Mailbox Monday

Some creepy books just in time for Halloween! It's Mailbox Monday hosted by The Printed Page and these are my goodies from last week. If you'd like to join in leave a link for the books you received in the mail.



Tall, Dark & Fangsom
Book 6 - Immortality Bites Series
by Michelle Rowen

Won at Bookin' With Bingo

A curse made Sarah Dearly a nightwalker, the most vicious vampire there is: the charm she wears to curb her deadly tendencies is losing it's juice: and a hunter from hell is turning up the heat. Gideon Chase will kill her loved ones if she doesn't obey his orders to break up with the master vampire Thierry and to turn Gideon immortal so he can escape eternal hellfire. But Sarah has growing feelings for Gideon, a bad boy with a vulnerable side. But is he for real? Will her dark side take over? Or can she cure herself of the curse and live happily ever after with Thierry...forever?

Dixie Divas
Book 1 - The Dixie Divas Mystery Series
by Virginia Brown

From LibraryThing Early Reviewer - due to a printer's error I received this earlier in the summer, but it was the wrong book in the right cover. This is the corrected version.

Middle-aged and divorced, Trinket Truevine moves home to live with her aging parents in genteel and historic Cherry Hill, Mississippi. The Dixie Divas, a rowdy group of local belles, embrace her like a long lost sister. Trinket and the Divas soon find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery surrounding the death of their pal Bitty's ex-husband, a philandering senator. Fun, fast-paced and very Southern.

The Cart Before the Corpse
Book 1 - A Merry Abbot Carriage Driving Mystery
by Carolyn McSparren

From LibraryThing Early Reviewer, a bonus book for the error with The Dixie Divas book.

Hiram Lackland is an internationally famous Southern carriage-horse trainer and a handsome widower who dies mysteriously after retiring to a farm outside Mossy Creek. His estranged daughter, Merry Abbot, also a horse trainer, arrives to solve the crime. Can Merry rein in the truth? What kind of horse play was her rakish dad involved in, and why would someone want to giddy-yup him into an early grave? (I did not make up those cute little quips!) :)

Vampire Academy
Book 1 - Vampire Academy Series
by Richelle Mead

Won from Literary Livewire

Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir who has a powerful blend of human and vampire blood. She is dedicated to protecting her best friend Lissa Dragomir, a Moroi princess and mortal vampire, from the Strigoi; the fiercest most dangerous vampires - the ones who never die. After two years of illicit freedom the girls are caught and taken back to St. Vladmir's Academy in the forest of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education and Lissa will go back to being the queen of the elite Moroi social scene. But behind the iron gates their world is fraught with danger. The Moroi perform unspeakable rituals and carry dark secrets. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of hidden romance and never let their guard down. The Strigoi are always waiting to make Lissa one of them forever...

Contest reminders and extra entries

Just a reminder about contests closing soon!

I have five copies of Close Encounters of a Third-Grade Kind by Phillip Done and The Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison. This giveaway closes 9/30/09.

Bonus points!
I'm also giving away one copy of Stray Affections by Charlene Ann Baumbich. Contest ends 10/02/09. This one is moving slow so I'm giving 5 extra entries to everyone (including those who have already entered) that promotes it and adds the link.


HURRY over to Pudgy Penguin Perusals for a chance to win one copy of The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood. Contest ends today, 9/27/09 at 5 p.m. so go get your entry in! NOW!

While you're there, don't forget to sign up for a chance to win one of five copies of Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley. Contest ends 10/4/09 at 5 p.m.

Review: The Lion and The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

Sometimes
even the king
needs help...
and little friends
may prove to
be great friends.

This is a wordless adaptation of a famous Aesop's Fable by the award winning artist Jerry Pinkney. Although it's a children's book the amazing watercolor illustrations will be appreciated by everyone. I was entranced by the detail and the beauty of each painting. Every page is entirely covered with artwork that represent this story of an unlikely pair who share acts of kindness.

I loved this book and will be sharing it with the little (and not so little) members of my family. I haven't had my own paintbrushes out in a long time but this has inspired me to dust them off and get back to work. I've included a few pages below so you can taste a morsel of this delicous and decadent dessert!


Although Jerry Pinkney suffered from undiagnosed Dyslexia he coped very well, graduating with honors and receiving a complete scholarship to Philadelphia Museum College of Art. His artwork allowed him to focus and bolstered his self-esteem from an early age. He is an award winning artist and had illustrated more than 75 books over 40 years. Since first winning a Gold Medal from The Art Director's Club in Boston in 1964, through The Coretta Scott King Honor Award from the American Library Association in 2009, he has won approximately 103 national awards.

"My dyslexia always made me envious of people as they talked about a book being a great read, while it was difficult for me just to finish a novel. I decided to look for projects that put a fine point on the importance of staying focused. If the goal was to illustrate the book, then visually interpreting the author’s words was my carrot. Though I read slowly, I can hold on to great amounts of detail and this made me quite suitable for illustrating full novels, like James Michener’s The Covenant, a whopping 1000 pages!"

"For the young person who is struggling in school, never forget there are many different ways to learn. Be curious. Do not be afraid to try. Do not be disappointed when making mistakes. You will discover your own unique way of understanding the things being taught. Learn from mistakes. Everything that happens to you will frame who you are, and who you will become. Your path to success will follow." - Jerry Pinkster from website

Thank you to Hatchette Books for a copy to review!
author's website
publisher's website

Publisher: Little Brown
Release date: 9/1/09
Pages: 40
Price/format: $16.99/hardcover
Type: Juvenile fiction, picture book

So, I was just wondering....

Whew! Last week was a blur of activity with BBAW. There was so much going on and I didn't even come close to checking out all of the posts, contests and other good stuff out there. Last year I was a new blogger and didn't know much about it. There were a lot of other events that also passed by in a blur.

This is such a great community of people. Everyone has been so incredibly kind, helpful, friendly, funny, smart... the list goes on and on but you get my point. I've noticed that there is always something going on too. It won't be long before the holidays are here (Christmas is only three months away!!!!) and the time really flies once we hit Halloween. Then the holidays roll in one after the other. It's a good thing there are so many clever people out there who make good use of their multipurpose decorations. I was always impressed with the homes that had the pumpkins out for October that were then dressed up as a turkey with wooden feathers for November that were then turned into some type of Christmas ornament for December.

So anyway, back to my point, there are a lot of events coming up and I'm not sure what they all are. I've seen some Halloween contests and parties popping up already. What else is coming up that we should know about? What are some activities in blogland that you look forward to, participate in or host? Go ahead and give us the details! I've got my calendar out to save the dates.

Giveaway and Review: Stray Affections

This book was for a recent tour from Waterbrook Multnomah.

Summary:
The last thing that Cassandra Higgins expects out of her Sunday is to be mesmerized at a collectors’ convention by a snowglobe. She’s enjoying some shopping time, with husband Ken at home tending their brood of four young boys, when she’s utterly charmed by the one-of-a kind globe containing figures of three dogs and a little girl with hair the color of her own. She can’t resist taking the unique globe home– even if means wrestling another shopper for it!
The beautiful snowglobe sparks long-dormant memories for Cassie, of her beloved Grandpa Wonky, the stray she rescued as a child, and the painful roots of her combative relationship with her mother, “Bad Betty” Kamrowski. Life in Wanonishaw, Minnesota is never dull, though, and Cassie keeps the recollections at bay, busy balancing her boys, her home daycare operation, and being a good friend to best pal Margret. But after a strange–flurrious, as Cassie deems it–moment happens with the remarkable snowglobe, Cassie and the people she loves are swirled into a tumultuous, yet grace-filled, and life-changing journey.
With the quirky, close-knit Midwestern small-town feel that made Charlene Ann Baumbich’s acclaimed Dearest Dorothy novels so popular, Stray Affections invites you to experience the laughter and the healing of second chances.

Review:

This was such a sweet story! The characters brought out such emotions and so did the storyline. Cassie is a wonderful wife and mother who is trying to make up for the heartbreaks of her childhood. Betty is her mother and was forced to make difficult choices while she was raising her family alone. They've had a very strained relationship and the first impression is that the reasons for the problems are obvious. But there is so much more to this story! The layers are gradual peeled back until you get to know the real Cassie and Betty.

The cast of characters are so entertaining. Cassie's four little boys provide comic relief and remind me of earlier days with my three little boys. We sure had a lot in common! They may live in a house of chaos but it is filled with love. Cassie's friends and extended family are all supportive and equally as entertaining. I don't want to give away too much of the story but I really enjoyed it. If you like small town charm, family life and animals (especially dogs) than this might be a book for you.

Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Release date: 2009
Pages: 320
Price/format: $13.99/paperback

Contest:
One copy to give away.

Rules:
- This one is simple! Leave a comment about a pet you had or knew that was special to you.
- Don't forget your email address!
- Contest ends October 2nd at 11:59 p.m. EST
- U.S. only (Sorry, I'm paying for this one myself!)
- One winner will be drawn by Random.org

**EDIT**

Bonus Entries:
+5 Promote this contest and leave a link.

Good luck!

Mailbox Monday

The weeks are flying by and the leaves are starting to change already. Eek, where does the time go? One thing that never comes too soon and I always enjoy is Mailbox Monday hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. The books I got this week look like they are sure to touch your heart and tickle your funny bone. I really look forward to each of them.



The Sound of Sleigh Bells
Cindy Woodsmall

for Waterbrook Multnomah Blog Tour

Beth Hertzler works alongside her Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store and serves as a contact between Amish craftsmen and Englischer retailers. But she is filled with remorse and loneliness and she wears dark dresses to indicate her mourning of her fiance. When she discovers intricately carved artwork she is touched deeply and wants to help the unknown artist.

Lizzy sees the changes in her niece and and after meeting Jonah the artist she is determined that Beth comes to know this man who creates healing art. But Beth has cut herself off from the possibility of romance and Lizzy's plan may not work. Will Jonah be able to offer Beth new hope for real love or just more heartbreak?

Close Encounters of the Third Grade Kind
Phillip Done

from Hatchette for review and giveaway

These charming, sweet, and funny tales of Mr. Done's trials and triumphs as an award-winning schoolteacher will touch readers' hearts and remind them of the true joys of childhood. We all have that one special, favorite grade school teacher whom we fondly remember throughout our adult lives - and every teacher also has students whom they will never forget. This is the perfect book for teachers, parents, and anyone else who is looking for a lighthearted, nostalgic read.

The Gift of an Ordinary Day
Katrina Kenison

from Hatchette for review and giveaway

This is an intimate memoir of a family in transition-boys becoming teenagers, careers ending and new ones opening up, an attempt to find a deeper sense of place, and a slower pace, in a small New England town. It is a story of mid-life longings and discoveries, of lessons learned in the search for home and a new sense of purpose, and the bittersweet intensity of life with teenagers--holding on, letting go.

Review: Strange Angel by Lili St. Crow

Dru Anderson.
Night Hunter. Knife Wielder.
Heart Breaker.

Dru is a sixteen-year-old who has what her grandmother called the touch. It's a sixth sense that drives her from town to town to hunt evil - ghosts, suckers and wulfen.

Graves is a Goth boy who has a big crush on the new girl in town. With his shaggy hair and lopsided grin, Dru has noticed him right back. When a wolf bite threatens to change him she will have to have to keep her distance... or else.

Christophe had blue and ices and a killer smile. He has a hunch that Dru is more special than she realizes and she may be in danger. It will take more than his fangs to protect her from whatever, or whoever is hunting her.

This is an exciting YA story with action and suspense. Dru's history is slowly revealed throughout the book. Much of her early life is fragmented bits and pieces, memories that she can't quite put together. She lost her mother when she was just a child and her grandmother and father have never revealed the details of the loss. Most of their focus is on the present and how to defeat the evil of The Real World for another day. They move quietly to new towns, hunting and protecting, always in danger.

Interesting characters that are only starting to develop, and I look forward to learning more in the next book. As Dru continues to suffer great losses she must decide who she can trust. She can't afford to make the wrong choice because her very life is at stake. She and her friends may be teens but they are strong and resilient. On her own in the bitter cold of the midwest, she must use all of the skills her father taught her to hunt and survive. She has become the hunted and she doesn't know why or by who.

The author uses vivid descriptions and imagery -
The world fell into place, colors and sounds not running like tinted water over glass.
The buildings behind me crouched, groaning like they intended to get up and hobble for a hot bath.
But some were overdone. Graves' green eyes were described as greeny-gold, more green than hazel, green with threads of brown and gold, odd pale green, darker greenish, in just the first few chapters. I also noticed the same excessive descriptions with Christophe's icy blue eyes, the taste of oranges on her tongue and the bitter weather. The atmosphere is dark and dangerous and important to the setting but it sometimes bogged down the story with too much detail. It became a bit overwhelming and lost me at times. I think these issues can be easily resolved and since this was the ARC it may get trimmed down in the editing.

For those who enjoy this genre there is much to look forward to in this author's debut YA novel. I'll be reading the next book, Betrayal, to be released 11/17/09.

Thank you to the publishers for a copy of this book.

razorbillbooks.com
penguin.com/teen

Publisher: Penguin Group
Release date: June 2009
Pages: 304
Price/type: $9.99/paperback
Age: 12 and up, grades 7 and up

Friday Fill-ins

#142

Graphic courtesy of Tonya!

1. My car is my second home.

2. Trying to catch up on all of the great BBAW posts this week is coming up next.

3. Lately, things seem more hectic than usual.

4. My hammock (you knew I was going to say that!) is one of my favorite 'hiding' places. It's too bad that they always seem to find me.

5. What happened to good manners, especially in public?

6. Getting men/boys to have good aim in the bathroom is not impossible! But it isn't very probable.


7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching my son's soccer team win, tomorrow my plans include cleaning (ick) and reading (yay) and Sunday, I want to celebrate my 23rd anniversary with my darling hubby!

BBAW Giveaway: Back to school - two books!

It's time for a BBAW Giveaway! Thank you to Hatchette Books for these great titles! I just received mine in the mail today so I haven't read them yet but I did peek through them and they were good already. I can't wait to read these books!


Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind
by Phillip Done

A twenty-year veteran of the classroom, elementary school teacher Phillip Done takes readers through a lively and hilarious year in the classroom. Starting with the relative calm before the storm of buying school supplies and posting class lists, he shares the distinct personalities of grades K-4, what he learned from two professional trick or treating 8-year-old boys, the art of learning cursive and letter-writing, how kindergartners try to trap leprechauns, and what every child should experience before he or she grows up.

These charming, sweet, and funny tales of Mr. Done's trials and triumphs as an award-winning schoolteacher will touch readers' hearts and remind them of the true joys of childhood. We all have that one special, favorite grade school teacher whom we fondly remember throughout our adult lives - and every teacher also has students whom they will never forget. This is the perfect book for teachers, parents, and anyone else who is looking for a lighthearted, nostalgic read.


The Gift of an Ordinary Day

by Katrina Kenison

The Gift of an Ordinary Day is an intimate memoir of a family in transition-boys becoming teenagers, careers ending and new ones opening up, an attempt to find a deeper sense of place, and a slower pace, in a small New England town. It is a story of mid-life longings and discoveries, of lessons learned in the search for home and a new sense of purpose, and the bittersweet intensity of life with teenagers--holding on, letting go.

Poised on the threshold between family life as she's always known it and her older son's departure for college, Kenison is surprised to find that the times she treasures most are the ordinary, unremarkable moments of everyday life, the very moments that she once took for granted, or rushed right through without noticing at all.

The relationships, hopes, and dreams that Kenison illuminates will touch women's hearts, and her words will inspire mothers everywhere as they try to make peace with the inevitable changes in store.

Contest:
Five copies of each book will be given away.

Rules:
- Leave a comment telling about a favorite teacher or school experience.
- Don't forget your email address!
- Tell me which book you would like, or enter for both.
- Contest ends September 30th at 11:59 p.m. EST
- U.S. and Canada only (sorry!)
-Ten winners will be drawn by Random.org

Extra entries: (can be put into one comment)
+1 new follower
+2 already follow
+2 extra entries if you promote this contest and leave a link.

Winners of Michelle Moran's books

Thanks to the very generous Michelle Moran who has donated two books
for giveaway! Don't forget that her new book Cleopatra's Daughter was just released 9/15 so if you didn't win this time you can now buy a copy.

Cleopatra's Daughter - thebookaddict
The Heretic Queen - Hazra

Congrats to the winners!

CleopatrasDaughter.com
michellemoran.blogspot.com

BBAW - You and Your Reading Habits

Do you snack when you read?
of course!

If so, favorite reading snack?
red Twizzlers

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of
writing in books horrify you?
horrify! (my own that is, except textbooks)

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?
bookmark, I've won some cool ones, dog-ears for magazines

Laying the book flat open?
not often

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
mostly fiction

Hard copy or audiobooks?
mostly hard copy, some audiobooks in the car

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you
able to put a book down at any point?
end of chapter when possible except when I fall asleep and drop the book on the floor

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
sometimes, I like to know what it means if I can't figure it out

What are you currently reading?
Stray Affections by Charlene Ann Baumbich

What is the last book you bought?
The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can
you read more than one at a time?
prefer only one, for reviews sometimes more than one

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?
anytime, anyplace but always at bedtime (and you do know I love my hammock!)

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
both but series have to be in order

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
nope, lots!

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
genre and authors kept together, books to review in front

So, I was just wondering....

I have to tell you all, I am having the best time doing this every week! I LOVE to hear all of your answers and it's so fun to get to ask the questions! Last week I showed you photos of the damaged box of books I received in the mail and you all shared very interesting stories of your own unusual packages and letters. Some of them were downright scary!

I have plenty of things I still want to chat about but this time I'm going to turn it over to you. What are some questions YOU would like me to ask? Go ahead and list them, as many as you want. I'm sure we'll have plenty of good topics for future discussions. What are some of the things that you've always wanted to know about the blogging world, reading, how to blog, how others do what they do...? Let's see what we can find to talk about this week!

Join the fun of BBAW!

Well, this week just isn't going the way I had planned. I've been on the run and haven't had the time to do the things I've wanted to do on my blog. I'll just have to pop in where I can and see how far I get. I've got some contests, reviews, and posts I hope to get to related to BBAW. In the meantime, make sure you check out the site that tells more about this exciting and fun week. And visit the amazing blogs that are participating in the festivities too! I have my son's soccer game to get ready for, but I'll be back. You've been warned!

Mailbox Monday

It's Mailbox Monday! Thanks to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting each week. Stop by and leave a link to what came in your mail.






Love You, Miss You, Hate You
Elizabeth Scott

Won from The Book Butterfly

It's been seventy-five days and Amy is sick of her parents suddenly taking an interest in her. And she's really sick of people asking her about Julia. Julia is gone now and she doesn't want to talk about it. They wouldn't understand what it feels like to have your best friend ripped away from you. They wouldn't understand what it feels like to know it's your fault. Amy's Shrink thinks it would help to start a diary but she starts writing letters to Julia instead. As she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past wasn't as perfect as she thought it was and the future deserves a chance too.

Bleak History
John Shirley

Won from Drey's Library

Talking to the dead gives Gabriel Bleak an edge to survive as a bounty hunter, or "skip tracer", in the psychic minefield of New York City. Unfortunately his gift also makes him a prime target. A top-secret division of Homeland Security knows that if they control Gabriel, they'll gain access to the entity-based energy field that connects all life on Earth. But Gabrielle has other ideas and with a growing underground movement and an alliance of spirits, elementals and other beings, Gabriel's about to face the greatest demonic uprising since the Dark Ages.

Review: Lost Boy by Brent Jeffs

This is my story

In the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), girls can become valuable property as plural wives but boys are expendable, even a liability. In this powerful and heartbreaking account, former FLDS member Brett Jeffs reveals both the terror and the love he experienced growing up on his prophet's compound - and the harsh exile existence that so many boys face once they're expelled from the sect.

The most memorable FLDS member in current time is past leader Warren Jeffs who is now in prison for multiple offenses. Brett Jeffs is his nephew and could have grown up to have multiple wives and power within the church. After realizing that there were darker secrets behind the church's pious public image he walked away and was the first to file sexual abuse charges against his uncle.

He shares the history of the Mormon church and startling details of his own life growing up in a polygamous family. He describes how harsh and isolated life was and the fact that his uncle, the prophet, maintained absolute power and could change the rules at will and often did. Their religion demanded complete obedience with no individuality and the reality of the outside world was distorted and viewed as evil. Since multiple wives are encouraged, young men are seen as competition and are often cast out unprepared for the real world. They frequently turn to drugs and alcohol and suffer emotional and psychological distress.

Eventually Brent Jeffs left the church with his whole family, which was highly unusual, but continued to live a polygamous life. This is usually hard to do outside of the FLDS. Fortunately they had the love and support of each other, which is also unusual. Brett Jeffs repressed memories of his uncle molesting him and other boys ages 5-7, eventually led him to press charges against him. He tells of his own struggles into adulthood and what has become of him and his family members. He has also helped establish support for other lost boys so their own transition may be easier than his was.

I was fascinated by the insight Brent Jeffs provided into the FLDS. It's sickening to realize how much power an individual can have over so many other lives and the corruption that was involved under the guise of religion and God. I'll be curious to see how these lost boys and others from the community will fare in the future. I hope that this man's courage will help them to all have an easier life. If this is a topic of interest I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for a copy of this book.

Publisher: Broadway Books
Release date: 5/19/09
Pages: 256
Price/format: $24.95/hardcover
Type: memoir

Blog Tour: Stray Affections by Charlene Ann Baumbich

So joyous...
so magical...

ABOUT THIS BOOK

The last thing that Cassandra Higgins expects out of her Sunday is to be mesmerized at a collectors’ convention by a snowglobe. She’s enjoying some mommy time, with husband Ken at home tending their brood of four young boys, when she’s utterly charmed by the one-of-a kind globe containing figures of three dogs and a little girl with hair the color of her own. She can’t resist taking the unique globe home– even if means wrestling another shopper for it!

The beautiful snowglobe sparks long-dormant memories for Cassie, of her beloved Grandpa Wonky, the stray she rescued as a child, and the painful roots of her combative relationship with her mother, “Bad Betty” Kamrowski. Life in Wanonishaw, Minnesota is never dull, though, and Cassie keeps the recollections at bay, busy balancing her boys, her home daycare operation, and being a good friend to best pal Margret. But after a strange–flurrious, as Cassie deems it–moment happens with the remarkable snowglobe, Cassie and the people she loves are swirled into a tumultuous, yet grace-filled, and life-changing journey.

With the quirky, close-knit Midwestern small-town feel that made Charlene Ann Baumbich’s acclaimed Dearest Dorothy novels so popular, Stray Affections invites you to experience the laughter and the healing of second chances.

This book is available September 15th and is the first of three books from the set, A Snowglobes Connections.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
is a popular author and speaker and an award-winning journalist. In addition to her Dearest Dorothy series of novels, she has written seven nonfiction books of humor and inspiration. A bungee-jumping, once motorcycle-owning grandma and unabashed dog lover, Charlene lives with her husband and rescued dog Kornflake in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. She loves telling stories, laughing whenever possible, and considers herself a Wild Child of God.

Links:
Video of Charlene introducing her book.
To purchase
Author website

Thank you to Waterbrook Multnomah for the invitation to be in this tour!
Blog Tour September 7-11
National Dog Week September 20-26

I'm still reading, and enjoying, this book. My review is coming soon!

We will never forget...

So, I was just wondering....

Last week I asked how you classified your blogs and there were lots of great answers again. If you didn't read them go check them out (go ahead, I'll wait!), you'll learn some interesting things about our fellow bloggers. This is so much fun hearing from all of you!

This time, I have something to show you. I had a big box full of goodies waiting on my porch last week. Well, you all know how exciting that can be! Yay, books! But when I got a little closer I saw that it wasn't in the best condition.




EEK!!!















It was just sitting there, no note, no invoice and barely held together. I didn't even have to open it to get the books out! Fortunately they were all there (I think) and in pretty good shape with only a few dings and bends on some covers. It certainly didn't make them any less readable.















I've had a few strange packages over the years, torn envelopes, empty envelopes and damaged boxes. I even got a letter once that had my name, town and U.S.A. There wasn't a street, state or zip code but it still got to me. I wonder how long that one took? Overall, we get pretty good service here from our mail woman, UPS man, FedEx man, etc. It's a small town and everyone knows everyone. I will be asking my UPS man about that box though the next time I see him. How about you? Have you ever received strange packages in your mail?