First line: They tell me I will die here. From the inside cover: You’re about to experience the ultimate guilty pleasure. Four best friends on a decadent vacation – thrown in prison for murder. NO HUSBANDS ALLOWED Only minutes after Abbie Elliot and her three best friends step off of a private helicopter, they enter the most luxurious, sumptuous, sensually pampering hotel they have ever been to. Their lavish presidential…
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From the back of the audio case: Ellie and Dan are living proof that opposites attract. She’s impulsive; he follows all the rules. He loves sports’ she’s allergic to any form of exercise. Ellie doesn’t have a mother. Dan does – a very involved mother. At first, Ellie is thrilled to be accepted into the loving Cooper clan and have Dan’s mom, Linda, as her “adopted” mother. But then Ellie…
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First line: She hid in her mother’s wardrobe. Synopsis: Orphaned at age eight, Lady Cecily Burkhart becomes the ward of Harold Pierce, Earl of Sumerton. Lord Hal and his wife, Lady Grace, welcome sweet-natured Cecily as one of their own. With Brey, their young son, Cecily develops an easy friendship. But their daughter, Mirabella, is consumed by her religious vocation – and by her devotion to Father Alec Cahill, the…
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Book Blogger Confession is a new blog meme hosted by Tiger of All Consuming Books and Karen of For What It’s Worth. The meme will run on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month to discuss some of the frustrations that are unique to book bloggers. You can read the introductory post here. Here’s this week’s question: Review/Guest post requests: Do you have a review request policy? Has it changed…
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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 It was a quiet week this past week, and I got some good reading time in,…
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CONGRATULATIONS to Renee G Margaret Lindsey Marjorie & Paula winners of Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay Random.org selected the winners. Thanks to all who entered the giveaway!
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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: The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain I’m participating in a blog tour of this new release next month and I can’t wait to start reading it! From the Library: The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani I had this one reserve at the…
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First line: The Mississippi riverboat cake tilted on the table in front of me, its fondant paddle wheel askew, gashes of lemony yellow cake gaping in its once-smooth white surface. From the back cover: There aren’t many things pastry chef Rita Lucero hates more than losing. But two years after her marriage to fellow baker Philippe Renier fell apart, she’s still trying to get him to sign the divorce papers.…
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Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author. I’m reading The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani: The scalloped hem of Caterina Lazzari’s blue velvet coat grazed the fresh-fallen…
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First line: Darlings, love is in the air! From the back cover: She’s stealing his heart… Vintage boutique owner Venus Smith is stunned to realize her newest acquisition comes with a larcenous legend. Stolen years ago, the antique mermaid brooch belongs to the Clayworth family. The right thing to do would be to return it, but that means facing Connor Clayworth O’Flynn, the sexy department store heir Venus has…
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First line: Shelby was within ten miles of her Uncle Walt’s ranch when she had to pull over to the side of the highway 36, the busiest stretch between Virgin River and Fortuna, behind an old pickup truck that looked vaguely familiar. Synopsis from B&N: Shelby McIntyre has big plans—plans that include finding Mr. Right. Her dream man will have a clean-shaven jaw, creases in his pants and hopefully and…
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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. So after a productive Bloggiesta weekend getting ahead on reviews, I seem to once again be…
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LAST DAY TO ENTER: Russian Winterby Daphne Kalotay – 5 copies available; open internationally. Ends April 8th.
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This month’s selections are: Big Stone Gap By: Adriana Trigiani Format: Paperback My review The Summer We Came to Life By: Deborah Cloyed Format: Paperback My review It’s A Waverly Life By: Maria Murnane Format: Paperback My review It Had To Be You By: Susan Elizabeth Philips Format: Paperback How to enter: This contest is open to entries from the U.S. only. The deadline for entry is midnight,…
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Here are the March giveaway winners: Pleating for Mercy By: Melissa Bourbon Winner: Mary (Bookfan) Knit the Season By: Kate Jacobs Winner: Margie A Creed in Stone Creek By: Linda Lael Miller Winner: Susan Tuesday Tells It Slant By: Holly Christine Winner: Rachel W. Thanks to all who entered and don’t forget to stop by later today to see a new set of books up for grabs!
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First line: Cooper Sullivan’s life, as he’d known it, was over. From the inside cover: A summer at his grandparents’ South Dakota ranch is not eleven-year-old Cooper Sullivan’s idea of a good time. But things are a bit more bearable now that he’s discovered the neighbor girl, Lil Chance, and her homemade batting cage. Even horseback riding isn’t as awful as Coop thought it would be. Each year, with Coop’s…
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First line: Paul Haggerty was finally back in Grants Pass after almost six months in Virgin River and there was an ache in his chest he just couldn’t ease. Synopsis from B&N: In the space of a few months Vanessa buried her husband, Matt, and gave birth to their son—breaking her heart while filling it with a whole new kind of love. But the one man she longs to share…
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First line: “Who are you?” From the back cover: One of today’s most admired and controversial political figures, Ayaan Hirsi Ali burst into international headlines following the murder of Theo van Gogh by an Islamist who threatened that she would be next. She made headlines again when she was stripped of her citizenship and resigned from the Dutch Parliament. Infidel shows the coming of age of this distinguished political superstar…
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Book Blogger Confession is a new blog meme hosted by Tiger of All Consuming Books and Karen of For What It’s Worth. The meme will run on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month to discuss some of the frustrations that are unique to book bloggers. You can read the introductory post here. Here’s this week’s question: Spoilers in reviews: Do you read them, do you include them? How to…
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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. This past weekend I participated in Bloggiesta and I got a lot done. Check out my…
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I’m so bummed that Bloggiesta has come to an end. I got so much done!!! First I want to say a big THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to Suey at It’s All About Books and Danielle at There’s a Book for hosting this. I first participated in a Bloggiesta about six months after starting my blog and found it to be so helpful! I did one more after that…
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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: Guilty Wives by James Patterson A new James Patterson stand-alone…of course I had to buy it. Just finished it last night – review will be posted in a few days. What’s in your mailbox?
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Here are my reading stats for March! Books read: 12 Books I read (reviewed ones have * and link to review; books not yet reviewed will be linked up once review is posted.) Glitter Baby* by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Agony of the Leaves* by Laura Childs Infidel* by Ayaan Hirsi Ali The Sister Queens* by Sophie Perinot Second Chance Pass* by Robyn Carr Black Hills* by Nora Roberts Temptation Ridge*…
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Day 2 of Bloggiesta, being hosted by Suey at It’s All About Books and Danielle at There’s a Book, has come to a close for me – I’ve been sitting at my computer all day and am starting to go cross-eyed, plus I have only about 50 pages left of the book I’m reading (Guilty Wives by James Patterson) and I really want to finish it! I got a lot…
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First line: The Glitter Baby was back. From the back cover: Fleur Savagar is the most beautiful woman in the world…to everyone but herself. With her oversized hands and paddle-boat feet, her streaky blond hair and funny green eyes, she lives a life filled with secrets that began before she was born. That was when her bewitching mother left home to find James Dean and met Errol Flynn instead. Now…
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From the back of the audio case: From the beloved New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice comes a heartwarming yet heart-wrenching portrait of three far-flung sisters who come home to Martha’s Vineyard one last time to say goodbye to the family beach house. Memories of their grandmother, mother, and their Irish father, who sailed away the year Dar, the oldest, turned twelve, rise up and expose the fine cracks…
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Day 1 of Bloggiesta, being hosted by Suey at It’s All About Books and Danielle at There’s a Book is done and now we are on to Day 2. I got a quite a bit done on Day 1, despite not being home all day. I had gone down to my sister’s to help her out for a few days, but luckily was able to spend most of yesterday on…
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Back in February, I read and reviewed the bookCatch Me by Lisa Gardner (click on the title to read my review). It was the 6th book in her Detective D.D. Warren series. This book featured the character, Charline Rosalind Carter Grant (aka Charlie), who worked as a 9-1-1 operator. Lisa Gardner originally created a scene highlighting the multi-tasking involved in this position, but in the grand scheme of things, it…
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This weekend I will be participating in my thirdBloggiesta! This is a great weekend blogging marathon being hosted by Suey at It’s All About Books The premise of the bloggiesta, for those that haven’t participated before, is to spend the entire weekend working, updating, improving your blog. From minor things such as writing up posts, to reaching out for guests posts and reorganizing all of your tags and categories. So…
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First line: M, the sun is out and so should we be. From the back cover: Like most sisters, Marguerite and Eleanor were rivals. They were also queens. Raised at the court of their father, Raymond Berenger, Count of Provence, Marguerite and Eleanor are separated by royal marriages – but never truly parted. Patient, perfect, reticent, and used to being first, Marguerite becomes Queen of France. Her husband, Louis IX,…
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First line: Nash Barron might be cynical about life and more recently about love, but even he normally enjoyed a good wedding. From the back cover: Nash Barron might be cynical about life and more recently about love, but even he normally enjoyed a good wedding. Still, the only good thing about his brother’s wedding is seeing Kelly Moss again. Nash can’t help but admire her confidence and beauty, but…
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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. It’s been a slow week, trying to catch up from being away on vacation. How is…
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First line: The afternoon was so cold, so relentlessly gray, few pedestrians passed the long island of trees dividing Commonwealth Avenue, and even little dogs, shunted along impatiently, wore thermal coats and offered expressions. From the back cover: When Nina Revskaya, once a great star of the Bolshoi Ballet, decides to auction her jewellery collection, she believes she has finally drawn a curtain on her past. Instead she is overwhelmed…
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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. ***This is for the past 2 weeks. For Review: A Conflict of Interest by Adam Mitzner This came while I was on vacation – sounds like a good thriller! Purchased: Kiki Lowenstein & the Lucky Charm (e-book) by Joanna…
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First line: There are supermen and superwomen who walk this earth. From the inside cover: Celebrate the glory of the Olympic Games – before a psychopathic killer extinguishes the flame forever. ON YOUR MARK Private, the world’s most renowned investigation firm, has been commissioned to provide security for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Its agents are the smartest, fastest, and most technologically advanced in the world, and 400 of…
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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 hereto sign up. Here’s my list as of now: Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay The Sumerton Women by D.L.…
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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. OK…I know it’s Wednesday, but I just got back from vacation last night. Aruba was…
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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. This was a quiet, somewhat productive week. I got some reviews done and managed to get…
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Don’t forget to enter the following giveaway: By the King’s Design by Christine Trent ends March 11th
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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: The Flower Reader by Elizabeth Loupas I am looking forward to reading this – a story set during the beginning of the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. What’s in your mailbox?
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First line: Marcie stood beside her limegreen Volkswagen, shivering in the November chill, the morning sun barely over the horizon. Synopsis from B&N: Last Christmas Marcie Sullivan said a final goodbye to her husband, Bobby. This Christmas she’s come to Virgin River to find the man who saved his life and gave her three more years to love him. Fellow marine Ian Buchanan dragged Bobby’s shattered body onto a medical…
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Book Blogger Confession is a new blog meme hosted by Tiger of All Consuming Books and Karen of For What It’s Worth.The meme will run on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month to discuss some of the frustrations that are unique to book bloggers. You can read the introductory post here. I’m a little late in getting this done, but here’s this week’s question: Let’s talk about the positive…
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From the back of the audio case: Making the discovery that her family finances are in dire straights is only the latest shock endured by Carley Winsted after her husband’s sudden death from a heart attack. Resisting her in-laws’ well-meaning overtures to take in Carley and her two daughters, the young widow instead devises a plan to keep her family in their beloved home, a grand historic house on the…
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This month’s selections are: Pleating for Mercy By: Melissa Bourbon Format: Paperback My review Knit the Season By: Kate Jacobs Format: Paperback My review A Creed in Stone Creek By: Linda Lael Miller Format: Paperback My review Tuesday Tells It Slant By: Holly Christine Format: Paperback My review How to enter: This contest is open to entries from the U.S. only. The deadline for entry is midnight,…
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First line: Elegant green tendrils of kelp swayed in graceful, undulating motions as grouper and sea bass peeked out from their leafy sanctuary. From the back cover: In the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Scones and Bones, Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning finds herself in hot water when a body surfaces at the grand opening of Charleston’s Neptune Aquarium… The opening of the aquarium…
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YAY…it’s back!!! Bloggiesta 2012 is coming soon – mark you calendars for March 30, 31, and April 1. It’s now hosted by Suey at It’s All About Books and Danielle at There’s a Book. I was beyond thrilled when I saw their announcement. My blogging “to do” list is quite long and I keep putting it off! Not sure what Bloggiesta is? Here’s the run down, from Suey’s blog:…
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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. This past week was a much quieter week, made even quieter after coming down with a…
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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: Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay I’ve had my eye on this one for a while! Purchased: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson I’ve been waiting for this to come out in paperback…now I can finish the series! A…
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First line: Cornelia Litchfield Case had an itchy nose. From the back cover: How does the most famous woman in the world hide in plain sight? The beautiful young widow of the President of the United States thought she was free of the White House, but circumstances have forced her back into the role of First Lady. Not for long, however, because she’s made up her mind to escape –…
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The winners of February’s giveaways are: Stay By: Alie Larkin Winner: Emily Drake The Knitting Diaries By: Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery, Christina Skye Winner: Mamabunny Moonlight Cove By: Sherryl Woods Winner: Paula The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno By: Eileen Bryson Winner: LadyInRead Thanks to all who entered and don’t forget to stop by next month to see a new set of books up for grabs!
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