One World One Heart

One World One Heart is a worldwide event for bloggers only. It gives all those who blog a chance to meet and mingle and form connections with those they may not have otherwise met from all over the world. In the past 4 years this event has grown to over 1,000 participants with lasting friendships (and even one love connection) formed along the way. Think of it as a GIGANTIC open house allowing you to travel without ever leaving your home - going from blog to blog (in various countries) seeing the wonder each one has created and meeting all the fabulous people behind those blogs. As a bonus each blogger participant will offer up a "door prize or prizes" - just for dropping by, saying hello and seeing their world. It's really that easy. By the way, I took this paragraph directly from the post about this event.  It describes it too well for me to mess with it.

I found this event while randomly blog hopping and it sounds absolutely beautiful.  If you follow the link above (or click on the logo in my sidebar) you will be directed to the main post which explains the event - should you decide you want to participate.  The event runs from January 30 through February 17, 2011.  You may sign up until February 12th.

Now, a little bit about myself (as that is part of the event - talking about ones self LOL).  I am Sheery, a very proud stay-at-home mommy to two amazing children who (along with their Daddy - my husband) mean the world to me, of course.  I am an avid reader.  I am never, ever without a book - or two.  I am also a writer.  Honestly, if I don't read and write on a daily basis - I am a bit of a grouch.  It is my dream to be published and I am working on that goal.  I'm a bit of a procrastinator on the submission and querying process but I am getting better about that.

I used to scrapbook regularly but that was put on hold for a while while my children were really small and into every thing.  I'd like to get back to scrapbooking, though.  I love photography and have many pictures just waiting for the 'perfect' layout.  I'd also love to learn to crochet but I'm not sure where I'd fit that in just now.  Maybe someday soon.

I have a real life book club with one of my closest friends.  We keep trying to get more people involved with us - but it has just been the two of us for almost a year.  That's all right though, we have so much fun with it.  Although, I have to admit that while we do talk about the books (she's an avid reader/blogger just like me) we go off on other tangents.  Always.

One last thing about me - I LOVE to travel.  This is another thing that I haven't done too very much of in the past few years but that's all right.  I make sure I travel through the books I read and all over the internet.  The international quality of this event is part of why it appeals to me so much.  I hope I have the chance to meet many of the people participating in this event.

Now, for the 'door prize'.  I will send out one blank journal for the purpose of writing or drawing or whatever the winner may want to use it for.  I will also be certain to choose one that I think suits the personality of the winner.  All you have to do is leave a comment to this post and I will use a random number generator to choose a winner on February 17th.

Thank you for stopping by my blog and have a wonderful time the rest of the month.  If I haven't been to your blog already - I will be there soom.

EDITING TO ADD: My new crocheting supplies.  I do know how to do a chain and a single stitch.  So, I am going to crochet something to add to my door prize.  I don't know exactly what at this time but I am excited to make it.  I've been watching you tube videos on crocheting.  LOL

Anyhow, thanks to everyone who has already stopped by.  I will be visitng you, as well.  I've already been to a lot of amazing blogs and met some really neat people.  Thanks again to Lisa for this amazing event!

Musing Mondays: Reading Hangover

Musing Mondays is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading .  This week's musing is:

What’s the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn’t put it down?

I have stayed up late reading so many times in my lifetime.  I just did this recently while reading Lisa Kleypas' Tempt Me at Twilight.  Whenever I am super tired the next day (or two) after one of my reading benders - I swear I won't do it again.  Then I'll find myself in the midst of something really fantastic and I tell my self, just a few more pages or just one more chapter.  Or better yeat, I promise myself I'll go to bed by a certain time and miss my self imposed cerfew by an hour or more.  It's an addiction - this love of reading that I have.  I just don't want any help for it, though.  :)

Other books that I have stayed up way too late reading are: The Girl Who Played With Fire by Steig Larsson, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling, Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle and pretty much any book by Nora Roberts.

Now, I really must go to sleep so I won't be suffering tomorrow.  After I read for just 'a little bit'.  LOL

Book Blogger Hop - 1/28 - 1/31

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books.  This weeks Hop question is:

"What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011? Why are you anticipating that book?"

The first book I thought of after reading this question is Heather Webber's Absolutely, Positively.  Then I immeadiately thought of J.D. Robb's Treachery in Death and Sarah Addison Allen's The Peach Keeper.  So, of course, I simply can not choose just one book that I am most excited for this year. 

Absolutely, Positively is the third in Webber's quirky Lucy Valentine series.  I love the characters in this series, the mysteries and the ever present hope for happiness and true love.  Plus, I am super excited that this book comes out on Tuesday.

Treachery in Death is the 32nd installment in Robb's 'In Death' series and I am a huge fan.  Again, I love the well-written mysteries but it's the complex characters that keep me coming back for each book.

I discovered Sarah Addison Allen last year and just fell in love with her style of writing. I am looking forward to yet another mystical book by her. Plus, I think the cove of The Peach Keeper is beautiful.

Review - Collusion by Stuart Neville

Product Details

Pub. Date: October 2010

Publisher: Soho Press, Incorporated

Format: Hardcover , 354 pages

I checked this out from the library


Synopsis from Publishers Weekly

Irish author Neville follows his stunning debut, The Ghosts of Belfast, with an even more powerful tale of revenge, violence, and redemption. Collusion among Loyalists, IRA members, and the cops stymie the efforts of Det. Insp. Jack Lennon to find his former lover, Marie McKenna, and their daughter, Ellen, who've been targeted by Belfast crime boss Bull O'Kane. Jack finds an unlikely ally in former paramilitary killer Gerry Fegan, who knows that his murderous actions at a border farm where O'Kane was wounded and the gangster's son died have put mother and daughter at risk. Neville rides the perfect Celtic storm in an action-packed, cerebral thriller with fully realized characters and an insider's view of the ever-shifting politics of Northern Ireland, where the "peace boom" has also brought hordes of investors. Jack and Gerry emerge as two distinctly complicated antiheroes, neither of whom has illusions about himself.

My Review

I wanted to love this book.  I was so impressed and enthralled by Neville's The Ghosts of Belfast when I read it last year.  When I learned that there was a sequel, I immediately went and checked it out from my library.  Gerry Fegan was the anti-hero in The Ghosts of Belfast and I was so looking forward to him as a redeemed character.  Especially since I thought there would be a decent amount of interaction between him and Jack Lennon - the supposed hero of Collusion.

I am sad to say that I barely made it through this book.  The interaction I had anticipated between Lennon and Fegan was practically non-existent.  Plus, Lennon wasn't a very likable character.  At least with Fegan I believed that he was trying to redeem himself.  The most admirable thing about Lennon was that he would not give up on finding Marie and Ellen.  That's what kept me rooting him on and kept me reading this book.

This book, more than anything else, was a story about Bull O'Kane's revenge.  He's a twisted old man bent on killing those that he thought wronged him or simply knew too much about his atrocities.  Also, I am not a prude, but I do not think it's necessary to fill lines worth of text with curse words.  I get it, there were crazy characters in this book but a sentence that is comprised solely of curse words is so ridiculous.

Neville proved that he can write a good an intriguing story with The Ghosts of Belfast.  That, moreso than this book, would make me give him another chance.  Collusion gets a C- from me, though.

Review - Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas

Product Details:

Pub. Date: September 2009

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Format: NOOKbook (eBook) , 384 pages




Synopsis:
He was everything she’d sworn to avoid.

Poppy Hathaway loves her unconventional family, though she longs for normalcy. Then fate leads to a meeting with Harry Rutledge, an enigmatic hotel owner and inventor with wealth, power, and a dangerous hidden life. When their flirtation compromises her own reputation, Poppy shocks everyone by accepting his proposal—only to find that her new husband offers his passion, but not his trust.
And she was everything he needed.

Harry was willing to do anything to win Poppy—except to open his heart. All his life, he has held the world at arm’s length…but the sharp, beguiling Poppy demands to be his wife in every way that matters. Still, as desire grows between them, an enemy lurks in the shadows. Now if Harry wants to keep Poppy by his side, he must forge a true union of body and soul, once and for all.


My Review:
I loved this book.  This is the third in Ms. Kleypas' Hathaway series.  I read the first, Mine 'til Midnight, which was also wonderful but I liked this one even better.  I haven't been able to find the second in the series, so haven't read that one as yet, but will.

Poppy Hathaway is exactly the kind of character I like - strong! Poppy is in love with an aristocratic boy (as Harry Rutledge accurately deems him) named Michael Bayning.  She is certain that they will marry and live out the 'normal' life she craves.  Well, Michael's father does not approve of the match because he sees Poppy and her family as beneath them.  Heartbroken, Poppy wants to return to her family home in Hampshire.  Her brother Leo convinces her that she must attend the final ball of the London season in order to return with dignity.  Begrudgingly, Poppy agrees to attend the ball.

The reclusive and secretive Harry Rutledge decides to attend the ball, as well.  He is there only to ask permission to properly court Poppy.  She is flattered but quite taken aback.  She and Harry hardly know one another.  They have spent time around one another on two occasions.  Granted, they were intriguing encounters but Poppy is heartbroken and in need of time to heal.

