Musing Monday - July 16

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: Do you ever get teased or looked at oddly for reading?

We are back to Monday and back to life in Massachusetts. We arrived home Saturday. As grateful as I am to spend time on vacation, it is always wonderful to be back to the normalcy of home. My work schedule started yesterday with an open house, but today is the first full day back to the regular grind.

As you can tell by the reviews I posted over the last two weeks, some reading got done while we were away. Thank goodness. If I am good and don't request too many new books to review, I might even make a dent in that TBR pile.

This week's question is an interesting one. I've never really thought about it. I'm probably like most bookworms--it's rare I don't have a book in my bag when I go anywhere. I've even learned to listen to books since I am on the road a lot these days. The one thing that comes to mind, though, is the strange look that comes my way when I say I don't watch television because I prefer to read. From time to time I'll find something I want to watch, but other than Downton Abbey, Cedar Cove, and Mercy Street, which are all off the air now, I don't turn the TV on except for the Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas.

Do you watch TV? What are some of your favorite shows? Do you prefer to read or watch TV?

Musing Monday - Dec 11

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:   How do you experience a book when you read? In general do you often find yourself being drawn into the story quickly or do you need more time to warm up to characters?

Happy Monday! Hope you had nice weekend. It was a snowy one here.

We ended up with six inches and are due for more tonight. That's okay...Theo is prepared.

As far as books go, I reviewed A Wanted Man by Robert Parker and finished Lethal in Old Lace, the next book in Duffy Brown's Consignment Shop Mystery series. This one is due out in March. 

I ordered this on Cyber Monday from Barnes and Noble. 

Brilliantly evoking the long-vanished world of masters and servants portrayed in Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs, Margaret Powell's classic memoir of her time in service, Below Stairs, is the remarkable true story of an indomitable woman who, though she served in the great houses of England, never stopped aiming high. Powell first arrived at the servants' entrance of one of those great houses in the 1920s. As a kitchen maid - the lowest of the low - she entered an entirely new world; one of stoves to be blacked, vegetables to be scrubbed, mistresses to be appeased, and bootlaces to be ironed. Work started at 5:30am and went on until after dark. It was a far cry from her childhood on the beaches of Hove, where money and food were scarce, but warmth and laughter never were. Yet from the gentleman with a penchant for stroking the housemaids' curlers, to raucous tea-dances with errand boys, to the heartbreaking story of Agnes the pregnant under-parlormaid, fired for being seduced by her mistress's nephew, Margaret's tales of her time in service are told with wit, warmth, and a sharp eye for the prejudices of her situation. Margaret Powell's true story of a life spent in service is a fascinating "downstairs" portrait of the glittering, long-gone worlds behind the closed doors of Downton Abbey and 165 Eaton Place.

Now, on to this week's question. I consider a book a good read if it draws me in right away. I want to feel that immediate connection to the characters and be encouraged to learn more about them.

How about you? Do you like a slow perk or an instant rush when you read a book?

Enjoy your week!

I Cry Uncle

Just imagine that woman pictured above is me yanking out my hair. This year I was determined to whittle away at my huge TBR pile. I set myself up for success by making sure all my books were logged in my spreadsheet. I entered a few reading challenges to keep me focused. In anticipation of moving my office to the first floor of our house--something else still not done--I boxed up all the books by genre to make the ones I wanted to read first easier to find.

Then life happened. My real estate business went into high gear this year. Definitely a positive. My father-in-law fell again and I've been more involved in decision making and his care. One of my kids has had trouble at school. We bought a dog--silly us. Like I needed something else to take care of. I'm fairly organized, but lately I just want to run away screaming when the phone rings.

As much as I love my job, I am looking forward to the lull that the holidays should bring. I think I'll hide in my office with no computer and read.

Musing Monday - Aug 28

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:   Not sure yet. Not posted.

I looked at both my blogs this weekend and saw I hadn't participated in Musing Monday or Mailbox Monday since July 31. I am a bad little blogger.

I'm just about done with The Competition by Donna Russo Morin, the second book in her Da Vinci's Disciples series. I'll post my review soon. Also coming is my review of Poetry and Ponderings by Diamante Lavendar--which is horribly overdue.

Here are answers to the Musing Monday questions I missed while off selling houses, playing wife and mom, and moving my father-in-law into assisted living.


From 8/21: Do you steer away from heavy emotional books?

Heck no! I love emotional books. Getting to know characters and watching them thrive against everything life throws their way is awesome. That said, I will occasionally reach for a lighter read to give my emotions a break.

From 8/14: What are your feelings on YA? Do you think it is just for young adults or do you think it’s cool full grown adults like it too.

I've read a fair amount of YA and I am 49. I didn't even like the Little House books until I was in my 20s, so there was no way I was appreciating Harry Potter until after the age of 45. One of the main reasons I enjoy this genre so much is that it keeps me in touch with my children. It lets me know what's popular and what they might be reading.

From 8/7: Do you ever wish you could go back and fall in love with reading all over again?

Not really, because once I discovered my love for reading it never got old. I love reading just as much as when I was younger...if not more.

That's it for me today. Hope you have a great week.

Musing Monday - May 8

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: Do you like to read when you are feeling under the weather?

Happy Monday! It seems like forever since I was able to participate in this meme. Without going into too much detail, we were traveling through a valley for a period of time and blogging was the last thing on my mind. Thankfully, God has seen us through and we appear to be on the uphill climb.

I've been trying to sneak a bit of reading in. My review of A Mother's Love by Charlotte Hubbard appeared here on April 28. I have a couple more reviews to post as well. I'm now reading Annie's Recipe by Lisa Jones Baker.

Annie Mast and Levi Miller were best friends until his father was shunned by the church. Now, ten years later, Levi has returned to Arthur, Illinois, for a brief visit, and he and Annie discover their bond is as strong as ever. Spending as much time together as possible, Annie finds herself dreaming of a future with Levi. And Levi is soon dreaming of building a home on a beautiful local hillside—to live in with Annie. Yet their longings are unlikely to become reality…

Levi is part of the English world, and while Annie cannot see herself there, she knows she must reveal her heart’s truth to him. And Levi, strongly reminded of his Amish roots, knows he must heal the bitterness of the past. And together, with love on their side, they just may find their way to an answered prayer…

As for this week's random question: I tend not to get sick too often, but when I do it's usually so awful sleeping is all I can accomplish. When I am on the mend, but still not top notch, I'll definitely squeeze some reading in.

How about you? Do you read when you're under the weather? Speaking of weather, over the next seven days at least five of them will have rain up here. Hope your weather will be a bit sunnier. Enjoy the rest of the week.

Musing Monday - Mar 13

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: Do you post book reviews right after you finish the book? Or do you wait a while so you can fully digest it before posting a review?

Can you believe a month has passed since I last posted a Musing Monday? Gosh, my life is so crazy. Mostly crazy for good reasons: sold two houses, out shopping around with buyers, inspections, etc.

Not a lot of reading going on, but I'm working toward getting back into it. Here is what is on my list to review:

This one is overdue. I'm almost done with it.

Due April 5.

Due A.S.A.P.

Due A.S.A.P.

Due April 28.

As for this week's question, I usually review them right away because I forget details otherwise. How do you handle your reviews?

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 - 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? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Historical Settings I Love

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Historical Settings I Love

This is a great topic because I love, love, love historical fiction.

