This week, I have the pleasure to present several fascinating biographies and memoirs, coming out in September. The first is Serena Williams' book, On the Line.

Book Description
One of the biggest stars in tennis, Serena Williams has captured every major title. Her 2009 Australia Open championship earned her the #1 world ranking for the third time in her illustrious career - and marked only the latest exclamation point on a life well and purposefully lived. As a young girl, Serena began training with an adult-sized racquet that was almost as big as her. Rather than dropping the racquet, Serena saw it as a challenge to overcome-and she has confronted every obstacle on her path to success with the same unflagging spirit.

Author Bio
Growing up in Compton, CA, Serena was trained by her father on the public tennis courts before rising up the tennis ranks. Serena has wide-ranging interests aside from tennis, including starting her own fashion line and opening a school for children in Africa.

Daniel Paisner is the author or co-author of more than forty books. He has collaborated on seven New York Times best-selling titles, including Denzel Washington's A Hand to Guide Me, Whoopi Goldberg's Book and Geraldo Rivera's Exposing Myself. He lives in Port Washington, NY.

The Giveaway
Thanks to the publisher, Hachette Book Group, I have the opportunity to give away FIVE copies of On the Line!

To enter, let me know what was the last book you enjoyed reading.

You can do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win one of 5 copies of Serena Williams' new memoir, On the Line, at Just Another New Blog! Contest ends 9/15 _ http://tiny.cc/7Cvvz @aitmama" – you can do this once a day;
• subscribe to my blog or become a follower - it counts if you already are, one entry for each;
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, etc. this giveaway using the Share / Save buttons below this post - one entry for each;
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is September 15, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!

The five winners each of my giveaways for So Into You and How to Tame a Modern Rogue have been selected, courtesy or Random.org! Congratulations are in order for:

So Into You: #8 ToyStory, #37 throuthehaze, #62 nfmgirl, #5 Dixie, and #110 Terra H. They are the lucky recipients of this Sandra Hill novel, thanks to our giveaway sponsor, Hachette Book Group.

How to Tame a Modern Rogue: #128 Beth, #96 budletsmom, #69 cherdon, # 130 fredamans, and #163 Daniel M. They will receive this Diana Holquist book also from our giveaway sponsor, Hachette Book Group.

All winners have been contacted and claimed their prizes. Whether you won or not, check out my current giveaways - three of them end tonight, one ends tomorrow, so hurry up and get those entries in!

Yoplait Whips! Gift Bag (8/30)
Seduce Me (8/30)
$15 Amazon Gift Card (8/30)
Dark Hunger (8/31)
250 Custom Greeting Cards (9/2)
500 Business Cards (9/7)
Tropical Traditions Organic Moisturizing Cream (9/13)

In today's world, it's important to make a good first impression. Part of that first impression is your card - this is also what you leave behind to remind people about you and help promote your business, yourself, or your work in general. Whether you are a blogger or a mom, a self-employed or a volunteer, having a quality business card is a must. Maybe you run a small business, have a website, or are just tired of introducing yourself as Junior's Mom. Conferences or business meetings, online services or playdates - a nice card can be a stylish and original representation of yourself.

DigitalRoom.com, an online printing company committed to providing a high quality printing experience at affordable prices, offers a variety of products - including Die Cut Business Cards. I love that their cards are printed with soy/vegetable based inks on recycled - FSC / SFI certified stocks.

Now TWO of my readers can get a set of sleek new business cards from DigitalRoom.com! To enter, leave a comment on how you might use the cards if you won.

Here are the details on what you'll get if you win (no need to tell me your choices now):

• 500 business cards each;
• Choose from three business card sizes: 2x3.5”, 2x3”, 2x2";
• Choose paper: 14pt cardstock (matte or gloss coating) & 13 pt cardstock uncoated;
• Choose Color: (4/4) Color both sides; (4/1) Color 1 side , B/W backside; (4/0) Color 1 side, black backside;
• Shipping must be paid by the winner. Offer valid for US shipping only.

Once you have fulfilled the mandatory entry above, feel free to do any or all of the following for extra chance to win:

• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win a set of 500 business cards - #Giveaway at Just Another New Blog! Two winners! Ends 9/7 @aitmama @Uprinting http://tiny.cc/TT9y2 ";
• subscribe to my blog or become a follower - it counts if you already are, one entry for each;
• follow me on Networked Blogs;
  
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, facebook, technorati, etc. this giveaway using the Share / Save buttons below this post - one entry for each;
  
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is September 7, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Two winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 48 hours to get back to me, or alternates will be chosen. A coupon code will be e-mailed to the winners directly by the sponsor.

Good luck!

A few weeks ago, I introduced to you Tropical Traditions' Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. I love using this coconut oil for cooking. Before I discovered Tropical Traditions, I had no idea that coconut oil had many other uses - including cosmetics. For years, Filipinos have been using coconut oil as the main ingredient in their skin care products - and they are well-known for their soft skin and youthful appearance, despite living in a climate where sun is plentiful all year.

Tropical Traditions offer a wide variety of skin care products:

• Moisturizing Creams
• Moisturizing Lotions
• Massage Oils
• Lip Moisturizers
• Skin Exfoliators
• Insect Repellent
• Deodorant Roll-on
• Teeth Cleaners
• Organic Cotton
• Liquid Soaps
• Bar Soaps (scented)
• Bar Soap (unscented)
• Shampoo Bar

All Tropical Traditions skin care products are made with organic coconut oil and virgin palm oil. The palm oil contains high concentrations of a powerful form of Vitamin E called "tocotrienols" which is 40-60 times more potent than alpha-tocopherol, the most common form of Vitamin E found in most skin care products. It is also rich in natural carotenes. The palm stearic is also a natural component of the palm oil. The products do not contain parabens or artificial chemicals. Tropical Traditions use a special emulsifying wax that combines the water and oils together in a proprietary blend and is not soy based.

I had the opportunity to try Tropical Traditions' unscented organic moisturizing cream. I have dry sensitive skin and always look for quality cosmetics to try out. The first thing I always look at when buying cosmetics is the label. I care about what I put on my skin! Just as with food, I try to avoid products that contain too many ingredients with names I cannot pronounce. Here is what's in this moisturizer: purified water, organic virgin coconut oil, plant based emulsifying wax, palm stearic, grapefruit seed extract, organic beeswax, and organic virgin palm oil. In addition, scented varieties contain organic essential oils. Equally important, here is what's NOT in this moisturizer: no alcohols, no artificial fragrances, no petroleum. No mystery names here!

The moisturizer was thick and creamy. It's highly concentrated and can be used on the face, hands, and body. It takes a little longer to absorb into the skin because it does not contain any alcohols. First, I applied it on my face and hands as a night cream. It did not leave an oily residue and made my skin feeling soft an nourished. I was very impressed by how good my skin looked and felt in the morning, too. It seemed as if I'd had a couple more hours of sleep! For a chronically sleep-deprived parent, this is a big accomplishment. The skin on my hands felt equally pampered.

Besides using it as a night cream, I used Tropical Traditions' moisturizer as a day cream, a dry-patches cream, hand cream - you name it! The 4 oz. container can last awhile, since I only need a little to get the nourishment my skin needs.

I know you'll want to try this cream! I must confess, now that I've sampled the moisturizer, all Tropical Traditions skin care products are on my wish list. If you decide to buy the cream or anything else from Tropical Traditions, as a first-time customer you can get a FREE Virgin Coconut Oil book with purchase. Find out all about coconut oil and its benefits! Just use code 5251001 in the Referred by a Friend section and the book will be added to your order at no charge.

Now you have the opportunity to win the same unscented organic moisturizing cream that I received. To enter, please take a look at the Tropical Traditions skin care line and tell me what product - or products! - interests you the most.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• subscribe to Tropical Traditions' newsletter and get 2 entries;
  
• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win organic Tropical Traditions Moisturizing Cream at Just Another New Blog @aitmama #Giveaway Ends 9/13 http://tiny.cc/HtkUE ";
• subscribe to my blog or become a follower - it counts if you already are, one entry for each;
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, etc. this giveaway using the Share / Save buttons below this post - one entry for each;
  
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is September 13, 2009, 11:59pm EST. One winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. The winner will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. only. No P.O. box addresses, please. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Many thanks to Tropical Traditions for providing the moisturizing cream for me to review and for sponsoring this giveaway.

The green Green Pear, written and illustrated by Manjula Naraynan, is a charming story about a green Green pear who wants to be anything but a green Green pear. He dreams of being a different fruit or an animal. He tries on coats shaped as a square, circle, triangle or other shapes - but the only one that fits is the pear coat. Whatever he does, he find out he can only be a green Green pear. Then, one starry night, his wish of being different comes true - but he discovers he is never happy in another form.

The message of this book is that we should accept and love who we are. No matter how many wishes were granted to the green pear, he could only change on the outside - because his heart always remained the heart of a green Green pear. My daughter and I loved the upbeat text and the colorful illustrations - a delightful mix of styles. The book is also educational - children will enjoy learning about shapes and colors in a fun and subtle way. For example, the names of various fruit in the text are printed in the same color as their picture.

The green Green Pear will be followed by two other books in Manjula Naraynan's color trilogy, and I am looking forward to reading them as well.

You can find The green Green Pear on Amazon.com. Many thanks to the author and to Bostick Communications for sending me a review copy.

About the book
The green Green Pear by Manjula Naraynan
ISBN: 978-1438969572
Publisher: AuthorSolutions
Date of publish: June 3, 2009
Pages: 32
S.R.P.: $14.49

Author Bio
Manjula Naraynan is a writer and illustrator living in Chennai, Southern India. She has a degree in corporate secretaryship from the University of Madras.

The winner of my giveaway for a copy of Fredrica Wagman's The Lie has been chosen at random. Congratulations are in order for #43, enyl! Please check your inbox and reply within 3 days. Many thanks to FSB Associates for sending me an extra copy to give away. * Update: the prize has been claimed! *

If you did not win, there is still time to enter any or all of the seven giveaways listed on my left sidebar. Hurry, all of them end within a week!

How to Tame a Modern Rogue is the latest by Diana Holquist, author of three previous romance novels. It's an enjoyable story of opposites attract - in this case, good girl Ally Giordano and playboy Sam Carson. It's funny, sexy, and entertaining. And I just love to watch how a seemingly unlikely couple turns out to be a perfect match - after all, under all these layers of past experiences, Sam and Ally are more alike than they know. I liked the twists and turns of the plot, and loved the main characters. My other favorite personage was Ally's Granny Donny who is set on marrying off her spinster granddaughter - to a duke! Well, except the action takes place in modern times...

How to Tame a Modern Rogue is a smartly written romance that has put Ms. Holquist's three previous books on my to-read list. Read the book, then pass it along to your girlfriends.

You can check out the book synopsis here, and also enter for a chance to win one of five copies! Many thanks to Hachette Book Group for sending me a review copy.

I have winners to announce! All winning comments have been chosen via Random.org. The winners have been contacted and claimed their prizes. Congratulations to everyone!

A quart of virgin organic coconut oil from Tropical Traditions goes to: #68, Annie.

The five winners of my Romance Package Giveaway are: #115 dor, #105 Angela, #44 pams00, #57 Deb K, and #112 I am Lee-Ann… They will receive their choice of A Hint of Wicked and My Forbidden Desire, courtesy of Hachette Book Group.

The five winners of Parenting Books I giveaway are: #65 Cindy, #51 anathica, #103 Nicole, #130 Lisanne624, and #7 elaing8. They will receive Light Up Your Child's Mind, courtesy of Hachette Book Group.

The five winners of Parenting Books II giveaway are: #55 Mishia, #126 FDP 4 Life, #125 Susan1215, #5 Ammie, and #119 mom2anutball. They will receive NurtureShock, courtesy of Hachette Book Group.

Stay tuned for my upcoming reviews of the two parenting books! A sneak peak at next month's events: NurtureShock will be touring the blogosphere in September, and you'll get another chance to win this remarkable book.

Whether you won or not this time, please check out my 8 current giveaways listed on my left sidebar. There will be more giveaways soon!

So Into You is the latest romance novel by New York Times bestselling author Sandra Hill. She has written fifteen novels and four novellas but this is the first I've read.

So Into You is the story of two best friends, Angel and Grace, whose close relationship starts to change when Angel confesses her feelings for Grace. She rejects him but then begins to wonder whether they can be more than friends. Things quickly get complicated by Grace's secret past. She is a former nun, poker champion, and treasure hunter - and those are just the things Angel knows about her. Angel is a hunk of a man who can be very convincing when he decides to get Grace to fall in love with him. I enjoyed reading about the emotional ups and downs of the two characters. Their romance is set against the background of post-Katrina New Orleans where Angel and Grace get involved in good deeds to help families impacted by the disaster.

Sandra Hill's style is colorful and humorous, with plenty of passion and sizzle thrown in. So Into You has all the ingredients of an entertaining romance read. My favorite character was Tante Lulu, the 90-something folk healer, top-notch meddler and relentless matchmaker who works tirelessly to bring Angel and Grace together. She also keeps busy helping everyone around her and is the interfering yet lovable aunt who keeps things in place and people in line.

To find out how this interesting story unfolds, buy So Into You - or head over here to enter to win one of five copies! Hurry - my giveaway ends tomorrow night.

Many thanks to Hachette Book Group for providing a review copy.

Six of my awesome giveaways are ending within a week, so remember to get your entries in! You can tweet to enter daily, in addition to plenty of other opportunities to increase your chances. I am giving away a Yoplait Whips! Gift Bag - perfect for the hot summer days, and four wonderful reads for everyone - including three romance novels that I thoroughly enjoyed reading, with FIVE winners each! Even if romance is not your cup of tea, you can enter to win a $15 Amazon gift card and buy whatever you want with it.

If you have missed any of those, here is a list:

The Lie (8/25)
So Into You (8/26)
How to Tame a Modern Rogue (8/27)
Yoplait Whips! Gift Bag (8/30)
Seduce Me (8/30)
$15 Amazon Gift Card (8/30)

I am delighted to participate in the new Back-to-School Fiction Blog Tour, and introduce to you three fun reads! The books included in this tour are: The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y’Barbo, The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love by Beth Pattillo, and Rose House by Tina Ann Forkner. They are available in paperback and as ebooks.

Book Description: The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper
The future is clearly mapped out for New York socialite Eugenia “Gennie” Cooper, but she secretly longs to slip into the boots of her favorite dime-novel heroine and experience just one adventure before settling down. When the opportunity arises, Gennie jumps at the chance to experience the Wild West, but her plans go awry when she is drawn into the lives of silver baron Daniel Beck and his daughter and finds herself caring for them more than is prudent–especially as she’s supposed to go back to New York and marry another man.

As Gennie adapts to the rough-and-tumble world of 1880s Colorado, she must decide whether her future lies with the enigmatic Daniel Beck or back home with the life planned for her since birth. The question is whether Daniel’s past–and disgruntled miners bent on revenge–will take that choice away from her.

Book Description: The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love
Once a month, the six women of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society gather to discuss books and share their knitting projects. Inspired by her recently-wedded bliss, group leader Eugenie chooses “Great Love Stories in Literature” as the theme for the year’s reading list–a risky selection for a group whose members span the spectrum of age and relationship status.

As the Knit Lit ladies read and discus classic romances like Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice, each member is confronted with her own perception about love. Camille’s unexpected reunion with an old crush forces her to confront conflicting desires. Newly widowed Esther finds her role in Sweetgum changing and is surprised by two unlikely friends. Hannah isn’t sure she’s ready for the trials of first love. Newcomer Maria finds her life turned upside-down by increasing family obligations and a handsome, arrogant lawyer, and Eugenie and Merry are both asked to make sacrifices for their husbands that challenge their principles.

Even in a sleepy, southern town like Sweetgum, Tennessee, love isn’t easy. The Knit Lit ladies learn they can find strength and guidance in the novels they read, the love of their family, their community–and especially in each other.

Book Description: Rose House
A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope.
Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms.

She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.

What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day.

A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life.

Author Bios
Kathleen Y’Barbo is the best-selling, award-winning author of more than thirty novels, novellas, and young adult books, with more than a half-million in print. A graduate of Texas A&M University, she is currently a publicist with Books & Such literary agency.

RITA Award-winning Beth Patillo combines her love of knitting and books in her engaging Sweetgum series. Pattillo served churches in Missouri and Tennessee before founding Faith Leader, a spiritual leadership development program.

Tina Ann Forkner is the author of Ruby Among Us. Originally from Oklahoma, she now lives with her husband and three children in Wyoming, where she serves on the Laramie County Library Foundation’s board of directors.

A big thanks to Random House for inviting me to participate in this blog tour!

Two of my favorite blogs, Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go, are hosting a birthday blog party, starting tomorrow, August 24. Piera of Jolly Mom's little boy Lucas turned 2 a week ago, and she is celebrating - with the help of her good friend Felicia - by featuring some cool kids' toys and gifts, and plenty of prizes. Check them out!

A couple of years ago, I signed up for a beginners' Spanish class. The course materials included a book, a dictionary, and audio CDs that I listened to regularly. I loved being able to practice while driving, exercising, or running errands.

Recently, I received Berlitz Premier Spanish software for review. This package includes a program to install on your PC and four audio CDs. There is also an option to build your skills on an iPod or other MP3 player but since I do not own one, I could not test this feature. A detailed user manual is included as well.

Installation was simple and straightforward. My PC has Windows Vista, and the software should work also with Windows XP or Macintosh. By default, the software installs a screen saver that I found helpful.

This is the first language learning system I have tried that does not include a textbook. I am a visual learner, so to me, that was a bit unusual. The software program provides flash cards to practice new words and a Learning Center application. The Learning Center replaces a traditional textbook and includes two parts: reading and conversation. In the reading part, there are 15 lessons, each covering a specific situation: from introducing and describing yourself to ordering and preparing food, school activities, shopping, work and school, going on vacation, and so on. Each lesson has three sections: reading, vocabulary, and speaking. Vocabulary building is accomplished by flash cards, activities, testing, and review. You can also practice reading and speaking by doing various exercises.

In the conversation part, there are four lessons that again cover various situations. Each includes three activities: vocabulary, video, and speaking.

The pronunciation section allows you to practice words and sentences by listening how they are pronounced correctly and then repeating. I particularly enjoyed the activities section where learning is accomplished by fun activities, such as crosswords, unscramble games, word dictation, plug-n-play, Vocabulous!, graffiti and sentence dictation.

I enjoyed learning on the computer. One feature I liked was that several users can log in and complete lessons independently of one another. The software backs up each user's progress when you close down the program. The software is more interactive compared to traditional textbook / workbook combination. If you use a computer regularly and want to learn at your own pace, this software may be a good place to start.

I found that the audio CDs started with building conversation skills right away. Unlike other audio programs I have tried, where you start by learning separate words, the alphabet and the numbers, before combining them into simple sentences, Berlitz Premier starts you off with a real life situation. Whether you like one or the other is a matter of personal preference and learning style. If you are a true beginner, you should proceed slowly and stay on one section long enough to learn the material well and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

So far, I have used Berlitz Premium Spanish for about 10 days. I have not had a chance to cover all the material but I like what I've seen and plan to continue using it. For me, this software cannot replace a traditional classroom experience but is a good supplement to one.

Bottom line: if you are self-motivated and thrive as an independent learner, you will find this software package useful as a stand-alone learning tool. In case your learning style is more traditional and you prefer a classroom-type interaction, Berlitz Premium may be used as a supplement to class activities. Whether you are a beginner or advanced learner of Spanish, Berlitz Premium can help hone your language skills.

Right now, Berlitz Premium Spanish is on available on Amazon.com. The list price is $39.99 and today's sale price is $36.99. There is a $10 mail-in rebate that runs until 12/31/2009 and will bring your cost down to $26.99.

Wally the Walking Fish Meets Madison and Cooper is a children's book by Gary Lamit. It tells the story of a little girl called Madison and her dog, Cooper, who go fishing and meet Wally the Walking Fish. They continue their adventure, meet Betty the Beaver and learn about flying fish and mushrooms.

This is a simple read with cute illustrations. The story and dialogue are pretty straightforward. My daughter and I enjoyed the educational facts about yellow labs, walking catfish, beavers, mudskippers, flying fish and mushrooms. These are outlined as sidebars and complement the story. Cooper, the lab, grumbles amd mumbles a bit too much about his empty stomach. The overall message is about enjoying nature, learning about others and accepting diversity.

About the book
Wally the Walking Fish Meets Madison and Cooper by Gary Lamit
ISBN: 978-1439225417
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
Date of publish: May 28, 2009
Pages: 28
S.R.P.: $12.99

Author Bio
An educator for almost 40 years, Gary Lamit has taught second grade through university and has published over 30 books on a variety of subjects. Married with grown kids, he currently teaches at a community college. He spends considerable time reading children's books to his preschool-aged extended family members.

You can purchase the book on Amazon.com. Many thanks to the author and Bostick Communications for this review opportunity and for providing me a copy of the book. No compensation of any kind was received in exchange of this review. The opinions expressed here are mine alone.

You know I am hosting a giveaway for $15 Amazon gift certificate, provided by GotFreeCards. After you enter here, you can head over to Angie's blog for another giveaway! Here is what she says:

"Angie at 5 Vinez Monkeys is having a great giveaway sponsored by Got Free E-Cards. You can win a $15 Gift Certificate to Amazon.com! Stop by before 11:59pm ET on August 23th and enter to win!"

Ever since I became a parent, I've been concerned about what my kids eat. It seems feeding them healthy foods was easier back when they did not know what junk food was. I remember that on the day we celebrated my daughter's first birthday, she had no idea she was supposed to eat her birthday cake! She thought it was some sort of new toy... Well, those days are gone now. My daughter can ask for cookies and chocolate, and knows all too well what a cake is. And while I do say no most of the time, I am well aware that just forbidding poor food choices is not enough. Teaching kids healthy eating habits starts early and is a gift that will last a lifetime. To help this process, I am always on the lookout for books and movies with a positive message for kids, translated into words they can understand.

I came across one such book recently, Cookie by Lisa Woomer. This is a delightful children's book about a little girl who loves cookies. Her real name is not Cookie but that's what everyone calls her because she eats cookies for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. She absolutely refuses other food - even when her parents cleverly disguise the broccoli with some sprinkles. But then, she starts turning into a cookie! Thanks to the intervention of some healthy food, Cookie goes back to being her old self. She still loves cookies but eats them for dessert only.

My daughter and I greatly enjoyed reading about Cookie's adventures. I loved the kid-friendly wording and the message of the book: while eating cookies occasionally is OK, we cannot eat them all the time. The book also tells kids that choosing a variety of healthy foods is important. And, that old adage - You Are What You Eat - is retold in a fun and original way. The book gets its message across without being preachy. The illustrations are adorably simple yet reinforce the text - for example, Cookie wears a shirt with a cookie on it. The pictures are aimed to look like a child drew them - and make the book and its message even more kid-friendly.

If you are looking for a children's read to help teach your kids the importance of nutrition in an accessible way, check out Cookie.

Author Bio
Lisa Woomer, a former schoolteacher and mother of two, has studied fitness and nutrition as a hobby for many years. Lisa lives in Manhattan Beach with her husband, two children, and two dogs. She likes preparing healthy food for her family, but also enjoys an occasional cookie.

About the book
Cookie by Lisa Woomer
ISBN: 978-1432730208
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Date of publish: March 24, 2009
Pages: 25
S.R.P.: $17.95

You can purchase Cookie on Amazon.com. Many thanks to the author and Bostick Communications for this review opportunity and for providing me a copy of the book. No compensation of any kind was received in exchange of this review. The opinions expressed here are mine alone.

Kimberly from She Scribes shared this hilarious video with her readers today. I laughed so hard, I spilled my coffee. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YFRUSTiFUs

And when you are done wiping your eyes, watch this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DQAxlrDqyI

Now you know what a perfect administrative professional is like!

A huge back to school event will be hosted by 3 Boys & a Dog starting September 1. You can enter all month long and win some fab prizes. Find out all the details at Kelli's site!

The five winners of our giveaway for a copy of The Lost Dog by Michelle de Kretser have been chosen, courtesy of Random.org. Hachette Book Group, our sponsor, will be sending this book to: #57 Ninja Fanpire, #30 Emily, #19 DarcyO, #22 enyl, and #106 cherdon.

Congratulations to our winners, and if you did not win, find out here where you can purchase the book.

