Back to the Books Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Back to the Books Giveaway Hop!

It's back to school time! I don't have a school-age child yet, but it's fun to see how excited other parents get watching their kids go to school. It's a great time of year for hitting the books!

To give you all a chance to "hit the books", I have my usual up for grabs:

a $10 Amazon.com gift code or $10 in books from Book Depository!

Please check to ensure that Book Depository delivers to your country.

How do you enter?

Choose one or any or all of the following:

1. Follow on GFC

2.  Follow on Twitter

3. Like on Facebook

4. Friend on Goodreads 

That's all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out all the stops on the hop! Good luck!

Mindful of Him Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Mindful of Him by Hollis Hughes!

Mindful of Him is a tale of heartbreak and triumph set in the 1950s. Separated from his young wife, and with both of his parents recently deceased, Rob McLain sets off on an adventure for which he has longed since childhood. Travel with Rob as his journey not only takes him to beautiful places, but also crosses his path with influential men who help him through his loneliness. Five months into the trip, Rob has a moonlight encounter that changes his life forever and overwhelmingly convinces this young skeptic that God is indeed mindful of him!

Through it all, he receives answers to life's deepest questions. What does he learn? What happens to his wife? Do they get back together? Does he make it back safely? 

Find the answers to these questions and others dealing with faith, creation, nature, and more in Mindful of Him, which will keep you reading long after you had planned to turn out the lights.Mindful of Him was inspired by the writings of Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer, the giant of 20th Century Christian philosophers.

  

Meet Hollis Hughes:

On a cold February day in 1928, Hollis Hughes was born in a ramshackle house  with no insulation, plumbing, or electricity. Growing up on a farm during the Great Depression, Hollis spent his youth chopping wood, tending the family farm, milking cows, and tending to livestock. Following college graduation, Hollis worked as a high school teacher and counselor for 38 years, and operated a successful rhododendron nursery. 

When Hollis’ wife developed Alzheimer’s disease in 1988, he spent the next twelve years taking care of her. Today, Hollis is retired from education. He is a fly fisherman, hiker, and gardener. He is a member of the American Camellia Society,  and a lifetime member of the Birmingham Botanical Society. Hollis and his wife, Lera, make their home in Alabama.

Learn more about Hollis by visiting http://www.winepresspublishing.com/authors/hollis-hughes

Link to buy the book: 

http://ow.ly/cCkZk 


Review:

After both his parents die, Rob feels completely out of sorts. Things aren't going quite the way he had imagined them. After a fight with his wife Beth, she leaves him. Rob is suddenly left with the task of trying to make sense of the what remains of his life. He decides to take a journey he had always dreamed of taking to find the source of a river he grew up near. This journey takes him to some beautiful places, and allows him to meet some wonderful people. It also allows him to think about his life, his belief, and his faith. These things can change his life into something entirely different from what it was before, if only he will let it.

This was an interesting book on a couple levels. First, there is the story itself. The idea of taking this journey he had always wanted to take was very interesting. In some ways you could taste the freedom Rob suddenly enjoyed. This book moves at a slow pace, very much resembling the slower pace Rob was experiencing traveling down the river. It's full of interesting characters as well. The people Rob meets on his way have wonderful ways of seeing the world, and they very much shape Rob's evolving world views. 

The most interesting part of this book to me was the fight between Rob's intellect and his evolving world views. The main idea of this book is that a man can find God during his journeys though life. Rob was someone who relied heavily on the philosophies of so many of the great thinkers throughout history. This took him away from the basic religious beliefs he had once held though. While traveling, Rob was really forced to reevaluate all the things he held to be true. This is an interesting journey that many people will relate to. For me, I wish the book had moved a tiny bit faster, but I think this is something a lot of other people will appreciate. Overall, this book will leave you with many things to ponder in your life as well.

Book provided for review.

Be sure to check out all the rest of the blogs on the tour!

Blog Tour: Mother of Pearl

Welcome to the blog tour for Mother of Pearl, compiled by Margaret McSweeney!

Like oysters, women often encounter unexpected grit during their everyday lives. In response, God’s love and grace covers this grit and transforms the pain into a precious pearl that leaves a layered, luminous lining within a shell: Mother of Pearl. This brilliant luster is strong, lasting, and purposeful—just like the love, lessons, and legacies left by the special women in our lives.

Mother of Pearl celebrates the collective iridescence of motherhood. Margaret McSweeney presents a collection of heartfelt vignettes from authors who communicate the importance of the unique relationships between mothers and their children, between granddaughters and grandmothers and between children and the mother-figures in their lives.

