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Happy to announce I met my Goodreads goal of 85 books this year and am still reading. Thus far, 88 books in 2015.

Here’s the breakdown…

READ

Joyfully Yours
Lamont, Amy

More Than the Tattooed Mormon
Carraway, Al Fox

Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses
Hale, Jenny

Bud’s Christmas Wish
Nemer, Ashley

The Billionaire’s First Christmas (Winters Love #1)
Rayner, Holly

Operation White Christmas: An Escape to the Country Novella
Edwards, Nicki

The Match of the Century (Marrying the Duke, #1)
Maxwell, Cathy

Fall Apples: Crisp and Juicy
Rustad, Martha E.H.

Fall Pumpkins: Orange and Plump
Rustad, Martha E.H.

Fall Harvests: Bringing in Food
Rustad, Martha E.H.

The Woodland Folk Meet the Gnomes
Wolf, Tony

Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey
Parish, Herman

Christmas at the Vicarage
Boxall, Rebecca

From Paris With Love This Christmas
Wake, Jules

I Need a Hero
Bennet, Emma

Mountains Between Us
Proctor, Jenny

Better Latte Than Never
Clark, Catherine

Secret Santa
James, Sabrina

Christmas Kisses: An Echo Ridge Anthology
Checketts, Cami

North for Christmas
Dymock, Christina

A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft (An Amish Brides of Pinecraft Christmas, #4)
Gray, Shelley Shepard

The Great Christmas Knit-Off
Brown, Alexandra

A Wrinkle in Time (A Wrinkle in Time Quintet, #1)
L’Engle, Madeleine

Always Will
Jacobson, Melanie

Samuel Eaton’s Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy
Waters, Kate

Archeology
McIntosh, Jane

I Want to Read
Wright, Betty Ren

The Grouchy Ladybug
Carle, Eric

Georgie (Georgie The Ghost, #1)
Bright, Robert

Marshmallow
Newberry, Clare Turlay

The Power of Determination: The Story of Ronald Reagan

Rasmussen, Della Mae

Now It’s Fall (Seasons, #2)
Lenski, Lois

Wheedle on the Needle
Cosgrove, Stephen

My First Golden Dictionary
Reed, Mary

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
Kipling, Rudyard

The Berenstain Bears’ Nature Guide
Berenstain, Stan

Mr. Grumble
Hargreaves, Roger

Mr. Cheerful
Hargreaves, Roger

Little Miss Chatterbox
Hargreaves, Roger

Fires of Invention (Mysteries of Cove, #1)
Savage, J. Scott

Out of the Ashes
Buck, Alicia

Ignite (Defy, #2)
Larson, Sara B.

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between
Smith, Jennifer E.

Westly: A Spider’s Tale
Beus, Bryan

Heart’s Journey
McKendry, Kristen

Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #1)
Carson, Rae

Shades of Doon (Doon, #3)
Corp, Carey

Misty of Chincoteague (Misty, #1)
Henry, Marguerite

Everything, Everything
Yoon, Nicola

Simply Anna
Moore, Jennifer

Happy Bento!: Lunches on the Go
Adden, Anna

Red Scarf Girl
Jiang, Ji-li

The Secrets of Attraction
Constantine, Robin

A Timeless Romance Anthology: Annette Lyon Collection
Lyon, Annette

Love on a Whim
Mace, Aubrey

The Blueprint of Christ’s Church
Callister, Tad R.

Drive Me Crazy
McVoy, Terra Elan

Missionary: Possible: Preparation Tips from New Testament Heroes
Rigby, Eric

Emmy & Oliver
Benway, Robin

Lord Fenton’s Folly
Kilpack, Josi S.

Autumn’s Kiss (Autumn Falls, #2)
Thorne, Bella

The Mouse and the Motorcycle (Ralph S. Mouse, #1)
Cleary, Beverly

Maine Squeeze
Clark, Catherine

On the Fence
West, Kasie

Book Scavenger

Bertman, Jennifer Chambliss

The Prince and the Pauper
Twain, Mark

A Man for All Seasons
Bolt, Robert

The Fill-In Boyfriend
West, Kasie

Playing For Keeps
Clark, Ranee S.

Mighty Miracles
Olaveson, Breanna

Bondage (Moses Chronicles #1)
Moore, H.B.

The Power of Attitude: The Story of George Washington
Metten, Patricia

Enslaved to Saved: The Metaphor of Christ as Our Master
Litchfield, W. Reid

City Love (City Love, #1)
Colasanti, Susane

Model Misfit (Geek Girl, #2)
Smale, Holly

Wrong About the Guy
LaZebnik, Claire

A Heart Revealed

Kilpack, Josi S. 

