While some of the books I review on my site are furnished by the publishers, authors, or publicists for the purpose of review all of my reviews are truthful, honest, and my sincere opinion.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Made in the USA Winners!

edit: I just realized I titled this one wrong. Sorry for any confusion (I know it took me a bit to figure this one out!)

Thanks again to Hachette for letting me host another great giveaway!




Thank you for everyone that entered this giveaway! There were 48 total entries from 31 different entrants!

The 5 Winners Are:
1) Cheryl S.
2) scottsgal
3) jcamp2020
4) Pamela S.
5) Deborah

I've sent out emails to get your address. Please respond by 11:59pm May 11th or I will draw a new winner.

I used Random.org's Random Sequence Generator to draw the winners.

Again thank you for entering and congratulations!

If you didn't win but still want to pick this one up please visit Hachette Book Group.

Mother's Day Blog Tour: Enduring Justice by Amy Wallace

First let me say thank you to Staci at Random House for letting me be a part of this blog tour. It was my first, and I really enjoyed the book!

Here's some info on the book:


A PAINFUL PAST

Hanna Kessler’s childhood secret has remained buried for over two decades. But when the dark shadows of her past threaten to destroy those she loves, Hanna must face the summer that changed her life and the man who still haunts her memories.

A RACIALLY-MOTIVATED KILLER

As a Crimes Against Children FBI Agent, Michael Parker knows what it means to get knocked down. Difficult cases and broken relationships have plagued his entire year. But when the system fails and a white supremacist is set free, Michael’s drive for retribution eclipses all else.

A LIFE-ALTERING CHOICE

A racist’s well-planned assault forces Hanna and Michael to decide between executing vengeance and pursuing justice. The dividing line between the two is the choice to heal. But when the attack turns personal, is justice enough?

My Review:
This story deals with some difficult issues, sexual abuse, kidnapping, murder, and racism. Amy Wallace does a great job not only in presenting the issues, but also the characters deal with these issues in mature and responsible ways (mostly). Even though it was a bit tough to read, as I kept getting disgusted at what these people were doing, I'm glad I finished it. This book is well worth it!

Wallace does a great job in developing her characters. I could almost feel what Hanna was going through, and I felt the rage that her brother and boyfriend experienced throughout. Even the small characters were believable. The only characters I didn't connect with were the bad guys, I don't share their beliefs and so I didn't quite understand where they were coming from with the hate. Kudos for Wallace for being able to write those characters without loosing herself. In the acknowledgment she hints at how emotionally difficult it was to write this book, and after reading it I can see why.

The dialogue was a little hard to follow at times but other than that it was very well written. Wallace tells the story and leaves out the mundane details (no overly explained settings or descriptions). The writing is clear and to the point, I think for this story to be as good as it was the extra details would have been too much!

I would recommend this book to anyone. I would have to warn that the subject matter can be a little hard to digest, but don't let it deter you from picking this one up.

Great book and I will be getting more from Mrs. Wallace in the future!

If you would like a copy of this great book, please visit Random House for purchasing information.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

I won, I won, I won :-)

I won a contest from FreshFiction the other day and I got my prize today!!!

I got 3 books by Robyn Carr, the first three in the Virgin River Series




Plus I got this great bag!


I already have the bag loaded with my knitting stuff!!!

Just wanted to share, I was so excited when the mailman brought me a BIG box!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Winners: Testimony



Thank you for everyone that entered this giveaway! There were 34 total entries from 18 different entrants!

The 5 Winners Are:
1) Busgirl
2) Jess
3) quelleheure4
4) SarCraw
5) Marisa

I sent out emails last night and have already gotten responses from all 5 winners!

I used Random.org's Random Sequence Generator to draw the winners.

Again thank you for entering and congratulations!

Don't forget about the other giveaway for Made in the USA by Billie Letts.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Review: Put your Dream to the Test by John C. Maxwell



I want to first thank Thomas Nelson publishing for their great review program. I've gotten a few great books from them and this one was just as good!

My review:

I've read two of John Maxwell's books before, I was inspired by them and this one was no disappointment. While some people may not even look twice at this book I think it is one that most everyone should read. When most people think of a dream they think of something that is unattainable. In this book Maxwell relates that not all dreams need to be huge, they just need to be something you are passionate about.

Maxwell's writing style allows anyone to understand the concepts he is trying to convey. He uses stories of people who have obtained their dreams and correlates those stories to each step of the dream process.

While reading this book I made many mental notes and have started using some of the processes that he mentions. One big thing that Maxwell points out is that if you are passionate about your dream, and you're pursuing a dream for the right reasons it can be achieved, you just need to realize it.

Overall a good read, it was both inspirational and motivating! It's never too late to achieve your dreams!

To find out more about this book, or to purchase this book please visit Thomas Nelson Publishing.