"Chasing Mona Lisa" Book Review and Giveaway

First, I am excited to announce the winner of Married Mom, Solo Parent is Say What?, fellow MilSpouse and mom of two boys! 

I really wish I could give a book to each one who entered, but I don't think the Soldier would go for that! If you are a mom who has a husband who is gone a lot - for whatever reason - please consider getting a copy of this book by Carla Anne Coroy. You can read my review and what it has meant to me here.

And before I get really excited and forget to mention it, there is still time to enter an iPod Touch Spy Pack and you won't want to miss the Facebook party and live author chat!

On to the main business...

Let's just say, I have never met a Tricia Goyer book I didn't love! My teenagers feel the same way, so I am very thankful to have been provided with an extra copy to giveaway. I know I won't see mine again until the 16 year old is done with it!

About the book:

It is August 1944 and Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, they ravage the country, stealing countless pieces of art. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all, the Mona Lisa, as a post-war bargaining chip to get him to South America. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue DaVinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands?

With nonstop action, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get readers' adrenaline pumping as they join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh country chateau, the race is on - and the runners are playing for keeps.

Read an excerpt, watch a video and find out more here. 

My thoughts:

Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey make a great team! It is not everyday you can read a book that is co-authored and not be able to see the 'seams'. Each chapter flows effortlessly and with no uncomfortable transitions.

But the main reason I love anything by Tricia? I am a stickler for historical accuracy and I so appreciate all of the research and time that she puts into her books. Chasing Mona Lisa is no different.

Chasing Mona Lisa is the second book (stand alone) in the story of Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler. They will take you on a journey through Paris, during the liberation of France, on their quest to rescue the Mona Lisa, with a few surprises along the way. 

Filled with everything a good book needs - romance, mystery, deception and a kidnapping for good measure - Chasing Mona Lisa will keep you up all night reading. You won't be able to put it down!

About the authors:

Tricia Goyer is the co-author of The Swiss Courier as well as the author of many other books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Arkansas. For more about Tricia and her other books visit www.triciagoyer.com

 

Mike Yorkey is the author or co-author of dozens of books, including The Swiss Courier and the bestselling Every Man's Battle series. Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family currently reside in California. For more about Mike and his other books visit www.mikeyorkey.com 

Want to see what others are saying about Chasing Mona Lisa? Click here for the blog tour line-up!

And last, but not least, the giveaway!

How to enter:

1. Main entry - Leave a comment answering this question: If you were a spy, what cool spy 'gadget' would you most want?

Bonus entries - You must leave a separate comment for each in order for it to count!

2. Like "Our Crazy Life" on Facebook (or if you already do, leave a comment letting me know!)

3. Share this post on Facebook - or any other social networking site using the "Share the Love" buttons below the post. One Bonus entry per 'share', make sure to leave a comment for each entry! (P.S. You can share 1x a day for each site!)

4. Follow me on Google Friend Connect (or if you already do, leave a comment letting me know!)

5. Add my button to your blog (Worth two entries, leave two comments!)

Make sure you leave a way to contact you, either by having your reply-to email address set or by leaving your email address in your posts.

Contest will end Thursday, 2/6/2012, at 10:00 pm CST and the winner will be chosen by a random number generator.

The winner will be mailed a copy of Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey's Chasing Mona Lisa via media mail.

*Fine Print: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed are all mine and I was not required to give a positive review.

I hope you win! ;)

Love,

What's Your Song? "Sweet Afton"

Yesterday, the Soldier finally got his first post-deployment surgery. It began the long process of repairing his feet so he can continue to serve (um, and walk). He will be at home for the next four weeks (driving me crazy) until he can drive and go back to work. Poor guy is miserable and didn't sleep well last night, but he is looking forward to being pain free.

Since I now need a nap (and in honor of Robert Burn's birthday yesterday), my song for today is "Sweet Afton", sung by one of my favorite tenors, John McDermott.


Excuse me while I go curl up and snooze on the couch a while :)

Link up with Goodnight Moon for this week's What's Your Song?

Love,

Win an iTouch SPY Pack in the Chasing Mona Lisa Giveaway

I will be reviewing this book on the 28th, but wanted to let you know about the contest and Facebook party. Check them out and then come back on Saturday to enter to win a copy for yourself! And don't miss my current contest for a copy of "Married Mom, Solo Parent".

Chasing Mona Lisa is the continuing tale of Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler (first introduced in The Swiss Courier). This time the due are on a relentless quest to save the most famous painting in the world  - the Mona Lisa. You can help Gabi and Eric with your very own spy pack when you enter The Chasing Mona Lisa Giveaway!

One passionate protector will receive:

• iTouch (The must-have device for any spy. Camera, Maps & Music.)
• Starbucks Gift Card (For all those late nights.)
• Moleskin Notebook (For those important notes.)
• Invisible Ink Pen (Don’t want anyone reading those important notes.)
• Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey (Great handbook and intriguing tale for any spy-in-training!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on January 31st. The winner will be announced at the Chasing Mona Lisa Facebook Party on 1/31. Tricia and Mike will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from Tricia's website) and giving away their books and a Book Club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club AND a LIVE Author Chat for your group with Tricia and Mike.)

So grab your copy of Chasing Mona Lisa and join Tricia and Mike on the evening of the 31st for an author chat, spy training (do you know how to pick a lock?) and lots of giveaways. 

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 31st!

Love, 

What's Your Song? Schoolhouse Rock

Please check out my giveaway for a chance to win a copy of "Married Mom, Solo Parent"!

It is freezing here (like -7) and there is more snow than I want to deal with. I was tempted to put up "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas", especially since Christmas was so nice I wore flipflops...

But, since we homeschool, no snow day for us! (I will admit to still being in my pajamas.)

Today, I am torturing my children with Schoolhouse Rock and I thought that "Three Ring Government" was appropriate for the circus that is going on in the political world.


Is it Friday yet?

Linking up with Goodnight Moon for "What's Your Song?"

Love,

Semi Wordless Wednesday - Brrrr....

(While you are here, don't miss my giveaway for a copy of "Married Mom, Solo Parent" by Carla Anne Coroy!)

This makes me want to do this... 

This Georgia girl needs to go back to the land of flip flops!

Stay warm :) 

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday:

"Married Mom, Solo Parent" Review & Giveaway

I know I have been MIA again and I apologize. I haven't any great or exciting excuses either. Life is crazy with six kids. It just is. No matter how I plan or organize or dream otherwise. Between the dance recitals and the 18 year old falling and breaking her nose and four children sharing the stomach bug with the Soldier and I the week before Christmas, I just haven't had time for anything except coping. 

Yes, I am showering and even leaving the house, just in case you were wondering.

I have kinda been keeping up on my free ebook page. If you have missed it with the new format, you can find it here.

If you have ever been by before, you will know I love to read. I enjoy doing book reviews and sharing them with my faithful readers by giving them away. However, I tend to lean toward fiction. Give me a good book (preferably set in Scotland or Ireland) that I can immerse myself in for a few hours - and escape the dirty house and whining children - and I am happy.

I am not as excited about parenting or 'self help' books. I dread picking up a book where some woman (who is perfect and so are her children, I know because she spends half the book telling us so) preaches to me on what I am doing wrong and how she wants me to fix it, or on the other side - a book where I may have to look deep inside and admit that I need to change and do things differently (gasp!). 

That is probably the main reason this book sat on my dresser for longer than I will admit...

From the publisher: Bookstore shelves are full of parenting resources for moms who are newly divorced or widowed. But where do moms turn if they feel like a single parent--but they’re not? Whether he is away on business, deployed in the military, or obsessing over a computer game, dad may not be available for a variety of reasons. Moms who parent in this situation still need help and don’t necessarily relate to the advice given in divorce recovery or single parenting resources.

Married Mom, Solo Parent is a common-sense, down-to-earth look at the struggles wives and mothers face when their husband is not actively involved in family life. Writing from her own experience as a married single mom, Carla Anne Coroy will help wives and mothers sort through their questions, such as: Can I do this alone? How do I raise kids to honor their father? How do I give my children a healthy perspective of marriage if they never see one in action? With practical suggestions, anecdotes, and biblical teaching, this book will encourage moms to see their position as a high calling, to find healing for their worries and frustrations, and to tap into God’s strength for help in facing the daily challenge of being a married mom, solo parent.

Read a sample here.

The Soldier and I have been married for almost 20 years, but he hasn't been a Soldier for all of them. In fact, he had a pretty successful job when he joined the National Guard and living the military life has been a major adjustment for all of us. One thing that didn't change a whole lot was him being gone. In his civilian career, he would be gone for weeks or months at a time working on projects. In fact, he missed the last four months of my last pregnancy, just coming home in time for the delivery. While I got big and round and parented five children, he was taking ferries all over Alaska and eating out with his coworkers every night. At that point, I really wanted to trade places... 

I agreed to review this book because a) I love to read; b) I thought it would be a great giveaway for my MilSpouse friends. I had no idea that I was 'chosen' to review this book because I needed it so desperately. 

Through the good, the bad and the ugly, Carla Anne Coroy takes you through step by step and asks (and answers!) the really tough questions that we are all afraid to ask. She isn't the perfect woman telling you what you should be doing, but the one willing to share her story - mistakes, hurts and all. 

With chapters like "Emotional Divorce", "Those Should Be His Chores!", "Discipline Divided" and "Give Me a Break", you will learn biblical ways to face the emotions and struggles that come with being a "Married Mom, Solo Parent". I really appreciated how everything Carla Anne tackles is backed by scripture (and not preachy). 

This book hit me hard. Carla Anne answered questions and addressed hurts I didn't even know I had. I went through emotions that I have been stuffing for a long time. I will be reading it again - this time with a highlighter - and taking notes. There are even chapters I will be reading with the Soldier.

If your husband is in the military and deploying or training for long periods of time or he works away from home a lot or even if he has just 'checked out' of his roles as husband and father, this book is for you. You won't regret reading it and you may just finish with a new perspective and a changed attitude. I did. 

Don't miss Carla Anne Coroy's website. You can even download a free journal and study guide. (I love free.) 

Now for the giveaway!

  

How to enter:

1. Main entry - Leave a comment letting me know you want to win! 
Note: If you just can't wait for the contest to end to get your own copy of this book, you can still be a winner. Go ahead and enter and if your name is chosen, forward me your receipt from Amazon or other retailer and I will send you an $10 Amazon gift card instead! 
P.S. I would love it if you would shop through my link ;)  Click here for the Kindle version of "Married Mom, Solo Parent" and start reading it now!

Bonus entries - You must leave a separate comment for each in order for it to count!

2. Like "Our Crazy Life" on Facebook (or if you already do, leave a comment letting me know!)

3. Share this post on Facebook - or any other Social Networking Site using the "Share the Love" buttons below the post. One Bonus entry per 'share', make sure to leave a comment for each entry! (P.S. You can share 1x a day for each site!)

4. Follow me on Google Friend Connect (or if you already do, leave a comment letting me know!)

5. Add my button to your blog (Worth two entries, leave two comments!)
 
6. Like Carla Anne Coroy on Facebook.

Make sure you leave a way to contact you, either by having your reply-to email address set or by leaving your email address in your posts.

Contest will end Thursday, 1/26/2012, at 10:00 pm CST and the winner will be chosen by a random number generator.

The winner will be mailed a copy of Carla Ann Coroy's "Married Mom, Solo Parent" via media mail.

*Fine Print: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed are all mine and I was not required to give a positive review.

Linking up for Military Monday at Semper Wifey's!