WoMen's Literary Cafe Authors Gratitude Blog Hop - Nov 16 -

That Little Voice

by Bonnie Trachtenberg

Although I don’t consider myself a religious person, I am quite spiritual and do believe in higher beings of love that listen to us when we pray. That’s why before going to sleep at night, after a long day of work, I take a few minutes to connect and show gratitude. I generally begin by thanking God for all the gifts in my life. The health, happiness, safety and longevity of my family, friends and pets come first. Then I pray for all the suffering in the world to end, from abused children and animals to war-torn communities to starving people around the globe. I ask God to please help enlighten the people who use religion as an excuse to hate instead of love, and to rip people apart instead of bringing them together. I also thank my loved ones who have passed, for I believe they have a hand in many of the good things that have come my way. And of course, if anyone I know is sick or in emotional distress or crisis, I say special prayers for them, too.


I’ve repeated this bedtime practice for many years, but I’ll never forget the night, when just after uttering my prayers, something wild and completely unexpected happened—someone answered! It was just a brief few words that I heard—a question actually—but it stunned me nonetheless. In my head, after once again directing my prayers at others, I heard a loving voice say, What about you, Bonnie?


I recall my eyes shooting open wide, wondering where it came from. It wasn’t my roommate, who was the only other occupant of the house, of that I was sure. So was it an angel? A passed loved one? My own evolved spirit? One thing was for sure, I knew it was not coming from my own thoughts. You see, I always thought prayer should be about others and about trying to better the world. I thought it was too selfish to pray for things I may have wanted, since unlike so many others, I had most of the things I needed. So where did this comment come from? There was only one answer that made sense to me. Some higher being was letting me know it was okay to wish for even more abundance.


From then on, I’ve added to my prayers things that would even more greatly enhance my life: a truly fulfilling job; a loving man to share my life with; true contentment and love—all of which have been answered. And when I was laid off from that fulfilling job a few years ago, I had a surprisingly good outlook. Probably because I felt it was God’s little kick in the side that I needed to finally finish the book I’d been writing sporadically for years. I did. In June of this year, Wedlocked: A Novel was finally published and I had no qualms about praying for its success. Amazingly, after four months of hard marketing, it actually hit Amazon’s bestseller lists, and as an added bonus, Wedlocked became an Award-Winning Finalist in its category for USA Book News’ “BEST BOOKS OF 2011”.

So this year, like every year, I’m thankful for all the usual things I cherish. But I’m also grateful that I listened to the little voice that startled me out of my prayers all those years ago. Until then, I had felt unworthy of such a wonderful dream—but now I realize somebody up there doesn’t think so and just wanted to let me know!


The WoMen's Literary Cafe Authors wish to thank all of the support we had on our recent book launch. As a thank you, three of you can win an ebook copy of “Wedlocked: A Novel”.  Just leave a comment telling what you are thankful for with your email address.  One entry per person - open worldwide!  TODAY ONLY!

About Wedlocked: On what should be the happiest day of her life, Rebecca Ross is panic stricken. Rebecca has just wed Craig Jacobs, but she realizes she put more thought into choosing her florist than she did in choosing the man she's just pledged to love for the rest of her life.

Before Craig, Rebecca, a talented Long Island girl, dreamed of following in her grandmother's footsteps with an acting career. Unfortunately, she was cut down to size by years of disappointment, and by her first love-a Hollywood director. She returned to Long Island a lost and broken woman, and ended up in the last place she ever wanted: her old bedroom at her parents' house.

But Rebecca's mother, an overzealous convert to Judaism, has a long held dream too: marry off her three daughters to Jewish men. So no one is more thrilled than her when Rebecca meets and marries bon vivant Craig Jacobs, the man who has won over the whole family. Too bad they're all about to discover that underneath his charismatic shell, this Prince Charming is anything but!


