8 days until Christmas

 

Jody Wind Durfee often hikes the craggy mountains outside her front door where she lives with her husband, children and three red hens. She’s been known to randomly break into song and has a deep, abiding love for chocolate chip cookies. One of her favorite things to do is coach her friends in Special Olympics and is thankful everyday for the amazing people in her life.

Please take a minute to visit Jody at one of the links below:

BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

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LDSWBR: What is your favorite Christmas song/hymn? Does it have special meaning to you?

JODY: My favorite Christmas song is the classic, Silent Night. It’s the first Christmas song I remember my grandmother singing to me as a child–she had a beautiful soprano voice––and no matter where or when it’s sung, usually everybody sings at least part of it together and then I’m always moved.

LDSWBR: Do you get together with friends/family to play board games on Christmas or New Year’s? What games do you like to play? Do you have a favorite game from your childhood?

JODY: I do play board games with my family, usually later on Christmas Day and for New Years. Our favorites are Scrabble, Settlers of Cataan, Parchesi, Clue, and, not technically a board game, Telestrations. I loved the game Clue as a child. I felt so very smart when I won.

LDSWBR: If you could recommend only one book from those you read this year, what would it be and why?

JODY: Only one? Sheesh. Then I guess it would have to be Jane Eyre. I read it every year, it covers nearly every classic genre and is filled with everything great about literature.

LDSWBR: Thank you, Jody!

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Hadley-Hadley Benson

AMAZON | KINDLE | BARNES & NOBLE | NOOK | DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK

When Maddi Benson moves in next door to Jaxon Quayle, neither of them knows how much life is about to change. Jaxon knows he should date only girls who share his faith, but as he gets to know Maddi he wants his new neighbor to be more than a friend. To make things even more complicated, there’s Maddi’s twin brother Hadley (or Hadley-Hadley, as he calls himself), who has special needs and always seems to be hanging around, and Jaxon’s pal Tanner, who feels more than a little left out. Jaxon feels hopeful when the Bensons begin to consider joining the Church, which would solve at least one of his problems. But just when things seem to be working out, a horrible prank seems to make everything fall apart, leaving Maddi and Jaxon caught in the middle of doubt and faith, hurt and forgiveness, friendship and love.

 What book do you read every year? If not every year, what book have you read several times?

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**To enter the LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2013, leave a thoughtful comment below.**

Because this is a raffle-style drawing, commenting on each Countdown to Christmas 2013 post will give you more chances to win. Please click through to the website as only comments submitted directly on this post will be accepted.

Prizes include a $50 Amazon gift card and the author-donated books listed below. This is raffle-style drawing where all entries throughout the contest period are entered into the same “hat” for all prizes. US only. 18 years and older please. See all contest rules and restrictions below.

Following LDSWBR is not required but you may want to consider doing so during the contest so you don’t miss any posts or chances to enter the drawing. You can follow us through email, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, and Pinterest (links in our sidebar.)

If one of our LDSWBR reviews has ever helped you find a book you enjoyed, please consider helping us spread the word about the LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2013. A link posted to your friends and family either in email or on your favorite social network would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

By leaving a comment and entering the Countdown to Christmas 2013, you agree to the contest rules below:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY; entrants must be 18 years or older; open to residents of continental US only; giveaway begins December 3, 2013 and all entries must be received by 12:00 Midnight December 23, 2013 Mountain Time; to enter, complete the required entry on each post and any additional entries of your choice if listed; LDS Women’s Book Review reserves the right to determine what is considered a thoughtful comment as per each post’s required entry; giveaway prizes include a $50 Amazon gift card and a variety of book prizes donated by featured authors; the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning; LDS Women’s Book Review is not liable for technical problems which may affect entry into the giveaway; winner identity will be verified by email address; winner will be selected December 28, 2013 by use of a sequence generator on random.org; winner will have until January 4, 2014 to claim their prize; if any prize winner forfeits or does not claim prize, prize will be re-awarded to next winner in sequence; all prizes will be awarded; limit of two prizes per entrant; this contest/giveaway is not associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other entity unless otherwise specified; by entering the giveaway you give LDS Women’s Book Review the right to publicize your name on the LDS Women’s Book Review blog; winner agrees to release LDS Women’s Book Review from any liability as a result of winning; email comments and questions to LDS Women’s Book Review – ldswbr (at) gmail (dot) com; giveaway subject to Utah regulations; VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

**Book Prizes (as of 12/17/13 – more to be added to this list!)**

• Rocky Road by Josi S. Kilpack (personalized copy)
• Shannon’s Hope by Josi S. Kilpack (personalized copy)
• The House at Rose Creek by Jenny Proctor (signed copy)
• Penumbras by Braden Bell (signed copy)
• The Reluctant Blogger by Ryan Rapier (personalized copy)
• Just Ella by Annette K. Larsen (personalized paperback)
• Longing For Home by Sarah M. Eden (signed copy)
• Mile 21 by Sarah Dunster (ebook or signed paperback)
• Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson (audio CD)
• Finding Sheba or Ruby’s Secret by H.B. Moore (winner’s choice; format of choice)
• Pocket Full of Posies by Julie Coulter Bellon (or other Hostage Negotiation novel of choice in either paperback or Kindle)
• Hadley-Hadley Benson by Jody Wind Durfee (personalized copy)

 Previous Countdown to Christmas 2013 posts:

• Rocky Road and Shannon’s Hope by Josi S. Kilpack (12/3/13)
• The House at Rose Creek by Jenny Proctor (12/4/13)
• Penumbras by Braden Bell (12/5/13)
• The Reluctant Blogger by Ryan Rapier (12/6/13)
• Just Ella by Annette K. Larsen (12/7/13)
• Longing For Home by Sarah M. Eden (12/9/13)
• Mile 21 by Sarah Dunster (12/10/13)
• Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson (12/12/13)
• Finding Sheba and Ruby’s Secret by Heather (H.B.) Moore (12/13/13)
• Pocket Full of Posies by Julie Coulter Bellon (12/16/13)