January 2012 Reading Challenges Update

Challenges signed up for: 46
Challenges Completed: 1 (0%)
2012 Challenges (All Blog Challenges)
An Illustrated Year: 2012 Picture Book Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 10/24
2012 Cozy Mystery Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/12
Why Buy The Cow? Reading Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 13/30+
2012 Self-Published Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 2/50
2012 Men in Uniform Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/5
2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/5 (94 so far 20)
2012 Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/12
2012 100+ Books in A Year Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 20/100+
Crusin Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/12
2012 Read Your Own Books Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 1/21+
Getting Lost in a Comfortable Book Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/5
2012 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 1/37+
The 2012 Memorable Memoirs Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/6
2012 Women's Murder Club Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/11
2012 E-Book Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 13/100
Pages Read Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 1131/15,000
50 States Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 2/50
Audiobook Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 1/25
Just For Fun Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/12
Unread Book Challenge of 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/6
Merely Mystery Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/12
2nds Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/6
First in a Series Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 1/3
Southern Literature Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/1
Off The Shelf (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/5
Free Reads 2012 Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 13/5
Go Indie 2012 Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 1/5
2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/6
What's in a Name 5 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/6
Narnia Reading Project 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/7
Reading Romances Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 1/12
Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 1/12
2012 100+ Books Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 20/100+
2012 Reading Challenge Addict (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 1/16+
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 1/12
Read Your Own Name 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/7 (SueFitz)
Global Reading Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/7
Excellence In Reading 2012 Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/60

Perpetual
Book Around the States Challenge (October 22, 2008 - ????) 26/50
US Presidents Reading Project (November 5, 2008 - ???) 5/44
1001 Childrens book Before I Grow Up (June 1, 2010 - ???) 43/1001
101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge (September 28, 2010 – June 23, 2013) 101/101 – COMPLETED 1/2/12
The Naming Convention Challenge (October 20, 2008 - ???) 5/9
Stephanie Plum Challenge (January 1, 2012 - ???) 0/18
101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge (January 2, 2012 – September 29, 2014) 09/101

GoodReads
50 States Challenge
Maryland
New York

12x12 in 2012
1 First In A Series 1/12
2 Cozy Mysteries 0/12
3 Biography/Memoir 0/12
4 Library/Borrowed Books 1/12
5 Freebies (ebooks, gifts) 0/12
6 Romance 1/12
7 Children’s 10/12
8 Young Adult (YA) 0/12
9 Chick Lit 0/12
10 Mt. TBR from before 2010 0/12
11 Giveaway Wins 0/12
12 Harlequin/Silhouette 0/12

January 2012 Monthly Reading Recap

Books Read: 20
YTD: 20

Posted in January
Reviews:
A Christmas Wish by Jessi Hammond (Ebook) ,
The Story of Miss Moppet by Beatrix Potter (ebook) ,
Froggy Boots Go With Everything by Jill Martin,
Chuff and the Race Cars by Peter Dempster (ebook)
The Tale of Bernie the Fruit Bat by Chirs Carlisle (ebook) ,
Clyde The Cat Loves to Count by Casey Crayne (ebook) ,
Gobble, Gobble by Cathryn Falwell,,
Busy Machines by Peter Lawson,

Discussion Posts:
Monday Musings #1 (Jan 2, 2012) ,
Tuesday Teasers #1 (Jan 3, 2012),
Library Loot #1 (Jan 7, 2012) ,
In My Mailbox (1) ,

Author Interviews:
None this month

Author Guest Posts:
Guest Blog/Giveaway – Breeana Puttroff (Seeds of Discovery)
Demon's Slave by Danielle D Smith (Dark Mind Book Tours)

What’s coming in February?

Follower Love Hop (February 7 – 13, 2012)



Random Acts of Kindness Day Giveaway (February 17 - 21)



Leap into Books Giveaway Hop (February 29 - March 5)

What Are You Reading Monday? #39

Books I completed in the last week are:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)


My Friend the Bear by J J Ley (ebook)
The Next Always (Inn BoonsBoro #1) by Nora Roberts
Happy Birthday by Danielle Steel (audio)


Bookmarks are still living in the middle of:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)



The Game From Where I Stand by Doug Glanville (p45)
Frill Kill (Scrapbook #5) by Laura Childs (p34)


Up Next:


Mole Music by David McPhail
A Sweetheart for Valentine by Lorna Balian
Sergio Saves the Game by Edel Rodriguez
Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr
Stringbean's Trip to the Shining Sea by Vera B Williams

Reviews posted this week:




Author Guest Posts/Interviews:


Blog Tour: Author Guest Post/Giveaway - Pesi Dinerstein (A Cluttered Life: Searching for God, Serenity, and My Missing Keys) (Dark Mind Book Tours)(February 3)
Blog Tour: Author Guest Post/Giveaway – Krista Holle (The Lure of Shapinsay) (Dark Mind Book Tours)
(February 8)
Blog Tour: Author Guest Post/Giveaway – Bryan Cohen (The Post-College Guide to Happiness) (March 9)


Special Blog Hop Giveaways



Follower Love Hop (February 7 – 13, 2012)
Random Acts of Kindness Day Giveaway (February 17 – 21)
Leap into Books Giveaway Hop (February 29 - March 5)

Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):


January Brings the Snow by Sara Coldridge
Jo MacDonald Saw A Pond by Mary Quattlebaum
Hercubear vs. The Cyclops Rabbit by Lesley Williams (ebook)
Caterpillars Don’t Check Email by Calee M Lee, illustration: Jacob Lee (ebook)

Giveaways on the blog this week and in coming weeks:





Author Guest Post/Giveaway – Demons’s Slave by Danielle D Smith (January 25 – Feb 1) Winner -
Freebie Friday - The Client by John Grisham (January 27 – Feb 3) Winner –
Freebie Friday - (February 3 – 10) Winner –
Freebie Friday - (February 10 – 17) Winner –
Freebie Friday – (February 17 – 24) Winner –
Freebie Friday – (February 24 – March 2) Winner -

Giveaways Winners


Freebie Friday - Back to the Bedroom by Janet Evanovich (January 13- 20) Winner – Linda Henderson
Freebie Friday - To Catch An Heiress by Julia Quinn (January 20 - 27) Winner – Julie Witt

Freebie Friday - The Client by John Grisham (2/3/12)

This is the story of eleven-year-old Mary Sway, who, as the novel opens, witnesses the bizarre suicide of a New Orleans attorney. Just before he dies, the lawyer tells Mark a deadly secret concerning the recent murder of a Louisiana Senator, whose accused killer, Mafia thug Barry Muldanna, is about to go to trail. The police, the federal prosecutor, and the FBI pressure Mark to tell them the attorney’s last words, but he knows that with the mob watching his every move, revealing his secret will almost surely get him killed. So Mark, streetwise and old beyond his years, hires a lawyer: Reggie Love, a fifty-two-year-old divorcee who’s been through more than anyone could imagine and survived, basically, because she’s tough. And fiesty. And loves helping kids overlooked or abused by the system. But when Mark’s life is threatened, and Reggie discovers her office has bee bugged, and even the Juvenile court judge says Mark has no choice but to talk, she realizes that this time she’s in way over her head. But then Mark comes up with a plan… a crazy plan, in Reggie’s opinion but it’s their only hope. And it just might work.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Demon's Slave by Danielle D Smith (Dark Mind Book Tours)

Why a BAD BOY Makes a GOOD HERO


“I bear the most charming of names...”
--Skriker, Black Dog and Rebel Rose

Ladies, we all know them: THOSE guys. You know, the ones that have the great hair, the hard-muscled prison bodies (sometimes acquired in prison), and the tat ink that we want to examine up close. The ones who can make our hearts skip a beat with a single glance, a cocky eyebrow raised in acknowledgement.

And all that before they get us into bed.

What I’m talking about is the Bad Boy. We all know the type…hell, I married one. And to this day, I tell my naughty, pain-in-the-ass beefcake alpha that he’s just bad for me. Even though I know he’s bad for me in many ways, he’s like crack. I just can’t get enough…or so the song goes.

But can a bad boy make a good hero? Wouldn’t that mean that the guy would have to stop being a bad boy?

I had to ask myself this question when I sat down to write my second book, the notorious cult-followed Black Dog and Rebel Rose. The hero of this sordid, blood-splattered tale is about as bad as they come. Not only is he a hard-sculpted, heavily-tattooed, Harley-riding, Camel-smoking supernatural hunter who blows vamps to bits and lays as many fine ladies between his sheets as he can when he’s not hunting. He’s also half-demon. Which *technically* should make him…well, just bad. Right? Right???

Not so. Sure, when we first meet Skriker, he’s a bad boy in the truest sense of the word. He bangs-‘em-and-leaves-‘em, one after the other, and thinks nothing of ripping a woman’s heart out and dashing it across the wall before blasting off into the night, full-throttle, never to be seen again. Selfish is Skrike’s way…that is, until he meets Rose.

Rose is the woman that won’t jump into his arms the moment she exchanges a word with him. In fact, she’s the black-haired bitch on wheels who has a gun in his face when he first meets her. The fact that she is the most beautiful and alluring woman he has ever seen matters little to her—his banter and his charm does little to crack her tough exterior. And yet, as they hunt together, Skriker begins to feel something very genuine for his aloof new companion: affection. Love. He begins to fear for her safety, even though Rose has no problem taking care of herself. And when he finally does crack through that wall and she falls into his arms, it isn’t, as they say, just a fuck.

After sex, he doesn’t turn tail and run. In fact, it is Rose who makes this attempt. And what does our bad boy do? Chase after her, crying for her to stay with him, just stay. And when his new lady love falls into the hands of those who would do her harm, Skriker suddenly finds himself willing to sacrifice anything, anything, to save her and have her running at his side once again.

This is how the notorious bad boy is redeemed and made the hero, at least in my story. He discards his selfishness and, for the first time, finds himself really, truly, falling in love and willing to give himself wholly to another. Does this mean that he has discarded all of the deliciously naughty bits of his style that make him “bad”? Hell, no! There’s still the Harley, and the ciggies, and the tattoos. There’s still the cocky glance, the smirk that could melt butter. The ten-inch kielbasa that lives in his pants…

So, what’s your point, Dani? That’s what you ask, right? Well, in simple terms, the bad boy makes a good hero because he’s redeemable. Because the heroine can take him and help him become a better man. Not change him or sculpt him, mind you…I have never prescribed to the concept of a woman taking a man and making him what she wants him to be. I’m talking about a woman helping her bad boy to better himself, to gain new depth, to become bigger, badder, than he ever could be without her.

And isn’t that what real romance is all about?

What Are You Reading Monday? #38

Books I completed in the last week are:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)


Caterpillars Don’t Check Email by Calee M Lee, illustration: Jacob Lee (ebook)



Bookmarks are still living in the middle of:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)



The Next Always (Inn BoonsBoro #1) by Nora Roberts (p261)
Happy Birthday by Danielle Steel (audio) (CD5)
The Game From Where I Stand by Doug Glanville (p35)

Up Next:


Christmas Eve At Friday Harbor by (audio)
New Year’s Eve Murder by Leslie Meier
Mole Music by David McPhail
A Sweetheart for Valentine by Lorna Balian
Sergio Saves the Game by Edel Rodriguez
Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr
Stringbean's Trip to the Shining Sea by Vera B Williams

Reviews posted this week:


Gobble, Gobble by Cathryn Falwell
Busy Machines by Peter Lawson


Author Guest Posts/Interviews:


Blog Tour: Author Guest Post/Giveaway – Danielle D Smith (Demon's Slave) (Dark Mind Book Tours) (January 25)
Blog Tour: Author Guest Post/Giveaway - Pesi Dinerstein (A Cluttered Life: Searching for God, Serenity, and My Missing Keys) (Dark Mind Book Tours)(February 3)
Blog Tour: Author Guest Post/Giveaway – Krista Holle (The Lure of Shapinsay) (Dark Mind Book Tours)
(February 8)


Special Blog Hop Giveaways



Dreaming of Books Hop (January 13 – 18, 2012)
YA Book Giveaway Hop (January 27 – 31, 2012)
Follower Love Hop (February 7 – 13, 2012)

Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):


January Brings the Snow by Sara Coldridge
Jo MacDonald Saw A Pond by Mary Quattlebaum
Hercubear vs. The Cyclops Rabbit by Lesley Williams (ebook)
Caterpillars Don’t Check Email by Calee M Lee, illustration: Jacob Lee (ebook)

Giveaways on the blog this week and in coming weeks:





Freebie Friday - To Catch An Heiress by Julia Quinn (January 20 - 27) Winner –
Freebie Friday - The Client by John Grisham (January 27 – Feb 3) Winner –

Giveaways Winners


Six Weeks to Yehidah by Melissa Studdard (Dec 22 - 29, 2011) Winner – Courtney Wyant
Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff (Jan 8 – 15, 2012 ) – Winner – La Tanya Thornhill
Freebie Friday - The Gift by Danielle Steel (January 6- 13) Winner – Victoria Zumbrum
Freebie Friday - Back to the Bedroom by Janet Evanovich (January 13- 20) Winner –

Freebie Friday - To Catch An Heiress by Julia Quinn (ends 1/27/12)

GoodReads Review:

Caroline Trent is fed up with her greedy guardian, Oliver Prewitt, and his nitwit son, Percy. With only six weeks to go until she can claim her inheritance and rid herself of them, Percy attempts to forcibly seduce her. Fortunately, Caroline has a pistol at hand and she uses it--wounding the annoying man just enough to allow her to escape. Fuming, she flees the dark manor house determined to find employment and hide from her guardian for six weeks. But a bad night turns worse when a tall, dark stranger accosts her. Blake Ravenscroft thinks Caroline is a female spy, part of Oliver Prewitt's smuggling activities that include spying for Napoleon. He kidnaps Caroline, ties her to a bed at his nearby home, and grills her unsuccessfully before a friend arrives and tells Blake that he's captured the wrong woman. Caroline explains her predicament and, given what he knows of the larcenous Oliver Prewitt, Blake has no option but to offer her shelter. Caroline isn't a woman accustomed to sitting in the parlor sipping tea, especially while Blake's investigation has him involved in far more exciting, life-threatening activities. Blake isn't a man accustomed to having a woman ignore his commands. Sparks fly and passion sizzles between these two characters while a cast of endearing characters provide well-meaning assistance. To Catch an Heiress is both warm and wonderful, with witty dialogue and endearing characters.

What Are You Reading Monday? #37

Books I completed in the last week are:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)


Busy Machines by Peter Lawson (ebook)
Caterpillars Don’t Check Email by Calee M Lee, illustration: Jacob Lee (ebook)


Bookmarks are still living in the middle of:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)



The Next Always (Inn BoonsBoro #1) by Nora Roberts (p261)
Happy Birthday by Danielle Steel (audio) (CD3)
The Game From Where I Stand by Doug Glanville (p35)

Up Next:


Christmas Eve At Friday Harbor by (audio)
New Year’s Eve Murder by Leslie Meier

Reviews posted this week:


Gobble, Gobble by Cathryn Falwell
Busy Machines by Peter Lawson


Author Guest Posts/Interviews:


Blog Tour: Author Guest Post/Giveaway - Pesi Dinerstein (A Cluttered Life: Searching for God, Serenity, and My Missing Keys) (Dark Mind Book Tours)(February 3)
Blog Tour: Author Guest Post/Giveaway – Krista Holle (The Lure of Shapinsay) (Dark Mind Book Tours)
(February 8)

Special Blog Hop Giveaways



Dreaming of Books Hop (January 13 – 18, 2012)
YA Book Giveaway Hop (January 27 – 31, 2012)
Follower Love Hop (February 7 – 13, 2012)

Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):


January Brings the Snow by Sara Coldridge
Jo MacDonald Saw A Pond by Mary Quattlebaum
Hercubear vs. The Cyclops Rabbit by Lesley Williams (ebook)
Caterpillars Don’t Check Email by Calee M Lee, illustration: Jacob Lee (ebook)

Giveaways on the blog this week and in coming weeks:





Freebie Friday - Back to the Bedroom by Janet Evanovich (January 13- 20) Winner –
Freebie Friday - To Catch An Heiress by Julia Quinn (January 20 - 27) Winner –
Freebie Friday - The Client by John Grisham (January 27 – Feb 3) Winner –

Giveaways Winners


Six Weeks to Yehidah by Melissa Studdard (Dec 22 - 29, 2011) Winner – Courtney Wyant
Midwinters Eve (December 21 – 27, 2011) Winners – Mary Ann Brady & Cindy Gates
Texas Statehood Giveaway - Texasville by Larry McMurtry (Dec 29 – Jan 5) Winner – Debbie Penny
Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff (Jan 8 – 15, 2012 ) – Winner – La Tanya Thornhill
Freebie Friday - The Gift by Danielle Steel (January 6- 13) Winner – Victoria Zumbrum

Freebie Friday - Back to the Bedroom by Janet Evanovich (end 1/20/12)

In a previous life, before the time of Plum, I wrote twelve short romance novels. Red-hot screwball comedies, each and every one of them. Nine of these stories were originally published by the Loveswept line between the years 1988 and 1992. All immediately went out of print and could be found only at used bookstores and yard sales.


Back to the Bedroom is presented here in almost original form. I've done only minor editing to correct some embarrassing bloopers missed the first time around.


I lived in northern Virginia when I wrote Back to the Bedroom. My children were young, and we spent a lot of time visiting the Washington, D.C. museums and wandering through the historic neighborhoods. One day while strolling Capitol Hill I came upon two townhouses that captured my imagination. The houses were totally different -- a birthday cake of a house and a bran muffin of a house, and yet they shared a common wall. I wondered about the people who lived inside the houses. And eventually the houses inspired Back to the Bedroom.


Back to the Bedroom is the story of a young woman with the soul of a birthday cake living in a bran muffin house -- and a nice-looking guy with the substance of a bran muffin living in a birthday cake. They share some misadventures, some romantic moments, some misunderstandings, and ultimately they turn into wedding cake.
And for Plum fans, you'll be interested to find that this was the first of the four romances to feature Elsie Hawkins, the prototype for Grandma Mazur.

Book Review: Busy Machines by Peter Lawson

Title: Busy Machines
Author: Peter Lawson
Publisher: Big Beak Books (www.bigbeakbooks.com)
ASIN: B0064YS9DG
Release Date: November 8, 2011
Pages: 20
Genre: Childrens
Format: ebook
Source: Amazon.com (freebie when I got it – now 2.99)

Amazon.com
Busy Machines have lots of work to do, on the building site, at the farm and around the town. This book teaches toddlers and young children all about the Busy Machines and their drivers using bright colorful illustrations and simple clear text. At the end of the book there's a mix and match quiz for the reader to test what they've learnt.

Mine:
This is definitely a “First Learners” book, but is wonderfully illustrated by author himself. It is English since one of the “machines” is a Lorry. This is a great book showing what big machines can do. It’s nice to see a woman driving the digger and bulldozer. The matching quiz at the end is fun.


For Challenges:
101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge
2012 E-Book Reading Challenge
Pages Read Challenge
An Illustrated Year: 2012 Picture Book Reading Challenge
Why Buy The Cow? Reading Challenge 2012
2012 100+ Books in A Year Reading Challenge
Free Reads 2012 Reading Challenge
2012 100+ Books Reading Challenge

Book Review: Gobble, Gobble by Cathryn Falwell

Title: Gobble, Gobble
Author: Cathryn Falwell
Publisher: Dawn Publishers
ISBN: 584691492
Release Date: September 1st 2011
Pages: 32
Genre: Children’s
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher for Review

GoodReads:
Arrow-shaped footprints lead a young backyard naturalist to a flock of funny-looking birds with big strong feet: Wild Turkeys! Once nearly extinct, these comical critters now gobble their way across North America. Follow Jenny through a year of enchantment as she shares her discovery of these wonderful birds. Gobble, gobble! Jenny wrote a journal, too, with lots of fascinating stuff about a distinctly American bird. Although it once numbered in the millions, wild turkeys nearly disappeared with overhunting and habitat destruction, but are now making a comeback. The illustrations are block prints over collages. The collages are made from cut and torn paper plus all sorts of things from nature bark, leaves, feathers, even wasp nests! The author also offers tips for children to make their own cut-paper pictures and how to keep a nature journal.(


Mine:
Very cute story as Jenny follows the turkeys through the seasons doing different things. It’s fun to watch how Jenny connects to the turkeys It also offers a few tips on how to keep a nature journal. You can use the suggestions for just about any type of journaling project.

