Exciting Things Coming In September | 2nd Annual End Of Summer Birthday Bash!

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To celebrate the end of summer, beginning of autumn, and my birthday, we'll be having the 2ND ANNUAL END OF SUMMER BIRTHDAY BASH this September from the 15th-21st! As the button above states, it'll be a week of interviews, giveaways, and more! Be sure to mark your calendar and I hope you'll stop by. :) If you'd like to share the button, I'd really appreciate it!

Oh...

...and, on each of the remaining Thursdays in September (4th, 11th, and 25th), I'll be posting a giveaway for a new/recently-released item (could be a book or something else...), so that's three extra giveaways that'll be happening next month! I'm really excited. :)

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Monthly Reflections (#32) ~ August

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Monthly Reflections, where we take the time to reflect on the previous month.

My goals for August were...

✓Finish 10 books

Books read:

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Review: Deluge by Lisa T. Bergren

About the book:

WARNING TO MY BELOVED RIVER TRIBE: HARD THINGS HAPPEN IN THIS BOOK. Get your Kleenex ready...If you're not ready for some special characters to perish from plague and in battle, you won't want to read it. Seriously. You can walk away now and we can part as friends. BUT, that said, there's also a ton of romance and suspense and fun too! To embrace life, and live it to the fullest, we must appreciate the day--and occasionally face down death--and our beloved Forellis and Betarrinis learn that all over again. Ready? Ready. We can DO this... --Lisa

IT'S ONE THING TO BATTLE FOR LIFE...BUT WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN DEATH ITSELF COMES HUNTING?

The Bettarinis and Forellis have found rich fulfillment together in medieval Italia. But after fighting off countless enemies, they now must face the worst foe of all. As the Black Death closes in upon them, threatening everything and everyone they hold dear, Lia and Gabi–and the knights they love–must dig deep within to decide how they might remain safe…and if they need to risk it all in order to truly live as they’re called.

My rating:

 
View my rating system)

My thoughts:

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Weekend Wrap-up (August 29th) + Giveaway Winners!

Weekend Wrap-up is where I share what I read this past week, am currently reading, and hope to read this coming week, and (when applicable) the current giveaways/giveaway winners. Occasionally I'll post some other stuff as well. Be sure to follow my Pinterest boards "Free Kindle Books" and "Book Deals" to see the good deals/freebies I share about. :)

Feel free to join along and post your own Weekend Wrap-up on your blog/site (if you do, please leave the link in a comment so I can stop by) or, in a comment, share what you've accomplished (reading-wise) this past week. :)

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Review: Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund

About the book:

Massachusetts, 1763
A Love That Would Shape History Forever
Because she's a woman, higher learning was always closed to Susanna Smith. But her quick mind and quicker tongue never back down from a challenge. And she's determined to marry well, so she'll be able to continue her work with the less fortunate.

Growing up with little to his name, poor country lawyer Benjamin Ross dreams of impacting the world for the better. When introduced to the Smiths he's taken by Susanna's intelligence and independent spirit, but her parents refuse to see him as a suitor for their daughter.

When the life of a runaway indentured servant is threatened, Susanna is forced to choose between justice and mercy, and Ben becomes her unlikely advisor. But drawing closer to this man of principle and intellect lands her in a dangerous, secret world of rebellion and revolution against everything she once held dear.

My rating:

(View my rating system)

My thoughts:

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Bout of Books 11 Wrap-Up

Bout of Books 11 is over. I had fun reading and hosting my first ever challenge (thanks Bout of Books for letting me be a challenge host!)! Last week turned out to be WAY busier than I thought it'd be and while I probably could have fit more reading time in, I wanted to do other things instead. :/

So, here's what I read:

Books Finished: Storm Siren by Mary Weber & Rickie by Frederic F. Flach

Started but didn't finish: Circle of Spies by Roseanna M. White | Read 127 pages

How did you do with your Bout of Books goal?

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Weekly Giveaway Link-up #33

Welcome to Weekly Giveaway Link-up hosted by Crystal @ Just Another Book Lovin' Girl and me. This is a linky where you can submit your blog's Christian book and book-related giveaways and find other giveaways. A new link-up will be posted every Monday.

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Bout of Books 11 Day 5 ~ Book Chain Challenge & Giveaway!

Can you believe it's already day five of Bout of Books? I'm so excited to be hosting a challenge for today and I hope you all enjoy it!

You must link four books by using the last word of the previous title to the first word of the next one. To start, pick a book (ANY book; your choice!) and start linking! A, An, and The don't count, so if your book starts with one of those, just use the next word. To make this challenge tougher, you can decide to only use books you've read within the last twelve months - but that's not a requirement.


Here's an example:

In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin
(A) Time To Love by Barbara Cameron
Love Comes Home by Ann H. Gabhart
Home To You by Cheryl Wolverton

That's it! You can leave your finds in a blog post, tweet, FB post, or any social media post (as long as it's public) and add the link to the linky below.

I'm including a giveaway with this challenge. To enter, you MUST be a Bout of Books participant and U.S. resident. The prize is a $5 Amazon Gift card. The challenge and giveaway are only open for 24 hours (ends tonight at 11:59 PM CT), so be sure to enter ASAP!

How to enter: Sign into the Giveaway Tools form below (it might take a moment to load) and submit each entry you complete. There are two mandatory entries, being a Bout of Books participant and follower of this blog...the rest are optional. Commenting alone will not get you entered – you must click enter on the form. Happy entering!

Entry-Form

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Giveaway Tools and announced here as well as emailed and will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Giveaway Tools or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. I am not responsible for any packages lost or damaged in the mail. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Review: Storm Siren by Mary Weber

About the book:

"I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don't want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you."

In a world at war, a slave girl's lethal curse could become one kingdom's weapon of salvation. If the curse - and the girl - can be controlled.

As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn't merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth - meaning, she shouldn't even exist.

Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.

Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she's being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.

But what if she doesn't want to be the weapon they've all been waiting for?

Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win.

My rating:

(View my rating system)

My thoughts:

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Movie Review & Giveaway: The Boxcar Children

The Boxcar Children (August 19, 2014)
81 minutes / Rated: G

About the film:

 Four orphaned and homeless siblings happen upon an abandoned boxcar, which with a little creativity and hard work, they gradually furnish with all the comforts of home. Fearful that they will be sent to live with the reputedly cruel grandfather they have never met, the children keep their new home a secret - until a serious illness forces them to reveal themselves in order to save young Violet.

About the Cast

Featuring an all-star cast of voice actors, including Academy Award Nominee Martin Sheen (Apocalypse Now), J.K. Simmons (Spiderman), Zach Gordon (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Joey King (Fargo), Mackenzie Foy (Twilight series), and Jadon Sand (LEGO: The Movie), this is the very first full-length, animated feature adaptation of Gertrude Chandler Warner's best-selling classic!

Visit the official website: http://www.boxcarchildren.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoxcarChildren
Twitter: https://twitter.com/boxcarchildren

#TheBoxCarChildren

Order on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L0MICXE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00L0MICXE&linkCode=as2&tag=chrisbooksrev-20&linkId=ZZNISXDO2JB4BSVT

Watch the trailer:

My rating:

My thoughts:

Are you familiar with the classic children's book, The Boxcar Children? This film is the animation of that story and a fun one to watch! The animation was done pretty well (there were a couple moments where it didn't seem/look real, but it was still good) and the picture color was great. It's a cute movie and I think most kids or fans of animation movies will enjoy this film. It's a clean movie that the whole family can watch.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Was my review helpful? If so, please click "yes" on Amazon. Thanks!

Enter for a chance to win a copy of The Boxcar Children! Giveaway is open to the US and Canada. Ends 8/26

How to enter: Sign into the Giveaway Tools form below (it might take a moment to load) and submit each entry you complete. Commenting alone will not get you entered – you must click enter on the form. Happy entering!

Entry-Form

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. 