Bonnie Trachtenberg is the award-winning, bestselling author of Wedlocked: A Novel, a romantic comedy about a hilariously disastrous marriage. It is available in hardcover, paperback, and now for only 99 cents on Kindle and Nook. Bonnie was senior writer/copy chief at Book–of-the-Month Club. She lives on Long Island with her husband and a houseful of adorable pets. http://ning.it/ovIMiw


All of the blogs listed below are hosting wonderful authors on Nov 16th and are all having GIVEAWAYS!  Be sure to visit them all on Wednesday!

November Giveaway Hop - Win The Comforts of Home by Jodi Thomas!

Welcome to the November Giveaway Hop!  This is my first giveaway in which I am using Rafflecopter, so if there are any problems - please leave me a comment so I can try to fix them!

This hop is being hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Tristi Pinkston.  It will run from Tuesday, Nov 8 through Friday, Nov 11th. It officially starts at midnight, but I wanted to make sure that rafflecopter worked before I went to bed!  There are over 200 blogs giving away things that a reader, author or blogger would enjoy! 

I have a copy of The Comforts of Home by Jodi Thomas to giveaway. 

About the book: In Harmony, Texas, twenty-year-old Reagan Truman has found her place and her family. But with her uncle taken ill and her friend Noah lost and disheartened with his life, Reagan is afraid of ending up alone again -- and she's not the only one. Harmony seems to be full of people yearning to make a connection. Like funeral director Tyler Wright, who longs to take his relationship with his friend Kate to the next level, but doesn't know how. And Ronelle Logan, a woman frightened of everyday human interactions, until she meets an angry, lonely man -- someone just like her.

When a terrible storm threatens the town, the residents of Harmony are forced to really think about what they truly want. Because making the connections they so desperately desire mean putting their hears at risk.

You can read my review here.  Please give rafflecopter time to load if it is not showing up. 






Start Hopping!

Winners!

Here are the winners of my last two giveaways:

The Ring by Bobbie Pyron was won by Christine W.

Destined by PC and Kristin Cast - the original winner entered multiple ways by saying they followed by twitter, email, facebook, etc, etc when in fact this could not be verified, so I had to draw a new winner - That winner is Melissa!

Both winners have been contacted by email and have confirmed their winnings!  Congrats!

Note - I do check if you win that you follow how you say you follow - Be fair to those who do and follow the rules.

Lucianne Rivers - Sister, Sister (Guest Post and Giveaway!)

I'm an only child. So why did I write about three sisters? Well, Jane, Margo and Allison Caldwell are three extraordinarily different women with a common goal. Bonded by their love for their recently deceased mother, each sibling embarks on a journey across the world to find their long-lost and presumed dead father, Zach, finding love and danger on the way.

Jane is the well-kept, refined, all-American news anchor knocked off her perfectly chiseled high heels by the mysterious Harrison DeNeuve in the Guatemalan jungle. Margo is the potty-mouthed, tough as nails police detective who meets her match in sea captain, Adrian Prince on the treacherous waters near St. Thomas, VI. And Allison, the stay-at-home rancher, melts the heart of jaded ex -navy SEAL, Robert Rivera in the

barren mountains of Afghanistan.

Each sister is motivated by familial devotion and finds love in the wonderful form of a strong, hot, loving man.

Not having had sisters (nor the love of a wonderful, strong, hot loving man) I had to use my vivid imagination while writing the sisterly affection on the pages of HOLD ME, THRILL ME, ENTICE ME.

For my readers out there, I'd like to hear your tales of sibling rivalry and love. The most interesting comment wins a copy of HOLD ME, THRILL ME, ENTICE ME (all three novellas).

Thanks for stopping by.
Lucy

Author bio: Lucianne writes romantic suspense for Entangled Publishing and Cobblestone Press. Born and raised in Ireland, she currently lives in New Mexico with her young daughter.

Formerly a stage and television actress, she now manages a non-profit and is NM State Champion in her weight class for Olympic style weightlifting. Long story. Recently she has taken up Crossfit, Jiu Jitsu and boxing.

ENTICE ME by Lucianne Rivers

Heartsick over the untimely death of her mother, Allison Caldwell is blindsided again by the secret revealed in her mom’s will. Her supposedly dead father is alive, and she and her two sisters must find him in order to settle the Caldwell estate.

Robert Rivera, private investigator and former Navy SEAL, alerts Allison to new intel identifying her father as a P.O.W. in Afghanistan. With her sisters out of the country pursuing leads, Allison insists on heading to the war-ravaged country to find him. Robert doesn’t want his naïve client to take the risk. He knows what danger lays in that godforsaken land…he’s lived through it. Barely.

But Allison is determined to go, and Robert can’t let her travel alone. Reluctantly appreciative, Allison quickly realizes how much she needs his guidance and protection, and how deeply she longs for his love. Robert struggles to understand her effect on his battle-weary heart.

The path to Allison’s father is blocked by terrorists, traps and treachery—all demons of Robert’s past. Can he survive a second round with the enemy and keep Allison out of harm’s way?

Title: Entice Me (Caldwell Sisters, #3)
Author: Lucianne Rivers
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novella
Launch Date: October 2011
ISBN: 978-1-937044-32-9

To purchase:
Barnes and Noble
Amazon
Diesel

Author's Links
Web: www.luciannerivers.com
Blog: www.viceandvalkyries.blogspot.com

Destined by P.C. and Kristin Cast (Giveaway!)

Destined (House of Night - Book 9)

by P.C. and Kristin Cast

"...Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet – which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together – if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow…"

Please fill out the form to be entered in the giveaway!

Cloudburst by V.C. Andrews (Giveaway!)

Cloudburst

by V.C. Andrews

Second in an all-new series! (But can be read as a stand alone)

Cloudburst, from the creator of Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews^®

Fate swept Sasha Porter into the lap of luxury, and into a torrent of bitter lies and shocking betrayals—all revealed in the riveting new novel CLOUDBURST (Pocket Star Books; October 25, 2011; $7.99) from bestselling author V.C. Andrews^®.

Since being taken in by wealthy Mrs. Jordan March and living in her exquisite home like a daughter, Sasha Porter’s traumatic past—destitute on the streets, and the shattering accident that killed her mother—seems like a fading nightmare. Beautiful and sophisticated, as bold and daring as her “sister,” Kiera March, Sasha still keeps her mother’s wise words close to her heart: never fully trust anyone. Inside her privileged new world, it’s advice that will prove more precious than gold.

Against the wishes of Jordan’s husband, Donald, Sasha attracts the attention of Ryder Garfield, a shy, handsome athlete, and maneuvers her way into his heart. But Ryder’s hidden torment soon explodes in a horrific tragedy that pulls Sasha into a flood of guilt and despair. And when someone she thought she could trust targets her vulnerability, Sasha recalls her mother’s warnings—and a violent storm of dark deceptions and shocking family secrets is unleashed. Will she sink or swim?

I have one copy of Cloudburst to giveaway courtesy of Pocket Books!  Giveaway is open to US/Canada and will end on Nov 7, 2011 at midnight CST.  Following is appreciated, but not required.

A Dog's Way Home by Bobbie Pyron (Book Review w/bonus giveaway!)

Title: A Dog's Way Home
Author: Bobbie Pyron
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books


About the Book: One late fall afternoon, a tragic highway accident leaves eleven-year-old Abby and her beloved Shetland sheepdog, Tam, stranded at opposite ends of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Though each is determined to be reunited with the other, the days separating them turn to weeks, then months, and dangers and changes fill up Abby's and Tam's lives. Will they ever find their way back home to one another?


Classic in its themes and contemporary in its telling, Bobbie Pyron's A Dog's Way Home is the unforgettable tale of the many miles, months, and mountains that separate two loyal friends—but that can't possibly keep them apart.

