Freda's Voice

Welcome to the N(M)ovember edition of Monthly News. As you can see, Remembrance Day is important to me. (November 11) My grandfather was a veteran, as so many of ours are, and I take time each November to recognize what it is that made him and so many others significant. I held another PayPal giveaway , (Congrats Carl!) and asked what Remembrance Day meant to you. I was just curious, but not surprised by your responses. It's what it means to me too! I also has a special giveaway for Freda's Voice Facebook fans. Just 'cause! It didn't go the way I planned, but a winner was announced and all ended well! I also hope my American readers and friends had a wonderful and loving Thanksgiving. I signed up for some 2013 challenges too, as long as the world doesn't end... I am tackling the Just for Fun challenge, the Colorful Reading Challenge, the Outdo Yourself Challenge, the Foodies Read Challenge, the Monthly Key Word Challenge and the eBook Challenge. Have yo

Please welcome author Walter Dinjos to the blog today! He is here to discuss his writing and answer a few of our questions. So without further delay, Walter, please tell us about your current book. TheUnfading Heiress , book one of Soul Switch Trilogy, is ultimately a tale of ghostly love, human greed, friendship and honor set amid a raging war between the living and the dead in a land where death transcends time and space. Late King Eldorman has the power to end this war, but he wants justice for his beautiful murdered daughter Arengel.  However, Arengel’s destiny lies once again with the living, when she falls in love with Adel, a lowly Earmburgian. Finally, the prophecy of The Man with the Red Aureole will come to pass, but Arengel needs an earthly body to fulfill it. The journey that Adel must take to help Arengel will not only test his strengths to the limit but also that of his close friendship with Jeofren, a fellow Earmburgian. It is a race against time through dark

(Affiliate link) From Amazon: Kanaan James is a disturbed teenage boy obsessed with his childhood friend Abigail Caulfield. A horrible car accident leaves Abigail stricken with amnesia and Kanaan, desperate for her attention, convinces her they are soul mates, running from the law. In the midst of a passionate love affair, while hiding in an old abandoned house deep in the woods, Kanaan is forced to test the boundaries of his own humanity. Paperback:  358 pages Publisher:  iibooks; 1st edition (August 20, 2012) ISBN:  9780578108971 Author Bio: Jameson Hesse is an American writer/filmmaker. Jameson currently lives in Los Angeles with his sons. He has several film and book projects in various stages of development and is promoting his Novel "Whisper of Crows". To find out more, please visit  http://www.jamesonhesse.com  My Opinion: Horror fans, this is definitely for you. It had me looking over my shoulder when I was reading at home alone at n

Welcome to Week 102 with me!   Rules: *Grab a book, any book. *Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader  *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grabs you. *Post it. *Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.     (Affiliate link) The cait sith pretended not to hear. Yawning, he stretched languidly, raking his claws over the stones, and trotted off to oversee dinner preparations.

(Affiliate link) From Amazon: My name is Meghan Chase. I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it. This time, there will be no turning back. Paperback:  368 pages Publisher:  Harlequin Teen; Original edition (January 25, 2011) ISBN:  9780373210183 My Review of book one, The Iron King My Review of novella, Winter's Passage My Review of Book two, The Iron Daughter My Review of novella two, Summer's Crossing My Opinion: I love how all the books have picked up where the last one left off. With that said, you need to read them in order. They are not stand-alone books, at least, I don't think so

Tell us about yourself first. I am the proud father of two sons and two daughters. When not spending time with my children, writing, teaching, or promoting my works, I speak to troubled children through the Straight Ahead Program and host a Comedy Benefit each year for A Wish Come True, Inc. Visit: www.StevenManchester.com Tell us about your new book, Twelve Months Don DiMarco has a very good life – a family he loves, a comfortable lifestyle, passions and interests that keep him amused. He also thought he had time, but that turned out not to be the case. Faced with news that might have immediately felled most, Don now wonders if he has time enough. Time enough to show his wife the romance he didn’t always lavish on her. Time enough to live out his most ambitious fantasies. Time enough to close the circle on some of his most aching unresolved relationships. Summoning an inner strength he barely realized he possessed, Don sets off to prove that twelve months is

NBA superstar  Kevin Durant   plays himself in this action-packed family film about a basketball star who switches talent with a klutzy 16-year-old fan. When Brian ( Taylor Gray ) magically switches basketball skills with his hero, Kevin Durant, he becomes the star of his high school team... while Kevin Durant suddenly can’t make a shot to save his life! But with the playoffs approaching, Brian learns that being a true winner means working hard at your own game, and he tries to make things right in time to prevent a catastrophic end to his hero’s season.  On December 4th this dvd is out and so is a cool app. Let's check that out now. Why don't you try your luck in the Free Throw Challenge Game and leave your results in the comments. I would love to know how you fared. Does your child or another child you know want to be a pro basketball player? You can use these awesome tips to help them sharpen their skills.  If you want to be social in regards to the movie or app

Ahoy, matey! Blue Sky Studios unveils a brand new chapter in one of the most successful film franchises of all time. Bringing together the visually epic and the emotionally powerful, ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT sets sail on Blu-ray™ 3D, Blu-ray™, and DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on December 11, just in time for the holidays. Kids everywhere will be asking mom and dad for a copy of Ice Age: Continental Drift this holiday season, but what else is going to be a hot item? Here we will take a look at what kids will be looking for on Christmas morning. Party Animals Party Animals are a new soft, plush speaker system. All you have to do is plug in your MP3 player or laptop, and the Party Animal will play your music and dance along to it! These dancing stuffed animals might be a hit with adults too this holiday season! Super Skipper The Super Skipper is an innovative outdoor toy that plays music and rotates so kids can jump over it. It’s kin

If you’ve wanted to try new nail polish techniques but haven’t had the guts yet, the holidays are the perfect time to jazz up your fingers. Chic parties include beautiful cocktails, which require manicured nails to compliment them. This winter, spend your money on Christmas gifts, hair extensions , or that new pair of fabulous shoes to complete your party outfit. Take a stab at doing your nails yourself and you’ll be amazed at the results. Every good manicure requires a good foundation for the color. Take your vitamins all year round to increase the health and appearance of your nails. Drink plenty of water, and keep manicure tools just outside the shower. Every time you shave, be sure to take a glance at your nails and maintain them if necessary with regular trimmings. If you’d like an easy but festive look on your nails, get a glitter nail polish in a silver or gold color, and a darker festive color to paint on underneath. If you want a classic look with a bit of pizzazz,

(Affiliate link) She looked serious. "I trusted you, Virgil." "And I trusted  you ." She said, holding her coffee in her hand, "We broke that."

Hi readers! Remember when I posted about Ice Age Continental Drift coming to BluRay on December 11th?  Have I been offered a cool prize for you guys because of it. An Ice Age Continental Drift BluRay AND  This cute little acorn shape Ice Cube Tray. Imagine having an iced tea with acorn ice cubes.... sounds groovy right?! Here is your chance to win. Giveaway is open to residents of USA and Canada. Read full contest rules on the PromoSimple form. Yes, welcome PromoSimple. A new way to giveaway around here. Good luck!!

If you are new to a food/reading challenge, you may be wondering – what is a “food book”? A food book is a book which is centered around food and/or drinks. That could be a cookbook, a food biography or memoir, a non-fiction book focused around a specific food, wine, chef or restaurant. Also allowed is a fictional story in which food plays a major role. Here’s how the challenge works: Decide how many food books you want to read in 2013. Pick one of the reading levels below. Remember, this is a challenge, so try pushing yourself. Levels: Short-Order Cook: 1 to 3 books Pastry Chef: 4 to 8 books Sous-Chef: 9 to 13 books Chef de Cuisine: 14 to 18 Cordon-Bleu Chef: More than 19 Grab the challenge button and write a post on your blog so we can spread the word. No blog? That’s okay. Sign up in the comments section here . I love cookbooks, but have read less than usual so I will choose a realistic level. Pastry Chef 1. Baked Alaska - Josi Kilpack 2. Around the World

George Doherty, a pharmacist and entrepreneur, created George's Special Dry Skin Cream over 15 years ago. He was looking to create a cream that could help people from Alberta be able to combat dry skin during the harsh winters. Now George's Cream is available across Canada, including the east coast. George's Cream is a homegrown formula that has a reputation for controlling dry, itchy, scaly skin. It also helps with skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, and common ailments like wind or sun burns. George's Cream is a fragrance-free, non-prescription therapeutic skin moisturizer that has no additives. It is recommended by dermatologists, pharmacists and physicians. Provides relief from the following: Eczema Psoriasis  Sunburn Windburn Cradle Cap Winter Itch Flaky Skin Tough Elbow Skin Radiation Therapy Sports Chafing (Runners, Cyclists) Swimmer's Itch Cry Hands and Cracked Cuticles And Foot Problems Associated with Diabetes Available a

Heaven Sent Falling Angels Saga Book Three By E Van Lowe Genre: Paranormal YA What Does It All Mean? Readers who devoured Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel will be captivated by the third book in the Falling Angels Saga. As summer break for Glendale Union high begins, heartsick Megan awaits Guy's return while struggling to control her emerging abilities. Love is in the air, but can the new loves in Megan, Maudrina, Suze and Aunt' Jaz's life be trusted? Nothing is what it seems. Meanwhile, the Satanists are set to hatch their most diabolical scheme ever, and if it comes to pass, Satan may finally win out. Megan has precious little time to unravel the cryptic message hidden in the riddle she received at the end of Earth Angel. If she doesn’t, the life of someone most dear to her will be lost forever, and Megan may yet find herself living in HELL. Excerpt E. Van Lowe is an author, television writer, screen-writer, playwright and pr

(Affiliate link) From Amazon: Don’t miss  The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones , soon to be a major motion picture in theaters August 2013. When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons

Challenge Levels (I've adjusted the levels just slightly this year): Pike's Peak : Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s Mount Blanc : Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s Mt. Vancouver : Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s Mt. Ararat : Read 48 books from your TBR piles/s Mt. Kilimanjaro : Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s El Toro : Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s Mt. Everest : Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s Mount Olympus (Mars) : Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s And the rules: *Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for  at least  that many books. If you find that you're on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade. *Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2013. *You may sign up anytime from now until November 30th, 2013. *Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2013. No ARCs (none), no library books. No rereads. [To clarify--based on a question raised last year--the in