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Thursday, October 28, 2010

What Are You Giving Away This Thursday? BOOK Giveaway Linky 10/28-11/3


Can you even believe that October has pretty much come and gone!?!? Crazy!

I want to say thanks so much to everyone that has been listing their book related giveaway on this linky! It means a lot to have people come back week after week and put in their listings! So THANK YOU!

If you have a BOOK-RELATED giveaway going on your blog/site please list it below - this means books (paper or eBook), bookmarks, book swag, booklights, eReaders and other things that are directly related to book reading.

If you have ANY OTHER TYPE of giveaway feel free to link the on my mommy blog giveaway linky: The Busy Woman's Guide to Surviving Motherhood.

Please link DIRECTLY to the book giveaway and not just to your blog's homepage.
Please keep your listings Family Friendly (if the item itself is adult in nature please include ADULT in your listing)

Please use this format:
Your Name: Blog Title (abbr ok) Item Description How many Avail End Date
Your URL: a direct link to the giveaway

EXAMPLE:
Your Name: BMWL2R Beyond Salvation by Darcia Helle ends 10/31
Your URL: http://busymomswholovetoread.blogspot.com/2010/10/review-giveaway-beyond-salvation-book-2.html



After you use the link please leave a comment, letting me know you were here (I just love comments, this is totally not required! LOL)

Monday, October 25, 2010

Review & Giveaway: Beyond Salvation (Book 2 - Michael Sykora Series) by Darcia Helle

Welcome Spooktacular Gratitude Giveaway Visitors!

Beyond Salvation (Book 2 - Michael Sykora Series) by Darcia Helle 


Book Description: A teenage runaway disappears from the streets. The only people that care, or even notice, are her two best friends who are also runaways. For reasons of their own, they can't go to the police for help They seek out Michael Sykora, a software designer by day and hit man by night. Known on the streets as The Ghost, Michael has a reputation for taking on the twisted criminals. Rapists. Child molesters. He has never been hired to find the lost. Until now. Michael teams up with ex-prostitute Nicki and full-time hit man Sean. Together they bend the rules of the justice system in order to find a young girl few people care about. In the process, they uncover a world where salvation comes with a price tag and God's words are used to incite fear in a congregation of believers.
About the Author: Author's Website
Where to start? My oldest son once described me as a "tree-hugging, peace-loving, hippie". I suppose that about sums me up!
I grew up in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, a small town south of Boston. I now live in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I don't miss the New England weather, though I do sometimes miss the overall feel of "home".
I am married to an amazing man. I have 2 grown sons, though merely typing that sends a shiver up my spine. Time has a way of marching on without me noticing! Anthony is grown up and on his own. In fact, I now have a gorgeous daughter-in-law and the most adorable granddaughter ever! Joseph is at home and still attending school, with no particular direction yet in mind. They are as different as night and day and both are amazing young men.
I was a hairstylist for about 15 years. Back in the late 1990's, health complications forced me to give up that career. I have chronic, late-stage lyme disease, as well as chronic Epstein Barr virus. It's a constant battle to keep the symptoms under control. On the bright side, it allows me lots of time for characters to roam free in my mind.
I love words. Language intrigues me. Therefore, reading and writing are addictions I hope to never live without.
I'll read everything from the ingredients on a cereal box to a super thick text on medieval history. But there's nothing like escaping into a good novel. I'm partial to suspense and mystery, although I occasionally wander in a variety of other directions.
The novels I write are mystery/suspense. I always seem to have several novels in various stages of completion. I call it writer's A.D.D. The characters that float through my mind can be unrelenting and often lead me in too many directions at once. They become like children who lack discipline. And apparently I lack parenting skills.
Aside from my passion for writing & reading, I am a music addict. I have an expansive eclectic CD collection that includes rock, blues, folk, country, jazz, electronic, and new age. I love exploring new sounds and reminiscing with the old ones.
Then there's my love for animals. From my early youth on, I have always had dogs - and often cats as well. I currently have 2 of each. My dogs are my babies. They keep me smiling, make me laugh, and give me comfort. I talk to them all the time. And while they haven't yet learned how to answer me, they always listen. And sometimes that's all we need.






I had a chance to ask Darcia "What's the back story on the big story?" and here is her response:
Homelessness is a huge problem in the U.S. Every age range, from children to the very old, exist in a separate and hidden world on our
streets. In No Justice, the first book in my Michael Sykora series,
two homeless teens made a brief appearance when they helped Nicki out of a difficult jam. I wanted to bring them back and let them tell
their story. That's when Sara popped into my head and led the way.
Sara is a teenage runaway, friends with the two boys, and missing. The
problem with runaways is, when they disappear from the streets, no one
but their few friends on those same streets notices. Often there is
nowhere to turn for help. Michael Sykora works within that lost world
and sets out to find Sara.
To be honest, when I began writing this book, I had no idea what had
happened to Sara. I don't outline and only began with that vague premise. As I explored the reasons behind Sara and her friends winding
up on the streets, I was led to the few options they might have to
reach out for help. Sadly, there will always be people who prey on
those who are desperate. Cults are one of the biggest offenders, often
masking themselves as Churches and various sanctuaries of hope. Sara
stumbled upon one of these.
As I was writing this book, I wasn't looking to give a lesson in morality or rite a societal thesis. I simply wanted to give these lost people, the characters in my head, a voice. I hope that I achieved that and managed to entertain at the same time.
Here's What I Think:
Helle is a very talented author - point blank. She managed to keep the same basic setting, backstory and main character without telling the same story again. The difference between the first Michael Sykora book and this one was wonderful. Again, Helle's imagery immersed me in the story of a lost girl that no one else would have given a second thought to in any other situation. If you like a fast-paced, thrilling story about doing the right thing, you will love Beyond Salvation.
  
WIN IT! Darcia Helle has agreed to give one very lucky winner their own copy of No Justice!

Here's How It Works:
A Few Rules:



You must be a US Resident. And You must provide a Street Address upon notification of winning (NO PO BOXES)

 Mandatory Entry: (you must do this one first or I will be forced to remove all of your entries)

Become a Follower of BMWL2R In some form - GFC, Twitter, or Facebook.
Please include your email address in your comment. (feel free to use the antiSPAM version - yourname[at]yourserver[dot]com)
Get More Entries: (LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY)

  • Become a GFC Follower (if you already are one, just tell me so)
  • Become a Facebook Fan of BMWL2R (see sidebar) and leave a comment on the wall telling me you want to win!
  • Friend Darcia Helle on Facebook
All entries must be in by October 31th at 11:59pm PST. I will pick a winner using a Random Number Generator.!

You can check out the other Spooktacular Gratitude Giveaways by visiting these sites:


I wish you the best of luck!

Disclaimer: Although, I did receive a copy of this book for review, I received no direct compensation for the post.

If you are an author or publisher and would like for me to review your book please contact me directly: polsen11[at]comcast[dot]net


Friday, October 22, 2010

Winners to Announce!!!

Thanks so much to everyone that entered to win the Fantastic Follower Gratitude Giveaway. Without further ado...the Winners are:

Heather
purango
 ape2016
nfmgirl

Congrats to you all!

I am also announcing the Winner of the Who Said Coo? Children's Book:
Abdullah

Congratulations!!!

I want to point out to everyone that you need to read the rules for a giveaway. I actually had to dismiss two "winners" because they did not provide an email address and there was not one in their profile. So please read the rules if you choose to enter any giveaways!

Thanks so much to FSB Associates and please come back often for more great giveaways! Don't forget to add your book giveaways to the new linky posted every Thursday!



Review: The Lion and the Swastika by Anna Bruni Benson


The Lion and the Swastika by Anna Bruni Benson
Book Description: Set in Venice, Italy, during World War II, The Lion and the Swastika tells the compelling story of the brutalities of war brought home to a young girl named Marina by the fall of Mussolini in 1943 and the consequent Nazi occupation of the entire Veneto region. World War II should have ended for all of Italy when King Victor Emmanuel III signed an armistice with the Allies after forcing Mussolini to resign as a Prime Minister. Instead the war went on for over sixteen months in Northern Italy. Set against the backdrop of the savage nature of Nazi rule, Benson gracefully captures the blossoming of teenage love and the awakening of Marina to the cruelty in the world and the importance of taking radical action in defense of her ideals and the freedom of her beloved country. At times mysterious, romantic, and, haunting, The Lion and the Swastika traces Anna Bruni Benson’s personal experiences as a young girl growing up in Venice during the war. For more information about Anna Bruni Benson and The Lion and the Swastika, please visit http://thelionandtheswastikabook.blogspot.com/.

About the Author: Venice is my hometown. I grew up there during most of my young years and attended first the Ginnasio Liceo Marco Polo (classical Junior and High School) and then the University of Venice (then called Ca’Foscari), from which I graduated after the war with a degree of Dr. in Foreign

Languages and Literatures.
World War II should have ended for all of Italy when King Victor Emmanuel III signed an armistice with the Allies after forcing Mussolini to resign as a Prime Minister. Instead the war went on for over sixteen months in Northern Italy, occupied by the Germans and ruled by Mussolini as a Fascist Republic.
Venice was not spared and saw its share of horrors and massacres brought by this situation. I personally witnessed many of them and joined the efforts of other students in the fight against the Nazi and Fascist oppressors.
When I came to the U.S. I enrolled at UCLA, where I got a Master Degree in Italian in three semesters, including the thesis, and a few years later a Ph.D in Italian, French and Spanish Languages and Literatures with a Major in the theater.
A year later I was hired by the California State University, Northridge, as head of their budding Italian program, for which I developed a Minor and staged seven plays in Italian, including La Mandragola by Machiavelli and La Locandiera by Carlo Goldoni, the most famous Venetian playwright. I also published two books in English on Italian desserts, La Dolce Cucina and Solo Dolci, and a book of poetry.
I went back to Venice twenty-five in thirty years to visit my parents and to do research, both written and oral, for what became The Lion and the Swastika.
I presently live in Brentwood and am married to a professor of Chemistry from USC.
Most of the historical background of my book was never written upon, not even by Italian authors.

Here's What I think: I love a work of fiction that is still historically accurate and this book is. I was greatly impressed by the amount of educational information I gleaned from the pages without feeling like I was reading a history book. Though most people have been taught the general timeline of events for World War II, we don't have a lot of personal information coming from the people of Venice. I really enjoyed reading this new perspective of what day-to-day life was really like for the Venetians. It is so interesting to think that people we still moving forward with their lives, falling in and out of love, have to deal with the regular tasks of life a while suffering through the incredible cruelty of the Nazis. I laughed, I cried, I sighed, and I really liked this book and I have a great respect for people like Anna Bruni Benson, who can not only live through this but share it with the world.

Disclaimer: Although I did receive a copy of the this title for review purposes, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post. These are my real and honest opinions.

If you are an author and/or publishing house and would like for me to publish a review of your book, please feel free to contact me at: polsen11atcomcastdotnet

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Please Vote for the November 2010 Book Club Selection

Can you believe that it is already almost NOVEMBER??? Which mean it is time to start voting for the November Book Club Selection.
If you are not sure how our book club works please check out the guidelines here: Busy Moms Monthly Online Book Club.

Here are the choices for this month:

Just One of the Guys by Kristan Higgins Being one of the guys isn't all it's cracked up to be, So when journalist Chastity O'Neill returns to her hometown, she decides it's time to start working on some of those feminine wiles. Two tiny problems: #1 - she's five-foot-eleven inches of rock-solid girl power and #2 - she's cursed with four alpha male older brothers.

While doing a story on local heroes, she meets a hunky doctor and things start to look up. Now there's only one problem: Trevor Meade, her first love and the one man she's never quite gotten over--although he seems to have gotten over her just fine.
Yet the more time she spends with Dr. Perfect, the better Trevor looks. But even with the in-your-face competition, the irresistible Trevor just can't seem to see Chastity as anything more than just one of the guys....