Read for the following Challenges:

An Illustrated Year: 2012 Picture Book Reading Challenge
2012 100+ Books in A Year Reading Challenge
101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge
Pages Read Challenge
12x12 in 2012 (GOODREADS)

What Are You Reading Monday? #36

Books I completed in the last week are:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)


I had a mini read-a-thon of children’s books in the house and on ipad to get the year started. The printed ones will be donated to my nephews school the ebooks will be deleted to clear space for more.
Hercubear vs. The Cyclops Rabbit by Lesley Williams (ebook)
Clyde The Cat Loves to Count by Casey Crayne (ebook)

Bookmarks are still living in the middle of:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)



The Game From Where I Stand by Doug Glanville
The Next Always (Inn BoonsBoro #1) by Nora Roberts
Happy Birthday by Danielle Steel (audio)

Up Next:


Christmas Eve At Friday Harbor by (audio)
New Year’s Eve Murder by Leslie Meier

Reviews posted this week:


Chuff and the Race Cars by Peter Dempster (ebook)
The Tale of Bernie the Fruit Bat by Chirs Carlisle (ebook)
Clyde The Cat Loves to Count by Casey Crayne (ebook)

Author Guest Posts/Interviews:


Guest Blog/Giveaway – Breeana Puttroff (Seeds of Discovery) (January 8)
Blog Tour: Author Guest Post/Giveaway - Pesi Dinerstein (A Cluttered Life: Searching for God, Serenity, and My Missing Keys) (Dark Mind Book Tours)(February 3)
Blog Tour: Author Guest Post/Giveaway – Krista Holle (The Lure of Shapinsay) (Dark Mind Book Tours) ( February 8)

Special Blog Hop Giveaways



Dreaming of Books Hop (January 13 – 18, 2012)
YA Book Giveaway Hop (January 27 – 31, 2012)
Follower Love Hop (February 7 – 13, 2012)

Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):


2011 Review - Flowerbed of State ( A White House Gardener Mystery #1) by Dorothy St. James
January Brings the Snow by Sara Coldridge
Gobble, Gobble by Cathryn Falwell
Jo MacDonald Saw A Pond by Mary Quattlebaum
Hercubear vs. The Cyclops Rabbit by Lesley Williams (ebook)


Giveaways on the blog this week and in coming weeks:


Freebie Friday - The Gift by Danielle Steel (January 6- 13) Winner –
Freebie Friday - Back to the Bedroom by Janet Evanovich (January 13- 20) Winner –
Freebie Friday - To Catch An Heiress by Julia Quinn (January 20 - 27) Winner –
Freebie Friday - The Client by John Grisham (January 27 – Feb 3) Winner –

Giveaways Winners


Midwinters Eve (December 21 – 27, 2011) Winners – Mary Ann Brady & Cindy Gates
Texas Statehood Giveaway - Texasville by Larry McMurtry (Dec 29 – Jan 5) Winner – Debbie Penny

In My Mailbox (1)

"In My Mailbox" is a weekly event that gives book bloggers a chance share with each other what books got added to their to-be-read pile for the week. It was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie and hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren.


I won a contest on Goodreads (that I didn’t rembember entering) but what a great haul it’s a total of 16 books and I’ve already gotten 9 of them.

The Haunting At Cliff House by Karleen Bradford (ebook)
Bedtime Stories For Cats by Amy Nefizger (ebook)
The DIY Guide to Social Media Marketing and E-Book Publishing by Carol Russell (ebook)
Buff Tea by Edward M Erdelac (ebook)
Sue's FingerPrint by Andrew D Carlson (ebook)
The Crimson Pact by Paul Genesse (ebook)
Death Drop by Sean Allen (Autographed)
Beckoning Light by Alyssa Rose Ivy (ebook)
Scattershot by Richard Goodwin (ebook)

I guess I requested a review copy though I don’t remember. I got bad toward the end of the year in keeping track.
Highway Odyssey by Alexander Flint

BLOG Tour: Guest Post/Giveaway - Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff

Here is a interview with our main character William Rose.

What's the first time you traveled between the gate?


The very first time I traveled through the gate was when I was six cycles old. I was always very close to my Uncle Nathaniel, maybe because we're both healers, or maybe it was just a connection that was always there between us. For as long as I can remember, I was fascinated with Nathaniel's work, and whenever he was home in Eirentheos, I would follow him around to the clinics and help him with his work. As I grew a little older, we realized that there were so many things we could learn from Earth, that it would work better to have two people who had studied there. At the time of my first visit, Nathaniel was deep in a project of trying to learn how to bring hydroelectricity and wind energy to the Capitol city of Eirentheos. My father brought me through the gate to visit Nathaniel here while they were working on that project.

What do you think of this world?


I think there are many great things about Earth, and also many things I don't understand, or am glad don't happen in Eirentheos. The capabilities of technology are amazing -- the ability to use technology for healing, electricity, refrigeration. But then there seem to be a lot of people who use it to play video games on their cell phones, and they miss out on the kinds of relationships with family and friends that are common in my world.

How do you deal with traveling between two worlds?


It can be very challenging, but I'm kind of used to it now, and I don't plan on doing it forever, or even for as long as Nathaniel has.

Do you miss your family?


Every moment I am away from them.

What do you think of Quinn?


I actually like Quinn, now that I've gotten to know her a little. She's smart and she's caring, and I know she would do anything for someone she cared about. She's so stubborn, though.

Was it weird having someone interested in you?


No. That's happened several times on Earth, and in Eirentheos people are always interested in what the royal family is doing. I just thought Quinn would give up if I ignored her long enough, like everyone else always did.

Do you want Quinn back in your world?


I can't say I don't want her back in my world -- as I said before, I do like her. But I think it's a bad idea, and she has no idea how deep she might get herself in, and how challenging it can be to divide yourself between two worlds. At least for my part, the only people I'm hiding and keeping secrets from are strangers. If Quinn were to come back to my world, she would have to lie and hide from her family and friends, and I think she'll get hurt.


About Seeds of Discovery:

Quinn Robbins' life was everything she thought a teenager's should be. She has good friends, a family that she loves, good grades, and an after-school job she enjoys. And, she's just been asked out by Zander Cunningham, a popular football player and great guy. But one day when driving home after picking up her little sister from the baby-sitter's, she nearly hits a boy who, after running blindly into the street, mysteriously disappears.


The mystery only deepens as she figures out who the boy is; William Rose, a reclusive, awkward boy from school who always has his nose in a pile of books.
As she becomes more aware of his behavior it becomes more obvious how out of the ordinary William is and how hard he deliberately tries to blend into the background. This only intrigues her more and she finds herself working to find out more about him, and exactly where he keeps disappearing to.

On a whim one night she follows him and suddenly finds herself in a new world. One where William is a prince, literally, and she is treated like a princess. She also discovers that she is stuck; the gate back to her own world isn't always open.

Quinn finds herself smack in the middle of a modern-day fairy tale, on a course that will change her life forever.


About the Author:

After eleven years of teaching in a classroom, she has decided to reinvent myself (whatever that means). A published author, and operating her own small preschool. She is also putting her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees to work, and offering freelance editing and proofreading services.

It’s a brave, new adventure for sure, and she is happier than she had been in a long time.

Her blog
Facebook
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GoodReads

Book Review: Clyde The Cat Loves to Count by Casey Crayne

Title: Clyde the Cat Loves to Count
Author: Casey Crayne
Publisher:
ASIN: B005HAMXQ2

Release Date: August 13, 2011
Pages: 26
Genre: Children’s
Format: ebook
Source: Amazon.com

Amazon.com Description:
Learn to count with Clyde the Cat. Clyde’s friends have all come over to play. Can you help Clyde count them all? Silly monkeys and a big giraffe are just some of Clyde’s friends. How many ice cream cones do you need to feed his friends?

Mine:
Very cute book that teaches you to count along with Clyde the Cat. The illustrations are wonderful and the thought of so many mice and silly monkeys is fun. The animals friends are all that are recognized by children and can be fun to draw.

Library Loot #10

Only picked up a few books, since I got several from SIL on loan and am reading more on my iPad and my "old" Kindle. (My brother got a Fire for Christmas)

Here's what I got - Happy Birthday (audio), Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor (audio), New Year's Eve Murder (Hardback)

Freebie Friday - The Gift by Danielle Steel

On a June day, a young woman in a summer dress steps off a Chicago-bound bus into a small midwestern town. She doesn't intend to stay. She is just passing through. Yet her stopping here has a reason and it is part of a story that you will never forget.

The time is the 1950s, when life was simpler, people still believed in dreams, and family was, very nearly, everything. The place is a small midwestern town with a high school and a downtown, a skating pond and a movie house. And on a tree-lined street in the heartland of America, an extraordinary set of events begins to unfold. And gradually what seems serendipitous is tinged with purpose. A happy home is shattered by a child's senseless death. A loving marriage starts to unravel. And a stranger arrives—a young woman who will touch many lives before she moves on. She and a young man will meet and fall in love. Their love, so innocent and full of hope, helps to restore a family's dreams. And all of their lives will be changed forever by the precious gift she leaves them.

The Gift, Danielle Steel's thirty-third best-selling work, is a magical story told with stunning simplicity and power. It reveals a relationship so moving it will take your breath away. And it tells a haunting and beautiful truth about the unpredictability—and the wonder—of life

Book Review: The Tale of Bernie the Fruit Bat by Chris Carlisle

Title: The Tale of Bernie the Fruit Bat
Author: Chris Carlisle
Publisher: Author Way Limited
ISBN:
Release Date: Nov. 14, 2011
Pages: 8
Genre: Children’s
Format: ebook
Source: SmashWords

SmashWords
Bernie solves a problem that has plagued fruit bats for generations ! This short illustrated rhyming story is offered as a free 'taster' download.

Mine:
It was a cut quick story will wonderful illustrations that are really rudimentary, but make the story great. Who would have thought what a bats wings could be used for?

Book Review: Chuff and the Race Cars by Peter Dempster

Title: Chuff and the Race Cars
Author: Peter Dempster
Publisher: NA
ISBN: NA
Release Date: Aug. 17, 2011
Pages: 13
Genre: Children’s
Format: ebook
Source: SmashWords

SmashWords:
A car race comes to town and CHUFF helps out , but what happens when it gets dark?

Mine:
Very cute colorful illustrated story about CHUFF the steam engine and the race cars he must carry up the hill after the race. As it gets dark he must ask the race cars to help him find his way.

It's My Birthday

It's my birthday today (Jan 3 - I'm not telling what year) and I've decided to treat myself to a trip to the library to pick up some new audio books for 2012.

I also plan a trip to the local B&N to see what new cozy I can find.

Tuesday Teasers #1

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!


Mine comes from The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn p. 61

"Scooping up the dress ad the dall, ran down the attic steps, midless now of how much noise I made. Be hind me, the door to the attic slammed shut."

"Nellie stared at the dress on the bed and the doll in my arms. "Oh, miss," she whispered, entering the room, "they be ever so pretty. Di your uncle give you them?" As she spoke, she touched the silk gently.

Musing Monday #1 (Jan 2, 2012)

What is/are the first book(s) you’re reading for the new year?

I had a mini read-a-thon of children’s books in the house and on ipad to get the year started. The printed ones will be donated to my nephews school the ebooks will be deleted to clear space for more.
A Christmas Wish by Jessi Hammond (Ebook)
The Story of Miss Moppet by Beatrix Potter (ebook)
Froggy Boots Go With Everything by Jill Martin
January Brings the Snow by Sara Coldridge
Gobble, Gobble by Cathryn Falwell
Jo MacDonald Saw A Pond by Mary Quattlebaum
The Tale of Bernie the Fruit Bat by Chirst Carlisle (ebook)
Chuff and the Race Cars by Peter Dempster (ebook)

I'm also reading:

The Game From Where I Stand by Doug Glanville
The Next Always (Inn BoonsBoro #1) by Nora Roberts
The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn

What Are You Reading Monday? #35

Books I completed in the last week are:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)


I had a mini read-a-thon of children’s books in the house and on ipad to get the year started. The printed ones will be donated to my nephews school the ebooks will be deleted to clear space for more.
A Christmas Wish by Jessi Hammond (Ebook)
The Story of Miss Moppet by Beatrix Potter (ebook)
Froggy Boots Go With Everything by Jill Martin
January Brings the Snow by Sara Coldridge
Gobble, Gobble by Cathryn Falwell
Jo MacDonald Saw A Pond by Mary Quattlebaum
The Tale of Bernie the Fruit Bat by Chirst Carlisle (ebook)
Chuff and the Race Cars by Peter Dempster (ebook)



Bookmarks are still living in the middle of:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)



The Game From Where I Stand by Doug Glanville
The Next Always (Inn BoonsBoro #1) by Nora Roberts

Up Next:


Mary & Penny’s Christmas Wish (ebook)
A Camp Edison Christmas by Cynthia Davis (ebook)
Snowed Under: A Christmas Short Story by Jude Ryan (ebook)
The North Pole Challenge by Kevin George (ebook)
The Path to Christmas by Ruth Ann Nordin (ebook)
The Santa Diaries: A New Fangles Christmas Book One by Betsy Haynes (ebook)

Reviews posted this week:


A Christmas Wish by Jessi Hammond (Ebook)
The Story of Miss Moppet by Beatrix Potter (ebook)
Froggy Boots Go With Everything by Jill Martin


Author Guest Posts/Interviews:


Guest Blog/Giveaway – Breeana Puttroff (Seeds of Discovery) (Jan 8)


Special Blog Hop Giveaways



Dreaming of Books Hop (January 13 – 18, 2012)
YA Book Giveaway Hop (January 27 – 31, 2012)
Follower Love Hop (February 7 – 13, 2012)

Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):


2011 Review - Flowerbed of State ( A White House Gardener Mystery #1) by Dorothy St. James
January Brings the Snow by Sara Coldridge
Gobble, Gobble by Cathryn Falwell
Jo MacDonald Saw A Pond by Mary Quattlebaum
The Tale of Bernie the Fruit Bat by Chirst Carlisle (ebook)
Chuff and the Race Cars by Peter Dempster (ebook)


Giveaways on the blog this week and in coming weeks:





