Book Blogger Hop (with a twist) 7/2/10

The Book Blog Hop is back for another week! Hosted by Crazy-For-Books the Hop is a great way to network your own blog and discover awesome, amazing new ones!

For the first week, I'm going to make it simple -
Tell us your NAME and WHY YOU STARTED BLOGGING

So here goes.....I'm Sue and I started blogging with a cross stitching blog intially, but decided that my next favorite "hobby" of reading was a great way to find new books and share the books that I like and have read.

I've been pretty good about writing reviews, but have gotten behind this year when my dad passed in February and now I've been taking care of my mom.


Please check out the Hop here

Thanks for stoping by - hope to see you again.

Book Extravaganza - July 16 - 18

After lots of talking and organizing, it looks like Book Extravaganza is officially good to go!

What is Book Extravaganza:

A weekend full of fantastic book related giveaways. The event is hosted by Kristen of Bookworming in the 21st Century and myself.

The event is not genre specific. However, we will have the giveaways listed by genre to make sure everyone is able to make the most of this event.

When is Book Extravaganza:

Book Extravaganza will run from Friday, July 16th to Sunday, July 18th. So mark your calendars!

Who can participate?

Everyone!

For those of you wanting to host a contest during Book Extravaganza, we have some Rules for you to read before you fill out THE FORM. Please read all of them carefully and if you have a question feel free to email me neverendingshelf@gmail.com) or Kristen (dragonzgoil@gmail.com).

Rules and Regulations:

1. You MUST fill out THE FORM in order to participate by Tuesday, July 6th.

2. When posting your contest, it should be posted at 12:01 am EST on Friday, July 16th. All contests will end at 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, July 18th.

3. Your contest winner should be announced on your blog / site by Friday, July 23rd.

4. All contests MUST be book related. We highly suggest having a genre or other theme for your giveaway.

5. We highly suggest that no extra entries are given, but will allow at most 2 extra entries available for your contest. Extra entries can include - extra points to follow, to tweet, link, or facebook the contest, or even to answer a question. We also suggest that you do not require participants to follow you to be entered.

6. You must have your own Rules easily visible for your contest. We suggest using Bold or larger lettering for this section of your post. Rules should include your extra entries, where you will ship to, and any contest or privacy policies.

7. You will receive an email from myself (neverendingshelf@gmail.com) if you are hosting an Adult giveaway or Other giveaway or an email from Kristen (dragonzgoil@gmail.com) if you are hosting a Young Adult or Middle Grade giveaway by Friday, July 9th. If you have not received an email from either of us by that day, please email one of us.


If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to email us. In addition, if you must back out of the event after committing, please let one of us know ASAP. We want this event to run as smoothly as possible.

Freebie Friday (ends 7/9/10)

Here is this week's Friday freebie





Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

Rick Dockery was the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. In the AFC Championship game against Denver, to the surprise and dismay of virtually everyone, Rick actually got into the game. With a 17-point lead and just minutes to go, Rick provided what was arguably the worst single performance in the history of the NFL. Overnight, he became a national laughingstock and, of course, was immediately cut by the Browns and shunned by all other teams.

But all Rick knows is football, and he insists that his agent, Arnie, find a team that needs him. Against enormous odds Arnie finally locates just such a team and informs Rick that, miraculously, he can in fact now be a starting quarterback. Great, says Rick—for which team?

The mighty Panthers of Parma, Italy.

Yes, Italians do play American football, to one degree or another, and the Parma Panthers desperately want a former NFL player—any former NFL player—at their helm. So Rick reluctantly agrees to play for the Panthers—at least until a better offer comes along—and heads off to Italy. He knows nothing about Parma—not even where it is—has never been to Europe, and doesn’t speak or understand a word of Italian.

To say that Italy—the land of opera, fine wines, extremely small cars, romance, and Football Americano— holds a few surprises for Rick Dockery would be something of an understatement.





If you are interested please (this is an US/Canada giveaway this week):

1) become a follower or let me know you already are (1 Entry)
2) post on your blog (send link) (1 entry)
3) follow me on twitter (1 entry)
4) post on twitter (send link) (1 entry)
5) please leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win.

