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Thursday, March 29, 2012

ff #15

Parajunkee & Alison Can Read

This week's featured Blogs are: Justin's Books and Life and Alluring Reads

And the question is.....

Q: Do you read one book at a time or do you switch back and forth between two or more?

A:  Good question.  Believe it or not, it all depends on the book that I am reading at the time.  Some books grab me and force me to read it all at once.  Other times, especially if I am NOT getting in to a story, I could have upwards of FOUR books going at a time.  Also, reference books books/cookbooks will be read simultaneously.  There have been a few books that are not good 'before bed' books, so I will have day time and night time reading.

How about you?  Do you slog through a book before going on to another, or do you read others at the same time?

Thanks for hopping by.  Hope you like the site enough to want to follow!  Leave a link and I will return the favor!

Cheers!

Monday, March 26, 2012

top ten books I'd play hooky with


Spring Fever: Top Ten Books 
I'd Play Hooky With 
– or books I probably shouldn’t pick up 
unless I have some time off…

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

1  Persuasion.  Who wouldn’t want to spend a lovely day reading Jane Austen?

2  The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig.  When I start one of Lauren’s books, I better not have anything planned, because it will NOT get done!  I fall into those books and don’t walk away until I am done, if possible.  

3  Mr. Darcy Forever by Victoria Connelly.  I have so enjoyed this author and I think that if I start to read this last in the ‘Austen Addicts’ series, it will have to be a hooky day!

4  Sisters by Danielle Steele.  It’s been a long time since I have read a Danielle Steele book, but I remember being sucked in to her books, so it sounds like the perfect one for a day of reading.

5  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  Okay… I have seen the movie now, and everyone in the family has read this one… and it’s a quick read, so I just might have to play hooky to read it!

6  Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont.  If someone gave this book to me, I would have to sit down with a nice cup of tea and read it right away!

7  Definitely NOT Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos.  I think this would be a great book to sit down with and read away!  Love the cover and the title completely grabbed me!

8  Austentatious by Alyssa Goodnight.  If I knew I was going to play hooky, and wanted a perfectly amusing heroine, Nic James would be my companion for the afternoon!  This one deserves a re-read!

9  Soulless by Gail Carriger.  If someone was wonderful and plunked this one into my ready-waiting hands, I don’t think I could leave the story until the very end… and I am sure I would be awaiting the next book.  Victorian manners and humor, count me in!

10  Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay.  Once again, if this book happened upon me, or I happened upon it, I would most likely fall into a comfy chair and not want to get out until I was done with the story!

Spring Clean-Up Winners



Here are the winners from the Spring Clean-Up Giveaway Hop!  Thank you to the 120 people who actually signed up - and the 290 people who stopped by to take a look!

Without further ado....

The winner for 'First Impression' by Alexa Adams is:

HebraicPrincess who enjoys Chunky Monkey

The winner for 'Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy' by Barbara Tiller Cole is:

arieuxhp whose fav ice cream flavor is vanilla 
(it's a great palette for so many other flavors!)

There was quite the competition for 'Jane' by April Lindner, and that lucky person is:

widsfam7 who likes Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby!

The winner for 'The Arrivals' by Meg Mitchell Moore is:

mia whose favorite is also one of mine - Gold Medal Ribbon

The winner of 'The Light Ages' by Ian MacLeod is:

puieread who is another Vanilla fan.

I have sent email notifications out.  Please make sure you get your snail mail addresses to me by Wednesday, March 28th so I don't have to pick another winner in your place!  Thanks again for stopping by and enjoy the week!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Spring Clean-Up Giveaway!

Hi All... time to do a little Spring Cleaning.  Too funny...it is snowing today...in the desert!  What does that say!?



Here are the books I will be giving away.  No hoops to jump through, just fill out the form below.

Jane by April Lindner - A modern day retelling of Jane Eyre


The Light Ages by Ian MacLeod -  a fantastical Age of Industry, the wealth that comes from magic is both revered and reviled. 

The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore - a story of three grown children coming home to deal with their varied problems.


Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy by Barbara Tiller Cole - Mr. Darcy meets the Three Ghosts - Dickens style.


First Impressions by Alexa Admas - a retelling of Pride and Prejudice - what if Darcy danced with Elizabeth that first night in Meryton?

This GiveAway is now closed!  Thanks for playing along!  I have some great recommended reads and new ice cream flavors to try!

But, I hope you have time to take a look around and enjoy my site.  If you like what you see, Like us on Facebook and you can be alerted of new posts to this website.  If you have taken a look around, you will know that I mostly do Book Reviews (and a somewhat eclectic bunch of books do I read!) as well as an occasional meme and maybe some photos, as I am trying to work on my 101 things to do!

Thanks for hopping by, and I look forward to any comments you might want to leave.  If you leave your link, I would love to see your site!

Cheers!

Be sure to go to I am a Reader, Not a Writer's site to see the WHOLE Linky List!

Saturday, March 10, 2012

review: Compulsively Mr. Darcy


Title by Author: Compulsively Mr. Darcy  by Nina Benneton
Series (if applicable): none
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: February 2012
Page Count:  352
Source: netgalley.com
Blurb:
For anyone obsessed with Pride & Prejudice, it's Darcy and Elizabeth like you've never see them before
This modern take introduces us to the wealthy philanthropist Fitzwilliam Darcy, a handsome and brooding bachelor who yearns for love but doubts any woman could handle his obsessive tendencies. Meanwhile, Dr. Elizabeth Bennet has her own intimacy issues that ensure her terrible luck with men.
When the two meet up in the emergency room after Darcy's best friend, Charles Bingley, gets into an accident, Elizabeth thinks the two men are a couple. As Darcy and Elizabeth unravel their misconceptions about each other, they have to decide just how far they're willing to go to accept each other's quirky ways...

My Review:
Compulsively Mr. Darcy is a modern day retelling of Pride and Prejudice with a series twist.  Darcy meets Elizabeth in Vietnam, where she is working for free at a local hospital in Da Nang, specializing in infectious diseases.  She only took the position so that her sister, Jane, would not be alone in the country while Jane is filling in for her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner at an orphanage that they usually run.  Enter the Bingleys and Mr. Darcy and the fun begins.

The more I think about this story, the less I like it.  It seemed too far-fetched and over-sexed.  William Darcy, a high-powered CEO, is a man who is fastidious and a bit OCD, or so we are led to believe by the author telling us, and showing a couple of things that might signify that aspect of his character.  I am no psychologist and have not been around too many persons with OCD, but I don’t think they would behave as Mr. Darcy does… and then wash his hands until they are raw to signal that he has an issue.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Photo Friday - Shadows

Miller Canyon, SE Arizona







...and here are a few from our travels up to Scotland in November 2010

 Our Family in Blackpool, England

Watch out...  Eileen Donan Castle Wall - Scotland

Direct Hit!  When Shadows have a snow ball fight


tune in next week for another set of Photos, based on my List of 100+.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

ff #14

It's Friday and Novel Day and Hesperia Loves Books 
are being featured this week.



This week's question is:

Q:  Have you ever looked at book's cover and thought, This is going to be horrible?  But, was instead pleasantly surprised?  Show us the cover and tell us about the book.


My daughter checked this audio book out from the library, and I thought it looked rather cheesy!  How could a book with this cover be any good?


Boy, have I been surprised.  I cannot wait to get in to the car to listen to more of this book.  I am about ready to grab some headphones and listen to it in the house!  I am so hooked on this geeky 80's induced story about the future and a kid trying to find a hidden treasure in the Oasis - a super internet world!


The reverse has also happened to me rather recently.  



I fell in love with this cover and just had to read it... and I was so underwhelmed, it wasn't funny.  How can a cover this gorgeous house a bad story?  I know that I am in the minority on this book, but that was my experience.

So, Bad cover - Good Book.  and Good cover - Bad book!  
I guess that just goes to show that you cannot always
judge a book by its cover!  
 (cheesy, I know! :D)

What book have you judged by its cover and been surprised by?

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

top ten Covers that Possessed Me

Top Ten Book Covers that 
Possessed Me and 
Made me Buy Them, 
Beg for Them or Steal! 
(...jk on the stealing)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.









 


Cinder
Clockwork Angel
Definitely Not Mr. Darcy
Entwined
The Mephisto Covenant
Emily and Einstein
The Peach Keeper
None But You (and You Alone) 
The Illuminator
Across the Universe

What books have captured your eye?

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