Last Night I Danced for Money - Look What I Won!

I didn't get to read much or write any reviews the past two nights as I was out of town for an industry seminar. My title underwriter, Stewart Title, put on a great two day conference with a pirate theme and a  fun casino night.  Last night I played blackjack for about three hours. We had fun with a great dealer and I increased my initial stake by a hundredfold!  We were encouraged to clap and dance and generally boogie out with our dealers.  Okay just in case you were thinking something odd about dancing for money - we were dancing  in groups, line dances and congo dances.  The idea was to gather money (funny money) to buy tickets for today's raffle. 

I'm thrilled to report that I did win one of the fabulous door prizes!  Here are pictures of the great garden basket - rather pot - that I won.

It is great, although it was a bit heavy to carry through the beautiful Gaylord hotel atrium and market place. 
My husband was glad when I returned home tonight especially after I opened the package and discovered it included a a Home Depot gift card for $75.00.  :-)

In addition to having fun I learned some good update info and fun marketing tips. Thanks Stewart Title!

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: The Christmas Wedding

This is an easy read with lots of Christmas cheer and love, with the fun of a little mystery.

The Christmas Wedding

by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (October 17, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031609739X
• ISBN-13: 978-0316097390

     Genre: Fiction
     My Rating:  4.5 of 5.0

Product Description:
The tree is decorated, the cookies are baked, and the packages are wrapped, but the biggest celebration this Christmas is Gaby Summerhill's wedding. Since her husband died three years ago, Gaby's four children have drifted apart, each consumed by the turbulence of their own lives. They haven't celebrated Christmas together since their father's death, but when Gaby announces that she's getting married--and that the groom will remain a secret until the wedding day--she may finally be able to bring them home for the holidays.

But the wedding isn't Gaby's only surprise--she has one more gift for her children, and it could change all their lives forever. With deeply affecting characters and the emotional twists of a James Patterson thriller, The Christmas Wedding is a fresh look at family and the magic of the season.

Review: This is an absolutely delightful read!

I know we usually think of James Patterson as an author of mystery/thrillers.  This story may not be exactly a thriller but it does have a mystery. And it has warm family and friend relationships.

Gaby is an exuberant widow with four adult children. Her husband died three years ago and the family hasn’t celebrated Christmas together since his death.  Gaby communicates to her children through video and the opening video tells everyone that they must come home to Vermont to celebrate not only Christmas but a wedding - Gaby’s wedding! The kink is she doesn’t identify the groom!

The chapters reveal each of the children, their spouses and family circumstances and struggles - highs and lows.  You get a sense that each child has inherited some of Gaby’s joie de vivre, strength and generosity.

Through subsequent videos to the children the reader also learns of the three main candidates for the position of the groom. There is Tom, the handsome former hockey player who grew up with Gaby; the quiet yet impassioned local Rabbi, Jacob; and Gaby’s brother-in-law, (her husband’s younger brother), Marty, who has always had a crush on Gaby.  All of the men work with Gaby and her best friend to serve breakfast to the poor each morning.

As usual the book has the short chapters that I really like in Patterson’s books. The characters are developed sufficiently so that you can relate to some or be angry at others.  The mystery is just plain fun. The love between mother and children is warm and cozy and the warmth extends to the friends and the groom. I found this to be a quick and delightful read. If you are looking for a quick “feel good” family story, this fits the bill!

Thank you to Little Brown and Company for providing this book for review.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the book copy:
1. We've visited this author's website before so I will give you a choice: visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there; OR share a Christmas story that you recommend! One or the other is required for entry.

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

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

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

* Open to the US & Canada only.

* No PO boxes, please.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on November 4, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on November 5. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Audiobook Review: Unmeasured Strength by Lauren Manning

If you enjoy true stories revealing remarkable character you will want to read this book with its inspiring words of wisdom and insight.

