Review: The Calligrapher’s Daughter by Eugenia Kim

First line: I learned I had no name on the same day I learned fear. From the back cover: In early twentieth-century Korea, Najin Han, the privileged daughter of a calligrapher, longs to choose her own destiny. But her country is in tumult under Japan’s harsh occupation, and her family’s traditions, entitlements, and wealth crumble. Narrowly escaping an arranged marriage, Najin becomes a companion to a young princess, until Korea’s…

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Booking Through Thursday: Series (9.30.10)

Today’s Booking Through Thursday question asks:    If you read series, do you ever find a series “jumping the shark?” How do you feel about that? And, do you keep reading anyway?   I love reading series – I feel that you really become invested in the characters and am always sad to see a series end. I tend to be very anal about series – I need to start…

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Review: The Postcard Killers by James Patterson

First line: “It’s very small,” the Englishwoman said, sounding disappointed. From the insider cover: NYPD detective Jacob Kanon is on a tour of Europe’s most gorgeous cities. But the sights aren’t what draw him – he sees each museum, each cathedral, and each cafe through the eyes of his daughter’s killer. Kanon’s daughter, Kimmy, and her boyfriend were murdered while on vacation in Rome. Since then, young couples in Paris,…

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A-Z Wednesday: H (9.29.10)

Welcome to A-Z Wednesday!! A-Z Wednesday is hosted by Vicki at Reading At The Beach. To join in, visit her blog for the guidelines and leave your link in a comment. THIS WEEK’S LETTER IS: “G” My book is: True Colors by Kristin Hannah Synopsis from Amazon: True Colors is New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah’s most provocative, compelling, and heart-wrenching story yet. With the luminous writing and unforgettable…

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WWW Wednesdays (9.2910)

A Week in Books WWW Wednesdays is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions… What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next? What are you currently reading? Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi – this is for my book club. What did you recently finish reading? Kiss Me…

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FIR ’10: Reading Question #1

FIR is hosted by Katrina atCallapidderdays. Every Tuesday this fall, Katrina will be posting a question about reading. Today’s question: What do you think is the biggest obstacle to your reading? What prevents you from reading as much as you’d like? Well, my biggest obstacle tends to be the internet…I go on to check email, facebook, and the other great blogs out there and soon realize a hour or more…

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REMINDER: Wind Warrior Blog Tour Giveaway ends 9.30.10

For those of you are interested in the Cynthia Roberts Giveaway, you will need to read the rules here and once you have fulfilled the rules leave your name and email address. I’ll be choosing five potential winners to take part in the Grand Prize Drawing on September 30th and will post their names and email the entrants to get their mailing addresses later on. Head here to enter. Good luck to…

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Teaser Tuesdays (9.28.10)

MizB of Should Be Reading hosts Teaser Tuesday. 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…

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In My Mailbox (23) 9.27.10

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I’ll post what books I’ve received either by mailbox/library/store. For Review (1) Love Means Zero by Daisy Jordan Library (0) Purchased (0) – From Paperback Swap – (0) Won (1) – The Recessionistas by Alexandra Lebenthal (from CMash Loves to Read) What’s in your mailbox?

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Booking Through Thursday: Current

Today’s Booking Through Thursday question asks:    What are you reading right now? What made you choose it? Are you enjoying it? Would you recommend it? (And, by all means, discuss everything, if you’re reading more than one thing!)     Right now I am reading Kiss Me If You Can by Carly Phillips. This is from her newest series of books, the Bachelor Blog series. I love it, as…

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Fall Into Reading Challenge 2010

Katrina over at Callapidder Days is hosting the Fall Into Reading Challenge. The challenge is to pick books you would like to read this fall and then keep a record of how you do. The challenge runs from September 22 to December 20. If you’d like to join, head over here to sign up. Here’s my list as of now: Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar…

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A-Z Wednesday: G (9.22.10)

Welcome to A-Z Wednesday!! A-Z Wednesday is hosted by Vicki at Reading At The Beach. To join in, visit her blog for the guidelines and leave your link in a comment. THIS WEEK’S LETTER IS: “G” My book is: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory Synopsis from Amazon: Sisterly rivalry is the basis of this fresh, wonderfully vivid retelling of the story of Anne Boleyn. Anne, her sister Mary…

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Summer Reading Challenge Finish Line

This is the first challenge to come to a close that I am participating in and I think I did pretty well. As you can see from my list, I read 24 out of the 25 books I had listed, plus I read 8 additional books for a total read from June 21 to September 21 of 32 books!!! Here’s my original list: Sand in My Eyes by Christine Lemmon…

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Teaser Tuesdays (9.21.10)

MizB of Should Be Reading hosts Teaser Tuesday. 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…

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In My Mailbox (22) 9.19.10

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I’ll post what books I’ve received either by mailbox/library/store. For Review (1) What I Thought I Knew by Alice Eve Cohen Library (1) Ann of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery Purchased (1) – Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks (going to get this autographed Monday night!!!) From Paperback Swap – (0) Won (6) – all…

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Review: Return to Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux

First line: Amy closed her suitcase and looked around the bedroom she shared with her husband, Stephen. From the back cover: Magic most definitely resides in the Maine summerhouse where the mysterious Madame Zoya has granted the innermost wishes of its visitors. Now, three women have come to this special place with one thing in common: a painful past they would each like to rewrite. Amy, who hides a heartbreaking…

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Review: The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux

First line: Leslie Headrick looked out her kitchen window at the old summerhouse in the back. From the back cover: Three best friends, all with the same birthday, are about to turn forty. Celebrating this turning point at a summerhouse in Maine, Leslie Headrick, Madison Appleby, and Ellie Abbott are taking stock of their lives , their loves, and their choices. But none of them expects the gift that awaits…

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WWW Wednesdays (9.15.10)

A Week in Books   WWW Wednesdays is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions… What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next? What are you currently reading?  Return to Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux What did you recently finish reading?   Stay by Allie Larkin What do you think…

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A-Z Wednesday: F (9.15.10)

Welcome to A-Z Wednesday!! A-Z Wednesday is hosted by Vicki at Reading At The Beach. To join in, visit her blog for the guidelines and leave your link in a comment. THIS WEEK’S LETTER IS: “F” My book is: The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler Synopsis from Amazon: Fowler, a captivating and good-hearted satirist, exuberantly pays homage to and matches wits with Jane Austen in her most…

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Virtual Book Tour and Review: Stay by Allie Larkin

First line: Six years ago, Peter and I were having one of our weekly dinners at this little Italian restaurant just off campus. From the inside cover: Savannah “Van” Leone has been in love with Peter Clarke ever since she literally fell head over heels in front of him on the first day of college. Now, six years later, instead of standing across from him at the alter, Van is…

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Teaser Tuesdays (9.14.10)

MizB of Should Be Reading hosts Teaser Tuesday. 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…

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Musing Mondays (9.13.10)

This week’s musing asks:  Where do you get/buy most of your books?   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.  **MUSING MONDAYS is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading   I tend to go in spurts where I buy a lot of books, from either Barnes…

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Review: The Wife’s Tale by Lori Lansens

First line: Alone in the evenings, when the light had drained from the slate roof of her small rural home, and when her husband was working late, Mary Gooch would perform a striptease for the stars at the open bedroom window: shifting out of rumpled bottoms, slipping off blousy tops, liberating breasts, peeling panties, her creamy flesh spilling forth until she was completely, exquisitely nude. From the inside cover: On…

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In My Mailbox (21) 9.12.10

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I’ll post what books I’ve received either by mailbox/library/store. For Review (0) Library (1) Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapri Purchased (3) – 1022 Evergreen Place by Debbie Macomber Love Me If You Dare by Carly Phillips Secrets of a Shoe Addict by Beth Harbison From Paperback Swap – (0)…

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Review: Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home by Rhoda Janzen

First line: The year I turned forty-three was the year I realized I should have never taken my Mennonite genes for granted. From the back cover: Not long after Rhoda Janzen turned forty, her world turned upside down. It was bad enough that her husband of fifteen years left her for Bob, a guy he met on Gay.com, but that same week a car accident left her seriously injured. Needing…

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Book Blogger Hop 9.10.10

It’s that time again…. time for the weekly Book Blogger Hop!  Brought to you by Jennifer at Crazy For Books, this is a fun way to get to know other book bloggers. This week’s question:  Post a link to your favorite post or book review that you have written in the last three months. What a great idea!!! In looking over the book reviews that I have done in the…

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WWW Wednesdays (9.8.10)

A Week in Books   WWW Wednesdays is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions… What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next? What are you currently reading?  A Wife’s Tale by Lori Lansens What did you recently finish reading?   Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda…

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A-Z Wednesday: E (9.8.10)

Welcome to A-Z Wednesday!! A-Z Wednesday is hosted by Vicki at Reading At The Beach. To join in, visit her blog for the guidelines and leave your link in a comment. THIS WEEK’S LETTER IS: “E” My book is: A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand Synopsis from Amazon: After the extreme heat of her Nantucket studio causes her to go into early labor with her youngest son, renowned glass artist…

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Teaser Tuesdays (9.7.10)

MizB of Should Be Reading hosts Teaser Tuesday. 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…

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Wind Warrior Blog Tour Giveaway

Wind Warrior Blog Tour Giveaway Sept 1 ~ Sept. 30 Cynthia Roberts, author of her debut historical romance, Wind Warrior has something pretty darn dynamic for all of Always With a Book visitors, friends and subscribers … one of the largest blog tour promotional giveaways ever attempted. Breaking into the world of romance fiction is a challenge unto itself but more so, when you’re a newly published author. Always With…

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In My Mailbox (20) 9.5.10

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I’ll post what books I’ve received either by mailbox/library/store. For Review (1) In Zoey’s Head by Sandy Ward Bell Library (0) Purchased – from Library Book Sale (15) – The Spinster Sisters by Stacey Ballis Rocco by Adriana Trigiani Sea Glass by Anita Shreve Little Bitty Lies by Mary Kay Andrews Deep Dish…

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Review: The House on Olive Street by Robyn Carr

First line: Elly sensed something was wrong immediately, but since she was not a woman who lived by her instincts, she did nothing. From the back cover: The loss of their close friend draws four women together. And a summer spent sorting through personal effects offers the perfect challenge – and the perfect escape. Sable – her bestselling novels have made her a star, but the woman who has everything,…

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James Patterson Reading Challenge II

The James Patterson Reading Challenge II Hosted by: Socrates’ Book Reviews Timeline: 01 Sep 2010 – 31 Aug 2011 Level 1: Read 2 Patterson books Level 2: Read 5 Patterson books Level 3: Read 10+ Patterson books Rules: Choose a level of participation above You do not have to list out books ahead of time Overlapping with other challenges is allowed Any Patterson book is acceptable Books read prior to…

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Book Blogger Hop 9.3.10

It’s that time again…. time for the weekly Book Blogger Hop!  Brought to you by Jennifer at Crazy For Books, this is a fun way to get to know other book bloggers. This week’s question: Do you judge a book by its cover? It all depends…there are times when I do judge a book by its cover, particularly when I am browsing books in either the bookstore or even the…

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Month in Review: August

Here are my reading stats for August! Books read:  11 Books I read (reviewed ones have * and link to review) This One is Mine* by Maria Semple Buying Time* by Pamela Samuels Young Summer Blowout* by Claire Cook Fragile* by Lisa Unger Georgia’s Kitchen* by Jenny Nelson Fireworks over Tocca* by Jeffrey Stepakoff Live to Tell* by Lisa Gardner She’s Gone Country* by Jane Porter With Friends Like These*…

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