Mailbox Monday October 1

It's Monday and time for another Mailbox Monday post. This month Mailbox Monday will be hosted by Mailbox Monday, where it all began!

Not sure what is going on with my blog layout today. It was fine when I went to bed last night. When I woke up this morning, everything was askew. My sidebars are at the bottom of my layout but when I go to change the layout, it shows them in the correct place. Blogger is driving me nuts today! I will see what it looks like when I get home from work tonight.

I am excited about the books in my mailbox this week. One is a win, one is a purchase, and three are for review. One is for a TLC Book Tour.

The Letters by Luanne Rice and Joseph Monninger (this was a purchase)

Things Remembered by Georgia Bockoven (this is for a TLC Book Tour on Wednesday, October 17th)

The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan(courtesy of Riverhead Books)

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton(courtesy of Atria Book Galley Alley)


The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani(won from Leah at Amused By Books. Thank You, Leah!)

That is what came to my home. What wonderful books made their way into your home?

Mailbox Monday May 28 and Happy Memorial Day

Thank you all for your kind words about our beloved Cooper. It has been a hard weekend but we are getting through it. Yesterday I set up a nice little memorial for him in our backyard. I went to our local nursery and found a rock that has paw prints on it and says "Dogs leave paw prints on our hearts forever". Cooper will never be forgotten! He was the sweetest dog I have ever known.

Happy Memorial Day! A special thank you to all who have served or are serving now! I know how much you and your families sacrifice!

I hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend. It has been hot and humid here this weekend. I planted my garden yesterday and cooked out. Today is laundry day and reading day. It's too hot to do much else. The plan is to read a book and catch up on blogs.

I haven't posted a Mailbox Monday post in a long time so this one is quite full. I have some review books, some purchased books and some from the library sale shelf. Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Martha at Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf. Thank you Martha!

First up are two audiobooks for review, courtesy of Macmillan Audio.

A Dog's Journey by W. Bruce Cameron (the dog on the cover looks a lot like our little Cooper)

Bring Up The Bodies by Hilary Mantel

Next up are the books I have received for review. Some are from Amazon Vine and some are from the publishers.

A Hundred Flowers by Gail Tsukiyama

Goodbye For Now by Laurie Frankel

The Innocents by Francesca Segal

Summer Breeze by Nancy Thayer

The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian

The next group of books are the ones I purchased either at the store or at the library sale shelf.

Vision in White by Nora Roberts
Nanking 1937 by Ye Zhaoyan 
The Next Always by Nora Roberts 
The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts 
If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster

And last was my birthday gift to myself. I saw this version of The Secret Garden on the Barnes and Noble website and thought it was beautiful!

The secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett

So that is all the treasures that have come into my home since my last mailbox post. What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

Mailbox Monday April 16

It's been a few weeks since I have posted. Sorry for being so absent but I am still trying to adjust to working full time. It's getting easier juggling my time but I still have a ways to go. I do miss blogging so I am going to try to make time for blogging and commenting.

Mailbox Monday is being hosted this month by Cindy's Love of Books. Cindy has the most gorgeous blog! Be sure to pop over there and check it out.

I received some books in the mail since my last post. I purchased the books but the audiobooks came as a surprise for review.

For Review

The Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer

This is the second book in the Clifton Chronicles. I really enjoyed the first installment so I am looking forward to continuing on with the storyline.

Farther Away by Jonathon Franzen

This is an audiobook of essays. This has me very curious.

Both of these books have been on my wishlist thanks to all the great reviews they have received from fellow bloggers! Both have great covers, don't you think?

Looking For Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore

A Grown-up Kind of Pretty Joshilyn Jackson

The DASH Diet Cookbook: Quick and Delicious Recipes for Losing Weight, Preventing Diabetes, and Lowering Blood Pressure by Dr. Mariza Snyder, Dr. Lauren Clum and Anna V. Zulaica

This is the new lifestyle I am trying to follow. It is to help lower my blood pressure. It seems to be helping and is actually easy to follow, at least for me.

So that is what came to my mailbox recently. What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

Mailbox Monday March 26

I thought it was time for me to check in and what better way to do it than with a Mailbox Monday post. I finally have my permanent schedule so life should become a bit easier. Having a set schedule makes it a bit easier to plan things. Not much reading going on here but yesterday I started taking a book to work for my break time. I miss reading, blogging and most of all visiting everyone's blogs. I will be off this weekend and hope to catch up with everyone then.

On to Mailbox Monday. Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Anna at Diary of an Eccentric. I received two books in the past two weeks.

The Cove by Ron Rash

Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Ecco (April 10, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061804193
ISBN-13: 978-0061804199

The New York Times bestselling author of Serena returns to Appalachia, this time at the height of World War I, with the story of a blazing but doomed love affair caught in the turmoil of a nation at war

Deep in the rugged Appalachians of North Carolina lies the cove, a dark, forbidding place where spirits and fetches wander, and even the light fears to travel. Or so the townsfolk of Mars Hill believe–just as they know that Laurel Shelton, the lonely young woman who lives within its shadows, is a witch. Alone except for her brother, Hank, newly returned from the trenches of France, she aches for her life to begin.

Then it happens–a stranger appears, carrying nothing but a beautiful silver flute and a note explaining that his name is Walter, he is mute, and is bound for New York. Laurel finds him in the woods, nearly stung to death by yellow jackets, and nurses him back to health. As the days pass, Walter slips easily into life in the cove and into Laurel's heart, bringing her the only real happiness she has ever known.

But Walter harbors a secret that could destroy everything–and danger is closer than they know. Though the war in Europe is near its end, patriotic fervor flourishes thanks to the likes of Chauncey Feith, an ambitious young army recruiter who stokes fear and outrage throughout the county. In a time of uncertainty, when fear and ignorance reign, Laurel and Walter will discover that love may not be enough to protect them.

This lyrical, heart-rending tale, as mesmerizing as its award-winning predecessor Serena, shows once again this masterful novelist at the height of his powers.

True Sisters by Sandra Dallas

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (April 24, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250005027
ISBN-13: 978-1250005021

In a novel based on true events, New York Times bestselling author Sandra Dallas delivers the story of four women---seeking the promise of salvation and prosperity in a new land---who come together on a harrowing journey.

In 1856, Mormon converts, encouraged by Brigham Young himself, and outfitted with two-wheeled handcarts, set out on foot from Iowa City to Salt Lake City, the promised land. The Martin Handcart Company, a ragtag group of weary families headed for Zion, is the last to leave on this 1,300-mile journey. Three companies that left earlier in the year have completed their trek successfully, but for the Martin Company the trip proves disastrous. True Sisters tells the story of four women from the British Isles traveling in this group. Four women whose lives will become inextricably linked as they endure unimaginable hardships, each one testing the boundaries of her faith and learning the true meaning of survival and friendship along the way.

There’s Nannie, who is traveling with her sister and brother-in-law after being abandoned on her wedding day.

There’s Louisa, who’s married to an overbearing church leader who she believes speaks for God.

There’s Jessie, who’s traveling with her brothers, each one of them dreaming of the farm they will have in Zion.

And finally, there’s Anne, who hasn’t converted to Mormonism but who has no choice but to follow her husband since he has sold everything to make the trek to Utah.

Sandra Dallas has once again written a moving portrait of women surviving the unimaginable through the ties of female friendship. Her rich storytelling will leave you breathless as you take this trip with Nannie, Louisa, Jessie, and Anne. This is Sandra Dallas at her absolute best.


So that is what I found in my mailbox. What wonderful books made their way into your home?

Mailbox Monday March 12

I received one book in the past two weeks. I have cut way back on the amount of books coming in. I need to catch up around here! This month's mailbox Monday is being hosted by Anna at Diary of an Eccentric

The Secrets of Mary Bowser by Lois Leveen

Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Original edition (May 15, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062107909
ISBN-13: 978-0062107909

Based on the remarkable true story of a freed African American slave who returned to Virginia at the onset of the Civil War to spy on the Confederates, The Secrets of Mary Bowser is a masterful debut by an exciting new novelist. Author Lois Leveen combines fascinating facts and ingenious speculation to craft a historical novel that will enthrall readers of women's fiction, historical fiction, and acclaimed works like Cane River and Cold Mountain that offer intimate looks at the twin nightmares of slavery and Civil War. A powerful and unforgettable story of a woman who risked her own freedom to bring freedom to millions of others, The Secrets of Mary Bowser celebrates the courageous achievements of a little known but truly inspirational American heroine.

Mailbox Monday February 27

Just a quick mailbox post before I get ready for my first day of work. This month Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Metroreader: Reading One Mile At A Time. I will try to catch some mailbox posts today and tomorrow. Thank you to all who have wished me luck on my first day on the job. All the good wishes and thoughts are overwhelming! Thank you all so much! The following books are ones I picked up with a gift certificate. All were books that were loved by other bloggers! The audiobook was a surprise sent for review.

Audiobook

The Dog Who Danced by Susan Wilson

Books

Letters From Home by Kristina McMorris
Wildflowers of Terezin by Robert Elmer
The Baker's Daughter by Sarah McCoy

What wonderful books made their way into your home?

Mailbox Monday February 20

It's Monday again! Happy President's Day! There is school here today so we are up and having a regular day.

I was thrilled with Downton Abbey last night. Some story lines seem to be heading in the direction I was hoping they would go. I don't want to say too much in case you are a fan and haven't seen the episode yet. I hope we don't have to wait too long for season three.

On to the mailbox! This month Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Metroreader: Reading One Mile At A Time.

I received two books in my actual mailbox this week. I received one for a TLC Book Tour and Harper Collins was kind enough to stick the newest addition to the series in the with my tour book. That was a wonderful surprise since this is a series I hear so many great things about!

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
Elegy For Eddie: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear

I made a run to the hardware store this weekend and since the library was having a book sale and was across the street, I had to stop by. I was hugely disappointed with this sale. It was mostly old library books for sale. I mean old books that everyone read a million years ago! I heard many comments that led me to believe I wasn't the only disappointed person there. I did find a few books that looked interesting and a couple of donated romances for my mom. I really didn't need any more book anyway but I always enjoy bumping elbows with other readers looking for that one book you have to have! I only spent $3.50.

Dream Mender by Sherryl Woods
Tea and Destiny by Sherryl Woods
A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
Marshmallows For Breakfast by Dorothy Koomson
My Pride and Joy by George Adamson

So that is what books came into my home. What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

Mailbox Monday February 13

It's Monday again! It was a crazy week here last week. I had my second interview which ran over an hour long. Not sure how it went. I thought it went okay but it's hard to say what they are looking for. There were many applicants so it will be awhile before I know anything. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes! They mean so much!

I did receive one book in my mailbox last week. I have not been requesting many books. I am trying to get caught up with the books I have here already, so I am being a bit more selective in what I request. This book I saw on another blog so when I had the chance to get my hands on a copy of it, I jumped.

This month's Mailbox Monday host is Kim at Metroreader. Thank you for hosting Kim!

The Rose of Winslow Street by Elizabeth Camden

Paperback: 342 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (January 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764208950
ISBN-13: 978-0764208959

The last thing Libby Sawyer and her father expected upon their return from their summer home was to find strangers inhabiting a house that had been in their family for decades. Widower Michael Dobrescu brought his family from Romania to the town of Colden, Massachusetts with a singular purpose: to claim the house willed to him long ago. Since neither party has any intention of giving up their claim, a fierce legal battle ensues between the two families.

When important documents go missing from the house, Libby suspects Michael is the culprit. Determined to discover the truth behind the stolen papers, Libby investigates, only to find more layers of mystery surrounding Michael and his family. Despite their rivalry, Libby finds herself developing feelings for this man with the mysterious past.

As a decision about the house looms in the courts, Libby must weigh the risks of choosing to remain loyal to her family or give her heart to a man whose intentions and affections are less than certain.

