Just wanted to thank-you all for a terrific year! I have loved getting to know a number of you and a number of new authors! I hope 2012 is a year full of dreams fulfilled and new possibilities!

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY WINNER IS...

I just wanted to post this morning and thank the wonderful authors; Amanda Strong, Laura Dave, Susan McBride, Gwendolen Gross, and Sarah Jio for helping me put this giveaway together. I also wanted to thank all of you for coming to my blog and letting me know how much you enjoy my reviews and the giveaways. As I was compiling all the comments from all the books in the giveaway, it was exciting  to see so many names show up week after week! Thank-you! I still haven't heard back from a couple of my giveaway weekly winners, so I will use random.org next week to pick new winners for those two books. I wish I could send you all out books, but I am excited to be able to give a great collection of books to one lucky winner.

The winner of the HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY is...

Sassy66red--Renee!

Congratulations!!!!

GRAND PRIZE HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY!!!!

1. The Violets of March by Sarah Jio
2. The Orphan Sister by Gwendolen Gross
3. Little Black Dress by Susan McBride
4. The First Husband by Laura Dave
5. With Just One Click by Amanda Strong

Here is my list of top five books I reviewed this year! If you have entered for any or all of these books over the last five weeks, you are entered for the grand prize giveaway! The grand prize is all five books! I will be picking a grand prize winner in the morning. You want one more chance to get your name in or in again?? Enter below with your email address! This giveaway closes 12/22 at midnight EST US only. Sorry. I will announce the winner on 12/23! Because it is so close to Christmas the winner will need to make sure to email me with their address by 12/30/11 if I don't hear from them I will choose another winner! Best of luck to everyone! I have loved having the opportunity to share all these great books with you and want to thank all of these wonderful authors for making this giveaway possible!!!

GHOST ON BLACK MOUNTAIN + Giveaway By Ann Hite

Sitting around the campfire when I was a little girl hearing ghost stories, I remember the feeling of dread as I reached the bedroom and would jump into bed and hope nothing scary would reach from underneath my bed and grab hold of me!  I’ll be honest, the first night I started reading Ghost on Black Mountain made me take off to bed feeling like that little girl again!

 Ann Hite spins the web of Nellie Pritchard’s life. The story begins during the depression-era in North Carolina. Nellie is just a young girl serving food in a food line at the local church when she meets the handsome Hobbs Pritchard who changes the course of her life.  Everyone around Nellie told her to get away far away from Hobbs, but Nellie was in love and believed he was a good man. Shortly after arriving on Black Mountain the ghosts began to show up, one wanted her to leave and one had other plans for her. Life on Black Mountain wasn’t what Nellie thought it would be. She begins digging around the attic and learns more about who Hobbs really is and then the beatings start. Nellie soon realizes she may not be able to escape him.

A moment in time takes hold of Nellie--the mountain ghosts take their revenge! A past refusing to be forgotten like a noose around her neck. Submerge yourself into Ghost on Black Mountain, but remember, "Once a person leaves the mountain, they never come back, not really. They're lost forever" (Back Cover).
The book is broken up into six parts; each part is about five different women. Each story is an extension of Black Mountain giving us greater insight into who Nellie was.

I absolutely loved Ghost on Black Mountain. It wasn’t really scary, but has a dark eerie vibe during the whole book. I was completely engrossed the more I read the more captivated I became. I wanted to find out how all of this would come together and end. This was such a great book! I can’t wait to see what Ann Hite writes next! An absolute recommend!

I love when a book really grabs me the way this one did! I’m even more excited when I love a book and have an opportunity to give a copy away! If you are ready to, “Pull up a rocker and gaze into the hill at sundown. Old-time story telling unfolds in this dark, twisted tale where hardscrabble lives, murderous secrets, and ghosts intersect on a mysterious mountain”—Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt  then comment below and make sure to leave your email address for your chance to win!

I have one copy to giveaway. The giveaway will close Dec 30, 2011 at midnight EST. The giveaway is US/Canada residents only! 

http://www.annhite.com/

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY BOOK #1

1. The Violets of March by Sarah Jio
2. The Orphan Sister by Gwendolen Gross
3. Little Black Dress by Susan McBride
4. The First Husband by Laura Dave
5. With Just One Click by Amanda Strong

I highly recommend all of these books!

How the giveaway works. You will be able to enter for your chance to win a copy of this week's book plus by entering you are also entered into the grand prize giveaway for all five books. For every week you comment you get an additional entry for the grand prize giveaway. So if you comment on all five books, you get your name listed five times into the drawing for the grand prize. Good-luck! 


So what is book #1???

The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

I am an avid reader. I love to read. I love to read all sorts of genres. I have been asked over the years, “what is your favorite book,” well I don’t have one. There are just too many good ones out there. But from now on I have an answer. I will from now on answer, “The Violets of March by Sarah Jio.”

Emily Wilson had it all. Married to a GQ handsome hubby, bestselling author her life was picture perfect. Suddenly, it was all over. Her husband leaves her for another woman and her best-seller writing career is going know where because she has writers block. Where can she go? She decides to go back to one of her favorite places in the world, Bainbridge Island, where she spent her summers growing up visiting her Aunt Bee.

There to deal with the loss of her marriage and hopefully to find some inspiration for a new book, what she finds instead is an Island full of secrets and two love interests. Love interest number one is Greg, an old high school boyfriend and the other good looking local artist, Jack. While figuring out her own love life, she stumbles onto an old diary dated from 1943. As Emily begins reading the story of diary, she finds her own life to have parallels to the author, Ester’s, life. Emily begins to realize the sort of love she wants and deserves. Feeling so close to Ester, she realizes she must solve the mystery, but the more Emily learns the more questions arise.

I have a very messy house right now, because I could hardly put this book down. I read it in one day and that is not an easy feat in my home. When I read the journal entries (which are more of a story within a story) I felt transported to another era. I was completely engaged in the story and lost track of time. The descriptions are very well written. I could smell the salty air and I could feel Emily’s frustration. The entire time I was trying to figure out the puzzle of the story and I could not figure it out. I wanted the mystery solved, but at the same time I didn’t want the story to end.

This book has goosebump moments and brought me to tears! I LOVED this book! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading!

This is Jio’s debut novel. I cannot wait to see what she writes next. And this is a book I will read again and I almost never do that!

I absolutely recommend The Violets of March! Make sure to comment below with your email address for your chance to win a copy of Sarah's book. The Holiday Countdown Giveaway is for US residents only. Sorry!

****This giveaway will close on December 21 midnight EST. I will announce the winner and notify them by email. You will only have 48 hours to claim your prize. By commenting below you will also be entered for your chance to win all 5 books in the Holiday Countdown Giveaway.****

MAKE SURE TO LEAVE EMAIL SO I CAN LET YOU KNOW IF YOU WIN!!!

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY BOOK #2

How the giveaway will work. Over the next five weeks I will count up from 5 listing my top 5 choices for books that I believe would make great gifts. You will be able to enter for your chance to win a copy of that week's book plus by entering you are also entered into the grand prize giveaway for all five books. For every week you comment you get an additional entry for the grand prize giveaway. So if you comment on all five books, you get your name listed five times into the drawing for the grand prize. Good-luck!

Narrowing down all the books I read to a list of five was no easy feat. I wanted five books I enjoyed and books I felt would be great gifts to give or receive. 

So what is book #2?

THE ORPHAN SISTER by Gwendolen Gross

My review from earlier this year:

Finding the path to one’s own identity is a story in and of itself, but to be one of three brings about a number of additional complexities. Gwendolen Gross writes a multifaceted story of Clementine Lords’ journey in finding her own path. Clementine is a singleton who was born a triplet with identical twin sister’s Odette and Olivia. She is one with them and yet she is different and not the same as them. She is the odd sister out.

When Clementine’s father goes missing she is pressed to deal with her long standing family issues. A father she loved, hated, wanted his approval, rebelled against, didn’t trust and longed to trust. A mother she felt who hide herself away in her husband’s shadow not fully living up to the strong, smart, independent woman Clementine believed she could be. Her identical twin sisters, who she longed to be one with and at the same time wanted to be different than. While dealing with these numerous family emotions, she is also dealing with finding peace and moving on after losing her ‘other half’.

As Clementine moves forward in finding out where her father went, she has flashbacks of her childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. These flashbacks allow the reader to gain a deeper and greater understanding to the complexity of Clementine. She has a deep need for acceptance and wants to know she is just as much a part of the family as the rest of the ‘flock’. Clementine learns you become your own woman when you no longer look for acceptance from others, but from yourself and to not let other peoples’ lives dominate ours.

Truthfully, the only thing in regard to The Orphan Sister I didn’t like was I didn’t have someone to talk to about it! I’m so glad I can share some of my book love with you! Gwendolen Gross is an amazingly smart writer! She writes beautifully! The book is in a constant state of movement diving into the complexities of family. Even though I’m very different than Clementine I could really relate to her desire to feel safe and accepted. Her relationship with her father (though different) made me reflect on my own relationship with mine. I’d love to go on and on discussing the end of the book, but I do not want to spoil the story for any of you.

I absolutely recommend The Orphan Sister and if you are in a book club this is a must read! Make sure to comment below with your email address for your chance to win a copy of Gwendolen's book. The Holiday Countdown Giveaway is for US residents only. Sorry!

****This giveaway will close on December 16 midnight EST. I will announce the winner and notify them on Saturday. The winner will have 48hours to respond with their address or a new winner will be chosen. By commenting below you will also be entered for your chance to win all 5 books in the Holiday Countdown Giveaway.****

CHOSEN by Chandra Hoffman

Adoption. It’s about making a family. Chosen by Chandra Hoffman is a rollercoaster ride of the people behind those faces on adoption brochures. Social Worker, Chloe Pitner at Chosen Child Adoption Agency loves her job…well most of it. She believes in what she is doing. It’s about bringing the right people together. She has a great reputation on the adoption messaging boards and a photo book of happily ever after stories.

Chosen is a story about four couples whose lives are intertwined. Two babies born--lives forever changed. One couple relishing in finally having their dream baby; another couple has to wait and see and a young couple not sure what the right choice is. Chandra Hoffman examines the what if you get everything you always wanted and found out it wasn’t. When a baby goes missing it pushes everyone to question what they really want.

Paul and Eva finally have their dream child, but parenthood isn’t as pretty as they thought it would be. Eva struggles with postpartum depression and Paul throws himself into building his business to be the biggest in the state.

John and Francie have suffered years of disappointment while trying to have a child. When they finally have one in reach will he be lost to them forever? Can their marriage withstand the dramatic change in who they are?

Jason and Penny have nothing but criminal records and a baby to offer. Jason loves Penny and wants to give her the life he believes she deserves at any cost.

Reading along I found my heart beating faster and at other times with tears running down my face. Due to the content of the story you would think it would be so easy to love some characters and hate others, but truthfully I didn’t. All the characters were really well developed. Even though Chloe is the main thread in the novel, Hoffman gives her readers access to almost all the characters private thoughts and motivations.

I would add there is some adult language and themes, but I truthfully believe it added to the raw and grittiness of the story. I absolutely recommend Chosen! Once you start reading you won't want to stop till the very last page! Chandra Hoffman is an author to watch! Make sure to follow the link below and order a copy!

Get to know about Chandra at her website http://www.chandrahoffman.com/ or you can follow her:

Facebook

Twitter

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY BOOK #3

Congratulations to Susan! Winner of Holiday Countdown Book #4 The First Husband by Laura Dave

How the giveaway will work. Each Monday over the next five weeks I will count up from 5 listing my top 5 choices for books that I believe would make great gifts. Each Monday you will be able to enter for your chance to win a copy of that week's book plus by entering you are also entered into the grand prize giveaway for all five books. For every week you comment you get an additional entry for the grand prize giveaway. So if you comment on all five books, you get your name listed five times into the drawing for the grand prize. Good-luck!

Narrowing down all the books I read to a list of five was no easy feat. I wanted five books I enjoyed and books I felt would be a great gift to give or receive for a large number of people.

So what is book #3?

Little Black Dress by Susan McBride

My review from earlier this year:

Every woman deserves to have the perfect little black dress.  McBrides’ newest release is about a magical black dress, which enhances the figure of any and every woman’s body who slips it on. But the magic of this special black dress doesn’t stop there. Sisters Evelyn and Annabelle couldn’t be any more different, but when they each slip on the magical black dress from the gypsy shop they both get a glimpse of their future.

Antonia Ashton gets word her mother, Evie, has had a stroke and is in the hospital in a coma. Leaving her successful wedding coordinator business and boyfriend Greg behind in St. Louis she returns home to Blue Hills. Having not been back since her father’s death two years earlier she begins to see how her mother’s life was beginning to spiral out of control. As she begins digging into her mother’s affairs she unearths questions about her mother’s past and finds a mysterious little black dress at the heart of it all.

The novel shifts chapters between Evie and her daughter, Antonia. Evie’s stories are first person accounts from the past leading the reader to the present, while Antonia’s story is what is currently going on and in third person.  I loved going back and forth getting to know Evie in a way her daughter, Toni doesn’t know her, while at the same time getting to see Toni realizing some her own mistakes and seeing her mother in a new light. 

I wasn’t sure about the whole idea of a future seeing black dress, but it worked! This is a story about how three women respond when getting a glimpse, how it can change everything in a moment. More than that it’s a story of family and sisters and the love they have for one another. It was heartwarming and beautifully written. I’d love to go on and on about this book, but I don’t want to say too much and ruin the story!

This was one of my favorite books I’ve read this summer.  I am definitely recommending you go and buy a copy! 

Make sure to comment below with your email address for your chance to win a copy of Susan’s book. The Holiday Countdown Giveaway is for US residents only. Sorry!

****This giveaway will close on December 11 midnight EST. I will announce the winner and notify them on Monday. The winner will have 48hours to respond with their address or a new winner will be chosen. By commenting below you will also be entered for your chance to win all 5 books in the Holiday Countdown Giveaway.****

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY BOOK #4

Congratulations to Charlotte! Winner of Holiday Countdown Book #5 With Just one Click by Amanda Strong!!!


How the giveaway will work. Each Monday over the next five weeks I will count up from 5 listing my top 5 choices for books that I believe would make great gifts. Each Monday you will be able to enter for your chance to win a copy of that week's book plus by entering you are also entered into the grand prize giveaway for all five books. For every week you comment you get an additional entry for the grand prize giveaway. So if you comment on all five books, you get your name listed five times into the drawing for the grand prize. Good-luck!

Narrowing down all the books I read to a list of five was no easy feat. I wanted five books I enjoyed and books I felt would be a great gift to give or receive for a large number of people.

So what is book #4?

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY BOOK #4

THE FIRST HUSBAND

By Laura Dave

Here is my review from earlier this year:

 Annie Adams has spent her entire life moving around. It’s no surprise when she lands a job traveling the world writing a syndicated travel column. She is living with good looking long term boyfriend, Nick and their dog. Nick’s career as a film director is about to take off. They seem to have it all…or so Annie thought. Nick pulls the rug under her when he reveals he has reconnected with an old flame and needs to see where it leads. Reeling over his announcement, her best friend Jordan tells her to go have fun. He’ll be back! Feeling as if she has no idea how to be fun, Jordan tells her to be the opposite of herself…and she does exactly that.

Three months later, Annie is living in a small Massachusetts town married to Griffin. She took her friends advice all right. Suddenly, Annie is in a world she has never known. Her brother-in-law and his twin sons live with them, her new mother-in-law appears to wish Griffin had chosen his once upon a time long term girlfriend that oops Griffin forgot to mention how long they dated! Could their marriage really just be a rebound relationship for both of them?  Jordan thinks so and so does Nick who comes back to claim the women and the life he wants back.

All this sends Annie moving, the only thing that feels safe to her. She has to ask herself who is the man she is really meant to spend her life with.

The story itself was not all that different than other books I’ve read. But what this book has is the protagonist, Annie do some self exploring. She asked herself some tough questions and looked for real answers. She had a best friend giving her advice counter to what I would have said to her—something I can’t say I’ve seen a lot of. Usually the best friend acts as an agent of the readers, I found this completely refreshing! This is a book that has everything a good book should have and more.

I have heard fabulous things about Laura Dave. This was my first Laura Dave book, and it did not disappoint. This was such a great book and I know I’m going to be reading Laura Dave’s books from here on out. Not only am I going to recommend this book, but I’ll go one further and say if you can’t get your hands on a copy of this book read one of her others! This isn’t just a good book this is a good author.

Make sure to comment below with your email address for your chance to win a copy of Laura's book. The Holiday Countdown Giveaway is for US residents only. Sorry!

****This giveaway will close on December 4 midnight EST. I will announce the winner and notify them on Monday. The winner will have 48hours to respond with their address or a new winner will be chosen.By commenting below you will also be entered for your chance to win all 5 books in the Holiday Countdown Giveaway.****

ESCAPE by Barbara Delinsky

Emily Aulenbach is a New York attorney. She and her lawyer husband are paying their dues working long hard hours until they can move up the ladder. Emily had dreams of becoming a lawyer to help people, but is now working for a firm helping a corporation. She begins one morning just like any other morning when suddenly it’s all just too much. She feels she is more connected to technology than she is to the people in her life and she has had enough. She has enough and leaves work one day, goes home and packs a bag. As she is getting ready to go out the door she stops to pick up a letter, it’s a letter from her former lover, Jude. The letter tells her he is coming back to Bell Valley, after ten years of being gone. She walks out the door and gets in the car.

When Emily leaves she isn’t sure where she is going, but she knows she needs to get away. She loves her husband, James, but feels very disconnected from him lately. She finds herself headed back to Bell Valley where she escaped years ago. It’s a reconnection with her old college roommate, Vicki that gives her a safe place to reevaluate what she wanted and still wants out of her life. Jude true to his word suddenly shows in Bell Valley, but Jude isn’t the only one who shows up there. Can Emily reclaim the idealism she and James seemed to have lost along the way? Or will unfinished feelings for Jude reclaim Emily?

I found myself having a hard time really getting into Escape. The story moved slowly and I thought I knew where it was headed. I had a hard time believing a sensible attorney with a full time job, bills, and a husband could just pack her things and take a break from reality. I also found it hard to believe how accommodating her husband seemed. Don’t get me wrong I can get behind the idea of escaping, it’s just the doing. Once the story moves beyond that and Emily settles into the routine of life in Bell Valley I found myself enjoying the story more. I could appreciate the sentiment of the story and felt there is a lesson to be learned here.

Overall, I enjoyed Escape. I would recommended it and would look at reading more by Barbara Delinsky.

Can can connect with Barbara

Facebook

Twitter

http://barbaradelinsky.com/

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY BOOK #5

How the giveaway will work. Each Monday over the next five weeks I will count up from 5 listing my top 5 choices for books that I believe would make great gifts. Each Monday you will be able to enter for your chance to win a copy of that week's book plus by entering you are also entered into the grand prize giveaway for all five books. For every week you comment you get your an additional entry for the grand prize giveaway. So if you comment on all five books, you get your name listed five times into the drawing for the grand prize. Good-luck!

Narrowing down all the books I read to a list of five was no easy feat. I wanted five books I enjoyed and books I felt would be a great gift to give or receive for a large number of people. Book #5 was really between two books. I ended up making my choice because I felt the book would appeal to a larger group of people due to it's content.

So what is book #5?

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY BOOK #5

WITH JUST ONE CLICK 

by Amanda Strong

Here is my review written earlier this year.

The lives of three women are drastically changed after they decide to sign-up for the social networking site, Facebook. Amanda Strong explores the ‘what if’s’ most people have thought about as they enter the social networking world, but never succumb too. The lives of Chloe, Morgan and Brynn explore what happens when your past friend requests your present life.

Chloe, an up and coming movie reviewer in New York, surrenders to her roommate and good friend Bianca and finally creates a Facebook profile. Slowly gaining the all important friends and enjoying stalking their lives she receives the most shocking friend request. Kyle Woodward. Kyle, her first love, the teenage boy she gave her virginity to, the boy who broke her heart. To accept or decline was the question. Chloe accepts his friendship request and Kyle comes back into her life. Chloe opens those old wounds as the relationship goes from highs to lows.

Morgan, stay-at-home mom of two little sweethearts enjoys posting with the instant feedback of friends and ability to post pictures of her family on Facebook. She convinces her husband to sign-up for Facebook too. After he does, his ex-girlfriend Julie makes her way onto his friend list and she just loves to post semi-suggestive comments. When Morgan presses her husband to delete her, he doesn’t and red flags are raised. She finds herself stalking him and hacking into his account causing him to defriend his own wife.

Brynn is also a stay-at-home mom. Her kids are in high school and no longer need her as much and the distance between her and her husband seems to be growing. After finding Facebook, she gets a friend request from her bad boy ex-boyfriend from high school. Slowly little comments, turn into online chats, until ex-boyfriend Timothy asks her to meet him for coffee. He’s been nothing but a respectful and supportive friend as she tries to decide what’s next. She begins relying on his online semi-real friendship more than her real life friends.

To know me is to know I love Facebook. Strongs’ exploration of taking the Facebook what if’s and really allowing those stories to be explored, was fascinating to me. The three stories are separate (or are they). I was completely engrossed. I enjoyed reading each of these women’s’ stories.

I felt Chloe’s story was slightly predictable, but suddenly as the book was drawing to a close I was no longer sure it would end the way I wanted it too. I related mostly to Morgan. I could see myself becoming the crazed stalker wife and my husband would respond similarly to her’s. Now I had a hard time relating to Brynn. I actually am very careful, not to look backwards. I kept waiting for her to realize she was headed for trouble. I believe the combination of the three stories together showed how easily and innocently Facebook or any social networking site can, without a doubt change everything about your real life with just one click. 

I loved this book. It was funny, witty, and touching. I didn’t want to put this book down. I thought the ending was perfect. I am a fan of Amanda Strong and I highly recommend her book.

Make sure to comment below with your email address for your chance to win a copy of Amanda's book. The Holiday Countdown Giveaway is for US residents only. Sorry! 

****This giveaway will close on November 27 midnight EST. I will announce the winner and notify them on Monday. The winner will have 48hours to respond with their address or a new winner will be chosen. By commenting below you will also be entered for your chance to win all 5 books in the Holiday Countdown Giveaway.****

Love on the Big Screen By William J. Torgerson

Zuke believes he has a grasp on how love works, he has watched and studied just about every 80s movie flick out there. Zuke is a sophomore at a Nazarene college, on the basketball team—albeit a bench warmer, and English major. You would think as an English major he loves reading/writing…well no a beautiful girl named, Abby is an English major and so Zuke signed up for the same major in order to get to know her better—it’s what Lloyd Dobler from Say Anything would do.

With his good friends, the Brothers in Pursuit, they seek God, Knowledge, compassion and most importantly women. Through the ups and downs of relationships, love and the intricacy of life Zuke learns everything he learned in the movies is nothing like real life.

I couldn’t help but like Zuke. He was so much the everyman underdog character. In those great 80s movies growing up (yes yes I just aged myself) I always loved the Farmer Ted/Lloyd Dobler’s of the movies. I couldn’t help but feel like I was getting a rare glimpse into the male psyche, while reading Love on the Big Screen. This book would have sure helped when I was in high school!

All joking aside, I did enjoy reading Love on the Big Screen. For me, I thought it had a slow start, but the more I got to know Zuke and his friends the more I enjoyed it. Once Zuke, started waking up and realizing how love in the movies is very different than real life I liked him even more. More than anything I really enjoyed the ending. The ending was all about being real and not a ‘movie’ type ending. The only real negative was a guy humor. Not really my thing, but that might be because I’m a girl. A definite lighthearted read.

Get to know William Torgerson by visiting him
Website: William J. Torgerson
Facebook: Love on the Big Screen

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN

Happy Holidays

I don't know about you, but I've been noticing Christmas music playing in the stores and I am suddenly feeling the rush to start buying! I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving already and I have yet to buy a turkey! My sister and her family are planning a trip here for Thanksgiving and I can't wait to do some black Friday shopping! I've been slowly putting together some Christmas lists and you know the closer it gets to the holidays the list of who to buy for grows! All those last minute gifts to buy especially when you are just out of ideas or when people ask you what you want and you just stare at them thinking, "I just want to be done". Well I was thinking I'm sure I'm not alone in need of ideas, so I thought I'd make a list of a few books I've reviewed that I think would make good gifts. A fun countdown till Christmas?

I want the giveaway to get us almost to Christmas, because I want you to have time to still shop or order these books.

Then I thought, I'd love to giveaway each book I list in the countdown, the week I listed it.

Then I thought wouldn't it be great to also do one big giveaway with all 5 books I list...

