First line: “What do you think?” Jenna Stevens asked, doing her best to sound confident. From the back cover: After nearly a decade as a sous chef in a trendy eatery, Jenna is desperate for a change. She’s supported her ex-husband’s dreams for so long that she can’t even remember her own. Until she sees a for-lease sign near her parents’ home and envisions her very own cooking store. Her…
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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 pretty productive week last week and I’m hoping this week coming up will…
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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 (1) Releasing Gillian’s Wolves by Tara Woolpy Library (4) Promises to Keep by Jane Green (audio book) Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie (audio book) We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg (audio book) Family Affair by Debbie Macomber Purchased (0)…
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From back of audio case: From critically acclaimed, New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult comes a novel hailed as “absorbing and affecting” by Entertainment Weekly. Plain Truth is the engrossing tale of a murder that sends shockwaves through Pennsylvania Amish country. Eighteen-year-old, unwed Katie Fisher is accused of birthing and then smothering her baby at the family dairy farm. But not only does Katie claim her innocence, she also…
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First line: I am not a sentimental guy. Synopsis from Barnes & Noble: On the anniversary of his beloved wife’s death, Dr. Michael Everett receives a letter Hannah had written him. In it she reminds him of her love and makes one final request. An impossible request. I want you to marry again. She tells him he shouldn’t spend the years he has left grieving—and she’s chosen three women she…
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Please join me in welcomingNell Walton, author of the new book, The Bone Trail to Always With a Book! If you missed my review, you can read it here. Today Nell talks about the use of dialog in fiction. Dialog in Fiction When I first sent my manuscript of The Bone Trail to beta readers for feedback, I found myself in a quandary. Some of the negative feedback I…
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First line: On the afternoon of the last day of Lindy Abraham’s life, she stood leaning against an old Jeep Cherokee, once red, now faded to kind of a dusky umber, tapping her heel impatiently against a tire. From the back cover: Inspired by actual events, The Bone Trail is the story of investigative journalist and horsewoman, Kate Wyndham, who is sent to northern Nevada to do a story on…
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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. Spring finally seems to have come to the Northeast and I am able to enjoy sitting…
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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 (2) Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks The Civilized World by Susi Wyss Library (0) Purchased (1) The Knitting Diaries by Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery, Christina Skye Free Downloads (0) Borrowed from family member (0) From Paperback Swap – (0) Won (0) – …
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First line: You don’t know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, but that ain’t no matter. From the back cover: You don’t know about me, without you have read a book by the name of ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,’ but that ain’t no matter. That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly.…
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First line: “Quiz me,” Sadie said, straightening the row of cherry chocolate chip cookies she’d laid out on the platter. From the back cover: Modern Miss Marple: A Magnet For Murder? by Jane Seeley, feature reporter, The Denver Post Local “celebrity” Sadie Hoffmiller has been involved in a number of unfortunate situations that have taken her to crime scenes from London, England, to Miami, Florida, and even in her own…
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First line: Some people lived in the real world and others lived in Brooklyn. From the inside cover: It’s the summer of 1978, and Samantha Bonti is fifteen years old, half Jewish and half Italian, whose dreams of something more are bigger than the neighborhood girls’ teased hair. She lives in Bensonhurst with her mother, Joan, a woman abandoned and scarred in a ruinous marriage, poisoned with cynicism, and shackled…
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Please join me in welcoming Ed Lynskey, author of the new book, Quiet Anchorage to Always With a Book! Today Ed talks about writing Quiet Anchorage. A Small Town Named Quiet Anchorage As far as I know, no small town exists that’s called Quiet Anchorage. Just plain Anchorage in Alaska, sure, but not Quiet Anchorage. How I derived the name is lost to my memory. Perhaps I…
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About the book: An urban fantasy / paranormal novel in which Zoë Pendergraft falls in love with an angel, frees a soul from necromancers, releases a ghost trapped in the Void, and saves his living grandson from demons. An angel is about to fall… Although most of Zoe Pendergraft’s friends are dead, that means nothing to her. After all, they died long before she meet them. What does matter is the…
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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. Another crazy week – so reading productivity was down…hoping this week is a little calmer…
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Here are my reading stats for March! Books read: 9 Books I read (reviewed ones have * and link to review) The Paris Wife* by Paula McLain The Lady Elizabeth* by Alison Weir Stilettos & Scoundrels* by Laina Turner Molaski The Last Time I Saw You* by Elizabeth Berg Love You More* by Lisa Gardner The Secret Lives of Dresses* by Erin McKean Brooklyn Story by Suzanne Corso Adventures of…
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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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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 , 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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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 (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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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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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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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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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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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 , 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 (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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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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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 , 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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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 (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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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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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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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 , 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 (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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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: Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson (book club book, library book)…
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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 (1) Stilettos & Scoundrels by Laina Turner Molaski Library (0) Purchased (0) Free Downloads (0) Borrowed from family member/friend (1) Teacher Man by Frank McCourt From Paperback Swap – (0) Won (1) – from Crystal at My Reading Room (book from Book…
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First line: The bridegroom was so handsome, Daisy Bellamy’s heart nearly melted at the sight of him. From the back cover: There are days on Willow Lake… Daisy Bellamy has struggled for years to choose between two men – one honorable and steady, one wild and untethered. And then, one fateful day, the decision is made for her. When the wind is so still and the water so calm… Now…
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From the back of the audio case: New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult brilliantly explores the complex dynamics of troubled American families in her captivating novels. With The Tenth Circle, she crafts the tale of a brokenhearted teenage girl and the father who will do anything to protect her. Trixie Stone is only a freshman in high school when Jason, the junior she thinks she loves, dumps her. Then…
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Today I am being featured over at Kittling: Books for her Scene of the Blog feature. Please stop by to check out my workspace and my bookshelves! Leave a comment there telling me what you think – I’ll be stopping by throughout the day to visit as well. Not sure what the Scene of the Blog feature is? Basically, book bloggers from around the world each have a “space”, somewhere…
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First line: Kenny Traveler was lazy. From the back cover: Lady Emma Wells-Finch, the oh-so-proper headmistress of England’s St. Gertrude’s School for Girls, knows only one thing will save her from losing everything she holds dear: complete and utter disgrace! Skirts flying, umbrella pointing, and beautiful mouth issuing orders, she arrives in Texas on a mission: She has two weeks to lose her reputation. World-famous playboy-athlete Kenny Traveler has been…
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