2012 Reading Challenges

2012 Ireland Reading Challenge

January 1, 2012-November 30, 2012
Hosted by: Books and Movies

I LOVED participating in this challenge last year and knew that I wanted to sign-up again this year.

Any books read for this challenge can also apply to other challenges you are working on. Re-reads are allowed. 


Challenge requirements:
Any book written by an Irish author, set in Ireland, or involving Irish history or Irish characters, counts for the challenge – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, audiobooks, children’s books – all of these apply. (I will be posting a list of books previously reviewed for the challenge in the next day or two, if you’re looking for suggestions.)


The commitment levels:

• Shamrock level: 4 books
• Luck o’ the Irish level: 6 books
• Kiss the Blarney Stone level: 8 books
• Ceilidh level: 10+ books

Everyone who fulfills their challenge level and writes at least one review will get one entry in the giveaway at the end of the challenge. The prize? A copy of For the Love of Ireland: A Literary Companion for Readers and Travelers. Wrap-up post and giveaway details will go up at the beginning of December, which is why the challenge ends on November 30th.


This year there is an extra twist! You can earn extra entries in the giveaway by diversifying your reading. You will earn one extra entry for reading from these genres – one entry per genre represented in your challenge list:

• Contemporary fiction
• Historical fiction
• Science fiction or fantasy
• Young Adult fiction
• Romance
• Horror
• Children’s fiction
• Non-fiction – history
• Non-fiction – memoir or biography
• Non-fiction – essays
• Poetry

The level that I am choosing is...

Luck o’ the Irish level: 6 books


If you would like to participate in this challenge, visit Books and Movies and sign-up. I will post my progress HERE.



2012 War Through the Generations Reading Challenge

January 1, 2012-December 31, 2012
Hosted by: War Through the Generations

Rules:

This year you have options when reading your fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc. with the WWI as the primary or secondary theme.

Books can take place before, during, or after the war, so long as the conflicts that led to the war or the war itself are important to the story. Books from other challenges count so long as they meet the above criteria.

Levels:

Dip: Read 1-3 books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.

Wade: Read 4-10 books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.

Swim: Read 11 or more books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.

Additionally, we’ve decided that since there are so many great movies out there about WWI, you can substitute or add a movie or two to your list this year and have it count toward your totals.

**Note**

*Participants anywhere in the world are eligible for most prizes in the post-challenge drawing!**

*Prize drawings will be for participants finishing the minimum 1-3 books.

*Participants can always read more than their initial goals, and even if you sign up for 11+, but read just 1-3 books, and you’ve officially completed the challenge and are eligible for prizes.

You can decide which books you’d like to read right away, or you can choose them during the course of the challenge. Check out the Recommended Reading: WWI page for suggestions.

The level that I am choosing is...

Wade: Read 4-10 books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.

If you would like to participate in this challenge, visit War Through the Generations and sign-up. I will post my progress HERE.

Protection for Hire by Camy Tang

Tessa Lancaster's skills first earned her a position as an enforcer in her Uncle Teruo's Japanese Mafia gang. Then they landed her in prison for a crime she didn't commit. Now, three months after her release, Tessa's abilities have gained her a job as bodyguard for wealthy socialite Elizabeth St. Amant and her three-year-old son. 

But there's a problem or two ... or three .... There's Elizabeth's abusive husband whose relentless pursuit goes deeper than mere vengeance. There's Uncle Teruo, who doesn't understand why Tessa's new faith as a Christian prevents her from returning to the yakuza. And then there's Elizabeth's lawyer, Charles Britton, who Tessa doesn't know is the one who ensured that she did maximum time behind bars. Now Tessa and Charles must work together in order to protect their client, while new truths emerge and circumstances spiral to a deadly fever pitch. 

Factor in both Tessa's and Charles's families and you've got some wild dynamics---and an action-packed, romantic read as Tessa and Charles discover the reality of being made new in Christ.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:


MY THOUGHTS:
Even though I own most of Camy Tang's books, Protection for Hire was the first book that I have read by her. I now hope to read her other books very soon!


Protection for Hire is a romantic, action packed novel, that even has a slight mystery to it. I loved reading this book, it was enjoyable to the last page! I hated when I had to put this book down and was quick to hurry back to it. The story had many twists, which made it all the more enjoyable, because I was never sure who was behind it all.

When Tessa chose to take the blame for a murder she had nothing to do with, she went to prison for the maximum amount of time. This however was a blessing in disguise, because while in prison she accepted Jesus as her Savior and this turned her life around. She wants to get out of the family business and live her life right. Now she only has to find a job...with a criminal record and a reputation that strikes fear in most people, that shouldn't be too hard, right?

Protection for Hire is a great read. I LOVED it and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book.


***I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

Five Alarm Book Reviews' 1000 Follower Giveaway!

Five Alarm Book Reviews is having a FANTASTIC giveaway event for her Facebook followers! At every milestone of 100 additional followers she will give away a prize, each level increasing in value, until the final BIG 1000 FOLLOWER PRIZE Package (valued at $150). She only wants people to enter this giveaway if they are truly interested in following her site. She is in no hurry to reach 1000 followers.

Here are the prizes that are left, which will be awarded at 100 follower milestones:

• $70 gift card or coupon code at 700 Facebook Followers;
• $80 gift card or coupon code at 800 Facebook Followers;
• $90 gift card or coupon code at 900 Facebook Followers;

and then for the big prize package…

• Big 1000 follower prize package will be an assortment of book related items valued at $150 and will be according to availability at the close of contest and adjusted to your personal preference according to your comment answer (see entry form for comment question).

To see the complete rules and to see whether or not her site is for you, go HERE.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her life. No real man can compare.

When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined. Decked out in empire-waist gowns, stripped of her modern appliances, Jane throws herself into mastering Regency etiquette and flirts with gardeners and gentlemen - or maybe even, she suspects, with the actors who are playing them.

It's all a game, Jane knows. And yet the longer she stays, the more her insecurities seem to vanish. Is she about to kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?
I GIVE THIS BOOK: 

MY THOUGHTS:
This is a genre that I love to read, but I was slightly disappointed in this book.

Jane comes across (to me at least) as very annoying. She wants to meet her Mr. Darcy, but the way she throws herself at men is shameful! She barely knows a man and she is making out with him.

The whole idea of Pembrook Park, a resort that makes you feel as though you are in the Regency era was cool. However, I didn't like the way it seemed that all of the women (except for Jane) were married. The way they flirted with the men was really distasteful.

I give this book 3 stars, because while overall I found this book to be enjoyable, there were many parts of it that I found to be dull.

View all my reviews

Top Ten Books I Have Read in 2011

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, a different topic is selected and then you create your own top ten list! 

This week's topic is: The Top Ten books you read in 2011

Here's my list:

1. A Heart Revealed (Book 2) by Julie Lessman

Ten years ago, Emma Malloy fled Dublin for Boston as a battered woman, escaping the husband who scarred her beautiful face. The physical and emotional wounds have faded with time, and her life is finally full of purpose and free from the pain of her past. But when she falls for her friend Charity's handsome and charming brother, Sean O'Connor, fear and shame threaten to destroy her. Could Sean and Emma ever have a future together? Or is Emma doomed to live out the rest of her life denying the only true love she's ever known?


Filled with intense passion and longing, deception and revelation, A Heart Revealed will hold readers in its grip until the very last page.

2. A Hope Undaunted (Book 1) by Julie Lessman

What happens when the boy she loved to hate becomes the man she hates to love?


The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman--smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband--good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and eating out of her hand. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Luke McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face-to-face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?

3. Blue Skies Tomorrow (Book 3) by Sarah Sundin

In a time of peril, can they find the courage to confront their fears and embrace a love that lasts?

