Check out the cool blog app above! Make as many baskets as you can and unlock special clips along the way!

 One lucky reader will win a Thunderstruck combo pack! (Blu-Ray + DVD + Digital Download).

Just follow the simple Rafflecopter.

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Disclosure: I am working with Warner Bros. and they are providing the prize; however all opinions are my own.

Last month I wrote about the wonderful California Wine Club here and about how much I loved the two bottles of artisan wine that were delivered to my home.

This month, I received another shipment from the California Wine Club which was a special holiday one! Exciting!

 It had two award-winning artisan wines wrapped lovingly and festively in metallic wrap, a beautiful wine tote and a folder with a $25 coupon for future purchases. 

Inside was also Uncorked, a magazine which fully explored the wines, the vineyard, different pairings and more. What a wonderful gift for the holidays!

This month’s selections were from the wonderful Daniel Gehrs vineyards in Santa Barbara County.

The White Hills Vineyard Chenin Blanc was delicious. Plums, pears, and wildflowers lent a not too sweet but enjoyable light and fruity taste. It had a really nice crispness. It is something I’d serve with fish, salad or chicken.

The Central Coast Merlot was quite different, but also something I really enjoyed more than most Merlots. It was full-bodied and earthy with notes of black cherry as well as hints of blueberry and cranberry. Perfect for serving with steak or prime rib or sipping by the fire this holiday season.

 So, if you are looking for a reasonably priced and unique gift this year, consider a membership to the California Wine Club. You can check them out at www.cawineclub.com.

 In addition, California Wine Club has been kind enough to offer one of my readers a chance to win a $50 credit to their website with which you can purchase and sample 2 of their artisan wines. 

US only please, 21 and over. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. I received a 2 month Membership to the California Wine Club for the purpose of this review.

After Dark (Book One of the 19th Year)
By Emi Gayle

What eighteen year old Mac Thorne doesn’t know will probably kill her.

In exactly eight months, five days, three hours and thirteen minutes, Mac has to choose what she’ll be for the rest of her life.

She has no choice but to pick. As a Changeling, it’s her birthright. To Mac, it’s a birthchore. Like going to school with humans, interacting with humans, and pretending to be human during the pesky daylight hours.

Once darkness descends, Mac can change into any supernatural form that exists—which makes her as happy as she can be. That is, until Winn Thomas, the biggest geek in her senior class figures out there’s more to what hides in the dark than most are willing to acknowledge.

In this first of the 19th Year Trilogy, Winn might know more about Mac than even she does, and that knowledge could end their lives, unless Mac ensures the powers-that-be have no choice but to keep him around.

Excerpt

Endless screams. Maniacal laughter. The scent of prey.

Chills raced up my spine.

I wanted to run. To hide. To bury my head in the grave beneath me.

Instead, I balanced on top of Samuel L. Wilson, someone’s ‘beloved father and son resting in peace,’ craving solitude and stressing like a vampire on a blood fast.

Good ole ‘Sam’ decomposed underneath the largest oak in Primrose Cemetery—a spot no human would visit at night except on Halloween. A night that should have been mine.

Mine alone.

A gust of wind pushed my sketchpad to my knees, flung hair against my cheeks and sent my colored pencils tumbling. Wind, I could deal with. Humans? I’d rather not have had to. A swipe of my hand through the air brought the drawing tools back up. I yanked my hair into a tail, twisted the strands around a Cerulean blue pencil and stabbed random colors into the knot for safe keeping.

My frustration with human-kind had reached its pinnacle hours before but ratcheted even higher as someone rattled the gates, girls giggled and dares to enter the cemetery from crackly-voiced, chicken boys reached me.

I slapped my pencil to my papers, my forehead to my palm. “All I wanted was an hour of uninterrupted—”

The sharp end of something way larger than a pencil pierced my neck.

I straightened with one intake of breath, dropping the yellow, number-two from my fingertips. My hand reached toward the uninvited object as I seethed between clenched teeth.

“Hello, Mackenzie.” His deep bass resonated with the confidence of his kind: the not-human variety.

“You’ve got to be kidding.” Whatever the tool, it pressed deeper into my flesh, and I itched to free myself from its penetrating hold.

“And once again, I have won the game before it began.”

“Only because you came up behind me.” A small orb of sunlight formed in the palm of my hand as I kept my neck as still as possible. With one toss, it zipped into the air above my head.

A pierced squeal emanated from behind me, and the point slid away.

Holy hell, that hurt! I jumped to the ground, somersaulted between Matilda Jane, Johann Rowe and the plastic flowers that lay between them. With another roll, James Peak’s extra large headstone concealed my entire form.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are.” The crunch of branches under footsteps gave his position away.

With a deep inhale, my body began its shift into a new form. My incisors elongated. Heart stopped. Eyes burned. On the exhale, strength, cunning and innate wit filled me, matching that of my attacker.

I stood with James as a shield. “Bring it on, old man.”

Book Trailer

Author Emi Gayle

Emi Gayle just wants to be young again. She lives vicariously through her youthful characters, while simultaneously acting as chief-Mom to her teenaged son and searching for a way to keep her two daughters from ever reaching the dreaded teen years.

