Tuesday, June 10, 2008

"I heart Bloomberg" Book Review and Giveaway!


This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

I Heart Bloomberg

David C. Cook (April 1, 2008)

by

Melody Carlson



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melody Carlson is the best-selling author of more than 100 books for adults, children, and teens, including three of her latest, These Boots Weren't Made For Walking, A Mile In My Flip-Flops, and Mixed Bags. She and her husband, the parents of two grown sons, make their home near the Cascade Mountains in Central Oregon. Melody is a full-time writer as well as an avid gardener, biker, skier, and hiker.

Favorite Bible verse: John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." It’s the “whosoever” part that gets me. That’s who I write for – “whosoever” and to me that means everyone and anyone.

Carlson, author of more than 100 books, begins her 86 Bloomberg Place series with I Heart Bloomberg that functions mostly to set up future storylines. Three women rent rooms at 86 Bloomberg Place:


ABOUT THE BOOK

Kendall's managed to wrangle her grandmother's house-free and clear-except for the rules. No male roommates. But that's ok, with the right ad she'll pull in some girls, their rent and if she's lucky, she won't have to go to work any time soon.

For their part, Anna, Lelani, and Megan all have their reasons for wanting to move in: Anna has got to get out from under her overprotective parents; Lelani can't take another day in her aunt's tiny crackerbox house overflowing with toddlers and Megan needs a place free of her current roommate from Hades.

Though they come with assorted extra baggage filled with broken hearts and dreams, they will discover they also have a vast array of hidden strengths. And they struggle to become the women they want to be, they'll find new hope and maybe even Kendall will learn a thing or two about life, love and the true meaning of friendship.

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1589191048

MY REVIEW:
I had never read a book by Melody Carlson before though I have heard tons of great stuff about her. So it was with great interest that I started this book. I was drawn into the book as Melody took me back and forth from each of the girl's viewpoints as they go about becoming roommates and finding how they all fit into 86 Bloomberg Place. It was interesting and I enjoyed it, but I must say... there is no resolution to this book at all. It is definitely the start of a series and it is all about the set up for future books in the series. As long as you are aware of that, it is very enjoyable, but the ending is very abrupt and then you are left wanting the next book in the series.
I do have a copy of this book to give away so post a comment telling me about a roommate you have had (good or bad) and leave your email address and I will enter you in the drawing - good luck!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I never had to have a roomate. Not sure if that makes me lucky or unlucky?

Pioneerheart from PBS

Carolynn said...

I've also never had a roomm mate, unless my sister counts. She was a good one though...helped out with everything!
Thanks for the chance to win!

anne said...

I never had a roommate experience but I shared a bedroom with my sister when I was young. Thanks for this great giveaway.
saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

ruth said...

I have never yet had a roommate and if I do I hope for the best.
rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com
Love this book and would cherish it greatly.

diane said...

I had a roommate briefly and this was a doomed setup.
Thanks for this chance.
bencanada1(at)yahoo(dot)com

petite said...

I had a roommate during university which worked out well.
Thanks for this interesting novel.
elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I'm a only child and than got married as soon as I graduated from high school so never had a roommate. Does that count? I would love to get entered to win this book.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Pamela J said...

I haven't had a room mate since I was growing up at home. I shared a room with both sisters for awhile. The whole room was always a disaster, cluttered with volumes of things. We all blamed each other, "It isn't mine!" we'd all say. So we started a calendar that at the end of the day got a mark for anything that was each of ours. That way we would see what was whose at the end of each week. The room sure kept straighter after that.

I had a house mate for a month before she moved out. I was accused of always wanting my boyfriend over and not hers and choosing what food without consideration of what she wanted. Funny thing was, I bought all the food (though she and her boyfriend ate as much as I and mine did) and she left me at the end of the month owing all the utility bills.

Neither was pleasant experiences. Since I have a home of my own, it hasn't been bad at all. Please enter me in the contest. Thanks.
Pam
cepjwms at yahoo dot com

Bethany said...

Boy, some of these posts sound so similar to my experience! The only roommate I've had, besides my husband, was my sister when I was little. We were 4-1/2 years apart (I'm younger), so we were not close and fought constantly! I'd have to say my husband has definitely been the better roommate - and that's good, since I plan to spend the rest of my life with him!
Thank you for the giveaway.

momofjimmy [at] yahoo [dot] com

Kara said...

Gosh the last time I had a roommate I must have been about ten. Actually there were two of them - my eight year old brother and my four year old sister.

It wasn't the most successful of setups :)

Thanks for the giveaway!

chicklitdownunder at yahoo.co.nz

Lora Lease said...

I had a roommate for about 6 mo's, shortly after I first moved here to Nebraska with my young baby. It was HORRIBLE!! She was a complete slob, and I spent tons of time cleaning up all her messes to keep the house presentable (and safe for the baby!). She also had a large bird that she would let out of its cage all the time, so that it could fly loose throughout the house... it would do it's "business" EVERYWHERE!! Ewwwwww!!! Bird seed, and feathers were also all over the place. Guess she was just preparing me for the life of a mom of 9!! Nothing scares me anymore!! hehe

Cheryl said...

I have never had a roommate but I heard alot of stories about roommate nightmares from other people. Sounds like a great book. Please enter me in the drawing. My email address is shryackmom@charter.net

Doreen said...

I've never been on my own yet and prob won't be until I marry so never a roommate! :)

purposedrivenlife4you AT gmail DOT com

Stacey said...

I adore Melody Carlson. Please include me in the drawing. Thanks.

As far as a roommate goes, I've never really had one. But, my cousin and I used to spend the summer together at my Grandparents' house when we were kids. It helped us to bond more like sisters. :)

stacey_dale[at]yahoo[dot]com
word-up-studies.blogspot.com

ReadingRobin said...

My roommate Anna was a great friend and mentor. She and I are very easy going and had lots of late night conversations.
cmrobin at bellsouth dot net

windycindy said...

Actually, the only roommate I have ever had is when I was young. My sister who is ten years older than me, shared a bedroom with me growing up. When she got married at 20,and I was 10, I couldn't sleep after that. Dad and Mom tried a nightlight, reading to me and waiting until I fell asleep. At some point, I finally got used to being alone. Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Karin said...

I shared a bedroom with my nephew when he was little --- he constantly talked in his sleep.

ChristyJan said...

I've never had a roommate. I went straight from my parents home to getting married ~ that was 30 years ago this month.

hawkes(at)citlink.net

Janna said...

And the winner is...

Doreen

Congrats!