Tree Swing Reading

Winners

Congrats to these winners:

Winner of The Inheritance: Sandra Jensen

Winner of The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper: Katherine

Alphabet Soup: Letter Z

Alphabet Soup Giveaway is back!

Here are the rules:

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: of the books that have been offered in this giveaway series, which would you like a chance to win? In other words, of the list below, which book would you most like to win?

c. Enter on or before September 3, winner will be drawn September 4.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Here are you choices. Post a comment with your top choice and if your name is drawn, you will get that book. 

A: Deadline by Randy Alcorn

B: James Scott Bell: Sins of the Fathers

C: Abomination by Colleen Coble

D: Watching the Tree Limbs by Mary DeMuth

E: SAHM I Am by Meredith Efken

F: Dogwood by Chris Fabry

G: Finders Fee by Alton Gansky

H: The Will of Wisteria by Denise Hildreth

I: Women's Intuition by Lisa Samson

J: Riven by Jerry Jenkins

K: Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen

L: Hip to Be Square and Altar Call by Hope Lyda

M: Solemnly Swear by Nancy Moser

N: Butterfly Farm by Diane Noble

O: Fossil Hunter by John B. Olson

P: Another Way Home by Christa Parrish

Q: Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilts series 1-3. The book includes: The Quilter's Apprentice, Round Robin, and Cross-Country Quilters

R: Reedeming Love by Francene Rivers

S: Just as I Am and Sincerely, Mayla by Virginia Smith

T: Sky Blue by Travis Thrasher

U: Unspoken by Angela Hunt

V: Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent

W: Field of Blood by Eric Wilson

X: The Inheritance by Tamera AleXander

Y: The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathellen Y'Barbaro

 

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: of the books that have been offered in this giveaway series, which would you like a chance to win? In other words, of the list below, which book would you most like to win?

c. Enter on or before September 3, winner will be drawn September 4.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Here are you choices. Post a comment with your top choice and if your name is drawn, you will get that book. 

A: Deadline by Randy Alcorn

B: James Scott Bell: Sins of the Fathers

C: Abomination by Colleen Coble

D: Watching the Tree Limbs by Mary DeMuth

E: SAHM I Am by Meredith Efken

F: Dogwood by Chris Fabry

G: Finders Fee by Alton Gansky

H: The Will of Wisteria by Denise Hildreth

I: Women's Intuition by Lisa Samson

J: Riven by Jerry Jenkins

K: Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen

L: Hip to Be Square and Altar Call by Hope Lyda

M: Solemnly Swear by Nancy Moser

N: Butterfly Farm by Diane Noble

O: Fossil Hunter by John B. Olson

P: Another Way Home by Christa Parrish

Q: Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilts series 1-3. The book includes: The Quilter's Apprentice, Round Robin, and Cross-Country Quilters

R: Reedeming Love by Francene Rivers

S: Just as I Am and Sincerely, Mayla by Virginia Smith

T: Sky Blue by Travis Thrasher

U: Unspoken by Angela Hunt

V: Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent

W: Field of Blood by Eric Wilson

X: The Inheritance by Tamera AleXander

Y: The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathellen Y'Barbaro

 

Alphabet Soup Giveaway: Letter X

Alphabet Soup Giveaway is back!

Here are the rules:

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: X is for who knows what! How about Xciting! What's something xciting you're doing today? (Yes, I know that's not how you really spell exciting, work with me here.)

We are excited about going to school to register and find out who my girls have for teachers this coming year. I'm really nervous for my second grader who is shy and sensitive and needs a kind-hearted teacher.

c. Enter on or before August 26, winner will be drawn August 27.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

I don't have any author's whose last name starts with an X. So I picked one with an X in her name. The book is Inheritance by Tamara AleXander.

Description:

Desperate for a fresh start, McKenna Ashford accepts her cousin's invitation and moves west with her rebellious younger brother to the not-so-quaint mountain town of Copper Creek, Colorado. She arrives only to find that life there is far from what she expects. Having practically raised Robert on her own, McKenna is burdened both with her failure as a parent and her deep conviction to not let her brother throw his life away. Trusting has never come easily for her--especially in issues of the heart--and that inability to trust is put to test when she meets U.S. Marshal Wyatt Caradon.

After years on the trail, Marshal Wyatt Caradon finds himself at a crossroads. He's brought countless men to justice, but he questions what lasting good his life has accomplished. When his path intersects that of young Robert Ashford, Wyatt glimpses himself, years ago, in the boy's pride and arrogance. He also sees a boy without a firm hand in his life. His well-meant attempt to help Robert brings him face-to-face with the one situation he never wanted to encounter--and the one woman who holds the key to helping him find his future.

Set against the rich, untamed backdrop of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, The Inheritance is the first historical from WOMEN OF FAITH FICTION, and is a journey that explores the depth and breadth of a parent's love, the inherent risk in learning to trust, and the cost of laying down your life for one you love.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book very much! I was emotionally connected to both Wyatt and McKenna and their journeys toward each other and toward faith.  I really appreciated the reminders about how important our eternal inheritance is.

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: X is for who knows what! How about Xciting! What's something xciting you're doing today? (Yes, I know that's not how you really spell exciting, work with me here.)

We are excited about going to school to register and find out who my girls have for teachers this coming year. I'm really nervous for my second grader who is shy and sensitive and needs a kind-hearted teacher.

c. Enter on or before August 26, winner will be drawn August 27.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

I don't have any author's whose last name starts with an X. So I picked one with an X in her name. The book is Inheritance by Tamara AleXander.

Description:

Desperate for a fresh start, McKenna Ashford accepts her cousin's invitation and moves west with her rebellious younger brother to the not-so-quaint mountain town of Copper Creek, Colorado. She arrives only to find that life there is far from what she expects. Having practically raised Robert on her own, McKenna is burdened both with her failure as a parent and her deep conviction to not let her brother throw his life away. Trusting has never come easily for her--especially in issues of the heart--and that inability to trust is put to test when she meets U.S. Marshal Wyatt Caradon.

Alphabet Soup Giveaway: Letter W

Alphabet Soup Giveaway is back!

Here are the rules:

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: W is for wisdom. What's one of your favorite wise sayings?

Here's one my brother always says to me: "It's how you look at the events of life, not the events of life themselves."

c. Enter on or before August 22, winner will be drawn August 23.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Today' book is by Eric Wilson. It is Field of Blood, the first book in the Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy.

Description:

Judas hung himself in a place known as the Akeldama or Field of Blood.

But what if his death didn’t end his betrayal?

What if his tainted blood seeped deep into the earth, into burial caves, causing a counterfeit resurrection of the dead?

Gina Lazarescu, a Romanian girl with a scarred past, has no idea she is being sought by the undead.

The Collectors, those released from the Akeldama, feed on souls and human blood. But there are also the Nistarim, those who rose from their graves in the shadow of the Nazarene’s crucifixion--and they still walk among us, immortal, left to protect mankind.

Gina realizes her future will depend on her understanding of the past, yet how can she protect herself from Collectors who have already died once but still live?

The Jerusalem’s Undead Trilogy takes readers on a riveting journey, as imaginative fiction melds with biblical and archaeological history.

My Take:

Be aware, this is book is not the usual Christian book. I'm not saying it's not a good book, but it takes a certain kind of reader to get into it. I really like Eric Wilson and enjoyed his previous books, but this was a little strange for me. I appreciated some of the symbolism that became clear at the end and was interested in Gina's story, but some of the "vampire" parts were confusing to me.  But don't be afraid to try this book just because it wasn't my favorite of his books. It's definately a fascinating story.

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: W is for wisdom. What's one of your favorite wise sayings?

Here's one my brother always says to me: "It's how you look at the events of life, not the events of life themselves."

c. Enter on or before August 22, winner will be drawn August 23.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Today' book is by Eric Wilson. It is Field of Blood, the first book in the Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy.

Description:

Alphabet Soup Giveaway: Letter V

Alphabet Soup Giveaway is back!

Here are the rules:

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: V is for vegetables. What is your favorite vegetable?

I admit that I'm not much of a veggie eater unless it involves cheese sauce or dip.  Sorry.  My favorite is raw carrots and cucumbers.

c. Enter on or before August 21, winner will be drawn August 22.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Today's author is Jennifer Erin Valent and the book is Fireflies in December.

Description:

"The summer I turned thirteen, I thought I killed a man."

So begins the story of Jessilyn Lassiter, a young girl whose world is torn apart the summer of 1932. When Jessilyn's best friend, Gemma, loses her parents in a tragic fire, Jessilyn's father vows to care for her as his own, despite the fact that Gemma is black and prejudice is prevalent in their southern Virginia town.

It doesn't take long for the Lassiters to attract the attention of a local band of Ku Klux Klan members, who make increasingly violent threats on Jessilyn and her family.

As she struggles to navigate a complex world of first crushes, loyalties, and betrayals, Jessilyn ultimately discovers what it takes to be a bright light in a dark world.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book! The story about broke my heart, seeing how Jessilyn's family suffered, but I was honored to have a look into their lives and the determination with which they held fast to their beliefs no matter what the cost. Beautifully written. I couldn't put it down!

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: V is for vegetables. What is your favorite vegetable?

I admit that I'm not much of a veggie eater unless it involves cheese sauce or dip.  Sorry.  My favorite is raw carrots and cucumbers.

c. Enter on or before August 21, winner will be drawn August 22.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Today's author is Jennifer Erin Valent and the book is Fireflies in December.

Description:

"The summer I turned thirteen, I thought I killed a man."

Alphabet Soup Giveaway: Letter U

Alphabet Soup Giveaway is back!

Here are the rules:

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: U is for unique. What are three things that are unique about you that you would like to share today?

1. I don't like to travel. I would rather stay home and be in my own bed.

2. I love to play video games on the xbox and Wii. Nothing violent, just Mario or tennis, etc. When I am stressed they help me forget about my worries!

3. I used to pick strawberries as a job in the summers from when I was 7 years old until 16.

c. Enter on or before August 19, winner will be drawn August 20.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

I don't have an author with a "U" last name, so I picked a book that started with U. Today's book is Unspoken by Angela Hunt.

Description:

A regular Dr. Dolittle, Glee Granger adores animals. For the past eight years she's taught and loved a young gorilla named Sema. Now the zoo that owns the creature wants custody, and Glee must surrender Sema to a captive environment. But this will change both their lives in unspeakable ways . . . won't it?

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book! Hunt is one of my favorite authors and this book was a delight. I enjoyed Sema and the relationship with Glee, even though her proctectiveness drove me crazy sometimes. For Glee, Sema was like her child and she thought she knew the best thing for her, but she was in for a surprise.

A wonderful story that will appeal to animal lovers especially! I loved seeing how God spoke to Glee through Sema in a remarkable way!

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: U is for unique. What are three things that are unique about you that you would like to share today?

1. I don't like to travel. I would rather stay home and be in my own bed.

2. I love to play video games on the xbox and Wii. Nothing violent, just Mario or tennis, etc. When I am stressed they help me forget about my worries!

3. I used to pick strawberries as a job in the summers from when I was 7 years old until 16.

c. Enter on or before August 19, winner will be drawn August 20.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

I don't have an author with a "U" last name, so I picked a book that started with U. Today's book is Unspoken by Angela Hunt.

Description:

A regular Dr. Dolittle, Glee Granger adores animals. For the past eight years she's taught and loved a young gorilla named Sema. Now the zoo that owns the creature wants custody, and Glee must surrender Sema to a captive environment. But this will change both their lives in unspeakable ways . . . won't it?

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book! Hunt is one of my favorite authors and this book was a delight. I enjoyed Sema and the relationship with Glee, even though her proctectiveness drove me crazy sometimes. For Glee, Sema was like her child and she thought she knew the best thing for her, but she was in for a surprise.

A wonderful story that will appeal to animal lovers especially! I loved seeing how God spoke to Glee through Sema in a remarkable way!

Alphabet Soup Giveaway: letter T

Alphabet Soup Giveaway is back!

Here are the rules:

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: T is for time. What time do you usually wake up? Is it different on the weekends? Summer?  I usually get up at 6 during the school year weekdays. 7ish in summer/weekends.

c. Enter on or before August 16, winner will be drawn August 17.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Today's book is Sky Blue by Travis Thrasher

Description:

Colin Scott is struggling. His job as a top literary agent for big name authors has become routine and aggravating, rather than being the culmination of all his dreams. He and his wife are trying to have a baby, with little success. All of his previous life decisions seem to be wrong. How could all of his carefully planned out choices lead to his present situation? Colin decides to take his wife on a much-needed Cancun getaway, where he receives the final straw.

 

Alphabet Soup Giveaway is back!

Here are the rules:

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: T is for time. What time do you usually wake up? Is it different on the weekends? Summer?  I usually get up at 6 during the school year weekdays. 7ish in summer/weekends.

c. Enter on or before August 16, winner will be drawn August 17.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Today's book is Sky Blue by Travis Thrasher

Description:

Colin Scott is struggling. His job as a top literary agent for big name authors has become routine and aggravating, rather than being the culmination of all his dreams. He and his wife are trying to have a baby, with little success. All of his previous life decisions seem to be wrong. How could all of his carefully planned out choices lead to his present situation? Colin decides to take his wife on a much-needed Cancun getaway, where he receives the final straw.

 

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: T is for time. What time do you usually wake up? Is it different on the weekends? Summer?  I usually get up at 6 during the school year weekdays. 7ish in summer/weekends.

c. Enter on or before August 16, winner will be drawn August 17.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Today's book is Sky Blue by Travis Thrasher

Description:

Colin Scott is struggling. His job as a top literary agent for big name authors has become routine and aggravating, rather than being the culmination of all his dreams. He and his wife are trying to have a baby, with little success. All of his previous life decisions seem to be wrong. How could all of his carefully planned out choices lead to his present situation? Colin decides to take his wife on a much-needed Cancun getaway, where he receives the final straw.

 

Alphabet Soup Giveaway: Letter S

Alphabet Soup Giveaway is back!

Here are the rules:

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: S is for singing. Do you think of yourself as a good singer? Do you like to sing?

I wish I had a good voice, but I am not a singer. I enjoy singing along to music in the car, but cannot carry a tune. I'm hoping I'll be a good singer in heaven!

c. Enter on or before August 13, winner will be drawn August 14.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Today's books are: Just as I am and Sincerely, Mayla by Virginia Smith

Description:

When purple-haired Mayla Strong struts down the center aisle of Salliesburg Independent Christian Church, the bug-eyed congregation strains to get a peek at her pierced nose and lip. But Pastor Paul welcomes her with a huge, infectious grin and baptizes her on the spot.

Determined to make her heavenly Father proud, Mayla's sincere and often hilarious attempts to let Him change her from the inside out takes her into some difficult places. Through it all she grows in faith and wisdom--sometimes through pain, sometimes through humor, but always in a way that is uniquely Mayla.

 Description:

Just as life is beginning to come together for spunky, purple-haired Mayla Strong, she loses her job and her boyfriend. When she escapes to sunny Florida, her problems only tag along. In this heartwarming sequel to Just As I Am, Mayla learns how to balance friends, family, and faith while living in a messed-up world.

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: S is for singing. Do you think of yourself as a good singer? Do you like to sing?

I wish I had a good voice, but I am not a singer. I enjoy singing along to music in the car, but cannot carry a tune. I'm hoping I'll be a good singer in heaven!

c. Enter on or before August 13, winner will be drawn August 14.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Today's books are: Just as I am and Sincerely, Mayla by Virginia Smith

Description:

When purple-haired Mayla Strong struts down the center aisle of Salliesburg Independent Christian Church, the bug-eyed congregation strains to get a peek at her pierced nose and lip. But Pastor Paul welcomes her with a huge, infectious grin and baptizes her on the spot.

Alphabet Soup Giveaway: Letter R

Alphabet Soup Giveaway is back!

Here are the rules:

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: R is for Reeses', my favorite candy bar. What's your favorite candy bar/candy?

c. Enter on or before August 11, winner will be drawn August 12.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Today's book is Redeeming Love by Francene Rivers.

Description:

Can God's Love Save Anyone? Bestselling author Francine Rivers skillfully retells the biblical love story of Gomer and Hosea in a tale set against the exciting backdrop of the California Gold Rush. The heroine, Angel, is a young woman who was sold into prostitution as a child. Michael Hosea is a godly man sent into Angel's life to draw her into the Savior's redeeming love. This remarkable novel has sold over half a million copies and is among the top twenty on the ECPA fiction bestsellers list for four years running.

My Take:

One of my favorite books of all time! The reminders of God's pursuing love are beautiful and profound. Every woman should read this book!

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: R is for Reeses', my favorite candy bar. What's your favorite candy bar/candy?

c. Enter on or before August 11, winner will be drawn August 12.

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Today's book is Redeeming Love by Francene Rivers.

Description:

Can God's Love Save Anyone? Bestselling author Francine Rivers skillfully retells the biblical love story of Gomer and Hosea in a tale set against the exciting backdrop of the California Gold Rush. The heroine, Angel, is a young woman who was sold into prostitution as a child. Michael Hosea is a godly man sent into Angel's life to draw her into the Savior's redeeming love. This remarkable novel has sold over half a million copies and is among the top twenty on the ECPA fiction bestsellers list for four years running.

My Take:

One of my favorite books of all time! The reminders of God's pursuing love are beautiful and profound. Every woman should read this book!

Alphabet Soup Giveaway: Letter Q

Alphabet Soup Giveaway is back!

Here are the rules:

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: Q is for Quilting. Quilting is one of my favorite hobbies. What are your hobbies other than reading! :)

c. Enter on or before July 30. Winners will be drawn on July 31. Claim your prize, if you win, within 10 days of being notified or I will redraw. (In other words, let me know you want the book and where it should be sent, should you find out your name was drawn.)

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Today's book is a compilation of the first three books in Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilts series. The book includes: The Quilter's Apprentice, Round Robin, and Cross-Country Quilters.

Description: The Quilter's Apprentice

When Sarah McClure and her husband, Matt, move to the small town of Waterford, Pennsylvania, to get a fresh start, Sarah struggles to find a fulfilling job. Disheartened by failed interviews, she reluctantly accepts a temporary position at Elm Creek Manor helping seventy-five-year-old Sylvia Compson prepare her family estate for sale after the recent death of Sylvia's estranged sister. As part of her compensation, Sarah is taught how to quilt by this reclusive, cantankerous master quilter. During their lessons, Mrs. Compson slowly opens up to Sarah, sharing powerful, devastating stories of her life as a young woman on the World War II home front. Hearing tales of how Mrs. Compson's family was torn apart by tragedy, jealousy, and betrayal, Sarah is forced to confront uncomfortable truths about her own family -- truths that she has denied for far too long. As the friendship between the two women deepens, Mrs. Compson confides that although she would love to remain at her beloved family estate, Elm Creek Manor exists as a constant, unbearable reminder of her role in her family's misfortune. For Sarah, there can be no greater reward than teaching Mrs. Compson to forgive herself for her past mistakes, restoring life and joy to her cherished home. Heartfelt and inspiring, The Quilter's Apprentice teaches deep lessons about family, friendship, and sisterhood -- and about creating a life as you would a quilt: with time, love, and patience, piecing the miscellaneous and mismatched scraps into a harmonious, beautiful whole.

Description: Round Robin

The Elm [Creek] quilters return in this sequel to the popular The Quilter's Apprentice, and again a round-robin quilt is made collaboratively by a group of friends, each contributing a border of patchwork around a central block. The apt metaphor is used once more to share the individual stories and bonds of friendship of the club members. Sarah McClure helps her aging friend Sylvia Compson run a quilting school from Sylvia's large manor house in the small town of Waterford, Pa. The quilters decide to surprise Sylvia with a round robin, and in passing the work-in-progress to one another, their stories unfold. Sarah struggles with her cold and critical mother and with her husband's identity crisis, while overachiever Gwen must accept that her daughter wants to work at the quilt store rather than attend graduate school. Supermom Diane copes with her teenage son, a friendless delinquent whose troubles disappear as soon as the family puts a skateboard ramp in their backyard. Bonnie discovers that her husband is conducting a romance over the Internet. In the most complicated and most strained vignette, Judy, a Vietnamese-American professor of computer science, receives a letter from an American half-sister she never knew of, reporting that their biological father, who abandoned Judy and her mother in Vietnam, is dying. Rounding out the ensemble is Sylvia, whose health is deteriorating but who gleans new hope when an old flame visits. By the end of this sugary story, not only have the Elm [Creek] ladies stitched a beautiful quilt, but they've also learned to rely on and help each other. The tale is neatly concluded on a tender if sentimental note: "true friends are the most precious gift."

Description: Cross-Country Quilters

Readers of The Quilter's Apprentice and Round Robin have been enchanted by Elm Creek Quilt Camp, where women gather each year for quilting, friendship, and fun. The third in the Elm Creek Quilts series introduces the Cross-Country Quilters, a group of far-flung friends who pledge to complete a "challenge quilt" -- symbolic of each woman's personal goals -- in one year's time.

These five women arrive at Elm Creek Manor hoping to find in their quilt lessons an escape from the problems they left at home. Julia, an aging starlet, has pinned her hopes to a plum role in a historical epic whose director is under the mistaken impression that Julia already knows how to quilt. Megan is a successful engineer who has won prizes for her miniature quilt designs. The one challenge she has yet to master is single motherhood. Donna, a mother of two, must hasten to teach her daughter independence and self-esteem -- lessons she, too, must take to heart. Grace is a renowned curator of antique quilts, whose creative flair is waning for reasons she is unwilling to reveal -- even to her closest friends. Vinnie, the senior member of the group, is a sunny soul with a tragic past. Her overwhelming desire is to bring happiness into the lives of those she loves.

Although the Cross-Country Quilters share a common creative goal, as the year goes by their bonds are tested by the demands of daily life. But despite differences in age, race, and background, the friends' love for quilting and affection for one another unite them in a patchwork of caring and acceptance. The quilt they make reminds them of an everlasting truth -- friends may be separated by great distance, yet the strength of their bond can transcend any obstacle.

My Thoughts:

I love this series! You don't have to be a quilter to appreciate the story of friendship between women and how friends can help us through difficult times.

RULES FOR ENTERING:

a. Post a comment to the posts of the books you'd like to win. You can enter for as many of the books as you would like. Every 2-3 days the next letter's giveaway will be posted.

b. Answer the day's silly question for fun.

Today's question: Q is for Quilting. Quilting is one of my favorite hobbies. What are your hobbies other than reading! :)

c. Enter on or before July 30. Winners will be drawn on July 31. Claim your prize, if you win, within 10 days of being notified or I will redraw. (In other words, let me know you want the book and where it should be sent, should you find out your name was drawn.)

d. Check back for the next giveaway!

Today's book is a compilation of the first three books in Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilts series. The book includes: The Quilter's Apprentice, Round Robin, and Cross-Country Quilters.

Description: The Quilter's Apprentice

When Sarah McClure and her husband, Matt, move to the small town of Waterford, Pennsylvania, to get a fresh start, Sarah struggles to find a fulfilling job. Disheartened by failed interviews, she reluctantly accepts a temporary position at Elm Creek Manor helping seventy-five-year-old Sylvia Compson prepare her family estate for sale after the recent death of Sylvia's estranged sister. As part of her compensation, Sarah is taught how to quilt by this reclusive, cantankerous master quilter. During their lessons, Mrs. Compson slowly opens up to Sarah, sharing powerful, devastating stories of her life as a young woman on the World War II home front. Hearing tales of how Mrs. Compson's family was torn apart by tragedy, jealousy, and betrayal, Sarah is forced to confront uncomfortable truths about her own family -- truths that she has denied for far too long. As the friendship between the two women deepens, Mrs. Compson confides that although she would love to remain at her beloved family estate, Elm Creek Manor exists as a constant, unbearable reminder of her role in her family's misfortune. For Sarah, there can be no greater reward than teaching Mrs. Compson to forgive herself for her past mistakes, restoring life and joy to her cherished home. Heartfelt and inspiring, The Quilter's Apprentice teaches deep lessons about family, friendship, and sisterhood -- and about creating a life as you would a quilt: with time, love, and patience, piecing the miscellaneous and mismatched scraps into a harmonious, beautiful whole.

Description: Round Robin

The Elm [Creek] quilters return in this sequel to the popular The Quilter's Apprentice, and again a round-robin quilt is made collaboratively by a group of friends, each contributing a border of patchwork around a central block. The apt metaphor is used once more to share the individual stories and bonds of friendship of the club members. Sarah McClure helps her aging friend Sylvia Compson run a quilting school from Sylvia's large manor house in the small town of Waterford, Pa. The quilters decide to surprise Sylvia with a round robin, and in passing the work-in-progress to one another, their stories unfold. Sarah struggles with her cold and critical mother and with her husband's identity crisis, while overachiever Gwen must accept that her daughter wants to work at the quilt store rather than attend graduate school. Supermom Diane copes with her teenage son, a friendless delinquent whose troubles disappear as soon as the family puts a skateboard ramp in their backyard. Bonnie discovers that her husband is conducting a romance over the Internet. In the most complicated and most strained vignette, Judy, a Vietnamese-American professor of computer science, receives a letter from an American half-sister she never knew of, reporting that their biological father, who abandoned Judy and her mother in Vietnam, is dying. Rounding out the ensemble is Sylvia, whose health is deteriorating but who gleans new hope when an old flame visits. By the end of this sugary story, not only have the Elm [Creek] ladies stitched a beautiful quilt, but they've also learned to rely on and help each other. The tale is neatly concluded on a tender if sentimental note: "true friends are the most precious gift."

Description: Cross-Country Quilters

Readers of The Quilter's Apprentice and Round Robin have been enchanted by Elm Creek Quilt Camp, where women gather each year for quilting, friendship, and fun. The third in the Elm Creek Quilts series introduces the Cross-Country Quilters, a group of far-flung friends who pledge to complete a "challenge quilt" -- symbolic of each woman's personal goals -- in one year's time.

My Thoughts:

I love this series! You don't have to be a quilter to appreciate the story of friendship between women and how friends can help us through difficult times.