WEEKLY GIVEAWAY!!!

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So, according to the poll I ran,  almost everyone voted for a weekly giveaway.  At times, there will be more than one book, but most of the time I will be featuring a weekly giveaway of one book. For these giveaways, I will NOT contact you if you win.  I will announce the winner and you will have 48 hours to respond.  If I don’t hear from you.  the book will be passed to the next winner in line. I am going to keep it simple for this first giveaway.
Also, if anyone would like to make me a button for this weekly event for me to post on my sidebar, I would greatly appreciate it.  Now here is the book for this week and the rules will follow after the description:
Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher, or a colleague.Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, helped you see the world as a more profound place, gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it.

For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago.

Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded, and the world seemed colder.Wouldn’t you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you, receive wisdom for your busy life today the way you once did when you were younger?

Mitch Albom had that second chance.He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man’s life.Knowing he was dying, Morrie visited with Mitch in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college.Their rekindled relationship turned into one final “class”: lessons in how to live.

Tuesdays with Morrie is a magical chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie’s lasting gift with the world.

GIVEAWAY RULES:
1. You must be a follower to enter.
2. Contest is only available to the USA.  Sorry, but limited funds at this moment in time. This could change later.
3.  Leave a comment on this post.
This contest is open until 2/8/2010 with the winner being announced on 2/9/2010.
Good luck!

SILENT DESPERATION by Jeffrey M. Bryan

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SILENT DESPERATION
Author: Jeffrey M. Bryan
Source: Author submission
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Paperback: 184 pages
  • Publisher: CreateSpace; 1st edition (November 11, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1449581471
  • ISBN-13: 978-1449581473
SYNOPSIS:
Written through the emotional rollercoaster of decades, each story and poem captures the human condition in convincing detail, from the greatest love to unalloyed hurt. Yet throughout, the writing is entertaining, offering characters and situations that expand the imagination and pass along the conceptual epiphanies that inspired them. Like a silent cry from the depths of personal experience, the stories and poetry in Silent Desperation capture the greatest life has to offer.
MY THOUGHTS:
I loved this book!  Each story has its own meaning, yet they intertwine with one thing in focus.  The poetry was amazing. The writing was touching and you could feel your self going through all the emotions the author is wanting you to feel.  The title is perfect as each story has a desperation to them.  A wonderful book that would be great to reread time and again.
MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

THE LIGHTKEEPER’S DAUGHTER by Colleen Coble

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THE LIGHTKEEPER’S DAUGHTER
Author: Colleen Coble
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 12, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1595542671
  • ISBN-13: 978-1595542670
SYNOPSIS:
At a lavish estate in Mercy Falls, California, Addie Sullivan finds danger—and quite possibly the love of her life.
Growing up as the lightkeeper’s daughter on a remote island at the turn of the century, Addie Sullivan has lived a hardscrabble life. When a long-lost and wealthy relative finds her and enlists her to work as a governess at a lavish estate, she hopes to discover the truth of her heritage. But at Eaton Hall, nothing is as it seems. Not the idyllic family she hoped for, not the child she was hired to help, not even the aloof man she’s immediately attracted to. Soon she must turn for help to Lieutenant John North, a man who views her with suspicion.
As Addie edges closer to the truth, danger threatens even as her romance with John blossoms and together they unravel a decades-old mystery. As Addie faces down her enemy, she discovers that faith in her one true Father is all she needs.
MY THOUGHTS:
I have never read any book by this author before.  The synopsis though captured my attention and I decided to give it a chance. 
I was disappointed in it.  The romance is predictable and kind of childish.  The plot was not interesting at all to me.  I just found myself not caring what happened to any of the characters in the book.  
The suspense on the other hand was well written.  The mystery kept me reading it until the end.  To me, the mystery is what saved this book from ending up in my Did Not Finish pile.  I liked how the writer kept you guessing on the suspense, so it made it to where you had to keep reading if you wanted to find out.  
Not a book I would re read or keep on my bookshelves, but okay if you like historical romance with suspense.  I am still on the fence on whether I would read another book by this author though.
MY RATING:


 
  A Decent Read.
Has Some Drawbacks Though.

ETERNAL ON THE WATER by Joseph Monninger

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ETERNAL ON THE WATER
Author: Joseph Monninger
Source: Received from B&N First Look
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Pocket; Original edition (February 16, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1439168334
  • ISBN-13: 978-1439168332
SYNOPSIS:

From the day Cobb and Mary meet kayaking on Maine’s Allagash River and fall deeply in love, the two approach life with the same sense of adventure they use to conquer the river’s treacherous rapids. But rivers do not let go so easily…and neither does their love. So when Mary’s life takes the cruelest turn, she vows to face those rough waters on her own terms and asks Cobb to promise, when the time comes, to help her return to their beloved river for one final journey.

Set against the rugged wilderness of Maine, the exotic islands of Indonesia, the sweeping panoramas of Yellowstone National Park, and the tranquil villages of rural New England, Eternal on the Water is at once heartbreaking and uplifting — a timeless, beautifully rendered story of true love’s power. 
MY THOUGHTS:
I want to start by saying that the author has a remarkable way of writing details that make the scene so alive and visual in your mind.  You can actually see yourself there with the characters of the story.  That being said, it was about the only thing I liked about the book.  The characters just didn’t grab my attention and the plot of the story didn’t hold my interest.  The book starts out with Mary’s death, do you already know how it will end.  You get to see their journey, but like I said, you know how the journey ends beforehand.  I am still not quite sure about this book.  This is one of those books that you would have to read and form your own opinion of. 
MY RATING:


 
  A Decent Read.
Has Some Drawbacks Though.

WINNER OF FUGITIVE!!!!

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I used Random.org and the winner for FUGITIVE by Cheryl Brooks is:
I will be emailing you shortly to get your info! CONGRATS!
Thank you to all who entered.  I will be hosting a weekly giveaway since according to the poll, it was the clear winner.  So be on the lookout for it posted later today!