Forgive My Fins (Fins, #1)
Childs, Tera Lynn

Silence
Lytton, Deborah

Revenge, Ice Cream, and Other Things Best Served Cold (Broken Hearts & Revenge, #2)
Finn, Katie

Rebel Mechanics (Rebel Mechanics, #1)
Swendson, Shanna

The Recipe Hacker: Comfort Foods without Soy, Dairy, Cane Sugar, Gluten, and Grain
Keuilian, Diana

Love Unexpected: A Storybook Romance
Jacobson, Melanie

My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories
Perkins, Stephanie

Meet Your Baker (A Bakeshop Mystery, #1)
Alexander, Ellie

The Testing (The Testing, #1)
Charbonneau, Joelle

Ash & Bramble
Prineas, Sarah

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Verne, Jules

Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #1)
Carson, Rae

Secrets of Selkie Bay
Thomas, Shelley Moore

The Maloneys’ Magical Weatherbox
Quinlan, Nigel

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids
Ockler, Sarah

Clariel (Abhorsen, #4)
Nix, Garth

Falling into Place
Zhang, Amy

Extraordinary Means
Schneider, Robyn

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1)
Kaufman, Amie

Seaside Christmas by Stacy Claflin

He can’t stand her. She thinks he’s crazy. Will their feelings stay etched in permanent ink?

Cruz Hunter has always stuck out in his small hometown. Now that he’s covered in tattoos, the residents peg him as even more of an outcast. It seems like the whole world is against his dream of opening a local tattoo parlor.

When he finally finds the perfect place for his new business, Cruz discovers a pastor and his daughter have already bought it. The only thing more irritating than the change in his plan is Talia, a beautiful and feisty argument in a dress. Cruz would like nothing more than to have her out of his life and his mind, but for some reason, she’s the only thing he can think about.

If Cruz and Talia can stop arguing long enough, opposites may do much more than attract.

Amazon

Meet the Hunter brothers of Kittle Falls…

The Seaside Hunters novels are a series of contemporary sweet romances. They’re set in the beach town of Kittle Falls, following the Hunter brothers as they make their way back to their hometown and find the loves they couldn’t elsewhere. Each book is a standalone.

Author Stacy Claflin

I don’t stick to a single genre in my writing, reading, or viewing. My favorite shows include Supernatural, The Walking Dead, Pretty Little Liars, Lost Girl, Vampire Diaries, and Once Upon a Time.

I’ve been writing and telling stories for as long as I can remember. As a kid, my story telling would get me into trouble because I would try to convince others that my stories were real.

When I’m not busy writing, I like spending time with my family and friends. I also educate my kids from home.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

$50 Book Blast Giveaway

Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/20/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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We hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday, and since there is snow on the roads today where I live, I’m going to bundle up with some hot cocoa and a book! There are lots of great selections on sale right now…

The Irish Cottage: Finding Elizabeth (The Irish Heart Series Book 1)
The Billionaire’s First Christmas – Contemporary Romance (A Winters Love Book 1)
Christmas Coloring Book for Grownups Santa and Rudolphs Classic Christmas Delights Coloring Books Designed for Artists, Adults, Teens and Older Children
The Last Queen: The Book of Kaels Vol. 1 (The Book of Kaels Series)
Winter: Chapters 1 & 2 (The Lunar Chronicles)
A Christmas Carol (Wisehouse Classics – with original illustrations)
The Restorer (The Sword of Lyric Book 1)

Operation White Christmas: An Escape to the Country Novella
Escape to the Country #2.5
by Nicki Edwards
Kindle Edition, 153 pages
Expected publication: December 17th 2015
by Pan Macmillan AU
Source: Netgalley

Hollie Douglas has dreamed of a White Christmas ever since she was a child, but her dream implodes when her fiancé breaks her heart two months before their big day. Convinced by her best friend to go ahead with her planned honeymoon anyway, Hollie doesn’t expect to find herself stuck in a snowstorm in rural Canada two days before Christmas.

goodreads* amazon

Review

Love, love, loved this book! Often I pick up a novella and am not satisfied because there just aren’t enough pages to being the story line to a full arc or truly enjoy the characters. Not so with Operation White Christmas. The first chapter was a little rough, but after that it was smooth sailing and a dream to read.

Hollie and Jim are wonderful, the setting makes for a quaint, quirky white Christmas and the romance was slow and sweet. This is one I would buy and read again. Short but packed with goodness. I love that the main man was a photographer who owned alpacas and that the main female had never seen snow being from Australia. A great go to for a short Holiday romance.

About the Author

Nicki Edwards is a city girl with a country heart. Growing up on a small family acreage on the outskirts of Geelong, she spent her formative years riding horses and pretending the neighbour’s farm was her own.

After spending three years in a regional city in New South Wales, her love of small country towns was further developed. One day she plans to escape to the country with her husband Tim and live on land, surrounded by horses, dogs, cows and sheep. Until then she lives vicariously through the lives of the characters in the rural romance novels she loves to read.

In 2006, when Nicki’s youngest child started school, she returned to university, juggling full time study, part time work and raising four small children, to achieve her dream of becoming a nurse. Always a voracious reader, Nicki’s other dream was to be an author.
Nicki writes medical rural romance for Momentum and when she isn’t reading, writing or dreaming about rural life and medical emergencies, she can be found working as a Critical Care Nurse in a busy Intensive Care Unit, where many of her stories and characters are imagined.

Nicki and Tim reside in Geelong, Victoria with their four teenage/young adult children. Life is busy, fun and at times exhausting, but Nicki wouldn’t change it for anything.

Her debut novel, “Intensive Care” was released in January 2015 with Momentum, the digital imprint of Pan Macmillan Australia. Her second novel, “Emergency Response” comes out in October 2015. The third and fourth books in the ‘Escape to the Country’ series, “Life Support” and “Critical Condition” will be released in 2016.

Treasure by S. Smith

It’s 2077. There’s no apocalypse, but some things are different. Things like the weather, the internet, and food. In twelve-year-old Clare’s world, blueberry is just a flavor and apples are found only in fairy tales.

One day Clare meets Ana, who teaches her about seeds and real food, despite suspicions that such actions are illegal.

When the authorities discover the children’s forbidden tomato plant and arrest their mother, Clare and her brother flee. Clare has heard of a place called “The Garden State,” and with their bikes, a little money, and backpacks, the children begin a lonely cross-country journey that tests them both physically and spiritually.

Will they succeed in their quest to find a place of food freedom? And can they, only children, help change the world?

Download your FREE copy of Treasure

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Excerpt

Clare walked faster, clutching the tiny packet to her chest. The sound of the footsteps behind kept pace. She darted down an alley she knew well—turning right, then left, then right again. Standing still, her back against the wall, she listened. The footsteps had not followed her; she had lost them.
Twenty minutes later and safe in the apartment, she met with her co-conspirators: Dante, her seven-year-old brother, and Lily, her best friend.
“I have something to show you, but you have to promise not to tell.”
“We promise.”
Holding out her closed fist, she whispered, “What I have here will change the world.”
Dante’s eyes widened. “It’s so small.”
“It may be small now,” she told him, “but what I have in my hand will get bigger. It will grow and make more.”
“What is it?” Lily asked.
“Is it magic?” asked Dante.
She opened her hand.

Praise for Seed Savers

“I haven’t been this in love with an individual young adult book since Lois Lowry’s The Giver… 221 pages of exciting young adult goodness! I devoured it, and it was delicious.” -Anakalian Whims Book Blog

“Here’s a great piece of “juvenile” literature that doesn’t lose sight of one key fact: kids can think.”- Lit Prof, Amazon Reviewer

“I highly recommend this book for tweens and teens who enjoy reading the dystopian genre and who are looking for a non-violent and thought-provoking story.” – Renee at Mother Daughter Book Reviews

Author S. Smith

S. Smith grew up on a farm with a tremendously large garden. She maintains that if you can’t taste the soil on a carrot, it’s not fresh enough.

As an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, Ms. Smith has enjoyed teaching students from around the world.

Smith is a member ALLi (The Alliance of Independent Authors) and saves seeds for her local seed bank.

She gardens and writes at her home in the beautiful and green Pacific Northwest where she lives with her husband, two children, and two cats.

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Blog Tour Schedule

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/4/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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That Girl, Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Story by James Ramos

IT IS A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED that geeky guys never get to date the pretty girls with permanent scowls.

To Elliott Bennett, life is simple. It’s all parties, skateboarding, and arguing over who would win in a fight between Hulk and Superman with his friends. It’s his senior year, and he wants nothing more than to soak up his final year of freedom before real life begins.

That is, until Darcy Fitzwilliam and her best friend Bridget move in to the only mansion in the neighborhood. When Elliott meets Darcy at a party, he finds out that she isn’t into skateboarding (which he lives for), she hates science fiction (which he loves), and she thinks his friends are a pack of morons (which, honestly, might be half true)—and yet, there’s something irritatingly intriguing about her.

When Elliott’s cousin Jake starts to date her friend Bridget, it complicates Elliott’s plans to ignore the scowling Darcy for the rest of the year. Why is Darcy so . . . ugh? Elliott doesn’t know, but for some reason, is determined to find out—even if she doesn’t know the difference between Star Trek and Star Wars.

Amazon

Praise for That Girl, Darcy

This book was a blast! ~ Heidi J. Doxey (Author, Liam Darcy, I Loathe You)

I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend to everyone! ~ Kflan (Amazon Reviewer)

About the Author

James Ramos was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, the oldest of four siblings. He wrote his first story at age nine and counts Frank Herbert’s Dune as his biggest influence. He currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where he is studying English. He is a self-proclaimed “dorkasaurus,” and has a roommate (who is a cat). He is almost never without a sonic screwdriver.

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The Giveaway

Winner choice of a Kindle Fire or $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/4/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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A.L. Sowards’ World War II Espionage Trilogy Veteran’s Day eBook Sale

All 3 titles are currently on sale!

Espionage (Book 1):
France, 1944: Nobody expects Peter Eddy to survive his first commando mission—to retrieve a code book stolen by the Nazis—so when he does come back alive, his success is rewarded with an even more daunting assignment. Partnered with French Resistance leader Jacques Olivier, Peter must identify which of three Allied contacts in Calais is a double agent and use the traitor to help implement a strategic Allied diversion that might win the war. Peter secretly crosses the English Channel to confront the suspects one at a time. But what appears to be a clean assignment soon turns disastrous, and even the aid of Jacques and his sister Genevieve can’t prevent a Gestapo triumph. As the Allied invasion approaches, treachery in the least likely places leads to fresh graves in the bloodied European soil—and only the power of loyalty and love can transform tragic endings into new beginnings.

Amazon

Sworn Enemy (Book 2):
After narrowly escaping her Nazi captors, French Resistance worker Genevieve Olivier has fled to Allied territory with the help of American Lieutenant Peter Eddy. Their connection is undeniable, forged in the crucible of danger. But despite their blossoming feelings for each other, they must both finish the work they began . . .
In the safety of England, Genevieve hopes to find purpose as a nurse—all the while unaware that the Gestapo still seeks the woman who slipped through their grasp. When she is called upon to resume a life of danger as a French spy, will her desire to prove herself be her downfall?
Recruited by an elite special-ops team intent on thwarting the Nazis, Peter finds himself engaged in a personal battle as well—there is a traitor among his comrades. Deep in the Carpathian Mountains, Peter combats an unknown foe. The stakes are high as he fights to save the lives of his teammates.
They are miles apart, yet as Genevieve and Peter fight for their own survival, they find a common well of strength in their faith—and their determination to be reunited.

Amazon

Deadly Alliance (Book 3):
When Peter Eddy and his commando team inadvertently upset the Soviets during their most recent mission, they never imagined the diplomatic nightmares that would ensue. They have one chance to redeem themselves: tasked with destroying a bridge in Nazi-occupied Bosnia, Peter and his war-weary team reluctantly agree to drop behind enemy lines. The assignment should be a simple one—were it not for the fact that they are being deployed on a suicide mission.
Genevieve Olivier is devastated by the news of Peter’s disappearance. After all they’ve endured in this war, the determined OSS worker is unwilling to simply let go of the man she hopes to spend her life with. Desperate for information, her work as a courier soon escalates into a counterintelligence duel with a Fascist assassin—and Genevieve is his newest target . . .

Amazon

Praise for Espionage, Sworn Enemy, and Deadly Alliance:
This historical fiction WWII series is amazing! Seriously tense action, intrigue, death-defying danger, strong characters, and even a hint of romance. Sowards really does her research and makes readers feel as if they are right in the middle of the action in different settings throughout war-torn Europe. These aren’t your normal WWII books; they are much better.
~Charissa Stastny, author of the Bending Willow Trilogy

A.L. Sowards is a master at telling sides of stories from history that aren’t overdone or commonly shared. These books took me on an unexpected journey and they each brought up issues that I hadn’t really thought about before. I loved learning information about this time period, while being thoroughly entertained by the events happening to some beloved characters.
~Katie, blogger at Katie’s Clean Book Collection

A.L. Sowards has been a favorite author of mine for years. I was enraptured by the first book in her World War II series, Espionage, and fell more in love with the characters with each book. Her knowledge of World War II is unreal and the way she weaves the historical aspects in is so gripping I could hardly set these books down. I would highly recommend this series, especially if you’re a fan of historical fiction.

~Cami Checketts, Author of Shadows in the Curtain

Intrigue, horror, and romance all wrapped up in this brilliant WWII trilogy. A.L Sowards did an amazing job at bringing the time period to life for me. I highly recommend all three books in the Espionage series.

~Bookworm Lisa, blogger

Author A.L. Sowards

A.L. Sowards has always been fascinated by the 1940s, but she’s grateful she didn’t live back then. She doesn’t think she could have written a novel on a typewriter, and no one would be able to read her handwriting if she wrote her books out longhand. She does, however, think they had the right idea when they rationed nylon and women went barelegged.

Sowards grew up in Moses Lake, Washington. She graduated from BYU and ended up staying in Utah, where she enjoys spending time with her husband and children or with her laptop. She does not own a typewriter. She does own several pairs of nylons.
Her books are known for heart-pounding action, memorable characters, careful historical research, clean romance, and family-friendly language. Several of her novels have been Whitney Award finalists in the historical fiction category.

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$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/2/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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