GOT BOOKS? Giveaway!!

It's time for Got Books? This is a celebration of all things books event coordinated by There's a Book and Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers. The event is two days only and there are over 100 blogs participating! This will be your opportunity to find some great new book blogs and to enter lots of contests in addition to prizes from the fantastic sponsors of Got Books?

Although it is not required, I hope you become of follower of my blog through Email, Google Friend Connect or Twitter. Enjoy GOT BOOKS and share with friends! After the event ends maybe come back and check out my other giveaways which are at the top of the blog.

There are lots of prizes on over 100 other blogs - Check out GotBooks? or follow at Got Books? Event Twitter


THERE WILL BE A FIRST PLACE WINNER and a SECOND PLACE WINNER for MBS (Martha's Bookshelf). I decided to keep this open WORLDWIDE.
This post started out nicely with all the books showing but then the links went haywire so I came back to add book names. That's why it's late posting. :(

 Contest Ends midnight eastern July 24, 2010! Winners will be announced July 25, 2010.
In my Got Books? announcement I said that I had a prize of a series that I really loved! Here you go:

The Sookie Stackhouse series books 1-7 Collection! If you haven't read these - they are fun and, IMHO, SOOOOO much better than the True Blood TV series.

Now - if the winner has read the Sookie books and doesn't need or want that prize the winner could pick ONE of these three sets instead:

1. The Amish Trilogy by Beverly Lewis 

OR

2. Three Christine Feehan books
Dark Celebration: A Carpathian Reunion (The Carpathians (Dark) Series, Book 14)
Dark Curse (The Carpathians (Dark) Series, Book 16) and
Dark Possession (The Carpathians (Dark) Series, Book 15)

OR 3. The Vampire Academy Trilogy

by Richelle Mead

OR if the winner is not happy with any of the above three sets,
here is an alternate package that includes A, B and C.


A. Pick ANY two books from these twelve: (some of the image links kept disappearing so I have added the titles just in case)
A Black Tie Affair and  Iron Man 2


,

To Surrender To A Rogue (Circle of Sin Trilogy)
and
Desire Me (The Legend Hunters)

The 8th Confession (Women's Murder Club)
and Alex Cross's TRIAL

Barely a Lady and Ravished by a Highlander

Risk No Secrets and Still the One

These two are ARCs (advanced Reader Copies)
Soul Catcher
and The Wild Irish Sea

B. And with the two books the winner will get a book mark:

These Hook bookmarks were made by a friend from church who has also made some jewelry for me to use for future giveaways.

C. And also swag - book marks and a few pens, notepads, buttons, etc.

SECOND PLACE WINNER GETS TO PICK after the First Place Winner picks and Second Place winner can choose from the sets 1 or 2 or 3 OR the alternate package.

TO ENTER, PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM

Comments are always welcome too! HAVE FUN AT GOT BOOKS?

Review - The Last Track by Sam Hilliard

This is a tracking, murder mystery with lots of twists and surprises all the way to the end.

 The Last Track: A Mike Brody Novel by Sam Hilliard

• Paperback: 286 pages
• Publisher: Buddhapuss Ink LLC (February 13, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984203516
• ISBN-13: 978-0984203512

Rating 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description
Imagine if being late meant a child disappeared forever. That is the fear that drives Mike Brody--the man you want, when the one you love is missing. Mike is more than just a master tracker. An ex-Special Forces operative, smoke jumper, and now extreme adventure tour guide, he also possesses a unique ability to tap into the memory and emotional state of those he pursues.

In The Last Track, a police detective recruits Mike to help find an asthmatic boy lost in the dense woods surrounding a dude ranch in Montana. An unwitting murder witness, the boy burrows ever deeper into the rugged terrain, fearful of being found. As Mike and a local officer search for the boy, the killer follows them.

While the investigation expands, Mike's ex-wife, a well-connected journalist, uses her contacts to unravel the truth behind the murder. Her discoveries threaten to snare them all in a treacherous conspiracy . . .

Review: This was an entertaining mystery read with some interesting surprises.

Mike Brody is a skilled tracker with an extra sense to help the process. He is not just dedicated to tracking but he is driven. You learn the details of his motivation near the end of the story. I liked Mike as a well developed character.  Even though he is strong and inclined to do things his way, it is more because he knows what he is doing and not because he is arrogant. He doesn't panic but logically works through the problems. He doesn’t accept help easily but he can accept it.

Mike’s ex-wife Jessica seems almost as driven in her journalism career so it is interesting that she resents Mike’s dedication. It does seem that they both tend to put their careers before their family which is a little sad for their 8 year old son, Andy. This story takes place while they are vacationing and they don't get in much time together. Jessica is able to use lots of  contacts to help the investigation move along.

I enjoyed the details on Mike’s tracking techniques and survival tips. This added extra interest to the story which has plenty of intrigue and suspicious characters. It seems everyone is hiding something so it is hard to tell who can be trusted. The known villain, Crotty, is a pretty nasty piece of work.  The difficult task though is to try to figure out who “The Partner” in crime is.

I liked how breaks were set up in time sequences rather than chapters. This helped the reading to move at a good clip. This is an easy read and the language is appropriate to work well for teens and all ages up. Mystery buffs will especially appreciate the detailed tracking and the unexpected surprises.

xxx

Thank you to the author and Pump Up Your Book Promotion of this book to read and review.  The book is signed by the author and I am pleased to offer it for GIVEAWAY.

Giveaway - The Last Track by Sam Hilliard

My review on this book is part of a blog tour through Pump up Your Book.
I encourage you to check out other blog stops for interviews and guest posts by the author.

You can visit Sam Hilliard at  his website.
If you don't want to wait for the Giveaway results and you have a Kindle the Kindle version is a great buy right now at $2.99!

The Last Track: A Mike Brody Novel by Sam Hilliard

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR THE SIGNED COPY:

1. Comment on the review telling me what you like about mysteries.  Alternative comment: visit the author's website and tell me something you learned there. Please leave your e-mail!

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For another entry, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

(Three total entries possible.)
It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on August 9, 2010. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.