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Giveaway Tools and announced here as well as emailed and will have up to one week to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Giveaway Tools or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. I am not responsible for any packages lost or damaged in the mail. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Review: Song of the Meadowlark by Sherri Wilson Johnson

About the book:

When trusting others only leads to pain and rejection, and loving ends only in loss, what will it take to restore hope again?

Shunned by the uncovered truth about her missing husband’s secret life, Cora Buchanan sets out on a road trip for home to mend her broken relationship with her parents. When her car breaks down, she’s stranded in a small Georgia town.

While staying at the struggling Southern Hope Ranch, she meets little Susie O’Reilly, who unexpectedly fills a void in Cora’s heart. But Rex, Susie’s rugged cowboy father who lost his wife a year earlier, seems to go out of his way to either confront or avoid Cora. It doesn’t help her comfort level that the news continues to report missing and murdered women in the area.

Cora has no idea just how close to home the crimes will hit…or how much the sweet sound of the meadowlark’s song at the ranch will impact her future.

My rating:

(View my rating system)

My thoughts:

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Weekly Giveaway Link-up #32

Welcome to Weekly Giveaway Link-up hosted by Crystal @ Just Another Book Lovin' Girl and me. This is a linky where you can submit your blog's Christian book and book-related giveaways and find other giveaways. A new link-up will be posted every Monday.

Read More

Weekend Wrap-up (August 15th) + Giveaway Winner!

Weekend Wrap-up is where I share what I read this past week, am currently reading, and hope to read this coming week, and (when applicable) the current giveaways/giveaway winners. Occasionally I'll post some other stuff as well. Be sure to follow my Pinterest boards "Free Kindle Books" and "Book Deals" to see the good deals/freebies I share about. :)

Feel free to join along and post your own Weekend Wrap-up on your blog/site (if you do, please leave the link in a comment so I can stop by) or, in a comment, share what you've accomplished (reading-wise) this past week. :)

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Thursday Giveaway! In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin

About the book:

Two hearts are about to learn the rhythm of love
Bold, sophisticated, and coy, Army Air Force flight nurse Lt. Kay Jobson collects hearts wherever she flies, leaving men pining in airfields all across Europe. So how can ruggedly handsome C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper be all but immune to her considerable charms? In fact, he seems to do everything he can to avoid her.

Still, as they cross the skies between Italy and southern France, evacuating the wounded and delivering paratroopers and supplies, every beat of their hearts draws them closer. Can they overcome the fears and misunderstandings of the past in order to take hold of the future?

Sarah Sundin seamlessly weaves together emotion, action, and sweet romance into a tale that transcends time and calls us to believe in the power of love.

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Review: In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin

About the book:

Two hearts are about to learn the rhythm of love
Bold, sophisticated, and coy, Army Air Force flight nurse Lt. Kay Jobson collects hearts wherever she flies, leaving men pining in airfields all across Europe. So how can ruggedly handsome C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper be all but immune to her considerable charms? In fact, he seems to do everything he can to avoid her.

Still, as they cross the skies between Italy and southern France, evacuating the wounded and delivering paratroopers and supplies, every beat of their hearts draws them closer. Can they overcome the fears and misunderstandings of the past in order to take hold of the future?

Sarah Sundin seamlessly weaves together emotion, action, and sweet romance into a tale that transcends time and calls us to believe in the power of love.

My rating:


 
(View my rating system)

My thoughts:

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Bout of Books 11 ~ Goals + Updates Post

 

I signed up for this read-a-thon via Twitter a couple weeks ago and can't wait for it to begin! If you haven't signed up yet, do so by visiting http://boutofbooks.blogspot.com/2014/07/bout-of-books-11-sign-up.html and following the instructions. This will be my seventh time participating and I'm looking forward to getting a lot of reading done!

My plan is to read at least an hour a day all week long.

• Finish three books or read 700+ pages
  

 I'm not really sure which books I'll be reading, so I'm just going to list a bunch of books that I'll be choosing from. Which of these books do you recommend I read first?

Print books:

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