Showing posts with label book giveaways. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book giveaways. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Win a Copy of Pioneer Girl by Bich Minh Nguyen at The Book Connection



Just when you think every book has been written that has a Laura Ingalls Wilder connection, you come across something so unique and fascinating that it begs your attention. Pioneer Girl tells the story of Lee Lein, who finds herself jobless after obtaining her PhD in American literature. She heads home to a Chicago suburb to work in her mother and grandfather's cafe. The tense relationship with her mother only worsens, and then her brother disappears without a trace, leaving behind a gold brooch from her mother's past in Vietnam that was left behind by an American reporter who visited her grandfather's original cafe in 1965. Based upon a passage from the Little House books, Lee is convinced the reporter was Rose Wilder Lane, the daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Does this pin connect her family to one of America's famous pioneering legacies? 

There is so much to this novel, I simply can't state it here and keep the post at a reasonable length. You can read my full review here.

Enter for your chance to win a FREE paperback copy of Pioneer Girl here!

Monday, June 23, 2014

Book Spotlight: Time and Forever by Susan B. James


When Sherry's best friend, Lorena, promises her a virtual reality adventure for her sixty-third birthday, neither of them expect a trip back in time. But when Sherry bumps into the handsome stranger she’d once kissed on a London train in the summer of ‘69, she knows it couldn't be anything else.

And this time she doesn't want to run.


File Size: 3651 KB
Print Length: 210 pages
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing (January 27, 2014)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00I3PFF40

Purchase for Kindle at http://www.amazon.com/Time-And-Forever-Susan-James-ebook/dp/B00I3PFF40

Enter to win one of seven free copies at Cheryl's Yeko's blog: http://www.cherylyeko.com/2014/06/please-give-warm-welcome-to-susan-berger.html

Susan B. James has been a bookaholic since the age of eight. In between books she graduated high school at the Overseas School of Rome, took a BFA in Speech and Drama at the University of Georgia and received a MA in theatre at the University of Hawaii.

While not devouring another delicious book from the New York City Public Library, she pursued her acting career, keeping herself financially afloat with temp work.

She met and married her true love and got to sing in a Broadway musical. They moved to California where they could pursue TV and Film acting and where Susan could devour another library.

Two children and two grandchildren later, Susan is still a bookaholic and absolutely believes in magic and Happily Ever After. She is grateful to all the writers who enriched her lives with their stories.

Time and Forever is her debut romance novel. She writes children's books as Susan J. Berger

Friday, May 16, 2014

Three Tips on How Christians Can Experience Real Financial Freedom by Pastor Wesley K. Zinn (Giveaway)


We are taught that we find freedom in Christ, and yet many Christians never experience freedom or peace in the area of finances. Unlike books that provide tools for good financial management, “I Got This” offers profound and practical insight into the freedom and flow of God’s economy. Wesley Zinn explores the principle of first fruits, the spirits of poverty and generosity, and the importance of your heart’s posture in giving. Firmly rooted in Scripture, this book is filled with many personal vignettes that illustrate and validate the practical application of the message. “I Got This” will help you experience freedom in finances, encourage you to discover a heart of gratitude for God’s provision, and help you align yourself with God’s heart, releasing a flow of his kingdom’s resources into and through your life.

Three Tips on How Christians Can Experience Real Financial Freedom
 by Pastor Wesley K. Zinn

Freedom in finances does not have to come from having a lot of resources. We can experience freedom when we believe what Jesus suggests. Seek first his kingdom for our Father in heaven knows our needs and is able to provide for our needs (Mt 6:33). His invitation can be understood in one word – trust. Do we believe and trust that our heavenly Father loves us and desires to provide for us?

Here are three tips that will help us experience freedom in finances as we place our trust in God:

1. Keep our eyes on our provider and off our circumstances. Our circumstances may tell us to worry, but our provider is more than capable of accomplishing his desire to provide for his children, whom he loves.

2. Choose to be generous. Generosity is an act of caring for others. This aligns our actions with God's heart which opens a flow of his resources to us and through us.

3. Practice thankfulness. Spend more time thanking the Lord for his faithfulness to you then your prayer requests for what you feel you still need. This will cause you to reflect and appreciate the Lord's faithfulness, as well as help direct your attitude as you continue to ask for his faithful provision.


Following a successful business career, Wesley Zinn joined the pastoral staff of Wellspring Church in Berlin, CT where he presently serves as Lead Pastor. His vision is to equip and release the church and individuals to take hold of the fullness of life and the destiny that God intends. Wesley has taught on the topics of generosity and giving in numerous churches and in many settings both stateside and abroad. He and his wife, Pam, carry a special grace for understanding and living in God’s kingdom economy.

Visit Pastor Zinn online at http://wesleyzinn.com/

Enter for a chance to win a copy of "I Got This" by Wesley K. Zinn!

Terms and conditions:

  • By entering, you confirm you are 18 years of age or older.
  • Winner must reside in the United States.
  • Winner will be notified by email and have 72 hours to claim the prize before a new winner is selected.
  • Prize will be shipped directly to winner by USPS.
  • This blog and Wesley K. Zinn are not responsible for items lost or damaged in shipment.
  • Void where prohibited.

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

National Reading Month Giveaway!



In honor of National Reading Month in March, we are giving away a set of six children's picture books. These are all from Michael Neugebauer Publishing, ltd. with a total retail value of almost $160. Please enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Residents of the U.S. only. Good luck!

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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Five, Six, Seven, Nate! Book Giveaway at YA and Kids Books Central



Three days left for residents of the US or Canada to enter for a chance to win one of two autographed copies of this book. Find details at http://www.yabookscentral.com/blog/giveaway-five-six-seven-nate-by-tim-federle-us-canada

The sequel to Better Nate Than Ever: a New York Times Book Review Notable Book of 2013, Publishers Weekly Flying Start and Best Book of 2013, and Amazon Best Book of 2013.

In Five, Six, Seven, Nate!, Nate Foster's Broadway dreams are finally coming true. Armed with a one-way ticket to New York City, small-town theater geek Nate is off to start rehearsals for E.T.: The Broadway Musical. It's everything he ever practiced his autograph for! But as thrilling as Broadway is, rehearsals are nothing like Nate expects: full of intimidating child stars, cutthroat understudies, and a director who can't even remember Nate's name.

Now, as the countdown to opening night is starting to feel more like a time bomb, Nate is going to need more than his lucky rabbit's foot if he ever wants to see his name in lights. He may even need a showbiz miracle.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Dick Wolf Book Giveaway at Freda's Voice



To celebrate the release of Dick Wolf's new Jeremy Fisk novel, The Execution, the publisher and Freda's Voice is running a giveaway where multiple prizes are available.

One winner will pick up hardcover copies of both books in Wolf's Jeremy Fisk series, The Intercept and The Execution. Three other lucky winners will receive a paperback copy of The Intercept. For full details of and rules for this giveaway visit http://www.fredasvoice.com/2014/01/giveaway-excerpt-execution-intercept.html

Lending a Paw by Laurie Cass Giveaway at Socrates' Book Reviews...

Yvonne over at Socrates' Book Reviews... is running a giveaway for a copy of Lending a Paw by Laurie Cass. After reading her review and a few sentences from the book for The Friday 56, I knew I wanted a copy.

With the help of her rescue cat, Eddie, librarian Minnie Hamilton is driving a bookmobile based in the resort town of Chilson, Michigan. But she’d better keep both hands on the wheel, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride…

Eddie followed Minnie home one day, and now she can’t seem to shake the furry little shadow. But in spite of her efforts to contain her new pal, the tabby sneaks out and trails her all the way to the bookmobile on its maiden voyage. Before she knows it, her slinky stowaway becomes her cat co-pilot!

Minnie and Eddie’s first day visiting readers around the county seems to pass without trouble—until Eddie darts outside at the last stop and leads her to the body of a local man who’s reached his final chapter.

Initially, Minnie is ready to let the police handle this case, but Eddie seems to smell a rat. Together, they’ll work to find the killer—because a good librarian always knows when justice is overdue.

Visit http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2014/01/reviewgiveaway-lending-paw-by-laurie.html to see how you can enter for your chance to win.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Closet Words by Kim Hilton


Title: Closet Words
Genre: Christian inspirational
Author: Kim Hilton
Publisher: WestBow Press
Pages: 174
Language: English
ISBN: 978-1449774530

Taken word for word as heard from God, Closet Words is a collection of powerful and penetrating words written down in the stillness of a prayer closet. Hearing from God for several years, Kim Hilton began writing down what she heard. Encouraging, uplifting, and challenging words with a clear message to His servants, Closet Words gives a renewal and refreshing word to the Christian believer.

Excerpt:

Closet Words is a collection of words from God. What began as an earnest journey to seek God in prayer became a journey of God answering and speaking to me. Through a simple pen, God has spoken to me many times. Although it happened one time before, I consider an August morning in 2002, after I prayed the following prayer, to be when God began speaking to me.
My written prayer to God on the second day of a fast:
Do I have the courage to seek you, God? Do I have the strength the prophets of old had? Do I have the wisdom of the kings of old? Do I have the power to rebuke like the apostles? I seek this courage, I seek this strength, I seek this power, I seek this wisdom! Fill this vessel, oh God, to overflowing. I desire you and only you. Help me to be blameless, to keep myself from sin. Help my heart to be full of love for others. Help my hands to serve others. Help my lips to teach of you. Help my mind to be filled with your wisdom. May I find every ounce of strength, every beat of my heart, every word of my mouth, every step of my walk…all come from you and only you.
After that August prayer I began regularly hearing from God while in my closet praying. I have kept a prayer journal for many years, and as the words flowed to me from God, I began writing them in my journal. Many were given to me while on my knees in the dark of my closet. Most were scribbled quickly to grasp each word and phrase. I’ve also been awakened in the night and reached for the pen beside my bed to scribble down words as God was speaking to me.
I have been seeking a deeper walk with God for many years. Like any Christian, I have journeyed with simple issues and I’ve struggled through tough problems. I have overcome, and I have failed. Throughout my walk as a Christian I have searched to get to the deepest level possible with God. This journal, these closet words from God, did not come easily. They are the product of years of yearning and earnestly seeking God through hours of fasting, tears, and prayer.
I have also given words from God to people. I’ve been asked, “Can you give me words from God?” and after praying, he has given me words that have impacted people’s lives. Many times I have been asked how I hear these words. I can only say, “When I hear God, I write. When he stops, I stop.”
The following words are written word for word as they were given to me. My earnest prayer is that these Closet Words can be a comfort to you.




Kim Hilton, MCC, PCC, has a master’s degree in Christian counseling. Founder of Closet Words Ministries Foundation, Kim is a teacher on prayer and listening to God. An avid writer of several books, Closet Words was chosen as the first book to be published with the proceeds going to Closet Words Ministries Foundation. A sought-after speaker and Bible Study leader, Kim has spoken at both national and local events. She resides with her husband on a farm and enjoys spending time with their six grown children and grandchildren. For more information on Kim Hilton or her work, please visit: www.KimHilton.org.

Enter for a chance to win a copy of Closet Words by Kim Hilton. Use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

Terms and Conditions: Winner must be 18 years of age or older and reside in the United States. Winner will be notified by email and have 72 hours to claim the prize. Prize will be shipped directly to the winner by the author or her representative. This blog is not responsible for items lost or damaged in shipment. Void where prohibited.




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Sunday, November 3, 2013

Raging Water by Marilyn Meredith Winner


Congratulations to Patty W. for picking up a copy of Raging Water by Marilyn Meredith. The winner has been contacted by email. 

Thanks to everyone who participated. Look for more giveaways coming soon.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

End of Summer Giveaway! Tons of Books!



Best of intentions with posting these on a weekly basis, but it never happened. I am going to list separate Rafflecopter codes with each Book Package that is up for grabs in the End of Summer Giveaway. We will start with number 2, since I already ran one of these giveaways. Some of these books are ARCs; some I got through the Amazon VINE program; and others were duplicates of books we already had. Most of them have been read only once and a few of them not at all. I'll leave this giveaway running until Veteran's Day. Good luck!

Book Package #2

  • Belle of the Glades by Cheryl Abney (Christian MG)
  • Wright on Time®: Arizona, Book 1 by Lisa M. Cottrell-Bentley (MG)
  • ARC of Bindi Wildlife Adventures: Trouble at the Zoo by Chris Kunz (MG)
  • ARC of Bindi Wildlife Adventures: Rescue! by Jess Black (MG)
  • ARC of The Last Full Measure by Ann Rinaldi (YA)
  • Untimed by Andy Gavin (YA)
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Book Package #3

  • A Quaker Cupboard by David Madden
  • Autographed copy of Sprung From the Soul by David Madden
  • Autographed copy of Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia by Patricia Neely-Dorsey
  • Autographed copy of My Magnolia Memories and Musings by Patricia Neely-Dorsey
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Book Package #4

  • Autographed copy of Words to Write By: Author Devotionals compiled by Robin Bayne
  • Grit for the Oyster: 250 Pearls of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers by Suzanne Woods Fisher, Debora M. Coty, Faith Tibbetts McDonald, and Joanna Bloss
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Book Package #5

  • Beside Two Rivers and Beyond the Valley, books 2 and 3 of Daughters of the Potomac Series by Rita Gerlach (each stand alone historical drama/romance novels with unrelated characters)
  • What Did Jesus Say?: The Seven Messages from the Master by Rev. Terry Allan Christian
  • Who I Be by Annie Brown
  • God's Special Forces: A Manual for Becoming a Young Woman of Quality by Darlene Laney


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Book Package #6

  • The Look of Love by Bella Andre (new)
  • All He Ever Desired  and All He Ever Dreamed by Shannon Stacey (new Books 5 and 6, stand alone novels in The Kowalski Family series set in Maine)
  • Bungalow Nights and The Love Shack by Christie Ridgway (new stand alone books 2 and 3 in the Beach House No. 9 Series)
  • Autographed copy of Traveling for Love: Searching for Self, Hoping for Love by Becky Due (women's fiction)

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Monday, October 7, 2013

You've Got Mail Monday




It's been a busy and sad week around the homestead. We lost a member of our extended family to cancer, my mother-in-law's only and older sister. Her sickness crept up and took her quickly, so there is a blessing in that, but it also reminds me how so many people I love have gone home to their Creator and I won't see them again on this Earth.

