Kiss Me Awake Winner and 25 Years

May I just take a moment to tell you how I enjoyed your comments on the Kiss Me Awake Giveaway post? Your comments stating your favorite place to read were just plain fun to read. I admit I was jealous by a few of the places and inspired by other places. No matter where you read, as long as you have a great book you'll be happy.

Speaking of a great book [see what I did there?], the winner of Kiss Me Awake by Julie Momyer is........yes, why yes you do hear a drum roll in your head at this very moment...you're very welcome for that................................. Cassandra MacDonald!!!!

Cassandra's "favorite place to read...oh man I carry a book with me at all times so I can read when I have down time or am waiting. My all time favorite spot to read though is in a lounge chair outside on a nice spring/summer day, just relaxing and reading. Love that someone mentioned a hammock, I would love to have one!"

Congratulations! Check your email right now and reply with your mailing address so I can ship out your signed copy. Please respond in 48 hours or less. If I don't hear from you, I'll pick another winner.

If you didn't win, wipe away those tears and remember...you can always purchase it on Amazon in either paperback or Kindle form. If I were you I'd buy it. Yup, sure would.

Once you read Kiss Me Awake, which is awesomeness-in-a-book, think about posting a review on Amazon. But, I'm not the boss of you.

In other news: Hubs and I hit the 25th wedding anniversary mark this week. Obviously, we were both 10 years old when we married. Obviously, time really does fly. Obviously.

Ahhh, 25 years ago .... insert music as we enter the flashback portion of this post.....

He had a mullet...don't judge, it was in style way back then. I had a perm...I already had wavy hair. I don't know why I paid money for a perm. I.just.don't.know.

He wanted a small radio in his tux with an earphone to check on a baseball game score...ummm, no. Just no. All I could hear as I walk down the isle with my dad was my heart pounding in my ears...eyes on him, eyes on him.

We had a beautiful spring day 25 years ago. Blue sky, sun shining, perfect temperature and barely a cloud in the sky......snap back to the present day music inserted here.....

Have all our days since been sunny, bright and perfect? No. Not by any means. But in those messy bits of life we grow. Yes, I admit I've wanted to shake that man and I know he's felt the same with me. I really hope our children, who have seen the frustration and heard our arguments along with the love and laughter, have figured out marriage isn't for the faint of heart. Messy bits are work. Hard work. In that hard work, there is love. Love that is a choice. Some days we do better at choosing love than others. It's worth it at the very end of the day. I wouldn't want to go through life without him. Who else will get on my very last nerve just for the fun of it because he knows it will make me mad? ;)

So, 25 years. What are we doing for this major event? Ummm, well.....I'll get back with you on that one.

Kiss Me Awake & Giveaway

I have a secret. Come closer. Closer yet.

Glances to the right, then left. Looks under the desk and behind.

I am a very picky reader.

Shhhhh! Not so loud with your "wwwhhaaaat?!"

I have been known to keep a book as an example of how not to write. I judge a book by its cover. Phew, admitting that was scary. If I'm not 'into' the story by the second chapter (at the most), it is bye-bye-bye book. And sometimes when I see a book published the non-traditional way...well, I promptly skedaddle.

I know, I know. I'm a book snob. Are there recovery programs? Wait. I'm not sure I want to recover. I love to read. I love to be fussy, picky, snobby and all those other adjectives about the books I chose to spend my time reading.

All this to say one book has me shouting from the rooftop. All in a good way, of course.

READ EXCERPT

Kiss Me Awake is that book.

Kiss Me Awake is Julie Momyer's first novel. In fact, it was a finalist in a popular Christian writing contest a few years ago. And, well, you see...I know Julie. Which makes this all the more fun! Please don't let that little fact stop you from reading this review. Trust me; if I don't like a book I will honestly let you know. In the same regard, if I like a book I will gush on and on about it. Get ready for some gushing...

If you are a lover of mystery, suspense, real life hurts, real life love, guessing 'who done it',  you will absolutely adore this novel.

Julie brings the characters to life. No one dimensional characters here. Let's not talk about how I wanted to reach through the book to wring a few necks along the way. I may or may not have yelled at a character or two...but let's pretend that never happened, shall we.

The life-long hurt of the main character, Jaida Martin, effects every move she has made in her personal, professional and spiritual life. This hurt numbs her; closes down her ability to love. And, let's be honest, she may or may not have been one I was yelling at a few times...and no, I'm not proud of it. How many times have we readers been hurt and shut down our hearts. It is a defense mechanism that haunts me a little too often. I found myself, in a way, relating to Jaida with that one aspect of her personality.

We travel along with Jaida and Spencer as they deal with some very real life issues. Spencer's faith in our God is commendable as he has a world of hurts to work through and at times wants to give up. God doesn't allow him and He guides Spencer along the way.

I had a difficult time putting down Kiss Me Awake. Mystery, danger, suspense, betrayal, secrets, love, forgiveness, redemption; all words describe Kiss Me Awake. The plot is well thought out and the author, Julie, keeps the story moving with the right amount of twists and turns along the way.

The story is so beautifully shown it felt as though I was watching the story unfold as if watching a movie.

Giveaway is over. Thanks for everyone who entered. Love the comments of your favorite place to read. See the next post to see who won Kiss Me Awake!
Have I whet your appetite enough to want your very own autographed copy? Well, aren't you the fortunate one? I just so happen to have an autographed copy to give away.

All you need to do is.....

• Reside in the lower 48 states of the USA. No other countries, Alaska or Hawaii are eligible due to postage cost. Sorry guys!
• Leave a comment stating your favorite place to read.
• Also, include your email address so I can contact you...this is a must (ex: imadorbs AT provider DOT com).
• Deadline is Tuesday, May 7 at 9 PM ET just in time for Mother's Day! Hint, hint. And as long as the postal system is on the ball.
• If you are the winner, you must reply to my email with your mailing address within 48 hours or I'll draw another winner.
• I will determine the winner by using random.org.

Hurry! Spread the word and tell all your friends who love to read, who know someone who loves to read or just know people who know how to read.

If you are not chosen as the winner, grab some tissues and cheer up. You can purchase your very own copy by clicking here to order a copy or two or twelve. Available in Kindle and paperback.

A New Winner....

Due to the previously announced winner already winning the book on another blog, I redrew a name by using random.org's generator. And, the new winner is......................................................................................................................................................

Amy Campbell !!!!!!!!

 

Congratulations!!!!!!!

Thanks, everyone, for visiting and to those who entered.

If you didn't win, I strongly encourage you running or clicking over to your favorite book retailer. It is a book with a message you'll mull over long after you've finished the book.

Thanks, Jody, for offering the blog tour and a signed copy of the book for the contest!

 



 

Here is Unending Devotions book trailer recently released. Enjoy.



Secret Revealed...Jody's History-Making Moment

Secret #3: My participation in a history-making moment

I am so excited [eeee!!] to have the pleasure and honor of participating in author Jody Hedlund's Secrets Revealed tour. Read all the way to the bottom to see how YOU can win a free, signed copy of her latest book. Now, here's the kind, talented and beautiful Jody Hedlund...[insert thunderous applause here]  Winner has been announced....Congratulations Amy Campbell!!!

Author Jody Hedlund

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

I don't have many claims to history (other than that I write historicals!).

But I can lay claim to participating in one important and exciting moment in history: I was in Berlin around the time when the Berlin Wall came down.

I even brought home a piece of the Wall.

I was visiting Germany after the collapse of the Berlin Wall in early 1990 with a group from college (which means I'm dating myself!).

Our group drove through what was then known as East Germany in order to reach Berlin. The entire area was still controlled by the Soviets, and we were unprepared for the poverty, the under-development, and the lack of modern conveniences.

The East German cars were identical, tiny, and looked like they were made out of cardboard. The buildings were old,  the stores nearly empty, and the toilet paper coarse (funny what leaves an impression—no pun intended!)

The Soviet soldiers patrolled the streets and borders. In fact no-man's land still existed between sections of the east and west Berlin Wall.

It was as if we'd been transported back fifty years into a war zone.

It was gray and dreary—almost like stepping into a black and white photo.

I could feel the sadness, the weight of despair, and the lack of hope that came from living behind walls.

From time to time, I pull out the broken, spray-painted portions of the Berlin Wall that I brought home those many years ago. I like to boast to my kids that "I was there" during that special time in history.

And those pieces of crumbling cement remind me all over again, that walls are oppressive. Whether those walls are built by a government, someone in authority over us, or even ourselves—walls keep us from moving forward and accomplishing our potential. [Whoa! Let's re-read this paragraph, shall we. I may need to write this down where I can see it. Every.single.day.]

We need to ask ourselves: What walls have we built in our lives? What walls have we allowed others to build around us? And what steps can we take to start knocking them down?

After all, we want to live freely, move forward, and accomplish all that we were made to do.

So, how about you? Have you (or someone in your family) ever been a part of a history-making moment? And what walls are holding you back from achieving your potential? 



 Publisher's Weekly calls Unending Devotion
 "A meaty tale of life amid the debauchery of the
lumber camps of 1880s Michigan . . .
exciting and unpredictable to the very end."

To celebrate the release of Unending Devotion, Jody is giving away a signed copy. Leave a comment (along with your email address) to enter the drawing. Valid only with US or Canadian addresses. Giveaway ends September 12, 2012 at 9 AM ET.  Winner will be notified immediately. 

Read what I thought about Jody's book here! Plus check out her first two books here and here.

For more secrets about Jody and additional chances to win her newest release, visit her Events Page to see where she'll be next in her "Fun Secrets About Author Jody Hedlund" blog tour.

Also join in the Pinterest Photo Contest she's hosting. Find more information about it on her Contest Page.

Jody would love to connect with you! Find her in one of these places:

Website: http://jodyhedlund.com/

Blog: http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/

Facebook: Author Jody Hedlund

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JodyHedlund

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jodyhedlund/

Thanks so much for stopping by! If you don't win the free book, run to your favorite book seller and purchase! You won't regret it.