The Stork Has Finally Arrived!!!

Yes folks, the Stork (a.k.a. AirTrans)dropped off my little bundles of joy. Well, no so little. Sometimes the joy can be debateable too. LOL My 2 younger daughters, Thelma and Mary Mae have come to live with me finally! Before you send me crazy comments no I am not a southern gal. No I didn't really name my children that. Once again the names have been changed to protect the innocent. A few summers ago the kids were asking me what I would of named them if this that or the other. You know how kids sometimes do. I got tired of all the questions so I started throwing out wild name choices. Well these choices tickled their funny bones the most. Since then, every once in a while the kids will refer to their sibling by using one of the names I lovingly gave them. LOL So for my readers and friends online, my 15 year old is Thelma and my 12 year old is Mary Mae.
So now my youngins have entered the sanctuary of my home. All peace and order will now be chaos and loudness. Yay and Oh Crap! Tommorow we go to get our schooling straightened out. Let the Good Times Roll!

Review: Murder Melts in Your Mouth by Nancy Martin

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 288pp
Isbn:  045122311X
Challenge This one does not cover any  challenges at this same time.

First Sentence or two: While yakking into her cell phone with her massage therapist, my sister Libby walked out into traffic and got herself hit by a Rolls-Royce. Libby decided her recovery depended on her moving from the hospital into the peace and quiet of a luxury suite at the Ritz-Carlton.

Synopsis:
The Blackbird sisters, Nora, Libby and Emma, find themselves in the middle of another Main Line society scandal in the breezy seventh entry in Martin's cozy series (after 2007's A Crazy Little Thing Called Death). As the annual Chocolate Festival begins in Philadelphia, noted philanthropist Hoyt Cavendish dies. But did he jump or was he pushed? Nora, society reporter for the Philadelphia Intelligencer, investigates after she discovers a mysterious man hiding near the scene and wonders if he could be her long-lost father. Adding to the mess, Libby falls head over heels for the driver of the car that hit her, and wild child Emma is pregnant. Nora uncovers Hoyt's many enemies, as the devilish do-gooder was "charitable" with funds that didn't belong to him. The connection to the unexpected homecoming of the Blackbird parents adds another surprising twist. Despite Martin's trademark wit, events fly past so quickly that readers may feel dizzy. But the long-awaited reunion between the sisters and their parents will satisfy longtime fans. (Mar.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Random Thoughts - This one did have my head spinning a little from all the activity in it. I started it at 2am because I was left hanging on the other book and needed desperately to know what was to happen to all my "Friends".  I stayed up all night and morning reading this book in one straight shot. I have come to know and LOVE these characters.  This book was unusual though with the addition of some people and the removal of some people that I never thought would be out of the picture.  It is so true to life though.  People often come and go in our daily lives. Again this author makes things so real and "unreal" that it makes these adventures so fun.  Well except for the unfortunate person who dies in every book. LOL

Favorite Scene - Two scenes stand out the most to me.  There is a scene where Nora walks into her home to find herself held at gunpoint.  Turns out the whole family and some guests have been held at gunpoint for many hours now waiting for Nora to arrive home.  The family has been of course themselves and end up having discussions and arguments while ignoring the gunman.  Typical "Blackbird Fashion" driving the gunman nuts.
  The second scene that I loved was the car ride with all the siblings in Libby's soccer mom van. Driving like a mad woman, Libby and her siblings try to reach a park to stop someone from making a proposal.  Then they all have to hop a fence with Emma having morning sickness the whole time.  Poor dear was upchucking in the bushes all the way. LOL

Rating - I give this book 4 solid stars.

*Note I have also reviewed the first 6 books. The first four books are reviewed on my shelfari shelf before starting this blog. Feel free to look to the footer of the page to find my shelfari shelf.

Where did that come from?

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June.

However, they were starting to smell , so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Review: A Crazy Little Thing Called Death by Nancy Martin

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 368pp
Isbn: 045122082X
Challenge This one does not cover any challenges at this same time.

First Sentence or two: Everyone ought to be forgiven at least one mistake. I gave my nephews Harcourt and Hilton a sum of birthday money I figured couldn't possibly buy anything that might endanger a pair of fourteen-year-old mad scientists. Unfortunately, I hadn't counted on them squirreling away cash for months, because as soon as they ripped open their cards and found the modest gift, they jumped on the Internet and puchased a fetal pig.

Synopsis:

The Blackbird sisters, Nora, Libby, and Emma, tackle their sixth arch mystery (after 2006's Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too) set among Philadelphia's contemporary blue-blooded (and red-handed) set. When former child star Sweet Penny Devine goes missing and is presumed dead, her brother, Porter "Potty" Devine, opts for a memorial party and polo match instead of a funeral, which Nora, a society reporter, covers for a Philadelphia paper. The festivities falter after Nora discovers a severed hand that could be Penny's. Nora, Libby and Emma aid detective Ben Bloom in an investigation whose suspects include Potty; Vivian, Penny's cat-crazy sister; the Devines' former housekeeper's daughter, Julie Huckabee; Julie's missing father, Kell Huckabee; and Crewe Dearborne, a food critic. Sleuthing provides a welcome distraction for Nora, still grieving over a miscarriage and a little nervous about her engagement to Michael Abruzzo, son of a notorious New Jersey mobster. Martin's wicked observations about the horsy set enhance another fine-feathered mystery. (Mar.)

Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Random Thoughts - I don't know how this author comes up with some of the funniest and kookiest names for the characters in the story. Not only do they have odd names but also get odd nicknames they might not even know about. LOL These characters as extremely zany as they are just jump off the page. Mrs. Martin is very naughty though for toying with my emotions so much. In all actuallity though she is writing Nora as a real person. This scenario has probably happened like this before. There is a huge twist at the end. I am glad I had the fortitude to forgo my feelings of dread and continued to read to the very end. All I have to say is "Go Maximan". LOL

Favorite Quotes - There were some tremendous quotes in this book as in all the others. This time I am sharing a couple of them instead of a favorite scene.
Nora- "Once agian, being with my sisters felt like being strapped to a speeding train headed for an exploded trestle."
Libby-"A friend of mine invited me there for a chocolate body wrap last month. It was so sensuous! Except, I must have gotten some up my nose. I've been sneezing Hershey's Kisses ever since."

Rating - I give this book 5 stars.

*Note I have also reviewed the first 5 books. The first four are on my shelfari shelf before starting this blog. Feel free to look to the footer of the page to find my shelfari shelf.

Click for a Good Cause

Someone recently had a great link to a site that just amazes me. This site is dedicated to raising money for helping animal rescues, breast cancer, literacy, hunger and child health. I think those are some wonderful causes to help. All it takes is a simple click of the button daily and they give to those causes. In the case of the amimal rescue they give 3 bowls of food per click. You can also buy from certain sponsers listed on the site. They even have a sign up so that they can mail you daily reminders for people like me. Please take a moment to check out the links I leave below. They are all connected to the same site. I am giving the seperate links here though. I will leave a link or two in the side panel for future use. That way you don't have to always look for this post.

Review:Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too by Nancy Martin

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 272pp
Isbn: 0451218930
Challenge This one does not cover any challenges at this same time.

First Sentence or two: My sister Emma blew into the country-club dining room and conned the waiter into bringing her a bloddy New York strip. Then she planted her elbows on the pink tablecloth and laid down the conversational ground rules. She said, "I'll choke the first person who brings up carbohydrates as a topic of serious discussion."

Synopsis: The three sisters Blackbird-Nora, Emma and Libby-return in Martin's charming and funny fifth novel (after 2005's Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die). Zell Orcutt, a dirty old man on the periphery of the Blackbirds' high-society Philadelphia circle, is found dead. If the arrow shot through his heart at first seems a tad improbable, well, all his disgruntled relatives are archery fans. From a state senator who may not be as dumb as he appears to an obnoxious, busty teenager who thinks she'll come into big bucks now that Zell is dead, the suspects are legion, and Nora, of course, can't resist detecting. But the real mystery is the paternity of the baby Nora's carrying, and whether she is really, truly, finally through with her hunky but oh-so-dangerous lover, Michael Abruzzo. (Mar.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.


Random Thoughts - Nancy Martin has a way of writing the most unusual characters. They feel like old friends. I was happy to continue on with this series. I missed them and all their oddities. This was a fun and fast read. Sometimes that is just what the Dr. ordered. I felt really bad for Nora at the end. (No spoiling here) I sure hope she and Michael can find a way to make things work.

Favorite Scene - There are a few scenes that really call out for attention. Any scene her sister Libby in is going to be hysterical. The things that pop out of that womans mouth could make a sailor blush. I liked the scene where the sisters Emma and Nora both were trying to keep certain secrets from Libby and they both almost spilled the beans on each other through hints and clues during regular conversation. Just the thing that kids do and here they are widowed woman in their 30's acting like children. LOL

Rating - I give this book 4.5 stars.

*Note I have also reviewed the first 4 books on my shelfari shelf before starting this blog. Feel free to look to the footer of the page to find my shelfari shelf.

Fibro Feelings

The Law of the Garbage Truck

 Emails.  Now I don't know about you folks but I dread my e-mail. I am horrible at handling it daily.  Although since I have joined Shelfari I have gotten much better at going through it daily.  Which is a HUGE improvement and much better then I handle my real life mail. That's a whole nother story.  I have my Mother (aka The "News Buffer"), and my Dad (aka "Navy Guy"), who send me about 10-15 emails daily.  Now they both have their own collective genre of emails they like to send me.  I.E. Some religious/spiratual, and Political from the "News Buffer".  Some Political and Dirty Pictures/Dirty Jokes from "Navy Guy"  They both email me jokes and chain mail letters.  Then you go and join a group, a game, or fall for a trick like Surveys for this item or that and they all want your email.  So for a while I was giving my email out like Candy.  Then the way I hit and miss on containing it, before I knew it I would have easily 2000+ emails. 
My mother has made it her daily job to tackle her emails at very minimum of twice daily.  She has even gone in and cleaned my email out for me on several occasions in the last few years because I had more then 5000+ emails unopened.  Now I got smart this past year.  I have one email for family and close personal friends.  I have one for joining everything.  I still need to get another one for joining things like games that just email you once a year if that.  If I have email set up for this blog I will have to make it totally seperate.  Well the parents (whom have been divoriced for eons), luckily don't send me the same stuff to often.  I do not continue chain letters.  They bug me.  I only forward a few really good emails and save my friends and other family their sanity. (Your welcome!)  Once in a while though while sifting through the miriad of emails I come across a Pearl of a joke or story that just has to be told.  It would be unjust not to share this current one below with you all.

The Law of the Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he was really friendly. So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks.  They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. 

Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

So I am wishing you a garbage-free day! 

Review: Laird of the Mist by Paula Quinn

Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 336pp
Isbn: 0446619124
Challenge This one covers one challenge, Read Around The Genres


First Sentence or two: Kate Campbell looked her enemy square in his lifeless face and then swung.

Synopsis:PROTECTING HER WAS HIS PASSION

High-born though she is, Kate Campbell isn't afraid to draw her sword. When raiders strike, she rushes into the fray...and is lucky when a mysterious Highlander shields her from a deadly blow. Swept onto his stallion, she soon discovers that her rescuer is her clan's most hated enemy: Callum MacGregor, the man they call The Devil. Yet she cannot ignore his achingly tender touch or the way his fiery gaze leaves her breathless.

POSSESSING HER WOULD BE HIS PLEASURE

Callum MacGregor has taken many Campbell lives, but he's never saved one--until now. Mesmerized by this spirited lass, he wants her by his side, even if it means holding her for ransom. As his fingers graze her sumptuous curves and tangle in her unruly tresses, Callum realizes Kate Campbell is his most dangerous foe of all. For he can't make love to her without betraying his kinsmen and his honor...and surrendering his heart forever.


Random Thoughts -This is the ultimate tortured alpha male hero. As far as romance books go this was more then a romance book. This book was about a battle for survival. There was love but it really felt as if a sideline story to me. I love my highlanders though they never do disappoint.

Favorite Scene - I loved it when Kate had to drink the brew to get ready for the wound in her shoulder burned. Callum was talking to her afterward and she was sloshed and slurring her words. She called him Clalum MacKeglor instead of Callum MacGregor. LOL

Rating - I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. The writing was superb and flowed well. Not ever single in between scene was spelled out for us since it didn't need to be. This author knows its ok to skip a day or two of uneventful traveling or such. The book kept me engaged and not bored.

*Author's Note- In gratitude for the MacGregor's support in his struggle to regain the throne, Charles II repealed the laws against the MacGregors in 1661. Their name was restored, but their lands were not. In 1693 the prosciption was fully imposed once again by William of Orange. The persecution of Clan MacGregor finally ended in 1774 when the proscription against them was lifted once and for all, 171 years after it was enacted.

Review: 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 374pp
Isbn: 140221085X
Challenge This one covers one challenge. #1 Read Around The Genres

Back Cover:
Jazz can’t decide whether to scorch him with a fireball or jump into bed with him

Jasmine Tremaine, a witch who can’t stay out of trouble
Nikolai Gregorivich, a drop-dead gorgeous vampire cop on the trail of a serial killer

The sizzling love affair between Jazz and Nick has been off-again-on-again-for about 300 years. Mostly off, lately. But now Nick needs Jazz’s help, and while Jazz and Nick try to figure out their own hearts and resist their ever-increasing attraction, they must steer clear of a maniacal killer with super-supernatural powers. They are surrounded by a hilarious cast of oddball paranormal characters, including Norma, the chain-smoking ghost who haunts Jazz’s sports car, Dweezil, her ghoul of a boss, and Fluff and Puff, a pair of bunny slippers with sharp teeth and short tempers (watch your ankles!).

Random Thoughts -At first I had a bit of a difficult time getting into this book. I am not sure if it was due to me getting sick or what. Just prepare yourselves for "Offbeat and Quirky" regarding reading this book. This is definitely not a book of the cookie cutter variety. That is also what makes this book wonderfully fun to read as well. Once I read a few chapters I got into it and started to understand what was going on. I enjoyed reading this book even though I was having major Headaches and my eyes hurt to read I could not put it down. If you love paranormal then you will enjoy this fun, likable read.

Favorite Scene - For me a week after I have read this book to remember a scene is very remarkable. I remember a couple but the one of those I enjoyed the most was, the scene in the kooky bar where Jazz was looking "Smokin Hot" in her all black and leather corset, pants, and duster combo. She caught Nick there on a meeting and he in turn caught her there on a meeting. Like two moths drawn to a flame. He of course is enchanted by her looks and they end up Dancing.

Rating: I give this a 4 solid stars.

Author Tidbit: This is Linda Wisdom's first book of the paranormal variety. I applaud her work she did great!! Her books have appeared on various romance and mass market bestseller lists and nominated for a number of Romantic Times awards and Romance Writers of America Rita Award. Her novels have been published worldwide. She lives with her husband, one dog, two parrots, one tortoise in Murrieta, California. When Linda first moved to Murrieta there were three romance writers living in the town. At this time, there is just Linda. So far, the police have not suspected her of any wrongdoing.

Next up: Jazz will be starring in "Hex Appeal" coming out October 1st.

~Fibro What??~

That is usually what I hear when I let someone know I have Fibromyalgia(sia). The spelling may vary for some but it is still painful. September happens to be National Pain Awareness month. What I have falls under that category. I am sharing with you today a few notes from the National Fibromyalgia Association.

About Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia (pronounced fy-bro-my-AL-ja) is a complex chronic pain disorder that affects an
estimated 10 million Americans and approximately 3-6% of the population worldwide. While it
occurs most often in women, it strikes men and children, and all ethnic backgrounds. For those with
severe symptoms, fibromyalgia (FM) can be extremely debilitating and interfere with basic daily
activities.

Diagnosis:
o The FM diagnostic criteria, established by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)
in 1990, includes a history of widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a
minimum duration of three months, and pain in at least 11 of the 18 designated tender
points when a specified amount of pressure is applied.
o Since people with FM tend to look healthy and conventional tests are typically normal, a
physician knowledgeable about the disorder is necessary to make a diagnosis.
o Physicians should rule out other causes of the symptoms before making a diagnosis of
fibromyalgia.

Symptoms:
o Although chronic, widespread body pain is the primary symptom of fibromyalgia, a
variety of other symptoms are common in FM patients. Symptoms include: moderate to
severe fatigue, sleep disorders, problems with cognitive functioning, IBS, headaches and
migraines, anxiety and depression, and environmental sensitivities.
o Research has documented neuroendocrine physiological abnormalities that may contribute
to the symptoms.
Causes:
o Recent research has suggested a genetic component. The disorder is often seen in families,
among siblings or mothers and their children.
o Fibromyalgia often occurs following a physical trauma, such as an acute illness or injury,
which may act as a “trigger” in the development of the disorder.
o Increasing attention is being devoted to the central nervous system as the underlying
mechanism of FM. Recent studies have suggested that FM patients have generalized
disturbance in pain processing and an amplified response to stimuli that would not
ordinarily be painful in healthy individuals.

Treatment:
o Since there is no known cure for FM, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and
improving function.
o A variety of prescription medications are often used to reduce pain levels and improve
sleep. On June 21, 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lyrica
(pregabalin) as the first drug to treat fibromyalgia.
o Alternative therapies, such as massage, myofasical release, acupuncture, chiropractic,
herbal supplements and yoga, can be effective tools in managing FM symptoms.
o Increasing rest, pacing activities, reducing stress, practicing relaxation and improving
nutrition can help minimize symptoms and improve quality of life.
National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA) is a non-profit [501 (c) (3)] organization
www.FMaware.org (714) 921-0150
NFA 2008©

Movie Trailer: Fire Proof

This movie trailer gives me goosebumps. I fully intend to watch this movie with my husband. It shows the ups and downs of a marriage and how you can't just be apathetic and lethargic in your practice of marriage. I say "practice" because marriage is never perfected. It is always a growing and changing, organic thing. For couples to stay together, (Nowadays more so) takes tremendous effort and LOTS of work. I am not an expert on this but I do feel this philosophy of marriage to be the true and correct one. I am married to my 2nd husband. I try hard not to have the same mistakes that I made or accepted in my previous marriage. I have to give my husband "Peevie" an abundant amount of credit for putting up with me some times. Well enough about me....this movie looks GREAT. Check out the trailer for yourself.


Let me know what you thought of this trailer. Will you go see the movie now? Have you ever heard of this movie before this? Please all Comments are welcomed and appreciated.

Interview : The Book Lady's Blog author Rebecca.

In honor of BBAW, I was asked to interview Rebecca from The Book Lady's Blog. I was very honored to do this. The Book Lady is up for "Funniest/Most Humorous Blog". Please swing on by her blog and check it out. She has of course been blogging longer then I have. I do have to say please forgive me for not posting this yesterday the official planned date for these interviews. I have actually been absent from my computer for a good 48 hours due to health issues. For this, I apologize to Rebecca and the readers. I am however figuring out how to make my posts that are ready to go auto post so I can avoid this problem in the future.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You were married in a Library. How did that come about?

When my husband and I got engaged, we were living in Kansas City--I was in graduate school, and he was working full time, and we didn't have much free time--so we hired a wedding consultant to help us pick a location and vendors and all those wedding details. We looked at several popular wedding sites, but they all seemed kind of generic, and we knew people who had been married in most of them, and we really wanted to do something unique and that felt like us. I checked email one day to discover that our planner found out that the library did special events, so we looked at it, and fell in love with it, and booked it immediately. It was the perfect place for us, and it provided an easy way to create a "theme," which I really needed help with because I was not one of those girls who'd been planning her wedding since she was five.

You're nominated for "Funniest/Most Humorous" blog for the BBAW awards. Which post do you consider your funniest, or have gotten the most reaction from?

I don't think I would have been nominated in that category if not for my Adventures in Bookselling series. For the last several weeks, I've written posts about the crazy customers and weird encounters I have working in a bookstore, and those have gotten a really positive reaction. It's been a blast hearing other people's funny stories in response, as well.

How long have you been blogging and what you got you started?

I've been blogging for about two and a half months. I started on July 1st with a blog called Readerville, and in early August, I moved to this blog because there were trademark issues with the name Readerville that I didn't know about when I set it up. How I got started is kind of a long, winding story. Elizabeth Emerson Hancock had contacted me about doing a book signing of Trespassers Will Be Baptized and I saw a reference to The Literate Housewife on her blog. That led to a trail of other blogs, which I read ravenously for a couple weeks. After I figured out how the whole blogging thing works and how to get connected in the community, I started my own.

What's the craziest thing you think you have posted about?

That's a tough one. I haven't posted about anything I'd consider really crazy, though I'm sure some people might find some of my content or book selections a bit risque. I have a background in psychology and sex therapy, so I occasionally read books that fit into those categories (most recently, Bonk by Mary Roach), and I enjoy discussing them and the related issues. But I do try to stay away from anything offensive or that would alienate readers.

Where or how do you get your post ideas?

Well, book review posts kind of create themselves. I participate in memes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, so those posts are also structured for me ahead of time, though I do add in extensions to them when they trigger other ideas. Other posts just come to me randomly--if I hear someone at work say something funny or if I see someone do something weird in public, I'll make a note of it. I just try to be aware of what's going on around me, and then I keep a mental list of what I'd like to write about

How many books do you think you read in a year?

You know, I've never really kept track of this until now. In college, I read a couple books a month (plus books for class), and in the three years since I graduated, my reading has picked up a bit each year. I've been reading a few books a week for the last year or so, so I'd guess I read around 100 per year. When January 1st rolls around, I'll have been blogging and logging my reading for six months, so I guess we can take the six month total and double it for a yearl estimate.

What is your ideal reading set up?

Oooh, good question! Pajamas, a comfy spot on the couch, snuggled next to my hubby and my dog, with a glass of wine or a cup of hot chocolate ready to go. That's the idea, but I'll read pretty much anywhere.

About how many books do you own? What do you do with them when your done?

I've never counted, but I'd say it's several hundred. I like to underline passages and make notes in my books, so I keep them when I'm finished reading, and I often go back to find those passages or re-read the whole book. Underlining turned out to be a very good thing when I wanted to find literary passages for my wedding readings, and it finally got my husband to admit that maybe it's not such a bad thing to write in books. I also share books with my best friends via media mail.

Please name 3 books you could not live without. (Stranded on deserted island)

This is hard, but I'll follow the rules and stick to 3.

1. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

2. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

3. Any one of Toni Morrison's novels. They're all wonderful. Paradise and Beloved are probably my favorites, though.

What other hobbies do you have besides reading?

Entertainment-wise I like to see movies, listen to music, go to concerts, and watch witty TV shows (I *heart* The Office, Entourage, and How I Met Your Mother, amongs many others). I also like to cook and bake, and I LOVE food, so any social gathering that involves good food is always a plus. I love trying new restaurants. I also enjoy going on walks with my hubby and our dog and making up silly song lyrics as we walk. Like everyone else, I enjoy spending time with friends and family members. And I have a deep and profound love for my yoga instructor.

Last but not least. Tell us something that your readers don't know about you.

I have been known to turn on Christina Aguilera's song "Dirrty" and dance around the house in my undies.
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Thank you Rebecca, and good luck on your award category.

You can read The Book Lady's Blog here.

Read Around the Genres Challenge

Here’s the Deal:

-Challenge will run from September 1 – December 15 (That means you started reading the book after 9/1)-Post reviews on your blog for all 10 books
-Leave a comment when you are done with your 10 and post a Challenge Wrap up of your list

Trophies up for grab: (trophy will be a cute little computerized trophy!)
-First Person Completed (leave me a post when you’re completely done)
-Most Pages Read (applies to these 10 books)
-Least amount of Authors read (JD Robb and Nora Roberts count as 2 authors)
-Challenge Winner (a random drawing will be held for all who complete the challenge)

Here’s the list
1. Pirate or Viking
2. Vampire
3. Contemporary
4. Chick Lit
5. Medieval
6. Time Travel
7. Romantic Suspense
8. Inspirational
9. Historical
10. Paranormal

You can always check out allaboutromance.com if you need some help. They have a powersearch tool that you can search genre only! Good luck and Have fun!
The Queen Plans to or already has read these books:
Red=Completed Green=Going to read
1.Pirate or Viking-
2.Vampire-I burn for You by Susan Sizemore
3.Contemporary-Heaven Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
4.Chick Lit-
5.Medieval-
6.Time Travel-
7.Romantic Suspense-Prince Joe by Susan Brockman
8.Inspirational-
9.Historical-Laird of the Mist by Paula Quinn
10.Paranormal- 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom

~~Wedding Anniversary~~

The 1st of September was my wedding anniversary. My husband Peevie and I have been married for 7 years. (no that is not his real name, no he is not a blow up doll, and yes he really does exist) I am very proud of us. We have not killed each other yet. I am certainly not planning on it. He is my yin to my yang. He "completes" me. HA! Sorry had to get a sarcastic comment in there. We had a lovely time "out" the day before on Sunday. We ate out and gazed lovingly into each others eyes. (I'm cracking a tooth here this is so sweet!) Then he took me to see a movie. We hadn't been to one in a long time and it is something we really love to do. We saw the "Dark Knight". Great movie! Really to bad Heath Ledger is gone and doesn't get to receive the accolades he sure deserves. I am a bit amazed at his makeup job in the movie. It's done as if, my husband were to take his glasses off and do my makeup. Hehehe. Well here is to another year. May we be as lucky in love as we have been this past year.
~~~Jennifer & Peevie~~~

*Gift Card Giveaway from "The Book Lady"

’ve updated the rules. See below.

In honor of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, which begins Monday, and to celebrate my nomination for Funniest/Most Humorous Blog, I’m going to combine a few of my favorite things—funny posts and free books—into a BBAW $25 Gift Card Giveaway.

I’ve really been enjoying writing about my experiences at work in my Adventures in Bookselling series (which can be found here, and here, and here, and here), and I love it when you guys chime in and share your own funny stories. So, here’s how it’s going to work:

1). Tell me about your own adventures in whatever it is that you do. If you work from home or are a stay-at-home parent, tell me about something funny your kids did or that you saw someone do in public. Leave a comment here with your story. ENTRIES ARE DUE BY 11:59 PM EDT ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH.

2). Come back Tuesday morning to see the finalists and vote for your favorite. Voting will be open until 11:59pm EDT Thursday, September 18th.

3). Check in Friday morning to find out who will win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble.


Happy writing, and happy (almost) BBAW!

Update On My Activities.

Hi there,
I just wanted to let you all know that, YES this is very much a book blog as well as a whatever goes blog. I am behind on my reading and at the moment reading "50 Ways To Hex Your Lover" by Linda Wisdom. I am enjoying the book and hope to finish it to do an "actual" review.

I also have lots about my blog on my mind and in a notebook. I tend to forget otherwise. Right now I am in the process of thinking up names for my various family members to "Protect the Innocent". (rolls eyes) So nobody can come back to me and be angry should they feel violated. LOL

This coming week is very busy with BBAW activities and or giveaways. Lots of fun. Amy from My Friend Amy has been VERY busy and working her tail feathers off. I for one really am appreciating her efforts.

Keep checking back, there will be more posts today and here on through the comming week.

The Official BBAW Giveaway List

We have many activities and information to share regarding the Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Here is an official giveaway list and information on where to go to join in the fun.

The Official BBAW Giveaway List

If you follow along for the festivities of BBAW at My Friend Amy, you will find many chances to win LOTS of goodies! Like what? Well have a look below. All of these things will be given away between September 15-19. There will be a huge variety of ways to win them and giveaways will be announced constantly throughout the week. So be sure to check in often!


A HUGE thank you to Hachette Book Group, Penguin Group USA, Harlequin, The B&B Media Group, Shera of SNS Blog Design, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, Catherine Delors, Pamela Binnings Ewen, Andromeda Romano-Lax, Ceceilia Dowdy, Sormag, Book Club Girl, Savvy Verse and Wit, Cafe of Dreams, Fashionista Piranha, and Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?.

Daily Raffles:
Monday--Books and Chocolate sponsored by My Friend Amy and Hey Lady! Whatcha' Readin?
Tuesday--Books and Going Green sponsored by My Friend Amy
Wednesday--Books and Coffee sponsored by My Friend Amy
Thursday--Books and Charity sponsored by My Friend Amy and Fashionista Piranha
Friday--Books and Movies sponsored by My Friend Amy

Win a Book Club Girl Hostess Survival Kit!
Do you find it's your turn to host book club and not only do you not know what to serve but you don't know what books to offer up for the next month's selection?! Let Book Club Girl come to your rescue with the Book Club Girl Hostess Survival Kit.

One lucky winner of the kit will receive:

* A basket of cheese, crackers, cookies and wine for up to 12 people
* 5 great book group books to vote on for your group's next pick. And Book Club Girl will then donate 12 copies whichever book is chosen for your entire group to read.
* 12 Book Club Girl mousepads to give out as party favors that night
* 12 Book Club Girl bookmarks to mark everyone's favorite passages
* 12 Book Club Girl coasters to protect your coffee table from all those wine glasses!

TWO SORMAG Goody Bags containing books and more!


A Special Pamper Me Basket from Cafe of Dreams!
From Avon Foot Works
~ Inflatable watermelon shaped foot tub
~ 3.4 FL oz Watermelon Cooling Foot Lotion
~ 3.4 FL oz Watermelon Exfoliating Foot Scrub
~ 12 count Watermelon Effervescent Foot Tablets
~ An ARC of So Long At The Fair by Christina Schwarz
~ A variety of Hot Chocolate and Tea mixes

A pre-made blog template from SNSDesign!

A Subscription to Poetry Magazine from Savvy Verse and Wit!

BOOKS
Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors
The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen
The Spanish Bow by Andromeda Romano-Lax
John's Quest by Cecelia Dowdy
Confessions of a Contractor by Richard Murphy
Acedia & Me by Kathleen Norris
The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer
Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley
A Tale Out of Luck by Willie Nelson with Mike Blakely
The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent
When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson
An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken
Exit Music by Ian Rankin
The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik
Gunmetal Black by Daniel Serrano
Isolation by Travis Thrasher
The Miracle Girls by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt
Every Freaking! Day With Rachell Ray by Elizabeth Hilts
Dewey by Vicki Myron
The Shiniest Jewel by Marian Henley
Keep the Faith by Faith Evans
The Book of Calamities by Peter Trachtenberg
A is for Atticus by Lorilee Craker
After the Fire by Robin Gaby Fisher
Mike's Election Guide by Michael Moore
War as They Knew It by Michael Rosenberg
Fixing Hell By Col. (ret.) Larry C. James
Wild Boy: My Life with Duran Duran by Andy Taylor
The Last Under-Cover: The True Story of an FBI Agent's Dangerous Dance with Evil By Bob Hamer
Border Lass by Amanda Scott
Insatiable Desire by Rita Heron
Hungry for More by Diana Holquist
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
Trespassers Will Be Baptized by Elizabeth Emerson Hancock
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Trish Ryan
Never Surrender by General Jerry Boykin
Dream in Color by Congresswoman Linda Sánchez, Congresswoman Loretta Sánchez
Beyond Belief by Josh Hamilton
Cobain Unseen by Charles R. Cross
Doing Business in 21st Century India by Gunjan Bagla
Branding Only Works on Cattle by Jonathan Salem Baskin
Launching a Leadership Revolution by Chris Brady, Orrin Woodward
How to Hear from God by Joyce Meyer
Knowing Right from Wrong by Thomas D. Williams
Pope John Paul II: An Intimate Life by Caroline Pigozzi
Pure by Rebecca St. James
He Loves Me! by Wayne Jacobson
So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore by Wayne Jacobson and Dave Coleman
Move On, Move Up by Paula White
The Rosary by Gary Jansen
Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts
The Choice by Nicholas Sparks
Right Livelihoods by Rick Moody
by George by Wesley Stace
The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold
Trunk Music by Michael Connelly
Hollywood Crows by Joseph Wambaugh
Dead Boys by Richard Lange
The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters by Lorraine Lopez
Sisterchicks Go Brit! by Robin Jones Gunn
Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky
With Endless Sight by Allison Pittman
Harlequin Titles: To Be Announced

Many other blogs are giving away books and prizes for BBAW as well! You can see the links to all of these giveaways here.

"Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."

"Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."
In medieval times baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

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This has been our 1st Post of "Where did that come from?". Now, what the heck does that mean when your mother says that to you? I don't fricken know!! Usually when this is uttered to me, I smile and nod indicating that I understand, all the while thinking what that would look like with a baby falling out of a dirty tub. When in truth, I don't know. Thankfully I can only remember one time it was said to me by my mother. Next time...I will be armed with such knowledge that I shall stun her into forgetting what she was speaking of in the first place. LOL

After googling it. (man that sounds dirty) I have however come up with some answers. It is a version of a German proverb. It was first written in a book by Thomas Murner. (1475-1537) His satirical book had a chapter in it titled "To throw the baby out with the bath water" {Are you snoring yet? Because I am about to.} Basically the meaning, put in simpleton terms, "Not to throw out the good with the bad" Which is the good or the bad, I think is up to personal preference.

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I want to thank Wolfgang Mieder of the University of Vermont for his article on this phrase and how it became Americanized. You can see the article here.

Pump it.............Dayuum!

I thought this video was cute and fun. Thought I would share with you all.

Pain in the Neck!

Image via Wikipedia So yesterday, I woke up with this HORRIBLE pain in my neck. I must have slept wrong. I think it started because I was reading to my 15year old daughter a couple chapters of a book over the phone. I was reading the chapters not from a book, but from the internet. I was holding the phone with my shoulder while reading, 2 very long chapters of "Midnight Sun" by Stephanie Meyers. My daughter, who lives with her Dad in another state, is OBSESSED with the Twilight series. I believe she has read the whole series at least 3 times now in the past 2 months. In all fairness though, I am the one to blame for the obsession and the way I held the phone. I went to bed right after our phone call. Then who knows what happened.

Have you ever wondered where some of our sayings have come from? For example; "Pain in the Neck". I always have thought about sayings through the years. In this case that phrase is fairly simple to figure out where it came from. Other times though it is difficult to sort out. I of course ask my mother. Mom's are supposed to know EVERYTHING right? Well, now that I am in my 30's and have kids of my own, she felt the need to let me know, that phrase is actually a lie. Of course now my jaw drops. My own sweet mother admitting to "LIEING"!! What other crimes has she committed in the past? Is she even "MY mother"? (Again another fine example of my overactive imaginnation at work, folks. Don't be alarmed for she is in fact my mother.) I can not however vouch for any crimes she may or may not have commited. *giggles

Now because of my grand pain in the neck, I have decided on a new series of posts, I will be posting every so often. It will be called, "Where did that come from?". I wanted to post yesterday and cry and whine about my neck. Then I didn't. I want to try to think of the positives in things. For me this is just that positive. Oh, by the way, my neck feels better but still sore. I can at least move more to the right and look up and down now. LOL

Review: Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 384pp
Isbn: 0380776847
Challenge This one covers two challenges at the same time.
#1 Read Around The Genres
#2 Fall 2008 Reading Challenge

First Sentence or two: "A bodyguard! I don't need any damn bodyguard!"

Synopsis: From the author of It Had to Be You comes a deliciously, sexy contemporary romance. Former pro-football star Bobby Tom Denton has agreed to lend his fame and his name to a movie. But when he doesn't show up, the film company sends straight-laced Gracie Snow to bring him to the set—with surprising results.
Come heck or high water, Gracie Snow is determined to drag the legendary ex-jock Bobby Tom Denton back home to Heaven, Texas, to begin shooting his first motion picture. Despite his dazzling good looks and killer charm, Bobby Tom has reservations about being a movie star -- and no plans to cooperate with a prim and bossy Ohio wallflower whom he can't get off his mind or out of his life. Instead, the hell-raising playboy decides to make her over from plain Jane to Texas wildcat.

But nothing's more dangerous than a wildcat with an angel's heart in a town too small for a bad boy to hide. And all hell breaks loose when two unforgettable people discover love, laughter, passion -- and a match that can only be made in Heaven.


Random Thoughts - I loved this book from the first page on. I could not put it down. I read this in one day. This may be my favorite one of the "Stars" series. This is another "INSIST" read. No recommending about it!

Favorite Scene - I had several so it's pretty hard to nail down just one. I think I will go with the scene in his trailer on the set. The one where she had like 6 of his fans in the trailer just to annoy him. Then he turned it around on her and announced to the girls that he was engaged to her. After the girls left and they got into an ice cream fight with each other. That to me was the first physical step they took in getting together. I was so happy and excited with that scene. Not to take away from any of the other many scenes in this book.

Rating - I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

*Note This is part of a series she has written about the Stars Football team. The first book is "It Had To Be You". To see the rest of the books in this series, or to see what order. Go Here

Review: Prince Joe by Suzanne Brockmann

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 256pp
Isbn: 155166948X
Challenge This one covers two challenges at the same time.
#1 Read Around The Genres
#2 Fall 2008 Reading Challenge

First Sentence or two: Friendly fire. It was called friendly because it came from the U.S. bombers and missile launchers, but it sure as hell didn't feel friendly to Navy SEAL Lieutenant Joe Catalanotto, as it fell from the sky like deadly rain.

Back Cover Blurb: Veronica St. John is facing the challenge of a lifetime. The media consultant has two days to teach a rugged Navy SEAL to impersonate a European prince who has been targeted by terrorists. It's a tough assignment, but Veronica is sure she's up to the task — until she actually meets Joe.

Despite his physical resemblance to the handsome prince, Lieutenant Joe Catalanofto is nothing like the stuffy aristocrat. Everything about the combat-hardened Navy SEAL — from the arrogant gleam in his eyes and streetwise attitude to the New York accent — says regular guy, not royalty. One conversation and Veronica knows nothing could turn this military man into nobility. Joe, on the other hand, is confident he's got what it takes to complete his duty.

But neither of them expects their assignment to include falling in love . . .

Random Thoughts Well truth be told, I am not a huge fan of contemporary books. On that note though, I somehow find that I am reading them almost as much as the historical. Enjoying them too. So, that said. I enjoyed the book even though I was HUGELY distracted this week. It took me twice as long to read this book due to the setting up of my Blog.

Favorite Scene My favorite part was when Veronica told Joe she loved him in front of God and everybody. He had his secret ear piece on as well as a few other SEALS and many other agents who were there to protect, and she says into the ear piece that she loves him. I thought it was cute. He couldn't stop smiling like a fool. Not to mention guys in the service tease each other mercilessly. So I know his SEALS will never let him forget that.

Rating I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

*Note This is part of a series she has written. She has a few different series. This book is the first book in the "Tall, Dark and Dangerous" series. The rest of the books feature the rest of the SEALS on Joe's team. We got a peek at some of the guys so now it will be fun to read their very own books.

Power Outage, Let the Craziness Ensue!

There I was, 1am in the morning, minding my own business book in one hand, snickers in the other. The whole house shuts down, lights, computers the whole enchilada. Now I am sitting in the dark wondering when the masked ninjas will appear and the major fight scene will take place.
Then I remember, "Hey, this isn't a movie"! As my overactive mind begins to spin its evil web of bad thoughts, I am cursing my big brother for all those years of torture. He could give the best professionals in the business a run for their money. My mother suggests I send him the therapy bills. She lives with my husband & myself. Anyways, I digress. As I find the bravery to breathe, stand up and feel the walls all the way down to my mother's room, while still holding on to my precious snickers bar and book. Hey, I gotta keep the important things safe alright! I make it to my Mom's room, the one with All the emergency supplies. Since I am need of a flashlight, I knock lightly on her door then open it. She is snoozing hard. "Mom"? "MOM, I need a flashlight." Now I grew up with this lady, she always had one of those little pen lights handy. Now I swear I thought she kept it by her recliner, which happens to be where she is sleeping this night. All I hear out her is "Huh, what?" I say, "Mom, the power is out and I need one of your flashlights."
So I wait patiently at the door. I hear lots of fumbling, more fumbling then crash bang boom and her yelling profanities that would turn your grandmothers hair blue without her weekly tinting. So now I managed to wake her up, the woman who hardly can sleep anymore, as well as my husband who had to get up in another hour for work. Poor guy. Then the next thing I hear that isn't dirty from my mother's mouth is "I thought I was in my bed." She was trying to get into one her desk drawers that wasn't there. Well once I can see with some form of light, I see my mother, a.k.a. Grammy Gram to some, has gone and Shoved over a bookcase and her side table clear to the floor. (I think you should lay off the roids Mom.) When it's all said and done, both her and my husband ask me why didn't I just go to bed. Well first of all that would of been the smart thing to do, and we all know I always pick door #2, the difficult and dumb way. Second of all, I was trying to protect my snickers. I mean they REALLY do SATISFY.

Cool Images

Should any of you be interested in a great place to get photos for your own blogs or websites, I can recommend istock to you. Also this is a great place for people who take fantastic photos to upload and get paid for some of that aim and click you do.


So just click on this pink button should you be interested in any of this. Have a great day!! That is an ORDER!!

I Have A Duty To Share This With My Fellow Americans.

I am not really into politics. To be really involved in the politics of today, you have to watch news and read the papers. Well to be candid with you...I do my HARDEST not to see any of that crap. Have you noticed, and you would have to blind not to, that there is NO GOOD NEWS. It thoroughly and completely depresses me on a regular basis. I don't think my happy pills will cover the sadness the news brings on. I have what you call, a "NEWS BUFFER". I just coined that term so back off people!! My mother who watches all the news and likes to follow all the politics, even and especially if it's the opposition to her favored side, is "Officially my News Buffer". She likes to tell me things that are going on, in moderation mind you, in the world and my general surroundings. I have been hearing about these party conventions and who has chose whom, and what not. So in honor of that, I will break my no news "policy" to show you this bit of wisdom about the up coming elections.





Again thank you for watching, please don't change that dial.

Twitter Addiction

What is Twitter? Well to find out I joined because I was super curious. I had noticed lots of other bloggers were on Twitter. On Twitter it seems you can network with others. You can also have your friends and family join as well. So instead of lengthy posts in an email or txt. You can just pop in every so often and announce what your up to. You can ask questions of others. You can follow your favorite people. Now mind you I have only joined yesterday and have not unlocked all of its mysteries yet. I do know that you can have twitter on your desktop and also on your phones. I have been told and have noticed that it can be a bit addicting. Just how addicting you ask? I have a video to show you of a Tweeter. Enjoy.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week

Well good news to all us Blogger/Bibliophiles out here. According to My Friend Amy we are to be honored with an appreciation week. Here is her article with the facts.
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Book Bloggers: You work hard. You read books, you write reviews, you maintain relationships with your readers, publicists, and authors. You are constantly running to the post office to mail your giveaways and participating in carnivals to help boost traffic. You sometimes want to faint when you see the size of your TBR pile, but faithfully you read. And you do it because you love it. Book blogging is for most a hobby. But it's a hobby that takes a lot of work and time. It's a labor of love.


I've been blogging for three years but only really got into book blogging in the last year. I have found, without a doubt, that book bloggers are the kindest, most open minded, and supportive group of bloggers on the internet. With book blogging, it's about community and a love for the written word.

The Readers: We love you! You don't have a blog, but you read our reviews and share your thoughts with us. You enter our giveaways and click on our Amazon associates link. We do this for you and appreciate your readership. We hope you'll join in the fun and festivities of BBAW! (we'll have a special contest just for you!)

Book Blogger Appreciation Week: Acknowledging the hard work of book bloggers and their growing impact on book marketing and their essential contribution to book buzz in general, I am excited to announce the first Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Think of it as a retreat for book bloggers and a chance for us to totally nerd out over books together. And of course, shower each other with love and appreciation.

Register: In order to experience the maximum impact of the week, I invite you to register your participation (just like a retreat)!
To register, just send an email to bookbloggerappreciationweekATgmailDOTcom with your blog url and what you consider your niche...i.e, general book blog, classics blog, personal blog with a healthy dose of books, YA books blog, etc. Then, add one of the two buttons at the bottom of this post to your sidebar. If you are a reader (no blog) just send an email announcing your plans to follow along.
Why bother? If you register, you will be added to a book blog directory which will exist long after this week is over. Additionally, you will receive one raffle entry into the daily giveaways during BBAW here at My Friend Amy.

Awards: Oh yes, there will be awards. The Oscars of Book Blogging. :) Nominations start next week.

Spread the Word: If you are excited about this idea like I am and the other book bloggers who are helping, please consider writing a post on your blog announcing this event and inviting other book bloggers and readers to join.

Help Wanted: If you have a talent for designing buttons (like those below) and would like to donate some of your time and skill to me, please email me personally at mypalamyATgmailDOTcom

THE BUTTONS

Will be posted as soon as I can get them in the right spot. Am frustrated at the moment with this html dealio!! Thank you for your patience. You can find them on the original post from Amy at her site which is linked at the top.

~Fall Challenge List
Books must be read between September 1 – November 30

1. Title that reminds you of a fairytale (Once upon a time, Prince Charming, Beauty and the Beast, Princess)
Prince Joe by Suzanne Brockman

2. Book based on the cover-
An Affair Before Christmas by Eloise James (because its pretty)
3. Read a book that was read and reviewed on the blog in the Summer Book Challenge-
If You Desire by Kresley Cole reviewed by Roberta

4. Read a book from a genre you have not read yet (or if you have read all genres, read from the genre you read the least) (haven't decided yet)

5. Read a book that has an “N” word in the title for November
"Nobody's Baby But Mine" by Susan Elizabeth Philips

6. Read an author that last name or first name starts with "S" for September
Head over Heels by Susan Anderson

7. Read a book by Johanna Lindsey-
Fires of Winter
8. For Halloween…. Read a book that is "spooky" (ghosts, vampires, werewolves, mystery, suspense)
Sex and the Psychic Witch by Annette Blair

9. Title with an address or a place in it (city, state, river, lake, cottage)
Heaven Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

10. Title that has a name in it (Nicknames are okay)-
Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard

11. Read a Series Book-
If You Dare by Kresley Cole

12. Read a Series Book-
If You Deceive by Kresley Cole

13. Read a New (to you) author-
I Burn for You by Susan Sizemore

14. Title that has an animal in it-
Pride of Lions by Marsha Canham

15. Title that is 2 words
Hot Stuff by Carly Phillips

*Summer Reading Challenge Wrap Up*

As the sun begins to set on our "Summer Romance Reading Challenge", Cindy, our group leader for the challenge, has asked us to offer a little wrap up.

Here are the prompts Cindy has asked us:

"If you could recommend ONE book for others to read in the Fall Challenge, what would it be and why?" I would recommend "Halfway to the Grave" by Jeanine Frost. This was a brand new author and a new series. You don't expect them to be THAT awesome out of the gate. I was aggravated that I had to check it out from the library, when I new I wanted to own it with every fiber of my being! Plus, if you like your men with accents and with that cocky swagger in everything he does, "Bones" is your man. Tall, Dark, and Dead. Well in the first book he has striking blond hair. *sighs
"What was the worst book you read?" Hands down from my list it's "Bride for a Knight" by Sue-Ellen Welfonder. To put it nicely let's just say I think she forgot what she was doing while she was busy telling about every nook and cranny and crack of detail she could. In fact it was so informative I didn't need to use my imagination and I found that insulting!! Go read my review on my Shelfari shelf below. Bring a fire extinguisher when you do.
"Was there an author you found that you LOVED or HATED?" Yes and Yes. Obviously hated was just discussed in the last question. As far as Loved goes, Sandra Hill. I wasn't all that into Vikings. Once I read her "A Tale of Two Vikings", it was a slam dunk. I now am trying to read her Viking books as I come across them. This book is not recommended by me...It's "Insisted" by me.
"Did you review books that were reviewed by other readers? Well I'm sure other's have read the books I have. I am not aware of anyone else who participated in our challenge, from our Shelfari group, did or not.
If so, were the reviews alike or totally different?" N/A
"Any other Comments or Suggestions?" Yes, a couple. "Witch Fire" by Anya Bast is HOT HOT HOT. I enjoyed "Hot Wheels & High Heels" by Jane Graves. This was a middle aged couple romance. Two adults in 40's who have a chance to change their luck and grow up. It was refreshing!

Well that concludes the ask/answer segment. I just want to thank Cindy for being so awesome and thinking up our challenge, making a group, and putting a blog together for all of us to participate in. Since it went so well I am excited to know we are going to be starting a "Fall Challenge" as of today. More in my next post. (Jen, is thinking that post felt like some talk show or something. )