Monday, December 08, 2014

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?


A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. I love this meme, it helps me stay on track ... well, most of the time. Thanks Sheila! 

On the home front: 
Busy week with lots of running around but not a whole lot accomplished. Anyone else feel like that? 

Had Mia for a sleepover which was just lovely (I'm a lucky nonna) ... she's getting her first tooth and is very cuddly. She's also loving the jolly jumper :)





On the weekend we started Christmas shopping, had my lovely in-laws stay overnight and my youngest son and his girlfriend came for dinner and we put the Christmas tree up. A bit of a scare with the lights on the tree ... an hour or so after the kids went home I was readjusting the star and put my hand on very hot tree lights and found smoking, scorched and melting tinsel. Check your lights ... we were very lucky. Time to check out the new LED lights. 



#bookblogwalkers update #39: Felicia's Book Blog Walkers: love that so many of my friends are doing Felicia's challenge to move and get healthy. Very excited that Book Blog Walkers is happening again in 2015. If you also have a fitbit and want to add me, let me know :)

No walks with Bella, poor sweetie has an ulcer on her eye so we've kept her out of the wind and dust while it heals. She's looking better but back to the vet this week to check. 

Mon: 11,561 steps walking
Tue: 6049 steps  
Wed: 8084 steps 
Thurs: 7924 steps
Fri: 5117 steps
Sat: 11,272 steps ~ nice breakfast and walk along Redcliffe beach esplanade while my camera was being cleaned. Then a little Christmas shopping ... I'm sure that counts as a workout??
Sun: 5164 steps

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I'm doing Sheila's First Book of the Year 2015 (sign up here) but I'm torn between FIRST FROST Sarah Addison Allen's new book which I'm really excited about. I love her writing! and the final book in the Muskoka trilogy, UNDER THE MOON by Gabriel Wills, which has been on TBR shelf since reading and loving books 1 and 2. Both will be very special reads, I'm sure, which is exactly what you want for your first read of the New Year. I just can't decide which one :)



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Giveway: 

SELDOM COME BY by Sherryl Caulfield ~ Book 1 of the epic Iceberg Trilogy. 5 autographed copies and 1 eBook copy. INTERNATIONAL, ends 13th Dec. Enter here.








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Reviews & Posts: (click on title)

Guest Post & Giveaway with Sherryl Caulfield author of Seldom Come By ~ how Seldom Come By came to be, with beautiful photos. Can't recommend this book highly enough! 

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Finished last week:

THE LIGHT IN THE LABRYINTH by  Wendy J. Dunn ~ book tour review & giveaway tomorrow

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This Week's Reading List: 


OUR KIND OF LOVE by Victoria Purman (Boys of Summer #3) 

THIS SHATTERED WORLD by Amie Kaufman & Meaghan Spooner (Starbound #2)

THE WINTER CROWN by Elizabeth Chadwick (Eleanor of Aquitaine #2) ~ (audiobook) 50% done and loving it, didn't get it finished while in the UK but it's fabulous. 

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Reviews Coming:

THE SILENT SISTER by Diane Chamberlain ~ page turner but ending a little anticlimactic

THE TUDOR VENDETTA by C.W. Gortner (The Spymaster Chronicles #3) ~ enjoyed it and surreal to be visiting Westminster, walking London and Southwalk while reading this one. 



28 comments:

  1. Aren't those jolly jumpers a lot of fun, we missed out on them - so jealous, the small ones have such fun with them. Teething though - not so good!
    Yes good that the bookblogwalkers are on again for 2015 and I know I will be in for it. Hope you enjoy the Victoria Purman - I did.

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    1. My boys had one too, can't believe they're still around. Mia thinks it's fantastic. I'm looking forward to another year with book blog walkers and my fitbit ... glad you're up for it too Kathryn :)

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  2. I am waiting to see what arrives at xmas :D Surely one of those will be first then

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  3. Awww.. that is the cutest and how special to have a sleepover!

    Keen to hear what you thought of The Silent Sister.

