Always With a Book

Review & Giveaway: Wind Chime Point by Sherryl Woods (CLOSED)

Review & Giveaway: Wind Chime Point by Sherryl Woods (CLOSED)

Wind Chime Point by Sherryl Woods Harlequin MIRA May 2013 Format: ARC paperback, 400 pages Source: McAllister PR When life gets complicated, New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods proves family—and love—can make all the difference  Facing a personal crisis, ambitious and driven Gabriella Castle retreats to the welcoming arms of her family. Everything she’s worked for has been yanked out from under her, and she seeks the serenity of…

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Review: Barefoot in the Sand by Roxanne St. Claire

Review: Barefoot in the Sand by Roxanne St. Claire

Barefoot in the Sand by Roxanne St. Claire Forever May 2012 Format: Paperback, 399 pages Source: Personal copy When all you hold dear is taken away . . . When a hurricane roars through Lacey Armstrong’s home on the coast of Barefoot Bay, she decides all that remains in the rubble is opportunity. A new hotel is just what Mimosa Key needs, and Lacey and her teenage daughter are due…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (4.29.13)

It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (4.29.13)

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. Vacation was a great – just what we needed! Aruba is one of my favorite…

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Stacking the Shelves (41) 4.28.13

Stacking the Shelves (41) 4.28.13

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 1st Victim (e-book) by Tami Hoag This is the first book by Tami Hoag that I will read…I’ve heard really good things about her books, but just haven’t had time to read her. I’m looking forward to this short story and then hopefully will be picking…

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Review: Sweet Tea Revenge by Laura Childs

Review: Sweet Tea Revenge by Laura Childs

Sweet Tea Revenge by Laura Childs Berkley Prime Crime March 2013 Format:  ARC Paperback, Source: Publisher In the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Agony of the Leaves, Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning may always be a bridesmaid, never a bride, but this groom is never going to make it to the altar… Theodosia Browning’s dear friend, Delaine Dish, has asked her to be…

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Review: Summer Breeze by Nancy Thayer (audio)

Review: Summer Breeze by Nancy Thayer (audio)

Summer Breeze by Nancy Thayer Read by Kimberly Farr Random House Audio 2012 Length: 12 hours 11 minutes Source: Library From back of the audio case: Morgan O’Keefe feels trapped in a gilded cage. True, the thirty-year-old mother agreed to put her science career on hold to raise her young son while her husband  pursued his high-powered job. But though Morgan loves many things about staying home with her child,…

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Review: What She Wants by Sheila Roberts

Review: What She Wants by Sheila Roberts

What She Wants by Sheila Roberts Harlequin MIRA March 2013 Format: ARC e-book, 400 pages Source: Requested from Netgalley First line: Working in such close quarters with a woman that you could bump knees (thighs, and maybe even other body parts) was probably every man’s dream job. Summary: “What “do” women want?”Jonathan Templar and his poker buddies can’t figure it out. Take Jonathan, for instance. He’s been in love with…

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Review: Iced Chiffon by Duffy Brown

Review: Iced Chiffon by Duffy Brown

Iced Chiffon by Duffy Brown Berkley October 2012 Format: Paperback, 304 pages Source: Author First line: I poured out the last of the pinot and lifted my glass as I gazed around the dining-room table. From the back cover: There’s always something to gossip about in Savannah, Georgia, and Reagan Summerside always seems to be in the middle of it. She’s busy enough running her consignment shop, the Prissy Fox,…

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Review: Private Berlin by James Patterson

Review: Private Berlin by James Patterson

Private Berlin by James Patterson Little, Brown and Company January 2013 Format: Hardcover, 448 pages Source: Personal copy First line: At ten o’clock on a moonless September evening, Chris Schneider slipped toward a long-abandoned building on the eastern outskirts of Berlin, his mind whirling with dark images and old vows. From the inside cover: Private Berlin has the extraordinary pace and international sophistication that has powered The Girl with the…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (4.15.13)

It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (4.15.13)

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. Vacation is finally here…we leave tomorrow for Aruba and I cannot wait!!! I have my…

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Review: Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich (audio)

Review: Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich (audio)

Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich Read by Lorelei King Audio Renaissance 2006 Length: 6 hours, 54 minutes Source: Library From the back of the audio case: While chasing down the usual cast of miscreants and weirdos, Stephanie Plum discovers that a crazed woman is stalking her. This stalker carries a 9mm Glock, has a bad attitude and a mysterious connection to dark and dangerous Carlos Manoso…street name, Ranger. When somebody…

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Stacking the Shelves (40) 4.14.13

Stacking the Shelves (40) 4.14.13

Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews is starting a new meme to spotlight the books we receive each week.  Here’s what I got:   ***Be prepared – it‘s a long list…there was another sale on e-books at Amazon!!!   For Review:     Big Sky Summer (e-book) by Linda Lael Miller This is the next in Linda Lael Miller’s Swoon-Worthy Cowboy series and I can’t wait to read it!!!     Killer in Crinolines by…

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Review: Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich (audio)

Review: Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich (audio)

Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich Read by Lorelei King Audio Renaissance 2005 Length: 8.5 hours Source: Library From the back of the audio case:  Stephanie Plum is thinking her career as a fugitive apprehension agent has run its course. She’s been shot at, spat at, cussed at, fire-bombed, mooned, and attacked by dogs. Time for a change, Stephanie thinks. Time to find the kind of job her mother can…

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Review: Starting Now by Debbie Macomber

Review: Starting Now by Debbie Macomber

Starting Now by Debbie Macomber Ballantine Books April 2013 Format: Hardcover, 352 pages Source: Library book First line: This was it. From the inside cover: #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber returns to Seattle’s beloved Blossom Street in this heartfelt tale of friendship, renewal, and discovering what’s truly important in life. For years Libby Morgan dreamed only of making partner in her competitive, high-pressure law firm. She sacrificed…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (4.8.13)

It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (4.8.13)

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. Another busy week has passed and now the countdown is on til vacation – we…

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Stacking the Shelves (39) 4.7.13

Stacking the Shelves (39) 4.7.13

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:     Midnight in St. Petersburg by Vanora Bennett I enjoy reading about books set in Russia and this one sounds very interesting.                 From Library:     Starting Now by Debbie Macomber   This is the newest Blossom Shop book…

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Review: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (audio)

Review: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (audio)

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen Read by Susan Ericksen Brilliance Audio 2007 Length: 8 hours Source: Library From the back of the audio case: The Waverleys have always been a curious family, endowed with peculiar gifts that make them outsiders even in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Even their garden has a reputation, famous for its feisty apple tree that bears prophetic fruit, and its edible flowers, imbued…

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Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: The Chalice by Nancy Bilyeau (CLOSED)

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: The Chalice by Nancy Bilyeau (CLOSED)

The Chalice by Nancy Bilyeau Touchstone March 2013 Format: Hardcover, 512 pages Source: Publisher via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours First line: When preparing for martyrdom on the night of December 28, 1538, I did not think of those I love. About the book: In the next novel from Nancy Bilyeau after her acclaimed debut The Crown, novice Joanna Stafford plunges into an even more dangerous conspiracy as she comes…

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Blog Tour, Review, Author Q&A & Giveaway: The Wanderer by Robyn Carr (CLOSED)

Blog Tour, Review, Author Q&A & Giveaway: The Wanderer by Robyn Carr (CLOSED)

The Wanderer by Robyn Carr Harlequin MIRA April 2013 Format: ARC e-book, 384 pages Source: Netgalley via Little Bird Publicity First line: It took Hank Cooper almost eight hours to get from Virgin River to Thunder Point, Oregon, because he was towing his fifth wheel, a toy hauler. Summary: Nobody is as surprised as Hank Cooper when he receives a phone call informing him that his old army buddy, Ben,…

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Month in Review: March 2013

Month in Review: March 2013

I can’t believe it is April already. The countdown is on to my vacation to Aruba – two weeks from tomorrow I will be sitting on the sunny beach with a pile of books with me (both print and e-copy). Oh how I can’t wait for so much uninterrupted reading time!!! My crocheting is keeping me busy – I finished the blanket for my newest niece, Keagan, and finally had…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (4.1.13)

It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (4.1.13)

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 was another busy week and I feel that once again, I’ve neglected my blog.…

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Stacking the Shelves (38) 3.31.13

Stacking the Shelves (38) 3.31.13

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:   Roses Have Thorns: A Novel About Elizabeth I by Sandra Byrd This is for an upcoming blog tour and I am looking forward to reading it – I love reading books about Queen Elizabeth I!!! Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline   This showed up in my…

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Review: Henry VIII’s Wives: History in an Hour by Julie Wheeler

Review: Henry VIII’s Wives: History in an Hour by Julie Wheeler

Henry VIII’s Wives: History in an Hour by Julie Wheeler Harper Press October 2011 Format: Kindle e-book Source: Personal copy First line: The reign of Henry VIII was one of the most revolutionary periods in English history. Summary from Goodreads: Love history? Know your stuff with History in an Hour. In his ambition to provide a male heir to the throne, Henry VIII married six times. Divorce from his first…

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Review: The Good Daughter by Jane Porter

Review: The Good Daughter by Jane Porter

The Good Daughter by Jane Porter Berkley Trade February 2013 Format: Paperback, 384 pages Source: Personal copy First line: Make a wish. From the back cover: Love was given to all, except herself . . .   Kit Brennan has always been the most grounded of her sisters. A Catholic school English teacher for seventeen years and a constant giver, her decisions have been sound—just not very satisfying. Her fortieth birthday is right around…

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Blog Tour, Review & Guest Post: The Best Man by Kristan Higgins

Blog Tour, Review & Guest Post: The Best Man by Kristan Higgins

The Best Man by Kristan Higgins Harlequin HQN February 2013 Format: Paperback, 432 pages Source: Meryl Moss Media Relations First line: On a beautiful day in June, in front of literally half the town, wearing a wedding dress that made her look like Cinderella and holding a bouquet of perfect pink roses, Faith Elizabeth Holland was left at the alter. From the back cover: Sometimes the best man is the…

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Review & Giveaway: Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods (CLOSED)

Review & Giveaway: Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods (CLOSED)

Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods Harlequin MIRA March 2013 Format: ARC e-book, 400 pages Source: Netgalley First line: The television in Emily Castle’s Aspen, Colorado, hotel room was tuned to the Weather Channel, where there was minute-by-minute coverage of the hurricane aiming directly at North Carolina’s coast, the place that had been like a second home to her. About the book: In a trade-off she’s lived to regret, Emily…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (3.25.13)

It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (3.25.13)

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 past weekend I participated in another Bloggiesta and I got a ton done!!!…

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Bloggiesta…Finish Line

Bloggiesta…Finish Line

Another Bloggiesta has come to an end! This event couldn’t be more timely as I been neglecting my blog lately due to life getting in the way. Now if only I can figure out a way to stay caught up on some of the more mundane housekeeping things on a regular basis, some of these tasks won’t need to keep showing up on my to-do list! I ended up accomplishing…

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Stacking the Shelves (37) 3.24.13

Stacking the Shelves (37) 3.24.13

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 Queen’s Rivals: A Novel of the Grey Sisters by Brandy Purdy  This is for an upcoming blog tour and I am looking forward to reading it!!! Pictures at an Exhibition by Camilla MacPherson   I was approached by the author to read and review her book.…

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Review Summer in a Small Town: Welcome to Icicle Falls/Treasure Beach by Sheila Roberts & Emilie Richards

Review Summer in a Small Town: Welcome to Icicle Falls/Treasure Beach by Sheila Roberts & Emilie Richards

Summer in a Small Town: Welcome to Icicle Falls/Treasure Beach by Sheila Roberts & Emilie Richards MIRA books 2012 Format: Kindle e-book Source: Personal copy First line of Welcome to Icicle Falls: Hello, and welcome to Icicle Falls. First line of Treasure Beach: “There she goes wandering down the road again.” About the book: Two unforgettable towns, two touching stories… Welcome to Icicle Falls by Sheila Roberts It’s the 1960s…

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Review: The Gilly Salt Sisters by Tiffany Baker (audio)

Review: The Gilly Salt Sisters by Tiffany Baker (audio)

The Gilly Salt Sisters by Tiffany Baker Read by Angela Brazil Hachette Audio 2012 Length: 14 hours, 13 minutes  Source: Library From the back of the audio case:  In the isolated Cape Cod village of Prospect, the Gilly sisters are as different as can be. Jo, a fierce and quiet loner, is devoted to the mysteries of her family’s salt farm, while Claire is popular, pretty, and yearns to flee…

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Bloggiesta…My To-Do List and Updates

Bloggiesta…My To-Do List and Updates

This weekend I will be participating in Bloggiesta! This event couldn’t be more timely as I been neglecting my blog lately due to life getting in the way.  This is a great weekend blogging marathon being hosted by Suey at It’s All About Books and Danielle at There’s a Book.   The premise of the bloggiesta, for those that haven’t participated before, is to spend the entire weekend working, updating,…

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Blog Tour, Review & Guest Post: Three Sisters by Susan Mallery

Blog Tour, Review & Guest Post: Three Sisters by Susan Mallery

Three Sisters by Susan Mallery Harlequin MIRA March 2013 Format: ARC, Paperback, 352 pages First line: Being left at the alter is not for sissies. From the back cover: After Andi Gordon is jilted at the altar, she makes the most impetuous decision of her life – buying one of the famed Three Sisters Queen Anne houses on Blackberry Island. Now the proud-ish owner of the ugly duckling of the…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (3.18.13)

It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (3.18.13)

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 crazy busy between work and then getting ready for our annual…

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Book Beginnings Friday: Henry VIII’s Wives: History in an Hour

Book Beginnings Friday: Henry VIII’s Wives: History in an Hour

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 Henry VIII’s Wives: History in an Hour by Julie Wheeler: The reign of Henry VIII was one of…

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Review: The Search by Nora Roberts (audio)

Review: The Search by Nora Roberts (audio)

The Search by Nora Roberts Read by Tanya Eby Brilliance Audio 2010 Length: 14 hours, 54 minutes Summary: To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life — a quaint house on an island off Seattle’s coast, a thriving dog-training school, and a challenging volunteer job performing canine search and rescue. Not to mention her three intensely loyal Labs. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a…

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Blog Tour & Review: Children of Liberty by Paullina Simons

Blog Tour & Review: Children of Liberty by Paullina Simons

Children of Liberty by Paullina Simons William Morrow Paperbacks February 2013 Format: ARC paperback, 432 pages First line: There had been a fire at Ellis Island the year before Gina came to America with her mother and brother in 1899, and so instead of arriving at the Port of New York, they had set sail into the Port of Boston. Synopsis: Before Tatiana and Alexander . . . before Leningrad…

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Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent (CLOSED)

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent (CLOSED)

Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent Kensington February 2013 Format: ARC Paperback, 404 pages   First line: Violet Morgan often wondered why she was so skilled at dressing a corpse, yet was embarrassingly incompetent in the simplest household task, such as selecting draperies or hiring housemaids.   Synopsis: In 1861 London, Violet Morgan is struggling to establish a good reputation for the undertaking business that her husband has largely abandoned.…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (3.11.13)

It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (3.11.13)

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 I participated in Challenge Walk MS – a 3-day, 50 mile walk…

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Stacking the Shelves (36) 3.10.13

Stacking the Shelves (36) 3.10.13

Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews is starting a new meme to spotlight the books we receive each week.  Here’s what I got:   ***This is the for the last two weeks!        For Review: Blood Between Queens by Barbara Kyle   I’m participating in a book tour for this and am looking forward to reading it. It’s the fifth book in Barbara Kyle’s Thornleigh series.            …

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Review: The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen

Review: The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen

The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen Ballentine Books August 2004 Format: Paperback, 384 pages First line: The driver refused to take him any further. From the back cover:  Not even the icy temperatures of a typical New England winter can match the bone-chilling scene of carnage discovered at the chapel of Our Lady of Divine Light. Within the cloistered convent lie two nuns–one dead, one critically injured–victims of an unspeakably savage…

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Book Beginnings Friday: Lady of Ashes

Book Beginnings Friday: Lady of Ashes

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 Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent: Violet Morgan often wondered why she was so skilled at dressing a…

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Review: Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich (audio)

Review: Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich (audio)

Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich Narrated by CJ Critt Recorded Books 2004 Length: 9.75 hours From the back of the audio case: Best-selling author Janet Evanovich is the recipient of the Crime Writers Association’s John Creasy Memorial, the Last Laugh, and Silver Dagger awards. Her Stephanie Plum series, starring New Jersey’s most colorful bounty hunter, is delightfully unique. Join Stephanie on an adventure that is sure to keep you…

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Month in Review: February 2013

Month in Review: February 2013

Another month has come and gone…and as this is posted, I will be well into the first day of the MS Challenge Walk – a 50 mile walk to support those living with MS. Once the walk is over, I am hoping to resume my regular workout routine – walking everyday (just not crazy distances!) and yoga 2-3 times a week. I’m hopeful that the warm weather will be here…

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Review & Giveaway: The House Girl by Tara Conklin (CLOSED)

Review & Giveaway: The House Girl by Tara Conklin (CLOSED)

The House Girl by Tara Conklin William Morrow February 2013 Format: ARC Paperback, 336 pages First line: Mister hit Josephine with the palm of his hand across her left cheek and it was then she knew she would run. From the back cover: Two remarkable women, separated by more than a century, whose lives unexpectedly intertwine… 2004: Lina Sparrow, the daughter of an artist, is an ambitious young lawyer working…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (2.25.13)

It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (2.25.13)

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.   Well, it’s finally here…this coming weekend I will be participating in my first MS…

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Stacking the Shelves (35) 2.24.13

Stacking the Shelves (35) 2.24.13

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 Chalice by Nancy Bilyeau  I’m participating in a book tour for this and am looking forward to reading it.   Purchased:   Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson   Another new Alex Cross book – so excited to not have to wait a year from the last…

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Review: Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini

Review: Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini

Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini Dutton Adult January 2013 Format: Hardcover, 352 pages First line: On Election Day, Elizabeth Keckley hurried home from a midafternoon dress fitting to the redbrick boardinghouse on Twelfth Street where she rented two small rooms in the back. From the inside cover: In a life that spanned nearly a century and witnessed some of the most momentous events in American history, Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley…

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Review: The Truth About Love & Lightning by Susan McBride

Review: The Truth About Love & Lightning by Susan McBride

The Truth About Love & Lightning by Susan McBride William Morrow Paperbacks February 2012 Format: Paperback, 320 pages First line: Annika Brink could not tell a lie. From the back cover: Susan McBride, author of Little Black Dress and The Cougar Club, gives us her most unforgettable novel to date with this deliciously emotional story of family, forgiveness, love, and magic. As far as Gretchen Brink is concerned, the tornado…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (2.18.13)

It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (2.18.13)

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.   With all the snow and cold weather we’ve had lately, it was such a…

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