Friday, June 28, 2013

Giveaway: The Columbus Affair by Steve Berry

In honor of the upcoming release of Steve Berry's new book, The King's Deception, that was released this month, I am giving away one copy of his The Columbus Affair.  Thanks to Veronica Grossman of Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc.

Book Description:

A family’s secret, a ruthless fanatic, and a covert arm of the American government—all are linked by a single puzzling possibility:

What if everything we know about the discovery of America was a lie? What if that lie was designed to hide the secret of why Columbus sailed in 1492? And what if that 500-year-old secret could violently reshape the modern political world?

Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist Tom Sagan has written hard-hitting articles from hot spots around the world. But when one of his stories from the Middle East is exposed as a fraud, his professional reputation crashes and burns.

Now he lives in virtual exile—haunted by bad decisions and a shocking truth he can never prove:  that his downfall was a deliberate act of sabotage by an unknown enemy. But before Sagan can end his torment with the squeeze of a trigger, fate intervenes in the form of an enigmatic stranger.  This stranger forces Sagan to act—and his actions attract the attention of the Magellan Billet, a top-secret corps of the United States Justice Department that deals with America’s most sensitive investigations.

Sagan suddenly finds himself caught in an international incident, the repercussions of which will shudder not only Washington, D.C., but also Jerusalem. Coaxed into a deadly cat-and-mouse game, unsure who’s friend and who’s foe, Sagan is forced to Vienna, Prague, then finally into the Blue Mountains of Jamaica—where his survival hinges on his rewriting everything we know about Christopher Columbus.

About Steve Berry:


STEVE BERRY is the New York Times bestselling author of eight Cotton Malone adventures, three stand-alone novels, and four short stories. He has 15 million books in print, translated into 40 languages and sold in 51 countries. Through his passion for history Berry created the foundation, History Matters, which is dedicated to historic preservation. 

Since 2009 Steve and his wife Elizabeth have crossed the country to save endangered historic treasures, raising money via lectures, receptions, galas, luncheons, dinners and their popular writers’ workshops.  To date, nearly 2,000 students have attended those workshops. In 2012 Steve’s devotion to historic preservation was recognized by the American Library Association, which named Steve the first spokesman for National Preservation Week.
This giveaway is open to the U.S. and Canada and ends on July 12, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Giveaway: STRAT by Tara Maya

Thanks to Katie Earley of Misque Press,, I am giving away one ebook of STRAT.

Book Description:

Pages: around 250
Formats: Kindle, EPUB, PDF
Publisher: Misque Press
Publish Date: June 5, 2013

On his wedding day, Charlie's bride is kidnapped. As he fights for his life and her freedom, he discovers an ancient war helm with the power to control mechs. But if he uses it, he risks losing himself... and becoming embroiled in a war that will soon span the galaxy.

Excerpt:

Thirteen helmed Lords escorted me out to the center of the caldera: twelve lords from the legation, and Lord Ivess.
I knew Domany was right. They were unlikely to keep their word; but if there was even a chance I could save Sard from obliteration, I had to try.
We passed the frozen corpse of the woman who had taken her father’s helm and avenged her family during the jousts. All anyone had cared about her act of courage was that she had violated a stifling thousand-year-old code of law. Now I was to share her fate, for the same reason.
The legation offered Lord Ivess the honor of removing the faceplate and breather.  My hands were chained behind my back. They forced me to kneel in the sulfur snow.
He leaned close to me, although he did not need to be close to whisper to me over the link.
“You stole my daughter from me, and that embarrassed me,” he hissed. “I will enjoy your death greatly. I’m not going to take off your breather, though. A quick death would be too easy. I’m going to remove everything but your breather. I’m going to let you die slowly, and as you die, you can watch Tears-of-Gold die too.” He laughed. “Did you really think we would spare Sard after you contaminated it with your thralls who think they can be lords?”
“No,” I said. “I expected you to lack all honor, having fought you before.”
He kicked me face forward onto the ground. My jaw smashed painfully against my breather. He grabbed the back of my kit and jerked me back up to my knees.
“Then why did you surrender yourself to us? That was stupid.”
“I’m a Fredder,” I said. “I guess stupid is just a bad habit.”
The other lords stood in a semi-circle around us, a few meters away. They watched impassively as Ivess dismantled my kit piece by piece, until he ripped away the last underlayer, and left me naked in the bitterly frozen acid. As he’d promised, Ivess left on my helm, the cursed Helm of Brin, trailing tubes to my discarded, but functional, air pack, so I could still breath.
It felt as though I had been dipped into fire. My skin sizzled and buckled. Every inch of my body below my neck came alive with pain, raw unbearable pain. I screamed inside my mask. Through my tears, I could see a huge army of mechs, the combined cavalcades of the lords of the “peace legation,” advance toward Tears-of-Gold. They weren’t going to just let it die of neglect, they were going to blast it straight to hell themselves.

About Tara Maya:

Tara Maya has lived in Africa, Europe and Asia. She’s pounded sorghum with mortar and pestle in a little clay village where the jungle meets the desert, meditated in a Buddhist monastery in the Himalayas and sailed the Volga River to a secret city that was once the heart of the Soviet space program. This first-hand experience, as well as research into the strange and piquant histories of lost civilizations, inspires her writing.

Her terrible housekeeping, however, is entirely the fault of pixies.

This giveaway is for an ebook and is open internationally. It ends on July 11, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.


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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Giveaway: What Color is Monday by Carrie Cariello

Thanks to Jocelyn Kelley of Kelley & Hall Book Publicity, I am giving away two copies of What Color Is Monday!

Book Description:

“What color do you see for Monday?” my son Jack asked as I heaved a chicken into the oven.  “What?” I said distractedly, turning from the oven to slice some potatoes at the counter.  It was late afternoon one day last fall, and I was preparing dinner and managing the demands of homework and tired toddlers.(One was in a tiara.)

"What color is Monday?” he asked again, his robotic voice rising ever so slightly in irritation.  “I don’t see Monday as a color. Do you?” I asked, finally tuning in to what he was talking about.

“Yes. All days are colors.”

All days are colors.  On a seemingly ordinary day, Jack once again granted me the privilege to take a tiny peek inside his fascinating mind. Without preamble, he rattled off which color he associates with each day. And then, just as suddenly as the conversation began, he snapped his mind closed and moved on to something else entirely. I tried to probe further; why was Saturday purple?  Was the entire day purple, or just the morning? “I told you. No more,” he responded in a clipped tone.

Out of our discussion, a book title was born. Riddle Brook Publishing has asked me to write a book based on our life with an autistic child.  I originally wanted to call the book Thursday is Purple, but a couple of weeks ago Jack off-handedly remarked that Thursday is sometimes green.  (Come on, Jack-a-boo.  I’m trying to write a book about you here. For real.) And so, What Color is Monday? it is.

With an infectious voice, an impeccable eye for detail and a canvas rich with personal exploration and understanding, What Color Is Monday will open your eyes to autism and the unpredictable journey of parents.

Raising five children would be challenge enough for most parents, but when one of them has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the adventures become even more fascinating. In this moving--and often funny--memoir, author Carrie Cariello invites us to take a peek into exactly what it takes to get through each day with four boys and one girl, and shows us the beauty and wonder of a child who views the world through a different lens.

About Carrie Cariello:


Carrie Cariello lives in Southern New Hampshire with her husband, Joe, and their five children. 

She is a regular contributor to Autism Spectrum News and has been published in several local parenting magazines. She has a Masters in Public Administration from Rockefeller College and an MBA from Canisius College in New York.

At best estimate, she and Joe have changed roughly 16,425 diapers.

Sorry, this giveaway is open to the U.S. only and ends on July 10, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Review & Giveaway: The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody Epstein

I absolutely loved Jennifer Cody Epstein's book, The Painter From Shanghai!  So when Amy Bruno asked me if I wanted to take part in this tour, I jumped at the chance!

Description of The Gods of Heavenly Punishment:

A lush, exquisitely rendered meditation on war, The Gods of Heavenly Punishment tells the story of several families, American and Japanese, their loves and infidelities, their dreams and losses, and how they are all connected by one of the most devastating acts of war in human history.

Fifteen-year-old Yoshi Kobayashi, child of Japan’s New Empire, daughter of an ardent expansionist and a mother with a haunting past, is on her way home on a March night when American bombers shower her city with napalm—an attack that leaves one hundred thousand dead within hours and half the city in ashen ruins. In the days that follow, Yoshi’s old life will blur beyond recognition, leading her to a new world marked by destruction and shaped by those considered the enemy: Cam, a downed bomber pilot taken prisoner by the Imperial Japanese Army; Anton, a gifted architect who helped modernize Tokyo’s prewar skyline but is now charged with destroying it; and Billy, an Occupation soldier who arrives in the blackened city with a dark secret of his own. Directly or indirectly, each will shape Yoshi’s journey as she seeks safety, love, and redemption.

My Thoughts:

The Gods of Heavenly punishment was a bit different than most books that take place during World War II.  It gives the reader a inside view of what Japan was like before, during, and after the war.  First we are introduced to a young couple in love, Cameron Richards and Lacey Robertson.  Of course, Cameron is called into action to go to war with Japan as a fighter pilot.

Then in pre-war Japan we are introduced to two families having dinner together.  One a Japanese family and one American Family living in Japan.  The  head of the American family is architect, Anton Reynolds, his wife and their son, Billy. The head Japanese family is building contractor,  Kenji Kobayashi, who works for Anton, his educated wife, Hana, and their daughter, Yoshi.

The story is told in vignettes that are ultimately connected.  The main common thread, being Yoshi.  Without giving too much away, I had trouble with how the story was told, it just didn't flow well for me and I would have liked to delve into some of the unwritten parts of the story more.  There was one part that I would have edited out all together.  I just didn't think it added to the story.  However, that said, I still found the book quite worthwhile.  It showed a side of the war that hasn't been covered that much and how it affected both sides.

I recommend The Gods of Heavenly Punishment.

3.5/5

I received the ebook format of this book for my honest opinion.

About Jennifer Cody Epstein:

Jennifer Cody Epstein is the author of The Gods of Heavenly Punishment and the international bestseller The Painter from Shanghai. She has written for The Wall Street Journal, The Asian Wall Street Journal, Self, Mademoiselle and NBC, and has worked in Hong Kong, Japan and Bangkok, Thailand. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, two daughters and especially needy Springer Spaniel. 
For more information, please visit www.jennifercodyepstein.com.

 Thanks to Amy Bruno of Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, I am giving away one copy of The Gods of Heavenly Punishment.  This giveaway is open internationally and ends on July 9, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
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Monday, June 24, 2013

Giveaway Winners Galore

Thanks to everyone who entered the following giveaways! Winners, please reply to the email I sent you today within 48 hours to claim your books. After 2 days you will be disqualified and a new winner will be picked. Rafflecopter picks all winners using Random.org. 

Thanks again to Christopher Meeks for making this giveaway possible.
The Winner is:
Carol M.








Thanks again to Veronica Grossman of Meryl L. Moss Media Relation, Inc. for making this giveaway possible.

The winner is:
Carl S.






Thanks again to Nikki Leigh of Promo 101 Promotional Services for making this giveaway possible.

The winner is:
Carl S.






Thanks to again Jessica Butler of  Berkley/NAL, Penguin Group USA for making this giveaway possible.

The winner is:
Susan O.






Thanks to again Jessica Butler of  Berkley/NAL, Penguin Group USA for making this giveaway possible.
The winner is:
Carl S.






Thanks to again Jessica Butler of  Berkley/NAL, Penguin Group USA for making this giveaway possible.
The winner is:
Carl S.






Thanks again to Staci Burt of Wunderkind PR for making this giveaway possible.

The winner is:
Julia H.







Thanks again to author, Lisa Ellis for making this giveaway possible.

The winners of the ebook are:
Jessica N.
Heather M.
Stacey T.








Posted by Teddy Rose at 11:57 PM 4 comments  

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Sunday, June 23, 2013

Giveaway: If the Shoe Fits by Megan Mulry

It’s time to play A Royal Pain Baby Name Game! To celebrate Megan Mulry’s upcoming July release, If the Shoe Fits, Sourcebooks would like to know what you think the name of Will & Kate’s new addition will be! Comment below with your boy name and girl name prediction! We will pick one winner who will receive a print copy of Megan’s first book A Royal Pain! 

 Book Description:
The only thing worse than being in the spotlight is being kept in the dark...
With paparazzi nipping at his heels, Devon Heyworth, rakish brother of the Duke of Northrop, spends his whole life hiding his intelligence and flaunting his playboy persona. Fast cars and faster women give the tabloids plenty to talk about.
American entrepreneur Sarah James is singularly unimpressed with "The Earl" when she meets him at a wedding. But she's made quite an impression on him. When he pursues her all the way across the pond, he discovers that Miss James has no intention of being won over by glitz and glamor—she's got real issues to deal with, and the last thing she needs is larger-than-life royalty mucking about her business...

About Megan Murly:


I write sexy, stylish, romantic fiction. I graduated from Northwestern University and then worked in publishing, including positions at the New Yorker and Boston magazine. After moving to London, I worked in finance and attended London Business School. I've traveled extensively in Asia, India, Europe, and Africa and now live with my husband and children in Florida. You can find me procrastinating on Twitter.

This giveaway ends on July 5th and is open to the U.S. and Canada.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
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Saturday, June 22, 2013

Spotlight & Giveaway: Rising Calm by Haley Fisher

Book Description:

On Cara Weaver’s first day at her new high school—merely the next in a long line of new schools—she meets two senior boys: James Sable and Crispin Calaway. They’re new too; they’ve been at the school just longer than she has, and they’ve never made an effort to reach out to anyone. Until she comes. When her friends find out, they’re awed. But Cara can't shake the feeling that there’s more to James and Crispin than the two are telling.

As the days go on, everything at her new home seems to be going better than it has in any of the previous cities she’s lived in. She loves her friends, gets a job at a bookstore, and even starts to spend more time with Crispin and James. She’s happy. But all that begins to change when she comes to realize that the two boys she’s becoming close to are hiding something. It’s then that she knows her unexplainable wariness of them has been justified all along. But she keeps it a secret.

Days later, when a stranger accosts her outside a small shopping center, Crispin and James arrive just in time to help her. But they seem know the attacker. And instead of running him off, Crispin and James take Cara away, for her own protection.

With little explanation, Cara is told that she’s important and that she can’t go home until the boys have sorted some things out. In the meantime, Cara’s world is being turned upside down as she finds out that there is more to her life than she possibly imagined.

 Excerpt:
Thaddeus gazed down into the eager face of the young girl in front of him. Her long brown hair was curling out of its two braids, and her cheeks were rosy from the excitement of the day. It was her seventh birthday and, as far as she knew, no day would ever be bigger.
Her brown eyes were wide as she stared at the ring he’d just placed in the palm of her hand. “What’s it for?” she asked in wonder, unable to tear her eyes away from the diamond-surrounded emerald.
Thaddeus chuckled. “It’s for you, my dear.”
“How come?” she asked curiously.
“Because it’s your birthday,” he told her.
That was the perfect answer for her seven-year-old mind. What other possible reason could she need to accept a present?
Amos could only assure that her parents were engaged in other conversations for so long, so Thaddeus knew he had to make this quick. Quicker than he’d like. Quicker than the situation truly called for.
The child in front of him was running a hesitant finger over the gemstones that were set in the golden band. He smiled, knowing she would not be able to read the sadness in the expression. “Those are real, you know,” he said, causing her to look back up and match his smile with one of her own. “That emerald, those diamonds, they’re very real.”
She blinked a few times in disbelief before trying to slide the ring on her finger. It was at least two sizes too big, and he chuckled at her confused face.
“You will grow into it, dear one. Sooner than you think.”
She left it on her finger anyway and held her hand up between them to examine the way the ring caught the light. He repositioned his body so the ring was hidden from her parents.
“Your mommy and daddy probably wouldn’t like it if they knew I was giving this to you. Let’s keep it a secret, okay?” he said. He needed her to agree. He was a stranger to their daughter, giving her an elaborate gift; no parent would be quite comfortable with that.
That’s all the young girl really needed to hear to be convinced to keep quiet. She nodded vigorously, but he needed to be sure. When her gaze was drawn to her new ring once more, Thaddeus took a chance and murmured a small cast under his breath as he stepped away from her. Her eyes grew cloudy for a single moment, and the light bulb in the lamp next to her popped quietly. Not a soul in the room noticed.
Thaddeus made his way across the room, toward the front door to stand next to Amos. “It’s done,” he said softly. Amos did no more than nod. The two of them shook hands with Mr. and Mrs. Weaver who were thanking the guests as they left, and then Thaddeus took one long, last look at the brown-eyed birthday girl. The ring was gone from her hand, hidden away in a pocket, no doubt.
Thaddeus dipped his head to her. “Goodbye, Cara,” he said under his breath. “I wish your life would take you down a different path.” Then he and Amos were out the door and away.
They walked for a time without speaking, as Thaddeus was uncomfortable with Earth’s modes of transportation. Amos finally looked over at his companion. “My niece, Thaddeus?”
This was not the first time Amos had asked the question. “I cannot help the way things are, or the way they are going to be. You know that by now.”
He did, but Thaddeus knew Amos hoped for a different answer. “My niece,” he murmured. It was not a question this time.
“Someday her destiny will make sense,” Thaddeus promised. “She does have magic in her; it is strong, even now. And it will only grow stronger in time. She will have plenty of people to help her along the way. She will never be alone, Amos.”
“You can’t promise that,” Amos said sharply.
“I’ve seen it,” Thaddeus answered calmly.
After everything, Amos was still skeptical of magic. The powers Thaddeus claimed were beyond Amos’ understanding sometimes, but he didn’t refute Thaddeus’ claim. He simply sighed heavily. 
“When do you go back?” Amos asked instead.
“Where do you think we’re walking? I’ve done what I came to do. And I must return before questions arise,” Thaddeus told him. “Amos, watch over the girl. She has great things in store, and she won’t know what to do with all she learns. Do not leave her to discover it all alone.”
Thaddeus waited until Amos agreed before he drew to a halt. “Your help was indispensable, my friend. None of this could have been done without you. You’ve played an integral part in the future of my world. And for that I can never thank you enough.”
Amos didn’t have the time to form a response before Thaddeus had bowed to him, backed up two swift steps, and disappeared.

Praise for Rising Calm: 


"This was a great read! It's geared toward young adults but even as an old adult I loved the story and found the characters smart and engaging. I am very much looking forward to the next installment!" – Midge (Amazon)

"Haley Fisher does an amazing job of really bringing the story to life with her words. She is a very talented young author. I can't wait to read the sequel to this book". – Patriot (Amazon)

About Haley Fisher:

I'm Haley Fisher, a college student in Kansas, and I've just signed a contract with a company called Silver Tongue Press to publish my first book!

For as long as I can remember I've been an avid reader and an aspiring writer, but the step toward actually getting a book published is an enormous one for me. This is a big deal. And, as I've been told, the next step to being successful is getting the word out that my book exists.

So, though it's not in print yet—it's coming out February 14th—I'd love for people to keep an eye out for Rising Calm. It'll be the first in a series of books about a young girl who finds out her life and her fate are far bigger than she ever realized. At the risk of giving too much away, the most I can tell you for now is that there is magic, prophecy, new worlds, and a cast of characters who I love to write.

Enter the Rafflecopter to win it:

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Friday, June 21, 2013

Giveaway & Tour: From a Dead Sleep by John Daly

Today kicks off the book tour for John Daly and his novel From A Dead Sleep.  Thanks to Julie Breedlove of BQB Publishing and the author, John Daly, I am giving away one copy of From a Dead Sleep.

Book Description:


 Publisher: BQB Publishing  (June 25, 2013)
Category: Thriller/Suspense
Tour Date: June 24th-July 19th
Available in: Print and eBook,  398 pages

Few residents in the small, secluded mountain town of Winston, Colorado, have kind words to say about Sean Coleman. He’s a bully, a drunk, and a crime‐show–addicted, armchair detective with an overactive imagination. After a night of poor judgment, Sean finds himself the sole witness to the unusual suicide of a mysterious stranger.
With the body whisked away in the chilling rapids of a raging river, no one believes Sean’s account. Tormented over the doubts and mockery of the people of Winston, Sean embarks on a far‐reaching crusade that takes him across the country in search of the dead man’s identity and personal vindication. At the end, he hopes to find redemption and the truth—but sometimes the truth is better left unknown. There are times when the truth invites evil. There are times when the truth can get you killed.

“Some writers are thoughtful. Some have style. John Daly has both. When I read his work, it’s time well spent.” – Bernard Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author of ‘Bias‘.

View the Trailer:


About John Daly:

A lifelong Coloradoan, John Daly graduated from the University of Northern Colorado
with a degree in business administration and computer information systems. He spent the next fifteen years developing accounting software and Internet-based workflow collaboration solutions.

With a thirst for creative expression that went beyond the logic and absolutes of computer programming, John developed an interest in writing. His early work included newspaper editorials and film and television reviews for entertainment websites. He later became drawn toward more substantive commentary on world events. He currently writes political, cultural, and media analysis columns for the website of Bernard Goldberg, former CBSNews journalist and The New York Times bestselling author.

John felt compelled to take his writing to the next level after watching a television interview with former NFL football player, Tim Green. Inspired by Green’s career transition from a professional athlete to an accomplished author, John found the motivation to begin work on his first novel, From a Dead Sleep.

From a Dead Sleep is the story of a profoundly flawed man who witnesses a tragic event that no one else believes, and that man’s quest for the truth and redemption. The mystery novel unfolds in the dense mountain ranges of Colorado where John has spent much time camping, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors.

John lives in Greeley, Colorado, with his wife and two children. You can visit John’s website at johndalybooks.com or fromadeadsleep.com.

John on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnDalyAuthor
John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnDalyBooks

This giveaway is open internationally.  Those that live in the U.S. and Canada will received a sign print copy.  A International winner will receive an ebook, either pdf or epub.  This giveaway ends on July 18, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.

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Follow the Tour:

So Many Precious books June 21 Spotlight & Giveaway
Recent Reads June 24 Review & Giveaway
Romance & Inspirations June 25 Guest Post
Books, Books & More Books June 26 Review & Giveaway
Ordinary Girlz June 27 Review
My Cozy Corner June 28  Review & Giveaway
Housewife Blues & Chihuahua July 1 Interview
Celtic Lady Reviews July 2 Review
Book Lover’s Library July 3 Review
Book Lover’s Library July 5 Guest Post & Giveaway
Saving for 6 July 8
Buried Under Books July 9 Interview
Succotash Reviews July 10 Review & Giveaway
Laurie’s Non-Para.Thoughts & Reviews July 11 Interview
A Book & a Lattee July 11 Review & Giveaway
Serendipity July 12 Review
Manic Mama of 2 July 15 Review & Giveaway
Literary Etc. July 16 Review




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