Waiting on Wednesday ~ Grave Consequences ~ 12/26/12

 Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Breaking the Spine,

 spotlights an up-coming release that I'm eagerly anticipating.

"Grave Consequences"

Series:  The Grand Tour Series Book #2
Author:  Lisa T. Bergren

Release Date:  3/1/2013

Publisher:  David C. Cook

For Cora Kensington, the journey of a lifetime takes unexpected twists. And her future—her very life—depends on the decisions she’ll make at each crossroad. As her European tour with her newfound family takes her through Austria, France, and Italy, an unseen enemy trails close behind. Meanwhile, a forbidden love continues to claim her heart, putting everyone’s plans in danger. And as Cora stays one step ahead of it all, what might need the most protection is her own heart, torn between the dramatic pursuit of a dashing Frenchman and a man who has been quietly staking claim to her affections all along. Love has dangers all its own. She must escape the bonds of the past and discover the faith to make the right choices, as each one has grave consequences.

I've enjoyed other titles by Lisa T. Bergren but haven't gotten my hands on the first book of this series yet, but I look forward to reading both books!

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Waiting Until Next Wednesday,

 

 

Book Review Lite ~ Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble

*Book purchased from www.amazon.com *

For book description and other information about the book, please click on the picture to go to the Goodreads page.

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

I was accepted by Litfuse to review "Safe in His Arms" which is the second book in the Under the Texas Stars series by Colleen Coble.  I wanted to read the first book, "Blue Moon Promise" so that I could have a good background established before reading book two.  I've bought very, very few books this year.  I've had a self-imposed limit for buying and get most of my books either through paperbackswap or for review.  Not to mention the many books on my shelf.  This was one of the few I bought.

Nate's reaction to his father bringing him home a bride-by-proxy was priceless.  He cowboyed up and muddles his way along as he takes his responsibility to care for Lucy and her siblings the best that he can.  Once he decided to accept the marriage, he was all in.

Lucy knew they needed protection but was a little slower at warming up to Nate.  She was so consumed with trying to be the best at everything that she didn't take the time to enjoy life.  I enjoyed watching her learn that you can't earn love and that most of all God's love isn't earned it is freely given.

I'm going to be giving this book away as part of the "Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop".  Be watching in early January for the giveaway post :)  Also, be watching for my full review and giveaway of "Safe in His Arms" late in January or early in February.

Rating

4/5

On to the next book,

Top 10 of 2012 ~ Day 2

Top 10 of The Best Book Covers of 2012

1.   To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander

2.  The Things I Do for You by Mary Carter

3.  No Safe Harbor by Elizabeth Ludwig

4.  Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love

5. Glimmers by Barbara Brooke

6.  Bees In The Butterfly Garden by Maureen Lang

7.  Queen of the Waves by Janice Thompson

8.  A Night Like This by Julia Quinn

9.  Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble

10. The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber

Tomorrow:  Best Contemporaries of 2012

Teaser Tuesday ~ LYFI Glacier Bay Alaska ~ 12/25/12

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:

~Towering four-inch heels clicked on the marble floor as Ginny Marshall strode past mahogany pillars, gold-accented mirrors, and pristine white tablecloths toward music producer Danny Klingston, seated at a small table.  Before him sat two objects:  a yellow manila envelope and a small jewelry box.  Danny never was one to beat around the bush.~

"LFYI Glacier Bay Alaska"
Series:  Love Finds You In
Author:  Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss
Page 13

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Happy Teaser Tuesday!

TBR Pile ~ 2013 Reading Challenge

*Click the above picture to sign up and for more information.*
My Goal:  41-50 Books = Married with Children
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.

Top 10 of 2012 ~ Day 1

Top 10 of The Best Books I've read in 2012

1.   To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander

2.  The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter

3.  The Chase by DiAnn Mills

4.  The Things I Do for You by Mary Carter

5.  The Trouble With Cowboys by Denise Hunter

6.  Sandwich with a Side of Romance by Krista Phillips

7.  Shattered Silence by Margaret Daley

8.  No Safe Harbor by Elizabeth Ludwig

9.  In the Shadow of Evil by Robin Caroll

10.  Wish You Were Here by Beth K. Vogt

Spiritual Sunday ~ 12/23/12

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This Week's Memory Verse:

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this:  God made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Acts 2:36

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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!

     

TSMSS ~ Christmas in Heaven ~ 12/22/12

Beautiful!




Enjoy!


Have a blessed weekend!

Cover Crush ~ LFY on Christmas Morning ~ 12/22/12

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:

Two women receive marriage proposals in the same house eight-five years apart. Love finds a home on Christmas morning in two heartwarming holiday stories. Deck the Halls In 1925, the wealthy William Tronnier becomes smitten with the lovely but penniless Lillian Pickard. As Christmas descends on the picturesque town of Cary, North Carolina, William plans to make Lillian a proposal she can t refuse. Tis the Season Nikki Tronnier moves back home in Cary, North Carolina, with plans to buy back the Tronnier family home built by her great-grandfather, William, for his bride, Lillian. But before she is able to make an offer, the handsome Drew Cornell buys the house just before Christmas.

What I Love About It:

It just looks like Christmas to me :)
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What are your thoughts on the cover of this book?

Book Review Lite ~ Raider's Heart by Marcia Gruver

*Book received from www.paperbackswap.com *

For book description and other information about the book, please click on the picture to go to the Goodreads page.

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

This book starts out in a very interesting and intriguing way.  The mystery of a magic lamp, a man lost in sorrow and a unspoken of death unfolds throughout the book.

The unique setting was in the swamps of North Carolina not long after the Civil War.  It was very interesting to read about the life of the people who called the swamp their home.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a fairly large section of the book takes place at Christmas-time.  The description of decorating the small cabin in the swamp with pine and holly and making homemade decorations out of newspaper really helped me get into the Christmas spirit.

This is the first book of the Backwoods Brides series.  I already have book 2 on my shelf and look forward to reading it very soon.

I'm also giving this book away as part of the "Mid-Winter's Eve Giveaway Hop" which ends on 12/27/12.  The button to the post where you must enter is on my sidebar.  If not there, the giveaway has ended.

 

Rating

4/5

On to the next book,

Coffee Date ~ 12/21/12

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:

~I'm having Hot Chocolate today.  I am cold and can't seem to warm up.

~Today is the last day of school for the girls and the last day of work for the hubby.  All 3 will be home with me until January 2.  The girls have a 2 hour early dismissal today.  I keep looking at the clock afraid that I'll forget to go get them!

~Wednesday was super busy.  Laken had her very first school Christmas program in the afternoon.  It was adorable.  Her class performed "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and she was the mother.  She wore her Scotty Dog jammies.  Then in the evening was Kaylee's Chorus and Band Concert.  The Chorus did such a good job.  There aren't any boys in it this year, so all the beautiful girl voices blending together was so sweet.

~I made 8 dozen chocolate chip cookies yesterday for a cookie exchange at Church.  This afternoon we're going to be making the gingerbread men.  My Mom just brought me some Nuthorns that are so addictive.  I could sit here and eat the whole bag!  Maybe I will and then I won't have to share with the rest of the family.  hehe

~We were supposed to travel my cousin Eric's in Virginia tomorrow but I don't know if it is going to happen.  Here on the east coast we are supposed to be getting blizzard condition weather which might make it impossible to travel.  Not to mention, the van was acting weird this morning.  Vehicles drive me crazy!

~We're not opening the Etsy shop back up until after Christmas so I've been making a list of things I want to do during the "down time".  Is there such a thing?  I want to re-evaluate my daily/weekly schedule and start my new blogging notebook.  I also want to finally get the curtains for under my sewing room cabinets made.  I've had the fabric since Summer but just haven't had the time to make them.

~I wish I had the equipment to make a vlog but at the same time, I would probably hate seeing myself.  I don't even like to see pictures of myself let alone see what weird faces I would probably make!  lol

~Is anyone else like me and excited about getting a new calendar?  I already bought mine.  I got a beaches calendar for in my computer room and a Psalms calendar for in the kitchen.  Did you get yours yet?  What kind did you pick?

So, how was your week?

Fitness Friday ~ Cold Weather Gear? ~ 12/21/12

First, I'd like to take this opportunity to invite everyone to join in the "13 in 2013" challenge.  You can see more information under the "13 in 2013" above.  You'll also be able to see what events I have lined up for myself so far.  Just yesterday, I decided to participate in a "60 Miles in 60 Days" virtual event to support Kelly Gale in her endeavor to raise enough money to participate in the "60 Miles in 3 Days" event to support Breast Cancer Awareness.

Now on to my main topic.  I need some major advice on cold weather gear.

I was going to do my winter exercising at a gym but there are so many cons that I think I might nix that idea.  The cons are:

1.  It is a 30 min drive one-way.  That means I'd be wasting 1 hour of my day just driving.

2.  I would be paying a ton of money out in gas.

3.  Membership fee is $75 and then an additional $65/month.

4.  The gym is so busy first thing in the morning that I would have to wait until mid-morning and then my whole day is shot!

5.  Mid-morning is also the prime time for little old ladies and I hate feeling the urge to knock them off the machine I want to be on!  I'm so horrible!

So anyway....  I thought if I take all that money I'd be spending on gym expenses and put it toward some good cold weather gear, I'd save in the long run.  Time, money, aggravation...

Here's what I'm thinking I will need:

1.  Some kind of clothing that holds in the heat.

2.  Earwarmers (I'll be making my own over Christmas break.)

3.  Some good shoes.  (Not my normal Wal-Mart specials.)

4.  Music player.  In nice weather, I love just listening to the birds, the water etc, but in the cold I need something to make the time go faster and keep me moving.

I really don't know what kind or what else would benefit me, so I need major help from all the experienced cold weather walkers/runners.

One benefit I love about my little neighborhood, known locally as "Hollywood", is that the perimeter is just slightly over 1 mile.  I basically have a 1 mile track right outside my front door.  But, I'd love to have some kind of training schedule.  Are there any good resources out there that I should know about?

I'm trying to get my 2013 plan situated.  It starts off right away on January 1st with the "Resolution 5k" that I signed  up for.

Thanks in advance for any tips and advice you can pass along to me.

Feature and Follow ~ I've learned ~ 12/21/12

HAPPY FRIDAY, EVERYONE!

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Q: What have you learned from book blogging that you didn’t know before about the publishing industry?

I've learned so much!  I learned that I can actually interact with authors which is so much fun.  I've also learned about ARC's.  I had no idea that publishers, authors etc., gave books out in exchange for reviews.  Ive also learned how self-publishing has really taken off.  I get so many requests from self-published authors.  I've gotten very picky in accepting requests for reviews.

Have a great day!

Mid-Winters Eve Giveaway Hop ~ Ends 12/27

This blog hop is hosted by

 I'm a Reader, Not a Writer and Oasis for YA

Mid-Winter's Eve and barely a snowflake has fallen here in my hometown in southern Pennsylvania.  But, they are calling for a front to be coming through this weekend.  We shall see!

I picked this book to giveaway for this hope before I had a chance to read it.  I've since read it, and I was pleasantly surprised at the very detailed Christmas that takes place.

The book u for grabs is :

"Raider's Heart"
 by Marcia Gruver

To enter the giveaway:

*Mandatory-  Leave a comment telling me if you've had any snow yet or do you live in an area where snow is seldom seen.  Do you like snow or could you live without it?

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

The giveaway will run until 11:59pm EST, December 27, 2012.  The winner will be emailed on December 28th.

For more chances to win great bookishness,

check out these other giveaway hoppers :