Black 'n' Gold Girl's Book Spot

Hey everyone! I really apologize for not being around much on my blog or visiting your blogs this week. To be honest nearly every waking minute that I've been on the computer has been devoted to getting my hacked Hotmail account fixed and regaining access to my Facebook. My Facebook profile didn't disappear for those of you who are friends but I didn't have access to it due to the email issues so I was stressing out! I did FINALLY hear back from Hotmail today concerning my account and I was able to access it but decided it would be best to just delete it permanently. I never really used my Hotmail account much anyways so it wasn't that big of deal but it was a pain to export all of my contacts to my Gmail. Soooo I hope to be back up and running with new posts either later today or tomorrow! I did have some time to de-stress this week by reading a few good books so you can be sure to look for some new reviews soon. Thank you again so much for your patience!

MizB @ Should Be Reading hosts Teaser Tuesdays every week at her blog! This gives everyone the opportunity to share a few lines from a new book they're reading or one of their old favorites. Here are the rules for Teaser Tuesdays! 1. Grab your current read. 2. Let the book fall open to a random page. 3. Share two teaser sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 & 12. 4. Share the title of the book that the “teaser” comes from, so people can find the book if they like the teaser. 5. PLEASE avoid spoilers!!!!! This week's teaser comes from a book that I am currently reading entitled, Love Remains (Matchmakers, Book 1) by Kaye Dacus. So far I'm enjoying it and hope to post a review soon! In the meantime here's a tidbit to whet you appetite! Love Remains (Matchmakers, Book 1) by Kaye Dacus Copyright 2010 Barbour Books 320 pages ISBN: 978-1-60260-989-1 Fiction/Christian/Romance "They'd effectively taken away her ministry--her source of joy--withou

Love's First Bloom by Delia Parr Copyright 2010 Bethany House Publishers 320 pages ISBN: 978-0-7642-0671-9 Historical Fiction From the publisher : She must conceal her past, her identity. What hope can there be for love? Life changes drastically for Ruth Livingstone the day her father puts a young child in her arms and sends her under an assumed name to a small village in New Jersey. There she dutifully awaits his acquittal, certain that her father, Reverend Livingstone, soon will be cleared of the outrageous accusations against him. When tragic events transpire, Ruth finds solace tending a garden along the banks of the Toms River—a place where she can find a measure of peace amid her growing heartache. It is also here that she meets Jake Spencer, a man who both frustrates and intrigues her. Fearful of the newspapermen intent on tracking her down and unsure of whom to trust, Ruth knows she must carefully maintain her identity as Widow Malloy. But as love begins to slowly bloom, can

Thank you all so much for making my birthday so much fun! I'm pleased at the great turnout and interest in all these great authors and their books. If you didn't win be sure to check out their websites for information on how you can order their books! You never know they might have links to other great giveaways! Thank you so much Julie, Candace and Penny for being such wonderful guests! I know you want to know the winners as chosen by Random.org and they are... Giveaway #1 Pittsburgh Steelers book mark and Deadly Disclosures by Julie Cave Carmen 7351 Giveaway #2 Winner's choice of a Julie Lessman book Holly Giveaway #3 Signed copy of Code Triage by Candace Calvert Sara Giveaway #4 (2 winners) Copy of The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall Debbie & Renahe Giveaway #5 Penny Zeller prize pack Julia Reffner Winners will be notified by email and will have 48 hours from time email is sent to respond or another winner will be drawn.

My Gmail and Hotmail accounts were hacked on 9/27/2010. If you get any strange emails from me requesting money because I'm stranded overseas IGNORE THEM! The messages were sent through my emails by a hacker using my name!!! I think I resolved my Gmail problem but I'm still working on getting my Hotmail back up and running. If you need to contact me please do so at steelergirl83(at)gmail(dot)com OR my new email renee(dot)steelergirl83(at)yahoo(dot)com As for the winners of last weeks birthday giveaways I will be announcing them around Midnight and will send the winner emails out! I will need your address so I can mail the book out or the author's can mail the books to you! Thank you all so much for your time, patience, and support!

A Memory Between Us (Wings of Glory, Book 2) by Sarah Sundin Copyright 2010 Revell Publishers 448 pages ISBN: 978-0-8007-3422-0 Historical Romance From the publisher : Can they overcome the past to find a brighter future together? Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge--until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth's heart a top-priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she also is determined not to give her heart to any man. As the danger and tension of World War II rise to a fever pitch, Jack and Ruth will need each other more than ever. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways? From the English countryside to the perilous skies over France, A Memory Between Us takes you on a journey through love, forgiveness, and sacrifice. My Review: Fou

Recently through First Wild Card book group I discovered a new author, Penny Zeller! She is a writer of fiction (my favorite) and nonfiction! She is sweet enough that she jumped at the chance to help me celebrate my birthday and has offered not 1, not 2, but 3 of her books to one lucky winner! I've only had the opportunity to read her latest release, McKenzie (my review HERE ) but let me tell you it was a worthwhile read so I'm sure her other books are terrific too! Please join me in welcoming a new friend to this blog by saying hi to Penny today! If you would like to be entered to win the Penny Zeller Giftpack of McKenzie , Hollyhocks , and 77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference , be sure to read the rules at the end of this post! Penny Zeller is the author of four books and numerous magazine articles. She writes the humor blog “A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author", is an active volunteer in her community, serving as a women’s Bible study small-group leader

Thanks to the lovely folks at Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers I have TWO brand spankin' new copies of Cindy Woodsmall's Amish fiction book, The Hope of Refuge , Book 1 in the Ada's House series. Both books have signed bookplates on the inside cover which makes them extra nice! Since I have two copies that means two winners so read the rules below to see if you're eligible to enter! The Hope of Refuge (An Ada's House Novel) by Cindy Woodsmall Raised in foster care and now the widowed mother of a little girl, Cara Moore struggles against poverty, fear, and a relentless stalker. When a trail of memories leads Cara and Lori out of New York City toward an Amish community, she follows every lead, eager for answers and a fresh start. She discovers that long-held secrets about her family history ripple beneath the surface of Dry Lake, Pennsylvania, and it’s no place for an outsider. But one Amish man, Ephraim Mast, dares to fulfill the command he believes that he receiv

GoD and DoG by Wendy Francisco Copyright 2010 Center Street, Hachette Book Group ISBN: 978-1-59995-379-3 Pets/Inspiration Quick Review: I love dogs and when I first saw the video on Youtube that this book is based on I fell in love. If you're a fan of the short film and song then chances are you will love this book. Not only does it have cute illustrations but it has the lyrics and music so you can play and sing the song yourself. This book definitely would make a great gift for a person of ANY age, it's simple enough for kids to read and small enough to take with you anywhere. A must for dog lovers! *Thanks to Anna Balasi @ Hachette Book Group for providing me with a review copy.*

I didn't realize how much I loved Medical dramas (other than Grey's Anatomy) until I read Candace Calvert's Mercy Hospital series! If you're looking for fast paced stories with terrific romance her books are it. When thinking up ideas for my birthday week I wanted to include different types of Christian fiction everyday Monday was suspense, Tuesday was Edgy Christian romance, so I thought to get you through hump day I'd go with more drama, which is never boring right? Terrific author and friend Candace has offered a giveaway of her latest release, Code Triage the final book in the Mercy Hospital series to one lucky reader! I read an early copy of this book and let me tell you it's the best yet, you won't be disappointed. If you'd like to "meet" Candace check out some of her favorite Q&A's from past interviews and feel free to leave a comment and tell her hi! Be sure to read the rules at the bottom of this post to see if you're elig

I don't know why I took this quiz I already knew what the answer would be! :-P How Much of a Fiction Lover Are You? Fiction Obsessed A voracious fiction reader, you devour so many books that your friends and family identify you as a "book worm" when describing you to other people. You probably tend to quote characters like they are real people and laugh or cry with them as often as you do your real-life friends. Your bookshelves are fully stocked and it's all you can do to keep them organized. You'd rather be reading than almost anything else... Fun quizzes , surveys & blog quizzes by

As you may already know one of my favorite authors and friend of this blog is Christian fiction author, Julie Lessman. Her Daughters of Boston series is a huge success and I'm sure her latest series Winds of Change will be too. To help me celebrate my birthday and the release of A Hope Undaunted ( my review here ) Julie has so graciously offered to give one lucky reader their choice of one of her books either from the Daughters of Boston series or A Hope Undaunted . If you would like to learn a little more about Julie check out some of the Q and A's from past interviews that she has dug out of the archives, hey you might learn something! Also be sure to read the rules below for all the details on today's giveaway! ************************* 1. Describe yourself for our visitors. I'll give you a hint: When I was little, my brothers and sisters used to call me “Walking Nervous Breakdown.” Okay, so I'm a bit wired … there's no harm in that, is there?

Since it's my birthday I get to do whatever I want to right and I feel like giving away presents to my lovely blog followers. I wish I could give them away to every one of you I don't have the resources (ie. the cash) to do that so if you would like today's "presents" be sure to follow the rules so you can be entered for a chance to win! Today's g iveaway is this cool 3D Pittsburgh Steelers bookmark. These are so neat and a must for any reader and football fan. I only give these away to special people and since you, my loyal followers, are special people I thought I'd give one of you the chance to win. And really, what good is a bookmark without a book to put it in? Thanks to the folks at New Leaf Publishing I have a brand new (but slightly scuffed) copy of Julie Cave's Christian suspense novel, Deadly Disclosures for you to slip your bookmark in! One lucky winner will be chosen at random from all eligible comments and will receive BOTH the bookmark a

A Hope Undaunted (Winds of Change, Book 1) by Julie Lessman Copyright 2010 Revell Publishers 512 pages ISBN: 978-0-8007-3415-2 Historical Fiction From the publisher : What happens when the boy she loved to hate becomes the man she hates to love? The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman--smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband--good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and eating out of her hand. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Luke McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face-to-face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever? My Review: Where there are sisters there's bound to be trouble especially when those sisters go by the last name of O'Connor. Once again Julie Lessman delivers

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson Copyright 2010 Zondervan 272 pages ISBN: 978-0310721437 Historical fiction/romance/teen fiction From the publisher : Two Hearts. One Hope. Rose has been appointed as a healer’s apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter’s daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her—a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill. When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she’s never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose’s life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny. My Review: I am a huge fa

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book! You never know when I might play a wild card on you! Today's Wild Card author is: T. L. Higley and the book: Petra: City in Stone B&H Books (September 15, 2010) ***Special thanks to T.L. Higley for sending me a review copy.*** ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tracy started her first novel at the age of eight and has been hooked on writing ever since. After attending Philadelphia Biblical University, she earned a B.A. in English Literature at Rowan University. She then spent ten years writing drama presentations for church min