Book Giveaway Winner!!

And the winner is .......................WrightysReads !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratualtions!!! I will email you for more information!!

Thank you to all that entered the giveaway....hope you come back and check out my reviews and enter future giveaways!!!

Thank you to Linda Weaver Clarke for donating the books for the giveaway!!

Make sure and check out my next blog entry...for details on the release of Book 3 of this series:

JENNY'S DREAM
by Linda Weaver Clarke

Book comes out: Monday December 1st!!!!

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Other Giveaways!!

Bookish Ruth is having a book giveaway for "The American Journey of Barak Obama by the Editors of LIFE magazine"..go HERE to enter the contest...runs through Dec. 3rd!

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Book Giveaway: Emily and the Mysterious Stranger

"Edith and the Mysterious Stranger:
A Family Saga
in Bear Lake Idaho"
By Linda Weaver Clarke

Synopsis:

With mysterious letters, cattle rustlers, a spunky woman, the liar's fire, Halloween, and young love, there is always something happening. It is 1904 and Melinda is "with child" and threatening to miscarry. Her cousin Edith, a nurse, moves to Paris to care for her. Edith has wonderful qualities but never gives a man a second chance because her expectations are so high.

However, all that changes when a mysterious stranger begins to write to her. For the first time, she gets to know a man's soul before making any harsh judgments. Whoever he is, this man is a mystery and the best thing that has ever happened to her. The question that puzzles her is whether or not he's as wonderful in person as he is in his letters. In the meantime, Melinda and Gilbert's sixteen-year-old daughter, Jenny, falls for a young man of questionable character. David has sort of a wild side to him, but Jenny only notices the goodness about him. This novel is the second of five in a family saga in Bear Lake Valley, Idaho.

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Ok everyone!! It is time for the next giveaway for the 2nd book in "A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho." This will be an Autographed copy of "Edith and the Mysterious Stranger" (actual book, not an ARC). I loved this book and you can see my review of it HERE . This is a historical fiction book with a story line that can read by all ages. It has good old fashioned values of family, strong women, open country, romance and historical references too!

This book giveaway will run from Monday Nov. 24 - Sunday Nov. 30, 10pm CT.

Rules:

1. For one entry, just leave a comment letting me know what some of YOUR favorite historical fiction writers are. PLEASE remember to leave your email address or blog so I have some way of getting a hold of you!!!!

2. For an extra entry, just make a post on you blog about my contest that has a link back here and put the link in comments so I can verify it.

3. This contest is for the "Edith" book only from Nov. 24th - Nov. 30th..at 10 pm CT. Winner will be emailed and announced by the evening of Dec. 1st. The contest is open to anyone in the U.S. or Canada.

Good Luck to everyone!!

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Book Giveaway Winner!!!

And the winner is ............ 6atgrove

Congratulations!!! Thank you to all who entered and stopped by my blog to enter!!!

The answers to the questions I asked are:

1. What famous outlaw robbed the bank in Montpelier, Idaho? Butch Cassidy

2. What famous structure was built in Leadville, CO. that people all over the world came to see? What happened to it in 1896? The Ice Palace , it melted in 1896

I will contact the winner by email to get more information to send the book out!

Now check out the next giveaway in the post after this one!!!

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Book Review: Pursuit of Light: An Extraordinary Journey

Description of the book from book jacket:

Pursuit of Light: An Extraordinary Journey is an astounding, horrifying, uplifting memoir that chronicles Sandy Brewer s inspirational journey from a childhood of rejection and abuse to a maturity characterized by wholeness, deep love, and acceptance. Through her gripping narration, one quickly discovers the enormous gulf between what happened to her and what she has chosen to make of her life. She finds within herself a unique ability to assist others to their own triumph and healing regardless of circumstances.

Sandy, a teacher, counselor, and lecturer with over thirty years experience, tells her story in compelling detail, interweaving it with insight, compassion, and humor. She demonstrates how a change in perspective or point of view is a powerful tool to help one heal the past and to feel the happiness of renewal and the joy of living in the moment. She finds that in her pursuit of Light, the Light she pursues has also been seeking her.

I am at a loss of words for this book. From the beginning, I had a hard time getting through this book. Nothing seemed to grab me and pull me in to the authors story. I would read a little, but then not pick up the book again for a week. I feel a bit in the minority having read a number of reviews for this book that just loved it. This is why I tell people reviews are a good beginning basis for a book, but it still is going to come down to whether YOU want to read it and if the subject grabs you. Even in my case...I didn't know I wouldn't enjoy it until I started reading it. Sometimes we choose right and sometimes wrong ( I have a few of books on my shelf like that).

I thank Lisa Roe from Online Publishing for this book ....

(not going to rate it..skimmed over much of the book, so feel it's unfair to rate it)

If anyone would like to read it..I would love to send it out to anyone who leaves me the first comment .

Book Review: Why the Wind Blows: A History of Weather and Global Warmning

Are you concerned about what is going to happen to our world as we know it? In the last few years especially, the weather patterns all over the country have been so erratic, no one has really been able to predict the activity accurately. The author of this book, Matthys Levy, uses simple words and true stories of the past that were effected by weather to get the readers attention as to what is happening to the world. From Magellan's 38-day adventure to the Unsinkable Titanic to the flooding in the Midwest (did you know nine time more people die in floods then hurricanes or earthquakes?), Levy describes how the weather effected many areas of our history. What really is causing Global Warming?? The 6 million people in the world, the way we create energy, weather and all the other reason the author gives are high on the list of many that is causing our world to fit back at us. The scariest fact I have seen are the ice caps melting. Seeing the photos from years past and now makes you wonder what our world is going to be like in 10-15 years.

I would recommend this book for all ages to read. You will get a better idea of what we are facing in the years to come if we don't start taking better care of our world.

4 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Lisa Roe from Online Publishing for sending me this book!

Book Review: Living Dead Girl

If you ever need a reminder to keep a better eye on your kids, this is the book to read. A disturbing and haunting story about the abduction of 10-year-old Alice and the years she spent being physically and mentally abused in a world created by "Ray." Years later, the twist comes when Ray asks Alice to find him a 'new, young girl.' This could be her way out, but at the cost of her life or being let go?

This story seemed more like a short story then a novel. The subject matter does pull you in to read the girl's story, but there was nothing more then the plight of the girl being held captive. I wanted to like the book more, even though the subject upset my stomach, yet this didn't happen. This is a powerful story, but not a book I would not have normally read (I got received the book as an ARC).

I recommend it if you can handle child abduction stories, but as anything else, there are more books to choose from.

3 of 5 stars





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Book Giveaway!!.....continues..

Update: You have until 10pm CT tonite, Nov 23rd to enter!!

You still have time to enter my book giveaway for "Melinda and the Wild West: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho"...Go HERE
to get all the details on how to get the details and you have until Sun. Nov. 23rd to enter!

Here are some interesting tidbits that are mentioned in the book....Do you know the answer to any of these questions (you don't have to have read the book to find the answers)??

1. What famous outlaw robbed the bank in Montpelier, Idaho?

2. What famous structure was built in Leadville, CO. that people all over the world came to see? What happened to it in 1896?

Whoever answers first, correctly, for each question, will get an extra entry to the book giveaway!!

Reminder:

"Jenny's Dream"
3rd book in
The Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho"

Comes out on December 1st!!!

Other Book Giveaways!

Take a hop over to Presenting Lenore for a book giveaway for "Chalice" by Robin McKinley...enter by Nov 25th!

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Tuesday Thingers!!

Popular this month on LT: Do you look at this list? Do you get ideas on what to read from it?

Have you read any of the books on the list right now? Feel free to link to any reviews you've done as well.

Here's the list and my answer:

1.The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

2.Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron

3.Nation by Terry Pratchett

4.Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

5.Anathem by Neal Stephenson

6.American Wife: A Novel by Curtis Sittenfeld

7.The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

8.The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel by David Wroblewski

9.Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland

10.Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3) by Stephenie Meyer

I have seen this list before and I do get ideas from it for myself and for gifts. Sadly, I have not read any of these books!! I do have American Wife, but have not read it yet. I would love to read Eclipse once I read the first 2 books. I want to read Brisingr and Dewey at some point too!!

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Book Giveaway: Two, 1 Week Long Contests!!

BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!
Nov. 17th - Nov. 23rd

Melinda and the Wild West:
A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho

To launch the release of Linda Weaver Clark's new book,

Jenny's Dream:
A Family's Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho

on Dec. 1st, I am going to have 2 giveaways in the next 2 weeks!! Since this is the third book in the series, I am going to give away the first 2 books. You can easily read the books independently, but I found I wanted to start from the beginning.

So, from Nov. 17th - 23rd I will have a author signed book giveaway for "Melinda and the Wild West" and announce the winner on Monday Nov. 24th. I will have another book giveaway for the 2nd book "Edith and the Mysterious Stranger" from Nov. 24th - 30th and announce the winner on Monday Dec 1st, the day of the release of the new, 3rd book "Jenny's Dream."

Rules:

1. For one entry, just leave a comment letting me know what some of YOUR favorite historical fiction writers are. PLEASE remember to leave your email address or blog so I have some way of getting a hold of you!!!!

2. For an extra entry, just make a post on you blog about my contest that has a link back here and put the link in comments so I can verify it.

3. This contest is for the "Melinda" book only from Nov. 17 - Nov. 23rd..at 10pm CT. Winner will be emailed and announced by the evening of Nov. 24th. The contest is open to anyone in the U.S. or Canada.

Make sure to check back throughout the week, I will be putting out little tidbits and questions from the book that might be fun to read and learn.

Good luck to all!!

Update: Thur. Nov 20: Go Here for the new blog with questions to answer for MORE entries!!

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Librarything Author Chat with Linda Weaver Clarke !!!

One of my favorite authors ,Linda Weaver Clarke, will be chatting over at LibraryThing Author Chat from Nov. 17 - Dec. 1!!



The 3rd book in her "Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho" series called "Jenny's Dream" is set to be released on Dec. 1st. It is a historical fiction book set in the early 1900's in Idaho. Here is a synopsis of the book:

"Jenny Roberts is home from college and is restless. She feels a need to spread her wings and fly away. She has dreams of becoming a writer and wants to pursue it, but that's not all. After she realizes that Will, her kindred friend, means more to her than she thought, she must now choose between writing and romance. Which dream should she pursue? The only thing standing in her way is an unpleasant memory from her past, which has haunted her since childhood. She must learn to forgive before she can choose which dream to follow.

A ten-foot grizzly bear is seen in the area and its boldness has frightened the community. But there is one man with the courage and determination to protect his family and neighbors: Gilbert Roberts. He attempts to defy this great beast but Melinda will not have her husband be part of it. Gilbert has other ideas. Old Half Paw must be stopped. "


I've written reviews on the first two books in the series "Melinda and the Wild West" and "Edith and the Mysterious Stranger", which I absolutely loved!! These books have story lines that include themes of family, strong women, open country, romance and historical references too!

So make sure and drop by the Author Chat Nov. 17 - Dec. 1 and talk with Linda!!

ALSO.......

Make sure and keep checking my blog...I am going to be running contests for Linda's books starting Monday Nov. 17th...and up until the release of "Jenny's Dream" December 1st!!!!

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Tuesday Thingers!!

Today's question: LT Things- t-shirts, bags,cue cats- are you into the "stuff"? Do you use a cuecat to enter your books, or do you enter them manually? What do you think of the stuff?

Hahaha...I actually put a cuecat on my Xmas list!! I manually put books in now, but at times it would be nice to have one. I haven't bought anything yet from the store, but I love buying 'stuff' ( I don't go overboard..just something here or there that will be useful in some way)!! I think it's important to help spread the word about a great website...and I love talking to people about it when they ask. A book bag is on my list to get soon too.
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Another bloggers contest!

Head over to A Bookworm's World to enter an awesome 5 book giveaway for "Lost and Found"....Make sure to enter by Nov. 15th at midnite!

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Winner of my Giveaway for the Book Giveaway Carnival Giveaway!!

Thank you to everyone that stopped by my blog and entered my book giveaway for the carnival! I had a great response and want to welcome my new readers to come back again soon for more reviews and giveaways!!

Make sure and stop by Bookroomreviews here, to see all the winners from everyone else's giveaways last week. just click Mister Linky!




Now, for the winner of my giveaway for American Wife

The winner is....... Bamabelle .........

Congratulations!! I've sent you a note to the email address you gave me...so please reply back within 3 days with your address so I can send you the book!!

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Other Blogger Contests I've found!

Bookshipper is having a good contest HERE for the book "Secrets to Happiness" by Sarah Dunn....it runs until Nov. 25th at 6pm.

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Book Review: A Summer Affair

This is a refreshing book about Claire, a modern woman whose friends think she has it all. A devoted husband, 4 great kids and a beautiful home in Nantucket. She should be happy, but Claire has a problem with setting limits. Her cup overflows when she takes the chairperson position for the charity ball. She not only has to deal with the activities of the ball, but finds her emotions confused. She falls for a married man that gives her what she thinks she is missing in her own life. The ending may surprise you, but it makes you reflect on you own life...and how you lead it.

I enjoyed this book and was swept up in to Claire's life. I couldn't put the book down and finished it too quickly. I hadn't read any of Elin Hilderbrand's books before, but will be putting them on my 'to read' list.

Thanks to Miriam from Hatchette Book Groups for this book copy to review!! :-)

Rating 4/5

Book Review: The Dangerous Days of Daniel X

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but James Patterson was one of the writers, so I had to read it! Here is a good synopsis about the book on the inside cover:

Daniel's secret abilities --- like being able to manipulate objects and animals with his mind or to re-create himself in any shape he choses -- have helped him survive. But Daniel doesn't have a normal life. He is the protector of Earth, the Alien Hunter, with a mission beyond anyone's imagining.

David has "the list" of the worst aliens, which includes the assassins that killed his parents. As a young kid, he doesn't understand his abilities, but as he gets older he realizes the importance of his skills and how important he is to keeping Earth safe. He believes he is alone in his battle, but finds out that you can go home and find yourself again.

My first thoughts about this book was that this was another 'kill the alien" book, but it's much more than that. The alien hunter part of the story is only a small part of the book. We see a boy grow and learn about himself and what part in the world he is meant to be a part of. The history of his family and where they came from (another planet) is a moving part of the book that facinated me. The speech of Spock and Kirk from Star Trek comes to mind when reading this book for me: "The needs of the many - outweigh the needs of the few or the one!"

I would recommend reading this book and the sequel that will be coming out soon! Patterson has been careful of the language and content of the book to allow anyone from 10 to 100 to read the book!

Rating 4.5/5

Thank you to Miriam at Hachette Books for this book!!

Book Giveaway Carnival!!!! Enter now!!!

The Book Giveaway Carnival has started!!! It runs from Nov. 3 - Nov 8...there are a lot of sites running giveaways, so make sure to check out Bookroomreviews for the link to Mister Linky to see all sites!!



I am giving away an advanced reader copy of the book "American Wife." Just leave me a comment that includes your email address and you will be entered. Only one entry per person.
I will be drawing the winner after 10pm Saturday Nov. 8th and will post the winner sometime on Sunday.

Thanks to Bookroomreviews for getting this Carnival going!!!

Good luck to all!!!