Bedtime Story: One Little Christmas Tree

Synopsis: "Alfred is a young tree at Carl's Christmas Tree Farm in beautiful Spruce Creek, North Carolina. As all trees do, Alfred starts out with big hopes about being picked each Christmas to be a wonderfully decorated tree for the family he 'inherits.' Time passes and Alfred becomes disappointed that he has not been picked yet. To comfort him, his friend, Mr. Phipps, urges him to be patient and that one day he will be welcomed into a warm, inviting home for the perfect family. Does Alfred get his wish? Will he become a welcome addition to a loving family?"

My Review: An adorable book to read your little ones during the holidays. I personally never got the joy of finding a Christmas tree since I am highly allergic but I can imagine the joy of finding the perfect tree. I would suggest reading this book to your kids maybe on your way to pick out your special tree. The story is very cute, it take Alfred a while to grow, and those are sad years when his other tree friends are chosen but eventually he finds the joy of the season. The drawings are very cute, I love the expression on the tree's faces! Personally the tree all decorated and sparkling is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season.

 

My Rating: I adored this little book and can't wait until Munchkin can enjoy it, even though we won't be going to find a tree.  I give it a rating of Four Paws.

 

 

 

One Little Christmas Tree was sent to me by the author to read and review.

 

You can get a copy for the little child in your life at Barnes and Noble or on Amazon in either Paperback or Kindle ebook.

 

 

 

Good Night, Sweet Dreams!

Music Speaks Readalong #1 - Gone Too Soon

 

Throughout November I will be doing a read along of Music Speaks an anthology of stories with music. I hope you will all participate.  Music, like books, can affect us in so many ways it only makes sense to have a book of music stories. I will be doing 2 stories a week, the first of which will be on Thursday. 

You can get your copy in ebook format on Amazon for $2.99 or in paperback format on Amazon for $6.99.  Sorry but its not on Barnes and Noble (I should have told you all to get it earlier because I downloaded it when it was free).

So please join me, if you aren't going to be reading along I would still love if you would stop by, I would love to hear how particular songs or artist have made an impact in your life!

Welcome to the first readalong of the month! The first short story in the book is call Gone Too Soon and is written by Christopher T. Grace.

 

 

Gone Too Soon is a short story about an author who hears the news that a famous musician has been killed in a car wreck. He is very affected by this news as one of the songs pulled him back from the brink at one point. The author encounters one of his regular waitresses at a coffee shop he frequents and finds out she is deeply influenced by one of the books he has written.

 

It is amazing how a song, movie, book or character can influence us so much! They can turn our lives around, pick us up or help us strive to be better people.

 

 

 

Is there a particular song, movie, book or character that has influenced your life?

 

 

 

I can't pin point a particular book or character that has influenced me but I read a lot of books with strong, independent female characters and I strive to be like them.  But I can say one movie and a song from that movie have stuck with me since I saw it years ago.  The movie is Rigoletto and the song that really affected me is Melody Within, every time I here it I am reminded that everyone has a story and to look for the good in each person and to do my best to bring out the good in them. Not to mention the music is just beautiful and soothing!

 



 

 

 

Join me on Monday for the next story!!

Giveaway Winners Announced!!

First off Happy Halloween Everyone!!

 

I will have adorable pictures of all my kiddies (yes even the four legged ones) for you soon!!

 

 

But on to the real reason for posting and what you have all been waiting for . . .

 

 

The winner of the Blogoversary Giveaway that included 2 books off the winners wishlist plus a bonus surprise book, is  . . .

 

Mel Brock - @msaching !!

 

 

And that wasn't the only giveaway this month! I also have the winner of the autographed copy of The Secret of Shadow . . .

 

 

Jenny James!!

 

 

CONGRATS TO BOTH WINNERS!!!!

 

 

I will be contacting you both shortly! And thank you to all my guests and of course all of you for making this a fantastic Blogoversary month! 

 

 

I wish you all a safe and fun Halloween! 

 

 



Wednesday Writing

So Wednesday is my official writing update day. I have so many story projects going on and I need a push to get some done. So I will be trying to post each Wednesday about how my writing adventures are going (and I may need a swift kick in the pants by you guys sometimes).

Current Active Project:

The Last Mountains - 13,468 (handwritten) = 15,766 (typed)

A equine shapeshifting family is being hunted to near extinction and the young new leader must go against all her lessons and approach the elite council for aide. Will they help her? How will she keep her family's traditions and values alive, let alone her herd?

Tamlyn Marie's Grace -

Think Cinderella only with a matchmaker ;)

Other Works in Progress:

The New Old Home - 17,193 words

Everyone dreams of winning the lottery, but what would you do with that money? That is the question presented to Natalie, when she is at the lowest point in her life, she is presented with an opportunity to make any normal person's dreams come true, but all those winnings can't give her what she wants most.

Princess Bs - 32,131 words

A story about a woman, recently divorced and returned to her home town to figure out what is next. She encounters an old friend and spends a weekend with him and his daughters. Feelings that are long since buried are rising up again, but are her recent loss and his current life going to stand in the way of their happily ever after?

Night Rider - 17,229

Alice is a recent high school graduate who is a very accomplished competitive rider in Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, and Western/Rodeo. Her parents had arranged for her to attend a private college on the east coast geared specifically to equine professions. However, Alice wants to focus on her studies in English Literature. When she arrives at the college she hides her riding abilities, but can she keep her talent and love of horses hidden?

Other Ideas Plotting:

Bloodsoar's Story

A pegasus struggles through life, ejected from the herd, near capture by humans.

The Assassin's Assassin

A student learns what the school is really teaching and sets out to destroy those who support the program.

Angel Story

Angels battle out an age old feud in a parallel world

 

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So sadly I won't be participating in Nanowrimo but hopefully in honor of it I can finish typing up the rest of handwritten Tamlyn Marie's Grace.  I do wish all of you who are participating the best of luck! Let me know if you are and I will stop in to cheer you on!

Review of Sarah Smiles by Seanpaul Thomas

 

Synopsis: "It's Nineteen ninety one and eleven year old Paul and his family have just moved to the climatic sunshine paradise island of Cyprus.

On Paul's first day at school he becomes completely spellbound by the pretty tomboy Sarah. Though not only because of her cute and athletic good looks. But also because of her rough and tough, jagged edged ways and her no nonsense approach to handling school bully Michael.

This incident triggers off a series of exciting and dramatic events that brings the homely, well rounded Paul and the troubled young Sarah's worlds colliding together. The two then begin an unusual and exciting yet somewhat tragic friendship, which will stay with them for the rest of their lives, as they both battle to confront their inner most fears and demons.

From the mystery of Sarah's Mother's disappearance to the trials and tribulations of growing up on the move with army parents. Sarah's domestic abuse issues living in a broken home with her alcoholic father to dealing with Paul's school bullying from the borderline psychotic Michael. There are Summertime adventures to be had, gorgeous Cypriot beaches and bondoo valley wastelands to explore. To haunted houses, dark hidden caves and first teen romances. All the while dealing with that delicate yet rough transition into becoming a teenager.

But how long can these summertime adventures last when children are forced to grow up so fast in an ever changing world, especially when unforeseen tragedies are just around the corner...

Sarah Smiles is a adventurous, romantic tale for all adults, and young adults alike, to enjoy."


My Review: Sarah Smiles is a great book. Seanpaul takes on some very tough issues in this book. We start with Paul who is in a military family and having to deal with moving constantly and always being the new kid. We then meet Michael who is the bully of the school, but there is far more to his story. Steven we only meet a little but he seems like a potentially great friend. Then we meet Sarah, forced to shoulder the care of her brother, as well as taking over all the tasks her mother should have been dealing with and add in an abusive father. There are so many strong issues of bullying, peer pressure and abuse that they really could have overwhelmed and turned the story gloomy and depressing, but that didn't happen. All while we watch the young military kids deal with the issues, we get to see blossoming friendships and even a little love. It was great that Seanpaul managed to squeeze some tender and fun scenes amidst the harder scenes, a well written book. A great young adult book for any reader!        

 

 

My Rating: While it is hard to read about the difficult issues highlighted in Sarah Smiles, it is still a great book.  After seeing so many articles about the lack of male main characters in young adult books, here you go! I give it a rating of Four Paws!

 

 

 

Sarah Smiles was sent to me by the author for review.

 

You can find out more about Sarah Smiles on Goodreads

You can also purchase your own copy of Sarah Smiles at Amazon or Barnes & Noble



Lets get Personal: Back to Where it all Began

 

Boy has it been an amazing two years of blogging! I have made so many new friends and discovered so many new books! As I said at the beginning of the month that with this new milestone of blogging for two years, it got me looking back and thinking about where it all began.

 

As with many of you, I can't exactly pin point a time when my love of books began, they just always seemed to be a part of my life. As I have said before, I thank my mother for instilling the love of books in me.  She put forth the extra time and effort to make sure she read to me and made books available to me.  I hope I can do the same for my little Munchkin! As I have asked my guests through out this month to do, I would like to share some of my early book and favorite book memories with you.

 

 

The first book I ever owned myself (and probably read too) was the Serendipity book Misty Morgan. You should see my copy, it is so battered, the cover has been taped back together so many times it is practically laminated!

I have always been obsessed with horses and unicorns so it was a huge hit with me, but I think the moral of the story was also important.  In fact I think the Princess still has a lesson to remind me of now as an adult.  She was too busy working to have fun and play with the unicorn Morgan until one day Morgan is gone and the Princess is sad.  She goes in search of Morgan but gets lost in the fog.  The lesson behind the story is to take time to play some too or you may someday find your friends have moved on to find fun elsewhere. So I still cherish my Misty Morgan book.

 

The first book I remember my mom reading to me was The Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Like so many this series of books played a huge role in my memories.  My mom read the whole series to us, and we also visited the sites of the Little House on the Prairie. We went into the house, we stood under the trees Pa planted for the girls and walked through the town. My mom also made sure to show us our family tree and pointed out that we have one of the Wilder's in our lineage! So needless to say I will be reading this series to Munchkin as well.

 

I remember when we were done with those books we then picked out the Star Wars books for my mom to read to us (she had an awesome C3PO voice). Not the originals but the branch off ones that I think authors are still writing. Yes, there is a little secret for all of you, I am obsessed with Star Wars.  I always say its my brother who is but deep down where it is hidden I am too!

 

 

So there you have it those are a few of my very first and fondest memories of books and reading.  I would love to hear more about yours!!

 



Monday Reading List

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

 

The Secret of Shadow by TJ Silver
I Was So Mad by Mercer Mayer (Bedtime Story)

Books Finished Last Week:
Reviews will be posted at a later date

Sippy Cups are Not for Chardonnay by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Wacky Wednesday by Dr. Seuss
Love you Forever by Robert Munsch
Curious George Goes Camping by Margret & HA Rey
Bayou by Jeremy Love
 



Currently Reading:

Liberty: A Lake Wobegon Novel by Garrison Keller - PB - on page 92 of 288

Cleo: The cat who mended a family by Helen Brown - PB - on page 124 of 292
Addicted to My Sugar Daddy by Mack Collins - Kindle - 7% complete
Something New by Malena Lot - Nook- on page 32 of 327
 

Next Books to be Read:

Under Camelot's Banner by Sarah Zettel - Arthurian Legend Challenge

Soul of a Highlander by Melissa Mayhue - Mount TBR Challenge
Eragon by Christopher Paolini - Mount TBR Challenge/ Book v. Movie
Fire on the Island by JK Hogan

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NOVEMBER READ ALONG

Throughout November I will be doing a read along of Music Speaks an anthology of stories with music. I hope you will all participate.  Music, like books, can affect us in so many ways it only makes sense to have a book of music stories. I will be doing 2 stories a week, the first of which will be on Thursday. 

You can get your copy in ebook format on Amazon for $2.99 or in paperback format on Amazon for $6.99.  Sorry but its not on Barnes and Noble (I should have told you all to get it earlier because I downloaded it when it was free).

So please join me, if you aren't going to be reading along I would still love if you would stop by, I would love to hear how particular songs or artist have made an impact in your life!

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Wow! I can't believe October is almost over! And so is my month long Blogoversary :(  but be sure that you enter both my Blogoversary Giveaway and also a giveaway for a signed copy of The Secret of Shadow by TJ Silver!

I will be posting my own bookish memories later today too!  I hope you have all been enjoying this fun filled month!


Oh and PS Hopefully I will be able to post the giveaway winners, but if Miss Hurricane Sandy decides to hit us full on I may loose power for a few days (Irene knocked us out for 4 days and they are saying this storm will be worse). But either way I will get on, announce and contact the winners as soon as possible!!