It's that 'Back to School' Time of Year... Here's a Way for us 'Older' Kids to Experience the Thrill...

Books to Help you Remember what you may have Forgotten

It's that time of year again... Here in Connecticut it's crisp fall mornings, the leaves will begin to change and you'll be driving to work in the morning... behind a school bus! But don't you just love this time of year! For me it brings to mind fond memories of the beginning of the school year!

While the students are cracking open those text books, there are 3 fun books for us to crack open in celebration of the season! Books that will have you say, "Hey, I remember that!"

I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School by Caroline Taggart

"Witty, engaging, and fun, this little book will appeal to the student in each of us. A one-of-a-kind collection of hundreds of facts learned long ago, such as:

*Our Changing World: Test your knowledge of the latest geography.

*Prose and Poetry: From Shakespeare to diphthongs, English class will come alive again here.

*Math and Science: Quotients, phalanges, and protons . . . do these long-forgotten words take you back to high school days?

*History: As Santayana once said so well: "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

With small snippets of information, this book is entertaining & fun. You can turn a page to any part of the book and find something interesting. Of course there is a great section on Literature, and a interesting entry... Zora Neale Hurston, a much forgotten but important African-American woman writer, who wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God. Alice Walker helped bring attention back to Zora Neale Hurston by promoting her writing.

Another book of snippets of helpful & fun information, My Grammar and I... Or Should That Be Me? : How to Speak and Write it Right by Caroline Taggart and J.A.Wines. "Sharpen your language skills and navigate your way around grammatical minefields with this entertaining and practical guide. For anyone who has ever been stumped by dangling modifiers and split infinitives, or for those who have no idea what these things even are, My Grammar and I...Or Should That Be Me? offers practical and humorous guidance on how to avoid falling into language pitfalls."

*Sentence Structure: Let's ponder the subject or object: Is it "I" or is it "me"?

*Parts of Speech: Is it "whose" or "who's"? "Which" or "that"?

*Punctuation: So where does that comma go, anyway?

*Spelling and Confusables: There are times when the spelling "rules" confuse.

*Elements of Style: You'll find there's lots more to know about grammar.

(. . . and for the grammar know-it-all, there are entertaining "Smart Aleck" tidbits throughout.)

And finally the book filled with all those memory tricks, I, Before E (Except after C): Old-School ways to Remember Stuff by Judy Parkinson.

*"Thirty days hath September . . . " To figure out a calendar?

*"Every Good Boy Does Fine" to remember the notes on the treble clef?

These ingenious, practical memory techniques abound in I Before E (Except After C) with its hundreds of curious sayings arranged in easy-to-find categories that include:

Geographically Speaking, Time and the Calendar, Think of a Number, & The Sky at Night and by Day.

All three books are hardcover, about the size of a trade paperback and are designed for gift giving with a nice bookplate ready for personalization. They are available individually from your local bookstore now! They all cover a variety of subjects that you can revisit just by picking up one of them and glancing thru. They are bite size pieces of up-to-date info, not written like an encyclopedia but more like a book of trivia! A fun journey for those of us that have been out of school for a little while! These books will amuse you and maybe even shake the memory tree a bit! Take this mini quiz and see how you do...

In Einstein's Theories of Relativity, E = MC2 what does C stand for again?

C is the velocity of light

What are the seven wonders of the world?

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, The Lighthouse of Alexandria, The Colossus of Rhodes, The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, The Status of Zeus at Olympia, The Great Pyramid of Giza (of the seven, only the Great Pyramid is still in existence)

What is onomatopoeia?

A word or phrase that sounds (a bit) like the sounds it is meant to convey: buzz, purr, or Tennyson's the murmuring of innumerable bees.

What was the war of 1812? War between the U.S. and Britain, actually lasted nearly three years, from 1812 to 1815. Britain was already at war with France (under Napoleon) and the U.S. sided with the French. American ships, trying to break a blockade that would prevent supplies from reaching France, were being seized by the British, who then coerced American seamen into the Royal Navy. On top of that, the U.S. was disputing British control of territories in Canada; New England's support for Britain complicated the issue further. This war -- the last time the U.S. and Britain fought on opposing sides -- ended in stalemate when the British defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo and subsequently lifted their blockade.

I want to thank Caitlin of FSB Associates for sharing these books with me! I thoroughly enjoyed them! Thank you!

I'm glad I could share these with you all! Now share something with me! What memory shortcuts do you remember from school? Or any fun trivia!?

