Teaser Tuesday: Book for review

I am finally making some progress with my review books. Here is a teaser from my current read, Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe.


"I could still hear my little sister’s violin playing down the hallway. When I walked into the house, it had been fast and jovial. Now it was slow and somber, as if behind closed doors she could feel the sadness of my mother’s heart." Brian Rowe (2011). Happy Birthday To Me (Kindle Locations 186-188). Kindle Edition.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (I am usually not so random)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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Book Review: The Shining by Stephen King

The Shining by Stephen King


I have been wanting to read a Stephen King book for a very long time. I read Christine years ago when I was a teenager but hadn't read anything else since. I decided to pick The Shining for my book groups October read. Probably not the best book for my easily scared group of friends, but for me-the perfect read.
Most, I believe, know the story, right? Jack Torrance takes a job as the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel which is in the Rocky Mountains closed off to everything once the snow starts to fall. He brings along his wife, who is ready to leave him the minute he starts drinking again, and his son, Danny with his psychic abilities.
I enjoyed reading this all month long. I loved the slow build up of the supernatural scares to the big final battle between the Torrance's and the Overlook Hotel. It was interesting to me how much of this is a psychological thriller rather than blood and gore scares. There is that, too, but the psychological thrills were so much more disturbing and scary.
Next on my Stephen King books to read list: It. 
5/5
Source: purchased ebook for iPhone Kindle App
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Almost Halloween!

I am already happily in the Halloween spirit. We took the little girl to a pumpkin patch a couple weeks ago and picked up some great pumpkins. The decorations are up and the Halloween children's books are out for the little girl to peruse. She is fascinated by the twinkling orange lights.
I have a few books going on right now. The Shining for my book group, which I am almost finished with and another House of Night books which I am finding hard to get into. I am also listening to Outlander by  Diana Gabaldon on audio while I knit. 
I already have the little girl's costume all knit up but she seems to like my Gryffindor scarf and wand. A future HP fan indeed…

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TSS: Time for Mom

I am finally finding time in the day for a little mom time now. It's nice. Emma is regularly taking 1-2 naps during the day for 1-2 hrs. Once any cleaning, laundering or picking up is finished, I have time to read, knit or veg in front of the tv. Not needing as many naps in the day as before. Of course, in the last couple days, our nights haven't been all that great. The little girl is seriously teething. She has all four top front teeth coming in and a molar! Poor girl is in pain. 
Anyway, another "for me" thing I am doing is Weight Watchers. I joined online today and am excited to get some of this weight off. It's funny, I can't really say it is "pregnancy weight". I lost weight while pregnant…well, I gained 12 lbs, but after Emma was born I lost all that weight plus 10 more. I have managed in this year, unfortunately, to gain back those extra 10 lbs  and am back to my pre-pegnancy weight, 25 lbs more than I would like to be. So, I am hoping WW will help get to a healthier weight. Any of you doing WW online? Is it helpful?
Reading:I am enjoying reading books I want to read right now. I have actually been able to read books I purchased. I do have some review books still waiting but I needed to take a break. I wasn't enjoying reading. It felt like a chore and I really hated that. I am starting to enjoy again and feel ready to jump into a review book once I finish my current read. 
Current Book:
The Shining by Stephen King
Finding parts to be similar to the movie and other parts very different. A lot of the backstory was left out. Really good, but not as scary as I thought it would be. We are reading this for my Book Group. I am hosting October. :) The house is already decorated for Halloween and I have my copy of The Shining (the movie) ready for our meeting on the 26th. 

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Book Review: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
It has been a long time since I have read a book that kept me up late at night unable to put it down. I loved this book and enjoyed every bit of it. 
It is the story of Richard Mayhew, who despite the protests of his girlfriend, helps a young injured girl off the streets of London. In doing so, he loses his girlfriend, the life he knew and finds himself where he never would have imagined, London Below. 
Such a fun book full of adventures, creepy characters and scary monsters. Perfect book for the month of October.
5/5Source: purchased
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Mailbox Monday: Birthday Books for the Babe

It has been such a busy couple of weeks! The little girl had a great birthday week filled with tons of activities and attention from friends and family. It was lots of fun but I am very tired.

Miss Emma left her birthday party with a basket full of new books to enjoy...

Larry Gets Lost in San Francisco by Michael Mullin and John Skewes

My Very Own Name by Maia Haag
A couple Usborne touchy-feely books,That's not my dinosaur...andThat's not my puppy...
Some board books,Jamberry by Bruce DegenGood Night, Gorilla and Peggy Rathman
and some paperbacks from Scholastic,
Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse by Leo LionniFiesta Fiasco by Ann Whitford Paul¡Un Viejo Monstruo se Tragó un Gusarapo! by Rebecca, Adrian y Ed EmberleyCinco de Mouse-o by Judy CoxBoom Chicka Rock by John ArchambaultThe Paperboy by Dav Pilkey
What a great haul!
Mailbox Monday is hosted by Amused by Books this month. Go and share what books you got this week!
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September Book Group: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Our second book group meeting was tonight and it was all about happiness. We had food, friends and wine and a little girl to play and laugh with. The hubby is out of town so Emma came to her first book group. :)This months book: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Thoughts about the book: Most of the gals found something to relate to in the book, be it with the thoughts and making your romantic relationships stronger and therefor happier or ideas on how to reduce stress while at work. These most resonated with the group. There was one other gal who agreed with me that the project didn't feel authentic, that it was done for the purpose of writing a book and not to actually increase her happiness in her life. It generated a lot of good discussions
Popular Question:What activity would make you happy now that you loved as a ten year old?This was something that a friend told Gretchen Rubin- what you loved as a 10 year old will make you happy to do now. It was funny, but me and one of my friends had the same activity in mind...coloring books. I love coloring books. One of my most favorite things in the world is a brand new box of 64 Crayola crayons. I need to go and find myself a coloring book!
How would you answer that question?
Next months book:The Shining by Stephen King

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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Happy Birthday to my little girl

It is hard to believe a year has passed already and today my little girl turns one year old. It has gone by so quickly. She is a joy and I can't wait to see what the second year will bring. At 1, she is mobile-crawling and cruising the furniture. I fear walking is coming soon. She is talking much more- saying "dada", "mama", "ca" and what sounds like "mine". Her personality is silly at times and temperamental at others. We love her dearly.

Happy 1st Birthday, Sweet Girl!_________________________________________

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Thoughts on The Happiness Project after 90 pages

So, I am reading The Happiness Project by Gretchin Rubin this month for my Book Group. It was one of three choices given to us by September's host and was voted by the rest of us as the one to read. It isn't the type of book I would normally read. Most of you probably realize that I almost always only read fiction with a few occasions when I pick up a nonfiction book.   Anyway, the reason I bring this up now, before actually finishing the book, is that there are a few things I wanted to discuss right now. It reminds me a lot of the type of writing and self examination made by Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat Pray Love and Julie Powell in Julie & Julia. All three writers, successful women looking for happiness and/or meaning in their lives but in different ways. One through travel and search for spiritual awakening, the other by cooking her way through a Julia Childs' cookbook and Rubin- trying out different ideas on how to be happy. All three achieved/attempted in a year.
This Project seems a little more planned for a book than an actual search for happiness, but despite that and the millions (yes, I am exaggerating) of quotes on happiness peppered throughout the pages, there are some things I am getting out of it...some good ideas on marriage and parenthood. Things I might actually attempt to keep the bickering down, but really, couldn't I have figured out on my own that nagging is counterproductive to happiness?_________________________________________

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Book Review: Ada Legend of a Healer by R.A. McDonald

Ada Legend of a Healer by R.A. McDonald
I was completely enthralled with this book. I can't believe I waited so long to read it. 
Ada is a great protagonist - strong, fiesty and smart, plus she has the power of healing. She has grown up in foster homes not knowing who her parents are and just trying to survive the system. Her ability to see illness in people causes others to shy away from her, call her a freak. When she finally is put with her "aunt", she learns their's and her mother's fate- a life on the run from people wanting to take advantage of their gift.
There is a lot to like about this book, the characters, and well thought out story line, the beautiful artwork thats peppered throughout the book. I look forward to reading more especially since this ended with a bit of a cliffhanger.
4.5/5Source: from author for review
For more info on the book and author visit adaslegend.com.
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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.