Interview with Marjorie Price and Giveaway!

I am pleased to welcome Marjorie Price, author of A Gift From Brittany, to The Book Chick today! If you missed my review of her book yesterday, you can read it here. Make sure that after you've read the interview, you enter the giveaway to win a copy of her book!

The Book Chick: You are both a writer and a painter. Do you find it difficult to pursue both careers simultaneously?
Marjorie Price: So far, I have never been able to commit myself entirely to both at the same time. While I was writing my memoir, A Gift from Brittany, I was totally absorbed — I should say obsessed — by it and had put aside my painting. I did continue to sketch from the live model and produced an occasional watercolor, but I didn’t attempt large canvases or become involved in a series of paintings, which I usually do when I’m painting. After I finished the book, and after I found an agent and a publisher, I began another book. But when I was offered a large exhibition of the Bathers series of my paintings, I couldn’t refuse. For a short time, I tried juggling both, but soon found it too distracting. Reluctantly I put aside the writing to devote myself to preparing for the show. Almost immediately, I found myself completely absorbed — or should I say, obsessed — by the paintings. I had to produce all new work and just barely finished the last few paintings in time for shipping them to the gallery and the opening. The truth is that I love to paint. And I love to write. What a dilemma!

TBC: What will you do now that your show of Bathers has opened? Will you keep on painting or return to the writing project you left unfinished?
MP: I wish I knew the answer to that question. I know I want to continue the book I started. But I don’t want to abandon my painting. I think I need to step back for a while and see what will happen.

TBC: Does your writing nourish your painting or visa versa?
MP: It’s a mysterious process. I believe everything we do nourishes the rest. I think my experience in theater in college (I was a Speech and Drama major at Stanford University) enriched my writing and perhaps helps me to express a kind of theatricality in my painting. I studied modern dance for years. Perhaps the understanding of the body I acquired in dancing enhanced my ability to draw from the model. Certainly my lifelong passion for swimming and synchronized swimming invigorated my painting and gave birth to the Bathers series.

TBC: Do you believe it’s necessary to engage in many activities to be a successful writer or painter?
MP: No. I think each writer’s or painter’s method is different and equally valid. There are as many ways of creating art as there are artists. Some artists never leave their backyard and create masterpieces. Others venture into the new and unknown to find their inspiration. Each artist finds a way of expressing his or her own, unique vision.

Thank-you so much for taking the time to stop by and answer my questions! Now, onto the giveaway: one lucky person will win a copy of A Gift For Brittany! To enter:

1. Leave me a comment and let me know why you want to win A Gift For Brittany. Please include your e-mail address in your comment, so that I have a way to contact you if you win. No e-mail= no entry!

2. *Bonus Entry* For 1 bonus entry, become a follower of this blog on Google Friend Connect. Please leave me a seperate comment letting me know that you follow. Current followers are eligible as well- just leave a seperate comment letting me know that you already do!

3. *Bonus Entry* For 1 bonus entry, spread the word about this giveaway. You can Tweet about it, blog about it, add it to your sidebar or Facebook about it, just be sure to leave me a seperate comment and let me know what you did.

This contest runs until May 20, 2010 at midnight. Winners will be notified after that date by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond. This contest is open to those with a US or Canadian address, no PO Boxes please! Good luck!

Review: "A Gift From Brittany" by Marjorie Price

It's the 1960's, and Marjorie Price does something incredibly daring for her time. She decides to leave her home with her family in Chicago to pursue her passion- art- in Paris, France. While she's there, studying art and seeing the sights, she meets and falls in love with Yves, a French painter. The two quickly marry and soon give birth to their daughter, Danielle. Marjorie and Yves begin looking for a home on the French seaside, somewhere small and quiet where they can escape from Paris for the summers and paint, but instead they end up owning half of a hamlet in the Breton countryside, in the little town of Brittany. They befriend the villagers, who dress in black, speak an ancient language, farm their own land, and shun television.

When Yves begins to change drastically- he flies into violent rages and forbids Marjorie to paint- their marriage begins to unravel and Marjorie moves to their home in Brittany to oversee the renovations on her own, taking Danielle with her. It is the unexpected friendship that she forms with Jeanne, a villager in her 70's who has lived in Brittany her whole life, that will help Marjorie to weather the emotional storms ahead.

A Gift From Brittany pays homage to a time and a place removed from the hustle and bustle of the world now. Life seemed so much simpler in Brittany- neighbors helped neighbors, church was still a priority, and sitting in front of the television wasn't an option for entertainment. Towards the end of the book Marjorie begins to mourn the loss of this way of life, as even Brittany caught up with the times eventually.

The friendship between Marjorie and Jeanne is what made this book so special. Despite the fact that Marjorie is in her early 30's when she meets Jeanne, they form a special bond. Jeanne is able to help Marjorie put things, especially difficult things, into perspective, and she is the one who helps Marjorie adjust to life in the country. In return, Marjorie provides Jeanne with new experiences, and a few things that will help make life for Jeanne less difficult. Both of them are left with a lasting friendship, one that will remain long after Marjorie leaves Brittany for good.

This was an enjoyable memoir, reminiscient of the way that things used to be. I greatly enjoyed reading about the people and the ways of Brittany, as well as the art that Marjorie created while in France, and recommend this to anyone who is either a fan of Marjorie Price's work, or of memoirs in general. Thank-you to the publicist for this review copy, and come back tomorrow for an interview with Marjorie Price as well as a giveaway!

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of Marjorie Price's art or art in general, memoir fans
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Each week we bookaholics share which books made their ways into our TBR piles the previous week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to towering TBR piles and staggering book-buying bills (and I know this from experience!).

Last week three new books made their way into my ever-growing TBR pile!

The first to arrive was Been There, Done That by Carol Snow. After reading, and loving, Carol Snow's latest Just Like Me, Only Better, I chose this book when I won Book Reviews From Inside an Igloo's 30 Follower Giveaway! Make sure that you check back here in May, as I will be hosting a similar giveaway myself to celebrate 150 followers!

