Book Review and Blog Tour: A Courtesan's Scandal by Julia London

Book Description
A COURTESAN'S SCANDAL is the third sexy and fast-paced historical romance in New York Times bestselling author Julia London's Scandalous Series in which London's most dignified duke falls for the courtesan who is intended for the decadent Prince of Wales.

My Review
A Courtesan's Scandal is a delicious, entertaining read. Kate is a beautiful courtesan with humble beginnings and a heart of gold. Grayson is a noble duke who carries the responsibilities of his rank and obeys the principles of his upbringing. There is no place for a woman like her in his life, and she knows all too well what men - noble or not - want from her.

The two clash from the beginning, when the Prince of Wales blackmails the duke into pretending Kate is his mistress. Neither Kate nor Grayson are thrilled with the ruse but they have to play along. Little by little, they get to know each other and discover that first impressions are deceiving. Kate and Grayson fall for each other but their relationship is impossible. Even a hint of an affair can destroy both of them, and affect everyone they care for. Will they find a way to be together? Read the book to find out!

A Courtesan's Scandal kept my attention through the last page, with delightful twists and turns to the story, smart repartees, intrigue and passion. If you are a fan of historical romance, you'd enjoy this read.

Visit the other blog tour stops:
Frugal Plus: http://frugalplus.com/
All About {n}: http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/
Rundpinne: http://www.rundpinne.blogspot.com/
Books Reviews by Buuklvr81: http://www.buuklvr81.blogspot.com
Book Soulmates: http://booksoulmates.blogspot.com/
I Read: http://sumanam.wordpress.com/
Starting Fresh: http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
Book Junkie: http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com/
Drey’s Library: http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
Keep on Booking: http://keeponbooking.blogspot.com
Readaholic: http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
My Reading Room: http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com
My Book Addiction and More: www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com
The Life (and Lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object: http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com/
Book Magic: http://bookmagic418.blogspot.com/
Seductive Musings: http://seductivemusings.blogspot.com/
Luxury Reading: http://www.luxuryreading.com/
The Eclectic Book Lover: http://www.eclecticbooklover.com/
My Own Little Corner of the World: http://molcotw.blogspot.com/
Cheeky Reads: http://cheekyreads.blogspot.com/
Poisoned Rationality: http://lastexilewords.blogspot.com
The Bibliophilic Book Blog: http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/
Entertainment Realm: http://entertainmentrealm.com/

Book Review and Blog Tour: A Courtesan's Scandal by Julia London

The Green Thirteen Blogging Event Starts Friday!

13

This Friday, November 13, I am launching my first blogging event. The Green Thirteen will be bringing to you awesome eco-friendly products. Many of them would make great gifts, and others would be just perfect to have around the house. I will be posting reviews and hosting giveaways, too!

Here is a sneak peak at some of the companies featured in Green Thirteen:

The Soft Landing
Happy Green Bee
Oompa Toys
Apericots
Marcal Small Steps
Tropical Traditions
Sage Green Organics
Ecostore
King Arthur Flour

... and more!

Start spreading the word about Green Thirteen by blogging, tweeting, facebooking, and posting about it on any social media venues you like! Then come back and comment below for extra entries in the Green Thirteen giveaways.

The Green Thirteen Blogging Event Starts Friday!

Blog Spotlight and Giveaways: Broken Teepee

Patty, the talented artisan who makes beautiful gemstone jewelry and yummy goat milk soaps, blogs at Broken Teepee. I must say I am in love with her jewelry. I have put the beautiful necklace you see in the picture on my wish list! She has generously provided a 20% discount code for the jewelry and 15% discount on the soaps to all my readers who make a purchase from her Etsy shops and mention Just Another New Blog in the notes to seller.   These discounts are valid until 11/22, so hurry and stock up on fabulous gifts. I am also hosting a giveaway for a set of 3 her soaps, winner's choice. Remember to enter by 11/22.

Patty is hosting several great giveaways this week. Visit her, show your support, and enter to win some goodies! Tell her Dina sent you ;-)

Progresso Prize Pack - ends 11/10

Tropical Traditions - coconut oil from Tropical Traditions ends 11/11

16 x 20 Rolled Canvas Print - sponsored by UPrinting ends 11/12

50 Custom Thank You Cards - sponsored by UPrinting ends 11/13

Butter Bell - sponsored by Butter Bell ends 11/23

Blog Spotlight and Giveaways: Broken Teepee

Weekend Winners!

Two giveaways closed last night, and the winners have been selected at random. Congratulations go to:

$30 GC to Broken Teepee Designs - #132 pish;

Rudi's Organic Bakery - #284 Anonymous who was the last person to enter this giveaway. It's never too late to be a winner!

Have you entered my other giveaways?

Autographed CD: Slice (11/11)
To Desire A Devil (11/13)
The Gate House (11/15)
It Happened One Night (11/15)
Audiobook: The Lovely Bones (11/18)
Audiobook: Hope for Animals and Their World (11/19)
Skin MD Natural (11/20)
Happy Goats Soap (11/22)

Weekend Winners!

Extra Entries for All Giveaways

I have decided to simplify my giveaway posts and list all chances for bonus entries in one place. Unless clearly stated otherwise in the giveaway post, here are the extra things you can do to increase your chances of winning:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway - you may do so daily, leave the link to your tweet;
• subscribe to my blog by e-mail and confirm your subscription;
• follow me publicly on Google Friends Connect;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on Networked Blogs;
• be my friend on Facebook;
• drop your Entrecard - mine is on the left sidebar;
• add my link to your blog roll;
• add my button to your sidebar;
• leave a relevant comment on any non-giveaway post;
  
• digg, stumble, facebook, technorati, etc. this blog and / or this giveaway - one entry for each;
• enter another one of my current giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

Extra Entries for All Giveaways

Guest Post, Giveaway and Blog Tour: Sins of the Flesh by Caridad Piñeiro (11/23)

I am delighted to participate in the blog tour for Caridad Piñeiro's exciting new book, Sins of the Flesh. Caridad has kindly agreed to share with my readers some thoughts on writing.

Guest Post by Caridad Piñeiro
One of the first adages that you’ll here if you’re an aspiring writer is “Write what you know.”  In part that means don’t try to write a romantic suspense if you’ve never read one in your entire life.  Understanding the reader expectations in a particular genre is key to being able to write a book that resonates with the readers of that genre.

But the other part of that adage applies to writing about what you as a person know.  If you’re going to be writing a book where the heroine is a nurse, you better either have personal knowledge of being a nurse or do your research so that whatever is in the book rings true.

When I started writing way back in the fifth grade, I’m pretty sure I broke that rule.  Our teacher had assigned us a class project – to write a book to be placed in a class lending library.  I went home and started writing.  Fiction, of course.  A romance without doubt now that I think about it.  The story revolved around a plane that goes down on a tropical island, leaving a number of survivors to face attacks from a group of people already on the island.  Hmm, kind of sounds like LOST doesn’t it?  I had never been on a tropical island and my only experience on a plane had been to leave Cuba at the age of three.

Needless to say, I realize now the many mistakes I made, but more important than all those mistakes was what I accomplished – I wrote a book.  120 pages from beginning to a happy resolution.

I also realized at that time that I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. Because I had been born in Cuba and my parents had a number of exciting adventures during the Cuban revolution, I decided to turn those into a story.  I didn’t know it yet, but I was doing the “Write what you know.”  When I was unable to sell that book, but was asked by an editor to write a contemporary story – one about the children of the heroes of that first book – I also wrote about what I knew, namely, the struggles of acclimating to a new country and maintaining the culture and traditions of my old.

Growing up in Levittown at that time, there were few Latinos.  Maybe two or three families in my immediate neighborhood and high school.  Outside of our homes we were just like everyone else.  We dressed like everyone else, spoke like everyone else and ate just like everyone else.  But inside of the walls of our home, our language and food were decidedly different.  And when we invited people into our home, they might have been curious about what they were being served, but they always embraced it heartily.  There might have been hostility at times beyond the walls of our home, but it was in general a wonderful experience in an amazing country.  There are few countries that welcome immigrants so readily and where in just a generation, success can be achieved through hard work.
 
Those lessons growing up in Levittown also became part of the novels I write – that experience of realizing your dreams while learning to balance the two cultures plus the desire to share that culture with others.
Luckily people have been receptive of that diversity.  They enjoy new and different things and because the issues of acceptance and wishing for a better life are universal, the stories resonate with them.
 
In SINS OF THE FLESH, I drew upon something else that I knew as a person – science.  I was a science major and always loved it.  In the years since graduating college, I had kept up on advances in certain areas that intrigued me.  That fascination worked itself into the plot for SINS OF THE FLESH, namely, the risks of genetically engineering human beings.  Just because we can do some things doesn’t mean that we should.  Of course, SINS also has a powerful romance element because the romantic I discovered in the fifth grade wants to see love overcome seemingly impossible odds.

Thanks for having me with you and thanks to everyone who dropped by!

Book Description
Caterina Shaw's days are numbered. Her only chance for survival is a highly experimental gene treatment-a risk she willingly takes. But now Caterina barely recognizes herself. She has new, terrifying powers, an exotic, arresting body-and she's been accused of a savage murder, sending her on the run.

Mick Carrera is a mercenary and an expert at capturing elusive, clever prey. Yet the woman he's hunting down is far from the vicious killer he's been told to expect: Caterina is wounded, vulnerable, and a startling mystery of medical science. Even more, she's a beautiful woman whose innocent sensuality tempts Mick to show her exactly how thrilling pleasure can be. The heat that builds between them is irresistible, but surrendering to it could kill them both . . . for a dangerous group is plotting its next move using Caterina as its deadly pawn.

The Giveaway

Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have the opportunity to give away FIVE copies of Sins of the Flesh!

To enter, let me know in a comment what was the last book you enjoyed reading.

You can do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 5 copies of Sins of the Flesh by Caridad Piñeiro at Just Another New Blog #Giveaway ends 11/23 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/ygflrx4" – you may do this once a day;
• subscribe to my blog by e-mail and confirm your subscription;
• be a follower;
• follow my blog on Networked Blogs;
• be my friend on Facebook;
• drop your Entrecard - see left sidebar;
  
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, technorati, etc. this giveaway - one entry for each;
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is November 23, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!

Visit the Other Blog Tour Participants:

http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com – Nov. 9 Review, Giveaway, and guest post.
www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com – Nov. 9 Review, Giveaway, and guest post
http://justanothernewblog.blogspot.com/ - Nov. 9 Giveaway and guest post
http://bridget3420.blogspot.com – Nov. 10 Review, Giveaway
http://abookbloggersdiary.blogspot.com/ - Nov. 10 Giveaway and guest post
http://reesspace.blogspot.com – Nov. 11 Review, Giveaway
http://booksoulmates.blogspot.com - Nov. 11 Review, Giveaway
http://www.mindingspot.blogspot.com – Nov. 12 Review, Giveaway, and guest blog
http://froggaritavillesbookcase.blogspot.com/ - Nov. 12 Review, Giveaway, and Q&A
http://parajunkee.blogspot.com – Nov. 13 Review, Giveaway
www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com - Nov. 16 Review, Giveaway
http://www.jmomfinds.amoores.com - Nov. 16 Giveaway and guest post
http://razloversbookblog.blogspot.com/ - Nov. 17 Review, Giveaway
http://confessionsofaromancebookaddict.wordpress.com/ - Nov. 18 Review, Giveaway, and Q&A
http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com/ - Nov. 19
www.cheekyreads.com - Nov. 19 Guest blog
http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com - Nov. 20 Review, giveaway, and Q&A
http://www.morbid-romantic.net - Nov. 20 Giveaway
http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/ - Nov. 21 Review, Giveaway
http://mandablogsabout.blogspot.com - Nov. 21 Review, Giveaway, and guest post
http://myoverstuffedbookshelf.blogspot.com/ - Nov. 22 Review, Giveaway
http://juniperrbreeeze.blogspot.com/ Nov. 22 Review

Guest Post, Giveaway and Blog Tour: Sins of the Flesh by Caridad Piñeiro (11/23)

Deal Alert: Livie & Luca's Latest Edition and 25% Off Sale for Two Days Only!

Remember my review and giveaway for the cutest kids' shoes from Livie & Luca? I just got word that Livie & Luca is having a 48 hour sale to celebrate the arrival of their last new Fall / Winter style for 2010. The Anya shoe, now available for purchase, is inspired by Russian nesting dolls and includes rich colors and detailing. The Anya is available in sizes 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. It comes in brown or pink, and I love both!

If you have been waiting for a great sale to stock up on these adorable shoes for your child, now is the time!
Enjoy 25% off of everything on Monday and Tuesday, November 9th and 10th, with coupon code nov09.

All sales final. No returns. This coupon code may not be used in combination with other discount promotions. Quantities may be limited.

Deal Alert: Livie & Luca's Latest Edition and 25% Off Sale for Two Days Only!

Listening to Michael Buble's Crazy Love

Have you heard Michael Buble's new album, Crazy Love, yet? I've been listening to it today, and love it! If you missed my review, go back here and read it.

Listening to Michael Buble's Crazy Love

Link Your Giveaways Saturday: 11/7 Edition

Are you giving away wonderful things this week? Link your giveaways in the MckLinky here, and check out everyone else's!

Here are the wonderful things you can win at my blog:

$30 GC to Broken Teepee Designs (11/8)
Rudi's Organic Bakery (11/8)
Autographed CD: Slice (11/11)
To Desire A Devil (11/13)
The Gate House (11/15)
It Happened One Night (11/15)
Audiobook: The Lovely Bones (11/18)
Audiobook: Hope for Animals and Their World (11/19)
Skin MD Natural (11/20)
Happy Goats Soap (11/22)

Link Your Giveaways Saturday: 11/7 Edition

Review: Brandi Carlile's Give Up The Ghost

I had not heard about Brandi Carlile until I received an opportunity to review her new album, courtesy of the One2One Network. Her voice sounded vaguely familiar - turns out many of her songs are featured on one of my favorite shows, Grey's Anatomy.

Brandi's new CD Give Up The Ghost was released on October 6 by Columbia Records. I received a download of this album, and have not stopped listening to it since! Brandi is a very talented artist, with a rich and expressive voice. Her lyrics are meaningful, and I found many lines in these songs that speak to me personally and seem to echo some of my own thoughts. I love the sound of the instrumentals, especially the guitar and piano. They are the perfect accompaniment to Brandi's vocals.

I enjoyed all the tracks in Give Up The Ghost, and it's hard to single out favorites. I absolutely love Dying Day, Pride and Joy, I Will, and Dreams. Caroline had me humming along and dancing with my kids. This album would make a great gift for any music lover on your list.
 
Here is the complete album tracklisting:
Looking Out
Dying Day
Pride And Joy
Dreams
That Year
Caroline
Before It Breaks
I Will
If There Was No You
Touching The Ground
Oh Dear

Find out more about Brandi Carlile and her music on her website, Facebook page, YouTube or MySpace.



* I received a complimentary download of this album, artist information and widget from the One2OneNetwork. Neither monetary nor other compensation was received or implied. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review: Brandi Carlile's Give Up The Ghost

Winners of Dee's DeeZigns, ValueRays Warm Mouse, and Nine Dragons

The winners of three more giveaways have been selected, courtesy of Random.org. Congratulations are in order for:

ValueRays® WARM Mouse: #67 mamawj (confirmed);

$20 GC to Dee's Deezigns: #178 pish (confirmed);

Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly: #140 Anonymous, #132 silverneon2000 (confirmed), #90 Paula Myers (confirmed), #96 Rebecca Graham (confirmed), and #9 Kathy (confirmed).

If you have not confirmed yet, please do check your inbox and e-mail me back with your contact info!

Remember to enter my current giveaways, and stay tuned for new ones coming up:

$30 GC to Broken Teepee Designs (11/8)
Rudi's Organic Bakery (11/8)
Autographed CD: Slice (11/11)
To Desire A Devil (11/13)
The Gate House (11/15)
It Happened One Night (11/15)
Audiobook: The Lovely Bones (11/18)
Audiobook: Hope for Animals and Their World (11/19)
Skin MD Natural (11/20)
Happy Goats Soap (11/22)

Link Your Giveaways Saturday

Winners of Dee's DeeZigns, ValueRays Warm Mouse, and Nine Dragons

Giveaway and Review: Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion (Ends 11/20)

I use moisturizers every day, and have been doing it for years. Day cream, night cream, hand cream, sunscreen, body lotion, lip moisturizer - all these are a consistent part of my beauty routine. I also have dry skin and wash my hands frequently. I keep lotions and hand creams everywhere: at home, in the car, in my purse. I've found some creams work better than others, and many just smell good but do not provide any moisturizing benefit.

I came across a new type of lotion by 21st Century Formulations called Skin MD Natural. It's called a shielding lotion, "a very special type of lotion helping the skin restore its integrity, enhance its protective functions so that the skin is able to heal naturally and regain its youthful appearance." I am neither a cosmetics expert nor a dermatologist, so I'll use the company's explanation of how this lotion works.

Skin MD Natural works by bonding with cells of the skin's outermost layer to form what works as an invisible shield. This layer of protection prevents environmental irritants and pollutants from penetrating the skin, while sealing in the skin's own natural oils and moisture, helping resolve the dry skin condition. Skin MD Natural uses only the finest natural ingredients, and is focused on urging the skin to be active, and to use its own moisture to effectively heal itself.

I like that Skin MD Natural is hypoallergenic and free of parabens, gluten, and fragrances. In addition, no animal products or testing are involved. I used both the regular lotion and the one with SPF 15. The lotions seems to work differently from other cosmetics I've tried. They are absorbed very quickly, and does not leave a residue on the surface of my skin.

The company recommends that the lotion is used every couple of hours at first, and once the moisture balance of the skin is restored, you can use it once every 12-24 hours. A tiny amount is all you need, so one 4 oz bottle should last a while. Right now, I use the SPF 15 lotion in the morning and the regular formula at night. I also use the lotions on my hands, and have noticed my skin is not as dry. I do not have access to dermatological testing, so I cannot render an opinion on the invisible shield but both of these lotions are excellent moisturizers. My hands feel soft and my face looks hydrated, without any greasy or sticky feeling. My skin seems to just drink up the lotions! I am very happy with the results.

The company has conducted some clinical trials you can read here. Doctor reviews are also available on the company's website.

Skin MD Natural is available online and at select pharmacies. Online, the regular Skin MD Natural shielding lotion costs $18 for a 4oz bottle, and the one with SPF 15 is $25. There are volume discounts, and you can buy an entire gallon of lotion! Since these lotions are pricier than most ordinary creams, I suggest that you take advantage of the company's offer to order a sample and see how the products work for you before you buy. For the cost of postage, you can receive either the regular lotion, the SPF version, or both. The company offers an unconditional guarantee with full purchase price refund if you are not satisfied with their products.

The Giveaway
You can win a 4 oz bottle of Skin MD Natural shielding lotion, courtesy of the company! You will have a choice between the regular lotion, or the one with SPF 15.

To enter, please visit Skin MD Natural website and comment below which product you would like to try and why.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• visit the store locator and tell me where you can buy Skin MD Natural lotions;
• follow @skinmdnatural on twitter;
  
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win Skin MD Natural shielding lotion #Giveaway @ Just Another New Blog Ends 11/20 @aitmama @skinmdnatural http://tinyurl.com/yhx7qmb" ;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• subscribe to my blog by e-mail and confirm your subscription;
• follow me on Google Friends Connect;
• follow me on Networked Blogs;
• be my friend on Facebook;
• drop your Entrecard - mine is on the left sidebar;
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, facebook, technorati, etc. this giveaway - one entry for each;
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is November 20, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open worldwide. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Good luck! 


* Apart from the two lotions, no compensation - monetary or in kind - has been received for this post.

Giveaway and Review: Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion (Ends 11/20)

Giveaway and Review: Goat Milk Soap from Happy Goats Soap (11/22)

I love yummy soaps. A few months ago, I discovered goat milk soap, and have been a big fan ever since. Compared to most commercially available soaps, soap made from goat milk is gentler on sensitive skin. According to research I found online, it is particularly beneficial to people suffering from allergies and skin conditions. Goat milk has the same pH as human skin.

I am not an expert on cosmetics but I know that soap made from goat milk feels great on my skin. I also use it with my daughter who is prone to eczema, and goat milk soap helps keep her skin moisturized.  

Recently, I tried the goat milk soap of Happy Goats Soap, an Etsy shop. Patty, the owner of Happy Goats Soap, has four goats and uses their milk to make soap. Patty lives in beautiful Western Montana. The goats eat weeds, hay and oats, plus "goat treats" at night, like apples and carrots. Patty uses the cold process method and all her soaps are made in small batches. She does not add any dyes to the soap, and any differences in color between batches are due to chemical reactions from the fragrance oils or essential oils she uses. As Patty says, her bars are not perfect like you find in the store but they are full of good stuff!

Many of Patty's soaps are shaped  like animals: chicks, penguins, cats, sea urchins, and so on. Other soaps bear the image of Pricilla, one of Patty's goats, or are shaped like a massage bar. Patty also makes traditional bars of three sizes: 3, 4 and 6 ounces.

I just have to mention some of the hilarious names Patty has picked for her soaps: Maaaaaaasssage Bar, The Chicks All Right with Pricilla (soap shaped like a chick), What Does a Penguin Have to do With a Goat Soap (soap shaped like a penguin) - these names will make you smile!

Patty sent me a sample of lavender soap and the unscented bar I picked for review. The unscented bar is shaped like a guinea pig and is one of Patty's massage bars. Besides goat milk, it also contains shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, olive oil, and apricot kernel oil to make a rich, delightful soap. These soaps are gentle on my skin and produce just the right amount of lather. The unscented soap has the slight aroma of goat milk, and the lavender sample smells wonderfully of - what else? - lavender.

Patty's soaps are priced between $4 and $6, depending on the size. She also has a weekend deal going on now: 4 oz bars 3/$11, 3 oz bars 3/$10, and 6 oz bars 3/$15.

Deal Alert
Happy Goats Soap is providing my readers a with a 15% discount code on all items in the store! All you need to do is mention Just Another New Blog in the notes to seller on Etsy. Valid until 11/22. These soaps would make great Christmas gifts!

The Giveaway
One lucky reader of Just Another New Blog will win their choice of a set of any 3 soaps from Happy Goats Soap!

To enter, please visit Patty's Etsy store and leave a comment below with your favorite three soaps.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• visit Patty's other store, Broken Teepee Designs, where she sells beautiful gemstone jewelry, and tell me your favorite item; 
• between now and 11/8, enter our giveaway for a $30 GC to Broken Teepee Designs and get 2 extra entries;
  
• follow Patty's blog; 
• follow Patty on twitter;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win a set of 3 goat milk soaps from Happy Goats Soap #Giveaway @ Just Another New Blog Ends 11/22 @aitmama @brokenteepee http://tinyurl.com/yz2gxb4" ;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• subscribe to my blog by e-mail and confirm your subscription;
• follow me on Google Friends Connect;
• follow me on Networked Blogs;
• be my friend on Facebook;
• drop your Entrecard - mine is on the left sidebar;
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, facebook, technorati, etc. this giveaway - one entry for each;
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is November 22, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. or Canada. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Good luck! 


* Apart from two soap samples, no compensation - monetary or in kind - has been received for this post. *

Giveaway and Review: Goat Milk Soap from Happy Goats Soap (11/22)

Audiobook Giveaway: Hope for Animals and Their World by Jane Goodall (Ends 11/19)

Book Description
At a time when animal species are becoming extinct on every continent and we are confronted with bad news about the environment nearly every day, Jane Goodall, one of the world's most renowned scientists, brings us inspiring news about the future of the animal kingdom. With the insatiable curiosity and conversational prose that have made her a bestselling author, Goodall-along with Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard-shares fascinating survival stories about the American Crocodile, the California Condor, the Black-Footed Ferret, and more; all formerly endangered species and species once on the verge of extinction whose populations are now being regenerated.

Interweaving her own first-hand experiences in the field with the compelling research of premier scientists, Goodall illuminates the heroic efforts of dedicated environmentalists and the truly critical need to protect the habitats of these beloved species. At once a celebration of the animal kingdom and a passionate call to arms, Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink presents an uplifting, hopeful message for the future of animal-human coexistence.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have the opportunity to host a giveaway for THREE audiobook copies of Hope for Animals and Their World by Jane Goodall!

To enter, let me know in a comment what was the last book you enjoyed reading.

You can do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 3 audiobooks of  Hope for Animals and Their World by Jane Goodall at JANB #Giveaway ends 11/19 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/ygvjkef" – you may do this once a day;
• subscribe to my blog by e-mail and confirm your subscription;
• be a follower on Google Friend Connect;
• follow my blog on Networked Blogs - see widget on my left sidebar;
• be my friend on Facebook;
• drop your Entrecard - see left sidebar;
  
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, technorati, etc. this giveaway - one entry for each;
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is November 19, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Three winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One audiobook per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!

Audiobook Giveaway: Hope for Animals and Their World by Jane Goodall (Ends 11/19)

Audiobook Giveaway: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (Ends 11/18)

Today, I have the pleasure to host a giveaway for a fascinating book - The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. The audiobook version is read by the author herself. In about a month from now, a movie based on this book is scheduled for release. Peter Jackson directs, and some of my favorite actors are starring: Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, and Saoirse Ronan (the only name that is unfamiliar to me). I plan to read The Lovely Bones before I watch the movie, and you should, too!

Book Description
Once in a generation a novel comes along that taps a vein of universal human experience, resonating with readers of all ages. The Lovely Bones is such a book - a #1 bestseller celebrated at once for its artistry, for its luminous clarity of emotion, and for its astonishing power to lay claim to the hearts of millions of readers around the world. Now in an audiobook edition read by the author, with movie tie-in art.

"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her -- her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling. Out of unspeakable tragedy and loss, The Lovely Bones succeeds, miraculously, in building a tale filled with hope, humor, suspense, even joy.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have the opportunity to host a giveaway for THREE audiobook copies of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold!

To enter, let me know in a comment what was the last book you enjoyed reading.

You can do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 3 audiobooks of  The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold at Just Another New Blog #Giveaway ends 11/18 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yh96dbr" – you may do this once a day;
• subscribe to my blog by e-mail and confirm your subscription;
• be a follower on Google Friend Connect;
• follow my blog on Networked Blogs - see widget on my left sidebar;
• be my friend on Facebook;
• drop your Entrecard - see left sidebar;
  
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, technorati, etc. this giveaway - one entry for each;
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is November 18, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Three winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One audiobook per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!

Audiobook Giveaway: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (Ends 11/18)

Blog Tour and Guest Post: A Note From An Old Acquaintance by Bill Walker

I am delighted to participate in the blog tour for Bill Walker's new book, A Note From An Old Acquaintance. Bill has graciously agreed to share some thoughts on writing.

Guest Post by Bill Walker
One of the most difficult aspects of writing, in my humble opinion, is dialogue. It is also one of the most important. In fact, I would wager that most people wouldn't care to read a book without it. So, how does one develop an ear for dialogue? After all, we hear people around us speak all day long, every day. Dialogue should be a snap, right? Wrong. In real life people speak in fragments that would look awful on the printed page and sound even worse in the reader's mind, and I'm not even counting if it makes sense or not. Your dialogue must serve the story and can't afford to waste time going off on tangents like all of us do in real life.

When I first endeavored to write professionally, while I could turn a decent descriptive phrase, or two, dialogue was my weak point, my Achilles heel, as it were. It sounded phony, stilted and wooden. No matter what I wrote, I hated the dialogue. And then I started using a technique that seems to work for me. I started casting my characters in my mind, using either real people, such as people I knew or famous actors and actresses, or simply vivid constructs, and assigned them voices and accents. I then deliberately imagined each scene as a little movie of the mind, to be played over and over again as I tried different lines of dialogue. Now, this may seem like a no-brainer, but this may not work for everyone. Because of my desire to be a filmmaker I tend to think cinematically.

Once you start doing this, and it will still take practice, the dialogue will flow more naturally, because you as the writer will inhabit the role of each character as you write them. In effect, you become the ultimate actor. One thing you should avoid, however, is too much dialect. While Mark Twain got away with it, modern readers don't want to wade through pages of words with strange and unique spellings. Instead of making your characters more vivid, you distract the reader, pulling them out of the story. And you NEVER want to do that, if you can help it.

Through my little cinematic technique you can use normal language, slanting a word or two, or using certain phrases unique to that character to make him or her sound Irish, for instance. They don't have to speak like the Lucky Charms leprechaun and in fact they shouldn't, unless you want to stray into the land of clichÈ. In any event, give my technique a try and see if it works for you.

Book Description: A Note From An Old Acquaintance
Brian Weller is a haunted man. It's been two years since the tragic accident that left his three-year-old son dead and his wife in an irreversible coma. A popular author of mega-selling thrillers, Brian's life has reached a crossroads: his new book is stalled, his wife's prognosis is dire, and he teeters on the brink of despair.

Everything changes the morning an e-mail arrives from Boston artist Joanna Richman. Her heartfelt note brings back all the poignant memories: the night their eyes met, the fiery passion of their short-lived affair, and the agonizing moment he was forced to leave Joanna forever. Now, fifteen years later, the guilt and anger threaten to overwhelm him. Vowing to make things right, Brian arranges a book-signing tour that will take him back to Boston. He is eager to see Joanna again, but remains unsure where their reunion will lead. One thing is certain: the forces that tore their love asunder will stop at nothing to keep them apart.

Filled with tender romance and taut suspense, A Note from an Old Acquaintance is an unforgettable story about fate, honor, and the power of true love.

Blog Tour and Guest Post: A Note From An Old Acquaintance by Bill Walker

Winners of Amazon GC and Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate

Two giveaways closed this past weekend, and the winners have been selected, courtesy of Random.org. Congratulations are in order for:

$15 Amazon GC from GotFreeCards.com: #197 Mari;

Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate: #54 mim.

Both have been notified and claimed their prizes.

Here are the other giveaways I am hosting - two are ending tonight!

$20 GC to Dee's DeeZigns (11/2)
Nine Dragons (11/2)
$30 GC to Broken Teepee Designs (11/8)
Rudi's Organic Bakery (11/8)
Autographed CD: Slice (11/11)
To Desire A Devil (11/13)
The Gate House (11/15)
It Happened One Night (11/15)

Winners of Amazon GC and Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate

Romance Giveaway: It Happened One Night by Lisa Dale (11/15)

Book Description
Sometimes love finds you when you least expect it.

Lana Biel has always wanted to shake the dust of Vermont off her feet and see the world, one exotic country after another. But when a lighthearted spring fling changes her life forever, she turns to the one man whose strong shoulders can lighten any burden: her best friend, Eli Ward.

Eli has always been there for Lana--after all, that's what best friends do. But Lana isn't the only one hiding something. Eli is keeping secrets of his own that threaten their relationship. Yet as summer turns to fall, new desires awaken between them, even as old fears tear them apart. Then, when another Vermont winter fills the valleys with snow, Eli and Lana are given the chance for an adventure greater than they ever dreamed possible...and a love that will last for all time.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have the opportunity to host a giveaway for FIVE copies of It Happened One Night  by Lisa Dale!

To enter, let me know in a comment what was the last book you enjoyed reading.

You can do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 5 copies of It Happened One Night  by Lisa Dale at Just Another New Blog #Giveaway ends 11/15 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/y9lfwca" – you may do this once a day;
• subscribe to my blog by e-mail and confirm your subscription;
• be a follower;
• follow my blog on Networked Blogs - see widget on my left sidebar;
• be my friend on Facebook;
• drop your Entrecard - see left sidebar;
  
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, technorati, etc. this giveaway - one entry for each;
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is November 15, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!

Romance Giveaway: It Happened One Night by Lisa Dale (11/15)

Giveaway: The Gate House by Nelson DeMille (11/15)

Book Description
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille delivers the long-awaited follow-up to his classic novel The Gold Coast. When John Sutter's aristocratic wife killed her mafia don lover, John left America and set out in his sailboat on a three-year journey around the world, eventually settling in London. Now, ten years later, he has come home to the Gold Coast, that stretch of land on the North Shore of Long Island that once held the greatest concentration of wealth and power in America, to attend the imminent funeral of an old family servant.

Nelson DeMille is also the author of Wild Fire, Night Fall, Up Country, The Lion's Game, Plum Island, The Charm School, Word of Honor, The Talbot Odyssey, Cathedral, and By the Rivers of Babylon. He lives on Long Island, New York.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have the opportunity to host a giveaway for FIVE copies of The Gate House by Nelson DeMille!

To enter, let me know in a comment what was the last book you enjoyed reading.

You can do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 5 copies of The Gate House by Nelson DeMille at Just Another New Blog #Giveaway ends 11/15 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/ygkwc2h" – you may do this once a day;
• subscribe to my blog by e-mail and confirm your subscription;
• be a follower;
• follow my blog on Networked Blogs - see widget on my left sidebar;
• be my friend on Facebook;
• drop your Entrecard - see left sidebar;
  
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, technorati, etc. this giveaway - one entry for each;
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is November 15, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!

Giveaway: The Gate House by Nelson DeMille (11/15)

Link Your Giveaways Saturday: 10/31 Edition

Are you giving stuff away this week? Link your giveaways here, and check out everyone else's!

Tropical Traditions' Coconut Cream Concentrate (10/31)
Warm Mouse (11/1)
$20 GC to Dee's DeeZigns (11/2)
Nine Dragons (11/2)
$30 GC to Broken Teepee Designs (11/8)
Rudi's Organic Bakery (11/8)
Autographed CD: Slice (11/11)
To Desire A Devil (11/13)
The Gate House (11/15)
It Happened One Night (11/15)

Link Your Giveaways Saturday: 10/31 Edition

Giveaway, Blog Tour and Q&A: To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt (11/13)

Interview with Elizabeth Hoyt
I am very excited to participate in the blog tour of Elizabeth Hoyt's new book, To Desire A Devil. She kindly agreed to answer a few questions, especially for the readers of Just Another New Blog.

Tell us in a few words about yourself.
Let’s see, I write historical romance (The Raven Prince, To Beguile a Beast and November’s To Desire a Devil, to name a few) and contemporary romance (Hot and For the Love of Pete.) I love to garden but my flower beds are usually in need of weeding. I sleep with two dogs, but that’s only because the third won’t fit on the bed (no matter what he thinks.) And I live in central Illinois with my two children and my husband.

You started writing in your mid-thirties. Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Nope. I spent my life up until my mid-thirties trying to figure out what I wanted to do (besides be a mother—that I always knew I wanted.) I thought about (in no particular order): Classical Archaeologist! (but I’m terrible at languages), Paleobotonist! (but I’d have to go back to school for a very long time) and Landscape Architect (but I figured that might be one of those jobs that sounded fun, but in fact involved lots of hard work.) Naturally that left Romance Novelist!

At sixteen, you were accidentally locked in the Ashmolean Museum, the oldest museum in the UK. Some time later, you met Mr. Hoyt on an archaeological dig. Are these the reasons why you chose to write historical romance?
Well, I’ve always been interested in history—hence the getting locked in the Ashmolean—but I write historical romance because that’s what I like to read and because my “voice” happens to be well-suited to it.

How do you research the historical period where your story takes place?
Mostly by reading. One of the problems of research is that you don’t always know what you’re looking for. If you have a specific question—when did tea become popular in England?—then you can just look it up. But when one is writing about a time period you need to know more nebulous things like: What was it like to live in Georgian England? You need to know atmosphere. So I usually have at least one research book on my bedside table that I read just for the little things I can pick up. Right now I’m reading The Diary of Samuel Pepys and Craze: Gin and Debauchery in the Age of Reason.

I also like studying pictures in museums and books. I have several books with William Hogarth prints that are endlessly fascinating.

In your books, you come up with your own fairy tales. Do you believe in happy endings?
Of course.

Are you a romantic at heart?
No. I’m a positive pragmatist. ;-)

Do you find inspiration in real life?
No. Real life is often too chaotic—sometimes things happen without rhyme or reason and no useful conclusions can be drawn. Humans don’t like meaningless chaos. A storyteller takes a series of events and brings meaning to them.

You also write contemporary romance under the name Julia Harper. Is it harder or easier to come up with ideas, compared to historical romance?
It’s about the same, I’m just thinking about different things. With my contemporaries, I usually come up with the plot first—the plots are very complicated and twisty. With my historicals I always think about the character of the hero and heroine first. Everything flows from their characters and how they interact.

Are you working on a new book, and what is it about?
Right now I’m finishing up the first book in a new trilogy. The book is Wicked Intentions and the trilogy is the Maiden Lane Series. Wicked Intentions is about a rakish lord, Lazarus Huntington, who is searching St. Giles for the murderer of his mistress. But since he doesn’t know the area, he seeks the help of Temperance Dews, a widow running a foundling home in St. Giles. Temperance makes a bargain with Lazarus: she’ll guide him around St. Giles if he will in turn take her into London society so that she can find a patron for her foundling home. But as they’re thrown together both Lazarus and Temperance find that each are hiding secrets.

Readers may also be interested in The Ice Princess, a free serial novella that I’ve posted on my website (www.elizabethhoyt.com) Each month in 2009 I’m writing a new chapter for The Ice Princess which is about Coral Smythe, who was the Aphrodite from The Raven Prince.


Thank you for interviewing me, Dina!

Thank you, Elizabeth! 

Book Description
Reynaud St. Aubyn has spent the last seven years in hellish captivity. Now half mad with fever he bursts into his ancestral home and demands his due. Can this wild-looking man truly be the last earl's heir, thought murdered by Indians years ago?

Beatrice Corning, the niece of the present earl, is a proper English miss. But she has a secret: No real man has ever excited her more than the handsome youth in the portrait in her uncle's home. Suddenly, that very man is here, in the flesh-and luring her into his bed.

Only Beatrice can see past Reynaud's savagery to the noble man inside. For his part, Reynaud is drawn to this lovely lady, even as he is suspicious of her loyalty to her uncle. But can Beatrice's love tame a man who will stop at nothing to regain his title-even if it means sacrificing her innocence?

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have the opportunity to give away FIVE copies of To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt!

To enter, let me know in a comment what was the last book you enjoyed reading.

You can do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 5 copies of To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt at Just Another New Blog #Giveaway ends 11/13 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yhfx8vs" – you may do this once a day;
• subscribe to my blog by e-mail and confirm your subscription;
• be a follower;
• follow my blog on Networked Blogs - see widget on my left sidebar;
• be my friend on Facebook;
• drop your Entrecard - see left sidebar;
  
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, technorati, etc. this giveaway - one entry for each;
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is November 13, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!

Remember to visit the other blogs participating in the tour:
http://myoverstuffedbookshelf.blogspot.com/ - Oct. 30 review and giveaway
http://reesspace.blogspot.com – Oct. 30 Review and Giveaway
www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com – Oct. 30 Review and Giveaway, Q&A
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/ - Oct. 31 Review, Q&A and Giveaway
http://froggaritavillesbookcase.blogspot.com – Nov. 1 Review and Giveaway
http://bridget3420.blogspot.com – Nov. 2 Review and Giveaway
http://www.readingwithmonie.com – Nov. 3 Q&A and Giveaway
http://imbookingit.wordpress.com/ - Nov. 4 Review and Giveaway
http://booksoulmates.blogspot.com – Nov. 4 Review and Giveaway, Q&A
http://ajourneyofbooks.blogspot.com – Nov. 4 Review and Giveaway, Q&A
http://www.findthetimetoread.blogspot.com – Nov. 4 Review and Giveaway
http://bookfan-mary.blogspot.com – Nov. 5 Review and Giveaway
http://seductivemusings.blogspot.com/ - Nov. 5 Review, Q&A and Giveaway
http://jmomfinds.amoores.com - Nov. 6 Q&A and Giveaway
www.libslibrary.blogspot.com – Nov. 6 Review and Giveaway
http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com – Nov. 6 Review and Giveaway
http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com - Nov. 6 Review and giveaway
http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com – Nov. 10 Review and Giveaway
http://booksoulmates.blogspot.com – Nov. 7 Review
http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/ - Nov. 7 Review and Giveaway
http://mandablogsabout.blogspot.com – Nov. 8 Review and Giveaway
www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com – Nov. 9 Review and Giveaway
http://annavivian.blogspot.com/ - Nov. 10 Review and Giveaway
http://www.morbid-romantic.net - Nov. 11 Review and Giveaway, Q&A
http://www.eclecticbooklover.com/ - Nov. 12 Review and Giveaway, Q&A
http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/ - Nov. 12 Review and Giveaway
http://juniperrbreeeze.blogspot.com/ - Nov. 12 Review and Giveaway
http://dixie-afewofmyfavoritethings.blogspot.com/ - Nov. 12 Review

Giveaway, Blog Tour and Q&A: To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt (11/13)

Giveaway and Review: Five For Fighting CD - Slice (11/11) CLOSED

Five for Fighting's new album, Slice, just came out this month. I was not familiar with their music until the One2One Network sent me a download of this CD.

John Ondrasik, the singer and songwriter who records his music under the band name Five for Fighting, has five previous albums. Along with numerous television licenses, John has composed songs for “August Rush”, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”, “We Were Soldiers”, “Chicken Little” and “Everyone’s Hero".

Here is what John says about his music:

"Every round I try to write the best songs I can, and perhaps step out of the box a bit. To me, records are about offering my worldview while providing sentiments to which people may attach themselves or escape into. Slice is where I've come from, where I am, and a few scraps I've picked up in between. All in a slice of time."


I enjoyed listening to John's expressive voice and meaningful lyrics. Several songs start with a piano intro, and all feature beautiful instrumentals. John is a very talented musician, and the tracks in this album are memorable. I particularly liked the title song, Slice, as well as Tuesday and Story of Your Life. Slice is definitely worth hearing. I played it numerous times, and found a new favorite line or melodic sequence every time. Don't we all want to say to our loved ones - or hear it from them -"You put the beautiful in life." 

Here is a list of all tracks:
1. Slice           
2. Note To The Unknown Soldier           
3. Tuesday           
4. Chances           
5. This Dance           
6. Above The Timberline
7. Transfer           
8. Hope           
9. Story Of Your Life           
10. Love Can't Change The Weather           
11. Augie Nieto

You can learn more about Five for Fighting on their website, watch the videos on YouTube,  or find John on Facebook and Twitter.

Right now, John is touring with An Acoustic Evening with Five For Fighting. Here are the remaining stops on his tour:

29-Oct            Nashville, TN
30-Oct            Chicago, IL  
3-Nov             Salt Lake City, UT
5-Nov             Seattle, WA         
6-Nov             Portland, OR       
10-Nov           San Francisco, CA
11-Nov           Los Angeles, CA

The Giveaway
If you can't go hear Five for Fighting live, here is the next best thing! You can win an autographed copy of Slice!

To enter, tell me what you are listening to these days.

Once you have fulfilled this mandatory entry, feel free to do any or all of the following for extra chance to win:

• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win an autographed copy of Five for Fighting's new album Slice #Giveaway at Just Another New Blog! http://tiny.cc/GBvw6 @aitmama ";
• subscribe to my blog by e-mail and confirm that subscription;
• be a follower;
• friend me on Facebook;
  
• follow me on Networked Blogs;
  
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, facebook, technorati, etc. this giveaway using the Share / Save buttons below this post - one entry for each;
  
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is November 11, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. residents only. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 48 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen.

Good luck!

* I received a complimentray download of this album, courtesy of the One2OneNetwork - sponsor of this giveaway. Album information was provided by the sponsor. Opinions expressed are my own.

Giveaway and Review: Five For Fighting CD - Slice (11/11) CLOSED