Book Haul and Sunday FUN!!

Weekly Book Haul!!


I'm still confused as to where to link up my new books, which is handy for summer because I am working rather hard on NOT accumulating so many new ones. I am figuring out the library. I am reading every moment I get the chance to. It's wonderful. And I don't have to post - or feel badly about not having new books - every week.

I'm curious... which link up are you finding the most interesting for sharing your books? Or do you link up anywhere?

My favorite new book is an ARC of Grave Mercy sent to me by Valeria, which I've already RE-read and RE-reviewed. *sigh* Absolute deliciousness!!  As you can see, she also sent me swag and a hand-written note, which I'll be saving with my swag treasure box. Hand written letters are rare, you know, and worth treasuring.

Want to see my treasure box?  It's real!!  :-D

I like my little swag collection, over which the signed bikini coconuts rule. Before blogging, I didn't know I needed a treasure box of swag. *sigh* Life is so much better now!!



I snuck my library book in the picture, too, since I read Every Other Day in record time despite being too busy to read. I'll post my review SOON. I've already shared two fun quotes. This is the best book I've read by Jennifer Lynn Barnes so far and she's joined my short list of Must Read All By This Author.

Speaking of "my library", how many people get two?! I live in one of those odd zones where I can get two library cards. Clackamas County AND Multnomah County, both of which are great libraries with great programs and extensive networks so that I can reserve anything online for easy pick-up.  Just writing that makes me drool in jealousy.

Technically, the kids' school district is in Multnomah County, which is how we get that wonderful library system. This is "the library that feels like my own, familiar shelves", which was so near my husband's work, I visited weekly.  About which I blogged about on Book Love Tier, or how to effectively love books.

5 - More Beneficial Than we Realize - Borrowing books from the local libraryLibraries are major purchasing powers. They make decisions based on what people want to read. They buy more copies of books that are checked out repeatedly. The author I learned these tips from  figures out which books she wants to read from the library, then returns the books and buys them at the local bookstore. (How nice!!) She also encouraged her readers to check out books of their favorite authors whether they intend to read them or not. :-) This is a very fun practice. I just set my book-lovin' self free... I check out 10, 20, 30 books at a time. It doesn't hurt the library or the author or the book-lover. Well... maybe it does hurt my arms if I didn't bring in a tote to carry out the haul. And sometimes I suffer embarrassment over my enthusiasm.

 Recently, however, Clackamas County went out of their way to build a library within a mile of me. Could they be more considerate?! I may carry two library cards, but I was 10 miles from either of 'em until this new development.

When I say "build", I mean "new". It's so new that I don't know where my favorite authors are located, yet. I've only barely explored the layout. I feel like listing off all the people I'm grateful to for receiving such a great reward, except  I'm the only one in the audience. Instead I keep looking over my shoulder to see if this is a trick. Maybe they'll relocate the library once they realize how close it is to me. I'm not going to tell them, just in case.

In other book news... Trisha Leigh generously shared her book with me. Did you see my Interview with her? Make sure to enter to win a copy of Whispers in Autumn as well as The Fairytale Keeper by Andrea Cefalo.

Saturday I was more busy than usual, packing my day full of fun. Happily for me this included a trip to our lil' Day in Damascus where there was a book sale. Hehehehe

Earlier this week, Alyce blogged about the Best & Worst of Anne McCaffrey. We're both wild, raving fans (or maybe I'm the wild one and she's simply raving?) She described Crystal Singer as one of her fav books and I commented on The Ship Who Sang (which we also agree is comparably also the best) and wouldn't ya know I found 'em both at the sale?! I was so absorbed in looking over my books that I lost my tickets to buy them... but I wouldn't leave my stack in the book seller's care, oh, no. I tried to tell her I'd come back to pay, which she wasn't goin' for. Lol. So, I compromised and looked the sale over again and found my tickets.  I purchased all of these for $4!! 

Kali, I might not have looked hard enough to find all these books except there was #4 in The Dark Tower series that you recommended I had better read or else... so I kept looking 'til I found #1, too. Oh yea!!  I have my own copy of The Gunslinger, now!!  And I'm blaming it on you!  (Um, that's a really good thing.)

As well as Island of the Blue Dolphins & A Midsummer Night's Dream. Does anyone else collect Shakespeare?  I do.

Sunday Delights -n- Nit Noids

Ha-HA!!



Welcome Sunday Saloners & Colorimetry followers!!  

How was your week?

Having returned from our totally awesome Road Trip to host a super-fun 4th of July party, we find ourselves full of life and fun and staying up too late, soaking up summer vacation!

I tried to turn back the tide a bit, so to speak, and demanded the kiddledids head to bed at 9pm... which is when all the rest of the world is sound asleep, since I'm at the end of the time zone spectrum. I think about that, you know... "You're going to bed NOW 'cause there isn't another 8 yr old awake in the world ANYWHERE unless they're gettin' up for breakfast!!  One!"  I finish my long instruction with a countdown. I think they tune out 'til the numbers start comin'. (That's my fault for using such long instructions. I admit it!)


Summer is so fun. It has that flavor of enjoying the beautiful weather and good book. I love the theme of the giveaway I'm hosting comin' up soon, The Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway. It's so perfect!!  (If you've been thinking about joining a giveaway, this is the one!!!  :-D  It's going to be FUN!!)

However... summer is not "lazy" in my experience. If anyone sees mom lying around reading a book, they're suddenly starving... or they have some issue that requires mom immediately.

So, what have I managed to read despite all my "help"?

I finished Degrees of Wrong by Anna Scarlett. And... The Iron Daughter and Half-Blood. I still need to post my reviews of all of these. It takes a bit of quiet time to write a review, time I am squandering this early Sunday morning on chit-chatting with you!!  I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Shall we grab a second cup of coffee?

I did post a review this week for Scarlet by AC Gaughen. Plus two interviews, which are so fun. I really enjoy interviews because they reveal so much about the writer behind the book. It's like the research I wish I could do while deciding what to read, and these two interviews were fun: 

Satan's Chamber by Tinsley & Hubbard

 & 

The Dream Slayer by Jill Cooper

I have a super-fun interview/giveaway going up tomorrow. :-D  I update my giveaways in the upper left-hand side-bar all the time. I like to ask fun questions, so they're fun to enter. "Fun" is important, you know, and this week is going to be a lots of that!!

I did acquire a new book this week... this was a spontaneous buy after reading this review of The Golden Lilly. I ran into Bloodlines for a great price while grocery shopping. SCORE, right?  "Just pickin' up some groceries! This hopped in the basket!" I'm totally innocent!!


I caught up on all the Giveaways this week, which meant I felt like I was getting lots of books, even if they aren't for me...

Lisa of Lisa's Loves (Books of course!) won the Indie Author Giveaway - her first choice was Soul Sisters, which the author kindly made available FOR FREE this week!!!  So she got a second choice and picked Eden's Root. Two books is better than one!!  :-D

Katarina in Slovakia won the Debut Author Giveaway, and she chose Of Poseidon - Ohmysweetgoodness!!

Len won the Feature & Follow Giveaway and she chose a pre-order of Reached. I am still super-jealous, if that's possible. Great choice!!!

Anika in Australia won the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway - and she's hosting Discover Australian Fantasy this month on her blog, the Oaken Bookcase. She chose Wildwood Dancing!!

PLUS there were multiple winners from Bonds of Fenris, Paraglide, Masters of the Veil & for the Becoming a Butterfly swag. I thoroughly enjoyed working with these authors, who offered these to give away. So gracious and generous!!!  Thank you!!

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone!!

That was my busy week!!  I'm lookin' forward to seeing yours!!  

Finding my Sunday Again

Welcome everyone!!

Sunday Salon is a FB gathering, where book blogger share the week's fun, or whatever. This week, I'm thinking about what I'm missing more than what I did!!

For the Fourth Week in a Row, I'm wandering around lost-ish wondering how to fix my craving! On one hand, I like Sunday's being sorta open & empty, hangin' with family. It's perfect. But there's this HUGE HOLE in my week. Typically I like to go window shopping and DROOL over everyone's new book arrivals!!

I did not realize how fun it was to visit everyone. And by "everyone" I mean book bloggers who are scooping up books I wish I had. Jajajajaja


Quite honestly, the last four weeks have clarified a few things for me. These Memes... they're a lot of fun. They make it easy to visit like-minded book bloggers. I enjoy all kinds of books and book bloggers... but I feel starved of getting an eye-full of delicious YA fantasy books. 

So... I've learned which Memes I cannot live without. (Didn't even know they existed eight months ago!)

Only, which one?! Stacking the Shelves? Sunday Post? Showcase Sunday?  Argh... While I think about it...

Here's my new arrivals:

   Won!!  Rose Daughter from Books Beside my Bed:

  Won!!!  Fade Out - signed book plus signed swag from Miss Vain - I serious screamed when I opened this:

  To Share:  Signed bookmarks & postcards for my review & giveaway of Becoming a Butterfly tomorrow. Mia wrote a sweet note, too. As for her book?  Come back for my review TOMORROW!!  :-D  The Blog Tour starts today, I do believe, at The Reading Nook.

  Purchased: Starcrossed for $.99 on my Nook.  I'm not kidding. There are some really great deals this week. When I find these Amazon sales, I check B&N for my Nook.  I don't know how I only got one.


Here's what I WANTED to buy!!!

I've already read (and love) Jennifer's werewolf books, but they're only $1.59!  How does one say "no"?!?!  Geez... I'm talking myself into buying them.

As for the Meme... I'm going with Stacking the Shelves. She posted on Saturday, which suits me GREAT. I have some alternative ideas for Sunday, which involve reading and napping. :-D  And some blog visiting, of course. But Mondays, I'll have you know, always arrive with a BANG! and I can never seem to catch up 'til Thursday, when it's time to prep for the weekend and another pending Monday. That's just blogging, never mind work!!  (No really, I'd rather never mind work!)

Thanks to everyone hosting Memes!!  They're work, but so much fun to join in with!!

As for this past week... I've posted the giveaways in the left sidebar and the discussions -n- reviews on the right. What Do You Like In a Review? Survey will be posted for another 10 days, or so, and then we can chat about the results!!

Sunday, Spring, Links!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!!!  Que todos tienen un bien suave fin de semana y encuenten demasiado tiempo para leer!!

Welcome Sunday Saloners!!

I have a post going up SOON with my New Book Arrivals of the week... below I've listed my posts of this past week.

First... I met FOUR AUTHORS Friday night at the Spring Into the Furture Tour!!!

It was so weird that Friday's FF question was What would you say to your fav author?  I totally predicted I'd stand there tongue-tied, and pretty much, that was it. I lived out my prediction.

Cynthia Hand got odd huge smiles out of me, but no "loved your book" or "can't wait to read this one" or even "I agree, 'Clara' is such a great name!"  Nope.  Just insanely odd smiles.


Tahereh Mafi drew me out a little more 'cause she recognized my blog name from my stalking her the day before. I nearly fainted, nearly swoll up like a balloon and popped and fainted all at once, but barely managed more than "gah... yay!" in speech. Sheesh.

Anna Carey was so nice... I've only read the first quarter of Eve, but I might have mentioned how sweet it is or exciting or something. But nope.

Veronica Rossi is a little intimidating, anyway... she was a perfect last station wrap up to keep the line moving.

My cheeks hurt from grinning though. (Cheshire cat?!)

I took notes during the Q & A... so I'll share some more fun stuff SOON. I'm so glad they all came to Portland, OREGON!!!  :-D

Here's my ACTION for the week!!


Interview - Eulogy's Secret by Grace Elliot  - Fierce Reading Virtual Tour stop!

Review - Interrupted by Rachel Coker  - Team Novel Teen tour stop!

Spring Fling Giveaway Hop - win a book of your choice!

Blast!  Elemental by Emily White - win $100 GC for lotsa clickin!!

Interview & Giveaway - The Sun Zebra by Rolando Garcia

Weigh in Wednesday - e-readers or print?

Interview & Giveaway - The Light and Fallen by Anna White

Interview & Giveaway - The Time Weaver by Thomas A Knight

Feature & Follow - What would you say to your fav author?

Blast!  Dangerous Favor by Joyce DiPastena - win a $50 GC for lotsa clickin'!!

Review - At the Foot of the Lighthouse by Erin Hoffman

Saturday Snapshot - 14 yr anniversary pix!!

Lemme just point out that I've been saying I had some authors' books to post about... and there are so, so many MORE, believe me!!  If only there was more of me, like an organized me, to set all these up, what a steady flow of awesome authors we could see!!!  (holy cow that rhymes!! I'm on a roll!!)

Thank you especially to everyone for all the well-wishin' all week. I came down with some horrible virus Sunday and I'm still hackin' a lung a week later... but managed to celebrate our Anniversary in style!!  It was quite the week!!!  All the encouraging thoughts & pix for Spring Fling have kept me chuckling every day.

HUGE thank you!!!

Have you seen the MOON tonight?  It's as close as close as close and BIG!!!  Anna Death Duarte shared this with me a few months back... entirely appropriate!!

Starting the week on Sunday!!!

Welcome Sunday Saloners!!

There's some confusion as to what's goin' down this weekend with the New Arrival Mailbox theme. I saw that Kimba @ the Caffeineted Book Reviewer's is startin' up a Sunday Post. Leeswamme's Blog just posts her New Arrivals every week, as if linkin' up to other bloggers isn't necessary. *gasp* Tynga's Reviews has started Stacking the Shelves. Dazzling Reads has her Dazzling Book Haul!!!  Books, Biscuits & Tea has Showcase Sunday. Xpresso Reads has Xpresso Weekly - fun!  Who else is doing something new?!

I'm not boycotting anyone, I'm just changin' up my Sunday. I'm happy to visit everyone, regardless of where or with who you link up with.  'Cause I'm not makin' anyone jump thru hoops for my spontaneous support. To catch all the hullaballoo and my response, see my Plagiarism post HERE.

Cindy @ Cindy's Love of Books is hosting the Mailbox Monday tour in April. Or maybe it's Reviews by Martha's Bookshop for May. Haven't participated in the past, so I have no idea where to link up a day early.

Thing is, Mailbox Monday hops around being hosted somewhere new every month. Which I think is kinda cool!!







So... new to me this week?

Hey, I won a book!!!  WOOHOO!!!

From Arianne Cruz... Thank You!!!

From the Library:

    

All week I was participating in Tiffany's readathon at Book Cover Justice:

I did not read all that I planned on... but it was a WEIRD WEEK.  The kids' school went on Strike on Wednesday. As soon as the teachers were wearing their "We Love our Students" shirts waving signs, negotiations were settled and school started again on Thursday. (Can I get a "huh?"!)

But by then, some funky bug was going thru our house and kid after kid got this 102 F temperature with a horrible cough that kept 'em out of school for 3+ days. Trinity got it first. She shared with Cam-Shaft. I got a call from school to come get Bear. And Dash managed to get away with a slight cold? But he had No School Friday, so he helped me watch all the sickies. We passed out liquids and medicines and took temperatures and watched a heck of a lot of Sponge Bob.

So... I felt quite victorious finishing The Iron King, which I reviewed Friday. I'm just now finishing Interrupted and attempting to read In Great Waters to review by tomorrow. At night on my Nook I started a little bit of Immortal Rules. :-)

I might as well add that NEXT UP is The Iron Daughter, Pandemonium, Echoes of Betrayal, The Clockwork Angel... not to mention finishing Changeless.  Or not... I'm on the verge of WRITING again.


It's Monday, What are you Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. This week's gonna be busy with my Anniversary on Tuesday - 14 years of being married to Mr Wonderful Cool, Man!!!!

I have lots of posts planned, but we'll see!!

'Cause my throat hurts like crazy this morning!!  (No!!!!!!!)


In case you missed it...


World Book Night was a BLAST last Monday.

Tuesday I participated in a Book Blast of Pretty Crooked with one of those long giveaway thingame's with lots of clicking for a $50 GC.

So, Thursday I posted about CLICKING!!  :-D

Wednesday started the Fairtale Giveaway hop. Since I didn't have a review from an author, I made one up from funny correspondence w/ Anna Banks, author of... Of Poseidon. You can still enter to win a copy of her book!!

Feature & Follow Friday was about "breaking up" with a book, which was a fun discussion. Ha! I really enjoy Parajunkee's View & Alison Can Read.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce @ At Home with Books and I posted a couple pix my Cool, Man took at the shop 'cause I LOOOOVE the look of wet automotive paint.  If I get to writing this week, my book really dives into COLOR, 'cause I'm fascinated by it.


Finally, I had the most interesting Guest Post this past week by Joanne C Hillhouse, author of Oh, Gad!  I almost felt rebuked for asking why she wrote her book, but really, she took the question seriously and turned it into a deeply provoking post. I can't help staring at the cover to her book, too. Wow.

Phew!!  That's a LOTTA links!!  :-D  I dare ya to click 'em all!!!  Lol

Have an awesome Sunday, All!!!!!

Bustin' Loose In My Mailbox!!!!

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren


I haven't gotten new books for weeks and weeks (it feels like). I've been trying to catch up on some reading, but I tell ya, I was gonna bust out of that constricting plan at any moment, and I went a little crazy this week.  I got more books than I read, so it's a good thing I'm participating in a Read-a-thon or two!!!  The Dewey Read-a-thon is giving me a BOOST which will continue as I participate with Tiffany at Book Cover Justice all week.

The following delicious reads were accumulated on my Nook or Kindle-on-computer:
(click on the cover to add to see Goodreads!)

    

I posted an author interview & link to free download of Thoughtless this week.  In case you need to add this pretty cover and story to your own collection!!!!


From NetGalley for review:

  

From the library:

  

Oh... and I can't forget 20 copies of Ender's Game ready to pass out to the "Success" class of reluctant readers at the local midschool!!!!  I'm so happy to be able to participate in World Book Night!!!  What's awesome is, there were over 20 boxes of books still waiting to get picked up from my nearest Barnes & Noble... so my Northwest neck-o-the-woods is getting lots of books for this wonderful event!!!  I can't wait to follow up on all the success stories!!  I'll be linking up to Sheila's list over at Book Journey with other Givers by Tuesday morning. I hope I can get a picture of the mid-schoolers with their books!!!  Woop!!

I like to review what I did this past week... sorta helps me keep my brain straight. (And I need all the help I can get!!!!)

 * Review & Giveaway - The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality by Gahan Hanmer with Tribute Tours

 * No Strings Attached Giveaway of Graceling by Kristen Cashore

 * Top Ten Tuesday Blogging Tips

 * Author Interview with Jacqueline Gardner, FREE download of Thoughtless & giveaway for Jade

 * Wow - Review & Author Email - Of Poseidon by Anna Banks.... she's so funny!!

 *  Packaging Books - ideas for fun

 * Showers of Books Giveaway - 5 $5 Gift Cards!!

 * Read-a-thon plans!!  with Tiffany at Book Cover Justice

 * Snapshot - a girls' view of a carshow

 * Faery Party ideas!!! (for The Iron Knight).  Mini-challenge with Book Journey

Ah... now see?!  Now I know why I had so much trouble adding more reviews and author interviews this week!!!  Lol. I was wondering if I was falling behind, but I'm not even counting the Winning post on Wed or the Feature & Friday fun... or the Small Blogs, Big Dreams Giveaway!!  (I think that one ended last night?)  So I probably need to cut back a little to fit all the wonderful author interviews I got ready to go up.  So many things to post, so little time. Hilarious.

Thanks for stopping by, Sunday Saloners and everyone!!

Happy Earth Day!!

Sunday Bright and Beautiful

Welcome Sunday Saloners!!  Bookish people gather to share bookish things from the past week... and all things remotely bookish are welcome here!!!

I have this TALENT - I'm going to call it a talent, where I get tons of stuff done when I'm supposed to be doing something else.

A great example is Tax Time. (My taxes are done already, so this is just hypothetical). Every year come tax time, I can suddenly organize the house, catalog the home library, re-arrange the linen closet - amazing!!


These are things I didn't even know I was capable of doing!!!

This same inspiration is coming to me whenever I have a book to review by a certain date.  It has nothing to do with the book and everything to do with a deadline.  I knew I needed to start reading this one book (I'll mention in my REVIEW tomorrow!!!) so I suddenly read Heart of Gold... and then Grave Mercy... and then Of Poseidon.  That's 1137 pages of procrastination!!!!

If that isn't TALENT, I'd like to know, what is?!

So, let's review what all I got done this week while doing everything but what I was supposed to:

 * Monday Memes - the controversial Musings post plus reading plans (not followed) & a quote.

 * Stay & Vent Awhile - discussing the horribleness of labels vs. helpful generalizations.

 * Review - Grave Mercy.  I seriously LOVED this book.

 * Winners announced, quoted and razzed.

 * Autism Awareness Hop - Win The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon!

 * The History of the Titanic - 100 years ago this week.


 * The White Lilac - author interview & Giveaway!

 * Friday the 13th Blog Hop - Win a hauntingly beautiful book!!

 * Feature & Follow - books you don't want made into movies. (none!!)

 * Connections & DEALS - or "networking" with great discounts.  Useful stuff!!

 * Review - Heart of Gold - totally CUTE!!!

 * Saturday Snapshot - Easter Eggs, Passover "success" & Winner of Eggstravaganza Hop.


Oh yea. Crazy amount of posting?  Not to mention a lot of reading?!  Just assign me a due date, why don't ya.  I dare you!!!

I have continued to resist adding any books to my TBR pile while attempting to catch up from last month's (damaging) accumulation. I'm even avoiding the library... although there's a whirlpool that keeps sucking me closer every time I pass in the vicinity.  I know this resistance won't last much longer and I'll probably break free with massive accumulation... but until then I look forward to drooling all over your In My Mailbox posts.  Literally. Drooling.

Thx to Kristi at The Story Siren, btw, for causing all this labial malfunction.

Soggy Sunday Mailbox

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren & The Sunday Salon is a book reader's hang-out where anyone-n-everyone can share their reading adventures, etc, over the past week. I combine 'em.

Saturday is March 31st and the local news announced a broken record:

Sophie's Weather Forecast

Today's Forecast

March Rainfall Record

Happy last day of March.  We did it: this is officially the wettest March on record.  As of 3pm, we've had 7.78" of rain at PDX.  Previous record was 7.52" set back in 1957.  We could even possibly make it to 8" before the day is over!  To put things into perspective, the average March rainfall is 3.68".  In December this year, we got 2.51" which means we got more than THREE TIMES that this month alone.

Oh, yes... even soggy Oregon can get wetter. And it makes the news. *snort*

This past week was Spring Break, and we wooped it up. Monday I organized the troups to clean house and assemble new chairs for our dining room table. Tuesday we hit the Lazer Planet and played endless games of lazer tag. Wednesday we caught up on Ninjago episodes on TV. (?!) Thursday we crashed the aquatic center. Friday we took some pinstriping lessons from dad at the paint-n-bodyshop. Saturday we dropped in on family, supported their garage sale and then persuaded them to watch the kids so we could go see Hunger Games (finally!)  The kids claimed it was "the best spring break ever!!" so hey... that's what I call VICTORY!!

Of course I took a book with me everywhere!!  Oh yea!!  I nearly took a picture of me reading my book everywhere... but I got shy. *shrug*  It happens.

I've got a book comin' to me in a mail - Kali had too many ARCs and offered a trade. She had to twist my arm hard, but I finally succumbed.  Ha!!  Ok... maybe I did a little boogie, more like. She's sending me this great book:

When Sawyer meets Grace, he wonders if he should come up with a few plans himself. Plans about what he actually wants to be, plans to speak his own mind for a change, plans to maybe help Grace with a little art theft. 
Wait a minute—plans to what?

I also received The Embittered Ruby in the mail from Nicole O'Dell. This is the second book in the series I highlighted a few weeks ago. This book is just released today, April 1st (no foolin'!!) So, I'll post more SOON!!!!


I'm workin' on my blog... what I don't finish this weekend will spill over into this next week. Such is life in my world!!




Friday I wrote three different posts, which is crazy, but one of 'em was catching up on all the giveaways that had ended and contacting all the winners. The Spring Cleaning giveaway included 8 books, so I was packaging, writing cutesy notes & addressing. It was SOOO fun!!  If there's anything funner than receiving books in the mail, it's sendin' 'em!!  As I discuss in the current Giveaway!!

I caught up on some visiting, too. Gotta love stopping by some blogs and saying "hi!"!!

I'm so tired from playing so hard, I'm hittin' the sack. (Going to bed.)  I can't wait to see what books everyone got tomorrow morning... and how all y'all's weeks went!!

Happy April 1st!