Thursday, June 30, 2011

FREEDOM GIVEAWAY HOP!!! 200+ BLOGS PARTICIPATING!!!

FREEDOM HOP GIVEAWAY BLOG HOP IS OVER*** IS OVER*** IS OVER*** IS OVER*** IS OVER*** IS OVER*** JULY 1st to JULY 7th!

"$15 AMAZON "BOOK" GIFT CARD WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON SUNDAY, JULY 9th!!!

OTHER NEWS:
The WINNER of "Summer Rental" by Mary Kay Andrews is: NICOLE SENDER !!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Nicole Sender does not have a Blog so I do not have a Blog address for her. Let's all congratulate her!!!
Nicole's book HAS BEEN MAILED OUT TO HER!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

The POST BELOW THIS ONE: "MEGAN'S WAY" by Melissa Foster is OVER ALSO NOW!!! It runs through this Monday, July 4th ALL DAY till 11:59pm!

"Megan's Way" by Melissa Foster Blog Tour! SEE GIVEAWAY TAB FOR MEGAN'S WAY! Thursday, June 30th to ALL DAY Monday, July 4th to11:59pm!!


You Tube Book Trailers! Please copy and paste these into your Browser!
Megan's Way: http://youtu.be/1oq6wSElskU
Chasing Amanda: http://youtu.be/CHyV_lJzboM
You can see these here on my Blog at the top on the left side column, the
first Video Bar. Run your cursor over The Video Bar, and it will change.
It is the YouTube Book Trailer for BOTH books!

Look to the left side-column. There are two Video Bar's! You will see BOOK TRAILERS! The TOP ONE is for MEGAN'S WAY AND CHASING AMANDA! BOTH BY MELISSA FOSTER!

GIVEAWAY!!! '1' PRINT COPY OF THIS BOOK UNDER THE **GIVEAWAY** MEGAN'S WAY TAB!! PLUS, an Author Interview and MORE INFO all about this book! Book Blog Tour Sponsored by WOW! Women on Writing!

Megan's Way by Melissa Foster, My Review
Megan’s Way is a very poignant love story between mother and daughter. Megan has been a single mother to 14 year old, Olivia, and the two of them are and have been inseparable since the day Olivia was born. The love they share is unlike any other.
Megan gets hit hard a second time around with a cancer she fought so hard to get survive from the first time. It’s back. Megan knows it is back. Olivia knows it is back without her mother even having to tell her. Megan is trying so hard to hide it from Olivia, but Olivia knows. This time, they both know the outcome is not what they want it to be. It is just known. This time it will be Megan’s way, and no one else’s.
Immediately the tone is set where we have the fear of Megan dying and we don’t want her to. We love the strength Megan has. We worry about Olivia. The characters have a very special connection they share together. They know when something is wrong with the other. Call it a sixth sense; call it Spiritual. Olivia is upset, yet very sad at the same time knowing her mother is going to die. Olivia hears her mother in the bathroom throwing up. She sees her in the car pulling over, having to throw up. Olivia knows what is going on. She can feel it. There is no doubt her mother is not going to beat the cancer this time. How does a young 14-year old deal with something like this? The loss of the only parent she has, or ever known and loves?
Megan has a very special lifelong friendship bond with three friends who have all been together since childhood. They all care for each other, and especially Megan and Olivia very deeply. They all have their own lives, as well as their own secrets, as all people do. We learn about them all. These characters focus on one thing now. Olivia. As they all go through this loss together, they also suffer independently, as well. Nothing is to be taken for granted. The journey they all go through together as Megan says goodbye is unlike any other friendship I have seen. It is a very Spiritual goodbye. It is caring, and so very, very special. This story is at its finest.
There is a lot I have left out of this book review and it may seem a little sketchy, but I did it intentionally. I do not want to give away any spoilers because this book is a must-read book! Do know there is much, much more to this story than what I have written about. There is so much more you won’t want to put this book down, at least I did not want to!. There are some great shockers in it as well, so much so, they will make you literally turn back pages and reread them over to make sure what you just read is correct! At least I had to do that! You will fall out of your chair! Melissa Foster is such a talented and exceptional writer, she has written a book with such a heavy subject matter, something we all fear and dread, yet turns it around to touch our hearts with it. This is writing at its’ finest. This story will stay with you always. You will never forget this book. It puts that mark on our hearts forever. Is it any wonder this book has been adapted into a movie? Yes, it IS that good! This is not just a must-read this book, it is a HAVE TO read book! I give this book a 5-star rating! Remember, I just don’t give out 5-star ratings! The book must be exceptional, and this one IS VERY EXCEPTIONAL!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Author/Publicist/Publisher to read and write a review of this book. I was not required to write a positive or negative review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


I'm going to post the Author Interview right here because she has some links for you to go to if you would like to check them out! Melissa is a wonderful person (in addition to being a wonderful author!), she LOVES to stay in contact with her Reader's and takes great effort to do so! At the end of this Interview, all of her links will be posted! You can visit them all if you'd like! You can also LEAVE COMMENTS FOR MELISSA RIGHT HERE AS WELL!!!


***For the GIVEAWAY: PLEASE CLICK ON THE **GIVEAWAY** Megan's Way TAB to fill out the FORM!!! The Giveaway is '1' print copy of her book! GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!!

INTRODUCING MELISSA FOSTER! She answers our questions below her photo! Feel FREE to LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW, and, you can ALWAYS contact Melissa at the website she founded, which is called 'The Women's Nest'! The web addy is: http://www.thewomensnest.com Take some time and visit her there! She LOVES company! (To enter the Giveaway, go to the TAB - ***GIVEAWAYS*** - MEGAN'S WAY please DON'T leave a comment to enter the giveaway as there is a specific form under that tab! Enjoy!


1. First, I would like to congratulate you on winning ALL the awards you have won for Megan’s Way! CONGRATULATIONS! I know some of them were finalists. As of now, what are ALL the Awards you have won for Megan’s Way?

MELISSA: Thank you, Laurie. So far, Megan's Way was the Winner for the 2011 Beach Book Festival Award in the Spiritual category, Finalist, 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for New Age, and both Megan's Way and Chasing Amanda are currently nominated for the Dan Poynter Global eBook Awards.

2. I see Megan’s Way is going to be a movie! CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN! Can you tell us when it is supposed to come out? Is it a Made for TV, such as Lifetime TV or for the Big Screen?

MELISSA: Megan's Way is currently in the process of being cast. The movie will first go to the film festivals, and if it does well, it will hopefully hit the big screen. As for timing, I'm not certain when it will be complete, but we hope by the end of the summer.

3 While the screen writer’s have adapted it into a movie, how much work did you put into the adaption? Did they change it a lot?

