Reading Rut?

I feel like I am in a Reading Rut, but I know I am not.  I just have been busy and can't seem to find enough time to read - only at night before bed....

How are you getting in your reading?

Book Review: "Buried in a Book" by Lucy Arlington

Book Description:

After losing her job as a journalist at the age of forty-five, Lila Wilkins accepts an internship at A Novel Idea, a thriving literary agency in North Carolina. Being paid to read seems perfect to Lila, although it's difficult with the cast of quirky co-workers and piles of query letters. But when a penniless aspiring author drops dead in th... more »e agency's waiting room -- and Lila discovers a series of threatening letters -- she's determined to find out who wrote him off.

My thoughts:

Lucy Arlington is a team of authors Ellery Adams and Sylvia May.  I have a couple of books by Ellery Adams on my TBR shelf, but not Sylvia May.  So this is a new author to me all around.

This is the first in a series (Novel Idea).  It starts out with Lisa accepting a job as an intern after losing her job at a newspaper.  There she is thrown into a mystery murder of a homeless aspiring author. 

It had the typical cozy outline - heroine has a crush on cop as well as another male in the story.  This character though I didn't enjoy the fact that she was so quick to accuse everyone.  It was borderline annoying.

I hope the next in the next book she will have have more development. 

I did enjoy this book and will continue to read.  It was a nice quick read and it was hard to put down.  I am looking forward to seeing more of the "ZACH attach" ( you will have to read it to understand) and more of the developing romance. =)

Happy Reading!!

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser is:
"I was charmed by the fact that he asked how I was faring before peppering me with questions.  I told him I'd had a heck of a first day on the job and explained how I'd found Marlette dead on the sofa."

My book:

What are you reading?

Happy Reading!

Book Review: "I Want it Now" by Julie Dawn Cole

Book Description:

In 1970, Julie Dawn Cole was cast as the unforgettable Veruca Salt in the classic motion picture Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with Gene Wilder. Since its release in 1971, this epic musical has endured as a favorite of children from around the world with a fan base that encompasses generations of movie goers. With its unforgettable chara... more »cters, chocolaty landscapes and everlasting music, this charming fairy-tale mixes these ingredients into what has been become a cinematic classic from literary legend Roald Dahl. Praised by critics worldwide and often featured in broadcasts with other masterpiece musicals, it remains a timeless treasure. Acclaimed film critic Robert Ebert wrote: "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is probably the best film of its sort since The Wizard of Oz. It is everything that family movies usually claim to be, but aren't: Delightful, funny, scary, exciting, and, most of all, a genuine work of imagination." Julie Dawn Cole has written an enchanting and richly illustrated memoir that offers a rare look behind the stage curtain to this ageless film. Splendidly illustrated with personal letters, never-seen-before photographs and documents; her mesmerizing story chronicles the entire production experience and tells of the remarkable journey of how she became known worldwide as a really bad egg. Filled with countless funny and touching memories, her story takes readers behind-the-scenes of Willy Wonka and the resulting coming of age journey that brought the cast together again after nearly a quarter century. I Want it Now takes readers beyond the world of pure imagination and behind the scenes to this universally cherished motion picture. A true-to-life Charlie Bucket tale, Julie's story is unforgettable... 

My thoughts.....

Willy Wonka is one of my MOST favorite movies EVER!  When I Saw that this was free on the kindle - I had to get it. 

First I will have to tell you that I am not a big biography reader.  This being said....

I did enjoy the pictures of the set.  I did enjoy hearing how Julie Dawn Cole came to be "Veruca Salt".  I also enjoyed to read about the movie.  But the title of the book was misleading.  The movie was maybe 1/4 to a 1/3 of the book - the rest was about her life.  That was my beef I guess.  I was looking forward to hearing more about one of my favorite movies.  So this was a quick read for me.

I give it 2 1/2 to 3 stars.

Happy Reading!

Book Review: "A Town Called Valentine" by Emma Cane

Book Description:

Welcome to Valentine Valley -- where broken hearts come home to mend, and true love may lie just across the range . . . — Emily Murphy never thought she’d return to her mom’s rustic hometown in the Colorado Mountains. But after her marriage in San Francisco falls apart, leaving her penniless and heartsick, she returns to her old famil... more »y home to find a new direction for her life. On her first night back, though, a steamy encounter with handsome rancher Nate Thalberg is not the fresh start she had in mind...

Nate has good reason not to trust the determined beauty who just waltzed into town -- he’s no stranger to betrayal. Besides, she’s only there to sell her family’s old property and move back out. But as Nate and Emily begin working side-by-side to restore her time-worn building and old family secrets change Emily’s perception of herself, both are about to learn how difficult it is to hide from love in a place known far and wide for romance, family ties, and happily-ever-afters: a town called Valentine.

My thoughts:
I read this book as part of my Reading Challenge.  I am very happy for this challenge.  This book has been on my TBR shelf for awhile. 

This is a first in the series by Emma Cane.  This book focuses on Emily Murphy, who comes back to Valentine Valley to tie up some loose ends.  Here she makes friends and falls in love.  She is torn between her feelings and her desire to return to her previous life.  While in Valentine Valley she finds out a secret her deceased mother had kept from her so she also wants some answers before leaving.

I enjoyed this book a lot.  I am not sure if this is a first book by the author. If it isn't - she is new to me.  I will be looking forward to the next in the series, as well as seeing what else she has out there.

The book kept me involved - kept me a part of the story - Valentine Valley is a small town - I live in a small town.  I felt a part of Valentine Valley.  I couldn't wait to read what would happen next.

I can't wait for book #2.

Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesdays

 

 

 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Emily spent the next two days in a fog or romance."  Gorgeous cowboy Nate was desperate to date her."

"A Town Called Valentine" by Emma Cane

Happy Reading!

Epically Awesome Award of Epic Awesomeness

 The Epic Award of Epic Awesomeness was bestowed upon me by the epically awesome, Stacy at Stacy Sews and Schools.  Thank you Stacy!!

The rules are simple:
Nominate 10 bloggers that you think deserve this.
Provide 10 random facts about yourself.
So, here’s goes the fun!

Ok here it goes:

1.  My anniversary date is a combo of my husband and my birthday's - His is April 26 and mine May 9 - so we were married 9/26.

2.  I am a cookbook fanatic.  I LOVE them - love trying new recipes.

3.  My favorite color is purple.

4.  I just got my first pedicure last year.  LOVE them now!

5.  I have one tattoo - looking forward to my next one...

6.  I have 4 cats.

7.  I love Pandora - where else can you go from Adam Lambert to Jason Aldean to Fergie?

8.  I LOVE diet coke.

9.  I like fountain pop more than bottles or cans.

10.  I collect Santa 'stuff."

Now that I have totally bored you about me.....  LOL!

Now to pass this on to 10 other EPICALLY AWESOME bloggers!


Bloggin' About Books

Cindy's Books and Bits


Ann's Reading Corner

Colletta's Kitchen Sink

Crazy Adventures in Parenting

Crazy for Books

Kristen's Book Nook

On the Wings of Books

Escaping with Books

Lori Out Loud

So check out these great blogs!!

Happy Reading!!

Book Review: "Barefoot Season" by Susan Mallery

Book Description:

Army vet Michelle Sanderson has returned to the Blackberry Island Inn to claim her inheritance and recover from the perils of war. What she finds instead is the inn in financial trouble … and the owner’s suite occupied by the last person she wants to see. — Single mother Carly is no stranger to adversity, but this time her back is ag... more »ainst the wall. Because if the inn goes under, she and her daughter will go with it.

Now, to save their livelihoods, Carly and Michelle have to call a truce. Question is, can they move beyond their devastating past … and rediscover the friendship of a lifetime?

My thoughts:

This is the 1st in a new series by Susan Mallery featuring "Blackberry Island."

I am a BIG Susan Mallery fan so I was very excited to hear she was starting another series.  (Not that I am caught up on Fool's Gold but that is a whole different story ha ha). 

I was caught up in the story from the beginning.  To me, it is not like any of her other books.  We get a picture of the Blackberry Island Inn and the back history of the two main characters - Michelle and Carly.  Throughout the book we get bits and pieces of their history, while still moving forward with the current story. 

The way the author tells Michelle's feelings of having returned to Blackberry Island and still trying to recover from her injury is enough to not put the book down.  The way the story moves along you don't want to put it down as you want to see how everything works out.

It has a touch of romance, but this book is mainly about how Carly and Michelle learn to deal with their past and work towards their future. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone.  The second book in the series was just released and I can't wait to get that one as well.

Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesdays

 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title &; author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

=======================================================================

Here is my teaser for the week:

"As for what Michelle had been through - she had a feeling it was worse than anything Carly could imagine.  Maybe understanding wasn't possible, but a little compassion couldn't hurt."

"Barefoot Season" by Susan Mallery

Happy Reading! 

Book review: Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks

Book Description:

A tender story of hope and joy, of sacrifice and forgiveness -- a moving reminder that love is possible at any age, at any time, and often comes when we least expect it. — NIGHTS IN RODANTHE — At forty-five, Adrienne Willis must rethink her entire life when her husband abandons her for a younger woman. Reeling with heartache and in search of... more » a respite, she flees to the small coastal town of Rodanthe, North Carolina, to tend to a friend's inn for the weekend.

But when a major storm starts moving in, it appears that Adrienne's perfect getaway will be ruined -- until a guest named Paul Flanner arrives. At fifty-four, Paul has just sold his medical practice and come to Rodanthe to escape his own shattered past. Now, with the storm closing in, two wounded people will turn to each other for comfort -- and in one weekend set in motion feelings that will resonate throughout the rest of their lives.

My thoughts:

I was looking for a nice quick read.  I haven't read Nicholas Sparks in awhile, so I picked this one up.  It didn't grab me at first.  I was just reading it to read it - waiting for the usual "Spark".  It took awhile - I was probably 1/2 way into the book and then pow!  I was intrigued with what will happen next with Adrienne and Paul. 

Nicholas Sparks has a way with his writing that just captures the reader.  The feelings the characters share - just blows me away. 

And as with almost all teh Nicholas Sparks' books I have read - I shed a tear or two.

I realized while reading that this book was made into a movie.  I might check it out.  We will see.

Have you seen the movie and read the book? 
Your thoughts?

Happy Reading!

Happy 100th Post!!

Happy 100th post to me!!!


I hope to have 100 more, but to be honest I am not sure.  I am not sure how to get my blog out there for readers.  I get a handful of lookers and barely any comments.  Not sure if I am doing something wrong or if I am just not that interesting.  =)

No this post isn't supposed to be a 'poor me' post. 

Maybe I need to incorporate more than the books I am reading.... I don't know....

To be continued.....