Peeking Between the Pages

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Sunday Ramblings/Book Winners & My Blogiversary with Giveaway! (Open Int’l)

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Happy Blogiversary Mommy!

Happy Sunday everyone!  What’s everybody up to this weekend – anything good?  Well it has been absolutely beautiful here.  I think spring may be here but I don’t want to speak to soon because March can bring some scary weather.  So far so good though.  Sam has been enjoying splashing in and out of the puddles.  Buddy would steer clear of puddles – he was never one to get his paws wet or dirty.  Sam however goes right through them and consequently found himself in the bathtub yesterday afternoon.  On a good note, he no longer seems able to toss his chunky self over the side of the tub.  lol.

So on to my blogiversary!  Can you believe it has been 4 years already! I started this book blog as a way to record my thoughts on books and I thought it would be fun.  It has evolved into so much more for me as I’ve met so many great people through this wonderful book community we all share.  I have come away with two very best friends and a lot of others – people who have been there when things weren’t all that good when Buddy passed and sent me caring thoughts and even through health scares.  It’s amazing how an email from one of you can make things seem not so bad.   There are just so many of you out there that I call friends now and I’m grateful for each and every one of you.   I have no intention of shutting this blog down anytime soon so I imagine I’ll still be here years from now with my bifocals on and blogging away!

Book reading is going well.  I’ve been so lucky to be reading a lot of great historical fiction lately and I’ve been in heaven.  The other day I reviewed The Turning of Anne Merrick by Christine Blevins and I loved it!  Now I’m just finishing up The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau and here’s another one that had me enthralled from pretty much the first page.  Of course it may have something to do with the fact that it’s centered around the Tudor period which is my ultimate favorite.  Either way it’s a fantastic book.  I’ve also started How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donohue which is completely in the opposite vein of The Crown but I’m loving it too.  There is nothing that makes me happier (except Sammy) when it seems all the books I pick up keep me interested and liking them.  Here’s the schedule for the week…

 

Monday – Review of The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau & Giveaway
Tuesday – Book Spotlight/Giveaway of The Reeducation of Cherry Truong by Aimee Phan
Wednesday – Review of How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donohue and because I’m reading an ecopy and have a brand new copy – it will be shared with all of my readers.
Thursday – Gone With the Wind Discussion with Naida from the Bookworm (note to self – must get caught up with this!)
Friday – Review of The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot & Giveaway

Another busy week but so far the weekend is wide open except for Sunday of course where I’ll post something about Sammy.  There’s a lot of reading this week but I’ve already got a head start so it’s not so bad.  Plus it seems as though the spring weather has spurred my reading on.

 

Now for some book winners from this week:

Paris, My Sweet by Amy Thomas — Rachel W

By the King’s Design by Christine Trent — Patricia B (pbcharley)

Night Swim by Jessica Keener — Tiffany D

Congrats to you all!  These will be coming to you from the publishers.  Enjoy!

 

BLOGIVERSARY GIVEAWAY DETAILS — OPEN INTERNATIONALLY!

On to my giveaway for my blogiversary celebrating 4 years!  I tried to think of something amazing but my creative side wasn’t coming out at all so I’m just going with the simple but nonetheless showing my appreciation to all of you who continue to follow my blog and for those who have faithfully been with me for many years now.

I’m going to give away 2 – $25 gift certificates.  It will be your choice whether you want it from Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Chapters, or in the case of The Book Depository you can pick out what you’d like for up to $25 as I don’t believe they have gift certificates yet.  This all depends on where you live of course as this giveaway is open internationally!  If the book depository ships to you then you are welcome to enter!  To enter…

  • For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do, thanks so much and let me know so I can make sure that entry gets to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word!
  • For 4 entries, follow my blog on Networked Blogs.  You can click here to be taken directly there.  Log into your Facebook account and click follow.  Thanks!  If you already do, the entries are yours as well.
  • For extra kicks follow me on Twitter for 5 entries.  And on Facebook for 6 entries, Google+ for 7 entries.

Whew!  Remember you don’t have to do all of these to get an entry but I do appreciate anywhere that you all do follow my blog – I’m just giving you the options!    This giveaway is open to all of my followers internationally.  Again, if  The Book Depository ships to you, you can enter. I will be drawing for the 2 winners on Saturday, April 7/12.  Good luck!

Thanks again for all the happy blogging years and thanks to all of you that loyally check my blog!  I appreciate you all so much!

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Comments

  1. Happy blogoversary! *throws confetti*

    +1 GFC follower (Birgit)
    +1 Networked Blogs (Birgit Lehner)
    +1 FB friend (Birgit Lehner)

    danaan at gmx dot at

  2. Congratulations on (4) terrific years. [I’ll be 4 as well in June]…I’ve enjoyed your blog from my early days of blogging Dar, and your Buddy and Sammy features through the years have been so fun.

    I’d love a chance to win! Follower, of course!
    bibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com

  4. Hey Babe, Happy Blogiversary!!!
    I think I “met” you shortly after you started, because I have known you (as a blogger) for over 3 yrs. I think you are my oldest blogger friend!

    Great giveaway!

    I will post on my sidebar
    I am a follower

    forevereading at gmail dot com

  5. Congratulations on 4 years of blogging. I’ve been following on Google for some time now, and have lucky enough to win a book now and then. Thanks for this generous giveaway. I know exactly what book I’d buy from Amazon.
    lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

  7. 4 years Dar! Doesn’t it seem like yesterday? Here’s to many more!

    GFC follower
    FB friend
    Networked blog follower

    Honestly, I’m not stalking you, lol.

  8. There was a Twitter discussion the other day about how many of us are in that 3 to 4 year period of having blogs. A whole ton of us. And what amazes me is that we are all still here, as a testament I think to the support we provide each other. If I got so busy and had no time to read books, I think I’d still blog just to stay in touch with everyone. And I’m crossing my fingers with your bloggiversary giveaway. Last year I won and I used the gift card to buy my Crockpot cookbook, which is the most used thing in my kitchen!

  9. How exciting! Congrats on your blogiversary 🙂 It sounds like you’ve been reading some really good books. I must have missed your review of The Turning of Anne Merrick but I’m off to find your thoughts on it 🙂 Congratulations again Darlene! Hope you have many more blogiversarys to come!

  10. Happy Blogiversary Darlene! It has been great getting to know you. It is 4 years for me too.
    Enjoy those puddles Sammy!

    I follow on GFC.
    I follow on Twitter
    I follow on Facebook

  11. Sammy actually looks like he got caught red-handed doing something naughty!! I’m so glad that the weather has been mild….it’s looking that way for us here in Michigan too!!

    Great week coming up!!

    Happy 4 Years of book blogging…here’s to many many more!

  13. Thanks for the giveaway!
    +1 I follow on gfc amandawk
    +1 Follow on twitter @amandawk
    amandarwest atgmaildotcom

  14. Happy blogversary Dar!! Your blog is among my favorites. What a great giveaway!
    It sounds like you are busy reading. I love a good historical also and have been reading those lately too.
    Enjoy your Sunday and the nice weather! Belly runs to Sammy.

  17. Congratulations and all the best. Happy fourth Blogiversary. Wonderful and enjoyable site. I subscribe via e-mail.

  29. Congrats on a very successful 4 years!
    +1 Email subscriber.
    +1 Networked blogs follower
    +1 FB
    +1 Goggle+

  31. Congrats on 4 amazing years! I love following your blog. You always talk about such interesting books. I am a GFC follower and an email follower. I also follow with Networked Blogs. I follow you on twitter and I have just sent a friend request to you on Facebook. A total of 5 entries. Really looking forward to your review of Sister Queens on Friday!

    tmrtini at gmail dot com

  33. Happy 4th Blogiversary Darlene!!

    +1: GFC won’t let me follow without the “Follow” tab at the top of a blog, so I follow your blog via email

    +1: TWEET

    +1: Networked Blog follower: Vicki Summers Newell

    +1: Twitter follower: irbratb

    +1: Facebook follower: Vicki Summers Newell

    +1: Google+ follower: Vicki Newell

  34. Happy, Happy 4th Blogaversary!!!!

    + 1 May you have many more!
    + 2 I follow your blog
    + 3 I tweeted: http://t.co/bnLmr2Ca
    + 4 entries,I follow your blog on Networked Blogs.
    +5 I follow you on Twitter for 5 as Carolee888 + 6 I follow you on Facebook
    + 7 I follow you on Google+

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

  37. HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY! Wow, four years already. May there be many, many more. As time passes, I’ll be right there with you wearing bifocals and reading and sharing in the blog world.

    Wishing you and Sammy a wonderful Sunday. I hope spring stays and you don’t have a change in weather!

    I’m a follower and:
    +1 Twitter(@wordrunner)
    +1 FB(Beth Hoffman)

  38. Congrats on your anniversary and thanks for the awesome giveaway!

    +1 for commenting
    +2,old GFC follower
    +3, I blogged, http://bit.ly/zrdXqW
    +4,I follow on networked blogs, Bodice Ripper Novels
    +5, I follow on Twitter
    +6, I follow on Facebook, Bodice Ripper Novels
    +7, I follow on Google+

    Thanks!
    niteofblu at gmail dot com

  39. Happy Blogoversary. Hope you have many, many more.

    +1,Comment
    +2,GFC Follower
    +6,Follow Facebook

  40. Happy Blogiversary! I look forward to many more years of following your blog, Dar! I look forward to Sundays especially to see what little Sammy has been up too! Thank you for offering a great giveaway!

    bthgordon(at)yahoo(dot)com

    I follow on gfc(bthgordon)

  41. Happy Blogoversary. Love your Sunday versions when you post that adorable furball of yours!
    msboatgal at aol.com

  44. Congrats on the 4 years of blogging!! I really like reading all your reviews!

    I’ve been following on Google reader.
    5678dancer(at)gmail(dot)com

  46. First, Sounds like Sam has a mind of his own, which makes you love him in a different way, but no less important…sounds like he’s definitely making inroads in your heart!

    Second, Congrats to your book giveaway winners and on your blogiversary! Wonderful!

    Third, I’d like to be entered in the giveaway for the gc to Amazon, if you please.

    I follow the blog, you on Twitter, Networked blogs, Facebook, and Google+

    I’ve shared the giveaway on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=106011006196394&id=108116422539816

    And Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SavvyVerseWit/status/178972541141008385

  48. 1. email subscriber – amhengst at verizon dot net
    2. follow on FB – amhengst
    3. GFC follower- amhengst
    4. congrats on you blogiversary YEAH : }

  49. Yay! Four years is so impressive to me when I think about all the hard work that goes into a blog.

    I follow in many ways:
    GFC, Google+: Sophia Rose
    NB&FB: Sally Michele Shaw
    esubscriber: sophiarose1816@gmail.com

    So kind of you to include a giveaway!

  51. Happy Blogiversary Dar thanks for sharing gifts wiht us!! Your blog is one of the first blogs that I found when I started my own blog. I look forward to your posts and seeing updates on Sam! I can’t believe he’s such a big boy!

    +1 comment
    +2 Following your blog
    +4 Following on Networked Blogs
    +5 Follow on Twitter
    +6 Follow on Facebook

    Looking forward to many more blogging years and friendship in the years to come!!

  52. Happy Blogiversary! Bloggin is rewarding, isn’t it? I’m impressed with how long you’ve kept it up! Here’s to many more years of happy blogging.

    And Romeo tells Sam “Arf!!!!”

  53. Sammy looks very guilty in that photo. Happy Blogiversary! I never know whether to put all of the entries in one or separate but it looks like most people are doing an all-in-one.

    +1 I follow your blog with Google as Sandra K321.
    +1 I follow on Networked blogs

    I tried following with Google+ circles, but the link takes me to iGoogle instead and I can’t seem to figure out how to add you to my circles.

  54. Happy 4th year and may you have many more!
    NOT entering just saying congratulations and happy you and Sammy are enjoying some nice outdoor time. We got over 4 inches of rain since Friday, got some nice relief for the hubs garden, planted a bit more this weekend and I am excited as my lily bulbs are finally making plants and one of my Amyrillis lilies is going to bloom any day!

  55. Happy Blogiversary! It looks like Sammy was into something there. =o) Got something on his muzzle. He posed for you, too!

    I’m not entering, just stopping in to say hi to you and Sammy, from me and Copper. Lots of hugs to Sammy!

  58. Congratulations on 4 years!!

    +1 Comment
    +2 GFC: Mary Preston Old Follower
    +4 Following on Networked blogs: Mary Preston
    +6 FB: Mary Preston
    +7 Google +: Mary Preston

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  60. Happy Blogiversary! I’m been following for ages and I can’t believe how long it’s been (I’m still young.) 😀

  61. Congratulations…
    Happy Blogoversary..Been a follower for about 3 yrs. Enjoy your posts.

    +1 Comment
    +2 Old GFC follower (Brenda Hill)
    +3 tweet
    https://twitter.com/#!/misskallie2000/status/179045784916987905
    +4 follow via on Networked Blogs (Brenda Hill)
    +5 follow via twitter(@misskallie2000)
    +6 Follow via FB (Brenda B. Hill)sent request
    +7 Follow via Google+ (Brenda Hill)

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

  67. Dar, I don’t want to enter the giveaway, as I want to give others the chance to win, I just wanted to say Happy Blogoversary! I am so glad that you are here, and that we have gotten to become such good friends. Getting the chance to really get to know you has been amazing, and I am so thankful to have you in my life. I wish you and Sammy a great week, and hope to hear from you soon. Hugs over there!

  69. Happy blogiversary, Dar! I’m happy to have come to know you through blogging. And thanks for the generous giveaway!

    I am a Follower, and I also follower through Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Networked Blogs. 🙂

  72. Congratulations Darlene. Happy Blog Anniversary to you. Thank you for sharing your love of reading and Sammy with us =)

    I am a GFC follower.
    I am a Twitter follower (@Fieryna)

  74. 1- Happy Blogiversary and thank you for the giveaway!

    2- Blog follower

    3- Tweeted on twitter.

    4- Network blog follower

    5- Twitter follower

    6- Facebook follower

    7- google+ follower

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

  77. + 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
    + 2 entries, follow my blog.
    + 4 entries, follow my blog on Networked Blogs.
    + 5 follow me on Twitter
    + 6 Facebook
    + 7 Google+

    +25 total entries
    Thanks so much for the chance to win!
    Froggy
    froggarita@gmail.com

  79. Happy Blogiversary!!! And looking forward to many more.

    I’m already a follower. I also follow on twitter and facebook.

  80. 1-I’m happy to say that I have been following you for about a year! Happy Blogiversary!
    2-I’ve been following you & Lil Sammy!
    3-I tweeted this giveaway https://twitter.com/#!/Pinchbuggies/status/180104922409336832 @pinchbuggies
    4-I follow you on NetworkedBlogs
    5-I follow you on Twitter @pinchbuggies
    6-I follow you on Facebook & I shared about the giveaway on my wall
    7-I follow you on Google+

  81. Happy Blogoversary! I’m a new follower and I can’t wait to hear more from you.

    GFC Follower
    Networked Blogs Follower
    Added you on Facebook

  84. Happy Bloggivesary Darlene.
    I know what you mean about receiving emails from friends and instantly perks up my spirits. I am so glad we have become friends and I will be blogging and chatting back with you with or without bifocals. Haven’t gotten there yet 🙂
    thanks for the contest.

    comment, follow, and Google + but I’m never on there 🙂
    You are truly a gem Darlene. {{hugs}}

  85. Happy Blogiversary! Four years is quite an achievement. Here’s to many more years of blogging and may they be ‘stressfree’. 🙂

  86. I’m a little behind on visiting and commenting :o)
    +1 Congratulations on 4 successful blogging years! I’m thrilled to read you are here for the long haul!

    +2 I follow your blog on GFC!
    +4 I follow you on Networked Blogs
    +5 I follow your Facebook Page
    +6 I follw you on Twitter!
    +7 I follow on Google+ (still learning about this one!)

    Thank you so much, Dar!
    Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

  90. Congrats to the winners!
    Looking good there Sammy!
    Happy Blogiversary Darlene! Can’t believe I missed telling you before now. I really look forward to your reviews, and your thoughts on your days.

  101. Congrats on 4 wonderful years.
    +1 Please enter me in your giveaway.
    +2 GFC follower – Jeanne.
    +3 Tweeted about giveaway – https://twitter.com/#!/momma8385/status/183282756917268480.
    +4 Follow on Networked Blogs – Jeanne Bates Tennant
    +5 Follow on Twitter @momma8385.
    +6 Facebook – Jeanne Bates Tennant.
    +7 Follow on Google+ – Jeanne Bates Tennant.
    Thank you for this awesome giveaway.
    🙂 Jeanne

  103. I have been following your blog post for at least 3 yrs and love you Sammy and Buddy posts. Both remind me of my daugters cat Samson (they live with me) as he is all black and you have to see his eyes to find him in the dark. He’s a sweetie.
    Happy Blogiversary and looking forward to many more with you.

    Old GFC follower (also IGoogle)(Brenda Hill)

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/#!/misskallie2000/status/183595957894651904

    Old follower on Networked Blogs(Brenda Hill)

    Twitter follower (@misskallie2000)

    Follower/friend on FB (Brenda B. Hill)

    Follow via Google +

  107. Happy Blogiversary!!!

    +1 Thank you for this giveaway!!!
    +2 following the blog: Veronika
    +4 following on Networked Blogs: Tw Veronika
    +5 following on twitter: twveronika
    +6 following on FB: Tw Veronika
    +7 added on Google+

    verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com

  112. Hello!

    Great blog! I enjoyed your review very much!

    I hope get all this right for the giveaway…

    + Facebook
    + Google+
    + Follow Network Blog
    + Post comment
    + Follow Blogger Blog

    Thanks so much!

    God bless!

  114. Thanks for the totally awesome giveaway, and happy blogiversary!
    I follow your blog through GFC with the name rachchan2006.