When her husband becomes a casualty of the war in the Pacific, Helen Carlisle throws herself into volunteering for the war effort to conceal her feelings. But keeping up appearances as the grieving widow of a hometown hero is taking its toll. Soon something is going to give.

Lt. Raymond Novak prefers the pulpit to the cockpit. His stateside job training B-17 pilots allows him the luxury of a personal life—and a convenient excuse to ignore his deepest fear. When the beautiful Helen catches his eye and captures his heart, he is determined to win her hand.

But when Ray and Helen are called upon to step out in faith and put their reputations and their lives on the line, can they meet the challenges that face them? And can their young love survive until blue skies return?

Filled with drama, daring, and all the romance of the WWII era, Blue Skies Tomorrow is the captivating final book in the popular Wings of Glory series.

4. Contingency (Book 1) by Paula Wiseman

Where was God?

Bobbi Molinsky's comfortable life is shattered when a forwarded email from her husband's account lands in her inbox. The email teases, "My whole evening is free again." After an angry confrontation with Chuck, she is left with the broken remains of an eighteen year marriage.

Where is God?

Bobbi agrees forgiving Chuck is the right thing, the God-honoring thing to do, but it leaves her empty and isolated. Teaching her second-graders is a burden. Taking care of her boys saps all her energy. It seems God Himself has walked away, leaving her to struggle alone.

Is God faithful?

Bobbi can't deny the transformation in Chuck, but genuine forgiveness requires trust, and trust is a risk she's not willing to take. Can she let go of her deepest, most primal fears and save her marriage?

5. Indemnity (Book 2) by Paula Wiseman

After years of believing Chuck's affair is behind them, Bobbi's marriage is tested again when Tracy Ravenna resurfaces. Tracy's not alone, though. Jackson Charles Ravenna is the newest student in Bobbi's first grade class and the spitting image of her husband. When Chuck decides to pursue joint custody, they discover Jack isn't the only secret Tracy's been hiding.

As Tracy's past begins to threaten their future with Jack, Bobbi is forced to face the unsettling truth about God's grace. But this time, what will it cost to forgive the unforgivable?

6. Inside Threat (Book 4) by Jason Elam & Steve Yohn

After taking two football seasons off, Riley Covington is attempting to make a comeback in the league while trying to forget Khadi Faroughi, now on security detail for a prominent senator.But a new attack turns both of their lives upside down yet again. During a state funeral, terrorists overrun the National Cathedral and take senators, congressmen, and their entourages hostage, including Khadi. This new generation of The Cause is made up of homegrown terrorists-an inside threat to the security of the nation. They release most of the hostages, but Khadi and several others are kept behind as significant bargaining chips.The Cause pledges to behead one member of Congress each day throughout the month of Ramadan as a punishment for their own country's rejection of Islam. Despite the protests of Counter-Terrorism Division director Scott Ross, Riley races to CTD armed with a plan and a fierce determination to rescue Khadi at all costs.

7. Charlotte Collins by Jennifer Becton

When Charlotte Lucas married Mr. Collins in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, she believed herself to be fortunate indeed. Her nuptials gained her a comfortable home and financial security. If she acquired these things at the expense of true love, it did not matter one whit. To Charlotte, love in marriage was nothing more than a pleasant coincidence.

As the years of her marriage dragged by, Charlotte began to question her idea of love as she suffered continual embarrassment at her husband's simpering and fawning manners. When Mr. Collins dies, finally relieving everyone of his tedious conversation, she must work feverishly to secure her income and home. She gives no further thought to the possibility of love until her flighty sister Maria begs her to act as her chaperone in place of their ailing parents. Hoping to prevent Maria from also entering an unhappy union, Charlotte agrees, and they are quickly thrust into a world of country dances, dinner parties, and marriageable gentlemen.

But when an unprincipled gentleman compromises Charlotte's reputation, her romantic thoughts disappear at the possibility of losing her independence. As she struggles to extricate herself from her slander, her situation reveals both the nature of each gentleman and of true love.

