New Year's Reading Resolution Giveaway

Welcome to the New Year's Reading Resolutions Hop hosted by Reading Angel, Pure Imagination and Candace's Book Blog!

Each participating blog is offering a book related giveaway and we are all linked up together so you can easily hop from one giveaway to another.  The hop runs from January 3rd through January 9th.
I have 2 great giveaways for you today. There will be 2 winners.

While your here sign up to take part in the Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop, Follower Love Giveaway Hop or Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop.

Also take a minute to enter all my other great book giveaways which are listed in my right sidebar.


Giveaway #1

$12 gift certificate to buy books. (Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com or any other online retailer of your choice that sells books and has a way for me to send you a $12 online gift certificate).
Or if you live Internationally and can't use a US gift certificate or would prefer to choose a book then you can choose a book of your choice from the Book Depository up to $12 US.

Giveaway #2
A book from one of my favorite authors, Marcia Lynn McClure.
Open to US only.

The Touch of Sage:
Following the death of her parents, Sage Willows had lovingly nurtured her younger sisters through childhood. She loved her sisters. She’d seen each one married, and was glad to see them settled and happy. Furthermore, she held no resentment at never having found a good man of her own to settle down with. Yet, regret is different than resentment—and far more haunting.
Still, Sage found as much joy as was allowed a lonely young woman—in being proprietress of Willows’ Boardinghouse, and in the companionship of the four beloved widow-women boarding there. Until, that is, the devilishly handsome Rebel Lee Mitchell appeared. It seemed Reb Mitchel instantly and forever vanquished Sage’s feigned contentment.
Dark, mysterious and secretly wounded, Reb Mitchell utterly captured Sage’s lonely heart. Nevertheless, to Sage Williows, the powerfully attractive cowboy—admired and coveted by every female in his path—seemed entirely unobtainable. How could a weathered, boardinghouse-proprietress resigned to spinsterhood, ever hope to hold the attention of such a man? And knowing she couldn’t—would Sage Willows simply sink deeper into the bleak loneliness she’d secreted for so long?

Giveaway Details:
To enter giveaway please follow this blog then fill out the form below.
Last Day to Enter is 1/9/11

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Once you've entered my giveaway jump to the next giveaway on the list:

Author Interview & Book Giveaway: The Girl Who Ran With Horses by David Michael

I've got another great interview and giveaway to share with you today!  Welcome to author David Michael.

Bio:
Most days, David Michael is a software developer and a writer. Some days, he's a writer and a software developer. Other days, he's an amateur photographer. Because, really, who is the same person every day? David is the designer and developer of DavidRM Software's The Journal, personal journaling software for Windows. He has also designed and developed video games, and has written two nonfiction books and numerous articles about video game development. David lives with his wife and kids in Tulsa, Oklahoma. David blogs about writing at Guns & Magic: gunsandmagic.com You can contact David at: david@gunsandmagic.com


Interview:
If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or
into the future?
I'd be tempted to go back to my late teen years and give myself a good talking to. A combination butt-kicking and pep talk. And then the self-corrected me would have a *lot* more fun in college. And then I'd be all jealous and go back again and stop the future me from ever meeting the past me and set things back to how they were--though maybe leave behind a little spending cash...

If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?
Mark Twain, Robert Heinlein, Elliot Erwitt, Vincent Van Gogh, and Tom Petty.
That would be one bizarre/awesome dinner party.

What is one book everyone should read?
I can't answer that question with just one book. Here some of my favorites:
"Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman
"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card
"Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain
"Tunnel in the Sky" by Robert Heinlein
"The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Used to be "Bunny Tracks" by Blue Bunny or Braum's "Peanutbutter Cup".
Then I developed a peanut allergy.
So now it's strawberry cheesecake.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Poached eggs on toast. Or fried eggs over medium. With bacon. And maybe a sausage link or two. With a side of a pancakes and some hot maple syrup. And maybe some toast? Buttered?

What's your favorite music genre? Favorite artist? Song?
I'm all over the map, musically. This year (2010), I've mostly listened to techno/electronic/dance (VNV Nation, And One) and a few types of metal (Rammstein, Sabaton, Dragonforce).

Is there anything you need in order to write? (ie Chocolate, quiet, music)
Privacy (or at least no one looking over my shoulder) and music. I *can* write without either of those, but I don't *like* to.

Night owl, or early bird?
Staying up late is *much* easier than getting up earlier. You can draw your own conclusions.

Pet Peeves?
Writers (including screenwriters) who don't pay attention to the details when the information is easily available. Or who bore me with dull dialogue and characters who justify themselves to themselves.

Skittles or M&Ms?
Both are good for me. Just not at the same time so much.

Favorite Cartoon?
Sin City (does that count?)
Robot Chicken (or am I still missing the point?)
Toy Story (or do you want CN/Saturday morning?)
Power Puff Girls

If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be, male or
female, doesn't matter and why?
I loved James Woods's portrayal of Hades in "Hercules". If I could be that cool, I'd go for Hades. Otherwise, I'd probably settle for Ares.
If you're going to be a god, might as well be in charge of something cool.

What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
National Football League, specifically the Dallas Cowboys.
Even when it hurts.

How do you react to a bad review?
Publicly? I don't.
This is public, right? So that's all I have to say about that...

What is your favorite book that has been made into a movie?
"The Stand" by Stephen King. A great book made into an exceptional TV miniseries.

What do you do when you are in-between books?
Writing? Wonder what I'm going to work on next.
Reading? Go to the library and grab a couple books at random.

Where is your favorite place to read/write?
Writing: My software on my laptop on my desk in my office in my home.
Reading: My back porch in the late spring or early autumn, feet propped, the birds making a racket in the background.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world.. which would it be?
"Enders Game", the battle school.

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?
"Tunnel in the Sky" by Robert Heinlein.
"Enders Game" by Orson Scott Card.
What is your favorite quote?
There was only one way to test a toilet. (from "The Mote in God's Eye" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle)
"The enemy's gate is *down*." (from "Ender's Game")

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
"Just This Guy, You Know? A Biography"

What is your guilty pleasure?
Watching "The Fifth Element".
Listening to Bon Jovi.

How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?
I believe I said, "Cool." Though it might've been, "Rockin!"

Write a haiku about your book.
No. I won't do it.
My wife is a poet. She
would be quite annoyed.

David's Blog: http://www.gunsandmagic.com/

Thank you David for taking time to do an interview and for allowing me to host a giveaway of your book. The Girl Who Ran With Horses is a tween/young adult adult novel with a few touches of contemporary fantasy/paranormal.

The Girl Who Ran With Horses by David Michael:

It's summer vacation and all 13-year-old Stevie Buckbee wants is to be close to her family again and to ride her horses--especially Jack Rabbit, her first horse all her own. But past tragedies threaten her plans before the summer has a chance to begin. Even as she discovers that she is somehow able to communicate with Jack Rabbit and the other horses on the family ranch, she finds she can no longer get through to her Dad and brother Blake. And what good is it to be able to run with the horses if no matter how fast and how far she runs, everything she knows and loves is lost?

Giveaway Details:
1 Copy of The Girl Who Ran With Horses open to US & Canada
Giveaway is open until 1/25/11.

Optional Extra Entry:
+1 Like David on Facebook

To Enter Please Fill Out This Form:

Book Review: The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Gross Junior Edition by David Borgenicht

Leave it to the authors of the best-selling Worst-Case Scenario series to serve up a hilarious and totally "gross" handbook that will guide kids through all things slippery, slimy, and stinky. Find out how to survive boogers, bloody noses, barfing emergencies, and more. The tips in this book will have kids laughing out loud, while gearing them up to tackle all that's utterly disgusting in life, Worst-Case Scenario-style.

This book is educational, funny and down right disgusting. I gagged several times while reading it. The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Gross Junior Edition has information on just about every disgusting thing imaginable: boogers, vomit, spit, dog poop, lice, roaches, pimples, warts... the list goes on and on.

I learned a few interesting things like how to easily disinfect a toilet plunger, tricks for getting rid of warts, and which stall to use in a public bathroom.

Aimed at middle grade boys this book is sure to be a hit with them. Now that I'm done reading it I'll be turning my copy over to my 9 year old son, it's right up his alley. I think I'll check out a couple of the other Worst-Case Scenario Handbooks.

Content: Too disgusting to be rated clean, ages 8+

Rating: 4 Stars

Source: Won in a giveaway

Book Review: 33 Habits of a Really Good Man by Yvonne Swinson

Bill Wells wasn't a famous man, but he felt an invaluable legacy for those who knew him. He kept a little black notebook full of quotes, proverbs, poems, and stories that inspired him. He lived his life by these words of wisdom and taught his children to do the same. Compiled by his daughter Yvonne Swinson, 33 Habits of a Really Good Man shares Bill's legacy with you. Each mini-memoir includes one of Bill's favorite bits of wisdom and how making it a habit can lead to a "really good" life.

I agreed to review 33 Habits of a Really Good Man by Yvonne Swinson thinking I could then pass it on to my husband or father.  Little did I know this book about a "really good man" would be filled with such wonderful wisdom for "really good women" too.

This book really is a gem that would make a great gift book for just about anyone.  Yvonne was blessed to have an amazing father who left behind a legacy in his little black notebook.  Kudos to Yvonne for sharing such wonderful quotes, stories and life lessons.

This book was great inspiration for me.  Since today is New Years Day and I'm working on my goals and resolutions for the year this book helped me to focus on what is really important and on the kind of person I want to become.  Great motivation to become a better person.

Rating: 5 Stars

Content: Clean & uplifting

Source: From Author For Review

Author Interview & Book Giveaway: Royal Dragoneers by M.R. Mathias

Kicking off the New Year with my first interview of 2011!

Welcome to Author M.R. Mathias!

The jewel you see glowing in the ring in my authors photo isn't really a jewel at all. It is the crystallized tear of a real dragon. In my novel "The Royal Dragoneers" you might find the moment where this wonderfully magical tear drop fell from a green dragons eye and hardened on its way down to land in a mess of troll corpses that the dragon was laying on.


My grandfather died before I was born, but the ring was given to me by my mother, after my grandmother recently died. My grandfather had apparently won the ring in a poker game near the Red River between Texas and Oklahoma sometime in the early 1900's.


It has been a boon, the magic of the teardrop, for it brought you here to me didn't it? Now treat yourself to something fantastic and try out the free sample of one of my novels. I hope you enjoy the journey. It will be spectacular. Thanks M.R. Mathias

(I also write Thriller/Horror under the pen name: Michael Robb).

Interview:

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
I would go to the future, grab a copy of a sports stat book so that when I come back I could win every sports bet I made.

If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?
Ozzy Ozbourne, Kieth Richards, Sandra Bullock, Jenifer Aniston, Jack Nicholson

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?
A laptop, a solar charger, and a mini satelite dish.

What is one book everyone should read?
The Odyssey

If you were a superhero what would your name be?
The Dungeon Master

If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
The power to see the future

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
I'm diabetic so my favorite flavor is YUCK

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Egg Mc Muffin

What's your favorite music genre? Favorite artist? Song?
Rock, Ozzy, You Can't Kill Rock -n- Roll

Is there anything you need in order to write? (ie Chocolate, quiet, music)
Coffee

Favortie Cartoon?
Scooby Dooby Doo!

If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be, male or female, doesn't matter and why?
Zeus, for the most obvious reason that he was the boss.

What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
NCAA Football

How do you react to a bad review?
I start plotting... :-)

If you could be a paranormal creature, what would you choose to be?
Dragon

What is your favorite book that has been made into a movie?
LOTR

What do you do when you are in-between books?
think about books

Where is your favorite place to read/write?
I write on my sofa, but I have to be alone (save for my dog) and I have to have the radio up.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
Because its a pretty good book.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world.. which would it be?
The Six Duchies of the Farseer Saga

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?
Go Dog Go

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?
I write horror under the name Michael Robb and the Judas priest Song "Some Heads are gonna Roll" ...runs through my head when I think about "The Butcher's Boy"

What is your favorite quote?
"A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a thousand words is only 3 pages." -- M. R. Mathias

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
No Way!

What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?
mythbusters

Thanks to M.R. Mathias for taking the time to do an interview.  He's got a great giveaway for you!  He is offering up 3 copies of his book The Royal Dragoneers.  The Royal Dragoneers is a fantasy book for all ages, but the story is about a group of unlikely teenage heroes, the oldest of which is a willfull magic weilding girl, who all bond with dragons and attempt to save the world they know. It wasn't intended to be a YA book, but several reviewers have deemed it so.

The Royal Dragoneers by M.R. Mathias:
Hold on to your dragon! You're about to journey through a brave new world of hearty survivors straight into a dragon riding, troll fighting adventure for the ages.

After struggling for more than two centuries to tame the inhospitable, dragon infested Islands where they washed up, the descendants of the survivors of a lost passenger ship are now striving to tame the Mainland they have found.

But the Goblin King, an Ivory antlered demon called Gravelbone, has a different plan for the men who are invading his territory. He and his Nightshade are rallying the trolls to defend their lands. With the help of the dragons, goblins, and orcs they plan on rendering the wall the humans have built useless so that they can drive man back to the islands from where they came.

When stubborn King Blanchard finally accepts that the kingdom really is under attack it may be too late, and the only ones who can save the people on the Mainland have been locked away in the dungeon.

Join some brave young men and their mentor, a grizzled old King's Ranger, and a particularly clever young magic wielding woman, as they traverse the wild frontier and sail to King's Island to warn the King of the warring trolls.

Then hold on for your life as you tear through the pages, because the pure blooded dragons our heroes have befriended have another plan all together.

The Dragoneers Home page:  http://www.mrmathias.com/Dragoneers.html

Giveaway Details:
3 winners will each win 1 copy of The Royal Dragoneers by M.R. Mathias
Open to US only - book will be shipped directly from Amazon.com

3 Optional Entries are available by following M.R. Mathias:
Follow on Twitter
Follow on Facebook
Follow on Goodreads

To Enter please fill out this form:

In My Mailbox, Mailbox Monday

My mailbox was happy this week!

From Publisher Bloomsbury for Review:

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

A Boy and His Bot by Daniel H. Wilson

Chick 'n' Pug by Jennifer Sattler

Abigail Iris: The Pet Project by Lisa Glatt and suzanne Greenberg

Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper

Taking Off by Jenny Moss

Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap

In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

From Publisher Hachette Book Group for Review:

Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

Lastingness: The Art of Old Age by Nicholas Delbanco

From Author for Review:

The Picture by Steven Haner

From Author for Review

Bellyache: A Delicious Tale by Crystal Marcos

From Author for Review:

The Butt Book by Artie Bennett

From Author for Review:

Kevin's Point of View by Del Shannon

From Author for Review:

Ballad of the Ragman by Cynthia Gustavson

From Author for Review & Blog Tour:

Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy

From Author for Review:

The Girl Who Ran With Horses by David Michael

From Author for Review:

The Royal Dragoneers by M.R. Mathias

From Author for Review:

The Life and Opinions of Amy Finawitz by Laura Toffler-Corrie

From Author for Review:

Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

From Author for Review:

33 Habits of a Really Good Man by Yvonne Swinson

From Publisher for Review & Blog Tour:

A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor by Robert G. Pielke


In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren.

The idea behind IMM was not only to put new books on your radar but to also encourage blogger interaction. IMM explores the weekly contents of my mailbox & books bought.

Anyone can participate in IMM and you are not limited to only sharing books that arrive via your mailbox. You can also share books that you've bought or books that you've gotten at the library.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at the Printed Page. January's hops will be hosted by Rose City Reader.

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

Giveaway Winners: #BIR2010 Part 2

Congratulations to the Winners of my

BIR2010 Book Giveaways

This is the last of 75 winners on my blog as part of
Best I've Read 2010!

Once again a huge thank you to the authors and publishers who dontated books for giveaways.

I'm already looking forward to Best I've Read 2011!

The winners were selected using Random.org

JHSiess - 5 Book Fablehaven Series
Isabel Quimbaya - Princess for Hire
Paige Childs - Paranormalcy
Em Bennison - Five Flavors of Dumb
Joanne Bayless - Bloodthirsty
Donna Smith - Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Chantele Sedgwick - Hourglass Door & Golden Spiral

Winners have been notified. I will be shipping out their book next week.

Giveaway Winners: #BIR2010

Congratulations to the Winners of my

BIR2010 Book Giveaways

The winners were selected using Random.org

Shalaena Bittick - Linger
Tessa Weinberg - 39 Clues
Cathie Veres - Halo
Laura Kreitzer - Weathered Too Young & Windswept Flame
Alex Paulos - Runaway
Lexie @ Book Bug - Mockingjay
Casey Harris-Parks - Nail Polish (The Lost Saint)

Winners have been notified. I will be shipping out their book next week.

7 more winners to be drawn - I'll try to post them tonight.

Audiobook Giveaway: Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Shiff

Her palace shimmered with gold but was richer still in political and sexual intrigue. Cleopatra, the wealthiest ruler of her time and one of the most powerful women in history, was a canny political strategist, a brilliant manager, a tough negotiator, and the most manipulative of lovers. Although her life spanned fewer than forty years, it reshaped the contours of the ancient world.

At only 18 years old, Cleopatra was already one of history's most remarkable figures: the Queen of Egypt. A lethal political struggle with her brother marked her early adulthood and set the tone for the rest of her life; a relationship with Julius Caesar, forged while under siege in her palace, launched her into a deadly mix of romance and strategy; a pleasure cruise down the Nile followed, a child, and a trip to Rome, which ended in Cleopatra's flight. After Caesar's brutal murder, she began a nine-year affair with Mark Antony, with whom she had three more children. Antony and Cleopatra's alliance and attempt to forge a new empire spelled both their ends.
The subject of gossip and legend, veneration and speculation in her lifetime, Cleopatra fascinated the world right up to her death. In the 2000 years since, myths about the last Queen of Egypt have been fueled by Shakespeare, Dryden, and Shaw, who put words in her mouth, and by Michelangelo, Delacroix, and Elizabeth Taylor, who put a face to her name. In Cleopatra, Pulitzer prize-winning biographer Stacy Schiff accomplishes a feat that has eluded artists and writers for centuries: capturing fully the operatic life of an exceptionally seductive and powerful woman, whose death ushered in a new world order.

About the Author:
Stacy Schiff is the author of Véra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov), winner of the Pulitzer Prize; Saint-Exupéry, a Pulitzer Prize finalist; and A Great Improvisation, winner of the George Washington Book Prize and the Ambassador Book Award. She has been a Guggenheim Fellow, and a fellow at the center for Scholars & Writers, and received an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Schiff has contributed to The New Yorker and The New York Times, where she has been an op-ed columnist.

Thanks to Anna at Hachette Book Group I have 2 audio copies of Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Shiff to giveaway.

Entry rules:
Only residents of the U.S. or Canada are eligible to win.
No PO boxes, please.
Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule. If you win the same title in two or more contests, you will receive only one copy of the title. Books will be sent directly from the publisher.
Last day to enter is 1/23/11.

To Enter Please Fill Out This Form:

Giveaway Winners: BIR2010 Grand Prize

Congratulations to the Winners of my

BIR2010 Grand Prize Giveaway

The winners were selected using Random.org



Robyn Lee - International Winner - BIR2010 Book of Choice shipped from Book Depository

Reviews By Molly E. - Grand Prize Winner - 10 Books

Katie Pashalieva - Runner Up - 3 of the Remaining Books

JL Jackson - 1 Book

Erin Fletch8502 - 1 Book

Amelia aeimaginer12 - 1 Book

I've still got 14 more winners to draw for the last of the BIR2010 book giveaways. I'll try to get those winners announced tomorrow.

I will be contacting the Grand Prize winners in the order they are listed on this post.  The Grand Prize winner will choose the books they want first and then I will contact the Runner Up who can choose from the remaining books, then I'll contact the last 3 winners, etc.

2011 Debut Author Challenge

There are so many challenges going on in 2011.  I want to join a whole bunch of them but I know I tend to overextend myself so I've not signed up for any of them.

I finally decided to try at least one this year and see how it goes.  I chose to signed up to participate in is The Story Siren's Debut Author Challenge.

The Debut Author Challenge highlights young adult and middle grade authors that are releasing their first novel in 2011. The challenge is to read at least twelve debut novels. 

Should be simple enough!

2011 Book Giveaway Address Collection Form

I'm trying something new in 2011.

I intend to host book giveaways at least 4 times per week. It makes my life much easier if I do not have to track down addresses from the winners of my giveaways. I usually require people entering giveaways to leave their address on each form. I'm now giving regular followers of this blog a chance to leave their address once and then not have to enter their address again. If you have filled out this form I will look up your address if you win a giveaway. This worked really well when I did it as a part of Best I've Read 2010 and a lot of bloggers really appreciated it so I'm going to try it for all the giveaways I host.

It is not required that you fill out this form.  I know some people are very protective of their address and don't want to share it unless they win.  That is just fine.

However there are others who hate to have to fill out their address every time they enter a giveaway.  This should make their life easier.  This is especially true for those few dozen followers who religiously enter every giveaway I host. Fill out the form once and then never need to fill in your address again on my blog (unless you move, change email, etc.)