FREE BOOK FRIDAY!!

Yep Chicks!

It's another

FREE BOOK FRIDAY!!!

FROM AMAZON: Sarah Harper is driven to achieve success no matter what the cost. She wants to do good and not hurt the people she loves--especially children and her husband, Joe--but her desire to succeed in her career too often leaves little time for family. One cold, autumn afternoon, all of that changes when Sarah's car plunges off a bridge and into a river. She is presumed dead by those on the "outside," but Sarah's spirit is still very much alive. What she discovers on the other side transforms everything about Sarah's view of life--past, present, and future.When Sarah is revived, she is a changed woman. And the unsuspecting world around her will never be the same again.

WHAT I THOUGHT: This book reads like a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. It also kind of reminded me of Fireproof...so I think we'll probably see some sort of production of it in the future if it's not already in the works. I have to say it gave me a healthy dose of not taking things in my life for granted. There are, of course a lot of Christian themes here...the characters, finding themselves in dire need of help turn to God in prayer, but it's not overdone and I think this could be a valuable lesson for almost anyone of us. In other words, if you don't typically read Christian fiction, I wouldn't pass this one up for that reason alone. The story is written almost in Charles Dickens style, with Sarah the main character visiting her past, present and future with her deceased Grandmother and an angel named Wingtip. It reads quickly and leaves you with hope.

I have one copy to giveaway courtesy of Miriam at Hatchette

US and Canada only please no PO Boxes!!

To enter please leave a comment with your email!

That's it for today!

THANKS and

READ ON CHICKS!!

Choices Meant for Gods

CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS

by SANDY LENDER

BLURB: Not even the gods noticed when Chariss was born with the mark of The Protector. Now she and her wizard guardian seek shelter from a mad sorcerer in a household not just full of secrets and false hope, but watched by the god who will unwittingly reveal her role in an impending war.

When an orphan sets aside a lifetime of running and fear to accept the responsibilities of guarding an arrogant deity, can she face the trials in the prophecies she uncovers? Will Nigel Taiman of her latest refuge dare to use his dragon heritage to bind her to his estate or to help her in her duty?

WHAT I THOUGHT: If you know nothing else about me by now, (unless this is your first time here, in which case I forgive you) you know I love a strong heroine. Not the kind who play the part of the victim, although I know a certain amount of vulnerability is sometimes what makes a strong heroine seem stronger...anyway...LOVE CHARISS. It's been a little while since I've read a good fantasy, so I was overdue. Who wouldn't want to be born with an amethyst set into the corner of their right eye, I ask you??...oh and I really like dragons...

We're in for a special treat today Chicks, as the Author,

Sandy Lender has joined us for a Guest Post:

Strong Chicks Rule
By Fantasy Author Sandy Lender
www.authorsandylender.com

Amanda Chariss Derdriu is a strong chick. And I dig that. She’s not the sarcastic, scantily-clad, promiscuous heroine you see in a lot of fantasy and spec fiction novels these days, but she is intrigued by humor, romance, and scandals she can solve. She knows her own mind and isn’t afraid to speak it. (Within reason.) See, she’s a good girl, except for a propensity to stick knives and swords in people. (I think she gets that from me. Now, I’ve never actually stuck a knife in anyone, but I sure feel better having a sword under the bed and a medieval dagger on the dresser.)

Back to Chariss.

Chariss has a power known as the geasa. In my fantasy writing, this is a gift the gods breathe into a soul after his or her conception, while the person is still forming in the womb. I designed this power for the “good guys” in the fantasy world of Onweald so they wouldn’t be using sorcery. I’m a Southern Baptist and I believe that you need to be pretty darn cautious about playing around with magic and sorcery—danger, Will Robinson—so I needed something “completely different” in my story. Now, you can argue that even the geasa sounds like magic (and I’ll agree), but I had to do something. I mean, this is fantasy. So the good guys like Chariss have the geasa and the bad guys get their “gift” of sorcery from the big bad evil Julette, an ancient goddess who has gone a little nuts with wanting to usurp her husband and son’s worshippers.

What else about Chariss is cool? Well, she was born with this beautiful little amethyst on her cheekbone, high up near the corner of her right eye. I used to be married to someone who couldn’t grasp the concept when I explained it to him. He kept saying, “A stone is inorganic matter.” And I would say, “It’s fantasy.” The point is Chariss has a destiny that was set in motion prior to her birth and the amethyst is a birthmark that seals her fate. (And her eyes match the color of the amethyst, which I think makes her just gorgeous.)

Chariss saw the massacre of her family when she was four years old. The sorcerer Jamieson Drake would have killed her back then, too, if Hrazon of Mon’dore, the greatest wizard the gods created hadn’t shown up and whisked her off to safety. He’s been her guardian, mentor, teacher, and constant companion ever since. The perfect love and respect these two have for each other is amazing to me. It’s based on 1 Corinthians 13:4 and The Master Rothahn alludes to this in CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS. He seems almost jealous of it when He first mentions it, and that deadly sin of envy only grows.

As you can see, Chariss isn’t an insular character who goes through the novel on her own insular journey. She affects the people around her. One character she affects in an extreme fashion is Nigel Taiman. This poor man seems to have given up on love and the pursuit of happiness when we first meet him. He’s just going through the motions of tending to his family’s estate and school. He protects his little sister and his mother from a tyrannical father and hides among the shadows of the estate until Chariss appears and knocks the wind out of his sails. She doesn’t mean to. It just sort of happens. In fact, she’s apologetic and fretful when she finds out he’s in love with her.

There are plenty of sides and shades to Amanda Chariss. The best way to get to know her, of course, is to read about her in the trilogy, to follow her through her arc. I’ve lived with her in my head for years now so I know her like a sister. She’s a beloved friend to me. I hope that folks who come to the series as new readers will find a friend in her as well. There’s a quick little description of her in the “Character Sketches” section of the Worlds link on my new Web site at www.authorsandylender.com.

Thank you for visiting today to learn a little more about Chariss!
“Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”

For a chance to win a signed copy of

Choices Meant For Gods by Sandy Lender

Please leave a comment with your email!

Sandy is giving away 1 copy a week during the blog tour

You can see all the particpants at her blog

HERE

For more chances to enter!

Thanks and

READ ON CHICKS!!

IT's A TWOFOR!!!!!

My apologies again my chickadees

For being offline for awhile and getting somewhat behind

I was up in Ohio taking care of some family matters,

and unfortunately internet access is somewhat limited for me there

To make it up to you ...

I'm hoping to get my crap together and have several giveaways here

over the next several days.

TODAY is A TWOFER

That means One Lucky CHICK

will recieve 2 BOOKS!!

So here we go!!

From AMAZON: Syd, a breathtakingly beautiful supermodel on a photo shoot in Hawaii, disappears.

Fearing the worst, her parents travel to Hawaii to investigate for themselves, never expecting the horror that awaits them.

LA Times reporter Ben Hawkins is conducting his own research into the case, hoping to help the victim and get an idea for his next bestseller.

With no leads and no closer to uncovering the kidnapper's identity than when he stepped off the plane, Ben gets a shocking visit that pushes him into an impossible-to-resist deal with the devil.


A heart-pounding story of fear and desire, SWIMSUIT transports readers to a chilling new territory where the collision of beauty and murder transforms paradise into a hell of unspeakable horrors.

WHAT I THOUGHT: I've liked James Patterson a long time. If he sounds familiar to you but you don't know why, it's because he's the author of the "Detective Alex Cross" books, several of which were brought to the screen starring Morgan Freeman. When two authors team up together, you never really know what you're going to get, but in this case it works. I really liked the female perspective that Maxine Paetro added to the story, while it kept Patterson's usual edge of your seat suspense!







FROM AMAZON: PhD candidate Mitch Samuel's life isn't going exactly according to plan: his girlfriend just dumped him (to be fair, he did forget to pick her up at the airport), his estranged father has landed in the hospital, and his literary masterpiece-one part Shakespeare, one part Steinbeck, and all parts lyrical epic-has been rejected for the umpteenth time.
However, after a chance encounter at Starbucks with the queen of women's fiction- Katharine Longwell-who seems to take a liking to him, he senses an opportunity for literary riches, if not reputation. After telling her that his (imaginary) female cousin is an aspiring chick-lit author, he secures a promise from her that she'll help his "cousin" get published. The only problem is, Mitch needs a manuscript, and fast.
Unfortunately, try as he might to get inside a woman's head by reading Vogue and Cosmo, watching Oxygen and Oprah, nothing seems to work. That's when his roommate Bradley suggests that he try a dance class at the studio where Bradley's sister Marie takes lessons. Self-conscious about his own skills, and unwilling to reveal his true intentions, Mitch attends the first class under an alias: Jason Gallagher, pharmaceutical rep. What could go wrong?
Nothing, except that Mitch/Jason quickly finds himself hooked on dancing, and on the charming Marie. Who has no idea who he really is. Or that he knows her brother. Or why he's there. Suddenly, his novel-writing project is becoming a lot more than he bargained for...
WHAT I THOUGHT: This is a lot of fun, and very funny. A romantic comedy, from a guys point of view and written by a guy. I really loved it because that alone made it different from any chick lit I've read recently, or maybe ever...It's also a fairly quick read perfect for a day at the beach!

One Copy of Each is going to one lucky Chick!

All you need to do to win is leave a comment with

your email!!

That's it for today!

Thanks and

READ ON CHICKS!

Katka by Stephen Meier

KATKA

By Stephen Meier

I've never read a novella before...but there's definitely something to be said for something that can be read in just a couple hours, and the author managed to pack a whole lot of excitement in this short book!

From Amazon: Katka by Stephen Meier is a gritty, edgy novel of greed, love, and swindles gone very wrong. When Gavin and his girlfriend team with her best friend Simona to pull a phony mail order bride scam in the Czech Republic, Gavin gets in way over his head in the high-stakes and dangerous business of selling wives. When Gavin talks Katka, his girlfriend, into becoming part of the merchandise, planning to bait-n-switch the client in the end, things go awry and Katka disappears with the client. Partnering with the jealous and volatile Simona, Gavin begins to lament this risky life he has chosen, but finds the money is something he can’t walk away from. Gavin’s doubts grow; the con begins to consume him, and he finds himself thinking of Katka, the fate he dealt her, and whether he can undo the biggest mistake of his life. Written with staccato grit and streetwise savvy, Katka reads like a Quentin Tarantino movie. Stephen Meier’s work will leave you begging for more.

What I Liked: As I said, I really appreciated how much was packed into a pretty short read. I didn't feel like I missed anything. I really liked the "grittiness" of it. At it's base it's a story of love and money, and how far people will go for the sake of greed. The three main characters Katka, Gavin, and Simona are also very well developed. This is a great book to take to the beach or the pool!

Stephen Meier was kind enough to grant an interview!

1. What's your favorite thing you've read in the last year? Finished up Irving Welsh's, "If You Liked School, You'll Love Work". I love his style.

2. Name a character from a book you've read who you still find yourself thinking about. Just reread the Odyssey, and have been thinking about Odysseus.

3. A favorite quote from a book. Lately been discussing a lot of Hunter S. Thompson, so I would go with,"We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold. I remember saying something like, "I feel a bit lightheaded; maybe you should drive . . ."And suddenly there was a terrible roar all around us and the sky was full of what looked like huge bats, all swooping and screeching and diving around the car, which was going about 100 miles an hour with the top down to Las Vegas. And a voice was screaming: "Holy Jesus! What are these goddamn animals?"

4. Who do you consider your role model, literary or otherwise?Role Model? Hmmm, well i would say my father is my biggest hero and probably role model. He's a great man.

5. What music, if any, do you listen to when you're writing? I always listen to music! Right now some of my favorites are: Rob Dickinson acoustic, Radiohead, David Gray, and Aidan Hawken.
6. Have you ever faked reading anything? If so what? Haha, great question! Well, I was an English Major in College so the answer has to be yes!!!! And I think it was either Dubliners or Ulysses by James Joyce!

Thanks so much Mr. Meier for joining us Chicks today!

That's it for today!

READ ON CHICKS!!

A Morning Like This...

Hey There CHICKS!!

My apologies for things being a little slow around here the past several

days..I'm up in Ohio enjoying some time visiting family and my internet

access is a bit limited. BUT...I have manged to do some reading of course

so here you go..

A MORNING LIKE THIS

By Deborah Bedford

FROM AMAZON: David and Abby Treasure seem to have everything together: a perfect marriage, a perfect son, and a perfect life. But one simple phone call turns their world upside down. Years ago, David had an affair outside of his marriage, and though he never knew it, the affair produced a daughter. Now his former lover calls with heartbreaking news: his daughter is dying of leukemia. Her only hope for survival is a bone marrow transplant-from David or his son. Can David and Abby set aside their betrayal and anger to save a little girl's life? If they can make it through, they may find that their love for one another and their faith in God can be redeemed . . . and grow stronger than ever before.

What I thought: This was a really good story. It did come across as a little "preachy" to me at times, (although not overly so) but it is classified as Christian Fiction, so I'd expect it to. That fact, however, did not deter from the story line at all, in fact the characters are well developed, and while I think I got a little bothered by David's indignation over Abby's initial trouble with forgiveness, I felt the overall theme rang true. Yes, I cried a little, but in the end I felt hopeful, so I think the author did what she set out to do.

I have one copy to giveaway courtesy of Miriam at Hatchette!!

To win simply leave me a comment with your email!

THANKS!!

Winners of

"IF YOUR KID EATS THIS BOOK

EVERYTHING WILL BE OK"

ARE

Suburban Prep

Danetta

Ashley

Linda

Sharon

That's it for today!!

READ ON CHICKS!!

FREE BOOK FRIDAY!!

To Beguile A Beast
Elizabeth Hoyt
What is it about a wounded man that drives
me crazy??
Alistair has been hiding in his dilapidated Scottish castle since being wounded in the war. Wounded and scarred he has hidden himself from the world.
Helen has taken her two children and fled life in the ton to escape the Duke she has been mistress to, trying to carve out a better life for her and her children.
She arrives at Alistair's castle determined to start a new life as his housekeeper.
Slowly, Alistair notices as his house begins to come back to life with the love that Helen and her children have bestowed upon it, so does his heart for Helen. But, not everything can go as planned when the Duke finds Helen and his children and tries to take them back.
I really liked this story. I'm enjoying the turn a lot of historical romances I've read lately have taken, not assuming that every heroine has to be some blushing virgin and every hero a rogue. The characters is this story are charming, and the love story between Alistair and Helen has this sweet, warm feeling to it that I truly enjoyed!

I have 5 copies to giveaway courtesy of Anna at Hatchette!

US and Canada Only please no PO Boxes!!

1. Leave a comment with your email +1

2. Please TWEET about this contest!! +1

3. Follow Me on TWITTER! +2 (http://www.twitter.com/chicbookchick)

4.Post this contest on Your Facebook page!! +3

Please link me back for extra entries! THANK YOU!!

Winners of Bound To Please ARE

ZIA, KATHLEEN, BOOKLOVER,MARI,ASHLEY!!!

THAT's IT!!

READ ON CHICKS!!

Chemical Cowboys

Chemical Cowboys
Lisa Sweetingham
From Amazon.com: For nearly a decade, Ecstasy kingpin Oded Tuito was the mastermind behind a drug ring that used strippers and Hassidic teenagers to mule millions of pills from Holland to the party triangle--Los Angeles, New York, and Miami.
Chemical Cowboys is a thrilling journey through the groundbreaking undercover investigations that led to the toppling of a billion-dollar Ecstasy trafficking network--starting in 1995 when New York DEA Agent Robert Gagne infiltrated club land to uncover a thriving drug scene supported by two cultures: pill-popping club kids and Israeli dealers.
Gagne’s obsessive mission to take down Tuito’s network met unexpected challenges and personal discoveries that almost crippled his own family. Weaved into the narrative are the stories of Tuito’s underlings who struggled with addiction as they ran from the law, and the compelling experiences of a veteran Israeli police officer who aided Gagne while chasing after his own target--a violent Mob boss who saw the riches to be made in Ecstasy and began to import his own pills and turf warfare to the U.S.
Chemical Cowboys offers a taut, behind-the-scenes glimpse into an international criminal enterprise as daring as it is deadly.

What I Thought: While yes, usually I tend toward lighter reading I really enjoy investigative writing like this. When I was a little girl, and people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up my answer was a cop...more specifically a detective. I just find it so interested. That being said, this book tends to read more like a story than non-fiction which is what kept me so riveted. The Author goes into incredible detail on the inner workings of the DEA and it's agents, and the story of a drug that got it's start as a treatment for depression and how it became known as the nightclub drug of choice.

This would be a great FATHER'S DAY GIFT for readers who like to read about crime, fiction ornonfiction, as this story rolls off the page like a movie.

Lisa Sweetingham was kind enough to grant me an interview. Here's what she had to say!

1. How did you get started in journalism?
I knew by my mid-twenties that I wanted to write, but I wasn’t sure of the delivery method: would I focus on fiction, screenplays, poetry, journalism?
As an undergrad in a small southern college, I had managed the student newspaper and I loved the hectic pace. But just to be sure, I spent a year as an assistant on a literary desk at a major talent agency in Beverly Hills. I quickly burned out on reading scripts and decided that the most interesting movies came from articles and books. But I also chose journalism because—truth be told—I’m nosy. I am insatiably curious about human nature and being a reporter gives me an excuse to ask personal questions.

Not everyone needs to go to journalism school to get a job in the industry, but for reasons I can’t fully explain I readily accepted a lifetime of financial debt in return for a strong foundation in the skills of reporting, writing, and editing. In truth, I have no regrets. Columbia University’s graduate program in journalism gave me a broad set of story-telling skills and forged relationships with talented professors and alum who I still count on for guidance.

Once out of school, I freelanced for local New York newspapers and magazines and eventually landed a job as a writer and technology editor at Time Out New York, a weekly entertainment magazine. By 2004, a friend from Columbia told me about a web reporter opening at Court TV and soon I was traveling across the country covering high-profile murder trials. It was a fantastic job. It gave me a solid foundation in the language and processes of the justice system and provided opportunities to do television, radio, and multimedia reporting.

I eventually left Court TV (now InSession on TruTV) to work on “Chemical Cowboys,” full time, but I freelance for my old bosses on occasion and still love haunting the crime beat.

2. Who are some of your favorite authors?

In no particular order and completely off the top of my head: Raymond Chandler, W. Somerset Maugham, Walt Whitman, Christopher Hitchens, Bruce Wallin, Jerry Stahl, William Faulkner, Truman Capote, Ian McEwan, Bill Styron, Charlie LeDuff, Russell Banks, Joni Mitchell, Raymond Carver, Hemingway, James B. Stewart, William Langewiesche, Gay Talese, Edna Buchanan, Tom Wolfe.

Also, I think Anthony Lane and Mike D’Angelo are exceptional film critics. And A.J Jacobs’ writing in Esquire inspires me to push boundaries in terms of how I approach a story. The last article of his I clipped was: “Do I Love My Wife? An Investigative Report,” [http://www.esquire.com/features/mri-of-love-0609] in which he allowed researchers at Rutgers University to monitor his brain activity to see if pictures of his wife still triggered chemical reactions indicative of feelings of romance, sex, and emotional attachment. It’s not Hemingway, it’s just a clever way to show readers the human side of science.

3. What is research like for a book like Chemical Cowboys?

Endless!

In a nutshell: “Chemical Cowboys” follows a decade’s worth of formerly classified undercover operations into the drug Ecstasy. The narrative follows one New York DEA agent (whose life is a series of unbelievable twists and turns), but it also weaves in the stories of the agent’s partners, an Israeli Ecstasy kingpin, the kingpin’s beautiful American girlfriend, and a veteran Israeli detective who worked alongside the American drug cops to help take down a billion-dollar organized crime network.

In order to write “Chemical Cowboys” the way I wanted to—and by that, I mean, giving readers a never-before-seen portrait of the inner workings of DEA, Israeli mafia, and the Ecstasy trade—I had to secure cooperation from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Israeli National Police. At the same time I was developing the book proposal, I was hanging out at New York DEA, getting to know the agents, and learning about their personal and professional lives.

In total, I spent about four years of reporting, writing, editing, traveling around the world, digging through stacks of ceiling-high case files, and getting people who had no good reason to talk to a reporter to open up about their experiences.

4. Describe yourself in One Word.
Watchful.
5. What would be your perfect day?

Since I’m freelancing, every day is a work day, so I’ll spare you my “perfect day at work” and give you my “perfect free day.”

My perfect free day begins at dawn when I’m awoken by the sounds of roosters crowing. I take my old dog, Max, for a walk on the beach and the Pacific breeze lends a spring to his step. Upon returning home, I find that the boyfriend has brewed a perfect pot of coffee and has laid out today’s copies of The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Wall Street Journal to read at my leisure.

By noon, we’re off for a hike in the Santa Monica Mountains to catch lizards and riff poetic about our dreams, our friends and family, and funny stories we keep forgetting to share because there’s never enough time to get to everything we want to talk about. He discovers a giant fossil in the hillside that I’m pretty sure provides a missing link between humans and primates. (How it ended up in Topanga Canyon? Anyone’s guess.)

By 3 p.m., I’ll have convinced him to take me to the indoor shooting range near Los Angeles airport. We’ll play shoot ‘em up and do our best Dirty Harry impressions! (I’ve yet to convince him that shooting a Glock is pure fun. But it’s my perfect day, so he’ll submit.)

Afterward, we’ll head to the Santa Monica pier for a sunset ride on the new solar-powered Ferris wheel. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt, as they say, which is why in a startling turn of events, we’ll form a two-person chain to save a small toddler who’s wriggled loose from his mother’s arms and is dangling precariously between our cars. After the fire department, mayor, and city police thank us for our saving the day with quick reflexes, we’ll slip away before the local press arrives and have a quiet dinner of Tuscan seafood stew at a dark, candle-lit café near the beach.

It will be there, while racing to the bottom of a bottle of Brunello, that we simultaneously experience a grand vision—the cure for cancer and a plan for peace in the Middle East. We’ll celebrate with the purchase of more wine and Dodgers Dugout Club tickets.

Years later, we’ll think back and say, “That was a perfect day.”
6. What are you working on now?

Right now, I’m working on crime stories (an unsolved Hollywood homicide) and travel features (Africa); I’m investigating three different book ideas (in a word: steroids, Cuba, and luxury); and I’m attempting to make my answers to your questions vaguely entertaining.
Thanks, Amy, for the fun interview! I hope your readers will enjoy “Chemical Cowboys.”
***
Lisa Sweetingham
Author of “Chemical Cowboys: The DEA’s Secret Mission to Hunt Down a Notorious Ecstasy Kingpin.”
www.LisaSweetingham.com
bio info:
Journalist Lisa Sweetingham spent four years following in the footsteps of DEA agents and Ecstasy traffickers to bring CHEMICAL COWBOYS to life. Previously, she covered high-profile murder trials and Supreme Court nomination hearings for Court TV online. Sweetingham is a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Parade, Spin, Time Out New York, Health Affairs, and many other publications. She resides in Los Angeles. CHEMICAL COWBOYS is her first book.

I have one Copy of Chemical Cowboys to giveaway!

US and Canada Only Please

To enter Please leave a comment with your email!

Winner of IN OVER HER HEAD is DIXIE!!

Winner of BLOOD BAR is JESS!!

You'll be getting an email from me!

Thanks and come back tomorrow for

FREE BOOK FRIDAY!!

READ ON CHICKS!!

SELF HELP SUNDAY!!!

if your kid eats this book,

everything will still be okay

by Lara Zibners, MD

From Amazon.com; As an Emergency Room pediatrician, Dr. Lara Zibners has seen it all. She's cared for a portion of the 25 million children in the U.S. who are taken to the ER each year-and she knows that more than 50% of these visits may be unnecessary. IF YOUR KID EATS THIS BOOK, EVERYTHING WILL STILL BE OKAY shows parents when they may need to take action, and when they might be able to just go back to bed and call their doctor in the morning. With sections such as "In the Diaper" and "His Noggin and the Nervous System," Dr. Zibners covers every part of the body and offers sound advice (for example, did you know that oil is the best remedy for dissolving superglue between body parts?), all while maintaining a lively and often hilarious tone. To the question, "What if she chokes on her vomit?" Zibners answers, "A healthy child will not choke on her own vomit, unless she is drunk or high on Grandma's sleeping pills."

Finally, no more frantic late-night searches through the "why to buy,""how to diaper," or "what to feed him" sections found in other childcare books to find out if little Franny needs to go to the ER. This book focuses on the truly important questions, like how to keep her from electrocuting herself in the first place. Not every child has a pediatrician with specialized emergency room experience living in her home. But this book just might be the next best thing.

Lara Zibners, MD, is a former Assistant Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Mount SinaiHospital in New York City. Currently, she divides her professional time between New York and London.

About the AuthorDr. Zibners holds board certifications in both pediatrics and pediatric emergency medicine, a feat that followed over 14 years of higher education. She can run a helicopter resuscitation over the phone, put a tube into a child's chest in under 2 minutes, make a long leg cast that looks like the American flag, and play peek-a-boo with a baby while his mom visits the ladies room. She and her husband are eagerly working towards their own family of little book eaters.

WHAT I LIKED: This book is written in a funny, down to earth way that doesn't make you feel like an idiot. I really would have appreciated something like this when my kids were really little and I freaked out over everything they put in their mouths. It has a scenario/question and answer format, with clear answers on when not to panic and when to call 911.

.

I've got 5 Copies to giveaway courtesy of Anna at Hatchette

US and Canada only Please No PO Boxes

How to enter

1. Please leave a comment with your email +1

2. Please follow me +1 already a follower +2

3. Please blog about this contest and link me back!!

Help Me Hit 200 Followers!!

When I hit 200 I will host a Book Bonanza Giveaway!!

More details coming!!

Winners of the GFREE Diet are

KellyKlauser

lbkelly

Christine

Chey

Heather

Watch your inboxes for an email..!

READ ON CHICKS!!

FREE BOOK FRIDAY!!

Here we are again Chicks!!

Free Book Friday!!

