WWW Wednesday 6/16/10

(Hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading)
If you'd like to play along with WWW Wednesdays, just click the button above.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?

Here is mine:
I am on the brink of finishing 1st To Die by James Patterson

I recently finished 2nd Chance by James Patterson


I know I am going to read I Will Not Be Silent by April Maley for review.
I am also going to read Portraits of Life by Mary Iris for review.
(sorry I don't have an image for this book)

Teaser Tuesday 6/15/10

(Hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading)
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• 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!

My Teaser:
'I reached into the folder one more time, this time taking out a copy of the security photo of the killer arriving at the Hall of Fame. "This is a security photo from the night she was killed." ' pg 292 of 1st To Die by James Patterson

Musing Mondays 6/14/10

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Who in your family (both immediate & extended) are readers, and who are not? (from MizB's posting)

My hubby is a major reader but he doesn't see any interest in the blogging thing (I know!). My mother, oldest sister Heather, youngest sister Bethany, my younger niece Lilly. They are the avid readers. My mother is more into self help books and Christian fiction romance. My oldest sister is definitely into the fiction romance. My niece is into Nancy Drew books which i love as well. I have almost the entire series and still read them. My younger sister is more into novels and Shakespeare but she is also into the Christian romance books but not as much as our oldest sister. Our oldest sister mainly reads non-Christian fiction romance. My dad used to be a reader but not as much anymore. It's hard enough getting him to go through his mail! Lol. I have a few friends that read once in a while but they aren't big on reading. The rest of my family is the same.

Mailbox Monday 6/6/10

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Ya know, I actually did get a book in the mail...my first book for review! I'm not sure if I told y'all about it bu I am excited! It is I Will Not Be Silent by April Maley.Reading only the back of the book, her paragraph and the Forward, the cover is very fitting. I can't wait to read it. I am totally looking forward to it. Hopefully the books I requested will be coming soon. I am very much looking forward to them:)

The Sunday Salon 613/10

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I am on the brink of finishing 1st To Die by James Patterson and I am very happy about it so hopefully I will have my review up later this week. Now it will make sense in the next few books when Lindsay Boxer talks about the Bride and Groom Case that she cracked. It will also make sense when she talks about Chris Raleigh. But more on that later:)
I was also reading Winter Haven a novel by Athol Dickson...but because I got so wrapped up in the Women's Murder Club book series, I put an extension on my time for another two weeks...or at least tried to...someone else already had a hold on it. So I put it on hold AGAIN and hopefully I will get it back before the 12x12 Reading Challenge is over lol! I hate it when I have to do that becausethen when I do want to read that book, I can't. And it bugs me! But... I will have my chance soon enough...patience Lisha...


I am also joining the Summer 2010 Challenge which is tackling your TBR List during the summer.

So instead my next reads will be I Will Not Be Silent by April Maley which I am reading for review. Also next for me is Acting a novel by Sherri Winston. My review for that should be up in the next few weeks.

The Sunday Salon 6/13/10

(Powered by MizB, Should Be Reading)

I am on the brink of finishing 1st To Die by James Patterson and I am very happy about it so hopefully I will have my review up later this week. Now it will make sense in the next few books when Lindsay Boxer talks about the Bride and Groom Case that she cracked. It will also make sense when she talks about Chris Raleigh. But more on that later:)

I was also reading Winter Haven a novel by Athol Dickson...but because I got so wrapped up in the Women's Murder Club book series, I put an extension on my time for another two weeks...or at least tried to...someone else already had a hold on it. So I put it on hold AGAIN and hopefully I will get it back before the 12x12 Reading Challenge is over lol! I hate it when I have to do that because

then when I do want to read that book, I can't. And it bugs me! But... I will have my chance soon enough...patience Lisha...

I am also joining the Summer 2010 Challenge which is tackling your TBR List during the summer.

So instead my next reads will be I Will Not Be Silent by April Maley which I am reading for review. Also next for me is Acting a novel by Sherri Winston. My review for that should be up in the next few weeks.

Friday Finds 6/11/10

What great books did you hear about and/or discover this past week? Share with us your Friday Finds!

My Finds:



1.Columbine by Dave Cullen
2. I Will Not Be Silent by April Maley
3. The Husbands and Wives Club: A Year in the Life of Couples Therapy Group by Laurie Abraham




(hosted by MizB, Should Be Reading)

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I Just Won 1 Swag Buck on www.swagbucks.com just for using the toolbar!

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Here is mine: I plan on finishing 1st To Die by James Patterson and starting I Will Not Be Silent by April Maley for review as well as finishing Winter Haven a novel by Athol Dickson.

I really enjoy this meme because I get to find other great bloggers, and add books to my TBR List:)

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Where Does The Credit Go?

So...because I am particularly new to this still; meaning the book blogging and giving my personal reviews and taking part in fun activities such as The Sunday Salon, Booking Through Thursday, Tuesday Teaser, etc... I wanted to make sure that people who don't know where these ideas came from and what have you, that the credit goes to the right person. So I had started saying in either the beginning or the end "Powered by so and so" but I am fearing that I may not always be right. So if I am wrong and you come by and see my mistake please leave a comment for me on the blog so I can fix it! Hopefully I have been giving the credit to the right people so far:)

Booking Through Thursday 6/10/10

This week's question...

Do signed copies excite you? Tempt you? Delight you? Or does it not matter to you?
My answer:
I enjoy getting signed copies of books; If I get the opportunity to go get a book signed I'll go but I'm not going to die if I don't get it. I know I may be weird and a minority but oh well I guess lol.


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The Sunday Salon 6/7/10

I get ahead of myself with books, especially from the library. I believe I have mentioned that in the past. I see all these books and I want to read them and I promise myself I will and I'm very optimistic...until I have one month and ten books to read. I begin to lose optimism...
Especially when I get busy around the house, running errands, taking care and having fun with my now 9 month old girlie. But then I think, if I run out of time, it just goes back on my requested list at the library.
No worries (yea right lol). So I am going to hopefully finish 1st To Die by James Patterson
and continue with Winter Haven a novel by Athol Dickson. I kinda slowed on that because I got so into James Patterson's book series (Women's Murder Club).
Not saying Winter Haven isn't as good because it is but I've been more into a James Patterson mood. Kind of like how I Love Cherry Dr. Pepper but I am on a Pepsi kick right now. No offense to Athol Dickson because Winter Haven is good writing and really good characters. I am really enjoying the storyline thus far.

Teaser Tuesday 6/8/10

(Powered by MizB at Should Be Reading)
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• 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 is mine:

1st To Die by James Patterson

"The jacket wasn't the groom's. It belonged to the man who had killed him."

New Beginnings 9/1/10

Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading)
To remind you of the way this works, here’s how to play:

First — post your list of New Years’ Resolutions in a post at your blog (or in the comments here, if you don’t have a blog).
Second — every week, on Wednesday, write a new post about how you’re doing with each of your goals … you’ll have to list them, again, each week, as people won’t remember what you’re working towards, otherwise. Be brief in your updates, as there may be several blogs to visit! ((come give a quick update here at Should Be Reading, if you don’t have a blog)).
Third — after you’ve written your update, come back to Should Be Reading, and share your link so that we –the other New Beginnings participants– can stop by your blog and encourage you!
Important! … It would be absolutely great if you could visit at least ONE other participant’s blog on Wednesdays and leave a comment on their post to share some encouragement for their efforts! Show your support! That’s what this event is all about — standing by each other to finally reach our goals!

Here is mine:

Read the Bible in a year...
I haven't read in a while but now I am back on track with my devotions and Bible reading. I don't know why I keep slipping with that. I love and fully enjoy reading The Word. I really do. I guess I just get busy and side tract....

Lose 10-15 lbs...
Remember how I said "if the scale is correct I was down to 120 but wanted to lose a few more pounds. I did the exact opposite. I apparently gained a few more pounds. So I am near 125. I don' want to go to my weight before my first pregnancy of a whopping 100 lbs but at the same time, that's where all my clothes are at! And I don't have a whole lot of cash to get more with. I am still wearing my maternity clothes (kinda embarrassing but they are cute:) Anyways...

Tone Up...
I tried a new workout routine a few days ago and wow it works.  I actually have to lighten up on it a little bit because my legs and behind were killing me. I love that it works though and I felt the burn and the affects.:):)











Get my family (my hubby and I) completely out of debt...
Hubby found a new job and starts on the 4th. We're getting there:)

Finish college and get my teaching/education degree..
I will worry about that when we are more financially secure and ready. Maybe When Abigail is in school...?

WWW Wednesdays 6/9/10

(Powered by MizB: Should Be Reading @ http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/author/simj32/To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions... * What are you currently reading?* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you'll read next?

1. I am currently reading 1st To Die By James Patterson; the first book in the series of The Women's Murder Club.

2. You want to know something crazy? I don't know if it's because I am tired or what. But I almsot don't remember. I believe it was the Alex Cross Trial by James Patterson. I'm pretty sure it was...3. I think I am going to finish reading Winter Haven a novel by Athol Dickson. I started reading it a few weeks ago then got really into the James Patterson books. No slap to Athol Dickson...Winter Haven is a good book so far and really good writing and I love the main character so far but these past James Patterson books are from the library and are due in the next few days. I have a couple more weeks for Athol Dickson.

Musing Mondays 6/7/10

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Where is your most often used (favorite) reading spot? Do you have more than one? What makes your favorite spot just that?

Share pictures if you have them! :D

That is easy for me though I don't have pictures...I do need to work on that. I have a camera and the wire I need, but I need to be better about uploading the pictures! Especially if I want to do blogs about my life; aka hubby, daughter, family, friends ,etc...ANYWAYS....

My answer: The bed. But inadvertently I have taken naps because of this spot but I have gotten better. I sit up with a couple of pillows behind me with my daughter in the room in her playpen with her toys ( between you and I...I do sometimes get sidetracked because of her lol...

My other favorite place would be the bathroom. While I take my weekly bath...lol OK that came out wrong. I shower regularly I promise. But I take a bath once a week as a treat to myself. Kind of like me time. Relaxing reading time that's quiet and I get clean as well...lol.

My bed though is the main spot, obviously and I like my bed for my reading sot because there isn't the interruption of the television or daily commotion. I get to sprawl out if I want and I have all the pillows I want. And if I end up taking a short nap...OK.

Booking Through Thursday 5/27

This week's question...

What books do you have next to your bed right now? How about other places in the house? What are you reading?
If you would like to join in on Booking Through Thursday, go to http://btt2.wordpress.com/

I am reading:
1. 2nd Chance by James Patterson with Andrew Gross- almost done with this one! Quite the page turner!
2. Winter Haven a Novel by Athol Dickson

Next I am going to be reading: 1st To Die by James Patterson!

I have boxes upon boxes of books in my apartment that I have yet to read. I also have 1st To Die by James Patterson, What to expect the first year, Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales Of A Botswana Safari Guide by Peter Allison, The Murderer's Daughters (a novel) by Randy Susan Meyers next to my bed. I have books all over my place and I need to work on that...

Teaser Tuesday 5/25

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• 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 is my Tuesday Teaser:

"How they posed, even knowing that their lives were about to end. Even with the nooses wrapped around their necks." Pg 64 from the book 2nd Chance by James Patterson with Andrew Gross, book 2 in the Women's Murder Club book series.

Missing Oprah, Elizabeth Gilbert and Julia Roberts

I was very excited the other day when I saw on TV that Elizabeth Gilbert and Julia Roberts were going to be on Oprah that day discussing her book, the movie coming out and how Elizabeth Gilbert felt about Julia Roberts playing her in the movie! I was so looking forward to watching it! It was supposed to be on at 9pm:) And perhaps (there had to be!) getting to see a clip of the movie; it's suppose to be coming to theaters August of this year....then I fell asleep and didn't wake back up until 11:30pm! I was so mad! So my question is...did anybody watch it? How did it go? Is there a website I can go to to watch the show? If not I guess I'll survive...Lol. But I definitely want to read the book before I go see the movie.

Mailbox Monday 5/24

A couple days ago I did a no-no...I went to the library even though I have a book checked out ;D That night my husband came home and saw the bag of books from the library. He gave me a look but as I pulled a John Grisham book...he smirked. You can't keep getting more than you can read, babe. He said. But we finally reached an agreement: I won't get on him for all the Anime and graphic novels he gets if he won't point out that I always get more than I can read. I think that's a good deal:) Here is what I got from the library:
1. Try To Remember by Iris Gomez
2. The Best Short Plays of 1954-1955 edited by Margaret Mayorga
3. Whatever You Do, Don't Run by Peter Allison
4. Columbine by Dave Cullen
5. Testimony by Anita Shreve
Now, I am halfway through 2nd Chance by James Patterson and I keep thinking...What do I want to read next?? So many choices! So many books I want to read! So which comes next? I have no idea...some help in deciding would be nice:) Anyway, onto finishing up dinner (homemade turkey soup with dumplings) then laundry, vacuuming, dishes, giving my daughter a bath and a movie night with the hubby; we are going to watch Fight Club with Brad Pitt and Edward Norton:) Love those thrillers and suspense films, the ones that really make you think and get you to doubt if you have figured out the mystery or not:)

What Are You Reading? 5/23

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It has been a busy week for me...I, like everyone else have a lot to say about books but- when giving a review for a book, its hard to give a synopsis without giving the book away...at least for me. So it is new for me to give my book review without giving it away to other readers who want to read the and haven't. A new fun challenging hobby(?) for me. Anways... I finished Alex Cross Trial by James Patterson this week and gave my review on it. Which is at my other blog site bookjunkiemom09.wordpress.com. I am now onto Winter Haven, a novel by Athol Dickson, very good so far; sad but good. I am also reading 2nd Chance by James Patterson. I would love to go on but it is after midnight and I need to be up and out the door by 6am so have a great week everyone!

Sunday Salon 5/23

This week I finished The Alex Cross's Trial. if you would like to read my review on that book go to my other site: http://bookjunkiemom09.wordpress.com/2010/05/23/sunday-salon-and-my-catch-up-on-posts-day-523/ I also started reading 2nd Chance by James Patterson. I'm also thinking about starting Winter Haven a novel by Athol Dickson; a book for my 100+ book challenge, 21x12 and Christy Awards

My review on The Alex Cross Trial by James Patterson

Here is the link to amazon.com
First off, the cover for this book is very fitting.
The first few chapters actually don't do the usual in my opinion, you don't dive right into the mystery; you get a little background and groundwork done before you meet a couple of the main characters and the reason for the story. At first, that annoyed the living crud out of me. When I finally got to the chapter where he introduces Alex Cross' Grandfather and started getting into the main point of the book, I thought FINALLY! But then I remembered...there are those times when you can't just dive into it(the story), you do need some ground work at times.
I also like the fact that this book actually has some history in it as well. Which opened my eyes to the hatred and injustice black people had to put up back then. At times, the book made me mad and I wanted to scream WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? then I had to remind myself, this is a book Elisha, get a grip...or loosen it!! All in all, great book that opens your eyes and really makes you think about history at times as well.

W...W...W...Wednesdays 5/21

I just started taking part in this today, sounds like fun...plus another way to find great books and other great bloggers. And if you go to shouldbereading.wordpress.com, you'll find more, such as reading challenges, weekly challenges, book reviews and more. It is one of my favorite blog sites to go to personally. If you'd like to play along with the WWW Wednesdays, just click the button above.

* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?

Here are my answers:
2nd Chance by James Patterson with Andrew Gross (Novel and thriller/suspense) and Winter Haven by Athol Dickson (a novel, also the winning Author of River Rising)

The Alex Cross Series by James Patterson

Try to Remember by Iris Gomez ( a novel) and A Plague Of Secrets by John Lescroart (Legal Thriller

12x12

The deal here is to read one novel each month. The brains behind this are two bloggers: Pizza's Book Discussion in '09 and FOMA's National 'Just Read More Novel's' Month '10. It's a great challenge. To find out more about the challenge and the rules/guidelines before you join, go to http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-reading-challenge-12-by-12-reading.html

Here is my list of novels so far:
1.Winter Haven by Athol Dickson
2. The Murder's Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers
3. The Last Ember by Daniel Levin
4. East of the Sun by Julia Gregson
5. The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry
6. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
7. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
8. House Rules by Jodi Picoult
9. Try To Remember a novel by Iris Gomez
10. The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen
11. Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick

Booking Through Thursday 5/13

http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-through-thursday-who-influences.html

If you'd like to join in on Booking Through Thursday, just click the button above.



This week's question...

Are your book choices influenced by friends and family? Do their recommendations carry weight for you? Or do you choose your books solely by what you want to read?

My answer: I think it depends on who it is and where the advise/suggestion is coming from and if we have some of the same taste in books. But I have also gotten A LOT of good book suggestions from other bloggers.

A-Z Wednesday-N

Here is the link to this weeks Wednesday's Book Challenge:
http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2010/05/z-wednesday_12.html

And here is my answer for the week:
"Never Look Away" by Linwood Barclay

Its one of those true 'page turners, cant put it down. Really keeps you on your toes.

Here is the link to the book and all of its information:

http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?store=BOOK&WRD=never+look+away

Reading Challenge on Shelfari.com

So I joined shelfari.com, a really fun website where you get your own bookshelf with the books you've read, want to read and are reading. As well as reviews/synopsis for books, you can chat with other people and authors and join discussions and challenges and make your own. Which is why I am writing this post. I have created a book reading challenge on shelfari.com via the group I joined 'Paging All Book Worms!'. The Challenge is to read the James Patterson's book series Women's Murder Club. To learn more about it and/or to join, go to:

http://www.shelfari.com/groups/48124/about

It is titled" James Patterson-Women's Murder Club" It will be near the top.

A-Z Wednesday-M

I wanted to do my this other book, The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry but that starts with 'T'. So I am doing 'Mr. Gatling's Terrible Marvel' by Julia Keller.

In 1862, with the Civil War lapping at his doorstep, an Indianapolis inventor and businessman name Richard Jordan Gatling created the world's first working machine gun. He Naively hoped it would shorten or even eliminate war by reducing the number of soldiers needed to fight. The overwhelming effectiveness of a multiple-firing would, he reasoned, cause opponents, to throw in the towel. Instead, it kicked off a worldwide escalation in the armaments , business and opened a path toward modern gunnery, one that leads all the way to the AK-47.The Gatling Gun was the original weapon of mass destruction.

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Gatlings-Terrible-Marvel-Misunderstood/dp/0143115642/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273096541&sr=1-1

Christy Awards Challenge

I was wandering around bookjourney.wordpress.com and came acroos the 'Christy Awards Challenge' so I took a look and I decided, "you know what, it has actually been MORE challenging for me to find Christian fiction books that interest me...I'm going to join this." I have no problem with Christian non-fiction and Christian help books,etc. But fiction books...ehhh.....
So this is going to be great for me. Widen my horizon, find some great books and some more favorite authors!

Even though I would love to do the 7th Tier, I don't have time for that! But I will put all of them on my TBR List! As long as it is! So I am going to stick to "Baby Steps: 1st Tier." Here are my choices:

1.The Rook by Steven James

2. By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer

3. Winter Haven by Athol Dickson

Go to either BookJourney.wordpress.com and look for the link 'Christy Awards Challenge' or go to http://www.christyawardschallenge.com/2009/11/christy-nominated-and-awarded-books.html to learn more and/or sign up for the challenge! But there are rules/guidelines:

Total Christian Fiction Newbie:

This is only for those who have read no Christian fiction before…the challenge is to read one book from any of the Christy Awards Winners!

Baby Steps

1st Tier – 2009 Favorite Category Read All Nominated Books 3-4 books
2nd Tier – Any ONE Years Favorite Category – 3-4 Books or mix 3-4 winners from any category

It’s All in the Winners
3rd Tier- 2009 Winners – 9
4th Tier- Any ONE Year’s Winners 7-9 or mix’n'match 7-9 winners

Dedicated

5th Tier – Read 2009/or ANY Year All Books 36-40 Books

Hardcore

6rd Tier – Read all the nominees in your favorite category
7th Tier – Read all of the winners in every category

The Christy Challenge–Perpetual Challenge
Read all of the books nominated and awarded the Christy challenge throughout the course of your lifetime.

Even though I would love to do the 7th Tier, I don't have time for that! But I will put all of them on my TBR List! As long as it is! So I am going to stick to "Baby Steps: 1st Tier." Here are my choices:

1.The Rook by Steven James

2. By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer

3. Winter Haven by Athol Dickson

4. Never Let You Go by Erin Healy

Sunday Salon- Book Reviews

So I decided to take part in a monthly post. You list all the books you have read in the month, and you can give a review of the books or not, or reviews on your favorite books; its up to you. To find out more about this and/or join in this, go to The Sunday Salon



Here is my tiny little list: (Do baby books count lol?!)

1. Loos Girl by Kerry Cohen- I would recommend this book. Very good. Not what you would think.
I give this a 4star ****
2. Letter to my daughter by Maya Angelou- wasn't a big fan of the book. I'm sure she is a delightful woman to sit and chat with over a pot of coffee, but I don't think I would buy any of her books, maybe flip through some of the pages. Sorry.
I give this a 2star **

A little more recent picture of myself ..a little over a year ago

Elisha wants you to check out a photo on MySpace in the The day we got Legally married album