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Winners of 'Giveaways'

Congratulations to Jennifer M.  on winning $50 Amazon Gift Card


Congratulations to Angela S. on winning $50 Amazon Gift Card


Congratulations to Cynthia C. on winning $100 Amazon Gift Card


Congratulations to Stephanie P. on winning $25 Amazon Gift Card

Congratulations to Anne on winning $100 Amazon Gift card

Congratulations to Debbi W.  on winning $50 Amazon Gift card

Congratulations to Sherry F. on winning $25 Amazon Gift card

Congratulations to  Mary A. on winning $10 Amazon Gift card

 Congratulations to John T. on winning $50 Amazon Gift Card


Calm after the storm

Congratulations to Beth D.on winning $50 Amazon Gift Card

 

Congratulations to Myriam B on winning $25 Amazon Gift Card 

Good Music Brighter Children

Congratulations to Heather on winning a copy of

'The Poison Pen' by Marjorie Owen Sequel to 'Ladies of Class'



Congratulations to Christine S. on winning a copy of Dancing with Raven by S.G. Rogers

Congratulations to Entry Debbie J. On winning a copy of Fetch by Adam Glendon Sidwell

Congratulations to Entry Ramon R. On winning August 7" Kindle Fire HDX

Congratulations to Entry #25383karlaon winning $50 Amazon Gift Certificate for
Tesla Gate


Congratulations to Entry #2021Charlie N. on winning $75 Amazon Gift Certificate for

Congratulations to Entry #41419Katie C. of July Kindle Fire.

Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop  

Congratulations to Michelle Willms on winning a copy of 

'Ladies of Class' or 'The Poison Pen' by Marjorie Owen
 











Entry #2777CJ S. on winning $50 Amazon Gift Card










Congratulations Entry #25966Anna on winning $50 Amazon Gift Card
Marriage isn't for you

Congratulations Entry #25583Cori W. on winning May Kindle Giveaway

Congratulations Entry #9757Siobhan B. on winning $100 Amazon Gift Card
 Interview with Christine Pinheiro, Editor, Defiant Press
The Book Reviewer Yellow Pages is a bestselling author’s promotional reference, designed specifically for authors who need book reviewers for their books.

Congratulations Entry #366Leanna C. on winning $25 Amazon Gift Card

The Husband Maker by Karey White
Congratulations Entry #242Katie W. on winning $25 Paypal Cash
 DIAMOND RINGS ARE DEADLY THINGS:
Congratulations Entry #24905Lis C.on winning $50 Amazon Gift Card 
Fortune Cookie by Josi Kilpack  
  
Congratulations Entry #5861Angel H. on winning $50 Amazon Gift Card 
 Hawthorne by Sarah Ballance
 
Congratulations Entry #21897Natalie M. on winning April's Kindle Fire HDX

Congratulations Entry #35656Beverly M. on winning $100 Amazon Gift Card
Unplanned Motherhood
unplanned motherhood
Congratulations Entry #324Teresa A. on winning iFrogz Ozone Earbuds and choice of Dead Running or The Broken Path audion books.

Congratulations Entry #792Kimberly M. on winning $25 Gift Card for the
Prejudice Meets Pride by Rachael Anderson











Congratulations Entry #38415Diana S.on winning a Kindle Fire HDX

Congratulations Entry #121Lauren T. on winning $25 Gift Card
With a fresh and energizing sound, Stephanie Boyd’s debut album Touching Sky will put a smile on your face and a skip in your step. Unique lyrics, heartfelt vocals and top quality production will inspire and uplift you. With brand new original songs and a novel take on some favorite hymns, this CD will stay with you every day of the week.

Congratulations Entry #2361Tara W.
Congratulations Entry #1465Memphis D. on winning $25 Gift Card
faithful fit fabulous

Congratulations Entry #45016david on winning February Kindle Fire HDX

Congratulations Entry #4448Christine S. on winning $25 Amazon Gift Card
 Romance Through the Ages

Congratulations Entry #3660Mandala on winning $25 Amazon Gift Card
On the heels of their hit album Higher, Mercy River is back with mesmerizing harmonies and upbeat vocal arrangements. Their new album features inspirational favorites and original songs that highlight the talents of this singing sisterhood.

Sing It Out
Speak Life
How Deep the Father's Love For Us
Walk You Through the Night
Who I Am
Holy Ground
Restless
Reason For the World
Walking On Sunshine
Review
Come Alive by Mercy River is spiritual and uplifting music.  The CD has mesmerizing, beautiful harmonies and vocal arrangements. Whitney, Brooke, and Soni are very talented singers and artists. I love this group and their music and would highly recommend the CD to those who like to listen to inspirational music.

 


Congratulations  Entry #2986Linda B. on winning $25 Amazon Gift Card

Sparks the Matchmaker by Russell Elkins

sparksOllie just wants one thing. The girl.

Things haven’t been going so well with Anne lately, though; their relationship has become a perpetual study date, and Ollie’s roommates are starting to worry about him. How to fix things? Why, with a marriage proposal, of course.

Unfortunately for Ollie, his relationship with Anne has run out of gas. Life feels like it’s counting down to one. And that one is the only person in Ollie’s life he really cares about: Ollie. Perhaps, then, he should get over himself. But first he has to deal with Sparks, the irritating little Yankees fan who invades his life in order to “help” him. And while Keith, his best friend, is doing all he can to help, Ollie’s other friend Richie never fails to show up and threaten to ruin everything just by being himself. Never mind all the drama Sparks brings to the party by forcing Ollie to take a job actually helping people in need.

Will Ollie meet the girl? Will it be in history class? On a road trip to Colorado? Can he get over Anne, or should he try to mend the relationship? Should he pursue the new girl Sparks is trying to set him up with? As the strings of the puppeteer tangle with the strings of the heart, only one person can sort out the mess Ollie has made. It seems that the harder he tries, the more Ollie messes things up. Is Sparks a cruel manipulator, or is he really going to help Ollie find his match?

Congratulations Entry #28190Sherri G. on winning $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Author Mayra Calvani

MayraMayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications like The Writer, Writer's Journal, Multicultural Review, Bloomsbury Review, and others. She lives in Belgium with her husband of 25+ years, two wonderful kids, and her two beloved pets. When she's not writing, editing, reading or reviewing, she enjoys walking with her dog, traveling, and spending time with her family. She's represented by Serendipity Literary.


 
Congratulations Entry #4246Rochelle J. on winning
The Christmas Train

In this children’s picture book, President Thomas S. Monson recounts a Christmas memory from his childhood. As a boy, he yearned for an electric train. To his delight, on Christmas morning he got exactly that a train that operated through the miracle of electricity. Then he noticed a second train that his mother had purchased for the boy down the street whose family was struggling. Although it was only a wind-up train, it had an beautiful oil tanker car, which little Tommy wanted for his own. Soon after, Tommy s mother invited him to accompany her to the neighbor s home to deliver the gift. Young Mark was thrilled with his new train and, of course, didn t notice the missing train car. However, a remorseful Tommy did. What happened next will bring the spirit of Christmas into every heart and home. Illustrated by renowned artist Dan Burr, The Christmas Train is sure to be a classic Christmas story and a beautiful addition to every Christmas library.

Congratulations Entry #27783Nancy S. on winning











Congratulations Entry #54027Diana C. on winning
Holiday Kindle Fire Giveaway
Congratulations Entry #26366Susan F. on winning a copy of A Bad, Sad Day for Mama Bear

Author Mayra Calvani

bad madMayraMayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications like The Writer, Writer's Journal, Multicultural Review, Bloomsbury Review, and others. She lives in Belgium with her husband of 25+ years, two wonderful kids, and her two beloved pets. When she's not writing, editing, reading or reviewing, she enjoys walking with her dog, traveling, and spending time with her family. She's represented by Serendipity Literary.



Congratulations Entry #14403Claudia and Entry #3517Lorena V.
on winner a copy of Illuminating Gracie

As an old woman's lifeless body lies on a cold stone floor, her soul stands before an angel who offers her a miraculous opportunity: the chance to do it all again. But that is easier said than done. In order to change the path her life has taken, she must put aside years of self-loathing and pain, so she can help the young girl she once was become the woman she should have been.

PP Cover.4043372.inddAt 17 years old, Grace Bennett is a bitter young woman. Though blessed with a loving family, looks and brains to spare, she hides her light under a bushel, spending most of her time in the darkness of her mind with little more than sarcasm and self-pity to keep her company.

But things are about to change for Grace. While delivering food for her family's bed and breakfast, she turns onto a desolate dirt road and drives straight into her destiny.

It's on this isolated country lane that the damaged girl meets a strangely familiar old couple and two mysterious young men. Together the group fights the demons that surround Grace, and they teach her what it means to let her light shine.

"Illuminating Gracie" is, at once, a metaphorical tale of the fight between good and evil and a spiritual saga of one girl's journey from darkness into the light. If you liked "Twilight" and "The Hunger Games," you will love the story of Gracie.
Congratulations on winner Hudson Lights CD Entry #347Steve W.
Hudson Lights

Congratulations on winning the November Kindle Fire Entry #44281Susan B.
Congratulations to Leigha Varrielle on winning the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop
a copy of 'Ladies of Class' by Marjorie Owen 
Congratulations to Entry #49378Nick F. on winning the Fall Kindle Fire HD

Congratulations to Entry #4162Cyn209 & Entry #1424Nancy D.
My Own Mr. Darcy
After being dragged to the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice by her mother, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth’s life changes when Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Darcy appears on the screen. Lizzie falls hard and makes a promise to herself that she will settle for nothing less than her own Mr. Darcy. This ill-advised pledge threatens to ruin any chance of finding true love. During the six intervening years, she has refused to give any interested suitors a chance.

Book Readers Review  

In her book, 'My Own Mr. Darcy', Karey White tells of a young girls obsession with the movie Pride & Prejudice.  Elizabeth, the main character, falls in love with the 'on screen' Mr. Darcy.   In her short  young years, age sixteen, Lizzie has many failed romances. None of the men she has dated so far reflect the qualities of her film idol.  Her best friend and roommate, Janessa challenges her to date Chad, a man Lizzie met in a grocery, store ten times.  Lizzie reluctantly agrees until she meets Matt Dawson, the clone of her ideal Mr. Darcy.   The story continues with the duel dating life of Elizabeth. The author portrays the relationships between Lizzie and the two men in her life, Chad and Matt.

Karey White has taken a character from a classic and given life in a modern romance.  I am a fan of Jane Austin and love Pride and Prejudice.  My curiosity was piqued when introduced to Karey's book and did not know what to expect.  I was pleasantly surprised that White created a sensitive romance that kept my interest to the end.  At times I felt Lizzie needed to be told to 'grow up' by her friends and family.  Her personality came across as using both men to realize her dream of marrying Mr. Darcy.  Finally she let go of her fantasy and saw the reality of her relationship with two very different men.  The book would not have been my choice if I had not agreed to review.  If you love romance, then this is a good read, if not a little frustrating in parts!

Author Karey White
Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist.
She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.


Congratulations on winning September Kindle Fire Giveaway Entry #27690Filia O.
September Kindle Fire Giveaway (or $199 Amazon GC or Paypal Cash)

 

Congratulations to Entry #7943Memphis D.

A Wicked Kind of Dark

Robert Duncan no longer believes in magic. A mysterious call about a blood moon, however, leads him back to the magical world of his childhood and to Luthien, the beautiful girl with flame-coloured hair, who he loved and lost.

As Robert unravels the secrets of his childhood, darkness enters his life and an ancient evil awakens. To have any chance of defeating the dark forces that would destroy two worlds, Robert must find Luthien before the rise of the blood moon. He must, once more, believe in magic …

A Wicked Kind of Dark mixes vast and spectacular fantasy landscapes with gritty urban reality. A must-read for people of all ages who believe in the power of imagination, and the importance of never losing touch with your inner child.

Author Jonathan K. Benton

Jonathan Benton always wanted to write books, having won first place in a short story competition when he was ten. Inspired by writes such as Ray Bradbury and Stephen King, Jonathan first discovered the crossover genre of literary/fantasy while reading Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes.

Jonathan grew up in New Zealand, dreaming of travelling to London and finally making the pilgrimage in his mid-twenties. Returning from England, he settled in Australia, the country he now calls home, and decided to take his writing seriously.

