Did you complete the cozy mystery challenge? If so please fill out this form! If you didn't complete the challenge yet and just want to report the book you have finished for the challenge, please keep scrolling.
If you remember, I promised to send each person who completed the challenge a handmade bookmark. So I am asking you to fill out this form so I can get your full name and mailing address. I promise that nobody else will see this information. If you would prefer to email it to me, that's ok too.
****Bookmarks are created!!!! Yeah!!!!! ****
I updated the form, there is now a question where you are asked to list your bookmark selection in order of most favorite to least favorite. There are 4 to choose from. Please keep in mind that I have a limited number of each one, so you might not get your favorite or second favorite, but you will get one. Each bookmark is just number 1-4.
Please also let me know if you would like me to put ribbon on the bookmark. If so, I'll just punch a hole, attach an eyelet, and attach some ribbon that I think goes with the bookmark.
pssst - this is a new form that I'm testing - so if you have problems please bring it to my attention.
Simple Description: Maggie and Nate are getting ready to start their lives together. They will be getting married soon and they will be opening up a restaurant soon. However all of that is threatened one morning when Maggie decides to go through the mail that has been piling up. She finds statements from a bank that she wasn't aware either of them had an account with. When she asks Nate about it, she finds out that even though they are living paycheck to paycheck and trying to borrow money for the restaurant, Nate's family is rich. There isn't much time to discuss it before they have to leave to go to his parent's house. His parents are getting a divorce, and throwing a divorce party. It's the first time that Maggie will meet his parents and sister. She finds out that Nate has been married before. Are their other things about his past the he isn't telling her.
Then there is the story of Gwyn and Thomas, Nate's parents. They are getting a divorce, they say that they both want it. But that's not the real story. Thomas is hiding something from Gwyn and his kids, only he doesn't realize that Gwyn has already found out the truth and she has some surprises of her own.
Now what you really want to know....my thoughts:
You have one marriage ending and another hopefully starting. The book is told from Maggie's point of view and from Gwyn's. You learn all the insecurities that Maggie has in getting married, knowing Nate left out a lot of stuff about his past life and trying to figure out why. Trying to figure out if they can work past it and still go forward with their plans. Gwyn slowly tells the reader why her and Thomas are getting divorced. You learn all that Gwyn has been through and how she is going to deal with the divorce.
I think the book was very good, I liked Maggie and Gwyn. I liked each of their stories and how they fit together. You can't help but feel bad for Gwyn and like what she is doing with the party. You can't help but want to tell Maggie why Nate didn't tell her about his past and to try and convince her to go forward with the wedding. It's a quick read, one that kept my interest. I definitely recommend it.
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Click HERE to see a list of books read in May for the cozy mystery challenge. If the reader linked it to a review, you will be able to click on the title to then see their review.
As before, it's not required that you fill out the form for the book(s) you read, but it's fun to see what everyone reads.
Please use the form below to enter the book you read for the cozy mystery challenge. Last time there was an issue where it seemed to just take awhile after you hit submit, try refreshing the page and then you can see if it took by clicking here. If it didn't take, try again or just leave a comment or email me and I'll enter it.
Copyright: 2004 Publisher: Mira Genre: Mystery Pages: 432 Challenges: TBR Challenge New-to-me Author: No Author's Website
Simple Description: Toni Fraser had nightmares when she was a girl. However the nightmares weren't just nightmares, they were images of real murders. It all becomes too much and she learns to block it out. Spring forward several years when she is in her 30's. She has moved to Scotland with several friends and they are renting a castle and doing tours. She has made up the story of the Laird who used to own this castle and his death and the tragic death of his wife. Then one evening while they are putting on the tour, the real laird shows up. He has the same name as the one in her story. In fact, he was named after his ancestor. It turns out that not only were they told that there was no family who owned this castle, she also finds that the story she made up is real.
Things seem like they might work out, when the real, living, Laird lets them stay however soon Toni is seeing the ancestor at the foot of her bed. She must deal with this ghost as well as knowing that there have been several murders in the area, all the women have been found in the forest surrounding the castle.
Now what you really want to know....my thoughts:
This wasn't my favorite Heather Graham book but it was still a good read, worth my time. I don't think I've read a romantic paranormal suspense in awhile and this was perfect for me. I loved that it dealt with current time as well as dealing with Lairds and Lady's from centuries ago. This is a fun book, worth it if you are a Heather Graham fan.
It's sad...it's exciting....it's almost the end of my Cozy Mystery Challenge!
I just wanted to send a quick not to remind everybody that you have until the 30th to finish your books - so if you haven't finished the challenge yet - get to it!
After the 30th I'll start mailing out the bookmarks to those who were able to successfully complete the challenge.
My youngest nephew turned 1 on the 23th. My sister had a birthday party with the in-laws this past weekend and Husband and I crashed it. This is one of my favorite photos - he's offering his Dad some of his smash cake.
(ps...the cutie in the background is one of my other nephews (different sister)..he turned 1 in August. He had a crying and screaming fit because he wanted cake too...so we gave him some. haha! It was soo funny) eek..I just realized I never posted a picture from his b-day...stay tuned for next week! I'll try to remember to post one.)
I have to admit, sheepishly, that I didn't compelte this challenge. I'm kicking myself for not completing it because I really wish I had. Here's my problem. I like non-fiction books, there are some topics that totally interest me and I want to read more about them but whenever I go to pick up a non-fiction book I just don't want to! They rarely draw me in like others do. Yet, once I settle down with one I end up liking it (for the most part). So...try as I might, I just couldn't do it, again, this year.
My original list:
War Letters by Andrew Carroll
Love, Mom by Doree Shafrir and Jessica Grose
The Stranger Beside me by Anne Rule
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Kaffir Boy in America by Mark Mathabane
Here's what I did read:
Love, Mom by Doree Shafrir and Jessica Grose
The Rise and Fall of the Dilinger Gang by Jeffery S. King
In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor
At least I read 3 books right? That's better than 50%. haha!
Copyright: 2009 Publisher: Random House - Crown Genre: Fiction Pages: 422 Challenges: None New-to-me Author: No Author's Website
Simple Description: The book starts with the fall of the Egyption empire and the death of Cleopatra (or Kleopatra) and Marc Antony. Their twins, Alexander and Selena, are taken to Rome by Ceasar. They are treated as citizans and live in his sisters house, they aren't treated like prisoners (well, not in the sense we think of when we think prisoner). Alexander and Selena know that once they turn 15 and are considered grown-ups they will be married off. They hope they can return to Egypt and rebuild it, but don't think that will happen.
There is some unrest in Rome, the servents seem to have somebody fighting for them. The Red Eagle. He knows how to write, he knows what is going on. He posts letters on the doors of the Senate. He sparkes riots. Ceasar needs to have this person killed but is never able to find him or anybody who has seen him.
Selena has a passion for architecture. She is lucky enough to be able to learn under the architecture who is designing buildings for Ceasar and his sister. She knows that if she wants to live, she has to be of some use to Ceasar.
What will happen to Alexander and Selena? Will they survive? Will they ever be able to return to Egypt?
Now what you really want to know....my thoughts:
I loved this book! I've read Nefertiti but this author and enjoyed it so I was super thrilled to be offered this one for review too. I was supposed to have the review on my blog yesterday, I apologize for being a day late. Time got away from me and I didn't have a chance to finish the book till yesterday. ok, so back to the book. While Alexander is Selena's brother and is a major charactor in the book, Selena is the one you follow the most (hence the title). This is basically her story. It shows how she was taken from her home, where she was tutored and treated like an equal to her brother, to Rome. A place where she is inferior to her brother and basically knows that she has no rights or a say in her life. She is often outraged by the things Romans do, such as getting rid of babies they don't want because they are female or for other reasons. She speaks her mind, when she shouldn't. Selena is a great charactor. I liked a lot of the other charactor's too. Overall, very good book and I think it's one that historical fiction buffs will enjoy.
I admit that since I didn't finish this book till 10pm yesterday, I didn't read all of the author's notes or historical info yet. I also admit that I am horrible with historical facts. So I can't personally make a decent judgement on if things were historically accurate or not.
See the trailer below. For some reason I really like it. haha! I've already watched it about 3 times this morning and thought I would share with my readers.
Copyright: ? Publisher: Scholastic Genre: YA Pages: (audio) Challenges: TBR challenge, 1st in a series New-to-me Author: Yes Author's Website
Simple Description: Will Burrows is a 15 year-old-boy who enjoys a good dig. He likes to dig out tunnels and find artifacts. This is something that sometimes his father helps him with, and sometimes he does alone. He makes a friend at school, Chester, and Chester starts to help him with the tunnels. Then one day Will's father disappears. Later Chester and Will find a tunnel in the cellar of Will's house. They go through the Tunnel and find that somebody tried to fill it up, so of course they dig it out. When they reach the end of the tunnel, they find another village. With real people and animals. Chester and Will are taken into custody and questioned. Will learns that he is originally form this town and was taken top-side.
Now what you really want to know....my thoughts:
Well - honestly - I couldn't get into this book! I did listen to it, and not sure if that had anything to do it with or not. All I know is that I wasn't very interested in what was happened or what would happen. I finally got to the point where I was skipping ahead tracks just to get through it. I don't know, I don't really have anything to say on it, I just didn't enjoy it.
Copyright:2009 Publisher: Simon and Schuster Genre: Fiction Pages: 367 pg Challenges: none New-to-me Author: yes Author's Website
Simple Description: Cynthia Power has planned the best party for her 25th anniversary. All the right people were invited, she has selected the perfect location in Manhatten, nothing could go wrong. Except..her husband shows up late. Then the next morning on the front page of The Post is a picture of him getting comfortable with his mistriss. When Jacks Power wakes up and goes to the kitchen to get some breakfast he is surprised to also be told he is getting a divorce.
On the same day Cynthia tells her husband she wants a divorce she is asked to be on the board for the NY Ballet. So not only is she going through a very public divorce, she also has to deal with the Ballet board and some members not wanting her to take over. The changes in her life find Cynthia getting closer to her daughter, Viviane, and also finding herself again.
Meantime Jacks is actually ok with the divorce because he's in love with his current mistress. It appears that the affair might not last though. His mistress is going through a rought time at work and she puts her work before Jacks, something Jacks doesn't think should happen. It appears that Jacks professional career might be headed down the drain right with his love life.
Now what you really want to know....my thoughts:
This is the first I have read by the author and I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a fun, light read. Sure, the charactors seem shallow and in love with themselves and the media they get. However, these are Manhatten socialits, so it's actually what I imagine many of them are like. Sometimes the sex and the sex talk seemed over-the-top but I can also see where it fits into the story. I definitly think this was a fun read and worth my time.
It's that time of year, time to close the pool. This time the dog decided to supervise, very very closly as my husband filled up the water weight bags.
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I was asked if I would like to host a giveaway for 3 copies of Catching Fire, the second book in the YA series The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins . I had heard of the books but had not read the first yet. So, I asked some of my friends. Several had either read the book and enjoyed it or knew teenagers who really enjoyed it. So that made up my mind! Sure...why not host the give away.
Here's the info on the giveaway, but please scroll down further after you read this and read some more info on the book.
Three (3) lucky winners will receive:
* Limited edition promotional t-shirt
* collectible mocking jay pin
* a copy of Catching Fire
* You have from Sept 1 - Sept 15 to enter
To enter: Please fill out the form below. I do ask for your mailing address, but rest assuried it is safe and will not be shared with anybody unless you win. If you are a winner, I will only share it with my contact since they will be mailing out the items.
(The Catching Fire book promotion is open to participants with a United States mailing address only (international readers can enter if you have a friend in the States who can accept your prizes by mail!). Entrants under age 13 must have parent or guardian permission to enter.)
(The contest is officially closed - Thanks to all who entered)
COULD YOU SURVIVE ON YOUR OWN, IN THE WILD, WITH EVERYONE FIGHTING AGAINST YOU?
Twenty- four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives.
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death – televised for all of Panem to see.
Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
and...what I think is super cool......click HERE to read the first chapter!!!!!!
Oh..and wonder what the t-shirt looks like, you're in luck! see image below.
Thanks so much to Aidana over at WillowRaven blog for giving me this award. I feel so honored to be given this one.
One of the requests with this blog is to list 7 things about yourself that my readers might not know about me. So....let's see what I come up with:
1. I'm the youngest of 3 children, all girls. So far both of my sisters have had kids and they have had all boys. (ok..so the second part isn't about me but we think it's funny)
2. I'm a runner at heart. I love to run even though I keep hurting myself (currently suffering from a stress fracture in my heal). I know that running is hard on the body but can't give it up. I'm happiest when I can take off and run...I always come back energized and happier.
3. I love to scrapbook and make cards and make my Christmas cards every year.
4. I love to travel, which you guys might have figured out due to pictures.
5. I was born left handed, but my parents forced me to be right handed. So I write with my right hand but I can catch and throw balls with my left and I can kick a soccer ball with either my left or right. I also tend to lead with my left foot and grab for things with my left hand. Even though I can't write with my left, I'm pretty much ambidextries. I'm very curouse to see if my (future) kids will be left handed.
6. I'm a planner. I tend to plan things in advance...such as already thinking about Halloween even though it's well over a month away.
7. I love to bake, hate to cook. The more steps and ingredients there are in a recipe, the more exited I am to bake it. Within the last year I've gone towards baking from scratch. I don't buy cake mixes or icing at the store anymore...everything is made from scratch.
I didn't even make it to 100 pages in this book, made it to chapter 7 and had to stop. Here's the thing, it's not the first book in the series. So I was rather confused by everything going on. Now, if that had been the only issue, I would have continued with it and I'm sure all would have been ok. However, there is one other detail that kept bugging me. It seems like the author is preaching to me. I really don't like that. I'm ok that that book dealt with a pastor's son being killed and knowing that there would be some religous aspect to it. But, it doesn't stop there. The main charactor is very religous and it's just a major part of the story. There are a lot of lines like this: "I had a lot to talk to God about when we had our private time..." pg. 72
If those weren't so common, ok, maybe I would have kept going, but they were constant. I'm just not somebody who enjoys that. It seemed way over the top for me and turned me off. I'm not a follower of Christian lit but imagine this is similar to that. So if you like that genre, then you might be interested in this series. It's just not the thing for me and I felt like I was wasting my time reading it.
I did look up this book on amazon to see what others thought. There were a lot of positive reviews, glad to see that. There was one review that only gave it one star, and the user didn't finish the book. The user pointed out a lof of other things that bothered me about the book that I didn't address here. So I wanted to include a link to the Amazon page for this book, click HERE. This way my readers can get others reviews.
Copyright: 2007 Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Genre: Mystery Pages: 288 Challenges: TBR Challenge, Series Challenge New-to-me Author: no Author's Website
Simple Description: Carmela is back with Shamus and things seem to be ok. Then things turn for the worse when Shamus is kidnapped on a Saturday morning. Things go from worse to, well, horrible, when Carmela runs to Uncle Henry's house for help and instead finds him murdered in his own library. Of course, Aunt Glory blaims Carmela and kicks her out of the garden district house.
Carmala doesn't want to investigate the murder but when she gets a clue as to where Shamus might be, she decides to snoop with her bestfriend and they find Shamus.
Shamus at first appears greatful but then is back to his old tricks, which causes some distress. Of course, there is still a murderer on the loose and the murdered thinks Carmela knows more than she really does. Her life is in danger more than once in this book.
Now what you really want to know....my thoughts:
It's been awhile since I read part of this series and I'm glad I finally picked up another one. I really like Carmela, although can't figure out why she keeps going back to Shamus. I like Ava too - the two make a great pair of friends. I think this is a fun cozy book and definitly plan to read the rest in the series
Copyright: 2007 Publisher: Avon Genre: Fiction Pages: 0 (audio) Challenges: TBR challenge, 1st in a series New-to-me Author: Yes Author's Website
Simple Description: This novel takes place in Savannah, Georgia. Weezie was recently divorced from her husband of 10 years, Tol. He was cheating on her, and of course fell in love with the other women. Weezie wasn't able to get the historical townhouse in the divorce but she did get the carriage house in the back and has been living there ever since. Weezie is an antique dealer. She doesn't have her own shop, although she aspires to own one. Instead she deals with "smalls". Small antiques that she then takes around to the different dealers she knows has collectors or specializes in them.
There is to be a huge estate sale at a plantation house and Weezie is ready for it. She camps out in her truck overnight so she has a chance to be one of the first in the door. There is a piece of furnature that she knows could give her enough profit to open her own store. She awakes early in the morning and needs a rest room. She decides to break in to use one, and that's when she finds the dead body of her ex-husbands fiance.
Mixed into this mess is the fact that she has feelings for a new man, yet they always seem to bicker. Her Mom is an alcoholic but won't admit it and needs help. The items at the plantation house seem to be disapparing and showing up at different antique stores, even though the estate sale was post-poned.
All of this, and more, makes for a great read.
Now what you really want to know....my thoughts:
I really liked this book. I laughed and chuckled several times while reading it. If I had read it (yeah..I do own the book), I would have marked a ton of quotes to share with you, but since I listened to this one I wasn't able to write them down (you know..not wanting to have a car accident and all). There is a murder in this book and you do end up knowing who the real killer was, but I'm still marking this as fiction. This wasn't a murder mystery, she didn't spend her time trying to find the killer, it was just on aspect of this story. Weezie is great. I would love to be friends with her and her best friend. I think they must have a ton of fun.
There are two more books that Weezie is in, and I definitly plan to read them. This is definitly a book that I recommend to others and I think several of those who read this blog will get a kick out of.
Labor day weekend my husband and I went to Ohio to visit his brother, wife, and their son Tommie. Tommie is such a cute little boy! The only thing was that I'm currently in a boot (stress fracture in my heel) and he was very very uncertain of my boot. He would just stare at it...didn't want to touch it...and wouldn't always come to me because of it. Lol! We also helped put up a new wooden swinget for Tommie -which he already seems to enjoy.
Simple Description: Lucy Burns has an older sister, Ellen. One day when the girls are young, Ellen is in a horrible car accident and ends up in a coma. Lucy writes a note to "whom it may concern" and puts it in the mailbox in the backyard that she and Ellen use for playing. Lucy asks that Ellen live and if so, she will be in debt to the person who gets the note. The next morning when Lucy wakes up, she finds out that Ellen is alive and fine. When Lucy goes to get her note, she finds one in return.
Lucy didn't realize that with that note, she made a pact with the devil.
Present day...Lucy is a young woman and estranged from her family. She finds sinners and has them go down her basements stairs and into hell. That's her job, she's a facilitator. It's too hard to have that kind of job and still keep your family safe, so that's why she is estranged from them.
On the outside Lucy apperas to have everything. She is beautiful, doesn't seem to need money, and can eat whatever she want and not gain weight. However she is very unhappy. She doesn't like what she does for a living. Then, by chance, she meets somebody who was once a faciliatotr. They found a loophole and were able to free themselves. Now Lucy must finish the three tasks required of her in order to be free. Will she be able to do it in time?
Now what you really want to know....my thoughts: This was such a fun book! It's a fast read, not a thick book and the story keeps it going. Lucy is a great charactor and somebody I could see being friends with. I loved how she went about each task. I also loved her relationship with different people in the story. This is definitly a book I recomend to others.
Happy Reading.....and Thanks for stopping by! Kris
Simple Description: This story takes place when Teddy Winters is 8 years old. He is living with his Grandma, but she has advanced Alzheimer's that keeps getting worse. Syl recently moved back to the town of Dreyerville. She left 8 years ago when she found out she had cervical cancer. She had been engaged but called it off and basically ran away. Joe was the man engaged to Syl. He had a hard time of things after she left and ended up in jail for killing a man.
Teddy works for Joe to earn some money to buy a clock for his Grandma. It's durring the couple of hours he spends with Joe each day that the two begin to grow close. When Teddy's Grandma can't take care of him anymore, he is put into foster care. Joe wants to adopt Teddy, but doesn't think he will be able to because of his past.
In the meantime, because this is a small town, Syl and Joe run into each other. They still have feelings for each other, but can't they go back to where they were 8 years ago -before the lies and the hurt?
Now what you really want to know....my thoughts: I know, I don't usually read Christmas books until December but I made a special case for this one. I was offered to review this book and since I love Christmas stories, I just couldn't pass it up.
I really liked tihs story. It's short, only 145 pages, but in those pages the author tells a wonderful story. I always want Christmas books to have a happy ending and this was no disapointment. I loved how it ended. I suppose some would call it predictable, but aren't most Christmas stories? I think this is a great story to be read around the Holidays.
I visited the author's website and noticed she also writes romantic suspence, one of my favorite genres. I think I will definitly be reading more by this author. On that note...have any of you read any of her romantic suspense? What do you think of it?
Happy Reading.....and Thanks for stopping by! Kris
Simple Description: This is the 3rd in the Mistress of the Art of Death series.
Adelia is traveling with her friend Emma when she is summoned by King Henry II. There is rumor that King Arthur and Guenever's remains were found buried at Glastonbury Abby. King Henry II wants Adelia to go to the Abby and verify that they are. Adelia isn't happy about this, but she can't refuse the king. Emma was going to be traveling in the same area, she was headed to a manor that her late husband owned. Adelia and her group stop at this manor to visit Emma, since it's on the way, but find that Emma isn't there. Instead the mother-in-law still is. The mother-in-law swears Emma never showed up. Adelia questions servents but gets the same response. Adelia knows something had to have happened to Emma and her son and group along the way.
Once Adelia reaches Glastonbury Abby, things go from bad to worse. Due to a recent fire the town and Abby are basically deserted except for a handful of monks. While investigating the remains Adelia finds that the pubic bones of what is supposed to be Guenever are missing. Adelia and her companion, Mansure, are also almost buried alive. Then Mansure is kidnapped, and then Adelia is.
Will Adelia be able to prove who the bones are or aren't? Will she find out what happened to her friend Emma? Will she make it out alive?
Now what you really want to know....my thoughts: I read the first in the series, then somehow never got around the the 2nd, but have now read the 3rd. I really enjoyed the first and I enjoyed this one just as much. Adelia is a great charactor, as well as Mansur and some of the others that are prominent in this series. This is a historical mystery, taking place in 1176. I can't tell you how historically accurate it was, I'm just not good with that stuff. I personally love having a mystery set in that time frame. I think it's interesting how the author works it so that Adelia, a woman, can work and be a Dr.
Happy Reading.....and Thanks for stopping by! Kris
Wow! August ended up being a great month for savings! Husband and I made 2 purchases at Omaha Steaks. We did it once, the lady gave us back the coupon because it didn't expire till the end of the month and said we could use it again if we wanted to. The next weekend, the husband asked if I wouldn't mind going back. Haha! We only spent about $42/each trip (including tax) and got a ton of meat. It will last a long time since it's just the two of us. I looked at the receipt and it had showed that there was a $99.01 discount! Can't beat that. I also found a mirror that I liked for the hall bathroom. Ok, I have found several I thought were nice, but they are so expensive!!!! Finally found one at Joann fabrics. I read the price tag and thought it said $99.99. So I waited till the next weekend when I had a 40% off coupon and went back to get it. It ended up being $69.99 and not $99.99, so even better. But…due to the coupon I saved $28! So excited! We finally have a mirror to hang in the hall bathroom, which we renovated in the spring. Haha!
In all, I saved a total of $479.80 by using coupons this month. For the year I have saved a total of $1,637.43.
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