Bound to Please

by Lilli Feisty

This chick put her name to good use...This book is very FEISTY!!

This is erotic fiction done very well and in a believable way. No paranormal stuff here, unless you count the kinky sex.

Ruby is a 37 year old event planner, who has lived a pretty "vanilla" sex life, but has some very anything but vanilla fantasies. She's never shared them with anyone.

UNTIL...

She meets Mark, the very hot, very gifted band boy ten years her junior

who seems to see right through her carefully constructed "good girl", to the wannabe "bad girl" underneath. With Mark, Ruby is able to fulfill her sexual fantasies.

(um...this book is sex pretty much from cover to cover...)

WHAT I LIKED:

I really liked that Ruby is older and sure of herself. She actually even ends the relationship at one point, with Mark coming back for her.

Mark...is tall, dark and bald..with glasses and lots of leather...I love that he's not you typical lookalike leading man...

(um...hello...Vin Diesel..with glasses)

AND...I like that while Ruby has these "submissive" fantasies in the bedroom she's no pushover, she's a strong female lead.

I have 5 copies to giveaway!! Courtesy of Anna at Hatchette!

US and Canada Only please No PO Boxes!

To ENTER:

Please Leave a comment here WITH YOUR EMAIL!!

THANKS and GOOD LUCK!!

WINNER OF SANTA OLIVIA

BY

JACQUELINE CAREY is

DEANNA

Winner of

APRIL AND OLIVER

by

Tess Callahan

is

Darby

you chicks are going to love those books!

That's it for today!!

READ ON CHICKS!!!

In Over Her Head...

In Over Her Head

by Judi Fennell

As you know, I've read a lot of paranormal romance.

I can say for sure though, none of them have ever included a Mer Man. Which, for me is what made this book so much fun!

Erica Peck is a Marina owner who is afraid of the ocean. Carrying out her Grandfather's wishes by spreading his ashes out to sea, she inadvertently also throws with them the diamonds her snake of a boyfriend hid in the urn.

Reel was out human watching when he saw the one he remembered from his boyhood with a gun pointed at her head. When she gets shot, he has two choices, let her get eaten by Vincent the old Great White in his territory, or turn her into a water breather.

Before she can accept there's so much more to this world than she ever imagined, Erica finds herself depending on Reel for her life. They embark on an underwater diamond hunting expedition, trying to avoid Sea Monters, a very hungry Kracken,

And love...

This is a great one to take to the pool or beach chicks! A fun, light romantic read!

I have one copy up for grabs!

Please note,It is my Review Copy!

So, gently used.

US and Canada Only please

NO PO BOXES

To enter Please Leave a comment with your email!!

You can purchase the book at Amazon.com by clicking below!

Winner of Outcast by Cheryl Brooks is
booklover1335

Winner of Mating Rituals of The North American Wasp is
Amber
Chicks, I'll be emailing you!!!

Do you have a business you're trying to get noticed?

I'm offering advertising space here

Prices are very reasonable

Please email me if you're interested at

castellanoamy (at) yahoo (dot) com

That's it for today!

READ ON CHICKS!!

SELF HELP SUNDAY!!!

Hi Chicks!!

It's SELF HELP SUNDAY!!

Here's what I've got for you today!!

The G FREE DIET

Elisabeth Hasselbeck

From Amazon.com:

For years, Elisabeth Hasselbeck couldn't figure out what was making her sick. She asked doctors and consulted nutritionists, but no one seemed to have any answers. It wasn't until spending time in the Australian Outback, living off the land on the grueling Survivor TV show, that, ironically, her symptoms vanished. Returning home, she pinpointed the food that made her sick -- gluten, the binding element in wheat. By simply eliminating it from her diet, she was able to enjoy a completely normal, healthy life. But that wasn't all. Hasselbeck discovered the myriad benefits that anyone can enjoy from a gluten-free diet: from weight loss and increased energy to even the alleviation of the conditions of autism. In this all-inclusive book, Hasselbeck shares her hard-earned wisdom on living life without gluten and loving it. She gives you everything you need to know to start living a gluten-free life, from defining gluten - where to find it, how to read food labels - to targeting gluten-free products, creating G-Free shopping lists, sharing recipes, and managing G-Free living with family and friends.

About the Author: Hasselbeck was formerly known to television audiences as a participant on the wildly popular second edition of Survivor: The Australian Outback. Since taking her coveted seat on The View in 2003 she has been the focus of major magazine covers and articles including USA Weekend, Curious Parents, People, TV Guide, Fitness, Glamour, Us Weekly, Life, Pregnancy and ePregnancy. She has filled in on the FOX News Channel's Fox and Friends, and has been a guest on Hannity and Colmes, Larry King Live, The Martha Stewart Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Good Morning America.

WHAT I THOUGHT: This is a really great resource for someone newly diagnosed with Celiac disease, or just for someone who would like to pursue a gluten free diet. There is a lot of valuable information here including, recipies, grocery lists, eating out, and how to travel. Hasselbeck shares her story in a very personal, easy to relate to way.

I have 5 copies to giveaway courtesy of Anna at Hatchette!

US and Canada only Please no PO Boxes!!

Winners will be announced Sunday June 7th!!

To enter please leave a comment with your email!!

THANKS!

READ ON CHICKS!!

FREE BOOK FRIDAY!!

HI CHICKS!!

IT's FREE BOOK FRIDAY!!

