BEA 2014 -- Day 2 (Thursday, May 29th)

As I reflect back on BEA 2014, I realize that it wasn't quite as crazy as last year; however, Kathy and I still managed to get quite a bit accomplished on Thursday. We met with some publicists that we work with and even managed to attend a party and have dinner with a friend!

Both Kathy and I are early birds, so we got up bright and early and headed to a small deli near our hotel for breakfast. As expensive as New York is, I think there are some decent places to grab a quick breakfast that are quite reasonable. And I just love that they offer so many "healthy" options for breakfast. We decided to eat "big" because we needed energy for our long day.

As soon as we finished, we hopped on the shuttle bus for Javits. We arrived very early (almost an hour before the show floor opened) so we could get our BEA badge. We were prepared for a line, but fortunately we walked right up and got them. We then ran into a few blogging buddies like Candace from Beth Fish Reads and Laura from Library of Clean Reads and talked until the show room opened at 9:00.

Kathy and I made a quick visit around the show room floor to get our bearings, but honestly, if you know either one of us, we pretty much have zero sense of direction. For most of the day, we went up and down the aisles and collected some great books. We also found time to meet with Brittany from Big Honcho Media and Barbara and Sarah from Blue Slip Media.

One of the highlights of the day was meeting with Miriam Parker from Little, Brown. Not only did we catch up a little about our personal lives, but she gave us some great insight into what books are coming out in the fall. There are quite a few that excite me including WINTER STREET by Elin Hildebrand and NEVERHOME by Laird Hunt.

Another BEA tradition for Kathy and me is to grab a hot dog from one of the vendors outside the Javits Center. This year, there were some new food trucks including a Macaroni and Cheese one and a Mexican one. Kathy had delicious mac and cheese with bacon and bleu cheese while I tried a burrito bowl (it was okay!) I was shocked by how huge the servings were, but of course, I managed to eat all of mine!

In the afternoon, we managed to get a few signed copies of books including LIAR, TEMPTRESS, SOLDIER, SPY by Karen Abbott which I desperately wanted after meeting her the night before at the Harper Collins party. I also got BIG LITTLE LIES, the new one from Liane Moriarty. I always love her books and can't wait to read this one. Kathy and I both agree that we hate to wait in lines, but very once in awhile, we manage to find a short line and score some terrific autographed books!

We didn't have quite the party line-up on Thursday evening as we have had in prior years, but we still managed to find a few things to do. First, we went to the Kensington party on at the Monarch Rooftop Lounge. It was a huge party with an amazing bar and we met up with Sheila from Book Journey and Candace from Beth Fish Reads. I can't rave enough about how gorgeous the venue was! I wish I had taken some photos. (In fact, I noticed when I went to put together my recap posts that I didn't take one photo the entire trip!)

And last but not least, the best part of the day for me was having dinner with Dawn, owner of the Concord Bookshop and former blogger at She is Too Fond of Books, at Becco. Dawn has been a good friend for years, and I hadn't seen her since we both ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February 2013. I loved Becco and you should make an effort to go there next time you're in the city! It has $25 bottles of wine and all you can eat pasta (three different types!) Of course, I ate and drank too much, but I had a wonderful time!

That was pretty much it for Thursday. It was a fun-filled, action-packed day and one that I will remember for a very long time!

BEA 2014 -- Day 1 (Wednesday, May 28th)

Once again, I'm very late with my Book Expo America 2014 recaps. It's not an actual excuse, but things have been crazy in my life every since I returned from BEA.

So crazy in fact, that my husband couldn't even pick me up at the train station because my son was pitching for the first time at almost the very same time my train was arriving back in Harrisburg. Thank goodness my friend picked me up at the train station and took me directly to the game. I got there just in time!

Baseball games continued last week with playoffs and a rain delay and a makeup game, and then there was the normal chaos associated with the last week of school... but worse. My son's teacher was retiring after 38 years, and because I'm head room mom, guess who was in charge of the gifts and party? Basically that meant that I was "throwing together" a 40+ page scrapbook for her in three days.  I swear I always find a way to make things more complicated that they need to be!

So... it is with much excitement that this week is a little (scratch that -- a lot) calmer and I can focus on books. I always have a great time at BEA and this year was no exception.

My absolute favorite part of BEA is meeting up with Kathy (aka Bermudaonion) and other friends; and of course, hearing the buzz about books. However, I also love taking the train to New York from Harrisburg. It's a quiet time (especially when I figured out to ride the quiet car!) and I always take along a good book. This year it was Mary Kay Andrews' SAVE THE DATE which I reviewed here. The train ride flew by and I was almost able to finish the book. The same thing happened to me last year -- maybe I need to pick a shorter book next time.

My roommate for the next three days and one of my very best friends in the whole wide world, Kathy, met me at the train station and we walked the mile to our hotel. It was not only unseasonably cool for New York, but my sandaled feet were actually frozen despite our brisk pace! It's been a very rough few months for both of us personally, and Kathy and I weren't sure if we were going to be able to attend BEA this year. Fortunately at the very last minute, things worked out for both of us. I am so glad that were able to continue our yearly tradition and spend some quality time together -- we especially needed it this year!

After checking into The Manhattan in Times Square (early!), Kathy and I headed out for John's Pizza. It's become a tradition for us to eat there on our first day in New York. I rarely get good pizza in Central PA, so I love eating there. This year we decided to go out on a limb and share a salad too. (We never eat enough veggies on our trips!) It was good eatin' and even better conversation.

Then we met up with our friend Candace from Beth Fish Reads at the M&M store. Note: it was still freezing! We walked around for a bit and ended up at the Discovery Times Square because it had a DC Cupcakes Cafe. I had eaten at the one in Georgetown a few years ago (my daughter was obsessed with the show at the time), and I was curious to see if this one was any good -- it was although the selection was very limited. Swapna from S. Krishna's Books also met us there, and the four of us caught up with books and other stuff!

It was then time to head over to The News Corp Building for the annual Harper Collins book preview event followed by their cocktail party. At the book preview, representatives from each imprint at HC list their top 4 or 5 "big" books for the fall! These events are always remembered as two of my highlights from BEA because I can actually hear the publicists talk about the books they are most excited about.  I also love catching up with some of my publishing friends. It doesn't hurt that ship a box of books home to me with many of their recommendations!

There were so many great books presented to me that I have a hard time just picking a few to feature, but here are some I can't wait to read!

THE QUEEN OF THE YEARLING by Erika Johansen
US by David Nicholls
LIAR, TEMPTRESS, SOLDIER, SPY by Karen Abbott
CANCEL THE WEDDING by Carolyn T. Dingman
THE QUALITIES OF WOOD by Mary Vensel White
YES PLEASE by Amy Poehler
NOT MY FATHER'S SON by Alan Cumming
WHAT STRANGE CREATURES by Emily Arsenault
THE HURRICANE SISTERS by Dorothea Benton Frank
SEASON OF THE DRAGONFLIES by Sarah Creech
THE MONOGRAM MURDERS by Sophie Hannah

The next exciting event was the Harper Collins Cocktail Party. The food was terrific and I had a great time catching up with Jennifer Hart, Book Club Girl, along with some other HC marketing folks. Of course, there were authors there too including Kate White, Karen Abbott, Stephanie Evanovich, Yvette, Manessis Corporon, Dorothea Benton Frank, Gail Sheehy, and Adriana Trigiani to name a few! (How's that for a little name dropping?)

After the party, a few of us (Kathy, Candace, Sheila from Book Journey, Kim from Sophisticated Dorkiness, Florinda from The 3R's Blog, and me) decided that we still wanted to have a sit-down dinner. We received a few recommendations and ended up at a Belgium Bar called BXL Cafe. While the beer list was okay and the fries were pretty darn good, I think it's safe to say that the company was much better than the food! I'll just leave it at that!

Kathy and I hiked back to our hotel and we promised ourselves that we wouldn't stay up all night talking like we have the tendency to do! We were already tired and knew we had a big day planned for Thursday -- our first day on the Javits floor!

Review: The Collected Works of A.J. Fikry

Summary: A.J. Fikry owns a failing bookshop. His wife has just died, in tragic circumstances. His rare and valuable first edition has been stolen. His life is a wreck.

Amelia is a book rep, with a big heart, and a lonely life.

Maya is the baby left on A.J.'s bookshop floor with a note.

What happens in the bookshop that changes the lives of these seemingly normal but extraordinary characters?

This is the story of how unexpected love can rescue you and bring you back to real life, in a world that you won't want to leave, with characters that you will come to love. -- Little Brown UK

THE COLLECTED WORKS OF A.J. FIKRY by Gabrielle Zevin came to me by way of Little Brown UK, but I can certainly say that it was well worth the wait. This book brings to mind words like sweet, charming, delightful, and quirky; and I mean those things in the best way possible. I absolutely adored this novel, and it's sure to be one of my favorites from 2014!

THE COLLECTED WORKS OF A.J. FIKRY tells the story of A.J. Fikry, a man who has recently lost his wife and runs a struggling bookshop on Alice Island. He has pretty much lost hope for finding happiness and pulled away from his family and friends. The one thing he is clinging to is his first edition collection of Poe poems that's worth a great deal. However in keeping with Fikry's bad luck, it ends up getting stolen one day when Fikry is passed out from too much drink. Needless to say, Fikry becomes even more depressed and withdraws even further.

And then... Amelia enters the scene. Amelia is a book rep who occasionally visits Fikry's bookstore on the island. Despite Fikry's nasty behavior towards her, she continues to keep in touch with him and discuss her favorite books. Amelia is a bit quirky (and already engaged), but Fikry gradually finds himself thinking about her.

However, it's the arrival of another special person at the bookstore that really causes Fikry's life to turn upside down. This surprise allows Fikry a second chance at finding true happiness and realizing the important things in life!

I loved THE COLLECTED WORKS OF A.J. FIKRY so much that I hardly know where the start. (Plus, there's the fact that I think this book is best experienced without knowing too much about the story!) I loved the eccentric cast of characters and the writing was special too! However, I think it was how I felt while reading (and even after I finished) this novel that will make it one of the best books I've read in some time!

This novel had a little bit of something for everyone and all it came together to make for a very entertaining read. The novel had some very quirky characters and a lot of humor, but there was also a bit of a mystery and even a little romance. I was actually surprised by how "readable" this book was -- I think I read it in two sittings; and I was delighted by how it paid homage to books and booksellers.

It is rare that I find a book that makes me feel as much as this one did. I laughed and I cried, and I'd be lying if I didn't say that I fell in love with Fikry and the other characters in this book. But it was the messages of hope, love, sacrifice, and redemption that really resonated with me. I have to give major kudos to Ms. Zevin for writing about this topics in a way that really made me think and feel. This book could have been corny and saccharine, but it wasn't. Everything just worked!

THE COLLECTED WORKS OF A.J. FIKRY would make an excellent book club selection. I was able to find a reading guide with fifteen questions that will help stimulate your discussion. Some of the themes you might want to discuss include family dynamics, hope, grief, guilt, sacrifice, second chances, redemption, and love. You also might want to discuss the setting of the story as well as the way the characters change throughout the story.

Overall, THE COLLECTED WORKS OF A.J. FIKRY was a wonderful novel! Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Review: The Baby Tree & Giveaway

Summary: Cleverly revealing the basics of reproduction in an age-appropriate way, award-winning Sophie Blackall has created a beautiful picture book full of playful details to amuse and engage readers.

Sooner or later, every child will ask, Where do babies come from? Answering this question has never been this easy or entertaining! Join a curious little boy who asks everyone from his babysitter to the mailman, getting all sorts of funny answers along the way, before his parents gently set him straight. -- Nancy Paulsen Books

THE BABY TREE by Sophie Blackall just might be my new favorite picture book! As you can tell from the cover, the illustrations are positively adorable. However, it's the way this book explains to children, "Where do babies come from?" that makes it extra-special.

One morning, a little boy learns from his parents that a little baby is coming! He isn't quite sure what that means so he asks the girl who walks him to school. She tells him that you plant a seed and it grows into a baby tree. Then he asks his teacher who tells him that a baby comes from the hospital. His grandfather tells him that the stork brings it, while the mailman explains that a baby comes from an egg. Finally, the little boy asks his parents who explain in a very general and straightforward way how babies really are made. The little boy realizes that there was a bit of truth in everyone's story... except Grandpa's.

I thought THE BABY TREE was terrific! I love that it explains to young children (probably 4 and up) how babies are made and delivered without being too clinical and specific. Of course, certain children might continue to ask questions, but I think this book also works as a great starting point. There is also a page in the back of the book with additional details for the more curious (and older) children. THE BABY TREE truly is a great resource for parents!

In addition to being educational, there is also some humor in this story that parents and children alike with appreciate. I loved how the author wrapped up the story, and I especially liked that the boy realized that his grandfather's explanation wasn't quite right! I think the cute ending makes the book lighter and possibly even makes the subject matter more approachable for those children who want more answers.

Needless to say, THE BABY TREE is getting rave reviews. One of the reasons is the gorgeous illustrations. Ms. Blackall is an award-winning illustrator and it's apparent in the quality of drawings in this book. Not only are the pictures cute, but I also appreciated that she drew babies of different ethnicities.

Overall, I loved THE BABY TREE and highly recommend it to parents-to-be as well as parents who are looking for a way to answer the question, "Where do babies come from?"



Make sure you check out these official links:

· Visit the author’s website
· Watch The Baby Tree video
· Follow Penguin Kids on Twitter and Facebook

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

Giveaway alert: I have a great Penguin Young Readers book bundle for giveaway courtesy of Penguin Books USA! One (1) winner will receive THE BABY TREE, MAPLE by Lori Nichols and CORDOROY by Don Freeman. To enter, just fill out the form below before June 20th at 11:59 p.m. EST. This giveaway is open to US addresses only. Good luck!

Kid Konnection: The Summer Fairy

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you a delightful picture book that explains a fun new tradition for families with school age children.

Summary: Each year on the last day of school, the Summer Fairy bestows her seasonal gifts and poetic wisdom to families everywhere! This magical story tells the tale of the Summer Fairy and reminds children how to have fun while being safe during the summer season. A reusable flower vase that is stored in the back pocket of the book inspires this new family tradition. Children will relish the magic of summer as they pick a flower in anticipation that the Summer Fairy will soon find her way to their home. -- Cherished Reflections

When I was at BEA, I was lucky enough to meet Elizabeth Kelly Gillihan, the author of THE SUMMER FAIRY. Her gorgeous picture book introduces a new family tradition and makes the last day of school and first day of summer exciting -- or should I say even more exciting?

As the school year is coming to an end, the Summer Fairy awakes from her slumber inside a beautiful flower in an enchanted garden. On summer's first day, she flies to children's homes and brings them summer "essentials" like candy, popsicles, books, sunscreen, and toys! But kids have to prepare first for her visit! On the last day of school, before they go to bed, they have to put a special flower out for the Summer Fairy in the special reusable vase that's included in the back of the book (isn't that handy?)

THE SUMMER FAIRY not only explains the tradition of the Summer Fairy, but it also has some sweet and valuable messages. It instructs that kids need to "follow her wise ways" all summer long. Her advice includes paying attention to parents, having good manners and completing chores. She also provides some summer safety tips like watching cars, not talking to strangers, and (my personal favorite) not getting mud on your mom's clean floors!

Ms. Gillihan decided to write THE SUMMER FAIRY after learning about this tradition from her husband's family. They have celebrated this tradition for over 30 years, and the author decided that it was so much fun for her children that it was time to share it with others!

THE SUMMER FAIRY is illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin, and I thought her illustrations were delightful! I loved the Summer Fairy with her flowery body and hat; however, it was her cameo appearances in the summer fun pages that really made me giggle. On the swimming pool page, the fairy is in a little inner tube riding a wave with a silly expression on her face. Too cute!

I loved the idea of THE SUMMER FAIRY and think it's a great way to kick-off the summer!

Thanks to the author for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Giveaway: The Fault in Our Stars

About the film: Hazel and Gus are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them -- and us – on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, based upon the number-one bestselling novel by John Green, explores the funny, thrilling and tragic business of being alive and in love.

