Black Friday Blog Hop: Shopping for a good Book

While the rest of the US is out handling the crowds, fighting for their holiday gifts, some of us like to stay in, shop online, or just ignore Black Friday all to together. This year, join us in our second annual Black Friday Blog Hop! It's a ONE DAY hop where we're giving away prizes, talking about books we love, and most likely  eating left over turkey. :-)

The hop is November 23rd and is ONE DAY only.

And while we do that, we are EACH doing a giveaway. Yep. There will be over 200 giveaways on each blog hosted by that Author or Blogger.

But that's not all....

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $75 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

Welcome to the Black Friday Blog Hop!
 
"As the shoppers rush home with their treasures..."

It's that time of year!  Crazy, conspicuous consumption is immortalized in the Black Friday Sales going on all over the country.  Now, don't get me wrong: I love a good sale as much as anyone, and I have been known to venture out on Black Fridays past to brave the crowds for a spectacular deal.

But this year, I'm staying home.  I think I'll curl up on the couch with the cat and a good book.

Do you prefer to shop for your reading material online or in person?  I'll admit, I'm torn.  It's fun to just point the mouse and click a few buttons, and then wait and watch the mail (or, better yet, turn on my Kindle and see the book appear).  But I also adore wandering through bookstores, touching spines and fantasizing about how many books I can fit on my already overstuffed shelves.

With the holiday season swinging into full gear, it's time to start thinking about gifts for all the wonderful people in your tribe.  My favorite gift to give?  You guessed it: books!

Here are some shopping suggestions for everyone on your list.

For your mother: Look for authors like Diana Gabaldon, Phillipa Gregory, and Joshilyn Jackson.  She'll get sucked into stories of love, loss, and historical splendor (not to mention the sexy romance of Gabaldon and Gregory may be just what Mom wants to read!)

For your father: Think action, adventure, and heroism.  Introduce Dad to Dan Brown or other edgy thrillers and keep him on the edge of his recliner!

For your grandmother: Janet Evanovich.  Enough said.

For your grandfather: In my experience, sharp, witty biographies and memoirs are a hit with Grandpa: A Twist of Lemmon  by Chris Lemmon was a big hist in my family.  Browse the new nonfiction section at your local bookstore for ideas. 

For your children/nieces/nephews (under 12): There are so many excellent children's books out there, but I love getting kids started on a series: this ensures hours of reading as they work their way through all the books.  Some great (long) series: Magic Tree House, American Chillers, Nancy Drew (yes, still around!), and, of course, Harry Potter.

For your children/nieces/nephews (12-18): Again, there are too many amazing YA novels hitting the shelves each week to provide a comprehensive list, but here are some favorites (of mine and of the students I used to teach): The Hunger Games trilogy, The Goddess Test trilogy, the Percy Jackson books, the Divergent trilogy, and anything by Sarah Dessen.

For your best friend: Whatever book you just finished reading: friends love recommendations, even if you aren't sure of their reading tastes.  Books that have made the rounds among my besties? Eat, Pray, Love, The Happiness Project, and American Gods.

For your lover: there are countless erotica titles out there, but if you want something a bit sweeter (and more able to be read in public) try to buy a book that relates to your partner's interests and hobbies.  If they have an Amazon Wish-List or a Goodreads "To-read" shelf, check that out and buy something from the heart.

The bottom line?  There are enough books out there to please everyone on your holiday list!  So as you brave the Black Friday crowds, make a stop at your local bookstore and stock up.

And, as a bonus: my contemporary new adult novel, The Burning of Isobel Key, is available for FREE today on your Kindle.  Why not treat yourself before you start your holiday shopping?  

Check out the other Black Friday Blog Hoppers and see how they are spending the busiest shopping day of the year!