My Little Pocketbooks: 2012   
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Sunday, December 30, 2012

2012 Wrap Up

Can you believe 2012 is over?  Wow!
And this is my first ever year in review wrap up post here at My Little Pocketbooks.  I thought I would do a post about my first year as a book blogger.  I loved every minute of it and I have learned so much along the way too.  Yes!  Blogging is a learning process.  I'm for one, much more organized and focus about my blog than I was at the beginning of the year.  See what I mean?  
Well here is a few great highlights from my first year with My Little Pocketbooks.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

My Bookish Resolution for 2013

As you all know, since I have been book blogging my book hoarding has gotten a little bit out of control.  I have one long book case in my living room that I like to have filled with books.  But as of June this year, the bookcase is overflowing and I now have medium size shipping boxes of books in various places around the house.  It didn't not help that my mother practically demanded I take several bags of books out of her garage and my childhood room as well.  Some of them I still haven't read after they've sat for years collecting dust.  Basically, I forgot about them!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Review: Merry Christmas Alex Cross

Merry Christmas Alex Cross
Author: James Patterson
Genre: Crime
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Release Date: November 12, 2012
Audiobook: 6 hours and 8 minutes
Narrator: Michael Boatman (Narrator), Stephen Kunken (Narrator), Cristin Milioti (Narrator)

Source: Purchased from Audible.com
Buy the Book: Amazon.com

2013 Reading Challenges

It's time everyone, to start planning out your reading challenges.  To tell you the truth, I started planning on my 2013 Reading Challenges in June of 2012.  No really!  I love them so much and there are so many great challenges out there that I want to try them all.  Around June I was browsing through A Novel Challenge and I came across several challenges that I thought I could try for 2013.  Now it is 6 months later and I am soo pumped (I couldn't think of another word)!  A few new challenges to add to all the same challenges from last year.
HERE is my 2012 Reading Challenge Wrap-up Post. 

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Review: Resonance

Resonance
Author: A.J. Scudiere
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Skyboat Productions
Release Date: November 20, 2008
Audiobook: 16 hours and 19 minutes
Narrator: Stefan Rudnicki (Narrator), Carrington MacDuffie (Narrator), Paul Boehmer (Narrator), Gabrielle De Cuir (Narrator), David Birney (Narrator), Rosalyn Landor (Narrator), Arte Johnson (Narrator)

Source: From the Publishing Company
Buy the Book: Amazon.com

Friday, December 21, 2012

Quicky Reviews #6

I have three new audiobooks I want to review before the end of the year that aren't going to count toward any challenges and they are really short. Here are a few sentences on these short (about 2 hours or less) stories. I think this will be the last one for 2012.  Below are the links to the other Quicky Reviews 

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Holiday Pocketbooks

Now that it is holiday time, the party invites and holiday travel have begun. If you are like me and like to dress up for holiday parties but don't have the cash to spend, try my little secret.
1. Get your best solid color outfit. 
A red dress that hugs your curves.  Your little black dress that you rock so effortlessly. Or your stand-by dressy jeans and cute blouse.  

2.  Add heels.  High heels always make an outfit go from cute to chic.

3.  Rock a purse with some bling bling.  That's right!  It's the holidays and it's time to sparkle.  If you want to make one purchase this year for yourself that is a "WANT" not a "NEED", get a shinny handbag to take it up a notch.  
Your curvy red dress and a gold clutch.  PERFECT!
Your little black dress and a silver handbag.  CLASSIC!
Your dressy jeans and blouse with a glitter wristlet.  EDGY!
Here are a few, I ran across on polyvore.com

Monday, December 17, 2012

Stacking The Shelves #26

 
Hosted & created by Tynga's Reviews This post is my weekly update about the shiny new books I have bought (I know I need to stop buying them), won (I love to enter giveaways) or received from authors or others. As well as purses I buy or receive, of course! Click the photo to go to Amazon.com or Goodreads.com to read more about the books or to purchase a copy.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Quicky Reviews #5

I have two more e-books that I want to review before the end of the year that aren't going to count toward any challenges and they are really short. I thought a sentence or two might do and so Quicky Reviews was born. 
I think this will be the last one for 2012. 
Below are the links to the other Quicky Reviews

Monday, December 10, 2012

Review: The Paris Wife

The Paris Wife
Author: Paula McLain
Genre: Biographical Fiction
Publisher:  Random House Audio
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Audiobook:  11 hours and 27 minutes
Narrator: Carrington MacDuffie

Source:  Audible.com
Buy the Book:  Amazon.com

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Quicky Reviews #4

I have a few more books and audiobooks that I want to review that aren't going to count toward any challenges. They are really short. I thought a sentence or two might do and so Quicky Reviews was born.

There are just some books you can sum up in a sentence or two!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Review: The Bonesetter's Daughter

The Bonesetter's Daughter
Author:  Amy Tan
Genre: Fiction
Publisher:  Ballantine Books
Release Date:  January 29, 2002
Paperback:  416 pages

Source:  From my bookshelf
Buy the Book:  Amazon.com

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Love it! 2012

After 50+ books (it's December 7 and I am still reading) I have to let you all know about the books that received top hours from me.  I know everyone has a list of books 2012 best so I am just jumping in to add my to cents.  
As of today (I have three books to read this month) I have 6 books that are labeled "LOVE IT!".  The 6 have a few things in common.  Unique plots, amazing characters, and of course captivating writing.  These books are what I consider a 100% page turner.  I think all of them had me up way passed my bedtime and all of them made me sad when I finished it.  
So, if you ask me for a book recommendation I will tell you to start with this list.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

2012 Reading Challenge Wrap Up

I have completed my first year of Reading Challenges.  YEAH!!
For 2012, I signed up for a few great challenges and of course I made sure they cross referenced themselves .  You know the Audiobook Challenge and the POC Challenge was easy to cross.  All I had to do is listen to an audiobook by a person of color.  Or the Dusty Bookshelf and the TBR Reading Challenge.  All I had to do is read a book off of my bookshelf.  Easy!  Right!  So here is the breakdown on what I read and how I did on the challenges.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Review: Ready Player One

Ready Player One
Author: Ernest Cline
Genre:  Science Fiction, YA
Publisher:  Random House Audio
Release Date:  August 16, 2011
Audiobook:  15 hours 47 minutes
Narrator:  Wil Wheaton

Source: Audible.com
Buy the Book:  Amazon.com

Monday, December 3, 2012

Quicky Reviews #3

I have a few more books and audiobooks that I want to review that aren't going to count toward any challenges.  They are really short.  I thought a sentence or two might do and so Quicky Reviews was born.  
There are just some books you can sum up in a sentence or two!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Book Blast: Keegan's Chronicles

Keegan's Chronicles Trilogy Set
Books 1-3
Coexist: Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends--she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.  In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rourk's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.  

Conflicted:  Keegan, is only alive now due to Black Magic, and her bond with her Chosen is broken. She cannot remember Rourk at all.  For the first time, she feels like a normal teenager. She is dating Donald, her long-time crush, and everything seems perfect. But Rourk still feels their bond, and despairs for the woman he was always meant to love.  Keegan's best friend Anna is determined to find a way to use her powers to return Keegan's bond, no matter what it takes. The question is does Keegan even want it?

Consumed:  Keegan has dealt with a lot over the last two years: Death, black magic and the loss of her bond to her chosen mate. But on her eighteenth birthday, the bond with Rourk returns.  Now, Keegan faces her hardest decision. Tradition requires elves marry at eighteen. If she accepts the path laid out for her, she will be spared a lifetime of physical and emotional pain. But will that life ever really be her own?

Monday, November 26, 2012

Quicky Reviews #2

Here are another few short story that I have read this year.  These are not going towards any challenge but I thought I would just let you know what I thought about them.  If you didn't catch my last one click the link and read my first Quicky Reviews #1. This is kind of cleaning house for all the books I have read this year.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Quicky Reviews #1

I have a few books and audiobooks I want to review before the end of the year.  They aren't going to count toward any challenges.  They are really short.  I thought a sentence or two might do and so Quicky Reviews was born.  
There are just some books you can sum up in a sentence or two!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Book In the Spotlight & Giveaway: Libera Me

Welcome to the Virtual Blog Tour for LIBERA ME, Book #2 in the Requiem Series by Christine Fonseca.

Beginning after Lacrimosa and the short story Mea Culpa, Libera Me follows Zane and Aydan as they try to figure out who Nessa really is. Here's the blurb:

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Guest Post from K. A. Tucker

Today I am still playing catch up and posting this post form the author K.A Tucker a day late. K.A. Tucker is the author of Allegiance: Causal Enchantment #3 and is on tour with SupaGurl Book Tours. Here is a little about the book and the author.
Allegiance

3rd Annual Gratitude Giveaways Blog Hop



Welcome to the 3rd Annual Gratitude Giveaways Blog Hop
Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

November 15th to 25th 
It's that time of year that some of us start reflecting, meditating and just thinking about what we are grateful for.  I am thankful for sooo many things.  My family, my job (that I love), my health and the health of the ones I love. 

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

October Winner's!

Winner Winner Let's Eat Dinner!!
  It's the last day of the month and here at My Little Pocketbooks that means it's time to announce the winners of all the giveaways.  With all the giveaways starting and stopping it's soo much easier to just do one winner post a month.  Let me first say a big THANK YOU to all you for stopping by, commenting, following and entering the giveaways!  I can't believe I now have over 1,000 twitter followers. 
So now on to the October winners.  There were a total of 5 giveaways this month and 7 winners.  Congratulations goes out to a ton of people...

OOPPSSSS!!! What's going on?

Hey everyone.  I just wanted to take a minute from my crazy busy life to let you all know that I am still here and thinking about you and the blog.  I just have been burning the candle at both ends.  It was not intentional at all.  I just woke up one day and realized 3 weeks (almost a month) had passed and I was neglecting a few million things. 

Monday, November 5, 2012

Review: A Discovery of Witches

A Discovery of Witches
Genre: YA Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Books
Release Date: December 27, 2011
Paperback:  592 Pages

Source:  Won from Eugenia @ Eugenia Writes!
Buy the Book:  Amazon

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Sunday Best #25

This is a great new weekly linky started by Tanya at Girlxoxo.com
Every Sunday, we are going to share the best post on our blogs from the week and link them up. Join us in showing off your Sunday Best and leave a comment or two.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Operation TBR Reduction: October's Report

Operation TBR Reduction Button
Just in case you haven't heard of this amazing Challenge.  It is only for book hoarders.  Which I know I am the only one here that is.  Right?  Right!  
Operation TBR Reduction was created and is hosted by Stephanie at Once Upon a Chapter to reduce the number of books current in her/my/our houses.  
Whatever comes in...more has to go out!

Happy Halloween

May your Halloween be
scary, fun full of a few tricks and tons of treats!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Stacking the Shelves #25

 
Hosted & created by Tynga's Reviews This post is my weekly update about the shiny new books I have bought (I know I need to stop buying them), won (I love to enter giveaways) or received from authors or others. As well as purses I buy or receive, of course! Click the photo to go to Amazon.com or Goodreads.com to read more about the books or to purchase a copy.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Review: Mockingjay

Mockingjay
Author:  Suzanne Collins
Genre: YA Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Publisher:  Scholastic Press
Release Date: August 24, 2010
Hardcover: 400 pages
Series:  Book 3 (The Hunger Games)

Source: I won it from Alexis @Reflections of a Bookaholic
Buy the Book: Amazon

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Sunday Best # 24

This is a great new weekly linky started by Tanya at Girlxoxo.com
Every Sunday, we are going to share the best post on our blogs from the week and link them up. Join us in showing off your Sunday Best and leave a comment or two.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Scary Cover Love

It's Halloween time.  
I love like Halloween just as much as I love Christmas and Thanksgiving but for completely different reasons.  I think I like the scare of Halloween along with the dress up...of course.  Wait!  I love the dress up way more than the scare.  Anyways, I thought I would feature a few book covers that scream SCARRY!!   
 To me the best covers have little to them but say a lot.  What do you think of these book covers?  Do they bring on the scare?  Click on the covers to go to the Amazon store. 

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Book in the Spotlight & Giveaway: Against My Will

Against My Will by Benjamin BerkleyAgainst My Will
Author:  Benjamin Berkley  
Publisher: Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc.,
Release Date: September 1, 2012
Genre: Fiction, Relationships, Abuse, Romance, Holocaust, Suspense 
Book Description:

AGAINST MY WILL is the life changing novel about Danielle, a victim of marital abuse, who finds the strength to leave her husband and pursue a career in law.
Danielle Landau knows she should feel lucky, but she can’t feel anything but dread. Not only did she pass the New York Bar, but she married the man her father says is just right for her and lives in a fashionable new loft in Queens. But the man who seems like the perfect catch is a perfect nightmare at home. Jacob tries to control her career, her daily routine, and even what she eats. He ignores her desires and belittles her every chance he gets. Soon, Danielle doesn’t recognize her husband or herself, and she struggles to find a way out.
Danielle tries to talk to her father but he dismisses her marital problems.  But she can confide in her Nana Rose, a Holocaust survivor who lost her entire family at the hands of the Nazis. Rose helped raise Danielle and her brother when their mother died when Danielle was only three.  Having faced death, Rose is Danielle’s source of security.  But while Danielle holds on to the fragile belief that her father’s prince charming will change, she is raped by her husband on the night of their one year wedding anniversary.
Now, Danielle has to escape.  And with the help of her beloved Nana, Danielle moves across the country and starts to rebuild her life. But will she be able to escape her past? And when one of her clients finds herself in the same terrible situation, will Danielle have the strength to help her?
As we follow Danielle on her journey of terror and recovery, we see her story intersect with the diary entries of her Nana as a young girl held captive in a concentration camp.  The entries begin with Rose waking up in a hospital after the liberation of the Mauthausen Concentration Camp.    Graphically she recounts the train ride to the camp and the emotional separation of her from her family upon arrival.    And the full weight of the family’s secrets becomes clear. This is a story of survival, self-discovery, justice, and ultimately, it’s about love.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Stacking the Shelves #24

 
Hosted & created by Tynga's Reviews This post is my weekly update about the shiny new books I have bought (I know I need to stop buying them), won (I love to enter giveaways) or received from authors or others. As well as purses I buy or receive, of course! Click the photo to go to Amazon.com or Goodreads.com to read more about the books or to purchase a copy.

Book Blast & Giveaway: The Emerald Talisman

The Emerald Talisman Audio Book by Brenda Pandos  

Read by Mary Morgan
You can run from your destiny, but you can't hide.  If for no other reason than to help endure the hormonal rush of high school, sixteen year-old Julia Parker would trade her ability to feel her fellow students' emotions in a heartbeat, especially half the boys in class.
When the beguiling Nicholas uses his superhuman strength to rescue Julia from the edge of a cliff before she's devoured by a bloodthirsty stalker, Julia is suddenly thrust into an underground world where people and animals are often one and the same. Fellow high school students disappear and only Julia and Nicholas know the truth. While Nicholas, a vampire hunter, is out stopping the ever-growing coven, an old friend entices Julia to join him on the dark side and a psychic tells Julia she alone is the key to stopping the madness, problem is it'll require Nicholas' life. 

Monday, October 22, 2012

Review: The Eleventh Plague

The Eleventh Plague
Author: Jeff Hirsch
Genre: Dystopia, Teen, Science Fiction
Publisher:  Scholastic Audio
Release Date:  September 1, 2011
Audiobook: 7 hours and 3 minutes
Narrator: Dan Bittner

Source:  Free from Audiobooksync.com
Buy the Book:  Amazon

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Sunday Best #23

This is a great new weekly linky started by Tanya at Girlxoxo.com
Every Sunday, we are going to share the best post on our blogs from the week and link them up. Join us in showing off your Sunday Best and leave a comment or two.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Pocketbooks for Your Costume

Etsy $62.00
I love Halloween for all the wrong reasons.  Dress up is number one!  I would dress up in a fun (sometimes sexy) costume everyday if I could afford it and get away with it at work.  I mean there are so many creative, fun, (extremely) weird costumes out there that it is so hard to just pick one a year.  My next, favorite reason for loving Halloween is CANDY!  I have a serious sweet tooth and this is the time of the year for it!  But this is not the blog!  
We all need a purses for keys, ID, money, makeup, gum, phone, etc....  You get the picture.  So here are a few helpful ideas about your costumes ladies, for that night out on All Hallow's Eve.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Book in the Spotlight: The Betrayal


The Betrayal 
Author: Sheila Hendrix
Release Date:  December 24, 2011
Buy the Book: (Amazon)
Book Description
When Zachariah and Matthew McCannon were young, their parents abandoned them, leaving Zack to take care of his little brother, Matt. Though they lived with their grandmother, she was always sick, so Zack was forced to raise him. This was not an easy task.
Zack had his hands full because of Matt’s unusual powers. He has visions and dreams that come true, and when he gets angry or upset, he can move things with his mind. Because of this, evil seeks him, keeping Zack on his toes as his protector.
As the brothers grew older, they became hunters, pursuing evil supernatural forces. After Matthew has a dream, it sends them on a hunt for cave, not knowing why, but realizing it is necessary. When they arrive, Matt finds the vision was a trap.
A Darkness like no other wants to control Matt and kill Zack. The Darkness is named, Alanya, which means, The Destroyer.
Alanya hates the brothers. In the past, every time he tried to apprehend Matt, Zack would thwart him by protecting his brother. Alanya is incensed that a mere human boy can beat him, for demons are not to be defied.
When Alanya asks Zack, “How far will you go to save your brother?” Zack answers, “As far as I have to.”
Now, the brothers are faced with a deadly force they never had to deal with before. This demon is on a deadly mission to destroy everything the brothers hold dear. If the McCannon’s are not careful, neither of them will be able to escape.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Stacking the Shelves #23

 
Hosted & created by Tynga's Reviews This post is my weekly update about the shiny new books I have bought (I know I need to stop buying them), won (I love to enter giveaways) or received from authors or others. As well as purses I buy or receive, of course! Click the photo to go to Amazon.com or Goodreads.com to read more about the books or to purchase a copy.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Review: The Four Agreements

The Four Agreements
Author:  Don Miguel Ruiz
Genre:  Self Help
Publisher:  Amber-Allen Publishing
Release Date: January 15, 2001
Hardcover:  152 pages

Source:  Borrowed from a friend about 2 years ago.
Buy the Book: Amazon

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Sunday Best #22

This is a great new weekly linky started by Tanya at Girlxoxo.com
Every Sunday, we are going to share the best post on our blogs from the week and link them up. Join us in showing off your Sunday Best and leave a comment or two.