Putting a Bow on 2009 and Looking Forward to Greater Things in 2010!

First of all, I want to thank you, my faithful readers, for the journey that you have supported me on this past year. I'm not quite a year old yet in blog years, but will be celebrating soon! I hope you'll join me as I plan to have several great giveaways for you to celebrate my first bloggy birthday! I have enjoyed getting to know some of you through this format and hope to be able to actually meet some of you this year! Wouldn't that just be downright cool!?!?! I think so!

This has been quite an up and down year for me, but good, nonetheless. I have met many goals this year and learned so much about life. I hope to expand that knowledge even further this next year!

It just wouldn't be right if I didn't mention my Top 10 Favorite Books this year. These books weren't necessarily published in 2009 but it's my list and I'll add those I read this year, regardless of when published!! :)

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
2. Critical Care by Candace Calvert (I can hardly wait until Disaster Status comes out!! H-O-T-T-I-E on that cover!)
3. The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen
4. The Reluctant Cowgirl by Christine Lynxwiler
5. Out of Her Hands by Megan DiMaria
6. Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer
7. Immortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare
8. Vanish by Tom Pawlik
9. The Enclave by Karen Hancock
10. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

In total, I read 91 books this year. Not bad for a first year book blogger, I'd say. I'm shooting for at least 100 next year! I have joined a couple of challenges that I'm looking forward to (might add in a few more before the night is over) and I am super excited about Bloggiesta coming up soon and then BBAW!! I do hope to comment more on the comments to my blog and to others! It's only fair to do so! I also want to participate more faithfully in the meme's that I participated in this year. They are so much fun!

In closing, I hope you and yours have a Happy and Prosperous New Year! If there is anything I could do to help that along, please let me know!

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A cross between the Harry Potter series, Series of Misfortunate Events, and Brave New World, Trenton Lee Stewart weaves a great tale of mystery and adventure in The Mysterious Benedict Society!

It's a odd day when Reynie gets a letter to go and take this test for exceptional children. It's all very secretive though and his tutor, Miss Perumal is just as clueless as he is. The test is weird...something no one could have studied for...but what lies in wait is an adventure of all sorts! Reynie passes the first round of testing and then meets George "Sticky" Washington, an orphan like himself. Together they face more strange challenges and end up meeting Constance and Kate.

The foursome would become Mr. Benedict's secret spies into the "Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened" (LIVE). There they will solve many mysteries and meet some interesting people who will change their lives forever.

I had never read anything by Mr. Stewart before and now I can hardly wait to read the other books in this series. For a large book (over 400 pages) this story read very quickly and I found myself struggling to put it down to take care of other things to provide for my living! I definately recommend this book to fans of mysteries and adventures! It is a quick and highly enjoyable read!

View all my reviews >>

The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read this book as our December selection for the online book club WordShakers, hosted by Sheila! Join us for some great fun!

I love books about the Salem Witch trials. I don't know why, they just intrigue me. This one did not disappoint either! In The Heretic's Daughter, Kathleen Kent weaves a tale of a young girl who finds a letter written by her grandmother detailing the struggles she experienced during this time in history.

Sarah Carrier is a young nine year old girl when all the troubles begin. The pox ruins many families chances of survival and when Sarah's family wants to move to a new town, they are scrutinized for many reasons. Family members develop the pox and then they are shunned. On top of that, suscpicions arise that Martha, Sarah's mother, is a witch.

I found it very interesting to see how the author wove her story based on stories passed down through the years of her family's history. It's a shame that so many people were put to death for this mockery of the young girls who made the false accusations. It really makes you want to watch your back in case history were to repeat itself!!

One of the discussion questions for this book asks if the opinion of those hung for these witchcraft crimes has changes after reading this book. I would have to say to a certain extent, yes. Only because they stood for the truth, and the truth is what is the most important. They were not willing to bow down to the demands of society and conform. Had these few chosen individuals lied and said they were in fact witches, I believe many more would have ultimately perished. I also think that the young girls would have just continued on weeding out those who they didn't like or those who didn't fit into their idea of a utopian society.

Overall, I recommend this book and hope that you will enjoy it as much as I did. Happy Reading!

View all my reviews >>

My Birthday Wish

Today is my 33rd birthday and I want, more than a lot of things, for my children to have their grandparents and parents around for many, many years. If you feel so inclined, please donate $33 to my Relay for Life team. The button is in the top right hand corner of my sidebar. Together, we can all make a difference in the lives of others. My children currently have one grandparent, their PaPa, who has Leukemia. So far, my parents are cancer free. It does run in both sides of the family though.

Each month, I do a review of books I've read for the month (my December review will be posted soon!). I then donate $5 per book that I have read to my Relay team. We are trying to raise $2000 as a team but won't stop there if we can help it!!

I have a strong passion for cancer research. I've had far too many family members and close friends who have lost their battle to this horrible disease. I post this in memory of my grandmother, Wilma Robinson; my dear friend Jean; a co-worker, Crystal and all the others who are no longer here. I hope that through research that my friend and co-worker Mike, my boss Tony, my supervisor Larry and his wife Joyce, my father-in-law John, and others may live long, full lives!

Thank you for your support!

First 2010 Challenge: Books A-Z; Authors A-Z

I'm going to be brave here...I'm signing up for Becky's A-Z Challenge where you have the option of reading books that start with the letters A-Z, authors A-Z, or both. I'm going for both which means I must read 56 books to complete this challenge. I am still working on my lists for the challenge so this is subject to change. I have completed the book one (although I reserve the right to change the titles I read!). I will post the author one once I complete it. I'm trying to choose from books that I already have lying around waiting to be read. My book list is:

A	All Together Dead
B	Beat the Reaper
C	Calamity Jack Completed 1/8/10; Club Dead
D	Dead Until Dark
E	Emmy's Equal
F	From Dead to Worse
G	Green Completed 1/9/10; Godmother
H	He Who Sings Last
I	I Can See You
J	Jillian Dare completed 1/1/10
K	Keeping Faith
L	Living Dead in Dallas
M	Murder in the Magick Club
N	No Mad
O	Offseason
P	Push
Q
R	Ransomed Dreams
S	Saving Ben
T	The Anti-Alzheimer's Solution
U	Unconventional
V	Valley of the Shadow
W	Water Signs
X
Y	Young People and Chronic Illnesses
Z

Does anyone have any suggestions for letters Q, X, and Z? I'd be happy to hear them! What are your reading plans for 2010?


***UPDATE: AUTHOR LIST***

A	Anderson, Caroline
B	Burns, Dan
C	Checketts, Cami
D	Dekker, Ted completed 1/9/10
E	Efaw, Amy
F	Franklin, Darlene
G	Gruver, Marcia
H	Hale, Shannon & Dean Completed 1/8/10Harris, Charlaine
I	Iding, Laura
J	Jeschke, Melanie completed 1/1/10
K	Klassen, Julie
L	Lang, Maureen
M	Moffie, Sam
N	Newstrom (Fun Minute Manager)
O	O'Bryan, Kim
P	Picoult, Jodi
Q
R	Rose, Karen
S	Sapphire
T	Taylor, Jenifer
U
V	Vida, Nina
W	Winfield, Jess
X
Y	Y'Barbo, Kathleen
Z

Who's Team??

I have seen this around a few places and with all the hype, I couldn't resist the urge to post this here. I hope you choose the right side (whatever that may be!) and enjoy this!

Learn More About Advocare

Many of you watched the Advocare V100 Independence Bowl yesterday, now here's your chance to learn more about Advocare!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

9:30 pm Eastern Time

1-270-400-1500

pass code 534229

Congratulations to the University of Georgia Bulldogs for their victory at the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl with a fantastic score of 44 to 20 over the Texas A&M Aggies!

During the game, there were many commercials featuring AdvoCare SPARK and SLAM, two of our most popular products. If you have not received your FREE sample, please contact me and I'll be glad to send it to you!!

I have been a product user for almost 3 years now. When I started with Advocare, I was a size 14 (pushing very close to 16), had an extremely high cholesterol level (high 300's!), and was looking for "the right stuff". I found it in Advocare and today, I'm happy to report that I'm a size 6 (EEK!! EXCITING!), my cholesterol levels are back to normal and I'm off of medication, and I feel GREAT!!! I am so thankful that I found this company and what they have done for me and my family!

Why would Drew Brees, Brett Quigley, Carli Loyd, Michael W. Smith, etc. choose AdvoCare? First, the products are safe! To add to that, though, THEY WORK! I would like to invite you to spend a few minutes listening to a call (you cannot be heard) on Wednesday to learn more.

Whether your goal is to have more mental focus and energy, to drop weight after the holidays, to simply be healthier, improve your workouts, etc., AdvoCare may have products to help you reach your goals. If you'd like to earn income, pay off debt and have a "plan b", AdvoCare may be what you've been looking for!

This call will include the following:

Dawn Young, Monroe, GA: amazing wt. loss story(over 100lbs!!)

Bill Bradshaw, Columbia, SC: former NCAA quarterback (South Carolina), has 2 children playing golf at NCAA school (Clemson) and a third who is currently a sophomore playing at the top level for her age division

Mark Rushmore, Haskell, OK: former gym owner and baby boomer who is enjoying an incredible quality of life with energy, health and great sports performance

Pam Rushmore, Haskell, OK: former gym owner who escaped bankruptcy(paid off OVER $2000,000) with AdvoCare

Todd Cash, Frisco, TX: former coach and fireman; former president of AdvoCare

I am excited about AdvoCare's 17 year track record, but I am even more excited about the lives that can and will be impacted in 2010! Are you ready to "begin again in 2010"? This year can be different for you and your family and perhaps AdvoCare will be a part of this! If you have any questions after the call, please feel free to contact me! I'd love to talk to you!

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!!

"Don't worry", the message said. And then, after a short pause, "But do hurry!"

This is taken from The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart



This is a really good book! I'm excited to share my review with you later on this week! :)

Check out this super cool contest!!

Rachel (aka Parajunkee) is one talented chick and she is hosting a contest to show off even more of her talents....on YOUR blog!! (well, hopefully mine, but I'll share the contest info so I have some healthy competition!) The contest runs from now until Jan. 9 and you can enter here. Good luck!

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page each Monday so that other book lovers and bloggers can see and comment on what's in the mailbox. Thanks Marcia for a great way of posting our new (or new to us) books!!

Have you read a book on my list? Please comment on it. It's possible I will use your comment and link back to you when I post my review of a particular book!

To Review:
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for Women's Health by Kathleen Albertson (received review copy from publisher)

Purchased:

The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy


Giveaway Books I Have Won:



What's in your box this week?

One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson

One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Myra Johnson's debut book is nothing but fantastic!! One Imperfect Christmas is a love story of sorts about individuals and family. Natalie is one hard-driven work horse trying to make her way into the graphic design world. Daniel is an ambitious basketball coach with a strong desire for the top teams. Lissa is a young, beautiful teenage girl facing all the pulls of teenage life. Natalie's parents, Bram and Belinda, are the picture of a perfect marriage. After a traumatizing event, will anything ever be the same? Can love survive anything? Will Christmas ever be the same again?

One small warning...have a box of kleenex handy when reading this book! I just loved this story...and it's what I needed to hear right now. There are many different situations weaved in this book but they all tie in and are central to the power this story carries. My only disagreement with this book is that I do not believe (and the Bible does not support) that Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ. We are actually not commanded to celebrate his birth, but rather his death. Beside that point, this is one book that could bring many to a different understanding of how important family is...at anytime of the year. No one is perfect and forgiveness is so essential. Many times its the hardest step of healing a relationship.

I would highly recommend this book! It was a great read during the holidays! This is the first book I read during the holiday season involving a holiday theme.

View all my reviews >>

Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakquel

Part of a Christmas tradition for my family is to go to the movies after opening up our gifts. Today we chose to see Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. I have not seen the first Chipmunks movie (even though we own it) so I don't have anything to compare it to. My children (ages 17, 5, and 3) have seen the first one and say this one is much better!

I had a huge smile walking out of the theater. I wish I could have captured the smiles of joy in the dancing steps of all those leaving the theater. My own little boy (the 5 year old) about broke the seat from all the dancing!!

In this movie, Uncle Dave is injured (thanks to Alvin) so the boys have to go stay with their aunt. Well, Toby, who is aunt's grandson, comes along to the airport to pick the boys up. Boy was that an adventure. Aunt ends up in the hospital so Toby has to take care of the boys. They are under strict order of Uncle Dave to go to school.

There are many adventures at school (just like in "real life" today) and they find out that the school music program is dying. I just love how they worked this in along with a Toys for Tots toy drive!!! Anyway, the principal learns of a competition where the winning school will win money to save their music program and she is a closet fan of the Chipmunks. She asks them to compete and of course, they say they will. Then...well, the Chipettes move in and there is now some competition. How will they handle all the stress to win the money for their school?

This is a super cute movie and one that still has me singing!! "Put a Ring On It" is definitely the show stopper and you will sing the song for days (quite possibly after reading this post too!). With voice talents of Amy Poehler, Christina Applegate, Jesse McCartney, and Jason Lee you just can't go wrong!

This is rated PG, mainly for some mildly crude humor. I also heard a few "choice" words that we do not allow in our house, but you had to listen carefully to hear them.

Overall, I highly recommend this one! We will purchase it when it comes out on DVD!

For a little Chipmunk fun, visit this Munked website and create your own Chipmunk avatar!

We viewed this movie at a Carmike Cinema.

Are You Looking for Answers?

I hope this note finds you well. I'm dropping this note for a specific reason, but first I’d like to wish you a very Merry Christmas from my family to yours.

Something exciting is happening for me during this Christmas season and I wanted you to be among the first to hear. The company I work with is sponsoring the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl on Monday, December 28, in Shreveport , LA. Football may or may not be "your thing", but for me it's about more than football. There are two reasons I am so excited about this. First, this is the first time in history that a company like ours has sponsored any bowl game. ESPN estimates that about 11 million households will be tuning in, so that means lots of exposure for us. If you watch the game, you'll see Drew Brees with the New Orleans Saints boasting about our products. For those of you who don't know, Drew Brees is rated the #1 quarterback in the NFL. Wow - that's clout! He will be especially promoting our best seller Spark Energy Drink. I love drinking a Spark to get me going in the morning and then again in the afternoon to make it through the rest of my day! It’s great clean energy that never leaves you feeling like you’ve crashed out!

Second, I am excited that the UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA BULLDOGS will be playing in this game! The Dawgs and the Aggies (Texas A & M) will be kicking off at 5 pm eastern time.

During the game, everyone watching will have a chance to go online and get a free sample of Spark. Millions of Spark samples will be headed out across the country. I am asking that if you see those commercials and hear about Spark, PLEASE THINK ABOUT ME AND CONTACT ME INSTEAD! Leave a message with your email address in a comment about this post and I’ll be sure you have your Spark!

Of course, since I’m working with AdvoCare, I’ve got the inside track and I’m offering every person I know a FREE sample of Spark Energy Drink before the game. That way, when and if you catch Drew Brees on a commercial "bragging" about Spark, you can "brag" that you knew about it before most of the country. In fact, we believe that Spark is one of "America 's best kept secrets" and you've got the opportunity to try it BEFORE THE INDEPENDENCE BOWL. Simply reply back to this message with the address you'd like us to send it to and it will be on its way.

Also, if you know any Texas A&M fans or UGA Dawg fans, will you please direct them to this message? In fact feel free to forward it to anyone you know who would like extra energy also. I JUST ASK ONE FAVOR, IF YOU FORWARD THIS PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIEND THAT YOU KNOW ME.

Thanks for letting me "pound my chest" - we're truly excited about what this means for us and for AdvoCare. When you hear about Spark and AdvoCare on TV, if it "sparks" any interest at all, PLEASE THINK ABOUT ME. I would appreciate it more than you'll ever know.

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Julie

PS -- GOOOOOO DAWGS!!

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!!

"Lissss-sssa," she enunciated. "Grandma, it's Lisss-sssa. Just try to say it. I know you can".....
A thrill of hope ignited in Lissa's chest and spread its warm rays down her limbs. "That's right, Grandma, it's Lissa. Hey, I brought you a present."

Taken from One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson



Clicking on the link in this post will take you to my Amazon Associate page. By clicking and making a purchase, you are helping to support my book buying habit.

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page each Monday so that other book lovers and bloggers can see and comment on what's in the mailbox. Thanks Marcia for a great way of posting our new (or new to us) books!!

Have you read a book on my list? Please comment on it. It's possible I will use your comment and link back to you when I post my review of a particular book!

To Review:
Thicker Than Blood by CJ Darlington (I have been anxiously awaiting this one for awhile!)
The Mud Hogs by Dalton James (super cute kids book written by a 8 year old)
Gifts of the Heart by Karen Boes Oman
Calamity Jack by Shannon and Dean Hale (for upcoming book tour)


Purchased:

I Used to Know That (Recommended by Borders cashier)
Piano Teacher (Recommended by Jeremiah at Borders)
Heretics Daughter by Kathleen Kent (lost my original copy so had to re-purchase to read for upcoming book club!)
Black by Ted Dekker
Nightlight (I just couldn't pass this one up...a parody of Twilight....great idea...and I'm a Twilight fan!)
Dreaming Anastasia
Pirate Latitudes by Michael Creighton
Hot for Words (have you seen this person youtube? My hubby is madly in love with her! I bought this for him for Christmas, hoping to improve his chances of having a love affair with books like I do!)


Giveaway Books I Have Won:




What's in your box this week?

40 Loaves by C.D. Baker

Forty Loaves by C.D. Baker


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
40 Loaves by C.D. Baker is a devotional book that has 40 different, challenging topics that can and should (in my opinion) be read over 40 days. This would be a great way to start off the New Year! Many think that, with the wealth of devotional books available these days, that this is just another run-of-the-mill book. It's not. The author is not afraid to ask some of the most challenging questions that are faced in today's society. I had my face tinged red a few times while reading this book because of the way the questions were posed and what my answers were versus what they should have been. However, that being said, this is not a "preachy" devotional book either. It's written with a gentle spirit of love and humility.

As previously mentioned, this would make a great 40 day study. Get the loaves ready and break bread with your Savior!

This review book was provided by Waterbrook Multnomah.

View all my reviews >>

Just Grace and the Snack Attack by Charise Mericle Harper

Just Grace and the Snack Attack by Charise Mericle Harper


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Just Grace and the Snack Attack is a super cute, super fast read! Grace is a young girl who has a lot of opinions. She really isn't a huge fan of Owen 1 and doesn't understand why he has to make fun of different types of food. One day after Owen 1 makes a fellow classmate cry, Grace's teacher is told by the principal to have a class on food cultures. It's through this project that Grace and friends learn more about different types of foods and the customs that go with them.

I read this book in about 2 short hours. I learned how to make a "zine" while reading this book and will make one and post by the weekend.

This is a great "mommy and me" book and I highly recommend it!

View all my reviews >>


I received this book from the publisher.

Just Grace and the Snack Attack by Charise Mericle Harper

This month's selection for the Kidz Book Buzz Tour is a great little read called Just Grace and the Snack Attack by Charise Mericle Harper. Today you will learn a little more about the author.

Charise Mericle Harper has written and illustrated lots of fun books for children. If you were to make a list of these books, you could include Fashion Kitty, the Just Grace books, and Itsy Bitsy, the Smart Spider. Charise learned all about being a friend from her first-ever best friend, a girl named Colleen. This was a long time ago, back before cell phones or laptop computers were even invented. She has been practicing her friendship skills ever since. She is pretty good at them now.

Charise lives in Westchester County, New York, with her family.

Be sure to visit these other bloggers featuring this great book this week:



The Hungry Readers, Our Big Earth, All About Children’s Books, Looking Glass Reviews, Fireside Musings, Green Bean Teen Queen, KidzBookBuzz.com, Book Crumbs, My Own Little Corner of the World, Reading is My Superpower, Never Jam Today, The 160 Acre Woods, Carrie’s YA Bookshelf, Everyday Reading, Cafe of Dreams

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing the review copy of this book.

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page each Monday so that other book lovers and bloggers can see and comment on what's in the mailbox. Thanks Marcia for a great way of posting our new (or new to us) books!!

Have you read a book on my list? Please comment on it. It's possible I will use your comment and link back to you when I post my review of a particular book!

To Review:


Purchased:

Fallen by Lauren Kate


Giveaway Books I Have Won:




What's in your box this week?

99 Bible Promises for Tough Times by Randy Peterson

99 Bible Promises for Tough Times by Randy Petersen


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a quick reading devotional book that offers up 99 different Bible verses with a short little quip about each one. The reader might choose to take 99 days to read this book and have a short 1-2 minute devotional each day. The reader may also want to pick a particular area and study it for a specific purpose. The topics included are:

When you Face Financial Difficulties

In Time of Poor Health

When You Have Anxiety or Conflict

When You Struggle with Sin and Guilt

When God Seems Far Away

Challenges in Your Work and Service

When You Lose a Loved One

Many people are facing multiple difficulties right now, and many of them are addressed in the topics this book presents. This would be a great gift idea for anyone on your list since we all struggle with one or more of these things at any given time.

Thank you to Waterbook Multnomah for providing the review copy of this book.

View all my reviews >>

How To Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong by Leslie Vernick

How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong by Leslie Vernick


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
In How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong, Leslie Vernick brings out some very practical information for couples. Some may see this as a book that they've already heard about but I found several things that really stood out to me. The main focus of this book is that if your spouse is acting wrong, maybe you should look at YOURSELF. I was a little taken back at first. If my spouse has a problem, why is it MY fault? That's not what the author is saying. Instead, what is said is what could you see in your life that you could work on that might improve your spouse? It's not your fault but is there something that might trigger a change in your spouse if you change? I had a lot of "ah ha" moments while reading this book. It was also full of some great quotes! One of my favorites is, "Blurting out destructive emotions is a lot like vomiting. You might feel better to get it out, but vomit belongs in the toilet, not on your spouse." I find this quote to be so true and I've really worked on not "vomiting" on my spouse in the 8 years we've been married.

I strongly recommend this book for marrieds and dating couples alike. While some may think they don't need another "self marriage help" book, this one is not like any other I've read. It's very informational and eye opening!

Thank you to the author and Waterbrook Multnomah for providing the review copy for me to read.

View all my reviews >>

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!!

You can sweep broken glass under the carpet, but eventually it will work its way through the rug and cut your foot.

Taken from How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong by Leslie Vernick

A Beautiful Christmas Surprise!!

I was so excited to check my mailbox today to see this great package from a fellow book blogger. Sherrie was my Secret Santa and she rocks!! (Sherrie, I'm sorry, I don't know your blog site! Please post it so I can give you further credit!)

I got some wonderful goodies!! I'm so excited! I have 3 new books...TTFN by Lauren Myracle, Sudden Death by Allison Brennan (It looks REALLY good!) and The Night Cafe by Taylor Smith. Other goodies included a small little blue glass dish full of chocolate (every book readers' necessary snack!), some Santa sticky notes (LOVE THEM!) and a cute little blue teddy bear pen that my 3 year dear daughter immediately claimed as her own.

Thank you for being such a great Blogger Santa Sherrie!!! :)

Mailbox Monday

I'm running a little behind in my Mailbox post this week! Please forgive me!

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page each Monday so that other book lovers and bloggers can see and comment on what's in the mailbox. Thanks Marcia for a great way of posting our new (or new to us) books!!

Have you read a book on my list? Please comment on it. It's possible I will use your comment and link back to you when I post my review of a particular book!

To Review:

Primal by Mark Batterson (upcoming blog tour next week)
The Last Surgeon by Michael Palmer
Inside Out by Marilyn Randall
Elmer the Christmas Elf by Marilyn Randall

Purchased:

Secrets of a Christmas Box by Steven Hornby
One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson
The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart



Giveaway Books I Have Won:




What's in your box this week?

November Reading Wrap-Up

November was a good reading month for me! I think having a week off work during Thanksgiving helped out with that a bit! :) I also participated in the Thankfully Reading Weekend Challenge and found that most enjoyable! Here's my list, complete with links to my reviews.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman 3.0 stars
Charlie and Mama Kyna 4.0 stars
A Courtesean's Scandal by Julia London 4.5 stars
Curse of the Spider King by Wayne Thomas Batson 5.0 stars
The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate 5.0 stars
A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq by Dr. Chris Coppola 5.0 stars
Stop It! by Sally O. Lee 4.0 stars
For Faithful Friends by Marilyn Randall 5.0 stars
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead 3.0 stars
Frostbite by Richelle Mead 3.8 stars
Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead 4 stars

I read a total of 2724 pages and had an average of 4.2 stars for the books I've read. I hope to increase my page count for December since I get two weeks off from work! :)