Christmas Reading

Christmas is always a great time of the year to curl up in front of the fireplace with a good book, your "snuggie" and some hot tea or cocoa. The warmth of the fire always makes the book reading more enjoyable especially with the cooler evenings. A few years ago I read "The Christmas Jar" it is an excellent book of giving and saving and the joys of Christmas cheer...if you get a chance I highly recommend it. I know I have a Christmas jar now every year...

One of my other favorite authors is of course, Debbie Macomber and this year she has out her latest and final [sad to say] Cedar Cove series book, "1225 Christmas Tree Lane" it's on my Christmas list for sure!!!

A brief take:  Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove series. 1225 Christmas Tree Lane is book 12 and the final novel in the series. You will get to know Beth Morehouse, her daughters, and her ex-husband. There are puppies that will bring back characters from previous books in the series. They adopt the puppies and the reader will learn what’s new in their lives.

You’ll have to read the book Debbie Macomber gives all of the Cedar Cove residents a fond farewell in this satisfying series finale. You will love it and feel bound to this warm neighborhood with all its characters and you might even feel the need to start all over again with the 1st one in the series, "16 Lighthouse Road"

Here are some other good reads:

A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts

The Perfect Holiday Gift

A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts is a heartfelt book of inspirational stories, fun family traditions, yummy recipes and so much more! This book is the perfect holiday gift for that very special someone on your list, a gift they will treasure for a lifetime.

"This book took will take your breath away. Truly beautiful, unique, heartwarming. It's one of those books you'll treasure from year to year, reading and re-reading the stories within until you know them by heart. It has a hodgepodge of everything - recipes, inspirational stories, Christmas tips, poetry, projects. There are 160 pages, and it's an overflowing chest full of treasures!"

A Simple Christmas

Twelve Stories That Celebrate The True Holiday Spirit

If you're looking for a little clarity, sanity, and inspiration at this insane time of year, you're sure to enjoy A Simple Christmas. Mick Huckabee tells the stories of twelve of his own Christmas memories, some funny, some deeply moving, that will make you take a deep breath and appreciate the magic of Christmas. You will laugh and cry it is a touching book not about politics..

The Christmas List - A Novel

A Story To Warm Your Heart

A beautiful story of the love between a husband and wife that will have you in tears of joy and sadness, and leave you feeling inspired, uplifted and grateful. Be warned - you won't be able to put it down!

Letters From Father Christmas 

A Stunningly Beautiful Book

A beautiful collection of the letters that the children of J R Tolkein received from Father Christmas over the years from 1920 to 1943. Each letter tells a wonderful story and the illustrations are absolutely spellbinding.

"Tolkein wrote these letters to his own children as if they were coming from Santa Claus at the North Pole. They are sweet, funny, obviously done with great love. There are sketches to illustrate. you'll have this one around for many years and give them as Christmas presents  and continue to make rereading it a part of getting into the Christmas spirit."

I'm Reading Debbie Macomber's "Summer on Blossom Street"

I love Debbie Macomber's books!! She writes in a style that I can relate to and also enjoy any time of the year. I get so involved in her stories that I feel let down when they end, which is why I love her Cedar Cove series the best as it keeps on going!! :)

Summer on Blossom Street, is back at the yarn shop with Lydia and her sister Margaret and some of the other characters from Back on Blossom Street, I so enjoy the characters and each of their side stories and can't wait to see what happens next as this one has a man joining in on the yarn group's meetings should be interesting. The meetings are called, "Knit to Quit" geared for people who want to quit something, like smoking, a boyfriend, any bad habit...

Ugly Sweater Party Prize Books

I recently hosted an "Ugly Sweater" parter for my LYG Spring Fling party and the prizes for the 3 best sweaters were books. I did some research and found some pretty interesting books about sweaters that I felt were appropriate for the winners.

The 1st prize was for the "Ugliest Sweater"....and the prize book was called "The Sweater Book" and it is a really cool book about how people's personalities relate to their sweaters. They had all the subjects put on the same sweater and then watching how they wore it, the author Mosher, was able to capture on film a really remarkable phenomenon - when given a common item with which to express themselves, each person's distinctive personality came shining through, and the sweater becomes a symbol of what each considers to be most unique about themselves.

The resulting collection of over 500 stunning black-and-white photographs proves to be a touching and exhilarating ride from New York to Dallas, from Hollywood to London, as Mosher explores the creativity of celebrities and humbles alike - in their homes and workplaces, with their families and pets, in any way they chose. The people featured includes top names from the world of theater, film, TV, fashion, music, dance, and literature, such as Michael Bolton, Dominick Dunne, Matthew Broderick, Ted Danson, Tim Allen, Noah Wyle, Quentin Crisp, Josh Hartnett, Ryan Phillipe, and many more. I loved the book and want to order one just for myself now!!
 

The 2nd prize was for the "weirdest, funniest, strangest" sweater and the book given was none other than the "king" of sweater wearing himself, Bill Cosby's book...called "Cosbyology" it consists of essays and observations from Bill Cosby himself... and a little trivia "Awhile back it seems his daughter was going through a closet can came across a ton of his famous  "sweaters" he wore on all his TV shows and they ended up donated them to an auction to help out needy children and they raised over $5000 from them." wow...
 

Our 3rd prize was for the sweater "that would never see the light of day again" and it was a funny book by Debbie Macomber called, "The Truly Terrible, Horrible Sweater ...that Grandma knit..."
It is a fun little story of how this little boy was knit a sweater by his grandma that he felt was awful and the book even comes with the pattern!!! There’s probably not a knitter alive who hasn’t presented a handmade gift and wondered whether the recipient would use it or throw it in the closet. Cameron’s sweater from Grandma Susan gets the closet treatment—and worse. But there's a twist when she tells him why she chose the special colors she knit it with..... another must have book for any knitter or child's library....
 
 
 

Back From a Long Break

I have been away from blogging here for some time. But I am back, had the flu and just "life" got in the way of my visits here.

So what am I reading? Well....I am on book #3 of Debbie Macomber's "Cedar Cove" series. I just love them and in this one we are talking about 311 Pelican Court where Rosie lives. Will her and hubby be divorced forever, or will they get back together? And what is happening with the dead guy in the B&B? Who was he?

I cannot wait to read more to find out what's going on in Cedar Cove...I think the next thing should be some good recipes and knitting patterns, will have to get the companion crafting book next. :)

What Should I Read Next????

I have an enormous selection to choose from, but I still want to go to B&N and get more????? Am I sick???? Almost as bad as my yarn collection addiction. But I am finishing up Debbie Macomber's 2nd Cedar Cove series books. I love them and also love Jan Karon. My friend got me her new one. I also wanted to work on the Maggie Sefton series as I have only read the 1st one, "Knit One, Kill Two" and I have 2 more of hers. I also wanted to continue with James Patterson's book that I got for Chritmas from a friend, "The Darkest Evening of the Year"....and Joann Flukes, "Banana Split Murder Mystery" oh whats a reader to do....?????

I did watch "I am Legend" with Will Smith...it was terrific... or I might read one of my Christmas books????? Oh decisions decisions... hmmmmm....