I Made It!!

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Hope everyone else had a great reading year as well!!

A Letter to My Readers

Dear Readers,

As you might have noticed I’ve been rather absent of late. My husband and I have received some devastating news, and it’s time for me to hang up my blogging boots and focus on my family. So sadly I will be shutting down A Simple Love of Reading just before I reach my fifth year. I, of course, will continue with my love of reading, unfortunately just not here anymore. I will be doing one more 12 Days of Christmas to end the year on a high note starting December 11th.

I hope you all enjoy my choices this year, and am grateful for those who stuck around to read my posts and reviews for this long.

Be happy and healthy, and never, ever pass up a hug or a kiss from someone you love.

The 12 Days of Christmas Preview

On the 12th Day of Christmas: Favorite Books of 2014

On the 11th Day of Christmas: Awesome Covers of 2014

On the 10th Day of Christmas: Sequels I Can’t Wait to Read in 2015

On the 9th Day of Christmas: Favorite Couples of 2014

On the 8th Day of Christmas: Books That Surprised Me (in a good way)

On the 7th Day of Christmas: New Series I want to Start

On the 6th Day of Christmas: Series I finished in 2014

On the 5th Day of Christmas: Books to Film I Want to See

On the 4th Day of Christmas: Authors I Read for the First Time

On the 3rd Day of Christmas: Debut Authors I Want to Read

On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Books That Made Me Cry

On the 1st Day of Christmas: Best Loved book of 2014

From My Family to Yours

Vacation Time!

Hello, my lovely readers!

I won't be around this week due to the fact that I am on VACATION!! YAY!! What makes it even better is the fact that Sarah and her god-daughter came to visit me again! (They arrived at 2am this morning!) Traveling all the way from Alberta, Canada to me here in Ontario, Canada. It's a three day trip by car, and this is the second time they have done it! We're not doing anything too special, just some day trips here and there with everyone enjoying our time together.

I'll be sure to sneak some reading time in there somewhere too! ;)

See y'all next week!

We Are Silent

Please join me today, April 17th as I take a Vow of Silence for the children who cannot speak for themselves.

Our silence will be their voice.

Around the world, there are those whose voices are not heard. They are the girls who are denied an education because of gender inequality, school fees or the need to stay home and care for younger siblings. They are the child labourers or the children growing up in poverty. They are the students who are bullied at your school.

Every one of them has a voice that needs to be heard. Take a silent stand so they can speak out.

It's My Blogoversary & Giveaway!

Four years ago today, a few hours earlier than it is now, I decided to do a little something more with my love for reading. Reading got me through my awkward pre-teen years when we moved to a new city, and I had to start at a new school in the middle of the school year.  Everyone already had their cliques and friends by this point and I found that I never really fit in anywhere.  But I could lose myself in the pages of a book and there I always felt welcome. Years later, I thought I’d share my continued love for reading and my thoughts about the books I read, because really…owning over 1000 books…I really just wanted to lavish others in the greatness that is loving books. And although my reviews might not be as articulate or as brilliant and intelligent as my fellow bloggers, I still love sharing my excitement and joy over books.

Along the way I have met a wonderful bunch of people. Maybe not always face to face, but through social media we have become connected by our love of books. Amazing authors and even more amazing bloggers have helped me along the way and I am eternally grateful. 

I had a great reading year this year, and I made my goal of 100 books!

In honor of my Blogoversary I’m having a giveaway!! One winner can choose any one of the books that I read in 2013, you can find my list HERE. There are also my 2013 Twelve Days of Christmas posts for another look at the books that I really loved this year.

So here it is:
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Merry Christmas!

A Howling Great Welcome!

I was having a bit of a (ok, a huge) bummer of a day today at work, but yesterday I received one of those "post office pick-up" slips in the mail box yesterday. I didn't know what it was, only that I had received something too big to fit into the superbox on my street.

I was not expecting this at all!! Author Jordan Deen was kind enough to let me join her Wolf Pack (Street Team) and this was the INCREDIBLE welcome pack I received...

The anticipation begins:

Excitement level rising:

OH WOW!

A close up of the contents: 
(I somehow forgot to include my paperback of Breaking Lauren which is signed!)

The coolest necklace ever, I totally wore this for the rest of the day at work:

The cuteness on the reverse:

And the pretty:

Thank you so much, Jordan!  You are amazing and I cannot wait for Full Moon!

Stained Book Launch with Cheryl Rainfield & Giveaway

So today in Toronto, Cheryl Rainfield celebrated her newest release STAINED and I was luckt enough to attend the event. I was a little early (ok, about an hour early), but I wasn't the only one! Cheryl was already there and she was kind enough to come over and talk with me for a bit. We spoke of books and my love of photography, and never once did she make me feel like a goob for gushing about pictures instead of books! I usually get really nervous when I am in the presence of authors, but Cheryl was so down-to-Earth and approachable that I felt like I was talking to a friend. Cheryl puts a lot of herself--her personal experiences with abuse and her strength--into her books making them both emotional and captivating reads. Her stories are gritty and honest, I hope one day you all get the chance to experience her writing.

HERE is my review of STAINED
HERE is my review of SCARS 
HERE is my review of HUNTED 

I picked up a few extra goodies from the swag pile so I could share them with you! There will be two winners, each will receive 1 (one) signed bookmark and 1 (one) wrist band that says: Sometimes You Have to Be Your Own Hero and Love Yourself. Truer words have never been spoken.  Giveaway is open to Canadian and US addresses only. Entrants must be 13 years or older to enter.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Canada Day!!

Happy Birthday Canada!

Happy Mother's Day

To all my fellow mothers out there, I hope you have a wonderful day!

Photo taken by Amy Stewart

Happy New Year!!

I Almost Forgot...

That's right folks! A Simple Love of Reading has turned THREE! Can you believe it? I'd like to thank all of my readers for your support!

Be sure to come on back to visit on January 6th, 2013 for my

12 Days of Christmas and Blogoversary Giveaway!

Merry Christmas Eve!

I wish you all wonderful holiday gatherings with friends and family, filled with warmth and happiness.

This is a favorite Christmas image of mine; Star of Wonder by Trisha Romance.

Sundays with Sarah (23)

To find out more about Sarah and this feature go here.

Today will not be a Sundays with Sarah post.

Timothy Faust/Flickr

Sarah and I would like to send out our condolences to each and every individual affected by the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut that occurred on Friday November 14, 2012. God bless everyone mourning the loss of a loved one this weekend. Words never seem to be enough. To be taken in such a cruel way, to lose someone so quickly, is nothing short of devastating.

And if I go, while you’re still here… Know that I live on, Vibrating to a different measure Behind a thin veil you cannot See through. You will not see me, So you must have faith. I wait for the time when We can soar together again, Both aware of each other. Until then, live your life to its fullest And when you need me, Just whisper my name in your heart, …I will be there. ~ Emily Dickinson

and

The Apocalypse Tour Came to Barrie!

It's the End of the World - Let's Read! Ontario authors Leah Bobet, Megan Crewe, Lesley Livingston, Maureen McGowan and Cheryl Rainfield (unfortunately Courtney Summers could not make this stop on the tour) shared their recent apocalyptic and dystopian teen novels.

Sorry for the blurry image!  My camera decided a flash was not needed!

It was wonderful to meet and listen to all of these amazing authors! I could not find a babysitter so my boys got dragged along with me, and these wonderful ladies were so kind and patient when Caden and Liam began to get impatient with the idea of sitting still for such a long time!

Swag Lesley received from one of her foreign publishers (sorry it has slipped my mind who she mentioned)!

Remembrance Day

I know this is late for today, but I hope everyone took a moment to remember those who fought for our freedom in the past, and those that are still fighting today.