..and the winners are....

Winners of my Run For Your Life giveaway:

* Etirv

* Stacie

* Brizmus

* I Heart Book Gossip

* nfmgirl

Congratulations!!! I'll send an email later today to get all your dets :)

Thanks to everyone else for playing!

CSN Office Chair review - I love it!

I was impressed at how fast my office chair from CSN Chairs arrived considering I live in Canada - major bonus there! I was expecting a bigger box and was surprised to see this at the door:




I thought it would be an all day affair to put together (think IKEA)but it was so easy my 7 yr old could have done it!



Viola, in a a matter of minutes the chair was built....

...and the kids couldn't wait to try it!


My favorite part is the adjustable seat depth. At 5'3" I'm not that short but I always find my back never touches the back of chairs. I usually have to add a back support cushion but not with this chair, it fits perfectly! The kids love it as it can adjust very low to fit them too.



CSN Chairs has a great selection of office chairs with super prices, fast shipping & awesome customer service. If you're looking for a chair, definitely check them out!

Teaser Tuesday - October 27, 2009

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"I don't remember the details, but after a couple of weeks of the study, the classical music rats were peacefully climbing the corporate ladder and wearing Birkenstocks and the rock music rats had gone cannibal and torn each other to bits. Without knowing what band the rock rats had to listen to, I'm not sure what the study was supposed to prove. All I know is, if I had to listen to Pearl Jam for two weeks solid, I'd eat my roommate too." Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater (pg 5)

Growing up listening to Pearl Jam, I literally laughed out loud when I first read this line! Too funny.

In My Mailbox - October 25, 2009

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren

My goodies this week:

The world is ending. Again.
Years of covering the antics of End Times cults for The Banner, a religious news magazine, have left Christine Temetri not only jaded but seriously questioning her career choice.

That is, until she meets Mercury, an anti-establishment angel who’s frittering his time away whipping up batches of Rice Krispy Treats and perfecting his ping-pong backhand instead of doing his job: helping to orchestrate Armageddon. With the end near and angels and demons debating the finer political points of the Apocalypse, Christine and Mercury accidentally foil an attempt to assassinate one Karl Grissom, a thirty-seven-year-old film school dropout about to make his big break as the Antichrist.

Now, to save the world, she must negotiate the byzantine bureaucracies of Heaven and Hell and convince the apathetic Mercury to take a stand, all the while putting up with the obnoxious mouth-breathing Antichrist.

http://mercuryfalls.net/

I'm hoping this one keeps me laughing as much as Christopher Moore's Lamb did!




You can't run

Detective Alex Cross is pulled out of a family celebration and given the awful news that a beloved relative has been found brutally murdered. Alex vows to hunt down the killer, and soon learns that she was mixed up in one of Washington's wildest scenes. And she was not this killer's only victim.

You can't hide

The hunt for her murderer leads Alex and his girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, to a place where every fantasy is possible, if you have the credentials to get in. Alex and Bree are soon facing down some very important, very protected, very dangerous people in levels of society where only one thing is certain--they will do anything to keep their secrets safe.

Alex Cross is your only hope to stay alive

As Alex closes in on the killer, he discovers evidence that points to the unimaginable--a revelation that could rock the entire world. With the unstoppable action, unforeseeable twists, and edge-of-your-seat suspense that only a James Patterson thriller delivers, I, Alex Cross is the master of suspense at his sharpest and best.

It's been a couple of months since I read a thriller, I'm super excited to finally read this!

...and the winners are....

Winners of my The Lovely Bones giveaway:

* Jonita

* Krtista

* stacybuckeye

* JoRdAn

* ann marie

Winners of my Must Love Hellhounds giveaway:

*M.

* Jackie

Congratulations, I'll send an email later today to get all your dets :)

Thanks to everyone else for playing!