    Deb

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    1. I'm such a lucky Nonna :)
      Hope to have review up this week Deb, I'm a little behind.

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  4. My kids loved the jumper when they were babies. What a cutie :) Glad you caught the lights in time!
    I'm also doing the First Book - and I picked First Frost. Forcing myself to wait until Jan. 1 to read it because I know it will be a while until another SAA book.

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    1. Ooh there might be a few of us with First Frost on Jan 1st, isn't the cover gorgeous Mary.

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  5. I remember the Jolly Jumper...a life saver at times.

    Lucky save with the Christmas lights...I've always worried about that but we have fairly new lights. I will never ever get a fresh tree because I remember a friend from school having their 'real' christmas tree catch fire from the lights.

    Happy Christmas shopping!

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    1. that Jolly Jumper is from you Karen lol ... Mia loves it! I'm now wary about even getting new LED lights, it gave me quite a scare.
      Hope you got your Christmas shopping finished :)

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  6. Scary bout the Christmas lights!!! And she looks sooooooooooo cute in her jumper!!! Love it!!!!!!!!

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    1. we were so lucky Julie ... definitely had angels watching over us.

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  7. I haven't done any Christmas shopping yet, I've been too busy! Our Christmas tree doesn't go up until the day after the kids finish school but I'll be sure to check the lights when we are done!

    Have a great reading week!
    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

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    1. Hope life gets a little less crazy Shelleyrae, it's hard to stay on top of things this time of the year. Thanks for stopping by :)

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  8. YAY for First Book Of The Year and thanks for promoting - I love having a big fun collage of pictures of everyone's first reads! Glad you checked your tree lights that is scary!

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    1. I loved checking out the collage ... lots of fun to start the year!

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  9. I still feel behind in getting ready for Christmas. I haven't put up a tree. Glad you caught the trouble with the lights in time.

    I haven't figured out what book I want to read for the First Book of the Year yet either. I do have the new Sarah Addison Allen book for review and I like her writing style too. Last year my first book was Me Before You.

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    1. Thanks Christina, we were very lucky. My first read for 2014 was also Me Before You. maybe we'll be both be going with First Frost lol

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  10. Oh I'm so glad you caught the problem with the lights before any major problems! I can't wait to read This Shattered World, and I really want to read First Frost too! Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, I've got my fingers crossed that This Shattered World is as good as These Broken Stars. Hope you have a great week too :)

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  11. My kids both loved the jumper things! I would pick First Frost for your first book of 2015. I'm in love with that cover, and it just looks like a New Year's kind of cover :)

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    1. I'm a bit of a cover whore so First Frost is in front for first read lol. Thanks for visiting :)

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  12. What fun to see the adorable Mia in action!

    I don't have lights on my little miniature trees...no, not as stunning without, but I like the artificial ones without lights to keep my paranoia in check...LOL.

    I am also doing the First Book of the Year event....I have ordered a Cathy Lamb book from Amazon (What I Remember Most)....and purchased MHC's The Cinderella Murder. A toss-up between those.

    I want First Frost, though, BTW.

    Enjoy your week....and thanks for visiting my blog!

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  13. So cute! And you've got a great list of reads this week! The book blog walkers looks like fun.

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  14. I enjoyed This Shattered World and hope you do too. I know what I'll be reading through January but I don't know what book I'll be reading on January 1. It will depend on what is next on the review stack. Here is my week. Happy reading!

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  15. We started Christmas shopping too but have a ways to go yet. :) And we have our tree up- glad you caught the problem with the lights, that can be scary. First Frost looks nice.

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  16. Hope your doggie gets better! You had a sleep over! I am jealous, my daughter is just not ready yet, and that's okay. She will be soon. Loved First Frost. I finally chose my first book of 2015.

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  17. o so glad you found the lite prob in time! my wee tabletop tree is all I'll have time for this season! but cute enough to add Christmas atmosphere! along with all the Christmas reading :)
    Haven't chosen 1st book, but will be reading with you via Sheila's challenge...

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