Friday, January 11, 2013

January Kindle Fire HD Giveaway




20 Amazing Authors plus more than 100 of the Best Bloggers have joined together to bring you 1 Amazing Giveaway!

The winner will have the option of receiving a Kindle Fire HD (US Only)


Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)


Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)




This giveaway is sponsored by these Awesome Authors:</ b>

The Essence (The Pledge, #2)Alaina Claiborne (British Agent Novel #1)Excuse Me, My
Brains Have Stepped OutUncontrollable (#2, Nature of Grace
series)Hunted (The Guardian Legacy, #3)Cliffhanger (The Belinda & Bennett
Mysteries, Book 1)I Was Here—Before You CameEverlostBlood OathReaper's Novice

(Soul Collector #1)BulletproofLancaster
HouseTwo HalvesMurder
on Potrero Hill (A Peyton Brooks' Mystery, #1)Bellyache: A Delicious TaleKill ShotSkid Out (Heavy Influence Trilogy, #0.5)Between (Crossroads Saga, #2)Dragon Stones: Book One of the Dragon Stone Saga (Dragon Stone Saga, #1)Rapunzel Untangled


The Essence by Kimberly Derting
Alaina Claiborne by MK McClintock
Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out by Pandora Poikilos
Uncontrollable by S.R. Johannes
Hunted by Ednah Walters
Cliffhanger by Amy Saunders
I Was Here - Before You Came by Camelia Miron Skiba
Everlost by Brenda Pandos
Blood Oath by T.L. Clarke
Reaper's Novice by Cecilia Robert
Bulletproof by Jeff LaFerney
Lancaster House by Taylor Dean
Two Halves by Marta Szemik
Murder on Potrero Hill by M.L. Hamilton
Bellyache by Crystal Marcos
Kill Shot by Anne Patrick
Skid Out by Ann Marie Frohoff
Between by Mary Ting
Dragon Stones Saga by Kristian Alva
Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C. Bennett


Giveaway Details
1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International).
Ends 1/31/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. 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 enter for you. 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. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Book Review: Chance of a Lifetime by Jodi Thomas

Chance of a Lifetime (Harmony, #5)Chance of a Lifetime by Jodi Thomas
Release date: December 31, 2012
Publisher: Berkley
Paperback, 336 pages
ISBN: 9780425250525
Harmony, Texas #5


My Review:
As we re-visit Harmony, Texas in book five of this wonderful series, I am reminded in Chance of a Lifetime that each book doesn't tell just one story but interweaves multiple stories. Sometimes it finishes those stories off and sometimes it leaves them open to continue somewhere else along the way in the series. But no matter what the journey in the story will be enjoyable. And it continues here in Chance of a Lifetime.

Two couples are the star of this book, Emily and Tannon, who were best friends growing up but grew apart and Rick and Trace who find themselves thrown together by the suspense thread that Ms. Thomas weaves in Chance of a Lifetime. I enjoyed both couples and getting to know them in this book. Rick is the only one I really remember from earlier books, Trace is new to the story as an outsider to the town, but if Tannon and Emily had any roles before they were just cursory roles. So it was really four new characters to get to know. I felt I got to know Emily and Tannon the best and I really enjoyed their story. They are both scarred people trying to come to term with the problems they face so they can come together. A theme that is often used, but I really like how it is used with these two.

As far as Rick and Trace, I felt their story (as in romance and character development) was secondary to the suspense element that Ms. Thomas built up around them. With Emily and Tannon it was all about the romance and character development. With Rick and Trace it was suspense and then character development which was great. It was kind of like getting two stories all in one, yet they meshed together perfectly. The suspense was good, I figured out about 2/3 of the way through who it was but that was okay, I think the reader was meant to, because there was still the element of catching and stopping the person. It was a good suspense plot and I cared about Rick enough to want the person caught. I liked Trace and learning about her as well. She was definitely an interesting addition to the story and I hope to see more of her in the future.

There were some other storylines in the book that I hope will continue in future books, but you'll have to read to see what those are. Of course there are appearances by previous book characters as they are major people in Harmony. All-in-all it's like going back to your hometown and seeing all the people you know and love and some you don't. A visit to Harmony is like seeing your old friends and being enveloped in a warm hug. I love my visits to Harmony and can't wait for the next installment later this Spring. Ms. Thomas continues to hold my attention, bring me interesting characters and great suspense plots with each novel and that will keep bringing me back for more.

My rating: 5.0/5.0

And as a wonderful bonus, Jodi Thomas' Chance of a Lifetime hit #20 on the NY Times Bestseller list! Congrats Jodi!

About Chance of a Lifetime
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Jodi Thomas takes us back to Harmony, Texas, in CHANCE OF A LIFETIME. The fifth book in her popular Harmony series presents a story where big dreams are brewing—and anything and everything is possible…

Emily, the local librarian, has started a writing group, but as the group stumbles through both the fiction and reality of their lives, they’re learning much more than how to write. But Emily suddenly has other things on her mind when a friend from her past shows up in Hamony's
library. Now she must deal with a secret she’s kept for fifteen years—a secret that changed her life and threatens to shatter her future.

Meanwhile, new lawyer Rick Matheson thinks he’s in charge of his world until accidents start happening all around him. Just when he realizes someone is trying to kill him, he meets a beautiful U.S. Marshal named Trace Adam. Now that the marshal has given him an even stronger reason to go on living, he must learn to take a chance on life to dream bigger—and love better—than
he ever has before...




About Jodi Thomas:
Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 36 novels and 11 short story colections. In June 2011, WELCOME TO HARMONY, the first book in the Harmony series, won a RITA, the highest award for women’s fiction. Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas
A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

www.jodithomas.com
www.facebook.com/JodiThomasAuthor
www.twitter.com/jodithomas

***I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

2013 New Adult Reading Challenge



I have fallen in love with the New Adult genre in the past couple of months. It all started with Thoughtless, but it may have started with something before that, but I will blame Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens. Then I moved on to Fall from Grace and Saving Grace by Christine Zolendz{swoon}.  I am hooked so I typed "new adult reading challenge" into my google search and I found it.  I am so excited.  It's hosted by Danya at A Tapestry of Words, Victoria from Confessions of a Twenty Something Fiction Writer (she is also a member of the NA Alley blog), Tara from Tater's Tall Tails, and Barbara from Basia's Bookshelf.  Go and check out these wonderful blogs!

Then after you have checked out the blogs, go find out the details and sign up for the challenge here.

I am signing up for the "Living on Your Own" level which is reading 20 or more books.  I think I can handle that and I've already read my first one :)  I'll list my books here and link to my reviews.  If you have any suggestions of great New Adult books to check out, let me know in the comments, I'm always on the lookout for more great books to read!

  1. Saving Grace by Christine Zolendz
  2. The Next Forever by Amy Burstein
  3. Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire