It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Musing Monday

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

It's Monday again...and boy does it feel like one. At least the sun is shining and it will get to about 45 degrees today.

In my reading world I am finishing up this one. Look for my review tomorrow.

Next up will be this one...good thing too, because my house needs some real organizational help lately.

I also need to finish this one because I started it in February while on vacation, but had to review other books first. I also received the next book in the series, so better get moving on this one.

These cute books are due for review this month over at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. 

Musing Monday is hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker.  It is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK'S RANDOM QUESTION: Why did you become a reader? Series or stand alone which do you prefer?

I am so happy to see Musing Monday is back. I've missed it.

Last week on my blog were reviews for the poetry collection How I Love the Empty Air and the Amish novel A Mother's Gift. 

As for this week's question, right now I am into stand alone books simply because I have so little reading time. Whenever I discover a new book in a series, I know I'll want to read previous books or I won't want to review the latest book until I read the previous installments. I might try out a trilogy, but can't commit beyond that.

What is going on in your reading and blogging world this week?

Musing Mondays - Nov 28

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

Did you catch it? I swear we just blinked and November is gone. Here we are on the last Monday of the month--Cyber Monday, no less. Any great deals you plan to scoop up?

Right now I am preparing for my virtual book tour for Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving. It starts December 5. You can find my book tour schedule here.

Check out this great book I borrowed from the library last week:

In her fifteen years of teaching, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett has found that the biggest stumbling block for aspiring writers (especially women) is not fear of the blank page but frustration with the lack of time. What woman doesn't have too much to do and too little time? Finding an hour free of work, children, or obligations can seem impossible.

But anyone can find fifteen minutes, whether you're sitting in traffic, waiting at a child's soccer practice, or watching the coffee drip. DeMarco-Barrett has created a practical, inspirational guide for fitting serious writing into those stolen moments. She offers writing exercises and techniques for generating ideas, as well as pragmatic advice from the well-known authors who appear on her radio show. With fifteen minutes a day, she can help you to ignite your pen and become the writer you have always wanted to be.

With all the thrill of the book launch, I realized I miss writing terribly. My goal for 2017 is to write a little something each week. Do you set goals? Are you ready to contemplate goals for 2017 yet?

I'm just starting a new book that I promised to review:

Quense published four books on self-publishing. He has now complied them into one complete self-publishing guide, which allows you to purchase them cheaper than if you bought them all separately. 

The goal of self-publishing a book is to produce a quality book package to hold your content. Despite what you read on the internet, self-publishing isn’t easy. There is a lot involved in understanding the self-publishing process and it is quite easy to self-publish a book the wrong way
This boxed set of ebooks explains the self-publishing process and much more.
There are four ebooks in the set.
* Self-publishing a Book: describes a process to get a book published.
* Marketing Plans for Self-published Books: covers basic book marketing strategy and tactics.
* Manage Your Self-publishing Project: Uses a project management approach to graphically illustrate the dual, simultaneous processes of publishing and marketing your book.
* Business Basics for Authors: provides an understanding of the business issues facing new authors.
The boxed set provides the new author with a solid grounding in the self-publishing process and associated issues.
Yet another potential problem is this. The internet swarms with scam artists searching for new authors who may not have a complete understanding of the ins-and-outs of publishing and marketing. The scammers are after the author’s money and use slick websites to mislead the author. The more the new author knows about publishing and marketing, the less likely he is to fall prey to these scam artists.
The Complete Self-publishing Guides boxed set is much less expensive than buying the four books individually.


THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: If you were a character, which author would you trust with your life (to write your story)?

Oh, this is such a tough question. Can you ever really trust another person to tell your story in a way that would make you 100% happy? Undoubtedly, their bias or world view could influence their portrayal.

My first choice would be a deceased author--Laura Ingalls Wilder. She inspires my writing for children and was successful in chronicling her own  life.

For a second choice, I would like Kathi Macias. I've loved her work for years. I met her through my work with Pump Up Your Book. I coordinated virtual book tours for several of her books. We haven't been in touch as much as I would like since I've been working in real estate, but my bookshelves are home to several of her books and I hope to read her new Christmas story soon.

How about you? Who would you trust to write the story of your life?

Hope you have a great week!

Musing Mondays - Nov 21

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

Happy Monday! Can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving. There's a lot going on around here.

Copies of my latest book, Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving arrived via UPS. The book is currently available at:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Macaroni-Cheese-Thanksgiving-Cheryl-Malandrinos/dp/1616338113/

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/macaroni-and-cheese-for-thanksgiving-cheryl-c-malandrinos/1125126451

Booksamillion: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Macaroni-Cheese-Thanksgiving/Cheryl-C-Malandrinos/9781616338114

If you would like a free review copy, please visit my virtual book tour page at http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2016/11/11/pump-up-your-book-presents-macaroni-and-cheese-for-thanksgiving-virtual-book-publicity-tour/ where you can leave a message for Dorothy, or you can feel free to leave a comment with your email address on this post and I'll forward it to her. 

Thanksgiving is at our place again this year, so I'm working to get the house ready for guests. This week we are also preparing for Living Gate Community Church's Annual Christmas Bazaar and Tag Sale. This event takes place on Saturday, November 26 and features a bake sale, raffle prizes, gift items, a large tag sale, and a great lunch for a small fee. We are located at 151 Taylor Street in Granby, MA. Doors open at 9 am if you would like to stop by.

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Are there any particular worlds in books in which you’d like to live?

This is such an interesting question. There are places I would like to visit: Colonial America, post-Civil War America (Reconstruction Era), Anne Shirley's Prince Edward Island, and modern day France or England. Have to admit, though, that I wouldn't want to live anywhere in any other time period than where I do now. 

How about you? Any place you would be willing to plant roots out of places you've read about?

Hope everyone has a great week. 

Musing Mondays - Nov 14

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: How has your reading changed in the last 10 years?

We are back to Monday again. The weeks seem to fly by lately. Today was my final business coaching class for the year. Wish I could afford to continue, but it's not in the cards right now.

My third children's book, Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving should be on the publisher's website this week. It will be available at Amazon, B&N, and Indiebound.org soon too. You can sign up for my virtual book tour if you are interested in hosting me.

As for this week's question, my reading has changed a lot in the last 10 years. For a long time I read solely non-fiction. When I began blogging in 2007, I added fiction back into my life. Now I enjoy a healthy blend of both...though I tend to stick to the same genres as I have for years: historical fiction, historical non-fiction, mysteries of all kinds, true crime, and thrillers.

What is going on in your reading and blogging world this week?

Musing Mondays - Nov 7

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Do you prefer fast-paced novels, or slow, descriptive novels?

It's the day before the election. Are you as glad as I am that the campaigning is almost over? The kids are grateful that voting day means they get two days off of school this week. Our high school is a polling place. For security reasons our schools are closed Tuesday, in addition to being closed Friday for Veteran's Day.

My immediate family includes veterans. Dad was a Marine during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. My brother served during the Iraq War and my father-in-law in Korea. We are grateful for their service and the service of others who protect freedom across the globe. As a real estate agent, I specialize in helping active and retired military find new homes using their VA benefits. It's important to me to give back to those who have given us so much.

On to book news...

I'm currently reading The Ghostwriters by Micky J. Corrigan.

She's ghostwriting a book for a famous author--a recently deceased one. A struggling writer living in Manhattan, Jacy McMasters is the first to admit she's a terrific liar and a screw-up. Then the ghost of the famous novelist JD Balinger asks her to "channel" a follow-up to his classic coming of age book, The Watcher in the Sky. Along with her new boyfriend, a bear of a man who has no patience for mind games, the ghost in Jacy's head forces her to confront a lifetime of secrets—dark secrets. Secrets she's been keeping from herself.

I'm listening to Marmee & Louisa in my truck thanks to the audio book I borrowed from the library.

Since its release nearly one hundred and fifty years ago, Louisa May Alcott's classic Little Women has been a mainstay in American literature, while passionate Jo March and her calm, beloved "Marmee" have shaped generations of young women. Biographers have consistently credited her father, Bronson Alcott, for Louisa's professional success, assuming that this outspoken idealist was the source of her progressive thinking and remarkable independence.

But in this riveting dual biography, Eve LaPlante explodes those myths, drawing on unknown and unexplored letters and journals to show that Louisa's "Marmee," Abigail May Alcott, was in fact the intellectual and emotional center of her daughter's world. It was Abigail who urged Louisa to write, who inspired many of her stories, and who gave her the support and courage she needed to pursue her unconventional path. Abigail, long dismissed as a quiet, self-effacing companion to her famous husband and daughter, is revealed here as a politically active feminist firebrand, a fascinating thinker in her own right. Examining family papers, archival documents, and diaries thought to have been destroyed, LaPlante paints an exquisitely moving and utterly convincing portrait of a woman decades ahead of her time—and the fiercely independent daughter who was both inspired and restricted by her mother's dreams of freedom.

A story guaranteed to turn all previous scholarship on its head, Marmee and Louisa is a gorgeously written and deeply felt biography of two extraordinary women as well as a key to our understanding of Louisa May Alcott's life and work.

I'm super excited to tell you that my next book, Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving, is going off to the printer soon and I've contracted Pump Up Your Book to help promote it. Check out the cover spread.

As for this week's question, when I was younger slow, descriptive novels like Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery captured my attention. While I still enjoy them, I tend to read more fast-paced novels these days. I also love when a book immediately drops me into the action.

How about you? What do you prefer?

Hope you have a great Monday.

Musing Mondays - Oct 3

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What is your worst habit as a reader?


It is Monday again. It's going to be a cloudy and rainy day here in Massachusetts. We are still recovering from our drought, so we can't complain.

Last week was so hectic that I didn't get to blog much. This week I am heading out of town for a two-day conference on Wednesday, so not sure how much I'll be online.

I reviewed Joshua's Mission by Vannetta Chapman over the weekend. 

I'm also participating in The General's Wife by Sara R. Turnquist VBT. They are offering a $50 Amazon of Barnes and Noble gift card as a prize. You can enter here. 

I'm not sure what my worst habit is as a reader. 

Is it that I keep buying books even though I have hundreds of unread ones here?

Is it that I keep filling up my Kindle with freebies that I rarely read?

Maybe it's that I take all my paperbacks into the tub with me and risk drowning them. 

What is your worst habit as a reader? 

Musing Mondays - Sept 19

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Write out a description of your life, as if it were a book’s description.

It is Monday again. I'll be busy working, but if you comment I will catch you later tonight.

Right now I am reading, Joshua's Mission by Vannetta Chapman. I loved the first book in this series and this one is great so far.

I've got several books I need to review:

I might try my hand at this week's activity later, but right now I need to get to bed. Hope you have a great day!

Musing Mondays - Sep 5

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Name your best-loved character from a fiction book.

Happy Labor Day, everyone! Hope you have some nice weather to enjoy it. It's breezy here, the result of Post-Tropical Cyclone Hermine. But the sky is blue and it's a lovely late summer day.

The girls started school on Wednesday. so we are all getting back into our regular schedules. Hopefully that means more blogging here.

I'm currently reading Joshua's Mission by Vannetta Chapman. It's the second book in her Plain And Simple Miracles series. Coincidentally--considering we've been watching the path of Hermine this past week--a storm plays a pivotal role in this book.

As for my best-loved character from a fiction book, I'll have to give you two: for children's literature it would need to be Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gables series and for adult literature it is Gordon Butler from F.M. Meredith's Rocky Bluff P.D. series. 

Young Anne is impulsive, out-spoken, and usually finds herself in a spot of trouble. Thanks to her imagination and her ability to string words together she can get herself out of most jams. 

Gordon finds himself the butt of jokes because strange things happen to him, but he's got a heart of gold. He is usually in the wrong place at the wrong time, but he is as dependable as the day is long. 

I like characters that I can root for; characters who make me care about them and have me wishing they succeed simply because, despite their tiny flaws or quirks, they are good people. Anne and Gordon fit that bill. 

Who are some of your favorite fictional characters?

Musing Mondays - Aug 29

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Which book do you wish you’d written, yourself?

It is Monday again. I have an early morning meeting, so I figured I would get this typed up early.

Which book do I wish I'd written myself? There are a few.

Anne of Green Gables introduces readers to the red-headed orphan named Anne Shirley. Think of all the fun I could have had traveling around Prince Edward Island to make sure the setting was portrayed correctly. This remains one of my favorite series. 

On the bookshelf in my office is this exact 1970s version of Little House in the Big Woods. I wish I had Wilder's keen eye for detail. Whenever I am seeking inspiration, I turn to one of my Little House books.

It took me a while to discover the Left Behind series, but once I did I was hooked. It was so tough to wait for the next book to come out. When it did, I would devour it within days. I'm still a fan of Jerry B. Jenkins. 

What are some books you wish you could have written? 

Musing Mondays - August 22

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Name a favorite book you’d take to the beach.

When you read this, I'll be walking through Central Park. We opted for a quick overnight to NYC before school gets underway.

Right now I'm reading, Iced Chiffon by Duffy Brown. This is the first in her Consignment Shop Mystery series. I'm loving it.

Reagan's messy divorce has left her with nothing but a run-down Victorian and a bunch of designer clothes. Strapped for cash, Reagan makes use of the two things she has left, turning the first floor of her home into a consignment shop and filling it with the remnants of her rich-wife wardrobe.

Thanks to his cunning lawyer, Walker Boone, her ex got everything else, including the Lexus--not to mention a young blonde cupcake. When Reagan finds the blonde dead in the Lexus, she's determined to beat Boone to finding the murderer. As it turns out, the gossip fiends flooding Reagan's shop can give her a lot more than just their unwanted clothes--they have information more precious than a vintage Louis Vuitton...

Next up is this book:

Looks like it is part of a series. I'm blessed not to have this concern, but I'm sure there are a lot of women out there who do. I wanted to see what the author had to say on the subject.

Hope you have a great week. 

Musing Mondays - August 15

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION:  What sequel do you have yet to read?

Monday has arrived again. Technically, as I am typing this it is still only Sunday, but by the time you read this it will be Monday.

This past week was the one where I decided I had enough; enough mess, enough chaos--pretty much enough of a lot of things. I miss blogging. I miss reading every night before bed. I miss having my books organized and my TBR pile all mapped out on spreadsheets.

As part of deciding enough was enough, I am moving my office to the first floor of our home by converting our very unused formal living room into an office space. The printer/fax/scanner is on the first floor at the other end of the house in the hubby's office. It is so inconvenient when I need to do anything. I'm also thinking that if my office is on the first floor I'll keep it cleaner. And finally, I want to be able to have real estate clients come to my home if needed, so I want a place that is easily accessible.

I've made a lot of progress in going through books; cataloging them and boxing them up. I've donated some books and other belongings from my office. I've also recycled a bunch of old magazines and other fun stuff.

All this effort has made me feel a lot better. The hallway is a mess, but as things are delivered to where they need to go, that will change too.

The best part? The clean up fever has infected the girls too and they have been going through their rooms doing the same thing. I love it!

I'm open to any tips you are willing to share on major clean ups.

Musing Mondays - Aug 1

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Make a sentence from some of the spines of the books on one of your bookshelves.

Happy August! Where is the summer going? I swear the kids just got out of school and we are only a few weeks away from a new school year.

Last week I reviewed A Simple Vow by Charlotte Hubbard. I have a couple of more tiny books to read for book tours, but other than that I am trying to catch up on my TBR pile. What does your TBR pile look like these days?

I'm also really frustrated. I know I brought my Kindle Fire cord home with me after vacation, but for the life of me I can't find it and my device is almost dead. Arg!

Looks like Jen from Books And A Beat came up with a random activity for us today instead of a question. Here's mine:

Once Was a Time To Kill A Mockingbird: Once Was a Time by Leila Sales and To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

How about this one...

This is the Story of You, Gena Finn: This is the Story of You by Beth Kephart and Gena Finn by Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Helgeson.

What sentences can you come up with from your bookshelf?

Musing Mondays - July 25

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What’s your most favorite “chunky” book? (over 500 pages)

We had another wonderful vacation on the Outer Banks. As I mentioned before we left, I had plans to read... a lot. Well, that was prior to real estate. I worked a fair amount from the beach, so I read less than half what I usually do. That said, working from the beach is heck of a lot better than working from home.

Here is what I got a chance to cross off my TBR List:

Treasure Your Marriage by Cherishing Your Spouse by Suzzanne Uzzell
A Loaded Gun by Jerome Charyn
I Have Faith by Davin Whitehurst
Anna's Healing by Vannetta Chapman

What I am still reading is Portrait of a Conspiracy by Donna Russo Morin. I like it. The story is engaging and the characters interesting. I'm just a bit confused by the whole thing. I feel like I don't know what is going on and I'm twenty chapters in.

I'm also reading A Simple Vow by Charlotte Hubbard. I'll be reviewing this one on July 29th, so be on the lookout for that.

As for my favorite "chunky" book, I would have to go with The Stand by Stephen King. It took me a while to get into, but once I did I was hooked.

What has your reading week been like?

Musing Mondays - July 11

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Name a book that was turned into a movie, and completely desecrated (in your opinion).

Hard to believe it is Monday again. I hope you all had a wonderful week. Today's random question is a great one and I didn't even have to think about it before choosing the worst offender...in my book.

In 2000, talented funny man Jim Carrey starred in The Grinch. Based upon How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss, it is the story of a grumpy loner who tries to end Christmas down in Whoville by stealing all the Christmas presents, decorations, and food. Despite all his hard work, the Whos down in Whoville celebrate Christmas anyway. 

Turning a short book that became a half hour TV special into a full-length film must have presented some challenges. That's when the writers created some backstory for Grinch and the inhabitants of Whoville. 

