A CERTAIN SUMMER: A PREVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED 
A CERTAIN SUMMER

BY PATRICIA BEARD

ABOUT THE BOOK:

"Nothing ever changes at Wauregan.” That mystique is the tradition of the idyllic island colony off the shore of Long Island, the comforting tradition that its summer dwellers have lived by for over half a century. But in the summer of 1948, after a world war has claimed countless men—even those who came home—the time has come to deal with history’s indelible scars.

Helen Wadsworth’s husband, Arthur, was declared missing in action during an OSS operation in France, but the official explanation was mysteriously nebulous. Now raising a teenage son who longs to know the truth about his father, Helen turns to Frank Hartman—her husband’s best friend and his partner on the mission when he disappeared. Frank, however, seems more intent on filling the void in Helen’s life that Arthur’s absence has left. As Helen’s affection for Frank grows, so does her guilt, especially when Peter Gavin, a handsome Marine who was brutally tortured by the Japanese and has returned with a faithful war dog, unexpectedly stirs new desires. With her heart pulled in multiple directions, Helen doesn’t know whom to trust—especially when a shocking discovery forever alters her perception of both love and war.

Part mystery, part love story, and part insider’s view of a very private world, A Certain Summer resonates in the heart long after the last page is turned.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Patricia Beard is the author of nine nonfiction books and hundreds of nationally published magazine articles. She is the former features editor of Town & Country, former editor-at-large of Elle, and the former style features editor of Mirabella magazine. Beard is also the founder and president of Willowbrook Partners, LLC, for which she writes, oversees the design, and produces privately commissioned books.

PRAISE FOR A CERTAIN SUMMER:

"The deepening relationship between Peter and Helen is portrayed subtly and convincingly. An engaging postwar melodrama." (Booklist )

"I'm crazy about A Certain Summer...For anyone who has a summer place that they have adored, this book will bring up memories. Layer in the mystery of what happened in the war, and you have one really satisfying read. Patricia is known for her nonfiction work, and that background definitely infused this work." (Bookreporter ) 

SOME OTHER BOOKS BY PATRICIA BEARD:

                       

                       

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO KRISTIN AND THE GOOD FOLKS
AT SIMON & SCHUSTER, I HAVE ONE COPY
OF A CERTAIN SUMMER TO GIVE AWAY
    

--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO 
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU READ ABOVE ABOUT A CERTAIN SUMMER THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS 

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING AT PATRICIA BEARD'S WEBSITE BY GOING HERE 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU CAN COMMENT SEPARATELY AND EACH WILL COUNT AS AN ENTRY 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON A CURRENT GIVEAWAY THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED ON MY BLOG. IF YOU ENTERED MORE THAN ONE, YOU MAY COMMENT SEPARATELY FOR EACH TO RECEIVE MORE ENTRIES

 

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT

6 PM, EST, JUNE 24
(NOTE DATE CHANGE)
 GOOD LUCK!

Read More

THE TESTING: A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 GIVEAWAY ENDED 
THE TESTING

BY JOELLE CHARBONNEAU

ABOUT THE BOOK:

It’s graduation day for sixteen-year-old Malencia Vale, and the entire Five Lakes Colony (the former Great Lakes) is celebrating. All Cia can think about—hope for—is whether she’ll be chosen for The Testing, a United Commonwealth program that selects the best and brightest new graduates to become possible leaders of the slowly revitalizing post-war civilization. When Cia is chosen, her father finally tells her about his own nightmarish half-memories of The Testing. Armed with his dire warnings (”Cia, trust no one”), she bravely heads off to Tosu City, far away from friends and family, perhaps forever.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Joelle Charbonneau is a storyteller at heart. She has performed in a variety of operas, musical theatre and children’s theatre productions across the Chicagoland area. In addition to her stage work, Joelle has also performed with several bands and worked as a solo performer. 

While Joelle is happy to perform for an audience, she is equally delighted to teach private voice lessons and use her experience from the stage to create compelling characters in her mysteries. She is the author of the Rebecca Robbins (Minotaur Books) mysteries, the Glee Club Paige Marshall (Berkley) mysteries and The Testing trilogy (Spring 2013 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). 

PRAISE FOR THE TESTING:

"There is nothing standardized about this Testing. Charbonneau's imagination will surprise readers at every turn."—Jennifer M. Brown, children's editor, Shelf Awareness

"Action-packed and full of twists, The Testing will keep you guessing until the very last page—and desperate for the next book!"—Erica O'Rourke, author of the Torn Trilogy

"The rising tension, skillfully executed scenarios, and rich characterizations all contribute to an exciting story bound to capture readers' imaginations. . . . Charbonneau works action, romance, intrigue, and a plausible dystopian premise into a near-flawless narrative."—Publishers Weekly, starred review 

"Charbonneau jumps into the packed dystopia field with a mashup of Veronica Roth's Divergent (2011) and Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy, but she successfully makes her story her own."—Kirkus

"Charbonneau is a fantastic story teller and this book is a tribute to that background. The intrigue in The Testing passes evaluation of what a good dystopian novel should represent."—VOYA

"The plot twists are well integrated and will keep readers on edge awaiting the next volume in this projected trilogy."—Horn Book

SOME OTHER BOOKS BY JOELLE CHARBONNEAU:

                    

                    

                  

  

WATCH FOR THIS-

BOOK 2-JANUARY, 2014!

MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
Joelle Charbonneau is an author known for her enjoyable “Cozy Mysteries”, many that I have reviewed, but she has now come out with a trilogy and THE TESTING is the first installment. It is supposedly geared toward teens and young adults, but my bet is it will sell like wildfire to everyone once the word gets out. I LOVED this book and now can not wait for the next episode, INDEPENDENT STUDY, which is set for January, 2014. THE TESTING has been compared to THE HUNGER GAMES and indeed it started out resembling it as I first began reading. I wondered if the two stories would be too similar for me to enjoy THE TESTING but I quickly saw that would definitely not be the case. As I immediately got caught up in the remarkably well developed characters and their own unique story, I could NOT put this book down!

In this intense psychological thriller, Joelle Charbonneau has set THE TESTING in our future where Earth has been decimated by the “Seven Stages War”. The population is suffering physically as well as emotionally. Major necessities, from food and water, to transportation and fuel, are hard to come by. Yet, with all of this despair, for some, there is still a profound sense of hope in others.

The protagonist, Malencia “Cia” Vale, is 16 and remains optimistic as she hangs her hopes on the “Testing” which is coming up. Cia believes that if she is selected to take part in this, her dream of changing things for her family and others could be realized. The Testing will help choose the best students for University, and from there, the future leaders of the United Commonwealth will be confirmed. However,  there is so much more to this then meets Cia’s idealistic eyes. When several are chosen from her district, she receives some unsettling advice from her father who knew a great deal about the workings of The Testing. As the young characters begin to interact, including Tomas who becomes Cia’s companion and love interest, they start to realize that all is not what it seems. Cia finds things to be much different from her initial naïve perceptions.

The likelihood that the initial testing can actually determine a person's future and beliefs is exposed. Cia finds that everything she does is a test. She develops doubts about those close to her and even her own values. Charbonneau has written a thrilling narrative with so many twists and turns, you never will guess what is coming next. The ending brings readers to a point that they can physically close the book but not emotionally let go. I found myself wanting to be with others who had read THE TESTING so we could discuss it. What a fabulous book this will be for book clubs! Waiting for the next part of the trilogy is exciting but also agonizing. Joelle Charbonneau has given readers a real gift with this first part of her trilogy and I hope everyone will be as excited about THE TESTING as I am!    

GIVEAWAY

I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE ONE COPY
OF JOELLE CHARBONNEAU'S NEW

BOOK, THE TESTING, TO GIVE

AWAY TO ONE VERY LUCKY READER 
   
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO 
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU READ ABOVE ABOUT THE TESTING THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS 

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING AT JOELLE CHARBONNEAU'S WEBSITE HERE 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU CAN COMMENT SEPARATELY AND EACH WILL COUNT AS AN ENTRY 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON A CURRENT GIVEAWAY THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED ON MY BLOG. IF YOU ENTERED MORE THAN ONE, YOU MAY COMMENT SEPARATELY FOR EACH TO RECEIVE MORE ENTRIES

  GIVEAWAY ENDS AT 
6 PM, EST, JUNE 24 
(NOTE DATE CHANGE) 

Go ahead, take THE TESTING!

Readers, you can have...

direct access to the FREE prequel and more! 

(Just click on Free prequel above)

  

Check out the book trailer 

Visit the Facebook page 

Tweet about #TheTesting  

Read More

THE LOVE SHACK: A PREVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED 
THE LOVE SHACK

A Beach House No. 9 Novel

BY CHRISTIE RIDGWAY

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Return to USA TODAY bestselling author Christie Ridgeway's Crescent Cove, California, where the magic of summer can last forever…

Globe-trotting photojournalist Gage Lowell spent carefree childhood summers in Crescent Cove. Now that he desperately needs some R & R, he books a vacation at Beach House No. 9—ready to soak up some sun and surprise old friend and property manager Skye Alexander. Their long-distance letters got him through a dangerous time he can't otherwise talk about. But when he arrives, the tightly wound beauty isn't exactly happy to see him.

Skye knows any red-blooded woman would be thrilled to spend time with gorgeous, sexy Gage. But she harbors secrets of her own, including that she might just be a little bit in love with him. And she's convinced the restless wanderer won't stay long enough for her to dare share her past—or dream of a future together. Luckily for them both, summer at Crescent Cove has a way of making the impossible happen…. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Christie Ridgway is a California native and author of over forty contemporary romances.  A five-time RITA finalist and USA Today bestselling author, she writes sexy, emotional reads starring determined heroines and the men who can’t help but love them.  Married to her college sweetheart, Christie lives in Southern California in a house filled with boys and pets.  She writes as an escape from sports equipment, football on TV, and dog hair. 

AN EXCERPT FROM THE LOVE SHACK:

For the past decade, Gage Lowell had lived on risk the way other people sucked down caffeine. It had been his morning fix, his noonday pick-me-up, his after-dinner beverage with dessert. So the anticipation building in his belly as he approached beautiful but tranquil Crescent Cove didn't make much sense.

It was no Durand Line, that porous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan where he'd braved danger that ran the gamut from Taliban bullets to half-wild bulls. The natives were certain to be less suspicious than the Syrian rebels he'd photographed the spring before. And though the house he'd rented was situated on the sand, just steps away from the Pacific Ocean, not for a second did he suppose this vacation would end like the one he'd taken some years ago—with Gage running for his life and high ground, holding his cameras overhead.

Of course, that tsunami had come out of the blue.

But he really couldn't see how this holiday would hold any such surprise.

Still, expectation continued to hum through his veins. To finish reading this excerpt, visit the publisher's website HERE. 

SOME OTHER BOOKS BY CHRISTIE RIDGWAY:

                     

                    

                     

                      

GIVEAWAY

I AM EXCITED TO HAVE ONE COPY OF
CHRISTIE RIDGWAY'S THE LOVE SHACK 
TO GIVE AWAY TO ONE LUCKY READER 
   
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO 
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU READ ABOVE ABOUT THE LOVE SHACK THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS 

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING AT CHRISTIE RIDGWAY'S WEBSITE HERE 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU CAN COMMENT SEPARATELY AND EACH WILL COUNT AS AN ENTRY 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON A CURRENT GIVEAWAY THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED ON MY BLOG. IF YOU ENTERED MORE THAN ONE, YOU MAY COMMENT SEPARATELY FOR EACH TO RECEIVE MORE ENTRIES

  GIVEAWAY ENDS AT

6 PM, EST, JUNE 18 
GOOD LUCK!

   

Read More

ARE YOU LISTENING? THE PARADISE GUEST HOUSE: A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

WELCOME TO BOOKIN' WITH BINGO'S" 
ARE YOU LISTENING? DAY"
I AM EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE TODAY'S
AUDIO BOOK CHOICE....

GIVEAWAY ENDED 
THE PARADISE GUEST HOUSE

 BY ELLEN SUSSMAN

Read By Ann Marie Lee

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A riveting and poignant novel of one woman’s journey to Bali in search of love, renewal, and a place to call home—perfect for readers of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love and Alex Garland’s The Beach.

It starts as a trip to paradise. Sent on assignment to Bali, Jamie, an American adventure guide, imagines spending weeks exploring the island’s lush jungles and pristine white sand beaches. Yet three days after her arrival, she is caught in Bali’s infamous nightclub bombings, which irreparably change her life and leave her with many unanswered questions.

One year later, haunted by memories, Jamie returns to Bali seeking a sense of closure. Most of all, she hopes to find Gabe, the man who saved her from the attacks. She hasn’t been able to forget his kindness—or the spark between them as he helped her heal. Checking into a cozy guest house for her stay, Jamie meets the kindly owner, who is coping with a painful past of his own, and a young boy who improbably becomes crucial to her search. Jamie has never shied away from a challenge, but a second chance with Gabe presents her with the biggest dilemma of all: whether she’s ready to open her heart.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ellen Sussman is the author of the novels French Lessons and On a Night Like This, both national bestsellers. She has two daughters and lives with her husband in Northern California. To read more about Ellen Sussman, please visit her website "Bio" HERE.

ABOUT THE NARRATOR:

Ann Marie Lee is a Los Angeles based actress with television credits that include E.R., Law and Order C.I., and Nip/Tuck. Her stage performances for Broadway National Tours and regional theater include Peter Pan, As You Like It, Heartbreak House and The Cherry Orchard.

 

PRAISE FOR THE PARADISE GUEST HOUSE:

“Two survivors of Bali’s terrorist bombing find love and spiritual rebirth on an island whose inhabitants believe in reincarnation in Sussman’s touching panorama of paradise. . . . Throughout, Sussman celebrates lovers, quiet healing, and the sweetness of the island and its people.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A story of healing and redemption, of finding love in the most unexpected places, and of the importance of moving forward . . . Sussman has drawn a vivid, well-balanced portrait of a woman and a country working to recover from an unimaginable event and a very personal look at a global tragedy.”—Booklist

“Echoing Bali’s difficult recovery from [the 2002 terrorist bombing], the characters tread the difficult terrain of post-traumatic attachment. . . . A respectful and earnest . . . treatment of devastation’s aftermath.”—Kirkus Reviews

“[A] moving story about making sense of life after a tragedy . . . This touching tale will cause contemplation about what closure truly means.”—RT Book Reviews  

SOME OTHER BOOKS BY ELLEN SUSSMAN:

                   

                    

MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
THE PARADISE GUEST HOUSE by Ellen Sussman is a novel  that is based on true events that happened in Bali in 2002.  Two nightclubs were bombed by radicals, leaving over 200 people dead and more than 200 injured. Sussman uses this tragic event as the background for an emotional story filled with intriguing characters who experience love and loss while learning to survive. Using flashbacks, THE PARADISE GUEST HOUSE is told in three parts. In one, we see what it was like after leaving the horror and with another, readers learn what it was like to those who had to carry on in Bali.

Jamie Hyde is a tour guide traveling for the first time in beautiful Bali and while savoring the exotic location’s food and sights, bombs explode at the local nightclub she is in.  What follows is like a bad dream as Jamie experiences the horror of the destruction and deaths all around her. Her physical injuries aren’t life threatening but emotionally, she is devastated. Enter Gabe, a stranger who pulls Jamie from the ruins and cares for her with bandages as well as emotional support.

A year later, filled with reservations, Jamie returns to Bali to attend a memorial to honor those lost in the attack. She winds up staying at THE PARADISE GUEST HOUSE where the owner, Nyoman helps Jamie to heal by sharing his personal loss. Jamie has also come back to try and find Gabe and see if the feelings and memories she has for him are real or just part of the whole unbelievable experience.

Ellen Sussman’s compassionate narrative takes readers through the events with well developed characters and a rich setting that creates mental images allowing readers to feel like they experienced it all first hand. The emotional journey that Jamie takes is one filled with highs and lows and readers will be caught up and then swept away by it. 

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO RICHARD AND THE GOOD PEOPLE
AT RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO BOOKS, I HAVE ONE
COPY OF ELLEN SUSSMAN'S AUDIO BOOK,
  THE PARADISE GUEST HOUSE, TO GIVE AWAY 
  TO ONE OF MY LUCKY FOLLOWERS 
  

--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE IN 
ORDER TO COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY
 

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT THE PARADISE GUEST HOUSE THAT WOULD MAKE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS AUDIO BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING WHEN YOU VISITED ELLEN SUSSMAN'S WEBSITE HERE 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE OTHER CURRENT GIVEAWAY YOU HAVE ENTERED ON MY BLOG. IF YOU ENTERED MORE THAN ONE, YOU CAN COMMENT ON EACH ON SEPARATELY AND GAIN MORE ENTRIES THAT WAY 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU CAN COMMENT SEPARATELY AND EACH WILL COUNT AS AN ENTRY

 

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
 6 PM, EST, JUNE 18

 

 GOOD LUCK!

Read More