Fabulous! It’s Friday! …oh, yeah, and a giveaway!

Continuing with the project: 31 days of… with The Nester.

Click on the link to her blog to see all of the wonderful blogs that are linking up, and of course her awesome series on making your home – your home!

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We will start this Fabulous Friday Book Review with a bang,

With a small list of a variety of  great books.

And because I am just feeling like it, we are going to have a giveaway!

Read below to find out how to win!

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READ ON READ ON READ ON READ ON READ ON READ ON READ ON READ ON READ ON

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For Adults:

For serious escapism, try the first of many in author Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon series.

As a painter who loves the mystery of FAKE conspiracy theories (!),

this series is one of my go-to favorites.

Gabriel Allon is a talented painter and art restorer of unparalleled depth and skill.

When his country decides he has the perfect psychological background to become a hit-man, does he have a choice but to serve them? Learn how he serves on the side of good, using his talents as a painter for his cover.

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For Teens and College Students (and adults!):

While there may be a bit of controversy in some households over some of John Green’s books, I can’t recommend them highly enough. John is a gifted writer, and may I say, philosopher, whose words can be enjoyed not only in his books, but on the vlog he hosts with his musically talented brother, Hank.

That out of the way, the first John Green book that I would like to recommend would be Paper Towns.

A book about teens involving late night escapades, cross country travel, and finding oneself.

This book is recommended for mature teens and college-age students (and adults!) due to some language and sexual references.

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For Pre-teens or Reluctant Readers!

Do you like a mystery? Do you think swamps are scary? Then this book is for you!

Even though her mom has a job, Liza and her mother are homeless and living in a swamp in Florida until they can get back on their feet. The swamp is filled with scary things – snakes, bugs, rodents, gators, and other homeless people.

Is there a criminal hiding in the woods?  A man-eating alligator?  Read Liza’s story to find out!

Liza gets to know some of the people in the swamp, and learns about the ecological jewel in which she lives – and she discovers that there is no-where else like it in North America. She also learns that some neighboring housing developments are growing out of their boundaries, so the state is trying to capture and remove a huge ancient alligator that is said to live in the swamp.

Is there really a man-eating gator, or is it something else?

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For Reading Aloud with Kids!

This is an outstanding “interactive” book.  No, I don’t mean electronic!

A sweet and slightly naughty pigeon wants to drive the bus, and despite the fact that the bus driver has instructed us – the readers –not to let him, he pesters and pesters us to let him drive the bus.

When reading this one aloud, be sure to prompt the kids. Ask them questions and before you turn the page, wait for their answers!

This is a read-aloud in which you shouldn’t mind that they answer LOUDLY!

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I would love it if anyone reading this would share some favorites here in the comments or on my Facebook page or Twitter feed.

and

I can ALWAYS use some good book referrals!

And because I am just feeling like it, I am going to use my request for referrals as the basis for a giveaway!

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Every comment that includes a book referral will be counted, and a random number generator will be used to pick the winner!

And of course, we’ll all get some good book referrals!

The giveaway will go for ONE FULL WEEK, until Friday, October 12^th, 2012, at 7pm.

Please make sure I can access an email address either in your post or through your ID, to let you know you have won and to give you the e-gift card.  I will announce the winner at 8pm on 10/12 here on the blog and in an email (if able) and the winner will have 3 days to respond.  If I don’t hear from the winner by Monday at 8pm, I will choose another winner.