Freda's Voice

For more: http://weekendassignment.blogspot.com How could I pass up this assignment, when I write poetry like a mad woman. It's a little thing you may or may not know about me. It is how I deal with almost everything that happens in my life. Whether it is good, bad or indifferent, I channel it all through poem. I change my writing style often too.... Hope you like, though it is mildly somber. Has The Well Dried Up? My heart beats Though I cannot cry Has the well dried up? Anger rising Or a sty in my eye Has the well dried up? Hurtful emotion I cannot lie Has the well dried up? Cast aside Want to run and hide Has the well dried up? Painfully waiting Do I stay by your side Has the well dried up? So much love Give it another try This well has not dried. ~ Freda Mans (04/19/10)

Recently I read a book by Garth Stein entitled Raven Stole The Moon. It was my favorite read of March. Read my review here; http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2010/03/raven-stole-moon-garth-stein.html Now here is your chance to win a lovely red umbrella with the Raven logo on it! THANKS TO Sarah & Terra Communications, I HAVE 1 Umbrella, TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY! GIVEAWAY RULES: Mandatory: Comment leaving a valid email address to enter. +1 bonus entry if you are/become a follower ( MUST BE PUBLIC PROFILE ) Leave a separate comment to count. +1 Tweet or blog and leave link in separate comment . (One time, not daily) +10 purchase a book through banner above, BookChristian, come back leave me verification in a separate comment . Open to US & CANADA SORRY NO P.O. BOXES NO EMAIL, NO ENTRY. Easy as 1-2-3! Contest ends May 14, 11:59 p.m. (e.s.t.)

BOOKS READ: 1. St. John of the Midfield - Garasamo Maccagnone 2. Prilla's Talent - Stefan Petrucha (children) (recommend) 3. Share From the Heart - Marilyn Randall (children) (recommend) 4. Parkers' Astrology - Julie & Derek Parker 5. Lemon Tart - Josi S. Kilpack (HIGHLY recommend) 6. Lethal Rage - Brent Pilkey 7. How to Achieve Heaven on Earth - John E. Wade II 8. I Has A Hotdog - Professor Happycat 9. Sexaholics - Pynk (recommend) 10. A Distant Melody - Sarah Sundin (recommend) 11. Dear John - Nicholas Sparks (audiobook) (recommend) 12. Will the World End in 2012 - Raymond C. Hundley 13. How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly - Connie May Fowler 14. The Twilight Gospel - Dave Roberts 15. The Rough Guide to Cloud Computing - Peter Buckley 16. Tomato - Gail Harland & Trevor Cole (cookbook) (recommend) 17. Dead Man of the Year - Stephen Hawley Martin 18. She-Rain - Michael Cogdill 19. Heartache & Sin - Charles Soto 20. Guardian - Katie Hines (Young

Rules: * Grab the book nearest you. Right now. * Turn to page 56. * Find the fifth sentence. * Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/ Iron Man 2 - Alexander Irvine Page 56, Sentence 5: Taking the whip in hand, Ivan stepped away from the table to a clear space in the middle of the floor.

Synopsis: On the northwest side of Chicago, Ruby has a perfect life. Her family feeds her everyday, they are home with her all the time, and they allow her to patrol the backyard. What more could a dog ask for? But when Ruby meets Ortis the blue bunny, all of this changes. In order to help Ortis return to his home in The Six Realms, Ruby must jump into the family's pool with the rabbit. Ruby never expected anything to happen. But when the water started swirling and pulled her under, there was nothing the little dog could do. Now Ruby is in Rocia, one of the Six Realms underneath the earth. This new land is fraught with dangers at every corner, from hideous Crites to the ball-like Ozzixites. But something else has been silently pulling strings from inside the Diamond Dust Desert. An evil, older than the world itself, has begun its plans. The fate of the Six Realms and Ruby's home in the world above is at stake. Now, Ruby must brave these strange new lands to save everything she

Hello readers! Today I want you all to give a warm welcome to author Charles Soto, who has graciously been interviewed for our pleasure. Please enjoy the interview, and don't forget to check out the websites included. My review for Heartache & Sin: http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2010/04/heartache-sin-charles-soto.html 1. Please tell readers about your current book. Heartache & Sin is a very provocative, thought provoking and profound novel that carries an important and powerful theme, should a woman consider abortion if her pregnancy has a chance of placing her life endanger? This novel has mass appeal and touches on such other issues as religion, abuse, and the power a clergyman has over his faithful parishioners. Above all else Heartache & Sin is a powerful love story between a husband and wife, living in an area where people are still strongly linked to the land, family and church. It’s a story told through lots of dialect, where the clipped language of

Sponsor site: http://btt2.wordpress.com/ Today's Question: God* comes to you and tells you that, from this day forward, you may only read ONE type of book–one genre–period, but you get to choose what it is. Classics, Science-Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Cookbooks, History, Business … you can choose, but you only get ONE. What genre do you pick, and why? *Whether you believe in God or not, pretend for the purposes of this discussion that He is real.* Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves! My Answer: I can't fathom answering this question. Number one, I don't believe God would ever make me choose one genre of reading. I don't think he is that close minded, so I choose not to be either. This question is redundant.

Synopsis: Four American women, all with their own challenges, embark on a mission trip to South Africa. Their lives are changed as they encounter a group of South African women who suffer from AIDS yet demonstrate great joy and faith in the face of overwhelming adversity. When the Americans discover the amazing beadwork that has been taught to generations of women in the community, they uncover a way to help these proud people support their families by selling their craft. Author Bio: Cathy Liggett knew writing fiction was for her after reading aloud a junior high English assignment and watching the class—at least the girls—well up with emotion. Yet it wasn't until much later in life that she seriously tried her hand at storytelling again. First came years of advertising copywriting, gift product development, and the publication of a non-fiction book. Through it all, the urge to write fiction kept tugging on her, and a few years ago she published sweet romances for the secul

Synopsis: When her family moves to London, 15-year-old Savvy Smith has to make her way in a new school and a new country. She just knows the school newspaper is the right place for her, but she doesn’t have the required experience, and the cute editor-in-chief is not looking to train anyone. She has to come up with a way to prove herself and nab the one available position on the newspaper staff at Wexburg Academy. London Confidential is a new series where British fashion, friendships, and guys collide, and where an all-American girl learns to love life and live out her faith. ©2010 My Opinion: This is a great story for girls, aged around 12. It was easy to read, and had great values in it. I also really enjoyed the publishing/writing aspect of it. I HIGHLY suggest, if you have a young girl or girls, you get them this book. They will love it too! (4/5) ~I received a copy from Tyndale. I was not compensated for my opinion.~

Synopsis: There's a saying at Hollywood station that the full moon brings out the beast--rather than the best--in the precinct's citizens. One moonlit night, LAPD veteran Dana Vaughn and "Hollywood" Nate Weiss, a struggling-actor-turned cop, get a call about a young man who's been attacking women. Meanwhile, two surfer cops known as Flotsam and Jetsam keep bumping into an odd, suspicious duo--a smooth-talking player in dreads and a crazy-eyed, tattooed biker. No one suspects that all three dubious characters might be involved in something bigger, more high-tech, and much more illegal. After a dizzying series of twists, turns, and chases, the cops will find they've stumbled upon a complex web of crime where even the criminals can't be sure who's conning whom. Wambaugh once again masterfully gets inside the hearts and minds of the cops whose jobs have them constantly on the brink of danger. By turns heart-wrenching, exhilarating, and laugh-out-loud funny

Hosted by: http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com * Grab your current read. * Let the book fall open to a random page. * Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12. * You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from…that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given. * Please avoid spoilers! My Teaser: I took a deep breath. "I didn't have enough experience to be a staff writer. I deliver newspapers." ~ Page 81, Asking for Trouble - Sandra Byrd

Synopsis: Drew and his friends face an age-old sect that's determined to claim a treasure and ancient power. They race from the U.S. to Canada, pursued closely by the mysterious Brotherhood. Danny Hennigar, a member of the Oak Island Tourism Society, states, "I devoured [Guardian] in an hour and a half. It was a fun romp through the back woods, islands, and rivers of Nova Scotia, culminating, of course, with the dramatic moment on Oak Island when all was revealed. Wow, the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew meet Harry Potter on Nova Scotia's Oak Island." Author Bio: Although Katie Hines has been writing for as long as she can remember, she didn't get serious about it until she decided to write a memoir. Now, Hines writes urban fantasies for middle-grade children, and her first book, Guardian, is the beginning of an exciting new series. Visit: http://katiehines.com/ ©2010 My Opinion: If you love adventure books, then you have to get a copy of this great

Synopsis: Hard-driving and provocative, this unconventional love story will have audiences talking for weeks after reading. Charles Soto touches at the heart of humanity with this epic tale, tackling the hardships of abortion. Dissecting the tenderest parts of a mother’s being, while destroying a father’s conscience, Heartache and Sin starts where love, hate, murder and church collide. Like all couples, when Steven and Karen Wheaton learn of their pregnancy, they are elated. Active churchgoers with a pointed sense of right and wrong, they hope to instill their values in this new life. When a corrupt clergyman starts to use Karen to promote his own corrupt anti-abortion agenda, Steven finds himself surrounded by questions of morality. As Karen’s pregnancy takes a turn for the worse and she becomes deathly ill, it starts to appear that the only thing that may save her is an abortion. Will Steven be able to save his wife or baby? Which would he choose? Author Bio: Charles Soto lives

Synopsis: Tom Rob Smith-the author whose debut, Child 44, has been called "brilliant" (Chicago Tribune), "remarkable" (Newsweek) and "sensational" (Entertainment Weekly)-returns with an intense, suspenseful new novel: a story where the sins of the past threaten to destroy the present, where families must overcome unimaginable obstacles to save their loved ones, and where hope for a better tomorrow is found in the most unlikely of circumstances . . . THE SECRET SPEECH Soviet Union, 1956. Stalin is dead, and a violent regime is beginning to fracture-leaving behind a society where the police are the criminals, and the criminals are innocent. A secret speech composed by Stalin's successor Khrushchev is distributed to the entire nation. Its message: Stalin was a tyrant. Its promise: The Soviet Union will change. Facing his own personal turmoil, former state security officer Leo Demidov is also struggling to change. The two young

Thank you 200!!!! Because I love you guys so much, I'm as promised, hosting my own contest. Unfortunately due to cost, it will only be valid for Canadian addresses this time. The prize will be the choice out of a collection I have set aside. RULES: YOU MUST BE A FOLLOWER TO ENTER!!! Comment with a valid email. That is an entry. For extra entry, tweet the contest, and leave a separate comment. Simple as that. Contest ends May 10, 11:59 pm est. Best of luck to you all.

Rules: * Grab the book nearest you. Right now. * Turn to page 56. * Find the fifth sentence. * Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/ Heartache & Sin - Charles Soto Page 56, Sentence 5: Noticing that he hasn't accommodated Father Francis, only barking at him when he first came in.

Synopsis: In the early 20th Century, a pair of North Carolina mountain children sow the seed of a love that becomes their only solace in the hard yet beautiful world they know. They grow it from steep ground of poverty, ignorance, and violence. A landscape so brutal it can kill hope long before claiming life. Bloodshed years later finally sends Frank Locke on the run, deep into wilderness, abandoning his extraordinary love, Mary Lizbeth. When a whitewater river washes this desperate soul into the hands of Sophia, he discovers a luminous woman steeped in mystery, trapped in a tragically brilliant life. Far ahead of her time. Secreted from the world. As she awakens Frank's mind, they rise to meet a love that binds three people for a lifetime. This love triangle forms a beauty no one sees coming. From the wilds of Appalachia, crossing nearly a century, it runs deep into a lush American fortune, and lives in letters of adoration and hope of the least expected. In a rhapsody of Sou

Synopsis: Brian Durston left a bright future at a big Madison Avenue agency to join his uncle's medium-sized firm because his uncle promised him a stake in the business. The future looked bright until Brian discovered his uncle slumped over his desk with a bullet through his brain. The cops think it's suicide, which means his uncle's life insurance won't pay, and Brian won't inherit the money to buy his uncle's share. Who benefits? The surviving partners. So Brian decides some investigating is in order. Meanwhile, the agency's largest account goes into review, and Brian must pull out the stops to save it, or there won’t be much agency left. In steps the beautiful and enigmatic copywriter, Nickie D'Agostino. She wants to help Brian save the account and find the killer. But wait, could she be the one who did it? A romance tortured by suspicion follows, and a frantic race to find the murderer before Brian’s share of the business reverts to the surviving par

Synopsis: While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving a Union and freeing millions of slaves, his valiant fight against the forces of the undead has remained in the shadows for hundreds of years. That is, until Seth Grahame-Smith stumbled upon The Secret Journal of Abraham Lincoln, and became the first living person to lay eyes on it in more than 140 years. THANKS TO Anna & Hatchette Book Group, I HAVE 3 COPIES, OF THIS FABULOUS BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY! GIVEAWAY RULES: Mandatory: Comment leaving a valid email address to enter. +1 bonus entry if you are/become a follower (MUST BE PUBLIC PROFILE) Leave a separate comment to count. +1 Tweet or blog and leave link in separate comment . (One time, not daily) +10 purchase a book through banner above, come back leave link in a separate comment . Open to US & CANADA SORRY NO P.O. BOXES NO EMAIL, NO ENTRY. Easy as 1-2-3! Contest ends May 6, 11:59 p.m. (e.s.t.)

Synopsis: "I am Iron Man." With those words, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark revealed his secret identity. Now a famous high-tech superhero, he uses his powers to protect mankind. Yet things are not going well for Tony Stark. The U.S. military demands control of the most powerful weapon on earth--the Iron Man suit. His beautiful new assistant has a strange, mysterious agenda while his best friend, Rhodey, has betrayed him. And Tony is hunted by a vengeful Russian criminal armed with a lethal technology that may be stronger than Tony's suit. THANKS TO Anna & Hatchette Book Group, I HAVE 5 COPIES, OF THIS FABULOUS BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY! GIVEAWAY RULES: Mandatory: Comment leaving a valid email address to enter. +1 bonus entry if you are/become a follower (MUST BE PUBLIC PROFILE) Leave a separate comment to count. +1 Tweet or blog and leave link in separate comment . (One time, not daily) +10 purcha

Synopsis: Tomatoes are by far the most popular edible vegetable or fruit grown in gardens- US plant nurseries and seed websites stock many more varieties of tomatoes than any other vegetable or fruit. The popularity of heirloom varieties has further fueled interest. Aimed at both food-lovers and gardeners, Tomato showcases the different varieties and shows how to grow them-in pots, hanging baskets, grow bags, under glass, and outdoors-and harvest tomatoes, as well as cooking and preserving them. Author Bios: Gail Harland has been growing tomatoes in her garden for nearly twenty years. Experimenting every season, she's now grown over 60 international tomato varieties. She started writing articles for the horticultural press in 1993 and was awarded The Royal Horticultural Society's Diploma in Horticulture in 1999. Trevor Cole started working at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa in 1967, initially on the adaptation of native flora to cultivation. He was appointed curator o

Synopsis: Whenever Therese Borchard was weathering a personal storm, and help was nowhere to be found, her one guiding light was the question, "What would a therapist say?" The result was a sort of therapy scrapbook for rough days--a quick reference for anyone who needs a dose of encouragement, support and tried and true ways to cope. THE POCKET THERAPIST is a compact and accessible guide filled with techniques and advice to help combat everything from addictive behavior to negative thinking THANKS TO Anna & Hatchette Book Group, I HAVE 3 COPIES, OF THIS FABULOUS BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY! GIVEAWAY RULES: Mandatory: Comment leaving a valid email address to enter. +1 bonus entry if you are/become a follower ( MUST BE PUBLIC PROFILE ) Leave a separate comment to count. +1 Tweet or blog and leave link in separate comment . (One time, not daily) +10 purchase a book through banner above, come back leave link in a

Synopsis: Modeled after Maria Shriver's Just Who Will You Be, Queen Latifah's goal with Put On Your Crown is to help young women build a strong sense of self-esteem. A US Dept. of Justice survey found that females ages 16-24 are more vulnerable to partner violence than any other group, almost triple the national average. Cases like Chris Brown's assault on pop star Rihanna showed an ugly side of adolescent life. However, Queen Latifah has always been a shining example of a woman happy with herself and unwilling to compromise to fit into the "hollywood ideal" of what a confident beautiful woman should look like. The result: She's one of the biggest A-list celebrities in Hollywood. THANKS TO Anna & Hatchette Book Group, I HAVE 3 COPIES, OF THIS FABULOUS BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY! GIVEAWAY RULES: Mandatory: Comment leaving a valid email address to enter. +1 bonus entry if you are/become a followe

Hosted by: http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com * Grab your current read. * Let the book fall open to a random page. * Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12. * You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from…that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given. * Please avoid spoilers! My Teaser: Her voice eased around the stone. The reverence of it, I suppose, helped loosen that deep muscle that strains back how we truly feel. ~ Page 174, She-Rain - Michael Cogdill