Mailbox Monday #8

These are the books I've received this last week.




Wolf Song Visions: The Earthwalk of Lêla and Káhla Remembered by Scott and Linda
Reade



The Smartest Way to Save by Samuel Freshman & Heidi Clingen
Probably one of the better books to have right now.


That's it for this week.

Friday Fill-ins #121

#121

And...here we go!


1. Apparently there's some sort of plot against me in life.

2. Hope tomorrow is a sunny day.

3. 2009 is okay so far.

4. Hope that was it.

5. For too long I've been letting things go, I need to take the bull by the horn and get some things done.

6. I am not obsessed with genealogy on the computer (Ancestry.com); I am not!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to not working, tomorrow my plans include watching my nephew play soccer and sawing up the huge tree branch in the backyard and Sunday, I want to be able to do some laundry(yuck)!

Freebie Friday #2 - Fast Track

I thought I would try a new thing - Freebie Friday. Every Friday I will post a book that I have read and would like to pass on (share). So here is week 2.

I'll post the book and on the following Thursday draw a name (using randomizer) to pick a winner of the book.

A new book will be posted each Friday.

So here we go.....



Post a comment including your email (to notify you) if you are interested in the book. Thanks and happy reading.

Mailbox Monday #7

These are the books I've received this last week.



The Chameleon Conspiracy by Haggai Carmon



"You Wanna Go to Willard ?" by Linda M. Holbrook



Reclaiming Our Children by Robby Dixon




That's it for this week. Hope I can get through them all.

Book Review - 2nd Chance by James Patterson

#18
Title: 2nd Chance
Author: James Patterson
Genre: Suspense
Challenges: Challenges: Winter Reading Challenge 2009, A to Z Reading Challenge, Numbers Challenge, 2009 Support Your Local Library, 2009 Audiobook Challenge, 20 Books in 2009, Pages Read Challenge 2009, Books Around the States Challenge, 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, States & Countries (OnThePorchSwing)

Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: Audio (400)
Published: 2002

From the back:
The shooting of a little girl on a church’s front doorstep leads Detective Lindsay Boxer to round up “[four] of the sharpest law-enforcement minds in the city” – the Woman’s Murder Club, composed of herself, Chronicle reporter Cindy Thomas, Assistant DA Jill Bernhardt, and a medical examiner Claire Washburn – to break the case. A serial killer, using different methods and choosing semmingly disparate victims, is leaving a trail of bodies across the greater San Francisco area. What is the logic behind this serial killer dubbed “Chimeria?” To her horror, Detective Boxer realizes that all the killings have affected relatives of policemen, and may have something to do with her estranged father, Detective Marty Boxer. Facing Chimera’s taunts and attacks, the WMC prepares for a showdown.

Mine: Funny thing about this series it that I started with book 4, little knowing what a great series and that it actually took place in my own backyard (San Francisco is about 40 miles away). How could you be so cold to be murdering children? Who is Chimeria? Lindsay must learn quickly before she is punished for her father’s sins as a police officer himself, can she do it?

Book Review - 1st To Die by James Peterson

Title: 1st to Die
Author: James Patterson
Genre: Suspense
Challenges: Winter Reading Challenge 2009, A to Z Reading Challenge, Numbers Challenge, 2009 Support Your Local Library, 2009 Audiobook Challenge, 20 Books in 2009, Pages Read Challenge 2009, Books Around the States Challenge, 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, States & Countries (OnThePorchSwing)

Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: Audio (432)
Published: 2005
From the back: The Women's Murder Club pits four San Francisco women professionals against a serial killer who's stalking and murdering newlyweds in bestselling author James Patterson's newest thriller. Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector who's just gotten some very bad news. She deals with it by immersing herself in her newest case and soliciting the personal as well as professional support of her closest friend, who happens to be the city's medical examiner. The two women, along with an ambitious and sympathetic reporter and an assistant DA, form an unlikely alliance, pooling their information and bypassing the chain of command in an engaging, suspenseful story whose gruesome setup is vintage Patterson.


Mine: Funny thing about this series it that I started with book 4, little knowing what a great series and that it actually took place in my own backyard (San Francisco is about 40 miles away). This is the book where we actually learn how the foursome got together and how they fit together for their later adventures. (I just wish the TV show had been a bigger hit). I love Lindsay and the strong powerful woman that she is. The intrigue of Patterson is also the best, because he makes you guess the entire time until he let the secret out of who the killer is.

Book Review - Jump, Frog, Jump by Robert Kalan

# 15

Title: Jump, Frog, Jump
Author: Robert Kalan
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Challenges: PB & J Challenge, 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, A to Z Reading Challenge, 2009 Support Your Local Library, 20 Books in 2009, Pages Read Challenge, Young Reader's Challenge 2009, Spring 2009 Challenge,

Rating: 5/5
No. of Pages: 32
Published: 1981

From the back: this is the turtle that slid into the pond and ate the snake that dropped from a branch and swallowed the fish that swam after the frog – Jump, Frog, Jump! Don’t read this book aloud if you aren’t prepared to have your listeners chorusing these words. This perfect cumuliative tale might well be been entitled “Let’s Hear It For The Frog.” And hear it you will – for no one can read or listen to this cliff-hanger without involvement.

Mine: I LOVE Frogs so am always looking for books that have stories with frogs in them. This is one of the more enchanting one’s that everyone must read. The cute “Jump, Frog, Jump” is priceless even reading it by yourself you realize that it should be shouted out.

Book Review - One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

# 14
Title: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Author: Dr. Seuss
Genre: Childrens
Challenges: Childhood Favorites Reading Challenge, A to Z Reading Challenge, 2009 Support Your Local Library, 20 Books in 2009, Pages Read Challenge 2009, PB & J Challenge, 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge,

Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: 62
Published:
From the back:
"Did you ever fly a kite in bed? Did you ever walk with ten cats on your head?" Such are the profound, philosophical queries posed in this well-loved classic by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel. While many rhymes in this couplet collection resemble sphinx-worthy riddles, Seuss's intention is clear: teach children to read in a way that is both entertaining and educational. It matters little that each wonderful vignette has nothing to do with the one that follows. (We move seamlessly from a one-humped Wump and Mister Gump to yellow pets called the Zeds with one hair upon their heads.) Children today will be as entranced by these ridiculous rhymes as they have been since the book's original publication in 1960--so amused and enchanted, in fact, they may not even notice they are learning to read!

Mine:
What a wonderful rhyming book as usual for a Dr. Seuss. I’ve always love this one and like reading this with my youngest nephew. I always love the illustrations that he does. The Zeds with one hair. How can you not think it’s funny.



Sue
http://booksbooksth emagicalfruit. blogspot. com/

Friday Fill-ins #120

#120

And...here we go!


1. Join me in enjoying a great weekend.

2. Put a little love in your day!

3. Happiness is spending time with my nephews.

4. Dazed and confused.

5. I'm waiting for the weekend.

6. Reading is hard to resist.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include watching my nephew’s soccer gameand Sunday, I want to work in the garden (it’s going to be in the 80’s)!

Freebie Friday - Back to the Bedroom

I thought I would try a new thing - Freebie Friday. Every Friday I will post a book that I have read and would like to pass on (share).

I'll post the book and on the following Thursday draw a name (using randomizer) to pick a winner of the book.

A new book will be posted each Friday.

So here we go.....



Post a comment including your email (to notify you) if you are interested in the book. Thanks and happy reading.

Ten on Tuesday

Ten On Tuesday

10 Signs that You’re Getting Older

1. Boy that fine print is getting finer (oh yeah and the newspaper and magazine print is finer also)
2. You know it’s bad when the hairdresser says – you have to get highlights more often
3. I have a hard time keeping up with my nephews (6 & 7)
4. The “oldies” are my kind of music
5. The clothes I wore are now back in style (and the fashions weren’t stylish then)
6. The body just doesn’t work like it used to
7. The remakes of “old” tv shows – just doesn’t work the next time (90210)
8. Becoming more set in my ways
9. My nephews look at me when I say – I did that when I was your age or a little older – they think it’s the first time through
10. Teen magazine doesn’t do it for me – I like Sunset, Time and BH&G


So what are yours? Would you like to participate? Head on over to here.

Mailbox Monday #6

These are the books I've received this last week.



Outside the Lavender Closet by Martha Taylor. Thought I might use for my Erotic challenge.



The Liberation Diet by Kevin Brown CPT and Annette Presley RD. What woman isn't always in need of a new diet book




That's it for this week. Hope I can get through them all.

Booking Through Thursday 4/9

Here’s the question:
Some people read one book at a time. Some people have a number of them on the go at any given time, perhaps a reading in bed book, a breakfast table book, a bathroom book, and so on, which leads me to…
1. Are you currently reading more than one book?
2. If so, how many books are you currently reading?
3. Is this normal for you?
4. Where do you keep your current reads?

Yes
I’m actually reading 3 books right now (just finished listening to #4)
Yes, I usually am reading more than one book at a time.
Well, one is by the bed for night time reading, one is in the car for when I get stuck somewhere and one is in the bathroom for extended stays.

Mailbox Monday #5

These are the books I've received this last week.



The Glenn Miller Conspiracy: The Never-Before-Told True Story of his Life - and Death by Hunton Downs. Sounded interesting, because I've always liked Glenn Miller music.



Jill Spiegel's How To Talk To Anyone About Anything! By Jill Spiegel. Thought I'd try this for a spin - great for a wallflower.



The Shipwreck of a Nation: Germany: An Inside View by H. Peter Nennhaus. Sounded interesting, since he writes about what Germany was like during the war.



The Lake That Stole Children by Douglas Glenn Clark. This sounded like a book my nephew would like - with the adventure.



Last but not least...Women in Family Owned Businesses: What Keeps You up at Night by Patricia M. Annino, Thomas Davidow, and Cynthia Adams Harrison, with Lisbeth Davidow.
I've always wanted to go into business with my family - I thought I'd read this to see if it's worth the headache.

That's it for this week. Hope I can get through them all.

Book Review - Payback (Sisterhood #2) by Fern Michaels

# 14

Title: Payback (Sisterhood #2)

Author: Fern Michaels

Genre: Romance, Suspense

Challenges: To Be Continued…Challenge, 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, Book Around the States Challenge (Virginia), 2009 Support Your Local Library, Romance Reading Challenge 2009, 20 Books in 2009, 2009 Second Chances, Pages Read Challenge, States & Countries (OnThePorchSwing)

Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: 304
Published: 2005
From the back:
Once the hallmark of macho fantasy, payback moves to the heart of modern romance in the spotty second installment of Michaels's Revenge of the Sisterhood series, as the heroines of Weekend Warriors regroup for mission number 2. Revenge is a dish best served with cloth napkins and floral centerpiece, according to the Sisterhood members: heiress Myra Rutledge; her adopted daughter, Nikki; Kathryn, the truck driver; Alexis, the African-American broker turned personal shopper; Julia, the plastic surgeon; Isabelle, the psychic; and Yoko, the nursery owner. It's vigilante justice for Julia this time: she's "contracted AIDS from her philandering senator husband." Frail Julia gets strength from her friends and guidance from Myra's lover, Charles, an ex-MI6 British operative and gourmet cook who plays a different kind of Charlie to Myra's Angels. ("Now, girls," says Myra, "let's devour this wonderful luncheon Charles has so wonderfully prepared so we can get to work and do what we do best: going after the scoundrels who have turned your worlds upside down.") Charles arranges invites to an exclusive Washington party where the gorgeous avengers kidnap the senator, but a good-looking assistant district attorney threatens to interfere with their plans (if only he and Nikki weren't out to right past wrongs, they could rekindle their old passion!). Michaels grinds out bestsellers by concocting videogenic plots filled with strong heroines and effortless costume changes. Her fast-paced, sentimental, occasionally silly novel puts poetic justice first; romance must wait for the next installment.

Mine:
What a great series – albeit it is probably better to read in order. I love the way the Sisters manage to get around the red tape. They are using vigilante justice, but no one seems to get hurt. They are just trying to get the justice that is deserved the for the wrong doings of others. Julia’s wonderful Senator husband has fooled around and managed to give her AIDS or at least the HIV virus and it is starting to take it’s toll.

The Sisters are there to get him and put him in his place.

Book Review - Greedy Apostrophe: A Cautionary Tale by Jan Carl

# 12 (actually 28, but only review 12 – I’m a Little behind)
Title: Greedy Apostrophe: A Cautionary Tale
Author: Jan Carl
Genre: Children’s
Challenges: PB & J Challenge, 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, A to Z Reading Challenge, 2009 Support Your Local Library, 20 Books in 2009, Pages Read Challenge, Young Reader's Challenge 2009, Read a Book a Month Challenge,

Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: 32
Published: 2009
From the back:
It's the moment all the punctuation marks have been eagerly awaiting: assignment time. There are plenty of open positions for apostrophes as contractions. Soon there's only one job left-for a possessive-and only one apostrophe to fill it: none other than Greedy Apostrophe. It's not long before his greed gets out of hand, and he jumps into signs where he doesn't belong. What will it take to put Greedy Apostrophe back in his place? This clever and zany language arts picture book will have kids eager to learn the tricks of using an apostrophel

Mine:
What an adorable book – I read it while babysitting my nephews. That apostrophe is really greedy and wants to get in on all the punctuation. Great illustrations also –very colorful. We had a great time reading it.