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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Giveaway Winners!

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway for Denise's Daily Dozen by Denise Austin! The randomizer has spoken and the following 5 people have each won a copy of this book!

rcnmail

nfmgirl

Emily

Betty Mc

MaryBeth I

You have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail or another winner will be selected!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Review: The Sign for Drowning by Rachel Stolzman

The Sign for Drowning: A Novel by Rachel Stolzman

Genre: General Fiction
ISBN: 9781590307205
193 pages My Rating: 4 stars Meets the following challenges:2010 100+ Reading Challenge2010 Reading From My Shelves Project

Synopsis:

Anna has grown up haunted by her younger sister's death. In the life she constructs as a barrier against the emotional wreckage of her family tragedy, Anna settles comfortably into a career as a teacher of deaf children. But a challenge arrives--in the form of a young girl. Adrea's disarming vulnerability and obvious need for love offer Anna the possibility of reconnecting with the world around her--if she has the courage to open her heart.

In this debut novel, Rachel Stolzman has crafted a moving and poetic witness to love's power to transcend grief, pain, and the constraints of human language. The Sign for Drowning is a poignant story of loss and the unexpected occasions of grace that enable us to heal from it and grow beyond it.

My Thoughts:

This is a wonderful story of loss and love centered around Anna and her adopted child, Adrea, who is deaf. Anna witnessed the accidental drowning of her 5 year old sister, Megan, when she was just 8 years old. Although her family remained intact, Anna and her parents have never fully recovered from the loss. After the drowning, Anna and her parents begin to drift apart, each grieving, but splintered as a family. In order to try to communicate with Megan, Anna begins studying American Sign Language. She grows into an adult and becomes a teacher for hearing-impaired children.

The story is told from Anna’s POV as an adult and her path to healing through the adoption of Adrea, a child who is deaf. The author intersperses snippets of the past to give us a better sense of Anna and who she is in the present and how she came to be where she is. We also learn how Adrea came into her life. There are many beautiful moments in the story between Adrea and Anna that will bring tears to your eyes. The author is able to capture the raw emotions of Anna as she tries to understand and come to terms with the loss of her sister through the adoption and mothering of Adrea.

This is a beautifully written story and a quick read at only 193 pages, but it’s very raw and emotional. I recommend it highly.

Other blogger reviews:

StephTheBookworm

Giveaway Winner!

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Thanks to everyone who entered this contest!

The winner is:

Piroska B.

Congratulations! You have 48 hours to respond to my winner notification e-mail through contestmachine.com or another winner will be selected!!

Friday, February 5, 2010

2010 Blog Improvement Project - Task 1

I've decided to join the 2010 Blog Improvement Project! I'm so excited to exchange ideas with other bloggers and make our blogs even greater than they already are!!

Come join the 2010 BIP!

The Week 1 task has been posted!

Week 1: Create a Blogging To-Do List

I’ve been mulling over some things I’d like to do to make my blog more user-friendly. Specifically, I would like to:

REVIEWS:

Be able to search my reviews by author name, my star rating, and/or book title (maybe a drop-down menu?)

TAGGING:

Tag all reviews with author name

Tag all reviews with book genre

Tag all reviews with star rating

NAVIGATION:

Create a menu bar to navigate the blog easier (include links to: About Me, Reviews, Giveaways, others?)

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Integrate Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, others?)

Add an RSS subscription link

CONTENT:

Content other than reviews and memes - still thinking about this!

COMMENTING:

Commenting - more integration and conversation with my readers, i.e. commenting on comments

DESIGN:

Finalize new design with designer (so excited!!).

Since YOU are the readers, is there anything you can think of that would make my blog more appealing or reader-friendly? Is there any specific content you would like to see (or see more of?)? Is there anything here that you DON'T like?? Please be honest - I can take it! LOL It's the only way to get better!!

I'm sure this post will be updated constantly as I think of more things! I'll be reviewing other blogs and adding links here so you can view sites that I like (there are so many!).

Thanks for reading and visiting me today!!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

I’m SO Excited!! I got my Nook!

My NOOK came today!! I’m bouncing up and down with excitement!! What book should I get first?! Leave me a suggestion in the comments below! I’ll let you know what I think after I play with it some more!! Yahoooo!! :)

“Waiting On” Wednesday: February 3, 2010

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection this week is:

Second Time Around: A Novel by Beth Kendrick

Publication Date: March 30, 2010

Book Description:

“Every summer, four college friends hold a mini-reunion. They laugh, reminisce, and commiserate about their soul-sucking jobs. Maybe they should have listened to everyone who warned them to study something “practical.”

Then an unexpected windfall arrives—one million dollars, to be exact—with the stipulation that they use it to jump-start their new careers. Almost overnight, a professor, a bartender, a copywriter, and an administrative assistant reinvent themselves as a novelist, an event planner, a pastry chef, and a bed-and-breakfast owner. But the changes in their professional roles create unexpected turbulence in their personal lives, and soon the secrets and scandals from their past start to resurface.

For anyone who has ever wondered “What if?,” this engaging novel provides a sweet, funny look at friendship, romance, and second chances. “

I love Beth Kendrick’s novels and I’m looking forward to her newest release! What is your “Waiting On” pick this week?

Blog Tour and Author Guest Post: Searching for Tina Turner by Jacqueline Luckett

Searching for Tina Turner by Jacqueline Luckett

Synopsis:

For any woman who has questioned the direction of their lives or wanted to make a change: SEARCHING FOR TINA TURNER is for you.

On the surface, Lena Spencer appears to have it all. She and her wealthy husband Randall have two wonderful children, and they live a life of luxury. In reality, however, Lena finds that happiness is elusive. Randall is emotionally distant, her son has developed a drug habit, and her daughter is disgusted by her mother's "overbearing behavior." When Randall decides that he's had enough of marriage counseling, he offers his wife an ultimatum: "Be grateful for all I've done for you or leave." Lena, realizing that money can't solve her problems and that her husband is no longer the man she married, decides to choose the latter.

Guest Post from author, Jacqueline Luckett:

Where did the title of the book come from?

“Typically, I’m not good with titles—either remembering them or thinking them up. In an early draft, I named chapters after song titles, but only a few were Tina Turner’s. I thought it would confuse readers to have such a powerful icon as inspiration, but to use other artist’s songs as chapter titles.

When I began writing this story of a woman on the verge of change, my working title was close to what I ended up with. Lena, the novel’s main character, is inspired by Tina Turner’s ability to move forward and claim her place in the world. There were various combinations, but my intention was always to include Miss Turner’s name. The title, Searching for Tina Turner, reflects Lena’s journey to self. I’m glad that my editor loved the title, and it stuck.

Tina Turner is a wonderful and vital woman. She’s a role model in so many ways, and I have great respect for her. I hope she regards the title as a tribute to her triumphs and accomplishments.”

Learn more about the book and author:
JacquelineLuckett.com
Jacqueline Luckett's blog
Jacqueline Luckett on Twitter
SEARCHING FOR TINA TURNER on Facebook
HachetteBookGroup.com page
Author article

Book trailer: