LAUNDRY DAY
I left the laundry basket next to the couch and that provided an easy entry for Schatze...these are dirty, so no harm done.
Don't forget to stop by FRIDAYS WITH FRED over at Mina Burrows' blog HERE
9/30/11
9/29/11
REVIEW: Women of the Cousin's War by Philippa Gregory, David Baldwin & Michael Jones
Description
#1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory teams with two eminent historians to explore the historical characters in the real-life world behind her Wars of the Roses novels. PHILIPPA GREGORY and her fellow historians describe the extraordinary lives of the heroines of her Cousins’ War books: Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford; Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV; and Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII.
In her essay on Jacquetta, Philippa Gregory uses original documents, archaeology, and histories of myth and witchcraft to create the first-ever biography of the young duchess who survived two reigns and two wars to become the first lady at two rival courts. David Baldwin, established authority on the Wars of the Roses, tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the first commoner to marry a king of England for love; and Michael Jones, fellow of the Royal Historical Society, writes of Margaret Beaufort, the almost-unknown matriarch of the House of Tudor.
In the introduction, Gregory writes revealingly about the differences between history and historical fiction. How much of a role does speculation play in writing each? How much fiction and how much fact should there be in a historical novel? How are female historians changing our view of women in history?
The Women of the Cousins’ War is beautifully illustrated with rare portraits and source materials. As well as offering fascinating insights into the inspirations behind Philippa Gregory’s fiction, it will appeal to all with an interest in this period.
In her essay on Jacquetta, Philippa Gregory uses original documents, archaeology, and histories of myth and witchcraft to create the first-ever biography of the young duchess who survived two reigns and two wars to become the first lady at two rival courts. David Baldwin, established authority on the Wars of the Roses, tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the first commoner to marry a king of England for love; and Michael Jones, fellow of the Royal Historical Society, writes of Margaret Beaufort, the almost-unknown matriarch of the House of Tudor.
In the introduction, Gregory writes revealingly about the differences between history and historical fiction. How much of a role does speculation play in writing each? How much fiction and how much fact should there be in a historical novel? How are female historians changing our view of women in history?
The Women of the Cousins’ War is beautifully illustrated with rare portraits and source materials. As well as offering fascinating insights into the inspirations behind Philippa Gregory’s fiction, it will appeal to all with an interest in this period.
About the Author
Philippa Gregory is the author of several bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl, and is a recognized authority on women’s history. She studied history at the University of Sussex and received a Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh. She welcomes visitors to her website, www.philippagregory.com.David Baldwin taught history at the Universities of Leicester and Nottingham for many years, and is the author of four books dealing with people and events of the Wars of the Roses, including the acclaimed Elizabeth Woodville, Mother of the Princes in the Tower.
Michael Jones did his Ph.D. on the Beaufort family, and subsequently taught at the University of South West England, the University of Glasgow, and Winchester College. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and now works as a writer and media presenter. He is the author of six books, including The King's Mother, a highly praised biography of Margaret Beaufort, which was shortlisted for the Whitfield Prize.
Details
- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Touchstone (September 13, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1451629540
- ISBN-13: 978-1451629545
MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT
This book is an excellent companion piece to the series of books about the women who probably had more to do with the Tudor dynasty than they are given credit for. The book is broken into three parts, each written by a different author to give a place in history to these fascinating women. The wonderful introduction by Gregory explains that women were very rarely mentioned and record keeping about them, is spotty at best. By piecing together historical documents, letters and conjecture, it is possible to recreate the importance these women had in the history of the ruling class.
The first section written by Gregory sparkles with her familiar style of bringing history to life and covers Jaquetta, the Duchess of Bedford and her rise in English Royalty. The next section written by Baldwin details the ascent of Elizabeth Woodville answers many questions about her life, but it lacked a bit in the sparkle department. The last section, written by Jones, reveals Margaret Beaufort, who I disliked in The Red Queen, but now understand a bit better. This is a must read for anyone that wants a better understanding of the lives of these women.
9/28/11
Cool Authors, Haute Dogs: AMY LEWIS FAIRCLOTH
 | |
| Teddy and Angel |
 | |
| Amy with Lola |
 |
| Angel |
Web Address: www.amyandjoanne.com. We have dogs on our website!
Social networking links:
Facebook. Amy Lewis Faircloth
Dogs:
Teddy is a 12 year old standard poodle. We have had him since he was three months old. I call him my grumpy old man. He has no patience for puppies but loves his sister Angel, a two and a half year old shelter pup, a shepherd mix.
Do you have another book in the works?
We have written a novel called Wicked Good. It is the story of a single mom and her 15 year old who has Aspergr’s syndrome, which is a form of autism. The novel is based on myself and my son. Teddy the standard poodle is in love with my son and vice versa. My sister and I are writing a second novel which is called Wicked Wise.
What are you reading right now?
I have just finished Garden of Spells, a book for my local library book club. I am about to start reading a novel which my sister has written without me. It is tentatively titled The Lantern. The drafts I have seen of it so far are terrific.
How many books a year do you read?
I read a lot. I always have two books going. It is hard to say how many I read other than to say it is not enough!
What does your dog like to do while you write or read?
Both my dogs are couch potatoes. Teddy, because he is old and has arthritis in his hip and he has a heart issue. Angel, because she is very timid and has been with us for 4 months. I love watching as she is becoming less timid and doing dog stuff - smelling things, jumping for treats, getting the zoomies. They both sit next to me on the couch or my bed or they sit under my desk.
What is your dog's favorite activity?
Teddy’s favorite activity is searching the house for food left around. He loves to go on walks, especially in the forest behind my house. He loves to hang out with my oldest son, especially if there is food involved! Angel likes to be with me and Teddy. She is happy just being close to me. I am trying hard to minimize her anxiety so that she can enjoy dog things! My favorite activities are hanging out with my dogs and my kids and writing!
Description
A single mom struggles to solve the puzzle of a son with Asperger's syndrome in this touching, winsome comic melodrama. Rory Falcon is a bundle of exasperating eccentricities-perpetual pacing, mile-a-minute talkativeness, an obsession with lawn mowers and antique gas cans, an incorrigible refusal to follow instructions or tolerate constraints-combined with a good heart that only his adoptive mother Archer can see. But as he pushes 16 years old, his quirks escalate to drinking, joyriding and muscular rages that can end with him blackening his mom's eye. Archer, a frantically multitasking lawyer who's up for a judgeship, blames her mothering skills for Rory's behavior because there's no one else to blame-least of all her ex-husband Wayne, a whiny man-child still looking to break into a theater career. Then Rory and a high-school hellion named Trish hare off in a stolen car to find Rory's birth mother, and Archer embarks on a journey to recover her son and unearth buried family secrets that stretch all the way back to the Salem Witch Trials. In this entertaining dysfunction romp, the authors cut the pathos with tart humor and vivid characterizations. Hurricane Rory is an indelible portrait of a high-functioning autistic kid who's both off-putting and magnetic; veering between wild, foul-mouthed tantrums, plangent sweetness and locked-down obliviousness, he's as much a mystery to himself as to everyone else. Archer is another vibrant tangle of contradictions; determined to play the stalwart authority figure, she feels like a wreck and a failure-a tiger mom who is nonetheless in serious danger of collapsing in vodka-soaked sniffles into the arms of a comforting teenager. As she walks a fraying maternal tightrope-with plenty of pratfalls-Lewis and Faircloth give readers a hilarious and moving study of familial love that's all the stronger for its conflicts and misgivings. KIRKUS REVIEWS
From the Author
People frequently ask how it came to be that two sisters wrote a novel together and what it was like to work as a team. The answers are "simple" and "great."
It was March. The snow was dirty brown and the sun was absent in Bangor, Maine. Amy was spending a lot of time on her sofa, channel surfing and landing nowhere. Joanne called from her home in Florida. "Wanna write a book together?"
Amy wrapped an afghan around her and yawned from lack of blood flow to her brain. "Sure," was the best response she could muster.
Amy is a lawyer by day and single mom to two teenage boys by day and night. Her oldest is diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism which has been of mixed blessings to her life.
Joanne is also a lawyer and the literary brains behind this outfit. Amy can only write based upon her life experiences. Without Joanne moving the plot along, Wicked Good would be nowhere. On the other hand, Amy has the experience. Her son is now 19 years old. Life has been a challenge for both of them. The incidents in the novel Wicked Good are fiction. But many of the characteristics of the mother and son have basis in authenticity. For example, once Amy's son gets an idea in his head, it is tough to dissuade him otherwise. As another example, juggling his needs with Amy's job truly stresses her out and the bathtub is a frequent refuge. However, he has never hit Amy and Amy does not have a drinking problem.
Writing Wicked Good together has brought us closer. We are working on the second novel in the series called Wicked Wise. We hope you enjoy Wicked Good.
It was March. The snow was dirty brown and the sun was absent in Bangor, Maine. Amy was spending a lot of time on her sofa, channel surfing and landing nowhere. Joanne called from her home in Florida. "Wanna write a book together?"
Amy wrapped an afghan around her and yawned from lack of blood flow to her brain. "Sure," was the best response she could muster.
Amy is a lawyer by day and single mom to two teenage boys by day and night. Her oldest is diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism which has been of mixed blessings to her life.
Joanne is also a lawyer and the literary brains behind this outfit. Amy can only write based upon her life experiences. Without Joanne moving the plot along, Wicked Good would be nowhere. On the other hand, Amy has the experience. Her son is now 19 years old. Life has been a challenge for both of them. The incidents in the novel Wicked Good are fiction. But many of the characteristics of the mother and son have basis in authenticity. For example, once Amy's son gets an idea in his head, it is tough to dissuade him otherwise. As another example, juggling his needs with Amy's job truly stresses her out and the bathtub is a frequent refuge. However, he has never hit Amy and Amy does not have a drinking problem.
Writing Wicked Good together has brought us closer. We are working on the second novel in the series called Wicked Wise. We hope you enjoy Wicked Good.
Details
- Paperback: 262 pages
- Publisher: Telemachus Press, LLC (August 7, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1935670980
- ISBN-13: 978-1935670988
Waiting on Wednesday: Changeling Dawn by Dani Harper
This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:
Product Description
RunShadow and moonlight merge beneath her bare feet, the forest floor blurring as she flees the dogs and torches. Werewolf, monster--those are the names given her kind by the humans who hate them.Hunt
Kenzie Macleod has spent her whole life hiding what she is, and she's not about to open up to any man, even one as powerfully attractive as wildlife expert Josh Talarkoteen. But legend says that a Changeling cannot escape the call of her true mate, even in the wilderness of backcountry Alaska.
Mate
An isolated archeological site, a terrified Changeling cub, a shadowy research facility--as Kenzie and Josh face the ultimate betrayal, his obsidian eyes promise untold pleasure and hint at dark secrets of his own. . .
"Make room on the keeper shelf--Dani Harper is definitely an author to watch." --Kate Douglas --
Details
- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Brava (December 27, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0758265182
- ISBN-13: 978-0758265180
9/27/11
GIVEAWAY! Blood Trinity & Alternant by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love
 |
| Cute dachshund not included. |
WANT TO WIN THE ABOVE BOOKS?
Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a reliable mailing address
Contest ends on 10.12.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 10.13.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
This giveaway is sponsored by ME for ONE winner FOR THE ABOVE BOOKS
PLEASE NOTE: If postage is extremely expensive for me to mail these books, I may opt to give the winner a $15 credit at The Book Depository.
Complete the below form
Follow Me
PLEASE NOTE: If postage is extremely expensive for me to mail these books, I may opt to give the winner a $15 credit at The Book Depository.
Complete the below form
Follow Me
Extra Entries
+1 Follow me on Twitter HERE
+1 Friend me on Goodreads HERE
+1 Like BookHounds on Facebook HERE
+1 Like Win A Book on Facebook HERE
+1 for social networking this giveaway and leave me a link with your email address
+1 Leave a comment about your favorite Sherrilyn Kenyon or Dianna Love book.
SHOUT OUT: Uprise Books Books Project (Banned Books Week)
I received a nice note from Justin about this wonderful project.
From Justin:
Given that Banned Books Week is here and that you're one of the bloggers taking part in the Banned Books Week blog hop, I thought you and your readers might be interested in something we're working on called the Uprise Books Project. We're a newly formed organization dedicated to ending the cycle of poverty through literacy, providing new banned and challenged books to underprivileged teens free of charge. In a nutshell (and the slightly more detailed summary is below), lower-income middle/high school students will be able to select banned and challenged books on our site and we'll solicit donations from contributors willing to fulfill their requests.
If you have a few minutes, you might take a look at the article the Portland Mercury wrote about us this week (http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/the-uprise-books-project/Content?oid=4747266), my interview on the Portland State University's Impact Entrepreneurs blog (http://psusii.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/interview-with-justin-stanley-founder-of-uprise-books/), and, of course, our Kickstarter campaign (http://www.UpriseBooks.org/ks). I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have any time.
When we're through, kids throughout the country will be able to use the site to browse through a selection of books that have been banned and/or challenged somewhere in the United States and add the ones that interest them to their personal Wish Lists. As long as they're between the ages of 13 and 18 and meet the income requirements, we'll do our best to fulfill their requests.
At the same time, folks concerned about little things like poverty, literacy and censorship will be able to search through some basic demographic data to find books they'd like to sponsor. For example, donors could contribute towards requests for particular banned books that touched them when they were younger, or books that were challenged because of specific content (racism, homosexuality, etc.). Others might be interested in requests from specific states. Doesn't matter. We'll make it easy to give in a ways that are meaningful to them.
Second, and most importantly, we think that the idea that these texts have been banned and challenged might motivate these kids to actually read the things. A sixteen-year-old boy might not care that the Radcliffe Publishing Course called The Great Gatsby the best novel of the 20th century, but his inherent teen sense of rebellion might entice him to pick up a book challenged because of its "language and sexual references."
Sounds awesome, but why can't you just use
Don't get us wrong. We love open source software, and we're big fans of WordPress and Drupal. In fact, we're going to build a WordPress-driven site to spread information about the cause until the fully armed and operational version is ready, and we'll likely use a heavily customized Drupal install as the backbone of the Real Site. But...
Using existing plugins (and this seems to be the case whether we're talking about Wordpress, Drupal, Joomla, etc.), we can kludge together the some of the functionality that we need, but we'd end up stuck with slow manual processes that are prone to human error and don't scale to meet the needs of the huge number of kids we hope to serve. The site you're helping to develop will be capable of helping more kids get books, period. And with the site running on autopilot, we'll have more time to focus on fundraising, outreach, educational efforts, etc.
Also, the $10k goal is a little misleading. Yes, we could easily spend that amount on design and custom coding to get as much of our dream functionality as possible, but even if we reach our current goal, we won't see the full amount. Kickstarter keeps a percentage (5%), Amazon gets a cut (3-5%)... and that doesn't include the costs associated with the awesome rewards you'll get for contributing (printing, shipping, etc.).
And let's face it. To say we have the design skills of blind, drunk chimps is an insult to inebriated primates everywhere. Seriously. If we tried to design something ourselves, we'd end up with a site that looked like this:
And our coding skills aren't much better... We need the help of professional developers who can make this better/stronger/faster.
For example, we've partnered with some incredible artists who are creating original, banned book-inspired pieces just for this project. For as little as a $25 contribution, you can have your choice of one of the prints being created RIGHT NOW by Robin Kaplan, hopskotch SunDAY, Dane Ault and Ryan Pollard. We'll post updates here as the works come together, but you can check out each of their individual sites to find out why we're so excited to have them on board. We can't wait to see what they come up with.
We have a few very cool limited rewards, too. The first 10 people who make $35+ contributions will also receive a copy of Mike Russell's book, The Sabertooth Vampire: The Complete First Season. And our friends at Doubleday Press and ThinkGeek have kicked in a few items for the first three $200+ donors to fight over. (First come, first serve one those. Kickstarter's terms of service ruled out the Thunderdome.)
And of course, everyone who pitches in at least $5 will be recognized on the very Uprise Books Project website they helped turn into a reality.
From Justin:
Given that Banned Books Week is here and that you're one of the bloggers taking part in the Banned Books Week blog hop, I thought you and your readers might be interested in something we're working on called the Uprise Books Project. We're a newly formed organization dedicated to ending the cycle of poverty through literacy, providing new banned and challenged books to underprivileged teens free of charge. In a nutshell (and the slightly more detailed summary is below), lower-income middle/high school students will be able to select banned and challenged books on our site and we'll solicit donations from contributors willing to fulfill their requests.
If you have a few minutes, you might take a look at the article the Portland Mercury wrote about us this week (http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/the-uprise-books-project/Content?oid=4747266), my interview on the Portland State University's Impact Entrepreneurs blog (http://psusii.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/interview-with-justin-stanley-founder-of-uprise-books/), and, of course, our Kickstarter campaign (http://www.UpriseBooks.org/ks). I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have any time.
About this project
The Uprise Books Project is about getting banned and challenged books to teens throughout the United States. Or, rather, it will be... once our site is finished. That's sorta where this Kickstarter campaign comes in. We need you, concerned and generous Internet friends, to help cover the cost of designing and developing the website we'll use to get those books out.When we're through, kids throughout the country will be able to use the site to browse through a selection of books that have been banned and/or challenged somewhere in the United States and add the ones that interest them to their personal Wish Lists. As long as they're between the ages of 13 and 18 and meet the income requirements, we'll do our best to fulfill their requests.
At the same time, folks concerned about little things like poverty, literacy and censorship will be able to search through some basic demographic data to find books they'd like to sponsor. For example, donors could contribute towards requests for particular banned books that touched them when they were younger, or books that were challenged because of specific content (racism, homosexuality, etc.). Others might be interested in requests from specific states. Doesn't matter. We'll make it easy to give in a ways that are meaningful to them.
OK, but why banned and challenged books?
Two reasons. First, we simply don't believe in censorship. As the American Library Association says, "Constitutionally protected speech cannot be suppressed solely to protect children or young adults from ideas or images a legislative body believes to be unsuitable for them." We think that parents have a right and an obligation to monitor their own child's access to literature they feel might be inappropriate, but they can't control another child's access. By banning and challenging books in schools and libraries, though, they do just that.Second, and most importantly, we think that the idea that these texts have been banned and challenged might motivate these kids to actually read the things. A sixteen-year-old boy might not care that the Radcliffe Publishing Course called The Great Gatsby the best novel of the 20th century, but his inherent teen sense of rebellion might entice him to pick up a book challenged because of its "language and sexual references."
Sounds awesome, but why can't you just use ? Why do you need so much money?
Don't get us wrong. We love open source software, and we're big fans of WordPress and Drupal. In fact, we're going to build a WordPress-driven site to spread information about the cause until the fully armed and operational version is ready, and we'll likely use a heavily customized Drupal install as the backbone of the Real Site. But...Using existing plugins (and this seems to be the case whether we're talking about Wordpress, Drupal, Joomla, etc.), we can kludge together the some of the functionality that we need, but we'd end up stuck with slow manual processes that are prone to human error and don't scale to meet the needs of the huge number of kids we hope to serve. The site you're helping to develop will be capable of helping more kids get books, period. And with the site running on autopilot, we'll have more time to focus on fundraising, outreach, educational efforts, etc.
Also, the $10k goal is a little misleading. Yes, we could easily spend that amount on design and custom coding to get as much of our dream functionality as possible, but even if we reach our current goal, we won't see the full amount. Kickstarter keeps a percentage (5%), Amazon gets a cut (3-5%)... and that doesn't include the costs associated with the awesome rewards you'll get for contributing (printing, shipping, etc.).
And let's face it. To say we have the design skills of blind, drunk chimps is an insult to inebriated primates everywhere. Seriously. If we tried to design something ourselves, we'd end up with a site that looked like this:
Fine, fine. But what's in it for me?
We're pretty excited about the rewards we're able to offer in this campaign, thanks in no small part to some people who've proven they're just as interested in this cause as we are.For example, we've partnered with some incredible artists who are creating original, banned book-inspired pieces just for this project. For as little as a $25 contribution, you can have your choice of one of the prints being created RIGHT NOW by Robin Kaplan, hopskotch SunDAY, Dane Ault and Ryan Pollard. We'll post updates here as the works come together, but you can check out each of their individual sites to find out why we're so excited to have them on board. We can't wait to see what they come up with.
We have a few very cool limited rewards, too. The first 10 people who make $35+ contributions will also receive a copy of Mike Russell's book, The Sabertooth Vampire: The Complete First Season. And our friends at Doubleday Press and ThinkGeek have kicked in a few items for the first three $200+ donors to fight over. (First come, first serve one those. Kickstarter's terms of service ruled out the Thunderdome.)
And of course, everyone who pitches in at least $5 will be recognized on the very Uprise Books Project website they helped turn into a reality.
