Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all of my readers.  I hope 2013 is filled with happiness, health and bright possibility for all.

Merry Christmas Everybody

Have a happy, peaceful and blessed Christmas!

Wordless Wednesday - Treetop Dancer

Teaser Tuesday's - Sweet Magik by Penny Watson

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Nook page  of Penny Watson's Sweet Magik:

Each step away from the Lahika library was bittersweet, propelling her closer to "home," which could change on any given day.  A tent on the beach, a hammock behind a bar, sometimes curled up under a palm tree.

Teaser Tuesday's - The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 69 of The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts:

The smell of honeysuckle drifted over her.  But this time she didn't feel the hand stroke her

hair.

NaNoWriMo 2012

It's no secret to any long time readers that I ama big fan of the craziness known as National Novel Writing Month - or as it is commonly known, NaNoWriMo.  The idea is to write a 50,000 word first draft og a novel during the month of November; that's 1,667 words per day.  This challenge has been such a wonderful thing in my life as a writer.  I have had the fortunate pleasure of meeting other writers, challenging myself in more ways than one and being a part of something really wonderful. 

I am about to conclude day two and already I've written 4,000 words.  SO far, I am really happy with what I've written, too.  If you have a novel waiting to be written - I highly recommend this challenge.  It's not too late to staqrt, either.

Teaser Tuesday's - Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 3 of Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews:

I'd been up at dawn cruising the still-darkened lanes of Savannah, trying to beat the trashmen to the spoils of the town's leading lights.  I looked like hell.

Teaser Tuesday's - Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 5 of Joshilyn Jackson's Backseat Saints:

She saw me whole, inside and out, as if my skin was made of glass.  She laid her tarot cards for me, and that reading...it was like she took my life and ran it through a Cuisinart.

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon

Today is the day for the Autumn edition of Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon.  I am sadly late in getting started.  I just was not able to face a five a.m. start time, though.  I've been reading for a little over an hour now - so I missed a quarter of the event.  That's all right though.  I fully intend to make the most out of the time I have left.

Right now I am reading Joshilyn Jackson's gods in Albama.  It's a really good book and I hope.  I am slos starting Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.  This one I am reading to and with my children.  Here is a picture of the stack of books I have sitting on my side table:

The second book from the top with the plain black spine is actually my Nook.  Of course it is loaded with lots of good reads.  So, I am really looking forward to the rest of the readathon.

Oh, and my youngest daughter just asked me for nachos.  That sounds like a yummy, indulgent snack.  I think there may just be a plate of them in our near future.

Wordless Wednesday - Seashells at the Seashore

Teaser Tuesday's - gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 16 of Joshilyn Jackson's gods in Alabama:

"I'm asking you to introduce me to your family.  That's all.  I'm asking for a commitment, Lena.  We've been together two years now. 

Musing Monday's - Series

Musing Monday's is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. This week’s musing, — courtesy of http://ladywithbooks.wordpress.com– asks…
Do you have a favorite series? Do you have a favorite book out of that series?

My favorite series is J.D. Robb's In Death books.  I was rather late getting into this series, too.  I have been a huge Nora Roberts fan since college but had always been afraid to try her In Death series as JDR.  I'm not really a fan of gruesome books and I thought this one would be like that. 

WHile I was pregnant with my first child, she released a book called Remember When.  The first half of the book is written as NR and modern; while the second half is written as JDR, in the future In Death Manhattan.  I devoured the first half f the book and was left hanging for the resolution and cautiously read the second half.  That was all it took and I've been a huge fan of the series ever since.  I went back to the beginning and read the series in order.  It took me a while to catch up but now I chomp at the bit waiting for the next installment to come out.  In fact, I'm currently number two on the library waiting list for the latest.

As for a favorite in the series - Vision in Death.  I have to say though that the characters and the love story between the Eve and Roarke are definitely what keep me glued to and happily invested in this series.  The homicide cases are very interesting and well done but it's the relationships that keep me coming back for more - time and again.

Teaser Tuesday's - The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 47 of J.K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy:

Simon's aversion to naming his home bordered on the superstitious.  He not only disliked visitors - invaders of his privacy and possible despoilers of his property - but he saw Hilltop House as inviolate, immaculate, a world apart from Yarvil and the crashing, grinding, printworks.

Romance Junkies Read-a-THon

It's time for the Romance Junkies readathon.  This one will go through Saturday.  I am so excited about this one.  I will be reading as much as possible over the next few days; definitely while my kids are in school and at night after bedtime.

