Celia's Journey: A Review and Book Giveaway

I have just finished reading a fabulous book, Celia's Journey, the debut novel for author Heather Muzik.   I am fascinated by the book.  It was done in an alternating person narration so we get to hear from several different main characters, and their take on all of the trials and tribulations they all experienced during the timeframe of their story.  It is set in "regular" America - never giving a location - it could be set in my backyard.   This family's story could be my story, your story or the story of the new family on the block.  It reaches out and grabs you from the first chapter and doesn't let you go until Celia's Journey is over .... or is it just beginning?  The only spoiler I will give is that you will need tissues while reading this book!

About Celia's Journey  .....

 ... How long does it take to upend and then transform a family?  To lose yourself and those you most cherish, then redefine yourself - your purpose - your unit? 

 ... In our case it was a journey of 39 weeks.  A journey that began before we even knew it had begun.  It started with a tiny spark of life and grew through death, grief, guilt, despair, frustration, fear, hope, healing and intense love; until we learned to laugh and rejoice and trust that life was worth living again ...

I thoroughly enjoyed Celia's Journey and am happy to let you know that there are three copies of this book to be given away. One via my blog and two via Facebook through the Celia's Journey page.

Let's get to the nitty gritty on my giveaway. The only thing you need to do to enter is be my follower (public follower) via Google Friend Connect and leave a comment letting me know.  Extra entries (not necessary to win, simply increase your odds of winning) are also being offered as follows (remember to leave your email address in your comment or be able to be contacted via GFC so that I don't have to "find" you):

• Follow CeliasJourney on Twitter and leave me a comment letting me know (one entry)
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave me a comment letting me know with your Twitter name (tweet once daily for one extra entry daily)
• Facebook about this giveaway (one entry per day)
• Friend Celia's Journey on facebook then leave me a comment letting me know (one entry) (let her know I sent you!)
• Blog about this entry (three entries per blog post) (leave three comments with the link to your post)

My contest will close at 11:59 p.m. EST Sunday, 12/19/10.  The winner will be picked via random.org and notified on Monday, 12/20/10.  The winner will have 48 hours to email me their particulars (real name, address, etc.)  If no answer from the original winner, I will move on to pick another winner - my object is to get this book to you for your own little "holiday" gift.  :-)  And, if you're not my winner, maybe you will be lucky enough to win a copy right from Heather Muzik on Facebook (details are below)  Otherwise, this wonderful book is available currently at Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com (click on the "other sellers" to get a signed, less expensive copy) and a Kindle edition of the book is currently in the works and will be appearing soon!

There are two copies of the book that are going to be given away by the author herself.  The contest will be open through the weekend as well.  Like "Celia's Journey" on facebook and refer your friends to "like" the page as well.  Once you "like" the page and are able to write on the wall, post a comment telling Heather who referred you there.  Have your friends do the same.  The person who has the most referrals on the page will win their very own copy of Celia's Journey.  The winner of the 2nd book is a little trickier - that person will be the first person who confirmed that the winner sent them to Friends of Celia's page.  Get it? If not, leave me a comment and I'll explain it further. 

You can learn more about Heather Muzik at her website, http://www.heathermuzik.com/.