Sunday, August 24, 2014

This Week in Reading - August 24th

It's Sunday which means time to link up with the awesome Kimba at The Caffeinated Book Reviewer for the Sunday Post where we get to talk about what's going on on and off the blogs!

What I Got:

Not nearly as much as last week!  This week isn't quite so eclectic as I seemed to focus on contemporary romance.
Life is Sweet by Elizabeth Bass - I'm not sure I've really mentioned it here but I adore cupcakes.  I've made tons of varieties and always love to experiement.  I couldn't resist the cupcake on the cover paired with the story of a woman who threw a dart on a map and opened a cupcake store where it landed.

Talk Sweetly to Me by Courtney Milan - because one day I hope to actually read one of her books instead of just accumulating them.

All He Wants for Christmas by Lisa Plumly - This is billed as a funny contemporary and I'm in that kind of mood right now.

Maybe This Christmas by Sarah Morgan - I've loved the other 2 in this series and I"m looking forward to see how the romance between Tyler and Brenna  develops.


Currently:

Reading: 
Last week I didn't much read so I'm trying to catch up!
Scene of the Climb by Kate Dyer-Seeley - so far a fun cozy set in the Pacific Northwest.
Sandpiper Island by Donna Kauffman - the 3rd in the Blueberry Cover series
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie - almost done with this one.

Watching: The Being Poirot special that came on PBS last weekend.  While I've never been 100% satisfied with any of the Marples David Suchet IS Poirot.  Also, Doctor Who started back this weekend!!  And with one set in the Victorian period.  I'm a happy girl.  Still watching CSI:NY though they've gotten slightly less dramatic.

Listening:  I finished The Haunting of Hill House for which a review of the audio, book and movies should come in the next few weeks.  I decided to switch to something a bit lighter and got The Great Escape by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

Off the Blog:

Not much going on this week.  We're continuing to settle into our back to school routines.  The Tornado is loving PreK and my house is wonderfully gloriously clean which makes me happy.  I had time to go thrifting with some friends and had a great time and picked up some great deals.  The biggest find was a pair of 7 for All Mankind jeans for $3.  Looking forward to going again soon. 

 Soccer is going great for both the Tornado and Paul though they're very different teams.  For starters all the boys on Paul's team are taller than me and on the Tornado's they're all about waist high.  They all seem to be having an equally good time though.  

I'm enjoying things being more settled now that summer is over.  Somehow we got to be THE house this summer.  While I'm glad they feel comfortable bringing their friends here and all it definitely made for an interesting summer.  The front of our house looked like a parking lot most days and I never knew if I was feeding 20 people or 2.  It was fun but my little left brained soul is glad we're back to order.

On the Blog:

This Past Week:

My review of Sabrina Jeffries' latest
The Top Ten Books People Tell Me I MUST Read
A fun nonfiction about aviation's glory (and glamorous) days
My Classic 50 - my list of 50 classics for The Classics Club - a mix of rereads and new reads
My Friday Linkups with excerpts from my current read - Scene of the Climb
A look at a fun book for How I Met Your Mother fans

Coming Up:

Mon: Sandpiper Island by Donna Kauffman Review
Tues: My Top 10 Books I Want to Read but Don't Own
Wed: ? book review
Thurs: Scene of the Climb review
Fri: Book Blogger Hop/Book Beginnings/Friday 56
Sat: The Chopped Cookbook review

Happy reading!

66 comments:

  1. Good good luck with your classics, I like to read one now and again but I wouldn't like a solid diet of them! And I hope Life is Sweet is as cute as it looks and sounds!

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    1. I wouldn't like a solid diet of them either! I figure 50 in 5 years equals about one a month or so. I think I should be able to handle to that especially since most of my classics are on the lighter side! I'm keeping my fingers crossed about Life is Sweet. It could be really fun or awful. I'm hoping for the first option!

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  2. Your shows sound pretty good. Can you believe I've never seen Dr. Who? As big of a geek fan as I am, not sure why... nice Classic 50 list too, there's definitely some books on there I want to get to one of these days.

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    1. I am surprised you haven't seen Doctor Who! I started watching them with my dad in the 80s when our PBS channel got some of the Tom Baker episodes from the 70s. I think the reboot has been done well and for the most part has included people who were fond of the original. I'm looking forward to starting on my Classic 50. I stuck on the lighter side but at this point I have plenty of lighter ones to read!

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  3. David Suchet is the best Poirot so far. I'll be watching Dr Who today, so excited ! Your summer must have been... busy ! with all these guests coming and going. Have a great week ;)

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    1. I can't imagine anyone else being Poirot and I'm pretty critical. Did you watch it?? It was a good one! I'm so excited about this doctor!

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  4. Oh, I really like Life is Sweet cover! it's indeed sweet. Will be waiting for your review for that one :)

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    1. It comes out in September or October so the review will be around then. Hoping the book lives up to the cover!

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  5. Courtney Milan is a favorite of mine! I hope you get to read her books very soon. LOL :)

    My Sunday Post

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    1. I've just started the novella and so far I'm enjoying it!

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  6. Woah, sounds like you had an incredibly busy summer! 2 or 20? Heh. I know how that feels regularly (but I have a big family so you never can tell who's popping around for Sunday lunch, lol). The cover for Life is Sweet is really nice! And oh! I love your blog title. Live in a library? Um, YES PLEASE. ;)
    My Sunday Post!

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    1. It was pretty crazy but it was fun! I hope Life is Sweet lives up to it's cover. Sometimes these kinds of books can go too cutesy though. Thanks! I would definitely like to live in a library! I have plans to turn one of the extra bedrooms into a reading room but it will be awhile.

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  7. Enjoy the books you got! Our house was busy with kids over the summer too, now they are all back in school. It's quiet now, kinda feels strange now. lol..

    Jenea @ Books Live Forever's Sunday Post

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    1. I'm still kind of getting used to all the quiet. It's pretty lovely! Thanks! I can't wait to get them read!

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  8. I'm chuckling just thinking about the contrast in the soccer teams you'll be following this fall! It's only been a few years since we haven't been spending the majority of our afternoons/evenings watching some sort of sports competition or other. I kind of miss it, but have been amazed at how easy it was to fill that time with other activities. Glad you're all settling into the fall routine.

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    1. It's pretty funny! We have one in the very youngest age bracket and one in the very oldest age bracket and no one in between. We really enjoy the kids sports too and I know I'll miss it when it's gone though I'm sure I can fill it with other hobbies!

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  9. Get used to being The House....Once started, it will never end. But that's okay. I always felt like I helped raise half the boys in my town.

    Here's My Week!

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    1. I don't mind it though it does take some getting used to it. I like my routines and it's hard to be in one when you have mass quantities of teenagers coming and going. They're all good kids though and pretty soon most of them will be off to college so I'm trying to just enjoy it!

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  10. What a wonderfully busy time for you! I remember the soccer days (my son) and field hockey days (daughter). I am very tall, so the best the soccer team every did was eye level! And we also had our doors open for kids to join us for dinner - all year 'round. I think our largest influx one night was 11. I liked the idea of knowing my kids were home - as they got older, their friends would call and ask what we were having for dinner!

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    1. I'm a whopping 5 foot 4 so they boys outdistanced me a few years ago and quite a number of the girls did as well! It takes some getting used too. I do like having the kids home and knowing their friends! Plus while I know it's only temporary. In a few years they'll be off at college and then after that they can be THE house on their own!

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  11. Life is Sweet is new to me but sounds good. Hope you enjoy and have a great upcoming week.

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    1. Thanks! I'm really looking forward to reading it!

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  12. Life is Sweet looks like a very nice read. It seems like you got a nice assortment of contemporary romance.

    Grace @ Books of Love

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    1. I'm hoping I got a good group! I've enjoyed the Sarah Morgan books I've read and I'm hoping the others will be as fun.

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  13. Okay, I LOVE that book with the cupcake on the cover...definitely want to eat that one...I mean READ that! LOL

    Enjoy your week...and here's MY WEEKLY SUNDAY/MONDAY UPDATES POST

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    1. Oh I know! It made me want to make cupcakes just as I soon as I saw it though mine aren't nearly as pretty! Hoping it's a good one!

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  14. Life is Sweet sounds like a sweet read, so I'm ready to dive in! I wish more authors would realize the appeal of attractive covers-- I'm a visual person, need to read a book not listen to it, so covers can make or break a deal, sadly, for me.

    When I was a kid, our house was THE house for the neighborhood, and it was a great experience as a kid to have my friends and my older brothers friends in the yard playing basketball, on the front steps playing barbies (me!) and in our front enclosed sunporch playing Monopoly. Brings back memories...

    I love your eclectic haul of the books from last week and this week. I have to add a few to my wishlist/library list now.

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    1. Thanks! I'm hoping I got some good ones! I'm a visual person too. I can't think of the number of books I've passed on because the cover didn't grab me or looked cheap only to read great reviews of the book.
      I'm glad you have good memories of being THE house. I enjoy them being comfortable bringing their friends over and hope they'll have similarly positive memories. Plus the Tornado LOVES having the big kids around.

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  15. Life is Sweet has such a cute cover! And I completely agree with you that David Suchet is the perfect Poirot. I couldn’t picture anyone else playing his character. Enjoy all your new reads, and have a great week!

    My Sunday Post

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    1. Doesn't it! I couldn't resist it! I saw Death on the Nile that had someone else as Poirot and he did okay but he wasn't Poirot like Suchet is.

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  16. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on The Haunting of Hill House. That's been on my wish list forever.

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    1. I've done audio and watched 2 movie versions of Hill House and I'm about to read it. I hope to have the full review up in the next couple of weeks. Short review is - READ it! So good and creepy!

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  17. Wow, what a full week! I haven't seen Being Poirot (thanks for the head-up!). And will people please stop with these cupcake and food covers? ;)

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    1. I know! I've been craving cupcakes since I got this book!

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  18. Busy week! We still have over a week to go here in the UK before they all go back. It can hurry up real quick if you ask me!

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    1. Oh that week before school starts is awful! Everyone's antsy and you have to get all the supplies together. It's definitely a relief to have everyone back in school!

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  19. Congratulations on all your great books!

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  20. Life is Sweet sounds really good. I love cupcakes too & was addicted to watching Cupcake Wars on Food Network (but I don't know if they still have the show). I hope you like the book and I look forward to your review. Have a great week!

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    1. I love Cupcake Wars! I think they still have it though it's on break right now. They're trying to do an ice cream version which isn't nearly as fun! I'm looking forward to reading it!

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  21. I love cupcakes too. I've started reading middle grade books lately and there are just so many cupcake books. A lot of them are on the younger end of the age range, though, and I'm reading the older end. So no cupcake books for me...yet!

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    1. Hopefully you will find a cupcake book soon! I've really been enjoying the middle grade fiction I've read but any book with a cupcake on the cover will tempt me!

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  22. rub off some of that clean on me!! And while I'm sure it's chaotic with ALL the kids, it sounds like a perfectly good reason to bake. These days if I bake I usually end up tossing half of it so I don't eat it all myself!

    Hope it's a great week for you Katherine. :)

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    1. You have to remember I have everyone at school and 3 of them are teenagers who theoretically can clean up after themselves but at the very least I don't have to clean their rooms or bathroom. You'll get there! I do love baking and I end up having to throw a lot away. The bad thing is my family will only eat chocolate chip cookies and if I end up being more adventurous it's all on me to eat.

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  23. "left brained soul" made me giggle but it's a good description. I'm glad life is calming down for you. The cover for the Milan book is cute. Enjoy your peace and quiet and your new books.

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    1. It is calming down and while I have a good time with all the chaos it definitely feels good to be settled! I've just started the Milan and so far am enjoying it. She's definitely tackling issues I haven't come across in a historical before.

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  24. The cover for Life is sweet looks sweet! I also like cupcakes, although it's difficult to find good cupcakes around here. I woul like to read more books where food is subject, I always like it when food plays a big part in a book. I hope you have a nice week!

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    1. I love books that center around food! I read a few mystery series that centers around a bakery or cupcake shop and anytime a character in fiction is any kind of chef it's on my wishlist! I do love cupcakes and they're relatively easy to make though you end up with between 12 and 24 which can be a problem!

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  25. I really want to read the Donna Kauffman series. It looks good.

    Have a great week!

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    1. I've really been enjoying Kauffman's Blueberry Cove series though I can't stress enough - you MUST read them in order!

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  26. Life is Sweet has such a pretty cover. Hope you enjoy it!
    I loved soccer as a kid, my children aren't into it much. More football than anything!

    Thanx for visiting My Weekly Wrap-Up!
    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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    1. Thanks! I'm a sucker for a good cover. I do love soccer and we've always been pretty involved. I coached my daughter's team for years and it was always a lot of fun. We're football fans but don't have any kids playing football at this point. Have a great week!

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  27. I love cupcakes, too! Life is Sweet sounds very interesting. Most people would take into account a lot of things before opening a store. But I think the way she chooses a random place in the map is very cool!

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    1. It definitely appeals to me. There's no way I could do something like that in real life but that's what fiction is for I guess!

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  28. Enjoy your new reads this week they look interesting and yay for a clean house! I'd love to see that at my place too. LOL
    Thanks for visiting my Sunday Post.
    Sharon @ Sharon's Book Nook!

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    1. My husband's a super neat freak so it's kind of like an early birthday present to him! It is nice to finally feel on top of housework though!

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  29. Sounds like some really interesting reads. :)

    Stormi
    http://www.booksmoviesreviewsohmy.com/the-sunday-postits-monday-what-are-you-reading/

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  30. I want a cupcake now. Any kind will do. :D Have a great week!

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    1. I know! I've been craving cupcakes since I got this book!

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  31. Haven't heard of any of these, but they look really great. Enjoy!

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  32. I have been so busy. My dad come to visit and that was that for reading or blogging. I am finally sitting down at a computer ready to just relax. I read a book about a Cupcake shop once and so then I went to my first cupcake store (inspired by the book) and am soooo glad I did. Here is the review where I talk all about it: http://angelasanxiouslife.blogspot.com/2013/02/bittersweet-by-sarah-ockler-review.html

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    1. I'll have to go check out the review! I love a good cupcake both a good store bought one or a homemade one. Hope you enjoyed your visit with your dad!

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  33. WOAAAH those jeans are an absolute bargain, great find for you! I hope you enjoy all of your reads!

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    1. I know! It was definitely my find for the day! I'm looking forward to getting them read!

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