Friday, September 30, 2016

#REVIEW - Sewn with Joy, The Pinecraft Pie Shop #3 by Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore


Description:
Nothing makes Joy Miller happier than sewing. And nothing makes Matthew Slagel, the bishop's son, happier than spending time with Joy.


With the rising popularity of the Me, Myself, and Pie shop run by Joy's eldest sister, Lovina, comes an increasing demand for souvenirs like aprons and dishtowels. Joy's handiwork soon catches the attention of a television crew preparing to film a new Amish TV series. While she is initially hired to sew the costumes, she finds herself becoming a consultant and fill-in for the main actress.


The bishop does not approve of Joy's involvement with the show—or his son's involvement with Joy. When he asks Matthew to stop seeing Joy, Matthew must make a decision—pursue happiness or follow the rules—unless he can find a way to reconcile those two sides of his faith.


When mounting tension threatens to rip the entire community apart, can an unexpected development stitch them back together?


Inspiration, romance, and creativity abound in Sewn with Joy, the third and final installment in The Pinecraft Pie Shop series.


MY TAKE:
5 STARS!!!
This is book three in the Amish Pinecraft Pie Shop series of books, and in this book Joy is courting Matthew Slagel, son of the Bishop. She secretly hopes she will be the next to get married as currently she is helping to make the wedding dresses for two of her sisters. Joy craves to be the housewife and eventual mother to her and hopefully Matthew’s children one day. For right now she is content with their courtship and dreaming about their wedding.
Next thing Joy knows is a truck pulls up and a television crew gets out. A Reality TV show is going to be filmed. The Bishop of the Amish community is against the filming of this TV show. This also brings trouble for her and Matthew. Joy feels pulled in the direction of what the Bishop has called for, for NO interaction with the television crew, but she also feels pulled to the television crew to help them understand about their lives, why they follow God, and why it is important to them that they live the way they do.
This novel is by far one of the deepest novels Tricia Goyer has written to date. It really digs into the nitty gritty of what is important in the Amish lifestyle and religion and all of those who are affected by this television crew. In a way it is a good thing the television crew did show up because it causes a lot of thinking by a lot of people, and they really start to think about exactly what God would want of them. This book is the most religious of all the books I have read by her as well.
I did not read the first two books of this series, but I can imagine they would be just as wonderful as this book turned out to be. You also get some major bonuses in this book! Amish recipes!! We ALL love Amish food, so now we get to cook/bake some!! There is so much you can get out of this book! I highly recommend it especially for those of you who love reading about the Amish! Enjoy!!!
I received this book for FREE from the Publisher, Harvest House, and NetGalley, in exchange that I enjoy the sheer pleasure of reading this book, and then to write a review about my honest opinion of this book regardless if it is positive or negative. "Free" means I was provided with ZERO MONIES to do read and write a review about this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the law set here: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html
The Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, 16 CFR 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising Federal Acquisition Regulation.



ebook: $8.13
print:   $8.56

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

#REVIEW - Only Daughter, a novel, by Anna Snoekstra NEW RELEASE TODAY, Tues, 9-27!



Description:


In this chilling psychological thriller, one woman's dark past becomes another's deadly future


In 2003, sixteen-year-old Rebecca Winter disappeared.  


She'd been enjoying her teenage summer break: working at a fast-food restaurant, crushing on an older boy and shoplifting with her best friend. Mysteriously ominous things began to happen—blood in the bed, periods of blackouts, a feeling of being watched—though Bec remained oblivious of what was to come.  


Eleven years later she is replaced.


A young woman, desperate after being arrested, claims to be the decade-missing Bec.  


Soon the imposter is living Bec's life. Sleeping in her bed. Hugging her mother and father. Learning her best friends' names. Playing with her twin brothers.


But Bec's welcoming family and enthusiastic friends are not quite as they seem. As the imposter dodges the detective investigating her case, she begins to delve into the life of the real Bec Winter—and soon realizes that whoever took Bec is still at large, and that she is in imminent danger.


