Monday, January 26, 2015

It's Monday & Australia Day! 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: 
Wonderful week ... Anthony, Christine and Mia ended up staying almost a week, until the hot weather broke with a deluge of rain. My birthday Thursday and I had a lovely time with family and I got my very first drawing from Mia ...  a little treasure.



beautiful flowers from dear friends

Right now I'm on Lady Elliot Island (southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef) for a 2 night birthday getaway hopefully giving my camera a workout. Lady Elliot is a highly protected "Green Zone"  sanctuary for marine and other wildlife ... won't be blog visiting til Tuesday. 

Happy Australia Day :)

************

Giveaways:

AUSTRALIA DAY BOOK GIVEAWAY BLOG HOP - International. 3 winners. You have until midnight Tue 27th to enter AEST. Awesome Aussie titles! 





************

Reviews & Posts: (click on title)

#FITREADERS WEEKLY CHECK-IN: 4/52 

2015 AUSTRALIA DAY BOOK GIVEAWAY BLOG HOP ~ International. 3 winners. You have until midnight Tue 27th to enter. Head on over to Book'd Out for the other participants in the blog hop. 

FIRST FROST by Sarah Addison Allen ~ slowish start but then the magic kicked in and I was swept away. Weekend Cooking post. 

OUR KIND OF LOVE by Victoria Purman (Boys of Summer #3) ~ really enjoyed this one! 

************

Finished last week:

THE MAXWELL SISTERS by Loretta Hill ~ enjoyable

KEEP QUIET by Lisa Scottoline (audiobook) ~ heartbreaking mess but I really enjoyed my first Lisa Scottoline read. 

************

This Week's Reading List: 


THE MIME ORDER by Samantha Shannon (Bone Season #2) 

THE VIOLETS OF MARCH by Sarah Jio ~ this one was a win from Stacy @Stacy's Books quite a few years ago. I'm not sure why I haven't read it already when I love Sarah Jio. 

THE SEAFRONT TEA ROOMS by Vanessa Greene

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN by Paula Hawkins (audiobook)

************

Reviews Coming:

THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah ~ I left a piece of my heart on the pages of this book!! 

LEAVING TIME by Jodi Picoult ~ loved the elephants and the mystery. 

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. 

THE WINTER CROWN by Elizabeth Chadwick (Eleanor of Aquitaine #2) ~ (audiobook) finally finished. I know it took me a while but that's not a reflection on how good it was ... excellent!! 


18 comments:

  1. Happy belated Birthday!!! Hope your day was wonderful!

    I'm listening to First Frost right now and am really enjoying it. I just read The Violets of March and loved it - can't wait to read more of her books!

    Enjoy your trip!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy belated birthday and the flowers are lovely!

    Keen to hear what you think of The Girl on the Train.

    PS. You're only a couple of hours from me at the moment! Enjoy Lady Elliot Island!

    Deb

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hearing some good things about The Girl on the Train as I do the audiobook hop. I just put a Vanessa Greene book into my wish list so will keep an eye out for what you think of the one you have.
    I am at about Chap 7 of The Nightingale and can see it is going to be wrenching but excellent. Love Mia's first drawing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Glad you had a wonderful birthday!!! I am currently reading this series -- the latest one was just released ... http://www.melissafoster.com/welcome-new-braden-clan/

    ReplyDelete
  5. I hope you have a wonderful time on your getaway and Happy Birthday!

    I look forward to hearing what you think of The Girl on the Train and The Seafront Tea Rooms

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy birthday, and the trip sound great. Hope we get to see some pics of the Reef. And happy Australia day too!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy Birthday! I hope to start Girl On The Train tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lots of great-sounding books! I hope you had a wonderful birthday. :)

    Brooke at http://www.brookeblogs.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I Hope you are enjoying your weekend away! I just finished Girl on the Train and The Mime Order, and enjoyed both!

    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happy Birthday. Happy Australian Day. Have a great weekend

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hope you have a wonderful get-away, it sounds lovely. Everyone seems to be reading Girl on the Train. Have a great week!

    http://mamaknowsbooks.blogspot.com/2015/01/sunday-cup-of3.html

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a great set of books I hope you love them and I hope to see you around my blog

    Katelynn
    www.literarychameleon.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. The Girl on the Train is fantastic. I hope you enjoy it! I finished The Violets of March late last week and really liked it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy belated Birthday! Hope you have a great reading week!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh, happy birthday! (Belated). Great Mia contribution....and your family time sounds wonderful.

    I am glad you enjoyed The Nightingale and Leaving Time...and Keep Quiet. I love Scottoline's books, from the mysteries to the family stories.

    Happy Australia Day!

    Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy belated birthday - and such a cute drawing!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I started reading A Little Folly by Jude Morgan. It's along the lines of a Jane Austen / Georgette Heyer novel. Finished it during the Blizzard of 2015.
    Happy Birthday! I hope to see lots of pictures of Lady Elliot Island.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to leave some comment love, I'm a 'comment back' kinda girl. Don't forget to check the 'Notify me' box