My thoughts:  This was a very quick middle-grade level read.  If you like animal stories - especially dogs - then this will be one that you want to add to your shelf.  The author tells the story from two perspectives - that of Tam, the sheltie in the story, and Abby - the little girl who owns Tam.  

After a car accident leaves Tam lost and alone in the Smoky Mountains, he spends months trying to get back to Abby.  After awhile he is more wild than dog, but something in him keeps pulling him home.  Abby's family, meanwhile, has moved to Nashville as her dad has gotten a recording contract.  Abby doesn't want to leave the home that she is sure that Tam is trying to get back to, but doesn't have a choice.  She has dreams about Tam and what he is going through, and her friends are convinced that she has inherited "the sight" from her grandmother. 

I found myself cheering for Tam to keep going in this book.  When something would happen to him, I would keep my fingers crossed that he would be able to pull himself through. 

I remember some of my teachers in elementary school reading to us after lunch - do they still do that?  I think this would be a good choice for a book like that.  If you have a child in your life that likes dog/animal stories - definitely introduce her to this book. 

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Teddy at Premier Virtual Author Book Tours and the author, Bobbie Pyron.~

A Dog's Way Home

Publisher/Publication Date: Katherine Tegen Books, Feb 2011

ISBN: 978-0061986741

Ages 9-12

I have one copy of The Ring, by Bobbie Pyron for giveaway -

Plagued by slipping grades and a budding criminal record, at 15, Mardie's heading down a path of self-destruction she can't seem to avoid. Unlike her perfect older brother Michael, who does everything right according to their father, Mardie can't measure up. But when she discovers a girls' boxing club at the gym, Mardie's drawn in by the fighters' fearlessness and strength. Having already lost her parents' trust, and shunned by her boyfriend and friends, the ring is the only place left where no one judges Mardie. Angry and hurt, Mardie can't wait to start throwing punches. But Kitty, her wise and patient trainer, a former boxer who's coached her share of troubled girls, shows Mardie that boxing isn't just about fighting--it's also about strategy and mental discipline--the things that make a fighter into a winner. Mardie begins to apply the lessons she's learned in the ring to her own battles, especially at home, where she finds she's not the only one struggling for acceptance. As she trains for her upcoming championship bouts, Mardie hopes to make her parents proud. Filled with exciting sports action, The Ring is the inspiring story of a girl learning to believe in herself.

My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody (Giveaway!)

My Life Undecided

by Jessica Brody

PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.

Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.

But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else be the one to decide which book I read for English. Or whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich Maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: Chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!

Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.

But don’t take my word for it, read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life.

Website with latest news, book excerpts, blog and the chance to win a signed copy:

http://www.jessicabrody.com/index.html

"My Life Undecided" website, inspired by the book:

Would you put your fate into the hands of blog readers? http://mylifeundecided.com/

See Jessica Brody on tour now:

https://www.facebook.com/penfataletour

MY GIVEAWAY!
Thanks to Zeitghost Media I have one copy of My Life Undecided to giveaway.  This giveaway is limited to U.S./Canada only.  To enter fill out the form below.  Following is not necessary (but can give you extra entries!)  This giveaway will end on Sunday, October 16, 8pm  CST.

Denise Grover Swank (author of Chosen) is visiting! (Guest Post, Book Review, Giveaway)

I am thrilled to have Denise Grover Swank as a guest on Books and Needlepoint today. She is touring with her book, Chosen, which was winner of The Beacon-- 2010 Unpublished Division, Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal category.

Write What You Know?  Nah, Just Google It

by Denise Grover Swank

The computer has revolutionized writing. Hundreds of years ago people scratched their thoughts onto parchment paper using squid ink and a quill. Now we tap, tap, tap on our keyboards. Not even those little bottles of White Out for us. Make an error? That’s what the delete key is for.


But an added benefit to the computer is research. Hello, Google. Years ago if you wanted to know about the Vietnam War, you had to go to the library and do a search in periodicals and texts—and hope that the library had the publication you were interested in. Now, all it takes it the entry Vietnam War into the search bar and a click. Instant gratification. (Although I suggest you narrow down your search a bit more. Talk about information overload.)


