And the Winners Are...

It's MY favorite time of the week again and that time is to tell you just WHO our big winners are! And, THIS week is the VERY BIG winner of the MICHE Bag! I had over 283 responses for the bag and it was a VERY CLOSE run near the end! I also am giving away the Wahida Clark Book Set of "Payback With Ya' Life" and "Thug Lovin'" to ONE lucky winner. That contest was sponsored by my very good friends at Hachette Book Group!

First I'll Announce the Wahida Clark Set and then The Miche Bag! Ready?

The WINNER of the Wahida Clark Book Set is :

And I just can't wait any longer to announce the HUGE WINNER OF THE MICHE BAG GIVEAWAY!! (I will be doing another one -- Watch For It) This winner gets, the black bag, the pair of short handles and two shells (the two shells for this giveaway are th Black/Silver Cori and the Coral Lydia)! And the WINNER is ...

Thank you ALL for Blogging, Tweeting and Spreading the Word about Park-Avenue Princess! I've got a ROYAL GIVEAWAY coming up with Author Matthew Carter! Details coming up within the next 24 hours! I DO APPRECIATE my Readers!!

KISSES ~ XXX

NurtureShock Blog Tour, Review & Audio Giveaway!!

Nurtureshock: New Thinking About Children
By: Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
Publisher: Twelve
Available: September 3, 2009
Pages: 352

My Rating:


About the Book:

In a world of modern, involved, caring parents, why are so many kids aggressive and cruel? Where is intelligence hidden in the brain, and why does that matter? Why do cross-racial friendships decrease in schools that are more integrated? If 98% of kids think lying is morally wrong, then why do 98% of kids lie? What's the single most important thing that helps infants learn language?

NurtureShock is a groundbreaking collaboration between award-winning science journalists Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman. They argue that when it comes to children, we've mistaken good intentions for good ideas. With impeccable storytelling and razor-sharp analysis, they demonstrate that many of modern society's strategies for nurturing children are in fact backfiring--because key twists in the science have been overlooked.

Nothing like a parenting manual, the authors' work is an insightful exploration of themes and issues that transcend children's (and adults') lives.




My Thoughts:

Every now and then a book that's published on a certain topic will race ahead of all other books in that genre. Nurture Shock is one of those books. Parents, Teachers and readers alike will be talking about Nurture Shock for a long time to come. If you're in a parenting group, this is THE PERFECT Book for you! If you're a parent for the first time or the fifteenth time, I guarantee there is something that YOU don't know that's in this book! I also can bet you'll find yourself saying "What if" several different times throughout the book.

What if you could start again? What would you change? Both authors do a fantastic job in explaining simple methods and why they work. It's written in an easy-to-read format and a guide like no other. This book has something for everyone. How teaching and the way our children learn help shape the people they are today.

Many of the tried and true parenting methods don't ring clear in Nurture Shock and when they're thrown up against the latest scientific studies almost seem silly. A true wake-up call to all parents that what they think is the BEST may need a second look. Fresh and new ideas are introduced for our new generation. A welcomed edition to a genre that I believe has needed updating for sometime!

NutureShock is a critical reading guide for rethinking parenting! Children, parenting and diversity, you can find all of that here in authors Bronson and merryman's latest and greatest "Nurtureshock".

About the Authors:

Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman’s New York Magazine articles on the science of parenting won the magazine journalism award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a Clarion Award. Their articles for Time Magazine have won the award for outstanding journalism from the Council on Contemporary Families. Prior to collaborating, Bronson authored five books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller What Should I Do With My Life? Merryman’s journalism has appeared in The Washington Post and The National Catholic Reporter.



Bronson lives in San Francisco, with his wife and two children. Merryman lives in Los Angeles, where she runs a church-based tutoring program for inner-city children.



Read NurtureShock News!

Fan NurturShock on FaceBook!

Learn More About NurtureShock by visiting the Site!

GIVEAWAY!!

THREE Of My LUCKY Readers Will WIN An AUDIO Copy Of Their Very Own!!
Courtesy of Anna and Hachette Book Group
Books will be coming directly from HBG - So, there are two rules
You MUST Reside in the U.S. or Canada ONLY
Also, You MUST Have a Street Address that You Can Give Me IF You Win
NO P.O. Boxes Please!

How Do you Win?

It's Simple!
You must follow me by hitting the FOLLOW button
that way I can see you and know you are one of my readers!

All Entries MUST be in By Midnight October 10th Winners Drawn on the 11th!

Extra Entries

You MUST be a FOLLOWER with GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT HERE ON THE BLOG
(It's the Button Over On The Right Side Of the Blog You Should See Your Picture)
I Recommend Following On Twitter -It's NOT Required But I do Contests
and Giveaways There Plus Major Announcements!


The Choice Is Yours!

+2 If you Subscribe by Mail
+2 If you Subscribe via Google Reader
+3 If you TWEET About This Giveaway
+10 If you Follow Me on TWITTER! (Leave @TwitterName)
+10 If you blog about this Giveaway in it's own post (0r any others I'm having)
+15 If you Put My Button On Your Blog and Link Back


Try to Separate your entries one per post!

(+15 for each and every NEW follower you bring me)

They just have to mention it in their post!

Good Luck and HAVE FUN!!
Thank you ALL for Stopping By!
Without you, your comments and input, this blog
wouldn't be able to continue to grow!

Questions/Concerns? Please do not hesitate to Contact ME!

KISSES ~ XXX

Making Babies Review & Giveaway!!

Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program for Maximum Fertility
By: Sami S. David and Jill Blakeway
Publisher: Little Brown & Co.
Available: August 12, 2009
Pages: 384










My Rating:


About the Book:

MAKING BABIES offers a proven 3-month program designed to help any woman get pregnant. Fertility medicine today is all about aggressive surgical, chemical, and technological intervention, but Dr. David and Blakeway know a better way. Starting by identifying "fertility types," they cover everything from recognizing the causes of fertility problems to making lifestyle choices that enhance fertility to trying surprising strategies such as taking cough medicine, decreasing doses of fertility drugs, or getting acupuncture along with IVF. MAKING BABIES is a must-have for every woman trying to conceive, whether naturally or through medical intervention. Dr. David and Blakeway are revolutionizing the fertility field, one baby at a time.

My Thoughts:

Authors David and Blakeway have written an easy to understand guide with a perfect balance or Eastern and Western reproductive medicine. Having gone through chemotherapy and radiation myself, I've read several books on fertility. The down point to most of these books is that they lump everyone in the same group with the same problem (the inability to get pregnant)! But through my own trials, I know that simply isn't the case.

This book finally comes forth with the idea that each woman has a "type" or reason why she can't get pregnant and has you figure out first which type you are and then goes from there. This simply amazed me. It's written in both of the professionals viewpoints and let me tell you, they make a fantastic team! While using both ancient Chinese medicine along with the advances we've made here in the Western culture, they've come up with a "Bible" for all that are having infertility troubles.

Most jump right into surgeries, reproductive medicines and IVF. This book is a three month program that has stories proven to work. This is a must read for all couples that would like to increase the chances of conceiving.

This book doesn't HAVE to be for you...think of friends and family members as well!

Giveaway!!

FIVE Of My LUCKY Readers Will WIN A Copy Of Their Very Own!!

Courtesy of Anna at Hachette Book Groupand Park-Avenue Princess!

Books will be coming directly from HBG - So, there are two rules

You MUST Reside in the U.S. or Canada ONLY

Also, You MUST Have a Street Address that You Can Give Me IF You Win

NO P.O. Boxes Please!

How Do you Win? It's Simple!

You must follow me by "Google Friend Con

nect What is "Google Friend Connect?"

Hit the FOLLOW Button In The Top Right Corner!

That way, We can both see you and know you are one of my readers!

All Entries MUST be in By Midnight (EST) October 4th

tWINNERS Drawn on October 5th!

Extra Entries

These only count if you FOLLOW the above directions

and these are just that "EXTRA" ... they are NOT Necessary

Do they better your odds? Of course!

+2 If you Subscribe by Mail

+2 If you Subscribe via Google Reader

+3 If you TWEET About This Giveaway

+5 If you Follow Me on TWITTER! (Leave Your @APrkAvePrincess)

+5 If you blog about this Giveaway (sidebar OK)

+10 If you blog about this Giveaway in it's own post

+15 If you Put My Button On Your Blog and Link Back!

Try to Separate your entries one per post (Pretty Please)!

(+10 for each and every NEW follower you bring me)
They just have to mention it in their post!

Good Luck and HAVE FUN!!
Thank you ALL for Stopping By!
Without you, your comments and input, this blog

wouldn't be able to continue to grow!

Questions/Concerns? Please do not hesitate to Contact ME!

KISSES ~ XXX

The Imposter's Daughter Review & Giveaway!

The Imposter's Daughter : A True Memoir
By: Laurie Sandell
Publisher: Little Brown & Co.
Available: July 29, 2009
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 259



My Rating:





About the Book:

TAKEN FROM THE AUTHOR'S WEB SITE!

IT TOOK A MERE SEVEN YEARS TO WRITE!

I remember the first time I met with my agent, who’d read a story I’d written for Esquire, “My Father, the Fraud,” and was interested in selling the book. I told her, “I’m very fast—I can have a few chapters to you within the next two months.”

Not so much. Turns out when you’re writing about the people who raised you—and the story is unfolding as you write—you have to calculate a few extra years for emotional paralysis, intensive therapy, and the occasional pill-fueled breakdown. But all that is behind me, now…and look what I have—a book! You can buy it from Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound. (Note: It is a work of nonfiction, however, some names and details have been changed.)

My Thoughts:

Is it true to say that most little girls grow up idolizing their father's? I think so... But for Laurie Sandell this is only the beginning to a lifetime of secrets. Secrets that she would find out about as she grew older. Still, as a child and her father's "favorite" among her other sisters. it seemed that Laurie was always struggling to do things to gain approval from him. She listened to the stories of a war hero and was proud to be his daughter. During high school, she begins to feel that her father is different from other parents and she questions some of the things he tells her. Those thoughts are short lived and soon forgotten. Until she graduates from college.

It's then that Laurie begins to find out that her father had obtained credit. But in who's name? No, not his own, that's right...Laurie's and just imagine that's only the beginning! How many questionable things could one man do to his own daughter. The daughter that wants to see him the way she did as a young girl. Unfortunately, she now sees him through the same eyes, but with a very different view.

Much of this memoir is based on Laurie's deep search to find out just who her father is. It leads to personal problems, an unhappy relationship and a journey she will never forget.

I haven't had much experience with memoirs told in the style of a graphic novel, but this one was easy to read and filled with many drawings that made the time just fly by. In no time at all, I was through with the book, but not through with the thoughts that haunted me afterwards.

Ms. Sandel does an amazing job telling her story with extreme honesty and courage. A compelling read
that I would highly recommend to anyone!

Please note there are cartoons that contain nudity in this book.

Visit Author Laurie Sandell to learn more about her and her book!

GIVEAWAY!!

FIVE Of My LUCKY Readers Will WIN A Copy Of Their Very Own!!
Courtesy of Anna at Hachette Book Group
and Park-Avenue Princess!
Books will be coming directly from HBG - So, there are two rules
You MUST Reside in the U.S. or Canada ONLY
Also, You MUST Have a Street Address that You Can Give Me IF You Win
NO P.O. Boxes Please!

How Do you Win? It's Simple!

You must follow me by hitting the FOLLOW button!
That way, We can both see you and know you are one of my readers!
All Entries MUST be in By Midnight (EST) October 1st
WINNERS Drawn on October 2nd!

Extra Entries

These only count if you FOLLOW by HITTING the FOLLOW BUTTON

(It's located on the Right Side of the Blog)

You Should See Yourself As A Blog Follower If You Did It Correctly!

+2 If you Subscribe by Mail
+2 If you Subscribe via Google Reader
+3 If you TWEET About This Giveaway
+5 If you Follow Me on TWITTER! (Leave Your @APrkAvePrincess)
+10 If you blog about this Giveaway in it's own post
+15 If you Put My Button On Your Blog and Link Back!

Try to Separate your entries one per post (Pretty Please)!
(+5 for each and every NEW follower you bring me)

They just have to mention it in their post!

Good Luck and HAVE FUN!!

Thank you ALL for Stopping By!

Without you, your comments and input, this blog
wouldn't be able to continue to grow!

Questions/Concerns? Please do not hesitate to Contact ME!

KISSES ~ XXX

Cult Insanity Review & Giveaway

Cult Insanity : A Memoir of Polygamy, Prophet and Blood Atonement
By: Irene Spencer
Publisher: Center Street
Available: August 12, 2009

My Rating:







About the Book:

Life for Irene Spencer was a series of devastating disappointments and hardships. Irene's first book, Shattered Dreams, is the staggering chronicle of herstruggle to provide for her children in abject poverty and feelings of abandonment each time her husband left to be with one of his other wives. Irene was raised to believe polygamy was the way of life necessary for her ticket to heaven.

The hard knocks of her environment were just the beginning of Irene's shocking tale. Insanity ran rampant in her husband's family and was the source of inconceivable events that unfolded throughout Irene's adult life. CULT INSANITY takes readers deeper into her story to uncover the outrageous behavior of her brother-in-law Ervil -- a self-proclaimed prophet who determined he was called to set the house of God in order -- and how he terrorized their colony. Claiming to be God's avenger and to have a license to kill in the name of God, Ervil ordered the murders of friends and family members, eliminating all those who challenged his authority.

For those who were gripped by Shattered Dreams, the rest of the story will blow them away. CULT INSANITY is a riveting, terrifying memoir of polygamist life under the tyranny of a madman.

My Thoughts:

If you're like me and have read Irene's first book "Shattered Dreams" and were fascinated, then you'll most-likely find "Cult Insanity" an interesting addition. It's in this book that she talks in depth of Ervil's evil and shares her thoughts on being raised in polygamy.

There are some difference that I found throughout the two books, which confused me a bit. I found myself going back and forth comparing facts that I knew I had read differently in her first book. These facts do not take away from the terror that she went through nor the interest of the story.

Just like the first, I found myself with my mouth gaped open trying to even comprehend going through something like this. It's hard to relate to such an unbelievable life these people live. Their beliefs and daily ways are just so opposite of the ones most of us are brought up with. I believe this is the main draw to the book itself. This is Irene's PERSONAL view, which makes the story all the more tragic in it's realism.

Ervil would die in the Utah State prison in 1981 after killing a total of 28 people (members of the family, friends and church). But the killings didn't stop there. His children continued to kill for him after his death. He had even left them a list! I was awe-struck!

I did find that some of the chapters didn't really add to the story at all. In fact, they could be skipped all together. But, there was a list of all the people killed over the twenty years (1971-1991) by either Ervil or his cult group.

The facts in this story were both fascinating and unbelievable and author Irene Spenser does an incredible job of telling it! I definite must read.

About the Author:

Irene Spencer resides in Northern California with her husband of twenty-one years, Hector J. Spencer. During the twenty-eight years of her first marriage to a polygamous husband, Irene gave birth to thirteen children (all single births). She additionally adopted a newborn girl, who became her ninth child.

Irene has 123 grandchildren and sixty great-grandchildren. Among her many talents, she is an accomplished seamstress, a great cook, and is fluent in Spanish, and she has traveled to twenty-three countries and twenty-three states speaking on polygamy and related issues.

GIVEAWAY!!

FIVE Of My LUCKY Readers Will WIN A Copy Of Their Very Own!!
Courtesy of Anna and Hachette Book Group
Books will be coming directly from HBG - So, there are two rules
You MUST Reside in the U.S. or Canada ONLY
Also, You MUST Have a Street Address that You Can Give Me IF You Win
NO P.O. Boxes Please!

How Do you Win?

It's Simple!
You must follow me by hitting the FOLLOW button
that way I can see you and know you are one of my readers!

All Entries MUST be in By Midnight October 1st Winners Drawn on the 2nd!

Extra Entries

You MUST be a FOLLOWER with GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT HERE ON THE BLOG
(It's the Button Over On The Right Side Of the Blog You Should See Your Picture)
I Recommend Following On Twitter -It's NOT Required But I do Contests
and Giveaways There Plus Major Announcements!

The Choice Is Yours!

+2 If you Subscribe by Mail
+2 If you Subscribe via Google Reader
+3 If you TWEET About This Giveaway
+5 If you Follow Me on TWITTER! (Leave @TwitterName)
+10 If you blog about this Giveaway in it's own post (0r any others I'm having)
+15 If you Put My Button On Your Blog and Link Back


Try to Separate your entries one per post!

(+5 for each and every NEW follower you bring me)

They just have to mention it in their post!

Good Luck and HAVE FUN!!
Thank you ALL for Stopping By!
Without you, your comments and input, this blog
wouldn't be able to continue to grow!

Questions/Concerns? Please do not hesitate to Contact ME!

KISSES ~ XXX

And The WINNERS Are..

Before I announce the winners, I'd like to thank EVERYONE that entered! Please continue to do so...you're points are REALLY adding up!! I've got a few more Giveaways to put up and then I'm going to announce MY Personal BIG Giveaway!!

The FIVE (5) WINNERS for Robyn DeHart's new book "SEDUCE ME" are:

Lucy

Morning Glow

Ninja Fanpire

Wanda

Esme

CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU!!

NOW, You have 48 hours from NOW to send me your mailing information! If you do not send it, I will have to pick another winner. That person will have 48 hours to get back to me as well. Then, IF The Second Round of Winners DO NOT contact me...than that prize is lost. So, it's important to follow so you'll know when you win! I have SO many giveaways and waiting for information is the hardest!

I'm going to take a poll in the next post because I don't want to ruin the WINNER'S Post here!!

KISSES ~ XXX