Monday, May 3, 2010

Spread the Awesome Day: Reviews and Giveaway!

Yes, today is “Spread the Awesome” day out in the blogosphere and here at Benedictions I’m celebrating with my first book giveaway!
What is “Spread the Awesome” day, you ask? It’s an ingeniously little event thought up by blogger-extraordinaire, Elana Johnson. We all know books are sold by word of mouth, so today we’re using our blogs to spread the word about our favorite authors and books.
I’m shinning the spotlight on a new favorite author of mine, Deeanne Gist. I stumbled upon her first novel, A Bride Most Begrudging, last summer by chance. Honestly, I hesitated, because I’m not usually a fan of American historical fiction, but the backmatter was interesting so I gave it a shot.
I read the entire book in two days and it instantly found a home on my list of favorite books. It was both witty and moving. The type of book that sticks to you…kind of like soul food. (Okay, so I’m from California and don’t know a thing about soul food. You get the point. :)

Want a teaser?
Drew O’Connor just wanted someone to help clean his house and care for his younger sister, but when a ship of “tobacco brides” reaches the shores he finds himself stuck with a feisty young woman who claims to be a English countess, kidnapped and forced to the New World against her will. Read more
After enjoying Bride so much, imagine my delight when I found out for Deeanne’s newest book, Beguiled, she joined with mystery writer J. Mark Bertrand to create one of my favorite genres: Contemporary Romantic Suspense. Let’s just say Beguiled kept me up long past my bedtime. :D

Want another teaser?
Professional dog walker, Rylee Monroe, never feared the streets of Charleston’s wealthiest neighborhoods, until a thief started targeting the residents. Though harmless at first, the crimes are becoming increasingly violent and it’s starting to look like Rylee might be the next target. Read more

Sound good? Marvelous, because I’m giving my followers a chance to win a copy of Beguiled with a signed bookplate. Yes, signed by Deeanne!
How do you win?
1 point for being a follower of this blog.
1 point each for following me on Face Book and/or Twitter.
2 points for each mention of this contest on your blog, Face Book page, and/or Twitter home.

You MUST leave a comment telling me want you’ve done, even if you’re already a follower of this blog. And include your e-mail address in the spam proof form. (i.e: emilyannbenedict(at)gmail(dot)com)
Contest ends at noon on Thursday. I’ll announce the winner on Friday.

So, would you like to know how Spread the Awesome day get’s even better? Lots of bloggers out there in the sphere are taking part in this celebration by featuring their favorite authors and giving away books and we’re all linked together. Visit the next link this chain by jumping over to Jen Wilks’ blog where she is featuring author Mary E. Pearson. You can also check out a long list of recommendations at Elana’s official recommendations page.
And don’t forget to spread the word about your favorite authors! :)

68 comments:

Unknown said...

Ooh! This book sounds fascinating! Thanks for the recommendation :)

I'm a follower, and I have created a list on my sidebar for all our Spread the Awesome contests. I'm adding yours now!

Katie Anderson said...

Ooo This sounds like JUST the kind of book I love and I would have never found it without you! Thanks!

~Jamie said...

I follow the blog, and I am dying to read this book!

Thanks for spreading the awesome!

Michelle McLean said...

Ooo sounds like an awesome read!

I'm a follower, I'm following you on FB and Twitter, and I tweeted and facebooked about your contest. And like Nicole, I have a Spread the Awesome Contest sidebar on my blog. So, 9 entries, I believe.

authormichellemclean(at)yahoo(dot)com

Natalie said...

Ooh, these sound fun. I haven't read a good historical in a long time.

I'm a new follower. :)

Emily Ann Benedict said...

Thanks for following everyone and spreading the word. :)

alicia said...

Ooohh... those books sound great! I am going to have to look her up!
I am a follower and when I go to facebook, I will get back to you!

alicias(dot)journey(at)yahoo(dot)com

alicia said...

Now I follow you on FB and posted a link to you on there. :)

Courtney Barr - The Southern Princess said...

sounds great! I cannot wait to read these! Would love to win!!!

This is so much fun!

Visit My Kingdom Anytime

Karen Lange said...

Emily, this sounds wonderful! I loved A Bride Most Begrudging. Beguiled looks wonderful too. Thanks for sharing the info. If I have a chance, I may join in this favorite author thing too.

I am a follower and I am your friend on FB (if that's what you meant). I'd love to be entered.
Thanks and blessings,
Karen
klangeg61(at)hotmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

Your first contest! How fun! These books sound so good! I'm heading over to goodreads to add them!

I'm following you everywhere so that's +3 for me.

Lady in Waiting said...

Sounds like a good book! I did it all! I'm following your blog, Twitter, and Facebook. And I have updated about it on Twitter and Facebook!

