Well, this four day readathon went by as fast as this year is going! I hope you enjoyed your Christmas reading, or whatever you decided to read. I have not finished 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, but it's still Christmas in July so I'm going to keep reading. Intriguing so far. Not overly Christmas-y though.
Just add your wrap up link to the linky (it's the same linky) and add 'wrap-up' beside your name. I'll draw a winner for the prize I mentioned on the starting line post. If you don't want to be included in the giveaway drawing, please leave a comment saying so below. Thanks!
High Summer is coming up in just over two weeks! I'll have the sign-up post up in the next couple of days.
Thanks for joining me for another readathon!
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It's time for the four day Christmas in July Readathon, today through Monday July 15 (today at 12:00 am through Monday 11:59 pm Central Time).
Are you ready? Are you sticking with strictly Christmas reading, or are you going to mix it up?
This is a short and sweet starting line post. I'm not going to have a wrap up form for this short readathon. Instead, we will just use the same linky we used for sign up, starting line, and wrap up. Just place your name with each link and add the appropriate title, like so: Michelle @TrueBookAddict - Wrap Up (or starting line).
Prize
I'm offering one Christmas book of your choice (one winner) from Better World Books ($5.00 or less) to everyone who participates. They ship free internationally so anyone can win. (Please keep in mind these are used print books.)
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It's time to sign up for our four day Christmas in July Readathon coming July 12 - 15!
Of course, I hope you will read Christmas books during the readathon (at least one), but I'm not going to be a stickler about it. 🎅
I hope everyone is on board with my moving the High Summer Readathon to August. I think it works out great so we can have this separate little Christmas festivity in July. I hope you think so too.
Of course, I'm hosting my annual Christmas in July event over at my Christmas site, Christmas Spirit. Be sure to stop by. 🎄
Sign up below. Times are as usual. 12:00am on July 12 through 11:59 pm on July 15 central time (adjust times according to your time zone. There's a time zone converter in the sidebar menu if you're not sure). Grab the button from above, or it's in the sidebar with a handy grab code.
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It's over already!? Time is just flying to Christmas and the new year! I hope everyone was able to get some good reading in...Christmas or not. And remember, even if you only got a little reading in, it's still an accomplishment. You deserve a pat on the back. So, pat away!
Remember, our process has changed for wrap-ups. No more linky for wrap-up posts. Fill out the form below and indicate if you want a chance at a prize by selecting yes or no. Also, double check that your name is listed in the sign up/starting line linky at this post so you will be eligible for the giveaway. You have until Wednesday, December 5th at 11:59 pm CST to fill out the form. I will email the winners within a few days (don't kill me if I'm late!) following the deadline so keep a look out in your email inbox (or spam folder, just in case) for an email from my truebookaddict gmail account. (Prize page is here)
Once again, thank you for joining me and I hope to see you next time. Next up is Winter's Respite the whole month of January!
(If you would like others to visit your wrap-up post, please leave a comment below with the link to your wrap-up, or you can visit participants via the starting line post linky here.)
So, how is the festive reading going? The first week was a whirlwind with Thanksgiving and all. I haven't been able to do any Christmas reading, but I'm seeking to remedy that this week and next weekend.
Share your progress in the comments, or a link to your post.
Don't forget, you can keep the Christmas reading going all season long with the Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge, hosted over at my Christmas blog. It runs all the way until January 6th. Would love to have you. Here is my Christmas reading stack for this readathon and the reading challenge. I know I probably won't get to them all, but I like to have choices.
This is the giveaway/prize promotion page for all the prizes being given away for readathon participants. At the end of this post, you will find details regarding how the prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the readathon.
Note: The author of the book donated would greatly appreciate a review, if you win, on your blog and/or social media and/or on Goodreads, Amazon. Thank you! (This is not required to win.)
WINNER - JULIANE
Wishing for Wonderful by Bette Lee Crosby (One eBook - International)
A Magical and Heartwarming Romance…from a USA Today Bestselling Author of Women’s Fiction
Eleanor has loved John Gray since she was seven years old. She grew up believing they would one day get married. They didn’t. They married other people. Now they’re both single again and they’ve got a second chance at love…or do they?
There are problems. Big problems. After a disastrous love affair, John’s daughter is coming home to live and she’s got a boatload of emotional baggage.
In a delightful tale told by Cupid himself, he is charged with giving Eleanor and John the happiness they should have gotten the first time around. Before that can happen he has to do something about the daughter, which will be no easy task since she’s addicted to handsome scoundrels with sexy smiles.
This time Cupid will need more than an arrow to the heart; he’ll need a bit of magic, a sizable miracle and a homeless dog.
This revised version of Cupid's Christmas takes a heartwarming look at animal adoption with a magical twist that is flat out fun for the both the young and young at heart!
USA Today Bestselling and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby's books have been southern fiction, historical fiction, and women's fiction bestsellers. Her newest novel "The Summer of New Beginnings" will be released in March 2018 by Lake Union Publishing.
Midwest book review describes her books as "Well-crafted storytelling populated by memorable characters caught up in equally memorable circumstances."
The Seattle Post Intelligencer says Crosby's writing is, "A quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life and madcap adventures."
Samantha from Reader's Favorite raves, "Crosby writes the type of book you can't stop thinking about long after you put it down."
"Storytelling is in my blood," Crosby laughingly admits, My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.
It is the wit and wisdom of that Southern Mama Crosby brings to her works of fiction; the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away. Her work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. She has since gone on to win over twenty awards for her work including: The Royal Palm Literary Award, the FPA President's Book Award Gold Medal, Reader's Favorite Award Gold Medal, In'DTale RONE Award Winner, and the Reviewer's Choice Award.
********
Prizes from Stephanie Barko, Literary Publicist.
WINNER - MALLORY
Patchwork: A Memoir of Love and Loss by Mary Jo Doig 1 Galley copy - U.S. only
A wife and mother of a grown son and two teen daughters, a woman enjoying her career and life, Mary Jo Doig wants nothing more from life than to live out her days embraced by the deep roots of family, friends, and her community. Tightly wrapped in a life-long protective cocoon, she has no idea how wounded she is—until, on one starless night following the death of a relative, she has a flashback that opens a dark passageway back to her childhood and the horrific secrets buried deep inside her psyche.
Part mystery and part inspirational memoir, Patchwork is the riveting story of one woman who strived to live a life full of love, only to endure tragedies with two of her children and struggles in her marriages—the consequences of a mysterious life-long behavior unnoticed by her family or teachers. Like a needle stitching together a quilt, the memories Mary Jo recovers following her first flashback show her why her early years were threaded with a need to be invisible, as well as a core beliefs that she was vastly different from her peers. Shattered by these revelations, overcome by depression, hopelessness, and a loss of trust in others, Mary Jo embarks on a healing journey through the underground of her life that ultimately leads to transformation.
About the author
Twenty years ago, Mary Jo Doig moved from her beloved rural Catskill Mountain community to Virginia’s Central Shenandoah Valley. In a tiny cabin on a wooded Blue Ridge mountainside, she started to write the stories that she eventually stitched, in patchwork fashion, into her memoir. She also became, in addition to her professional human services career, a life-writing enthusiast who has supported women writing the stories of their lives as an editor, book reviewer, and facilitator of women’s writing workshops.
Her most recent story, “I Can’t Breathe,” was published in Inside and Out: Women’s Truths, Women’s Stories. Her work has also appeared in Kitchen Table Stories, LaJoie magazine, and varied anthologies and periodicals. She writes in solitude near Charolottesville, VA, in her home by a huge window that looks out at the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. She also enjoys quilting, knitting, cooking, gardening, hiking, and spending time with family and friends, as well as with her three rescue pets, each of whom dream of being an only child.
Women of a Certain Age: Short Stories of the Twentieth Century by Mindy Reed1 paperback copy - U.S. only
This short story collection is a portrait of various women throughout the twentieth century in the United States. The twentieth century was a pivotal time in America, moving from an agrarian society to the Industrial Revolution to the rise of technology. We went to war, protested for justice, moved from the farm to the city and found our voice. Women of all ages an walks of life make up the characters in these stories.
About the author
Mindy Reed is a writer, editor and the Managing Librarian for Recycled Reads at Austin Public Library.
*******
Prize from Elyse LeMieux, moderator at the 75 Books Goodreads group, and a member of our Goodreads group.
WINNERS - KATIE, MALLORY (1) (2) $5 or less Amazon Kindle 2 Winners
PRIZES FROM YOUR HOST
WINNER - Faith Hope & Cherrytea Prize One (One winner) Since it's the Season of Giving, the charity prize this time will be a donation to an organization dedicated to helping those in need. For instance, Second Harvest Food Bank, Salvation Army, Heifer International, etc. I will make a $15 donation in the winner's name. This is open internationally.
WINNER - TARA Prize Two (One winner) Winner's choice of any book title from the bargain books (these are generally used books) section of Better World Books. They ship internationally. (priced at $3.98 or less) OR a Kindle book valued at $2.99 or less.
Giveaway Details
This is a readathon participant only giveaway. To be eligible, you must have signed up, participated and added a link to the official readathon wrap-up post (I will give everyone until Wednesday, December 5th at 11:59 pm CST to complete their wrap-ups). We will no longer use a linky for wrap-ups. There will be a Google form on the readathon wrap-up post where you will enter your info, your wrap-up link, and answer yes/no on whether you want to win a prize or not. We have a total of 7 prizes. This means there will be 7 winners. I will award prizes on a first come, first served basis. I will draw the 7 winners with random.org and email all 7 at the same time. The first person who emails me back with their choice gets that prize. I will mark off the prizes as they are taken. Winners will be chosen after the wrap-up post deadline (see above).
Try to read at least one Christmas book...it is a Christmas readathon, after all. But I'm not a huge stickler for rules so if you absolutely despise Christmas books, read other books.
You do not have to have a blog. Join us from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Goodreads, etc.You can also interact with us in our Facebook group, Goodreads group and check out our Instagram.
The linky below is the same as the sign-up linky so if you've already signed up and now want to link up your reading plans, just add your link and put reading plans in parentheses (ex. Michelle (reading plans).
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via the contact form, or visit the readathon guidelines page for answers, both in the sidebar menu.
If you're checking in on social media (Twitter, Instagram, etc.) our hashtag is #CSreadathon
Just a reminder, I have eliminated the wrap-up linky and we are now just using the Google form for wrap-ups (since I require your wrap-up link there anyway). That way you don't have to do two steps at the end of the readathon. The wrap-up Google form will be on the wrap-up post instead of the prize page. I will have a yes/no so you can let me know if you're opting out of winning a prize. (If you want to visit people who participated, you can do so via the sign-up/starting line linky. I will have a link to it on the wrap-up post).
Regarding the readathon prizes, we have one prize donation from a generous author and I'm offering a couple of modest prizes, as usual. For my charity prize this time, I'm going to do as I did last year. See below...
Since it's the Season of Giving, our prize this year will be a donation to an organization dedicated to helping those in need. For instance, Second Harvest Food Bank, Salvation Army, Heifer International, etc. I will make a $15 donation in the winner's name. This is open internationally.
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If you haven't already, why not join us for the Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge, which runs all season long, you can do so at my Christmas blog, Christmas Spirit. Would love to have you! Also, my season long Christmas event kicks off over there today. I'm looking for guests so if you love Christmas and want to be my guest to tell us why (anything goes...favorite movies, books, family memories, traditions), please stop by over there and leave me a message in the contact form. Christmas is my favorite time of year! Can you tell? 🎄🎅
Readathon dates: Monday, November 19 at 12:00am CST until Sunday, December 2 at 11:59pm CST (adjust your time zone accordingly...you can access a time zone converter in the sidebar).
I am not requiring that you read only Christmas/holiday books during the readathon, but I hope you will pick up at least one holiday tale, even if it's just to read some children's books with your kids or some holiday short stories
to check in on social media, we'll use hashtag #CSreadathon
as usual, you do not have to have a blog to participate...feel free to link up and check in from Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. You can also interact with us in our Facebook group, Goodreads group and check out our Instagram.
Just a reminder, I have eliminated the wrap-up linky and we are now just using the Google form for wrap-ups (since I require your wrap-up link there anyway). That way you don't have to do two steps at the end of the readathon. The wrap-up Google form will be on the wrap-up post instead of the prize page. I will have a yes/no so you can let me know if you're opting out of winning a prize. (If you want to visit people who participated, you can do so via the sign-up/starting line linky. I will have a link to it on the wrap-up post).
Prizes: Not sure if I will get any prize donations, but I will offer a charity donation and a small book prize. If you know of any authors who would like to donate a book for a prize, send them my way. Thanks!
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Oh my, but the months are flying by! Summer is halfway over, and it's pretty much all over for me, as my sons go back to school next Tuesday! And look at us...we have another readathon under our belts.
I hope everyone enjoyed High Summer and that you were able to get a lot of reading in. We also had our four day Christmas in July Readathon at the end. I hope those of you who read Christmas-y titles felt a little bit of the spirit, as I did. Thank you all so much for joining me for another readathon!
Remember, our process has changed for wrap-ups. No more linky for wrap-up posts. Fill out the form below and indicate if you want a chance at a prize by selecting yes or no. Also, double check that your name is listed in the sign up/starting line linky at this post so you will be eligible for the giveaway. You have until Monday, August 6 at 11:59 pm CDT to fill out the form. I will email the winners within a few days following the deadline so keep a look out in your email inbox (or spam folder, just in case) for an email from my truebookaddict gmail account. (Prize page is here)
Looking forward, of course we have the month long FrightFall Readathon in October, but I'm also working on adding some extra fun (since we do love our scary...a good bit of us anyway). Every year I host two events at my horror blog, Castle Macabre. Gothic September and Season of the Witch in October. Well, the wheels are turning and I'm trying to come up with an all encompassing event that will take Castle Macabre and Seasons of Reading through a spooky autumn. Stay tuned!
Once again, thank you for joining me and I hope to see you next time.
(If you would like others to visit your wrap-up post, please leave a comment below with the link to your wrap-up, or you can visit participants via the starting line post linky here.)
It's time for our four day Christmas in July Readathon! I can't believe July has flown by so fast. Of course, I say that every month.
What are your plans? Will you read all Christmas? Will you continue on with strictly High Summer reading (which also lasts for four more days), or will you do a little of both?
I'm thinking I might squeeze in one small Christmas read, after I finish To Kill a Mockingbird. I've certainly been in a festive mood, watching Christmas movies on Hallmark and I even listened to Christmas music in the car yesterday! I've been sharing a few things over a my Christmas site, Christmas Spirit. Not as much as I wanted to, but I have four more days so will try to add a couple more Christmas-y posts. I hope you'll stop by to visit.
I hope everyone is enjoying High Summer and will enjoy the Christmas readathon as well. Happy reading, whatever you decide to read the last four days!
I hope everyone is ready for our month long event of relaxing summer reading, with a little bit of Christmas in July mixed in! (P.S. If you love Christmas, I'm hosting a month long Christmas in July event at my Christmas blog, Christmas Spirit. I hope you'll stop by!)
I have a few prizes lined up and I'll have the prize page posted by the end of the first week. I'm thinking of eliminating the wrap-up linky and just using the Google form for wrap-ups (since I require the wrap-up link there anyway). That way you won't have to do two steps at the end of the readathon. So, that means the wrap-up Google form will be on the wrap-up post instead of the prize page. I will have a yes/no so you can let me know if you're opting out of winning a prize.
Don't forget, during the last four days (Saturday thru Tuesday, July 28-31) of the readathon, we are having a Christmas in JulyReadathon! Don't worry...you do not have to participate if you're not IN to Christmas, but if you are, this is for you. Also, you can even choose to read Christmas books during the entire High Summer Readathon. I'm flexible!
If you have any questions about how things work, check out the guidelines in the sidebar menu or the sign up post, or you can always leave me a comment (or send me a message via the contact form). The linky below is the same one as the sign up linky. If you do a starting line/goal post, just add your link again, but be sure to put "goal post" beside your name, i.e. Michelle/The True Book Addict (goal post).
I will post a mid-event check in post at the halfway point. Our hashtag for the readathon is #HSreadathon Don't forget about our Facebook group and we now have a Goodreads group!
Here we go! Happy Reading!
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High Summer is almost here...less than two weeks to go! This will be our first year as a month long event. Last year, I decided to make all the seasonal 'thons a month long and everyone is loving it, including me. As I mentioned in the SciFi Summer wrap-up post, I will once again be hosting a special Christmas in July Readathon (in conjunction with the Christmas in July event at my Christmas blog) during the last four days of High Summer. So, July 28 - 31! Participation in that will be entirely voluntary and if you decide you would like to, you still don't have to do the whole four days. I'm completely flexible. Also, you can even choose to read Christmas books during the entire High Summer Readathon, or mix and match. It's up to you.
The official dates are July 1 through July 31, starting at 12:00 am Sunday the 1st, and ending at 11:59 pm on Tuesday, the 31st. That's central time (U.S.), but you can adjust your times according to your time zone (there's a time zone converter in the sidebar menu). Of course, like most readathons, the books read must be novels or novellas (adult or young adult are fine), manga, anthologies, non-fiction, and you can even read children's books (as long as you do read some novels too). Also, Christmas books this time too! You DO NOT have to participate the entire month. Join in when you can, start in the middle, end early...whatever works best for your schedule. As with all of my readathons, it will be an event of relaxed reading during which we can personally challenge ourselves and whittle away our ever looming TBRs.
Guidelines for the readathon can be found HERE or you can access in the sidebar menu. Any information regarding rules for our readathons can be found there. Please do be sure to check the guidelines to make sure you're following along correctly. There are specific rules regarding signing up and wrapping up, especially in regards to the giveaway. Also, regarding the giveaway, I'll be again adding a Google form to capture names, email addresses and a link to your wrap-up posts so if you're interested in winning a prize (and you've met the sign up and wrap up criteria), I will ask you to fill in that form which will be located on the prize page.
I will not be hosting any mini-challenges. However, if anyone else would like to host a mini-challenge or giveaway, you are more than welcome. I am also looking for prize donations so if anyone would like to contribute, let me know. Authors, this is a great way to promote your book! (Contact me via the contact tab in the menu).
Our hashtag for social media is #HSreadathon ...and we have our wonderful Facebook group that is always very lively (there is also an access tab in the menu).
Sign up in the linky below. You do not have to do a post now, unless you want to help spread the word (much appreciated). If you don't have a blog, use Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, YouTube. Having a blog is not required. Be sure to grab the button at the top of this post (there's also a grab code below the button in the sidebar. Note: the grab code is only for the High Summer button, not for the Christmas in July button).
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It seems our readathon has come to an end. I hope everyone was able to get in some good holiday...and scary...reading. I liked this added element this year. I hope you did too. I will probably continue the tradition next year.
If you are interested in putting your name in the hat to win the book prizes from Rhonda Hopkins (mentioned in the mid-event check in post here), please complete your wrap-up, link it up in the linky below, and leave a comment on this post (don't forget your email address so I can contact the winners). Good luck!
If you are still in a festive reading mood, the Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge hosted at my Christmas blog continues through January 6th (Twelfth Night). You can still sign up and participate, even up until the last week.
Sign up for January's Winter's Respite Readathon will be posted tomorrow so be sure to sign up. With our new format, it's going to be a month long. There is just something about reading in the winter, isn't there?
Thanks for joining me for another readathon! See you next time.
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