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Showing posts from 2009

Top 5 Books Read in 2009

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Lorielle @ Just Book Around has started this meme for your favourite reads of 2009. Once you've done your post go over to the blog and sign up for Mr Linky so that other people can read it. I didn't get through too many books this year (I'm a slow reader, and I didn't get started until April), but I think these are my favorite 5 books read this year: Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan The Color Purple by Alice Walker Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins I can't wait to get started in 2010! I have signed up for so many challenges! Probably too many! Happy New Year everyone!

What's Releasing (12/30/09 edition)

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These books are releasing the week of 1/4/10: Synopsis A sequel to her bestselling memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, Gilbert’s new book is the story of how she and Felipe, the man she met and fell in love with at the end of Eat, Pray, Love, grapple and ultimately make peace with the notion of marriage, long after each of them has endured an ugly divorce and sworn off the institution. Synopsis In one of the most buzzed-about debuts of 2009, Daniel Suarez introduced a terrifying vision of a new world order, controlled by the Daemon, an insidious computer program unleashed by a hi-tech wunderkind, Daemon captured the attention of the tech community, became a New York Times and Indie bestseller, and left readers hungry for more. Well, more is here, and it's even more gripping than its predecessor. In the opening chapters of Freedom(tm) , the Daemon is firmly in control, using an expanded network of real-world, dispossessed darknet operatives to tear apart civilization and rebuild it anew. Soo

Secret Santa Gift Received

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I actually received my Secret Santa gift awhile back, but I had committed to not opening it until Christmas. Well, I opened it Christmas Eve, but I think it was near midnight. So...I sorta waited until Christmas! I opened the box to find several gifts inside! When I unwrapped the gifts, I found a copy of Dead Souls by Michael Laimo and The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe-- both off of my Wish List! I also got two homemade leather bookmarks. Very nice! Thanks so much to my Secret Santa Somer of Some Reads ! I love all of my gifts, and they were well worth waiting for!

CHALLENGE: Books Won Reading Challenge

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Books Won Reading Challenge January 2 - December 31, 2010 This challenge is hosted by So Many Precious Books, So Little Time. As Teddy explains: The reason publishing companies supply books for book bloggers to give away is to get word out about the books and create buzz. I feel bad that I haven't read many of the book I have won and want to make an effort to read them in 2010. Here are the levels: Honorable Mention: Read 1-3 book you won. Bronze: Read 4-6 books you won. Silver: Read 7-9 Books you won. Gold: Read 10 or more books you won. The Rules: 1. You must write a review for each book that you read for it to count. If you do not have a blog you can write your reviews on a place like Amazon, Powell's, Chapters, etc. 2.Crossovers with other challenges are okay. 3. Audiobooks count, as long as you won them. As do won e-books. 4. You can change up levels but cannot go back down a level. 5. Make a list of the books won that you plan to read for the chall

CHALLENGE: Read the Book, See the Movie Challenge

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Hosted by Ready When You Are, C.B., The Read the Book, See the Movie Challenge is based on a simple idea--read a book, see a movie based on the book, include both in your review. Whether yours is a book blog or a movie blog, this could be a way to add some spice to your posts, expand your outlook, have some fun. Mostly, have some fun. You don't have to write full reviews for both the movie and the book. You can write a review of one and then add a brief paragraph or just a sentence or two about the other at the end. Challenge Guidelines 1. Select a challenge level: Matinee: one book/movie Double Feature: two books/movies Saturday Movie Marathon: four books/movies Film Festival: eight books/movies Festival Jury Member: ten books/movies 2. Copy and paste the Read the Book, See the Movie Challenge button to your blog. (Optional. If you don't have a blog, you can still sign-up and play along.) 3. Sign up using Mr. Linky . Please list your challenge level in a comment. 4. Get toget

CHALLENGE: 2nd Reading Challenge

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This challenges was previously hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog, but this year is being hosted by Royal Reviews . In this challenge you don't only read the second book in a series, but is also refers to the second time you've read an author as well. Challenge Guidelines: 1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. --Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section. 2. There are four levels: -- Curious – Read 3 novels that are 2nd in a series or second time you've read the author. -- Fascinated – Read 6 that are 2nd in a series or second time you've read the author. -- Addicted – Read 12 novels that are 2nd in a series or second time you've read the author. -- Obsessed – Read 20 novels 2nd in a series or second time you've read the author. 3. Any genre counts. 4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you. 5. Challenge begins January 1st th

CHALLENGE: Audio Book Challenge 2010

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Royal Reviews is hosting the 2010 Audiobook Reading Challenge, previously hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog. I enjoy audiobooks when I'm working, so I look forward to possibly completing this challenge! (I've already established that I suck at challenges.) I think I'm going to go with the "Fascinated" level here and commit to 6 audiobooks in 2010, although I hope to do many more. Guidelines: There are four levels: Curious – Listen to 3 Audio Books, Fascinated – Listen to 6 Audio Books, Addicted – Listen to 12 Audio Books, Obsessed – Listen to 20 Audio Books. Audio books only. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Only books started on or after January 1st count towards this challenge. So far on my list is: The Broom of the System by David Foster Wallace Bourne Deception by Robert Ludlow Hope for Animals by Jane G

Poetry Sunday (12-27-09 edition)

As I believe I've mentioned before, I love Ovid. He was erotic and bawdy, and at times he and Petronius can make me laugh (although Petronius was more the "dirty old man".) This poem is quite long in its entirety, so here I give you just a sampling... Either She Was Fool... by Ovid Either she was fool, or her attire was bad, Or she was not the wench I wished to have had. Idly I lay with her, as if I loved not, And like a burden grieved the bed that moved not. Though both of us performed our true intent, Yet could I not cast anchor where I meant. She on my neck her ivory arms did throw, Her arms far whiter than the Scythian snow. And eagerly she kissed me with her tongue, And under mine her wanton thigh she flung, Yes, and she soothed me up, and called me &

CHALLENGE: 1st in a Series

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This year this challenge is being hosted by Royal Reviews . I didn't do so great last time, so I still have "1st" books that I want to read. So I'm joining in on this one again! Challenge Guidelines: 1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. --Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section. 2. There are four levels: -- Curious– Read 3 novels that are first in a series. -- Fascinated – Read 6 novels that are first in a series. -- Addicted – Read 12 novels that are first in a series. -- Obsessed – Read 20 novels that are first in a series. 3. Any genre counts. 4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you. 5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Only books started on January 1st count towards this challenge. 6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky , put the direct link to the post about the 1st in a Series Challenge. Include the URL so

Challenge Update: 2009 End of Year Update

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Here is where I stand with the challenges that end this month: I am ending this challenge with only 1 of the 3 books read. I completed, and really enjoyed, The Color Purple. However I had to abandon The Road-- I had a really difficult time with the writing style, but I will come back and try this book again later on. So I'm ending this challenge 1/3. For the 1st in a Series 2009 challenge, I am ending it with 4 of my 12 books completed. Even though I didn't do that great with this challenge, I really enjoyed the four books that I read for it. So I'm considering it a success anyway! I am completing this challenge 4/12. The "What's in a Name" challenge wound up being one of my most successful. I completed 4 of the 6 books I had earmarked for this one, and am currently reading a 5th. Unfortunately what with the holidays and everything I hope to get done around the house over the next couple of weeks, I don't see completing the fifth book before the end of the

REVIEW: All of Me by Lori Wilde

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Synopsis Can two broken hearts become one? Attorney Jillian Samuels doesn't believe in true love and never, ever wished for happily ever after. But when a searing betrayal leaves her jobless and heartbroken, a newly inherited cottage in Salvation, Colorado, seems to offer a fresh start. What she finds when she arrives shocks her: the most gorgeous and infuriating man she's ever met is living in her home! Tuck Manning was a gifted architect who left a skyrocketing career to care for his dying wife. But the life he's made for himself in this quiet town is turned upside down when Jillian appears on his doorstep. Tuck won't go without a fight, and the two resolve to live as roommates until they can untangle who owns the cottage. Yet as Tuck and Jillian's days—and nights—heat up, they realize more than property rights are at stake...and that sometimes, salvation comes when you least expect it. My Thoughts Tuck was a dedicated husband and a big name in architecture when h

WINNERS: Imposter's Daughter and Any Minute

Well, what with the holidays and all, I'm running behind on announcing the winners of my last two giveaways. So better late than sorry! The winner of The Imposter's Daughter by Laurie Sandell is: #4 A Bookshelf Monstrosity And the winner of Any Minute by Joyce Meyer is: #6 Nancye Congratulations to the winners! I'll be emailing you for your addresses. Merry Christmas everyone!

Book Giveaways in Blogworld (12-12-09 edition)

NOTE: I'm running late with the giveaway list, only because all of the giveaways that I did yesterday were for non-book giveaways. However a reminder that you are free to email me about any giveaways that you are having, if you want me to blog them, and I'll be happy to try to post them even if I am not entering them. Just include a link to the giveaway, what you are giving away, how many copies are being given away, and the deadline in order to assure being included. Email me at nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com. Here is a list of some giveaways going on in Blogworld*. Please note that new giveaways that were added this week are indented in Blockquotes: Simply Stacie is giving away 3 copies of I Survived a House Fire...I Wish My Stuff Had. Deadline is December 14. Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 2 copies of National Parks: Our American Landscape. Deadline is December 14. Wrighty's Reads is giving away 5 copies of Dear John. Deadline is December 15. Cheli's Shelves is

Poetry Sunday (12-13-09 edition)

I saw this posted the other day on Flux Capacitor by Maggie May. I loved it, and decided to share it here for Poetry Sunday: I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise. I choose to risk my significance, to live so that which came to me as seed goes to the next as blossom, and that which came to me as blossom, goes on as fruit. -- Dawna Markova

What do you do?

What do you do when you have committed to buying a gift for someone, and you spend time checking their Wish List, picking out something from it, ordering the gift through the mail, wrapping it, packing it, addressing it. And just before you take it to the post office you check their Wish List one last time, and you find that the item is now missing from their Wish List, indicating that they probably have it now? *sigh* And I don't even know whether anyone else would like the same gift. So now I don't know what to do with the gift I already bought, AND now I have to come up with a new gift for this person, and FAST! *heavy sigh*

Introducing...All of Me by Lori Wilde

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Houston deputy district attorney Jillian Samuels did not believe in magic. She didn't throw pennies into wishing wells, didn't pluck four-leaf clovers from springtime meadows, didn't blow out birthday-cake candles, and didn't wish on falling stars.

What's Releasing (12-09-09 edition)

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Books that will be available December 14 and December 28: Synopsis The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. For 15-year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they'd never dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents--and maybe the world? (I've been waiting for this one!) Synopsis In 1766 Scotland, the laird of the clan, Angus McTern, has everything he wants in life. Although his grandfather lost the family's land and castle in a card game when Angus was just a boy, Angus takes

Santa is holding all of my packages...

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...and I'm hoping I'll have one of these under my tree Christmas morning! (I had to "borrow" this image off the net. It was too good to pass up!) There's a lascivious double-entendre in there somewhere, but I'm not going there! I've decided that I am not doing anymore posts of books received (no Mailbox Monday) until after Christmas. Any packages that come in are going straight under the tree. That means just more Christmas day! Then I'll do a post after Christmas about any books that arrived between now and then. I did receive my Secret Santa gift yesterday! However it went straight under the tree, too. So I don't know what my gracious giver gave, but I want to throw a premature "thank you" their way! Happy Holidays to all, and I hope you all get everything you dream of and hope for!

CHALLENGE: RYOB Challenge 2010

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OK. I'm joining this challenge, because I NEED to join it. I have so many books sitting on my shelves waiting to be read! The RYOB (Read Your Own Books) 2010 Challenge is hosted by Reader Challenges . The rules are simple : Pick a number of books you’d like to read in one year Choose those books from your OWN collection Read them between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010 Some other guidelines for this challenge : Re-Reads are NOT allowed ( the challenge is to get more of your own books read that have been sitting there waiting! ) Audiobooks & e-books ARE allowed You do NOT need a blog to participate — you can leave comments on this post with your progress Stay tuned! On January 1st, MizB will add a Mr.Linky here for participants to sign up. I'm shooting for 40 books from my shelves. This is what I've got on my list so far: Brutal Telling Catching Fire Cousin Kate Darkest Evening of the Year Dead Sea The Giver Godmother The Hate List Hunter The Last Queen Maxim

