Advent Reads Day 23: The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

Welcome to Advent Reads!

This is an event I have had on my blog for several years running now.  Each evening I feature a different holiday themed book. Think of it as your Book Advent Calendar! I post a variety of holiday books including romance, children's, middle-grade, mystery, paranormal, and I try to find some that are other holiday celebrations than Christmas too. I hope you will stop by each evening to see what new book I have for you!

Synopsis: "One dollar and eight-seven cents is all the money Della has in the world to buy her beloved husband a Christmas present. She has nothing to sell except her only treasure -- her long, beautiful brown hair. Set in New York at the turn of the twentieth century, this classic piece of American literature tells the story of a young couple and the sacrifices each must make to buy the other a gift. Beautiful, delicate watercolors by award-winning illustrator Lisbeth Zwerger add new poignancy and charm to this simple tale about the rewards of unselfish love."

My Review: The only version of Gift of the Magi I am familiar with is the video of Mickey and Minnie, so I thought it was time I read the original. I was a little hesitant at first because of the wording at the beginning but I quickly came to love the flow of the writing. It was a beautiful story and a great one for the holidays, it is also a short enough book to sit down in the middle of your to dos and remember what true gift giving is about. I also love this edition, the artwork is so beautiful!

My Rating: I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this one and it was a perfect little book to sit down with in the flurry of the season.  I give it a rating of Four Paws!

Stress Free Holidays: Delegate!

Welcome to my Stress Free Holidays series, I will be sharing some tips to reduce the amount of stress this time of year puts on all of us.  Some are ones I have used, some are ones I will be instituting this year, and some I will be using in the future.  If you have any great ways to reduce the amount of stress please feel free to share them with us!

This is tip is something that is still a work in progress for me but I think I am getting better at it, Delegate!  On Christmas Day, if you are hosting, you will be up to your eyeballs in to do items so don't think you can take it on all by yourself.  Often people ask if they can do anything but I always thought of it as an empty offer or it is just plain easier for me to do myself rather than instruct them where things are located.  But there are easy things for others to help out with, whether it is bringing a dish to share, or being responsible for wrangling in all the wrapping paper, or clearing out empty bottles to the recycling bin occasionally, topping off beverages or snack platters, opening assembling and reading instructions for that must open now toy(my favorite to assign out), or simply making sure everyone has a seat.  These are all jobs that are easily delegated to others and won't take more of your time to supervise than it would be to do yourself.  So give those people you are feeding and entertaining a job to do while you work away (and hopefully it will free up some of your time to enjoy everyone too).

Advent Reads Day 22: Olaf's Frozen Adventure

Welcome to Advent Reads!

This is an event I have had on my blog for several years running now.  Each evening I feature a different holiday themed book. Think of it as your Book Advent Calendar! I post a variety of holiday books including romance, children's, middle-grade, mystery, paranormal, and I try to find some that are other holiday celebrations than Christmas too. I hope you will stop by each evening to see what new book I have for you!

Synopsis: "Join Olaf, Kristoff, Sven, Anna, and Elsa on a holiday adventure in this read-along storybook and CD. The CD features narration, original character voices, and sound effects from the Frozen Holiday special."

My Review: I really love these read-along books with the CDs, they are great in the car or even at home when you need a minute or two. This one is great for those Frozen fans, or really any young kids during the holidays. Olaf goes searching for different holiday traditions and it can be a great way to start a conversation about your own family's traditions and other family's too. We really enjoyed this book and the CD with the voices and sound effects just really adds to the enjoyment.

My Rating: This was such a cute story, we love the audio book with the sound effects and voices and it was a great conversation starter.  We give it a rating of Four Paws!

Stress Free Holidays: Clean and Check Your Appliances

Welcome to my Stress Free Holidays series, I will be sharing some tips to reduce the amount of stress this time of year puts on all of us.  Some are ones I have used, some are ones I will be instituting this year, and some I will be using in the future.  If you have any great ways to reduce the amount of stress please feel free to share them with us!

This is a tip that I have never really thought of before but when I read it in the book Christmas Sucks by Joanne Kimes, it was kind of like an ah ha moment for me.  Prior to the holiday and the crunch time of when you need your oven, dishwasher, heaters, etc working at peak performance, give them a little TLC.  No one wants to find out after hours of prep and work that your oven hasn't actually been baking that turkey all day because the thermostat stopped working. Or to have your dishwasher crap out during the first of about 20 loads of Christmas dishes.  So take a bit of time and run a cleaner through the oven and dishwasher and make sure both are working properly before the big day when you won't find anyone to fix them (unless of course you are lucky enough to have a plumber or electrician in the family).  On that note, if you are traveling instead, make sure you aren't over due for an oil change, top off your fluids and check the air pressure in the tires of your car before hitting the road. 

Granted these appliance catastrophes may lead to some very funny and memorable moments down the line, it won't seem that way in the moment, so best to try to avoid it if possible.

Advent Reads Day 21: The Christmas Promise by Donna VanLiere

Welcome to Advent Reads!

This is an event I have had on my blog for several years running now.  Each evening I feature a different holiday themed book. Think of it as your Book Advent Calendar! I post a variety of holiday books including romance, children's, middle-grade, mystery, paranormal, and I try to find some that are other holiday celebrations than Christmas too. I hope you will stop by each evening to see what new book I have for you!

Read for: Recent Purchase

Synopsis: "Each Christmas we are given a promise from heaven. And each year on earth we make promises to each other.

This is a story about how a promise from one person to another shows us the true meaning of faith, remembrance, and love.Seven years ago Gloria endured a family tragedy that almost shook her faith entirely. Each Christmas she places a card in an envelope on her tree, restating a promise she made to her husband before he died. Now, having moved from her small town and all the painful memories it held, she is building a life by caring for people in need. Whether it's a young mother who can't pay her electric bill or a family who needs some extra food, Gloria always finds a way. Miriam is a thorn in Gloria's side. Miriam is a constantly critical, disapproving neighbor who looks with suspicion at all the good things Gloria does. When a twist of fate makes them roommates instead of neighbors, it's the ultimate test of patience and faith.

Chaz has a good job as head of security at Wilson's Department Store, but each night he returns home to an empty apartment. He longs for a wife and family of his own but realizes that the life choices he's made have alienated him. He befriends a young boy whose mother has fallen on hard times, giving him a chance to have a life he thought impossible.In The Christmas Promise, the lives of these characters collide and we learn that even as we move ahead, the past is never far behind. And when we are forgiven much, we love much.

In this warmly humorous and deeply poignant story, we are reminded that the Christmas Promise is the promise of second chances."

My Review: Now this was definitely more of a companion story rather than a continuation of the series. It is set in the same town as the previous books and a couple of the characters made a very brief appearance but other than that there really wasn't the same connection as the previous three books in the series had. It does however have the same common theme of small kindnesses being passed down the line and Christmas miracles happening to those people who really deserve it. Instead of reading this one I listened to it on audio and I don't know if that affected my experiences or not, but I didn't have the same connection to this story as I had with the other books. I actually didn't even tear up where as the other three had me sobbing. It was still a great book with a great message and I did love how the characters came to support one another. It is a good story to read during the holidays.

My Rating: This one didn't disappoint but it also wasn't quite on the level of the other three books for me personally.  Maybe I have reached my peak consumption of emotional books for the season, so will save the rest of the series for next year.  I do still give this one a rating of Three Paws.

Don't forget to go back and comment HERE to enter the giveaway for The Christmas Shoes, the first book in the series.

I will give you until Christmas Eve to enter the giveaway and then I will draw the winner. 

Stress Free Holidays: Easy Dinners

Welcome to my Stress Free Holidays series, I will be sharing some tips to reduce the amount of stress this time of year puts on all of us.  Some are ones I have used, some are ones I will be instituting this year, and some I will be using in the future.  If you have any great ways to reduce the amount of stress please feel free to share them with us!

One of my favorite tips from my mother-in-law is to have simple meals for the last few days leading up to Christmas.  Granted, many people will be out to parties anyway but for our family this is a much used tip.  Pick very simple dinners, ones that don't make many dishes or leftovers.  You will be exhausted getting everything done and ready for Christmas, and your fridge will already be overloaded with food for the holiday and who wants to add extra loads of dishes on top of the to do list?!   Some of our favorite simple but healthy meal ideas are: Bagel Pizzas, Crock Pot meals (search for Salsa Chicken, it is one of my favorite), grilled cheese and soup, finger food appetizers (like finger sandwiches, mozzarella sticks, fried ravioli, fried shrimp or clams, etc.) and one pot pasta meals.

