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12.29.2011

The Thing I Say I Saw Last Night



Title: The Thing I Say I Saw Last Night
Author: Wendy Mckernan
Illustrator: Izabela Bzymek 
Genre: Childrens book
Age: 3-8 Years
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Little Dragon Publishing
Publication date: 11/15/2010
Source: Gift from the Author


Synopsis

The story begins with a boy waking up his younger sister to tell her about an incredible event that took place the night before. When he tells her he heard a strange noise, she imagines the worst - a hairy, purple, scary-looking monster. However, as the story progresses, more details emerge and the character she envisions goes through a series of changes until the final surprise ending.

This is a humorous, rhyming Christmas story that appeals to both boys and girls, and to adults who remember the magic of Christmas. Its underlying message is: things aren't as they seem.


Review


I don't usually review children's books on this blog, but I loved this book so much I just had to share it! My son is sick, so he's been in bed all day. When I told him he got mail his face lit up. He loves getting things from the mailman. He tore the package open and found the book! We had to read it right that second.



This is the cutest story I have ever read. It's about a little boy sharing with his sister a story about him catching Santa. The pictures are adorable, they show what the little sister sees while the brother tells the story. At first it's a big purple, hairy monster. Then the more details she gets the clearer the story becomes.

This book is absolutely adorable. My son, 4, loves this book!


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12.27.2011

Want to Review The Initiate by Megg Jensen?

A short story bridging the Cloud Prophet Trilogy and The Swarm Trilogy

 

Before Anathema...

Before Sleepers...

There was The Initiate

Over a thousand years ago, the gods left Eloh's people and took their magic with them. To win back their favor, her people sacrifice ten female initiates every ten years. No has ever survived. There has never been a Chosen One.

Forced into becoming an initiate, Eloh will try to find a way to beat the odds, stay with her boyfriend, and survive the fires that threaten to consume her. But will her lack of faith in the gods and her disbelief in their magic doom her to a painful death?





If you are a blogger and want to review The Initiate by Megg Jensen please leave me your email address in the comments below! 



12.21.2011

Author Interview: Shelli Johannes-Wells



I am so excited to have Author of Untraceable, Shelli Johannes-Wells
on the blog today! Untraceable was released November 29th. 
Welcome, and Thank you for taking the time out of your day to
answer some questions for us!



Bio:

S.R. Johannes lives in Atlanta Georgia with her dog, British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world. After earning an MBA and working in corporate america, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. You can find her hanging out online and visit her at srjohannes.com


When and why did you begin writing?

I always loved to write. When I was younger, I used to write short stories and poems. I even won a State essay contest, which to me was the lottery. But it went on the back burner all through college and my marketing career. After I had my daughter, I took maternity leave. Since I was an executive, I got 5 months. I started writing while she was napping. 

What inspired you to write this book?

I am always concerned about wrongs to nature and my husband camps a lot. He came back one weekend from camping and talking about how remote some places are. So emotes people could do things and get away with it. That sparked an idea that grew over time.

How did you get interested in writing this particular genre?

I think my brain stopped growing at 16. I relate better to teens and love young adult books. I also wanted to write strong girl characters.

How many books have you written?

Written? About 5. This is my first published one.

Is there anything you wish was different about this book?

Besides more sales and movie deal?? J No I love this book just the way it is. I’m 
very proud of it.

Is this book based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

All my characters have pieces of me - or someone I know - in them. That’s what makes writing so personal to most authors. I did visit NC and see the bear pits. I was so horrified; I had to do something to speak out against them.

What books have influenced your life most?

My life? Kahil Gibran, Bible, and teaching of Dali Lama. For my writing? James Patterson, Sue Grafton, and James Hall.

Do you have any current projects you’re working on?

I have a tween paranormal book, On the Bright Side, that was almost bought by a publishing house back in 2009 coming Jan 31st., 2012. And Uncontrollable (the sequel to Untraceable) is scheduled for summer 2012. I am also part of an indie pub group and we have an anthology coming out for Valentine’s Day with short stories from boy characters.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Voice is harder for me than plot.

