It’s here! The Black Friday Blog Hop has arrived! If you’re reading this post, you’re probably not out among the throngs of shoppers competing for door-buster goodies offered at gargantuan discounts. Yes, it’s Black Friday, the day of retail chaos.
There was a time I used to enjoy Black Friday shopping. A friend and I would go every year. There was a camaraderie among shoppers as we all stood huddled outside store doors at 5AM, bundled into coats (I live in the northeast), armed with our colorful flyers, chatting about the items we intended to snatch up.
I bought my first laptop from a Black Friday sale many years ago, and got the last one in the store. It should have made me feel good (okay, it did) but I couldn’t help thinking about the people queued-up behind me who’d lucked out. If I’d arrived five, three, or even two minutes later that morning, I would have been hiking back to my car without a Toshiba.
It wasn’t long after that when I dropped the Black Friday routine. Maybe it was because the early-bird sale hours kept creeping earlier in the morning, defying sanity or, maybe, it was because the crowds didn’t feel as festive. Maybe I’ve just gotten older and can’t marathon shop like I used to, especially when I can do it online. Well, let me correct that: I can still marathon shop, just not with crowds
So to celebrate all those not wanting to fight the chaos of Black Friday (and for those of you who’ve already braved it and need a break), please join us in the second annual Black Friday Blog Hop! It’s a ONE DAY hop taking place today, November 23.
We’re giving away prizes, talking about books we love, and most likely eating leftover turkey.
And while we do that, EACH blogger is doing a giveaway. Yep! There will be over 200 giveaways on each blog hosted by that Author or Blogger.
But that’s not all….
We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!
Now what are those prizes?
1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $75 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!
You can find the complete list of participating authors HERE
Pretty impressive, huh? If you’d like to be entered in my blog drawing to win a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card (winner’s choice), please comment below WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. The winner will be announced tomorrow on my blog so be sure to check back.
And while you’re here although it’s not mandatory, please consider “Liking” my Facebook Author Page. I’ve made it easy by giving you the link and also posting it in the sidebar. Aren’t I thoughtful?
I’d also LOVE if you would sign up to follow my blog my email (top of the sidebar). I enjoy blogging and interacting with my readers. Hang around and get to know me and my writing.
Finally . . . (Yes, there’s more. Consider this the fine print disclaimer, LOL) . . . while you’re here please take a peek at the book trailer for my time travel / paranormal romance, WEATHERING ROCK.
Caleb DeCardian, colonel for the Union Army during America’s Civil War, is transported to the present where he meets Arianna Hart. With her modern-day opinions and streak of stubborness, Arianna is unlike any woman Caleb has met before. And did I mention he’s also a super-hot, hunky werewolf?
WEATHERING ROCK is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble (among other sites) so that $10 gift card more than covers it.
Okay, pathetic author book plug is now over. Whether you’re shopping or chilling, I hope you have a blissful Black Friday!
Thanks for the giveaway and happy holidays!
aircdrewood(at)gmail(dot)com
I didn’t know about Black Friday until this week. Popped over to your Facebook page there. The music in your trailer is lovely.
emmameade83@hotmail.com
Thanks, Emma. Much appreciated!
Glad you liked the music! I was really fond of it.
Bravo to you for ever having braved black Friday I’ve never wanted anything that bad. LOL Thanks for participating in the blog hop.
I tried it again this year. Went mid-day. Found a parking space way at the rear of the parking lot, got in the store, took one look at the lines (couldn’t see the end of them), turned around and left!
Forgot my email woolfcindy@aol.com. Thanks again for the chance to win.
Thanks for the giveaway and spending time on the hop during the holidays.
sherryfundin69(at)netscape(dot)net
Happy holidays Mae! I’ve avoided BF for years, but this year, we went out after dinner last night.
lcahoon7(at)gmail(dot)com
Working against a deadline today. Guess I’d better get back to it! Happy holidays!
meliaalexander at comcast dot net
Good luck with that deadline, Melia!
Thank you for the chance!
spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com
No longer shop on Black Friday. It just doesn’t excite me anymore. I signed up for your blog. I may need to go confirm in my email account. I don’t Facebook…
I no longer go shopping on Black Friday. It just doesn’t excite me any more with the big crowds. I’d rather shop online or wait another day. There’s always a deal.
bbabygirl1908@aol.com
Many thanks for signing-up for my blog. I so appreciate it! And I completely agree with you about the Black Friday crowds. I used to go, but no more. The crowds and parking lots are more than I can handle, LOL.
My Black Friday is blissful because I’m staying home.
bituin76 at hotmail dot com
Have fun on the Blog Hop, Mae. I think it’s a much better way to spend Black Friday.
Sounds like a plan to me, Stanalei!
yes, also not among the shoppers

thanks
swordlily_girl[at]yahoo[dot]com
I didn’t go shopping this year. Hoping for some Cyber Monday deals!
joyskidsdidit at gmail.com
I do not like crowds so BF shopping is not for me! I will be spending my day hopping and then snuggled up reading! Well that is after I decide on what new book I have just added to my to be read list! It gets longer every hop! Thanks!
grapeapril75(at)gmail.com
I have that problem with the TBR list too, April, LOL!
