Twas the Monday before Christmas! What Are You Reading & Photos Galore :)

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:

Big blogger FAIL ... great intentions succumbed to pre-Christmas craziness, dead hot water system, toilet fail, 4 new car tyres, youngest son's graduation from university with a Bachelor of IT, Callum and his girlfriend also moved back home this weekend ... just for a few months ;) an engagement party in Toowoomba and eldest son finished a month long rotation working away, he left the day before I returned from the UK so I'd not seen him for over 2 months. Family needs me right now and book reviews will have to wait til the New Year ... apologies to some fave authors for my slackness. 

proud mumma

Everyone got their Christmas mojo on? I've still got to brave the masses and do the Christmas grocery shop, some Christmas cooking and wrapping and then enjoy the egg nog, family time, photos and festivities. It's my daughter-in-law's birthday Christmas Eve and do I need to say I'm super excited about my granddaughter's first Christmas ... squueeee :) 

gorgeous to grub in 30 secs ~ grub is way more fun haha

Just in case you're not back visiting before Christmas - from my family to yours ... hope your Christmas or holiday celebrations are filled with much love and laughter, spent doing what you love ... with those you love xx

#bookblogwalkers update #50: Felicia's Book Blog Walkers: love that so many of my friends are doing Felicia's challenge to move and get healthy. Very excited Fit Readers is on in 2015, co-hosted by The Geeky Blogger's Book Blog & That's What I'm Talking About. Sign up here.

If you also have a fitbit and want to add me, let me know :)

A pretty good week, some days better than others 

Mon: 8687 steps - walk with Bella 

Tue: 7264 steps  

Wed: 8000 steps 

Thurs: 18,769 steps ... yay me :)

Fri: 6960 steps

Sat:  8013 steps 

Sun: 5013 steps

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I'm doing Sheila's First Book of the Year 2015 (there's still time to sign up - here) and I think I'll be reading FIRST FROST, Sarah Addison Allen's new book which I'm really excited about. I love her writing! 

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Giveway Winners: 

THE LIGHT IN THE LABRYINTH by  Wendy J. Dunn ~ Congrats Elysium 

SELDOM COME BY, by Sherryl Caulfield ~ Congrats Faith Hope & CherryTea

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Finished last week:

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

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This Week's Reading List: 

THIS SHATTERED WORLD by Amie Kaufman & Meaghan Spooner (Starbound #2) ~ 10% done, good so far

THE WINTER CROWN by Elizabeth Chadwick (Eleanor of Aquitaine #2) ~ (audiobook) 75% done. So good, should finish it while I do some Christmas cooking and wrapping. 

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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. 

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. 

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: Over the moon to be home with my family. Last week was all about loving on them and recovering from jetlag. Slowly getting back into the swing of things with book reviews and tours due this week and a few thousand photos to organise lol. Here it is the 1st of December and Christmas is just around the corner ... eek! 

Can't wait to visit your blogs and see what you've been up to :)

Stonehenge at sunset ... totally surreal

Tower of London Poppies 

my gorgeous little granddaughter Mia is 5 months old 

and she's my most favourite little person to photograph xx

#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. If you also have a fitbit and want to add me, let me know :) 

My fitbit went with me to the UK and boy did it do some work. 15,000 to 20,000 steps per day unless we were in the car travelling. Castles and cathedrals offer a bootcamp unlike any other ;) This week, back home and recovering from jetlag things have been a little slower but I have leg muscles HA and I'm the fittest I've been in a long time :)

Mon:  8449 steps

Tue: 8256 steps

Wed: 5205 steps 

Thurs: 6595 steps

Fri: shopping and walk with Bella 14,005 steps

Sat: 5600 steps

Sun: beach walk and swim with Bella 6103 steps

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Reviews & Posts: (click on title)

LOVING UK ~ Travel Update - historical and photography porn!! For those that don't follow me on facebook and missed the photos I've got another post (or three) to get up in the next week or two. Thanks for all your lovely comments :)

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Finished in UK:

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 FIRST LIE by Diane Chamberlain ~ short story prequel. Now looking forward to Necessary Lies.

