2012 Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop - 1/13 thru 1/18/2012

WELCOME TO 2012 DREAMING OF BOOKS GIVEAWAY HOP!
This hop was organized by the fabulous Kathy at I Am A Reader Not A Writer and I am pleased to be the co-host again this year!

The hop runs from Friday, January 13th through Wednesday, January 18th.

My Giveaway is for ANYONE who can get books from Amazon, Indie Presses, OR Book Depository. OR if Book Depository doesn't ship to you then I will do a PayPal or other gift card for that winner.  So hopefully this really does include EVERYONE.

There will be two winners:
$15.00 towards books at The Book Depository or Books from a vendor of the winner's choice.

I have asked you to name a book you are DREAMING to have but a final selection can be made by the winners after they are announced. 

Since books can be ordered from Book Depository with no shipping, I am applying the same rule at Amazon, B&N or other vendors so the winner must plan the choices to include shipping. The books can be any format: ebook, hardback, paperback or even audio for a total value of $15.00.

Rule #1 - You must be a follower of my blog in some form.
Rule #2 - ENTER USING THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM!
Giveaway closes 12:01 AM Eastern on January 19.  Winners to be chosen through the Rafflecopter system.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN HOPPING!

Sourcebooks' Special eBook Offers for January - Time Sensitive!

CHECK OUT THESE SPECIALS for some great reads at great prices - from info sent in from Sourcebooks! Don't miss the first title link which is active TODAY!!

Gabrielle Kimm’s His Last Duchess is the Daily Deal on Amazon Kindle today. You can get it for only .99 cents here!

 

That’s my last duchess painted on the wall…

Seduced by the hot sun and blinding passions of Renaissance Italy, sixteen-year-old Lucrezia de’ Medici sees a gilded life stretching ahead. Her wealthy new husband handpicked her to be his bride, and his great castle in Ferrara will be her playground. But Alfonso d’Este, Duke of Ferrara quickly proves to be just as dangerous and mysterious as he is dark and handsome, and the stone walls of the castle seem to trap Lucrezia like a prison.

Only the duke’s lover Francesca seems able to tame his increasing fury, as his desperate need to produce an heir drives him deep into precarious obsession. With her head full of heartbroken dreams, Lucrezia flees from him down a dangerous path that may cost her everything.

Step into the elegant world of the Robert Browning poem “My Last Duchess,” as imagined by Gabrielle Kimm, where she brings to life the passions and people of sixteenth-century Tuscany and Ferrara. It is a chilling story of forbidden love and dark decadence that will haunt you.

“A saucy account of Lucrezia de’ Medici’s ill-fated marriage, inspired by Robert Browning’s poem “My Last Duchess.”

            - Kirkus

“Kimm neatly ties up all the loose ends while cleverly setting the stage for a spin-off. Poetry enthusiasts will be intrigued and historical fiction fans will appreciate the authentic Renaissance-era detailing.”

            -Booklist

“This strong first novel is marked by well-developed, memorable protagonists and a pacing that quickens and builds readers' anxiety as the story progresses.”

            - Library Journal 

 ALSO:

Good Afternoon,

I have some really great eBook deals to share with you for the month of January. We have some great romance titles and also some books to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions!

As always, please be patient if our online retailers don’t have every single title uploaded to their discounted price points, but the promotions are set to begin on the start dates listed below. These deals are available with all major e-Book retailers!

Feel free to share the info with your blog readers, on Facebook and Twitter, and however else you’d like to spread the word. Please be sure to check the dates—some of our titles have different start dates than others, but I wanted to let you know what will be happening during this month!

You can always receive the latest information about our eBook deals by checking our eBook deals page, which also lists our eBook retailer partners:  http://www.sourcebooks.com/readers/browse-our-lists/ebook-specials.html.

Happy New Year!

Danielle

Sourcebooks January Deals and Discounts!

 FICTION

The Lady of the Storm by Kathryne Kennedy

Promotional Price: $1.99 (1/10/2012 – 2/6/2012)

Fantasy Romance

There’s a thin line between duty and desire…

Giles Beaumont is stuck in a role he never wanted, trying to safeguard a woman of incendiary powers who doesn’t think she needs a protector.

