"CHRISTMAS IN JULY" Giveaway Hop

WELCOME  TO THE.....

"CHRISTMAS IN JULY" GIVEAWAY HOP

To enter this giveaway and a chance to win.....

2 Christmas Themed Books:
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!

I'm only asking you to do THREE things to enter this giveaway:

1. Subscribe to "Mug of Moxie" by email

2. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Twitter

3. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Blogger(here)

ALL buttons are located to the right on my blog page.

This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL

Please Include contact information(email address)in comment section.

Giveaway will run from July 15TH to July 30TH

Winner will be chosen on AUGUST 2ND 

Good Luck AND a GIANT thank you from Mug of Moxie!
AND thank you to BookHounds for hosting this fantastic giveaway!

BOOK REVIEW-The Great Alone

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

St. Martin's Press

448 Pages

February 2018

Amazon Synopsis:

Alaska, 1974.

Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed.

For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival.

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.
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.
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.
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.

My Thoughts:
Wow! Where do I even start?

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.

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.

When the family arrives in Alaska they find themselves grossly unprepared physically, mentally, and emotionally.

This book is a roller coaster of emotions. I found myself turning the pages as quickly as possible feeling rage, hope, sadness and joy. 

Put this book at the top of your must read list, you won't regret it.

The Winner of "Splash Into Summer" Giveaway Hop

A WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN!

yellowlabs has won a $10 gift card from Amazon.

Winner was chosen by Random.org

Thanks to everyone who participated and to BookHounds for hosting.

I've already signed up for a "Christmas in Giveaway" Hop also hosted by BookHounds. I can't wait!

I have some great goodies that I'm dying to give away!

BOOK REVIEW: "HOW HARD CAN IT BE?"

HOW HARD CAN IT BE?

BY ALLISON PEARSON
St. Martin's Press
384 Pages
June 2018

Amazon Synopsis:

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.

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.

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.

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.

Surely it will all work out in the end. After all, how hard can it be?

My Thoughts:

When I first 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.

'Just Couldn't Put It Down' JULY GIVEAWAY HOP

WELCOME 'Just Couldn't Put It Down' JULY GIVEAWAY HOP

To enter this giveaway and a chance to win a book I couldn't put down.....

AN EXCELLENT THRILLER/MYSTERY READ FOR SUMMER!
AND A $10 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

I'm only asking you to do THREE things to enter this giveaway:

1. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Facebook

2. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Twitter

3. Follow "Mug of Moxie" on Blogger(here)

ALL buttons are located to the right on my blog page.

This giveaway is US ONLY

Please Include contact information(email address)in comment section.

Giveaway will run from July 1st to July 14th

Winner will be chosen on July 15th 

Good Luck AND a GIANT thank you from Mug of Moxie!
AND thank you to Stuck In Books for hosting this fantastic giveaway!

GIVEAWAYS!

Hey there! Happy Saturday!
Just a reminder that I have two giveaways going on right now.
Don't forget to enter!

 Read the review, answer the question, and let me give you a book!

 Join the "Splash Into Summer" Giveaway Hop and win a $10 gift card from Amazon.

Scroll down the web page for all information and get in on these great giveaways!

BOOK REVIEW: Tell Me No Lies and Giveaway

TELL ME NO LIES

By Adele Griffin

Algonquin Publishers

June 2018

Amazon Synopsis:

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.

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.

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. 

My Thoughts: 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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.
CONTEST IS OVER. THANK YOU!!!!

A LITTLE ABOUT AUTHOR ADELE GRIFFIN

Adele Griffin is the highly acclaimed author of almost thirty books for Young Adult and middle grade readers.Her works include the National Book Award Finalists Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be, as well as the popular Oodlethunks series for younger readers. Her latest novel The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone 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 Be True to Me is publishing in June 2017 with Algonquin Books.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.