Friday Follows

>>

June 2010 Wrapup: 41 down ??? to Go

Books Read and Reviewed(*):

1 Playing for Pizza by John Grisham (Audio)
2 Miss Brooks Loves Books ! (and I don't) by Barbara Barrent
3 The Essential Event Planning Kit by Godfrey Harris *
4 The Haunted Hotel (A-Z Mysteries) by Ron Roy (audio) *
5 The Invisible Island (A-Z Mysteries) by Ron Roy (Audio) *
6 The Jaguar's Jewel (A-Z Mysteries) by Ron Roy (Audio)*
7 Remembering When I was Young by Carole Carson
8 Jump! by Scott M. Fischer *
9 Mates, Dates and Inflatable Bras by Cathy Hopkins(Audio)
10 A Boy, a Dog, A Frog, and A Friend by Mercer Mayer
11 One Frog Too Many by Mercer Mayer
12 The Essential Cooking Planning Kit by Godfrey Harris *
13 Off Season (Dairy Queen, #2) by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (Audio) *
14 Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

Book Review: Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Title: Off Season (Dairy Queen, #2)
Author: Catherine Gilbert Murdock (Audio)
Genre: Young Adult

Challenges: To Be Continued…Challenge, 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, Book Around the States Challenge, Read and Review Challenge 2010, 2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge, 100 + Reading Challenge, Young Adult Reading Challenge, YA Through the Decades, Audio Book Challenge 2010, 2nd Chance Challenge, Pages Read 2010, A to Z challenge

Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: 288
Published: 2007 Random House


Back Cover: Life is looking up for D. J. Schwenk. She’s made it to eleventh grade, finally. After a rocky summer, she’s reconnecting with her best friend, Amber. She’s got kind of a thing going with Brian Nelson. Plus there’s the fact that she’s playing for the Red Bend High School football team as probably the first girl linebacker in northern Wisconsin.

But then the season, which began so well, starts to go suddenly, horribly wrong. As autumn progresses, D. J. Struggles to understand what’s happening with football, Brian, Amber, and most of all her family. And as her life turns completely upside down, she discovers she’s a lot stronger than she – or anyone – ever thought.

Mine: This is the second in a series and I definitely have to back and read the first part. This is a coming of age story where D.J. becomes the most adult of everyone. Her parents are struggling with finances, her older brother gets injured in a football game and her younger brother (the brains of the family) wins a science contest, but can’t tell anyone about it.

D.J. can’t figure out her relationship with Brian the star quarterback from her schools rival team. Does he like her or not? He takes her on a trip to pick up some truck parts in Minneapolis and they have a great make out session, but when they return to town – he sees her in the local hang out and ignores her and leaves.

Her brother Will suffers a football injury that should bring the family together, but for a time breaks them apart. D.J. becomes an adult in no time and must help her mom – who hurts her back, her brother Will with his injury her younger brother who takes the truck to the science fair and he’s only 13. Everything that can go wrong, does and there is D.J. to pick up the pieces.

Looking forward to the next part of the story.

Mailbox Monday

I just recently sent out several letters to small publishers to see if they might be interested in helping improve my blog with Author Interviews, Guest Blogs or book reviews. The response has been very positive and I have received several books.

I better get reading and now......

The French Blue by Richard Wise
Angels Don't Die by Dallas Relaford
Spiritual Survival for Law Enforcement by Cary Friedman
Wisdom from the Batcave by Cory Friedman
IT'S A DISASTER! ...and what are YOU gonna do about it? by Bill Liebsch/Janet Liebsch
Mara's Flowery Arrows by Siam's Unnamed
Havana Harvest by Robert Landori
Living With Evolution or Dying Without It by K.D. Koratsky

What Am I Reading Monday ? #7

Books I completed this week are:
Been a slow week, but reading a lot.




Bookmarks are still living in the middle of:
Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts
Off Season (Dairy Queen, #2) by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (Audio)
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
The Mystery of the Third Lucretia by Susan Runholt
Indiana Caper by Dallas Relaford


Reviews posted this week:
Go to post some…..



Author Guest Posts/Interviews this week:
Always looking for some


Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):
Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts
Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber (Audio)
Hero At Large by Janet Evanovich
Jamboree Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene
Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd(Audio)
The Year Mom Won the Pennant by Matt Christopher (my nephew likes me to read his books sometimes and then we discuss)
Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don’t) by Barbara Bottner
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham (audio)
Remembering When I was Young by Carole Carson
Mates, Dates and Inflatable Bras by Cathy Hopkins (Audio)
A Boy, A Dog, A Frog and a Friend by Mercer & Marianna Mayer
One Frog Too Many by Mercer & Marianna Mayer


Giveaways on the blog this week:
A Long Night in the Ago by (6/25/10) - Winner = Throuthehaze

Wild Flame by (7/2/10)

Book Blogger Hop 6/25/20

The Book Blog Hop is back for another week! Hosted by Crazy-For-Books the Hop is a great way to network your own blog and discover awesome, amazing new ones!


Please check out the Hop here

Thanks for stoping by - hope to see you again.

Freebie Friday (ends 7/2/10)

New Love
She had been born and reared a gentle English lass. Yet once seventeen-year old Milly set foot on the vast Australian farm, she had the Outback in her blood. Young and innocent, she dreamed of love's sweet awakening. But she couldn't tame the raw desire that ignited in her heart whe she met dangerously hansome Matthew Aylesbury. He was the one man forbidden to her - and the one man whose demanding carresses and searching kisses she could not resist......

New World
All Matthew's medical training had not prepared him for exotic Australia. A young adventurer, he revelled in the fredom of the uncharted country and refused to be bound by any woman. Then he found Milly whose rare beauty tantalized him even as her golden eyes blazed a challenge. He vowed to have her, but only wen the heat of his passion had melted her pride into willing submission. He'd tease her, taunt her, make hercry out in rapture as searinb as a Wild Flame.




Here is this week's Friday freebie

If you are interested please (this is an US/Canada giveaway this week):

1) become a follower or let me know you already are (1 Entry)
2) post on your blog (send link) (1 entry)
3) follow me on twitter (1 entry)
4) post on twitter (send link) (1 entry)
5) please leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win.

Follow Me Back Tuesday

How it Works
Follow the 4 Hostesses #'s 1 -4 ( leave us a comment so we can follow u back )
Add your blog to the list ( only have to add once )
Grab our button to add to your blog post
Start to follow as many blogs as you would like ( Leave a comment so they can follow you back )
And when you receive a comment from a new follower return the favor & follow them back


( Check back every Tuesday at 12:00 am est to link up at any of the 4 host blogs )

Book Review: The Essential Cooking Planning Kit by Godfrey Harris

Title: The Essential Cooking Planning Kit
Author: Godfrey Harris
Genre: Reference

Challenges: 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, Read and Review Challenge 2010, Read Your Own Books 2010, TBR Challenge 2010, Reading From My Shelves Project 2010, 100 + Reading Challenge, Pages Read 2010,


Rating: 3/5
No. of Pages: 60
Published: First Edition: August 2003 (The Americas Group – www.americasgroup.com)


Synopsis: A step-by-step system to help anyone organize and manage a cooking event of any size or complexity – by providing reproducible forms and easy-to-follow instructions on how to account for every activity, visualize every moment, and plan for every detail so that a function occurs on time, without stress, and within budget. This books does not say anything about how to cook or what to cook but how to plan the cooking event

Mine
“A book about culinary planning, such as this, has only one purpose: To help individuals get ready to make and serve one or more of the fascinating recipes produced in these other media”

One of the best things is the forms that are found in the book that can be copied for personal use:
* Culinary Activities – the components of the meal
* Culinary Needs – what needed from the kitchen, store or other places
* Culinary Calendars – either monthly or annual (when to do the shopping, what can be made ahead)
* Culinary Budget – how much is it going to cost
* Menu Items – plan – to cook, fresh, frozen?
* Kitchen Allocations – what’s needs – oven, stove, microwave
* Counter Layout – use the space effiecently
* Table Arrangements – who is sitting where?
* Timing Arrangements – when what is served
* Contingency Considerations – what if it rains and the event is outdoors - better to think of these things early on
* Goal Statement – what is suppose be the purpose of the cooking event?

Not being a cook – I often depend on others to bring things. This is a great way to plan a event (BBQ) and make sure that all the items are there. Whose bringing what for the event.

Mailbox Monday #18

I just recently sent out several letters to small publishers to see if they might be interested in helping improve my blog with Author Interviews, Guest Blogs or book reviews. The response has been very positive and I have received several books.

I better get reading and now......

What Are You Reading Monday? #6

Books I completed this week are:
Mates, Dates and Inflatable Bras by Cathy Hopkins (Audio)
A Boy, A Dog, A Frog and a Friend by Mercer & Marianna Mayer
One Frog Too Many by Mercer & Marianna Mayer


Bookmarks are still living in the middle of:
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
The Mystery of the Third Lucretia by Susan Runholt
Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

Reviews posted this week:
NONE - I’VE GOT TO GETTING WRITING



Author Guest Posts/Interviews this week:
Always looking for some


Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):
Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts
Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber (Audio)
Hero At Large by Janet Evanovich
Jamboree Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene
Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd(Audio)
The Year Mom Won the Pennant by Matt Christopher (my nephew likes me to read his books sometimes and then we discuss)
Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don’t) by Barbara Bottner
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham (audio)
Remembering When I was Young by Carole Carson
Mates, Dates and Inflatable Bras by Cathy Hopkins (Audio)
A Boy, A Dog, A Frog and a Friend by Mercer & Marianna Mayer
One Frog Too Many by Mercer & Marianna Mayer


Giveaways on the blog this week:
A Long Night in the Ago by (6/25/10)

Friday Follows