Sunday, February 10, 2013

Special Promotion & a "Sweet" Giveaway from Author Sandra Byrd!

Today officially kicks off Sandra Byrd Week at i blog 4 books. :) And what a fun week we have planned! To get things started, I want to let you know about a couple of great deals and a giveaway that Sandra is hosting this week!

Promotion for Sandra Byrd's French Twist Series
In celebration of the release of the French Twist series for Kindle, all three books are being offered at super-low prices on February 10-14. Let Them Eat Cake (Book 1) is FREE this week. Bon Appetit (Book 2) and Piece de Resistance (Book 3) are available for only 99 cents each! Consider this a little Valentine's Day gift from Sandra to you!

Let Them Eat Cake (Book 1)
Buy a copy here (FREE on Feb 10-14)
Lexi Stuart is at a critical crossroads. She’s done with college but still living at home, ready to launch a career but unable to find a job, and solidly stalled between boyfriends.

When a lighthearted conversation in French with the manager of her favorite bakery turns into a job offer, Lexi accepts. But the actual glamour is minimal: the pay is less than generous, her co-workers are skeptical, her bank account remains vertically-challenged, and her parents are perpetually disappointed. Her only comfort comes from the flirtatious baker she has her eye–but even may not be who he seems to be!

So when a handsome young executive dashes into the bakery to pick up his high profile company’s special order for an important meeting–an order Lexi has flubbed– she loses her compulsion to please. “What am I going to do?” he shouts. “Let them eat cake!” she fires back with equal passion and a nod to Marie Antoinette. And then, something inside Lexi clicks. Laissez la révolution commencer! Let the revolution begin! Instead of trying to fulfill everyone else’s expectations for her life, Lexi embarks on an adventure in trusting God with her future–très bon!


Bon Appetit (Book 2)
Buy a copy here
Lexi Stuart is risking it all. Saying au revoir to the security of home, her job, and could-be boyfriend Dan, Lexi embarks on a culinary adventure in France to fulfill her life dream of becoming a pastry chef.

As she settles into her new home in the village of Presque le Chateau to study and work in a local bakery, her twenty-something optimism meets resistance in the seemingly crusty nature of the people and culture around her. Determined to gain her footing, she finds a church, meets a new friend, and makes the acquaintance of a child named Celine–as well as Celine’s attractive, widowed father, Philippe. Even Patricia, the gruff pastry cook, shows a softer side as she mentors Lexi in the art of baking.

As Lexi lives her dream, the only thing she has to do is choose from the array in life’s patisserie display window: her familiar home, friends, and family in Seattle or her new life in France. Lexi discovers that as she leans more on God the choices become a little clearer– and making them, well, c’est la vie!


Piece de Resistance (Book 3)
Buy a copy here
Having earned her chef’s hat, Lexi Stuart bids au revoir to her glamorous and deliciously satisfying pastry mentorship outside of Paris and returns to her hometown of Seattle, Washington. There, she finds life unexpectedly complicated.

She’s put in charge of a high-end catering bakery called Bijoux, which should be her dream job, but there’s a catch: She has to make this lavish bakery into a successful business in just a few, short months, which will require more than her ability to make an amazing wedding cake. In over her head and at a loss for creative marketing ideas, Lexi isn’t sure what the recipe for success needs to be.

Stir in a complicated relationship with her French beau Philippe and his daughter, Celine, then add a dash of romance with down-to-earth lawyer Dan, and life suddenly contains more ooh la la than Lexi can handle.

With the fate of her career and her love life hanging by a thread, the phrase “piece of cake” has never been more daunting. Lexi learns that she must trust the dreams in her heart and the God who put them there.


A "Sweet" Giveaway
Sandra is also giving away one box of Divine Delights petits fours on her website! Each time you post about the promo or share it with friends via social media, you have the chance for extra entries into the contest! GO HERE to enter. Contest will close at midnight on February 15. Sorry, the giveaway is open to US residents only.

Later This Week
Be sure to stop by on TUESDAY to read my review of Let Them Eat Cake and on THURSDAY for a fun interview with Sandra.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Month in Review | January 2013

As easy as it is to get behind with these monthly wrap-ups, I'm going to try to continue posting them ... even if they're a few days late. I read some great books in January. If the reviews aren't posted yet, I'll be posting them soon. :)

Books Read [10]



Favorite of the Month?
Lots of great books to choose from this month! But I think The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow was my favorite. Great book!


Reviews Posted [5]

Giveaway

Blog Stats
There are lots of blog stats that Blogger tracks for us. I thought I'd start sharing a couple of the more interesting ones (to me, anyway).

Most Viewed Posts of the Month
  1. Love Finds You in Glacier Bay Giveaway Hop
  2. Looking Back … Debut Authors to Watch
  3. Bout of Books 6.0 Updates
  4. Bout of Books Read-A-Thon 6.0
  5. A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs
Most Frequently Used Search Words to Find i blog 4 books
  1. forgotten melody carlson
  2. jennifer neugent thomason
  3. make disciples
  4. peanut brittle images - Hilarious! To think this is to a random post a couple of years ago. :)
  5. what are the answers explored in a … - I really wish I knew what the rest of this phrase was.

Noteworthy Posts / Happenings

That's my January. What did you do last month?

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Review Copy Cleanup Challenge - February 2013


It's time for another month of Review Copy Cleanup! I've got a huge stack of review books—both for the next few weeks/months and to catch up on. Hopefully, I'll get ahead a little now and then can start catching up. Maybe?!?! (You can get more info or sign up here.)

My Goal:
I hope to read at least 10 of the books listed here. More would be great, but 10 will probably be pushing it. Especially, since I haven't read much over the past few days. Gotta get moving!



I'll be posting updates via Twitter (@iblog4books) using the tag #RCCleanup. Happy Reading!

Win a “Glacier Bay” Prize pack from Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss

Celebrate with Tricia and Ocieanna by entering their "Glacier Bay" Giveaway and RSVPing for their Facebook Party on Feb. 12th!


Glacier-Bay-300

One fortunate winner will receive:
  • A gorgeous handmade “Glacier Bay” bracelet
  • A handmade cowl in "Glacier Bay" blues and greens
  • A bottle of custom-made "Glacier Bay" sparkle polish in blue
  • Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss and their two other “Love Finds You” titles {Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana, and Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington}
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 11th. Winner will be announced at the "Glacier Bay" Author Chat Party on February 12th. Connect with authors Tricia and Ocieanna, get a sneak peek of their new book projects, try your hand at the Alaska trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be great giveaways—gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska, and join Tricia and Ocieanna on the evening of February 12th for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)


Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP todayTell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

Monday, February 4, 2013

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?


"It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey where we share what we're reading and our goals for the week.

What I Read Last Week ...


What I'm Reading Now ...
I don't typically have several books going at the same time, but this week is different for some reason. Not sure why!


What I Hope to Read This Week ...
It would be great if I could finish at least three of the books I'm currently in the middle of. Better not anticipate starting anything else this week!

 That's what I'm hoping to read this week. What are you reading?

Blog Tour | Safe in His Arms by Colleen Coble

Safe in His Arms
by Colleen Coble
Under Texas Stars series, Book 2
Christian Fiction / Historical / Romance / Suspense
Available January 29, 2013
Thomas Nelson
320 pages



About the Book
Sometimes it takes a stranger to see you as you really are.

Born and raised on sprawling Texas land, Margaret O’Brien prides herself on her competence as a rancher. But her father believes she’s made for more than just dawn-to-dusk work. He wants her to have the love of a good man, to raise children, to build a life. But Margaret gave up such dreams years ago. She’s convinced no man would have her, that the ranch is her life now.

So when Margaret’s father hires Daniel Cutler as a new foreman, she’s frustrated and suspicious. Then an overheard conversation links him with a gang of bank robbers, and she’s downright worried. Daniel swears he’s not involved, but Margaret’s not convinced. She knows the man still has secrets. But would a criminal be so kind and talk so convincingly of his faith? As a series of tragic “accidents” threatens all she holds dear, Margaret must decide what to trust: her own ears, her best judgment . . . or what her heart keeps telling her.

From the author of the best-selling Blue Moon Promise . . . an exciting tale of danger, romance, and faith played out under Texas stars.

My Thoughts
Whenever Colleen Coble publishes a new novel, I know I'm in for a treat. I've been looking forward to reading Safe in His Arms since I finished Blue Moon Promise last year, and it was a delightful story!

Margaret was one of the best heroines I've been introduced to this year. She's beautiful inside and out but doesn't realize it. She works hard on her father's ranch to overcome her insecurities and to try to gain her father's approval, never really getting it. When Daniel arrives at the ranch, he immediately recognizes her beauty but Margaret is suspicious of his intentions. As their relationship progresses, I found myself really rooting for them to discover the truth about each other and themselves. And once the romance got going, it was beautiful!

The book was much more suspenseful than I originally expected. Coble kept me guessing for much of the book about Daniel's secrets. And even once I thought I had things figured out, she threw in a few extra surprises and twists. I absolutely loved every minute spent in Larson, Texas with Margaret and Daniel. It was fun to re-connect with characters from Blue Moon Promise as well, and I look forward to another visit (hopefully soon) when the next book in the series releases!!!  [4.5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson and Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.

* If you'd like to read what others thought about this book, you can read their reviews here. *

About the Author
Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, ACFW Book of the Year, RWA's RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.

Colleen Coble Online
Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Secretly Smitten | An Evening of Giggle, Gab & Prizes


The "gals" are celebrating the release of Secretly Smitten with a fun Live Webcast on February 5th. They'll be debuting the *NEW* animated Smitten trailer, giving away tons of prizes, dishing on the book and their friendship. They'll also be wrapping up the Secretly Smitten blog tour, answering audience questions and testing your trivia skills. Don't miss the fun and bring your friends. Click here to RSVP and set up a reminder.
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