Texas Statehood Giveaway - Texasville by Larry McMurtry (Dec 29) Winner –
Freebie Friday - The Gift by Danielle Steel (January 6) Winner –
Freebie Friday - Back to the Bedroom by Janet Evanovich (January 13) Winner –
Freebie Friday - To Catch An Heiress by Julia Quinn (January 20) Winner –
Freebie Friday - The Client by John Grisham (January 27) Winner –

Giveaways Winners


Midwinters Eve (December 21 – 27, 2011) Winners – Mary Ann Brady & Cindy Gates

Book Review: A Christmas Wish by Jessi Hammond

Title: A Christmas Wish
Author: Jessi Hammond
Publisher:
ISBN:
Release Date: December 08, 2011
Pages: 10
Genre: Fiction, Holiday
Format: ebook
Source: Smashwords

Smashwords Description:
Mr Anderson had been working as Santa at the shopping centre for years. But this Christmas he’s been asked to fulfill a young boy’s very special wish, something much more important than the latest toy……

Mine:
What a wonderful short story/book about the gift of giving of oneself. Mr. Anderson as Santa meets a boy that all he wants for Christmas is to see his ailing grandfather. Mr. Anderson talks to the boys parents to see if he can make is only wish come true

Book Review: The Story of Miss Moppet by Beatrix Potter

Title: The Story of Miss Moppet
Author: Beatrix Potter
Publisher: HappyReads.net
ISBN: (original 9780723247906)
Release Date: November 2011 (originally: 1906)
Pages: 18
Genre: Childrens
Format: ebook
Source: iTunes (free)


Mine:
As precious as every other Potter book. This is the story of Miss Moppet a kitten who tries to cat the mouse that is teasing her. She catches the mouse in her scarf, but when she looks he’s gone. What happened?

Book Review: Froggy Boots Go With Everything by Jill Zabkar Martin

Title: Froggy Boots Go With Everything

Author: Jill Zabkar Martin (Illistrator: Kristen Gaee Van Mourick)
Publisher: JZM Media (www.jzmmedia.com)
ISBN: 978-0-9843946-0-9

Release Date: 2010
Pages: 19
Genre: Childrens
Format: Board Book
Source: The Cadence Group for Review

Amazon:
Froggy Boots Go With Everything is a sturdy board book that celebrates a boy’s inseparable love for his froggy boots. Simple phrases and colorful illustrations follow the boy through many activities in which his froggy boots become the prop that drives his imaginative play. The boy is accompanied throughout the book by a little frog friend who always finds his way into the scene.


Mine:
Well I like any book that has a frog in it. This is a wonderfully illustrated book that matches the cute story about a pair of froggy rain boots. It’s amazing all the places they can go - the moon, the sandbox and even in the rain.

Challenges I'm Starting & Continuing for 2012

Challenges signed up for: 45
Challenges Completed: 0 (0%)

2012 Challenges (All Blog Challenges)
2012 E-Book Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/100
Pages Read Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/15,000
50 States Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/50
Audiobook Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/25
An Illustrated Year: 2012 Picture Book Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/24
Just For Fun Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/12
Unread Book Challenge of 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/6
Merely Mystery Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/12
2nds Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/6
Why Buy The Cow? Reading Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/30+
First in a Series Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/3
2012 Cozy Mystery Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/12
2012 100+ Books in A Year Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/100+
2012 Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/12
Southern Literature Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/1
Off The Shelf (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/5
Free Reads 2012 Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/5
Go Indie 2012 Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/5
2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/6
What's in a Name 5 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/6
Narnia Reading Project 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/7
Crusin Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/12
Reading Romances Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/12
2012 Self-Published Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/50
Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/12
2012 100+ Books Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/100+
2012 Read Your Own Books Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/21+
2012 Men in Uniform Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/5
2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/5 (94)
Getting Lost in a Comfortable Book Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/5
2012 Reading Challeng Addict (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/16+
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/12
2012 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/37+
Read Your Own Name 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/7 (SueFitz)
The 2012 Memorable Memoirs Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/6
Excellence In Reading 2012 Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/60
Global Reading Challenge 2012 (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/7
2012 Women's Murder Club Reading Challenge (January 1 – December 31, 2012) 0/11



Perpetual
Book Around the States Challenge (October 22, 2008 - ????) 25/50
US Presidents Reading Project (November 5, 2008 - ???) 5/44
1001 Childrens book Before I Grow Up (June 1, 2010 - ???) 43/1001
101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge (September 28, 2010 – June 23, 2013) 97/101
The Naming Convention Challenge (October 20, 2008 - ???) 5/9
Stephanie Plum Challenge (January 1, 2012 - ???) 0/18


GoodReads
50 States Challenge
12x12 in 2012
1 First In A Series 0/12
2 Cozy Mysteries 0/12
3 Biography/Memoir 0/12
4 Library/Borrowed Books 0/12
5 Freebies (ebooks, gifts) 0/12
6 Romance 0/12
7 Children’s 0/12
8 Young Adult (YA) 0/12
9 Chick Lit 0/12
10 Mt. TBR from before 2010 0/12
11 Giveaway Wins 0/12
12 Harlequin/Silhouette 0/12

Happy New Year 2012