Monday, November 7, 2011

Rafflecopter Giveaway Hop!

Everyone is invited to join in on our exciting Rafflecopter Giveaway Hop each week. MindingSpot and Tracers Coupon Affair have teamed up to bring you a weekly hop to link up your rafflecopter giveaways. So if you have a giveaway and you are using Rafflecopter for it - link up your giveaway below!  Feel free to add our button to your site to help spread the word so others can join in!














Fate of the Muse by Derrolyn Anderson

In this third and thrilling installment of Marina's Tales, Marina has recuperated from her kidnapping and is enjoying her time with her boyfriend, Ethan. They and their friends are getting ready for prom and high school graduation. Things are going well, except for the confusing visions Marina is experiencing.


After graduation, Marina is to fly to Paris and meet with the council. Being a hybrid, half mermaid and half human, she has gifts that not many, if any, have. She's scared of the imminent trip, but her Aunt Evie assures her all will be well. Be that as it may, Marina doesn't want to leave Ethan. The two have plans to marry and be together forever, even if they have to wait until Marina is of age to do so.

But not all is at it seems. Someone wants Marina's help in acquiring a baby mermaid. They believe the baby's blood is the key to immortality. Marina's the only person they know who knows the whereabouts of the child. They will stop at nothing to acquire Marina's help, even taking the life of one of her loved ones.

Marina begins to question her choices. Ethan is working so hard she barely sees him. Also, his ex-girlfriend Amber has returned to town. Marina begins to believe that maybe Ethan is better off without her, even though she loves him with all of her heart. As her friends begin to realize their dreams, she struggles between two worlds, that of the sea and that of her heart. Will she realize where she belongs before it is too late?

Fate of the Muse is a thrilling addition to the series. As the group of friends’ graduation and move onto their lives, Marina questions her choices. She loves Ethan but is she burdening him? She wants her mermaid sisters to be safe, but at what cost? Romance, intrigue, mermaids and high fashion shows highlight this page-turning young adult novel. I can't wait for the next installment! Derrolyn Anderson is a must read author!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Amsterdam Personalized Pen Giveaway



Good news readers! Minding Spot is sponsoring a Personalized Pens Giveaway. We’re teaming up with Amsterdamprinting.com , the popular promotional pens website, and we’re giving away 50 Inspire pens, worth $149.95, absolutely free.

Whether you need them for your business, organization or personal use Amsterdam Printing can help you with all of your needs from mug printing, key chains to gift sets.

Here’s how to enter our Personalized Pens Giveaway:


USA Only.  Contest ends November 16th.  Prize shipped direct from sponsor.

The Strangers on Montague Street by Karen White

Oh where to start with this one! Some of you know Melanie and Jack from the first two books, The House on Tradd Street and The Girl on Legare Street. For those of you who don't, this is still a great place to start. Melanie is a real estate agent that sees ghosts, although she isn't too happy about it. Jack is a friend, who definitely has interest in becoming more. When Jack shows up on Melanie's doorstep with a daughter he never knew about, things begin to get interesting. Nola, Jack's daughter, is being followed by a ghost. With the addition of a haunted dollhouse, the fright begins.


I loved this! Karen's writing style sucks you in from the very first page. I stayed up all night because I couldn't stop reading long enough to sleep. There's just enough of the paranormal to keep you guessing what's going to happen next. The characters are fun and fresh. The creep-factor just kept piling up higher and higher. There were a few parts of the book where I found myself becoming a bit paranoid and wondering if I was being haunted. So delicious!

The only problem I had with the book was the cliffhanger at the end. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful there's going to be another Melanie and Jack book. I'm thankful I have two previous books to go back and read. What I'm not thankful for is that I'm going to have to wait a minimum of months to find out what happens next! Definitely pick this one up!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karen currently writes what she refers to as ‘grit lit’—southern women’s fiction—and has recently expanded her horizons into writing a mystery series set in Charleston. Her twelfth novel, On Folly Beach, was released in trade paperback by New American Library, a division of Penguin Publishing Group, in May, 2010 and remained on the New York Times bestseller list for five weeks.
 
Karen hails from a long line of Southerners but spent most of her growing up years in London, England and is a graduate of the American School in London. She currently lives near Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and two teenaged children, and a spoiled Havanese dog (who appears in several of her books), Quincy. When not writing, she spends her time reading, singing, playing piano, and avoiding cooking. Her next book, Falling Home, will be published on November 2nd, 2010 and she is currently contracted with Penguin for three more novels.
 
http://www.karen-white.com/

Winners - Marco, Best Left Buried & Trick or Treat Halloween Hop

Winners have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be selected.  Thank you to everyone for entering and making these contests a success!

Marco - Diane Baum - Confirmed
Best Left Buried - Laura H - confirmed
Trick or Treat Hop - Ashley Rexrode - Confirmed

Congratulations!

Hell to Pay by Wendy Corsi Staub

Lucy and Jeremy Cavalon are in love, married and expecting a baby. After two miscarriages, this time they are afraid to get their hopes up, but they are being extremely careful. Unfortunately, they don't have a lot of money and when their landlord evicts them for no reason, they don't have anywhere to go. It's sad, yet fortunate, that Jeremy's grandmother recently passed away. She slipped in the tub and drowned. Now, her apartment is vacant, and it will be somewhere Jeremy and Lucy can stay for awhile rent free until they get back on their feet.

Unknown to Jeremy and Lucy, someone is watching them. Jeremy's grandmother's death may have looked accidental, but it wasn't. Someone from their past, whom they believe to be dead, is set on members of the Walsh and Cavalon families to pay for their sins. Lucy Walsh was kidnapped when she was a child but eventually was freed. Jeremy was also kidnapped but was taken from his loving foster home and sent overseas. He spent his childhood years with a pedophile.

Both with a haunted and tragic past, their love for one another and the hope of their new baby gives them hope for the future. But someone is determined that Jeremy will perish and convinced that the child is the new messiah. Anyone that gets in the way will meet a tragic fate. Action-packed, emotional and suspenseful, HELL TO PAY is an adrenaline pumping read.

Bon Appétit, a Jim Money Story by Glenn Gamble

Jim Money just wants his money back from Chuck. His girlfriend Jessica waits in the car and Jim demands his loan due, but Chuck is adamant about not paying it back. When Chuck's two brothers show up, it gets ugly, especially with shots being fired at Jim as he drives away.

Jim calls his best friend Steve to go collect from Chuck. Meanwhile, Jessica explains to Jim that although she loves the money he makes from illegal gambling and hustling, she wants a normal life. Jim thinks about it awhile and then decides why not? He and Jessica can get married, have kids and buy a house - normal. But before Jim can share the good news, Jessica gets a phone call and shuts Jim out.

The next day, Jim gets a frantic phone call from Carla, Steve's wife. She insists that her husband and Jessica are having a fling and she wants to kill them. Jim denies that Jessica or Steve would do that to him, but he humors Carla. He picks her up and they go to Jessica's house. But when they arrive, they are greeted with something that neither one of them expected. It is horrific.

Bon Appétit is a fast-paced thrilling novella with a lot of foul language that really sets the tone for this character driven novella. Gamble spins a novel that is riveting, suspenseful and delicious. I look forward to reading more about Jim Money!


Thursday, November 3, 2011

Fyodor Dostoevsky by Peter Leithart

I became a fan of Dostoevsky the first time I read Crime and Punishment. Dostoevsky was an early 1800's Russian novelist. This book is set up as a conversation between Dostoevsky and another, complete with flashbacks throughout his life. We're taken from his earliest education through to his death.

Anyone who has read Dostoevsky will find this a must-read. Even if you've never heard of him, though, this is an excellent book. Not only do we travel Dostoevsky's life, we get to find out where his principles came from and why he held onto them so strongly. This book is complete with everything from romance to a prison sentence in Siberia. It's gritty in parts and poetic in others.


This book is not for someone looking for light entertainment. Though it's definitely interesting, there are some deep philosophical issues that require you as a reader to open your mind. Both political and religious philosophy were a large part of Dostoevsky's life and are treated as such in the book.


Personally, I adored this book. It was awesome to me to get to see both the light and the dark side of an author I've revered since an early age.

Accused (Pacific Coast Justice) by Janice Cantore

ABOUT THE BOOKDetective Carly Edwards hates working in juvenile—where the brass put her after an officer-involved shooting—and longs to be back on patrol. So when a troubled youth, Londy Atkins, is arrested for the murder of the mayor and Carly is summoned to the crime scene, she's eager for some action. Carly presses Londy for a confession but he swears his innocence, and despite her better judgment, Carly is inclined to believe him. Yet homicide is convinced of his guilt and is determined to convict him.

Carly's ex-husband and fellow police officer, Nick, appears to be on her side. He's determined to show Carly that he's a changed man and win her back, but she isn't convinced he won't betray her again.

As the investigation progresses, Carly suspects a cover-up and strikes out on her own, uncertain whom she can trust. But when danger mounts, she begins to wonder if she made the right choice.

MY THOUGHTSThis was a great read. There was just enough action and mystery to keep me turning page after page. Pulling in several different areas of the police department as well as civilians made this more interesting. I loved not being able to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys until they were revealed at the very end.


I felt that the crime/mystery portion of the book was definitely overshadowed by the religious aspects of the book. Carly is a nonbeliever since the death of her father and finds herself surrounded by people with great faith who want her to have the same beliefs she does. Carly's personal struggle overpowered the main plot of the book, although I definitely believe it was worth it. Carly's struggle alone would have made for a good book. Strong conflict and well-written characters, you won't want to put this one down!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Lethal by Sandra Brown


Honor Gillette, second grade teacher, widow and mother of young Emily, is preparing cupcakes for a birthday party when her world as she knows it is turned upside down. A man, who tells Emily he is sick, is laying in her front yard. But when she goes to help him, he pulls a gun on her and tells her that as long as she and Emily do everything he says they won't get hurt.

Lee Coburn is on the run for killing seven people at the Trucking Company he worked at. Honor's husband's name was well-known at the company and Lee has paid attention. He knows that the late Eddie Gillette had something valuable, and he wants it. Honor explains to Lee that she doesn't know what he is talking about, but to no avail.

What transpires is a heart-thumping journey across the country. Corruption, deceit, romance and more will keep you up late turning the pages in this addictive and fast-paced thriller. Sandra Brown is at the top of her game!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Spooktacular Giveaway Winner

What a great and spooktacular giveaway hop! Thanks to the hosts for this great hop! Winner has 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be selected.  Prize shipped direct from Minding Spot.

Brittany Williams - Confirmed

Congratulations!

Guest Post: Theresa Meyers, Author of Shadowlander + Giveaway

World of the Dark Fae

I’ve always been kind of annoyed how faeries are portrayed by Disney as these light and bright little bits of fluff, or plump little fairy godmothers. The truth is they’re a whole lot darker, more powerful and more dangerous than they’ve been portrayed. It’s that darker aspect of the fae that got me thinking. You see, unlike other supernatural beings, the fae aren’t just limited to Halloween. They can come out at any time. And when they are annoyed—you don’t want to mess with them.

Many cultures go out of their way to make friends and allies with the fae. If you look for a moment at the artwork of Brian Froud, you can see why. Sometimes they can be so very human-looking, but there’s always something darker, more ancient that runs beneath the surface.

Even by some of the oldest cultures, there were fae, sometimes thought to be spirits. And given how dark they can be at times, thought to be demons or djinn. They aren’t malevolent so much as they don’t share our same sense of worth or value what we value. To them we’ve botched things up badly and they are seeking to reestablish balance before their world suffers too. I can’t blame them there.

My first introduction to fae was when I was very young. My mother read us stories, fairytales, and in many the elves or fae were very helpful, but in some they came to punish by turning milk sour or ruing crops or stealing children. I can see why people ascribed to such superstitions as not wanting to step into a “fairy ring” or circular formation of mushrooms that might grow in a field or they might set out a gift of milk sweetened with honey on Midsummer’s Eve, when the veil between our world and the fae realm is thought to be easily passed.

In my Shadow Sisters series, starting off with the novella SHADOWLANDER, I look a little deeper at the dark fae realm, letting my imagination run amuck. There’s giant cats, fae of all kinds and an intrepid set of sisters determined to make a difference and protect humanity. But even they learn not everything is as it seems. Sometimes you have to trust and step into the unknown.

So, now it’s your turn. What’s something you always thought was darker than Disney portrayed it?


Four sisters, three rules to live by, one big problem.

O’Connell Family Rule #1: Don’t let the Fae know you see them.

O’Connell Family Rule #2: Don’t talk to the Fae.

O’Connell Family Rule #3: Never, ever follow them.

Most people only believe what they can see. GiVed with the ability to see the deep, dark fae of Shadowland, Catherine Rowan Mary O’Connell would prefer not to. When the fae abduct her friend Maya, Cate breaks the sacred O’Connell Family Rules and sets a trap for the handsome fae who haunts her every step.

Rook, High Court Advisor to the Shadow King, has been following Cate since she was sixteen. When Cate reveals herself as one of the fabled “Seers”, Rook is stunned—she is One of the few that can permanently open the gates between their worlds. If he turns her over to the Shadow King, his court will rule the human realm. Cate knows she has precious li`le Rme to find Maya. By midnight, the glamour of Mid‐Summer’s Eve will fade, leaving her trapped forever in the Shadowland, but Maya’s abductor won’t give up the woman he’s mesmerized easily.

The midnight hour is almost at hand. Cate must choose: her freedom or her destiny.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Raised by a bibliophile who made the dining room into a library, Theresa has always been a lover of books and stories. First a writer for newspapers, then for national magazines, she started her first novel in high school, eventually enrolling in a Writer's Digest course and putting the book under the bed unRl she joined Romance Writers of America in 1993. In 2005 she was selected as one of eleven finalists for the American Title II contest, the American Idol of books. She is married to the first man she ever went on a real date with (to their high school prom), who she knew was hero material when he suffered through having to let her parents drive, and her brother sit between them in the backseat of the car. They currently live in a Victorian house on a mini farm in the Pacific Northwest with their two children, three cats, an old chestnut arabian gelding, an energetic mini‐Aussie shepherd puppy, several rabbits, a dozen chickens and an out‐of‐control herb garden.  http://www.theresameyers.com/

GIVEAWAY
One lucky winner will win an ebook of Shadowlander!

MANDATORY ENTRY
Enter Theresa's Question:  What’s something you always thought was darker than Disney portrayed it?
*Make sure to leave your email so I can contact you if you win.

Open WorldWide. Contest ends November 12th.  Winner has 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be selected. Prize emailed direct from publisher.