For Authors For Bloggers Beck Valley Books is an influential book review site and book tour host - Book Reviewer Yellow Pages A dream to work with, professional, helpful beyond measure plus working with her is one of the best things I've done to promote my eBook - author Lisa Consiglio Ryan I love working with you - you're kind, encouraging and effective! Thanks for all you do for all of us authors! - author Kaira Rouda I knew I had met someone who would handle my books like they were her own. Truly a pleasure doing business with you! - author Melissa Foster Your service and perseverance to assure that the tour ran smoothly enabled its success. I cannot express my appreciation enough - author Joyce Strand Amazingly organized, efficient and stays on top of the details. Her professionalism is outstanding, communication skills unparalleled and she's even rather adept at hand-holding when it is necessary - author Barbara Boswell Brunner Thanks so much to you and all of your wonderful reviewers! I've had phenomenal success from this blog tour - author Delia Colvin

Friday, November 30, 2012

SIGNED BOOK GIVE AWAY - Crashers by Lindy S Hudis 3 Winners!!

LAST DAY TO ENTER!! 
ends 12/1 11.59pm est 

THREE SIGNED BOOKS TO GIVEAWAY !!


This fabulous giveaway is brought to you by 
3 Lucky winners will each receive a Signed Book from the author.
Open Worldwide
Ending on Saturday 1st December at 11.59pm EST

Crashers is a modern day cautionary tale in a true to life novel.  A riveting story of love and desperation, greed and redemption.

Fraudulent car accidents is a multi-million dollar racket, involving unscrupulous medical providers, personal injury attorneys, and the cooperating passengers involved in the accidents—and who also receive a portion of the illegal proceeds. Such is the fate of newly engaged, Nathan and Shari, whose joy is tempered by the dark cloud of mounting debt.

A chance encounter with a stranger in whom Shari confides her troubles proves fortuitous: he tells her of a get-rich-quick scheme that will put her and her fiancé on easy street. Seduced by the chance to move from hard times to good times in no time, Sheri takes the carrot offered her, and finds herself acting as a “stuffed passenger”—the “victim” in a staged auto accident. The act goes according to plan and Shari gets her payday, but getting out and breaking free of the insurance fraud underworld will take nothing short of a miracle.

Across the nation, insurance fraud from staged auto accident schemes costs the insured more than $50 billion yearly. Crashers is a true-to-life novel that uncovers how the innocent get lured into the scheme of "cappers" and "hammers."

Enter to Win!!

Good Luck!!

Choose Your Favourite Book-Ends - Win Absolutely Nothing !!

LAST DAY TO ENTER !!

This is our family created competition.
All you have to do is choose your favourite book-ends from our growing home collection.
Photographs taken by my wonderful 11 year old son :-)
We know our favourite but can't let you in on the secret !!

Choose Your Favourite Book-Ends - Win Absolutely NOTHING !!

Winners name will be randomly drawn using a pin with our eyes shut !!

We will even tell you which book-end wins !!

Ending on 30th November 

1 - We love chess and just could not resist this pair 
2 - A very lucky find by hubbie in a charity shop
3 - Great for a childs room
4 - Really old book-ends found at auction
5 - Unusual yet beautiful find at auction
6 - What can I say, just couldn't resist
7 - These look much better in real life
8 - Cute
9 - How Unique
10 - On his lonesome

Ok time to choose guys - see below xx


Sharon x

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MVM Giveaway Linkup !!


Welcome to the best Giveaway Linkup on the web hosted by Moms with Voices Media! This is a great place to list and find giveaways hosted all around the blogosphere by some great bloggers.

  • List your giveaways below.
  • Hop over and enter 1 or 2 (or all) of the giveaways! If you're the lucky winner, we'd love to hear!

For more giveaways, sweeps and contests, check out our Giveaway Group on Facebook.



Join our new facebook group
Sunday is Quote Day

Sharon x

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The 13th by Shadow Stephens Book Excerpt plus 5 Sets of ebooks Give Away



The 13th

Magic in Strega Bluff is like parking meters in other cities. The quaint New England town is home to a large community of witches, warlocks--and many secrets. Jade Hansen loved living there until the untimely death of her parents. After a much-needed sabbatical, she returns to find the peaceful hamlet turned upside down. A string of murders haunts the city and everyone is potential a target, but even worse, they are all suspects. A family secret puts Jade in the middle and her loved ones in danger. Dodging an evil warlock set on revenge, she is in a race to stop the killer before it’s too late.   

Follow Shadow on Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Blog





Book Excerpt
Hours were spent wiping dust from each candle and placing them on shelves. Jade hung 4 x 4 inch weathered wood plaques above each group that described the scent and meaning of each candle. In the middle of the shop was a round, wooden table on which she placed incense. She chuckled as Asher grunted under the weight of an antique cash register and placed it on the counter. The outside was brass, with carvings of brooms, witch hats, cats, and cauldrons. This was far from a modern machine. You manually operated it by simply pushing the numbered buttons. Jade had found it on her travels and lugged it all the way back to Massachusetts. Living in a tourist town, she knew it would fit right in.

Strega Bluff was known for witches and warlocks, but to the public it was a myth. They assumed it was a fun place to come for the day, have a tarot card reading, eat lobster, buy souvenirs, and go home. Little did they know each citizen of this town was in fact magical. Each one different in their own right, they cashed in on the myth and supported their tiny town with the droves of people that came by ferryboat from the mainland.

Jade ran her hand over a candlewick and it sparked to life, filling the room with a lavender scent. Asher slumped into a chair, his black hair falling into his eyes. Jade smiled and ran her fingers through it, putting it back into place.

“I missed those deep green eyes of yours,” Asher said.

She had been born with stunning green eyes, which her mother had immediately fallen in love with. She named her Jade because of their bright color.

“Help me with this sign,” she said trying to ignore his comment. Being friends didn’t allow you to get too caught up in each other’s flattery.

Asher put his hands on his knees and stood up.

Grabbing a wooden sign, she walked outside as Asher followed her carrying a ladder. He leaned it against the building and reached in his pocket for nails and hung the ScentSations sign perfectly straight above the door.

“Want lunch?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m starving.”

“Let’s go.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and walked her back inside.

Asher flipped off the lights as they walked out. She snapped her fingers and the candle blew out causing a stream of grey smoke to dance toward the ceiling. Jade closed the door behind her and locked the deadbolt.  

Turning to walk toward the pier, Jade was pulled back by Asher taking her hand. “Um, the car is right here.”

Jade had to laugh. “It was worth a try.”

Asher insisted on driving Marilyn, his car, everywhere, even if his destination was two doors down.

“Will you ever stop obsessing about this car?” Jade asked as he started the engine.

“Marilyn and I go way back, don’t we girl,” he replied stroking the dash affectionately which caused Jade to roll her eyes.

They drove two blocks and parked. As usual, Captain Jack’s, one of the several local seafood restaurants, was packed with the dinner crowd. Jack, who received a fresh delivery of clams every morning from the local fishermen, could make the best clam chowder around.

Jade and Asher walked to a table that would normally be outside, but Jack had put up a temporary cover for fall and winter. Outdoor heaters had been set up to fight the chill and they burned giving off a loud hissing noise. They pulled the menus from the table holder, though they really didn’t need one, Jack never changed.

“Jade, you’re back!” the waitress squealed.

“Julie, oh my gosh, you’re very pregnant!” Jade stood up to hug her.

“Yep, I decided to let Doug get some,” she chuckled. “What will you ’all have?”

“Chowder,” they said at the same time.

“Bread or bowl?” Julie queried.

“You really need to ask that?” Asher said.

“Bread it is. Want your usual draft?”

They both nodded and Julie waddled away.

Five minutes later she came back with two huge sourdough bread bowls filled with white chowder. Steam danced atop them, and Jade eagerly grabbed her spoon.

“My gosh I missed this,” she said holding her palm above the soup and uttering a quick spell to cool it.

“That’s easy to solve, don’t leave again.” Asher said it lightly, but Jade knew he meant it.

“Ash, you know I had to.”

“I could’ve helped you.”

“I know, but it was just too much. I didn’t want to hear the police ask me about dark magic, or enemies one more time. My parents were murdered, and no one knows who did it.”

“They were just doing their jobs, but I understand. I still hated it while you were gone. It felt like a part of me was missing.”

“It’s not like I didn’t feel the same; I did. But, I’m back now, so let’s just concentrate on the future.”

“Sounds like a plan. To the future,” Asher said raising his beer glass. Jade clinked hers against his and they took a drink.