These stories tell of the power of faith, prayer, and values, exploring coming of age, the joy of becoming a mother, the importance of motherhood, the ways to heal from a bad relationship with a mother and weathering the death of a special loved one. Poignant and thought-provoking, the stories serve to inspire, encourage, instill hope, and strengthen faith.

The proceeds from the sale of Mother of Pearl will be donated to organizations helping struggling women and children. The charities include Wings (Women in Need Growing Stronger) to help fund the Safe House in the Chicago suburbs and to Hands of Hope to help build wells for schoolchildren in Zambia.

About the Author:

Margaret McSweeney is a well-published author often writing online articles for Make It Better (the former North Shore Magazine) and freelance articles for the Daily Herald, the largest suburban Chicago newspaper. In addition, she has authored and compiled several books including A Mother’s Heart Knows; Go Back and Be Happy; Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace, Mother of Pearl and Aftermath.

With a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in international business, Margaret became a vice-president in the corporate finance division of a New York City bank and worked there 1986–93.

As founder of Pearl Girls, Margaret collaborates with other writers on projects to help fund a safe house for WINGS, an organization that helps women and their children who are victims of domestic violence, and to build wells for schoolchildren in Uganda through Hands of Hope. For the past 10 years she has served on the board of directors and leadership advisory board for WINGS. Margaret lives with her husband and 2 daughters in the Chicago suburbs. www.pearlgirls.info

Buy the book here: http://ow.ly/cTZAg 

Review:

Mothers come in many different shapes and forms, but they touch almost all of our lives in one way or another. This book is a tribute to mothers of every kind. In a series of short essays, a number of different authors share a short story of love and inspiration about an important woman from their life. From birth to death, motherhood to grandmotherhood, all aspects of life are covered by the various stories. Some stories are funny, and some are touching. They all share a common thread of reminding us all of the wonderful things that mothers have done for our lives.

Each of these stories is rather short, so this is a perfect book when looking for a moment of inspiration. Even the busiest person can easily find time to read one of these stories. The entire range of life is covered very well. I especially loved Tricia Goyer's message about adoptive mothers. It was a beautiful testament to the love that an adoptive mother can have for her child. Bonnie St. John also had a wonderful story about trying to fill her mother's shoes. Her mother really sounds like an amazing person, and her story really made me want to go out in the world and help more people. 

This book would make a wonderful gift for a special woman in your life. By keeping the stories short, it helps to make the book accessible to anyone. It also allows you the time to read the story and have some time to really think about what you read. This book will help you find inspiration and appreciation for all the wonderful women that touch your lives. 

Book provided for review.

To celebrate the release of Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith I'm hosting an evening of chat, laughter, and encouragement on Facebook! I've invited the Pearl Girl contributors to join us on the evening of September 4th. I'd be so honored if you'd come too! We'll be giving away a ton of fun stuff {books, gift certificates and a Beautiful Pearl Necklace set}. Mother of Pearl celebrates the collective iridescence of motherhood. We'll gather to connect, be encouraged and make some new friends! So RSVP today and then come back on September 4th (at 5pm Pacific, 6pm Mountain, 7pm Central, and 8pm Eastern) and join us for the "Pearl" party. Let's share our stories and encourage one another. We'll also have an update from the charities involved with Pearl Girls, Wings and Hands of Hope. (See what others are saying about Mother of Pearl.)

Last Days of Freedom Hop

Welcome to the Last Days of Freedom Giveaway Hop!

The summer is finally winding down, and people are getting ready to send kids back to school. And also football. That is super important in these parts. We've even had our temperatures drop. That is the best thing of all, and it really makes it feel like fall is on it's way!

In celebration, I have my usual up for grabs:

a $10 Amazon.com gift code or $10 in books from Book Depository!

Please check to ensure that Book Depository delivers to your country.

How do you enter?

Choose one or any or all of the following:

1. Follow on GFC

2.  Follow on Twitter

3. Like on Facebook

4. Friend on Goodreads 

That's all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out all the blogs on the hop!

Mrs. Tuesday's Departure Book Blast

Mrs. Tuesday's Departure Book Blast - $100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway - August 14th to 21st.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…

Hungary's fragile alliance with Germany kept Natalie, a renowned children’s book author, and her family out of harm's way for most of the war. Now as the Führer's desperation grows during the waning years of the conflict, so does its threat. Natalie's younger sister, Ilona, married a Jewish man, putting both her and her young daughter, Mila, in peril; Natalie's twin sister, Anna, is losing her already tenuous hold on reality. As the streets of Budapest thrum with the pounding boots of Nazi soldiers, danger creeps to the doorstep where Natalie shields them all.

Ilona and her husband take the last two tickets to safety for themselves, abandoning Natalie to protect Anna and Mila from the encroaching danger. Anna's paranoid explosion at a university where was once a professor, sparked by delusions over an imagined love triangle, threatens their only other chance for escape. Ultimately, Natalie is presented with a choice no one should ever have to make; which of her family will she save?

An inspirational story of faith and family, strength and weakness, and the ultimate triumph of love over hate. Mrs. Tuesday’s Departure demonstrates the power of faith to light even the most harrowing darkness.
... faith is the evidence of things not seen.

Meet Author Suzanne Anderson

I was born in Fort Lauderdale, attended the University of Michigan on an athletic scholarship for swimming and then worked on Wall Street. I left the bright lights of the big city fifteen years ago and traveled the world. I now live in the mountains of Colorado, where I pursue my dream of writing novels.

LINKS:
Website: http://www.suzanneanderson.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzanne-Anderson-Author-Page/201662786512944
Twitter: https://twitter.com/seakiev

This book blast is offering you the chance to win $100 Amazon Gift Code! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. The giveaway ends 8/21/12. Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. 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.

Blog Tour: Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan by Melanie Dobson

Welcome to the blog tour for Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan by Melanie Dobson!

As the Gilded Age comes to a close, Elena Bissette's once-wealthy family has nearly lost its fortune. The Bissettes still own a home on fashionable Mackinac Island, where they will spend one last summer in the hope of introducing Elena to a wealthy suitor. But Elena is repulsed by the idea of marrying for money.

Quickly tiring of the extravagant balls, Elena spends most evenings escaping back into Mackinac's rugged forest. There she meets Chase, a handsome laborer who shares her love for the night sky. The two begin to meet in secret at an abandoned lighthouse, where they work together to solve a mystery buried in the pages of a tattered diary.

As Elena falls in love with Chase, her mother relentlessly contrives to introduce her to Chester Darrington, the island's most eligible bachelor. Marriage to the elusive millionaire would solve the Bissettes' financial woes, and Elena is torn between duty and love.

About the Author:

Melanie Dobson has written ten contemporary and historical novels including five releases in Summerside's Love Finds You series. In 2011, two of her releases won Carol Awards: Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa (for historical romance) and The Silent Order (for romantic suspense).

Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. Prior to her writing career, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family and a publicist for The Family Channel. She later launched her own public relations company and worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for more than fifteen years.

Melanie and her family enjoy their home in the Pacific Northwest. The entire Dobson family loves to travel and hike in both the mountains and along the cliffs above the Pacific.

When Melanie isn't writing or playing with her family, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.

For more about Melanie Dobson and her books, visit www.melaniedobson.com.

Review:

Elena wants nothing more than to be able to marry for love. She is feeling pressure to marry for money though. Her once wealthy family is now teetering on bankruptcy, and this may be her last summer in the beautiful Mackinac Island, Michigan. Elena's mother is pressuring her to try to gain the attentions of the very rich entrepreneur Chester Darrington. On an nighttime escape to her favorite lighthouse though, she meets the mysterious Chase. Chase and Elena feel an immediate draw to each other. Will Elena follow her heart or her head? 

This was a really sweet book. This was a great combination of history, romance, and even a little mystery. Elena is a bit "modern" in sensibility, and you can relate to her struggle between heart and head. The fact that she gives so much consideration to trying to meet Chester Darrington proves her devotion and love for her family. This made her struggle with her attraction to Chase even more difficult. Elena was overall a very compassionate and loving individual, and this makes you really cheer for her to get everything she wants and more. I also loved the idea that she had a place to go and be herself in the lighthouse. Sometimes I think we all wish we could have a place like that. The fact that she met Chase there made it seem even more apparent that they were meant to be.

There was some side mystery with the journal that was found in the lighthouse. I admit to being the tiniest confused at the resolution of that story. I did like the way it showed the history of the island in an interesting way though. This was the perfect book to relax with. It kept my interest, and I found it to be very entertaining. Lovers of romance and history will find a lot to enjoy in this book. It made me want to check out other books in this series also, so I definitely found it enjoyable.

Book provided for review.

Celebrate with Melanie by entering her Kindle Fire Giveaway!

Find out what the reviewers are saying here!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire
• Signed copies of Melanie’s Love Find You books: Love Finds you in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa, Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana.

But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/4/12. The winner will be announced on 8/6/12 at Melanie's blog!

Just click one of the icons below to enter! Tell your friends about Melanie's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Check out all the blogs on the tour! Thanks for stopping by!