Monday, December 31, 2018

Look Back at 2018 Reading Resolutions

So I set some pretty basic goals for myself back at the beginning of 2018 but I felt that they were pretty achievable and great goals to work towards.  Now that we are at the end of the year I wanted to take a look back at those goals and see how I did before planning my goals and resolutions for next year.


1. Read Less Books: So my first goal for 2018 was to read less books, more so because I always consume so many that I often forget the details of many of them.  In 2016 I read 398 books, in 2017 I read 340 books and this year I read 324 books.  I definitely made progress, thanks to DNFing over 10 books that I was not enjoying. I do want to continue working on this goal as I still find myself reading multiple books at once (which will probably never stop) and flying through the books and not fully immersing myself into them. 

2. Be More Aware While Reading: This goal of course ties into #1 part of the reason I wanted to read less books was so that I could be more aware of what I was reading. While I didn't do this with every book I read, I was much better about focusing on the details of each book, I made notes on favorite quotes and characters and I also flagged some of my favorite books. One of the quotes that really resonated with me this year came from A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir "Curse this world for what it does to mothers, for what it does to daughters. Curse it for making us strong through loss and pain, our hearts torn from our chests again and again.  Curse it for forcing us to endure."

3. Read More Chunky Books: I had set out this year to read 12 books over 450 pages since I have so many large books on my shelves that I keep putting off in favor of the quick fast reads. I ended up reading a total of 15 books over 450 pages this year, with the longest one being 624 pages! I also had several more that were over 400 pages but not quite 450.  I think I did really great with this goal and want to keep pushing myself in the next year.  I did find that I read most of my larger books early in the year as the second half of the year is always super busy. I will be expanding on this goal in 2019.

4. Use My Library/Overdrive More: I was a lot better about this in 2018, usually I had simply used Overdrive as a tool to allow me to read the same book in multiple formats as opposed to strictly borrowing the book and not purchasing it first.  I did manage to borrow 23 books from the library/overdrive that I did not already own (a couple of those I loved so much that I did go out and purchase one for my shelves but I am not counting that).  I am really happy with that progress, but I would like to make more in the next year, I have found the hardest part for me is the wait times, when I want to read a book I want to read it now before I am not in the mood, I also binge read series so I want to be able to pick them up back to back to back.  The wait times at the library drive me up a wall, in fact I placed a hold on Spinning Silver and Uprooted back in the beginning of October and I am still on the wait list! It really drives me crazy to have to wait for others to read them and return them, when I have the ability to read and return multiple large books in less than 2 weeks. Still I have made progress and hope to continue to do so. 


5. Purge and Re-Organize My Shelves: I made huge progress on this goal, I have purged more than 250 books from my shelves, not including all the Children's books Munchkin and I have purged from his shelves. It has been refreshing removing books I did not enjoy as well as ones I probably will never get to reading. The Try a Chapter Challenge has been a great tool for me in selecting books that remain on my TBR, I am sure some would find it unfair, like judging a book by the cover by only judging the readability of a book on one chapter but for someone who still has over 300 books on my physical TBR shelf, it seems pretty practical.  I have also started unhauling books as I finish them, I keep them in a pile for my monthly wrap up and then once that is complete the ones I don't want are placed in a box for sale or donation before even being put on my shelves. This system has been great for not overcrowding my shelves with books I don't want to re-read or add to my collection. 




So there we have my goals from 2018, I am super proud of my progress throughout this year. Instead of setting really specific goals for the year I chose to set general goals.  These are like habits both good and bad, it is a change in mentality and routines, they are a work in progress but the progress I made this year I am super proud of and hope to continue in the new year. I have learned a few things about myself on this journey this year and hope to tailor my plans for 2019 to work with those things I have learned.

 How did you do on your 2018 goals?  Are you happy with your progress? Are you going to change anything in the new year?

Monday Reading List


It is Monday again, and time to update with what I read last week, what I am currently reading and what to look forward to next week.



