Booking Through Thursday

What’s the funniest book you’ve read recently?

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Wow I had to look back a bit to find one. Apparently I have been reading more serious books these days. The last funny book I read was Janet Evanovich's Fearless Fourteen.

Her Stephenie Plum series just cracks me up. I always laugh while reading her books.

Waiting on Wednesday

Sponsored by "Breaking the Spine". This weeks can't wait to read selection is:


Here is my pick this week:
Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis
Release Date: September 1, 2009
Harper Teen

Synopsis via Harper Teen:

Moonlight can totally change your life.

And it all starts so simply.

You. Him.

The moon.

You're toast.

Okay, so maybe Shelby has made a few mistakes with boys lately (how was she supposed to know Wes had "borrowed" that Porsche?). But her stepmother totally overreacts when she catches Shelby in a post-curfew kiss with a hot senior: Suddenly Shelby's summer plans are on the shelf, and she's being packed off to brat camp. It's good-bye, prom dress; hello, hiking boots.

Things start looking up, though, when Shelby meets fellow camper (and son of a rock star) Austin Bridges III. But soon she realizes there's more to Austin than crush material—his family has a dark secret, and he wants Shelby's help guarding it. Shelby knows that she really shouldn't be getting tangled up with another bad boy . . . but who is she to turn her back on a guy in need, especially such a good-looking one? One thing's for sure: That pesky full moon is about to get her into trouble all over again.

This is one of those books that the cover attracted me first and once I read the synopsis I knew it would be one I wanted to read.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser this week:

"I'm afraid you're wrong," he answered. "You're already married. To me."

Mating Rituals of the North American WASP - Lauren Lipton pg 23

Giveaway - The Blue Star!!

Thanks to Valerie over at Hachette Books, I have 5 copies to giveaway!!

Book Information:

Seven years ago, readers everywhere fell in love with Jim Glass, the precocious ten-year-old at the heart of Tony Earley's bestseller Jim the Boy. Now a teenager, Jim returns in another tender and wise story of young love on the eve of World War Two.

Jim Glass has fallen in love, as only a teenage boy can fall in love, with his classmate Chrissie Steppe. Unfortunately, Chrissie is Bucky Bucklaw's girlfriend, and Bucky has joined the Navy on the eve of war. Jim vows to win Chrissie's heart in his absence, but the war makes high school less than a safe haven, and gives a young man's emotions a grown man's gravity.

With the uncanny insight into the well-intentioned heart that made Jim the Boy a favorite novel for thousands of readers, Tony Earley has fashioned another nuanced and unforgettable portrait of America in another time--making it again even realer than our own day.

This is a timeless and moving story of discovery, loss and growing up, proving why Tony Earley's writing "radiates with a largeness of heart" (Esquire).

Sorry US and Canada only (No PO Boxes)
The rules are pretty simple:

• +1 Comment and leave a valid email address
• +1 if follow my blog. Just let me know in your comment
• +2 if you're already a follower. Again just let me know in the comment.

I will use a random number generator to choose the winners.

Contest runs from July 27, 2009 through August 15, 2009 6pm PST.


~EDIT~ Giveaway extended to August 16, 2009 6:00pm PST.

Kreative Blogger Award

I received this from Beth's Book Review. Thanks so much!

So onto 7 of my favorite things:

1. Camping
2. Hiking
3. Animals
4. Chocolate Chip Cookies
5. BBQ's
6. Bookstores (Obviously lol)
7. Road Trips

Now to award 7 other bloggers:

1. Bookin' With Bingo
2. Wrighty Reads
3. The Printed Page
4. GalleySmith
5. Pop Culture Junkie
6. Today's Adventure
7. Falling off the Shelf
   

Mailbox Monday and What are you Reading

This is a weekly meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Join the fun and post what you got in your mailbox last week!

I went a little crazy on books this week. Picked up a handful of them, well more than a handful really.






Blood Lite by Various Authors









Busy Woman's Slow Cooker Recipes - Cookbook Resources







Lord Loss - Darren Shan

This is for my daughter who has been bitten by the reading bug this summer vacation. She's read all of the Cirque Du Freak series by him and now is starting this series. She also read Inkheart while waiting for this one to come in the mail.




Fever 1793 - Laurie Halse Anderson









Rachel Ray Top 30, 30 min Meals - Comfort Food - Rachel Ray











Ranger's Apprentice The Sorcerer of the North - John Flanagan

My son has been patiently waiting for this to come out in paperback and it finally did.








