Story Time ...

My friend Julie sent Gabbie and I some new books for Christmas.  

John Denver songs made into story books!!  

Grandma's Feather Bed

Our favorite is Sunshine On My Shoulders.

Gabbie can 'read' most of this one to me! 

Just kicking back on Aunt Paula's bed!

Evelyn Wood, I Need You!

Just checked out an eight-book bundle (ebook) from the library.  

I have fourteen days to read eight books!

(In case you don't know who Evelyn Wood is .... click here)

What Are You Reading?

Still loving my Nook I got several months ago.  Really loving checking out library books for it.  I've had it since April and I think I've bought three books for 99 cents each.  Otherwise I've read free books from the B&N site, and library books.  The library's selection of ebooks is getting larger every day.

I've read tons of authors I might never have found but for searching 'free' on the B&N site, and 'mystery' on the library site.

Here's a few I've really liked:

July Hyzy -- She has two series that I've read (or am reading); Manor House Mysteries, and White House Chef Mysteries.  Manor House has only two books (I hope there will be more to come, they are great).   White House Chef has five.  I've read two and have a third one checked out now.  She also has some other books I haven't had a chance to read yet.

John Lescroart -- I have read two of his books and am on the third.  I can't put them down.  He has a series featuring an attorney named Dismas Hardy.  These are really well written books and I never know how it's going to end until I get to the end.  There are many recurring characters in the books.  I've had to read them a bit out of order due to library availability, but it hasn't affected the plot of the book any (the most noticeable thing so far is that in the book I'm reading now Hardy's kids are infant/toddler, and in the first book I read they were teenagers.)

 Carolyn Hart -- She has several series, but so far I've only read the Bailey Ruth Raeburn books.  Mystery, but light and funny.  Bailey Ruth is a well intentioned, but sometimes over-eager ghost who comes back to her hometown to help folks who are in trouble.  Very fun reading.

I have the "1st generation" Nook.  I love it.  I'm thinking of getting my mom the new Nook Simple Touch for Christmas.  If she decided she doesn't like it, I'll use it myself.  But I think she'll like it.  (Now, if I could just afford to get my dad an iPad!)

So ..... what do you recommend for my reading pleasure??

A Little Break ....

...... from all the weight loss talk.

New pic of The Gabster.  These were done at day care.  Who knew day care did this?? Not me!  :-)

I took a picture of the picture with my phone, so the quality isn't phenominal, but it was the easiest way to share (without a scanner).

Here is the newest book I am about to read (not new, but new to me).  I saw this series displayed at the library last week so I decided to give it a try.  This is the second library book I have downloaded to my Nook.  This one took only about five minutes.  The first one took nearly two hours.  (Hey, at least it's obvious I learn from my mistakes! LOL)

A murder mystery - and food - gotta be good, right??   I'm also about to start the 3rd of the Women's Murder Club Series by James Patterson.  And I've also started reading the Michael Bennett series by Stuart Woods.   You know,  in my 'spare' time!!  

Now ..... gotta go cook some supper.  New York strip steak was on sale yesterday.  Yum!

Books ....

What I just finished .....

What I'm about to start ......

Reading .... Again ....

Back on the reading kick again.  Physical books this time vs the Nook because Mom gave me a bunch this weekend.

One of them was James Patterson's "Worst Case".  Unfortunately it is third in a series, so off to the library I went to check out the first one.  While typically you do not have to read the books in order as each book is a new case each case gets solved independently of previous cases, there are recurring characters in the series so I like to try to read them in order if I can.  At the very least, I want to read the first one first.

So I am now reading "Step On A Crack".  It's introducing a new character/series .... Michael Bennett.  So far it's very good.  Very James Patterson.  Very good.  ;-)

The Series ...

These three books kept me mesmerized, and I read all three of them in only seven days.  I would've never found them if I hadn't gotten the Nook.  These books are not available in print.  However, if you don't have a Nook, don't despair.  You can download the free Nook App to your iPhone, Android Phone, PC or Mac and read them there.

The author's note:  This book contains mature content (language, violence, sexual situations)


My note:  It's all well in keeping with the story, (though the 'sexual situations' are quite detailed). And really the language isn't anything more than you'd hear in a PG movie or pretty much any tv show nowadays.  


In order:  The Mating (900 pages), The Keeping (347 pages), The Finding (1120 pages).

Now, I've just downloaded five more books, all by different authors (though three of the are Harlequins).  I'll let you know how I like them very soon!!

I Recommend ...

Just finished reading this one.  I've read several books by this author (most recently her 'FBI Series').  This one was different from what I've read recently, and therefore 'fresh'.

Looks like I'll have to go to the library tomorrow and get another one since my Nook is not going to arrive this weekend.  (It has however finally left Dallas at 6:55 this evening.  Destination unknown.)

One thing I am looking forward to with the Nook is the free books and therefore the perfect opportunity to discover new authors.

Books, Books, Books ...

If you're looking for book ideas, surf over to Kelly's Korner where she is having her Show Us Your Life series on Friday's.  This week her topic is "what books are you reading?".

I used to read a lot.  A LOT.  (As a teen I even read the encyclopedias when I couldn't get to the library for more books!)

Then, a few years ago, I got out of reading books and stayed online (a lot).  I read online ... news headlines, articles, emails from friends, and then of course, there was 'social networking'.  Recently, (about two months ago) I started reading books again.  Went to my local library (very convenient as it is next door to where I work) and checked out three books.  I checked out three books by authors I had previously (years ago) loved, and found that my tastes had not changed and I still love those authors.  I've been reading at least two books a week recently.

I read JA Jance's books 'The JoAnna Brady Series' about a lady sheriff.  I also read Catherine Coulter's "FBI Series" with Agents Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich.  In the past I've read John Grisham, Stuart Woods, Danielle Steele, Sandra Brown, and right now I cant think of all the authors I've read.  If you've read any of these authors, you'll recognize that I like mysteries mostly.

Yesterday I was reading a blog written by William over at 'Poop and Boogies', and he talked about a favorite author of his Mom's .... Lisa Scottoline ... so after work I went to the library I checked out one of her books.  I've read five or six chapters, and so far it's right in line with what I like to read.

I also checked out a Catherine Coulter book that is not in the FBI Series, and a Patricia Cornwell book "The Front".  Cornwell has a series as well, about a forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta, but this book is not in that series.

And I still have to read the ones I bought at the Goodwill store a couple of weeks ago while I was on vacation.  JoAnn Ross is a new author I haven't read yet.  And they were only 99 cents each!

I also (just yesterday) ordered a Nook ebook reader, so I'll let you know soon how I like that.  I ordered it from Woot so it is a refurb but it comes with the same warranty as a new one.  I like shopping at Woot and at KidsWoot and at 1SaleADay.  All three of these sites have a great deal every day, but you only have 24 hours to decide.  Each day it's a new deal and you cant go back to yesterday's deal.  Actually, 1SaleADay has five items each day.

I have also asked my kids for a LARGE PRINT Bible for Mother's Day, because the older my current Bible gets, the smaller the print gets.  What's up with that??

So .... what are you reading?  I'm always looking for suggestions!