Thursday, November 22, 2012

BLACK FRIDAY BLOG HOP


It's great to be part of the Black Friday Blog Hop! Thanks so much to Carrie Ann Ryan for organizing this wonderful event! I hope that all of your shopping ventures were successful today. Be sure to enter my Rafflecopter giveaway for an Avon Foot Works Pomegranate Chocolate Collection Gift Set so that you can pamper your tired tootsies this holiday season and leave a comment below so that you'll have a chance to win one of the three Black Friday Blog Hop Grand Prizes!

I've been thinking about Pilar Alvarez, the heroine of my Chick Lit novel In Need of Therapy, and wondering how she'd handle the craziest shopping day of the year. Pilar's a psychologist, so she's got a lot of patience and is used to dealing with people in a heightened state of emotion, so I don't think she'd be daunted by the Black Friday crowds at Dolphin Mall, the largest shopping mecca in Miami. In fact, she'd probably end up mediating fights between overzealous bargain hunters at the sales display tables in Bloomie's! Pilar's the type of person who'd put a lot of thought into getting the perfect gift for everyone on her list, but what would her nearest and dearest buy her for Christmas?


Ana Alvarez Castaneira - Ana is Pilar's older sister. She's a frazzled mom of three who's married to a lawyer, so she's a bit conservative and will only buy the priciest name-brand items as befits a woman of her status. She'd purchase a chic, yet practical, gift for Pilar, something her sister could use every day, like the Embossed Croc Skinny Wallet by Coach (in a sensible, neutral color, of course.)



Luisa Alvarez aka Mamá - Like all good Cuban mothers, Luisa's one goal in life is to see her daughters married off to attractive, prosperous men. Ana's already taken care of, so now Luisa is focused on getting her middle child down the aisle. To that end, she would call her travel agent and have him book Pilar a ticket on the Carnival New Year's Bash Singles Cruise. If Pilar was trapped on a boat with hundreds of eligible men for a week, surely she could find one who'd be willing to marry her, right?



Sara Reade - Sara has been Pilar's BFF since college, and no one knows her better. A bathing suit designer by trade, Ms. Reade likes to get creative with her gifts, plus use all of her contacts in the fashion world to snag designer goodies at cost. Since Sara is always encouraging Pilar to have some fun, she'd put together a Girls' Night Out gift basket for her bestie, which would include a sexy pair of shoes for dancing at the clubs (Louboutin's No Privé 120 slingback pumps in playful pink), a bottle of Oh, Lola - the flirty fragrance by Marc Jacobs, a limo service voucher (No drinking and driving!), a bottle of good red wine, some wine goblets that have "Sexy and Single" emblazoned on them, lipsticks by MAC in sassy shades like Lady Danger and Love Goddess, and last but most certainly not least, a hottie alert whistle (Every girl should have one!)


   

  


Jonathan Fordham aka Ford - Pilar's colleague, sounding board, and sometime lunch sharer. It wouldn't be appropriate for him to give her anything too personal as they haven't known each other that long, but he'd want to acknowledge their friendship. So, he'd give Pilar something humorous and work-related, like a Tickle Me Freud that she could sit on her desk and squeeze whenever she needed a laugh (Shrinks get stressed out, too!)

Victor Liscano - Pilar's obnoxiously persistent ex-boyfriend, who keeps trying to win her back with over-the-top displays of his affection, would consider the holidays to be the perfect opportunity to impress Pilar with his generosity and thoughtfulness. She'd wake on Christmas morning to find a brand new convertible BMW in her driveway (in red, of course, the color of passion.) Just for kicks, she might take it for a joy ride around the block, but then she'd return it to Victor and tell him that she can't be bought. A sentiment that Pilar's freeloading younger sister, Izzy, would not agree with. Finders, keepers, right?


If you're looking for a fun, romantic read this holiday season or a gift for someone who enjoys Chick Lit, I invite you to pick up a copy of In Need of Therapy. It's now available in e-book and paperback.

Thanks so much for stopping by Books by Banister for the Black Friday Blog Hop! Don't forget to visit all of the other wonderful sites participating in the hop. There are over 200, and you can enter to win prizes at each stop on the hop! Go here for the full list of participating blogs.

To celebrate the Black Friday Blog Hop, I'm giving away an Avon Foot Works Pomegranate Chocolate Collection Gift Set in holiday packaging, which includes:  Soothing Foot Soak, Smoothing Foot Scrub, Moisturizing Foot Cream, and Candy-Striped Slipper Socks. Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

·  Giveaway will run one day only - until 11:59PM on Friday, November 23rd.
·  Must be at least 18 years of age to enter.      
·  Contest is open to residents of the U.S. only. Winner must have shipping address in the U.S.
·  The winner will be announced here and notified by e-mail. 
·  Winner has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Everyone who leaves a comment on this blog hop post, answering the question "What's Your Favorite Thing About the Holidays?" will be automatically entered in the Black Friday Grand Prize giveaway (Leaving a comment is one of the ways you can enter to win my Footworks Collection giveaway, as well. So, you might win TWO prizes, just for leaving one comment!) Please do NOT forget to leave your e-mail address along with your comment so that Carrie Ann can contact you if you win.  Here are the three Grand Prizes:

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $75 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!