Reviews Posted Last Week:
Links will take you to my review

Jingle Bell Pop by John Seabrook
For Every One by Jason Reynolds

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

The Lost Queen


Currently Reading:
Beneath the Same Stars by Phyllis Cole-Dai - Kindle - 15%




Pages Read/ Time Listened
616:20 Hours Listened (None listened this week)
40,492 Pages Read (527 this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently: TBR
To the Sky Kingdom by Tang Qi
Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry
Terrier by Tamora Pierce
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Reflections of Yesterday by Debbie Macomber
Jedi Search by Kevin J. Anderson
Caging the Merrow by Heather Rigney
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
The Scandalous MacKenzies by Jennifer Ashley
The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley
The Stolen Mackenzie Bride by Jennifer Ashley
Hard to Serve by Laura Kaye
Mastering Her Senses by Laura Kaye
Theirs to Take by Laura Kaye
Nightblade's Vengeance by Ryan Kirk
Tomorrowland by Steven Kotler
The Wolf by Leo Carew
My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran & Larissa Zageris
Beyond the Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake
Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso
True North by Marie Force
The Sorting Room by Angelina Singer
Lost Stars by Claudia Gray
Frankenstein Dreams by Michael Sims
The Belgaraid by David Eddings
Death Sworn by Leah Cypess
Sherlock Holmes and the Army of Dr. Moreau by Guy Adams  UNHAUL
Zenith by Sasha Alsberg & Lindsay Cummings
In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
The Queen of Sorrow by Sarah Beth Durst
Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Princesses Behaving Badly by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie
Fight for Everything by Laura Kaye
Light as Air by Mari Carr
Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Sweet Tea and Sympathy by Molly Harper
Half Drowned King by Linnea Hartsuyker
The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows
The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
Memoirs of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Theodore Roszak
The Bird and the Blade by Megan Bannen
The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss
Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely UNHAUL
Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
Assassin's Gambit by Amy Raby
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
Isle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier
None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio
Words We Don't Say by K.J. Reilly
The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth - UNHAUL
Not Even Bones by Rebecca Schaeffer
The Christmas Light by Donna VanLiere
The Phoenix Empress by K. Arsenault Rivera
Royals by Rachel Hawkins
Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke  - DNF
Kill the Farm Boy by Kevin Hearne and Delilah S. Dawson - DNF
Monster: The Story of a Young Mary Shelley by Mark Arnold
Mammoth by Jill Baguchinsky
Anything but Okay by Sarah Darer Littman
The Storyteller by Traci Chee
The Carols of Christmas by Andrew Grant
Special Gifts by Cynthia Rylant
Pioneer Sisters by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Animal Adventures by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura & Nellie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
School Days by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
Carne the Ruby by Rich Feitlberg
Wolf Kiss by Christine DePetrillo
Wolf Fire by Christine DePetrillo

Wolf Vow by Christine DePetrillo
Wolf Angel by Christine DePetrillo
Waiting for You by Rose Grey
All of Me by Rose Grey
Pangaea: Sunslinger by Bolivar Beato
Pangaea: Revelations by Bolivar Beato
Wastelander: Awakening by Bolivar Beato
Come, Bos by Lucille Benoit
The Promise: A Perilous Journey by Hank Ellis
Grinch of Starlight Bend by Jennifer Probst
Wrath by John Gwynne
Dashing Through the Snow by Mary Higgins Clark
Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark
Dreadful Young Ladies and other Stories by Kelly Barnhill
I'd Rather be Reading by Anne Bogel
Outrun the Wind by Elizabeth Tammi
Fire and Heist by Sarah Beth Durst
The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson
Amber and Dusk by Lyra Selene
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
Ain't She Sweet by Marie Force


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


How about that, it is our final Monday of 2018! I cannot believe that the year has flown by so quickly.  I was really worried that I was going to end the year a on a real low note but luckily I was able to pick a book up again after a week of not reading (for someone who has not really gone a day without reading in a few years that is extreme); so am thrilled to end the year on such a great book! I did fall a little behind on my challenge to read the books I purchased this year but I am okay with that for now.  I will have a look back at 2018 later today and a full wrap up of my challenges tomorrow.

Then it will be on to new and great things in 2019, there will be some changes coming but I really hope that you will enjoy them.

I wish you all a Happy New Year and I hope this new beginning will bring you the hope to start new things and a new outlook!

Friday, December 28, 2018

2019 Audio Book Challenge Sign Up


So the last couple of years I have really come to love audiobooks and in 2018 I consumed more than I ever thought possible. So this year when I was looking for new challenges I came across Caffinated Reviewer  and her Audiobook Challenge hosted with Hot Listens and thought it was time I once again join actual challenges and interact with other readers.  

The challenge runs from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019 and you can listen to audiobooks in any format to count.  The books can also be re-reads and cross over to other challenges.  There will be 2 check ins throughout the year, June 30th and December 15th, and I believe there will be prizes.   There are also a lot of different levels you can enter, from Newbie to Marathoner.

I am signing up for the Marathoner challenge level with a goal to read 50+ audio books which, based on 2018 reading, should not be a problem!


A few of the books that will be on my TBR for the start of the year include:

 




Do you listen to audiobooks? Will you be giving them a try for the first time? What will you be listening to?



Thursday, December 27, 2018

Review of For Every One by Jason Reynolds

Read for: Borrowed Books/ Audio Book

Synopsis: "Originally performed at the Kennedy Center for the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and later as a tribute to Walter Dean Myers, this stirring and inspirational poem is New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist Jason Reynolds’s rallying cry to the dreamers of the world.

For Every One is just that: for every one. For every one person. For every one dream. But especially for every one kid. The kids who dream of being better than they are. Kids who dream of doing more than they almost dare to dream. Kids who are like Jason Reynolds, a self-professed dreamer. Jason does not claim to know how to make dreams come true; he has, in fact, been fighting on the front line of his own battle to make his own dreams a reality. He expected to make it when he was sixteen. Then eighteen. Then twenty-five. Now, some of those expectations have been realized. But others, the most important ones, lay ahead, and a lot of them involve kids, how to inspire them. All the kids who are scared to dream, or don’t know how to dream, or don’t dare to dream because they’ve NEVER seen a dream come true. Jason wants kids to know that dreams take time. They involve countless struggles. But no matter how many times a dreamer gets beat down, the drive and the passion and the hope never fully extinguish—because just having the dream is the start you need, or you won’t get anywhere anyway, and that is when you have to take a leap of faith.

A pitch perfect graduation, baby, or love my kid gift."


My Review: I hadn't really heard a lot about this book, but I stumbled on it one day and thought I would give it a try. I listened to the audio, which is read by Jason Reynolds himself. It was a really beautiful book and very inspiring, it definitely made me tear up a bit at parts when it felt like my struggle had been seen. I think this is going to become the book I give to everyone of my family members and friends (or friends kids) as they graduate high school and college. It is definitely one to go back to as a reminder that it is okay to dream and strive for those dreams, and fight through the setbacks to keep dreaming and striving.

My Rating:  This was such a great book and it will be fantastic not only for people beginning a new chapter in their lives but even great for starting out a new year and thinking about goals and dreams. I will definitely be referring back to this book throughout the next year and my life.  I give it a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!!

Monday, December 24, 2018

Advent Reads Day 24: Jingle Bell Pop by John Seabrook

Read for: Audio Books

Synopsis: "It seems like every year, the holiday season arrives earlier and earlier. Before Halloween’s ghosts and ghouls have even had their chance to come out of the shadows, sleigh bells and ribbons begin to materialize at the mall and towering tinsel-tinged trees appear in our living rooms. But the most telltale sign of the arrival of yuletide festivities is the unceasingly merry melody of the seasonal songbook, from "Silent Night" to "Santa Baby." Love them or loathe them, these holiday earworms are here to stay. But how do these songs endure for decades? And why are there so few contemporary Christmas carols?

In this holly jolly Audible Original, New York Times bestselling author and New Yorker columnist John Seabrook uncovers the mysteries of the holiday music machine, exploring how these hits were made and why they’ve dominated the soundwaves each and every winter. From the mid-century reign of songwriter Johnny Marks ("Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer") to the manufactured musical nostalgia of modern holiday hits like "All I Want for Christmas Is You," Seabrook, alongside a cast of singers, songwriters, and producers, reveals the untold stories behind the songs that have us rockin’ around the Christmas tree year after year."


My Review: I don't often listen to music anymore, but Christmas music is something special! I start listening to it right after Halloween and love every minute of it. I was really intrigued with this audio book, I find it very interesting as to where favorite songs came from and the creative process. I didn't realize how difficult it is to hit the charts with a new Christmas song. I also learned a lot of details about some of the others that I had no idea, I didn't know that Silent Night was originally in German. It was a fun book, that had the feel of a TV special and was a really enjoyable listening to while running all those Christmas errands.


My Rating: This was an interesting listen and I really enjoyed learning so many new things about Christmas music, both newer and the classics.  I would have liked even more about the older songs and I would have preferred to have a short break in between each discussion with the song they are talking about. But it was great to keep the holiday spirit going.  I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag!

Monday Reading List


It is Monday again, and time to update with what I read last week, what I am currently reading and what to look forward to next week.



Reviews Posted Last Week:
Links will take you to my review

The Winter Riddle by Sam Hooker
Young Scrooge by RL Stine
A Merry Christmas and Other Stories by Louisa May Alcott
Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle
Santa's Underwear by Marty Rhodes Figley (Bedtime Story)
Northstars Vol. 1.5 by Jim Shelley & Haigen Shelley (Graphic Novel)
The Christmas Light by Donna VanLiere


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

Jingle Bell Pop
Santa's Underwear

Currently Reading:
Beneath the Same Stars by Phyllis Cole-Dai - Kindle - 15%




Pages Read/ Time Listened
616:20 Hours Listened (1:22 listened this week)
39,965 Pages Read (32 this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently: TBR
To the Sky Kingdom by Tang Qi
Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry
Terrier by Tamora Pierce
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Reflections of Yesterday by Debbie Macomber
Jedi Search by Kevin J. Anderson
Caging the Merrow by Heather Rigney
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
The Scandalous MacKenzies by Jennifer Ashley
The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley
The Stolen Mackenzie Bride by Jennifer Ashley
Hard to Serve by Laura Kaye
Mastering Her Senses by Laura Kaye
Theirs to Take by Laura Kaye
Nightblade's Vengeance by Ryan Kirk
Tomorrowland by Steven Kotler
The Wolf by Leo Carew
My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran & Larissa Zageris
Beyond the Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake
Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso
True North by Marie Force
The Sorting Room by Angelina Singer
Lost Stars by Claudia Gray
Frankenstein Dreams by Michael Sims
The Belgaraid by David Eddings
Death Sworn by Leah Cypess
Sherlock Holmes and the Army of Dr. Moreau by Guy Adams  UNHAUL
Zenith by Sasha Alsberg & Lindsay Cummings
In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
The Queen of Sorrow by Sarah Beth Durst
Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Princesses Behaving Badly by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie
Fight for Everything by Laura Kaye
Light as Air by Mari Carr
Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Sweet Tea and Sympathy by Molly Harper
Half Drowned King by Linnea Hartsuyker
The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows
The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
Memoirs of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Theodore Roszak
The Bird and the Blade by Megan Bannen
The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss
Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely UNHAUL
Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
Assassin's Gambit by Amy Raby
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
Isle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier
None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio
Words We Don't Say by K.J. Reilly
The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth - UNHAUL
Not Even Bones by Rebecca Schaeffer
The Christmas Light by Donna VanLiere
The Phoenix Empress by K. Arsenault Rivera
Royals by Rachel Hawkins
Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke  - DNF
Kill the Farm Boy by Kevin Hearne and Delilah S. Dawson - DNF
Monster: The Story of a Young Mary Shelley by Mark Arnold
Mammoth by Jill Baguchinsky
Anything but Okay by Sarah Darer Littman
The Storyteller by Traci Chee
The Carols of Christmas by Andrew Grant
Special Gifts by Cynthia Rylant
Pioneer Sisters by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Animal Adventures by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura & Nellie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
School Days by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
Carne the Ruby by Rich Feitlberg
Wolf Kiss by Christine DePetrillo
Wolf Fire by Christine DePetrillo

Wolf Vow by Christine DePetrillo
Wolf Angel by Christine DePetrillo
Waiting for You by Rose Grey
All of Me by Rose Grey
Pangaea: Sunslinger by Bolivar Beato
Pangaea: Revelations by Bolivar Beato
Wastelander: Awakening by Bolivar Beato
Come, Bos by Lucille Benoit
The Promise: A Perilous Journey by Hank Ellis
Grinch of Starlight Bend by Jennifer Probst




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I had a really awful reading week last week, not really a reading slump, more of a full life slump.  My stress level has been so high the past several months that I just finally hit that wall. And boy did I hit it hard.  I haven't actually picked up a book in nearly 5 days. I didn't even watch any TV or color or create any cards, usually all the things I do other than reading when stress gets too high.  I do feel myself recovering a little bit and I have been getting a lot accomplished which helps with my anxiety and stress levels. 

Also Christmas is tomorrow! So one of my major stressors will be over and done with soon. Seeing Munchkin so excited and believing in the magic makes it all worth it in the end.


I hope you all have a very magical holiday season!

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Advent Reads Day 23: The Christmas Light by Donna VanLiere

Read for: Recently Added

Previous Books in the Christmas Hope Series

Synopsis: "In the small town of Grandon, five very different people discover the true meaning of Christmas. Jennifer and Ryan are both single parents, struggling with their own losses and heartache as they attempt to move forward in the present while still holding onto the memories, joy, and heartache of the past.

Sixteen-year-old Kaylee is faced with a life-changing situation that has affected her whole family. Stephen and Lily are happily married and ready to start a family. All of them are facing their own struggles, and all are finding their way through the dark. When they are brought together for a rather unconventional church Nativity, they will learn that with strength, courage, and love, there is always hope.

The New York Times bestselling author of the beloved The Christmas Hope series returns with this new heartwarming, inspirational story about the power of love and faith to reveal the possibilities that lay right in front of you."

My Review: I didn't think any book would be able to have quite the impact as the first book in this series, Christmas Shoes, but boy this one came awfully close! I really enjoyed the story and the characters. Of course Gloria and Miriam had that great back and forth that brings a bit of humor to a pretty difficult story. I really loved Ryan and the way he interacted with his little girl and the other characters on a whole, and Jennifer's dedication to her daughter and her mental well being is very touching. But the best part is the background story of Lilly and Stephen and Kaylee, that was the most touching part and even though you could see it coming, it was still so wonderful to read.

My Rating: Next to the first book in this series, this might be my favorite one! I was sobbing, sad tears, happy tears and all the tears in between. I really loved this one and give it a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Advent Reads Day 22: Graphic Novel: Northstars Vol. 1.5 by Jim Shelley & Haigen Shelley & Illustrated by Anna Liisa Jones

Read for: Recently Added & Graphic Novel

Other Books in the Series:

Synopsis: "Continuing the holiday adventures of Holly, the daughter of Santa Claus and Frostina, a Yeti Princess. In this issue, La Befana, the Christmas Witch of Italy, enlists Holly and Frostina’s help to stop the monstrous Badalisc from destroying her garden. The Badalisc is big and furry, but is he all bad? Or is the real threat the evil wolf of Gubbio! Join us for the fun, all ages romp!"

My Review: I really enjoyed the first Northstars volume and was excited to see that it is being continued. This is a rather short one but I loved it just as much if not more than the first. I love how it is light and fun and great for young readers; and it also incorporated folk tales, traditions and beliefs for one country, Italy. I really hope they continue this will more traditional holiday stories. This will definitely be added to my shelves and I think both me and Munchkin will enjoy reading it and anymore to come!

My Rating: I am absolutely loving this series, this short little one in particular because it pulled in folk tales and holiday traditions that I wasn't aware of and it had information at the end about them too.  I give this one a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!

Friday, December 21, 2018

Advent Reads Day 21: Bedtime Story: Santa's Underwear by Marty Rhodes Figley & Illustrated by Marty Kelley

Read for: Children's Book Challenge

Synopsis: "It's Christmas Eve and Santa is busy getting gussied up for the big night. But when he goes to put on his warm, cozy (holey, ragged) Christmas underwear, they're nowhere to be found! With undies for every occassion, he tries on the rest of his collection. But nothing is quite right. Just when he's about to give up he find a surprise from his considerate team of reindeer. Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!"

My Review: Munchkin loves silly books, just like all kids, and there is nothing funnier to a kid than underwear. This was a fun holiday book to read, Santa can't find his red long undies so he goes through trying all the other holiday underwear. Munchkin couldn't stop laughing. But wrapped up in all those funny moments is a great message about gifts that have meaning.

My Rating: We had a lot of fun with this book and I think it will be a favorite for us in the future. We give it a rating of Four Paws!


Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

Only 4 more sleeps!

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Advent Reads Day 20: Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle

Read for: Mount TBR

Synopsis: "A recently divorced woman and her daughter look for a fresh start by moving to a small town that embraces them in ways that only fate and the magic of Christmas can explain.

Sydney Ragsdale is divorced, but her husband is still calling the shots. In an attempt to shake free from his hold, she and her daughter, Ray Anne, head for tiny Hopewell, NC to the only asset her ex has no control over – a decaying farmhouse that once belonged to her grandparents. She finds solace at The Book Bea, the bookstore she’d loved as a child during her summer stays. 

Kevin MacAlea, Mac to his friends, is the local high school history teacher and baseball coach. Father of a twelve-year-old son, he’s Hopewell, North Carolina’s most sought after bachelor. His young bride abandoned him and his son just before Christmas and has never come back. It has left his son bitter about Christmas which is hard for Mac who loves the magic of the season. He’s been the Santa here in Hopewell since the year Seth was born. 
But when a catastrophe forces The Book Bea to close before the end of the year, everyone in the small town is feeling the loss. While Sydney is already off-balance by the bad news, her ex-husband breaks a promise to their daughter that sends Ray Anne running away. As Sydney tries to figure out what her next steps are she discovers all of the answers are right here in Hopewell."

My Review: I have been anxiously waiting to read this for a whole year, I wanted to read it right before the movie premiered on Hallmark channel. I was not disappointed! I love how much this one centers around a bookstore. It has a great cast of characters and that small town holiday feel that I love in my Christmas themed books. I enjoyed the development of Syndey and Mac's relationship, even with all the ups and downs, Nancy gaves us as much of a slow developing romance as possible in a stand alone novel. This book will take you on an emotional ride full of happy warm moments, frustrating moments, sad moments and most important an overall feeling of hope. A great holiday read to cozy up with on a winter night.

My Rating: I really enjoyed this book and the characters, I particularly enjoyed the fact that while it is a romance novel and you do get a happy ending, so things are rushed a bit, but it isn't so completely over the top unbelievable.  I give it a rating of Four Paws!



Note: I haven't gotten to see the movie yet! I don't have the Hallmark Channel on my cable so I downloaded the Hallmark Now App on the Amazon Fire Stick but it doesn't have any of the new movies on it, so don't go that route if you want to see the movie!!

Down the TBR Hole: Conquer your TBR Challenge

I came across this challenge on Jenniely's Blog the other day, while she put a unique holiday spin on it, I thought it would be a fun way to work on that TBR pile I have.  The challenge was originally created by Lia at Lost in a Story and her format is a little more what I will be following. 

I recently took a look at my physical TBR and was a little intimidated and shocked to find it sitting at over 300 books, not including the Children's books, Early Reader books or Graphic Novels/Comic Books! Yes you read that right, over 300 books just on my physical shelves! I don't even want to take a look at my ebooks or audio books!  So I definitely think it is time to Conquer my TBR!

So here are the steps and rules . . .

Go to your Goodreads to-read Shelf
Sort by Ascending Date Added
Take the First 5 (or 10) Books
Read the Synopsis of Each Book
Decide to Either Keep it or Remove it

This Challenge was originally designed to continue weekly until all books on the To-Read Shelf have been sorted.  

I have 1,230 books on my Goodreads To-Read Shelf! If I only sorted 5 books a week that would take nearly 5 years of posting weekly! I think you guys might get a little sick of it.  So I will start with some here and continue to sort off page. I may come back and post every so often with an update and another challenge post.  So shall we take a peek at those first added To Read books? I started my Goodreads account back in February, 2011, so I expect to find a lot of books that no longer interest me as my reading tastes have changed so much.


 Synopsis: "Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of all time, Slaughterhouse-Five, an American classic, is one of the world's great antiwar books. Centering on the infamous firebombing of Dresden, Billy Pilgrim's odyssey through time reflects the mythic journey of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we fear most."


Thoughts: I know this is one of those classics that most people read in high school.  And I know it is on a lot of those top 100 books to read before you die lists but I am not picking up as many classics anymore, and the ones I do plan to pick up are usually re-reads or ones that really interest me.

Verdict: It goes.





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 Synopsis: "Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams."

Thoughts: I don't think I own a physical copy of this book, that is why it keeps getting forgotten.  It does sound like an intriguing and inspiring book. It is also a short book at only 197 pages.

Verdict: It stays but with the contingency of if it is not read by the end of 2019, it goes.





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 Synopsis: "Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal--including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world.

Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want--but what Lyra doesn't know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other."


Thoughts: I have been wanting to read this book forever, but I have been waiting until I have all the books in the series. I haven't been making it a priority to purchase them though.  Munchkin is almost old enough to enjoy these books with me as well.

Verdict: It stays.



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 Synopsis for Eldest: "Darkness falls…despair abounds…evil reigns…Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider. Ages 12+.
Darkness falls…despair abounds…evil reigns…
Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider: magic and swordsmanship. Soon he is on the journey of a lifetime, his eyes open to awe-inspring new places and people, his days filled with fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and nothing is what it seems. Before long, Eragon doesn't know whom he can trust.
Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle–one that might put Eragon in even graver danger. 
Will the king's dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life. . . . "

Thoughts: Ugh, this book and the next have been taunting me from the shelves. These were some of the first books my husband purchased for me, and he got me the whole series.  And they are about dragons and their riders! But I struggled so much with Eragon! I had seen the movie first and it was so different from the book that each page was an effort.  And again, I feel like these books might be some Munchkin would enjoy in a few more years.  Even my non-reader friend read these books! Why can't I convince myself to read them?!

Verdict: Alright, I am going to keep them a little longer and reassess next year.









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 Synopsis: "In The Wisdom Paradox, world-renowned neuropsychologist Elkhonon Goldberg argues that though some mental abilities (such as recent-memory recall) decline as the mind enters the “autumn season” of our life span, the brain becomes more powerful in its ability to recognize patterns. As a result, we are able to make decisions at more intuitive and effective levels—a late- emerging mental strength he terms “wisdom.” In lively, accessible prose, Goldberg delves into the mechanisms of the mind, outlining how the elegant structures of the brain develop and change over the course of a lifetime as they work increasingly in concert. Drawing on recent and historical examples of leaders and artists who achieved their greatest successes late in life—from Roosevelt to Thatcher to Reagan, from Goethe to Grandma Moses—Goldberg illustrates the effects of an emerging scientific understanding of the biology of wisdom. Drawing on the latest research in brain function, he takes to task outdated neurological concepts and argues that new neurons can be created throughout our lives, the left brain’s specialization in pattern recognition accounts for its increased activity as we age, and the strengthening of neural pathways in later years accelerates decision-making processes. Most provocatively, he outlines how a “cognitive fitness” program can both curtail the negative mental effects of aging and enhance our decision-making powers."

Thoughts: I honestly think I already removed the physical copy from my shelves. I was very interested in how the brain worked at one point, even wanted to be a neurosurgeon but now my reading pretty read for enjoyment and not education.

Verdict: It Goes.

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 Synopsis: "This breakout novel from the author of The Jump-Off Creek tells the heartwarming story of a determined young woman with a gift for gentling wild horses. 

In the winter of 1917, a big-boned young woman shows up at George Bliss's doorstep. She's looking for a job breaking horses, and he hires her on. Many of his regular hands are off fighting the war, and he glimpses, beneath her showy rodeo garb, a shy but strong-willed girl with a serious knowledge of horses. 

So begins the irresistible tale of nineteen-year-old Martha Lessen, a female horse whisperer trying to make a go of it in a man's world. It was thought that the only way to break a horse was to buck the wild out of it, and broken ribs and tough falls just went with the job. 

But over several long, hard winter months, many of the townsfolk in this remote county of eastern Oregon witness Martha's way of talking in low, sweet tones to horses believed beyond repair and getting miraculous, almost immediate results and she thereby earns a place of respect in the community.
Along the way, Martha helps a family save their horses when their wagon slides into a ravine. She gentles a horse for a dying man a last gift to his young son. She clashes with a hired hand who is abusing horses in unspeakable ways. Soon, despite her best efforts to remain aloof and detached, she comes to feel enveloped by a sense of community and family that she's never had before."

Thoughts:  If you have been around here for any amount of time, you know the way to get me to buy any book is to make it about horses or throw a horse on the cover.  I am still intrigued by this book.

Verdict: It stays but I am going to once again put the must read in 2019 contingency on it.


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 Synopsis: "Once in nine lives, something extraordinary happens... 

The last thing Gwen Cooper wanted was another cat. She already had two, not to mention a phenomenally underpaying job and a recently broken heart. Then Gwen’s veterinarian called with a story about a three-week-old eyeless kitten who’d been abandoned. It was love at first sight.

Everyone warned that Homer would always be an "underachiever," never as playful or independent as other cats. But the kitten nobody believed in quickly grew into a three-pound dynamo, a tiny daredevil with a giant heart who eagerly made friends with every human who crossed his path. Homer scaled seven-foot bookcases with ease and leapt five feet into the air to catch flies in mid-buzz. He survived being trapped alone for days after 9/11 in an apartment near the World Trade Center, and even saved Gwen’s life when he chased off an intruder who broke into their home in the middle of the night.

But it was Homer’s unswerving loyalty, his infinite capacity for love, and his joy in the face of all obstacles that inspired Gwen daily and transformed her life. And by the time she met the man she would marry, she realized Homer had taught her the most important lesson of all: Love isn’t something you see with your eyes."

Thoughts: Why haven't I picked this one up?! Probably because I don't want to cry.  

Verdict: It Stays!

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 Synopsis: "Everything readers expect from Follett is here: intrigue, fast-paced action, and passionate romance. But what makes The Pillars of the Earth extraordinary is the time the twelfth century; the place feudal England; and the subject the building of a glorious cathedral. Follett has re-created the crude, flamboyant England of the Middle Ages in every detail. The vast forests, the walled towns, the castles, and the monasteries become a familiar landscape. 

Against this richly imagined and intricately interwoven backdrop, filled with the ravages of war and the rhythms of daily life, the master storyteller draws the reader irresistibly into the intertwined lives of his characters into their dreams, their labors, and their loves: Tom, the master builder; Aliena, the ravishingly beautiful noblewoman; Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge; Jack, the artist in stone; and Ellen, the woman of the forest who casts a terrifying curse. From humble stonemason to imperious monarch, each character is brought vividly to life.

The building of the cathedral, with the almost eerie artistry of the unschooled stonemasons, is the center of the drama. Around the site of the construction, Follett weaves a story of betrayal, revenge, and love, which begins with the public hanging of an innocent man and ends with the humiliation of a king."

Thoughts: A friend loaned me this book easily 12 years ago and I just have never felt the need to pick it up. It does sound interesting but not nearly 1,000 pages interesting. I have so many other big books that I want to read.

Verdict: It Goes.  I wonder if she wants her copy back (oops).


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 Synopsis: "On the night of Guinevere’s birth, a wise woman declares a prophecy of doom for the child: She will be gwenhwyfar, the white shadow, destined to betray her king, and be herself betrayed. Years pass, and Guinevere becomes a great beauty, riding free across Northern Wales on her beloved horse. She is entranced by the tales of the valorous Arthur, a courageous warrior who seems to Guinevere no mere man, but a legend. Then she finds herself betrothed to that same famous king, a hero who commands her willing devotion. Just as his knights and all his subjects, she falls under Arthur’s spell.    At the side of King Arthur, Guinevere reigns strong and true. Yet she soon learns how the dark prophecy will reveal itself. She is unable to conceive. Arthur’s only true heir is Mordred, offspring of a cursed encounter with the witch Morgause. Now Guinevere must make a fateful choice: She decides to raise Mordred, teaching him to be a ruler and to honor Camelot. She will love him like a mother. Mordred will be her greatest joy–and the key to her ultimate downfall."
Thoughts: I love Arthurian Legend re-tellings and I have started this one before but got intimidated by it's size.  I think it is time to pick it up again.

Verdict: It Stays! And I am going to add it to my 2019 TBR.


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So there we have the first 10 books on my Goodreads To-Read list.  I did okay I guess. I only removed 3 books but did put contingencies on 2 more.  It does feel good to go through and clear out some of those books that don't interest me any more.  I also like looking at it from the beginning and getting excited about so of these books again. It will be inspiring for kicking off the new year!

Have you gone through your TBR at all recently? How many books are on your shelf or Goodreads list?