Literary Friday ya’ll…

FRIDAY. Enough said.

1. Deep South Mag and their #literaryfriday is up for the week- Amy Franklin-Willis tells why book clubs should read The Lost Saints of Tennessee, cakes that look like popular books, and #literaryfriday has a new look! Plus much more!

2. Meg Donohue is having a giveaway because How to Eat a Cupcake is turning 1! Check the link for the rules to the #giveaway!

3. Bookmagnet is giving away Falling to Earth by Kate Southwood on her blog!

4. She Reads is giving away Allie Larkin’s Why Can’t I Be You? today on their page!

5. My #fridayreads is The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by Rita Leganski- what is your #fridayreads?

Happy Reading!

 

Food & The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow…

I began The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow yesterday. And I love it. I’ll admit that while the cover intrigued me- I was a teensy bit worried when I heard the word “whimsical” used to describe the reading. I’m a fan of “whimsical” in my art; not always in my reading. Happily, I’m enjoying “Bonaventure” thus far.  There are already at least 2 or 3 secrets that I’m eager to know about!

When you read, do you get hungry? Do you think food and books go hand in hand? If so, She Reads has a new food blogger- and judging by her first recipe- I think our waist-lines are in trouble from the scrumptious food headed our way. Shoo Fly Marmalade is the first recipe- and if that doesn’t conjure up images of the South, visions of New Orleans, and long sunshine-y days- then nothing else will! I know I personally can’t wait to see what Ingrid, She Reads Food Blogger, creates each month to complement the book club pick.

Now just in case you are absolutely on pins and needles- and you must discuss The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow with someone, anyone- Goodreads Southern Lit Lovers has begun their discussion. But don’t you talk you ourself out- because there will be a Twitter chat with Rita Leganski on March 20th 2-3pmEST and the She Reads discussion begins on March 25ht. I’ll be hosting both- and I plan to have some good questions and maybe a surprise!

Need a little more Southern Lit Lovers in your life (don’t we all)? Southern Lit Lovers is on Twitter- use @SouthernLitLvrs to tweet with them!

Other “Bonaventure” articles from She Reads:

March Book Club Selection

The Inspiration to Learn

Introductions, A Recipe, And Bonaventure Arrow

 

 

My On-Going Saga with the Library…

My On-going Saga with the Library is a pick up from a previous post of mine last summer title Free The Books! Free The Books!

To bring you, my readers, up to date on the latest saga: Picture this: it’s a month ago, and I request the book The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton- the main librarian assures me “it’ll be here in a couple of weeks”. Foolish me, I assumed that since we’d had so many problems the last time- that she might would TRY to get me this book. It’s been a month, and the book is still not here. I’ve given up and just bought it on my Kindle.

But you say- “Hey Traveling With T- these things happen- maybe she tried and could not get the book!’ I’ve thought this out as well- and I do not believe that the book has been requested. Because she’s always at the other library (yes, horror of horrors- she runs 2 libraries!) To remind you, dear readers, I live in a small town. A teeny town. Most people who go to the library only go for the computer. The other library is in a smaller town- and while I’ve never been there- I would assume it’s the same set-up.

Case in point: Last week, I went by to see if our library had Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke as I’ve been slightly disappointed in the past couple books. I go to our library and YES they have it! *jumping up and down for joy* BUT NO, I can’t check it out because the main librarian is not there, nor has shown the part-time librarian how to “check in new books in system” and won’t be back till Monday. Le sigh…. Big Le sigh… Ok, so I put my name on the “hold” list, verify that she’ll be in Monday, and leave. Not happy b/c I want the book, b/c I could have read the book before she’d be back at the library- but still. I go  Tuesday and ask about the book. And guess what? She still has not checked the book in, did not come in on Monday, and won’t be back till later this week. So, the part time librarian just decides to let me have the book. Probably because she knows in her heart this book is never getting checked in. Becasue the main librarian will probably never really be around.

I get that budgets are being cut, people are having to tighten their belts (that’s why I’m trying to use the library more!) But this is getting ridiculous. I get that when I go to the library, it’s not like going to bookstore and being able to get what I want right then. BUT when the librarian appears to not being doing a part of her job- it makes me mad. Really.

#31daysandcounting- how long till The Secret Keeper arrives?

Tuesday Mash-up….

Quick look over all the things going on: giveaways, reviews, and more.

The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow:

Looks like from the buzz She Reads has picked another great book for it’s book club.

Some of the reviews (so far!):

A Novel Review: The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow

Bookmagnet: The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow (plus a giveaway of the book!)

Books You Can Read Along with Groups for March:

Naturally you can read along with She Reads as we read and discuss The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow during March.

But say you want more? I know, I know- 1 book is just not enough- guess what? You are in luck!

Join Allison at The Book Wheel and Rebecca at Love at First Book as they read Tana French’s In the Woods all through March!

#giveaways:

GR8Thoughts is giving away The Affair for the April #gr8books Tweetchat. The March chat (Wife 22) happens tonight from 8-9pmCST. Come, join in- the ladies are great, the chat is good- and the convo is fun!

Drey’s Library giveaway of Randy Susan Meyers The Comfort of Lies has 5 days left!

 

 

 

 

Skeleton Letters (a Scrapbooking Mystery) by Laura Childs

Skeleton Letters is another cozy written by Laura Childs. For the most part, I enjoyed the book. I like Carmela, like her friendship with Ava, adore the New Orleans setting. Cozy books are easy reads, fun reads. And I adore a good cozy!

Carmela and Ava are bringing items to the St. Tristan’s Church when they see a crime. One of their friends has been killed, and a priceless artifact has been stolen. Babcock, Carmela’s sweetie, tells her to let the police solve the crime- but for the scrapbook buddies at Memory Mine- that is not good enough. Carmela, with a teensy bit of pushing from friends, finds herself in the middle of this investigation- turning up angles, finding red herrings, and learning about the craziness of collectors.

As Carmela and Ava continue to investigate- they stumble upon clues that put them in direct line with the killer. Will Carmela be able to save the day or are her scrapbooking days over?

 

 

The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by Rita Leganski- March’s She Reads Book Club pick

It’s the first Monday of the month, which means it’s time to announce She Reads book club pick. The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by Rita Leganski is it!

The cover is so whimsical- it’s a beautiful cover.

There’ll be a Twitter chat and online discussion on She Reads. Discussion at Southern Lit Lovers on Goodreads. Basically, The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow will be on everyone’s lips. So- come, read, discuss. Join in the fun. We’re a friendly bunch of people!

Stop by She Reads today, comment on March Book Club selection post (gaze adoringly at the cover while you’re at it 😉 and maybe you’ll win a copy to join in the fun!

Happy Reading!

Literary Friday ya’ll…….

It’s Friday and my #literaryfriday is almost to the limit with good stuff. So sit back and enjoy 🙂

1. Deep South Magazine and their #literaryfriday: Erika Robuck’s Call Me Zelda trailer, Joshilyn Jackson’s birthday, and much more!

2.Deep South also unveiled their picks for Ten Reads for Spring. Out of the 10, I’ve read 2- and they were very good!

Julie Kibler’s Calling Me Home made the list (and it was She Reads Feb Book Club Pick!) Holly Goddard Jones The Next Time You See Me also made the list.  Here are my reviews for Calling Me Home and The Next Time You See Me

3. It’s the first day of March- and She Reads wants you to know that our March read will be The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by Rita Leganski. It’s her debut novel.  At the end of the month, there will be a discussion on She Reads and we’ll have a Twitter chat as well (both are hosted by me!)

Good news if you like Goodreads- A group on Goodreads called Southern Lit Lovers will be teaming up with She Reads for the reading of The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow- there will be tons of chances to discuss this book during March. Southern Lit Lover is moderated by Jo (Twitter handle @BloominChick) and she is looking forward to some great discussions!

EVEN BETTER NEWS: Jo @BloominChick is giving away copies of The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow on her blog! Check out Jo’s Blog Diggin’Around for a chance to win! Giveaway ends SUNDAY 11:59pm EST.

4. She Reads has some great posts this week- in case you’ve missed them, here they are:

Tell Me Something True-A Visit With Alison Atlee

Tell Me Something True- A Visit with Maryanne O’Hara

A Room of Her Own- The Writing Space of Julie Kibler

5. Liked Julie Kibler’s Calling Me Home? Want to discuss it? Come on to She Reads and let’s discuss- the discussion is happening through the weekend!

6. My #fridayreads is Skelton Keys by Laura Childs. What is your #fridayreads?

7. More #giveaways:

Drey’s Library is giving away The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers!

Goodreads is giving away The Girls’ Guide to Love and Supper Clubs by Dana Bate.

Happy Reading 🙂

 

Stalking You Now by Jeff Strand

I’m blaming my new like of reading dark, twisty things on Gillian Flynn. With Gone Girl, she transformed me into an enjoyer of that type of book.

So, when I saw Stalking You Now by Jeff Strand on Netgalley- I thought “Hmmm.. This sounds interesting!” And was expecting a Gillian Flynn-ish type novella read out of Stalking You Now. The first few pages in I was not disappointed. I was enjoying it. Then the secret of why he was stalking the person was revealed and another complication happened. And it was over for me- it never regained that “spark”, that thing the cover had set my mind toward. Is it bad? No. In fact if you like dark humor- this novella is probably for you.

But for me- maybe my expectations were too high, too set in the wrong way. Had I not been thinking about this book as “dark and twisty Gillian Flynn-ish” I would have probably really enjoyed it. But sadly, I was. The cover and description fooled me.

I still think this novella deserves a fair shake- and I think if the reader has no pre-conceived notions of what it’ll be like; they’d be more likely to think “WOW! This novella rocks!”

Recommended for fans of dark humor and short reads.

Discussion, Giveaways, & exciting news!

Doing a little looking around on the internet today & found some #giveaways to brighten up a Monday!

Giveaways:

Drey’s Library is giving away a copy of Randy Susan Meyers THE COMFORT OF LIES. Listen, I’m not going to even lie about how much I want to win this book. Ever since I heard from multiple sources about how much I’d love this- I’ve wanted. Needed it. But- I’m a nice gal- so I’ll share the links with ya’ll so you have a chance to enter as well. May the odds be ever in your favor! (I know, I know- so cheesy- but I just had to write it!)

Southern Spines is giving away a copy of Amy Franklin-Willis THE LOST SAINTS OF TENNESSEE. Plus there is a podcast! I haven’t read it yet- but the cover is intriguing to me. I was in Lemuria Books a few weeks ago- and I saw it. I kept looking at it and thinking “I’ll come back and get it”- then when I walked back over- a lady had reached up and snatched the last copy 😦 Moral of the story: If you want the book- grab it before someone else.

Drey’s Library is still giving away a copy of THE HOUSE GIRL by Tara Conklin.

Exciting News:

Southern Lit Lovers (a group on Goodreads) and She Reads will be teaming up for March! Both groups will be reading THE SILENCE OF BONAVENTURE ARROW by Rita Leganski.

Discussion:

Book Club Discussion for CALLING ME HOME by Julie Kibler is happening now. Going on all week. Come by, chat with me. I’ve already posted the first set of questions/thoughts- and will continue to update all week. If you were a fan of CALLING ME HOME- don’t miss out.

 

 

 

 

Literary Friday, ya’ll…..

I know my #literaryfriday is 2 days late; but I still wanted to post about it!

Got lots of news so read on!

1. Deep South Mag has their #literaryfriday- and it’s just filled with good things. Foreign movie posters ( you just have to see the Gone With the Wind one!) and good news for us folks awaiting the new Spring/Summer Reading List- it comes out VERY soon!

2. She Reads & Southern Lit Lovers (on Goodreads) are teaming up for some VERY exciting news in March!

3. Tomorrow (Monday) is the beginning of the Calling Me Home discussion on She Reads. The discussion will be led by me- and it’ll be going all week! We’re going to talk about the book, who we think would be perfect in the roles if Calling Me Home was a movie, and much more!

4. She Reads is on Pinterest now! So check them out there! Interesting boards to check out: Calling Me Home Board, Our Pretty Peepers, Our Furry Muses and The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow

5. The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow will be She Reads March Book Club pick. Look over the Pinterest board, grab a copy, get ready for a Twitter discussion (Date TBD) and join me at the end of March as I lead the discussion!

6. My #fridayreads is American Ghost by Janis Owens- what was your #fridayreads?

Happy Reading!