Happy Reading... Suzanne

Allyson Roy Virtual Book Tour for Babydoll AND Giveaway!

Allyson Roy Virtual Book Tour for Babydoll

**And NOW a Giveaway!

And the winner is.... Elaine! Congrats Elaine! She has won a signed copy of Babydoll! And a Big Thank You to EVERYone who joined in on the fun!

Please join me in welcoming the "authors" Allyson Roy, to Chick with Books! Allyson Roy translates into Alice & Roy, husband and wife collaborating authors.

Roy, a graduate of the University Of The Arts in Philadelphia, has a background in theater, art and standup comedy. Alice, dancer/choreographer/teacher, double majored in dance and philosophy at the State University of New York. They spent many gypsy years living and working in the different neighborhoods of New York City and Philadelphia. Aside from being marriage and writing partners, they are also best friends, which is reflected in the heartfelt, go-the-distance friendship of their two main characters. And those two main characters are friends Benita Morales and Saylor Oz. The newest chapter in their friendship is Babydoll by Allyson Roy and is a bundle of fun....

About the Book... Combining wacky humor with gritty, urban suspense and a dash of romance, BABYDOLL is the second book in the Madcap Noir Saylor Oz mystery series set in Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood. Three dead fashion models. A womanizing agent on the hunt for virgin talent. A daredevil boxer turned high-rise window washer. A burned out porn actress with a grudge. A pretty boy Irish illegal who’s good with a knife. A world famous lawyer with a bad case of self-importance. It would all be just another tabloid headline to Saylor Oz — except the young Nuyorican artist wrongly convicted of the killings is the brother of Benita Morales, her best friend. Height-challenged, warmhearted oddball, Saylor Oz, is convinced someone is reenacting murders from an old, X-rated movie called Bad, Bad Babydoll. But no one else thinks so, not even the sexy PI on the case. In her hunt to find the killer, Saylor ends up being part of a young genius designer’s zany plan to tweak the fashion world — and becomes the killer’s next target.

What Did I Think? I loved Saylor and the book! Saylor is a feisty fun character! How could you not like her- she's a sex therapist who trips over her own words and get's into the most interesting predicaments! And the story was so much fun! Alice & Roy refer to Babydoll as 'Madcap Noir, where crime, comedy and romance meet' and it certainly does! From the opening scene where Saylor tries to have the hunk of a PI watch a porn movie with her strickly for proving her point that it's a clue to the recent murders of 3 top models to her best friend Benita's pet mynah bird, Uncle Petey, reciting some key phrases from that movie, Babydoll is entertaining. The romance is hot, the writing is great and the story is a lot of fun! We really get an "education" along with the great storyline because even though Saylor is on the move to solve these murders to free her friend Benita's accused brother from jail, she just can't shake her day job as a sex therapist which tends to pop up in whatever she's doing! Think of Saylor as Stephanie Plum with added "heat"! This is the second book in the Saylor Oz mysteries. The first was Aphrodisiac, and I look forward to reading that and future books in this series!

Now onto our guests.... Alice and Roy!

When readers find out Allyson Roy translates into a husband and wife team named Alice and Roy they always ask us how we manage to blend two separate personalities into one voice -- and do it without killing each other. But the truth is, we’re all about blending opposites. In our Saylor Oz series we crossbreed suspense with wacky comedy, and we mix urban crime with fun, sexy girl stuff. While our two main characters are strong, confident professional women, they’re also insecure, vulnerable screw-ups who get themselves in over their heads. And, like the two of us, they bicker, banter and blame, but when it comes down to the real stuff they are deeply loyal and willing to put their lives on the line for each other.

In our writing process our opposite strengths and shortcomings fit together nicely. While Alice dreads facing the blank page, Roy is eager to step into it. Roy is inventive and impulsive by nature, so he gets down first draft ideas. Alice has a much longer attention span and an eye for detail and structure, so she moves in next. We’ve dubbed this system: the Marines and the Village Maker. In the final stages we work together and never consider a scene finished until we both approve it. And, yes, we do have areas where one of us dominates. Alice usually writes thex scenes, while Roy handles much of the comic dialogue.

Meanwhile, here’s a short quiz to see if you could write a book with your significant other. Are you ready?

You have a deadline, and the two of you have been working for hours in your home office. You encounter the following situations . . .

1. You’ve motored through all the snacks in the house and there’s only one piece of chocolate left. You say:

a. Go ahead, sweetie. Enjoy.

b. What say we split it?

c. Yo! That’s got my name on it. Touch it and I’ll break your fingers.

2. You’ve been focused on the same difficult scene for so long, Partner A keeps drifting into idle chatter about diverse subjects. You say:

a. You have such a fascinating array of knowledge. It’s one reason I love being around you.

b. Interesting info, honey. How about we save it for break.

c. Back on task, Bonzo. Like I give a rat’s buttocks about your new electronic golf ball retriever.

3. For obvious reasons, writers run the risk of becoming sedentary creatures. So when it’s time to work out, you say:

a. Gee, I love training side by side with you. Couples who sweat together, stick together.

b. Guess we better hit the gym.

c. Tennis time, Fatty. Twenty bucks says I can whip your sorry butt.

4. The section you’ve been working on all week has to be totally revised. You say:

a. Not a problem. We can do it, thanks to our being able to work so efficiently in a state of complete and unspoiled harmonious unity.

b. So we goofed. We’ll hit it out of the park next time at bat.

c. Don’t look at me, Slobbo. That dumbass part was your bogus idea.

Time’s Up! Correct answers found on page 321. Printed in reverse! Use a mirror.

Thanks, Suzanne, for having us as your guests today.

And thank you Alice and Roy for letting us in on how you two work so well together! And creating a fun quiz for us to see if we could work with our significant others!

Like to learn more about Allyson Roy? Visit their website HERE! Like to read an excerpt from Babydoll? Here's a LINK! You'll also find all sorts of fun information at their website HERE. Both Babydoll & Aphrodisiac are now available from your favorite bookstore!

**Guess what?! Allyson Roy, (aka Alice & Roy), decided to treat the readers of Chick with Books with a special giveaway for a signed copy of Babydoll! Thanks Allyson Roy! We love giveaway's here and appreciate the special treatment!

To Enter this Giveaway...

*For one entry leave me a comment with your email address!

*Get an extra entry for following my blog! Just leave a comment letting me know you're a follower! ( Not a follower yet? No problem, sign up by clicking on the 'followers" button! Just let me know you became a new follower!)

*For another entry Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents! (No P.O. Boxes, please) Contest ends 11:59 pm EST on Sept. 26th. I'll randomly pick the winner the next day and email that person. Please check your email... winner must reply to me within 3 days... Good luck everyone!

The Allyson Roy Virtual Book Tour is organized by Trish of TLC Book Tours! Here are the other stops on the tour:

Tuesday, August 18th: The Eclectic Book Lover

Wednesday, August 19th: Jenn’s Bookshelf

Tuesday, August 25th: Jen’s Book Thoughts

Wednesday, August 26th: Cheryl’s Book Nook

Thursday, August 27th: Reading With Monie

Monday, August 31st: Books on the Brain (guest post)

Thursday, September 3rd: Stephanie’s Confessions of a Book-a-holic

Tuesday, September 8th: GalleySmith

Wednesday, September 9th: Bookgasm

Thursday, September 10th: I’m Booking It

** P.S. Babydoll is Kindle Ready! So is Aphrodisiac!

The Sunday Salon... "Books with Buzz" and a peek at a new eReader!

What is the Sunday Salon? Imagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them, and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake.

Summer finally came in Connecticut and by the end of the week the rain came back! But rainy days just give us an excuse to stay inside and crack open a book- without too much guilt...

This week I finished a "spicy" read by Allyson Roy called Babydoll. This wednesday, the husband & wife team of Alice and Roy, who make up the author "team" Allyson Roy, will visit Chick with Books and talk a little about their working relationship. I'll have a review of Babydoll, which they call Madcap Noir, where crime, comedy and romance meet- and such a fun read! Think of it as a Stephanie Plum novel with a bit more "heat"- you see Saylor Oz, our "detective", is a sex therapist who handles the occasional murder... this is the second novel starring Saylor Oz and I'm sure there will be more in this series. Then we can take the fun little quiz Alice & Roy wrote up especially for us here! Wednesday will be a fun guest post to promote the recent release of Babydoll and is part of their virtual book tour!

Gregory Maguire is well known for his adult books, Wicked, Confessions of an Ugly Step Sister and A Lion Among Men, where he re-imagines the stories of well known fictional characters. But he is also a children's author. And recently he published a YA book, Missing Sisters, which I picked up for my Kindle this week. The story of a young 12-year old girl living in an orphanage, not being adopted because of hearing and speech problems, but with a lot of spunk touched me... "Set in 1968, Alice, a 12-year-old beset by hearing and speech impediments, lives in an orphanage run by nuns in upstate New York. After Sister Vincent de Paul, Alice's closest friend and supporter, is severely injured in a fire, no one explains to Alice that the sister has been sent for a long stay in a nursing home. Alice, worrying that Sister Vincent has died, makes a pact with God: until she knows that Sister Vincent will recover, she won't even consider an offer of adoption that has been extended to her--her first. A girl Alice despises gets her place, but Alice has a drama of her own, inadvertently learning that she may have a twin sister. With a mixture of cunning and courage, Alice finds her." I haven't seen too much publicity for this book, but sounds like a wonderful read! Look for a review this coming week...

Last sunday, Marie of The Burton Review recommended Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie. She called it one of her most engrossing reads! She also pointed out that Burnt Shadows is shortlisted for the 2009 Orange Prize... The Orange Prize for Fiction is awarded to the woman who, in the opinion of the judges, has written the best, eligible full-length novel in English and first published in the United Kingdom. Burnt Shadows starts on that fateful day in 1945, when the bomb dropped in Nagasaki and ends in a prison cell in the United Stateds in 2002. "Hiroko Tanaka is 21 and in love with the man she is to marry, Konrad Weiss. As she steps onto her veranda, wrapped in a kimono with three black cranes swooping across her back, her world is suddenly and irrevocably altered. In the numbing aftermath of the atomic bomb that obliterates everything she has known, all that remains are the bird-shaped burns on her back, an indelible reminder of the world that she has lost. From here she starts her search for new beginnings..." An epic tale that touches on a tragedy and the way our own histories can be transformed by one... I picked it up this week and opened it up to find Kamila Shamsies writing to be simply wonderful. Not only is the writing beautiful, but so it the cover! This is a book that should not disappoint! Thanks Marie for the recommendation!

And now a peek at a new eReader that just came out this week... Sony just released 2 new eReaders- The Sony Reader Touch, and the Sony Reader Pocket Edition. I had the opportunity to look at both this week and was impressed with the Pocket Edition that Sony released. It's just shy of being the size of a mass market paperback. It's easily held in one hand, although you need to click the wheel to turn the pages with the other hand, and it's slim. The text has a nice contrast- one of the problems Sony has been dealing with in it's development of their eReaders. There is no wireless connection with this eReader, but it's easy enough to download books from your computer. The Sony eReaders also work with ePub format, which Google just announced that it was going to use with it's book downloads and also quite a few text book publishers announced that it was going to use. Although I'm still a Kindle girl, this eReader is a temptation. And it might tempt other people as well because the Pocket Edition is about $100 less expensive than the Kindle 2.

Ok, that's what I've been reading and reading about this week, what about you?! What books have you read?! Don't be shy, share what you've been reading this week! Or let me know what you think of this week's "Books with Buzz"!

Happy Reading.... Suzanne

Undone by Karin Slaughter... Virtual Book Tour & International Giveaway!

Undone

A Masterpiece of Suspense...

Thanks to EVERYONE for joining in the giveaway! The giveaway has officially ended and the winner is Brande! Congrats! Enjoy the book! It's on it's way!

Karin Slaughter's Virtual Book Tour makes a stop at Chick with Books today! And what a book she's just published! But first, a little about Karin...

Karin Slaughter is the New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including Beyond Reach and A Faint Cold Fear, which was named an International Book of the Month selection. In an interview with Time.com Karin was asked how she did research for her books. Her answer was "I just start thinking about different crimes that I've seen in the news, or that I know about from my childhood." And she does a great job putting it all down on paper! She also loves reading Anne Rule, the leading true crime writer. She is a native of Georgia, where she currently lives and is working on her next novel, which Delacorte Press will publish in 2010.

About the Book:

In the trauma center of Atlanta’s busiest hospital, Sara Linton treats the city’s poor, wounded, and unlucky—and finds refuge from the tragedy that rocked her life in rural Grant County. Then, in one instant, Sara is thrust into a frantic police investigation, coming face-to-face with a tall driven detective and his quiet female partner…. In Undone, three unforgettable characters from Karin Slaughter’s New York Times bestselling novels Faithless and Fractured collide for the first time, entering an electrifying race against the clock—and a duel with unspeakable human evil.

