Review: Home at Rose Cottage by Sherryl Woods (e-book)

First line: The tears on her cheeks were still damp and her temper was still hot, when someone – no, not just someone, the family calvery – pounded on the door of Melanie’s Boston apartment. Synopsis from B&N: With her unforgettable warmth and charm, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sherryl Woods invites you to join the D’Angelo sisters as they journey home to Rose Cottage… – a…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (2.13.12)

It’s Monday What Are you Reading , hosted by Sheila, isthe perfect way for me to begin my week and allows me to focus on what needs to be read and to see what I have or have not accomplished the previous week. I also enjoy discovering new books by visiting other participants blogs. So, the other day I realized I totally spaced on my blogoversary…it was on February 2…

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In My Mailbox (83) 2.12.12

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I’ll post what books I’ve received either by mailbox/library/store. For Review (0)  Library (3) First Lady by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Glitter Baby bySusan Elizabeth Phillips Catch Me by Lisa Gardner Purchased (5) Pages of Sin by Kate Carlisle (e-book) Ink, Red, Dead by Joanna Campbell Slan (e-book) Kiki Lowenstein & the Secret Santa…

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Review: Sew Deadly by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

First line: She wasn’t entirely sure whether it was the pull of the mahogany sewing box in the window or a much-needed respite from the endless barrage of curious glances, but either way, Elkin Antiques and Collectibles seemed as good a place as any for a momentary escape. From the back cover: A sewing circle newcomer is on pins and needles… Ever since she moved to Sweet Briar, South Carolina,…

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Review: Whispering Rock by Robyn Carr (e-book)

First line: Mike Valenzuela was up and had his Jeep SUV packed long before sunrise. Synopsis from Goodreads: The tightly knit community of Virgin River has been a safe haven for more than a few lost souls over the years—and there’s always room for one more… A decorated U.S. Marine reservist, LAPD officer Mike Valenzuela was badly wounded in the line of duty, but has found hope and healing in…

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Review: Pleating for Mercy by Melissa Bourbon

First line: Rumors about the Cassidy women and their magic had long swirled through Bliss, Texas, like a gathering tornado. From the back cover: All the Cassidy women possess special gifts. Harlow Jane Cassidy’s is creating beautiful dresses. But she’s about to discover secrets in her own family and another gift – one that can reach beyond the grave… When her great-grandmother passes away, Harlow leaves her job as a…

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Review: Private: #1 Suspect by James Patterson

First line: A dark sedan turned off Pacific Coast Highway and slipped into the driveway of a gated Malibu beach house worth, had to be, seven or eight million. From the inside cover: UNSOLVABLE CASES Since former marine Jack Morgan started Private, it has become the world’s most effective investigation firm – sought out by the famous and the powerful to discreetly handle their most intimate problems. Private’s investigators are…

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Book Blogger Confessions #3 (2.6.12)

Book Blogger Confession is a new blog meme hosted by Tiger of All Consuming Books and Karen of For What It’s Worth. The meme will run on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month  to discuss some of the frustrations that are unique to book bloggers. You can read the introductory post here. Q: Deadlines for reviewing and blogging. Do you set them? How do you keep them? What do…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (2.6.12)

It’s Monday What Are you Reading , hosted by Sheila, isthe perfect way for me to begin my week and allows me to focus on what needs to be read and to see what I have or have not accomplished the previous week. I also enjoy discovering new books by visiting other participants blogs. It was a quiet week with not too much going on reading-wise or blog-wise. Hopefully this…

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Monthly Giveaway: February (CLOSED)

This month’s selections are: Stay By: Alie Larkin Format: Hardcover My review   The Knitting Diaries  By: Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery, Christina Skye Format: Paperback My review Moonlight Cove By: Sherryl Woods Format: Paperback My review The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno By: Eileen Bryson Format: Hardcover My review How to enter:  This contest is open to entries from the U.S. only. The deadline for entry is midnight, February 25th. I…

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In My Mailbox (82) 2.5.12

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I’ll post what books I’ve received either by mailbox/library/store. For Review (1) By the King’s Demand by Christine Trent Library (3) Heat Wave by Nancy Thayer (audio) The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker (audio) The Silver Boat by Luanne Rice (audio) Purchased (5) The Last Queen by CW Gortner All…

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Author Interview: Sherryl Woods (and Giveaway!)

I am pleased to welcome author Sherryl Woods to Always With a Book. Her latest book, The Summer Garden, is now available. You can read my review of her book and enter a giveaway for the bookhere. Describe your book in five words or less. Satisfying finale for the O’Briens! How did the title for your book come about? Several pivotal scenes in the book take place in Nell’s beautiful…

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Review and Giveaway: The Summer Garden by Sherryl Woods (CLOSED)

First line: Maddening Moira was still in his head! From the back cover: Falling for “Maddening Moira” O’Malley was the unexpected highlight of Luke O’Brien’s Dublin holiday. So when she pays a surprise visit to Chesapeake Shores, Luke is thrilled…at first. A fling with this wild Irish rose is one thing, but forever? Maybe someday, but not when he’s totally focused on establishing a business that will prove his mettle…

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Month in Review: January 2012

Here are my reading stats for January! Books read:  14 Books I read (reviewed ones have * and link to review; books not yet reviewed will be linked up once review is posted.) Big Stone Gap* by Adriana Trigiani Skirting the Grave* by Annette Blair The Kitchen Daughter* by Jael McHenry The Peach Keeper* by Sarah Addison Allen Eve* by Iris Johansen Quinn* by Iris Johansen Bonnie* by Iris Johansen…

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January Giveaway Winners

The winners of January’s giveaway are:  Silver Girl By: Elin Hilderbrand Winner: Mamabunny Mennonite in a Little Black Dress By: Rhoda Janzen Winner: Rachel W What I Thought I Knew By: Alice Eve Cohen Winner: Tiffany Drew   Sand in My Eyes By: Christine Lemmon Winner: Margie Thanks to all who entered and don’t forget to stop by next month to see a new set of books up for grabs!

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Review: Tailspin by Catherine Coulter

First line: She thought she swallowed because her throat burned hot, as if splashed with sharp acid, but she wasn’t sure because she couldn’t think clearly. From the back cover: FBI Special Agent Jackson Crowne is flying renowned psychiatrist Timothy MacLean to Washington, D.C. But they don’t make it. FBI Special Agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are sent to find out what happened. Crowne was able to crash land…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (1.30.12)

It’s Monday What Are you Reading , hosted by Sheila, is the perfect way for me to begin my week and allows me to focus on what needs to be read and to see what I have or have not accomplished the previous week. I also enjoy discovering new books by visiting other participants blogs. Well, I was able to get a ton of reviews done last week as well…

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Review: Make, Take, Murder by Joanna Campbell Slan

First line: I was rummaging around the trash Dumpster searching for my lost paycheck, when I reached down and grabbed Cindy Gambrowski’s severed leg. From the back cover: Dumpster diving for her lost paycheck is definitely the low point of Kiki Lowenstein’s day – that is, until she finds a severed leg thrown in with the trash. Who’d toss a body part in the garbage outside the scrapbook crafts store…

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In My Mailbox (81) 1.29.12

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I’ll post what books I’ve received either by mailbox/library/store.     For Review (1) The Summer Garden by Sherryl Woods Library (3) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen Sew Deadly by Elizabeth Lynn Casey Purchased (8) Only Us: A Fool’s Gold Holiday by Susan Mallery…

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Review: Bonnie by Iris Johansen

First line: “What star is that, Mama?” From the inside cover: When Eve Duncan gave birth to her daughter, she experienced a love she never knew existed. Nothing would stand in the way of giving Bonnie a wonderful life – until the unthinkable happened and the seven-year-old vanished into thin air. Eve found herself in the throes of a nightmare from which there was no escape. But a new Eve…

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Review: Quinn by Iris Johansen

First line: Stop me. From the inside cover: As a former Navy Seal turned cop, Joe Quinn has seen the face of evil and knows just how deadly it can be. When he first met Eve Duncan, he never expected to fall in love with a woman whose life would be defined by her dual desires to bring home her missing daughter and discover the truth behind her disappearance –…

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Review: Eve by Iris Johansen

First line: Two minutes. From the inside cover: Eve Duncan’s mission in life is to bring closure to the families who have experienced the agony of a missing child. As a forensic sculptor, she is able to piece together bones, create a face, and match a name to a child who would have otherwise gone unidentified. Eve is brilliant, driven, and tormented – because her own daughter, Bonnie, was taken…

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Review: The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (audio book)

From the back of the audio case: Thirty-year-old Willa Jackson hails from a fine old Southern family that met with financial ruin generations ago. The Blue Ridge Madam – once Walls of Water’s grandest home – has stood for years as a lonely monument to misfortune and scandal. And Willa herself has long strived to build a life beyond the brooding Jackson family shadow. No easy task in a town…

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Review: The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

First line: Bad things come in threes. From the back cover: After the unexpected death of her parents, shy and sheltered Ginny Selvaggio, a young woman with Asperger’s syndrome, seeks comfort in the kitchen. The rich aroma of ribollita, painstakingly recreated from her Italian grandmother’s handwritten recipe, calms her senses. But it also draws an unexpected visitor – the ghost of Nonna herself – and Ginny soon discovers she has…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (1.23.12)

It’s Monday What Are you Reading , hosted by Sheila, is the perfect way for me to begin my week and allows me to focus on what needs to be read and to see what I have or have not accomplished the previous week. I also enjoy discovering new books by visiting other participants blogs. Last week was one of those weeks where I didn’t feel up to writing reviews…

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In My Mailbox (80) 1.22.12

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I’ll post what books I’ve received either by mailbox/library/store.    For Review:   Agony of Leaves by Laura Childs This is the latest in Laura Child’s Tea Shop Mystery series and I cannot wait to read it.       Purchased:   Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali This is our book club pick…

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Book Blogger Confessions #2 (1.16.12)

Book Blogger Confession is a new blog meme hosted by Tiger of All Consuming Books and Karen of For What It’s Worth. The meme will run on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month  to discuss some of the frustrations that are unique to book bloggers. You can read the introductory post here. Q: Have you ever had reading/blogging slumps? How do you work through them or work around them?…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (1.16.12)

It’s Monday What Are you Reading , hosted by Sheila, isthe perfect way for me to begin my week and allows me to focus on what needs to be read and to see what I have or have not accomplished the previous week. I also enjoy discovering new books by visiting other participants blogs. It was a pretty quiet week and I got a bit of reading in. Now that…

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In My Mailbox (79) 1.15.12

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I’ll post what books I’ve received either by mailbox/library/store.    Purchased:   The Winter Palace (e-book) by Eva Stachniak Another book about Catherine the Great…very excited to read this.           The 7th Month (e-book) by Lisa Gardner   Special e-book to hold me over til the next Detective Warren…

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Review: Skirting the Grave by Annette Blair

First line: Eve Meyers, my BFF, a gothic fashionista with a steampunk edge, tall in her black and brass Lindi Buckle Leather Booties, invaded my vintage dress shop with mischief aforethought. From the back cover: Even though Maddie is swamped running Vintage Magic and dealing with the consequences of the visions she gets from certain of her fashion treasures, she’s agreed to plan her sister Sherri’s baby shower and mentor…

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Review: Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

First line: This will be a good weekend for reading. From the back cover: Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, the tiny town of Big Stone Gap is home to some of the most charming eccentrics in the state. Ave Maria Mulligan is the town’s self-proclaimed spinster, a thirty-five-year-old pharmacist with a “mountain girl’s body and a flat behind.” She lives an amiable life with good friends and…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (1.9.12)

It’s Monday What Are you Reading , hosted by Sheila, isthe perfect way for me to begin my week and allows me to focus on what needs to be read and to see what I have or have not accomplished the previous week. I also enjoy discovering new books by visiting other participants blogs. It was a good week…I got some reading time in, I did some reviews, and I…

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In My Mailbox (78) 1.8.12

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I’ll post what books I’ve received either by mailbox/library/store.    Purchased:   Private #1 Suspects by James Patterson New James Patterson book – of course I bought it!!!           At the King’s Pleasure by Kate Emerson The 4th in Kate Emerson’s Secrets of the Tudor Court.   From the…

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Monthly Giveaway: January (CLOSED)

Back by popular demand, here are this month’s selections: Silver Girl By: Elin Hilderbrand Format: Audio My review Mennonite in a Little Black Dress By: Rhoda Janzen Format: Paperback My review What I Thought I Knew By: Alice Eve Cohen Format: Paperback My review   Sand in My Eyes By: Christine Lemmon Format: Paperback My review How to enter:  This contest is open to entries from the U.S. only. The…

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Review: Death by Diamonds by Annette Blair

First line: As I drove to work that morning, I remembered the dream I’d had last night: Me as a toddle being passed between my mother and Aunt Fiona, the two of them dancing and chanting in rhyme beside the Mystic River beneath a full and magical moon. From the back cover: Madeira loves her Vintage Magic boutique, but the visions she gets from the garments can be hard to…

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Review: Kismet by Carly Phillips (e-book)

First line:  On a mission, Elisabetta Gardelli walked into Consign or Design, a small shop off Main Street in downtown Serendipity known for high-end outfits bought on consignment and unique items crafted by the owner, April Mancini. Synopsis from GoodReads:Elisabetta Gardelli thought she’d spend her days serving coffee and writing obits for the town paper. But then an unexpected opportunity results in her dream job as a real journalist for…

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Review: On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts

First line: Glen Fredericks slapped the back of his last departing Thanksgiving dinner guest. From the back cover: At Christmastime, it seems as though a woman’s work is never done. Trimming the tree, mailing the cards, schlepping to the mall, wrapping gifts – bah, humbug! So this year, Joy and Laura and the rest of their knitting group decide to go on strike. If their husbands and families want a…

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Book Blogger Confessions #1 (1.3.12)

I’m a little late with this post, but I am really excited to participate in this new meme and I would love to hear your thoughts on your book blogging journey – either leave a comment or if you participated in the meme, leave a link to your post. Welcome to the very first Book Blogger Confessions, a meme co-hosted with Tiger from All-Consuming Books  and Karen at For What…

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2012 Cruisin’ thru the Cozies Reading Challenge

The Cruisin’ thru the Cozies Reading Challenge is hosted by Socrates’ Book Reviews and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I love reading cozy mysteries and  think this will be a fun challenge to join! I’m joining at the Super Sleuth level, which means I need to read at least 13 cozy mysteries in 2012. I’ll keep track of them here along with links to the…

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2012 Finish the Series Reading Challenge

The Finish the Series Reading Challenge is hosted by Socrates’ Book Reviews, and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I love reading series and have quite a few that I really need to catch up on. I’m joining at the Level 3, which means I need to complete three or more series (and hopefully I’ll be able to do more!). I’ll keep track of them here…

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2012 1st in a Series Reading Challenge

The 2012 1st in a Series Reading Challenge is hosted by Bibliophile By the Sea, and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I have quite a few series that I’ve been wanting to start and this is the perfect challenge to help me along. I’ll be joining at the Series Lover level, which means that I have to start 6 series. I’ll keep track of them…

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2012 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge is hosted by Historical Tapestry, and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I participated in this challenge last year and ended up reading 13 historical fiction books so I am going to push myself to read a few more this year. I’m joining at the Undoubtedly Obsessed level, which means I need to read at least 15 historical fiction books in…

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2012 E-Book Reading Challenge

The 2012 E-Book Reading Challenge is hosted by Bumps in the Road (The Eclectic Bookshelf), and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I have a Nook and am hoping to get to all the books I’ve added to it over the past year. I’m joining at the Jumbo Size level, which means I need to read at least 20 e-books in 2012. I’ll keep track of…

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2012 Off the Shelf Reading Challenge

The 2012 Off the Shelf is hosted by Bookish Ardour, and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I participated in a similar challenge last year and it helped me get through the many books I have sitting on my book shelves. At last count, I have about 150 books on my shelves that I have not read yet. I’m joining at the Making a Dint level,…

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2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge

The 2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge is hosted by The Eclectic Bookshelf, and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I love my local library and love doing this challenge. This is my third year participating! I’m joining at Level 4, which means I need to borrow at least 37 books from the library in 2012. I’ll keep track of them here along with links to…

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2012 100+ Books in a Year Reading Challenge

The 2012 100+ Books in a Year Reading Challenge is hosted by Book Chick City, and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I participated in this last year and ended up reading 123books – I’m hoping to surpass that number this year. ***For this challenge, I am only including physical books/e-books that I’ve read…I am not including audio. I’ll keep track of what I read here…

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It’s Monday…What Are You Reading? (1.2.12)

It’s Monday What Are you Reading , hosted by Sheila, is the perfect way for me to begin my week and allows me to focus on what needs to be read and to see what I have or have not accomplished the previous week. I also enjoy discovering new books by visiting other participants blogs. Last week, I was a review writing machine…I can’t believe I managed to get seven…

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2012 Goals for Reading/Blogging/Life in General

I’ve seen a few other blogs put down their goals for this new year and I thought I would do the same. Part of the reason for doing this is that my life as I know it is about to change half way through the year – a change that I am eagerly awaiting…I am pregnant with my first child. Due to this, I realize that I might not have…

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Year in Review: 2011

2011 has been a great year. I’ve been blogging for almost two years now and am always humbled when I read your comments and see that I have new followers. I have been introduced to so many great authors and books as a result of blogging. Thank you to all who visit my blog. So, here are my stats for 2011. Overall, I completed 145 books (that includes audio books)…

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Month in Review: December 2011

Here are my reading stats for December! Books read:  10 Books I read (reviewed ones have * and link to review; books not yet reviewed will be linked up once review is posted.) Inseparable* by Dora Heldt Knit the Season* by Kate Jacobs Secrets of the Tudor Court: By Royal Decree* by Kate Emerson Still Alice* by Lisa Genova The Nine Lives of Christmas* by Sheila Roberts Shanghai Girls* by…

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