The Lil' Princess played soccer in the pouring rain on Sunday. The girls lost, but they still had a fun time. It was great to get back home and wrap up on a rainy day in front of the fireplace and read.

Our mail carrier brought some wonderful stuff this week. Some of the plants I ordered arrived. I want to put these in before the first frost. The Carmine Jewel Dwarf Cherry Tree and Younique Lilac Astilbe arrived from Spring Hill Nurseries, but I haven't been able to plant them yet because we are on our third straight day of rain. It looks like tomorrow will be a total washout too. Hopefully by Tuesday I can get them in the ground. The Ostrich Fern I ordered through Amazon arrived earlier in the week. The astible and fern will go in that shady area between the cellar door and the air conditioning unit that was mulched this year. The ride-on mower can't get in there, so mulching seemed like the thing to do.

I've been browsing my latest L.L Bean catalog. I've been eyeing their Fleece-Lined Flannel Shirt. I would love something for working around the yard that's warm, but not too bulky. I'm trying to decide if I want to spend $59 for something that is probably going to get dirty and torn. My mother-in-law asked me to order their Cowl-Neck Tunic in Orange Spice Heather. That color should look great on her.

For books last week, An Amish Country Christmas by Charlotte Hubbard and Naomi King arrived. I'm reviewing this book over at The Book Connection later in the month. This is How I Find Her by Sara Polsky is a book I won from another blog. I've stopped entering a lot of these giveaways because I have so many books here, but when I find one that looks too interesting to pass up, I can't help but enter.

That's it for this week's You've Got Mail Monday. Hope you have a great week.





Friday, September 20, 2013

Guest Blogger and Giveaway: Tim & Debbie Bishop, Authors of Two Are Better


From an engagement to a cross-country trip in just ten weeks? And with no experience in bicycle touring—or marriage? While Tim left behind a 26-year corporate career and familiar surroundings, Debbie was about to enter a “classroom” she hadn’t seen in her 24 years of teaching. Was it a grand getaway or a big mistake?

Shared Passions Enhance Marriage

By Debbie Bishop

Passion, the very word involves sharing. We don’t want to be passionate about cooking, and eat alone. We don’t want to be passionate about having a beautifully decorated house and garden if no one comes to visit. We don’t want to be passionate about a sport and go it alone all the time. The very nature of passion calls for it to be a shared and enjoyable endeavor.

Passion in marriage takes many forms. We are passionate about raising our children to be responsible and kind (along with well behaved). We are passionate about having a great marriage. We are passionate about our goals and dreams. And, of course, a husband and a wife share a passion for each other that includes intimacy and friendship. We get in trouble when our more intimate passions overflow the banks of our marriage and spill out beyond matrimonial boundaries. But when shared passion is planted in marriage, marital bliss blossoms.

Tim and I initially met because we shared a passion for bicycling. When we met for our first bike ride, neither of us thought that a passion for bicycling would lead to marriage…and it didn’t! God led us to marriage, and we get to enjoy bicycling together as a pleasurable perk along with some other shared passions.

So, how does bicycling enhance our marriage? Let me count the ways.

1. Bicycling has given us a road to travel on together. So many memories and pictures run through our mind from our bike trips. So many lessons learned on the road apply to our marriage on a daily basis. Those lessons help us navigate the rocky road when conflicts arise. When I look back to my past mistakes before marriage, I think of one lesson in particular that I learned on the road: I can’t ride my bike in reverse. I must always move forward. That lesson helps me keep the past in the past! On my bike helmet, I have a very small mirror that helps me see what is behind me, a mini-rearview mirror. This is for safety purposes only. I spend most of my bike riding time looking forward, seeing the beauty ahead and to the sides. That seems like a good way to live– looking onward, not backward.

2. Bicycling together keeps us connected. People think we are crazy when they learn we took off for a long-distance bike tour only two weeks after we were married for the first time at age 52. Recently, a radio interviewer could not believe that we spent so much time together with no other distractions or people in our immediate circle of influence. It was just the two of us, 24/7, for 63 straight days. That is a lot of together time even though we were newlyweds. We were introduced to “for better or worse” early in our marriage while on the road! But the lessons we learned are ones we ponder daily: simplify, live by faith, God gives good gifts, and two are better than one. Keeping those lessons in mind every day makes for a good and godly marriage.

