Title: Valentina Goldman’s Immaculate Confusion
Author: Marisol Murano
Publisher: Hipso Media
Released: August 1, 2012

Since she arrived in the United States from Venezuela, Valentina Goldman isn’t exactly living the American Dream. In fact, she’s living the American Nightmare!

Her late husband, Max, has left her as a young widow with a step-daughter she didn’t want, and a bi-polar ex-wife. And oh, having given up her dream job in New York, Valentina is also stuck and unemployed in Arizona.

Part “Bridget Jones Diary,” part “Modern Family,” “Valentina Goldman’s Immaculate Confusion” is the story of a woman trying to get a handle on her crazy life in America. In breathless, blog-like snippets, Valentina compares her  story with that of her eccentric sister, Azucena, who is having bizarre troubles of her own down in the tropics.

“Valentina Goldman’s Immaculate Confusion” is a funny and touching story about what happens when a passionate South American woman moves to the USA, and, like so many of us, ends up with a life she never imagined.

About Author Marisol Murano

    When she was 18, Marisol Murano moved to the United States to attend school so that afterwards she could return to her native Venezuela, get married and have kids. None of this happened. Instead, she ended up getting a Master’s degree which eventually landed her a boring job in an exciting city: New York.

    After a few years of the corporate rat race, Marisol woke up one day to discover, “Even if you win the race, you’re still a rat.” That was the end of her banking career and the birth of her first novel: The Lady, The Chef, and The Courtesan.

    Marisol was the first to be surprised when her first novel was  Latino Book of the Year, Original Voices from Border’s and was also picked as a BookSense selection. She was further surprised when it was then translated into several languages.

    A second career detour led her to become a chef and also the author of a cookbook, Deliciously Doable Small Plates from Around the World. Between novels, Chef Marisol now travels the world conducting culinary demonstrations about exotic cuisine. In fact, Valentina Goldman’s Immaculate Confusion was born at sea in a split-second of confusion when during a culinary demonstration a woman raised her hand to ask: “Did you always know you wanted to be a chef?”

Life is stranger than fiction, indeed.

You can purchase Valentina Goldman’s Immaculate Confusion at different locations here!

Book Blast Giveaway:
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash from Hipso Media
Ends 10/25/12

Just enter the Rafflecopter below!
Best of luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent’s permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Photocredit: Cindy Hickman @lifeonprint

It’s Time for Good Manners!

  Part story book, part practice book, all parts fun! Children  learn about good manners — and how to tell time — with this colorful, engaging book. They spend the day with Torie, Tad, Tessa and Tyler and discover how it’s time for good manners all day long. And then they’ll get the chance to practice telling time — all while enjoying the cute clock designs, and without realizing they’re learning!

The Kids’ (and Parents) Book of Good Sportsmanship

    Do you have little athletes in your family? This colorful, engaging book is the perfect way to help them understand what it means – and how important it is – to be a Good Sport. Soccer? Dancing? Swimming? Whatever sport, they’ll learn easy, basic sports manners by reading familiar situations featuring kids just like them. Parents, you’ll also find handy reminders for you with each tip, so the entire family can learn to be Good Sports together.

Leslie A. Susskind lives with her husband, daughters and two cats outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she writes children’s books while working in marketing and also trying to keep up with everyone’s activities.

She is a huge bookworm and loves to read just about anything she can get her hands on. She also loves to watch home improvement TV shows (while trying to convince her husband to do the projects), to sing in choirs, and to watch movies (especially anything Jane Austin related). Sometimes she can even be found cooking without a microwave!

Leslie is the author of several manners-themed books, including “The Kids’ (and parents’, too!) Book of Good Sportsmanship,” and “It’s Time for Good Manners!” She is also the author the of the middle grade fantasy series, The Zephram Tales, which include “The Month of Zephram Mondays” and “The Tale of Time Warp Tuesday.”

Leslie’s Website

1 lucky winner will receive a $100 Amazon Gift Card compliments of author Leslie Susskind.
Ends 10/23/12

rel=”nofollow”>a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent’s permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

Here’s a winning party-planning tip: Use GradSave as a smart alternative to birthday gifting. Just create a College Savings Registry for your child at GradSave then include the link on your party invitations, Facebook, etc. Once you reach $1,000 in College Savings Gifts, as many other parents have, we will pay $100 towards the cost of the birthday party!

Everybody wins. You kickstart your College Savings, No more unneeded gifts, your child gets College savings and finally, you get $100 to help pay for the birthday party.

Learn about the Birthday Challenge here!

The LG Smart Magic Bigscreen Event is hosted by Mom Powered Media.

 Prize: LG 42″ Smart 1080p Edge-Lit LED HDTV with Wi-Fi and Magic Remote

The princess of the school, Alice, is keeping a secret that could strip her of her high school fame. She is obsessed with the school’s outcast, Keith, but not just him – his music.

Since the inspiration for the song hit, Keith can’t get it out of his mind. The song must be played; it demands to be played. He knows the music is changing him, but he is unable to stop it.

Music has the ability to move you, enlighten you, and take you to places you have never dreamed of. And this particular piece? It has a life of its own and makes you forget who you really are.

As Keith and Alice learn of one another to the notes of that one perfect tune, they can overlook their roles and discover who they could be together. But they also discover someone else is listening and intends on keeping Keith to herself, possibly for an eternity.

About the Author:

Ron C. Nieto is a fantasy and romance author who has been writing in her secluded fortress for the longest time. Recently, she had a talk with her cat and decided that she should share her creations, because it was selfish to hoard them all for herself.
If you would like to know more about her, please visit her website.

Giveaway Details:

Author Ron Nieto is providing 1 lucky winner with a $50 Amazon Gift Card
Ends 10/18/12

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out this cool giveaway from one of my favorite people, Kris at the  Laughing Vixen Lounge.

It’s time for the 2nd annual Attack of the 31 Nights of Halloween Giveaway from Laughing Vixen Lounge.

 They’ve gathered an amazing selection of creepy goods from 12 of the most spooktacular shops around. One lucky winner will walk away with a goodie bag full of loot that is sure to make for a wickedly good Halloween.

The Attack of the 31 Nights of Halloween revolves around their Halloween Movie List . Each day will have a review of that night’s movie. Follow along for an extra 25 entries! Stop by the official Giveaway Post for all the details and photos of all the prizes.

Feel free to enter via Rafflecopter!

And, as another spooktacular surprise, I will also be hosting a giveaway from Laughing Vixen closer to Halloween!

If you’d like to sign up for this free event, you can find more information right here  and sign up here.

Sign ups will close on Friday October 12th at 8pm EST.