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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Book Giveaway Linky - with Giveaway!

You can link up your book (and book related - bookmarks, bookplates, eReaders, book-lights, etc.) giveaways and you can go over and enter to win other books on the linky too! If you have any suggestions please don't hesitate to leave a comment. You are also welcome to grab the code and graphic and add it to your own site, just please be nice and put that you grabbed it from Busy Moms Who Love to Read (with a link back!)





As a special THANK YOU to all of you that have entered your giveaways on my linky, I have decided to have a giveaway just for you! Basically, if you list a book giveaway on this linky, you are entered to win your choice of one of these books (for every 25 entries I will select another winner to choose one of these books!):


Ravished Highlander by Paula Quinn - (Read an Excerpt) FORBIDDEN LOVE Davina Montgomery is no ordinary English lady. For her own protection, she's been locked away from society, her true identity the Crown's most closely guarded secret. Until a shocking betrayal--and a bold rescue--land her in the arms of a fierce Highlander, a powerful warrior whose searing gaze and tantalizing touch awaken her body and soul.


UNDENIABLE DESIRE


As the firstborn son of a powerful Scottish laird, Robert MacGregor has no loyalty to the English throne, but he's not the kind of man to leave a woman in distress, even if she is English. He vows to deliver Davina to safety, unharmed and untouched. Yet one stolen kiss leaves them both smoldering with desire...and desperate for more. With Davina's secret threatening to destroy his clan, Rob must choose between everything he holds dear and the one woman he can't live without.


Forbidden Passion by Rita Herron - (Read an Excerpt) SHE SEES HIM IN HER DREAMS...



Fueled by her family's murder years ago, Dr. Marlena Bender has devoted her life to understanding violent criminals. But when a serial killer in this small Southern town starts taking the lives of women in diabolical ways--leaving trophies of his kills on Marlena's doorstep--it all hits too close to home. Terrified, Marlena turns to the only man she can trust...the man who saved her life.


BUT HIS SECRET IS HER WORST NIGHTMARE.


Sheriff Dante Valtrez would move heaven and earth to keep Marlena safe, but he's not the savior she thinks he is. A dark legacy runs through his blood and a dangerous secret lies within him. Now a fierce, hot, ruthless desire draws Dante and Marlena together--as a demonic force from his past threatens to rip them apart, destroying everything they hold dear.




Montana Destiney by R.C. Ryan - (Read an Excerpt)They're the McCords...three rugged, sexy cowboy cousins who'll inherit the family range--if they seek the treasure hidden on it. But even more precious are the women who can tame their wild hearts...

Emergency medic Marilee Trainor likes her freedom and lives for trouble. But when she stumbles upon a clue to the legendary McCord gold, she 's suddenly in a mysterious killer's sights--and the arms of irresistible playboy Wyatt McCord. This McCord cousin has been everywhere, yet the ranch is the only place he feels at home. Now Marilee's courage and independence make him want to protect her, win her heart, and finally settle down. But trust is the one thing Wyatt and Marilee can't easily give. And their survival and everything they cherish depends on whether they can surrender to each other--to fight for their...



All of these titles are from the Anna at Hatchette Book Group - thanks so much!

For an extra entry leave a comment with the book you would select if you win!

Entries (giveaway linky listings) accepted between April 29th at 1:00am EST and May 5th at 11:00pm PST.
You may list as many unique listing as you like (this means a direct link to your book giveaway post), as long as they are books or book related (cookbooks accepted)
Winners will be selected and notified by May 6th at Noon. I will email you and you will be required to furnish your mailing address. NO PO Boxes and US/Canada Residents only!
When posting your listing please use this format:
Blog Name (abbr. ok) - Book Title - Number of Copies Available - end date
PLEASE ONLY LIST BOOK AND BOOK-RELATED GIVEAWAYS! If your giveaway does not meet this criteria it will be removed!

Also I will not be adding my own giveaways to keep the entries fair, so please take a moment to check out my giveaways too: Busy Moms Who Love to Read Giveaways


Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Whatcha Reading Wednesday

I want to know what you are reading!!

Please use the MckLinky so that you can post your "Whatcha Reading Wednesdays" teaser on your own blog and then link back to my blog. Please give it a try - and yes you can use my graphic, just please mention me in your post! You can also of course just leave a comment here!

So this is how "Whatcha Reading Wednesdays" works

You grab the book you are currently reading, open to a random page, scan down to a random spot and type two sentences If it is a spoiler at all be sure to put **Spoiler Alert** at the top of your comment (like if the selection announces the death of an integral character or something). This is supposed to fun and enlightening and I really hope you guys do this!


