I’m hoping that you caught my review of Petals From The Sky by Mingmei Yip a couple of weeks back; it’s the story of a girl who dreamed of being a buddhist nun but then found herself caught between the East and the West, between spirituality and passion. The novel is loosely based on Mingmei’s own life story so I was delighted when she offered to answer some interview questions as part of the Sunday Salon this week.
Don’t miss out on the giveaway!

If you’re a regular reader of Blue Archipelago Reviews then you will know that I’m a big fan of WILLOW by Julia Hoban; I rated it five stars when I read it back in early 2009. Julia was kind enough to stop by and answer some interview questions then too.

This year WILLOW is being released on paperback on February 23 and is also coming to the UK in March. Interestingly UK readers will see this fabulous novel listed under a different name: Scarred.

I was intrigued by the change of name so I thought who better to ask for the reason than Julia herself – and she agreed to answer some more questions for us too.

It’s extremely simple; if you spend money then you need to read this book. And don’t let the title put you off either, if you’re currently single then you should read this book too, it is completely applicable to you and you’ll have the added benefit of being able to talk money with your honey as soon as you meet them!

If you want to read a book that is both unforgettable and compelling, or a book that is heartbreakingly honest while being saddening and disturbing then you will appreciate If I Am Missing or Dead by Janine Latus. But if you are caught up in a relationship where you are belittled or beaten and you spend your time justifying the actions of your partner then you need to read this book to understand that you are not alone, and that it isn’t your fault.

If you enjoy beautifully written novels that provide a rare peek into a beautiful culture and are both captivating and inspiring then you’ll enjoy Petals from the Sky by Mingmei Yip.

The Kindle International is much like its earlier versions, so if you live in the US and already own a Kindle 2 it’s not worth an upgrade. However, for those who have never owned an eBook reader before – or live outside of the US like me – it isn’t too hard to see why the Kindle Wireless Reading Device remains Amazon’s bestselling gadget. It’s sleek, cool and does the job well.

The novel focuses on the life of Doreen Lowe, a junior law associate who lives in Manhattan with her father Max and three ghosts. Yep, you read that correctly, I did say ghosts – because Doreen is struggling to balance her personal needs and dreams with the ghosts of her father’s past.