WWW Wednesdays (Should Be Reading) August 8

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?

 

What are you currently reading?

Now You See Her by James Patterson and Love the One You’re With by Emily Giffin. I’m more than halfway though JP book- it’s interesting; but I’m not just “omg can’t put it down”. EG’s book- I’ve only read a couple of chapters so far- so a bit too early to make any statements about it. I’m also still reading Pride and Prejudice.

What did you recently finish reading?

Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand. Could not put the book down. Loved it. Highly recommend. Also The Sweet Life #5- I truly love this e-serial by Francine Pascal and hope that more continue to come out.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Oh my- I’m so ready to read Dark Places by Gillian Flynn- so probably her book. But I also have others: The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D by Nichole Bernier, A Brew to a Kill by Cleo Coyle,  and A Teeny Bit of Trouble by Michael Lee West.

Book Signings- Pros and Cons

I love going to book signings. Actually meeting the person behind the book that I’ve been reading is a pretty cool thing.

I’ve been to book signings where there are so many people, and I’ve been to signings where only a couple of people have attended (those are the ones that I feel terrible for the author- it must be disheartening to travel to the signing to only see a couple of fans!)

The larger ones are fun, but I usually feel like I’m being quickly paraded through when the crowd is large. I like smaller groups the best- where the author can discuss things about the books and give behind the scenes information.

What are your thoughts on book signings? Do you just want to get the book signed or do you like it when they have a reading either before or after the signing?

Guest Blogging for Melinda McGuire (melindamcguirewrites)

If you’ve read my blog the past few weeks, I’ve been mentioning Melinda McGuire and her great idea for Southern posts (#STHRN for Twitter people!). I’ve really enjoyed reading some of the other guest bloggers posts, and having recently had the opportunity to go to a uniquely Southern place- I sent Melinda an email, pitched her my idea, and she graciously accepted it.

Here’s my post on Rowan Oak, Oxford, and a taste of the Southern Life. Thanks Melinda for letting me have the opportunity to write of a great experience and to share with people all over. Check out Melinda McGuire’s blog melindamcguirewrites– great articles, guest posts, and more!

 

Happy Reading!

Musing Monday (Should be Reading) August 6

This week’s musing, courtesy of http://readbookswritepoetry.blogspot.in, asks:

What attracts you to a book blog? What puts you off in a book blog? Do you share personal stuff on your book blog?

 

What attracts me to a book blog?

If I see that we are enjoying similar books, I check that blog often to get recommendations.

What puts me off in a book blog?

A blog with way too many graphics- it takes forever for the page to pull up and that’s bothersome. Also a blog that has an immature voice about it- it’s great to like books that “tweens” are currently digging, but I don’t want to read a bunch of immaturity. Harsh, but true.

Do you share personal stuff on your book blog?

Not really. My reading choices are about as personal as I get. I split my time between a book blog and a small town travels blog for my personal one- I don’t put anything on the blog that I wouldn’t up-front tell a room of strangers.

 

Summer Reading.. Had me a Blast…. Summer Reading.. Happened so fast…

Summer reading- for kids in school this term may come with frowny faces and general dislike. However, for me, this term makes me want to click my heels 3 times, take care of the things that HAVE to get done, and settle down with a good book!

Question: Summer Reading- is it books to you about summer time events? Is it trashy-like novels that just seem extra good as you lay on the beach? Murder and mystery?

For me, there is no hard and fast rule as to what constitutes summer reading- I read beach-y cover books, cozies, mysteries, whatever I can get my hands on. Summer used to be marked by the new release of Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum book, but now they are being released in the fall/winter.

Currently reading Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand and absolutely loving the book thus far.

Last question: Do the books you read have seasons? Summer/Winter reading? Are there some books that can be enjoyed year-round? Would you read a Christmas/holiday themed book in the middle of the summer? Do tell!

Literary Friday ya’ll…

F-R-I-D-A-Y!

Literary Friday is here!

The biggest news for Literary Friday is that Kimberly Brock’s book, The River Witch, is on sale today only for $1.99 as an Amazon Kindle Daily Deal. $1.99- that’s a steal my friends- a complete and total steal! It’s worth full price, but if you’ve been waiting to buy the book, on the fence about whether you want it (Trust me- you want this book!)- now is the time to buy! Carpe diem!

Here’s an idea- since the book is so cheap today- book clubs should buy it for their groups- Having a book that is good and amazing to discuss is a great thing!

Deep South Magazine and their weekly Literary Friday is filled with information: A giveaway of Faulkner books from Book Riot, a giveaway of Shine, Shine, Shine from Joshilyn Jackson, a mention of the hit summer book, Gone Girl, and Reese Witherspoon, and book festivals/book signings going on all over the South. For more information on the giveaways- read the Deep South Magazine’s Literary Friday!

Other Literary Friday things:

My Friday Reads- trying to decide between A Teeny Bit of Trouble or  Summerland. Thoughts?

Happy Reading!

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Dog + Reading a Book = Adorable!

Zeke reading a book

I like to think I have the cutest dog in the world. He’s always got a big doggy grin, and he’s so happy to see me. My dog is the subject of many photos- as I’m learning how to shoot pictures in manual mode as opposed to just plain auto-focus.

Yesterday, he was being particularly adorable as I was organizing my library books. He kept looking at this one intently- so I just pulled the camera out and began snapping pictures. Then decided to add props. End results: This!

If he could talk- I’d like to think he would say “While I’m enjoying the Lizzy/Diesel storyline, I much prefer the Stephanie Plum series for this reason- I’m a total Team Cupcake!”

But realistically, he’d probably prefer being friends with Lula- especially in “To the Nines” when she was on the meat-eating diet- after all, having a best friend who carries meat in the purse- total heaven for the dog!

 

 

 

WWW Wednesday (Should be Reading) Aug 1

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?

 

What are you currently reading?

Currently reading Twanged by Carol Higgins Clark and Little Shop of Homicide: A Devereaux Dime Store Mystery by Denise Swanson.

 

What did you recently finish reading?

The Great Gatsby. And The Sweet Life #4 by Francine Pascal. Where We Belong by Emily Giffin. The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March.

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

This is tough. I just got The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D by Nichole Bernier. I also went to the library to get several books. I have Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand and the new Nancy Thayer book. Choices, choices….

Went to the library- came out with too many books….

Total #bookgirlproblems- going into the library and coming out with too many books. Yesterday’s visit: 2 James Patterson books, 1 Nancy Thayer, 1 Carol Higgins Clark, and 1 Janet Evanovich. Ok, 5 books- on the surface, not so bad- but, I have 3 other books from library that I need to read- plus a stack of books that I’m eager to read as well. I’m a book hoarder!

Next #bookgirlproblems- I’m still waiting on copy of The Rook by Daniel O’Malley that I requested eons (real time April 2012) ago from the inter-library loan. I’m feeling quite confident that the book will be on a bargain list before it comes in on inter-library loan.
A little Literary Friday teaser: I heard from a VERY reliable source that a certain book that I’ve been raving about will be on the Amazon Kindle Daily Deal Friday August 3rd for $1.99. Check here, check Amazon, check wherever on Friday to find out which book. And when you do find out- let the price be the deciding factor if you’ve been on the fence about the book- it’s worth more than a $1.99, but take advantage of the low, low, low price if you don’t have it. Even better- say you’ve read it and loved it, wanted friends to be able to experience the book. For the price of a $1.99, you can treat a friend to a book!

* I’m terrible at keeping secrets- so, the book has 3 words in title AND it’s by Kimberly Brock.