Book Review and Giveaway Link: Blood and Bone by Don Hoesel

This book has lots of mystery and danger but it didn't quite click for me.

Blood and Bone

by Don Hoesel

• File Size: 728 KB
• Print Length: 321 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0764209264
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 1, 2013)
• ASIN: B00B85M58Q

Genre: Thriller

My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2013

More Archaeological Adventures from Popular Suspense Writer Don Hoesel

A decade after Serpent of Moses, Jack is married to Espy and back teaching at Evanston University. They have two sons, one of whom has cystic fibrosis. Despite this challenge, life is comfortable. But that all changes when the CIA, while combing through the papers of the late Gordon Reese, uncovers the secret of Elisha's bones. Jack's world is then turned upside down by an urgent call from his old friend Duckey, who's been alerted to the CIA's probing by one of his former contacts. Jack and his family escape from their home just ahead of the CIA, and he decides to do what he should have done long ago: recover the bones and destroy them. Except the bones aren't where he left them.

So now Jack is in a race, for the last time, to find the bones. And he's not the only one. Pitted against both the CIA and an organization that will kill to protect their secrets, Jack and Espy follow hard-to-decipher clues across the globe before arriving in the catacombs of Paris for a final showdown that will either save their family--or tear apart everything they hold dear forever.

Review:
Jack and Espy met when Jack was a young adventurer and relic collector. Now he is a professor and they live a quiet life with their two boys. Suddenly their world is disrupted by a corrupt, rogue CIA operative, Mckeller. Mckeller’s wife is very ill and he knows that Jack and Espy had located the bones of Elisha ten years before. The bones are rumored to be able to raise the dead, as described in the Biblical story.  Jack knows they work (an event from a prior book) but he and Espy had buried the bones rather than turn them over to a corrupt man years before. Mckeller wants the bones and he kidnaps the boys to use as leverage.

Jack and Espy head off globe hunting trying to get the bones. They fly from South America to Australia where the bones were buried only to determine that they have been removed. They follow faint clues seeking to uncover members of the secret organization that was designated to guard the bones. Their search for the new location takes them to London, St. Petersburg, Russia, and Paris. Along the way they uncover puzzles, with Espy’s language skills and Jack’s logic skills, that lead them to investigate cemeteries, basements, prison cells and catacombs.

Jack and Espy meet two of the head members of the powerful organization.  Jack takes a risk and calls in the help of the Israelis who would have an interest in recovering the bones.  Now they are dodging not only the CIA man who is trying to keep tabs on them but someone who is trying to kill them.

Although I enjoyed the action in this story and the various puzzles and solutions were interesting. (Made me think of National Treasure even more than Indiana Jones.) Unfortunately I had some problems with the unrealistic elements and I never really felt engaged with the characters. The couple are racing around the globe with minimal funds and fake passports. They repeatedly lose a tail only to have assassins attack them in their hotel or on the streets. It was a week or so before they even got to talk to their sons to make sure they were okay. It just was hard to swallow. I did like the conflict between the power hungry leaders and I also liked Jake’s solid faith, even accepting the illness of one of his sons. Come to think of it, I liked the irony at the end too.

The ending pulls together in a satisfactory, if not totally surprising, fashion. There is plenty of suspense and danger for those who like mystery and thrillers. There are many more favorable reviews so other readers clearly enjoyed the action and weren’t effected by the implausibility issues.

I received this title through NetGalley and the author for an honest review as part of BookBlast. See Giveaway below and Giveaway at the BookBlast post.

Buy Links:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Author Don Hoesel links: Twitter * Facebook * Website

Tour Schedule

Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 8/4/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway July 19, 2013

[** If you are new to Friday Pick Giveaway - Welcome!  Scroll down a bit (below book group #19) for instructions on how to enter.]

Happy Friday Friends!! Oh I am sooo glad it is Friday. It seemed like I had a long week. My assistant (daughter) was away with our Grandson for his baseball playoffs.  No assistant for two days leaves me scrambling.