Marked (House of Night Series, Book 1) By P.C. and Kristin Cast After she is Marked, 16-year-old Zoey Redbird enters the House of Night and learns that she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is mis-using her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny— with a little help from her new vampyre friends.



Heart of the Dragon (Athlantis, Book 1) by Gena Showalter Grace Carlyle's world was about to change... Deep in the jungle on the trail of her missing brother, Grace never expected to find a secret world populated by mythological monsters -- nor guarded by a sword-wielding being whose beauty put mortal men to shame.
Darius en Kragin belongs to a race of shape-shifting warriors sworn to guard Atlantis and kill all travelers who stray within its boundaries. Yet when Grace stumbles into his realm, he finds himself tempted to betray his centuries-old vow.
Now their forbidden love will either bring their worlds together -- or tear them both apart.

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown  When world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol -- seared into the chest of a murdered physicist -- he discovers evidence of the unimaginable: the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati... the most powerful underground organization ever to walk the earth.

The Illuminati has surfaced from the shadows to carry out the final phase of its legendary vendetta against its most hated enemy... the Catholic Church.
Langdon's worst fears are confirmed on the eve of the Vatican's holy conclave, when a messenger of the Illuminati announces he has hidden an unstoppable time bomb at the very heart of Vatican City. With the countdown under way, Langdon jets to Rome to join forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and mysterious Italian scientist, to assist the Vatican in a desperate bid for survival.
Embarking on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra follow a 400-year old trail of ancient symbols that snakes across Rome toward the long-forgotten Illuminati lair... a secret location that contains the only hope for Vatican salvation.
An explosive international thriller, Angels & Demons careens from enlightening epiphanies to dark truths as the battle between science and religion turns to war...

PLEASE VOTE USING THE POLL LOCATED IN THE TOP RIGHT SIDEBAR!!

Voting will take place between now and October 31st. On November 1st I will announce the book selection and post the linky for you to begin linking up your reviews of the selected title.


What Are You Giving Away This Thursday? BOOK Giveaway Linky 10/21-10/27


I am finally feeling better and my scheduling is back on track! Thanks so much for the well wishes!
I want to say thanks so much to everyone that has been listing their book related giveaway on this linky! It means a lot to have people come back week after week and put in their listings! So THANK YOU!

If you have a BOOK-RELATED giveaway going on your blog/site please list it below - this means books (paper or eBook), bookmarks, book swag, booklights, eReaders and other things that are directly related to book reading.

If you have ANY OTHER TYPE of giveaway feel free to link the on my mommy blog giveaway linky: The Busy Woman's Guide to Surviving Motherhood.

Please link DIRECTLY to the book giveaway and not just to your blog's homepage.
Please keep your listings Family Friendly (if the item itself is adult in nature please include ADULT in your listing)

Please use this format:
Your Name: Blog Title (abbr ok) Item Description How many Avail End Date
Your URL: a direct link to the giveaway

EXAMPLE:
Your Name: BMWL2R Choice of Books 4 Winners ends 10/21
Your URL: http://busymomswholovetoread.blogspot.com/2010/09/fantastic-follower-gratitude-giveaway-4.html



After you use the link please leave a comment, letting me know you were here (I just love comments, this is totally not required! LOL)

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Busy Moms Book Club Review October 2010: Darkfever

DarkFever (Fever Series, Book 1) by Karen Marie Moning 
Book Description: MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.


When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….
As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands….

About the Author: Karen Marie Moning is a graduate of Purdue University where she completed a BA in Society & Law. Her first novel, Beyond the Highland Mist was nominated for two RITA's, won a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, and made Ms. Moning Waldenbooks bestselling debut romance author for 1999. Her third novel, The Highlander's Touch was awarded the prestigious RITA, at the historic Saenger Theatre in New Orleans in 2001. Her fourth novel, Kiss of the Highlander was selected by Publishers Weekly as one of the best mass market novels of 2002. Her fifth novel, The Dark Highlander was chosen as one of the Top Ten Favorite Books of the year by Romance Writers of America. Her novels have appeared on USA Today, Publishers Weekly and the New York Times bestseller lists.

Here's What I think: Like most books that take place in an alternate version of our reality, there was a lot of set up. Sadly you don't really get to any action until about half way through the 350 page book, which is well past my usual limit. The book is clever and well thought out but it is just missing that "thing" that makes you want to rush out to the store at three am to buy the next installment. In truth, I probably will not finish this series unless I come across the next book at some point. I know it sounds like I hated it, but I really didn't. But I certainly didn't love it either. It was just sort of middle of the road for me.



 
Photobucket

If you were participating in this month's Book Club read, please post a review on your own blog of this book. If you reviewed this book in the past, please feel free to link up that review as well! Then head over and check out everyone else's reviews of this title! So let's see your review:





Whatcha Reading Wednesdays October 20th, 2010

This week's Whatcha Reading Wednesday Teaser works like this:
Go to a random place on a random page and type in the nearest 2 full sentences.
Remember to alert any Spoilers

You can participate by leaving your WRW teaser in a comment below, or you can make a post on your own blog and link back to this post in the linky below. Feel free to use the WRW graphic, just please be sure to link back to Busy Moms Who Love to Read.

"I cried the whole time I swept. Sorry for Alina, sorry for myself, sorry for the state of a world in which someone like my sister could be murdered so brutally." DarkFever by Karen Marie Moning

Review: Bending Toward the Sun by Leslie Gilbert-Lurie

Bending Toward the Sun by Leslie Gilbert-Lurie
Book Description: A miraculous lesson in courage and recovery, Bending Toward the Sun tells the story of a unique family bond forged in the wake of brutal terror. Weaving together the voices of three generations of women, Leslie Gilbert-Lurie and her mother, Rita Lurie, provide powerful—and inspiring—evidence of the resilience of the human spirit, relevant to every culture in every corner of the world. By turns unimaginably devastating and incredibly uplifting, this firsthand account of survival and psychological healing offers a strong, poignant message of hope in our own uncertain times.About the Author: Leslie Gilbert-Lurie is a writer, lawyer, teacher, and child advocate. She is a member and past President of the Los Angeles County Board of Education, and has just completed a memoir, Bending Toward the Sun, scheduled to be published by Harper Collins in the Fall of 2009.  

Rita Lurie was five years old when she was forced to flee her home in Poland to hide from the Nazis. From the summer of 1942 to mid-1944, she and fourteen members of her family shared a nearly silent existence in a cramped, dark attic, subsisting on scraps of raw food. Young Rita watched helplessly as first her younger brother then her mother died before her eyes. Motherless and stateless, Rita and her surviving family spent the next five years wandering throughout Europe, waiting for a country to accept them. The tragedy of the Holocaust was only the beginning of Rita's story.
Decades later, Rita is a mother herself, the matriarch of a close-knit family in California. Yet in addition to love, Rita unknowingly passes to her children feelings of fear, apprehension, and guilt. Her daughter Leslie, an accomplished lawyer, media executive, and philanthropist, began probing the traumatic events of her mother’s childhood to discover how Rita’s pain has affected not only Leslie’s life and outlook but also Leslie’s daughter’s, Mikaela’s. A decade-long collaboration between mother and daughter, Bending Toward the Sun reveals how deeply the Holocaust remains in the hearts and minds of survivors, influencing even the lives of their descendants. It also sheds light on the generational reach of any trauma, beyond the initial victim. Drawing on interviews with the other survivors and with the Polish family who hid five-year-old Rita, Leslie and Rita bring together the stories of three generations of women—mother, daughter, and granddaughter—to understand the legacy that unites, inspires, and haunts them all.



Gilbert-Lurie also is a founding board member and immediate past President of the Alliance for Children's Rights, a non-profit legal rights organization for indigent children, chair of the education committee for the Los Angeles Music Center, and a board member of several schools including Sierra Canyon and New Visions Foundation. Finally, she has just completed serving as a member of the mayor's task force charged with developing a new cultural plan for the City of Los Angeles.
Previously, Leslie spent close to a decade as an executive at NBC, where, at various times, she oversaw NBC Productions, Comedy, wrote television episodes, and co-founded a new NBC in-house production company, Lurie-Horwits productions. As a lawyer, Leslie worked briefly at the law firm of Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg and Tunney and served as a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Law Clerk. She is a graduate of UCLA and UCLA School of Law.
Leslie lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, daughter and step-son.
Here's What I think: Memoirs are not always my thing. Especially really emotional ones, but Gilbert-Lurie writes in such a way that I cared instantly where the story would go. I wanted to see how the tale unfolded. What I really liked about this particular story is that while there was plenty of heartache and dread, she included the few moments of happiness. Those rare times when a smile was shared despite the horror. This really made it more real for me. It is a difficult subject to read about but the author makes it bearable with her eloquent words, while still not romanticizing this terrible time in human history.
 



Disclaimer: Although I did receive a copy of the this title for review purposes, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post. These are my real and honest opinions.

If you are an author and/or publishing house and would like for me to publish a review of your book, please feel free to contact me at: polsen11atcomcastdotnet

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Review: The Law of the Garbage Truck by David J. Pollay

The Law of the Garbage Truck by David J. Pollay
Book Description: Twenty years ago, while riding in the back of a New York City taxicab, David J. Pollay narrowly escaped a life-threatening car crash. The driver who almost caused the major accident started yelling at David’s taxi driver, who remarkably just smiled, waved and wished the other driver well before he and David drove away. David asked how the cabbie could remain so calm. His reply spawned the defining principle of The Law of the Garbage Truck and left author, David J. Pollay awestruck.  


His driver said: “Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment…And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you. So when someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally…move on.”

You can purchase this book on Amazon

About the Author: David J. Pollay, B.A., M.A.P.P., is on a mission to increase happiness, success, and civility in life and business. He is the author of The Law of the Garbage Truck: How to Respond to the People Who Dump on You, and How to Stop Dumping on Others, published by Sterling Publishing (release date: October 5, 2010). David’s The Law of the Garbage Truck is an international phenomenon that’s revolutionizing the way people relate to each other. “The Law” has been endorsed by psychologists, educators, business and spiritual leaders. Translated into forty-eight languages, David’s No Garbage Trucks! Pledge has been taken by people from more than one hundred countries. He is a syndicated columnist, popular blogger, and an internationally sought-after speaker and seminar leader whose work has been featured on NPR, Sirius Satellite Radio, ABC television, Univision, and in Crain’s New York Business, BusinessWeek Small Biz magazine, and newspapers around the world. He is a founding associate executive director of the International Positive Psychology Association, and a visiting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania.Here's What I think: What a concept! I love how relevant this book is to the world we live in today. I have long felt that no one can make you feel bad unless you let them. Pollay's book takes this to a whole other level and teaches you methods on how to make sure it doesn't happen. Civility is something that seems to have been lost in our countries value set. I don't understand it and work hard to not perpetuate it in my own children. But it is difficult when they see it happening around them so frequently. This is the sort of book that should be required reading for anyone with a sore expression on their face! An uplifting and life-changing book, The Law of Garbage is a must be for anyone that is unhappy with the negative path our world is traveling down.

He is president of The Momentum Project, LLC, a consulting organization focused on applying the Law of the Garbage Truck and the science of positive psychology to becoming happier and more successful in business and life. He has held leadership positions at Yahoo!, MasterCard, Global Payments, and AIESEC.
David holds a master’s degree of applied positive psychology (M.A.P.P.) from the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale University. He lives in Florida, with his wife and their two daughters.


 

 

Disclaimer: Although I did receive a copy of the this title for review purposes, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post. These are my real and honest opinions.

