Quote of the Day

"Each morning sees some task begun, each evening sees it close; Something attempted, something done, has earned a night's repose."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

Blogging Tip Meme

I was tagged by my friend Ana. Muito obrigado my friend. I'll try my best...

Blogging Tips

It’s very simple. When this is passed on to you, copy the whole thing, skim the list and put a * star beside those that you like. (Check out especially the * starred ones.)

Add the next number (1. 2. 3. 4. 5., etc.) and write your own blogging tip for other bloggers. Try to make your tip general.

After that, tag 10 other people. Link love some friends!

Just think- if 10 people start this, the 10 people pass it onto another 10 people, you have 100 links already!

1. Look, read, and learn. *****

http://www.neonscent.com

2. Be, EXCELLENT to each other. ***

http://www.bushmackel.com

3. Don’t let money change ya! *

http://www.therandomforest.info

4. Always reply to your comments. ******

http://chattiekat.com

5. Link liberally — it keeps you and your friends afloat in the Sea of Technorati. **

http://chipsquips.com

6. Don’t give up - persistance is fertile. **

http://www.velcro-city.co.uk

7. Give link credit where credit is due. ****

http://www.sfsignal.com

8. Pictures say a thousand words and can usually add to any post.**

http://scifichick.com

9. Be Brave, some of the best posts are when you step out of your comfort zone.

http://twisted-kingdom.blogspot.com

10. Follow the links in posts and comments. You never know what blog gems you will find! **

Reading Adventures

11.Be yourself when blogging, it's the best way to find people who share your interests.*

Aneca's World

12. For newbies: Don't be afraid to ask questions.

Wandeca Reads

Now I pass this meme to:

Sharal from Sherri's Thoughts & Ramblings

Mad from Mad's House

Wendy from The Misadventures of Super Librarian

Debbie from ~debbie's~ Crazy Mixed Up Life Stories

Kristie from Ramblings on Romance

Quote of the Day

"When from our better selves we have too long been parted by the hurrying world, and droop. Sick of its business, of its pleasures tired, how gracious, how benign in solitude."
William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

Light From Heaven

Light From Heaven by Jan Karon

Here's the blurb:

Father Timothy Kavanaugh has been asked to “come up higher” more than once. He did, after all, raise a thrown-away boy, adopt a dog the size of a Buick, and recite his wedding vows at the tender age of sixtysomething. But he’s never been asked to do the impossible.

While farm-sitting with Cynthia outside Mitford, the retired Episcopal priest is charged with the revival of Holy Trinity, a mountain church that’s been closed for forty years. His bishop’s further mandate: “Get it up and running, ASAP.” Fortunately, like Daniel, he’s been given an angel (albeit one with an unlikely talent for barbering).

The "Mitford Years" series is my not so guilty pleasure. They're my happy books. Light From Heaven is the last of the series. I was expecting all the ties to be, well, tied-up, but all I was left was more questions. It didn't feel like it was complete, I wanted more... Maybe, just maybe, there will be more books to come. One can hope!

Rate: 3.5/5

High Noon

High Noon by Nora Roberts
Here's the blurb:

Police Lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara found her calling at an early age when an unstable man broke into her family's home, trapping and terrorizing them for hours. Now she's Savannah's top hostage negotiator, defusing powderkeg situations with a talent for knowing when to give in-andwhen to jump in and take action. It's satisfying work-and sometimes those skills come in handy at home dealing with her agoraphobic mother, still traumatized by the break-in after all these years, and her precocious seven-year-old, Carly.

It's exactly that heady combination of steely courage and sensitivity that first attracts Duncan Swift to Phoebe. After observing her coax one of his employees down from a roof ledge, he is committed to keeping this intriguing, take-charge woman in his life. She's used to working solo, but Phoebe's discovering that no amount of negotiation can keep Duncan at arm's length.

And when she's grabbed by a man who throws a hood over her head and brutally assaults her-in her own precinct house-Phoebe can't help but be deeply shaken. Then threatening messages show up on her doorstep, and she's not just alarmed but frustrated. How do you go face-to-face with an opponent who refuses to look you in the eye?

Now, with Duncan backing her up every step of the way, she must establish contact with the faceless tormentor who is determined to make her a hostage to fear . . . before she becomes the final showdown.

What can I say about this book? Hmm, well, it was one of those books that I started early in the afternoon and I couldn't put it down until I was done. Thank goodness the kids were busy doing other things, you know, computer and X-Box are great past times. Anyway back to the book, it was the usual Roberts' Romantic Suspense. Great characters: Phoebe McNamara a strong , independent woman who loves her job, who takes care of her mother with special care and who also happens to be a single mother; Duncan Swift, a down to earth entrepreneur with a heart of gold. It was fast paced, and great dialog (ok, people, for me the dialog has to good, otherwise I loose interest), and the chemistry between the Phoebe and Duncan was sizzling.