3. Bicycling has worked us into great shape. I remember coming back from our first bike tour tanned and strong at 52 years old. My legs and the rest of me felt firm and sexy. Carrying a heavy load on the bicycle resulted in a lighter load on my frame upon returning home. It feels scrumptious when Tim wraps his arms around me. Feeling better about my body and the shape I am in enhances the passion I want to express with my husband. Physical strength helps women feel more confident about their bodies.

4. Bicycling teaches us the importance of balance in our lives. If we keep on pedaling, we are not going to fall off our bikes. That is an important lesson in marriage too. Two wheels and proper balance are necessary to ride a bike. Sometimes we need training wheels before we find our own balance. Asking for advice from friends, mentors, or counselors can help, but eventually it is up to the two of us to find the balance in our marriage—the balance between work and play, spending and saving, solitude and togetherness, harmony and conflict.

5. Bicycling allows us to express our uniqueness, yet do it together. Our riding styles are quite different. They reflect our personalities. I like to go fast and speed down hills at breakneck speed (I hardly ever replace my brake pads); Tim likes the slow and steady ride through wide open spaces and sparse traffic. I like to just go out and ride, and figure out my route as I go. Tim likes keeping track of routes, mileage, average speed, and heart rate. On our bike trip, thankfully, he was the navigator. And once in a while he agrees to take unexplored routes around our area (and he’s still there to help get us back home!). We both prefer riding together—in part because of what we each bring to the endeavor. We both add strength to our marriage by embracing and appreciating our different personalities. Two complementary halves come together to make a better whole.

Passion for bicycling has enhanced our marriage. Accepting how each of us expresses our passion is something we have learned in our short married life. We’ve learned to reel in unrealistic expectations because they can wreck havoc on our relationship, just as going for a bike ride with overinflated tires can lead to an untimely blowout! You’d rather have checked the gauge before you started.

Marriage is a journey. It’s been the best ride ever because I am riding with my passionate partner for a lifetime of love. If you’re married, I encourage you to identify the passions that you share with your spouse and ride them for all you can. If you can’t identify a common passion, find one. If you’re not yet married, but want to be, realize that finding a spouse with a strong common interest can springboard you into your ultimate bonding experience. It’s a facet of your relationship that will become a joint treasure and lead you to deeper destinations as you journey through life together.

Purchase from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Two-Are-Better-Midlife-Newlyweds/dp/0985624825/

Purchase from Open Road Press: http://www.openroadpress.com/store/

About the authors:

Tim Bishop
Originally from Maine, Tim Bishop has over thirty years of experience in business, first as a CPA, then for many years in various roles in the corporate world. In addition to consulting for small businesses, Tim serves as a Hope Coach for TheHopeLine, a nonprofit organization that seeks to reach, rescue, and restore hurting teens and young adults.

Debbie Bishop
Debbie Bishop has taught for over twenty-five years, for the past ten years as a literacy specialist in Framingham, Massachusetts. She has a passion for reading and seeing that young people do it well. She also has high interest in recovery issues and encouraging others with her own triumphs over struggles earlier in her life. Debbie also serves as a Hope Coach for TheHopeLine.

Visit the authors online at www.openroadpress.com.

Enter for your chance to win a copy of Two Are Better. Good luck!

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Friday, August 23, 2013

Designed for Relationship Winner!




Congratulations goes out to Dorothy T., who won a copy of Designed for Relationship by T. J. MacLeslie.

Thanks to all who participated. Look for more giveaways coming soon.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Vinland Viking Winner!



Congratulations goes out to Patty W! She picks up a digital version of Vinland Viking by Gary L. Doman.

Thanks to all who participated. Check out our sidebar for more current giveaways.

Friday, May 31, 2013

Free for All Friday: Christian Fiction Collection



Free for All Friday gives you a chance to win great prizes. This week we're offering a Christian fiction package of three books from two favorite authors.




When Sarah Carr's husband Jamie drowns, her young life is shattered and takes a turn that she never expected. Pregnant and now widowed, she reaches out to Jamie's family for help but they are unwilling. Instead they devise a plan to have her kidnapped and taken to the Colonies to live a life of servitude. Sarah's new life in the Colonies finds her surrounded by a family's whirlwind of secrets, while she hopes the young doctor she loves with will bring her freedom.


Lynn Myers is still reeling from losing her husband of thirty-five years when word comes that her only sibling, an older brother, has also died. With no one else to settle the estate, she must return to her small hometown of Bloomfield, however briefly, to settle his affairs.

