"The Sharp Edge of a Knife" Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Book Review

To celebrate the release of The Sharp Edge of a Knife, D.N. (Nichole) Giles has put together an exciting giveaway, with several opportunities to win. Before entering, please be sure to read the entry requirements, below, as they may vary slightly at different stops on the blog tour!

Since Nichole's book deals a lot with making choices, the prizes all have something to do with choice. Among the prizes Nichole has 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 at www.watchesbylisa.blogspot.com.

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.

Nichole realizes 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 she’s 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 prizes, continued (that might interest 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 Nichole's 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. They have in their midst some fabulous authors including Tristi Pinkston, acquisitions editor for Valor publishing and author of the Secret Sisters series; Danyelle Ferguson, freelance editor for Ferguson Authors Editing & Review Services, 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; Keith Fisher, up and coming author of women’s fiction and plotting genius; and Nichole Giles, also known as D.N. Giles.

**If enough people enter this contest, Nichole reserves the right to choose extra winners and give away some, or all, of the prizes left after the first 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 both my (Cindy--C.L.--Beck) blog and Nichole’s blog. Click to follow Cindy's blog, in the sidebar at the right. Nichole's can be found here and you can click to follow in her sidebar as well. You MUST leave a comment here, at Cindy's blog, stating the name under which you've clicked as a follower on Cindy's blog, regardless of whether you're a new follower or have previously signed up to follow. (I know this seems nit-picky, but I've recently spent a lot of time, on a different contest, tracking down followers who commented under one name and followed under another.)

2. You must leave a comment at my (Cindy--C.L.--Beck) blog 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: Each extra entry requires a separate comment on this (Cindy's) blog!

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 find your tweet in a comment.

3. Follow me on Twitter and leave your Twitter link here.

4. Follow Nichole on Twitter and leave your Twitter link here.

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 and/or Nichole. Leave the Facebook link here.

6. Become a fan of The Sharp Edge of a Knife on Facebook. Leave a comment that you've done that.


You may enter this contest 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


BOOK REVIEW FOR THE SHARP EDGE OF A KNIFE

Blurb from the book, The Sharp Edge of a Knife

Most people would have panicked, sitting bound and gagged on a boulder in the middle of the desert as I was, but for some reason, I didn't. A strange kind of reassurance washed over me from somewhere deep within. Whether it was peace that I'd go quickly, or comfort that I was being protected, I wasn't sure. When Mel Petersen leaves for work on the morning of February 7, he has no idea what awaits him. A few miles from his house, Mel picks up a pair of young men who appear to be college students, hoping to prevent them from having to walk in the cold. What Mel doesn't know is that the men are actually convicts on the run from the law who are desperate to get away by any means necessary. When one of his passengers holds a knife to Mel's throat, he has no choice but to submit to the demands of the criminals. Mel hopes he has what it takes to talk his captors into letting him live so he can return to his wife and children, but fears they will kill him before he has the chance. Based on a true story, The Sharp Edge of a Knife follows Mel and his captors on an unforgettable ride that will have you questioning the depth of your faith and sitting on the edge of your seat as it grabs your attention from the first sentence and keeps you riveted until the very end.

What Other People Are Saying

The Sharp Edge of a Knife is a story of faith, perseverance, and one man's determination to make it back to his wife and children at every cost but that of his integrity. ~Tristi Pinkston, author of Agent in Old Lace and others.

I found The Sharp Edge of the Knife to be a compelling and inspirational story. The example of grace under fire will help everyone, and to realize the story is true punctuates that inspiration. It’s a good read. ~Keith Fisher, author, reviewer

From the first page, I was pulled into this true account of unbelievable courage and faith. Nichole Giles has crafted an incredible story based on Mel Peterson’s harrowing kidnap and life-threatening events in such a compelling style, there was no escape until I reached the satisfying ending. ~Rachelle J. Christensen, author of Wrong Number

My Opinion of The Sharp Edge of a Knife

From the moment I started reading The Sharp Edge of a Knife, I was caught up in the suspense, drama, and intrigue of the circumstances under which Mel Peterson, an unassuming LDS Institute/Seminary director, becomes held against his will. Mel's kindness toward others is the reason for him picking up the two young men, who are hitchhiking on the side of the road, but it's his faith that will get him through the nightmare ... the nightmare of being kidnapped, bound, and left in the desert to die.

The Sharp Edge of a Knife is a compelling tale of one man's faith and courage in the face of extreme danger. Author, Nichole Giles, weaves a gripping story that will have the reader sitting on the edge of her seat, wishing for the ability to read in super speed in order to find out what happens next.

I love the accuracy with which Giles relates this unforgettable story of her grandfather's kidnapping. Her depiction of the fear and anxiety Mel experienced, plus her descriptions of the car ride, and ultimately the desert where Mel was left to die, combined to make me feel as if I were right there with Mel ... right at the sharp edge of the knife!

About the Author

Nichole Petersen Giles is the daughter of Joseph Petersen, Mel and Jeneal's second child and firstborn son. Nichole was born in Nevada , and moved with her parents to a number of cities in and around the Midwest, mostly staying in Utah , Nevada , Arizona, and snatches of time in Texas . Her early career plans included becoming a megastar actress or a rock star, but she decided instead to have a family and then become a writer, in that order. Writing is her passion, but she also loves to spend time with her family, travel, and drive in the rain with the convertible top down. Her first book Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, an anthology of humorous anecdotes, was released in December 2009 by Cedar Fort Inc. and can be found online and wherever LDS books are sold. Some of her other work has been published in Highlights for Children, The Friend, and Boys' Quest, and she blogs regularly at www.nicholegiles.blogspot.com. For more information about Nichole or her work, contact her at writenichole@gmail.com.

[Disclosure: Although I do know the author, I was not compensated in any way for this review, and my opinion of the book expresses my own feelings.]

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