Monday, January 21, 2013

Giveaway & Interview: Art Maines, Author of Scammed


Are you a senior or do you have loved ones who are seniors?  If so, Scammed by Art Maines is a must read for you.  Today I am honored to welcome Art Maines to So Many Precious Books, So Little Time. 

Hi Art, thanks so much for joining us today!

Can you please tell us a bit about yourself ?

Sure! I’m a licensed clinical social worker, and I spend the biggest part of my days doing psychotherapy and counseling with clients for a variety of issues. On my days off I love bicycling (I rode over 1200 miles last year), cooking, and trying new restaurants, among other interests. I love anything that makes me laugh, too.

What compelled you to write a book about protecting seniors from getting Scammed?

My stepfather, Bill, was a scam victim to the tune of $70,000 in 2009. He’s been a part of my life since I was 6, and I saw first-hand the devastation this kind of crime can bring. I realized I had an opportunity to share with others what I was learning about scam recovery and prevention, so I decided to write the book to help others avoid getting ripped off.

When I heard about your book Scammed, I immediately thought of my mother in-law.  Although what I call a scam is actually legal.  A guy went around her apartment building knocking on doors.  For the low price of $4000 he will refinish your dining room table.  She bought into it because it was low monthly payments.  Her table would have been better off in a land fill, it was certainly not worth it to refinish for any price.  LOL!  Is there anything we can do to protect our loved ones from getting scammed by situations that are scummy but legal?

There are so many of these types of things! The main points I want family members to remember is to pay attention and stay connected to their elder. Scams frequently happen in isolation, and I recommend that concerned younger adults talk to their elder regularly about any situations like this and remind them to always ask someone they know and trust for their opinion on an unusual expense. This is part of what I call conducting a regular “scam drill,” like a fire drill, with a senior. 

You made a lot of very important points in Scammed, what do you think the most important thing that those of us with elderly parents should take away from it and remember?

Teach and reinforce with your parent the basic philosophy for scam prevention, which can be summed up as “Never let yourself be chosen, always do the choosing.”

What is next for you?  Will you write another book, do speaking engagements, etc.

 I have been very busy with speaking engagements with seniors, their families, and professionals. I love doing talks and training, so I intend to do more of those. I’d like to begin offering teleseminars to reach more people as well. I’ve also started gathering notes for what I’m thinking will be an e-book I’ve tentatively titled “Brain Hijackers,” about the neuroscience of scamming and what that implies for effective scam prevention. I have plenty of enthusiasm and curiosity to keep me going!

About Art Maines:

Art Maines, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice, speaker, and expert in elderly fraud recovery and prevention.  He earned his Master’s Degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, MO.  Art and his stepfather Bill live in St. Louis.

Please read my thoughts on Scammed here.

Thanks to Art, I am giving away one copy of Scammed. It is available in Print or Kindle.  Those in the U.S. or Canada, will have their choice.  An international winner will receive the Kindle version.  This giveaway ends on February 27, 2013. Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
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Tour Stops:

 So Many Precious Books Jan  21 Review
So Many Precious Books  Jan 21 Interview & Giveaway
My Life  Jan 22 Feature & Excerpt
I Feel So Unnecessary  Jan 23 Review
I Feel So Unnecessary Jan 24 Guest Post
Teena In Toronto  Jan 25 Review
Sweeps 4 Bloggers Jan 28 Review & Giveaway
Thoughts in Progress Jan 29 Guest Post
JoyStory Jan 30 Review
Writing Daze Feb 5th  Guest Post
A Book Lover’s Library  Feb 6  Guest Post
Melissa’s Midnight Musings Feb 7 Review
Melissa’s Midnight Musings Feb 8 Guest Post
She Treads Softly Feb 11 Review
She Treads Softly  Feb 12 Guest Post
My Devotional Thoughts Feb 15 Guest Post
MN Girl in LA Feb 25 Review
MN Girl in LA Feb 26 Interview



Posted by Teddy Rose at 6:10 AM 8 comments  

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Review: Scammed by Art Maines


Book Description:

