Family Ever After Blog Tour & Book Blast Sign Ups

I'm setting up a blog tour & book blast for Family Ever After by Michelle Packard
The is a Family/Self Help/Motivational Book.

The $50 Book Blast will take place on Friday, April 26th.  In exchange for putting up a book blast post you can have a spot on the rafflecopter for your facebook fan page or twitter account.

The Blog Tour will run from May 3rd to 15th.  There is a shared $25 Gift Card Giveaway that is part of the tour.  This is mainly a review tour.  Interviews & guest posts are only available to those with a well established, high traffic blog.

Family Ever After: Simple Ways to Achieve Perfect Happiness in an Imperfect Family

Got Your Ever After? That is the question of a lifetime.  When your Ever After began I’m sure it was a happy one, but, over time, something about family life becomes a little less perfect and likely a lot less glamorous. Call me crazy but I got married so I could be with my husband. See what I said…Crazy. If you are anything like me, and probably the rest of the world, this book is for you. It gives perspective on what we call marriage and family life. Let it be your guide to making your ever after truly, sublimely happy.

In Family Ever After: author Michelle Packard explores and advises on everything from time management to identifying what’s really important in any family, how to celebrate play to solving conflicts without making it worse, and managing expectations to developing a positive outlook on real patience.



"This book is an incredible reminder to be happy loving the ones who are most important in our life—our family. Through Michelle’s wit and wisdom, I found myself looking at my family with a clearer perspective of what happiness means in this reality we’re living. I ditched the rose-colored glasses long ago, but Michelle’s book provided the window cleaner I needed to see that it’s okay if everything doesn’t turn out right as long as we realize that happiness can be found within the simple things. And sometimes the simplest moments hold the most joy.

Amazon

Praise
Family Ever After is a must-read for every happily married Cinderella who wonders why she’s still holding the broom."
--Rachelle J. Christensen, award-winning author of Wrong Number and Caller ID

"Michelle is open enough to have given readers an intimate look into her life and those close to her, allowing us to learn from both painful and sweet experiences.  Her self-reflective style and meaningful insights, if applied, would clearly make a profound impact in the lives of readers."
--Shawn Edgington Ph.D.



Michelle Packard is a mother to her four very human and totally fabulous kids. Her oldest, Ella is always in charge and leads the pack with creativity and curiosity, Daniel follows with loyalty and loves tenderly, Julia is a doll and always buzzing over something beautiful, and Jackson could hunt down the last sharpie on earth to create art on your bathroom wall. She has been married ten years and is quite taken with her guy. Date night is her favorite and she dreams of weekend getaways with her man. She loves creating beauty through floral design, but apparently has no gift with living flowers (They end of upside down and pressed in books). She finds parties alluring. They beckon her to invite people over, spend way too much time preparing food for murder mystery dinners, and totally enjoy friends and family. Michelle holds a bachelors degree in Home and Family Science from Brigham Young University. She has spent a great deal of time working with children and young adults and finds her greatest joy is happy families.

Blog

Happily Ever After Giveaway Hop Sign Ups

Announcing the Happily Ever After Giveaway Hop

October 9th to 14th

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Murphy's Library

This hop features fairy tales & books with happy endings.

HOP RULES:
1. The Happily Ever After Giveaway Hop Images needs to be part of your post.

2. Include the linky list with all the participating blogs at the end of your post OR link to I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Murphy's Library.

3. You giveaway must be for a fairy tale or a book with a happy ending.  You can allow the winner to choose a book of their choice that fits this criteria.

4. Keep It Simple!! Keep the way to enter your giveaway as simple as possible. All entries must be able to be done on one visit to your blog - Entries such as tweet once a day are NOT allowed (tweeting once is fine).
You must turn off word verification/CAPTCHA if you are requiring more than one comment for entries - If you are concerned about spam then enable comment moderation. No long lists of things for people to do.  If you have more than a dozen possible entries you will be deleted from the entry.

5. This must be a giveaway specifically for this hop and must run only the 6 days this hop is scheduled.

6. Your blog & giveaway need to be "family friendly".

To sign up to host a giveaway just add your blog or website to the linky below. Please include your shipping information after your blog name.

Happily Ever After Giveaway Hop - Beauty or Book of Choice

Welcome to the Happily Ever After Giveaway Hop

October 9th to 14th

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Murphy's Library

This hop features fairy tales & books with happy endings.

A strange imprisonment.
Beauty has never liked her nickname. She is thin and awkward; it is her two sisters who are the beautiful ones. But what she lacks in looks, she can perhaps make up for in courage.
When her father comes home with the tale of an enchanted castle in the forest and the terrible promise he had to make to the Beast who lives there, Beauty knows she must go to the castle, a prisoner of her own free will. Her father protests that he will not let her go, but she answers, "Cannot a Beast be tamed?"
Robin McKinley's beloved telling illuminates the unusual love story of a most unlikely couple: Beauty and the Beast.

Robin McKinley's retelling of Beauty & the Beast has long been one of my favorite fairy tale retellings?

What is once of your?

My Giveaway:
My giveaway is simple.
1 winner will receive a copy of Beauty by Robin McKinley or a fairy tale retelling or happily ever after story of their choice (up to $12).
Shipped from the Book Depository or via a $12 Amazon Gift Card.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Each of these blogs is hosting a giveaway as part of this hop. Join me in my next hop. There are lots of great giveaway hops coming soon. Check my right sidebar and click the image to sign up.

Book Review: Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

Title: Best of Me
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Series: None
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Released: October 11, 2011
Website: http://nicholassparks.com/

Book Summary:

THE BEST OF ME is the heart-rending story of two small-town former high school sweethearts from opposite sides of the tracks. Now middle-aged, they've taken wildly divergent paths, but neither has lived the life they imagined . . . and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever altered their world. When they are both called back to their hometown for the funeral of the mentor who once gave them shelter, they will be forced to confront the choices each has made, and ask whether love can truly rewrite the past.

I'm a sucker for Nicholas Sparks. I've read EVERYTHING he has written and enjoyed all of it. I think he is a great writer. However if you haven't read a Nicholas Sparks book don't start with this one, it's not his best. Try A Walk to Remember, The Notebook or The Last Song as an introduction to his work. If you've read his books and enjoy them then read this one too.

Since I've read all of his books I was totally prepared for the emotional manipulation and classic Nicholas Sparks life is not always the happily ever after we may think it should be ending. Good thing I was prepared because he dished it out in droves in this one.  I thought Dawson Cole was a great character but I wasn't as taken with Amanda.  I'm a happily ever after ending person and the ending of this one was not the happily ever after I would have liked to have seen.  I saw it coming but still wish things could have somehow gone differently.

Sidenote: Prior to starting this one I had just finished reading Anna and the French Kiss. As Anna described the books her father writes I couldn't help but think of Nicholas Sparks.

Rating: 4 Stars - Great Book

Content: Language, violence, implied sex and other mature content that wasn't overly graphic however this is definitely a book for "adults".

Source: Library

Character This or That: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

Welcome to Author Melissa Jensen

I grew up in San Francisco, which gave me a love of fog and funny-colored houses. My mother is an amazing watercolorist, my father an architect. I can’t draw. Never could. But I always loved telling stories (occasionally of the sort involving passing Vegetable Fairies and disappearing sweet potatoes at dinnertime). I read lots of pretty wonderful books as a kid, but haven’t been quite the same since I was fourteen and my English teacher handed me a copy of Pride and Prejudice. I still want to be Elizabeth Bennet when I grow up. Elizabeth Bennet with a career and jeans, anyway. My husband got a second date by telling me he had once played Mr. Darcy on stage. There would have been a second date, in any case, but still…

I’ve written lots of stuff over the years, including a few novels, magazine articles, and even a syndicated newspaper etiquette column. I like dinner parties. I don’t give nearly enough of them. I love to make lists of whom I would invite if I possibly could. My fab friends aside, there’s always a spot for Jane Austen (who probably would always politely refuse), Robert Burns, and Charles Darwin. Then there’s Oscar Wilde, Eleanor Roosevelt, the Dalai Lama, and William Steig. Abigail Adams and Oprah. Orlando Bloom (anyone have his phone number?) and Julia Child. Bonnie Robinson: that long-ago English literature teacher, later my creative writing teacher, who told me that I’d better spend a lot more time in England if I was going to insist on writing about it.

My fave places in the world are London and Dublin, neither of which are as foggy as literature would have us believe. I spend as much time as possible in Ireland, often on the edge of one cliff or another. It makes my family crazy. It makes me feel like a Bronte.

Now I live most of the time in Pennsylvania, in a house old enough to have hosted Elizabeth Bennet, if she had cared to visit the Colonies. Of course, as Mrs. Darcy, she would have been very grand and my house isn’t, but then, she was all about having a curious and open mind. Not a bad philosophy. I do my best, but it doesn’t always work. Nothing will ever make me like sweet potatoes.

Website: http://www.melissajensen.com/
Blog: http://www.melissajensen.com/blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Melissa-Jensen/213465748691349
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/meljens

This or That with Frankie from The Fine Art of Truth or Dare
Skittles or M&Ms
M&Ms. Skittles make my teeth stick together. Have you ever tried to channel Bruno Mars without being able to open your mouth?

Night Owl or Early Bird
Please. No one looks good before 10am.

Summer or Winter
Again. Sweat versus cashmere sweater. No contest.

Black or White
Black. Ever see Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin in a white suit? Didn’t think so.

Hot or Cold
Cold. See above, “cashmere”.

Chocolate or Vanilla
Ginger.

Twitter or Facebook
Twitter. I have two good friends and not enough time for Facebook. Plus, I can be fabulously pithy in a very small space.

Sunshine or Rain
Really? Remember who you’re talking to. I don’t care what anyone says; plastic coats and rubber boots are not attractive. The only people who look good in the rain are the Irish.

Books or Movies
Books by David Levithan, Marian Keyes, and Evelyn Waugh. Movies by Richard Curtis. Vogue Hommes International.

Mac or PC
Mac. For about fifty reasons, the first being that, after Happily Ever After and a closet full of Helmut Lang, the thing I would sell my soul for is an iPhone.

Print or Ebooks
See above re: Frank and Dean. Can you imagine them with a Kindle? Totally lacks elegance.

Reader or Writer
Writer. What I have to say is usually more interesting than what other people have to say.

Christmas or Halloween
Hmm. Let me think… A holiday where I get to be reminded just how much money my family does not have, or one where I get to look fabulous in a dozen different ways…?

Coke or Pepsi
Veuve Cliquot.

Pizza or Pasta
Either, as long as it’s from Marino’s. See, here’s the thing. The Willing School is full of god-awful, stick-up-the-butt kids from Society Hill. Then there’s Ella Marino. South Philly all the way.  So smart and crazy talented and beautiful to the core. One of, oh, maybe six people in my life who make me feel like I’m perfect exactly as I am. You want to have dinner in the warmest place in Philadelphia? Go to Marino’s. Tell ‘em Frankie sent you.

Title: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare
Author: Melissa Jensen
Series: None
Publisher: Speak
Released: February 16, 2012
Website: http://www.melissajensen.com/

Book Summary:

Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss in this charming romantic comedy.

Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?

Also by Melissa Jensen:

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson BookBlast Giveaway

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson 

Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.

But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school.

And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.

Purchase

Amazon Kindle

Praise

“My top pick of 2012 YA… This book is just. plain. fun.”

~Jordan McCollum, author of Saints & Spies and I, Spy

“Sariah Wilson's new book, The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back, is hilarious…What follows is a story of fun and romance with some good non-preachy life lessons thrown in.  The voice in the main character, Mattie, makes the whole thing.  I thought it was definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone with teenagers or who just want to read a good teen romance.”

~Julie Coulter Bellon, author of All Fall Down and All’s Fair

“Sariah [Wilson] has written one of the funniest stories I've read in such a long, long time. I literally couldn't put it down. Yes, my poor Kindle's battery died and I was attached to a short power cord, contorted in a very uncomfortable position while I read to the end…. Sariah Wilson captured the back-biting, insecure, hormone-driven, clique-riddled high school atmosphere so perfectly you'd think she never grew up. I dare you not to laugh as you read this witty and oh, so, romantic story.”

~Debra Erfert of Windows into Writing

“Sariah Wilson writes like the best of/most popular YA teen fiction/teen romance authors - Sarah Dessen, Jennifer Echols, Susanne Collins, Cassandra Clare.  She sucks you in and never lets you go.  I finished the ~194 novel in one night because I just couldn't go to sleep without knowing the ending!  I hope that Sariah comes out with more novels, I know I'll be re-reading this one all the time!  She's extremely talented and needs to be talked about.  I highly recommend The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back! to anyone (over the age of 12) who wants a YA novel that's a real modern-day fairy tale.”

~Hilary at Novel d’Tales

“This was such an entertaining story! I shouldn't have started reading it so late in the evening, because I didn't want to put it down to go to sleep…This is a book I can see myself reading several times. It's a fast, clean read with great characters, and I highly recommend it.”

~Andrea of Literary Time Out

The book is wonderful.  It’s quirky and fun.  The story makes you laugh and you fall in love with the characters right from the beginning…This is a well-written book.  It is one that will make you smile and sigh as you remember your first love.  And it has a moral…be yourself, believe in yourself and maybe, just maybe, your fairytale will come true.  Pick up this book.”

~Ana of The Book Hookup

Author Sariah Wilson

Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back is her fourth happily ever after novel. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Tour Schedule

Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/5/13

Open only to those 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 enter for you. 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. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Ugly Stepsiter Strikes Back Blog Tour Schedule

Tour Schedule

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson 

Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.

But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school.

And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.

Purchase

Amazon Kindle

Praise

“My top pick of 2012 YA… This book is just. plain. fun.”

~Jordan McCollum, author of Saints & Spies and I, Spy

“Sariah Wilson's new book, The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back, is hilarious…What follows is a story of fun and romance with some good non-preachy life lessons thrown in.  The voice in the main character, Mattie, makes the whole thing.  I thought it was definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone with teenagers or who just want to read a good teen romance.”

~Julie Coulter Bellon, author of All Fall Down and All’s Fair

“Sariah [Wilson] has written one of the funniest stories I've read in such a long, long time. I literally couldn't put it down. Yes, my poor Kindle's battery died and I was attached to a short power cord, contorted in a very uncomfortable position while I read to the end…. Sariah Wilson captured the back-biting, insecure, hormone-driven, clique-riddled high school atmosphere so perfectly you'd think she never grew up. I dare you not to laugh as you read this witty and oh, so, romantic story.”

~Debra Erfert of Windows into Writing

“Sariah Wilson writes like the best of/most popular YA teen fiction/teen romance authors - Sarah Dessen, Jennifer Echols, Susanne Collins, Cassandra Clare.  She sucks you in and never lets you go.  I finished the ~194 novel in one night because I just couldn't go to sleep without knowing the ending!  I hope that Sariah comes out with more novels, I know I'll be re-reading this one all the time!  She's extremely talented and needs to be talked about.  I highly recommend The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back! to anyone (over the age of 12) who wants a YA novel that's a real modern-day fairy tale.”

~Hilary at Novel d’Tales

“This was such an entertaining story! I shouldn't have started reading it so late in the evening, because I didn't want to put it down to go to sleep…This is a book I can see myself reading several times. It's a fast, clean read with great characters, and I highly recommend it.”

~Andrea of Literary Time Out

The book is wonderful.  It’s quirky and fun.  The story makes you laugh and you fall in love with the characters right from the beginning…This is a well-written book.  It is one that will make you smile and sigh as you remember your first love.  And it has a moral…be yourself, believe in yourself and maybe, just maybe, your fairytale will come true.  Pick up this book.”

~Ana of The Book Hookup

Author Sariah Wilson

Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back is her fourth happily ever after novel. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/10/13

Open only to those 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 enter for you. 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. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Schedule

February 18th
Book Blast

February 19th
I Am A Reader, Not A Writer - Interview
Gamila's Book Review - Review
Pink Fluffy Hearts - Spotlight
Wordpainting Unlimited - Review
Another Step to Follow - Review & Interview
Doing Dewey - Review

February 20th
Getting Your Read On - Review
Book Readers - Interview
Margay Leah Justice - Review
Book Flame - Spotlight

February 21st
Hott Books - Review
Mom With A Kindle - Interview
Frankie's Blooding's Bookshelf - Tens List
Indie Author How-to - Spotlight
Peace from Pieces - Interview

February 22nd
The Book Mark Blog - Review
GeoLibrarian - Review
Dates Books - Tens List
Why Not? Because I Said So! - Review
My Book A Day - Review
Sarah Balance - Tens List

February 23rd
Cuzinlogic - Interview
Karey White - Review
Sher A Hart: Writing Art - Spotlight
Kaisy Daisy's Corner - Review
Magical Manuscripts - Spotlight

February 24th
Pieces of Whimsy - Spotlight
WTF Are You Reading? - Review
Blood, Sweat and Books - Review & Interview

February 25th
Oh, The Books You'll Read - Review
Emi Gayle - Interview
Sab the Book Reader - Review
Jessie's Book Place - Spotlight
The Bunny's Review - Tens List
Read This Instead - Review

February 26th
Book Haven Extraordinaire - Review & Guest Post
MK McClintock - Tens List
Deal Sharing Aunt - Review
Fire & Ice - Review
Literary Winner - Review

February 27th
Maureen's Musing - Review
FanGirl Hostess - Tens List
Book Lover and Procrastinator - Review
Deborah's Books - Review & Tens List

February 28th
My Devotional Thoughts - Tens List
Bookworm Lisa - Review
Literary Time Out - Interview
Books, Books, The Magical Fruit - Spotlight

March 1st
The Eclectic Review - Review
Prosperine Craving Books - Spotlight
Living, Learning and Loving Life - Review
Fall Into Books - Spotlight
Simple Wyrdings - Review

March 2nd
Witchmags Boekenplank - Review
Books Are Magic - Review & Tens List
Brooke Blogs - Review

March 3rd
Storeybook Reviews - Review
Laurie's Thoughts & Reviews - Review & Character Interview
Froze8's Blog - Tens List
A Backward's Story - Review
Author T.L. Clarke - Spotlight

My Devotional Thoughts - Review

Stuck in a Good Books Giveaway Hop - The Reluctant Bachelorette or Marcia Lynn McClure Book

Welcome to the Stuck in a Good Book Giveaway Hop

September 20th to 25th

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Valerie from Stuck in Books

My Giveaways: (enter 1 or both)

Giveaway #1 - The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Renee Anderson - Definitely a book I loved and didn't want to put down.  I have a Kindle Ebook copy for 1 winner. Open to anyone who can read a Kindle ebook gifted from Amazon.com

The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Anderson

Unknowingly cast as the bachelorette for her town’s charity event, Taycee Emerson wants out. Especially when she discovers her old teenage crush, Luke Carney, is one of the bachelors and it's up to the viewers--not her--to decide which bachelors stay or go.
Coerced into participating, Taycee does what any self-preserving girl would do. She launches a subtle attack on Luke’s good name with the hope of getting him voted off the show. Unfortunately, Luke's an eye-for-an-eye kind of guy, and when he discovers what she's up to, it means revenge.
But when their pranks go south, will they screw up any chance they have at a future together, or will they be able to forgive and forget and prove that love really does conquer all?

Add to your goodreads shelf:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway #2 - Your choice of one of these Marcia Lynn McClure Title.  I love to escape into Marcia's clean romances.  Paperback open to US only, Ebook open Internationally

Inspired Kathy's marcia-lynn-mcclure book montage

Inspired Kathy's favorite books »

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Each of these blogs is hosting a giveaway as part of this hop.
 




Want to be notified when I open sign ups for a new hop? 
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/07/giveaway-hop-notifications-receive.html

Join me in my next BookBlast:
http://bookblastpromotions.blogspot.com/ 

Join me in a blog tour:
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/09/blog-tours-hosted-by-i-am-reader-not.html

Buy a Blog Ad:
Use the code save30 to save 30% on Blog Ads on this site:
http://web.blogads.com/


Sign ups are open for these upcoming hops: 

Banned Books Week (September 28th to October 6th)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/08/2nd-annual-banned-books-week-giveaway.html 

Fangs, Fur & Fey (October 2nd to 8th)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/08/fangs-fur-fey-giveaway-hop-sign-ups.html 

Fall Into Fantasy (October 16th to 21st)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/09/fall-into-fantasy-giveaway-hop-sign-ups.html 

Happily Ever After (October 9th to 14th)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/09/happily-ever-after-giveaway-hop-sign-ups.html

Jane Austen Hop (October 19th to 24th)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/09/jane-austen-giveaway-hop-sign-ups.html


Spooktacular (October 24th to 31st)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/08/spooktacular-giveaway-hop-sign-ups.html 

YA Mythology Hop (October 26th to Nov 4th)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/09/ya-mythology-hop-sign-ups.html

Blog Tour: Before Happily Ever After Series by Ann T. Bugg - Interview plus Giveaway

Author Ann T. Bugg

Ann T. Bugg is the Queen of her castle in southern Minnesota where she lives with her Knight in shining armor (who has come to her rescue more than once) and her own little Princess Valerie. The pets in her magical kingdom come in all shapes and sizes, as do all the critters that make their way out of the enchanted forest. Horseback riding, long walks with her dogs (Otter & Dottie pictured above) and embroidering are on her list of hobbies, but writing will always be her first love.

Ann also writes Women's Fiction under the name June Kramin.

Links

Facebook * Website * Twitter

Interview:

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
To the past for sure. Some things were too much fun to have only gotten away with once! I wouldn't want to change a thing, though!

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?
My laptop, my Nook and an endless supply of cheese!!

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? 
There are always future projects for me. I have quite a few finished novels that I have yet to clean up and submit. I finished another thriller that I am sure has series potential. I want to focus on that for a while. There are 6 more middle grade ones scheduled to come out - I'm still toying with fitting more in or moving the girls to the Young Adult scene. Hello too many pots - meet fire.

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?
"Don't Stop Believing " by Journey has always been my theme song for it. It is a favorite of both girls. A great story that happened involving it made it's way into #8. Not long ago, we actually found a stop sign with "Don't" above it and "Beleiving" below. I had to take a picture & get it on my site. :)

What is your favorite Quote?
The ultimate secret of life is the sure knowledge of death, for without it man would not strive to leave his mark upon the earth. ~ Sarah Jessica Parker - Somewhere Tomorrow

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?
I ask this question myself to little kids.  I'm still looking for ideas.

What was your favorite children's book?
Misty of Chincoteague. I had the horse statue of her & Stormy as well.

Nickname?
Bug. That's how Ann T Bug came about. All my nieces & nephews and friend's kids call me Auntybug :)

If you were a bird, which one would you be?
A lyrebird! I love watching videos of all the sounds they can imitate!  Not that I have that skill, but I want it!

If you were a super hero what would your kryptonite be?
Chocolate. I don't care for it. You want to shut me up? Just breathe on me after you've taken a big 'ol bite. Works for hubby every time.

You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy?
I would take all my nieces and nephews to Disneyworld!

Favorite music?
80-'s - hands down!

TV or Movies?
Movies. We don't have cable. There just wasn't anything on that appealed to any of us anymore.

Spontaneity or Planning Ahead?
By the seat of my fanny for sure.

Shoes or Sandals?
Boots!
 
Facebook or Twitter?
Facebook. I still can't get into twitter...although I keep trying.



Book 1

Book 1: Through the Mirror and into Snow (Snow White)

When best friends Valerie and Samantha discover a magic mirror in Val’s 100-year-old barn in southern Minnesota, they eagerly go through it. Immediately they run into the young Snow White, who has just escaped the huntsman. The girls vow to help her find her father, knowing the dangers that await. On their journey, the fun-loving double-trouble duo quickly discover they are caught up in the middle of their favorite fairy tales.

Having the knowledge of the stories as their only weapon, Val and Sam help two other princesses, make a surprising friend and discover they have a fairy godmother of their very own.


Book 2

Book 2: Into the Forest and Down the Tower (Rapunzel)

It’s time for Samantha’s summer visit again. Both she and Val are anxious to see if they will take another magical journey through the mirror. After learning of a problem with one of the horses, Odette makes her appearance and tells the girls it’s up to them to help him.

What Charlie needs is something that can only be found in their magical land. It can’t be given to them; they have to solves riddles and discover the answers themselves. A family of elves guides them, but even elf powers are limited when it comes to what stands between the girls and what they seek.

Trolls and unicorns were everything they imagined and more, but rescuing Rapunzel from her tower was an added bonus they never saw coming.


Book 3

Book 3: Off to Camp and Discovering Art (King Arthur)

Valerie and Samantha are disappointed that their schedules were not allowing them to spend a week together this summer like they have done every year since they were young. Their parents are able to plan a weekend camping trip towards the end of summer. The girls are happy for the visit, but sad to think they can’t go through the mirror this year on another adventure. They discover the magic is not only within the mirror, but within themselves when they are together. Merlin the magician shows up to take them on their quest to help Arthur find his true identity and his place in Camelot.

Purchase

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Publisher

Tour Giveaway

All 3 Books
Print available to US only, Ebooks available Internationally
Ends 12/12/12


Open to anyone who can legally enter. 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


Official Tour Schedule
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/11/before-happily-ever-after-blog-tour.html


Tour Schedule Subject to Change:

November 26th
Tour Kick Off - I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
Musings of a Writer - Review of Book 1 & Book 2

November 27th
3Ps in a Pod - Guest Post & Review
Brooke Blogs - Excerpt

November 28th
A Casual Reader's Blog - Review
The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia - Tens List

November 29th
My Random Life - Interview
Bunny's Review - Tens List & Excerpt

November 30th
Books Complete Me - Review
Peace from Pieces - Interview

December 1st
Book Flame - Tens List
Sher A Hart: Writing As Art - Review & Guest Post

December 2nd
Fantasy Books - Author Interview

December 3rd
Debbie's Inkspectations - Review

December 4th
Mother Daughter Book Reviews - Review
GeoLibrarian - Review

December 5th
Jean Book Nerd - Excerpt
Cuzinlogic - Interview

December 6th
GeekeryDo - Review & Interview
Sher A Hart: Writing As Art - Review

December 7th
Oh, The Books You'll Read - Review & Interview

Reading Clean Giveaway Hop - Content Review Sites, Box of Books or MLM Book of Choice

Welcome to the Reading Clean Giveaway Hop

September 6th - 12th

Hosted by Clean Teen Fiction, One Librarian's Book Reviews 

& I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

Featuring Clean Reads!  Books free from sex, language and gratuitous violence.
Book you can share with anyone without hesitation be it your mother, daughter or bishop's wife.

First off.  I am putting together a list of sites that regularly include content information (is there sex, language, violence, etc.) as part of their book reviews.  As a parent and conservative reader I like to know content information about the books my kids and I are reading.  I wish books would come with a rating like movies do. I hate having to put a book down because I'm uncomfortable with the content.  I also like to know if a book is appropriate for my children or if they need to wait a few more years to read it.

I've put together a linky list of sites that I know regularly include content info as part of their reviews.  Some of these sites have exhaustive content information.  Others are more like mine and just mention a few things. I invite you to check out each site and see if they are a good fit for you.



Sites with Content Reviews

If you regularly include content info as part of your reviews and would like to be added to this linky please fill out the for below so I can take a look at your site.






Now for my giveaway!

I have 2 great prizes today.  There are 2 separate rafflecopter forms.

Giveaway #1 - Box of 10 "Clean Reads" - Open to US only

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway #2 - Your choice of anyone of these Marcia Lynn McClure titles - Paperback open to US only, Ebook open Internationally

Inspired Kathy's favorite books »

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Each of these blogs is hosting a giveaway for a "clean read" as part of this hop.



Want to be notified when I open sign ups for a new hop? 
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/07/giveaway-hop-notifications-receive.html

Join me in my next BookBlast:
http://bookblastpromotions.blogspot.com/ 

Buy a Blog Ad:
Use the code save30 to save 30% on Blog Ads on this site:
http://web.blogads.com/

Starts Tuessday:


Books to Movies (September 11th to 17th)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/08/books-to-movies-giveaway-hop-sign-ups.html 

Sign ups are open for the following hops: 

Under the Sea (September 14th to 20th)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/08/under-sea-giveaway-hop-sign-ups.html 

Stuck in a Good Book (September 20th to 25th)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/08/stuck-in-good-book-giveaway-hop-sign-ups.html

Banned Books Week (September 28th to October 6th)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/08/2nd-annual-banned-books-week-giveaway.html 

Fangs, Fur & Fey (October 2nd to 8th)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/08/fangs-fur-fey-giveaway-hop-sign-ups.html 

Spooktacular (October 24th to 31st)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/08/spooktacular-giveaway-hop-sign-ups.html 

YA Mythology Hop (October 26th to Nov 4th)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/09/ya-mythology-hop-sign-ups.html

Fall Into Fantasy (October 16th to 21st)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/09/fall-into-fantasy-giveaway-hop-sign-ups.html 

Happily Ever After (October 9th to 14th)
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/09/happily-ever-after-giveaway-hop-sign-ups.html

Have you entered all my other Great Giveaways:

$50 BookBlast Giveaway
Unstoppable
Stitch
Alexander Drake's Extraordinary Pursuit
Defending Happiness
The Cinderella Project
Count Down to Love
Flight of the Griffin
The Zephram Tales
Dark Promise or Mesmerized
Dark Summer
Pip Goes to Camp
I Am Me
Mind Secrets
Frozen
Until Next Time
12 Middle Grade Book