Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year Giveaway Hop!

Wow, it's hard to believe another year has come to an end already.  This year just flew by. I'll be ringing in the new year with some great friends, good food and games.  My two older kids will be heading out to do some dancing and the youngest will be stuck home with us.  We have some big things coming up this next year and I know it will be a year to remember.

This hop will be much like all the others for me.  I'm giving away a book of your choice, $12 or less, from Amazon if you are US and Book Depository if you are INT.  Of course, you always have the choice of an ebook if you'd rather.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Take a look at the right sidebar for other giveaways going on right now.  Happy New Year!


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Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

Just wanted to send out best wishes to everyone.  However you celebrate, I hope it is a fabulous season filled with happiness and good things.  I'm going to be spending the next week with family, enjoying time and of course, good food!  I have so much to be grateful for.

No posting for me this week, but I will be reading!  I've got some great book reviews coming up the first week of Jan. along with book blasts and giveaways.  January is going to be packed full of all kinds of fun book things.  Right now I'm reading Evie's Knight and I'm right at a very intense part!  I better get back to reading!  :) 

Friday, December 21, 2012

Living in the Light by Lacy West

Living in the Light provides readers with step-by-step methods to overcome depression and anxiety. It offers solutions through a combination of cognitive techniques and gospel-centered principles that will empower readers with the ability to regain their peace and happiness through eliminating all aspects of darkness from their life, embracing a life full of light.
I think we all have experience with depression and anxiety, whether it's our self or someone we care about.  It's a very real and often debilitating illness.

The second part of this title is "How to fight the darkness of depression and anxiety."  Now, I am not usually a depressed person.  I get discouraged but I really don't stay that way for too long.  No matter if you are the depressed person or you know someone who suffers from this illness, this book is a great wealth of information.  It provides so many explanations of the why's and how's of depression along with excellent tried and true ways to help.  Awesome information to tuck in your back pocket

I especially loved the section on how changing the way we think will change the way we feel.  I know this sounds easy but I learned so much and I know this isn't an easy task.  This information can benefit anyone, depressed or not.  I'm planning on putting a lot of these ideas into practice. 

My daughter has some rough bouts with depression and I am exciting about sharing this with her.  My only regret is that I only have this book in ebook form.  I'm going to have to go out and buy this book because I just think it's such a great book to have on my book shelf.  I'm looking forward to reading through this book with her and hopefully making her life easier and happier one step at a time. 

One of the draws for me is that this book incorporates religious messages from the LDS faith along with scripture references.  It filled me with light and good feelings and I loved it.  I'm so glad I had the chance to read this book.

You can purchase Living in the Light at Amazon  and Barnes and Noble .


Lacey West, a wife, mother, and registered nurse, was born and raised in Delta, Utah. She graduated with honors from Southern Utah University with a bachelor degree in Nursing. Motivated by a desire to conquer her own depression, she spent years researching mental health. She enjoys writing, spending time with family, playing the violin, creating healthy recipes, photography, sewing, and fishing. She resides with her husband and two children in Wichita, Kansas.

YouTube book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqz0UamBv_o

Book website: www.laceyawest.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/livinginthelightbook

Thursday, December 20, 2012

A Hard Act to Follow: Blog Tour and Giveaway



A Hard Act to Follow by Henry Bushkin

"A Hard Act to Follow," is a non-fiction literary account of Henry Bushkin's tenure as Johnny Carson's lawyer, business partner, and friend.  The book gives genuine insight into the 'Carson behind Johnny' with candid personal vignettes about the two, during the rollicking years when Johnny was the undisputed king of television.  This is an engaging, eye-opening, anecdote-packed story about a young lawyer and his client, one of the biggest celebrities in the country.  This funny, unfiltered account gives readers a look at the Johnny Carson that none but a select few really knew.

“A Hard Act to Follow” by Henry Bushkin provides a stirring account into Johnny Carson’s world—as told by Carson’s closest confidant.
The New Yorker article by Kenneth Tynan from 1978, included the following question and answer:
Tynan: When you’re at home, whom do you entertain?
Carson: My lawyer, Henry Bushkin, who’s probably my best friend.



This is the story of Johnny Carson as remembered by his long time lawyer, Henry Bushkin.  The story that unfolds about the personal and behind the scenes life of Johnny was to me, mostly sad.  Even though Johnny's work was in entertainment and laughter, his personal life was anything but that.

Bushkin paints a picture of a very real man with problems and issues.  Alcoholism, bad business dealings, marital affairs, strained family relations, health problems. . . You name it, Johnny had it.  Many of his problems were brought on by his own bad decisions.  I think Bushkin can tell of the many years with Carson because he was not only close to him for many years, but on some level, he became much like him.  He says, "I was far beyond being influenced by Johnny;  I was by now well along into emulating him, and though I was conflicted and unhappy about where it was taking me, I made little effort to change."

I think overall this cemented my belief that we all have to deal with hard things in life.  Some of us have more to deal with than others and some of us deal better with our hard things than others.  Regardless of our line of business, our marital state, the amount of money we make or what religion we are, we are all dealt hard things.  Johnny Carson was no exception to this.  He had hard things dealt to him and he made many poor decisions.  He lived a lifestyle completely foreign to me and to many of us.  His life in the spotlight and his affluence are what make his story so interesting.  Johnny Carson is a legend in the entertainment business.

Honestly, I'm glad I don't live in that world.  It was interesting to get an inside take on Johnny Carson's life and there were some stories that showed a generous Johnny and a very not nice Johnny.  If you are a Johnny Carson fan, you will probably love delving deeper into his life story.

I would issue a caution regarding the language and adult content in this book.  There was a lot of language.



Author Henry Bushkin

Henry Bushkin is an experienced lawyer who practices in both California and New York. He currently lives in Los Angeles where his children also reside.



Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 1/15/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Finding the Baby Jesus Book Tour + Giveaway



Finding the Baby Jesus by Kimball Fisher

After being forced to wear lederhosen for the annual holiday card picture, twelve-year-old Chris thinks that the least his parents can do is get him the Tony Hawk skateboard he wants for Christmas. But when he recovers the hand-carved Baby Jesus that everyone thought had been destroyed in a fire the year his Grandma died, Chris realizes that some gifts are even more important than skateboards.

When the author had to discontinue a cherished tradition of reading Christmas stories out loud with his family and holiday guests each week in December, he wrote Finding the Baby Jesus. He had been unable to locate enough meaningful stories that could be read in a single sitting with wiggly children.


Finding the Baby Jesus is the perfect quick read to put you in the spirit of Christmas.  This short story evoked all the tender and sweet feelings of the Christmas season.  It was a good reminder of the things that are most important.  My favorite part was where Chris finds a place to himself, alone, where he can think about things.  In those quiet moments he feels both the bitter and the sweet and then is prompted to do good.  It was a timely reminder of the good feeling you get when you can help someone else.


Purchase


Author 
Kimball Fisher

Kimball Fisher writes novels for young readers. He is also a best-selling business author, professional speaker, and management consultant. Some of his past jobs include: sailboat builder, ghost writer (not as scary as it sounds), illustrator, and factory manager (more scary than it sounds). For fun he builds furniture, stained-glass windows, and writing pens.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities (with minors in English, Asian Studies, and Japanese), and a Master of Organizational Behavior degree from Brigham Young University. He and his amazing wife Reenie live in Portland, Oregon, where they have seen pheasants, coyotes, and a bobcat in their own backyard.

Links


Book Blast


Tour Giveaway:
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/26/12

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Schedule
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/10/finding-baby-jesus-blog-tour.html


Monday, December 17, 2012

V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram: Blog Tour + Giveaway

When Val Jensen gets dumped for her decision to stay a virgin until marriage, the nasty breakup goes viral on YouTube, making her the latest internet sensation.

After days of ridicule from her peers, Val starts a school-wide campaign to rally support for her cause. She meant to make a statement, but she never dreamed the entire nation would get caught up in the controversy.

As if becoming nationally recognized as “Virgin Val” isn’t enough, Val’s already hectic life starts to spin wildly out of control when bad boy Kyle Hamilton, lead singer for the hit rock band Tralse, decides to take her abstinence as a personal challenge.

How can a girl stay true to herself when this year’s Sexiest Man Alive is doing everything in his power to win her over?

I know, for a book with that kind of title you wonder what you are going to be getting, right?  I was a bit hesitant when I first saw it but let me tell you why I really enjoyed this book.

First, For those who might wonder about content based on the title -
From Kelly: The book has a great overall message and promotes good strong moral values. For a book all about sex, there's not anything even close to a sex scene in it, but because of the nature of the topic there is a lot of innuendo/sexual humor and some name calling.

Yes, this book talks about sex a lot.  There is some sexual innuendo.  BUT, it is all about a girl and her choice to save sex until marriage.  She is standing up for something that is important to her personally for reasons that are also very important to her and very close to her heart.  It is an uphill battle but she does amazing things with her commitment.  

This book has all the romance, sizzle and snark that you have come to expect from a Kelly Oram book.  Val is a great lead character in this book.  You will love/hate Kyle just like Val does.  Well, at least I did.  The emotions were easy to get caught up in.  I read through this book like I eat Oreo's.  Fast.  Because they are yummy.  

