Win a $350 “Glam” Visa Card Prize Pack from @LisaTBegren & RSVP for 6/27 Facebook party!

What is our "true" identity? Join the conversation at Lisa Tawn Begren's Glamorous Illusions Author Chat Facebook Event Page. On the evening of 6/27 we'll gather to talk about our spiritual journey, share our stories and a few laughs.

In the meantime, celebrate with Lisa by entering her Glamorous Illusions Giveaway!

One "glamorous" winner will receive a "Glam Prize Pack":

• A $350 Visa Cash Card (Oh ... think of what you could do: treat yourself to a mani/pedi, a fabulous new dress, dinner for two, or even a two-night escape in a lovely hotel - you're only limited by your imagination!)
• Glamorous Illusions (by Lisa Tawn Begren)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 6/26/12. Winner will be announced at Lisa's "Glamorous Illusions" Facebook Party on  6/27 {Fun begins at 5pm PDT / 8pm EDT}. Lisa will be hosting an evening of meaningful chat, fun trivia, laughter, and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club and a live chat with Lisa via video or phone.)

So grab a few of your friends and your copy of Glamorous Illusions and join Lisa on the evening of June 27th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 27th!

Win a Nook Color from Shannon Dittemore! "Angel Eyes" Giveaway and Facebook Party {6/26

Celebrate with Shannon by entering her "Angel Eyes" Giveaway and connecting with her during the Author Chat Party on 6/26!

Find out what readers are saying here.

One "angelic" winner will receive:

• A Brand New Nook Color
• A copy of Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on June 25th. Winner will be announced at the "Angel Eyes" Author Chat Facebook Party on 6/26. Shannon will be hosting a book chat, testing your trivia skills and giving away some great prizes!

So grab your copy of Angel Eyes and join Shannon on the evening of the June 26th for a chance to meet Shannon 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 RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 26th!

Glamorous Illusions Book Review

The first book in the Grand Tour series, Glamorous Illusions will take readers on a pilgrimage through Europe-and straight into the soul.

About the book:  
It was the summer of 1913, and Cora Kensington's life on the family farm has taken a dark turn. Not only are the crops failing, so is her father's health. Cora is carrying on, helping her mother run their Montana farm until a stranger comes to call, and everything changes. Cora then learns a secret that will radically change her future: she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king who has come to claim her. Cora is invited to take the "Grand Tour" of Europe, a journey intended to finish a person's education, to solidify an understanding of ancient culture and contemporary refinement. As she travels from England to France with half-siblings she's never known, Cora encounters the blessings of the Kensington family name, as well as the curses. But when an unbidden love begins to form, she realizes the journey is only beginning. Faced with the challenge of accepting her father, new family, and the identity that comes with it, Cora also struggles to accept that she is also the daughter of the one true King-a Father who is the only One who can truly heal.


About the author: Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 30 books, with more than 1.5 million copies sold. She just finished writing a Colorado historical trilogy (the first book, Breathe, Sing and Claim), and has begun a teen series called River of Time.
Lisa's time is split between managing home base, writing (including a fair amount of travel writing), consulting and freelance editing (with a little speaking here and there). She's married to Tim, a liturgical sculptor, graphic designer and musician. They have three kids-Olivia (15), Emma (12) and Jack (7). All five of the Bergrens make their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.


My review:  5 stars!  I was so surprised by this book.  I did not know what to expect when I started this book, but it feel in love with it!  I absolutely love Lisa's writing style, as she switches between different character's perspectives throughout the book!  This is perhaps one of my favorite types of writing as it allows you to gain more understand to the characters.  I found myself really drawn to Cora and Will.  As a found my self surprised by the twist at the end I am greatly looking forward to continuing on the journey with all of the characters in the books that are to follow.  I am certainly rooting for one particular character to move forward on his journey with Cora ;)  This is a great read and I highly recommend it to everyone!  Glamorous Illusions is a wonderful journey back in time to a beautiful land and a fascinating time, one which we can all enjoy escaping in and learn from.


