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Thursday, September 30, 2010

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.

Here Are the Titles I got this Week:

For Review:

From PaperBackSwap:







What was in your mailbox this week?

What Are You Giving Away This Thursday? 9/30-10/6 Book Giveaway Linky

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)


Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Whatcha Reading Wednesday September 29th

This week's Whatcha Reading Wednesday Teaser works like this:
Type in the first two full sentence on Page 100
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.

"And of course there was the little matter of revenge. Emily raged about the last months - remaining silent, forcing politeness when she saw Cathy in town." Perfection by Julie Metz


Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Review & Giveaway: Who Said Coo? by Deborah Ruddell and Robin Luebs

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!
Who Said Coo? by Deborah Ruddell and Robin Luebs
Book Description: Lulu is one seriously sleepy pig. But every time she snuggles in her cozy bed, she's disturbed by the noises of two naughty birds outside her window. Whooooo ... Cooooo ... Lulu must find a way to get her wide-awake pals to pipe down. But as her frustration grows, will she be able to ask them nicely?

Brimming with pitch-perfect rhymes, fun-to-say animal noises, and heaps of humor, this book is a delightful read-aloud that's perfect for bedtime - or anytime!

About the Authors: Deborah - I grew up in a small Illinois town, the oldest of five well-loved children, and I was almost never alone. From day one, I had my twin sister, Robin, at my side – the ideal accessory for a shy kid.

We shared a room, matching clothes, and (to our mother's dismay) a deep devotion to the leisure arts: daydreaming, doodling, and watching the world go by.
Together, we smiled at the good and frowned at the bad, studied ants, drew pictures, and created elaborate scenarios in which we played the starring roles.
Today, when I write poems for children, I use the very same skills I learned in childhood every day. As it turns out, daydreaming, doodling, and watching the world go by are part of the job.
It's a job I love.
And Robin? She grew up to be a wonderful author and illustrator of children's books!


Deborah's Website, Robin's Website
Here's What Think: My kiddos just loved this book. It is so artfully illustrated. This is a children's book with a great lesson - keeping your cool when you are frustrated. All three of my boys loved this book, and it passed the "read it again" test. I can always tell if they really did like a book, if they instantly as for it to be read again. We have already read this one several times and will be reading it more and more I am sure. I think this book would make a great gift for any preschooler.

WIN IT! The good people at Blue Slip Media have agree to give one lucky winner a copy of Who Said Coo? By Deborah Ruddell and Robin Luebs

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)
  • Tweet about this Giveaway (include @1outnumberedmom) please include your status link
  • Follow me on Twitter @1outnumberedmom
  • Become a Facebook Fan of BMWL2R (see sidebar) and leave a comment on the wall telling me you want to win!
  • Add this giveaway to some one else's giveaway linky (leave me a link to where you added it, and be sure to follow the linky's rules)
  • 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)

All entries must be in by October 21st at 11:59AM PST. I will pick a winner using a Random Number Generator.!

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

The Versatile Blogger Award from Lou @ Reader Recommended!

My blog is having a super fantastic week! I was just awarded the Versatile Blogger Award by Lou @ Reader Recommended.  Those who receive this award, including my lucky self, must do the following:
1.Thank and link back to the person that gave this award

2.Write 7 things about yourself
3.Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic
4. Contact the bloggers you've picked to let them know about the award

Here are 7 Things about Me:
1. I have to have my toenails painted at all times or I feel naked.
2. I am a little too invested in the TV shows my 5 year old watches.
3. I have a serious problem understanding people who don't read books for pleasure.
4. I love playing around making graphics for my blogs and other
5. I am a very active volunteer with the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, at my my children's schools and wherever else I can find needs.
6. I am a little addicted to entering giveaways!
7. I am also a little addicted to gummy worms!

Okay now on to my award winners!! I am going to pass it on the 5 people - not because I don't know 15 deserving blogs, but because many of the ones I wanted to pick, were already awarded the Versatile Blogger in recent days.

1. And Zoe Makes Three...
2. Julie @ Find Your Next Good Read
3. SapphireReads @ One Page at Time
4. Molly @ Book Reviews by Molly
5. Vicki @ Reading at the Beach

I hope that you all will accept and participate!



Review: Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn

Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn
Book Description: Holly Frick has just endured the worst kind of breakup: the kind where you're still in love with the person leaving you. While her wounds are still dangerously close to the surface, her happily married best friend confesses over a bottle of wine that she is this close to having an affair. And another woman comes to Holly for advice about her love life--with Holly's ex!About the Author: Sarah Dunn was born in Phoenix, Arizona.  She went to the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in English and graduated magna cum laude.  After college, she wrote  a humor column for the Philadelphia City Paper while waiting tables (poorly) at TGI Fridays.  When she was 24, she published The Official Slacker Handbook, and was subsequently lured out to Hollywood to write for Murphy Brown, Spin City and Veronica’s Closet. She left TV to work on her first novel, The Big Love, which came out in 2004 and has been translated into 23 languages.   She is currently writing a television pilot for NBC called George & Hilly, and her long-awaited second novel, Secrets to Happiness, comes out this spring.  She is married to Peter Stevenson, the executive editor of The New York Observer, and they have a chunky delicious new baby boy named Harry.

Holly decides that if everyone around her can take pleasure wherever they find it, so will she. As any self-respecting 30ish New York woman would do, she brings two males into her life: a flawed but endearing dog, and a good natured, much younger lover. She's soon entangled in a web of emails, chance meetings, and misguided good intentions and must forge an entirely new path to Nirvana.
From the author of The Big Love, Secrets to Happiness is a big-hearted, knife-sharp, and hilariously entertaining story about the perils of love and friendship, sex and betrayal--and a thoroughly modern take on our struggle to be happy.


 
Author's Website
 
Here's What I think: Although I was expecting "chick lit" when I signed up to review this book, I was quickly corrected by the harsher look of love this book takes. A wide variety of definitions of the concepts of relationships are explored in the pages of this well written book. Dunn definitely isn't writing about the fairy-tales of love but rather a much more realistic view of everyday love. These sort of stories often take me by surprise, mostly because I have been with the same man since I was 16 years old. I have never really experienced the "dating" world, especially in New York! So when an author can make me feel like I "get" it, I know it is well written book. I also laughed out loud several times while reading this book. I actually think it would make a great movie! This book was a quick and fun read.


Disclaimer: Although I did recieve 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, September 27, 2010

Fantastic Follower Gratitude Giveaway!! 4 Winners!


THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!!
I can't hardly believe it but I have reached a huge milestone with this blog - 500 Followers!! I am so blessed and grateful to each and every one of you!!! It's not technically time yet for another Fantastic Follower Gratitude Giveaway, but I am just so excited that I wanted to through in another one!! And I wanted to make this one extra special by upping the stakes. There will be 4 winners this time and the first winner will get to pick TWO books from the list, instead of just one!! And I am going to put more books on the list than usual to start off with!

This is how is works:

I will pick FOUR (4) winners. Each winner will be allowed to pick a book from the list below - the first winner will be able to pick TWO! I will pick the winners using random.org but I will keep it in order, so the first random number generated gets the first pick, and so on.

The absolute best part of this giveaway is that you DO NOT have to be a follower to enter to win (although you do get more points if you do, because let's face, I have love for the followers)

All of these books are my personal copies, but did come from various publishers or I won them on other sites. Some are ARCs so they don't have the published covers and/or ISBNs) They have all been read once, and trust me when I say, very well cared for. I am a bit of a neatnik when it comes to my books!

So without further ado here are the books up for grabs!

As an added bonus I will add another title to the list for every 50 followers that are added between now and when the giveaway ends. As of the original date of this post I have 500 GFC followers.
  1. Ravished by a Highlander by Paula Quinn ARC
  2. Spirit by Andrew Feder
  3. Ransomed Dreams by Sally John (my review)
  4. Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran-Foer (my review)
  5. Montana Destiny by R.C. Ryan ARC
  6. Sin Undone by Larissa Ione ARC (my review)
  7. Pretty Little Things by Jilliane Hoffman (my review)
  8. A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff ARC (my review)
  9. Cleo The Cat Who Mende a Family by Helen Brown ARC (my review)
  10. Last to Die by Kate Brady ARC (my review)
  11. A Touch of Scandal by Jenifer Haymore ARC (my review)
  12. Try Darkness by James Scott Bell (my review)
  13. The Kitchen Shrink by Dora Calott Wang, MD (my review)
  14. Once Wicked Always Dead by T.Marie Benchley ARC
  15. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson
  16. The Lion and the Swastika by Anna Bruni Benson (my review) ADDED BECAUSE I HAVE 50 MORE FOLLOWERS THAN WHEN THIS CONTEST STARTED

 





So here is how you can win:



Mandatory Entry:

Tell me which TWO books you would pick if you win - along with your email address so that I can contact you if you win (open to US residents only, no PO Boxes)(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) (by "old" I mean prior to today, and please leave a separate comment for each of your three points for being an oldie but goodie!)

If you are an old  GFC follower +3
Become a  new Follower of Busy Moms Who Love to Read using Google Friends Connect (see sidebar) +1
If you are an old follower on Twitter +3
Become a new Follower on
Twitter @1outnumberedmom +1
If you are an old fan on Facebook +3
Become a new Facebook Fan (see sidebar) +1

Add a post to your own blog about this giveaway (include a link to your post in your comment) +8


I wish you the best of luck! All entries but be received by 11:59pm PST on October 21, 2010 to be counted.


Disclaimer: Although I did receive free copies of these books for review (Thanks to several different publishing houses
) or as prizes, 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

Sunday, September 26, 2010

The Big 5-0-0!!

WOOHOO!! It has finally happened - 500 FOLLOWERS!! Thank you so very much to each and every one of you! And keep an eye out this week for a very special Fantastic Follower Gratitude Giveaway!!

Review: Get Positively Beautiful by Carmindy

Get Positively Beautiful by Carmindy
Book Description: According to a recent study, only 2% of women describe themselves as 'beautiful.' (Dove Global Study 'The Real Truth About Beauty: A Global Report', 2004) The media instructs women how to 'look ten years younger,' 'cover up wrinkles,' or 'get fuller, plumper lips.' And even makeup products play off women's insecurities, promising to conceal perceived flaws, define cheekbones, or make eyelashes fuller and longer. The underlying message? That there's something inherently wrong with the way women look and that they have to spend time, money, and energy keeping up with all the ways they should 'fix' themselves. About the Author: Every week, millions of viewers count on Carmindy to teach them about the latest makeup tips and tricks on TLC's hit show “What Not to Wear.” Her unique vision of empowering women through lip gloss has created an army of followers looking for ways to erase insecurities and enhance their natural beauty. Carmindy teaches women not only how to choose their best feature to focus on but also how to see only the positive and celebrate who they truly are. Here's What I think: Okay, I am not one of those people that wears makeup every single day. In fact I don't even normally wear it even one day every week. However, I am actively trying to make a change in this part of my life. So when the opportunity came to review this book I jumped on it. And boy am I glad I did. This book breaks it down to the simplest of terms and techniques. Carmindy essentially wipes your beauty knowledge from the slate and starts fresh. She gives some great emotional advice to start off and build from there by describing the tools and techniques. I love the photos - all of real people that she has "made-over" to look just fabulous. I know that I will be using this book as a reference for a long time.

In GET POSITIVELY BEAUTIFUL, makeup artist Carmindy from TLC's hit program What Not to Wear shows you how to change your mindset from negative fault-finding to a positive beauty philosophy. You learn how to find and focus on your best features and how to combat negative thoughts about your appearance. Carmindy demonstrates easy makeup techniques for eyes, brows, lashes, lips, cheeks, and skin, and how to adapt looks to different weather conditions and 'beauty moods.'



Since her Southern California childhood, Carmindy has dreamed of traveling the world doing makeup and meeting inspiring people. Through hard work and an unstoppable attitude, she's made that dream a reality. She's painted faces in the studios of Paris, on the beaches of Brazil, and on the streets of Havana. She's lived in Los Angeles, Milan, Miami, and now makes her home with her husband, Javier, in New York, where she has established herself as a top fashion makeup artist and a natural beauty revolutionary.
Carmindy's work can be seen on the editorial pages of leading magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Elle, InStyle, O, Essence, Self, Lucky, Seventeen, Marie Claire, and Glamour. Her commercial clients include Sally Hansen, Maybelline, Sephora, Clairol, Matrix, Avon, Aveeno, CoverGirl, Almay, Bath and Body Works, Crest Whitestrips, and Q-tips. She is the author of two fabulous beauty books titled The 5 Minute Face and Get Positively Beautiful. She has co-created a natural line of cosmetics called Sally Hansen Natural Beauty inspired by Carmindy available in drugstores nationwide.

Author's Website, Author's Blog


 
 

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

Friday, September 24, 2010

Review: 30-Day Method by Tracy Anderson

 30-Day Method by Tracy Anderson
Book Description: Did you know muscles get bored, just like people do? And did you also know that there's a 9 out of 10 chance that you're working the wrong muscles when you exercise? With TRACY ANDERSON'S 30-DAY METHOD you don't have to worry--her unique workout will help you drop the weight and shrink your body in just 30 days.About the Author: Tracy Anderson has trained stars like Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Courteney Cox, Molly Sims, and Naomi Watts, among others. She was a professional dancer who experienced considerable weight gain, began to research her own workout methods to transform her body, and developed the Tracy Anderson Method. She owns studios located in NY and LA and shares her unique workouts through her successful DVDs and webinars.

Based on ten years of scientific research and experience getting not just herself, but A-list stars and everyday people, red carpet ready, Anderson has developed a unique 30-day diet and workout routine that reshapes the body and defies genetics to tone the muscles and drop the pounds. While most people incorrectly target their major muscle groups, like the bicep or hamstring, the focus should be on the smaller accessory muscles that can create a long, lean, balanced look--instead of bulked up look. Anderson's program is composed of a groundbreaking three-tiered approach, including a mat workout and cardio routine targeting the all-important accessory muscles, and an exclusive 30-day meal plan, complete with dozens of delicious recipes.
This comprehensive kick-start program is unlike any other workout on the market and it leaves no chance for anything but terrific, fast results!


 
Author's Website, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
 
Here's What I think: This book is hugely praised by all sorts of celebrities and I can see why. The method is easy to follow, with lots of photos to explain different exercises. And there are lots of really yummy recipes like Orange Glazed Salmon and Baked Chicken with Broccoli. The book is divided into three sections: You are how you move, Getting kick-started and Tracy Anderson's 30-Day Method. Though there is a lot of background information on how she came up with the program and what not, once you get to the meat of the program it is really great information.


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, September 23, 2010

Review, Guest Post and Giveaway: No Justice (Book 1 - Michael Sykora Series) by Darcia Helle

No Justice (Book 1 - Michael Sykora Series) by Darcia Helle 


Book Description: How far would you go to right a wrong?

For Michael Sykora, killing started as blind rage. Then it became something he's good at. To most of those who know him, Michael is a software designer, a smart but average guy with a workaholic nature. To a chosen few, Michael is a part-time hit man whose specialty is eliminating hard-core criminals.
Michael has managed to keep his two personas separate. Until now. When Nicki, a close friend, gets into trouble, Michael steps in to help. Having lost his fiance to a brutal crime, Michael will do whatever necessary to keep from losing another woman in his life.

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:
Some time ago, I served on a jury for the murder trial of a man accused of raping and murdering his girlfriend. While I had known that our justice system had flaws, this was a close-up view of those injustices behind our justice system. We, the jury, were not allowed to hear anything about the defendant's past. His life as a locked box. The victim, however, had no such privacy. The defense attorney gleefully flaunted the victim's past, including her sexual history from as far back as her teen years. I will never forget the look of
anguish on her parents' faces.
The defense did a great job of spinning the tale and making the victim out to be less than virtuous. After a week of this, when we were sent to deliberate, only two of the 12 jurors initially voted for murder one. I was one of them. The other 10 wanted involuntary manslaughter, citing her behavior and his cocaine use as "excuses". I should mention here that the man had left his dead girlfriend in his bed, while he went out and partied with friends all night. Also, according to witnesses, he was quite sober at the time of the murder. The other juror and I fought for, and eventually won, a murder one conviction. Before we left the courthouse, the judge spoke to us privately. She congratulated and thanked us for the conviction. At that time, she was able to tell us what had been carefully kept from us throughout the trial; the man we'd just convicted had a long history of abusing women. He'd already been convicted of several assaults and one rape. An involuntary manslaughter charge would have been little more than a slap on the wrist. He'd have been out in no time, free to rape and murder yet another woman.My husband and I were discussing this one day; that case specifically
and the justice system in general. That's when the character Michael Sykora was born. In many ways, Sykora is my husband's alter ego. (But, to be clear, my husband does not moonlight as a hit man!)
As for the specific plot, that developed from a combination of the characters' voices and the conversation with my husband. I don't write from an outline. I start with a character and a vague idea. Then I listen and follow where that leads me. About midway through writing No Justice, I realized that I had way too many plots and subplots going on. At that point, I knew that Michael Sykora needed to be a series. He wasn't happy with one book. I stripped down that initial manuscript and told the story of where I thought the series needed to begin. That became No Justice, because Michael Sykora doesn't believe in true justice.
Here's What I Think:
Let me just tell you that I stayed up till 1am to finish the last bit of this book! It is wonderfully written and I cannot wait to start the next in the series - Beyond Salvation. Michael is your average guy, not too ordinary but not exactly exceptional. But then you discover that he is a real-life hero and protector of the innocents. The flow of the writing weaves you through the disgusting underbelly of life while keeping you in suspense. You find yourself totally routing for the hit man - Michael - which seems like a strange thing, but he has all the right motivations. There is a bit of language but it is all contextually accurate. Also there are several typographical errors, but it is to be expected from a self-published book. I really really enjoyed the characters and story line of this book.
  
