Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews (Review)

Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

Blue Christmas is the third book in Mary Kay Andrews Savannah series.  Whether it's the Christmas Season or not you'll be in the Christmas Spirit by the time you finish reading this!  If you're looking for a light, quick read this one is perfect!  It will warm your heart & make you laugh!  With the Historic Districts Christmas Decorations Contest coming up, the competing shop owners the way & a mysterious visitor Weezie is at her wits end!  Oh & of course there's always the family get to together to look forward to!

Visit Mary Kay Andrews blog to learn more about her Savannah series & other books! http://www.marykayandrews.com/blog/index.asp?id=home

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Book Fun Q&A

Time for a little fun!  A questionnaire all about books!  I stumbled upon this on Jillian's Random Ramblings blog, who stumbled upon it on Amelia's Leave Your Eyes Behind blog.  Now for the fun!

1. Book next to your bed right now:  Broad Street by Pat Conroy (read), Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz (read), Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews (finished reading last night, look for the review coming soon) & Gus the Great by Thomas W. Duncan (reading now).  I know...time to clean my nightstand off!

2. Favorite series:  Honestly I have at least 5 favorite series, so this is tough!  Umm...I'm gonna go with the Hannibal series by Thomas Harris.

3. Favorite book:  I know this question was meant to be in the plural sense, because there is no way I can only pick just one!

4. The one book you would have with you if stranded on a desert island:  Again I know this question was meant to be in the plural sense!  So, off the top of my head I have to say How I Left the Great State of Tennessee & Went On To Better Things by Joe Jackson.

5. Book/series you would take with you on a long flight:  I would take one of my TBR shelf...Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews.

6. Worst book you were made to read in school:  O.k. don't shoot me, but it has to be A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.  Couldn't even finish it!

7. Book that everyone should be made to read in school:  Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns.  The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (I had to read it in school & it was by far my favorite of all the "made to read" books.  Not sure if it's still mandatory or not.)

8. Book that everyone should read, period:  Again this should be plural tense.  The Bearded Lady by Sharlee Dieguez, The Honkytonk Man & Children of the Dust both by Clancy Carlile, The Water is Wide by Pat  Conroy.  O.k. I'll stop there!

9. Favorite character:  Stephanie & Grandma Muzar from Evanovich's Plum series.  Izzy from Lisa Lutz Spellman series.  Eloise from Mary Kay Andrews Savannah series.

10. Best villain:  Hannibal Lecter of course!  Who else!?

11. Favorite concept book/series:  Because this is one of my most newly discovered favorites I'll say the Savannah series by Mary Kay Andrews.  The main character is a "junker" (yard sale goer, thrift store shopper, auction addict, etc.) which I love myself!  Plus the stories take place in Savannah, GA. which I love going to!

12. Favorite invented world:  Time for a crony answer!  These aren't exactly "invented" but, I love the world in Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen & the world in Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil  by John Berendt.

13. Most beautifully written book:  Again with the singular sense!?  Off the top of my head The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy.  His words create such vivid imagery!  

14. Funniest book/series:  I have two.  Again Evanovich's Plum series & Lutz's Spellman series.

What do you think?  Answer & pass this along!  Anyone who does I would love to read your answers, so be sure to let me know!

Final Award...Last But Not Least...

Beautiful Blogger Award given to me by Missie at Unread Reader.  Thank you so much!!!  Now for the rules of this one...

1. Thank and link to the person that gave you the award
2. Pass the award onto 15 bloggers you've recently discovered and think are fantastic
3. Contact said Blogs and let them know they've won
4. State 7 things about yourself

Oh boy!  Another list!  lol  O.k...here goes!

1. I LOVE to read!  (Bet you couldn't have figured that one out!)
2. I love music of all kinds.
3. I love thrifting, junking, auctions, yard sales, etc.
4. Most of my favorite movies were made between the 60's & 70's.
5. I have 3 sons (a set of twins.)
6. Though I enjoy some best selling authors I tend to read more older books than I do new.
7. I have an online store called My Book Barn (hence the blog name.) 

Now to pass this on...

• Marilyn at MidcenturyMarilyn
• Til We Read Again
• Walls That Talk
• Elaine at Mikes Sporting Goods
• The Postcard Emorium
• Trillian Books
• Linda at Eccentric Thrifter
• Jeanne at A Cup of Tea & A Cozy For Me
• Deb at Debs Great Finds Crafty Side
• Greg at The New Dork Review of Books
• Book Bitch Blog
• Book Plate Junkie
• Vintage Rose Collectibles
• Jillian at Random Ramblings
• Jan at Shabby Bags

The Lovely Blog Award

My second award I need to pass along!  I received this Lovely Blog Award from Missie at Unread Reader & Chasity at LLL808.  Thank you both so much!  

The rules are:
•Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
•Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
•Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award. 

I pass this one on to...

• Marilyn at MidcenturyMarilyn
• Til We Read Again
• Walls That Talk
• Elaine at Mikes Sporting Goods
• The Postcard Emorium
• Trillian Books
• Linda at Eccentric Thrifter
• Jeanne at A Cup of Tea & A Cozy For Me
• Deb at Debs Great Finds Crafty Side
• Greg at The New Dork Review of Books
• Book Bitch Blog
• Book Plate Junkie
• Vintage Rose Collectibles
• Jillian at Random Ramblings
• Jan at Shabby Bags

Passing Along My Recent Blog Award

Recently I've been lucky enough to receive a couple different blog awards from fellow bloggers.  A great BIG Thank You to those that gave them to me!!!  There are a few things I'm supposed to do after receiving said awards, so here goes!  This award is...

I received this award first from Emidy at Une Parole & then from Jeanne C. at A Cup of Tea & A Cozy For Me.  Both great blogs by the way, so be sure to check them out!  I now have to post 10 things that make me happy & pass this award on to 10 other bloggers.  My 10 things...

1. Reading
2. Books   
3. Reading 
4. Books  

What!?  It didn't specify it had to be 10 different things! lol  O.k. here's the real list...

1. Books/Reading
2. Family/Friends
3. Mountain Dew

(a girl's gotta have caffeine!)

4.   Music        

            5.  Going to book store

6.  Blogging      

7.  Our 2 dogs  

8.  Spring time   

                           9.  Being around the river or ocean

                10.  Playing cards with family.

Now to pass this award on.  I'm going to pass this award on to...

• Missie at The Unread Reader
• Book Lovers Delight
• Chasity at 808 Twilighters
• Michelle at 2 Many Good Books 2 Little Time
• Jillian at Random Ramblings
• Wendy at Quillfeather
• MyMomsBooks at DSRS of Our Lives
• Heather at All Ruby Cakes
• Sara at Along For the Ride
• Alyce at At Home With Books

Now recipient must post their award on their blog mentioning the person that gave it to them.  Then they must pass it on to 10 others & leave a comment on each of their blogs to let them know that they have won.  You must also post 10 things that make you happy. 

The Spellmans Are Out For Revenge!

Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Everyone beware!  The Spellmans are out for Revenge!  The third book in the Spellman series by Lisa Lutz.  This one does not disappoint!  All the good stuff wrapped up under one cover...funny, entertaining & a quick read!  If you haven't read my previous reviews regarding the other Spellman books I recommend them to all Evanovich fans!  Though they do have a few differences they are easily comparable & just as good as the Plum series.  The spellmans have quickly became a part of my favorite "book families".

Here's a quick overview about the Spellman series books for those of you who missed my previous reviews (links to those are below).  The Spellmans own a P.I. business (family owned & operated).  Run by Mom, Dad, David (brother who does not work with them), Rae (the younger sister who works with them) & Izzy the main character who also (obviously) works with her parents.  There are more quirky, fun characters that you will meet throughout the books & will come to love.  So, if you haven't, pick up Lutz's book & you will quickly find yourself caught up in Izzy's obsessive case investigations, her bad luck & all of her families hilarious happenings!  Oh, & did I mention the family loves to blackmail each other!?  As odd as it may sound I know it will keep you laughing out loud!



Here's the link to my review of the first Spellman book.  The Spellman Files.
Here's the link to my second book review.  Curse of the Spellmans.

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80's Teen Heartthrob Corey Haim Passed Away

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Though it may not come as a surprise to a lot of you it's still non-the-less a sad event.  80's teen heartthrob Corey Haim passed away this morning at age 38.  Police say it looks like an apparent drug overdose, though they cannot be sure until the autopsy is done.  Anyone who has seen his & the "Other Corey's" TV show The Two Corey's which starred both Haim & Corey Feldman, probably caught a glimpse of Haim's continuing struggle with drugs.  

Both Haim & Feldman were popular 80's teen heartthrobs & yes, I was one of those with a crush on Haim.  You may remember him for some of his movies, most notably The Lost Boys & License to Drive (both movies starring Haim & Feldman).  Haim was also known for his roles in Murphy's Romance (which also starred Sally Field & James Garner) & Lucas (also starring Kerri Green & Charlie Sheen, was also Winona Ryder's first feature film role).  Both two of my favorite movies.  

A sad time!  I'm sure he'll be missed by many & especially those of us who had his posters hanging on our bedroom walls!  I admit...I was one of them! ; )