This isn't a book I would hand off to my early teen, but it is a book that I think teenagers would benefit from reading.  It has some great messages about friendships, relationships and being true to yourself and the promises you make.

Kelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen–a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and loves to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and four children.

Links:
Blog: http://www.kellyoram.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyoram
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Oram/167476866620455
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3203095.Kelly_Oram

Tour Giveaway
$30 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Open Internationally
Ends 1/6/13

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Sunday, December 16, 2012

Hello Heather Frost, Fancy Meeting You Here!

My husband and I had to stop at our local market to pick up rolls for a family dinner.  Notice I said market.  Not supermarket.  I live in a small rural town with no "supermarket" to be found.  Nope, just our little Kent's Market.  So, imagine my absolute surprise to find one of my favorite authors sitting by the front doors, freezing her little tooshie off (it snowed last night), promoting her books!  AWESOME!

We had a little chat on my way out.  You know, me gushing how I love her books and that I reviewed them and blogged about them and loved them some more.  Her smiling and nodding at me like I'm crazy, er, I mean like I'm her most awesome fan.  Then I reminded her how awful the ending in the second book was and how I really didn't love that.  She told me she hated to end it like that but there was hope on the horizon.  The third book comes out in July!  Earlier than we expected!  Yipee!  (although not as soon as I had requested it after reviewing the last book.  I think I suggested yesterday.)

So, I ran home and told my daughter (also a big fan) who I saw at the market.  Of course she wanted to go meet her too.  We ran back over, camera in tow, and did a bit of stalking.  What?!  That's what book bloggers do.  We had her sign her books for us.  We got a couple bookmarks, also signed, and even a mood ring that tells us what aura is surrounding us.  (If you've read the books, you know that auras surround us all.  Mine is usually blue with a touch of green)  Above is a picture of Heather with my daughter.  :)  How happy!  Thanks, Heather for being so kind.

If you haven't had a chance to read Heather's books (the Seers Trilogy), you should really check them out.  She is so good at creating tension and evoking emotions.  I love these books.   Find Seers and Demons at Amazon.  You can find my review of Demons HERE.  It is the second book in the series.





Saturday, December 15, 2012

On Tour: The Alchemists Academy by Kailin Gow + $25 Giveaway!


The Alchemists Academy Book 1: Stones to Ashes by Kailin Gow

What do you learn here...at the Academy? Wirt asks. Magic? The responsibility to use your powers responsibly? Uh...something like that, his roommate Spencer said. More like how to rule worlds. Wirt, is used to being shuffled from foster home to foster home, adopting a devil-may-care attitude toward the world along the way. Now he s in a school he can t escape, learning to develop his latent magical abilities, for what use, he doesn't know...to save his world or to destroy it...

Purchase



The Alchemists Academy Book 2: Elemental Explosions by Kailin Gow

A new student has entered The Alchemists Academy, and he brings with him an explosive power that threatens the Academy and the legend of Merlin. Wirt thought he was the only bad boy at the Academy, but he was wrong. Not only is Roland Black worse than Wirt, but a new teacher had replaced one of their beloved teachers, and she has more planned for Wirt and his friends than just lesson plans. Alana, his crush has grown prettier, and now he is rivals for her attention with not only his best friend Spencer, but newcomer Roland, as well. On top of that, it is their second year, and the year where all the students must pass a test to move on to the Elite Class at the Academy. The Elite Class is the only class in the third year at the Academy, and the students who fail will be sent home, others will face something even deadlier.

Purchase


I'm happy to be a part of the tour for this Alchemists series by Kailin Gow.  This series is written more for the younger crowd, maybe middle grades and up.  Something I can really appreciate about this series so far is that it is clean.  There isn't the swearing and sexual content that is found in many of the YA books out there.  

This series takes on a sort of scaled down Harry Potter feel as the main characters are at a school for magic and finding themselves in all sorts of adventures and trouble.  They have teachers who may or may not be the good guys and they get to meet all sorts of interesting creatures like unicorns and dragons.  There is mystery and intrigue and a dashing young hero who you cannot help but root for.  As the students learn more about their magic abilities and go on quests, things get more and more interesting.

I enjoyed the second book more than the first and now I'm looking forward to the next book, The Quantum Games.  Things are going to get really exciting.  I read through these books pretty fast and all the while kept thinking that these might be perfect for the middle grade boy who is into magic and adventure.


Author Kailin Gow

Kailin Gow is the award-winning, international bestselling author of over 80 distinct books.

Kailin Gow is also the President of a media company, a media personality, and has been writing full-time since she was first published. Holding a Masters in communications management and leadership positions in Fortune 500 corporations, she puts her leadership abilities, her experience, and desire to help others into her fiction books. As a result, she has written the forthcoming, Finding the Heroine in You book which is also a national tour. She is a mother and spends whatever spare time she has volunteering at the Red Cross, Battered Women's Shelters, and other organizations.

Currently her Frost Series is in development for a major international MMO Game, and she has over 14,000 and growing Frosters on her facebook fan page.



Links:



Tour $25 Giveaway Details
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 1/31/12

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



a Rafflecopter giveaway



Alchemists Academy Tour Schedule



A Hard Act To Follow $50 Book Blast


A Hard Act to Follow by Henry Bushkin

"A Hard Act to Follow," is a non-fiction literary account of Henry Bushkin's tenure as Johnny Carson's lawyer, business partner, and friend.  The book gives genuine insight into the 'Carson behind Johnny' with candid personal vignettes about the two, during the rollicking years when Johnny was the undisputed king of television.  This is an engaging, eye-opening, anecdote-packed story about a young lawyer and his client, one of the biggest celebrities in the country.  This funny, unfiltered account gives readers a look at the Johnny Carson that none but a select few really knew.




“A Hard Act to Follow” by Henry Bushkin provides a stirring account into Johnny Carson’s world—as told by Carson’s closest confidant.
The New Yorker article by Kenneth Tynan from 1978, included the following question and answer:
Tynan: When you’re at home, whom do you entertain?
Carson: My lawyer, Henry Bushkin, who’s probably my best friend.





Praise for the Book

"I loved the book." ~Wayne Newton

"Henry was Johnny's closest friend for many years which becomes clear through many of the wonderful chapters of the book." ~Bob Trapenberg

"The book is full of tough love, humor, cultural history, sadness, humor, love, loss, well I guess I am saying it is full of life." ~Rupert Garcia


" Henry's portrayal of Johnny was spot on. I highly recommend this book which is the closest the reader will ever get to know the real Carson." ~ Ed Weinberger, former Tonight Show writer and Producer for Carson Productions

"A beautifully easy read that pulls you in to an effortless journey through Johnny Carson’s effortful life. The glamour  the fellow celebrities behind the curtain, the loyalties, and the betrayals. It certainly provides new insight on decisions and the lives that are behind the scenes." ~Kathy Davis, Kathy Takes on Books

""I have read this book and it is FAB! If you love reading about celebrities, this is awesome. It is also a great memoir as well. I am a huge memoir fan so this one was a real treat and one of the best I have read in this genre in a long time" ~Mary,  Bookhounds Blog

"Bushkin's easy, unpretentious style allows the reader to be a fly on the wall as this inside story plays out in the rarified air on which Johnny thrived. "A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW" is a must read whether you grew up on Johnny or never heard of him. And then there are the supporting characters -- from the Rat Pack to Johnny's Ice Queen mother ranging around the pages disturbing the peace. I read it straight through in 90 minutes and was left wanting more."  ~Sandy Ignon, Screenwriter (RANSOM).

"The tales are epic in nature and stretch from the first page to the last. “A Hard Act to Follow” is an honest appraisal of Carson and shows his dark side. In this, Bushkin strikes the right blend of salacious detail with an appropriate dose of discretion. Sure, you’ll learn more detail about Carson’s marriages-- in a tasteful way.  Bushkin will leave you wanting more. Great books will do that." ~Barry Mordis, Senior VP at Merryl-Lynch

"No one would describe Johnny as easy going-there was an edge to him that Bushkin always managed to soften. He continues to do that in this book. There was that challenging side of Johnny which is also captured in the book. Henry was Johnny's closest friend for many years which becomes clear through many of the wonderful chapters of the book. All in all a great book to read." ~Bob Trapenberg, Johnny's former Tennis Pro.




Author Henry Bushkin

Henry Bushkin is an experienced lawyer who practices in both California and New York. He currently lives in Los Angeles where his children also reside.









Blog Tour Now Through January 11th
Tour Schedule




Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/26/12
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Friday, December 14, 2012

Free Souls Cover Reveal and a GIVEAWAY!