Starring Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Willem Dafoe, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, Mike Birbiglia, and Emily Peachey 
Directed by Josh Boone 
Screenplay by Scott Neustadter, based on the book by John Green 
Produced by Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey

I always love giving my readers the opportunity to win something, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm super-excited about this one! To celebrate the release of the The Fault in Our Stars movie as well as the newly issued paperback (movie tie-in), I am giving away a The Fault in Our Stars Prize Pack! I absolutely loved this book, as did everyone I know who has read it; and I can't wait to see the movie!

One very lucky winner will receive:

· A copy of THE FAULT IN OUR STARS (movie tie-in book cover)
 · The Fault in our Stars Tote Bag

To enter, just fill out the form below before June 17th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. addresses only. Good luck!

Check out the trailer for The Fault in Our Stars movie! I was already tearing up!



If you'd like to learn more about the movie, check out these official websites - #TFIOS:

Visit the official website
Like TFIOS on Facebook
Follow @TheFaultMovie on Twitter
Follow on Google+ & Instagram

Review: Save the Date

Summary: A Savannah florist is about to score the wedding of a lifetime—one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for society nuptials. Ironically, Cara Kryzik doesn't believe in love, even though she creates beautiful flower arrangements to celebrate them. But when the bride goes missing and the wedding is in jeopardy, Cara must find the bride and figure out what she believes in. Maybe love really does exist outside of fairy tales after all.

Told with Mary Kay Andrews' trademark wit and keen eye for detail, mark your calendars for Save the Date! -- St. Martin's Press

As many of you already know, I'm a big fan of Mary Kay Andrews. So when it came time to pick a book to read on my train ride to New York last week, I decided that her latest novel SAVE THE DATE would be perfect. I absolutely love riding the train because it's quality reading time. I have to say that I think I made a pretty good choice!

SAVE THE DATE is a fun story about Cara Kryzik, a divorced woman trying to make a go of it on her own by opening a small flower store in Savannah. Cara's father likes to remind her that it's not easy to make a success of a business... and that he wants her to pay back the money she's borrowed from him. Cara truly believes in herself and her shop, and she knows if she can just get one big wedding that her business will take-off!

In the process of trying to score a major Savannah wedding, Cara has to deal with difficult brides, mothers of the brides, and even step-mothers of the brides; however, she also discovers that love can occur in the most unlikely place!

SAVE THE DATE is a sweet story with charming characters that is certain to entertain MKA fans this summer. It really is a great beach or pool-side novel with plenty of humor, a little romance, and lots of drama. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and it definitely made my train ride fly by!

I've read quite a few MKA books over the past few years, and SAVE THE DATE is another winner. I absolutely loved Cara (even though she did have a few moments of cluelessness!), and I found myself rooting for her, to not only be a successful florist, but also to find true love and happiness. One things' for sure, Ms. Andrews definitely has the ability to create likable characters that end up in some very interesting situations.

Another thing I adore about MKA books is her attention to detail. That was especially apparent in this SAVE THE DATE. It's been a long time since I planned a wedding, but I remember pouring over magazines looking for the little things to make that day extra-special. In this novel, Ms. Andrews gave gorgeous descriptions of flowers, decorations, and dresses in addition to making the venues come to life. I think almost every woman loves the idea of weddings, and this novel features so many wonderful details.

Naturally, SAVE THE DATE had a good ending... and by that, I mean a fairy-tale one with a happy ending. And isn't that why we read books like this one? To make us feel good about life, love and friendship!

SAVE THE DATE could also be a fun book club selection. There is a reading guide available with eighteen questions (that's more than I was expecting!) Some of the themes you might want to explore include family dynamics, divorce, friendship, trust, success, adjustments, the meaning of home, determination/perseverance, and love. I actually was pleasantly surprised by the discussion guide, and I'm sure that most groups could discuss Cara's actions for quite some time.

Overall, I enjoyed SAVE THE DATE quite a bit and recommend it to anyone looking for a light, fun read this summer!

Thanks to Tandem Literary for providing a review copy of this novel.