Saturday Snapshot: Dec 27, 2014

Haven't done Saturday Snapshot for some time now.

In School

Raising a toast with school friends

Being in a Bar is barred!!

Signing the books I gifted to my friends

Posting for Saturday Snapshot, hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy

Tuesday Intro/Teaser: Once a Ferrara Wife by Sarah Morgan

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

"Oh, just look at that. Three cars with blacked out windows have just pulled up. And those men look like bodyguards. and ---oh, my you have to look, dear, it's like something out of a movie. I swear they have guns. And the most gorgeous man you've ever seen has just stepped onto the tarmac. He's got to be at least six foot three and spectacular to look at! And what sort of man needs all that security? I wonder who he's meeting?

"Me." Laurel rose to her feet with all the enthusiasm of a condemned man preparing to walk to the gallows. "His name is Cristiano Domencio Ferrara and he's my husband."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once a Ferrara Wife by Sarah Morgan

Laurel comes back to Sicily to attend her best friend's wedding. Her best friend is her estranged husband's sister. Laurel and Cristiano are in the midst of a divorce. Laurel has trust issues and there is a huge misunderstanding between them. 

Right from the beginning there is angst, tension, anger and contempt. Intense, so intense that, with so much emotions and feelings. Cristiano does not understand why Laurel walked out on him. And Laurel is not willing to say much.

As soon, Cristiano finds out, we see him making amends. He is not averse to expressing his emotions. Laurel is the one who has problems doing that. 

The dialogues are very good. And it is a great emotional journey throughout the novel. The way Cristiano gifts Laurel one of her fairy tales dreams is very endearing. He is a hero worth loving and so macho that he is not at all afraid to show his feelings for Laurel to everyone. 

I have read a lot of Sarah Morgan novels after this. An romance author worth reading. Go for her novels.

Musing Mondays: October 27, 2014

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits

Many a times  I read till 3 am. Even if the next day is a working day. I can't sleep unless I have finished what I have been reading.

Monday: Mailbox/What Am I reading?

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. It has finally found a permanent  home at Mailbox Monday with the following new administrators:

Leslie of Under My Apple Tree
Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit
Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach

I received two books this past week, thanks to the publicist:

Both the novels are techno-thrillers...

Death Never Sleeps by E. J. Simon

Death Logs In by E. J. Simon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the week.

It has been around three months and I have only been reading romances. Life has been kinda busy so reading romances seems like light reading. I have finished more that 230 novels till date. My goal was to read 150. I am feeling good but I know I need to read serious stuff. Maybe in the next two months, I will do that!

Saturday Snapshot: October 25, 2014

This is Diwali week. Posting pictures of that.

Posting for Saturday Snapshot, hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy

24 Hour Readathon: Hour 24 & End of Event meme

End of event meme–

A Readathon tradition! In your final Readathon post, answer these questions and then link to it with the Mr. Linky, below.

Which hour was most daunting for you?

Hour 7 as it was past midnight in my part of the world.

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

Romance Novels and Crime Fiction novels, me thinks!

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Too few cheerleaders on my blog. I wish that to be changed.

What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

Dunno....

How many books did you read?

I read 4 novels. All of those romances. 

What were the names of the books you read?

Craving the Forbidden by India Grey 
Runaway Fiancee by Sally Wentworth
Shattered Dreams by Sally Wentworth
Secret Admirer by Susan Napier

Which book did you enjoy most?

Craving the forbidden

Which did you enjoy least?

NA

If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

Visit, visit, vist

How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

I am NOT likely to participate in the readathon again. I have not felt like a welcome participant since the last few readathons. That fails the purpose. 

24 Hour Readathon: Hour 14/15

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon October 18/19, 2014

Currently reading: 

Secret Admirer by Susan Napier

Books finished: 3

Craving the Forbidden by India Grey 
Runaway Fiancee by Sally Wentworth
Shattered Dreams by Sally Wentworth

Pages read: 582

Amount of time spent reading: 12 hours

Snacks: tea, munchies

Mini-Challenges Completed: 2

Blogs Visited and Commented On: None

24 Hour Read-a-Thon: Mini-challenges-----Shelfie and Book staging

SHELFIE

BOOK STAGING

24 Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 4

It is 9: 30 PM here and I have managed to finish only one novel. A romance novel, Craving the Forbidden by India Grey (184 pages).

In the last 4 hours, I have gone out to get stuff and cooked dinner and had it too with my mom. 

I have started another India Grey novel, Taken for Revenge, Bedded for Pleasure (192 pages)

I have had no time to do any of the mini challenges till date.

NO CHEERLEADER HAS VISITED MY BLOG SO FAR.

24 Hour Read-a-thon: Startup post/Introduction meme

24 Hour Read-a-thon is here. I am at the starting line. Here I go with an e-book on my tab. Kinda of convenient, being with the computer!

I am going to read a romance.

Introduction meme

1)Where are you reading from today?

New Delhi, India

2)Three random facts about me…

I love tea
I love doing Math Puzzles
I walk barefoot at home

3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

I will pick at random. No plans made..

4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

I have not made any plans. I will read, visit blogs, comment on my whim

5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

Just don't stress, be relaxed and have fun

24 Hour Read-A-Thon: October 18/19, 2014

Another Read-A-Thon. I have been participating in Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon since its conception barring one, which I forgot!!

2014 has been a good reading year for me. I have finished more than 200 books till date. So reading for the Read-A-Thon should not be a problem. I have decided to read only romance novels for it. That will help elevate the numbers!!

I also hope this will help me getting back to full time blogging. I know I have been slacking in that arena for few months now. 

Saturday Snapshot: Sep 27, 2013

I have NOT blogged since August 11, 2014. It is not due to any lack of posts. I just have not felt the need. I have been reading like crazy. I have finished the goodreads challenge of reading 150 books. In fact, I have read more that 200 till date ans still going strong. I will try to blog regularly from this post onwards. Hope, all of you visit me again and comment!!

There was a COLLAGE COMPETITION for teachers. Three of us made the following. Hope you like it.

Posting for Saturday Snapshot, hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy

Monday: Mailbox/What Am I Reading?

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. It has finally found a permanent  home at Mailbox Monday with the following new administrators:

Leslie of Under My Apple Tree
Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit
Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach

I received the following in the past two weeks:

The Darkest Hour by Tony Schumacher

London, 1946. The Nazis have conquered the British, and now occupy Great Britain, using brutality and fear to control its citizens. John Henry Rossett, a decorated British war hero and former police sergeant, has been reassigned to a job he did not ask for—and cannot refuse: rounding up Jews for deportation, including men and women he’s known his whole life. But they are not the only victims, for the war took Rossett’s wife and son, and shattered his own humanity.

Then he finds Jacob, a young Jewish child, hiding in an abandoned building, who touches something in Rossett that he thought was long dead.

Determined to save the innocent boy, Rossett takes him on the run, with the Nazis in pursuit. But they are not the only hunters following his trail. The Royalist Resistance and the Communists want him, too. Each faction has its own agenda, and Rossett will soon learn that none of them can be trusted . . . and all of them are deadly. 

The Objects of Her Affection by Sonya Cobb: 

Sophie Porter is the last person in the world you’d expect to organize an art heist—and that’s exactly why she’s so good at it.  When Sophie bought a house with her husband, a curator for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, she thought it would provide security for her family. Instead, after the housing market collapse, they’re in danger of losing it all. So when she accidentally walks out of the museum’s disorganized storage area with a stunning antique, Sophie realizes she’s found a way out of their crushing debt. As she comes close to destroying the life she’s working so hard to build, Sophie knows she should abandon her part-time crime. Unfortunately, it may be too late.

The End of Innocence by Allegra Jordan

It is the twilight of innocence: America 1914. As Europe goes to war, Helen, a Boston bluestocking, begins her studies at Harvard-Radcliffe. Riley, a carefree British playboy more interested in chasing women than studying, sets his sights on her. He is surprised to find his adversary in love is not Helen’s protective brother, but Riley’s own cousin, Wils Brandl. As the roar of war begins to penetrate the quiet walls of Harvard, Wils, a brooding poet and German noble, must return to Europe and face a war for which he is not prepared. Set in Boston and Flanders Fields, THE END OF INNOCENCE explores love, war, and a new social imagination.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the week.

In the past 10 days, my brother was visiting us with his family. It was hectic time, what with family reunions and outings. I did not do serious reading. I read silly romances and I enjoyed those. 

I finished reading the following since the beginning of August:

146. An Insatiable Passion by Lynne Graham (Romance)
145. A Savage Betrayal by Lynne Graham (Romance)
144. The Unforgettable Husband by Michelle Reid (Romance)
143. Gold Ring of Betrayal by Michelle Reid (Romance)
142. Dark Dominion by Charlotte Lamb (Romance)
141. Expectant Bride by Lynne Graham (Romance)
140. A stormy Greek Marriage by Marriage by Lynne Graham (Romance)
139. The Mistress Wife by Lynne Graham (Romance)
138. Scoundrel's Honor by Rosemary Rogers (Romance)
137. Brazilian Fire by Karen Vander Zee (Romance)
136. A Love Untamed by Karen Vander Zee (Romance)
135. An Excellent Wife by Charlotte Lamb (Romance)
134. The Prince's Love Child by Carole Mortimer (Romance)
133. Secondhand Bride by Linda Lael Miller (Romance)
132. Shotgun Wedding by Charlotte Lamb (Romance)
131. Crescendo by Charlotte Lamb (Romance)
130. The Impossible Marriage by Lilian Peake (Romance)

Sunday Salon/The Sunday Post: After Six weeks

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

I have not done a sunday post since our schools reopened after summer vacations. I read 23 novels in July and 16 till date in August. July was spent reading mostly Historical Romances and I am reading Mills & Boon/Harlequin romances in August. I needed the break from heavy reading. And Happy Endings always makes us feel good. Maybe I needed that. In 2012 and 2013, I had a massive reader's block. At leat that is not happening now and I am glad about that.

I am also not blogging much. However, I will remedy that in the next few days!!

Monday: Mailbox/What Am I Reading?

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. It has finally found a permanent  home at Mailbox Monday with the following new administrators:

Leslie of Under My Apple Tree
Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit
Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach

I did not receive ANYTHING!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the week.

I am still reading Historical Romances!! And I am not blogging much. 

I finished reading the following:

129. A Sense of Belonging by Lilian Peake (Romance)
128. Under a Silent Moon by Elizabeth Haynes (Crime Fiction)
127. Stranger Passing By by Lilian Peake (Romance)
126. When Marrying a Scoundrel by Kathryn Smith (Historical Romance)
125. The Surrender of a Lady by Tiffany Clare (Historical Romance)
124. Till the End of Time by Lilian Peake (Romance)
123. Seducing the Governess by Margo Maguire (Historical Romance)
122. The Rogue Prince by Margo Maguire (Historical Romance)

Monday: Mailbox/What Am I Reading?

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. It has finally found a permanent  home at Mailbox Monday with the following new administrators:

Leslie of Under My Apple Tree
Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit
Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach

I received the following two e-novels, thanks to the authors/publicists:

 New Orleans Requiem by D.J. Donaldson

A GAME OF MURDER — It's an unusual case for New Orleans medical examiner Andy Broussard and psychologist Kit Franklyn. The victim is found stabbed, one eyelid removed and four board-game tiles with the letters KOJE on his chest. — The second victim is also stabbed, discovered this time with only three letters. Broussard has no doubt as to the killers' intent, but the clues left behind in each case are purposely incongruous.

Broussard and Franklyn are certain of one thing: the killer has an uncanny knowledge of forensics. Also the murders are being brilliantly staged to lead the medical examiner to a disturbing conclusion -- the next two victims are to be Kit and himself.
Stranger at Sunset by Eden Baylee

Vacation can be a killer. 

Dr. Kate Hampton, a respected psychiatrist, gathers with a group of strangers at her favorite travel spot, Sunset Villa in Jamaica. Included in the mix are friends of the owners, a businessman with dubious credentials, and a couple who won the trip from a TV game show. 

It is January 2013, following the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The luxury resort is struggling, not from the storm, but due to a scathing review from caustic travel writer, Matthew Kane. The owners have invited him back with hopes he will pen a more favorable review to restore their reputation. 

Even though she is haunted by her own demons, Kate feels compelled to help. She sets out to discover the motivation behind Kane’s vitriol. Used to getting what he wants, has the reviewer met his match in Kate? Or has she met hers? 

Stranger at Sunset is a slow-burning mystery/thriller as seen through the eyes of different narrators, each with their own murky sense of justice. As Kate's own psychological past begins to unravel, a mysterious stranger at Sunset may be the only one who can save her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the week.

I am still reading Historical Romances!! And I am not blogging much. 

I finished reading the following:

121. Taken by the Laird by Margo Maguire (Historical Romance)
120. Beauty and the Duke by Melody Thomas (Historical Romance)
119. Carmichael's Return by Lilian Peake
118. Wild and Wicked in Scotland by Melody Thomas (Historical Romance)
117. Angel In My Bed by Melody Thomas (Historical Romance)

I posted a review of:

I Adored a Lord by Katharine Ashe

Tuesday Intro/Teaser: I Adored a Lord by Katharine Ashe

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

The moonlight was a winter moon’s, aloof and chill, and her breaths clouded upon the air. But wrapped in her heavy cloak, she barely felt the cold.

“On nights like this, Beast and I used to wander the park at Shelton Grange searching for hare. We could see everything as though it were day. Sometimes better."
“But no longer?”
“He left me. I suppose somewhere up there”—she gestured to the heavens—“is a snowy park in which he hunts for hare in the moonlight.”


I Adored a Lord by Katharine Ashe


Ravenna Caulfield is fond of animals. She loves to treat their ailments. She has no time for high society. But her employers take her to a castle where a French prince is looking for a bride. Ravenna has no interest but indulges her employers who love her like their ward.

Now Vitor is present in the castle to babysit his half-brother, the prince. He has been a monk once upon a time. He meets Ravenna in the stable first. She mistakes him for a stable hand but he is a rich man.

A murder is committed, Ravenna is the first one to learn about it. She along with Vitor set about finding out the murderer. A lot of secrets are unravelled. Viror and Ravenna have a good chemistry between them.

This novel works great as a romantic suspense, historical though. I liked the mindset of both Vitor and the ever practical Ravenna. It is yet to be published. I got an e-galley free!

Monday: Mailbox/What Am I Reading?

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. It has finally found a permanent  home at Mailbox Monday with the following new administrators:

Leslie of Under My Apple Tree
Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit
Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach

I received the following novels, thanks to the authors/publicists:

I also received two e-books:

An Unwilling Accomplice by Charles Todd

Clam Wake by Mary Daheim

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the week.

I have been not keeping well. I did not post anything on my blog. I am only reading Historical Romances. That means I don't have to think after finishing such novels. 

I finished reading the following:

116. Summer Moon by Jill Marie Landis. 
115. The Seduction of His Wife by Tiffany Clare
114. Bride for a Night by Rosemary Rogers
113. Protector by Diana Palmer
112. Captured by a Rogue Lord by Katharine Ashe
111. Caprice by Laura Parker

I am in the midst of reading:

Under a Silent Moon by Elizabeth Haynes

Monday: Mailbox/What Am I Reading?

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. It has finally found a permanent  home at Mailbox Monday with the following new administrators:

Leslie of Under My Apple Tree
Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit
Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach

I did not receive anything in my mailbox this past week. But I did download a few free e books to read on my tab. Mystery/Suspense.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the week.

Our schools reopened after summer vacations. I was busy and I also fell under the weather. I read for comfort only...

 I finished reading the following (3):

110. Sunset by Sandra Brown (Historical Romance)
109. The King Of Threadneedle Street by Moriah Densley (Historical Romance)
108. Lady Danger by Glynnis Campbell (Historical Romance)

I posted reviews of the following:

The Edge of Normal by Carla Norton (Crime Fiction)
The Dead Don't Dance by John Enright (Crime Fiction)
Secret Nights by Anita Mills (Historical Romance)
Mine, All Mine by Ella J. Quince (Historical Romance)