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UPDATE: This giveaway is closed and winner has been chosen via random.org

Lucky #2- KarenK is our winner…CONGRATS! I will be emailing you shortly.

Boy have I got a bundle of books for you…well, one lucky Blogfully reader. But still, it’s a bundle to say the least.

The reason I’ve taken so long to post this giveaway is because I had to enjoy the books I received first. There’s six books in total and I think you’re going to love them all. I did. In fact, I’ve got a few favorites already and I can’t wait to hear what you think about them…shall we start?

Oh, and just so we’re clear; One lucky Blogfully reader will be sent each of the books below so that they too can enjoy some great summer reads. I think you’ll agree that the collection below is one that most readers will enjoy adding to their collection.

Okay, this first book is…

One that brought tears to my eyes. It grabbed a hold of all my emotions and kept me clinging to every page. It’s a story of strength, pain, love and the heartbreaking struggles with Alzheimer’s. The book, ‘Jan’s Story: Love lost to the long goodbye of Alzheimer’s’.

 Jan’s Story: Love lost to the long goodbye of Alzheimer’s

By: Barry Petersen

ARP: $15.95

ISBN-10: 1933016442

ISBN-13: 978-1933016443

Publisher: Behler Publications (June 15, 2010)

Imagine hearing these words: “She has Alzheimer’s.” Now imagine that “she” is vibrant, active, loving, healthy…and just 55. Acclaimed CBS News reporter Barry Petersen, writes about hearing the unimaginable: what it meant, what it still means, what he did–and didn’t do–and how this beautiful love story needs to be read by the thousands of families who have already heard that same devastating diagnosis…EARLY ONSET ALZHEIMER’S. Jan’s Story is a full, rich story of two people–and thousands like them–for whom “forever” suddenly and terrifyingly has an expiration date. Barry Petersen is a long-time, award-winning TV journalist who has covered wars, the devastating Asian tsunami, the historic confrontation at Tiananmen Square, the unspeakable deaths in Rwanda, and so much more…but was not even slightly prepared for what happened to his darling wife, Jan.

watch a quick video about Jan’s Story by visiting YouTube

Read more about Barry Petersen by visiting www.BarryPetersen.com

My thoughts: First and foremost…grab the tissue box because you’re going to need it. I loved this book and not because it’s heartbreaking, but because Barry has such a way of telling his story. It’s not only beautifully written, it is gripping too. I totally recommend this book to anyone who has ever had to experience the ‘long goodbyes’ of Alzheimer’s. Jan’s Story is definitely one worth reading.

Next we have a book that you normally wouldn’t find me reading. It’s a book that is geared more towards the younger group (teens, in particular), but I thought it sounded interesting so I opened it. After the first page I found myself glued to the pages- literally!

GREEK; Double Date

By: Marsha Warner

ARP: $9.99 U.S. / $11.99 CAN

ISBN-10: 0373210140

ISBN-13: 978-0373210145

Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (May 1, 2010)

GREEK: Double Date

features an all-new storyline. It is a quick, captivating beach read for teens of all ages and fans of the show. ABC Family currently draws a highly literate teen audience with approximately 82% reading books, other than for school purposes, as a leisure activity.

Excerpt:

Major OOPS! When Casey Cartwright’s brother begs her to be nerdy Dale Kettlewell’s date to the sure-to-be-boring Honors Engineering Awards, Casey says yes. Even though Dale is totally not her type…and might have a crush on her. UGH. But it’s a nice thing to do, and Casey’s always been the “nice” girl.

But now, that night conflicts with the biggest event of the semester, the All-Greek formal. Casey already has a date lined up: hot transfer student Rob Howell. He’s her plan to get over her sexy-slacker ex, Cappie. And even nice girls get to be bad sometimes, right?

What to do? With a little help from BFF Ashleigh, unwanted advice from frenemy Rebecca Logan and even a push from Cappie, what Casey does may surprise even herself.

Read more about Greek @ www.abcfamily.com/greek

My Thoughts: Definitely a book with a lot of chaos. Can you imagine the merry-go-round of teenage drama? I’m too old- Ha! Really though, to get away from the normal reads that most of us adults find ourselves indulging our time in, this is a definite read. If anything, it’ll take you back to the days when you were in school and whether you were popular or not, it can give you an insight into the drama they lived…I personally liked the book and have even passed it on to my son. I haven’t had any feedback from him yet, other than, “I’m still reading mom, I’ll let you know later”…

Next we have a book that I have grown fond of. It’s a book that I like to keep next to my bed because…well, it’s The Power of Rest. This book, in just 30 days, can help reset your body. It will help teach you about physical, mental, social and spiritual rest. Did you know there were more than one type of rest? Neither did I.

The Power of Rest; Why Sleep alone is not enough

By: Matthew Edlund, M.D.

ARP: $25.99

ISBN: 978-0-06-186276-2

Publisher: HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers (June 8, 2010)

Genre: Self Help

Too many people today accept sluggishness and fatigue as the inevitable side effects of hectic lives, and believe that there isn’t much they can do about it besides squeezing in another hour or two of sleep. Getting enough sleep is important (and Dr. Edlund provides plenty of expert advice on sleeping well) but it’s only one part of a much larger spectrum of rest. The benefits of making time for rest have proven extraordinary: when people engage the body’s power to restore and renew itself, they look younger, heal faster, lose weight more effectively, and experience greater joy in their work and their relationships.

Dr. Edlund has isolated the unique benefits of four crucial types of active rest to create a groundbreaking program that fits easily into even the busiest schedules. The rest types include: Physical, Mental, Social and Spiritual.

We wouldn’t expect our bodies to function without food and, Dr. Edlund argues, we shouldn’t expect to feel fully fueled and alert without rest. This step-by-step 20-day plan introduces one simple, no-cost technique each day- many of which can be accomplished in just a minute or two. Readers will learn to make room in their lives for this basic biological need, and how to quickly create a healthier, more successful, more vital and relaxed life.

Read more about Dr. Edlund by visiting www.therestdoctor.com

My Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoy reading this book still today. I found that even after you’ve read the book in it’s entirety; it’s a good book to keep around. It’s one that you can easily go back to when you need it most. The most interesting part is how you can, and I have been, learning to reset ‘rest’ in 30-days (as long as you/I read it and follow the steps each day). There really is a lot to learn from this book and I totally recommend it. Especially if you have problems resting or feel sluggish most days because your sleep deprived (that’s probably 99.99% of all adults these days).

Next we have a book that’s sure to get you thumbing through each page with every attention to details. This story is about Didi Heron and how she searches for the lost tape of her father’s last gig before he died, tragically. It’s a book that celebrates family and musical legacies; a book that will inspire anyone who turns the page.

Now’s the Time; A Novel

By: Larry Strauss

ARP: $14.95

ISBN: 978-0-9723706-7-7

Publisher: Kearney Street Books (June 2010)

Genre: Fiction

Didi’s journey takes unexpected twists and turns as she grows close to an elderly drummer who was once her father’s worst enemy and supposedly in possession of the tape. Also dogging her heels is the big record executive who is financing her journey and expects a return on his investment, the memories of the father she thinks she knows, and her own dream of becoming a female jazz trumpeter in the male-dominated art.

Larry Strauss, a former subway graffiti artist, stand-up comic, television writer and corporate poet, is a jazz enthusiast who now makes a more conventional living as an English teacher and basketball coach in South Central Los Angeles, “where I try to recruit boys out of materialism, violence and despair and into the world of ideas,” he says.

This book is a fictional one where names, characters, places and incidents are product of the author’s imagination.

To read more about this and other books from Kearney Street Books; visit www.kearneystreetbooks.com

My Thoughts: Yes, it’s fiction, but you try remembering that fact when reading. This book is written so well that you actually feel for the character. I had to remind myself that it wasn’t ‘for real’. I felt the pain, the love, the devotion in the character that I felt so taken by Didi. It’s a book I think you’d definitely enjoy reading. I loved it and was pretty disappointed that it was only 170 pages. It’s a quick fun summer read indeed!

Two books to go…are you still with me? Do you like what I’m showing you so far? Good…let’s move on.

This next book is one that I really got into. It’s a book about “rediscovering our ability to rescue the earth”. It’s a very compelling read and had me reevaluating humans and their ability to care for the earth enough to do something about it. To save it- before it’s too late.

The Fate Of Nature: Rediscovering Our Ability to Rescue the Earth

By: Charles Wohlforth

ARP: $27.99

ISBN-10: 0312377371

ISBN-13: 978-0312377373

Publisher: Thomas Dunne/St. Martin’s Press (June 2010)

Wohlforth shows the drama of our planet’s fate in microcosm, using the ocean, once thought of as a limitless well of untapped riches, but now increasingly depleted. He has seen the changes himself in his native Alaska, where even remote and seemingly pristine waters have declining fish and marine mammal numbers. “The ocean can best represent the vast, complex and fragile living world outside ourselves, giving context to what we see within. It is worth asking how we have made this choice for things that are small and fleeting over an eternal source of life”,” cautions Wohlforth…

About the Author: Charles Wohlforth is a lifelong Alaska resident and author of The Whale and The Supercomputer, winner of the L.A. times Book Prize, as well as many other books and articles about nature, history, politics, and travel in the North. An avid cross-country skier, Wohlforth lives during the winter in Anchorage with his wife, Barbara, and their four children. In summer they live off the grid on a remote Kachemak Bay shore reach-able only by boat.

Read more about his book by visiting www.fateofnature.com  or by visiting www.stmartins.com

My Thoughts: Definitely a worthy read for anyone who wants to learn more about the complexities of what actually is going on out there; beyond our front door steps. I was intrigued by what I read and found myself flipping back and forth through the pages and endnotes; not to mention Charles’s personal notes at the end of the book. It is a powerful, yet interesting, book that I had the utmost pleasure of reading.

Last, but certainly not least; we have an amazingly paranormal fiction book from none other than Kelley Armstrong. This is actually an advanced readers copy…and guess what? The winner gets their hands on a copy; and it doesn’t even hit shelves until August 3rd, 2010. Because I was sent both copies (mine and winner’s) this book will actually be sent to the winner, from me, while all other books will be sent from Sponsor.

The final book in this giveaway is:

Waking The Witch

By: Kelley Armstrong

ARP: $25.95

ISBN: 978-0-525-95178-0

Publisher: Dutton Publicity

Genre: Fiction

Waking The Witch

The orphaned daughter of a sorcerer and a half-demon, Savannah is a terrifyingly powerful young witch who has never been able to resist the chance to throw her magical weight around. But at 21 she knows she needs to grow up and prove to her guardians, Paige and Lucas, that she can be a responsible member of their supernatural detective agency. So she jumps at the chance to fly solo, investigating the mysterious deaths of three young women in a nearby factory town as a favour to one of the agency’s associates. At first glance, the murders look garden-variety human, but on closer inspection signs point to otherworldly stakes…

Read more about Waking The Witch by visiting www.kelleyarmstrong.com/waking-the-witch

 

My Thoughts: Yes, I know…wickedly enticing isn’t it? I have to say, for not reading a book of this nature very often, I was pretty impressed…well that’s kind of an understatement. I was actually thrilled to have read this book. There’s a lot of suspense and thrilling moments you just have to read. But, so sorry; because it’s an advanced readers copy- I say no more. You’ll just have to wait until it comes out on July 27th…or try and win a copy here.

*Just so you know. I shared the excerpt from www.kellyarmstrong.com/waking-the-witch since I didn’t want to take or share anything from the book.*

Time for a Giveaway…are we ready? Great, let’s begin.

To ENTER:

• 1st; you must be a subscriber to Blogfully via Google Friend Connect (publically) and or Email/RSS feed (Common, it aint that bad)
• AND leave a comment at the bottom of this post telling me which book you are interested in reading first.

 Additional (optional) Entries: *Must complete mandatory entries first/ leave a separate comment for each*

• Follow Blogfully on Twitter
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link to this post (in the comment leave a link to the exact page this giveaway is mentioned)
• Follow Blogfully on Networked blog (right side bar)
• Retweet this post using the “retweet” tab at the top right side of this post
• Share this giveaway with others using the “share this” tab at the bottom of this post

The Fine Print:

• This GIVEAWAY Ends on July 31, 2010 @ 11:59pm CST
• One (1) winner will be randomly drawn from all qualifying entries
• Winner will receive a copy of each title listed above (6 total titles)
• Winner will have 48 hours to reply to my notification or prize pack is forfeited and a new winner is drawn
• Sorry Folks: This Giveaway Is Opened to U.S. Residents Only

Disclosure: Each title above was sent to me for the purpose of my review (from Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc.) * The final title was sent via Wunderkind PR*. Thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are my own unless quoted otherwise. Thank you.

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