Year End Wrap-Up... Happy New Years

Well All,
Today is the last day of 2013... So much has happened this past year. It will be the One Year Anniversary for Just Jeannie's Books & Bling tomorrow... I can't believe a year has already passed. I will be having a special giveaway along with the monthly contest for January to celebrate. So I want to highlight some of the great Blog/Book things I did this year and I will also Highlight some great personal highlights also.

Blog Highlights

So much has happened this year and it has been a great year for Just Jeannie.s... I started my monthly giveaways and think I have given away some great book related prizes. I plan to keep this going and be better organized this year (that is the goal). I have currently 81 Goggle followers and 22 email readers and 181 Facebook likes. I think that is awesome and I love and appreciate everyone of you. I have been to two out of state book events this year... Fredrick Book Festival where I met some wonderful authors and even Bunny Joy for Joyfully Reviewed.

I also went to Lora Leigh's RAW for the 1st time where I had a blast carpooling and enjoying our love of books with another new friend Jane...She made the Drive to Maryland Fun and I am glad to have met her. I also met some new friends... That is one thing I love about books is that they allow people to normally don't have anything in common to have a common ground.  Raw was a blast and I plan on going back in September. I again met wonderful authors and seeing Carrie Ann and Ranae again was a great thing...Meeting Sylvia Day was totally awesome I have loved her books for years, I can't wait to go back.

I took part in a couple hops... I plan on taking part in more in 2014... I also did a couple Cover Reveals for some great authors (I admit I am a Cover Whore... Love me a great Cover). I joined a couple Street teams and proud to help out authors that I love.  For 2014 I plan on posting more reviews... I really slacked on posting reviews this year. I have read tons of great books but I am committed to posting more reviews in 2014. I don't have anyone helping me as it is just me... Maybe that will change later in the year as I might add one or two reviewers.

I am already planning on going to 2 book events I might be going to AAD as it is in Charlotte this year. I have big plans for Just Jeannie's so look forward to more reviews, more prizes, and even more bling.

Personal Highlights

Well Personally this has been a pretty good year. I graduated with my Bachelors in Accounting in November, I feel like I actually accomplished something.
I turned 30 and feel like the best is just starting.
Hubby and I had our 10 year wedding anniversary and  our boys Davey turned 10 and JonJon turned 4.
The greatest feeling is making our boys wishes come true so when Davey said he wanted to go Zip-lining for his birthday Hubby and I put on our adult undies and said ok... It was the greatest thing ever. Plan on going again. We had some great times with the VFW and Marine Corps League... Supporting the Military and our Veterans is important to Me and My family as Hubby is a Disabled Veteran and Served 8 Years in the Marine Corps. We had ups and downs but the Ups this year where much better than the Downs. So here is a couple Personal Highlight Pictures.

As you can see this year has been full of greatness and My plan for 2014 involves more family time, getting a great accounting job, taking my CPA Exam and tons of books.

Here is hoping your 2013 was great and wishing you nothing but the best in 2014.

Always 

Jeannie

Quick Christmas Reads

Here are some quick Christmas Reads that I thought were very good. And $0.99 is a great price for these books... Here is three of my favorite Genres Military Romance, Erotic, and Paranomal. I enjoyed all these books however... Have to say that Helen Scott Taylor's The Army Doctor's Christmas Baby was my favorite.

Amazon

Amazon

Amazon

Merry Christmas Everyone

I hope that everyone one has a blessed holiday... If you are traveling, travel safe, If you are staying home stay warm and enjoy yourself. If you are missing someone even if they are no longer here know they are still with you in your heart. From My family to Yours I wish you nothing but Happiness and A great Holiday Season.

My December Contest still has a few days left on it so Make sure to enter for your chance to win one of two amazon gift cards. Again have a blessed Holiday.

Much Love

Jeannie

ARC Review Noelle's Wish by Nicole Garcia

Description 

Noelle Andrews has had an abusive past and another bittersweet Christmas is here. Noelle's wish is a simple one. To be loved. To Noelle that wish is as unattainable as the stars in the cold winter sky. Roman Parker is young, sexy, and an entrepreneur. The CEO of Parker Industries is a man who thought he had everything he wanted. That was until he met Noelle. Can Roman make Noelle's dreams come true? Or will her past prevent her from having the only thing she has ever wished for?

My Review

This is a Christmas story that shows that anyone can overcome their deepest heartaches and even tragic pasts. Noelle is a withdrawn girl who had an abusive childhood which left her scared both emotionally and physically. She meets Roman by chance at the company Christmas party and the chemistry is instant. A little blackmail involving a book, job and a date gives these two the nudge they need to start on the path to happy ever-after.  I have to say I enjoyed this Christmas read and can't wait to read more from Nicole Garcia. 

I rate this book 5 out of 5 Genie Lamps

You can buy this book from Barnes & Noble Amazon

* I received a copy of this book from the author in return for my honest review. 

ARC Review Trevor by Krystal Shannan

Description
Trevor MacLaughlin has been in love with his sister's best friend for years. But, he lets her move away to college without ever telling her how he felt and hasn't seen her since.

Now, years later, a second chance with the woman of his dreams practically falls into his lap.

Will he take a leap of  faith and tell her how he feels? How he's always felt? Or will the woman he knows is meant to be his slip through his fingers a second time?

My Review
I have to say that I truly enjoyed this book... it is a fast read but felt complete there wasn't any real gaps. Trevor and Lorelei are truly meant to be together.

I like how strong and feisty Lorelei was even though she did have her doubts but she took a stand and told Trevor what she wanted and how she felt. Love that. Also Popcorn Balls is my new favorite saying.

Even though they seem to take things fast they have known each other for many years both hiding their true feelings. I love how they were thrown together and the ending was just perfect. What a wonderful short story which has the perfect Christmas Feel showing the acceptance of Family, Love and Happy Ever After.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 Genie Lamps

You can buy this book from Amazon Barnes & Noble

* I was given this book by the author in returns for my honest opinion.

Review Viking Fire By Andrea R. Cooper

Description 

856 CE, Ireland is a land of myth, magic, and blood. Viking raiders have fought the Irish for over half a century. Rival Irish clans promise only betrayal and carnage.

Kaireen, daughter of Laird Liannon, is suddenly forced into an arranged marriage with her sworn enemy, a Viking. She refuses to submit. With no mention of love, only land and the protection of her clan, she endeavors to get her betrothed banished from her country. Will love find its way around her stubborn heart?

Bram the, Viking, finds himself without future or inheritance as a younger son in his family. A marriage to the Laird's daughter would grant him land if he swears fidelity and if his men will fight along with the Liannons against any foe- Irish or Viking. However, the Laird's feisty daughter only holds animosity for him and his kind. Is marriage worth the battle scars or such a relentless opponent?

With the blame for a rivals laird's death treacherously set against the Liannons, Kaireen and Bram must find a way to lay aside their differences as an unforeseen darkness sends death snapping at their heels.  

My Review

First off let me tell you that I really liked this book. It wasn't the typical Viking "Romance" novel. It had a good back story and the characters were pretty well rounded.

Kaireen the heroine is strong, feisty, and determined however she is also very stubborn and in all honesty kind of a brat. I didn't really care for her spoil rottenness but thankfully she outgrew that. She does get kinda sulky but sometimes you got to be knocked down a peg to be able to see things in perspective. I enjoyed her character but the whining and why me did get to me a bit.

Bram is the hero and he is very much a Viking however he is respectful and has a good heart. He is determined to marry Kaireen and make things work, you have to root for him because he is the perfect hero.

The secondary characters are also very well rounded and make this book very enjoyable and having a bit of drama and mystery is always good in a book. Elva is very important in the book she is always there right when you actually "need" her, however I won't spoil anything but she tends to be one of my favorites in this book .

This book has everything you could ask for, Romance, Feisty Heroine, Strong Hero, Well rounded characters, action, mystery and even a bit of magic. Viking Fire was the first book by Andrea R Cooper that I have ever read and I have to say I am impressed and will be reading more of her books. This book reminded why I like a good traditional Historical once in a while.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 Genie Lamps

You can buy this book from Amazon Barnes & Noble

* I received this book from the author in return for my honest opinion.

December Monthly Contest

Happy Holidays All

So I can't believe this is the last month of the year and I have been blogging for almost a year :) Wow that is crazy. So I was planing on putting together an awesome little basket for Decembers contest but that didn't happen. 

Soooo Instead I am offering two Amazon Gift Cards... I don't care what the winners buy with them though hopefully they will use them for books or ebooks and support their favorite authors. 

How do you enter... Easy the Rafflecopter tells you what to do... Nothing to hard you don't have to do them all... Even if you just do the freebie that is great because it means you stopped by :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
From My family to yours I want to wish you Happy Holidays and hope you have a Blessed Holiday 

November Winner

Hey All so the Winner of Novembers Contest has been picked by the Handy Dandy Rafflecopter...

This Months Winner is... Drum Roll Please 

 Krista Startzman

Winner has been emailed... They have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be picked.