Buy a Book, Give a Book This Holiday Season

 

 For the sixth year, Chronicle Books is running their Buy A Book, Give A Book campaign in conjunction with First Book. It's simple: For every book you buy on their website November 6th to December 15th, Chronicle Books will donate a book to First Book, a non-profit that routes books to the children who need them most.(up to 30,000 books). Chronicle Books is offering 35% off and free shipping. Use the coupon code, GIVEBOOKS at checkout

As part of their campaign this year, Chronicle Books is asking you to  explore what books can do, and what you can do. Books can inform, entertain, educate, transport yo to another place or time, and bring you together with family, friends, or people who enjoy the same book as you. Books can make you dream and help you fulfill a dream, books can provide comfort and relief, can prepare you for pretty much anything. Books are the key to opening your mind and changing your world.

What can YOU do? There are numerous organizations where you can donate books. I donate to my local libraries, a shelter, and a food pantry. You can take them to a used book store and get some money or store credit. You can donate them to a school or day care near you. Is there a prison near you? See if they accept books for donation for the prisoners. You can donate money to numerous organizations - Milk and Bookies; Room to Read; Reading is Fundamental; and of course, First Book. Need more ideas? Check out this article from several years ago - https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/11/book-charities-that-help-kids_n_6817484.html
 
So, whatever holiday you are celebrating, or even if you are not celebrating any holiday at all, take a moment to share a book with a child in need of help. 

Excerpt & Giveaway: Dead Storage by Mary Feliz

I read this book back in the summer and liked it. When I saw it was touring, I immediately signed up. I'm not an organized person at home and I have hoarding tendencies so you'd think I wouldn't enjoy books with organization or professional organizers but I do. I like the peeks into that way of thinking and occasionally pick up tips. Check out my review, read the excerpt below, and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Bea Reviews Unnatural Habits & Queen of the Flowers by Kerry Greenwood

Series: Phryne Fisher #19
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: July 4th, 2017
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

1929: Girls are going missing in Melbourne. Little, pretty, golden haired girls. And not just pretty. Three of them are pregnant, poor girls from the harsh confines of the Magdalene Laundry. People are getting nervous. Polly Kettle, a pushy, self important Girl Reporter with ambition and no sense of self preservation, decides to investigate and promptly goes missing herself. It's time for Phryne and Dot to put a stop to this and find Polly Kettle before something quite irreparable happens to all of them. It's all piracy and dark cellars, convents and plots, murder and mystery .... and Phryne finally finds out if it's true that blondes have more fun.

Bea Reviews The Complete Sookie Stackhouse Stories by Charlaine Harris

Series: Sookie Stackhouse
Publisher: Ace Books
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 21st, 2017
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

For the first time together in one volume, the complete short story collection starring Sookie Stackhouse--with a new introduction from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the series, Charlaine Harris.

For the first time together in one volume, here is the complete short story collection starring Louisiana's favorite telepathic waitress, Sookie Stackhouse--from #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris. New fans can fill in the gaps in their Sookie lore while old friends can revisit some of their favorite moments and characters. From investigating the murder of a local fairy to learning that her cousin was a vampire, from remodeling her best friend's house to attending a wedding with her shapeshifting boss, Sam, Sookie navigates the perils and pitfalls of the paranormal world.

Belly up to the bar at Bon Temps's favorite watering hole and hear stories that will make you wish Sookie never left, including...

"Fairy Dust"
"One Word Answer"
"Dracula Night"
"Lucky"
"Gift Wrap"
"Two Blondes"
"If I Had a Hammer"
"Small-Town Wedding"
"Playing Possum"
"In the Blue Hereafter"

This definitive collection is the perfect binge read for people who like their stories with bite!

Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Negotiator by HelenKay Dimon

Series: Games People Play #2.5
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 14th, 2017
Buying Links: Amazon* | iTunes* | Nook | Google Play | Kobo | Avon Digital
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Lauren Gallagher’s life changed almost three years ago. After her husband disappeared at sea, she was left with a failing pleasure boat company and more than a few secrets. Now, after years spent rebuilding the business and paying off the pile of debts, she finally feels in control. But when she finds her husband, actually dead, on the floor, she becomes the leading suspect in his murder investigation.

Garrett McGrath wants Lauren in his bed, not his heart. He doesn’t do emotions, but every time he sees her, holding himself back gets harder and harder. When Lauren comes under suspicion for killing her previously presumed-dead husband, he knows he has to help her, any way he can.

But as the danger becomes more intense and Garret and Lauren grow closer than either planned, they’re in danger of losing everything…including their hearts.

Review & Excerpt: A Cold Dark Promise by Toni Anderson

Series: Cold Justice #8.5
Publisher: Toni Anderson
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 14th, 2017
Buying Links: Amazon* | Google Play | Kobo | iBooks | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

A COLD DARK PROMISE takes place during the week leading up to the wedding of former assassin Alex Parker to FBI Agent Mallory Rooney, who meet and fall in love in the novel, A COLD DARK PLACE.

In the midst of wedding preparations, a shadowy figure from Alex Parker's past reappears and threatens the joy he’s found with Mallory Rooney.

Four years ago, Jane Sanders’s rich and powerful ex-husband kidnapped their young daughter and Jane hasn’t seen her since. Now she finally has a lead on her location and she knows just the man to help her get her daughter back. Trouble is, he’s an assassin. And he terrifies her.

Despite his upcoming nuptials, Alex agrees to help, but it doesn’t take long for the routine operation to turn complicated—and deadly. Can the former CIA operative make it home in time to marry the woman he loves, or will his dark past destroy all hope for their future?

Review & Giveaway: A Fatal Collection by Mary Ellen Hughes

Series: November 8th, 2017
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 8th, 2017
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Google | Kobo | Barnes & Noble 
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

 Callie Reed makes a long overdue visit to her aunt Melodie, who lives in a fairy-tale cottage in quaint Keepsake Cove, home to a bevy of unique collectible shops on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Just as they're beginning to reconnect, Callie discovers her aunt's body on the floor of her music box shop. Grief-stricken, Callie finds she can't accept Melodie's death being called accidental. How could her strong and healthy aunt take such a fatal fall? And why was she there in the middle of the night?

As Callie searches for the truth, signs seem to come from her late aunt through a favorite music box, urging Callie on. Or are they warnings? If Callie isn't careful, she could meet a similar deadly fate amid Melodie's collection. 

Aurora Award Speculative Fiction Bundle from StoryBundle & A Giveaway!

Are you fan of speculative fiction? Do you like to fly through space, chase werewolves, interact with mythological characters? Then you need to check out this bundle of ebook of books that have won or been finaled for the Aurora Awards, Canada's premier speculative fiction award.