MONARCH WINNER IS:

A very sleepy Archer came out just as I was getting ready to draw the name from the paper bag (sorry, couldn't find a hat), so I let him be the "picker" for the contest.... And the name he drew is....

PAUL!

Congrats to you, Paul! :) I'll need your address so that I can send it off to the publishing company so they can mail it out to you!

Thanks to all who signed up. I do have a copy of Monarch that you can borrow, if you would like. OR you can purchase it now at Amazon!

Monarch - a book review (and giveaway!!!)

I have amazing friends. Very talented, amazing friends. Very talented, amazing and successful friends who are following their dreams and living life to the fullest. With that said, I'd like to let you all know about a fabulous friend of mine:

Michelle Davidson Argyle

Michelle has been writing for as long as I have known her. I remember her sitting down the hall from me during lunch in high school, always writing away. She always had some fascinating story running around in her head and I loved hearing about them. Now that we are what some people refer to as "grown ups" (psshh!), she is a published author. An amazing published author. And I expected nothing less!

As you can already tell by my first 2 paragraphs, I am NOT an author. I write how I talk, which is not proper or correct or fancy in any way. :) But I will try to do her justice.

My Michelle has had 2 books published - one she self-published (Cinders) and the other (Monarch), she has signed with Rhemalda Publishing and it is available to buy NOW! Michelle will have a few more books coming in the next few years and I can honestly say, I can't wait!

NOW, All about Monarch....

(Monarch Synopsis....)

Nick’s life as a CIA spy should be fulfilling, but it has only given him unhappiness—a wife who committed suicide, and two daughters who resent everything he has become. Now, stuck in the Amazon on the last mission of his career, he must track down Matheus Ferreira, a drug lord and terrorist the U.S. has tried to bring down for years. If he succeeds, he’ll have the chance to start his life over again.

Just when Nick is on the brink of catching Ferreira, he’s framed for a murder that turns his world upside down. His only chance of survival lies in West Virginia where Lilian Love, a woman from his past, owns the secluded Monarch Inn. He’s safe, but not for long…

How much do you LOVE that cover?!
And the book?
It does NOT disappoint.

NOTE: The type of book that I normally read is probably more aligned with Michelle's other book (Cinders) because I tend to find myself reading what is now classified as "paranormal teen romance" books (and I am kind of embarrassed to admit that!) Monarch, however, falls more under the Contemporary Thriller genre.

Michelle is great at developing her characters. There are several characters that you get to know in Monarch - some you like, some you might not. Michelle does a fabulous job at making each one real. I found myself getting angry at a few of the characters for their decisions because 'they are better than that'. I know I like a book when I start talking out loud to the people inside. :) Her characters are realistic because they are flawed people - each one with their own struggle.

Another thing that Michelle does well is making you feel like you are there. Her descriptions allow you to be there in the mountains, to smell the rain and trees. You can smell the brownies cooking. You can feel the sweat from the blistering heat.

As I mentioned above, this isn't the genre I normally read, but as long as Michelle is the one doing the writing, I will read them! And not just because I know her and think she's an amazing person in real-life, but because she brings the STORY to life.

I feel like I should mention there is violence in the book but you should have probably already guessed that by the synopsis above (you know, drug lord terrorists and framed for murder and all). There are also a few steamy scenes in the book (which, to me, make it all the better!)

If I were to do the critic thing and give the book a score (1 being bad, 5 being best book ever), I would say Michelle has nailed it with a solid 4.

SO... Want a free copy?

Just leave me a comment below with your name and how I can get in touch with you (email preferably). Simple, right?

I will draw a name from a hat (fairest way I can think of) on September 21st, 2011 and let the winner know. I'll get your address and Rhemalda Publishing will mail you your very own copy!

And so, I leave you with a book trailer (kind of like a movie trailer, but for books!) for Monarch.
(double click on the video to see the whole screen!)

If you can't view it, click here: http://youtu.be/TOjDLvcRHUA

Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win your own free copy!!!

DarTanion's Baptism

So in the crazy busy madness we call life, I totally forgot to mention DarTanion's baptism on the blog!!! DarTanion turned 8 years old on July 8th and was baptized on July 9th @ 4pm. We had a special baptism so our friends, the Hartley Family, could be here with us and so that Tanion and his little friend Maddy didn't have their baptisms on the same day (and not be able to attend each others)...

The day itself was pretty busy. Angie and kids were staying with us, which meant an extra 5 people in the basement but it was actually a total blessing. Nothing like 2 moms who can rock out in the kitchen to the random mix of music that is "Mandy's Ipod" all while feeding 8 children breakfast and lunch AND preparing 4 different kinds of soups and 3 different kinds of salad and 3 different desserts for the dinner after the baptism!!! Yeah, we are awesome. And don't let me forget the awesome hubby who ran to the store probably 5 or 6 times getting "one more thing" that we forgot!!


At the baptism, DarTanion was excited, Jeremiah was nervous and I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I gave Archer and Robyn to my parents and Jeremiah's parents and tried to make sure everything was ready. You'd think I'd have it all together for a 4pm baptism, but oh no - just gave me more time to NOT be ready...


DarTanion went under on the 1st dunking (YAY Tanion!) Jeremiah gave a short but sweet blessing (I honestly only remember him saying that DarTanion would be a good person and make good choices in life). The songs were great, the kids were decent and the talks (thanks to both my mom and Jeremiah's mom) were perfect. And you couldn't ask for much better weather!

And our Primary does a "baptism book" for the kids who get baptized. It's what we do while the kid and dad are getting dressed in dry clothes. You get to draw a picture, write a letter or share your testimony with the person who just got baptized. It's such a cool little book.


We had a great turn out of family and friends there to support Tanion in this big decision / day... We had enough food for everyone and great conversation. All in all it was a perfect day for our little guy...