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Jenn wrote: "I sure am! I've loved seeing you so excited in the group. You are very fun to give gifts."

You are the best Santa ever and I have enjoyed all of the wonderful surprises you sent my way and because of you several of us are doing a buddy read in early January for I am so totally excited about this. This book is so far outside of the box for me, it's almost scary but in a fun way. If you want to do a re-read we'd love to have you join in.

I love that you guys are doing a buddy read. I may join you. I can always use more Liam and Ondry.

Jenn wrote: "I love that you guys are doing a buddy read. I may join you. I can always use more Liam and Ondry."

That would be so awesome. I know it's going to be sometime after January 4th. I'll let you know the exact date after the holidays. When life's a little saner for everyone.

Jenn wrote: "Karen is super awesome at showing her gratitude to her secret santa ;-)"

She's awesome at showing it to her "not SS" too. =D

❶Ĵʴ������❶� wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Karen is super awesome at showing her gratitude to her secret santa ;-)"

She's awesome at showing it to her "not SS" too. =D"

My not SS is ridiculously out of control. I'm going to have to do something about her (view spoiler)[I'm thinking it may involve a special thank you gift when least expected.;-) (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "❶Ĵʴ������❶� wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Karen is super awesome at showing her gratitude to her secret santa ;-)"

She's awesome at showing it to her "not SS" too. =D"

My not SS is ridiculously out of control..."

Not so out of control...just 2 from me. You're remarkably fun to give gifts to!! *super hugs*

❶Ĵʴ������❶� wrote: "Karen wrote: "❶Ĵʴ������❶� wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Karen is super awesome at showing her gratitude to her secret santa ;-)"

She's awesome at showing it to her "not SS" too. =D"

My not SS is ridiculously ..."

Oh my god. You all are making me crazy (the good kind) was it you that just sent me 'The Invasion of Adam'?

Karen wrote: "❶Ĵʴ������❶� wrote: "Karen wrote: "❶Ĵʴ������❶� wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Karen is super awesome at showing her gratitude to her secret santa ;-)"

She's awesome at showing it to her "not SS" too. =D"

My not SS ..."

Yep, that was me!

❶Ĵʴ������❶� wrote: "Karen wrote: "❶Ĵʴ������❶� wrote: "Karen wrote: "❶Ĵʴ������❶� wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Karen is super awesome at showing her gratitude to her secret santa ;-)"

She's awesome at showing it to her "not SS" too. =..."

You are so bad and by bad I mean really sweet. Thank you.

Karen wrote: "❶Ĵʴ������❶� wrote: "Karen wrote: "❶Ĵʴ������❶� wrote: "Karen wrote: "❶Ĵʴ������❶� wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Karen is super awesome at showing her gratitude to her secret santa ;-)"

She's awesome at showing it to her..."

You are very welcome.

Y'all, I bet my tbr has gone up by at least 300 books, LOL.

Lisazj1 wrote: "Y'all, I bet my tbr has gone up by at least 300 books, LOL."

yes but aren't you glad they're e-books? Think about how much more challenging it would be if they were hardcopy books. See don't you feel better now?

Karen wrote: "Lisazj1 wrote: "Y'all, I bet my tbr has gone up by at least 300 books, LOL."

yes but aren't you glad they're e-books? Think about how much more challenging it would be if they were hardcopy books. See don't you feel better now?"

Heh, some of those 300 probably will be hardcopies. E-books are convenient and such great prices a lot of the time but I love holding a book in my hand and turning the pages. :)

Lisazj1 wrote: "Karen wrote: "Lisazj1 wrote: "Y'all, I bet my tbr has gone up by at least 300 books, LOL."

yes but aren't you glad they're e-books? Think about how much more challenging it would be if they were h..."

I hear you. I'm the lady who spends much of here time in her home office/library surrounded by books because it makes me happy and as much as I love my e-reader I love being able to just reach out and snag a book off of a shelf to read. I've just learned to be really fussy about what ones I buy in which format. But yeah, I don't think I'll ever be able to fully give up hardcopy books.

I miss actual books, with indie publishers and print-to-order it's often too expensive to go for hardcopies, though there's a few favourites I've splurged on.

@Karen and @Meep I'm the same way. I only buy my most favorite books in hardcopy but digital just makes it so easy & convenient to buy. Plus it's hard to turn down those bargains *eyes Debbie*, that's where I end up having so dang many e-books that I can't read them all. It's hard to pass that .99 book up, because that's a steal for a book!

Lisazj1 wrote: "@Karen and @Meep I'm the same way. I only buy my most favorite books in hardcopy but digital just makes it so easy & convenient to buy. Plus it's hard to turn down those bargains *eyes Debbie*, tha..."

I know the .99 feeling. That's why my owned-but-not-read shelf is soooo long :-D

Lila wrote: "I know the .99 feeling. That's why my owned-but-not-read shelf is soooo long :-D"

I have got to make one of those shelves. It sure would help with gift exchanges like this too, because I think most everybody has a lot of books sitting on their e-readers.

Lisazj1 wrote: "Lila wrote: "I know the .99 feeling. That's why my owned-but-not-read shelf is soooo long :-D"

I have got to make one of those shelves. It sure would help with gift exchanges like this too, becaus..."

I did mine just before the Thanksgiving weekend to avoid duplicates. And just in case my kindle dies before Santa arrives with a new one.

Karen wrote: "That would be so awesome. I know it's going to be sometime after January 4th. I'll ..."

Are you going to read all three books? Let me know, I might join you, but just for the third one :)

Karen wrote: "I hear you. I'm the lady who spends much of here time in her home office/library surrounded by books because it makes me happy and as much as I love my e-reader I love being able to just reach out and snag a book off of a shelf to read. I've just learned to be really fussy about what ones I buy in which format. But yeah, I don't think I'll ever be able to fully give up hardcopy books. "

And then there's people like me who love to be surrounded by books, I have shelves of them, but when I'm going to read I want my kindle! No more cramped hands from holding the book open, and when I fall asleep reading at night, I don't lose my place! :D

I don't think I've read a 'real' book since I got my (first) kindle almost six years ago! It changed my life, for the better! Besides not getting really sore arms, it is easier to carry and I have all of my books on my phone besides. =) I still love books, but I would rather read on my reader any day!

MountainKat wrote: "I don't think I've read a 'real' book since I got my (first) kindle almost six years ago! It changed my life, for the better! Besides not getting really sore arms, it is easier to carry and I have ..."

Me too! I only have hardcopies of Cookbooks and things like that. Not a romance book in sight...all hidden on my computer. Mwahahahaha. :p

I remember telling my hubby I should get a kindle because it would save me so much money on books. *snortlaugh* Whoops!

Shannon wrote: "MountainKat wrote: "I don't think I've read a 'real' book since I got my (first) kindle almost six years ago! It changed my life, for the better! Besides not getting really sore arms, it is easier ..." yesterday my hubby said hey you spent $30.00 on your kindle last week as hes online at our bank account. I was like oh i haven't the clue really that much. My addiction with my kindle is crazy. But i wouldn't have it any other way. Lol

LOL last book I read I kept tapping the page wondering why the dictionary wasn't popping up!
Kindle is great for me, carrying only one or two books when going somewhere is cause for anxiety. And lighter and self-lit for reading in bed.

'course books mean you an read in the bath, seriously don't recommend kindles for that *moments pause for the dearly departed*

Still love 'real' books, the different covers, the pages (occasionally with water damaged edges), dipping in and out, the magic of a nicely illustrated book. but yeah I was a quick convert to ebooks and hubby often teases me about it but at least now I don't have to apologise for books vs living space anymore ;)

Meep wrote: "LOL last book I read I kept tapping the page wondering why the dictionary wasn't popping up!
Kindle is great for me, carrying only one or two books when going somewhere is cause for anxiety. And li..."

Hah! I do that sometimes when I'm reading a hardcopy, waiting for the page to turn. :)

Shannon wrote: "I remember telling my hubby I should get a kindle because it would save me so much money on books. *snortlaugh* Whoops!"

That gave me a literal LOL!!! The things we tell ourselves, right?? =D With all my one-clicking and buying hardcopies, I got curious recently and took my checkbook ledger and totaled up all my book purchases for the past 2 years, just to see. O.O It's not recommended, I nearly gave myself a heart attack.

Meep wrote: "'course books mean you an read in the bath, seriously don't recommend kindles for that *moments pause for the dearly departed..."

I just have two words for this...ziploc bags! Also works great at the beach/pool to protect from both water and sand! :D

Shannon wrote: "I remember telling my hubby I should get a kindle because it would save me so much money on books. *snortlaugh* Whoops! "

This made me literally LOL!

I was traveling a ton when my dad was sick, books were not working out so well. It was so hard to justify the $400 - yeah that's how long ago it was! But so worth it! It isn't necessarily a money saving device for me either though, unless you don't have to pay for overweight luggage on the plane. =P

~KarenH~ wrote: "Meep wrote: "'course books mean you an read in the bath, seriously don't recommend kindles for that *moments pause for the dearly departed..."

I just have two words for this...ziploc bags! Also wo..."

Yep! I've done this!

M'rella wrote: "Karen wrote: "That would be so awesome. I know it's going to be sometime after January 4th. I'll ..."

Are you going to read all three books? Let me know, I might join you, but just for the third o..."

I think the plan is just for the first one but I'll probably carry on with reading book 2 & 3 and would welcome the company of anyone else who wants to do the same. So I'll definitely let you know when I/we reach book #3, ok?

~KarenH~ wrote: "Karen wrote: "I hear you. I'm the lady who spends much of here time in her home office/library surrounded by books because it makes me happy and as much as I love my e-reader I love being able to j..."

Me too. Especially when reading in bed. It's me and my e-reader. I might have fallen asleep with a hard copy book in hand on more than one occasion and it startles the hell out of hubby when it hits the floor. He's pretty much banned anything but my e-reader from the bedroom.

My first Kindle was the Keyboard (Dec 2010) and I had the lighted cover - except once you pulled it out to use, it's like a spotlight shining in the dark.

I upgraded to a Voyage last year and the self-lighting is so much better and my husband much appreciates it.

I pulled out my KK the other day and I can't believe how heavy it is compared to the Voyage.

Mine was the KK too and I had the lighted cover too! Then I won a Paperwhite - shocked me, I never win anything! Then I sold my KK and bought a Fire. I mostly use the Fire when I'm home, but I take the Paperwhite when I'm away or outside. I'm not even going into my i-devices... I readily admit I'm a gadget whore!

My first e-ink reader was an off brand that wasn't around for long, and when I switched from that to the KK it was like the difference between night and day. Then a couple of years ago I got my Paperwhite, and the difference was as big or maybe even bigger. I also occasionally read on my phone or my Fire, but by far my first choice is my Paperwhite!

Attention!!

I think I confused everyone! I was trying to send out a broadcast to the latecomers (some people who just joined this past week) that I matched them up with people. EVERYONE ELSE IS FINE! No one panic! I was just trying to be nice and make sure everyone who wanted to join had a match! NO ONE PANIC!

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Attention!!

I think I confused everyone! I was trying to send out a broadcast to the latecomers (some people who just joined this past week) that I matched them up with people. EVERYONE ELSE IS FI..."

Lol, ok ignore the 'I'm confused e-mail I just sent you because I'm no longer confused.

Me neither.

The most frustrating thing is that I can't send a new message now because you are only allowed to broadcast one message a day! GROAN!

Ami wrote: "Wonder if ARe is having Cyber Monday 50% Rebate deals again (ho ho ho)."

I think they do it again on New Year's day. I'm not 100% sure but doesn't cost anything to check...well unless they're doing 50% off then it can get a little expensive, lol.

Also just wanted to mention they're doing their 12 days of Christmas right now where they give away a book title a day. Today's offering is...


if anyone's interested in treating themselves to a free book. I know when they've done this in the past it's been a mix of m/m and m/f. So you just have to check daily to see what's posted and it you want it grab it. Happy book shopping!

Thanks for the heads up Karen!

Oooh yes, thanks Karen! *hugs*

Again, I want to thank my SS & Santa's Elves (all claimed me except DKE - I have a feeling that that person will remain anonymous lol) for my bookies! I, also, very much enjoyed giving gifts to various people! It was so awesome seeing everyone's pressies, gratitude, generosity, laughter, fun banter, new friends made, and such because that's what the Holidays (and life) are all about. And, again, I want to thank the, amazing, Heather for always making this SS group a success! <3 <3 *huggles* xoxoxo

P.S. Perhaps, Heather or someone else (or maybe me :-) would like to create another Secret Elf tradition in addition to the end-of-the-year Holidays group? Maybe one of the Solstices and/or a Summer one and/or other kind of themed exchange? Would anyone be interested in an additional group or two, and have a preference on when it/they should be held? If so, please let me know!