December 28, 2015

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great post to organise yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join them!

Hope you all had a great Christmas. We had a wonderful family day, mid 20's C weather which was perfect. Many of us were outside in the evening until Mr 2 year old worked out how to aim his water gun and we were chased inside by 8pm! 

I see many of you had a warm Christmas, not the snow around that is there usually. One of my sisters was in England with her English hubby for Christmas but her hope of a white Christmas was dashed. A nephew and his wife who went to Norway for it were the only ones who got that.

I managed my fitreaders walking goal - just, for the week. Christmas Day I did walk, but you know Boxing Day... I was a bit weary! Read a book instead.
                                                         

What I read last week:

book cover book cover book cover

book cover book cover book cover
It's You by Jane Porter 4.5 stars. I really liked It's You and it was interesting to read the story of Germany in the war from a similar viewpoint to a couple of other books I have read this year.
I often just stopped to reflect and think as I read. Short sentences that just called out to be pondered. I liked the journey of Ali from a place of deep grief to a place where she could choose to live, to hope. to love and embrace a future that holds promise.
I liked the community and friendship she found in Napa and the small update about Meg from The Good Woman in Jane Porter's Brennan Sisters series.

A Perfect Proposal by Kate Fforde was a light romantic book that was the perfect foil as I read it straight after The Things We Keep which had kinda gutted me!

Playing the Odds - an audiobook for nostalgic purposes. Love NR older romances about families.

What I am reading at present:

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Up next:

Possible Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews 
and then...

first book of the year 2016
1st Book of 2016.




Posts From Last Week:

Northern Heat   Helene Young
Some Kind of Wonderful       Sarah Morgan

63 comments:

  1. I enjoyed It's You...and The Things We Keep. I'm curious about Playing the Odds. Can't wait to see your First Book of 2016. Enjoy your week!

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    1. Yes I am really looking forward to visiting everyones first book and no doubt adding to the TBR!!

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  2. Glad you had happy holiday weekend. I'm enjoying The Story Hour today...looking forward to seeing your First Book of 2016 :)

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    1. Thanks JoAnn. Yes 1st book is going to be great. Counting down the days.

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  3. Both The Things We Keep and It's You are on my want to read list. Looking forward to everyone's First Book of 2016.

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    1. They were both good Nise although as I say - needed something light after The Things We Keep.

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  4. So glad you had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed perfect weather ... aren't the littlies a hoot. We were swimming in the pool 9pm Christmas night, it was beautiful!
    It's You and A Little Love are going on my wishlist. Can't wait to see everyone's First Book of 2016, I finally picked mine. Have a wonderful week Kathryn!

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    1. Christmas evening in the pool sounds perfect. Oh yes very excited about first book!

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  5. You've made me so curious about It's You. I also love the book cover.

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    1. I loved the book too, but am a fan now of Jane Porter's fiction!

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  6. That temperature is just right for Christmas - we were high 20s, but as I worked didn't feel too much of it! Today is 41C...I think I'll be lazing around all afternoon!

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    1. 41C .... just too hot!! I'd be dead in that kind of heat.

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  7. I'm glad you and your family had a great Christmas! We were warm and rainy here when we should at least be cold, if not snowy. It's crazy! It was raining buckets all day, so we were all dashing in and out of our cars as we went around visiting family. Enjoy your week!

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    1. Rain is not pleasant Jen. Snow - yes, it adds to the ambiance!

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  8. Glad to hear you had a good Christmas Kathryn!
    Here in Ontario Canada, we didn't have any snow and we still don't. It sure is strange for this time of year. But we still enjoyed the holidays with our family and that is the most important thing.
    Have a wonderful week. :)

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    1. Yes I think we all agree it's family that counts at Christmas. Hmm even Canada with no snow. Hard to believe Melissa.

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  9. I am glad you had a wonderful Christmas too. It sure looks like you got in some good reading.
    I am still trying to select my 1st book for 2016. It will be fun to see what everyone chooses!
    Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

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    1. Yes the amount of reading surprised me, although two are audio books so that added to the count Martha.

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  10. I've got The Things We Keep on my list for this week but I'm not sure if I'll read it yet.

    It was definitely warmer this Christmas. We didn't have snow and it was nice and sunny. I saw lots of families out for walks after Christmas dinner in my sister's neighborhood.

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    1. Walks after Christmas dinner helps a little doesn't it, I had walked earlier as too hot to walk after dinner!

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  11. The THings we Keep sounds like one to add to my GoodReads list. This is my first time joining the hop and I hope to find lots more to add to the list.

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    1. Welcome in Ellen, look forward to your joining us all.

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  12. You had a good reading week. I am glad that you like the Katie Fforde book, she is a pretty good author.

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    1. Yes Viki - my first book that I've read by her. I REALLY needed a light and fun book and it was perfect and even read it in a day which is unusual for me.

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  13. It rained here on Xmas Day, blergh

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  14. Sorry I added the link from my phone and it's gone weird :(

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    1. No worries. I deleted it and re entered it for you. Ha, it did go weird!

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  15. I really liked It's You. I'm reading Waiting On You by Kristan Higgins - she's always a great choice for when I need to be entertained :)

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    1. Mary I love her books, one of the authors I've come to adore since taking up blogging!

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  16. It was a ridiculous 84 degrees here on Christmas Day!

    http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2015/12/christmas-cookies-my-secret-santa-box.html

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  17. I was just asked to read/review Dream Killer. I'm part way through Stars Over Sunset Blvd and A Beautiful Blue Death is next. Also, if Barnes and Noble fixes the screwup, I'll be reading Winter soon. My first book for 2016 will be Marie Kondo

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    1. Oh she is the declutter person, heard about her. I now fold my knickers perfectly! And love unravelling them each day!!

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  18. It was warm here Kathryn. I returned a gift and plan to apply that refund to partially help purchase Fitbits for myself and my husband. I'm glad my husband agreed to join me as he is more active than I am - so it will be motivating to compare our stats. I will have a better understanding of your stats and others too. Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

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    1. Pat that's wonderful, I hope you'll join us online. I just signed up for the free package and its good. Sheree over at The Eclectic Reader is one walker who keeps me on my toes. Big Happy New Year to you too.

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  19. You read quite a few books last week!! I can only manage one a week. :)

    We had warm weather too, but I am fine with that. Usually is freezing on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

    I will be interested to see what you have to say about The Things We Keep. It was good in that it addressed an important topic, but I liked The Secret of Midwives better. :)

    Have a great last week of 2015.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My It's Monday, What Are You Reading

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    1. Elizabeth The Things We Keep was unusual, I often steer clear of books that examine difficult topics but I guess a book helps to face them and empathise. Yes read far more books than I thought, but a couple are audiobooks being finished which adds to the total!

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    2. It was different.

      Difficult to read about this when my mom is going through this now.

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  20. We were quite warm here in NY for Christmas - it was so unusual! But, the cold weather seems to have finally made an appearance - it's quite chilly today :)

    I have Sally Hepworth's books in my stacks and am looking forward to reading it! Glad to hear you liked Jane Porter's book - it's one of my favorite of hers!

    I can't wait to see what everyone has chosen as their 1st book of the new year...I'm still deciding on mine - that's my task for the day!

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    1. Kristin you introduced me to the Jane Porter books and now I love her women's fiction books. And loved her reference to Meg.

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  21. Your books look so good. It was warm here for Christmas. No sign of snow, but now the temps are dropping and a wintry mix is supposed to be coming.

    Have a great week and Happy New Year!

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    1. Yvonne heard weather is changing, and that New Mexico is full of snow.

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  22. Nora Roberts is always a reliable choice when you just want a feel-good book. Have a great week!

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  23. I'm just finishing up my last March review and then its time for PLEASURE READS!!! :) First is the upcoming Kristan Higgins release, then new books by some fave fantasy authors.

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    1. Oh you'll love the new KH book, she is a gifted writer. Pleasure reads sound fantastic. I know always nice to read a book and feel no 'have to review this' pressure.

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  24. It's You looks really good. It sounds like you have some awesome books.

    I am excited for first book as well, reading Winter by Marissa Meyer.

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  25. I liked It's You, and The Things We Keep is on my TBR list for next week. No clue what my first book of the year will be yet.

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    1. I am sure whatever you choose will be the right one Teresa.

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  26. As usual you've got some great books just finished and going. Jodi Thomas is an author I've been wanting to try. I'm looking forward to seeing what your first book is! I finally decided on mine after lots of going back and forth!

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    1. I really love Jodi Thomas, down to earth characters. Looking forward to what your first book will be!

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  27. I am a Nora Roberts fan so I like that and also It's You looks good as well!! Happy New Year!

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    1. NR pleases a lot of readers Joann and she nearly always hooks me in for a pleasurable read.

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  28. We had no snow on Christmas, but got a bit of a dumping on Boxing day and we're having a "blizzard" tonight. Let the snow begin!

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    1. Sounds like it has come in with a vengeance. Hunker in and read!

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  29. Merry Christmas! Ours was one of the unseasonably warm ones, which was good for traveling although today we got an ice storm on the way home, so winter is now here! Glad yours was nice. :)

    Have a super New Year later this week!

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    1. Thanks Greg. Ice storm doesn't sound like fun. Happy New Year too.

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  30. Glad you had a great Christmas with other family when your siblings were elsewhere. What energy you have to still post for this meme during the holidays.

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    1. I have a lot of siblings!! Good Catholic family from the 50's! I love tinkering around on the blog, but I want to get reading, I've slowed down this week.

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  31. It's been so long since I've read a Nora Roberts novel! I suddenly miss it. Hope you have a glorious New Year!

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