Buckle in, I've got a review and then several winners

to announce

SO stick with me!

April and Oliver

by Tess Callahan

I was obviously not meant to get any sleep this week. I've read one amazing book after another!

April and Oliver, best friends since they were kids, but later separated by time and space, find that their paths cross again due to the untimely and tragic death of April's brother Buddy.

Oliver, the overly responsible, engaged law student find himself more and more drawn into April, who needs to be saved most of all from herself and her past. Memories and loss combine, driving their need for each other once again. Sexual tension and yearning builds with a fervor, and more than once I wondered if they would destroy themselves or each other.

There is so much going on in this story that it's nearly impossible to give too much detail without making it seem like it's less than it is. It's the Longing that the author builds here that pulls at you and doesn't let go, not even when it's over. You can't help but to care about these characters when they're written and developed with such compulsion.

What I loved about the way these characters were written, is that even though I don't share their problems, I understood them, empathized with them and felt emotionally invested in their story.

AUTHOR's WEBSITE

TESS CALLAHAN

I have one copy to giveaway courtesy of Miriam at Hatchette. US and Canada only please no PO Boxes.

To enter Please leave me a comment WITH YOUR EMAIL!!

Are you on FACEBOOK?

Did you know you can follow me there?

Just Click on the Networked Blogs Box on the bottom

of the right sidebar!!

Want to join our Discussion group on Goodreads?

Just sign up at Goodreads.com

it's open to everyone and it's FREE!!

then search under groups for

ChicBookChick and click join

IT's THAT EASY!!

See this little chick?

If you grab her (by copying and saving to your computer as a .jpeg) and link her to me on your blog, or myspace, or facebook page AND link me back here. You will have a chance to be a Random Linky Winner!!! Due to the rising cost of postage, I need to spread out random linky winner a little more,so instead of every Friday, I will choose random winners twice a month.

You never know when!!

WINNERS!!

Hint of Wicked Winners ARE

nightdweller

limecello

Anita

SueA

elaing8

Prize Pack Winner is

Navybrat76

Shapeshifter Winner is

Sharon54220

Execution of Justice Winner is

PAM

All winners will recieve an email from me!

Random Linky Winner

Chicks I need help with this one, if you link to me could you email me please with (chicklinky in the subj line)

castellanoamy(at)yahoo(dot)com

I will throw everyone's name in a hat and pick a random winner, plus this will help me to build a list to choose from and to visit!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

READ ON CHICKS!!

Santa Olivia...by Jacqueline Carey

SANTA OLIVIA

by Jacqueline Carey

Once in a while, a book comes along

that leaves me breathless and just blows me away.

I'm still reeling from staying up until 2am

reading a book that I honestly wasn't even

sure I would like in the first 30 or so pages.

Which, completely proves the point, that sometimes

you have to stick and let an author suck you in, in her own way.

In a part of the country that has been forgotten, a de-militarized zone that is not part of Texas or Mexico but is know simply as "Outpost", the military men come and go in the lives of Loup's mother Carmen. But one leaves her with a gift that no one else can, a daughter with his genetically altered offspring.

It doesn't take long for people to notice Loup is different, superhero different. As people around her learn her differences though, they seem to accept them, rather than shun her. Although she is "different" and makes people uncomfortable, she's a part of the community and they take care of their own.

A child who doesn't feel fear, Loup and her friends take it upon themselves to disperse vigilante style justice on the oppressive military presence in their town, blaming it on the patron saint Santa Olivia. For a town that needs some faith, Loup begins to feel her place in the world. As Santa Oliva, she can be herself, she doesn't have to hide her abilities.

This is not a werewolf story as the back of the book seems to suggest.

This is Loup's story. A coming of age story.

This is a story about overcoming impossible obstacles, about love and redemption, and taking a stand against unsurmontable odds.

This book left me on the edge of my seat, my heart beating out of my chest, tears in my eyes and cheering!

AUTHOR's WEBSITE

Jacqueline Carey

I have one copy to give away courtesy of Miriam at Hatchette!!

us and canada only please no po boxes

Winner will be announced on June 3rd

To enter please leave a comment WITH YOUR EMAIL!!

That's it for today!

READ ON CHICKS!!

Mating Rituals of The North American WASP...

Mating Rituals of the

North American Wasp

by Lauren Lipton

You know with a title like that

you're in for a fun ride.

This is definitely perfect for light summer reading by the pool or at the beach, and with that cute cover...(have I ever mentioned my covetess nature when it comes to cover art?) you can probably even find a swimsuit or beach bag that matches!

In the style of "What Happens in Vegas", Peggy Adams makes a bachlorette party trip to Sin City, and wakes up in a strange room next to a strange man. She hightails it out of there only to be contacted by him after arriving back home in NYC to discover she married him.

Luke Sedgwick is the last of the New Ninevah, Ct Sedgwick's, a family known in New England as WASP royalty. His suggestion to Peggy that they get an immediate annulment is met with wholehearted aggreement, until Luke's slightly cracked Aunt Abigail finds out about the marriage.

Aunt Abby's been bent on finding someone to produce an heir to the Sedgwick line for years and makes Luke and Peggy an offer they can't refuse. She offers them the option of selling the family estate, which is worth millions, is they stay married for one year. Mayhem ensues in the form of Peggy trying to fit in and entertaining New Englands WASPy families on the weekends, while keeping the marriage a secret and running her business in NYC during the week.

It's a fun book, with a lot of laughs and a sweet romantic love story and the wit and characters keep it from being typical.

I will probably pass this one on to the book group at Goodreads.com.

Want to join? Just go to Goodreads.com and search under groups for CHICBOOKCHICK and join!!!

I have one copy to giveaway courtesy of Miriam at Hatchette!

US and CANADA ONLY please no PO BOXES

TO ENTER:

1. Leave a comment with your email address PLEASE

Winner of INTO THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH is

SARA RUSH

I'll be emailing you!

That's it for today!

READ ON CHICKS!!!

Cheryl Brooks and her CAT STAR CHRONICLES!!!

Um..Can I get a little bit of him please?






































And add a little of that while you're at it





OK..he's not looking bad either..











BUT..he's the one I'm supposed to be talking about....

CHICKS, Can you say YUM?

OUTCAST..By Cheryl Brooks

Lynx lived a life of slavery for years after being taken prisoner in the war that destroyed his planet. Bought and sold to the highest bidders over and again and used as a slave of slaves. Having finally earned his freedom, but not knowing how to live on his own or what to do with it, he ends up on the planet Terra Minor penniless and with very few posessions.

Bonnie needs a man, her's up and left her pregnant taking with him all of her money and her only working mode of transportation. She's running a farm on her own on a planet far from Earth. Too bad she hates men. She hires Lynx to help her work the land, and surprises herself when she finds her heart starting to open up to this sad, quiet, wounded stranger who will give her anything, anything that is but himself.

Oh my God...this book is sexy

Let's just say my husband has been pretty happy the past few days.

But, it's not all sex...which is why it's the perfect formula...there is such a sweet love story here between Lynx and Bonnie two wounded hearts that finally find love and I swear it's totally not sappy...you know how I am about tough heroines!

This series is also very different from any other romances I've ever read, no vampires or werewolves or the usual paranormal faire...more of a SciFi/Fantasy twist and I really Love it!!

This is Book #4 in the Cat Star Chronicle Series, and it looks like I'll be reading them backwards. If you are a fan of paranormal romance you do not want to miss these books! I don't know how I did all this time!! Book #5 will be out Jan 2010.

Now I just have to get my hands on the first two...

Cheryl Brooks was kind enough to do an interview for me!!

1. Do you listen to music when you're writing? and if so what?

No, I don ' t, though I know of a plenty of writers who do. I am occasionally inspired by a song, but I find it distracting while I ' m actually writing. I tend to toss ideas around in my head while I ' m driving, too, and have been known to turn off the radio so I can focus better.

2. Name a book you ' ve read more than once.

The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart. In fact, her entire Merlin trilogy is something I used to read once a year. There are places in those books that give me tingles even though I ' ve read them at least a dozen times.

3. If you were doing the casting, who do see as playing Lynx and Bonnie?

Impossible to say. There are many good young actors who could play those roles, but I ' m not familiar with a lot of them. I ' d have to leave that up to the casting director, but it would be nice to be in on the approval process.

4. If you were stranded on a desert island, what book would you want with you? (you can only have one)

The Lord of the Rings. It would keep me endlessly entertained.

5. Have you ever read a book that changed your view on something? if so which book?

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I wouldn ' t say it so much changed my view, but gave me a means to explain certain things. Granted, it is a work of fiction, but it still raised some interesting questions and provided some surprising answers.

6. Describe your favorite place to be.

Out in my yard on a cool, clear morning when the wild roses and honeysuckle are in bloom.

7. Did you have a literary mentor or role model when you began writing, who is it?

I ' d have to say it was Mary Stewart because I ' ve read her novels repeatedly throughout my life. I loved her first person point of view, and wasn ' t comfortable writing any other way when I first began to write. The fact that we all see the world in first person makes it seem more realistic, but I know that many romance readers don ' t care for it.
Outcast marks the first of my published novels to be written in third person, and I ' ve found many differences in writing in that style. It ' s more flexible, but not nearly as personal, though it does allow the reader to see inside the hero ' s head, which is something that romance readers crave.

8. Describe yourself in one word.

Versatile.

9. What are you reading right now?

Nothing at the moment, but I recently finished Too Hot to Handle by Robin Kaye, who is also a Sourcebooks author, and I enjoyed it very much.

10. Three things you ' ve read in the last year.
I read the Harry Potter series from beginning to end, and then I start over again. I normally read it before I go to sleep to help get my mind settled down so I CAN sleep. Other than that, I ' ve read books by my Sourcebooks Casablanca sisters, Kendra Leigh Castle, Marie Force, and Linda Wisdom to name a few!

Thanks for having me here on Chic Book Reviews!

Thank you Cheryl!!!

CHERYL's WEBSITE

CHERYL's BLOG

(be warned...hot naked men abound on the blog)

I HAVE ONE COPY OF OUTCAST To

GIVEAWAY

Courtesy of Danielle

at Sourcebooks!

us and canada only please

no po boxes!!

To Enter:

1. LEAVE A COMMENT with YOUR EMAIL!!

2. Please follow me +1 or already a follower +2!!

3. Please Blog about this author (with a link to her site) or book or contest +3 comment back with a link

Winners of MIXSHAKESTIR

are

Kytaira

Carlene

Mandy

Jay

Beth

You'll be getting an email from me chicks! Please respond with your address!!

That's it for today!!

READ ON CHICKS!!