tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47535292532115634662024-03-08T03:34:05.977-08:00Mug of MoxieA place to feed my addiction.....Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.comBlogger621125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-59301090497980778292018-07-14T20:23:00.002-07:002018-07-14T20:23:35.395-07:00"CHRISTMAS IN JULY" Giveaway Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8GD54i5BzD2annpbtNMnaBk2O3UW8r9xGT8QLSCQVMF3Z3TqZmgep50BeRlmh9ppjD92GvjiA-zoT2ilqGQCu6NmGCIy_wbWnRzPRgA4a-CREAo4Jo6nZu_RQfRcz_xTOu5mfviq31Qe/s1600/christmas-in-july-2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8GD54i5BzD2annpbtNMnaBk2O3UW8r9xGT8QLSCQVMF3Z3TqZmgep50BeRlmh9ppjD92GvjiA-zoT2ilqGQCu6NmGCIy_wbWnRzPRgA4a-CREAo4Jo6nZu_RQfRcz_xTOu5mfviq31Qe/s400/christmas-in-july-2-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>WELCOME TO THE.....</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "fontdiner swanky"; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"CHRISTMAS IN JULY" GIVEAWAY HOP</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">To enter this giveaway and a chance to win.....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">2 Christmas Themed Books:</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Hardback-Gabriel's Angel by Nora Roberts and Hardback-A Creed Country Christmas by Linda Lael Miller, a Christmas Dish Towel, and a Christmas Ornament!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQP2hlKx_ZE8EZ5EwNsm3FGDQen71ZAz8SlxeiXU_LMPdal4WY06zjua_EMhyphenhyphenPE-SW3Ky-xzz1KjS3FgeF6n2LsPJ_xhFZ8GRRfc4MsE9KxvCOagJToo7e0HbqHv-jJFAFav7U6XrjMfN/s1600/christmas+giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQP2hlKx_ZE8EZ5EwNsm3FGDQen71ZAz8SlxeiXU_LMPdal4WY06zjua_EMhyphenhyphenPE-SW3Ky-xzz1KjS3FgeF6n2LsPJ_xhFZ8GRRfc4MsE9KxvCOagJToo7e0HbqHv-jJFAFav7U6XrjMfN/s320/christmas+giveaway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm only asking you to do THREE things to enter this giveaway:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">1. Subscribe to "Mug of Moxie" by email</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "fontdiner swanky"; font-size: 13.2px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">2. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Twitter</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "fontdiner swanky"; font-size: 13.2px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">3. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Blogger(here)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "fontdiner swanky"; font-size: 13.2px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">ALL buttons are located to the right on my blog page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">Please Include contact information(email address)in comment section.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">Giveaway will run from July 15TH to July 30TH</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">Winner will be chosen on AUGUST 2ND </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">Good Luck AND a GIANT thank you from Mug of Moxie!</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">AND thank you to <a href="https://www.bookhounds.net/2018/07/giveaway-christmas-in-july-hop-win-10-int.html">BookHounds</a> for hosting this fantastic giveaway!</span></div>
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Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-24302195303172801992018-07-11T18:20:00.001-07:002018-07-11T18:22:50.890-07:00BOOK REVIEW-The Great Alone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUALEtUvo41ylJbs39lQy80fkgQYiL1hVvDLmglLKaA8z2f1YVgxHmVmFyjCluwvQZ-34RB66WgDd3-0Dj-Co0HysoSZ_UZkYoW_N_hrLnHxbbu0ImWMOs2MKKLJOiR69SVKo0J9Aeui9/s1600/the-great-alone-kristin-hannah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUALEtUvo41ylJbs39lQy80fkgQYiL1hVvDLmglLKaA8z2f1YVgxHmVmFyjCluwvQZ-34RB66WgDd3-0Dj-Co0HysoSZ_UZkYoW_N_hrLnHxbbu0ImWMOs2MKKLJOiR69SVKo0J9Aeui9/s320/the-great-alone-kristin-hannah.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<b>The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah</b></div>
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<b>St. Martin's Press</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>448 Pages</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>February 2018</b></div>
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<b>Amazon Synopsis:</b><br />
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<b><i>Alaska, 1974.</i></b></div>
<b></b><br />
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<b><b><i>Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed.</i></b></b></div>
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</b><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival.</i></b></div>
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Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.<br />
Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown.<br />
At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.<br />
But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.<br />
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<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
Wow! Where do I even start?<br />
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This is the first novel that I've ready by Kristin Hannah and so far the best book I've read for 2018. It was absolutely riveting. This was a book that I literally carried from room to room and read every chance I got.</div>
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The story is told from the point of view of daughter, Leni. She is caught in the middle of her parents very dysfunctional marriage. Set in the early 1970's after the Vietnam War Leni's father returns after being held a POW. He is a broken man but determined to make a fresh start with his family. One day he decides that packing the family up and moving them to the wilds of Alaska is the answer to all of their problems. Leni's mom, Cora immediately has misgivings about the plan but is willing to follow her husband in hopes that he finds the peace and happiness that their family desperately needs.</div>
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When the family arrives in Alaska they find themselves grossly unprepared physically, mentally, and emotionally.</div>
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This book is a roller coaster of emotions. I found myself turning the pages as quickly as possible feeling rage, hope, sadness and joy. </div>
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Put this book at the top of your must read list, you won't regret it.<br />
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Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-86464883869464877462018-07-11T07:21:00.002-07:002018-07-11T07:21:40.998-07:00The Winner of "Splash Into Summer" Giveaway Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Apnh1c99tC4SbdT33pE7mwgBLhVGlACL5G5X-TfLZxOgN-c9m2467uFk97wO557nfyIqOpMz5hMWnYWGn5i-nh01sQaNW59zCFdX-QzWZBCAULj3KxScBCNqRmZYSXX4N1QK3UEAdT8V/s1600/winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="650" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Apnh1c99tC4SbdT33pE7mwgBLhVGlACL5G5X-TfLZxOgN-c9m2467uFk97wO557nfyIqOpMz5hMWnYWGn5i-nh01sQaNW59zCFdX-QzWZBCAULj3KxScBCNqRmZYSXX4N1QK3UEAdT8V/s320/winner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN!</div>
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<b>yellowlabs </b>has won a $10 gift card from Amazon.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
Winner was chosen by Random.org</div>
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Thanks to everyone who participated and to BookHounds for hosting.</div>
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I've already signed up for a "Christmas in Giveaway" Hop also hosted by BookHounds. I can't wait!</div>
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I have some great goodies that I'm dying to give away!</div>
Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-41992500116252228502018-07-07T05:53:00.002-07:002018-07-11T07:12:46.252-07:00BOOK REVIEW: "HOW HARD CAN IT BE?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0u2_c_RC5Kq4vmoJa_7zcT4fxMsINgFb82PPLsUaG7FcrdW-YTic3dWhUANgNUEqb4mzU_-wkw3sIAYmmxWeJblizs4mAjtpfDm28vCg3PghCXq70S8D_6Octhkd42xjMdx78RRZ_oB2m/s1600/how+hard+can+it+be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="228" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0u2_c_RC5Kq4vmoJa_7zcT4fxMsINgFb82PPLsUaG7FcrdW-YTic3dWhUANgNUEqb4mzU_-wkw3sIAYmmxWeJblizs4mAjtpfDm28vCg3PghCXq70S8D_6Octhkd42xjMdx78RRZ_oB2m/s320/how+hard+can+it+be.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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HOW HARD CAN IT BE?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
BY ALLISON PEARSON<br />
St. Martin's Press<br />
384 Pages<br />
June 2018<br />
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Amazon Synopsis:<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">
<i>Look, I was doing OK. I got through the oil spill on the road that is turning forty. Lost a little control, but I drove into the skid just like the driving instructors tell you to and afterwards things were fine again, no, really, they were better than fine.</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">
Kate Reddy had it all: a nice home, two adorable kids, a good husband. Then her kids became teenagers (read: monsters). Richard, her husband, quit his job, taking up bicycling and therapeutic counseling: drinking green potions, dressing head to toe in Lycra, and spending his time―and their money―on his own therapy. Since Richard no longer sees a regular income as part of the path to enlightenment, it’s left to Kate to go back to work.</div>
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Companies aren’t necessarily keen on hiring 49-year-old mothers, so Kate does what she must: knocks a few years off her age, hires a trainer, joins a Women Returners group, and prepares a new resume that has a shot at a literary prize for experimental fiction.</div>
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When Kate manages to secure a job at the very hedge fund she founded, she finds herself in an impossible juggling act: proving herself (again) at work, dealing with teen drama, and trying to look after increasingly frail parents as the clock keeps ticking toward her 50th birthday. Then, of course, an old flame shows up out of the blue, and Kate finds herself facing off with everyone from Russian mobsters to a literal stallion.</div>
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Surely it will all work out in the end. After all, how hard can it be?</div>
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<b>My Thoughts:</b></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When I first </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">started reading this book I didn't realize that this was a sequel to "I Don't Know How She Does It"(which, rumor has it is set to be a major motion picture starring Sarah Jessica Parker) I'll be crossing my fingers for that one because I think that both of these books would be fun to watch on the big screen. This book,"How Hard Can It Be?" can easily be a stand alone. I had no problem picking up where the first one left off and jumping right into Katy's life. Oh Katy! Her life is insane ,crazy,and chaotic. The title of the book is definitely meant to be tongue in cheek. Because Katy's life is spinning out of control as she navigates the joys of teenage angst, a husband how has gone new-age on her, caring for elderly parents, re-joining the work force, and being an ALMOST 50 year old menopausal woman. Needless to say,she has her hands very full. With the exception of the new-age husband I could absolutely relate to Katy and what was happening in her life. I guess that is what I liked best about this book, it really is so very true to life. It's messy,complicated, and exhausting. Author, Allison Pearson captures that perfectly. My thanks to St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. I'll be donating it to my local public library.</span></span></div>
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Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-50083417848494228112018-07-01T01:15:00.004-07:002018-07-01T01:30:26.959-07:00'Just Couldn't Put It Down' JULY GIVEAWAY HOP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_Y72REIIyICS8KF-9B3qtz6_WssINcaSMcL4UM2jol55kj1F_x0hO3z-YuZDCQ6PIHlGSdIl4stqUY9tbtDCmDcrBFvpq5w_b0VgpLlWZthtHCrXIR_CYozrLjtqcUjfzqUVhrAyfiva/s1600/Just-Couldn%2527t-Put-It-Down-July.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="518" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_Y72REIIyICS8KF-9B3qtz6_WssINcaSMcL4UM2jol55kj1F_x0hO3z-YuZDCQ6PIHlGSdIl4stqUY9tbtDCmDcrBFvpq5w_b0VgpLlWZthtHCrXIR_CYozrLjtqcUjfzqUVhrAyfiva/s320/Just-Couldn%2527t-Put-It-Down-July.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">WELCOME 'Just Couldn't Put It Down' JULY GIVEAWAY HOP</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To enter this giveaway and a chance to win a book I couldn't put down.....</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyI-8ACoHIDHGoVeI-3P5OX5A-UZjAcwMjPsLLv_rVrfbL2zkor5KMnbzXGiAOZYYZLDclkmdis5UrwuNAXkg-VAZzzswQJk0saQ9dkh29W8QUSoUHafnn3zGmDuizx957LSKFYMxgnedL/s1600/final+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyI-8ACoHIDHGoVeI-3P5OX5A-UZjAcwMjPsLLv_rVrfbL2zkor5KMnbzXGiAOZYYZLDclkmdis5UrwuNAXkg-VAZzzswQJk0saQ9dkh29W8QUSoUHafnn3zGmDuizx957LSKFYMxgnedL/s320/final+girls.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">AN EXCELLENT THRILLER/MYSTERY READ FOR SUMMER!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">AND A $10 AMAZON GIFT CARD!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm only asking you to do THREE things to enter this giveaway:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">1. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Facebook</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">2. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Twitter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">3. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Blogger(here)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">ALL buttons are located to the right on my blog page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">This giveaway is US ONLY</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">Please Include contact information(email address)in comment section.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">Giveaway will run from July 1st to July 14th</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">Winner will be chosen on July 15th </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">Good Luck AND a GIANT thank you from Mug of Moxie!</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">AND thank you to <a href="https://www.stuckinbooks.com/p/july-hop.html">Stuck In Books</a> for hosting this fantastic giveaway!</span></div>
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Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-6682792204959800932018-06-23T06:29:00.004-07:002018-06-23T06:29:48.589-07:00GIVEAWAYS!Hey there! Happy Saturday!<br />
Just a reminder that I have two giveaways going on right now.<br />
Don't forget to enter!<br />
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Read the review, answer the question, and let me give you a book!<br />
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Join the "Splash Into Summer" Giveaway Hop and win a $10 gift card from Amazon.<br />
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Scroll down the web page for all information and get in on these great giveaways!<br />
<br />Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-51786350715445913472018-06-20T15:06:00.004-07:002018-07-01T09:07:58.116-07:00BOOK REVIEW: Tell Me No Lies and Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjNaNBb3ICBv4OG57lcw61ooE3EAMcsqQVaDoL19XE6UljFcr2YzNf2bzi1OZ8fo15aoVvy7Zp7U5EN_3f6N5AQrGOCNHOfvBVVvYqJQ8-LsaU0gVyGjuWKsuGGQjSEqNX_tm6a43XMBf/s1600/tell+me+no+lies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjNaNBb3ICBv4OG57lcw61ooE3EAMcsqQVaDoL19XE6UljFcr2YzNf2bzi1OZ8fo15aoVvy7Zp7U5EN_3f6N5AQrGOCNHOfvBVVvYqJQ8-LsaU0gVyGjuWKsuGGQjSEqNX_tm6a43XMBf/s320/tell+me+no+lies.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">TELL ME NO LIES</span></div>
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By Adele Griffin</div>
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Algonquin Publishers</div>
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June 2018</div>
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<b>Amazon Synopsis:</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Lizzy Swift is a senior in high school, shyly emerging from her nerd chrysalis to take her first gamble on the Argyll social scene. She braves a relationship with her longtime crush, Matt Ashley, and befriends the reckless, enigmatic senior transfer, Claire Reynolds, who introduces Lizzy to downtown Philadelphia—its clubs, street life, and vibrant art scene. Soon art and passion take priority over homework, after-school jobs, and her longstanding Ivy League ambitions.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">But almost as quickly, these delights and distractions are clouded by suspicions and doubts. Sometimes Lizzy feels that she and Matt are soul mates; other times it seems he’s holding back from her. Claire can be moody, and while she confesses bits and pieces of a breakup so heart-wrenching she changed schools, she won’t tell Lizzy the whole story. Lizzy wants Claire to confide in her, even as she keeps her own secrets from her new best friend. When startling revelations inevitably come to light, they just might shatter these delicate bonds of love and passion, friendship and loyalty.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Set against the neon pop of the late eighties and told with authentic voice and inimitable prose, Adele Griffin’s heart-racing novel takes readers on a journey through the thrill of rebellion and the complications of first love. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>My Thoughts:</b> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">First,I loved that this story took place against the back drop of the 1980's. The reference to music,clothes and culture were fun. These were the days before selfies, text messages, and snap chat. The cover of the book looks light-hearted and makes it look like it's going to be a cotton candy read but, in all actuality it's filled with very complex characters. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Each character carries a secret that can lead to heartbreak or shattered friendships.The main character Lizzy is extremely likable as she tries to navigate epilepsy, her senior year, college choices, a possible first love, and complicated friendships. She is an easy character to root for throughout the book. On the other hand I pegged Claire as a frenemy(who becomes Lizzy's best friend) as soon as she and Lizzy met. I didn't like her at all, but as the story starts to unfold you see where Claire comes from and the empathy starts to pour in. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">As if these characters and their issues aren't big enough to deal with in a story- the author throws a curve ball of the AIDS epidemic that is running rampant through the United States during this time. It's so easy to forget what a scary time this was for everyone. The author bravely dips a toe into the lack of knowledge, the fear, and the intolerance that was happening during this time period. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The characters in the book are easily relate-able and likable, each with their own great story to tell. I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Tell Me No Lies" and look forward to Adele Griffin's next book.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">This book was sent to me by Algonquin Young Readers for review and as no baring on my review or thoughts about the book. Because this is an ARC I would like to give this away to the first person who answers this question--What is the name of Lizzy's best friend? in the comment section below.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">CONTEST IS OVER. THANK YOU!!!!</span></span></span></div>
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A LITTLE ABOUT AUTHOR ADELE GRIFFIN</div>
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Adele Griffin is the highly acclaimed author of almost thirty books for Young Adult and middle grade readers.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3px;">Her works include the National Book Award Finalists</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3px;"> </span><em style="letter-spacing: 0.3px; word-wrap: break-word;">Sons of Liberty</em><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3px;">and</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3px;"> </span><em style="letter-spacing: 0.3px; word-wrap: break-word;">Where I Want to Be</em><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3px;">, as well as the popular Oodlethunks series for younger readers. Her latest novel</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3px;"> </span><em style="letter-spacing: 0.3px; word-wrap: break-word;">The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone</em><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3px;">was a YALSA Best Book of 2015, an Amazon Best YA Book of the Year, a Booklist Top Ten Arts Books for Youth, a Junior Library Guild selection, a Romantic Times Finalist for Book of the Year, and a School Library Journal Top Fiction pick. Her latest novel</span><em style="letter-spacing: 0.3px; word-wrap: break-word;"> Be True to Me</em><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3px;">is publishing in June 2017 with Algonquin Books.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3px;">Adele serves on the Board of Directors of the MacDowell Colony, and is on the advisory board of 826NYC. She lives with her husband, Erich, their two young children, and their dog, Edith, in Brooklyn, New York.</span></div>
Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-19479155810820670832018-06-20T07:07:00.001-07:002018-06-20T07:07:49.549-07:00MOVIE REVIEW-"LOVE, SIMON"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29OZRxh9GKGQs1gti1KEhqm2gJkYPNkvbRgNA0bo7BgX3CxNmL-6gP7n9mmWG9jJwFHPZGwxpj4RW2LiGbn7b-4w64Tu5aCudeBDH-SYIJkz-KpDiGyWB7YgTXaFdgfR_KGqDf0VOwRvk/s1600/movieposter.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="279" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29OZRxh9GKGQs1gti1KEhqm2gJkYPNkvbRgNA0bo7BgX3CxNmL-6gP7n9mmWG9jJwFHPZGwxpj4RW2LiGbn7b-4w64Tu5aCudeBDH-SYIJkz-KpDiGyWB7YgTXaFdgfR_KGqDf0VOwRvk/s320/movieposter.webp" width="222" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Movie: LOVE, SIMON</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">PG-13</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How do I even put into words how much I loved this movie? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Love, Simon is adapted from the book "Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda" It's just one of those movies that you can tell your going to love by looking at the movie poster, I mean...come on..the lead actor, Nick Robinson, is adorable. The trailer hooked me and then I'm sitting in front of my TV with a bowl of popcorn falling in love with all the characters.(sigh) It also stars the actress from 13 Reasons Why, Katherine Langford.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Please rent this movie and watch it with your tween/teen. The message is powerful and hopefully gets the message across that everyone deserves a love story.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Book:</span><br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E0cbWdlQg_8" width="854"></iframe>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-42916791742413354642018-06-14T08:34:00.002-07:002018-06-14T16:33:39.230-07:00GIVEAWAY HOP: SPLASH INTO SUMMER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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SUMMER IS HERE!!!</div>
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AND WHAT A AWESOME WAY TO KICK IT OFF!</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">To enter this giveaway and a chance to win a $10 gift card from Amazon-I'm asking you to do THREE things:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm only asking you to do THREE things to enter this giveaway:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">1. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Facebook</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">2. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Twitter</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">3. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Blogger(here)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">ALL buttons are located to the right on my blog page.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">This is giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">Please Include contact information(email address)in comment section.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">Giveaway for a $10 gift card will run from June 15th to June 30th</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">Winner will be chosen on July 2nd </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">Good Luck AND a GIANT thank you from Mug of Moxie!</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">AND thank you to <a href="http://www.bookhounds.net/2018/06/giveaway-splash-into-summer-hop-win-10-int.html">Book Hounds</a> for hosting this fantastic giveaway!</span></div>
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Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-50910301159746344322018-06-03T08:52:00.001-07:002018-06-03T08:52:27.756-07:00READING AT THE MOMENT......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3b1FNSnr4U-d4YwAlbqC31JYOryr3VTqP8ycY7cO-TYbQw9cExkj8TKyDzhA-xNwRko6Nx9jku-arTwFuTAitlC5r1Ww5KSNWZP0rDS-5Hjdaz2kvIyeCHZSd-bSpvt6gpZmpUNWprvh/s1600/artimis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3b1FNSnr4U-d4YwAlbqC31JYOryr3VTqP8ycY7cO-TYbQw9cExkj8TKyDzhA-xNwRko6Nx9jku-arTwFuTAitlC5r1Ww5KSNWZP0rDS-5Hjdaz2kvIyeCHZSd-bSpvt6gpZmpUNWprvh/s320/artimis.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">ARTEMIS</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">BY ANDY WEIR</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Jasmine Bashara never signed up to be a hero. She just wanted to get rich. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Not crazy, eccentric-billionaire rich, like many of the visitors to her hometown of Artemis, humanity’s first and only lunar colony. Just rich enough to move out of her coffin-sized apartment and eat something better than flavored algae. Rich enough to pay off a debt she’s owed for a long time.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">So when a chance at a huge score finally comes her way, Jazz can’t say no. Sure, it requires her to graduate from small-time smuggler to full-on criminal mastermind. And it calls for a particular combination of cunning, technical skills, and large explosions—not to mention sheer brazen swagger. But Jazz has never run into a challenge her intellect can’t handle, and she figures she’s got the ‘swagger’ part down. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The trouble is, engineering the perfect crime is just the start of Jazz’s problems. Because her little heist is about to land her in the middle of a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Trapped between competing forces, pursued by a killer and the law alike, even Jazz has to admit she’s in way over her head. She’ll have to hatch a truly spectacular scheme to have a chance at staying alive and saving her city. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Jazz is no hero, but she is a very good criminal. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">That’ll have to do. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Propelled by its heroine’s wisecracking voice, set in a city that’s at once stunningly imagined and intimately familiar, and brimming over with clever problem-solving and heist-y fun, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Artemis </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">is another irresistible brew of science, suspense, and humor from #1 bestselling author Andy Weir.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>***THE JUDGE IS STILL OUT...I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF SCI-FI. BUT MY BROTHER RECOMMENDED IT SO I'M GIVING IT A SHOT...STAY TUNED....</b></span>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-55485563146671414152018-05-31T07:28:00.003-07:002018-05-31T07:28:34.459-07:00BOOK REVIEW- ANNIHILATION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jAl5vgf9yF6Ml_z8c_DKSQky-GblKRBVx0Z1T8_12JVyCJBXQo94mM5lz-gSawbVoFLNFBIqt_CYJB_PVCiSvbcVt0L_kWBr6_TVl_WUUI5gi6fnDL5lCNmO_jYFbIPZPl1Cuc5REv6i/s1600/ANN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jAl5vgf9yF6Ml_z8c_DKSQky-GblKRBVx0Z1T8_12JVyCJBXQo94mM5lz-gSawbVoFLNFBIqt_CYJB_PVCiSvbcVt0L_kWBr6_TVl_WUUI5gi6fnDL5lCNmO_jYFbIPZPl1Cuc5REv6i/s320/ANN.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">ANNIHILATION</span></div>
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BY JEFF VANDERMEER</div>
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Macmillian</div>
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February 2014</div>
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201 Pages</div>
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<b>Amazon Synopsis:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Area X has been cut off from the rest of the continent for decades. Nature has reclaimed the last vestiges of human civilization. The first expedition returned with reports of a pristine, Edenic landscape; the second expedition ended in mass suicide; the third expedition in a hail of gunfire as its members turned on one another. The members of the eleventh expedition returned as shadows of their former selves, and within weeks, all had died of cancer. In </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Annihilation</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, the first volume of Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy, we join the twelfth expedition.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The group is made up of four women: an anthropologist; a surveyor; a psychologist, the de facto leader; and our narrator, a biologist. Their mission is to map the terrain, record all observations of their surroundings and of one another, and, above all, avoid being contaminated by Area X itself.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">They arrive expecting the unexpected, and Area X delivers—they discover a massive topographic anomaly and life forms that surpass understanding—but it's the surprises that came across the border with them and the secrets the expedition members are keeping from one another that change everything.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I decided to read this book after my son recommended it to me and then I saw that it was an upcoming movie starring Natalie Portman. I was intrigued by the description. First let me say that this book is a Nebula award winner. I would call it a combination between science fiction, mystery and fantasy. It's told from The Biologist's point of view and her experience of Area X. I'll admit it took effort to read and finish it because these are not my favorite genres. One of the things that I really struggled with was bonding with any of the characters in the book-they all seemed very flat and emotionless to me. Another thing that bothered me was that the characters didn't have names, they were just known as their titles-The Biologist, The Anthropologist, etc. Maybe this is why I had a hard time connecting with them? I'm not sure. This all being said I did finish it and it leaves you with a cliff hanger. Surprising me the most-it left me wanting to read the next one in the series. Haha. I really needed to find out what happened to the characters next. I guess that's what they call good writing.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I plan to watch this movie tonight and do the movie review this week. Stay tuned.</span></span></span>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-66328856713547305882018-05-30T08:07:00.003-07:002018-05-30T08:57:48.401-07:00CAN'T WAIT WEDNESDAY<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">CAN'T WAIT </span><span style="font-size: large;">WEDNESDAY</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #482d1a; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-align: center;">Can't-Wait Wednesday</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #482d1a; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-align: center;"> is a weekly meme hosted here, at </span><a href="http://www.wishfulendings.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #79c1b5; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 1px; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100%; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Wishful Endings</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #482d1a; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-align: center;">, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #482d1a; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" style="color: #79c1b5; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Breaking the Spine</a></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #482d1a; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-align: center;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This week I'm on pins and needles as I wait for the release of Goodbye, Sweet Girl by Kelly Sundberg</span><br />
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<h2 content="Kirkus Book Review" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Crimson Text", "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 30px; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;">
KIRKUS REVIEW</h2>
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An essayist’s debut memoir about her decade long struggle to leave a violent, emotionally unstable husband.</div>
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When Idaho native Sundberg met Caleb, whose “West Virginia drawl made him seem gentlemanly,” she had no idea that within six months, they would be engaged and pregnant. Both were in their 20s and equally unprepared for commitment. But the author chose to forget their relationship was neither “idyllic [n]or blissful” and “love him through my fear,” just as she had a childhood friend who had once chased her with a knife. Caleb’s dark side surfaced not long after their engagement, as they were returning from a hunting trip. Sundberg immediately assumed responsibility for his rage and felt “grateful” when he forgave her. Caleb’s sudden fits of anger soon became a permanent feature of their relationship, as did the heavy drinking he managed to keep hidden during their courtship. The author also discovered that Caleb had cheated on her with three women while they had been dating, but only after they had married. As with all of her husband’s other transgressions, she accepted his tearful apologies as proof that he would change. Sundberg became depressed enough that she sought out counseling. The therapist was able to name the destructive behaviors in her marriage for what they were: domestic violence. Nevertheless, the cycle of brutality and tenderness continued. Eventually, the author and her husband moved to West Virginia. There, the author began a graduate program and found the success Caleb did not have with his own writing. Only after an especially savage incident that required police and paramedic assistance was Sundberg finally able to move on from a broken relationship and begin the long process of healing her own life. By turns wrenching and lyrical, Sundberg’s book is an unflinching exploration of both domestic violence and one woman’s long, often painful evolution from codependence to self-respect.</div>
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A courageously honest memoir.</div>
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Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-78602052181539863472018-05-22T08:28:00.000-07:002018-05-22T08:28:15.954-07:00TOP TEN TUESDAY-"BEST CHARACTER NAMES"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jana over at </span><a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #d81616; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out, background-color 0.1s ease-in-out;">That Artsy Reader</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">. This weeks prompt is Best Character Names! And here are my eight picks....</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">1. Atticus </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">2. Scout</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">3. Cinna</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">4. Effie</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">5. Mia</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">6. Tris</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">7</span>. <span style="font-size: large;">Augustus</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">8.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">EMMA(This one is the winner for me because we did name our daughter Emma after the Jane Austen character--and she's just as feisty, funny, and creative as her namesake)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-78669857671940668812018-05-22T06:35:00.005-07:002018-05-22T06:35:54.658-07:00"LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE" IS GOING TO BE A MOVIE!<div style="text-align: center;">
LOOKS LIKE "LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE" IS GOING TO BE A MOVIE!</div>
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After reading and reviewing the book I'm really interested in seeing how this one will turn out.<br />
For more details go here:<br />
<a href="http://deadline.com/2018/03/reese-witherspoon-kerry-washington-star-produce-little-fires-everywhere-limited-tv-series-liz-tigelaar-abc-signature-1202308265/">Deadline Hollywood</a><br />
<br />Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-49591321178153243822018-05-20T06:46:00.001-07:002018-05-20T06:46:20.663-07:00BOOK REVIEW: LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE</div>
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BY CELESTE NG</div>
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Penguin Books</div>
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September 2017</div>
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352 pages</div>
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BOOK SYNOPSIS:</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #21282d; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.8097px;">In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned – from the layout of the winding roads, to the colors of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #21282d; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.8097px;">Enter Mia Warren – an enigmatic artist and single mother – who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenaged daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #21282d; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.8097px;">When old family friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town--and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia's past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs. </span><br />
<i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #21282d; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 13.8097px; outline: 0px;">Little Fires Everywhere</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #21282d; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.8097px;"> explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, and the ferocious pull of motherhood – and the danger of believing that following the rules can avert disaster.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #21282d; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.8097px;"><b>MY THOUGHTS:</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i style="color: #21282d; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 13.8097px;">Little Fires Everywhere</i><span style="color: #21282d; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.8097px;"> is a beautiful, complicated story of family and </span></span></span><span style="color: #21282d; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.8097px;">relationships. I loved that the story came from several of the character's point of views, giving the reader a peek into the thoughts behind the action of the character involved. I had mixed feelings about both main characters Mia and Elena. Mia was frustrating to me at times and felt very self absorbed, I felt that there was a lack of a bond between herself and her daughter Pearl. Mia and Pearl live a nomadic lifestyle, moving 46 times when we meet them at the beginning of the story. At the end of the book I was still puzzled as to if they moved so much because of Mia's secret or so that she could continue to work on her art. Once they have settled into Shaker Heights I felt that she left Pearl to negotiate uncharted waters of a permanent home, school, and friends by herself because she was too busy creating her art. Surprisingly, I felt more sympathy for Elena than I meant to. She tries to keep her family and house in perfect order but is obviously blind to the things her children are involved in. Her complicated relationship with her youngest child, Izzy broke my heart. The adoption battle that brings everyone together but divides the characters is a deeply layered element of the book that ties everything together beautifully. So many emotions were brought to the surface for me because my daughter is adopted. This book was a great page turner and would definitely be a great for a book club. I will be looking for Celeste Ng's other book "Everything I Never Told You". I have a feeling I'll like it as much as I did this one.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #21282d; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.8097px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #21282d; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.8097px;"><b>FAVORITE QUOTE FROM THE BOOK:</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #21282d; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.8097px;">"Remember, sometimes you need to scorch everything to the ground and start over. After the burning the soil is richer, and new things can grow. People are like that, too. They start over. They find a way.</span></span></div>
Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-8856598496035486692018-05-19T08:37:00.000-07:002018-05-19T08:37:17.415-07:00MOVIE REVIEW-"I FEEL PRETTY"<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cVx9EFK3DWE" width="854"></iframe><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
MOVIE SYNOPSIS:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "franklin gothic book"; font-size: 16px;">In I FEEL PRETTY a woman who struggles with feelings of deep insecurity and low self-esteem, that hold her back everyday, wakes from a brutal fall in an exercise class believing she is suddenly a supermodel. With this newfound confidence she is empowered to live her life fearlessly and flawlessly, but what will happen when she realizes her appearance never changed?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "franklin gothic book"; font-size: 16px;">MY THOUGHTS:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "franklin gothic book";">I was actually expecting a more raunchy Amy Schumer but I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of emotions that played out during this film. Amy plays Renee Bennett with the perfect combination of vulnerability and sassiness that makes this a heartwarming go see with the girls, or your partner. I plan to rent it when it comes out and watch it with my 15 year old daughter because it's message about self confidence is spot on. My favorite supporting actress was Michelle Williams who has an adorable role that made me laugh out loud. Definitely worth a trip to the theater.</span></span></div>
Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-22971222366571143872018-05-18T07:03:00.001-07:002018-05-18T07:03:17.045-07:00SONG AT THE TOP OF MY PLAYLISTMove your Booty Friday!!<br />
Love me some Bruno Mars!<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UqyT8IEBkvY" width="640"></iframe>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-39510943810361527762017-12-04T07:57:00.001-08:002017-12-04T07:57:02.631-08:00WINNER: GRATITUDE GIVEAWAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUA-IVnzXe2ebeUSXEAMDXY4lF458Gm9PDw7X2FtpteKGJoN2Fky9RmTtLELiytjmTneTswPQuAGpRJs_2NDyEcicbHg2Qd2VrCwZvwWGvGdJW2uAN5gPSxkp-iqn6hjCt6SlSKIe0jJh/s1600/winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="650" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUA-IVnzXe2ebeUSXEAMDXY4lF458Gm9PDw7X2FtpteKGJoN2Fky9RmTtLELiytjmTneTswPQuAGpRJs_2NDyEcicbHg2Qd2VrCwZvwWGvGdJW2uAN5gPSxkp-iqn6hjCt6SlSKIe0jJh/s320/winner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
A WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
Amber Terry has won a $25 gift card from Amazon.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
Winner was chosen by Random.org</div>
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Thanks to everyone who participated and to BookHounds for hosting.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
I've already signed up for a "Midwinter's Eve Giveaway" Hop also hosted by BookHounds. I can't wait!</div>
Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-20869068725416600262017-12-01T08:21:00.006-08:002017-12-01T08:21:59.406-08:00WHY AM I NOT SHOCKED?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">THE HATE U GIVE BANNED BY TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICT</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgGUXDVj3wXhuVesgSjv_7GD0Q3B5BdJSni-YDs19i2eH9vugD6VZNxQ78xMI724HFmh7FfL3FiTK7ULyfIgtE-81qeSCQH6-NGaEI2wIb0Q-hQ4MLEtZvqpT7EJAhRq2fVzbSX8zVWLY/s1600/thehateyougive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgGUXDVj3wXhuVesgSjv_7GD0Q3B5BdJSni-YDs19i2eH9vugD6VZNxQ78xMI724HFmh7FfL3FiTK7ULyfIgtE-81qeSCQH6-NGaEI2wIb0Q-hQ4MLEtZvqpT7EJAhRq2fVzbSX8zVWLY/s320/thehateyougive.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #464646; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 19px;">Angie Thomas is having quite the year. Her debut novel </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464646; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="butter" data-amzn-asin="0062498533" href="https://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/Qtv76CE09MQmoFqTBiXC-mcAAAFgEtkeOwEAAAFKAcvS9-g/http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062498533/ref=as_at/?imprToken=JISox7tSpcNbtzovafxPDQ&slotNum=0&ie=UTF8&tag=boorio-20&linkCode=w61&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=0062498533" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-shadow: rgb(235, 168, 32) 0px -1.5px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Buy From Amazon">The Hate U Give</a> </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #464646; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 19px;">debuted to widespread critical acclaim. It nabbed the number one spot on the New York Times list for young adult best-sellers and has enjoyed a comfortable 38 week stay on that list to date. It made the longlist for the National Book Award for young people’s literature and was the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner for fiction. It’s even been optioned for film adaptation. In rather less exciting news, </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464646; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Hate U Give</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #464646; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 19px;"> has been banned from the Katy Independent School District in Texas. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #464646; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 19px;">For full story go to <a href="https://bookriot.com/2017/12/01/the-hate-u-give-banned/">Book Riot</a></span>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-79248043153339525362017-11-29T18:15:00.002-08:002017-11-29T18:15:30.499-08:00SONG AT THE TOP OF MY PLAYLIST<div style="text-align: center;">
PRAYING by Kesha</div>
I have long been a Kesha fan. I loved her fun, funky stuff at the beginning of her career-Tik Tok and Timber are still on my workout play list. It's been four years since we have heard Kesha sing and this song-"Praying" will give you the feels. Not only are the lyrics deep and heartfelt but the video is disturbingly beautiful. AND when she hits that note-WOW! Just wow! Goosebumps.<br />
There is very personal meaning behind this song-it's telling Kesha's journey of the past four years. I won't go into details here and now-but if your interested you can look it up and find the history on the web. But right now, just sit back and enjoy.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v-Dur3uXXCQ" width="800"></iframe>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-28807717851716151182017-11-27T09:23:00.000-08:002017-11-27T09:40:30.242-08:00BOOK REVIEW-IF YOU KNEW MY SISTER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2a_VafjP76e97QHsbhM0XN0SnzEBOgTwyC0NP70m7tble9v5PRPZmygwjr7XRHzm9vE63nWJFdyr5abeL55dacBv4CLRCXUUOuKQ6R5ivmQhjoWtETqb8RuLZtnnpULU0NmpbWhB5xsaZ/s1600/if+you+knew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2a_VafjP76e97QHsbhM0XN0SnzEBOgTwyC0NP70m7tble9v5PRPZmygwjr7XRHzm9vE63nWJFdyr5abeL55dacBv4CLRCXUUOuKQ6R5ivmQhjoWtETqb8RuLZtnnpULU0NmpbWhB5xsaZ/s320/if+you+knew.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
IF YOU KNEW MY SISTER</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
By Michelle Adams</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
375 Pages</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2017</div>
<br />
<b>Goodreads Synopsis:</b><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">If You Knew My Sister</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> tells the story of Irini, who was given away by her parents at the age of three, whilst her volatile, destructive sister was kept within the family. Twenty years later Irini receives a phone call from her estranged sister to say that their mother has died, compelling her to return for the first time to the family home, and to uncover the shocking truth that has defined both their lives.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I have some really mixed fillings about this book. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The Good-</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Creepy is the word I would use to describe this book. There are definitely parts that are suspenseful.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">My favorite character actually turned out to be the sister, Elle. She was an excellent "villian". She had me guessing what her next move would be throughout the book. I think the author did a great job of describing the complicated relationship of the two sisters. Irini is so desperate to have a family connection that she's willing to let Elle into her life even though she knows it will probably result in disaster. Elle clearly suffers from mental illness and I found myself feeling very sorry for her, even though she acted out in disturbing ways.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I think the most frustrating part of reading this book is that I failed to connect with the main character Irini. Throughout the book she continued to make so many poor decisions. She has a live in boyfriend, Antonio who is basically sponging off of her and draining her bank account, he is obviously using her-I know that love is blind but this guy is such a loser! There are several times that she ponders about the different ways that he's spending her money but never does anything about it.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">She spends the entire book trying to get answers to some long buried secrets but every time she gets the chance to connect with someone from the past, like her father, she would suddenly veer off in another direction. So much time is wasted as she runs around in circles making poor decision after poor decision. At times I wanted to reach into the book and shake her while screaming, "Get your shit together!"</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The Bad-</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Irini never stops playing the "victim". She played this part so well she should have carried body chalk around with her. I was so over it by the end of the book. But listen, I really seem to be in the minority of people who didn't care for this book. People rated it fairly high. So maybe it just wasn't the book for me. </span></span>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-66692806965553373712017-11-25T11:37:00.002-08:002017-11-25T11:37:45.016-08:00SERIES REVIEW-"REIGN"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">REIGN</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The CW</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4 Seasons</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Netflix Binge)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Summary:</b></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Queen of Scotland Mary Stuart travels to France with four ladies-in-waiting to secure her politically strategic engagement to the king's son, Prince Francis. Mary and Francis share a mutual attraction, even though he has reservations about the wisdom of an alliance with Scotland. Complicating issues</span><span class="_dgc" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> is Bash, Francis' illegitimate half-brother whom Mary finds herself drawn to in spite of herself. The French Court is also full of less romantic challenges for Mary, who finds her engagement -- and life -- threatened until she finds an ally in a mysterious shrouded guide. With all that she faces, Mary rallies, readying herself to rule and trying to find a balance between the demands of her country and those of her heart.</span><br />
<span class="_dgc" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span><br />
<span class="_dgc" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">A friend of mine recommended this series to me knowing that I am a history buff. I was easily sucked in from the first episode. First and foremost you have to go into this series knowing that there are a lot of historical inaccuracies. Reign is pure entertainment. There are characters in the show that don't actually exist in the history of Mary-Queen of Scots. The costumes are incredibly beautiful but don't actually exist for that time period and modern instrumental music is played throughout the series(I actually loved that). The three characters that stood out to me and quickly became my favorites were Mary(of course) who is played by Adelaide Kane, Queen Elizabeth played by Rachel Skarsten, and Catherine de' Medici played by Megan Follows. The series is put out to the CW which caters to a younger crowd(Riverdale, The Vampire Diaries, Arrow, etc.) which is why I believe the first couple of seasons center around romance, love triangles, and teen drama(Mary and King Francis are wed at a young age-in the series sixteen and seventeen. The third and fourth season start to include the political mess that Mary is drug into regarding the return to her country, acquiring another husband and producing an heir to the throne. The last season unfortunately is rushed and cut short because it had a drop in ratings. I'm guessing that the younger demographic lost interest as Mary gets older, returns to Scotland, and her life becomes more complicated. The series lasts four seasons and comes to a very abrupt ending. I purposely resisted the urge as I watched this series to look into actual history facts and accepted the fact that it's pure brain candy with some really great acting. I was sad that the fourth season was rushed and the later part of Mary's life is glossed over-there is so much more to the story! But all in all I highly recommend this Netflix series if you go into it not wanting a real life history lesson on Mary Queen of Scots. Make a cup of tea, sit back, and enjoy the episodes.</span></span><br />
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<span class="_dgc" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">First Season</span><br />
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<span class="_dgc" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Second Season:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkhSZW5r1czP1nnRbjxhj2QRdV96T_trOF65IpV_9cZxC7zZ6OvxE2No46hogdjxzNUIfWzKFwdsx7onUJ4FL0ANxcnos4b_FDZv-knNcREimhXMv8xhBUzNGenHdQ6CYFbAgQvTY6m2w/s1600/REIGN-Love-Triangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="466" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkhSZW5r1czP1nnRbjxhj2QRdV96T_trOF65IpV_9cZxC7zZ6OvxE2No46hogdjxzNUIfWzKFwdsx7onUJ4FL0ANxcnos4b_FDZv-knNcREimhXMv8xhBUzNGenHdQ6CYFbAgQvTY6m2w/s320/REIGN-Love-Triangle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="_dgc" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Third Season:</span><br />
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<span class="_dgc" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Fourth Season:</span><br />
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<span class="_dgc" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-36409218473581962892017-11-15T05:15:00.000-08:002017-11-15T05:15:04.242-08:00GRATITUDE GIVEAWAY!<br />
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Welcome to the</div>
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GRATITUDE GIVEAWAY HOP!</div>
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This hop starts on November 15th and ends on November 30th</div>
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This hop is hosted by <a href="http://bookhounds.net/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #982421; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;">BookHounds</a></div>
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My Giveaway:<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I love this giveaway so much because it gives me the opportunity to thank you! I appreciate you for following my blog and reading my reviews. I'm only asking you to do two things to enter this giveaway:</span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">1. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Facebook</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">2. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Twitter</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">Both buttons are located to the right on my blog page.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">This is giveaway is International.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">Please Include contact information(email address) in comment section.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">Giveaway will run from November 15th to Novernber 30th</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">Winner will be chosen on December 1st</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">Good Luck AND a GIANT thank you from Mug of Moxie!</span></div>
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-->Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com89tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-82665682676467934592017-11-14T08:39:00.008-08:002017-11-14T08:39:48.037-08:00BOOK REVIEW "THE MURDERS OF MOLLY SOUTHBOURNE"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPFpPwo7Vz6wsVUyhQNIrskcg3N_uZC8mLxpZtBlr3hTUDzaBSgjkqeXGCPW7GxIMC-DBDCT4acwi4g2MRkcoW3CU4MMWe9z9jCUtLH6EoBJ1dFl7j6c2H3722-EX2jDeOVfIURJK4QLE/s1600/the+murders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPFpPwo7Vz6wsVUyhQNIrskcg3N_uZC8mLxpZtBlr3hTUDzaBSgjkqeXGCPW7GxIMC-DBDCT4acwi4g2MRkcoW3CU4MMWe9z9jCUtLH6EoBJ1dFl7j6c2H3722-EX2jDeOVfIURJK4QLE/s320/the+murders.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>THE MURDERS OF MOLLY SOUTHBORNE</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>128 Pages</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Publisher: Tor </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>October 3, 2017 </b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>Goodreads Synopsis:</b></span><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">The rule is simple: don't bleed.</i><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">For as long as Molly Southbourne can remember, she's been watching herself die. Whenever she bleeds, another molly is born, identical to her in every way and intent on her destruction.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Molly knows every way to kill herself, but she also knows that as long as she survives she'll be hunted. No matter how well she follows the rules, eventually the mollys will find her. Can Molly find a way to stop the tide of blood, or will she meet her end at the hand of a girl who looks just like her?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">This small book packs a hell of a punch! WOW! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">The timing of reading this was perfect for the Halloween season. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The reader will take a ride that's brutal, bizarre, and terrifying. The genre is a unique combination of horror and science fiction that I found thrilling. The author pulls the reader in from the very first page and doesn't let go, I actually forgot about the character that was introduced in the first few pages until the author brings the story around full circle. All the pieces of this strange puzzle fit together beautifully. Just a warning to the reader- this tale is gruesome, bloody, and not for the faint of heart.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I really wish that the book would have been a bit longer, Molly's story is so interesting, I wanted more.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I would absolutely read another book by Tade Thompson.</span></span></span>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753529253211563466.post-32007120055138756072017-11-05T17:08:00.005-08:002017-11-05T17:08:56.969-08:00BOOK REVIEW: THE SCENT OF RAIN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghONccENi4zw9N6GcLUtcyGxJOwIva_2znMeSwI11M8abs1VIcQDLK0wlDwBUtbqPvXIDGgighmJ6v8Y3FfO2gMdou67MZTWHnFfAU_uvqq4lhBg2rjDUH5MOgeHqPU6YKA-DDjb2yjXWy/s1600/scent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghONccENi4zw9N6GcLUtcyGxJOwIva_2znMeSwI11M8abs1VIcQDLK0wlDwBUtbqPvXIDGgighmJ6v8Y3FfO2gMdou67MZTWHnFfAU_uvqq4lhBg2rjDUH5MOgeHqPU6YKA-DDjb2yjXWy/s320/scent.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>THE SCENT OF RAIN BY ANNE MONTGOMERY</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>March 2017</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>386 Pages</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Treehouse Publishing</b></div>
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<b>Amazon Synopsis:</b><br />
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<b>Rose Madsen will do anything to keep from being married off to one of the men in her Fundamentalist Mormon (FLDS) community, even endure the continued beatings and abuse of her mother. But when her mentally handicapped baby sister is forced to strangle the bird she loves at the behest of the Prophet, Rose frees the bird and runs away.<br />Adan Reyes will do anything to escape the abusive foster care system in Phoenix, even leaving his good friends and successful high school athletic career behind him. Ill-prepared for surviving the desert, Adan hits the road only to suffer heat stroke. Found by a local handyman, he catches a glimpse of a mysterious girl--Rose--running through town, and follows her into the mountains where they are both tracked and discovered by the men of the FLDS community. </b><b style="background-color: transparent;">With their fates now intertwined, can Rose and Adan escape the systems locking them into lives of abuse? Will Rose be forced to marry the Prophet, a man her father's age, and be one of dozens of wives, perpetually pregnant, with no hope for an education? Will Adan be returned to the foster home where bullying and cruelty are common? Is everyone they meet determined to keep them right where they belong or are some adults worthy of their trust?</b></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;">My Thoughts:</b><br />
<b style="background-color: transparent;">It was a little eerie that I had just listened to a podcast about Jim Jones and his followers who committed mass suicide in Jonestown in 1978. As I read through this book I kept reflecting on what people do in the name of religion and their beliefs.</b><br />
<b style="background-color: transparent;">This is not a feel good, cozy book to read. We have all seen the Dateline and 20/20 specials that report disturbing stories on the FLDS- an real life cult community that actually exists in Colorado City, Arizona. Author, Anne Montgomery helps us step into the life of a fictional sixteen year old girl named Rose who has lived her entire life in this community. Everything that an outsider would view as odd or bizarre is everyday life for her. Rose is a typical teenager who has a bit of a rebellious streak which is absolutely forbidden in this town and her home. No questions are allowed, you are expected to obey without answers. This story is told from several points of view giving the reader a deeper look into life in the FLDS community. We get the perspective of Trak who lives in Hurricane, Utah-a town outside the community but does small jobs in Colorado City, he has grown up with this cult right next door and has come to believe that it's just the way things are-it disturbs him but what is he expected to do? We see things through the eyes of The Prophet, a man that members of the FLDS believe speaks revelation directly from God and expect his followers to obey without question-whether that means killing family pets or marrying sixteen year old girls to sixty year old men. Probably one of the most disturbing characters to me was Bliss, Roses' mother who is completely committed to The Prophet and punishes Rose verbally, emotionally, and physically when Rose does something she believes does not fall into line with the teachings of the Prophet. </b><br />
<b style="background-color: transparent;">There were a couple characters that puzzled me because I wasn't sure why they were part of this particular book. A runaway named Adan comes into the story early on and is then inserted several times, but I never really truly understood his role in Roses' life. I really liked Adan and his back story which involves the foster care system and the deportation of his mother which is so relevant-especially right now. Adan could really have his own book. The other character that felt inserted simply to provide a love interest was Brooke, a social worker new to the area. Her only role was to simply find out that Adan was a runaway and be that special red head that catches Trak's eye.</b><br />
<b style="background-color: transparent;">Other than those few little issues I had with the story I thought "The Scent of Rain" was really good. A heartbreaking and tragic read but, this story also shows the resilience of the human spirit. People can go through hard things and still overcome. I appreciate the time and research that author, Anne Montgomery put into writing her book.</b><br />
<b style="background-color: transparent;">If you like this book I would also recommend a book called "The Chosen One" by Carol Lynch Williams. They both give a fascinating look into a disturbing reality going on right under our noses.</b><br />
<b style="background-color: transparent;">*I received a copy of this book by from the author for an honest review.</b><br />
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Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14235537102211708600noreply@blogger.com0