Wine to Water Book Review and Giveaway

My rating = 5 stars (Gibbee!)

(Goodreads review)

Doc Hendley never set out to be a hero. In 2004, Hendley- a small-town bartender- launched a series of wine-tasting events to raise funds for clean-water projects and to bring awareness to the world's freshwater crisis. He planned to donate the proceeds through traditional channels, but instead found himself traveling to one of the world's most dangerous hot spots: Darfur, Sudan. There, Doc witnessed a government-sponsored genocide where the number-one weapon wasn't bullets-it was water. The Janjaweed terrorists had figured out that shooting up a bladder containing 10,000 liters of water, or dumping rotting corpses into a primary water source is remarkably efficient for the purposes of mass extermination. With limited funds, Doc realized that he couldn't build new wells costing $10,000 a pop, but he could hire local workers to restore a damaged well for a mere $50 each. He'd found his mission. Today, Doc and Wine to Water continue to help stricken peoples repair and maintain water-containment systems in places like Darfur, Cambodia, Uganda, and Haiti.

I can't say enough good things about this book! First of all, it is written and organized very well. It grabs your attention immediately, and holds it throughout the entire story. Hendley's plain-spoken style is easy to read and relate to. Second, this book is so inspiring! That is the reason I am giving away my copy of this book. Usually I keep all of my Gibbee books because they're so good I want to have them always. But it doesn't seem right to keep this one all to myself. 

As I read Hendley's story of bravely working in war-torn Darfur, it inspired me to find ways I can help in my community. Being a stay-at-home mom of four young kids, it's not the easiest thing to do to find free time and money to volunteer anywhere I want. It's easy for me to make excuses and stay in my own little 'bubble.' This book made me reassess my situation and excuses, and look for opportunities that fit my schedule and resources. 

I hope everyone enters this giveaway, because this is a book not to be missed! It may even change your life, and that is what Gibbee is all about!!!

Happy reading, everyone!

Bean

Easter book giveaway winner and some freebies!

The winner of the Easter Gibbee Giveaway is Robin Ford.  Congratulations!

To help celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior this Easter season, here are two wonderful freebies I want to share with you.

The Holy Bible - King James Version

Click here to request a free copy

The Holy Bible testifies of Jesus Christ and has influenced and sustained millions of His followers. It is a collection of sacred writings containing God’s revelations and accounts of His dealings with His children.

The Book of Mormon - another testament of Jesus Christ

Click here to request a free copy

The Book of Mormon is the word of God, like the Bible. It is Holy Scripture, with form and content similar to that of the Bible. Both books contain God's guidance as revealed to prophets as well as religious histories of different civilizations. While the Bible is written by and about the people in the land of Israel and surrounding areas, and takes place from the creation of the world until shortly after the death of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon contains the history and God’s dealings with the people who lived in the Americas between approximately 600 BC and 400 AD. The prophets in the Book of Mormon recorded God's dealings with His people, which were compiled by a prophet named Mormon onto gold plates. The Book of Mormon, along with the Bible, testifies that Jesus Christ is our divine Redeemer and that by living according to His gospel we can find peace in this life and eternal happiness in the life to come.

"And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever."

— Book of Mormon, Ether chapter 12 verse 41

Happy reading, everyone, and have a blessed Easter!

Bean

Easter Gibbee Giveaway

It's time for another Gibbee Giveaway, and this one is especially for the 
Easter season.  For this giveaway, one lucky winner will receive a copy of 

The Kingdom And the Crown Volume One: Fishers of Men by Gerald N. Lund.

In an ancient land in a time foretold by prophets, a babe was born beneath a shining star. Thirty years later, Jesus of Nazareth began teaching a message of hope, peace, and love. He claimed to be the Son of God, and his words — and his life — would change the world.

This giveaway ends Friday, April 6th. The winner will be announced on the 7th. To enter this giveaway, fill out the entry form below. Only one entry per person, please. Good luck to everyone!

Bean

World Book Night

If you haven't heard about this event, World Book Night is "a celebration of reading and books which will see tens of thousands of people share books with others in their communities across America to spread the joy and love of reading." This annual event is being held on Monday, April 23rd.

Now for the really good news -- I've been chosen to be a book giver for World Book Night!! Woohoo! I will be distributing copies of The Poisonwood Bible by to non-readers or infrequent readers at a location of my choosing.

This book is about a family that moves from their comfortable life in the US to preach the gospel in Congo. The father is a hard-line minister who insists everything in the entire world, from religion to gardening, must be done his way. His wife struggles to humbly follow her husband's rules and requirements. The four daughters learn about life, love, happiness and tragedy as they live their childhood in an undeveloped country amidst the beginnings of a civil war.

I personally loved this book the first time I read it. Now that I think about it, I would say this book is one of my gibbees, since I insist the book always have a home on my bookshelf. Lots of drama, family dynamics, humor, and even a little romance. This book has it all!

Valentines Day Giveaway Winner!!

The winner of the Valentines Day Gibbee Giveaway is

Lauren Becker

Congratulations!!!

Valentines Day Gibbee Giveaway

Oh my, it's already February, which means it's time for my Valentines Day giveaway. Get ready, this one is dripping with romance!

For this giveaway, I am sending one lucky winner a copy of 

Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks. 

But wait, that's not all! The winner will also receive a box of Dove chocolate truffles to indulge in as they read their new romance novel. 

(Yes, I can already hear the chocoholics panting! :)

The rules are simple: 

One entry per person, and you must be a follower of my blog. To follow me, simply click on one of the buttons on my sidebar. The giveaway ends Saturday, February 13th, and the winner will be announced the following Monday.

Good luck everyone!

Bean

"Happy Birthday Bean!" Book Giveaway

It's the new year, which means my birthday is just a few days away. To celebrate, I am having my first ever giveaway!!! I have chosen four awesome books that will be given away to four lucky followers of my blog.

I decided to pick books that were made into movies in 2011. I must say, there were TONS of books to choose from for this giveaway, and I couldn't pick everyone's favorites. I also didn't want to pick the biggest blockbusters (*ahem* Harry Potter and Twilight fans), because this blog is all about finding your Gibbee in new and possibly unexplored literary genres. (I did include one of my own personal Gibbees :)

This giveaway ends January 21st. The four winners will be announced on January 23rd. One entry per person, please! You must be a follower of my blog via GFC, Networked Blogs, or Google+ to enter. To follow, just click on one of these links on my sidebar.

*****And now, the Final Four!!!*****

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carre

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See






Good luck everyone!
Bean


This giveaway has ended

Christmas Giveaway Extravaganza

Audiobookfans.com is having an enormous audiobook giveaway for Christmas. 12 winners will be chosen Christmas Eve! To enter, just click here


The following books are on the giveaway list:


All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin


Room by Emma Donoghue

The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

The Age of the Unthinkable: Why the New World Disorder Constantly Surprises Us and What We Can Do About It by Joshua Cooper Ramo

The Pale King by David Foster Wallace

Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

Best Friends, Occasional Enemies by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella

Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich (Please note, this audiobook is abridged)

A Year and Six Seconds by Isabel Gillies

Saddled by Susan Richards

Imperfect Endings by Zoe Fitzgerald Carter

Finger Lickin’ Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Good luck to everyone who enters, and Happy Reading (or listening!)

Bean

Book giveaway from Growing Old With Grace

Pat at Growing Old With Grace has two book giveaways for you to enter. both books are by Stephanie M Sellers. Go visit this delightful and funny website today.

Black Purse 

Oginalii is Cherokee for My Friend Like Horse is to My Heart

New book giveaways this week

I love book giveaways! Especially ones that are easy to enter. Most times I will not bother entering a book giveaway if there are more than two or three entry requirements (unless it's a totally awesome book!)

Here are a few new giveaways you should definitely look into.

The first giveaway is from March House Books Blog. This is an 1850 edition of The Girls Own Book, published by William Tegg & Co, London. Isn't it just gorgeous?!?  Here is a description of the book from MHBB:


The contents page is a joy to read… from exercises including the bow and arrow, cup and ball, snow-balling and swinging to baskets (allspice, alum, feather, clove, lavender, wafer and so on). Followed by bees, charades, enigmas, forfeits, games, knitting, netting, crochet, ornaments, puzzles, riddles and miscellaneous items including a branch of roses, maxims for health and gracefulness and the self-satisfied duck!

You can find more details about the book and enter the giveaway here. The winner will be chosen December 11th.

A Musing Reviews is giving away two books this week:

The first book is One Hundred and One Nights by Benjamin Buchholtz. From the reviews I have read so far, this is an amazing book. I put it on my TBR list the moment I first heard about it a couple months ago. Read a book summary and enter the giveaway here.
The second book is Queen of America by Luis Alberto Urrea. AMR's author, Nancy, is giving this one away as a "birthday" present - she just had a birthday, so she's giving you the present! Read a book summary and enter the giveaway here

Happy reading, everyone!
Bean

Book giveaway from Mymcbook's Blog

OK, what is more embarrassing than farting fire? Maybe not being able to control it! Here is a delightful book giveaway from Mymcbook's Blog. This giveaway is open until November 30th. To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is leave a constructive comment with your email address included. Good luck to everyone!

Stella The Fire Farting Dragon by J. Aday Kennedy and illustrated by Jack Foster

Stella’s nervous tummy threatens her chances of winning the contest, but she marshals her nerves and does her best. A lesson of perseverance wrapped in a humorous bite makes the most reluctant readers gobble up this story. They’ll giggle themselves silly as Stella Dragon performs her flying act and farts fire. http://www.jadaykennedy.com/

Book Giveaway from Feeding Your Reading Habit

Feeding Your Reading Habit is giving away a copy of Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon. This is a very intriguing-sounding YA book that I am getting quite interested in. Usually, I don't go for YA books much at all (won't go into all my reasons here,) but this book is starting to gnaw away at my curiosity bone.

(From Feeding Your Reading Habit's blog) —

Carrier of the Mark is a young adult novel featuring a new heroine, Megan Rosenberg. When Megan moves to Ireland everything in her life seems to fall into place. She makes close friends with the girls in her class, her relationship with her dad is better than ever, and she finds herself inexplicably drawn to gorgeous, mysterious Adam DeRis. Adam is cold and aloof at first, but when Megan finally breaks down the icy barrier between them, she is amazed by the intensity of their connection. Then Adam reveals a secret about the magical destiny that will shape both of their lives but also threatens to tear them apart.