Saturday, July 14, 2018

"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!

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

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!

Saturday, July 7, 2018

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.

Sunday, July 1, 2018

'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!