If you are an author and/or publishing house and would like for me to publish a review of your book, please feel free to contact me at: polsen11atcomcastdotnet

Monday, October 18, 2010

Review: Pursuit of Justice by DiAnn Mills

Pursuit of Justice by DiAnn Mills
Book Description: Special Agent Bella Jordan is assigned to investigate a series of murders in West Texas that are linked to the Spider Rock Treasure. Since she spent the first fifteen years of her life in this area, FBI authorities believe she can get the job done. What they don’t know is that one of their prime suspects—a man who’s been on their wanted list for years—is deeply connected to Bella’s past. About the Author: Award-winning author DiAnn Mills launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has fifty books in print and has sold over 1.5 million copies.Here's What I think: The reality of this book makes it a page turning adrenaline filled book. I didn't actually learn that this book was the third in the series until I was more than halfway done with it and that didn't bother me one bit. The store is strong and solid on it's own. I think this is largely because each story in the series does not connect to the others. The characters are different, and each story features a female officer in some form of law enforcement. Mills' ability to grab the reader right off and then keep the attention for the duration of the book is wonderful. I am definitely looking forward to more from her.

The other prime suspect is Carr Sullivan, the man who owns the ranch where the murders occurred. Carr was once one of the wealthiest businessmen in Dallas and has a shady past a mile long. But it appears he’s turned his life around. Can Bella trust him, or is he just trying to cover his tracks?
As Bella probes deeper into the case, threats on her own life convince her the killer is someone she knows. But it soon becomes clear he’s not working alone, and she’ll need to face the past she’s tried so desperately to forget in order to solve the case and prevent more murders.


DiAnn believes her readers should "Expect an Adventure." She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels.
Six of her titles have appeared on the CBA Bestseller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents. Five of her books have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer's Book of the Year Awards 2003 - 2008, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader's Choice award for 2005 and 2007. She was a Christy Awards finalist in 2008 and 2010.
DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America's Faith, Hope and Love, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also the Craftsman Mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.
She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. They have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.

 

 Disclaimer: Although I did receive a copy of the this title for review purposes, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post. These are my real and honest opinions.

If you are an author and/or publishing house and would like for me to publish a review of your book, please feel free to contact me at: polsen11atcomcastdotnet

Saturday, October 16, 2010

No Justice Winner!

Thanks so much to everyone that entered to win No Justice by Daria Helle. Without further ado...the Winner is:
Congrats to you!

I want to point out to everyone that you need to read the rules for a giveaway. So please read the rules if you choose to enter any giveaways!

Thanks so much to Darcia Helle and please come back often for more great giveaways! Don't forget to add your book giveaways to the new linky posted every Thursday!



Friday, October 15, 2010

What Are You Giving Away This Thursday? BOOK Giveaway Linky 10/14-10/20


I AM SO SORRY TO BE LATE - I messed up my scheduling and just realized it!
I want to say thanks so much to everyone that has been listing their book related giveaway on this linky! It means a lot to have people come back week after week and put in their listings! So THANK YOU!

If you have a BOOK-RELATED giveaway going on your blog/site please list it below - this means books (paper or eBook), bookmarks, book swag, booklights, eReaders and other things that are directly related to book reading.

If you have ANY OTHER TYPE of giveaway feel free to link the on my mommy blog giveaway linky: The Busy Woman's Guide to Surviving Motherhood.

Please link DIRECTLY to the book giveaway and not just to your blog's homepage.
Please keep your listings Family Friendly (if the item itself is adult in nature please include ADULT in your listing)

Please use this format:
Your Name: Blog Title (abbr ok) Item Description How many Avail End Date
Your URL: a direct link to the giveaway

EXAMPLE:
Your Name: BMWL2R No Justice novel by Darcia Helle ends 10/15
Your URL: http://busymomswholovetoread.blogspot.com/2010/09/review-guest-post-and-giveaway-no.html



After you use the link please leave a comment, letting me know you were here (I just love comments, this is totally not required! LOL)

Totally Postal Thursdays @ One Page At A Time

SapphireReads over at One Page at a Time has started a new meme asking what books we got in our mailboxes this week. I am going to play along and share with you all what I got in the mail.
Here are the Details about the Meme: Totally Postal Thursdays
List all the books you’ve received since last Friday and then tell us how you got them and where on your TBR list they will be.
Sorry I am a day behind on this! All my scheduled posts become drafts for some reason???
Here Are the Titles I got this Week:

For Review:
The Lion and the Swastika by Anna Bruni Benson
Discover Your Personal Beauty Profile by Carol Tuttle


What was in your mailbox this week?

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Review: A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell

A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell
Book Description: All my life I had dreamed of changing the ordinary girl’s world of fashion by designing modest formal gowns—ones that you’d actually want to wear. With my super-hero stitching I would save you mothers and daughters crying in dressing rooms over yet another “the straps are just too small” prom dress. Don’t worry, I even thought of a catchy tagline for my brand: “Modest Is Hottest.” I told you I was good!

So I moved to New York and am finally living that dream . . . well, almost. I am at one of the top fashion companies, and my designs are definitely modest— but let’s face it, when it comes to outerwear, would you want to buy a skimpy trench coat? Didn’t think so.
Even though I don’t have my dream job, my family is a mess, and my love life stinks, I have a feeling things are going to change. I mean, they have to soon, or I’ll be forced to marry Jace. I did promise to become his wife only if I turned thirty and was still single, but I honestly didn’t think it was possible. Now twenty-nine, I’m cutting it way too close.
Right now I’m flying back to Utah for our Butterfly Girls reunion. And since it is the Mormon Mecca, I might find myself a modest proposal. Utah engagements can take mere weeks. Never mind, I’m not that desperate.
Really.
But maybe the girls can help. We’ve been best friends since high school. We Butterfly Girls are not the typical Pink Ladies, although we’ve definitely had our share of drama. We’ll laugh and cry over memories, from pageant glory to tragic endings, but the ones stored inside our butterfly box will surprise you most. We only open it when we’re all together, and our lives never seem the same after.


About the Author: What can I say, I'm a middle-aged mother of four, who, after ten years of hard work, perseverance and a lot (and I mean A LOT!) of rejection letters, finally got a book published. As a young girl I was a devoted journal keeper.  I would express my most personal thoughts and feelings in my journal in a way I could never express them verbally.  Coupled with my great love for reading it only seemed natural to become a writer.During the course of having and raising my children, as a beginning writer, I spent any free time I had writing and learning the craft.  I attended workshops and conferences, joined critique groups (I have the scars to prove it) and sent many of my stories and novels off to magazines and publisher, only to receive rejection after rejection.  I came close a few times, but something wasn't quite right.Still to this day I wonder why I didn't give up.  You'd think after ten years of rejections I'd finally get the message.  Actually I know why I kept writing, I couldn't not write.  It's in my blood.  When I get cut, ink comes out.  There's something so wonderful and fulfilling about the creative process of developing characters and storylines and pouring your heart out on paper that can't be matched by anything else.  I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to write.  And I want to encourage anyone who has the desire to write to never give up on their dream.  If you want it bad enough and are willing to work hard enough, you will become published.  I believe that with all my heart because that's exactly how it worked for me. I grew up in St. George, Utah, where a lot of my family still lives, but now reside with my husband and family in the Salt Lake City area.  My favorite thing to do is support my kids in their many interests.  Between basketball, ballet and piano lessons we squeeze a lot into a week, but I wouldn't have it any other way.If you have any questions you'd like me to answer, please feel free to email me.  And thanks, for all your support. 
Here's What I think: Modesty is the main theme of the book, and while it is about a proposal, the book really focuses more on the friendships that last a lifetimes and make life a more fulfilling endeavor. Bell has a rather long list of titles under her belt, ranging from chick lit to young adult. She has a great way with the written word. Normally I would expect a book of this size - well over 400 pages - to be somewhat long winded, but this thought never entered my mind except to not that it was not! I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series - Hometown Girl.

Disclaimer: Although I did receive a copy of the this title for review purposes, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post. These are my real and honest opinions.

If you are an author and/or publishing house and would like for me to publish a review of your book, please feel free to contact me at: polsen11atcomcastdotnet