MELISSA: The director decided to go with my screenplay rather than the one that the screenplay writer and I developed. To that end, I did all of the writing. The director and I are completely on the same page with our vision of the movie. I don't think much of the actual story will be cut out of the movie--if we can keep it within a reasonable viewing period, that is.

4. Did you write an outline of Megan’s Way first?

MELISSA: I'm what you might call a "pantser". I don't often write outlines, and I did not write one for Megan's Way. I did do some reconfiguring of the story after the first draft was complete, but not using a formal outline.

5. When writing Megan’s Way, how did you start to write it? Did you start from the beginning? The middle, or the end?

MELISSA: When I began writing Megan's Way, I thought the middle was going to be the end. The book was going to be about Megan and the five girlfriends she grew up with--their friendships, secrets, sisterhood. It didn't pan out that way. I quickly realized I had been mistaken, and that this was a story about Megan and her daughter, and their friends.

6. When do you write your novels? I know you are so busy during the day making contact online with your fans, not to mention I read you also have 6 children!

MELISSA: I do all of my writing Monday through Friday, from nine a.m. until two p.m., from September until June. I write while my children are in school. The advent and importance of social networking has really changed the amount of time I have to write. I do spend a lot of time reaching out to fans and aspiring authors. I try to help writers any way I can and I love to connect with readers. During the summers, I might spend a few hours marketing or editing, but I don't do any real writing during July and August. That time is spent with my family and as a rejuvenation period for myself.

7. Besides finishing writing a book, what is your favorite part of writing one? Is it the character development, the plot of the story, or something different?

MELISSA: Great question, Laurie. Probably my favorite part of writing is meeting the characters and learning about their backgrounds. I think I enjoy that more than completing a book, because I miss my characters once I'm done working with them each day.

8. Have you ever been writing and have your entire story change all on it’s own while writing it?

MELISSA: Absolutely. That's what happened with Megan's Way, and with my fourth novel, Shades of Gray, which is my project for the fall. As frustrating as it might sound, it's actually exciting when that happens.

Laurie, thank you so much for hosting my blog tour. I'll be checking in all day to respond to readers, and, as always, I'll be chatting with members of the Women's Nest, where all women are welcome.

Please Copy and Paste these Web Addresses into your Browers!
Melissa's Website is: http://www.melissafoster.com
Facebook: Melissa Foster
Facebook Fan Page: Melissa Foster's Books
Twitter: Melissa_Foster
Chat with her: http://www.thewomensnest.com
(The Women's Nest is a website Melissa Foster found for women to connect! There is a LOT more information available there as well, for women!

MORE about Melissa Foster:
About the Author

"Melissa Foster is a wonderful connector of readers and books, a friend of authors, and a tireless advocate for women. She is the real deal"--Author Jennie Shortridge

Melissa Foster is the author of two novels, Megan’s Way and Chasing Amanda. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, and is currently collaborating with Director Wendy Crouse, Dream Real Pictures, in the film production of Megan’s Way. Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children, she's written a column featured in Women Business Owners Magazine, and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa is currently working on her next novel, and lives in Maryland with her family. Melissa's interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping women see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

***AWARDS***AWARDS***AWARDS***AWARDS***AWARDS***AWARDS***AWARDS***
Awards:
Megan's Way
2011 Beach Book Award Winner (Spirituality)
2010 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist (Spirituality)
Nominated Dan Poynter's Global eBook Award 2011 (Winners TBD summer 2011)


Awards for
Chasing Amanda
Nominated Dan Poynter's Global eBook Award 2011 (Winners TBD summer 2011)
Here is the photo of the book for 'Chasing Amanda' by Melissa Foster!
Chasing Amanda:



Synopsis: Living in a rural Maryland community, Molly Tanner and her husband are enjoying their newly empty nest. But when a seven-year-old girl disappears from a local park it brings back memories of what brought the Tanners to Maryland a decade ago. Molly unknowingly witnessed another young girl’s abduction in Philadelphia and was almost destroyed by the guilt after the girl was killed. Unwilling to ignore the visions she sometimes has any longer, Molly sets out to find the young girl, jeopardizing the marriage she’d fought so hard to hold together. While unearthing clues and struggling to decipher her visions, Molly discovers another side of Boyds, where the residents--and the land itself--hold potentially lethal secrets.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Currently I am reading: The Help by Kathryn Stockett



CHECK OUT THE LEFT SIDE COLUMN! LOOK AT THE VIDEO BAR! YOU MAY HAVE TO RUN YOUR CURSOR OVER TOP OF IT AND IT WILL 'POP UP'! THERE IS THE YOU TUBE MOVIE TRAILER right on MY page!! Also, 'The Making of The Help! Enjoy!!!

Just wanted to share with everyone this book! I have ONLY 'maybe' read this for an hour or hour and a half?? I couldn't sleep last night and bought this at 4:00am! I 'did' fall asleep in my recliner, after watching the movie trailers of this book on YouTube! Go there and do a search on The Help, the movie. That is how I found them.
Now the book I bought is the "Actual book", NOT the Movie tie-in book. Be careful if you go to buy it! I bought the Kindle edition! I had purchased the sample first, and read it. I was HOOKED!!! I HAD to have this book! I haven't gotten to sit and read like I want to. It's been sketchy, but I am already at 21%! It is a VERY engaging tale! I have a few things I need to do right now, after that I plan on cuddling up in a favorite place and reading to my heart's content tonight! I expect I will read the whole thing in one night, as this is HOW GREAT this book is!
I will be posting a review on this book here in my Posts section! It will be VERY soon, I'm sure! After reading Summer Rental, I was thinking I have so many books to read, which one do I want to pick up first? I have many I need to read to write reviews on, but since I read the sample of The Help, it was SCREAMING it's name to me! This book is MY choice! MY TREAT to me!!! I can't say this book is 'better' than Summer Rental at all because Summer Rental was GREAT! This book, The Help, is a WONDERFUL book!
That is something. You read one book, and think you will not be able to find as good a book as you just finished reading. Then, amazingly, you 'do' find another book that you love just as much! Thankfully! 'This' book is just SO good! I don't know? I have read SO many GREAT books this year, I will have a VERY hard time choosing which book is my favorite. I may not be able to choose just '1' book!
This weekend my hubby and I plan on going to the park along the St Clair River to enjoy it! It's just SO beautiful there! I will be taking a book with me, of course!!! I KNOW 'The Help' WILL be finished by then! Tonight is Friday. I don't know what day we are going, but I WILL finish this book tonight as it completely engrosses you into the story!
To Read List currently is: The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen, Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens, The Blessed by Ann Gabhart, Learning by Karen Kingsbury, Meghan's Way by Melissa Foster(almost finished), and I just bought "Room" by Emma Donoghue,cx and many more books! I have a TON of Amish books on my Kindle! Oh! I also got a new book last night that sounds REALLY good, called "Called Home" by Gloria Schumann, available through Amazon! She's trying to get her name out there, so if anyone wants to look this book up, it sounds great! From what I recall about the book, it's about a woman coming home to the family farm, a tornado hitting the area, an old flame comes back to this city also, and they get back together and face different trials and tribulations together. It's on my Kindle!! Perhaps I'll take my Kindle to the park! That is what I LOVE about my Kindle! I have SO many books on it! Whatever mood I am in, I can choose whatever book I want to read!
Look how pretty the cover of "Called Home" by Gloria Schumann is:
Next post will be a review! See you then!'
Laurie

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Don't Breathe A Word by Jennifer McMahon


Don’t Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon
This was a very interesting book. It is not typically my genre of book I read only because it involves the Paranormal, which is typically not the type of genre I enjoy reading, but, for those of you who like the paranormal genre, you will most likely love this book! You don’t really know if you are reading a mystery or a fantasy, as it seems to go back and forth as you try to decide which it is. This part did intrigue me as I tried to make sense of this myself, and could not quite decide.
This book is about young girl named Lisa, who is 12 years old, who wanders into the woods behind her house one day and disappears 15 years ago. Everyone believes she wanted to become the Queen of the Fairies, as she often had gone into the woods behind her house searching for the fairies, and the King of the Fairies. She has never been found since she disappeared. This has impacted her family in a many ways, especially by her younger brother, Sam, who entered into a pact with others that if they could find her he would promise . . . can’t give spoilers!.
The story is interesting and keeps you reading. The characters are well developed, yet I did feel as if this book was a little long and drawn out. By the time we get towards the end of this book, we are flooded with most of the answers/secrets all at once that had been kept from everyone, especially her brother, Sam, who had never stopped looking for her. These answers that have come out stand to impact the lives of the two main characters, Sam and his girlfriend, Phoebe, to the extreme. We are left wondering, as does Phoebe, after a major life event, if, in fact, this secret that has come out is reality or not.
This book leaves you hanging here. It is left so you wonder if a sequel might be next, or if this is just the end of the book. It is left open ended. Hmmmm?
I received this book “free” and was not provided with any monies to read and write a review about this book. I received this book from Harper Collins, through NetGalley.com, through their book reviewers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_o3.html Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The Crocheted Prayer Shawl Companion by Janet Bristow & Victoria Cole-Galo


I want to buy this book! I love it! I give this book a “5-star rating!” It is a gorgeous book full of an abundance of 37 crocheted patterns for prayer shawls in all shapes, colors, and styles. This book’s collection of the prayer shawls is so absolutely beautiful! Even the cover of this book draws you in. Every shawl in this book is one I want to crochet! It is not often you come across a pattern book in which you want to make every pattern that is included in the book! This is a book I definitely want in my library! (I read this book in the form of an ebook, which does not do the beauty of this book the justice it deserves!)
The interesting thing about this book, for one, is it tells the history of the Prayer Shawl and how it originated, and more. This has caught on at many churches and other kinds of groups all over the country. There is a lot of valuable information included in this book to read about.
The point of the Prayer Shawl is to make and give the shawls to people who are going through different times of their lives. For example, for a mother whose son or daughter has just graduated, to a person who is going through a life struggle, to a person who has lost a loved one, or even to make one of these for a family member. It has many more examples to give these as well.
In my own search for patterns or pattern books for shawls, I have found it is very difficult to find them, much less find such gorgeous and detailed patterns. This book has an absolute abundance of shawl patterns to crochet. I believe this book has to have the largest selection of shawls to crochet included in it that I have ever seen. This book is wonderful. The shawls are photographed so you can see the full shawl in a variety of views, and you can even see the details of the stitches. I cannot get over how absolutely beautiful this variety of shawls is. The patterns/directions are all included for every single shawl in this book, so you are able to make all of them, and, in my opinion, the directions are not difficult. I think anyone can pick up any one of these patterns and crochet them, even for beginners.
I have a relative who is involved in a Prayer Shawl group, and they only have ‘one’ pattern for a ‘crocheted’ shawl that all of the members make. This would help groups expand the types of shawls they can crochet from one, to many.
Your own church you attend may have something like this, as I have seen these groups advertised at many churches and at other groups. I have also heard of people who don’t belong to churches or groups that make these. They make the shawls at home and donate them to the Prayer Shawl groups. Because I know about Prayer Shawl groups, this is why this book piqued my interest in wanting to read and write a review of the book.
This is the perfect book for your church or other group, or for whoever makes Prayer Shawls or wants to crochet shawls!
I received this book “free” and was not provided with any monies to read and write a review about this book. I received this book from The Taunton Press through NetGalley.com through the book reviewers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_o3.html Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

MIDSUMMER'S EVE BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY!!!

MIDSUMMER'S EVE BOOK REVIEW IS BELOW THIS POST!!! PLEASE READ IT! FOR THE GIVEAWAY, PLEASE CLICK ON THE TAB CALLED "GIVEAWAYS" AND ENTER THE FORM AWESOME SUMMER READ GIVEAWAY!! GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!!!

Go to the next post listed below for my review on the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway book!!!

Monday, June 20, 2011

IT'S HERE!!! MISUMMER'S EVE GIVEAWAY HOP!! CLICK ON "GIVEAWAYS" TAB FOR MORE INFO!!


Let's thank our sponsor of this Blog HOP!!! It is:
(I can't get Blogger to make 'the link' to click on, so copy and paste this into your browser if you'd like!) http://www.iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com
THANK YOU for ALL your hard work!!!

It's here! Finally! The Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop!!!
Go and click on my "Giveaways" Tab and have fun!

WHAT IS "MY" GIVEAWAY? It's time to go on vacation!!!
"SUMMER RENTAL" BY MARY KAY ANDREWS!!! Fiction/Chic-Lit! With a little bit of Mystery/Suspense!


