Friday, August 31, 2012

A Couple of Blog Opps!


Calling all bloggers, Sign up for the
Bloggy Whatcha Want Christmas Giveaway!


Jenn’s Blah Blah Blog, Diva Fabulosa, Dishin With Rebelle and There’s a Contest 4 That Bring you the Bloggy Whatcha Want Christmas Giveaway!

You’re not going to want to miss this awesome event!  Jenn’s Blah Blah Blog has an awesome event in the works for Christmas, hurry and get a spot, the good ones will fill up quickly!

About the event:
  • $250 Prize, whatever winner chooses (shipping included)
  • $50 Amazon Gift Code
  • More to come
  • FREE Facebook Link
  • $3 additional links, we want to bring more to the event so we bumped it up $1!
  • Event will run from November 10th until December 10th.
  • Everyone will get comments
  • $10 Co-Host available

These events are always awesome, everyone gets TONS OF COMMENTS!  Our readers love them, which is the reason we want to bring another fabulous event their way!  So don’t miss out on this awesome blogger opportunity!

Remember, if you want the FREE Facebook link for this Super Bloggy Giveaway you have to post an Announce post on your blog.  Why?  HELP PROMOTE, THE MORE BLOGGERS WE HAVE IN THIS EVENT THE BETTER PRIZES WE CAN OFFER OUR READERS, THE MORE FUN WE ALL HAVE!

WHERE DO I SIGN UP?

SIGN UP FOR THIS FABULOUS GIVEAWAY ON JENN’S BLAH BLAH BLOG HERE










Jenn's Blah Blah Blog, Diva Fabulosa and Simply Shawn & Jenn are bringing you an awesome FREE Blogger Opportunity! They will be giving away $200, in their Have it your way event! How will this work? Whatever the winner wants, the winner will get! Kindle Fire, PayPal Cash, Amazing, Wal-Mart, Target! Who cares, they get just what they want!

Blogger get FREE Facebook link with the option to purchase additional links! Jenn's Blah Blah Blog had a giveaway just like this called the Sizzling Summer Giveaway that was fabulous, so were going to bring it back over and over and over again! This time Simply Shawn & Jenn has decided to join in the fun to celebrate reaching over 10K fans!

About the event
  • Prize: Whatever you want up to $200 (shipping included) Do you want a Kindle Fire? Maybe an iPod, hummm maybe gift card to Target, oh wait Paypal cash? We don't care we want you to have it your way! So let the games begin, and let's have some fun with this one!
  • Event will run from Sept 20th until Oct 20th.
  • Free Facebook
  • Additional likes $2
  • Daily Votes $3
  • Co-host spots $10. (with this you will receive your blog mentioned all blogs posts, FREE Facebook, and FREE Twitter! If you choose this please be sure to add your links in the assigned spots on the form below)
You can sign up for this event, HERE

I Signed up, bloggers, so make sure you do, too!  And if you are a reader, be sure to come back and enter.  I would be so excited if one of you won!

Kindle Fire Giveaway (ends 9/15) U.S.



Welcome to the Kindle Fire giveaway sponsored by Bee Savy and hosted by Debbie Does Coupons.

This giveaway starts at midnight EST on 9/1 and will end at 11:59 PM EST on 9/15. One lucky winner is going to receive a Kindle Fire!  And you probably know that the Kindle Fire is so popular on Amazon right now that you have to wait to get one!  So here is your chance!  This is one hot item!
About our sponsor:
BeeSavy is a hot, new cash back shopping site that helps take the sting out of online shopping!  Check BeeSavy before doing any online shopping to find the latest coupon codes, and to actually receive cash back for your purchases!   Also, check BeeSavy often to see the HOT daily deals that they feature!

Entries are recorded in the Rafflecopter form embedded below.
Giveaway ends on September 15th at 11:59 PM EST
To be eligible to win the Grand Prize, you must be a member of BeeSavy. This will be verified upon choosing the winner.

Sign up with BeeSavy HERE.

Good luck to all.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

$200 Instant Bucks Amazon Giveaway (Ends 10/1) U.S.

Welcome to the $200 Instant Bucks Amazon Giveaway!

Thank you for stopping by another fabulous event hosted by,
Jenn's Blah Blah Blog and Diva Fabulosa! This time we bring you the $200 Instant Bucks Amazon Giveaway!
Check out our wonderful co-hosts Parsimonious Pash, SmartySaver, Colleen's Book Nook,
We would also like to thank every blogger that is taking part in this event!
We couldn't do this without everyone! Thank you to all our fabulous readers for allowing us to bring you these awesome events! It's because of you that we do what we do day in and day out! A HUGE Thank You to our Amazing Readers!

Amazon is one of my favorite places to shop, and with $200, you can get a lot there!  That is even enough to get yourself an Amazon Kindle!  What a great giveaway!

About our Sponsor:


Instant Bucks - If you haven't heard of Instant Bucks, keep reading and we'll fill you in!

Instant Bucks launched in May 2012 in Southern California. Instant Bucks is a consumer loyalty site that offers amazing rewards for completing research surveys, online shopping and so much more! They strive to bring you new daily opportunities to earn online rewards and save money.

Instant Bucks is an online community that rewards you for doing things you're already doing online. Why not get rewarded? With Instant Bucks you'll earn online rewards for completing tasks such as:
  • Easy Surveys
  • Watching Videos
  • Sampling Products
  • Shopping Online
  • Coupon Clipping


There's a variety of ways for you to earn online rewards. They also offer a fast turnaround on rewards and plenty of opportunities for you to earn those awesome rewards.

As a member of the Instant Bucks Community you'll:
  • Earn virtual currency called "Instant Bucks"
  • Refer family and friends and earn. There's no limit on what you can earn from referrals
  • No limits on reward redemption
  • High paying offers
Once you build up your "Instant Bucks" you'll be able to trade them in for great prizes such as:
  • Gift Cards - Wal-Mart, Amazon, Restaurant and more!
  • Hotel Stays
  • Airlines
  • PayPal Cash
  • Shopping
  • iTunes
  • Coupons
A special thanks to Instant Bucks for making this event possible! They're generously offering one lucky person the chance to win a $200 Amazon Gift Code! Thanks, Instant Bucks!

About the Giveaway

Giveaway will run September 1, 2012 12:01am EST - October 1, 2012 at 11:59pm EST. One lucky person will have a chance to win $200 Amazon Gift Code, must be at least 18 years old to enter, and is open to US residents. To enter use the Rafflecopter form below, GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer: This blog is not responsible for shipment of prize, nor did I accept any form of payment to promote this event. All entries will be verified.

Back to the Books Giveaway Hop (Ends 9/7) U.S.


Welcome to the 2nd Annual Back to the Book Giveaway Hop
Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Buried in Books!  

I am so excited to share my giveaway with you!  It is a little different because I think there is more to books than just books.  I love drinking something and sometimes even eating something while reading a book.  Yes, I am giving away a book--I'll tell you about that in a little bit.  But I am going to be giving away prize packages from two reviews I did earlier today.  

One USA reader will win:
Prize package from 
AND
Prize package from 
AND

Book Description

May 1, 2012
The world is broken-- more so than we know. But for those who know that Christ is coming to establish a new and perfect order, ours is not just a world to endure but a world to invade. Believers have not been stationed here on earth merely to subsist but to actively subvert the enemy's attempts at blinding people in unbelief and burying them under heartbreaking loads of human need.

The kingdom of God changes all that.

I will admit that I have not read the book, but if all goes well, it will be read before this giveaway is over.  

As to the tea, I am assuming that one winner will receive the same two teas I reviewed.  I will know for sure after Labor Day.  And for Newman's Own Organics, the four items I have chosen for my winner to receive are:
Newman's O's Peanut Butter
Family Recipe Cookies Chocolate Chip Orange
Strawberry Licorice
Wintergreen Mints

And they always add a "surprise" item, so you know it will be good!