Buzz about Charlotte Collins: With Charlotte Collins, Jennifer Becton mines the rich vein of literary characters who've vanished into the mists of history. Her newly widowed Charlotte is an expert in social nuance, but does she know her own heart as well? Charming, witty, and grounded in period detail, Becton's debut novel will make Jane Austen fans rejoice. --Beverle Graves Myers, author of Her Deadly Mischief

8. Chameleon (Book 2) by Cidney Swanson

Sixteen-year-old Samantha Ruiz has a lot on her mind. The crush who kissed her but changed his mind. The BFF who thinks Sam is in an abusive relationship. The geneticist who wanted Sam dead but now wants her ALIVE. And of course, Sam’s still dealing with a tendency to disappear into thin air.

When Sam learns of her nemesis Helmann’s Nazi-like plan to establish a Thousand-Year Reign, she’s determined to fight him. Along with Will and Mickie, Sam flees to France to meet Sir Walter—their best hope for stopping Helmann’s brave new world.

But Sam isn’t any safer in France. Someone is following her. Someone invisible. Sam will have to figure out how to hide from an enemy she can’t even see.

9. Rippler (Book 1) by Cidney Swanson

Samantha Ruiz has a freak gene that makes her turn invisible, or ripple. She can’t control it, and it’s getting worse. Afraid of becoming a lab-rat, Sam keeps her ability secret, until fellow runner Will Baker sees her vanish into thin air. Will promises secrecy and help, and Sam begins to fall in love. Together, the two discover there are worse things than being a scientific curiosity. Someone’s been killing people who possess Sam's gene. A mysterious man from France sends letters that offer hope for safety, but also reveal a sinister connection with Nazi experiments. The more time Sam spends with Will, the less she can imagine life without him. When Sam uncovers secrets from her past, she must choose between keeping Will in her life or keeping Will safe.

10. Protection For Hire by Camy Tang

Tessa Lancaster's skills first earned her a position as an enforcer in her Uncle Teruo's Japanese Mafia gang. Then they landed her in prison for a crime she didn't commit. Now, three months after her release, Tessa's abilities have gained her a job as bodyguard for wealthy socialite Elizabeth St. Amant and her three-year-old son. 

But there's a problem or two ... or three .... There's Elizabeth's abusive husband whose relentless pursuit goes deeper than mere vengeance. There's Uncle Teruo, who doesn't understand why Tessa's new faith as a Christian prevents her from returning to the yakuza. And then there's Elizabeth's lawyer, Charles Britton, who Tessa doesn't know is the one who ensured that she did maximum time behind bars. Now Tessa and Charles must work together in order to protect their client, while new truths emerge and circumstances spiral to a deadly fever pitch. 

Factor in both Tessa's and Charles's families and you've got some wild dynamics---and an action-packed, romantic read as Tessa and Charles discover the reality of being made new in Christ.

Free Kindle e-books at Amazon!

Here is a list of the free Kindle e-books that I found today! Make sure before you purchase any of them that they are still free.


The Pawn (The Patrick Bowers Files, Book 1) [Kindle Edition] by Steven James


To Love Anew (Sydney Cove Series #1) [Kindle Edition] by Bonnie Leon


Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1) [Kindle Edition] by Virginia Smith


Ruby (Dakotah Treasures #1) [Kindle Edition] by Lauraine Snelling


A Hearth in Candlewood (The Candlewood Trilogy, Book 1) [Kindle Edition] by Delia Parr


Sophie and the Rising Sun [Kindle Edition] by Augusta Trobaugh


Child of the Mist (These Highland Hills, Book 1) [Kindle Edition] by Kathleen Morgan


Faith (Brides of the West #1) (HeartQuest) [Kindle Edition] by Lori Copeland


Daughter of Joy (Brides of Culdee Creek, Book 1) [Kindle Edition] by Kathleen Morgan


Homespun Bride [Kindle Edition] by Jillian Hart


Hide in Plain Sight [Kindle Edition] by Marta Perry


A Very Special Delivery [Kindle Edition] by Linda Goodnight

Carbavoid by Cindy Fleck Howlett

Take ten minutes. Read this book.
Change the way you think about food forever.

