Progress

Some progress was made in my reading challenge!

Since I last posted, I finished my "D" book, The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant.  I really enjoyed this book.  It is told as a storyteller may tell it and it allows for a real connection to the main character.  Addie is a spunky girl in a time that was a great transition for women. The turn of the century provided new opportunities for women and Addie was not too afraid to try and spread her wings! A very good read indeed!

I started my "E" book but had to pause it to read my "G" book because it was a limited time library book.  My daughter read it first and that also made my timeline a bit limited!  Ravencliffe by Goodman is the second in a YA Fantasy/SciFi series.  My daughter and I read the first and we are anxiously awaiting the 3rd!  This series is about a young girl, Ava, who after her mother's death goes to Blythewood School for Girls and learns the secrets that Blythewood holds.  And there are MANY!
Also--if you follow Carol on Facebook and have any questions, she will write back to you!
She rocks!

After Ravencliffe, I hopped back to my "E" book.
This book is based on "The 19th Wife" Written by Brigham Young's 19th wife and her divorce suit.  This information is intermingled with a present day murder mystery also involing a 19th wife.  I had this book in print form as well as Kindle downloaded from the public library.  I found it difficult to stay engaged.  Some of the "historical" information was interesting but there was too much of it to keep my interest.  This book was on my "To Read" list even before I started this reading challenge so I am glad that I was able to get to it.

I started my "G" book today and already am having trouble putting it down.  Thank goodness it is going to be 30 degrees below zero tomorrow (yes, really) and I am on February break!  I may have to sit and make a dent.  I read Gone Girl and saw the movie and am anticipating that this book will have the same dark feel to it.

Here is a peek at what I am thinking about for the next few letters!

This is the 2nd book in a trilogy.  I got this for Christmas.....2013!  It has been in the nightstand pile for a while!

For "I" I was thinking about something by John Irving.  The letter I is difficult!  Here is what I am thinking...
Nope. I have never read it. Have you?

Phew! That was long! Enough blogging!  Must go read!

Moving Right Along!

It is amazing how much reading you can get done when you have 16 days off!  One of the days I just sat and read!!!  Love that.

I finished my "C" book very quickly.  It was a great story about a little girl in the pre-depression years who has a pretty tough life.  It is interesting to see how she handles the many bad things that are thrown at her.  The exciting thing for me is that there is a sequel! If you are interested in reading this book, I have linked the book to Amazon.

I will also add the sequel! (I got BOTH for Christmas!)

Choosing a book for letter D was very difficult.  There were so many choices!  I had recently watched the TV adaptation of The Red Tent.  I had read the book many years ago and really, really enjoyed it so when I saw this new one by the same author, I decided to give it a read!!  I am about 5 chapters into it and it is great!

Went to Barnes and Noble as cruised the "E" books and I think I may have a winner.  Stay tuned!

Letter B is DONE!

Well, being sick for an entire month made getting this book finished quite a challenge!  Luckily, Christmas break came and brought me the gift of uninterrupted time.  I sat down and in one night read most of the book.  The fact that you know what the Deepest Secret is early on does not change the power of this story.

I really like Carla Buckley's work because it makes you a little bit uncomfortable.  Her first book, The Things that Keep Us Here was so powerful for me that I hunted her down on Facebook so I could tell her so.

I am on my way into my "C" book.  I was lucky enough to receive it for Christmas.  It is the first in a trilogy.

I also am looking into a "D" book. Maybe??

Letter A book done!

I just finished my first book in my A to Z challenge!  Only 25 more to go!  

(click on any of the book pictures to go to Amazon and purchase!)

This book was perfect for the first in this challenge.  One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern is a great story by a great storyteller.  Her stories are always very clever and make me think.  This book was no different.  It made me wonder what my story would be.  What would your story be?

I have read most of her books but these 2 were on the top of my list. In There's No Place Like Here she explores the question: "Where do things go when they disappear?"

This book makes you wonder what would happen if your life made an appointment with you?  Would you keep that appointment?

My next book is by an author that wrote a book that was so powerful for me that I stalked her on Facebook so that I could tell her how much I loved it!  This is her most recent book. I am starting it tonight.

And here is a look forward to my book for the letter C!

A to Z Reading Challenge

I LOVE to read!

I just wish that I had enough time to do it.  I decided to start an A to Z reading challenge.

Why?

Well….when I was little, I remember my Mom taking us to the Brighton Library and I used to sit in the kids section looking longingly at the adult fiction section.  Some day, I thought, I was going to read every book in that section. I was going to start with the A section and read my way through to Z.  In honor of that ambitious little girl, the next 26 books I read will be in order of author name.  Starting with A and working through to Z.

Confession….I have a library book that I am going to read first.  I can use this time to start collecting suggestions on upcoming letters!

I will track these on this blog.  There is a list on the right side that will contain my choices.  I will review my choices in blog posts and on Goodreads.

Looking forward, I think that I am going to start off with an author that I know and love, Cecelia Ahern. Click the picture to purchase this book.

Sound like fun??? Choose your own favorite A author  and join me!

Cousins

I envy my children.  They have had the opportunity to grow up with their cousins.  They are making great memories together and when they are all together, there are not quite enough words for them all!!

The cousins love to …..

strike a pose…

participate in an early morning game of cards…

swim in the rain…

smile…

 fight crime…

send lanterns in to the night sky…

anxiously await the next time …

Another makeover post!

WOW!
2 posts in one week!  Can you tell that it is summer? :)

I bought this cute little table at a garage sale for $5!  The person that was running the sale had said that she had thought about keeping it for herself but could not think about what to do with it. I did not have that problem at all!

After sanding and priming I decided that I wanted to paint it yellow…..I was slightly shocked at exactly how YELLOW Behr's honey locust was but I continued onward.

Did I mention how yellow it is????

I found the perfect knob…..

And the perfect spot!

For those of you that have not had my house tour yet, the walls are stucco swirl (not my doing, the previous owner LOVED this look) and the carpet is green (also not my choice but the family room is kinda low on the remodel list). So picture it with a light tan wall and hardwood flooring!