[UPDATED NOTE - US entrants I prefer, please, that you pick a book as that is the first purpose of this giveaway - to find new homes for books. The GCs are for the  international entrants because postage has jumped up.]

Thank you to all who entered the July 12 Pick. There was no Automatic wins this week. (Automatic winners are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks). There were two blocked titles - one selected by several people.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from July 12 Pick:

Jolene gets Mission: Irresistible

Bookishqueen gets Her Last Chance

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual or sexy and I have a new supply of sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

How about some surfing summer book fun?!

Image found at Classroom Clipart.

New Book Group #40 June 28, 2013

Pairs:
     (Highlands) Highland Treasure by Amanda Scott and Highlander Unbound by Julia London
     (Angels) Not Quite An Angel by Bobby Hutchinson and An Angel for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
Singles:
What Sarah Saw by Margaret Daley (Cover has black line across where bookstore crossed it for clearance)
Her Last Chance by Terri Reed  (Cover has black line across where bookstore crossed it for clearance)
The Clairvoyant Countess by Dorothy Gilman
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes
Mission: Irresistible by Lori Wilde
Sin and Scandal in England by Melody Thomas
Dance With Me by Luanne Rice
A Mother's Day Anthology - three stories
Rising Moon by Lori Handeland
Star Light, Star Bright by Katherine Stone
Another View by Rosamunde Pilcher
Promise Forever by Marta Perry


New Book Group #39 May 31, 2013 - Plenty of "summer" titles!
Oops - I never added all the links last month so no promises on these either.

Pairs:
Hannah Howell
     Highland Hearts and Highland Destiny
Catherine Anderson
     My Sunshine and Blue Skies
Elizabeth Lowell
     Remember Summer and Too Hot to Handle
Singles:
Touched by Fire by Kathleen O'Reilly
Playing with Fire by Gena Showalter
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
That Summer by Joan Wolf
Shadow of the Sun by Tammy Hilz
Dark Summer by Iris Johansen
Summer at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
Summer by the Sea by Susan Wiggs
Shadow Beach by Barbara Freethy
It All Began at Monte Carlo by Elizabeth Adler


New Book Group #38 April 20, 2013
Here is a group with many mysteries.  Links to be added as I get time.

Pairs:
Amanda Scott
      Abducted Heiress and Highland Bride
Sandra Brown
     Texas! Chase and Exclusive (spine wear) (not the covers as on the links)
A Murderous Yarn by Monica Ferris
Deadly Advise by Roberta Isleib
Dial Emmy for Murder by Eileen Davidson 
On Deadly Ground (Love Inspired Suspense) by Lauren Nichols
Happy Never After by Kathy Hogan Trocheck
Female Intellignece by Jane Heller
Improper English by Katie MacAllister
Sheer Dynamite by Jennifer Skully
Golden Chances by Rebbecca Hagen Lee
Caitlin's Guardian Angel by Marie Ferrarella
Burning Alive by Shannon K. Butcher
Awaken the Senses by Nalini Singh


New Book Group #37 March 22, 2013

As I am linking these titles it is clear to me why they were in my TBR boxes and it is really hard to let them go but I have soooo many. Better that they find good reader homes than sit on my shelves, or in a box, and collect dust. 
Pairs:
Carly Phillips
     The Heartbreaker and Simply Sinful
Singles:
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.
Bride by Command by Linda Winstead Jones
To Tame a Rebel by Georgina Gentry
While Passion Sleeps by Shirlee Busbee
Lord Liar by Laurie Grant
Lady in Red by Karen Hawkins
The Admiral's Bride by Suzanne Brockmann
Marry Me, Maddie by Rita Herron
Lady Ice by Joan Hohl
Dark Roots & Cowboy Boots by LuAnn McLane
Only My Dreams by Anna Blundy