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)
  • Tweet about this Giveaway (include @1outnumberedmom) please include your status link
  • Follow me on Twitter @1outnumberedmom
  • 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
  • Follow Darcia Helle on Twitter
  • Grab my button (see sidebar) and put it on your blog (include a link to your blog in your comment) (3 entries)
  • Add a post to your own blog about this giveaway (include a link to your post in your comment)(5 entries)
All entries must be in by October 15th at 9:00AM PST. I will pick a winner using a Random Number Generator.!

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


What Are You Giving Away This Thursday? 9/23-9/29

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 Wind Warrior Blog Tour Giveaway ends 9/30
Your URL: http://busymomswholovetoread.blogspot.com/2010/09/wind-warrior-blog-tour-giveaway.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, September 22, 2010

Start Voting for the October 2010 Book Club Selection!

Well it would appear that the "revamp" has been accepted and hopefully you are all enjoying it. This month I wanted to focus on the "spooky" nature of October and pick some titles that can get you in the haunting mood.  So here is how book club works now: instead of answering specific discussion questions, you simply do a review of the month's book selection, as you normally would, but you link it here on the linky. You can link your review at any point in the month (this means that even if you have previously read the selected book, you could link in your own review). Then go to some of the other reviews and leave some comments. Here are the choices up for voting this month (yes I am aware they are all series books, but they are all first in their respective series - and who doesn't love a good series??)

 
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.


Interview with The Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, Book 1)by Anne Rice - This is the story of Louis, as told in his own words, of his journey through mortal and immortal life. Louis recounts how he became a vampire at the hands of the radiant and sinister Lestat and how he became indoctrinated, unwillingly, into the vampire way of life. His story ebbs and flows through the streets of New Orleans, defining crucial moments such as his discovery of the exquisite lost young child Claudia, wanting not to hurt but to comfort her with the last breaths of humanity he has inside. Yet, he makes Claudia a vampire, trapping her womanly passion, will, and intelligence inside the body of a small child. Louis and Claudia form a seemingly unbreakable alliance and even "settle down" for a while in the opulent French Quarter. Louis remembers Claudia's struggle to understand herself and the hatred they both have for Lestat that sends them halfway across the world to seek others of their kind. Louis and Claudia are desperate to find somewhere they belong, to find others who understand, and someone who knows what and why they are.


Storm Front (Dresden Files Book 1) by Jim Butcher

My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Conjure by it at your own risk. I'm a wizard. I work out of an office in midtown Chicago. As far as I know, I'm the only openly practicing professional wizard in the country. You can find me in the yellow pages, under Wizards. Believe it or not, I'm the only one there.

With rent past due and a decent meal becoming an issue of some importance, Harry needs work, and soon. A call from a distraught wife, and another from Lt Murphy of the Chicago PD Special Investigation Unit makes Harry believe things are looking up, but they are about to get worse, much worse. Someone is harnessing immense supernatural forces to commit a series of grisly murders. Someone has violated the first law of magic: Thou Shalt Not Kill. Tracking that someone takes Harry into the dangerous underbelly of Chicago, from mobsters...
DarkFever (Fever Series, Book 1) by Karen Marie Moning  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….


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

Voting will take place between now and September 30th. On October 1st I will announce the book selection and post the linky for you to begin linking up your reviews of the selected title.