Q&A with Stephanie Cowell and Giveaway!

Stephanie Cowell is the author of Claude & Camille a book I read last year and really enjoyed. I got the chance to ask her a few questions to share with you now in celebration of the paperback release. Read my original review.

What drew you to writing this story?
I am fascinated by the early struggles of artists who to us seem as if they were born famous, which of course they weren’t. We know their futures but they had no idea. (Someone once said, “Shakespeare wrote without ever knowing he would be Shakespeare.”) We see these people in sound bytes really, knowing nothing deeply about their lives. I am terribly interested in how artists manage the demands of love and family together. Claude did not make a sufficient income for years and if he fed his family, he had no money to buy paint. So Camille whom he loved and who was used to an upper-class life had a lot to get used to. She pawned her clothes, she was thrown from her rooms. It is the conflict of the need to support a family and be an artist where you never know if you’ll make any money, no matter how brilliant you are. And Camille is herself a difficult young woman even if she is loyal. (And besides I was in the arts myself as classical singer, actress and now novelist and I also had children who needed clothes and etc.! So I know about this personally! But my sons grew up and now the younger one created my book trailer and the older has promised to build me a robot and I bet he will!)

I loved the feeling of artistic community in the book. Have you experienced a similar community in your writing?

Yes, I have experienced it absolutely and do now! In 1989 before I was published group of us formed a writing support group which grew out of a class with our mentor Madeleine L’Engle. We stayed together ten years; at first none of us were published and by the time we ended, we were almost all professionally published. We were the dearest friends, helping each other in every aspect of our lives. We still are the dearest friends, though the young women married and moved away. And now I have a wonderful online support community and a lot of us will be meeting at the Historical Novel Conference in San Diego this June.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

Oh my goodness, this calls for a list! Claude Monet, of course, and Renoir’s tender people and Pissarro for his landscapes, and the back some centuries I love a lot of the Renaissance artists. I love the artists who were often anonymous and who painted the illustrations back when books were made by hand. I don’t like very much 20th century art. I like Picasso before he went into cubism and not after. I am missing many artists in this list.

What have been some of your greatest inspirations in writing?

Every time I read another marvelous novel I am inspired. I had an odd combination of inspiring writers as a child. I adored The Secret Garden and A Little Princess and of course the Bronte sisters. I remember finishing Wuthering Heights and immediately starting it again. I read it one summer while we stayed by the sea, and always associated it with the waves. I read all of Dickens but my greatest single inspiration remains Shakespeare. I have read him all my life I love E.M. Forster and when I was twenty I just swooned over Tolstoy’s War and Peace. I found a very old collection of Jane Austen in my school library when I was 17 and read them all. The edition was at least 100 years old and no one had yet cut the pages! I am amazed at the technique and heart in the books of my colleagues. I am just amazed.

What other great books have you read about artists?
I think my top favorites would be Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland (she wrote it when recovering from leukemia and not knowing for sure if she would live); the writing is so gorgeous. And her books about Artemisia and Renoir. And Tracy Chevalier’s Girl in a Pearl Earring, which I think was sent to her by an angel. I love Dunant’s The Birth of Venus. There is a new one coming out Leaving Van Gogh by Carole Wallace, very deep, very touching, very real. Oh and yes! There’s one other one about Monet which takes place on one single day when he is 60 and in Giverny and it’s called Light. It’s by Eva Figues. It’s very short and done from many points of view but the main character is the light over all of them. The writing is so gorgeous. Harriet Chessman’s book about Mary Cassatt’s sister (I think it’s Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper) is quiet and beautiful. There are so many I have forgotten a great deal. Bundrick’s Sunflowers is also quite beautifully done.

Are you working on anything now?

I am well into the second draft of new novel set in Victorian London about the love story of the poets Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning. She was an invalid of 40 and still very beautiful when he found her in her father’s house and snatched her away from her family to live in Florence with him. I am also working on a 16th century novel set in an English abbey, about the goddaughter of the abbot who grows up in the monastery working in the library with her father and falls in love in a dangerous way. And the terrible truth is I was forever getting rather far into novels and then leaving them for other novels. I hope to live to be very old to finish them all!

I think I just added a ton of books to my TBR list! Thanks Stephanie!

Thanks to Crown Publishing I have 5 paperback copies of Claude & Camille to give away! To enter just fill out the form below. You must have a United States mailing address. I will notify the winner by email. Giveaway closes April 15th at 11:59 PM EST.