That two sisters discovered a baby Grinch and adopted him was okay, but wild parties where they were collecting keys to keep everyone safe, having a young Grinch bullied at school, the sexual references that come about because of the mayor's attraction to one of the town members and her attraction to the Grinch, and the overall crude humor doesn't fit in with the essence of the book. 

Did you see the movie? What did you think of it?

Musing Mondays - July 4

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What is/are your favorite book title?

Happy Fourth of July from the Outer Banks! I hope you're having a great time with your family celebrating the birth of this wonderful nation of ours. It's a bit cloudy today, but we are hoping to attend the fireworks in Manteo (where Andy Griffith lived) tonight.

This week's question is tough. How can I pick just one favorite title? I've been reading for decades. Here is a list of five of my favorite titles:

• The Stand by Stephen King
• The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
• Anne of Windy Poplars by Lucy Maud Montgomery
• The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

What are some of your favorite titles?

Musing Mondays - June 27

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's new blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What is/are your favorite book cover(s)?

It's been a while since I've done one of these and it's about high time I got back to it. I've missed blogging now that work has taken over my life.

I'm currently reading:

My review was due weeks ago, but I haven't been reading much lately. Our annual trip to North Carolina is coming up, so I will be reading it then. What I have read so far is really good.

Here's the line up of paperback books I am taking on vacation with me. I'm also taking both of my Kindles. 

• Deep Shadows by Vannetta Chapman
• Anna's Healing by Vannetta Chapman
• Joshua's Mission by Vannetta Chapman
• A Loaded Gun by Jerome Charyn
• The Strangers on Montague Street by Karen White
• When Butterflies Came by Kimberley Griffiths Little
• Iced Chiffon by Duffy Brown
• While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax

What books are you looking forward to reading this summer?

Musing Mondays - May 9

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's new blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What is the best book you read LAST year?

Well, this shouldn't be too hard to figure out since my reading is so much less the past two years than it used to be. Sigh!

There were actually two books that were my favorite in 2015--for very different reasons: one because of the author's steady work in and knowledge of the genre she writes, and the other, because she went outside of her comfort zone and tried a different style in a genre she has already established herself in. The second author is today's pick.

Why I love Heather Haven's work: Strong female leads are her trademark and she creates them well. 

How is Death of a Clown similar to her previous work?

In creating Jeri Deane she stayed true to her trademark. Whether or not her main characters realize their strength all the time, it is there. In this book, Haven truly got into Jeri's head and dissected everything she feels, creating one of my favorite characters.

How is Death of a Clown different from her previous work?

Everything else I have read by Haven has been light and funny. Her main characters are sarcastic, witty young women who kick ass. While murder is a serious business, in Haven's other books there isn't the intense drama and powerful nature that is found within Death of a Clown. This book is set at a circus during World War II. Since the author is the daughter of former circus performers, this also allows her tap into that family history to create a book whose setting is equally as well-drawn as her characters.

You can learn more about the author at http://heatherhavenstories.com/

What was your favorite book from 2015?

Musing Mondays - May 2

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme now hosted at Jenn's new blog Books And A Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION:  Name any 5 books from your “to be read” pile (even if it’s a “virtual” pile).

Happy Monday, everyone! Trying so hard to get back into the swing of things. Way too much real estate work these days.

Here are some of the oldest books (meaning the ones I've had the longest) in my TBR pile.

When the concierge of The Alexander, a historic Atlanta apartment building, invites his fellow residents to join him for weekly screenings of Downton Abbey, four very different people find themselves connecting with the addictive drama, and—even more unexpectedly—with each other…

Filled with smart history, treacherous rivalries, lavish clothes, and sparkling jewels, Becoming Marie Antoinette will utterly captivate fiction and history lovers alike.

An epic fairy tale with surprising twists, embracing the enduring power of love and faith.

There's always something to gossip about in Savannah, Georgia, and Reagan Summerside always seems to be in the middle of it. She's busy enough running her consignment shop, the Prissy Fox, with her vivacious auntie, KiKi, but now the gossip--and the sales--are about to pick up, after a gruesome discovery...

Eighteen years after the infants Kai and Mahri DuBois were separated and taken from La Foret de Chenes for their own protection, they are called to return. Appointed as Paladins, they receive their first charges from the Elders. The twins must overcome the devastating act of treachery that tore their family apart, restore the integrity of the treasure they guard, and beat back the encroaching evil of La Famille DeMauvaise.

What are some of the books in your TBR pile?