Peppermint PhD (Peppermint PhD was on the tour as well and has declined her copy.) The new winner did not contact me leaving me with no choice but to cancel this contest. If you don't like to see this happen, please enter the contests and provide a valid email address so I might contact you should you be the winner. I love giveaways and I hope you do too.
Source: A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher and TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
At first glance, Kate Moore is an ordinary American expat mom whose days are filled with coffee mornings and the mundane demands of childcare. But Kate is also guarding a secret: until recently she’d been leading a double life as a CIA agent, traveling the globe on increasingly dangerous covert missions. After her job drives her to commit an unforgivable act, Kate is ready for a less eventful life, and her husband Dexter’s new job as a financial systems security consultant in Luxembourg provides the perfect exit strategy. But still she remains unable to bring herself to reveal her secret to him.
As Kate struggles to adapt to her new expat existence, always wondering when her past will catch up with her, her spook instincts take over and she grows suspicious of those around her. There’s an overly friendly American couple, Bill and Julia, who clearly are not who they say they are, and who Kate suspects may be assassins; and Dexter has become withdrawn, evasive, and unhealthily absorbed in his work, which mysteriously leads him to come home with mud-stained shoes. When Kate breaks her vow to never investigate her own husband and begins to dig for the truth, her world quickly unravels as she discovers that Dexter has been harboring an explosive secret of his own—and that he may be involved in a dangerous scheme involving shell corporations, unforgiven war crimes, and the brazen theft of 50 million euros.
“Sly…Pavone strengthens this book with a string of head-spinning revelations in its last pages…The tireless scheming of all four principals truly exceeds all sane expectations.”—New York Times
“Smartly executed…Pavone is full of sharp insights into the parallels between political espionage and marital duplicity…Thoroughly captivating.” —New York Times Book Review
“Bombshell-a-minute…Pavone creates a fascinating, complicated hero.” –Entertainment Weekly
“Amazing…Impossible to put down…Pavone invokes memories of the great writers of spy fiction of the past, and he has the chops to be mentioned with the best of them.”—Associated Press
“I often thought I was again reading the early works of Ken Follett, Frederick Forsyth, and Robert Ludlum. Smart, clever suspense, skillfully plotted.” —John Grisham
“Bristling with suspense and elegantly crafted, The Expats introduces a compelling and powerful female protagonist you won’t soon forget. Well done!” —Patricia Cornwell
Masterfully planned and executed, much like the feats of his own characters in The Expats; Chris Pavone's debut novel is a thrilling and enthralling read that is sure to hit the bestseller lists!!
I've read some amazing books in the last year, but thrillers like The Expats don't often come my way, which is rather sad, really. I love a book that hooks you in the first few lines, has you in its grasp and doesn't let go until the end. Plot twists and reveals offer up new unexpected surprises in this novel that keep you turning pages, in anticipation of what the author has devised next.
Kate's and Dexter's characters are well developed, especially Kate's. Kate is a strong protagonist, with a multi-faceted personality. Motherhood brought out the nurturer in her but her past lives on as an ever present entity. We see it in her thoughts, her awareness, her actions and her suspicions. And, like her, as the story reveals itself, we are made aware that her husband, Dexter, may not be so cut and dried. There are layers within this man that slowly become revealed and yet, perhaps even he has been fooled!
As we pass from the past tense to "today", we catch glimpses of a background of clues that slowly compile, eventually meeting up with the present day, making this suspense a whole. At first it was a bit confusing, the passing between tenses, but as The Expats reaches its climax, the international intrigue becomes more and more complex. We know the tenses have to meet, and when they do, wow! I love that in a book and the ability to do the slow reveal in an author!!
Bonus for me, John Grisham endorsed this novel!!! (I love John Grisham's legal thrillers!)
***Thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours, I have one copy of The Expats to give away to a lucky commenter!!! To enter, all you have to do is leave a meaningful comment below with your email address. I will choose a winner from the commenters on February 9 (because that's my anniversary!!) A winner will be contacted within 24 hours of draw date and will have 72 hours to respond. Good luck!***
*Sensitive reader warning: contains a few profanities and some sexual content.
Meet the author:
Chris Pavone, a book editor for nearly two decades, recently returned to New York City after a sojourn to Luxembourg. The Expats is his first novel.
Hi there! I have a beautifully inspirational book for this giveaway! It's the story of a mother's love which knows no bounds, her daughter the fighter, and a rare disease that they team up to battle. Not only is this a book of mother/daughter, parent/child love; it is inspirational in the examples these two ladies demonstrate throughout the book. No, they are not perfect; their journey is arduous and relatable in many instances, and their story is a touching read.
Enter to win a hard cover copy for yourself or as a gift here.
The winner of Oath of Office by Michael Palmer is Donna H. The previously selected winner did not contact me, so I had to select another. Congratulations Donna! Donna H. has been contacted by email and I am awaiting her response.
I am so excited to see I have reached 200 followers!
Thank you to all my new and old friends and followers. :)
In celebration of 200 Followers, I am giving away a copy of Palm Trees on the Hudson, a story of interior design, Judy Garland, the mob and more! Sure to entertain!
To enter, please leave a comment and include your email address. Must be a GFC follower! Open to Canadian and US residents. Contest runs for two weeks, concluding November 18, 2011 at midnight.
*due to lack of entries, this contest has been cancelled.
How Can You NOT Laugh at a Time Like This?
Reclaim Your Health with Humor, Creativity and Grit
Author: Carla Ulbrich (the singing patient)
Publisher: Tell Me Press, LLC
Copyright: 2011
Pages: 219
ISBN 13 9780981645346
Genre: humour/memoir
Source: JKS Communications sent me a copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Available at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon Marketplace, Barnes & Noble, Audible, Indiebound
(from the cover) "How Can You NOT Laugh at a Time Like This? is a collection of short, inspiring, funny essays that help people thrive, celebrate life, and work through illness. Carla Ulbrich - the Singing Patient - reveals how laughter has been pivotal to reclaiming her health after serious crises. She offers heartfelt and humorous advice for navigating the medical system and explains how she's benefited from exploring better nutrition, exercise, and alternative therapies such as acupuncture. This singer-songwriter's candid insights, wisecracking commentary, handy lists, and hilarious song lyrics provide smiles and gentle camaraderie to those who want to tackle health problems with courage, zest, and humour."
With humour and sage advice, Carla Ulbrich, of How Can You NOT Laugh at a Time Like This?, shares the elements of her recovery from an autoimmune disease (LUPUS) Fibromyalgia, and two strokes which, with several other complications, nearly took her life. Carla tells how she put humour to music, making her the singing patient. Carla is a firm believer that humour saves a person, happiness is a greater key to success, and lifestyle changes can make an enormous difference in how you feel, especially if you have health problems.
"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." ~ Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning (page 136, How Can You Not Laugh at a Time Like This?)
I was surprised to read in Chapter 3, subheading "Cut the Cheese", (referencing Levine in More About Allergy and Addiction) that foods and items you crave are actually allergens for your body! Imagine being allergic to chocolate! (that would be my number 1 crave, by the way). Could it be that the craving we feel is actually an allergic reaction?
From never let them stick a needle twice, to writing on yourself with permanent marker prior to surgery so the surgeon is sure to get it right!, to refusing suggested testing and treatments when the possible complications can be just as bad or worse than the actual disease/problem being treated, How Can You NOT Laugh at a Time Like This? offers some very wise advice, often with some tongue-in-cheek. Carla recommends you research, ask questions, be in charge of your treatment and above all else keep a sense of humour!
And please, if you are visiting someone in the hospital or who is ill, read Chapter 1, Top Ten Things People Say to Someone Who's Just Been Diagnosed. You just may prevent the foot-in-mouth syndrome that we all dread! Like, "You don't look sick". How about countering that with, "You don't look insensitive. I guess appearances can be deceiving:)". There's a lot more where that came from. For a better idea, take a look at these chapter headings:
1 - It's Not as Fun as it Looks: Other People and Your Disease
2 - What's Up Doc? Surviving Health Care
3 - That's Inflammatory! What Not to Eat if you Have an Autoimmune Disease
4 - Well Duh! Science Proves Common Sense Right
5 - Rubber Chicken Soup: Keeping a Sense of Humour
6 - Take a Mind off Your Load: Expressing Yourself and Keeping it Positive
7 - I'd Like to Speak to the Owner of This Body: Moving Forward and Taking Responsibility
8 - The Early Bird Can Have the Worm: Pacing Yourself
9 - Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall. Who's the Oh, Never Mind Beauty
10-Mission Possible: Persistence
"Through humour, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it."~ Bill Cosby (page 108, How Can You NOT Laugh at a Time Like This?)
Rated 4/5
******Giveaway!!!!****** --Contest now closed--
JKS Communications is offering, via My Bookshelf, one copy of How Can You NOT Laugh at a Time Like This? to one reader! To enter, please leave a comment below. The winner will be chosen randomly, via Random.org. Contest closes closed September 9, 2011 at midnight, MST. The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address to receive their prize. Contest open to US and Canadian residents.
I could not be more excited to offer you a copy of ONLY TIME WILL TELL, the newest novel by Jeffrey Archer, best selling author of KANE AND ABEL, SONS OF FORTUNE, PRISONER OF BIRTH, FALSE IMPRESSION, PATHS OF GLORY and more. Readers world-wide have long agreed that Jeffrey Archer is a master of storytelling and ONLY TIME WILL TELL (On-sale in August in US & Canada) is truly Jeffrey Archer at his absolute best.
The first in an ambitious new series THE CLIFTON CHRONICLES, this novel tells the story of one family across generations, across oceans, from heartbreak to triumph and, in particular, the epic tale of Harry Clifton’s life—a classic story of good boy from humble beginnings trying to make his fortune in the world in the face of class differences and World Wars in 20th century London & New York City.
St. Martin's Press has generously offered TWO copies of Only Time Will Tell. Open to US and Canada. Please respond to this post with your name and email address to enter for a chance to win a copy! You don't have to be a follower to enter, but it would be nice! ;)
Contest open until August 15th! Closed.
***Review to come in August.***
Only Time Will Tell is also available as an audiobook from Macmillan Audio. Narrated by Roger Allam, who has narrated Jeffrey Archer's previous audiobooks, returns to give voice to Only Time Will Tell, adding an enormous excitement to what is already a thrill of a ride!
How would you like a chance to win one of three bestselling novels? The books are:
The Room by Emma Donoghue
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Midnight and the Meaning of Love by Sista Souljah
This is an exciting contest so I am helping to spread the word. Justvisit Lena Sledge's Blog... Books, Reviews and Interviews. Once there check out "The Room, The Help, Midnight and the Meaning of Love" Giveaway!!
Lena is joining a group of bloggers for this terrific giveaway! Check it out.
Enter to win a copy of Utopia Texas.
To enter, just leave a comment here and include your email and country. One book will be given away in Canada and one in USA.
Be sure to include email and country.(entries without may be disqualified)
Contest runs until midnight MST March 14, 2011. The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be announced Tuesday, March 15. Good luck everyone!
CONTEST CLOSED! CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS: Sidne, the BCR and Heather, Acting Balanced.
Love this Cover!!
In coordination with author Betty Byrd, My Bookshelf announces its first giveaway!! Ms. Byrd (meet the author here) and I are each offering a copy of her novel, Utopia Texas.
"Author Betty Byrd has seen it all-including drilling her very own oil well! She now brings her unique vision and experience to Utopia Texas, a riveting tale of Brya Harrison, a woman created by chance and circumstance. Part gambler, part geologist, Brya knows that in the West Texas oil country upbringing may not matter, but status is everything. She has worked hard to secure her position, but she finds her plans unravel when she discovers that her daughter, Olivia, is somehow "different," and is forced to face the unfathomable--one startling revelation at a time. Drawn into a maelstrom of events fueled by her daughter's indiscretions, Brya sets out to cover each one up--whatever the cost. But will she be able to combat the demons plaguing her daughter as skillfully as she is able to face down her competition in the cutthroat world of big oil?
In this stunning follow-up to the author's debut novel, Trinity's Daughter, Betty Byrd has woven a brilliant tale of wealth, greed, love, and the pursuit of power--and how one particular woman holds her own in the male-dominated oil business." (read review here.)
We will choose 2 winners, one from Canada and one from the United States with the winners being selected by random.org.
To enter the contest, just comment below with your email and country (USA or Canada). Contest ends Monday, March 14 at midnight MST.
Please note: my copy has not been autographed but the other copy will be signed by the author!!
For extra entries, do the following:
Follow me with Google Friend Connect (+1)
Follow me on Networked Blogs (+1)
A separate comment verifying each of the above is necessary to be counted.
Winners will be contacted by email to get your physical mailing address. Good luck everyone!
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly book meme where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. I love this meme!!
This last week I started and finished two books, one of which was a non-fiction business/leadership title. First off was Utopia Texas (see the giveaway above!!!) by Betty Byrd. This novel was part of a virtual book tour.
Second I read Engage, Commit, Grow! by Larry Smith. A dynamic must read for everyone in business. Whether you are the owner, manager, or supervisor, you will wish you had read this years ago!! 25 years of facilitating productivity and growth in various companies has been compiled into this guidebook. Bottom line: "How your employees behave is a critical ingredient. How you lead determines how they behave."
This week I am reading our bookclub read (since I had no time to last week), At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon. The rest of the week I will play be ear. Hopefully I can accomplish more but I am thinking it's going to be one of those weeks. Ever have those?
Please take a moment to share what you're reading and your previous week in the comments or leave a link to your post! Don't forget to link up with Sheila at Book Journey.
Have a great week everyone and good luck!!! REMEMBER: IF YOU ARE ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL AND COUNTRY (USA OR CANADA) TO BE COUNTED. IF YOU ARE COMMENTING ON THE "IT'S MONDAY, WHAT ARE YOU READING MEME", AND DON'T INCLUDE THE OTHER INFORMATION, MIGHT I ASSUME YOU ARE NOT ENTERING THE CONTEST? CONTEST LINK WILL BE UP TOMORROW AND EACH DAY FOR THE NEXT WEEK.
