THIS BOOK GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
Make sure to come back on Monday, May 10th for our next "Read It Forward" party! Remember, you can add new or used books to the blog hop!
***************************************Just when you thought I was done with bloggy gimmicks, I am back at it with something brand-(been there)-spanking-(done that)-
new.
For the past week, my blog's headline has been advertising this "Read It Forward" campaign. I must say, I think it's pretty darn cool. As a working mom, most of my life is spent working (hence the title of this blog) or being a mom (again, see blog's title). But when I get a little
me time, the first place I head is the book store. But
dang, buying a new book every week (ok, ok, that's an exaggeration-- it's more like every month,
if I'm lucky) is expensive.
That's where the idea for this new monthly blog party comes in. Every month,
Foursons and I will host a party that gives you the chance to (1) review one of your favorite reads, (2) pass it on to one of your blog readers, and if luck is on your side, (3) get a new book to read in return! Here's how it works:
If you'd like to receive the books we have on our blogs today, leave a comment. The winner will be selected using Random.org, just like a standard giveaway. If you have a book you'd like to give away on your own blog, please write up a short review, grab our button, and add your name to the InLinkz.
Once a month, we'll host this blog hop to give you a chance to pass a book you love on to another blogger. All we ask is...
1) If you receive a book from another blogger during this book hop, please promise that you'll ultimately pass it on using this blog hop as well. It can be the next month, or two months, or three months down the road-- not everyone has a whole bunch of time to read, so the timeline is yours to decide!
2) Once you receive a book, make sure to add your blog name and URL to the inside cover. That way, the people who receive that book in the future will know where it's been.
3) You can add a book to the blog hop at any time. So if you don't have a book you'd like to give away this month, don't worry! You can add something next month, or the month after, or the month after!
Now, here's the book I'm giving away!The Last Summer (Of You And Me) by Ann Brashares
You may be thinking, where have I heard that author's name before? Brashares is actually the author of the very popular "Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants" series (which has since been turned into several movies starring Blake Lively, among others). This is Brashares's first foray into more adult literature.
At first, I was skeptical... I thought, surely, that there's no way an author who so accurately and eloquently described and analyzed the female teenage mind could move on to a different genre. I was wrong. This story had me absolutely captivated. There were times when my stomach turned to knots, as the two sisters at the center of this book (Alice & Riley) waged a silent war against each other, and the man at the center of this book: Paul. I loved him. I hated him. I wanted to passionately rip his clothes off (just like Alice) and make love to him. I also wanted to wring his neck.
But unlike the
last book I told you about (
damn you, Beatrice!), this book does have a happy ending. I hope (one of you!) will enjoy it as much as I have!
To Enter:Just leave a comment on this post. I'll pick a winner using
Random.org (sorry, U.S. residents only!), and announce the winner on Thursday.
#3) Princess Mia (Anne Hathaway) in "The Princess Diaries"-- preferrably, the sequel (when she's a little bit more grown up and not as gawky). Because, quite frankly, who doesn't secretly want to be royalty?
#2) Christine in "Phantom Of The Opera" (here played by Emmy Rossum). First, the costumes in this period-piece are absolutely fantastic. Second, I'd love to be able to sing like "Christine". But most of all, the story is so haunting-- in the Gothic fashion-- that even 18 years after seeing this musical on stage for the first time, it still gives me chills.
#1) Jody Sawyer from "Center Stage". Yeah, she's a wet noodle who takes an emotional beating from "Cooper Nielsen" (aka, the amazingly talented Ethan Stiefel) for most of the movie, but when she puts on this red costume and does fouette after pirouette after fouette in the closing dance number, I'm always in awe. Just to have that type of talent!!!
