Alexa Ranking Blog hop! Help improve your rank! Weekly

 

*IF YOU stop here today, please leave a comment so I can come visit you. In your comment tell me how you are following me, all the links are on my right side bar, I will follow back!

If you’ve been participating in our Alexa Blog Hops the past few weeks, you have probably seen a significant improvement in your Alexa rank. If you are a new blogger looking to decrease your Alexa rank & gain new GFC (Google Friend Connect) followers, please participate.

You will need to install the Alexa Toolbar on your browser. it only takes a few seconds! There are toolbars for Explorer, Chrome, and Firefox. (for those that are worried, don’t be this is NOT an additional toolbar, just a little “A” icon that will show up in your toolbar) FYI- if you don't use the toolbar you won't see your ratings decrease.

The Alexa Toolbar will allow you to keep track of your daily Alexa Traffic Rank- which will give you an idea of how your blogging efforts are paying off. you can also use it to check out the Alexa Rank of any website.Your Alexa Traffic Rank will most likely fluctuate daily and the lower you are the better.

Here are the rules:

*Download the Alexa toolbar.

*Add your blog name & URL to the linky list below.

*Then, follow any blogs on GFC that interest you (be sure to leave a friendly comment on their blog letting them know that you are a new follower so they can follow back!) if you are already a follower of their blog, just leave a comment asking them to visit you for the Alexa hop!

*Feel free to grab the Spearmint Baby Blog Hop banner & post on your blog to get new people involved. (the more new people the better!)

* Please note that I keep this blog hop open all week so you have plenty of time to visit all of the blogs on the list.

Be a sweetie and follow the Blogs that are the hosting this Hop: We have Spearmint Baby and her 3 cohosts me, SusieQTpies Scraps of Life, Kelly’s Lucky You, & Our Family World. THANKS! We do follow back.

30 Days of Deals & Giveaways #3 FREE Mixbook Photo Book

*VERY IMPORTANT: I want to apologize for this freebie giveaway. Apparently the code expired before it was suppose to. I'm very disappointed in the way they handled their free coupon code. Sorry for any inconvenience that might have caused you.

I'm a huge fan of these MixBook Photo books. All you do is upload your photos and in no time you can create a  professionally printed book with glossy bookstore quality pages. I make them every Christmas for the grandparents. This coupon code (FREEBK) is good for one 8 1/2 X 11 photo book plus FREE shipping which is the size I usually make.  Hurry it expires today! (6/30/11)

Crowd-Pleasing Potato Pizza Recipe {Gooseberry Patch}

I'm a huge fan of Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks. The below recipe, Crowd Pleasing Potato Pizza looks like a winner to me. My family loves pizza recipes and we are always on the look out for new recipes. This recipe is from their Come On Over cookbook and a great way to use leftover potatoes, too!

Crowd-Pleasing Potato Pizza

Shared with us by Marshall Williams of Westerville, Ohio, this recipe feeds a crowd but you might want to make two...the slices disappear quickly!

Ingredients

3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
10-oz. tube refrigerated pizza crust
1/4 c. milk
1/2 t. salt
1-lb. pkg. bacon, diced
1 onion, chopped
1/2 c. red pepper, chopped
1-1/2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
1-1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
Optional: sour cream

Directions

Place potatoes in a large saucepan; barely cover with water. Boil until tender, about 20 to 25 minutes; drain and set aside. Flatten pizza dough on an ungreased 14" pizza pan; pinch edges to form a rim. Prick dough with a fork; bake at 350 degrees until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Transfer potatoes to a mixing bowl; add milk and salt. Mash until smooth; spread over crust. Slightly brown bacon; add onion and pepper and cook until tender. Drain and spread over potatoes. Sprinkle with cheeses; bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Cut into wedges to serve; spread with sour cream, if desired. Makes 8 servings.

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Friendly Wednesday Blog Hop! Come link up

Welcome to Feeding Four's Friendly Wednesday Blog Hop! I'm glad you're here!

 

*If you leave a comment to let me know how you are following me I will follow back!

 

How to Participate:

Follow the hostesses located in the first and second spots - Feeding Four (click to visit and get the blog hop button) and SusieQTpies Scraps of Life Blog (This is ME!). If you want me to follow you back, please leave a comment letting me know how you are following me and I will follow back. All my ways to follow are on my right side bar- Email, GFC, Facebook, Twitter and Networked Blogs.

• If you want, create a new Friendly Wednesday blog post on your own blog and be sure to use the button provided on the side bar if you want to!

• Enter your information into the linkup below.
  

• Follow all the other blogs you want. This is a great way to get more followers!

While you are here, check out my TASTY recipes in the tab labeled "SusieQTpies Personal Recipes" and giveaways/deals on right side bar! Have a great day!

30 Days of Deals & Giveaways #1 FREE mp3 code

One month until my birthday! Check in for daily deals and giveaways.

Go get $2 in FREE MP3 downloads on Amazon.com.  Just use the code CLOUDMP3 when you check out. Free music and code expires 6/30. Direct link to the deal,‎Click Here!

Have a great day and check in daily!

Do you use Groupon or LivingSocial? Get informed.

We're all familiar with the standard coupons that continue to go strong, particularly since the inception of websites that make thousands of downloadable coupons available free of charge.

However the new daily deal websites like Groupon and LivingSocial have crossed over into uncharted coupon territory. Many claim these vouchers are no different than gift cards, yet they're subject to few or none of the same regulations.

How Gift Cards Changed
In case you missed it, federal gift card regulations underwent significant changes in 2010. Issuers now can't charge inactivity fees until one year after purchase, gift cards may not expire for five years, and information about fees and expiration dates must be printed clearly on the card.

Complaints About Group Buying Vouchers
In essence, a daily deal voucher works the same as a gift card. They both have an established, prepaid amount that can only be used on products from specific merchants. However, daily deal coupons vary widely in expiration dates and don't have set sales tax procedures, potentially putting the services in violation of several state laws. To save money it may be safer to purchase gift cards at a discount from sites such as GiftCardGranny.com.

The Responsible Party
Who's responsible when issues arise with your deal-of-the-day? There seems to be a disconnect between the issuer and the merchant. Technically, it's good for business when vouchers expire or go unclaimed. Businesses don't have to provide the goods and services, but still make money.
Groupon does send emails notifying customers their coupons will expire soon. Also, there are numerous stories of group-buying giants refunding money when merchants go out of business.

A Need For Uniformity
Since daily deals are new on the scene, more time is needed to see where responsibility for legal compliance lies. One popular solution is for deal providers to educate small businesses on local laws and regulations, since they're equipped with significantly more legal resources. This would help provide a uniform standard for consumers until the feds catch up.

In the meantime, read up on the deal-makers terms of service. It'll provide you with the nitty-gritty details of what can be expected if your offer goes awry.

Read more about group buying in the post "Daily Deal Strategies: 8 Tips to Get More From Group-Buying Sites."

Guest article provided by Consumer savings expert, Andrea Woroch. She is a media expert source who has been featured on NBC's Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more. To view recent interviews or get more information, visit AndreaWoroch.com.

Blog Bash Giveaway Hop Over $400 prize packages here!

Welcome to the Blog Bash 2011! June 22nd-26th 2011

130  Bloggers are giving away a minimum of $100 prize packages on their blogs. 

FYI: I DO verify the mandatory entry and bonus entries. So if you say you do it, please do. You won't win the prize if your entry is invalid.

Thanks for stopping in and entering to win one of my three prize packages that total $414!!

1) Prize Package #1 Summer Music Time (Value $100.00)- This giveaway is for ONE $100 Apple iTunes gift card. Time to get some new summer jams! The sponsor will mail the prize. Open to USA only.

2) Prize Package #2 Gift Cards Galore (Value $155.00)! This giveaway is all about gift cards so you can buy what you want. This is what you will win:

$40 Amazon Gift Card

$50 PEEPS Store Gift Certificate

$50 Tiny Prints Gift Certificate

$15 Subway Gift Card

Four sponsors will mail out the gift cards. Open to USA/Canada

3) Prize Package #3 Summer FUN products (Value $159.00) Open to USA/Canada. This giveaway is for all the below products:

*$20 101 OFFLINE Activities you can do with your child by Steve and Ruth Bennett

*$50 Crayola 2 GB MP3 Player, head phones and Music Express Software

*$25 in DOVE Body products, suntan lotion, Sand-Be-Gone product, sand bucket, bubbles and Crayola Chalk

*$12 Sid the Science Kid Kit "Why Do I Need a Jacket? by Patch Products

*$25 Summer read The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

*$15 Four Yankee Candle Pack of "The Peach Keeper" Peach candles
*$12 The Complete Idiot's Guide to Word Search Puzzles

GIVEAWAY

Mandatory Entry: Tell me in order which prize package you want to win and FOLLOW my blog with Google Friend Connect (RIGHT SIDE BAR). Leave an email contact with your entry.

Bonus entries (all worth 1 extra entry and leave separate comments for each one)

1) Follow my blog on Twitter, Facebook, Emaily, RSS Feed and leave in the comments how you are following me.

2) Visit The Sponsor page! for this huge Giveaway Blog hop. Come back and leave a comment on one sponsor that you visited.

3) Do the Blog Hop! Go visit other blogs and enter their giveaways. Leave a comment telling me either which blog you came from or which blog you are headed to on the below blog hop link up!

Good luck and everyone who enters and follows me I will follow back.
All products donated by sponsors. I was not compensated to participate in this Blog Bash.

Alexa Blog Hop! Improve your blog ranking and link up

 

*IF YOU stop here today, please leave a comment so I can come visit you. In your comment tell me how you are following me, all the links are on my right side bar, I will follow back!

If you’ve been participating in our Alexa Blog Hops the past few weeks, you have probably seen a significant improvement in your Alexa rank. If you are a new blogger looking to decrease your Alexa rank & gain new GFC (Google Friend Connect) followers, please participate.

You will need to install the Alexa Toolbar on your browser. it only takes a few seconds! There are toolbars for Explorer, Chrome, and Firefox. (for those that are worried, don’t be this is NOT an additional toolbar, just a little “A” icon that will show up in your toolbar) FYI- if you don't use the toolbar you won't see your ratings decrease.

The Alexa Toolbar will allow you to keep track of your daily Alexa Traffic Rank- which will give you an idea of how your blogging efforts are paying off. you can also use it to check out the Alexa Rank of any website.Your Alexa Traffic Rank will most likely fluctuate daily and the lower you are the better.

Here are the rules:
*Download the Alexa toolbar.
*Add your blog name & URL to the linky list below.
*Then, follow any blogs on GFC that interest you (be sure to leave a friendly comment on their blog letting them know that you are a new follower so they can follow back!) if you are already a follower of their blog, just leave a comment asking them to visit you for the Alexa hop!
*Feel free to grab the Spearmint Baby Blog Hop banner & post on your blog to get new people involved. (the more new people the better!)
* Please note that I keep this blog hop open all week so you have plenty of time to visit all of the blogs on the list.

Be a sweetie and follow the Blogs that are the hosting this Hop: We have Spearmint Baby and her 3 cohosts me, SusieQTpies Scraps of Life, Kelly’s Lucky You, & Our Family World. THANKS! We do follow back.

Summer Time Recipes Blog Hop! Link up with Gooseberry Patch.

Click to get my Mocha Chip Scones! Yum. Serve with fresh summer berry jam!  

Watermelon, burgers on the grill, fresh tomatoes and zucchini...they
all just taste like summertime, don't they? And, since yesterday was the
official first day of the season, we thought we'd round up your best
warm-weather recipes this week.

Whatever YOUR favorite summertime recipe is,
we want you to link up with today's Recipe Round-Up!

Here's one to inspire you from Hometown Favorites,
this week's Cookbook of the Week!

Old-Fashioned Peach Cobbler
Karen Moran of Navasota, Texas shared this recipe with us. She likes to enjoy this recipe in the summertime with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream...sounds so good, doesn't it?

3 c. plus 3 T. all-purpose flour, divided
1 t. salt
1 c. shortening, divided
1-1/2 c. cold water, divided
2 c. sugar
7 c. peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced
1/2 t. almond extract
1/2 c. butter, sliced and divided

Combine 3 cups flour and salt. Cut in half of shortening with a fork until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Cut in remaining shortening until mixture is consistency of small peas. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cold water; stir gently until dough holds together. Press into a smooth ball; divide in thirds. On a lightly floured board, roll out 1/3 of dough 1/8-inch thick; cut into 3-inch by one-inch strips. Place strips on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes, or until lightly golden. Cover remaining dough with a tea towel; set aside. For filling, stir together sugar and remaining flour. Add peaches, remaining water and extract; blend carefully. Roll out another 1/3 of dough 1/8-inch thick; press into bottom and up sides of an ungreased 3-quart casserole dish. Spoon half of filling into dish; dot with half of the butter. Place baked dough strips over filling; add remaining filling and dot with remaining butter. Roll out remaining dough 1/8-inch thick; cut into 3/4-inch wide strips and arrange lattice fashion over filling. Trim edges; seal and flute. Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes to one hour, until bubbly and golden. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Link up YOUR favorite summertime recipes below and,
if you're joining this hop, link back here
by using our handy button below.

Want to add this hop to your OWN blog?

Ten time-saving tips to make your life as a busy mom easier #StarbucksApp

Time to give you another Top 10 list! This one is 10 Time-saving tips to make your life as a busy mom easier! Do you have any tips? What would your top 10 be? I know that most that I do revolves around my husband and children. Here are tips that I've found useful.

 #1 Buy Gift cards: I use to be the type that thought gift cards received as a gift were silly and not a thoughtful gift. Well I don't think that anymore. They save you time and a lot of companies like Amazon or Starbucks, you can purchase online and send electronically to friends & family who live far away.

#2 Write Notes on your arm: OK not as large as this LOVE note but use your arm to jot down a time that you need to stop what you are doing and cook dinner for your family.  Use your arm, it is yours, you have it "handy" so use it.

#3 Purchase Make-up online- Get hooked up with a consultant online and order what you need. You will save time and money. I can never find what I need in the store and when I'm there I'm looking and trying everything. Find one set of products you love, use them over and over. This saves a lot of time.

#4 Fry Bacon- I bet you weren't expecting something about bacon to be in a top 10 time-saving tips list. Do you love bacon? What about chicken? Cook all the bacon you need for the month at once and freeze it. Do the same thing for chicken and other meats.  Freeze them and pull them out when needed. This will save you a lot of time and unwanted trips to the store where you will also spend more money.

#5 Bake your own bread and desserts- This will save you time. You can have baked products whenever you want them versus whenever you can get to the store. This will save you money on wasted bread, too. Besides the bread and desserts, cook more at home and plan out your meals. You save a lot of time if you are organized and not waiting for someone else to cook your meals.

#6 Take your own Family photos-As much as I love professional photographers, I'm all for doing my own photos. Plan your shots around events when everyone is dressed nice. Take a few different shots, have someone snap a few pictures for you and then edit them yourself. You can easily upload and click to order pictures of your family, kid school and sports photos at your convenience. You save time by not waiting at a studio and waiting on prints, etc. When you do your own photos you have more opportunities to use them to make photo gifts, cards, etc for family members, too.

#7 Freezer stocked with frozen treats- This is handy for the summer months. Have your freezer stocked with yummy treats and you will save time running out to the ice cream shop when everyone is craving a cool treat. I love these new Shakes and Smoothies because the kiddos can make it on their own!

#8 Get outside HELP! Ok so I don't recommend you hiring someone "goofy" but I do recommend having older, responsible teens help you out at home. Summer time these teens have extra time on their hands and are always looking for odd jobs to do. Have them come play legos or swim or take your rowdy children on a hike to give you a change to get work done at home. Use teens to help do yard work, wash your car, plant flowers, etc. Pay them, feed them and in the end you will have saved your self some time.

#9 Get a cherry pitter- Ok you don't have to get one but if you are like us and love cherries this is the quickest way to get the pits out of the way.  Invest in little gadgets like this one to save you time. You can pit the cherries, have one of those goofy teens help you and freeze them for the winter months. Do the same with any in-season fruit.

#10 Purchase electronics- Ok gadget people will love this one. I do suggest ebook to save you a lot of time as a mom. There are a lot of times I've searched and searched for books that I want to read but with none to be found. If you order an ebook you can have it within minutes. More and more schools are putting their books in ebook form as well as their required reading list.

I hope this 10 time-saving tips will help your life as a busy mom easier. They are random but I had fun writing them. What do you recommend? DO you are agree on any of these?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Starbucks blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Giveaway: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Word Search Puzzles V. 3

People believe that focusing on word search puzzles improves concentration, vocabulary, and problem-solving skills. The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Word Search Puzzles, Volume 3 offers puzzlers of all ages over 300 puzzles on a variety of themes. Each puzzle is 20 letters by 20 letters with a minimum of 25 words to discover, for hours of fun. The book includes:

•       Hollywood-based puzzles centered on popular TV shows, movie-based clues, and words found in the letters of celebrity names.
•       Geographic puzzles based on popular cities, from New York to Los Angeles, and all across the world.
•       Puzzles based on three- or four-letter words, or words on menus, calendars, movies and posters.

Scraps of Life Book Club Review: What a fun word search book. My 12 year old took it and ran to her room with it. She loved having a "Idiot's Guide" book with fun puzzles. This book is jammed packed at 340 pages that are very clear, easy to read puzzles as well as the answer keys.

Some of our favorite puzzles where the "From V to A" which are puzzles that uses words that start with V and end with A as well as other letters. The "I was born in ...." were fun, too. Out of all the variety of puzzles we love the "Starts with ...." which gave you the start of a word and each word started with that in the puzzle. For example, one said "Starts with Free" so each word in the puzzle started with Free. Very cool and challenging.

The book suits all levels of people who enjoy word searches. It is a great book for kids, too. It will keep them busy in the car, doctor office, etc.

Would you like to WIN a coy? To enter you have to visit the Blog Bash Hop Here! Click on over and enter today! Hurry the contest runs June 22nd-26th and is in Prize package #3 Summer Fun with over $150 other prizes.

If you don't win, you can purchase it on Amazon, online sites or any of your local stores that carry "The Complete Idiot's Guides".

About the Author:
Matt Gaffney (Washington, D.C.) is a professional crossword puzzle constructor whose puzzles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsday, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, Slate, and Brill’s Content. He is the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to More Word Search Puzzles, The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Word Search Puzzles, among other puzzle books.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Word Search Puzzles, Volume 3
ISBN: 9781615640812, April 2011, $14.95
Author:  Matt Gaffney (Washington, D.C.)

Stay current with The Complete Idiot’s Guides® using...
http://idiotsguides.com/
http://idiotsguidesblog.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Complete-Idiots-Guides/166321940044794
http://www.youtube.com/user/completeidiotsguides

Follow us on Twitter! @IdiotsGuides, @CIG_Food, @CIG_Business, @CIG_Health and @CIG_Lifestyle

Thanks to the sponsor, Alpha Books for providing a review copy of this book as well as giveaway copies. My own tasty words and opinions are expressed here. 

101 Offline Activities you can do with your child

 Steve and Ruth Bennett (authors of bestselling kids’ activity book, “365 TV-Free Activities You Can Do With Your Child”) have just released a new activities book, “101 Offline Activities You Can Do With Your Child” (BPT Press).

At that time when their first book was published, television was the primary competitor for human interaction in a household. Computers were a luxury and the only electronic gadgets you could carry in your pocket were the TV remote or garage door opener. Today, of course, television is but one of many electronic devices that vie for our attention from the moment we wake up to the moment we sink into sleep. Smart phones. Game consoles. eBook Readers. Laptops. Netbooks. Internet tablets. In-car video systems. In-pocket audio systems. If you’re awake, you’re plugged in, literally or via wireless waves.

Steve and Ruth aren’t Luddites. In fact, they love digital gadgets. But, they say, there’s still something fundamentally satisfying about relying solely on the electronic activity in our brains and muscles to entertain ourselves and connect with family members and friends. Whether it’s a simple guessing game or a more elaborate round of toilet-paper tube bowling, low-tech/notech games and activities are remarkably satisfying, rejuvenating and, most importantly, a great way to engage your children.

SusieQTpies Scraps of Life Book Review:  I am a HUGE fan of Steve and Ruth Bennett. I use to own a copy of the first book, "365 TV-Free activities you can do with your child" back in the early 2000's. I loved this book and would use it ALL THE TIME on my little twins and their baby sister. I would still have this book if it wasn't for Hurricane Katrina which destroyed some of my old time favorite books. My girls are now 12-16 so I don't need the book anymore but I will get it someday when I have grandchildren. I keep my eye out for this book when I am at garage sales, book sales, etc.

As for this new book 101 Offline Activities, it is another keeper. It is labeled as fun for all ages and I totally agree! We do live in a time where everything is electronic. This book is perfect for summer. Just pull it out and do a twenty minute activity to bring you to the kids and get them away from the TV set, text messaging, XBox, etc.

This book is also perfect for teachers and homeschool families, like us! Not only are some of the activities physical, they are also mental.  We loved the "Modern Conveniences" activity which takes a bored kids and instructs them to look around and find something that has a "interesting imaginary history". Perfect item to start with is a door handle. Ask questions like "why are they necessary", "what did people do without them", "what was the person name who invited it", and so on. Once this activity is finished, most inquisitive kids will actually do some research and find out the real answers.

Two things that I LOVE about these books are the little graphics they use for each activity in the Table of Contents and the easy to find activities in the Index. They have them listed under such categories as Arts & Crafts, Fantasy Play, Games, Get 'em Moving, In the Kitchen, Math and Numbers, Older Kids Play, On the Road, Toymaking, Younger Kids Play and Your Time Only.

OVER ------Did you want to WIN a copy of this book?? 
The sponsor is giving away a copy! To enter you have to visit the Blog Bash Hop Here! This book is in Prize Package #3 with a value at over $150!! Hurry because this giveaway runs June 22nd-26th. If you don't win, you can order it online at Amazon or check your local bookstores.


You can find out more about Steve and Ruth, and “101 Offline Activities You Can Do With Your Child,” at their web site: www.offlineactivities.com/.


Thanks to the sponsor for providing a copy for me to review and one for a giveaway. My own tasty words and opinions are expressed here!

Crayola Cranks out Summer Tunes Giveaway

If you’re taking a plane or car ride ANYWHERE this summer, kids should have their own set of tunes to enjoy. This mp3 player uses Crayola to make it fun for them and also creates a sense of ownership for kids so they learn to take care of electronic gadgets.

Product Specs: It can store up to 96 hours of music (approximately 1,800 songs) and features USB mass storage to copy and store data files from a computer. The LCD screen lets you scroll between songs, read lyrics, or set up the menu. This MP3 player even lets you record your voice. It supports MP3, WMA, and WAV formats. Includes earphones, necklace loop, USB cable, instruction manual, and Music Express software. Music Express converts your CDs to mp3 format and lets you find and organize your music, burn CDs, and more. Dimensions: 3"L x 2.25"W x 0.75"D.


Scraps of Life product review:  Can you say ADORABLE? This mp3 player is just the right size for your little ones. The age recommendation on the package is 5 year and up. I would even say a 4 year old could use this once the parent loaded the music. The Music Express software is very easy to use and helpful for young kids.  

The earphones are the type that just hook over the ear. This is a great feature for little ones and much better than the ear buds.  The volume is just loud enough but not too loud to hurt the little ones ear drums if the volume button gets turned up too high. 

This thing records voices, too, so BE CAREFUL what you say because your little one can record you! Can you say blackmail? haha 
The product is for ages 5 and up and so cool that my almost 17 year old daughter wants one! I guess I know what she is getting for Christmas! 


Giveaway...did you say that you want one of these? Thanks to my sponsor with Crayola I have one to giveaway. 

To enter you have to visit the Blog Bash Hop Here! This product is in Package #3 Summer FUN which has a value of $159! Hurry and enter the Giveaway. It runs June 22nd-26th.


If you don't win you can order and read more about it via http://sakar.com/.


Thanks to my sponsor I was sent one of these to review. My own tasty, honest opinions are stated here.

Kindle Giveaway & Spring for Susannah Book Tour

 From the Publisher:

Hundreds of miles from home, Susannah faces an uncertain future as a mail-order bride on the untamed Dakota prairie.

When her parents die suddenly, and no suitors call, Susannah resigns herself to the only option available: becoming a mail-order bride. Agreeing to marry her pastor's brother, Jesse, Susannah leaves the only home she's ever known for the untamed frontier of the Dakota Territory.

Her new husband is more loving and patient with her than she believes she deserves. Still, there is also a wildness to him that mirrors the wilderness surrounding them. And Susannah finds herself constantly on edge. But Jesse's confidence in her-and his faith in God's perfect plan-slowly begin to chip away at the wall she hides behind.

When she miscarries in the brutal Dakota winter, Susannah's fledgling faith in herself and in God begins to crumble. Still, Jesse's love is unwavering. Just when it seems like winter will never end, Susannah finally sees the first tentative evidence of spring. And with it, the realization that more than the landscape has changed.

She looks to the future with a renewed heart. Yet in her wildest dreams, she couldn't predict all that awaits her.

Scraps of Life Book Club review: The publisher's post really covered the book. I am a fan of Christian Fiction/Christian Romance and that is the genre of this book. It is also Historical Fiction from the mid-late 1800s. I like this genre because it is a book that I would not be embarrassed if my teens, husband or friend saw me reading or picked up and skimmed through. I read books of many different genres for many different reasons but this is one that I'm personally most comfortable sharing with others. Having said that, this book is more for the person who is married vs. other Christian Romance novels which deal more with dating, etc. This book started off with a Mail-order bride getting married so martial issues were tied in.

Loved the four main characters, the dog and even a minor character who pops in and out of the story. There were several other characters and some flow with them and the story line that I thought wasn't followed through or just tossed in and could have been left out of the book. That is my opinion.

I loved how Susannah blossomed into a beautiful, assured, trusting and very loving woman. My heart went out to them during the harsh winters, insect-killing of all their crops, illness and even death.  There is much joy in this book and I hope you pick it up and read it.

Blog Tour Kindle Giveaway and Facebook Party

This Blog Tour is sponsoring a Kindle Giveaway with the winner to be announced at a Facebook Party on June 28th. Click the graphic below for more details and to enter the contest.

 

This book is part of the LitFuse Book Tour. I was given a copy of the book in my participation on the tour. My own tasty words and opinions are expressed here. If you want to read what others say, which I recommend,Click here.

Friendly Wednesday Blog Hop! Come link up

Welcome to Feeding Four's Friendly Wednesday Blog Hop! I'm glad you're here!

 

*If you leave a comment to let me know how you are following me I will follow back!

 

How to Participate:

Follow the hostesses located in the first and second spots - Feeding Four (click to visit and get the blog hop button) and SusieQTpies Scraps of Life Blog (This is ME!). If you want me to follow you back, please leave a comment letting me know how you are following me and I will follow back. All my ways to follow are on my right side bar- Email, GFC, Facebook, Twitter and Networked Blogs.

• If you want, create a new Friendly Wednesday blog post on your own blog and be sure to use the button provided on the side bar if you want to!

• Enter your information into the linkup below.
  

• Follow all the other blogs you want. This is a great way to get more followers!

While you are here, check out my TASTY recipes in the tab labeled "SusieQTpies Personal Recipes" and giveaways/deals on right side bar! Have a great day!

False Witness Book Review

The Government Can Change an Identity,

but It Cannot Change a Life

Suspense author Randy Singer brings awareness

to the plight of Dalits in India

What is our responsibility for obtaining justice for those in need? Does the end always justify the means? Randy Singer examines these questions while taking his readers through twists and turns on a powerful journey in his novel False Witness. This engrossing legal thriller is a re-telling of Singer’s original novel by the same name. The new version has many substantial changes—some designed to bring about Singer’s original vision for the book inspired by his friend’s funeral.

The deceased was David O’Malley, Singer’s good friend and former client. O’Malley’s wife had asked Singer to give her husband’s eulogy. So, at the funeral, Singer talked about his friend’s generosity and big heart. Everyone there had a David O’Malley story, so heads nodded as he shared his. David’s pastor followed Singer in the pulpit. He spoke about a man named Thomas Kelly. The man was a scoundrel involved in organized crime. He turned on everyone he knew. “You don’t think you know Thomas Kelly, but you do,” the pastor explained. “David O’Malley was Thomas Kelly before he went into the witness protection program—before he came to the Lord.”

Prior to that moment, the only people that knew about David’s past were the government, his family, Singer, and his pastor. There was utter silence as the pastor concluded with a line Singer said he will never forget. “The government can give you a new identity,” he said, “but only Christ can change your life.” It was then that he decided to write this book.

But Singer also wanted to draw attention to one of his passions. He wanted to highlight the challenges of today’s church in India. He believes that most Western Christians are unaware of the persecution of the church and the miraculous things happening there. 

Scraps of Life Book Club Review: I have just recently delved into the world of Christian Fiction thrillers, and I am still a bit confused at times by the genre.  I expect it to be a bit awkward and off-center, but Randy Singer surprised me with his book False Witness. In False Witness, the author wraps his story around computer science and life in our modern age, while concisely and clearly showing the relevance of belief and faith in our modern world.

False Witness is the story of a man who discovers a mathematical algorithm that could literally shut down the world wide web, and quite possibly change the course of history. Imagine the power of one man having complete control over all internet interactions and knowledge.

By pulling in characters with fascinating backgrounds, and introducing us to the Indian culture and some of its idiosyncrasies, Randy Singer is able to take this story beyond the "typical" computers ruling the world thriller, and allow us to see a society and a world very different from our own.

I  enjoyed this book a great deal.  I really enjoy being able to read a thriller and have titillating drama and risk in a story without having to deal with foul language or a world view I find completely offensive.