Review & Giveaway: What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell

Recommended for: business & non-fiction readers

My rating: 3/5

My thoughts:

Malcolm Gladwell has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1996 and What the Dog Saw is a collection of 19 articles that he considers his favorites. The book is broken down into 3 sections:

• Obessives, Pioneers & Other Varieties of Minor Genius


• Theories, Predictions & Diagnoses


• Personality, Character & Intelligence (overall I found this was my favorite)

The articles I enjoyed the most were:

The Ketchup Conundrum - NOW I know why kids think ketchup goes with everything!

Cesar Millan & the Movements of Mastery - I am in awe at The Dog Whisperer, it was fun to read about his background & why what he does works!

The Picture Problem - This is a perfect example of what I love about Galdwell's writing: his ability to tie together things that aren't normally consider to be related at all. Here he uses mammography, air force raids & the Iraq war. Do we depend on pictures too much? The problem is that pictures require interpretation.

I have loved Malcolm Gladwell's previous works: Tipping Point, Blink & more recently Outliers. That being said, I have not read any of his The New Yorker pieces before. Sadly, I didn't get the same WOW factor after reading this book and in the end, there were a few that I just skimmed.

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Thanks to the generous people at Hachette Book Group, I have ONE copy to giveaway!

Contest end date: November 3rd, 2009

Contest rules:

you MUST BE A FOLLOWER to join. It's super easy, just click on the follow box on the right hand side if you don't follow already!

open to Canadian & US addresses only (no P.O. Boxes)

leave a comment letting me know if you've heard of Malcolm Gladwell (I'm just being nosey, this doesn't affect your chances of winning) with your email address as I will contact the winner by email. Should you win, you have 48 hrs to respond, otherwise I will pick another winner.

Additional entries:
+1 for promoting the contest on your blog
+1 for tweeting the giveaway(include me in the tweet: @hefollowedme)
+1 for referring a friend (just get them to mention your name & blog)

Good luck everyone!!

"Waiting on" Wednesday - October 21, 2009

This weekly event is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I can't wait to get my hands on this! Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus


Release date: summer 2010
Publisher: Egmont USA

From author's website:

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills.

Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

Guest Post and Review: Pendragon's Banner by Helen Hollick

It is my pleasure to have Helen Hollick, author of the King Arthur trilogy: The Kingmaking, Pendragon's Banner and Shadow of the King with us today.



So why did I write a trilogy about King Arthur? Well first of all, when I was writing I had no idea that my meagre scribbling was going to take me to the dizzy heights of an actual book let alone a whole trilogy!

I became interested in King Arthur after reading Mary Stewart’s Hollow Hills. What fascinated me was her author’s note, where she pointed out that if Arthur had been a real person (that is not established fact, sadly) he is more likely to have lived in Britain during the post Roman era, circa 450 – 550 AD. I had always assumed Arthur belonged in the “Knights in Armour” Medieval 11th – 12th Century, which, apart from Sharon Penman and Elizabeth Chadwick’s novels, I have never had much interest in.

So to put Arthur in a Romano British slot excited me tremendously. I researched more detail, using respected authors such as Glastonbury-based Geoffrey Ashe, Leslie Alcock, John Morris and the excellent Osprey Men-At-Arms series (I’m not sure if these books are now in print – my original research was way back in the mid 70’s to 80’s). I also continued researching Roman Britain – a period I had grown to love because of Rosemary Sutcliff’s superb Roman novels for teenagers (Eagle of the Ninth, Frontier Wolf, Mark of the Horse Lord etc).

For visual aid I visited several locations in the United Kingdom – Glastonbury Tor, several Iron Age hill forts (including Cadbury Castle in Somerset, thought to be the original Camelot). In Wales, we camped beside the river Wye for a few days, which is where I wrote the river scene where Arthur is fishing. From Cornwall to Scotland I and my family visited anywhere that had a remote link to the legends of Arthur. For my daughter, who was then quite young, it was an excellent way to learn about history!

I had always wanted to write. I began with pony stories then moved to science fiction and fantasy. This was the time of Star Wars (first time round!) & Dr Who with Tom Baker as the Doctor. Hooked on Arthur, I switched to history and started my own novel, but I never got very far. The most I wrote was three chapters before binning it.

