 UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. The winner (randomly chosen) is Angela (justanarmywife). I already contacted her. Thanks to everybody who entered the giveaway and shared their family Christmas traditions and/or favorite Christmas memories. I enjoyed reading them all. If you would like to read about our family Christmas traditions, please click here and here.
I usually do not like to read fiction; however, this book’s title interested me :). The story is about one loving mother who tried so hard to keep her family (including grown-up, moved-out children) happy and make the holiday memorable. Well, things did not turn out as she planned or hoped for. As I followed this mother who faced dilemma and challenges, I occasionally laughed and smiled. My oldest daughter is 16 and my youngest son is almost 8. I am reminded by this book that time flies by so fast; I need to consciously cherish every moment I get to spend with my children. We need not to be too busy to make memories together that will last a lifetime. The Great Christmas Bowl is an easy-to-read, light-hearted, and family-focused book that points out the real meaning of hospitality. I especially like the last chapter (don’t peek; you need to be patient and read the whole book :)). I was a little disappointed that the author wrote about a team mascot that was thought of as a lucky charm and the main character (who is obviously a Christian) said things like, "Wish me luck!" and her husband (who is also a Christian) replied, "Oh, you're the luck, babe!" Shouldn't she say, "Please pray for me!" instead? Nevertheless, if you love football, love Christmas, love being a mom, and/or love your neighbors as yourselves, you would enjoy this book.
Summary:
Marianne Wallace is focused on two things this holiday season: planning the greatest family Christmas ever and cheering on her youngest son’s team in their bid for the state championship. Disaster strikes when the team loses their mascot-the Trout. Is it going too far to ask her to don the costume? So what if her husband has also volunteered her to organize the church Christmas tea. When football playoffs start ramping up, the Christmas tea starts falling apart. Then, one by one her children tell her they can’t come home for Christmas. As life starts to unravel, will Marianne remember the true meaning of the holidays?
Author’s bio:
Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of twenty-four novels with Tyndale, Barbour and Steeple Hill. A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Book of the Year. Her larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice. Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in
football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!) A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com
Link to Buy the Book:
http://www.christianbook.com/great-christmas-bowl-susan-warren/9781414326788/pd/326788?event=AFFp=&
The Great Christmas Bowl website: http://thegreatchristmasbowl.blogspot.com/
The website features a note from the author, fun updates from Big Lake Gazette, info on how to host your own Great Christmas Bowl Tea to benefit a local ministry or charity and a fun Recipe Exchange contest!
CONTEST: Be a part of the Great Christmas Bowl recipe exchange! Susan loves getting recipes from friends, and sharing the delicious cookies, soups, breads and other fun fixings that go with celebrating the Christmas season. More than that, she loves the crazy stories about favorite Christmases – serious, touching, funny…whatever. Find the recipe contest here:
http://thegreatchristmasbowl.blogspot.com/2009/07/recipe-exchange.html
Will you share your story and recipe with Susan and the readers of the Great Christmas Bowl? She will post your story and recipe on the FRONT PAGE of the Great Christmas Bowl website, and send you a link when it goes up so you can tell all your friends. Then, at the Great Christmas Bowl party (December 5th, 10am, online! Details TBA) she’ll make the entire cookbook available for download!
For every recipe/story you submit (up to 3), you will be entered in a drawing to receive one of SMW’s collections (Noble Legacy, Team Hope, Heirs of Anton, Deep Haven Series, Josey series, or THE ADVANCED COPY of Sons of Thunder – Susie’s brand new epic World War 2 novel, due out in January 2010!)
If you would like to read other reviews of the book during this Blog Tour, visit
http://www.litfusegroup.com/latest/current-blog-tours/91-the-great-christmas-bowl-blog-tour .
GIVEAWAY: The winner (randomly chosen) will receive a copy of The Great Christmas Bowl.
To enter: Please leave a comment here sharing one (or more) of your family Christmas traditions or one of your favorite Christmas memories. Please make sure you leave your email address or your blog's address. This giveaway is open for U.S. residents only.
Deadline: Saturday, Oct. 3rd, at midnight (Pacific time)
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Posted by Anonymous 
Posted by 
Monday, September 28, 2009 - Untitled Comment
A MORE FUN THING IS THAT EVERY YEAR WE EACH GET A BIG BOX OF CRAYONS AND THE LIFESAVER CANDY BOOKS. I BET EVERYONE HAS A GOOD MEMORY ASSOCIATED WIOTH CRAYONS, SO WE DO THIS. PEACH_HUGS@YAHOO.COM
LEENA