Lynn's daughter, Rachel, has just graduated from Bible college and with no other commitments comes along to sort through her uncle's huge old home, right next to the local cemetery.

This is the fourth book in the Bloomfield series. All these novels are stand alone books written by different authors.

The Deliverer is the third and final book in Kathi's Freedom series. Though I feel there is much to be gained by reading all the books in the series, this book is able to stand alone.


The Deliverer picks up just months after Special Delivery leaves off, continuing with the stories of Mara, freed from slavery but still struggling with scars and memories from the past; Jonathan, attending Bible college but strongly drawn to Mara, despite her past; and Lawan, having escaped the brothel in Thailand and miraculously reunited with her younger sister in the US and adopted by the same family. Will Mara be able to move past the pain and hatred that bind her, even if it means traveling back to the place where her parents betrayed her and sold her into sexual slavery? Will she allow The Deliverer to set her free—once and for all?

Please use the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to enter. Good luck!


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Monday, March 25, 2013

Interview and Giveaway with Rachelle Ayala, Author of Hidden Under Her Heart


Rachelle Ayala is the author of dramatic fiction crossing genres and boundaries featuring strong but flawed characters. She writes emotionally challenging stories and is not afraid of controversial topics. However, she is an optimist and laces her stories with romance and hope.

Rachelle Ayala has written three novels. Michal’s Window is a powerful and emotional journey as lived through the eyes of Princess Michal, King David’s first wife. Broken Build is a story of redemption and healing where a man learns to love and trust the woman who destroyed his life. Finally, Hidden Under Her Heart is concerned with forgiveness in the face of judgment over abortion.

Visit her at: Website: http://rachelleayala.me Blog: http://www.rachelleayala.com or follow @AyalaRachelle on Twitter.

When did you begin writing?

Writing has always been a part of my life, but until a few years ago, I never thought about releasing any of my writing to the public. I used to type up a story and share it with my friends, or at the most, e-mail them to friends and acquaintances who’d encourage me. However the thought of finding a publisher held me back and I had other priorities in my career and family. This all changed when I was drawn into the story of Princess Michal, the daughter of King Saul. Her story jumped off the pages of Scripture and compelled me to take a deeper look at her. She was the first wife of King David, the princess who he married after paying in Philistine foreskins, and the only woman in the Bible that loved a man. Once I started writing her story, I became obsessed with perfecting it. I self-published it February 2012 and have since published two more novels and haven’t looked back.

What is this book about?

Hidden Under Her Heart is a story about a young nurse struggling with her decision to abort after being raped. It shows the emotional consequences of abortion on both men and women.

What inspired you to write it?

2013 marks 40 years of legalized abortion in the United States. 53 million lives have been lost and countless others have been impacted. I decided to write a non-political fictional story exploring both sides of the abortion decision. One out of every three women of childbearing age in America has had an abortion. I would bet that a similar percentage of men have been touched by it. I came up with the idea while brainstorming a romantic suspense story about a woman who wanted to catch a rapist by keeping her baby. The story transformed into something different when I realized prenatal testing could very well extract the baby’s DNA, so there went my plot!

Who is your favorite character from the book?


None other than the hero, Lucas Knight. He is the ultimate swoonworthy romantic hero: athletic and hot, but with morals. He’s concerned about Maryanne and is willing to sacrifice his own short term goals to ensure she does not make a mistake she would regret.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

It is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Diesel and Smashwords. Readers can find all of the links at my Book Page: http://www.rachelleayala.com/p/hidden-under-her-heart.html

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Write true to your heart. You are the best person to tell the story you’re writing. Believe in your uniqueness and that you have something worthwhile to say.

What is up next for you?

Another romance. I love romances because they are optimistic stories with a happy ending. That said, I like my characters to face tough issues and challenges, grow and change for the better before granting them the victory. The story taking shape involves a woman who cannot fall in love because she suspects her father is a murderer. The hero, who used to be a player has suffered a crippling disability and ironically, is ready to fall in love, even though he now feels he is unworthy of love.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Yes, thank you for featuring me and my story on your blog. To the readers: I sincerely hope that my stories will touch your life and your heart. Everyone has a story to tell, and I can’t wait to hear yours.

Enter the 
Hidden Under Her Heart Giveaway!
Chance to win one of three great prizes!

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. 