Giveaway: In the Land of Believers by Gina Welch

Last year, I read and enjoyed In the Land of Believers by Gina Welch. Picador has generously offered to give one US reader a paperback copy of the book.

If you are interested in winning this book about an atheist girl who goes undercover at Thomas Road Baptist Church to better understand evangelical Christianity, just fill out the form below by Monday March 14th at midnight PST. I will notify the winner by email.



Also, please check out the Picador Book Club on Facebook.

BBAW Giveaway: The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova Galley

Miriam Parker graciously said I could give away one galley of The Swan Thieves for BBAW on my blog! Isn't she the best? I know this book is hotly anticipated so I was really excited!

Here's what the book is about according to Hachette: Psychiatrist Andrew Marlowe, devoted to his profession and the painting hobby he loves, has a solitary but ordered life. When renowned painter Robert Oliver attacks a canvas in the National Gallery of Art and becomes his patient, Marlow finds that order destroyed. Desperate to understand the secret that torments the genius, he embarks on a journey that leads him into the lives of the women closest to Oliver and a tragedy at the heart of French Impressionism.

Kostova's masterful new novel travels from American cities to the coast of Normandy, from the late 19th century to the late 20th, from young love to last love. THE SWAN THIEVES is a story of obsession, history's losses, and the power of art to preserve human hope.

To enter this giveaway you must be a United States or Canadian resident. No purchase necessary. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants. A valid email address must be left so I can contact you if you win.

Now for the fun stuff! Leave me a comment and tell me if I should prioritize reading the Historian this fall or Her Fearful Symmetry and if you a fan of the show Supernatural, explain to me why The Historian book was prominently featured in an episode. :) Contest ends September 18th!

Asian Heritage Month Giveaway!

I'm not Asian. But I love Asia! And Asian American history is something I think is generally overlooked. So I'm pleased to take part in this Asian Heritage Month Giveaway with Hachette Books. I've only read one of these books, but let me tell you, it is worth winning the entire set for! You can read my review of Trail of Crumbs here.

Five winners will receive all five books. Winners must have a United States or Canadian mailing address. No PO boxes will be accepted. You must leave a valid email address to qualify.

Here are your possibilities for entering, each one of these will give you one entry:
1) Leave a comment and tell me about a book you've enjoyed where either the main character was Asian, or the setting was in Asia.
2) Link to this giveaway in a post on your blog. It can be part of a giveaway round-up but must be in a post on your blog.
3) Tweet about this contest.
4) Subscribe to my blog. If you are already a subscriber, subscribe to The Friendly Book Nook. If you already subscribe to both, just tell me. :)
5) Pay attention because I may add another way or two this month to enter!

Here are the books included in the giveaway:
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
Trail of Crumbs by Kim Sunee
The Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer Lee
Transparency by Francis Hwang
Strangers from a Different Shore by Ronald Takaki

Review: The Turnaround by George Pelecanos (and a giveaway)

There are some books that are just too gritty for me. By that mean, I mean when I feel like I'm wading through foul language and crass sexual talk to find the story, it's not the book for me. This book was like that.

It seemed like a promising story. The back cover of the book said that it was about a group of men coming to terms with a racial incident of their youth. And it is that story in many ways. But Pelecanos seems to want to create the true environment of these young men which is not pretty. That's not to say there isn't some redemption in the story...there are some tiny bright spots...rays of hope. It was just way too much work for me to get there.

Pelecanos also wrote for the show The Wire which I believe is gritty in the same way. I've really been wanting to watch The Wire, but my enthusiasm for that has been dampened.

Anyway, this is the story of five men who were involved in an incident in their youth. After this incident occurred, these men went their separate ways but run into each other again and begin to come to terms with the effect that night had on their lives.

Rating: 2.5/5
Things You Might Want to Know: Lots of language, crude talk, drug use, violence, etc.

George Pelecanos will be on Blog Talk Radio on April 16 at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. I have five copies of this book to give away courtesy of Hachette Book Group USA. To be eligible, you need a United States or Canadian mailing address, no PO Boxes. Leave a valid email address and I'll draw the winners on April 26, 2009. Thanks everyone!

The Kitty Norville Blog Tour!! Giveaway!!!

I have loved the Kitty books! As the series has progressed we discover more about the supernatural world. But at the same time, Kitty's voice is just as enjoyable and she becomes a better woman and wolf. Today I want to share with you some of the amazing resources you can find about the Kitty series and Carrie Vaughn the author.

First of all, I think you will really enjoy this Blog Talk Radio show with Carrie. I'm listening to it right now! (she answers the vampire or werewolf question! I totally disagree!)

And be sure to watch this fun trailer which captures the heart of what Kitty always says on her radio show!



Carrie also has a blog which you can visit here.

Finally, I wanted to share Kitty's description of Las Vegas with you from Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand.

I'd never been to Las Vegas. I was interested in seeing how the reality measured up to the hype, propagated in countless TV shows, movies, and ads. Mostly what registered on the cab ride to the hotel was the heat. Baking, shimmering, blinding heat. It made the whole city seem like a mirage rising out of the desert. The air-conditioning costs alone must have been phenomenal. It only added to the amusement-park unreality of the place: towering buildings of glass, structures representing every kind of fantasy--pyramids, castles, Italian palazzos, Roman columns, pirate ships--set down in a clump on the Strip, incongruous. This place was on crack.

Ha! So true!

Giveaway: Miriam of Hachette, whom we all love to bits, has generously said that I can give away a full set of the Kitty books! Not only that three more people will win the two newest books...Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand, and Kitty Raises Hell. How awesome is that? By the way, these books are stories that can be read as stand-alones..they are self-contained stories.

Giveaway is open to residents of the United States and Canada with a street address. I'll choose winners on April 1st. No foolin! Please be sure to leave a comment and tell me about your favorite supernatural story. I need to find more to read. :) And please include a valid email address.

Today's Blogiversary Giveaway: Buffy

Everyday this week, I'll be giving away something I love. These will be things I bought to give away, they are not sponsored by anyone else but me.

Today, to kick things off, I'm giving away the first two seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. To be eligible to win, you must:

1) Love Buffy, but not own the DVDs.
2) Be curious to watch Buffy because I've hyped it up so much, but just haven't had a chance.
3) You will not turn around and sell or give away these DVDs, you sincerely want to watch them.

This is open worldwide, but please keep in mind that these are region 1 DVDs.

I reserve the right to delete any comments that look like spam.

To enter, just leave me a comment with a valid e-mail address and tell me if you fit number 1 or 2. And extra points if you say something clever.

For an additional entry you can blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post.
For another entry, you can tweet about it with a link to this post.

Thanks everyone! I'll announce the winner in next week's weekly review.

Giveaway: Don't Let Me Go by David Pierce

Here's a giveaway for you! Open worldwide. To enter, leave a comment and tell me about a special memory you have with either one of your parents or one of your older children.

The true story of how a father and his teen daughter connected through

an ice axe and well-worn running shoes.

One day after reading a book about a wilderness adventurer, David Pierce’s fifteen-year-old daughter Chera announced that she wanted to climb a mountain. What David heard behind that wish was a bold declaration: “I’m growing up, Dad—what are you going to do about it?” A few weeks later they bought matching backpacks.

Over a three-year period they climbed five mountains and ran in two marathons. Together they suffered sore muscles, bitter cold, sprung knees, shin splints, and broken spirits. But they also reveled in blazing sunsets, glissaded on a glacier, and celebrated numerous victories great and small. And in the process, they built an unshakable father-daughter bond that will stand the tests of time.

In Don’t Let Me Go, David Pierce—the husband of popular Christian comedienne Chonda Pierce—offers a down-to-earth, funny-yet-serious book for parents with the same universal appeal as Bob Carlisle’s heart-tugging song, “Butterfly Kisses,” only with well-worn running shoes and an ice axe.

You can purchase the book on Amazon.

Review and Giveaway: Signora da Vinci by Robin Maxwell

About the Book: Caterina was fifteen years old in 1452 when she bore an illegitimate child in the tiny village of Vinci. His name was Leonardo, and he was destined to change the world forever.

Caterina suffered much cruelty as an unmarried mother and had no recourse when her boy was taken away from her. But no one knew the secrets of her own childhood, nor could ever have imagined the dangerous and heretical scheme she would devise to protect and watch over her remarkable son. This is her story.

My Review: The author states in the back of the book that there are two facts known about Leonardo da Vinci's mother. So a great deal of this book is artistic license and creativity..and she does a great job.

I was absolutely enthralled by this book. I loved Caterina, and I feel that the way she was written could have been the way she really was. It seems that Leonardo da Vinci must have had some influence like her in order to become the man he did. I was fascinated by each part of her life and her dedication to her son and the freedom of thought and information. She was strong willed and determined, a lover of knowledge and willing to take many risks for love.

Minor spoiler alert: Caterina ends up dressing as a man and thus attains a great deal of freedom in her society. This was interesting to me, and even without the motivation she had, I can see how this would be tempting for any woman! The complications this created in her life were interesting...for example what happens when a heterosexual man thinks he has fallen in love with another man? Additionally, this book deals heavily with the persecution the catholic church perpetrated towards those who were interested in philosophy and ancient religions. End of spoiler


This book is a true page turner and it will transport you back in time to Florence. Once again, this is primarily a work of fiction, but it's an interesting one.

Rating: 4/5
Elements: S
Read about my rating system here.

The publisher has generously given me three copies of this book to giveaway. To enter, please leave a comment with a valid email address and tell me what historical figure you'd like to read a novelization about. For two extra entries, blog about this contest with a link back to this post (be sure to come leave me a comment telling me blogged about it!). Open internationally. I'll draw three winners on January 31st. Can't wait? Buy the book here.

Sundays at Tiffany's Giveaway!

Good new James Patterson fans! I got a newsletter from James Patterson's publisher and he has no fewer than 8 new books coming in 2009 including the 8th book in the Women's Murder Club series!

Until then, though, I have five copies of Sundays at Tiffany's courtesy of Hachette Book Group USA to give away. This giveaway is open to US and Canadian addresses only and you must provide a street address as they will not ship to PO Boxes.

To enter, simply leave a comment and tell me the title of your favorite James Patterson book. Make sure to also leave a valid email address. This contest ends on January 15.

Here's some information about the book:

America's #1 bestselling author, James Patterson, brings us a magical story about a love that transcends boundaries . . .

AN IMAGINARY FRIEND

Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, a powerful Broadway producer, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can't stay forever, though. On Jane's ninth birthday he leaves, promising her that she'll soon forget him.

AN UNEXPECTED LOVE

Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets someone-a handsome, comforting, funny man. He's perfect. His name is Michael . . .

AND AN UNFORGETTABLE TWIST


This is a heartrending story that surpasses all expectations of why these people have been brought together. With the breathtaking momentum and gripping emotional twists that have made James Patterson a bestselling author all over the world, SUNDAYS AT TIFFANY'S takes an altogether fresh look at the timeless and transforming power of love.

Review and Giveaway: Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual

The most important part of the title of this book is: "For everyone from Beginner to Pro"

I don't wear a lot of make-up. For a long time I didn't wear any. But I have a baby face that makes people think I'm a lot younger than I am, and people suggested wearing make-up would make me look older. So I gave it a try and ended up looking like a baby wearing make-up. :)

I do, however, have an interest in it and in finding that perfect look that will make me look every one of my 28 years.

The Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual, therefore, is perfect for someone like me. It starts at the beginning with all the basic information you need, is full of tips, pictures and charts to help you look your best. It's also helpful for anyone looking to do make-up professionally as a make-up artist, with an entire section devoted to that.

Here's the information on the book:
Bobbi Brown's Make-up Manual is the book that Bobbi Brown's fans have been waiting for: her 25-plus years of makeup styling experience distilled into one complete, gorgeous book. Bobbi looks at everything from skincare basics to every aspect of facial makeup. And Bobbi looks beyond the face with informative chapters on "Hands and Feet" and "Body Skin Care." Plus, there's a groundbreaking section of the book that will be of special interest to women who've wanted to know how makeup stylists do what they do: the top beauty secrets only these artists know, essential equipment to keep on hand, how to break into the business, and how to work with photographers and celebrities.

BOBBI BROWN'S MAKEUP MANUAL will be the only book any woman will need to look absolutely fabulous.

Giveaway
Hachette Book Group is willing to give away up to five copies of this book right here on this blog! In order to win, you must have a United States or Canadian mailing address, no PO Boxes. To enter, simply leave a comment with a valid email address and tell me about your favorite brand of cosmetics. For three additional entries, blog about this contest providing a link back and leave another comment telling me you did so. I do not post winners but I will email them once they are drawn. This contest is open until December 15th at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Some Things I Love Bloggy Giveaway Carnival

My 3 year blogiversary came and went with little fanfare. So did my 1000th post. I decided this time I wanted to do something exceptionally fun for the bloggy giveaway carnival. My hope obviously is that a few of you will stick around and get to know me better. So to help you along with that, I've put together a little bundle of things that I love.

If you win this giveaway, you'll get...

A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman (my favorite book of the year so far)
A copy of Andrew Peterson's newest album Resurrection Letters (I love Andrew Peterson's music)
A small blank journal with a Christmas theme (I'm a Christmas fanatic)
A bottle opener with a LOST design (got this off Etsy) (I LOVE LOST)
A set of chopsticks from Japan (I love Japan!)

I also love God but can't think of something to give you that symbolizes that...maybe just the act of giving does. ;)

So...to enter please leave me a comment with a valid email address and tell me, based on these items, if we have anything in common! Also, I can only ship to the United States and Canada.

I will be having giveaways throughout the week...for example I have a one day giveaway starting tomorrow for 4 books that I can't enter into the carnival since it doesn't meet the requirements so I hope you'll come back!

(You can enter more giveaways here....you know you want to!)

Bon Appetit by Sandra Byrd Giveaway!

Take a look at this book and let me know if you want to win a copy in comments! US and Canadian addresses only. I'll email winners in about a week.

Book Summary: In this second book in the French Twist series, readers join Lexi Stuart in a crème de la crème adventure!

Deciding to leave her familiar home in Seattle and her could-be boyfriend Dan, Lexi moves to a quaint village in France to pursue her dream of becoming a pastry chef. Life among the French initially proves to be less than easy as Lexi is challenged by her coworkers, missing her friends, and failing to master the perfect baguette.

Determined to find her place, Lexi settles into the culture and life becomes la perfection. She finds a church, meets a new friend, and makes the acquaintance of a child named Celine—as well as Celine's attractive, widowed father, Philippe. Even Patricia, the gruff pastry cook, shows a softer side as she mentors Lexi in the art of baking.

Fast, fun, and packed with French culture, foodie appeal, and unique recipes readers will love accompanying Lexi on her journey in Bon Appetit as she tries to choose between two countries, two men and the faith to lean on God while savoring the surprises life brings!

Review and Giveaway: The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner

About the Book: Lauren Durough is a college student longing to break free of family expectations when she stumbles into a project for eighty year old Abigail Boyles—transcribing the journals of Mercy Hayworth, a seventeenth-century victim of the Massachusetts witch trials. Almost immediately, Lauren finds herself drawn to this girl who lived and died four centuries ago. The strength of her affinity with Mercy forces Lauren to take a startling new look at her own life, including her relationships with the mysterious Abigail, her college roommate, and a young man named Raul. But on the way to discovering the candid truth, Lauren must earnestly ask if she is playing the role of helpless defendant or the misguided judge? Can she break free from her own perceptions and recognize who she really is?
My Review: I started hearing buzz about this book a few months ago and instantly wanted to read it. I loved the title. A good title can really really draw me in. (It's amazing how many different things a book needs to get right...title, cover, blurb...sigh)
So when the book arrived just before I went on a plane trip, I popped it into my bag to take along. I was instantly drawn into the story. There's just something about the Salem Witch Trials that is so deeply fascinating in its horror. (I also love The Crucible...seeing that play was a very powerful experience) Additionally, Lauren's internal struggle was very interesting to me. Born into privilege she wanted to discover a little of what it meant to be outside of herself. And Mercy was absolutely loveable.
It was interesting to read the trials unfold from the first person viewpoint. It was horrifying to realize the things that would eventually condemn Mercy and be helpless to intervene and stop it. And as Lauren processed it all, so did I.
This book is a great story and a great look at the nature of the judgements we form. Riveting and page-turning, I cried, I reflected, and I devoured it. I highly recommend this book.

I have two copies to give away. Yay for you! If you would like to be entered to win, leave me a comment with a valid email address and tell me about your favorite book/film etc about the Salem Witch Trials. Open worldwide. I'll draw some winners and email them next week on October 19th. If you would like to triple your chances to win blog about this contest with a link back to this post and then leave me a comment telling me you've done so.

The Official BBAW Giveaway List

If you follow along for the festivities of BBAW at My Friend Amy, you will find many chances to win LOTS of goodies! Like what? Well have a look below. All of these things will be given away between September 15-19. There will be a huge variety of ways to win them and giveaways will be announced constantly throughout the week. So be sure to check in often!


A HUGE thank you to Hachette Book Group, Penguin Group USA, Harlequin, The B&B Media Group, Shera of SNS Blog Design, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, Catherine Delors, Pamela Binnings Ewen, Andromeda Romano-Lax, Ceceilia Dowdy, Sormag, Book Club Girl, Savvy Verse and Wit, Cafe of Dreams, Fashionista Piranha, and Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?.

Daily Raffles:
Monday--Books and Chocolate sponsored by My Friend Amy and Hey Lady! Whatcha' Readin?
Tuesday--Books and Going Green sponsored by My Friend Amy
Wednesday--Books and Coffee sponsored by My Friend Amy
Thursday--Books and Charity sponsored by My Friend Amy and Fashionista Piranha
Friday--Books and Movies sponsored by My Friend Amy

Win a Book Club Girl Hostess Survival Kit!
Do you find it's your turn to host book club and not only do you not know what to serve but you don't know what books to offer up for the next month's selection?! Let Book Club Girl come to your rescue with the Book Club Girl Hostess Survival Kit.

One lucky winner of the kit will receive:

* A basket of cheese, crackers, cookies and wine for up to 12 people
* 5 great book group books to vote on for your group's next pick. And Book Club Girl will then donate 12 copies whichever book is chosen for your entire group to read.
* 12 Book Club Girl mousepads to give out as party favors that night
* 12 Book Club Girl bookmarks to mark everyone's favorite passages
* 12 Book Club Girl coasters to protect your coffee table from all those wine glasses!

TWO SORMAG Goody Bags containing books and more!


A Special Pamper Me Basket from Cafe of Dreams!
From Avon Foot Works
~ Inflatable watermelon shaped foot tub
~ 3.4 FL oz Watermelon Cooling Foot Lotion
~ 3.4 FL oz Watermelon Exfoliating Foot Scrub
~ 12 count Watermelon Effervescent Foot Tablets
~ An ARC of So Long At The Fair by Christina Schwarz
~ A variety of Hot Chocolate and Tea mixes

A pre-made blog template from SNSDesign!

A Subscription to Poetry Magazine from Savvy Verse and Wit!

BOOKS
Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors
The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen
The Spanish Bow by Andromeda Romano-Lax
John's Quest by Cecelia Dowdy
Confessions of a Contractor by Richard Murphy
Acedia & Me by Kathleen Norris
The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer
Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley
A Tale Out of Luck by Willie Nelson with Mike Blakely
The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent
When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson
An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken
Exit Music by Ian Rankin
The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik
Gunmetal Black by Daniel Serrano
Isolation by Travis Thrasher
The Miracle Girls by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt
Every Freaking! Day With Rachell Ray by Elizabeth Hilts
Dewey by Vicki Myron
The Shiniest Jewel by Marian Henley
Keep the Faith by Faith Evans
The Book of Calamities by Peter Trachtenberg
A is for Atticus by Lorilee Craker
After the Fire by Robin Gaby Fisher
Mike's Election Guide by Michael Moore
War as They Knew It by Michael Rosenberg
Fixing Hell By Col. (ret.) Larry C. James
Wild Boy: My Life with Duran Duran by Andy Taylor
The Last Under-Cover: The True Story of an FBI Agent's Dangerous Dance with Evil By Bob Hamer
Border Lass by Amanda Scott
Insatiable Desire by Rita Heron
Hungry for More by Diana Holquist
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
Trespassers Will Be Baptized by Elizabeth Emerson Hancock
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Trish Ryan
Never Surrender by General Jerry Boykin
Dream in Color by Congresswoman Linda Sánchez, Congresswoman Loretta Sánchez
Beyond Belief by Josh Hamilton
Cobain Unseen by Charles R. Cross
Doing Business in 21st Century India by Gunjan Bagla
Branding Only Works on Cattle by Jonathan Salem Baskin
Launching a Leadership Revolution by Chris Brady, Orrin Woodward
How to Hear from God by Joyce Meyer
Knowing Right from Wrong by Thomas D. Williams
Pope John Paul II: An Intimate Life by Caroline Pigozzi
Pure by Rebecca St. James
He Loves Me! by Wayne Jacobson
So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore by Wayne Jacobson and Dave Coleman
Move On, Move Up by Paula White
The Rosary by Gary Jansen
Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts
The Choice by Nicholas Sparks
Right Livelihoods by Rick Moody
by George by Wesley Stace
The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold
Trunk Music by Michael Connelly
Hollywood Crows by Joseph Wambaugh
Dead Boys by Richard Lange
The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters by Lorraine Lopez
Sisterchicks Go Brit! by Robin Jones Gunn
Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky
With Endless Sight by Allison Pittman
Harlequin Titles: To Be Announced

Many other blogs are giving away books and prizes for BBAW as well! You can see the links to all of these giveaways here.

Interested in gaining entries into the daily raffles? Post this complete list on your blog with links and you'll earn two extra entries!

Children's Book Extravaganza! +Giveaway

I have three really precious children's books to introduce you to today. They are very sweet and all three of them will reassure the little ones in your lives of God's love for them. The illustrations are colorful and fun.
God Gave Us Heaven by Lisa Tawn Bergren and illustrated by Laura Bryant. About the Book: Little Cub awakens one morning with some important questions on her mind: What is heaven like? How do we get there? Will we eat in heaven? Will we be angels?

During a delightful day spent wandering their arctic world, Papa gently answers each question, assuring Little Cub that heaven is a wonderful place, "a million times better" than she can imagine. He explains how God has made a way for those who love him to enter their heavenly home forever after their lives on earth are over.

Reuniting the best-selling author-illustrator team from God Gave Us You, this gentle story provides satisfying answers for a young child's most difficult questions about heaven. Parents, grandparents, childcare professionals, librarians, Sunday school teachers, and others will appreciate the gentle approach to a topic that's on the minds of so many "little cubs."

Through captivating, full-color illustrations and tender, biblically sound storytelling, young readers and those who love them will find reasons to rejoice in knowing that God Gave Us Heaven.
God Loves Me More Than That by Dandi Daley Mackall and illustrated by David Hohn
About the Book: God Loves Me More Than That, children learn that God loves them deeper than a wishing well, wider than a semi-truck, louder than thunder, and softer than a kitten's sneeze. Each question, presented with charming child-like faith will help young ones grasp the great love of God through comparisons and descriptions they can easily understand. In short, they'll discover that His love is bigger, wider, higher, and deeper than anything they could imagine!

When God Made My Toes by Dandi Daley Mackall and illustrated by David Hohn. About the Book: In When God Made My Toes, kids are drawn into the wonder of their creation by God. Their masterful artist who fashioned them just right for amazing and delightful adventures, such as roller skating, finger-painting, doing flips, and drinking cocoa. Children will come to an understanding that God shaped each part of their amazing bodies with joy, delight, and humor.

The Giveaway: I have two sets of all three books to give away. If you are interested in winning, please have a United States or Canadian mailing address. Also, leave me a comment finishing this sentence...God loves me more than...

I'll draw a winner next week!

Review: That's (Not Exactly) Amore by Tracey Bateman + Giveaway

About the Book: When Laini Sullivan lands a job designing Nick Pantalone's coffee shop, there are two problems: one, Nick's nephew Joe hates all of her ideas and two, Laini has to admit he's right--she's a disaster at design. Still, she can't risk losing the job. To compromise, Joe brings in help on the project, while Laini continues to bake the goodies that keep his customers lining up.
Their relationship is moving along, so when new guy Officer Mark Hall implies that Joe's family is tied to the mob, Laini doesn't want to believe it. But things spin out of control when she meets the family, including "the uncles," who seem to confirm Mark's suspicions. To make things worse, Nana Pantalone makes it clear Laini isn't the kind of girl she has in mind for her grandson. Laini's not sure if she should give Joe the benefit of the doubt or just set her sites on Mark and fuhgetaboutit.

My Review: I haven't read the first two books in this series yet, but I think you can read this book easily without having read the other two. It's a fun lighthearted book that explores the ideas of whether or not God gives us dreams and if we should pursue them.

It was easy for me to identify with Laini as she wrestled with that issue. I couldn't help but feel for her as she tried to reinvent herself and found out that she wasn't particularly skilled or passionate about her new chosen career. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get it right, which was a nice reminder.

There were a few laugh out loud moments and a few moments when I just wanted to tell Laini to wake-up! But overall I found her a really sympathetic character and I love reading stories with big extended families set in New York.

Giveaway: Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the publisher, I have a whole set of the Drama Queen books to give away! That's right...three whole books! To be eligible to win have a United States mailing address and leave a comment with a valid email address. To double your chances blog about this contest and then leave me a separate comment with the link to your post. I hope lots of you will enter...I think you'll love these books!

You can read an excerpt from That's (Not Exactly) Amore here!