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Tour & Giveaway: 131. Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz by Belinda Acosta...

August 14, 2009
Belinda Acosta's Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz is touring, and I'm excited to share this with you!

About the book:
All Ana Ruiz wanted was to have a traditional quinceañera for her daughter, Carmen. She wanted a nice way to mark this milestone year in her daughter's life. But Carmen was not interested in celebrating. Hurt and bitter over her father Esteban's departure, she blamed Ana for destroying their happy family, as did everyone else. A good man is hard to find, especially at your age Ana was told. Why not forgive his one indiscretion? Despite everything, Ana didn't want to tarnish Carmen's childlike devotion to her beloved father. But Ana knows that growing up sometimes means facing hard truths. In the end, Ana discovers that if she's going to teach Carmen anything about what it means to be a woman, it will take more than simply a fancy party to do it...

About the author:
Belinda Acosta lives and writes in Austin, Texas where she is a columnist for the Austin Chronicle. Her non-fiction has appeared in Poets & Writers, Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, AlterNet, the San Antonio Current, and Latino Magazine. She is a member of Macondo, the writers' collective launched by acclaimed writer Sandra Cisneros. She loves knitting, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, chips & salsa, mariachi (good, make your soul leap from your body, mariachi); conjunto music (todo old school), and given the opportunity, will square dance. DAMAS, DRAMAS, AND ANA RUIZ is her first novel. Find her online at her blog, Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz, and on Facebook's La quinceañera club books de Belinda Acosta fan club.

drey's thoughts:
Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz is, at its core, a story about a mother and daughter rediscovering their way back to each other. Ana Ruiz is trying to hold it together, to keep things as normal as possible for Diego and Carmen. But Carmen's not playing ball, and is downright witchy to her mom. Boy, if I talked to my mom like Carmen does here, I probably wouldn't be here blogging... Ok, make that DEFINITELY wouldn't be here blogging...

Belinda Acosta has created very real characters in this book, from antagonistic Carmen to Diego's attempts to be the man of the house. And Ana Ruiz. What a complex woman she is--so strong at the core, yet so conflicted between trying to keep doing what's best for her children, and what's good for her. Pulled into different directions by those around her, she still manages to blaze her own trail.

LOVED it. Couldn't put it down, I even guessed at what all the Spanish words meant because I didn't want to put the book down to go look the words up--that would've interrupted my reading time!

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have up to five copies of Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz for you...
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment and share: Did (or do) you know what a quinceañera is? Did you have one? If you did, what was it like? I didn't--to both questions. Until I watched Quinceañera, a 2006 movie about a girl, growing up, and family.
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please).
-- Every 10 people entered gets another copy in the hat, so tell everyone! =)
-- Do it all before 6:00 pm CST August 27th. Good luck!

Tour stops:
August 10
You Gotta Read Reviews
Starting Fresh
Foreign Circus Library
Latinitas
authorslatino.com

August 11
Peeking Between the Pages
Books and Needlepoint
Bookin' with Bingo
My Own Little Corner of the World
Readaholic

August 12
Review from Here
Falling off the Shelf
Brimful Curiosities
I Heart Monster
Half Deserted Streets

August 13
One Person's Journey Through a World of Books
Booksie's Blog
Cheryl's Book Nook
Books, Movies, and Chinese Food
books! reviews and giveaways

August 14
Radiant Light
The Brain Lair
drey's library
A Journey of Books
Writing to Insanity

August 15
Jenn's Bookshelf
This Book For Free
A Book Blogger's Diary
Beth's Book Review Blog
Park Avenue Princess
Bookmagic

51 comments:

holdenj said...

No, I didn't have one and have never attended one, but I did know what they are as my brother has attended a quinceañera. I can imagine the mother/daughter storyline is powerful-it can be a rebellious age for a girl and something that traditional could be a sticking point in any family!

Thanks for hosting a giveaway! Would love to win!

JHolden955 (at) gmail (dot) com

Karen H said...

No to both questions...but I'd love to read the book to find out what it is. Count me in please.

kkhaas AT bellsouth DOT net

Karen H said...

+1 I am already a follower

kkhaas AT bellsouth DOT net

traveler said...

Thanks for this delightful giveaway. I had heard about a quinceanera and read about it but have never attended one. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I didn't know what a quinceañera was until I started reading the reviews for this. I'd love to be entered.

I subscribe through FeedDemon.

carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I *do* know what one is because I live in Tucson where it is a very big deal. I don't know much about it though besides seeing all the ads for fancy dresses in the newspapers, so I'd love to read a book about it!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

I follow on Google Reader!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

DarcyO said...

I have heard of a quinceañera, but have never been to one. Thanks for the great giveaway.

+1 I follow with Google Reader.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

rubynreba said...

No to both questions! I have heard the word but don't know!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

bermudaonion said...

I did know what a quinceanera is, but I've never been to one and didn't have one. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

ColleenFL said...

I know what one is but I never had one or attended one. I am a follower.

Pam said...

I think a quincenara is like a big sweet 16 or debutante ball. I did not have one although my daughter probably will as my husband is Filipino and I know a "debut" is very important for girls in his culture.

melacan at hotmail dot com

Pam said...

follower

melacan at hotmial dot com

Anonymous said...

I have no idea what a quinceañera is so my answer would be "no" to both questions.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower of your blog.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

Unknown said...

I previously had no idea what a quinceañera was...

Looks like a good book, please enter me into this drawing.

I'm also a follower via Blogger.

Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
jake.lsewhere[at]gmail.com

cqueen2 said...

I had no idea what a quinceanera was

count me in sounds great

thanks

wadesherry@hotmail dot com

cqueen2 said...

i follow

wadesherry@hotmail dot com

Melanie said...

Sounds like a great book. I do know what a quinceanera is. I'm sure I read about it in a book somewhere becuase I certainly have never been to one. Raised in the midwest we didn't see very many different cultures than our own.

Lee P said...

I do know what a Quinceanera is! I've never been to one and never had one myself. Thanks for this giveaway and please count me in

chinook92(at)gmail(dot)com

Lee P said...

I follow your blog.

chinook92(at)gmail(dot)com

Jenny N. said...

I didnt know what a quinceanera was until I searched it on google and never had one.

jen4777[at]hotmail.com

Debs Desk said...

I do know what a quinceanera is, but I have never had one. My daughter has gone to one, but not me. Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

Unknown said...

Nope I have no idea what a quinceanera is! Thanks for the chance to read this book. unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com

Gaby317 said...

I loved this book! My sister-in-law took my copy, but I'd like to enter the contest for my mother. Is that possible?

+2 I blogged about your contest here

http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/2009/08/book-review-damas-dramas-and-ana-ruiz.html

+1 I'm a follower

+1 I didn't have a quinceanera and only heard of them recently. This book was my first real exposure to them.

Esme said...

Yes I know what they are-but never attended one.

thanks

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Esme said...

blogged about it at
chocolateandcroissants.blogspot.com

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

enyl said...

No I do not know what a quinceanera is. Don't know if I've ever had one.

enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

I'm a follwer.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

Natalie A. said...

Yes I've heard of it before, but I haven't been to one! Thanks for the giveaway!
coolnatty12(at)yahoo(dot)com

Natalie A. said...

I follow your blog!
coolnatty12(at)yahoo(dot)com

Stacy said...

I did know what is was but I have never been to one. I do see the beautiful dresses and know the young ladies must feel so special. I follow on your site - starting to read african american christian fiction.

Anonymous said...

I do know what a quinceanera is because I taught ESL and many of my students were Hispanic. I didn't have one, but I did have a Sweet Sixteen.

Please enter me to win. Any chance of getting +1 entry for subscribing via email?

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I inclduded this in a post.

http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/giveaways-in-blogland-13/

carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com

mrsshukra said...

The teen got invited to one but I haven't heard of a quinceanera before that. Also saw a Disney channel episode of Wizards of Waverly Place 2 weeks ago featuring Selena Gomez having a quinceanera!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

I'm a follower!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

Nicole said...

I did know what a quinceañera was, but never had one myself.

+1 follower

Toni said...

I didn't have one. But I have been to a few. They were great fun they were huge like weddings.. great food, dancing, the family dances were so touching. I follow. :) I'd love to win this one.

Unknown said...

I've also blogged about this giveaway here.

Thanks,
jake.lsewhere[at]gmail.com

Ally said...

I knew what was one because my friend was in one and it took lots of preparation. I did not have one.

I'm also a follower! Thanks!

allygotts567 at hotmail dot com

Ally said...

I didnt have one but do know what it is.

allygotts567 at hotmail dot com

thanks!

budletsmom said...

I have heard of them but did not have one.

I am a follower.

budletsmom at yahoo dot com

lag123 said...

No to both questions.

lag110@mchsi.com

lag123 said...

I am a new follower.

lag110@mchsi.com

Anita Yancey said...

No, I have no idea what it is. But I would love to read this book. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Anita Yancey said...

I am a follower!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Belinda M said...

I know what a quinceanera is but I have not ever been to one

Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at CoolCanucks.ca


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

Belinda M said...

I shared your giveaway here

http://coolcanucks.ca/19548-dreys-library-damas-dramas-ana-ruiz-belinda-acosta-book-giveaway-aug27-canada

Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at CoolCanucks.ca


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

CherylS22 said...

I've heard of a quinceañera, but I don't know what it is.
Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

Marie said...

I have heard of them but didn't know much about them!


marielay@gmail.com

Marie said...

I am a follower.

marielay@gmail.com

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