Sunday Post: Back to blogging after a long, long time...

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme


For more than a year now, I have not been blogging. Neither here, nor on my poetry blog. I was having a lot of problem in my life...mainly work life. Too much in my mind. Health wise, I am doing fine.

Maybe, I was also busy on Facebook and other social media. I had signed up for that #100sareepact and diligently completed that.

I have been reading like crazy. Just haven't been blogging. I have blogged about poetry books though becos poetry is my first love!

Since Friday, I have got back to blogging and hope to continue it....

Wish me luck, my blogger friends....

BTW, our schools reopen on 28th June and I am NOT looking forward to that.....

The Sunday Post/Sunday Salon: 2014, a recap...

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.

2014 was a great year for me, reading wise. I had set a goal of reading of reading 150 novels but I ended up reading much more than that. I have added 352 books on READ list in Goodreads for 2014. But I have read more. I will add those too but it will take a while. It is also true that  I have read exclusively romances since September 2014.

Work wise too it was productive. I became the examination in-charge of my school. There are 4300+ students and it is no mean feat to conduct exams. However, I am capable of handling any kind of responsibility.

I have not achieved much in the personal front. I thought I met someone to spend my life with but it hasn't worked out......

I have not been blogging much, what with  work pressure but that has not stopped me from reading. Buying a tab has also helped my reading. I download books and carry it everywhere and read on my spare time.....

Maybe I will do a post about my best reads in 2014 but not today.....

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!!

Sunday Salon/The Sunday Post: The fortnight was was

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.

Someone cut the cables on 20 June, 2014 and hundreds of phone lines were down for a week. We got it restored on 27 June, 2014. I had no net access at home. I could use my data on phone but that is not convenient to blog or facebook and the likes!! A good neighbour gave me the password of their wifi but it had no range at my place. I could use it on the corridor though!! So my net access was restricted to checking/answering important mails. We are SO dependent on the net and we take the wifi for granted!!

I did not use the time to read either!! We had seminars for 4 days, add to that, going to school for admission process. And I ended up tired!! I watched a lot of mindless programmes on TV. That only reinforced my views that who needs a new LED TV?!! Not me, never me!!

The following are the post links in the past fortnight:

• Saturday Snapshot: June 28, 2014
• Lost in Temptation by Lauren Royal
• Jaspar's War by Cym Lowell
• Booking through Format
• How to Lose a Bride in One Night by Sophie Jordan
• Monday: Mailbox/What Are You Reading?

Sunday Salon/The Sunday Post: Not much read in this past week

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.

The early week was hot but it rained heavily on Thursday which made the temperature bearable. I was not well for a few days and was mostly sleeping. Not much reading done. I finished only one novel and am in the midst of two more. My reading muse has gone to take rest. Hope it will be better next week.

I posted the following on my blog in the past one week:

• Into the Abyss by James Snyder
• Shoveling Snow by Brett Sills
• Crime Fiction Pick of the Month May 2014
• Booking through R-Rated
• Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I've Read So Far This year
• Ill-Gotten Gains by Ilsa Evans
• Monday: Mailbox/What Are You Reading?

Sunday Salon/The Sunday Post: Killing start of the week

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.

June started out horribly. The temperature is hovering between to 44-47°C (113-117 oF). It is expected to go up even more in the coming days. To boot it, we are having power outages. In our apartments, we do have a power back up but ACs do not run on it. We have two big desert coolers which run on back up and that keeps us cool. Most of the residents do not have it (ACs are in and desert coolers take up a lot of space!!) and are feeling the heat. Literalily. But, I and mom decided to have those, along with the Air Conditioners, two years ago and are happy for it!

I am the admission incharge for Sr. Sec. classes and have to go to school. No electricity in school. So no fans and crowds all around me. No one can imagine my plight!! Life!!!

I am reading slowly. I get tired after school and mostly take a siesta. I need that!! 

I posted the following on my blog in the past one week:

• The Qualities of Wood by Mary Vensel White
• Out Of Exile by Luke Preston
• Booking Through Extremes
• Extra Care by Alina Cosma (Poetry)
• Song for Sophia by Moriah Densley
• Monday: Mailbox/What Am I Reading?

Sunday Salon/The Sunday Post: May 2014 Reading Update

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.

May was an interesting month. We have a new Govt in the centre and all seems hunky dory as of now. It was hot to boot but we had rains now and then. Reading wise, I did not do so bad. I read 20 books, out of which 3 are poetry books. I seem to have read a lot of historical romances too. In June, I am going to stick to crime fiction!!

Here listing the books I read in May 2014 (20):

93. The Qualities of Wood by Mary Vensel White (Suspense)
92. Out Of Exile by Luke Preston (Thriller)
91. Their Virgin Captive by Shayla Black (Erotica)
90. Taken By the Duke by Jess Michaels (Historical Romance)
89. Song for Sophia by Moriah Densley (Historical Romance)**
88. Unforgivable by Joanna Chambers (Historical Romance)
87. Tennessee Bride by Rosanne Bittner (Historical Romance)
86. To Sleep...Perchance to Die by Donald R. Grippo (Thriller)
85. The Passionate Greek by Catherine Dane (Contemporary Romance)
84. Extra Care by Alina Cosma (Poetry)
83. Night Fish by Kristine Ong Muslim (Poetry)
82. Sufficient Ransom by Sylvia Sarno (Thriller)
81. Unseen by John Michael Hileman (Thriller)
80. Silver Threads by Jade Kennedy (Poetry)
79. Jubilee's Journey by Bette Lee Crosby (Literary Fiction)**
78. The Truth Will Out by Jane Isaac (Crime Fiction)**
77. Once a Duchess by Elizabeth Boyce (Historical Romance)
76. Her Husband's Harlot by Grace Callaway (Historical Romance)
75. His Majesty, The Prince of Toads by Delle Jacobs (Historical Romance)
74. The Outcast by Jolina Petersheim (Literary Fiction)

Sunday Salon/The Sunday Post: A week devoted to Android Devices and Historical Romances

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.

It is very hot in Delhi right now. Peak of Summer. The sun is merciless. I am also prone to severe sunburn. I do not venture out in the sun unless I am compelled to do so. And when/if I do go out, I apply sunscreen cream/lotion liberally and carry sunglasses and an umbrella. I have found out those are no protection once my skin gets burnt. 

What does one do, being cooped up at home? Surf the net, watch TV or read!. I do all three. Recently I bought an Android smartphone, so I spend a lot of time playing with that. I am yet to get familiar with all its functions and apps. However, I synced my google account and that has helped me clean all redundant contacts on gmail. All my devices are in total sync with each other and that has made life easy!!

Let me get back to reading.  I am reading e-books on my tab. I have downloaded a few reading apps and I can read almost all kinds of files. I have discovered a some websites where one can read online or download for free. I have been reading Historical Romances (Regency) all this past week. I seem to be hooked to those Regency novels. 

Next week, I will be busy. I will be doing admission work for grade 11. Whole of June and July. 

 I posted the following on my blog:

Saturday Snapshot: May 24, 2014

Unseen by John Michael Hileman

Jubilee's Journey by Bette Lee Crosby

Silver Threads by Jade Kennedy

The Truth Will Out by Jane Isaac

iRead Blog Tour : To Sleep...Perchance to Die by Donald R. Grippo

Monday: Mailbox/What Am I Reading?

Sunday Salon/The Sunday Post: 2014 India Election Results and all

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 had a grand start of my summer vacation. There were visits by my cousins and friends and I also visited friends. However, I continued to read. Print books as well as e-books on my tab. (I downloaded a few reading apps for the same). 

This past week 2014 India Election results were out. I was in front of the television for two days. After 30 years we will have a stable Govt. As I voted for this party, I am doubly elated.

I am a part of the Bout of Books read-a-thon. I abandoned posting for it half way through. I kept reading though. I visited quite a few bloggers but got only one visitor. I finished 6 books and reading the 7th. Two of those are poetry books.

I posted the following on my blog:

  Saturday Snapshot: May 18, 2014

• Once a Duchess by Elizabeth Boyce
• His Majesty, The Prince of Toads by Delle Jacobs
• Bout of Books: Day 2-3
• The Sheik's Arranged Marriage by Susan Mallory.
• The Outcast by Jolina Petersheim
• Bout of Books 10: Day 1
• Mini reviews of Erotica Novels
• Mailbox/What Am I Reading?

Sunday Salon/The Sunday Post: Bout of Books 10---My Goals

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.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

My summer vacations started from today. The best way to spend the days is to join read-a-thons. I usually read 3-5 books a week. Maybe now I will read a bit more...... 

My Goals:

1) To read Crime Fiction novels
2) To read a poetry book or two 
3) To write updates of my reading
4) To post reviews as soon I finish a novel
5) To visit at least 5 other participants daily

Sunday Salon/The Sunday Post: April Wrap up post

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.

First thing first. I bought Samsung Galaxy Tab 3. I am just about getting familiar with it. It has calling facility too but imagine using a 7" tab as a phone!! I have already downloaded the Kindle Android Apps and will be able to read books! I am unable to copy paste text for now but learn it soon enough, I think.

Coming back to reading, April was a good month. I read 18 books and I have already read 73 out of my goal of 150 in 2014. I feel good about it.

Here is what I read in April:

73. The Virgin Hostage by Shayla Black (Erotica)
72. The Invisible Man by H G Wells (Science Fiction)
71. The Sheik's Arranged Marriage by Susan Mallory (Contemporary Romance)

70. Our Held Animal Breath by Kathryn Kirkpatrick (Poetry)

69. Dead Set by Will Carver (Crime Fiction)
68. The Virgin Concubine by Shayla Black (Erotica)
67. Silken Promises by Lisa Bingham (Historical Romance)

66. A Dangerous Affair by Caro Peacock (Victorian Mystery)
65. The Hellion and The Heartbreaker by Jennifer McNare (Historical Romance)
64. Never Too Late by Amara Royce (Historical Romance)
63. You, and Only You by Jennifer McNare (Historical Romance)
62. Dreaming of You by Jennifer McNare (Historical Romance)
61. The Scent of Dying Breaths by M. J. Rose (Suspense)
60. Controlled Hallucinations by John Sibley Williams (Poetry)
59. The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti (Literary Fiction)
58. Scent of Butterflies by Dora Levy Mossanen (Literary Fiction)
57. Chilled to the Bone by Quentin Bates (Crime Fiction)
56. Murder Strikes a Pose by Tracy Weber (Cozy Mystery)

Genre wise Break up:-

Crime Fiction: 5
Historical Romance: 5
Contemporary Romance: 1
Literary Fiction: 2
Science Fiction: 1
Poetry: 2
Erotica: 2

For the first time, I read Erotica and I think I have had my fill! NO MORE!!!

Sunday Salon/The Sunday Post: End of event meme of 24 Hour Read-a-Thon

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.

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon April 26-27, 2014

End of event meme–

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

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?

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?

Four (1195 pages)

What were the names of the books you read?

1. Silken Promises by Lisa Bingham (278) (Historical Romance)
2. The Virgin Concubine by Shyala Black (296) (Erotica)

3.  Dead Set by Will Carver (456) (Crime Fiction)
4. Our Held Animal Breath by Kathryn Kirkpatrick (95) (Poetry)

Which book did you enjoy most?

Silken Promises by Lisa Bingham 

Which did you enjoy least?

The Virgin Concubine by Shyala Black

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?

Yes! And as a reader!

Sunday Salon/The Sunday Post: Weekly Update & Book Spine Poetry

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.

It was THE election week. Very hectic and stressful. I was in no mood to read before the elections. And afterwards too, I was too tired. But I did read 3 books, one of which is a poetry book. I do not feel I have to hurry. I will try to read more in the next few days. I am participating in a poetry tour and M. J. Rose book tour. 

I posted the following on my blog:

• Renascence and Other Poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay...
• The Cowboy's E-Mail Order Bride by Cora Seton
• Perla by Caroline De Robertis
• Blue Collar Eulogies by Michael Meyerhofer
• Monday: Mailbox/What Am I reading?

2014 National Poetry Month: Reach for the Horizon tour

Book Spine Poetry: Take a few books, place them in such an order that makes sense to you, and Voila!!



poetic musings of an old fat man
the meaning of me
the collector of dying breaths
the virgin journals
at the threshold of alchemy

Sunday Salon/The Sunday Post: March Update

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.

It is again time for quarterly updates. I read 55 books in the first three months of the year, 2014. I did a break-up for the first time. It goes like this:

Poetry books=3
Thriller=6
Cozy Mystery=3
Crime Fiction=7
Suspense/Mystery=2
Romantic Suspense=1
Gothic Suspense=1
Literary Fiction=10
Dark Romance=1
Historical Romance=14
Contemporary Romance=7

Reading 20 books in March was a high. However, I have slowed down a bit. What with election training and all, there is not much time for reading. I read the following in March: 

55. Renascence and Other Poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay (Poetry)
54. The Officer and the Bostoner by Rose Gordon  (Historical Romance) (e-book)
53. Winter Heart by Jane Bonander  (Historical Romance) (e-book)
52. The Cowboy's E-Mail Order Bride by Cora Seton (Contemporary Romance) (e-book) 
51. Heiress Without a Cause by Sara Ramsey (Historical Romance) (e-book) 
50. Voltaire's Calligrapher by Pablo De Santis (Historical Thriller)
49. The Sekhmet Bed by L. M. Ironside (Historical Romance) (e-book)
48. The Civilized World by Susi Wyss (Literary Fiction)
47.  The Wedding by Lorhainne Eckhart (Contemporary Romance) (e-book)
46. Scandal's Child by Sherrill Bodine (Historical Romance) (e-book)
45. A Foreign Affair by Caro Peacock (Suspense/Mystery)
44. The Diplomat's Wife by Pam Jenoff (Literary Fiction)
43. The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff (Literary Fiction)
42. Blood Harvest by S. J. Bolton (Crime Fiction)
41. Velocity by Alan Jacobson (Crime Fiction)
40. Hurrah's Nest by Arisa White (Poetry)
39. Irresistible by Karen Robards (Historical Romance) (e-book)
38. Scandalous by Karen Robards (Historical Romance) (e-book)
37. The Noah's Ark Quest by Boyd Morrison (Thriller)
36. Dark Torment by Karen Robards (Historical Romance) (e-book)

I posted the following on my blog:

• The Sekhmet Bed by L. M. Ironside
• Heiress Without a Cause by Sara Ramsey
• Booking Through Mark-Ups
• The Wedding by Lorhainne Eckhart 
• The Rejected Suitor by Teresa McCarthy
• Voltaire's Calligrapher by Pablo De Santis
• ten poems to say goodbye by Roger Housman
• Monday: Mailbox/What Am I reading?