I spent a great deal of time this weekend putting together my library at home.  Before, my bookcases and books were taking over our bedroom.  It was starting to get cluttered in the bedroom, so my hubby was very helpful in helping me clear out my craft room so I could turn it into a library.  I am so happy with the way it turned out and the best thing was that there is still room to grow not only on the shelves, but also room for more book cases!  Now I didn’t include a full picture of the library because I am ashamed to say that the carpets need to be replaced and the paneling painted, but budget won’t allow that for me or the landlord.

CLICK ON THE PHOTOS FOR LARGER IMAGES!

This is wall one.  On the top shelf you can see all of my signed copies of books. Notice I put these high up so my kids can’t get to them as easily!  The second shelf are my ARCs and the binder has my unbound ARC of Delicious by Shayla Black.  The third shelf are all my Harlequin books. Those are three rows deep of various lines of Harlequin: Blaze, Intrigue, American Romance, Temptation, Desire and Super Romance.  The fourth and fifth shelf are mainly books that have various authors instead of just one author.
This is wall one still, left to the previous picture.  These are books by authors P-Z of their last name.  Notice I do have room to expand! LOL.  I can even make 2 rows if I must! 
This is Wall 2 and it is directly across from Wall 1.  At the top in the bag are books to donate to my local library.  They are in desperate need of book donations because we are such a small town, they never can afford to get new books.  Next to the bag is my checkout library books. Usually I have at least 10 checked out, but I haven’t had a chance to swing by there in over a week.  The rest of the shelves are authors with the last name initials of A-C.
Wall 1 directly to the right of previous shelf.  On top are my ARCs and books received for reviews.  The pile to the very left are books that I have finished and need to write up my review post on.  The rest are seperated by month to post for tours and release date.  The shelves below continue in alphabetical order from C-G. Behind it is an open window like feature so I put smaller shelves here. Behind it is the hallway down stairs with my cute baby pictures on it! Wasn’t I a cutie? LOL
Wall 1 still to the right of the previous shelves.  This holds the rest of my books for initials H-O.  Can you believe this bookshelf was only $25.00 from Walmart! It is huge! My hubby bought it for me thinking it would hold all my books with some room left over. HA! Only if he got me about 6 more! If you notice to the very right of the picture you see cupboards and a shelf that runs the length of the wall. That holds games and stuff my children make in a tub for scrapbooking.  I have all of my completed scrapbooks on this long shelf. My chairs and reading lamp sit directly in front of it, but I had to move them for the pictures.
So now you have seen my home library and also my serious obsession with books!  It is hard for me to get rid of a book if I really loved it!  Can you guess how many of the books in the shelves are my TBR pile?? LOL…Hmmm sounds like a good idea for a contest maybe. I might have to do that someday!
So what does your library look like? Is it in tubs? Shelves? Baskets? Leave me a link so I can check out yours as well!!
I used Rondom.org to pick the lucky winner for the weekly contest. The winner of the Lora Leigh 3 pack of books is:
 Congrats!!!!  Please email me at djsfoxylady@gmail.com with your mailing address. You have 48 hours to respond or you forfeit your prize to the next person in line. 
Please include in the subject line: WEEKLY GIVEAWAY WINNER
Thanks to all who entered and this weeks contest will be up shortly along with pictures of my library!
LIGHT BENEATH FERNS
Author: Anne Spollen
Source: Blog Tour hosted by Cleverly Inked
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Paperback: 216 pages
  • Publisher: Flux (February 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0738715425
  • ISBN-13: 978-0738715421
SYNOPSIS:
I have this strange sense that my silence is preparing me for something I can’t name . . .
 
Elizah Rayne is nothing like other fourteen-year-old girls. More interested in bird bones than people, she wraps herself in silence. Trying to escape the shadow of her gambler father, Elizah and her mother move into an old house that borders a cemetery. All her mother wants is for them to have “normal” lives. But that becomes impossible for Elizah when she finds a human jawbone by the river and meets Nathaniel, a strangely hypnotic boy who draws Elizah into his dreamlike and mysterious world.
Only by forgetting everything she knows can Elizah understand the truth about Nathaniel—and discover an unimaginable secret. 
MY THOUGHTS:
I was lucky enough to participate in a blog tour of the novel Light Beneath Ferns by Anne Spollen, hosted by Liz from Cleverly Inked
In the first chapter of the book, the author does a wonderful job of sucking you into her world.  She sets up the book with great lines and makes you think outside the box.  I was excited to start reading it. 
Yet, after that first chapter, my interest slid downhill.  For the first half of the book it is all about Elizah’s depression and how she can be helped into finding new friends.  It got to be boring and repetitive. I did love the witty dialogue though that comes out of Elizah.  She has a mouth like a typical young adult and she uses it as much as possible.  
From then on the plot is all over and I couldn’t find myself interested in any of it. I did finish it though, so I did stick it out to the end.  The questions get answered, but not as much as they should. The characters never seemed to click for me.  While I am happy to have been included in the blog tour, this is one book I don’t think I would be buying.  This is one of those books that I recommend checking out from the library, and if it is a good book to you, then purchase it for yourself.
Next stop on the blog tour will come from Jenn at Book-Crazy
MY RATING:

 
I did not enjoy this book.

THE TRUE LOVE QUILTING CLUB
Author: Lori Wilde
Source: Publisher
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Avon; Original edition (April 13, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061808903
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061808906
SYNOPSIS:

“The pattern of a quilt will always lead you back home.” 
Trixie Lynn Parks changed her name to Emma, shook the dust of Twilight, Texas, off her shoes, and vowed to make it big in the city. But after twelve years of shattered dreams, she heads back to the ladies of the True Love Quilting Club . . . and to her first love, Sam Cheek. 
Some things—and some people—sure have changed. Sam has grown from a carefree boy to a single dad. And even though the chemistry between them sizzles hotter than ever, Trixie Lynn quickly discovers she must choose between the fame and fortune that have finally come her way—or the one true love who has the power to mend her patchwork heart. 
MY THOUGHTS:
In our next installment of the town of Twilight, we get to see the romance of Emma and Sam. While this is a second in the series, it can still be read as a stand alone with no problems. When Emma, also known as Trixie Lynn, was young, her mother left to pursue her acting career.  She was left in the care of her father, who we learn early on is not her real father.  He forces her to move with him away from Twilight at 14 years old.  Before they move away, Sam who is her best friend in Twilight, finds her crying about the move and tries to cheer her up. He kisses her goodbye and they realize they love each other, but it is too late.
Fast forward to present day we find Emma struggling to become an actress as well.  She has not received her big break, she has no family to fall back on and finally gets a chance to return to Twilight with an acting job that will jump start her career.  She find Sam again, who has married, been widowed and has a son now.  
I enjoyed this book even more than the first in the series. This one may not have had many steamy love scenes, but you could still feel the love and romance that grows between Emma and Sam.  The author has a wonderful knack for writing heartfelt romance that captures you and keeps you trapped in the town of Twilight.  Second chances, love renewed and touching scenes of tender dialogue will leave your heart aching for more from this author.
MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf

For Rereading!

Finally!

CRESCENDO by Becca Fitzpatrick!!!

The sequel to the New York Times best-selling phenomenon, Hush, Hush! In stores everywhere November 16, 2010.

Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can’t figure out if it’s for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy, Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.
The further Nora delves into the mystery of her father’s death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim bloodline has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn’t answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?