CLOSED!!! The Blue Star Book Giveaway (5 Winners)

First off I must apologize for putting up a wrong book for a giveaway. I’m putting up the correct book and for those of you that already entered for the other book; I’m keeping your comments there for this book. Please forgive me for my mistake!

The book I show you today is another one you will truly enjoy! The Blue Star by Tony Earley is a sequel to “Jim the boy”, where you follow the main character Jim Glass now 17. Jim is a caring and wonderful farmer that you saw as a 10 year old in the previous book and now becoming a man.

Follow Jim on his path as he goes thru the agony of love and war. Torn between helping his widowed mother, his uncles and finding himself. The Blue Star is set in a time that is different from today but the struggles Jim faces are what many of us do when we come of age. You will truly enjoy curling up with this book.

From Publishers WeeklyThe small dramas of teenage love get caught in the crosswinds of a war in this sequel to the 2001 bestseller Jim the Boy. It's late summer 1941, and Jim Glass, now a high school senior, has an earnest, unshakable passion for classmate Chrissie Steppe. But as straightforward as his feelings are, the circumstances of his nascent romance are complex: Chrissie's family is indebted to their landlord, whose sailor son Bucky claimed Chrissie as his girl before shipping out to serve on the USS California at Pearl Harbor. Throughout Jim's fraught final year at school, he relies on the advice of his uncles, but after Pearl Harbor is bombed, they can't protect him from the war's toll. Questions of patriotism, sexuality and poverty weave their way into a narrative that's deceptive in its simplicity: the growing pains that Jim and his friends experience pack a startling emotional punch. (Mar.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Enjoy I can't wait to share it with 5 of you!

ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Blue Star

by Tony Earley

Thank you to Hachette Book Group for this wonderful book, I had an amazing time curling up and reading it!

BUY IT: Paperback price is $23.99 but currently Amazon has The Blue Star for $16.31!

WIN IT: Hachette Book Group has offered 5 of my readers The Blue Star paperback book for them to enjoy also. 1st Entry MUST be done before any of the extra entries. Comment on if you've read any of Tony Earley books? If yes let me know what's your favorite I would love to read another of his and dying to know where to start (there is a ton I can't wait to read more).

EXTRA ENTRIES - Do as many as you like just leave a separate comment for EACH:

1. Follow my blog
2. Have my button up on your site
3. Subscribe via email (2 Extra Entries)
4. Follow me on Network Blogs (on the right side) links you to facebook feeds (3 Extra Entries)
5. Enter my O Yikes Giveaway & 10% Off Coupon Code by 9/27/09
6. Enter my Off Season Book Giveaway 5 Winners by 9/27/09
7. Enter my Garden Clogs/Jollys Gardening Shoes (9/27/09) by 9/27/09
8. Enter my Swedish Designs Pan Holder Giveaway Retail $62.00 by 10/8/09
9. Blog about the giveaway (3 Extra Entries)
10. Post on Facebook and leave me a link (3 Extra Entries)

Giveaway ends 10/4/09 Only residents of the U.S. or Canada are eligible to win. No Post Office Boxes.

Grandparent Scam that hit my family

We all get these emails about people being scammed out of money and don't fall for this etc. I admit I've never put much thought into them because this has never happen to me or anyone I know! Well sad to say that thinking is no longer valid.

My mom's mom was scammed last week. I rarely talk to this grandmother and sadly she doesn't know a lot of things that are going on in my life which helped the scammer use this to their advantage. Due to a lack of talking to each other my grandmother didn't know that I rarely leave my house let alone travel or that I would never call to borrow money or ask not to tell my parents. I'm 30+ years old and have kids which makes me being social sometimes hard. Yes I know that is a sad excuse and I promise to work on this.

Thursday of last week grandmother received a call from a frantic girl. From what I'm gathering I'm thinking the girl was crying and so frantic that my grandmother asked if it was me. That was what the scammer needed to get my name. She ran with it from there! She said she (as in impressionating me) that she was in a car accident in Ontario, Canada. That the accident was very bad and I was taken to jail! They took my cell phone and the only number I remembered was her's. Sadly the person being so frantic didn't allow my grandmother to think that this would be a odd situation for me. One being out of the country so far from home and then asking her not to tell my parents. She now sees that this was a weird situation but they got her so worked up that she didn't piece it all together until a few days later.

The girl told her she needed $3,000.00 to bail herself out of jail and that the amount needed to be sent to a girl that lived there that would be bailing me out. My grandmother rushed right out and sent the money. She received a call later from a guy saying he was at the jail and grandmother needed to change the name on the money order. She received a 3rd call saying they were the Canadian police and had a guy in jail and her money would be sent back. I believe this last call was to keep her from contacting the authorities thinking it was already taken care of.

Sadly my grandmother didn't find out the truth until Saturday when My mom just happened to pick Cole up on a whim and mentioned it to grandmother who asked if I was back. Yup then the story unfolded, my mom thought it might be someone I know. Sadly my grandmother and I are not super close so there is no mention of her and since my mom isn't my bio mom her maiden name is not linked to me. I did do some searching on Facebook and found the girl that name was given for the money order, now she could be part of the scam or being scammed for her identity also.

So yesterday I received a call from an officer asking me a lot of question, yes I got totally freaked out but after calling the police department that they do have a person with that name and his number is what I have I gave him the information that I found. But it has made me very paranoid with what information I put here on my blog or on Facebook.

So thankfully to my BFF Deb who I called right away when my mom called me, she did some googling and found that this is a HUGE scam and Washington State has been hit very hard some loosing a few thousand to a poor guy loosing $7,000 and another loosing $15,000.00. The people that do this are horrible and thoughtless. I have mean thoughts for them but I'm trying to pray for them and for the poor victims of this scam.

Here is what I found and hope you pass along to your grandparents. When we're older living only on our Social Security and small pension doesn't leave a lot of extra money for horrible people that will take from them.

Caring grandparents are being warned to watch out for a telephone scam to steal thousands of dollars.

Canadian con artists are making phone calls pretending to be grandchildren stuck in an emergency situation, such as a car accident or being arrested. They say they need money wired right away to pay for damages or post bail, said the Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island.

“This scam preys on the emotions of seniors who want to help their grandchildren,” Rosalind Scott, BBB executive director, said today.

Callers usually pose as a grandchild and say something like, “It’s me, your favourite grandchild,” the BBB said. Grandparents fill in the blanks.

Usually, the grandchild say they were travelling in Canada. One grannie sent $15,000 believing she was helping a grandchild who had been in a car accident, the BBB said.

Grandparents should verify that they really are speaking to a grandchild, Scott said.

Before sending money, seniors should first call the grandchild or other relatives themselves to check out the story.

Be cautious of any request to wire money. These funds are difficult to track and usually can’t be recovered, the BBB said.

The scam has shown up in the United States and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre is receiving an increasing number of complaints. So far this year, 350 complaints have been filed, compared with 128 complaints in 2007.

The Bourne Deception Audio Book 3 Winners!!

You're going to LOVE this book, it's in the audio form which is super easy they come on CD's that you can listen to anywhere!

Enjoy!!

The winners are:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
70
13
34
Timestamp: 2009-09-24 18:16:16 UTC

70 Alleykatt said...
Email subscriber
Sunday, September 06, 2009 10:07:00 PM

13 shopannies said...
entered tot clock giveaway
Sunday, August 30, 2009 2:53:00 PM

34 News Around The Blogs said...
I follow
Monday, August 31, 2009 1:34:00 PM

Congrats Ladies, I'll send out an email shortly gmail is not liking me and I need to go to bed :)

My Tot Clock Winner!!!

Thank you again for everyone who entered and stop by my blog, I truly enjoy all the comments and stopping by your blogs also.

The Winner is:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
31
Timestamp: 2009-09-23 18:10:02 UTC

31 Just Breathe said...
I have your button!
Friday, August 28, 2009 10:25:00 PM

Congrats Debby! She had this sweet message to say about who it is for:
I have a niece who has a 4 year old son who I believe needs this. She is now a single parent with 3 kids 13, 8 &4. She now has to work full time in the evening and the 13 years old babysits after school until 11PM. She has a hard time with her sister and little brother. I think this just might help her to control them. It's worth a try!

Gmail is giving me issues, I'll send you an email soon :).

Playing House by Fredrica Wagman Review

As you know by now I love reading, books are my passion my escape from my crazy world! I love to share what books I find. Today I bring you another book that took my breath away and even shook my soul. Fredrica Wagman wrote my new book titled Playing House.

Playing House is a book that first appeared in 1973, and was a national bestseller. Now I must worn this book is very personal and wrote in a first person point of view of sibling incest. It is a book of an adult that is trying to come to terms with her past. Her past involves many things that has shaped and formed her life. Her journey is one of a relationship with her brother. Now this may shock some readers and you may put it down, but it is a book that is very personal of a very hard journey. Her journey is a very powerful and struggle with a very mean spirited brother, a father that is just not with it and a mother who almost turns a blind eye to the things that are happening to her daughter.

This is a very difficult subject and is very hard to read but it was so well written that you keep reading and have your thoughts and prayers with her the whole time. You may put it down at times, but you will come back to finish this story. This is not the happy go lucky book I usually read but it was a change that my mind enjoyed. Sometimes the things we don't want to think of or imagine is what we need to read. Things happen in this world we may not always want to realize they are there but they are.

I recommend you check out Playing House and I would love to hear your thoughts also.

A little more about the book:

When Playing House appeared in 1973, Publishers Weekly hailed it, "A probing descent into madness that will fascinate the same audience that appreciated I Never Promised You a Rose Garden." This nationally bestselling story of one woman's struggle with the lasting effects of a childhood sexual relationship with her brother shocked American readers, and is a literary work of enduring quality and value.

In his foreword Philip Roth writes, "The traumatized child; the institutionalized wife; the haunting desire; the ghastly business of getting through the day — what is striking about Wagman's treatment of these contemporary motifs is the voice of longing in which the heroine shamelessly confesses to the incestuous need that is at once her undoing and her only hope."

Playing House can be bought on Amazon on Sale for $11.66, Regular price $14.95. A thank you to FSB Associates for the opportunity to broaden my reading. Even though at times I wanted to put this book down, the writing made me want to keep going and finish it. I'm glad I did it was a very moving book.

Weekend Wrap Wednesday ... More Pictures to show how it all went down!

Well it was yet another weekend full of ups and downs and just a worn out mommy! Friday I get a call from Rick our dryer is not working! GREAT, what a way to start the weekend! As I'm learning the lord works in mysterious ways and when you really need that burst you get it. My wonderful and AMAZING people that I work for on Mondays were very generous and sent me a bonus. I had all these thoughts of pedicures and manicures maybe a cute new outfit!

Oh how fast those dreams go by by! Yup that would be the dryer breaking. Again I need to be thankful it was running just not blowing out hot air. Easy fix right? Well yes easy as in the part went in easy this little part you see was $75 add in tax and you have a $82 part! Well maybe with $18 I can get a half pedicure? Yes the lovely lint caused my dryer element to fry. What is it with my house and things burning up. Well at least it wasn't Cole peeing on something to start a fire!!!LOL (Yes that is a burnt element, like I wouldn't take pictures). Along with everything you need to fix a dryer. You know a Pepsi for energy, a bunch of tools (I'll pretend I have no clue what they are so I don't have to fix anything, I already do enough), and of course a tuperware to put the screws in! And thanks to a thoughtful wife who asked for printed directions, yes I ROCK!

Sunday I was feeling better so I took myself and the kids to Church. Rick still not on board, I'm working on him. Now we've gone 2 times and Caden has been fine, yup not this time alligator tears and hanging onto mommy! Finally some cars and the very sweet church lady getting down on the floor with him I was able to go into the church. It was a lovely uplifting service and when I returned no more tears! Yup here we are in our Sunday best. Caden is showing how he got into my PERMANENT pen and wrote on his belly!!

Next I come home and have this brilliant idea to go to Seattle. A 45 minute drive I have to go to the Pacific Science Center for a review. Ok I'm a dork I'll admit it! I had this idea that PSC was with the Aquarium I tell Cole and Rick that is where we are going. Now we drive 45 minutes, then it was a packed day in Seattle! 30 MINUTES we find a parking spot, with little swearing from the people behind us we almost backed up into and from Rick who is NOT the most patient person. We walk into the Aquarium I give my free tickets to be informed I'm at the wrong place. Yup blonde moment, I admit it. Rick so not happy so we walk around, Cole has a melt down of not going to the Aquarium. We hit the warf shops and the boys take a ride on the Carousel one good moment before Cole is freaking out, Rick is in a mood. Oh joy!!! So off to the PSC, we drive around and around no parking another 30 minutes Rick is just going to drop us off. Yup doors are locked. I give up and home we go. Let's just say not one of my happiest Sundays for a family outing! Home we went and unhappy boys all around!!

Monday comes around, Rick of course in bed. You know he needs to rest on his day off! WTH I mean what do I do, oh yeah I don' t have a day off! So I scheduled an appointment for a oil change you think he could get up and take care of it for me. Nope, again not a pleasant time to be in my house. I believe everyone knew in a mile radius that I was not happy! But thankfully I went I told the guy about my CD player and guess what? He fixed it, all he had to do was flip a switch under the hood to restart it! EASY, yup I've been without a CD player for how long??? I used my coupon for an oil change and a 23 point check. Guess what yup I have a screw in my front tire, really do the hit stop anytime soon? While at the car dealership Caden and I hung out in the kids section! You think I'm OCD check out my son. He rearranged their kids room, stacked the toys and had to line up the tables and toys. GREAT ... LOL!

So I get home and Rick jumps out of bed to start yard work, I think he got the point. Well that didn't last very long while trimming the bushes he hit a hornet's nest and was stung about 12 times! Maybe its a payback for being a pain in my butt. Now I don't want to see him in pain but I think every once in a while a little kick in the pants is needed. I choose to think of it as a cosmic kick ;).

Oh yeah this weekend I found out that my grandmother was scammed by someone saying they were ME!!!! More on that tomorrow, I want to dedicate a whole post to it for people to be aware. One you'll want to tune in for she was scammed out of $3,000.00!!!