Friday, July 24, 2009

The Unexpected Gift Review and Giveaway




The Unexpected Gift is an easy read with a great message: give to others and you will receive more than you bargained for. The story follows the journey of a newly divorced (and slightly bitter) woman as she brings a gift of old baby clothes to a poor pregnant woman. She thought that was the end of the story, but after a couple of chance meetings, they develop an unlikely friendship. And both of them learn so much about themselves as life.

About the authors: Meaghan Gonzales Wagar and Michelle Bulmer Atha both received graduate degrees in education and have dedicated themselves to public education. Meaghan teaches fifth grade and is a mother of two. She is a native of Atlanta, a baseball team-mom and church volunteer, where she ministers to new moms with home-cooked meals. Originally from Milford, Conn., Michelle teaches Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, in addition to the second graders she teaches at an Atlanta area elementary school. In her classroom, students write letters and send care packages to the soldiers. She has two girls and is remarried.

As someone who has had faced difficulty (infertility), I learned that the best way out of hopeless and dispair is to give back. And I got back so much more than I ever gave. This book really resonated with me. The characters are believable. The plot line is entertaining, but also makes you stop and think. I read the entire book in just a couple of hours.

I need to give one caveat. Most of the books I write about are from a distinctly Christian perspective. Both characters express a relationship with God. However, there is some coarse language as well as a sexual encounter (not graphic) that caught me off guard.

I took the book with me to a work retreat, and my boss saw it on my bed. She's reading it now! :)

Would you like to win a copy! I have 3 to give away!

To enter:
Leave a comment. (If possible, tell about a time when you helped someone who ended up helping you.)

Bonus entries (leave a separate comment for each):
* Tell me how you found me (regular reader, BlogHop, giveaway listing, etc.)
* Add my button to your blog
* Follow me on twitter
* Tweet about this giveaway
* Follow my blog
* Subscribe to my blog
* Add my 40th Birthday Bash button to your blog

Contest ends Monday August 10th.

Please make sure your profile is public or include your e-mail address in your comment. If I can't easily find my winner, I'll have to pick another one.

Limited to US

95 comments:

Mozi Esme said...

I would love the chance to read this - I've heard good things about it! (Tho I can't think of any good stories at the moment.)

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Mozi Esme said...

The Thrifty Mama is where I heard about this.

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Winning Readings said...

Just a note that I've posted about this on Winning Readings:

http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/07/unexpected-gift_27.html

Annette W. said...

Whenever I have helped with VBS or Backyard Bible Clubs from church it is always very rewarding ....for me!

derekannette at gmail dot com

Annette W. said...

I found you through Winning Readings!

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

i guess when we donate time thats when I see the smiles and realize in my heart its doing better things for me

Heidi V said...

Unexpected Gift's sounds like a great read...Checking my kids homework always helps me learn something new.


heidivargas [at] live dot com

Mysharona said...

i'd love to read this.

jwx4 said...

This looks like a great book. My friends and I help eachother out all the time.
jwx4 at yahoo dot com

Kimberly said...

I let a friend move in who ended up helping me out when I lost my job. It was really unexpected.

Kimberly said...

I found you on blog hop.

Kimberly said...

I follow. :)

Diane said...

I gave a friend money towards some homeschooling supplies she needed. Thanks for the opportunity!
estrella8888@roadrunner.com

Anonymous said...

I've helped my parents out alot and they always help in return.

Anonymous said...

Found you from Prizey and Twitter.

Anonymous said...

Follow on Twitter,
@palmersf

Anonymous said...

tweeted:
http://twitter.com/palmersf/statuses/2921602743

Aimee said...

My family just passes around the help; if someone needs something we're there for each other.

Aimee said...

I found out about this giveaway on Sweepstakes Advantage

Kristy said...

I'd love to read this, sounds like a great summer read for out by the pool!

jellibeenz1978@hotmail.com

Kristy said...

I found you on The Big List of Giveaways!

jellibeenz1978@hotmail.com

Kristy said...

Follow on Twitter-jellibeenz1978

jellibeenz1978@hotmail.com

Kristy said...

Subscribe via Google reader

jellibeenz1978@hotmail.com

Kristy said...

Follower
jellibeenz1978@hotmail.com

nfmgirl said...

Hmmm. I've helped my mother and friends, and they've helped me. I can't think of anything specific, though.

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

I follow on Twitter: nfmgirl

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

selinda_mccumbers said...

There are many times when it seems pay it forward has helped me in the long run!

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I love books

jim.coyne2@verizon.net

Ms. Cindy said...

I'd love to win! Thanks for the chance! No good stories, but I always help my friend's and it rewards me later on with their help in return!
monkeyami1@msn.com

Ms. Cindy said...

I follow your blog!
monkeyami1@msn.com

Ms. Cindy said...

I have your button!
monkeyami1@msn.com

Ms. Cindy said...

I found you by a friend! :)
monkeyami1@msn.com

Ms. Cindy said...

I added your Birthday Bash button! :)
monkeyami1@msn.com

Petula said...

Just stopped by from someone's blog and noticed you're giving away this book. I'm reading it now and it does have a great message.

Audrey said...

I love reading and this books sounds like a good read. Thanks so much for the give away.

audreyscountrycrafts at gmail.com

Audrey said...

Found you through EntreCard

audreyscountrycrafts at gmail.com

Audrey said...

Added your button to my blog:
http://audreysgiveaways.blogspot.com

audreyscountrycrafts at gmail.com

Audrey said...

Following you on twitter:
http://twitter.com/audreyscrafts

audreyscountrycrafts at gmail.com

Natalie A. said...