Second to arrive was Michael Baron's latest The Journey Home. His previous book, Crossing The Bridge, was one of my first reviews in 2010, so I'm excited to read his newest about three people on their different searches for home. Thank-you to Lou at The Story Plant for this review copy!

The final arrival this week was Nora Robert's latest in her Bride Quartet series, Savor the Moment. Despite the fact that I haven't read any Nora Robert books in a very long time, I have a soft spot for weddings and am looking forward to reading this one. Thank-you to Bronwyn at Penguin Canada for this review copy!

That's it for me for this week- which new arrivals made their way into your mailboxes last week?

Sunday Salon

I've never participated in a Sunday Salon before, but it looks like fun, so I hope that I'm doing it right!

Despite the fact that it is raining in Ontario today, we managed to have a fun-filled family weekend. On Friday night we had a campfire in our backyard (one of the joys of living in the country is being able to have small, contained fires), and we let our boys stay up late to watch the stars and to "help" with the fire. Our youngest, J. (3 years old) is a firebug, so he had the most fun with that.

Yesterday my husband was working at an ATV outdoor expo, which included ATV races, so I took the boys up to see that. My oldest 2 (E., 10 and H., 4) enjoyed it the most, but J. was bored by the end. Regardless, there was lots to see, although the vendors didn't really like it when my boys wanted to sit on the ATV's on display, which is of course what they wanted to do the most, so we stayed in the stands and played until the final races began. The boys got to throw water balloons at the particpants in the "redneck races", which for them was the highlight of the day. When you're the only girl in a family of 5 you have to adapt, so I ended up quite enjoying myself as well. Then again, my idea of a good time is watching IHRA Drag Racing, so watching ATV's race wasn't that far of a stretch.

Okay, on to books!

What I'm Reading Now:
Rumour Has It by Jill Mansell (my favourite British chick lit author ever!)

What I Read Last Week:
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
On Folly Beach by Karen White (for an upcoming book tour)

What I Reviewed Last Week:
If You Follow Me by Malena Watrous (4 stars)
The Help by Kathryn Stockett (5 stars)
Love Nest by Julia Lllwellyn (4.5 stars)
The Summer Before the Storm by Gabriele Wills (4 stars)

Reviews I Need To Write:
On Folly Beach by Karen White

Current Giveaways:
Just Like Me, Only Better by Carol Snow (ends April 30, US/Can)
Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow (May 5, US/Can)

Review: "If You Follow Me" by Malena Watrous

After her father commits suicide, Marina makes the decision to follow her girlfriend to Japan to teach English for a year. She and her girlfriend, Carolyn, end up in the rural town of Shika together, where they share a small house despite the fact that Carolyn doesn't think that living together so early in their relationship is a good idea. The two teach at different schools, Carolyn at an elementary school and Marina at a highschool, and over their contracted year in Japan they quickly find out how different they are- from one another, and from those around them. Marina makes a friend who it turns out only wants her to tutor her children in English, and she also learns that she will never quite understand gomi law, a law regarding garbage disposal. She comes to understand why it is the teenagers at her school just don't care about learning, and she forms a friendship with her supervisor, Miyoshi-sensei. Ultimately, she must use her time in Japan to come to terms with her father's death and decide how she will let it affect her future.

If You Follow Me is an unconventional love story. It is brutally honest at times, and it offered a window into a culture that is so different from ours. The people in Marina's adopted town of Shika frown on throwing anything away. They have a system to sorting garbage that takes Marina a long time to learn, and she often needs help from her neighbors and supervisor to figure it out. What a difference from our wasteful culture, where we often throw out things that work perfectly well simply so that we can upgrade to the latest and greatest product!

The friendship that develops between Marina and her supervisor, Miyoshi, only served to enhance the story. When Marina's life is falling apart around her- she is having problems dealing with her father's death, and she and Carolyn are having problems in their relationship- soft-spoken Miyoshi, with his love of karyoke and English, is there to help her through it. He's so quiet and unassuming, yet plays a huge role in the book.

If You Follow Me was a story different from many than I've read. I enjoyed the cultural aspect of the book and I enjoyed the complicated friendships and humour. This is of those books that will stick in your mind after you're done simply because it finds a new way to tell an age-old story.

Thank-you to HarperCollins Canada for this review copy. You can browse inside this book here.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Armchair travellers, those looking for a different kind of love story
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Winners of "My Own Personal Soap Opera" by Libby Malin!!

Congratulations to the winners of a copy of My Own Personal Soap Opera by Libby Malin, courtesy of Sourcebooks:

Pam

rubynreba

Winners, please check your e-mails for an e-mail from me. Thank-you to everyone who entered!

Review: "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

I'm pretty sure that I'm the last book blogger on the planet to review this book, but after a lengthy library wait (darn all those people ahead of me in line!), I finally had a chance to read it. For the second time this month I read a book that I was a little afraid to read because I was afraid that it wouldn't live up to the hype, and for the second time this month I was not disappointed. Thank-you to all of you bloggers out there who brought this one to my attention with your reviews- you were spot on!

The Help is the story of three very different women living in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960's. Skeeter is a 22-year-old living with her parents on their cotton farm. Since she's from an affluent family, she belongs to the various elite societies and clubs in Jackson, but she yearns for more. She longs to become a writer, a real writer, and she isn't happy just settling into high society and marriage without another thought. Aibileen is the black maid to the Elizabeth Leefolt, one of Skeeter's best friends. She's still mourning the tragic and sudden loss of her son three years prior, and it breaks her heart that her employer Elizabeth dislikes her own daughter, Mae Mobley. Minny was the maid to elderly Miss Walter, but when Miss Walter's daughter, Hilly, puts her into a home, Minny is out of a job. With a drunk and abusive husband and five children at home she needs to find a new position, fast, but Hilly has spread false rumours around town that Minny is a thief, so Minny must take a risky job working for Jackson's social outcast, Miss Celia.

After a series of events that emphasizes how badly the black maids in Jackson are often treated, these three women come together to write a book that could change the lives of the maids forever. They must overcome adversity and put themselves at great risk to do so, but all three feel that it is a risk that must be taken.

The Help was eye-opening from the beginning. Written by Kathryn Stockett, a woman who actually grew up with a black maid in her home in Jackson, it offers a new perspective on how black people were often treated in the South in the 1960's. They often came in and raised the children, did the majority of the work and cooking, and were still treated like vermin, asked to use seperate toilets and dishes and tables so that their "diseases" were not caught. Stockett makes sure that she shows both sides of the story, though, and also tells stories of the maids who were treated like family along with those that were not.

The three fictional women portrayed in this book are often gentle, yet courageous, and use the power of their words rather than violence to effect social change. Written about a time when living in America could be hostile and even dangerous for black people, these women represent an important shift in perspective. A beautifully written book, this is one that everyone should take the time to both read and reflect on.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Anyone who enjoys well-written and thoughtful fiction
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010, 2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge

Winner of "The Life O'Reilly" by Brian Cohen!

Congratulations to the winner of a signed hardcover of The Life O'Reilly by Brian Cohen:

# 8 Margie!

Margie, check your e-mail!

Review: "Love Nest" by Julia Llewellyn

After Grace's beloved mother passes away she's forced to sell Chadlicote, their rambling mansion badly in need of repair, because she can't possibly fix everything. Gemma Meehan is desperate to get pregnant against the odds, and will do anything to make that possible, but they need to sell her husband's bachelor pad to make way for baby. Rising rock star Nick Crex is itching to get away from his high school sweetheart because she just doesn't fit with his new image. He starts looking into buying an apartment of his own, without her knowledge. Karen Drake, mother of two, didn't marry her husband because she loved him, but because he offered her the security that she was desperate for. Since her husband foudn out that he had and later beat cancer, everything has changed. He's pushing Karen to move with him into the country, which Karen despises, and Karen's going to have to re-evaluate if this is the life that she wants to lead. Finally, Lucinda thought that after graduating college she would be guaranteed a position in her father's successful business. He's thrown her for a loop, though, and refuses to take her on until she's obtained some job experience of her own. She's currently a realtor and she's desperate to prove her worth. And this is the Love Nest.

I was so excited to have the opportuntity to read chick lit by an author that I haven't heard of before. I love chick lit like I love chocolate (and I really love chocolate), and it's not often that I read chick lit by an author that I haven't read before. Isn't the cover gorgeous? I love how simple yet eye-catching it is. If I were browsing in the bookstore, this is a book that I would pick up simply because I love the cover.

I loved this one from the beginning. Every character had a personality and problems all their own, yet the different storylines managed to work well together. I had a few issues with keeping some of the characters straight in the beginning, specifically when Grace starts writing letters to a friend of hers who never appears in the book in person. Other than that small confusion, I really found that the characters were well defined and enjoyable to read about.

What I loved the most about this book was the unconventional ending. In general terms, most chick lit has a resiquite happy ending. Don't get me wrong- I love happy endings, and I know that when I pick up this genre of book I won't end up disappointed or sad at the end. Love Nest has a completely different ending. The character's stories are all wrapped up, but they don't necessarily end in the way that you think that they will. This isn't one of those well-I-could-see-that-coming-a-mile-away endings, and that is what sets Julia Llewellyn apart from some other chick lit authors that I've read. This is just one of the reasons that I will be seeking out her backlist titles.

Love Nest was a fun, highly entertaining read, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves chick lit or women's fiction. Thank-you to Penguin Canada for this review copy! You can read an excerpt of this book here.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of Marian Keyes, fans of chick lit in general
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010, 2010 Chick Lit Challenge

Review: "The Summer Before The Storm" by Gabriele Wills

It is 1914, and the priviledged Wyndham family is spending the summer at their cottage, Wyndwood, in Muskoka. Little do they know that this could be the last summer that they spend in idyllic bliss. Early on in the summer, a previously unknown cousin introduces himself to the family. Jack's father was disowned from the Wyndham's when he followed his heart and married an actress that his mother, the formidable Augusta Wyndham, did not approve of. Now that Jack's father has passed away, Jack makes himself known and is determined to become a part of the Wyndham legacy, one way or the other.

Spunky and headstrong Victoria Wyndham, Augusta's granddaughter, is spending the summer on the island as well. In between the festivals and the parties, she will find the time to assert her independance and fall in love with one of the Islanders- but which one will it be?

Everything changes with the onset of the Great War. Suddenly the Wyndham's friends, family, and acquaintances are going off to war and finding ways to get involved in the war effort from home, and they find that their lives are changed forever. Victoria finds herself on a journey across the sea to be with her future husband, but will tragedy find her there?

The Summer Before the Storm is a richly detailed, complex novel- one that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. The details have been painstakingly researched, and when Gabriele Wills described a scene or a home, I felt as if I was actually right there along the characters. There are a multitude of colourful characters who appear in this book, and although it may take a little before you can recognize all of them, there is a really helpful "cast of characters" section in the beginning of the book that you can use until they are all familiar. Wills also has the talent of turning characters that I thought I would dislike into characters that I both liked and admired by the end of the book. She makes her characters multi-layered, revealing only small parts of their personality at a time.

This is a large book, which took me almost a week to read (this from the woman who reads a book in a day or two!), but you'll be glad that you picked it up. The Summer Before the Storm offers a realistic reflection on the war from a uniquely Canadian perspective, and incorporates romance, betrayal, family dynamics, and loyalty within its pages. As soon as I was finished I was tempted to pick up the sequel, Elusive Dawn, and start reading it right away, but I restrained myself and am saving it for another day. Elusive Dawn picks up where The Summer Before the Storm left off, and tells more of the Wyndham story, as well as offers additional information on the Canadian involvement in the Great War.

Thank-you to the author for sending me this review copy! You can browse inside this novel here, or watch the trailer for the Muskoka novels here.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Historical Fiction lovers, anyone interested in Canadian literature
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Each week we share which new books found their way into our mailboxes. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to toppling TBR piles and staggering book-buying bills (and I know that from experience!).

Four new books found their way into my house last week. The first to arrive was A Corner of the Universe, a signed copy for review, courtesy of the author, Rebbie Macintyre.

Next was a package from Free Book Friday containing a recent contest win, a signed copy of The Spellman's Strike Again by Lisa Lutz.

Finally, from Joy at Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting, a package arrived containing two books. The first was On Folly Beach, an upcoming novel by author Karen White for a book tour. Since I haven't read it yet, Joy was kind enough to also include a copy of The Girl on Legare Street, also by Karen White, for review.

That was everything that arrived for me last week- which books found their way into your mailboxes last week?

Review: "The One-Week Job Project" by Sean Aiken

Sean Aiken is 25 years old, a recent University graduate and valedictorian, and he has kick-ass dreadlocks to boot. There's only one problem- as his friends progress towards marriage and children, mortgages and full-time jobs, Sean is terrified at the prospect of saddling himself with responsibilities and spending the rest of his life doing a job that he hates. It's at this point that he decides to take on the one-week job project. The concept is that he will do a different job every week for one year, so that he can try out the different kinds of jobs out there and find out what it is that he wants to do for the rest of his life. He'll sleep on friend's couches or stay with his one-week bosses, accept job offers from those who have heard about or seen his website, and any monies that he potentially would have earned will be donated to a charity close to his heart. Sean will blog about his experiences along the way, and occasionally his best friend Ian will tag along to document everything on videotape. This is how Sean comes to be a firefighter, day trader, tattoo artist, dairy farmer, yoga instructor, mayor and more, all in one year.

What drew me to this book in the first place was the fact that Sean is someone who I could relate to. He's the same age as I am, a Canadian (go, Canada!), and he grew up watching the same after-school specials on TV. He's relatable. He also spent much of his time in University asking "What do I want to be when I grow up?". Many people have asked themselves this same question, myself included. It's so scary to think that once you're done school you need to choose one career, and do it for the rest of your life. What if you hate it? What if you're bored all the time and constantly watching the clock? Are you just stuck there for the rest of your life? Sean attempts to answer this question in his travels, and I love that he did some jobs with people who had abandoned their initial careers to take on a new one- something that didn't necessarily earn them tons of money, but that they loved doing. It was interesting that he included multiple perspectives on such a controversial concept.

I did have a few small problems with the book. Some of his jobs are glossed over and only briefly described. I'm sure that this was in the interest of keeping the book a managable length, but I would have loved to know more. I would have enjoyed hearing more about dairy farming, or the week that he spent as a yoga instructor, or the week that he spent in the general store in cottage country. In exchange I would have been willing to hear less about Sean's budding love interest in Danna- it was a cute story, but really I was there to read about the jobs. I did find some of the week's lack of information disappointing, and craved a little more.

The One-Week Job Project was ultimately an enlightening look at what to do if you don't know what to do when you "grow up". It offered some interesting insights into the world of work as well as the assurance that you don't necessarily need to have everything figured out by the age of 25.

Thank-you to Bronwyn at Penguin Canada for this review copy!

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Memoir lovers, everyone who has ever been asked "what do you want to do when you grow up?" and didn't have the answer
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Review: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I find that I have the tendency to shy away from "bestsellers" or books that have been raved about all over the blogosphere. Sometimes I'll read these books and find out that for me, they couldn't live up to the hype surrounding them. Then I'm disappointed. What I'm trying to do here is explain why I waited so long to read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society , when in fact it is a book that fulfilled every expectation that I had for it and more.

It is January, 1946. London, England is just beginning to rebuild after the Second World War. Juliet Ashton is on a book tour for a book that she wrote during the war meant to lift the spirits of those who read it, and is looking for inspiration for a new book, one completely different from her first. When she receives a letter from a stranger, Dawsey Adams, a man who lives in Guernsey and is in possession of one of her old books, she begins a friendship through correspondence with him and the entire Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. She discovers how their literary society came to be, and she forms lasting friendships in the process.

I can't even describe fully how much I loved this book. It is comprised entirely of letters and telegrams between the characters in the book, a format that I love, and I couldn't devour it fast enough. The characters are what made the book so engrossing, though. Juliet is strong-willed and a talented writer, and her enthusiasm was contagious. Sidney, her close friend and one of the owners of her publishing company, was protective of her and caring. The people that she meets in Guernsey were people that I would all have loved to meet in real life- big-hearted, determined to put the horrors of the war and Occupation behind them, yet warm and loving. The war scarred them, but didn't change them beyond recognition.

Another aspect of the book that I loved is that it showed multiple sides of the war. It wasn't black and white- Germans= bad, everyone else= good. There were a few times when those who lived in Guernsey described a German soldier who was kind-hearted, or compassionate towards those that they were essentially imprisoning. It would be so easy to villanize every one of them, but those in Guernsey were able to show compassion to those who deserved it.

Despite the many heart-wrenching scenes, the saddest part of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society was that it ended. It had it all- a compelling story, a new perspective on the war, humour, and romance. I was also saddened to learn that Mary Ann Shaffer passed away in February 2008, shortly after her debut novel was released. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who would have loved to read more from her and her niece. Ultimately, this is one book that every fiction lover should take the time to read.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Everyone who loves fiction, especially to those interested in World War II (but you truly don't have to be interested in the war to love this one)
Challenges: 100+ Reading Challenge 2010, New Author Challenge 2010, 2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge, Read, Remember, Recommend Fiction Reading Challenge (mentioned on pgs.90,97,121,136)

Book Blogger Hop!

I love reading book blogs, so the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books is a great way for me to find fabulous new blogs to follow!! This is my first time participating in the Book Blogger Hop. Here are the rules from Jennifer's site:

ABOUT THE HOP:


In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! So, I created this weekly BOOK PARTY where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start PARTYING!!

Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know! Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added! And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!
 
If you're interested in participating, the link to this week's hop can be found here. Happy Hopping!

