The Bible Salesman by Clyde Edgerton GIVEAWAY!!!

Valerie at Hachette Book Group has graciously offered this book for me to review and do a giveaway for!

This giveaway is closed as of Oct 28

bible salesmanPreston Clearwater has been a criminal since stealing two chain saws and 1,600 pairs of aviator sunglasses from the army during the Second World War. Back on the road in postwar North Carolina, now a member of a car-theft ring, he picks up hitchhiking Henry Dampier, an innocent twenty-year-old Bible salesman. Clearwater immediately recognizes Henry as smart but gullible, just the associate he needs–one who will believe Clearwater is working undercover for the F.B.I.; one who will drive the cars Clearwater steals as Clearwater follows along in his own car at a safe distance. Henry joyfully sees a chance to lead a dual life as a Bible salesman and a G-man.

During his hilarious and scary adventures, Henry grapples with doubts about the Bible’s accuracy, and we learn of his fundamentalist upbringing, an upbringing that doesn’t prepared him for his new life. As he falls in love with the captivating Marleen Green and questions his religious training, Henry begins to see he’s being used–that he is on his own in a way he never imagined.

So… how to enter?

1 entry:  leave a comment here and let me know if you have ever sold anything door to door or over the phone… (If you have not, respond here with something you think you would be good at selling door to door or ove the phone)

2) earn a second entry by following my blog and letting me know that you do is a separate comment

3) leave a comment on any non goveaway post for a third entry

Thats it – I will give away one book per every 10 comments (not counting any of my own comments) up to 5 books.  Giveaway open to USA and Canada entrants.  Giveaway will end on October 22.

Reading Group Guide

Bo’s Cafe by John Lynch * Bill Thrall * Bruce McNichol w/ giveaway

A fantastic Christian read with the combination of incredible food, faith, and friends… what more could you want out of Bo’s cafe?

~ Sheila


Bo's CafeHigh-powered executive Steven Kerner is living the dream in southern California. But when his bottled pain ignites in anger one night, his wife kicks him out. Then an eccentric mystery man named Andy Monroe befriends Steven and begins unraveling his tightly wound world. Andy leads Steven through a series of frustrating and revealing encounters to repair his life through genuine friendship and the grace and love of a God who has been waiting for him to accept it. A story to challenge and encourage, BO’S CAFE is a model for all who struggle with unresolved problems and a performance-based life. Those who desire a fuller, more authentic way of living will find this journey of healing a restorative exploration of God’s unbridled grace.


My Thoughts: Bo’s Cafe was a wonderful read.  I really enjoyed the story line between Steve and Lindsey.  In today’s world I am believing that this is all to often the circumstances and I found this book believable.  Bo’s Cafe is a captivating read… from the great cover picture of a warm inviting cafe filled to the brim with friends, even within the pages you find people like Andy – a little mysterious, but there is something more to that guy that you cant quite put your finger on… and he  drive’s an old car and live life with a sense of joy.

On page 228 I found a quote that I think may need to go on the sidebar of this blog somewhere… “Integrity is proven when you admit what you cannot do and honor what you say you can.”

I found the book refreshing.  As a Christian read, the book covers well that no one needs another list of do’s and don’ts.  I loved that in this book we are reminded that God loves us for who we are.  He created us out of His love.  Personally, I know how long it took me just to learn that it was ok to be real – it is ok to be flawed and fail and get back up again.  God is first in line to hold out a helping hand.  Andy’s character is a fine example and I enjoyed getting to know him and the rest of the gang at Bo’s Cafe.

And how fun is it that this book is written by three authors who are friends?

Meet the Authors

john_close-BCJohn Lynch
As a great communicator and writer, John Lynch is a vital staff member of the Truefaced team.  In addition to speaking nationally with the Truefaced team since 1997, John has co-authored a number of books and resources with Truefaced, including the bestseller TrueFaced and the popular TrueFaced audio-video message.

John also serves as teaching pastor at Open Door Fellowship in Phoenix, Arizona, a position that he has held since 1985. The authenticity, longevity, and playfulness of these two flawed communities, Open Door and the Truefaced group, brings real-world reality and potency to this Truefaced message of Bo’s Cafe.

John used his love for writing and performing as the co-founder and playwright for Sharkey Productions, a theater troupe focused on Gospel-anchored theater productions for those still seeking Jesus. John and his wife Stacey are passionate parents to their three children Caleb, Amy and Carly.

abBill Thrall
As a leader of leaders, and a co-author for the TrueFaced team since 1995, Bill’s genuine desire is to see relational health in those he works with, has been vital in setting the tone of the organization. His eloquence and integrity have given him opportunities to teach TrueFaced’s principles internationally. His wisdom has been penned throughout the entire series of The Ascent of a Leader, Beyond Your Best, and TrueFaced Experience books.

Prior to joining the TrueFaced group, Bill founded and pastored the influential church, Open Door Fellowship, for over 20 years.  While there, he developed an effective character development training program, which has influenced thousands.

In his spare time, Bill can be found fishing, golfing, crafting furniture for his family in his wood shop or cultivating fruits, vegetables and herbs in his beautiful backyard garden. Bill and his wife, Grace have three grown children Wende, Bill, and Joy and nine grandchildren.

abrBruce McNicol
Bruce is a master at helping people experience the freedom of grace through metaphors and stories, which fill the best-selling Truefaced resources he and his friends have co-authored. These include TrueFaced, The Ascent of a Leader, Behind The Mask, Beyond Your Best, The High Trust Cultures, and others.

Bruce’s degrees in finance law, theology, leadership, and organizational development help hone his gift to speak into the lives of others, which continues to draw international audiences.

As co-founder and president of Truefaced team, Bruce’s passion is to see tens of thousands of safe places like Bo’s Café growing around the world, whether they be families, businesses, schools, hospitals, churches, organizations, sports teams, military or governments.

Bruce enjoys the beach, sports, and observing cultures through history-makers, emerging leaders, mass media, and comedians. His constant interest is his wife Janet, who is a homemaker, nurse and mentor. Together, they absolutely enjoy their three children, Nicole, Chad and Ryan.

Mirian from Hchette Book Group has graciously offered me copies of this book to give away here.  I can have up to 5 copies – I will give away one book per every 10 entries….

How to enter?

Leave a comment here for one entry

For 2 extra entries: Go this fun Bo’s Cafe site and let me know which link you enjoyed looking at and why:  Bo’s cafe

Be a follower of this blog for another additional entry.

Open to USA and Canada addresses only.  No PO box numbers.  Contest will end Oct 20.

This giveaway is not closed as of Oct 28, 2009

Banned Books Week – Sept. 26 – Oct. 3

*This post will stay on top for Banned Books Week.  New posts will be below.*

SteinbeckMiceAndMen

Banned Books… you may be surprised… I was.  I have read banned books – GREAT books…. and did not even know that it was a banned book.  This week take a look into the banned books… have you read any of them?

Here is this weeks special giveaway.  Comment here with the title of a banned book you have read for one entry.  You can leave up to three book titles (on separate comments) of books that are considered banned that you have read.

**  5 entry bonus if you read a book that is on the banned books list this week (Sept 26 – Oct 3) and leave a link to your review of it here.  If you do not blog, leave the title, author and a few words about your thoughts on the book here to receive this bonus.

I will choose one winner per every 10 comments using Random.org.  Winner(s)  will receive choice out of  the Prize Box. **USA and Canada entrants only please

Thank you to Natasha at Maw Books, who had this wonderful You Tube clip on her blog about banned books as well as links to more information about banned books.  Stop by her blog to find a lot more information about Banned Books Week.

Also see Biblio Blogazine and The Banned Book Challenge

Giveaway for Beat The Reaper by Josh Bazell

Another great giveaway thanks to Valerie at Hachette Book Group.  I am able to offer here a chance to win a copy of  Beat The Reaper to two lucky readers.

Giveaway is now closed as of Oct 28, 2009

Full Description

Dr. Peter Brown is an intern at Manhattan’s worst hospital, with a talent for medicine, a shift from hell, and a past he’d prefer to keep hidden. Whether it’s a blocked circumflex artery or a plan to land a massive malpractice suit, he knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men.BeattheReaper_bluePietro “Bearclaw” Brnwna is a hitman for the mob, with a genius for violence, a well-earned fear of sharks, and an overly close relationship with the Federal Witness Relocation Program. More likely to leave a trail of dead gangsters than a molecule of evidence, he’s the last person you want to see in your hospital room.

 

Nicholas LoBrutto, aka Eddy Squillante, is Dr. Brown’s new patient, with three months to live and a very strange idea: that Peter Brown and Pietro Brnwa might-just might-be the same person …

Now, with the mob, the government, and death itself descending on the hospital, Peter has to buy time and do whatever it takes to keep his patients, himself, and his last shot at redemption alive. To get through the next eight hours-and somehow beat the reaper.

Spattered in adrenaline-fueled action and bone-saw-sharp dialogue, BEAT THE REAPER is a debut thriller so utterly original you won’t be able to guess what happens next, and so shockingly entertaining you won’t be able to put it down.


Here is the book trailer…

thinking gif

Hmmmm…. how to enter this giveaway?  Well let’s see…

1)  leave a comment here after you have watched the trailer and let me know what movie/book this clip reminds you of.  (There is no right or wrong answer…  just want that split second response)

2)  Blog or twitter about this giveaway and let me know here for a 2nd entry

As always – have fun!  🙂

This giveaway will end October 24 – I am giving two books away

Remember USA entrants only on this one and no po box numbers for winners

Giveway for The Historian by Elizabeth Kostiva

This Giveaway is now closed as of Oct 28, 2009

I am excited to announce a great historical fiction novel giveaway!  (One of my current favorite genres!) Thank to Valerie at Hachette Book Group I can have up to 5 of these wonderful books to give away here!  So I will offer one book giveaway for every 10 comments here between now and October 18. That means if we can get 50+ comments here – we will give away all 5 books!  (I cant wait to get my review copy of this book!)

the historianThe Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Breathtakingly suspenseful and beautifully written, The Historian is the story of a young woman plunged into a labyrinth where the secrets of her family’s past connect to an inconceivable evil: the dark fifteenth-century reign of Vlad the Impaler and a time-defying pact that may have kept his awful work alive through the ages. The search for the truth becomes an adventure of monumental proportions, taking us from monasteries and dusty libraries to the capitals of Eastern Europe – in a feat of storytelling so rich, so hypnotic, so exciting that it has enthralled readers around the world.

“Never was a ghost story so casually erudite, nor a historical travelogue such gripping entertainment.” —New York Magazine

“Impossible to resist. . . . Kostova blends fact and fantasy to remind us that the original Dracula legend is rooted in monstrous acts of unblinking evil.” —Miami Herald

“A richly told story about family and the dark side of human nature. . . . This cry of the heart will appeal to readers beyond those who are drawn by a fascination with the legend of Dracula.” —Chicago Tribune

“Genuinely terrifying.” —Boston Globe

Reading Group Guide

So… the question is… how to enter?

1) If you were plunged into a book and had to actually walk through and live the story all the way to the end to get out… what book would it be?  (Answer this question for one entry!)  If you do not answer the question you are not entered.

2) Get a second entry for blogging or twittering this giveaway

3) make a comment on any none giveaway post on this blog and earn a third entry

That’s it!  Have fun!  This giveaway is open to USA residents only and remember no po box numbers for winners. Winners will be posted here on October 18.

Giveaway Clean Up Project

cheerleader blk small

As part of my housekeeping for this week I have several giveaways that I have ended that I need to do the actual giveaway.  Life kind of got away from me there for awhile and now I am working my way back.  🙂

So here we go!cheerleader small

First up… we have a giveaway for The Friends We Keep is….

DEBB (from Debb’s Dailies!)


Next up, The Hope of Refuge goes to:

Erin (From Connected to Christ)


And now the giveaway for Tales of Pruit Almus:

Nancye Davis!!!


I have five winners (yes 5!!!) for Just Food:

Trisha (from Trisha’s Book Blog)

Booklogged (from A Readers Journal)

Nanscorner (from Nan’s Corner of the Web)

Dina (from Just Another New Blog)

Andrea!!!


Winner of the signed Bran Hambric poster is:

Alexa!!!


whew

I am current on my giveaways!  YAY!!!

THANK YOU to everyone who had entered and be sure to watch my Giveaway Tab for all giveaways that are going on here at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.  I have two more great giveaways I am putting up yet today!

The Sister Pact by Cami Checkett w/ Giveaway!

I savored every word as the characters unfolded before me and became a part of my heart….

~ Sheila

TheSisterPactSavannah Compton is devastated when her sister and best friend Allison falls into a coma after a tragic accident. Or was it an accident? Even with a charming and handsome detective at her side, it seems Savannah may never discover the truth. But if she doesn’t, her family could be in even more danger. And Savannah’s past holds its own secrets that could change everything.

Now she must prove her innocence to the one person who is beginning to matter most. Join Savannah as she struggles to summon hope and rely on faith, even in the darkest of circumstances, and learn how the bond between sisters can overcome anything.

My Thoughts:  I love how this book came to be in my hands.  Author Cami Checketts came to me and asked if I would like to review her book.  I looked it up on line, read the same few paragraphs as you just did above, and said yes.

Upon reading this book – I was so thankful that I did say yes to it.  Cami writes a great suspense novel with characters that will stay with me a long time.  I was really impressed that this is such a clean novel and what I mean by that is – there is no strong language, no graphic scenes that made me squirm and no sexual content.

The characters are well described and I as the book opened its story to me I felt as though I knew Allison and Savvanah.  Or – at least  wanted to.  The bond they carried as sisters and friends really tore at my heart and reminded me of the sister I once had.  I loved how they took care of one another, and when Detective Noah is added – well, it only gets better.

This novel is filled with suspense, romance, and a close up look of what happend to a family when tragedy hits close to home.

Cami Checkett writes in a style that if I were to ever write that book that I hope to, I would be honored to write as well as her.  I will definitely be looking for more from Cami Checkett.

A portion of the proceeds from The Sister Pact will be donated to The Child & Family Support Center. For more information on this worthy cause, please go to www.cachecfsc.org

cami family

Cami Checketts is married and the proud mother of three wild boys. Sometimes between being a human horse, cleaning up magic potions, and reading Bernstein Bears, she gets the chance to write fiction.

Her hobbies include: playing with her children, reading, running, water skiing, weightlifting and being involved in church.

Please click here for my interview with author, Cami Checkett.

Cami has graciously offered me an autographed copy of The Sister Pact to be sent to one reader!

To enter:

1) comment here with how you would like the book autographed

2) to earn an extra entry – on a separate comment leave a link to where you have blogged or twittered about this giveaway

3) earn an extra entry by becoming a follower of this blog (or if you already are) be sure to let me know in a separate comment)

4) a fourth entry if you comment on any other non giveaway post on this blog and let me know here

Have fun!  USA entrants only – no po box numbers.  Giveaway will end on October 11

This giveaway is now closed and winner is announced

I received this book from the author, Cami Checkett

I would rate this book PG for some light adult content

Freebie Friday Winner for The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency

Ooh…. I hate being late…. and I am late… really late on this giveaway.  I just now drew for our early September giveaway of The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency book and I am excited to announce our winner is:

drum roll please…

drum

BRENDA  RUPP!!!

Woo hoo!  Congratulations Brenda!  I have emailed you for your mailing info. 🙂

** New Freebie Friday coming up yet tonight!

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a Great Giveaway

I am excited to be able to share with my readers a chance to win a set of these five wonderful books – that’s right the winner(s) will receive a copy of each of these great reads!  (Thank you to Valerie and Hachette Book Group)

hispanic month

  1. Zumba® By Beto Perez , Maggie Greenwood-Robinson
  2. Evenings at the Argentine Club By Julia Amante
  3. Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz By Belinda Acosta
  4. Tell Me Something True By Leila Cobo
  5. Amigoland By Oscar Casares

Here is how to enter this giveaway!

1 entry for leaving a comment about a book, or author you have read from another culture than your own – please mention the title and or author

earn a 2nd entry by blogging or tweeting about this giveaway (please let me know on a separate post)

earn a 3rd entry bu commenting on any non giveaway post and letting me know on a separate comment

I will give away up to 5 sets of these books – 1 set per every 10 comments left here.  If we have 50 comments by the time the contest ends we will be able to give away all 5 sets.

Contest will be open to USA and Canada residents only (no po boxes)

Contest closes on October 15

This giveaway is now closed and winners have been announced