How long does it take you to write a book?

6 months to a year from beginning to end.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Follow your heart and find confidence in your writing.

If you could jump into a book, and live in that world... Which would it be?

A utopic one that was truly utopic J

What do you think makes a good story?

I cannot read a book unless it is pacy and then makes me cry.

How do you react to a bad review?

I haven’t really gotten one yet. (knock on wood) But I would try not to. If it were constructive and well thought out, it wouldn’t bother me. Not everyone connects with a book. But if it were a personal attack on me or just plain mean, I wouldn’t (and don’t) give it any credibility. That is for any bad review – not just any for me.

Where is your favorite place to write?

My office. As long as it’s quiet. I can’t write in public, I have adhd so I get too distracted.

What’s the best thing about being an author?

I love the feeling of writing. Making up stories that people connect to. Seeing people care about your characters as if they were real.


Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today! It was so much fun!
Be sure to check out Untraceable. 



Grace grew up in the woods. When her forest ranger dad disappears on patrol, she fights town authorities, tribal officials, & nature to prove he’s alive. Torn between a hot boy and cute ex, she heads into the wilderness to find her dad. Soon, Grace is caught in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. It will take more than a compass and motorcycle for this tough heroine to save all she loves.








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12.19.2011

In My Mailbox #15

Hosted by Kristy at The Story Siren,  inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.
Where we post about books we have received 
during the week via mailbox, local library, or store bought, etc.
_______

I have tried to post this IMM twice today, but every time I think I've got every new book in the pile, a new one (or 5) show up on my door step. I'm not complaining though. Free books make me happy! Ok, on to what I got in my mail box!




Bought

Soul Screamers  - Rachel Vincent


Won

Not your Ordinary Faerie Tale - Christine Warren
Silence- Becca Fitzpatrick
Glow - Amy Kathleen Ryan


For Review

A Cold Creek Secret - RaeAnne Thayne
Cinder - Marissa Meyer
It Calls You Back - Luis Rodrigquez
The Dovekeepers - Alice Hoffman
Strange Flesh - Michael Olson
 Island Of Vice - Richard Zacks
Defending Jacob - William Landay


That's what I got in My Mailbox. 
What did you get in yours? 
Leave a link to your post in the comments.
I would love to see what you got!!


Cover Reveal: Sleepers


Introducing the new artwork for Megg Jensen’s bestselling novel SLEEPERS
To celebrate the re-launch of SLEEPERS in January of 2012, Megg is giving it a new cover with artwork from the incredible PhatPuppy.

 
Synopsis: An adoptee raised in a foreign land, sixteen-year-old Lianne was content with her life as handmaiden to the queen, until a spell cast on her at birth activated. Now she's filled with uncontrollable rage and access to magic she thought had been bled from her people years ago. Even her years of secret training in elite hand-to-hand combat and meditation can’t calm the fires raging inside her.
Her heart is torn between two boys, the one she’s always loved and the one who always ignored her. But when the kingdom threatens to tear itself apart due to rumors surrounding the queen’s alleged affair, who will Lianne protect and who will she destroy?


  
On sale now for only 99 cents!




buy her books

 Connect with the author
 Website | Facebook | Twitter
 
If you have reviewed Sleepers, feel free to post a link to your review. If you haven’t, but want to link to reviews, there are quite a few on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11815829-sleepers



12.09.2011

Christmas Offer

The Christmas Singing makes a prefect Christmas read!

And now you can get it 30% off and free shipping on The Christmas Singing (and any other title) when you use promo code CHRISTMAS11 at checkout on WaterBrookMultnomah.com The coupon code expires on December 20th, 2011


A video for you to view:



The first chapter:
The Christmas Singing (Chapter 1 Excerpt)

11.30.2011

BFB: Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest!



Christmas is a time for traditions, food, merriment, family, and...horrific seasonal sweaters. It's the only time of year where you can sport apparel with a Rudolph nose that blinks red lights without being teased (too much).

Enter the 2nd Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest and you could win a $500 Visa Gift Card...just in time for Christmas shopping!



There are two ways to enter:

  1. Enter the contest on Facebook
  2. Enter the contest on WaterBrook's Website

 Spread some Christmas cheer! Share your picture to win!

And don't forget to check out the ugly sweaters from 2010!

If you enter the contest, come back here and leave me your link! I would love to see all your Ugly Christmas Sweaters!

11.25.2011

Guest Post: Heather Huffman


Today I would like to welcome a very special guest, Heather Huffman. Not only is she releasing her fifth book in December, she also raises awareness about Human Trafficking. I feel more people should know about this, so I asked her to share some things with us today.



Many thanks to Ashley for allowing me to appear on The Blogging Book today – I appreciate the
chance to talk about my novels and the cause that drives them.

One of the greatest challenges I faced when breaking into the industry was the fact that my books
don’t fit neatly into any particular category, and they’re often hard to describe. The stories I write
don’t shy away from the darker corners of life, but they’re largely warm and funny reads. Although
my books are fictional, the characters and storylines are inspired by people I’ve met through my work.

There is always a piece of me in them, too. Some of the most outlandish tales are mine, tweaked to fit
the story. My failures and triumphs are woven into every page. Given my unlikely heroines, it makes
me giggle a little to see people try to figure out what’s me and what’s fiction.

Of course, each of the books is my favorite in one way or another. At the moment, I’m really excited
about the launch of my fifth book, Ring of Fire. While all of my books intertwine, this one really ties
together several themes and characters from my other novels.

Since the beginning, it’s been important to me to use the books as a way to not only entertain, but
to raise awareness for human trafficking. When I was researching Throwaway and Suddenly a Spy, I
was shocked to learn there are more people enslaved today than there was during the height of the
transatlantic slave trade.

According to the United Nations, more than 12 million people are exploited worldwide for forced labor
and sexual exploitation. Some place that number closer to 30 million. It’s estimated that 100,000
minors are in the commercial sex trade in the United States alone. Keep in mind, that’s just a best
guess. There are countless children missing from the foster care system. We have no way of knowing
for certain what their fate is, but many of them have been lost to the black market sex trade that runs
rampant in our country. The more I learn, the more my heart breaks.

It’s a massive problem. When I look at the whole picture, a part of me wants to curl up in the fetal
position and cover my ears. Instead, I try to chip away at it in the areas I can help.

For starters, I try to raise awareness through my books and speaking engagements. I raise funds and
support organizations I trust that are in the front lines. Project Liberty is a small but amazing group of
people out of Michigan. World Vision works on a global scale to fight poverty – which feeds the cycle
of trafficking. LiNK addresses the human rights issues in North Korea, a crisis that often results in
trafficking.

A great place to start your own research into the issue is Polaris Project. They have a wealth of
information and training materials available on their website.

For those truly wanting to become involved in the fight, there are countless organizations you can
plug into. I started by doing an Internet search for human trafficking coalitions in my area. The
organizations I mentioned above often have volunteer opportunities. If you’re struggling to find your
fit, you can always contact me. I’m happy to help my readers find their niche.

Many thanks again to Ashley for allowing me to share some information on human trafficking and
remember, if we all give just a little towards the fight, the result will add up to something huge!


Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to talk about how we can help out. Only if it's just a little.



Heather Huffman writes romantic suspense with strong female leads who refuse to lose hope. Though her stories never shy from looking into the world’s darker corners, they don't dwell there. Heather shares with her resilient heroines a passion to make a real difference and so donates a portion of her book royalties to organizations that fight against human trafficking.

Heather was born and spent her childhood in Florida but now calls the beautiful state of Missouri home. Her greatest joy, when not writing, is to hit the road with her three boys for adventures unknown. 



She has written four novels, that are out right now. 


 When society deemed Jessie a throwaway, she didn't let it stop her from finding the sunshine in her world...
But that world is threatened when she finds herself undeniably drawn to the mischievous glint in the eyes of a man unlike any she's ever met before.
What starts as a simple crush will lead them both on a journey they could never have anticipated. From a vibrant St. Louis neighborhood known as Cherokee Street to a cave in the Ozark Mountains with a 120-year-old mystery to hide, Jessie fights organized crime, corruption and her own fears to reclaim her life and leave her mark on this world.




 Neena Allen's life didn't exactly follow the path she'd anticipated. She couldn't have seen the twists and turns that would lead her to wander the woods, presumed dead by the prison guards. When Neena starts a new life in a little Arkansas town, she finds a contentment she never dreamed possible. The thing about skeletons in your closet is they always come back to haunt you.
 








Kate Yager never had a father, and she never minded - until her mom died. Now, acting on the name called out on her mother's deathbed, Kate has moved to San Francisco and gotten herself hired by the man she suspects to be her dad. As if a new job, new apartment, and new parent weren't enough, Kate finds herself head-over-heels in lust with a complete stranger she met at an art show. A stranger who, she later finds out, happens to work in her office.

As her relationships with her friends and father grow stronger, Kate has to confront the decisions of her past to find out whether she can love the man who gave her up, love the man who loves her truly, and even whether she can love herself



 
On her wedding day, Veronica Sinclair thinks she has it all: the loving family, the Vera Wang dress, the hunky husband. But then a mysterious and beautiful woman shows up at the reception, suggesting Veronica’s new hubby isn’t exactly who he says he is. As if that weren't enough, Veronica and Richard must flee gunmen in the middle of their honeymoon, convincing Veronica she got more than she bargained for when she said, “I do.”

Thrown into a world of espionage, seduction, and human trafficking, Veronica must fight for the life and husband she thought she had – and she must discover whether they are the life and husband she truly wants.


And Ring Of Fire will be out in December! I have heard nothing but good reviews for Heather's novels, so go check them out!


You can find out more about Heather Huffman and her books on:


11.23.2011

Author Interview & Giveaway: Chris Redding


I would like to welcome Chris Redding to the blog today!
She is releasing two novels this month,
Blonde Demolition, & A View To A Kilt
She's here to answer a few questions for us! Welcome Chris!
She is also giving away 1 ebook copy of Drinking Game!


Bio:
Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, one dog and three rabbits. She has always wanted to be a writer. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism with an English minor. When she isn’t writing, she works part time for her local hospital.

When and why did you begin writing?
I began writing when I was ten. We had an assignment for English class to write a story. I wrote about a lady with lots of cats.  I began writing for publication in 1997 when I was pregnant with my second child. Something about that pregnancy had my creative juices flowing.

What inspired you to write your first book?
I don’t remember. I was 14 at the time. I wrote in class instead of paying attention.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

Written? Probably 8 start to finish. I have more than that half done. My favorite is whatever I am working on at the time.

Is there a message in your novels that you want readers to grasp?

I always love this question. No, there isn’t. I’m not that deep.


Do you have any current projects you’re working on?

Right now I am in the middle of developing 2 writing workshops. Then I will get back to writing another thriller.

What do you think makes a good story?

You have to identify with the characters and the story has to make you forget you are reading a book.

Where is your favorite place to write?

I have a laptop so I travel. In the winter I write in my front room because it is the warmest room in the house.

Anything you would like to add?

I love to write. I get cranky when I don’t write for a while and when I do write I feel as if my body secretes endorphins. I’m happy for the whole day.

Great answers! Thank you so much for answering those questions for us! And congratulations on your releases this month!

Want to know more about Chris?

Connect with the author

Here are the two books being released this month!



Waking up next to a dead guy can ruin your whole day.

When a wise-cracking interior decorator wants to put her past behind her, the dead body of the mayor’s son makes it pretty clear that won’t happen too easily.

A conservative former computer geek for the FBI is holding on too tightly to his past. His wife died under suspicious circumstances and he believes the decorator has the information to solve the case. Unfortunately for him, she isn’t talking… until a series of events convinces her she needs protection especially when her biggest secret threatens to destroy both their lives.






YOU JUST CAN'T HIDE FROM THE PAST...

Mallory Sage lives in a small, idyllic town where nothing ever happens. Just the kind of life she has always wanted. No one, not even her fellow volunteer firefighters, knows about her past life as an agent for Homeland Security.

Former partner and lover, Trey McCrane, comes back into Mallory's life. He believes they made a great team once, and that they can do so again. Besides, they don't have much choice. Paul Stanley, a twisted killer and their old nemesis, is back.

Framed for a bombing and drawn together by necessity, Mallory and Trey go on the run and must learn to trust each other again―if they hope to survive. But Mallory has been hiding another secret, one that could destroy their relationship. And time is running out.

11.21.2011

In My Mailbox # 14

Hosted by Kristy at The Story Siren,  inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.
Where we post about books we have received 
during the week via mailbox, local library, or store bought, etc.
_______
 
 
 
For Review
Switched - Amanda Hocking
Sphinx's Queen - Esther Friesner

Bought

Wings - Aprilynne Pike
It Girl - Cecily von Ziegesar
Wake - Lisa McMann
Fade - Lisa McMann
Elsewhere - Gabrielle Zevin
City Of Ashes - Cassandra Clare
Thirst No. 1 - Christopher Pike
The Fallen 2 - Thomas E Sniegoski
My Teenage Beating Heart - C. K. Kelly Martin

Library

Crossed - Allie Condie
 
 
 
That's it for me! What did you get in your mailbox?
Leave your link in the comments. I will check it out!


11.18.2011

Audiobook Review: The Skin Map


Title: The Skin Map
Series: Bright Empires Series #1
Author: Stephen R. Lawhead
Narrator: Simon Bubb
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Compact Disc , 9 discs
Listening Length: 11 hours and 24 minutes
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Source: Thomas Nelson, Book Sneeze



Synopsis

It is the ultimate quest for the ultimate treasure. Chasing a map tattooed on human skin. Across an omniverse of intereing realities. To unravel the future of the future.
Kit Livingston's great-grandfather appears to him in a deserted alley during a tumultuous storm. He reveals an unbelievable story: that the ley lines throughout Britain are not merely the stuff of legend or the weekend hobby of deluded cranks, but pathways to other worlds. To those who know how to use them, they grant the ability to travel the multi-layered universe of which we ordinarily inhabit only a tiny part.
One explorer knew more than most. Braving every danger, he toured both time and space on voyages of heroic discovery. Ever on his guard, and fearful of becoming lost in the cosmos, he developed an intricate code--a roadmap of symbols--that he tattooed onto his own body. This Skin Map has since been lost in time. Now the race is on to recover all the pieces and discover its secrets.
But the Skin Map itself is not the ultimate goal. It is merely the beginning of a vast and marvelous quest for a prize beyond imagining.
The Bright Empires series—from acclaimed author Stephen Lawhead—is a unique blending of epic treasure hunt, ancient history, alternate realities, cutting-edge physics, philosophy, and mystery. The result is a page-turning, fantastical adventure like no other.


Review

This is my very first Audiobook. I have talked to a lot of people who love them, but they are not for me. Maybe if I had the book to read along to it would be better. I find myself think about other things while listening then I don't know what's going on. Not because it's boring, I thought the narrator was very good. I just don't stay focused on the story.

As for the story, I absolutely love this book! The story is great! An amazing adventure about a boy named Kit, in search for a map tattooed to the skin. An adventure filled with ancient history, philosophy, and mystery. But it's not any ordinary map, it reveals a portal between worlds. Imagine having the ability to go back in time and change a few minor details to make your present better.

Over all I thought this was a very good story. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and it left me wanting more.


Rate




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