Week in Review - 11/25/12

What went on in my life:
School for the kids, Court of Honor with Boy Scouts for my oldest son, he advanced in rank and also received Scout of the Month for September (they do Court of Honor for each quarter).  I was a very proud Mom.  And this comes on the tail of last week's school awards.  He's just making me proud all around.  The little one (who is 7 and not so little) had a short and uneventful week thankfully so that was good.  I had another week of not feeling so hot.  I didn't work Monday, did on Tuesday and Wednesday, but really was just waiting for 3:00 when I could leave and go home and veg out.  Thursday was Thanksgiving and time spent with family which was great.  Friday found me home, and not fighting shopping crowds.  I read most of the day, and the only time I left the house was to take Logan, my oldest out to The Bridge which is our local teen hangout on weekends which is about 15 minutes from my house and to pick him up. Saturday was spent doing laundry, some cleanup around the house and reading, another night at The Bridge for my son and some TV for the husband and me. Then more reading.  I spent the day reading Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep, what a great book, and I needed my Mythos Academy fix!  I also hooked up my Tumblr account and started some small posts there, it will mainly be pictures and small updates, leaving the reviews and big updates for the blog.

How was your week?

What I read (links take you to my reviews or to Goodreads page):
Invisible Boy by Cornelia Reed - I read The Crazy School which is Madeline Dare #2 and loved it so I checked this one out from the library.  It was good, a little here and there, but then again her writing can be.  I really enjoyed the story though and enjoy the characters. More on this later this week.

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer - this was really cute and a fast read. I loved the changing points of view and the way the actual story from the storybook was woven in.  A delightful read for the day after Thanksgiving for me, I hope to review it this week.

Last Frost by Jennifer Estep - I won this back when it was released but never could get to read it though I adore this series. Then I volunteered to be a part of Jennifer's blog tour for Crimson Frost which is out in December so I have to get this read so I can read Crimson Frost (such a hardship I know).  It is great so far, love getting back to Gwen, Logan, Daphne and Carson and others at Mythos Academy.

What I received (links take you to Goodreads page):
Vanished by Irene Hannon, e-ARC from Revell for blog tour January 6-12, 2013, I love Irene Hannon and can't wait to read this one
Edge of Dawn by Lara Adrian - from NetGalley, review February 22, releases February 26, 2013)
The Young and the Ruthless by Victoria Rowell - from Netgalley, review March 5, 2013 (it's release date).  I was a huge fan of The Young and the Restless for many years until I gave up soaps for lent back in 2000 I think. I still kind of miss them so this is my way of revisiting the past :)
Absent by Katie Williams - from Edelweiss, review & release April 1, 2013
Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza - from Edelweiss, review & release April 12, 2013
Catch a Falling Star by Beth K. Vogt - from Netgalley, review April 30, 2013, release May 7, 2013 from Howard Books
The Long Way Home by Mariah Stewart - from Netgalley, review January 31, 2013, release January 29, 2013
The Siren by Tiffany Reisz - I bought this from Amazon for my Kindle Fire, it and The Angel (which I have) are on special for $2.99 until December 3rd, so run get your copy.  The Prince was just recently released.
Pure and Sinful by Killian McRae - I bought this one on special Black Friday (no going out to shop!) through Amazon, thank you Killian for sending this through your newsletter!  I have been wanting to read it but forgot to add it to my wish list.  I've read some of her historicals and want to try this.  It's still $0.99 today (11/25) so grab a copy if you haven't


What I'm Reading Now:

Crossed by Ally Condie (on my Kindle Fire) - Not much progress this week, it just hasn't called to me like the other books I've read.
Zoo by James Patterson (my library book) - it's okay so far, we'll see . . . 
Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent (my audio book) - I'm at 3/4 done now, hope to finish this week.

What are you reading?

Monday morning reading

I'm home dealing with aches and pains today and my wonderful cat Buckwheat is keeping me company while I read Invisible Boy by Cornelia Reed. Which is a perfect read for a cloudy, windy, rainy day like today. And the bonus is Buckwheat's neck scarf matches my blanket. :-) I have a review or two coming later today.  Have a great day and stay warm.  

2013 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge

I love this time of year, yes I love Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it's also Reading Challenge sign up time!  So here's my first one.  Romantic Suspense is one of my favorite genres so when I saw this one I knew I would sign up. It's easy, see the details below if you are interested.  I'll keep track of my books for the challenge here once the new year starts.

Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013 (books read prior to 1/1/2013 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to read 13 romantic suspense novels in ‘13.
• Books can be any format (bound, ebook, audio).
• Novellas that are at least 100 pages in length, as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.

1. Imitation in Death by J.D. Robb
2. Vanished by Irene Hannon
3. Divided in Death by J.D. Robb
4. The Seventh Victim by Mary Burton
5. Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts
6. SEAL of Honor by Tonya Burrows

Week in Review

In an effort to recommit to my book blog I thought I would do a week-in-review type post.  I know I enjoy reading what others have done with their weeks, but I'm just that type.  So I thought you might like to see what I read, what I received and what I did :)  And I love comments so feel free to tell me something you read, something crazy that happened or anything in general that is going on in your life.  Hey if you have a prayer request, I will even add those to my prayer list!

What went on in my life:
Work, work, work, then I had a flare-up.  Flare-ups really frustrate me now that I'm gluten-free and feel well for the most part.  So when I feel bad, it really gets to me.  This flare up caused me to miss work on Friday, I felt better yesterday (a little) and then woke up feeling horrible again this morning.  Our weather is probably the cause, it's blowing a gale, raining and just can't seem to make up it's mind whether it wants to be 60 or 45 here and my body doesn't do well with that.  But I've been able to read so that is good.
My oldest got his first academic award this week! The school he went to before didn't even do honor roll or principal's list so this was great, they had an award's ceremony that my Mom went to for me and Logan received an award for Honor Roll (2 points away in one class from Principal's List) and an Accelerated Reader award (wonder where he gets that from).  Yay for him!  Jacob also tells me he is way ahead of his class in his individual reading.  I'm proud of both of my boys!

What I read (since last Saturday, links take you to my reviews or to Goodreads page):
Double Time by Olivia Cunning (Sinners on Tour #5), Whew, that is one hot book!
The Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson, such a sweet Christmas story
Love, Anthony by Lisa Genova, I finished this up on audio and I can't even begin to gush enough about this one, my review will come this week.
Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro - looks to be a good start to another series by James Patterson, review to come
Across the Universe by Beth Revis, major gushing to come!
The Racketeer by John Grisham - wow, the master is definitely back in this one, review to come

It was an excellent reading week, lots of reading time and lots of great books to read. I honestly wasn't sure I would like Across the Universe, but it hooked me, I can't wait to read the next one, hope it comes in from the library on Tuesday!  And The Christmas Pony was so delightful.  The Racketeer kept me reading all day on Saturday, a definite could not put down.

What I received (links take you to Goodreads page):
The Emperor's Conspiracy by Michelle Diener - tour date December 3
Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep - tour date December 21
Political Suicide by Michael Palmer - review date December 12
Haven of Obedience by Maria Anderson - review in December
Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens - review December 5
Effortless by S.C. Stephens - review December 7
Hysteria by Megan Miranda - review January 29, 2013
Release Me by J. Kenner - review January 1, 2013
Also Known As by Robin Benway - review February 26, 2013 (my birthday!!!)

What I'm Reading Now:
Invisible Boy by Cornelia Reed - I read The Crazy School which is Madeline Dare #2 and loved it so I checked this one out from the library. So far it's great.
Crossed by Ally Condie (on my Kindle Fire) - I loved Matched and I bought this when it came out.  And now I have Reached coming from the library so I figured it's time to read it!
Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent (my audio book) - I love her YA series, and now I love this series as well, can't wait to see what happens next.  Love Liv and Cam!

What are you reading?

Snapshot Saturday 11/17/12

It's a windy cool Saturday here on the coast of NC and I'm in my favorite chair with my electric blanket throw reading happily.  I thought I would share what I was reading at the moment from the library, on my Kindle and as my audiobook, just as a snapshot of my reading week.  Feel free to comment and let me know what you are reading and what your weather is like as well, I love hearing what everyone is reading and doing.

Here's the view from my front porch:

Here's my library book and main book I'm reading at the moment, I'm on Chapter 10, page 79 and it's getting really good.  More like a classic Grisham to me.

Given the importance of what they do, and the controversies that often surround them, and the violent people they sometimes confront, it is remarkable that in the history of this country only four active federal judges have been murdered.

Judge Raymond Fawcett has just become number five.

Who is the Racketeer? And what does he have to do with the judge’s untimely demise? His name, for the moment, is Malcolm Bannister. Job status? Former attorney. Current residence? The Federal Prison Camp near Frostburg, Maryland.

On paper, Malcolm’s situation isn’t looking too good these days, but he’s got an ace up his sleeve. He knows who killed Judge Fawcett, and he knows why. The judge’s body was found in his remote lakeside cabin. There was no forced entry, no struggle, just two dead bodies: Judge Fawcett and his young secretary. And one large, state-of-the-art, extremely secure safe, opened and emptied.

What was in the safe? The FBI would love to know. And Malcolm Bannister would love to tell them. But everything has a price—especially information as explosive as the sequence of events that led to Judge Fawcett’s death. And the Racketeer wasn’t born yesterday . . .

Nothing is as it seems and everything’s fair game in this wickedly clever new novel from John Grisham, the undisputed master of the legal thriller.

On my Kindle I'm reading, I just started this, I loved Matched and have Reached on the way from the library.  I actually bought this for my Kindle when it came out last year and I'm just getting around to reading it!

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky — taken by the Society to his certain death — only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia’s quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander — who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia’s heart — change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.



And my audiobook for cooking and listening to in the car after I drop the kids off is Blood Bound which is wonderful.  I was hooked on Rachel Vincent's YA books, the Soul Screamers series, but now know she does adult just as well!  I'm getting close to halfway through this one, the audio is great and I know I will be eager for the second in this series as soon as I finish this one.

By blood, by word, by magic…

Most can't touch the power. But Liv Warren is special— a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood.

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one.

But when her friend's daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can't rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her.

Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot have, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every corner…every touch…every kiss.

And more blood will be spilled before it's over…

And the fun of all three of these titles, none are for review!  Next week I have no scheduled reviews, but lots of reviews to write, so right now it's time for reading for fun!

 What are you reading on this Saturday before Thanksgiving in the US?

Win a Custom Manicure Set and a $20 Ulta Gift Card

Sara Daniel, author of Construction Beauty Queen, which I reviewed and gave away a few weeks ago is having a great giveaway to continue promote her book. Below is Sara's Rafflecopter and all you have to do is enter :)  It's a great prize, I love the beautiful custom manicure set (I really need one) and a $20 Ulta Gift Card (who couldn't use that?)  Good Luck and make sure you check out Construction Beauty Queen - it's a perfect weekend read!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Note: this is a giveaway hosted by Sara Daniel not by My Reading Room.

Cover Reveal: Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin

Release: December 27th

Blurb:

I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.

I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.

And now I’m going back.

After ten years.

I hope I can explain that after all this time.

I still want her to be my forever girl.

My grandma once told me that I can do anything I want, so I am.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, I now live in picturesque Vermont, with my husband and two daughters. Also renting space in our home is an overhyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.

During the day you'll find me behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, I'm writing one of the many stories I plan to release or sitting courtside during either daughter's basketball games.

I'm also an active reviewer on The Readiacs - a site I own with my best friend and uber special beta, Yvette.

Website † Facebook † GoodReads † Twitter


_______________________________________
 
GIVEAWAY
_______________________________________

This giveaway is open INTERNATIONAL.

a Rafflecopter giveaway