot a mama's boy and what if anything you can do about it.

—When to introduce the kids. And what to read into the first interaction between your date and your kids.

—The five questions every woman should ask a man to determine how serious he is.

— And more...

Sometimes funny, sometimes direct, but always truthful, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man is a book you must read if you want to understand how men think when it comes to relationships.

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)
By Stephenie Meyer

Legions of readers entranced by Twilight are hungry for more and they won't be disappointed. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural twist. The "star-crossed" lovers theme continues as Bella and Edward find themselves facing new obstacles, including a devastating separation, the mysterious appearance of dangerous wolves roaming the forest in Forks, a terrifying threat of revenge from a female vampire and a deliciously sinister encounter with Italy's reigning royal family of vampires, the Volturi. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.

Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up–Recovered from the vampire attack that hospitalized her in the conclusion of Twilight (Little, Brown, 2005), Bella celebrates her birthday with her boyfriend Edward and his family, a unique clan of vampires that has sworn off human blood. But the celebration abruptly ends when the teen accidentally cuts her arm on broken glass. The sight and smell of her blood trickling away forces the Cullen family to retreat lest they be tempted to make a meal of her. After all is mended, Edward, realizing the danger that he and his family create for Bella, sees no option for her safety but to leave. Mourning his departure, she slips into a downward spiral of depression that penetrates and lingers over her every step. Vampire fans will appreciate the subsequently dour mood that permeates the novel, and it's not until Bella befriends Jacob, a sophomore from her school with a penchant for motorcycles, that both the pace and her disposition begin to take off. Their adventures are wild, dare-devilish, and teeter on the brink of romance, but memories of Edward pervade Bella's emotions, and soon their fun quickly morphs into danger, especially when she uncovers the true identities of Jacob and his pack of friends. Less streamlined than Twilight yet just as exciting, New Moon will more than feed the bloodthirsty hankerings of fans of the first volume and leave them breathless for the third.–Hillias J. Martin, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 8-11. "Which is tempting you more, my blood or my body?" Things are heating up between Bella Swan and her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen, in this sequel to the immensely popular Twilight (2005). Then Bella is injured at her birthday party, and the Cullens' reaction to her blood sends Edward's family packing. Bella is inconsolable until she discovers that reckless behavior allows her to hear Edward's warning voice in her head. To keep him close, she decides to live as dangerously as possible, acquiring two motorcycles and developing a close friendship with Jacob, who helps her rebuild them. Romantics will miss Edward's presence, but the suspense created by a pack of werewolves bent on protecting Bella from a vindictive vampire will keep them occupied until the lovers can be reunited. The writing is a bit melodramatic, but readers won't care. Bella's dismay at being ordinary (after all, she's only human) will strike a chord even among girls who have no desire to be immortal, and like the vampires who watch Bella bleed with "fevered eyes," teens will relish this new adventure and hunger for more. Cindy Dobrez
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
All is not well between demon-magnet Bella and Edward Cullen, her vampire Romeo. An innocent papercut at Edward's house puts Bella in grave danger when various members of the Cullen family can barely resist their hunger at the smell of blood. The Cullens promptly leave town, afraid of endangering Edward's beloved, and Bella sinks into an overwhelming depression. Months later, she finally emerges from her funk to rebuild her life, focusing on her friendship with besotted teen Jacob from the reservation. Bella's unhealthy enthrallment to Edward leads her into dangerous and self-destructive behavior despite her new friends, and supernatural complications are bound to reappear. Bella's being hunted by an evil vampire, and Jacob's adolescent male rage turns out to be incipient lycanthropy: It seems many Quileute Indians become werewolves in the presence of vampires, their natural enemies. Psychic miscommunications and angst-ridden dramatic gestures lead to an exciting page-turner of a conclusion drenched in the best of Gothic romantic excess. Despite Bella's flat and obsessive personality, this tale of tortured demon lovers entices. (Fantasy. 13-16) (Kirkus Reviews)

The Yankee Years (Hardcover)

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

The Yankee Years (Hardcover)
By Joe Torre, Tom Verducci

Twelve straight playoff appearances. Six American League pennants. Four World Series titles. This is the definitive story of a dynasty: the Yankee years

When Joe Torre took over as manager of the New York Yankees in 1996, the most storied franchise in sports had not won a World Series title in eighteen years. The famously tough and mercurial owner, George Steinbrenner, had fired seventeen managers during that span. Torre’s appointment was greeted with Bronx cheers from the notoriously brutal New York media, who cited his record as the player and manager who had been in the most Major League games without appearing in a World Series

Twelve tumultuous and triumphant years later, Torre left the team as the most beloved and successful manager in the game. In an era of multimillionaire free agents, fractured clubhouses, revenue-sharing, and off-the-field scandals, Torre forged a team ethos that united his players and made the Yankees, once again, the greatest team in sports. He won over the media with his honesty and class, and was beloved by the fans.

But it wasn’t easy.

Here, for the first time, Joe Torre and Tom Verducci take us inside the dugout, the
clubhouse, and the front office in a revelatory narrative that shows what it really took to keep the Yankees on top of the baseball world. The high-priced ace who broke down in tears and refused to go back to the mound in the middle of a game. Constant meddling from Yankee executives, many of whom were jealous of Torre’s popularity. The tension that developed between the old guard and the free agents brought in by management. The impact of revenue-sharing and new scouting techniques, which allowed other teams to challenge the Yankees’ dominance. The players who couldn’t resist the after-hours temptations of the Big Apple. The joys of managing Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, and the challenges of managing Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi. Torre’s last year, when constant ultimatums from the front office, devastating injuries, and a freak cloud of bugs on a warm September night in Cleveland forced him from a job he loved.

Through it all, Torre kept his calm, kept his players’ respect, and kept winning.

And, of course, The Yankee Years chronicles the amazing stories on the diamond. The stirring comeback in the 1996 World Series against the heavily favored Braves. The wonder of 1998, when Torre led the Yanks to the most wins in Major League history. The draining and emotional drama of the 2001 World Series. The incredible twists and turns of the epic Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series against the Red Sox, in which two teams who truly despised each other battled pitch by pitch until the stunning extra-inning home run.

Here is a sweeping narrative of Major League Baseball in the Yankee era, a book both grand in its scope and fascinating in its details.

Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)
By Stephenie Meyer

Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob --- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
The legions of readers who are hooked on the romantic struggles of Bella and the vampire Edward will ecstatically devour this third installment of the story begun in Twilight, but it's unlikely to win over any newcomers. Jake, the werewolf met in New Moon, pursues Bella with renewed vigilance. However, when repercussions from an episode in Twilight place Bella in the mortal danger that series fans have come to expect, Jake and Edward forge an uneasy alliance. The plot patterns have begun to show here, but Meyer's other strengths remain intact. The supernatural elements accentuate the ordinary human dramas of growing up. Jake and Edward's competition for Bella feels particularly authentic, especially in their apparent desire to best each other as much as to win Bella. Once again the author presents teenage love as an almost inhuman force: "[He] would have been my soul mate still," says Bella, "if his claim had not been overshadowed by something stronger, something so strong that it could not exist in a rational world." According to Meyer, the fourth book should tie up at least the Edward story, if not the whole shebang. Ages 12-up. (Aug.) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Review
Praise for Eclipse:
"Move over, Harry Potter." - USA Today

"Has a hypnotic quality that puts the reader right inside the dense, rainy thickets of [Forks]" - People Magazine

"The legions of readers who are hooked on the romantic struggles of Bella and the vampire Edward will ecstatically devour this third installment" - Publishers Weekly

"[Stephenie Meyer is] the world's most popular vampire novelist since Anne Rice" - Entertainment Weekly

"Meyer's trilogy seethes with the archetypal tumult of star-crossed passions, in which the supernatural element serves as a heady spice." - The New York Times

About the Author
Stephenie Meyer graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in English Literature, and she lives with her husband and three young sons in Arizona. Stephenie is the author of Twilight and New Moon.

Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4)

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4)
By Stephenie Meyer

When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?

To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.

Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life--first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse--seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?

The astonishing, breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions.

Bruno Magli Men's Malazu

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Bruno Magli Men's Malazu
From Bruno Magli

Bruno Magli gives you elegance incarnate with these dapper dress shoes. Buttery soft nappa leather upper in a dress slip on moccasin style, with a rounded stitched and seamed moc toe, strap style instep overlay with Magli logo badge, heel overlay and contrasting rolled leather trim. Hidden elastic panel for easy slip on. Smooth leather lining, cushioning leather topped insole. Flexible midsole, 1 inch stacked, capped heel. Smooth leather sole with traction pad. Made in Italy.

Editorial Reviews
Bruno Magli Men's Malazu Description
This distinctive dress shoe from Bruno Magli lends a touch of panache to both casual and business wardrobes. Made from luxuriously soft nappa leather, the moccasin- style slip-on features a squared stitched toe, contrast rolled leather trim, and a stacked, capped heel. A padded leather-topped insole cushions the foot, while hidden elastic paneling makes for easy on and off. The Magli logo badge on the instep overlay strap completes this signature look.

From the Manufacturer
Founded by the Magli family in 1936 in Bologna Italy, Bruno Magli shoes and accessories are elegant designs of high quality craftsmanship, offering a sense of style and prestige to a sophisticated and fashion conscious consumer. Bruno Magli footwear is handcrafted from the finest leathers available, for a luxurious and stylish look while delivering extraordinary comfort. With a dedication to the extensive Italian design tradition, Bruno Magli has been handcrafting footwear and accessories in Italy for over 69 years. The result is one of the most respected, innovative, sophisticated, contemporary and distinctive lines in the fashion world today.

Bruno Magli Men's Raisseco Slip On

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Bruno Magli Men's Raisseco Slip On
From Bruno Magli

Contemporary dress loafer with logo detailed hardware. Smooth nappa leather upper. Leather lining. Leather sole. Made in Italy.

Editorial Reviews
Bruno Magli Men's Raisseco Slip On Description
The traditional design and sleek lines of Bruno Magli's Raisseco loafer-styled slip-on will have you sharply suited up. This handsome, hand made shoe has a classic, office- and evening-appropriate look, and a distinctive, dress leather outsole.

From the Manufacturer
Founded by the Magli family in 1936 in Bologna Italy, Bruno Magli shoes and accessories are elegant designs of high quality craftsmanship, offering a sense of style and prestige to a sophisticated and fashion conscious consumer. Bruno Magli footwear is handcrafted from the finest leathers available, for a luxurious and stylish look while delivering extraordinary comfort. With a dedication to the extensive Italian design tradition, Bruno Magli has been handcrafting footwear and accessories in Italy for over 69 years. The result is one of the most respected, innovative, sophisticated, contemporary and distinctive lines in the fashion world today.

Bruno Magli Men's Racing Boot

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Bruno Magli Men's Racing Boot
From Bruno Magli

The Racing boot from Bruno Magli was made for the man that has an eye for detail. The finely tailored leather exudes nothing but pure handsomeness and sophistication, while the cushioned insole and smooth leather linings work to keep you completely comfortable.

From the Manufacturer
Founded by the Magli family in 1936 in Bologna Italy, Bruno Magli shoes and accessories are elegant designs of high quality craftsmanship, offering a sense of style and prestige to a sophisticated and fashion conscious consumer. Bruno Magli footwear is handcrafted from the finest leathers available, for a luxurious and stylish look while delivering extraordinary comfort. With a dedication to the extensive Italian design tradition, Bruno Magli has been handcrafting footwear and accessories in Italy for over 69 years. The result is one of the most respected, innovative, sophisticated, contemporary and distinctive lines in the fashion world today.

Bruno Magli Women's Fiastra Sandal

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Bruno Magli Women's Fiastra Sandal
From Bruno Magli

Finesse your delicate feminine style in these breathtaking Fiastra pumps by BrunoMagli. Smooth kidskin leather upper in a slingback dress pump style with a round peep toe. A stunning snakeskin textured leather overlay wraps from the side of the adjustable buckle slingback heel strap to the outer vamp. Soft leather lining and cushioning footbed, smooth leather outsole. 2 1/4 inch leather wrapped kitten heel.

Editorial Reviews
Bruno Magli Women's Fiastra Sandal Description
Look classy, sassy, and sophisticated with this Fiastra pump from Bruno Magli. In a lovely slingback silhouette, this leather shoe will add a wonderfully feminine style that will give you just the right amount of lift, while never leaving you uncomfortable, and the pretty little peep toe is worth an innocent flirt session.

From the Manufacturer
Founded by the Magli family in 1936 in Bologna Italy, Bruno Magli shoes and accessories are elegant designs of high quality craftsmanship, offering a sense of style and prestige to a sophisticated and fashion conscious consumer. Bruno Magli footwear is handcrafted from the finest leathers available, for a luxurious and stylish look while delivering extraordinary comfort. With a dedication to the extensive Italian design tradition, Bruno Magli has been handcrafting footwear and accessories in Italy for over 69 years. The result is one of the most respected, innovative, sophisticated, contemporary and distinctive lines in the fashion world today.

Bruno Magli Men's Raver Oxford

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Bruno Magli Men's Raver Oxford
From Bruno Magli

Stand by for compliments on the distinguished Raver oxfords by Brunomagli. Leather upper in a dress oxford style with a square cap toe. Smooth leather with contrasting tumbled leather, perforation details, five eyelet lacing, dual elastic panels. Leather lining, padded leather insole. Dress style midsole, flat traction outsole. 1 inch stacked square heel.

Editorial Reviews
Bruno Magli Men's Raver Oxford Description
The sophisticated Bruno Magli Men's Raver oxford is an excellent addition to your business wardrobe. Constructed with smooth and pebbled leather uppers, this hand-made Italian oxford also features classic embellishing, a comfortable leather lining, and a smooth leather sole.

From the Manufacturer
Founded by the Magli family in 1936 in Bologna Italy, Bruno Magli shoes and accessories are elegant designs of high quality craftsmanship, offering a sense of style and prestige to a sophisticated and fashion conscious consumer. Bruno Magli footwear is handcrafted from the finest leathers available, for a luxurious and stylish look while delivering extraordinary comfort. With a dedication to the extensive Italian design tradition, Bruno Magli has been handcrafting footwear and accessories in Italy for over 69 years. The result is one of the most respected, innovative, sophisticated, contemporary and distinctive lines in the fashion world today.

Bruno Magli Men's Teodoro Slip-on

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Bruno Magli Men's Teodoro Slip-on
From Bruno Magli

Every man needs a stylish moc toe loafer, and the Teodoro from Bruno Magli is all that and more. With its nappa upper and sophisticated bit detail, this is one good-looking shoe that'll find its way out of your closet again and again.

Bruno Magli Men's Ashton Slip-on

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Bruno Magli Men's Ashton Slip-on
From Bruno Magli

Modest and masculine, you'll enjoy the casual elegance of this Bruno Magli slip-on. The Ashton is crafted from supple nappa calfskin in black or Nordic brown. Made in Italy, this lined and plain-toe slip-on is the comfortable shoe your feet desire for home or the office.

Bruno Magli Men's Maioco Oxford

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Bruno Magli Men's Maioco Oxford
From Bruno Magli

Define your personal style with the rich look of the Maioco oxford from Bruno Magli. This dapper shoe has a smooth semi-polished leather upper, a six eyelet lace up closure with lightly waxed laces, a dress leather outsole, and a cushioned insole that will comfortably take you to one important business meeting to the next. The Maioco shows enough high class to wear with a tuxedo for those special occasions too. Protective bags included for storage. Handmade in Italy.

From the Manufacturer
Founded by the Magli family in 1936 in Bologna Italy, Bruno Magli shoes and accessories are elegant designs of high quality craftsmanship, offering a sense of style and prestige to a sophisticated and fashion conscious consumer. Bruno Magli footwear is handcrafted from the finest leathers available, for a luxurious and stylish look while delivering extraordinary comfort. With a dedication to the extensive Italian design tradition, Bruno Magli has been handcrafting footwear and accessories in Italy for over 69 years. The result is one of the most respected, innovative, sophisticated, contemporary and distinctive lines in the fashion world today.

Bruno Magli Men's Rapier Slip-on

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Bruno Magli Men's Rapier Slip-on
From Bruno Magli

Make a dashing entrance in the BrunoMagli Rapier loafer. Supple leather upper in a slip-on dress loafer style with a square moc toe and a woven leather vamp for a distinguished appearance. Raised seams at toe and heel. Finely stitched tongue and collar. Leather lining, cushioned insole. Flexible midsole, smooth leather outsole with 3/4 inch stacked heel. Made in Italy.

Editorial Reviews
Bruno Magli Men's Rapier Slip-on Description
The Bruno Magli Men's Rapier slip-on is a classic addition to your casual business wardrobe. Constructed with high-quality leather uppers featuring woven detailing along the vamp, this hand-crafted Italian shoe also includes elaborate stitch detailing, a comfortable leather lining, and a smooth leather sole.

From the Manufacturer
Founded by the Magli family in 1936 in Bologna Italy, Bruno Magli shoes and accessories are elegant designs of high quality craftsmanship, offering a sense of style and prestige to a sophisticated and fashion conscious consumer. Bruno Magli footwear is handcrafted from the finest leathers available, for a luxurious and stylish look while delivering extraordinary comfort. With a dedication to the extensive Italian design tradition, Bruno Magli has been handcrafting footwear and accessories in Italy for over 69 years. The result is one of the most respected, innovative, sophisticated, contemporary and distinctive lines in the fashion world today.

Bruno Magli Men's Raspuco

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Bruno Magli Men's Raspuco
From Bruno Magli

True style is effortless with this handsome casual slip on from Bruno Magli. Low sheen polished leather upper in a casual slip on style, with a square toe, apron style front detail, rolled leather trim, leather arch band with metallic hardware embellishment and flared tongue with side elastic panels. Smooth leather lining, cushioned leather topped insole. Flexible midsole with a dress look. Flat traction outsole with a 3/4 inch casua heel. Made in Italy.

Editorial Reviews
Bruno Magli Men's Raspuco Description
Climb the corporate ladder and look good doing it, with the Raspuco slip-on loafer from Bruno Magli. This sharp loafer has a semi-polished smooth leather upper with tonal stitching, a stylish silver buckle on the vamp, and dual-goring for easy on/off accessibility. Furthermore, the soft leather linings and cushioned insole will keep you comfortable, while the lightly textured outsole will work to provide you with a solid and sturdy step. The Raspuco complements your business wardrobe with complete perfection. Protective bags included for storage. Handmade.

Moon Sand Princess Castle

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Moon Sand Princess Castle
From SpinMaster

Brand new Princess Castle Moon Sand Kit comes with 6 molds, 1 play mat, 1 scoop, comes with 2 1/2 lbs total sand included. 20 oz white & 20 oz purple glitter moon sand.

Features

Includes GLITTER SAND!!!
Never dries out!!!
Carry Case included!!!
Princess Castle set!!!
Brand new product!!!

Moon Sand 7 1/2lb Mega Bucket

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Moon Sand 7 1/2lb Mega Bucket
From Spinmaster

This big bucket comes with red, white and blue Moon Sand and a bonus inflatable sand box. Squish it, shape it, mold it! Moon Sand never dries out - use it again and again. Easy clean up - no sticking or staining. Sand expands to twice it's size out of the package.

Editorial Reviews
From the Manufacturer
Squish It! Shape It! Mold It! Moon Sand never dries out. This big Bucket of Moon sand contains 7.5 pounds of our molding sand.

Features

Cleans up easily and won't stick or stain
Moon Sand is twice as big out of the package, this bulk pack is perfect for parties
Sand you can play with indoors
Squish It! Shape It! Mold It!
Moon Sand never dries out! Use again and again for never ending fun!

Play-Doh Creativity Center

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Play-Doh Creativity Center
From Hasbro

The Play-Doh Creativity Center encourages kids to mold pretend meals, make faces, decorate a party scene and create animal friends. Kids can shape their own creations, or use the 26 built-in molds. There are plenty of cutters, extruders and additional molds to keep the creative juices flowing, and the built-in storage compartments and Play-Doh Pick-Up Stick tool make for easy clean-up. Perfect for a rainy afternoon, a scheduled play date or keeping kids engaged in creative thinking, the Creativity Center is more than enough fun for one, or many.

Includes table, lid with half-molds, activity mat, Play-Doh Pick Up Stick tool, mini extruder tool (2 pieces), extruder (2 pieces) with rail, roller with 4 cutters and 2 handles, 3 two-sided molds, 13 cutters, 2 two-sided cutters, 5 sheets of paper, 4 crayons, plate with half-molds, 2 forks, knife, scissors, garlic press, 5 three-ounce cans, 5 two-ounce cans and 1 two-ounce mini extruder tool can of Play-Doh brand modeling compound (12 oz, 340 grams). Activity table has more than 45 accessories and a four-picture activity mat that kids can decorate with Play-Doh creations they shape on their own, or create from the 26 built-in molds. Special Play-Doh Pick Up Stick tool makes cleaning up bits of Play-Doh compound a breeze.

Editorial Reviews
From the Manufacturer
This activity-filled table comes with more than 45 accessories for plenty of open-ended imaginative play ¿ and lots of easy-cleaning and storage features, too! A 4-picture activity mat encourages kids to mold meals, make faces, decorate a party scene and create jungle friends! Kids can shape their own creations or use the 26 built-in molds! There are plenty of cutters, extruders and additional molds to keep the creative juices flowing for quite some time. Built-in storage compartments and a special PLAY-DOH PICK UP STICK tool make for easy clean-up! Perfect for a rainy afternoon, a scheduled play date or keeping kids engaged in creative thinking, the Creativity Center is more than enough fun for one, or many!

Features

Activity table with more than 45 accessories
Kids can decorate a 4-picture activity mat with Play-Doh creations
26 built-in molds
Built-in storage compartments
Special Play-Doh Pick Up Stick tool makes cleaning up bits of Play-Doh compound a breeze

Pixos Starter Set

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Pixos Starter Set
From Spinmaster

Get your creative juices flowing with the PixOs Starter Set. It comes with a four-color chamber pen, spray bottle, and two trays for six amazing designs. No batteries needed.

Features

With a special 4 colour chamber pen, 500 PixOs, spray bottle, 2 trays and 6 designs.
More fun from SM for craft time
Kids will love the way they can make their own stuff
It's simple and clean and tons of fun

Moon Sand Treasure Kingdom

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Moon Sand Treasure Kingdom
From Spinmaster

Squish it! Shape it! Mold it! No matter what you do, Moon Sand never dries out, so you can use it again and again for never- ending fun. Easy clean-up and doesn't stick or stain. Treasure Kindgom is the largest moon sand castle yet, packed with an all-new plunge-n-play feature and easier-to-use molds. Kit includes 10 ounces of sand in green, blue, red and yellow; plus an inflatable mat, mold, drawbridge assembly, dragon and princess.

Features

New Plunge N Play moulding equipment bring the castle to life.
Includes one sandbox, 4 colors of Moon Sand and everything else you need to make a beautiful Treasure Kingdom.
Craft time will be the most fun and enjoyable time ever
Mold your favorite shapes and colors
It's simply the best molding clay you can buy

Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board

noreply@blogger.com (WEBMASTER) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board
From Crayola

Spark kids' creativity with this magical Glow Board where your drawings appear and disappear, creating cool 3-D effects like a neon sign. The reusable surface provides hours of non-stop creative fun. The colors give an intense, glow-in-the-dark effect, and violet lights illuminate the ink. Includes: two drawing surfaces, six glow-in-the-dark markers and a tracing sheet. Easel back. Measures 12" x 13.5" x 2.5".

Amazon.com Description

With the Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board, kids can take their creations to a whole new level of fun. The glow board comes with six vibrant neon markers, which can be used to draw on either of the board's two drawing surfaces. Once their drawing is complete, kids can illuminate the colored inks with the touch of a button, as the board's lights give the ink an intense glow.

Features

Glow board gives kids a unique and exciting way to display their artwork
Illuminates ink drawings like neon sign; props up for easier display
Drawing surface is reusable, making for hours of fun
Comes with 6 dazzling neon markers -- red, blue, yellow, green, orange, and pink
Drawings magically appear and disappear