Giveaway: Only Time Will Tell by Jeffery Archer - 5 Winners! Review Coming SOON

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffery Archer

Book Description: From the internationally bestselling author of Kane and Abel and A Prisoner of Birth comes Only Time Will Tell, the first in an ambitious new series that tells the story of one family across generations, across oceans, from heartbreak to triumph.About the Author: Jeffrey Archer was educated at Oxford University. He has served five years in Britain’s House of Commons and fourteen years in the House of Lords. All of his novels and short story collections--including And Thereby Hangs a Tale, Kane and Abel, Paths of Glory and False Impression--have been international bestselling books. Archer is married with two sons and lives in London and Cambridge. Here's What I Think: REVIEW COMING SOON!

The epic tale of Harry Clifton’s life begins in 1920, with the words “I was told that my father was killed in the war.” A dock worker in Bristol, Harry never knew his father, but he learns about life on the docks from his uncle, who expects Harry to join him at the shipyard once he’s left school. But then an unexpected gift wins him a scholarship to an exclusive boys’ school, and his life will never be the same again.
As he enters into adulthood, Harry finally learns how his father really died, but the awful truth only leads him to question, was he even his father? Is he the son of Arthur Clifton, a stevedore who spent his whole life on the docks, or the firstborn son of a scion of West Country society, whose family owns a shipping line?
This introductory novel in Archer’s ambitious series The Clifton Chronicles includes a cast of colorful characters and takes us from the ravages of the Great War to the outbreak of the Second World War, when Harry must decide whether to take up a place at Oxford or join the navy and go to war with Hitler’s Germany. From the docks of working-class England to the bustling streets of 1940 New York City, Only Time Will Tell takes readers on a journey through to future volumes, which will bring to life one hundred years of recent history to reveal a family story that neither the reader nor Harry Clifton himself could ever have imagined.

WIN IT!! - FIVE Very Lucky BMWL2R Readers will each get a copy of Only Time Will Tell by Jeffery Archer

Mandatory Entry: Become a GFC Follower of BMWL2R (see sidebar) Please include your email address (anti-spam version okay) in your comment.

Extra Entries: PLEASE LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY. You must complete the Mandatory Entry for your extra entries to count.

'Like' BMWL2R on Facebook
'Like' Jeffery Archer on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter @1outnumberedmom
Blog about this giveaway 5 extra entries (leave a separate comment for each entry)

Open to US Residents ONLY. GOOD LUCK!

This Giveaway will end on August 16th at 11:59PM PST. Winners will be selected the following day and have 48 hours to respond to the email notification.

Disclaimer: Although I did receive this book for review purposes, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post.

If you are an author or publisher and would like an honest review of your title, please contact me at polsen11atcomcastdotnet

Review & GIVEAWAY! To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal - 2 winners!

To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal

Book Description: Judith Whitman always believed in the kind of love that "picks you up in Akron and sets you down in Rio." Long ago, she once experienced that love. Willy Blunt was a carpenter with a dry wit and a steadfast sense of honor. Marrying him seemed like a natural thing to promise. But Willy Blunt was not a person you could pick up in Nebraska and transport to Stanford. When Judith left home, she didn't look back.

Twenty years later, Judith's marriage is hazy with secrets. In her hand is what may be the phone number for the man who believed she meant it when she said she loved him. If she called, what would he say?

TO BE SUNG UNDERWATER is the epic love story of a woman trying to remember, and the man who could not even begin to forget.

About the Author: Tom was born in Santa Ana, California. His father was a native Californian who raised oranges, and his mother grew up on a farm in northwest Nebraska, where Tom spent his childhood summers. After earning a BA and a teaching credential from UC Berkeley, Tom moved to Hay Springs, Nebraska, taught high school English, drove a school bus, substituted briefly in a one-room schoolhouse, and began work on what would become Goodnight, Nebraska. Tom holds an MA in creative writing from UC Irvine and was a Stegner Fellow and Jones Lecturer at Stanford University. His short stories have been widely anthologized, and "What Happened to Tully" was made into a film. He is the author, with his wife, Laura, of four young adult novels published by Knopf and a picture book called The Dog Who Lost his Bob. He has two sons and lives in Southern California, where he grows oranges.Here's What I Think: This book is incredibly real. It may be a very sad story but it is so well written that you want to finish it. The characters are so dynamic and complete, that you feel like you know them. McNeal has a very strong voice for storytelling. This may sound sexist on my part but I will say that I am shocked that a man can write such a realistic view of the relationship between a man and a woman, not because men don't understand this concept but because they usually have difficulty expressing that understanding. I really enjoyed this novel.

WIN IT!! - Two Very Lucky BMWL2R Readers will each get a copy of To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal

Mandatory Entry: Become a GFC Follower of BMWL2R (see sidebar) Please include your email address (anti-spam version okay) in your comment.

Extra Entries: PLEASE LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY. You must complete the Mandatory Entry for your extra entries to count.

'Like' BMWL2R on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter @1outnumberedmom
Blog about this giveaway 5 extra entries (leave a separate comment for each entry)

Open to US Residents ONLY. GOOD LUCK!

This Giveaway will end on August 9th at 11:59PM PST. Winners will be selected the following day and have 48 hours to respond to the email notification.

Disclaimer: Although I did receive this book for review purposes, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post.

If you are an author or publisher and would like an honest review of your title, please contact me at polsen11atcomcastdotnet

Review & GIVEAWAY! The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox

The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox

Book Description: Dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and an evil queen – all these and more can be found in The Magic Warble, an enchanting tale of adventure and friendship.
Twelve-year-old Kristina Kingsly feels like the most unpopular girl in her school. The kids all tease her, and she never seems to fit in. But when Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift, she suddenly finds herself magically transported to the land of Bernovem, home of dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and the evil Queen Sentiz.



In Bernovem, Kristina not only fits in, she’s honored as “the chosen one” the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz’s control. But it’s not as simple as it seems. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous “Magic Warble” in its final resting place. And she must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen’s “zelbocks” before she reaches her destination. Guided by her new fairy friends, Clover and Looper and by Prince Werrien, a teenage boy, as well as an assortment of other characters, Kristina sets off on a perilous journey that not only tests her strength but her heart.



About the Author: Victoria, known as Vicki, was born in 1966, in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother, and a Dutch immigrant father. She has one older sister, Jeannette. When Vicki was 7, she moved with her family to British Columbia. In her early twenties Vicki moved to Western Washington and now resides in Marysville WA. She has been married to her husband Russ, for nineteen years and they have three children; Toby, who is fifteen, Kristina, thirteen, and William, eight. She has home schooled her children for the past nine years, and she also teaches elementary school art. Vicki’s other family members are, a Chihuahua, named Pipsy, two cats, Frodo, and Fritz, and two parakeets, Charlie, and Paulie. She did have a pet rat named Raymond when she started writing The Magic Warble, but sad to say, he has since passed away of old age. Vicki enjoys writing, painting watercolors, watching movies, hanging out with her family, and chauffeuring her kids around to their many activities. Her favorite author is C.S. Lewis, and one of her fondest memories is when she was twelve. She would sit at the kitchen table and read The Chronicles of Narnia to her mother while she cooked dinner. These magical stories were very dear to Vicki and she remembers wishing, If only I could go to Narnia like Lucy and Susan. Vicki hopes that maybe, she can touch someone with her story in a similar way.


Here's What I Think: If you are looking for a book to read along with your tween daughter- this is it. The story is intriguing and captivating enough to keep your own interest while whimsical and interesting enough for a young reader. The book lists as being geared to kids aged 9-12 but even my 14 year old niece enjoyed it. The book is a great study in character development as each character has it's own moment, all while not allowing the book to become overly descriptive. The same goes for some very vivid imagery. I really enjoy the great messages in this story that make it easy for a young girl to relate, and I love Kristina's story.

WIN IT!! - ONE Very Lucky BMWL2R Reader will get a copy of The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox


Mandatory Entry: Become a GFC Follower of BMWL2R (see sidebar) Please include your email address (anti-spam version okay) in your comment.


Extra Entries: PLEASE LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY. You must complete the Mandatory Entry for your extra entries to count.


'Like' BMWL2R on Facebook
Become a GFC Follower of Victoria Simcox's Blog
'Like' The Magic Warble on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter @1outnumberedmom
Blog about this giveaway 5 extra entries (leave a separate comment for each entry)


Open to US Residents ONLY. GOOD LUCK!


This Giveaway will end on July 31st at 11:59PM PST. Winners will be selected the following day and have 48 hours to respond to the email notification.

Disclaimer: Although I did receive this book for review purposes, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post.

If you are an author or publisher and would like an honest review of your title, please contact me at polsen11atcomcastdotnet

Review & GIVEAWAY! Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand (2 Winners)

Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

Book Description: Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing - because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars.Desperate and facing homelessness, Meredith receives a call from her old best friend, Constance Flute. Connie's had recent worries of her own, and the two depart for a summer on Nantucket in an attempt to heal. But the island can't offer complete escape, and they're plagued by new and old troubles alike. When Connie's brother Toby - Meredith's high school boyfriend - arrives, Meredith must reconcile the differences between the life she is leading and the life she could have had. Set against the backdrop of a Nantucket summer, Elin Hilderbrand delivers a suspenseful story of the power of friendship, the pull of love, and the beauty of forgiveness.

About the Author: Elin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and traveled extensively before settling on Nantucket, which has been the setting for her five previous novels. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa.Here's What I Think: If you are looking for the perfect book to read while lazing about in your backyard this summer, this is it. Its the classic tale of one woman's life getting turned upside down in the blink of an eye. This book looks closely at the ideas of friendship, grief, loss, family dynamics, and trust. I have always enjoyed the imagery of Hilderbrand, and she delivers another great read in Silver Girl. Connie and Meredith are well thought out characters that you route for every step of the way.

WIN IT!! - Two Very Lucky BMWL2R Readers will each get a copy of Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

Mandatory Entry: Become a GFC Follower of BMWL2R (see sidebar) Please include your email address (anti-spam version okay) in your comment.

Extra Entries: PLEASE LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY. You must complete the Mandatory Entry for your extra entries to count.

'Like' BMWL2R on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter @1outnumberedmom
Blog about this giveaway 5 extra entries (leave a separate comment for each entry)

Open to US Residents ONLY. GOOD LUCK!

This Giveaway will end on July 31st at 11:59PM PST. Winners will be selected the following day and have 48 hours to respond to the email notification.

Disclaimer: Although I did receive this book for review purposes, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post.

If you are an author or publisher and would like an honest review of your title, please contact me at polsen11atcomcastdotnet

What Are You Giving Away This Thursday? BOOK Giveaway Linky 12/2-12/18

I hope you are all getting into the holiday season and remembering to take time to celebrate with family and friends!

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 Terrible T.Rex Kids Book ends 11/28
Your URL: http://busymomswholovetoread.blogspot.com/2010/11/gratitude-giveaway-welcome-newcomers.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)

Gratitude Giveaway - Welcome Newcomers!! Review & Giveaway: The Case of the Terrible T.rex

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!

 Gratitude Giveaways - Blog Follower Appreciation - A way to say thank you to your fabulous followers 
For this giveaway I wanted to feature a Kid's Book that I think would make a fabulous Christmas Gift for a kiddo on your list!

The Case of the Terrible T-rex by Michele Torrey
Book Description: “Did I just say that it doesn’t get any better?” asked Frisco. “Well, ha ha! I lied! Behold . . . the one and only . . . the best, the most fabulous and horrifying . . . ha ha! . . . BEAST!” And he whipped the curtain open.

“Oh my gosh!” cried Nell, her jaw dropping.
“Great Scott!” cried Drake, his knees turning to jelly.
“I can’t believe it!” cried Pepper. “It’s a T. rex!” . . .
Are you in danger of losing the fossil contest because your enemy has unearthed a full-size T-Rex skeleton? Has your oven suddenly started talking to you? Egads! There’s no time to lose! Doyle and Fossey are your only hope!

About the Author: I have always had a fascination with words and the power of language. When I read a beautifully-crafted sentence, I savor the words like one might savor a piece of chocolate. Combine the craft of language with fabulous story-telling, in which the characters are beloved (or hated!), where I can hardly put the book down long enough to feed the cat, and-sigh!-I’m in heaven.

I feel most aligned with the universe when I am actively writing; the art of language is embedded in my soul. When I’m writing, the hours fly by and, come the end of the day, I’m pleasantly weary. My writing has been an incredible journey. Go to FAQ to read more about my journey, plus my thoughts and advice on writing.
Check out more on Michele Torrey's Website

WIN IT! 
 

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)
• 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!

All entries must be in by November 28th at 11:59pm PST. I will pick a winner using a Random Number Generator.!

I wish you the best of luck!

Check out these other Gratitude Giveaways:

Disclaimer: Although I did receive a copy of this title for review, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post.

If you are an author or publisher and would like me to review your title and/or facilitate a giveaway of your book, please contact Pam at polsen11atcomcastdotnet.

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? 9/9-9/15 BOOKS ONLY!!

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 The Serotonin Power Diet Book ends 9/8
Your URL: http://busymomswholovetoread.blogspot.com/2010/08/guest-article-giveaway-serotonin-power.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)

Review & Giveaway: EATING ANIMALS by Jonathan Safran Foer

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

EATING ANIMALS by Jonathan Safran Foer


Book Description: Like many young Americans, Jonathan Safran Foer spent much of his teenage and college years oscillating between enthusiastic carnivore and occasional vegetarian. As he became a husband, and then a father, the moral dimensions of eating became increasingly important to him. Faced with the prospect of being unable to explain why we eat some animals and not others, Foer set out to explore the origins of many eating traditions and the fictions involved with creating them.

Traveling to the darkest corners of our dining habits, Foer raises the unspoken question behind every fish we eat, every chicken we fry, and every burger we grill. Part memoir and part investigative report, Eating Animals is a book that, in the words of the Los Angeles Times, places Jonathan Safran Foer "at the table with our greatest philosophers."

About the Author: Jonathan Safran Foer is one of the most acclaimed young writers of his generation, a “certified wunderkind” (Time) whose work has appeared in The Paris Review, New York Times, and The New Yorker. He has earned a National Jewish Book Award, a Guardian First Book Award, and remarkable praise for his first two novels, Everything Is Illuminated (adapted for film in 2005) and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Eating Animals is his first work of nonfiction.
Author's Website

Here's What I Think:
This book is an incredible mix of information and emotional connection. It is written in such a way that you don't realize the very political undertones. Foer has really jumped deep down into our very moral fiber and started digging around. I really believe that he wants to understand not just how but why we have made the choices that have lead to our current food industry. The book is peppered with entertaining anecdotes (like debating whether or not to eat the family dog or the time snuck into a farm) that surprisingly do not detract from the serious message of the book, but rather bring it closer to home. This book has truly forced me to think a little harder about the items on the grocer's shelves and the food I serve to my family. A great read, important for the world we are creating around us.

  

WIN IT! The good people at Hachette Book Group have agree to give two lucky winners a copy of EATING ANIMALS by Jonathan Safran Foer 

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!
• Become a GFC follower of my BFF's new blog - One Page At A Time
• 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 September 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? 8/26-9/1

This is really turning into a great little linky and yay! I have won three new books in the last week!! Let's see what we can win this week!

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.

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 The Serotonin Power Diet Ends 9/8
Your URL: http://busymomswholovetoread.blogspot.com/2010/08/guest-article-giveaway-serotonin-power.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)

Guest Article & Giveaway: The Serotonin Power Diet By Judith J. Wurtman, PhD

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!!

The Serotonin Power Diet By Judith J. Wurtman, PhD

You Can Prevent PMS from Destroying Your Diet 

By Judith J. Wurtman, PhD,
Co-Author of The Serotonin Power Diet: Eat Carbs -- Nature's Own Appetite Suppressant -- to Stop Emotional Overeating and Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain


Dieters face situations that threaten their will power or even their ability to get the foods they are supposed to be eating. Catered business lunches, Sunday dinners at a relative's home, birthday parties, lack of time to go to the supermarket: These are only a handful of the obstacles that stand between the dieter and her food plan. These problems are so common that advice on how to deal with them is standard in most weight-loss books and group programs.


But there is a threat to the female dieter that cannot be overcome by food lists and will-power and that is Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS.


PMS is a monthly disturbance in mood and appetite brought on by hormonal changes a few days before menstruation. Not all women experience it and even those who do may find that certain months are worse than others. But when it hits, it can be like a tidal wave, knocking down eating control, exercise programs and emotional stability. PMS removes a sense of emotional well-being and deposits in its place anger, irritability, confusion, exhaustion and depression. These unpleasant moods are often accompanied by an impulsive, uncontrollable need to eat. The foods craved during the last days of the menstrual cycle fall either into the greasy, salty, crunchy, starchy category or the fatty, creamy, sugary category.


