30 Eylül 2012 Pazar

Thanks, Random House

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Some days I just need a surprise. It doesn't have to be a big surprise, but something that perks me up, and is totally unexpected. This was one of those days. I was late to work due to transportation delays. There's an ongoing work mess that's consumed both time and energy for the last few days and we had a public meeting this afternoon that could be okay or awful. There's also the looming sorrow of September 11 that casts sadness over the days at this time of year. The meeting was okay, but I was out of energy and cheer when I got home tonight.

Happily there was a package waiting for me and this was inside the package...

Source: barnesandnoble.com via Christy on Pinterest

There was no letter -- did I win a sweepstakes? -- simply a packing slip with my name on it. I'd read reviews (not these, but similar) and wanted to read this very much. Thanks to my friends at Random House, now I will be able to. After I'm done, I will stop back and share my thoughts.

Are you reading anything that you're especially enjoying? Please share. I'm always on the search for reading recommendations.

Wishes for an evening with sweet thoughts and a good book!

I Remember...

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... exactly where I was eleven years ago tonight. Finally, home.

In the morning I had stood at a window at our building on lower Broadway and in horror had watched the second Tower of the World Trade Center collapse. The sky went completely black. It was at this moment that I realized that it was possible that my death could be imminent, and asked G'd for more time. I was grateful for the life that I had, but I prayed for more time. Shortly after that my colleagues and I were evacuated out of our building six blocks south of the Trade Center. My friend Sandy and I began the long walk uptown. We walked to Grand Central Station where Sandy took a train to Westchester -- amazingly trains were running. I walked across Manhattan and took a bus -- amazingly, too, buses were running in the Northern areas of Manhattan -- to a friend's house. Ultimately, I would walk halfway home from my office in Lower Manhattan to my apartment on the Upper West Side. Smoke hung over the city and if you could see all the way downtown you would see the fires still burning. The smoke rose for months at the site where the Trade Center had stood and there was ash all around. I was stunned, shocked and very grateful to be alive.

My shock has turned to profound sorrow and I am still very grateful to be alive. To the memory of those who were not so fortunate -- in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. You will never be forgotten.

Skyscrapers of Manhattan...

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Then and Now
Last week work took me to an eighteenth century church on Staten Island. This week I was in lower Manhattan, surrounded by skyscrapers.

The tallest building in the photo is The Woolworth Building. It was also the tallest building in the world when it was built in 1913. In 1930 it ceded the title to 40 Wall Street. The link has some wonderful historic views of the building.

The building under construction in the background is the Freedom Tower, which is on the World Trade Center site. At night it is lit in red, white and blue. It is actually about three blocks from where I was standing to take this photo. I was pleased to get the sign for the 9/11 Memorial in the same picture. The pumpkin display in Tuesday's post is just to the left of the bus stop sign.
Please stop by tomorrow and Saturday. We are having a coffee party in honor of National Coffee Day on Saturday, September 29. There will be a fun, yummy coffee giveaway on Saturday, thanks to my sweet friends at Nescafe.
Wishes for a fun, yummy Friday!

Pure Bliss!

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It's no secret that I am a coffee lover. I like it hot and I like it iced and I always like it light. One of my problems is that I can go three or four days without making coffee at home and I seem to run out of milk. I was delighted to discover Nestle Coffee-Mate's natural bliss. My favorite, sweet cream, is milk, cream, sugar and natural sweet cream flavor. A little goes a long way, so I don't feel I'm overdoing sweetener. Best of all I feel that I am not just getting my cup of coffee, but I am getting a treat.

I tried all the flavors of natural bliss at BlogHer and had a great time with the Coffee-Mate natural bliss and Nescafe Memento folks. I was in coffee bliss land! They were very gracious and I am delighted, due to their generosity, to host a giveaway honoring National Coffee Day. I'll give the details tomorrow, which is National Coffee Day. Right now, settle in, take some sweet sips and tell me how you like your coffee. Love to spend time with my sweet blog buddies and a cup of coffee.

*I received no compensation for this review, other than product samples.My opinions are based on my experience with the products.

National Coffee Day Giveaway

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Coffee is both my every day favorite beverage and a treat. I am very content with an iced coffee in the morning -- my favorite daily indulgence -- and a nice hot cup almost any time of the day. I do switch to decaf after 2:00 p.m., as I am sensitive to caffeine. But there are days when I want cappuccino or a mocha coffee. I want a "fancy" coffee, but I am loathe to pay fancy coffee prices. I want the flavor, the foam, but I do not want to pay more than five dollars a cup for my treat. Living in New York there are lots of fancy coffee places to tempt me, including one that I pass going to work and coming home from the subway. It is a temptation, but I can't see spending twenty-five dollars a week on coffee treats.

I was delighted when my buddies at Nescafe gave me the opportunity to try Nescafe Memento. I was a little wary at first. How could a small paper container mixed in hot water give me fancy treat taste? I was given several flavors, including mocha, caramel and cappuccino. I heated the water and then I mixed the coffee and flavoring. I saw lots of foam, but of course, the test is the flavor and it was good. Actually it was very good and I am particularly taken with the mocha. I got my fancy coffee taste at a very affordable price.