Here is mine for this week:



"I was sticking to my two-year plan, and I had to let Robert know Mark and I had Gotten Serious.
'We're planning a future together, and I didn't know how to tell you because I didn't want to hurt you or let you down,' I told him the next time I was in Chicago." page 184 Three Wishes by Carey Goldberg, Beth Jones and Pamela Ferdinand




Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Review: Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

***SPOILER ALERT - If you have not read any of the first four books in this series, you might learn somethings that you don't want to know prior to starting this series!***
Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs
Book 5 - Mercy Thompson Series
Book Description:
All-new action in the #1 New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series - When mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down. It seems the book contains secret knowledge-and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side-leaving Mercy to cover for him, lest his own father declare Sam's life forfeit. All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she might not have many more to live...



You can read the first chapter on Patricia's Website.

About the Author:
Patricia Briggs is the author of the New York Times bestselling Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series. She lives in Washington state with her husband, children, and a small herd of horses.

Here's What I Think:
I am a huge fan of the Mercy Thompson series. I read the first four books in a little less than 2 weeks. Mercy is such an awesome character. The way Briggs has written her makes me wish I could be friends with her. Mercy is a hard-core, take no crap from anyone, shapeshifter. She is a coyote surrounded by werewolves and constantly having to prove herself. She also happens to be mated to the local werewolf pack's Alpha - the super hot Adam. I must say when I read the last novel, Bone Crossed, I was a little worried of where the story had left to go. But Briggs, doubled back and brought attention to a very small door she left slightly ajar two novel's back! I was also concerned about what would come of Samuel, and truly I worried right up the ending of this book. Briggs really sprang a twist in his life and I am so happy with it!! I was thrilled to see Zee back in a prominent role again, and guess what - you get to read what Zee really looks like!! So if you haven't started this series please start at the beginning and work your way up to Silver Borne. If you like the Sookie Stackhouse books, The Twilight Saga or The Black Dagger Brotherhood Novels, you will love the Mercy Thompson Series!

BUY IT! You can buy your own copy of Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs on Amazon

Disclaimer: I was in no way compensated to publish the post. These are my real and honest opinions. In fact, I tried really hard to wait for it to come out in Paperback but just couldn't do it and actually purchased the HARDCOVER!!!

Monday, April 26, 2010

Welcome Tuesday Tag-Along Blog Hoppers!

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Tuesday Tag-Along blog hop, hosted by Twee Poppets Review and Giveaway! This is a great way to discover new blogs while increasing the number of followers for your own blog. Please feel free to grab the TTA button for your blogroll to help bring more bloggers to this blog hop!
Tuesday Tag-Along

The weekly Tuesday Tag-Along post and MckLinky will be posted every Monday night at 8:59pm Pacific Standard Time (that's 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time), and the MckLinky will be open to add your blog until 11:59pm Tuesday night. You then have all week long to visit blogs and return follows!


There is a new list every week. The link you enter one week will not carry over to the next week's MckLinky. Please link up again each week to join in the fun!
Tuesday Tag-Along Blog Hopper of the Week:
Each week, one blog will be chosen randomly from all the links, and that lucky blog will be placed in the desirable second slot for the following week's MckLinky! Who will be the first TTA Blog Hopper of the Week? It could be you!















Sunday, April 25, 2010

Guest Author and Giveaway of Wind Warrior by Cynthia Roberts

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!
Today I have a real treat for you. Author Cynthia Roberts is answering the question:
What Makes A Romance Series Great?
When Pam asked me to write this article I had to give her major kudos because it’s truly a really awesome topic.


Personally one of the key elements I think is finding a genre that fits with your comfort level. There are so many genre and sub-genre to choose from that include erotica, paranormal, historical, contemporary, thriller, sci-fi, futuristic, regency, horror, mystery … it’s crazy yet, awesome! And as a writer, you have to decide from the start what the level of intimacy will be between your main characters. I prefer not to be vulgar but create enough sexual tension on my pages, my reader will need to search out their partner post haste or take a really quick cold shower to kill the ache.

It’s also important to remember that writing isn’t all about the physical aspect either. You know, the bodice ripping and “driving home” superlatives wink … wink. Women want to know there is some substance and mental connection. They want to know what is going on in the psyche of the males in question. Developing strong characters that come alive on the page, to me, is the foundation of a great story. Loving them because their virile, comical and endearing OR hating them because their maniacal, devious and calculating causes a reaction … and that’s called page turning. If you can’t create a vision of them, their surroundings and actions in the reader’s mind, you’ve failed them miserably.


There lies also the story. Does it entail some kind of emotional or spiritual awakening, is the hero or heroine trying to overcome great odds, is the author trying to inspire the reader and leave them walking away feeling contented or moved by the outcome? If you can make your reader feel as though they are shadowing the actual characters themselves and a part of their lives then you’ve got the makings of a great series. Nothing is more enticing than wanting more seeing the characters you have fallen in love with live on.

