Friday Fill-ins #95

1. Right now, I'm feeling tired, but happy.
2. Home is where I want to be.

3. How does one deal with unreasonable people?

4. Work keeps me on track.

5. Please don't talk to me early in the morning.
6. My animals fill me with joy.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to some TV, tomorrow my plans include reading a book and Sunday, I want to go eat with friends!

A Jolly Good Fellow

Book Review...
A Jolly Good Fellow By Stephen V. Masse

Duncan Wagner (a loser making money scamming as Santa Claus) decides to kidnap Gabriel Booker, the son of a well-known politician. The actual kidnapping turns out to be quiet easy, since Duncan picks up Gabriel as he is running away from home. Things get complicated when it turns out Gabriel really doesn't want to go home and doesn't try to escape. The two hang out and become friends, then things get even more complicated...

I throughly enjoyed A Jolly Good Fellow by Stephen V. Masse. I loved Duncan Wagner, loved him so much, even though he was a kidnapper! I wanted things to turn out well for him. I also loved Gabriel and the relationship they ended up having. I really felt for both of the main characters and wanted things to be better for both of them. This is a funny, lovely, and endearing story-a great Christmas jewel!

Love the One You're With

LibraryThing book review...

Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin

Ellen Dempsey is married to the perfect guy, Andy and seems to have the perfect life, but does she??? Ellen runs into her haunting, handsome ex, Leo and the "what ifs?" begin. Did she marry the right guy? Does she really love Andy? A recent move from her beloved New York to Atlanta also complicates things, along with some family issues.

I enjoyed Love the One You're With, it is a fun, light read. I got frustrated with Ellen...I mean, she has the perfect life, why screw it up with a loser? But, by the end of the story, I understood why she did what she did and really liked the ending. This was my first read by Giffin and I will definitely read some more of her books!

Friday Fill-ins #94

1. Follow the advice of a wise person, your mom or dad!

2. A book (of course!) is something I always take with me on vacation.

3. To achieve your goals, you must believe in yourself.

4. I love to take naps is something I'd like you to know about me.

5. I have a very spoiled pair of dogs and a spoiled set of cats!

6. Love floats.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to reading my People magazine, tomorrow my plans include some yardwork and Sunday, I want to chill!

The Lucky One

LibraryThing book review...

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

The Lucky One is about Logan Thibault, a veteran, who is returning from a tour of duty in Kuwait. While on his tour, he finds a picture of a lovely young lady. He cannot find the owner of the picture and begins to carry it with him. The photo seems to bring him luck, apparently saving him from a couple of near misses. He returns home and decides to find the lady in the picture who brought him good luck. He walks to North Carolina where he finds Beth, and there the story really begins...

This wasn't my favorite Nicholas Sparks book. I had a really hard time getting into it and finishing it. It talked a lot about war, which I found boring. The story really didn't get good until the last couple of chapters. All in all, a good read, just not a great one.

Tuesday Thingers

Today's question: Early Reviewers- do you participate? How many books (approximately) have you received through the program? Have you liked them generally? What's your favorite ER book? Do you participate in the discussion group on LT?

My answer: I've been a participant in the program since April of 2008, and so far I've received 4 books through the program. I think I have been very lucky! I have enjoyed all of the books I've received through Early Reviewers. My first was Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner, my second was My Husband's Sweethearts by Bridget Asher, and then Hell Bent by William G. Tapply. The latest one that I got was Playing Dead by Allison Brennan. I have not read it, yet, but may start it later today. My favorite was My Husband's Sweethearts, just a really fun read! I have not partipated in the discussion group on LT, but definitely will in the future...

The Longest Trip Home

LibraryThing book review...
The Longest Trip Home by John Grogan

The Longest Trip Home is another wonderful book by author John Grogan. John takes us through his idyllic childhood into his antics as a teenager. We see his struggles with his VERY Catholic parents over religion and his struggles within himself about religion. We see him emerge as a journalist working in newspapers all over the country. He meets the girl of his dreams and starts a family (with a dog!). And, of course, he becomes a best-selling author!

Yes, the end of this book brought tears, as did his previous book, Marley and Me (which I loved). This book brought my own memories of growing up and my own struggles to become a person my parents would be proud of. Some parts made me smile, others made me thoughtful, and yes, some even made me cry. A lovely book about a loving family.

Friday Fill-ins #93

And...here we go!

1. One of the best concerts/plays/movies I ever saw that I really didn't think I'd like was Braveheart.

2. Green cheese enchiladas is a recipe I recently made (or meal I recently ordered) that was delicious!

3. It's time for Fall.

4. An icy cold Pepsi is quite refreshing.

5. If I never hear the word election again, it'll be too soon.

6. To one side of the curving road was a forest of trees, and on the other was an unending body of blue water.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to doing some reading, tomorrow my plans include sleeping-in and Sunday, I want to relax, but I will be cleaning house!