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Thursday, March 21, 2013

Tom Weston's Feathered Book Blast and Giveaway


Whenever Alexandra Caroline O’Rourke, AKA Alex, met with trouble, she generally blamed her younger sister, Jackie. And Alex’s sudden engagement to marry a Viking prince, against her will, probably classified as trouble. If nothing else, a wedding held in 11th century Ireland would make it difficult to invite her friends from San Diego. Regardless of blame, Jackie was the only person who could help Alex, but Jackie was still in the 21st century. And Jackie had her own problems, which included uncooperative fairies and strange songs which only she could hear. But most of all, if Jackie could not find a way to make it rain, marauding Vikings would be the least of their worries, because this is Feathered: being a fairy tale and this is an Alex and Jackie Adventure.


Purchase your copy:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE 



Hardcover: 326 pages
Publisher: tom weston media (December 5, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0985036109
ISBN-13: 978-0985036102


Award winning writer and film-maker, Tom Weston, returns to the fantasy genre for his 3rd novel in the Alex and Jackie Adventure series, FEATHERED: BEING A FAIRY TALE. Originally from England, Tom now resides in Boston, Massachusetts. Before turning his hand to fiction, Tom had a successful career as the CEO of a consulting company, conference speaker and writer of industry articles and business books. But determining that the business world lacked a sense of humor, Tom decided to hand in his jacket and tie and instead turned to the world of literature. His novel, FIRST NIGHT, set in Boston during the New Year’s Eve festival, introduced the unlikely heroines, Alex and Jackie, and the ghost of a 17th century Puritan named Sarah Pemberton. FIRST NIGHT won an Honorable Mention in the Middle-Grade/Young Adult category, in the Writers Digest 17th Annual International Self-Published Book Awards. The sequel to FIRST NIGHT, called THE ELF OF LUXEMBOURG, was published in January, 2010. As with FIRST NIGHT, THE ELF OF LUXEMBOURG is also a supernatural mystery, with a blend of humor and history that has become Tom’s trademark. Following the publication of THE ELF OF LUXEMBOURG, Tom turned to the medium of film to produce and direct the award winning animated short, THERE BE MONSTERS!, based on one of his TALES FROM THE GREEN DRAGON TAVERN. Tom also wrote the critically acclaimed and award winning, Historical Fiction novel, FISSION, based on the true life story of scientist, Lise Meitner. Tom is now working on a new animated short called DANCING DAISY DAY.


Visit Tom Online:

WEBSITE | TWITTER


Pump Up Your Book and Tom Weston are teaming up to give you a chance to win some fabulous prizes!

Here’s how it works:


Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form placed on blogs throughout the tour. This promotion will run from March 4 – 29. The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email and announced on March 30, 2013. Good luck everyone!


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If the Rafflecopter form doesn't load, please visit the Feathered tour page at http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/02/02/pump-up-your-book-presents-tom-westons-feathered-book-blast-win-25-amazon-gc-autographed-copy-of-feathered/

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Going for Excelsior: Thriving in Seniorhood by Wayne Hatford


What if you were as savvy as you could possibly be in matters of aging and, therefore, really soar, breeze through the final chapters of your life with flying colors? The ’senior’ experience, through only the most constructive and creative of lenses! Going for Excelsior offers practical suggestions for successfully negotiating Seniorhood, a blueprint for active living ~ how to embrace where you’re at in your life, find hidden gems, turn up the voltage.

Thriving in Seniorhood is about going beyond what’s expected or being directed at you by the host society and this book provides the reader with the tools and understandings to accomplish that goal. Conundrums solved. The sting removed from such phenomena as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Myths about Seniors debunked. These are only a few of the benefits that can be derived from reading this book which, hopefully, will serve to stretch your consciousness, something that’s rather elastic to begin with ~ in every stage of life.

‘Seniorhood’ ~ Where people often like to perceive us, once we have attained a certain age. Also, where we can choose to thrive, with clarity of purpose ~ and by design!

“Like all those who currently inhabit a body, you, too, are getting ready for Excelsior. Especially allow the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and beyond of your ages to be magical in this regard, for you to be way-showers, preparing yourselves mentally, physically and spiritually for the next phase. There always is a next phase, by the way, and we are always getting ready for it. You are part of a grand design as am I. There is no other option!” ~ Rudolph Valentino

Read an excerpt:


Now, let’s return to the more common definition of Excelsior, the loose packing material that is most associated with the shipping of fine art or antiques. It can come from many sources and, as a result, may have lots of different ‘looks.’ Metaphysically-speaking, however, Excelsior is a container for the soul and, being somewhat porous, allows for entry and exit, not only of the soul itself, but also of vibrations, both ours and those of other people. It might be easier to think of Excelsior as skin, that living, breathing, largest organ of the body whose properties model those of the Veil. Yes, once again our skin is a version of the Veil, that curtain of energy that separates the dimensions and whose function also is, under certain circumstances, to allow energy to pass through it. Our skin shields us from danger, yet it also allows us to shine our Light. Have you ever heard someone say that so and so’s skin was translucent? All of our skins are translucent. We shine, projecting the inner spark that is soul to the outer world while, at the same time, receiving Light from others, those we encounter in our daily lives. This is how we determine who to interact with, by what our impressions are of their Light. If, for example, we feel inundated or limited by their presence, it’s a sign that we ought to move on. So it’s about the quality of Light of each soul, which is the determining factor. This does not mean, however, that some souls have inferior Light. Rather, it simply signals that their frequencies are very different from ours and, as a consequence, are experienced as jarring. The converse could also be true ~ that we, too, might upset the applecart because our vibrations are not all that harmonious with theirs.

The following is perhaps a heady idea but, I think, very apropos. In lots of new age books, individual souls have often been referred to as Light workers. Indeed, that is exactly what we are, always putting on a show for our fellow travelers, those who happen to be in the body at the same moment as we. The skin, or Excelsior, monitors this so-called Light show, mostly on auto-pilot, but sometimes with the greatest of attention on our parts. What is it that throws the switch or adjusts the rheostat? A combination of factors, including, but not limited to, our own free will, emotional state of being and current degree of alignment. If we’re in sync with ourselves and our environment ~ in the flow, of course we glow. The soul is electric, like a dynamo or atom, independently functioning forever, and one of its modalities is to shed Light. That’s right, a soul cannot die, what we all know inside. It’s only the body that is capable of carrying out that task.

If you will, take a moment to focus on the porous nature of the skin. Not only does the soul make one definitive entrance and exit per physical body, but also countless others that are far more casual, such as each time we fall asleep or wake up. Yes, our soul or consciousness goes off to play in the Astral, in the so-called dream world when we sleep while remaining tethered to the physical body. It’s only when we die that the connection is broken and the soul can no longer re-enter the body. Some of you are more aware of the phenomenon of constantly leaving the body to dream than others. In the state we call half-sleep, people often sense their consciousness either floating close to the body or re-entering it with a thud when they suddenly awake. The skin, or Excelsior, breathes too, though in a more subtle way, in and out, mimicking the work of the lungs. Interesting that it’s the lungs, heart and skin that are the last bastions of movement before the body becomes inert, what we label as dead. At the very instant the first two stop working, the skin is poised to exhale the soul, ready to perform its final function.

Think of the skin that covers our bodies as millions of tiny mirrors, fractals with dampers that can be opened and closed at will. Yes, that is what we do when we emit Light, reflect it through the pores of our skin, and they are also the pathway for the Light of others to reach us. We are like solar panels then, forever in the process of reflecting and absorbing. What an exquisite landscape we wear! Who knew that packing material had such beauty, form, and function?


Purchase Link:

AMAZON



Wayne Hatford, B.A. in French and Spanish, M.A. in International Administration, is a teacher, writer, editor and author dedicated to bridging the gap between the physical and non-physical worlds. To that end, he channeled a friend, Janice Horn ~ “Letters from Janice: Correspondence with the Astral Plane” and, more recently, the spirit essence of Rudolph Valentino ~ “Valentino Speaks: The Wisdom of Rudolph Valentino” and “Going for Excelsior: Thriving in Seniorhood,” all of which are available via Amazon.com. Each of these works explores the “Other Side” while offering insight and practical suggestions on how best to make the most of this one.

A life-long student of metaphysics and transformation, Wayne has both taught in public school and been a personal property appraiser. Wayne Hatford now resides in Santa Rosa, California where he and the Valentino essence continue their collaboration.


WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK



Enter to win a copy of Going for Excelsior: Thriving in Seniorhood by Wayne Hatford. Use the Rafflecopter form below. Visit the author's tour page at http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/01/20/pump-up-your-book-presents-going-for-excelsior-virtual-book-publicity-tour/ to see where he is visiting next and find more places to enter and win.


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Saturday, March 2, 2013

It's Game Time Somewhere Winner




Congratulations to Tamalyn R. for winning an e-copy of It's Game Time Somewhere by Tim Forbes.

Thanks to all who participated.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Free For All Friday: Follower Giveaway!



Way back when this blog was still titled Book Tours and More, I started a push to gain more followers by offering a great group of giveaways. Time passed. I changed the look, the title, and the URL for this blog, and I've focused on getting followers through my Facebook page. On Facebook, we have more than surpassed my 500 follower goal, so it's time for me to follow through on my promise.

Here is what's up for grabs: 

Prize Package #1 (U.S. and Canada only)


Prize Package #2 (U.S. and Canada only)


Prize Package #3 (U.S. and Canada only)


Prize Package # 4 (U.S. and Canada only)


Prize #5 - $25 Amazon Gift Card (International)

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

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