1. All-time favorite historical setting: American Civil War. I enjoy exploring this difficult time in our nation's history. I've read tons of non-fiction about the conflict, but it is discovering new ways authors bring this era to life in fiction that truly captivates me. I can thank Michael Shaara for introducing me to this genre, but there are many other authors whose work I have enjoyed and sought out as a result. 
2. World War II: Another tense time in our history, Usually when I read fiction set during this time period it involves spies and espionage, which has always fascinated me. I really should have worked for the FBI. Copper Fire by Suzanne Woods Fisher was probably my first book set during WWII, but I've read many others now. 
3. Settling of the West: One of the things that has made this country great is we have a rich history of risk takers and big dreamers that saw all America could be. While it would have been nice if they could have peaceably settled the West without impacting Native Americans, it's still an exciting time to read about.
4. Tudor period: I'm partial to historical American settings, but Tudor England can never be explored enough. It helps that there are so many wonderful writers who use this time period for their fiction: C. W. Gortner, Philippa Gregory, and Margaret George to name a few.
5. Reconstruction Era: Fiction set during the years the country struggled to reunite North with South offers a lot of wonderful background for great fiction. Even today we are unsure of how we feel about the symbols of that conflict, so imagine how much more difficult it was in the early years following the Civil War for people to accept each other again.Reconstructing Jackson by Holly Bush is a fine novel set in this time period. 
6. Colonial America: Who can help but be excited about coming to a new country. In North Carolina, we have seen The Lost Colony play more than once. It's so difficult to imagine now what it must have been like, but authors like Jeff Shaara open our minds to it. He also happens to write Civil War fiction like his father, Michael. 
7. French Revolution: If someone had asked me if I liked French Revolution historical fiction before I read Loss of Innocence by Anne Newton Walther or Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors, I probably would have said no. These talented authors made me a fan.
8. Biblical Times: In the past several years we've seen several novels depicting the lives of Biblical characters. Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar fictionalizes the life of Rahab.Then there is Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate by Diana Wallis Taylor, The list goes on and on. Whether they be Old or New Testament historical figures, their fictionalized stories captivate readers, including me. 
9. Sherlock Holmes Era. Is there such a thing or did I just make it up? Probably the latter. Holmes and his partner Watson are fascinating characters living and working in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The setting is nearly as intriguing as the main characters. 
10. Post- World War II: John Knoerle, author of The American Spy Trilogy led me to a time period I hadn't much considered before. In the period of transition between when the OSS disbands and the CIA is formed, espionage is as important as ever. Knoerle's character, Hal Schroeder, has survived behind enemy lines, just to find himself drawn back in because the Cold War has begun.

What historical settings do you love? Would you live to visit any of them? 

Musing Mondays - February 1

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme sponsored by Jenn of A Daily Rhythm 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 do you do with your books once you’ve read them?

What a great question this week! I made a decision a long time ago that I would only donate the books I've read to people and organizations that appreciate them. Why? Because one time I brought a whole bunch of books to a library and you would have believed I handed them boxes of cow dung.

I keep books in a series and those I truly love and might read again, but usually my books go to:

• Our church tag sale
• Shriners Hospital for Children
• Our nephew
• Local charities, especially when the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley asks for donations.

This week I am finishing up The Last Dinner Party by Carly M. Duncan and will start Touches of Time by LoRee Peery. 

What does your reading week look like? 

Musing Mondays - November 30

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme sponsored by Jenn of A Daily Rhythm 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 makes a book really enjoyable for you? And, conversely, what would turn you off about a book?

It's been a lounge around the house in my slippers time since the church bazaar on Saturday. I am reading and blogging more than I was before and it's been a nice respite from working so hard all year.

Wow! Great question this week. What makes a book really enjoyable to me? Characters I adore or at least can care about; sympathetic characters--especially villains whose life circumstances turned them into the people they are presently in the book; stories where the main character experiences substantial growth and coming of age novels; a satisfying end--even if it's a sad one.

What turns me off? Inconsistencies in characters--unless there is a good reason for it; surprise endings that make no sense; repetition, poor editing and a writing style that doesn't engage me.

How about you? What do you like and not care for in books?

Musing Mondays - October 5

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme sponsored by Jenn of A Daily Rhythm 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 make a seasonal reading list? How do you choose what goes on it?

Another fabulous question for this week. The only seasonal reading list I usually make is a Christmas one. I have so many books here to read that are set around the holidays that I never lack for material. Usually I like to go with what has been on my list the longest, but often new books come out that I want to read right away, like this one:

How do you handle seasonal reading?

Musing Mondays - September 21

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme sponsored by Jenn of A Daily Rhythm 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: Is a rainy day likely to inspire you to read?

Happy Monday, everyone. Hope you all had a nice weekend. I took some well-deserved time off from real estate to enjoy my family. Did a bit of gardening too.

I'm currently reading this middle grade novel that is both exciting and funny.

It's about kids trying to outwit a villain who has developed a machine that sucks the goodness out of people's brains in an attempt to wipe out goodness around the world.

I'm also listening to the fifth book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix. 

Like I said last week, I am really enjoying this series. Occasionally my daughter ruins the plot for me, but I am okay with it. Not sure I want to see all the death that is to come, though. 

As for this week's question, rainy days don't necessarily inspire me to read. Having available time does. I'm doing my best to get back into the habit of reading every night, but I've been falling asleep early because I've been working a lot.

Looking forward to hearing about your musings this week.

Musing Mondays - Mar 9

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme sponsored by MizB of A Daily Rhythm (formerly Should Be Reading) 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: Who (or what) influences your reading most?

What a great question for this week. Before last year, I would say my blogging schedule was the largest influence on my reading. I simply had so much going on with book tours that my reading time wasn't always my own.

Lately, my mood comes more into play. I still have the occasional book to review, but now that I am not participating in so many books tours, when I feel like reading a mystery, I read that. If I want a funny romance, I grab that. I'm looking to add more non-fiction into my regular reading schedule too. And darn it, if it kills me, I will read every book I agreed to review for an author that lingers in my TBR pile.

What are you musing about this week?

Musing Mondays - November 3

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme from MizB at Should Be Reading. It asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

My Musing:

I'm answering a series of questions I found at Cleopatra Loves Books.

1. What do you use for a bookmark?

I have a large stash of bookmarks in my office--most of them freebies that come with review books. If for some crazy reason I am too lazy to go up to my office to get one, any scrap of paper will do until I replace it with an actual bookmark. My craziest bookmark--a BAND-AID wrapper.

2. Do you ever mark (dog-ear, highlight, underline, write in, etc.) your books? If you do, what kind of things do you do?

Dog ear a book? Smack me if I ever get the urge to mistreat a book in such a fashion. Sometimes with non-fiction titles I will highlight passages, but never fiction.

3. Outside of GoodReads, do you have a system for tracking your books? (i.e., somewhere that you keep track of what you read, what to buy, what is on your TBR shelf, etc.?)

I've had an Excel spreadsheet going at least since 2008. Every year I take the number of books left in my TBR pile (probably 600 or so now) and insert them into a new spreadsheet. This way, as I add in review dates I can easily know how many books I have read each year.

4. Do you ever flip to the end before you start a book to find out how it ends?

Only if I am so bored with the book I just want to know how it ends so I can put it away.

5. Do you judge a book by its cover?

All the time. I am drawn to the book cover first. Then I'll check out the back cover blurb.

Musing Mondays - May 26

This is a weekly meme run by Miz B of Should be Reading.

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

My Musing:

It's been a while since I participated in this blog meme. My reading time is seriously down lately. I have a book review due on Thursday and not sure I'll make it in time. I blame menopause. It has totally messed up my sleeping habits, which has led to less reading time. I thought menopause was supposed to give you insomnia, not make you so exhausted you can barely keep your eyes open past 10:30. I'm sleeping better and more than I ever have--which should be wonderful.  But it isn't. I read in the tub at night. It's when I get most of my reading done. But I can count on one hand the times I've relaxed in the tub before bed the last two months.

Do you ever feel the pressure of trying to stay caught up on reading? What do you do about it?