My Favorite Cover

 

McKettricks of Texas, Bk 3:  Austin

by Linda Lael Miller

Contemporary Romance

Release date:  April 1, 2010

Publisher:  HQN Books

Copyright 2010

Pages:  384

ISBN:  9780373774463

Since there's no Product Description available yet...how about this awesome Book Trailer?  *sigh*




They're all so HOT!  I just can't decide between Tate and Austin!  I broke down and bought Tate at Wal-Mart this week, when it was first released.  *wink*

7 yr. old sings National Anthem

I got this in an email this a.m. and couldn't resist sharing it with y'all! It will bring tears to your eyes. Enjoy!

Blog Awards!!

WOW!  I just received a couple of Blog Awards from my friend (and fellow blogger), Renee @ Black 'n Gold Girl's Book Spot.  Thank you so much, Renee!  Congrats on receiving them yourself...you truly deserve them!

The first one is:

A Prolific Blogger is one who is intellectually productive… keeping up an active blog that is filled with enjoyable content.

1. Every winner of the Prolific Blogger Award has to pass on this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers. Spread some love!

2. Each Prolific Blogger must link to the blog from which he/she has received the award.

3. Every Prolific Blogger must link back to this post, which explains the origins and motivation for the award.

4. Every Prolific Blogger must visit this post and add his/her name in the Mr. Linky, so that we all can get to know the other winners. (Click here for the Mr. Linky page.)

The rules state that I must pass this award on to "at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers", but I'll be passing it on to a few more than seven:

1 ~ Blanche @ No Such Thing as Too Many Books
2 ~ Choco @ In Which a Girl Reads
3 ~ Verlina @ What You Reading Now?
4 ~ Brande @ Book Junkie
5 ~ Colletta @ Colletta's Kitchen Sink
6 ~ Jennifer @ Crazy-for-Books
7 ~ In the Hammock
8 ~ MJ @ Creative Madness
9 ~ Mimi @ Woven By Words


The second one is:

I agree with Renee.....I would like to pass this one along to everyone who is my friend, follower, fellow blogger, etc.  Please be sure to grab this award before you leave!  Thank you all for being such great "buddies"!  {{hugs}}

~ January Giveaway ~

For some reason I have cowboys on my mind this month, so I'm hosting 2 different giveaways ~ one on each of my blogs.  If both books interest you, please feel free to enter them both!

One Lucky Cowboy

(Luckadeau series, Bk 2)

by Carolyn Brown

(This is an ARC)

Romance / Contemporary / Western-themed

Sourcebooks Casablanca

Copyright 2009

Pages:  331

ISBN:  9781402224379

Synopsis:

Jane Day is on the run from the paid assassin who had been her fiancé. In Wichita Falls, Texas, she meets Nellie Luckadeau, a spitfire of an old lady who desperately needs someone to work on her ranch. But Nellie's drop-dead gorgeous grandson "Lucky Slade" is sure he can spot a con artist a mile away. He's determined not to let some upstart like Jane fleece his granny.

When his signature intimidation methods don't convince Jane to leave, he pours on the charm to make her spill what she's up to. She's happy to play along, but she's not going to let this hot, hostile cowboy run her off his land when all she needs is a lucky break.

 

Here are the rules:

* You must leave a valid email address in your comment, so I can contact you if you're the winner.

(Example: sugarandgrits{at}hotmail{dot}com)
This way spammers will be less likely to grab it.

* You must have a valid U.S. mailing address.

* At this time, the giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

* The giveaway will be from Jan. 22nd thru Jan. 31st at 11:59 p.m. (EST)
(Any/all entries entered after this time will not be eligible.)

* I will announce the winner here Feb. 1st ~ you will also be contacted via email.  You will then have 48 hours in which to respond with your snail mail address, or another winner will be chosen.

Please include all of your entries in ONE comment...this will make it a lot easier for me to keep up with them!!  Thanks! =)

+1 = Just for leaving a comment!

+1 = By becoming a new follower thru
Google Friend Connect, on the right sidebar

+2 = Let me know that you're already a follower


+5 = Post about my giveaway on your blog, or in your sidebar
(don't forget to link it back to this post)

Thank you so much for dropping by and participating!

GOOD LUCK to everyone!!

My Favorite Cover

Heart of Stone

(Irish Angel series, Bk 1)

by Jill Marie Landis

Christian Fiction / Historical / Romance

Release date:  March 1, 2010

Zondervan

Copyright 2010

Pages:  352

ISBN:  9780310328728

(from Amazon):

Landis, inspirational fiction author of more than 20 novels, offers readers who value gentle love stories this first title in the Irish Angels series.

Laura Foster (aka Lovie Lane), wealthy widowed owner of a refined boardinghouse in Glory, Tex., is running from her tainted past and ruined childhood in a tale set in the 1870s. Laura does everything in her power to overcome the odds and create a life free of shame and abuse. Partly succeeding, she is thrown off-kilter when handsome Rev. Brand McCormick, a widower, takes a romantic interest in her. Laura knows with dead certainty that Brand would never come calling if he knew the truth of her past, so she rebuffs his attention at every turn. But the good reverend just won't be put off.

Both characters have much to reveal that will test their love, faith, and loyalty to one another. Landis's writing is crisp and neatly presented; however, much of the story is too formulaic for discerning genre readers.

What's New on My Shelf

Since I can't seem to keep up with my Mailbox Monday posts, I've decided to join another meme that allows us to share any "New Books" we've added to our shelves.  I recently came across this meme over at Romance Reader @ heart, and it sounds like it will fit my scattered lifestyle a lot better!  LOL

Here's what I've added to my shelf:

All of these came to me from swap sites:

(PBS & BookMooch)

The Great Christmas Bowl by Susan May Warren

Heaven Can Wait by Cheryl St. John

Forbidden Falls by Robyn Carr

I broke down and bought these 2 books at Wal-Mart, but I did have a gift card!

Love Finds You in Bridal Veil Oregon by Miralee Ferrell

The Sweetheart's Knitting Club by Lori Wilde

What books did you add to your shelves last week?  Feel free to leave a comment with a link to your post, or just post your list in your comment.

Thanks for dropping by!

Waiting on Wednesday

Moonlight Road
(Virgin River series, Bk 10)

by Robyn Carr

General Fiction / Contemporary / Romance

Release date:  March 1, 2010

Publisher:  Mira

Copyright 2010

Pages:  416

ISBN:  9780778327684

 

(from paperbackswap.com):

With her beloved younger siblings settled and happy, Erin Foley has got empty nest syndrome. At age thirty-five.

So she's hitting the pause button on her life and holing up in a secluded (but totally upgraded, she's not into roughing it) cabin near Virgin River. Erin is looking forward to really getting to know herself...not some shaggy-haired mountain man she meets wandering the woods.

In fact, beneath his faded fatigues and bushy beard, Aiden Riordan is a doctor, recharging for a summer after leaving the Navy. He's intrigued by the pretty, slightly snooty refugee from the rat race -- meditating, journaling and definitely keeping him at arm's length. He'd love to get closer...if his scruffy exterior and crazy ex-wife don't hold him back.

But maybe it's something in the water -- unlikely romances seem to take root in Virgin River...helped along with some well-intentioned meddling, of course.

 I have this entire series sitting in my TBR stacks (except for this one), just waiting to be read. I love, love, love reading an entire series back-to-back, so I can't wait to get this book, so I can start reading!! :)

Unbelievable!

I've never seen a cat do this before! LOL





*Compliments of Robin Lee Hatcher*

My Favorite Cover

Hold Up the Sky
by Patricia Sprinkle

Cozy Mystery / Suspense

NAL Trade
Copyright 2010
Pages: 432
ISBN: 9780451229144

(from Amazon.com):

From a veteran writer new to the Accent list, a novel about four women who find strength and insight in each other.

Mamie is facing an overwhelming secret. Margaret has lost her home. Billie can no longer care alone for her disabled daughter. And Maria is living with an untenable choice. When these four women come together to live on a drought-stricken Georgia farm, they must open their hearts, and share their burdens, before they can find the bounty that lies hidden in tough times, and once again see the glorious pattern of meaning in their lives.

This isn't something I would normally choose, but I love the cover! It makes me think of warmer days...that can't get here soon enough! LOL Plus, I noticed that it takes place in Georgia; my hometown. :)

Waiting on Wednesday

(Compliments of Jill @ Breaking the Spine)

It allows bloggers to feature pre-publication
books that they are eagerly anticipating!

The Sweethearts' Knitting Club
by Lori Wilde

Released: November 2009

General Romance / Contemporary

AVON
Copyright 2009
Pages: 400
ISBN: 9780061808890

(from Amazon.com):

"Throw a penny in the fountain of the Twilight town square, and you'll be married to your first love . . . "

For ten years, pretty Flynn MacGregor has been turning down the same solid, upright man's marriage proposal. Her friends at the Sweethearts' Knitting Club tell her they're a match made in heaven, but Flynn knows there's only one dangerous reason why she keeps saying no: high school sweetheart Jesse Calloway. She was just sixteen when Jesse was forced out of town under a cloud of suspicion . . . but he's never left her heart.

Now Jesse is back, and every time she turns the corner he's there—gazing at her with his smoldering eyes and tempting her with his kisses. Jesse has never played by the rules, and he's made it clear that he's not going to now. And Flynn, who's always done just what her family, friends, and fellow knitters have told her to do, must finally break free and claim the love that binds Jesse to her heart.

Teaser Tuesday

(Compliments of MizB @ Should Be Reading)

Here's what you're asked to do:

1. Grab your current read.
2. Let the book fall open to a random page.
3. Share two teaser sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
4. Share the title of the book that the “teaser” comes from ~ so people can find the book if they like the teaser.
5. And remember – AVOID SPOILERS!!

Here's mine:

"Dove placed her hand on Lucinda's arm. 'And what if he doesn't come back?'

The words pierced Lucinda's heart. 'I...don't know. I prefer not to think of that now.' But no matter how hard she tried, the thought was always there in the dark edges of her mind."

Page: 174
(ARC version)


Becoming Lucy
(Winds Across the Prairie series, Bk 1)
by Martha Rogers

Christian Fiction / Historical / Romance

Realms (A Strang Company)
Copyright 2010
Pages: 297
ISBN: 9781599799124

Mailbox Monday

Thanks to Marcia @ The Printed Page, we get a chance to share
with others any books we've received the previous week,
via our mailbox.

Be sure to comment and leave a link to your Mailbox Monday post,
or just post your list in your comment.

These books came to me from Bonnie Calhoun @ Christian Fiction Online Magazine. I won their Box o' Books contest for November 2009.
They have this contest every month, so be sure to drop by and enter to win you own Box o' Books! Good Luck!

Dawn's Prelude by Tracie Peterson
Fields of Grace by Kim Vogel Sawyer
A Prisoner of Versailles by Golden Keyes Parsons
Her Inheritance Forever by Lyn Cote
The Blue Enchantress by MaryLu Tyndall
The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz
Things Worth Remembering by Jackina Stark (my review)
Fit to be Tied by Robin Lee Hatcher
The Big 5-Oh! by Sandra D. Bricker (ARC)
Tidings of Great Boys by Shelley Adina

*****************************

From book-swapping sites, and the author:


Lilac Spring by Ruth Axtell Morren
Love Finds You in Hershey Pennsylvania by Cerella D. Sechrist
(received from Cerella for review)
Getting Lucky by Carolyn Brown (ARC)
Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl

****************************

Did you get any great books in your mailbox last week?

Christian Book Giveaways Blog

Please be sure to drop by Carman's new blog...Christian Fiction Giveaways. She has the lowdown on LOTS of giveaways that are currently going on.

If you're hosting a giveaway on your blog right now, or will be in the near future ~ send the info to Carman, and she'll post it on her blog for you.

Hurry on over...right now! Don't miss out on all the fun!

Waiting on Wednesday

(Compliments of Jill @ Breaking the Spine)

It allows bloggers to feature pre-publication
books that they are eagerly anticipating!



The Gunsmith's Gallantry
(Ladies Shooting Club, Bk 2)
by Susan Page Davis

Release date: June 1, 2010

Christian Fiction / Historical / Romance

Barbour Books, Inc.
Copyright 2010
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781602607958


Well...I was gonna post the excerpt from Amazon, but they pretty much spoil the romance aspect of the first book, The Sheriff's Surrender. If you want to read it anyway...just click here to go to Amazon.com.

Teaser Tuesdays

(Compliments of MizB @ Should Be Reading)

Here's what you're asked to do:

1. Grab your current read.
2. Let the book fall open to a random page.
3. Share two teaser sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
4. Share the title of the book that the “teaser” comes from ~ so people can find the book if they like the teaser.
5. And remember – AVOID SPOILERS!!

Here's mine:

"Jade had tried to erase the twenty-year-old Christmas memory, but it had found a permanent place in the front of her soul, pulled up a comfy chair, and ordered a tall latte."

Found on page: 58


The Sweet By and By
by Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck

General Fiction

Thomas Nelson
Copyright 2009
Pages: 311
ISBN: 9781595544896

**I hope to be posting my review later on this evening.**

Blog Awards from 2009

I received a few more Blog Awards towards the end of 2009, but didn't have a chance to post them due to so much going on between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Well, I'm finally here to post them. I would also like to apologize to the wonderful ladies who passed them on to me....I'm so sorry it's taken me this long to share them.

Okay...here we go!

The first one was awarded to me by Rae over @ Caffeine and Romance. It is the "One Lovely Blog Award". Thank you so much, Rae!! Isn't it pretty?

Once I receive it, I'm supposed to pass it along to 15 other deserving blogs. Since I've passed this one on before, I'm choosing 5 blogs I've recently discovered:

1. Jacki @ Random Thoughts of a Blessed Mommy
2. Vicki @ Bink's Buttons 'n Bobbins
3. Cinnamon Spice @ Spice Up Your Gift Giving...
4. krenae27 @ My Mental Enigma
5. Verlina @ What You Reading Now?

*****************************

The second one was awarded to me by Katy over @ A Few More Pages. It's the "Lemonade Award"...which is a new one for me. I love it ~ the colors are awesome! Thanks so much, Katy.

This award is passed to bloggers for showing great Attitude and/or Gratitude (you know the old saying, "making lemons into lemonade"...). Which I truly needed during the stress of being expected at so many different places for the holidays! :)

********************************

And last, but not least, I received the "Circle of Friends Award" (another new one for me) from TWO great Blogger friends! Thank you so much Ashley @ After All.....Tomorrow is Another Day AND Rae @ Rollers, Ribbons & Rouge. You gals are the best! I'm so honored to have received this award from you both. {{hugs}}


By receiving this award I'm supposed to list 5 of my favorite things to do...then send it along to 5 fantastic blogs.

5 favorite things:

* Reading (of course)
* Swap games on PBS
* Blogging with my friends
* Spending time with family
* Eating out at my fave restaurants

5 fantastic blogs:

Well....since you're ALL my friends....if you don't already have this award, please take it with you when you leave! Be sure to come back soon though! *wink*

Thank you ALL so much for the fabulous awards!
You don't know how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness!

Friday Fill-Ins (First one for 2010!!)

(compliments of Janet @ Friday Fill-Ins)

And...here we go! Happy New Year!



1. Last night we hung out at my parents house to celebrate my BIL's b-day, and ring in the New Year. It was LOTS of fun!!!
2. May the Lord bless us all this year.
3. The funniest thing that happened to me in 2009 was wrecking my car with only 3 days left 'til 2010.....NOT!!! :(
4. 2009 has quickly passed us by...so where do we go from here?
5. He said "I love you!"; she said "but I love you more!"
6. Our nation has lost sight of what's right/wrong in God's eyes and it's up to us to help them find it again.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to getting to start on my 2010 Romance Reading Challenge, tomorrow my plans include getting to meet Mary S. from PBS!! (she will be the first/only PBSer I've met in person!) and Sunday, I want to start cleaning out some of my TBR books by posting them on swap sites or eBay!

I hope y'all had a safe and happy New Year!!