Although it has been clear for millennium that something was happening to women each month that altered their mood, sleep, energy and eating, the explanations were often closer to witchcraft than science. Even in the latter part of the last century, remedies were suggested that turned out to be totally ineffective or actually worsened the condition. For instance, chocolate craving is a hallmark of PMS as in "I could kill for chocolate." So well-meaning PMS therapists assumed chocolate was causing PMS and forbade it. It was believed that water on the brain (this was actually mentioned in the scientific literature) was affecting mood so diuretics were prescribed. Because the hormone progesterone increases in relation to estrogen at the end of the menstrual cycle, well-intentioned physicians prescribed even more to offset the PMS symptoms. This went on until carefully controlled research showed that progesterone made the symptoms worse. And even today, women's magazines tell their readers to exercise, drink water, and eat fruits and vegetables to reduce the severity of the symptoms. This advice sounds good but it is impossible to follow by women who are exhausted, weepy, angry, and craving salty, greasy french fries.


Women with premenstrual syndrome do indeed eat more at that time than during the other weeks of their menstrual cycle. We monitored the calorie intake of women during their menstrual cycle in a study carried out at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Women lived in the Clinical Research Center during the first few days of their cycle and then returned three weeks later when they had PMS. The normal weight volunteers consumed about 1100 calories more when they were premenstrual than they did at other times of the month. And to no one's surprise, the extra calories came from chocolate, potato chips, cookies and crackers.


Our volunteers had no problem returning to their healthy way of eating once the PMS passed and they easily lost the pound or two they may have gained from their premenstrual munching. But for dieters, PMS poses more than a temporary halt in their weight loss. Premenstrual syndrome may cause the dieter to abandon her diet.


One of our weight-loss clients described the effect of PMS on her weight loss: "For three weeks I am in control, and my food choices follow the diet plan exactly. Then one day, during the fourth week of my menstrual cycle, I wake up with an uncontrollable urge to eat junk food. I simply can't stop myself. This goes on for three or four days until I get my period. So of course my diet is blown, and I am three or four pounds heavier than I was a week earlier."


Yet it is possible to stop PMS from destroying a diet.


The solution is to increase the production of serotonin, the brain chemical involved in regulating mood and weight. We discovered at MIT that serotonin activity is diminished during PMS so simply increasing serotonin production reduces the unpleasant mood and overeating during this time of the month.


Increasing serotonin is easy. The brain chemical is made when a non-fruit carbohydrate is eaten. Here is all that needs to be done:


Twice a day (or more if necessary) eat a snack containing 30-35 grams of a starchy or sweet carbohydrate. Choose foods that have no more than 2 grams of protein and 2 grams of fat. Protein prevents serotonin from being made, and fat just adds calories.


Eat the foods on an empty stomach or three hours after a meal.


The snacks should be regarded as edible therapy for the PMS, not as a source of nutrition. Make sure you take your usual vitamin and calcium supplements and eat as many fruits, vegetables, low or non-fat dairy products and lean protein as your PMS cravings will allow.


Good snack choices include popcorn, fat-free fudge sauce (for PMS chocolate cravers), sweetened breakfast cereal, an English muffin with jam, oatmeal with brown sugar, graham crackers, low-fat granola bars, very low-fat ice cream or frozen yogurt, low-fat rice or soy crackers, pretzels, low-fat meringue cookies, low-fat biscotti and cotton candy (in case you have PMS while at a county fair).


A few caveats:


Alcohol is not a substitute for the carbohydrate.
Eating fruit will not lead to serotonin production.
Soda and other foods made with high fructose corn syrup sweeteners do not lead to serotonin production.
Restrain yourself from munching on fat-filled brownies, chips, ice cream, and chocolate. Your brain doesn't know the difference but your scale will.


The effects of eating a low or fat-free carbohydrate snack on your mood and appetite should be felt within 45 minutes or even sooner. After eating the snack, relax, meditate, read a book or contemplate that when you reach menopause, all this will be over.






© 2010 Judith J. Wurtman, PhD, co-author of The Serotonin Power Diet: Eat Carbs -- Nature's Own Appetite Suppressant -- to Stop Emotional Overeating and Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain






Author Bio


Judith J. Wurtman, PhD, co-author of The Serotonin Power Diet: Eat Carbs -- Nature's Own Appetite Suppressant -- to Stop Emotional Overeating and Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain, has discovered the connection between carbohydrate craving, serotonin, and emotional well-being in her MIT clinical studies. She received her PhD from George Washington University, is the founder of a Harvard University hospital weight-loss facility and counsels private weight management clients. She has written five books, including The Serotonin Solution, and more than 40 peer-reviewed articles for professional publications. She lives in Miami Beach, Florida.


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