Free Souls by Susan Kaye Quinn
(Book Three of the Mindjack Trilogy) Now Available!
When your mind is a weapon, freedom comes at a price.
Four months have passed since Kira left home to join Julian’s Jacker Freedom Alliance, but the hole in her heart still whistles empty where her boyfriend Raf used to be. She fills it with weapons training, JFA patrols, and an obsessive hunt for FBI agent Kestrel, ignoring Julian’s worries about her safety and repeated attempts to recruit her for his revolutionary chat-casts. When anti-jacker politician Vellus surrounds Jackertown with the National Guard, Kira discovers there’s more to Julian’s concerns than she knew, but she’s forced to take on a mission that neither want and that might be her last: assassinating Senator Vellus before he can snuff out Julian’s revolution and the jackers she’s come to love.
All Mindjack stories available on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, and iTunes (Note Free Souls is not yet available on iTunes)
Early Praise for Free Souls
“Quinn paints a picture of a not-too-distant America where politicians inflame the hatred of one section of the populace for another—all for their own gain—and you worry that her world is not so far off from our own.”
Dianne Salerni, author of We Hear the Dead, The Caged Graves, and the forthcoming The Eighth Day
"Free Souls starts with a bang and doesn't let up. Like a mash-up of all your favorite science-fiction adventures from Star Wars to The Legend of Korra, it blends nonstop action, nail-biting escapes, and great romance. I absolutely loved it! A great series conclusion—a must-read."
Leigh Talbert Moore, author of Rouge and The Truth About Faking
“Susan did it again. Free Souls was WOW! I expected Kira to step up to her role as heroine but not like this. Surprises kept coming until the very end which tied up more loose ends than I knew existed. Warning: Don't start reading until you have time to finish. I didn't want to put Free Souls down for a second. It's that kind of book.”
Sher A. Hart, Goodreads Review
Interview Susan's over at Amy Saunder's blog today (12.14.12), answering questions about how she came up with the mages' abilities, what kind of mage she would be, and all about her future works. Digital Box Set Since Free Souls is out, there is now a Digital Box Set of the Mindjack Trilogy for those of you who want the whole series!
Available on AmazonBarnes&Noble
Mindjack Origins Collection Want more Julian? Wondering how Sasha's ability really works? Looking for EXCLUSIVE DELETED SCENES from Free Souls? This collection of novellas, scenes, and other goodies is for those craving a bit more of the characters and drama of the Mindjack series.
Includes: Mindjack Novellas Mind Games (Raf's story) The Handler (Julian's story) The Scribe (Sasha's story) TWO EXCLUSIVE DELETED SCENES from Free Souls (published nowhere else!) PLUS Mindjack flash fiction, an (imaginary) conversation between Raf and Julian, and other goodies for readers who want just a little bit more of Kira, Julian, Raf, and the Mindjack crew.
Available on AmazonBarnes&Noble
ENTER TO WIN one of FIVE ecopies of the Mindjack Origins Collection
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Thursday, December 13, 2012

Review: An Unexpected Angel by Janet K. Halling


Sometimes finding peace means finding a difference perspective.


Ella Davies, is focused, independent, and driven. Her hard work is finally paying off and she is on the brink of great success. But what no one knows is that her frantic drive is born not from a desire to succeed, but from a need to forget – forget her past, forget her guilt, and mostly, forget the tragedy that changed her life forever.

Ella’s strategy seems to be working but on Christmas Eve she meets Cohen, a strange man with an even stranger purpose. Cohen catapults Ella back through time and forces her to confront not only her own pain, but the pain of those long since passed. In the process, Ella learns about courage and compassion and that in the darkest hour, no one is ever alone.

Oh, this is a must read Christmas season (or any season) read.  I'm so grateful to be a part of this blog tour for An Unexpected Angel.  It was the perfect read for this month and I loved it.

Ella is one bitter girl.  I can honestly say that in the beginning I didn't like her very much at all.  She is mean and puts everyone off.  Of course, as is usually the case, the more I understood Ella and her history, the more my dislike changed to empathy and compassion.  Even though I don't think people are entitled to be mean and rude to people because life has been hard, I was able to see how Ella reached the place she was at.  It is a journey of change for Ella as she allows her heart to thaw and she reaches out to others who teach her about courage and love.

Of course this story brings to mind a bit of the Scrooge tale, but honestly it brings more to the table than that.  There were real emotions and real events in history.  It was a touching read that will help you remember the things that are most important.  It will give you hope and perhaps change your ideas about angels.

This is a short book that won't take you too much time to read.  I hope you can find time this month to read this book and then share it.  It's a perfect gift for family and friends.

Enjoy this excerpt from An Unexpected Angel!

Somewhere there was a rhythmic humming—a kind of a swooshing sound that increased and decreased in volume at regular intervals. She couldn’t remember where she was. Her whole body ached, and her head felt as if it would explode.
                Ella groaned and opened her eyes. She was still in the gym, lying crumpled against the weight machine. The treadmill had stopped, and the rhythmic sound was coming from the man riding the spinning bike, which sat nearby.
                Her fingers trembled as she felt the goose egg on the side of her head. Her face was on fire, probably scraped on the belt, and her knees were bloody, also from the belt.
                Suddenly she stiffened. There was a man riding the bike! A man riding the bike. While she had been lying there unconscious. Had he just sauntered in and climbed on without seeing her at all or had he viewed her inert form without concern? That was cold, even for New York City. Gingerly, she turned her head to look at him.
                It was the clerk from the deli, and he didn’t stop pedaling as he glanced her way. “Oh good, you’re awake.”
                She stared up at him in mute astonishment.
                He reached for his water bottle and took a long drink. “I’m glad you woke up on your own,” he said pleasantly. “I was about ready to pour this in your face, so you can thank me for sparing you an unexpected shower.”
                Ella grasped the weight machine and pulled herself slowly to a sitting position. Her head was throbbing, and her stomach lurched. “I could sue you for failing to come to the aid of an injured person,” she snapped rather feebly.
                The man studied her contemplatively. “Hmmm, yes, you would think of that, wouldn’t you? But I’m not too worried, Ella. You’re not going to sue me and we both know it.”
                She opened her mouth to snarl a retort but stopped abruptly. “How do you know my name?” she demanded. “And what are you even doing here? You don’t live in this building.” She hesitated, realizing she wasn’t sure. “Do you?”
                He jumped off the bike and held out his hand. “You should get up. Want help?”
                She shrank away from him. “Don’t touch me! Who are you, and how do you know my name?”
                “Well, it’s simple really. My name is Cohen, and I’m your guardian angel.” He broke into a brief but rapid tap dance routine and finished with flair. And with jazz hands.       
                Ella stared at him in perplexed silence, unsure if he was a hallucination or just crazy. “Uh-huh. Right,” she finally said, groaning as she pulled herself to her feet. A wave of nausea hit her, and she stopped, doubling over and willing herself not to vomit. She for sure had a concussion.
She tried to think. Should she go to the hospital? Or maybe just go home and try to sleep? She didn’t know. She made a move toward the door, but Cohen tap-danced over to block her path.
                “Get out of my way,” she snapped at him with more bravado than she felt.
                He grinned. “Can’t do that. You and me, we have business tonight.”
                For the first time, she felt a small dart of fear. Cohen wasn’t exactly menacing, but he certainly was strange. If he attacked her, would she have the strength to fight him? If only her head would stop hurting!
                “What do you want?” she asked.
                “I already told you, I’m your guardian angel. Well, not technically an angel, but that word will serve as well as any other. Anyway, I’m here to help.”
                “Sure. Like you helped me when I was unconscious a minute ago? If that’s your kind of help, no thanks.”
                “No, not that kind of help, silly.”
                “Look, whatever you’re on, whatever you’re offering, I’m not interested. Just leave me alone, please? I’m sore and tired, and my head is killing me. I need to go lie down.”
                “Oh, right. That.” He made some sort of vague gesture and instantly her nausea subsided and the pain in her head vanished.
                Chills raced up and down her spine, and she stared at him, “Wait . . . what’s . . . what’s going on?”
                “Okay, no more joking around.” Cohen looked suddenly serious. “Here’s the deal. You need help and there’s a lot you need to learn. Only you’re far too stubborn to admit it. You might not even know how much help you need. But I know; so here I am.”
                The pieces were starting to fall into place. “Wait . . . Christmas Eve . . . guardian angel. This is some kind of a joke, right?” she said before adding sarcastically, “What’s the matter, Jacob Marley was busy? Clarence already got his wings? Or wasn’t he on duty tonight?”
                He grinned. “Both good men. But you got stuck with me. Although, all things considered, maybe it’s me who got stuck with you. You can be quite unpleasant, do you know that?”
                Ella snorted derisively. “So when does the Ghost of Christmas Past show up? Or is he waiting for me upstairs?”
                “Dickens took some liberties. It doesn’t exactly work like that. At least, this time it won’t.”
                 “You have exactly one second to get out of my way or I’m going to start screaming at the top of my lungs!”
                Cohen cocked his head to one side and gave her a brief shrug of resignation. “Okay then, you win. Can’t say I didn’t try.” He stepped smoothly to one side and swept his arm in a wide arc toward the door. “Be my guest.”
                Throwing him what she hoped was a withering glare, Ella marched past him, flung open the door—and stepped into a nightmare.

Janet Halling discovered her love of writing at the age of six when her story of a lonely duck won a first grade writing contest. She has a degree in Marketing Communications and lives with her family in northern Utah. She is currently working on her next novel.

TV interview (Recorded 11/27/12 for Good Things Utah ABC4)

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

David Farland Giveaway of Nightingale and tee shirts too!

This is an awesome giveaway from David Farland, the author of Nightingale and over 50 other books!  If you haven't read Nightingale yet, you should check it out.  You can find my review of this book HERE.


David is giving away an AUTOGRAPHED hardcover of Nightingale, the enhanced ebook, and 5 lucky winners will each receive an awesome T-shirt featuring Bron, the main character from Nightingale. A total of 7 prizes will be awarded. Enter by December 17th at midnight!

Just enter using the rafflecopter below. Enjoy!
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Win a T-shirt like this one!
Grand Prize Winner of the Hollywood Book Festival, placed first in all genres, all categories.

Winner of the 2012 International Book Award for Best Young Adult Novel of the Year!

Finalist in the Global Ebook Awards
.
                                                                    *
Some people sing at night to drive back the darkness.  Others sing to summon it. . . .

Bron Jones was abandoned at birth. Thrown into foster care, he was rejected by one family after another, until he met Olivia, a gifted and devoted high-school teacher who recognized him for what he really was--what her people call a "nightingale."

But Bron isn't ready to learn the truth. There are secrets that have been hidden from mankind for hundreds of thousands of years, secrets that should remain hidden. Some things are too dangerous to know.  Bron's secret may be the most dangerous of all.

In his remarkable young adult fantasy debut, David Farland shows why critics have called his work "compelling," "engrossing," "powerful," "profound," and "ultimately life-changing."

Purchase Nightingale in time for Christmas!

Review: The Trouble With Cowboys by Denise Hunter


Only one pair of boots—and the cowboy wearing them—can get Annie out of the mess she’s in.
Annie Wilkerson is Moose Creek’s premiere horse trainer and equine columnist for Montana Living. Money is tight as she tries to put her kid-sister through college and provide for her young nephew. When Annie’s column is cancelled, she’s given first shot at a new lovelorn column—and she can’t afford to turn it down. Only problem is . . . Annie’s never been in love.
Always resourceful, she reluctantly strikes a deal with the town’s smooth-talking ladies’ man Dylan Taylor: She’ll work with his ailing horse, Braveheart, if he’ll help her answer the reader letters.
Working closely with Dylan is harder than Annie imagined, and she quickly realizes she may have misjudged him. But her unwavering conviction that cowboys are nothing but trouble has kept her heart safe for years. And she can’t risk getting hurt now.
The more Annie tries to control things, the more they fall apart. Her feelings are spinning out of control, and her sister’s antics are making life increasingly more difficult. Annie knows she needs to turn the reins over to God, but surrender has never come easily.
When Dylan reveals his feelings for her, Annie doesn’t know what to trust—her head or her heart. The trouble with this cowboy is that he might just be exactly what she needs.
Annie has taken on so much responsibility and it started so early in her life.  She works hard to be everything she believes her mother was not.  I think Annie is a good example of how easy it is to judge people based on past hurts.  She was trying to protect herself from something she thought would hurt her based on past experience.  And, as is usually the case, the more we know people, the more we understand and the less we judge.  It was nice to see Annie come full circle.  It sure took her long enough.  She sure has more will power than I would have if faced with a handsome, dimple faced cowboy.  :)
I love this Big Sky Romance series.  The Trouble with Cowboys was exactly what I was hoping it would be.  A clean, easy reading romance with a handsome cowboy.  It was the perfect fit for the clean romance mood I was in.  A happy distraction with a happy ending.
This is a Christian fiction book, but it is light on the religion.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Starflower Blog Tour with a Guest Post and Giveaway!

On Tour with Prism Book Tours...

Starflower  (Tales of Goldstone Wood #4)
Starflower
Tales of Goldstone Wood #4
by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Paperback, 400 pages
Published November 1st 2012 by Bethany House

Premise:
When a cursed dragon-witch kidnaps the lovely Lady Gleamdren, Eanrin sets boldly forth on a rescue mission...and a race against his rival for Gleamdren's favor. Intent upon his quest, the last thing the immortal Faerie needs is to become mixed up with the troubles of an insignificant mortal.

But when he stumbles upon a maiden trapped in an enchanted sleep, he cannot leave her alone in the dangerous Wood Between. One waking kiss later, Eanrin suddenly finds his story entangled with that of young Starflower. A strange link exists between this mortal girl and the dragon-witch. Will Starflower prove the key to Lady Gleamdren's rescue? Or will the dark power from which she flees destroy both her and her rescuer?

Today I am spotlighting part one of a three part guest post series as part of this blog tour. I'm so happy that Anne took the time to share this with us!  Thanks, Anne!


To Love is to be Bound:  Part One

"It's a terrible thing, love," Eanrin said. "Love is the most dreadful end."

So says the hero of my newest novel, Starflower. An odd sentiment for a hero, particularly in a fairy tale. If we can't believe in the triumphant power of True Love here in a magical world of faeries and dragons and magic, where can we turn?

But there is a certain truth behind Eanrin's statement, odd though it may sound. Love is the most powerful binding force in the world. But that's just it . . . love is a binding. As soon as a heart opens itself up to love, suddenly someone else becomes more important than the all-consuming Self. Without love, people are free to focus on their own needs and desires exclusively. There is a freedom in this form of selfishness, a freedom that is difficult to relinquish.

Enter love, and this freedom is no longer an option.

Love means vulnerability. You can never control another person. You can never make them do, think, or behave how you want. So to love someone else means to open yourself up to hurts and heartaches you cannot control. The armored safety of selfishness vanishes in the exposed weakness of love.

In Starflower, we see many characters battling the terror that is love. We see Eanrin, the selfish immortal suddenly faced with a chance to change, to soften his heart--and reduced to quivering horror at the possibility. We see the dragon-witch, Hri Sora, and her vengeful fury at the one she once loved.

Foolish! Hateful! She had loved because she knew no better, and she had made herself vulnerable before him. The fiend. The Beast, unfit to lick the soles of her feet! And he must die. He must die, for she had loved him, and love was not to be borne! (p. 289)

For Hri Sora, loving made her a slave. And she prizes her freedom and her power far too highly to stand for any form of slavery. Love is the ultimate weakness.

But Starflower goes on a much deeper exploration of love than this. While we glimpse the hearts of Hri Sora and Eanrin, we also are led into the heart of the title character herself. And Starflower's perspective on love is very different.

About the Author:


Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a passel of cats, and one long-suffering dog. When she's not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea, and studies piano, painting, and pastry baking. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. She is the author of HEARTLESS, VEILED ROSE, MOONBLOOD, and STARFLOWER, with DRAGONWITCH due to release in 2013. HEARTLESS and VEILED ROSE have each been honored with a Christy Award.
Find & Follow:


The Dragonwood Series:



Bethany House

Get Your Copy:

Bethany House
Barnes & Noble
The Book Depository
Amazon:

Check out the entire December Tour!

3 - Laura @ Colorimetry - Launch!
3 - Sarah @ Letters to the Cosmos - Review
4 - Kathy @ I Am a Reader, Not a Writer - Excerpt
4 - Kari @ Kari's Crowded Bookshelf - Review
5 - Aleksandra @ Aleksandra's Corner - Guest Post - Inspired by Cats I
6 - Lisa @ Bookworm Lisa - Guest Post - Inspired by Cats II
6 - Mandy @ The Reading Diaries - Review
7 - Alicia @ Mortality Bites - Dragonwitch page REVEAL
7 - Naj @ Unputdownable Books - Guest Post - Inspired by Cats III
9 - Lissette @ Passion and Life - Guest Post - Night Terrors
10 - Laura @ Colorimetry - Review
10 - Bonnie @ A Backwards Story - Review
12 - Aimee @ Getting Your Read On - Guest Post - The Faces of Love I
12 - Kimberly Krey @ Kimberly Krey - Guest Post - Drafts
13 - Abbi @ Christian Novels - Tales of Goldstone Wood Reviews
13 - Mandy @ The Reading Diaries - Interview
14 - Ivy @ Open the Page - Guest Post - The Faces of Love II
16 - Alicia @ Mortality Bites - Review
17 - Len @ Musings of a Reader Happy - Hightlight/Excerpt - Meet Dragonwitch
17 - Jen @ Literally Jen - Review
18 - Beth @ Living a Goddess Life - Review
19 - Rach @ Stressed Rach - Guest Post - Illustrated Sneak Peak
19 - Christy @ Christy's Cozy Corners - Review
20 - Heather @ Proud Book Nerd - Review
20 - Heidi @ Geo Librarian - Guest Post - The Faces of Love III
21 - Jaime @ Goodreads - Review
21 - Finale @ Colorimetry - Giveaway winner announced.


Catch the Christmas Read-along!


Giveaway:

Grand Prize

GRAND PRIZE: The first four books The Tales of Goldstone Wood: Heartless, Veiled Rose, Moonblood and Starflower + SWAG! 2nd place is a copy of Starflower + SWAG!
2nd Prize

Enter to win until 12/20. Winner to be announced 12/21. Open to anyone who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here & on Colorimetry as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Void where prohibited by law. 

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