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This Week's Reading List: 

THE LIGHT IN THE LABRYINTH by  Wendy J. Dunn 

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

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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What's Up Next:

Fabulous guest post and giveaway by Sherryl Caulfield author of SELDOM COME BY (book 1 of the Iceberg Trilogy) ... you know how much I loved and raved about this one. (check out my review) Make sure you stop by on Thursday!  

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:

Feeling better but the awful virus all the family seems to have had, is a tenacious one, damn it. Anyway ... packing, getting organised and having my precious granddaughter for a last sleepover has taken precedence. In other words ... bad blogger I am!  

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#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. If you also have a fitbit and want to add me, let me know :) 

:( no walks with Bella but got lots of steps in shopping and getting organised for trip. There'll be lots of walks and castle stairs in England & Scotland. 

Mon: 15,000 steps

Tue: 8098 steps

Wed: 11,792 steps 

Thurs: 8392 steps

Fri: 9771 steps

Sat: 8665 steps

Sun: 5430 steps

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Reviews & Posts: (click on title)

THE BREWER'S TALE by Karen Brooks ~ fascinating read

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Finished last week:

THE SILENT SISTER by Diane Chamberlain ~ loved it 4.5 stars 

BIG LITTLE LIES by Lianne Moriarty (audiobook) ~ library borrowbox. Couldn't stand some of the mean-girl school mums to start with but but ended up really enjoying this one. 

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This Week's Reading List: 

apologies in advance to some of my favourite authors for reviews after publication ... they will get done, just later than I'd hoped.

THE TUDOR VENDETTA by C.W. Gortner (The Spymaster Chronicles #3) ~ 60% done and enjoying it, will finish on flight to UK ... how fitting.  

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

THE WINTER CROWN by Elizabeth Chadwick (Eleanor of Aquitaine #2) ~ (audiobook) can't wait to listen to this one while travelling

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Reviews Coming: 

LARGER THAN LIFE by Jodi Picoult (novella prequel to Leaving Time) ~ excellent, made me cry

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:
Knocked for six by a virus last week which lead to adjustments to my heart medication while I try to kick this thing. Annoying so close to our overseas trip but could be worse ... could have been this week. I'm a bit peeved that it cut into time with my granddaughter though. Mia and her mummy and daddy have been sick too but she's been a little trooper and a big dose of 'happy' for us. Now I'm freaking out about how much I've still got to do ... eek. 

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#bookblogwalkers update #38: Felicia's Book Blog Walkers: love that so many of my friends are doing Felicia's challenge to move and get healthy. If you also have a fitbit and want to add me, let me know :) 

Nothing happened here ... bed, lounge, bed :)

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Reviews & Posts: (click on title)

THE DARKEST HOUR by Barbara Erskine (audiobook) ~ good narration, I love Barbara Erskine but this wasn't a favourite

OUTBACK GHOST by Rachael Johns (Bunyip Bay #3) ~ my favourite of the series 4.5 stars. 

Rachael has decided to write another book for this series so I'm very excited! 

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Finished last week:

THE BREWER'S TALE by Karen Brooks ~ fascinating read, pretty intense.

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This Week's Reading List:  maybe ... 

apologies in advance to some of my favourite authors if I don't get them read and reviewed on time ... they will get done, just later than I'd hoped.

THE SILENT SISTER by Diane Chamberlain ~ loving it and almost finished. 

THE TUDOR VENDETTA by C.W. Gortner (The Spymaster Chronicles #3)

BIG LITTLE LIES by Lianne Moriarty (audiobook) ~ library borrowbox. Only half-way through since I didn't walk this week.

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Reviews Coming: 

LARGER THAN LIFE by Jodi Picoult (novella prequel to Leaving Time) ~ excellent, made me cry.