In honor of National Coffee Day -- I celebrate this day every day! -- I am delighted to do a Memento and natural bliss giveaway. There is one first prize, a package of Nescafe Memento Cappuccino (with eight packets), a coupon for natural bliss and a Memento coaster, and four second prizes, a coupon for natural bliss. The entry is simple. Just leave a comment with your favorite way to drink coffee, and please be a friend of Buttercup's. I will pick five names next Saturday and the winners will be announced in a post on Sunday, October 7.

Wishes for a sweet, sweet Sunday!
*I received no compensation for this review, other than the samples of the products. My opinions are based on my experience with the products.

29 Eylül 2012 Cumartesi

Trustworthy Company for Essay Writing

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UNTO THE SONS

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UNTO THE SONS by Gay Talese was read for the I Love Italy Reading Challenge 2012.

From GayTalese.com:

Bestselling author Gay Talese now gives us an important and compelling work: the epic of the millions who emigrated from Italy to America beginning at the turn of the century, told full-scale for the first time.

The immigrant saga is brought close to us through the lives of the author's forebears, particularly his Italian-born father, Joseph, a tailor and assimilated American who during World War II existed as an "emotional double-agent" - swayed by his devotion to his brothers fighting in the Fascist army while at the same time aiding the Allied cause as a volunteer shore patrolman within the beachfront community of his adopted home in Ocean City, New Jersey. Joseph's tempered loyalty, felt as well by many fellow immigrants during Italy's unfriendly years with the Allies, brought him into conflict with his American-born son, who saw himself as an "alien" under his father's roof, an "outsider" on the flag-waving Protestant island of Ocean City - "olive-skinned in a freckle-face town."

The son would in time become the chronicler not only of his father's fate but also of the impoverished patriarchal world of Southern Italy that had dispatched multitudes of immigrants to the New World - settlers named LaGuardia, Sinatra, DiMaggio, Cuomo, Ferraro, and Iacocca, and the ancestors of the rock singer knows as Madonna. The author's own wandering grandfather Gaetano was one of the boatload of workers arriving in the 1880s to embark upon half-lives in a Pennsylvania factory town - returning periodically to their Italian homeland and to their wives (the fabled "white widows"), who had been left behind with the children and the elderly village patriarchs who preferred the Old World to the New. The author's great-grandfather Domenico was one such patriarch, rigidly rooted to his feudal estate in a region immersed in the mysticism of the Church and haunted by persisting echoes of Roman glory and the subsequent waves of foreign invaders that ranged from the Arabs to the Napoleonic French and ultimately to the GIs and Anglos under the Mediterranean's supreme commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Ultimately, Unto the Sons is the story of all immigrant families and the hope and sacrifice that took them from the familiarity of the Old World to the mysteries of the New - to a place that tested their loyalties, their love, and their links with the past. A stirring and personal epic of discovery, Unto the Sons reinforces Gay Talese's distinct place in American letters as a chronicler of the American experience.

CHILD OF THE NORTHERN SPRING

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CHILD OF THE NORTHERN SPRING by Persia Woolley

From the back of the book:

Among the first to look at the story of Camelot through Guinevere's eyes, Woolley sets the traditional tale in the time of its origin, after Britain has shattered into warring fiefdoms. Hampered by neither fantasy nor medieval romance, this young Guinevere is a feisty Celtic tomboy who sees no reason why she must learn to speak Latin, wear dresses, and go south to marry that king. But legends being what they are, the story of Arthur's rise to power soon intrigues her, and when they finally meet, Guinevere and Arthur form a partnership that has lasted for 1500 years.

This is Arthurian epic at its best - filled with suspense, adventure, authentic Dark Ages detail, and wonderfully human people. - San Francisco Chronicle

Poor Credit Loans for Those Who Need Them

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Banks along with other regular financial lenders don't consider individuals with a bad credit score rankings qualified for just about any financial loans. The only real option of these people would be to approach other loan companies who'll advance cash for them regardless of their a bad credit score history. Such loan companies offer anything varying from 1000 to 25000 GBP with payments scheduled during a period of one to ten years. Such financial loans have assisted many people who would like a lump sum payment amount of cash to tide over an urgent situation, purchase some costs or such needs.

A easy application for a loan can also be found online. Because the applicant includes a poor credit rating, they need to prove remarkable ability to repay the borrowed funds towards the loan provider. The loan companies who offer this particular financial loans online request for that submission from the needed information on the web. The key particulars are first verified in the loan provider prior to the approval is offered and also the loan provider could possibly get their finance. To secure this type of loan you should possess the credit history at hands. It's also wise to have your driving licence, bank statement and property statement (optional) and just then approach the loan provider to ensure that they are able to assess and approve financing around the place.

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What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

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Genre: YA Science Fiction
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Series: Hybrid Chronicles (Book 1)
Source: Around the World ARC Tours

Blurb: Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else--two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren't they settling? Why isn't one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn't...

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she's still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet...for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

28 Eylül 2012 Cuma

Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame

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Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuester Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Series: (none)
Source: Giveaway Win

Blurb: A lush, historical novel about the secretive Darlingtons of Wentworth Hall!The prettiest people often have the ugliest secrets…

Eighteen-year-old Maggie Darlington has turned into an entirely different person. The once spirited teen is now passive and reserved. A change Lord and Lady Darlington can’t help but be grateful for.

It’s 1912, and the Darlingtons of Wentworth Hall have more than just the extensive grounds to maintain. As one of Britain’s most elite families, they need to keep up appearances that things are as they have always been…even as their carefully constructed faÃ‡ade rapidly comes undone.

Maggie has a secret. And she’s not the only one…the handsome groom Michael, the beautiful new French nanny Therese, the Darlingtons’ teenage houseguests Teddy and Jessica, and even Maggie’s younger sister Lila are all hiding something. Passion, betrayal, heartache, and whispered declarations of love take place under the Darlingtons’ massive roof. And one of these secrets has the power to ruin the Darlingtons forever.

When scandalous satires start appearing in the newspaper with details that closely mirror the lives of the Darlingtons, everyone is looking over their shoulder, worrying their scandal will be next. Because at Wentworth Hall, nothing stays secret for long.

UnWholly by Neal Schusterman

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Release Date: August 28, 2012

It’s finally here. The long-awaited sequel to the bestselling Unwind, which Publishers Weekly called a “gripping, brilliantly imagined futuristic thriller.”
Thanks to Connor, Lev, and Risa—and their high-profile revolt at Happy Jack Harvest Camp—people can no longer turn a blind eye to unwinding. Ridding society of troublesome teens while simltaneously providing much-needed tissues for transplant might be convenient, but its morality has finally been brought into question. However, unwinding has become big business, and there are powerful political and corporate interests that want to see it not only continue, but also expand to the unwinding of prisoners and the impoverished.

Cam is a product of unwinding; made entirely out of the parts of other unwinds, he is a teen who does not technically exist. A futuristic Frankenstein, Cam struggles with a search for identity and meaning and wonders if a rewound being can have a soul. And when the actions of a sadistic bounty hunter cause Cam’s fate to become inextricably bound with the fates of Connor, Risa, and Lev, he’ll have to question humanity itself.

Rife with action and suspense, this riveting companion to the perennially popular Unwind challenges assumptions about where life begins and ends—and what it means to live.

Diva by Jillian Larkin

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Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Hardcover: 320 pages

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Release Date: July 10, 2012

Series: The Flappers (Book 3)

Source: NetGalley

Blurb: Parties, bad boys, speakeasies—life in Manhattan has become a woozy blur for Clara Knowles. If Marcus Eastman truly loved her, how could he have fallen for another girl so quickly? Their romance mustn't have been as magical as Clara thought. And if she has to be unhappy, she's going to drag everyone else down to the depths of despair right along with her.

Being a Barnard girl is the stuff of Lorraine Dyer's dreams. Finding out that Marcus is marrying a gold digger who may or may not be named Anastasia? A nightmare. The old Lorraine would have sat by and let the chips fall where they may, but she's grown up a lot these past few months. She can't bear to see Marcus lose a chance for true love. But will anyone listen to her?

Now that the charges against her have been dropped, Gloria Carmody is spending the last dizzying days of summer on Long Island, yachting on the sound and palling around with socialites at Forrest Hamilton's swanky villa. Beneath her smile, though, Gloria's keeping a secret. One that could have deadly consequences . . .

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

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Genre: YA Science Fiction
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Series: Hybrid Chronicles (Book 1)
Source: Around the World ARC Tours

Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglein

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Genre: YA Action/Adventure

Hardcover: 288 pages

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Release Date: July 24, 2012

Series: (none)

Source: LibraryThing win

Blurb: Jason Bourne meets The Sopranos in this breathtaking adventure

Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance--until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob).

Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searches for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies--a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tattered notebook might be her best defense--hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.

Action packed, with fresh, cinematic writing, Cold Fury is a riveting and imaginative adventure readers will devour.

27 Eylül 2012 Perşembe

Yes, We Bowl in New York City

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Does this look like your bowling alley?
Our lives in New York City -- despite the media -- isn't all glitz and glamour. While the world is hearing about Fashion Week and Katie Holmes and Kanye West and Kim K. the rest of us were going to work, riding the subway and yes, bowling. Our office group likes to get together and folks plan events. We've had two softball games in the last year, and both times I've been out on medical leave. When I heard about our bowling event I was delighted I could attend. No, I didn't bowl. I'm not even supposed to lift fifteen pounds, let alone fling fifteen pounds down the alley. That motion could undo some great neurosurgery and months of rehab. But I was happy to cheer for my friends.

Bowling alley snack bar...does your snack bar look like this one?

And like everywhere else we cheer for our friends' bowling success. My friend, Donna, gets her first strike.
Definitely a good time was had by all of us. Are there other bowling fans in Buttercupland? Let us hear about your bowling experiences.
It's a gorgeous early fall day in New York City. Sunny, clear and just a tiny bit of crisp in the air. I took care of a long overdue banking issue. It was small, but something I just hadn't gotten around to for months. I did some walking and took a lot of pictures. I'm snapping every pumpkin I see. Hope your day is as fun and sunny as mine.

Checklist...Buy Horse radish...

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Source: designmegillah.com via Carol on Pinterest

...make soup, cleanse my heart.
This has been my check list for the last few days, a mix of the secular and sacred. The horse radish is bought, soup will be cooking momentarily and there are just a few last minute things to pick up at the grocery around the corner. But that last item...

Cleanse my heart, forgive, repent. I can't pick them up at the corner grocery or the specialty food store or the bakery. I can't buy forgiveness, a clean heart or a relationship with G'd. I have to do the difficult interior work that will make them happen, and I am grateful that they can't be bought. A clean heart is open to all of us, rich or poor. Starting this evening the Jewish calendar begins the ten days of awe. It is a time of prayer and a time to begin a new year with a clean heart.

The next few days include several services of some length, generally three to four hours. I would be remiss -- especially in this time of spiritual candor -- to say that I am absorbed for the entire service. I am not. For the last three years I've brought a prayer list and when I start to wander from the service I take out my prayer list and focus on the specific prayer requests that friends have given me. I'm putting my list together this afternoon for tomorrow's service. Please let me know if you have any requests that you would like me to add to the list. It is my honor to pray for you.

My congregation sent out a beautiful book of prayers and I will end this post with this prayer from the book.

May G'd inscribe you in the Book of Life.And so may it be and let us say Amen.

Welcome, Autumn

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Source: everythingfab.com via Carol on Pinterest

My apartment is quiet. I hear a faint buzz of traffic noise, but not the air conditioner. There may be a few more hot days where I will welcome the air conditioner, but now it's the season between air conditioning and snow plows. It's the season for crisp nights and mornings, for resuming wearing panty hose and turtle neck sweaters. There are apples fresh from the orchard two counties away and pumpkins at the farmer's market.

Welcome, Autumn. We've missed you and we're so glad you're coming back. We wish you could stay longer, but we know you will need to leave us too soon. So we'll savor your crispness and your bright blue skies. Here's a bouquet and a pumpkin latte to say welcome back!

Sunday in Staten Island

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New Dorp Moravian Church, Staten Island, NY
This seems the perfect post for a beautiful autumn Sunday. One of the benefits of my job is the opportunity to visit every part of New York City. I don't really visit, but rather attend meetings and public events, and generally I'm giving presentations about the work our agency does. Sometimes the meetings can be contentious, but on the whole I've really enjoyed meeting thousands of New Yorkers -- I've been in this job for almost nineteen years -- answering questions and providing information.
In the interest of journalistic integrity the pictures were taken last Thursday. I'd never seen this beautiful church before or the historic cemetery that surrounds it. Happily I had my camera with me and after the program I was able to take a few pictures. It was a perfect early autumn day with one of the most beautiful skies I can remember. Actually today is very similar and though it rained last night, today is clear and sunny.

New Dorp Moravian Cemetery

Grandfather and grandson, two centuries ago
I am linking up with A Rural Journal, one of my favorite places to visit in Blogland. There is a linkup of pictures and Sunday and a great place to visit.
I've got a leisurely day ahead. Soup making later in the afternoon and a walk and some shopping in a little while. I hope your Sunday is a leisurely and happy day, too!

Thanks, My Huckleberry Friend

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I know it hasn't been fashionable to listen to Andy Williams for at least forty years, but I'm proud not to have been fashionable. There have been many evenings in the last few years when I listened to youtube clips just like this one. I was happily transported back to evenings in the 1960s when my parents and I were in our den happily listening to "The Andy Williams Show." He would finish a ballad, maybe "Moon River," and my mother would say, "He has such a nice voice."

Mom, as ever, you were right. Andy Williams had such a nice voice, actually a wonderful voice, and I and so many others will miss him so. Thanks for all you gave us for so many years.

26 Eylül 2012 Çarşamba

I Joined Pinterest ... for a good cause!

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I know, I know. I feel like I may be the last person in the world—well, at least the first world—to join Pinterest. I held off for the longest time because I was afraid it would just be one more huge time-waster in my life. But, I joined for a good cause. Promise!

Compassion is having a Pinterest contest this week. I decided I couldn't very well post about this contest and not participate in it. So I signed up for an account, created a board, pinned a few things, and here I am to share it with you. :)

I've told you plenty about Bob and Gloria, but I'm excited for you to "meet" them via Pinterest! If you're on Pinterest, would you please repin the "pin it!" photo to help spread the word?

You can find all the details about the contest here. It's really easy and a fun way to get the word out about Compassion—whether you are able to sponsor a child at this time or not. PLUS, several randomly selected sponsors will win gifts for their sponsored child or their child's family. Sounds pretty great to me!

And if you're wondering why I'm posting so much about Compassion this month, September is Compassion Blog Month! Our goal is to try to find sponsors for 3,108 children. So far 1,515 children now have sponsors ... just 1,593 more to go! You can find out more about child sponsorship here if you're interested. (You won't be sorry ... I promise!)

Blog Tour | A Hearbeat Away by Harry Kraus

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This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingA Heartbeat AwaybyHarry Kraus

About the Book
A Heartbeat Away
by Harry Kraus
Christian Fiction / Contemporary / Suspense
Available September 2012
David C. Cook
384 pages

When a brilliant surgeon undergoes a heart transplant, her life transforms as she begins experiencing memories of a murder she never witnessed.The residents worship her. Nurses step out of her way. Her colleagues respect and sometimes even fear her. But surgeon Tori Taylor never expected to end up on this side of the operating table.Now she has a new heart. This life that was formerly controlled and predictable is now chaotic. Dr. Taylor had famously protected herself from love or commitment, but her walls are beginning to crumble. And strangest of all, memories surface that will take her on a journey out of the operating room and into a murder investigation. Where there once was a heart of stone, there is a heart of flesh. And there is no going back.

My Thoughts
After reading the blurb on the back cover of Harry Kraus’s latest release, I wasn’t sure what to think. I mean, the idea of a transplant recipient receiving memories from their donor? Weird! I wasn’t sure what to think or if I would even like the book. After reading it, though, I still think the idea of transplanted memories is bizarre, but Harry Kraus’s A Heartbeat Away was incredible!