Advent Reads Day 20: The Christmas Hope by Donna VanLiere

Welcome to Advent Reads!

This is an event I have had on my blog for several years running now.  Each evening I feature a different holiday themed book. Think of it as your Book Advent Calendar! I post a variety of holiday books including romance, children's, middle-grade, mystery, paranormal, and I try to find some that are other holiday celebrations than Christmas too. I hope you will stop by each evening to see what new book I have for you!

Read for: Recent Purchase

Synopsis: "Patricia and Mark Addison have long given up the hope of having a meaningful Christmas. But this year, Patricia's job as a social worker will lead her to a very special five-year-old. Against her better judgment, Patricia bends the rules and takes the little girl to her own home.

Through the presence of Emily in their house, and her penetrating questions about heaven, the Addisons learn that there is no sorrow so great that faith cannot help you find your way through. And Christmas will once more be a time of joy in their home."

My Review: I am really glad I continued with this series. At first I thought this book was a companion novel instead of a continuation but the connection became clear as the story moved forward. I really like how this book was connected with the previous two books in the series, it really gives you that sense that we are all connected in someway and those small kindnesses that you think are no big deal might really be a big deal for someone else. It was really a great book for the holidays and really hits home. I found this one to be right up there with the first book, maybe because of the younger characters.

My Rating: I really enjoyed this one, it was definitely one that took me on a roller coaster of emotions but that is exactly what I want during the holidays.  I give it a rating of Four Paws!

Don't forget to go back and comment HERE to enter the giveaway for The Christmas Shoes, the first book in the series.

Review of Jammie Day by Carrie Snyder

Read for: Requested Review/ Netgalley

Synopsis: "Cliffy is a middle child: a little less loud, a little less messy, and a little less conspicuous than his four siblings. One cold, winter morning, Cliffy doesn't feel like getting dressed. So he tells his mom it's jammie day and heads to school in his favorite footy pajamas.
His mom might not have been paying attention. His teacher and his dad are distracted, too. So Cliffy gets away with it for a day... then a week... then a month. The other kids at school catch on quickly and start making every day jammie day, too! This playful read-aloud pokes fun at preoccupied adults and lets the kids win. Adorable, nuanced artwork elevates the story with a true-to-life depiction of family chaos, emotion, and warmth. The illustrations especially show off Cliffy's jammies, which become more worn, torn, and beloved as the months go by."

My Review: I love the idea of a Jammie Day (even more so now that I am an adult) and Munchkin is always asking for a PJ Day at school, so I thought this would be a fun story. While it was a bit of a silly story with convincing everyone that it is jammie day for a day, a week and more, there is a bit of a sad part too. I didn't really like the idea of portraying the middle child as being ignored to the point of not truly paying attention to what they are saying or wearing. While I know this is meant to be a funny story, this little tidbit doesn't sit well with me. Munchkin, being an only child, didn't catch on and now tries to convince me all the time it is PJ day at school.

My Rating: I was kind of disappointed in the portrayal of the adults in this book and the treatment of the middle child, it could really add to negative feelings if read to a child who just had a younger sibling born.  I give it a rating of Three Paws because Munchkin did really enjoy it, though again he is an only child and it wouldn't have the same impact on him.

I received this book via Netgalley and this is my honest, unbiased review.

You can find out more about Carrie Snyder on her Goodreads Page or her Website.

Jammie Day was released in October and you can find your own copy in print format at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or your favorite children's book provider.

Advent Reads Day 19: The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere

Welcome to Advent Reads!

This is an event I have had on my blog for several years running now.  Each evening I feature a different holiday themed book. Think of it as your Book Advent Calendar! I post a variety of holiday books including romance, children's, middle-grade, mystery, paranormal, and I try to find some that are other holiday celebrations than Christmas too. I hope you will stop by each evening to see what new book I have for you!

Read for: Recent Purchase

Synposis: "In The Christmas Shoes, young Nathan Andrews was a child who lost his mother to cancer. Now his deepest wish is to become a doctor. When a stranger named Robert gave him the money to buy his mother a pair of shoes for her last Christmas, both Robert and Nathan learned the deepest lessons of love and giving. Now a medical student in his third year, Nathan realizes there are still things to be learned about faith, blessings, and sacrifice. Lessons he will learn from Meghan Sullivan-a young woman born with a hole in her heart that has not kept her from becoming a champion runner. And lessons learned from a young boy named Charlie, who teaches how to live a life of true courage. Together, they will help guide Nathan through the darkest period in his life. The Christmas Blessing is an inspiring about hope existing in the darkest places, and love is always the greatest gift of all."

My Review: So last year I discovered the first book in the series and then found out about the rest of the books. It took me quite a while to wrap my head around the characters after such a huge jump in the timeline between the first book and this book. I wasn't quite as emotional as I was while reading the first book, maybe because I knew what was coming due to the song, but this was still a tear-jerker. I really became attached to the characters and their story. It is a fairly quick read and can be squeezed into a busy holiday season. 

My Rating: Even though I wasn't as emotional or as invested as the first book at the beginning, this one certainly grew on me, by the end I was really attached to the characters and am looking forward to continuing the series.  I give it a rating of Four Paws.

Stress Free Holidays: Prep Dishes and Table Early

Welcome to my Stress Free Holidays series, I will be sharing some tips to reduce the amount of stress this time of year puts on all of us.  Some are ones I have used, some are ones I will be instituting this year, and some I will be using in the future.  If you have any great ways to reduce the amount of stress please feel free to share them with us!

If you are hosting an event over the holidays, whether it is Christmas Eve Celebrations or Christmas Dinner or Boxing Day events (if you are in the UK), there is a whole other list of things to do on top of the already mile long list.  I suggest starting your prep for the big event as early as possible. One of the ways to prepare early is to clean up those special dishes and serving platters that may only be used once a year.  (An extra tip when picking out Christmas dishes is to take into consideration availability to replace if something gets broke or you need more, and try to find a set that is Dishwasher Safe!)  Also, give those table linens a wash to freshen them up and get the wrinkles out.  If you have the room and don't need the table, maybe even considering setting the table a day or two before the event so you aren't scrambling to find all the napkins, little salt and pepper shakers or centerpieces the morning of the event when you are already rushing around.

If you host, do you have special Christmas dishes? If so what pattern do you have, or did you inherit a set of family dishes?

I only recently started my set after hosting for 5 years now.  I have a combination of Lenox Winter Greetings and Pfaltzgraff Winterberry and am loving this being the first year of a really nice table setting!

Advent Reads Day 19: Giveaway - The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere

Welcome to Advent Reads!

This is an event I have had on my blog for several years running now.  Each evening I feature a different holiday themed book. Think of it as your Book Advent Calendar! I post a variety of holiday books including romance, children's, middle-grade, mystery, paranormal, and I try to find some that are other holiday celebrations than Christmas too. I hope you will stop by each evening to see what new book I have for you!

I am sure many of you have heard the Christmas song Christmas Shoes, about a little boy who wants to buy his mom new shoes for when she goes to heaven on Christmas Eve.  Well last year I discovered that there was a book based on that song and so I read it for Advent Reads last year, you can see my full review HERE.  The book is as emotional as the song is, if not more, I bawled my eyes out last year.  Upon writing my review, I then discovered that it was part of a series, so of course I had to start tracking down the books.  I will be reviewing the books for the first half of the series each night this week.  

I also thought it would be great to spread the love of the book and song by having a little giveaway.   To enter all you have to do is comment down below your favorite emotional holiday book or song.   This giveaway is open internationally, but you must be 18 or have your parents permission as a mailing address is needed.     The prize is a hardcover copy of the book The Christmas Shoes, a little travel size packet of tissues (you will need them, maybe all of them), a little chocolate pick me up for after the book and if I have time I will track down a pretty shoe ornament for your tree.

So how about it, what books and songs get you all emotional during the holidays?

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

Can You See What I See? by Walter Wick (Early Reader)
Angels at the Table by Debbie Macomber
The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso
A Christmas to Love You by Megan Smith (After Dark)
See Santa Nap by David Milgrim (Early Reader)
Merry Christmas, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff (Bedtime Story)
Northstars Vol. 1: Welcome to Snowville by Jim Shelley, Haigen Shelley & Anna Liisa Jones (Graphic Novel)

 Books Finished Last Week:

Reviews will be posted at a later date

A Promise of Fire
Christmas Blessing
Gecko Saves Christmas

Currently Reading:

Scythe by Neal Shusterman - Print - on page 265 of 435
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden - Kindle - on page 39 of 313
The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli - Multiple Formats - 29%




 Books to be Read Soon:

Pages Read/ Time Listened
319:21 Hours (about 13+ Days) Listened (14:45 listened this week)
49,360 Pages Read (228 this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently TBR
Beauty and the Beast by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve
Samurai Rising by Pamela Turner
Dawn Study by Maria V. Snyder
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
How to Tame a Willful Wife by Christy English
New World: Rising by Jennifer Wilson
The Sandcastle Empire by Kayla Olson
And I Darken by Kiersten White
World Mythology in Bite Sized Chunks by Mark Daniels
Eliza and Her Monster by Francesca Zappia
Frogkisser by Garth Nix
This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton
The Beast's Garden by Kate Forsyth
Addie on the Inside by James Howe
Also Known as Elvis by James Howe
Viking Warrior Rebel by Asa Maria Bradley
Puss Without Boots by Shari L. Tapscott
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
Saints Blood by Sebastien de Castell
P.O. Box Love by Paola Calvetti
Britt Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
Nomansland by Lesley Hauge
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill by Megan Shepherd
The Secret Loves of Geek Girls by various authors
Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
Keep Me Posted by Lisa Beazley
The Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence
The Nothing Girl by Jodi Taylor
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
Tortall and Other Lands by Tamora Pierce
Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
Wolf Speaker by Tamora Pierce
Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce
Realm of the Gods by Tamora Pierce
The Winter King by CL Wilson
The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere
The Christmas Hope by Donna VanLiere
The Christmas Promise by Donna VanLiere
The Christmas Secret by Donna VanLiere
The Christmas Note by Donna VanLiere
Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo
The Hearts We Sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones
Jane Unlimited by Kristin Cashore
Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows
Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave
Shadowcaster by Cinda Williams Chima
Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima
The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell
Timekeeper by Tara Sim
Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter
As You Wish  by Chelsea Sedoti
Down and Across by Arvin Ahmadi
Naondel by Maria Turtschaninoff
The Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors by Curtis Craddock
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
Phantom Traces by Claire Gem
Dear Margaret by Pamela Ackerson
The Staying Kind by Cerian Hebert
Christmas Joy by Nancy Naigle
Hearts Unloched by Claire Gem
A Family for the Rugged Rancher by Donna Alward
Passion's Palette by Peggy Jaeger
Never Dare a Dragon by Ashlyn Chase
Vampire King of New York by Susan Hanniford Crowley
Crewel Work by Natalie Alder
Trouble Looming by Natalie Alder
A Shot at Love by Peggy Jaeger
Moment of Fate by Karen Stivali
The Promise by Jennifer Owen Davies
The Landscaper Series by Robin Stone
Recipes from Raine's Roast by LG O'Connor
Caught up in Raine by LG O'Connor
Kilty Pleasures by Nancy Fraser
Redeeming the Billionaire by Christina Tetreault
The Billionaire's Best Friend by Christina Tetreault
A Billionaire Playboy by Christina Tetreault
The House of Four Winds by Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory
Warriors by Various Authors
Books of the South by Glen Cook
Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook
If You Find this Letter by Hannah Brencher
Dinosaur Lords by Victor Milan
Dinosaur Knights by Victor Milan
Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan
In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan
The Speaker by Traci Chee
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
Christmas at Thompson Hall by Anthony Trollope
The Nutcracker
Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
A Merry Christmas and Other Stories by Louisa May Alcott
The Night Before Christmas
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu
The Wall of Storms by Ken Liu
The Traitor's Blade by Sebastian De Castell
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
From a Certain Point of View
The Dinosaur Princess by Victor Milan
Above the Timberline by Gregory Manchess
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
I Want to Hold Your Hand by Marie Force
I Saw Her Standing There by Marie Force
And I Love Her by Marie Force
It's Only Love by Marie Force



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Boy am I suddenly running behind! For all my prep prior to this month and even earlier this month, I have suddenly fallen behind.  This is pretty much all due to totally insane days at the office.  Surprisingly my stress level for the holidays is way down even though we are down to a week away, but my stress level due to work is off the charts! I guess you can't win them all right?  We did have a fun holiday event over the weekend, Munchkin got to meet his favorite holiday character, Bumble!  We also got to see a 4D Rudolph movie, which was different and fun!

To make up for missing my Christmas post last night, I will have a little giveaway tonight so stop by later!

Good luck getting everything ready this week and enjoy!