Thursday Thoughts & Giveaway Winners Announced

First of all I want to thank Bay for her wonderful bookmarks and prints!

Check out HelloBay Arts at FaceBook and Tumblr

♥I also want to thank everyone who entered our giveaway.

The 3 winners are:
R. Vance, Annabelle and Marjorie

Congratulations and Thank You!!

and now for my ...Thursday Thoughts.....

So as I get ready to start writing this post, I come to realize this is my first post this year!?
I have been catching up on my reading. In reality I have too many books to ever get caught up, and there will always be another book waiting for me to read.  I also have been busy with work (progress report time) and I am still unpacking and organizing my new home.

If only I can win the lottery so I can read and  travel. Books and traveling takes time and money. Books alone can be very expensive hobby. I am a little scared to go back  and see how much I spent on books last year. This year I am going to keep a journal, of book related expenses. I'm hoping I can keep a decent budget with my book spending so I can not be so broke every paycheck. (groceries are kind of important)

I also have decided that this is MY YEAR! What I mean by that is this year IS a fresh start for me. I'm a new and first time home owner. That feeling of being a home owner has renewed my confidence. I have many plans for my home with plans for personal goals that I have set. This is not a New Years resolution I am making, but a promise to myself to succeed and achieve goals I have planned. My two top goals, is to plan on going back to school to complete my studies and to get healthy and fit. I use to run and I want to be in running shape, to run a 5K by summer.

Everyone have a wonderful day!!!

♥Josie

Happy New Year!! I'm starting out the year with a Giveaway!!

I decided that my first giveaway for the year will be bookmarks and prints of three popular fairy tales designed by Bay. She has been  very generous with her time and talent helping me with the art work for my blog (and technical advice.) You can see her work on her Hello Bay Arts facebook page or her Tumblr. 

Here are the links:

Facebook Page

Tumblr

This Giveaway will be from Jan. 1st - Jan.  22nd

~I am only able to have this giveaway available for US & Canada Only~

I will choose 3 winners:

The first winner will receive all 3 prints and 3 bookmarks. 

The second winner will receive 2 prints and 2 bookmarks 

(of their choice).

The third winner will receive 1 print and 1 bookmark. 

(of their choice)

Size info:

The bookmarks are approximately 2½ x 6

The prints are on a 9 x 11 sheet , the color print on the 9 x 11 is approximately 10 x 3½

I can laminate the bookmarks and add a tassel on top if you like. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shadows of the Past by Carmen Stefanescu

Goodreads

Shadows of The Past
by Carmen Stefanescu
Historical Fiction / Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing
Pub. Date: December 4, 2012
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥




Summary ~from goodreads~

When Anne and Neil leave on a one-week holiday hoping to reconcile after a two-year separation, little do they know that destiny has other plans for them. Their discovery of human bones and a bejeweled cross in the hollow of a tree open the door to the supernatural realm and the anguished life of Genevieve, a nun from medieval England.

Can Anne save her relationship and help Genevieve her eternal rest?

The twists and turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave themselves together into a quest to rekindle love.

My Review:

I would like to thank Carmen Stefanescu for giving me a copy of her wonderful book.

I like to read  historical fiction that is set in the Middle Ages to the Victorian Era. I also love to read Paranormal Romance. So when I read the summary I became intrigued and I definitely wanted to read this book.

Shadows of the Past started out strong and it continued at a wonderful pace through out the book. The main characters Anne in the present and Genevieve from the past were written well. Anne is a strong woman who has decided to reconcile with her boyfriend, During their trip she experiences dreams and visions of a lady from the past, which is Genevieve, whose story needs to be told to give her peace. Genevieve is from a time that being a woman is difficult and on top of that, faces many tragedies in her life. She struggles to survive with evil that keeps crossing her path. They both meet friends along their travels.

This is a story with suspense, mystery and romance. It made me cry and it put me on edge. Genevive's story became difficult to read at times. At the last chapter everything becomes full circle and seems to be heading towards a happy ending, then as I finished the last page, it left me with questions and eager to read the next book.

Check out her website:
http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/