Wind Warrior by Cynthia Roberts
Book One - Iroquois Series

Book Description:
Leslie Michaels is a visionary, and only those close to her know of her special gift and the visions that come when her mind and body surrender to sleep. Fate has a way of righting many wrongs, and for Leslie it is a destiny that changes her life dramatically. But not before she is forced to flee into the wilderness to escape a murderous trapper bent on claiming her for his very own. Faith and a strong will to survive are her only companions, until she encounters Winnokin, the handsome Seneca war chief who first came to her in her dreams. Not only does he prove to be her rescuer and protector, he teaches her that tragedy can breed happiness and the passion to live and love deeply once again.

Wind Warrior plunges readers into the intimate depths of a relationship that unfolds like a live drama before their eyes while painting an insightful and intriguing portrait of Native Indian life in the 1800s. It is a story of longing, of a wanton need to survive all odds, and a love so strong it conquers human evil. Wind Warrior expresses with cunning words the simple, raw human emotions that hold readers spellbound and captivates their hearts.

Here is a tasty Excerpt:
Leslie Michaels detected the immediate transformation in the stranger’s eyes after she reached out and stroked the tips of her fingers slowly along the strong, angular curves of his chin and jaw. She looked for a change, some kind of reaction that told her he found her to be too bold or forward. However, his calm reserve gave away no emotion at all.

She was pleased that he did not draw away from her touch or display any signs of displeasure. More than anything, she wanted to know what was going on in his mind.



Did he find her attractive? Would he want to know her more intimately?

She could not believe that those thoughts were even running through her mind. By

God, she thought, I’m thinking just like one of those dance hall girls always standing outside the saloon at the settlement.


She certainly was not the kind of woman to just throw herself at a man.

She was generally shy and reserved, and it normally took a while before she warmed up to someone, especially a man like the one right there in front of her.


And to think, she sighed, that his lips may just taste sweeter than sugar.

She could feel her cheeks flush and patted them with her palms. This man certainly made her feel brazen. She wondered if he found her touch as pleasing as it was for her. When the moments passed with words unspoken between them,
Leslie was afraid she truly overstepped her bounds.

There must be someone else in his life, a wife or betrothed, she thought.

She searched his eyes to see if disinterest reflected in their depths, but he was too difficult to read. Leslie leaned back slightly and pondered if his lack of response was more out of duty or respect and not wanting to offend her.


I am such a––a fool––a stupid, crazy ninny, she chastised silently and lowered her head to hide her embarrassment. Just because I am drawn to him like a bee to honey does not mean he feels the same about me, she argued with herself. After all, we are from different cultures. Those in my world would never approve of such a union.


Leslie’s heart began to pound rapidly in her chest when he moved slightly and reached out for her. She gasped faintly when he tenderly clasped her chin to raise it and gazed into her eyes. A lump caught in her throat, and she knew she could not swallow even if she tried. Joy filled her heart when she watched as his beautiful, full lips began to slowly curve into a smile.


The pleasure she felt overwhelmed her and she pressed her fingers to her lips and sighed softly. She did not know his name, where he came from, or what kind of person he was. What she did know was that she felt no fear, no apprehension, in his presence. She did not hold back and drew herself up from her squatting position to kneel before him.


His beautiful, amber eyes were captivating, and Leslie knew at that very moment that she could get lost in their depths for an eternity. She wanted nothing else. He clasped a hold of her tiny wrists and placed her right hand upon his shoulder.


She reacted instantly and did not hold back. She needed, wanted, to touch more of him and slowly ran the flat of her palm down the length of his naked chest, feeling the strength of hard muscle beneath his light copper skin. It amazed her how such a masculine man could feel as soft as a rabbit’s pelt. Her eyes drifted again to the fullness of his lips, and she craved to have her own held captive by them.

He was the most handsome man she had ever seen, and even though he was Indian, it did not sway her from wanting to share something more with him. The comfort and safety she felt was far from odd, even knowing it would prove disturbing to others. Leslie dismissed all doubt and worry from her mind. She never was a person to be affected by what others thought. And she was not about to start now.


If he was an admirable man with a kind and compassionate heart, that was all she needed to know. She felt an immediate connection and shivered slightly when he reached forward to tenderly move a tendril of her hair away from her face. It seemed natural and right to rest her cheek against the palm of his hand.


His thumb glided softly against her skin, and she shivered slightly as she tilted her body to nuzzle the side of her face against the warmth of his touch. He reached his other hand to cup her face and draw her nearer.


Leslie could feel his breath caressing her skin, and she knew he was going to kiss her.

“Come. Let us ride the wind together,” he whispered softly in her ear.

Slowly his lips brushed across her cheek, barely touching skin, causing her body to tremble in response.


This was the moment she hoped for, and she leaned her body closer and raised her chin to meet the pressure of his lips. His powerful arms were tender as they softly folded about her until their bodies were pressed together in a heated embrace.

The loud, shrilling chatter of gray squirrels playing outside her bedroom loft window jolted Leslie from her sleep as though cold water had just been thrown upon her face, and she bolted upright, into a sitting position.


"No!” she cried softly.


She realized it was just a dream as she ran her palm softly across the spot where she could swear she still felt the warmth of the stranger’s touch. Her eyes scanned every corner of her room, and her heart sank from the disappointing realization that she did indeed dream of the beautiful stranger once again. She turned and watched the humorous antics that continued outside her window.

"Shoo––shoo, you two,” she scolded. “Did you have to choose this very moment to wake me?” she continued as she shook her head and stretched her limbs like a contented feline.


For a moment she played back the memory of the dream that had haunted her over and over again for the past two months. When is this going to end? She wondered. What does it all mean?

It was not just this particular incident that bewildered her. For as long as she could remember, Leslie had always been taunted by such riddles.

Early in her childhood, she had learned not to question her special ability to see what would happen in the very near future through her dreams.


She never feared them, because they were so very much a part of her life, and she naturally assumed every one had the same experiences in their life. That is, until she was old enough to speak and express what she saw with her parents.


Leslie was nearly seven when she finally began to understand what was happening to her, what she was born with. Her mother, Olivia, had sat her down and carefully told her of the special gift they both shared. It was a guarded secret that had been passed down for five generations by the feminine line on her mother’s side.


Still, the dream she had just experienced was so different and more personal than any she had before. This dream involved her emotions.

She knew this particular stranger would play a major role in her future.

She just did not know what, or when, or where. Each time he entered her sleep, it became more real, and her attraction for him grew stronger.

She was becoming drawn to his long, dark hair and a physique, which looked as though it had been chiseled from stone. He was a mystery for now, and she was certain it was one that would be solved sooner rather than later.



About the Author:
Hello everyone. Like all of you, I lived and breathed reading romances … it filled many long, lonely evenings when my husband worked nights in law enforcement and I was raising our children Jason and Alyssa (now 31 and 29). It proved my constant companion later when my “Cinderella” marriage of twenty-five years came to an unexpected end. There is a quote I heard once I can’t remember verbatim but goes somewhat like … “There is no greater loss than a love once known.”

I’m a true believer that when tragedy strikes and you’re standing at the edge of a fathomless abyss and all you see is darkness looking back at you, faith lies in knowing one of two things will happen. You can either let fear consume you, roll up into a ball and waste away or, you can take a leap of faith and learn how to soar like an eagle.
I’ve always had a passion for writing from that very moment a Crayola was placed in my hand and throughout my career in marketing, public relations and sales writing creatively came easy. When my marriage ended at the age of 45, life as I knew it was never the same. It was a time of unrest, uncertainty, losing friends and family and financial ruin because I also found myself jobless which continued nearly two years.
Wind Warrior became my salvation. One evening I sat in front of the computer and decided to write instead of read. I loved Cassie Edwards Savage Series and read every one of her books and figured all I could do was fail. It proved my therapy back then but not quite up to par to win the favor of publishers. I received so many rejections I could have wallpapered a small room in my house and almost gave up on my dream. That is, until I realized it just wasn’t my time. I needed to live through and get beyond the pain in my own life before I could transform that experience into the kind of passion and emotion I wanted my readers to feel personally through my writing.
Wind Warrior is book one of five of my Iroquois Series and will officially be released by Tate Publishing June 15th. It is, however, available now for purchase through Tate’s website and it is my heartfelt hope readers will find it as enthralling to read as it was for me to research and bring to life. Book #2 Captive Heart is finished and expected to be released the end of this year.
Now that the writer in me has been unleashed … look out world! If I can leave my beautiful five grandchildren any legacy, it will be the strength, conviction and passion put into every story I bring to life. Please stay tuned for future projects which will include a series introducing contemporary shape shifters and two mainstream romance thrillers entitled Pawn For Malice and The Keeper’s Watch.
Wind Warrior
Tate Publishing
ISBN 978-1-61663-162-8
Link to purchase from Tate before June 15 http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61663-162-8
Available at Amazon and all other venues June 15th
http://www.romanceauthorcynthiaroberts.com  





WIN IT! And to make things even more fun, Cynthia is giving away an Autographed Copy of her Novel - Wind Warrior!



So here is how you can win:



Mandatory Entry:
Provide your email address, which will be added to Cynthia Roberts' mailing list, so that you can recieve information on her upcoming projects. (open to US residents only, must provide mailing address - no PO Boxes - if you win)(you must do this one first or I will be forced to remove all of your entries)


Get More Entries: (LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY)
Become a Follower of Busy Moms Who Love to Read using Google Friends Connect (see sidebar)
Tweet about this Giveaway (include @1outnumberedmom and #giveaway in your tweet) (Daily Tweets allowed)
Follow me on
Twitter @1outnumberedmom
Become a Facebook Fan (see sidebar)
Enter one of my other giveaways
Add a comment to another post on this blog (a real comment, please)
List your book giveaways on my
Book Giveaway Linky!
Grab my button (see sidebar) and put it on your blog (include a link to your blog in your comment) (5 entries)
Add a post to your own blog about this giveaway (include a link to your post in your comment) (8 entries)


I wish you the best of luck! All entries but be received by 11:59pm PST on May 11st, 2010 to be counted.


Disclaimer: 
I was in no other way compensated to post this review.

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

42nd Book Review Blog Carnival!

One of my reviews (The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls) is included in the 42nd Book Review Blog Carnival this week, which can be found on the Ms. Smarty Pants Know It All Blog! There are several other great titles featured as well! Check it out!

Struggling to Select a Book Club Book

I am a fairly new member of a "Mom's Book Club". I have been participating with particular group since January. I have really really enjoyed being a part of this and so far liked all the books. In this particular club, we rotate who selects the book each month. And it turns out May is my month. I have agonized since a agreed to switch with one of the other members (she is going to be out of town for the May meeting), about what book to pick. My problem is that I DO NOT want to be the one who picks the stinker that everyone hates!!! What's more, we have read from a very wide variety of genres so far. So it is hard to say they all like mysteries and just pick one. So I took to surfing the net to try to find some help. I found a variety of resources and suggestions that I want to share with you guys.
  • www.LitLover.com - this site is made specifically for book clubs. You can find title suggestion (complete with synopsis), discussion questions and a section titled "If you liked this..."
  • A group of suggestions I found over and over:
    • Pick a book you have already read: My one biggest aversion to this one, is that this means I either re-read it (hate doing that) or miss out on actually reading a book that month.
    • Pick a book already on your TBR List - this one is really smart. If you already planned to read it, there must be a reason.
    • Search for Author's similar to an author you have already read in the club (Borders and B&N both have this search feature)
    • Ask another member of the club to go to the book store with you and browse around.
    • Go to a favorite author's website and see what they are reading.
  • Most larger book stores usually have a section just for book club suggestions. If you can't find it ask an associate for their suggestions.
  • Most larger book stores have a section for Staff Picks. These can really open your eyes to some interesting titles. For example: A woman named Kristy (never actually meet her) at my local bookstore, makes the best selections and I have loved every title I have read from her selections.
The most important piece of advice I got was "Don't Fret if you pick a stinker" There are a few reasons not to let it get to you.
  1. If you have never read it how can you know it was going to be sucky
  2. Not everyone is going to like every book anyway
  3. The point of book club is to read titles that you might not have selected yourself.
So when your month to pick comes up in rotation, don't worry about it and just go with a book that looks good to you!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Looking for a Helping Hand for The March of Dimes

Hi everyone! I have trepidation about this post but I hope it will have a positive outcome. I am participating in the March of Dimes March for Babies in my hometown this coming Saturday. I was hoping to raise $250 for this charity but have only made it about halfway. I am hoping to find a few kind souls out there is the blogosphere to help me reach my goal! So if you are interested in sponsoring me please click on this badge. It will take you to my personal dashboard where you can make a tax deductible donations.


SO SORRY TO BE LATE - Book Giveaway Linky - 4/22-4/28

I am sorry so to be late today. It completely slipped my mind!! The Book Giveaway Linky is going strong! Please add your listings!
You can link up your book (and book related - bookmarks, bookplates, eReaders, book-lights, etc.) giveaways and you can go over and enter to win other books on the linky too! If you have any suggestions please don't hesitate to leave a comment.

And please leave a comment after you use the linky!





Blog Tour Book Review and Giveaway - Small Change by Sheila Roberts

Small Change by Sheila Roberts


Book Description:
Rachel, Jessica, and Tiffany all share a difficult secret: they’re all struggling with major financial problems. A sudden divorce has turned Rachel from a stay-at-home mom to a strapped-for-cash divorcee about to enter the workforce for the first time. Tiffany’s spending has been out of control for years, and her mounting credit card bills have put a major strain on her marriage. And Jessica just had the rug pulled out from under her. After struggling her entire life to make ends meet, she’s just gotten engaged to a man with a big bank account…and now he’s asked her to sign a pre-nup.

When the women share their problems at their weekly crafting group, they decide to band together to take control of their finances. As they struggle to bring balance back to their checkbooks and their lives, they learn that some things in life, like good friends, are truly priceless.



About the Author:
Sheila Roberts lives in the Pacific Northwest. She’s happily married and has three children. She has had twenty-five books published, both in fiction and nonfiction under different names and in different languages. Her novels have been optioned for book clubs and film. Her book Angel Lane was an Amazon Top Ten Romance pick for 2009. When she’s not hanging out with her girlfriends or hitting the dance floor with her husband, she can be found writing about those things dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.

