Tag: book giveaway

Blogo-Birthday Celebration and Giveaway!

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blogo-Birthday> Blogoversary> Giveaways

Today is the 11th anniversary of the very first post on Reading Reality, then called “Escape Reality, Read Fiction” a phrase I got off a t-shirt, a long time ago in a galaxy, as the saying goes, far, far away. Probably somewhere in the Chicagoland area, where I lived for a fairly long time.

Last year was the BIG Blogo-versary, as the 10th blogoversary seemed like kind of a milestone. It also marked Reading Reality as the longest “job” I’ve ever had. An 11th anniversary seems a bit anticlimactic in comparison.

OTOH, my birthday tomorrow IS one of the milestone birthdays. I just hope I’m not spending it at the County Courthouse on jury duty, but as I write this on Sunday “the jury” is still very much out on that particular front.

Nevertheless, this annual Blogo-Birthday Celebration Week will still be a “Hobbit Birthday” as I will be giving away presents instead of getting them. (Galen has already given me my birthday present – a new improved keyboard case for my trusty iPad. It’s exactly what I wanted!)

I give away presents this week because I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who take the time to read Reading Reality, post comments and enter the giveaways. I appreciate you more than I can possibly say. When I started this blog 11 years ago, it was during the “Great Recession”. I had just been laid off and wasn’t sure what I was going to do with myself. Looking for a job may very well BE a full time job but it’s only fulfilling in the result and not in the daily grind of it. The blog turned out to be my salvation, and has continued to be so as I turned from being a fulltime librarian to a part-time librarian to today, a semi-retired librarian and a freelance writer.

And a book reviewer and blogger. For 11 years and counting. 

So, in thanks and appreciation to all of you, on this first day of the Blogo-Birthday Celebration Week, I have not just one but two giveaways. One is for a $25 Amazon Gift Card and one is for $25 in books from either the Book Depository or, for those in the U.S. $25 in books delivered from the book store of your choice. If you have a local bookstore that’s doing mail order, I’ll have the books or a gift certificate sent to you from them. If you don’t have a local of your own, then you can choose from one of the big regional bookstores like Tattered Cover or Powell’s, national indie Bookshop.org or get your books from the Book Depository. But books you will get! 

Last but not least, if you have enjoyed the cat pictures included in my Sunday Post, please take a minute to check out my Birthday Fundraiser on Facebook for Planned PEThood of Duluth, GA. All of the cats we have ever had have been rescues, and Lucifer and George both benefited from their services before we adopted them. So we’re paying that forward a bit again this year, and I hope you’ll consider joining us.

From the bottom of my bookish heart, thanks so much to each and every one of you who has been part of this journey. There’s plenty more to come!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

There’s nothing better than your first bite into a hollow chocolate bunny’s ear – at least according to an article I found about “The Most Popular Easter Candy, Ranked Worst to Best”. And I’ll admit I’m more than inclined to agree that those hollow bunny ears are yummy – even though I acquired my lifelong preference for dark chocolate at a relatively young age. But pure chocolate is just plain hard-to-beat, and the first crunch of those hollow ears was always divine.

OTOH, plenty of people adore Peeps as a candy rather than a crafting tool. I knew someone who thought that Peeps tasted best after they’d been sitting out and desiccating for several days. To each their own, as they say. (The thought of those dried out Peeps STILL makes me cringe a bit)

What about you? What’s your favorite Easter candy? Answer in the rafflecopter for your chance at Reading Reality’s usual prize, the winner’s choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card (perfect for getting more Easter Candy!) or $10 in Books.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more sweet 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.

Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop> Giveaways

Welcome to the Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

Dolly Parton said it best, “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” There are other versions, but that’s still my favorite. Because it’s so true – and because Dolly Parton is a national treasure.

The rainbow is the reward for putting up with the storm. Every cloud has a silver lining, which means that every silver lining has a cloud, too. Into each life a little rain must fall. (Etc., etc., etc.)

There are oodles of sayings about rain and storms and clouds. My grandmother used to say, “Rain, rain go away. Come back some other day.” I always imagined the rain-heavy clouds shouting back, “I DID!”

Whether or not you love the rain, spotting a rainbow is supposed to be lucky. See if your luck is in by answering the rafflecopter for your chance at Reading Reality’s usual prize, the winner’s choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card or $10 in Books. It’s not a whole pot of gold, but it’s a lucky piece or two!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more colorful 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.

Lady Luck Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Lady Luck Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Lady Luck Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

Whether luck is a lady or not, March is the month where it seems like every event revolves around either luck or booze or a combination of the two. St. Patrick’s Day is in the middle of the month, so everything seems to have clovers plastered on it, or gets turned green like the Chicago River. Or both. Sometimes it’s both. March 17 is a day when everyone claims to be a bit Irish and entirely too many people try to paint the town not so much red as green.

And my brain just went to some seriously yucky places about how that green gets painted and let’s not go there any further.

This is the first of two giveaway hops this month with a “luck” theme. Someone is going to get lucky here at Reading Reality by winning the prize for this hop. It’s the usual, the winner’s choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card or $10 in Books. It may not be a lot of green, but it’s enough for someone to get a special treat!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more chances to get lucky, 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.

Wish Big Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Wish Big Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Wish Big Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

There are so many variations of the old saying about being careful what you wish for. Pretty much all of them have a sting in the tail, in the same way that “May you live in interesting times” is a curse and not a blessing.

Most of the versions of the quote go something along the lines of “Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.” But I found a couple of interesting ones that I hadn’t seent before, and now that I’ve read them I can’t un-see them.

Terry Pratchett had one. Of course he did. Sir Terry had so many great lines spread out over all the Discworld books. Pratchett’s variation goes, “Be careful what you wish for. You never know who will be listening,” which was certainly true in the Discworld.

And also leads to my other favorite variation, the one that goes, “All great sci-fi is: Be careful what you wish for.” Combined with another more famous quote about science fiction, that “The Golden Age of Science Fiction is twelve,” it makes for a really frightening thought!

There are no frightening wishes here, so if you wish to fill out the rafflecopter below, you might get a wish – or at least a wish for a $10 Amazon Gift Card or $10 in Books – granted.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you are wishing for more chances at more 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.

Heart 2 Heart Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Heart 2 Heart Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Heart 2 Heart Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

This isn’t exactly a Valentine’s Day hop, but it isn’t exactly not one either, as the next hop will start after the day. Which is a Monday this year. Hopefully it will make at least one Monday a bit less, well, Monday-ish. We’ll see.

I don’t know about you, but it still seems weird, odd, something, to go out to celebrate. And it’s a work night this year. We’ll do something. And put fresh flowers out on the enclosed back porch where the cats can see them but not EAT them. Which is best for everyone.

What about you? How will you mark the holiday? Or mark what still has to be one of Hallmark’s best days of the year? Fill out the rafflecopter with your ideas for a chance at the usual Reading Reality prize, the winner’s choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card or $10 in books.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more heart stopping 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.

Dashing December Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Dashing December Giveaway Hop> Dashing Giveaway Hop> Giveaways

Welcome to the Dashing December Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

Is it just me or does the month of December feel like its literally dashing by to you too?

The weather here doesn’t help that impression, as it still feels very much like autumn in the Atlanta area. To the point where a sweater is all I need to go out and run errands. Chicago is supposed to be starting a cold snap today, and it’s supposed to snow in Anchorage with a high temp of 19 – which is actually a bit of a warm spell. Both of those cities were places where it seemed like winter was going to last for-bloody-ever.

Here it seems like just the blink of an eye – especially during the holidays!

Speaking of the holidays, this is the final giveaway hop for 2021, so before it dashes away I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a safe, happy, healthy holiday season.

Happy Holidays!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more fabulous holiday 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.

Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop, hosted by The Kids Did It! &  The Mommy Island

The temperatures are getting colder, the days have gotten ridiculously short. Winter must be coming. Or, as the meme-makers have it this year:

I like the sound of “Minter” – but it’s making me think of Girl Scout Cookies. Come to think of it, once the holidays are over, it’s only a couple of months until Thin Mints miraculously appear!

But whether you prefer Pumpkin Spice everything or Peppermint in all things (along with Wintergreen and Spearmint!) the holidays are full of wonderful sights, sounds, flavors and especially family.

It’s also the midpoint of Hanukah right now – no matter which way that holiday’s name might be transliterated from Hebrew to English. Because there are so many variations, here’s a “helpful” – and hilarious alignment chart a la Dungeons and Dragons.

No matter what kind of winter you get where you live, or which holidays you celebrate, they’re coming. I hope yours are bright and happy, and that Jack Frost doesn’t nip too sharply at your nose.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Thankful for Books Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Black Friday Blog Hop> Black Friday Book Bonanza> Blog Hops> Giveaways> Thanksgiving Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Thankful for Books Giveaway Hop, hosted by yours truly, Reading Reality, and the Caffeinated Reviewer!

I hope you’re all ready for tomorrow’s Turkey Day! We’re doing something a bit different and having friends over on Black Friday instead of on Thanksgiving. It solves their problem of trying to be two places at once – which no one has really figured out a solution for yet – and doing our cooking on a day when we CAN go to the grocery store if we forgot something important.

So on the actual Turkey Day we’re having actual turkey – really just a turkey boob for two. On Friday we’re getting a Honey Baked Ham – something that would be a bear to pick up on Wednesday but should be easy-peasy on Friday. We’re also making potato pancakes and a broccoli casserole because OMG that meal will need something green in it. It’s all kind of an experiment as we’re cooking things we’ve never made before and hoping it all works out. No matter what, the ham is guaranteed to be good. And the pie. Did I mention the pie? We’re picking up a Chocolate Chess Pie, which I don’t think either of us has ever had, from a place that specializes in pies.

That’ll definitely be just fine!

What about you? What’s your favorite Thanksgiving treat? Answer in the Rafflecopter for a chance at the winner’s choice of a $15(US) gift card to either Amazon or the local bookstore of your choice, or the same amount in books, again from either Amazon, the Book Depository, or the local bookstore of your choice. In order to do this there are just a couple of restrictions. For US entrants, the bookstore you choose needs to have an easy method for me to purchase your gift certificate  or books online and get them sent to you. If you are outside the US, you need to be in a location that the Book Depository ships to (they don’t do Gift Certificates – maybe someday.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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



In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

Hopefully, we all have things to be thankful for this holiday season! In our house, we’re thankful that everybody’s healthy, we have all the things we need and just enough of the things we want to make life run more-or-less smoothly. Or at least as smoothly as four cats in the house allow it to be.

We’re also thankful this season, this actual week in fact, that the bathroom remodeling project that has been on hold for six months has finally begun. We haven’t been able to use the shower in our bathroom for that entire time so we are really looking forward to everything being finished – hopefully before Thanksgiving because we have company coming.  Which is also something we’re thankful for this year.

I am also thankful for each and every one of you who drop in on Reading Reality from time to time, and especially those who follow and comment. Thank you every one!

What about you? Is there anything special in progress or coming up that you are particularly thankful for? Answer in the rafflecopter for a chance at the usual Reading Reality prize, the winner’s choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card or $10 in books.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more great 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.