30 Days of Thankfulness {Day 18}

Each day this month I'm joining up with Katie to share with you the many things I am thankful for. I'd love to hear what you're thankful for.

Day18: I'm thankful that I inherited my love of reading from my mother and her mother.

In 1994 my grandmother handed me a book that she had just finished reading.  I didn't know it then but that book would trigger my obsession with books and reading.  The book was "Body Farm" by Patricia Cornwell, not a classic but one that excited and captured me.  I picked up that book and 19 years later I haven't stopped reading and trying to fill my mind with as much knowledge as possible.  Cornwell continues to be one of my favorite novelists and I thank God everyday that my grandma handed me that book.  I don't read many novels these days but I still get excited when Cornwell puts out a new novel because her books always remind me of the 1st book I ever read that wasn't required for school and thus my grandmother.

PS. It isn't too late to link up and join us for this weeks Thanks and Giving Project!  I'll be giving all week and posting a recap this weekend.

Fun giveaway

I'm so super excited to take a break from all the PCS talk and bring you guys something fun today!  2 weeks ago my beautiful neighbor, Kayla, gave birth to her 3rd baby boy.  (she's a pretty private person or I would totally steal some photos of her adorable family off Facebook!)  For the big event, her parents flew to Japan to join her and her family.  I met Kayla's mom, at a BBQ last weekend and found out she was an author.  As you all know I love to read so I began drilling her with questions.  Turns out she writes in a genre that I do a lot of reading in, military suspense.  If I'm going to read a novel it's going to be some sort of suspense.  She was kind enough to send me a digital copy of her book, The Pact, which I wasted no time diving into.

Commander Celia Kelly is a perceptive Naval Intelligence Officer rebuilding her life after the tragic loss of her husband. The suspicious suicide of a fellow Officer has Celia questioning the mission she’s been assigned. 
With the help of a one of a kind secretary, by the book assistant, and a Navy SEAL, Kelly discovers she’s been set up. Digging relentlessly, nothing is as it seems. Someone is after twenty million dollars that disappeared when Kelly’s husband went MIA and now that someone is after her!

I have to admit, I was a little skeptical at first.  I've read a few books by first time authors and was unimpressed each time.  (I'm not 100% that this is her first book but it's the first book in a series so that's what I was thinking going into this).  The Pact absolutely blew me away!  I couldn't, and didn't, put it down until I was finished.  Mrs. Bring did a great job at developing her characters in a way that I was able to connect with instantly.  The plot grabbed my attention immediately which was nice, I hate when it takes me 10 chapters to really get interested in a book.  The story line was well thought out and easy to follow.  (I found myself wondering how she kept track of it all while writing.  I would have had to have color coded post it notes EVERYWHERE.)  One of my favorite parts of this book was how easily the main character, Celia, talked about, explained and defended her faith.  It wasn't a huge part of the story but it's something that stuck out to me (probably because that is something that I struggle with in my own life).  I've rambled on long enough for someone who isn't a book critic.  Let me just say that I can't wait for the next book, The Lie, to come out next week!

Mrs. Bring is huge supporter of the military and their families and she has donated a signed copy of The Pact for me to give away to one of you awesome ladies (or guys if there are any males reading this).  If you'd like to win a copy of the book, just leave a comment letting me know what you're reading now (or if you're not, what you'd like to be reading now).  Good luck and if you don't win, this book is definitely worth the Kindle price!

I was given a free copy of the book but I was not paid for this post and all opinions are my own.

Entries will be accepted until midnight EST on 31 July 2013.

another hiatus?

It may take me a little longer than I expected to get back to regular blogging because I cannot stop reading these books!

Have you read these books?  Did you like them?  If you haven't read them I suggest you do!  These are not the type of books I typically read but I cannot put them down!  (Plus they're $5, $8.40 and $7.14 on the Kindle, and who doesn't love cheap books?!?)