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.

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.