Cecily Sutton has no idea of the enormity of her true task and no inkling of the effect she’s having on Giles. But somewhere along their perilous journey together, they’ll have no choice but to uncover the deep, dark connection that binds them one to the other…

Lose yourself in renowned author Kathryne Kennedy’s gorgeous love story set in a lush world made of equal parts wonder and danger.

Kathryn Kennedy's thrilling conclusion to the Elven Lords Series, The Lord of Illusion, releases in February. Check out The Lady of the Storm first!

The Making of a Duchess by Shana Galen

Promotional Price: $1.99 (1/10/2012 – 2/6/2012)

Regency/Adventure Romance

A very dangerous attraction…

Julien Harcourt, duc de Valère, is more than willing to marry the lovely young lady his mother has chosen. Little does he know, she’s been sent to prove him a spy and a traitor…

And an even more dangerous secret…

Sarah Smith’s mission is to find out whether the Duc’s trips to the Continent are as innocent as he claims, but the way he looks at her is far from innocent…

Their risky game of cat and mouse propels them from the ballrooms of London to the prisons of Paris, and into a fragile love that may not survive their deceptions…

Shana Galen’s new book and highly-anticipated conclusion to the Sons of the Revolution Trilogy, The Rogue Pirate’s Bride, will be available in February!

Warrior by Cheryl Brooks

Promotional Price: $1.99 (1/24/2012 – 2/6/2012)

Sci Fi Romance

“He came to me in the dead of winter, his body burning with fever.”

Even near death, his sensuality is amazing...

Leo arrives on Tisana's doorstep a beaten slave from a near-extinct race with feline genes. As soon as Leo recovers his strength, he'll use his extraordinary sexual talents to bewitch Tisana and make a bolt for freedom...

She has only one chance to tame him...

Tisana, whose healing powers are legendary, already knows Leo's the one who can help her fulfill her destiny... she can't let him get away now. Forced together on a dangerous journey, Tisana must reveal all of her powers, and Leo must give all of himself to gain his freedom...

Cheryl Brooks’ new book Stud, Book 8 in the Cat Star Chronicles, releases in February! Visit her captivating world with Warrior!

NONFICTION

A New Year, A New You!

Nonfiction eBooks for $1.99 (1/1/2012 – 1/31/2012)

SPECIAL OFFER: Start the New Year off right with 40 fantastic titles to help make this year the best yet!  For the month of January, Sourcebooks is offering a wide range of nonfiction titles for only $1.99.  With great selections from categories like Business, Diet & Health, Parenting, and Self Help, no matter what your resolution, we’ve got you covered! To see the full list of titles, please visit this page: http://www.sourcebooks.com/readers/browse-our-lists/ebook-specials/1905-a-new-year-a-new-you.html

In conjunction with this great offer, we’re also giving away one title FREE each week in January:

·         20 Retirement Decisions You Need to Make Right Now (1/8/2012 – 1/14/2012)
·         How To Unspoil Your Child Fast (1/15/2012 – 1/21/2012)
·         Instant Self-Hypnosis (1/22/2012 – 1/28/2012)

Book Review and Giveaway: Scrumptious by Amanda Usen

The setting and the lively, unique characters create a steamy kettle of fun.

SCRUMPTIOUS

by Amanda Usen

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (January 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402259824
• ISBN-13: 978-1402259821

    Genre: Contemporary Romance
     My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description
TALL DARK AND DELICIOUS
Joe Rafferty is just as mouthwatering as the food he cooks. But if he thinks he's going to waltz in and take over her kitchen, he's denser than a thick slice of chocolate ripple cheesecake. Marly has invested too much of her life in Chameleon to hand off the restaurant to someone else—especially a cocky-as-all-get-out superstar chef. But there's no denying the man knows how to light her fire. Question is: Can she have the sizzle without feeling the burn?

Review: The kitchen scenes reflect the relationship: fast, hot, fun and delectable.

Marly is a whiz around the kitchen even though she didn’t go to culinary school like her best friend and boss, Olivia. Marly had to move back to the bake room when Olivia married Keith and allowed him to be the main line Chef. Unfortunately Keith isn’t good in the kitchen and is bringing down the reputation of Chameleon.

When Olivia gives Keith the boot Marly hopes to get the Chef position back. But Olivia doesn’t see the dreams or appreciate the full talent of her friend. Instead Olivia asks her culinary school buddy, Joe Rafferty, to handle the line for a couple of weeks until she hires a new chef. 

Marly is a female heartbreaker and Joe is a one-night stand stud. Olivia is sure they will hit it off. Marly is willing but it turns out that Joe promised his dying mother that he would give up “sluts” and look for a sweet girl to settle down with. Marly not only has to suffer rejection for the first time but now she has to put up with the sexy Chef running the kitchen.

Joe has a hard time resisting vibrant Marly.  They work really well together on the prep and food lines even while they are taunting each other verbally and handling one sabotaging crisis after another. Is it possible that they can find in each other the love they have longed for all their lives?

I have to admit that I wasn’t impressed with the excessive and easily accepted  promiscuity. Marly and Joe both had reasons for their inability to commit, and they were honest rather than pretending to care, but that doesn’t really justify that type of loose behavior. I was able to get beyond the apparent shallowness of their sexual appetites because of the fast paced action in the storyline.

I don't know my way around a kitchen but the descriptions were detailed enough to portray the intensity required without being boring. There is good character interaction in the restaurant, a crazy visit to Joe's Kentucky father for a pig roast, and a high-stakes poker game at a mafia owned casino.  The latter might stretch credibility a bit but was fun nonetheless.  The characters are very likeable and I was really glad that they finally found each other.

Thank you to Sourcebooks  for this book to read and review.

MBS Where Are You Reading? Map link.

This also falls into my New Authors and ARC challenges for 2012.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the ARC Copy:
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there.  This is required for entry.

2.  Two extra entry for commenting on the Author Interview and one extra for answering her question.

3.  For an extra entry tell me which cover you like better. (I like the ARC one to the left although I bet some of you will like the naked chest of the final cover!)

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

5.  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.
(Eight total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on January 20, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on January 21. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Interview with Amanda Usen, Author of Scrumptious

Please help me welcome Amanda Usen for a visit today!

I see that you have clearly incorporated your cooking experience in your writing so I don’t have to ask that question. So let’s start with some “craft questions.”

Q1. How did you develop your writing craft from poetry to romance??

            No matter what form I use, romance always creeps in. I think all good writing provokes thought or evokes emotion, whether it is poetry, fiction, non-fiction, song lyrics or blog posts. When I’m in poetry mode, I spend hours, days, sometimes weeks, choosing perfect words to convey meaning and emotion. Romance writing is certainly a more expanded form, but I’m still trying to do the same thing – evoke emotion. I’d write faster if I didn’t spend quite as much time looking for the perfect word, but I’m not sure that’s a skill I am able to develop!

Q2. Which authors have influenced you most how?

            I became a big Judith Krantz fan during my formative years. Her characters are bold, smart, creative, sexy and so much fun to read. I’m also a huge fan of Anne McCaffrey’s work. Her kick ass heroines and world-building definitely inspired me. I read for entertainment; it’s one of my favorite things to do. In writing this hot chef series I wanted to write books that would be fun to read, books like the keepers on my bookshelf.

Q3. What are some of the best tip you’ve received on writing?

            The old standbys work for me: write what you know, show - don’t tell, don’t write the boring parts, and cut the first (and maybe second and third) chapter. Nora Roberts once said, “I can fix a bad page, but I can’t fix a blank page.” I remind myself daily that some words are only necessary to get me to the right words. I may struggle for perfect words…but any words are better than no words!

Now some Questions related to Scrumptious specifically:

Q4. Is there an ancillary character you had the most fun with? 

            Olivia, the heroine’s best friend, gave me fits – so I gave her a sequel. In SCRUMPTIOUS, she’s hurtling through crisis after crisis but it isn’t her story. I enjoyed using her cautious personality as counterpoint to my impetuous, grand-standing heroine. Olivia is straight everywhere Marly is curvy, which made her an interesting challenge.

Q5. Please share one surprising thing about your experience writing this book, or about something else related to your career as a writer.

            I have leaned that my procrastination is born out of fear of failure. I always thought I was lazy! I really wish I had known this in college when I would wait until the day the paper was due to write it. *head desk* There are many things that keep me out of my writing chair and they all have something to do with fear. Mostly I’m afraid that I suck, but I also fear rejection, not doing justice to my characters, lack of conflict, lack of motivation, boring sex scenes, blowing deadlines and looking stupid.

The list of reasons not to write goes on forever. In SCRUMPTIOUS, Joe says to Marly, “If you don’t try, you don’t fail, huh?” I can’t go back and start my college papers earlier, but I can be aware of my fears and write anyway.

 Q6. How did you celebrate the sale of your first book? 

            With champagne! My husband and I will use almost any excuse to open a bottle of bubbly. And buy steaks, make chimichurri, and whip up a chocolate cheesecake. Trite, but true – we’re chefs and we celebrate everything with food and drink. We couldn’t quite afford Disney, so we took the kids to Splash Lagoon instead. We continued to celebrate there with rum drinks served in plastic coconut cups, necessary because it was freezing in February. That is the last time I put on a bathing suit in winter!

 And we’ll round out with some questions about you... more or less.

 Q7. Which word(s)(up to three)would you use to describe yourself and your personality?

           Funny! I think I’m hilarious. The only person I consistently crack up is my big sister, but one day…the world will know. J

Q8.  Do you have any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?

            In LUSCIOUS, the sequel to SCRUMPTIOUS, Olivia and her lawyer spend a romantic week in Italy discovering passion as well as a family secret. At the moment, I’m writing the third book (with its as-yet-unidentified ious-ending title) which will bring readers back into a smokin’ hot Western New York kitchen. Colin and Gia are scene stealers and I can’t wait to explore their story.

Q9.  If you could have readers finish a sentence what would it be? 

     I can’t resist…                                

Thank you so much for sharing!

Thanks for having me on your blog today! I had a great time answering your questions.

***See my review post for the Giveaway of the ARC copy.***

Book Review and Giveaway: Bossypants by Tina Fey

Live from New York its.... Tina Fey!
This is a fast and entertaining collection of life experiences and views; not quite a memoir but that genre fits.

Bossypants 
by Tina Fey

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books; 1st edition (April 5, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316056863
• ISBN-13: 978-0316056861

    Genre: Memoirs
    My Rating: 4.0

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 2011

Before Liz Lemon, before "Weekend Update," before "Sarah Palin," Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV.

She has seen both these dreams come true.

At last, Tina Fey's story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon -- from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence.

Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we've all suspected: you're no one until someone calls you bossy.

(Includes Special, Never-Before-Solicited Opinions on Breastfeeding, Princesses, Photoshop, the Electoral Process, and Italian Rum Cake!)

Review:
I don’t watch a lot of TV and it has actually been years since I watched Saturday Night Live (SNL) so I didn’t recognize Tina Fey as an actress.   I actually thought this book was comedy fiction.   Instead it is real life shared with great wit. The author sets the tone immediately by jumping into very up-beat humor. The attitude is very positive and tolerant on many subjects, especially liberal and moral issues.

Ms. Fey is an actress who became the head writer and a performer on SNL during the late 1990s to 2006.  She then became the producer, as well as a writer and performer, in 30 Rock (a show I have never seen.) Anyone who has watched and enjoyed crazy SNL skits can certainly appreciate the wacky and satirical level of humor and entertainment that are reflected in Bossypants. I could picture Ms. Fey in the SNL sketches where she portrayed Sarah Palin with Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton.

The book covers the author’s childhood with her protective and penny-pinching father, her early employment trying to break into some of the “male” jobs, including the early years at SNL when women were not given prime roles. She also shares fun views on Photoshop (note the arms on the book cover), being thin, being fat, mothering issues like breast-feeding and differences with the nanny, and more fun snippets of her life.

I was turned off at times by swearing and some graphically blunt descriptions. And sorry, but I really don’t want to know about men peeing in cups or fecalists at photo shoots... although I guess these are interesting and little-publicized tidbits. For me some of this falls close to what I consider “toilet” humor which I don’t enjoy. (Okay - I admit, I’m sort of a prude.)

The book moves very fast both in print and on Audible.  Ms. Fey does the narration and the same upbeat pace carries in her fast narration. [What did disturb me on the audio was the almost vitriolic use of a phrase taking God’s name in vain. That is personally offensive to me and I switched back to the print to avoid any more negative from that.]  If the language won’t bother you and you like audio, you might very well enjoy her energy in the audio version - although you might want to get the Audio book which includes a pdf. Otherwise I would say go with the book which includes pictures that add interest.

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

MBS Where Are You Reading? Map link.

This also falls into my New Authors and ARC challenges for 2012.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the Review Print Copy:
1. Tell me if you recognized Tina Fey by name or visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there.  This 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.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on January 20, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on January 21. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.