I was more than happy to join in when Nichole Giles asked me to participate in her blog tour for The Sharp Edge of a Knife. As part of the fun, Nichole is holding a contest to go along with her blog tour. The contest details follow my review, so make sure you page all the way down. Here we go!
Title: The Sharp Edge of a Knife
Author: D.N. Giles
Published Date: 2010
Published by: Golden Wings Enterprises
ISBN#: 978-0-9794340-2-0
The Sharp Edge of a Knife is based on the real life experience of Nichole’s grandfather, told using the point-of-view of both Mel (her grandfather) and Jeneal (her grandmother). I’m glad Nichole told the story using both Mel and Jeneal; it worked quite well for me. Not only do we get to experience what is happening to Mel, we also learn what Jeneal is feeling and wondering during everything.
The Sharp Edge of a Knife isn’t a long book (142 pages), but it didn’t feel at all like a short story, either. The suspense lasted throughout the book, making the quick read a memorable one. Nichole’s writing is effective & the story is engaging, with just the right amount of detail, and reflects the time period as well (1950s). It was easy to picture the events in my mind as they occurred.
It was fascinating to see and read copies of actual newspaper clippings about the event at the end of the book. I concluded my reading with a great amount of respect for Mel and understand why he was and is so loved by his large and growing family. I highly recommend this book to all readers.
Well done, Nichole!
FTC FYI: The copy of this book I reviewed was provided by the author; this has no affect on my review.
Here is the contest info from Nichole:
The Sharp Edge of a Knife Blog Tour and Giveaway!
To celebrate the release of The Sharp Edge of a Knife, I’ve put together an exciting giveaway, with several opportunities to win. Since the book deals a lot with making choices, the prizes all have something to do with choice.
Among prizes I’ve been collecting, Lisa at Watches by Lisa has agreed to sponsor the giveaway by donating a custom made beaded watch and face. Head on over to her blog and take a look at the incredible selection.
So, choice number one: the winner gets to choose a watch band and face so that their watch is personalized to their tastes and fashion needs.
Yes, I realize that a beaded watch is not exactly a prize to be coveted by a bunch of masculine men (though it makes a great gift for the woman or girl in your life), which is why I’m also giving away more great stuff. Check out the following really cool prizes:
1. Choice between: An autographed copy of the New York Times number one bestselling novel, Wings by Aprilynne Pike—or—a non-autographed copy of The Darwin Awards, Intelligent Design by Wendy Northcutt—or—a numbered, autographed copy of Recovering Charles by Jason F. Wright. Click here to learn more about Wings, here to read about The Darwin Awards, and here to find out about Recovering Charles.
2. Choice between: A $25 gift certificate to the Restaurant Morelia in Murray, UT (Sorry out-of-state peeps, this is local to Utah.) or $25 worth of vinyl lettering by Whaddayawannasay Vinyl Lettering—you choose your quote or phrase.
Bonus prize for author types
3. You may substitute any of the above selections with the following incredible opportunity: The chance to sit in on a critique session with my wonderful, amazing, incredible critique group. While there, you will be treated to not one, but six critiques on the first chapter of your work in progress. This is no ordinary group. We have in our midst some fabulous authors including Tristi Pinkston, acquisitions editor for Valor publishing and author of the Secret Sisters series, Danyelle Ferguson, freelance editor and author of (dis)Abilities and the Gospel—who will edit via internet, since she actually lives in Kansas—Heather Justesen, author of The Ball’s In Her Court and the upcoming release, Rebound, Kimberly Job, author of I’ll Know You By Heart, andKeith Fisher, up and coming author of women’s fiction and plotting genius, and Nichole Giles, also known as D.N. Giles.
**If you are not local to Utah, but would still like this option, we will still critique your chapter online.
**If enough people enter this contest, I reserve the right to choose extra winners and give away some, or all, of the prizes left after the top three winners have made their choices.
Entries will be accepted between March 15th and April 3rd. On April 5th Nichole will announce the contest winners on her blog. Entry requirements:
1. You must be a follower of my blog.
2. You must leave a comment telling me which prize you want to win and why.
3. For those wishing to win the watch, you must go to Watches by Lisa and become a follower, then come back and tell me which watch combination is your favorite.
Extra entries:
1. Blog about this contest, then come back and leave either a url address or a link in a comment.
2. Twitter this contest, tell me where to see your tweet in a comment.
3. Follow me on Twitter.
4. Follow Nichole on Twitter.
5. Facebook the contest. If your Facebook page is private, and I’m not your friend, I can’t see that you’ve done this, so you’ll need to friend me.
6. Become a fan of The Sharp Edge of a Knife on Facebook.
You may enter this contest here, as well as on any of the tour posts at the following blogs:
March 15th Cindy Beck, Review
March 16th David J. West, review, interview
March 17th Cindy Beck, Interview
March 18th Tristi Pinkston, review
March 19th Rachelle Christensen, review
March 22nd Shanda, LDS Women’s Book Review
March 23rd Kimberly Job, review
March 23rd Keith Fisher, Interview
March 24th Heather Justesen, review
March 25th Christine Bryant, Review
March 25th Connie Hall, Interview
March 26th Kimberly Job, interview
March 26th Heather Justesen, interview
March 27th Keith Fisher, review
March 28th Ali Cross, Review
March 29th Rachelle Christensen, Interview
March 30th Heather Gardener, Fire and Ice Book Reviews
March 31st Danyelle Ferguson review, interview
The votes have been cast and the Whitney Award winners have been announced.