I was also reading fiction about Arthur but Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Mists of Avalon annoyed me – I just did not see her Guinevere as I envisioned her. So I decided to write the story of Arthur I saw her. Again, I did not get far until it dawned on me that I was trying (unsuccessfully) to write the thing from Gwenhwyfar’s point of view. If I was to write it more from Arthur’s….

I was accepted by a UK agent a week after my 40th birthday (I am now 56!) I went to her office to talk about the manuscript and she told me “You do realise you have a trilogy here?”. Talk about knock me down with a feather! The manuscript I’d submitted, and was snatched up by William Heinemann (Random House UK) turned out to became The Kingmaking and half of Pendragon’s Banner.

Shadow of the King was the hardest to write…. But more about that next time!

Main Website: www.helenhollick.net
Blog profiles: www.acorne.blogspot.com
Muse and Views Blog: www.helenhollick.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/helen.hollick
Monthly Journal: www.helenhollick.net/journal.html

Thanks to Helen for taking the time to give us a little insight into the beginnings of her King Arthur trilogy.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...and thanks to Sourcebooks for allowing one copy for my followers! For your chance to win a copy of Pendragon's Banner, click here.

My thoughts:

King Arthur is in a constant struggle not only on the battlefield but also amongst his council. Arthur's attempt at creating alliances and providing land rather then battle is a weakness to them. For years, Arthur is without a stronghold, always on the move to defend his Kingship.

Arthur not only has to fight on the battlefield, he has two women scheming for the throne. Winifred, King Arthur's first wife and mother to his son Cerdic, is determined her son will be next in line and refuses to acknowledge their divorce. Morgause, his father's mistress, is a manipulative woman constantly plotting against Arthur.

Over the years King Arthur and his wife, Gyenhwyfar, struggle with the time apart, having children (and losing them). Gwenhwyfar is a beautiful and clever women who can put up a good fight (just ask Arthur!). Helen makes Arthur and Gyenhwyfar come alive with passion and I love that we get to see Arthur in a different light.

Helen Hollick has an amazing ability to paint the perfect picture with her descriptive prose. Though I had not read the first book of the trilogy (which is about to change soon!), I had no problem following the story. The third book,Shadow of the King, is to be released in March 2010 and I look forward to continuing the journey.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (October 19, 2009)

Books I completed last week are:
What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures by Malcolm Gladwell

The Christmas Cookie Club: A Novel by Ann Pearlman


Books I am reading this week:
Cleopatra's Daughter: A Novel by Michelle Moran

Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie by Maggie Stiefvater I'm really hoping to have time for this one too :)

Tomorrow is a big day for me...I'm participating in my first blog tour!!!!!
Stop by for my guest post, review & giveaway for Pendragon's Banner by Helen Hollick

In My Mailbox - October 18, 2009

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren

I'm so excited for my goodies this week:

It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet.

Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way...taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.





When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, is determined to become a scientist, and has no time for make-believe.

Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back -- if Cassie will agree to be his bride.

That is the beginning of Cassie's own real-life fairy tale, one that sends her on an unbelievable journey across the brutal Arctic, through the Canadian boreal forest, and on the back of the North Wind to the land east of the sun and west of the moon. Before it is over, the world she knows will be swept away, and everything she holds dear will be taken from her -- until she discovers the true meaning of love and family in the magical realm of Ice.


What did you get?

Book Blog Tour & Giveaway for Pendragon's Banner by Helen Hollick

About the book:
After claiming his throne on the blood-soaked fields of Rutupiae—striking fear into the hearts of his enemies—only Morgause “the witch” dared to challenge Arthur in this follow-up to Helen Hollick’s smash hit The Kingmaking. In a deadly game of politics and back-stabbing, Arthur must deal with the reality that taking a kingdom is far different from keeping one! Hollick’s new historical, Pendragon’s Banner (ISBN: 978-1402218897), spans six years, from 459-465 A.D., and details Arthur’s struggle to stay in power and keep his family alive.

