home about review challenges rating reading projects

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

15 Book Blogging Challenge: Day 14

April at Good Books and Good Wine is hosting the 15 day challenge.  Make sure to check out her blog, and see what others are saying.


Deal breakers?  In terms of what I won't read?

I'm not big on thrillers.  I don't like scary movies, and I won't read scary books.  You can thank the movie IT for that one.

I don't like books that deal with infertility.  In fact, if I know ahead of time that struggles with infertility are in the book, chances are I won't read them.  They hit way too close to home for me.

I don't mind romance books, but I don't like the over the top, annoying, nothing but sex scenes in them books either.


15 Day Book Blogging Challenge: Day 13

April at Good Books and Good Wine is hosting the 15 day challenge.  Make sure to check out her blog, and see what others are saying.



I really think this book for me is Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick.  I mentioned this book as one of my favorite blog posts on Day 11.  But really - this book didn't get much exposure in terms of the blogging world (that I saw, at least) but it's really an eye opening, touching, emotional book.  You should all read it!  Just sayin'


15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Day 12

April at Good Books and Good Wine is hosting the 15 day challenge.  Make sure to check out her blog, and see what others are saying.


Ha!  In all honesty, I don't.  If I don't want to blog or read for that matter, I just don't.  I think all of my readers understand that life exists outside of this blog, for all of us.  If I had an established review policy, or people counting on me to post reviews, I'd probably be more streamlined in my process and would make time to keep up.


But for me, for right now, this is a hobby.  Hobbies aren't supposed to be work.  The minute this blog becomes one more chore for me, I'll probably stop writing it.

15 Day Book Blogging Challenge: Day 11

April at Good Books and Good Wine is hosting the 15 day challenge.  Make sure to check out her blog, and see what others are saying.



Ahhhh!  This one is tough since I just started blogging...


Armchair BEA Introduction - I only highlight this entry because it's the one that really got me started back to blogging.

My very first entry - It's not much of an introduction.  

Purple Heart - One of my favorite books!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - The start of an amazing series!

New Layout - Just because I still really love new layout of TBD. 


Friday, July 19, 2013

Day Book Blogging Challenge: Day 10

April at Good Books and Good Wine is hosting the 15 day challenge.  Make sure to check out her blog, and see what others are saying.


I'm very much a pick up whatever I can get my hands on kind of girl.  I will say that I tend to pick up a hard back/paper back that is hanging out on my shelf at home before I'll give into the iPad style of reading.  I don't know what it is.  I have a ton of books saved on my Kindle/Nook apps - but I still really enjoy the comfort of an actual book.

For me - I will browse the covers and pick the one that fits my mood at the time.  There's really no rhyme or reason to it, at all.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

15 Day Book Blogging Challenge: Day 9

April at Good Books and Good Wine is hosting the 15 day challenge.  Make sure to check out her blog, and see what others are saying.



Why, oh why, do I blog about books?  That's an easy question, right?  Well, not exactly.  For me, blogging became my outlet.  Well - reading was my outlet.  But then I'd completely forget about the number of books I read, what they were about, whether or not I liked them.   I had noticed several book bloggers out on the web, and I thought, I read a lot, I should start one too. 

Many of my friends come to me for book recommendations as it is, so I thought this might be a central place for everyone.   So TBR was born.  In 2011.  And very little was done about it.  I got wrapped up in finishing up a second Masters, and then a rocky relationship, a divorce, and learning how to start over.  I once again found myself wrapped up in a book.  


I don't remember what blog it was (and I should) but someone posted about the BEA event that was being held for bloggers, and I thought here's my chance to really get into this.  So I did.  

I love to read.  I love to talk about books.  But more importantly, I love to write about books. It's my outlet.  

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

15 Day Book Blogging Challenge: Day 8

Check it out!  I'm officially half way finished with this challenge.  It's been fun.  But I haven't been as diligent as I should have been about tagging myself in each day.  Maybe next time!

April at Good Books and Good Wine is hosting the 15 day challenge.  Make sure to check out her blog, and see what others are saying.


Ekk!  Quick 15 bulletin points of things that appeal to me on blogs...

  • Clean, organized, well laid out blogs.  I can't even begin to say how overwhelming some blogs are when completely loaded.
  • Information about the author... glimpses into their personal life... who they are outside of the books they review.
  • A recap of the books that have been reviewed, in one central location, organized somehow.  
  • Social media links.  How can I follow you on Facebook/Twitter/Goodreads?
  • Color, or an overall theme.  Something to make the blog cohesive.
  • No noise!  I hate when I do have my speakers on, and I'm blasted by some random sounds/music.  It's annoying.
  • Random book challenges.  Like reading a book about every single US President or something.  
  • Replies to comments.  That's the best.  When a blogging actually acknowledges you've visited their page.
  • Weekly memes.  I love these.  Seriously, pink puffy heart love them.  Plus, it's a great way to generate traffic to your blog.
  • Rating systems.  It's nice to know what they are.  
  • A direct link to Goodreads.  It just makes my life easier to add the book if I'm interested in reading it, if there's a direct link on the review.   :o)  
  • Quotes.  I looooove quotes.  (You should check out my Pinterest board...) But, I love finding new quotes.  Maybe we should host a weekly Quote Meme.  I'll work on that, unless it's already been done.
  • Reviews that do not contain spoilers.  It's so hard sometimes to write a review without giving away any spoilers, but at least LET A PERSON KNOW ahead of time.
  • Giveaways are always fun.  :o) 
  • I love when pictures break up the monotony of the words.  


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

15 Day Book Blogging Challenge: Day 7


Talk about blogging quirks.  I'm pretty OCD when it comes to real life, but I haven't found that groove  yet, so to speak, in blogging.  I'm surprised that I don't have a schedule and a calendar, and a given day of the week for book reviews and things of that sort.  I like things organized, and complete, and this blog is neither, so it's definitely a work in progress.  Honestly - that part drives me insane!

I label the heck out of everything.  For book reviews - I label it with the author, genre, year I read the book.  I used to label it with the month and year I read the book, but I stopped doing that.  I want to start labeling book reviews with the # of stars so that it's easy to find, plus, I have another page for that too.

It'll all come together.  I don't think I ever realized just how much work book blogging is.  It's a full time job, but I'm trying to be patient with it all, and just know that someday, it'll all be as close to perfect as possible.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Book Review: Emily and Einstein by Linda Francis Lee

Emily and Einstein - Linda Francis Lee
Release Date: March 1st, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genre: Fiction
Source: Paperbook, Borrowed from a Friend
Buy the Book: Amazon

My rating:  5 out of 5 stars


Goodreads.com:  He was a man who didn’t deserve a second chance. But he needed one…

Emily and her husband Sandy Portman seemed to live a gracious if busy life in an old-world, Upper West Side apartment in the famous Dakota building.  But one night on the way to meet Emily, Sandy dies in a tragic accident.  The funeral isn't even over before Emily learns she is on the verge of being evicted from their apartment.  But worse than the possibility of losing her home, Emily is stunned when she discovers that her marriage was made up of lies. 
Suddenly Emily is forced on a journey to find out who her husband really was . . . all the while feeling that somehow he isn't really gone.  Angry, hurt, and sometimes betrayed by loving memories of the man she lost, Emily finds comfort in a scruffy dog named Einstein.  But is Einstein's seemingly odd determination that she save herself enough to make Emily confront her own past?  Can he help her find a future—even after she meets a new man? 
My Review:  

Beginning this review, with so many aspects of this book on my mind, is tough, so I'm just going to attempt to start at the beginning. 

Sandy Portman is on his way to tell his wife, Emily, that he wants a divorce, when he's hit and killed.  He is a pompous, arrogant, disdainful, jerk of a man, and a terrible husband.  In Sandy's desperate attempt to stay alive, he makes a deal with the "Old Man" to stay, but the "Old Man" requires that the deal be man on his terms.  The "Old Man" places Sandy in the present as a wiry, ugly, even hideous dog.  The purpose of Einstein aka Sandy is to save his wife, to make her whole again.  If he succeeds, he will be great, but if he fails, he will fade away to nothing.  His task becomes impossible when Emily's unruly sister moves in, Emily's job as a senior editor in sambles, Sandy's mother attempting to evict her from her home, and her new love interest Max.  

Emily and Einstein/Sandy are complete opposites.  Where Emily is happy and successful, Sandy was miserable, and he blamed her for his misery.  Einstein/Sandy starts to realize that despite everything, Emily could make it on her own, and achieving the desires and dreams that Sandy never could.  

I won't give away the ending - but let's just say I *really* loved this book.  Of course, being a dog lover helps, and seeing the progression of Sandy's realizations of the things he did wrong in his life, and trying to make them right by using Einstein was just cute.  I think that dogs are more human-like than people give them credit for, and I had to laugh often at the actions of Einstein.  Our dog Chloe is a lot like him when she's upset with one of us or her feelings are hurt. She sulks, she sometimes does things out of spite, and she's got the funniest personality ever. Sometimes I wonder if she's a human with four legs.  

Either way - if you are a dog lover, if you enjoy books with strong female leads, and if you enjoy seeing people's lives work out for the better, you'll have to read Emily and Einstein by Linda Francis Lee.  For me personally, this is the first Linda Francis Lee book I've read, but I'm intrigued by her writing style.  She has many other published books, so I plan to check her out. 
I hope you will too!  

Happy Reading!



15 Day Book Blogging Challenge: Day 6


Book shopping for me is typically done online.  While I wish I had the time to peruse the local bookstores or the chain bookstores, I typically don't with school.  I'm famous for browsing book blogs all the time to get new recommendations from my peers, I have a TBR list on Goodreads, so anytime I have some extra cash, I just look there.  I also definitely judge a book by it's cover, and have picked up books that way too.

How do you shop for books?

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Day 5


A tear jerker, huh?  The one book I can remember seriously bawling while reading was Marley and Me by John Grogan.  Now, let's not even pretend that the book didn't make me INSANELY furious at times, but it was definitely a tear jerker.  I refuse to watch the movie because of that.

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Day 4


Apparently, I have lived, but I can honestly say I've never thrown a book across the room.  I don't know if it's because I'm scared to hurt my books, or what.  Maybe I need to find one?  LOL.  Who knows.

Friday, July 12, 2013

15 Day Book Blogging Challenge: Day 3

I know it's only day 3, but I'm kind of proud of myself to remember to log in and post these every day.  :o)  Only 12 more to go!


Since I'm very new to book blogging in general, I don't have many blogging BFFS.  I would say that the person I talk to the most about book blogging, book events around our area, online reading events, how to get my blog out there, etc. is Kate from Too Read or Not Too Read.

We both had book blogs but neither of us had put much effort into getting ourselves out there until the BEA event(s).  So yeah - Kate - you're officially my book blogging BFF!  :o)

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Book Review: Boy Meets Girl (Boy #2) - Meg Cabot

Boy Meets Girl (Boy #2) - Meg Cabot
Release Date: January 6th, 2004
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Paperbook, PaperbackSwap
Buy the Book: Amazon

My rating:  3 out of 5 stars

Goodreads.com:  Meet Kate MacKenzie...idealistic office worker, reluctant deliverer of termination notices and queen of instant messaging. As sweet as sugar.

Meet Mitch Hertzog...ever-smiling corporate lawyer, defender of the downtrodden and king of aborted dinner dates. Good enough to eat.

Meet Ida Lopez...cake, cookie and pastry-maker extraordinaire, purveyor of the dessert trolley and goddess of all things mouth-wateringly yummy. As nice as pie.

Together they must battle tyrants and despots to find truth, justice and the perfect double fudge pudding.

My Review:  

This was probably my favorite book of the three.  I loved Kate MacKenzie.  I found her character adorable, and she was genuinely concerned about her co-workers at the New York Journal.  It was an almost "fight the man" relationship between her and her boss, so seeing that struggle was kind of intriguing to me, somehow.  It's nice to know that bosses aren't always right.  Hah.  I also loved how we were able to get glimpses of past characters, Mel especially, in this book and in book #3.  I always love hearing about what these characters are up to after I've finished their book.  This book includes more than just e-mails, which kind of helps break it up.  Now you have journal pages and IMs too.

Kate MacKenzie is an HR rep for the New York Journal.  Part of her responsibility is to fire one of the most beloved employees, Ida Lopez.  She's loved because of her insane baking abilities, and the sweet treats she bakes for all of the employees.  (Side note:  if you've read this book, did any of you attempt any of Ida's recipes?  Are they good?)  Either way, conflict begins, and Kate is caught in the middle of it.

Another cute, sweet, fun read in my eyes.  I'd definitely recommend this series to someone who just wanted a light hearted read.  




Book Review: The Boy Next Door (Boy #1) - Meg Cabot

The Boy Next Door (Boy #1) - Meg Cabot
Release Date: October 11th, 200S
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Paperbook, PaperbackSwap
Buy the Book: Amazon

My rating:  3 out of 5 stars

Goodreads.com:  Gossip columnist and single New York City girl Mel lives lives in the most exciting place in the world, yet she's bored with her lovelife. But things get interesting fast when the old lady next door is nearly murdered. Mel starts paying closer attention to her neighbors—what exactly is going on with the cute boy next door? Has Mel found the love of her life—or a killer?

My Review:  

I've always been a big fan of Meg Cabot's writing style and have enjoyed all of the books I've read, thus far, by her.  I won't say that these books are tantalizing literary finds, but they are short, sweet, light reads.  All of the books in this series are set up like you are reading the e-mail exchanges among the characters.  For me, it was a little confusing at times, because I'm famous for skipping over words, and I'd have to go back and re-read who wrote the e-mail.  Overall, it was a fun, new format, and I really enjoyed it once I remembered to pay attention to the small details.  Oops.

The story was adorable, and I loved the characters.  I definitely began to root for Melissa (aka Mel) in her quest to find out the truth about her neighbor's nephew.  She's not your typical New Yorker, in the sense that she truly cares for her neighbor, Mrs. Friedlander. One morning, she found her neighbor face down in her apartment, unconscious because she had been attacked.  From that point forward, Mel feels it's her responsibility to care for her neighbors dog, Paco, and her cats.  She starts the journey to find the neighbor's nephew, Max Friedlander.  Let's just say that Max leaves a LOT to be desired in the kind of person you'd want to get to know.

For me, I laughed at Mel's inability to see what was right in front of her face.  I have to admit, she reminded me a lot of me in the dating world.  I definitely connected with Mel in that sense.  For a quick, short, fun, light read - definitely check out this book.  I have reviews for book #2 and book #3 coming soon!

15 Day Book Blogging Challenge: Day 2


In response to today's question - my bedtime reading ritual varies from day to day.  I'd say it would all depend on how the day went at work.  But typically, I take a shower at night so that I don't have to put heat to my hair in the mornings.  After getting out of the shower, brushing teeth, putting on moisturizer, doing all the things girls do to get ready for bed, I usually read anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.  It allows my brain to focus on something other than what it's focusing on, and helps me eventually fall asleep.

What's your reading ritual?  Do you have one?

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

15 Day Book Blogging Challenge: Intro & Day 1

I'm a girl that likes, no, LOVES, a challenge.  :o)  I'd like to say it's in my blood, but really, I'm never satisfied just being.  With a break in school, I have more time to focus on TBD, and well, that means more posts, and more content for you!  

I stumbled upon this 15 Day Book Blogging Challenge today, and it seems fun, and a great way to get to know your blogging neighbors, so I thought I'd give it a shot. 

This challenge is hosted by Good Books and Good Wine.  Check it out!



Make 15 book related confessions.

1.  I'm a book hoarder.  But only of books I haven't read yet.  Once I've read a book, I post it on PaperBackSwap for the next person to enjoy.  The reason I stopped hoarding read books is because books are a pain to move.  Trust me on that one.

2.  I have almost 1,000 titles on my TBR list on Goodreads.  I'm never going to get to read them all.  It's insane.  I do however go through it every so often and get rid of titles I am no longer interested in.

3.  I really try hard to finish a book once I've started it.  Even if I hate it.  I think I've only stopped reading maybe two books in my life.

4.  I never thought I'd be a YA girl.  I always thought it'd be like reliving high school all over again, but I'm glad I gave it a chance.  Some of my favorite books are YA.

5.  I'm notorious for refusing to read a book until the entire series is finished.  I've been reading the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series for YEARS!  I'm just ready to know who she picks so I can move on.  I mean, isn't 20+ books enough?  But I love Stephanie Plum, so I'll continue reading until JE decides to put an end to it.

6.  I'm obsessed with the beautiful bookshelves where all of the books are arranged by color. I always dream of someday.  But not until I'm out of an apartment, and in a house, where I'll stay, for awhile.  I can't wait to have a room full of books.

7.  I refuse to watch a "movie adaption" until I've read the book.  But I won't watch the movie right away, so I can forget the details, and enjoy the movie.

8.  I'm usually reading more than one book at a time.  Currently - I'm reading 3.  How I keep the stories straight is often beyond me.  I'm reading one religious book, one on my Kindle, and one in print.

9.  I read anywhere and everywhere.  I have *some* version of a book with me at all times.  If I'm stuck in traffic, yup, I'm reading.  Sitting in line at a drive thru, yup, reading.  It's awesome.  But I often get dirty looks.  

10.  I judge a book by it's cover.  All the time.

11.  I love the nerdy tough boy characters in books.  Let me explain.  The boys that are "manly" in public, but super sweet and sensitive in private.  They remind me of my own boyfriend.  Oh, who am I kidding?  I love sappy romantic sweet boys the most!

12.  I've only listened to one audio book to completion in my entire life.  It was Angels & Demons.  I have a 10 minute drive to work, where I talk to my mom via my car's bluetooth.  (No handheld talking for me!)  I don't know when I'd find the time to listen to an audio book.

13.  I love the library.  I'd rather check out books from the library than spend the money to buy them myself.  One year - I calculated how much money I saved by checking them out and donated that money to the library.  And then we moved.  Too far away from the library to make it at all convenient.  I'm still sad.

14.  I hate when a book I love ends.  I don't know if I think the book will magically continue to write itself or what.  But it leaves me feeling sad, and lonely.

15.  I love free books on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.  (I have an iPad so I download them from both.)  There's no way in heck that I'll ever get all those books read, but it makes me feel good to have options.  

What are your 15 book related confessions?  Let's hear 'em.

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon: Day 3 Mini Challenge

I've had a blast with this read-a-thon.  I'm sad to think that today is the last day.  *tear* It's been nice to not have any other real plans to focus on aka school and homework.  I haven't done as well on this one as I had originally hoped, but then I typically have these grand plans of all the things I'm going to accomplish.  Ha!  



Update:  
Finished Every Boy's Got One - Meg Cabot
Started Pivot Point - Kasie West

Day 3 Mini Challenges:

Today's mini challenges were hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings and Dizneeee's World of Books.

The mini challenge for Rainy Day Ramblings was assembling three puzzles, which let me tell you, was kind of fun!  :o)  But, then I'm a puzzle lovin' kind of gal.

The mini challenge from Dizneeee's World of Books is the following:

For my little challenge, I would like for you to tell me your favorite genrefavorite book within that genre, and your favorite character from the same genre.

My favorite genre is hands down young adult.  

My favorite book within that genre... just one?!  I think it goes without saying that I absolutely LOVE The Hunger Games series, and Harry Potter, and Anna and the French Kiss, and anything by John Green.  Oh, oops.  Just one?!  

My favorite character is definitely Katniss.  No questions.  Only because I loooooooooove that she's a strong, in your face, will do whatever it takes to protect my family kind of girl. She's not weak.  At all.  And I LOVE that about her.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Once Upon A Read-a-Thon Day 2: Mini Challenge(s)

Today's mini challenge is a tough one!  :-(  This mini challenge is hosted by Angels, Demons, and Vampires.

You're in a bookstore and you've just purchased 5 books you've been dying to read, when the apocalypse hits. (Zombie, Demons, Vampires, Dean Winchester vs. Sam Winchester (yes, I'm watching Supernatural reruns) I don't care what apocalypse). You've got one chance at survival, what 2 books do you take and what 3 other items do you take? 

I mean, my only real chance for survival is to pair up with a bunch of book lovin' friends, and then we can all share our two picks.  Right?!  Whose with me?!

So, let's see... if I could only take TWO *gasp* books with me, I'd pick The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicle #1) by Patrick Rothfuss because it's been on my TBR list for a really long time, and it gets amazing reviews.  Plus, I already own the book, so it'd be easy to grab.  For my second book, I'd choose my Bible.  I mean, if you've never read the Bible, there's all kinds of drama in it.  And, well, I'd need it to survive an apocalypse.

The other three items I'd take... let's just say that all of my family and pets survive, because I'd most certainly grab them first, and well, they aren't really "items" to be taken. If that were the case, then I'd grab them first.  However, since this is my response, we're going with the idea that they are all safe and with me.  I'd grab some way of transporting and purifying water.  I'd grab pen and paper so I could journal everything that was going on, because maybe someone would find it and know after the fact.  And, I'd grab as much food as I could fit into a backpack to survive for as long as possible.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon: Day 1 Challenge

The day 1 challenge is hosted by Cover2CoverBlog.  Is it just me or does everyone love all the exposure to new bloggers, books, and FRIENDS?!  



Either way, today's challenge is...

1. Which book you are most excited to read in the coming year? It can be already released or coming soon.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth.  I looooooooooooved the first book in this series, refused to read book #2 until book #3 came out.  So yeah, I'm definitely excited for this one.



2. Which book would you re-read if you had the time and weren't so busy reading ALL of the other good thing?

Hmmm.  That's a tough one.  I have a thing for series, because I just can't say goodbye to characters after just one book.  I'd have to say that I'd probably end up re-reading The Hunger Games series, just because I looooooooooooooove them that much.

Okay - readers - what book are YOU looking forward to?!  Are you participating in the read-a-thon?  I can't wait to hear your answers!

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon

Since I bombed participating in the Summer Lovin' read-a-thon, I thought I'd give it another go.  This one is three days, it's after finals and after close, so the timing is way more perfect.

This read-a-thon is hosted by Reading Angel, Candace's Book Blog, and Pure Imagination.  The link for sign ups is here.


My goal is to read three books in three days.  I'm going to start with Meg Cabot's book, Every Boys Got One.  

Also - look forward to three book reviews coming soon!  I promise.



Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Summer Lovin' Day 2




I'm a bit behind on posting Day 2.  My apologies.  Part of my job involves a very tight month end close because we have final reporting requirements to our parent company. Yay!  Either way, between finals and work, I'm behind.  But I'm catching up today.  


Tell us which books are on the top of your must-have summer reads list. They can be books you’ve read and recommend others to read, or books you want to read.

For me - I tend to read lighter, funnier, less serious books during the summer.  I love serious books too, but only when I can dedicate some time and energy to really becoming involved with the book.  

My must-have summer reads list includes:

Every Boy's Got One - Meg Cabot
(It's the last book in the series, and I have to know what happens!)

Between, Georgia - Joshilyn Jackson
(I've had this book on my TBR list for awhile now, and I just got the book in the mail a couple of days ago.)

Sandpiper - Ellen Wittlinger
(Another one I just got, but it's been on the TBR list.)

Monday, July 1, 2013

Summer Lovin' Day 1 - Introduction, Goals, Daily Challenge

It's here, you!  The Summer Read-a-Thon, hosted by 7 independent bloggers starts TODAY! After an impromptu out of town road trip that was neither for a happy reason or without stress, I'm thankful to have this starting.  

If you are interested in joining - just click the picture I've included in this post.  It's most definitely sure to be a GREAT time!



Today we begin with an introduction (yay!) and our goals for the read-a-thon.

Introduction:  

My name is Christina.  I live in Texas, where I've been for the majority of my life.  As much as I love living close to the area I grew up in, I'm definitely excited for the possibility of a move in the near future.  I just turned 30.  I have an amazing boyfriend, who is truly the most patient man I've ever met.  I'm an accountant by day, a student working on my last semester of grad school by night.  We have no children of the human kind, but we do have one fur baby.  I love to sew, read, explore new locations, and bake.  I'm learning how to cook normal meals, but it's definitely a learning process!

What got me reading?  I've always had a serious love for reading.  I can't pinpoint it to one particular thing.  I remember enjoying my mom reading to me as a small child, and I looooved books.  When I was in 1st grade, I got sent to the principal's office on the 1st day of school because I was reading at a 3rd and 4th grade level.  My teacher at the time didn't know what to do with me.  She eventually started keeping me indoors during recess to help tutor the other kids that were struggling to read.  In a weird way, I think that's where my love of teaching and helping others came in to play as well.

My favorite genre is young adult, but really, I'll read just about anything if it interests me.

Goals:

My goals for this week are to read two books... for sure. 

Every Boy's Got One - Meg Cabot
Gameboard of the Gods - Richelle Mead

My other goal(s) are to blog about the books I've read for the Summer Lovin' Read-a-Thon, as well as catch up on the book reviews from being out of town last week.

The Boy Next Door - Meg Cabot
Boy Meets Girl - Meg Cabot

Daily Challenge (Day 1):

Today's daily challenge, teaser tidbits, is hosted by Shelf Addiction.  
  • Grab the book you're currently reading (or recently read) 
  • Open to a random page 
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page  NO spoilers allowed! Choose passages void of spoilers. The goal is to entice, yet not ruin the book for others! 


"He'd also requested information from the various families about the victim's conceptions but had received muddled answers."

"Mae secretly hoped he'd cancel it altogether since he was now caught up in the idea of a vengeful geneticist being behind the murders."