Be Happy! :)

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving day from our home to yours and ...

... may we continue to remember and be grateful for our bountiful blessings ...

"I do not think of all the misery, but of the glory that remains. Go outside into the fields, nature and the sun, go out and seek happiness in yourself and in God. Think of the beauty that again and again discharges itself within and without you and be happy."
- Anne Frank

Review & Giveaway: All Fall Down by Julie Coulter Bellon

Welcome to my stop in this blog tour. I want to thank Lexie @The Book Bug for hosting this tour and of course author, Ms Julie Coulter Bellon, for providing me a signed paperback copy of her book to read and review. 

After reading my review, I invite you to stop by the Tour Page for other participants in this tour, for author links and profile, and full giveaway details ..Ms Bellon is generously offering 7 giveaways!!

My Review

All Fall Down by Julie Coulter Bellon, AF, 2012, 211p, rating=3.5
Source: provided by author for review

Purchase:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Ring around the rosy, a pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes we all fall down . . .

That simple rhyme turns negotiator Claire Michaels’ current hostage situation into an international incident. Claire just wants to help get everyone out safely, but as the crisis escalates she realizes she’s dealing with an al-Qaeda operative who has the means to become another bin Laden---with the potential to attack America. Claire has her own personal reasons for wanting to stop al-Qaeda, but time is slipping away as negotiations break down. Can she overcome her scars of the past in order to get the hostage out alive and possibly stop an assault on U.S. national security?

Navy SEAL Rafe Kelly is on leave to recover from a knee injury he suffered during his tour in Afghanistan and he doesn’t expect to be fighting terrorists on his home turf. But when he is taken hostage and his brother is kidnapped, Rafe teams up with a hostage negotiator in order to stay alive and get his brother back. The terrorist is always one step ahead of them, however, and the situation quickly turns from desperate to deadly. Will Rafe be able to save himself and his country without anyone he loves getting caught in the crossfire?

This book was a quick and entertaining read.  The suspense was palpable from the very beginning and continued to build as the story unfolded.  Claire and Rafe's ominous adventures kept coming and that made for an action packed journey to the end.  The surprising twists were fun to get to as well.

I really liked the storyline.  I also liked the many themes to grasp (aside from the obvious, terrorist and romance) such as father-child relationship, placing more importance on work than family time, dealing with loss, lasting friendship, drug addiction, loyalty, trust, and so on.  But because there were much explored, I felt that overall depth was in shortage.  I also felt that the ending was wrapped up too quickly and neatly.  Still, this is a good, clean romantic thriller go-to book.  One that might spice up the usual beach read experience.

Giveaway

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"Open Adoption, Open Heart"

Welcome to my stop in this blog tour.  I want to thank Kathy @I Am A Reader, Not A Writer for hosting this tour and of course author, Mr. Russell Elkins, for giving me the opportunity to read and review his book.

Please stop by the Tour Page for other participants in this tour, to view the book trailer, and for author links and profile. 

As a thank you for stopping by the tour, the author is giving away a chance to win $25 Amazon GC or Paypal Cash (same giveaway for all tour stops).  See below for details.  Good luck!

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by Russell Elkins, NF, 2012, 83p, rating=4
Source: provided by author thru tour host for review

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kindle | Website

The world of adoption has changed dramatically over the past twenty years. No longer do biological parents have to say goodbye to their child forever. They now have more options when deciding the type of adoption to pursue, such as open adoption. Open adoption creates the opportunity for a special relationship between biological parents, the adoptive parents, and the child.

Open Adoption, Open Heart is an inspiring and true story, which takes the reader deeper into the feelings and emotions experienced by adoptive parents. As you read this incredible story, you will experience the joys, difficulties, and amazing victories facing adoptive couples. Russell and his wife, Jammie, invite you to share in their inspiring and heartwarming journey.

Old school adoption meant that there were no interactions between the birthmother and the adoptive parents.  All information and relationships were confidential and closed.  Nowadays, many have turned to the open adoption process, where the biological and adoptive families can share in varying forms of contact (eg. mail, photo exchange, face-to-face visits).  Obviously, this book accounts a journey in open adoption. 

Seeing myself in an old school of thought, I would be uncomfortable and perhaps even skeptical that such openness can truly work.  I can imagine all sorts of unsettling emotions that this free passage might bring.  Well, I don't have to imagine them.  Mr. Elkins laid it all out.  All the frustrations, anxiety, fears, heartaches, and joys of this kind of adoptive process was related.  He was able to communicate candidly that it was not an easy road but certainly had its rewards as well.  More importantly, Mr. Elkins didn't claim that all open adoptions have the same outcome.  He merely told his true story and thereby provide information and also might invoke an inspiration of hope to someone contemplating open adoption. 

I caught something else important from the author's telling of the story.  I like that he involved the biological family's responses (and even friends and acquaintance for that matter) thus-so giving me a sense of a more well rounded account.  This then got me as a reader invested in the story to seeing it through.  I wouldn't say the writing was of high quality literary form, but it certainly was sincere and captivating. 

A definite recommendation to those seeking information or perception of open adoption.  Noting that it is best explained from someone who has gone through it.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway
Open to anyone 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'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.

Gratitude Giveaways Hop

Welcome to the 3rd annual giveaway blog hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer (thanks Kathy!).  Here's a hop that gives an opportunity for bloggers to thank their followers. 

I want to sincerely give my gratitude to all my followers.  It has been a sluggish reading and blogging year for me but you've stuck by me.  Thank you for your continued support!  I really appreciate it. 

I also want to take this time to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.  May you be surrounded with love ones and yummy food!! :)

I'm giving away two Kindle ebooks using Amazon's "Give as a Gift" method, which means that I will purchase the ebooks and Amazon will deliver it to the winners' Kindle or other device (go HERE for the reading app).  Yeap, there will be TWO winners (one ebook per winner).  And since this is a gratitude hop for followers, you must be a direct follower of this blog (GFC, Linky, RSS, email, subscription).  You must also be at least 13 years old and fill out the giveaway form below.  Winners will be chosen (using Random.org) within three days post contest and notified via email.  They will then have 72hrs to reply.  Contest ends 11/24/12, 9pm PST.

Here are the ebooks you may choose from (may there be at least one you are interested in):

Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship byTom Ryan

Insignia (Insignia, #1) byS.J. Kincaid

Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal byConor Grennan

Love Story byJanine Boissard

Only Time Will Tell byJeffrey Archer

She Wore Only White byDörthe Binkert

The Song of Achilles byMadeline Miller

Stork (Stork, #1) byWendy Delsol

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature byJoyce Sidman, Beth Krommes

The Thank You Economy byGary Vaynerchuk

Now head on over HERE for the list of over 200 participants in this hop and again, thank you for your support!!  ~Happy hopping!!

Kindle Ebook Freebie Alert: Torn Souls by Crystal Cattabriga

It's Zack and Ema's birthday today (author's children) and in their honor, Ms Cattabriga is offering her book FREE today!  ~Be sure to stop by her Facebook Page to thank her and wish her kids a happy birthday.  :)

This book is dedicated to all the children who have lost their lives from being bullied and the one who will find the strength and courage to continue on.....
The unspeakable acts of bulling can destroy a life. So many children are affected in the world and together we can make a difference. Let’s be the change we want to see in the world.

Julia Stone’s life has been turned upside down ever since her parents decided to move out of the country and into the city. The life she knew was gone and starting over was something she wasn’t prepared for. The thought of a new school, new teachers and even new friends was terrifying, but after a few weeks things didn’t seem all that bad. Julia had met a boy and his name was Alex. He wasn’t a jock, he wasn’t even the smartest kid in school, but he was nice and he made her laugh. Alex and Julia hung out all the time, eventually becoming best friends. They even made a pact never to keep secrets from each other, but for Julia it was harder than she thought. She had a secret that was destroying the very cord of her soul. Her life as a teenager was being ripped apart by the kids in her school. Julia was being bullied mentally and physically. The thought of going through the next three years in high school being bullied continuously wasn’t something she was prepared to do. The choice was simple, and she wasn’t about to do it alone. (Goodreads)

"Jeremy's Christmas Journey"

Welcome to my stop in this blog tour.  I would like to thank Lexie @The Book Bug for hosting this blog tour.  I am also grateful to Mr. Scott Johnson for his generous gift of providing me an ebook copy of this book and a link to the music CD slide show.

Please stop by the Tour Page for other participants in this tour, for special details such as a link to sample the music, book trailer, etc., and of course for a giveaway ..a chance to win a copy of the book and music CD!

 

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by Scott A. Johnson, AF, 2012, review ebook copy, 120p, rating=4
Source: provided by author for review

For Jeremy, Christmas is just another reminder that he'll never be able to enjoy the things that come so easily to other children. Then one night he has a dream that will change everything. Accompanied by stirring music, this story of finding faith and discovering the power of the Master Healer is sure to be cherished at Christmastime and all year long.

CD of music also available. (Goodreads)

Christmas is around the corner and this book along with the accompanying music CD can put you in the true spirit of the season ..Christ! 

It's easy to throw a personal pity-party when life throws you a hard curve ball.  It also provides one a time to question god's logic in having bad things happen to good people.  This happened to young Jeremy.  See, Jeremy was a victim of a car accident caused by a drunk driver that left him confined to a wheelchair.  His parents were grateful to god that he survived and deemed the sparing of Jeremy's life as a miracle.  However, this special season caused Jeremy to understandably dwell on his negative situation.  For example, he will surely receive presents that would remind him that he could not ride a bike, play football, play in the snow, and so on.  The family tradition of reading the Christmas story from the bible was the last straw.  Jeremy doubted that the Son of god would come to earth in such low circumstances and so he questioned Christ's existence and purpose. 

Sometimes it takes other's heartfelt testimonies to find our own.  Jeremy's dream that Christmas eve did that for him.  He dreamt that Jesus Christ was on trial for claiming to be the Messiah and Savior of the world.  Several witnesses then willingly comes forward to testify of Christ's divinity.  We hear from Jesus's family, Mary, his mother, and James, his brother.  We also hear from recipients of Christ's healing powers, Bartimaeus and Lazarus.  Then finally to those that witnessed Christ's kindness, Woman Known as a Sinner and a Roman Soldier.  Upon waking up from the dream, do you suppose Jeremy felt a change of heart?  Did the witnesses' testimonial stir an agreement with him and he too can now declare an attestation of Christ?  You'll have to read the book to find out!

Jeremy's Christmas Journey coupled with the companion music CD is a special Christmas treat.  Your heart will thank you for reading it.

FYI: Each testimonials, including Jeremy's, followed with a song. Hence, the music CD serves as enhancement. Check YouTube for samples.

Kindle Ebook Freebie Alert: Crossroads by Mary Ting

I just came across this a little while ago. Hurry, I don't know when this ends!  Maybe at midnight?  Maybe not?  So again, chop-chop, wiki-wiki!!  :)

Go HERE.

Claudia Emerson has a good friend who shares the same first name and last name. That friend unfortunately dies in a tragic accident during homecoming dance. Claudia is distraught at the loss of her friend, but is even more disturbed by her dreams, which seem to take her to another place called Crossroads. Unknown to her, Crossroads is like a second heaven, a place between heaven and earth. It is where the souls of humans in comas or near death experiences may wander.
There, Claudia meets Michael, a nephilim, a half angel, half human, whom she often meets in her dreams. It turns out that this isn’t her first visit to Crossroads, which is an enigma for no human can ever travel there until Claudia. Now the fallen and demons are after her, suspecting she must be special and it is up to Michael and the other nephilims to protect her.
Can Michael fight his growing feelings for Claudia and protect her as a guardian angel should? The answer awaits you! Follow the exciting path to Crossroads! (Goodreads)