Cool Blogs Haute Dogs: BOOKS MOVIES REVIEWS OH MY!
BEBE
WHITNEY
SQUIRT
PLEASE WELCOME STORMI with Squirt, Tinky, Mocha, Whitney and Bebe
(These adorable pups are chihuahua-dachshunds!)
Web Address: http://writesthoughts.blogspot.com
Social networking links:
Facebook: Stormi Johnson,
Twitter: @ladystorm33
How long have you been blogging?
I started my blog in 2007 and seriously started blogging books in 2009.
Do you have a favorite genre that you feature on your blog?
I am a huge fan of YA especially PRN, suspense or horror, and it probably gets featured more than anything, but I also love a good adutl horror/thriller/suspense and occasional romance.
How many books a year do you read?
Honestly I have never counted as I am a horible record keeper. This is something that I am going to strive to do better in the coming year. I would say I have at least read 60 or more this year. I wish I was a faster reader, or had more time to read.
What do your dogs like to do while you blog or read?
Most of them just lazy around while I am on the computer, but they are always near by. Tinky likes to sit on my foot, she is a funny little dog. She doesn't like to sit her butt on the cold floor so she sits on my foot or on one of her stuff animals its really cute!
What are your dogs' favorite activity?
Barking at shadows!! They are a bunch of lazy ones so they love to curl up next to me while I am reading if I am on the couch. They love blankets, so if I get my blanket out they get all excited because they know they can burrow down inside the blanket. :)Stormi also does book promotion, so here are her links for that:
Review site:
**ATTN authors*
If you need help with promoting your books, Lightning Book Promotions is the place to go. We can organize book tours, write press releases, help you get set up all over the net, what ever you need we can try and help..we will promote your book while you work on another one! Contact me at booklady2007@gmail.com.
9/26/11
GIVEAWAY! Cool Authors, Haute Dogs: DANI HARPER
PLEASE WELCOME DANI WITH FIONA AND TOBY
I am owned by two pugs, Fiona and Toby. Fiona is a 9-year-old brindle female and Toby is a 1-year-old black male. The age difference leads to a lot of eye-rolling by Fiona.
YOU CAN FIND DANI ONLINE:
Web Address: http://www.daniharper.comFacebook - Dani-Harper-Fan-Page Here
Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/Dani_Harper
Do you have another book in the works?
Yes, I have Book Four of the Changeling Series underway. This one features Culley Macleod. I have to say he’s one of the most maddening characters I’ve ever tried to write about and I sincerely hope the heroine kicks his wolfy butt for me!
What are you reading right now?
Hunt the Moon by Karen Chance AND Lover Mine by JR Ward (I always have at least two books on the go, usually more!)
How many books a year do you read?
That’s a hard question. I’ve been a voracious reader all my life, but since becoming a full time writer, I have a lot less time. Before, I would finish a couple books a week, no problem. Now, I’m lucky to finish a couple books in a month!
Fiona
What does your dog like to do while you write or read?
Fiona is my Executive Secretary, while Toby is still an apprentice. They are both very supportive of my writing. I use my laptop on the couch, and the pugs insist on sticking as close to me as possible like a pair of furry armrests as I type every word. Fiona likes to supervise and often rests her chin on the laptop so she can see the screen.
The dynamic duo also “guard the writer” from interruptions such as the Evil Paperboy and the Invasion of the Garbage Snatchers. Plus, they work hard to provide lots of “white noise” (read snoring and wheezing) to help my concentration.
Toby
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
My pugs LIVE for going for walks! We live on an island in southeast Alaska, and there’s a forest hiking trail nearby that we enjoy. Fiona and Toby like to run around on the rocky beaches here too – especially if there’s a stinky fish to roll in!
Description for Changeling Moon
He roams the moonlit wilderness, his every sense and instinct on high alert. Changeling wolf Connor Macleod and his Pack have never feared anything--until the night human Zoey Tyler barely escapes a rogue werewolf's vicious attack.
As the full moon approaches, Zoey has no idea of the changes that are coming, and only Connor can show her what she is, and help her master the wildness inside. With her initiation into the Pack just days away and a terrifying predator on the loose, the tentative bonds of trust and tenderness are their only weapons against a force red in tooth, claw... and ultimate evil.
As the full moon approaches, Zoey has no idea of the changes that are coming, and only Connor can show her what she is, and help her master the wildness inside. With her initiation into the Pack just days away and a terrifying predator on the loose, the tentative bonds of trust and tenderness are their only weapons against a force red in tooth, claw... and ultimate evil.
Description for Changeling Dream
In times of stress Jillian Descharme has always found calm in her dream of a great white wolf with haunting blue eyes. But she is startled when the visions return and this time seem so real. Late at night he comes to her, speaks to her, touches her. It's almost as if he's alive...Thirty years ago James Macleod lost his wife and unborn child to a killer bent on destroying the Changelings. Though he longed for death, his animal instinct fought for survival and James has been a wolf ever since. Yet now a woman has reawakened the man in him, taming wild instincts but arousing still wilder needs. With his ancient enemy hunting the legendary white wolf, James must fight for new life, new hope, new love.
About the Author
Dani Harper writes paranormal romance, blogs about the paranormal, watches paranormal TV and movies, and reads paranormal books of almost any kind. So it's only natural that werewolves, faeries, ghosts and other supernatural creatures populate her stories. She lives on an island in southeast Alaska with her fisherman husband and her stories get written on land or at sea with the help of her executive secretary, Fiona the Pug.
WANT TO WIN THE ABOVE BOOKS?
Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a reliable mailing address
Contest ends on 10.11.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 10.12.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
This giveaway is sponsored by ME for ONE winner FOR THE ABOVE BOOKS
PLEASE NOTE: If postage is extremely expensive for me to mail these books, I may opt to give the winner a $15 credit at The Book Depository.
Complete the below form
Follow Me
PLEASE NOTE: If postage is extremely expensive for me to mail these books, I may opt to give the winner a $15 credit at The Book Depository.
Complete the below form
Follow Me
Extra Entries
+1 Follow me on Twitter HERE
+1 Like BookHounds on Facebook HERE
+1 Like Win A Book on Facebook HERE
+1 for social networking this giveaway and leave me a link with your email address
+1 Leave a comment telling Dani how adorable her pugs are.
More Extra Entries for Dani Harper
+1 Like on Facebook HERE
+1 Follow on Twitter HERE
AND THE WINNER IS: Fitzwilliam Darcy Rock Star by Heather Lynn Riguad
JOHANNA --
evjochum
An email has been sent to the lucky person named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!
Cool Authors, Haute Dogs: BELLE MALORY
PLEASE WELCOME BELLE WITH BALLO AND RILEY
I have three rescue dogs, two of which are puppies that we recently found on the side of the road. Someone left them there.
Web Address: https://bellemalory.blogspot.com
Social networking links:
I'm on Facebook under Belle Malory
Do you have another book in the works?
Yes, it's the follow up to my YA novel, Wanderlove. I haven't named it yet. The name usually comes to me near the end of my writing process.
What are you reading right now?
By force- White Noise by Don Delillo (college course). But for pleasure, I'm reading The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
How many books a year do you read?
I've never counted, but I'd probably guess somewhere around 50.
What does your dog like to do while you write or read?
Baloo is a genius. He puts is head directly across my lap top's keyboard and groans for attention. At first, I'll slit my eyes and ask him, "Really?" But eventually, I give in and play with him. This is why it takes me way longer than necessary to read or write anything.
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Digging and burrowing. I don't even think he knows what he's doing while he's in the zone. But he gets super excited about it and dirt flies everywhere.
Description
Lola Moori is hiding a secret she doesn't know she's keeping.She begins to remember someone. Someone important. His name is Gabe…and whatever they shared, she could feel that it was epic.
Yet it seems Gabe wanted her to forget him. Forever.
The curse that repressed Lola’s memories for the span of several lifetimes is coming undone. But unfortunately for Lola, she discovers that some secrets are better left buried.
Details
- Format: Kindle Edition
- File Size: 383 KB
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
- Language: English
- ASIN: B005OBI8O0
- Lending: Enabled
9/25/11
Cool Authors, Haute Dogs: BELLE WHITTINGTON
PLEASE WELCOME BELLE AND SASCHA
Web Address: http://bellewhittington.tumblr.com/
Social networking links:
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Belle-Whittington-Author/192785624106142
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/AuthorofCicada
- Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5046101.Belle_Whittington
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF2fd2GxVKo
Do you have another book in the works?
Yes. It is the sequel to Cicada, and it's title is Firefly. I'm also working on the third book in the series. It is yet unnamed.
What are you reading right now?
Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges.
How many books a year do you read?
Probably about 10-12.
What does your dog like to do while you write or read?
Sascha's favorite past time is barking. If I'm lying on the sofa reading, she will sneak up close to where my head is and bark one time really loud, then run. She's a very vocal little dog. But that's a known trait for her breed.
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Besides barking, I would say her favorite activity is playing. She's very active and rambunctious, so it's a must for her to have a variety of interesting toys with which to keep herself entertained. One of her favorite toys is a small basketball I purchased from Academy for her. Since Lancashire Heelers were bred to herd other animals, she is a natural at herding her basketball all over the house. This gives me a break from being the herdee! It also gives Lulu the cat a rest, too!
Description
Summertime for Blair Reynolds and her friends had always been carefree and fun...until the summer they happened upon something that was not human. As they band together in a fight for their lives, Blair's true love becomes something more than human. Something unnatural. And their survival depends entirely upon their ability to keep a secret.
About the Author
Belle resides somewhere north of Houston, Texas in a small inconsequential town with the smallest most inconsequential name. There, in the shady reaches of the pines, elms, and oaks, she daydreams of adventures and secrets that she weaves throughout her stories. She shares a home with her daughter, Linda Belle, and her Lancashire Heeler, Sascha Marie, and has her mother as a next-door neighbor. As a student of literature, Belle is earning her degree in English at the University of Houston. She hopes to teach literature at the college level some day.9/24/11
AND THE WINNER IS: Sex on the Moon by Ben Mezrich
RICHARD
Be sure to stop by Richard's blog BOUND AND DETERMINED TO FIND A GOOD BOOK here
PABKINS
Be sure to stop by Pabkins's blog PABKIN'S ATTENTION DEFICIT CRAFTING here
An email has been sent to the lucky persons named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!
AND THE WINNER IS: In the Sea There are Crocodiles by Fabio Geda
DOGWOOD -- dogwoodlane
DINA -- aitmama
Be sure to stop by Dina's blog JUST ANOTHER NEW BLOG here
An email has been sent to the lucky persons named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!
GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs
Description
Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.
Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.
Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they’re triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.
These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful Gorgon maligned in myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.
Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.
Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they’re triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.
These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful Gorgon maligned in myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.
About the Author
Tera Lynn Childs (Authora neo) is a newly discovered species of author fish who always dreamed of being a mermaid, but never got closer than a career as a competitive swimmer. She loves to spend as much time as possible in and around water (right up until her fingertips turn all pruney) in the vain hope that one day her legs will magically turn into fins. When stuck on land, Authora neo can be found writing in coffee shops across the country, prowling for cool mermaid gear on Etsy, and spending way too much time online.Details
- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (September 6, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0062001817
- ISBN-13: 978-0062001818
MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
We are first introduced to Gretchen, who is quite busy attending high school during the day and kicking demon butt at night. Gretchen has pretty much been abandoned by who she thinks are her parents. Then we meet geeky Grace who knows she is adopted and has a loving family. Her family moves to San Francisco in order for her to attend a prestigious private school where her already stellar computer skills can be improved. Finally, Greer is tracked down after Gretchen and Grace meet and start putting things together after they meet in a nightclub and recognize they look just alike. Greer has no clue she is adopted by her rich parents and thinks the monsters she has been seeing are some kind of mental breakdown. All three girls are descended from Medusa and have special gifts. Each have seen monsters appear during their childhood and how each deals with it is very telling. Gretchen kicks their butt, Grace pushes the thoughts away while Greer buries them.
The set up for this trilogy is just brilliant and I can't wait until the next one is released next fall. This is a much more mature book than Childs' other books and probably better suited for teens since there is some violence and language. Parental control is pretty much on the back burner here as well, but in order for the story to work, it is necessary. I mean, how can you kick demon butt if you always have to be home in time for dinner? There is so much empowerment for these three teens and I have my fingers crossed that the next installment will continue to show their growth, both physically and mentally. I really liked how each one of the triplets is a unique individual, yet still have traits that are common among them. This promises to be a wonderful trilogy!
WANT TO WIN THIS arc BOOK ?
Go to my YA blog HERE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)