Saturday, December 12, 2009

"ALEX CROSS" BINGLE BELLS BUNDLE: THREE SETS!

THANKS TO MIRIAM AND THE
HACHETTE BOOK GROUP,
I HAVE THREE "ALEX CROSS" BOOKS
TO GIVE AWAY NEXT WEEK!
[B.U.N.D.L.E.S-BLINKEE.gif]
THERE WILL BE THREE WINNERS
FOR THREE SETS OF BOOKS FOR
AN ALL JAMES PATTERSON
BINGLE BELLS BUNDLE!


*The following information is taken with great appreciation from James Patterson's website.
ABOUT THE ALEX CROSS SERIES:


I: THE MAN
Who is Alex Cross?

Alex Cross is the hero in a series of "Cross" books by James Patterson that many of you know about but perhaps don't really know much about Alex Cross himself. So....

Alex Cross is six foot three, weighs 200 pounds, and is athletic. He still lives on Fifth Street in D.C., with girlfriend, Brianna (Bree) Stone, Nana Mama, Ali and Jannie, and Rosie the cat. Damon is away at prep school in Massachusetts. He drives a Mercedes Benz R 350.

Education:

PH.D. in psychology from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. Special concentration in the field of abnormal psychology and forensic psychology.

Upon graduation Cross worked as a migrant farm worker for a year.

Professional:

Alex Cross went into private practice in D.C. He struggled financially for three years before giving it up.

He joined the Washington, D.C., Police Department as a psychologist, working in Homicide and Major Crimes. Cross is a profiler. He worked with VICAP (Violent Criminal Apprehension Program) as a liaison between the FBI and D.C. police. After his stint as an FBI Senior Agent, Alex returned to private psychology practice and continued to consult for the MPD and the FBI as needed. He rejoined the MPD as a special consultant to the Major Case Squad.

A Washington Post Magazine in-depth article called Cross "The Last Southern Gentleman" and praised him for his work in Homicide. It brought his name to the public's attention.

Articles by Alex Cross on the criminal mind have appeared in Psychiatric Archives and American Journal of Psychiatry. He also wrote a diagnostic profile of psychopathic killer Gary Soneji/Murphy.

Personal:

Alex Cross was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. His mother died of lung cancer when he was nine; his father, a heavy drinker, the year after. He was sent to D.C. to live with his grandmother, Regina Cross Hope (Nana Mama), an English teacher and assistant principal. Three brothers, two deceased; not raised by grandmother.

His wife, Maria, a social worker, was killed in a drive-by shooting that was never solved. He was left with their two children; Damon and Janelle.

Alex Cross has another son, Alex Jr. His mother, Christine Johnson, was a principal at the Sojourner Truth School. They never married.

He is romantically involved with a rising star in the MPD, Detective Brianna (Bree) Stone.

Volunteer Work

St. Anthony's Soup Kitchen, where he is called Peanut Butter Man and Black Samaritan. He offers free therapy sessions.

Hobbies

The piano. Loves to play Gershwin and classical music. Avid reader of fiction and nonfiction. Enjoys boxing lessons with his children.

Favorite Food

White bean soup. Least favorite: grape jelly omelette. Enjoys fine wine and beer.

Favorite Vacation Spot

Caribbean.

The Alex Cross Mysteries?
Timeline of Cases Solved:

I, Alex Cross
Detective Alex Cross is pulled out of a family celebration and given the awful news that a beloved relative has been found brutally murdered. Alex vows to hunt down the killer, and soon learns that she was mixed up in one of Washington's wildest scenes. And she was not this killer’s only victim.
Cross Country
In over a decade of police work, it is the worst murder scene Alex Cross has ever seen. A family has been butchered in their home. And more killings follow. One after the other. Each more gruesome than the last. The only lead is an elusive trail left by a diabolical African warlord know only as The Tiger. It leads Alex Cross into the dark underbelly of Washington DC and beyond, into a true heart of darkness in Africa herself.
Double Cross
Alex Cross rejoins the DC Police Force to confront two of the most diabolical killers he's ever encountered, a psychotic killer who craves an audience and a murdering mastermind who works alone. Both want Alex dead, and they'll to do anything to get what they want, even if it means plotting together...

Cross Country
In over a decade of police work, it is the worst murder scene Alex Cross has ever seen. A family has been butchered in their home. And more killings follow. One after the other. Each more gruesome than the last. The only lead is an elusive trail left by a diabolical African warlord know only as The Tiger. It leads Alex Cross into the dark underbelly of Washington DC and beyond, into a true heart of darkness in Africa herself.
Mary, Mary
Hollywood's most famous stars are being murdered one by one. The killer is known only as Mary Smith. Is Mary really a woman? Or just someone playing the part? With the LAPD and FBI clueless, it's up to Alex Cross to track down the truth…
London Bridges
Geoffrey Shafer, the Weasel, is found and abducted from Salvador, Brazil. The notorious Wolf then sends him on a mission. His first job is to completely wipe out an American town-Sunrise Valley, Nevada. And once again, that is just the beginning.
The Big Bad Wolf
Zamochit means "the breaking of bones." It is part of a murder ritual practiced by members of the Red Mafiya. The "impossible" murder of an Italian godfather in the high-security, supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, is just the beginning.
Four Blind Mice
The Bluelady Murders occur at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Army wives are killed and their bodies painted blue. John Sampson asks Cross to talk to his friend and mentor, Sergeant Ellis Cooper, who has been convicted of the murders but swears he is innocent.."
Violets Are Blue
A string of gruesome murders points to a vampire subculture in the United States. Cross flies to San Francisco to meet with Inspector Jamilla Hughes, Homicide. They compile a list of unsolved vampire murders going back at least eleven years.
Roses Are Red
Meet The Mastermind. He's the man behind bank robberies and the murder of bank employees committed in Virginia and Maryland. Then a tour bus is hijacked in D.C. and a $30 million ransom demanded. Cross and an FBI team have less than two hours to deliver.
Pop Goes the Weasel
Geoffrey Shafer, the Weasel, works in Intelligence in the British Embassy in D.C. He and three twisted friends play a Game of Death that involves unsuspecting women around the world.
Cat & Mouse
A killer named Mr. Smith begins his murder spree in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and then starts terrorizing Europe. Bodies are found "gutted." At the same time Gary Soneji taunts Cross with murders in train stations.
Jack & Jill
A game of Life and Death. Sam Harrison (Jack) and Sara Rosen (Jill) delight in their board game that has photos of famous people; a simple roll of the dice determines their destiny.

When sixty-four-year-old Senator Daniel Fitzpatrick is found murdered, the FBI makes a formal request for Cross. The FBI is stymied. The code name for President Thomas Byrnes is Jack. The First lady's is Jill.

Kiss the Girls

Alex Cross matches wits with Casanova and The Gentlemen Caller. This time it is personal. Naomi Cross, twenty-two-year-old daughter of Cross's deceased brother Aaron, is reported missing. She is a law student at Duke University. Cross goes to North Carolina, fearing the worst.

Along Came a Spider
Life changes for Deputy Chief of Detectives Alex Cross when he is drawn into a high-profile case. Two nine-year-old children are kidnapped by a teacher, Gary Soneji, from the prestigious Washington Day School. Maggie Rose Dunne is the daughter of an actress, and Michael "Shrimpie" Goldberg is the son of the Secretary of Treasury. A ransom of $10 million is demanded.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Just in case you have been off on another planet, James Patterson is one of our most prolific writers of the day. IF you haven't read the details of just who James Patterson is that I have had in my blog many times before, you can find that information here and also here in James Patterson's website.

GIVEAWAY

AS STATED ABOVE, THREE PEOPLE
WILL WIN ALL THREE OF THESE
JAMES PATTERSON'S "ALEX CROSS"
BOOKS IN THE BUNDLE!

THE RULES:

--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS
MUST BE SEPARATE
IN ORDER TO COUNT AS
MORE THAN ONE ENTRY


HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT AND NAME ONE OF THE ALEX CROSS NOVELS YOU HAVE READ, OR IF NONE, THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT AND TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT ALEX CROSS'S LIFE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, FOUND INTERESTING, OR JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT!

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE COMPLETED
BY 6 PM, EST, December 19


GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

81 comments:

kalea_kane said...

Amazing giveaway, but I'm not entering since I just won the I, Alex Cross book. :) BIG thanks again! I just wanted to pop by and say hello!

Jen said...

I would like to read I Alex Cross

girlfrienddesignz(at)gmail(dot) com

Jen said...

Of all the books of Alex Cross I had read, I never realized he was born in Winston-Salem!

girlfrienddesignz(at)gmail(dot)com

CMash said...

OMG !!!! Three Alex Cross books...I am definitely in this giveaway.
I always enjoyed the relationship that Alex had with Nana Mama. However, I didn't know the facts about his parents or his brother. Found that quite interesting

CMash said...

+1 I read Kiss The Girls. I have a phobia of snakes and the scene in this book with the snakes had my imagination on overdrive. Read this book years ago but still vividly remember what I pictured that chapter to be.

CMash said...

+1 I blogged about the giveaway on my blog at http://cmashlovestoread.blogspot.com

scottsgal said...

Patterson is my fave author - I've read them all but I Alex Cross and can't wait to read it

msboatgal at aol.com

scottsgal said...

Alex Cross is a great character - very intelligent yet adores his Nana and kids. He's tough yet tender. Great character

msboatgal at aol.com

Stormi said...

Oh boy I like James Patterson books, and haven't read as many as I should so this is a cool contest.

I have read Along Came a Spider, Kiss the Girls, Jack and Jill, Cat and Mouse and Big Bad Wolf.

Thanks,
Stormi
booklady2007[at]gmail[dot]com

Stormi said...

You know its been a long time since I read a Alex Cross book that I can't really remember much about him except that he is super cool...but didn't know he liked White beans..lol

:)

fredamans said...

I have heard of I, Alex Cross, Double Cross, and no others. I have yet to read any but am avid to.

Thank you for the contest.

freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

fredamans said...

I really like that he is so educated. For a character I had no idea. A tremendously detailed bio for a character, indeed!

freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

fredamans said...

tweet; http://twitter.com/fredalicious/status/6601621718

freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

g.g. said...

I loved Kiss The Girls and it obviously got me hooked on Alex and Patterson. There was something so exciting about a great book like that because it caught me up in the story and left me wanting more..thank goodness we keep getting Alex.

anjamie4 AT gmail dot com

g.g. said...

I don't remember reading about him not liking white bean soup


anjamie4 AT gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I have not read any books by Patterson, but I know my mom loves him.
amandarwest@gmail.com

Unknown said...

It's interesting that he worked as a migrant farm worker for a year.
amandarwest@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I have read his Women's Murder Club's 7th Heaven and 8th Confession.
He is such a wonderful writer.

jrandtam[at]columbus.rr.com

Unknown said...

I would have never thought that he would be on The Simpson's (in 2007).

jrandtam[at]columbus.rr.com

Unknown said...

I tweeted. http://twitter.com/amandawk/status/6605481527

brokenteepee said...

I have read several of the series including Jack and Jill, Roses are Red and Violets are Blue and Along Came a Spider
Thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

brokenteepee said...

I think Nana Momma is one of the best characters around. She is soooo funny
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

holdenj said...

What a great post and giveaway! I've not read any of the Cross series, so I would begin with I, Alex Cross. Thanks.

JHolden955@aol.com

holdenj said...

I love the bio for Alex, it's all very interesting, but I find it wonderful that he makes time to volunteer at a soup kitchen.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I have not read a novel by this author, however, I really would like to read Double Cross, just
by the title you know it would be
a real page turner.
I follow by google reader.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I have read a lot of the Alex Cross books. One of which is Kiss The Girls. I would love to read Alex Cross's Trial. PLEASE PICK ME!!

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I didn't know he spent a year as a migrant farm worker.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Reading said...

Please count me in. I have read Kiss the Girls. I follow.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Reading said...

+1 I live the title of the article written about him - "The Last Southern Gentleman".

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

throuthehaze said...

I would like to read I, Alex Cross
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Benita said...

I'd like to start by reading I, Alex Cross.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

I knew very little about him, since I haven't read any of the Alex Cross books. I like the fact that he is highly intelligent.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

justpeachy36 said...

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

I haven't read any of the Alex Cross novels but I like everything I have read by James Patterson so far. So I'm sure I would like these as well.

Marilu said...

I have read the first 7 in the Alex Cross series, as well as the first 6 in the Women's Murder Club series. I have read quite few of his stand alone novels as well. Cradle and All was the first one of his novels I read, and it got me hooked! I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of his books I have read with the exception of Violets are Blue, and Sunday's at Tiffany's.( I think that had more to do with the fact that the co-author is a children's writer and the writing just wasn't what I would have expected from a book with James Patterson's name on it!! (Sorry for the REALLY long comment)
I do not own any of these titles yet. Please enter me. Thanks
lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com

Marilu said...

+1 I knew that Alex was raised by his grandmother because his parents were deceased but did not know that his mom had died of lung cancer. If it was mentioned in the books I read, I didn't remember!

lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com

Jonnie (JB) said...

I haven't read any but Jack and Jill looks great.

dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

Jane said...

My favorite Alex Cross book is "Violets Are Blue."

janie1215 AT excite DOT com

Jane said...

I didn't know that Alex worked as a migrant worker.

janie1215 AT excite DOT com

enyl said...

Forensic science and forensic psychology novels are a big hit with my students, maybe I can add these to the classroom library.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

I've read Pop Goes The Weasle.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

I think it's intresting that he gives free therapy session; we try and advocate community service to our students.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

Tweeted about the giveaway.
twitter.com@enylstil
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

rubynreba said...

I have read Kiss the Girls.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

Wise choice that he loves to vacation in the Caribbean!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Commchick said...

Violets Are Blue was the first book I ever read by Patterson...I think he's great and I love the Alex Cross series.

Sharon
belchers@jccal.org

Commchick said...

Did not know he had been a migrant farm worker.

Sharon
belchers@jccal.org

Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews said...

I have read alot of Alex Cross books and one is "London Bridges".

Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

Razlover(at)hotmail(dot)com

Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews said...

I never know he volunteer to work at St. Anthony's Soup Kitchen and is called Peanut Butter Man and Black Samaritan.

Also never knew he offered free therapy sessions.

Very generous man and like to do alot for the community!

Razlover(at)hotmail(dot)com

Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews said...

I blogged about your giveaway here:

http://razloversbookblog2.blogspot.com/2009/12/james-patterson-3-bundle-alex-cross.html

Razlover(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I don't think I've read any James Patterson books yet but I'd love to; my sister always recommends him to me!

Donna
dlhaley@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I've read a lot of James Patterson books and loved them all—he's one of my favorite writers. The last one I read was "Swimsuit."

Sheila
skkorman@bellsouth.net

Lee P said...

My favorite Alex Cross book is Kiss The Girls. Although it is one of the earlier Alex Cross books, it is my favorite. I loved that this became a movie too. Thank you for this awesome Bingle Bells Bundle giveaway.

chinook92 at gmail dot com

Lee P said...

I would like to read more about Alex and his best friend John Sampson. They have been friends since childhood and I like reading about these two.

chinook92 at gmail dot com

Lee P said...

I follow you on Twitter as chinook92 and Tweeted:

http://twitter.com/chinook92/status/6702190991

chinook92 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I haven't read an Alex Cross book yet but would like to read
Along Came a Spider

readingatthebeach at gmail dot com

Jaime said...

Just finished Alex Cross' Trial
great book
copperllama at yahoo dot com

Heidi V said...

I have only read one Along Came a Spider.

Thanks
heidivargas [at] live dot com

nfmgirl said...

I'd like to read Pop Goes the Weasel!

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

bison61 said...

the only book I have read is along came a spider

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

bison61 said...

I knew he lived with his grandmother but I didn't know that his mother died of lung cancer when he was nine; his father, a heavy drinker, the year after

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Margie said...

I didn't know that articles by Alex Cross have appeared in Psychiatric Archives and American Journal of Psychiatry.

mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

I have read Along Came a Spider. Have also seen several of his works as movies.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Melissa (Books R Us) said...

I have never read any of the Alex Cross novels so I would like to read the first one


melissa(at)gingerhigh(dot)com

Melissa (Books R Us) said...

I found out that his favorite vacation spot is the caribbean.


melissa(at)gingerhigh(dot)com

Melissa (Books R Us) said...

Tweeted

http://twitter.com/Ginger_High/statuses/6794568275



melissa(at)gingerhigh(dot)com

dsandyboy said...

I haven't read him yet, but I'd love to read Kiss the Girls.

dsandyboy@gmail.com

FrankSandy said...

I'm a follower.

I'd love the Hanukkah package. walkerd@primus.ca

Bleuette said...

I've never read the Alex Cross books, but i have read the Maximum Ride series. I would love to read I Alex Cross.

tirachii@yahoo.com

Bleuette said...

I find the facts about his reltives and him interesting.

tirachii@yahoo.com

Deb K said...

Along Came a Spider was one of my favorites~as I have read many too and love them!

deb55106 at gmail dot com

Deb K said...

I did not know that his favorite food was White bean soup1


deb55106(at)gmail(dot)com

Deb K said...

Tweet!
http://twitter.com/Deb55106/status/6828077115


deb55106(at)gmail(dot)com

Esme said...

I have not read any of his books-i would like to read Pop Goes the Weasel.



chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Esme said...

Well given I did not know anything about him-his educational background and work experience is interesting.

Esme said...

cococroissants

http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/2009/12/alex-cross-bingle-bells-bundle-three.html

chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

Nancye said...

I would like to read: "Violets Are Blue"

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Something interesting is this: "Upon graduation Cross worked as a migrant farm worker for a year." This seems not to fit with the rest of the description of Alex Cross.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Anonymous said...

cross country sounds interesting,I need some winter reading,thx for contest,,,
thehighflyer3(at)hotmail(dot)com

lag123 said...

I read Cat and Mouse and Pop Goes The Weasel. They were both very good!

lag123 said...

I didn't know that he worked as a migrant farm worker for a year after graduation.

lag110@mchsi.com

lag123 said...

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/lag32583/status/6848854154

lag110 at mchsi dot com

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