Rocky Road by Josi S. Kilpack
THE ST. GEORGE SPECTRUM
Dr. Trenton Hendricks was last seen Friday, April 8, when he set out alone on a backpacking trip. Hendricks's Jeep Grand Cherokee was located Tuesday at the Chuckwalla Trailhead, but after six days and thousands of man-hours, the official search has been called off. He is presumed to be deceased.
It was supposed to be a girls' weekend in scenic St. George, Utah, that would included shopping, trying out the local cuisine, and participating in a breast cancer fund-raiser. The fact that one of the organizers of the fund-raising event, a local doctor, had disappeared two months before was not supposed to be Sadie's problem.
Read more at:
http://deseretbook.com/Rocky-Road-Josi-S-Kilpack/i/5107120

Congratulations to Entry #5212Atalia M. on winning 'Working it out'

Author Rachael Renee Anderson

Rachael Anderson is the author of five novels (Working It Out, The Reluctant Bachelorette, Minor Adjustments, Luck of the Draw, and Divinely Designed) and two novellas (Twist of Fate, from the All I Want anthology and The Meltdown Match from The Timeless Romance Anthology: Summer Wedding Collection). She's the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.


Working It Out

A chance encounter . . .

Grace Warren's life is safe and predictable—exactly the way she likes it. But when she gets roped into going to an auction to help out a friend, everything changes. She meets Seth Tuttle—a guy who unexpectedly kisses her then disappears, leaving her flustered and upset. If she never sees him again, it will be too soon.
Amazon * Amazon Kindle Add to Goodreads

Congratulations to the winner of 'Finding Sheba' Entry #2261Steve W.

An ancient legend is reborn . . . One that might prove the Bible false.

For centuries, historians have theorized the Queen of Sheba as only a seductive legend, and scholars have debated over the legitimacy of King David or King Solomon. When undercover Israeli agent, Omar Zagouri, stumbles onto a tomb in Northern Jerusalem he unknowingly finds the final clue that threatens to overthrow government claim to the Holy Land, pits wealthy collectors against one another, and sends ruthless archaeologists scrambling to find the queen’s secret burial place. An assassination attempt on the Coptic Pope, His Holiness, Patriarch Stephanus II, is only the first in the chain of lethal crimes. Omar must find a way to prevent the greatest discovery of the century from becoming the most deadly.

Author Heather B. Moore

heather mooreHeather B. Moore is the award-winning author of ten novels, two inspirational non-fiction books, and two anthologies, including The Newport Ladies Book Club Series, A Timeless Romance Anthology, and Christ’s Gifts to Women (co-authored by Angela Eschler).

Her historical fiction is published under the pen name H.B. Moore. She is the two-time recipient of Best of State in Literary Fiction, two-time Whitney Award Winner, and two-time Golden Quill Winner for Best Novel. Her most recent historical novel under H.B. Moore is Daughters of Jared (2012 LUW Gold Award of Excellence & 2012 LUW Best Book Trailer).


Persephone the Daring (Goddess Girls #11)  Congratulations! Entry #2414Karen P.

persephoneMortal rock star Orpheus steals the spotlight in this Goddess Girls tale of love and lyres!Orpheus is a mortal rock god, and the girls at Mount Olympus Academy are wild about him! With his lyre and singing voice, Orpheus can charm pretty much anything—even things like stones and trees. But Hades and the other MOA boys aren’t charmed. In fact, they are less than thrilled that the girls are so gaga over this guy.

His fans are especially excited about his latest song about the girl he loved and lost, Eurydice. Orpheus was devastated when he lost Eurydice to the Underworld, so he asks Persephone to help get her back. Though it means breaking some very serious Underworld rules, Persephone pushes Hades to return Eurydice to the living world. But restoring Orpheus’s one true love might jeopardize Persephone’s own chances with her biggest crush...
Author Suzanne Williams

Suzanne Williams is the award-winning author of nearly 40 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives near Seattle. Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children's choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. She is co-author (with Joan Holub) of the popular Goddess Girls series(for ages 8 - 12) and Heroes in Training (ages 6 - 11). Other series include Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power.


Author Joan Holub

I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children's books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job.

I illustrated my first published children's book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts -- Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee!

Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children's books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.

The winner of the Kindle Fire HD is...Entry #17150Kary J.

  Congratulations Entry #4861Melissa C.
on winning a copy of Rising Sun, Falling Star
Different eyes and skin
Mock me from the mirror’s light
Enemy am I.

Dec 7, 1941
Today my life changed forever . . . I am no longer considered American, but by shear heritage I am now the hated enemy . . .
The lives of Kenji and Aiko Onishi and their American-born children are about to unravel when the United States is thrust into war with Japan. Confronted by insurmountable prejudice and fear, the family is ripped from their California home without just cause by the American government and sent to an assembly center “for their own protection.”
Forced to live in deplorable circumstances, every aspect of their lives regulated and controlled, the Onishi’s freedoms are stripped from their grasp as they struggle to survive behind barbed wire. It isn’t long before the mind-numbing confinement and feelings of helplessness begin to pit the family against one another.
When sent to a relocation camp in the center of the Utah desert, they’re beset by ever increasing emotional and physical challenges, and Aiko is faced with her greatest yet: to mend the broken spirits of her family, or risk losing them forever.
Based on true and tragic events that transpired during World War II, Rising Sun, Falling Star is a heart-rending story of one family’s struggle to survive uncalculated loss and emotional destruction.


Author Vickie Hall Vickie is a native of Utah, but growing up, lived in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Nebraska. When she’s not writing, she’s composing music, or shopping with her sister. She loves animals of all kinds and camping with her family. Her favorite pastime is watching old movies on TCM, and unashamedly has a crush on Cary Grant.
Links:



And the Winner is Entry #1792Joan


The Winner is Entry #2538Lacey T. Congratulations!
and 
Congratulations Entry #25998Wendy L. on winning the first copy of  'Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen' by Author Sally Smith O'Rourke.

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen
Was Mr. Darcy real? Is time travel really possible? For pragmatic Manhattan artist Eliza Knight the answer to both questions is absolutely, Yes! And Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley Farms, Virginia is the reason why!
His tale of love and romance in Regency England leaves Eliza in no doubt that Fitz Darcy is the embodiment of Jane Austen’s legendary hero. And she’s falling in love with him. But can the man who loved the inimitable Jane Austen ever love average, ordinary Eliza Knight?
Eliza’s doubts grow, perhaps out of proportion, when things start to happen in the quiet hamlet of Chawton, England; events that could change everything. Will the beloved author become the wedge that divides Fitz and Eliza or the tie that binds them?



Get the audio book:

Author Sally Smith O'Rourke

Sally Smith O’Rourke is a surgical scrub nurse at the City of Hope national cancer research hospital in Duarte, California and resides in the near-by Victorian village of Monrovia.

With her late husband, author Michael O’Rourke (aka F.M. O’Rourke) Smith O’Rourke owned and operated a medical advertising company where she used her diverse talents to produce and co-write teaching films and videos. Working not only with major medical and surgical manufacturing companies but also network television. These endeavors ultimately led to a collaboration on two feature films (direct to video) and three published novels.

The wife and husband writing team of Sally Smith and Michael O’Rourke, being long-time fans of Jane Austen, wrote The Man Who Loved Jane Austen released by Kensington Books in 2006. Kensington followed that very successful effort with The Maidenstone Lighthouse in 2007 and Christmas at Sea Pines Cottage in 2009, both also collaborative projects by Smith and O’Rourke. Published after her partner and spouse’s untimely death in 2001, the publisher chose not to use the names Michael O’Rourke and Sally Smith (as the manuscripts were presented), releasing all three books under Sally Smith O’Rourke.

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen is Sally Smith O’Rourke’s first solo novel.

Congratulations to Entry #5Marisa S. and #16175Christina T. on winning Family Ever After


--Shawn Edgington Ph.D.
michelle
Author Michelle Packard

Michelle Packard is a mother to her four very human and totally fabulous kids. Her oldest, Ella is always in charge and leads the pack with creativity and curiosity, Daniel follows with loyalty and loves tenderly, Julia is a doll and always buzzing over something beautiful, and Jackson could hunt down the last sharpie on earth to create art on your bathroom wall. She has been married ten years and is quite taken with her guy. Date night is her favorite and she dreams of weekend getaways with her man. She loves creating beauty through floral design, but apparently has no gift with living flowers (They end of upside down and pressed in books). She finds parties alluring. They beckon her to invite people over, spend way too much time preparing food for murder mystery dinners, and totally enjoy friends and family. Michelle holds a bachelors degree in Home and Family Science from Brigham Young University. She has spent a great deal of time working with children and young adults and finds her greatest joy is happy families.

Congratulations Entry #3622Mariah W. on winning 'Working it Out'

The winner of David's Song is...Entry #27717Amy J. Congratulations!



Taken from the book cover: Annie only ever really loved two men in her life. One broke her heart, the other married her. Four children and fifteen years later, Annie’s marriage is in jeopardy. Money is tight and her husband questions the very foundation of their relationship. When Annie is unexpectedly given the opportunity to see the young man who broke her heart — a man who is now a megastar in the music industry — Annie is faced with choices. Choices that will determine what is of more value — a second chance at lost love and unfulfilled dreams or commitment, trust, and love built on years of experience.