Asher drove her home and hugged her goodbye. “I’ll see ya tomorrow, Elf.”

Jade had to smile at his nickname for her. Her ears were a bit pointy at the top and the kids would tease her about it when she was little. They came up with the name and she hated it, except when Asher used it.

She watched Marilyn disappear down the quarter mile driveway before walking toward the house. The scent of his cologne mixed in with the smell of engine grease still filled her nose and she inhaled deeply.


About Shadow Stephens Story telling seems to be a part of my DNA. Since childhood, I made up fantastical characters and brought them to life. Part of it was to escape the turmoils of childhood and some were just for fun. Sitting beside my couch is a constant stack of history, biographies, and compelling fiction, which means I have many overloaded bookshelves. Wouldn't that be great to have a room just full of shelves? I would love to see a wave of outstanding, self-published authors take over the market. I think it's important to own your work and take pride in it. Writing several novels and short stories, I know the trials of writing and rejection. Constructive criticism can only make you better. Never doubt yourself.   



Tour Prize 
5 sets of Broken Butterflies and Legion of Bats ebooks 

Sharon x

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Heroes In Training - Poseidon and the Sea of Fury Book Blast

Poseidon and the Sea of Fury 

A young Poseidon must triumph over aquatic terrors in this Heroes in Training adventure. The merciless Cronus and his Titan buddies are in hot pursuit of Zeus, Hera, and Poseidon, who plan to travel across the treacherous boiling sea in order to save a fellow Olympian. They have a boat, but they also have a problem: Poseidon can’t swim and is terrified of the water (well, really of the creatures that lurk in its depths). The group faces danger after danger as they battle singing sirens, a fishy and ferocious Titan named Oceanus, and people-eating monsters sent by Cronus himself. Can Poseidon overcome his fears and help his fellow heroes escape Cronus and his cronies?






Purchase

Heroes in Training by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams
Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams deliver fun, adventures, and a few surprises as ten-year-old Olympians go on a journey of a lifetime to discover their true identities and defeat their Titan enemies.

Praise for Heroes in Training
"Readers will gobble this down and look for more, make no mythtake."
~ Kirkus

“This is a fun read, casting Zeus in the role of relatable kid, and there is a nice balance between his primary goal of survival and his sense of destiny and adventure. . . Share this title, and likely more to come, with those still too young for Percy Jackson’s adventures.”
~ School Library Journal

The Series
#1 Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom
#2 Poseidon and the Sea of Fury
#3 Hades and the Helm of Darkness
#4 Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire

Aladdin Paperbacks (ages 6-9)
http://series.simonandschuster.com/Heroes-in-training

Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom (Book 1)

After pulling a magical thunderbolt from a stone, ten-year-old Zeus goes on the adventure of a lifetime in this thrilling start to a brand-new series! The terrible Titans--merciless giants who enjoy snacking on humans--have dominated the earth and put the world into chaos. But their rule is about to be put to the test as a group of young Olympians discover their powers and prepare to righteously rule the universe....
 
Ten-year-old Zeus is mystified (and super-annoyed) by the fact that he keeps getting hit by lightening. Every. Single. Year. He also longs for adventure, as he has never been far from the cave where he grew up.

Zeus gets his wish--and a lot more than he bargained for--when he is kidnapped by dangerous, giant Titans! In self-defense, he grabs the first thing he sees--an actual thunderbolt he pulls from a stone that is covered in mysterious markings. Zeus is the only one who can decipher the markings, and sets off on a quest to rescue his youthful fellow Olympians from the evil Cronus. Armed with his trusty thunderbolt (named Bolt, of course), Zeus is on an adventure of a lifetime--and a journey to fulfill his destiny as King of the Gods.

Hades and the Helm of Darkness (Book 3 coming April 2013)

The Heroes in Training are entering the Underworld—if Hades can conquer his canine fears, that is.

The Underworld usually isn’t really meant to be a fun place—but tell that to Hades! He loves the dark and the stinky smell of sulfur. However, there is one thing that Hades is not a fan of: dogs. And when Zeus and his fellow Olympians encounter Cerberus—a snarling, three-headed dog—Hades must conquer his fears and tame the hound so everyone can continue into the Underworld and deposit their Titan prisoner, Oceanus, back where he belongs!

But with magical water that causes forgetfulness, hot beds of lava, and another epic battle with two more Titans standing in their way, will Zeus and his heroes make it out of the Underworld with everyone intact?

Author Suzanne Williams

Suzanne Williams is the award-winning author of nearly 40 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives near Seattle. Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children's choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. She is co-author (with Joan Holub) of the popular Goddess Girls series(for ages 8 - 12) and Heroes in Training (ages 6 - 11). Other series include Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power.




Author Joan Holub

I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children's books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job.

I illustrated my first published children's book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts -- Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee!

Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children's books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.



Book Blast Giveaway
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/9/12


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sharon x

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Tech Lovers Christmas Give Away !!




 

  First Place Winner Xbox Bundle: Xbox 360 4GB Console
  • Xbox 360 has blockbuster games, HD movies and controller-free fun for everyone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi for easy connection to Xbox LIVE
  • Super quiet with sleek new design plus matching controller
  • Ready for the controller-free fun of Kinect
Microsoft Xbox Live Gold Subscription Card Boaderlands Game: In a distant future, the planets at the outer edges of the galaxy have become a beacon to fortune seekers and those yearning for a better life off world.

  2nd Place Winner Google Nexus 7 Black Wi-Fi 16GB Tablet - ASUS-1B16 

The Google Nexus 7 tablet computer is the world's first Android tablet that combines the latest Android 4.1 mobile operating system with a powerful quad-core processor for high-performance computing on the go. An eye-catching 1280 x 800 high-definition display is your touchscreen interface for this Google tablet. The Google Nexus 7 tablet computer's LED-backlit IPS panel is made from scratch-resistant glass to offer crisp images, wide viewing angles and 10-finger multi-touch support.

  3rd Place Winner: Blue Hue" Laptop Bundle with optional matching accessories:
  • Blue Laptop
  • Case/Bag
  • Mouse
  • USB Flash Drive
  • Headphones
The event dates: 11/30 - 12/10 Open World Wide. 

If the winner is outside the use they will receive and online gift card in the prize amount in place of the physical prize. NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

 For a chance to win one of these three amazing prizes enter the Rafflecopter below a Rafflecopter giveaway  
Sharon x

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Book Review - "If I Should Die Before My Dog --" by Joe and Cathy Connolly plus SIGNED BOOK Give Away !!



Book Review
"If I Should Die Before My Dog --"
by Joe and Cathy Connolly

About the Authors
Author photo.jpg
Authors Joe and Cathy Connolly
Joe and Cathy Connolly have spent a lifetime owning, training and caring for dogs. Cathy grew up with a Collie breeder, dog groomer and dog handler while attending many different dog shows and eventually went on to work with other breeders as she grew older. They live in beautiful Northern Michigan with their 3 furry four legged children, one large dog, one small dog and the entire family is supervised by one bossy calico cat. 





Book Description
A Dog Lovers lasting guide.......An beautifully illustrated interactive book that one fills in all of the information about their dogs life in the event they can no longer care for them to help ensure your pets are taken care of.

A thought provoking check list for dog lovers, who unfortunately and with much sadness can no longer take care of their dog. 

This book will assist those who want to prepare for their dogs future in an easy to use format that will guide them through the process of telling the "story" of their dogs life, for their pets "Next Guardian". 

None of us can predict the future, but in the event situations arise such as death, health impairment or left with no other choice but to give them up, this book will be there to assist your beloved pet with the transition from one home to another.
Our two dogs x
Our Book Review
Out of all the books I have reviewed this must be the most important and special book of them all.  Almost all dog owners, including myself, never want to think about the unimaginable heartbreaking and devastating event of not being there to love and care for their dog.  It will certainly make you think, especially after reading Mandy's and Bob's sudden change of circumstances.  With no explanation or way to communicate 'why', the only thing we can do is to ensure that, in our own words, they will be loved and cared for to the highest possible degree by giving as much information to the next carer as possible.

The book may be emotional to look through and complete, it was for me especially when one of my dogs was laid next to me as I was reading it, but it will also make you smile with some of the memories that you fill in.  Two parts to the book certainly made me smile - Words I Know for example Ice-Cream and My Bad Habits and How To Prevent Them, especially as it shows a Labrador with a trainer in it's mouth just like my Border Terrier.

If allowed, my Border Terrier, can be extremely naughty and temperamental so it is vital that any new owner knows how to tackle his behaviour and can show him who the boss is from the start.  For my Border Collie she is a very shy and nervous lady and I need to put across how she reacts and tries to control this herself.

There are some absolutely beautiful illustrations in the book, my particular favourite is a picture of an angel being shown the dogs treasured life story by the owner as the dog sits next to them. Words of wisdom and information are also part of the book as you read through each part.  There is also a beautiful worded note from the dog to it's new owner towards the back along with extra pages titled 'Special Things From My Human'.

As well as vital information such as medical history, insurance cover, personality, food and snack preferences, the book also covers those special intimate details about their characteristics, how they like to be groomed, do they like to be held,  habits, do they like the phone and so on.

A unique, well thought out, beautifully illustrated treasured book for all dog lovers which can also be kept as a loving memory of your dogs life, if you never have to use it's main purpose.


Our Rating
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amazon.co.uk           amazon.com

NOW FOR OUR SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAY !!

5 LUCKY WINNERS!!

This special giveaway is brought to you by author's Joe and Cathy Connolly and Beck Valley Books
5 Lucky Winners will each receive a Signed Book from the authors.
Open US/CA, UK and Europe
Ending on Tuesday 18th December at 11.59pm EST


Enter Below and Good Luck !!

a Rafflecopter giveaway I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

Keegan's Chronicles Trilogy Set by Julia Crane Book Blast and $100 Gift Card Give Away

Keegan's Chronicles Trilogy Set
Books 1-3

Coexist:
 
Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends--she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.

In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rourk's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.

Conflicted: 
Keegan, is only alive now due to Black Magic, and her bond with her Chosen is broken. She cannot remember Rourk at all.

For the first time, she feels like a normal teenager. She is dating Donald, her long-time crush, and everything seems perfect. But Rourk still feels their bond, and despairs for the woman he was always meant to love.

Keegan's best friend Anna is determined to find a way to use her powers to return Keegan's bond, no matter what it takes. The question is does Keegan even want it?

Consumed: 
Keegan has dealt with a lot over the last two years: Death, black magic and the loss of her bond to her chosen mate. But on her eighteenth birthday, the bond with Rourk returns.

Now, Keegan faces her hardest decision. Tradition requires elves marry at eighteen. If she accepts the path laid out for her, she will be spared a lifetime of physical and emotional pain. But will that life ever really be her own?

Praise:

Really enjoyed this book. The story draws you in, and the characters are engaging, especially Rourk. I've never read a book about elves, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This was really good. Would recommend to anyone interested in a quick, fun, paranormal read. 
-- Amazon Reviewer

I am not one for Elves or Fairies but yeah these Elves RULE! What is not to love? You have an age old prophecy, destined loves, a great family and amazing friends. Not to mention .... Rourk *yummy* All that is left is the amazing way it all is put together into this fantastic story. 
-- Amazon Reviewer

If you pick up this book, I'm sure it will not disappoint, it had everything, it was cute, yet dark..and well that combo just makes for a perfect book on my shelf, Julia has truly written an amazing read. (: 
-- Haley @ Ya-aholic.com
Purchase
Amazon * Nook * iBooks

Author Julia Crane

Julia Crane is the author of the YA paranormal fiction novels: Keegan's Chronicles, Mesmerized, Dark Promise and Eternal Youth. Julia was encouraged by her mother to read and use her imagination, and she's believed in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her an Irish tale. Julia has traveled far and wide to all the places her grandmother told her about, gaining inspiration from her journeys to places like Nepal, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Italy, France and many more. And who knows? Maybe the magical creatures she writes about are people she met along the way.

Julia Crane has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Although she's spent most of her life on the US east coast, she currently lives in Dubai with her husband and three children.

Links
Book Blast Giveaway Deatils (Starts November 29th)
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/9/12
*You need not enter your twitter name for each entry. Simply enter it for the first person you follow and leave the others blank.

Open to anyone 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's permission. 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. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Winners of the SIGNED BOOK Dog-Ma, the Zen of Slobber are...............



dogma

THE FIVE LUCKY WINNERS OF THE 
SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAY OF
DOG-MA, THE ZEN OF SLOBBER BY BARBARA BOSWELL BRUNNER ARE

AMBERLY D
CATIE R
MELISSA A
HEATHER C
KAREN H

CONGRATULATIONS !!


Special thanks for the author for this fantastic giveaway xx

Sharon x

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