My Take:
4 STARS!!
The description of this book is spot-on, and I fear if I am to say anymore about the story, then I will be giving things away. With this fear, I WILL NOT be telling you anymore about the story of this book, but I am only going to speak of the story and how I enjoyed it, and how it was written. I did enjoy this book VERY much, but the suspense did not seem to be there all through the book. Sure, the mystery of the disappearance sure was there, but as far as the ‘thriller’ part, that kind of lacked until the end, which was then very strong. The book was written back and forth between the two characters of Bec, the daughter who DID disappear ten years ago now, and the Imposter Daughter who took her place. The chapters about Bec were VERY short, a couple of pages or so, and the chapters about the Imposter were longer, but they had to be so you knew the story. I admit this book read SO FAST, it was done before I knew it!! I shook my head I read it so fast, so this does show this author is a good writer! This book definitely holds your interest and keeps you wondering. One thing I do not remember is ever coming across the Imposter daughter’s name! This book is this author’s debut novel, and she did a wonderful job for it being her first book, but I felt she spent too much time on trying to make the story suspenseful when it was more mysterious. The book did get more into the ‘Thriller’ genre towards the end when things started clicking for the Imposter Daughter and things really started to happen! The Imposter Daughter started to figure things out and wanted to get in touch with the police, but the police didn’t seem all that interested in what she had to say? Hmmm? The imposter actually thought the twin brothers were rather cute. I did get the feeling the parents were definitely creepy!! They scared the heck out of me, and while reading this ending of this book, the phone rang and it DID make me jump! I was ‘that’ into reading this book!! LOL! Yes, the last part of the book really does have us in the “thriller” category! It fit the bill! I do admit if you like ‘thrillers’ you WILL enjoy this book even if it does tend to veer off towards the mysterious part of the book for a while as it almost has to do that in order to be able to tell the story. This was a good one, but I do wish there was more thriller in it than what we were given. Excellent concept, though! Excellent! Enough so that I truly enjoyed it!! I recommend this book because I felt this story is definitely worth reading! Enjoy!!
I received this book for FREE from the Publisher, MIRA, and NetGalley, in exchange that I enjoy the sheer pleasure of reading this book, and then to write a review about my honest opinion of this book regardless if it is positive or negative. "Free" means I was provided with ZERO MONIES to do read and write a review about this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the law set here: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html
The Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, 16 CFR 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising Federal Acquisition Regulation.


ebook: $7.99
print:   $9.96

Friday, September 23, 2016

#FALL INTO #BOOKS $250 #GIVEAWAY NOW TO 10-15! Come and #enter !

Fall into Books Giveaway



Fall Into Books $250 Giveaway

NOW to October 15th

An awesome group of bloggers and authors has joined with me to bring you one fabulous prize!!

A $250 Amazon Gift Code or you can choose to receive $250 in Paypal Cash.

Sponsor List

I Am A Reader
Simple Wyrdings
MK McClintock
Heather Gray
Niki Danforth, Author
Aubrey Wynne: Vintage Romance for Today
Lori's Reading Corner
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BookHounds
Glistering: B's Blog
Krysten Lindsay Hager author
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Talia Jager
Laurie Here - Cont Fiction and More
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Helen Smith
Author Erin Richards
CoolCatMysteries
Dorine White
Confessions of a Frugal Mind
B. Kristin McMichael
Barefoot by the Sea
Inger Iversen
Jo Noelle
The Page Unbound
Charissa Stastny
Katie's Clean Book Collection
LOVE. WITHOUT YOU
Every Free Chance Books
Author Crystal Marcos
Raquel @ The Babbling Reader

Giveaway Details

$250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card

Ends 10/15/16

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. 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 authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

#REVIEW - Who Do You Love, a novel, by Jennifer Weiner


Description:

From the “hilarious, heartbreaking, and insightful” (The Miami Herald) bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes a sweeping, modern day fairy tale about first romance and lasting love.


When the love you love is the one who got away…


Rachel Blum and Andy Landis are just eight years old when they meet late one night in an ER waiting room. Born with a congenital heart defect, Rachel is a veteran of hospitals, and she's intrigued by the boy who shows up all alone with a broken arm. He tells her his name. She tells him a story. After Andy’s taken back to a doctor and Rachel’s sent back to her bed, they think they’ll never see each other again.


Rachel grows up wanting for nothing in a fancy Florida suburb, the popular and protected daughter of two doting parents. Andy grows up poor in Philadelphia with a single mom and a rare talent that will let him become one of the best runners of his generation.


Over the next three decades, their paths cross in magical and ordinary ways. They make grand plans and dream big dreams as they grow together and apart in starts and stops. Through it all, Andy and Rachel never stop thinking about that night in the hospital waiting room all of those years ago, a chance encounter that changed the course of both of their lives.


In this captivating, often witty tale about the bonds between women and men, love and fate, and the truth about happy endings, Jennifer Weiner delivers two of her most memorable characters and a love story you’ll never forget.


MY TAKE:
5 STARS!!!
How can ANYONE NOT LOVE Jennifer Weiner? I can’t answer that because her writing is WONDERFUL and I DO love her writing! You can get lost in her books unlike others! This is a love story that threatens to beat all others! I could see this book being turned into a movie, and I’d especially LOVE to see it on the big screen!
Okay! So just what did I think about this book? Let me tell you! The writing is amazing, as usual with Jennifer Weiner! This book begins with Rachel Blum and Andy Landis who meet as young children in the hospital who quickly become best friends. You can almost see them older and married! But no, they are released and they lose track of each other over time, as expected with children like this. Life goes on for each of them as we learn this through alternating chapters of each character, and they have gone their separate ways with their parents. They have a lifetime to grow up, and as time goes on, through ebb and flow, as each grow and go through life as needed to to become the people they are today, they do end up meeting again. I don’t want to go into too much detail about any of this any further from this point because I want you to enjoy this story as much as I did, but this is truly a beautiful romantic love story that I did not want to end. I enjoyed where this book takes us, and it was one book I did not want to see end. If you like HEA’s, then THIS is one book you won’t soon forget! HIGHLY recommended!!
I received this book for FREE from the Publisher, Atria, and NetGalley, in exchange that I read then write a review about this book. "Free" means I was provided with ZERO MONIES to do so, but to just enjoy the sheer pleasure of reading this book and then to write an honest review about my opinion of what I thought about this book, regardless if my opinion is positive or negative. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the law set here: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html
The Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, 16 CFR 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising Federal Acquisition Regulation.

About the Author and a NOTE from the Publisher:

A #1 New York Times bestselling author and columnist for The New York Times, Jennifer Weiner has become a beloved and influential voice for a generation of women. Now from this “hilarious, heartbreaking, and insightful” (The Miami Herald) author comes WHO DO YOU LOVE (August 11, 2015; $27.00; Atria Books), an unforgettable story about true love, real life, and second chances... Rachel Blum and Andy Landis are just eight years old when they meet late one night in an ER waiting room. Born with a congenital heart defect, Rachel is a veteran of hospitals, and she's intrigued by the boy who shows up alone with a broken arm. He tells her his name. She tells him a story. After Andy’s taken back to a doctor and Rachel’s sent back to her bed, they think they’ll never see each other again. Rachel grows up in an affluent Florida suburb, the popular and protected daughter of two doting parents. Andy grows up poor in Philadelphia with a single mom and a rare talent for running. Over the next three decades, their paths cross in magical and ordinary ways, as they grow together and apart in starts and stops. But Rachel and Andy never forget that night in the hospital waiting room all of those years ago, a chance encounter that changed the course of both of their lives. WHO DO YOU LOVE is a sweeping, fresh, and intimate tale about the passage of time and the differences between people. It touches on class, race, religion, celebrity, charity, what makes us strong, what renders us vulnerable, and how the people we choose to love, and how we love them, defines who we become—how the measure of a life is who you love.



ebook: $11.99
print:   $18.90

Saturday, September 17, 2016

#StackingtheShelves #51 plus Blog Updates and Week's end! 9-17-16


Thanks to our Sponsor, Tynga's Reviews!

First, let's find out HOW Stacking the Shelves works! 

Hello everyone! It's that time of week again, that time to do an awesome "SHOW AND TELL" of the books I have been given, from authors, from publishers, I bought, borrowed, or received somehow, the library, a yard sale, or some way this past week! I LOVE showing books off like this! This is one of MY favorite posts to write!!
I also use THIS POST EACH WEEK to do somewhat of a wrap-up AND to post my NEW REVIEWS, NEW GIVEAWAYS, and whatever else I should bring to your attention!
After you are done reading HERE, click on the Sponsor's name up above and see THEIR post for Stacking the Shelves, too! They have a link-up with OVER 100-200 other blogs that also participate!
I'm also finding OTHER PLACES TO LINK UP TO AS WELL! I'm finding these places from other blogs, and they are GREAT ideas! The following NEW one is Talk of the Town where we can add ALL THINGS BOOKISH! Check it out! I still plan on joining in on other link-ups, too, I just haven't had the chance to do it all yet! I'll get there!!
I will also be linking this post AND my reviews to Saturday Situation as well from now on, too! That is a place to link ALL THINGS BOOKISH! I'm anxious to start posting there!! Check it out, too!

Hi Everyone!
HOPE you had an amazing week!! I did, as always!!! I got some AMAZING NEW BOOKS THIS WEEK!!! I got back into my groove of reading and have MORE reviews to post!! You can see the one I wrote earlier today on Letters from Paris by Juliet Blackwell HERE!! MORE reviews to come each day! Wow!!!! My FAVORITE book so far has been At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen. Boy! I sure can connect with her writing! I do NOT want this book to end!!! I have to say it's nothing that is spectacular, it has everything to do with this author's writing! I just LOVE it! She is the author of Water for Elephants and I can only imagine HOW AMAZING that book HAS TO BE!! I WILL be squeezing that book in here, too! I MUST! I love this author!! Do any of YOU have any favorite authors you have come across like I did here? Isn't this WONDERFUL when this happens?! YES!!!! Please tell us below who and HOW did it happen to you!!! 
Okay! Let's see what's going on this last week and what is coming up this current week!!

GIVEAWAYS:  FAREWELL TO SUMMER $250 CASH GIVEAWAY!!!! NOW TO 9-22 - ENDING THIS THURSDAY!!!

REVIEWS THIS WEEK: Tuesday, Sept 20th, 2016, Only Daughter by Anna Shoekstra!!! One AMAZING BOOK!!!!!!! MYSTERY/THRILLER FULL OF SUSPENSE THAT I LOVE TO DEATH!!! Come back to learn MORE about the book when I write my review THIS TUESDAY!!!!

MANY MORE BOOK REVIEWS PLANNED THIS WEEK! COME ON BACK BY AND SEE WHAT I WRITE!!! SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!!!!

BOOKS I RECEIVED THIS WEEK!!!! YES!!! AMAZING BOOKS!!!!


Chasing Shadows, A South Shores Novel, by Karen Harper Wow! This book is about a Forensic Psychologist who has spent a lifetime fighting a neurological disorder (sounds like ME!!! Wow!!!) with her ability to conquer it which is a testament (bummer! I can't conquer mine! I guess that is why these books are FICTION!!) to her razor-sharp intuition! This book takes her into a relationship with the fighting attorney, Nich Markwood, of which she completely overturns his case with her sharpness! Sounds like there is some romantic suspense in this book! YES! I LOVE it!!! However, in the description at Goodreads, so you are not mad at ME, states when she can no longer fight due to her illness, she learns of Markwoods' connection with the case!!! Wow! Sounds like the end of this book is going to be COMPLETE SUSPENSE!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!! 
Due to release: Nov 29, 2016



The Flower Arrangement by Ella Griffin - A beautiful books that weaves flowers into the subject matter and as they relate to the main character. This book is being referred to as much deeper than chick-lit, something to truly focus and think about while reading. I find this extremely interesting!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE how authors weave flowers into characters lives, and I LOVE when a book comes along that is much deeper than your regular story! This is one I am TRULY looking forward to!! Can't WAIT to read this!!
Released on June 16th, 2016


The Night Voyage, Book 3, by Daria Song - An Adult Coloring Book
Released: Sept 13th, 2016
Oh, my! This is the MOST BEAUTIFUL ADULT COLORING BOOK YET!!! Amazing photos of a little girl going on a journey through her dreams!! This books requires me to order some metallic and/or gel pens from Amazon to do the coloring just right! Yes, colored pencils WILL do the job nicely, however, adding that little bit of extra BLING will do this book the justice it deserves!! I cannot WAIT to show you a few pages that I color! Oh! For you cat lovers out there, yes! This book is owned by a cat! YOU name the cat! I can't wait to share this with you! 

Thank you SO much for stopping by this week! I LOVE the books I received for review this week! I think you will as well! Don't forget to enter the $250 CASH Giveaway!!!! I have to remember to fill out the form, too! LOL!!!
See you next week!
Laurie

#REVIEW "Letters from Paris, a novel" by Juliet Blackwell #NEW #Release 9-6-16!


DESCRIPTION:


From the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Key comes the story of a mysterious work of art and the woman inspired to uncover its history in the City of Light.


After surviving the accident that took her mother’s life, Claire Broussard worked hard to escape her small Louisiana hometown. But these days she feels something lacking. Abruptly leaving her lucrative job in Chicago, Claire returns home to care for her ailing grandmother. There, she unearths a beautiful sculpture that her great-grandfather sent home from Paris after World War II.


At her grandmother’s urging, Claire travels to Paris to track down the centuries old mask-making atelier where the sculpture, known only as “L’inconnue”—or the Unknown Woman—was created. With the help of a passionate sculptor, Claire discovers a cache of letters that offer insight into the life of the Belle Epoque woman immortalized in the work of art.


As Claire uncovers the unknown woman’s tragic fate, she begins to discover secrets—and a new love—of her own.


Letters from Paris was an exceptional book. It made you want to be in Paris. It made you want to see all the things Claire saw there


MY TAKE:
3.5 Stars
This book is written by Juliet Blackwell, and many of you may remember her other books she wrote about Paris, the City of Lights, called The Paris Key, which I happen to have for review as well! Here is what 'this' book is about:
While in Paris during WWII, the City of Lights, Claire’s grandfather finds this beautiful sculpture of “L’inconnue”, the Unknown Woman, also known as a death mask. Claire’s curiosity gets the best of her, and she finds herself traveling back to Paris, especially with the encouragement of her own Grandmother, to learn all she can about this sculpture. Claire wants to know more, learn more, find out as much as she can about the so-called ‘death mask’, almost to obsession.
This got my own curiosity up, wondering just what could this ‘death mask’ look like? I looked it up, but I have never seen anything like it, nor have I heard anything like this. This is definitely a first for myself, and may be for a lot of you who are interested in reading this book. It is VERY interesting!!
While in Paris, Claire learns a LOT about this sculpture, so much more than she ever could have had she not gone there for herself and in person. It was a trip that was very successful and a trip Claire is so happy her grandmother was so encouraging of her to go on.
One of the really neat things about this book is we get to be with Claire when she finds things about the sculpture, meets people who knows about this it, and we get to celebrate with her as she finds what she has been seeking.
There is almost an eerie element to what Claire finds along the way, such as how much her life is a little similar to the woman in the death mask. It was when Claire was handed a pile of letters in which she is highly encouraged to read and learn about this woman in the death mask that we are so happy for her. We have a mystery/love story here all wrapped into one as we learn about in these letters as they are read, one by one.
Claire loves what she learns about this woman, but also learns a lot about life, family, and the most important things about it all. Most importantly, Claire learns it’s the simple things about life that are the most important, and to treasure them the most.
There is much more to this story than what I could possibly cover, so my BEST recommendation is to just read this one! A little caution, this does tend to be a very sad story at times, so be prepared for that aspect of it, but also know that eventually Claire will learn even more from these letters and maybe there is a little more light shining through at the end of the pile of letters. Be prepared to feel a huge assortment of feelings as Claire is on her journey learning more and more about the woman in the death mask.
I did enjoy this book. It was a little different to be so obsessed by a woman who posed for a death mask, I do have to admit! I have never heard of this practice until this book. Be prepared for a twist as this book nears the end! That is all I will say but to enjoy this if you decide to pick it up and read it!
I did receive this book for FREE from the Publisher, Berkley/Penguin Random House LLC and NetGalley, in exchange that I read then write a review about this book/what I read. "Free" means I was provided with ZERO MONIES to do so, but to just enjoy the sheer pleasure of reading this book and then writing an honest review about what I thought about this book, regardless if my opinion is positive or negative. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the law set here: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html
The Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, 16 CFR 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising Federal Acquisition Regulation.

The Paris Key by Juliet Blackwell (her first book)

ebook: $11.99
print:   $  8.92

Letters from Paris by Juliet Blackwell - **this book!

ebook: $11.99
print:   $ 8.82


Saturday, September 10, 2016

#StackingtheShelves #50 (Wow! 50!!) Blog Updates and week's end, 9-10-16!


Thanks to our Sponsor, Tynga's Reviews!

First, let's find out HOW Stacking the Shelves works! 

Hello everyone! It's that time of week again, that time to do an awesome "SHOW AND TELL" of the books I have been given, from authors, from publishers, I bought, borrowed, or received somehow, the library, a yard sale, or some way this past week! I LOVE showing books off like this! This is one of MY favorite posts to write!!
I also use THIS POST EACH WEEK to do somewhat of a wrap-up AND to post my NEW REVIEWS, NEW GIVEAWAYS, and whatever else I should bring to your attention!
After you are done reading HERE, click on the Sponsor's name up above and see THEIR post for Stacking the Shelves, too! They have a link-up with OVER 100-200 other blogs that also participate!
I'm also finding OTHER PLACES TO LINK UP TO AS WELL! I'm finding these places from other blogs, and they are GREAT ideas! The following NEW one is Talk of the Town where we can add ALL THINGS BOOKISH! Check it out! I still plan on joining in on other link-ups, too, I just haven't had the chance to do it all yet! I'll get there!!
I will also be linking this post AND my reviews to Saturday Situation as well from now on, too! That is a place to link ALL THINGS BOOKISH! I'm anxious to start posting there!! Check it out, too!

Hello!
From muscle spasms to the FLU!!! NO KIDDING!!! Last Saturday after I wrote this post, I started getting dizzy. I thought it was just my sinuses. NOPE! I have not had a cold or the flu in OVER 15 YEARS!!! YES! THAT LONG!!! I got hit GOOD! I was literally delirious with fever! I could not speak in a complete sentence! Gibberish came out! I was SO dizzy! I couldn't even walk I was so dizzy! I was practically crawling on the floor because EVERYTHING was spinning out of control. It was the typical flu. Fever, chills, and I SO want to throw up!!! You ALL know how it goes! The STRANGE thing about it?? I have not been around anyone!!! So perhaps it was food poisoning? I don't know? I DID go into the Dr's office and got checked out. I'm going to live! YES! Seriously, I was concerned because of the dizziness and was worried if it was a bladder or even kidney infection - NOPE! So that blew the week for me. 
Next - MALWARE!!!! May I suggest if you do NOT have MALWARE PROTECTION for your computer, PLEASE GET IT!!! I have had my computer worked on three times over the last week and finally, today was the THIRD TIME! It happens when you ACCIDENTALLY click on an AD! You don't even mean to click on the ad, just your cursor happened to be on top of one, and when you moved your mouse, you pressed to hard on it! Oh, NO!!! Yep! That is how you got it! There is this file out there called the following: apond.xyz - this one open a full tab that turns into a full page and it COMPLETELY FREEZES your browser! There is NO X'ing it out of the page it opened, and the ONLY thing it allows you to do is to click "OK!" because you have WON something!!! PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ON THAT "OK"!!! PLEASE take your computer IN to be repaired IMMEDIATELY!!! THIS IS URGENT!!! Do NOT shut your computer down, just close the lid, and take it to the shop ASAP! It CAN BE SAVED, but you need the experts to do it! Today took the longest of all to have it cleaned out of my computer. I DO have Malwarebytes to help prevent malware programs from killing my computer, and it IS WORKING!!! It was NOT working earlier this week and I had no idea! Who's to say another Malware program didn't freeze the program? My mouse has been being held hostage lately to where I cannot move it, so that is ANOTHER Malware program at work. All I can say is it is BAD out there right now! 
I happen to have the Geek Squad who I pay a yearly fee to to help cover EVERYTHING but PARTS for my computer! It is SO WORTH IT for the peace of mind KNOWING you will not LOSE your computer to these AWFUL PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN TO INFECT YOUR COMPUTER! And WORST OF ALL, through ADS!!! That just ticks me off! Legitimate companies who pay BIG dollars to advertise out there CANNOT rely on people to click on their ads because we are too afraid to! We don't know what is malware and what is a good advertisement! This has finally gone too far, in my opinion!
So PLEASE make sure you have the software to protect your investment, the coverage to REPAIR your investment, and to have the peace of mind KNOWING they CAN SAVE IT!!! BEST of luck to you all with this!!
Laurie

Okay! Nothing much  regarding reviews has changed for me for this upcoming week. I plan to stay on target and do what I was going to do last week for this week.  I don't expect ANYTHING to get in my way now. That's a guarantee!! I mean what else could? I better NOT say that! LOL! Seriously, I WILL recap what I will be doing here, and you CAN count on it! PROMISE!!!

There is the FAREWELL TO SUMMER $250 #CASH #GIVEAWAY from NOW to 9-22 TO ENTER!!! You can click HERE! TO ENTER!!! OR click on the photo in the LEFT SIDE COLUMN AT THE TOP!! Good luck!!!!

REVIEWS TO COME FROM LAST WEEK:
Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner
Sewn With Love by Tricia Goyer

REVIEWS FOR THIS WEEK: 
Letters from Paris by Juliet Blackwell 
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen (I loved this book!)

I also have a few surprise books I need to review as well! You'll see the notifications when I post the reviews!!

Now, for the . . . 
BOOKS I RECEIVED THIS WEEK!!! The BEST part!!! I'll share them with you NOW!!!

Stalked (The Profiler #4) by Elizabeth Heiter 
RELEASE DATE: 12-27-16!  With my LOVE of thrillers, this book will SURELY do it for me!! This is a Mass Media Paperback I received!


Mending Fences by Sherryl Woods - released in 2007 but a classic!!! The publisher sent this one to me, and I can't WAIT to read this one!! It sounds SO good! 

Devastating secrets tear two families apart in this acclaimed novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods!

For ten years Emily Dobbs and Marcie Carter have been the closest of friends. They've raised their kids together, shared joy and heartache, exchanged neighborhood gossip over tea. But when Marcie's son, now a college freshman sports star, is arrested for date rape, the bond between the families could be shattered forever.

As the Carters try to deal with the unthinkable, Emily discovers her daughter has been hiding a terrible secret…a secret that threatens the futures of both families. Recently divorced, Emily struggles to keep it all together—to support her terrified daughter, to maintain her friendship with Evan's mother and to have faith in the detective who could change all of their lives.

When things seem darkest, both she and Marcie discover that sometimes the first step toward a better future is mending fences with the past.

I received a Bookmark and other SWAG from Brenda Novak, SIGNED!!!! In celebration for her NEW book I am DYING TO READ!!! Which is . . .


The Secrets She Kept, Fairham Island #2, a novel, by Brenda Novak - Released July 26th, 2016! Romantic thrillers!! This book follows up after:


The Secret Sister, Fairham Island #1, a novel, by Brenda Novak - released July 28th, 2015

Saturday, September 3, 2016

#StackingtheShelves #49 - Blog Updates and week's end for 9-3-16


Thanks to our Sponsor, Tynga's Reviews!

First, let's find out HOW Stacking the Shelves works! 

Hello everyone! It's that time of week again, that time to do an awesome "SHOW AND TELL" of the books I have been given, from authors, from publishers, I bought, borrowed, or received somehow, the library, a yard sale, or some way this past week! I LOVE showing books off like this! This is one of MY favorite posts to write!!
I also use THIS POST EACH WEEK to do somewhat of a wrap-up AND to post my NEW REVIEWS, NEW GIVEAWAYS, and whatever else I should bring to your attention!
After you are done reading HERE, click on the Sponsor's name up above and see THEIR post for Stacking the Shelves, too! They have a link-up with OVER 100-200 other blogs that also participate!
I'm also finding OTHER PLACES TO LINK UP TO AS WELL! I'm finding these places from other blogs, and they are GREAT ideas! The following NEW one is Talk of the Town where we can add ALL THINGS BOOKISH! Check it out! I still plan on joining in on other link-ups, too, I just haven't had the chance to do it all yet! I'll get there!!
I will also be linking this post AND my reviews to Saturday Situation as well from now on, too! That is a place to link ALL THINGS BOOKISH! I'm anxious to start posting there!! Check it out, too!

Hello!
Last week and early this week I was unable to do anything here on the blog because I got hit with a series of muscle spasms. I got hit with them last Friday, August 26th and they lasted until Tuesday, August 30th. The next few days, Thursday and Friday, August 31 and September 1st I was recovering from being riddled with the spasms. My muscles were very, very sore. Needless to say, I was unable to write ANY book reviews or do much of anything. This past week was one I would like to NEVER have happen again, but unfortunately, with Stiff Person Syndrome, it IS likely to happen again, but HOPEFULLY, not soon! I don't think I could get through that again so soon after! If it did happen, I would have no choice, but as for my psyche, I don't think I would be as happy and smiling as I am, generally. Just because I have this does NOT mean I allow it to rule my life! I live with it daily, sure, but I choose not to focus on it, not to allow it to get me down, and to be as happy as happy is!! I LOVE being happy and smiling! It BEATS being sad and depressed about this! It is hard, though, when you are hit with them for so LONG! Sure, I've been hit with them for a FEW days before, but not like this last week. I think to myself and wonder, WHAT DID I DO to cause my muscles to go crazy? Nothing, just the disease being itself. Let's HOPE that MORE RESEARCH WILL BE DONE, AND SOON!!! They are supposedly researching this extremely rare, orphan disease, and that makes me pretty happy! 
Researchers have learned there are two additional diseases that are part of SPS (the initials of the disease), and that is a Vitamin B-12 deficiency (which my doctor cannot seem to understand I am NOT absorbing B-12 from foods or supplements yet my Neurologist understands this!! I need the shots of B-12, but for some reason my Primary Care doctor doesn't think I need it??? Go figure!) Another is . . . remember Michael Jackson's skin? WHAT? YES!! Everyone accused Michael Jackson of bleaching his skin! Yes! He NEVER did. He had Vitiligo as well! So that is what is happening to MY skin! Vitiligo. I am Caucasian, yes! WE ALSO suffer from that SAME disease, REGARDLESS OF SKIN COLOR, just when it occurs on white skin, it is a series of (in my case) circular, oblong, or no patterned patches of skin turning whiter than white, that's IT! Imagine THAT on top of already white skin!! The following is NOW hilarious as I look back at it, and I WISH I would have threatened the guy that I would touch him without his gloves on! LOLOL!!! It was a Dentist I had to see for weekly visits at the time for some dental work, and he got the creeps from my skin! He made me feel AWFUL! (Jerk! Especially if he's reading this!!! LOL!) I HAVE to laugh at him now about it, but at that time, yes! He DID give me a complex about it! That's why he's a jerk! If you want to know who he is, it was Shane Langolf? Something like that. Just something I went through, and yes, I'm naming him! Too bad if he finds out I wrote about him because that is what I went through when he was supposed to be a professional health care provider and instead he was a huge bully about my skin! Idiot! So look now at what the researchers have learned! At least two more symptoms that do tie directly into this disease. That is a HUGE accomplishment, especially given this disease does not get much funding at all due to the rarity of it. Only 1 in 1 million people worldwide are lucky enough (lol!) to get this, so we had better feel pretty darned special to be chosen! (The Chosen, isn't that a book?! LOL!) HE did give ME a complex about the issue because HE complained and CONSTANTLY! EACH WEEK! Of WHAT CONCERN WAS IT HIS? NONE!! I guess it DID bother me, or else now, several years later, it DOES STILL bother me that it creeped him out! Geeze, you know! Did my answer change WEEK AFTER WEEK? NO!!!!! So WHY did he continuously ask me about it??? UGH!! 
My skin has very light patches of white on it, and the medical term is called Vitiligo. Here is the definition: Vitiligo: A condition in which the pigment is lost from areas of the skin, causing whitish patches, often with no clear cause. In simple terms: your skin stops producing Melatonin. SIMPLE!!                            
This is very common in people with arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases! Probably lack of blood to the area! LOL! Just because you have a higher degree in something does NOT give ANYONE the right to bully other people, especially when there IS an answer! 
Anyway, I do not want to see ANYONE like him again, and if I do, I move along - NEXT!!! Don't you be afraid to move along like I am doing now! It's important not to allow those types of people to think they have the right to badger/bully you about things just because they have a higher degree from schooling. It's YOUR body, you have to live with it, so find other people who are more caring and understanding!
This disease IS earmarked for more research! YEAH!!! I await the day I can say goodbye forever to muscle spasms, I just HOPE it's during my lifetime!! I NEVER talk about this, and I apologize, just trying to fill you in on what my last week was like, and some issues that have arisen in the past where I wish I would have handled things differently. I'm hoping you will NEVER go through some of these things I have gone through, and if I can help you in ANY way, please feel free to message me!! My email is laurieisreading at gmail dot com!! I will ALWAYS answer you and try to help out!
By the way, even MY Neurologist believes that Stiff Person Syndrome is UNDERDIAGNOSED!! He just agreed this last June when I saw him! Look this up if you suffer from severe muscle spasms and they don't seem to fit into the disease you have been labeled with. I was labeled with several different diseases, and one of them did not have a good outcome. Don't let that happen to YOU!! Stand UP for yourself! YOU DESERVE THE BEST!! Good luck!
Real quick!!! Now I have been feeling as stable as I can (the spasms never go completely away which is why I say 'stable'!) for the last 4 days now, which includes today!
Thanks for reading this!
Laurie

TWO $250 #CASH #GIVEAWAYS TO ENTER!!!
Look in the LEFT side column!! There are "2" - $250 CASH GIVEAWAYS GOING ON NOW!!! One is ENDING ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th, 2016! Make SURE to get your entries in, including myself!! Yes! "I" forget!! The 2nd $250 CASH GIVEAWAY IS ON NOW UNTIL SEPTEMBER 22nd!! Enter that NOW as well! That way you won't forget like I do sometimes!

REVIEWS TO COME FROM LAST WEEK:
Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner
Sewn With Love by Tricia Goyer

REVIEWS FOR THIS WEEK: 
Letters from Paris by Juliet Blackwell 
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen (I loved this book!)

BOOKS I RECEIVED THIS WEEK - FOUR I'M DYING TO READ!!!



A Most Extraordinary Pursuit by Juliana Gray



Love, Alice by Barbara Davis



The Forgotten Girls by Owen Laukkanen (Isn't this a GORGEOUS COVER!)

The Only Daughter by Anna Snoekstra - This came in PRINT yesterday! I'm SO excited!!! This looks like such a GREAT book, too!

See you back next week! I HOPE you have a WONDERFUL week of reading FUN!
Laurie