50 Challenge Book: December

YAY! I finish my 50th book! I'm just glad I made it in times before the New Year come (which is tomorrow). Usually I'm able to pass the 50 books and by the years end, I would have finish around 70 books. Because it has been a slow reading and the stupid reading slump, it made it harder for me to speed up the reading. But I'm just glad that I pass the 50 mark!

However, I didn't read my TBR Challenge for November 2008 which was to read a book with a weather in it titles. Although I already got the book pick out, I just didn't read it because I was too caught up trying to read books that were fast and easy to read to reach the 50th book *grin*. The book I picked to read for the TBR Challenge for November was Eyes of the Storm by Dee Davis. I will continue to read it and post it later.

I also didn't read my TBR Challenge for December 2008, either. The challenge was to read a book with just the title on the cover--no scenery, no cover models, just the title. But a background design is okay. And I haven't pick a book yet, which I will do eventually and will post it later, too :)

Below, is the book I read in December (click on titles book to read my reviews). I've read 4 book this month. Since January of 2008 I have read a total of 50!

P.S. My dear good friend Darla is the one who came up with this 50 Challenge Book ideas to the group that we both members of. Please click her name (above) to see her book review at her blog (or search archive) :)

Click the book titles below, to read my reviews:

47. Line of Scrimmage by Marie Force

48. Second-Chance Family by Karina Bliss

49. No Place Like Home by Margaret Watson

50. Finally a Bride by Lisa Childs

Finally a Bride by Lisa Childs

Lisa Childs' website
Publisher: Harlequin
Pub. Date: October 2008
ISBN-13: 9780373752348
Sales Rank: 83,853
224pp










*Back blurb:*

Friend. Lover. Groom?

Running out on her own wedding is the only way Molly McClintock can stop herself from making the biggest mistake of her life. But running to her childhood friend Eric South could land her in even more trouble. Ever since the second grade, Eric's always been there for her. Now the wounded war hero is back in her life....and igniting enough sparks to turn friends into lovers.

How could Eric forget the girl who accepted his boyhood marriage proposal? Now, twenty years later, he's getting a second chance. With Molly back in his arms where she belongs, will Eric finally get his lifelong wish and meet the woman he loves a the altar?

*End blurb*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I really enjoy reading this book. I love the 'bestfriend/childhood and then become lover' themes. It's one of my favorite and I always try to find books with these kind of stories. I love the connection between Molly and Eric. You can tell their feeling for each other, even though they didn't want to remember because of the guilt for each other and they try to fight their attraction. But their love for one another had never changed. Then they soon come to realized that the life they thought they were meant to do, is the wrong choice direction to go. I also love the interaction between family (another themes I love to read about) with the main characters. I love close knit family. Even friends they consider as family story. The conversation between them were great. I think you will come to adore Eric and Molly as much as I did.

I just find out that Molly was from Unexpected Bride (Feb 2008)before the author decided to tell Molly story in this book Finally a Bride. There are 3 previous books from The Wedding Party series, before Finally a Bride was released. If you are reader who read books in order, you might consider read the previous books first. As I said, I think you going to adore Molly. She is book reader, as all of us are and there is that one scene that made me chuckle re to book. You going to have to find out about it ;)

Finally a Bride is a very bittersweet romance about friends becoming lover and discover love was right there in front of them all along. Easy fast pace reading.The dialogues was well written. The characters too sweet and charming, you will love them. Read it, you will love it...I know I did! :)

Grade: A

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finally a Bride mark the 50th book to my 50 Book Challenge 2008! I'm so relief that I finish it in times before the countdown to new, New Year! Yay! But I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to go a bit further to total more books reading before the end of the year. But...I'm satisfied that I done with book #50!

My Christmas Gifts!

Here are all the Christmas gifts I received from my friends both from Yahoo Groups, bloggers and my childhood best friend. Below are the photos. You should be able to know what each items are by my comments. I want to thanks all of you for your sweet and generous of keeping me in your thoughts with your gifts. Your love and friendship moved me and I appreciate having friends like YOU :)
Now I'm ready for the New Year ---- are you? *grin*

You may click images to view it larger :)




















This is a hand-made white ornament with purple ribbons around it for detailed and on top to bottom. It was made from my Secret Santa of my Yahoo Group that I joined. I don't know who it is from but I will tomorrow. But I want to thanks in advance to my Secret Santa! Isn't it beautiful?! I love it!




















I've received too many book gift cards this year (not that I'm complaining! *BIG GRIN*) and the two gift card show here (Barne & Nobles/Borders), are one of many. It was from my childhood best friend's mom, and the other from Secret Santa. I received one from my dear friend Alice from *Hello, My Name Is Alice blog. She gave me a Amazon gift card through email -- thanks so much Alice! I love book gift cards!



















A sweet kind lady name Billie Jo sent me this cute presents. As a thanks to participating on Secret Santa from her Yahoo Group (yep the group is related to the above photos Yahoo group), she gave me a Santa bag with a tag that said "Secret Santa" and on the back of the tag it said "Guess Who". I pull the string at the top from it's hat and open it, inside the bag was two candies treat and a tiny pink tea pot ornament with a string that is holding a tea cup. Very cute. See the bottom for the picture



















If you look closely, you can see the pink tea pot and tea cup. Are they cutest! I love it!


















My very sweet and generous kind friend sent me a photo mouse pad of her grandkids (who is such cutie!!), a book Once Upon a Christmas by Holly Jacobs, a thong bookmark (if you notice, the end of each bookmark is a very tiny picture frames attached to it. I can put a small photos in there (very neat!) and last but not least a magnet photos.



















And this is from another Secret Santa from another group (not related to the above photos - Yahoo group) who spoiled me senseless. She sent me a big bag of M&M, few bags of cocoa mixed drink, two Peppermint Bark bar, Borders gift card and a cross thong bookmark. All items are my favorite things, so it was really a great surprise to get these special treats!



















And this is a PJ from my childhood best friend (the older sister). She knew I like to sleep in PJ similar to this one. Isn't it cute and adorable! I love the colors :) She knew me too well !





















And this is a jade stone earring. My friend brought this for me. It's surprise because I didn't expected it coming from her. But I love the earring and worn it all day.




















And this is a pink make-up case set given to me also from my childhood best friend (the other sister). It has everything I needed to put make up on. The small pouch is the one I carry around with me inside my other handbag, including the mirror :)

If you wondering....yes my family did get me something. But I want to keep that private LOL ! *wink*. Thanks so much AGAIN to all my friends for the wonderful gifts!

A Gift / Angela Knitting Socks

I want to post all of my Christmas gifts that was sent to me from my friends, but most pictures are in my memory card and since I don't have the laptop right now -- then I can't load the picture on my laptop to my blog. So, I decided to just post the first gift I received and then show you the rest tomorrow. How that for everyone? Read to see the first gift? *notice - this is not the order in which the gifts delivery to me*

Okay attached are the photo of a Knitting Sock Angela made for me as gift this Christmas. Thanks so much Angela for the amazing and beautiful work you done on the sock. The sock represented "Max Bhagat" who is the FBI Agent from Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooter series. One of my favorite series book of all times. When you take look at the photos, you see the meaning behind the yarns used for this special socks.

Last year, Angela also made me the first knitting socks that represents all the Troubleshooter team of Suzanne Brockmann's book series. The socks were done in military green colors. They were amazing and beautiful done too :)

THANKS so much Angela for the socks! I worn them, I wash them, took care of them and I love them!! It is very soft and comfortable wear :)

You may click images to view it larger





















































More Christmas gifts coming up soon!

No Place Like Home by Margaret Watson

Margaret Watson's website
Publisher: Harlequin
Pub. Date: December 2008
ISBN-13: 9780373782765
Sales Rank: 203,457
320pp










When Bree McInnes was pregnant, she left home to have her baby. And then twelve years later, she return home for only the summer. Hoping to keep low profile from anyone in hometown, she enrolled her smart twelve years old son, Charlie in college after she is hired to work for Professor Parker as his secretary. She tell herself she only risk working in college to get money to pay for the bills. Just only for awhile until she find second job. But things didn't work out that way. Charlie become friend with Professor Parker, who she end up fallen for. And now she wonder if there ever be a chance of relationship between them. After all Parker isn't looking for long term relationship or staying here forever. She afraid their relationship could be over before it even start.

Meanwhile, she try to avoid the chance of Charlie meeting his father, Ted Cross. He denied of being the father and been too caught up being selfish with his plan for the last twelve years, leaving Bree to care for their son on her own. When Ted discover his son existed, he want to met him but Bree put up a protective wall from Ted to keep him away from 'her' son. The son he denied of it existed twelve years ago.

Now Bree life have changed and she have to either accepted it or run away again. Maybe love isn't that simple, but loves have funny way to track her down.

I love the little twelve years old, Charlie. He seem to be the someone you can easily understand his wanting to belong, wanting to be like everyone else and have people to like him for who he is -- not because he smart. And even though he argue with his mom a lot - you can tell their love are special. Just the same way a mother love their children and do anything to protect them. I have to admit sometime Bree can be too over protective - it drive me nuts. I love his interaction with Parker. Charlie was comfortable being around Parker, because he understood Charlie feeling and like the fact that he could talk to Parker about anything -- like man to man. There is romance but I felt that the main focus were about Charlie. We know that Bree and Parker has deep attraction and feeling for each other but there I felt there are few scenes but barely much 'showing'. But sometime I want to knock both of their head for over reacting without thinking.

And even though there were little of what we knew about Bree sisters, I like that they protect each others. We knew a little about their background, but it was written enough to understand their reason to hate their dead father who don't love them but always kept them in public spotlight to his advantages.

No Place Like Home was enjoyable read, about letting go of the past and find love again. It had it sweet and funny moments too. It light romance that made you sigh. Read it, I think you'll enjoy it :)

Grade: B

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This book mark the 49th book I read for the 50 Challenge Book! I just need to read one more books before December 31 hit! Can I make it in 3 days?!?!

Thanksgiving / Christmas Dinner

Before you read this post, you might want to read the post entry below this one first, Then come back here *grin*.

The following pictures are the foods we cooked on Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner at my friend home. Aren't they delicious?! When I told my friend that I'm going to take pictures, she gave me a weird look. Not until I explained to her that I'm going to blog about it, she understood. One thing though, I wish I've pictures of everyone there. My only reason I didn't was because I was too busy with helping out with cooking the foods that I didn't think to take pictures --- just only that "I must take pictures of the foods for my blog", so I thought LOL!

You may click image to view it larger :)


Here is Mr. Turkey, all dressed in "baked" suit *grin*


















Another side of Mr. Turkey


















Sweet Potatoes (or Sweet Yam)


















Cranberries Sauce (still boiling in the pot)


















Green Peas


















Cornbread Dressing


















Green Bean Casserole (my favorite!)


















Rolls


















home-made Apple Pie


















Not shown - The broth juices from the Turkey, pour into the rice

Coming up next soon, is my pictures of the gifts I received this year. And hopefully the book review that I'm currently reading No Place Like Home by Margaret Watson. I've five more days before the end of December to finish up my 50 Books Challenge of the Year. So I'm hoping there be few more book's review up on my blog coming soon too :)

My Christmas Eve/Day

On Christmas Eve, we went to 7:30pm mass on a warm but chilly night. When we got there, the church was already filled with too many people. Because it was crowded I end up having to sit on the pull up chair, at the front of the pew. We watched kids do their Christmas play and then when that done, we started our mass. We got home at 10:30, and I went into my room to read for awhile No Place Like Home by Margaret Watson ( Harlequin SuperRomance), then check emails and blog hopped. At 11:00, I went next door neighbor to help her wrapped up gifts - a gifts that Santa Clause got for her boys *grin*. I took care of their Russian tortoise in the last 5 days until I was to bring it over to my friend's house on Christmas Eve, so that she can put it under tree - a present Santa Clause got them. It took us less times to finish up wrapping the gifts, because my friend have already wrapped most of the other gifts few days ago. But I stay back to have a chat. It must have been a good chat, because when I left to go home it was 2ish AM at midnight. I checked emails again and I must have been too exhausted because I woke up with a start from my seat LOL! I didn't go back to sleep until 5am. I had to wrap up the big surprise present for little brother. He have been driving me nuts about reminding me to get him Xbox game system. There were days, when I just want to give in and tell him that we already brought it for him. But it weren't be surprise if he knew to early, so I kept quiet. I put it under the tree when I was done wrapping it and then went to bed.

Didn't wake up until around 11 in the morning...I was too tired. I knew that little brother didn't open his present, because I strictly wrote a note on the present that he is to wake me up first before he open it. I want to take pictures, that why LOL ! When he did wake me up, he begin to open the present and was really excited. Of course the Xbox system came with two games "Kung Fu Panda" and "Indiana Jones". But he really wanted the Guitar Hero portable, too. And I told him he will get it after Christmas....maybe in New Year. Unfortunately on Dec 26, we went to the store and I decided to buy him the Guitar Hero then, because he just weren't be quiet about it. He kept asking about it and talking about it --- it drive me crazy! growl! LOL! Anyway --- back to where after he woke me up and he just finish opening all the gifts (including everyone else) on Christmas day, and after that we sat around for awhile. We call one of my sister from WA, to thanks her for the gifts she sent to the family. Later, I got on to check emails but didn't stay long because I'm suppose to be over at friend house - helping her cook dinner. I consider them as my family because I grew up with them. Every year, my friend (and her family) and I make plan to have dinner gathering with foods and exchanging gifts. What foods we served for Thanksgiving was also served on Christmas dinner. My friend have already started baking the Turkey around 9 that morning, so what left to do was green bean casserole, sweet potatoes (or sweet yam), cornbread dressing, cranberries sauce, rolls, a broth juices from Mr. Turkey to pour over 'gravy' rice, peas and apple pie (foods photo coming up!). We were done by around 3 but didn't get to eat until around 4. We were waiting for last person to show up before we start eating. Meanwhile, we sat down to chat for awhile until she arrived with her family. But we made sure the foods are still hot and not cool. Some that were already cool, we re-heated it to get it a little warm. When she finally arrived, we passed around the gifts and everyone open their and show it to everyone. The kids especially were too excited to open presents that they didn't whine about being hungry much anymore LOL! After all the gifts were open (photos of presents coming up soon!), we began to eat. OMG it was delicious! By the times I went for my second round of plate, I was ready to call it a quit. I stay a bit behind after everyone left, to help clean up and then watch "Wall-E" with my friend's kids. When I got home it was 10ish. I loaded all the photos into my computer before heading to bed. I passed out asleep and didn't wake up until 12pm the next day LOL!

Beside my wonderful childhood friends at home, I also would like to thanks for all the gifts and cards I received from all of my wonderful friends online, both blogger and Yahoo group email. You guys have been great friends to me and I appreciate the friendship. God bless you!

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!From Our to Your Family !!

Merry Christmas to all my blogger friends! Here wishing Santa bring you all that you want. And may everything you got, bring you surprises, excitement and joy. Have a wonderful times with your family and friends. God bless you!

Lots of hugs!
Love always,

Julia

Second - Chance Family by Karina Bliss

Publisher: Harlequin
Pub. Date: November 2008
ISBN-13: 9780373782697
Sales Rank: 266,751
320pp











Here Blurb:

Just when he has accepted that he'll never be a father, Jack Galloway inherits not one, but three kids. Then he gets the knockout punch.

He's supposed to raise this family with his ex!

And his ex-wife, Rosalind, has her own ideas about parenting. She's already doling out domestic duties, as if he had all the time in the world away from his office. She's also got some crazy notion that, thanks to their unexpected "family", the two of them have been handed a second chance. As if he'll let his heart get broken again.

But the real knockout punch? That part of him that thinks he and Rosalind could fall back in love.

End of Blurb


~~ I really enjoy reading the book. At first, at the beginning I dislike Jack because of his attitude toward the kids after he learn that upon his brother and sister in law death, he is to be a guardians to their 3 kids. But as I kept reading, I understood why he became the way he is. And the emotion that come with it was heartwarming. After he moved in with them and his ex-wife, he began to get more closer to the kids and even care about them. He realized that each children mourn the loss of their parents in different way, and even 'see' how much similar they are to his brother. The kids reaction to their parent death was .... I love how he interacted with all three kids, especially with three year old Cassie and six years old Liam. You can really tell he tried to be the "good" uncle to them. But just not know how to be the guardian his brother want him to be. And then there is ex-wife Roz, who he still try to forget. After his divorce - he kept to himself buried with work to avoid his heart fail again.

~~ I also like Roz, who want to step up and be a guardians to the kids. Even though she never experience being the mom, she just knew the kids is meant to stay with her. Her main focus was on them. She soon realized it wasn't easy to at first, but soon grow too intact with the kids. She want to get Jack involved with the kids life so that he would be willing to have the kids stay and live with them instead of living with their aunt Fee in England. And her loves for her ex-husband, Jack have never stopped. But she is just afraid to tell him in fear he doesn't feel the same.

~~ I fell in love with each kids, even when they grief or acted out in a way kids does when they are mourning. You can feel the emotions that goes through them as you read scenes that break your heart. You get to see point of view between the two main characters as well with the little six years old Liam.

Second Chance Family is about grief, heartwarming, emotional and family. There is romance but the story focus more on the kids and the involvement of two guardians. Also figuring out what the best interested for the kids. It about getting a second chance to have a family again.

Grade: A

2008 Advent Tour

I have the great honor of being one of the bloggers to participate in posting for the Blog Advent Tour and today they're on day 18 of December. I also share the day with two other fellow: Alex of Daemonwolf Books , Leya of Wandeca Reads and Hope Is the Word . Please visit their blogs to see what they have for you on their tour! You may find the complete posters on tour at Kailana from The Written World and Marg from Reading Adventures who is the one organized this wonderful Blog Advent Tour. If you want to participate please sign up, it'll be fun!

During my tour to each participates blog, I have really enjoyed reading about how everyone celebrate Christmas and the fun old and new tradition of celebration. Thanks you for sharing with us :)

First I want to welcome everyone to my blog. And wishing you a Happy Holidays fill with love and joy! It's the season to be with family and friends and celebrate the birth of Jesus. It's also a time to have fun, sing favorite carols, smell the baking cookies and break out all the old and new traditions too.

I came from Vietnam. But it's here, in United State where I was raised. My whole life is involved here in US. From the stories that I have heard from close family, is that in Vietnam we only celebrate the holidays is to attend church and visiting each other houses and having big feast party. It like reunion parties with lot of laugh, joy and fun. That is our traditions in those times. We didn't exchange gifts or put up a Christmas tree then, either. But when I moved to United States (after the Vietnam War), things change so much. I remember my father putting up our first Christmas tree in the apartment we used to live in. Our Foster parent was American who help us get settle and feel at home. They taught us about tradition of Christmas that are celebrate in US. They also told my father about the tree too. I remember as a kid, I saw Santa for first time. He walked into my home and passing out gifts to every members of my family. And he even brought us a tree! I remember being wide eyes, just staring at him the whole times he was there (see our first tree, below). What I've learn about Santa Claus was through my elementary school days. I know there is a photo of me and Santa with my sisters standing behind the tree...somewhere (I can't find it *sigh*...).

Now that we have been in US for nearly 29 + years, not only do we attend church or have a big party and family reunion but we exchange gifts, put up the tree and decorating it together too. It's part of a tradition in my family to do things together. After we had settle down in American soil and made it our home, thing change. We brought a real tree once, and turn it into a snow. But then mom didn't like the hassle of the needles fallen everywhere. So we always have a fake one ever since. Now growing up, I always put my tree up on the first week of December. It's habit of just getting ready for the holidays. Over the last many years, my trees have changed. Yes it's fake trees, and I could reuse it over and over. But we kept wanting a tree that look 'full' and big. But the tree we have now, happen to be our 3rd tree. And we did changed our decoration too. We don't' decorate the tree until all members are there. Otherwise the tree won't get decorated. Ever watch Days of Our Lives when the Horton and the Brandy family get together and each members hang up their own ball ornaments (with their names on it) on the tree? It traditional every years that they do it around Christmas. We do that too. Each person hung their ornaments one at a time. Part of the reason why, if all members of family not there, we don't start until they do. Make it more special and meaning that the ornaments is symbol of each person birth. below is our two trees. Click the image to view it larger :)

This is our first tree, the one Santa Claus sent us
,when we first came to US *grin*















And this is our this year 2008 Christmas tree





















I also want to share with you a new tradition I plan to make every years. I'm given it out as gift to friends and family. When my niece Trish came to live with us, she taught me to make Peppermint Barks candy. It simple and easy to make. And lot of fun. Last year I sent them out to friends and I think they like it :)

Ingredients
1 cup Crushed candy canes (1 bag)
2 bag pounds white chocolate
Peppermint flavorings, optional (Peppermint extract)
1 1/4 a cup of Heavy Cream (don't use alot)

Directions
Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller. Melt the chocolate and Heavy Cream in a double boiler. Combine candy cane chunks with chocolate (add peppermint flavoring at this point if desired.) Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with parchment or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces (like peanut brittle.). Then enjoy! If you plan to sent it out to friends/family the next day, put it back in the fridge until then.

The result (click image to view it larger):













I hope you enjoy your time here and feel right at home. Before I leave you, I want to recommend you a Christmas book that I've read recently. It is The Christmas Train by David Baldacci. Read it, it good, you won't regret it!

I wish everyone a Merriest Christmas and Happy Holidays

Treat and Generosity

Booking Through Thursday

Apparently, there are two part questions for today Booking Through Thursday. So I decided to go ahead and answers them both anyway.

1. Question for Treat :

What is the best book you ever bought for yourself?
And, why? What made it the best? What made it so special?

~~ Hmmm there is so many books that I thought of to be the best book I ever brought for myself. It hard to narrow it down into one best book. It could be a book from Nora Roberts or Suzanne Brockmann. And even Diana Gabaldon. These are my favorite authors. Or even the The Last Spymaster by Gayle Lynds (Darla would agree with me on this book *grin* - It's a wonderful book!). I will just say what make all of these books the best and special is because the authors have written a very well deserved characters that seem real and alive for us to love and to remember them as they should be.


2. Question for Generosity :

Do you give books as gifts?

To everyone? Or only to select people?

How do you feel about receiving books as gifts?

~~ I give books as gifts all the times. On every Birthday or Christmas. Or sometime "It's Just Because....". Normally I would give them the books that I know they'll like ( their favorite genres, topics, hobbies). And sometime I will buy my favorite book and pass it along to friends too. But if I didn't know their favorite genres or interested topic, then I sent gift card instead. I think I give out books to select people who I know love to read. Non-reader (my family) weren't enjoy reading books, no matter how hard I try to get them to. With kids, it easier for me to get them to start on reading books but with adult - you just have to try harder or just given up. I always think, it never too late for kids to learn to read. The younger they learn the easiest it'll be. And they will enjoy reading. So I give books to kids all the times. Especially my friends' kids. And I make sure the books I buy is base on the kids interested topic or hobbies.

I love it when I received books as gifts in the mails (even if it's gift card too!). I get so excited like a kid and break into Happy Snoopy Dance *grin*. I appreciate the thoughts the sender had put in to buy it for me. They knew me too well *grin*. I also love it when the sender wanted to pass and share with me their favorite books as well. I love to read what made the readers/my friends excited over their favorite. I get these gifts all the times. And most of the times, I end up liking it too :)

What about you? Give books as gift? To everyone or select people? And do you like receiving books as gifts?

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays link

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:


Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!


"You're never going to let yourself feel anything for anyone again. If these kids were the von Trapp family from The Sound of Music, you still wouldn't let yourself love them, would you?"

~ from: Second-Chance Family
~ pages 125
~ See cover below...

Line of Scrimmage by Marie Force

Marie Force's website
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Incorporated
Pub. Date: September 2008
ISBN-13: 9781402214240








Susannah Sanderson thought she finally has a peaceful and calm life, especially when she has became engaged to Henry Merrill and is about to marry him in few days. But her soon to be ex-husband Ryan Sanderson walk in unexpectedly to a dinner Susannah was having with her fiance's parents, to talk about their upcoming wedding. Not wanting to remember of their past, she tried to make him leave. But he weren't budge, and is here to stay.

Ryan Sanderson, is a Superstar quarterback with three Superbowl wins under his belt, was sent home due to broken ribs from his last Super Bowl game - which his team had won. During his times with his team, he realize that he love his soon to be ex wife Susannah and decided he want to win her back before she marry her fiance. Knowing that the judge have rule them ten days periods before divorce are final, Ryan knew that he must convince her that he have changed and still love her. He wanted a second chance to prove it.

But as Ryan try to win Susannah heart, their past remind each other of the good things they use to have. Even despite that one devastating horrible times that mean so much to them have break them apart, they try to look past it and start overr.

But Henry, an overly possessed and back stabbing creep, is making it difficult for them both. He fell in love with Susannah and take every chance he got to help pick up the pieces of her life when it begin to shatters due to her separation with Ryan. Henry would find his way to get into her life and manipulate story against Ryan.

With everything that get thrown in between Ryan and Susannah, the author gave us a insight on trust, loves, second chance, marriage and family. I really like Ryan. He is type of characters I normally don't get to read about too often but is one who I would have like to see more. There alot of love scenes, but most are done in a way that would make you just simply sigh. It made me smiles. I thought that Line of Scrimmage is a refreshing book and also sweet and romantic to read. I really did enjoy it. It really one of those, "Don't Judge the book by it's cover" kind of thing. I think it a novel to read!

Grade: 5 stars

It Snow !!!!!!!!

It rarely snow here where I live. But when it does snow, you can bet I be outside playing in it *grin*. I love to see all those white stuff blanking the everything. It make it more winter land and more beautiful.

Imagine my excitement, even when I knew the night before, that it snow! I was really not getting my hope so high when the news said it will snow last night. Because they always say there possible chance it won't snow. Well, my mom woke me up at 6am this morning to tell me it was snowing outside. I got so excited I took my camera out and took pictures. I let the snow fall onto me, and while it fall I started to do Snoopy Stupid Happy Dance! I played outside for while until my hand were numb. I went inside to drink some hot chocolate and then sat down and started to load the pictures into my laptop. As I was on progress of attaching it in email to my sister, I lost every pictures I have taken over the past many years from my memory card. I was so pissed!! Thanks goodness I still have some saved into my computer and Kodak Gallery website. But still, there are some pictures in the memory card that I haven't managed to load into my computer. For minute, I panic because I also lost the pictures with the snow that I took this morning. But then realize I could retrieve it back by going to "sent" folder and reload it back to my computer.

Anyway, here are the pictures of the snow. It was 3.0 inches of snow but even then it looked deep and thick to me when I walk into it. The first batch was taken at 6am in the morning. So you can imagine that it was still a little dark outside. But as the moring begin to light up, so did the neighborhood. Some pictures were taken from front and the back yard. I wish the pictures was bit brighter then this...see pictures below....

Time is of Essence

Booking Through Thursday

1. Do you get to read as much as you WANT to read?
(I’m guessing #1 is an easy question for everyone?)

2. If you had (magically) more time to read–what would you read? Something educational? Classic? Comfort Reading? Escapism? Magazines?

No, I don't always get to read as much as I want to anymore. I find myself having to delay the reading to do others stuff lately, then to just sit comfortable in a chair to read. Or even read late at night in bed as I use to do. Maybe part of the reason is that few months ago I had reading slump. Because of that, it affect the reading mood for me lately. Now that my reading slump it gone, I still find it hard to get back to my reading rhythm. I'm not sure why. I start to read less books for each months now. In many years, as long as I could remember - I have always be reading at any given times. I could be in my room reading for many hours until am done with the books. That took me less then 2-3 days to finish it. And then I go on to the next books. I never stopped for a long period of times before I jump to read another books. I jump to the next book, after next and after next. Now that rhythm isn't going like that anymore. I think maybe I exhausted myself, enough to lose the energy to read like I use to . Hey, after all...I have been reading since I was kid. And now, I'm adult. The next possible reason is that when my niece Trish move in with us, she is always taken me out somewhere three times a weeks. It's been a year since she lived with us and we get into habit of just gone somewhere (mall, grocery shopping, movies, restaurant..etc). So I started to read less. Which explain why my 50 Challenge Books reading is less each months. Now that she had moved back home, I'm trying to get back to my reading. And so far I think it working...keep your finger crossed!

To answer the second questions, If I had more time to read then I would like to re-read my old favorite books. Especially those that are part of an on going series books. I'm a huge fan of reading series books, because I like to visit old favorite characters, and remember them as if they're fresh in my mind. Sometime when there an upcoming books releasing, I get into habit of re-reading the previous books so that I be refresh of the books before I start reading the latest one. Because of the situation, mention above, I don't get the times to re-read old favorite books anymore. But I'm hoping to change all that and make the times to do re-read...unless if that going to delay my reading other books that are new and waiting for me to read from my TBR pile

How about you? Ever have the time to read as much as you want? And if you had the time, what would you read?

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

A surprise Mails !

Yesterday on December 8th of Monday, I got two nice little surprises in my mailbox (came in at the same times!) from my two dear friends who I'm so glad they're in my bloggie 'life'. They're such a wonderful people, that I cherish our friendship.

First, Melody from Melody's Reading Corner sent me a book MEET DELANEY by Jackie Mahaney. It one of the book she have recently reviewed. And since I said I'm interested in reading it, she decided to give it to me. She also sent me a very nice Christmas card too. Thanks so much for thinking of me, Melody! I promise I read it soon and review it :)

Secondly, I also got Christmas card from Alice of Hello, My Name Is Alice . Inside the card were two set of "Fancy Magnetic Bookmarks". It's a magnet bookmarks that clip on the top edge of the book pages to hold your place in reading. Just open the flap and clip it to the pages. Pretty neat. Including inside on the card, she wrote that she sent me a gift card to Amazon too! Thanks so much Alice, for everything!

I love it! I will cherish the gifts and the Christmas card from you guys! It's always the small things that mean so much more! You guys are one of the best! *HUGS!*

Pictures below :

This is the book and the Christmas card, Melody sent me






















This is the 2 magnetic bookmarks and Christmas card, Alice sent me
Not Shown: Amazon gift card



















I thought it help to take closer look at the magnetic bookmarks.
See the magnetic inside?