You can visit Sheila at her website (http://www.sheilasplace.com). You can also find her on Twitter (http://twitter.com/_Sheila_Roberts) and Facebook(http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/pages/Sheila-Roberts/76502579853?ref=ts).
Here's What I think:
This book attracted me right off because it is about  a stay-at-home mom forced back into the work place. Although I have a happy healthy marriage (knock on wood and Thanks to GOD!) it is still a real fear of mine. Even if it was the result of my hubby getting injured or laid-off, it's a fear. On top of that, financial struggles are true for all of us in this rough time in our country's history. I think this novel comes at a perfect time for women and moms that are having to fight even more battles just to stay afloat. Roberts is able to cast a more positive light on very unhappy topics. Roberts has a great writing voice, creating a fun little escape. The story flows easily and absorbs you early on. I really enjoyed this read and I think all you Busy Moms will too! Roberts has three other titles Angel Lane, Love in Bloom, and Bikini Season, which I have added to my TBR list, and I plan to put Bikini Season in for the running for May's book club vote!


BUY IT! You can purchase you own copy of Small Change by Sheila Roberts on Amazon


WIN IT! Sheila is willing to send THREE lucky winners each their own copy of Small Change! Thanks Sheila!!!





So here is how you can win:



Mandatory Entry:
Just tell me that you would like to win and leave me your email address. (open to US residents only, must provide mailing address - no PO Boxes - if you win)(you must do this one first or I will be forced to remove all of your entries)


Get More Entries: (LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY)
Become a Follower of Busy Moms Who Love to Read using Google Friends Connect (see sidebar)
Tweet about this Giveaway (include @1outnumberedmom and #giveaway in your tweet) (Daily Tweets allowed)
Follow me on
Twitter @1outnumberedmom
Become a Facebook Fan (see sidebar)
Become a follower of My CookBook Review Site -
Cooking Up Reviews
Enter one of my other giveaways
Add a comment to another post on this blog (a real comment, please)
List your book giveaways on my
Book Giveaway Linky!
Grab my button (see sidebar) and put it on your blog (include a link to your blog in your comment) (5 entries)
Add a post to your own blog about this giveaway (include a link to your post in your comment) (8 entries)


I wish you the best of luck! All entries but be received by 11:59pm PST on May 1st, 2010 to be counted.


Disclaimer: Although I did receive a free copy of this book for review (Thanks,
HBG), I was in no other way compensated to post this review. These are my real and honest opinions.


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

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Online Monthly Book Club - April - Love @ First Site - Discussion Questions

***SPOILER ALERT*** If you have not yet read this book but intend to you may want to finish it before you read the discussion questions. There are some spoilers herein!
April 2010 - Love @ First Site by Jane Moore
Spunky, sweet-natured Jessica Monroe is thirty-four years old and perfectly happy being single. Her girlfriends, however, disapprove. And when they secretly place a personal ad on a hot singles website on her behalf, Jess is reluctantly hurtled into the topsy-turvy world of online dating. A laugh-out-loud whirlwind of disastrous dates ensues, from Simon, who seems dreamy over e-mail but ditches her at the dinner table, leaving her with the bill, to Graham, a self-described “Ferrari driver” who turns out to be a car salesman—with several (old, fat, bald, creepy, cheap, stuck-up) men in between. When an unforeseen event turns her world upside down, Jess starts to wonder if the qualities she thinks she wants in a man—gorgeous, wildly successful, with a taste for fun and the finer things—really are what she ultimately needs . . . and whether, as a new mystery suitor appears in her e-mail inbox, Cupid has other possibilities up his sleeve.


Told with Jane Moore's sparkling wit, wisdom, and sass, Love @ First Site is an irresistible tale about what happens when we start to look for love between the lines on a computer screen—and a winning, unputdownable look at contemporary romance.

I hope you all enjoyed Love @ First Site as much as I did. Jane Moore has a very interesting style of relaying a story, and i just can't get enough of it.

Book Club discussion questions: (the answers in pink are my own personal responses)
  1.  On a scale of 1 (lamer than lame) and 5(super fantastic) rate the following:
    1. Style of Writing - 4 out of 5
    2. Development of Characters - 4 out of 5
    3. Flow of storyline - 5 out of 5
    4. Over all book - 4.5 out of 5
  2. If you were in Jessica's very specific personal situation (but still you, not her), and your friends presented you with the same present on your birthday, what would your reaction have been? I would have to say, my knee jerk reaction would be to run crying and screaming from the restaurant. It would take me several days to get a hold of myself but them I probably would have bucked up and started browsing!
  3. What was your most favorite part? When Ben revealed his alter ego!! I so, completely and totally did not see that coming. I had been hoping and hoping since Ben was introduced that she would end up with him and it just didn't seem likely at all! I also really liked the bit with Anne and the Sunshine House.
  4. What was your least favorite part? Simon, as a whole!!! What a "wanker" as they would say in this book! I was also very disturbed by Dan and the kissing and telling part! That was just a mess.
  5. What did you "not see coming"? Other than the whole Ben's alter-ego, I did not see Liv getting so ill. It was a very interesting aspect of the story. But it was important for the storyline, for it be realistic. That sort of thing does happen at times when other things seem so important that really are not, in the grand scheme of things.
  6. Would you have given Simon a second chance? I think my curiosity might have gotten the better of me, just as Jess's did. But I would hope that I would see the light before it got quite as far as it did in the story.
  7. How do you feel about the whole Kara thing? I was thrilled when Jess finally and completely told her off! She so deserved it. With Jess's whole growing up and moving on with real life, it was important for her to shed her friendship with Kara.
  8. Will you read any more of Moore's books? This is the second novel by Moore I have read. The other was Fourplay and I loved that one too. I have already added The Ex-Files and The Second Wives Club to my TBR List!!
You can post your answers to these questions, as well as any comments and questions to other members in a comment using the link at the bottom of this post. Or you can create a post on your own blog and link back to us using the MckLinky! Hopefully we can start a dialogue about this book. Please remember that this Book Club is a new concept for me so an constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. I want this to be OUR club not MINE!










Lots of Winners to Announce today!

Thanks so much to Hachette Book Group for sponsoring this giveaway. And the two lucky winners of Just Let Me Lie Down by Kristin von Ogtop are:

michelle
SharpTeethofLove

Congrats to you both!

And Thanks to Jill V. I have a copy of What's it Like, Living Green? To send to:
Wildcat23
Congrats to you!

Thanks so much to all the entrants and please come back often for more great giveaways!


Vote for May 2010 Online Monthly Book Club Selection

Since the voting went so well last month we are going to do it every month. So here are the choices. Please use the gadget to the right to place your vote. I will announce the book selection on May 1st If you are new to my site, and don't know about the Busy Moms Monthly Online Book Club - click here to learn more!

Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
At 28, former teen-pop-star Heather Wells feels as though she has lost everything: her family and fortune (her mom fled the country with Heather's earnings), her recording contract, her slender waistline, and her fiance, Jordan, a philandering, boy-band singer. Then Jordan's brother, Cooper, a dreamy private investigator and family black sheep, offers Heather room and board in exchange for clerical work, and she finds an additional job as a residence-hall director at a nearby Greenwich Village university. After several female students turn up dead at the dorm, Heather takes on her own stealthy investigation and finds herself the target of the killer. In the first title in her Heather Wells series, Cabot combines a fairly straightforward mystery with a single-girl-in-the-city plot in which Heather triumphs over cheating guys, bad luck, and a fattist society. Most of the characters are two-dimensional, but Heather's strong, amusing voice, the plot twists, and the possibility of romance will draw mystery and chick-lit readers alike.



Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik
From her sensational sleeper hit Patty Jane's House of Curl to her heartwarming novel Welcome to the Great Mysterious, Landvik has won the hearts of readers everywhere. Now she returns to her beloved, eccentric stomping ground of small-town Minnesota where a most eclectic, and engaging group of women share love, loss, and laughter.

Sometimes life is like a bad waiter -- it serves you exactly what you don't want. The women of Freesia Court have come together at life's table, fully convinced that there is nothing good coffee, delectable desserts, and a strong shoulder can't fix. Laughter is the glue that holds them together -- the foundation of a book group they call AWEB -- Angry Wives Eating Bon Bons -- an unofficial "club" that becomes much more. It becomes a lifeline.
The five women each have a story of their own to tell. There's Faith, the newcomer, a lonely housewife and mother of twins, a woman who harbors a terrible secret that has condemned her to living a lie; big, beautiful Audrey, the resident sex queen who knows that good posture and an attitude can let you get away with anything; Merit, the shy, quiet doctor's wife with the face of an angel and the private hell of an abusive husband; Kari, a thoughtful, wise woman with a wonderful laugh as "deep as Santa Claus's with a cold" who knows the greatest gifts appear after life's fiercest storms; and finally, Slip, activist, adventurer, social changer, a tiny, spitfire of a woman who looks trouble straight in the eye and challenges it to arm wrestle.
Holding on through forty eventful years -- through the swinging Sixties, the turbulent Seventies, the anything-goes Eighties, the nothing's-impossible Nineties -- the women will take the plunge into the chaos that inevitably comes to those with the temerity to be alive and kicking. Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons depicts a special slice of American life, of stay-at-home days and new careers, children and grandchildren, bold beginnings and second chances, in which the power of forgiveness, understanding, and the perfectly timed giggle fit is the CPR that mends broken hearts and shattered dreams.
Bikini Season by Sheila Roberts
If there's one thing most women can relate to no matter their age, it's the fight against fat. Erin Merritt feels she’s losing that battle -- she’s getting married in six months, and she can't fit into her wedding dress. She decides the first step to losing weight is quitting her cooking club. When she announces this, it turns out the three other women in the group were planning to quit. Rather than disband, they create the Teeny Bikini Diet Club, determined to shed the pounds by swimsuit season. The four women, all different ages, create a lively and encouraging support system for each other in their diets and in their everyday lives. Each woman diets for a separate reason, whether it's the wedding dress or on doctor’s orders, but their steps forward (and occasional step back), combined with the fact that none of their sizes, before or after, are mentioned, add up to a reassuring, feel-good read.




PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE IN THE GADGET AT THE TOP OF THE RIGHT SIDEBAR! If you have a suggestion for JUNE 2010 please leave a comment with the Title and Author and I will add it to my list.








Whatcha Reading Wednesday

I want to know what you are reading!!

Please use the MckLinky so that you can post your "Whatcha Reading Wednesdays" teaser on your own blog and then link back to my blog. Please give it a try - and yes you can use my graphic, just please mention me in your post! You can also of course just leave a comment here!

So this is how "Whatcha Reading Wednesdays" works

You grab the book you are currently reading, open to a random page, scan down to a random spot and type two sentences If it is a spoiler at all be sure to put **Spoiler Alert** at the top of your comment (like if the selection announces the death of an integral character or something). This is supposed to fun and enlightening and I really hope you guys do this!


Here is mine for this week:



"I can't believe it," Kate said. "It doesn't make sense"
Page 349, The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart





Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Review and Giveaway: The Pocket Therapist

The Pocket Therapist by Therese J. Borchard


What the book says: Whenever Therese Borchard was weathering a personal storm, and help was nowhere to be found, her one guiding light was the question, "What would a therapist say?" The result was a sort of therapy scrapbook for rough days--a quick reference for anyone who needs a dose of encouragement, support and tried and true ways to cope.




THE POCKET THERAPIST is a compact and accessible guide filled with techniques and advice to help combat everything from addictive behavior to negative thinking.

About the Author:
Therese Borchard is the author of the hit daily blog “Beyond Blue” on Beliefnet.com, which is featured weekly on The Huffington Post and was voted by PsychCentral.com as one of the top 10 depression blogs, and she moderates the popular depression support group, Beyond Blue, on Beliefnet’s social networking site. Therese is the editor of The Imperfect Mom: Candid Confessions of Mothers Living in the Real World, featured in Real Simple, Parenting, More, Working Mother, Psychology Today, Fit Pregnancy, the Chicago Tribune, and on Salon.com, and of I Love Being a Mom: Treasured Stories, Memories, and Milestones, a Target selection, and featured in Redbook, Parenting, BabyTalk, the Chicago Tribune, and the Detroit Free Press. With Michael Leach, she is co-editor of A Celebration of a Married Life and the national bestseller I Like Being Catholic. Her newest book, The Pocket Therapist, will be published by Hachette Book Group in April of 2010.




Therese has published articles in the Washington Post, Ladies’ Home Journal, Parenting, Guideposts, Publishers Weekly, the Baltimore Sun, and on PsychCentral.com, The Huffington Post, and Yahoo! She is becoming a go-to expert in the field of pop-psychology, recently quoted in The Wall Street Journal, O, and on CNN.com and Time.com. Her nationally syndicated column, “Our Turn,” is distributed biweekly by Catholic News Service. She appears monthly on Sirius Satellite Radio, is featured regularly on radio programs throughout the country, and has been a repeated guest on national television programs, such as "Fox and Friends" (Fox News Channel) and "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher" (ABC). She lives with her husband, Eric, and their two “spirited” children in Annapolis, Maryland.


Here's what I think:
This book is intended for woman in general but I think it especially applies to mothers. Motherhood can be an extremely emotional journey, each and every day. Borchard has put together snippets of information, set up almost as a daily readers, that touch on some many topics. In fact, I am reading it now as a daily reader and really enjoying it. Borchard's straight-forward and often cutting humor, brings light to otherwise dreary topics. As the book's description says, if you can't afford therapy this book is for you. It is just the right dose of help and humor. I know the Pocket Therapist will definitely be read often in my home, sometimes behind the bathroom door with children screaming for candy on the other side!
BUY IT! You can buy your own copy of The Pocket Therapist by Therese J. Borchard from Amazon.


WIN IT! - Anna at HBG has agreed to send 2 lucky readers their own copy of The Pocket Therapist!






So here is how you can win:



Mandatory Entry:
Which emotion do you have the most trouble expressing? Mine is anger - I tend to bottle then explode at the worst time! (open to US residents only, must provide mailing address - no PO Boxes - if you win)(you must do this one first or I will be forced to remove all of your entries)


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I wish you the best of luck! All entries but be received by 11:59pm PST on April 30th, 2010 to be counted.


Disclaimer: Although I did receive a free copy of this book for review (Thanks,
HBG), I was in no other way compensated to post this review. These are my real and honest opinions.


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