Monday, June 30, 2014

Sizzling HOT Summer Reads Blog Hop - July 1st thru 15th!


Hosted by A Bookish Escape and Lily Bloom Books

Welcome to the Sizzling HOT Summer Reads Blog Hop and Kimber's Life. I'm so happy you stopped by.

My hubby's an outdoor lover so he especially loves the summer. I love it too but bright sun and pale skin don't actually mix so well. I try to keep up with him as long as I have my sunglasses, my sunscreen and any type of shade. (LOL)

Humidity is another factor that even he doesn't take so well. A few years back we were all set to get an in-ground swimming pool installed but a couple days after all the accessories had been decided upon, a freak storm appeared in PA and decided to flood us in a no flood zone.  So needless to say, that squashed that idea at least for now.

We hope to move some day where we have some property and we don't live in town. This way my husband can have in own shooting range and I can have my in-ground swimming pool with no neighbors to bother us.

So until that I time I need to find other ways of filling my summer days. One is writing and the other is reading. My giveaway is for an ebook  "Alpha" by Jasinda Wilder.  This way I can send you a  little heat to help fill your Summer days. 






Amazon Excerpt:
The first time it happened, it seemed like an impossible miracle. Bills were piling up, adding up to more money than I could ever make. Mom's hospital bills. My baby brother's tuition. My tuition. Rent. Electricity. All of it on my shoulders. And I had just lost my job. There was no hope, no money in my account, no work to be found. And then, just when I thought all hope was lost, I found an envelope in the mail. No return address. My name on the front, my address. Inside was a check, made out to me, in the amount of ten thousand dollars. Enough to pay the bills and leave me some left over to live on until I found a job. Enough to let me focus on classes. There was no name on the check, just "VRI Inc.," and a post office box address for somewhere in the city. No hint of identity or reason for the check or anything. No mention of repayment, interest, nothing...except a single word, on the notes line: "You." Just those three letters. If you receive a mysterious check, for enough money to erase all your worries, would you cash it? I did. The next month, I received another check, again from VRI Incorporated. It too contained a single word: "belong." A third check, the next month. This time, two words. Four letters. "To me." The checks kept coming. The notes stopped. Ten thousand dollars, every month. A girl gets used to that, real quick. It let me pay the bills without going into debt. Let me keep my baby brother in school and Mom's hospice care paid for. How do you turn down what seems like free money, when you're desperate? You don't. I didn't. And then, after a year, there was a knock on my door. A sleek black limousine sat on the curb in front of my house. A driver stood in front of me, and he spoke six words: "It's time to pay your debt." Would you have gotten in? I did. It turns out $120,000 doesn't come free. 


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Friday, June 20, 2014

Midsummer's Eve Giveaway


Hosted by I’m a Reader, Not a writer.

I think this summer is going to be a rough one, emotionally but I’m planning to live every day doing something I love, whether it’s reading, writing, crocheting, creating, gardening, watching movies, bike riding, grilling out or lounging by a non-existing pool, I’m taking advantage of each day.  Many summers (it never fails), I envy the teaching profession.  How wonderful it must be to have the entire summer off but of course I know I could have taken on this profession myself. But I decided to enter the law field and look where that has led me. Now I’m trying to live a dream by writing and designing.  I can’t make a living at it yet but I sure enjoy making it a part of my everyday life.

I want to encourage you to make a special goal or plan for this summer. Make it a truly enjoyable one.  Life flies by so fast, that we never know when it may be our last summer.  LIVE IT & ENJOY IT!
My giveaway for this hop is for a $15 Amazon card. 

I hope you will take the time to stay in touch this summer. Watch my blog for more future hops, giveaways, reviews, updates, deals and book blasts. I currently have this giveaway and another going.

Be sure to search for novels by Kimber Shook and check out my Etsy shop: Kimber Shook’s Designs.

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Summer Lovin' Blog Hop - $75 Amazon Gift Card Grand prize



Welcome to the Summer Lovin’ Blog Hop hosted by Romance Blog Hops.

Make sure you stop by each blog for a chance of winning something from each one plus:
The Grand Prizes will be:
One $75 Amazon Gift Card
One $25 Starbucks Gift Card (Donated by
 Sue Lyndon!)
One $25 Amazon (or Barnes and Noble) Gift Card (Donated by
 Denisea Kampe!)

Romance - what kind of a life would we have without it? A boring one of course! I’m getting back in the swing of things again and it’s a rough road. If you’re familiar with me, you know that I have had a really rough last month.  (Actually rough past year and really bad last month if you want to get technical) What is a good way to get your mind off of such things?  Romance and if your husband isn't filling the need, then the next best thing is finding a Romance Novel and diving right in.

My giveaway for this hop is for a $10 Amazon gift certificate.  So make sure you enter both Rafflecopter Giveaways. I hope you enjoy the rest of your hop and remember to keep coming back to Kimber’s life for more giveaways, deals  and updates.

Grand Prizes Giveway


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Kimber's Life Giveaway
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Thursday, June 19, 2014

Author Support Blog Hop - You're not alone!


This is an author support blog post hosted by Sharon Bayliss.

I began writing years ago and over the last few years, I was determined to put my dream of becoming a writer into motion.  I have also learned over the years it is a lot harder to do this alone.  Self-published authors need support from their friends, family, other self-published authors and readers. I published my first novel, Destiny Unhinged in June of 2012.  I had every intention of keep going but life just kept  getting in the way.  Migraines overwhelmed me.  I guess the age of 40 things go downhill fast.  Just when I thought I was back in the game, my brother was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in July 2013.  So again, how do I continue doing what I love most when my spare time was helping out with my brother, something I would never change in a million years.  At this same time, my girlfriend got progressively worse due to her Diabetes.  Let me tell you, life just keeps hitting me where it counts and it sucks!!

What I have discovered is that Writing makes me happy.  It gives me a purpose to keep working at my full time job so eventually I can get my debt paid off and be financially sound where I could possible write full-time as a career. I have had many setbacks but I still continue to forge ahead.  Last September I started an Etsy shop, Kimber Shook’s Designs.  Another passion of mine is crocheting.  I had created several crocheted ornaments and tried to get the patterns published a few years prior but with no luck.  I found that focusing on creating something that I was good at, help filled the void where my writing was missing.  Again, this took time but concentration was not as critical since I have been crocheting since I was 8, I could do it mindlessly (well almost...). In December 2013, I published my first Crochet book -Christmas Ornaments to Crochet & Embellish. 

I am still working on Inevitable (Destiny Unhinged #2), which I was hoping to get finished and published by August 2014, but again Life wanted to put me back into perspective again.  My girlfriend passed away on May 18th at the age of 43.  It broke my heart when I got the call from her daughter.  Again, I question why do I keep going? Bam! Again without any recovery from my girlfriend's passing, my brother took a turn for the worst at the end of that same week and by the following Tuesday, he was being taken by ambulance from a hospital to a Hospice center.  Unfortunately, with an already broken heart, my heart crumbled to fragments, when he passed away at the age of 42 on June 4th.

Again, I am falling back into place with my love of writing.  I need this for myself to fill the void in my heart.  I love this; it occupies my time and it  thrills me knowing I’m following a passion that I have always had.  I have learned in my past never to take anything for granted.  Bless those around you and love them like there is no tomorrow.  I can’t live with my head buried in the sand. I need to trudge forth and make my life fulfilled and know this is a worthwhile adventure in the book of life, my life - Kimber Shook.

I encourage you to continue to do the same.  Life does get in the way of making your dreams come true but you just pick yourself back up and continue on.  If you want your life to be different, it is not going to magicially happen.  You need to grab Life by two hands and don’t let go.

If you would like a little shout out and help along the way, this is what this post is for.  Let me get to know you and how I can help.  I can do a blog post and a tweet.  I can give you encouragement when you think you’re not going to make it.  Just know, you are not alone. If you want to swap some book swag, I would love to share it with my upcoming blog hop giveaways. 

Please continue on with your journey and enjoy your day.



Monday, June 16, 2014

$229 Giveaway – Kindle Fire or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash

Enter to win 1 of 2 great prizes. Winner’s choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash!

The first prize is available via the rafflecopter below. The 2nd is available only to bloggers who post about this giveaway. You can find info on how to enter the 2nd giveaway in the rafflecopter.

June Kindle Fire

 
Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)






The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)

 

Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

 

Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

 

Sponsors

I Am A Reader
Feed Your Reader
Author Rachael Anderson
Author Karey White
Chelsea Author Promotions
Illusio & Baqer
BookReviewsAndGiveaways
Author Alecia Stone
Lori's Reading Corner
Author Inger Iversen
Shelf of Imagination
Candace's Book Blog
Where The Broken Lie by Derek Rempfer
Helen Smith (author)
Christine's Blog
Reviews from a Bookworm
More Than a Review
Tressa's Wishful Endings
Pieces of Whimsy
Laurie Treacy, Author
The Loopy Librarian
Author Dorothy Dreyer
Author Deanna Lynn Sletten
Author Steven Brown
Claudia Burgoa
Launching Sisters to WitchCamp
Rhiannon Paille
Author Amanda Tru
Melissa McClone, Author
Author Michelle Merrill
Author M. Kircher
Author A&E Kirk
Author Melissa Lemon
My Story That I Like Best
Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf
J.L. Weil
Maia Sepp
Luthando Coeur
Making it Happen
Jennifer Laurens Author
Extraordinary Reads
Grimmtastic Girls series: Snow White Lucks Out (tween)

 

Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Giveaway here:

http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups

 

Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International).

There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7", $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash.

Ends 7/15/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Sunday, June 15, 2014

A Night Owl - June $100 Target Gift Card Giveaway

I found this giveaway on a blog I love and I wanted to share it!


http://anightowlblog.com/2014/06/june-100-target-gift-card-giveaway.html

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Shades of Chaos - 9 first-in-series Post-Apocalyptic future books from 6 great authors - only 99 cents!

I was on my facebook page and discovered a post by Megan Duncan.  I just love this girl! She is in cahoots with 5 other authors, another being Alexis Purdy (another favorite of mine.)  Six great authors (2 of them I know for a fact are amazing) are bringing together 9 first-in-a-series post-apocalyptic future books, all for only .99 cents.

I just had to share this amazing deal with everyone.

I am alive by Cameron Jace
Initiation by Katie Salidas
Dissension by Katie Salidas
Finding Hope by Chrystalla Thoma
Rex Rising by Chrystalla Thoma
Resonant by Alexis Purdy
Reign of Blood by Alexis Purdy
Released by Megan Duncan
Burning Bridges by Nadege Richards 

Shades of Chaos 99 Cent deal on Amazon:


Shades of Chaos Facebook page:

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shades-of-Chaos/880015105346630


Shades of Chaos Giveaway:



Sunday, June 1, 2014

Jumping Genres In June Giveaway Hop



     It’s been awhile since I've been involved with a Hop so please bear with me.  I’ve had some major issues in my life that have prevented me to conducting this blog more consistently and efficiently but I’m working to get my “mojo” back.
     My favorite genres today are sci-fi and fantasy.  Many moons ago, when I was in my teens, I loved Romance novels.  Johanna Lindsey and Heather Graham were my favorites.  I took several years off and then when my daughter had gotten into Harry Potter, I started on this type of genre.  I wanted to read Harry Potter so I could actually converse with my daughter on the subject. Of course it also helped when I took her to see the movies.
     My girlfriend from work gave me a book a few years ago and I must say it was totally out of my norm.  Water for Elephants by Sara Guren.  Totally not in any of my genres I have read in the past but let me tell you what a wonderful book and by no means a disappointment.
     This same great friend also introduced me to The Giver by Lois Lowry another great book that was totally not in my genre, but I loved it all the same.  (Little disappointed with the end but I will leave it at that.)
     What I am trying to say, every time I have switched to a different genre, it has been a good experience. Of course a recommendation from a great friend is always helpful. 
     Trust me I have read my share of my favorite genre and haven’t been able to finish the book.  Talk about a huge disappointment but this is coming from authors who are actually published by a publisher.  Please do not fear the disappointment from a self-published author.  I speak from experience when I say this. It takes guts for them to live out a dream and get their work out there for the world to read.  Many I have run across have been quite fantastic - Georgia Cates, Emily Casey, Megan Duncan, KC King.
     I urge you to take the chance!