MY Take on the book: I LOVE IT!!! "5 Stars" from me! I didn't want this vacation to end! Mary Kay Andrews has a special gift of writing that is so descriptive, it transports the Reader into feeling as if we, the Reader, are on vacation with these 3 girlfriends who have rented this house in North Carolina's Outer Banks right on the shoreline. The house they rented is called Ebbtide. Mary Kay Andrews has invited us, the Reader, along with these girlfriends/characters, as they enjoy their summer vacation in this house for the entire month of August.
These 3 girlfriends have been together since childhood, all come together bringing us their lives, past and present, decisions they need to think about while on this vacation, and their dreams for the future as they enjoy this summer vacation together in this rental home on the beach, with a little bit of romance and some mystery/suspense added in as well. It wouldn't be a vacation without a little romance now, would it?
We learn all about these characters' lives as to where each of them are at this the moment, what has happened to them in the past, where they are right now, what decisions they need to work on and make in their lives while on this vacation, and the directions as to where they want their lives to go with their dreams for the future all mixes in. We, the reader, feel as if we are right there with them as they have fun enjoying this summer vacation journey together.
Spend YOUR entire vacation with them here at Ebbtide house in North Carolina on the Outer Banks Beach! This, like ALL vacations, eventually comes to a bittersweet end, as ALL vacations do. You DON'T want this vacation to end! This is what makes EVERY vacation so much fun, though. The GREAT TIMS you have, the fun, and all the memories you've made! You 'do' want to stay with these characters longer! You want to continue to follow their lives as they've each decided where life 'will' take them next.
Are you ready to go on vacation with these girls? You MUST! To miss this book would be a HUGE loss! This book is THE SUMMER READ THIS YEAR FOR 2011!! Go ahead and take your vacation with these 3 women! You NEED a vacation! Don't plan on putting this vacation on hold as you read it! You won't want to miss a second of this vacation! Like we spend ALL summer vacations, this is GRAND! It is a page turning, enjoyably FUN read!
THIS Summer, 2011, IS 'THE' Summer YOU ARE going on vacation! You WILL enjoy this book immensely! Make sure you have time to NOT put this book down, because you won't want to!
I won this book at Goodreads as an Advanced Reader's Edition in exchange for a written review! No monies were exchanged, and is in accordance with the new ruling from the FTC Guidelines.
Laurie Carlson
www.lauriehere.blogspot.com
Now, go on over to my "GIVEAWAY" TAB, and enter the Form, and see ALL the Blogs in the Hop!!! Go to every one and enter ALL their Giveaways THEY have going on!! THIS IS SO MUCH SUMMER FUN!!!! HAVE FUN AND GOOD LUCK WINNING SOME "GREAT SUMMER READS"!!!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

WIN A COPY OF "SECRETS" by S L Pierce THRU SUNDAY JUNE 19TH! LEAVE A COMMENT! '1' Winner!


THIS IS AN E-BOOK ONLY!!! You CAN read E-books on your computer! Look on the left side-column on my Blog. Scroll down to the article that says "Don't have an E-reader? It explains HOW to download off of Amazon HOW to add this APP to your computer! You can then read ANY E-book on your computer if you don't have an e-reader!!! This E-book is a KINDLE version through Amazon!!!

The Author's Blog is: www.slpierce.blogspot.com

You will have to copy and paste the address into your browser because I could NOT make a link. Sorry. Go straight to her blog! When there, she is offering a FREE Ebook of hers to YOU!! It is called "Warning" by S L Pierce. Look at the top of her Blog in the UPPER LEFTHANBD CORNER! I believe you can click on it and download it for free! Enjoy it! A HUGE thanks to S L Pierce for giving this to us for free!

!!!UPDATED ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!
WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK - "Secrets" by S L Pierce by SCROLLING DOWN TO THIS 'FEATURED BOOK' AND LEAVE A COMMENT IN THE BELOW THE POST 'ALL ABOUT "SECRETS" by S L Pierce, and you will go into a raffle to win ONE copy of her Ebook-SECRETS!!!!
Good Luck!!!
Laurie

Secrets by S L Pierce - Leave a Comment to win 1 copy of Secrets! Thru Sunday June 19th!

Secrets by S L Pierce

Please visit the author's Blog which is: www.slpierce.blogspot.com
Go there and in the Upper Lefthand column there is an Icon to click on and get a FREE copy of her latest book, "The Warning" by S L Pierce!!! If you don't end up winning this copy of this Ebook for Secrets, you can also purchase it from Amazon for only 99cents right now!!! Wait till after Monday to see if you are contacted and if you won!!! Enjoy the FREE book!!!



Official Nurture Book Tour Press Release!

Secrets by S.L. Pierce
Secrets…we all have them
A woman with a hidden past…
Two men who weren’t supposed to be seen together…
A cop who won’t let go…
Industrial espionage….
Deception…
Betrayal…
Secrets is a fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing to the very end.
Gwen Michaels moved to California two years ago to start fresh, hoping her past could stay secret forever. But when a hired killer shows up, she assumes her cover is blown. When it turns out the man knows nothing of her past, the search is on for who wants her dead, and why.

Secrets
Author: S.L. Pierce
Genre: Fiction – Mystery/Thriller
Published by: Amazon Kindle (March 2011)
Age Recommendation: 18+ years of age – violence/language
Format(s): eBook
ASIN: B004TNHPZ2
Number of pages: approx. 163
More stories by S.L. Pierce:
The Hate (2011) – just .99 cents!
The Warning (April, 2011) – FREE!

S.L. Pierce spent ten years earning a PhD in engineering before deciding she would rather be a writer. She currently lives in Colorado with her husband and four children. She is always at work on her next novel.

MY TAKE ON THIS BOOK: AWESOME!!! This is action packed, a non-stop thriller that leaves you in suspense as you read this book. You find out the answers when she finds out answers. She does not keep you in the dark. For action-packed thrillers, this is the Author to watch! I really enjoyed her book! You never lost interest! Talk about Secrets, she has them! The person who you would least expect to NOT know about them will surprise you! It's about time we have a female character who is so good at solving crime!

The tour dates schedule is:
Secrets by S.L. Pierce – NURTURE Book Tour Schedule:
June 13th – Molly E. @ Book Reviews By Molly
Book Tour post & 5-Star Book Review!
June 14th – April R. & Wendy @ My Book Addiction and More!
Guest post with S.L. Pierce & Inter. eBook Giveaway!
June 14th – Laurie J. @ Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews
Book Tour post, Interview with S.L. Pierce & Inter. eBook Giveaway!
June 15th – Lisa M. @ Lisa’s World of Books
Book Tour post & Book Review
June 15th – Bobbie @ NURTURE Virtual BOOK Tourz™ Blog
Nurture Book Tour post with SNEAK PEEK at unpublished novel, The Devil’s Game
June 16th – S.L Pierce @ Pierce Books: Writing without all the prose
June 16th – Laurie C. @ Laurie Here: Reading and Writing Reviews!
June 17th – Tessa D. @ It’s a Philip K. Dick World!
June 17th – Mason C. @ Thoughts in Progress


Thursday, June 16, 2011
Rejected Book Covers This is a snippet from S L Pierce's Blog!
First, the new tour stop today is Lauriehere. Leave a comment! One commentor will win a copy of Secrets.
Next, my own tour post:
I think I have posted about the importance of a book cover before (as have many). So I thought I would post a couple of the other possible covers I was considering for Secrets. You will see they are almost identical to what I did end up using. What I can't show you are the sixty photos I took just to get this one that worked for me. Yes, sixty photos. I went close up, far away, different angles, different lighting, a larger circuit board, no flashlight, etc. I am so glad for my next book (The Devil's Game coming this month) I have a cowriter who is also an awesome artist and photographer, who did our cover!
Here are the two covers rejected book covers:




Leave a comment through this Sunday, June 19th, to enter to win a copy!!! PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL SO I CAN CONTACT YOU!!! THE COPY OF THIS BOOK IS AN E-BOOK ONLY!!!

ENJOY!!! Laurie

Win an IPAD2!!!!!!! For Father's Day!! June 16th to June 19th at midnight!





HERE IT IS!!!!! "Love My Daddy" Father's Day!!!! Win an IPAD2!!!!!
Click on the above link TO ENTER!!!!
Go to FACEBOOK and go to PKU PHOTOGRAPHY and LIKE them to Follow then, and Follow them on Twitter BOTH to enter!!! Facebook has a post on this giveaway explaining nore!
Good Luck!!!
Sponsored by PKU Photography!!! Go to Facebook to PKU Photography for more info!!!!

Please leave a comment to let me know you stopped by! Leave your name, Blog address and email if you'd like, and I can sign you up for to get my New Posts every time I post a Review of Giveaway!!! There are LOTS of Giveaways coming up now thru July and the beginning of August! You DON'T want to miss them!
(Disclainer: This photo is only a sample of what they look like. This is not necessarily the one you will receive.)

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

In My Mailbox!!!!! I'M SOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!



I'm SOOOOOOO excited!!!! I can't believe what "I" got in my mailbox over the last 3 days!!!!!!
Ready?
Here goes:

Karen Kingsbury's NEWEST NOVEL! #2 in her Bailey Flannigan series called "Learning" to be released June 21, 2011! Blog Tour is scheduled by Zondervan on July 11th, 2011! This will be a total series of 4 books. The first one was called "Leaving", which I have a review her in the Archives! It was in May, if I recall?
I am sooooo excited!!!! Zondervan sent me and everyone who Blogs for them an email stating if we are interested in reviewing this book, to please respond to this email. They have "8" copies of this book available for review.
Oh my gosh!!!! I replied to the email ASAP!!!!! Then, I though, ONLY '8' copies??? What are my chances? I don't know if I'll be lucky enough to be chosen??? Are they choosing the Bloggers by first come, first serve?? Or are they choosing the Bloggers by determining if they like the way the reviews of her previous books were done (that we previously reviewed for them?) I was NOT sure if I was going to be lucky enough, or privileged enough to get the book? I honestly did not know.
HERE IT IS!! IN "MY" HANDS!!!! My hubby brought the mail home. We live where there is a huge set of mailboxes that you need a key to get into. It is to far for 'me' to drive there in my electric wheelchair, by myself. I honestly don't know if I would take a chance on doing that alone. If the chair did not make it that far, I don't know what I would do. I can't call anyone, as there is no one to call in the middle of the day, so . . . my hubby is the one I rely on to get my mail.
So, he brought the mail in. There was an envelope there from Zondervan!!! "Ahhhhh!" I screamed! I was talking to my son and my ex on the phone at the time, and I killed their ears! Oh, well. They'll get over it! I ripped the envelope open, and HERE IT IS!!!!!!!! An ARC of Learning, by Karen Kingsbury!!! I'm SOOOOO happy!!!!
AND, FOR THE NEXT "HUGE" SURPRISE???? WOW!!! A copy of the NEW Shaker novel by Ann H. Gabhart, called "The Blessed" to be released July 1, 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was SOOOOOOO excited!!!!!I remember Ann mentioning to me she was going to have me review one of her new releases, and I was wondering . . . if? And . . . An envelope came, and I did not recognize the Publishing House. Hmmm? I had a hard time opening this envelope. What is this book? Hmmm? I got the envelope open, and again, I screamed!!! "Ahhhh!!!!" My hubby laughs at me!!! He finds great joy when I get SO excited over books! We both LOVE books! Sometimes I wonder if he gets jealous that he doesn't get these neat surprises?
HUGE thanks to Ann Gabhart!!! I will have a review done on this book, also, in the VERY near future!
OF COURSE I WILL HAVE GIVEAWAYS ON THESE BOOKS!!!! Would you EVER doubt that???!!! Stay tuned!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

The Crochet Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden MY FAVORITE CROCHET BOOK!


The Crochet Stitch Bible, The essential illustrated reference : over 200 traditional and contemporary stitches with easy-to-follow charts, by Betty Barnden (I am adding this info: there are written instructions as well in this book, in case you don't like to follow charts. I don't like charts! I like written instructions! That is my preference!)
This is the ULTIMATE Crochet pattern/reference book I have in my crochet collection library of books! This book will remain in my library until it falls apart or until I die, whichever comes first! It is spiral bound which is priceless as a pattern book because it stays open to the page(s) you need it to stay open to while following directions. The book is broken up by chapters of stitch collections. Each chapter lists ALL the different stitches available to crochet, and shows a photo of what the square, circle, oval, etc., will look like completed. It explains the yarns/threads/crochet hooks needed to use, explaining which are better for the different patterns, yarns or threads to be used. These different stitches and can be combined with others to make unique one-of-a-kind projects that become your own customized creations. I use this book whenever I create any type of crocheted item, even if I am using a pattern other than this book. Personally, I prefer to crochet doilies. I think they are elegant, timeless and beautiful. There is an abundance of stitches that can be used for these projects, as well as any other type of project you wish to create. This book, to me, is invaluable, making it a 5-star rating to me. I think anyone picking this book up to read and use would agree the quality of information in this book rates a 5-star. You can end up with some GORGEOUS projects! My favorite - doilies!!!

Yarn, by Kyoko Mori


Yarn by Kyoko Mori
NonFiction and Autobiography
This book is not just about yarn, as I thought it was at first. It is a very nice novel to read. It flows very nicely as Kyoko Mori, a New York Times Notable author takes us through her life from the point where her Visa is set to expire before she is done with all her college degrees she is after. College is what got her her Visa here to the States. She did not want to go back home to Japan without having finished them.
A friend of hers asks her to marry him, and that way she can stay in the country. She does. She marries him and they start to build a life together. She takes us on a journey through her life, including using her passion of knitting, and weaves a story telling us her story through her use of her knitting. As life goes through patterns, so does her knitting.
We learn all about her life in Japan, the customs from Japan and all about her family in Japan. She tells us how they relate to her now in her life here in the States. Things are definitely different in Japan. This information was very interesting.
Kyoko does eventually end up getting divorced, and through her knitting, tells us all about it and her new life. She tells us of the difficulties of her divorce, moving on to a new life, adjusting and more. It shows through her knitting as well. Mostly, it is how her knitting had stayed the same, yet grew in intricacy, and how her life did as well, all the comparisons. Her dedication to knitting continued, and so she remained dedicated to her life. Many things changed, yet many things stayed the same.
Kyoko Mori tells a story so beautifully and elegantly, I would compare it to cutting through a very large wedding cake. It is so soft, smooth and with ease. The words just flow onto the paper. You want to keep reading this book because the words are so soft, smooth and written with ease.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would suggest it to anyone who likes knitting and likes autobiographies, as the book is equally full of both.
This book was provided to me for free by GemmaMedia Publishers through NetGalley.com, in exchange for a written review. No monies were exchanged whatsoever.
A huge thanks to the Publisher-Gemma Media and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read such an enjoyable book.
Laurie

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

"Spring for Susannah" by Catharine Richmond



GIVEAWAY/CONTEST DATES: JUNE 7th - JUNE 27th!
FACEBOOK PARTY: TUESDAY, JUNE 28th!

To celebrate her debut novel, Catherine and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have teamed up to give away a Spring For Susannah Prize Package worth over $150!


One grand prize winner will receive:

* A brand new Latest Generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi and Pearl Screen

* Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond (for KINDLE)

To enter just click one of the icons ABOVE and then tell your friends! But hurry, giveaway ends on June 27th. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, June 28th at 5 PM (6PM MST, 7PM CST, & 8PM EST) during Catherine's Spring for Susannah Book Club Party on Facebook! Catherine is rustling up some fun for the party - she'll be chatting about the story behind her novel, hosting a book club chat, testing your mail-order bride trivia skills, and giving away some GREAT prizes! Don't miss the fun and tell your friends!

Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter

MY "PERSONAL REVIEW"

“Spring for Susannah” by Catharine Richmond - A Romantic Historical Fiction Book
This book was a delightful book to read. Susannah was a ‘mail order’ bride from Detroit. After she lost both her parents, and had no family left in Detroit, she did decide to take up her Pastor's offer of marrying his brother, Jesse, who lives in the Dakota Territory. She went on her way on a train all the way to the Dakota Territory to meet her new husband, Jesse, whom she had never even met before. She was already married to him, as his brother was a minister back in Detroit, and he filled out all the paperwork that needed to be done, and she even had her marriage certificate. Jesse’s brother did this because there were no ministers out in the Dakota area for miles and miles. He had felt it would be easier this way.
When she first arrived, she was so surprised to find the city had nothing, absolutely nothing in it. Susannah was used to the tall buildings from Detroit, and here, in the Dakota Territory, there was nothing. All she saw was tall, long prairie grass. She was very uncertain at this point if she really wanted to stay or not. She was running through her mind her chances of hopping back on that train and going back home to Detroit. No one was there waiting for her. Did her new husband care that she traveled all this way? Time was ticking and she was almost ready to hop back on the train when she heard her name called. There he was. This was the man she was married to. This is Jesse. She had had no photo of him, knew barely anything about him, and did not know what to expect from him, except from what she was told about him from back home.
Susannah was a very brave woman to do this.
She hopped up into the carriage with this stranger and was off to his house, oh, her house as well. When they arrived she did not see a house. She was wondering where it was? The house turned out to be a ‘soddy’ house. (In case you don’t know what a ‘soddy’ is, it is a house built out of dirt and sod. Trees in that area were very scarce, so lumber was at a premium. Jesse used the earth to build their house instead of lumber. This was very common of the times.)
Then Susannah learned that not only was the house made of dirt and sod, but the floor was dirt as well. Hmmmm? Could she really live like this?
Jesse was already to jump into the full routine of marriage, which meant relations, too. Susannah was not. She pushed him off so many times. Over and over again until she was worried this marriage may not work. Really, though, she liked it, but would not admit it. Jesse was very patient and kind with Susannah. Jesse did make Susannah have tingly feelings she had never felt before. She did like this from him very much.
I was surprised at the amount of work there was to do back then. You were reliant on the land for everything. From your sustenance to your animal’s sustenance, you were responsible. You also had to take into consideration the long, hard, cold winters that hit that area and to be prepared with enough food to get through and longer, just in case.. You were stuck in your house for a long time, as storms came up out of nowhere. Just when you thought winter was over, another storm would come rattling through. Sometimes it felt as if winter would never end. Winter was also a great time of boredom. People were so used to working so hard through the summer that once you were inside the house for the winter it felt like forever.
Once Spring finally came, freedom came with it, too.
Susannah and Jesse had their most difficult time during the second summer they were married because of a grasshopper invasion that ruined all their crops and food they had stored. Jesse went off looking for work. Susannah stayed home, and took on a teaching job to help sustain them. Once thing they did not want to loose was their home, nor each other.
I don’t want to say anymore about the storyline, itself, but this was a very well written, well thought out book. The author has a flow to her writing which kept you wanting to read more. Personally, I learned a lot about Homesteading back then. It was work. The work was not for the weary hearted as you had to be tough to make it through. There were several times Susannah doubted herself and worried Jesse might want to send her back to Detroit. He would never have done that. He loved her so much, his love was incredible. Yet, again, life was tough. You had very few, if any neighbors at all. The neighbors you did have, you held onto for dear life helping each other through thick and thin. This life was not a sugar coated “Little House on the Prairie” let’s be happy episode. This was real life and hard living.
I will admit this is the first ‘mail-order bride’ book I have read, and it really opened my eyes to their ways of life I never would have thought twice about. This lifestyle paved the way to what and how we live now. This book does make me want to read more of these books. I really did enjoy learning so much about their every day life.
This book was so enjoyable, and one I did not want to put down. I really enjoyed the romance that Jesse and Susannah had. It was beautiful. I think you really need that kind of marriage to get through such hard living. In my opinion, if it were me living back then, I would have stuck it out for the romance alone. I would just pray to God I had found a husband who was as romantic as Jesse did turn out to be!
Anyone will enjoy this book, even a first-time mail order bride reader. As I mentioned, this book really opened my eyes up to the hard ways of life back then, yet at the same time, the beauty of what the land can give you, even if it is in the Northern Lights in the sky at night. These were some of the payoffs to this life.
I was provided this book by LitFuse Publicity group for FREE and I also just was reminded I received this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley as well, in exchange for a written review of my opinion of the book. NO MONIES WERE EXCHANGED WHATSOEVER.

Publisher's Review: CAUTION!! HAS SOME SPOILERS IN IT!!!
About the book:


Booklist says, "Inspired by [folk] lyrics, Richmond arrives on the inspirational fiction scene with a moving debut novel. Readers will be filled with hope that Susannah will learn the true meaning of love. Highly recommended where inspiring, romantic historical fiction is in demand."

Hundreds of miles from home, Susannah faces an uncertain future as a mail-order bride on the untamed Dakota prairie.

When her parents die suddenly, and no suitors call, Susannah resigns herself to the only option available: becoming a mail-order bride. Agreeing to marry her pastor's brother, Jesse, Susannah leaves the only home she's ever known for the untamed frontier of the Dakota Territory.

Her new husband is more loving and patient with her than she believes she deserves. Still, there is also a wildness to him that mirrors the wilderness surrounding them. And Susannah finds herself constantly on edge. But Jesse's confidence in her-and his faith in God's perfect plan-slowly begin to chip away at the wall she hides behind.

When she miscarries in the brutal Dakota winter, Susannah's fledgling faith in herself and in God begins to crumble. Still, Jesse's love is unwavering. Just when it seems like winter will never end, Susannah finally sees the first tentative evidence of spring. And with it, the realization that more than the landscape has changed.

She looks to the future with a renewed heart. Yet in her wildest dreams, she couldn't predict all that awaits her.


About Catherine: Catherine Richmond was focused on her career as an occupational therapist till a special song planted a story idea in her mind. That idea would ultimately become Spring for Susannah, her first novel. She is also a founder and moderator of Nebraska Novelist critique group and lives in Nebraska with her husband.

For more about Catherine, please visit: http://www.catherinerichmond.com

Well, go on over to my tab of GIVEAWAYS, and you get your chance to WIN THIS BOOK! Good luck and enjoy it!

The Boy and Little Witch by Ben White




The Boy and Little Witch, by Ben White
(The copy I read was the Kindle 99cent version given to me free as a winner in exchange for a review. I would NEVER purchase anything like this myself.)
I picked this book up several times to try to read it. I felt VERY uncomfortable reading this book. When I get a book, I ALWAYS read them. When I promise to read a book, I follow through, which I had EVERY intention of doing with this book, but just could not even get past the first chapter. This book is strange, in ‘my’ opinion. I could ‘not’ make sense of this book whatsoever. Is this a book for adults or for children?
So, we are introduced to The Boy and The Little Witch. The Boy lives in a Tree House overlooking his land and he whacks the overgrowth with his sword, which is two sticks tied with a string tied together so his gumdrops don't get overgrown. Then we have The Little Witch who lived in a house among all these psychedelic sounding mushrooms made out of purple (her favorite color) and all other colors with polka dots and stripes and other designs. One evening she started collecting 'starberry's' as the both of them decided they would have lunch together the next day. She told the Little Boy she would bake a Starberry Pie. She started collecting starberrys. As she was doing this, a little man showed up with red hair and a red beard who I thought sounded like a Leprechaun? He said there were only 36 of him around the world? He came from the Forgotten Forest, and when he asked The Boy why it was called the Forgotten Forest, The Boy said he couldn't remember. The Leprechaun, or whatever this character was supposed to be did it in for me. That was my limit on this book. Is this for an 'Adult' to read? Or is this for a child? Is this a Fairy Tale? What is this book? A left-over story from 1960's? What was this author thinking as he wrote this story? Did he really think he would keep a person’s interest with such a strange story? Especially when this little man showed up? I think this was the part that did it in for me. I tried and tried to get into this book and just could not. I could not envision all this weird stuff and take it seriously anymore. It just did not make any sense to me. Maybe if the author explained more of the ‘point of this story’ from the beginning of this book, perhaps it ‘might’ have made more sense? This book is definitely out there. Well out of ‘my’ genre range.
Although, I have to say this could just be ‘me’ and ‘my’ take on this story? I don’t know? I think it is very strange.
I must be honest and admit I cannot state this is a good book, nor can I state this is a bad book. All I can say is this; it is a very strange book, in ‘my’ opinion. It is just not for ‘me’. I can do without all this weird psychedelic stuff. Give me good fiction/literature and I am VERY happy. Even Fairy Tales make more sense than this book did. Perhaps this may very well be a GREAT story for someone who likes this genre, yet I don’t even know what genre “I” would put it in. It is just not ‘my’ liking.
This book was provided to me for free by a Member as a giveaway in exchange for a review at www.librarything.com.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Giveaway! Enter to win a Kindle (from Pub) and a Book from Me!!




MY REVIEW IS IN THE PREVIOUS POST!!! DON'T MISS IT! 4.5 Stars!

KINDLE GIVEAWAY AND FACEBOOK PARTY!!!
To celebrate Joan Wolf’s debut Christian Fiction title, A Reluctant Queen, Joan and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have teamed up to give away A Reluctant Queen prize package worth over $150!

CLICK ON THE TOP PHOTO OF THIS BOOK in the left side column, "A RELUCTANT QUEEN, THE LOVE STORY OF ESTHER" by Joan Wolf, and it will take you directly to the link to sign up to enter for the KINDLE and the FACEBOOK PARTY!!!
One grand prize winner will receive:

* A brand new Latest Generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi and Pearl Screen

* A Reluctant Queen by Joan Wolf (for KINDLE)

To enter, just click on the icons in the left side column! But, hurry, the contest ends on June 20th. Winner will be announced on June 21st during Joan’s A Reluctant Queen Book Club Party on Facebook (details below)! Hope to see you there – bring your friends!

Join the FUN on June 21st!
Joan will be wrapping up the blog tour and Kindle giveaway promotion during her A Reluctant Queen FACEBOOK party on her FB author page. During the party she'll announce the winner of the Kindle, host a book chat discussion, test your trivia skills (Is Esther's story in A Reluctant Queen fact or fiction?), and more. Don't miss this chance to meet the author and meet some new friends!

FROM ME: A CHANCE TO WIN THE BOOK, "A Reluctant Queen, The Love Story of Esther" by Joan Wolf! Come fill out the form under Giveaways!

Now, go on back over to the Giveaway Tab, fill out the form, and see ALL the Blogs that are participating!

