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.

Book Review: While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax

A story of life changes, new discoveries and friendships fills the pages of While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax.

In a brilliant move, Wax wove a story of four lives that intersect at an historic apartment building in Atlanta around the insanely popular Downton Abbey television series. Published near the height of the series' popularity, this novel tells the story of three women from different backgrounds and in different stages of their lives who become fast friends thanks to the concierge's decision to air weekly episodes of Downton Abbey.

Not only are Wax's characters likable, complex, and realistic, the secondary characters provide some comic relief to balance out the unfolding drama. I found a little bit of me in each of the women, which is always nice. Claire, Brooke, and Samantha almost became like my friends and I was sad to see them go; though getting to the end was worth it. There aren't many books that make me stay up past two in the morning to finish these days--busy realtors need their sleep--but While We Were Watching Downton Abbey is definitely one I couldn't put down until I read it to the satisfying end. Wax has a ton of other books to check out, which I definitely plan to do.

This is women's fiction at its finest. Pick up While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax and discover it for yourself.


Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Berkley; 1 edition (April 2, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425263312
ISBN-13: 978-0425263310

I received a copy of this book from the publicist. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

I read this book for the following challenge:

Musing Monday - July 10

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:   Are you able to read when you're in pain or do you find it hard to focus?

Well, this morning started off with a violent thunderstorm and a tornado warning about three minutes away from us, so Monday is sure coming in with a bang.

It's our second week of vacation and, as you can see, I've been doing some reading. So glad to get some overdue book reviews out of the way. It's such a blessing that authors are understanding when you fall behind. Supporting other authors is very important to me; having worked in book promotion and needing to promote my own books makes me very sympathetic.

I'm starting While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax today. Then I have two books I need to read for book tours. I also have to finish the cozy mystery I am providing an endorsement for.

As for this week's question: depends on the pain. If I have a migraine there is no way I am reading through it. Thankfully, I don't get them very often these days. Other than that I can read through just about anything. How about you?

Enjoy your week. By next Monday we will be home and I'll be back to work. Blah.....:)

Musing Monday - January 2

Musing Monday is now 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: Have you joined any challenges in reading for the new year? Do you have any general goals book or even not book related for 2017?

Happy new year, everyone! I hope you had a great holiday season. Things are a bit somber here. After having the troops home for nearly two weeks, everyone goes back to their regular schedules tomorrow. Sigh!

This is always a fun time for me, though, because I organize, set goals, and prepare for the year ahead. As far as reading challenges, I am determined to do better than I did in 2016. These are the two I joined:

I love historical fiction and desperately need to whittle away my TBR pile. 

I've also joined the Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge at Books Can Be Deadly and the 2017 Picture Book Reading Challenge at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection.

As far as goals, I have some work-related and others family- and fun-related. My first business planning meeting for 2017 is Friday. I need to get my goals together for that--my plan has been done for a few weeks now--but I know I am looking to double my business this year. In 2016, I had 66% increase over the previous year, so I should be able to pull it off.

My writing goals are:

• Participate in Picture Book Idea Month. I’ve participated in this endeavor twice, which resulted in Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving being published, Amos Faces His Bully being under contract, and four other picture books written. I’m game to do it again.
• Submit two short stories this year.
• Contribute to Guardian Angel Kids e-zine once this year.
• Seek out guest blogging opportunities once a quarter.
• Write four chapters of Amelia’s Mission by June.
• Attend writing group monthly.

This might be optimistic considering all I plan to do with real estate, but we'll see how it goes.

The most important goal, however, is to spend more time doing what I love: time with our family, reading, cooking, and gardening.

What are your goals for 2017? 

The Book Connection Year in Review

We are about an hour away from 2017. Have you already considered your new year's resolutions? I only have one this year and it is based upon on what I missed in 2016: time to enjoy what I love most.

I was just browsing through The Book Connection's archives for this year and discovered I read 23 (not 21 as I said earlier this week) books. Seven of them were picture books that didn't appear here. Here's a look at what was reviewed:

The problem is, I used to read over 100 books a year. Now, I don't expect that will be the case in 2017 because I'm working outside of the house now and I wasn't before; but just like I took last year's resolution to lose weight, eat better and exercise more seriously, I am embracing this resolution 100%.

I vow to make more time for:

• Family
• Reading
• Writing
• Cooking
• Gardening

These are the things I enjoy the most. Those are the people I want to dedicate more time to. As such, I am working on my 2017 calendar and seeing how I can arrange things to dedicate at least one day off to family each week and cook real food at least three days each week. I also want to plant a garden in the spring, something I didn't get to this year. Even if I only write a chapter once a month, that will be more than I did in 2016. As far as reading goes, I would like to double the number of books I read in 2016. 

If you have any tips to share I would love to hear them. 

Wishing you all a happy and healthy new year!

2017 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

The 2017 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge is hosted by Passages to the Past! Sign Ups are open and ready for all that would like to join the challenge.

Here are the Reading Challenge details:

Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

• Everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish)
• Add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review)
• Any sub-genre of historical fiction is accepted (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, etc.)

During the following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:

20th century Reader - 2 books
Victorian Reader - 5 books
Renaissance Reader - 10 books
Medieval - 15 books
Ancient History - 25 books
Prehistoric - 50+ books

CHERYL'S GOAL FOR 2017: 5 BOOKS

To join the challenge you only need to make a post about it, add your link in Mr. Linky here or find instructions for how else you can join by clicking the link.

The challenge runs from January 1st to December 31st, 2017.

Don't forget to grab the Reading Challenge Button (above) to post on your blog. Please share about the Reading Challenge to your fellow friends and readers using the hashtag below!

#2017HFReadingChallenge

If you have any questions or comments please email Amy at passagestothepast@gmail.com.

What books are you most looking forward to in 2017?

2017 Blogger Shame Challenge

Yes. We're hanging our heads in some blogger-girl shame. lol

The Blogger Shame challenge is a cheeky way to admit our guilt...and go about fixing it. Tackling those review books that have slipped through the cracks over the years. Any review book over 4 months past due is game!

WHAT COUNTS

Any review book that is 4+ months PAST DUE.

Yep. Only OLD review requests that have slipped through the cracks count. Any format, any length.

LEVELS

Number of books tackled is entirely up to you! Minimum...1 review book.

CHECK IN POSTS

There will be three posts for the challenge.

• Sign Up Post: Link Up your sign up post on this page (let us know what you'll be tackling! make a list of specific titles or just the number of books you're tackling)
• Mid Year Check In: First week of June
• Wrap Up Post: Last week of December

GIVEAWAYS

There will be one end of the year giveaway picked from those that do the link up posts and finish at least one Blogger Shame review.

LINK UP

Once you have your SIGN UP post live just link it HERE. If you aren't a blogger but have past due requests please set up a Goodreads shelf dedicated to the challenge and link that up.

You can also snag the challenge button to add to your site!