Review: Mothers & Daughters by Rae Meadows

First line: Sam was hungry for pound cake. Why I read this: I was sent a request to read and review this book. From the back cover: When a box of Iris’s belongings arrives on Sam’s doorstep, she discovers things about her mother she never knew – or could even guess. But she is puzzled by much of what she finds. She learns that Violet, the woman she knows as…

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Giveaway Winner: Creed’s Honor

CONGRATULATIONS to Melissa winner of  Creed’s Honor by Linda Lael Miller Random.org selected the winners.  Thanks to all who entered the giveaway!

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Review: Beach Lane by Sherryl Woods

First line: Men were the bane of Susie O’Brien’s life. Why I read this: I reserved this from the library and because it’s new, I only have it for a week, so I had to read right away! From the back cover: In the close-knit community of Chesapeake Shores, Maryland, Susie O’Brien and Mack Franklin’s “not-dating” claim befuddles everyone, especially since the two spend every spare minute together. Susie’s thrilled…

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It’s Monday – What Are You Reading? (6.27.11)

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. Well, it ended up being a productive reading week and a productive week getting reviews done!…

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Author Meet & Greet: Lisa See

The local independent bookstore near me, Books and Greetings, has author visits all the time. I’ve been a few times – to see children’s book author Jane O’Connor (she writes the Fancy Nancy books), Nicholas Sparks when he was touring with his latest book, Safe Haven, and Elizabeth Berg, when she was touring with her newest book, Once Upon a Time, There Was You. The other night, Lisa See was…

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Giveaway Winners: Summer in the South

CONGRATULATIONS to Margie, Kristen, & Bailey winners of  Summer in the South by Cathy Holton Random.org selected the winners.  Thanks to all who entered the giveaway!

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Review: Slate by Brian Rowe

First line: I am a star. Why I read this: I was asked by the author to read this book. Synopsis:Hollywood casting director Vivien Slate thought she had it all, until coming home one day to find her husband cheating on her with a younger woman. With her marriage on the rocks, she decides it’s the perfect time to recapture her sexual identity… by finding a younger man of her…

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Review: Chasing the Night by Iris Johansen (audio book)

From the back of the audio case: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author comes an Eve Duncan thriller about the search for a child who has been missing for nine agonizing years… A CIA agent’s two-year-old child was stolen in the night as a brutal act of vengeance. Nine years later, Catherine Ling’s instincts – maternal and professional – tell her that her son is still alive, but…

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Review: The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan

First line: My sister Kwan believes she has yin eyes. Why I read this: The publicist promoting the re-release of this book asked if I would be willing to read it. From the back of the book: Set in San Francisco and in a remote village of Southwestern China, Amy Tan’s The Hundred Secret Senses is a tale of American assumptions shaken by Chinese ghosts and broadened with hope.in 1962,…

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Review: I’ll Have Who She’s Having by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

First line: I’m shaking as I leave him, still in shock over what just happened. Why I read this: I got a request from a publicist wanting to know if I would be interested in participating in the authors blog tour. Synopsis: What happens when a man comes between one desperately single and one very married sister? Kate’s been depressed ever since yet another long-term boyfriend unceremoniously dumped her. When…

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Review: The D Word by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

First line: It has been exactly 350 days since I decided I’d be better off without him. Why I read this: I got a request from a publicist wanting to know if I would be interested in participating in the authors blog tour. Synopsis: Jordan Daniels and Elle Ryan thought their lives would become less complicated when they walked away from their respective relationships one year ago. But instead, they…

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Spring Reading Thing 2011 Wrap Up

Another reading challenged has come to a close. As you can see from my list, I finished reading 18 out of the 20 books I had listed and I am in the middle of reading one right now. I was also able to read an additional 14 books  during this time that were not on my original list. That puts my total number of books read from March 20 to…

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Virtual Book Tour & Review: The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner

First line: I am not a sentimental woman. Why I read this: I love historical fiction and when I saw this book was touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotions, I requested to be part of it. I’ve also read another book by C.W. Gortner, The Tudor Secret, which I really enjoyed. From the back cover: The truth is, not one of us is innocent. We all have sins to…

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It’s Monday – What Are You Reading? (6.20.11)

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. Last week managed to be a productive reading week, but not so much with reviews…I foresee…

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In My Mailbox (58) 6.19.11

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. Borrowed from the library:     Playing the Game (audio book) by Barbara Taylor Bradford  I have read many books by BTB and have enjoyed them all – was thrilled to see this one in audio! We Are All Welcome Here (audio book) by…

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Guest Post: Tara Woolpy

Please join me in welcomingTara Woolpy, author of Releasing Gillian’s Wolves to Always With a Book! If you missed my review, you can read it here. Today Tara guest blogs about why she included recipes in her new novel. Releasing Gillian’s Wolves is a novel in four parts. Each section begins with a recipe. Since in many ways this is the story of a woman stepping out of the kitchen…

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Review: Releasing Gillan’s Wolves by Tara Woolpy

First line: The moon drew a rippling arrow across the surface of the lake, exposing Edward and Sam making love on the dock. Why I read it: The author contacted me to read and review the book – it is her debut novel. From the back cover: The wife of an adulterous politician must choose between the safety of denial and a new life in the light. Thirty years ago,…

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Review and Giveaway: Creed’s Honor by Linda Lael Miller

First line: Tricia McCall was not the type to see apparitions, but there were times – especially when lonely, tired or both – that she caught just the merest flicker of a glimpse of her dog, Rusty, out of the corner of one eye. Why I read this: I was sent this book to review. From the back cover: Conner Creed knows exactly who he is: a hardworking rancher carrying…

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It’s Monday – What Are You Reading? (6.13.11)

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. Last week was Audio Book Week hosted by Jen at Devourer of Books and I had…

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Review: Eight Days to Live by Iris Johansen (audio book)

From the back of the audio case: In eight days they will take her… It all begins with a painting called Guilt. Eve Duncan’s daughter, Jane, has no idea why she painted the portrait of the chilling face that now hangs in a Paris gallery. But the members of a cult that dates back to the time of Christ know both the face  and the significance behind it. They believe…

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Review: A Creed in Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller

First line: Some instinct – or maybe just a stir of a breeze – awakened Steven Creed; he sat up in bed, took a fraction of a moment to orient himself to unfamiliar surroundings. Why I read it: I was asked to review Creed’s Honor, which is the second in Linda Lael Miller’s Creed Cowboy’s trilogy. As you might know, I don’t like picking up a book that’s in the…

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In My Mailbox (57) 6.12.11

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: The Tudors: The Complete Story of England’s Most Notorious Dynasty  by G.J. Meyers I am obsessed with The Tudors and love picking up books about them to add to my collection! Dreams of Joy   by Lisa See   Lisa See is coming…

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Audiobook Week 2011: Audiobook Resources

June is Audiobook Month and Jen at Devourer of Books is hosting a special week dedicated to audiobooks this week. I’m sad to see that this special week is coming to a close. I’ve had a great time meeting new bloggers who love audio as much as I have come to and have added a ton of titles to look for when I need a new audio.   Today’s discussion…

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Audiobook Week 2011: Midweek Meme

June is Audiobook Month and Jen at Devourer of Books is hosting a special week dedicated to audiobooks this week. I’m going to participate as much as I can. Today’s discussion topic is actually a quick meme that you just have to copy and fill in with your own answers. Current/most recent audiobook: Chasing the Night by Iris Johansen and read by Jennifer Van Dyck Impressions: I’m really enjoying it.…

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Guest Post: Cathy Holton (and giveaway, too!)

Please join me in welcomingCathy Holton, author of Summer in the South to Always With a Book! If you missed my review, you can read it here. Today Darien guest blogs about what inspired her new novel. Enjoy and be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win one of 3 signed copies of the book! Love, Class, and Murder in the New South Twenty-five years ago I…

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Audiobook Week 2011: Sound Effects

June is Audiobook Month and Jen at Devourer of Books is hosting a special week dedicated to audiobooks this week. I’m going to participate as much as I can. Today’s discussion topics are about sound effects: Love them? Hate them? Take them or leave them? How do you feel about sound effects in audiobooks? Alternate suggestions: Single narrator vs. multiple narrators vs. full cast, audio dramatizations, etc. Having only listened…

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Review and Giveaway: Summer in the South by Cathy Holton (GIVEAWAY CLOSED)

First line: The body was lying on a table in the basement of the Purdy Funeral Home. Why I read it: I was contacted by the author to read and review this book. From the inside cover: Cathy Holton, author of the popular Beach Trip, returns with an intriguing and mysterious tale of dark deeds and family secrets in a small Southern town. After a personal tragedy, Chicago writer Ava…

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Audiobook Week 2011: Your Audiobook Year

June is Audiobook Month and Jen at Devourer of Books is hosting a special week dedicated to audiobooks this week. I’m going to participate as much as I can. The first discussion topic for this week is “2010-2011, Your Audiobook Year.” And the description for this discussion topic is: Are you new to audiobooks in the last year? Have you been listening to them forever but discovered something new this…

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It’s Monday – What Are You Reading? (6.5.11)

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. My computer crashed two weeks ago, so I was unable to participate in this meme last…

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In My Mailbox (56) 6.5.11

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 (0) Library (1) Chasing the Night by Iris Johansen (audio book) Purchased (2) Room by Emma Donoghue Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen Free Downloads (0)  Borrowed from family member (0) From Paperback Swap (0) Won (0)   What’s in your mailbox?

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Review: Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr (e-book)

First line: A fierce and unseasonably cold September wind blew chilly rain against the windows. Why I read this: I came across Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series earlier this year and I am slowly trying to read them all – this is book 2 and there are 15 in the series as of now…I really need to catch up! Synopsis from Barnes and Noble: John “Preacher” Middleton is about to…

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Giveaway Winner: Friendship Bread

CONGRATULATIONS to Gwendolyn winner of  Friendship Bread by Darien Gee Random.org selected the winners.  Thanks to all who entered the giveaway!

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Month in Review: May 2011

Here are my reading stats for May! Books read:  13 Books I read (reviewed ones have * and link to review) Ten Beach Road* by Wendy Wax Elizabeth I* by Margaret George A Turn in the Road* by Debbie Macomber Pandora’s Daughter* by Iris Johansen Moonlight Cove* by Sherryl Woods Friendship Bread* by Darien Gee 10th Anniversary* by James Patterson The Art of Mending* by Elizabeth Berg Here, Home, Hope*…

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I’m back

My computer is all fixed…hopefully I will be back on track tomorrow with some reviews and stuff. Thanks for being patient.

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