See you soon!
Laurie Carlson
www.lauriehere.blogspot.com

A Reluctant Queen, The Love Story of Esther, by Joan Wolf




My Review of: "A Reluctant Queen, The Love Story of Esther", by Joan Wolf
This book is a fictional story based upon The Book of Esther, from the Bible. It takes place during 485BC, in Susa, under the new leadership of the new King Ahasuerus, who spent his summers in Ecbattana where it was cooler, as Susa was so hot.
Esther had been raised by her Uncle, Uncle Mordecai, after a massacre happened in her hometown of the land of Edomites, where they were then driven into exile in Babylon. During this invasion, both her parents were killed and Uncle Mordecai took her in as his own to raise her. Esther had been raised as a Jewish girl.
There came a time when the Edomites sent a letter to the Great King asking him to confirm their rights to southern Judah. They got it, but, the Prophet,Obadiah were in a frenzy claiming Edomite stole southern Judah. Mordecai was worried about war breaking out and got an idea that if Esther got into the palace to represent the Jewish people, then she could be the one to help their people.
Esther wasn't so sure about this plan. What about the boyfriend she had and was thinking of possibly marrying? Would he still be home waiting for her when she got back?
Esther really didn't understand the role she would end up playing at the palace. What was her destiny meant to be? How could 'she' do anything that would help her people? The decision was made for her and she still couldn't quite understand why. She would be the one to go to the palace and take the chance of possibly marrying the King. She never thought it would happen to her. It would be one of the other girls. That's good, she thought, her father was not Jewish and this is how she would enter the palace, but would she even be accepted if the King knew her mother was Jewish? This fact would have to be kept secret. She got to the King's Harem and was greeted badly. Put down for how her hair and skin looked. Thus, started the beauty regime.
Eventually the King does choose Esther as his Queen. She falls deeply in love with him, he deeply in love with her. She never tells him she is part Jewish until . . . this is when she finally understands why and what her role is to play as the Queen. Can't go on anymore because there will be to many spoilers! I think anyone who enjoys reading novels about the books of the Bible will enjoy this story very much and they will enjoy the story in historical detail.
I really enjoyed this book a lot. I loved how the author turned this story into a book. I like it when the books of the Bible are turned into novels. It seems as if we can relate to them much better than reading the Book of the Bible by itself when it has been turned into a story that is much more easily understood. It certainly adds to the stories.
This author took great care in writing this story to make sure the history and everything related exactly as it did in the Bible at that time. The last time I read a book like this that related to a book of the Bible was "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant, which turned out to be one of my favorite books. This book is also similar to "Hadassah, One Night with the King, A Novel" by Tommy Tenney.
Personally, I really like the Books of the Bible turned into novels a lot. I love how the research is done to a "T", and how we can relate to the Bible story even better than what we can when it is woven into a story rather than just by reading the book of the Bible. I enjoy these novels very much when they are put into the perspective of their every day life back then. For us today, it is hard to read the books of the Bible when we don't understand the daily, routine life they had back then. It's wonderful when an author such as Joan Wolf comes along and puts these stories into novels that we can understand when they are so detailed such as this one it. I would read this book again, I enjoyed it so much. I give this book a 4.5 star.
This book was provided to me for free by LitFuse Publicity Group in exchange for a review! Thanks to them for the opportunity!

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK: A RELUCTANT QUEEN
An inspiring re-imagining of the tale of Esther, a young Jewish woman thrust from a life of obscurity into a life of power, wealth, intrigue . . . and tender love.

See the story of Esther in an entirely new way-with all the political intrigue and tension you remember, but told as a passionate and tender love story between a young man and woman. Misunderstood by many, King Xerxes was a powerful but lonely man. Esther's beauty caught the eye of the young king, but it was her spirit that captured his heart.

Imagine anew the story of Esther, one of our faith's great heroines, destined to play a key role in the history of Christianity. Click here for more!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, JOAN WOLF: Joan Wolf was born in New York City but has lived most of her adult life with her husband in Connecticut, where she raised two children and countless numbers of assorted animals. Joan is the author of numerous historical novels including The Road to Avalon which Publishers Weekly lauded as “historical fiction at its finest.”
For more about Joan and her other books, please visit: (I cannot get the link to work at all, so I apologize for having to write it this way) www (dot) joan wolf (dot) com. Go ahead and type in the address as you normally would, not as I did. There is a hiccup today in my Blog that is not allowing HTML for some reason.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Life, The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton

First of all, I would LOVE to thank Karen Haney, from whom I won this book from! Her Blog address is: www.bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com (sorry, the link would not take.) She has a Giveaway called Bookin' With Bingo! Please go to her site and play! You'll be glad you did! I am!!! I was SO excited to get her email stating I had won this book! I went on and on about how excited I truly am! It was really cute when she replied back, "I am glad you are a 'tiny' bit excited!" LOL! A 'tiny' bit!!! HUGE!!! I LOVE Royal Weddings, and this one, for me, was SO very special! The history behind it all! I remember as a teenager, watching Prince Charles and Diana getting married on TV. I do believe that wedding was LATER in the day than this wedding was! I KNOW I did NOT get up, or in my case, I stayed up ALL night long watching the pre-wedding shows, etc! Back then, as I said I was a teenager, and WHAT teenager would stay up all night to watch a wedding! I must thank my late-mother for turning it on TV! Thanks, Mom! Otherwise, I would not have the lifelong memories I have of Prince Charles and Diana. I sat next to that TV GLUED! Teenagers are impressionable, and I was. I have had a life-long love affair with the Royal Family! Now it has come full-circle, and Diana's oldest son is getting married. Notice I don't mention Prince Charles! Lying, cheating, . . . !!! HOW could ANYONE do what he did to Diana? Well, that's another story for another time!
Anyway, on to this BEAUTIFUL book! I suggest ANYONE get this book who is interested in the Royal Family! Until I visited Karen's Blog, I didn't know this book existed! I should have! Leave it to Life Books to publish one! I 'should have' known!
Life - The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. I honestly believe the title of the book is wrong. It does NOT cover 'their wedding'. It covers their dating years and a LOT of history of the Royal people prior to them, and all the events leading 'up to the wedding'. This book is 'full' of Royal history! If you like Royal History, 'this' is 'the' book for you! I can see another book coming out specifically focusing directly 'on' the wedding itself. Wasn't the wedding just SO breathtaking? Westminster Abbey was turned into this live greenhouse! Real trees growing in the aisle way. We can only imagine that fairy tale for ourselves, or, to watch this fairy tale on TV. Imagine yourself walking those '3' minutes down that aisle! (Smile!)
Wow! What a GORGEOUS book! You all know how during the 'Royal Wedding', I was posting away here on my Blog, and on Twitter! I had watched Prince Charles and Princess Diana's Wedding 'years' ago as I had mentioned. (By the way, my son's middle name is William and my daughter's name is Elizabeth! NOT named after the Royal family - more based on Shakespeare!) I agree with the newscasters, that Diana was there at the wedding, in spirit. Not in a 'paranormal' sort of way, but in the hearts of everyone who attended and/or watched the wedding on television, (The 'telly')!
I have been enamored by this couple throughout their dating years. They just had this 'glow' about them, didn't they? All through this book, it highlights their dating life and more. Many of the events they attended together, and the charities, etcetera. All the way from their dating, engagement, to the pre-preparation of their wedding. In this book, which of course, precedes the 'actual' wedding, estimates the cost of this wedding to be approximately $20,000,000. However, as this book states, NOT to be confused with most expensive 'Society Wedding' of Vanisha Mittal to Amit Bhatia in 2004. (Page 103).
College sweethearts, they ski, they hunt, they attend functions and charities together. Kate watches William play Polo. They travel all over the world together.
In this book, we also meet the Middleton family. The paparazzi. Kate's fashion. It's ALL in this Collector's Book!
What a lovely book to own! This book will stay in my Library for years to come! I'll be able to add to it William and Kate's children's weddings! This book is truly a keeper! Again, thank you to Karen Haney at www.bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com (Sorry, the link would not take.)