Category: Blog Hops

Back to School Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Back to School Giveaway Hop> Blog Hops> Giveaways

Welcome to the Back to School Giveaway Hop, hosted by Review Wire Media and Chatty Patty’s Place!

Just like last year, this is the second giveaway hop with a “back to school” theme. Very much unlike last year, this year that return to school will be digital-only for a lot of kids – and parents.  I imagine that every parent has learned some surprising things, both good and bad, about digital learning and just how difficult teachers’ jobs actually are. As well as trotting out an entire new vocabulary of “under their breath” curses and quite possibly some interesting drink recipes.

There’s a reason why the phrase “May you live in interesting times” is a CURSE and not a blessing. This is an adventure, in the sense that an adventure is something you wish was happening either long ago, far away, or to SOMEONE ELSE! Preferably all of the above.

Still, even though this is “Back to School” time, however that school might be conducted, we don’t ever really stop learning. And that’s a good thing!

To help you either get something to help you learn, or something to tide you over while things are still up in the air, I’m giving away my usual prize, the winner’s choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card or a book up to $10 from the Book Depository. This giveaway is open everywhere the Book Depository ships!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more terrific prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


Return to Learn Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Return to Learn Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Return to Learn Giveaway Hop, hosted by The Mommy Island, The Kids Did It and Zombie Parenting!

I have to say that I absolutely adore the cat-themed hop graphics that this group of organizers started using. They are all adorable, and remind me a LOT of our own cats. Freddie as a kitten looked a lot like this little fuzzball.

Howsomever, in this particular case I’m not sure how apropos the feline theme is. After all, we don’t train our cats, they train us! George is currently training Galen to run his and Hecate’s favorite toy by making a nuisance of himself on the kitchen table until Galen gets up and pushes the buttons to make it go. Meals have become a two-person operation as one of us has to guard the food while the other goes to start the toy. George is already on his second iteration of the toy – he broke the first one by playing with it a bit too enthusiastically.

This year’s return to learning is a special case for another reason, as schools -and parents – in the U.S. are caught on the horns of a particularly painful dilemma, whether their children should attend school in person, with all the risks of COVID19 contagion, or learn at home via distance learning, with all of the technological issue and educational pitfalls. I don’t envy them their choices. We seem to be in a time of no good answers, only questions, that has lasted far too long because too many people are unwilling to take the simple step of wearing a damn mask.

But this is a giveaway hop and not a soapbox. So, I’m giving away the winner’s choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card or a book up to $10 in value from the Book Depository to one lucky winner. This giveaway is open to anywhere that the Book Depository ships!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more fabulous prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

Seas the Day Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Seas the Day Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Seas the Day Giveaway Hop, hosted by MamatheFox!

To go with the nautical theme here, I’m not so sure whether any of us want to seize any particular day – more like seize the entire year, throw it back and get a different one. 2020 has certainly been something else – but I’m just not sure exactly what else.

Still, it’s summer, which means that it can be a great time to be out on the water – whether that’s on a sea or something just a bit smaller. When I was in my teens, my dad had a boat on the Ohio River. The two years it actually ran it were a lot of fun. The other years it gave him something to tinker with. When it sank in dry-dock, my mom wanted to go out to dinner to celebrate. And so it goes.

In this summer of quarantines, cancellations and staycations, there are plenty of days that are available for seizing by losing oneself in a good book. That’s certainly my cup of tea – or more likely my glass of iced tea this time of year.

So if that’s what you’re looking for, or if you’d like a bit of an Amazon Gift Card to let you get something else to while away a bit of the day you’re seizing, check out the rafflecopter for your chance!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more terrific prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

Feline Good Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Feline Good Giveaway Hop> Giveaways

Welcome to the Feline Good Giveaway Hop hosted by The Mommy Island, The Kids Did It and Zombie Parenting!

I love the graphic for this hop! Our George is going to look a LOT like the cat in this picture when he grows up. Although probably not quite as fluffy.

All of our cats have hashtags. Lucifer is #TheCuddliestDemon, because he is. Hecate is #LittleGoddess for the derivation of her name. Also, yes, she rules. Freddie is #TheSilverStreak for his color. Galen was having a hard time coming up with a hashtag for George. He has no nickname, not even a diminutive. He’s too serious to be “Georgie”. But his serious and always concerned little face finally gave us a clue. Meet #SeriousGeorge.

All our cats are feeling good about their names. As is usual with cats, they don’t REALLY care what we call them as long as we call them for dinner! And breakfast! And especially cuddles!

As much as we love all of our cats, including the ones who have gone to the Rainbow Bridge, George seems to be just the clown we need to provide a add much needed laughter to these very strange days. His serious little face is definitely a source of joy.

What about you? Do you have pets? Are they a help in these trying times? Answer in the rafflecopter for a chance at your choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card or a $10 Book from the Book Depository. This giveaway is open to anywhere that the Book Depository ships.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more terrific prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

Star Spangled Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Star Spangled Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Star Spangled Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

Today is star spangled indeed, as it’s Canada Day! So Happy Canada Day to everyone in Canada, and Happy Fourth of July to everyone in the U.S. this weekend. Which is even better for being a 3-day weekend this year. And next year too, so plan ahead!

So this hop celebrates patriot holidays for two countries, even if one of them – Canada – doesn’t actually have a star on its current flag. Although it has in the past.

But these are both patriotic holidays celebrating the birth/consolidation of separate parts into a semi- or somewhat unified whole. Sometimes like a family complete with table-pounding and shouting at family reunions. And the occasional insults hurled either across the table – or to the picnic table next door, meaning in this analogy, each other.

I remember fireworks where I grew up, the tiny suburb of Golf Manor in Cincinnati. It looks like they still do fireworks, just not this year. That’s probably true a lot of places this year.

But it’s still a time to celebrate – wherever you are. And in celebration of this bloghop I’m giving away the winner’s choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card or a book, up to $10 in value, from the Book Depository. This giveaway is open, not just in the US and Canada as they are celebrating this month, but everywhere that the Book Depository ships.

So have a happy Canada Day, or Independence Day, or whatever and whenever your country celebrates its birth!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more star spangled celebrations, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

Gift Card Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Gift Card Giveaway Hop> Giveaways

Welcome to the Gift Card Giveaway Hop, hosted by Review Wire Media and Chatty Patty’s Place!

The theme for this not-officially-summer-yet blog hop is Gift Cards. But that was probably pretty obvious from the name.

Gift cards are always fun to get – and easy to give, too! So I’ll be giving the lucky winner a $10 Gift Card. My default giveaway is an Amazon Gift Card, but if there’s someplace you really, really want, let me know in the rafflecopter and I’ll see what I can do. (I like to make my bloghops open to everyone, so there is an option for the winner to receive a book from the Book Depository. They don’t do gift cards, but they do ship very nearly everywhere. So everybody is covered!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more fun gift card possibilities, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


Daddy Shark Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Daddy Shark Giveaway Hop> Giveaways

Welcome to the Daddy Shark Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

I have a feeling there’s a pun somewhere having to do with Dads and Sharks, but it really doesn’t matter. This hop, beginning just before Father’s Day, is clearly in celebration of Dads everywhere. And it seemed fitting to participate in this hop after participating in the Mother May I Giveaway Hop also organized by Mama the Fox last month, for, of course, Mother’s Day.

But this is for Father’s Day, a day to celebrate all the Dads out there, whether their children have two feet or four, or skin or fur or fangs or feathers. And all the adopted and step and honorary and every other kind.

The dads in your life probably aren’t sharks, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t scoop up something for them in this giveaway hop! I’m giving away the winner’s choice of either a $10 Amazon Gift Card or $10 in books from the Book Depository to one lucky winner on this hop. Whether the winner chooses to do something sensible or get themselves something for them or their dad to play with is entirely up to them!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more terrific prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

June of Books Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Of Books Giveaway Hop

 

Welcome to the June Of Books Giveaway Hop, hosted by It Starts at Midnight and Flylef!

I haven’t participated in one of these for a while, but the question this month is the same question it’s been in every “Of Books” hop. What book or books are you most looking forward to this month?

I’m always looking forward to multiple books. Sometimes to multiple, multiple books, and this month is no exception. Here’s the tippy-top of my list for June 2020

Alpha Night by Nalini Singh
Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison
Ghostrider by M.L. Buchman
Hell Squad: Tane by Anna Hackett
Riviera Gold by Laurie R. King
A Royal Affair by Allison Montclair

What about you? What books are you most looking forward to this month? Answer in the rafflecopter for your choice of either a $10 Amazon Gift Card or a $10 Book from the Book Depository.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Movie Night Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Movie Night Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Movie Night Giveaway Hop, hosted by Review Wire Media and Chatty Patty’s Place!

It’s Friday! Once upon a time – back in February – this would probably be “movie night” or at least “date night” for a lot of people. And there were plenty of movies that we were all looking forward to this summer.

There still are movies to look forward to, just not the same one. After all, the film of the original cast production of Hamilton is going to be on Disney+ just in time for the July 4th weekend. So movie night is still possible, it’s just changed. Instead of an evening at a theater, now it’s at home in comfy clothes – or even jammies! And you have to make your own popcorn.

I highly recommend Brown Butter for that popcorn. It’s even yummier than the regular kind and really easy to make.

While I enjoy movies, I’m also very, very fond of the quote below.

For example, Dune. Please don’t judge that book by ANY of the various adaptations, or even the one currently in production (although the cast looks awesome!). The book is still awesome. The movies, at least so far, not so much. Very occasionally the movie is actually better, The Princess Bride for example. Then again, The Princess Bride is perfect.

So, for this hop in celebration of movie night, however you celebrate it, the giveaway will be a bit different from my usual. The winner will receive their choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card (you can get movies from, or on Amazon), a $10 Fandango Gift Card (because movies) or $10 in Books, which could, but don’t have to be, the basis of movies. Now it’s up to YOU!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more fantastically cinematic prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


Life’s a Beach Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Life's a Beach Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the fifth annual Life’s a Beach Giveaway Hop, hosted by The Kids Did It and The Mommy Island.

Life may BE a beach, but whether one can or, more importantly, SHOULD go to the beach in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic is an entirely different question.

I’m not going to the beach, but then again, I’m not much of a “lie out on the beach and read” kind of person. I’m more of an “on the porch with a cat in my lap and a cup of tea” kind of person. And I’ll probably do more of that. Especially as we recently got a kitten who will grow up to look a lot like the cat in the hop image above. Without the sunglasses.

We are missing two trips this summer that might have included beaches. Well, there are beaches on Lake Michigan in Chicago, but I always did like them better as a place to observe the July 4th Fireworks than to sit on to get a tan. The beaches in Wellington NZ look gorgeous, but it might not have been warm enough when we were planning to be there in August. Of course, both trips have been cancelled. C’est la vie.

But I can still dream of sunny beaches, and so can you. What beach were you planning to be on this summer – or what other summer event or activity are you missing this year? Answer in the rafflecopter for your chance to win your choice of either a $10 Amazon Gift Card or $10 in books from the Book Depository.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more beachy prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!