I received this book for my honest review courtesy of Bethany House

What wonderful books made their way into your home?

Mailbox Monday February 6

I can't believe it is Monday again! Time is flying by. We had a busy weekend here. My daughter had Bandorama all weekend. It makes for a very busy weekend. She had a rehearsal and two concerts. We came home in time to catch the half of the Superbowl. I had to click over to watch Downton Abbey at 8! I am so addicted to that show! All that sure makes a Monday morning rough!

My job interview went well. I have a second interview this week, which I hope is a good sign. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

This month's Mailbox Monday host is Kim at Metroreader. Thank you for hosting Kim!

No books in my actual mailbox but I did find a couple freebies for the Fire last week. The cozy is still free for the Kindle as of this morning.

Ghost a la Mode by Sue Ann Jaffarian

The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey

I have a TLC Book Tour coming up on Wednesday, my very first one, so be sure to stop by on Wednesday!

Mailbox Monday January 30

Happy Monday! We made it through another week here! I am taking the days one by one. I have a job interview on Thursday. Not sure if I will get the job but either way, it will be a good experience. The gal who called is very easy to talk to and I am looking forward to the interview.

No books in the mailbox this week which is fine. I have so many books to read here already. I am reading One For the Money by Janet Evanovich after reading how much everyone enjoys that series. I had the book here in my pile and dove in last night after reading how much Sheila from Book Journey enjoyed the book and the movie. Click on her name to check out her review.

I did download two free kindle books this week. You can click on the titles for the links to those. I believe they are both still free.

Be sure to check out Mailbox Monday which is hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books.

Gooseberry Patch Quick & Easy Family Dinners Cookbook

Daily Readings For Difficult Days by Jennifer Carter

I hope to get back to posting. Some days are harder than others. Thank you to all who have sent good wishes, thoughts, prayers and hugs! You have no idea how much it all means to me! We'll get through this and will be stronger for it!

Mailbox Monday January 23

I have been neglecting the blog this past week. Sorry for that! My husband lost his job of 18 years very unexpectedly when the business he worked for was bought up due to bankruptcy that we knew nothing about! They were bought and shut down. We are devastated here. I am now working on my resume after being a stay at home mom for 25 years. I am looking for a job! It is a frightening time for us right now. I did manage to get a book read this weekend only because I needed to escape life for a bit. A book will do that for you!

Just a reminder that I have a giveaway that ends tomorrow. Please sign up if you haven't already! You can click on the side bar to find it. Winners will be announced on Wednesday!

Mailbox Monday is being hosted this month by Alyce at At Home With Books. Be sure to check out her blog!

I received one book for review from Librarything Early Reviewers. I have been bad about visiting blogs also and I hope to be able to catch up. I also hope to have a book review up this week. I read Home Front by Kristin Hannah which I enjoyed!

Knit One Pearl One by Gil McNeil

Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Voice; Original edition (December 27, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1401341675
ISBN-13: 978-1401341671

Summary

It's been a busy few years since Jo Mackenzie lost her husband. Life has brought adventure, surprises, unexpected pleasures and, of course, lots of knitting.

Jo's seaside yarn shop, with a brand-new cafe, has taken off, keeping her busier than ever. And being a single mum to two boys and a headstrong toddler, Pearl, is just as exhausting and enchanting as she thought it would be. On top of all that, celebrity diva Grace has a secret, Jo's firecracker best friend, Ellen, is launching a new television series, and lovable but hapless Martin continues his oft-misguided attempts to woo Jo. Just when Jo thinks she has about all she can handle, Daniel, Pearl's globe-trotting dad, turns up out of the blue...

With a little help from her friends and her beloved Gran, Jo is building a new life for herself by the sea, stitch by stitch.

Warm and witty, Knit One Pearl One will delight new readers to the Beach Street series and give the legions of existing fans a chance to visit the British seaside again, without having to worry about the weather.

Mailbox Monday January 16

It is Monday again. Time for Mailbox Monday. This month Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books.

I had a slow week which is kind of good since I have so many books to catch up on. Both of these book I purchased. I had to have the new Sarah Jio book and the cookbook I got an awesome deal on. It is an older cookbook and there is a newer version out so this one was on sale.

Be sure to check out out my giveaway at the end of the post or click on the link in my sidebar!

The Bungalow by Sarah Jio

Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook

Giveaway
One Moment, One Morning by Sarah Rayner

I am giving three copies away. Click above and be sure to enter!

Mailbox Monday January 9

It's Monday and time for Mailbox Monday! I'll bet you are wondering why the spring mailbox. It feels like spring here in the Midwest. The fact that it is January and I have not had to touch a snow shovel or winter gloves is amazing! It really should look like the mailbox below. I am not complaining though! This fantastic weather is making me a very happy camper! The other day I was able to run errands with only a poncho on, not a parka that makes me look like the kid from Christmas Story. If it stayed like this all winter, I would not be sad. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that Mother Nature will come to her senses and bless us with some snow and cold. And the mailbox will look like this:

Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books. Thank you for hosting Alyce! Be sure to check out her blog.

I won a signed book from Goodreads, which I am very excited about. I saw the book trailer for this book and it really spoke to me. It is not my usual type of read but this is one of those subjects that haunts me. When I hear the words human trafficking, my stomach cringes. It amazes me that this is allowed to go on. While I think there will be parts of this novel that will be difficult to stomach, I am anxious to read it. The book has the most amazing feeling pages too. I love the weight of the paper. It is one of those books that is a pleasure to hold in your hands.

A Walk Across the Sun by Corban Addison

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: SilverOak (January 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402792808
ISBN-13: 978-1402792809

Summary

Corban Addison leads readers on a chilling, eye-opening journey into Mumbai's seedy underworld--and the nightmare of two orphaned girls swept into the international sex trade.

When a tsunami rages through their coastal town in India, 17-year-old Ahalya Ghai and her 15-year-old sister Sita are left orphaned and homeless. With almost everyone they know suddenly erased from the face of the earth, the girls set out for the convent where they attend school. They are abducted almost immediately and sold to a Mumbai brothel owner, beginning a hellish descent into the bowels of the sex trade.

Halfway across the world, Washington, D.C., attorney Thomas Clarke faces his own personal and professional crisis-and makes the fateful decision to pursue a pro bono sabbatical working in India for an NGO that prosecutes the subcontinent's human traffickers. There, his conscience awakens as he sees firsthand the horrors of the trade in human flesh, and the corrupt judicial system that fosters it. Learning of the fate of Ahalya and Sita, Clarke makes it his personal mission to rescue them, setting the stage for a riveting showdown with an international network of ruthless criminals.

These next books are ones I bought from Barnes and Noble online with my Christmas gift card. They were all $2.99 and for some reason I got one free. Maybe there was a buy 3, get 1 free sale? Not sure. These were all books on my wish list from the past.

Hidden by Shelley Shepard Gray
The Divorce Party by Laura Dave
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
Summer House by Nancy Thayer

That is my mailbox. What wonderful books made their way into your home?

Mailbox Monday January 2

It's a fresh new year and the first Monday of the year. I am getting ready to take down the Christmas decorations and then will probable spend some time reading. I started The Violets of March by Sarah Jio yesterday after seeing it on so many favorite reads lists. I curled up with the book and read the first half straight through. I would have finished it but the family wanted to eat. I'm hoping to be able to finish the book today. I can see why it made so many favorite reads lists! I am pretty sure it will make my favorite reads list for 2012! Not a bad way to start the New Year!

On to this weeks mailbox! This month Mailbox Monday is hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books. Thank you for hosting Alyce!

This week I have two books I purchased from Barnes and Noble. I stopped in the day after Christmas to see what goodies they had on sale. Not as big as a sale at our store compared to past years. Our store is looking more and more like a toy store these days. They expanded the toys and games section and now there are less books. It is the last bookstore in our area besides some used bookstores.

I also received two books for review from Amazon Vine and one book for a book tour for TLC Book Tours. I am excited about every one of these books. The Thorn and the Blossom is packaged beautifully and looks like a very unique book!

For Review

The Thorn and the Blossom: A Two-Sided Love Story by Theodora Goss courtesy of Amazon Vine

The Golden Hour by Margaret Wurtele courtesy of Amazon Vine

Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh courtesy of TLC Book Tours

Purchases

Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah

America's Family Favorites Best of Home Cooking over 150 Timeless Recipes


Those are the books that made their way into my home. What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

Mailbox Monday December 26

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a very nice holiday! We had a lovely day full of good food and family. Everyone was healthy yesterday which was the best gift of all! We are hoping to be done with viruses for awhile now! My mailbox is for the past two weeks. Three books are for review and one was a win from Michelle at Life in Review. Thank you Michelle!

First up though I want to share a video of one of my favorite Christmas gifts from my kids. I find myself stopping and playing with these wonderful characters quite a bit! They make me smile!



On to my mailbox! This month Mailbox Monday is hosted by Jenny at Let Them Read Books.

Her Sister's Shadow by Katherine Britton this was my win

All That I Am by Anna Funder- courtesy of Amazon Vine
Blue Monday by Nicci French-courtesy of Pamela Dorman Book/Viking
A Good American by Alex George- courtesy of Librarything Early Reviewers

And now to share a couple of my bookish Christmas gifts. I was not expecting anything but hoping for a Barnes and Noble gift certificate. I was very surprised when my son and his lovely gal gave me a Kindle Fire. I have played with it a bit and love it! Now I have a Nook and a Fire to read on!

That is what has come into my home the past two weeks! What wonderful books made their way into your home?

Mailbox Monday December 12

Happy Monday! The weekend sure was short! I was busy getting the living room ready for the tree. The tree is up and that is it. It is bare, not an ornament or a light on it yet. We get a real tree and this tree was very closed up. I gave it a fresh cut and trim, plopped it in some water and am waiting for the branches to finish relaxing. One year we made the mistake of decorating the tree right away and woke up the next morning to ornaments and lights on the floor. Hopefully we can decorate it tonight.

In other news, I have decided I am not happy with my weight. I was one of those gals others loved to hate. I could eat a whopper with cheese, a large fry and a milkshake and not gain a pound. Those days are over! Long gone those days are! Oh how I miss those days! I can not eat anything and I still gain weight. I avoid the scale. This weekend I was cleaning and decided to step on the scale. BIG MISTAKE! Let's just say it was shocking! I don't think I weighed this much when I was pregnant. Changes are coming to my diet. I did manage 1 hour on the treadmill on Saturday where I read 100 pages while walking. It's time to eat right and get moving. Any helpful tips anyone has would be more than welcome!

Now that I have totally depressed us all, on to Mailbox Monday! Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from A Girl and Her Books. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Jenny Q at Let Them Read Books. Be sure to check out Jenny Q's fabulous blog! Thank you for hosting, Jenny!

I really didn't receive any books in my mailbox but did buy a couple of books on my Nook after reading reviews for two of this author's books on CMash Loves to Read. Cheryl's review had me curious and then I saw I already had one of this author's book on my nook. They all sounded like reads I would like. Thank you Cheryl for the review and the recommendations! I will let you know how I like them all!

Spinning by Michale Baron

When You Went Away by Michael Baron

I already owned this one but it is also by the same author so I included a link to it.

A Winter Discovery by Michael Baronhref

No review books or wins here but that is okay. Slow weeks are when I take a deep breath and try to do some catching up!

I am off to munch on some celery sticks. What wonderful books made their way into your home?

Mailbox Monday December 5

Happy Monday! I am not sure why but I am overly cheerful this morning! It has been dark and dreary in my neck of the woods. It kind of caused me to be lazy this weekend but this morning I woke up ready to face the week! It's rather shocking! Maybe I'm acclimating to the dark, dismal weather. I am reading a fun, light book right now so maybe that is the reason for my good mood. Maybe it is the holiday spirit working it's magic.

I am so not ready for the holidays. I haven't done a lick of shopping and haven't a clue what to buy anyone. It will all come together eventually. It always does. So, how many of you have all your decorations up and your shopping finished?

On to Mailbox Monday! Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from A Girl and Her Books. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Jenny Q at Let Them Read Books. Be sure to check out Jenny Q's fabulous blog! Thank you for hosting, Jenny!

I received four books last week, three for review and one was a purchase to share with my mom. I knew she would love the book and I wanted to read it too. I love to share books with Mom. Our tastes in books have kind of changed over the years so when I find a book I know we both will enjoy, I jump on it. It's fun to talk about a book after we both read it. I love to hear when she gets excited and loves a book as much as I do.

Here is what I got last week:

Defending Jacob by William Landay

(This came with a matching bookmark which I forgot to include in the picture)
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press (January 31, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385344228
ISBN-13: 978-0385344227
Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: His fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student.

Every parental instinct Andy has rallies to protect his boy. Jacob insists that he is innocent, and Andy believes him. Andy must. He’s his father. But as damning facts and shocking revelations surface, as a marriage threatens to crumble and the trial intensifies, as the crisis reveals how little a father knows about his son, Andy will face a trial of his own—between loyalty and justice, between truth and allegation, between a past he’s tried to bury and a future he cannot conceive.

Award-winning author William Landay has written the consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis—a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control.

Received for my honest review from Random House

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (October 17, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031609739X
ISBN-13: 978-0316097390

The tree is decorated, the cookies are baked, and the packages are wrapped, but the biggest celebration this Christmas is Gaby Summerhill's wedding. Since her husband died three years ago, Gaby's four children have drifted apart, each consumed by the turbulence of their own lives. They haven't celebrated Christmas together since their father's death, but when Gaby announces that she's getting married--and that the groom will remain a secret until the wedding day--she may finally be able to bring them home for the holidays.

But the wedding isn't Gaby's only surprise--she has one more gift for her children, and it could change all their lives forever. With deeply affecting characters and the emotional twists of a James Patterson thriller, The Christmas Wedding is a fresh look at family and the magic of the season.

I purchased this book

I am so excited about these next two reads which I received for my honest review from Amazon Vine. I adore Kristin Hannah and always look forward to her next novel.

The last book, What Happened to Hannah is an uncorrected proof. I wonder if they will use the picture on the cover? I see Amazon is listing a different cover which is a good thing since the picture on my uncorrected proof looks so similar to the cover of Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda. I really dislike when pictures are used over and over for book covers.

Home Front by Kristin Hannah

Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (January 31, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312577206
ISBN-13: 978-0312577209

From a distance, Michael and Joleen Zarkades seem to have it all: a solid marriage, two exciting careers, and children they adore. But after twelve years together, the couple has lost their way; they are unhappy and edging toward divorce. Then the Iraq war starts. An unexpected deployment will tear their already fragile family apart, sending one of them deep into harm’s way and leaving the other at home, waiting for news. When the worst happens, each must face their darkest fear and fight for the future of their family. An intimate look at the inner landscape of a disintegrating marriage and a dramatic exploration of the price of war on a single American family, HOME FRONT is a provocative and timely portrait of hope, honor, loss, forgiveness, and the elusive nature of love.

What Happened to Hannah by Mary Kay McComas

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Original edition (February 7, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 006208478X
ISBN-13: 978-0062084781

As a teenager, Hannah Benson ran away from home in order to save herself. Now, twenty years later, the past comes calling and delivers life-changing news: her mother and sister have passed away, leaving Hannah the guardian of her fifteen-year-old niece.

Returning home to bitter memories and devastating secrets, Hannah must overcome her painful past to pave a future with her niece, the last best chance at a family for both of them. She begins to create a new, happier life with her niece and rekindles a relationship with Grady Steadman, one of the few people she’s ever called a friend.

But she can’t forget what she cannot forgive, or lay to rest those ghosts that will not die. Will love and trust—and the truth—give her the strength to stand her ground and fight for what she deserves?


So those are the books that made their way into my home. What wonderful reads made their way into your home?