Publisher : Love Your Life Publishing,  October  12, 2012
Category: Non-Fiction
Tour Dates: January & February, 2013
Available in: Print and ebook, 210 pages
One in Five US Seniors are Scam Victims, Learn How to Prevent and Recover from this Crime:

When author Art Maines’ beloved stepfather Bill was cheated out of thousands of dollars, Art went on a mission to ensure no other family experiences this tragic crime.
In Scammed, Art provides a three step scam prevention and recovery program, based on his training as a social worker, therapist, and his extensive research.  Suitable for seniors or children of elderly parents, Scammed will help you:
§  Understand the most common types of scams
§  Learn the psychological ploys used by scammers so that you can spot a scammer immediately
§  Create a scam prevention plan
§  Recover from a scam with your dignity intact
§  Use the resources in your community if you suspect a scam

My Thoughts:

When I was asked to review this book I jumped at the chance.  My mother-in-law was a scam victim.  She wasn't taken for as much money as some of the examples in this book but it made me wonder how we could better protect her and my mother from being scammed. 

Art Maine's book was just the book to answer my questions.  He not only gave me ideas for protecting those I love but also some of the people I work with as a social worker.  He wrote this book in such a way that I was engaged in his writing as well as I was able to easily understand his points.  This book needed to be written and I'm glad that Maines took it on in to his very capable hands.

This book is a must for those who have elderly loved ones, who are elderly, and for those who work with vulnerable people!

5/5

I received this book from the author for my honest opinion.

About Art Maines:

Art Maines, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice, speaker, and expert in elderly fraud recovery and prevention.  He earned his Master’s Degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, MO.  Art and his stepfather Bill live in St. Louis.



Posted by Teddy Rose at 6:00 AM 3 comments  

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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Review & Giveaway: Through Angel's Eyes by Steve Theunissen


Book Description:

'Through Angel's Eyes' is the first person account of a 13 year old Black girl as she experiences the pivotal events of the 1963 civil rights movement in Birmingham, Alabama. The book is a Young Adult historical fiction that infuses the timeless wisdom of Martin Luther King into an intriguing narrative that takes readers on a roller coaster of emotion while they learn about a time when a group of courageous young people quietly said 'Enough!" and stood up for what they believed in.

My Review:

Through Angel's Eyes is the fictional account of the civil rights movement in Birmingham, Alabama as told by 13 year old Angel Dunbar.  Angel really looks up to her older brother, Jimmy.  He becomes active in the civil rights movement and Angel wants to get involved as well.  They follow the peaceful movement led by Martin Luther King.  However, Angel starts to fall for a boy, Ronny,  in her class who she finds out is in the black power moment.  With two opposing points of view on how to gain civil rights, can they come together?

The civil rights movement and the 60's is another time period I can't seem to get enough of.  Through Angel's Eyes was written for young adults but as an middle aged adult, I found it quite powerful.  At first I had a bit of trouble with the authentic southern dialect, Steve Theunissen used.  However, it was necessary for the continuity of the novel and to stay true to the location.

The character jump out off of the page and into the readers imagination.  The book debates the issue of black power and civil rights in a way for the reader to understand the difference between the two movements and the story flows beautifully.
I highly recommend Through Angel's Eyes to both adults and young adults.

5/5

About Steve Theunissen:

Steve Theunissen is a 47-year-old middle school teacher who lives in Tauranga, New Zealand. Steve combined his passion for fitness with his love of writing as he forged a career as a freelance fitness writer. From there he branched out to produce books about his next great passion – U.S. history. Through Angel’s Eyes, Steve’s first novel, draws upon his life-long study of the Civil Rights movement.

Thanks to Paula Krapf of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., I am giving away one print copy.  This giveaway is open worldwide and ends on January 30, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
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Posted by Teddy Rose at 6:00 AM 6 comments  

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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Review & Giveaway: The Thief of Auschwitz by Jon Clinch


Book Description:

"The camp at Auschwitz took one year of my life, and of my own free will I gave it another four."

So begins The Thief of Auschwitz, the much-anticipated new novel from Jon Clinch, award-winning author of Finn and Kings of the Earth.

In The Thief of Auschwitz, Clinch steps for the first time beyond the deeply American roots of his earlier books to explore one of the darkest moments in mankind’s history—and to do so with the sympathy, vision, and heart that are the hallmarks of his work.

Told in two intertwining narratives, The Thief of Auschwitz takes readers on a dual journey: one into the death camp at Auschwitz with Jacob, Eidel, Max, and Lydia Rosen; the other into the heart of Max himself, now an aged but extremely vital—and outspoken—survivor. Max is a renowned painter, and he’s about to be honored with a retrospective at the National Gallery in Washington. The truth, though, is that he’s been keeping a crucial secret from the art world—indeed from the world at large, and perhaps even from himself—all his life long.

The Thief of Auschwitz reveals that secret, along with others that lie in the heart of a family that’s called upon to endure—together and separately—the unendurable.

My Review:

I have read quite a few WWII books including concentration camps.  I can't seem to get enough of them.  I know it happened but I find it hard to accept how our fellow human beings have been treated and in some places still treated.  So, when I was offered this book for review, I couldn't resist.

Jon Clinch has written about life in Auschwitz, with a bit of a twist.  Max is only 14 years old when his entire family is sent to Auschwitz.  Luckily he looks older for his age so his father, Jacob tells him to say he is 18.  The two are sent to the same quarters.  Meanwhile, Max's sister, Lydial is taken from their mother Eidel and sent to her death.  
Too young to be of any use.

Told in alternative perspectives, we find out that Eidel is a painter and a portrait of  Eidel is in a nearby antique shop.  Jakob finds a way to buy some time for the 3 of them, at least he can try to figure out how to get Max out of there and save his sister's portrait.

I loved this book and didn't want it to end.  The writing is fresh and the characters well thought out.  I felt like I was there with them.  I am amazed at how Clinch imagined situations and character unique to all the other book. I have read on the subject.  Seriously a breath of fresh air!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a well written book, great characters, and WWII fiction!

5/5

About Jon Clinch:

Born and raised in the remote heart of upstate New York, Jon Clinch has been an English teacher, a metalworker, a folksinger, an illustrator, a typeface designer, a housepainter, a copywriter, and an advertising executive.

His new novel, The Thief of Auschwitz, is due on January 15, 2013 on his own imprint, unmediated ink.Howard Frank Mosher, author of Walking to Gatlinburg, calls the book "the best and most powerful work of fiction ever written about the Holocaust.”

Clinch's first novel, Finn—the secret history of Huckleberry Finn’s father—was named an American Library Association Notable Book and was chosen as one of the year's best books by the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, and the Christian Science Monitor. It won the Philadelphia Athenaeum Literary Award and was shortlisted for the Sargent First Novel Prize.

His second novel, Kings of the Earth—a powerful tale of life, death, and family in rural America, based on a true story—was named a best book of the year by the Washington Post and led the 2010 Summer Reading List at O, The Oprah Magazine.

Clinch has lectured and taught widely, in settings as varied as the National Council of Teachers of English, Williams College, the Mark Twain House and Museum, and Pennsylvania State University. In 2008 he organized a benefit reading for the financially-ailing Twain House—enlisting such authors as Tom Perrotta, Stewart O’Nan, and Robert Hicks—an event that literally saved the house from bankruptcy. A native of upstate New York, Jon lives with his wife in the Green Mountains of Vermont. They have one daughter.

Thanks to Kelley & Hall Book Publicity, I am giving away one print copy of The Thief of Auschwitz. Sorry, this giveaway is open to the U.S. only and ends on January 29, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
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Posted by Teddy Rose at 6:00 AM 12 comments  

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Monday, January 14, 2013

Mailbox Monday (The Extended Edition)

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia and is being hosted by Lori of Lori’s Reading Corner in January.

 I haven't had a chance to post Mailbox Monday since before the holidays, so this is a catch up post.  I received all the following bookish loot:

 First, the Holiday Loot:
Actually, Bill and I gave this to each other.  I have a Kobo Touch ereader already but wanted to be able to read Kindle books to. However, Bill wanted a tablet.  This was our compromise.  I just loaded a Kindle app on it and now I can read Kindle books.  Were both happy.


I received this book from my dear MIL.

 Also, my dear BIL renewed my subscription for Bookmarks Magazine again. 







Books for Review I Received:
This book will be on tour starting in February.  Watch for my review and giveaway!








I Received this book unsolicited from Thomas Dunne Books/ St, Martin's Press.


I couldn't resist accepting a copy of this book for review.  Look for my review and giveaway in February.






I Bought the Following ebooks on Sale:








Since I just had to try the new tablet Kindle App, I also bought:

 The app works very well!





Posted by Teddy Rose at 6:00 AM 9 comments  

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Sunday, January 13, 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 Liz Kelsch of Sourcebooks for making this giveaway possible. 
The winner is:
Maureen C.






Thanks again to Babs Chandrasoma of PR by the Book for making this giveaway possible.

The Winner is:
Beth C.






Thanks again to Jihan Antoine of Grand Central Publishing, Forever Romance for making this giveaway possible.

The winners are:
Julia H.
Abby B.

Thanks again to Kelley & Hall Book Publicity for making this giveaway possible.

The winner is:
Marjorie T.




Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:52 PM 5 comments  

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Friday, January 11, 2013

Announcement & Giveaway: An Evening with Nicholas Sparks' Safe Haven

On Thursday, January 17th there will be a fan night discussion with filmmakers  actors in the new film, and of course, Nicholas Sparks, himself! 8:00 PM ET/ 7:00 PM CT/ 7:00 PM MT/ 8:00 PM PT  In Theaters across the U.S.

 Special Fathom Features: Exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and intimate interviews with the filmmakers, author, and actors from Safe Haven discussing the book becoming a major motion picture.

Fans should not miss this Live One-Night Theatrical Event featuring a lively discussion and Q&A, moderated by Maria Menounos, with internationally-known best-selling author Nicholas Sparks and the cast of the film adaptation of his best-selling novel Safe Haven, including Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough. Attendees will be the first to catch a sneak peek at exclusive clips and behind-the-scenes footage of Relativity Media’s affirming and suspenseful story directed by Oscar®-nominated Lasse Hallström.

Check the website to find out what theaters and to reserve tickets.   http://www.fathomevents.com/#!safe-haven

As a tie in from book to movie,  Marissa Sangiacomo of Grand Central Publishing has authorized me to hold a giveaway of one print copy of the book, Safe Haven!

Book Description:

Love hurts. There is nothing as painful as heartbreak. But in order to learn to love again, you must learn to trust again. 

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

Sorry, this giveaway is open to the U.S. only and ends on January 25, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
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Posted by Teddy Rose at 6:00 AM 7 comments  

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Thursday, January 10, 2013

Giveaway and Special Offer: Prize Pack of Olivia Cunning's Books

Bethe Pehlke of Sourcebooks has a special offer happening right now and has authorized me to offer a giveaway of a prize pack of Olivia Cunning's books (Backstage Pass, Rock Hard and Double Time).  Yes, all 3 print copies to one lucky winner!

1st here's the special offer from Sourcebooks:

We have a special offer going on for the release of Hot Ticket by Olivia Cunning which comes out on February 5th! If you pre-order the book, we will send you an exclusive Sinners logo tattoo and one sexy Sinners hot pink guitar pick! But you have to hurry because we only have 1,000 of them available! You have until January 31st or until quantities run out! Here is what you do:

1.  Pre-order the book (print or eBook) through any retailer (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Indiebound, BAM, etc.)

2. Email your proof of purchase (receipt or picture of the receipt) to HotTicket@sourcebooks.com. Don’t forget to include your home address (US & Canada only please) so we can send you the tattoo and guitar pick! Yes, if you’ve already pre-ordered it months ago, that counts, you just have to show your receipt.

3. You will get an email back confirming when the items have been sent out.  If you were not one of the first 1,000 people, you will also be alerted.

