Once again we all met at Sara’s and gathered around her dining room table for food, drink, and of course conversation. The guest Lois Greiman was very nice to speak with, and even had questions for all of us. Of course, I had to remind everyone I like women’s fiction, and don’t mind if a book doesn’t have a happy ending. I’m the oddball…the rest of the group has to have the HEA. Ok..I’ve been on a whirlwind of travel. Often I can read while I travel, and accomplish a lot of good reading, but this trip I was busy playing with my anniversary gift of a new laptop instead. Yes, it could be used to read e-books, but I didn’t. So now to the good stuff…what I’ve read. Since my last update I have read Unzipped by Lois Greiman. It’s her debut mystery, and was an enjoyable read. It was the first book in what promises to be an entertaining series. I also read Lakeside Cottage by Susan Wiggs and author who I’m fast beginning to really enjoy. Lakeside Cottage does have romance in it, but I would consider it more women’s fiction. Lakeside Cottage is one of my…

I just checked and it seems that I haven’t posted anything in a long long time! Guess I’ve been busy reading. I was able to get a review copy of 50 Harbor Street by Debbie Macomber. When RWA was in town I had the chance to briefly chat with Macomber, and I won’t tell you what my impression of her was, but that hasn’t distracted me from enjoying her books. I enjoyed this title that will be released in September because it tied up several loose ends from previous books in her Cedar Cover series, and started new ones. I also read Old Boyfriends by Rexanne Becnel and Riggs Park by Ellyn Bache. Both of these titles are from Harlequin’s new NEXT line. I have a feeling that this is one series line that is going to appeal to me. The books are women’s fiction, and focus on older heroines. I’m a huge fan of women’s fiction, so expect to see more reports on these from me. Speaking of women’s fiction I also read The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks. Several people told me this was a sequel to The Notebook. For those who like to read series in order, I…

Had a great time at the cookout Wednesday evening. As always the food was plentiful and delicious, and the discussion lively. Thank you for always being willing to open your home to us. I came home and decided to stay awake a little bit longer and finished First Date by Karen Kendall. It was a light hearted read, without a lot of different characters and settings. It would make a great read for a harried person who didn’t have a lot of time and energy to devote to reading. As the dinner discussion included having to suspend belief in the realities of life I’d like to say to read First Date you don’t have to do that. However don’t go into this expecting the next great American Novel either, because you’ll be disappointed for sure. As I’ve mentioned previously I’m slowly working my way through the In Death books. I read the novella Midnight In Death after I finished Riggs Park. I almost wish that there had been a previous book about the villian in Midnight In Death, and that it had been a follow up story. Midnight In Death can be found in the anthology Silent Night. Anthology…that brings…

Being on summer break from school has helped my reading a lot! During the school year the house suffers because of the hectic schedule, and now it’s suffering because I can’t tear myself away from my reading pile. Since last I updated I finished Sweetgrass by Mary Alice Monroe. I’m told that this author had veered into stories that were very focused on conservation issues. Sweetgrass was not that type of book. It was a story of family. I personally found it to be a wonderful story of a family torn apart by tragedy, and in the end brought back together to fend off yet another tragedy that could have ultimately torn them apart forever. I’m a cryer, and if a book touches me deeply will cry as it winds down. I didn’t cry over Sweetgrass, but have to say if I were a keeper I would be adding another title to my keeper shelf! From Sweetgrass I decided that I needed something a little more suspensful. I’m still slowly but surely working my way through a first time read of the In Death books by J.D. Robb AKA Nora Roberts. I just read Holiday in Death. I first read…

It’s Monday, and after a fabulous Sunday with the tea group at brunch, the signing, and the chilling out afterwards I’m suffering let down. As was stated it’s really enjoyable getting together with this group and debating the good, the bad, and the indifferent as to different authors, genres, and lives in general. Who would have thought that such a diverse group could get along so well, and not have someone running off screaming and causing a scene. I do have to disagree with Sara on one small part…yesterday several of us did all agree that we totally enjoyed Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard. Today I decided to maybe tackle the pit I call my bedroom. I didn’t get very far before my book was yelling louder than the mess. So I sat down and finally finished my book A New Lu by Laura Castoro. I still don’t understand the image uploading, so for a look at the cover, and the blurb here’s a link. This at least I think I can handle. Now I’m going to sit down and read Sweetgrass by Mary Alice Monroe. I’ve only read one book by her previously, and really enjoyed it, but I…

Today I’ve decided I’m going to master posting images and links. Let’s see if I succeed or not. If I succeed I’ll graciously accept all accolades, and if I fail I’ll beg forgiveness for taking up time and space! I’m currently reading Sexy Lexy by Kate Moore. This is going to be my official first read of summer. I started it on Tuesday evening, and have already managed about 130 pages of the 324 in the book. So far it’s a fun lighthearted read, and if your planning a vacation would make a nice addition to the suitcase. I’m still trying to figure out the exact formatting here, but I’m hoping this is better than my previous try. I’m also including a link that I hope works this time. So now I’m going to sign off, and check my work, and see if I’ve mastered a task that I’m sure my 12 year old could do in his sleep, but which seems to be ever elusive to me! Sandi Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

For those who might not know Hump day is Wednesday, becuase there’s 2 days of the week already passed, and only 2 days of the week left until the glorious weekend. It’s going to be a three day weekend, and I hope many of you have some wonderful plans. If all goes according to plan my mom is coming Friday afternoon. She’s supposed to be letting me know for sure as she had an angioplasty last week, and was to have seen the doctor to get cleared for flying. Then Saturday evening will find us watching our oldest graduate high school. Unfortunately he has to work at 10PM, because another high school is having a lock in at his job, and we won’t have time to take him out to celebrate! Because of my school year winding down I’ve decided to read something quick and easy. I read Somebody’s Baby by Tara Taylor Quinn. It’s book 10 in the Shelter Valley Stories. I haven’t read all the stories in this series, and didn’t feel like I needed to in order to know what was going on in the small town of Shelter Story. Ms. Quinn allowed enough back story, without…

I finished Snowed In by Christina Bartolomeo. I knew it wasn’t romance, but more like women’s fiction, so wasn’t expecting a happy ending. I was however primed for an ending that left me feeling satisfied. I turned the last page(didn’t know it was the last page at the time) and went HUH? I can’t quite express it, but the final paragraph doesn’t leave you to believe it’s truly the fnal paragraph. After finishing Snowed In I chose to read A Date With The Other Side by Erin McCarthy. In between band concerts, and suffering the yuch brought on by my allergies I managed to finish it in the wee hours before work this morning. I really enjoyed this one. It was my first read by this author, and I’m pleased to announce I have at least one more in the TBR pile. A Date With The Other Side does have a paranormal element in it, and while it plays a big part in the story line I didn’t feel like it was so highlighted that the book could have been classified as paranormal. Now I’m undecided about what to read. So I’ll sign off, and go through the TBR pile….

Well, I made it, and I’m currently reading Snowed In by Christina Bartolomeo(hopefully I spelled that right, as I don’t have the book by me) It’s not what I would consider romance, though that’s the way it was billed. I would consider it more a piece of women’s fiction. It’s my first read by this author, and I’m not yet finished, so haevn’t formed a complete opinion. Sandi Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.