Autumn Blues Reviews

Farmhouse Foods Coupon

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:24:00 +0000

Farmhouse Foods is an all-natural side dish product that my family loves. And we think your family will too! Farmhouse Foods has high quality yet very affordable all natural side dishes. I however live on the east coast and Farmhouse Foods are not available at stores in my area. I can only purchases them online.

If you live on the west coast you are in luck. As right now you can grab a coupon for Farmhouse foods on Facebook which is redeemable at any grocery store that carries Farmhouse (anywhere west of The Rockies).

This coupon is for "Buy 3, Get One Free" on any Farmhouse Foods. Visit Farmhouse Foods on Facebook now for a printable coupon before they all run out.

This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

Refresh Your Home with New Glade® Expressions™ !

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Triad Retail Media for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Glade® has some excitement in the air! With two new products added to their fragrance line. The new Glade® Expressions™ fragrance mist which has a long lasting lively fragrance and the new Glade® Expressions™ oil diffuser with its no spill design will freshen your home for up to 30 days without the use of electricity.

The new Glade® Expressions™ fragrance mist is a breeze to spray with its comfortable squeeze-to-spray activation and is easily refillable with any of Glade® Expressions™ scents. These of which include Pineapple and Mangosteen, Cotton and Italian Mandarin, Fuji Apple and Cardamom and Spice Lavender and Juniper Berry. The lovely Glade® Expressions™ oil diffuser comes in all the same fragrances as above except for one, the Cotton and Italian Mandarin.

Both of these new Glade® products are designed to compliment any decor whether at home or at the office. You can be sure their artistic designs will blend in with your surroundings while providing a fresh inviting fragrance that lasts for days.

Did you know that Glade® has a fragrance guarantee? If not satisfied with your Glade® Expressions™ fragrance mail your original UPC, your purchase receipt and the Glade® Expressions™ Fragrance Mist Guarantee Form within 30 days of purchase for your money back.

Give them a try today by taking advantage of a discount from Glade® . Grab yourself a coupon for $1.50 OFF any Glade® Expressions™ which can be used at Walmart where you will find everyday low prices on Glade® products.

The Rapha Chronicles: The Fall by Chana Keefer Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:21:00 +0000

The Rapha Chronicles

The Fall (Book One)

by Chana Keefer

Giveaway

The story has been told-but never like this.

No, Rapha would not strike with physical force this day. But he could not resist goading his enemy just once. Looking up, he fixed the peace of Adonai on Lucifer like a laser, held that malicious gaze for one eternal second-and smiled. A flicker of uncertainty stirred in Lucifer's eyes.

Rapha opened a single thought to Lucifer as he disappeared with the creature still cradled to his breast:

"You always did hate secrets."

Rapha, a powerful angel, had seen it in all in his countless years of service. At least he thought he had. Then he met Adam.

Lucifer had it all, Adonai's favor, Rapha's friendship and unrivalled power throughout creation. But he wanted more.

Paperback: 412 pages
Publishing Date: October 5th 2011

~Click here to read my full review of The Fall~

About the Author:

I'm a blissfully married mom of four who has a passion to introduce people to God--not religion, not condemnation. This has lead to prayer which has brought a tidal wave of creativity and narrative. I'm crazy in love with my Creator-God and His incarnate self shown through Jesus Christ.

I also blog, homeschool my kids, chauffeur, and enjoy old barns, old movies, and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Read more about Chana Keefer on her blog at chanakeefer.com.

Oh! And someday I wanna sail around the world--just sayin'. Probably need to learn to sail first....

Purchase a Copy:

The Fall: The Rapha Chronicles is available for purchase online at amazon (Kindle), Barnes and Noble and on Chana Keefer's blog at chanakeefer.com.

Win a Copy:

Chana Keefer is allowing me the opportunity to giveaway one copy of The Fall: The Rapha Chronicles to one lucky reader of this blog. See below on how to enter.

Fill out form below for Mandatory Entry then scroll down for additional entries which need to be left under comments. Thank you!

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Additional Entries:

Like The Rapha Chronicles: The Fall on Facebook. (+1)

Follow Chana Keefer onTwitter. (+1)

Follow Me autumnblues on Google Circles (Digna/+1)

Follow me autumn blues designs on Facebook (+1)
Sign up for either of my autumn blues reviews newsletters (upper right/+1)

Follow me autumnblues on Twitter. (+1)

Follow me via Networked Blogs (+1/right sidebar)

Tweet this giveaway/ Leave link under comments. (+1 daily) Include in tweet: Giveaway -The Fall: The Rapha Chronicles by Chana Keefer, enter for a chance to win a copy. http://bit.ly/AuR7fr

Giveaway Ends Friday March 16, 2012 at midnight eastern time. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to get back to me, before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S residents. No P.O. Boxes please. Be sure to add autumnblues@live.com to your inbox addresses, as this is the only way you will be notified if you win.

I have not received any monetary compensation for this review. I have received a complimentary copy of The Fall for review and I was under no obligation to do so. A big thank you goes out to C. Keefer for allowing me the opportunity to run this giveaway for my readers. This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

Progresso "Souper You" Contest and Prize Pack Giveaway Winner is...

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:33:00 +0000

2/22/2012 3:47:13

...zebracakes...

Zebracakes winning entry was clicking the +1 Google Circles button and posting out this giveaway.

Congrats to Zebracakes! I have emailed you.

Thank you to all who entered the giveaway!

This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

FrankenWeenie by Walt Disney Pictures and Tim Burton in IMAX 3D Black & White

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:51:00 +0000

FRANKENWEENIE

BY TIM BURTON

I am excited to share this with my readers. FRANKENWEENIE to be released October 5, 2012 in theaters near you. FRANKENWEENIE by WALT DISNEY PICTURES is being filmed in 3D Black and White. How cool is that. If you are a fan of Tim Burton movies than you will be thrilled with FRANKENWEEINE.

Genre: Animated comedy

Rating: TBD

U.S. Release date: October 5, 2012
Voice Cast: Winona Ryder, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell
Director: Tim Burton

Producers: Tim Burton, Allison Abbate

Executive Producer: Don Hahn

Screenplay by: John August

Based on an original idea by: Tim Burton

From creative genius Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” The Nightmare Before Christmas”) comes “Frankenweenie,” a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.

A stop-motion animated film, “Frankenweenie” will be filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D, which will elevate the classic style to a whole new experience.

In Tim Burton’s “Frankenweenie” young Victor conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences.

NOTES:

When Tim Burton originally conceived the idea for “Frankenweenie,” he envisioned it as a full-length, stop-motion animated film. Due to budget constraints, he instead directed it as a live-action short, released in 1984.

“Frankenweenie” follows in the footsteps of Tim Burton’s other stop-motion animated films “Corpse Bride” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas”—both of which were nominated for Academy Awards®.

Over 200 puppets and sets were created for the film.

The voice cast includes four actors who worked with Burton on previous films: Winona Ryder (“Beetlejuice,” “Edward Scissorhands”), Catherine O’Hara (“Beetlejuice,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas”), Martin Short (“Mars Attacks!”) and Martin Landau (“Ed Wood,” Sleepy Hollow”).

Several of the character names—Victor, Elsa Van Helsing, Edgar “E” Gore and Mr. Burgemeister— were inspired by classic horror films.

See you at the movie!

This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

Nature Valley Protein Bars Coupon and Free Auntie Anne's Pretzel Day

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:22:00 +0000

Looking for a delicious, all-natural energy source for your next adventure? Whether you're taking the kids to after-school activities or heading out for some exercise, the all-new Nature Valley® Protein Bars make adding protein to your day as simple as a stroll down the granola bar aisle!

Nature Valley Protein Bars are a 100 percent natural source of energy complete with 10 grams of protein from all natural ingredients - including roasted peanuts with almonds or creamy peanut butter - and decadent dark chocolate flavor in every bite.

With five grams of fiber and less than 200 calories in each bar, Nature Valley Protein Bars are a satisfying snack for any time of day. Available in Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate and Peanut, Almond & Dark Chocolate, you can now find these bars that your taste buds and body will love at retailers near you!

Want to try them grab yourself a coupon now for $1.10 OFF the five-bar or larger box of Nature Valley Protein Bars! And, tell your friends!

Click here to grab your coupon today. These won't last as they are limited so get it while you can.

Free Pretzel Day

Auntie Anne's is givng out free pretzels Saturday March 3, 2012 from 10am to 3pm. So mark your calendar and be sure to stop over and get ready to stand in line. As I know I love their pretzels and so do thousands of other people. To find an Auntie Anne's location near your click here.

This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

The Fall: The Rapha Chronicles by Chana Keefer

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:19:00 +0000

The Fall

The Rapha Chronicles

by Chana Keefer

Review

An amazing look at the book of Genesis as if through the eyes of God himself.

This book was an amazing ride and I cannot begin to even explain how this book has moved me and left me only wanting to read more. From the very beginning of time before God even created the heavens and the earth... -author Chana Keefer takes you to a place of almost complete darkness and then slowly you begin to see the pin-point of light until you are then in the presence of the first celestial beings ever in existence those of which include Lucifer himself.

For those who may not know or may have forgotten, Lucifer was at one time a loving and gentle archangel and even part of Gods kingdom before he was banished to earth. Something I feel many, including myself, need to be reminded of. It can be so easy to forget this fact when evil is so rampant in our world. In "The Fall "God is merciful, and just like he treats us in our everyday lives, he also gives Lucifer many chances to repent and change his ways. When Lucifer does not, he receives a wake-up call, something again people fail to see or feel in their lives. Whether it be a car accident, a death, a tap on the shoulder from God himself, a kind word from a stranger, we are tested as our consciousness is probed and prodded. When we fail to listen we are also put to his test. This enlightenment alone at the beginning of the story is meant to open the eyes and mind of the reader. Whether you believe in God or not, this is one story you will not want to put down. Through the eyes of Keefer, the book of Genesis comes to life and leaves the reader basking in his goodness. Hang out with Adam in the beautiful garden of Eden, one cannot even begin to imagine, yet Keefer makes it easy to bring this lush tropical paradise to mind. I would recommend this book to anyone, even if you are not a believer. Through Keffer's amazing style of story telling you just may change your mind.

Summary:

The story has been told-but never like this.

Paperback: 412 pages
Publishing Date: October 5th 2011

About the Author:

Purchase a Copy:

The Fall: The Rapha Chronicles is available for purchase online at amazon (Kindle), Barnes and Noble and on Chana Keefer's blog at chanakeefer.com.

I have not received any monetary compensation for this review. I have received a complimentary copy of The Fall and any opinions expressed above are solely my own. A big thank you goes out to C. Keefer for allowing me the opportunity to review this title. This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

The Awaken: The Patronus Book Blog Tour February 20, to March 28, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:02:00 +0000

Awaken (The Patronus)
by Sarh M. Ross
Blog Tour

Lucy Donovan was supposed to have a weekend of fun in the sun, celebrating her upcoming graduation from college. In a split second, everything changed. A drunk driver ended Lucy’s mortal life.

Lucy opens her eyes to a world she never imagined possible and a new
destiny: as a Patronus, a guardian of spirits. Adjusting to her new role
and abilities while negotiating this confusing realm will test her limits
and push her further than she ever dreamed she would go. From wayward spirits who don’t want her help to soul stealing vampires, and even a stuck-up British royal, Lucy must brave them all to save one spirit she can’t bear to lose.
Further complicating her confusing life is an inexplicable yet growing
connection she feels to a member of her team, Max, whose mysterious
behavior leaves her both confused and intrigued.
Waking up dead was just the beginning of her problems. Lucy’s death is about to become the greatest adventure of her life.

Buy it : Kindle,Paperback, Nook, and Smashwords.

Author Sarah M Ross is working with Promotional Book Tours to bring you an incredible Prize pack. She is offering up an Awaken Prize Pack. for 25 entries in the contest. Sign up for her newsletter to learn about new releases and upcoming contests. Go HERE to sign up for the newsletter. Fill out the form to enter for a chance to win!

Enter above or stop over any of the blogs below to enter! Blog tour runs February 20, 2012 to March 28, 2012. Good Luck!

Follow the Tour!

Feb 20 - Mandie http://ereadingonthecheap.com

Feb 21 - Adelina http://matterofcents.net

Feb 22 - Celeste http://organicmommytoday.com

Feb 23 - Anne http://www.upstateramblings.com

Feb 24 - Jessica http://www.crossroadreviews.com

Feb 25 - Jen - http://www.craftylife.net

Feb 26 - Lisa http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com

Feb 27 - Christine http://more4momsbuck.com

Feb 28 - Shawnna http://www.cutthemcoupons.com

Feb 29 - Dina www.myunentitledlife.blogspot.com

Mar 1 - Laura http://daybydayinourworld.com/

Mar 2 - Emily http://emilysfrugaltips.com/

Mar 3 - Linette http://kidsfunreviewed.com

Mar 4 - Michelle http://moneysavvymichelle.com

Mar 5 - Laura www.wheelndealmama.com

Mar 6 - Cecile http://www.theshoppingduck.com

Mar 7 - Paedra http://identitydiscovery.blogspot.com

Mar 8 - Mandie http://mommyreadstoomuch.com

Mar 9 - Felissa http://twolittlecavaliers.com

Mar 10- Theresa http://www.mymommysworld.com

Mar 11 - Olivia http://www.blog.thisnthatwitholivia.com

Mar 12 - Amber http://www.jadelouisedesigns.com

Mar 13 - Dawn http://www.alifeunscripted.net

Mar 14 - Susan http://www.susiebhomemaker.com/

Mar 15 - Karen http://practicalfrugality.blogspot.com

Mar 16 - Heather http://savingfor6.blogspot.com/

Mar 17 - Jessica http://sewcraftable.blogspot.com

Mar 18 - Stephanie http://beautybrite.com

Mar 19- Jessie http://momvantage.net

Mar 20 - Dawn http://www.slopswap.com

Mar 21- Kathy http://www.beentheredonethat.com/

Mar 22 - Melissa http://mychaoticramblings.info

Mar 23 - Terri http://www.terrislittlehaven.com

Mar 24 - Digna http://autumnbluesreviews.blogspot.com/

Mar 25 - Krista http://www.heavenlysavings.net

Mar 26 Brandy http://giveawayblogdom.com

Mar 27 - Mandie http://takingtimeformommy.com

Mar 28 - Erin http://www.forhimandmyfamily.blogspot.com/

I have not received any monetary compensation for this tour. I have received a complimentary copy of Awaken for review. This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Blood Sugar Solution! by Mark Hyman, MD Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:04:00 +0000

The Blood Sugar Solution!
The UltraHealthy Program for Losing Weight, Preventing Disease, and Feeling Great Now!

by Mark Hyman, MD

3-Copy Giveaway

Open to U.S. and Canada!

In THE BLOOD SUGAR SOLUTION, Dr. Mark Hyman reveals that the secret solution to losing weight and preventing not just diabetes but also heart disease, stroke, dementia, and cancer is balanced insulin levels.

Dr. Hyman describes the seven keys to achieving wellness-nutrition, hormones, inflammation, digestion, detoxification, energy metabolism, and a calm mind-and explains his revolutionary six-week healthy-living program.

With advice on diet, green living, supplements and medication, exercise, and personalizing the plan for optimal results, the book also teaches readers how to maintain lifelong health. Groundbreaking and timely, THE BLOOD SUGAR SOLUTION is the fastest way to lose weight, prevent disease, and feel better than ever.

About the Author:

Mark Hyman, MD, was co-medical director of Canyon Ranch for ten years, and is now the chairman of the Institute for Functional Medicine and founder and medical director of The UltraWellness Center. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Ultrametabolism, The Ultramind Solution, and The Ultrasimple Diet, and coauthor of Ultraprevention.

Purchase a Copy:

The Book Sugar Solution is available for purchase online on amazon (Kindle preorder), Barnes and Noble and other fine retailers and book stores near you. Read an excerpt from the book by clicking on the OpenBook widget below.

Win One:

Hachette Book Publishers is generously allowing me the opportunity to giveaway 3-copies of "The Blood Sugar Solution" to 3-lucky readers of this blog. See below to enter.

Mandatory Entry: Fill out form below. Then scroll down for additional entries.

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Additonal Entries:

Like Mark Hyman, MD on Facebook. (+1)
Follow Mark Hyman MD on Twitter. (+1)

Follow Me autumnblues on Google Circles (Digna/+1)

Follow me autumn blues designs on Facebook (+1)
Sign up for either of my newsletters (upper right/+1)

Follow me autumnblues on Twitter. (+1)

Follow me via Networked Blogs (+1/right sidebar)

Tweet this giveaway, leave link in comment.(+1 daily) Include in tweet: Enter for a chance to win a copy of The Blood Sugar Solution! by Mark Hyman, MD http://bit.ly/yEhbR5

Giveaway Ends Saturday March 10, 2012 at midnight eastern time. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to get back to me, before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S and Canada residents. No P.O Boxes please. Be sure to add autumnblues@live.com to your inbox addresses, as this is the only way you will be notified if you win.

I have not received any monetary compensation for this giveaway. A big thank you goes out to LITTLE, Brown and Company for allowing me the opportunity to share this giveaway with my readers. This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

Butt Bench: All in One Bathtub Seat Review and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:59:00 +0000

Butt Bench Safe Bath Seat

Giveaway is open to U.S. only!

The Butt Bench is an easy to install safe seat for your bathtub. There are many uses for the Butt Bench those of which include a safe seat for us girls to sit and shave our legs on. But my favorite is as holder for bath and body products. I got to try out the Pine Butt Bench and I love the quality and beauty of the pine wood. The bathtub and shower area I installed it in is used mainly by my elderly mother and son. This bathroom shower and tub has a limited storage space inside the wall area. Now it is so much easier for my mother and son to access their items when they each use the shower.

My favorite part about it is how now I have less work. The bottles stay dry now because the items are away from the wall where the water always landed. It makes cleaning the shower and bath so much easier for me. Now I don't have to clean moldy bottle rings that accumulate under the bottles or even moldy shampoo and body wash bottles. Having three bathrooms to clean weekly can be time consuming and this cuts down on the time I spend cleaning. The Butt Bench is not only beautiful but convinent, light yet very sturdy, easy to install and has a coating on it to protect it and keep it from warping, so it will last for many years.

Purchase One:

Butt Bench comes in a Pine as well as Pink Pine and White Pine and are available for purchase online on buttbench.com. Retail $43.95-$46.99 -depending on size. The Butt Bench website also has Free Shipping within the U.S.

Win One:

The makers of the butt bench are allowing me the opportunity to giveaway one Butt Bench to one lucky reader of this blog. Winner has choice of finish. Retail $43.95-$46.99.

*Please note: Butt Bench will not work in tubs with shower doors. Must have a shower curtain bathtub.

Mandatory Entry: Fill out the Google Form below then scroll down for additional entries. (Additional entries to be left under the comments section)

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Additional Entries:

Like Butt Bench on Facebook. (+1)

Follow Butt Bench onTwitter. (+1)

Follow Me autumnblues on Google Circles (Digna/+1)

Follow me autumn blues designs on Facebook (+1)
Sign up for either of my autumn blues reviews newsletters (upper right/+1)

Follow me autumnblues on Twitter. (+1)

Follow me via Networked Blogs (+1/right sidebar)

Tweet this giveaway (+1 daily) Include in tweet: Enter for a chance to win a Butt Bench: All in One Bathtub Seat. http://bit.ly/wqnXKQ

Giveaway Ends Wednesday March 14, 2012 at midnight eastern time. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to get back to me, before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S residents only. No P.O Boxes please. Be sure to add autumnblues@live.com to your inbox addresses, as this is the only way you will be notified if you win.

I have not received any monetary compensation for this review. I have received a complimentary Butt Bench and any opinions expressed above are soley my own. A big thank you goes out to the Butt Bench Co. for allowing me the opportunity to review their product and for sharing with my readers through this giveaway. This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

The Snow Child: A Novel by Eowyn Ivey Giveaway Winners are...

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:02:00 +0000

2/19/2012 14:28:09

...Kim P...

Kim said.

"My daughter loves to read novels, and I think she would love this book."

2/20/2012 8:18:04

...girl of 80's...

girl of 80's said.

"I would like to win a copy of The Snow Child because it sounds like a very interesting story to read. The premise makes me want to read the book already."

2/1/2012 19:48:51

...Susanne...

Susanne said.

"I'd love to win a copy of The Snow Child because it looks interesting and unique."

Congrats to all the winners! I have emailed all of you.

Thank you to all who entered!

This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

Hendrick's Gin Golf Umbrella and $20 Crate & Barrel Gift Card Giveaway Winner is..

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:36:00 +0000

2/17/2012 16:50:22

...Forever Tony...

Forever Tony's Winter Cocktail was..

"Winter Camouflage"

Congrats to Forever Tony! I have emailed you.

Thank you to all who entered!

This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

Exercise Ryhmes Flashcards Giveaway Winner is...

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:25:00 +0000

...Wendy...

2/7/2012 9:52:54

Wendy said.

I love it b/c it makes it fun to learn!

Congrats to Wendy! I have emailed you.
Thank you to all who entered!

This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

American Dervish: A Novel by Ayad Akhtar Review

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 03:38:00 +0000

American Dervish

A Novel

by Ayad Akhtar

An eye opening look into the Quran mindset of American Muslim families.

This is a truly fascinating fictional account of the life of a Pakistani family living in America portrayed through the eyes of a young boy Hayat Shah. Hayat's family seems split in two as his mother's interest to be part of the local Muslim community are not the same interests of her husband. Hayat struggles as a go-between to his parents as his mother clings to hope that her husband will change his womanizing ways while making it clear to her son what her father is doing to her. Feeling lonely, Hayat's mother constantly turns to her son for support, many times sharing her disgust and anguish with her son. Hayat's father is a analytical strong-willed physician who has decided being a Muslim is something he wants no part of and in doing so becomes an outcast amongst the Muslim men in his community.

Not long into the book, Hayat's mothers best friend Mina, shows up with her young son to live with his family in America. After her marriage, Mina had been physically and mentally abused by her mother-in-law and her husband in her native land. She was then outcast and divorced by her husband due to being too outspoken. After just giving birth the divorce papers arrive at her hospital bedside. What she reads shocks her. Her divorce decree declares that when her son turns 7 he will be taken from her and her husband would be given full custody. How convenient this law is to the men of this country, yet this is mild compared to what can happen to these women. This is how the rulers of these countries in the Middle East twist their laws with Islam to mentally abuse not only the women but also their own children. Hayat's mother turns to her friend for help with the only solution she knows of, which is to get her out of Pakistan and bring her to the United States for good.

Although written as fiction, one can see and feel this story is based totally on truth. This novel moves the reader to learn more about these families that come to America pursuing a better life and fleeing Sharia laws. The author Akhtar expresses to the reader the lives and mindsets of those that come to the East yet continue to follow and believe in the Quran.

Although I certainly feel each reader needs to form his own opinion about what is written in this book. It is quite disturbing how the Muslim religion brainwashes people to believe these ridiculous ideologies. We all know that every culture has their own traditions, customs and religions. However, when those beliefs are sowed from hate, bigotry and evil I feel it is best to ask the one and true God for help to move on and away from this mindset. One example in this story is the torture and abuse that Mina suffers in order to remain attached to these Muslim beliefs. This is true and real life for many women in the Muslim society and worse for those who live amongst Sharia law. These women are brought up to believe they are worthless and are owned by their parents, later to be sold in marriage as if they were a piece of property. The men are then taught by the religion and their parents that they have a right to control and abuse these women. Why once in the United States, these Muslims who move here for a better life, away from their country and Sharia law, continue to read and follow the evil in the Quran is quite confusing. I can tell you right now, don't let anyone that has a belief in that book, they call holy, let you believe it otherwise, that book is not holy. I have studied and learned that the Quran was given to Mohammad by the devil himself. Imagine Charles Manson having visions and then writing a book, who all then believe to be true. This is the only comparison I need to make when it comes to speaking of the Quran. Yet the Muslim community continues to follow it as if it was the true word of God. That book that is filled with hate for those who live in the holy land of Israel and the Jewish community, plus other atrocities. God hates no one yet they are consumed with the belief, that God hates Jews. It is true that the Israelites where punished for what they did as it is written in the Bible. However, they were not doing anything much different than people are doing now in our modern society, including those that follow Islam. This is why God sent Jesus. So everyone who has ever set foot on earth can be forgiven for their sins. Sins that man perform because of free will and the influence of the devil and his demons who roam the earth. I thank the author from my heart for speaking out for these women who have no voice. My hope is that many more turn away from the true evil with Gods help and continue to show their mercy by speaking out with books like these.

Summary

Hayat Shah is a young American in love for the first time. His normal life of school, baseball, and video games had previously been distinguished only by his Pakistani heritage and by the frequent chill between his parents, who fight over things he is too young to understand. Then Mina arrives, and everything changes.

Mina is Hayat's mother's oldest friend from Pakistan. She is independent, beautiful and intelligent, and arrives on the Shah's doorstep when her disastrous marriage in Pakistan disintegrates. Even Hayat'sHayat as nothing has before. Studying the Quran by Mina's side and basking in the glow of her attention, he feels an entirely new purpose mingled with a growing infatuation for his teacher.

When Mina meets and begins dating a man, Hayat is confused by his feelings of betrayal. His growing passions, both spiritual and romantic, force him to question all that he has come to believe is true. Just as Mina finds happiness, Hayat is compelled to act -- with devastating consequences for all those he loves most.

American Dervish is a brilliantly written, nuanced, and emotionally forceful look inside the interplay of religion and modern life. Ayad Akhtar was raised in the Midwest himself, and through Hayat Shah he shows readers vividly the powerful forces at work on young men and women growing up Muslim in America. This is an intimate, personal first novel that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publishing Date: January 9, 2012

About the Author:

Ayad Akhtar is an American-born, first generation Pakistani-American from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He holds degrees in Theater from Brown University and in Directing from the Graduate Film Program at Columbia University, where he won multiple awards for his work. He is the author of numerous screenplays and was star and co-writer of The War Within, which premiered at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay and an International Press Academy Satellite Award for Best Picture - Drama. American Dervish is his first novel.

Purchase a Copy:

American Dervish: A Novel is available for purchase online on amazon (Kindle Pre-order), Barnes and Noble, IndieBound or at many fine book retailers near you. To read an excerpt visit visit hachettebookgroup or click on the book widget above left. Retail $16.99.

I have not received monetary compensation for this review. I have received a complimentary copy of Amercian Develish for and any opinions expressed above are solely my own. A big thank you goes out to LITTLE, Brown and Company for allowing me the opportunity to review this titlte. This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you..

Weight Watchers by Conair Digital Scale Giveaway Winner is..

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 06:32:00 +0000

...Ann H...

2/17/2012 9:48:57

"I just would like to keep up with my weight each day.

And, we do not own any scales at all."

Due to the original winner above not getting back me I have chosen another winner. That winner is...
...dlatany...
2/16/2012 7:43:07
https://twitter.com/#!/sweetums82/status/170125937554358272

Congrats to dlatany! I have emailed you.

Thank you to all who entered the giveaway!

This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

Coffee-mate to Giveaway Free Bottles on Twitter February 17, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:53:00 +0000

Enter Friday 2/17 between noon and 3 p.m. ET for a chance to win Coffee-mate on Twitter. The Twitter handle is giving away FREE bottles of Coffee-mate to 40 lucky followers.

The rules for entry are simple: Follow the Coffee-mate Twitter handle. Then check back at noon ET to retweet this post below.

“Today @Coffee_mate is giving away #FREE products! Follow @Coffee_mate and RT their post at noon ET to enter to win!”

Followers have until 3 pm ET to retweet the post.

Good Luck!

This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

Latest 99 Cents and Free Kindle Post February 17, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:07:00 +0000

El Coqui

Wishing You Happy Kindling!

Spectacle by Angie McCullagh is currently Free on Kindle!

At six feet tall, Emily Lucas towers over the “normals” in her Seattle high school. When she discovers, thanks to a pediatric endocrinologist and his X-ray machine, that she’s still growing and will likely hit six foot three, she struggles with her inability to blend.

Emily blames her MIA, giantess mother, Marilyn, for her excessive height and embarks on a mom-quest to find her. She wants to unravel why Marilyn left and learn how to operate as a super-sized person in the world. So begins a journey that leads Emily to Arizona to meet her birth mother.

Then there’s Emily’s ex-best-friend-gone-wild, Trix. She has an attitude that won’t quit, two non-parents who don’t take care of her as much as she takes care of them, and a tendency to hook up with too many guys in her search for acceptance.

When she finds out she has a chance to graduate early and study her passion–fashion design–at The Art Institute, she realizes she needs to pull herself out of her downward spiral and focus on her goal. Can she get it together and earn herself a better life or is she too far gone?

Get it here: Spectacle

The Volunteer by Barbara Taylor Sissel is currently Free on Kindle!

The Volunteer is a story about families, how they are made, and how in one single, horrifying instant, they can be broken. It is a story about mothers and the lies they tell to protect their children, to keep them from being hurt. But what happens when the truth comes out anyway and nothing and no one is spared? Sometimes the truth has the power to break your heart, and in Sophia’s case it will also endanger her freedom and threaten everything she has ever believed about her life.

Get it here: The Volunteer

Citizen Insane by Karen Cantwell is currently Free on Kindle!

If you think PTA meetings are boring, then you haven’t attended one in Barbara Marr’s neighborhood, where MURDER is on the agenda. Always one to stumble into trouble, Barb learns the hard way that a seemingly innocent yearbook scandal is actually part of a more sinister and deadly plot. Join soccer mom and movie lover Barbara Marr in this second laugh-out-loud, chaotic mystery, where high-profile crime and suburban living collide in an unexpected fashion.

Get it here: Citizen Insane

Falling Under by Danielle Younge-Ullman is currently Free on Kindle!

Gutsy and provocative, Falling Under is the story of a reclusive young artist struggling to connect, and brave the world again.

Mara Foster is a mess. A rollercoaster of a childhood made a survivor of her, but as an adult she is a mass of contradictions and unrealized potential. Talented, fierce and smart, but burdened by a host of anxieties, Mara finds it difficult to leave the house most days, much less imagine anything resembling normalcy.

Then Mara meets Hugo, and the walls she has built around herself begin to crumble. As she fights for a breakthrough both in her art and in life, she must come to terms with her complicated past, in order to gain a second chance at happiness.

Get it here: Falling Under

Georgiana Darcy’s Diary: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice continued by Anna Elliott is currently Free on Kindle!

Mr. Darcy’s younger sister searches for her own happily-ever-after…

The year is 1814, and it’s springtime at Pemberley. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have married. But now a new romance is in the air, along with high fashion, elegant manners, scandal, deception, and the wonderful hope of a true and lasting love.

Shy Georgiana Darcy has been content to remain unmarried, living with her brother and his new bride. But Elizabeth and Darcy’s fairy-tale love reminds Georgiana daily that she has found no true love of her own. And perhaps never will, for she is convinced the one man she secretly cares for will never love her in return. Georgiana’s domineering aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, has determined that Georgiana shall marry, and has a list of eligible bachelors in mind. But which of the suitors are sincere, and which are merely interested in Georgiana’s fortune? Georgiana must learn to trust her heart–and rely on her courage, for she also faces the return of the man who could ruin her reputation and spoil a happy ending, just when it finally lies within her grasp.

Get it here: Georgiana Darcy’s Diary: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice continued

The Vegetarian Paleo Recipe Cookbook: 47 All Natural Gluten-Free Meals and Desserts by Jennifer Dawn and Michelle Tracy is currently Free on Kindle!

From breakfast to lunch, dinner and dessert, The Vegetarian Paleo Recipe Cookbook features 47 simple and tasty meals free from gluten, grains, dairy, soy and refined sugar.

Indulge in paleo-inspired vegetarian recipes such as comforting pancakes, delicious smoothies, creamy soups, savory casseroles and satisfying desserts. Many meals include five ingredients or less, so you can enjoy eating without much fuss, even when you only have a few minutes.

Get it here: The Vegetarian Paleo Recipe Cookbook: 47 All Natural Gluten-Free Meals and Desserts

The Darkening of Deacon by Elita Daniels is currently Free on Kindle!
Wrath, vengeance, hatred, cannot breathe the same atmosphere as love. And so it was that love began to wither and withdraw…

Among the ageless quietude of the elves, Deacon, a mortal, suffers the inescapable awareness of mortality. He lived in what many deemed perfection, but a dark uncertainty plagued him that there lay treachery in it all.

When secrets of his mysterious heritage are revealed, the young mage is thrown into a revolt of confusion, and in an unwholesome vent of misery, travels a path of unforgivable deeds. One of the few left of his kind – a race whose magical energies are vigorously interwoven with their lifeforce – Deacon is drawn into a world that turns into an involution of evil and death.

Get it here: The Darkening of Deacon

Lucky at Love by Cynthia Hamilton is currently Free on Kindle!

Many controversial topics have captured the interest of Allison Tyler-Wilcox in her 13 years as a journalist, but writting about the often-divorced never crossed her mind. Not, that is, until she encounters Jake Sorenson, a man who has been unsuccessfully married seven times, and by his own admission, has not closed the door on the possibility of tying the knot again. Far from being ashamed of his matrimonial failures, Jake considers himself to be uncommonly lucky at love.

Smug in her own sense of marital security and superiority, Allison cannot get Jake and his seemingly ridiculous optimism out of her head. She wonders how some people could bring themselves to step up to the altar time after time with such unsatisfying, often disastrous results.

Convincing her skeptical editor that she is on the a compelling story, Allison Begins her quest for understanding the resiliency of the human heart at the Buckin’ J Ranch, with Jake Sorenson as her primary source of research material. What she doesn’t realize until she comes face to face with the highly charismatic man once again is that she’s outmatched by Jake, an individual who has learned far more about love and life than she has at first appreciated…

Get it here: Lucky at Love

Casting Shadows by J. Kelley Anderson is currently Free on Kindle!

Edward Kelley wants to destroy the world. His family is dead and his odd habits have made him a pariah in the small town of Hurst, Ohio. After the unexpected arrival of an anonymous package, Edward quickly discovers the tools to forge his malevolent fantasies into reality. Yet, he soon finds that he is not the villain of his own story and, with the help of a surrogate grandmother, an undead servant, and a foul-mouthed cop, he is fast on the road to becoming an unlikely hero.

Casting Shadows is a quirky amalgamation of Contemporary Fantasy and Magical Realism, with a sprinkling of Classical Literature, Necromancy, and Russian Folklore added for good measure.

Get it here: Casting Shadows

Fool Me Twice by Paul Levine is currently Free on Kindle!

A witness is dead and linebacker-turned-lawyer Jake Lassiter is the prime suspect. If he doesn’t find the killer, he’ll face a murder charge. A bloody trail of evidence leads to an abandoned silver mine under the Colorado ski slopes and an explosive finale.

If you enjoy John Grisham, Harlan Coben, Carl Hiaasen, and James Patterson, you’ll love “Riptide” from Paul Levine, winner of the John D. MacDonald fiction award. Levine has also been nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, International Thriller, and James Thurber prizes. A former trial lawyer, he wrote more than 20 episodes of the CBS military drama “JAG.”

Get it here: Fool Me Twice

The Big 5-OH! by Sandra D. Bricker is currently Free on Kindle!

Olivia Wallace has a birthday curse… or so she thinks. It was a broken heart on her 16th, a car accident on her 21st, pneumonia on her 30th, and a fall down a flight of stairs on her 35th. There were Ohio blizzards on her 38th, 39th, and 40th; and six days before her 45th, she lost the love of her life to a heart attack. Numbing grief stole that birthday and a couple more to follow and, on the morning of her 48th birthday, she received the call she’d dreaded ever since losing her mom so many years ago…she was diagnosed with stage-3 ovarian cancer. The doctors didn’t hold out a lot of hope, but Liv survived and maintained her faith. Months of surgeries and chemotherapy and radiation treatments followed.

But now, as her 50th birthday creeps up the icy Ohio path toward her, her hair has grown back, her energy level is up, and she is officially cancer free. It makes her nervous. After everything she’s gone through, Liv hates the idea of driving on icy roads and returning to work as an O.R. nurse in a local Cincinnati hospital.

Her best friend Hallie knows just the thing to break Liv out of the winter doldrums, while providing a safe haven of warmth, sunshine, and a time to regroup: a holiday in the Florida sunshine!

Get it here: The Big 5-OH!

This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

Gaiam TV Lets You Workout Anytime Anywhere

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:00:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gaiam for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Get full access to fitness, health, yoga, wellness and personal development 24/7 with Gaiam TV, the worlds first streaming video subscription with a library of award winning exercise, health and wellness videos. An innovative service and World Class programing, Gaiam TV has over 2000 titles which deliver hundreds of hours of online fitness with top instructors like Jillian Michaels, Mandy Ingber, Mari Windsor plus many more.

Whether it is yoga, Pilates or cardio you are looking for you can get it all on Gaiam TV, whatever your schedule, anytime of day or night. With Gaiam TV the user has the ability to customize their workouts for either weight loss, total body sculpting or increased energy. Subscribers are also given options on level, style, instructor and time, which they can use to customize their access even further. Gaiam TV allows users to set up playlists, preview selections and search for titles which subscribers can then also rate and review.

The best part of Gaiam TV is it's convenience. For a fraction of the cost of a gym or yoga class at $9.95 a month, Gaiam TV provides subscribers unlimited access. Are you on the road often, tired of the gym, can't afford it or just don't like the idea of exercising amongst a crowd of strangers, then Gaiam TV is for you. In fact, Gaiam TV is perfect for those with an on the road lifestyle. Stream it to your laptop, iPad and even smartphone anytime day or night.

Gaiam TV is offering a 10-day, no commitment, free trial which subscribers can cancel at anytime. Why waste your money on workout and yoga DVDs you may never even use when you can have access to over 2000 titles at your fingertips everyday at anytime.

Watching streaming movies is not something I have time for, but exercising is a priority in my life that I need to make time for. Gaiam TV makes it easy with its wide variety of workout videos to choose from which help alleviate the boredom that can come with working out.

Right now you can enter for a chance to win a one month Gaiam TV subscription. The winner will receive a one-month subscription to Gaiam TV and one yoga mat. No purchase is necessary and any U.S. resident 18 years or older is eligible to enter. To enter leave a comment on one of the 9 participating blogs listed below. In your comment state the reason why a subscription to Gaiam TV would be good for you and your plans for a healthier lifestyle. Gaiam TV is running this contest from now until February 28, 2012 at 11:59 p. m. Eastern Time. Stop over and show these blogs some Gaiam love.

Participating Blogs:

http://fitceleb.com/

http://www.thismamacooks.com/

http://girlgetstrong.com/

http://formulamom.com/

http://geniusbeauty.com/

http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/

http://healthy-delicious.com/

http://www.runtheline.com/

http://formulamom.com/

Connect with Gaiam TV by following them on Twitter @GaiamTV to stay on top of the latest news. To subscribe to their service or to find out more visit GaiamTV today.

Boggie Board 8.5 eWriter by iMPROV Electronics Review

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:52:00 +0000

BOOgie Board

8.5 eWriter

by iMPOV Electronics

Go Green with the BOOgie Board!

I first came upon the BOOgie Board in a Women with ADHD newsletter from a forum I belong to and it sparked my interest right away for more than one reason. You all know me as a blogger, reviewer and a blogger who runs giveaways. Even though I love what I do I also am a self-employed artist who works from home, a wife, mother and my moms caretaker. Any blogger who reviews can tell you it is very difficult to stay organized. However I also struggle with adult ADHD which means I need to check and recheck for silly little mistakes I make while writing in my blog, newsletters and so forth and yet I still miss things.

I am not saying I need to be perfect, however many of us adults with ADHD feel the need to be. This is due mostly by the careless errors we continuously make and have made throughout our lives. With this also come feelings of being overwhelmed and poor self-esteem which makes it harder if one is disorganized. When I say that my blogging and reviewing is more stressful for me than my previous lab job in a Toxicology department, I am putting it lightly. I totally need to be organized or I am a total mess now working from home.

This is where the BOOgie Board comes into the picture. This product is helping me with my organization and I am so grateful I was given the opportunity to review this neat item. The BOOgie Board 8.5 eWriter is basically a paperless electronic device that you can grab and quickly scribble on and then delete with a push of a button. Why it has been so helpful for me has to do with my reviewing. I started using the BOOgie Board for the purpose of writing my review products and the date received as they get delivered to my door. I also use it to quickly jot down any webChats, twitter functions, facebook opportunities or author book tours I may come across that day while I am on my laptop, which I keep downstairs. Later -depending how much is on my BOOgie Board I transfer that information to my monthly calendar, which I keep upstairs near my desk top computer in my bedroom. Originally, I was using a notebook and I kept losing it under the pile of mail on the table in our foyer area. It can be hard to be organized when you have others in the family who are not as organized. My husband would pile the mail and packages on my notebook, my son his school work papers, you can see where I am going with this.

The BOOgie Board 8.5 does have its pros and cons just like any other electronic device. The stainless steel stylus is great. It is not only retractable but also allows you to write with a fine neat line that I like very much. However, the BOOgie Board itself has nowhere to attach the stylus to on this model. iMPROV electronics, however, has improvised with separate accessories you can purchase like their Neoprene Sleeve to protect the BOOgie Board which also has a sewn-in stylus holder. Or you can purchase their stylus holder and magnetic kit for $2.97. Another con is how this model has a battery that cannot be replaced. The battery is a 3V volt watch battery that does, however, last a long time, as it provides 50,000 erase cycles. Another option not available on this model is a button to save what you write. This however does not hinder what I use it for, as I erase it daily, once I transfer my information to my monthly calendar. However, others may find this is an option they would like to have. Overall I love that it is a green, green, green machine and has helped me organize my life.

Don't give it a thumbs down just yet as iMPROV Electronics has improved the BOOGie Board since it was first released. You can find other models on their site that have many great new features, those of which let you save and store your data, have a stylus holder built right into the BOOgie Board itself and also bring a USB cord so you can connect, transfer and organize your BOOgie Board images to your computer. To check out their full line be sure to visit their website at iMPROV Electronics.com.

What it Includes:

Boogie Board LCD Writing Tablet; Telescoping Stainless Steel Stylus; Microfibre Cleaning Cloth; User Guide.

Purchase One:

The BOOgie Board 8.5 writing tablet as well as other tablets and accessories are available for purchase online at impovelectronics.com, as well as amazon and other fine retailers online as well as fine retailers near you. To find a distributor near you visit iMPROV Electronics.

I have not received any monetary compensation for this review. I have received a complimentary BOOgie Board and any opinions expressed above are solely my own. A thank you goes out to iMPROV Electronics for allowing me the opportunity to review the BOOgie Board 8.5. This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

Autumn Blues Reviews February Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:22:00 +0000

Changes to my giveaway entries requirements. Latest giveaways and more.

First 5 to read this newsletter and email me get free Shick Hydro Silk Razor.

Autumn Blues Reviews February Newsletter

Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil forecasts 6 more weeks of winter.

I however I'm ready for some warmer weather. So Phuey on you Groundhog Phil! I am starting my seedlings for my garden the first week of March. Indoors of course.

How did groundhog day get started:
Apparently it is recorded that the Romanas believed that conditions during the month of February were good predictors of future weather. However their choice of rodent was a hedgehog. The Romans apparent February predictions and German tradition were combined and brought over to the United States by German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania. Lacking hedgehogs, the German settlers substituted native groundhogs in the ritual, and Groundhog Day was born. In 1887 a group of groundhog hunters from Punxsutawney, PA named themselves the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. They named their furry critter, Punxsutawney Phil. Punxsutawney Phil is only "official" weather-prediciting groundhog, and so this is how the Punxsutawney ceremony originated. Fact: Groundhogs have a short lifespan of 18 years at the most. So the Punxsutawney Phil of today is not the orginal groundhog since the ceremony was originated.

First I want to welcome all the latest subscribers to my blog. I have been a little absent since the holidays. But there is more than one reason for this. One of those reasons being I was swamped with reviewing and am now on another wave. But let me get to the important stuff like some changes on my blog.

Changes On How to Enter Giveaways:

I was a bad girl and had made changes to my giveaways without notification to my readers:( I certainly did not do this intentionally as I have been searching for a better way to notify my readers. Due to some comments made by a few about not liking how their email addresses are visible when left under comments during a giveaway. I had decided to use the Google Document Form. I went a little further and included all entries on this form to make it easier for those entering. However some problems came up like: some people did not see the form, others being comfortable with leaving comments were confused on using the form and some left entries under the comments section, due to me keeping it open. I then closed it but that didn't work and my giveaway entries and blog traffic has gone down 400%. What a bummer! I apologize for this:)

Here is the good part. What I have done now is kept the Google Form only for your Mandatory Entry, which is now your email address. Yes, you read that right. All Mandatory Entries on all future giveaways on my blog are now just your email address, which will not be visible to anyone when you use the Google Form. I promise you I do not give these email addresses out to anyone. The only exception to this is if requested by a company so they can email a winner a Gift Card Code. You will be told this ahead of time however in the giveaway post when you enter, if I am aware of it beforehand. For Additional entries you can now continue to leave these entries as comments under the giveaway as before. So starting as of Yesterday any new giveaways now posted will include this format.

How This Google Doc Form Works:

I have cut the form in half and included an example below of one Google form from a giveaway going on right now on my blog. These forms come in different designs so you will not always see the same design as on the left. As I like to mix it up a bit. However what you see below is an example of what the Mandatory entry section will look like. On the far right of these forms there is a scroll bar that you can move up and down so you can fill out this form easier. Use this scroll bar to get to the Mandatory Entry as these forms do not open up perfectly every time. Once you leave your email address be sure to click the Submit button and that's it. Again Additonal Entries can be left under the comments section as before.

CONNECT WITH ME

Current Giveaways Going On Right Now:

Weight Watchers by Conair Digital Scale Giveaway (U.S.) Ends 2/17

Exercise Rhymes Flash Card Giveaway (U.S.) Ends 2/18

Hendrick's Gin Golf Umbrella and $20 Crate & Barrel Gift Card Giveaway (U.S.) Ends 2/19

The Snow Child: A Novel by Eowyn Ivey 3-Copy Giveaway (U.S. & Canada) Ends 2/20

Progresso Soup Coupons and The Biggest Loser Workout DVD Giveaway (U.S.) Ends 2/22

Prevagen Natural Brain Health Supplement Giveaway (U.S. & Canada) Ends 2/28

Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Rinse Giveaway (U.S.) Ends 2/28

Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker by Marla Martenson Book Giveaway (U.S.) Ends 3/1

SHARE THIS EMAIL

I am now a member of the new Schick Insiders Club. So you will be running across reviews and hopefully great giveaways on Schick products on my blog.

As of today the first 5 Autumn Blues Reviews Blog Subscribers to email me at autumnblues@live.com with the words Schick Hydro Silk Razor in the subject area of their email will receive a link for a free Schick Hydro Razor.
Not a subscriber sorry you don't qualify but you can head on over and subscribe now for any future goodies at http://autumnbluesreviews.blogspot.com/.
Good Luck!

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Copyright © 2012* autumnbluesreviews, All rights reserved.* my mailing address is: autumnblues@live.com	Autumn Blues Reviews
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The Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Rinse Review and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:03:00 +0000

The Natural Dentist

Healthy Gums

Antigingivitis Rinse

Peppermint Twist

Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only!

If you have bleeding gums when you brush or floss you are not alone as thousands of people just like you and me have this problem, even if we are sure to give ourselves daily oral care by brushing and flossing and having twice a year dental cleanings as recommended. The fact is bleeding gums could be a sign of a form of gum disease called gingivitis. Gingivitis is nothing to be ashamed about as anyone can get it and it is quite prominent among women after pregnancy. I know this for a fact as this happened to me and I had to be treated by my dentist with a procedure where they actually go under your gums and scrape. Then I had to go back every 4 months and have these pockets measured to see if they were improving. I, of course, had a more advanced form of gingivitis, but my problem started with the bleeding gums after brushing and flossing routine, which I ignored, because I didn't have the facts.

If you have a combination of bleeding gums and are noticing your gums have receded then you really need to talk to a dentist about this because it only gets worse and leads to tooth lose. Luckily, my hygienist noticed my receding gums and my gingivitis was reversed with the treatment. However, it has been over 15 years since I had this treatment done and lately as I have gotten older I have noticed my gums have been bleeding when brushing and flossing again. When I was first diagnosed with this condition I was really embarrassed because I felt I had failed at my oral care and I was under the impression that only people that did not brush or floss daily got gingivitis. So I never told anyone except my husband who knew about the treatments at the time. It certainly was not a topic I even brought up at work with the girls in the lab where I worked at the time. I found out through my dentist that it can be caused my many different situations, which I have listed below.

I had a chance to try The Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Rinse in the Peppermint Twist. The flavor surely is different and not like anything I have had before. The first time I used it is when I noticed all these darker stringy things after I spit it out. I found it odd as when I poured it in the cup these floaters where not there. So I went to The Natural Dentist site to see what this was and why it was happening. It turns out Peppermint Twist contains an ingredient called Copper Chlorophyllin, which is used for color. It is perfectly safe and natural, however because it binds to proteins in your saliva you get these clumps to appear. So thank goodness that was explained. Since I am not to keen on the use of fluoride I like that The Natural Dentist also offers toothpastes and rinses that are fluoride free

It is recommended you use the rinse twice daily however it is perfectly safe and recommended for those who have sore or bleeding gums after a dental procedure to use up to 4 times a day. Also this new Peppermint Twist Healthy Gums Rinse contains Potassium Nitrate, an ingredient which is used to protect exposed nerves below eroded tooth enamel. These exposed nerves are what cause the painful sensation you experience from hot or cold foods and drinks.

What The Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Rinse Does:

It is clinically proven to:

*Reduce and prevent bleeding gums
*Protect against gingivitis
*Kill germs
*Reduces plaque
*Freshens breath

Contains Aloe Vera gel as its active ingredient to help prevent bleeding gums. Also contains other natural medicinal components such as Echinacea, goldenseal, calendula, and grapefruit seed extract that help calm gum inflammation.

The Natural Dentist line is powered by nature, proven by science. The Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Anti-Gingivitis Rinse contains No alcohol or artificial ingredients, making it natural and healthy for your mouth. However, unlike other natural products, The Natural Dentist tests its products in controlled studies. Universities, oral care experts, periodontists, and dental hygienists continually evaluate the products, ingredients and effectiveness. The Natural Dentist products are not tested on animals; research is conducted with human volunteers and laboratory tests. View research studies, publications and abstracts on Natural Dentist at stopbleedinggumsnaturallyclinicalstudies.com.

Some Facts from The Healthy Dentist:

Dentists estimate that 80% of us develop gum disease in our lifetimes, ranging from mild gingivitis to severe periodontitis. If left untreated, however, gum disease may progress to other oral health issues, including tooth loss (it’s the #1 reason for adult tooth loss!). Other studies and experts, including Dr. Oz, have also linked gum disease to heart disease, stroke, breast cancer and respiratory diseases, such as COPD.

While it can happen to anyone, the following raise the risk for developing gingivitis:
* Poor dental hygiene

* Pregnancy/puberty/menopause (hormonal changes increase the sensitivity of the gums)

* Uncontrolled diabetes

*Genetics/family history (30% of general population susceptible to gum disease)

*Smoking

*Stress

*Medications

*General illness

Gingivitis is due to the long-term effects of plaque deposits, and it is often painless, so bleeding gums may be your only symptom until it has progressed further along (other symptoms are swollen/tender gums, receding gums, and/or persistent bad breath). Luckily, one of the early warning signs of the gum inflammation IS the bleeding you see when you brush or floss, so it is your body’s way of telling you something’s not right. If you have a family history of this issue or notice bleeding when you brush or floss, you should schedule a dental visit to evaluate your condition, as well as take steps at home by adding The Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Anti-Gingivitis Rinse to your oral care regimen.

WIN $1,500 Plus An Oral Care Prize Pack From The Natural Dentist in Woman's World!

Register to win a "Brighten Your Smile" prize pack from The Natural Dentist in the Feb. 27th issue of Woman’s World magazine. Winner will receive a selection of their signature products including their popular Healthy Gums Antigingivitis Rinse. All their products contain no alcohol or artificial ingredients. Winner will also receive $1,500 to put toward the family dental bills! Enter the Sweepstakes today at: womansworldmag.com.

Where to Purchase Natural Dentist Products:

The Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Rinse is available at all several major retailers nationwide including Walgreens, Rite Aid, Whole Foods and more. Retail price of $7.49. To see a complete list of stores near you and the entire line of The Natural Dentist products, visit stopbleedingnaturally.com.

Win It:

Natural Dentist is allowing me the opportunity to provide one lucky reader of his blog with one bottle of The Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Peppermint Twist Rinse. See below on how to enter the giveaway.

*Note: I have again changed the entry process for my giveaways. Use the form below to leave your email address only (mandatory entry) then submit. Use the comment section for your additional entries which follow the form below. (*Due to many not seeing the form for entry, I decided to change the giveaway entry process again.) I will follow up with this in a newsletter.

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Tweet this giveaway (+1 daily) Include in tweet: Enter for a chance to win a bottle of The Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Rinse & fight gingivitis. http://bit.ly/xjKHrZ

This Giveaway Ends Wednesday February 29, 2012 at midnight eastern time. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to get back to me, before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S residents only. No P.O Boxes please. Be sure to add autumnblues@live.com to your inbox addresses, as this is the only way you will be notified if you win.

I have not received any monetary compensation for this review. I have received a complimentary sample of The Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Rinse and all opinions expressed above are solely my own. A thank you goes out to The Natural Dentist and Robin Leedy and Associates, Inc. for allowing me the opportunity to review their rinse and share with my readers through this giveaway. This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

Tropicana Trop50 3-Winner $50 Spa & Wellness Gift Card Giveaway Winners are..

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:12:00 +0000

...Patricia...
2/10/2012 12:53:59
yellow_patricia
http://twitter.com/#!/yourpotofgold/status/168029828040241153

...Lisa M...

1/28/2012 23:52:43

Lisa M

...Wendy W...

2/7/2012 9:55:37

Wendy

Like Trop50 on Facebook.

Congrats to all of you! I have emailed you all.

Thank you to all who entered.

This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

Latest 99 Cent and Free Kindle Books Post February 14, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Push those Winter Blues Aside with Some 99 Cent and Free Kindle!

Untraceable by S. R. Johannes is currently 99 Cents on Kindle!

Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival.
When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he’s dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him.
One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape and find her father.

Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butt heroine to save everything she loves.

Get it here: Untraceable

Alchemy by Mike Wood is currently Free on Kindle!
The summer of 1984 was a golden time in America. From California, where gymnast Mary Lou Retton was winning Olympic gold, to Cape Cod, where explorer Barry Clifford was discovering pirate gold, the nation seemed obsessed with the precious metal. But for 15-year old Al, that obsession hits a little too close to home when he finds a code-filled notebook belonging to his missing father that may contain the ancient formula for turning lead to gold.

Convinced that his father’s sudden disappearance is connected to his secret experiments in alchemy, Al sets out to find the truth. He enlists the help of Cammie, a beautiful girl staying for the summer while her marine biologist father tracks a wayward manatee, and together they begin unraveling the mystery. But the closer they get to an answer, the closer they grow to each other, and as the end of summer draws nearer, Al wonders if they can break the code without breaking his heart.

Get it here: Alchemy

Dead Spell by Belinda Frisch is currently Free on Kindle!
Harmony Wolcott’s darkest secret has clawed its way back from the grave and is haunting her.

Afraid to ask for help, Harmony searches for answers in the wreckage of her childhood home where the truth is buried under the rubble of a family plagued by mental illness.

Dead Spell is about a ghost with a past and a girl who would die to forget it.

Get it here: Dead Spell

Conquering Darkness: Memoir of the Serial Killer’s Wife by Crystal Reshawn Choyce-Lige and Alice M Swafford is currently Free on Kindle!
This memoir, written by Alice and her daughter, Crystal Choyce-Lige, provides an up close and honest retrospective account of what life was like with a budding serial rapist and serial murderer who flew under the radar of his family and law enforcement for decades. How? He was very, very clever and cunning. All the while he was playing the part of husband and father; he was also leaving the house every night for his well thought out and stakeouts to lure and prey upon the most vulnerable people in our society.
The essential questions asked and then answered are: How and why could this nightmare happen and then last for so long? Why couldn’t Alice see what was right in front of her? The answers will enlighten as well as surprise those who embark upon the riveting adventure of reading this book.

