Book Blogger Hop: April 28 – May 4

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop!
Hashtag: #BookBloggerHop

Book Blogger Hop

Grab the Logo!

Read the History and Rules of the Hop. This link also includes information on how to submit a question for the Hop and how to be a potential Host of the Hop!
 
What to Do:
1. Post on your blog answering this question:

Are you attending the Book Blogger Convention (aka Bea Bloggers) and/or Book Expo America in New York City in June? If not, will you participate in the online event called Armchair BEA?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name, Genre you review, and direct link to your post answering this week’s question; failure to do so will result in removal of your link).

3. Visit other blogs in the list, spending quality time getting to know the people you are visiting. Don’t just visit the post with the question, but click around and read some of the blogger’s other content, too! This Hop isn’t about the number of people you can visit, but the quality of each visit.
 

My answer:
Yes, I am going to both the Book Blogger Convention (BEA Bloggers) and Book Expo America! I missed it last year, but I went the previous year and had a blast. I’m looking forward to meeting some new bloggers and sharing our love of reading together! It should be a great time! If you would like to meet up, let me know! It’s going to be a fun week and I would love to see as many of you as I can!

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Linky List


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The Book Blogger Hop Returns!

UPDATE:  THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP OFFICIALLY ENDED AS OF 12/31/2012. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THE HOP OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS! YOUR SUPPORT IS MUCH APPRECIATED!!  –Jennifer

 

I have really, really missed the Book Blogger Hop. I’ve missed connecting with some other bloggers every week, reading your responses to the weekly prompt, and overall just getting to know all of you in the book blogging world.

So, I’m resurrecting the Book Blogger Hop back to what it was when I first started it. I hope you will join me!

About The Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop
In March of 2010, in response to what I thought was a void in the book blogging community, I started the Book Blogger Hop. I loved all of the #FF (Friday Follow) tweets on Twitter, where everyone spreads love to their favorite people in order to help them gain new followers. So I thought to myself – “How cool would it be to have something like that where fellow book bloggers could come and find new book blogs to follow, find new books to read, and gain more exposure for our blogs?” This CRAZY idea became the Book Blogger Hop!

The Book Blogger Hop is much more than just a “follow for a follow”. It’s about making friends. There are literally thousands of book bloggers around the world. It can seem like we are blogging in a bubble, constantly checking the same blogs over and over again. The Hop is about taking the time to make a quality visit to another blog, getting to know the person who is writing that blog, and seeing if you really *want* to follow that person! I am not a big fan of blindly following other blogs just to increase your follower numbers. There is no guarantee the people will come back. Just because they are “following” you doesn’t mean they’re reading your posts. How many times have you “dumped” the messages in your Google Reader account due to the daunting number of messages there are, many from blogs you “had” to follow (in order to participate in a hop, giveaway, etc). I’d much rather have a lower “follower” count and know that these people are following me because they WANT to follow me and not because they HAVE to. I like the knowledge that I’m connecting with people on more than just a “have to” level.

Many spinoffs of the Hop are around in different incantations and they each serve their own purpose. I feel that any way our community can continue to grow and get to know one another is a step in the right direction. The number of book bloggers continues to grow daily and it can be hard to make connections with like-minded people. So, the purpose of the Book Blogger Hop is a bit different than other Hops. We are here to build relationships and community; to find other bloggers we want to follow (and not just blindly following someone for the sake of following them); and to get to know our fellow book bloggers on a more personal level.

Logistics

I anticipate running the Hop from Saturdays-Fridays Fridays-Thursdays (beginning May 11, 2012) each week. It may go up on a Friday night or Saturday morning and end the following Friday night. There will be a weekly prompt like before, with a question for you to answer on your own blog, but I will not be policing the Hop. If I notice a spam link, I will delete it. If someone else brings a spam link to my attention and I can verify it, I will delete it.

What do I consider spam? If you enter your link in the linky but do not post on your blog answering the weekly question. I got a bit frustrated with the previous Hop due to the amount of complaints I was getting for people not abiding by these simple rules. So, it will be very easy. If you do not post and I find out about it, your link gets removed. I’m not going to e-mail you asking where your post is as it should be up when you enter your link. The post you link to on the linky list should be the direct link to your post answering the weekly question. Easy peasy. Harsh? I don’t think so. The rules are quite simple, really. And it will keep me sane. :)

You may be asking – what exactly IS a book blogger? Here’s MY take: Do you have a blog? Do you blog about books/authors? Do you write book reviews on your blog? Do you rave about books and authors on your blog? Is your blog content primarily about books? Then you are most likely considered a book blogger and are welcome to participate in this Hop!

Things in my life are still a bit crazy so I may call on some guest hosts from time to time just to keep things fun. I will keep you informed if that happens. If you are interested in possibly being a guest host, please fill out the form HERE.

Weekly Prompts

I need your help! Do you have a great question that you would like to ask your fellow bloggers? Remember: it has to be universal to all bloggers and not specific to any one genre! It can be something bookish, something more personal, or anything else! Please keep it G-rated for our younger bloggers, please! If you have a question, please submit it using this FORM. If your question is selected, I will give you credit during that week’s Hop.

Please click here for a list of the upcoming Hop questions!

Hop Posts

Please click HERE for the latest Hop post (to be launched Saturday April 28, 2012 at 12am EST!)

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If you have any questions or suggestions for the Hop, please e-mail me at jennifer@crazy-for-books.com. Thank you for your support and patience during the 6 month Hop hiatus!

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Book Review: Not in the Heart by Chris Fabry


Not in the Heart
by Chris Fabry
Publication Date: January 2012
Tyndale House Publishers
ISBN: 978-1414348612
424 pages

About the Book

Truman Wiley used to report news stories from around the world, but now the most troubling headlines are his own. He’s out of work, out of touch with his family, out of his home. But nothing dogs him more than his son’s failing heart.

With mounting hospital bills and Truman’s penchant for gambling his savings, the situation seems hopeless . . . until his estranged wife throws him a lifeline—the chance to write the story of a death row inmate, a man convicted of murder who wants to donate his heart to Truman’s son.

As the execution clock ticks down, Truman uncovers disturbing evidence that points to a different killer. For his son to live, must an innocent man die? Truman’s investigation draws him down a path that will change his life, his family, and the destinies of two men forever.

My Thoughts

Truman Wiley is a haunted man. Separated from his wife, daughter, and ailing son, and coping with an out-of-control gambling addiction, Truman accepts an assignment to write the story of a death row inmate named Terrell Conley. The twist? The inmate has agreed to give his heart to Truman’s son, who will die without a heart transplant.

Truman is one of those characters you love to hate. I did not like him one bit. He is estranged from his wife. His daughter barely tolerates him. And his son just wants his father. Whenever Truman has the opportunity to right a wrong, he does the opposite of what he should do – he runs to the casino. I wanted to reach into the pages and slap him a few times! But, I think the author painted the picture this way so the reader could see the story of Truman’s growth throughout the novel. It was painstakingly slow and for every step forward he seemed to take two steps back, but isn’t that the case with addiction? I think his character was very realistic.

Throughout the novel, there are discussion of faith, especially from Truman’s wife and from Terrell, the death row inmate, who has developed a very strong faith during the course of his prison stay and ultimate death row sentence. Truman listens to these conversations as he needs to to help him write Terrell’s story and promptly dismisses them as they pertain to his own life.

As Truman works through the details of the case, he begins to wonder if the man is really guilty of the crime of which he is convicted. But if Truman proves the man’s innocence, what will that mean for his son? But can he let an innocent man die? Can he let his son die? Despite all his faults, Truman does love his family and ultimately wants to reconcile with them.

The end of this book was a complete surprise that I did not see coming. It was definitely worth the ride. This was my first Chris Fabry book, but it definitely will not be my last.

One-liner: Gritty, emotion-packed, and with a character that you love to hate, Not in the Heart is a roller coaster ride from beginning to end.

Final Rating

*****

 

Blog Tour: The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

The Wedding Dress
by Rachel Hauck
Publication Date: April 3, 2012
Thomas Nelson Publishers
ISBN: 978-1595549631
352 pages

About the Book:

Four brides. One Dress.

A tale of faith, redemption, and timeless love.

Charlotte owns a chic Birmingham bridal boutique. Dressing brides for their big day is her gift . . . and her passion. But with her own wedding day approaching, why can’t she find the perfect dress…or feel certain she should marry Tim?

Then Charlotte discovers a vintage dress in a battered trunk at an estate sale. It looks brand-new-shimmering with pearls and satin, hand-stitched and timeless in its design. But where did it come from? Who wore it? Who welded the lock shut and tucked the dog tags in that little sachet? Who left it in the basement for a ten-year-old girl? And what about the mysterious man in the purple vest who insists the dress had been “redeemed.”

Charlotte’s search for the gown’s history-and its new bride-begins as a distraction from her sputtering love life. But it takes on a life of its own as she comes to know the women who have worn the dress. Emily from 1912. Mary Grace from 1939. Hillary from 1968. Each with her own story of promise, pain, and destiny. And each with something unique to share. For woven within the threads of the beautiful hundred-year-old gown is the truth about Charlotte’s heritage, the power of courage and faith, and the timeless beauty of finding true love.

True Beauty Giveaway and Author Chat

What is “true” beauty? Join the conversation at Rachel’s Author Chat Party Event Page. On the eventing of 4/19 we’ll gather to talk about inner and outer beauty and share moments of beauty in our lives.

In the meantime, celebrate with Rachel by entering her True Beauty Giveaway!

One “beautiful” winner will receive:

  • A $200 Visa Cash Card (Treat yourself to a spa day or weekend get-away!)
  • The Wedding Dress (by Rachel Hauck)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 4/18/12. Winner will be announced at Rachel’s “True Beuaty” Author Chat Facebook Party on 4/19. Rachel will be hosting an evening of beauty (inner/outer) chat, fun trivia, laughter, and encouragement – bring your friends! She’ll also be giving away some GREAT prizes:
gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club and a live chat with Rache via Skype.)

So grab a few of your friends and your copy of The Wedding Dress and join Rachel on the evening of April 19th for an evening of fun.

Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter

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 19th!

About the Author

Rachel Hauck is the bestselling author of Carol Award winner Sweet Caroline, and RITA Finalist Love Starts With Elle, and of the critically acclaimed fiction collaboration with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, The Songbird Novels.

She lives in sunny, though sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and their ornery pets.

Rachel earned a degree in Journalism form Ohio State University and is a huge Buckeyes football fan. She is the past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and now sits on the board as an Advisor. Visit her web site at www.rachelhauck.com to read her blog, and to follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Review to come soon!

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Book Blogger Hop – Guest Hosts

My life has been a bit of a crazy mess lately, so I apologize for the absence of the Book Blogger Hop the last couple of months. In order to rectify this, I would like to offer a solution. Is there anyone interested in guest hosting the Hop on a weekly or monthly basis? Whoever hosts would be responsible for maintaining the linky, posing a question to engage community, answering questions, etc. I will be available for assistance should it be necessary and will promote whomever is hosting each week.

So, I need to find out how many people are interested in doing this so I can determine how many guest hosts I can accommodate and when.

If you are interested, please fill out the form below and I will be in touch! Thanks so much!

NOTE: I would prefer hosts to be those who have previously, actively, participated in the Hop. Thank you.

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