A psychologically subtle, yet compelling tale about how the instinct and need for love overcomes self-doubt and personal inadequacy.

Author A.R. Talley

April R Talley was born and raised in the Rubber City, Akron, Ohio in 1959. She is the youngest of six children. She attended Brigham Young University for a time, but withdrew to work fulltime for Osmond Productions in Orem, Utah as a member of The Osmond production staff. After a brief stint working in television, she returned to Akron to finish her education. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mass Media Communications in 1981. April later worked as vice president and part owner of a dance and sportswear boutique. Married in 1982, she is the proud mother of seven children and is deeply involved in volunteer work for her church. April spends her time working on future projects, caring for home and family, and traveling. David’s Song is her debut novel and the first of a trilogy.
Twitter * Facebook * Blog * Goodreads

Congratulations to Entry #294Hollow M. on winning Motherhood Matter


Motherhood is a divine calling---but it may not always feel that way. Now you can show the women in your life how much they matter to you, with this delightful and heartwarming volume of wit and wisdom about the divinity, reality, and rewards of motherhood. Fresher than flowers and sweeter than chocolate, it's a perfect gift for the women who give so much.

In these hectic days where life's demands can quickly become a heavy burden, Motherhood Matters helps you find more memorable moments and take the stress out of the to-do lists. Written with clarity, concision, and wit, this short, yet indispensable handbook is better than flowers, more guilt-free than chocolate, and gives back to the woman who sacrifices so much of herself every single day.
Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Author Connie Sokol
Connie Sokol is a mother of seven, a national and local presenter, and a regular speaker at Education Week. She is a monthly contributor on KSL TV “Studio 5,” and regular blogger for KSL "Motherhood Matters." She is a former TV and radio host for Bonneville Communications, and columnist for Deseret News and Utah Valley Magazine. Mrs. Sokol is the author of several books including the award-nominated romance Caribbean Crossroads, the 8-week Challenge program of Faithful, Fit & Fabulous, Life is Too Short for One Hair Color Series, as well as talk CDs and podcasts. Mrs. Sokol marinates in time spent with her family and eating decadent treats.

The Winner of Hades and the Helm of Darkness is...Entry #18635Suzanne W.

Hades and the Helm of Darkness (Heroes in Training Book 3)

The Heroes in Training are entering the Underworld—if Hades can conquer his canine fears, that is.

The Underworld usually isn’t really meant to be a fun place—but tell that to Hades! He loves the dark and the stinky smell of sulfur. However, there is one thing that Hades is not a fan of: dogs. And when Zeus and his fellow Olympians encounter Cerberus—a snarling, three-headed dog—Hades must conquer his fears and tame the hound so everyone can continue into the Underworld and deposit their Titan prisoner, Oceanus, back where he belongs!
But with magical water that causes forgetfulness, hot beds of lava, and another epic battle with two more Titans standing in their way, will Zeus and his heroes make it out of the Underworld with everyone intact?


Author Suzanne Williams
 Suzanne Williams is the award-winning author of nearly 40 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives near Seattle. Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children's choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. She is co-author (with Joan Holub) of the popular Goddess Girls series(for ages 8 - 12) and Heroes in Training (ages 6 - 11). Other series include Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power.



Author Joan Holub
 I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children's books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job.

I illustrated my first published children's book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts -- Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee!

Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children's books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.


The winner of Isabella and Penelope is...Entry #5361Maria S.

Isabella and Penelope by Maggie Grinnell
Isabella is a young girl who loses her father in a tragic accident. She has such a close connection with her dad that she decided not to speak for 2 years. Then she encounters Penelope, a pink caterpillar who changes her life forever.
Purchase
Author Maggie Grinnell

I have been writing since 1992. I am a children's author who writes poetry and also the co editor of the children's newsletter, Kite Tales. Writing is a part of me. Writing is my heart and soul.




The winner of March Kindle Fire is...Entry #30009Kes M.

The winner of Max Xylander and the Island of Zumuruud is...Entry #2066Pingle A.

Max Xylander and the Island of Zumuruud
Max has anger management issues. But she has a secret, too. She can make things happen. Like magic. She almost killed a loser skate punk and nearly used it on her stuck up older sister. The question is, can she do anything other than blow things up? Can she learn to control it? And is it really possible that an obscure teenage girl is the key to keeping all of humanity safe?

Philip just got his ring back. He got it taken away for messing with his teacher’s mind so he can cheat on a test. Now that he has his ring, he thinks he should be able to use his power to make his life better. A lot better. The problem is that people want him to be responsible. But if you could do magic, wouldn’t you use it to escape work in any way possible?

Aaron wants to be a soldier. He knows there are lots of people who would try to take over, and he’s determined to stop them. The problem is that there’s this new girl. And she might be not be on the right side of things. She’s really talented and pretty, but she might be able to destroy everything he believes in. Whatever the case, he knows he needs to learn to be world class with the magic sword while he figures out what to do.

Brynn never gets out. Her grandfather won’t permit it. Her only access to the outside world are high fashion magazines, so she has an unusual idea what she should wear. She’s dying to get out and travel. And adopt animals. Any kind of animal. Is she a lonely future granny with cats or are her ridiculous clothes actually the next fashion craze? What possible role could she play in the destiny of the world?

Max Xylander and the Island of Zumuruud is a fast-paced fantasy adventure for all ages (10 and up) and is the first of a planned trilogy. Fans of magic, swordplay, secret agents, and conspiracies set in a modern everyday world will not be able to put the book down. Jon Thomason is a debut author and paints a vivid world of magic right under our noses and delivers rapid-fire action that keeps the pages turning. 
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Author Jon Thomason
Jon Thomason lives with his family in San Diego, after many years living in the beautiful Seattle area. He has a successful career in high tech where he's been fortunate enough to participate in many big-name industry releases.

Storytelling permeates everything he does. In the moments when Jon is not helping build the story of the tech world, he can almost always be found working on a project: writing, photography, videography, graphics design, or 3D art.

And he's always careful to conceal his jinni magic abilities, though perhaps might slip one day and be discovered...
              Links Facebook * Amazon * Goodreads * Twitter

The Winner of Baked Alaska is...Entry #6018Mimi S.

Baked Alaska by Josi S. Kilpack

An Alaskan cruise is the setting for amateur detective Sadie Hoffmillers latest adventure. Sadie plans to spend time relaxing with her two grown children, Breanna and Shawn, and her boyfriend, Pete, while enjoying the luxury and cuisine of an elegant cruise ship and helping to plan her daughters upcoming wedding. But even as the crew prepares to leave port, Sadie has suspicions about the voyage ahead and the relationship between her normally easygoing son and a mysterious female passenger he obviously knows but refuses to discuss. When the woman is discovered unconscious during the second night at sea, Sadies apprehension escalates. Over the last few years, Sadie has developed an extreme dislike for secrets and it would seem her son is keeping one from her. *Includes eight new mouthwatering recipes, tested and approved by the official bakers of Sadies Virtual Test Kitchen.
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Author Josi S. Kilpack

Josi S. Kilpack grew up hating to read until she was thirteen and her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and credits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began her first novel in 1998 and hasn’t stopped since. Her seventh novel, Sheep’s Clothing, won the 2007 Whitney Award for Mystery/Suspense, and Lemon Tart, her ninth novel, was a 2009 Whitney Award Finalist. Josi was the Best in State winner in literature for 2012 and currently has two books (Banana Split and Tres Leches Cupcakes) as finalists in the 2012 Whitney awards.
Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her family.

Winner of The Ugly Stepsister is...Entry #737Meghan S.

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson 

Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.
But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?
Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake. Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school. And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.

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Author Sariah Wilson
Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back is her fourth happily ever after novel. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).



Ladies of Class by Marjorie Owen
 
            



This book was only discovered, and many more, after Mum passed away at the grand age of 93.

Escucha Means Listen

From the mowing of the lawn to the splish-splashing of rain puddles, Talia Aikens-Nuñez’s bilingual picture book Escucha Means Listen introduces toddlers and babies to the sweet sounds around them.
Take a journey through the world—just listening. Escucha Means Listen helps children discover sounds around them in English and Spanish.