CHALLENGE: Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

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And as if I didn't already have too many distractions and too many challenges going on, I'm joining in on another. This one looks good, as it consists of the books that 33 different bloggers have deemed the best! For this challenge (hosted by Reading with Tequila ), you choose books off of the 2009 Book Blogger Recommendation List . The Levels: Level I - Read 5 books from the 2009 Book Blogger Recommendation List Level II - Read 10 books Level III - Read 15 books Level IV - Read 20 books Level V - Read 20+ books The Rules: Challenge will run January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010 . Participants can join anytime throughout the challenge. Create an intro post, linking back to this post. Sign up with the McLinky . Please link to your challenge intro post, not your blog home page. Chose your own books from the list. You can decide to read books only on the Top 25 list or from the entire recommendation list. You do not have to make a list of books before the challenge begins. Al

CHALLENGE: What's in a Name 3

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I'm gonna try the 2010 "What's in a Name 3", even though I probably won't complete this year's challenge. Try, try again! The 3rd installment of the What's in a Name challenge is being hosted by Beth Fish Reads . Here's how it works... Between January 1 and December 31, 2010, read one book in each of the following categories: A book with a food in the title: Clockwork Orange, Grapes of Wrath, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (I'm doing Obama's Blackberry by Kasper Hauser) A book with a body of water in the title: A River Runs through It, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, The Lake House (I'm thinking Dead Sea by Brian Keene) A book with a title (queen, president) in the title: The Murder of King Tut, The Count of Monte Cristo, Lady Susan (I'm thinking Godmother by Carolyn Turgeon, like "Godfather") A book with a plant in the title: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Wind in the Willows, The Name of the Rose (

ABANDONED: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

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Okay. I'm putting this one back up on the shelf for awhile. I just can't get into it right now. The clipped, abbreviated writing style drives me crazy! I will try to pick it up again at a later date and see if I do better with it the second time around. I'm so disappointed! This sounded SO like my kind of book!

GIVEAWAY: Any Minute by Joyce Meyer

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Synopsis Sarah Harper is driven, pursuing happiness in all the wrong places. She wants to do good and not hurt the people she loves, including her son, Mitchell, and her husband, Joe. But her drive to succeed overrides all else. It's not until she faces a chance encounter with heaven and spends time with the grandmother who prayed for her every day when she was a little girl that she begins to see how her own mother's bitterness created a hole in Sarah's life—a hole she has been trying to overcome for as long as she can remember. For the first time, Sarah sees that God created her for a special purpose. When Sarah returns to her own life, she is a woman with a mission. And the unsuspecting world around her will never be the same again. GIVEAWAY : Win a hard copy of Any Minute by Joyce Meyer Rules (you knew there had to be some): You must be 18 years or older Open to US and Canada residents only To enter, just comment below. Be sure to leave your email address in your commen

Poetry Sunday (11-29-09 edition)

In Summer's Heat by: Ovid (43 BC-17 AD?) In summer's heat, and mid-time of the day, To rest my limbs, upon a bed I lay; One window shut, the other open stood, Which gave such light as twinkles in a wood, Like twilight glimpse at setting of the sun, Or night being past, and yet not day begun; Such light to shamefaced maidens must be shown Where they may sport, and seem to be unknown: Then came Corinna in her long loose gown, Her white neck hid with tresses hanging down, Resembling fair Semiramis going to bed, Or Lais of a thousand wooers sped. I snatched her gown being thin, the harm was small, Yet strived she to

WINNER: Julie & Julia by Julie Powell

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The winner of Julie & Julia by Julie Powell is... #29 JAIME of Copper Llama Studio Congratulations, Jaime! I hope you enjoy the book! I'll be contacting you by email.

Mailbox Monday (11-23-09 edition)

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Mailbox Monday is brought to us by The Printed Page . In my mailbox last week I got: Winnings... 9 Dragons by Michael Connelly Won from Wendy's Minding Spot LAPD Detective Harry Bosch is off the chain in the fastest, fiercest, and highest-stakes case of his life. Fortune Liquors is a small shop in a tough South L.A. neighborhood, a store Bosch has known for years. The murder of John Li, the store's owner, hits Bosch hard, and he promises Li's family that he'll find the killer. The world Bosch steps into next is unknown territory. He brings in a detective from the Asian Gang Unit for help with translation--not just of languages but also of the cultural norms and expectations that guided Li's life. He uncovers a link to a Hong Kong triad, a lethal and far-reaching crime ring that follows many immigrants to their new lives in the U.S. And instantly his world explodes. The one good thing in Bosch's life, the person he holds most dear, is taken from him and Bosch t

GIVEAWAY: The Imposter's Daughter by Laurie Sandell

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Synopsis Laurie Sandell grew up in awe (and sometimes in terror) of her larger-than-life father, who told jaw-dropping tales of a privileged childhood in Buenos Aires, academic triumphs, heroism during Vietnam, friendships with Kissinger and the Pope. As a young woman, Laurie unconsciously mirrors her dad, trying on several outsized personalities (Tokyo stripper, lesbian seductress, Ambien addict). Later, she lucks into the perfect job—interviewing celebrities for a top women's magazine. Growing up with her extraordinary father has given Laurie a knack for relating to the stars. But while researching an article on her dad's life, she makes an astonishing discovery: he's not the man he says he is—not even close. Now, Laurie begins to puzzle together three decades of lies and the splintered person that resulted from them—herself. GIVEAWAY : Win a gently read hard copy of The Imposter's Daughter by Laurie Sandell Read my review here . Rules (you knew there had to be some):

Poetry Sunday (11-22-09 edition)

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Today is one of my own poems. I haven't written poetry in over 10 years, but this one just hit me out of the "blue" the other day... Bluebird Just call me bluebird, for it's a new day. A breeze has come my way, spreading my wings to make me fly, until I drop from the sky, exhausted and vulnerable. Just give me a little shelter, for just a day. Then I'll be on my way again, for spring is just around the corner. Just call me bluebird. -- Heather Johnson, 11/20/09

Author Response: Mother of the Believers by Kamran Pasha

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I recently posted my review on Amazon for the book Mother of the Believers . In my review, I expressed my difficulties reconciling the contradictions of these religious men and their actions: raping girls taken prisoner and made slaves, "justice" served by cutting off hands, etc. Following my review, I was honored to receive a comment on my review by the author Kamran Pasha, and I wanted to repost it here to give him a moment to express his side. Here is the author's response: Thank you for your kind words about my novel "Mother of the Believers." I must admit that I am saddened that you came away from my book with a mixed view of Prophet Muhammad. I am a believing Muslim and I wrote the novel to explain his life in context. I think if you compare the Prophet's life and actions to those of the great biblical figures such as Moses, Joshua and King David, you will see that he exceeded the moral standards set by these leaders who lived in a similar lawless des

CHALLENGE: The 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge

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J Kaye's Book Blog has unleashed a new challenge, and I think it's calling my name: the 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge. I have just begun reading some Young Adult books (beginning with Hunger Games and Maximum Ride), and I've found that I've really enjoy them. Here's the rules: 1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. --Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, click here . 2. There are four levels: --The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels. --Just My Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 25 Young Adult novels. --Stepping It Up YA Reading Challenge – Read 50 Young Adult novels. --Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels. 3. Audio, eBooks, paper all count. 4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed. 5. Challenge begins January 1s

Introducing...The Shack by William P. Young

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March unleashed a torrent of rainfall after an abnormally dry winter. A cold front out of Canada then descended and was held in place by a swirling wind that roared down the George from eastern Oregon. Although spring was surely just around the corner, the god of winter was not about to relinquish its hard-won dominion without a tussle. There was a blanket of new snow in the Cascades, and a rain was now freezing on impact with the frigid ground outside the house; enough reason for Mack to snuggle up with a book and a hot cider and wrap up in the warmth of a crackling fire.

What's Releasing (11-18-09 edition)

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This is what's releasing the week of 11/16/09: Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton From one of the best-loved authors of all time comes an irresistible adventure of swashbuckling pirates in the New World, a classic story of treasure and betrayal. The Caribbean, 1665. A remote colony of the English Crown, the island of Jamaica holds out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Port Royal, its capital, is a cutthroat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses. In this steamy climate there's a living to be made, a living that can end swiftly by disease-or by dagger. For Captain Charles Hunter, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking, and the law of the land rests with those ruthless enough to make it. Word in port is that the galleon El Trinidad, fresh from New Spain, is awaiting repairs in a nearby harbor. Heavily fortified, the impregnable harbor is guarded by the bloodthirsty Cazalla, a favorite commander of the Spanish king himself. With backing from a power