Wow! April Books!

Just realized it's been almost a month since I posted here...

Life gets too crazy...

APRIL BOOKS:
1) Reflection Point - Emily March (Kindle)
2) The Wanderer - Robyn Carr (Kindle)

3) Sand Castle Bay - Sherryl Woods (Kindle)
4) The Other Woman - Brenda Novak (Kindle)
5) Big Girls Don't Cry - Brenda Novak (Kindle)
6) Coulda Been A Cowboy - Brenda Novak (Kindle)

7) The Key Is Love - Marie Osmond (hardback)
8) Alex Cross, Run - James Patterson (hardback)
9) Far From Perfect - Barbara Longley (Kindle)
10) The Difference A Day Makes - Barbara Longley (Kindle)

All except for Longley were favorite authors. March, Carr, Woods, Novak & Patterson didn't disappoint. I enjoyed reading the books by Longley as well.

Enjoyed reading Marie Osmond's book honoring her mother and mothers everywhere. She was also very open about her son's suicide.

I'm also ahead of my goal on book reading on Goodreads.com.

Sad week in America

The week began with a bombing at the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15 that killed 3 people and injured over 170. Two bombs went off a block apart, near the finish line. An 8 year old boy and two young women lost their lives.

Wednesday night there was an explosion at a fertilizer facility in West, Texas.  It leveled blocks of homes and business around the plant. They are still counting fatalities and injuries, but upwards of 20 people were killed, most of them first responders to the fire that was originally reported before the plant exploded.

The week ended with authorities releasing photos of 2 suspects in the Boston bombings late Thursday afternoon, which escalated into a shootout with the police in Watertown, after they had killed a police officer at MIT Thursday night. One of the suspects was killed, the other one escaped, setting off a massive manhunt and shutting down the entire city of Boston for the day on Friday. Finally, Friday evening the second suspect was captured - injured, after hiding in a boat in someone's backyard. The two suspects were brothers, and police are just now able to interview the 19 year old. He has injuries to the neck & throat, so he is writing answers to their questions. How much he will share about why they did what they did remains to be seen.

Yes, it was a sad week in America...

Casino Afternoon

Kaitlin gets out of classes around noon on Tuesdays, and since I was off work again today, we decided to make a trip to the Kansas Star Casino.


Had a fun afternoon, and she won more money than I did (losing most of it), while I didn't win a darn thing. No matter what tho, it was fun spending the afternoon with her!

Fun Weekend at the Casino

We took off early Saturday afternoon for Newkirk, Oklahoma and the First Council Casino. Met up with Corby's brother Doug & sister-in-law Debbie. Had a great time visiting, gambling, drinking, gambling, eating and gambling! WAS SO MUCH FUN! We didn't win big, but won enough to play on for a while, and didn't lose too much!

Our niece, Megan, is getting married in June. Kaitlin and I are hoping to go to her wedding shower next month, as long as it's not the same weekend we're headed to KC.

Was great seeing Doug & Debbie again! It's been far too long!

March Books

I read 14 books in March...I'm well on my way to my 2013 goal of 125 books!

1) To Have & To Kill - Mary Jane Clark (Kindle)

2) Sea Glass Winter - JoAnn Ross (paperback)

3) One for the Money - Janet Evanovich (paperback)

4) Three Sisters - Susan Mallery (Kindle)

5) Two for the Doug - Janet Evanovich (paperback)

6) Three to Get Deadly - Janet Evanovich (paperback)

7) Stolen - Daniel Palmer (paperback-ARC received from Facebook contact with author)

8) Helpless - Daniel Palmer (Kindle)

9) Everything But A Groom - Holly Jacobs (Kindle)

10) Everything But A Bride - Holly Jacobs (Kindle)

11) Everything But A Wedding - Holly Jacobs (Kindle)

12) Everything But Christmas Eve - Holly Jacobs (Kindle)

13) Everything But A Mother - Holly Jacobs (Kindle)

14) Everything But A Dog - Holly Jacobs (Kindle)

I have to say the BEST book I read last month was Stolen by Daniel Palmer. I am a fan of his author father, Michael Palmer, and have been following Daniel on Facebook. I was able to get an ARC of Stolen by posting on his Facebook page why I would like to read it. The books sucked me in, in the FIRST paragraph, and I couldn't put it down. I would recommend it to anyone who likes suspenseful (definitely!) thrillers. TWO THUMBS UP! After finishing Stolen, I bought Helpless on Kindle, and enjoyed it as well (though Stolen was my favorite).

I started reading Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first three books, and subsequently bought the next six books in the series. I'm sure her writing has improved, as I found some of it a bit stilted, but I really enjoyed the Plum character and plan on reading the rest of the series!

Clark, Ross and Mallery are authors I've read in the past, and I liked their books; but I think Sea Glass Winter was my favorite of the three.

I came across the Holly Jacobs books through an e-mail I get with inexpensive or free books on Kindle. Once I read the first book, I had to read the others in the series - of course!

All in all, a good month for reading!

February Books

I am finding it hard to keep up with my blog...and every time I vow to do a better job, I just don't.

Anyway, here are my February reads:

1) The Single Daddy Club: Jason by Donna Fasano (Kindle)
2) The Single Daddy Club: Reece by Donna Fasano (Kindle)
3) When Summer Comes by Brenda Novak (Kindle)
4) Barefoot Season-Blackberry Island #1 by Susan Mallery (Kindle)
5) Guilt by Jonathan Kellerman (hardback)
6) The Power Trip by Jackie Collins (hardback)
7) Deadly Stakes by J.A. Jance (hardback)
8) Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner (hardback)
9) Don't Fire Them, Fire Them Up by Frank Pancetta (paperback)
10) Purple Cow by Seth Godin (hardback)

Enjoyed the Single Daddy Club books, by an author I'd never read before...

Novak and Mallery have quickly become two of my favorite authors!

Kellerman, Collins and Jance's books were great, as usual.

Gardner continues to be THE premier author of psychological thrillers!

I received the last 2 books for a committee that I was named to at work. I enjoyed both of them, though Purple Cow was a bit outdated and Don't Fire Them was more for sales managers.

All in all, a good month for reading!

Super Bowl 47

is in the books...

wow, what a game! Ravens were pretty much kicking the 49'ers booties until the power went out in the 3rd quarter. Since the announcers were so terrible during the delay, we took to Twitter and laughed our heads off at all the posts.

My favorite commercials were the Budweiser Clydesdale and Dodge "God Made the Farmer" ones...

And after a valiant comeback attempt by San Francisco, the Ravens ending up winning. Congrats!

January books

I read 12 books in January...

1) A Home of Her Own - Brenda Novak - Kindle
2) Stranger in Town - Brenda Novak - Kindle
3) Perfect Fit - Carly Phillips - Kindle
4) Stalked - Allison Brennan - paperback
5) Private: London - James Patterson - hardback
6) Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn - hardback
7) Sage Green - Jill Gregory - Kindle
8) Larkspur Road - Jill Gregory - hardback
9) California Sunset - Casey Dawes - Kindle
10) California Wine - Casey Dawes - Kindle
11) Purple Cow - Seth Godin - hardback
12) The Single Daddy Club: Derrick (book one) - Donna Fasano - Kindle

Several authors new to me this month: Flynn, Gregory, Dawes, Godin and Fasano.

Truly enjoyed both Jill Gregory books.

I had heard a lot about Gone Girl, and when I was able to get the book before Christmas for about $4 from Amazon, I went ahead and ordered it. Wow, what a story! I would highly recommend it, but be prepared for a pretty sick, twisted ride.

Purple Cow was an interesting take on how to look for new and innovative ideas in your job.

Since my goal is to read more books this year than last year, I'm off to a good start by reading 12 in January!