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A Happy Birthday (to Me) Giveaway
Are you getting any reading done in December? I looked back at my post outlining the reading I planned to get done before the new year, and laughed. So. Not. Happening. My reading has been almost totally eclipsed by the craziness that is December. I've been putting up Christmas decorations, thinking about getting cards mailed, shopping for gifts, and dealing with a very full schedule. I love this time of year - the cool weather, the Christmas lights, the feeling of joy and giving in the air - so why do I start and end the day feeling overwhelmed and headache-y? I swear, next year I will be more organized so I can actually ENJOY the holidays.
I really don't have anything to complain about, though - I have a beautiful home; a wonderful, healthy family; strong faith in God; and more blessings than any one person really deserves. Life's good - I just need some Tylenol and a nap :)
Anyway, on to the important stuff: books. I'm reading Back Creek by Leslie Goetsch, and really enjoying it. Goetsch does a remarkable job of pulling you into the setting, not only with the way she describes everything but with the very pacing of the story. I feel like I'm living creekside - it's actually very calming, something I need desperately right now. I'm hoping to have a review up by the end of the week. We'll see if it happens ...
In other news, I'm still waiting to hear back from Beth, who won a copy of Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz. Beth, will you please email me (blogginboutbooks[AT]gmail[DOT][COM]) your address? If I don't hear from her by Sunday, I'll have to choose another winner. To the other winners, I will get your books out as soon as I can. Thanks for your patience.
Speaking of giveaways, I have some fun ones coming up. You know Invisible i, which I've been raving about? I'm going to have copies up for grabs soon. I'm also planning a little something-something to celebrate my 500th post on BBB (this one is #495), so keep checking back for more fun and free books.
While we're on the subject of free books, I'm giving away a little holiday cheer today. I was going to wait until I read and reviewed it, but that may not happen this year, so here goes: I have 2 copies of The Christmas Secret by Donna VanLiere to give away. This is the 5th in her series of holiday books, although I'm not sure "series" is the right word since the stories aren't interrelated as far as I can tell. I've never read VanLiere, but her books seem to be sweet and heartwarming. You can find out more about the author and her work on her website (link is above). Deadline for this one is my birthday, December 22. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me what Christmas "secrets" you hope to find under your tree. Dream big, people! Blog, Tweet or announce the contest in some other way, and I'll give you an extra entry (1 extra entry per post, Tweet, or whatever). Contest is open internationally. Good luck!
(P.S. Copies of The Christmas Secret are courtesy of The Book Report Network. Thanks, Anne.)
17 comments:
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I would love to find the keys to a new Vespa scooter under my tree!
ReplyDeletePlease enter my name in you draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)coom
Totally want a Kitchen Aid stand mixer...cinnamon or red.
ReplyDeleteI have 4-5 books waiting to be read over the Christmas break. Kids will only be out of school for a week, so hopefully I can get a little reading in!!!
I hear ya about the Christmas stress! Excedrin is my best friend right now...
And Happy Birthday wishes to you. Hope you have a wonderful day.
Happy Birthday (a bit early)!!! And Happy Holidays, too!!
ReplyDeleteI would love to find round trip tickets to ANYWHERE tropical under our tree this year!!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com
I'd love to find a gift card to Walmart.
ReplyDeletesimplystacieblog at gmail dot com
Happy birthday, Susan! I hope your day was a good one.
ReplyDeleteMy reading plans for this month aren't quite going as outlined either, Susan. It's such a crazy time of year, isn't it?
What Christmas secrets would I like to find under the tree this year . . . Keys to my dream house? If only that were possible! Even if all I find is a letter from the city telling me they're ready to make offers (and big ones at that) on the houses in the neighborhood, I'd be happy. I'm worn out from their stringing us along.
literaryfeline AT gmail DOT com
Happy birthday in advance and all the very best for christmas and the new year.
ReplyDeleteUnder the tree - another ticket to visit Melbourne (again) pls.
mystica123athotmaildotcom
I would love to find tickets for a cruise to Hawaii!! Oh man... I need a cruise!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!!!
ReplyDeleteWould love to find a trip to Charleston, SC under my tree...all expenses paid, of course :)
karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)Com
Not an entry ... I just want to say Happy Belated Birthday, Susan!
ReplyDeleteOops ... that should be happy early birthday. My brain isn't functioning on full capacity.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to you!!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have a new bike wrapped up under the tree, and a commitment from my oldest son to slow down enough to ride with me. But that IS dreaming big.
Thanks for the giveaway.
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
I'd love to find tickets to visit my sis and her hubby in Alaska. Also, a really big book gift card :D
ReplyDeletePlease enter my name in the giveaway. Sounds like a good book.
I blogged in my sidebar giveaways at:
http://bookfan-mary.blogspot.com
meah56ATgmailDOTcom
Under my tree I would realllly love to find a puppy... our labradoodle Benny is in need of a girlfriend :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, a no-limit Barnes & Noble gift card, if that was possible!
I would absolutely love to find a Sony Touch Ereader under the tree...
ReplyDeleteBy the way hope you have a lovely birthday, you share it with my mom.
Happy (belated) Birthday!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to find a new sound system for our media room under the tree! I'm also really wishing for a happy Christmas for my 3 yr old niece whose parents are in the process of splitting up.
jl.scully[at]gmail[dot]com
I'd like to find a new puppy under my tree! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletemtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
Happy early Birthday!
ReplyDeleteI am not really sure what I would like to find under the tree this year. I am not really feeling the Christmas spirit this year. It seems anything that I really want would not fit under a tree! One thing I would like is to be able to see my family, which is not going to happen. I guess I would settle for a gift certificate to Book Express (my local independent bookstore that still uses gift certificates not gift cards...lol)
lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com