Rebellious Heart [Book] Giveaway

We have a winner. Sandy (aka: thewiggys8...) please check your email and respond to it within 24 hrs from the end of the contest. Congratulations and I just know you will love Rebellious Heart just as much as I did. 

My Dearest Friend,

Today is a most auspicious day. I, for one, am excited. For, today my friend, you will have a chance to win a marvelously written historical novel by author extraordinaire, Jody Hedlund.

Rebellious Heart's Susanna Smith is a young woman from a family of social standing. A saucy spitfire, this one. Eavesdropping is her specialty when it comes to desiring an education like her brother. Her compassion for others is evident in helping those less fortunate than her status in life. And, her love of books-like none other.

Ben Ross is a highly educated, poor country lawyer who is out to prove he isn't a lower class citizen. His fight for human freedom is of great importance. Ben knows Susanna from an unfortunate childhood encounter which left Susanna embarrassed and Ben harboring a feeling of resentment.

Years later the two are brought together by an unlikely situation. Danger and confusion over right, wrong and that ever-changing, pesky grey area becomes their life. One questions fear over man's authority verses doing right according to God. One breaks man's laws because it's not in accordance with God's.

Rebellious Heart, set in 1763 Massachusetts, is inspired by our second President and First Lady, John and Abigail Adams love story. Our dear author, Jody Hedlund, took liberty with her imagination to make this book a fine piece of fiction, indeed.

Ben Ross is swoon-worthy, kind and passionate in his beliefs. Susanna Smith is priceless in her fight between what is proper for her status and what her rebellious heart is screaming. You'll fight with yourself as the pages turn. You'll not want the story to end but cannot help yourself as the pages turn quickly with your need to know what happens next.

I, personally, devoured the last page three days ago. I have yet to start another book, which is uncharacteristic, because the lessons to learn from Rebellious Heart have kept my soul deeply searching.

In the joy of reading each and every page, may you ponder; if faced with similar situations could I really make a difference and face fear with courage or let someone else be the difference while I stayed comfortable.

Hurry, my dearest friend, hurry. For you only have a short period of time to enter the great giveaway.

May favor be upon you as you enter in the comment section.



Enter to win a signed copy of Rebellious Heart even before the book is released!!

To Enter:

• Leave a comment with your email address so I can notify you when you win. If you win, you'll then have 24 hours to email me your address or I'll pick another winner.
• You must be a residence of the lower 48 states (USA).
• And share. Share like your mamma and daddy taught you. Tweet, share link on facebook, email all your friends who can read, text someone you know would love this book. Shout it from the rooftops about the chance win this book. But, tell everyone to hurry and enter because....

Giveaway ends Friday, September 13th at 8 PM ET. At which time I will use True Random Number Generator at random.org....just to be fair and stuff.

Where readers can find Jody Hedlund:
Facebook: Author Jody Hedlund
Twitter: @JodyHedlund
Website: jodyhedlund.com

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.

 

And the winner is.......

......Allison (simplynorwex)!!!!
Congratulations! You are going to enjoy this book, I just know it. Except do not blame me when you cannot put the book down because it is so good!

Check your email inbox and reply with your address, please.

Thanks to everyone who read the interview. And thanks to those of you who entered the contest and made my first giveaway fun!

The Preacher's Bride is available at bookstores and online now. And don't forget Jody's second book, The Doctor's Lady available in September!

Again, congrats, Allison!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just a reminder....dancer/photo daughter has an Etsy store....I think you'll love her stuff! ☺
Thanks!