Review: The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean

First line: Dora had a rhythm going, or if not a rhythm, a pattern, and it went something like downshift, wipe tears away with back of hand, sob, upshift, scrub running nose with horrible crumpled fastfood napkin, stab at the buttons on the radio, and then downshift again. From the back cover: Do the clothes make the woman? Dora has always taken the path of least resistance. She went to…

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Author Interview and Giveaway: Geraldine Brooks

I am pleased to welcome author Geraldine Brooks to Always With a Book. Her newest book, Caleb’s Crossing, is set to release on May 3rd. Be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of this – two copies are available! About the author:Geraldine Brooksis The New York Times bestselling author of People of the Book, March (winner of the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction), and Year of Wonders and…

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It’s Monday – What Are You Reading? (3.28.11)

It’s Monday What Are you Reading , hosted by Sheila, is the perfect way for me to begin my week and allows me to focus on what needs to be read and to see what I have or have not accomplished the previous week. I also enjoy discovering new books by visiting other participants blogs. I had a much more productive week last week…hopefully the trend continues as I have…

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Review: The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg

First line: Dorothy Shauman Ledbetter Shauman is standing in front of the bathroom mirror in her black half-slip and black push-up bra, auditioning a look. From the inside cover: From the beloved bestselling author of Home Safe and The Year of Pleasures comes a wonderful new novel about women and men reconnecting with one another – and themselves – at their fortieth high school reunion. To each of the men…

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In My Mailbox (48) 3.27.11

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 (2) Already Home by Susan Mallery The Goodbye Quilt by Susan Wiggs Library (0) Purchased (0) Free Downloads (0) From family member (14)* The Scent of Jasmine by Jude Deveraux Here to Stay by Catherine Anderson Sweet Nothings by Catherine Anderson The…

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Giveaway Winner: Stilettos & Scoundrels

CONGRATULATIONS to Gigi Ann winner of  Stilettos & Scoundrels by Laina Turner Molaski Random.org selected the winners.  Thanks to all who entered the giveaway!

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Guest Post: Susan Wiggs

Please join me in welcoming Susan Wiggs, author of the new book, The Goodbye Quilt to Always With a Book! I will be reviewing this book next month so be sure to come back and see what I thought. Today Susan talks about writing The Goodbye Quilt. The Goodbye Quilt is a different sort of book from me. While readers will find the emotional heart of the book familiar, they…

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Guest Post: Susan Mallery

Please join me in welcomingSusan Mallery, author of the new book, Already Home to Always With a Book! I will be reviewing this book next month so be sure to come back and see what I thought. Today Susan talks about what is on her DVR. Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories of women and the relationships that move them. In her latest…

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Review: The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir (audio book)

From the back of the audio case: Following the tremendous success of her first novel, Innocent Traitor, acclaimed historian and New York Times bestselling author Alison Weir turns her masterly storytelling skills to the early life of young Elizabeth Tudor, who would grow up to become England’s most intriguing and powerful queen. Even at age two, Elizabeth is keenly aware that people in the court of her father, King Henry…

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Spring Reading Thing 2011

Katrina over at Callapidder Days is hosting the Spring Reading Thing Reading Challenge. The challenge is to pick books you would like to read this spring and then keep a record of how you do. The challenge runs from March 20 to June 20. If you’d like to join, head over here to sign up. Here’s my list as of now: Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff The Secret Lives…

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It’s Monday – What Are You Reading? (3.21.11)

It’s Monday What Are you Reading , hosted by Sheila, is the perfect way for me to begin my week and allows me to focus on what needs to be read and to see what I have or have not accomplished the previous week. I also enjoy discovering new books by visiting other participants blogs. This was a really slow week for me reading-wise. I had a lot going on…

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In My Mailbox (47) 3.20.11

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 (4) Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda Mothers & Daughters by Rae Meadows The Bone Trail by Nell Watson Slate by Brian Rowe Library (0) Purchased (0) Free Downloads (0) Borrowed from family member (0) From Paperback Swap  (0) Won (0)   …

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Giveaway Winner – The Paris Wife

CONGRATULATIONS to Jonnie winner of  The Paris Wife by Paula McLain Random.org selected the winners.  Thanks to all who entered the giveaway!

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Virtual Book Tour and Review: Love You More by Lisa Gardner

First line: Who do you love? About the book: WHO DO YOU LOVE? One question, a split-second decision, and Brian Darby lies dead on the kitchen floor. His wife, state police trooper Tessa Leoni, claims to have shot him in self-defense, and bears the bruises to back up her tale. For veteran detective D. D. Warren it should be an open-and-shut case. But where is their six-year-old daughter? AND HOW…

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It’s Monday – What Are You Reading? (3.14.11)

It’s Monday What Are you Reading , hosted by Sheila, is the perfect way for me to begin my week and allows me to focus on what needs to be read and to see what I have or have not accomplished the previous week. I also enjoy discovering new books by visiting other participants blogs. Books Completed last week: The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg (on-line book…

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Review: Scones & Bones by Laura Childs

First line: A smirking human skull, all hollow eye sockets and pronounced parietal bones, grinned diabolically at Theodosia. From the back cover: Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is lured into attending the Heritage Society’s Pirates and Plunder party by her master tea blender. Amid the gold earrings and doubloons, an antique skull ring set with a huge diamond steals the show – and gets plundered by someone who murders…

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In My Mailbox (46) 3.13.11

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. Purchased/Won (4)* Romance Bag: Friends & Lovers by Barbara Delinksy A Highlander Christmas by Janet Chapman To Catch a Highlander by Karen Hawkins Grand Passion by Jayne Ann Krentz Eden Burning by Elizabeth Lowell The Year of Living Scandalously by Julia London Scoundrel in…

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Virtual Book Tour and Guest Post: Laina Turner Molaski

Please join me in welcoming Laina Turner Molaski, author of  Stilettos & Scoundrels to Always With a Book! If you missed my review, you can read it here. Today Laina talks about the love of reading. Enjoy and be sure to enter the giveaway! The love of reading I can identify with the title to this blog because I AM always with a book. From an early age I fell…

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Virtual Book Tour, Review and Giveaway: Stilettos & Scoundrels by Laina Turner Molaski (GIVEAWAY CLOSED)

First line: What was I thinking? From the back cover: Presley Thurman, a sassy, thirty-something red-head, lover of shopping and Starbucks had just been fired so she decided to follow her dream. With her feisty nature and a spirit to not “sweat the small stuff,” she was ready to tackle any challenge (even if she had no idea how she would pay the bills). However, the new job turned into…

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Book Spotlight: The Bad, The Good and Two Fly Fishing Women by Randy Kadish

About the book: When her mother deserts her to be with a new man, Amanda is hurt and betrayed. She loses faith in the world. To soothe her pain, she retreats into fly fishing, until she learns that her loving grandmother has terminal cancer. Amanda struggles to find answers. Then one day she discovers that her grandmother, against the doctor’s orders, has gone fishing somewhere on the Junction River. Frightened,…

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It’s Monday – What Are You Reading? (3.7.11)

It’s Monday What Are you Reading , hosted by Sheila, isthe perfect way for me to begin my week and allows me to focus on what needs to be read and to see what I have or have not accomplished the previous week. I also enjoy discovering new books by visiting other participants blogs. Books Completed last week: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (review) The Lady Elizabeth by Alison…

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In My Mailbox (45) 3.6.11

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 (2) Blackberry Crumble by Josi S. Kilpack Poison in the Blood by Matthew Scarsbrook  Library (0) Purchased (5) The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton The Rossetti Letter by Christi Phillips The Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips The Virgin’s Daughters by Jeane Westin…

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Review: Multiple Choice by Claire Cook

First line: During your child’s senior year in high school, it is most important for parents to try to    a. remain positive    b. set firm, consistent limits    c. save money    d. live through the experience From the back cover: Balancing family, work, and college means    a. putting one of them on the back burner    b. learning to juggle    c. lots of caffeine   …

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Giveaway Winner – Lessons from Stanley the Cat

CONGRATULATIONS to Beverly winner of  Lessons from Stanley the Cat by Dr. Jennifer Freed Random.org selected the winners.  Thanks to all who entered the giveaway!

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Virtual Book Tour & Guest Post: Paula McLain

Please join me in welcoming Paula McLain, author of  The Paris Wife to Always With a Book! If you missed my review, you can read it here.  Enjoy and be sure to enter the giveaway! There’s a moment in A Moveable Feast, when Ernest Hemingway and his new wife, Hadley, have just moved to Paris, where he’s hoping to earn his stripes as a writer. It’s 1922. Winter has settled…

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Month in Review: February 2011

Here are my reading stats for February! Books read:  11 Books I read (reviewed ones have * and link to review) The Tudor Secret* by CW Gortner The Diva Paints the Town* by Krista Davis The Tapestry of Love* by Rosy Thornton Lady Be Good* by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Love Letters* by Geraldine Solon The Tenth Circle* by Jodi Picoult Haunting Jasmine* by Anjali Banerjee  Marrying Daisy Bellamy* by Susan…

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Virtual Book Tour, Review & Giveaway: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (GIVEAWAY CLOSED)

First line: Though I often looked for one, I finally had to admit that there could be no cure for Paris. From the inside cover: In Chicago in 1920, Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness – until she meets Ernest Hemingway and finds herself captivated by his good looks, intensity, and passionate desire to write. Following a whirlwind courtship and…

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Review: Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson

First line: Major Pettigrew was still upset about the phone call from his brother’s wife and so he answered the doorbell without thinking. From the inside cover: You are about to travel to Edgecombe St. Mary, a small village in the English countryside filled with rolling hills, thatched cottages, and a cast of characters both hilariously original and as familiar as the members of your own family. Among them is…

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