Pictures speak louder than words. Carbavoid, The Fuel for the Future, shouts clearly and shows convincingly where food goes once it enters your body. Obesity and Type II diabetes are the result of frequent, repeated spikes in blood sugar. Avoid sugar spikes and you avoid obesity and diabetes. It’s that simple. Mrs. Howlett’s timely analogy between your body and your car shows you exactly how to do that.

Carbavoid breaks down the three essential nutrients of your diet – carbohydrates, proteins and fats – and shows you how to combine them to fuel your body so it runs like a finely tuned sports car.
• You’ll understand how sugary foods turn into fat.
• You’ll understand that protein is essential to your muscle growth and cellular health.
• You’ll understand that fat is your friend…good fat, that is. Most importantly, you’ll learn the perfect blend to create the premium fuel that your body needs so that you can live a longer, healthier and happier life.


I GIVE THIS BOOK:


MY THOUGHTS:
'Carbavoid' may only have 33 pages, but it is full of very informative information. It is a book that can be read in 10 minutes, however the information that it contains is so easy to grasp that it will stay with you for awhile.

I found 'Carbavoid' very helpful and I personally liked how short the book was. Whenever I may need to refresh my memory of it, it won't take me very long at all! However, if you are looking for a book that goes into great detail about every aspect of what you should be doing, when to do it and why you should, this is not the book for you. But, if you want an easy to understand book, that will give you the basics to a healthier you and is not bogged down in technical jargon - this is it!

I loved all the pictures in the book - I thought they were nice and very helpful with the explanations. While 'Carbavoid' is written in a juvenile style, I feel that it will be helpful to people of all ages.

*** I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of it - which I have done. ***

Product Details
Paperback: 33 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press (July 6, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1432769014
ISBN-13: 978-1432769017
Available at Amazon

Farsighted Blog Tour: Excerpt

Announcing the Farsighted Social Media Whirlwind Tour!

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Farsighted eBook edition is just 99 cents this week.

What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including lots of Amazon gift cards (up to $100 in amount) and 5 autographed copies of

the book. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 30th, so you don’t miss out.

The Featured Events include:

Monday, a guest blog on Novel Publicity! 

Emlyn kicks off the tour on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog by discussing her brightly burning passion for books in a guest post entitled “My journey through the pages and toward a life-long love of reading.” One commenter will win an autographed copy of Farsighted. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there!

Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest!

A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. An autographed copy of Farsighted is also up for grabs. The winners will be announced Wednesday morning.

Here’s the tweet: Looking for a fun read to round out your holiday break? The paranormal YA hit Farsighted is just 99 cents! http://ow.ly/81Dt1 #whirlwind

Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest!

Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see the Farsighted book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Farsighted is also up for grabs. Two chances to win with just one click! How about that?

Thursday, Facebook sharing contest!

Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see the Farsighted book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Farsighted is also up for grabs.

Friday, special contest on the author’s site! 

Are you ready for some more fun? Take a picture of yourself with your copy of Farsighted either in paperback or on an eReading device, then post it to Emlyn Chand’s Facebook page or email a copy to author@emlynchand.com. You just way win one of three Amazon gift cards! A $100 prize will go to the photo with the most interesting setting (so put your holiday travel time to work for you). Another $50 will go the funniest photo, and one more prize of $50 will go the scariest photo—this is a paranormal YA book after all. An autographed copy of Farsighted will go to one randomly selected entrant. For more details about this contest, please visit www.emlynchand.com.

Remember, it’s all about the books!

About Farsighted: Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t. When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider. Farsighted is the winner of the 2011 Dragonfly eBook Awards. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the Author: Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit her on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Now please enjoy this exciting excerpt from Farsighted...

“Did Dad tell you? A new tenant moved into the old pharmacy next door.”

“Really?” I ask, not letting on I already know. If I feign ignorance, Mom’ll divulge all the details. “What is it?”

“It’s a psychic shop,” Her voice crackles with excitement like a fire that’s just beginning to burn. “The All-Seeing Miss Teak. Isn’t that cute? Miss Teak, Mystic. Ha, I wonder if that’s her real name.”

I laugh. “That is funny. Never had a psychic in town before. What’s she like?”

“Oh, she’s very friendly. Why don’t you go over and say ‘hi.’ I’m sure she’d like to meet you.”

“Okay, I think I will.” I’m incredibly intrigued, because first off, it’s a psychic shop—how weird is that?—and second, its presence made Dad super uncomfortable—also very cool. I waste no time heading next door to check out the scene.

As I step cautiously into the new shop, a recording of soft, instrumental music greets me. I can make out chimes and a string instrument I don’t recognize but for some reason reminds me of snake charmers. The smell of incense fills my nostrils, which explains the burning I detected earlier.

“Hello?” I call out into the otherwise quiet room.

Nobody answers. I walk in deeper, sweeping my cane out in front of me in a metronome fashion. This place is new to me, so I need to be especially careful while moving around.

Thump! Despite my precautions, I stub my toe on something hard, big, and made of wood. Just my luck to stub the same toe twice in one day. I reach down to press my fingers into my throbbing foot to alleviate some of the pain. Something teeters before rolling off of the chest and across the floor; the sound it makes indicates a curved path. Suddenly, the object stops. Somebody’s stopped it.

“Hello,” a deep, feminine voice responds, placing more emphasis on the first syllable than the second.

“I- I’m sorry I knocked that thing over. I didn’t mean to…” I hope she’s not angry. Probably not a good idea to get on a psychic’s bad side.

“That wasn’t just a thing, it’s a crystal ball,” she says as she walks over, sending my blood pulsing through my veins. I sense her looking at me for a moment before she places the ball back on top of the chest.

“Can it see the future?” I ask, allowing my curiosity to outweigh my uneasiness.

“No.” After a pause lasting several beats, she continues. “But I can see the future sometimes when I look into it.”

“Oh, okay.” I tighten my hand around my cane and turn to leave. It may not be the most polite thing to do, but all of this hocus-pocus stuff is freaking me out more than I would’ve guessed.

The psychic lady speaks again, stopping me cold. “Don’t run away, Alex Kosmitoras.” She must’ve spoken to Mom earlier today. That must be how she knows my name.

“I’m not running away,” I say meekly. “I’m just going back over to Sweet Blossoms.”

“Don’t run away,” she repeats—this time she speaks louder and with more energy. “Don’t run away from your abilities. They are gifts.”

“What?” I ask in confusion. What abilities is she talking about?

“You already know. Watch. Listen. Be open to your gifts.”

I turn to face Miss Teak, but find she’s already gone, returning to wherever she was before I got there.

Is it safe to leave? I trail my fingers across the wooden box I ran into earlier; a thick coat of dust clings to the tips as I pull away. If this shop just opened, why is it already so dirty? I wipe my hands over my shirt to get the gritty substance off. Shivers rock my whole body. Something about this place is wrong, and I’m not sticking around to figure out what. Tapping my cane along the floor, I’m able to find the exit without knocking into anything else.

To Win the Prizes

1. Purchase your copy of Farsighted for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
2. Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
3. Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
4. BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!
5. DOUBLE BONUS: If I receive more comments than any other blogger, *I* win $100.

...And I can win too!

Over 100 bloggers are participating in this gigantic event, and there are plenty of prizes for us too. The blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card as well. So when you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out the contest entry form, don’t forget to say that I referred you, so I can get a point in the poll.

You also have THREE chances to win a copy of Farsighted (e-book) by entering my giveaways:

1. GIVEAWAY 1 ENDS 12/29/11
2. GIVEAWAY 2 ENDS 1/6/12
3. GIVEAWAY 3 ENDS 1/6/12