So are you ready to enter yet?  If you live in the U.S., just enter the rafflecopter below by 9 P.M. Pacific time September 7, and you are entered to win!  And don't forget to hop on to the other blogs for the chance to win even more great stuff!

a Rafflecopter giveaway





Newman's Own Organics Review

Well, school is either in session for you or about to be in session, and now is the time to be sure you have healthy snacks in the house for you and your kids.  Going to the store and looking for healthy, natural, organic snacks can be a daunting task.  When you look at the ingredients of so many supposed "healthy" or "natural" snacks, it can be pretty upsetting.  You may find all sorts of additives and ingredients that you could never pronounce or understand.

If you have never heard of Newman's Own Organics, allow me to introduce them to you.  The make healthy snacking fun and easy.  Originally, they were started as a division of Newman's Own back in 1993, but since 2001, they have been a separate company.  It's easy to confuse the two companies (I did not realize they were two separate companies until I was told), so be sure to look for "Pa" Newman and Nell on the front of each package.

Newman's Own Organics is certified organic by Oregon Tilth.  That may not mean much to you, but let me explain.  This means no pesticides, no synthetic chemicals for at least three years, and reviewed by an independent agent.  This means that all of their products are truly organic.  I could say more, but I'll cut this short because you can check out more on their site.

When I agreed to review their products, I had no idea how big the box would be that they sent me!  I am so sorry I did not even think about taking a picture of the contents.  I dove in and began trying the snacks.  They had fantastic creme cookies, pretzels, licorice, mini cookies, mints, fig cookies, prunes, chocolate bars, and more!  The company was very generous, and almost everything we tried, we liked.

My mom and I enjoyed the Newman O's in the following flavors:  Peanut Butter, Hint 'O Mint, and Ginger 'n' Cream.  The Peanut Butter was our favorite, but all the flavors were fantastic.  The mint was mild, and the ginger has a unique flavor we have never tried before.

The licorice was enjoyed much by my mother and daughter.  The sour flavors were a favorite for all three of us, and our only complaint was how messy the sugar was on our fingers afterwards.  We just licked it off.  What made the licorice nice was that it flavored with real ingredients rather than artificially.  I had forgotten just how good licorice like that can be.

I have only tried the wintergreen mints, but I find myself taking one now and then for fresh breath and sour stomach.  They take care of both.  I look forward to trying the others.  The flavor of the wintergreen is not too strong and is very pleasing.

I also have not tried the pretzels nor the prunes (my dad will be trying those soon).  However, the Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies are absolutely unbelievable!  And I have never tasted better "Fig Newmans."  We still have a few things to try, but this company has got fantastic food that tastes good and is actually good for you!  (That does not mean you get to eat a whole bag of cookies at once!)

Be sure to follow them on facebook for the latest news and specials.

And also keep your eyes out for a special giveaway coming soon.

I was sent products from Newman's Own Organics in exchange for my honest review.  I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

Two Leaves Tea Company Review

As fall is coming upon us, soon the cold weather will return, and it will be time to think about hot drinks, warm blankets, and fireplaces.  If it still looks like summer outside, you may not be ready to think about this time, but it will be here before we know it.

While I like coffee and hot chocolate, there are many nights when nothing sounds better than a cup of tea.  I wasn't always a tea drinker.  My friend from England is the one who got me hooked.  And I will tell you that I am discriminating about the tea I drink.  Not all teas are created equal.

In 2005, a new tea company was born.  The founder of Two Leaves Tea company looked high and low for good tea, and he found it in China, Sri Lanka, and Japan.  He went to these countries and developed relationships with tea growers.  His company is committed to bringing its customers only the finest whole-leaf tea to his customers.  And this company has been the recipient of several prestigious awards to recognize their amazing tea.

I was sent two very special teas to review.


This was the first tea I reviewed--

Paisley Tea Co. Organic English Breakfast

I have tried several different "English Breakfast Teas" in the course of my life, but I am usually disappointed.  From the moment I drank this, I was hooked!  The flavor was strong and satisfying.  It is by far the best of this variety that I have tried, and it almost rivals the good quality tea I have had in England.



I also tried this tea:
I honestly could not tell any real difference in flavors between this and the regular.  Sometimes decaf does not taste as good, but this was not the case.  It may have been a bit milder, but it was still very good.



For anyone who likes tea, this is definitely a company to investigate.  They even have a reward program that gives you points for various tasks on their site!  For those of you who prefer iced tea, tea gifts, loose tea, and more, you will be sure to find something for you and/or a friend.  So I strongly recommend you visit their site today before the cold weather comes!
Once you visit their site, you will want to be sure to follow them on facebook and twitter to keep up with all their products and deals!  Oh, and be sure to watch out for a giveaway coming up soon!

I was sent products from Two Leaves Tea Company in exchange for my honest review.  I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

This Day in History August 31, 1056

Map Byzantine Empire 1076-fr
By Odejea [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

First of all the map above is twenty years after this date, but this was about as close as I could get.  It is the Byzantine Empire, however.  Today's feature concerns Empress Theodora from the 11th century (she is not the only Empress Theodora).  She was born in 980, and she was of the Macedonian Dynasty.  Evidently, she was a plain woman, so her sister, Zoe, was the one chosen to marry the Holy Roman Emperor.  Unfortunately, this man died before that could happen.  Following this situation, Theodora chose a life of obscurity until her father died without having a son to succeed him.

This is where Theodora's story becomes quite interesting.  She was supposed to marry Romanos, but she defied her father.  She cited two reasons:  Romanos was already married, and they were third cousins.  So Zoe, Theodora's sister, again took over Theodora's "rightful" place and married Romanos.  And there was evidently some jealousy and intrigue that implicated Theodora in a conspiracy.  She thirteen years confined to a monastery while her sister reigned.  

Then there were more supposed conspiracies which cause Zoe to be banished to a monastery.  This caused an uprising which resulted in Zoe and Theodora becoming co-regents.  Zoe tried to force Theodora back to the monastery, but the people would not let it happen.  She finally became junior empress, and her throne was situated slightly behind Zoe's throne.  But make no mistake--she was the driving force behind the throne.  Zoe was so jealous that she did marry again.  And the throne reverted to her husband.

Following Zoe's death in 1050, Theodora, in spite of her advanced age of 70, became empress yet again.  In late August 1056, she became gravely ill with some kind of intestinal order, and on this date in 1056, she died without and heir.  Thus, the Macedonian Dynasty ended.  Things were unstable until 1081 when a new dynasty was ushered in.

For more information, please check out:

Blogger Opportunity: Mega Beauty Event--Sign Up Now!


Mega Beauty Giveaway Event
RV$343 in Prizes from: Trind Nails, Natural Skin Shop, Anastasia of Beverly Hills, Montagne Jeunesse & KissTixx



September 6 - 27, 2012

Open to all Bloggers!


Receive a Free Facebook Link in exchange for making an Announcement Post and for sharing the giveaway on your blog. You may purchase Twitter, Pinterest and Picket Fence for only $1.


*** Follow Pages Available ***


You may sign up here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGl5aDNiLTVPWWNfRWFnTlJaTmZucFE6MA





Book Blurb Blitz Tour: "Good Things Come in Tall Packages" by Ann Montclair




BLURB:

Dr. Joe Connors and socialite lawyer Lucy Alcott come from two different worlds, two very different cultures. But will those differences keep them apart when their attraction is too strong to be denied?

When socialite Savannah attorney Lucy Alcott entered the Hyatt looking for fun, martinis, and hot sex, the last thing she expected to find was Dr. Joe Connors. Joe is Lucy's opposite in every way: he’s dark, she’s pale; he’s tall and reserved, she's tiny and vivacious; he wears his compassion and deep spirituality on his sleeve, she wears designer bags and clothes. That night at the Hyatt Lucy found herself not in the arms of a casual encounter but reaching out to a man who challenged the walls she had built around her heart—and when he gave her his number, Lucy knew Joe deserved a woman as warm and tender as he was. So she threw his number away. When an unexpected meeting six months later brings them together again, will Joe overcome Lucy’s fear of losing her heart, or are their two very different worlds destined to keep them apart forever? 

Excerpt:

The man wanted her.

Lucy felt the passion rolling off of Joe like tidal waves, and she was more than ready to let him knock her off her feet.