Two enemies in particular threaten everything that is dear to him: Winifred, Arthur's vindictive first wife, and Morgause, priestess of the Mother and malevolent Queen of the North. Both have royal ambitions of their own.

This is not a fairy tale or fantasy. There is no Merlin, no sword in the stone, and no Lancelot. This is a tale of battle, intrigue and an irate Morgause who delights in nurturing the belief that she is a witch—especially after her very public curse on Arthur’s sons… This is an account of Arthurian legend, based on historical evidence and meticulous research; a story of King Arthur as it may have actually unfolded.

Bernard Cornwell has said that “Helen Hollick has it all” and that she “tells a great story.” Sharon Kay Penman felt that the novel was “compelling, convincing and—ultimately—unforgettable.” In this story of harsh battles, treasonous plots, and the life-threatening politics of Britain's dark ages, author Helen Hollick boldly reintroduces King Arthur as you've never seen him before. This is the true story of King Arthur’s quest to keep all of Britain united under his legendary Pendragon’s Banner.


Please join us on the tour:

The Tome Travellers Weblog (10/12)
A Reader’s Respite (10/12)
Carla Nayland’s Historical Fiction (10/13)
Enchanted by Josephine (10/14)
Fumbling with Fiction (10/14)
Found Not Lost (10/15)
Nan Hawthorne’s Booking the Middle Ages (10/15)
Jenny Loves to Read (10/16)
The Review From Here (10/17)
The Courtier’s Book (10/18)
Chick Loves Lit (10/19)
Love Romance Passion (10/20)
He Followed Me Home… Can I Keep Him? (10/20)
The Impasse Strikes Back (10/21)
S. Krishna’s Books (10/22)
Books Like Breathing (10/23)
Passages to the Past (10/24)
Virginie Says (10/25)
Readaholic (10/25)
Reading with Monie (10/26)
Rundpinne (10/26)
Books & Needlepoint (10/27)
Capricious Reader (10/27)
Books are my Only Friends (10/27)
A Sea of Books (10/28)
Bloody Bad (10/28)
Revenge of the Book Nerds! (10/28)
Booksie’s Blog (10/28)
Devourer of Books (10/29)
Peeking Between the Pages (10/29)
Starting Fresh (10/29)
Historical Tapestry (10/30)
Medieval Bookworm (10/30)
Book Soulmates (10/30)
Susan’s Art & Words (10/30)
Steven Till (10/31)
Café of Dreams (10/31)


I have the opportunity to share this amazing book with ONE lucky winner!

Contest end date: November 3, 2009

Contest rules:

• you MUST BE A FOLLOWER to join


• open to U.S. addresses only please


• leave a comment with your email address as I will contact the winner by email. Should you win, you have 48 hrs to respond, otherwise I will pick another winner.


• Additional entries:
  +1 for promoting the contest on your blog
  +1 for tweeting (include me in the tweet @hefollowedme)
  +1 for commenting on my guest post & review to be up October 20th
  +1 for referring a friend (just get them to mention your name & blog)

Good luck everyone!!

"Waiting On" Wednesday - October 14, 2009

This weekly event is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My can't wait to read book is The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy. I love takes on fairy tales, can't wait to get my hands on this!


Release date: April 13, 2010
Publisher: Egmont USA
From author's website:

When the Prom Queen becomes your fairy godmother…

Sixteen year old outsider, Jess Parker, gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join a secret girl power society dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world. The Cinderella Society guides all new recruits through its top secret ultimate life makeover. It’s all part of preparing them to face down the Wickeds and win. Determined not to let the Cindys down, Jess dives in with a passion. Finally, a chance to belong and show the world what she’s made of.

… be careful what you wish for.

Jess’s transformation wins her the heart of her dream crush and a shot at uber-popularity. Until the Wickeds–led by Jess’s arch enemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers the real force behind her exclusive society. It’s a high stakes battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys in power need Jess on special assignment. When the mission threatens to destroy her dream life come true, Jess is forced to choose between living a fairy tale and honoring the Sisterhood… and herself.