I couldn’t have written Chosen without my bestie Google. We had already become well acquainted with my previous, unpublishable novel. But suffice it to say, when it came to writing Chosen, I was out of my element. I knew nothing about guns. Street racing. Bullet proof glass. How to blow up a truck. My Google search engine worked overtime for several months finding articles and YouTube videos, and I’m sure put me on a government watch list. I’ve said many times that if I’m ever accused of a crime, they’ll throw me in jail based on my search engine history alone.


But the advent of Google takes write what you know and throws it out the window and onto its head. (Oh, look—there it goes rolling down the street.) I can assure you that I had no idea how to make your car do a 180 degree turn or how to fire a shotgun. I had no idea if bullets could penetrate a regular, unfortified car. (They can, by the way.) If I followed the write what you know philosophy, I wouldn’t have gotten past page two. And I would have been the poorer for it.


There’s a whole big world out there just waiting for me to Google about it.

Title: Chosen
Author: Denise Grover Swank
Publisher: Create Space


About the book: Everything Emma Thompson owns fits in a suitcase she moves from one roach infested motel to another. She and Jake, her five year old son who can see the future, are running from the men intent on taking him. Emma will do anything to protect him even when it means accepting the help of a stranger named Will. Jake insists she needs Will, but Emma’s never needed help before. And even though she’s learned to trust her son, it doesn’t mean she trusts Will.


Mercenary Will Davenport lives in the moment. Hauling Emma to South Dakota should have been an easy job, but his employer neglected to tell him about Emma’s freaky son and the gunmen hot on her trail. Instinct tells him this job is trouble, but nothing can prepare him for Jake’s proclamation that Will is The Chosen One, who must protect Emma from the men hunting her power. A power she doesn't know she has.


Will protects Emma and Jake on a cross-country chase from the men pursuing them, while struggling with memories from his past, his apprehension of Jake, and his growing attraction to Emma. Will’s overwhelming urge to protect Emma surprises him, especially since it has nothing to do with his paycheck and possibly everything to do with the tattoo Jake branded on his arm. Rich and powerful men are desperate to capture Emma, and Will must discover why before it's too late.

My thoughts:  This was one of the best books that I have read in awhile.  From the very first paragraph I was hooked.  Now, is this because I have a little boy named Jake just a little older than the one in the book? - Maybe, but the resemblance ends after the name and the age. 

I love thrillers and this one grabs you and holds on - and it contains elements of the paranormal as well.  Emma and Jake have been on the run for about 3 years.  All they know is that The Bad Men are after them and that Jake can see them when they are getting close.  Emma does not know why they are after them, just that she would protect her son at all costs. 

They have always been on their own, so when Will shows up and starts trying to protect them, Emma puts up a little bit of a fight.  She does not trust anyone, and only agrees to letting him go along because of her son. Will does have another agenda that he is keeping hidden from Emma, though.  I like the way that the dynamics among the three characters start to change when Will arrives.  The author blends these changes in so that the reader becomes aware of them as the characters in the book do also. 

I don't know how much more I can say without including spoilers - so just pick this up!  It is the first in a series and you can visit Denise's blog to find out more - and to see a trailer!

~I received a complimentary ebook from Bewitching Blog Tours in exchange for my review.~

GIVEAWAY!

Bewitching Blog Tours is giving away one ebook of Chosen to one of my readers!  This contest is open internationally!  Following not necessary but is appreciated! Please fill out form to enter.  This giveaway will end on Oct 21 at Midnight, CST.  Bonus entries are available!

Love at Absolute Zero by Christopher Meeks (Blog Tour and Giveaway!)

Love at Absolute Zero

by Christopher Meeks

Love at Absolute Zero is the story of Gunnar Gunderson, a 32-year-old star physicist at the University of Wisconsin.  The moment he's given tenure at teh university, he can think of only one thing: finding a wife.  His research falters into what happens to matter near absolute zero (-459.67 F), but he has an instant new plan.  To meet his soul mate within three days -- that's what he wants and all the time he can carve out -- he will use the Scientific Method.  His research team will help.  Can Gunnar survive his quest?  What happens if and when he goes to Denmark?

Please visit the remainder of the blogs on this tour:

Oct 6 -   The Book Addict (review)
Oct 7 -   The Book Addict (interview)
         -    Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews (review)
Oct 10 - Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews (interview and giveaway)
           - Gabriel Reads (review)
Oct 11 - Gabriel Reads (interview)
           - Dan's Journal (review)
Oct 12 - Dan's Journal (guest post)
            - Words I Write Crazy (review)
Oct 13 - Ramblings of a Daydreamer (review)
Oct 14 - Ramblings of a Daydreamer (review)
           - Drey's Library (review and giveaway)

I hope to have my review up later today.  You can get a bonus entry if you comment on it!

GIVEAWAY:

This giveaway is open internationally!  I have one copy of Love at Absolute Zero to giveaway.  If winner is international, they will receive a coupon for the ebook at Smashwords.  If the winner is from U.S. they will have a choice of a papercopy or the Smashwords coupon.  Giveaway is open until Midnight, Oct 19, CST.  Comments are appreciated, but must use form to enter giveaway.  Thanks!!

The Crown on Your Head by Nancy Tillman - Giveaway!

The Crown on Your Head

by Nancy Tillman

We know our children are special, and now the incomparable Nancy Tillman expresses this universal feeling in the most touching of ways: Every child is born with a crown. The crown is everything that gives us unique value. Our crown will always be with us wherever we go, whatever we do.

I have one copy of this wonderful children's book to giveaway courtesy of Zeitghost Media.  The giveaway is open to US/Canada only and will end on Saturday, October 8, Midnight CST.   Just fill out the form to enter - must be a GFC follower please - extra entries are available!

Winners!

Winners from the last two giveaways are:

All These Things I've Done - Patricia B.

Dreamland - LuAnn M.

CONGRATS!  More giveaways coming soon!

Dreamland by Alyson Noel - Giveaway!

Dreamland (Riley Book 3)

by Alyson Noel



Riley’s finding that the afterlife can be a lonely place when all you do is focus on work. So she goes to the place where dreams happen, hoping to find a way to contact her sister, Ever. She meets the director, who tells her about the two ways to send dreams. As a Dream Jumper, a person can jump into a dreamer’s dream, share a message, and participate. As a Dreamweaver, an entire dream can be created in a studio and sent to the dreamer. But Dreamweaving was outlawed decades ago, and the studio was boarded up. Thinking it’s her only way to reach out to her sister, Riley goes in search of the old studio. There she finds a ghost boy, who’s been creating and sending nightmares to people for years. In order to stop him and reach out to Ever, Riley is going to have to confront and overcome her own fears.

Giveaway time!  Please fill out the form to enter.  Thanks to Tara and Zeitghost Media I have one copy to giveaway to one of my followers. Giveaway is open to US/Canada only and will end on Sept 24, 2011 as midnight CST. Please follow through GFC to enter.  Additional entries are available.

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin (Book Trailer and Giveaway!)

All These Things I've Done

by Gabrielle Zevin

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Please fill out form for giveaway! Must be a GFC follower. Giveaway open to US/Canada only.

Hades by Alexandra Adornetto - Book Trailer and Giveaway!

Hades 
(Halo Book 2)

by Alexandra Adornetto

Bethany and Xavier are even closer since battling Jake Thorn and his evil influence (in Halo) and Beth and her angel siblings must still protect Venus Cove from the Dark Forces.