Unmeasured Strength 

by Lauren Manning

Macmillan Audio, August 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4272-1425-6, ISBN10: 1-4272-1425-5,
Audio Run Time: 6:00

Genre: Memoir
My Rating:  4.0 of 5.0

Product Description:
A survivor's awe-inspiring story of how she overcame tragedy and re-created herself as a wife, mother, and woman.

She had a big job on Wall Street, a loving husband, and an infant son, and a confidence born of intelligence and beauty. But on 9/11, good fortune was no match for catastrophe. When a wall of flame at the World Trade Center burned more than 80 percent of her body, Lauren Manning began a 10-year journey of survival and rebirth that tested her almost beyond human endurance.

Long before that infamous September day, Manning learned the importance of perseverance, relentless hard work, and a deep faith in oneself. So when the horrific moment of her near-death arrived, she possessed the strength and resilience to insist that she would not yield - not to the terrorists, not to the long odds, not to the bottomless pain and exhaustion. But as the difficult months and years went by, she came to understand that she had to do more than survive. She needed to undergo a complete transformation, one that would allow her to embrace her life and her loved ones in an entirely new way. Fleeing the burning tower, Manning promised herself that she would see her son's face again. Courageous and inspiring, Unmeasured Strength tells the riveting story of her heroic effort to make that miracle - and so many others - possible.

Review:  This author reveals her remarkable strength and determination while sharing her personal tragedy.

The early chapters reveal aspects of Lauren’s childhood and first marriage. This established the character traits that helped her struggle through early self esteem issues and showed some of the qualities and values that formed her determination to succeed in life.

There is remarkable prose describing her view of the dark times and struggles while under massive doses of pain medication. I particularly like these portions. I also enjoyed the upbeat quotes at the beginning of each chapter.

There is a nice acknowledgment of the strength and comfort her husband, Greg, received from his faith while he steadfastly loved Lauren and stood by her side. Lauren’s own recognition of God’s love was strengthened by all those people - strangers - who reached out to offer her support and encouragement.

During her treatments Lauren focused on wanting to get home to her son who was barely a toddler at the time of the injury.  Lauren knew herself, respected herself and was able to believe in her own worth. She continually followed her father’s motto: “get over it.”  Her motivational mantra became “I can do it and I will do it.”

She suffered excruciating pain, skin grafting and rehabilitation. She lost part of her fingers because of the burns. Even after she returned home after six months in the burn treatment facilities she had to relearn basic skills like feeding herself and she needed help dressing.  I appreciated that Lauren focused on repeatedly committing to “doing my best” and learning to compromise; acknowledging that she didn’t have to be “Super woman”.

At points there is too much minutia in certain less important events.  The medical and therapy are presented in great detail and some people might be more interested in these aspects than I was. Once I felt there was an awkward  transition from the details of a family disagreement on the morning of 9/11 to her being caught in the conflagration of the explosions at the World Trade Center.  I had to back track to make certain I hadn’t missed something.

Interestingly the author’s narration trembles with the remembered pain of her emotional turmoil during her failing first marriage. Yet at other times the narration is a bit monotone as she seems to be reading the text without pauses and without inflection. These times lacked the emotion that would add to the impact of the story although I sense that the author struggled to walk a fine line between sharing emotionally and sharing the practical strength needed to share her recovery.

The book reveals a remarkable woman who learned there are more important things in life than striving for professional success. The bottom-line advise she gives is highlighted at her website: “Every day you have a choice. Make it count.”  If you prefer to read memoirs, by all means get the book. If you like audios and memoirs then this is an inspiring story which is well worth the listen.

I received this audiobook for review as part of the Audiobook Jukebox reviewer program.

Winners: The Wounded Heart PLUS the FLASH Giveaway

I'll be doing at least one more FLASH GIVEAWAY  this month! And probably several before Christmas - my boxes are overflowing!!

The Two winners are.........

                     

Here was the vote count for 29 votes less two for any days:

1. Sat - Mon  = 7
2. Sun - Tues = 2.5
3. Mon - Wed = 2
4. Tues - Thurs = 2
5. Wed - Fri = 3
6. Thurs - Sat = 7
7. Fri - Sat = 3.5

So I'll probably do the next one on a Thurs - Sat.  But Birgit is right that sometimes its fun not to know when they will post so I won't always say and chances are I will vary the days. :-)

Ohhh Yes - The WINNERS!