So I talked to the five lovely authors whose books are going to be on the list, and they have said they'd LOVE to be apart of such a giveaway!!!

So come back Monday to find out find out what book #5 is, and to enter for your chance to win a copy of it!!!

THE FIVE W’S Of Terri Giuliano Long + Giveaway

I am so excited to have Terri Giuliano Long joining us here on A Novel Review today! Terri is the bestselling author of the award-winning novel In Leah’s Wake. In August of this year, In Leah's Wake  hit the Barnes & Noble and Amazon bestseller lists. Please join me in getting to know:

The 5W's of Terri Giuliano Long

Who?

First, I’m a wife and mom. I enjoy nothing more than hanging out with my family. They make me laugh, they bring tremendous joy to my life and they teach me so much! I also love walking, hiking, and skiing. True to my Italian-American heritage, I love cooking. For an amateur, I can hold my own in the kitchen.

Professionally, I lecture at Boston College, where I’ve taught creative and nonfiction writing for 16 years. I’ve also written copy for marketing, advertising and public relations, edited technical articles for trade journals, and edited a small trade magazine. In Leah’s Wake is my first novel. I’m currently at work on a psychological thriller called Nowhere to Run. I hope to finish this year.

WHAT? What do you enjoy doing other than writing in your spare time?

I’m a passionate traveller and foodie. My husband, Dave, and I have had the good fortunate of visiting many beautiful, interesting places. I love ethnic foods and I’m fairly gutsy when it comes to trying new dishes. In Beijing, a few years ago, we went to a tiny restaurant with two students. The restaurant was a local spot, as opposed to a tourist trap, the menu written in Chinese, so they ordered for us. When the steaming bowl arrived, I dipped my chopsticks into the stew – and pulled out a frog. The head had been removed, thank goodness, but the body was fully intact. I realize that a lot of people eat frog; this was actually green. I thought Dave would gag when I ate it. To his credit, he didn’t.

I were not a fiction writer and teacher, I could see myself an international food writer.

WHEN? When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always been a writer at heart. As a child, I entertained myself by making up stories and acting in my own improvisational plays. In high school, the majority of my hobbies and activities somehow involved writing. One day, brazenly, I walked into the editor’s office at the town paper and asked for a job. For a while, I covered sports and general high school news. Eventually, the editor gave me my own column. I was sixteen. That column was my first paid writing job. I earned about a dollar a week – and I knew then that writing was the only job I’d ever want.

WHERE? Where do you write?

I’m easily distracted, so I need a quiet place to write, preferably with no Internet access. On the Internet, I tend to fall into a rabbit hole and I can lose the entire day I’d hoped to spend writing.

Oddly enough, I write well on planes. With children living on both coasts, my husband and I frequently travel cross-country. On a long flight, you’re trapped; to maintain space, most people disappear into their own world – watch TV, read, work on their iPad – so, in a sense, though surrounded by people, you’re alone. I relax and my mind opens up  - I’ve come up with a lot of good ideas, and written quite a few first drafts on planes.

When conditions are less than perfect – for most of us they often are – I read. Reading relaxes me enough to write. For others, walking, meditating, listening to music can help.

WHY? Why do you write?

I write because I’m curious. I have an itch that needs scratching or a problem I need to resolve. I observe someone or something, an event, and I want to figure out what happened or why.

In my creative work, I write almost exclusively about family. Families fascinate me. While my stories differ—I’m currently working on a psychological thriller with a historical twist—they always tie back to the family, the ways we love, yet often hurt one another, the grief, the sorrow, the revelation, the joy. Most readers connect with these stories. Many readers – some I’ve met in person; others I’ve never met – have said In Leah’s Wake feels real, the problems complex. They’ve been there – as a parent or a teen. They feel as if they know these characters and they care about them. I think of writing as a dialogue between author and reader. For me, this ability to reach out and connect with people is the most important reason for writing.

I can’t imagine not writing. Writing transports me; I lose myself in the process. 

here is the trailer to In Leah's Wake

You want to read it now, don't you? I know I do! Well how cool is this,Terri has offered to giveaway two signed books with bookmarks and three ebooks! And this giveaway is International! Giveaway is open until November 29, midnight EST. Number of chances to win a copy!

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Website: www.tglong.com

Blog: www.tglong.com/blog

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