Donna's Book Reviews

Donsuemor Cakes Giveaway - Ends 5/15

2011-05-13T16:53:00.000-07:00

An Island life http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/share-donsuemor-cakes-this-mothers-day-giveaway/comment-page-1/#commentsis having a giveaway. Check it out.

Friday Follow-January 29, 2010

2010-01-29T07:23:00.000-08:00

Well, it is time for Friday Follow!

Welcome to the Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.

Here is how you can join our celebration:
--Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below.
Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.

--Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots. We will follow you back.

--Follow as many blogs as you'd like.

--Comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.

--Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

--Have Fun!

2010-01-24T17:30:00.000-08:00

On The Long Trail Home

2010-01-16T06:49:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com Widgets

by Elisabeth J. Stewart
Scholastic ISBN # 0-590-54324-5
written + copyrighted in 1994
106 pages
From the book cover:

Meli hasn't seen her older brother, Tahlikwa, since the day when the soldiers drove them away from their home. For months, now, in the long stockade and during the tiring journey, she has wondered whether Tahlikwa is alive. So when she sees him one morning, she doesn't hesitate.
Ignoring the soldiers and their guns, she runs toward her brother. Together they escape the forced march of the Cherokee people and head for the mountains. But Tahlikwa is badly wounded. He can hardly walk. With the soldiers hot on their trail, it is up to Meli to bring her and her brother safely home.

This book is about a real life girl. The author's great grandmother is Meli. She fictionalized the story, but it is based on real events.
This is about one girls escape from the Trail Of Tears, a truly horrific episode in American history. Many Cherokee were forced to leave their homes, and removed to Oklahoma.
Meli has watched her mother and little sister, Ayoli Usti, die. She doesn't know if her older brother, Tahlikwa, her younger brother, Awi Usti, or her father are even still alive. The only one of her family who is left with her is her Grandmother. So when she sees her older brother is in another wagon, what she does is courageous. She runs toward him.
I like this book, even though it brought me near to tears to think that America could do this to her own people. I am 1/4 Native American, though my family was from Upstate New York. I knew in an offhand way about the Trail Of Tears. I knew that it was a tragedy which should never have happened.
This story, however, brought it all home to me in a way that I did not expect/ Meli was a real person, and her family was real.
Of course, I can not tell you all that happens, because what fun would you have in reading it yourself, than?
This is, however, not a totally sad book. Some of the tears I was nearly moved to were happy ones.
I recommend this book to anyone who would like to read about strong girls. This book is at the reading level of about 9-12. Girls of that age would definitely be enthusiastic about this book.
Have you ever read a book about a true life event? One that brought home the reality that this really happened? That it is not just some dusty facts in a history book? If you have ever read anything like that, please let me know. I am always looking for my next good read.

Team Over of Team Under? Comment to win from Cottonelle.

2010-01-14T18:51:00.000-08:00

If you go to Cottonelle Poll Here you can vote on whether you are an over the roll type of person or an under the roll type of person. I am definitely one for the over the roll team. I like to see my Toilet paper. Which are you?

By commenting about whether you are team over or team under here on my post, you will be entered to win 1 of 10 Cottonelle gift baskets which will be randomly chosen from among all the comments on January 29, 2010.

So come on and vote- which will be the winning team? Be sure and comment here.

I am entering a contest for a month's worth of Cottonelle toilet paper as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club. We were not compensated in any other way for this review.

Winner! of 250 Custom Greeting Cards from Uprinting!

2009-10-12T06:50:00.000-07:00

The winner has been picked! And Annette D is the winner. I have sent an email to her, and she 72 hours to get in touch with me so I can send in her name and information to the sponsor. Way to go Annette D!
Results - Research Randomizer: "Research Randomizer Results
1 Set of 1 Non-unique Numbers Per Set
Range: From 1 to 43 -- Unsorted

Job Status:

Set #1:
13"

Annette D said...
I follow on twitter annedoggett

Thank you to everyone who entered this giveaway! I hope to see you again soon. By the way, if anyone knows how to make a screen shot, I would be forever in your debt.

