Armchair BEA Day 4: Surviving Fictional Worlds and a GIVEAWAY!

My book group just read Paolo Bacigalupi's The Water Knife. 

Have any of you read this?

It takes place in a not so distant future where climate change has really taken a toll on the US. Hurricanes and rising ocean levels on the coasts, unending drought in the southern states. States are fighting for water rights. Nevada is a dustbowl. Cities with water (heavily controlled and rationed water) are inundated with refugees from areas with no water. Northern states have closed off their borders to keep the people out.  

It is a very sad and scary look at what could happen if something is not done now to prevent it. It is so believable that this fictionalized look at our future is somewhere I would not want to find myself. 

Conserve water! Lower your carbon emissions! 

______________________

GIVEAWAY

Would you like to read this book? 

Leave a comment below and let me know what you are doing to save the Earth for future generations.  A winner will be randomly selected to receive a copy of The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi. You have until Friday, May 20th to enter. US only.

Happy Reading! _________________________________________

Vote for Remi by Leanna Lehman

About the Book

Fiery US government teacher Remi Covington is relentless in her desire to impart the genius of the democratic process to her students. Her so-called “academically challenged” high school seniors sometimes find her enthusiasm more than a little annoying―so, in an effort to teach her a lesson, they execute a brazen, high-tech, social media blitz touting her as the newest candidate in the upcoming US presidential race. Much to everyone’s surprise, Remi plays along with her students’ ruse―and in a nation weary of politics and career politicians, she unexpectedly finds herself the darling of the American public. 

As the campaign takes on a life of its own, Remi is forced to confront a myriad of long-held social biases and cultural clichés, and realizes she isn’t quite the woman she thought was. Vote for Remi is about a would-be a presidential candidate who, despite being all wrong―the wrong gender, the wrong party, and certainly the wrong social status―discovers that she might be exactly what America needs: someone with a passion for doing what is right.

About the Author

Leanna Lehman is the author of quirky political fiction novel, Vote For Remi (She Writes Press). She worked in the education field for six years, and specialized in developing online educational programs that assist at-risk teens. She lives in Fallon, Nevada, with her rescued dog Henry Higgins, and spends her free time painting, hiking, snowboarding, camping, and traveling to the coast. She found her passion for writing while undergoing chemo therapy in 2008-2009, when she began journaling her experience.

For more information about the author and the book visit her WEBSITE.

Giveaway

If you would like to win a copy of Vote for Remi, leave a comment on this post. 

I would love to hear what your campaign slogan would be if you were running for President! (But not necessary to enter.)

Giveaway is open to US residents only. 

You have until June 3rd to enter. 

Happy Reading! _________________________________________

Giveaway: Deadly Errors by Allen Wyler

Thriller Explores Biggest Medical Nightmare:

                                                      Deadly Patient-Care Errors

"A thriller that only a doctor could have written. Wyler's sense of the worlds of the hospital and operating room are unsurpassed. You'll feel as if you are right there."




--Michael Palmer, New York Times bestselling author of Miracle Cure and The Sisterhood




“Deadly Errors is a wild and satisfying ride! This is an ‘up all night’ pass into troubled places that only hard-working doctors know about, a turbulent world of trusting patients and imperfect humans struggling with the required image of perfection.”

--John J. Nance, author of Pandora’s Clock and Fire Flight

About the book

 A comatose man is given a fatal dose of insulin in the emergency room, even though he isn't diabetic.  An ulcer patient dies of shock after receiving a transfusion of the wrong blood type.  A recovering heart patient receives a double dose of medication and suffers a fatal heart attack.




Brain surgeon Dr. Tyler Matthews suspects that something is seriously wrong with the hospital’s new Med-InDx computerized medical record system. But he doesn’t suspect that there’s something murderously wrong with it.

As Matthews begins to peel back the layers of deception that cover the deadly errors, he crosses powerful corporate interests who aren’t about to let their multi-billion dollar medical record profits evaporate. Now a target, Matthews finds himself trapped in a maze of deadly conspiracy, with his career, his marriage, and his very life on the line.

Once again, Wyler blends his unparalleled expertise as a world-class surgeon with his uncanny knack for suspense to create a true best-of-breed medical thriller. Deadly Errors is a lightning-quick action procedural that is destined to win new fans to the medical thriller genre.

Buy the Book

Amazon

Astor+Blue

About the Author

Allen Wyler is a renowned neurosurgeon who earned an international reputation for pioneering surgical techniques to record brain activity.  He has served on the faculties of both the University of Washington and the University of Tennessee, and in 1992 was recruited by the prestigious Swedish Medical Center to develop a neuroscience institute.

In 2002, he left active practice to become Medical Director for a startup med-tech company (that went public in 2006) and he now chairs the Institutional Review Board of a major medical center in the Pacific Northwest.

Leveraging a love for thrillers since the early 70s, Wyler devoted himself to fiction writing in earnest, eventually serving as Vice President of the International Thriller Writers organization for several years. After publishing his first two medical thrillers Deadly Errors (2005) and Dead Head (2007), he officially retired from medicine to devote himself to writing full time.

He and his wife, Lily, divide their time between Seattle and the San Juan Islands.

www.allenwyler.com

Giveaway
To celebrate the release of Wyler's new novel, Deadly Odds,  Astor+Blue is offering you all a chance to win a copy of Deadly Errors. I have read a few of Wyler's books and am a fan. Anyone who enjoys a good medical mystery will enjoy it. Giveaway is open to US and Canadian readers. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Love at Pemberley Series Book Blast and GIVEAWAY

About Most Truly

Publication Date: December 15, 2013 Amazon Digital Services, Inc. eBook; 88 pages
Heat level: Sweet
Colonel James Fitzwilliam is home. The war has left him weary, battle-scarredóand a free man of fortune ready to find a wife. He travels to Pemberley, his second home. There he meets Kitty Bennet. Her unexpected charms soon have him questioning his familial duty and his expectations. A fight looms on the horizon when his auntóLady Catherine de Bourghóand his parents arrive with their own plans for his future.
Kitty Bennet has found happiness. At Pemberley, she has improved herself and formed true friendships with her sister Lizzy and Georgiana Darcy. Kitty is captivated by the gentlemanly Colonel Fitzwilliam. But she will not be silly over a redcoat again, and she will not risk her happinessóor his familyís displeasureófor his attentions. Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy, Lizzy, and Georgiana have their say, and Kitty learns a new lessonólove will find you at Pemberley.

About Miss Darcy Decides

Publication Date: January 21, 2014 Amazon Digital Services, Inc. eBook; 77 pages
Heat level: Sweet
Miss Darcy Decides is a light, sweet Pride and Prejudice novella, book two in the Love at Pemberley series.
While visiting a young womanówho was not so fortunate as Miss Georgiana Darcy in escaping the persuasions of a rogueóGeorgiana meets Sir Camden Sutton, whose reputation causes Georgiana to wonder as to his motives. Her wondering soon turns to a different feeling when Sir Camden comes to stay at Pemberley, showing himself to be a very different man than was rumored.
While Sir Camden struggles with his past and his commitment to his future, as well as the ill intentions of haughty Caroline Bingley, Miss Darcy must decide whether to listen to others, or the words written on her heart.

About Miss Bennet Blooms

Publication Date: 4/25/14 Amazon Digital Services, Inc. eBook; 70 pages
Heat level: Sweet
Miss Mary Bennet is the last unmarried Bennet sister. She believes she will live out her days as a maiden aunt, seeking quiet in the libraries and parlors of her father's and brother-in-laws' homes. On a visit to Pemberley, the estate of Fitzwilliam Darcy, her sister Lizzy's husband, Mary begins to feel more is possible than her planned life of solitude. Among new friends and with new confidence, Mary opens to new feelings when she meets Mr. Nathaniel Bingley.
Nathaniel Bingley, at the insistence of his cousin Charles Bingley, finds himself at Pemberley. After Nathaniel's years in the West Indies studying its intense flora, he is ready to seclude himself to compile his work into a book. But Nathaniel could not say no to Charles, who was one of Nathaniel's few kind relatives after the deaths of his beloved parents. Soon, Nathaniel also finds it difficult to say no to his own feelings about the lovely Miss Mary Bennet.
Can Mary and Nathaniel look beyond their plans and accept the grace of love at Pemberley?

Buy the Novellas

Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Books

About the Author

Reina M. Williams loves period dramas, sweet reads, fairy tales, cooking and baking. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her two boys, who hope to someday take a research trip to England with their mom.
For more information please visit Reina M. Williams's website. You can also connect with her on Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

Book Blast Schedule

May 12: Kincavel Korner May 13: Hardcover Feedback May 15: Peeking Between the Pages May 16: A Bookish Girl & The Lit Bitch May 20: CelticLady's Reviews May 21: Historical Tapestry & To Read, Or Not to Read May 22: Book Nerd, & Historical Fiction Obsession May 24: Passages to the Past May 26: Mari Reads May 27: Long Ago Love May 28: Kinx's Book Nook May 30: Flashlight Commentary June 1: Literary Chanteuse June 2: History From a Woman's Perspective June 4: She is Too Fond of Books June 5: So Many Books, So Little Time June 7: A Bookish Affair & Griperang's Bookmarks June 8: The True Book Addict June 9: West Metro Mommy June 11: Book Lovers Paradise, Historical Fiction Connection, and The Tower of Babel June 13: Carole's Ramblings & The Mad Reviewer

Giveaway

To win one of the following prizes please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. Giveaway is open internationally.

2 eBook Sets of Love at Pemberley Trilogy

2 Audio Books of Most Truly

Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on June 13th. You must be 18 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on June 14th and notified via email. Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Series Catch up and a GIVEAWAY!

I have fallen behind in some of my favorite book series. And thought this year would be a great year to get caught up.  I went through my stacks and figured out where I left off.  Here are the 10 books I need to get my hands on and read. 

Kathy Reichs Temperance Brennan Series:
Spider Bones Flash and Bones Bones are Forever
Kelly Armstrong Women of the Otherworld:
Frostbitten Waking the Witch Spellbound Thirteen
Jim Butcher Dresden Files:
Changes Ghost Story Cold Days
In my search though my bookshelves I found an extra copy of Storm Front by Jim Butcher. It is Book One of The Dresden Files. Anyone interested in starting a new series? It is a fun one.  Let me know in the comments if you would like me to send it your way. :)


Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Sherlock Challenge Wrap-Up and Giveaway Winner

Thank you so much to everyone that participated in my very first reading challenge. It was small and perhaps not as organized as most, but I really enjoyed reading everyone'e reviews and getting to read a couple of great Sherlock reads before the show returns to PBS on January 19th.

I hope those of you who joined in the Sherlock reading enjoyed themselves. I would love some feedback on how to improve on hosting a challenge. I have an idea for another Book to TV Reading Challenge or RAL for later in the year.

Okay, time to announce the winner of the Sherlock DVD's. There were 11 books read/reviewed by 5 participants. Using the Random Number Generator…

Congratulations, WordLily!!!

Don't forget to email me your mailing address and your preference for either Season 1 or 2. marireadsATyahooDOTcom

Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Review and GIVEAWAY: Winter at Death's Hotel by Kenneth Cameron

Winter at Death's Hotel by Kenneth Cameron 368 pages, paperback Published August 2013, Sourcebooks Landmark
Source: ARC sent from publisher for review
So, here is a little something different to read if you enjoy Sherlock Holme's stories or anything Sherlock related. This seemed the perfect read right now considering the Sherlock Challenge and my anxious waiting for the next season of Sherlock to start again, and it was.
This was an interesting twist. Arthur Conan Doyle and his wife are in NYC to start an American book tour. On their first night, a woman is murdered and Louisa is intrigued by the mystery since the artist's sketch in the paper looks like a woman she saw in their hotel upon their arrival. While her husband continues on the book tour, Louisa stays back and starts investigating on her own. Not easy to do being a woman in 1896 and on crutches.
Part historical fiction and part murder mystery, Winter at Death's Hotel is entertaining and fun. A good mystery, interesting characters and a great backdrop- the gritty back alley's of NYC and the posh Hotel and guests where Louisa stays. All makings for a good late night read.
____________________________
Would you like to read it? 
Great! Because I am having a GIVEAWAY.
All you have to do is leave me a comment and you will be entered to win a copy.  I would love to know your favorite murder mystery. Just be sure to do so before midnight PST on Sunday, December 1st. 
Good Luck!

Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Giveaway Winner!

We have ourselves a new owner of this very cute Sherlock Holmes Action Figure! Congratulations, Tif !  Email me your address to marireadsATyahooDOTcom. Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Sherlock Reading Challenge September Check-In and Giveaway!

Don't forget to link up your reviews! You can find the MisterLinky here. Remember, each review will be an entry for a giveaway of Season 1 or 2 DVD of Sherlock.  Haven't signed up for the challenge yet? Not a problem. You have plenty of time to join and get some reading done. Four months is plenty of time to read some of these stories. Join here! Here is a quick and easy to enter giveaway for all readers/followers of MariReads. Let me know your favorite adaptation of Sherlock Holmes and be entered to win this Sherlock Holmes Action Figure from GoneReading.com! 

You have until September 17th to enter! Open Internationally.  Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

My Memories Suite Review and Giveaway

 FTC disclosure: Software was provided free of charge for my honest review, giveaway and sharing of code for $10 off purchases made. Here is the code: STMMMS74120

The problem with the My Memories Suite is that I can't stop playing with it! This will fill my non-reading, non-knitting, non-playing with the little girl time with photos and scrapbook page rendering. Fun. Fun.

This was really easy to download (PC and MAC versions available) and easy to get started, especially if you choose to go the route of using an already made template. Pick one, upload your photos and you are done. I, however, like to make my own. I did first try out a template to figure out how papers are layered and embellishments added. Most of the layouts that are included with the version 4 suite are not really to my taste, a little too busy, so I used them more for ideas and guidance on how to do my own pages.

Here is one of my first pages made. A calendar page that I am using on my desktop of my computer (MAC for those interested). 

It takes some effort and time to go through all the stuff available and then figure out how to use it correctly. There is also some needed creativity on figuring out colors, layering and when to stop adding embellishments if you don't use the already made templates. The great thing about this being a digital scrapbook is that you can delete what you did very easily if you don't like it. I really enjoy being able to fiddle with the features and figuring out how to use the software. It's been a lot of fun. 

If you find making online photo books, such as on Shutterfly, difficult, this may not be the software for you. However, if you want your photo books to look more like the scrapbooks you make at home, and you are a little more tech savvy, then you will really like the My Memories Suite software.

Would you like to win your own free copy of the My Memories Suite, version 4? All you have to do is head on over to their site, take a look around, then come back here and leave me a comment telling me what paper pack or template you like. That's it! You have until midnight PST on Sunday, August 18th to enter. 

Happy Scrapbooking! _________________________________________

 FTC Disclosure: I get royalties for any purchases made using the code provided. 

Armchair BEA: Giveaway winner!

I hope everyone had a wonderful time participating in this year's Armchair BEA. I sure did. So many great blogger's to visit and learn from. Now that it is over, it is time to announce the winner of my Giveaway:

Our lucky winner of a shiny brand new copy of The Lavender Garden by Lucinda Riley is: Jennifer
Congratulations!!! Email me (marireadsATyahooDOTcom) your address and I will send the book out to you ASAP.
If you did not win but would still like a copy of your own, the book was published today in paperback. Look for my review later this week!
Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Armchair BEA: Giveaway time!

Time for a Giveaway!!!  Lucinda Riley is the author of The Orchid House and The Girl on the Cliff. Her third book, The Lavender Garden, will be released June 11th in paperback.  I have absolutely enjoyed all her books since recently getting introduced to them. I am currently reading The Lavender Garden to review and so far it is just as good as the previous two. 

 I would like to offer you a chance to win your very own brand new copy of The Lavender Garden. Just leave me a comment and your email address and you are entered. You have until midnight (PST) on Monday, June 10th to enter. I will announce the winner on June 11th. Giveaway is open internationally. 

Good Luck and Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Giveaway!

To help promote the release of The Understory, a new book from author Elizabeth Leikness, Bancroft Press is having a really great giveaway. 
Go to their Facebook page and enter. With every 100 entries they will give away:
1. The Understory2. The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns
 and two more eBooks of the winner's choosing!
Good luck!
_________________________________________ 

FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Winner! The Day the World Ends: Poems by Ethan Coen

Congratulaions 
Julie!!!
You have won a copy of The Day the World Ends by Ethan Coen.Please email me your address to marireadsATyahooDOTcom. 
Winner chosen by Random Number Generator.
_________________________________________ 

FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Giveaway Winner

Congratulations,
hannahw!
you are the winner of 5 great Middle Grade books. Hope your kids and you enjoy them!Please email me your shipping address to marireadsATyahooDOTcom and I will put them in the mail to you ASAP. _________________________________________ 

FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Winner of $15 to spend at GoneReading.com

Congratulations 

Serena of SavvyVerse & Wit

You are the lucky winner of

$15 to spend at

Go to GoneReading.com and choose the items you would like then email me your list and address to marireadsATyahooDOTcom. I will put in the order and have it shipped to you. Congrats!!!
Random Number Generator used to pick winner._________________________________________ 

FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

MANday GIVEAWAY!!

A Message from Jillian Dodd:

I recently met author CJ West. Aside from writing great books, I couldn’t help but notice that he was pretty darn cute. So I politely inquired about the possibility of him appearing on one of my MANday blog posts. (Actually, I said, Do you have good abs?)  After a little help from some of my female author friends, we convinced him (okay, we bribed him) into agreeing. 

So here’s the deal:

If we can get 5,000 people to comment on his website, he will be featured on MANday!

In case you have never seen a MANday post, feast your eyes on this and this. 

(Be sure to come right back here!!) 

If you help us, YOU will be eligible to win a prize package of ebooks by both CJ West and myself, Jillian Dodd, as well as some of our friend’s books. You can enter to win that package by doing this:

Just leave a comment below letting me know that you went over and commented on CJ West's blog! That's it! 

If we reach our goal, we will also award a $500 Amazon Gift card to one lucky winner!!! 

To enter, go to  CJ’s blog and leave a comment. 

He needs a little encouragement!!

List of e-books in prize package:

That Boy  by Jillian Dodd

That Wedding by Jillian Dodd

The End of Marking Time by CJ West

Sin And Vengeance by CJ West

Drawing Free by Elena Aitken

Devil Unknown a novella by Steena Holmes

Elemental Magic by Angela Wallace

Again by Diana Murdock

Telesa by Lani Wendt Young

Exiled by MR Merrick

The Bridge Club by Patricia Sands

_________________________________________ 

FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.