Thank you for the chance to win!
verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com
Happy Black Friday! Thanks for the chance to win some great prizes!
I’m an online shopper and perfer not to deal with the crowds!
kacidesigns AT yahoo DOT com
Thanks so much for participating! No stores for me today…
vitajex(at)aol(Dot)com
I’m not a Black Friday shopper. I don’t believe that shopping should ever be a full contact sport. I spend the day baking cookies with my kiddos instead.
planterofhope(at)aol(dot)com
Sounds like fun, Carla. Much better than full-contact shopping
We don`t have Black Friday sales here (I`m an international reader), so I`m just attending giveaways like this one,lol.
Thanks!
dita(dot)skarste(at)gmail(dot)com
Welcome, Dita!
Oh i’m staying home this black friday!!! Nothing in the sale ads could make me go today. i do like to look them over and usually can find a better deal online.thanks you for joining the hop!
miriam.whitewolf@gmail.com
That’s my idea of Black Friday shopping ~ Checking the sales flyers than looking for the item online!
Thanks for the giveaway! I’m not a black Friday shopper. lisarayns at gmail dot com
thanks for the giveaway and happy holidays
beccaboo97200 (at) att (dot) net
Online shopping for me. Alot safer and you don’t have to deal with rude people and getting pushed and shoved. Thanks for the blog hop and all the fun!!!!!
readingdiva@ymail.com
Happy you dropped by!
Happy Holidays! And thanks for participating in the hop!
jinni_james@yahoo.com
Not stopping back. Hopping by.
wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com
We don’t do that here but I do like shopping online and look at some deals
kiss_shani(at)hotmail(dot)com
A few of my friends do Black Friday, but it’s not for me.
Thanks for the chance to win!
sqwalker2@hotmail.com
Glad to see you in the blog hop! They are so much fun. No shopping for me! I love the online thing, but I’ve even ignored that this Black Friday. Just blog hopping, reading and editing today. Thanks for the giveaway!
melindaromance AT gmail DOT com
Happy to see you here, Melinda. Thanks for dropping by. This is my first time participating in one of Carrie Ann’s hop and it’s a little like Black Friday — Amazing crowds, LOL! Good luck with the editing!
Thanks for the giveaway. Already a follower & Liked fb page
June
mannning_J2004 at yahoo dot com
Many thanks, June. It’s much appreciated!
I used to do the sales, too, but really, thank goodness for the internet. soozbuch@gmail.com PS Liked your FB page. Hope hop is success for you, Sooz
Many thanks, Sooz. The hop turned out to be better than I could have expected. And I appreciate the FB like!
Thanks for the giveaway.
kareninnc at gmail dot com
I don’t shop on Black Friday to many people and general madness
crystaley73 at yahoo dot com
I sent the hubby shopping today so I could work.I am glad to have found you on this blog hop and look forward to reading your works. Kim86004(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks, Kim. And I hop your hubby got some good deals while he was out fighting the crowds. Thanks for dropping by!
Hi! Happy Holidays to you! No, im not a shopper on black friday. I hate crowds. I like to stay home, spend time with my family and eat leftovers.
Thanks for the awesome hop and giveaway! Best wishes and many blessings to you!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks, Shadow!
I do some Black Friday shopping, but I’m more addicted to Cyber Monday. No lines, No rude people, free shipping…. how can you go wrong!
angelheart618@gmail.com
And all those good techie buys
no BF shopping
Thanks for participating.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
I went Black Friday shopping for the first time in my 36 years last year. I didn’t enjoy it all for so many reasons it would take forever to list. Your post however has me thinking, was there a time when it wasn’t so horrific to go? There had to have been otherwise I do not see why so many people would make it a tradition. In another ten years will it be obsolete and online sales taking over our traditional shopping day? Just food for thought.
Thanks so much for being a part of the hop and for the giveaway.
Happy Holidays,
Marlena
charmedpoms(at)yahoo(dot)com
Happy holidays, Marlena. Thanks for dropping by. If my first exposure to Black Friday shopping was just last year, I would be completely turned off too. It’s definitely changed. But then I’m showing my age by saying I used to enjoy it “back when” LOL!
i went to my local shopping mall for gift card giveaway angelwolfmystic@yahoo.com
Thank you! christiethemom@hotmail.com
I’m staying home to read & discover some more authors thru the blog hop…
No BF shopping for me…..ktyler13@yahoo.com
I love Black Friday shopping, (I live in a small town and people are pretty friendly, no blood or bruising) but this year they started at 8pm on thursday so I decided to stay at home and read. I went out about 11:30, when the stores were almost empty and still got all the specials that I wanted.
proudarmymom32(at)yahoo(dot)com
Smart move, Sue. Good for you!
Hey Mae, I found your blog. Nice page. I liked you on Facebook.
charraddon@pobox.com
Many thanks, Char!
I no longer go Black Friday shopping. Too many crazy people out there. I don’t have the patience I had when I was younger, LOL. So today I am staying in and blog hopping, instead of shopping! angadair@nwcable.net Thanks for the hop!
Sounds like me, LOL. I just don’t have that patience any more!
Thanks for the blog hop.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
I avoid Black Friday, too many people and too much traffic. Thank you for being a part of the hop.
cmucha319@yahoo.com
staying away from stores today, thanks for hopping! – regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
I did Black Friday (technically Thursday) last night and a little bit this morning. I love the hustle and bustle, but I do feel disappointed for the people that wait in line forever only to find that whatever they came looking for has sold out before they even got a chance at it.
JYL22075 at gmail dot com
There is definitely hustle-bustle. You are brave for braving the crowds.
Thanks for dropping by my blog!
Thanks for the hop stop!
melhalp at msn.com
I stayed at home and just hopped thru this Black Friday. It was much more comfortable.
Liked FB-Dawna Newman
vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com
I appreciate the FB like, Dawna. Many thanks. And I hope you had fun with the blog hop
I’m not a big fan of Black Friday, but we did go out this morning for a couple of specific things and got them…and NO LINES!
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com
Now that kind of Black Friday shopping I could handle!
Beautiful blog. I have never done the Black Friday crazy shopping. I hate crowds. I prefer to do as much of my shopping on the internet as possible.
christina
cgricci@yahoo.com
I’m glad you liked the blog, Christina. Many thanks.
And I agree that internet shopping is so much easier!
never do the black friday shopping. I hate crowds. I prefer to do most of my shopping on the internet
christina
cgricci@yahoo.com
I don’t do Black Friday — the week before Thanksgiving usually marks the LAST time I deal with retail until after the New Year!
Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
elizabeth @ bookattict . com (subscribed)
Facebook: Elizabeth Kotkiewicz Hyatt
I try to get as much done as I can before Thanksgiving too. Problem is that darn Kohl’s Cash always lures me back to redeem it!!
I do my shopping online to avoid the crowds.
Thanks for the giveaway!
nerdswillruleoneday@yahoo.com
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com
I love shopping on Black Friday. I don’t love staying up all night, but I love the deals I get.
kesummer69(at)gmail(dot)com
Don’t shop on black friday unless it is online.
fb susan platt
susanmplatt AT hotmail DOT com
I like doing my Black Friday shopping online, in my PJs. isabelli3619 (at) aol (dot) com
I shop from home, I have a hard time dealing with rude people and lines. Makes me what to start drop kicking people (just the rude ones). Thx for the hop stop.
blinkysthebest at aol dot com
LOL! Thanks for the laugh, Lona!
I have had a wonderful time blog hopping today and finding lots of new authors to consider. Happy Holidays and thank you for the opportunity to win some great prizes. I can’t do Black Friday shopping (unless it’s online) – I don’t have the patience or the stamina for the lines and the crowds. cfierstein@cox.net
Mae, you’re such a generous soul — I could see you feeling bad for the people who didn’t get the laptop deal that you did.
Today wasn’t as busy as we expected, so I suspect there were a lot of people staying home to avoid the crowds. Wonder if that means they’ll all show up tomorrow instead? LOL
Hi, Donna! I’m glad you didn’t have to deal with crazed crowds. Hopefully, isn’t bad today either. And yeah, I was giddy I got that laptop, but bummed out for the people behind me, especially because I’d become chatty with a few of them waiting in line!
I don’t go out on Black Friday, but I do order online. Thanks for the giveaway.
Marlene Breakfield
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you!
Deliachic3@hotmail.com
Thank you for the lovely giveaway~ I love BF shopping on and offline! Got all my big ticket items out of the way last night and this morning so now it’s time to just relax and hop!
Misha Kudo~
Liked your FB page
MostlyMisha [at] gmail [dot] com
Thanks for the FB like, Misha. Wow, it sounds like you accomplished a lot by braving the crowds. Good for you. After that, you deserve to relax!!
I avoided the crowds at the mall today and went to the movies instead. Thanks for being in the hop!
jochibi AT yahoo DOT com
Ooo, I love movies! Hope you saw something good!
I don’t shop on Black Friday, i’s too crowded.
Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com
Happy Black Friday! And thanks for the giveaway
laceyblossom1(at)gmail(dot)com
Instead of shopping, I’m hopping! I prefer to do my shopping online.
Happy Black Friday.
mel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
Sexy cover!!! Thanks for the great giveaway!
red_tigergirl2(at)hotmail(dot)com
no, I only shop online.
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com
Thanks for the hop!
bacchus76 at myself dot com
I stuck to the web today instead of braving the crowds.
Thanks for the giveaway!
fancie @ live. com
Thanks for participating in the blog hop! Hope you have a happy thanksgiving. I stayed home this year for black friday because its a bit frightening in stores, I prefer shopping at home LOL!
Liked your facebook page too
swtlilangel4jc at yahoo dot com
Thank you for that FB like, Chelsea. “Frightening” is a good word for what goes on in stores on Black Friday!
Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com