The copy that I read I got from my local library, but I definitely will be buying a copy for my keeper shelf.

Rate: 4.5/5

The Devil And The Yarn Shop

The Devil Who Tamed Her by Johanna Lindsey

Ophelia Reid is considered the most beautiful lady of the season, but also known to be mean spirited. Raphael Locke, Viscount Lynnflied, has had enough of the scheming and wants to teach Olivia a lesson. With permission of her parents he "kidnaps" Ophelia to a remote cottage. There he tries to make her see her wrong doings... But he's realizing that there's more to Ophelia than meets the eye. Can the ton be mistaken about this beauty?

These two characters were first introduced in The Heir, although I loved The Heir I cannot say the same about The Devil Who Tamed Her. Although the story has the typical fast pace, witty dialogue and good characters, I felt that the story was lacking. It felt like somewhere along the lines, Ophelia and Rafe, just gave up and turned to each other. I wanted more tension, a more complete build up of chemistry. Maybe, I should have read The Heir before reading this book, it might have helped.

Rate: 2.5/5



Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber

There's a new shop on Blossom Street. Susannah Nelson opened a Flower Shop next to A Good Yarn. Susannah hired a young widow, Colette Bennett. Although the young woman is still grieving for her husband it seems that she's keeping a secret. Lydia this time around is offering a prayer shawl class. Both Susannah and Colette join along with Alix Townsend. Alix decides that the class will give her a chance to relax and keep her mind off her wedding. It's seems that her future mother in law and Alix's mentor took it upon themselves to throw her the wedding of the century.

Let me start off by saying, I cannot get enough of Debbie Macomber! I absolutely love her books. I always look forward to them. I know that I will enjoy the story, like the characters, go through emotions like they are going out of style and come out with a smile on my face and maybe even a little upset that I'll have to wait a while for a new book. It's like visiting with old friends. And I think that's the appeal of her books. Just a group of women and men, trying their best to live their lives to fullest with the people that they love and helping their friends along the way.

Rate: 4.5/5

Quote of the Day

"No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves."
Amelia Earhart

Quote of the Day

"We're in a giant car heading towards a brick wall and everyone's arguing over where they're going to sit."
David Suzuki

Beware Scot's Revenge

Beware A Scot's Revenge by Sabrina Jeffries

Lady Venetia's first visit to her childhood home is quite an adventure. She's kidnapped by her father's sworn enemy,The Scottish Scourge, only to discover that the Scourge happens to be her childhood friend. She wants to understand what caused the rift between her father and the Ross family. Lachlan is trying his hardest to treat her as an enemy but the attraction is too strong. Will they have a chance to let their love flourish or are there too many skeletons in their families closets for a happy ending?

Sabrina Jeffries is a hit or miss author for me. This time it's a hit. I loved the setting, enjoyed the characters, although at times I wanted to slap Lachlan across the head, the hero and heroine chemistry was sizzling - there were few fanning moments, and there was also a bit of history... one of the reason's for mass migrations of Scots in 1800's. Plus there are those scene stealer's, the correspondence between Charlotte Harris and her cousin Michael.

This is the third book of The School of Heiresses series. The first two books being Never Seduce a Scoundrel and Only A Duke Will Do. Of the three, the first one is still my favorite but this one is a close second. Now, I'll just have to wait until Let Sleeping Rogues Lie to see what happens with Charlotte and Michael. :)

Rate: 4/5

Quote of the Day

"Mama always said life was like a box a chocolates, never know what you're gonna get." Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump(1994)

Desperate Duchesses

Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James

Classic storyline with a twist:

Girl sees Duke across the room.
Girl falls in love with Duke.
Girl meets Earl.
Earl wants Girl.
Duke proposes to Girl.
Girl accepts.
What is the Earl to do?

Alright, there's a lot more than that in the book... There's a eccentric poet that just happens to be the heroine's father, a beautiful Duchess recently returned to England (and who just happens to be a chess master), her husband who takes his position in the House of Lords very seriously, and a adorable little boy who loves to visit his father's room at night. As usual the author does not disappoint. It's fast paced with a great deal of humor. It was a pleasure to read. I cannot wait until the second book of series is published.

Rate:4.5/5 * Keeper shelf

Quote of the Day

"The male is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness, can be trained to do most things."
Jilly Cooper