Win- 250 Custom Greeting Cards from Uprinting!- ends 10/11

2009-09-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

Uprinting is offering one of my readers 250 Custom Greeting Cards! You can check them out here- Custom Greeting Cards .

This is just the most awesome time to win your own personalized Greeting Cards, just in time for Christmas. That cute family picture you took- wouldn't it make the perfect Christmas Card?

Check out the different Greeting Cards you can print at Greeting Card Printing .

One great detail about this giveaway is that the Customized Greeting Cards are totally free! Uprinting is even paying for shipping. How's that for a nice company?

Now- as for how to enter:

1.) Leave a comment letting me know how you would use these. Do you have a favorite picture you would like to use? This is the Mandatory Entry. It must be completed before any extra credits will be accepted.

2.) Become a follower of my blog.

3.) Follow me on Twitter-(2 entries for that one)

4.) Tweet about this giveaway, leaving a comment with your tweet.

5.) Fave me on Technorati.

6.) Leave a comment on any of my posts, and let me know here.

7.) Blog about this giveaway linking back to my post and to Uprinting! (5 entries).

Make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry. This giveaway is open to US residents. On 10/11/2010, at 23:59 I will close the contest and run the randomizer to pick a winner. Please remember to either leave you email address in your comment or to have it visible in your profile. If you are the winner, I want to be able to get in touch with you. On 10/12/2010, I will also post the winner here. I will leave the winner 72 hours to get back in touch with me, so I can send the information on to the Sponsor, Uprinting.

If the winner does not get back in touch with me, I will need to draw a different winner. Good luck to everyone!

Bloodhound- By Tamora Pierce

2009-06-13T05:05:00.000-07:00

This is what the book Jacket says:
Beka Cooper is no longer a puppy.
She's a Dog now-a full-fledged member of the Provost's Guard, which keeps the peace in Corus's streets. Beka's natural skills of observation and tenacity are augmented by her unusual magical talents, which allow her to gather information both from the pigeons and from the eddies of dirt and dust that swirl on street corners. But even her magic isn't very useful when unrest comes to Tortall's capital in the form of counterfeit coins, which turn up in shops all over the city. Merchants raise prices to cover their losses, and with winter coming on, hikes in food and fuel costs could spell disaster-most of all for the city's poor.
The Dog's discover that gamblers are bringing the counterfeits from Port Caynn-and that the Port Caynn Dogs don't seem to be doing anything about it. Beka and her mentor, Clary Goodwin, are chosen to go undercover in Port Caynn and find out what they can. And wherever Beka goes, so do some of her animals. Departing from Corus with her are the scent hound Achoo, who has been newly assigned to Beka, and the pigeon Slapper, who carries the voices of the dead.
In Port Caynn, Beka and Goodwin delve deep into the gambling world. There Beka meets a charming bank courier, who may be involved in the counterfeiting ring. Things come to a head just as Goodwin returns home to report to Corus. It won't be enough for Beka to be her usual "terrier" self. She'll have to learn to from Achoo to sniff out the criminals-to be a bloodhound.

I have been reading Tamora Pierce since the 1980's. I loved the Lady Knight series, than I went on to love the Wolf Speaker series. After that I read the Protector of the Small series. I loved them all, and still reread them from time to time. So a couple of years ago, when Terrier came out, I devoured it. I have read it more than one time, and was excited to read that a new one was to come out the following year.
So I anxiously waited for the next one, Bloodhound. And I waited, and waited. I kept looking every time I went into the bookstore. Finally I gave up looking. I figured she just lost interest in the book. Luckily, it is not so. Just this past week, I walked into the Mr. Paperbacks at the Airport Mall in Bangor, and Oh Boy, Oh Boy, there it was- sitting in the new hardcover section. I didn't even wait for it to come out in paperback. I snatched it up right than and there.
I read it that very night,and might I say, I was not disappointed. It was very well worth the wait.
Beka Cooper is back, as well as Clary Goodwin, Tuntstall, Pounce, and Slapper. Beka has a new animal friend, Achoo, whom you may remember from 'Terrier'. I loved this book, and can only hope that Tamora Pierce continues this series further on. Even if she doesn't, I will continue to be a big fan of her books.

Update for Winners! of 'Made In The U.S.A.'

2009-05-14T05:52:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to let all of the winners know, I have received your physical addresses, and sent them on to the sponsor. So depending on how long they take on their end, you should be receiving your win soon. Thank you to everyone who entered this giveaway, and stick around- we have more coming up. If you could let me know when you receive your books, that would be great.

Winners of 'Made In The U.S.A.'

2009-05-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

And now, without further ado! The 5 winners of 'Made In The U.S.A.', by Billie Letts.
#1.) Comment Number 68- quelleheure4 said...
I faved you in technorati (quelleheure4)
May 9, 2009 6:40 PM

#2.) Comment Number 2-garf713 said...
i am following you, please may i be entered for your give away?thank you,garfy713@gmail.com
April 27, 2009 2:11 PM

#3.) Comment Number 47-morethananumber said...
Sounds like an intresting read!
May 3, 2009 7:45 PM

#4.) Comment Number 6-Amber said...
I would love to be entered please.Thanks for the giveaway :)
April 27, 2009 6:16 PM

#5.) Comment Number 62-Anonymous said...
I would like to be eneterd. Happy Mother's Day!
May 9, 2009 1:25 PM

Congrats to the winners. I will be sending out emails shortly. After I send out emails, the winners will have 72 hours to respond with an address for me to send to the sponsor so you can receive your book. Thank you to all who participated. And if anyone knows how I can make pictures of the Randomizer so everyone can see who won, I would greatly appreciate the information.
Thanks,Donna M. Clark

The Noticer- by Andy Andrews

2009-04-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

This book is by Andy Andrews- the author of the book "The Traveler's Gift". It is a book about a man that is called Jones, and some of the people whom he touches the lives of.

This is taken from the back of the book- "Poverty. A failing marriage. Old age. Lost dreams. A failing business. An unsure future. To the residents of Orange Beach, Alabama, these desperations are dead ends. Hopeless, barren places with no chance of change.

But to an old drifter named Jones with a gift for seeing what others miss, there is no such thing as a dead end. It only takes a little 'perspective,' he says, to recognize the miracles in our moments, the seeds of greatness tucked into our struggles.

As Jones mysteriously makes his way through this coastal town and into the searching hearts of its residents, he offers simple wisdom and sound hope.

'My contention is that you are right where you are supposed to be. This may look like barren sand to you, but nothing could be further from the truth. I say to you that as you lay your head down tonight, you are sleeping on fertile ground. Think, learn, pray, plan, dream. For soon...you will become.'

I liked this book. It is a feel good book, without being too preachy. I like how the author transfers from one story to the next. All the while, tying all of the different stories together at the end.

At first, when I started reading this book, I didn't realize it was based on incidents in the authors' own life. I didn't know the author went through some real tough times as a young adult. So when I started reading this book, I was thinking it was going to be a fiction book. I'm going along reading, and liking what I am reading, when all of a sudden I come along these lines-"So, if you have ever heard me speak at a corporate event or read one of my books..." I had to take a double take.

Here I was reading this book like a story- a good story, mind you. But still, a story. I looked more into it and found that it was from the self help section. As I delved further into the background, I found that there is a movement afoot, called The Noticer Project.

It is a worldwide movement to "Notice" the 5 most influential people in your life. More information can be found at TheNoticerProject.com .

Thomas Nelson Publishing provided me with this book, and the chance get in on The Noticer Project. Won't you join me?

So tell me- who do you want to 'Notice" as one of your 5 most influential persons? If you don't want to tell me, that's all right, you don't have to. A question, though- have you told them?

thanks for listening, till next time.

Donna M. Clark

Giveaway! Made In The U.S.A.

2009-04-27T12:43:00.000-07:00

Information from the inside flap of the book says-"Lutie McFee's history has taught her to avoid attachments...to people, to places, and to almost everything. With her mother long dead and her father long gone to find his fortune in Las Vegas, 15-year-old Lutie lives in the god-forsaken town of Spearfish, South Dakota with her twelve-year-old brother, Fate, and Floy Satterfield, the 300-pound ex-girlfriend of her father.

While Lutie shoplifts for kicks, Fate spends most of his time reading, watching weird TV shows and worrying about global warming and the endangerment of pandas. As if their life is not dismal enough, one day, while shopping in their local Wal-Mart, Floy keels over and the two motherless kids are suddenly faced with the choice of becoming wards of the state or hightailing it out of town in Floy's old Pontiac. Choosing the latter, they head off to Las Vegas in search of a father who has no known address, no phone number and, clearly, no interest in the kids he left behind.

MADE IN THE U.S.A. is the alternately heartbreaking and life-affirming story of two gutsy children who must discover how cruel, unfair and frightening the world is before they come to a place they can finally call home."

Hachette Book Group is allowing me to give away 5 copies of the book, "Made In The U.S.A.", by Billie Letts.

This giveaway will run from now until May 10th, 2009. I will be using the randomizer to pick out te winners. I will email the winners, as well as post the names of the winnrs here. The winers will than each have 72 hours to send me their address, so I can than forward them to the sponsor, Hachette Book Group.

As Hachette Book Group is sending these out, they have a few specificrules with which we must abide by.
->The winners must be from the U.S.A. or Canada.
->The winners address must not be a post office box.

Pretty simple rules to follow. Good luck to all of you.

Now, as to how you can enter to win this book, here are the ways-

1. Leave a comment telling me you would like to be entered for one entry.

2. Follow my blog, and let me know that you do for one entry.

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog, and leave comments with the link for 3entries.

4. Follow me on Twitter, and let me know that you do for one entry.

5. Tweet about this giveaway, and leave a comment with the link in it for 2 entries.

6. Fave me on Technorati, and let me know for one entry.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry, so when I add them up I can have a correct number. Also, please either leave your email address in the comment (e.g. litefoot873 (at) hotmail (dot)com), or have it in your public profile, so I have some way to contact you if you win.

Good luck everyone,
Donna M. Clark

Newest Update on Giveaway!

2009-04-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

To all of the winners of The Turnaround by George Pelecanos. I have received your information and passed it on to Hachette Book Group, the sponsor of this contest. They will be sending out the books to you. Please let me know when you have received your book. Thank you all for taking part in this, my first giveaway.
Donna M. Clark

UPDATE on Winners!

2009-04-13T21:47:00.000-07:00

I have been able to get in touch with 4 of the original 5 Winners of The Turnaround by George Pelecanos. In order to send the names in to my sponsor, I needed to have all the addresses for the winners at once.

So in accordance with the rules of this giveaway as they were set out, I used Random.org once again, and drew a new winner.

Comment # 114,
Swtlilchick said...
I would like to be entered to win this nice book

So Congratulations are in order. I have sent out an email to the new winner. As soon as the address from this winner comes in, I will forward all of the information to the sponsor, so the winners can receive their books.

Thanks always,
Donna M. Clark

Winners of TURNAROUND

2009-04-10T21:32:00.001-07:00

And Now, without further ado- the winners of the 5 books from Hachette Book Group. The Turnaround, by George Pelecanos-
#1 Comment 48
tarahsfoodreviews said...
I would love to win this book! Thank you!Tarah

#2 Comment 122
Betty C said...
I follow on Twitter. User name willitara.

3# Comment 82
mskayz said...
I can always use a great book! Please enter me - thanks!!

4# Comment 17
Annie said...
Tweeted 2greeeneyedwhwomhttp://donnasbookreviews.bl... Win The Turnaround!!greeeneyedwhwom (twitter name)

5# Comment 10
vboackle said...
i would like to readf this book.

Congrats to the winners. I will be sending out emails shortly. After I send out emails, the winners will have 72 hours to respond with an address for me to send to the sponsor so you can receive your book. Thank you to all who participated. And if anyone knows how I can make pictures of the Randomizer so everyone can see who won, I would greatly appreciate the information.
Thanks,
Donna M. Clark

GIVEAWAY-The Turnaround

2009-04-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

Hachette Book Group is graciously allowing me to give away 5 copies of this book, 'The Turnaround', by George Pelecanos.
This giveaway will run from now until April 10th, 2009. I will be using the randomizer to pick out the winners. I will post the winners here, but I will also email the winners. The 5 winners will than each have 72 hours in which to send me their address, so I can forward the addresses to the sponsor of this giveaway, Hachette Book Group.
As Hachette Book Group is sending these out, it is only fair that we abide by their very few rules.
*The winners must be from the USA or from Canada.
*The winners address must not be a post office box.
Pretty simple rules to follow. Good luck to all of you! ow, as to how you can enter, here are the ways.
1.)Leave a comment telling me you would like to be entered for one entry.

2.)Follow my blog, and let me know that you do for one entry.

3.)Blog about this giveaway on your blog, and leave a comment with the link in it for three entries. For example, 1. I blogged about your giveaway... 2. I blogged about your giveaway... 3. I blogged about your giveaway...

4.)Follow me on Twitter, and let me know that you do for one entry.

5.)Tweet about this giveaway, and leave a comment with the link in it for 2 entries.

6.)Fave me on Technorati and let me know for one entry.

Pleas leave a different comment for each comment, so when I add them up I can have the correct number. Also please either leave your email address in the comment , or have it in your Goggle Profile so I have some way to contact you if you should win.

Donna M. Clark

Life As We Knew It- by Susan Beth Pfeffer

2009-03-18T23:53:00.000-07:00

I just spent most of last night reading this book, Life As We Knew It, by Susan Beth Pfeffer. This is a really good story. I literally could not put it down. I stayed up til 230 in the morning just so I could finish it. The last book I stayed up til the wee hours to read was Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince. So you know I liked it.
The premise of the story is that a meteor crashes into the moon, and basically causes life on planet Earth to go into a tailspin. This books is all about the ways that one girl and her family survive. But I have to tell you, there is one point in the book that was just too sad for words. This would be a good book for a young adult, or someone who likes to read young adult fiction.
It gives one pause, and makes you think about what is really important in your life. I won't deny that it also made me go down into the pantry to see how much food we have stored down there. If an event like this happened, would you have enough groceries to last your family for a year? I know that right now, my family would not. This story gave me the chills. it is going to go on my favorites book shelf.

Book Review- Refund Cents

2009-03-01T15:36:00.000-08:00

"Refund Cents" is America's largest refunding magazine. It comes out ten times a year. January and February are combined into one magazine, as are July and August.
This magazine is for people who like to save money through coupons and refunding. It started out as mostly a refunding magazine/newsletter, but now it is more about coupons, as there are fewer refunds to be found.
Michelle Easter is the editor of the magazine.
This magazine has info about all of the refunds that are out there to be found. The main reason I get the magazine, though, is because I like the stories. People send in pictures and stories about their greatest deals and how they accomplished them.
For example, on the front cover of the January/February 2009 issue was a lady who purchased $2,785.07 worth of products for only $185.88 at Jewel in Illinois. Simply amazing.
These stories give encouragement to those of us who are considered crazy by our friends and family because of our coupon and refunding habits.
This magazine is a companion to the Refund Cents website, found here- http://refundcents.com/index.asp?RefID=D8LM . The website costs $12.00 a year, but usually pays for itself with the first tip that you use. If you buy the magazine, you get online access for free.
Please leave me a comment to let me know if you have Refund Cents, if you love it, and if you thought this review was helpful to you.

My Very First Post

2009-02-12T18:42:00.000-08:00

This will be my first post. I am very new to the world of Blogging, but I love reading and writing. I thought I would share my thoughts on books with my friends and family. I read a wide variety of books, so there should be something for everyone.

If anyone has any suggestions on books they would like to hear about, just leave me a comment. Of course, you are welcome to leave me a comment anytime. That will help me to know I am not in here all alone.
Thank you for visiting my blog. And I hope to see you again soon.