I'd love to win this great inspiring book! Many times I give help to others and I always receive something back from the without expecting it! Giving is great!
nataliedey@yahoo.com

Natalie A. said...

I have your button on my blog!
nataliedey@yahoo.com

Natalie A. said...

I am now following you on Twitter! :)
nataliedey@yahoo.com

Natalie A. said...

I tweeted!
www.twitter.com/natdey
nataliedey@yahoo.com

tatertot374 said...

This would be wonderful to win. My friend and I always help eachother out with babysitting each others kids. Its wonderful to know that I have someone I can trust with my kids.
Thank you for the chance
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

Hotsnotty2 said...

I would love to read this, hope I win! Thanks for the chance!

Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com

Natalie A. said...

I added your birthday bash button to my blog!
nataliedey@yahoo.com

Natalie A. said...

I am following your blog!
nataliedey@yahoo.com

Natalie A. said...

I think I found you off of SweetiesSweeps or else someone else's blog! I'm glad to find you though! Thanks!
nataliedey@yahoo.com

Misusedinnocence said...

This is great. :) My friends and I have a reciprocal relationship.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

nfmgirl said...

I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/nfmgirl/status/3192564517

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Carol EL said...

I help my kids with babysitting and they help me with house maintenance. jelly15301@gmail.com

Carol EL said...

Google reader subscriber. jelly15301@gmail.com

Carol EL said...

Twitter follower. jelly15301@gmail.com

Carol EL said...

Saw it at online-sweepstakes. jelly15301@gmail.com

Helen S said...

Sounds like a great book to read! I always try to help someone that I see that is in need and there seems to be always someone around to help me. helencutie06@aol.com

erma said...

I would love to read this.
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net

Candie L said...

I guess this is true of any good friend. You help them when they need something and you help them. I am pleased that I have two sets of friends that would help me any time. Thank you

candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

Candie L said...

I am following your blog. Thanks

candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

Candie L said...

I am following you on Twitter. Thanks

candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

Alicia said...

Sounds like a good read.

Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<

bloggyig at gmail dot com

saturdaynightfever said...

I like baking cupcakes for others!

edgenemmers@gmail.com

Natalie A. said...

I subscribe via Google! Thanks!
nataliedey@yahoo.com

Melanie Montgomery said...

I think that any time you help someone in need, you learn a little something about your self, or it teaches you a lesson about life, and I find that to be very helpful when it happens.


clarkmurdock@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

This sounds like a great read, thanks for the giveaway!

luckymegs1981 AT yahoo DOT com

Mishia said...

I'd love to read this book!

blogggggg said...

My family is always there for each other and helping one another out.

wordsmoveme at gmail dot com

blogggggg said...

I follow on twitter!
username: wordsmoveme

wordsmoveme at gmail dot com

blogggggg said...

I follow!
wordsmoveme at gmail dot com

susan1215 said...

Sounds like a good book

demmi said...

would love to win the book I can not remember a certain time but I think that it happens often con5459(at)gmail(dot)com

Gloria's Bits and Pieces said...

I went to help my mom with her checkbook and she helped me out by baking a pie for me

kngmckellar@hotmail.com

Gloria's Bits and Pieces said...

I follow as kngmckellar

kngmckellar@hotmail.com

Gloria's Bits and Pieces said...

found you on on-linesweepstakes

kngmckellar@hotmail.com

Gloria's Bits and Pieces said...

follow you on twitter as kngmckellar

kngmckellar@hotmail.com

Gloria's Bits and Pieces said...

subscribe email
kngmckellar@hotmail.com

tina reynolds said...

I would love to read this. I helped my grand parents out when they were a bit short about 6 months later i needed a cosigner for my apartment and they were there for me thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com

tina reynolds said...

i found you on prizey thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com

tina reynolds said...

i follow your blog thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com

tina reynolds said...

i follow on twitter my id is eaglesforjack thanks eaglesforjack@gmail.com

js22 said...

It's not much, but I had won a $50 gift card. My friend had invited me to celebrate Thanksgiving with her family. Both of us were unemployed and I know their finances were stretched tighter than mine, so the week before Thanksgiving, I gave her the $50 gift card to help with the cost of the holiday celebration.

Thanks for the giveaway!
email in blogger profile.

js22 said...

I found your site via online-sweepstakes.com .

email in blogger profile.

js22 said...

I follow your blog on blogger.
email in blogger profile.

js22 said...

tweet: http://twitter.com/js22222222/status/3230537581

email in blogger profile.

Becky said...

I really couldn't tell a story about helping someone who ended up helping me because I don't keep track..lol

Kathy P said...

i cant think of anything but id love to read this :)

Kathy P said...

onlinesweepstakes.com

Kathy P said...

following on twitter klp1965

Kathy P said...

following your blog as klp1965
kathy pease

Kathy P said...

http://twitter.com/klp1965/status/3235629431

Unknown said...

Sounds very interesting. Hope I win. garrettsambo@aol.com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me and thank you so much for the great giveaway! I love to help at my son's elementary school and see all the smiles.

jlilleysprint@earthlink.net

Kathy said...

Nothing like the story in the book ever happened to me but whenever I help someone I usually get more from the experience than I give.

masonsgranny59 said...

sounds like a great book:) I've help alot of people in my lifetime and have had people help me out when I've needed help:)

masonsgranny59 said...

ols is where i heard about this giveaway:)

lilyk said...

I helped my friend find a job and he ended up helping me find an apartment.

lilyk said...

I found you through a giveaway listing.