Review
This book is a great way for young children to learn a few basic Spanish words in print.  The title of the book is a little misleading, as readers may think it is an audio book.  Phonetic breakdown of the Spanish words could help in pronunciation.  Although the illustrations in the book are excellent for the very young child.
 If the book is sold internationally, perhaps it would help to know if the words are Latin American Spanish or from Spain. Having personally lived in Central America and taken classes in ‘Spanish’, there can be quite a difference and a lot of misunderstanding and confusion!  Having said that the book is a good start for a child.


Review
Daisy: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Author Janis F. Kearney in her book Daisy: Between a Rock and a Hard Place, writes about the life and experiences of civil rights legend Daisy Gatson Bates.  Kearney, as a young girl, became fascinated by Daisy's life and her work as one of the greatest civil rights leaders.  Twenty years later Janis Kearney is hired by Daisy Bates as Managing Editor of the Arkansas State Press.  From conversations with Daisy Bates, the author leads us through Daisy’s experiences as a child growing up in a society of prejudice to her final days.
The book is full of historical events and people from Daisy’s birth in 1914 to her death at age 84 in 1999.  Daisy Bates story is a journey of humanities struggle from slavery to equality, justice and peace, for both blacks and whites. As U.S Congressman Ray Thornton, wrote in the foreword of Daisy’s memoir, The Long Shadow of Little Rock, “Her leadership, her vision, and her courage have lifted all of us to a clearer understanding of the dignity and ultimate value of the human spirit.”  Kearney describes in detail the emotions, hopes and fears that led Daisy to become the first female in the USA to head a State NAACP office, run a newspaper with her life partner Lucius Christopher Bates, and become the Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, in the town of Mitchellville, Arkansas
The book is a definite read for all who have an interest in civil rights, segregation and integration.  But the most significant reason for reading the book, Daisy: Between a Rock and a Hard Place, is the greatness of the little girl who fought against all odds for change.  She is up there with those other great women, and her friends, Rosa Park and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.   
Author Janis F. Kearney

Janis F. Kearney is a publisher, author, and oral historian. She was one of 19 children born to Arkansas Delta Sharecroppers T.J. and Ethel Kearney. She Graduated from the  University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a B.A., in  Journalism, and completed 30 hours in public administration, and Journalism.  
She was hired by Daisy Bates in 1987 as Managing Editor of the Arkansas State Press.  In 1988, she purchased the newspaper.  She served as Personal Diarist to President Clinton from 1995 to 2001.  She was the country’s first personal diarist to a U.S. President, and during that time, she also served as White House liaison to the U.S. National Archives.   
In 2001, Janis moved with her husband Bob Nash to Chicago, where she began her writing life.  In 2003, Janis, with her husband’s support, founded Writing our World Press/WOW! Books  in 2003.  Her first book, Cotton Field of Dreams: A Memoir was published in 2004. Her other books include Something to Write Home About: Memories of a Presidential Diarist; Conversations: William Jefferson Clinton…from Hope to Harlem; and Once Upon a Time there was a Girl: a Murder at Mobile Bay, her first fiction. WOW! Books has also published two other authors. Her next book, Daisy: Between a Rock and a Hard Place, is scheduled for publication, December 2012.  Her third memoir, Sundays with TJ: 100 years of Memories on Varner Road,  and her second Once Upon a Time there was a Girl murder mystery are both slated for publication in Spring, 2013.

Janis is an internationally-traveled public speaker, and can be contacted for speaking engagements, by emailing: bookingagent@writingourworldpress.com. 

The Reluctant Bachelorette
 Excerpt
 Six short weeks and you find your true love? Ha. Talk about a joke. Sure, the guys grappled around the girl, romanced her, sought out her attention. Why? Not because they were genuinely interested, not because they cared. How could they? How could anyone say they were in love after a few meager dates? It wasn’t real, it was a competition. Each guy wanted to win, and they’d do whatever it took to do that, even fool themselves into thinking they might care.
But they didn’t. The large number of breakups after the fact testified it wasn’t real. Rather, it was an exploitation of dating, romance, and love.
And now Taycee would be the one exploited.

About the Author:
Rachael Anderson is the author of four contemporary romances: Divinely Designed, Luck of the Draw, Minor Adjustments, and The Relutant Bachelorette.  She’s the mother of four, can’t sing, doesn’t dance, and despises tragedies.  But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

2 comments:

  1. Hi there Dee--Sounds like a great lineup you have for your author interviews. I hope I will be one of them someday!

    Ilene from An-American-in-Malta.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Ilene. Lets set a date for your interview.
    Dee

    ReplyDelete

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