GIVEAWAY: Black-Eyed Susans

I recently had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin. As a born & raised Texan with close ties to Fort Worth, I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading & found that the story is set in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The author grew up in Decatur, Texas, which is near Ponder, Texas, the setting for her previous novel Playing Dead.  (Author portrait by Jill Johnson)

Here is a description of Black-Eyed Susans:

For fans of Laura Lippman and Gillian Flynn comes an electrifying novel of stunning psychological suspense.

A girl's memory lost in a field of wildflowers.

A killer still spreading seeds.

At seventeen, Tessa became famous for being the only surviving victim of a vicious serial killer. Her testimony put him on death row. Decades later, a mother herself, she receives a message from a monster who should be in prison. Now, as the execution date rapidly approaches, Tessa is forced to confront a chilling possibility: Did she help convict the wrong man?

Of course, these days just about every mystery is compared to Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl. However, Julia Heaberlin earns the high praise, but is definitely her own type of author. I am a big fan of mysteries, but I don't like gore. Black-Eyed Susans was the perfect book for me because it kept me interested from page one, had me in suspense, but wasn't graphic and scary like many other suspenseful mysteries, especially one about a serial killer!

I am really looking forward to reading Julia's previous books, Lie Still and Playing Dead. All are set in Texas, but please don't let that deter you if you aren't a Texan! If you are a Texas resident, be sure to check out one of Julia's upcoming book signings celebrating the release of Black-Eyed Susans. 

US release date August 11th
UK release date August 14th

August 11th, 7 p.m. • Black-Eyed Susans Publication Day • Talk & Signing

Barnes & Noble - Hulen Center, 4801 Overton Ridge Blvd. #100, Fort Worth, TX

August 17th, 6:30 p.m. • Talk & Signing

Decatur Public Library, 1700 S. Hwy 51, Decatur, TX

More events listed on Julia's website.

*** GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats Chey-Anne Smart & @daniewoods (Instagram) ***

 PRIZE: Two lucky winners will receive a copy of
Black-Eyed Susans! (US residents only)

TO ENTER: Like author Julia Heaberlin on Facebook and leave a comment noting you have done so.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY: Share this giveaway on Facebook or another social media site, then leave a comment noting that you shared.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY: Leave a comment noting a favorite book you have recently read.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY: Visit our Instagram feed @funky_finds & like the photo of Black-Eyed Susans for an extra chance!

Giveaway ends at 6pm CST, Friday, July 31st, 2015.

GIVEAWAY: The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate

In January 2012, I met a new-to-me author named Lisa Wingate at an author event in Jefferson, Texas. She was very nice, friendly & approachable - and interested in learning more about Funky Finds. That always makes people instantly awesome in my book! I purchased her book Dandelion Summer & instantly became a fan. I continued reading her books & have loved each one that I've read.

Based in Waco, Texas, Lisa writes great book after great book. This year alone, The Prayer Box, one of my absolute favorites, has been shortlisted for several book awards AND she recently signed a film option on one of her books!

This summer I was fortunate enough to be part of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Book. Readers throughout the country were assigned to a circle and, at a designated time, received one of twenty advanced copies of The Story Keeper, Lisa's newest book. We were to read the book within a two week period & write our comments in the book as we went along. I have never written in a book as I read, but it was a great experience! I loved reading the other readers' comments & including my thoughts.

Here's a quick synopsis of The Story Keeper: When successful New York editor Jen Gibbs discovers a decaying slush-pile manuscript on her desk, she has no idea that the story of Sarra, a young mixed-race woman trapped in Appalachia at the turn of the twentieth century, will both take her on a journey and change her forever. Happy with her life in the city, and at the top of her career with a new job at Vida House Publishing, Jen has left her Appalachian past and twisted family ties far behind. But the search for the rest of the manuscript, and Jen's suspicions about the identity of its unnamed author, will draw her into a mystery that leads back to the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains . . . and quite possibly through the doors she thought she had closed forever.

This book is a wonderful tale of guilt, healing, dealing with the past & moving forward that gripped me from the start. I did not want the book to end because I enjoyed it so much! I highly recommend this fantastic tale to anyone & everyone. And I am pleased to announce that one lucky reader will receive a free signed copy of The Story Keeper!!!

*** GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats Vera Godley! ***

PRIZE: One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of The Story Keeper.

TO ENTER: Like Lisa Wingate's Author Page on Facebook & leave a comment noting that you have done so.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY: Subscribe to Lisa Wingate's email newsletter & leave a comment noting that you have done so.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY: Follow Lisa Wingate on Pinterest, then leave a comment noting that you have done so.

 

Giveaway ends at 6pm CDT, Friday, September 12th, 2014.