CONGRATULATIONS:

#2 Spav - A Season of Seduction

and

#28 Niina - Barely a Lady

I forgot to post the winner for The Wounded Heart on Saturday.

The Winner is Toonces777 

  
ALL WINNERS please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form so I can mail the books out or let the Publisher know for mailing.  Please reply within 72 hours! 

Q&A Interview with Shona Husk, Author of The Goblin King

Shona Husk Interview, Author of The Goblin King

Q1.  Do you find writing in different genres requires different techniques?

SH: I write paranormal and fantasy romance so I find them quite similar in that both require believable world building. But where paranormal is grounded in reality with fantasy I can create anything—as long as I don’t break my own rules :). In both cases I build the world and characters together.

 Q2.  When you do a series do you have each book plotted out before you start the first one or do the subsequent books flow from the first book?

SH: That depends on the series…The Goblin King was originally intended to be stand-alone but as I wrote it I realized there were other stories to tell (Dai, his brother, was too interesting to not explore further) and from there the other stories grew. With my Vampire rock stars for Ellora’s Cave I had them plotted before I started as I wanted each of the stories to be very different and yet be linked by the things the band, Lucinda’s Lover, was going through.

Q3.  Do your work career/hobbies/interests influence your writing?

SH: I think there are similarities between my day job and writing in that both are creative up to a point and then it’s all about editing and fine-tuning. My interests are quite varied. I love history so that definitely influences my world building. I also read nonfiction about whatever takes my fancy (On my to be read shelf at the moment is a book on the history of swords and also ‘the world without us’). Ideas come from all over the place and no writer is a blank canvas. We all bring our life experiences with us even if it is subconsciously.  

Q4.  Can you see yourself in any of your characters?

SH: No. My characters are not based on real people—or me (I’d run from a goblin or a vampire!). That said I have written my first red-haired heroine, Jaines in Dark Vow, but that’s all we have in common.

Q5.  Which authors have influenced you most and how?

SH: I grew up reading fantasy novels so I think I absorbed the love of world building early (and a love of heroes with swords). These days my favorite authors are still the ones with the ability to take me somewhere else, either back in time or to another world.

Q6.  What is the biggest obstacle you have to overcome when you want to write?

SH: Time at the moment. But while I might be blocking out my evenings for edits, I’ve found writing 500 words during my lunch break a great way to progress something new and then when I do get a week or so between edits the story is already a few chapters in and I can get the rest down fast. I like a fast first draft to capture the story and then when I type it up it gets its first edit before going to my crit group.

Q7.  Please share with us your most rewarding experience since being published.

SH: I just did my first solo book signing on the weekend and it was great to meet people and talk books and writing. It was really nice to be on the other side of the table.

Q8.  If you could have readers finish a sentence what would it be?

SH: My favorite paranormal creature is…

***Check my review and giveaway where two commenters can win a copy of this fun read!***

 THE GOBLIN KING BY SHONA HUSK – IN STORES OCTOBER 2011

Once Upon a Time…

A man was cursed to the Shadowlands, his heart replaced with a cold lump of gold. In legends, he became known as… The Goblin King.

For a favored few he will grant a wish. Yet, desperately clinging to his waning human soul, his one own desire remains unfulfilled… A Willing Queen.

But who would consent to move from the modern-day world into the realm of nightmares? No matter how intoxicating his touch, no matter how deep his valor, loving him is dangerous. And the one woman who might dare to try could also destroy forever his chance at a … Happily Ever After.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Debut author Shona Husk is a civil designer by day and an author by night. She lives in Western Australia and through history, myth and imagination she creates heroes that are armed and dangerous but have a heart of gold-sometimes literally.  For more information on Shona and The Goblin King, and where to download the FREE prequel, The Summons, please visit: http://www.shonahusk.com/.