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Congratulations to Dobie whose name was the first drawn for our July Free Books, and to Deb Van Effen whose name was drawn second.   Dobie you have the choice of  our July books: WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS by Christa Allan or GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrow.   

I’ll be posting about our August Free Books on August 3.  We have a couple of great books lined up to give away.  Be sure to post so your name is in the drawing at the end of the month! 

Blessings!  Sue

Our give-away books for July 2010 are two novels that I absolutely fell in love with.  (Yeah, I know it’s supposed to be “with which I absolutely fell in love”, but when it comes to love, grammar sometimes goes by the wayside!)  They are….

WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS by Christa Allan

                                          and

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. 

Cover blurbs:

WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS:  Leah Thornton’s life, like her Southern Living home, has great curb appeal.  But a paralyzing encounter with a can of frozen apple juice in the supermarket shatters the facade, forcing her to admit that all is not as it appears.  When her best friend gets in Leah’s face about her refusal to deal with her life, Lean is forced to make a decision.  Can this brand-conscious socialite walk away from the country club into 28 days of rehab?  Can she leave what she has now to gain back what she needs?

Sue’s Take:  This beautifully lyrical book exudes a rare combination of humor, angst, and tough love.  The true-to-life characters will totally steal your heart.  (New, trade paperback format)

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY:  January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject.  Who could image that she would find it in a letter from a man she’d never met, a native of Guernsey, a British island once occupied by the Nazis.

Sue’s Take:  You will fall in love with Juliet and with the very special people of Guernsey who survived great loss during the Nazi occupation.  Written as a series of letters, this novel is also highly lyrical.  (New, hardcover bookclub edition) 

To qualify for the July 28th drawing please tell us your favorite summer veggie or fruit.  For me, it’s raspberries just picked and still warm from the sun!

When you post, your name will be entered in our drawing.  If your name is drawn first, you will have your choice of the books.  The second name drawn will receive the other book.  So tell us, what’s your favorite summer fruit or vegetable?

Blessings!  Sue

Congratulations to Anna and Dobie! You are our free book winners for the month of June 2010. Anna’s name was drawn first, so she has the choice of either CRUEL AS THE GRAVE, a mystery set in England in 1193, written by Sharon Kay Penman, or NEW YORK, an historical saga written by Edward Rutherfurd. Dobie will receive the other book. Anna, please email me with your choice and your preferred shipping address. Dobie, I’ll let you know which book you will receive.

Blessings to you both! Sue

I’m sorry that my Free Book Post is so late this month.  It’s been a busy time, with something almost every night at the school where my husband is principal.  This time of year is always hectic, but also lots of fun. 

Okay, free books!  This month I thought it might be appropriate to tie our drawing into vacation dreams.  Please note, these are ONLY dreams.  I’m NOT giving away a free vacation.  (I wish I could!)

If you had the choice among these three vacations (All expenses paid), which would you choose?

1) A 7-day cruise to Alaska: glaciers, whale watching, spa package, stops to shop at wonderful little seaside villages with stores full of Native crafts -  AND a large veranda suite.

2) A week in the Big Apple: a deluxe hotel suite, three Broadway musicals, a carriage ride around Central Park, shopping, museums, sightseeing tours, lunch at Bubba Gumps on Broadway…

3) Six nights, seven days in England: a 5-star Hotel Suite in London, sightseeing, shopping, changing of the guard, quaint little pubs, bookstores, antique stores (sigh!).   

Our pretend vacations include all meals, First Class Air and $1000 spending money.  (We’re dreaming, right?  Dream big!)

Now, in the spirit of Emily Dickinson’s famous quote, “There is no frigate like a book,”  here’s a little bit about the journeys you MAY make – all expenses paid – via the words of two great books. 

CRUEL AS THE GRAVE is a Sharon Kay Penman mystery set in 12th-century London.  Solve a murder with Sharon’s super-sleuth Justin de Quincy.  NEW YORK is a novel by Edward Rutherfurd.  You will visit the changing vistas of New York City as Rutherfurd skillfully guides your journey from 1664 through 2009.  Both books are brand new.  NEW YORK is a hardcover book club edition.  CRUEL AS THE GRAVE is a hardcover publisher’s edition.

Post your choice of vacation and maybe you’ll win a journey via the magic of words to New York or London!  The drawing will be held on Monday, June 28.  I will notify the winners with a Post on this Blog and also by email.  I will send the books to the winners via USPS Book Rate.

Blessings! Sue

Congratulations to Dobie and Suzette! You are our May 2010 Book Winners! Dobie’s name was drawn first, so she gets the first choice between DEWEY by Vicki Myron, a memoir about the famous “Library Cat,” and Terri Blackstock’s novel, LINE OF DUTY.  Happy Reading!  Next month, more free books!

I hope you’ll post your favorite flower, flowering shrub or tree to be eligible to win one of our May Free Books!  You are eligible to post even if you are a previous winner. 

This month’s books include LINE OF DUTY by Terri Blackstock.  LINE OF DUTY is an inspirational thriller.  Here’s a quote from the back cover:

“Attorney Jill Nichols was on the top floor, taking a deposition from CEO Donald Merritt for a case of corporate stock fraud.  Directly below them on the twenty-ninth floor, Merritt’s assistant was about to discover the explosive device in time to alert the building – but not to empty it.”

I think you’ll enjoy this rollercoaster ride of a novel from author Terri Blackstock.  Blackstock was chosen the number one bestselling Christian suspense author in 2002.  This book is from my library, is a gently used trade paperback and in like-new condition.

May’s other book is DEWEY by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter.  This is a memoir of “the small-town library cat who touched the world.”  From the jacket flap: “How much of an impact can an animal have?  How many lives can one cat touch?  How is it possible for an abandoned kitten to transform a small library, save a classic American town, and eventually become famous around the world?  You can’t even begin to answer those questions until you hear the charming story of Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa.

This book is also from my library, is a gently used hardcover edition in like-new condition

Both books are great reads!  Good luck! 

Blessings!  Sue

Hope you will post for a chance to win one of May’s free books. They are LINE OF DUTY, an inspirational thriller by Terri Blackstock; and DEWEY, a memoir about the small town library cat who touched the world, by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter. More about each book next week. The drawing will be on Thursday, May 27.

Post by telling me your favorite kind of flower or flowering shrub/tree! Mine is the lilac.

Blessings! Sue

Congratulations to Meghan and Susan Hutchinson our April book winners. Meghan’s name was drawn first, so she will have her pick of the two books. Would you both please email me at sue@sueharrison.com.

Thank you!
Sue

This month our free books are for children.  You are eligible for the drawing on Monday, April 26, if you post and let us know one of your favorite children’s books.

Our first April Free Book is for children ages 3 – 5.  The title is BUSY FRIENDS by Constance Allen.  It is a large hardcover  “Discovery Book” full of all your favorite Sesame Street characters.   Here’s a publisher’s blurb .

“Inside, kids will find two stories featuring action-packed scenes and fun interactive elements like flaps, pull-tabs, and more!  Engaging activites on every page include early learning concepts like colors and counting.”

Our second April Free Book is actually two books from the “First Questions and Answers” series.  They are  paperback books (approx. 8″x12″), 32 pages each.  They are appropriate for ages 4 (advanced) to 8.  The book titles are WHY DID KNIGHTS FIGHT? and WHY DID PIRATES BURY TREASURE? both by Miles Kelly and illustrated by a variety of artists.  Each book is full of questions and very interesting and enlightening answers about the subject - in this case, knights and pirates.   Even adults will find the information included very educational.   (At least I did.)

All the April Free Books are brand new. 

Well, let me know your favorite children’s book or books.  My all-time favorite is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS.  What’s yours?

Congratulations to Stephanie and to Debbie Colwell! You are the March free book winners. Stephanie’s name was drawn first, so she gets first pick. Both of you please email me at sue@sueharrison.com. Stephanie, let me know which book you prefer – WATER FOR ELEPHANTS or EXPOSURE. Congratulations!

For all our Blog readers, I will post the April free books during the first full week of April. Be sure to check in and see our April choices.

Blessings-
Sue