I am almost done with The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes.  This is a really good book! it's made me cry a couple of times but I really, really like it! Next up I have the new one from J.K. Rowling, The Casual Vacancy.  Then I'll pick up something from Lorelei James.  I'm in the mood for the next in her Rough Riders series.

That feels like a good start for me.  Now I'm off to Twitter to post the link for this and get in on the readathon fun.  Have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday - Caramel Apples

Teaser Tuesday's - The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:


- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 59 of The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes:

And for that reason I have lain awake for the last two nights, hating myself for the one decent thing I have ever done.  Forgive me.

Musing Monday's - Hobbies and Collections

Musing Monday's is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. This week’s musing, courtesy of http://carabosseslibrary.blogspot.com– asks…
Do you have any hobbies outside of reading?
Or do you collect anything?

This is a fabulous musing! My hobbies outside of reading are mostly craft related.  I crochet, scrapbook, take a LOT of pictures, and have recently started teaching myself to sew.  My friend also sent me items to learn knitting - which I am very excited about.  Also, my children love puzzles and I really enjoy doing puzzles with them.

As for collections; Aside from my BOOK collection, my husband and I have quite a music collection.  We both came into our marriage with quite a lot of vinyl records (yes, I'm aging myself, I know), CD's and even some cassettes.  Most of the cassettes have gone now but we still have the CD's and vinyl.  And our children are beginning to love collecting music, too. 

I also have a Duran Duran (my MOST FAVORITE band EVER!) collection.  In addition to their music (yes, on vinyl and CD) I have all their merchandise that I collected during my teen years: posters, pins, books, a purse, a jacket and many, many t-shirts.  A lot of my Duran Duran t-shirts have been purchased during my adult years.  In fact, they have a store on their official website that has a lot of stuff I want - like coffee mugs! I WILL be getting the mugs very soon.  Oh, and some more t-shirts, of course - for myself and my children.  I'm happy to say my Duran Duran love has been inherited by my kids.  LOL

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon is quickly approaching.  This Autumn, it will be held on Saturday, October 13th.  I've been participating in this twice-yearly event for a few years now and I can honestly say that I love it! I look forward to it, actually.  It is exactly as it states, an event for the bookish who wish to spend a large chunk of time reading.  There are also fun mini-challenges based on books and authors.  And if you wish to make it a charitable event, you can.  Click on the link above if you're interested in participating in a really wonderful, bookish event.

The Last Day of Summer

I can not wrap my mind around where 2012 has gone.  Yes, I know there are still a little over three months in the year but I swear it has flown right on by so far.  With this being the official last day of Summer, my mind, heart and internal clock are yearning for Autumn.  It is still in the high 80's and low 90's here in Southern California.  And honestly, it usually stays this way until the end of October.  Whining about the weather isn't my point with this post, though.  My point is, I love, love, love Autumn! Although we don't have the glorious leaf-changing colors like New England does, I still adore the orange, red and gold hues that still begin to pop up all over the place.  Pumpkins, apples, squash in all the produce aections.  I'm not much of a cook but my husband is and it makes me happy to know he'll be using the previous ingredients.  Plus, we continue a tradition my Grandma started when I was little; apple and pumpkin picking! My husband and I take our kids apple picking and we all love it so much!

Another thing that I love about Autumn are the books! I adore that there are holiday themed books beginning to show in bookstore displays.  Yes, I still go to the bookstore; often, in fact.  I adore and use my Nook regularly but there is nothing like the real pages of a book to me.  Anyway, I've realized in the past few years that I read by season.  I like lighter, less mentally demanding themes during the summer, mysteries and something a little spookier from the end of September through to Halloween and Christmas themes during December.  I don't know if this is a result of really good marketing but it is absolutely true for me.  For example, I am waiting for Stephen King's The Shining to come in at the library.  I'vbe never read the book and have decided that this is the year I'm going to rectify that.

How about you? Do you love Autumn? Do your reading preferences flow with the calendar?

Teaser Tuesday's - Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Nook page 47 of J.D. Robb's Judgment in Death:

"Do you know what it takes to put that kind of image inside your own head, Lieutenant? Courage. An amazing level of courage."

Teaser Tuesday's - Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 26 of Melanie Gideon's Wife 22.

This is also my favorite time of day - when the empty house fills back up again and within an hour all of my decluttering is for naught.  For some reason this gives me pleasure.  The satisfying inevitability of it all.

Romance Junkies Read-a-Thon

I admit it, I am a sucker for a Read-a-Thon.  There are so very many to choose from that I just can't participate in all of them, though.  When I saw that Danielle from Romance Book Junkies is hosting her first one, I immediately signed up to be a part of it.  You can click on the link for her blog to sign up if you're interested.

Here are the details of the Read-a-Thon:

* The read-a-thon will be held from September 27th to the 29th. Within this time frame the challenge is to read for 24 hours. No matter how you do it for example you could read 8 hours per day, you could read 12 hours for 2 days or you could read 24 hours straight (for our hard core readers). Its up to you how you schedule your 24 hours.
* There will be 2 challenges throughout the read-a-thon with some great prizes. One challenge will be to read for the 24 hours of course throughout the 3 days and the other challenge will be a surprise. I will be sending out emails with more details closer to the read-a-thon.
* I will also be hosting a twitter party on the 28th from 8:00pm to 9:30pm were I will be giving away 3 huge swag packs. Again more details to come by email.
* We are all going to stay connected, update our status and have our twitter party at hashtag #RJreadathon.
* In order to qualify for the first challenge you need to make a post at the beginning and end of the read-a-thon with you schedule and your accomplishments then post the link to #RJreadathon.
* If you do not have a blog that's ok too you can post your schedule and accomplishments on twitter to enter the challenge. So all are welcome.
There are a few more details at Romance Book Junkies but this is the crux of it all.  I am so looking forward to this one.  And I already know what book I'll be kicking off this RAT with; J.K. Rowling's A Casual Vacancy.  It comes out on the 27th and I seriously can not wait to get my hands and eyes on the book and start reading it.

Discovering I Love a New Genre

I have discovered that I love western-themed books.  I realize this is in no way a new genre but it is new to me.  I'm reading a contemporary western by Lorelei James and I am loving it, especially the protective cowboys in the story.  Believe me, this has been quite a reading revelation.  Now I am super curious about this entire genre - the contemporaries and the historicals.  What about you? Have you ever discovered a love for an entirely new-to-you genre? And did you get a little obsessed with it? Oh, and if you like this genre, do you have any book recommendations for me?

In case you're curious, this new-found love is a result of my daughter's interest in country music.  We've found a lot of great country songs that we are enjoying together.  Then, of course, I got curious about the books and decided to dive in, imagination first.

Teaser Tuesday's - Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 11 of Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt:

Going into the woods by yourself is the best way to pretend you're in another time.  It's a thing you can only do alone.

Teaser Tuesday's - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 36 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird:

 

"Make us up one, Jem," I said.

 

"I'm tired of makin' 'em up."

 

Our first days of freedom, and we were tired.  I wondered what the summer would bring.

A Quick Book Survey

There is a fun book survey over at The Broke and the Bookish.  So, here are the questions, followed by my answers:

1. The book I’m currently reading: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.  This is one of my favorite books but it's been quite a while since I've read it.  My very good friend Julia and I read The Help several months ago and she wanted a different take on the American South.  I suggested To Kill a Mockingbird and now we are reading it together.

2. The last book I finished: A Summer Seduction by Candace Camp.  It's the second book in a historical romance trilogy.  I liked it and it was a mostly light, definitely happy-ending book.  Perfect, as I've been super busy and a bit scattered with the summer coming to an end.

3. The next book I want to read: Paris in Love: A Memoir by Eloisa James.  Eloisa James and her husband packed up their family and went to live in Paris for a year.  Paris.  Need I say more?

4. The last book I bought: When It Happens to You by Molly Ringwald.  I ordered this book from Barnes and Noble today.  I am quite excited to get my hands on it.  I am truly a child of the 80's and like many who came-of-age at that time - I adored Molly Ringwald's films.  Seriously, Pretty in Pink had a huge impact on me at 14.  So, when I saw this book being advertised on GoodReads I did some browsing and know it'll be read in the very near future.

5. The last book I was given: My friend Julia (mentioned in answer number one) gave me two books for my birthday; Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. 

If you wish to take the survey, click on the link above.  And if you do take it - let me know.  I'd love to read your answers to these fun questions.

Wordless Wednesday - A View From Home

Teaser Tuesday's - Dream Lake by Lisa Kleypas

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Nook page 103 of Dream Lake by Lisa Kleypas:

I haven't been alone for months, he wanted to tell his brother.  I'm being haunted.

Musing Monday's - Snacking

Musing Monday's is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. This week’s musing, courtesy of http://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com — asks…
Do you snack while you read? If so, what is your favorite reading snack?

I generally do not snack while I read.  The main reason for that is because the majority of my reading takes place at night, and usually in bed.  The idea of snacking in bed grosses me out.  That being said, there are times when I read during the day - usually during a readathon.  Then I will snack; my favorites are, plain M&M's, veggies and dip and chips and salsa.

Teaser Tuesday's - Real Men WIll by Victoria Dahl

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Victoria Dahl's Real Men Will:

He flew under the radar.  He didn't rock the boat.  He put his head down and did his job and that was it. 

Musing Monday's - Book Blogs

Musing Monday's is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. This week’s musing, courtesy of http://readbookswritepoetry.blogspot.in, asks:
What attracts you to a book blog? What puts you off in a book blog? Do you share personal stuff on your book blog?

I like book blogs that are informative without being preachy.  I also tend to like the ones that are not cluttered, while still being nice to look at.  As for my own blog - I share a bit of personal stuff, like my writing aspirations or struggles.  If I share something personal, it's often rather general.  THis is just me being very protective of my family.

Vacation Reading

I have vacation on my mind and thankfully, on my family horizon.  Naturally, as a bonafide bookworm, I MUST have books to read while on vacation.  As a very happy Nook owner, I no longer have to lug books around with me on vacation.  Believe me, this is a really good thing.

What I'm wondering is - do you have certain criteria for your vacation reading? I do.  My criteria is that my reading be really good (hopefully anyway) and engaging (again hopefully).  It has to be something I want to come back to read while still being something that I can be interrupted from and not forget the overall plot.  In other words, wonderful but not mentally taxing.  I find that a good romance or mystery usually fall into this category.

Book Review - Good Girls Don't by Victoria Dahl

I LOVE discovering wonderful authors that are new to me! I finished Victoria Dahl's Good Girls Don't earlier today and I am still smiling over how much I liked this book.  In fact, I;'ve already gotten the second and third books in this family trilogy.

Good Girls Don't is the love story between Tessa Donovan and Luke Asher.  Tessa and her two brothers, Jamie and Eric, run a family brewery together.  When the brewery is broken into, Tessa meets, and is immediately attracted to Luke.  He happens to be one of the detectives in charge of their break-in.  He's also an old college party buddy of her brother Jamie's.

Both Tessa and Luke have serious abandonment issues but for radically different reasons.  Due to said issues, both are quite afraid to leave and practically unable to trust.  This doesn't stop the immediate attraction they both feel for one another, though.  They begin what they both assume will be casual dating and quite a bit of lust.  And almost immediately, these two stubborn and scared people begin to fall for one another.

Tessa and Luke's story is sweet, sexy and at times sad.  I completely fell for these characters and Tessa's brothers, too.  If you want wonderful story telling with heart and spice - pick up this book by Victoria Dahl.   Oh, and I've already begun Jamie's story, Bad Boys Do. 

When in a book rut --

-- do some crafting! It worked wonders for me and I am thankfully out of my rut.  I am really enjoying Good Girls Don't by Victoria Dahl.

Teaser Tuesday's - Good Girls Don't by Victoria Dahl

 

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Victoria Dahl's Good Girls Don't:

She couldn't help but stare.  The police lights were so at odds with the birdsong and pale sunlight of the early-morning hour.

Reading Challenges

As you can see based on my pages at the top of my blog, I am participating in three reading challenges during 2012.  At least, I'm supposed to be participating.  The truth is, I'm not doing very well with the challenges this year.  I am some degree of behind on each one.  I'm not one hundred percent certain as to why this is the case.  I have done reading challenges quite successfully in past years. 

I am hoping/planning to catch up and complete the challenges for 2012.  However, I am wondering if perhaps this is a sign that I should forego the challenges in 2013.  Perhaps it'll be a year of reading simply for the pleasure of reading and not for the partial need to fulfill a challenge.  I suppose I'll decide definitively as this year draws to an end.

How about you? Do you participate in reading challenges? If so, how ar eyou doing with yours?

NaBloPoMo - August 2012

I am going to participate in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) during August.  I have been in a blogging/writing/ reading rut and I am hoping thaqt by committing to this challenge - I will get out of my rut.  I have done this challenge a couple of times before and have happily been successful with it.

The theme for August is Sweet.  I can either use the prompts provided or blog about my own topics.  I'm certain that I will do a combination of the two.  If this sounds like something you'd enjoy - click the image above and join in the fun.

Teaser Tuesday's - Shadow of Night (again)

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is once again from Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness.  I like this book a lot but I just didn't have much time to read this past week.  I am so wanting to know what's going to happen in this book, though! This week, I will be squeezing time from somewhere in order to finish this extremely well written book.  And now, the teaser:

It turned out that the challenge lay not in knowing what to do but in actually doing it.  After working for years to become an expert, I was a student once again.

Musing Monday's - Magazines

Musing Monday's is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. This week’s musing asks:

Do you read magazines? If so, which ones? If not, why not?

I go through phases with magazines.  I can go a long time without reading or buying one and then I buy several.  I like artistic (crocheting, sewing, scrapbooking) magazines and health/weight loss magazine like Shape the best. 

My kids, especially my oldest, have discovered a love for magazines, too.  In fact, i just bought one for each child and one for myself yesterday at barnes and Noble.

Teaser Tuesday's - Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness:

After journeying so far into Matthew's past, my body felt as though it might come apart with a puff of wind.  I hadn't felt anything like it after our brief timewalking sessions at my aunts' house.

Teaser Tuesday's - The Stand by Stephen King

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from Nook page 44 of Stephen King's The Stand:

"But they looked scared.  I never seen doctors look scared like that.  I didn't much care for it."

Teaser Tuesday's - The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 84 of Kate Alcott's The Dressmaker:

"Maybe you'll tell me the story behind it next time."

"Story?"

"There's always a story."

Teaser Tuesday's - Overseas by Beatriz Williams

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 156 of Overseas by Beatriz Williams:

"So let's just leave love out of it for now, okay? Because I'm already hooked.  You don't need to go setting me up for complete and total heartbreak."

Musing Monday's - Book Length

Musing Monday's is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. This week’s musing asks:


What is the longest book you have ever read? How long did it take you to read it?

I'm not entirely positive about this answer.  I'm going to guess the later books in the Harry Potter series, though.  I remember the seventh book being near 800 pages and I think the sixth was just over 700.  I read these books within a few days of their original release dates (and a couple of times since) - so, fairly quickly.

Teaser Tuesday's - Falling Together by Marisa de los Santos

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 203 of Falling Together by Marisa de los Santos: 


"Will you promise not to make fun of me?"
"Can't do it," said Will
Pen sighed.
"How about if I promise not to make fun of you immediately."

Book Review - Mr. Cavendish, I Presume

Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn is the story of Thomas Cavendish, the Duke of Wyndham and Lady Amelia Willoughby. Thomas and Amelia have been engaged for nearly all of their lives. As children their eventual marriage was arranged by their parents and neither had a say in the matter.
Amelia is growing weary - and irritated, truth be told - with the Duke’s seeming refusal to set a date for their wedding. Sure, he knows exactly who she is and that they are to be wed but he treats Amelia as a duty and nothing more. He certainly doesn’t act as if he truly means to get to know her and this is quite unacceptable to Amelia. She decided that she is done responding with gentility to the pitifully small amount of attention he pays her - in the name of duty only, of course.
Thomas, although tired of his constant duty and lack of privacy as the Duke of Wyndham, is quite irritated when he is shunned at the local dance hall - by his fiancée, of all people. Intent on giving Lady Amelia a piece of his mind and a lesson on her duties as the future Duchess, he finally sees her for the woman she has become and his interest is captured.
Naturally, their courtship is far from smooth. Just as Thomas realizes he is quite attracted to his future wife, and as Amelia decides not to appear so docile; they learn that they may not be allowed to wed at all. It is brought to light that Thomas may not be the true heir of Wyndham. Now that Amelia and Thomas are discovering - and even accepting - their feelings for one another - will they hold firm in the face of scandal and perhaps a loss of every thing they had thought was rightfully theirs?

Mr. Cavendish, I Presume is Julia Quinn’s follow up novel to The Lost Duke of Wyndham. It is immediately apparent that Ms. Quinn is following the same time line in this story as she did the previous. While at first I thought I would like that - I didn’t. It grew a bit annoying reading scene after scene that I’d already read in the first book. And while Amelia and Thomas’ relationship does develop in this book - I felt Amelia deserved better. It seemed to me that Thomas only wanted once he thought he was ‘entitled’ to her. As much as I love and adore Julia Quinn’s writing (and am in fact about to read her latest novel) this was not one of my favorites.

Teaser Tuesday's - The Sherlockian by Graham Moore

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “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 list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 10 of Graham Moore's The Sherlockian:

Arthur laid the facts of the crime before his readers clearly, calmly and efficiently.  No important detail was left out, and - yes, here was the mark of the true craftsman - not too many unimportant details were left in.

Musing Monday's - Dictionary

Musing Monday's is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. This week’s musing asks:

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?

It honestly depends on how in to the book I am.  If it's a grippig book or section of the book - probably not.  If the word appears at a place in the book where I don't mind stopping then I'll look the word up.  Fortunately though, I can usually figure out the meaning of the word based on the context of the storyline at the given moment.

Wordless Wednesday - Beach Joy