RELENTLESSLY BIG CONTEST Day Six!
Apr
20
2009

Today’s book is Beth Williamson’s The Education of Madeline! Beth is so wonderful and so is this book! Click the link above to read an excerpt.

Plum Creek, Colorado 1872

The Right Man Comes Along

Madeline Brewster practically owns Plum City, Colorado. But at thirty-two, she knows she has missed any chance for happiness. Until she finds a tall, strong, handsome Irishman on the wrong end of the hangman’s noose. Suddenly this unconventional woman comes up with an outrageous idea . . .

Teague O’Neal has rugged cheekbones, tousled black curls, and eyes as blue as the sky, even if he is caked in Colorado mud. The men insist they caught him horse-thieving, and there’s something desperate about him that says he’d do anything for a buck.

Maybe it was pure chance, or maybe it was something more that brought Madeline and Teague together. But one thing’s clear, between a woman who has just about everything she could ever want, and a man who’s lost that and more, they might find something in between worth living for.

Today’s Question: Tell me about your favorite birthday memory!

Winners will be announced tomorrow (April 21) in the evening – I’ll be out and about all day and I want to give folks a chance to enter for a few more hours so I’ll draw when I return to the hotel in the evening! Winners have seven days to claim their prize, after that time, I’ll redraw for a new winner. Good luck!!

40 comments to “RELENTLESSLY BIG CONTEST Day Six!”

  1. catie
    April 20th, 2009 at 4:39 am · Link

    My twenty-first: went to dinner on Stern’s Wharf in Santa Barbara with my mom and one of our best/oldest family friends. (She’s a wonderful, outrageously flirtatious lady in her 80s-now–70s-then). I ordered my first (legal) margarita and shot of Cuervo w/dinner.

    Of course my mother & Elaine had to make a HUGE fuss over the fact that it was my birthday in front of the waiter, so at the end of our meal I had gone outside–thinking we were done. Elaine came out & said Mom need to talk to me (don’t quite remember, after all it’s been ten years) so I came back inside. The entire staff of waiters (all good looking fellows, wouldn’tcha know it :)) brought out desert, surrounded the table, ignited their lighters, and sang “Happy Birthday.” 😳 😳 😳

    Tame? Yes. Embarrassing? Oh yes. Tons of fun? Totally.



  2. booklover1335
    April 20th, 2009 at 4:43 am · Link

    Every birthday is my favorite memory, because my family always takes time out of their busy schedules to spend a couple of hours with each other and catch up, tells stories about each other, and let’s not forget the cake! My birthday is in June so it always seems like a celebration of the beginning of summer.
    We order it at my fav bakery, that we only order from for birthdays.



  3. Lea
    April 20th, 2009 at 4:47 am · Link

    Awesome prize today Lauren!

    I hope you are enjoying a good time in Orlando!

    Favorite birthday memory? Yikes! I don’t remember exactly which one it was but when my kids were little (so at least 15 years ago) I spent one in Hawaii, my favorite place on the planet. I went with my best friend and we had an awesome time. πŸ™‚

    Thanks Lauren
    L



  4. blodeuedd
    April 20th, 2009 at 4:48 am · Link

    Cowboys πŸ˜€

    Can’t say, I had many lovely birthdays when I was little. Playing in the hay with all my friends and eating too much cake.
    But I will pick this year because it was the first year with my boyfriend πŸ™‚



  5. Frana
    April 20th, 2009 at 4:53 am · Link

    Great contest and even greater prizes!
    Fav. birthday – I’m not much into big celebrations, but I had a huge party when I turned 18 and was allowed to order alcohol and got my driver’s licence (not in that order :oops:). All my relatives and friends where there and we stayed up singing and dancing till morning…



  6. Amy M
    April 20th, 2009 at 5:02 am · Link

    19th birthday at college…all my new friends gathered tons of people, pizza, and alcohol to celebrate. Helped me feel settled in a far away place and away from my family for the first time. The care package sent by the family was awesome also!



  7. Ashley V
    April 20th, 2009 at 5:10 am · Link

    My fav memory is bittersweet. My 13th birthday, my 3 wk old nephew was in the hospital. He was kept asleep but on my birthday he had woken up and looked at me for about 5 mins. He died 4 days later, and sharing that short moment with him is one of the best things I remember.



  8. Lisa J
    April 20th, 2009 at 6:11 am · Link

    My birthday is July 4 and every year my family gets together for a barbecue. We play baseball, volleyball, and eat until we feel like bursting. It’s the best.



  9. Cherry
    April 20th, 2009 at 6:59 am · Link

    My favourite birthday memory was on my 31st birthday and decided to be naughty:evil:. I got me an Ò€œescortÒ€ man and we went on a weekend break and we had a bash:wink:!!! IÒ€ℒm not going into details though:razz:.

    Umm:!:… this is the second time I posted this very same comment… I think I posted it in the wrong place the first time:shock:…



  10. azteclady
    April 20th, 2009 at 7:00 am · Link

    [me, want!!!!]

    *ahem*

    That’s easy–just this part bday my kidlets (now almost all grown up) took me out for dinner.

    Yeah, it was burgers, but hey, it’s the thought that counts! πŸ˜‰



  11. Lisa Freeman
    April 20th, 2009 at 8:26 am · Link

    My 20th birthday is when my husband proposed! Unfortunately it didn’t go as smoothly as he hoped- we ate at a nice restaurant downtown and he had planned a carriage ride for afterwards but he carriage never showed up. He kept leaving the table telling me his stomach was upset but he really was going out front trying to find out where the carriage was at. We finally left the restaurant and he took me to a local “make-out” spot where he proposed and gave me the ring. We’ve been married 22 years now!



  12. Crystal B.
    April 20th, 2009 at 8:45 am · Link

    My favorite birthday memory is 6 years ago. I had gotten married the weekend before and my husband and I had just returned from our honeymoon and he surprised me with a birthday party with all my family. πŸ˜€



  13. Raonaid Luckwell
    April 20th, 2009 at 9:40 am · Link

    Mm, I can’t remember the birthday but I can remember that it was eight, nineth, or tenth. My birthday landed on Labor Day, and on Labor Day weekend my area has a carnival. It was the most fun time I had in my life then.

    Now, I would have to say the birthdays that I got to spend with my belated grandpa and grandma.



  14. Roberta Harwell
    April 20th, 2009 at 10:09 am · Link

    This past birthday has to be my favorite by far. My hubby spent the night before my birthday making me cupcakes. What is so sweet is he only had a pan that made 6 at a time. Needless to say, it took him a while to cook them all. The actual day of my birthday he made dinner and done all the dishes. What else could a woman want. Have a great day.



  15. bridget3420
    April 20th, 2009 at 10:26 am · Link

    My favorite birthday memory was when I turned 4 and my parents bought me Barbies Dreamhouse. And they let me have a popcorn fight in the living room



  16. Cheryl McInnis
    April 20th, 2009 at 11:04 am · Link

    My best birthday memory is from when I was first married, and my husband took me to our local animal shelter to pick out a kitten. (Even though he is NOT a cat person!) Poor old Bixby is still around…old and crochety, but hanging in there, kind of like me, πŸ˜€



  17. Eva S
    April 20th, 2009 at 11:24 am · Link

    My 30th birthday when my husband surprised me with a sea cruise with roses and champagne waiting in the cabin.



  18. chey
    April 20th, 2009 at 11:52 am · Link

    On my 18th birthday I was having to get my first aid certificate for my summer job. I was planning to get a ride home with my co workers. I ran into my grandparents in the parking lot and they asked if I wanted a ride home. I asked why they were going to my house and was told it’s your birthday. I had totally forgotten, but my family hadn’t.



  19. Maija P.
    April 20th, 2009 at 11:55 am · Link

    I don’t remember which birthday it was, but I got perfume and flowers via post – it was a total surprise (my boyfriend couldn’t be there that day so he sent the gifts to me).



  20. Eshani
    April 20th, 2009 at 12:08 pm · Link

    My 20th b-day was one of my favorites..I had 3 cakes..one from mom, one from my best friend, and an attempt at cupcakes from my boyfriend (he didn’t realize that he needed to put the cupcakes in a cupcake pan, and not just on the paper cupcake wrappers =) We all got together, laughed about how they should communicate more, played basketball and got 3 cakes fatter πŸ˜‰



  21. Teresa W.
    April 20th, 2009 at 12:30 pm · Link

    My friend and her mom took me to see The Phantom of the Opera, loved it!



  22. Jane
    April 20th, 2009 at 1:11 pm · Link

    One of my faves was when I got a ticket to Amsterdam. I had a great time.



  23. Quilt Lady
    April 20th, 2009 at 1:19 pm · Link

    My favorite birthday memory would have to be my sisteenth. I had this big teen age party and the guy I was very struck on at the time was there and we where playing kissing games and I got to kiss him. I thought at the time that it was awesome, but now I just think it was silly. Oh we learn so much as we get older!



  24. Lisa F.
    April 20th, 2009 at 1:34 pm · Link

    One of my favorite birthday memories is my 25th b-day. I went out to club. Drank way too much. Danced like crazy. My birthday is 3 days before christmas so the club was that crowded so I was going around shaking peoples hands and thanking them for coming to my party. Later that night I climb on a friends car and was dancing on it.



  25. Tasha W.
    April 20th, 2009 at 2:12 pm · Link

    One of my favorite birthdays was my 16th. My dad had a clown deliver balloons with a note attached that he was coming to visit. Then he drove 5 hours to pick up me and my two best friends. He drove us back to Iowa City where he lived, took us out to eat at my favorite restaurant, and gave us tickets to a Heart concert. It was a great, and unexpected, gift!



  26. Greta
    April 20th, 2009 at 3:09 pm · Link

    My favorite Birthday Memory would have to be my 18th birthday – because it was just me & my parents, a couple of friends from school and church. It was on a Friday night and we had chocolate cake, chocolate frosting & chocolate ice cream. It was just special.



  27. Shell the HOckeyvampiress
    April 20th, 2009 at 3:43 pm · Link

    Fave birthday memory was when I was 5 we had a massive bunch of kids and it was just before I had to move away. It helps me remember some of the kids now because of the cards I kept from it.



  28. The Imp
    April 20th, 2009 at 3:53 pm · Link

    My fave was the birthday when my boyfriend and my best friend took me to a lovely Italian restaurant where the wandering musicians played my requests while we ate. πŸ™‚



  29. Jeanette Juan
    April 20th, 2009 at 4:06 pm · Link

    My favorite birthday memory is when ,y friends threw me a surprise bday party at one of their apartments and i was really late so they complained that i took too long haha but it was still awesome to be surprised! (also got cake smashed into my face)



  30. Caffey
    April 20th, 2009 at 5:39 pm · Link

    Cool on Beth’s book-Historical, yum πŸ™‚

    My birthdays go by quietly each year but about 3 years ago, I was in hosptial during it and didn’t think anything of it. That day I came home I smelled cake cooking and the kids surprised me with the cake. She made a sugar free one too and it was delicious! My daughter said that she found out about how to cook with Splenda and now she was going to make a cake each year so I could have some! We laughed having so much fun having that with four of us on my bed hoping it doesn’t collapse, LOL. It doesn’t matter if she does it again, its the memory I’ll always have that they took out to do that so I could have some!



  31. Amy S.
    April 20th, 2009 at 6:28 pm · Link

    My fave birthday memory was when I turned 16. My boyfriend bought me roses.



  32. Pamk
    April 20th, 2009 at 7:00 pm · Link

    My 41 birthday was wonderful. I had cake and presents and everyone wished me a happy birthday. They were all making up for my 40th which most everyone forget lol.



  33. Jane Squires
    April 20th, 2009 at 7:07 pm · Link

    My favorite birthday was just last month. It will be hard to repeat. I spent one whole week celebrating. I went out to eat three different times. One time I took my daughter, her partner and his two kids. The other time I went with a prayer partner friend of mine. Then I went again with my husband with a gift card from my neice. My oldest daughter mailed me my gift so I used the gift card at Walmarts when I went out with my friend. On Wed. night at church I teach boys and so we celebrated them. I was surprised by three brothers who gave me three gifts from Avon.
    I even won a box of orangers, grapefruit, and tangerines from an author that started my celebration.



  34. Stacy K.
    April 20th, 2009 at 7:09 pm · Link

    When I turned 21 my mom took me to Lake Tahoe, Neveda for a gambling trip. Just me and her. I was sitting at a quarter slot machine, drinking a Vodka and cranberry juice, and won $500, all on my birthday. I had never been a drinker and was a little tipsy and I thought I had accidently broken the machine, it was making so much noise and I did not know what to to. My mom, just laughed at me and said you won! We then when out for a nice dinner over looking the lake. Fun times.

    StacyK.



  35. limecello
    April 20th, 2009 at 7:17 pm · Link

    Ohhh hm. Favorite birthday memory? :X The sad thing is, my birthdays are usually horrible. My friends end up being especially mean to me, I get sick, etc. Lots of drama. Which is sad, because I’m one of those people that LOVES birthdays. I like making a big deal for all my friends’.
    So – favorite birthday memory? I’d say… 21st. I went out to lunch with my parents, had LSAT prep class, then went out with my friends. I had to pay for my own, single, drink, but my other friends the next day took me out to dinner, and it was a “surprise” which was fun and nice. I also got some of my favorite gifts ever. This cute stuffed eeyore, and these *awesome* dinner plates.



  36. Lori T
    April 20th, 2009 at 8:18 pm · Link

    My most memorable birthday would have to be one that included my whole family. I really cannot narrow it down to just one year. Lame, I know.



  37. Melissa
    April 20th, 2009 at 8:39 pm · Link

    When I was 18 went to Michael Jackson concert (was HUGE deal then, lol) with my best friend on my Birthday. LOL, I felt like he was having the concert for me!!
    We went out to dinner, concert, and stayed in a hotel like we were adults. It was great!!



  38. Marie E.
    April 20th, 2009 at 11:27 pm · Link

    My favorite was when I went to Las Vegas on my 28th birthday πŸ˜€



  39. Fedora
    April 21st, 2009 at 9:35 am · Link

    Some favorites are the parties we’ve thrown for our kids’ birthdays–I love how excited they and their friends are to celebrate and play together, and for my daughter’s, we paid a pastry-chef friend to make her cake… super yumola–no leftovers that day! πŸ˜‰



  40. RobynL
    April 21st, 2009 at 2:40 pm · Link

    my 16th with a great meal made by Mom and a long stemmed red rose in a vase set by my place setting. A great cake afterwards with the family.