4. Enjoy Hot Ticket when you receive it in February!

And as a bonus Olivia has decided to run a contest of her own. Here are the details:

·       Apply your temporary Sinners tattoo and take a picture of you with your tat.
·       Email your pic to Olivia at olivia@oliviacunning.com. With your permission, I will post the pictures of Sinners fans with their new Sinners temporary tattoos on Sinners website: http://www.sinnersontour.com/sinnersink.html. Trey’s comments included.

·       Everyone who sends a pic to be posted on SinnersonTour.com will be entered to win a 7″ Kindle Fire HD and a $50 Amazon gift card to load it up with all your favorite ebooks (or buy diapers, whatever…).
See all the details here: http://oliviacunning.wordpress.com/2012/12/16/cool-free-gifts-for-pre-ordering-hot-ticket/

Now for the Prize Pack Giveaway:

Backstage Pass Description:

Five stunning guys, one hot woman, and a feverish romance...

For him, life is all music and no play...

When Brian Sinclair, lead songwriter and guitarist of the hottest metal band on the scene, loses his creative spark, it will take nights of downright sinful passion to release his pent-up genius...

She's the one to call the tune...

When sexy psychologist Myrna Evans goes on tour with the Sinners, every boy in the band tries to seduce her. But Brian is the only one she wants to get her hands on...

Then the two lovers' wildly shocking behavior sparks the whole band to new heights of glory... and sin...

Rock Hard: Description:

An ultimatum can break your heart.... 

Every night lead singer, Sed Lionheart whips thousands of women into a frenzy with his voice alone. But the stage is the only place Sed feels any passion since he lost Jessica...

If you’re not willing to break all the rules...

It shattered her heart, but law student Jessica broke off her engagement to Sed, determined to be successful on her own terms. But no other man can ever hold a candle to Sed...

Then a chance meeting and tortuously close quarters lead to uncontrollable flares of passion and rediscovery of their unique penchant for public encounters. Now, in addition to the risk of mutual heartbreak every time they get together, they’re in danger of truly scandalous public exposure...

Double Time Description:

Olivia Cunning delivers the perfect blend of steamy sex, heartwarming romance, and a wicked sense of humor in this menage story featuring the hottest guy in the Sinners band.

Trey Mills, the notoriously sexy Sinners rhythm guitarist, gives up his bisexual lifestyle and is swept into a hot, heady romance with Reagan Elliot, a female rock star sensation. But when Trey encounters Reagan's sexy bisexual roommate, Ethan Conner, he can no longer deny who he is or what he wants. Reagan heartily agrees to a solution that opens up a hot new world of sexual experience--and love--with the two men she wants the most.
One winner will win a prize pack of all 3 books!  This giveaway is open to Canada and the U.S. and ends on January 18, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
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Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:37 PM 8 comments  

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Giveaway: MISTRESS OF MY FATE by Hallie Rubenhold


Thanks to Jessica K. Bromberg / Publicity Manager of Grand Central Publishing/Forever, I am giving away one print copy of Mistress of My Fate.

Book Description:

Set during a period of revolution and turmoil, Mistress of My Fate is the first book in a trilogy about Henrietta Lightfoot, a young woman who was abandoned as a baby and raised alongside her cousins, noble children of a lord and lady. At just sixteen years old, circumstance and a passionate love affair tear Henrietta away from everything she knows, leading to a new life fending for herself on the streets of 18th century London as a courtesan, gambler, and spirited intellect of the city.

About Hallie Rubenhold:

Hallie Rubenhold is an authority on Britisheighteenth-century social history. She has written two works of non-fiction to critical acclaim: The Convent Garden Ladies and Lady Worsley’s Whim: An Eighteenth-Century Tale of Sex, Scandal and Divorce. In addition to writing books, articles, and reviews, Hallie regularly appears on TV in the UK as an expert contributor to documentaries. Hallie lives in London with her husband.
Visit Hallie Rubenhold and read the first chapter of Mistress Of My Fate on Facebook!

Sorry, this giveaway is open to the U.S. only and ends on January 24, 2013.
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Posted by Teddy Rose at 6:00 AM 13 comments  

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