Book blurb (In Need of Therapy):  Lending a sympathetic ear and dispensing sage words of advice is all part of the job for psychologist Pilar Alvarez, and she’s everything a good therapist should be:  warm, compassionate, supportive.  She listens, she cares, and she has all the answers, but how’s the woman everyone turns to in their hour of need supposed to cope when her own life starts to fall apart?

While working hard to make a success of her recently-opened practice in trendy South Beach, Pilar must also find time to cater to the demands of her boisterous Cuban family, which includes younger sister Izzy, an unemployed, navel-pierced wild child who can't stay out of trouble, and their mother, a beauty queen turned drama queen who’s equally obsessed with her fading looks and getting Pilar married before it’s “too late.”  Although she’d like to oblige her mother and make a permanent love connection, Pilar’s romantic prospects look grim.  Her cheating ex, who swears that he’s reformed, is stalking her.  A hunky, but strictly off-limits, patient with bad-boy appeal and intimacy issues is making passes.  And the sexy shrink in the suite across the hall has a gold band on his left ring finger.

When a series of personal and professional disasters lead Pilar into the arms of one of her unsuitable suitors, she's left shaken, confused, and full of self-doubt.  With time running out, she must make sense of her feelings and learn to trust herself again so that she can save her business, her family, and most importantly, her heart. 

Purchase In Need of Therapy:



a Rafflecopter giveaway

96 comments:

  1. My favorite thing about the holidays is being with my family and giving to others.

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  2. I love that everyone gets along for much of the Holidays and usually dresses well. xoxo
    writeoncindy@yahoo.com

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  3. I love spending time with my niece during the holidays. I do not get to see her much throughout the year so it gives me some bonding and spoiling time. It was her birthday today and Thanksgiving so it was great! She got so many presents!

    Thanks so much for the great prize!

    Happy Holidays,
    Marlena
    charmedpoms(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  4. Putting up the Christmas decorations with my daughter and wrapping presents!!Great Giveaway!!
    viajeradelmar@aol.com

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  5. ALL THE AMAZING FOOD! :) THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

    BECCABOO97200 (AT) ATT (DOT) NET

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  6. I love getting together with family and friends and just enjoying time spent together doing simple things like baking or board games~ we have a lot of fun!
    Thank you for the lovely hop~ we could all use a bit of foot therapy in the winter months!

    MostlyMisha [at] gmail [dot] com

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  7. I like shopping for gifts. angelacisco79(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  8. I love spending quality time with my family.
    International reader here, entering only grand prizes.

    dita(dot)skarste(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. Parties with family and friends.
    bituin76 at hotmail dot com

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  10. Call me Scrooge...but aside from seeing my children, I'm always glad when they are over! Thanks for the giveaway.

    kareninnc at gmail dot com

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  11. Getting to spend time with my family and eating tons and tons of chocolate/pie/cookies/other things that will eventually make me fat but I don't care yet.

    aircdrewood(at)gmail(dot)com

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  12. Family is the absolute best, but the music is fun and we only hear it once a year, so I never tire of it. But, hey, what would Izzy give Pilar? I thought she might take one of Pilar's favorite silk blouses and Izzy it up a bit with some sequins, one sleeve cut off and up to show some skin, and give it an asymmetrical hemline. Maybe???

    authorsam@gmail.com

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  13. i love the time with my family echanging memories . i also love to see when i found the perfect gift for someone and a smile illuminate his/her face

    isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. The blessing of being with loved ones and seeing the joy on my kids faces at the gifts they recieve!

    OMG!! Being a waitress this is to me one of the greatest giveaway packages! Thanks for the chance to pamper my toesies!

    brbalwaysATyahooDOTcom

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  15. Tickle Me Freud? Where did you find that, Tracie? Hilarious! My favorite thing about the holidays is spending quality time with family and friends. Oh, and the food!

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  16. My favorite thing about the holidays is turning on my Christmas tree's lights, pouring a glass of wine and settling on my couch to watch a sappy holiday movie.

    Such a clever blog post, Tracie. Smooches to you. I may have to steal this idea some day... :)

    lmchap@gmail.com

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  17. my favorite thing about the holiday is getting all the family together! thanks for joining the hop!
    miriam.whitewolf@gmail.com

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  18. My favorite part of the holiday season is getting to hear what projects my kids come up with as acts of kindness. I love to see their generous spirit develop.
    planterofhope(at)aol(dot)com

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  19. I love holidays because that's usually the time the whole family is together!
    verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com

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  20. I love the Holidays:) spending time with family is always good.
    elliott2668[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  21. Best thing? I can bake all sorts of yummy treats and have them about to share with everyone - Thank you for participating - I'm happiest staying in without a crowd where I can read and look about ..

    glhince (at) gmail (dot) com

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  22. I just love to relax and have time for myself :)
    swordlily_girl[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  23. My favorite thing about the holidays is the food. pumpkin pie, roasted turkey, stuffing....
    lisa(at)vetteklisa(dot)com

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  24. I love being with my family for the holidays!

    Julie K
    kornhsl@yahoo.com

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  25. my fav thing about the holidays are the decorations! I take long side trips home just to see what is out there!

    grapeapril75(at)gmail.com

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  26. My favorite things about the holidays are all of the food and decorations.

    kbaker0515@yahoo.com

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  27. My favorite thing about the holiday is the time with family and friends.
    crystaley73 at yahoo dot com

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  28. Seeing the kids faces when they open their presents. Priceless! the food is 2nd ;)
    0713iv@gmail.com

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  29. I like the decorations.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  30. What a great idea for a post Tracie! I love it!

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  31. I love the decorations & people are happier
    ktyler13@yahoo.com

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  32. I love everything about Christmas it's my favorite time of year! christiethemom@hotmail.com

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  33. I love the merriment in getting ready for the holidays. Getting out the decorations, visiting family, the shopping, the music & making cookies. Thanks for being part of this hop & the book sounds great!
    JessieL62@comcast.net

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  34. My favorite things about the holidays are decorations and holiday music. Plus food! Thanks for hopping!

    brendurbanist at gmail dot com

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  35. I love the decorations and the music!
    Thanks for the chance!
    sqwalker2@hotmail.com

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  36. I love all the decorations and time with family
    sadase98(at)gmail(.)com

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  37. I'm not a black Friday shopper. lisarayns at gmail dot com

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  38. My favorite thing about the holidays is seeing my family and making cookies with my daughter!

    bjoneill@hotmail.com

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  39. I love the trafitions, the music, and the excitement.

    Missmichb@gmail.com

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  40. I love the way so many more people are happy this time of year. Thanks for participating. Happy Thanksgiving!

    sandywolters(dot)author(at)gmail(dot)com

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  41. My favorite thing is seeing family. The 2nd thing is shutting all the house lights, tv all that off and sitting and watching the lights on the tree.

    cmucha319@yahoo.com

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  42. Hi! Happy Holidays to you! Thanks for the awesome hop and giveaway! Best wishes and many blessings to you! My favorite thing about the holidays is being with my family.
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

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  43. This is the BEST way to spend Black Friday. Sitting at home, hopping with old friends and making new ones. My favorite Black Friday deal was this morning. I got a programmable slow cooker for $9.99 online and free shipping too. Didn’t even have to get dressed LOL. My favorite things about the holiday is getting to spend time with family. Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win. <^_^>
    reneebennett35 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  44. My favorite thing about the holidays is having some time to just kick back and relax with the family.

    JYL22075 at gmail dot com

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  45. I love spending time with my family and friends, plus eating all the delicious food!

    taccb_1981@yahoo.com

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  46. My favorite thing about the holidays are the decorations.
    Jennifer Rote
    wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com

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  47. The thing that I like most about the holidays is the time off from school and work. Thanks for the giveaway!

    jillynann(at)gmail(dot)com

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  48. My favorite thing about the holidays is the decorations.
    (GoodReads and GFC are under the name Krysta Banco)

    Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com

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  49. Thanks for the giveaway!

    mamamoss08@hotmail.com

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  50. Decorating my house for Christmas. I love it!

    gatormaryd(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  51. My favorite thing is spending time with family and just relaxing and being together! Thanks for participating in the hop!

    squiggles87(at)aol(dot)com

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  52. My favorite part of the holidays is spending it with family. Thanks for the hop! angadair@nwcable.net

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  53. My fav thing about the holidays is enjoying a big meal with the family.

    dancingcelt at gmail dot com

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  54. My favorite thing is time to relax and spend time with family.

    Thanks for the chance!

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  55. My favorite thing about the holidays is family... I love visiting and just relaxing having a good time with those i love.

    j.m.platt83@gmail.com

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  56. The time off from work.
    magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

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  57. I love spending time with my family :)
    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
    cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com

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  58. My favorite thing about the holidays...I can eat without feeling guilty! LOL. And I LOVE Marc Jacob's Lola perfume. Have that same one! tchevrestt@yahoo(dot)com

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  59. I love baking and putting up the tree!
    joyskidsdidit at gmail.com

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  60. I love watching the movies and spending time with family.

    vslavetopassionv(at)aol(dot)com

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  61. Christmas movies, christmas lights and pretty much anything christmas :D The nostalgia gets me.
    Thanks for participating!
    peanutty222@hotmail.com

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  62. My favoarite thing about the holidays is the time spent with family and the memories we share together. It is always fun to see how something that you thought was so insignificant had a major impact on the life of another person. Putting up the tree often sparks those memories as we have ornaments that were given to my husband when he was a small boy. He is in his 60's now so there are a treasure trove full of memories with each of these old ornaments we hang. cfierstein@ cox.net

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  63. I love a warm fire and a good book during the holidays. A purring cat is also appreciated.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    nrlymrtl at gmail dot com

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  64. My favorite thing is the lights love looking at them!
    Thank you for the great giveaway!
    tishajean@ charter.net

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  65. My favorite thing about the holidays is the food!
    Thanks for participating.

    katieamanda1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  66. I do some Black Friday shopping, but I'm more addicted to Cyber Monday. No lines, No rude people, free shipping.... how can you go wrong!

    angelheart618@gmail.com

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  67. My favorite thing are the special holiday-only activities (like sleeping in late and watching all the holiday specials) ^_^

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

    - khriscc (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  68. I love to shop on the internet. Thanks for the hop.
    pt.macias@yahoo.com

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  69. My favorite thing about the holidays is getting to see all of my family that I don't get to see very often. Thanks for the giveaway!
    flava_sava_chick@yahoo.com

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  70. Time with my family..I am glad to have found you on this blog hop and look forward to reading your works. Kim86004(at)gmail(dot)com

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  71. i love the togetherness of the holidays
    meandi09@Yahoo.com

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  72. I love getting together with my family.
    kydirtgirl68 AT gmail DOT com

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  73. Being with family and Holiday music are my favorite things about the holidays. Thanks for the giveaway!
    suz2(at)cox(dot)net

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  74. I love the music! Thanks for the blog hop!

    eliseandtegan@gmail.com

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  75. I love gathering with family and friends.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    nerdswillruleoneday@yahoo.com

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  76. My Fave thing about the hoildays is time off school! Thanks for the great giveaway!
    red_tigergirl2(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  77. I love the amazing light displays that brighten my boys' eyes.
    mel
    bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

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  78. I love to look at the lights and to stuff my kids stockings.
    Z
    Seawitch Reviews @ yahoo dot com

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  79. I love the light displays as well!

    hisbywonder(at)gmail(dot)com

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  80. Gosh, I love so many things about the holidays, but if I had to pick just one I'd say the decorations.

    Look at all the comments you've got! Way to go!

    Love the Tickle Me Freud!

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  81. My favorite part of the holidays is the time spent with family. The lights & music are pretty good too.

    drainbamaged.gyzmo at gmail.com

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  82. My favorite thing about the holidays is the family time spent together. I hope that you had a happy Thanksgiving.
    jessangil at gmail dot com

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  83. I like getting to spend more time with my family...and I like the festivities.

    isabelli3619 (at) aol (dot) com

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  84. My favorite thing about the holidays is watching the joy on my grandchildren's faces when they open their gifts! They are my joy.

    Barbara
    bbsbooknook@aol.com

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  85. I love the holidays, Getting to spend time with my family, decorating, watching my son and how excited he gets, the Christmas movies and books! Okay I am going to stop now! Happy Holidays Everyone!
    allysonbrann06@yahoo.com

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  86. My fav thing about holidays is family reunions :)

    Thanks for the giveaway! Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving :)

    tess_halim(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  87. Family time and no school (:

    AnimeAngel1016(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  88. I love the traditions of the season, and getting to go and see all the different light displays.

    kathalsteaddgoATyahooDOTcom

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  89. Favorite thing about the holidays for me is my family and friends...its a reminder of how much I appreciate having them in my life! <3 Thanks for the hop :) Your book sounds funny and cute :)


    swtlilangel4jc at yahoo dot com

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  90. Spending time with the family!
    Thanks for the giveaway!

    holcalhoun@comcast.net

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  91. Favorite thing is time with my kiddos!!
    Deliachic3@hotmail.com

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  92. The best part of the holiday is spending time with my family and friends.
    fcammer2@comcastnet

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  93. I love the spirit behind the holidays. Most people and specially the little ones seem to be more happy and upbeat. Also people are more giving towards the ones who really need it, and it shows great humanity to help/give to those who don't have as much during the holidays.

    yazmin593 AT msn DOT com

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  94. I love the change in the seasons. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Jesse
    jesse.kimmelfreeman@gmail.com

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  95. My favorite thing about the holidays is spending time with my family. Thanks for the chance to win!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete