Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

I hope that everyone has a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!

2009 Audiobook Challenge

Ms. J.Kaye is hosting an awesome Audiobook Challenge for 2009! As I am learning to enjoy this format more and more, I had to jump at the chance to join in! Here's the info:

Here are the guidelines:

1) You can join anytime as long as you don’t start listening to your books prior to 2009.

2) This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.

3) You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.

4) When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your audiobooks will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed. If you don’t have a blog, leave the URL blank.

5) You do not have to list your books ahead of time. If you decide to, you can change them as you go.

6) Our goal is to listen to 12 audiobooks in 2009. No need to list your books now. You can do so as you go.

Click here for more info and to sign up!

Like Glass by Matthew Cory - Noontime Book Chat - day 5

Welcome to Day 5 of our Noontime Book Chat - the featured book this week is Like Glass by Matthew Cory. If you missed out this week, please visit the follow blogs who are also in on this great chat:

Monday: J. Kaye's Book Blog
Tuesday: Socrates' Book Reviews
Wednesday: A Blog of Books
Thursday: Things We Read
Friday: Café of Dreams

I have to say that I really loved this book and find Mr. Cory's debut to be excellent. His follow up work, Shattered, promises to be just as engrossing as Like Glass.

The following is my review for Like Glass:

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Like Glass is Matthew Cory's debut novel and I have to say that it packs a powerful punch. This is a story which focuses on three main people - Rob, his brother Bill, and "the girl that comes between the brothers", Janet. Like Glass is a tale of innocent youth, one fateful night and eight years of emotional anguish and torment.

Rob and Janet meet, fall instantly in love, only to have that love shattered by Rob's brother, Bill. After one night of intoxicated unfaithfulness, Rob's heart is ripped out and later torn to shreds when he finds out that Janet is pregnant and her and Bill are married.

Eight years pass, with Rob's heart filled with anger and hatred for those he once thought he could trust. Then a tragedy occurs, bringing Rob back to Janet. It is a struggle when the two reunite, an aura of anger between them. It is not long, until yet another unthinkable incident occurs, bringing them closer together. Rob is finally able to forgive his brother and see past those eight years of heartache. Life finally seems to be back on track again, when a collision course for disaster once again takes place.

Like Glass is the perfect combination of humor, humility and drama. It draws the reader in and doesn't let up its grip, even when the final page has been turned. The story begins with the innocence of love, which is soon shrouded in darkness, until the light of love and peace are once again found. However, an unexpected twist occurs, cloaking the unsuspecting within its tormented and devious folds, leaving just a small glimmer of light fighting its way to get through the tiniest of tears.

In all honesty, I became emotionally entranced within the pages of Like Glass. My heart breaking and leaving behind a lingering ache, as these incredibly strong characters are left to endure so much. Mr. Cory paints a vivid picture with his words as he brings his characters to life and wraps the reader within his story. Without spoiling anything, I have to say that Mr. Cory's writing is a bit reminiscent of Nicolas Sparks, at least to my thinking. This is especially true for me, where the ending is concerned.

It takes a great writer to invoke strong emotions within a reader and I feel that Matthew Cory has accomplished just that with Like Glass. Mr Cory's use of *blinks* with Rob, while he is trying to cope with the unthinkable, are very clever and well thought out. His characters are believable and the transitions between scenes are very smooth. I feel that Matthew Cory shows great talent and I anxiously await future works by him.

As a final thought, I must say that knowing there is a sequel to Like Glass on the horizon, helps a bit after having all perception of how the ending would play out completely shattered into shards of glass. This is not to say that the ending is bad, it just leaves behind a lump in your throat and possibly a trail of tears behind.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great read - just be prepared to have a box of Kleenex handy. Like Glass is not a heavy read, by far, but a very emotional one.

*overall rating 4.5/5

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I really found myself disliking Rob's brother Bill in the beginning. I think I actually placed blame on him more than on Janet for what happened. However, as I got deeper into the story, I found my dislike for Bill gradually residing. It was almost like a slow forgiveness, as Rob goes through the same process.

With Like Glass, I found myself very emotionally entrapped within it's pages. Matthew's writing brought me easily into, not only the story, but the character's lives. The ending completely blew me away and I am very anxious to hear what others think of the ending.

I am lucky enough to have a copy of Shattered before my happy little eyes. However since it is in PDF form, it is going to take me a bit longer to read. I have been printing out several pages at a time and that helps greatly. With Like Glass, I had an actual copy of the book and I know that by reading what others have said about PDF format, that can alter ones perspective on a book. However, I am not finding that happening at all with Shattered.

That leads me to a quick question on how the format of a book affects a reader. When you have a book in PDF form or eform, do you feel that does truly alter your perspective on the book and it's story? Do you think that you would feel differently about a story in a different format? Just curious!

For those who have not yet read Matthew's book, Like Glass, I highly and truly recommend doing so. I know I have been lacking greatly in this week's chat, but that is completely my own fault, not the book's. I can't wait to hear other people's thoughts!

Have a great weekend and don't forget to relax with a great book!!

The Book of Names by D. Barkley Briggs

The Book of Names (Legends of Korac Tor)

by: D. Barkley Briggs

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 397 pages
Publisher: NavPress Publishing Group (July 15, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 160006227X
ISBN-13: 978-1600062278
Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches

Geared toward a young adult audience, The Book of Names is sure to be a fantastic hit for young and old alike. This is a phenomenal story of fantasy, intrigue and adventure. Brothers Hayden and Ewan have moved to Newland, Missouri with their father and two younger brothers, after the death of their beloved mother. Life is a struggle of adjustment and sadness for them all. Then one day, as the Hayden and Ewan are clearing away a large brier patch, a group of black birds suddenly appear, dropping mysterious tubes containing scrolls near the boys before seemingly disappearing within the patch.

Not long after the visit from the black birds, Hayden and Ewan soon find themselves within another realm and time. It is thought that they are the Champions, or chosen ones, to help bring peace back the Hidden Lands.

The Book of Names is the first in a series by D. Barkley Briggs and after reading this, I anxiously await the next installment. This is one of those books that a person can become quickly and easily engrossed within. Once started, the final page will be within the readers sights long before theyare ready. Mr. Briggs does an excellent job of bringing his story to life, as well as bringing the reader into the lives of the characters and their adventure. I highly recommend The Book of Names to anyone looking for a bit of fantasy and adventure, as well as a wonderful way to brighten a day.

*overall rating 4.5/5


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Excerpt:

Chapter 1

BLACK BIRDS

The day was gray and cold, mildly damp. Perfect for magic. Strange clouds overhead teased the senses with a fragrance of storm wind and lightning and the faint, clean smell of ozone. Invisible energy sparkled like morning dew on blades of grass.

Standing alone in an empty field on the back end of their new acreage, Hadyn Barlow only saw the clouds. By definition, you can't see what's invisible, and as for smelling magic? Well, let's just say, unlikely. Hadyn saw what was obvious for late November, rural Missouri: leafless trees, dead grass, winter coming on strong. Most of all he saw (and despised) the humongous briar patch in front of him, feeling anew each and every blister and callous earned hacking through its branches.

Making room for cattle next spring, or so he was told; this, even though his dad had never owned a cow in his life. He was a history teacher for crying out loud. A college professor. Hadyn's shoulders slumped. It didn't matter. Everything was different now. Mr. Barlow didn't let his boys curse, but low under his breath, Hadyn did, mildly, just to prove the point. Life stunk. That was the brutal truth.

All true for the most part. Yet standing alone in the field, bundled in flannel, something else prickled his skin—something hidden in the rhythm of the day, at its core—and it wasn't just the chill wind. He couldn't shake it. A sense of something. Out-of-placeness. Faced with a friendless sophomore year, Hadyn knew that feeling all too well. It attacked him every morning, right before school.

But this was something more, more than the usual nervousness and name-calling stuff. His intuition was maddeningly vague. Hadyn sniffed the air, eyeing the field. A fox scampered in the distance. Bobwhites whistled softly. This had been his routine for weeks. Go to school, come home, do chores. Today was no different. Except for the clouds.

He looked upwards, struck again by the strange hues. The colors were still there; kinda creepy. They had lingered since the bus ride home. He had seen it happen with his own eyes, though he didn’t think much of it at the time. Right about the time school let out and the yellow buses began winding home, the skies had opened and spilled. Low banks of clouds came tumbling from the horizon like old woolen blankets. Like that scene from Independence Day, when the alien ships first appeared. Hues of purple, cobalt and charcoal smeared together. Not sky blue. Not normal. Riding on the bus, face pressed against the cold window, he didn’t know what to think. Only that it looked…otherworldly. Like God had put Van Gogh in charge for the day.

Strange.

Earlier, the day hadn’t felt weird. If anything, he had felt relief. Two days until Friday...until Thanksgiving Break. Only two days. He could make it. Standing by the mailbox with his three brothers, waiting for the bus—he couldn’t wait to get his own car—mild winds had stirred from the south, scampering through row after row of brittle stalks in the neighbor’s cornfield across the road. He heard them in the leafless oak and elm of his own yard, hissing with a high, dry laughter. Warm winds, not cold. But about noon, the wind shifted. Again, no big deal for Missouri, always caught in the middle between the gulf streams of Mexico and Canada’s bitter cold. Temperamental weather was normal in these parts.

Yet there it was. From the winding ride home to this very moment, he couldn’t rid himself of that dry-mouthed, queasy feeling. It was more than a shift in wind. It was a shift in energy. Yes, the dark clouds and strange colors reminded him of the thickening air before a big, cracking Midwestern storm, but that wasn’t it. This was different.

Hadyn being Hadyn, more than anything else, wanted to identify the moment. To name it.

Though he didn’t actually verbalize until age three, Hadyn was born with a question mark wrinkled into his brows. Always searching, always studying something. He couldn’t speak a word before then—refused to, his dad always said—yet he knew the letters of the alphabet at a precocious 12 months. When he finally did decide to talk, words gushed. Full sentences. Big vocabulary. Not surprisingly, it was clear early on that Hadyn was one of those types bent toward structure, patterns. He hated incongruities, hated not knowing how to pinpoint the strange twist in sky and mood right in the middle of an otherwise typically dreary day. If it was just nasty weather, name it! What did it feel like? Wet fish guts? Not quite. A full wet diaper? He remembered those well enough from when the twins were little, but no. A three day old slice of cheese?

Yes, that was it. Cold, damp, moldy.

Velveeta, actually, he decided, feeling a small measure of satisfaction. He fumbled for the zipper of his coat as another icy breeze prickled his skin. Yep, another lousy Velveeta day in the life of Hadyn Barlow.

He thought of the roaring wood stove back home. Hot cocoa. Little consolation. Until dusk, the oldest Barlow boy was stuck outside in a field with hatchet and hedge shears. Stuck in a foul mood, stuck with a knot in his throat. Just plain stuck. His task, his life, seemed endless and pointless.

“Just a little bit every day, however much you can manage after school,” his father would remind him. “And don’t look so grumpy. The days are shorter and shorter.”

But not any warmer.

Click here to continue reading more of this excerpt from Chapter 1

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About the Book:

It was supposed to be a routine Thanksgiving break. But when Hadyn and Ewan Barlow discover an ancient Viking runestone buried on their family farm, they unwittingly open a magical portal to another world. Fleeing grief and broken dreams over the loss of their mother, the two brothers find themselves hailed as Champions in the Kingdom of Karac Tor. But all is not well. Nemesia the witch is releasing shadows over the whole land. Names are being stolen from The Book of Names, the most sacred relic of the kingdom. Before long, the Barlows realize they must find the courage to fight, or they will never find their way home. There’s just one problem: even if they win, will anyone know how to send them back?

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About the Author:

D. Barkley Briggs has worked in radio, marketing and new product development. He also pastored for 11 years. After losing his wife of 16 years, Briggs decided an epic fantasy might inspire his four boys to live courageously through their loss. The Book of Names is the first in a series of adventures set in the Hidden Lands of Karac Tor. Briggs has since remarried and now has eight children. Learn more at http://www.hiddenlands.net/.

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Win prizes!

THE BOOK OF NAMES VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on December 1 and end on December 23. You can visit Dean's blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in December to find out where he is appearing!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. The winner(s) will be announced at the end of every month!

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Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

Engaging Father Christmas

by: Robin Jones Gunn

Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: FaithWords (October 30, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446179469
ISBN-13: 978-0446179461
Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches

In this delightful follow-up to Finding Father Christmas, Miranda Carson travels back to Carlton Heath, England to spend the holidays with her new found family and boyfriend Ian. Little does Miranda know that the secret of who her true father is, is about to be made public after such pains being taken to keep it within the family circle. Not only that, but a sudden illness of a dear friend, Ian's Father, lends worry to all, while at the same time bringing out a bit of the true meaning of Christmas.

Can a true reconciliation occur with the head of the Whitcombe family and can Miranda finally find a place to call her own, as well as a family to call her own?

Engaging Father Christmas is a delightful, heartwarming and engrossing novel that shows that through faith, anything is possible. Once again, Ms Gunn displays her wonderful talent of bringing characters to life within a vivid and realistic background. Both Finding Father Christmas and Engaging Father Christmas encompass the true meaning of Christmas and this wonderful time of year where family, faith and Goodwill are the greatest gifts of all.

*overall rating: 4.5/5

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Product Description:

Miranda Carson can't wait to return to England for Christmas and to be with her boyfriend, Ian. She has spent a lifetime yearning for a place to call home, and she's sure Carlton Heath will be it, especially when a hinted-at engagement ring slips into the conversation.

But Miranda's high hopes for a jolly Christmas with the small circle of people she has come to love are toppled when Ian's father is hospitalized and the matriarch of the Whitcombe family withholds her blessing from Miranda. Questions run rampant in Miranda's mind about whether she really belongs in this cheery corner of the world. Then, when her true identity threatens all her relationships in unanticipated ways, Miranda is certain all is lost.

And yet . . . maybe Father Christmas has special gifts in store for her after all.

It's "Between-the-Number" time once again!

I know that many of you are fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series - myself being at the top of the list, lol! For this reason, I thought I would post about the new upcoming "Between - the - Numbers" novel coming out January 6th.

Turn on all the lights and check under your bed. Things are about to get spooky in Trenton, New Jersey.

According to legend, the Jersey Devil prowls the Pine Barrens and soars above the treetops in the dark of night. As eerie as this might seem, there are things in the Barrens that are even more frightening and dangerous. And there are monkeys. Lots of monkeys.

Wulf Grimoire is a world wanderer and an opportunist who can kill without remorse and disappear like smoke. He's chosen Martin Munch, boy genius, as his new business partner, and he's chosen the Barrens as his new playground

Munch received his doctorate degree in quantum physics when he was twenty-two. He's now twenty-four, and while his brain is large, his body hasn't made it out of the boys' department at Macy's. Anyone who says good things come in small packages hasn't met Munch. Wulf Grimoire is looking for world domination. Martin Munch would be happy if he could just get a woman naked and tied to a tree.

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has Munch on her most-wanted list for failure to appear in court. Plum is the all-American girl stuck in an uncomfortable job, succeeding on luck and tenacity. Usually she gets her man. This time she gets a monkey. She also gets a big guy named Diesel.

Diesel pops in and out of Plum's life like birthday cake - delicious to look at and taste, not especially healthy as a steady diet, gone by the end of the week if not sooner. He's an uber bounty hunter with special skills when it comes to tracking men and pleasing women. He's after Grimoire, and now he's also after Munch. And if truth were told, he wouldn't mind setting Stephanie Plum in his crosshairs.

Diesel and Plum hunt down Munch and Grimoire, following them into the Barrens, surviving cranberry bogs, the Jersey Devil, a hair-raising experience, sand in their underwear, and, of course . . . monkeys.

Be sure to check out Janet's site (click here) for more fun and mayhem!

12 Days of Christmas - Stephanie Plum Style!

Here's a bit of holiday fun for everyone!

Popping by

First of all, I have to apologize for my absences this month. I have been doing terrible on blogging. This has been such an insane month and looks to stay that way until after the holidays. I am sure many can relate!! In any case, I wanted to let everyone know that after New Year's I am planning on getting back on track and getting those reviews/blog posts/giveaways and fun things going full speed, once again. I have TONS of giveaways coming up. I had planned to do a few throughout Dec., but as you can see, that didn't happen. I also have been shameful about getting around to visit my wonderful blogging friends and for that I deeply apologize. I miss reading what everyone is up to and what they are reading, so I can't wait to catch up on that also.

Along with the regular hubbub of this time of year, I found out yesterday morning that a dear dear friend of mine, lost her brother in a car accident. So that was a horrific thing to hear. He leaves behind 3 sisters as well as a wife and two young boys (one of which had his 6th birthday yesterday).

I do hope that everyone has been having a festive and fun Dec. and that everyone has a wonderful Christmas full of family, friends and treasured memories. Life is so dear and needs to be treasured each moment.

I will be posting a tour stop tomorrow, as well as the wrap up for Like Glass by Matthew Cory on Friday (I hope that everyone has had a chance to stop in at the noontime chats for this one during this week - this is another that I have been horrible in keeping up with this week)

Happy Wednesday!

Noontime Book Chat - Like Glass

This week, a few of us will be chatting about Matthew Cory's book Like Glass. This was a fabulous book and I can't wait to hear what others think about it! Here is the schedule for the week:


Monday: J. Kaye's Book Blog

Tuesday: Socrates' Book Reviews

Wednesday: A Blog of Books

Thursday: Things We Read

Friday: Café of Dreams

Product Description:

What would you do if the one person you hated most Died? If the person who stole The love of your life Would never see another day? How would you feel? Would you laugh? Would you cry? This is the issue that Rob Jackson faces. This is the dilemma that Like Glass begins with. A phone call from his brother's widow begins his turmoil. A phone call from a voice he tried to forget launches the avalanche. How would you feel?

The Devil Can Wait by Marta Stephens

The Devil Can Wait

by: Marta Stephens

Paperback: 316 pages
Publisher: Bewrite Books (November 2, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1905202865
ISBN-13: 978-1905202867
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.9 inches

The Devil Can Wait delves the reader in headfirst and does not allow them up for air until the very last word has been inhaled. A brilliant addition to the mystery/suspense genre, The Devil Can Wait is an action packed story centered in Chandler, Massachusetts. Homicide detective, Sam Harper, is on the search for a serial killer, after three local teenager's bodies are washed ashore. With only a dead end lead, his search becomes desperate before another victim is claimed.

If that is not enough, news reporter Jennifer (Jennie) Blake, who has been trying everything in her power to get an interview with Sam, about the teenage victims, is suddenly and unwittingly thrown into life or death danger. Jennie unwillingly agrees to pick up a seemingly cursed black pearl ring, at a nearby pawnshop, for an old college professor. Jennie does not believe in "voodoo" or black magic, however when the pawnshop owner is found dead the next morning, with his skull crushed in, Jennie begins to wonder if she may have caught a glimpse of the murderer the night before.

With the powers of the cursed black pearl ring, there is someone who will stop at nothing to claim it as his own and take over the power that he feels is rightfully his. As justice is sought and lives hang on the line, an unimaginable evil may change everything forever, unless Sam can put a stop to it before it is too late.

Good vs. evil and the Devil vs. God in this nonstop thrill ride. The Devil Can Wait is the second in the A Sam Harper Crime Mystery series, the first being Silenced Cry. While I have not yet read Silenced Cry, I have put it on the top of my list. Not because I was lost or unsure of what was going on in this story ( I find The Devil Can Wait is an excellent stand alone and will not leave a reader wondering or confused in any way, if the first book in the series had not been read prior), but because I was honestly blown away by the talent of the author, Marta Stephens. Not once did I find the story lagging nor felt cheated by the excellent characterization. I can honestly say that I am thrilled to be able to add The Devil Can Wait to my list of 2008 favorite books and Ms. Stephens as a new author favorite.

I highly recommend The Devil Can Wait to anyone who enjoys an engrossing and hard to put down book. This is perfect! Also, what a perfect gift for that reader on any list or even a perfect gift for those who may not be much of a reader (I gasp at the thought that not all are book obsessed fiends, as I, but know it to be true, lol) - The Devil Can Wait is sure to grip anyone in its clutches and may even turn the most stubborn of non readers into readers.

*overall rating 5/5

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Product Description:

The city of Chandler, Massachusetts is plunged into terror when the bodies of three local teenagers wash ashore. While homicide detective Sam Harper hunts down the guilty, a sinister plot emerges overseas. From the Vatican to the jungles of South America, a cursed black pearl ring, the demonic prophecy it represents, and the men who pursue its powers find their unfortunate way onto Harper’s turf. Enthralled by the ring’s story and a front-page spread, newspaper reporter Jennifer Blake agrees to pick up the ring at a local pawnshop for her former college professor. When she does, unforeseen events shoot Blake to the top of Harper’s prime suspect list. Soon, the seemingly unrelated cases converge and the heat is on for Harper to expose the truth behind a Vatican secret and stop the self-righteous man who does the unthinkable in the name of God.

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About the author:

Marta Stephens is a native of Argentina who has made Indiana her home since the age of four. This mild-manner lady turned to crime with the publication of the first in her Sam Harper Crime Mystery series, SILENCED CRY (2007) which went on to receive honorable mention at the 2008 New York Book Festival and top ten in the 2007 Preditors & Editors Reader Poll.

Stephens holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism/Public Relations from Ball State University (IN) where she is employed in human resources. She is a member of Sisters in Crime International, Sisters in Crime Speed City Indiana Chapter, and the Midwest Writer's Workshop.

Stephens lives with her husband, daughter, and son. Aside from her writing, Stephens administers the authors’ blog, MURDER BY 4, enjoys oil paintings, gardening, the family’s pet Boston Bulls and mini Daschunds, and shared moments with family and friends.

The second book in the Harper series, THE DEVIL CAN WAIT, will be released by BeWrite Books (UK) on November 3, 2008. Look for it in both trade paperback and e-book formats. She is currently working on the third book in the Harper series.

Stephens who co-designed the book cover for SILENCED CRY with friend Scott Parkison (IN), created the book trailer, and designed this website believes learning is a life-long adventure.

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Click here for a sneak peek excerpt of Chapter 1 of The Devil Can Wait. You'll be hooked from the start!

The Christmas Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

The Christmas Quilt

by: Jennifer Chiavernini

*audio version narrated by Christina Moore

unabridged 6 hours 30 min.

First off, I have to mention the fact that I have not read any other books in this series. The Christmas Quilt is #8 in Elm Creek Quilt series and I, for one, was able to follow along and immensely enjoy this edition of the series, despite my ignorance of the previous stories.

That being said, I LOVED this story. It truly touched my heart and I completely fell in love with the main character Sylvia. The Christmas Quilt is basically two stories in one. The main story being Sylvia trying to convince her young friend and business partner, Sarah, that she and her husband, Matt, should go and visit Sarah's mother for Christmas. Sarah, however, refuses because of previous conflict between the two of them and how she perceives her mother's feelings for Matt.

This brings back the riff between Sylvia and her sister, Claudia, many many years ago. The Christmas Quilt focuses mainly on Sylvia's memories of a long ago childhood into young adulthood. The story that Sylvia tells/reminisces is truly transfixing and the author has a delightful talent of dropping the reader right into the story, so it is as if the reader is right there along with the wonderful cast of characters.

Since this was the audio version, I must comment on the excellent narration by Christina Moore. What a voice talent Ms. Moore is as she is truly able to bring both the story and characters to life. The Christmas Quilt is a delightful story and perfect for the holidays or any time of the year. I enjoyed it so much, that I am now listening to The New Year's Quilt, which is actually #11 in this series.

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Product Discription:

Jennifer Chiaverini gives her fans a long-hoped-for holiday-themed story in THE CHRISTMAS QUILT, a heartwarming novel filled with the memories and traditions of Elm Creek Manor's indomitable master quilter, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson. Infused with wisdom and rich with the flavors of the holidays, THE CHRISTMAS QUILT is a timeless tale that Elm Creek Quilts devotees are sure to cherish.

With her eight Elm Creek Quilts novels -- which the Dallas Morning News has deemed "classics of their kind" -- New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini has inspired a legion of devoted readers by blending old-fashioned storytelling with a celebration of traditional women's arts. Chiaverini gives her fans a long-hoped-for holiday-themed story in THE CHRISTMAS QUILT, a homespun novel filled with the memories and traditions of Elm Creek Manor's indomitable master quilter, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson.

It is the morning of Christmas Eve at Elm Creek, and Sylvia is resisting the efforts of Sarah, her young partner in the Elm Creek Quilt Camp enterprise, to infuse the Manor with a bit of Christmas cheer. Sylvia, opinionated to the last, thinks that Sarah and her husband Matt should spend the holiday with Sarah's intractable mother, but Sarah insists that Sylvia should not be on her own. Reluctantly, Sylvia agrees to Sarah decorating a few of the rooms, but when the women retrieve the boxes of Christmas ornaments from the attic, it opens an unexpected floodgate of memories and emotions for the aging matriarch.

Among the decades-old Christmas decorations, they find a long-forgotten, unfinished Christmas quilt. With bittersweet nostalgia, Sylvia admires the work her Great-aunt Lucinda and her mother, Eleanor, did on the project -- including intricate Feathered Star blocks and graceful appliqued clusters of holly leaves and berries -- but derides her sister Claudia's second-rate contribution. Only two years apart in age, the sisters always had a fractious childhood relationship, which becomes a focal point of Sylvia's memories of Christmases past.

Her reminiscences begin during the Great Depression, when the once grand Bergstrom traditions needed to be curtailed for the first time. The ensuing years will witness the premature death of her kind-hearted mother, the loss of a beloved cousin, and the disruption of the family-rending Second World War II. Throughout, the domestic arts handed down to each generation of Bergstrom women remain a sustaining constant, including quilting, knitting, and baking -- especially their unrivaled Christmas strudel.

As the years pass, Sylvia and Claudia remain locked in battle, until a final family tragedy separates them forever. Now, as the only surviving Bergstrom, Sylvia begins to come to terms with her emotional ambivalence, brought to the fore by the Christmas quilt that inextricably ties her and Claudia together. But while it is too late for a Bergstrom rapprochement, Sylvia realizes it is not too late for Sarah and her mother to avoid making the same mistakes.

"Jennifer Chiaverini is one of the most compelling storytellers. . . . She makes her characters and plots so real readers feel as if they have stepped back in time," the Green Bay Press-Gazette has said of the Elm Creek Quilts series. Infused with wisdom and rich with the flavor of the holidays, THE CHRISTMAS QUILT is a timeless tale that Jennifer Chiaverini devotees are sure to cherish.

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Click here to read Chapter 1

Finding Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

Finding Christmas

by: Robin Jones Gunn

Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: FaithWords (October 11, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446526290
ISBN-13: 978-0446526296
Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.8 inches

Finding Father Christmas is a delightful and wonderful story of hope and finding one's place in life. Miranda Carson grew up without a father and a young mother who was an actress. Her mother and her constantly traveled, living what many would consider a gypsy lifestyle. When Miranda's mother dies suddenly, in an accident, Miranda lives with her "aunt", who she also loses at a very young age, to cancer.

With very minimal clues, Miranda sets out to find her father. With only a birth certificate and an old picture of a little boy sitting on Santa's lap, Miranda sets out for Carlton Heath, in England. What she finds there changes not only her life, but several other lives forever.

Finding Father Christmas is a heartwarming and perfect story to remind anyone that hope, good well and goodness is still alive and well. I greatly enjoyed this story and particularly loved the name of the tea shop - Tea Cosy. Such a warm and perfect name and it also is one of the perfect settings within the story. Miranda is a great character that I could easily come to care for, as well as the many secondary characters. Robin Jones Gunn does an excellent job of descriptive settings and lovely characterization.

Finding Father Christmas is a perfect book for this time of year, as well as any time when you just need a pick me up.

*overall rating 4.5/5

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Product Description:

Bestselling author Robin Jones Gunn brings readers a poignant Christmas novella about a woman, desperate for a place to belong, who finds herself in London a few days before Christmas, looking for the father she never knew.

In FINDING FATHER CHRISTMAS, Miranda Carson's search for her father takes a turn she never expected when she finds herself in London with only a few feeble clues to who he might be. Unexpectedly welcomed into a family that doesn't recognize her, and whom she's quickly coming to love, she faces a terrible decision. Should she reveal her true identity and destroy their idyllic image of her father? Or should she carry the truth home with her to San Francisco and remain alone in this world? Whatever choice she makes during this London Christmas will forever change the future for both herself and the family she can't bear to leave. Robin Jones Gunn brilliantly combines lyrical writing and unforgettable characters to craft a story of longing and belonging that will stay with readers long after they close the pages of this book.

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About the Author:

Robin Jones Gunn is the bestselling author of sixty books, representing 3.5 million copies sold. A dozen of her novels have appeared on the top of the CBA bestseller list, including her wildly successful Sisterchicks series. Thousands of teens from around the world have written letters to Robin sharing how God used the Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen series to bring them to Christ as well as lead them to make life changing decisions regarding purity. Robin and her husband of thirty years live near Portland, OR, where they are members of Imago Dei Community along with other Christian authors including Donald Miller, the author of Blue Like Jazz. You can learn more about Robin on her Web site at http://www.robingunn.com/.

Babble Bibble and Blah

Hope everyone is having a great Dec. so far! It won't be long and colorful paper will be flying and family will be gathering to share a bit of holiday cheer. Within the past week, we received quite a bit of snow, so that helps bring the Christmas feeling even more. Every day my daughter never fails to ask if she can open a present, lol. Every day I never fail to say "no!" LOL. The joys of childhood - if only we could hang onto that innocence and glee through adulthood.

For the most part, my son has been pretty good about leaving the tree and gifts beneath alone. I only have to yell "NO!!!" a half dozen or so times a day. Oh, speaking of my son, he thought it would be fun to try and flush Daddy's DS down the toilet yesterday while I was in the shower! Happy day.... So I went and bought him a new one for Christmas. I love it when Daddy gets a taste of "watching" the kids, lol!! *please note, I am feeling a bit of an evil cackle coming on at this thought*

In any case, I have about 5 reviews to get posted and hope to do so today. I have read a couple of excellent Christmas books and listened to The Christmas Quilt - what a delightful and wonderful story! I loved it so much that I am now listening to The New Years Quilt. I also have a couple of Children's Christmas books to let you all in on.

Hope everyone has a great day and remember to think of each and every family member and friend as your own precious gift!

The Raucous Royals by Carlyn Beccia - Day 2

The Raucous Royals

by: Carlyn Beccia

Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1 edition (September 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0618891307
ISBN-13: 978-0618891306
Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches

The Raucous Royals - Test Your Royal Wits: Crack Codes, Solve Mysteries, and Deduce Which Royal Rumors are True. Now that's a mouthful of a title, lol! If the title doesn't grab you right away (which I cannot believe it wouldn't grab any curious mind) once you crack that binding and open up to the first couple of pages, you are sure to be hooked. To put it simply, I loved this book. It is fun, educational, engrossing and just plain addictive with the colorful pictures, historical facts and fun mysteries and activities to solve.

The Raucous Royals is the perfect way to pique the interest of older children and bring fun to history. Though I have to say, this is also an enormously fun book for adults! A few of the Royals that you will learn about are: Prince Dracula, King Henry VIII, Queen Anne of Cleves, Queen Elizabeth, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, Czar Peter the Great, King Richard III and Queen Anne Boleyn and many others.

When not engrossed within the pages of The Raucous Royals, a trip to the book's website (click here) and blog (click here) are the perfect ways to spend some time. The fun and information at these sites is beyond belief!

Needless to say, I highly recommend this book and have to mention that it would make a great gift for anyone interested in history, solving mini mysteries or just relaxing and having some fun!

*overall rating 5/5

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Product Description:

Psssst....Have you heard the one about Anne Boleyn and her six fingers? Did King George III really talk to trees? Did Napoleon Bonaparte have reason to have a short complex? Do you believe any of these rumors?

The Raucous Royals invites readers to become a history detective and come to their own conclusions about 13 pretty raucous royals. Each of these rulers is remembered for rumors and gossip that have survived thousands of year. Some of these rumors are true and some of them are false. And with some of them we will never know. But all of them are told to you in secret.

Please don't repeat them...

Please visit these author great blogs, also on tour with The Raucous Royals:

01 Charger, the 160acrewoods, A Mom Speaks, All About Children’s Books, Becky’s Book Reviews, Cafe of Dreams, Dolce Bellezza, Fireside Musings, The Friendly Book Nook, The Hidden Side of a Leaf, Homeschool Buzz, Hyperbole, KidzBookBuzz.com, Looking Glass Reviews, Maw Books Blog, Never Jam Today, Our Big Earth, Quiverfull Family, Reading is My Superpower, SmallWorld Reads, SMS Book Reviews

Divorcing Dwayne by J.L. Miles

Divorcing Dwayne

By: J.L. Miles

Paperback: 325 pages
Publisher: Cumberland House Publishing (April 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1581826508
ISBN-13: 978-1581826500
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1 inches

Divorcing Dwayne is a delightfully fun, sassy and hilarious romp. Through this work, J.L. Miles displays an immense talent in writing genres. Divorcing Dwayne is about as different from J.L.'s previous writing of Cold Rock River as one can get. However, this is not a bad thing at all. Though Cold Rock River is a serious story and a favorite of mine, Divorcing Dwayne is a fun loving and delicious read, sure to bring about tons of laughter.

Francine Harper is in a bit of a pickle when she tries to shoot her husband and his lover, when she finds them in bed. Instead of shooting them, however, she does some damage to a treasured bed headboard, and still suffers the consequences of spending time in the slammer.

With a heavy "redneck" drawl and tons of Southern fried humor, there is much to love about the characters, storyline and setting of Divorcing Dwayne. This is the perfect book to escape with on a cold and wintry day.

This is the first in a great series by J.L. Miles and I anxiously await the arrival of book 2 - Dear Dwayne, coming May 2009!

*overall rating 4/5

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Product Description:

Divorcing Dwayne is the first volume in a three-book series featuring Francine Harper and her no-good husband, Dwayne. As the series is set in rural Georgia, the author calls the category "Grits-Lit."

As Divorcing Dwayne opens, Francine is in jail, facing felony assault charges for shooting at Dwayne and his stripper-lover, Carla, from the Peel 'n Squeal, a restaurant and local hangout. She had caught them together -- in the very bed her daddy had carved and given to them at their wedding -- and let go with both barrels. She hit the bed but missed Dwayne and Carla. In spite of her humiliation, in the course of the story Francine discovers strengths, divorces Dwayne, and regains her dignity via her trials (and court trial) and many errors along the way. Aided by her best friend, Ray Anne Pickles, Francine manages to run afoul of the law on several occasions, but in the end, she is vindicated.

Book Two: Dear Dwayne. Francine is not doing so well after the divorce. Her therapist suggests it will be helpful to her recovery if she pretends to write letters to Dwayne and gets everything off her chest. However, it's not her chest that has her worried -- it's her belly. She's pregnant.

If that is not bad enough, while divorcing Dwayne she had a fling with a Hollywood cad (as portrayed in Divorcing Dwayne) and also had a close encounter of the intimate kind with Dwayne himself during that same period. And wouldn't you know? She's expecting twins. Who's the father? Or should it be fathers? But not to worry. Francine's now dating the mayor, a Danny DeVito-type character who Francine says is good husband material, "Even if he does only come up to my naval."

Book Three: Dating Dwayne. Things don't work out for Francine and the mayor. On their wedding night, in all the excitement he has a heart attack. (Think Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin.) Soon Francine takes solace in Dwayne's company. Good grief! Well, not good, but lots of grief. Ray Anne, her best friend since first grade says, "Francine, have you got a boulder in your, or what?" Will the struggling new widow of toddler twins come to her senses, or will she end up -- once again -- married to Dwayne?

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About the author:

Jackie Lee Miles, a resident of Georgia since 1975, hails from Wisconsin via South Dakota. She considers herself “a northern girl with a southern heart”. Her paternal grandfather was christened Grant Lee by her great-grandmother in honor of the many fallen soldiers on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. Ms. Miles is a former D.I.A.L. Systems Engineer for Baker/Audio Telecom, one of the premier forerunners of voice mail. In addition to systems application, she provided voice tracks for several major companies, including Delta Airlines and Frito-Lay Corporation.

The Raucous Royals by Carlyn Beccia

The Raucous Royals

by Carlyn Beccia

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1 edition (September 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0618891307
ISBN-13: 978-0618891306
Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches

Wecome to Day 1 of The Raucous Royals tour with Kids Book Buzz! Today, I will give you a peek at this great book and tomorrow, be sure to pop back by as I post my review.

Be sure to pop over to the books website click here You will find great sneak peeks into the book, fun games and tons of interesting information and fun things to do!

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Here's a sample of just one of the awesome articles you will find in The Raucous Royals:

Vlad dracula, prince of romania

Rumor : Prince Dracula was a real vampire.

Over the years, there has been much debate on whether the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker was based on a real vampire baddie. From the notes that he left behind, we know for certain that Stoker borrowed the name "Dracula" when he discovered a 15th century Wallachian prince called Vlad Dracula. Stoker was drawn to the name when he uncovered that Dracula in Romanian meant "son of a devil" or "son of a dragon." He originally planned to name his character, Count Wampyr. (Thankfully, the name was changed because Wampyr sounds like a pretty wimpy name for a vampire.)

But the real person behind the name was more horrible than any blood-sucking vampire from the Victorian imagination. Here is the slightly less scary version. You have been warned!

Hard times in Medieval Wallachia

Before we pass judgment on Vlad, we should understand the period in which he lived. In 15th century Wallachia (Romania), crowns did not pass peacefully from father to son. Along with birthright, the prince also had to be elected by a group of nobles called boyars. The problem with this system is it created a free-for-all struggle to become ruler where the guy who got the job was usually the one who had killed off all his brothers, cousins and uncles. It wasn't pretty. Add to the mix some plague, religious and civil wars and an average life expectancy of 25-30 years and you have a dark tale to tell.

The Real Prince of Darkness

Vlad Tepes (Vlad III) was born in 1431 in Romania. After a long struggle for power, Vlad became prince of Wallachia in 1456. Like his father (Vlad II) Vlad was a member of the Order of the Dragon. The Order of the Dragon was a group of knights whose main mission was to drive out the Turks and preserve Catholicism. Vlad took this job very seriously. It is estimated that he killed between 40,000 and 100,000 people and he had a bit of a thing for torture. He liked to cut off his victims' noses and send them to his enemies and he was oh-so fond of boiling and disembowling. But his favorite torture method was to impale his victims upon a stake like shish kebob. His torture methods soon earned him the nickname Vlad the Impaler. It was even rumored that Vlad drank his victims’ blood.

The Welcome Wagon

One of Vlad’s many talents was creative landscaping. But he didn’t use pretty flowers to welcome visitors to Wallachia. Instead, Vlad used his impaled victims as decoration. He often arranged his victims in circular patterns where the height of the spear indicated the rank of the victim. Vlad thought this artful arrangement of impaled bodies would keep invadors out. Turns out....he was right. When the conqueror, Mehmed II was greeted with the sight of Vlad’s impaled victims, he decided not to invade and ran back to Constantinople in horror.

Vlad the Robin Hood

If you ask someone from Romania about Vlad, you will hear a very different story. To Romanians, Vlad saved Romania from Ottoman invasion and did what he had to do to protect his empire. In fact, Vlad is as much a hero to Romanians as George Washington is to Americans. He was even commemorated on a Romanian postage stamp in 1976.

Was he all that bad?

Rumors of Vlad’s misbehaving seem too horrible to be true. Is Vlad the Impaler's legend complete hogwash? Read The Raucous Royals to find out more

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Product Description:

Psssst....Have you heard the one about Anne Boleyn and her six fingers? Did King George III really talk to trees? Did Napoleon Bonaparte have reason to have a short complex? Do you believe any of these rumors?The Raucous Royals invites readers to become a history detective and come to their own conclusions about 13 pretty raucous royals. Each of these rulers is remembered for rumors and gossip that have survived thousands of year. Some of these rumors are true and some of them are false. And with some of them we will never know. But all of them are told to you in secret.Please don't repeat them...The Raucous Royals: Test your Royal Wits: Crack Codes, Solve Mysteries, and Deduce Which Royal Rumors are True (Hardcover)

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Please be sure to visit these other great blogs, also on the Kids Book Buzz The Raucous Royals tour!

01 Charger

the 160acrewoods

A Mom Speaks

All About Children’s Books

Becky’s Book Reviews

Cafe of Dreams

Dolce Bellezza

Fireside Musings

The Friendly Book Nook

The Hidden Side of a Leaf

Homeschool Buzz

Hyperbole

KidzBookBuzz.com

Looking Glass Reviews

Maw Books Blog

Never Jam Today

Our Big Earth

Quiverfull Family

Reading is My Superpower

SmallWorld Reads

SMS Book Reviews