“Shall we go upstairs, Joe? I could use a quiet moment with you before we say goodbye again. Every time we’ve been together it’s been in a crowd with music pulsing in the background and drinks in our hands. Let’s be real. Let’s go upstairs and spend some alone time. I won’t bite. Unless you want me to.”

His big smile lit up the room like Georgia sunshine. He stood and proffered his hand, looming above her like an awesome Egyptian statue. Lucy was dwarfed by almost everyone, but Joe was enormous by anyone’s standards. When she’d first met him, despite the fact he was at a medical convention, she’d assumed he played for the NFL. The fact that he possessed brains and brawn made him ideal for bed sport. It hadn’t worked out that night, but tonight…Lucy could hardly wait.

“Should we say goodbye to Ben and Maura?” Lucy cocked her head to scan the crowded room. She spotted them in the center of the ballroom floor, Jessie sandwiched between her parents, standing on her dad’s feet as the happy newlyweds shared a family dance.

“Let’s not bother them. Come on, sweetness.” Joe effortlessly pulled Lucy to her sore feet and put his strong arm around her waist. She hobbled a bit. “Shall I carry you, my Southern Belle?”

I grew up sneak-reading all my mom's steamy romance novels. She kept them high on a shelf in her closet and warned, "You better not read those..." Of course, I read them. And now I write them! I strive to take readers on a fun, emotionally charged, and highly sensual ride to happily ever after. Available now: THE BILLIONAIRE'S BAUBLE (Soul Mate Publishing 2011), ONE WET SUMMER (Musa Publishing 2012), and GOOD THINGS COME IN TALL PACKAGES (Musa Publishing 2012). Next up: LADY IN DEED, my debut novel in historical romance set in Tudor England (Musa Publishing Winter 2012).

I am a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and a community college English professor. I live in the Finger Lakes region of New York with my sexy hero and our teenage -son. Our grown daughter lives in Los Angeles, California--my hometown.

Thanks for learning a little about me. You can contact me at ann@annmontclair.com.

Ann will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.








Thursday, August 30, 2012

Quantum Scale Giveaway (Ends 9/5) U.S.

If you struggle with your weight, what do you hate the most?
For many, it's seeing that number on the scale & being worried someone else might see it, too. What if you had a personal scale, just for you, that didn't show that number every time you stepped on it?


You can have it! Quantum Scale is revolutionary. I don't know of another like it. Not only is it personal. for one user, but it only shows how many pounds or kilograms you've gained or lost. Remarkable!


With this scale, you won't find lengthy descriptions of how to use it, and you can program it with a single button!
Photobucket The scale shown here is a light shade of blue, but they have many other colors. Check out all the colors here. It's so streamlined that you can put it almost anywhere--under your bed, a linen closet, even a dresser drawer. Feather-light & running off of 1 lithium battery, it is truly the wave of the future. Photobucket
Upon initial usage, it blinks your weight one time, very quickly, then stores the number in its memory bank. It is neat that it's personal & no one can make it give up its data. It's yours & confidential. It's the best workout buddy you'll ever have.

The display is bright & digital. No more balancing act to read the dial.  Now, you can stand up straight and get your plus or minus easily just by glancing down. No more contortionist positions just to read the scale!

                       
Take a few minutes & go take a look at these scales. Read all about them. I am confident you'll be as excited as I am. When you get one of your own, you won't be disappointed. With the holidays approaching, you might find that they help fill your list.

On your next doctor's appointment, you just may want to take one with you.  Your doctor may want one as well!


Enter via Rafflecopter below for a chance to win one!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The original reviewer received one scale in order to review it. No other compensation was received. I was under no obligation to post a positive review. Review written by http://devotedmommyof3.blogspot.com
Disclaimer: Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment. None of the participating, promoting blogs have received compensation nor are responsible for the product.
Charisma Media Network

Scunci Flower Bendini Clip Review


For most of my life (at least for the time period I have been able to do my hair myself), I have used Scunci products.  I know that when I get a product from Scunci, I am getting a quality product that will work in my hair.  Scunci was a privately-owned company until 2005 when Conair acquired it (I was not aware of this, and I always love learning new things).  I am very familiar with their products such as No Damage elastics (the absolute best), their scrunchies (absolutely amazing), and oh so much more.  Perhaps you can tell that I like Scunci, and in case you can't tell, let me spell it out for you.  I LOVE SCUNCI!

