Category: Blog Hops

MLK Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Holidays> Martin Luther King Jr. Day> MLK Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the MLK Giveaway Hop hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer &  Mocha Girls Read !

In honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, observed on the third Monday of January each year – that’s today although his actual birthday is tomorrow, January 19 – Caffeinated Reviewer and Mocha Girls Read have created this giveaway hop of books celebrating Black authors. As book reviewers and book bloggers, we are celebrating diverse reading and drawing attention, we hope, to the richness of a more diverse reading experience.

To that end, this week I’ll be reviewing books by Black authors, no matter what their genre. And we’re all giving away books that express that diversity and/or gift cards so that our winners can read what’s available for themselves.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more terrific recommendations and more chances to win, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


New Year New You Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> New Year New You Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the New Year, New You Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

Now that we’ve all, metaphorically at least, stabbed 2020 in the heart just to make damn sure it’s really dead, it’s time to think about 2021 and what we’re hoping for from this brand new year.

For many folks, that thought leads directly to those New Year’s Resolutions. Which we all know we’re going to give up by March at the absolute latest.

Alternatively, there’s some rather sage advice about making your New Year’s resolutions at the end of the year, writing down things you’ve already done, backdating it to the beginning and then joyfully crossing everything off.

New Year’s resolutions are what you make them. If you make them.

I resolve to give the winner of the New Year, New You Giveaway Hop their choice of either a $10 Amazon Gift Card or a book, up to $10 in value, from the Book Depository. Now it’s up to you to resolve to fill out the rafflecopter below for your chance at winning the prize!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more terrific prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

Dashing Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Dashing Giveaway Hop> Giveaways

Welcome to the Dashing Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O’er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bobtails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight

It’s time for Jingle Bells, and every other holiday song ever sung. Admittedly, the only bells we hear jingling around here are the ones that are attached to the cats’ toys. Especially when they bring them to bed with us. Although the original Jingle Bells song seems to have way more verses than I thought. That first verse, quoted above, is the one that most everyone remembers.

And did you know that it wasn’t intended as an Xmas song? It was originally supposed to refer to Thanksgiving! But all that snow just makes it seem like it refers to a time a bit later in the year.

Just to jingle some bells for you, I’m giving away my usual prize in this giveaway hop; the winner’s choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card or a book up to $10 in value from the Book Depository. So fill out the rafflecopter for a chance at making a few bells jingle of your very own!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more fabulous and possibly even jingling prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop, hosted by  The Mommy Island & The Kids Did It!

The theme for this year’s hop images from The Mommy Island & The Kids Did It has been cats. Every single one of them has been adorable, and so many have reminded me of cats that have passed through my life and on to the Rainbow Bridge. This particular image is very like Erasmus, the dumbest, sweetest cat who ever lived. Also the most bewildered, as this picture will attest.

But speaking of orange cats, George is experiencing his very first winter, as he was born in the spring of 2020. He seems to think that that falling leaves have to watched every single moment. If we get snow this winter I expect him to be utterly fascinated. And we’ll be fascinated watching him.

In addition to watching the cats watch any snow that falls, winter is also an excellent time to curl up with a cup of hot tea and a good book. Or two or three of both. To facilitate your opportunities to do just that this winter, I’m giving away the winner’s choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card or $10 in book(s) from the Book Depository. This giveaway is open to the U.S. AND anywhere the Book Depository ships.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more wintery prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

If the phrase “Holly Jolly” or “Holly Jolly Christmas” is ringing in your head like an earworm, that’s because it is one. “A Holly Jolly Christmas” is a song that was written in 1964 and featured in a holiday animated special, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer that was a feature of my childhood holidays – and probably still is. Christmas songs and carols seem to last forever – even if for only one month or so out of the year.

This year’s holidays may not exactly be the holly-est or the jolliest, but it’s still the holidays and time to sing along with a few seasonal songs.

And if you’re looking to pick up a few old or new favorite holiday songs or holiday books or even holiday books of songs, I’m giving away the winner’s choice of either a $10 Amazon Gift Card or a $10 Book from the Book Depository. Just fill out the rafflecopter for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more holly jolly prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

Black Friday Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Black Friday Blog Hop> Blog Hops> Giveaways

Welcome to the Black Friday Giveaway Hop, hosted by yours truly, Reading Reality, and the Caffeinated Reviewer!

This may not be the usual Black Friday – and it certainly may not have it’s usual salutary effect on retail business and its profit margins. Once upon a time – last year – the day after Thanksgiving marked the traditional opening of the holiday shopping season. As such, it was usually the day when retail stores tipped from the red – owing more money over the year than they made – to black – finally operating at a profit for the year.

While Black Friday this year won’t be what it normally is – or was – Cyber Monday is a thing that got really big very quickly but whose impact has faded more than a bit.

Once upon a time, most folks didn’t have high-speed internet in their homes but a LOT more people had it where they worked. Also, a fair number of people either had Black Friday off, or were working retail or were too busy over the holiday weekend whether visiting family or putting up decorations or whatever that they weren’t at work on Black Friday. But everybody who went back to the office on Monday spent at least some time sharing stories about how their Turkey Day went AND taking a bit of personal time at work – officially or otherwise – to shop for online bargains over their place of work’s high-speed internet.

So Cyber Monday got to be a thing. It’s not as big of a thing as it used to be.

Black Friday is also a bit of an odd day for blogging or pretty much anything normal – particularly for those still in a turkey coma or trying to figure out how to deal with all the leftovers from the day before. And so this hop was born.

We’re also going to do just a bit to help some retail businesses – here at Reading Reality at least some of the bookish ones. I’m giving away the winner’s choice of a $15(US) gift card to either Amazon or the local bookstore of your choice, or $15(US) in books from the Book Depository. In order to do this there are just a couple of restrictions. For US entrants, the bookstore you choose needs to have an easy method for me to purchase your gift certificate online and get it sent to you. If you are outside the US, you need to be in a location that the Book Depository ships to (they don’t do Gift Certificates – maybe someday.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more terrific prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!



Holiday HOHOHO Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Holiday HOHOHO Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Holiday HOHOHO Giveaway Hop, hosted by Review Wire Media and Chatty Patty’s Place!

Even in this very strange year, it’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays. After all, the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday is next Thursday, one week from tomorrow! That’s close.

I’m just realizing that one of the few bright spots of this bizarre year is not having to hear holiday carols wherever I go. The downside, of course, is that there is no place TO go. Or at least there shouldn’t be.

Still, it’s that time of year again. Which in our house means picking up our annual turkey “boob” at the grocery store this weekend. (There’s only two of us, we don’t feed the cats people food, so a turkey breast is enough for us and we STILL have leftovers!)

Our annual discussion of what to trim that turkey boob with (as well as my annual preparations for the Black Friday Giveaway Hop) marks the holiday season as officially here in our house.

What about your house? What marks the opening of the holiday season for you? Answer in the rafflecopter for your chance to win either a $10 Amazon Gift Card (or the equivalent from your local Amazon) or $10 in books from the Book Depository. This giveaway is open to anyone anywhere that the Book Depository ships, so the U.S. and LOTS of other places!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more holiday prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


In Everything Give Thanks Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> In Everything Give Thanks Giveaway Hop

Welcome to In Everything Give Thanks Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

I think that if anyone had said, this time last year, that 2020 was going to go the way it has, we’d all have thought they were seriously out of their minds. Little did we know that anyone last year correctly predicting the course of this year would have to be the mythical Cassandra. The seer who was able to see the honest-to-goodness (or in this case mostly badness) future but was doomed or cursed that no one would ever believe her, at least not until it was much too late.

But still, there are things to be thankful for. Particularly the outcome of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. Also, that it’s finally over – even if there is still plenty of shouting yet to come. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel that is not an oncoming train. I’ll take it.

Here at Chez Reading Reality there are plenty of other things to be thankful for as well. It’s been a weird year, but so far, knock on wood, both the humans and the felines of our household are safe and healthy. The company that Galen works for converted to an all-virtual office a couple of years ago, and they are doing fine, so we’re fine in that regard as well. I’ll confess to being grateful that I’m not a working librarian during this crisis, which has been devastating for many in my profession. Hopefully things will finally turn the corner sometime next year.

We’re both introverts, so, it hasn’t been as difficult as it might have been for us to be stuck at home with each other. I think we’re also both grateful to be in this house and not some of the smaller apartments we’ve lived in over the years. I can think of at least one place we lived in where if we’d been quarantined there one of us would have jumped off the balcony by now.

Adopting George back in March was possibly the best thing we could have done. Not only did we give a feral kitten a good home, but he’s been terrific comic relief and just a joy to have in the family. And he’s so intent on cuddling that he’s gotten all of the other cats to play with him and cuddle with him – even if they still don’t cuddle with each other. But progress!

What about you? What are you thankful for at the start of this holiday season? Answer in the rafflecopter for a chance at the winner’s choice of either a $10 Amazon Gift Card (or the equivalent amount from your local Amazon equivalent) or $10 in Books from the Book Depository. This giveaway is open everywhere the Book Depository ships!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more great prizes be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop, hosted by  The Mommy Island & The Kids Did It!

The cat pictured in the hop image looks just like my first cat, Licorice. I still miss that cat. A lot, because he was with me through a lot. I still tear up just thinking about him.

But this is not a time for tears, or at least not for sad tears. The holidays are coming! And even though the days are getting shorter, the long dark night feels like it’s finally coming to an end.

This is a time for celebration, even if it is a socially-distanced one.

What would you most hope to see in your holiday stocking this year? Even if we celebrated Xmas, I can’t quite imagine hanging stockings from our mantel. George and Hecate would conspire to bring them down. It would be hilariously messy, but seriously not conducive to putting anything in them – not even coal. Especially not coal! Lucifer’s solid coal coat is gorgeous on him, but getting actual coal dust on everyone else would just be a disaster.

Yes, our cats rule our house. If you have pets in yours, is it any different?

But back to the hoped for contents of those holiday stockings. Let us know what you’re hoping for in your holiday stocking for a chance at my usual prize, the winner’s choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card (or equivalent from your country’s Amazon) or a book up to $10 from the Book Depository.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more wonderful holiday prizes, be sure to check out the other stops on this hop!

Thanks A Latte Giveaway Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Thanks a Latte Giveaway Hop

Welcome to Thanks a Latte Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

I don’t know about you, but I’m one of those “instant human, just add caffeine” people. But not coffee.

The first time I ever had a Chai Latte I thought I was in heaven. It was everything I wanted, hot tea with lovely spices, just the right amount of sweetness and just enough milk to add a smooth deliciousness. I was hooked!

I still don’t like coffee. Or coffee-type lattes. Not even mocha – as much as I love chocolate. I’ll drink coffee if I’m desperate for a serious jolt of caffeine, or if that’s all the caffeine available, but if there’s a tea option or especially a chai latte, that’s my drink of choice.  Hot or iced, chai latte is perfection.

But most people drink coffee. As that saying goes, one person’s drink is another person’s poison, or something like that. To each their own.

Tell me what your caffeine of choice is in the rafflecopter for a chance at your choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card or a book, up to $10, from the Book Depository. And THANKS A LATTE for reading and following Reading Reality!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more great prizes, caffeinated or otherwise, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.