Tag: In The Mailbox

I had a great reading week…I actually finished all the books I had hoped to this past week with the exception of what I have left to read for Pride and Prejudice – but hey, the day isn’t over yet!  🙂

My Mailbox was actually a little mellow this week and that is ok…  I have plenty of reading to do – however I do have the delight of sharing with you what has now entered the reading Room this past week:

The Love Revolution by Joyce Meyer is one I will be interested in reviewing.  Just this past year I have read my first Joyce Meyer books – one non fiction, one fiction audio and enjoyed them.  This one interests me as I have a feeling it is going to be on the same style as the Love Dare… which, I have yet to complete the actual dare part.  *Sigh* Oh and with this review – comes giveaways….. yeah baby!  Giveaways!

The four books pictured are four of the five for the Hispanic Month Giveaway…. which ends Oct 15.  Don’t miss that – you can win all 5 books!  Dama’s, Drama’s and Ana Ruis I have already read and reviewed so that one is going in the prize box for giveaway.  Zumba I am excited to read as this is about working out to dance and I am all about that!  Maybe that review will have to be vlog….LOL – just kidding!!!  The other two, Evenings At The Argentina Club and AMiGOLAND I do not really know about.

Take Your Best Shot by Austen Gutwein looks soooooo good!  This book is about making a difference and how a God sized idea raised over a million dollars for Aids Relief in Zambia.  Can’t wait to jump into this one!

Children of Dust is another one that I am looking forward to reading.  This is a memoir of Pakistan.  This book is about the authors coming of age in Pakistan and the cultural shock of moving to the U.S.

A worthy Legacy is a gift to me from a reader of my blog, Rebecca Cox.  She seen this book on my wish tab and emailed me to say she had a copy she would gladly send me.  When I emailed her back to tell her how wonderful that was and to thank her, her response was, “No problem. You blogger guys work so hard and give away so many books, the least I can do is send you one”.

Seriously – Rebecca thank you.  I have met just the nicest people through this book blog enperience! 🙂

Messy Tessy is a book sent by the author.  I really enjoy these childrens reads and while I do not have any young children in my home any more, I someday believe I will have grand children and I will be able to share with them these wonderful books that I was given the opportunity to review.  (Shhh!  Dont tell my boys – I dont want grandchildren too soon!  LOL)

French Women For All Seasons I found at a book sale.  The price was so good, the book looks interesting. I couldn’t pass it up.  And yeah – I bought two.  So one goes in the prize box.   We shall see…. get it?  We?  That’s French….

The two Anne George Cozy Mysteries are also from that same book sale.  Murder Makes Waves and Murder Shoots The Bull…. I cant explain this purchase other than I am just inthe mood for mystery.  I think it is the weather….

Sins Of A Shaker Summer by Deborah Woodworth…. still in the mystery mode.  This one too came from that sale.  It sounds good!

Another One from the sale, Jan Karon is just a sweet author and she writes these lite little books that can be wonderful when you are in the mood for something not so heavy.  A Common Life sounds like what she usually writes and again, for the great price…. I knew I could squeeze this one some space in the Reading Room.

Barabara Delinsky’s Three Wishes is an incredible read that I read many years ago.  I found it at a great price and I am all about sharing great reads so this one too is for the prize box.

Once Upon A Quinceanera is a purchase mainly because 1) the price.  2) After reading Dama’s Dramas, and Ana Ruis a few months back and realizing that I had actually experienced a Quinceanera in Honduras and had not known thats what it was… I now am interested in knowing more about this tradition.

Last but not least is this gorgeous book, Dark Angels, also purchased at the book sale.  This book is really a thing of beauty.  Besides the cover… which I cant stop looking at… it is written by the author of Through A Glass darkly which I have not read but have heard wonderful things about.  This one is mine to look at and to read.

So that’s the haul this week.  I hope to have another great week of reading and keep moving steadilly through the TBR pile.  Share what you have brought into your home this week by linking on to this wonderful meme over at Story Siren’s Blog.  It is a lot of fun!

It is Sunday and we are back from the Vikings Game… and what a game! (More on the game in my Morning Meandering post tomorrow)…
Now… I want to work through this weeks deliveries and see what I have!  (In my Mailbox is a meme by Story Siren)

Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur and Shadow Government by Grant Jeffery:  This is an upcoming blog tour and I have actually read Randall Arthur’s Wisdom Hunter many years ago and loved it!  (Yes, I thought it was odd too that a book that has been out for many years is now on tour…)  Randlal Arthur has written three books and they area ll wonderful Christian fiction reads.

The House of Thunder by Patricia Carman: This is a WIN from Zia at My Life In Not So Many Words.  This book looks great!  Thanks Zia!

9 Dragons by Michael Connelly: A blog tour coming up mid October for a new one by Connelly!

Viola In Real Life by Adriana Trigiani: This one is exciting – this book is for a live chat at Book Club Girls coming up on the 30th…  it just came in the mail so i am going to have to read this one in the next couple days here.

The Financial Lives Of The Poets by Jess Walter: October 14 Blog Tour… Following Matt in his weeklong quest to save his marriage, his sanity, and his dreams, THE FINANCIAL LIVES OF THE POETS is a hysterical, heartfelt novel about how we can reach the edge of ruin—and how we can begin to make our way back. I Think it sounds interesting…. we shall see

Lighting Their Fires by Rafe Esquith: This book about raising extrodinary children is also a blog tour.  I like to read a wide diversity of books….

Across The Endless River by Thad Carhart:  This one looks really good and will be another one to dig into!

The Last picture is a gift package I won from Sharon at Sharon’s Garden of Books.  I received three cozy mysteries, Treasure of The Golden Cheetah,  a coffee mug (AWESOME!), tea, candle, key ring, coaster, and a refillable candle container.

That’s my week.  I am pretty shot tonight after the trip to Minneapolis and back so I am off to unwind a bit!

Fair warning – this is a two week accumulation due to last weekends massive bike ride and with BBAW I never did catch up on my regular memes.  Now I am back and excited to do a little house keeping this week on my blog…. moving some things around… etc..  but enough about that…. lest get to that mailbox:  (In my Mailbox was created by Story Siren)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett: You have probably heard me talk enough about this book lately… I think it was in three different posts during BBAW.  Funny – since I have not read it – just excited because of all I am hearing about it from my fellow bloggers!

The Guernsey, Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: Yippy!  I won a copy of this from Novel Menagerie (thank you thank you!)  Yet two came in the mail in separate packages on the same day – so you know what that means?  Yup!  Giveaway coming soon!

Killer Summer by Ridley Pearson sounds wonderfully spooky doesnt it?  I am thinking rainy night read or chilly fall night with a blanket and apple cider!

Dial Emmy for Murder by Eileen Davidson is just the fun cozy mystery I have been craving.  This will be a fun read!

Heavens Keep by William Kent Krueger really interests me as this is a Minnesota author who I have seen around (everywhere actually) but have never read!

Bo’s Cafe by John Lynch is an October 2,  Blog Tour.  This book looks so good!

Bone Lake by :  This is a book I won from J. Kayes Blog and I am so excited to read this as J. Kaye raved about it in a post she put up this past week.

When The Whistle Blows by :  Sent my way by the author…. I just thumbed through this book tonight and it looks like it will be a good one.

Extraordinary by John Bevere looks fantastic and this one I will be digging into soon.  Did you look at the picture?  Yup.  There are two of them and you know what that means!  GIVEAWAY BABY!!!

Cross Culture Servanthood by: This is a purchase I made to use for my training sessions for the team I am leading to Honduras on October 3oth this year.  I have heard this is a great read so I hope to use some of the info in it.

Marilyn Monroe by :  I love a good memoir and I was hoping i would get a chance to review this book and I did!  This should be a delight to read and review!

The Darceys and The Bingleys / The Plight of The Darcey Brothers:  Ok… I know that this looks like I have given in to the hype on all the new “Austen like” books…. but in my defense, the jury is still out as I have not read them yet.  Sure these are great looking books… but we will have to wait for the review to see if I have been sold.

Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms by Jane Doiron: A great cook book that came to me this past week with a copy to giveaway.  I posted my review of this earlier today after I read through it yesterday and made two recipes out of it for dinenr last night!  See review and giveaway here!

Beautiful Ugly by Shelia E Lipsey: Sent to me by the author for review.  Shelia described her book well in the email she sent me and it really peaked my interest!

A Thousand years by Donald Miller: Another one that I think is going to not only be a great read but one for the book shelf.  Thats right – I said it.  A keeper.

Benny and Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti: This is one of those books that Iread about on other blogs and was interested enough to pursue a review copy.

The Lighter Side of Trainers 2010 Calendar: This is one of those items I got in the mail and for the life of me can not remember if this is something I asked for or won or what.  Forgive me – but I can not remember.  It does look great though and it will be going in the book room for 2010.

The Carpet Boys Gift by Pegi Deitz Shea: A gorgeous childrens read that I am sure will be reviewed quickly because 1) it is so great looking I want to read this and review it and 2) I really want to get working on my childrens reviews and I have several to do!

Sir Dalton and The Shadow Heart by Chuck Black: Ooh!  This is a bit out of my normal read but for some reason the cover draws me and i think I am going to enjoy it!

Charlie and Mama Kyna by Diana Rumhahn: Like I stated above, I am looking to do a whole category of Childrens books and am excited to get them to review when I can.  This one also looks delightful and I cant wait tor ead this as well.  This one is based off an international award winning film.

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard: I have read wonderful reviews on this one and I am excited to dig in and see what it is all about!

Deconstructing Sammy by Matt Birkbeck: Another memoir!  Sammy has this odd place in my heart…. when I was a kid I had a pure bread poodle that was the grandson of Sammy Davis Jrs. dog.  No kidding.  I know that is really weird but as a kid… I was really proud of that.  The book is just another one that I enjoy knowing the stories behind the stories.

The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall: My first holiday book review!  This one is a tour Set for mid October!  I have read Cindy before and enjoy her books!

So there it is…. the mailbox in all of its glory.  🙂

I was really hoping to get this post up last night (In My Mailbox is the wonderful weekly meme hosted by Story Siren)but by the time I got home from running all weekend and then two events last night… I was way too tired.  Today I am hoping to lay low a bit and get caught up on posts and reviews for this week!  Here is what showed up in my mailbox the past 7 days:

The Evolution of Shadows is one that as soon as I read what it was about, I had to jump in for a review copy:  This book is about a news photographer that disappeared in July 1995 while he was working on the Bosnian War Zone.  5 Years later his closest friends gather to try to find out what happened to him.

31 Hours is another one that caught me by surprise…. Jonas is isolated in a New York apartment and on a devastating and confusing pasth towards violence.  His mother and girlfriend have 31 hours to reach him.

Too Many Visitors for One Little House is a children’s read about crabby neighbors, new family, and a reunion that all teaches about the importance of being included.

Defining Twilight just seems interesting to me.  In this book Brian Leaf takes the movie Twilight and uses it to show you how to improve your SAT, GED,ACT or SSAT exams.  Now granted, I am not in school… yet I wanted to know more about this book…. and hey, I am always up for learning something new!

If God is Good is written by Randy Alcorn and if you have not read him – I recommend him…. if you have read him… I do not need to say any more as you already know what an amazing writer he is!  I think I have read just about everything this man has written and if I havent read it, it is on my shelf to be read.  I am excited to have this beautiful hard cover book!

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much.… This has to do with books…seriously, do I need to say more?  LOL.  Actually this is a true story of a thief… actually a real book thief, who stole rare books.  I am excited to not only read this but I am curious about the books that drew him to a life of crime.

Cleopatra’s Daughter in all her glory…. this beautiful hard cover book just draws me.  I cant wait to dive into this one!

Defenders of The Scroll was offered to me by the author and as I am sitting here typing with this book beside me, I have to comment on the great graphics within the pages and the paged themselves written like scrolls.

The Eight I won from Nicola’s Book Blog.  I have heard about this book on several blogs and it sounds wonderful!  Compared to the mysteries you find in The Davinchi Code, if this book is anything like that I will be over the top excited!

The Cinderella Society I won from You 2.0 (author Kay Cassidy’s blog) and I want to seriously scream like a little girl!  I have read Kay’s blog since 2.0 came about and enjoy her posts so I a super excited to read her book!

Grief Journey is a book loaned to me by our “up North” neighbor Judy.  Judy lives across the road from our cabin and while enjoying BLT’s (tomatoes out of her garden on homemade oat bread!) she offered me to read this book on a Minnesota author that her and her husband Tom know well.  As I was thinking of a way to politely decline (visions of my TBR mountain) I noticed the author had done missions in Honduras.  NOt only missions in Honduras – but missions in Talanga Honduras which is where I do missions in Honduras!  So…. needless to say… I will be reading the book.  😉

So there it is!  The additions to my library this week.  Later today I will post my “It’s Monday, what are you reading?” and work on getting things back to norm around here!

Lots of things to post this week – new giveaways and new winners as well so stop back often – the coffee is on and cinnamon rolls are fresh from the oven!

This is my favorite post of the week.  I get to hang out with all of you and share not only what the highlights of the past week were… but the treasures I found in my mailbox as well!

Thank you as always to Story Siren for this wonderful Meme that encourages us book bloggers to share what came out of our mailbox this week.  Be sure to check out Kristie’s site and see what she had in her mailbox as well as many other book bloggers who participate in this weekly.

here is the mailbox:

• Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran is an ARC that came from Book Browse through First Impressions

• That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake is a review copy from Bethany House

• Tall Tales and Wedding Veils by Jane Graves I won from Trisha’s Book Blog!

• A Surrendered Heart by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller is a review copy from Bethany House

• You Were Born For This by Bruce Wilkenson is for a Sept 14 – 18 Blog Tour with Giveaway from Randomhouse

• Love Has A Face by Michele Perry is a review copy from Bethany House

• No Mad from Sam Moffie I won from Bookin With Bingo

• The Sorcerer’s Key by CC  Bye (Signed Copy!) I won from Sassy Brit at Alternative read.com

• Book Lust is a fun Reading Journal I received from my wonderful friend Wendy who I had loaned a few books to earlier this year.  This was her thank you to me and I LOVE IT!!!  Seriously Wendy, come get books any time!
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• My Life in France by Julia Child w/ book bag, apron, and book light!  (I am horribly embarassed to say that I do not remember where I won this from.  If it was you, or you do know who this came from please let me know so i may the correction here)

So you may be looking at this weeks mail box loot and be thinking” how did she win all of those books”? Well, I visit a lot of blogs.  A lot. If they have contests with books I would like to read I sign up to win.  Easy as that.  I obviously sign up for way more than I win, but as long as I am visiting a blog and they are offering a give away of a good read, I like to sign up.  Here are the current giveaways I am offering and here are a few great giveaways from around the blogesphere.

The final thing I like to do as I wrap up my week is go back and point out some of the posts I have done in the last week.  As I tend to post so frequently, I like to review what has happened this past week in the event you are just stopping in.

Review of Pike Point by Greg Suhonen

Blog Tour:  Knit For Love

Blog Tour: Rose House

Blog Tour:  The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper

Freebie Friday Giveaway:  Mona Lisa Craving!  Sign up now!

Morning Meanderings… yet another confession

Review:  King of Torts by John Grisham w/ giveaway!

Word verification Balderdash (The Thursday Thing)

Living Your Five (So cool!!!)

Wednesdays featured Book Club

Just Food giveaway

Thanks everyone – be sure to say hi when you come over by leaving a comment.  I try to respond to comments left here as well as visit you who have blogs.  🙂

Ooh… I feel like that rabbit again in Alice in Wonderland…”I’m Late! I’m late!”

When oh when does life slow down?  You would think with two grown kids and a hubby who works all the time that I would have a ton of time on my hands… but no… alas, I tend to over overbook (yeah – I meant to say that) myself consistently!

So here I am at 9:49 pm on Sunday night after catching up on the awards to give away and the contests that have ended… I finally get to do the part of the week I love to post… In my Mailbox.  (Sponsored by the wonderful Story Siren)

*Sigh of relief*

So lets see what the mailbox brought this week….

Just Food:  A book from Hachette Book Group which will also have a giveaway for 5 copies!

The Sister Pact:  Sent to me by the author, Cami Checketts

Whiskey Golf:  Sent to me by the author Clyde Ford

Thug Lovin:  A book from Hachette Book Group

North or Be Eaten:  A September Blog Tour with giveaway!

Pike Point:  Sent to me from the author – a Minnesota author – for review

Fearless by Max Lucado – sent from Thomas Nelson Publishing

ALIBI:  a book from Hachette Book Group

Annies Ghost:  sent by the publisher for review

The Woman Who Named God:  From Hachette Book Group with a current giveaway going on right now!

The Devils Queen:  sent to me by the wonderful Sharon Galligar who seen this book on my wishlist tab and happened to have an extra!  Thank you Sharon!

Miles to Go:  A book I won off author Laurel-Rain-Snow’s website.  Thanks Laurel!!

So that’s what the mailbox brought my way.  As I look back over the past week here are my highlight posts:

Damas, Dramas and Ana Ruiz blog tour

Murder on the Down Low blog tour

Morning Meandering – captures local book reviewer in our newspaper!

The Women’s Nest Book Club interview

Word Verification Balderdash Meme

BBAW nominations!

Summer of Two Wishes Blog Tour

Freebie Friday book giveaway

Fall Library Sale

The Lateiner Gang blogging family interview

Any Minute by Joyce Meyer review

Award Presentations (lots of them)

So there you have it.  I am out of town for the next two days but have posts prepped so keep on stopping – the automatic coffee pot will have fresh coffee for you, just help yourself!  🙂

Have a wonderful week and happy reading!