Cherish This Christmas!

Hi, all!!
Since December is upon us, it would be a great time to showcase a new author with a very special book and giveaway going on now for Christmas!

The Women's Ministry of my church talked about something similar at our Advent coffee we had this past Saturday.
I wish I could have read this book before we put our program together!

Luckily for you, the author is giving away a 2 copies!
See below for details!

Christmas is coming!
Do these words fill you with joyful anticipation…or dread at the thought of approaching chaos and clutter?
On December 31^st do you wonder what happened instead of wondering at Christ’s birth?

I invite you to cherish Christmas as never before. Journey back in time as you get to know those who were there, and bring new meaning to your own holiday.

Cherish This Christmas helps each of us discover our unique role during this precious time of year as we get to know the One whom we celebrate differently…maybe a little better.
This year let’s cut through the chaos and choose to... Cherish This Christmas!
This collection of daily devotions will take you back to the days of Jesus' birth and help bring more meaning to the chaotic days of December.

Through scriptural insight and personal reflection, Paula will help you to Cherish This Christmas.

You can purchase the book here at Amazon, the Kindle edition here, or at Paula's CreateSpace store.
About the Author: Paula Davis’ writing encourages her readers to apply God’s Word to everyday life. When years of searching for “Mr. Right” left her heart empty, she turned to God for comfort and found so much more. Paula now knows firsthand that completeness and contentment is only found when her eyes are focused on Jesus. She wants others to know this truth as well. Paula loves to share with others what she’s learning about the depth of God’s Love. At Christmas time, you'll find her in Central New York reading, baking or cuddling her little dog, Lucy, while sipping a good cup of coffee.

You can follow her blog at www.pauladavispeace.com.

Giveaway: For the release of her debut book, Paula is celebrating and you're invited to join along with her giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive:

• Two copies of Cherish this Christmas, one to keep and one to give to a friend
• A $25 Amazon Gift Card

**Enter today by heading over to Paula's blog and jumping on the Rafflecopter.
But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 15th. Winner will be announced at Paula's website, December 16, 2012.

I entered for sure!

 

On Book Reading ( and why I wish there were more than 24 hours in a day)

Happy Friday!
If you happened to catch it on Twitter then you already know I’ve been battling a sore throat. Since SUNDAY!! Bleh. I’m ready for it to be gone.

But this downtime has led me to catch up on some things—mostly reading—but it also gave me some great ideas. (I’m now hoping to start a Christian Fiction Book club in our church!)

Thank you to the oh so clever and talented Jessica Patch for her patience in answering all my book club questions!!

Anyway, why am I telling you this? Well, because after looking at my TBR pile in my bedroom (thanks to RWA Nationals and all the free books they sent me home with) and after looking at my TBR list on Goodreads, I realized I need a book club like I need a third eyebrow!

There are probably worse problems in life to have, but yes, I do have a serious case of “too many books to read and not enough time in the day” syndrome.
So I want to apologize to all my bloggy friends (who have traditionally published or self-published) and whose books I have not read yet. I might have BOOK A.D.D.

I see a blogger mention their book or a book in general and I say, “’Ooh, goodie! Must add to my Goodreads TBR pile!” I see a free download on Amazon and I click “download” thinking, “Can’t wait to read this one!” I win a free book and say, “I am so on this one!” Then I look at my nightstand and think, “Hmm…did that pile grow a foot since July?”

Ooops. See? BOOK A.D.D.
So…
I’m sorry if I BOUGHT your book and haven’t read it yet.
I’m sorry if I had INTENTIONS of buying your book but it’s still sitting in my Goodreads TBR pile.
I’m sorry if I WON your book (or a book off your blog) and I haven’t read it yet.

*sigh* I really want to support as many friends as I can, but maybe I need a better system of organization since half have a tendency to get buried on my Ipad or lost on a reading shelf. Or maybe I need more time in the day. I’m not sure.
Maybe I shouldn't stress over it. (I think it’s the anal part of me that really likes a nice orderly reading system)

Help. I can’t see over the books. :-)

What about you? Do you find yourself stressing over so many books out there and so little time? How long do books sit in your TBR pile at home or on your ereader?

Got Boy Books?

MENTAL STATUS: "Exhausted".
Christmas gifts left to buy: 4

Hey, all! Hope everyone's turkey day was full of tryptophany thankfulness like mine was!

Gee, I must have been feeling pretty good because I actually ventured out on Black Friday(ooh-aahh) with my mom and did a good junk of Christmas shopping. (Yay!)
I, um, am almost...done now.

But I am stuck on one gift for my nephew. You see, I want to get him a book, but he's sixteen, and well...

Okay, I'm just going to come right out and say it: I need help.

Book help.

If only he was a girl. *sigh* I'd have NO PROBLEM picking out a great book. But alas, I'm not so sure what a boy might be interested in reading nowadays. And to be quite honest, I don't really see a lot of Young Adult books geared toward boys. Is it me?

In case it is me, maybe someone out there is cyberland could give me a clue. Or better yet, a book idea. PS. I want to be put in the "cool aunt" category if that helps you in deciding what book I could possibly buy for him. :)

So.
Any books suggestions? Make it good. (Remember cool aunt and all that)

If you don't have any YA book suggestions, did you venture out on Black Friday like me?

From TBB to TBR

IN THE NEWS:Man fleeing Ohio police jumps fence--into prison. Read more HERE.

Hey, all!
Yes, I know it's WIP Wednesday, but considering this will be my last post until after Easter... I thought I'd change it up a bit.

I don't know about you, but I like to a lot of birthday/Christmas shopping online because of convenience and time. However, when I do this I end up ordering books for myself. (Especially if I need to have at least $25 for free shipping on Amazon) :)

These aren't random books that I buy, however. They are titles taken from a section of my computer that I have compiled in a carefully thought over TBB (TO BE BOUGHT) list.

Do you have a TBB list, too?

No? Oh, well, here's how and why I make mine.

When I read about a book that interests me on a blog or website or facebook, etc... I don't want to forget it, so I look it up and save the link in a "new books" folder in my "favorites" section of my computer. **I guess you could call me an online promo author's best friend. Because it works in my case**
Then...when I'm ready for some new reading material, I go to Amazon or MyBookStore and More or Harlequin (the three online places I like to order paper and electronic books from), and I have my shopping list already made out and handy.

I rarely go in "cold' to a book store. I know what I'm looking for and snatch it up. Now a library on the other hand, I tend to browse more and become much more adventurous in what I'll pick up and try.

Once I'm in buy-mode, though, I'll order anywhere from 3 to5 books at a shot from my TBB list. And what I order will totally depend on my mood or how long it's been on my list.

Then the day arrives.
The books come! (or, if I order ebooks, they're already here!!) And I officially have a TBR (TO BE READ) pile.

So how do I decide what to read first?

Well, it depends. But I usually like to start off with one or two books that are in my genre first--just to keep up with what is being published. Personal preference, luck of the draw, but sometimes if it got a good RT review, I'll go with that one first. After that, it really depends on my mood and if I need a genre sorbet or not. (You know, a totally different book to cleanse my reading palate) :)

And basically, THAT, my friends, is how a book goes from a TBB thought to a TBR pile to actually being read. (In my house, anyway)

What's your method of buying books?
Actual book store or online?
Are you a person who buys a book here and there on a whim, or are you like me and attack a book store with a plan and definitive action?