Blogo-Birthday Birthday Book Celebration and #Giveaway!

Posted on April 5, 2024April 4, 2024 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | A Reviews> A+ Reviews> Blogo-Birthday> Blogoversary> Giveaways

It’s snuck up on my again. Today is my 67th birthday.

Today is also “First Contact Day” in the Star Trek Universe, which is fitting as I’ve been a fan since I first watched the show with my dad as it was originally broadcast. To paraphrase another ‘verse, that’s a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. The past is another country, and they do things differently there.

Referring to another fandom I fell into at about the same time, I’m having a Hobbit birthday, meaning that I’m giving away presents instead of getting them. (Galen and I aren’t doing presents this year, as we’re rolling all of this year’s presents into a later trip, but I did finally get myself a set of AirPods.)

Spring has officially sprung, and 2024 is one quarter over. Meaning that enough reading has happened here at Chez Reading Reality to make a giveaway of my favorite books of the year so far a VERY reasonable possibility.

So I’ll be giving the winner’s choice of one of my favorite books this year so far to one lucky commenter on this post. I’m going to be a bit loosey-goosey about it this time around, because 1)all the books in the Barker & Llewelyn series have been Grade A books so far, so this is another bite at that apple, and 2)two of this year’s bests are book two in their respective series so if you haven’t read the first book yet it will also be available.

This giveaway is open internationally. If the winner is in the US, the books will be shipped from Amazon or your local bookshop if you have one that can handle this business over the interwebs. But if the winner is outside the U.S. and not in one of the other countries where there’s a ‘zon outpost, books will be sent from Wordery, which ships worldwide for free.

The list to choose from is (drumroll, please):

The Bell in the Fog by Lev AC Rosen
The Bezzle by Cory Doctorow
The Black Hand by Will Thomas
Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
Demon Daughter by Lois McMaster Bujold
Gryphon by M.L. Buchman
The Hellfire Conspiracy by Will Thomas
Holmes, Marple & Poe by James Patterson and Brian Sitts
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older
The Lantern’s Dance by Laurie R. King
Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen
The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi
Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire
The Missing Witness by Allison Brennan
Red Team Blues by Cory Doctorow
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart by Izzy Wasserstein
The Truth of the Aleke by Moses Ose Utomi
What You Are Looking For Is In the Library by Michiko Aoyama

I went diving a bit deeper in order to pick multiple genres to make sure there’s something on this list for everyone, but clearly it’s been a very murder-y, fantasy, SF-y year so far. So if I’ve missed your favorite genre and there’s a book you’re dying to read, I’d be happy to share that with you (up to $25 US) instead.

Just let me know in the rafflecopter what book you’d most like to have your very own copy of, from my list or yours, in whatever format suits you best. Someone is going to get very lucky, at least reading-wise!

This post ends this Lucky 13th Blogo-Birthday Celebration Week. If you haven’t checked out the rest of this week’s posts, there’s been a giveaway every day, so be sure to enter any and all that look like your jam.

Next year – OMG it’s wild to be talking about NEXT year when it seems like this year has barely begun – the Celebration will take place the week of March 31-April 5. Come one, come all, and be sure to come back over the year between to see what fabulous books and fantastic giveaways happen in all the months between now and then!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

April Showers Giveaway Hop

Posted on April 5, 2022April 3, 2022 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | April Showers Giveaway Hop> Blog Hops> Giveaways

Welcome to the April Showers Giveaway Hop, hosted by The Mommy Island & The Kids Did It!

Looking at that cute little gnome in the hop graphic, I’d say that April Showers bring mushrooms. Which, come to think of it, they actually do! I said last month that this little guy was a real charmer, and there he is, charming all and sundry! Especially with that wide-eyed expression on his little face. That mushroom must have popped up rather suddenly.

I’ve always loved the “April Showers” theme because April is my birth month and today is my birthday. Which was sometimes a bit of a problem growing up, as Passover is also around this time of year and encompassed my birthday more often than not. Or so it seemed.

That meant no cake and no party – or at least a delay until the whole thing seemed anticlimactic. This year Passover starts on April 15 – Tax Day. (No one is going to be looking forward to THAT!) Next year it starts on April 5. It bothered me a lot as a kid, but now, not so much. We live and learn.

Our birthday tradition at Chez Reading Reality, or any occasion that is normally accompanied by presents, is that we tell each other what we want and for birthdays the birthday person gets a meal in the restaurant of their choice. The last couple of years were just plain weird, not just that going out was iffy, but also it was hard to figure out what constituted “a present” when going out was so dicey.

This year I did figure out what I wanted – thanks to Arlene’s visit in January – and it did arrive over the weekend. Now Galen needs to let me know what he wants for HIS birthday before July!

What about you? What’s your family’s birthday tradition? Or what would you most like to get for your birthday this year? Answer in the rafflecopter for your chance at Reading Reality’s usual hop prize, the winner’s choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card or $10 in Books.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To be showered with more prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

Blogo-Birthday Celebration and Giveaway!

Posted on April 4, 2022April 3, 2023 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Blogo-Birthday> Blogoversary> Giveaways

Today is the 11th anniversary of the very first post on Reading Reality, then called “Escape Reality, Read Fiction” a phrase I got off a t-shirt, a long time ago in a galaxy, as the saying goes, far, far away. Probably somewhere in the Chicagoland area, where I lived for a fairly long time.

Last year was the BIG Blogo-versary, as the 10th blogoversary seemed like kind of a milestone. It also marked Reading Reality as the longest “job” I’ve ever had. An 11th anniversary seems a bit anticlimactic in comparison.

OTOH, my birthday tomorrow IS one of the milestone birthdays. I just hope I’m not spending it at the County Courthouse on jury duty, but as I write this on Sunday “the jury” is still very much out on that particular front.

Nevertheless, this annual Blogo-Birthday Celebration Week will still be a “Hobbit Birthday” as I will be giving away presents instead of getting them. (Galen has already given me my birthday present – a new improved keyboard case for my trusty iPad. It’s exactly what I wanted!)

I give away presents this week because I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who take the time to read Reading Reality, post comments and enter the giveaways. I appreciate you more than I can possibly say. When I started this blog 11 years ago, it was during the “Great Recession”. I had just been laid off and wasn’t sure what I was going to do with myself. Looking for a job may very well BE a full time job but it’s only fulfilling in the result and not in the daily grind of it. The blog turned out to be my salvation, and has continued to be so as I turned from being a fulltime librarian to a part-time librarian to today, a semi-retired librarian and a freelance writer.

And a book reviewer and blogger. For 11 years and counting.

So, in thanks and appreciation to all of you, on this first day of the Blogo-Birthday Celebration Week, I have not just one but two giveaways. One is for a $25 Amazon Gift Card and one is for $25 in books from either the Book Depository or, for those in the U.S. $25 in books delivered from the book store of your choice. If you have a local bookstore that’s doing mail order, I’ll have the books or a gift certificate sent to you from them. If you don’t have a local of your own, then you can choose from one of the big regional bookstores like Tattered Cover or Powell’s, national indie Bookshop.org or get your books from the Book Depository. But books you will get!

Last but not least, if you have enjoyed the cat pictures included in my Sunday Post, please take a minute to check out my Birthday Fundraiser on Facebook for Planned PEThood of Duluth, GA. All of the cats we have ever had have been rescues, and Lucifer and George both benefited from their services before we adopted them. So we’re paying that forward a bit again this year, and I hope you’ll consider joining us.

From the bottom of my bookish heart, thanks so much to each and every one of you who has been part of this journey. There’s plenty more to come!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reading Reality’s 10th Anniversary Blogo-Birthday Celebration + Giveaway

Posted on April 5, 2021April 4, 2021 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Blogo-Birthday> Blogoversary> Giveaways

OMG, where on Earth do I begin?

Technically, I already did. That’s kind of the point. On April 4, 2011, Reading Reality’s (then called “Escape Reality, Read Fiction” first post was posted, with the title “It’s Always About the Story” which is still true. For me, it’s still always about the story, whether I’m telling it or especially when I’m writing about it. That’s why most of my reviews get into what I believe the book was about, or at least what the book was about for me. Which may, of course, turn out to be wildly different from what the author intended. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is readability in the eyes – or the mind – of the reader.

It’s hard to believe that first post was ten years ago. This blog is now, officially, the longest “job” I’ve ever had. And I do my best to treat it with the responsibility that I would a job. Showing up every day, making my deadlines and fulfilling my commitments, doing my best work. If you’ve been with me for a while, I sincerely hope that you are enjoying the results!

Today, April 5, is my birthday, which is how the whole “Blogo-Birthday” thing got started. I like to celebrate this double event as a Hobbit Birthday, meaning that I give stuff away. I give stuff away ALL WEEK LONG!

So, for this opening day of this extra-special anniversary Blogo-Birthday celebration, I have not just one but two giveaways. One is for a $25 Amazon Gift Card and one is for $25 in books from either the Book Depository or, for those in the U.S. $25 in books delivered from the book store of your choice. If you have a local bookstore that’s doing mail order, I’ll have the books or a gift certificate sent to you from them. If you don’t have a local of your own, then you can choose from one of the big regional bookstores like Tattered Cover or Powell’s, national indie Bookshop.org or get your books from the Book Depository. But books you will get!

One final note before I let you get to the Rafflecopter. For my birthday, I have a Birthday Fundraiser going on Facebook for Planned PEThood of Duluth GA. If you have enjoyed the cat pictures I post as part of my Sunday Post, Planned PEThood was part of both Lucifer’s and George’s journeys. Lucifer was checked out by their vets before his original rescuer brought him to us and the TNR cage used to trap George and his siblings was provided to our neighbor by them. So we’re paying that forward a bit and I hope you’ll consider joining us.

Thank you to each and every one of you who has been part of my journey and Reading Reality’s journey. Please stick around for future adventures!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 4-5-20 + Giveaway

Posted on April 5, 2020April 5, 2020 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Giveaways> The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

Today is my birthday. And it’s weird to be celebrating a birthday without even the possibility of going out for dinner. It’s not that I generally make a big deal out of it, but it just feels strange not to be able to mark it much at all. And to know that by the time we can go out again, it will be too far in the past to make any sense. This makes all those childhood birthdays when I couldn’t have a party and cake because my birthday often fell during Passover seem like wild extravaganzas in comparison. (Passover this year starts on Wednesday, so I did miss it this year!)

Today is also First Contact Day in the Star Trek Universe. In that version of what would be history, Earth’s known “First Contact” with an alien race will occur on April 5, 2063 when the Vulcans observe Earth’s first warp flight. If this sounds familiar at all, that’s because it’s the event that the Borg are trying to prevent in the movie Star Trek: First Contact. Probably my second favorite of all the Star Trek movies, after Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. And this might be a GREAT day for a rewatch.

But to completely mix my favorite SFF metaphors, while today may be First Contact Day, it is my birthday and, just as every day this past week. it will be a Hobbit birthday. Meaning that I am giving presents instead of getting them. Today’s giveaway is another Barnes & Noble $25 Gift Card, but all of this week’s giveaways are still open, and will be until the end of this coming week.

Live Long, and Prosper!

Coming This Week:

Sunrise on Half Moon Bay by Robyn Carr (blog tour review)
Matzah Ball Surprise by Laura Brown (review)
Anthropocene Rag by Alex Irvine (review)
Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer (review)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blogo-Birthday Celebration and Giveaway

Posted on April 4, 2014April 3, 2014 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Blogo-Birthday> Blogoversary> Book Giveaway> Giveaways

Today is, believe it or not, the third anniversary of the founding of Reading Reality. In other words, it’s my blog’s birthday!

Tomorrow, April 5, just so happens to be my own personal birthday. (Three years ago, this was a pretty busy week!)

As is my custom, I’m having a Hobbit birthday for us. That means that instead of getting presents, I’ll be giving some away. I want to share the joy.

I also want to share a few books that need to get out and be loved by some lucky reader. These are my review copies, but because I usually get ebooks from NetGalley or Edelweiss, these are all unread, and waiting for someone to read them.

So, how is this giving stuff away thing going to work?

I’m giving away a $15 Amazon or B&N gift card to the first prize winner. Second prize gets to pick 4 books, and third prize is three books.

Which books? Forgiving Lies and Deceiving Lies by Molly McAdams, Dash of Peril by Lori Foster, Retribution by Anderson Harp, and a signed copy of Tarnished by Karina Cooper. I also have 2 copies of The Clockwork Wolf by Lynn Viehl, so both winners get one copy.

In the rafflecopter, just let me know which book you would pick first if you get to choose!

And thanks for stopping by to celebrate with me!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blogo-Birthday, Day 2

Posted on April 5, 2012April 4, 2012 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | About> Blogo-Birthday> Blogoversary> Giveaways

There are no calories in a picture of a birthday cake. The only problem is that there’s no flavor, either.

Notice that it’s a picture of a VERY chocolate cake. When I think birthday cake, I think “chocolate”.

I remember laughing out loud, and for quite a long time, the first time I read Sandra Boynton’s famous book Chocolate: The Consuming Passion. There’s a page about white chocolate, where she describes the taste of white chocolate by telling the reader to cut out a page of the book and eat it. That’s her opinion of white chocolate. Mine too.

This is a book that seriously needs to be back in print.

I got here from chocolate cake. Honestly. The strangest things remind me of books, and often by the most twisted of paths. (Birthday to Chocolate Cake to Boynton)

Just as the blogoversary was a time to reflect on a year of blogging, my birthday is a time to reflect, But then I changed my mind. Why reflect when I have so many wonderful books to escape into?

Instead, earlier this week, I sort of got a different kind of present. As I might have mentioned (a few dozen times) I’m a librarian. Not just because I’ve worked in libraries, but because I have a Master’s Degree in Library Science.

My MLS is from a little school in Kentucky. Yes, the University of Kentucky, who won the NCAA Basketball Championship earlier this week. This may be one week when if I say I went to UK, no one asks what I mean, even in Atlanta.

Since this is a hobbit birthday, and I am giving presents (don’t worry, I will get at least one very nice present from my husband), there is a giveaway for all of you who have patiently read to the end of this post.

Or maybe you just skipped down to the Rafflecopter! The question to enter the giveaway is a birthday-related question, since this is a birthday-related giveaway. What was your favorite birthday present?

(There is still plenty of time to enter yesterday’s giveaways. You can take your chances on a $15 Amazon GC here and an ebook copy of Heather Massey’s fantastic erotic clockpunk romance The Watchmaker’s Lady here.)

This drawing is for a USD$20 Amazon Gift Card. The giveaway will be open until 12:01 a.m. EDT the morning of April 8, 2012. I will announce the winner on April 9th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Current Giveaways:

Winner Announcements:

Blog Recap:

Coming This Week:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: