October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Author Kristie Cook is asking us to "Share the <3"! 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men just in the United States have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime (Center for Disease Control statistics). You likely know someone who lives through this nightmare every day - a relative, a friend, a coworker or a neighbor down the street. Too many don't live. And too many children witness the violence to/between their parents - or are direct victims themselves.

Thankfully, help is available. Unfortunately, not enough people know whom they can call for help - safely and privately. The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides this kind of secure resource, helping survivors of abuse do what they need to do to reach safety and restart their lives. I, along with Kristie, many other authors, bloggers and readers, ask you to join us in supporting The Hotline so it may continue to provide the refuge people need. Help us "Share the <3" because "all <3's deserve to feel safe."

If you can donate even $5 to The Hotline, you could be supporting one phone call that can save a life. And for each dollar you donate, you can be entered to win Kristie's Share the <3 Giveaway! Simply email your receipt(s) dated 10/1/2013 through 10/31/2013 to publisher (at) angdora (dot) com. There are other ways to enter, as well, in the Rafflecopter below.

You can win!!!

An Indie Book Nerd t-shirt signed by over 40 authors, including Kristie Cook, G.P. Ching, Tabatha Vargo, Tiffany King, Shelly Crane and Isaac Marion, author of Warm Bodies; Kristie Cook's Soul Savers and Book of Phoenix books signed; and a bag full of swag.

A bundle of Kristie's Soul Savers Series audiobooks, Books 1-5.

$25 gift card to Amazon, B&N or iTunes

So give what you can, email your receipt and gain extra entries below. The more you give, the better your chances of winning these amazing prizes. PLUS, Kristie will be matching all donation receipts, up to $1,000. So your donation will be doubled!

From Kristie and from me, thank you for your help and support! Think of all that can happen if we each "Share the <3" today.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hey everyone! I've been thinking about doing a post sharing all the different ways you can follow - A Life Bound By Books and I figured now would be the perfect time for it.

There are a few different ways you can follow along with the blog, other than Google Friend Connect and that's what I wanted to talk about today.

Subscribe by email: One of the best ways to follow along to is subscribe by email. On the right had side of the blog, under Google Friend Connect you'll see a box that you can enter in your email address and when a new post goes live, you'll get an email showing what's new on the blog! Enter your email address, click the "Subscribe" button and a window will pop up asking you to enter in a code. You just have to do this once, so don't worry! Once that's finished you'll receive an email asking you to confirm your subscription. Once you've done that, you'll receive emails keeping you up to date on everything here at A Life Bound By Books.

Follow via Bloglovin': With the somewhat recent news all hitting us that Goggle is disposing Google Feed Reader many of us have been looking for other ways to promote our blog. After hearing others talk and checking things out I've gone with "Bloglovin'". It's easy to use and is pretty straight forward. Want to follow along too? There's a handy, easy to use link on the right side bar, also under the Google Friend Connect. Follow A Life Bound By Books on: Bloglovin'

Twitter: I'm also on Twitter!! Love Twitter. Also, I have my blog connected to my Twitter account so any and all posts will be Tweeted with a link. You can find me on Twitter: @BoundByBooks. Let's chat!

Goodreads: I'm on Goodreads. I use it all the time. It's a great utility for me as a reader, if only to find books I'd otherwise never hear of and for keeping track of what I read... it works for me. Not to mention it's another way to chat with my fellow book lovers, so I use it and I use it often. Be sure to send me a Friend request there and let me know you found me there via my blog! Find me at: Goodreads

Now, I have a question for you guys. I am not currently on Facebook. My blog isn't on Facebook either. I haven't wanted to create an account because it's hard enough for me sometimes to keep up with everything so I've not wanted to add another thing to my plate. Should my blog have a Facebook account? And if so, is this something that I'd need time to maintain? I have no clue guys and I need your help! So, let me know in the comments! Thanks!

I hope you'll all take a minute or two and make sure you're following A Life Bound By Books in the way(s) that make things easier for you. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to comment below or send an email. I'd be happy to help.

Since Google Reader will be leaving us this summer I thought I'd add my blog to Bloglovin sooner rather than later. Be sure to follow using the link below in this post or the button on my sidebar so you can keep reading my blog via a Feed Reader! 

Any question, please let me know and thanks to all who visit, follow along and read my blog!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! While I had many things happen in 2011, I'll be looking forward to 2012. While looking back at the year past and looking ahead to a brand new year, I wanted to take a minute to wish each and everyone a happy, healthy AND safe New Year!

New Year's has always been a bit sad for me, so I tend to stay in. Watching a few movies, reading and having some good food with family and friends is usually how we spend the day and evening - low key. The passing of a new year might be a bit sad for me, however, I always take a moment to reflect. To see all the things I've overcome and welcomed throughout the last 365 days. It's always nice to be able to think about all the amazing possibilities that are held in the new year and all the many things I have to look forward to.

For New Years, I'd love to hear your plans and what you might be looking forward to in 2012. Do you make resolutions? Would you like to share them with us?

Be SAFE Everyone!

I can't believe it's another Christmas/Holiday Season! How time flies! It feels like I've blinked and another year has passed.

I wanted to take the time to wish each of you a wonderful Holiday and a Very Merry Christmas! I hope that you'll all be spending time with family and friends - making new memories. Whether your traditions are old or new, I wish nothing but the happiest of Holidays to you all.

I'll be spending Christmas Eve and Christmas day with family and friends and I can't wait to see them all during this special time of year. Mexican food for Christmas Eve and Ham dinner on Christmas Day, yum! I'm thankful that this year we won't have to do as much driving as we did last year, but please.... if you have to travel during these days, be careful out there.

While I'll again be wishing for a white Christmas here in sunny Southern California, I know my wishes will go unanswered. I'll settle for cold/cooler weather that'll require a warm cheery fire. Shorts and flip-flops, optional.

As mentioned last year, some of my best memories are from this time of year. I'm always looking forward to revisiting memories of the past and making new ones. What is everyone planning to do during the winter Holidays? Any memories or traditions you'd like to share with us?

Hello again!

With 2011 quickly coming to a close, we only have a few weeks left to figure out what books to include in this years Top 10 week. I've already started on my lists for the five days and have to say that they are coming along pretty well. How is everyone's list's coming along? Is anyone having trouble keeping your lists to 10? We'd love to hear how you're doing and if anyone's struggling with their choices or if your lists are already done? Leave a comment and let us know!

We thought it was time for a check in and to send out some additional information about our week long event. First off, we're really excited to see how many of you will be joining in with posts for the last week of the year. And if you haven't signed up, not to worry.... there's still plenty of time! The more the Merrier! I know we're just as excited to check out everyone's lists as we are to posting each of ours.

In the first post about the event we mentioned a giveaway. Each person to signs up AND participates will be entered into a giveaway for.......

A $50.00 Amazon Gift Card!

ONE lucky participant will be eligible to win!! Entering is easy. Get your first entry by signing up for the event with the Linky at this post by >>>CLICKING HERE<<< Check out this post for all the details about the event!

To receive additional entries, be sure that you visit one of the 4 co-hosts blogs December 26th through the 30th. Each of these days will have a Linky for that days Top 10 List. All you have to do to get that extra entry is to link YOUR list with the correct topic for the day and your set! Just remember, EACH of the five days will have a NEW Linky for that days Top 10 Topic. We will be checking the winners link to make sure that they have participated.

Here's a quick recap of the dates and topics -


Monday 12/26 – Top 10 Books I’ve read in 2011

Tuesday 12/27 – Top 10 Book Covers of 2011 (can be ANY books released in 2011, doesn't have to be JUST book read in 2011)

Wednesday 12/28 – Top 10 Book Boyfriends in 2011 (based on books read in 2011)

Thursday 12/29 – Top 10 Characters in 2011 (This can be anything you'd like to make it for characters. You can post your favorite Villains, etc. Just be sure that this post is character based.)

Friday 12/30 – Top 10 Books I’m looking forward to in 2012 (also on this day, we'll each be adding something of a recap of the total number of books read, pages read, etc. This part of the post is optional. Feel free to add any stats you'd like to share with everyone. So, if you'd like to also include some end of year stats, feel free to join us!)

How you do these posts/lists is totally up to you. What books, covers and characters you pick are all your own.

The only rules to follow are posting the topics on the dates we've provided.

If you've already signed up, great and if you're just signing up now, were excited to have you! 

Don't forget to >>>CLICK HERE<<< and sign up using the Linky! 

Hello and welcome to........

Top 10: A Week of Looking Back....

                                .........and Looking Forward.

Last year Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic and I posted some Top 10 lists the last week of 2010. For five days we recapped some of our favorite books, covers and characters. We also listed some books we were looking forward to in 2011. This year we thought we'd do it again... just with a twist. We have invited some friends to help us co-host things and make an event out of it! Rachel from Fiktshun & Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and Jessica and I have all come together to work on making this into something we hope more people will want to join in on and contribute. You're probably wondering what the topics of this years Top 10 lists will be and the dates, right? Well I have all that info for you here....

Monday 12/26 – Top 10 Books I’ve read in 2011

Tuesday 12/27 – Top 10 Book Covers of 2011

Wednesday 12/28 – Top 10 Book Boyfriends in 2011

Thursday 12/29 – Top 10 Characters in 2011 (This can be anything you'd like to make it for characters. You can post your favorite Villains, etc. Just be sure that this post is character based.)

Friday 12/30 – Top 10 Books I’m looking forward to in 2012 (also on this day, we'll each be adding something of a recap of the total number of books read, pages read, etc. This part of the post is optional. Feel free to add any stats you'd like to share with everyone. So, if you'd like to also include some end of year stats, feel free to join us!)

How you do these posts/lists is totally up to you. What books, covers and characters you pick are all your own.

The only rules to follow are posting the topics on the dates we've provided.

Now, I know what you're all thinking. That this will be hard to keep to 10. Some of you might like to break the lists up a bit. Working with a Top 10 for YA books and then a Top 10 for Adult titles. Feel free to add honorable mentions if you're also having a hard time sticking to 10. However, with the honorable mentions, please try to keep it to a minimum or it kind of defeats the whole purpose of things.

Our main focus of this event is for YOU to join in and share your lists with us all and for everyone to visit each others blogs' and see what books have made it on THEIR lists.

The event is simple. Follow the dates and list topics as provided and fill out the linky below. This gives us an idea who will be joining us for the Top 10 week. THEN, be sure to come back to one of our blogs on each of the days and link up your post for that specific day! Just remember, each day will have a linky for THAT Top 10 topic.

At the end of the event we will be picking a winner using Random.org from the people who have posted their lists and added their info to the linky for each day. Total number of maximum entries is 6. Telling us you are joining in on the event in today's linky is your first entry. Posting your top 10 each day with the correct topic on the correct day, THEN coming back to add your link to the linky for that day gives you another entry. Additional Giveaway details will be provided soon, so keep checking back to find out what we'll be giving away!

NOTE: this is the SAME Linky on each of the Co-Hosts Blogs, so please only enter your Name, Blog Name and URL on one blog. Thanks!

Be sure to take the button provided for the event and display it on your blog and link it back to this post so anyone who wants to find out more info about the event easily knows how to find us.

We hope everyone who reads this will be as excited for this event as we are and we can't wait to check out all of your lists!

First, a Hello goes out to all my new and old followers!! Thanks for stopping by and leaving all the comments you guys do. I hope you'll keep dropping in and interacting with me and each other and that I'll get a chance to get to you know better.

As for why it's been a quiet few days here on the blog -well, really it's been a weird few months when it comes to the Internet for us. The trouble with our Internet has continued to get worse and after many techs visiting the house to test lines, replace boxes & modems and then in the end replacing every cable coming to the house, attached to the house, inside and out and being on the phone every other day.... we THINK they figured out that there was a MAJOR issue in the area that they have since fixed. However it kind of threw a wrench in the works for a about a week. They are still trying to fix issues with TV...... but that's a whole other story.

I think I have a post or two set up for sometime over the next few days, but I hope for everything to go back to normal next week. Thanks to each of you for hanging in there with me and for understanding!

Psssst - Some great things happening in September and October & can't wait to share it with you guys!

Livingsocial.com is hosting a GREAT deal today. I just checked into it all and it's REAL!

Get a $20 Amazon Gift card for only $10!!!

CHECK IT OUT BY CLICKING HERE!

Now... if you get 3 other people to sign up under the link they provide you, you get it for FREE! Yep, you heard that right. So, check it out! It's a deal I know I just couldn't pass up.

Canadian Author - Catherine McKenzie has started an new Experiment. I recently contacted her and she told me a little more about it. Basically it's to help promote some great undiscovered fiction.  "I bet we can make these books bestsellers" Facebook Group's first two books chosen are Jessica Z. and Two Years, No Rain by Shawn Klomparens. Great idea right? I thought it was just another perfect way to draw attention to books we might not have otherwise heard of. I'll be reading and reviewing the titles sometime in the future.

Check out the Facebook Group Here

As for author Catherine McKenzie... here's some additonal information on her current and up coming title.

Title: Spin
Author: Catherine McKenzie
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada, 424 Pages (December 29th 2009)

Synopsis: Katie Sandford has just gotten an interview at her favourite music magazine, The Line. It's the chance of a lifetime. So what does she do? Goes out to celebrate - and shows up still drunk at the interview. No surprise, she doesn't get the job, but the folks at The Line think she might be perfect for another assignment for their sister gossip rag. All Katie has to do is follow It Girl Amber Sheppard into rehab. If she can get the inside scoop (and complete the 30-day program without getting kicked out), they'll reconsider her for the job at The Line.

Katie takes the job. But things get complicated when real friendships develop, a cute celebrity handler named Henry gets involved, and Katie begins to realize she may be in rehab for a reason. Katie has to make a decision -- is publishing the article worth everything she has to lose?

Title: Arranged
Author: Catherine McKenzie
Publisher: ?, 352 Pages (January 2011)

Synopsis: Anne Blythe is lucky. She's got a brand new book contract, a great newspaper job and a steadfast best friend, and she can land just about any man she sets her sights on - and the ones that appeal are typically tall, dark and handsome.

Problem is, the men she chooses never last. Shortly after yet another relationship goes down in flames, Anne comes across a card for what she believes is a dating service, and pockets it just in case. If she's so unlucky in love, maybe she could use a little assistance. Then her best friend announces she's engaged, and envy gets the better of Anne. Now's the time, she decides, to give the service a try - and she is shocked to discover that what the company specializes in are exclusive, and pricey, arranged marriages. After learning of the company's success rate, however, she overcomes her reluctance and signs on. After all, arranged marriages are the norm for millions of women around the world, and she's not done so well selecting a mate on her own. So why not use a professional service that claims it can produce the perfect match?

Some time later, Anne is travelling to a Mexican resort, where in one short weekend she will meet and marry Jack, the man they have chosen for her. And against all odds, it seems to be working out, until Anne learns that Jack and the company who arranged their marriage are not what they seem at all.

For more information on Author Catherine McKenzie, please visit her Website.