About the book: He gets crankier and crankier as the moon gets full. . .
The rules of Society can be beastly -- especially when you're a werewolf and it's that irritating time of the month. Simon Westfield, the Duke of Blackmoor, is rich, powerful, and sinfully handsome, and has spent his entire life creating scandal and mayhem. It doesn't help his wolfish temper at all that Miss Lily Rutledge seems not the least bit afraid of him, and in fact, may be as untamable as he is. . .
A woman whose charm is stronger than the moon. . .
When Lily's beloved nephew's behavior becomes inexplicably wild, she turns to Simon, the boy's cousin and guardian, for help. But Simon's idea of assistance is far different than hers, and Lily finds herself ensconced in his house and engaged to the rogue.
My thoughts: I am loving myself some werewolves! To heck with all the vampires (Sorry Edward), but I am getting a kick out of these werewolf stories. Simon is lovable even when he is trying to be all mean - we get to read his thoughts from the beginning, so we know that he is attracted to Lily, but is just trying to keep her on the darkside of the moon (haha) and keep her safe. That is why he doesn't feel he should marry her - even though she is all he can think about! Lily thinks he is just toying with her (you know - like a dog with a bone? - Ok, I'll stop with the puns) and feels that he has been coerced into marrying her so that her reputation will not be sullied. If she could only see what he was thinking! I love this couple - throw in some werewolf brothers, a werewolf nephew and some well-meaning neighbors and you have the beginning of what I feel will be a great series.
If you missed my interview with the authors that comprise Lydia Dare - see it here. There is also a giveaway going on there.
~I received this book free of charge from Sourcebooks in exchange for my unbiased review.~
A Certain Wolfish Charm
Publisher/Publication Date: Sourcebooks, April 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4022-3694-5
376 pages
Book Synopsis: A grieving widower receives an unexpected gift of love from his late wife on the anniversary of her death in HANNAH’S LIST, the emotionally powerful new novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber. Connected to her bestselling Blossom Street books (SUMMER ON BLOSSOM STREET, TWENTY WISHES, BACK ON BLOSSOM STREET, SUSANNAH’S GARDEN, A GOOD YARN and THE SHOP ON BLOSSOM STREET) this story continues her moving exploration of the complex relationships among family and friends.
In the year since his wife, Hannah, passed away, Dr. Michael Everett has been inconsolable. Unable to carry on living any semblance of a normal life without her, Michael has avoided contact with friends and family and filled his empty days with work. So he’s shocked when his brother-in-law, Ritchie, hands him a letter Hannah had written before she died; apparently she’d instructed Ritchie to deliver it to Michael on the first anniversary of her death.
In it she reminds him of her love and makes one final request: she asks Michael to marry again and become the father he was meant to be. Knowing his reaction, Hannah gives him a gentle push by suggesting three women—each of whom, she says, would make an excellent wife and companion.
Michael’s heart isn’t in it, but he decides to carry out Hannah’s final wish by contacting each of the women. He soon discovers that he is not the only person dealing with a broken heart.
The first woman on Hannah’s list is her cousin, Winter Adams, owner of the French Café on Seattle’s Blossom Street. Winter is passionate about three things—food, cooking and fellow chef Pierre Dubois. But Winter and Pierre—both uncompromising perfectionists—have had a stormy on-and-off relationship and are currently in the “off” phase. Winter’s miserable with and without Pierre. Maybe Michael will provide an alternative…?
Leanne Lancaster is the next woman on Hannah’s list. Leanne is the oncology nurse who cared for Hannah in her last months. Like Michael, she is coping with her own sense of loss over the dissolution of her marriage. Her husband, Mark, embezzled $25,000 from a charity organized by the hospital where Leanne works. With Mark sentenced to a prison term and unwilling to explain his actions to his wife, Leanne felt she had no option but to ask for a divorce. But what Leanne really needs most is closure. Without understanding his motives, Leanne is unable to reconcile with Mark or move on without him.
The final name on the list is Macy Roth. Macy is everything Michael is not—artistic, spontaneous, eccentric and always late for appointments. Hannah felt that Macy’s effervescent personality might encourage someone as serious as Michael to learn to laugh again. Macy is a collector of strays—cats, dogs and even people. Michael can’t believe Hannah added Macy to her list; the only way he’d fall for her is if opposites really do attract.
As he spends time with each woman, Michael realizes that Hannah’s list may end up saving four lives, not just one.
Author Bio: Debbie Macomber, the author of 92 Pacific Boulevard, 8 Sandpiper Way, Summer on Blossom Street and Twenty Wishes, has become a leading voice in women’s fiction worldwide. Her work has appeared on every major bestseller list, including those of the New York Times, USA TODAY, and Publishers Weekly. She is a multiple award winner, and won the 2005 Quill Award for Best Romance. More than a hundred million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. For more information on Debbie and her books, visit her Web site, http://www.debbiemacomber.com/.
In celebration of her new book release - Big Honcho Media is sponsoring a giveaway right here!
Grand Prize winner will receive:
A $25 VISA gift card to enjoy additional titles by Debbie Macomber.
Copy of Hannah's List
Two additional winners will receive:
A copy of Hannah's List
To enter - just leave me a comment telling me you would like to win - along with your email address. This giveaway is open to U.S. mailing addresses only (International readers can enter if they have someone in the U.S. that this can ship to.) This giveaway will end May 7.
Additional entries (each in their own comment please)
+2 - If you are a Google Friend Connect Follower or sign up to be one (2 comments)
+1 Twitter and leave link
+3 Own Blog Post - leave link (3 comments)
+1 Sidebar of blog or posted with other giveaways - leave link
Special Additional Entries!
+5 - Visit Hannah's List and tell me something you have learned. (5 comments)
(I received a review copy of Hannah's List in support of this post)
Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet
by Jonathan Merritt
In GREEN LIKE GOD, Jonathan Merritt gently and insightfully observes that the bible has a lot to say about environmental problems like unclean water, material waste, over consumption, air pollution, and global warming. In fact, Jonathan writes that "in the book of Genesis, God went green and never looked back." Relying heavily on scripture, Jonathan gives the case for green living, but not because it's trendy and hip. Rather, it's part of living rightly as a believer. It's an act of obedience to our Creator-God.
GREEN LIKE GOD is at once practical, prescriptive, and conversational in tone. The author looks at a number of trends with tips to help the reader wade into the world of creation care living. An appendix includes suggestions of things we can do. In addition, the book includes interviews with everyday Christians to tell the story of the journey to environmental stewardship among people of faith.
This is the book that Christians are longing for and need today. Written for a new generation of Christians who are struggling with how to deal with the important issue of creation-care and green living, GREEN LIKE GOD is both highly relevant and theologically sound. It will have a profound impact on how Christians live and interact with the world today.
GIVEAWAY!
I have 3 copies of this book to giveaway courtesy of Hachette Books! For your first entry, please tell me if there is anything you have started in the last year to make your household "more green". It is okay if you don't have anything to share - maybe this book will help you get started! (Must leave a comment with email for your first entry).
For additional entries: 1. Become a Google Friend Connect follower or let me know that you already are. (2 entries - 2 comments) 2. Follow me on twitter and tweet this (leave link) or blog about it (leave link)
Each entry must have its own comment to get full credit. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S./Canada - no PO boxes. It will end on May 6.
An you thawt we dint! Now Professor Happycat tells you what's in it and, from I HAS A HOTDOG.com and beyond, lets over 200 LOLdogs loose on the world, all barking the truth about kibble, toys, and bad kitties. This collection of favorites and never-before-seen photos will have you barking for more!
For all you hoomins, a LOLdog is a kay-nine picture with a funny, misspelled caption.
Visit I Has a Hotdog online to see what the book is all about!
GIVEAWAY!
I have 3 copies of this book to giveaway courtesy of Hachette Books. Easy to enter - just leave a comment with your email address!
For additional entries:
1. Sign up to follow through Google Friend Connect (old GFC followers count also) this is good for 2 entries - leave 2 comments.
2. Follow me on twitter and tweet about it. Please leave link in comment.
3. Post it on your blog - leave link in comment.
Each entry must have it's own comment (or two). This giveaway is for U.S./Canada - no P.O. boxes. It will end May 6.
Annie is a college grad-student who is stumped about love. Her mom and dad are in the throes of a divorce, her teenage sister is obsessed with how her boyfriend makes her look, and her closest friend Jennaah is on a continual ride of running off every guy she dates.
Friendships, dating, romance, and marriage -- it's all confusing to Annie until the day a white-haired stranger appears in her life. Glaen is an unusual professor with an unusual name. Her white-haired unconventional mentor guides Annie on a path of discovery that unlocks the secrets of real relationships in a world gone phony. By abandoning herself to learn, Annie discovers the mystifying affect of how learning to tell the truth changes everything in friendship, family, and love.
The solutions Dr. Lybrand offers in this book will astound and free you to quit doing the very things that take away your ability to find the love and friendship you want. More importantly, you'll discover a fresh path to the possibility of greater connections with those you care most about. You'll want everyone you know to read this book. . .twice!
Enjoy this interview with Fred Lybrand courtesy of TBB Media.
Q: The story of Glaen takes on a unique format. It’s not your everyday self-help book, but it isn’t just a novel either. Tell us about your approach to this book.
The thing I’ve finally taken note of as a writer is the simple fact that if someone doesn’t read the book, then he can’t benefit from the book. In thinking this through, it became obvious that people read fiction all the way through because it provides a story. Most of us don’t read non-fiction completely through unless it is exceptionally well written, or we have an I-must-complete-everything neurosis! Additionally, we tend to pass along fiction we enjoy.
So, Glaen is teaching, but it is teaching through a fictional story about a young lady on a quest to find the answers to healthy relationships. More to the point, I wrote it more as a movie. There are no chapters, as such; instead it moves through a series of scenes as the story unfolds.
Q: What do you hope Glaen will accomplish in re-thinking our approach to relationships between men and women?
Well, I’m thinking all relationships could use the principles uncovered in Glaen, but men-to-women relationships are where communication issues glare. My hope is that people will begin to recover genuine relating with one another—which can only come about by telling each other the truth. You know, most of us are busy with a bit of a “dance” where we are trying to get the other person to like us. This temptation turns us into somebody else in order to manipulate the other person.
There is a fresh power that comes into relating and finding the right partner when we are true to ourselves. Glaen is all about recovering and exploring the power of being true and truthful. Also, there is a bonus! When you are true to yourself, then the people who will like the “real you” will be attracted to you. We find the best mate when we don’t try so hard...that’s part of my hope for the book.
Q: You have five children, so you probably wrote something for them to read. But what is your broader hope for this book?
Well, handing off a perspective to help my children in their relationships is a big motivation, but there’s more. With my interactions in counseling, churches, and the business world, I can tell you that we need a heavy dose of truthfulness and genuine relating with one another. Hollywood continues to give us the false impression that just cheating and “cycling through” relationships is the way to go. I know everyone won’t change, but imagine the health that could come about if we had an outbreak of honesty and truth in relating with one another? Finally, an epidemic I’d like to be a part of.
Q: It takes the divorce of Annie’s parents to cause her to really take a deep look into relationships. Why do you think it takes dramatic circumstances to force people to honestly look at relationships?
I think we all share in this kind of experience. Who hasn’t had a crisis help her rethink what is happening with her life? I think we basically seek comfort, which I don’t think is wrong in the least. In fact, a comfortable healthy relationship should be enjoyed not “fixed”. God seems to use discomfort to invite us to learn, grow, help, and act. Just look at Haiti and the outpouring of kindness since the earthquake; before the discomfort not many people thought much about Haiti. Well, relationships are much the same...but why wait for the earthquake? Everyone knows there’s more to enjoy with better relating.
Q: Is there really much hope given the disposable attitude toward marriage we hear about all over the news? Don’t they say 50% of the marriages fail these days?
It seems to me that hope is always birthed in a context of what we don’t have. The disposable attitude toward marriage inspires me for something better. A few years ago, Mr. Gallup pointed out that the divorce rate really isn’t 50% (it’s more like 25%) because statistics tend to be misused by so many. Nonetheless, don’t we all know that a 1-in-4 chance of your long-term relationship failing is a crummy statistic anyway? On the one hand, be encouraged and go for marriage if it is what you want...but on the other hand, why not get a copy of Glaen and get on the path to healthy relating?
Q: Glaen is big on telling the truth. But, it seems no one is really free to express truth within relationships. Why is that so? Why is it so hard to be honest?
Honesty is hard because we aren’t being honest for the right reason. I’ve noticed so often that people tend to complain at how others react when “they’re just being honest.” Why complain? What does someone’s reaction have to do with your honesty? You see, being honest is about a value of being true to yourself. But, it is also about a value of respecting the freedom of others. As long as someone has to like whatever you say, then you are on the hook to say it for them rather than for the truth...and, worse yet, they are on the hook to say they “like” what you say...even if they have to lie.
Basically, it’s hard to express the truth because we all act like we’re at a dinner party trying our best to be nice and to be loved by everyone there. Wow...sometimes it really is just too fake out there, isn’t it?
Q: Asking God for direction in every area of our lives is key to much of what takes place in Annie’s story. In fact, her whole story is an answer to a prayer. Do you think people overlook including God’s guidance in relationships?
I actually think people spend time at the beginning asking God for guidance, but after they are in a relationship, it usually isn’t until the end that they seek God’s help. You know, the Bible says, “Pray without ceasing”—sounds like a really good idea concerning your relationships and what you could learn.
Q: In the area of dating, you spend some time showing that there are problems with “serial dating” and “courting.” Why, and what do we tell our kids?
I don’t want to overstate the case, but generally there are two extremes out there. One is serial dating, where we go through relationships like a serial killer. Courting comes along as a counter to this problem. However, in most approaches to courting, the couple is trying to guarantee the success of the relationship...and, in fact, often make a commitment to one another before they really know each other. The truth is that we can’t guarantee a successful relationship...but we can put the odds in our favor, and Glaen seeks to do just that.
Q: You say there are two things that make for a good marriage—chemistry and basis. What are these and how do they help?
Chemistry and basis are terms I believe we all understand. Chemistry is the obvious one. I mean, does the person do it for you or not? Are you attracted or do they gross you out (sorry)? In a free society, I can’t make much sense out of trying to have a relationship with someone you aren’t attracted to. Yet, if we stop with just chemistry it will be pretty shallow indeed. Basis means that we have a foundation, or basis, for building a life together. It is much better to find out that there are deal killers before you make a long term commitment. It is hard to imagine how one who will never live in the city can build a life with someone who will never live in the country. Glaen helps you begin to think these sorts of things through.
Q: You state in the opening of the book that this idea was born out of discussions “a couple of dads had.” Can you elaborate on the birth of this unique book idea?
Between the two of us we have 11 children. As we talked over the years it became apparent that we were saying things that we really hadn’t heard anywhere. Essentially, we basically learned things the hard way. As dads we really wanted our kids to skip our mistakes, challenges, and struggles. Even today, we want them to go even further than we can ever make it in healthy relationships. So, with all that on the line, working on a book made sense.
Q: Clearly today’s society needs to take an honest look at marriage through the lens of God’s design, but how will stories like Glaen be a catalyst for change?
I have this simple idea that it is really hard to think straight and walk crooked. With that in mind, what literature like Glaen can do for us is to open our minds to better possibilities. Glaen is a tool to invite folks to re-think their assumptions about relationships and relating. Amazing things happen when we think things through...we can actually change for the better!
Giveaway!
I have one extra copy of Glaen to giveaway - courtesy of TBB Media. To enter - just tell me who you would like to win this book for - is it for you? a child? a friend? Leave your email address also. This giveaway is for U.S. only. It ends May 18.
Indiana, 1818. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother's bedside. She's been stricken with something the old-timers call "Milk Sickness."
"My baby boy. . ." she whispers before dying.
Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother's fatal affliction was actually the work of a vampire.
When the truth becomes known to young Lincoln, he writes in his journal, "Henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion, I shall become a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose. . ." Gifted with his legendary height, strength, and skill with an ax, Abe sets out on a path of vengeance that will lead him all the way to the White House.
While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving the Union and freeing millions of slaves, his valiant fight against the forces of the undead has remained in the shadows for hundreds of years. That is, until Seth Grahame-Smith stumbled upon The Seccret Journal of Abraham Lincoln and became the first living person to lay eyes on it in more than 140 years.
Using the journal as his guide and writing in the grand biographical style of Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough, Seth has reconstructed the true life story of our greatest president for the first time -- all while revealing the hidden history behind the Civil War and uncovering the role vampires played in the birth, growth, and near-death of our nation.
I have 3 copies of this audiobook to giveaway courtesy of Hachette Books. For your first entry (MUST DO THIS BEFORE ANY OF YOUR OTHER ENTRIES WILL COUNT) you are going to need to use your imagination. Come up with a title that would be a paranormal remake of another book - classic if you can. If your creative juices aren't flowing - that's ok - you can still enter. Please leave your email address.
For additional entries:
1. Sign up to follow through Google Friend Connect (old GFC followers count also) this is good for 2 entries - leave 2 comments.
2. Follow me on twitter and tweet about it. Please leave link in comment.
3. Post it on your blog - leave link in comment.
Each entry must have it's own comment (or two). This giveaway is for U.S./Canada - no P.O. boxes. It will end May 18.
This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:
Infinity
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Publication Date: May 25, 2010
At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.
Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.
But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.
As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?
For all you bloggers out there this one is for you! What better way to promote your blog than with custom brochures? I know that I recently attended a craft fair and I would have loved to have these available to hand out! Of course this is not limited to just bloggers - anyone can enter! (As long as they are in the U.S.)
They even have a design service to help you design your brochure!
This is what you would win: 100 Brochures (1 winner) - They will be 8.5 x 11 with your choice of folds (Half fold; Tri-fold/Letter fold; Z-fold; Accordion - 4 panels; Roll fold - 4 panels). There will be 4 color printing on BOTH sides on 100 lb gloss text paper! These will FREE UPS Ground Shipping to U.S. only. You must be 18 years old to enter.
If you have jumped over brochures printing online - take a look around now! I think you will be happy that you did!
What would you use these brochures for? Just leave me a comment letting me know and you will be entered - it's that easy! Be sure to leave me an email address so I can get in touch with you though! Please note this contest ends Apr 28th so spread the word!
Now available in the trade paperback edition: New Bonus Chapter and Reading Group Guide, including Stephenie Meyer's Annotated Playlist for the book.
Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.
Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel about the persistence of love and the essence of what it means to be human.
Giveaway
I have three copies of this paperback book to giveaway courtesy of Hachette Books. For your first entry (MUST DO THIS ONE FOR ANY OTHER ENTRIES TO COUNT)and I am going out on a limb here and guessing you must be a Twilight fan to want to win this - so Which book from the Twilight series was your favorite - or do you like the book or movie version better of either Twilight or New Moon? Please leave your email address.
For additional entries:
1. Sign up to follow through Google Friend Connect (old Google followers let me know) - 2 entries for this one. (leave 2 comments)
2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about it. Please leave link in your comment.
3. Post it on your blog - please leave link in your comments.
Each entry MUST have a separate comment - would hate for you to miss out on all of your entries if you group them all in one. This giveaway is for U.S./Canada only - no PO boxes. It will end on May 4.
Every day we make choices. Coke or Pepsi? Save or spend? Stay or go? Whether mundane or life-altering, these choices define us and shape our lives. Sheena Iyengar asks the difficult questions about how and why we choose: Is the desire for choice innate or bound by culture? Why do we sometimes choose against our best interests? How much control do we really have over what we choose? Sheena Iyengar's award-winning research reveals that the answers are surprising and profound. In our world of shifting political and cultural forces, technological revolution, and interconnected commerce, our decisions have far-reaching consequences.
About the author: Sheena Iyengar's groundbreaking research on choice has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Security Education Program, as well as by private institutions. In 2001, she received the Presidential Early Career Award and in 2005 she was invited to serve as a fellow at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study. She holds degrees from UPenn, The Wharton School of Business, and Stanford University (from which she also received the prestigious Best Dissertation Award in 1998, for her work "Choice and its Discontents.") She is a professor at Columbia University.
Iyengar's work is regularly cited in the media, in periodicals as diverse as Fortune and Time magazines, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, as well as on National Public Radio and in books such as Blink by Malcolm Gladwell and The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz. She lives in New York City.
Giveaway
I have three copies of this audiobook to giveaway courtesy of Hachette Books. For your first entry (MUST DO THIS ONE FOR ANY OTHER ENTRIES TO COUNT)what is the hardest decision (choice) you have ever had to make (but only if you feel like sharing)? Otherwise, just tell me you would like to win. Please leave your email address.
For additional entries: 1. Sign up to follow through Google Friend Connect (old Google followers let me know) - 2 entries for this one. (leave 2 comments) 2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about it. Please leave link in your comment. 3. Post it on your blog - please leave link in your comments.
Each entry MUST have a separate comment - would hate for you to miss out on all of your entries if you group them all in one. This giveaway is for U.S./Canada only - no PO boxes. It will end on May 4.
About the Book:An extraordinary journey back in time shows a struggling single dad that the faith he's lost is still alive -- and stronger than ever. . .
Michael Stewart has weathered his share of hardships: a troubled childhood, the loss of his mother, even the degradation of living on the city streets. Now he's raising his teenaged daughter, Elizabeth, on his own and doing the best he can at work and at home. But he's turned his back on his faith -- that is, until the morning Michael and Elizabeth volunteer for a food pantry at their local church. While storing boxes in the basement, they step through a mysterious door. . .and find themselves in first-century Jerusalem during the tumultuous last week of Jesus Christ's life. It is a dangerous and violent place, where doing what your heart tells you is right can get you imprisoned -- or worse -- and they are thankful to take refuge with a kind widow. But when they come face-to-face with Judas Iscariot and the condemned Christ himself, Michael realizes that before they can escape Jerusalem, he must experience history's most necessary and shattering heartbreak -- and that pain and loss must happen if Michael is to be set free: to live, love, and reclaim the blessings he has in the present day.
My thoughts: I am not quite finished with this book yet, but needed to get my review up yet today. I plan on taking it to bed with me and finishing it though. This has been a quick easy read. It really grabbed my curiosity as they traveled back in time by traveling through a trap-door in a church. Father Dennis, at the church, seemed to hand pick them for the job that led them to the basement/trap door - so I am wondering if he had some knowledge or insight into what they would discover down there.
As the story goes along, we learn a little more about Michael and Elizabeth through flashbacks that are shared. We learn about the family situation that Michael came from (lots of verbal abuse from father and siblings); we learn about some of the tough times that Elizabeth had growing up without a mother; we learn how Michael hasn't always been around when Elizabeth has needed him growing up and he beats himself up about that. We haven't learned a whole lot about Vicki, the missing mom in this family. I am hoping to get some answers by the end - but this is the first book in a trilogy, so some of those answers may be forthcoming in future books.
I am enjoying it - definitely is giving a new insight into the week that led up to Christ's crucifixation and has made me wonder what it was really like to be there and experience it. Bye now - I want to go finish it!
~I received this book free in exchange for my review from Simon and Schuster.~
Necessary Heartbreak: A Novel of Faith and Forgiveness
Publisher/Publication Date: Gallery Book, Mar 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4391-8423-3
246 pages
Title: My Own Personal Soap Opera Author: Libby Malin Publisher: Sourcebooks
About the book:Frankie McNally has found the perfect solution for life's perplexing problems: as head writer for the daytime soap Lust for Life, she works them out on the air!
Meanwhile, Frankie's being courted simultaneously by the dashing older man sent in to save the show's sagging ratings and by the soap's totally hot leading man. And just when Frankie thinks the plot couldn't get more complicated, a jewel thief starts copying the show's storyline -- a development that could send the show's ratings soaring, if it doesn't get Frankie arrested first.
Can Frankie write her way out of this one? And can she put make-believe aside long enough to discover the truth of her own heart?
In her signature blending of the hilarious with the poignant, Libby Malin's latest light-hearted novel combines the best of life and of fiction into an entertaining and incredibly satisfying read.
My thoughts: This book was right up my alley. I am a big fan of soap opera's (All My Children, One Life to Live, and General Hospital) and have actually been watching GH since I was about 14. We won't say how many years ago that has been... So it was a lot of fun to read this book and learn all about the behind-the-scenes machinations of a soap opera. I am not sure how Frankie really got the job as head writer, as she has very low self-esteem in the beginning of the book. As her storylines begin to really come together though and her writing team starts to mesh, her self-confidence rises and she really comes into her own. I like the strong character she was at the end of the novel.
This had a great supporting cast of characters but Kayla really drove me nuts. She was Frankie's assistant - but I would have to say that is in name only! She was never where she was supposed to be, and even if she was she usually wasn't doing what she was supposed to be doing! Somebody needed to assist her right out the door!
This would be a great summer read. It has some romance, some humor and who is that jewel thief? I would recommend you put this one in your beach bag!
~I received this book free for review from Sourcebooks.~
My Own Personal Soap Opera
Publisher/Publication Date: Sourcebooks, April 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4022-2942-8
326 pages
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
***Special thanks to Julie Ferwerda for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Julie Ferwerda is recognized for making the Bible exciting and relevant to everyday life through her writing and speaking. Her articles are featured in many Christian magazines and websites for both adults and teens, and she frequently volunteers her time and talents to international orphan ministry.
List Price: $13.95
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Winepress Publishing (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1606150111
ISBN-13: 978-1606150115
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Chapter 1: Determine Your Course
And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children...Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5–9
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Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. –William Jennings Bryan1
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What were you doing on 9/11?
I’d just cranked up the tunes and hopped on my Nordic Track as part of my normal morning routine, when my husband called from work to tell me to turn on the TV. Watching the events unfold, I don’t think I’ve ever felt as helpless or as horrified as I did that day. The world no longer seemed like the safe, secure place I thought it was only one day before. In the worst way, I wanted to keep my two girls, ages seven and ten, out of school that day to protect them and reassure them until the danger had passed.
For the rest of that day, and many more to come, the surreal sights on TV haunted me. The planes striking the buildings; massive explosions; the sudden, momentary collapse—twice—of 110 floors of elaborately constructed concrete, steel, and glass that took years to erect; and the mountains of debris that smoked and smoldered for many days. But nothing shook me as much as the unforgettable images of human bodies spilling out of the buildings like grains of rice. Neither those who lived through it, nor those of us who watched the shocking events unfold on TV will ever forget.
One young man I read about, Cary Sheih, a technical consultant from New York, barely made it out alive. Working on a project for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at his 72nd floor desk, he’d just finished his usual mid-morning PB&J, when he heard an explosion, followed by tremendous building sways and vibrations. At first, he thought it might be an earthquake, so he dashed to the stairwell, where a quick, but calm, evacuation was underway. As people made their way down, some received messages on their cell phones that an airplane had accidentally crashed into the building, but there was no mention of a terrorist attack.
With the heavy, choking stench of jet fuel, descending the tower proved difficult. But if it was difficult for him, he couldn’t imagine how difficult it was for the rescue crews he passed, huffing their way up an endless corkscrew of stairs and then hurrying back down, carrying badly injured and burned victims. He recalls, “Sometime around the 30th or 40th floor, we passed the first firefighters coming up the stairs. They reassured people that we were safe and that we would all get out fine. By this point, they were absolutely breathless, but still pushing upward, slowly and unyieldingly, one step at a time. I could only imagine how tired they were, carrying their axes, hoses, and heavy outfits, climbing up all those stairs. Young men started offering [to help] the firemen to carry up their gear for a few flights, but they all refused. Each and every one of them.”2
As Cary neared the bottom, the building began to shake and sway again, the lights flickered out, and eerie sounds of buckling steel accompanied screams of people falling down the stairwell. After being assisted by firemen through darkness to a different stairwell, a panicked Cary somehow made it down the last few flights to safety, where his wildest imagination couldn’t have prepared him for what he encountered. The burning trees, wreckage, fireballs, and dust resembled a war zone.
While reading through this and other accounts concerning 9/11, I noticed an inspiring, recurrent theme. While there were many, many heroes and selfless individuals working tirelessly to assist throughout this tragic period, it was the firemen who undoubtedly made some of the greatest sacrifices of all, and whose ultimate acts of bravery impacted lives worldwide. While most everyone else scrambled for the exit signs to save themselves (which I’m positive I would have done, too), these rescue workers fearlessly headed up into the towering infernos that day, many likely aware that they might not make it out alive.
Most kids see firefighters as larger than life heroes, which is probably why many of them want to be one when they grow up. Who wouldn’t want to be thought of as a hero, especially one that saved lives? I came across a touching book report that was written about 9/11 by three kids: “The firefighters of 9/11 are heroes because they have saved the lives of hundreds of people, while they knew the building could collapse. While you go up a burning, 110-story building you would be very scared, because you’ll think of your own life. When you are a firefighter you mustn’t think too much about your own life or you may not be able to save lives. Being a hero means saving lives. That’s the difference between being a celebrity and being a hero. Why would a celebrity be important to you? It is just someone with a well-paying job. You’ll be someone’s hero if you help him with his or her life.”3
As I think about what these insightful kids have so magnificently articulated about the qualities of firemen, particularly the 9/11 firemen, I’m deeply moved with admiration and respect. In an emergency, firemen are:
First responders, well-trained, and ready to save lives, even at the expense of their own.
Purposeful and deliberate, aware that lives are at stake and time is short.
Doggedly determined, knowing that the more lives they can save the better.
Regarded in both life and death as the heroes of this world.
No one involved in 9/11 could disagree with this assessment. Remembering the expressions of both courage and fear etched on rescue workers’ faces as they spoke reassuringly to guide many people to safety, Cary Sheih said, “I am so grateful for the courage of the firemen and policemen who gave up their lives to help us down the burning tower. As I relive this moment over and over in my mind, I can’t help but think that these courageous firemen already knew in their minds that they would not make it out of the building alive, and that they didn’t want to endanger any more civilians or prevent one less person from making it to safety.”4
While they will undoubtedly go down in history as larger than life heroes, we can’t forget how human and vulnerable they were, too. I have looked through their pictures online. Most of them were young family men, with their whole lives ahead of them—men who kissed their own babies goodnight on Monday for the last time so that those they helped to safety could kiss their kids goodnight many more nights to come. They unknowingly said final goodbyes to their own families Tuesday morning so that many others could come home to their families that night.
In the moment of the realization of the grave danger, it had to be a dilemma for the firemen, choosing between lion-hearted courage and paralyzing, self-protective fear. How were they able to do it? Was it because it was their job? Because their buddies were doing it? Because their captain told them to do it? What exactly is it that leads a person to choose a profession where courage must prevail when all pretenses and rewards are stripped away in the face of death?
More than a job identity or a paycheck, more than an obligation or a hope of any kind of recognition, firemen are willing to risk their lives and to face their fears because they are motivated by something far greater than fear.
The Bible refers to this motivating force as love! Authentic, selfless love drives away fear (1 John 4:18). And it was the love—not the duty—of those firemen and emergency workers that truly made them heroes of the day, both the ones who died and the ones who worked doggedly through the wreckage, many suffering permanent damage to their lungs and bodies. And that kind of sacrifice, according to Jesus Christ, is love at its very best. “I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends” (John 15:12–13, emphasis mine).
Firemen of Life
So what does all this talk about 9/11 and firemen have to do with parenting? If you’re a follower of Christ and you want to raise children who are also followers of Christ, quite a lot. And if you want to entertain the possibility of raising children who will change the world around them, and even the world at large, everything!
It’s no secret that every day on this earth, countless lives are at stake. People are dying every day who do not know Jesus, and almost just as bad, people are living every day who do not know Jesus. I don’t know about you, but I cannot imagine struggling through the hardships, losses, disappointments, and sorrows of this world without the comfort and peace of knowing Jesus and His love. And we know that someday soon, this world, with all its carefully planned designs and elaborate structures, along with all the people who have not put their faith in Christ, will collapse in a catastrophic fire (Zephaniah 1:18).
In other words, time is running out.
The seriousness of that reality raises some questions: What is my family here for? As believers, is parenting a more significant and eternity-impacting role than we’ve given it credit for? Are we satisfied with happy, well-adjusted, even ambitious kids who happen to love God, or is there something more? When we consider the possibilities, we find that we’ve been given an invitation into a divine story—into His-story. As this story unfolds throughout the space of our lives, which role will our family accept in this cosmic emergency? Hopefully not the victims. Hopefully not the ones running scared to save ourselves (and I am absolutely not criticizing those who made it out on 9/11—this is for spiritual application only). Hopefully not uninvolved bystanders who are disinterested, unable, or ill equipped to do anything but watch.
I’ve realized that, in the grand scheme of life, more than just raising my kids to “keep the faith,” I want to raise my kids to save lives. I want to raise firemen. Not necessarily the earthly fire-fighting kind, but the heavenly fire-fighting kind. Kids who are well-trained and ready to help save as many lives as possible. Kids who grow up, remembering at the forefront of everything they do, that time is short and lives are at stake, and who will one day be seen as spiritual heroes for helping many to safety.
I want to raise kids who love like Jesus.
Just think what it would be like to have kids who grow up in this self-destructing world with brave faces and hope in their voices, carrying within their hearts the ambition of bringing as many people as possible safely into the Kingdom. I believe that this kind of holy ambition is the secret to life at its best, and I want my kids to experience this kind of life. Jesus said, “If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life” (Matthew 16:25). And therein, we hear the invitation: Will you raise your kids to be firemen? Will you be a fireman for God’s sake? We may never be called to die for Jesus like so many others in our world today, but we are still called to a holy rescue mission—to live sacrificially for God so that others will be led to safety through our loving assistance.
I recently met two brothers, both firemen of the Kingdom variety, who understand about saving lives by choosing to deliberately head into burning buildings. For them, the rescue mission all started with a small idea and a heart to snatch their fellow teens from a dangerous culture.
At age sixteen, twins Alex and Brett Harris decided to start a little blog in their spare time over the summer called TheRebelution.com, with the intent of starting a teenage rebellion. “The word ‘rebelution’ is a combination of the words ‘rebellion’ and ‘revolution,’” explains Brett. “So it carries a sense of an uprising against social norms. But in this case, it’s not a rebellion against God-established authority, but against the low expectations of our society. It’s a refusal to be defined by our ungodly, rebellious culture.” To their astonishment, within a couple years, their site had received over 14 million hits, becoming the most popular Christian teen blog on the web.
As a follow up, they decided to write a book for teens called Do Hard Things, exhorting young people not to take the easy way out, but to do those things that seem harder now but have a bigger payoff in the end (as in “delayed gratification”). Since then, God has opened doors for them to speak to thousands of teens nationwide through conferences that are planned, organized, and run primarily by youth.
More than just a website, The Rebelution is both a mindset and a movement. “Our goal,” according to the brothers, “is to create a community of young people where thinking deeply is the norm, and where achieving excellence is ‘cool.’ History says young people can be doing big things right now! Don’t let the culture’s expectations toward teenagers dictate what you think is possible. The teen years are not a vacation from responsibility. They are the training ground of future leaders who dare to be responsible now.”5
Whether from media, parents, authority figures, or peers, low expectations have become the rule for this generation, rather than the exception. Not only are kids expected not to possess admirable character or useful competence, but also they are expected to do the opposite. The Rebelution defies this kind of thinking by calling out youth to return to biblical and historical levels of character and competence as exhorted by Paul in 1 Timothy 4:12: “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.”
Their message, based on their belief that God is raising up their generation for global change, is a passionate call back to excellence, purpose, and significance for young people. It’s not about doing more things, or inflicting oneself with toilsome chores; it’s about lifestyle choices that will often take you out of your comfort zone and into places where you are focused on using your abilities and resources to encourage and benefit others…ultimately to save lives.
“Brett and I firmly believe we are living in historic times,” Alex says. “We further believe that God is raising up a generation of young people who will one day assume positions of leadership in all spheres of life: social, political, and spiritual. This is not a call for the complacent or the lackadaisical. This is not a call to those who are willing to lower their standards to meet the expectations of their culture. This is a call to the rebelutionary.”
Initially I wondered how two kids could possibly have achieved so many bold and bright accomplishments, not to mention how they’ve acquired more wisdom than many adults. Was it handed to them? Do they harbor a special gene pool (their parents might agree with that notion)? Did they turn out like this by chance?
Actually, Alex and Brett would probably be ordinary kids, except for one thing. They had parents who believed in making the sacrifices necessary to raise their kids to make a difference. Kids who, in turn, learned to make sacrifices in order to serve others. They had parents who devoted themselves to raising firemen. Keeping this at the forefront of their parenting strategy, Mom and Dad Harris raised kids who understood and accepted the fact that it was going to take a lot of hard work for everyone in order to succeed in this goal. As a result of this mentality, these young men have literally started a Rebelution across our nation…and our world.
There are actually two other grown children from the Harris home. One of them, Joshua, became a best-selling author at the age of twenty, with the book I Kissed Dating Goodbye (Multnomah 1997). He went on to write more bestsellers, developed purity seminars for young people, and toured as a national conference speaker in front of hundreds of thousands of young people, calling them out of their culture to a lifestyle of purity. At age twenty-seven, he became the senior pastor of a large church, where he still serves today.
In 2002, another brother, Joel, launched the Northwest Academy of Worship Music to help raise up worship leaders and worship teams for local churches in the Portland area, where over 150 students of all ages have been successfully trained. Since 2007, he’s also been using his music skills to lead worship for The Rebelution Tour.
As I got to know the Harris family, I saw that “chance” and “opportunity” had nothing to do with their parenting success. “If our teen years have been different than most,” says Alex, “it’s not because we are somehow better than other teens, but because we’ve been motivated by that simple but very big idea filtering down from our parents’ example and training: Do hard things.”
With four out of four grown children serving the Lord and significantly impacting their world, it’s obvious that the Harrises are doing something right. And I’ve discovered that this “something” is available to all parents. Throughout this book, we’re going to visit with more parents like these to find out exactly what they are doing to shape godly kids who are ready and able to help save lives, no matter what their limitations or circumstances. Turning out kids like these is not just possible—it’s possible for you and your family with just a few moderate but important lifestyle changes.
Parenting is, really, at the heart of Jesus’ command for discipleship. It’s teaching our kids to live with Jesus and to love like Jesus. It does require a cost, as anything worthwhile does, but that cost will be far outweighed by the benefits and rewards. God has created our kids with unique abilities, gifts, and desires for a very special purpose. All they need now is to be trained and ready, available for divinely appointed opportunities.
So now it’s time to ask: Do we truly want to give our kids the best of everything we have to offer in the short time we have to impact their lives? Do we want our kids to live—and someday die—the spiritual heroes of this world? If we have answered “yes,” then it’s time to learn about a vision for our families that’s so amazing; it will change the course of history.
My discovery all started on a little trip I took to northwest India.
About the book: A witty utterly addictive novel from bestselling author Wendy Holden. Beautiful People is a tale wicked in its observations yet buoyant at its heart: an irresistible confection you'll want to devour immediately.
Darcy's a struggling English rose actress when The Call comes from L.A. An Oscar-tastic director. A movie to make her famous. the hunkiest costar in Hollywood. So why doesn't she want to go?
Belle's a size-zero film star but she's in big, fat trouble. Hotter than the earth's core a year ago, she's now Tinseltown toast after her last film bombed. Can she get back to the big time?
Emma's a down-to-earth, down-on-her-luck nanny trying to weather London's cutthroat childcare scene and celebrity mom whirlwinds. What will it take for her to get back in control of her own life?
Jet to London, Hollywood, and Italy: toss in a passionate star chef, a kind-hearted, disillusioned paparazzo, and a reluctant male supermodel; and find Wendy Holden at her best -- a smash international hit.
My thoughts: I am a big fan of Sophie Kinsella and Jill Mansell, so I was really looking forward to trying out this new-to-me author. I am sorry to say that this book just didn't do it for me. Halfway through, when I could set the book down and was in no hurry to get back to it, spoke volumes to me. There was quite a cast of characters and not at all sure how they all related. I will say though, since I am a fan of British chick lit, I hope to give this one another try - maybe later this summer. Maybe it just wasn't my cup of tea right now.
~I received this book free for review from Sourcebooks.~
Beautiful People
Publisher/Publication Date: Sourcebooks, April 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4022-3715-7
410 pages
What are you reading on Mondays is hosted bySheila at One Person's Journey - You can hook up with the Mr. Linky there with your own post - but be sure and let me know what you are reading too!
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - by Seth Grahame-Smith - I am trying to find someplace/time to listen to a second audio book - but so far not having a lot of luck!
Title: A Certain Wolfish Charm
by Susan Beth Pfeffer - Net Galley
by Lydia Dare - Check sidebar for current giveaway with interview!
by Michael J. Sullivan
- by Julie Ferwerda
- by Wendy Holden
- by Debbie Macomber - There will be a giveaway coming for this one!
- by D. C. Corso
- by Stephanie Meyer - We are over halfway through! Yay!
- by Seth Grahame-Smith - I am trying to find someplace/time to listen to a second audio book - but so far not having a lot of luck!
by Libby Malin - Be sure to sign up for the giveaway - (see right sidebar)
- by Dawn Del Russo
