Book Review and Giveaway ~ Sydney West by R. McKinsey ~ 5/5! ~ Ends 12/23

I am pleased to say that I am taking part in the above Pump Up Your Book blog tour!  You can click on the picture to go find out more details about the book, the author, and other tour stops.

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.*

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And now, for the review:

Title:  "Sydney West"

Series:  Sydney West Book #1

Author:  R. McKinsey
Publisher:  Booklocker.com, Inc.
Publication Date:  2/15/2012

Pages:  216

Buy From Amazon:  HERE

Book Description:

After a tall, pale stranger collapses in the middle of a busy coffee shop, a college town is inspired with paranoia that isn't completely unwarranted. The man wakes as an amnesiac but for impressive observation and memory skills, with an eccentricity to match. Inconsistencies build around him as he tries to piece together his history, teaching others about the real world in the process.

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

Right after I finished reading this book, I wrote a quick note on Goodreads concerning it.  The note read: 

"I can't decide if this book was amazingly strange or strangely amazing. Either way amazing is in there! "

Now, a few days after reading the book, I feel the very same way.

I love when  book grabs a hold of me and makes me think about long after I turn the last page.  I found myself driving down the road thinking about this book and that is why I know that my rating holds true.  At least for me.

Main Characters:


Sydney West:  What a strange character!  Sydney seems strange even to himself.  He has no memory of who he is yet finds clues all about him.  He is compared to Sherlock Holmes in the book and it is such an accurate description!  I could see and hear his voice plain as day.  The author did an excellent job with his character.

Jacob Walton:  Jacob is a college student who has the (mis)fortune of standing behind Sydney as he passes out.  As time goes on it becomes a mystery as to if it was an accident that Jacob was there.

 

My Favorite Scene(s):

My favorite scenes are when Sydney and Jacob interact.  It is hilarious, confusing, intriguing and entertaining all at once.


A Brief Excerpt:

Had Sydney found something in whatever he was looking at?  A camera?  Microphone?  Jacob had to rein in his imagination.  Sydney seemed more able to cope with welling paranoia, but Jacob didn't want to give himself the chance to break under the same pressure.

Page 160

The Cover:

The cover of the book suits it perfectly.  It reminds me of the winter weather, the cold, the blanks in Sydney's memory as well as a faint light of piecing it together.  It is very mysterious and "X-File-y" .  Just perfect!
Other Notes:

-I would recommend this book to anyone without pause!
-The second book "Lorem Ipsum" apparently was released in November 2012.  I hope to get my hands on it soon!
Rating

5/5

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Now, for the giveaway!

To enter for a chance to win my review copy of this book:

*Mandatory- Please leave a comment telling me what you like the most about books that include a mystery or something random about Sherlock Holmes or the X-Files :)

*Extra- Follow my blog and leave a comment telling me you do :)

The giveaway will run until December 23, 2012 at 11:59pm. The winner will be announced on December 24th.

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On to the next book,

Spiritual Sunday ~ 12/16/12

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This Week's Memory Verse:

"You are worthy; our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power;

for You created all things,

and by Your will they were created

and have their being."

Revelation 4:11

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This Week's Bible Reading

Starting on January 1, 2013, I will be joining a challenge issued to my Church to read the Bible through in a year.  Starting the last Sunday in December, I will list the week's reading.  I hope you'll join in!
 

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Have a blessed week!

     

Cover Crush ~ A Carol for Christmas ~ 12/15/12

Cover Crush is a new meme over at On The Shelf where beautiful and eye-catching covers are spotlighted! Any cover can be showcased whether it be old or new, read or still sitting in your TBR stack.

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My Cover Crush this week is:

Never underestimate the true spirit of Christmas ...Carol Burke was born to sing. It was the life she had always dreamed of. There was only one thing she loved more, one person for whom she would willingly sacrifice her dreams: Jonathan Burke. Married against their parents' wishes, both are determined to make a life together despite the hardships. Jonathan works hard at his father's department store, leaving Carol alone in their tiny apartment. But long hours turn into late nights, thanks to Jonathan's insatiable desire to prove himself to his father ... even at the expense of the one he loves best.Into the midst of an increasingly empty marriage comes an unexpected chance for Carol to sing again. Is this the opportunity of a lifetime, or a time for her to let go and trust her future to God? Carol knows one thing: she longs most of all to share her first Christmas with Jonathan, creating their own memories and traditions and breathing new life into their marriage.Then a broken promise leaves her wondering. Can anything, anyone--even God--heal her crumbling hopes? The answer comes when Carol finds herself face-to-face with the true spirit of Christmas ...

What I Love About It:

The colors on this cover are gorgeous!  We're going to be decorating our Christmas tree today, and this definitely put me in the spirit.  I can't wait to look at each one of our ornaments and think of all the memories they bring to mind.

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What are your thoughts on the cover of this book?

TSMSS and Simply Christmas by Robin Harper CD Review ~ 12/15/12

I was asked by Robin Harper to review her CD, "Simply Christmas".  I love Christmas music, so I readily agreed!

I first listened to the CD while I was writing out my Christmas cards.  I needed some music to get me in the Christmas spirit.  I have now listened to the CD at least 5 or 6 times.

The music by Marvin Goldstein has a jazzy feel and Robin's voice is clear and beautiful.  This CD will take a rightful place among my yearly Christmas music selections.

Here is a medley of the songs included on the CD:




Enjoy!


Have a blessed weekend!

The Color Coded Reading Challenge ~ 2013 Reading Challenge

*Click on the picture above for more information and to sign up.*

The Colors

1. A book with "Blue" or any shade of Blue (Turquoise, Aquamarine, Navy, etc) in the title.

2. A book with "Red" or any shade of Red (Scarlet, Crimson, Burgandy, etc) in the title.

3. A book with "Yellow" or any shade of Yellow (Gold, Lemon, Maize, etc.) in the title.

4. A book with "Green" or any shade of Green (Emerald, Lime, Jade, etc) in the title.

5. A book with "Brown" or any shade of Brown (Tan, Chocolate, Beige, etc) in the title.

6. A book with "Black" or any shade of Black (Jet, Ebony, Charcoal, etc) in the title.

7. A book with "White" or any shade of White (Ivory, Eggshell, Cream, etc) in the title.

8. A book with any other color in the title (Purple, Orange, Silver, Pink, Magneta, etc.).

9. A book with a word that implies color (Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Paisley, Stripe, etc.).

Where Are You Reading? ~ 2013 Reading Challenge ~ 1/50

*Click the above picture for more information and to sign up.*

Alabama -
Alaska -
Arizona - (Phoenix) Desert Wedding by Penny Kim
Arkansas -
California (San Francisco) -  Deadly Plunge by Greg Messel
Colorado -
Connecticut -
District of Columbia-
Delaware -
Florida -
Georgia -
Hawaii -
Idaho -
Illinois -
Indiana -
Iowa -
Kansas -
Kentucky -
Louisiana -
Maine -
Maryland -
Massachusetts -
Michigan -
Minnesota -
Mississippi -
Missouri -
Montana -
Nebraska -
Nevada -
New Hampshire -
New Jersey -
New Mexico -
New York -
North Carolina -
North Dakota -
Ohio -
Oklahoma -
Oregon -
Pennsylvania -
Rhode Island -
South Carolina -
South Dakota -
Tennessee -
Texas -
Utah -
Vermont -  Smitten by Coble, Billerbeck, Hunt and Hunter
                  Secretly Smitten by Coble, Billerbeck, Hunt and Hunter
Virginia -
Washington -
West Virginia -
Wisconsin -
Wyoming -


England (Cornwall) - The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen

France (Tours) - French Illusions by Linda Kovic-Skow



View 2013 Where I've Read in a larger map

What's In A Name 6 ~ 2013 Reading Challenge

*Click the above picture for more information and to sign up for the challenge.*

Categories

1.  A book with up or down (or equivalent) in the title:

2.  A book with something you'd find in your kitchen in the title:

X  3.  A book with a party or celebration in the title:  Desert Wedding by Penny Kim

4.  A book with fire (or equivalent) in the title:

X  5.  A book with an emotion in the title:  Smitten by Coble, Billerbeck, Hunt and Hunter

6.  A book with lost or found (or equivalent) in the title:

Coffee Date ~ 12/14/12

Won't you come meet Alissa (above), me and the girls for a coffee date,

or in my case, hot chocolate with whipped cream or maybe a chai tea?

Hello, everyone!  I hope you're having a good week.  Here some highlights from mine:

~We got our Christmas tree last Sunday!  It is all set up in the base and ready to be decorate tomorrow!  It has been so hard for the girls to be patient this week.  Doug has been on 2nd shift and I wanted to wait until we could all be together to decorate it.  It is a tradition that I didn't want to break.

~Kaylee had her first Jr. High Basketball scrimmage yesterday.  Our girls won!  It was shaky in the beginning but after they got warmed up they started hitting the plays.

~Kaylee had another first this week and I need your advice on how to handle it.  She overhead someone talking about her in the locker room.  sigh....  She was so upset and cried the whole way home from practice.  Granted, we only live across town but seeing my baby upset because her feeling were hurt killed me!  I'm so proud about how she's handled it.  She decided to just let it go and she's been so mature.  My baby is such a sweet girl.

~Doug gave me my Christmas present early!  He got me a Family Ring with all our birthstones and our names engraved by each one.  Love it!

~I have one more order to ship out today and then I'm on VACATION!!!!!  I do have a few small gifts I still want to make but other than that it will be all about getting our home ready for Christmas, baking, Christmas programs and just relaxing!  Whoohoo!

~Speaking of baking, Laken has been begging to make gingerbread men/women this year.  I got a kit that has all the cutters and decorations already in it.  I can't wait to make them with the girls!  "Not my gumdrop buttons!"  I can't resist!





~OK, so for our Coffee Date we're supposed to list 3 things we wish we had known sooner or could tell our younger self.  I'm sure there are many, many more that I could list but here are 3:

1.  Get help for PPD/PPA much sooner and don't worry about what others say about it.

2.  Stay fit!  Don't let yourself get into the "shape" you are now and have to dig your way out.

3.  Never, ever, ever doubt God's love and faithfulness.

So, how was your week?

Book Blogger Hop ~ My Bookmark~ 12/14/12

HAPPY FRIDAY, EVERYONE!

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This week the BBH is being hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

Q.  What bookmarker are you currently using?

I've had this bookmark for quite a long time.  My Mom got it for me as a gift when we went to Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster, PA.  I used to lose bookmarks left and right but I've taken good care of this one because it is special :)

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Have a great day!

TT ~ A Wedding Story ~ 12/13/12

THIS WEEK’S topic is:

A Wedding Story.

I'm going to be going an unusual route with the topic for this week.  I'm not going to tell you about a wedding I've been to or a story I've been told about a wedding.  Instead I'd like to talk about a wedding(s) yet to come.

As the mother of two girls, I sometimes wonder about their future.  What will their teen years be like?  Will we stay close or will they rebel?  What will they choose as a profession?  Will they move away or live close by?

Among those questions are:  Who will they marry?

I know that God has their future spouses already picked out for them.  I know that He has a wonderful plan for them.  But what heartaches and challenges will they face along the way?

How will I feel when the day comes that one of them tells me they are getting married?  Hopefully, I'll like the guy and be joyful.  But I still imagine that I'll be sentimental and a bit sad.

Songs like "Butterfly Kisses", "Cinderella" and "I Loved Her First" always choke me up.  Thinking of either of my baby girls dancing the Father/Daughter Dance with their daddy is just so overwhelming.

Of course, they are only 11 and 5.  That does give me some time.

I have a feeling that it won't matter what age they are when they marry.  I'll still feel that sense of loss.  The loss of their childhood and our little family unit.

Maybe by that time, I'll be so ready for some grandbabies that I'll be shouting with joy and rejoicing!

Either way, I'm going to try to enjoy the here and now.  I'm going to strive to be present in the day-to-day life as we live and grow together.

Then one day, Lord willing, we'll have some good wedding stories to tell.

Next week's topic:

Reality TV.

End of the World Giveaway Hop ~ Ends 12/21

This blog hop is hosted by

 I'm a Reader, Not a Writer and My Life With Books

This hop is to mark the end of the Mayan calendar on 12/21/12 and all the speculation that abounds as to the reason it ends. 

I, for one, think they just stopped marking it or it is to be repeated as our calendar does.  I mean, really, our calendar ends every year so we just go buy a new one!

For some reason this book struck me as being a good "End of the World" book so I will be giving it away in this hop:

"City of the Dead"
 by T.L. Higley

To enter the giveaway:

*Mandatory-  Leave a comment telling me your thoughts on the whole Mayan calendar hoopla.

*Extra-  Follow my blog and leave a second comment telling me that you do :)

The giveaway will run until 11:59pm EST, December 21, 2012.  The winner will be emailed on December 22nd.

For more chances to win great bookishness,

check out these other giveaway hoppers :

Book Review and Giveaway ~ Glimmers by Barbara Brooke ~ Ends 12/18

I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review as part of a CBB Book Promotions Blog Tour.  To see more about the book, author, trailer and other reviews please click HERE.

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Title:  "Glimmers"
Series:  N/A

Author:  Barbara Brooke
Publisher:  Glimmers
Publication Date:  3/28/12

Pages:  288

Buy From Amazon:  HERE

Book Description:

A simple touch and suddenly, Paige is in the past - living someone else's life, seeing the world through their eyes, and feeling their deepest emotions.

Paige used to think memories only existed in one's mind. But now, she knows better. She can't explain how or why, but she has glimmers: special moments that have remained behind - clinging to a letter, a ring, even a worn-out pair of boots.

When Paige returns from each glimmer, a small part of her has changed. Who is this gourmet cook, fashion designer, feisty lover? And how is she supposed to explain this to her family without them thinking she has completely lost her mind?

Paige thought her new talent was a gift, until…she was suddenly transported into her sister’s memory, and caught a glimmer of her secret life.

Take this humorous and romantic journey, as Paige learns about true love through the lives of three extraordinary women.

 

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

I really enjoyed reading about the "Glimmers" seen by Paige.  They were interesting and diverse.

The book was heartbreaking at times, dramatic at others and sweet also.

I look forward to reading "Beyond Glimmers" someday.

Main Characters:

Paige :  Paige is the "main" character of the book.  She has what she learns to be called "glimmers" whenever she touches an object that was/is of importance to someone else.
Delilah Jones:  Delilah is a recent high school graduate in 1988 West Virginia.  She gets a job for the summer at a local resort before heading off to culinary school.  Delilah is Paige's first experience with a glimmer. 

Hailey:  Hailey is Paige's younger sister.  She is engaged to be married but, as Paige learns through a glimmer, is struggling with a dilemma.

Emma Middleton:  Emma is an ancestor of Paige's whose glimmer takes place in 1818.  Emma is caught between what she considers familial duty and following her heart.


One of My  Favorite Scene(s):

My favorite scene is when Paige and Hailey's mom takes over and gets a very messy situation resolved.  It was hilarious!


A Brief Excerpt:

I sigh, trying to remember what I'm supposed to do next.  Since my strange hallucination, time for me is completley skewed.  Before leaving my house this morning, I had to look at the calendar just to remind myself today is Tuesday.

  Page 73

The Cover:

This cover is gorgeous!  It is so whimsical and dreamy.  I love the collage of images and the script perfectly brings them all together.  Beautiful!


Other Notes:

~This is a general market book but is very clean and I would recommend it to anyone.


Rating

4/5

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Now, for the giveaway!

To enter for a chance to win a copy of this book
and a small "Glimmer" treasure box:

*Mandatory-  Please leave a comment telling me about one of your possessions that you treasure and could possibly cause a glimmer.

*Extra-  Follow my blog and leave a comment telling me you do :)

The giveaway will run until December 18, 2012 at 11:59pm.  The winner will be announced on December 19th.

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On to the next book,

Gratituesday ~ When One Goes Out, We All Go Out ~ 12/11/12

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

You know the saying about a string of Christmas lights: "When one goes out, they all go out!"  How aggravatingly true this is!  Finally, you figure out to check all the lights before putting them on the tree to make sure they work.  But, then, with all the jostling that happens while stringing them up, inevitably one will work loose and then one by one they all need to be wiggled until the culprit is found.

About two weeks ago, Kaylee had a pretty bad cough and a fever over night.  I can tell she's growing up because she didn't try to get out of going to school even one day.  She didn't want to miss Basketball practice.

Then last Sunday night, about an hour after getting the girls to bed, I heard the pitter patter of little feet coming through the house and into our bedroom.  It was Laken wanting to sleep with us.  She has been doing really well at sleeping either in her bed or in with Kaylee so we gave in for one night.

Sometime during that night, I felt her little foot creep over onto my leg.  I groaned, because it was a little fireball of a foot.  When my girls have fevers, their hands and feet get so hot!  I knew then that we were probably in for a rough couple of days.

My mommy instincts kicked in and I immediately felt her forehead while still half-asleep.  Yes, I confirmed, she had a fever.  I didn't sleep well the rest of the night.  I constantly woke to check to see how warm she was feeling.  Since she was sleeping soundly, I didn't wake her.

For days, we doctored her with Children's Tylenol and fluids.  Doug was on 3rd shift the rest of the week, so Laken slept with me.  I just couldn't tell my sick little girl no.

Most parents know how it goes when their little ones are sick.  They sneeze on you.  They come up and cough right in your face.  They leave dirty Kleenex laying all over.  They drink out of your cup when you're not looking.  The joy!

The next to go out was Daddy.  He pushed through the rest of his work week and then crashed into the weekend.

Friday evening, my throat felt a little scratchy, but I was in denial.  I had too many things to do and no time to get sick!  I forced myself to do the grocery shopping on Saturday afternoon.  Then aches started and the mucous came.  They're still hanging around but I'm on the mend.

I mentioned groaning when I felt that hot little foot hit me the first time.  I knew that meant we would all go down, one by one.  I guess the intelligent thing would have been to quarantine my 5-year-old to her room.

But who can say "No" when your sick little girl wants to sleep with Mommy.  Not me.  I still remember crawling in bed with my Mommy when I was little and sick.  Something about "Mommy's Bed" held comfort.  I knew that my Mom would take care of everything.

I now know that mommies don't have the power to take care of everything, but I can give my babies the comfort of having me close.  Even if that means knowing I'll be sneezed and coughed on and be down for the count long after they are well again.

That is what mommies, and daddies,  are for.

Teaser Tuesday ~ Raider's Heart ~ 12/11/12

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title &; author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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Here's my teaser for this week:

~They slipped inside the dim cabin and shut the door.  Papa held his shushing finger to his lips and scooped out a handful of walnuts.  Tossing his head back, he poured them into his mouth.  "Picker's profit," he explained, his eyes twinkling.~

"Raider's Heart"
Series:  Backwoods Brides Book 1
Author:  Marcia Gruver
Page 194

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Happy Teaser Tuesday!

Listicles ~ Christmas Cookies ~ 12/10/12

"Top 10 Christmas Cookies"

1.  Chocolate Chip

2.  Nut Horns

3.  Sugar Cookies

4.  Peanut Butter

5.  Gingerbread

6.  Snickerdoodles

7.  Pecan Tartlets

8.  M&M Cookies

9.  Reese Cup

10.  Wedding Cookies

Now, I'm in the mood to bake!!

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Happy Monday!

A Musing ~ Latest DNF ~ 12/10/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

Q. "What was the last book you could not finish and why?"

The last book I couldn't finish was "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Susan May Warren.  I love Susan May Warren's writing and the book was really good but it was just so sad!

I was looking for a light-hearted Christmas read and this book had so much sadness surrounding death due to war.  I just wasn't in a place to read about the subject matter as I had just had an unexpected death in the family.

So, as hard as it was, I had to stop reading and move on to a lighter topic but please don't let this discourage you from reading the book.

Musing along,

Scripture Sunday ~ 12/9/12

"In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.""

Romans 8:37

   

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 Hide these Words in your heart and they will be with you always.

     

Book Review and Giveaway ~ Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love ~ 5/5! ~ Ends 12/14

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review as part of a Litfuse Publicity Blog Tour.  To see more about the book, author, and other reviews please click HERE.

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Title:  "Every Perfect Gift"
Series:  Hickory Ridge Romance Book #3

Author:  Dorothy Love
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson Publishing
Publication Date:  12/4/12

Pages:  320

Buy From Amazon:  HERE

Book Description:

Sophie has spent a lifetime guarding her heart and a long-held secret. It will take all of her courage to speak the truth and embrace the future God has planned for her.

The year is 1886, and Sophie Robillard returns to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee, after living in Texas for 15 years as the ward of Ada and Wyatt Caldwell. Now that the town's population has exploded, her intention is to reopen the long-defunct newspaper office that so captivated her when she was still an orphan. The rejection she experienced as a child because of her mixed parentage has left deep scars that she hopes can be healed by succeeding in this new venture.

Ethan Heyward was uprooted from his home as a boy following an unspeakable tragedy. Horace Blakely, a millionaire businessman, took Ethan under his wing and eventually put him in charge of the construction and opening of Blue Smoke resort in Hickory Ridge.

They meet when Sophie arrives at Blue Smoke to interview Ethan for her newspaper. As their attraction deepens, each hides a secret that, if revealed, could end their relationship.

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

This book was really, really good.  I loved the town, the characters and the plot.

Even though this was the first book I have read of the series, I got to know Hickory Ridge very quickly.  There was just the right amount of back-story so that I got the gist of the history without getting overwhelmed.  I now want to go back and read the first two books!


Main Characters:

Sophie Caldwell:  Sophie was an orphan and doesn't know anything about her lineage except for the rumors that she has mixed blood.  At the time the book is taking place this is a big deal to certain people and Sophie lets it bother her more than she should.  She is also an independent woman who is determined to start a successful newspaper in her hometown.

Ethan Heyward:  Ethan is an architect in charge of the construction and creation of a huge resort, Blue Smoke.  He feels indebted to his employer and goes to great lengths to keep him happy.  Once the resort is finished, Ethan's dream is to build homes, especially to rebuild his family's plantation in Georgia. 


One of My  Favorite Scene(s):

I loved reading about the details of Blue Smoke.  It sounds like an amazing place and I wish it were real!

I also enjoyed learning more about the type-setting process in the newspaper office.

A Brief Excerpt:

Holding her hat in place with one hand, she looked up at the second-floor window of the room where she'd spent a lonely girlhood daydreaming and spinning stories.  She'd expected to feel a sense of fmailiarity upon returning here, a kind of homecoming.  But the moment she stepped off the train, she realized that everything had changed.

  Page 1

The Cover:

This is one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen.  In fact, I featured on one of my Cover Crush posts.  (You can see it HERE.)  The gown, the snow, the Church and the red barn all combine to make a most gorgeous cover!

Other Notes:

~This is the last book in the Hickory Ridge series, but I look forward to seeing what Dorothy Love writes next.

~This is an excellent Christmas read!


Rating

5/5

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Now, for the giveaway!

To enter for a chance to win my review ARC of this book:

*Mandatory-  Please leave a comment telling me if you've ever been featured in a newspaper and what for.  Hopefully it wasn't in the police section!  lol

*Extra-  Follow my blog and leave a comment telling me you do :)

The giveaway will run until December 14, 2012 at 11:59pm.  The winner will be announced on December 15th.

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On to the next book,

Coffee Date ~ 12/7/12

Won't you come meet Alissa (above), me and the girls for a coffee date,

or in my case, hot chocolate with whipped cream or maybe a chai tea?

Hello, everyone!  I hope you're having a good week.  Here some highlights from my week:

~It is December!  Are you excited?  I am because I could get my Christmas music out to listen to.  Also, I can force ask my hubby to watch Christmas movies with me.  I watched a really cute Hallmark movie last night called "A Bride for Christmas".

~Last Saturday evening after all the housework was (kinda) done, the girls and I sat done and wrote our Christmas cards.  I signed the inside of all the cards but let the girls write the names on the front and draw pictures to decorate the envelopes.  Well, not on the ones I was mailing but the ones we would be handing out to family and Church family.  It was a really fun project to do together.

~I committed to "13 in 2013".  That means I will be trying my absolute best to complete 13 5ks in 2013!  I've already signed up for a few virtual 5ks and have some actual 5ks in mind.  I have a tab at the top of my blog where you can see more info.  What have I gotten myself into?  yikes!

~I kept Laken home from school yesterday.  She had been running a slight fever for a few days and I wanted her to have a whole day to just rest.  Her fever was gone this morning but she tried her best to talk me into letting her stay home again today.  It was not a pleasant morning, to say the least.

~This has been Kaylee's 3rd full week of Basketball practice and she is still enjoying it.  Her first game isn't until December 18th.

~It is almost vacation!  We'll be putting the shop into "Vacation Mode" on December 12th so that we can get finished up on orders and have some time to just relax and enjoy Christmas.  Things have been really hectic lately so I'm looking forward to some down time to bake cookies and work on some fun projects for gifts.

~I used Wal-Mart's online photo shop yesterday to print some pictures for a birthday present.  It was easy and fairly cheap.  I'll have to see what the prints look like when they come to really judge it fairly though.

~Tonight is Family Movie night.  We'll order a pizza and find a movie to watch together.  Any suggestions?

So, how was your week?