The Forgiven Duke Review and Giveaway

Yes, I’m back with a great giveaway opportunity. 

Tethered by her impulsive promise to marry Lord John Lemon—the path of least resistance—Alexandria Featherstone sets off from Ireland to Iceland in search of her parents with a leaden heart. Her glimpse of her guardian, the Duke of St. Easton—the path less traveled by—on Dublin’s shore still haunts her. Will he come after her? Will he drag her back to London, quelling her mission to rescue her treasure-seeking parents, or might he decide to throw caution to the wind and choose Foy Pour Devoir: “Faith for Duty,” the St. Easton motto. The Featherstone mottoValens et Volens: “Willing and Able” beats in her heart and thrums through her veins. She will find her parents and find their love, no matter the cost.

The powerful and wing-clipped Duke of St. Easton has never known the challenge that has become his life since hearing his ward’s name. Alexandria Featherstone will be the life of him or the death of him. Only time and God’s plan will reveal just how much this man can endure for the prize of love.

My Thoughts:  This book is a thrilling sequel to The Guardian Duke.  I love the characters, the descriptive language, and everything else about this book.  To give you a clue as to how much I liked it, I stayed up last night until midnight in order to finish it!  I would highly recommend this book for anyone who likes a good adventure/romance story.

Giveaway Rules:

For a mandatory entry you must leave a comment on this post.  The extra entries detailed below do not have to be completed in order to enter, but they will increase your chances of winning.  Giveaway ends April 27, 2012.  This means you can no longer enter.  This contest is open to residents of Canada and the U.S.A. only.

1. Subscribe to this blog.  (If you have already done so, put up an extra comment telling me, or else it won’t count.)
2. Like this blog’s Facebook page.
3. Like the Guardian Duke page on Facebook.
4. Share the link to this giveaway on Facebook.
5. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter.
6. Post about this giveaway on your blog/website.  When you comment for this extra entry, include the link.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Cleopatra VII: Daughter Of The Nile

Author: Kristiana Gregory 

Genre: Tween

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 8

Type: Historical Fiction

Time Period: Ancient

Main Characters: Cleopatra

My Review:  This is my favorite Royal Diary.  It starts with Cleopatra recording her worries that her evil sister Tryphena will have her killed since her father has gone into hiding.  The book continues along at a swift pace from Cleopatra’s escape to Rome with her father, to her account of staying a seaside villa, to their triumphant return to Alexandria.  This book is one of the best Royal Diaries written.

My Overall Opinion:  As I said above, this is my favorite Royal Diary.  It was the first one I’ve read and I’ve read it several times after that.  I would recommend this book to any girl.

Isabel: Jewel of Castilla

Author: Carolyn Meyer

Genre: Tween

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 8

Type: Fictional diary/historical fiction

Time Period: 1400′s

Main Characters: Isabel

My Review:  This is my favorite Royal Diary.  One of the reasons is that the princess married for love and really did live happily ever after with her prince.  Isabel is in constant fear of being married off to men several times her age.  Her ladies-in-waiting rally around her, giving her their support, but what can she do?  Then, with the help of Bishop Carillo, she concocts a daring plan which just might get her married to a handsome, dashing prince.  Will she succeed, or will her brother stand in her way?

My overall opinion:   I really enjoyed reading this Royal Diary and would highly recommend it to any girl.

What I’m Reading

I’m currently reading Jane Eyre and I’m really enjoying it.

I probably won’t be posting a review when I’m finished it, because I can never find the right words to describe great classics.  Just read the book for yourself if you want to see what it’s about.

By the way, I reading a lot of classics these days and I have several books on my TBR shelf.  The include – Bleak House, The Olde Curiosity Shoppe, Persuasion, and Charity Girl (By Georgette Heyer.  It will be the first book of hers I’ve read.) 

Little Dorrit

Author: Charles Dickens

Genre: Historical

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 10

Type: Classic

Time Period: Victorian

Main Characters: Little Dorrit, Arthur Clennam

My Review:  Little Dorrit lives in debtors prison with her father.  When an unexpected find brings them unexpected riches, will it become a blessing or a curse?

My overall opinion:  The reason I did such a short review is because I honestly can’t find words to describe this book.  I recently watched Little Dorrit 2008 and I like the book even better.  This book is a great read, although quite long.

The Guardian Duke – Review and Giveaway

Author: Jamie Carie

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 8

Type: Romance

Time Period: Regency

Main Characters: Alexandria Featherstone, Gabriel

My Review:  Duke Gabriel and Lady Alexandria Featherstone only know each through writing letters.  When Alexandria sets off on a dangerous quest to find her parents, her guardian, the Duke follows, trying to protect her.  But somehow, he is always one step behind.  This thrilling adventure/mystery is a must-read

My overall opinion:  This book is definitely on my favorites list.  I like the adventure and the characters and I would recommend it to anyone.

By sure to watch the live-action trailer for this book here.

A little bit about the author:

When she was six, Jamie’s parents met Jesus and soon after started a church. It changed everything.

Road trips with her dad—to and from Bible studies across Indiana—were filled with talks of things beyond earth’s bounds – creation and the fall, God and Jesus and the rapture, the earthly walk compared to the spiritual walk, and how we are born for more than what we can see or touch.

The highlight of those nights was stopping at a truck stop in the middle of the night where her dad would spend a little of the offering basket on two slices of pie and a couple of Cokes. Nothing ever felt so special as a middle of the night slice of pie with her dad. And nothing could stop the writing pouring out of her.

As Jamie’s relationship with God grew, she discovered her heart was filled with songs and poetry. During high school she wrote lyrics for her brother’s band. (And she sang them too!) After college, Jamie married, had two sons and decided to stay home with them. While she homeschooled she wrote skits, poems, plays and short stories for school and church.
When her eldest son turned five she dove into the world of novels. She’d read romance novels for years, but couldn’t relate to the flawless, saintly heroines in Christian romance novels. So she decided to write her own.

Snow Angel was born on a frosty night in an old farmhouse in Fishers, Indiana, where the cold floor gave plenty of motivation for the snow scene. Jamie loves to write late at night when the house is quiet and the darkness seems alive. Elizabeth and Noah had been playacting in herhead for a long time, so the story went fast.
Ten years later Snow Angel was published and won the ForeWord magazine Romance Book of the Year winner, was a National “Best Books 2007” Awards winner, and a 2008 RITA Awards® Best First Book finalist. It was the beginning of her dream career.

Jamie and her husband Tony have been married for twenty-one years and live in Indianapolis with their three sons and a giant of a dog named Leo.

If she could only say one thing to her readers it would be, “Live the dreams God has destined you for!”

Giveaway Rules:

For a mandatory entry you must leave a comment on this post.  The extra entries detailed below do not have to be completed in order to enter, but they will increase your chances of winning.  Giveaway ends March 15, 2012.  This means you can no longer enter.  This contest is open to residents of Canada and the U.S.A. only.

1. Subscribe to this blog.  (If you have already done so, put up an extra comment telling me, or else it won’t count.)
2. Subscribe to my writing blog.  (If you have already done so, put up an extra comment telling me, or else it won’t count.)
3. Like this blog’s Facebook page.
4. Like the Guardian Duke page on Facebook.
5. Share the link to this giveaway on Facebook.
6. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter.
7. Post about this giveaway on your blog/website.  When you comment for this extra entry, include the link.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

October Song

Author: Beverly Lewis

Genre: Amish Fiction

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 7

Type: Christian Fiction

Time Period: Modern

Main Characters: Katie, Daniel, Sarah, and lots of others

My Review: I enjoyed reading October Song because it included sequels to two of the books/series I’ve read – The Redemption of Sarah Cain and The Heritage of Lancaster County series.  My favorite part of the book (there are three parts) was probably the first one – Hickory Hollow.  I also enjoyed the last section, a sequel to The Redemption of Sarah Cain, but I skipped the middle part because I had not read the book(s) it was a sequel to.

My overall opinion:  A great read for anyone who has read and enjoyed B.L.’s works should read this.  However, if you have not read the books they are a sequel to, I suggest you read the originals first.

Cooper & Me And The Military Review and Giveaway

Author: Monique and Alexa Peters

Genre: Children

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 9

Type: Picture book

Time Period: Modern

Main Characters: Cooper and Trooper

My Review:  Cooper and Me and The Military is a wonderful children’s book.  With rhyming text, fun pictures, and an interesting story, it is the perfect book to hold children’s attention.  I read it to my little brother, and he enjoyed it very much and carries it with him everywhere.  It tells of a boy and girl (and their dog) who send a special gift to their parents who are overseas.

My overall opinion:  A very interesting book that I would highly recommend for young children.

For a mandatory entry you must leave a comment on this post.  The extra entries detailed below do not have to be completed in order to enter, but they will increase your chances of winning.  Giveaway ends February 29, 2012.  This means you can no longer enter.  This contest is open to residents of Canada and the U.S.A. only.

1. Subscribe to this blog.  (If you have already done so, put up an extra comment telling me, or else it won’t count.)
2. Subscribe to my writing blog.  (If you have already done so, put up an extra comment telling me, or else it won’t count.)
3. Like this blog’s Facebook page.
4. Like the Cooper and Me page on Facebook.
5. Share the link to this giveaway on Facebook.
6. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter.
7. Post about this giveaway on your blog/website.  When you comment for this extra entry, include the link.

Put this button on your blog/website to spread the word about this giveaway.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Lady Vernon and Her Daughter

Author: Jane Rubino and Caitlen Rubino-Bradway

Genre: Novel

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 5

Type: Historical Fiction

Time Period: Late 1700′s 

Main Characters: Lady Vernon, Miss Vernon

My Review: I recently read Lady Susan by Jane Austen, so I borrowed this book from the library.  Even in it’s letter form, Lady Susan had been entertaining, so I had high hopes for this book.  Boring.  I got through the first twenty chapters to where it really starts following the book (the other chapters had been background).  I did like the middle, then it got boring again, and then the last few chapters were interesting.  They included letters throughout the book – some from Lady Susan, others that weren’t.  If you are a die-hard Austen fan and you have lots of time on your hands, this book is for you.  Includes excerpts from Lady Susan.  I’m reading a continuation of The Watsons right now, and I hope to give it a more favorable report.  

My overall opinion:  A (in my opinion) bit boring.  I probably won’t read it again, but it was interesting enough.

The Inheritance

Author: Louisa May Alcott

Genre: Historical Fiction

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 7

Type: Juvenilia

Time Period: Mid-1800′s

Main Characters: Edith Adelon

My Review: This is the first full-fledged novel that L.M.A. wrote.  She was only seventeen when she penned this novel and it is obvious that it is an early work.  Nevertheless, it is very interesting and well written.  Edith Adelon is a poor governess with a mystery surrounding her birth.  When she saves the life of Amy, her pupil, she is given a higher place in the heart of the family.  When a poor stranger gives her a mysterious parcel, which reveals her true identity, will Edith claim her rightful inheritance?

My overall opinion:  With its flowery language and lots of description, the Inheritance is not the most enjoyable book to read, but it does give a good story and interesting characters.  I’ve read it several times.

FINISHED!

I finished revising, polishing, and editing Eleanor and Catherine: Tender Hopes and Dreams today.  I started on a new novella called The Highborn Governess.  It’s a kind of sequel to E and C.  It’s really taking off and I can’t wait to see how it develops.

An excerpt from E and C:

Robert’s mind was made up.  He would propose to Miss Harcourt.  His reasons were simple, mercenary, and base.  He was a younger son and as such he would not inherit the estate upon his father’s death and he would only receive a small sum of money since most of it would go to his brother.  He needed an heiress to make his way in the world (or so he thought).

Eleanor was such an heiress.  She had thirty thousand pounds to her name, the Harcourt family was well-respected, and they would welcome an alliance with the illustrious Davrille line even from a younger son.  Of this he was sure.

Eleanor’s beauty, accomplishments, and intelligence of mind meant little to him.  If she had been one and thirty, had warts, and a sour disposition it would have made no difference to him.  He needed an heiress and one was as good as another.  Eleanor was an easy choice since the Davrilles and Harcourts were intimately acquainted.

She had given him no encouragement, but when she had given him only as much attention as courtesy demanded, he had thought her modest.  When her sister Catherine had openly scowled at him, he thought that she knew Eleanor was in love with him, and did not wish her sister taken away.  When Eleanor had pointed him out he was angry at first, but soon came to look at it as a sign of her admiration in wanting to show him to her friends.  Such were Robert Davrille’s vain, blind thoughts.

Eleanor knew nothing of Robert’s intentions.  She was certainly not looking for an offer from him and did not even think there was any possibility of such a thing.  Therefore it came to her as an unpleasant shock when Robert called that morning, without any of his family and almost demanded from Lady Harcourt a private audience with her eldest daughter.

Lady Harcourt had not seen as much of Robert as Eleanor and Catherine had and so had not formed an unfavourable opinion of him.  Most of what she knew of him she had heard from Lady Davrille and one of Lady Davrille’s habits was to speak highly of all her children.  Therefore, Lady Harcourt knew nothing bad of him and acquiesced to his request.  Had she seen Eleanor’s look of keen distress she probably would have changed her mind, but she quickly swept out of the room calling Catherine to follow her.

Catherine saw Eleanor’s face change and would have given anything to be able to stay with her, but Lady Harcourt was not to be disobeyed, so with an anguished look in Eleanor’s direction she quietly left the room.

Eleanor rose up as if to leave but then sat down again, resolving to sit through Robert’s talk with as much grace as she could muster.

“My dear Miss Harcourt,” Robert began grandly, “You cannot have mistaken the many attentions I have shown you over the past week or so.  I wish you to marry me and am prepared to offer you all the luxuries you are accustomed to.”  So ended his stiff speech.

Eleanor sat silent for awhile, thinking out what she should say.  She resolved to be gracious, yet polite, and unswerving in her meaning.  “Thank you for the proposal you have made to me.  I am, however, not able to return your affection and I am not able to accept you,” she said as calmly as possible.

Robert stared at her.  Then, turning swiftly, he left the room, quite angry.  Eleanor sank down on a chair.  In a few minutes she had recovered and calmed herself and went in search of Catherine.  Finding her, she spilled out all that happened.  Catherine was, of course, not shocked that he had proposed, since it was obvious he had meant to do so when he called.  She was also not amazed that he had chosen to propose to Eleanor.  She was an heiress, beautiful, charming, and accomplished.  And although Catherine was all of these, she had a smaller fortune than Eleanor.

They then went and told Lady Harcourt.  She was surprised that Eleanor had turned him down, but when they told her all that he had done to try Eleanor’s patience, she no longer was surprised but instead was thankful that Eleanor had refused him.

An excerpt from T.H.G:

Amy Ashby was alone in the world.  She had been alone in the world since night before last when her father passed on.  She had ran to her chamber, bursting into tears and it had taken the combined efforts of Mrs. Tirrod, the kindly housekeeper and Amy’s favourite maid to persuade her to eat something.

She only just managed to choke down a piece of bread and a bowl of chicken broth before bolting the door and falling on her bed, bursting into tears.  Mrs. Tirrod could only listen outside the door sorrowfully and wait for Amy to open it of her own accord. 

Next morning she calmed herself with great effort and ventured outside her room.  The undertaker had made all the arrangements of which she was thankful.  She had breakfast brought up to her room and spent the day with her needlework, sad and silent.

Now this present morning she stood in the spacious drawing room, looking sadly out the window at the lawn and gently sloping hills beyond it.

“Letter for you, Miss Ashby,” a maid said, handing it to her.  Amy broke open the seal.

I did it!

I did what I set out to do!  Reach 15,000 words in my novella.  I want to reach 20,000 now which that may be slightly beyond my scope although I do have a few more plot twists to add to the story.  You can read more about my novella here and here.

Sorry the picture is cut off a bit.  I got it from here.

While Mortals Sleep

Author:  Jack Cavanaugh

Genre:  Christian Fiction 

My rating on a 1-10 scale:  9

Type:  Fiction 

Time period:  Pre-WWII Germany

Main characters:  Josef Shumacher, Mady Schumacher 

My Review:  Josef Shumacher struggles to resist the ever-increasing tide of Nazi propaganda and lies.  Working with six youth from his church, he tries to refute the Nazi regime.  He and his wife Mady are expecting their first child.  When Josef is called to save some crippled children from a hellish psychiatric/death facility he accepts the challenge and almost dies because of it.  Suddenly four youth from the church and Mady are given a difficult decision that involves everything they know.  Will they be able to rescue Josef in time?  

My overall opinion:  A suspenseful read with surprises at every page.  I would highly recommend this book.

A REALLY Long Book Tag

I found this tag from safirewriter.

1. What’s your word count?  For my novella, Eleanor and Catherine, about 14,000 words.

2. How long until you finish? I have no idea.  I’m still in the throes of revising, revising, and more revising.

3. If you have finished, how long did it take you? I haven’t finished.

4. Do you have an outline?  I scribbled a few notes for E and C but never really had a firm outline (except in my head).

5. Do you have a plot?  I don’t even understand that question.

6. How many words do you typically write a day? As many as possible.

7. What was your greatest word count in one day? Hmmmm…Probably around 4,000

8. What was your least impressive word count in one day?  When I didn’t write a thing.

9. What inspired you to write?  Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility

10. Does your novel have a theme song?No

11. Assign each of your major characters a theme song.  No theme song for any of them.
 
12. Which character is most like you?  Catherine most likely.

13. Which character would you most likely be friends with?  Catherine would be a lot of fun.

14. Do you have a Gary-Stu or Mary Sue character?  No.

15. Who is your favorite character in your novel?  Eleanor

16. Have your characters ever done something completely unexpected? Not really, but a whole new character pushed her way into my story once.

17. Have you based any of your novel directly on personal experiences?  Never, my life hasn’t been too interesting.

18. Do you believe in plot bunnies?  What are they?

19. Is there magic in your novel?No.

20. Are any holidays celebrated in your novel?  No.

21. Does anyone die?  Once, but the person who died wasn’t a main character.

22. How many cups of coffee/tea have you consumed during your writing experience?  I don’t drink while I’m writing.

23. What is the latest you have stayed up writing?  10:30 p.m.

24. What is the best line?  “She could scarcely believe her own heart, being young and inexperienced in such matters, but she knew enough of her happiness and enjoyment of Henry’s company.”

25. What is the worst line?  I couldn’t say…
26. Have you dreamed about your novel or its characters?  Unfortunately, no.

27. Does your novel rely heavily on allegory?  No

28. Summarize your novel in under fifteen words.  I’ll try:  ’Two girls find happily ever after.’

29. Do you love all your characters?  Not my villains, e.g., Fanny Ashby, Robert Davrille.

30. Have you done something sadistic or cruel to your characters specifically to increase your word count?  Never, never, never!

31. What was the last thing your main character ate? I don’t concentrate on those details.

32. Describe your main character in three words.  I have two: Eleanor – Calm, Intelligent, Pretty; Catherine  - Cheerful, Friendly, Pretty.

33. What would your antagonist dress up as for Halloween?  They don’t celebrate Halloween.

34. Does anyone in your story go to a place of worship?  No

35. How many romantic relationships take place in your novel?  Two couples get married.

36. Are there any explosions in your novel?  Emotional yes.

37. Is there an apocalypse in your novel?  No!

38. Does your novel take place in a post-apocalyptic world?  Definitely not

39. Are there zombies, vampires or werewolves in your novel?  NO! 

40. Are there witches, wizards or mythological creatures/figures in your novel?  NO!

41. Is anyone reincarnated?  NO!

42. Is anyone physically ailed?  Definitely.

43. Is anyone mentally ill?  No.

44. Does anyone have swine flu?  No.

45. Who has pets in your novel and what are they?  Animals aren’t in my stories.

46. Are there angels, demons, or any religious references/figures in your novel?  No.

47. How about political figures?  No.

48. Is there incessant drinking?  Never!

49. Are there board games? If so, which ones?   No.

50. Are there any dream sequences?  No.

51. Is there humor?  I’m not the type…

52. Is there tragedy?  Um…sort of…

53. Does anyone have a temper tantrum?  No.

54. How many characters end up single at the end of your novel?  Two.  They are both villains so I think they would be good for each other.

55. Is anyone in your novel adopted?  No.
 
56. Does anyone in your novel wear glasses?  No.

57. Has your novel provided insight about your life?  No.

58. Your personality?  Reclusive about my writing.

59. Has your novel inspired anyone?  Not that I know of.

60. How many people have asked to read your novel?  I can count them on the fingers of one hand.

61. Have you drawn any of your characters?  No.

62. Has anyone drawn your characters for you?  No.

63. Does anyone vomit in your novels?  No.

64. Does anyone bleed in your novel?  No.

65. Do any of your characters watch TV?  They live in Regency times.  Enough said.

66. What size shoe does your main character wear?  I don’t have a clue.

67. Do any of the characters in your novel use a computer?  Same answer as No. 65

68. How would you react if your novel was erased entirely?  Just start rewriting it.  I would hate all that hard work down the drain though.  I have the story saved on my flash drive, my word processor, and the Internet so I don’t think it’s very likely.

69. Did you cry at killing off any of your characters?  None have died so far.

70. Did you cheer when killing off one of your characters?  Same answer as No. 69.

71. What advice would you give to a fellow writer.  Read, ‘Rite, Revise.

72. Describe your ending in three words.  Satisfaction, love, happiness.

73. Are there any love triangles, squares, hexagons, etc.?  No, but there is a slight misunderstanding.

74. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being the least stressful, 10 being the most) how does your stress rank?  1 – I don’t have any stress unless I can’t find the word I’m searching for.  I have experienced euphoria when my characters have a happy ending.

75. Was it worth it?  Yes, yes, yes…I could write that word over and over again.  IT WAS WORTH IT!

The Tombs of Anak

In this thrilling tale in the Cooper kids series, Jake Cooper and his two children Jay and Lila are called to a remote heathen temple in the Middle East.  They hear strange tales of giants in underground caves.  Jake and his two children are separated leaving him to a battle of wits with crafty priestess while Jay and Lila are hunted by a strange, demonic giant in the tombs of Anak.  One of their friends, lured by the tale of a fabulous treasure risks his life again and again in pursuit of wealth.  This spine-tingling read is a great adventure story.

Nick of Time

Nick of Time is the thrilling story of young boy named Nick and his little sister in pre-WWII Britain.  When Nick finds an old sea chest he’s intrigued by the name on the top.  His name.  When an English Lord and his assistant help open the chest, they find Leonardo Da Vinci’s fabled time machine, and a startling note for help – from two centuries ago.  Nick and his friends travel back in time to help one of the British navy’s ships escape danger.  Meanwhile, his little sister, Katie and her friend Hobbes stay in the present and fight a battle of wits against treacherous Germans aboard a dangerous submarine.  This book is a thrilling read that will keep you spellbound till the end.

My Novel Writing Progress

My novel is coming along well.  I really am getting into the story and it is developing well.  You can read more about it here and here, and I’m giving you an excerpt.

**************************************************

They walked on in silence for some time.  Eleanor’s feelings were of the happiest sort.  She could scarcely believe her own heart, being young and inexperienced in such matters, but she knew enough of her happiness and enjoyment of Henry’s company.  Whether Henry felt them also was yet to be determined.

At length he spoke.  “Where are you headed to Miss Harcourt?”

“I am going to Lushings Hall to pay a call on Lady Marlin.  I want to know the particulars of her proposed trip.”

“Ah, yes.  I would advise you to go, Miss Harcourt.  It is not likely that you will have too many more such chances.  Your mother, I have heard, does not like London.”

“No, she does not like it at all,” was Eleanor’s only reply, “Oh, we are at Lushings Hall.  I must bid you good-bye Mr. Davrille.”  How unwillingly she spoke those words!  But suppressing her true feelings the bid him good-bye again and walked up the little garden path leading to the front of the house.

 

Cooper & Me:Winter Adventure – Review and a Giveaway!

Cooper & Me: Winter Adventure is the heartwarming story about two dogs – Cooper and Bella.  When Cooper and Bella stray too far into the winter forest they become lost and frightened.  Will they be able to make their way home in time.  With lively illustrations and fun, rhyming text this book will be a winner with your kindergartners.

Giveaway details:  Put up one comment for each extra entry.  For the mandatory entry post a comment telling one thing you love about winter.  Giveaway ends December 16th, 2011.  This means you can no longer enter.  I will post the winner and e-mail him/her soon after.  Sorry, contest open to residents of Canada and the United States of America only.

1. Subscribe to this blog.  (If you have already done so, put up an extra comment telling me, or else it won’t count.)
2. Subscribe to my horse blog.  (If you have already done so, put up an extra comment telling me, or else it won’t count.)
3. Like this blog’s Facebook page.
4. E-mail me a guest post.  If I publish it, you will receive an extra entry.
5. Like the Cooper and Me page on Facebook.
6. Share the link to this giveaway on Facebook.
7. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter.
8. Post about this giveaway on your blog/website.  When you comment for this extra entry, include the link.

Special offer from the friends of Cooper & Me:

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Ultimate Book Bash Part 2

Part 2 of the Book Bash series.

Name three books you love:

I won’t bore you with putting up Jane Austen books (they are my favorites) so I’ll pick my other favorites.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

King of the Wind

Edmund Betram’s Diary

Of course I like lots more books, but these are some of my biggest favorites.

Name three series you love:

Elsie Dinsmore

Note: These books are the modern set.  I read the old version.

Nancy Drew

The Horse Diaries

Three Adventures or Mysteries

The Peculiar Pink Fan

The Secret of Mission T-3

The Holy War

Three non-fiction:

Spirit of the Horse

The Jane Austen Handbook

Glimpses of Paradise:The Marvel of Massed Animals

What’s your favorite classic?  Why?

Sense and Sensibility is a very ‘sensible’ book.  It has engaging characters, a good plot, and interesting dialogue.

What’s your favourite time period to read about?

The Regency

Thanks for taking time to read this post.  As always, feel free to copy this and put in your own answers, but please refer back to me.

Katie’s New Life

Katie is a Mennonite girl.  Her thirst for learning leads her to the local high school (under consent of the church elders).  When Katie starts making friends at school, her Mennonite friends become jealous.  Meanwhile, Katie must contend with the veiled disapproval of her community.  This is a very interesting book that I would highly recommend to any young teenage girl.