Review: "Read, Remember, Recommend" by Rachelle Rogers Knight

I have a confession to make: despite the fact that I live, breathe, eat, and even dream about books, I have never owned a reading journal. It wasn't until two years ago when I started book blogging that I even thought about reviewing the wonderful (and not so wonderful) books that I had read. Up until now, when I went to write a review I sat at my computer with the book currently being reviewed in front of me, hoping for inspiration on how to convey my thoughts beyond "I liked it", or "I didn't like it." I found that so frustrating, but all that has changed now; I now own a copy of Read, Remember, Recommend: A Reading Journal For Book Lovers by Rachelle Rogers Knight.

Read, Remember, Recommend is a fairly comprehensive book journal for fiction lovers. Since the world of books is constantly changing, it would be impossible for a book journal to include everything, but this one does a darn good job. The first section is devoted to Awards and Notable Lists. In this section you will find a book lovers dream: pages and pages of lists of books that have either won awards or are notable in some way. Beside each entry is a place where you can check off if you own the book, recommend it, have it in your "to read" pile, or want it. I can assure you that I've already spent more time than I'll admit to perusing these fascinating lists and making checkmarks in the appropriate columns.

The second section is the "To Read" section. There you can make lists of the books that you want to read and why, which is fantastic for keeping track of books that can't be found on the previous pages because they are too recent but are on everyone's "must read" lists.

The third section is the "Journal Pages" section, and my favourite section so far. On these pages I keep track of the books I've read, and immediately after finishing a book I'll write down my thoughts. Since I'm rarely able to sit down and write my review of a book while it is fresh in my mind (that's what being a working mom of three boys is all about!) this section has allowed me to capture my thoughtsright away, and later write a comprehensive and (hopefully) intelligent review when I get the opportunity. No longer am I stuck thinking, "I liked the book. Now what?" when I sit down to blog. Even though this section has quite a few pages, I'm sure that I'll use them up fast, and would have loved more in this section. How great will it be to look back and think, "Wow! I've read all of these books!"

The fourth section is devoted to books borrowed and books loaned. This section will be nice for the rare time that I borrow a book from somewhere other than the library, but since I don't usually loan out my books, just give them away or donate them, I won't be using this section a lot.

The fifth section is devoted to references and resources. There are some great websites listed, as well as some wonderful blogs mentioned that I frequent, but my favourite part is the index. There, books are catalogued both by title and by author, which is infinitely helpful when you're wondering where a particular book is located in the lists.

I can't recommend this journal enough to those who are like me: you love books, and you wish that you had one place where you could record everything to do with your reading. I'm sure when I've used up the pages provided I'll have to go out and buy an updated version. Now that I have one, I can imagine being a reader and blogger without one!

If you have this journal already, or are planning to get one, Rachelle Rogers Knight (aka Bibliobabe) has a fantastic Read, Remember, Recommend Fiction Reading Challenge up on her website. There are some fantastic prizes, and since there are literally thousands of books that you could read that would count as an entry, this challenge is for every fiction lover out there. I've joined, and I finished my first challenge book today (to be reviewed).

Thank-you to Sourcebooks for this review copy!

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (kind of hard to rate, really, because it is a journal, not a novel, but other than a few small things, this one's darn near perfect!)
Recommended to: Everyone who loves fiction- seriously!
Challenges: 100+ Reading Challenge

Giveaway: "Presumed Innocent" by Scott Turow

Thanks to the Hachette Book Group I have 3 copies of Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow to give away!

From the Publisher's Website:

Presumed Innocent brings to life our worst nightmare: that of an ordinary citizen facing conviction for the most terrible of crimes. Prosecutor Rusty Sabich is transformed from accuser to accused when he is handed an explosive case--that of the brutal murder of a woman who happens to be his former lover.

About the Author:

Scott Turow is a writer and attorney. He is the author of seven best-selling novels: Presumed Innocent (1987), The Burden of Proof (1990), Pleading Guilty (1993), The Laws of Our Fathers (1996), Personal Injuries (1999), Reversible Errors (2002) and Ordinary Heroes (2005). A novella, Limitations, was published as a paperback original in November 2006 by Picador following its serialization in The New York Times Magazine. His works of non-fiction include One L (1977) about his experience as a law student, and Ultimate Punishment (2003), a reflection on the death penalty.

Listen to an excerpt
Join Scott on Facebook
Author's Website

How to Enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post and tell me if you've ever read a novel by Scott Turow. Please include your e-mail address with this comment so that I have a way to contact you if you win. No e-mail = no entry!

2. *Bonus Entry* Follow this blog through Google Friend Connect and let me know that you follow in a seperate comment. If you already follow, you are eligible for this bonus entry, just let me know that you already follow in a comment seperate from your first!

3. *Bonus Entry* Spread the word about this contest. Tweet about it, write a blog post, or add it to your blog sidebar, just let me know what you did in a seperate comment!

This contest is open to US and Canadian residents only, no PO Boxes please! This contest runs until May 5, 2010 at midnight, and winners will be notified by e-mail. Winners will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail. Good luck!

Mailbox Monday

Since I'm leaving for work in about 20 minutes, I'll have to make this MM post short and sweet! We spent the weekend out of town at my husband's grandmother's surprise 78th birthday party (which was wonderful!) and I've been spending all day unpacking and catching up on housework!!

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Each week we share which books made their way into our mailboxes. Warning: MM can lead to towering TBR piles!!! Here's what arrived for me last week:

Monday:
Girl Crazy by Russell Smith (Thank-you, HarperCollins!)

Thursday:
Restitution by Kathy Kacer (Thank- you, Second Story Press!)

Friday:
A Gift From Brittany by Marjorie Price (for an upcoming blog tour, thanks Penguin!)
The Girl She Used to Be by David Christofano (a contest win from Freda's Voice)
This One is Mine by Maria Semple (a contest win from Sumana)

What was in your mailbox last week??

Giveaway and Guest Post with Carol Snow

Please join me as I welcome Carol Snow, author of the fabulously entertaining Just Like Me, Only Better to The Book Chick! If you missed my review of this book, check it out here. Today Carol Snow shares with us her favourite tools of procrastination:

I SHOULD BE WRITING A BOOK, BUT I’LL WRITE THIS BLOG ENTRY INSTEAD


"I am so pleased that the Book Chick has asked me to write about my favorite procrastination tools. Like many writers, I will do just about anything to avoid writing, and it is only fair that I should share some of the techniques I have perfected over the years. I would have had this column in sooner, but – you know.

My sixth book, Just Like Me, Only Better, has just been released, and I’m really excited about it for a couple of reasons: one, because it’s getting great reviews, and two, because I no longer have to stare at the cursor blinking in the middle of a page (at least of this book) as a voice in my head says, “Ohmigod, what happens next? Ohmigod, the stuff I wrote in my plot outline is totally not going to work. Ohmigod, I need Cheetos!”

Just Like Me, Only Better tells the story of Veronica Czaplicki, a suburban single mother who gets hired to impersonate an imploding young Hollywood starlet. I was on a tight deadline while writing this book, which meant I stayed home with my computer pretty much every day. Still, without turning on the TV or flipping through any magazines, I managed to pass large chunks of time without actually producing anything. Here are some of my tried-and-true procrastination techniques:

Drinking tea: Tea is ideal because there are so many steps: boiling, steeping, sweetening. When I get too hopped up on caffeine, I switch to LaCroix sodas. These are basically just flavored seltzer, so they have the benefit of no calories. They also have the benefit of being stored in my outside refrigerator.

Eating chips: In the salt vs. sugar wars, I’ve always come down on the side of sugar, but whenever I get stuck in a manuscript, I need chips of some kind: Doritos, pita chips, plain tortilla strips. I like the sting of salt on my tongue. I also like that I can get just a few chips at a time … over and over again. During Girl Scout cookie season, I switch to thin mints.

Cats: I have two, both quite demanding. They need food, water, love. They need to go out. Then come in. Then go out again. Sometimes they throw up, and I need to stop what I’m doing to clean it up. Just so we’re clear: I would much rather write than deal with cat vomit, so I don’t recommend that as a procrastination technique.

Checking email: Hey, you never know when something just can’t wait. It would be irresponsible to close out my Outlook folder.

Facebook: I just reposted a link of a squirrel running through an obstacle course to the “Mission Impossible” theme song. My friends will thank me.

Other websites: I invest four hours every week in watching American Idol. I owe it to myself to read Television Without Pity’s weecaps. And then there are all those career-related sites: book blogs, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, GoodReads. And what about those Yahoo headlines? Do you really expect me to pass by a news story entitled “A Rabbit Rescue in L.A.”?

In my defense, there are certain procrastination methods that I have managed to avoid, no matter how tempting. These include exercise, paperwork, and cleaning of any kind. I have my standards."

Thanks to Joy at Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting I have 2 copies of Just Like Me, Only Better to give away! Here's how to enter:

1. In a comment, tell me what your favourite method of procrastination is when you don't want to do something. Please include your e-mail address with your comment so that I can contact you if you win. No e-mail=no entry!!

2. *Bonus Entry* Become a follower of this blog through Google Friend Connect and leave me a seperate comment letting me know that you follow. Current followers are eligible as well, just leave a seperate comment letting me know that you already follow.

3. *Bonus Entry* Spread the word about this contest in any way that you wish. Twitter about it, blog about it, post it on your sidebar, whatever. Just leave me a seperate comment letting me know how you did it.

This contest runs until midnight on April 30, 2010. It is open to both Canadian and US residents, and winners will be contacted by e-mail. Good luck!

Review: "Just Like Me, Only Better" by Carol Snow

Veronica hasn't been the same since her husband walked out on her and her young son Ben for another woman, who's not only older but is "North Orange County's #1 Realtor!". She's renting a guesthouse from a woman who is more interested in pawning her spoiled children off on her than actually having a tenant, and her job as a substitute teacher is barely making ends meet. Making matters worse, Veronica is constantly being mistaken for Haley Rush, a young Hollywood starlet who is a favourite target of the paparazzi.

When Haley's manager, Jay, approaches her with a job offer- Veronica will pretend to be Haley doing everyday things to improve Haley's image, and she'll get paid $100 an hour- she's unable to resist. Finally she'll have a chance to move out of the guesthouse and move on with her life, plus she'll get to live the life of a glamorous Hollywood starlet at the same time! Things start getting complicated when her new job begins to interfere with her real life, and she starts to develop feelings for Brady Ellis, Haley's former boyfriend. Is this everything that Veronica has ever wanted, or will she be wishing for her old life before long?

Carol Snow has written an engaging, well-written story filled with endearing characters and fun plot twists. Once I picked it up, I had a difficult time putting it back down, reading through the entire book in less than two days (with lots of distractions!). The character of Veronica was so different from the single moms that we often read about. Despite the fact that she is only 28, already divorced, and a is single parent she doesn't spend her time whining or feeling sorry for herself, but rather spends her time searching for ways to move on. Other lovable characters included Stefano, the stereotypical Hollywood hairdresser and Jay, the manager looking for more.

Just Like Me, Only Better shows us that in Hollywood, things are not always as they appear, and that the truth is usually the most shocking story. It also tells us that life doesn't always need to be lived in a specific order, and that sometimes doing things backwards is the best way of all.

Snow has written chick lit that does the genre proud- well-written and intelligent, I will be looking up books from her backlist and devouring them as well. Thank-you to Joy at Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting for this review copy, and be sure to check back tomorrow as Carol Snow will be guest posting and I will be giving away 2 copies of Just Like Me, Only Better.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Anyone who loves well-written chick lit or is interested in Hollywood (or who reads the gossip magazines as religiously as I do!)
If You Liked Spin by Catherine McKenzie, you will probably like this too.
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010, 2010 Chick Lit Challenge

Review: "The Wedding Girl" by Madeline Wickham

Milly can't believe her luck. She's engaged to be married to Simon, a wonderful man who is perfect for her, despite the fact that he thinks that she's slightly more serious than she actually is. Her mom is thrilled because Simon's father is a prominent and wealthy member of society, and she can brag about this fact to all of her friends. The wedding is in less than a week and everything in place. Except for one thing: Millie has failed to share one tiny detail with her future hubby- she's already married.

When she was eighteen and carefree, Milly met up with and befriended Rupert and his American lover, Allan. The two seemed so in love that when Rupert suggested that Milly and Allan got married so that he didn't have to leave the country, Milly didn't hesistate and the two tied the knot. The problem is that now Milly isn't sure if she's still married or if she's divorced, having never seen Rupert and Allan again after that summer, so when the truth comes out just days before she's set to walk down the aisle, her carefully constructed life comes crashing down around her. Milly and Simon must figure out if they can weather this storm together, or if they are better off going their seperate ways before their marriage has even begun.

Madeline Wickham (also known as Sophie Kinsella) has created an adorably flawed, yet infinitely lovable character in Milly. One may ask: isn't the fact that someone is already married kind of an important detail to share with one's future husband? It certainly is, but Milly is convinced that by not thinking about it, this tiny, unimportant detail just may not exist, and no one needs to be the wiser. She's so innocent, and instead of getting angry with her for being so naive, you really just want to give her a hug.

The Wedding Girl was uplifting, fun, and entertaining. It certainly has its predictable parts, but that's what I love about reading as an escape. There's nothing taxing about reading a story that you know will have a happy ending. Wickham's smooth writing style makes this one a pleasure to read.

Stars: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Chick lit lovers, fans of Sophie Kinsella/Madeline Wickham's previous books
If you liked anything by Jill Mansell, you may enjoy this one
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, 2010 Chick Lit Challenge, RYOB Challenge 2010

Review: "Corked" by Kathryn Borel

Despite the fact that she has spent her life being parented by him, Kathryn Borel feels that she doesn't truly know her father. Phillipe Borel is a retired hotelier and a former chef, and wine is his passion- something that he has tried to pass on to his daughter and failed. Despite the fact that Kathryn and her father are so much alike in many other aspects, this is one way in which they differ. After a death and an accident Kathryn realizes that life is fragile and that her dad will not be around forever, so she embarks on a two-week wine tour with her father in an attempt to get to know him better.
 Kathryn and Phillipe tour through Alsace, Burgundy, Cotes du Rhone, and the Languedoc tasting wines, liquor, French breads, and cheeses along the way. They encounter a bout of food poisoning, rude winery owners, and new friends, and at the end of the trip they will either have killed each other because they are so alike or Kathryn will understand more about her father because she has explored his great passion in life- wine.

I love a great memoir; I like being able to walk a mile in someone else's shoes, experience a new era or way of life, or travel through countries that I've never been to. Unfortunately Corked didn't do anything for me. I found myself feeling indifferent as I read, often thinking "So what?". I'm not sure why exactly this one didn't resonate with me more than it did, seeing as I also have a father who loves me deeply, but whom I am too similar to, so frequently arrive at misunderstandings with. The journies through wine country, the wine tastings, and the vineyards just didn't make me care enough about the story to actually enjoy it. At times I found it to be rather forced, this journey to understand her father. At the end I felt that although she did learn a little (it had its moments), she didn't come to fully understand her father's passion. Then again, that would be difficult to understand in only two weeks.

I'm not sure how the book could have been improved so that I could have enjoyed it more. Perhaps if it read more like a personal journey than like a tour guide through wine country it may have held my interest longer, but maybe not. If you're a fan of wine and everything that goes into making it, give this one a try, but those who aren't fans may want to give this one a miss.

Thank-you to The Hachette Book Group for sending me this review copy.

Rating: 2 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of the process of making wine
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Each week we share which books made their way into our mailboxes the previous week, and anyone can participate! Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to towering TBR piles and staggering book-related bills!

Last week my mailbox would have been completely empty (*gasp*) had it not been for the fact that Chapters.Indigo.ca was having a 10% off online purchases sale, and I had $60 in gift cards kicking around from Christmas. My order for the following 6 books came to $60.01 with taxes, so my poor credit card was charged with a penny! My husband couldn't figure out why it was that I needed more books, but addictions can't always be explained. These were the books in my order:

The Fidelity Files: A Novel by Jessica Brody
The Opposite of Me: A Novel by Sarah Pekkanan
Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon
Love in Translation: A Novel by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga
Seeing Me Naked by Liza Palmer (a steal at only $4.99!)
Conversations With The Fat Girl by Liza Palmer (another steal at only $4.99!)

I was quite happy to get my hands on all of these great books, some of which have been on my wishlist for a long time and others that were recent additions (both Liza Palmer novels were recent wishes and I was thrilled to get them at such a great price). What was in your mailbox last week?

Read, Remember, Recommend Fiction Reading Challenge Sign-Up Post

I thought that I had signed up for all of the challenges that I would participate in for this year, but I was wrong! Bibliobabe's new Read, Remember, Recommend Fiction Reading Challenge caught my eye, and since I received a review copy of this book, I'm ready to get at it! This challenge is a year-long challenge and runs from April 1, 2010 until April 1, 2011.

Details:

- Check out all the amazing books (thousands!) mentioned in Read, Remember, Recommend and plan your attack. Books do not need to be decided upon in advance. All books must be mentioned in the journal lists.
- Write a challenge sign-up post on your blog. In that post provide a link to the Read, Remember, Recommend Fiction Reading Challenge post. Please feel free to use the Read, Remember, Recommend Fiction Reading Challenge button in your post. If you do not have a blog, introduce yourself in a comment below.
- Add your name and the direct link to the sign-up post in the Mister Linky list below.
- Each time you read and review a book as part of this challenge, share this with other challenge participants by adding a direct link to your book review to the list in a comment at this post. If you do not have a blog, leave your review as a comment.

Rules:

- Read as many books from the Read, Remember, Recommend reading journal as you can in one year. Books read before April 1st, 2010 do not count. Overlaps with other challenges (including the Read, Remember, Recommend Teen Reading Challenge) are acceptable – and encouraged!
-Rereading doesn’t count – have fun exploring new authors, awards and books!
-Audio, print, and e-books are all acceptable.
-You can change your commitment level at anytime.

Levels:
- Notable Newbie – 5 books
- Armchair Librarian – 10 books
- The Library of Congress Calls Me Daddy – 20 books
- A Book Intervention is Needed – 30 books

There are some fabulous prizes to be won if you participate in this challenge, including the Grand Prize of an EReader of your choice. The first prize is a "Reading is Sexy" messenger bag filled with 5 books from the Read, Remember, Recommend journal, and second prize is a $20 gift card to the bookstore of your choice!
 
For now I'm going to aim for "Notable Newbie" status, as there are at least five books in the journal that have caught my eye. Considering that this challenge runs over the period of a year, I may upgrade to "Armchair Librarian", but we'll have to see how that goes. I will be listing my selections on this post as I choose them, but here are a few early contenders:
 
1. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (can you believe that I haven't read this one yet?)
2. Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh (I have this one in my TBR pile, making it a no brainer)
3. A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews
4. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
5. Everything Changes by Jonathan Tropper

Edited to add:

6. The Girls by Lori Lansens (Already in my TBR)
7. Varieties of Disturbance by Lydia Davis (Already in my TBR)
8. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
9. The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond

I scoured my TBR shelves and found two more that I already have waiting to be read. Looks like I'll be aiming for "Armchair Librarian" anyways!

Guest Blog: Libby Malin, author of "My Own Personal Soap Opera" & Giveaway!

Please join me in welcoming Libby Malin, author of My Own Personal Soap Opera (released today!) to The Book Chick! If you missed my review of her book yesterday, you can read it here. Today Libby Malin shares what inspired her to begin writing women's fiction:

"Women’s fiction stories usually focus on a female protagonist, and the story follows her as she deals with various work, family and life challenges. I tend to write these stories from a humorous point of view, sometimes (okay, maybe often) injecting the absurd into my tales—such as in Fire Me, my 2009 release, where a woman tries to get laid off at work in order to grab the severance package, and this year’s release, My Own Personal Soap Opera, where a soap head writer uses the show to work out her personal issues.


I was inspired to write women’s fiction when I first started writing seriously—that is, applying myself to getting a book published. My sister, a romance fan at the time, suggested I write in that genre. Because I’d never read romances, I proceeded to buy and devour a bunch. As a professional freelance writer, I was doing a lot of jobs for trade organizations and the like, some assignments covering complex topics. So I rather cockily thought, “hmm, I can do this here romance writin’ thing in a snap!” LOL!

I learned pretty quickly it wasn’t so easy. Writing romance takes real skill—creating believable characters and keeping readers interested in a story arc they are generally, if not specifically, familiar with. When I spoke to a college creative writing class over a year ago, in fact, I suggested that beginning writers should all try their hands at romance to learn the discipline of characterization, plot construction and world-building. There’s nothing like it to hone your writing skills.

Even as I learned the craft of romance-writing, I discovered I liked telling stories that stretched the boundaries of romance, that took the heroine on a journey that didn’t always end with a neat and tidy HEA (romance parlance for the “happily ever after”). Sure, the stories finish on a happy note, but there might be questions about how and when she’d get to the “ever after” part. :-)

In My Own Personal Soap Opera, for example, the protagonist, Frankie McNally, has to choose between two men who are courting her. Each has something special to offer. Each has some “liability” that could impact her “ever after” in that HEA. When she does make a choice, I want the reader to feel she’s chosen wisely, even though it might mean giving up on something she really wanted—at least until she figures out how to get it!

Frankie’s life, like that of the heroine in Fire Me, is a mishmash of sorrow and joy. Raised by a single mom and sent to the best schools on scholarship, she never feels like she fits in. She married well—or so she thought until her blueblood intellectual husband cheated on her, leading to a divorce. Making matters worse, he pens a roman a clef in which a character resembles Frankie. Problems in her personal life are mirrored by those at work. As head writer for a New York City-based soap opera, Frankie has a whole rostrum of challenges to meet—failing ratings, staff members who all want to be doing something else, and a thief story line being imitated by a real burglar in the city. Along comes a dashing older man to help the show out of its troubles and who captures Frankie’s reluctant heart . . . at the very moment the dashing leading man starts courting her, too. She uses the show to work out her life challenges, but at some point fantasy and reality collide, forcing her to make tough decisions.

Writing My Own Personal Soap Opera was a joy because it contains so many elements of women’s fiction that I like—loving family members, broken and healed hearts and a good measure of crazy fun. It’s like life itself—tears one moment, laughs the next, a big, bumpy roller-coaster ride.

What elements are your favorites in women’s fiction?"

About the author:  Libby Malin is published in women’s fiction, including Fire Me, and is an Edgar nominated YA mystery writer. She’s worked in public relations, as an education reform advocate, and was a member of the Vermont Commission on Women. She lives with her husband and three children in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. For more information please visit http://www.libbysbooks.com/.


Thanks to Danielle at Sourcebooks I have 2 copies of My Own Personal Soap Opera to give away! Here's how to enter:

1. Answer Libby Malin's question: "What elements are your favorites in women’s fiction?" Please include an e-mail address with your response, or I will have no way to contact you if you've won. No e-mail= no entry!

2. *Bonus Entry* Become a follower of this blog through Google Friend Connect and leave me a seperate comment letting me know that you did. Current followers are eligible, just leave me a seperate comment stating that you already follow.

3. *Bonus Entry* Spread the word about this contest in any way that you wish. Twitter about it, blog about it, post it on your sidebar, whatever. Just leave me a seperate comment letting me know how you did it.

This contest will run until April 22, 2010 at midnight. It is open to both US and Canadian residents, no PO Boxes please, and winners will be contacted by e-mail. Good luck!