Follow this link to see what other bloggers are saying about Glamorous Illusions as well.

Disclosure: I received a copy of Glamorous Illusions free of charge from Litfuse Publicity Group in order to facilitate a review. All thoughts expressed are 100% my own!

Book Review: Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore

About the book:

Once you've seen, you can't unsee. Everything changes when you've looked at the world through . . .Angel Eyes

Brielle went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She's come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can't seem to shake.

Jake's the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.

Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what's going to happen. And a beauty brighter than Jake or Brielle has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start.

A realm that only angels and demons-and Brielle-can perceive.



About the author, Shannon: 

Shannon is a wife and mother. A sister. A daughter. A friend. She was raised in Northern California by her parents-pastors of their local church and constant figures of inspiration.

As a youth, Shannon traveled with an award-winning performing arts team, excelling on stage and in the classroom. As a young adult, she attended Portland Bible College, continued acting, and worked with an outreach team targeting inner-city kids in the Portland-Metropolitan area.

It was in Portland that she met her husband, Matt. They were married in 2002. Soon after, they took the reins of the youth ministry at Living Way Community Church in Roseville, California where they continue to serve in that capacity. In October of 2004, their son Justus was born, followed by their daughter Jazlyn, born in 2008. 

Find out more at www.shannondittemore.com.

My Review:  I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.  I had a hard time putting it down and enjoyed so much about it!  I found my self sucked into the story from the very beginning and wanted to know more about each of the characters and what made them tick.  I really like the story line and reading about something that felt both fictional but real all at the same time.  My one downside is this, having read as many books as I have, it is hard to not compare them to one another.  I kept feeling like the book had a lot in common with our YA books that I have read lately; comically enough Shannon does reference Twilight on more than one occasion.  You know, the whole girl is broken, girl meets boy, boy is insecure himself, boy and girl rescue each other kind of thing.  On the other hand, the feeling that the book had qualities like unto the other books I have read and loved is not a bad thing, because after all, I loved those books.  I would definitely not recommend this book for anyone under 14 as it does have some content that I would not my children reading about at a young age (children being sold and violence).  I did greatly enjoy this easy read and look forward to the next in the series.

To see what other bloggers are saying about Angel Eyes check out the blog tour schedule.

I know that there is Facebook party and giveaway planned but have not yet gotten that information, so keep your eyes peeled for that to come :)

Disclosure: I received a copy of Angel Eyes free of charge from Litfuse Publicity Group in order to facilitate a review. All thoughts expressed are 100% my own!

The Hot Fluff Cool Baby Giveaway Sign Ups Open

I have signed up for this wonderful event running from July 16-31, 2012. Greenie Beanie Bottoms is giving away a cloth diapering prize pack worth $300 to a lucky winner! The prize package includes 10 cloth diapers (eight one size pocket diapers and two all-in-ones), two diaper covers, two pairs of baby leg warmers, five bamboo inserts, two wet bags, a dozen cloth wipes, and a jar of cloth diaper friendly diaper rash cream! The total value comes to just over $300 of cloth diapering fun!

If you are a cloth diapering, family friendly blogger, you won’t want to miss out on this event! Sign ups are completely FREE!!!

Brave Scottish Gallery and Informercial

I thought that this little "informercial" featuring Disney Pixar's Brave was pretty cute and thought that I would share it with all of you lovely folks :)

I also think that the Brave Scottish Glossary will come in very handy come June 22!!!

A story set in Scotland would be jiggery pokery without its share of Scottish words and phrases. And crivens, “Brave” has plenty! But it would all be for naught unless accompanied by a proper glossary, so here goes…

AUTOCHTHONOUS

Indigenous, native

v Taught to filmmakers by Emma Thompson (voice of Queen Elinor), who used it to describe “Brave’s” Castle Dunbroch because it appears to have grown right out of the earth.

BLUE WODE

A blue dye extracted from a cabbage-type plant used by inhabitants of ancient Scotland to paint their bodies

v Lord MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin paint their bodies in blue wode to proclaim that they are ready for battle at any moment.

BRAE

Hill

BUNCH OF GALOOTS

Many fools

·      galoot = clumsy, oafish person

CARNYX

A Celtic trumpet with a bell shaped like a boar’s head. Held vertically so it can be heard in large crowds, a carnyx was used during wartime to send troops into battle.

v In “Brave,” it signals the start of the Highland Games.

CRIVENS, YOU’RE FIERCE

Wow! You’re cool or ferocious or tough!

·      crivens = expression of surprise or shock

DANCING TATTY BOGLE

An expression that describes something outlandish or imaginary

·      tatty = shabby, cheap

·       bogle, boggle or bogill = ghost or folkloric being

DORIC

A dialect from the Aberdeenshire region in Scotland

v Elgin native Kevin McKidd (voice of MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin), who learned Doric from his grandfather, proposed to filmmakers for Young MacGuffin to speak the incomprehensible dialect in “Brave.”

DREADFUL COLLYWOBBLES

Unwanted stomachache or a bad case of the nerves

·      collywobbles = upset stomach; intestinal disturbances or a feeling of apprehension

FOR NAUGHT

For no reason

FINISH WHAT HE GUDDLED IN THE FIRST PLACE

Fix, clean up or otherwise remedy something that’s been horribly mishandled.

·      guddle = make a mess of it

GAMY SPELL

An unfortunate bit of magic

·      gamy = bad

GLEN

Small, narrow, secluded valley

GOOGLY OLD HAG

Outlandish, unattractive senior

·      googly = strange, odd

GIANT HAVING A JIGGER IN THE BLUEBELLS

Similar to Dancing Tatty Bogle, something that’s absurd or fantastical

HAGGIS

Though some will joke that a haggis is a small animal native to Scotland, it is actually a traditional Scottish pudding made with sheep’s heart, liver and lungs, encased in a sheep’s stomach and cooked for several hours. Often served with “neeps and tatties" (turnips and potatoes).

HIGHLAND GAMES

Festivals that celebrate Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Includes competitions in piping and drumming, dancing, archery, caber tossing, stone put and other Scottish athletics, plus entertainment and exhibits.

JIGGERY POKERY

Nonsense

JINGS CRIVENS HELP MA BOAB

Oh my!

Exclamation of bewilderment or exasperation

KILT

A pleated and draped tartan fabric garment worn by Scottish men

v During the production of “Brave” director Mark Andrews and several animators wore kilts to work on Fridays—dubbed Kilt Fridays—to get in the spirit of Scotland and the film’s characters.

LASS

Girl

LAD

Boy

LOCH

Lake

MANKY DOGS

Unsavory person or being

·      manky = dirty, worthless or in bad taste

MICHTY ME

Wow! Holy cow!

An exclamation of surprise, shock or being overwhelmed

NUMPTY

Useless individual

NUT ‘EM

Head-butt ‘em

SCAFFY WITCH

A tricky or slick being with magical powers

·      scaffy = trickster

SCARED SIMPERIN’ JACKANAPES

Belittling description of a goofy and unworthy opponent

·       simpering = silly smile

·      jackanape =  an insulting reference to a monkey or ape; a braggart; a mischievous child

SCUTTLE THE VIKING LONGSHIPS

Sink Viking ships by making holes in the bottom

STUFF HER GOB

Eat with abandon

·      gob = mouth

TARTAN

A specially designed woven fabric that identifies a clan. April 6^th is National Tartan Day in the United States.

TOSSING CABERS

A test of strength and skill seen in Highland Games in which the competitor raises a pole vertically with the small end down, and then throws it

·      Caber = a long, tapered section of a tree trunk

TUMSHIE

Turnip… or foolish person. Or both.

WEE

Small

WE’LL BILE YUR HEED WAE DUMPLIN’ BREED; TAE MAKE AN URSINE STEW

·      bile yer heed (boil your head) = don’t be ridiculous. Also used as an exclamation if someone is doing something stupid and it's annoying

v In “Brave” King Fergus sings what he’ll do to the demon bear Mor’du when he catches him to avenge his lost leg. Not only will he boil his head, but he’ll add dumplings to make a bear stew.

WILL O’ THE WISPS

Ghostly lights or small blue spirits that lead the way to treasure or doom.

v In “Brave,” the will o’ the wisps lead Merida to change her fate.

Apassionata: The Beginning

Apassionata is a household name across Europe and every year for the past ten years, they bring an amazing new show to excited fans from Helsinki to Prague, and from Hamburg to London. The mounting success of this show had the producer, Peter Massine, turn his attention to North America. His US partner, longtime entertainment specialist, Tanya Grubich, has been working for many years now with Peter on making this vision become a reality. In preparation for the North American debut in Louisville this April (one week before the Derby) Apassionata’s finest teams are training horses all over Europe. Apassionata represents a caliber of entertainment that has the equestrian community abuzz and we are certain that the magic and beauty of this show will enthrall ticket buyers of all ages.

I am thrilled that Apassionata is coming to Raleigh and am looking forward to getting to take my family to see the amazing show!  I am also excited to have the opportunity to offer everyone who is interested in seeing the show here in Raleigh a special discount code!  Apassionata will be in Raleigh, NC at the PNC Arena (formerly RBC Center) from June 15-17.  Use promo code "family" in order to get a free ticket when you buy 3.  You can buy tickets at ticketmaster.com For those of you who are not in the Raleigh area, but are interested in seeing if the show will be coming to your area soon check out the tour schedule at http://www.apassionata.com/usa/tour-tickets/

Hope to see you at the show!

Disclosure:  I have been offered complimentary tickets to opening night to Apassionata for writing this blog post.

Dyson Housewarming Giveaway

Welcome to the Dyson Housewarming Giveaway event! I am so excited to be able to be taking part in this giveaway. This took months in the making and Mom to Bed by 8, the Iowa Mom is proud to bring you this fantastic home essential and offer you the chance to win one too! Big thank you to our lovely co-hosts How to Have It All, Mark Your Savings and GiveAway Bandit.

Dyson DC23 TurbineHead Canister Vacuum

Delivering 220 airwatts of suction power, this canister vacuum cleaner features advanced Level 3 Root Cyclone technology to ensure thorough, efficient cleaning with no clogging or loss of suction. It also offers a TurbineHead brush bar that's ideal for cleaning medium and short pile carpets and can be turned off for hard floors. Certified asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the unit expels air that contains up to 150 times less mold and bacteria than common breathing air thanks to the vacuum's money-saving, lifetime washable HEPA filter. Plus, Dyson's Bactisafe screen traps and kills bacteria, mold and allergens on contact, preventing them from re-entering the air.

The Telescopic Wrap System allows the hose and wand to be compressed, and ensures that the Dyson DC23 can be stored away neatly and compactly, with no loose components or wires to get tangled. It comes with a stair tool for focusing on dust and dirt from stairs and stair carpets, a brush tool with long bristles to dislodge cobwebs and for delicate cleaning, and a high-velocity airflow crevice tool that's ideal for cleaning base boards, picture frames and in-between furniture. Other features include a clear bin with 0.44-gallon capacity, 21.6-foot cord length, and easy-to-maneuver fixed wheels. The vacuum measures 13.9 x 19.3 x 11.9 inches (HxWxD) and weighs 19.5 pounds. The Dyson DC23 TurbineHead is backed by a 5-year warranty.

Open to worldwide, ages 18+. Giveaway ends on June 15^th. Please use the rafflecopter form below to enter. Good luck to all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Life: SemiCrunchy is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.