Category Archives: Giveaways

November 28, 2014 · 7:33 pm

Review, Author Q&A and Giveaway: The Anonymous Blog of Mrs. Jones by Ellen Harger

I received an advanced copy of this book from the author.  I invite you to read my review, learn more about the author and enter to win your own copy.  Thanks for stopping by!

My Review:

Mrs. JonesSometimes we just muddle through our lives without ever reflecting on our happiness, or lack thereof.  It takes a catalyst for our neat little world to be rocked to its core and shake us out of our comfort zone.  This is exactly what happened to Gillian when a fire destroyed the home she shared with her husband.  They walked away with nothing but the clothes on their backs.  Ellen Harger’s descriptions of fire and its far-reaching destruction form some of the most eloquent prose in this book.

In the first part of the book, Ellen Harger shows us her talent in the writing of emotional and though-provoking images.  In the months that follow the fire, Gillian is depressed and does not seem to be recovering from the trauma of the fire.  She realizes, at this point, that she has never really been happy in her marriage and she wants out.  She asks her husband for a divorce, makes some new friends and tries to forge an independent and happier life.

Continue reading →

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November 25, 2014 · 12:00 am

Review and Giveaway: The Kill List by Nichole Christoff

Today I welcome TLC Book Tours back to The Book Binder’s Daughter with a fast-paced suspense novel.  I invite you to read my review and enter to win your own copy of the book and a $25 Gift Card to the book retailer of your choice.

My Review:

untitledJamie Sinclair is a securities and investigation specialist.  When she receives a call from her ex-husband with a plea for help, she has a real dilemma on her hands.  Her ex cheated on her and got his new girlfriend pregnant.  But now it is Tim’s 3 year old daughter, Brooke who has been kidnapped and Tim needs Jamie’s special set of expertise.  Jamie can’t resist helping a little girl in danger, so she puts her personal feelings aside and drives to Fort Leeds, New Jersey where Tim is the commanding general on the army base.

When Jamie gets to Fort Leeds, one of the first people she meets is Adam Barrett who is in charge of the military police and also the investigation into Brooke’s kidnapping.  The sexual tension between Jamie and Adam is evident from the first time they meet and the author keeps us in suspense as to what the outcome of their relationship will be.

Continue reading →

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November 5, 2014 · 12:00 am

Review, Giveaway and Author Q&A: Damascena by Holly Lynn Payne

I received an Advanced Copy of this novel from the publisher.  Please read my review and the Q&A with author Holly Payne.  Scroll to the bottom of the post to win one of two copies of Damascena: One hardcopy (US/CAN), one e-book (INT).

My Review:

Damascena_Select_v2This book is an eclectic blend of historical fiction, mysticism and fantasy.  Damascena is born in a monastery in 13th Century Persia and shortly after her birth her mother disappears and Damascena is raised by a monk named Ivan.  The last thing that Ivan wants to do is raise a child, but he gradually becomes possessive over Damascena to the point where he will let very few people interact with her.  He will also not tell her anything about her  mother or where she came from.

Damascena eventually escapes the monastery and Ivan and, although she is only 12 years old at this point in the story, she lives in a white house at the edge of a town. She is looked after by a mysterious man she calls Shams.  Shams shows her the importance of roses, the ways in which to cultivate the roses and the power of protection that they have over Damascena.  She learns how to distill roses and collect their oil which seems to have some kind of magical power.  People begin to believe that Damascena is a saint and is capable of miracles. Continue reading →

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November 1, 2014 · 12:00 am

Indie and Small Press Author Blog Hop: Sign-Up Post

Blog Hop 5

 

Indie and Small Press Author Blog Hop Sign-up Post:
I am very excited to be teaming up with one of my favorite Indie authors, Harry Patz to bring you this blog hop. This particular blog hop is meant to help Indie and Small Press authors gain some attention for their books, past or present. Anyone who is self-published or published through a small press is welcome to participate. We also welcome bloggers who want to give some attention to their favorite Indie or small press authors.open_book_01

 

What is a blog hop and How Do I Participate?
A blog hop is a group of authors or bloggers who all do a giveaway on the same dates and readers can hop from site to site and enter lots of giveaways at once. You can sign up at on the linky at the bottom of this post by adding the link to your blog or website. On the dates of the blog hop please post the blog hop image, a description of your book or what you are giving away and an explanation of how readers can enter your giveaway. Click here for an example of what a blog hop post looks like.

Hop Rules:
Rules• You can give away a copy or copies (as many as you like) of your book or books in any format, book swag, or gift cards.
• Your giveaway should include the hop image & linky (or links to the host’s sites if you can’t get the linky to work).
• Please only 1 mandatory entry and no more than 6 total entries.
• Your post should be live by 9:01 A.M. EST on (date)
• Please no erotica, extreme horror or 18+ sites.
• We ask that once your giveaway is live AND accepting entries that you send us a direct link via email (magistrabeck@outlook.com) so we can update the linky.
• Please be sure to pick a winner on December 13th when the giveaway has ended and mail the prize to your winner.
• Please check the linky on December 5th to be sure you are still on the linky and that your link is accurate.
• We reserve the right to delete any blog from the linky that is inappropriate or does not follow the hop rules.

Sign Up:pen-hi

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

And to thank all of the authors and bloggers that have signed up to participate, your name will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Amazon gift card.  Thanks so much for your participation!

-Harry and Melissa

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October 30, 2014 · 11:23 am

Review and Giveaway: A Sudden Light by Garth Stein

I received an Advanced Review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.  I invite you to read my review, watch the book trailer and win your own SIGNED hardcopy of the book (US/Canada).

My Review:

A Sudden LightThe first thing that struck me about A SUDDEN LIGHT is the rich and flowing prose that immediately sweeps the reader into the story.  It begins on a very philosophical note that reminds me of a common theme in Greek mythology: a curse.  When something of beauty is destroyed, the ancestors of the destroyer are cursed and pass on this curse until someone, somewhere along the family line is able to make amends.  The universe must be paid back in order for the curse to be broken.

Trevor is a 14 year old boy who had a happy and normal life with his parents growing up in Connecticut.  But any contentment he has experienced in his life is broken when his parents decide to separate.  Due to his dad’s poor financial planning, his family has also gone bankrupt and they have lost their house in Connecticut.  Trevor’s mother takes off for England to stay with her parents and Trevor travels with his father to visit his father’s family in Seattle.  It is strange and alarming that Trevor has never met his paternal grandfather or his Aunt Selena. Continue reading →

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