Ironically, those years were some of Emi’s favorite times. She met the man of her dreams at 14, was engaged to him at 19, married him at 20 and she’s still in love with him to this day. She’ll never forget what it was like to fall in love at such a young age — emotions she wants everyone to feel.

Giveaway Details
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/13/12
*You need not enter your twitter name for each entry. Simply enter it for the first person you follow and leave the others blank.

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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.

Surrender by Rhiannon Paille

How far would you go to save everything you ever loved?

Kaliel was warned about her love for the Ferryman. One day he will marry the land and leave Avristar forever. She doesn’t listen, and because of what she is– a Flame– one of nine apocalyptic weapons, she sparks a war. In a desperate attempt to save her home and her love, Kaliel tries to awaken Avred, not knowing she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Author Rhiannon Paille:

Rhi was never a normal girl. Her life was an urban fantasy wrapped in a paranormal romance and served with a side of horror. To escape her everyday weirdness she began writing fantasy. She studied at U of Sedona and MIMT, obtaining a PhD in Metaphysical Science and Parapsychology. She’s married to a chef/comic book shop owner and has a fondness for architecture.

Book Blast Giveaway:
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/12/12

Winner:

Very Merry Box

With the holidays approaching, I’ve been trying to think of great gifts for family and friends, teachers and colleagues. A good place to check out is definitely Gift Baskets Plus. They have a huge selection of gift baskets to fit everyone in your life and at every price range.

I feel it’s really thoughtful when you tailor a gift basket to fit the person. I know those are some of my favorite presents!

So, does the person you know love Sports – There’s a basket for that. Do they love Ghirardelli or Godiva? Tea or coffee? Wine and cheese and gourmet foods, fruit or sweets? There’s a basket to fit everyone’s tastes.

I’m a big fan of the Sparkling Holiday basket

This beautifully packaged collection of savory snacks, fine wines, and sweet treats conveys style and taste. 

It Includes:

3 bottles of California wine:
(A chardonnay, a merlot and a cabernet sauvignon)
Cheese
Crackers
Almond Roca
Ghirardelli chocolate bar
Napa Valley mini mustard
Sonoma cheese straws
Sourdough snacks
Cashew crunch
Chocolate wafer rolls

Yum!

This Christmas Ales Basket would please even my picky brother-in-law!

Includes:

Christmas Ales
Cashew crunch
Smoked almonds
Chips
Butter toffee pretzels

Gift Baskets Plus has gourmet baskets, fruit baskets, romantic baskets, kosher baskets, movie baskets, candle baskets, spa baskets, sports baskets, baby baskets, organic gift baskets – honestly, just about anything you could ask for.

I love that I can tailor each basket to someone based on their interests rather than just sending the same to each one.

Of course, if you want a general basket, there are lots of those too!

No wonder their tagline is “happiness in a box”. So send or unwrap one today.  And use the coupon code 15OFF to get a 15% off holiday discount!

With the holiday season upon us, many of us will be taking Road Trips to visit family and friends. I can remember many classic road trips whether with family to visit grandparents or college road trips with my best buds to various music festivals. Ah, good times!

Some tips to make road trips more enjoyable:

Always have good tunes! Bring your most loved cds or burn your own with your favorites. It makes the time fly as you sing along. Or buy that cd you always wanted to before you go!

Whether you are traveling with kids or without, always bring snacks. Very important! People are going to get hungry and it won’t always be convenient to stop or even possible, so make sure you have plenty to munch on. Trail mix is great as well as dried fruit, and if you have salty snacks, always have water or something to drink on hand as well. Water will also prevent dehydration. It’s great to bring along a cooler.

Which leads me to… Plan your trip ahead so that there are rest stops and you’re not just lost on some stretch of road.

If you have kids, think about bringing car games or making a list of ones like finding things outside the window in alphabetical order or Twenty Questions, I Spy or tell a story where everyone takes part. You can leave off just as it’s getting interesting so the next person has to come up with something exciting.

If you have a dvd player, bring some favorite movies or tv series for those in the back seat.

Bring pillows and blankets so everyone can stay comfy.

Make sure you have maps or a good GPS and that cell phones are charged.

And, above all else, have fun!

Make this a road trip where the journey is just as enjoyable as the destination!



Happy Holidays! 

Do you have any fond roadtrip memories? Any tips to make roadtripping more enjoyable? 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored campaign with Social Chorus as part of the Kia Social Club. Regardless, all opinions are 100% my own.

Poseidon and the Sea of Fury 

A young Poseidon must triumph over aquatic terrors in this Heroes in Training adventure. The merciless Cronus and his Titan buddies are in hot pursuit of Zeus, Hera, and Poseidon, who plan to travel across the treacherous boiling sea in order to save a fellow Olympian. They have a boat, but they also have a problem: Poseidon can’t swim and is terrified of the water (well, really of the creatures that lurk in its depths). The group faces danger after danger as they battle singing sirens, a fishy and ferocious Titan named Oceanus, and people-eating monsters sent by Cronus himself. Can Poseidon overcome his fears and help his fellow heroes escape Cronus and his cronies?

Heroes in Training by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams
Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams deliver fun, adventures, and a few surprises as ten-year-old Olympians go on a journey of a lifetime to discover their true identities and defeat their Titan enemies.

Praise for Heroes in Training
“Readers will gobble this down and look for more, make no mythtake.”
~ Kirkus

“This is a fun read, casting Zeus in the role of relatable kid, and there is a nice balance between his primary goal of survival and his sense of destiny and adventure. . . Share this title, and likely more to come, with those still too young for Percy Jackson’s adventures.”
~ School Library Journal

The Series

#1 Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom
#2 Poseidon and the Sea of Fury
#3 Hades and the Helm of Darkness
#4 Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire

Aladdin Paperbacks (ages 6-9)
http://series.simonandschuster.com/Heroes-in-training

Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom (Book 1)

After pulling a magical thunderbolt from a stone, ten-year-old Zeus goes on the adventure of a lifetime in this thrilling start to a brand-new series! The terrible Titans–merciless giants who enjoy snacking on humans–have dominated the earth and put the world into chaos. But their rule is about to be put to the test as a group of young Olympians discover their powers and prepare to righteously rule the universe….
   
     Ten-year-old Zeus is mystified (and super-annoyed) by the fact that he keeps getting hit by lightening. Every. Single. Year. He also longs for adventure, as he has never been far from the cave where he grew up.

     Zeus gets his wish–and a lot more than he bargained for–when he is kidnapped by dangerous, giant Titans! In self-defense, he grabs the first thing he sees–an actual thunderbolt he pulls from a stone that is covered in mysterious markings. Zeus is the only one who can decipher the markings, and sets off on a quest to rescue his youthful fellow Olympians from the evil Cronus. Armed with his trusty thunderbolt (named Bolt, of course), Zeus is on an adventure of a lifetime–and a journey to fulfill his destiny as King of the Gods.

Hades and the Helm of Darkness (Book 3 coming April 2013)

The Heroes in Training are entering the Underworld—if Hades can conquer his canine fears, that is.

The Underworld usually isn’t really meant to be a fun place—but tell that to Hades! He loves the dark and the stinky smell of sulfur. However, there is one thing that Hades is not a fan of: dogs. And when Zeus and his fellow Olympians encounter Cerberus—a snarling, three-headed dog—Hades must conquer his fears and tame the hound so everyone can continue into the Underworld and deposit their Titan prisoner, Oceanus, back where he belongs!

But with magical water that causes forgetfulness, hot beds of lava, and another epic battle with two more Titans standing in their way, will Zeus and his heroes make it out of the Underworld with everyone intact?

Author Suzanne Williams

Suzanne Williams is the award-winning author of nearly 40 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives near Seattle. Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children’s choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. She is co-author (with Joan Holub) of the popular Goddess Girls series(for ages 8 – 12) and Heroes in Training (ages 6 – 11). Other series include Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power.

Author Joan Holub

I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children’s books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job.

I illustrated my first published children’s book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts — Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee!

Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children’s books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.

Book Blast Giveaway
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/9/12

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Lately, I’ve been watching re-runs of Friends! I had forgotten how much fun that show is. The writing, acting, emotion and humor – all top notch! It’s so much fun to sit back and enjoy from Season One and see how the characters and relationships developed and changed. And, now, Warner Bros. Pictures has made that easy with their November 13 release of Friends: The Complete Series Blue-Ray Box Set!

What an awesome gift for the Holiday Season!

Also, check out the 30 Days of Friends: Trivia Challenge Blog App and Video Player here.

Relive all your favorite Friends moments in these fun mash-up clips and come back to see new ones unlocked weekly.

As part of the celebration, one of my readers will win Friends: The Complete Series Blu-ray Box Set (a $279.99 value)

Just enter via Rafflecopter below!  Best of luck and “I’ll be there for you…” !

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Disclosure: This giveaway is made possible by Warner Bros. however all thoughts, opinions are my own.

Crossroads by Mary Ting:

Claudia Emerson has a good friend who shares the same first name and last name. That friend unfortunately dies in a tragic accident during homecoming dance. Claudia is distraught at the loss of her friend, but is even more disturbed by her dreams, which seem to take her to another place called Crossroads. Unknown to her, Crossroads is like a second heaven, a place between heaven and earth. It is where the souls of humans in comas or near death experiences may wander.

There, Claudia meets Michael, a nephilim, a half angel, half human, whom she often meets in her dreams. It turns out that this isn’t her first visit to Crossroads, which is an enigma for no human can ever travel there until Claudia. Now the fallen and demons are after her, suspecting she must be special and it is up to Michael and the other nephilims to protect her.

Can Michael fight his growing feelings for Claudia and protect her as a guardian angel should? The answer awaits you! Follow the exciting path to Crossroads!

Author Mary Ting:
Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing Crossroads was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother. It was inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl.

Book Blast Giveaway:

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/6/12
*You need not enter your twitter name for each entry. Simply enter it for the first person you follow and leave the others blank.

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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway