Wrighty's Reads

Teaser Tuesday

2012-01-24T15:22:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading and asks you to :

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3 . Share 2 "teaser" sentences also citing the title of the book and the author and in that way people can have great recommendations if they like the "teaser".
4. Please avoid spoilers!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I did my teaser a bit differently this week but these were too fun not to share!

"In 1997, I picked up a discarded grocery list at a St. Louis supermarket. I found it to be a fascinating glimpse into a stranger’s life and decided to pick them up whenever I found one. In 2000, I posted my collection of about 40 lists to the web. By 2004 I had about 500. In early 2006 I started working on a book about these lost lists and by the time it was published in May 2007, there were 1,600 lists on the site (with thousands more yet to be scanned and posted). Now there are more than 3,000.

The book features about 300 of the best: The funniest, the weirdest, the saddest, the strangest, the unhealthiest and more. Simply put, it is a strange, fascinating and hilarious look at other peoples’ discarded grocery lists." ~Bill Keaggy

Milk Eggs Vodka: Grocery Lists Lost And Found by Bill Keaggy

www.milkeggsvodka.com

www.grocerylists.org

Review: Shelter by Harlan Coben

2012-01-24T12:30:00.000-05:00

Mickey Bolitar's year

can't get much worse.

After witnessing his father's death and sending his mom to rehab, he's forced to live with his estranged uncle Myron and switch high schools.
A new school comes with new friends and new enemies, and lucky for Mickey, it also comes with a great new girlfriend, Ashley. For a while, it seems like Mickey's train-wreck of a life is finally improving - until Ashley vanishes without a trace. Unwilling to let another person walk out of his life, Mickey follows Ashley's trail into a seedy underworld that reveals that this seemingly sweet, shy girl isn't who she claimed to be. And neither was Mickey's father. Soon, Mickey learns about a conspiracy so shocking that it makes high school drama seem like a luxury - and leaves him questioning everything about the life he thought he knew.
First introduced to readers in Harlan Coben's latest adult novel, Live Wire, Mickey Bolitar is as quick-witted and clever as his uncle Myron, and eager to go to any length to save the people he cares about. With this new series, Coben introduces an entirely new generation of fans to the masterful plotting and wry humor that have made him an award-winning, internationally bestselling, and beloved author.

Review
I'm a big fan of Harlan Coben's past novels. His books have so much action and suspense they are hard to put down. He is so good at throwing a curve ball in the story too and I always wonder when it's coming. This is his debut into young adult fiction and I was excited to read it. I have to say that I was kind of disappointed though. I thought it was age appropriate but I was expecting it to have the same intensity as Coben's adult novels.

This book was well written and had a good mystery. The characters were interesting at first but they didn't seem to develop much. Some of them had odd behavior too. I liked Mickey but he didn't act like a teenager. He was suppose to be a high school sophomore but he was too mature and too calm under pressure.

The story was interesting enough that I expect to try the next book in the series to see what happens. I am curious about the cliffhangers. If I don't care for that book than I think I will stick with Coben's other novels because I really like this author.

Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for an ARC to review.

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release date: 9/6/11
Pages: 288
Price/format: $18.99 /hardcover
Type: thriller YA series

Mailbox Monday

2012-01-23T12:53:00.000-05:00

Mailbox Monday (started at The Printed Page and now a traveling meme) is at At Home With Books this month and is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I'm still spending way too much time looking for ebooks but there are so many good deals that it's addicting! My 88 year-old great-aunt fell and broke her leg last week and had to have surgery (The same surgeon who operated on my son's broken leg 3 weeks earlier. We are providing way too much service for this doctor!) and has spent several days in the hospital. She has a lot of memory problems so we are staying close and spending many hours there. She is a tiny little thing but she's a fighter and is improving and so is my son. I thought I would get in lots of reading time at the hospital but that hasn't really happened. I hope you all had a terrific week, got lots of goodies and found plenty of reading time! And please be careful so you don't fall and break any bones yourself!!

Lost Days - free Amazon ebook

Hollowland - free Amazon ebook


Samantha Moon: Four Novels -99c/set B&N ebooks

Happy Hour Of The Damned - Paperback Swap

Full Dark, No Stars - 50c at library

Beautiful!

2012-01-21T23:45:00.000-05:00

Here is a very clever idea for DIY storybook paper roses from 100 Layer Cake.
I know it's painful to imagine doing that to a book but old sheet music and magazines are also options for making these flower petals. Just click on the link for easy to follow directions!

Teaser Tuesday

2012-01-17T17:21:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading and asks you to :

Joanna explained to her daughters that living in a static house, one that never changed, was stifling and suffocating, and that changing your environment was even more important than changing your clothes. It was summer, hence the walls should be yellow.

~page 27

Witches Of East End by Melissa De La Cruz

I would love to visit this bookstore!

2012-01-12T18:58:00.000-05:00

Uploaded by crazedadman on Jan 9, 2012

"After organizing our bookshelf almost a year ago (http://youtu.be/zhRT-PM7vpA), my wife and I (Sean Ohlenkamp) decided to take it to the next level. We spent many sleepless nights moving, stacking, and animating books at Type bookstore in Toronto (883 Queen Street West, (416) 366-8973)."

Big Cozy Books furniture

2012-01-11T12:36:00.000-05:00

I'm not affiliated with this site in any way, I just found it on line and wanted to share the photos. It looks like a wonderful idea!

Terrific seating!

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Who wouldn't love this wall art??

Mailbox Monday

2012-01-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

Book staircases!

2012-01-08T20:57:00.000-05:00

I lost the link where I found this but doesn't it look like fun?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Stairs Bookshelves: What started as a space-saving strategy turned into a centerpiece of this interior redesign. The experience: complete book-overload as the London owners make their way to the loft bedroom above the main floor of their condo. Shot from virtually any perspective the result is remarkably attractive and a good reminder that a lack of space can be a great design opportunity."

(Other angles)

More clever book ideas here!

Teaser Tuesdays

2012-01-03T02:20:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading and asks you to :

It was bad, really bad and the longer it went on the more I wanted to beg her to stop, please stop, because my Gran would never scare me like this, would never leave me standing here in shock, lost, shaking and near tears without opening her arms and holding me safe. This gaunt, twisted old lady with the messy hair and stone face, this silent woman hunched over in the wheelchair was a stranger, someone I didn't know, could never know...

~page 159
How It Ends by Laura Wiess

Mailbox Monday

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Mailbox Monday (started at The Printed Page and now a traveling meme) is at At Home With Books this month and is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I hope your holidays were very happy! I didn't get a single book but I didn't need any. (I didn't say I didn't want any though!) I've got plenty now plus the (small) pile from the library and all the free ebooks that keep teasing me. And now that the cold weather and snow have finally hit maybe I'll cozy up and get more of them read. I do need to take down the tree, put away the decorations and lots of other stuff but that's just not any fun. I hope you are enjoying your new goodies!

The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

Won from Bites

Han Alister thought he had already lost everyone he loved. But when he finds his friend Rebecca Morley near death in the Spirit Mountains, Han knows that nothing matters more than saving her. The costs of his efforts are steep, but nothing can prepare him for what he soon discovers: the beautiful, mysterious girl he knew as Rebecca is none other than Raisa ana’Marianna, heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Han is hurt and betrayed. He knows he has no future with a blueblood. And, as far as he’s concerned, the princess’s family killed his own mother and sister. But if Han is to fulfill his end of an old bargain, he must do everything in his power to see Raisa crowned queen. Meanwhile, some people will stop at nothing to prevent Raisa from ascending. With each attempt on her life, she wonders how long it will be before her enemies succeed. Her heart tells her that the thief-turned-wizard Han Alister can be trusted. She wants to believe it—he’s saved her life more than once. But with danger coming at her from every direction, Raisa can only rely on her wits and her iron-hard will to survive—and even that might not be enough.The Gray Wolf Throne is an epic tale of fierce loyalty, unbearable sacrifice, and the heartless hand of fate.

The Secret Holocaust Diaries: The Untold Story of Nonna Bannister by Nonna Bannister (ebook)
Free from Barnes & Noble

Nonna Bannister carried a secret almost to her Tennessee grave: the diaries she kept as a young girl experiencing the horrors of the Holocaust while learning compassion and love for her fellow human beings. Nonna's writings tell the remarkable tale of how a Russian girl, born into a family that had known wealth and privileges, was exposed to the concentration camps and learned the value of human life and the importance of forgiveness.

Hereafter by Tara Hudson (ebook)
Bought on sale from B&N

Can there truly be love after death?
Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.
Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.
Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (ebook)
Bought on sale from B&N

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?
Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

Succubus Blues from Richelle Mead (audio)
Free from Audible.com

Succubus (n.) An alluring, shape-shifting demon who seduces and pleasures mortal men. Pathetic (adj.) A succubus with great shoes and no social life. See: Georgina Kincaid.
When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they often pay with their souls, but why get technical?
But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid's life is far less exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies. Her immortal best friends haven't stopped teasing her about the time she shape-shifted into the Demon Goddess getup complete with whip and wings. And she can't have a decent date without sucking away part of the guy's life. At least there's her day job at a local bookstore--free books; all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can't.
But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle's demon underground. And for once, all of her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help because Georgina's about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny...

Wishing you the happiest New Year!

2012-01-01T03:00:00.001-05:00

You know it's not good news when...

2011-12-31T20:58:00.001-05:00

...you hear the x-ray technician say 'Oh, that's gonna need work." That's what we were told when my oldest son had to go to the ER after a fall on the ice. He had just arrived at work Tuesday morning, was crossing the parking lot and slipped on a small puddle of ice. The temperature has been so mild here for December that it was probably the first day we even had ice! Since it was a small puddle his foot slipped and then hit the edge of the dirt and stopped instantly. Having no where else to go, his ankle turned under and he folded to the ground. He had a broken fibula (smaller leg bone) so a fiberglass splint was put on in the ER, he was given crutches, pain pills and instructions for calling an orthopedist.

Later than afternoon an orthopedist called us after noticing the x-rays at the hospital. He told us there was more damage than we knew about and my son needed to have surgery to repair it. The ligaments were torn on both sides of his ankle and that's why there was no support. (Thus, the flop to one side.) So we made the arrangements and he had surgery first thing Thursday morning, spent the day in the hospital and was able to go home after dinner. He's been in a lot of pain and it's hard to get comfortable but the surgery went well and the doctor said that because he's young he has a good chance of healing completely.

So that was our excitement this week. Christmas day was very nice and kind of quiet but it was wonderful to have little children here again. I'd almost forgotten how fun the season is when you have kids around! They are truly a blessing. I hope your Christmas was also filled with many blessings and you will have the happiest New Year.

My favorite gift this year!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!!

2011-12-25T01:43:00.000-05:00

Mailbox Monday

2011-12-19T13:12:00.000-05:00

Mailbox Monday (started at The Printed Page and now a traveling meme) is at Let Them Read Books this month and is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Only one book arrived in the mail this week but I can't seem to stop when it comes to ebooks and library books. There are just so many good ones! I really should be shopping and wrapping (and cleaning and baking and cleaning and shopping some more) but reading is so much more fun. Especially when the house is quiet and peaceful and the Christmas lights are lit. I wish you all happy reading this holiday season!

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
From Paperback Swap

Cherie Priest's much-anticipated steampunk debut has finally arrived in the form of a paperback original. Its plot features the sort of calibrated suspense that readers of her Four and Twenty Blackbirds would expect. Boneshaker derives its title from the Bone-Shaking Drill Engine, a device designed to give Russian prospectors a leg up in the race for Klondike gold. Unfortunately, there was one hitch: On its trial run, the Boneshaker went haywire and, long story short, turned much of Seattle into a city of the dead. Now, 16 years later, a teenage boy decides to find out what is behind that mysterious wall. Can his mother save him in time? Zombie lit of the first order.

Review: Orignial Sin by Beth McMullen

2011-12-15T02:30:00.000-05:00

Wife. Mother. Spy.

On the surface, Lucy Hamilton looks just like all the other stay-at-home San Francisco moms. She takes her three-year-old son, Theo, to the beach, to the playground and to the zoo. She feeds him organic applesauce and free-range chicken. She folds laundry and plays on the floor with Matchbox cars until her knees ache. What no one knows about Lucy, not even her adoring husband, is that for nine years Lucy was Sally Sin, a spy for the United States Agency for Weapons of Mass Destruction. And that's just the way she wants to keep it - a secret. But when Lucy's nemesis Ian Blackford, a notorious illegal arms dealer, hits the USAWMD's radar, the Agency calls Sally Sin back to action to lure Blackford out into the open. Racing against time, Lucy must fight to save herself, her loving family - and, oh right - the world. Hilarious and resonant, ORIGINAL SIN is the story of one woman’s quest to find that most elusive work-life balance in the face of danger, intrigue, and proper recycling habits.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review
When I read the description it seemed to have all the elements I enjoy in a book - interesting story, lots of action, good writing and a large dose of humor. Jackpot! And it's done well here, especially for a debut novel. Lucy Hamilton was Sally Sin in her former life. As if being a spy wasn't hard enough, but she gave it all up to start a family. (I've never been a spy but I would still bet my money that the mom thing is much harder. You definitely get less sleep!) but Lucy has done both, although she never wanted to combine them into one lifetime. Unfortunately that decision was made for her.

I was drawn in from the first page. Lucy is crawling around in her backyard looking for evidence of an intruder - paranoid mom? Old habits of a spy? She was making fun of herself as she was doing it so that endeared me to her right away. I thought all of the characters were quite interesting and a good combination of Lucy's past and present. The story unfolded nicely with plenty of action. I eagerly anticipated every little nugget of her life as a spy and how it all led to her now being a wife and mother. There were a few bumps in the road for me that didn't seem logical but the humor helped me to occasionally suspend disbelief. There was plenty of mystery at the end of this book but it sets up for the next one in the series. I will be waiting for it!
Book 2, See Sally Spy, coming May 29, 2012!

Thank you to Hyperion for sending me an arc to review.

Read the first chapter
www.bethmcmullen.com
www.hyperionbooks.com

Publisher: Hyperion
Release date: 7/12/11
Pages: 304
Price/format: $23.99/hardcover
Type: fiction, thriller, humor

More ways to repurpose books for the holidays!

2011-12-14T16:05:00.000-05:00

I know the thought of harming a book is nauseating! These ideas aren't encouraging the destruction of books but repurposing and recycling copies that are already old or ruined. Some ideas are simple ways to decorate with books without changing them at all.

Wreath made from repurposed sheet music

More ideas -
Book tree & more ideas from Real Simple
Adorable book ornaments based on books & reading from Sheryl Rainfeld

Mailbox Monday

2011-12-12T21:41:00.000-05:00

Modern Sorcery by Gary Jonas

Won from author

Magic can be deadly...
When Private Investigator Jonathan Shade's ex-lover walks into his Denver office asking him to prove her father didn't commit the murder that dozens of witnesses saw and security cameras captured, Shade finds himself in the thick of magical intrigue. In a world where evil warlocks refuse to die, magically engineered assassins deal merciless death and ancient myths aren't quite so mythical, only Shade and his sexy partner, Kelly, can stop a power-hungry sorcerer from taking over the world.
Too bad Shade doesn't have any magic.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
From Paperback Swap

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.
This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

Christmas decorations made from (old) books

2011-12-06T13:12:00.000-05:00

Repurposing Christmas Book Tree

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(With tutorial)

Christmas wreaths from book pages

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Fun Christmas trees!

2011-12-01T11:17:00.001-05:00

These great ideas float around every year and I love checking them out, especially the ones that involve books. So clever! Click the link below to see trees made from other interesting recycled products.

Postcard, Magazine, Book and Shredded Paper Trees

(image credits: sparklette, MetalRiot)
These Christmas trees have been created from postcards, magazines, books and even shredded paper. The top gift tree was created by cutting and folding postcards into gift boxes and then layered to form a tree. Too many magazines on your hands? The middle tree was constructed from hundreds of magazine face cutouts, folded and then arranged in a tree shape. If you like white Christmas trees, make use of your shredded papers. Another way to use magazines and books when you are done is to fold them into Christmas tree shapes like on the bottom right.

Mailbox Monday

2011-11-27T13:04:00.001-05:00

This is a traveling meme and for November we welcome back our original host Marcia from Mailbox Monday. Readers get to gather and share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Not many books in the mail again but I've been stocking up on ebooks. There are so many free ones available! Now I have even more books but I'm spending less time reading them because I'm always checking for more! Oh well, I guess there's worse addictions to have... I hope your mailbox was full of goodies this week!

Drink Deep by Chloe Neill
Won from The Cozy Reader

Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and recently turned vampire Merit can't tell if this is the darkness before the dawn or the calm before the storm. With the city itself in turmoil over paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, times haven't been this precarious for vampires since they came out of the closet. If only they could lay low for a bit, and let the mortals calm down.
That's when the waters of Lake Michigan suddenly turn pitch black-and things really start getting ugly.
Chicago's mayor insists it's nothing to worry about, but Merit knows only the darkest magic could have woven a spell powerful enough to change the very fabric of nature. She'll have to turn to friends old and new to find out who's behind this, and stop them before it's too late for vampires and humans alike.

Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook
For review from Simon & Schuster Galley Grab

Isobel’s life is falling apart. Her mom just married some guy she met on the internet only three months before, and is moving them to his sprawling, gothic mansion off the coast of nowhere. Goodbye, best friend. Goodbye, social life. Hello, icky new stepfather, crunchy granola town, and unbelievably good-looking, officially off-limits stepbrother.
But on her first night in her new home, Isobel starts to fear that it isn’t only her life that’s unraveling—her sanity might be giving way too. Because either Isobel is losing her mind, just like her artist father did before her, or she’s seeing ghosts. Either way, Isobel’s fast on her way to being the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.

2 big Godiva chocolate bars!
Won from Stacy's Bookblog

YUM!!!

And the winners are...

2011-11-27T13:00:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to:

MonieG

Janel

who each won - You Don't Sweat Much For A Fat Girl

~~~~~

Patricia Boyle

anne

who each won - Coming Up For Air

~~~~~

I've sent you each an email.

Thank you to Wunderkind PR for providing the books!

I'll have more giveaways soon so stay tuned!

I hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-25T13:26:00.001-05:00

Wishing you all blessing for this holiday and every day!

He's here!

2011-11-21T23:21:00.001-05:00

Welcome baby Lucas!

My first grandbaby was born yesterday morning and he's gorgeous!!

My first son with his first son.

Mailbox Monday

2011-11-14T01:41:00.001-05:00

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

Bought at library book sale

Life in Marblehead has had a pleasant predictability, until Diesel arrives. Rumor has it that a collection of priceless ancient relics representing the Seven Deadly Sins have made their way to Boston’s North Shore. Partnered with pastry chef Lizzie Tucker, Diesel bullies and charms his way through historic Salem to track them down—and his criminal mastermind cousin Gerewulf Grimorie. The black-haired, black-hearted Wulf is on the hunt for the relic representing gluttony. Caught in a race against time, Diesel and Lizzie soon find out that more isn’t always better, as they battle Wulf and the first of the deadly sins. With delectable characters and non-stop thrills that have made Janet Evanovich a household name, Wicked Appetite will leave you hungry for more.

Darkness, My Old Friend by Lisa Unger

Won from Bookin' With Bingo

The New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Lies and Fragile returns to The Hollows, delivering a thriller that explores matters of faith, memory, and sacrifice.

After giving up his post at the Hollows Police Department, Jones Cooper is at loose ends. He is having trouble facing a horrible event from his past and finding a second act. He’s in therapy. Then, on a brisk October morning, he has a visitor. Eloise Montgomery, the psychic who plays a key role in Fragile, comes to him with predictions about his future, some of them dire.

Michael Holt, a young man who grew up in The Hollows, has returned looking for answers about his mother, who went missing many years earlier. He has hired local PI Ray Muldune and psychic Eloise Montgomery to help him solve the mystery that has haunted him. What he finds might be his undoing.

Fifteen-year-old Willow Graves is exiled to The Hollows from Manhattan when six months earlier she moved to the quiet town with her novelist mother after a bitter divorce. Willow is acting out, spending time with kids that bring out the worst in her. And when things get hard, she has a tendency to run away—a predilection that might lead her to dark places.

Set in The Hollows, the backdrop for Fragile, this is the riveting story of lives set on a collision course with devastating consequences. The result is Lisa Unger’s most compelling fiction to date.

A belated birthday wish!

2011-11-13T13:16:00.001-05:00

Oh no! I'm late to the party!!!

But I can't let another day go by without wishing Kaye at Pudgy Penguin Perusals, a very happy belated birthday! I hope it was wonderful Kaye! You deserve it!!

Contest reminder!

2011-11-12T00:41:00.001-05:00

Since this has been a crazy, hectic week and I've had three different family members going back and forth to the hospital (everyone is doing better and are all home again) I haven't had much time for blogging. My 2 Book Giveaway was suppose to end Friday, November 11th but I'm going to extend it until Sunday, November 13th so I can post some reminders. You've got some extra time so if you're interested sign up now! Have a wonderful weekend!

Thank You Veterans

2011-11-11T00:23:00.001-05:00

Today and every day we honor you, and while it's never enough to repay you for all the sacrifices you and your families have made, we do remember.

Thank you.

So I was just wondering...

2011-11-03T12:42:00.001-04:00

I haven't posted this feature in a long, long time. I always enjoyed doing it so I thought I would give it a go again. I don't always come up with the greatest topics but I love hearing from all of you!

Lately I've been wondering about reviews - writing and reading them. I seem to struggle when I'm trying to put one together for a book I've read. I want to voice my honest opinion but put my personal touch to it as well. I seem to muddle through and I'm definitely not a writer but I hope it's doing somebody, somewhere some good.

I always read the synopsis on the back or inside cover of the book but I didn't always read the reviews unless it was something I happened to come across. I didn't seek them out very often. But once I started doing online book clubs and then blogging that all changed for me. First of all I realized how much work goes into writing a review. (At least for me it does!) And then as I started getting involved in regular discussions and communities about books I started to form relationships with other readers, bloggers, writers, publishers, etc. Along with this came trust and respect for their opinions regarding books. That sounds corny but what I mean is, I know I can visit your blogs and rely on your reviews and the information you've provided to help me make my own decisions. I know we don't all like the same things or feel the same way but if I follow you I usually know what to expect from you and I appreciate what you have to say.

Now I do seek out reviews and I do try to post my own thoughts in a few places after I finish a book. I would like to thank you all for your hard work and let you know that it does make a difference. In fact, my wish list has grown exponentially because of all of you! I will never, ever be able to read them all. But I will happily give it a try.

So I was just wondering, how much do you rely on reviews when you are deciding what book to read? Does it honestly matter to you what others think or would you rather not know ahead of time? Please share your thoughts!

Tuesday Teaser

2011-11-01T14:29:00.000-04:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading and asks you to :

It might seem strange that one as magical as I would need to work nine-to-five weekdays and some weekends, but there it is. There are strict laws that disallow those of us who can, to create money of of thin air.

~page 7
To Kill A Warlock (Dulcie O'Neal #1) ebook by H.P. Mallory

Have a happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T12:14:00.000-04:00

Mailbox Monday

2011-10-31T11:37:00.000-04:00

Mailbox Monday (started at The Printed Page and now a traveling meme) is at Savvy Verse and Wit this month and is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I only got one book in my mailbox this week but it's a fun one! I've enjoyed these books since I was a kid and now my nephews enjoy them. I'm also loading up on the free ebooks that I can find for my Nook but I spend more time looking for them than I actually do reading them! It's till fun though. I hope you had a good week as well and have a safe and happy Halloween!

Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Strikingly True
Won from Bookin' With Bingo

For the legions of dedicated Ripley’s fans, and anyone else on the planet who loves unbelievable facts and jaw-dropping images, the latest annual in our bestselling series is a feast of delights. Be amazed at a portrait made from 200,000 dead ants, the man who traversed the English Channel by holding onto a bunch of balloons, and the single human hair featuring paintings of all 42 American presidents. A compendium of incredible and bizarre facts, stories, interviews and features, presented in a stunning new design, this book also drives readers to Ripley’s fully interactive website. There are intriguing interviews with some of the astounding individuals who are featured in the book that spotlight their achievements and reveal more about what motivates them.
One of the two dramatic eight-page gatefold sections presents Ripley’s first ever odditorium, which showcased sideshow performers and was built for the World’s Trade Fair in 1933. This features a selection of choice memorabilia including Robert Ripley’s original annotated list of performers. Informative “Ripley’s Research” boxes give the scientific explanation behind some of the most incredible tales in the book, such as how people have turned their fingers into magnets.
A section on the Olympic games, past and present, highlights the wacky as well as the amazing feats that have taken place at the height of sporting achievement.
Additional black and white Ripley archive photographs feature throughout the book, and miscellaneous lists are also scattered throughout. This year specially commissioned photographic features will also appear in the book.

UGHHHHHH!!!!!!

2011-10-27T12:59:00.000-04:00

It's snowing. Right this very second it's snowing here. And it's still October! I hate it and I miss my hammock. *sniff* It's snowing!

Review: Behind The Gates (Tomorrow Girls #1) by Eva Gray

2011-10-26T16:00:00.000-04:00

In a terrifying future world,

four girls must depend on

each other if they want to survive.

Louisa is nervous about being sent away to a boarding school -- but she’s excited, too. And she has her best friend, Maddie, to keep her company. The girls have to pretend to be twin sisters, which Louisa thinks just adds to the adventure!
Country Manor School isn’t all excitement, though. Louisa isn’t sure how she feels about her new roommates: athletic but snobby Rosie and everything’s-a-conspiracy Evelyn. Even Maddie seems different away from home, quiet and worried all the time.
Still, Louisa loves CMS -- the survival skills classes, the fresh air. She doesn’t even miss not having a TV, or the internet, or any contact with home. It’s for their own safety, after all.
Or is it?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review
This was a quick read with a mysterious plot. The dystopian theme is appropriate for younger readers because it focuses more on the suspense surrounding the school rather than gore, or many details about the outside world. At first the rules seem a bit odd but continue to get more strange as time goes by. They don't know the actual location of the school, have no contact with the outside world and are taking classes in archery and survival skills. The idea of a conspiracy theory begins to feel possible.

The characters were interesting and complimented each other well. Their different personalities created tension in the beginning that they had to overcome in order to work together for a common goal. What makes them unique is what makes them such a good team. And with the twist at the end of this first book it appears they are going to really need each other to survive. This is a great start to the series and very age appropriate. I'll be reading more!

The rest of the series:
Run For Cover (Tomorrow Girls #2) 7/1/11
With The Enemy (Tomorrow Girls #3) 9/1/11
Set Me Free (Tomorrow Girls #4)11/1/11

Thank you to Scholastic for an ARC to review.

Publisher: Scholastic
Release date: 5/11
Pages: 224
Price/format: $6.99/paperback original
Type: children (ages 10 and up)

2 Book Giveaway!

2011-10-25T23:07:00.000-04:00

I meant to do this a long time ago! I also have reviews coming soon but I think I'll go ahead and have the giveaway now. I have two titles and you may enter to win both.

You Don't Sweat Much For A Fat Girl by Celia Rivenbark

In her newest wickedly irreverent humorcollection, Celia Rivenbarkcracks up while getting her downward facing dog on, pines for a worldin whichevery mom gets to behave like Betty Draper and wonders why everybody'ssoexcited about the Science Fair when there aren't even any rides. In ityou’llfind essays on such topics as: Menopause Spurs Thoughts of Death andTurkey, I Dreamed a Dream That My Lashes Were Long, Movie To-Do List:Cook Like Julia, Adopt Really Big Kid, and Charlie Bit Your Finger?Good!

Coming Up For Air by Patti Callahan Henry

Ellieisjust beginning to question her troubled marriage when her controllingmother,Lillian, passes away. Her perfect life unravels quickly as she is soonreunitedwith her ex-boyfriend, Hutch, who is in charge of a documentary thatinvolvedLillian before her death. Fighting their feelings, Ellie and Hutch setout together to dig into Lillian’s history. Using both Lillian’s diaryand atrip to the coast of Alabama, Hutch and Ellie gamble that they can worktogether and not fall in love again. But in piecing together Lillian’sunrequited-love story, they just might uncover the secrets in their ownhearts.

Thanks to Emily at Wunderkind PR I have 2 copies of each book to give away! You may enter to win both.

Rules:
- Simply fill out the form below to enter.
- U.S. and Canada only (sorry!)
- Winners chosen by random.org
- Contest ends 11/13/11 at 11:59 p.m. EST

Extra entries:
+1 new follower
+2 old follower
+2 promote - leave link

CLOSED

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Tuesday Teasers

2011-10-25T02:16:00.000-04:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading and asks you to :

My name is Lucy Parks Hamilton and in addition to being paranoid, unshowered, emotionally detached, and a liar, I am also a stay-at-home mom. Ten years ago, I would have met the idea that I would be going on playdates and walking around with streaks of snot on my shoulder with absolute indignation. Nowadays it's possible for me to wear the same pair of jeans for seven days in a row and not get too worked up about it.

~page 4

Original Sin by Beth McMullen

Review: All These Things I've Done (Birthright #1) by Gabrielle Zevin

2011-10-24T18:00:00.000-04:00

An impossible romance,

a family living

outside the law,

and the ties that

forever bind us.

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidentally poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Review:
I really enjoyed Zevin's past book Elsewhere so I was looking forward to this one. I wasn't sure if the mafia topic would interest me but I was pleasantly surprised. The author seems to make any topic interesting and has mixed together an unusual and original combination. Her writing style is so good that the story easily flows. While it is a dystopian novel it is more believable than some books. Society has changed but it is still recognizable from our time.

The characters are flawed but human. No one is all good or all bad and relationships change in a realistic fashion. Although Anya is only sixteen her circumstances have matured her quickly but again it's believable. She has developed into this person and wasn't instantly transformed. She was taught many lessons, especially from her father and grandmother, to prepare her for this life and it's challenges. Now she has many responsibilities, including the care of her brother and sister, and she will do what she must to protect them at the expense of her own life. Although she attempts to enjoy a few normal teen activities they don't always go as planned. As heavy as Anya's burdens already are it feels like there may soon be more to come from her mafia family. I will be reading the next book in this trilogy to find out.

Thank you to Macmillan for an ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

macteenbooks.com
author site
book site

Publisher: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux
Release date: 9/27/11
Pages: 368
Price/format: $16.99/hardcover
Type: young adult

Mailbox Monday

2011-10-24T00:32:00.000-04:00

Tempest (Tempest #1) ARC by Julie Cross
For review from LibraryThing Early Reviewer

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.
That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.
Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.
But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.
Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

Vampire Vacation (The V V Inn #1) ebook by C.J. Ellisson
Won from Tyra's Book Addiction

Meet Vivian. She's a 580-year-old vampire who exudes sex, has a talent for drama, and is passionate about two things: her human husband, Rafe, and their resort for the undead. Her ability to project physical illusions has created the perfect vacation spot -- a dark, isolated Alaskan hideaway where visitors can have their wildest fantasies come true.
Vivian knows the best performance requires perfect timing, but the powerful vamp is put to the test when she discovers a corpse in a locked guestroom minutes before the next arrivals. Always cool-headed, Rafe hides the body, convinced that he and Vivian can find the culprit without disturbing their guests.
Juggling the increasingly outrageous demands of their customers while tracking a killer isn't easy. Will their poking and prodding give them the answers they need, or will it uncover secrets that Vivian would kill to protect?

The Hunt (V V Inn #2) ebook by C.J. Ellisson

Won from Tyra's Book Addiction

Vivian thinks she can control every aspect of a deadly game with her usual manipulations… but what if she can’t? Journey along, in this next installment of The V V Inn series, for a wild ride as the tale is told through the eyes of all her new seethe members.
Seven vampires and seven werewolves pay to hunt a supernatural criminal across the cold, vast grounds of an Alaskan resort. The one to catch her, and live through the encounter, will increase their power by feasting on hers.
The tiny vampire they track is more than she appears, however. To escape a fate of ten years in silver chains, she'll do anything to survive the week long excursion. This time, the darkness holds more than just the stinging bite of the Arctic—it holds death.

It's a sad, sad day

2011-10-23T22:43:00.000-04:00

The time has come. It is with a heavy heart that I face my annual responsibility and put away my hammock until spring. Oh sorry, did you think I had some horrible disaster? Yep, that was sneaky but this is very traumatic for me every fall! I feel like there should be a brief ceremony and a bugle playing nearby. We have such a brief summer and our spring and autumn sometimes speed by in the blink of an eye. I love to be outside and the sunshine makes me happy. The green trees, blossoming flowers and freshly mown grass are a balm to my soul. I love to lounge in my hammock, barefoot with a good book. It calms me and makes me happy.

The change of seasons here is beautiful and there's plenty to do in those long (and I mean long!) winter months. The crisp weather brings a wonderful harvest and gorgeous colors along with the need to dig out the cozy sweaters, pretty scarves and fuzzy socks. But the older I get the more I long for summer. I certainly understand now why we have so many snowbirds (people who live here for the warm seasons than migrate south for the cold seasons). If I could afford two households I would do it too. I adapted to the Florida weather very quickly when we were on our recent vacation. Of course we were being pampered at a resort and it wasn't the middle of a sweltering July so we did have optimal conditions. Still, I think I could live in a hut on the beach just fine. Barefoot and with a book, of course.

Until then, my hammock is down and will be stowed away for several months. Luckily I have a cozy fireplace and a comfy couch (along with the requisite golden retriever) that are the perfect place to snuggle up and read. And I'm already wearing my fuzzy socks. How many months until spring?


(Yep, those are my tootsies in the Florida sand!)

I did it!

2011-10-17T16:04:00.002-04:00

I finally took the plunge and got a Nook Color!! Woo hoo! Of course nothing beats the whole experience of reading a "real" book - the weight of it in my hands, the texture of the pages, the smell of a new (or not so new) edition, the fascinating cover, the fun bookmarks (the nice ones were gifts of course otherwise I would be using my grocery list) *sigh* books are so wonderful... But with more and more selections going digital and having such a large choice of advance editions for review, I decided to give it a try.

I had been considering an e reader for some time now but the choices can be overwhelming. I'm so grateful I have this community to turn to for advice because it was a big help. Almost immediately I seemed to gravitate toward the Nook. The abilities to borrow from my local library and share with my Nook friends were probably the biggest factors in my decision. I also liked the extra features the Nook Color offered, especially with our trip coming up. I liked that I could check my email, play games and surf the web. That has been especially handy when in the car and on the plane. I was even able to reserve seats on our return flight plane while sitting by the hotel pool!

I bought the refurbished model because it was considerably cheaper and was so happy with it my brothers and I bought the new Nook Simple Touch for my mom's birthday. (She never would have bought one for herself) It's black and white but has a touch screen, is so lightweight and easy to use. She's still getting used to it but really likes it, especially the adjustable font.

I'm also grateful for all the links people have provided to great deals and helpful tidbits for e readers. I'm amazed at how much there is out there and I'm finding more every day! Thank you to all, I really appreciate it. Now I just need to get to it and read more. It sure makes those piles of books to be read a lot smaller!

I'm back!

2011-10-15T19:42:00.001-04:00

My visits here have been scarce the last few months. I purposely cut back in the summer because we were busy with my youngest son's graduation, the parties, preparing for college, fall baseball and I also wanted to spend more time outside instead of inside at the computer. We have enough cold months here in western NY state when I can work on my blog plenty. I still enjoyed reading just as often and of course I spent as much time in my hammock as possible!

I was also busy preparing for a trip my hubby won from Kmart. Last November he bought $10 worth of odds and ends, presented his Kmart rewards card at the register for an added discount, and when the cashier handed him his receipt she told him he won a prize. When he got home he read the receipt closely and although it didn't say what he had won it did say that it must be claimed by November 30th. It was November 30th. He drove back to the store and the nice lady at the desk looked it up for him and told him he won a trip! He didn't really believe it at first (and neither did I) but eventually we got the paperwork for a 4 day/3 night stay at Universal Resort in Orlando, Florida including airfare, 3 day passes to the parks, a room at the Hard Rock Hotel, transportation to hotel and airport, and $500 spending money!!! Since it was for 4 people and there are 5 of us we used the money to buy an extra plane ticket, park passes and shuttle pass.

We had a year to use the trip so we went this week - left Monday morning and returned very late Thursday night. I have to say that I've never been much of a traveler and didn't take many vacations as a kid or as an adult. It was the first time all 5 of us had traveled together by plane. Let me just say that I could get to used to it real fast! It was wonderful! The weather was perfect, the accommodations and entertainment were amazing, everyone was so kind and the crowds and lines weren't bad. The huge pool with sandy beach, 2 hot tubs, beach volleyball court, club house, fountains, palm trees, rock music, etc., etc. was my very favorite place to be. Of course we ventured out on the winding walking paths or by water taxi to the parks and restaurants every day and night. We experienced as much as possible while we were there and had such fun. Alas, it had to come to an end and now we are back to our rainy, chilly weather with our trees almost bare. But our dogs were very happy to see us and it's always good to be home. I might not be sitting in the sand with a good book but I do have my cozy fireplace to read near.

Thank you, dear hubby, for using your card at Kmart that day! It was the trip of a lifetime and we all loved it. Since we just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary I'm hoping that maybe you can win us another trip for our next big one. Maybe our 26th??

Paradise! This is the pool as you step out of the hotel, and what a pool it was.

From the beach club at the far end of the pool facing back towards the hotel.

Universal Studios theme parks (view from our water taxi)

Hogwarts!

Good-bye summer

2011-09-28T12:03:00.000-04:00

Review: Night Road by Kristen Hannah

2011-09-23T12:42:00.000-04:00

For a mother, life comes down to a series of choices.
To hold on…
To let go..
To forget…
To forgive…
Which road will you take?

For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach—are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable.

Jude does everything to keep her kids safe and on track for college. It has always been easy-- until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them.

On a hot summer’s night her worst fears come true. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive.

NIGHT ROAD is vivid, emotionally complex novel that raises profound questions about motherhood, identity, love, and forgiveness. It is a luminous, heartbreaking novel that captures both the exquisite pain of loss and the stunning power of hope. This is Kristin Hannah at her very best, telling an unforgettable story about the longing for family, the resilience of the human heart, and the courage it takes to forgive the people we love
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review

It took me some time to read this book. The subject matter was too real and too scary. I have three sons and my youngest just left for his first year of college. Although they are great kids and we have tried to instill good values in our children, they are young and sometimes fearless. We lost our seventeen year-old nephew in a drunk driving accident several years ago and we live in fear that something like that could happen again.

Night Road is the story of a similar tragedy. One bad decision, one moment in time, changes the lives of many people. The emotions are real and raw. My heart broke for this family and I could especially feel the mother's pain. Kristen Hannah's writing is gripping and keeps you reading.

I didn't care for the characters much in the first part of the story. They weren't bad people and I liked that they were flawed but they were self absorbed and predictable. Some of their actions and reactions seemed off. After the accident the emotions took over and hooked me for the rest of the book. The characters become more flexible and tolerant which made the reading more interesting. I became invested in their journey and was glad I followed it through.

This is a story of survival and redemption. I found it to be a good summer read for the hammock. Fans of Hannah will have a hard time resisting this one!

Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for an ARC of this book to review.

Author
Publisher

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release date: 3/22/11
Pages: 385
Price/format: $27.99/hardcover
Type: contemporary fiction

Blogging slump, empty nest

2011-09-19T13:43:00.002-04:00

After a very busy spring and summer of college visits, high school prom, senior trip, baseball games (championships too!), banquets, rehearsals, graduations, parties and more parties, college paperwork, last minute packing and apartment hunting - my baby left for college last month. The house is too quiet now and I hate it. We were so busy for so long and now the flurry is tapering off. There is still paperwork and details to work out for college, more packing and things to buy for his house (filled with 8 baseball players!), weekend college baseball games and other odds and ends but it's not the same. I miss my kids and I miss having them need me. The house is too quiet, I don't have to run the dishwasher and washing machine every day and a gallon of milk lasts a long time now.

I have been pleasantly surprised by how much college boy has called home. We send text messages back and forth every day like we always have but we've also been receiving actual phone calls as well. And not just because he needs something, sometimes it's to talk and tell us about his day! I don't know about you but where I come from 18 year-old boys don't often talk to their parents any more than they have to. It's so nice to hear him say he has a break between classes and wanted to chat or wondered what we were doing. He's also become quite responsible doing chores at his house, giving friends and teammates rides to school, even doing homework early!

Most days I'm fine and I'm enjoying the last days of summer and time with my hubby. I'm getting back to blogging and reading. My two oldest boys live here in town and come to the house often. I do have to shed a few tears here and there though. This will be the first soccer season in 16 years that we don't have anyone playing. We have no (local) school functions to attend, teens wandering in and out of the house (the pitter patter of really big feet), and the house is too darn quiet. But on the good side there's also no detention slips for being late - again, no school functions to attend (I've had enough parent/teacher conferences and spring concerts to last a lifetime!), no uniforms or school clothes to wash, homework to fight over, late nights waiting for the last kid to come home... I guess it's not all bad.

When I really get lonely I remember that next month we are taking our first real family vacation ever. (Hubby won a trip to the Universal Resort in Orlando, Florida last year. More on that later.) The five of us get to go the amusement parks and stay on sight in a beautiful hotel and for 4 days and 3 nights. How wonderful! BUT...we also get to travel together by planes and shuttles, stay together in 1 hotel room with 2 beds and 1 cot, and bicker... When I think about all of that "quality" time together I don't seem to feel as sad anymore!

We were also blessed to welcome a new little person into our lives last year. My oldest son met a sweet girl who already had an adorable daughter. We were happy to have them join our family and the little one is my favorite 3 year-old. And now my son and his girlfriend are expecting a baby boy in November! Somehow, I think having these little people in my life is going to keep me very busy and it won't always be so quiet around here. We've already got toys scattered around, a Barbie townhouse (we aren't used to girl toys!), and a new cradle to keep in the spare room. Ah, the pitter patter of little feet again! And when I get tired or need peace and quiet, I get to send them home to their parents!! Of course I'll make sure they are all sugared up first and have learned a few new tricks before they go... Isn't that what a grandparent is for?