Currently Reading ~ Beautiful Day

I am on Goodreads and every year they have a Reading Challenge that I have participated in the past couple of years. I have mixed feelings about this challenge because when I set the number of books I will read over 12 I can't quite reach and its frustrating. However when I set the goal of books lower I read like crazy and meet or surpass my goal. I think subconsciously I am sabotaging myself. I truly love to read in my spare time and love the adventures I go on or the new characters I meet.

I am currently reading Book #8 for my challenge. It's from a familiar author, Elin Hilderbrand.  I love her stories and the settings for them. I some day want to visit the East Coast and the towns she mentions in her books. But until then I will live vicariously through her books.

What are you currently reading? Please share

Reading Challenge Book #7

I am slowly reaching my reading goal for this year, 2018.  My goal is 24 books for the year.

Book #7 was written by Meg Cabot, Size 12 is Not Fat.  I have read several of her books but its been awhile since I had picked one up.  This book did not disappoint. I love how easy it was to read and be swept away into the lives of the characters. This is book one in a series of I believe five. So I will be reading the rest of the books soon.

From Goodreads:

Heather Wells Rocks!

Or, at least, she did. That was before she left the pop-idol life behind after she gained a dress size or two — and lost a boyfriend, a recording contract, and her life savings (when Mom took the money and ran off to Argentina). Now that the glamour and glory days of endless mall appearances are in the past, Heather's perfectly happy with her new size 12 shape (the average for the American woman!) and her new job as an assistant dorm director at one of New York's top colleges. That is, until the dead body of a female student from Heather's residence hall is discovered at the bottom of an elevator shaft.

The cops and the college president are ready to chalk the death off as an accident, the result of reckless youthful mischief. But Heather knows teenage girls . . . and girls do not elevator surf. Yet no one wants to listen — not the police, her colleagues, or the P.I. who owns the brownstone where she lives — even when more students start turning up dead in equally ordinary and subtly sinister ways. So Heather makes the decision to take on yet another new career: as spunky girl detective! 

But her new job comes with few benefits, no cheering crowds, and lots of liabilities, some of them potentially fatal. And nothing ticks off a killer more than a portly ex-pop star who's sticking her nose where it doesn't belong.

Have you read this book? If not, I hope you might consider it. 

What are you currently reading?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Book Giveaway - The Ladies of Garrison Gardens

Here is the book that I recently finished. I would like to pass this book along to one lucky reader to enjoy it as well. The book was purchased at a thrift store so it does have some wear and tear.




From the back cover:
Charles Valley's legendary dowagers, the three Miss Margarets, have lost one of their own; Peggy Garrison, who in life was constantly overshadowed by the reputation of her rich husband's first wife, Myrtis. After Peggy's will is read, the town is shocked. Peggy has left her entire fortune to the town's wild child, Laurel Selene McCready.
Though she was like a daughter to Miss Peggy, the last thing Laurel wants to do is step into Peggy's shoes, especially since the Garrison wealth never bought Peggy any happiness. On top of that, when Laurel reluctantly explores the storied Garrison Cottage, she discovers that mysteries abound when it comes to the great Miss Myrtis. What clues are hidden in an old suitcase, and who is the elderly woman who has been keeping track of the Garrison estate's every development via the Charles Valley Gazette? And how will Laurel avoid the fate of her two predecessors, whose secrets have far greater implications that Laurel could ever have imagines?

If you would like a chance to read this book, please fill out the Rafflecopter below.

Happy Reading!
Cynthia




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Club Friday

Today I am linking up with Heather over at Undercover Blonde for Book Club Fridays. I have enjoyed reading others recommendations and thought I would give it a try.

The book I have been reading and need to return to the school library is 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass. The book caught my attention by the bright cover. Am I the only one that picks books by their covers? I work in an elementary school and this was a newer book that arrived so I checked it out. It's like Groundhog Day for middle readers. The same day keeps occurring but the characters change their actions some days to see what happens.

Here is what Barnes and Noble has to say about this book:

After celebrating their first nine same-day birthdays together, Amanda and Leo, having fallen out on their tenth and not speaking to each other for the last year, prepare to celebrate their eleventh birthday separately but peculiar things begin to happen as the day of their birthday begins to repeat itself over and over again.

I can't wait to see what everyone else has recommended to read. My summer reading list is growing very fast!

Happy reading!

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's a place where we post about the books we have received that week via mailbox, library or store. Click on over and join the fun.

Here are the books I purchased from a local thrift store for $1.00

Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark

A Clean Slate by Laura Caldwell

Carrie Pilby by Caren Lissner

Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

Love: A User's Guide by Clare Naylor

My TBR pile is growing way too fast. I can't wait til summer so that I can really start to make a dent in it.

Hope you had a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Spring Reading Thing 2010

Katrina at Callapidder Days is hosting the Spring Reading Thing. I have participated in this before and thought I would give it another try. When I have a plan to read I tend to get more books read.



Here are the details:

* Make a list of books you want to read (or finish reading) this spring. Your list can be as long or as short as you’d like. (Also, feel free to modify your list during the challenge if it’s not working for you.)

* Write a blog post containing your list and submit it to this post using the Mr. Linky below.

* Get reading! The challenge goes from today, March 20th, through June 20th, 2010.

* Check out other participants’ lists and add to your own to-read-someday pile!

* Write a post about your challenge experience in June, telling us all about whether you reached your goals and how the Spring Reading Thing went for you. But remember: this is a low-pressure challenge that should be fun. As long as you do some reading this spring (and enjoy it!), that’s good enough for me.

Now, here is my list of books that I hope to read during the Spring Reading Thing:

1. Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson

2. Nerd Gone Wild by Vicki Lewis Thompson

3. Nerds Like It Hot by Vicki Lewis Thompson

4. Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner

5. 4 Blondes by Candace Bushnell

6. The Right Address by Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman

7. The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne

8. The Book of Bright Ideas by Sandra Kring

9. Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella, complete 5/9/10

10. A Total Waste of Makeup by Kim Gruenefelder, completed 4/28/10

Happy Reading!

March Book Winner

Congratulations to Linda for winning my March Pay It Forward Book. Please check back tomorrow for April's book.

March Pay It Forward Book Exchange

It's cold outside and a great time to curl up inside with a book. This book exchange is hosted by Overwhelmed with Joy, but I not too sure if she is still participating. Please stop by and see if she has a link up for others having a book exchange this month.

This month I am offering the book Me vs Me by Sarah Mlynowski

From the back cover:

Gabby Wolf has pretty much, almost definitely (this close!) come to a decision: She's trading in Phoenix (nice but uneventful life with boyfriend) for Manhattan (dream job as producer for highly successful news show). Then Cam swoops in and gives her a sparkling engagement ring, making her decision even more impossible. Husband vs. career. Vera Wang wedding dress vs. sexy first-date outfits. Planting roots in Phoenix vs. playing the field in Manhattan...She wishes she didn't have to decide, that she could have it all.

She never expects her wish to come true.

Suddenly Gabby's living two lives. Whenever she falls asleep in one, she wakes up in the other. She's got the best of both worlds-what more could a girl ask for? Right?

Here are the rules:

1.If you win this book you must host a giveaway on your blog. If you don't have a blog then you will give the book to a local shelter, library, etc.

2.You do not need a blog to participate. If you don't have one just please leave your e-mail so that in the event you should win I can get a hold of you.

3.You need to leave a comment to this post by Monday, March 29.

4.I will randomly draw a name on Tuesday, March 30 and post the winner here. Also, I will contact the winner by e-mail or blog.

Good Luck and Happy Reading!

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Here are the books that made it into my house this past week. All are from the local thrift store.

What books have you recently brought into your house?

I Can't Wait

After I finish my daily home blessing (I try to follow Fly Lady) I am going to sit down with a cup of tea and dream away as I flip through these pages. Have a wonderful evening!

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.



Here are the books that came into my house this past week. All of them came from the local thrift store at $1.00 a piece, you can't beat that. Happy Reading!

I am having a Book Pay It Forward. Click here to enter.

From a wonderful new voice in fiction comes a touching love story wrapped in a sparkling comedy. With enormous wit and an insider's eye, this debut capture the nuances of the rich and spoiled in a heartwarming social satire, featuring a lovable "champagne bubble girl" who's just looking for love.







It's time for more outrageous and feathered funin the award-winning, laugh-out-loud Meg Langslow series. When her old friend Karen drops by with two-year-old son Timmy, Meg Langslow reluctantly agrees to babysit just for a little while. But when nightfall comes, the toddler is still in residence and Karen isn't answering any phone calls. Meg decides she must find out what's happening, so the next morning, with Timmy in tow, she retraces her friend's footsteps&mdash-and begins to suspect that Karen's disappearance is tied to at least one serious crime. Has Karen been killed or kidnapped? Is she on the run from the bad guys? Or is she one of the bad guys? The police don't seem to care, so Meg once again plays sleuth&mdash-this time with a toddler as her sidekick. As usual, Meg's extended family adds to the complications in her life. What covert animal welfare project are Dad and the curmudgeonly zoologist Dr. Montgomery Blake working on&mdash-and will Meg have to make another late-night trip to bail them out of jail? Why does Meg's brother keep disappearing&mdash-is he merely trying to avoid babysitting, or is he involved in something more mysterious? Will taking care of Timmy dampen newly married Meg and Michael's enthusiasm for starting a family of their own? And are any of Meg's relatives reliable enough to be trusted with a two-year-old&mdash-especially a two-year-old whose whereabouts might be of interest to some very dangerous people? Donna Andrews once again proves her skill as one of the funniest, most entertaining mystery authors around.









Opposites attract in this specially packaged two-in-one volume of classic works by Nora Roberts--"From This Day" and "Temptation" 336 pp.















The Maine air was bitter cold and frigid as Dr. Miranda Jones returned to the family home after a busy lecture tour. But her blood turned to ice when, out of nowhere, she felt a knife held against her throat.The unseen assailant stole her bags, slashed her tires . . . and disappeared. Shaken and bruised, Miranda was nonetheless determined to put the assault quickly out of her mind. Then comes a distraction in the form of a summons to Italy to verify the authenticity of a valuable Renaissance bronze of a Medici courtesan known as "The Dark Lady." However, instead of cementing Miranda's position as the leading expert in her field, the job unexpectedly nearly destroys it when her professional judgment is called into question. Emotionally estranged from her mother, her brother immersed in his own troubles-and a bottle-Miranda, desperate to restore her reputation, has no one to turn to . . . except Ryan Boldari, a seductive art thief whose own agenda forces them into a reluctant and uneasy alliance.Now, it has become frighteningly clear that the incident that day in Maine was not a simple mugging, and that "The Dark Lady" may possess as many secrets as its beautiful namesake once did. For Miranda, forced to rely on herself-and an enigmatic partner who offers her suspicion and an intoxicating passion-the only way home is filled with treachery, deception, and a danger that threatens them all.







This is New York Times andUSA Todaybestselling author Jennifer Crusie's novel about long shots, risk management, true love, and great shoes. . . . Minerva Dobbs knows how to work the odds. Calvin Morrisey always plays to win. But when they face off, neither one is prepared. Because when real life meets true love, all bets are off. . . . Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet, even if he is gorgeous and successful Calvin Morrisey. Cal knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs, even if she does wear great shoes and keep him on his toes. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again. But fate has other plans, and it's not long before Min and Cal meet again. Soon they're dealing with a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a freakishly intelligent cat, Chicken Marsala, and more risky propositions than either of them ever dreamed of. Including the biggest gamble of all---true love.

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Here are the books that came into my house this past week. They are all from the Mystery Guild Book Club. Have you read any of them? Let me know your thoughts.

Happy Reading!

December Pay It Forward Book Exchange

It's cold outside and a great time to curl up inside with a book. This book exchange is hosted by Overwhelmed with Joy, but I not too sure if she is still participating. Please stop by and see if she has a link up for others having a book exchange this month.

I am offering Flyover States as my pay it forward book exchange for this month.

From Booklist
Doris and Ronnie are outsiders at Indiana's Langsdale University. Quirky Doris is nervous about teaching a summer class of low-income college students. To make matters worse, she has to co-teach with goofy Zach, a guy she regrets hooking up with once upon a time. Ronnie would have loved to have the co-teaching position with Doris, and she is furious that Zach was picked instead, leaving her with no university employment for the summer. She reluctantly takes a job working nights at a local factory and attends classes during the day. She does manage to snag the attention of the handsome guy she has been admiring from afar, but she soon learns that he is not being totally honest with her. Doris has a similar problem with a charismatic but sexually ambiguous poetry professor. Readers will enjoy the novel setting and the trials and tribulations of transplanted big-city girls trying to find work and love in the Midwest.

Here are the rules:

1.If you win this book you must host a giveaway on your blog. If you don't have a blog then you will give the book to a local shelter, library, etc.

2.You do not need a blog to participate. If you don't have one just please leave your e-mail so that in the event you should win I can get a hold of you.

3.You need to leave a comment to this post by Tuesday, December 29.

4.I will randomly draw a name on Wednesday, December 30 and post the winner here. Also, I will contact the winner by e-mail or blog.

Good Luck and Happy Reading!

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Here are the books that came into my house this past week. None of these came by way of the mailbox but by the local thrift store.DESCRIPTION: A collection of stories for anyone who shuddered at the idea of senior prom, REVENGE OF THE PASTE EATERS is about the way the experiences of childhood stay with us and shape us into adults. Cheryl Peck applies her signature wit to more personal stories and reflections--about hurting people and getting hurt, about discovering who you are and who you want to be, about feeling "not good enough," and about being bigger--physically and mentally--than many of the people surrounding you. This is a wickedly funny view of what it's like to be a middle-aged woman in middle-America, and what really happened to the kids who were different. Teri is searching for Mr Right. She's been through Mr Lazy, Mr Greedy, Mr Completely Selfish and Mr Downright Pervert -- but, as yet, no Mr Wonderful. That is, of course, until she is literally knocked off her feet by Jamie Duncan, as they rush to catch their train home from Euston station: the18.07 from platform 8. Soon love blossoms and commuting takes on a whole new meaning. But one thing that can't be ignored is that, as well as being Mr Right, Jamie is also Mr Married! When her husband abandons her in 1950s Minneapolis, Patty Jane opens her own unique beauty salon

Grace Armiger isn't living the high life. As a publicist in a London publishing house, she spends her days trying to interest an indifferent media in her collection of oddball authors. Home's not much better-her scruffy apartment, untrustworthy boyfriend, and nagging mother aren't doing much to keep her spirits high. Plus, she's just had a wildly inappropriate one-night stand with one of her writers. But when a chance encounter turns into a brush with an A-list celebrity, Grace dares to think her life may finally be taking a promising turn . . . Across town, Belinda Black, a ruthless tabloid journalist, is about to make a crash landing into Grace's unremarkable life. For just as soon as Grace thinks she's found the man of her dreams, Belinda thinks she's found the interview of hers. With Gossip Hound , Wendy Holden delivers yet another stylish, sophisticated comedy showcasing a winning and witty heroine who-against all odds-just may come out on top.

So those are the books added to my TBR pile the past week. My pile is growing very fast thanks to the local thrift store selling books for $1.00.

I finished these two books over the Thanksgiving break.

What books came into your house this past week?

Thrifty Finds

My finds this week are from the thrift store. I found a Halloween candle holder, a stack of children's books for my classroom and a silver tray, that I will use in a project in the future.

Trying to not go as often to the thrift stores. I am trying to be good.

What have you found lately?

Meeting an Author

Last night my girlfriend and I went to Border books to meet Jen Lancaster! She is on tour for her new book, Pretty in Plaid.This is book number 4. I have read the first three and have laughed so hard. I introduced my friend to her and she loves them as much as I do.

Do you see Jen? She is the one with the white sweater tied around her shoulders. Love her bag! The theme was to come dressed in 80's clothes but coming from work that wasn't an option for me. There were some ladies that were dressed in 80's wear and they looked fabulous.

Here we are waiting for Jen to start. There were microphone issues.She read a passage from the book about being a Girl Scout and then ended with question and answers. She shared about her family and the dogs and what she has in store for her fans and readers!And then it was book signing time! When I went up to have my copy signed she commented on my shoes. She was wearing shoes very similar to mine by the same designer. How cool!I had a very fun girls night out on a school night! Thanks LC!

April Pay It Forward Book Winner

Congratulations to Kathleen. She is the winner for this months Pay It Forward Book Exchange. Please stop by the first Wednesday of the month for a chance to win a free book.

April Pay It Forward Book Exchange

No fooling here! It's that time again for another book exchange. I hope you will consider signing up for this book.

Synopsis from Barnes and Noble:
From day one grad students Doris and Ronnie felt as if they didn't fit in at Langsdale University. Hailing from a pulsating urban scene-Doris from Brooklyn and Ronnie from L.A.-both struggled to find their groove in the calm and untroubled waters of the flyover state Indiana. But as best friends Doris and Ronnie pursue their degrees amid country fairs they find that their education is about to take a decidedly book-free, non-researched turn...

Here are the rules to enter. Yes, there are some rules!

1.If you win this book you must host a giveaway on your blog. If you don't have a blog then you will give the book to a local shelter, library, etc.

2.You do not need a blog to participate. If you don't have one just please leave your e-mail so that in the event you should win I can get a hold of you.

3.You need to leave a comment to this post by Tuesday, April 28.

4.I will randomly draw a name on Wednesday, April 29 and post the winner here. Also, I will contact the winner by e-mail or blog.

Please click over to Overwhelmed with Joy to see the many other book exchanges happening this month.