I was elated when they agreed to send me one of their new flower bendini clips.  In the past few years, since my hair is shorter (not down to my waist as it was when I was younger), I have not always done as much with my hair.  I do like to wear my hair parted on one side, and I often struggle with one part falling into my eyes.  I have tried all sorts of clips, combs, and barrettes to fix this problem to no avail. My hair may be shorter than it used to be, but it is still thick!

When I first saw the bendini clip, I have to admit that I was pretty sure it would never work in my hair.  I always appreciate that the company provides directions, but I was certain that this clip would never stay.  I struggled with using it at first, but once I understood how to use it, the clip has not budged!  I have not used any hairspray or any hair gel, and you can see below.  (Sorry for the cheesy grin--I don't take good pictures of myself).



In fact, I have even touched the clip and bumped it by mistake.  No change!  My mom thought it looked great, and I think it looks great.  And more importantly, it keeps the hair out of my eyes!  I am sold, and this is going to be my go-to style as I start the school year (I'm a substitute teacher).

Here is some more information directly from Scunci:

The scünci® flower bendini clip is available in three sizes and comes in the assorted colors: black, blue, pink, ivory, turquois, golden yellow, coral, purple, and navy. To use the clip, start by gathering your hair in the desired style.  Slide the bendini comb into the hair, and bend and snap it securely in place for an all-day hold. 

The clips are available at Walmart, AAFES, CVS, Giant Eagle, Harmon, Rite Aid, Schnucks, Shopko, SuperValu, Walgreens, Weis, Winn-Dixie, and other drug stores and mass market retailers for an average retail price of $4.99. 

For more great styling ideas, hair accessory trends and scünci giveaways, “like” the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/scuncihair, or follow scünci on Twitter at www.twitter.com/scunciHair.

Scünci wants to help fans get set for school in style!… on Friday 8/31 at noon, five lucky winners will be randomly selected as scünci Stylin Ãœ Sweepstakes winners—four will receive a  cool cosmetic case filled with assorted scunci hair accessories, and one grand prize winner will also on top of that be receiving the cosmetic case, $100 worth of scünci hair accessories, and a JanSport backback too! http://platform.votigo.com/fbsweeps/sweeps/scnci-Gets-Set-for-School-Giveaway


And just so you know, they will be offering a giveaway to one of my readers, so watch for that post to be forthcoming very soon!

I was sent a free product from Scunci in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are 100 percent mine, and I was not financially compensated.

Litfuse Publicity Blog Tour: "Tea Party Culture War" by Steve Johnston Book Review






{MORE ABOUT TEA PARTY CULTURE WAR}

America stands at a crossroads: culturally, economically, and politically. Enter The Tea Party Movement, whose focus is primarily fiscal conservatism, government accountability, and reduced taxation.
Currently, America suffers from a clash of worldviews, but the issue is much deeper than politics; it is ultimately a spiritual battle between good and evil. For the sake of generations to come, we need to win this war. We need to take action to defend our beliefs. We need to take the right road.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
No matter what you think about the Tea Party movement in this country, if you are an American Christian, this is a book you absolutely want to read!  I was totally amazed at the wisdom, insights, and history in this book, and up until the last chapter, I was totally enraptured.  Why was the last chapter not as interesting?  I am not an eschatology (End Times) theologian, and my church has been spending a lot of time studying this time period in recent months.  For me, I could have done without much of that chapter, but it did not change my perception of the book nor my absolute awe with with this book.

This book is full of history that I have never heard before.  And in case you're wondering, all his information that he shares is documented with pages of footnotes at the end of the book.  This author covered it all:  values, constitutional interpretation, pantheism, humanism, and much more!  And since this book was published last year, it has been intriguing to see just how much things have changed, and changed quickly, in such a short time.

This book is an attainable read for everyone.  It is not written in an academic style.  I plan to keep this book for years to come for reference.  Indeed this was the perfect time to read this book--right in the middle of the Republican Convention!  I encourage all Christians to read this book!

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.



{MORE ABOUT STEVE JOHNSTON}

A long-time resident of California, author and economist, Steve Johnston, B.S., J.D., earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Western State University of Law and a Theological degree from Calvary Chapel School of Ministry. Mr. Johnston has over 20 years experience in prison ministry and Bible teaching, and has served as a chaplain in Orange County and Los Angeles jails as well as Pelican Bay, a California maximum security prison.
Mr. Johnston and his wife of 38 years divide their time between homes in Palm Desert, California and Brookings, Oregon. They have one adult daughter and one granddaughter.
Find out more about Steve at http://www.teapartyculturewar.com/.
In order to follow the entire tour and read more reviews, please click here.
To buy the book:
http://ow.ly/cwJ1f

This Day in History August 30, 1885

Big Andromeda galaxy (M31)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xamad/518876976/


This is a photo of the Andromeda galaxy, and today's feature concerns the constellation.  But evidently the galaxy is located in the constellation, so there shouldn't be a problem in showing this picture.   It was on this date in 1885 when there was quite a meteor shower near Andromeda.  It was chronicled by Chinese astronomers, and it was described in this way: "shooting stars fell like rain."   The most spectacular storms in this area were 1872 and 1885.  It is estimated that on this date in 1885 that there were 3,000 meteors in this particular shower that fell in an hour.  This must have been an amazing sight to see!

For more information, please check out:

Tribute Books Presents "The Color of Snow" by Brenda Stanley Review


Can a troubled young girl reenter society after living in isolation?

When a beautiful 16-year-old girl named Sophie is found sequestered in a cage-like room in a rundown house in the desolate hills of Arbon Valley, Idaho, the entire community is shocked to learn she is the legendary Callidora--a baby girl who was kidnapped from her crib almost seventeen years ago and canonized in missing posters with portraits of what the fabled girl might resemble. Authorities soon learn that the cage was there to protect people from Sophie, because her biological father believes she is cursed.

Sophie is discovered after the man she knows as Papa, shoots and injures Damien, a young man who is trying to rescue her. Now, unsocialized and thrust into the world, and into a family she has never met, Sophie must decide whether she should accept her Papa’s claims that she is cursed and he was only trying to protect others, or trust the new people in her life who have their own agendas. Guided by a wise cousin, Sophie realizes that her most heartbreaking challenge is to decide if her love for Damien will destroy him like her Papa claims, or free her from past demons that haunt her mind.

The Color of Snow web site:
http://the-color-of-snow.blogspot.com/
  
The Color of Snow Twitter hashtag:
#TheColorOfSnow
The Color of Snow GoodReads page:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13456512-the-color-of-snow



The Color of SnowThe Color of Snow by Brenda Stanley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the most amazing young adult books I have read in a while.  The story was expertly crafted, and the message came across in a very real way.  I was drawn in from the first page through the very last sentence.

I connected with this book in a real way since I was married to a possibly schizophrenic man at one time in my life.  He also came from a family where mental illness was a problem.  Unfortunately, he did not control it through medication like he should have, and my marriage had to be dissolved to protect my daughter and me from living a controlled possibly violent life.  The end of the book, when Sophie began to face the truth about her past, resonated with me, and I understood, to a degree, what she was feeling.  Even using the Bible and God to justify her father's treatment of her was something that sounded familiar.

The way in which Brenda Stanley wrote the book was truly amazing.  The beginning of the book reminded the reader of similar stories in the news, and I felt that I had to keep reading so I could put all the pieces together. The author jumped back and forth between various years in the character's lives, and so the reader is often left hanging and wondering why something happened or what was going on.  But in the end, all the questions were answered--I was certainly glad of that!

I appreciated the fact that there were no bedroom scenes, and the profanity was extremely minimal.  Real issues such as racial prejudice, religious intolerance, pedophilia, and murder were dealt with on a real level.  Even the discussion of whether "curses" were real or not was explored.  And the message of not having to follow established family patterns and breaking cycles was dealt with in an understandable fashion.

I can't recommend this book enough to everyone.  I have never read anything by Brenda Stanley, but she has quickly become one of my favorite young adult books.  The book was a very readable book, and its message will resonate with a good share of readers.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.



View all my reviews


Brenda Stanley is the former news anchor at her NBC affiliate KPVI in Eastern Iadho. Her writing has been recognized by the Scripps Howard Foundation, the Hearst Journalism Awards, the Idaho Press Club and the Society for Professional Journalists. She is a graduate of Dixie College in St. George, Utah, and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Brenda lived for two years in Ballard, Utah, within the Fort Duchesne reservation where the novel is set. She and her husband live on a small ranch near the Snake River with their horses and dogs.

Brenda Stanley's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/brenda.baumgartnerstanley
Brenda Stanley's Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/myauthorlife
Brenda Stanley's Website:
http://www.brendastanleybooks.net/
Brenda Stanley's GoodReads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4086376.Brenda_Stanley



eBook
ISBN: 9780983741893
ISBN: 9781476172309
Pages: 413
Release: June 1, 2012

Kindle buy link - $2.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00873ASTK?tag=tributebooks-20

Nook buy link - $4.95
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iBookstore buy link - $4.99
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Google buy link - $3.79
http://books.google.com/books?printsec=frontcover&id=u6m2hVzQxi4C#v=onepage&q&f=false

Smashwords buy link - $4.99
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PDF buy link - $4.95
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To follow the entire tour, click here.


Twitter Party today (8/30) 
CLICK HERE to R.S.V.P.

#TheColorOfSnow by @MyAuthorLife
Twitter Party

Thursday, August 30
12 noon-1:30 p.m. Eastern


Follow hashtag #TheColorOfSnow as author Brenda Stanley answers your questions for 90 minutes live on Twitter.

A great app to use in order to follow the #TheColorOfSnowhashtag during the Twitter Party can be found attweetchat.com

We are offering (1) $50 cash prize to the person who has a receipt confirming an ebook purchase of The Color of Snow and tweets at least once during the Twitter Party. Email your receipt to info@tribute-books.com

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Nook Color and $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card Giveaway (Ends 9/13) U.S.

Welcome to the Nook Color 8GB Giveaway!
BuyDig has teamed up with Kate n' Kaboodle and co-hosts News Wahl and Colleen's Book Nook to bring you this wonderful Back to School giveaway!
This fabulous giveaway includes a 8GB Nook Color and a $25 Barnes & Noble Giftcard!


The Barnes & Noble 8GB Nook Color features the 7 inch VividView Touchscreen that displays 16 million colors ultra-bright. This touchscreen is specially designed for remarkable clarity, minimal glare and is ultra responsive. The Nook Color is fully customizable so you can make the text bigger, choose your favorite font or read in portrait or landscape.

Books, Magazines, Newspapers, Textbooks, Comics...if you want to read it, the Nook Color can deliver in seconds with it's built-in WiFi capabilities! With over 2.5 million titles available, there is something for everyone. There is an endless list of free books and you can even save up to 90% on textbooks!

Concerned about storage? Worry no more! With 8GB (up to 5,000 books) of built-in memory and expandable storage up to 32GB with microSD memory card, there is plenty of room!

Whether you want to watch movies with Netflix, read your favorite book, listen to music, check your Facebook, search the web or enjoy a wide variety of apps, the Nook Color is for you!

When I was first deciding to get an e-reader, I actually considered getting a Nook.  Ultimately, I got something else, but there have been times I wished I had this.  And after all, where else can you get a prize like this just for entering a simple giveaway?

Read Kate n' Kaboodle's Review here and check out her other Back To School giveaways!
Connect with BuyDig
Buy It
BuyDig currently has the 8GB Nook Color available on their website for $149!
Win It
One winner will receive a 8GB Nook Color and a $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card!
Enter on the Rafflecopter below. US Only.
Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: This blog is not responsible for prize fulfillment, nor did I receive any compensation for this post.
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