THIRD BLOGIVERSARY CELEBRATION WEEK: DAY ONE! REFLECTIONS AND QUICKIE GIVEAWAY

 THIRD BLOGIVERSARY... 

AND JUST WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

First thing this Third Blogiversay means to me is that I liked some of the things I did for my Second Blogiversary, so am doing them again...as why reinvent the wheel that is still turning?

I went back to look at what my blog meant to me on the anniversary of my second year for BOOKIN' WITH BINGO and found many things are the same, some are different, and some I really never did what I said I would do. Hmmmmm, so let's review what I said then, and how it has changed a year later....

For me, "BOOKIN' WITH BINGO" still means many things:

• It means it is a time of reflection about where my blog has been, what part it has played in my life, and where it is heading. I realized I have "virtual" friends who I have become very close to and some are closer to me than flesh and blood friends! This has not changed, and only gotten better!
• I have learned so much about computers because I didn't even know what a "blog" was before I started including a teeny bit about coding and html "stuff"! I continue to learn and improve and often surprise myself by what I can do, and frustrate myself by what I can't do!
• I have made so many wonderful connections and friends with people in the literary world.This also has gotten better and I have found some very solid people to depend on as well as others who are nice to work with.
• I have come to a point where I know will be blogging less but think enjoying it more. As I explained before, due to some personal health issues, I will still blog but not review as much or be tied into a certain deadline so that my time can be more flexible and also allow me time for more projects that I really want to pursue with books...including finally continuing my own book writing.WELL! This was true then and although my health, thank goodness, is better, I still want to blog less because as bloggers know, it takes over your life in many ways. I have come to find shortcuts in posting daily and brought in some friends to help with reviews but AGAIN, I plan on making fewer posts starting in February...let's see if I can hold to that this time!
• It means that I looked back at my first post in 2009, "Welcome to Bookin' With Bingo", and realized how simple my posting was but how some of my very first comments came from people who are still with me today, and are, in fact, some of the good "virtual" friends I mentioned. As a blogger, going back to the start is always an eye opener and fun to look at. This has not changed.
• And for me, who just loves to give books away and make people so happy, my Third Blogiversary is going to be, once again, all about "giving back" because of all you all have given to me these past three years.  REMEMBER:
    

So here is how this year's BLOGIVERSARY is going to work. I decided to highlight different  kinds of books/prizes each day this week and will have a giveaway in honor of each of  these.

There will be six more posts for this Third Blogiversary Celebration Week, one per day through Sunday, January 15, that will announce each of these "themed" giveaways that you can win...SO let's just get things started with what I want to call a "QUICKIE Three for Three Years" Giveaway!

THREE NOVELS FOR ONE WINNER BY A BEST SELLING AUTHOR I CONSIDER A FRIEND AND WHICH WILL RUN ONLY DURING THIS SPECIAL WEEK! 

GIVEAWAY ENDED
WANT A HINT?

You guessed it! Three wonderful books from bestselling author Debbie Macomber. I have featured and given away many of Debbie's books and thought it only right that I start off this week's giveaway with three of her books. If you don't know about Debbie Macomber (meaning you haven't been reading my blog) then do check out her wonderful website HERE to read about her and all her books and activities.

The three books I am giving away are:

TRADING CHRISTMAS (AUTOGRAPHED COPY)

Trading Houses. Trading Towns. Trading Christmas!

Emily Springer, widowed mother of one, decides to leave Leavenworth, Washington, to spend Christmas with her daughter in Boston.

Charles Brewster, history professor, curmudgeon and resident of Boston, wants to avoid Christmas altogether. He figures a prison town should be nice and quiet over the holidays—except he's thinking of the wrong Leavenworth!

Through an internet site, Charles and Emily arrange to swap houses for the holiday. So Emily goes to Boston—and discovers that her daughter has gone to Florida. And Charles arrives in Leavenworth to discover that it's not the prison town—it's Santa's village! The place is full of Christmas trees, Christmas music and…elves.

Meanwhile, Emily's friend Faith Kerrigan travels to Leavenworth to visit her and instead finds Charles the grinch. Then Charles's brother, Ray, shows up at his home in Boston to discover that he isn't there—but Emily is.

Through all the mix-ups and misunderstandings, amid the chaos and confusion, romance begins to emerge in unexpected ways. Because everything changes at Christmas!

Also included is a Special Bonus Story, The Forgetful Bride!

A seasonal classic first published as When Christmas Comes.

HANNAH'S LIST (AUTOGRAPHED COPY, from the Blossom Street Series)

On the anniversary of his beloved wife's death, Dr. Michael Everett receives a letter Hannah had written him.

In it she reminds him of her love and makes one final request. An impossible request. I want you to marry again. She tells him he shouldn't spend the years he has left grieving—and she's chosen three women she asks him to consider.

First on Hannah's list is her cousin, Winter Adams, a chef who owns a café on Seattle's Blossom Street. The second is Leanne Lancaster, Hannah's oncology nurse. Michael knows them both. But the third name is one he's not familiar with—Macy Roth.

During the months that follow, he spends time with these three women, learning more about each of them…and about himself. Learning what Hannah already knew. He's a man who needs the completeness only love can offer. And Hannah's list leads him to the woman who can help him find it.

8 SANDPIPER WAY (from the CEDAR COVE SERIES)

Dear Reader,

I have something to confide in you. I think my husband, Dave, might be having an affair. I found an earring in his pocket, and it's not mine. I'm also worried because some jewelry was recently stolen from an old woman—and Dave used to visit her a lot.

You see, he's a pastor. And a good man. I can't believe he's guilty of anything, but why won't he tell me where he's been when he comes home so late?

Reader, I'd love to hear what you think. I also want to tell you what's going on with your other friends in Cedar Cove.

Like Sheriff Troy Davis, to mention one. His long-ago love, Faith Beckwith, just moved here!

So come on in and join me for a cup of tea.

Emily Flemming

GIVEAWAY

 THANKS TO KIM AND EVERYONE AT

NANCY BERLAND PUBLIC RELATIONS

WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME SO KINDLY ALL

THIS TIME, I HAVE 3 OF BESTSELLING AUTHOR

DEBBIE MACOMBER'S BOOKS TO GIVE AWAY

TO ONE WINNER, AND TO BE SENT QUICKLY

ON THE DAY THE WINNER IS ANNOUNCED! 
 
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY 
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO 
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:  

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHY YOU THINK YOU SHOULD BE THE WINNER OF THIS SPECIAL THREE BOOK GIVEAWAY, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING ABOUT THE AMAZING DEBBIE MACOMBER BY CHECKING OUT HER WEBSITE HERE 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE OF MY THOUGHTS ABOUT BLOGGING ABOVE, AND FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR FEELINGS OR SUGGESTIONS

  GIVEAWAY ENDS AT 
6 PM, EST, JANUARY 15 
GOOD LUCK!