What’s a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?

Giveaway: HUSH, HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick

Released today!!! Click here for my review.

I have the opportunity to share this amazing book with TWO lucky winners!

Contest end date: in honor of Halloween...October 31st, 2009

Contest rules:

• you MUST BE A FOLLOWER to join


• open to CANADIAN addresses only please


• leave a comment with your email address as I will contact the winner by email. Should you win, you have 48 hrs to respond, otherwise I will pick another winner.


• Additional entries:
  +1 for promoting the contest on your blog
  +1 for tweeting (include me in the tweet @hefollowedme)
  +1 for commenting on my review (see link to review above)
  +1 for referring a friend (just get them to mention your name & blog)

Good luck everyone!!

Review: HUSH, HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick

Nora and Patch are paired together to work on a biology class project that involves getting to know each other. Patch, however, seems to knows a lot about Nora and wants to reveal little of himself. In an attempt to learn more about Patch’s mysterious past, Nora and her best friend, Vee, try piecing together details of Patch’s life. It doesn’t take long for Nora to realize her quest to know more about Patch is not the only reason she’s interested in finding answers. Against her better judgment, she’s falling for him. But as strange things start to happen to Nora, Patch seems to always be close by. Is it him or just a coincidence?

Patch, the mysterious bad boy from school, is the perfect mix of a guy who makes you weak in the knees, gives you butterflies in your tummy and yet somewhere deep down inside your gut tells you to be careful. Like Nora you can’t help but fall for him. Fans of Twilight will eat this up. The last few chapters tie up many of the loose ends but if there is one complaint, it would be that too much is wrapped up in so few pages.

The sequel can’t come fast enough. In the meantime, I will devour Hush, Hush over and over again. Make sure you cancel all your plans because once you start Hush, Hush you won’t be able to put it down. A real pager-turner that keeps you guessing until the bitter end. Move over Edward Cullen, here comes Patch!

Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Recommended for: YA, Twilight & cutesy romance fans

Teaser quote:
But he was always there. Watching me watching him. Never any closer to me, but never any further way, either.
And so it was an unbroken pattern for six years: the wolves' haunting presence in the winter and their even more haunting absence in the summer. I didn't think about the timing. I thought they were wolves. Only wolves.
(pg 7, ISBN 978-0-545-12326-6)

My rating: 4.5/5

My thoughts:

Grace was only eleven when she was taken from her backyard by a pack of wolves. As she lay there, not sure what was happening, she noticed a wolf with a set of yellow eyes in the background. Rescued by 'her wolf', her fascination with wolves begins. Six years go by and one day Grace finds a boy, with those yellow eyes at her door. Sam is a boy in the summer & wolf in the winter but time is running out and soon he will just be a wolf. This is a heartbreaking story of the struggle to overcome anything for love.

I must admit, I wanted to shake Sam sometimes. It was frustrating, time was of the essence but he wanted to do things 'the right way'. I mean, come on, they've been stalking each other for years, don't they want to know EVERYTHING about each other before it's too late??

Each chapter is written in alternating point of views as either Sam or Grace. It took a few chapters to get into the groove but it works to emphasize their struggles in their different worlds. Stiefvater's take on werewolves (maybe shape shifter is more appropriate?) was unique and I am interested in where she will go with the trilogy.

It looks like we will be seeing Grace & Sam on the big screen soon! Just a few weeks ago, it was announced that Unique Features has acquired screen rights :)


http://www.maggiestiefvater.com/

In My Mailbox - October 11, 2009

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren

My goodie this week:

Simon Spotlight Entertainment
September 2009
Hardcover, 256 pages


From publisher:
Since the dawn of time, when the first smitten caveboy tried to woo the object of his affections by shoving her into the mud, men have demonstrated that when it comes to women, they are profoundly stupid. And when it comes to men, women -- no matter how intelligent or mature -- are completely crazy.

Based on this simple yet groundbreaking insight, comedy writers and real-life couple Howard J. Morris and Jenny Lee have devised a relationship guide that is refreshingly honest, completely hilarious, and surprisingly practical. Using their own crazy/stupid romance as an example of these forces in action, they set out to explain why women ask questions that they absolutely do not want answered -- and why men persist in answering them. What are men really thinking -- or crucially, not thinking? Why do women view even the most mundane events through an emotional prism? Why do guys suck at being romantic? And why does every conversation with a woman lead back to whether or not she's fat?

I have always wondered why men were't as smart as us, lol. This looks like such as fun read.

Thoughtful Thursday - October 8, 2009

The wonderful world of books enriches our lives by giving us the opportunity to experience, well pretty much anything one can imagine! We can be transported to a new time or place, experience pure joy or extreme sadness, become a president or a slave etc. etc.
********************************************************************************
I finally read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater and got to fall in love with with a werewolf :) I loved this one, would re-read again in a heartbeat if my TBR wasn't so big.

Now I'm reading Pendragon's Banner by Hellen Hollick. I'm following King Aurthur around as he fights to hold his title. I'm loving the role women play in historical fiction :)
********************************************************************************
Where has your book taken you this week? What have you learned? Join in my weekly meme :) Don't forget to mention what book you read.

And the winner is....

JENNY is the winner of my Atlas Shrugged giveaway!!!Congratulations, I've just sent you an email.

Thanks to everyone else for playing :)

Giveaway: Run For Your Life by James Patterson & Michael Legwidge

A calculating killer who calls himself The Teacher is taking on New York City, killing the powerful and the arrogant. His message is clear: remember your manners or suffer the consequences! For some, it seems that the rich are finally getting what they deserve. For New York's elite, it is a call to terror.

Only one man can tackle such a high-profile case: Detective Mike Bennett. The pressure is enough for anyone, but Mike also has to care for his 10 children-all of whom have come down with virulent flu at once!

Discovering a secret pattern in The Teacher's lessons, Detective Bennett realizes he has just hours to save New York from the greatest disaster in its history. From the #1 bestselling author comes RUN FOR YOUR LIFE, the continuation of his newest, electrifying series.
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Thanks to the amazing people at Hachette, I have 5 copies to giveaway!

Contest end date: October 27th, 2009

Contest rules:

you MUST BE A FOLLOWER to join. It's super easy, just click on the follow box on the right hand side if you don't follow already!

open to Canadian & US addresses only (no P.O. Boxes)

leave a comment with your email address as I will contact the winner by email. Should you win, you have 48 hrs to respond, otherwise I will pick another winner.

Additional entries:
+1 for promoting the contest on your blog
+1 for tweeting the giveaway(include me in the tweet: @hefollowedme)
+1 for referring a friend (just get them to mention your name & blog)

Good luck everyone!!

"Waiting On" Wednesday - October 7, 2009

This weekly event is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My can't wait to read book is Blacklands by Belinda Bauer:



Release Date: January 5, 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

From publisher:

A psychological thriller about the cat-and-mouse game between a boy desperately seeking the truth about this uncle's murder and the murderer himself.

From Publisher's Weekly website:

Editor Marysue Rucci calls Blacklands “the best psychological suspense I've read in years—think The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time meets The Silence of the Lambs. This novel is fiendishly imaginative and terrifying—and compulsively readable.

I crawled out of the rock I was living under....

...and now have a Twitter acct!!!!

Thankfully Twitter found a few people automatically but I know I follow many more blogs.

If you have Twitter acct:

- you can find me here

- leave me a comment below OR follow me so I can follow you :)

Happy Tweeting!

Mel

Tuesday Teaser - October 6, 2009

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

From Pendragon's Banner by Hellen Hollick:

"And, subtly directed by her innocently casual suggestions, they would soon consider laying claim to even more. Winifred glowed within herself - plotting Arthur's downfall was so satisfying!" (pg 83, ISBN 978-1-4022-1889-7)

In My Mailbox / Mailbox Monday - October 4-5, 2009

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren

and thanks to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting Mailbox Monday.

My goodies this week:

I think I may watch the Sense & Sensibility movie for comparison ;)















Three tales of supernatural love that all hinge on that life-changing moment when lips touch.

This one looks really fun...and I love cover :)





Everyone’s heard of it...but nobody’s read it. Luke, Seth, and Kady have heard all the stories about Malice – a secret comic about a strange, awful world of tricks and traps, overseen by a sinister master of ceremonies, Tall Jake. But if rumours are to be believed the children in this comic are real…

You MUST see the cover of this..it's 3D!!!






Even though your vampire’s skin is translucent, he can still be very hard to read. Sometimes he’s simply holding back his true feelings…and other times…well, he’s just not that into you. How can you tell? Undead dating specialist Vlad Mezrich has all the answers you need to get your vampire and keep him forever!

Perfect for anyone who got sucked into the Twilight books, it is too cute :)

Giveaway: Must Love Hellhounds

About the book:

From New York Times bestselling authors Charlaine Harris and Nalini Singh and national bestselling authors Ilona Andrews and Meljean Brook, tales of man’s worst friend...In these hound-eat-hound worlds, anything goes… and everything bites.

Follow paranormal bodyguards Clovache and Batanya into Lucifer’s realm, where they encounter his fearsome four-legged pets, in Charlaine Harris’s The Britlingens Go to Hell. Seek out a traitor in the midst of a guild of non- lethal vampire trackers, one that intends to eradicate the entire species of bloodsuckers, in Nalini Singh’s Angels’ Judgment. Find out why the giant three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hades has left the underworld for the real world—and whose scent he’s following—in Ilona Andrews’s Magic Mourns. Embark on a perilous search for the kidnapped niece of a powerful vampire alongside her blind— and damn sexy—companion and a hellhound in Meljean Brook’s Blind Spot. These four novellas by today’s hottest paranormal authors will have hellhound lovers everywhere howling.

Click here for my review.

I have the opportunity to share this book with TWO lucky winners!

Contest end date: October 20th, 2009

Contest rules:

• you MUST BE A FOLLOWER to join


• open to CANADIAN addresses only please


• leave a comment with your email address as I will contact the winner by email. Should you win, you have 48 hrs to respond, otherwise I will pick another winner.


• Additional entries:



+1 for promoting the contest on your blog

+1 for referring a friend (just get them to mention your name & blog)

Good luck everyone!!

Review: Must Love Hellhounds

Must Love Hellhounds

Recommended for: fans of fantasy, Ilona Andrews, Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook

My rating: 4/5

My thoughts:

A compilation of four short stories from four best-selling fantasy authors. Each story is under 100 pages and, as the title suggests, involves a hellhound. But this is where the simularity ends.

The Britlingens Go To Hell by Charlaine Harris.

Batanya & Clovache are two female body guards hired by a thief. During his recent stint in Hell, he left behind an item which will cost him his life and needs their help recovering it. Along they meet up with beasts & Lucifer, as well as Narcissus and Ameila Earhart (yes, the one you are thinking about!). The thief, well, he has a very special physical trait. This was the most unique story of them all. Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) fans may be in for a surprise when they read this story.

Angels' Judgement by Nalini Singh

The Guild director has announced his retirement & has suggested Sara to be his replacement. Someone is killing vampires and its the job of the Guild to find out who. Unbeknowst to Sara, Deacon ('The Slayer') is sent to be her back her up. The most romantic story of them all from the author of Psy-Changeling and the Guild hunter series. I had not read anything by Singh before but that is about to change. I'm not normally a romance reader, but adding blood & vamps changes things ;)

Magic Mourns by Iiona Andrews

When the police can't help, people call The Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid. Andrea gets the call of a shapeshifter in trouble, grabs her gear and heads out. She finds Cerberus chasing a werehyena, Raphael, the guy who relentlessly calls her everyday. They work together to figure out why this hellhound is guarding a house and if it has anything to do with a missing body. My second favorite story in the book that uses two characters from Magic Strikes. I loved the blending of mythology with the apple story and the ending of this one.

Blind Spot by Meljean Brook

Ex-CIA operative, Maggie has taken on the job as a butler for a billionaire owner of a pharmaceutical company. Her employers niece, Katherine, has just been kidnapped and Maggie is sent, along with a hellhound, to meet her brother. Maggie's past may hold some clues to finding the kidnappers and as they set out to find Katherine, she discovers a fascinating family secret. My favorite of all short stories, a novella from her Guardian series. This story had just the right mix of romance & fantasy for me.

Click here for your chance to win a copy!

Giveaway: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

About the book:
Once in a generation a novel comes along that taps a vein of universal human experience, resonating with readers of all ages. THE LOVELY BONES is such a book -- a #1 bestseller celebrated at once for its artistry, for its luminous clarity of emotion, and for its astonishing power to lay claim to the hearts of millions of readers around the world.

"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her -- her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling. Out of unspeakable tragedy and loss, THE LOVELY BONES succeeds, miraculously, in building a tale filled with hope, humor, suspense, even joy.

The major motion picture version of THE LOVELY BONES, directed by Peter Jackson and starring Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, and Saoirse Ronan is scheduled for release on December 11, 2009.

Click here for the movie trailer!

Alice Sebold is the author of three #1 bestselling books, the novels The Lovely Bones and The Almost Moon and the memoir Lucky. She lives in California with her husband, the novelist Glen David Gold.

I'm super excited to have the opportunity to giveaway 5 copies of this amazing book.

Contest end date: October 20th, 2009


Contest rules:

you MUST BE A FOLLOWER to join (It's super easy, just click on the follow box on the right hand side)

open to Canadian & US addresses only (no P.O. Boxes)

leave a comment with your email address as I will contact the winner by email. Should you win, you have 48 hrs to respond, otherwise I will pick another winner.

Additional entries:
+1 for promoting the contest on your blog
+1 for referring a friend (just get them to mention your name & blog)

Good luck everyone!!

Review: Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom

Recommended for: everyone

Teaser Quote:
"Having more does not keep you from wanting more. And if you always want more - to be richer, more beautiful, more well known - you are missing the bigger picture, and I can tell you from experience, happiness will never come." (pg 101, ISBN 978-0-7868-6872-8)

My rating: 4/5

My thoughts:

Mitch is perplexed after being asked by his hometown Rabbi, Albert Lewis, to deliver his eulogy when the time came. He accepts but recognizes the need to get to know him as a man rather then just a Rabbi. During his meetings with Al, they explore important topics including marriage, forgiveness and the secret to happiness.

Throughout the book, we are shown the lives of two very different people: different religious backgrounds (a Rabbi and a Pastor), with very different pasts, in two very different neighborhoods. Each chapter sheds light on the life of either Mitch, Rabbi Albert Lewis or Pastor Henry Covington. Quickly, Mitch notices they aren't as different as they seem. Both men were living their lives trying to send the same message, that there is comfort in believing something bigger than yourself.

Another inspirational story written by the author of best-sellers Tuesday's With Morrie and For One More Day. Whether you are religious, or not, is irrelevant. After reading this book, you are left feeling how different the world would be if only we all a little less selfish and that change is always possible.

Mitch Albom's Official Website

Thoughtful Thursday - October 1, 2009

The wonderful world of books enriches our lives by giving us the opportunity to experience, well pretty much anything one can imagine! We can be transported to a new time or place, experience pure joy or extreme sadness, become a president or a slave etc. etc.
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This week I got struck with a darn cold and only read one book Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom: I became friends with my Rabbi and a Pastor and learned how important it is to give and not be so selfish.

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Where has your book taken you this week? What have you learned? Join in my weekly meme :) Don't forget to mention what book you read.