I love getting cards in the mail. I must admit I send e-mails and ecards when time is of the essence - like today, when I just realized that a good friend of mine is celebrating her wedding anniversary. There is something special and exciting about receiving a thoughtful hand-written note on a beautiful card. I have a selection of thank-you cards and all-occasion cards that I use when an e-mail just won't cut it. Of course, we send custom greeting cards to family and friends every year during the holiday season. When I get a photo card that features the whole family, I like to keep it - it's so much fun comparing it to the ones from past years and seeing how much the kids have grown!

A nice card to add to a birthday gift, teacher's gift, or a just-because gift for a friend is the perfect finishing touch. Rather than buying cards individually, you can have custom postcards done and have them exactly the way you like them. Or maybe you are having a special party or event and sending out invitations and RSVP cards. Or you are starting to think about the upcoming holidays. No matter what you celebrate, UPrinting can help with their custom greeting cards.

UPrinting is an online printing company that provides quality printing at affordable prices. They have been in business for over 25 years, and offer a wide array of printing services, from brochures and business cards to vinyl banners, wall graphics, postcards, stickers, and greeting cards. You can find their product selection here.

The Giveaway
Now you can win some personalized cards to prepare for any special occasion - or for those just-because moments. Two readers will receive a set of 250 5x7" custom greeting cards from UPrinting! To enter, please leave a comment how you would use the prize if you won.

Once you have fulfilled this mandatory entry, feel free to do any or all of the following for extra chance to win:

• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win a set of 250 custom greeting cards - #Giveaway at Just Another New Blog! Two winners! http://tiny.cc/6XQ5w @aitmama";
• subscribe to my blog or become a follower - it counts if you already are, one entry for each;
• follow me on Networked Blogs;
  
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, facebook, technorati, etc. this giveaway using the Share / Save buttons below this post - one entry for each;
  
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is September 2, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Shipping must be paid by the winners. Valid for U.S. shipping addresses only. The cards are half-fold, 10 pt cover with matte or gloss coating, and full color outside, blank inside. Two winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 48 hours to get back to me, or alternates will be chosen. A coupon code will be e-mailed to the winners directly by the sponsor.

Good luck!

Four of my exciting giveaways end tonight and tomorrow, so make sure you enter, if you are interested in free coconut oil and great reads! The three book giveaways have five winners each, and your chances are excellent - especially if you take advantage of all the extra ways to increase your odds - daily tweets, anyone? The romance package includes two fun summer reads. I am currently reading the books we are giving away in Parenting Books I and II, and they are simply fascinating. Stay tuned for my upcoming reviews.

Coconut Oil (8/19)
Romance Package (8/19)
Parenting Books I (8/20)
Parenting Books II (8/20)

The five winners of our giveaway for a copy of The Blue Star by Tony Earley have been chosen, courtesy of Random.org. Hachette Book Group, our sponsor, will be sending this book to: #36 etirv, #140 Miranda, #113 Wanda, #127 Rue, and #90 ChristyJan.

Congratulations to our winners, and if you did not win, find out here where you can purchase the book.

I am delighted to participate in the blog tour for North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson. This is an adventure story for all ages. Read on!

Book Description
Readers thrilled to the phantasmagorical adventures in On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, Book One of the Wingfeather Saga. Now in Book Two, Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby, mom Nia, ex-pirate grandfather Podo, Peet the Sock Man, and trusty dog Nugget flee north to rebel headquarters.

Their escape brings readers to the very brink of Fingap Falls, over the Stony Mountains, and across the Ice Prairies, while villains galore try to stop the Igibys permanently. Fearsome toothy cows and horned hounds return, along with new dangers: a mad man running a fork factory, a den of rockroaches, and majestic talking sea dragons.

Andrew Peterson’s lovable characters create what FantasyBookCritic.com says made Book One “one of the best fantasy novels in a very long time,” and Book Two contains even more thrills, exploring “themes universal in nature, ranging from the classic good versus evil, to the importance of family, and burdens of responsibility.”

Author Bio
Andrew Peterson is the author of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness and The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats. He’s also the critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter and recording artist of ten albums, including Resurrection Letters II. He and his wife, Jamie, live with their two sons and one daughter in The Warren near Nashville, Tennessee. Visit Andrew’s websites: www.andrew-peterson.com and www.rabbitroom.com.

You can purchase the book on RandomHouse.com.

Many thanks to Random House for introducing me to this book.

About the Company

The lucky winner of my Mouse Hand Warmer giveaway has been selected, courtesy of Random.org! Warm Mouse Heated Keyboard will be sending a warmer to commenter #95, VickieB, who tweeted to win! She has claimed her prize.

Congratulations to our winner, and stay tuned for another review and giveaway sponsored by Warm Mouse Heated Keyboard in a few weeks.

I did very well in school. My memory was pretty much photographic, and I could retain loads of mathematical formulas, geographical locations, historical dates, and chemical compounds. Now, quite a few years later, I come across an old notebook and wonder, did I really write this? I used to know all that? Obviously, I have conveniently forgotten a lot I learned at school to make space for other things. Now that I have a school-age child, I feel I need to brush up on these old subjects - or having to Google constantly facts and dates.

I came across a book by Caroline Taggart, aptly named I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School. This Reader's Digest edition is a fun cheat sheet that will remind you hundreds of facts you knew in school. The book covers a variety of subjects: English, literature, math, science, history, geography, and general studies. Here is a sampling of some of my faves:

- Did you know Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets, in addition to a number of much longer poems?

- Did you know that all the mountains in the world that top 26,244 feet (8,000 m) are in the Himalayas? There are another 20 that are above 22,966 feet (7,000 m), all still in Asia. The next one is in South America, then another 19 - all in the Andes, before we even glance elsewhere.

- How many symphonies did Beethoven write? Nine. By the time he wrote the famous Song of Joy, part of his Ninth Symphony, he was already deaf and never heard it performed.

- Robert Frost, who wrote "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by", won the Pulitzer Prize three times.

- The periodic table of the elements was devised in 1889 by the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev. He predicted that some elements had yet to be discovered.

I Used to Know That is an excellent refresher for parents as well as a good resource for students. You can find it on Amazon.

Reader's Digest have two other books that would complement perfectly I Used to Know That. The first one is co-authored by Taggart and J.A. Wines and will remind you how to speak and write it right. My Grammar and I... Or Should that Be Me?: How to Speak and Write It Right offers useful tips on how to avoid making grammatical errors. It covers spelling and confusables, parts of speech, sentence structure, punctuation, and elements of style. The second book, i Before e (Except After C) by Judy Parkinson reminds you the old-school ways to remember things at school.

Many thanks to FSB Associates for this review opportunity.

GotFreeCards is a site that offers a variety of free ecards. They have ecards for all kinds of occasions: birthdays, Christmas, Fourth of July, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Halloween, and so on. There are free and easy ways to say thank you, sorry, miss you, get well soon, and love you.

As a busy person, I do not remember every birthday, anniversary, or special day of my friends and extended family. I keep a calendar to remind me of these events. Sometimes, however, I notice my reminders a little too late and have to find a card, fast. Then it is too late to mail it! I keep a stack of kiddie birthday cards in my desk for all those parties my kids get invited to but even those run out. I also dislike having to pay $4 for a card - and the dollar store's selection is pretty boring. Add to that the ever-increasing cost of postage and all the resources that go into printing and delivering traditional cards that are often discarded faster than they were written.

Ecards that I can e-mail last minute, or personalize and print at home, are the perfect solution of my card issues. This past Valentine's day, for example, I found printable kid-friendly cards on the Web and made a big stack for all our little friends. I like to e-mail birthday cards to my extended family, and GotFreeCards have a wide selection of those - both traditional and humorous. You may choose to make free printable birthday cards that can be personalized with your own photo and text.

GotFreeCards have Halloween ecards and free Christmas ecards that will come in handy this year. I will certainly be using both the electronic and printable cards. It's fast, easy, and did I mention it's free? No registration is required, your information remains private and secure, and you will not receive loads of unwanted e-mails from the company or its affiliates.

For those who find it challenging to remember all those special occasions, GotFreeCards even offers a free event reminders service.

The Giveaway
GotFreeCards are generously donating a $15 Amazon gift certificate to give away to one of my readers! To enter, visit their website and comment below with your favorite birthday ecard.

Once you have fulfilled this mandatory entry, feel free to do any or all of the following for extra chance to win:

• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Find out how to get free ecards and enter to win a $15 Amazon Gift Card at Just Another New Blog http://tiny.cc/FwmiG @aitmama";
• subscribe to my blog or become a follower - it counts if you already are, one entry for each;
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, facebook, technorati, etc. this giveaway using the Share / Save buttons below this post - one entry for each;
  
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is August 30, 2009, 11:59pm EST. The winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 48 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen. Prize will be sent directly by the sponsor.

Many thanks to Mom Fuse for facilitating this review opportunity and to GotFreeCards for sponsoring the giveaway.

Everyone in my family loves ice cream. There is no better treat for the hot summer months - just ask my kids! We love chocolate ice cream, vanilla ice cream, fruit sorbet, frozen yogurt, you name it. As a mom, I am concerned about the nutritional value of some varieties, and I read labels carefully - honestly, the fat and sugar content of certain ice creams makes me want to stick to iced water.

We are also big fans of yogurt. So, I was delighted to receive an invitation from MyBlogSpark to try a product I had not tasted before: Yoplait Whips!. And, guess what - I discovered that now you can have your "ice cream" and eat some important nutrients, all in the same delicious serving. Yoplait has come up with this yummy yogurt mousse that can be enjoyed as a frozen treat. All you need to do is place your favorite Yoplait Whips! yogurt cup in the freezer overnight and you will have a chilled summer treat in the morning. Just remove the Yoplait Whips! from the freezer for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Yoplait Whips! are currently available in a variety of yummy flavors: Strawberry Mist, Chocolate, Key Lime Pie, Orange Crème, Chocolate Raspberry, Lemon Burst, Peaches 'N Cream, Raspberry Mousse, and Vanilla Creme.

Thanks to MyBlogSpark, we received a "Summer Cool Down" gift bag that includes two free coupons for Yoplait Whips!, cooler tote, popsicle molds and a set of 12 color-changing spoons. I found the Yoplait Whips! at my local Kroger at $0.60 apiece. My kids and I picked chocolate and strawberry. First, we tried the yogurt as is. I loved the great taste and fluffy, light texture. I am a chocolate person, and the chocolate Yoplait Whips! made for a delicious sweet treat.

We used the popsicle molds to freeze Yoplait Whips! overnight and enjoyed them the next day. When they dug into the frozen goodies, my kids could not be more pleased. And of course they asked for seconds! The spoons and popsicle molds were a big hit, too. The molds allow you to combine two flavors in the same popsicle - and we had popsicles that were part chocolate and part strawberry, yum! You can mix and match as much as you want. We have a whole list of combinations in mind that we can't wait to try.

Besides being delicious, Yoplait Whips! are a good nutritional choice, too. At just 140 calories per 4 oz cup (160 for the chocolate variety), they provide 10% of your daily recommended protein, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D, 6% of the potassium, and 15% of the calcium and phosphorus.

Savings
Here is a downloadable coupon where you can save $0.60 when you purchase any three cups of Yoplait Whips! Click here to download.

Additionally, if you sign up to become a new subscriber of Betty Crocker's newsletter, you will receive a free coupon for Yoplait Whips! This free coupon is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Tennessee.

The Giveaway
Now you can win the same "Summer Cool Down" gift bag that I received: two free coupons for Yoplait Whips!, cooler tote, popsicle molds and a set of 12 color-changing spoon. These goodies will let you enjoy hot weather treats in style. To enter, leave a comment below telling me your favorite Yoplait Whips! flavor, or which one you think you'd enjoy the most.

Once you have fulfilled this mandatory entry, feel free to do any or all of the following for extra chance to win:

• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win a Yoplait Whips Gift Bag, enjoy your summer treats in style! Giveaway at Just Another New Blog ends 8/30 http://tiny.cc/izYx6 @aitmama";
• subscribe to my blog or become a follower - it counts if you already are, one entry for each;
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, facebook, technorati, etc. this giveaway using the Share / Save buttons below this post - one entry for each;
  
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is August 30, 2009, 11:59pm EST. The winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen. Open to residents of U.S. only. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Many thanks to MyBlogSpark for this review opportunity.

I learned from Janet of Grammy Janet's Place that today is National Relaxation Day! It was first celebrated as National Slacker Day in Britain in 2001. It is also National Failures Day. I choose to celebrate the first and ignore the second by taking some time to unwind with a cup of coffee and a fun read. And for my readers, here is a photo I took while vacationing on the beach. Enjoy!

This week's Blog Hop for Giveaways, Contests and Prizes is ready to go! Please check out all my giveaways on the left side bar. Happy hopping!

The winners of our giveaway for five copies of One Scream Away have been selected, courtesy of Random.org. Hachette Book Group, our sponsor, will be sending this book to: #19 afineday, #150 ossmcalc, #1 fredamans, #163 Anonymous, and #75 Carol.

Congratulations to the winners, and many thanks to Hachette for the wonderful reads!

Remember to enter the other ten book giveaways I am hosting right now. See the complete list on my left sidebar.

Seven of my awesome giveaways are ending within a week, so remember to get your entries in! You can tweet to enter daily, in addition to plenty of other opportunities to increase your chances. I am giving away a mouse hand warmer - perfect for the modern computer warrior (aka blogger, net surfer, or Web addict - that's me, of course), coconut oil for those who love to cook, and six wonderful reads for everyone - with FIVE winners for each book! If you have missed any of those, here is a list:

Mouse Hand Warmer (ends 8/15)
The Blue Star (ends 8/16)
The Lost Dog (ends 8/17)
Coconut Oil (ends 8/19)
Romance Package (ends 8/19)
Parenting Books I (ends 8/20)
Parenting Books II (ends 8/20)

Aging with Grace is a new book by Greg Liberman. It tells the story of Grace, a thirty-something woman who feels restless and unhappy in her life as a wife and mother, living in a sleepy suburb. With the big 4-0 looming, she thinks about all that she never had: her dream of becoming an actress, of glamor and fame, money and luxuries that she believes she is entitled to. When she gets in touch with an old friend, Grace gets a close encounter with the kind of life she longs for, and contemplates leaving husband and family behind.

I had a hard time sympathizing with Grace's character and her dilemmas. She just seems like a spoiled 39-year old brat who keeps whining about her need of plastic surgery and better life. Grace is incapable of valuing what she has. She is self-centered and, as her husband points out, only cares about herself. She has difficulty relating to her teenage daughter, she despises her suburban friends, she is bored with her husband. Reading this book was like looking at a car crash in slow motion - except I just wanted to slap some sense into Grace. Her character acts selfishly and is immature, shallow, and narcissistic. When her husband tells her about his own disillusionment with his career and succumbs to his aspirations to play in a band, she makes merciless fun of his middle-age crisis - all while she is the one much deeper in her middle-age stupidity act.

One can argue that there are many middle-aged people who feel trapped in their life but lack the guts to do anything about it. Maybe it takes some kind of courage to do what Grace does. To me, it is taking the easy way out - away from responsibility and grown-up life, choosing plastic surgery, expensive clothes and a dubious acting job over family and getting older with dignity.

The book reminds me a bit of the show Desperate Housewives - minus the suspense of the story, the fun of the gossip, and the good looks and strong personalities of the characters. I was mostly irritated with the story line, and found the characters superficial and fake - in essence, as well as in depiction. The villain, Grace's love interest and Hollywood producer Victor, is similarly unconvincing.

Altogether, Aging with Grace is somewhat entertaining, but not my type of book. It might make for a fun read if you enjoy this kind of drama. There is a somehow fitting finale, although I do not think all characters get what they deserve. At the end, Grace comes to find out that the grass is not always greener on the other side - something the readers knew all along.

Aging with Grace can be purchased on BookSurge.

Thanks to the author and Bostick Communications for providing a review copy.

I am delighted to participate in the Dark Hunger Blog Tour! This new book by Rita Herron just came out August 1, and we are having a giveaway to celebrate! If you cannot wait to read it, click here to find out where you can buy a copy.

Book Description
Reporter Annabelle Armstrong will go to any lengths to deliver a story, even track down Quinton Valtrez, a man she believes is a coldhearted assassin. Yet the truth about the darkly sensual Quinton is even more shocking...and the overwhelming desire he ignites is one she vows to resist.

Quinton has fought his demonic powers since he was a child. Now using his gifts for the good of national security, he can't let himself be distracted by the beautiful, determined Annabelle. But his need for her is sudden, fierce--and could soon cost Annabelle her life. For a wicked enemy is out for vengeance, a demon who wants to draw Quinton into a life of pure evil and is willing to use Annabelle as bait. To save her, Quinton must achieve the near impossible: tame the sinister force that is both his inheritance and his curse before it claims him forever.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have the opportunity to give away FIVE copies of Dark Hunger!

To enter, please leave a comment below and tell me what was the last book you enjoyed reading. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address if not visible in your blogger profile.

For extra entries, you can do one or all of the following - please leave a separate comment for each:

• follow my blog (see right sidebar);
• subscribe to my feed by e-mail (see right sidebar);
• grab my button from the right sidebar and tell me where to find it (2 extra entries);
  
• add my link to your blog roll;
• stumble, digg, etc. - use the button below this post and leave a separate comment with your username or a link for each you do;
  
• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• if you are not a blogger, you can email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and leave your twitter name;
• tweet about this giveaway and comment with the link to your tweet, feel free to cpy and paste: "Win one of 5 copies of Rita Herron's new romantic suspense, Dark Hunger, at Just Another New Blog: http://tiny.cc/dTTMh! Contest ends 8/31" – you can do this once a day;
• add this giveaway - or any of my current giveaways - to a Mr. Linky and let me know where to find it - you get two entries for every giveaway that you help promote, leave a separate comment for each;
  
• add my blog to your Technorati favorites (click on link or see right sidebar);
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is August 31, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. You will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!

Blog Tour Stops
Please make sure to visit the other stops on the blog tour for reviews, interviews, and more giveaways!

http://yankeeromancereviewers.blogspot.com - Aug. 9 to 22 review and giveaway
http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com - Aug. 9 review and giveaway
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com - Aug. 10 Q&A, review and giveaway
http://hotdealsbybec.com - Aug. 10 giveaway
www.trishasbookshelf.blogspot.com - Aug. 11 review and giveaway
http://reesspace.blogspot.com - Aug. 11 review and giveaway
http://booksoulmates.blogspot.com - Aug. 12 giveaway
www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com - Aug. 12 Q&A, review, and giveaway
http://justjenniferreading.blogspot.com - Aug. 13 review and giveaway
http://seductivemusings.blogspot.com - Aug. 13 Q&A and giveaway
http://www.wrightysreads.blogspot.com - Aug. 13 review and giveaway
http://nightdweller20.wordpress.com - Aug. 14 review and giveaway
http://www.startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com - Aug. 14 review and giveaway
http://cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com - Aug. 14 giveaway
http://ajourneyofbooks.blogspot.com - Aug. 15 Q&A, review and giveaway
www.myspace.com/darbyscloset - Aug. 16 review
http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com - Aug. 17 Q&A, review and giveaway
http://jeannesgifts.blogspot.com - Aug. 18 review and giveaway
www.cheekyreads.com - Aug. 18 Q&A and giveaway
http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com - Aug. 19 review and giveaway
http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com - Aug. 20 review and giveaway
www.thisbookforfree.com - Aug. 20 Q&A, review and giveaway
http://aparkavenueprincess.blogspot.com - Aug. 21 review and giveaway
www.morbid-romantic.net - Aug. 21 Q&A, review and giveaway
http://fallingofftheshelf.blogspot.com - Aug. 22 giveaway
www.my-book-views.blogspot.com - Aug. 22 Q&A, review and giveaway
http://jmomfinds.amoores.com/ - Aug. 22 review and giveaway
http://www.mgpblog.com
http://bridget3420.blogspot.com

Book Description
Fielding Grey is the second son of the Marquess of Eldon and fortune hunter by night. He's on a mission for the Legend Hunters--a group of wealthy, titled, and heart-breakingly gorgeous men, each of whom are after the find of the century--he has his eyes set on obtaining the illustrious Pandora's Box. But before he finds it, he encounters an equally alluring treasure--the woman bold enough to look inside.

Esme Worthington can't resist taking the tiniest peek inside when fate drops the real Pandora's Box in her lap. Thus, she unleashes one of Pandora's irresistible curses: the curse of lust. Now, both Esme and Fielding must deal with this passionate curse--or blessing?--before unknown implications of Pandora's Box overpower them both.

My Review
I loved this book, and read it in record time. Imagine a dashing 19th century Indiana Jones type who is also aristocratic, man of the world, handsome and noble, yet totally male and irresistibly seductive. Add a 27-year old woman who is an expert on books and myths but knows nothing about love and passion - until now. This unlikely couple is drawn to each other and their chemistry is undeniable. Adventure, danger, an ancient curse and valuable artifact are thrown into the mix. It all makes for a great story, and a tantalizing historical romance that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I found it impossible to put down, and just could not wait to find out how it all ends.

An Interview with Robyn DeHart
I had the pleasure to ask Robyn DeHart, author of Seduce Me, some questions about her creative process.

Tell us in a few words about yourself.



Well, I’m a thirty-something, happily married full-time writer with two cats. I like in central Texas and I loved chocolate, Mexican food, country music and the fact that for part of my job I get to look at pictures of attractive men.

How do you find inspiration?



I’ve found inspiration just about everywhere. A song lyric, a movie, a picture, a story in the newspaper or an idea for a character will pop into my head based on something I’ve seen. Really inspiration is all over.

How do you research the historical period where your story takes place?



I have several books that cover the basics of the Victorian era and after reading them for the first few books I wrote I only have to refer to them now to double-check things. As far as the particulars I need for each story, I tend to take notes as I write and then when I’m done with the rough draft do all the research all at once. I use my personal research library, the internet and other writer friends to find the information I need.

You have said that you always wanted to be a writer. How did you start writing romance?



You know it was as simple as the first time I read an historical romance I just instinctively knew that’s what I wanted to write. It just hit me. I can’t really explain it, just one of those gut feelings, I guess. And I just really loved it. Everything about it. The emotion, the characters, the history, the heat and conflict, it was a perfect blending for me. It was several years from reading that first book to writing my own, but along the way I studied and learned and joined RWA and made amazing writer friends.

Are you a romantic at heart? Do you believe in happy endings?



I do consider myself a romantic at heart. And even before I met my own personal hero I believed in happy endings. I think some of that comes from just an innate belief in the power of love. But aside from that I’ve seen it all my life. My parents were high school sweethearts and have been married for 48 years. I think sometimes life gets in the way and we might struggle on the way to our happy ending, but I believe if you really want one you can find one.

Who is your favorite writer, and why?



Oh, I don’t know if I can choose just one. Let’s see if I had to pick only one I’d go with Teresa Medeiros. She’s just amazing. Her books are not consistent as far as location or even time period, but they are totally consistent when it comes to brilliant characters that you love and emotional depth that runs the gamut from laugh-out-loud humor to deep-seeded poignancy. She’s wonderful.

What is your favorite book?



I’m gonna go with that very first romance I read, Kathleen Woodiwiss’ A Rose In Winter simply because it really shaped my career. And it’s a wonderful book. The characters are great, the plotline is brilliant. *sigh*

Are you working on a new book, and what is it about?


I just turned in book 2 of the Legend Hunters series and it is about Atlantis. I’m really pleased with how it turned out – I really love the adventure those characters find themselves in, it’s exciting and pulse-pounding and full of danger. It is scheduled to be out in June 2010 but does not have an official title as of yet.

Thank you so much for having me today.

Thank you, Robyn!

The Giveaway
To celebrate the release of Robyn's new book, her publisher Hachette Book Group is giving me the opportunity to give away FIVE copies of Seduce Me to my lucky readers!

To enter, let me know what was the last book you enjoyed reading.

You can do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
• email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win one of 5 copies of Robyn DeHart's new historical romance, Seduce Me, at Just Another New Blog! Contest ends 8/30. http://tiny.cc/mx0BD" – you can do this once a day;
• add this giveaway - or any of my current giveaways - to a Mr. Linky and let me know where to find it - you get two entries for every giveaway that you help promote, leave a separate comment for each;
• subscribe to my blog or become a follower - it counts if you already are, one entry for each;
• add my link to your blog roll or my button to your sidebar - one entry for each;
• digg, stumble, etc. this giveaway using the Share / Save buttons below this post - one entry for each;
  
• enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did - you get one extra entry for each giveaway you enter.

The deadline to enter is August 30, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. You will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Make sure you visit the other stops of the Seduce Me book tour!

Good luck!