Get it here: Conquering Darkness: Memoir of the Serial Killer’s Wife

King’s X by Stephen T. Harper is currently Free on Kindle!
What happens when we die? Is it Nothing? Is it Something?
Molly Reed recalls many past lifetimes…perfectly. And so does her Enemy. He has waited patiently for her return and now has the scent once more. The chase is on… again.

Get it here: King’s X

Stained by Ella James is currently Free on Kindle!
After a fire destroys seventeen-year-old Julia’s home and kills her foster parents, she chases the half-demon responsible across the country and back, determined to avenge her family and discover why a host of celestial baddies want her dead. With Julia is enigmatic hottie Cayne, who has his own score to settle with the half-demon, and who might be just as dangerous as the creature he and Julia hunt.

Get it here: Stained

Siren’s Song by D.L. Snow is currently Free on Kindle!
After giving up fame, Joss Jones wants a normal life. Maybe she’ll find it in Bandit Creek. Or…maybe not. From the moment she moves into the old mansion she inherited, she’s stalked by a ghost who torments her before dragging her back in time to Bandit Creek, 1899. Has she gone crazy or is this old mining town, full of saloons, gambling, whoring and fortune seekers her new reality? It feels real enough as does the ghost who brought her here. His name is Morgan Hawes and he is very much alive. Is Morgan the key to Joss finding her way home or is Joss stuck for the rest of her life as the Siren of Bandit Creek?

Get it here: Siren’s Song

Into the Free by Julie Cantrell is currently Free on Kindle!
In Depression-era Mississippi, Millie Reynolds longs to escape the madness that marks her world. With an abusive father and a “nothing mama,” she struggles to find a place where she really belongs.
For answers, Millie turns to the Gypsies who caravan through town each spring. The travelers lead Millie to a key that unlocks generations of shocking family secrets. When tragedy strikes, the mysterious contents of the box give Millie the tools she needs to break her family’s longstanding cycle of madness and abuse.

Through it all, Millie experiences the thrill of first love while fighting to trust the God she believes has abandoned her. With the power of forgiveness, can Millie finally make her way into the free?
Saturated in Southern ambiance and written in the vein of other Southern literary bestsellers like The Help by Kathryn Stockett and Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin, Julie Cantrell has created a story that will sweep you away long after the novel ends.
Get it here: Into the Free

Vienna Triangle by Brenda Webster is currently 99 Cents on Kindle!

A young woman named Kate explores her historical connection to the development of Freudian theory and the early beginnings of psychoanalysis in this mystery rooted in the past. Based on real facts concerning the pivotal figures in the development of modern psychology, the complicated lives of Sigmund Freud, his colleague Helene Deutsch, and his rival Victor Tausk are carefully reconstructed to show how their interpersonal intricacies may have led to conspiracy and deceit in the writing of early 20th-century history.

When Kate realizes that Tausk was her grandfather, she begins to uncover the details around his mysterious suicide. Only as Kate uncovers the truth is she able to make important decisions about her own future.

Get it here: Vienna Triangle

This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

Latest 99 Cent and Free Kindle Books Post February 13, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:15:00 +0000

Happy Valentines Day Eve!

Celebrate with Some Kindle!

Valentine Surprise by Valentine Surprise is currently Free on Kindle!
For Cecilia, Valentine’s Day stands as a glaring remind of what she is-alone and in love with her best friend’s brother, Lee.
When Lee asks Cecilia for computer help with signing up for an on-line dating service, will this be her chance to get him out of her head and her heart for good?

But, does Cupid have his own Valentine surprise in store for this couple?

Get it here: Valentine Surprise

Breaking Twig by Deborah Epperson is currently Free on Kindle!
Set in rural Georgia in the 1960s, Breaking Twig is a coming-of-age novel about Becky (Twig) Cooper, a young woman trying to survive the physical and emotional abuse of her mother, Helen, a beautiful, calculating woman who can, with a mere look, send the meanest cur in Sugardale, Georgia running for its life.

Not even Twig’s vivid imagination, keen wit, and dark sense of humor is enough to help her survive the escalating assaults of Helen and a new stepbrother, but help comes from an unexpected source–Frank, her stepfather. Sometimes, having one person who loves and believes in you is all a girl needs to keep hope alive.

Often raw and irreverent and sprinkled with all the Southern flavoring found in a good bowl of chicken and dumplings, Breaking Twig, is about finding love where we least expect it, destroying lives with easy lies, and realizing each of us determine our own truth.

Get it here: Breaking Twig

Burden of the Soul by Kate Grace is currently Free on Kindle!
Clara never asked to be special. But then one day, her world literally separates at the seams, as a blinding light rips her mother away right before her eyes. In one, inexplicable moment, Clara is tugged from a life where her biggest worry is how to avoid social scrutiny to having the burden of her mother’s disappearance and her father’s subsequent unhappiness hoisted squarely onto her shoulders.

Precisely one year later, on her 17th birthday, the blinding white light returns. This time, the light brings with it more than just grief. It ushers in a cast of Guardians who have been with Clara all along, waiting for her to awaken and remember a promise she made in another world. When Clara learns what is expected of her, and the price she must pay to restore order, she can only hope that the still dormant ancient soul that lives inside of her is truly fighting on the side of Good.

Burden of the Soul grapples not only with the battle between Good and Evil, and Action and Complacency, but pits its unlikely heroine squarely against herself. Half of Clara is an ancient soul who made a promise to fight a war, the other half is an adolescent girl who never asked to be special.

Get it here: Burden of the Soul

Drawing Mentor 6, Compositions by Sarah Bowles is currently Free on Kindle!
Anyone can draw; all it takes is a pencil, paper and a little practice. The Drawing Mentor series of books breaks down drawing into simple easy to understand subjects, each are filled with detailed explanations, examples and exercises, that way you can get the exact lesson you need based on your skill level and skip the lessons you don’t need. For those who are just learning to draw, we recommend starting at the beginning, for those who have already developed their drawing technique the later lessons with their more advanced step by step projects may be more appropriate. Currently there are 14 Drawing Mentor books in the series with subjects ranging from drawing simple lines to 3D perspective and shading, to realistic portrait drawing.

Get it here: Drawing Mentor 6, Compositions

The Time of Aspen Falls by Marcia Lynn McClure is currently Free on Kindle!
Aspen Falls was happy. Her life was good. Blessed with a wonderful family and a loyal best friend—Aspen did know a measure of contentment.
Still, to Aspen it seemed something was missing—something hovering just beyond her reach—something entirely satisfying that would ensure her happiness. Yet, she couldn’t consciously determine what the “something” was. And so, she sailed through life—not quite perfectly content perhaps—but grateful for her measure of contentment.
Grateful that is, until he appeared – the man in the park – the stranger who jogged passed the bench where Aspen sat during her lunch break each day. As handsome as a dream, and twice as alluring, the man epitomized the absolute stereotypical “real man” – and Aspen’s measure of contentment vanished!
Would Aspen Falls reclaim the comfortable contentment she once knew? Or would the handsome real-man-stranger linger in her mind like a sweet, tricky venom—poisoning all hope of Aspen’s ever finding true happiness with any other man?

Get it here: The Time of Aspen Falls

Manifesting Matisse by Dr. Michelle K. Nielsen is currently Free on Kindle!
Manifesting Matisse is… “Basic training” in the simple skills Master Manifestors like Oprah Winfrey, Jack Canfield, Tina Turner, and Nelson Mandela use to live their dreams and help others do the same! It’s a step-by-step manifestation program that will have you thinking about (and using) your shelf of personal development resources in an exciting new way!

Get it here: Manifesting Matisse

Broken Promises Never Mend by Allison “Essence M” Edwards is currenlty Free on Kindle!
Tamika Adams never lost in anything she did as a child. Now all grown up she’s seeking to win in the battle called Love. Soon she meets a suitable opponent in Quincy Thompson, a man who definetely brings his A-game and quickly sweeps her off her feet. When their two worlds collide, its filled with passion, love and sex. However lurking in the shadows are secrets and lies from the past that will turn their world upside down and cause their alliances to shift. Will they continue to play on the same side or will their fight for love simply be a recipe for disaster!?

Get it here: Broken Promises Never Mend

Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

Sleep Tight by Anne Frasier is currenlty Free on Kindle!

Wake up, little darling. Do you like what you see? He’s looking for the perfect woman. Someone who won’t disappoint him, like so many have before. Someone who’ll love him. Someone who won’t have to die for her mistakes.

Give up, little darling. FBI agent Mary Cantrell has been called to Minneapolis to hunt down a killer. It’s shaking her to the core, and reviving dreadful memories. Years ago, her best friend was murdered. Now the man convicted of the crime, Gavin Hitchcock, is free — and Mary’s own sister Gillian, a local cop, has befriended him.

No one can hear you scream but me. As each clue leads them closer to Hitchcock, Mary and Gillian set themselves up as the perfect target — and the perfect trap. Unless Mary’s own past is blinding her to an unimaginable truth… and plunging her into a waking nightmare.

Get it here: Sleep Tight

Romance, Time Travel

The Time Baroness by Georgina Young-Ellis is currently 99 Cents on Kindle!

A romantic, time-travel adventure set in Jane Austen’s England, The Time Baroness is the story of Dr. Cassandra Reilly, a scientist from the year 2120 who embarks upon a journey to England of 1820. Her purpose is to conduct an experiment: living for a year in the guise of a wealthy widow and interacting within the Regency world. Though she has painstakingly prepared for the experience, her unusual ways arouse both ire and interest from her neighbors… and attract an unexpected admirer.

Ultimately, circumstances beyond Cassandra’s control plunge her into a dangerous situation, and she learns that people, and love, aren’t always what they seem to be.

Get it here: The Time Baroness

Urban Venus by Sara Downing is currently Free on Kindle!
Contemporary and historical fiction meet in this love story set in present-day and Renaissance Italy.
Broken-hearted art student, Lydia Irvine, spends her days wandering the atmospheric streets of Florence, soaking up the culture in its galleries and museums. She develops a strong pull to one painting in particular, Titian’s ‘Venus of Urbino’ in the Uffizi Gallery. Lydia frequently falls asleep in front of the painting and starts to believe the dreams she has in the gallery ‘transport’ her to another time and place.

Who is this woman she becomes in the dreams and what is she trying to tell Lydia? With the help of her charmingly handsome tutor, Vincenzo Tizzaro, she starts to research the life of the artist and becomes deeply embroiled in the mystery which is beginning to unfold. Through the dreams, Lydia learns far more about the Renaissance era than she ever could from the history books, but when her life is put in danger, has she taken it all a step too far?

Get it here: Urban Venus

Lame Excuses by Alle Wells is currently Free on Kindle!
Forty-year-old Emily Halley sits in a wheelchair in an abandoned lot of a silent, forlorn southern town. She reflects on her life that began in a short-order café that sat on this corner lot in the early 1960’s. She remembers and shares her love for the café that provided everything she needed and demanded nothing from her. As a teenager, Emily’s life at the café ends abruptly with her father’s untimely death.

Emily is forced to find a new life and enrolls in a culinary arts school in a rural farming community. She thrives as a culinary artist and finds a mentor, a lover and a new life in the Sand Fort community. Emily’s life is sprinkled with pleasant surprises, southern humor, disappointments and drama. Her passion for food remains constant and comforts her through the good times and the bad. Emily’s lifestyle begins to take its toll on her at an early age. A medical condition misdiagnosed by a country doctor and ignored by Emily leads her to a tragic and unsatisfied end as she tries to piece her life back together.

Get it here: Lame Excuses

Star Soldier (Book 1 -The Doom Star Series) by Vaughn Heppner is currently Free on Kindle!
It’s survival of the fittest in a brutal war of extinction!
Created in the gene labs as super soldiers, the Highborn decide to replace the obsolete Homo sapiens. They pirate the Doom Stars and capture the Sun Works Ring around Mercury. Now they rain asteroids, orbital fighters and nine-foot tall drop troops onto Earth in a relentless tide of conquest.
Marten Kluge is on the receiving end. Hounded by Thought Police, he lives like an ant in a kilometer-deep city. The invasion frees him from a re-education camp but lands him in the military, fighting for the wrong side.

Get it here: Star Soldier

Malaika by Van Heerling is currently Free on Kindle!
A middle-aged man with the crushing weight of his American past seeks peace and a simpler life in rural Kenya. Armed with only his smokes and coffee he discovers a friendship with the most unlikely of friends–a lioness he rightfully names Malaika (“Angel” in Swahili). But she is no ordinary lioness nor is he an ordinary man. Between them they share a gift. But not all embrace their bond and some seek to sever it. Discover this new world rich in human truth and sensibility.

Get it here: Malaika

Will Love For Crumbs: A Memoir by Jonna Ivin is currently Free on Kindle!
Raised by an alcoholic mother and without a father, Jonna learned at a young age to put her needs on the back-burner. After her mother dies of cancer, she goes on a spiritual journey looking for enlightenment and a purpose for her life. Eventually, she ends up as a volunteer in the relief effort following Hurricane Ike. There she meets a man who will forever change her life.
In the swamps of Louisiana and the hills of Arkansas, Jonna follows her heart to build a life with an American hero – a 20 year veteran of the Army Special Forces. Only after uprooting her whole life, leaving everything and everyone she knows behind, do the pieces of this fairytale start to unravel. Realizing the man of her dreams is actually the stuff of nightmares; Jonna must once again go within and discover why she is a woman willing to love for crumbs.
Get it here: Will Love For Crumbs

Keep Mama Dead by S. James Nelson is currently Free on Kindle.
In 1905 of this alternate history, in a country located between Arizona and Utah, 19-year-old Thomas Baker has accepted that his mother won’t last out the day. She’s used up all her second life days, and won’t live again.

People should respect someone’s wishes to stay dead, but Thomas’s family will try to resurrect her. They need her to work the farm and cook their meals. They need her for a slave–a companion to Thomas out in the fields.

So Thomas has to stop them. He has to keep his mama dead.

Not a problem–at least, not until Mr. Milne arrives with Miss Sade. She’s Thomas’s age, and wears a white dress and hat. She has a face like an angel and hair like a halo. But she’s also a zombie raiser–which means the barrier has fallen. The Moabites can invade with their undead army.

And no doubt they will. They want to own the sacred land of Zion’s Canyon–the very location where Thomas’s family will try to resurrect his mama. But he’ll stop his family. Even if that means facing an army of zombies. Or his brother and father.

Get it here: Keep Mama Dead

Jackhammered: A Memoir by Ed Bethune is currently Free on Kindle!
Jackhammered is a story of hope and redemption, told with candor by a man who had a complicated childhood, joined the Marines when he was 18, became a special agent of the FBI, and then a prosecuting attorney.

In 1978, against all odds, Ed Bethune won a seat in the United States House of Representatives.

His story is unlike any memoir you have ever read because it tells of a young life nearly lost, a love found, and a lifelong struggle to wash away troubles by living out dreams of adventure.

His successes–in politics, in the courtroom defending the poorest of the poor, and as a high profile ethics lawyer for Speaker Newt Gingrich and Majority Leader Tom DeLay–soothe his quest for identity.

But it is not until he and his wife encounter a fearsome storm while trying to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a 31-foot sailboat that he solves the riddle that has haunted him all his life.

For millions of young people, especially those who are dealing with shame or embarrassment of one kind or another, Jackhammered is a Godsend. The story teaches us all to take heart and to live out our dreams… even those that may be a size too big.

Get it here: Jackhammered

This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.

Help Master Lock Celebrate National Random Acts of Kindness Week

noreply@blogger.com (Autumn Blues Reviews) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:10:00 +0000

Master Lock

Celebrating National Radom Acts of Kindness Week by

helping Americans Lock-up their new years' resolutions.

Master Lock Provides Tips and Surprises Thousands of Consumers with Free Lock.

While improving health, fitness and organization consistently rank among the top New Year’s resolutions for consumers, recent research shows most Americans have trouble sticking to resolutions. By February, 36 percent of people have already abandoned their resolution, and by April, this total increases to 54 percent.

To help consumers stay on track, Master Lock is celebrating National Random Acts of Kindness Week® February 13-19, 2011, by offering a variety of tips and products that are sure to help Americans lock-up their resolutions. Throughout the week, visitors to the Master Lock Facebook page can enter daily for a chance to win free Master Lock products through a national sweepstakes. The company also will inspire gym-goers in select cities to stick to their fitness plans by handing out free 1534D Set-Your-Own Combination Password locks.

“A New Year’s resolution to positively change or enhance your life is an admirable goal if you can stick to it,” said Rebecca Smith, vice president, marketing for Master Lock. “We feel National Random Acts of Kindness Week is a great opportunity to spread a little kindness by providing consumers with added motivation, tips and products needed to maintain their goals for the year.”

Master Lock Tips:

In conjunction with Master Lock’s acts of kindness, the company has created the following set of tips to help consumers strategically adapt to their new lifestyles and make their New Year’s resolutions permanent habits:

• Write It Down…and Share It. Simply thinking through your resolutions and storing them mentally isn’t going to ensure you stay committed. Having a list of goals in your organizer, smart phone, or social media profile that you can easily access and share will reinforce your promise to yourself and spur encouragement from your followers and friends.

• Get the right gear. Whether your goals revolve around getting back in the gym or being more organized at home, having the right products to help you succeed is a must. For organization, the 7148D document storage box can help keep important documents safely filed away. To securely organize your digital life, register for a free account at masterlockvault.com to safely store your user names, passwords and other confidential data for easy access anytime, anywhere. Getting good shoes, proper work-out wear, and a new gym lock such as the 1534D Password lock will help reinvigorate your enthusiasm to exercise.

• Do it for a Month. In order for a new behavior to become a habit, you must stick to it for at least 30 days. Setting this small goal will make achieving your overall resolution more realistic. Plus, you can be encouraged when you’ve reached the one-month mark and assess your progress.

• Keep a Journal. Commit to writing one to two sentences about your progress toward your goals each day. Keeping a written record of how you’re doing will keep your resolution top of mind and motivate you to continue to make changes.

• One Step at a Time. Don’t set too many goals and then try tackling them all at once. Make one goal your priority and focus on changing your habits to achieve it. Once you’ve mastered it, set your sights on two additional goals, giving yourself realistic timelines to achieve them and go from there.

During National Random Acts of Kindness Week, Master Lock will be surprising gym-goers in six cities with the innovative 1534D Password lock to encourage them to stick to their fitness resolutions and spread a little kindness. The lock is ideal for safely storing your personal belongings during a workout and will be distributed in the following markets:

• Chicago, Illinois

• Los Angeles, California

• San Francisco, California

• New York, New York

• Dallas, Texas

• Miami, Florida

Not in these cities but want to get in on the action. You to can help celebrate National Random Acts of Kindness week by visiting Master Lock’s Facebook page to enter for a chance to win prizes, including 1534D Password Locks and Visa gift cards.

For more information about the tips above and other security solutions, please visit Master Lock’s website at masterlock.com or the Master Lock Facebook page.

I have not received any monetary compensation for this review. This information was provided to me by Master Lock and I was under no obligation to post it. This blog post is the sole property and copyright of autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.