"One Summer"

by David Baldacci, AF, 2011, Playaway digital audio, 8hrs, rating=4

It's almost Christmas, but there is no joy in the house of terminally ill Jack and his family. With only a short time left to live, he spends his last days preparing to say goodbye to his devoted wife, Lizzie, and their three children. Then, unthinkably, tragedy strikes again: Lizzie is killed in a car accident. With no one able to care for them, the children are separated from each other and sent to live with family members around the country. Just when all seems lost, Jack begins to recover in a miraculous turn of events. He rises from what should have been his deathbed, determined to bring his fractured family back together. Struggling to rebuild their lives after Lizzie's death, he reunites everyone at Lizzie's childhood home on the oceanfront in South Carolina. And there, over one unforgettable summer, Jack will begins to learn to love again, and he and his children will learn how to become a family once more. (case cover)

I have a confession. When I browse my library, I often don't read the blurbs before reading a book. I scan for key words and mainly go by author, the look of the bookcover, or thickness of the book. Maybe pretty shallow, but that's what I do.  Usually more hits than misses ... here's an example of a hit. :)

Wow, what a heartwrenching story!  I'm glad I didn't read the blurb because listening to it without knowing the premise gave an element of surprise and excitement to the experience.  Anyway, from the start you are introduced to a devastating news.  Jack Armstrong has a terminal disease and trying to hold on until Christmas.  Christmas eve rolls around and Jack is ready to go ... love letters written, accepted his fate ... but BAM! his wife Lizzie ends up getting killed in a car accident on the way back from picking up Jack's medicine.  You can imagine the "Oh no!" gasp going through my head when the police officers came knocking on Jack's door.  Then as the story continues, Jack makes it to the funeral and soon prepares to die alone because his mother-in-law saw it fit for her grandchildren to find new homes in order to spare them of watching their father die.  Little did anyone know that Jack would make a complete recovery, "Miracle Man" as he later would be coined.  So the next step was for Jack to get his children back and fulfill a promise he made to his wife.  There in the "Palace" the Armstrong family learns to heal and bond.

You can guess that this entailed a love story between husband and wife.  But it extended beyond that.  This tale involved immediate family and extended family as understandably when a tragedy hits.  An array of emotions were bounced around and I found myself attached to basically all the characters.  So much so that many tears were shed from my end.  Because as you know, I'm a sucker for books that tug the heart. ;)

I like that this book was a lot about father-daughter relationship.  It was a beautiful account!  It's the ultimate, I'm a daddy's girl fuzzy feeling. 

Overall, Mr. Baldacci did a great job at creating a second chance story with the right amount of fluff.  I can imagine that this may give someone who has lost a loved one a bit of a good cry. 

Gratitude Hop Winner

Using the services of Random.org, the winner of my Gratitude Hop is mel u!!  Your prize of $10 to Amazon or The Book Depository is yours if you reply within 48hrs to the email I sent you or a new winner will be chosen.

I thank those who entered the giveaway and for answering the couple extra questions to help me out for future giveaways.  You are awesome! 

In all, I do appreciate all of you my dear friends.  I'm grateful for your loyalty.  Knowing I have your support makes book blogging a fun hobby.  Thank you ..mwuah!

"The Christmas Wedding"

by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo, AF, 2011, audio CDs, 4hrs 42min, rating=1

The tree is decorated, the cookies are baked, and the packages are wrapped, but the biggest celebration this Christmas is Gaby Summerhill's wedding. Since her husband died five years ago, Gaby's children have drifted apart, each one preoccupied by the turbulence in their own lives. They haven't celebrated Christmas together since their father's death, but when Gaby announces that she's getting married-and that the groom will remain a secret until the wedding day—she may finally be able to bring them home for the holidays.
But the wedding isn't Gaby's only surprise—she has one more gift for her children, and it could change all their lives forever. With deeply affecting characters and the emotional twists of a James Patterson thriller, The Christmas Wedding is a fresh look at family and the magic of the season. (Goodreads)

Beautiful cover, disappointing content.

I liked Alex Cross's Trial so I was looking forward to reading another from this duo.  This Christmas themed one sounded promising.  But off the bat the swearing put me off.  It hurt my ears and more likely the reason I didn't listen carefully.  Yet from what I did grasp, there was really not enough character development.  The story was too brisk.  The turbulent life stories of the adult children showed promise but lacked depth.  And don't get me started on Gabby!  I could not connect with that woman.  She didn't seem to respect marriage ...and the three potential grooms for that matter.  I know, this is fiction ..but still.

I know James Patterson can write and I will continue to read his books but this one just didn't work for me.  No fuzzy Christmas feeling felt from my end.  :(

SSMG Winner

Random.org has spoken. Congratulations Melanie McCullough!! Some mail giddiness can be yours if you claim your prize, My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, within the next 48hrs.  An email has been sent to you.

Thank you to all those who participated.

*SSMG will be taking a break and will return sometime next year.*

Must Read Monday: Made You Laugh Out Loud

Here's a new meme that's quite fun and clever .. Must Read Monday by Fans of Fiction. Go HERE to join the fun.

The goal of this meme is to find those books others are excited about to add to your To Be Read list.
Instead of answering a question, you are basically creating intrigue for other hoppers. What makes your book so swoon-worthy? What do you absolutely have to mention so they'll read it?
On your post, you'll make an acrostic puzzle (think of it as an overview/book blurb type of thing).
When you leave comments on other posts, be sure to mention whether you're adding that book to your TBR pile, and what part convinced you to do so.
It's all about powers of persuasion, people:) You might have to think a little, but channel that inner-creative goddess (or god).

This week's category is a book that made you laugh out loud.  I chose Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. It was the oddly imaginative adventures that made this a funny read.  So out there that you can't help but laugh out loud.  That's what happened to me when I got to page 240.  But please go HERE for the blurb and my review because I didn't do the book much justice on this acrostic.

Kafka Tamura
A teenage boy, who runs away
From home
Keeps us
All

On our toes.
Nakata

The aging simpleton
Has quite an
Exceptional pull toward Kafka

So together they
Have quirky adventures and
One incredibly funny moment that got me
Rolling out of my seat.
Entirely off, no kidding!!

Pondering the Scriptures Sunday: Peter and Cornelius

Today's scriptures study is found in the book of Acts chapter 10.  Here we learn about a centurion (officer of the Roman Army, in command of 100 men), named Cornelius.  He was described as a devout man that feared God, gave alms, and prayed always.  One day an angel came to him and told him to send men to fetch Peter in Joppa.  In the meantime Peter praying and very hungry and about to eat, fell into a trance.  He saw the heaven opened and laid before him were many animals.  He was told to kill and eat.  Remembering that he was never to eat anything common or unclean (see Leviticus 11), he refused.  He was then told that "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." (Act 10:15).  Still contemplating on the meaning of his vision, the three men that Cornelius sent came to Peter and told him of Cornelius's vision.  Peter agreed to go with them.  Meanwhile, Cornelius gathered up his family and friends in anticipation of Peter's visit and teachings.  Cornelius overcame by Peter's presence fell down at his feet and worshipped Peter.  Peter took him up and said that he was just a man.  Peter then seeing the multitude came to understand his vision.  See, up to this time the Apostles had been teaching the gospel to the Jews and most of the church members were under the impression that only the Jewish people can be taught the gospel.  Cornelius was not a Jew so Peter preaching to him and to those gathered (Gentiles) was unusual.  However, Peter realized that teaching the gospel is for all .."Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." (Act 10:34-35).  So Peter preached to these Gentiles and the Holy Ghost fell on them ... and so they were baptized. 

                                                              (courtesy of lds.org)

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a safe, thankful, and fun Thanksgiving everyone!

Here's a video that my son and I had a kick watching several years ago. I looked for it on YouTube and here is it! Enjoy!!