In the backwoods of suburban Atlanta, where Sara’s patient was found, local police have set up their investigation. But Georgia Bureau of Investigation detective Will Trent doesn’t wait for the go-ahead from his boss—he plunges through police lines, through the brooding woods, and single-handedly exposes a hidden house of horror buried beneath the earth. Then he finds another victim.…

Wresting the case away from the local police chief, Will and his partner, Faith Mitchell—a woman keeping explosive secrets of her own—are called into a related investigation. Another woman—a smart, upscale, independent young mother—has been snatched. For the two cops out on the hunt, for the doctor trying to bring her patient back to life, the truth hits like a hammer: the killer’s torture chamber has been found, but the killer is still at work.

In her latest suspense masterpiece, Karin Slaughter weaves together the moving, powerful human stories of characters as real as they are complex and unforgettable. At the same time she has crafted a work of dazzling storytelling and spine-tingling mystery—as three people, each with their own wounds and their own secrets, are all that stands between a madman and his next crime.

What did I think of Undone? This book will satisfy your need for mystery & suspense! I had never read Karin Slaughter before, but this will not be my last book by the author! I was immediately drawn into the story, with well developed characters and a great plot! And for fans of Karin Slaughter, the three main characters in Undone are from 2 different series- Sara Linton is from the Grant County series and Will Trent & Faith Mitchell are from the Atlanta series. I didn't know this when I started reading Undone, and it didn't seem to matter- I didn't feel I needed to know the history of the characters to enjoy the story. Although I did grow to like the characters & got to know their history along the way and I credit this to the fantastic writing of the author. If you like crime fiction, with a good dose of suspense, this is a book for you! The story hooked me from the beginning and the great writing kept me turning the pages!

You can visit Karin Slaughter’s website at http://www.karinslaughter.com/ . Would you like to read an excerpt? Here's a Link to the first chapter!

AND NOW for a little surprise! Jaime from Pump Up Your Book Promotions, who coordinated Karin's Virtual Book Tour, send me an extra copy of Undone so I could give it away to one of my lucky readers! And since I'll be mailing it out myself I'm going to open this up to my international readers too! So, if I can mail a book to you thru the Post Office you are eligible to enter! Thanks Jaime for the review book! I loved the book! And thank you for the extra book for the giveaway!

To Enter this Giveaway...

*For one entry leave me a comment with your email address!

*You'll get an extra entry for following my blog! Just leave a comment letting me know you're a follower! ( you can also become a follower to get an extra entry! Just let me know you became a new follower!)

*For another entry Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents, plus anywhere I can mail a book thru the post office! (No P.O. Boxes, please) Contest ends 11:59 pm EST on Sept. 19th. I'll randomly pick the winner the next day and email that person. Please check your email... winner must reply to me within 3 days...

Good luck everyone!

The Kindle Korner and a Literary Kindle Treat...

The Sari Shop Widow

Pungent curry…sweet fried onions…incense…colorful beads…lush fabrics

In October Shobhan Bantwal will be a guest here at Chick with Books! It's going to be such a treat because I've been looking forward to reading her newest book, The Sari Shop Widow, and it's always nice to have the author visit... In the meantime, this past tuesday was the official release date of The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal and if you own a Kindle you are in for a treat!! Until August 31st you can download The Sari Shop Widow for FREE!

About the Book...

Shobhan Bantwal’s compelling new novel is set on the streets of Edison, New Jersey’s Little India, where a young businesswoman rediscovers the magic of love and family…

Since becoming a widow at age twenty-seven, Anjali Kapadia has devoted herself to transforming her parents' sari shop into a chic boutique, brimming with exquisite jewelry and clothing. Now, ten years later, it stands out like a proud maharani amid Edison’s bustling Little India. But when Anjali learns the shop is on the brink of bankruptcy, she feels her world unraveling…

To the rescue comes Anjali’s wealthy, dictatorial Uncle Jeevan and his business partner, Rishi Shah—a mysterious Londoner, complete with British accent, cool gray eyes, and skin so fair it makes it hard to believe he’s Indian. Rishi’s cool, foreign demeanor triggers distrust in Anjali and her mother. But for Anjali, he also stirs something else, a powerful attraction she hasn’t felt in a decade. And the feeling is mutual…

Love disappointed Anjali once before and she’s vowed to live without it—though Rishi is slowly melting her resolve and, as the shop regains its footing, gaining her trust. But when a secret from Rishi’s past is revealed, Anjali must turn to her family and her strong cultural upbringing to guide her in finding the truth…

So until Shobhan stops by here for a visit, and until I post my review, we all can enjoy reading this on our Kindles! Here's the LINK to The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal. Remember you only have until August 31st!

Happy Reading...

Suzanne

Be With You by Takuji Ichikawa... A Review

Be With You

A Haunting Love Story....

"Soon I won't be with you any longer," 29-year-old Mio says to her husband Takumi, "But when the rainy season returns, I will come back to see how the two of you are getting along."

These simple words spoken a week before Mio leaves this world for the world beyond, somehow comforts Takumi, as he struggles to take care of himself and their 5 year old son Yuki... But one year later when the rainy season returns, so does Mio! In a walk thru the woods Takumi & Yuki are stunned to see a confused Mio standing before them. As Takumi calls out to her in disbelief, "Mio?" She asks "Is that my name?" She has no memory.... and Takumi decides then and there that he will lie to her and act as if she's been ill and has lost her memory due to her illness. And of course he's not going to tell her that she is a ghost. Takumi takes Yuki aside in secret and explains to him that they must not let on that she died - so they form a pact to act as normal as possible...

Mio is a bit apprehensive, things just don't seem right somehow... But she wants to know what she's forgotten, so Takumi begins to tell her their story, and in simple prose Takumi weaves a most unusual love story that slowly pulls the reader in and slowly makes Mio fall in love all over again with Takumi. At a steady pace, between the story of the present day, we learn the everyday mundane to the poignant moments that make up this love story. From the time they met at age 15 to the time just before Mio died. But what may appear to be a romantic ghost story is really much more than that. There is a twist to this story ...the present is the future and has a link to the past... On the surface it appears to be a simple story, but looks are deceiving... Just as we are taking the story for granted, we are suddenly found stirred by that surprising twist! And then the story takes on a whole different meaning!

There are also other concepts that Takuji Ichikawa deals with- such as the afterlife. In a beautifully written opening paragraph, our main character Takumi is describing Mio's death to their 5 year old son...

"When Mio died, this was how I thought.

Whoever made our planet must have made

another planet at the same time,

somewhere in the universe.

That would be the planet where people go when they die.

The name of that planet is Archive."

We are never far from the truth of the story because Ichikawa never hides the fact that Mio dies, but with the reappearance of Mio comes renewed hope for a happy ending and the question of what makes us love another person? A simple yet beautiful story....

Giveaway: The Woman Who Named God by Charlotte Gordon

The Woman Who Named God

Abraham's Dilemma and The Birth of Three Faiths

Congrats to Brenda, Melanie & Jeanette! And Thanks to EVERYone for joining in on the fun!

"The saga of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar is the tale of origin for all three monotheistic faiths. Abraham must choose between two wives who have borne him two sons. One wife and son will share in his wealth and status, while the other two are exiled into the desert. Long a cornerstone of Western anxiety, the story chronicles a very famous and troubled family, and sheds light on the ongoing conflict between the Judeo-Christian and Islamic worlds. How did this ancient story become one of the least understood and most frequently misinterpreted of our cultural myths? Gordon explores this legendary love triangle to give us a startling perspective on three biblical characters who–with their jealousies, passions, and doubts–actually behave like human beings. THE WOMAN WHO NAMED GOD is a compelling, smart, and provocative take on one of the Bible’s most intriguing and troubling love stories."

The Woman Who Named God by Charlotte Gordon weaves history, archaeology and myth into an amazing and respectful story. Written with a historical perspective Charlotte Gordon explores the stories that have been passed down to us , and explores the characters as individuals... "Why did they do what they did?" Not a dry commentary, but an interesting read because of her insights into the people and places that existed then and now. A look at how different people interpreted the actions of these individuals and how Abraham and his sons fathered three major world religions - Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Very readable and also well researched. I found it so interesting! If you belong to a book club, Charlotte has discussion questions you can download HERE. Plus you'll find links there to learn more about Charlotte and a behind the scenes look at her writing of the book. Would you like to read an excerpt? Follow this LINK. Listen to an interview with Charlotte Gordon HERE!

Courtesy of Valerie of Hachette Book Group I have 3 copies of The Woman Who Named God for a giveaway! Thank you Valerie for letting me share this with my readers! And thanks for my review copy!

To Enter this giveaway...

*For one entry leave me a comment with your email address!

*For another entry, sign up to follow my blog and leave a comment to let me know you just became a follower. (if you're already a follower you will get an extra entry!)

*Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only.(No PO boxes). The books will be shipped to the winners directly from the publisher. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on Sept. 12th. I will randomly pick the winners the next day and email them! (please check your email.. winner must reply to me within 3 days! Thanks!) Good Luck!

*P.S. This book is Kindle Ready!