2009!

The Spy Who Came To Christmas by David Morrell

I adore Christmas books and often spend most of December reading as many as I can get my hands on. They are usually short and often sappy but that's all part of the magic. I will try almost all of them and like the majority of them. I was very anxious to try this story The Spy Who Came To Christmas by David Morrell. It sounded like an interesting story and was written by "the father of the modern action novel". Although I don't usually chose spy stories it sounded like a good combination.

This book plays off the traditional Christmas story of the birth of the baby Jesus and an undercover agent who is protecting an infant they are calling The Child of Peace. Paul Kagan is on the run on Christmas Eve in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is injured and seeking refuge for himself and the baby. The cities annual light displays and holiday celebration draws in many people and allows Paul some temporary cover as he is being pursued by the Russian mafia. But soon he is forced to chose a hiding spot and in doing so he involves an innocent family. A mother and her young son are enduring their own hardships from domesticate abuse when Paul uses their home for shelter. He is reluctant to involve them but has no choice. Now he must enlist their help to keep them all alive.

I did like the suspense throughout the story and enjoyed how the author used the main character to retell the story of Christ's birth with a new twist. He included spies in his version to explain some elements of the Christmas story. I did find some aspects of the original story too convenient and unrealistic. It may have been because the story was only about 230 pages and there may not have been as much time to develop some of the points I had issues with. One example was whenever Paul needed any type of tool, or anything for that matter, it was always right at his fingertips. Need a hammer? It's in the drawer on your left. Need wire? It's in the drawer on the right. Tape? Tin foil? 20 piece socket set? Crock pot? Lawn mower? In the drawers here, here and there. OK, I might have exaggerated a little but only about the tape. Seriously, we can never find a roll of tape in our house no matter how many rolls I buy! Which brings me back to my point. Even under the best of times it's hard to find certain items on demand but these people were under duress and they still didn't have to move to get to anything. That's hardly a major problem but it's the details that were mishandled at times in my opinion.

It was also hard to believe some of the quick personality changes of the characters involved. I don't want to give anything away but there were some instant changes at critical moments that were hard to believe. It felt like it was more about tying up loose ends than staying true to the characters. I'm not familiar with the author's regular work but I have a feeling that in his full length spy novels he has the time to work out details like this in a more realistic fashion.

All and all it was an enjoyable and intense story that kept me turning the pages. I'm glad I tried something different this year. It did have a nice message and some very likable characters. I think I'll read a sappy one now since it's still vacation!

Perfect on Paper wins!

Perfect on Paper by Maria Murnane has won at Book Bloggers Top 10 of 2008 in the women's literature category! It got the most votes of ANY book!

Congratulations!!

Sweet Saturday - Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Fudge

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CHIP FUDGE

(Makes 3 dozen pieces or about 2 pounds)

2 cups (12 oz. package) Hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can (14 oz.) Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash salt
1 cup Reese's peanut butter chips

Line 8-inch square pan with foil. In heavy saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and salt; blend well. Remove from heat. Add peanut butter chips, stir just to distribute chips throughout mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm. Remove from pan, peel off foil. Cut into squares. Store tightly covered in refrigerator.

The Kreativ Blogger Award

(So sorry that this took me forever to finish!)


Michele at A Reader's Respite (which I love to visit!) has nominated this blog for best quote in the header. What an honor! Thank you Michele, I do love that quote. Now it's on to my selections.



Six values or characteristics that are important to me:
1) A sense of humor. It's better to laugh than to cry!
2)Kind heart. Be kind to everyone and everything. Why not?
3)Be generous. Give of yourself, whether through time, money, hand-me-downs - just give. Someone always needs more than you do.
4)Be a good friend. There's nothing better.
5)Be respectful. Everyone deserves it no matter their age or station in life. To get it you must give it.
6)Love well. We all have someone we love. Love them with all your heart, always.

Six values or characteristics that I find hard to tolerate:
1)Selfish
2)Mean
3)Lazy
4)Rude
5)Liar
6)Know it all

Best blog to work side by side with is Pudgy Penguin Perusuals. Kaye and I started blogging at the same time and she has been holding my hand all the way here. Thank you Kaye!

Cleverest blog is NW Designs. I saw Cynthia the Nap Warden's work when she redesigned Reading With Monie's blog. She does custom blog design and someday I'm going to hire her to do mine!

One of the first people to be nice to this newbie was J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog . As busy as she must be she has always been helpful and kind and visits often. She also has an amazing blog.

I'm always finding new places that are very cool but the newest cool place is Jill's/Softdrink's Fizzy Thoughts. I get the impression that it's just fun, fun, fun all the time!

I know you just got tagged for Christmas but you're getting it again Anna and The Girl! Diary of an Eccentric has one of the best blogging duos I've seen. Great job ladies!

Worducopia has such a nice look to it. I love the blue color and the silver pens in the header. It looks great and it is great. I enjoy your posts too Ali!




nominees: you are to go forth and follow these simple guidelines:

Mention the blog that gave it to you.
Comment on her blog to let her know you have posted the award.
Share 6 values that are important to you.
Share 6 things you do not support.
Share the love with six other wonderful blogging friends.

For my birthday boy...

Happy birthday to my oldest son. As I glance at the clock it was 20 years ago today, almost to the minute that he was finally born. I say finally because even though he was almost three weeks early, I had been in labor for 10 days by the time I had him. My doctor decided that he would be fine if he was born at that time so they wouldn't try to prevent it but they weren't going to help things along either. The longer I could last the bigger he would get so we let nature take it's course. For me it felt like a long course. I had no clue what real labor was. It was painful enough for me and I was begging my baby to be born. It felt like forever but all 5 lbs. 10 oz. of his tiny but healthy body finally made it's way into the world and the next 20 years have flown by in the blink of an eye. I know it's a cliche but it's so true. Where does the time go?

His personality has been very much like his birth, stubborn, pushy, resistant to following directions, glorious, determined, on his terms, magnificent, loving, gorgeous, stubborn and stubborn. He was our first child, the first grandchild and one of the three most beautiful, amazing children ever born. (Can you guess how many kids I have?) He is so handsome and charming with his sweet grin. He's gotten away with a lot of things over the years because of that grin. He is an amazing athlete and very bright although school has never been a priority for him and many report cards have reflected that. The first three years of high school were a constant battle over his grades and homework. I have several bald patches on my head that I owe to him. I was constantly tearing my hair out. He was also the typical oldest child and bossed and bullied his younger brothers constantly. (I'm so glad I never did that!)

But something happened during his senior year. He started to change. Friends had reassured me that it would get better, we would survive the teen years. Although I definitely looked forward to that I didn't want to wish the time away. Their childhoods were already zipping past at warp speed. As he really began to enjoy his last year in high school he also became more mature. He has a nice group of friends and they are close classmates. Graduation was very emotional and bittersweet. We were thrilled he had graduated but so sad to see it happen. And although his college was only two hours away, taking him there was one of the saddest days of my life. Such a huge milestone for all of us. I missed him terribly but I was happy for his new found independence. This was an important time in his life and I would do anything to make it a great one.

So something more happened that first year. He began to appreciate his home and his family. He called home just to say hi. He replied with "I love you too" at the end of our chats. He was more helpful when he was on break. (I said more helpful. He's still a slob!) He even offered to do things without being asked. When he transferred schools and decided to work full time for the summer and fall semester to save up some money he returned home to live. I was thrilled. Especially with his younger brother leaving for college that year. Two sons leaving home one year after the other was going to be agony for me. It's only a ten minute drive to his work and will take even less time to drive to his campus when the next semester starts. He loved having his own place but he will again soon. He will have a lifetime of utility bills and mortgage payments. I was proud that he chose wisely and even more proud when he became a responsible worker. This is his first full time job and he is very dedicated. He's never late and he works hard. He's even saved some money. He calls home before he leaves to see if we need milk or if his youngest brother wants a ride. He calls if he won't be home for dinner. Now, I did say more responsible. He's still a young man and he acts like one. He still argues with his brothers and fights over the remote control. He still leaves his dirty clothes on the floor and his dirty dishes on the coffee table. He takes too long in the bathroom and doesn't notice when the dog dish is empty. But I am grateful for even those issues. Because in the grand scheme of things, they are so small. And I know I will actually miss even those things someday.

Happy birthday to my son, my sweet baby, my little boy, my young man. You and your brothers are my everything. I love you with all my heart.

December 22, 2008