Email: cdmccurdy1990(at)hotmail(dot)com

This is fun!

Suzette Saxton said...

I'm a blog follower plus on FB and Twitter.

The book sounds soooo good! Thanks for spotlighting it.

suzettesaxton(at)gmail(dot)com

Bina said...

Sign me up!!

Following you here.
Following you on FB.
Linked to this on FB.

What a way to start the week! :)
Bina

Janet Johnson said...

Sounds awesome! Can't wait to read it. :)

B.J. Anderson said...

So exciting! This book sounds awesome. I am a follower!

Emily Ann Benedict said...

Hi everyone. Great to meet so many new people!

Thanks to everyone who has left a comment. I can't wait to read all of your blogs. :)

Christine Fonseca said...

So awesome! I follow you here, fb and twitter and I tweeted about it.

Lydia Kang said...

I'm a follower, and I'd love to win this! I love historicals.

Emily Ann Benedict said...

Hello all! Just to let you know, while Bride was an historical novel, Beguiled is a contemporay novel that takes place in a historical neighborhood. :)

Diane said...

I already own Beguiled and loved it. Her writing is great! :O)

Christa said...

1 point for being a follower of this blog. - Google Friends

1 point each for following me on Face Book and/or Twitter
facebook: Christa Holland
twitter: wordsrollon

2 points for each mention of this contest on your blog, Face Book page, and/or Twitter home.

Blog http://wordsrollon.blogspot.com/2010/05/i-heart-contests-may-1st.html
Tweeted http://twitter.com/wordsrollon/status/13314456590

(7 entries)
Thanks
ambience.of.rain(at)gmail(dot)com

Emily Ann Benedict said...

You guys are all great! Thanks for spreading the word.

For those who already have a copy, go ahead and enter anyway. It would make a great gift! :)

Jenn Adams said...

I became a follower and added you on facebook. I'd love to win a copy of this book. It sounds really good!

MBW aka Olleymae said...

Okay, so without this review I may not have ever picked this book up. The genre is not what I normally read, but since you say it's so awesome, I might have to give it a try.

thanks for the review!!

Tahereh said...

oh this sounds DELIGHTFUL!! but you are so bad for adding to my TBR pile! it's already so high it's going to topple over and bury me!!

hehe

great recommendation! can't wait to dive in :D :D

Unknown said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog and telling me about the book giveaway! I think Elana is doing great things, and this teaser was awesome! I'd love to get my hands on a copy!

I'm of course a follower! I will be adding you on facebook momentarily and as long as you have a link for twitter I'll add you there. Also a sidebar will have your name on it!!! Great selection!

Shannon Messenger said...

I had not heard of these books, so thank you so much for pointing them out. I'll definitely be adding them to my TBR list.

Oh, and *waves* I'm your 100th follower! (I love when I get to be a round number) Can't wait to read your other posts and get to know you better.

packratx (at) hotmail (dot) com

Kara said...

These books sound very interesting! I'd love to have another book to read:)

I'm a follower on blog, facebook and twitter. I will go tweet about this right now!

Rebecca Wells said...

I'm in! I'm a follower...

- Rebecca

rebeccaswells(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

my email address is jenniferdaiker(at)gmail(dot)com; sorry I forgot to add it!

Anonymous said...

I'm a fan on FB and I think I just subscribed to your blog. :)

Catherine Springer

Taffy said...

Great! Another awesome book to add to the list!
I now follow, twit and FB you :)

I did twit about the contest but I can't find the url for it. My twit name is taffylovell.

taffy(dot)lovell @ gmail(dot)com

Jackee said...

These sound great! And I'm with you, I generally don't get intersted in period mysteries. Now I have some to check out. Thanks for sharing. I'm loving the Spread the Awesome Day!

(And now I'm a follower of your awesome blog!)

Lindsay said...

Oh no, more fab books to add to my to be read shelf. Better buy another bookcase. :)

I'm a follower.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Emily -

I've heard a lot of buzz about this book. I've never read anything by either author. Please enter me. I'm already a Follower and we're friends on Facebook. :)

susanjreinhardt at gmail dot com

Blessings,
Susan

Karen said...

Those both sound great. I haven't read any of her works yet. I follow-so throw my hat in. :)

Bethany Wiggins said...

I think I follow your blog, but your followers tab isn't working. Thanks for an awesome review... can't wait to read the book.

Yamile said...

I love those covers! Please count me in. I'm a follower.
cheboricuas AT gmail DOT com

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

This author is new to me, so thank you for the recommendation. I'm a new follower.

Jeanne Ryan (Serenissima) said...

Learning about all these favorite books from folks in the blogosphere is a little like Christmas. There are soooooo many great books out there.

I'm a new follower.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Oooo, I'm sold! What a great recommendation. :-)

I'm a follower of your blog and I think Facebook, too.

mrso_d at yahoo dot com

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Isn't Elana just brilliant? What a fun event. I'm discovering all sorts of great books.

And this one sounds fabulous. I don't read alot of books like this anymore. It seems so much of my time is spent focusing on YA, but this one definitely sounds like a great read. I love a bit of history mixed in with my fiction. Beguiled sounds fun as well. What can be better than a little Southern romance mixed in with a little suspense?

Fabulous contest, by the way. I'm now a follower (got here from LiLa's blog), I found you on FB (except all I got was a like button--is that right?), I followed you on Twitter, and I added you to my sidebar (http://carol-in-print.blogspot.com).

cvaldezmiller(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Riv Re said...

I'd like to win it! It sounds awesome!
rivkarno1(at)hotmail(dot)com

http://inkwell.ning.com/profiles/blogs/spreading-the-awesomecontests

Paul Greci said...

Sounds like an interesting book. I am a new follower.

Carol J. Alexander said...

Hi Emily,
Enter me for a point for being a follower! I've just learned that I need a TBR list. :{

Emily Ann Benedict said...

Well, I am sorry to add one more book to your TBR list...or creating them, but you need this book! :D
Glad to meet everyone new. :)

Corinne O said...

Excellent book - I hope to win it ;)

I have followed blog +
I have followed twitter +
I have found you on fb +
I have re-tweeted your contest tweet =
I need a nap!

Thanks :)

Cindy R. Wilson said...

Both books sound wonderful--I'm going to have to check them out regardless.

I am a follower and I'm going to go friend you on Facebook :)

wilsoncindyr(at)gmail(dot)com

Tiffany Neal said...

I love the fact that I am learning about so many fabulous books that I've never heard of before today! Yay for that!

Bernadine said...

Love, love, love Deeanne Gist. I'm already a follower and I mentioned the contest on my blog.

Unknown said...

These books sound great!

I follow your blog and twitter +2

ellestraussbooks at gmail dot com

Jill Kemerer said...

I love American historical fiction, and I hadn't heard of this one. I might have to check it out!

Kristen said...

Thanks for the awesome post! I will definitely have to check this author out! I am a new follower of your blog, I friended you on Facebook, and I followed you on twitter. I also tweeted about your contest.
My email is kristenyard (at) gmail (dot) com

Thanks!

J.R. Johansson said...

I follow this blog, twitter and facebook. Those both sound seriously fab. :)

Nichole Giles said...

Ooh, sounds very much up my alley. Boy, my TBR pile has sure grown enormous today.

Sign me up! I'm a new follower and will look for you on FB and Twitter.

Nichole

Elana Johnson said...

This sounds like a great book! Thanks for being the inspiration behind this day. :)

Windy said...

These books sound good! Thanks for the teasers, they've definitely piqued my interest.

I'm a follower and am following you on twitter now (@windyaphayrath)

windy(dot)aphayrath(at)gmail(dot)com

Aik said...

I'm a follower.

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

+3 I'm following you on FB and Twitter. I tweeted here:

http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/13358276252

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Judylynn said...

Please enter me in this giveaway - Thanks!

seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

I am a Google follower.
I am a Twitter follower.

Cindy said...

I need a good book for summer reading so I'll be happy for the chance to win this one. I'm a follower.

Tory said...

Such a wonderful post, Emily! I can't wait to read this book. Your writing is phenomenal, and I just know something is in the works for you soon. Remember, persistence and patience are two traits you must possess if you want to achieve your goals. I believe you have both! I hope you have a wonderful week! Tory

Emily Ann Benedict said...

Thanks Tory! I really appreciate your message. I needed it. :)

And thanks to everyone who has signed up! I look forward to reading more of all of your blogs. :D

Cynde L. Hammond said...

Hi, Emily Ann!

I love Deeanne Gist, so I'm excited about your contest.

I'm am now a follower of your blog, your FB page, and your Twitter page. (I'd appreciate follow-backs, especially on my blog)

Also, I mentioned your contest on Twitter, here: http://twitter.com/Acushla712 and on my FB page, here: http://www.facebook.com/acushla712?ref=profile

Furthermore, I'll be mentioning your contest in a post on my blog, Cynde's Got The Write Stuff", by tomorrow.

Here is my email addy:
cyndelouwho22(at)gmail(dot)com

I sure hope I didn't forget anything!

Nice meeting you,
Cynde
Cynde's Got The Write Stuff

Unknown said...

Sounds awesome! I am following your blog and on Facebook now!!!

Margo Berendsen said...

I'm signing up to follow.

berendsen70 at yahoo dot com

Julia M. Reffner said...

I'm a subscriber and this book looks great.

julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com