New Book Group #36 February 15, 2013

Pairs:
Tara Taylor Quinn
     Father: Unknown and McGillus v.Wright
Tom Clancy
     Power Play: Cold War (paperback) and Power Play: Ruthless.com (audio cassette tapes)
Singles:
Timeline by Michael Crichton
Bride of Shadow Canyon by Stacey Kayne
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
Always a Lady by Sharon Sala
Her Wedding Wish by Jillian Hart


New Book Group #35 January 11, 2013
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing 

Pairs
Mary Baxter
    His Touch and One Summer Evening
Singles-- I found a couple of boxes of romances (a lot of Harlequins) that I haven't gotten to read over the past 8 years so... I will send them off to others to read!
Never Say Never Again by Tori Carrington
*Merger of Fortunes by Peggy Moreland
*The Banker's Convenient Wife by Lynne Graham
* The Millionaire's Daughter by Sophie Weston


New Book Group #34 December 7, 2012--- (All gone)

New Book Group #33 October 27, 2012
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing

SINGLES - CHRISTMAS TITLES (Better sizes for international) 
*Deck the Halls by Arlene James (slight spine creasing)
*A Holiday Prayer by Deb Kastner  (slight spine creasing)


New Book Group #32 October 5, 2012

- Oops upside down book! NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one - A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley
Please Remember This by Katleen Giles Seidel
The Boy's Tale (Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries) by Margaret Frazer


New Book Group #31 August 31, 2012
I pulled some more books from several of my boxes.

An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)


New Book Group #30 July 27, 2012
This time I pulled some books from one of my older boxes.
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing

The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Wild Escapade by Lisa Bingham
Dancing on Snowflakes by Jane Bonander (postage too much - replaced with GC)

New Book Group #29 June 29, 2012
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing

Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology
*One is the Lonliest Number - Tom Clancey's Net Force

New Book Group #28 May 18, 2012 (All gone)

New book Group #27 April 13, 2012 (All gone)

New book Group #26 March 2, 2012--- (All gone)

New Group #25 January 12, 2012---(All gone)

New Group #24 Pick Books November 25, 2011---(All gone)

New Group #23 Pick Books October 14, 2011
I tried to pick some books that would be good for October -
Halloween or dark minded.
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser


New Group #22 Pick Books September 2, 2011---(All gone)

New Group #21 of Pick Books July 29, 2011
Mallory's Oracle (Kathleen Mallory Novels) by Carol O'Connell

May, 2011 New Group of Pick books Group #20
Luciano's Luck by Jack Higgins - Audio Cassettes

3/25/11 I did get to set up a new group of books: Group #19
Primary Colors - audio tapes
*Note of Peril (black strip on cover)

2/19/11 Book Group #18- Pairs!---(All gone).

I have finally updated the intro and Entry paragraphs here:

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick in November 27, 2009 and in three years I have posted 33 groups of 16 (528) books to find new homes! (as of November 2012)

I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want! I am happy to say that so far about 530 books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed.

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $5.00 $7.00 and $6.00 $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 10:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up past midnight to do the winner post!
I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.
Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks.
WINNERS PLEASE CHECK THE WIN POST ON FRIDAYS AND fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads@gmail.com. [I will confirm receipt of the addresses- well I realize I haven't always done this. But if you filled out the form and don't get the book within two weeks nudge me with an email please!] If I have the winners e-mail I will send a reminder in a week or so....

Thanks for helping these books find new homes!!

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

1/14/11 New List #17--- (All gone)

12/3/10 Book Set: #16
Sleight of Hand by Robin Hathaway
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown  (postage too much - replaced with GC)

List #15---(All gone)

List #14---(All gone)

Here is set #13 of Used books! ---(All gone)

Group #12---(All gone)

Group #11
Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

List #1
Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo

Pick #2---(All gone)

Pick #3---(All gone)

Pick #4
Talking God by Tony Kellerman

Pick #5
See Jane Lead by Lois P. Frankel
Cold Hit by Linda Fairstein - Audio Tapes

Pick #6---(All gone)

Pick #7
Prey by Michael Crichton - Audio Tape
Princess Charming by Jane Heller (slightly creased)

Pick #8
(sc) = slightly creased on binding otherwise all in good shape
The Jury by Steve Martini - Audio Tapes
No Safe Place by Richard North Patterson - Audio Tapes

Pick #9
On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murray
Guardian by Dee Henderson - Audio Tapes
Time to Hunt by Stephen Hunter - Audio Tapes

Pick #10---(All Gone)

Audible Book Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

This is interesting, entertaining and a thought provoking alien invasion/apocalypse story.
The 5th Wave
    by Rick Yancey
    Narrated by Brandon Espinoza, Phoebe Stro

LENGTH    12 hrs and 41 mins
RELEASE DATE    05-07-13
PUBLISHER    Penguin Audio
Genre: Post Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The Passage meets Ender's Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.

After the first wave, only darkness remains. After the second, only the lucky escape. And after the third, only the unlucky survive. After the fourth wave, only one rule applies: Trust no one.

Now, it's the dawn of the fifth wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker.

Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother - or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.
©2013 Rick Yancey (P)2013 Penguin Audio.

Review:
Cassie (for Cassiopeia NOT Cassandra) is a young teen struggling to survive her world after aliens appeared and wiped out a large portion of the population. First there was loss of electronics resulting in chaos and soon starvation. Then many, including Cassie’s mother, suffered a painful death from a bleeding virus. After the virus survivor’s fled the killing in the cities trying to hide. Cassie, with her father and her younger brother, Sammy, had joined a small community. They are living day to day as they try to hide from the flying drones and avoid the alien assassins whom Cassie calls the ‘Silencers’.

One day buses and military personnel arrive and everyone thinks they are saved. But the bus is only collecting children under 16. Cassie could go with her brother but she refuses to leave her father. They watch Sammy leave and then Cassie goes into the woods to find another friend. She stumbles upon a soldier killing the young boy. When she starts to return to camp she is devastated to see the soldiers killing all of the adult civilians. Now she knows she cannot trust the military or anyone at all. She is on the run, alone, wondering how she can rescue her brother.  She is injured by a Silencer and lost in the snow when she is rescued by Evan.

Cassie knows to trust no one but Evan saved her from the snow and fed and clothed her. He is very gentle and tender.   Yet he seems to know too much about her and she suspects that he is doing more than hunting as he goes out each night. Cassie slowly regains her strength and Evan reluctantly helps her plan how to get to Sam.

Meanwhile Sam and other young people have been taken to the military base to be trained as warriors to fight. That training includes how to kill the enemy who they are told look just like other humans but have an alien parasite on their brain. Only special tools and glasses help determine who is “green” to be killed or red to recruit.  The new recruits are also ‘tagged’ so they cannot be lost or stranded. Or are they being tagged for control purposes? What is the truth and who can be trusted?

I enjoyed the survival elements and the relationship conflicts presented in the story.  The premise is really interesting and there is good intensity of action that keeps the listener’s attention. I enjoyed some wonderful phrasing in the writing (with a print I could quote them but that is hard to capture in an audio).  I liked Evan’s character even though part of his mind-set is left mysterious. I’m undecided about the ending as it was one that leaves some open issues. But at least there was hope! I recommend this to readers who enjoy a good alien/apocalypse story and the emotional dilemmas of feelings associated with an individual ‘them’ instead of a faceless enemy.

Audio Notes:   I initially was annoyed by the “whininess” of Cassie. I wasn’t sure if it was her personality or the narration but I decided it was both and therefore fit the story.  I think both narrators did a good job with the personalities they portrayed for the reading. The narration enhanced the story for my enjoyment although I think this would be a fine ‘read’ as well. 

This is from my own Audible library.

Book Review: Quest for the Scorpion's Jewel by Amy Green

This is a fun read as youths face dangerous adventures and begin to learn to trust in God's 'rescue'.

Quest for the Scorpion's Jewel
Amarias Adventures: Book 1 by Amy Green

• File Size: 403 KB
• Print Length: 172 pages
• Publisher: Warner Press (July 1, 2011)
• ASIN: B005GFSZLK

Genre: Fantasy Adventure, Inspirational
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: July 1, 2011
The "Amarias Adventures™" begin when 15-year-old Jesse befriends a band of young warriors and risks his life to find a cure for the poisoned Parvel. Though Jesse has a crippled leg, he is asked to join the remaining warriors—part of an elite fighting force known as the Youth Guard—on their mission for the king. Facing danger at every turn, Jesse, Rae and Silas journey over treacherous mountains and across a scorching desert. To make matters worse, an unknown enemy seeks to end their quest before it has even begun. Where is Parvel’s God when they need Him most? And with so little information to guide them, how will they ever complete their mission and find the Scorpion’s Jewel? Will they even escape with their lives?

For more action-packed adventure, look for Book 2 in the "Amarias Adventures™: Escape from Riddler’s Pass."

Review:
Young Jesse is disregarded and disrespected by many due to a limp. He lives with his Aunt and Uncle who take advantage of working him even as they barely feed him.  Yet Jesse is kind and spirited. Jesse is quick to help when a team of Youth Guard, the elite young people trained to serve the King, show up at the Inn with an injured warrior. The guard team is supposed to be four strong but they have already lost one and now their leader, Parvel, has been poisoned.  Jesse sneaks out to get special herbs needed to save Parvel.

Silas is the strong team member and Rae is the feisty, skilled female warrior.  Although he isn’t strong, Jesse is resourceful and crafty. They agree to accept his help to complete their mission. The three set out to seek an audience with a hostile foreign king. Along the way they face treacherous mountain paths and desert sand storms.  Jesse comes in handy with strategies to survive the dangers.  They are fortunate to meet a trader in the desert who will guide them into the city.

However, unknown to the Youth Guard, there is a long term group dedicated to eliminating all Youth Guard members. The team is confused when they have to run and hide from Captain Demetri of the King’s Patrol. Demetri boasts of the corruption of the King while the youths are in cells facing execution. Jesse reveals to the taunting jailor that another injured team member remains at home. Their new friend credits God for helping them escape. The book ends with the teens racing back to Parvel before Demetri can kill him.

The story incorporates a wide gamut of character traits: prejudice, deception and corruption set off against  bravery, loyalty, faith, and more. I liked how Parvel consistently, though gently, shared his faith and how Jesse ponders the intervention of God. The writing is easy and fast paced. This is good entertainment and would make a fun read for middle grade children and even older “kids at heart.”

I picked this title up from NetGalley to provide an honest review.

BookBlast: Blood and Bone by Don Hoesel

Blood and Bone

More Archaeological Adventures from Popular Suspense Writer Don Hoesel.

A decade after Serpent of Moses, Jack is married to Espy and back teaching at Evanston University. They have two sons, one of whom has cystic fibrosis. Despite this challenge, life is comfortable. But that all changes when the CIA, while combing through the papers of the late Gordon Reese, uncovers the secret of Elisha's bones. Jack's world is then turned upside down by an urgent call from his old friend Duckey, who's been alerted to the CIA's probing by one of his former contacts. Jack and his family escape from their home just ahead of the CIA, and he decides to do what he should have done long ago: recover the bones and destroy them. Except the bones aren't where he left them.

So now Jack is in a race, for the last time, to find the bones. And he's not the only one. Pitted against both the CIA and an organization that will kill to protect their secrets, Jack and Espy follow hard-to-decipher clues across the globe before arriving in the catacombs of Paris for a final showdown that will either save their family--or tear apart everything they hold dear forever.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Tour Schedule

Author Don Hoesel

Don Hoesel is a Web site designer for a Medicare carrier in Nashville, TN. He has a BA in Mass Communication from Taylor University and has published short fiction in Relief Journal. He lives in Spring Hill, Tennessee, with his wife and two children. The Alarmists is his third novel.

Twitter * Facebook * Website

BookBlast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 8/4/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway