Music > Giveaways

[close] "A Wrinkle in Time meets Captains Courageous."

As the only child of wealthy Dallas executives, it appears that a life of trustafarian ease is the birthright of 15-year-old indoors-loving Miles McTavish. Those expectations are upended, however, the day he is summoned to the hospital bed of his friend, Professor Davies. The Professor tells Miles he has been chosen is to travel back in time to 1928, and across the sea to England (on a vintage English three-speed bicycle). Once there, he is to find “a girl with a gift, a girl born out of her time” and a “secret that was not meant to be” and then return home with them both. Miles must first find the courage to pass through the strange portal in the Vermont woods that will launch him on this mission, and then to face down a series of do-or-die crises (including a crisis of confidence). He must also navigate the low-tech, class-bound world of England in 1928 while keeping his true identity a secret. Miles' quest for the girl and the secret carries him from a great estate in England's beautiful countryside to London's jazz-age cabarets, and from terrified boy to heroic young man. [close]

[close] Millennials Speak. Essays on the 21st Century is a crowdsourced and crowdfunded production. It is snapshot of the ideas and opinions global Millennial Generation. Twenty writers from five continents, a diverse mix of young academics, policy professionals, and future thought and creative leaders, cover topics from the legacy of the Arab Spring, the global food system, the U.S. student loan crisis, youth unemployment, to popular culture.

Global youth unemployment stands at 12.7% and is expected to rise. Presently, more than half of the 7 billion people alive are under the age of 30; almost half of the world's population is under the age of 25. In the Arab world, an average 27.5 percent of the total youth population is unemployed. Youth unemployment in both the Eurozone and in the United States, the world's largest regional and national economy, respectively, is more than twice that of the rest of the population. What do people from these regions have to say about these trends?

Much work and research regarding the millennial generation is very American-centric. But for a globally-connected and aware generation, limiting the scope of study to a single country misses the mark for such a diverse global demographic. The writers hope to fill some of that geography gap with this book. [close]

[close] In small Texas towns, strangers come and go... Left in a Stetson hat, on the steps of the local bed and breakfast, Avery Callimer came into the world on a wing and a prayer. Raised by loving adoptive parents, she’s never lacked for love ... only the knowledge of her past. By day she works at the inn, but by night ... Avery comes alive as lead singer in a band. Life was good ... stable, until new guests blew into town. Some strangers come with secrets and lies. Lucas Bennett is one such stranger. Drifting from one mess to another has left him jaded. Doesn’t matter the dramas are never his doing. Giving it one last shot to make a fresh start lands him Harmony’s Echo, Texas and smack dab in front of the tantalizing Avery. Despite his best efforts to ignore the burn Avery’s ignited within, he’s intent to keep his distance. Secrets have followed him. Secrets he doesn’t want Avery to know. Each time they’re near the other, things heat up like a brushfire on a dry Texas prairie. But maybe, after the dust settles and the smoke clears, love can bloom with a fresh start. [close]

[close] One Signed Paperback Copy by the author.

Infinity discovers a dark secret from her past that rocks everything she knows to be true.

A troubled 22-year-old superstar singer, Infinity has a bad reputation for drugs and hard partying. Now, she is on the road to a comeback with her controversial tour. But everything about doing the concert feels wrong from missing employees, to anonymous threats about ruining her career. She is dealing with a powerful corporation that is determined to kill her and everyone she loves. She is also battling for control of her life and career from a relationship that crossed the fine line between love and obsession. Infinity knows too much, even though she doesn't realize it. Secrets have been kept and these secrets are powerful enough to destroy her and everyone she loves.

Now she must put her safety and trust in the hands of sexy, tattooed and delicious Torch Channing and Boulder Vigari, hired to keep her from getting killed. Boulder wants to make her his. He won't stop until he claims her. Torch struggles with his primal need to possess her and his hatred of everything she represents.

Infinity is determined to protect her heart while dealing with the pressure of pulling off another successful tour without spiraling into another mental meltdown. [close]

[close] THEY PROMISED TO REUNITE IF ABBA EVER DID. THREE DECADES ON THE TIME HAS COME...

1983 - an unforgettable summer of rebellion, first love and shared secrets for four teenage friends and ABBA fans.

Three decades on, and much has changed . . .

Devoted wife and mother-of-two Maggie Corcoran can barely recall the freedom of those halcyon days, as she comes to terms with some life-shattering news - alone.

Reclusive ex-pop star Daniel Smith is reluctantly back in the super trouper limelight, and problems close to home are challenging his desperate need to hide away.

Dee, now a successful business woman, has come a long way since her wild youth. But while she's very bit a force to be reckoned with in the boardroom, her marriage tells a different story.

And for the once shy and retiring Charlie, life has changed in ways the four could never have imagined. But personal happiness has come at a heart-breaking price

.When Maggie decides to reform the old crowd for an ABBA reunion concert in Stockholm, old memories are reawakened, good and bad. And each discovers that to lay the past to rest, sometimes you've got to take a chance on the future . . . [close]

[close] Once, lord of lyrics; once, prince of peace...
Now a demon let off his leash...

Three Chords of Chaos No greater musician than Gorge ever lived in the Realm of the Sidhe.

No faerie musician ever delved so deeply into the taboo songs and the forbidden music-the Way of the Bone. Yet, Gorge refused to deny himself their temptations. In reward his true love betrayed him, and the faerie kings and queens who once praised him stripped him of his magic and exiled him to the mortal world. Left to go mad and die, Gorge discovered new life in the arms of a mortal woman, Delilah-and new magic in the music that sings in the souls of mortals.

Decades later, Gorge walks a dark path through the musical underground of New York City. He lives a secret life, hiding from the fae, waging a guerilla war of punk rock, and wielding his guitar like a weapon as he gathers magic and recharges his power. Until the day he's strong enough to return home and open the Way of the Bone to all the Faerie Kingdoms. But the mortal world is far more dangerous than it seems.

Gorge never expected to discover such raw power, almost beyond his control, among the mortals who worship his music. Nor did he count on a mortal wizard to discover his secrets or turn the ancient weapons of the fae against him.

Caught in a dangerous game of magic, music, and lies, Gorge must find the truth and uncover the source of his enemy's magic. Survival and love hang in the balance. And Gorge has only his music to protect him, only a song for any hope of salvation....

Praise for the work of James Chambers:

"...chillingly evocative writing..." -Publisher's Weekly

"James Chambers writes stories that are paced fast enough to friction burn a reader's eyeballs." -Horror Reader.com
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[close] Classical music themed gay romance from Dreamspinner Press.

World-renowned conductor David Somers never wanted the investment firm he inherited from his domineering grandfather. He only wanted to be a composer. But no matter how he struggles, David can’t translate the music in his head into notes on paper.

When a guest violinist at the Chicago Symphony falls ill, David meets Alex Bishop, a last-minute substitute. Alex’s fame and outrageous tattoos fail to move David. Then Alex puts bow to string, and David hears the brilliance of Alex’s soul.

David has sworn off relationships, believing he will eventually drive away those he loves, or that he'll lose them as he lost his wife and parents. But Alex is outgoing, relaxed, and congenial—everything David is not—and soon makes dents in the armor around David's heart. David begins to dream of Alex, wonderful dreams full of music. Becoming a composer suddenly feels attainable.

David’s fragile ego, worn away by years of his grandfather’s disdain, makes losing control difficult. When David’s structured world comes crashing down, his fledgling relationship with Alex is the first casualty. Still, David hears Alex’s music, haunting and beautiful. David wants to love Alex, but first he must find the strength to acknowledge himself. [close]

[close] How far would a son go to belong? And how far would a father go to protect him?

With his curly black hair and his wicked grin, everyone swoons and thinks of Frank Sinatra when Navy musician Jackson Lewis takes the stage. It's World War II, and while stationed in St. John's, Newfoundland, Jack meets the well-heeled, romantic Vivian Clift, a local girl who has never stepped off the Rock and is desperate to see the world. They marry against Vivian's family's wishes—hard to say what it is, but there's something about Jack that they just don't like—and as the war draws to a close, the new couple travels to Windsor to meet Jack's family.

But when Vivian meets Jack's mother and brother, everything she thought she knew about her new husband gets called into question. They don't live in the dream home that Jack depicted, they all look different from one another—and different from anyone Vivian has ever seen—and after weeks of waiting to meet Jack's father, William Henry, he never materializes.

Steeped in jazz and big-band music, spanning pre- and post-war Windsor-Detroit, St. John's, Newfoundland, and 1950s Toronto, this is an arresting, heartwrenching novel about fathers and sons, love and sacrifice, race relations and a time in our history when the world was on the cusp of momentous change. [close]

[close] Shadows & Wings

Tomas, a cellist and dreamer, denies the devastating changes happening in 1930’s Germany—until he is drafted into Hitler’s Wehrmacht. Many years later, having emigrated to Australia, he raises his granddaughter Lara to love music and birds. He also chooses to hide from her a terrible secret.
When her beloved Opa dies, 22 year-old Lara receives a shadow box of mysterious ornaments that force her to confront his past. Seeking to understand his years of silence, and to find a way through her own grief, she travels to Germany—the objects her only guide.

'Shadows & Wings' is a novel of cyclic journeys between hemispheres, the connections between ourselves and those we can never know, and the haunting power of art, love and dreams.

* Shortlisted for the Australian CAL Scribe Fiction Prize. [close]

[close] On the occasion of their fiftieth anniversary, Rocks Off presents the story of the Rolling Stones as told through fifty of their most representative songs


"You Can't Always Get What You Want," "Paint It Black," "Satisfaction:" you know all the words but how much do you really know about the inspiration behind them? Or how their melodies were created?

All artists reveal themselves through their work and the Rolling Stones are no different: each song exposes a little more of their soul. Rocks Off promises to reveal that soul by deconstructing their best tunes from their incredible fifty years of record making. Written by Stones fanatic, musician, and writer Bill Janovitz, this is a song-by-song chronicle that maps the landmarks of the band's career while expanding upon their recording and personal history through insightful and energetic prose. With its conversational tone—much like friends pouring over old records on a Saturday afternoon—the book presents the musical leaps taken by the band and a discussion of how the lyrical content both reflected and influenced popular culture. The song choices—fifty in all—are chronological and subjective; most of them are the classic hits, however, the book digs deeper into beloved album tracks and songs with unique stories behind them.

Looking through the prism of the Stone's music in a fresh way, Rocks Off is the ultimate listening guide and thinking man's companion that will spur readers to dust off those old albums and listen in with a new-found perspective on one of the most famous and acclaimed rock 'n' roll bands of all time.
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[close] The music legend who revived modern bluegrass music, Ricky Skaggs, gives a warm, honest, one-of-a-kind memoir of forty years in music—along with the Ten Commandments of Bluegrass, as handed down by Ricky’s mentor Bill Monroe; the Essential Guide to Bedrock Country Songs, a lovingly compiled walk through the songs that have moved Skaggs the most throughout his life; Songs the Lord Taught Us, a primer on Skaggs’s most essential gospel songs; and a bevy of personal snapshots of his musical heroes. For readers of Johnny Cash’s autobiography, lovers of O Brother Where Art Thou, and fans of country music and bluegrass, Kentucky Traveler is a priceless look at America’s most cherished and vibrant musical tradition through the eyes of someone who has lived it. [close]

[close] Lady Gaga's old friend and former DJ Brendan Jay Sullivan paints a vivid picture of the downtown scene from which she emerged. Brendan Jay Sullivan was an up-and-coming New York City DJ when he met Stefani Germanotta, then a struggling artist, in 2006. She was a go-go dancer who sewed her own outfits but had bigger ambitions—she wanted nothing less than to take over the music world. In this intimate portrait of the budding star who would soon catapult to fame and fortune, the author describes afternoons sitting with Gaga on the floor of her bare Lower East Side apartment, drinking wine from pint glasses and plotting out the pop stardom that awaited her.
Filled with stories of love and heartbreak among Gaga and Sullivan and their circle of aspiring musicians and per­formers, and set against the vibrant backdrop of the down­town bars and parties of the mid-aughts, Rivington Was Ours is both a love letter to New York and a glimpse behind the veil of one of the biggest musical icons of her generation. [close]

[close] If you'd like to say a few words on here and Amazon about the book, enter to win one of the three Giveaway books for review!

Description:

In this Americana narrative, Conor, together with his past musician friends are offered a record deal for their college band, Listless. The first year teacher Conor and the rest of the group, with their own obligations, don’t immediately see the value in this brief stint of regression. However, with adult/professional life during a recession looking so bleak and their past dreams so close to realization, they choose to take this one last chance to tour their favorite music venues and play with some of the their favorite bands. Along the way, the band meets a beautiful young journalist who opts to travel with the indie rock group and document their sometimes funny and other times awkward jaunt around the East Coast. The story ends in a realization that takes the characters (and reader) right back to the start in this vicarious ride through the cyclical reality we call life.


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From BarnesAndNoble.com:

I'd recommend this book to any young adult reader. The storyline is fun and entertaining. There were a few unexpected twists, and I found myself rooting for the main character along his adventure. THE LISTLESS had me laughing at times, but in the end there is a deeper meaning that really had me take a look at my own life and the choices I've made. It's a quick read and definitely well worth it.
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[close] Tony Allen is the autobiography of legendary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, the rhythmic engine of Fela Kuti's Afrobeat. Conversational, inviting, and packed with telling anecdotes, Allen's memoir is based on hundreds of hours of interviews with the musician and scholar Michael E. Veal. It spans Allen's early years and career playing highlife music in Lagos and his fifteen years with Fela, from 1964 until 1979, his struggles to form his own bands in Nigeria, and his emigration to France.

Allen embraced the drum-set, rather than African handheld drums, early in his career, when drum kits were relatively rare in Africa. His story conveys a love of his craft along with the specifics of his practice. It also provides invaluable firsthand accounts of the explosive creativity in postcolonial African music, and the personal and artistic dynamics in Fela's Koola Lobitos and Africa 70, two of the greatest bands to ever play African music. [close]

[close] Unlock Your Guitar Playing Potential!

So many guitar players face frustration as they learn to play the guitar, and sometimes they even think about giving up! But it doesn't have to be that way!

The "7 Keys to Becoming a Better Guitar Player" will help unlock your potential to be a better guitar player no matter if you've just started playing guitar or if you've been playing for a long time.

Not just a "method" in itself but a companion guide and a way to learn the guitar that will serve you for the rest of your guitar playing days!

The "7 Keys to Becoming a Better Guitar Player" will make every lesson you take and all your practice time MUCH more productive.

Also includes: 7 Days with the 7 Keys for Beginners - A step by step program for the first seven days using the 7 keys geared for beginners.

AND: 7 Days with the 7 Keys for Intermediate Guitar Players - A step by step program for the first seven days using the 7 keys geared for intermediate guitarists.

Make a decision today to become the guitar player you always wanted to be! [close]

[close] Prom has been a fixture in the life of American teenagers for as long as high schools have existed. Both encapsulating and magnifying the drama of adolescence, proms have transformed from modest tea dances to costly extravaganzas supporting apparel and cosmetic makers, limousine services, hotels, magazine publishers, and hair salons.

Focusing on social and economic trends, this volume examines the evolution of prom, the development of the billion-dollar prom industry, and prom's place in popular culture, including its portrayal in film, television, and literature.

Using prom as a lens through which to view many aspects of American culture--money, sex, fashion, dance, music, television, transportation, communication, and even war--this work offers fresh perspective on the history of American youth. [close]

[close] Teen violin prodigy Cassie has been tiptoeing around her father, whose moods have become increasingly explosive.After he destroys her beloved and valuable violin in a sudden rage, Cassie, shocked, runs away, eventually seeking refuge in a homeless shelter.She later learns that her father, a former violinist, was physically beaten as a child by her grandfather, a painful secret he's kept hidden from his family, and the cause of his violent outbursts. With all of their lives shattered in some way, Cassie's family must struggle to repair their broken relationships.As Cassie moves forward, she ultimately finds a way to help others, having developed compassion through her own painful experiences. Written in lyrical prose, SHATTERED tells the moving story of how one girl finds inner strength through music. [close]

[close] Two signed copies will be given to two winners!

[close] I know this has to stop. Something has to give. A person cannot die of a broken heart. Believe me, I know. I’ve been waiting—and it’s just not happening.

What would you do in the face of the ultimate betrayal? This is the question that faces Mattie, Sarah, and Jeremy as they negotiate the often precarious game of love. In MK Harkins’s riveting debut novel, Intentional, nothing is ever quite as it seems at first glance. This story of bitter ends and new beginnings is told through the perspectives of all three of the main players, providing readers with a unique insight into the motivations and schemes of all involved.

Mattie and Jeremy are deliriously happy, engaged to be married, and looking forward to a lifetime of love. Both are successful business owners, and their future, both professionally and as a couple, seems bright. Mattie has overcome heartbreak in her past, but with Jeremy things finally appear to have worked out. They settle in Sedona, Arizona and prepare for their wedding.

Their happiness and peace of mind all crumble away, however, when Mattie comes across evidence of a massive betrayal. Unable to remain in the town that reminds her with every aching step of the love she lost, Mattie flees to Mercer Island, Washington in an attempt to start a new life. The pain she feels knows no bounds, and she struggles to make sense of the life she thought she knew.

While uneasily trying to settle into a new life without her closest friends or love by her side, Mattie meets Cade, a tattooed engineer by day and a lead singer in a rock band by night. Cade has experienced pain of his own with the loss of his college sweetheart, and Mattie and he instantly bond over their mutual heartbreak. As their friendship deepens, however, an undeniable attraction enflames them both even as Mattie’s heart still aches for her former fiancé.

Mattie and Cade wrestle with their feelings while Jeremy struggles to pick up the pieces after Mattie’s departure. Confused and angry at himself, he struggles to put together the events that tore away the love of his life. Sarah appears to want to help him move on, but what are her true motivations?

Months pass and just when it appears that Mattie may have found another stab at happiness, her past comes rushing back in the form of Jeremy himself. As events unfold, it becomes clear to Mattie that the trauma from her past may not have been quite what it seemed. Will Mattie ever learn the truth behind what really happened? And if she does, could it mean a new beginning with Jeremy?

Readers will instantly be swept up in the saga of love and heartbreak that unfolds between Mattie, Jeremy, and Sarah. Offering a rarely-before-seen glimpse into the heart and mind of a romantic villain, audiences will find a welcome reprieve from the typical romance novel. Told from alternating perspectives, each chapter brings new information to light that can save—or destroy—all those involved in this delicate setup.

Intentional is ultimately a story that shows how one event can propel three people into radically different directions, changing the course of their lives forever. It is a story of betrayal and forgiveness, heartbreak and redemption. Above all, it is a story that celebrates the existence and power of love in the midst of a world that rarely makes sense.
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[close] *2 SIGNED COPIES*
Emma Walker was a writer who'd lost herself to someone else's anger--who had given up on ever feeling like herself again.
Evan Levesque was a rock-god--the one all the woman wanted, but he'd never gotten used to the loneliness between the stage and real life.
With just one cup of coffee they'll begin a journey of self-discovery at each others sides, but can Emma handle Evan's fame while dealing with her own demons? Emma's checkered personal past, a bad relationship that haunts the edges of her memories, threatens to make everything implode on them when Evan takes matters into his own hands.
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but your words...they'll destroy my soul--Can Emma handle being put back together and facing who she's become because of it?
GENRE: New Adult>Contemporary Romance
Mild to moderate sexual content [close]