Monday, November 16, 2009

THE CHRISTMAS CLOCK: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
THE CHRISTMAS CLOCK

BY KAT MARTIN

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Sylvia Winters just found a job and an apartment in her hometown of Dreyerville, Michigan, but she is hesitant to return. Eight years ago, she jilted her fiancĂ©, Joe Dixon, telling him that she was moving to Chicago because small-town living was not for her. But she was lying. Syl was headed to Chicago to be treated for cervical cancer. Sadly, Joe never knew the real reason she left him. Confused and distraught, he turned to drinking to heal the pain, until he accidentally killed a man and served years in jail. Now Syl and Joe are both back in town, but it will take a miracle to bring them back into each other’s arms. Also in town is Lottie Sparks and her grandson, Teddy. Ever since Lottie’s daughter was killed in a drunk-driving accident, Lottie’s been in charge of Teddy. He appreciates her love more than she knows, so much so that the industrious eight-year-old hits up Joe’s auto body shop, so he can save enough money by Christmas to buy his grandmother a Victorian clock she adores—one that vividly reminds her of her childhood, even as the rest of her memories are slipping away with the onset of advanced Alzheimer’s. As spring turns to summer and summer to fall, matters in the Sparks’ household take a turn for the worse. And with winter approaching, will a little hope and a big dose of Christmas magic be enough to make everything all right again?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she majored in anthropology and history. Kat has written over forty bestselling novels, including historical, romantic suspense, and contemporary. Over eleven million copies of her books are in print and her novels have been published in seventeen foreign countries. Among her many awards, she has won the prestigious Romantic Times Magazine Career Achievement Award. She currently resides with her husband, Larry Jay Martin, in Missoula, Montana.
REVIEW:
Is THE CHRISTMAS CLOCK ticking in your house already? Are you getting ready for the holidays? If you are, then take some time out to get in the mood with the heartwarming holiday story that isn't quite the norm. You won't find everything tied up in the happiest of bows at the end but you will fall in love with the main characters that Kat Martin develops so well, especially Teddy. Teddy is a boy who loves his grandmother so very much and wants to buy her a small Victorian clock she has wanted for Christmas.

However, the story starts out when Teddy is 22 and looks back at a Christmas when he was 8 years old back in 1994. He lived with his Grandmother Lottie and he wanted to get her this special clock that she always looked at in Tremont's Antiques. Teddy wanted this so much for her that lives would change as a result. Grandmother was dealing with dementia and the onset of Alzheimer's disease and it was even starting to effect her every day care and Teddy worried about what would become of her...of them!

It is also the story of Sylvia and Joe and how they find their way back to each other after an 8 year separation. Sylvia returns to town, now a nurse, after lying to Joe as to why she left. Joe is bitter and angry and it won't be a happy reunion, it sounds like, doesn't it? But why did Sylvia leave? Did she have a good reason? Will Joe forgive her and what has his life been like since she left? What will become of Teddy if something happens to his grandmother? Will Lottie get worse or hold her own and make a happy tale for everyone at Christmas? You must read Kat Martin's THE CHRISTMAS CLOCK to find out but believe me when I tell you that the book will take some twists and turns you might never have seen coming. After all, Teddy is grown and looking back at the story so what became of him that he is here now to do this? Read this story of love in many forms and how a community can come together over a common goal. Enjoy!

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO RITA AND KAT, I HAVE THREE
PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED COPIES
OF THIS HEARTWARMING HOLIDAY
BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.

RULES:

--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--EMAIL MUST BE IN YOUR COMMENT!!
--EACH ENTRY MUST BE A SEPARATE COMMENT
TO COUNT OR ELSE IT COUNTS AS ONE


HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: GO TO KAT MARTIN'S WEBSITE HERE AND LOOK AROUND. COME BACK AND COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU SAW THAT WAS INTERESTING...A BOOK OF HERS YOU READ OR WOULD LIKE TO READ, SOMETHING ABOUT HER ADVENTURES..JUST WHAT MIGHT CATCH YOUR EYE!

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK HERE.

DEADLINE TO ENTER IS
6 PM, EST, DECEMBER 5

GOOD LUCK!
AND DONT FORGET...
THE CHRISTMAS CLOCK IS ...


A BINGLE BELLS BOOK CHOICE
[<span class=
MAKES A GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT!

66 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I love the bookcases in Kat Martin's pool room! I would love to be entered in this great giveaway! milou2ster(at)gmail.com

Debbie said...

Her home in Montana is gorgeous!
fourkidsrgreat@gmail.com

Jane said...

I'm a fan of Kat's historicals and contemporaries. "Midnight Sun" and "Scent of Roses" are my favorites.

janie1215 AT excite DOT com

Virginia C said...

Hello! Thanks for this great giveaway. Everyone should check out Kat Martin's website! You'll learn all about Kat and her books, her gourmet cook husband, and their gorgeous home in Montana.

I am a follower and a subscriber.

gcwhiskas at aol dot com

Reading said...

Her paranormal books look good. I would love to read The Dream.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

holdenj said...

I'm surprised at the range of novels she writes! I haven't read any of the (yet!), but several caught my eye. I also thought it was interesting that she's married to an author.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I have read almost everything Kat Martin has written, with the exception of the paranormal stuff. I have the latest, Royal's Bride on hold at my library. I'd love to read the Christmas Clock, I try to find 1 new Christmas novel every year.

Unknown said...

Just Tweeted about the giveaway.
http://twitter.com/ebogie/status/5781352357

Sandy Jay said...

I've read The Devil's Necklace and just recently passed it on to a friend.

forwhlz at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Hot Rain looks good.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Mitz said...

I would love to trade homes with Kat, she has a gorgeous home in Montana. I would also love to have a copy of this wonderful book just in time for the holidays.

misty_labean(at)yahoo.com

Mitz said...

I am a follower

misty_labean(at)yahoo.com

scottsgal said...

Wow Kat has over ten million copies of her books in print - that's impressive

msboatgal at aol.com

Martha Lawson said...

I have read these books of hers and they are awesome: Deep Blue - Desert Heat - Midnight Son - Hot Rain

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

~ Noelle said...

Wow, she has written plenty of books!
I love the HUGE window to her house!
I would love to read this book of hers!
jumpin.beans09@gmail.com

Sandra K321 said...

Wow, what a beautiful house she has in such a beautiful part of the country. It was be great sitting in front of the fireplace in the winter watching the snow and the distant mountains.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

g.g. said...

She is quite a prolific writer! I would love to read that Bride Trilogy!

anjamie4 (AT) gmail dot com

kay - Infinite Shelf said...

Great review! I hadn't heard of this book but now I'm definitely adding it to my TBR list, hopefully for this year's holiday. Sadly I'm in Canada, so no giveaway for me!

mrsshukra said...

I read Kat's Bride's Necklace Trilogy!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

Molly said...

I have never read her books before but her Season of Strangers and Secret of Roses both sound FANTASTIC!!! Please enter me in this awesome giveaway!


Mollydawn1981 at aol dot com

Reading said...

Kat mentioned that you shouldn't let rejection get to you. I would like to know if she faces much rejection when she started out.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Molly said...

+1 Tweet!

Mollydawn1981 at aol dot com

Molly said...

+1 Bonus Entry

My question to Kat would be typically, how long does it take you to do research (if any) for your books and do you travel to any of the places you may write about to do that research??

Mollydawn1981 at aol dot com

Mark said...

Loved the pictures of her home - looks like a great place to live.
Good review. Sounds like a Christmas book worth reading
marcus802001(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mark said...

I tweeted about it: http://twitter.com/buzzie1969/status/5805023580

marcus802001(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sue said...

Well I'm just in love with Kat's Montana house and I think her Sinclair Sisters series looks so good. Thanks for sharing.
s.mickelson at gmail dot com

holdenj said...

If I could ask Kat a question, I would ask her about what her "big" break was? I see she writes contemporary and historical, did she find having a niche of sorts more helpful?
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Benita said...

She and her husband live in a beautiful home in Montana.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I would like to read her series Bride Triolgy.

jrandtam[at]columbus.rr.com

Unknown said...

Tweeted

http://twitter.com/lovemy2doggies/status/5813245850

Unknown said...

I would ask her how many books she wrote before she had a hit.

jrandtam[at]columbus.rr.com

Margie said...

I found it interesting that Kat majored in anthropology and history. I enjoyed her photos of her travels. And what a gorgeous Montana home!
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

I'd like to ask Kat about her writing process...does she have a definite schedule, or does she write as the mood hits.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Commchick said...

I just found this contest and hope it isn't too late to sign up for it, I haven't won a book in sooo ever long. I loved Ms. Martin's house in Montana, I've always wanted to go there (to Montana not Ms. Martin's house lol)

Sharon
belchers@jccal.org

Commchick said...

My question to Ms. Martin would be what was it that made her decide that she wanted to be a writer?

Sharon
belchers@jccal.org

g.g. said...

I would want to ask Kat Martin which of the genres she writes she enjoys the most because on her site she had quite a few

anjamie4 (AT) gmail dot com

Nannette said...

Can't imagine trying to write in her home - I would be so distracted by the beautiful view! Especially in winter with all that snow. Love the horses too.

nannette_conway@yahoo.com

Nannette said...

+1 Entry

Question for Kat: Have you and your husband ever considered collaborating on a book?

nannette_conway@yahoo.com

Nannette said...

I'm a new follower - does that qualify for an entry?

nannette_conway@yahoo.com

Libby's Library said...

I would like to read the Bride Trilogy.

Thanks for the giveaway.

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Libby's Library said...

I would like to know if Kat has a favorite character from her books.

Thanks

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Mary said...

I am always on the lookout for authors that write paranormal books. I am excited to have found Kat Martin's website not only to enter this contest but find three books I will read soon, The Scent of Roses, The Summit, and Season of Strangers.
Thanks for the contest.

Mytyme2 at gmail dot com

Bingo said...

Mary...if you see this, please check your email. The one you are writing down isn't working.

Mytyme2 at gmail dot com

You won a contest for me over a week ago and I finally had to let the prize go to someone else because your email keep being returned to me as no address or won't accept from me??? I just tried it when I saw you enter so if you see this, please make a note..I will try and watch closer for next time you enter...thanks, Bingo

DarcyO said...

Her book Desert Heat looks pretty good. Thanks for the giveaway.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

I would ask Kat if there's a certain time of day or night when she gets most of her writing done.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Wrighty said...

What a touching story. It sounds like it really tugs on the heartstrings. I didn't realize that Kat Martin had such a wide variety of books. She's a busy woman! And what a beautiful home on Montana too! Thanks for another great giveaway!

5wrights1[at]verizon[dot]net

Wrighty said...

Added to sidebar.
www.wrightysreads.blogspot.com

5wrights1[at]verizon[dot]net

ossmcalc said...

Currently living in Missoula, Montana, Kat is the bestselling author of over forty Historical and Contemporary Romance novels.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/ossmcalc/status/6193033960

thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

I LOVE her home in Montana! The house, the snow, the mountains, those bookshelves, the horses...OH MY! Just beautiful!!!

Thanks for the giveaway!

miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/truebookaddict/status/6238585027

miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

Posted on my blog's right sidebar giveaway section: http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/

miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

+1 Bonus Entry

I wanted to ask Kat if she plans on writing more Christmas books in the future?

miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

QLady48 said...

I LUVED seeing her home in Montana. Great photo ops there. Thanks, Sue

suehussein@aol.com

QLady48 said...

I tweeted on Twitter.com/QLady48 Bookin With Bingo Book Giveaway @BookinBingo http://bookinwithbingo.blog...Kat Martin giveaway Thanks, Sue

suehussein@aol.com

Esme said...

Her house in Montana ins gorgeous

thanks

chocolateandcroissants at yahooa dot com

Esme said...

Her house in Montana ins gorgeous

thanks

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Glenn said...

She lives in Missoula, Montana, a great place. My wife and I have been on vacation very near there in Glacier Nat'l. Park. Gorgeous area. Thanks for the giveaway.

glenn_pessano AT yahoo DOT com

Rebecca N. said...

I was fascinated by her log home! Wow! And the view!! I would love to have bookshelves so huge I needed a ladder to reach the tops of them :) One can always dream I guess, lol
Thanks for the giveaway!

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

Emma said...

Kat has over ten million copies of her books in print. THE CHRISTMAS CLOCK sounds wonderful.Please enter me in the giveaway.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.Thank you.

Anonymous said...

would like some winter reading,,thx for the contest..
thehighflyer3(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I love her house!!

I would love to visit Windsor Castle, it looks amazing!!

readingatthebeach at gmail dot com

Benita said...

I would like to know how many of her characters are based on people she knows.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Nancye said...

Kat lives in an amazing house in Montana. She spends a lot of time at the bar (in her house), which Kat says is "a good place on a 10 degree day."

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/6381962165

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

apple blossom said...

I've never read Kat Martins's books but would love to win this one . It sounds good. I'm from Michigan. Two hours from Chicago. This is my growing up grounds. Thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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