When a party game – a séance – inadvertently releases Jake from the Underworld, he disguises himself and tricks Beth into taking a ride on his motorcycle. When the highway opens up and swallows them, Beth learns too late that she’s now a prisoner in hell. What happens to angels there? As her archangel brother, Gabriel, her sister Ivy, Xavier, and her best friend, Molly search for her, Beth must weigh Jake’s bargaining for her freedom: one night with him, and she will be released back to Earth.
Can Jake be trusted in this wager? And is he also using Beth to engineer the fall of the archangel Gabriel? Xavier has already lost one love – when Jake tricks him into thinking that Bethany is dead, his grief and anger result in a betrayal that will leave Bethany – and readers – wondering if he is so good after all.


It will be up to Beth to use everything she’s learned about her powers as an angel – and about love – to free herself and those she loves from the clutches of Hades

Like Alexandra Adornetto on Facebook.
Follow the Pen Fatale Tour on Facebook.

 

 

This giveaway is open to US/Canada only and will end at Midnight CST on Sept 11, 2011.  Please be a GFC follower to enter.  (If my follower button is not loading - please go here.)

Back to the Books Giveaway Hop (Sept 1 - Sept 7)

Back to the Books Giveaway Hop

I haven't done one of these giveaway hops in awhile and figured it was time!  This hop is being hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Buried in Books. (Thank you so much for all your hard work!) You might say - What's a hop?  Well, a bunch of blogs - in this case over 300 - have decided to all host their own giveaways and the hosts have hooked them all together with a linky list - so you get to hop all over and enter contests!  (Yay! - New blogs and new giveaways!)

So, for my giveaway I have gone through some of my arcs and have compiled a box of books containing the following:

AND

Murder on the Down Low
Secret Daughter: A Novel
Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms
Ah-Choo!: The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold
A Rogue, A Pirate, and A Dry Martini
Black Ties and Lullabies
The Border Lord and the Lady (Border Chronicles)
Edge of Sight (The Guardian Angelinos)

This is what I have put together so far, but the box still has a little room, so I am pretty sure there might be a couple more books added. 

To enter  - just fill out the form - My giveaway is only open to US addresses.

Here is the list of all the other blogs participating in this giveaway.  Be sure to visit and show them some blogger love! But most of all - HAVE FUN!

Summer in the South by Cathy Holton - Giveaway!

Title: Summer in the South

Author: Cathy Holton

Publisher: Ballantine

Synopsis: After a personal tragedy, Chicago writer Ava Dabrowski quits her job to spend the summer in Woodburn, Tennessee, at the invitation of her old college friend Will Fraser and his two great-aunts, Josephine and Fanny Woodburn.  Her charming hosts offer Ava a chance to relax at their idyllic ancestral estate, Woodburn Hall, while working on her first novel.

But Woodburn is anything but quiet: Ancient feuds lurk just beneath its placid surface, and modern-day rivalries emerge as Ava finds herself caught between the competing attentions of Will and his black-sheep cousin Jake.  Fascinated by the family's impressive history -- their imposing house filled with treasures, and their mingling with literary lions Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Faulkner -- Ava stumbles onto rumors about the darker side of the Woodburns' lore.  Putting aside her planned novel, she turns her creative attentions to the eccentric and tragic clan, a family with more skeletons (and ghosts) in their closets than anyone could possibly imagine.  As Ava struggles to write the true story of the Woodburns, she finds herself tangled in the tragic history of a mysterious Southern family show secrets mirror her own.

Read my review of Summer in the South

Special thanks to Cathy Holton for providing a copy of Summer in the South for this giveaway.  Please fill out the form below - MUST LEAVE LINKS for entry to count.  Giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada only.  This giveaway will end Sept 10, Midnight CST.

Chasing the Red Car by Ellen Ruderman - Giveaway!

Chasing the Red Car

by Ellen Ruderman

Transplanted from her home in the Bronx to the burgeoning San Fernando valley of 1947, Kim Lebow is faced with trouble on every side.  Her home life is rocky and emotionally unpredictable, while the McCarthy era communist witch hunts strike all around, threatening Kim's father and even reaching into her high school.

The political struggles and personal cataclysms that follow change Kim from an open and caring young girl into a political activist and educator, while leaving emotional scars that only time, and the return of the great love of her life, are able to heal.

Drawing parallels between the political repression of the 1950s and the abuses of executive power after 9/11, Chasing the Red Car reminds us that all politics is personal, and that the truth of George Santayana's maxim about history repeating itself can be seen all around us every day.

About the author: Ellen G. Ruderman, PhD, is a psychoanalyst and mental health consultant who has published numerous books and articles about the
challenges of women's quest for autonomy in professional and familial
relationships. CHASING THE RED CAR is her first novel. She holds a
private practice in Encino, CA. Please visit www.chasingtheredcar.com
for more info.

Thanks to Julia Drake PR and the author, I have one copy of this book to giveaway.  To enter, please fill out the entry form - links will be checked, so please be sure to leave them.

RETRIBUTION - Book Trailer and Giveaway (Closed)

Retribution (Dark-Hunter)

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

"...Harm no human…

A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey.

Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief- Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters..."

This giveaway is now closed.

Dead of Wynter by Spencer Seidel (Book Review and Giveaway!)

Title: Dead of Wynter
Author: Spencer Seidel
Publisher: Publishing Works

"Dolly, it's your mother."

Dolly.  Jackie Ruth Wynter had called Alice that for years.  Alice hated it.  Almost as much as she hated her old life as Alice Wynter when she lived with her torn up family in the small town of Redding, Maine.  Her twin brother Chris had been fading fast, transforming into a mirror image of their drunken, violent father.  Now Jackie Ruth was telling her that Papa was dead and Chris was missing.

Alice resigns herself to return, helping her mother and the local police with the mystery surrounding the crime.  But there are some family secrets her mother would sooner take to the grave than reveal.  As the authorities come closer to solving the mystery of the men in her family, she begins to realize her past life as Alice Wynter is the missing part of the puzzle.  But who is searching out the former Alice?

Wynter family secrets run deep, and they all have something to hide in the bone-chilling cold of Maine lake country. The mystery of her father's murder and brother's disappearance will capture your attention well past when the fire has gone out.

My thoughts: I loved this book.  I read it quicker than I have read any book in quite awhile.  I literally did not want to put it down.  The story jumps back and forth between the present time, when Alice goes back to Redding to be with her family and 1984, which is where the circumstances that drive the present day events started.  You get just little bits of the story at a time, some I was able to guess, some not so much.  Just when you thought you were going to get some juicy morsel the author would turn the story to make you wait a little longer.

The present day story wraps up in just a couple of days, but lots of family secrets are unearthed.  Alice thinks she is the only one with anything to hide, but learns that everyone in her family had a secret - some old, some new. She reconnects with an old boyfriend from highschool while she is back in town and is able to eventually heal some wounds that had happened with him. 

I liked the way the author used the Maine weather to play a role in the story.  As the weather intensified, so did the story.  The more the snow fell and covered the landscape, the more secrets were unburied.  I felt satisfied by the ending and felt like all the loose ends had been wrapped up.  Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves mysteries, thrillers, and are fans of good fiction!

About the author: Spencer Seidel lives and works in suburban New Jersey.  This is his first book.  Follow his musings of music, books and other things at http://www.spencerseidel.com/ or on Twitter @SpencerSeidel.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange from my review from Media Muscle.~

Giveaway! 

 Thanks goes out to Erin from Media Muscle in providing a giveaway for one of my readers!

To enter:  Just leave a comment below with your email address.  This contest will end on June 6th and is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

 

For additional entries:  Follow my blog - just tell me how you do it (up to two ways, good for two entries)

Twitter - leave me the link

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A total of five entries are available - please leave each one in a separate comment.  You only need to leave your email address once.

Winners of all giveaways on Books and Needlepoint are chosen using random.org.

Dead of Wynter

Publisher/Publication Date: Publishing Works, May 24, 2011

ISBN: 978-1-935557-69-2

281 pages