The book was intriguing from the very start. A surgeon about to undergo a heart transplant, the nurses and hospital staff obviously holding grudges against her, and the running internal commentary of the main character was great! Kraus writes with such detail, and his surgical background gives us as readers a unique perspective on the medical aspects of the story.

While I didn’t fall in love with Tori right off the bat, I definitely came around by the end. I loved how her heart transplant not only affected her physically but emotionally and spiritually as well. Phin was a great character as well! And their chemistry was perfect. I loved that we got to see some of Phin’s struggle as well.

The suspense was intense at times and moved along at a great pace. Fast enough to give me a thrill, while allowing time for other story lines to get their due as well. At times there was so much going on that I wasn’t sure how it would all resolve, but Krauss brought it around to a conclusion at just the right time, and I was even surprised by part of the ending. :)

This was a great blend of suspense, romance, and so much more. I can’t believe I’ve not read Harry Kraus before now, but I will definitely be reading more of his work in the future! [4.5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from David C. Cook and CFBA in exchange for my fair and honest review.
About the Author

Harry Kraus, M.D. is a board-certified surgeon, medical missionary to East Africa, and accomplished writer of both non-fiction and fiction. Medical realism and gripping plotlines distinguish his writing, as he gets most of his ideas with a scalpel in hand. Dr. Kraus resides in Kenya with his wife Kris and the youngest of his three sons.

Harry Kraus OnlineWebsite | Blog

Fall Into Reading 2012 | The List

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Well, after two read-a-thons and Book Blogger Appreciation Week in the last few weeks, you'd think I'd be challenged and evented out. :) But when Crystal and Melanie started tweeting about another challenge, I was intrigued. After much thought and careful considering ... er, thinking about all the unread books on my shelves ... I decided it could be fun. Count me in for Fall Into Reading 2012!

Fall Into Reading 2012 is hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Days and lasts from September 22-December 21 (which just so happens to be fall!). It's a pretty laid-back challenge. Just set a goal, make your list, and start reading!

My Goal: 45 books

The List: My list includes 60 books. Some are books that I've committed to read for blog tours or reviews. Some are ones that I want to read for fun and just haven't gotten around to them yet. It's hard for me to stick to a list, so I'm giving myself a few choices. And I know this is a ton of books! (I even trimmed it down a little!) There are just SO many great books that I want to read!!!

Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund
A Love Surrendered by Julie Lessman
Love Thy Rival by Chad Gibbs
Queen of the Waves by Janice Thompson
Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson
No Safe Harbor by Elizabeth Ludwig
When a Heart Stops by Lynette Eason
Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson
All Things New by Lynn Austin
Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden
Accidentally Amish by Olivia Newport
Beyond the Storm by Carolyn Zane
Twice Promised by Maggie Brendan
A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller
The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury
A Flight of Fancy by Laurie Alice Eakes
Sofia’s Secret by Sharlene MacLaren
The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann
Travelers Rest by Ann Tatlock
Heart of Lies by Jill Marie Landis
Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis
A River to Cross by Yvonne Harris
The Deposit Slip by Todd M. Johnson
Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin
Love in Disguise by Carol Cox
The Messenger by Siri Mitchell
To Love and Cherish by Tracie Peterson & Judith McCoy Miller
At Every Turn by Anne Mateer
A Change of Fortune by Jen Turano
A Texan’s Choice by Shelley Gray
Relentless Pursuit by Kathy Herman
Band of Sisters by Cathy Gohlke
Her Surprise Sister by Marta Perry
The Rancher’s Secret Wife by Brenda Minton
Zero Visibility by Sharon Dunn
Lakeside Family by Lisa Jordan
Montana Dreams by Jillian Hart
Submerged by Dani Pettrey
A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist
The Edge of Recall by Kristen Heitzmann
Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans
The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
The Snow Angel by Glenn Beck
The Rose of Winslow Street by Elizabeth Camden
The Beginning by Karen Kingsbury
Whispers of the Bayou by Mindy Starns Clark
Protection for Hire by Camy Tang
Hurricanes in Paradise by Denise Hildreth
Blood Ransom by Lisa Harris
Always the Baker, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker
Gentlemen of Her Dreams by Jen Turano
Surrender the Heart by M. L. Tyndall
The Red Siren by M. L. Tyndall
I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson
11th Hour by James Patterson
What Doesn’t Kill You by Iris Johansen
Sleep No More by Iris Johansen
Night Watch by Linda Fairstein
Backfire by Catherine Coulter

Denise Hunter’s “The Trouble with Cowboys” Facebook Party & Kindle Fire Giveaway

To contact us Click HERE

To celebrate the release of The Trouble with Cowboys Denise is hosting a fun Author Chat Party on Facebook. She'll connect with readers and give away some amazing prizes - including a Kindle Fire!

Save the Date for October 11th!

Grab your copy of Denise Hunter's latest book and join her for an Author Chat Party on October 11th at 8:00 PM EST (that’s 7:00 Central, 6:00 MST, & 5:00 PST)! Haven't read The Trouble with Cowboys yet? That's okay, don't let that stop you from coming to the party! (You may win a copy!)

During the evening she’ll be sharing the story behind the book, posting discussion questions, testing your trivia skills, and of course, there will be plenty of chatting and fun giveaways – books, gift certificates and – a Kindle Fire! She’ll also be giving you a sneak peek of her next book too!

RSVP today and then come back on the 11th … and bring your friends!

Will you pray?

To contact us Click HERE
Last night, I was confronted with the sobering reality of the death of a family friend who was not a Christian. We are just devastated. Many of the Scriptures that are so comforting when faithful followers of Christ die are reminding me of the truth that we are saved only through faith in Christ. But I am also feeling a great sense of urgency for others in my life who do not have a relationship with Jesus.

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Product Details:

Paperback: 692 pages
Publisher: Browne Press (July 11, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1447417976
ISBN-13: 978-1447417972

Product Dimensions:

8.5 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

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Etiquette (9781447417972) Emily Post , ISBN-10: 1447417976 , ISBN-13: 978-1447417972 , , tutorials , pdf , ebook , torrent , downloads , rapidshare , filesonic , hotfile , megaupload , fileserveEtiquette (9781447417972) Emily Post

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23 Eylül 2012 Pazar

Fiction International #17.2 Futurismo (9780916304980) Richard Kostelenetz, Stephen-Paul Martin, Maggie Humm, Kathleen B. Jones, et al., Harold Jaffe, Larry McCaffery

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Product Details:

Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: SDSU Press; 17.2 edition (December 1, 1987)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0916304981
ISBN-13: 978-0916304980

Product Dimensions:

9.9 x 6.6 x 0.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

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FG TO REPTILES 2ND (Peterson Field Guides) (9780395199794) Roger Conant, Roger Tory Peterson

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Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 2nd edition (June 16, 1975)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0395199794
ISBN-13: 978-0395199794

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7 x 4.8 x 1.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds

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Farside Cannon (9780671654283) Roger MacBride Allen

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Publisher: Baen (August 1, 1988)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0671654284
ISBN-13: 978-0671654283

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6.6 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces

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Farriers' Lane A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel (9780345514134) Anne Perry

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Etudes De Litterature Et D'Histoire (1901) (French Edition) (9781160294355) Albert Sorel

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I Remember...

... exactly where I was eleven years ago tonight. Finally, home.

In the morning I had stood at a window at our building on lower Broadway and in horror had watched the second Tower of the World Trade Center collapse. The sky went completely black. It was at this moment that I realized that it was possible that my death could be imminent, and asked G'd for more time. I was grateful for the life that I had, but I prayed for more time. Shortly after that my colleagues and I were evacuated out of our building six blocks south of the Trade Center. My friend Sandy and I began the long walk uptown. We walked to Grand Central Station where Sandy took a train to Westchester -- amazingly trains were running. I walked across Manhattan and took a bus -- amazingly, too, buses were running in the Northern areas of Manhattan -- to a friend's house. Ultimately, I would walk halfway home from my office in Lower Manhattan to my apartment on the Upper West Side. Smoke hung over the city and if you could see all the way downtown you would see the fires still burning. The smoke rose for months at the site where the Trade Center had stood and there was ash all around. I was stunned, shocked and very grateful to be alive.

My shock has turned to profound sorrow and I am still very grateful to be alive. To the memory of those who were not so fortunate -- in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. You will never be forgotten.

Yes, We Bowl in New York City

Bowling alley snack bar...does your snack bar look like this one?

Checklist...Buy Horse radish...

Welcome, Autumn

Sunday in Staten Island

New Dorp Moravian Cemetery

Saying goodbye to "Old Betsy"

Our family said goodbye to the van - which we lovingly referred to as " Old Betsy" - this week. To make a long story short, it was totaled after my dad and I were involved in a car accident a few weeks ago. We are both fine, only suffering minor bruises. Where does that leave us then? You guessed it- searching for a new van! If you are a disabled reader, you probably know what a difficult process that can be; not only do you have to look for a vehicle that fits the measurements of your wheelchair ( which is not an easy task, considering in Virginia it is preferred that you point straight forward ) but you have to figure out transportation in the meantime.I guess I'm lucky in that I have a wheelchair at both my apartment and my parent 's, so when I come to visit it's not that difficult. But still. One can't help but feel guilty that they have to carry me to the car whenever I want to go anywhere . The latest bit of news is that paperwork needs to be signed on the new vehicle we
found; it will take 2 to 3 days for the vehicle to be driven down from Pittsburgh. Then, it's another full day in the shop getting the lock down installed

How are you feeling today?? Focused on your disability?? Holly's Heart will make you think twice!!

Welcome Back Readers~

I'm sorry I haven't been around lately.. We have a lot going on around our house, including going to Baltimore to get the new van-so I can finally get around-and having guests visit. Anyway, I'm not really making excuses for not writing: however I have been doing a lot of thinking and writing that here would have been counterproductive....

Let's just say it's a constant struggle trying to keep everything together and running smoothly. From roommate issues to agency difficulties, something is always there reminding me I have a disability..

So, on this Friday, I just happened across this video! What do you think about Holly's point? If we have God in our lives, should we or should we not struggle with identity issues? That's what's on my mind today!

Personal Update On My Life; My Opinion on Sundance Channel's Push Girls

Welcome back Everyone~
I know I haven't been around lately; but late has certainly kept me busy. I find myself on the phone most of the time in an effort to keep up my independence; however, my parents have needed to help out more than I like ... I'm grateful, but I know that things are getting tougher for them and they have other things they would like to be doing.

Thus, the constant battle continues..

Speaking of battle for independence, I came across this interesting show on Sundance called Push Girls featuring several women in wheelchairs. Unlike me, most of their injuries were caused by car accidents and other situations. Although the show is very much focused on disability advocacy and knowing oneself, I was slightly put off by it. I don't know why. Maybe it's because on the first show, they seemed to really focus on the physical appearance of the people.... And not really their struggle. As Tiphany Put it somewhat like this, "Most People consider the disabled not really concerned with how they look, having food on their clothes..."

I don't know about you, but I'm offended by this.. I like to consider myself attractive, in a modest sort of way.. In terms of the food, well, sometimes I can't help it. That's the way it is with CP!

Anyway, maybe you can catch an encore of the show and let me know what you think! For more information, you can go to their website at: www.SundanceChannel.com/pushgirls

Some 2012 Olympians Step into the Spotlight for More Than Just Talent!

Everyone has those moments that they will never forget of the Olympics.. For example, there was the time the Magnificent Seven won the gold in Women's Gymnastics during the last Olympics.. Or the time where Keri Strug landed on a injured ankle during her vault to help secure the victory..

These are all moments that make you want to stand up and cheer for the
Olympians and make me especially proud to be an American! However, there are moments that surpass these and challenge you to be better than you are. I had one of those while watching the Women's All-Around Gymnastics Final. Not only was I surprised at how Jordan Weibercheered for her teammate, Aly from the stands even though she may have wishedshe could be there also... Such camaraderie and compassion, I have never seenthroughout a competition!

But even more important, the courage it takes to stand firm for what you believe while being in the spotlight. At this point, you probably know who I am talking about-Gabby Douglas. When she could have taken all the praise for winning gold, she gave all the credit to God, saying "Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never
forget the good he does for me. The glory up to Him, and the blessings fall
down on me."

For more on other Olympians' view as to how she was able to accomplish this, please feel free to go to:http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20612225_20618005,00.html
or
http://www.watchgmctv.com/news/christian-olympians-2012-summer-games
for more information

As well as

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner

Jennifer Weiner is one of my favorite Chick Lit authors. I find she's too real to be stuffed in with all the fluffy, breezy books that usually determines that category. Then Came You doesn't disappoint. It tells a tale of surrogacy. Something I'd never read about in a novel before, a very intriguing, timely topic. This book is told from 4 points of view: the college student considering egg donation as a way to make a large sum of money to help out her addict father, the housewife looking to become a surrogate as a way to help out her financially struggling family and the grown step-daughter, the trophy wife struggling with fertility issues, mistrustful of her father's new wife and need for a baby. I loved reading this book and am now thinking it's time to go back and revisit some of Jennifer Weiner's earlier tales.

Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I have my husband to thank that I picked this one up (Divergent). I had a gift card to spend on a few books for vacation. He saw this one by a Hunger Games display and suggested I get it. So I did. I'm glad I did. If you had told me a couple of years ago that I would be reading YA books about dystopian society and enjoying it, I would have laughed at you. It is so not like what I would normally read, but I'm really loving these kinds of books.
This trilogy centers on Beatrice Prior, a 16 year old girl, sometime in the future in what we know as Chicago. The society she lives in is divided into 5 factions, each separate from each other by the trait/value they hold high. She has grown up in Abnegation (selfless). Every year the 16 year olds must choose which faction they will become part of for the rest of their lives, even if it means separating from their families (faction before family). The other factions are: Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent).
Beatrice's choice surprises even her, but it fits her too. The initiation she must undertake is daunting. The fear that everyone holds is not being accepted, becoming part of the factionless.
Even before I finished Divergent I went out to buy Insurgent, the second in the trilogy. I just had to see where this was going next. There is much more going on in these factions than appears on the surface, including individual members. It makes you wonder how much of ourselves we reveal to others and how true we are to ourselves. Can a single virtue define a society?
My biggest problem with these books is that the third one is not out yet - Never start a trilogy where you have to wait over a year for the last book to come out!

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

As I was purchasing Insurgent my Veronica Roth, the book store clerk asked if I had read the Dustlands books. Nope, hadn't even heard of them. She said that they were even better than the Divergent series. If the next books are anything like this one, I will have to agree.
Blood Red Road again is set in a future dystopian society. It centers on 18 year old Saba, whose father has been killed and brother kidnapped. Saba sets out with her 9 year old sister Emmi in search of finding their brother Lugh and bringing him back. What happens from there is so fantastic and unpredictable it's amazing. Some of this book reminded me back to an old western, other parts were reminiscent of Ancient Rome.
The entire book is written from Saba's point of view and dialogue. It took me a little bit to get into her speech patterns, but once I was into the flow of it, it just worked. A part of this book that I find fascinating is their allusions to 'the Wreckers', the people who came before them (us) and what was left behind. I'm looking forward to picking up Rebel Heart (#2) when it comes out in October. Very well done. Dystopian, but not a copy of The Hunger Games, good in its own way!

Happy Family by Wendy Lee

Hua has recently immigrated to the States from China. It was her Grandmother's dream to send her to America to have a fantastic life. Hua falls in love with the idea of an American life and more than anything, the idea of belonging. As you get into her story you realise that there is more to her than first assumed. She is shy and quiet, but has an unexpected past.
When we first meet her, she is working as a waitress in Chinatown in New York. She meets Jane and her adopted Chinese daughter Lily in the park. She slowly enters into a relationship with the family, eventually gaining trust to become their Nanny. Jane wants Lily to know some of her Chinese heritage, so her friendship with Hua seems like a perfect solution.
This book was very well written and it surprised me how easy it was to get into. I read it in a single evening sitting (something I was not expecting). There were more twists and turns in it that kept me going to completion. I don't know if she has published anything since (this book came out in 2008), but I would be interested in what else Lee has to offer.

The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay

"I am Moth, a girl from the lowest part of Chrystie Street, born to a slum-house mystic and the man who broke her heart."
This opening sentence hooked me and I was loathe to put this book down at any point in time following. Ami McKay's writing has a way of not just putting you there (in this case New York in the 1870's) but actually delving into the place in time in a way that you really believe you know this place, it becomes familiar - that's quite a talent. I found this a fascinating book for that reason. Most of this story was told from Moth's point of view, but interspersed were notes from Dr. Sadie (a female physician serving in the Bowery), and notes from various publications of the times (both real and fictional).
There were points of this story that brought me back to Moulin Rouge (one of my favorite movies - though set at a slightly different place and time).
I was not prepared to love this book as much as I did. I read it over the course of 2 days - the first beginning once my children were in bed for the night and continuing on until I could no longer keep my eyes open. I will now have to go backwards to Ami McKay's first novel, The Birth House (I don't know how I missed it).

Friday's Favorite Five #3

Hmm...I like to take the time to write this post throughout the week; instead I'm just winging it Thursday night after the Big Kids are tucked into bed.

1. Time away. I had a really refreshing and relaxing time away last weekend with the baby and three friends. It was really special to not be distracted by other children and really focus on the baby.

2. Leftovers. I only make a few meals a week because we eat a lot of leftovers. I am so thankful that my husband doesn't mind in the least. Last night and tonight we had chicken pot pie. I added biscuits tonight to change things up a bit.

3. Friends' input on choosing blog names for my children. Below are some options in the order of M, E, and the baby.
~One, Two, and Three (downside...wouldn't they all want to be One?)
~M5, E3, E0 (Initial and age...not creative, but easy for everyone to identify each child.)
~Big Sis, Brother, Little Sis (Simple...)
~Maud, Lewis, and Harper (for some favorite authors...I'm sure you can name them, but Maud Hart ~Lovelace/ L.M. Montgomery, C.S. Lewis, and Harper Lee. (Louisa May Alcott could be another option.)
~Pippi (Longstocking), Gilbert (from Anne of Green Gables) or Atticus (from To Kill a Mockingbird), and Tacy (from Betsy-Tacy) or Emily (from Emily of Deep Valley)
Please share your opinion as a reader if you have any thoughts! I am leaning toward two sets especially (Big/Little/Brother and the authors) but you might sway me!

4. The anticipation of my new blog's debut. It is waiting on a few things (like personality through a header), but if you want to see it you can. It's called This Simple Home. (I will be sharing about my reasons for a new blog sometime in the future; for now, just know that I'm excited.)

5. Enjoying Anne of Green Gables with my Big Kids. We are only halfway through (it's three hours!), but the children and I are enjoying it!

I'm linking up over at Living to Tell the Story! Thanks, Susanne for hosting!

Fun Favorites

Zany. Funny. A little bit naughty. My kids love it!

Yep, that describes Limelight Larry! Larry's a peacock...and as peacocks are known to be, he's full of pride! Larry thinks the book about him will be just amazing, of course, because it is about him. When his friends step on the pages, Larry is irritated and tries to send them all away. Eventually he finds himself on a whole page all by himself, but he finds that it's not much fun to show off by himself. Larry gets over himself and shares the almost-last-page with all of his friends happily.

I have to say that Leigh Hodgkinson's Limelight Larry didn't "wow" me at first, though I certainly liked it. However, both of my Big Kids LOVE it. My three year old son will repeatedly request this book throughout the day if he lays eyes upon it. I have to say, I love the creative fonts throughout the book (in size and style). Not only that, but the illustrations are a bit different than the typical picture book. Larry has a permanent place on our shelves!

Don't Worry, Douglas! was a whole family favorite from the first read! There is so much to love about Douglas and this book.

Douglas is surprised when his father gives him a new woolly hat. He can't wait to show his friends. While he is showing off, the unthinkable happens...his new woolly hat has turned into a long string of spaghetti! His friends try to advise him as to what he should do with his tangled ball of yarn, but no one has a good idea until Rabbit suggests that Douglas just tell his dad what happened. As it turns out, Dad did know how to help...and gave Douglas his own hat to grow into. (...Awe...)

So that is the story, but you need to know that David Melling (author/illustrator) made some fantastic pictures in Don't Worry, Douglas! The animals really seem to have some personality! As with many Tiger Tales books, this one also has fonts in special styles and sizes to give the book a bit of extra umph. Instead of lots of "he said/she saids" the animals cried, whooped, gasped, yelped and more. Just delightful, don't you think?

I definitely think Don't Worry, Douglas! is a book that is worth owning. It seems special every time we read it...and that says a lot!
I am glad that Tiger Tales added Limelight Larry and Don't Worry, Douglas! to our collection for review purposes! Thank you!