God Our Maker

I was given these books in exchange for an honest review. I have received no other compensation. This post does contain affiliate links. If you click through and choose to purchase something, I will receive a small commission.

I love books! I love books with bright colors. I love books with bright colors that remind me how much I'm loved. Even if they are board books designed for babies and toddlers.

I was recently given a chance to review two books by Gary Bower, illustrated by Tracy Cottingham.

God Paints the World is a sweet concept book highlighting all the colors in our world. The rhyming text and precious illustrations work together to make a book your kids will love to have read to them again and again.

God Loves the World spotlights the diversity we see all around us; from age, to skin tone, to differently abled people, this book covers a wide range of God's creation. We are all different physically, intellectually, and in our interests and gifts, but God created each and every one of us and loves us all as His sons and daughters.

Both books were recently published and are available from Amazon through the above links. They would be perfect as a Baptism or Christening gift for your own kids or you niece, nephew, god daughter, or god son.

Read more about the author ad illustrator below:

Author Bio Gary Bower fell in love with picture books at an early age, while sitting in his mother’s lap. As a youngster he entertained himself for hours by writing his own stories, jokes, poems, and skits. As an adult, his years of professional and volunteer experience ministering to children and teens, combined with thousands of story nights with his twelve children, have helped him polish his storytelling skills.

Illustrator Bio Tracy Cottingham is happiest when creating pictures and patterns. After finishing her art degree, she began to sell her art for greeting cards and textiles, but creating illustrations for books is her ultimate joy. She can usually be found working at her desk, sipping coffee, and chewing on gummy candy. Tracy lives and works in London.

You can purchase your own copies, or you can enter below to win a set! Good luck!

God Our Maker book set

Summer Reading Extravaganza! GIVEAWAY inculded!

It's that time again!! Summer is starting and there's noting I love more than a cool drink outside with a good book. I've participated in this Summer Book Review for a few years now and it seems that it just gets better and better! If you need a book suggestion, check out something from this list. You're sure to find something you love and there's an amazing giveaway ($250 Amazon gift card and EIGHT free books!) at the end you don't want to miss!

Please note that all the books linked in this post use my affiliate link. If you click over to Amazon and make a purchase from this post, I will recieve a small commission. Your price is not affected. Thanks for supporting my writing!

Also, included in the giveaway: 100 COPIES OF OUR TOP ALL-TIME PICK!

20 Best Summer Books:

1. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. Femme Frugality: "Psychology, philosophy and theology have a way of blending together. In this book, psychologist Viktor Frankl relates his experiences as a prisoner in Hitler's concentration camps, using it as a way to underpin his philosophy that man can get through anything if he assigns meaning to life. Great for anyone going through a difficult time, or anyone who has detached from organized religion but is still seeking the meaning of life."
2. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Lindsay of See Mom Click: "If you’ve ever felt like the days are slipping by and you’re just trudging along, The Happiness Project is a must-read. Rubin’s writing really speaks to me, the perfect balance of hard facts and science combined with practical wisdom about proactively making yourself happier and living in the now."
3. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver. Wendy of ABCs and Garden Peas: "An inspiring, food-filled story of the Kingsolver family's adventure as they move to a farm in southern Appalachia and begin living their lives in a way that works with the local food chain. This year's 10th Anniversary Edition also gives readers a glimpse into how their family has carried their inspiring "real food" journey with them throughout the next decade.
4. A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline. Mikaela Fleisher of Iris and Honey: "Christina Baker Kline brings an artist and his muse to life in this novel that blends fact and fiction. Based on Andrew Wyeth's painting, Christina's World, Kline gives readers a truly beautiful glimpse into the life of the woman behind the painting.
5. Red Water by Kristen Mae. Kristen Mae of Abandoning Pretense: "An Amazon best seller, Red Water will slither under your skin and stick there. Erotic, raw, and disturbing, and with deeply flawed but relatable characters, Mae's sophomore novel is a dark, unflinching examination of the psychology of self-loathing and the secret, unspeakable lust for depravity that lies dormant within us all."
6. My Lame Life: Queen of the Misfits by Jen Mann. Jen Mann of People I Want to Punch in the Throat: "My Lame Life is a great summer read for teens and adults because it's a funny and endearing book that is entirely relatable!"
7. Famished by Meghan O'Flynn. Meghan O'Flynn: "Famished is a bestselling psychological thriller that explores the darkest parts of the human psyche. Hailed as "Thrilling, emotional and depraved,” this novel is one you won't want to put down."
8. Dinner: A Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach. Stephanie of When Crazy Meets Exhaustion: "This one is part cookbook with fabulous, EASY recipes and part narrative by Jenny, fellow frazzled Mama juggling personal and professional responsibilities. When she realizes a family meal is the best shot at quality time with her husband and kids, so begins her journey to make it happen. Witty, relate-able, and educational (I learned how to cook things, you guys!) I went through Jenny-withdrawal when I finished the book!"
9. So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson. Shari of Adore Them pick: "Jon Ronson is an incredible author who combines objective observations with his own take on these experiences. For this book he spent years meeting people who had been subject to public shaming. It is fascinating (& horrible) to see how one tweet could ruin someone's life."
10. The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner. Kim Bongiorno of Let Me Start By Saying: "The story is told in alternating voices of three best friends as they begin their senior year: one knowing she is OUTTA THERE, one being OK with staying exactly where he is because he has his stories to escape into, and one not feeling like he can or is deserving of going anywhere but right where his father's crimes put him. I felt so many things while I read this, but mostly that I will now read literally anything this author writes from now on."
11. The Most Beautiful by Mayte Garcia. Suzanne of Toulouse & Tonic: "I devoured this book about Prince by his ex-wife Mayte Garcia. At first I was afraid it would be exploitive but after reading reviews carefully, I gave it a try. It was so worth it. A great portion of the book is the story of HER life. It's interesting and insightful. The parts of her life she shared with Prince are handled in a respectful but honest way. I feel like I actually know something about this enigmatic man now. I still miss him but 4 me, it brought a little peace."
12. Redemption Road by John Hart. Lydia of Cluttered Genius: "Redemption Road caught me from page one and had me guessing the entire way through. I don't generally choose murder mysteries or thrillers, but Hart's novel has me wanting to find the rest of his books to read more!"
13. Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center. Natalie of a Turtle's Life for Me: "Everyone is Beautiful is a heartwarming and humorous look at one woman's journey through marriage and motherhood as she tries to find small moments of personal fulfillment. The epiphanies and insights she gains along the way are told in a light-hearted manner, but resonate deeply in a way that will have you thinking about it months later. I read this with my book club and we found we were bringing it up again even a year later, because it struck such a deep chord with us."
14. Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. Dani of Meraki Lane: "I loved this book. It explores so many emotionally sensitive topics - infertility, adoption, motherhood, and interracial marriage - and the author did such an amazing job of jumping back and forth between the United States and India. She described each with such vivid detail, and the story truly encapsulated the meaning of the word ‘family.’ It was an easy, yet complex read, and the ending brought me to tears. I highly recommend this one!"
15. The Twelves Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti. Jana of Jana Says: "I LOVED this book. Dark and twisted and violent and a thriller complimented with a father/daughter/coming of age story told between alternating POV and bouncing back and forth in time until it all catches up to itself. It's so well done and well written and I cannot recommend it enough."
16. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Kimberly of Red Shutters: "It's the story of a family, torn apart by slavery. One branch of the family aids in the slave trade in Ghana, later becoming involved in conflict with the British, and finally finding their way to America. The other side of the family is sold into slavery and generations later experience an America of incarceration, poverty, and drug abuse. Despite its challenging subject matter, Homegoing is captivating, an extraordinary story about hope, connection, and loss. I couldn’t put it down, and when it did end, I was disappointed--I wanted more. That’s the sign of an extraordinary book!"
17. The Edge of Everything by Jeff Giles. Janine of Confessions of a Mommyaholic: "This is the beginning of a supernatural, romance YA series that struck all the right notes for me. Honestly, think it could be in the leagues of Twilight or even Harry Potter as the writing was superb. Plus, the storyline was unique, fast moving and heart tugging, as well. Therefore, recommend as the perfect summer vacation read."
18. The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian. Rabia of The Lieber Family: "Lianna’s mom has disappeared. The most plausible explanation is that her frequent sleepwalking took her over a bridge to her death. But on closer inspection, that doesn’t really make a lot of sense. And the good looking detective assigned to the case is trying to help, isn’t he? So what really happened? I can’t wait to find out!"
19. My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman. Anne of Once Upon a Mom: "I haven't read this one yet but it looks amazing! It's a story about a quirky kid with an even quirkier grandma who, after her death, leaves a a series of letters apologizing to people. I'm looking forward to finding out about all of Grandmother's secrets!"
20. City Mouse by Stacey Lender. Carrie of Normal Level of Crazy and Meredith of The Mom of the Year: "This defines a beach read for me! So relatable to our own lives as it is all about mom trying to find out exactly where she fits in the in the scheme of suburbia--all that goes along with it. Plus, when a book is described as 'The Stepford Wives meets Bad Moms', how can you go wrong?"

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And that's it, friends! Our list of the 20 Best Summer Books you need to kick back with during all the sun-soaked days ahead of us! As promised, the giveaway for a $250 AMAZON GIFT CARD and copies of some of the titles on this list (Red Water, Famished, My Lame Life: Queen of the Misfits, The Sleepwalker, Man's Search for Meaning, Homegoing and Redemption Road) is below! No better way to keep your reading stash well stocked and you can use the gift card to grab some other titles that are on your own wish list. Sweet! As long as you are 18 or older, live in the continental United States, and enter before June 16, 2017 at 5:30am EST, you are eligible to win!

   

Also as promised, we are tickled to be giving away 100 COPIES of the favorite title our book club has ever read, This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel! Read the whole post HERE to find out why it is such an exceptional book, and then hop over quickly to enter the giveaway! Thanks to the generosity of Flatiron Books, copies will be sent to the first 100 people who enter the giveaway* (The grand prize winner included! The same giveaway deadline and rules as above apply.) We could go on and on about This Is How It Always Is, but to put it simply: it is important, life-changing, and beautiful. This isn't just a book you want to read, it's a book you need to read. *Note: remember each person can gain multiple entries, so don't assume that all 100 copies have been claimed when the entries total goes over 100! I will be updating on social media how many copies are left if you want to check in on this as the giveaway progresses! a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks for joining us in this kick-off to summer reading celebration with this list of the 20 best summer books! Happy summer and happy reading, friends! Which on e are you most looking forward to reading?

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***Thank you to Flatiron Books, Jen Mann, Kristen Mae, Meghan O'Flynn, Macmillan Publishers, Anchor Books, Beacon Press and Vintage Books for providing copies of the books for the giveaway. All opinions are entirely our own.***

Book photo in second graphic: depositphotos.com, Image ID:9056658, Copyright:belchonock

Last image credit: depositphotos.com, Image ID:13362963, Copyright:coolfonk

 

A Star From Afar

I was given this product in exchange for an honest review. I am so excited to share this with you all today!

I love the Christmas season. There's so much excitement and watchful waiting. Every year we try really hard as a family to make sure that the kids understand the true meaning of Christmas. It isn't just about gifts and cookies and time off from school. We are really getting our minds and hearts ready for the birth of Christ. I'm really proud that my kids have internalized this message and they get very excited about all the traditions we have together.

This year in a new house, our traditions may have to take some adjustments, but the underlying feelings will still be there. I'm also excited to add new things to the mix. One of those new things is our Star From Afar.

Star From Afar is a book and game that helps families understand the true meaning of Christmas. The set includes a book with a rhyming nativity story and a set of nativity figurines. To play the game you begin by reading the book together as a family. Then each day leading up to Christmas, a parent will hide the star somewhere in the house. The kids get to look for the star and then move the Wise Men to be near the star. In our house we've started as far away from the rest of the nativity set as possible and will be moving the star closer each day.

We've done some other hide-and-seek type things with the kids during Christmas, but my favorite part about this one is that I've told the kids that I'm the one moving the star. There's no secrets about it and I don't have to worry about forgetting and "ruining" things for them. There are also no rules about touching the star or the Wise Men figures. In fact, since we have three kids, each of them gets a figurine to take with them on their search for the star.

Each evening (or morning) after I move the star, I place the Wise Men outside their bedroom doors. That's their reminder to go search for the star when they wake up. They were so cute this morning when I knew that the older two had found it but they were waiting for the youngest to locate it before placing their figurines. They even kept their mouths shut when he got excited to be "the first one to find the star." (They did roll their eyes, though!)

The set itself is made of wood and feels very sturdy. Frances commented that they "feel like butter" because they are sanded very smooth to be safe for little hands. All three of my kiddos (6, 9, and 13) were excited about this idea and the game. I like the idea of them searching for the light each morning. What a great way to start the day!

If you'd like to have a set of your own, you can purchase one on the Star From Afar website. You can use the code FOLLOWTHESTAR for 10% off through December 25, but don't wait that long to purchase because you'll want to use this with your kids this Christmas season. In fact, you can try to win your own set right here:


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Where Jesus Slept

This is a sponsored review with affiliate links. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I have also used affiliate links here. If you click to order the book, I will receive a small commission.

Christmas this year if going to be strange. It will be in a different house and it will be shortly after what would have been my due date. For that reason, I've done my best to make sure that all our other holiday traditions will remain intact. That includes rearranging my entire storage unit to get out all the Christmas boxes that we buried in the back before we realized this move wasn't going to go as planned.

One of my favorite boxes to unpack is the Christmas book box. My children have mostly outgrown picture books, but when it comes to this holiday tradition, the memories associated with those books far outweighs their "grown-up-ness." Each year I try to add a few more to our collection and this year I was sent one to review that will fit in quite nicely with our collection.

"Where Jesus Slept" is a gentle story set in the cadence of The House that Jack Built. The beautiful pictures help build the story of the greatest gift our world has ever received: Jesus Christ. It starts out with the straw that lines the bed where Jesus slept and builds all the way through the Three Kings and the gifts they brought to the infant Jesus.

Would you like your own copy to share with your family this season? You can buy a copy on Amazon, or you can try to win a copy below. Good luck!

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"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.” 

Great Summer Reading List and #Giveaway!

It's summer time and the livin' is...out of control!! We've been here and there and put a ton of miles on the van. I've been in and out of work and it's so hard to get back into the groove. All I want to do is sit under a blanket and read some good books! That's what summer is all about for me. And the great news is I've teamed up with 20 blogging friends and we've got some great book recommendations for you, as well as an awesome GIVEAWAY!! So make sure you read all the way to the end of this post.

Been a little too distracted by the end-of-school insanity to bone up on what all the hot summer reads are? No sweat! We've got you covered. Twenty of us blogging gals have teamed up with The Mom of the Year and Normal Level of Crazy virtual monthly book club to create a list of exactly what belongs on your summer reading list. Not only do these books come highly recommended (along with the reason you need to be reading them!), we are giving eleven of them away to one of you, along with a $225 Amazon giftcard. I know, it's insanely awesome! More details on the giveaway at the end of the post. For now, log into Goodreads, grab a notepad or settle in with however you track your to-read list and start adding these titles.

20 Books that Belong on Your Summer Reading List:

1. Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini (Toulouse and Tonic) is a GREAT summer read. Leah Remini doesn't hold anything back, from her decades-long experience with Scientology to celeb encounters along the way, especially experiences within Scientology. If you want to hear all the dish on Tom Cruise, including his "Scientology arranged and groomed" girlfriend and then his marriage to Katie Holmes, get the book now. Her honesty and lack of pretense is refreshing. I couldn't put it down!
2. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (The Not So Super Mom) This is a bit of a quirky book, but it is perfectly quirky without falling into the creepy or just plain confusing. A.J. Fikry is not the most immediately likable character but you find yourself rooting for him (and his bookstore) anyway. I appreciated that he was a bit of an oddball, because who in our lives isn't without their own idiosyncrasies? I enjoyed the themes in this book--loss, romance, mystery--all peppered with humor and the format--each chapter moves the story forward in time and serves as an ode to one of Fikry's favorite books--was different but enjoyable to any book lovers who try to find themselves in the stories they read.
3. Smart Women by Judy Blume (Meraki Lane) I was a huge Judy Blume fan when I was a kid (Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself was my favorite!), so it's no surprise I jumped with joy when I discovered she writes novels for adults as well, and this book did NOT disappoint. If you like a light read with a little racy romance thrown in, this is the perfect summer pick!
4. A Window Opens by Elizabeth Egan (Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms) A great novel with a fresh, funny voice guiding it, this book tackles the classic struggle of moms trying to have it all and stuck with us to the point of recommending it to others long after we turned the last page.
   
5. Beyond the Break by Kristen Mae (Kristen Mae) Quoted from Melissa Mowry of One Mother to Another's review on Amazon: "This book absolutely crushed me. The writing is hauntingly beautiful and full of depth, with well-rounded characters and gorgeous imagery. As a card-carrying heterosexual, I expected to feel a little squirmy about the girl-on-girl aspect and was just reading because I love this author's writing. I was SO WRONG. The sex was, in a word, mind-blowing. None of that lazy, euphemistic smut book language (you won't find talk of anyone's blossoming flower here) just seriously hot, almost artistic love scenes. Hazel is a flawed but loveable main character with a haunting past and so much dimension. Claire is absolutely magnetic; even I was attracted to her. You owe yourself the pleasure--and I do mean pleasure--of reading this book. It will change everything you thought you knew about love, sexual attraction, and chemistry."
6. Summer Sisters by Judy Blume (Herd Management) Summer Sisters provides a fascinating view into the inner workings and dynamics of a close female friendship over the duration of their journey from young teens into adulthood. Many women will be able to relate to the power that female friends have over one another's hearts, and their ability to shatter them completely sometimes. Riveting, relatable, and emotional.
7. The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews (Confessions of a Mommyaholic) This summer/beach town set book is the absolute perfect read this summer while you are sitting beach or poolside that is filled with just enough intrigue, suspense, drama, romance and more.
8. Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher (See Mom Click) This is one of those books that draws you in and won’t let go, even after you’ve put it down. Senna Richard wakes up on her 33^rdbirthday, locked in a house in the snow in the middle of nowhere, full of clues she has to piece together to gain her freedom. Not just a mystery, but a rip-your-heart-out love story, the author keeps you guessing while you become totally wrapped up in these characters’ lives.
   
9. Dear Mr. You by Mary-Louise Parker (Shakespeare's Mom) In this collection of personal essays, Parker writes beautifully about her encounters and relationships with various men in her life - everyone from her grandfather to ex-boyfriends, to, in an essay that manages to be both brutal and hilarious, a male goat. I read the whole book in one day. I had to ignore my children and personal hygiene to do it, but finding myself sucked into the book's spellbinding word-webs was totally worth it.
10. Not Without My Father by Andra Watkins (Andra Watkins, New York Times best seller and 2015 National Book Award nominee). Sarah Cottrell of The Huffington Post calls it “one literary ride you do not want to miss!” Reader Claris explains why everyone should read Not Without My Father in her Amazon review: "Andra really made me stop and think how important each moment in life is. If we live in each moment - really LIVE - we won't be as likely to miss making that moment an important memory. I expected to read a story about a memorable walk, but it turned into a thought-provoking quest to truly focus on the wonderful family and friends that I have and not miss making memories with them."
11. Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window by Tetsuko Kuroyangi (Femme Frugality) This true story of alternative education in WWII era Japan serves to inspire. If you've ever known a kid that doesn't seem to fit into a traditional education system, Tetsuko Kuroyangi's story will warm your heart and give you hope. Kuroyangi, after getting kicked out of a traditional school, grew up to be one of Japan's media sweethearts and a great, hands-on philanthropist.
12. A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley (The Whimsy One) will take you on a waltz between present day and the 18th century as Sara (present day) tries to decipher a journal written by Mary during the Jacobites uprising in Paris (1732) what she discovers in the handwritten pages is not at all what she was expecting.
    
13. Summerlong by Dean Bakopoulos (Jana Says) I fell in love with this author after reading another one of his books but this one, a stunning, sad, sometimes funny, heartbreaking, (mostly) realistic portrayal of a marriage in crisis and its subsequent implosion during a summer long Midwestern heatwave, solidified him in my top 5 favorite authors.
14. What Alice Forgot By Liane Moriarty (Tamara (Like) Camera) This book gripped me - I felt all the joys and pains. I recommended it to both of my sisters who are still postpartum.
15. Mosquitoland by David Arnold (Kiss My List) You will not regret spending an afternoon curled up with this smart, funny, and poignant novel about a teenage girl's bus ride back to her mom in Cleveland. Mim’s journey from Mississippi is filled with people who could be fascinating main characters in their own books.
16. Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (The Golden Spoons) Hawley alternates between perspectives of different characters as well as switches from past to present in this story of 11 people - some connected, some seemingly out of place - whose lives are changed or lost when their private jet goes down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Martha's Vineyard on a foggy August night.
    
17. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (The Lieber Family) This second Cormoran Strike novel follows our detective as he investigates the disappearance and later death of a controversial, not-well liked author whose last novel didn’t have anything nice to say about…well, anyone!
18. You: A Novel by Caroline Kepnes (Pulling Taffy) If you love a good, creepy thriller, with an occasional chuckle, this is a great summer read. By the end you will be rooting for the serial killer and hoping his intended victim dies (Please. End. Her. Incessant. Whining.)
19. The Show by Filip Syta (Normal Level of Crazy) I'm taken by Amazon's description of the book, "Think of the greatest tech company in the world. Imagine getting a job there. Picture the perks: free gourmet food, free booze, a gym, a swimming pool, and a holiday bonus . . . every month. Brilliant coworkers. No dress code. Great parties. More money. Everyone’s admiration." You know there are inevitably problems that will arise, but it sounds so exotic in comparison to my world, that I can't wait to dig in!
20. The Tulip Factory by Kacie Davis Idol (The Mom of the Year) Amazon's description makes it sound like the perfect dreamy, fun summer book: "Before they exchange even a single word, Corrine knows that James will change everything. And sure enough, their serendipitous meeting in a North Carolina coffee shop sets off a whirlwind of desire and possibilities for the two."

Now that you've got the whole list, I know you're dying to immediately lose yourself in book pages, but don't forget to first enter the fantastic giveaway here! Eleven of these books (Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, The Storied Like of A.J. Fikry, The Weekenders, Not Without My Father, Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window, Beyond the Break, The Tulip Factory, The Show, A Desperate Fortune, Before the Fall, You: A Novel) are up for grabs in addition to a $225 Amazon giftcard! Delight in the books and use the giftcard to get any others that are on your summer reading list--or for this sweet amount, even snag a new Kindle for reading on-the-go! As long as you are 18 or older and live in the continental United States, you are eligible to enter the Rafflecopter below. All entries must be received before 7/8/16 at 5:30am ET. Here's to a summer of fab books, friends! And as always, happy reading!
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

****This post is not sponsored or compensated in any way. We are grateful to the following publishers for providing copies of the books for our giveaway: Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Grand Central Publishing, Kristen Mae, Algonquin Books, Sourcebooks, Andra Watkins, St. Martin's Press, Kodansha, and Inkshares. We bloggers have all chipped in together to provide the Amazon giftcard--because we love Amazon and we love you ;) ****

Second graphic credit: depositphotos.com, image ID:18594985, copyright:peshkova

Horizontal line of books in last graphic: depositphotos, image ID:6984753, copyright:aboikis

Finish up Your Summer Reading with a BANG! #Review and #Giveaway

This post contains affiliate links.

As summer is winding down, I am lamenting that I didn't get to read as many books as I would have liked. The time for lounging around the pool with a cold drink and a good book just never seems to come around. Life in general always seems to get in the way! No matter, though, I did get to read a few good ones, and I'm excited to bring you a whole list of other choices that you may or may not have heard about yet. Stay tuned for the whole post for a chance at a great giveaway too!

Nora Roberts has long been one of my favorite authors. When I see that I'm going to have a chance to do some reading, her name is always one of the first that I search for. I was pleasantly surprised to see that she has recently added a new title to the over 200 she has already penned, The Liar.

Shelby Pomeroy is thrown for a real loop. First her husband dies in a tragic boating accident, leaving her a single mother to a three-year old girl. Soon after she discovers that her husband was not the man she thought him to be. Not only was he a liar and a thief, but he has left her in debt up to her eyeballs and homeless to boot!

Shelby swallows her pride and heads home to the family she cast off when her husband swept her off her feet. She prepares to reclaim her former life while trying to dig out from the debt and lies left behind by her husband. Unfortunately, he still has a few more surprises up his sleeve! This is just the right mix of romance and suspense; perfect for a summer read!

Keep reading for some more book ideas and an amazing giveaway!

Eye Can Clearly See it's Back-to-School Time #Giveaway

This post may contain affiliate links.

You've seen it in the stores. You've heard it on the radio. The evidence is overwhelming: It's Back-to-School time! Whether you've just sighed a huge sigh of relief or are now cowering in a corner sobbing, you don't have much more time to get ready.

In my town school starts in less than three weeks. I've gotten the physicals, updated the immunizations, and ordered new lunchboxes. The one thing I haven't done yet, is ordered new glasses. So far, so good for my kids. Their eyes seem to be in good working order. It's a coin toss whether they will end up with my vision or my husband's. If things go as they have previously, it's looking like we'll have two that may need corrective eye-wear in the future. When that time comes, I'm glad I know about Firmoo.

You may remember that I reviewed some new glasses from their site back in February. Since then, I've ordered a pair of sunglasses as well, and I've been just as pleased. Recently they contacted me again with another opportunity, and instead of selecting more glasses for myself, I chose to offer a pair to one of my lucky readers.

You can check out my previous review here. And then you can enter to win a pair for yourself below. Good luck!

Firmoo Glasses #giveaway

“Giveaway ends August 17, 2015 at 11:59:59 PM EST. Winner will be notified by email. Winner have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment. I have previously received free glasses from Firmoo. No other compensation was received. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by any form of compensation.  Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are in no way associated with this giveaway.  By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to me and me alone.  I do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner.”