The story that continues on from the ball is one filled with humor, heart and a few tears.  Poppy and Harry must learn to trust one another - and even forgive - on their road to love and their happy ending.

I definitely give this book an A and look forward to reading the rest of the Hathaway series.

A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon - Wrap Up

Last week I participated in The True Book Addict's A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon.  I had high hopes for completing three books.  Well, I didn't read three but I did read two complete books:

1.Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas (loved this book)
2.Collusion by Stuart Neville (a bit ambivalent about this one; liked the prequel better)

As someone who generally averages one book per week - I am quite happy with this.  Now I am going to finish George Orwell's 1984 this week.  I've been waiting on my husband to get back to reading it with me.  He recently admitted that he wasn't sure when he'd want to read it again.  So. I'm going on ahead without him.  I want to know what is going to happen in this creepy book.

Thanks to Michelle for hosting this read-a-thon.  She will be hosting another one in April called Spring's Serenity Read-s-Thon.  The pretty name alone catches my attention.  Oh, and for those who participate in Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon - there will be no conflict.

Have a great week!

A Major Deal on Books

There is a thrift store nearby that is, sadly, going out of business.  It makes me feel bad to see businesses having to close down.  It just doesn't seem right.  I stopped for a much needed caffeine fix (Starbucks is right next door to this thrift store) and noticed that tomorrow is their last day to be open.  My husband and I are redecorating our daughters' room, so I decided to go in to see if they had any deals on furniture.  They did and I hope it works out for us to pick up the dresser, mirror and night stands that I am picturing refurbished in white with pretty, feminine drawer pulls.

Sorry, slight digression into my HGTV obsession.

In the back of the store - there were about eight full size bookcases - filled with books.  I had to go and look.  Honestly, my heart sped up in excitement.  I challenge any book addict to walk away from what is sure to be a great deal.  I go back to start looking and there was a sign - All Books Ten Cents!

TEN CENTS! I dug in with happiness, let me tell you.  I came out of there with twelve books; six hardcovers and six paperbacks.  For one dollar and twenty cents, here is what I came home with:

Hardcovers:
1.Swapping Lives by Jane Green
2.The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Brown
3. Everything She Thought She Wanted by Elizabeth Buchan
4.Couplehood by Paul Reiser
5.Come the Spring by Julie Garwood
6. The Last TIme They Met by Anita Shreve

Paperbacks
7. Vanishing Act by Fern Michaels
8.How to Control Your Allergies by Robert Forman, Ph.D.
9.The Return Journey by Maeve Binchy
10.The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
11.Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy
12.The Soul of A New Machine by Tracy Kidder

Now I just need to get my eyes checked - and I'm fairly certain I'll need glasses - so I can get to reading these books.  LOL

Wordless Wednesday: Aquarium of the Pacific

Teaser Tuesdays: Collusion by Stuart Neville

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. To play along, do the following:

Grab your current read -

Open to a random page -

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page -

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser.

My teaser is from Stuart Neville's Collusion, page 18:

Alive.  He's no good to me if he's not breathing, you understand? Nobody knows where he went.  You'll have to draw him out.

A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon

Michelle over at The True Book Addict is hosting a week-long read-a-thon.  It begins tomorrow and lasts through next Sunday, January 23rd.  Believe me when I say I never need an excuse to bury my nose and my brain in the pages of a book.  However, I will happily use A Winter's Respite (love the name) read-a-thon as a reason to get in some extra reading time this week.

Here is a list of books I'd like to read this week:

1. 1984 by George Orwell (this is my current read for my book club and I'd like to finish it).
2. Collusion by Stuart Neville ( a library book due on the 25th)
3. Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas (part of a historical romance series that I am loving).

If I finish all three of these books in a week it will be a small miracle.  LOL I am definitely going to try, though.  Feel free to visit Michelle's blog if you want to join in the fun.

What Kind of Reader Are You

I found this fun little quiz at Find Your Next Good Read.  Take the quick quiz and find out your answer.  Is it accurate? I think mine is definitely accurate for me.

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader   You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
Literate Good Citizen
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Book Snob
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Book Blogger Hop: January 14 - 17, 2011: Gnere

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books. This week's question is:

"Why do you read the genre that you do? What draws you to it?"

I read more than one genre.  However, I will say that my favorite genre is romance.  What draws me to the types of romance novels I read are the characters and the happy ending.  I know there are all sorts of different sub genres of romance: suspense, historical, contemporary, paranormal, etc.  I tend to prefer the historical but have found books in all the categories that I like.  And others that I have disliked.  If a book has strong, believable characters then I am usually pleased.  And of course, I'm a sucker for a happy ending - which I am guaranteed with a romance novel.

What is your favorite genre, and why?

Have a great weekend!

The Versatile Blogger Award

This award was given to me by Megan from Xenophobic Bibliophile.  Megan, thank you so much for this award - I am very honored to receive it.  I'm sorry it took me so long to make this post.  I received the award in December (like I said, I'm sorry).

Here are the rules of the award:

1. Share 7 things about yourself.
2. Pass the award to 15 bloggers recently discovered.
3. Notify the blogger recipients.
4. Link to the blogger who gave the award.



Seven Things About Myself:

1. I have a Nook and I love it.  I share this because I was one who swore I'd never have an e-reader.  LOL

2. My favorite cake is German chocolate but I never eat it.  I'm afraid to have it around because my daughter is allergic to nuts and the frosting has pecans in it.  January is the only time of year I actually miss it, though.  My mom used to make it for me each year on my birthday. 

3. I always have pieces of stories I want to write (or am writing) running through my head.  Fortunately, I'm a decent multi tasker and manage to get the necessities in life taken care of, as well.

4. I love to travel but the older I get - the more frightened I become of airplanes and flying.  I have no idea why.

5. My absolute favorite author is Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb.  I adore her.  Her books (under either name) are the only ones I buy on the day they are released.

6. My kids and husband mean the world to me but I need my time with friends or alone, too.  I used to feel guilty about this but don't any longer.  I feel having time away from them actually makes me a better mommy and wife.

7. I am addicted to blogging.  :) I love spending time writing my own blog and finding and reading blogs by other people.  I feel like a whole new world has opened up to me.

Fifteen Bloggers I'm Giving the Award To:

1. W O R D + S T U F F
2. The True Book Addict 
3.Romance Book Junkies
4. The Enchanted Book
5. Freelance Writer Blog
6. Write Meg
7. A Modern Mother
8. Brazen Broads Book Bash
9. Between the Covers
10. Addicted to Romance
11. Supernatural Snark
12. Whatcha Readin, Books
13. Tina Says
14. The Bookish Snob
15. Snowdrop Dreams of Books

That was fun but it took a while to complete.  I'll have to be certain to get to all of these blogs tomorrow and let them know I have done this.  LOL Right now, I need sleep.  Thanks again for the awesome award, Megan!

Teaser Tuesdays: 1984 by George Orwell

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. To play along, do the following:

Grab your current read -

Open to a random page -

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page -

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser.
 
This is my first time reading the classic, 1984.  It's a frightening account of a Big Brother society.  I read my teasert a few days ago and it still makes me nauseous to think of a world that would promote these things.  My frightening teaser, from page 26:

WAR IS PEACE.
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY.
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.

Musing Mondays - Finding Book Suggestions

Musing Mondays is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading .  This week's musing is:

Where is your favorite place to find new books to read? Blogs? The library? Newspapers? Magazines? In the backs of other books? Suggestions from friends/family? Online bookstores? On the shelves of the local bookstores? (I don’t necessarily mean, ‘where do you find books to buy’ — I mean, ‘where do you discover new titles that you add to your to-be-read lists’?).

I have become a blog addict.  I love writing in my own blog and I really love reading and discovering other blogs.  I find the majority of my future reads on book blogs.  I also enjoy browsing the shelves of Barnes and Noble but don't have as much time for that as I used to.  And sometimes, I will get a great suggestion from a friend.  However, as stated, most of my TBR pile comes from the book blogging world..  It's awesome!

The Chrysalis Experiment

The Chrysalis Experiment is an amazing year-long project that I discovered through W O R D + S T U F F.  The idea is to write a short story for every week of 2011; or at least the weeks that you are inspired by the prompt or even just have the time to write rhe short story (1,000 - 10,000 words).  I love, love, love this experiment.  I am hoping that it will help me grow as a writer.  Plus, I am really looking forward to the opportunity to really connect with other writers.

The writing prompts will be posted on each Monday of the year.  And at least one short story will be posted on each Friday of the week.  I am hoping that I will write something I feel comfortable enough submitting for a post.  It's the criticism I know I need that actually freaks me out. 

Now, for the Entrance Survey.  Which is optional, but what the heck, here it is:

1. What are your current writing habits? I write every day.  I have to or else I am grouchy.  Of course, what and how much I write each day varies but the writing must be done.  Do you have any larger projects in the works? Of course! I am nearly done with my 2009 NaNoWriMo novel.  Once it is complete, I will start shopping it around in the publishing world.  I am also in the market for an agent and publisher for a novel that is already complete.  Hopefully I'll find one soon and the NaNo novel can be submitted to this person.  I am ever the optimist.



2. Name three things you love about your own writing and three skills that you would like to work on this year. Do you have a list of writing goals for 2011?

     What I Love About My Writing:
          A. My characters (especially the females) are really strong and competent while still having human emotions and flaws.
          B. Most of my stories are usually very family and friendship oriented.
          C. I have a really good sense of when to end the story.  I realize that may sound strange but I sometimes feel that a book I'm reading would have been better if it had ended sooner.

     Areas That Need Improvement:
          A. Being more open to sharing my writing.
          B. Accepting and implementing constructive criticism.
          C. I need to stop procrastinating the submission process.

     2011 Writing Goals:
         A. Write, write, write.  Finish the 2009 NaNo novel, write at least the rough drafts for two more novels (one of these will be in November) and now, The Chrysalis Experiment.
         B. As stated above - submit my work.
         C.  Get published! I told you I am an eternal optimist.


3. What do you find inspiring? I am very inspired by my family, friends, music nad reading great/books.


4. What sort of things do you currently do to improve your writing? I write every day as I believe that practice does pay off in the form of even better writing.


5. Are you currently looking for a critique partner or beta readers? Absolutely. If so, what qualities would you like in a critique partner or beta reader? Honesty and a sense of humor. 

2011 Historical Romance Challenge

I love historical romance novels.  I love the romance genre, period.  So, when I founf this challenge through The Enchanted Book (a blog I just found and fell in love with) I just had to sign up for it.

This will be an easy and enjoyable challenge.  It is being hosted by Danielle at Romance Book Junkies.  The goal is to read twelve hhistorical romance books between January 1 and December 31, 2011.  Like I said, enjoyable.  Feel free to click the image if you want to sign up for the fun challenge.

Book Blogger Hop - January 7-10, 2011

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books.  This week's question is:

"What book influenced or changed your life? How did it influence or change you?"

There are two books that answer this question for me.  They are: Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain and Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.  These two books are absolutely responsible for my lifelong love and passion for reading and books.  My Grandma got them for me shortly after I learned to read as a child.  They were slightly beyond my reading level but she helped me get through them.  And in a very real way opened my eyes and imagination to the entire world through reading.  There have been many other books that I have felt strongly about in my life (and hopefully many to come) but none moreso than these as they are the ones that made me fall in love with reading.  Books in general have been a constant influence for me.

Teaser Tuesday's: Romeo, Romeo by Robin Kaye

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. To play along, do the following:
Grab your current read -
Open to a random page -
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page -
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser from page 168 in my Nook:

Nick wondered if insanity ran in Rosalie's family.  That would explain the phone calls.

Musing Mondays: How Many Books

Musing Mondays, hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading is back! This week's musing is fun and simple:

How many books did you read in 2010? If you had a reading goal, did you meet it? What books are you most looking forward to reading for 2011 (either new, OR ones that have sat on your shelves for a while)?

My reading goal for 2010 was to read 52 books.  I met it with 53 books.  My goal for 2011 is again going to be 52 books.  To me it is a nice, attainable goal.

I always look forward to new books by Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb.  The first comes out in February.  I am also looking forward to Absolutely, Positively by Heather Webber and Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann.  Both of these also come out in February so it's going to be a great reading month for me.

I am also looking forward to continuing with my IRL book club with my friend Julia.  Maybe we'll even get some more people involved with us.  We read some really great books in 2010 and I hope that trend continues this year.

Rainy Sunday

It has been a very wet Sunday here in Southern California.  It was a perfect day to get some stuff done around the house (laundry, dishes, vacuuming and sorting for the school week).  It was also a great day for family time (building with blocks, reading and catching part of a movie).

This evening, after finishing the prep for the school week and getting the kiddos to sleep, has been for me.  I am halfway through my wonderful brain candy book.  Romeo, Romeo is anice, sweet, romantic, sexy book that is just what I need right now; something to enjoy but not at all taxing on the brain.

Oh, and I also started writing a new book tonight.  It doesn't have a title yet and I've only written about one thousand words but hey, I'm happy with the fact that I have begun a new story.

How was your Sunday? Are you happy with the start of 2011?

Happy 2011

The new year has begun and I hope everyone has the best and happiest year ever! I hope you accomplish your goals and read nothing but great books.  If you write, may that go smoothly all year through.  Happy New Year, everyone!