The Bus Bench by Wes Bundy

In The Bus Bench by Wes Bundy we first meet Edna.  Edna was raised by her aunt and although she was book smart, she was naive to anything outside of those school books.  Her aunt had taught her that only married people had babies.
When her aunt died, so starts a chain of events---she was raped, didn't even know she was pregnant until she had the baby---she killed herself 2 days later and the baby was adopted out.

Here lies the rest of the story.  That baby boy was named Gerry by the midwestern family who adopted him.  He grows up in a stable home.   His cousin teaches him the 'ways of life' (sex) early and he ends up falling in love with a TV news anchor, Tammy Whitlock.
When the news anchor gets fired and moves to California, so starts the rest of the book really.

Gerry never falls out of his obsession with Tammy.  He had found the only bus bench left with her picture on it and hid it so that no one could get her.  He visited Tammy every day, talking to that bus bench like it was really her.

Many years go by and many events happen along the way, all having to do with Gerry's obscession with Tammy.  Events such as several murders.
He finally makes a trip to California and finds Tammy.  By this time she is terminally ill with cancer, but Gerry just knows that once he gets her back home to Ohio that his mom's chicken soup will make her all better.
He kidnaps Tammy and gets her back to Ohio and to his beloved bus bench just in time for an explosive end to the book.


Wes Bundy has a writing style like another author that I really enjoy, so this book was a nice read for me. It was a change from what I've been reading lately and made me realize how much I miss reading this type of book.  It was hard to put down because I wanted to know what was going to happen next.  A lot of oh my gosh's as I read the book.
If you like a story that will keep you guessing what will happen next and keep you on the edge of your seat while you read, I recommend The Bus Bench.



Additional book information:
Paperback
Format: 6 x 9 paperback cream, 288 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press (Dec 01, 2015)
ISBN10: 1478765925
ISBN13: 9781478765929
Genre: FICTION / Romance / Suspense (This information is found here)

Disclosure:   I received a copy of this book for the purpose of review and book tour.  I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions are my own.  Post contains affiliate links.

Frugal Friday With Marsha-- Earning Amazon

I've been thinking a lot lately about amazon, and happy that I have so many ways to earn it.  Many times it's saved me (or our cats) when it's all I had available to order cat food and cat litter.  Those 2 things are why it's on my mind lately......I will be getting most all of our cat food and cat litter through amazon now due to finances.
I'm an amazon prime member, and LOVE the free shipping!  If you order on any regular basis, the $99 yearly is well worth the price plus you can also stream movies and TV series as well as get free apps, music downloads, and kindle books as well. (I don't ever have $99 at one time so I do pay a bit more per year, paying $9.99 a month)

Years ago I ordered my very first laptop through amazon.  It was the most expensive item I've ever saved up for as it was over $400.

Another larger purchase was my tablet--


My latest larger purchase that I saved up for was this sewing machine--



Earning-----There are loads of ways to earn amazon and today I am going to share with you the different places that I am earning it.

Swagbucks--- This is where I earn most.   So many ways to earn with swagbucks (search, watch videos, shopping, codes, and so much more).  You earn SB which each SB is equal to 1 cent.  Once a month you can choose a $25 gift card at just 2200 SB, saving you 300 SB. (Then once a month I also redeem for $25 paypal for 2500 SB)

PerkTV---  PerkTV is the main app I use from this company, although I also have their word search app, scratch and win app, and screen lock apps on my phone as well.  With the main app, you watch videos to earn points.  There are many options available for cash out, but I choose amazon.  5000 pts is what I cash in at for $5. (Use the code 860efbf6 for 50 bonus points when signing up)

ReceiptHog-- This is an easy app, just scan your receipts and earn.  Also available to redeem for paypal. (Use the referral code flend875 to receive bonus spins on the slot machine)

Chatabout--- Easy to earn points chatting about topics that interest you, but also other earning opportunities such as the daily poll, entering a sweepstakes, watching videos and so much more.  Just 1000 pts for $5. (they also offer paypal)

Lucktastic---  If you like scratch off lottery tickets, you will love this app. Several choices to redeem, but I have gotten over $100 in amazon alone from this one.

Bing Rewards --  Search to earn points and trade them in for amazon or other gift cards.  Also other point earning opps each day.

Apptrailers --- free app to watch videos and earn.  Although I usually get paypal, I have also chosen to get amazon here as well.  (if you sign up, bonus code predictableuranus2 for bonus points)

Checkpoints--  Watch videos, check into stores, and scan items at the stores to earn with this free app.  Just 335 for $1 amazon and it's sent instantly.  (if you sign up, use code marsha32 for bonus points)

Pistol Packing Mama---  I even belong to this traffic exchange where amazon is an option to redeem, and that is what I will go for!  You earn by surfing websites of others (at the same time getting your own websites seen), putting in daily codes for extra earning each day, prize pages while surfing etc.


As I said, so many different ways to earn amazon online and with the apps, but these are the main ones that I use.  Happy Earning!

P.S. ---- When shopping through amazon, check programs you are already doing online to see if your purchase will earn you extra with that website. Most times it's a few categories only that you can earn for shopping from, but please check.
If there isn't an earning opportunity, it's always nice to order through someone's affiliate link and help them out to earn a bit as well.

If we all work together, our dreams can be achieved.

WIP Wednesday 1/13/15

Despite being extra busy away from home, I feel good about the sewing and crafts that I got worked on this past week.

Wednesday is my day to work on the soscrappy challenge (see button at the bottom of my post).  I managed to get all of my blue 4 patches sewn.  Today's goal is to press them open.

Combining Thursday and Friday---Thursday is currently my day to work on charity quilt tops for quilt guild.  Friday is my day to work on yo-yo's.  I did do a few yo-yo's on Friday, but not enough to share a picture with you yet.  I did work on the pink 9 patches at home Thursday then also at sit n' sew at the quilt shop Friday evening.  I have most all of the 9 patches sewn together and this week will start putting them into a child's and infant quilt tops.  I took this picture at the quilt shop of them laid out.

Saturday is hexagons.  I actually didn't go anywhere Saturday and worked some throughout the day on my hexagon top.  I also put some of them together with holiday fabrics and put them in my box.

Sunday is rug day.  We had movie day at church in the afternoon so I chose to take along a basket of t-shirt strips and start a new t-shirt rug.  It was just less cumbersome to take.

Monday I did a little more cutting for the Arkansas Crossroads quilt, but I am still FAR away from having all of the fabrics cut.

Tuesday was supposed to be working on the doll bedding sets.  It was sewing club day at church where we worked on a t-shirt quilt for a member.  Sadly I didn't think to take a picture of it!  I had just too much to do online to pull out the doll sets after being gone all day, but one of the ladies gave me a bag of thin strips for the little rugs.

I hope everyone had a productive week!

UFO's:

Rectangle quilt
challenge wall hanging
Hexagon quilt
Emerald Island Fusique table runner
Five and Dime quilt
Brown half square triangle table runner
3 sets of doll blanket, pillows and rug--plus more to sell
Hexagon flower table runner
Wall hanging for quilt guild
yo-yo's that need to be made into projects
black and white rail fence quilt
Arkansas Crossroads scrap quilt


2015 Finishes:

Locker Hook Rug
re-do binding on blue and peach patchwork
9 lined fabric bags
yellow crazy quilt lined bag
Pink hexagon table topper
Blue hexagon table topper
Yo-Yo Table runner
GoodNight Irene quilt/wall hanging
Fractured Pineapple quilt
Charming Stars quilt
Challenge quilt for quilt guild
Autumn wall hanging
18 Hot pad bowls for Christmas gifts

I am linking up with the following blogs: