I’m going to use this post to keep track of my progress during the Bout of Books 8.0 Read-a-thon: My Goals: To read as much as possible this week To finish at least 4 complete books, plus the 1 that I need to finish My List of Books (a combo of review books, library books and fun books): The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers – need to finish…
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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. Last week was a great week filled with lots of family-time! We spent three days…
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Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews is starting a new meme to spotlight the books we receive each week. Here’s what I got: For Review: The Spymistress by Jennifer Chiaverini A new historical fiction set during the Civil War by Jennifer Chiaverini – I can’t wait to read this one. Covet by Tracey Garvis Graves This was sent to me along with the Jennifer Chiaverini book and sounds quite…
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This week I will be participating in another round of Book of Books. This is a great, no-pressure read-a-thon. Here is some info about the read-a-thon from the founders: The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 19th and runs through Sunday, August 25th in whatever time…
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The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro HarperCollins May 2013 Format: Hard cover, 464 pages Source: Publisher/She Reads An inheritance from a mysterious stranger . . . An abandoned perfume shop on the Left Bank of Paris . . . And three exquisite perfumes that hold a memory . . . and a secret London, 1955: Grace Monroe is a fortunate young woman. Despite her sheltered upbringing in Oxford, her recent…
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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. The first part of August has been dedicated to getting any review books/library books read…
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Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews is starting a new meme to spotlight the books we receive each week. Here’s what I got: For Review: Queen’s Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle I’m excited to be participating in the blog tour for this book – it sounds like a great Tudor read! What did you get this week?
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The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs Series: Bella Vista, #1 Harlequin MIRA April 2013 Format: e-book, 432 pages Source: Netgalley #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs brings readers to the lush abundance of Sonoma county in a novel of sisters, friendship and how memories are woven like a spell around us. Tess Delaney makes a living restoring stolen treasures to their rightful owners. People like Annelise Winther, who…
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The Tudor Conspiracy by C.W. Gortner Series: The Spymaster Chronicles, #2 St. Martin’s Griffin July 2013 Format: Paperback, 352 pages Source: Publisher via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours Hunted by a shadowy foe in Bloody Mary’s court, Brendan Prescott plunges into London’s treacherous underworld to unravel a dark conspiracy that could make Elizabeth queen—or send her to her death. England, 1553: Harsh winter encroaches upon the realm. Mary Tudor has…
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A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams Putnam Adult May 2013 Format: Hardcover, 357 pages Source: Personal copy Memorial Day, 1938: New York socialite Lily Dane has just returned with her family to the idyllic oceanfront community of Seaview, Rhode Island, expecting another placid summer season among the familiar traditions and friendships that sustained her after heartbreak. That is, until Greenwalds decide to take up residence in Seaview. Nick and Budgie…
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Back in January, I was first introduced to Bella Andre when she did a whirlwind tour for the e-book editions of her Sullivan series. I was fortunate to receive e-copies of the first 7 books and of the ones I’ve had time to read (5 so far) I’ve loved them!!! Now, she has joined forces with Harlequin MIRA to provide the Sullivan books in print, with new content added to…
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Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews is starting a new meme to spotlight the books we receive each week. Here’s what I got: For Review: The Girl You Left Behind by JoJo Moyes I’ve never read anything by JoJo Moyes, but have heard really good things about her books. Looking forward to reading this one! Purchased: Shadowy Horses (e-book) by…
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Smokin’ Seventeen by Janet Evanovich Series: Stephanie Plum, #17 Read by Lorelei King Random House Audio 2011 Length: 6 hours, 22 minutes Source: Library Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and no one knows this better than New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why…
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For the month of August, I will be participating in “Conquering the Book Stacks” – where I plan to read my own books that have been sitting on my bookshelf and try really hard not to buy any new ones. This all came about from a discussion on twitter between a bunch of avid book readers who seem to constantly have too many books to read and not enough…
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How is it that it’s already August already? This summer sure is flying by! I’m a bit behind on some of the reading challenges I’m participating in, so I’m quite excited that there’s a lot of bloggy events happening this month to help… Here’s a list of what I’ll be participating in: Conquering the Book Stacks – hosted by T over at Traveling With T…the goal is to read books…
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The Queen’s Rivals by Brandy Purdy Kensington June 2013 Format: Paperback, 368 pages Source: Publisher via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours Their ambitions were ordinary, but they were born too close to the throne… As cousins of history’s most tempestuous queens, Ladies Jane, Katherine, and Mary Grey were born in an age when all of London lived beneath the Tower’s menacing shadow. Tyrannized by Bloody Mary and the Virgin Queen,…
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Wedding Belles by Beth Albright Series: Sassy Belles, #2 Harlequin MIRA July 2013 Format: ARC, e-copy, 336 pages Source: Netgalley via Kaye Publicity The Sassy Belles are back…and this time, wedding bells are ringing! Seven months pregnant and head over heels in love, Vivi Ann McFadden is busy pulling together the final details for her wedding to Lewis Heart, famous play-by-play announcer for the Crimson Tide. But with two wedding-planners-gone-wild,…
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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. My nephew came for a sleepover this week – he was with us for four…
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Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews is starting a new meme to spotlight the books we receive each week. Here’s what I got: Won: Final Sentence by Daryl Wood Gerber I won this over at Traveling With T and I’m looking forward to reading it. This is the first in Daryl Wood Gerber’s newest cozy mystery series, a Cookbook Nook Mystery…I just love cozy mysteries. Thanks T for the contest!!! From…
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Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich Series: Stephanie Plum, #16 Read by Lorelei King Macmillan Audio 2010 Length: 7 hours Source: Library Trenton, New Jersey, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has inherited a “lucky” bottle from her Uncle Pip. Problem is, Uncle Pip didn’t specify if the bottle brought good luck or bad luck. . . . BAD LUCK: Vinnie, of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, has run up a gambling debt of…
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Yesterday I posted my review of Meg Gardiner’s latest thriller, The Shadow Tracer. You can find my thoughts on the book here. Today, I’m pleased to announce that thanks to Cassie at Dutton Books, I have one copy of the book to offer my readers. The Shadow Tracer by Meg Gardiner Dutton Adult June 2013 Format: Hardcover, 368 pages Source: Publicist An explosive stand-alone thriller from the Edgar Award–winning writer…
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The Lavender Garden by Lucinda Riley Atria Books June 2013 Format: Paperback, 416 pages Source: Publicist An aristocratic French family, a legendary château, and buried secrets with the power to destroy two generations torn between duty and desire. La Côte d’Azur, 1998: In the sun-dappled south of France, Emilie de la Martinières, the last of her gilded line, inherits her childhood home, a magnificent château and vineyard. With the property…
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The Shadow Tracer by Meg Gardiner Dutton Adult June 2013 Format: Hardcover, 368 pages Source: Publicist An explosive stand-alone thriller from the Edgar Award–winning writer Stephen King called “the next suspense superstar”. Can a person ever really disappear for good by going off the grid? And what happens when vanishing is no longer an option? Sarah Keller is a single mother to five-year-old Zoe, living quietly in Oklahoma. She’s also…
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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. I’m glad the heat has finally broken here in NY. Last week was brutal and…
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This weekend I participated in a mini-Bloggiesta! I got a ton done and felt that it was very low-key and relaxed. I didn’t even keep track of how much time I spent on my to-do list as I usually do, but still managed to get a lot done! I ended up accomplishing most of what I had on my list: Write up all outstanding reviews that I need to…
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Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight HarperCollins April 2013 Format: Harcover, 384 pages Source: Personal copy When Kate, single mother and law firm partner, gets an urgent phone call summoning her to her daughter’s exclusive private school, she’s shocked. Amelia has been suspended for cheating, something that would be completely out of character for her over-achieving, well-behaved daughter. Kate rushes to Grace Hall, but what she finds when she finally arrives…
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Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews is starting a new meme to spotlight the books we receive each week. Here’s what I got: For review: Big Sky Wedding (e-book) by Linda Lael Miller The latest in Linda Lael Miller’s Swoon-Worthy Cowboy series…can’t wait to start reading this one! Three Little Words by Susan Mallery This is the latest in Susan Mallery’s Fool’s Gold series – a series I am working my…
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Finding Perfect by Susan Mallery Series: Fool’s Gold, #3 HQN Books August 2010 Format: Paperback, 346 pages Source: Library When Pia O’Brian’s best friend dies, Pia expects to inherit her cherished cat. Instead, the woman leaves Pia three frozen embryos. With a disastrous track record in the romance department and the parenting skills of a hamster, Pia doesn’t think she’s meant for motherhood. But determined to do the right thing,…
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I am so excited to participate in “Austen in August”. To date, I have only read one Jane Austen book – Pride and Prejudice, which I’ve read three times. I have several of her books sitting on my bookshelf just waiting to be read. This event is being hosted by Adam over at Roof Beam Reader and this is what he has to say about it: The Goal: To read as…
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Sister of the Bride by Susan Mallery Series: Fool’s Gold, #2.5 MIRA Books August 2010 Format: e-book, 77 pages Source: Personal copy When Katie McCormick finds out that her sister is marrying her ex, she finally agrees to a setup for the big day. To her surprise, Jackson is a catch. But when wedding catastrophe ensues, will their sparks fizzle or ignite into flames? My thoughts: This cute novella was…
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Bloggiesta is here and while it’s a mini-version, it’s still a great time to get around to doing those pesky tasks on your blog that you’ve been putting off! And what better motivation than to be working on these tasks while a bunch of others are doing the same! So what do I plan to do this weekend? Well…knowing this was coming up, I’ve purposely held off on doing some…
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Finger Lickin’ Fifteen by Janet Evanovich Series: Stephanie Plum, #15 Read by Lorelei King Macmillan Audio 2009 Length: 7 hours Source: Library The spiciest, sauciest, most rib-sticking Plum yet. Recipe for disaster: Celebrity chef Stanley Chipolte comes to Trenton in a barbecue cookoff and loses his head – literally. Throw in some spice: Bail bonds office worker Lula is witness to the crime, and the only one she’ll talk to…
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Last year, I had the opportunity to read and review The Queen’s Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile by C.W. Gortner when it came out in hardcover. Now, the book is available in paperback and C.W. is once again touring the blogosphere with the book. The Queen’s Vow: A Novel of Isabella Castile by C.W. Gortner Ballantine Books July 2013 416 pages No one believed I was destined for…
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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. We ended up heading up to our cabin this past weekend and it was so…
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Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews is starting a new meme to spotlight the books we receive each week. Here’s what I got: For review: The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan This will be my first Hank Phillippi Ryan book and I can’t wait to read it…it’s also the first in a series! From the library: Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand Summer means a new Elin Hilderbrand book and I…
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Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery Series: Fool’s Gold, #2 HQN June 2010 Format: Paperback, 379pages Source: Library Back in high school, Liz Sutton was the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Then she’d stolen the heart of the most popular boy in town, and their secret romance helped her through the worst of times. Until Ethan Hendrix betrayed her and everything they’d ever meant to each other. Devastated…
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Fly Away by Kristin Hannah Series: Firefly Lane, #2 Read by Susan Ericksen Macmillan Audio 2013 Length: 16 hours Source: Personal copy Once, a long time ago, I walked down a night-darkened road called Firefly Lane, all alone, on the worst night of my life, and I found a kindred spirit. That was our beginning. More than thirty years ago. TullyandKate. You and me against the world. Best friends forever.…
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The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley Series: Slains, #1 Sourcebooks December 2010 Format: e-book, 527 pages Source: Personal copy In the spring of 1708, an invading Jacobite fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeeded in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his crown. Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she creates…
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The Newcomer by Robyn Carr Series: Thunder Point, #2 Harlequin MIRA June 2013 Format: ARC e-book, 368 pages Source: Netgalley via Little Bird Publicity With humor and insight, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr looks at letting go of the past-and knowing when you’ve found something worth building your future on Single dad and Thunder Point’s deputy sheriff “Mac” McCain has worked hard to keep everyone safe and…
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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. It’s been a hot week – we had temps in the 90s and since it…
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Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews is starting a new meme to spotlight the books we receive each week. Here’s what I got: From the library: Vanish by Tess Gerritsen I love Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli and Isles series and this is book 5…one of the three series I’m trying to catch up on. Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery The second in Susan Mallery’s Fool’s Gold series…this is another of…
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Come Home by Lisa Scottoline Narrated by Maggie-Meg Reed MacMillan Audio 2012 Length: 12 hours, 25 minutes Source: Library Lisa Scottoline has delivered taut thrillers with a powerful emotional wallop in her New York Times bestsellers Save Me, Think Twice, and Look Again. Now, with her new novel, Come Home, she ratchets up the suspense with the riveting story of a mother who sacrifices her future for a child from…
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Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman Pamela Dorman Books May 2013 Format: Hardcover, 368 pages Source: Library Beth Hoffman’s bestselling debut, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, won admirers and acclaim with its heartwarming story and cast of unforgettable characters. Now her unique flair for evocative settings and richly drawn Southern personalities shines in her compelling new novel, Looking for Me. Teddi Overman found her life’s passion for furniture in a broken-down chair…
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Here are this month’s giveaway selections: I, Michael Bennett By: James Patterson Format: Hardcover My review The Opposite of Me By: Sarah Pekkanen Format: ARC Paperback My review Wind Chime Point By: Sherryl Woods Format: ARC Paperback My review Body Heat By: Brenda Novak Format: Paperback My review Killer in Crinolines By: Duffy Brown Format: Paperback My review How to enter: This contest is open to entries…
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Once again, I’ve fallen behind in announcing giveaway winners. Here are the winners of giveaways from the last month: ARMCHAIR BEA GIVEAWAY: The Typewriter Girl by Alison Atlee – Sprite The Fate of Mercy Alban by Wendy Webb – Shannon Gallagher Children of Liberty by Paullina Simons – Dorothy Teel JUNE MONTHLY GIVEAWAY: A Hundred Flowers by Gail Tsukiyama – Mary H. Fly Away by Kristin Hannah – Lara Newell…
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Button Holed by Kylie Logan Series: Button Box Mystery, #1 Berkley September 2011 Format: Paperback, 264 pages Source: Personal copy In a big-picture world, it’s the little things that appeal to button dealer Josie Giancola. There’s history in every button. There’s art, and craft, and style. There might be clues to murder, too. Working out of her button shop in a Chicago brownstone, Josie Giancola has quietly become one of…
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Back in January, I was first introduced to Bella Andre when she did a whirlwind tour for the e-book editions of her Sullivan series. I was fortunate to receive e-copies of the first 7 books and of the ones I’ve had time to read (5 so far) I’ve loved them!!! Now, she has joined forces with Harlequin MIRA to provide the Sullivan books in print, with new content added to…
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The 9th Girl by Tami Hoag Dutton Adult June 2013 Format: e-book, 417 pages Source: Publisher via Netgalley #1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag brings back her fan-favorite Minneapolis investigators Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska in the haunting new thriller The 9th Girl. “Kovac had seen more dead bodies than he could count: Men, women, children; victims of shootings, stabbings, strangulations, beatings; fresh corpses and bodies that had…
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Another month has come and gone…and as we are now halfway through the year, I realize I need to focus on my reading challenges. I am doing well in some, but haven’t started a few. I guess I will have to be a little more selective in what I read moving forward. I’m really getting the hang of the whole social media thing – specifically using twitter. I’ve come across…
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The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley Series: Slains, #2 Sourcebooks Landmark June 2013 Format: Paperback, 539 pages Source: Publisher/She Reads Whoever dares to seek the Firebird may find the journey—and its ending—unexpected. Nicola Marter was born with a gift. When she touches an object, she sometimes sees images; glimpses of those who have owned it before. It’s never been a gift she wants, and she keeps it a secret from most…
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