Redneck Woman Stories from my Life - Gretchen Wilson








Totally Bread Cookbook - Helen Seigel and Karen Gillingham










Witch #1 Graphic Novel - TK









Witch #2 Graphic Novel - TK

Both of the Witch graphic novels are for my daughter.







Witch Child - Celia Rees










It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event hosted by J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.


Books I finished last week:
Fear the Worst - Linwood Barclay
Living Dead Girl - Elizabeth Scott

Currently Reading:
Mating Rituals of the North American WASP - Lauren Lipton

Books to Finish this Week:
Lauren Lipton
I hope to finish one more this week just not sure what I'm gonna be in the mood to read next.

How about you? Why not join in with what you've read, are reading or planning to finish this week or share with me in a comment.

Weekend Roundup

This week and weekend have been pretty tame. Not a whole lot going on. The weather's been beautiful but we are in the beginning of a heat wave which I am not looking forward too.

This week I got a very nice Kitchen Aid heavy duty blender and have been making some breads etc. with it. I love it!! I'm not much of a cook but I really like this mixer!

Last night we hung out at a friends house. Good food, great conversation and all around nice evening. Saw a couple of friends we hadn't seen in awhile so that made the night even better. Always good to catch up with those we don't always get to see.

Today I went for my Sunday walk with friends. My hubby's schedule is changing at work soon and he'll be able to come with us. I am looking forward to that.

After the walk we headed home and by the time we got home all the people I walked with all decided it was too hot today to hang at home. We all gathered up and headed up to our camp for a day at the river swimming. I am a bit sunburned but had a fantastic day swimming in the river with all my closet friends. Now I am home and just catching up on blog feeds and getting my posts done for the night.

I hope everyone had a nice weekend and good vibes for the upcoming week!

Stephenie Plum Challenge

J. Kaye's Book Blog is hosting this challenge. The goal is to read all the books of the series that you haven't read yet. The challenge starts today and ends December 31, 2009.

I love this series, but there are a couple I have yet to read. This challenge is perfect to get me busy and catch up.

Here are the two I have yet to read:
Plum Spooky - Finished 8/14/2009 Audiobook
Finger Lickin' Fifteen - Finished 8/22/2009

Interested? Head on over to J. Kaye's Book Blog to read the guidelines and sign up!

Fear the Worst - A Review

Fear The Worst - Linwood Barclay - A review for Library Thing
Release Date: August 11, 2009

Synopsis from back of ARC:

Tim Blake thought he knew his teenage daughter as well as he could know anyone. But when Sydney vanishes into thin air, all she leaves behind are questions. At the hotel where she was supposedly working, no one has ever heard of her. Even her closest friends can't tell Tim what Sydney was really doing in the weeks before her disappearance. Now, as the days pass without a word, Tim uncovers secrets about a daughter he didn't know and a dark world of corruption, exploitation, and murder right around the corner from his once seemingly safe life.

My review:

Originally I wasn't sure If I was going to like this book. It started off a bit slow and took awhile for the story to really get going. However once the story started flowing, I found myself getting more and more interested in it. I also wondered what role all the characters he introduced in the beginning would play. I wasn't sure if they were just filler characters or if they served a real purpose. I was glad to see through out the book that almost all the characters ended up playing their parts in the story well. Once the story got going, the book became a fast paced roller coaster ride of twists and turns. I was never quite sure what was coming next and I liked that aspect.

All in all I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery. The book, once it got going, was a fast and enjoyable read.

Booking Through Thursday

Which do you prefer? (Quick answers–we’ll do more detail at some later date)

• Reading something frivolous? Or something serious? Frivolous
  
• Paperbacks? Or hardcovers? Trade paperbacks
  
• Fiction? Or Nonfiction? Fiction
  
• Poetry? Or Prose? Poetry
  
• Biographies? Or Autobiographies? Autobiographies
  
• History? Or Historical Fiction? Historical Fiction
  
• Series? Or Stand-alones? Series
  
• Classics? Or best-sellers? Best-sellers
  
• Lurid, fruity prose? Or straight-forward, basic prose? Not sure
  
• Plots? Or Stream-of-Consciousness? Plot
  
• Long books? Or Short? Long
  
• Illustrated? Or Non-illustrated? Either
  
• Borrowed? Or Owned? Owned
  
• New? Or Used? Either
  

Harry Potter Reading Challenge

So I saw a post for this over at Devourer of Books which led me too GalleySmith where Michelle is hosting the Harry Potter Reading Challenge. The challenge is simple, read and/or listen to all the Harry Potter books between August 1, 2009 and July 31, 2010.

Having just seen the new movie yesterday, I told my husband I needed to reread them before the next movie comes out, so this challenge is coming at the perfect time.

I've read the first 4 and listened to the remaining 3 so not sure how I will accomplish this challenge but either way I think I'll have no problem doing so.

EDIT -
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone UK audiobook completed 10-8-2009
Harry Potter and the Chamer of Secrets UK audiobook completed 11-24-2009

Waiting on Wednesday

Sponsored by "Breaking the Spine". This weeks can't wait to read selection is:


Here is my pick this week:


Synopsis from Amazon:

One night, in cities all across Europe, five children vanish — only to appear, years later, at an exclusive New York party with a strange and elegant governess. Rumor and mystery follow the Faust teenagers to the city’s most prestigious high school, where they soar to suspicious heights with the help of their benefactor’s extraordinary "gifts." But as the students claw their way up — reading minds, erasing scenes, stopping time, stealing power, seducing with artificial beauty — they start to suffer the side effects of their own addictions. And as they make further deals with the devil, they uncover secrets more shocking than their most unforgivable sins. At once chilling and wickedly satirical, this contemporary reimagining of the Faustian bargain is a compelling tale of ambition, consequences, and ultimate redemption.

Release date:

August 25, 2009

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser this week:

Eric glanced over and flashed me a grin, but there was nothing friendly about it.

"Why don't you just sit back and enjoy the ride," he said, "and tell me where the fuck your daughter is."

Fear the Worst - Linwood Barclay pg 199 (Please excuse the language. I try to keep most of my teasers PG, but this was such a great teaser I couldn't help myself)

Mailbox Monday and What Are You Reading

This is a weekly meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Join the fun and post what you got in your mailbox last week!

I added a few to my stacks of books this past week.







The Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton








Jantsen's Gift - Pam Cope








Fear The Worst (ARC) - Linwood Barclay








It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event hosted by J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.


Books I finished last week:
Twenty Boy Summer - Sarah Ockler

Currently Reading:
Fear The Worst - Linwood Barclay

Books to Finish this Week:
Fear The Worst - Linwood Barclay
I hope to finish one more this week but I tried that last week and didn't do so hot.

How about you? Why not join in with what you've read, are reading or planning to finish this week or share with me in a comment.

Weekend Roundup

It's Sunday again and time for my weekly update.

My dog, Bailey, is feeling much better this weekend. I'm hoping that is a good sign. We're still keeping him separate from the other dogs for another week or so. Just until were sure he's back to himself or what is his norm since blowing the disc in his back.

Friday we went over to one of our friends for food and drinks and chit chat. I had a great time as usual and the company was excellent!

Saturday we decided to head up to camp. It had been 3 weeks almost since we went up last and I couldn't wait to get out of town. Our friends were up there also and we spent the afternoon down at the river swimming and just enjoying the warm summer day.

We ate dinner at our friends camp and then I tried something I normally would never even think to try and was pleasantly surprised. It was a flour tortilla filled with cut up banana, marshmallows, and a candy bar all rolled up. Then it was put in foil and cooked over the campfire until melted. It was a gooey, sticky, sweet mess and it was sooooooo good!

We headed back to camp to head to bed and as I was locking up the truck an adult female dear just casually wandered out across from the truck and headed on it's merry little way down the road. She was beautiful.

Today we headed out and I went on our Sunday walk with friends. It had been a month almost since I got to go. I really missed the walks so I'm glad I got to finally go this week. As for the rest of the day, my plans involve laundry, movies and starting a book I need to review.

I hope everyone had a lovely week this past week.

Booking Through Thursday

Follow-up to last week’s question:

Do you keep all your unread books together, like books in a waiting room? Or are they scattered throughout your shelves, mingling like party-goers waiting for the host to come along?

Usually my books are shelved by series, whether they've been read or not. Lately I've been so bad about organizing my books they're currently scattered about on the shelves, read and unread alike. One of these days I really need to get them in some kind of order.

Waiting on Wednesday

Sponsored by "Breaking the Spine". This weeks can't wait to read selection is:


Here is my pick this week:
Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Release Date 9/1/2009
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

After seeing this on a few sites, I knew I'd want to read this one. It sounds like it will be a moving read.

Twenty Boy Summer - A Review

Synopsis from B&N:

"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?"
"Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in ZanzibarBay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

My Thoughts:

Wow! I loved this book. It was heartbreaking, sad, bittersweet, happy, gleeful and too many more to write. Sarah takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions through out this whole book and you feel them right alongside the characters. I was pulled into the story so much it felt like I was there walking on the beach, feeling the ocean breeze mist across my face. I felt the characters grief and joy and pain. Books like this stay with me for a long time after I read them and they are some of my favorite kinds of books to read.

Would I recommend?
Most definitely!! There are some scenes that have sexual references but it's not too graphic for most teenagers.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser this week:

But he was Frankie's brother. I trusted him. And when he took my face in his hands and breathed my name across my lips, I knew that I would keep my promise forever.

Twenty Boy Summer - Sarah Ockler pg 14

If I Should Die Before I Wake - A Review

So here we go at another feeble attempt at a review...


Synopsis from Harcourt Trade Publishers:

Hilary hates Jews. As part of a Neo-Nazi gang in her town, she's finally found a sense of belonging. But when she's critically injured in an accident, everything changes.
Somehow, in her mind, she has become Chana, a Jewish girl fighting for her own life in the ghettos and concentration camps of World War II.
Han Nolan offers powerful insight into one young woman's survival through the Holocaust and an other's journey out of hatred and self-loathing.
Reader's guide and an interview with the author included.

I have to say I really enjoyed this book. Han does a great job at weaving a tale. I will admit at times the story seemed a bit rushed, but it didn't deter me too much. I like how he gave us a glimpse of Hilary's life before the accident and then slowly showed her evolving through Chana's memories rushing and playing in her mind while in the coma.

The book gave the reader a glimpse of life for a Jewish person in the concentration camps. Han wasn't too graphic in his telling but on the same note, he didn't sugar coat how life was there either. I liked that about the book.

All in all I enjoyed this book enough that I would recommend it to fellow readers. I'd say preteen and up.

Mailbox Monday & What Are You Reading

This is a weekly meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Join the fun and post what you got in your mailbox last week!

I added a few to my stacks of books this past week.







If I Should Die Before I Wake - Han Nolan from PBS














Blue Moon - Alyson Noel



















The Lake of Souls, Cirque Du Freak Book 10 - Darren Shan. Bought for my daughter.













Bound To Please - Lily Feisty. Giveaway win.



















It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event hosted by J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.


Books I finished last week:
A Break With Charity - Ann Rinaldi
If I Should Die Before I Wake - Han Nolan
Blue Moon - Alyson Noel

Currently Reading:
Twenty Boy Summer - Sarah Ockler

Books to Finish this Week:
Twenty Boy Summer - Sarah Ockler
I hope to finish one more this week but not sure which book I'm reading next.

How about you? Why not join in with what you've read, are reading or planning to finish this week or share with me in a comment.

Weekend Roundup

It's been a fairly uneventful week in these parts.

One of my dogs has a back problem and he's been hurting this week, so we've taken to keeping him comfy. He's doing better than the last time when he actually hurt his back so I think with a lot of rest he'll be back to himself in a couple weeks. Hate to see him all sad looking though.

On Friday I took my youngest to the library and ended up with some good stuff myself. Mostly audio books. Guess I need to get busy on Contagious and get it finished up. I just haven't had the time to just sit and listen which is the only way I can listen to audio books. If I start getting up and doing stuff, I lose parts of the story and that irks me. Some audio books take me a month to finished especially if I'm super busy.

Saturday we went over to a friends house for dinner and to watch the UFC fight on pay per view. I had never seen an UFC fight before and I must admit it was fairly enjoyable to watch. The main event was short lived but exciting and I enjoyed most of all the other fights they had.

Today, after a 4 week hiatus, I am finally getting to go walking again with friends. The last month has just been so busy for folks, it's been hard to get together on Sunday's. So glad we finally get to again today. Here's hoping we can get back on a weekly schedule again.

Well that pretty much sums up what's happening in my life these days.

Library Loot

I got bored today and decided to take a trip to our local library and I'm glad I did. I found some great audio books and on our way out I was told my hold book was in. Here's what I found today.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Okler

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (Audio book)

If I Stay by Gayle Forman (Audio book)

The Messenger by Lois Lowry (Audio book)

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry (Audio book)