Book Blogger Hop-Follow Friday!

 

Hosted by Crazy For Books this is a great way to discover new book blogs!  Just hop on over, sign up & then visit some of the others on the list.  Don't forget when visiting another book blog from the hop to mention you found them by hopping! 

A-Z Favorite Books Meme

For this meme, you list a favorite book that starts with each letter of the alphabet. If you don’t have a book for a letter (such as Z or X) than you can substitute a favorite book that simply has that letter in the title (ex. The Lost City of Z or Hot Six by Janet Evanovich). However, you can only do this a maximum of 3 times. (Z, X, and Q. But not Z, X, Q, and V.) Books can be of any genre from fiction to non-fiction to poetry to textbooks.

This is a difficult task to fulfill, because obviously some letters, like S and T, have many books that might be favorites, whereas others, like Q and X are unlikely to present you with difficulties making a choice.

• A:  A Prayer For Owen Meaney by John Irving 
• B:  Black Creek Crossing by John Saul
• C:  Children of the Dust by Clancy Carlile  
• D:  Daisy Fay & the Miracle Man by Fannie Flagg 
• E:  Elephants in the Bedroom Bears in the Canoe by Earl Hammond
• F:  Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich  
• G:  Guest House by Barbara K. Richardson
• H:  Honkytonk Man by Clancy Carlile
• I:  In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner
• J:  The Runaway Jury by John Grisham
• K:  Kat Scratch Fever by Karen Kijewski 
• L:  Leaving Cold Sassy by Olive Ann Burns
• M:  Midnight In the Garden of Good & Evil by John Berendt
• N:  Naughty Neighbor by Janet Evanovich
• O:  One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
• P:  Paper Moon by Joe David Brown
• Q:  The Bingo Queens of Paradise by June Park
• R:  Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
• S:  Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews
• T:  The Cracker Factory by Joyce Rebeta-Burditt
• U:  Digging Up Momma  by Sarah Shankman
• V:  Venus Envy by Rita Mae Brown (Though not one of my favs)
• W:  Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen
• X:  Umm...
• Y:  A Widow For One Year by John Irving
• Z:  Hmm...

There are a handful that I have read, but not within the past year.  So yeah, I cheated a little bit!  Even after that I still came up 2 short! lol  So, what's on your A-Z List!?  Comment with your list or if you post this on your blog be sure to leave me a comment so I can check yours out!  I would love to read everyone else!

The Guest House by Barbara K. Richardson (Reveiw)

Guest House by Barbara K. Richardson



You won't find your "average guest" staying in this house!  After Melba witnesses a collision that includes a cyclist, she decides it's time for a change.  She quits the rat race of success & moves into an old farmhouse.  That is where her guests come in!

This is both a story about tragedy & change.  It also tells of love, friendship & strength.  A heartbreaking, touching story that will tug at your heart!

I enjoyed this book very much & would definitely read another by Richardson. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about life, struggle & strength.  A great read by Barbara K. Richardson!

View all my reviews >>

Book Title Meme

Book Title Meme...I saw this on another blog & thought it might be fun!

The rules are: Using only books you have read in the last year (365 days obviously), answer these questions. Try not to repeat a book title.

• Describe yourself:
• How do you feel:
• Describe where you currently live:
• If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
• Your favorite form of transportation:
• Your best friend is:
• You and your friends are:
• What’s the weather like:
• You fear:
• What is the best advice you have to give:
• Thought for the day:
• How I would like to die:
• My soul’s present condition:

Feel free to post your answers by commenting (that's where you'll find mine)!  I would love to read your answers! 

My Excitement Over Receiving & Reading Guest House by Barbara Richardson

Guest House by Barbara K. Richardson



I'm very excited to read & review this book!  I received this book for review.  To my surprise after opening this book it was signed & inscribed by Barbara herself & also had a bookplate size book advertisement inside that was inscribed as well.  I have come across a few signed/inscribed books in the past at used bookstores & thrift stores.  A couple of those books being in the free bins no less!  Books that just happened to catch my eye for whatever reason & after getting them home discovering the inscriptions.  Which was exciting, but this is the first book that has ever been actually inscribed for me & I must admit it's a huge thrill!  I might, MIGHT have jumped up & down a little with excitement...just maybe...just a small jump or two!  I've cracked the first couple pages, but can't wait to really dive into this book!  So, of course I have to share with all of you a photo of the inscription! ; )

From the back cover:  Driving home from work on a summer afternoon, Melba Burns witnesses a nightmare collision.  She abandons her car, quits her job, & stops driving.  The wreck ends Melba's desire for success at any cost; she retreats into her beloved old farmhouse yearning for a simpler peace.  But her peace has never met Melba's stunning new roommate JoLee Garry, a magnet for messes & trouble.  JoLee brings a series of unexpected guests who transform Melba's solo life into something different, darker, & richer.

To learn more about this author & her book visit her website!   http://www.barbarakrichardson.com/index.html 



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Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews (Review)

Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

Blue Christmas is the third book in Mary Kay Andrews Savannah series.  Whether it's the Christmas Season or not you'll be in the Christmas Spirit by the time you finish reading this!  If you're looking for a light, quick read this one is perfect!  It will warm your heart & make you laugh!  With the Historic Districts Christmas Decorations Contest coming up, the competing shop owners the way & a mysterious visitor Weezie is at her wits end!  Oh & of course there's always the family get to together to look forward to!

Visit Mary Kay Andrews blog to learn more about her Savannah series & other books! http://www.marykayandrews.com/blog/index.asp?id=home

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Book Fun Q&A

Time for a little fun!  A questionnaire all about books!  I stumbled upon this on Jillian's Random Ramblings blog, who stumbled upon it on Amelia's Leave Your Eyes Behind blog.  Now for the fun!

1. Book next to your bed right now:  Broad Street by Pat Conroy (read), Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz (read), Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews (finished reading last night, look for the review coming soon) & Gus the Great by Thomas W. Duncan (reading now).  I know...time to clean my nightstand off!

2. Favorite series:  Honestly I have at least 5 favorite series, so this is tough!  Umm...I'm gonna go with the Hannibal series by Thomas Harris.

3. Favorite book:  I know this question was meant to be in the plural sense, because there is no way I can only pick just one!

4. The one book you would have with you if stranded on a desert island:  Again I know this question was meant to be in the plural sense!  So, off the top of my head I have to say How I Left the Great State of Tennessee & Went On To Better Things by Joe Jackson.

5. Book/series you would take with you on a long flight:  I would take one of my TBR shelf...Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews.

6. Worst book you were made to read in school:  O.k. don't shoot me, but it has to be A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.  Couldn't even finish it!

7. Book that everyone should be made to read in school:  Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns.  The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (I had to read it in school & it was by far my favorite of all the "made to read" books.  Not sure if it's still mandatory or not.)

8. Book that everyone should read, period:  Again this should be plural tense.  The Bearded Lady by Sharlee Dieguez, The Honkytonk Man & Children of the Dust both by Clancy Carlile, The Water is Wide by Pat  Conroy.  O.k. I'll stop there!

9. Favorite character:  Stephanie & Grandma Muzar from Evanovich's Plum series.  Izzy from Lisa Lutz Spellman series.  Eloise from Mary Kay Andrews Savannah series.

10. Best villain:  Hannibal Lecter of course!  Who else!?

11. Favorite concept book/series:  Because this is one of my most newly discovered favorites I'll say the Savannah series by Mary Kay Andrews.  The main character is a "junker" (yard sale goer, thrift store shopper, auction addict, etc.) which I love myself!  Plus the stories take place in Savannah, GA. which I love going to!

12. Favorite invented world:  Time for a crony answer!  These aren't exactly "invented" but, I love the world in Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen & the world in Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil  by John Berendt.

13. Most beautifully written book:  Again with the singular sense!?  Off the top of my head The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy.  His words create such vivid imagery!  

14. Funniest book/series:  I have two.  Again Evanovich's Plum series & Lutz's Spellman series.

What do you think?  Answer & pass this along!  Anyone who does I would love to read your answers, so be sure to let me know!