In my mailbox...

So many books, so little time should be my mantra. The mailbox was full this weekend.

The Secret History of Elizabeth Tudor, Vampire Slayer has really caught my eye.

The Weird Sisters sounds funny and amazing.

It is such a shame I can't barricade myself in bed with a box of dark chocolate peppermint candy and read like like crazy.

What's in your mailbox this week?

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Blogger Hop #2

Good morning blogger friends and welcome to my second Book Blogger Hop. Click on the link to return to http:/www.crazy-for-books.com/ and add your blog to the list. Pick someone to follow and make sure you follow back if someone follows you! Share the love and leave a comment.

What are you thankful for this holiday season?

I look forward to making some new blogger friends, so please stop in and stay for a few minutes. Leave me a comment so I can visit your blog and share the love.

Follow Friday #3

http://parajunkee.com/

Good morning readers. I am late with my Follow Friday posting, but better late than never.

This week's featured question is: How long have you been blogging?

Our featured blog is G Reads at http://g-reads.blogspot.com/

Join the linky on Parajunkee's awesome site. Follow the featured blogger and a couple of others. If someone follows you, please follow them back. Share the blogger love.

Holiday Reading Challenge update.

Good morning readers. Here is my holiday reading update so far. A very busy week with Nookcolor is upon me, but I have already started my books and on the lookout for more. What are you reading?

My Nookcolor is here!

After not too long a wait, my Nookcolor arrived yesterday. It is beautiful. Pandora streaming music, kids books that read themselves to me (not all, but some until the upgrade), magazines galore, full internet browser...all for only $249. I love it. It is like my husband's IPad in lots of ways, but is so much cheaper. No monthly fees. The next thing I am waiting for are the cookbooks with embedded video instructions. Wow. Christmas is officially here and I am over the moon with gadget love. I can even post to Facebook with it. You gotta know that makes a book blogger's heart sing.

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Reading Wither today.

I started reading this and can't put it down. At least I wouldn't but I sort of have to go to work. What a cool book. My review will come later wonderful readers, but if you can get an arc or preorder, I totally would.5 out of 5 stars so far.

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Our first holiday reading challenge!

Hello everyone! The holiday season is officially here and our first reading challenge is upon us. Please  click the link to visit All About {n} and link up your blog. I will be hunting for my list of titles tomorrow and starting the  holiday book festivities. Stop by and leave a comment and let me know what books you will be reading  Happy Holidays!

.http://bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/

http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/

Welcome to our first go round with It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

This wonderful weekly book adventure is the work of  One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. If you want to follow along, just click on the link, list your blog, and then post what you are reading on your blog along with the picture to your left. Easy! Check out the specifics on the link. Happy reading!

I finished reading Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter this afternoon.  What would you do if you started seeing ghosts and your parents were about to get a divorce? Kylie is having a really bad day. Top that off with being sent to a camp for kids with issues and you have a really bad week. Things just keep getting better when the weird kids at the camp turn out to be supernaturals, and Kylie isn't sure if she's one of them or about to be lunch.

This book is a real page turner and it has my vote. Cute werewolves, feisty vampires, brooding fey, ghosts and dyslexic witches. A keeper.

Escape In A Book: Something to discuss on a Saturday

Escape In A Book: Something to discuss on a Saturday

Crazy for Books Blog Hop #1

http://www.crazy-for-books.com/Check out our first foray into The Crazy for Books Blog Hop. Click on the link to get you to the blog hop. List your blog if you want. Follow a blog and anwer the question of the week. Pop back in to say hello and let me know how you are doing today.

Chronicle Books Holiday wish list

http://www.chroniclebooks.com/happyhaulidays/
I am a book blogger, so of course I love books. When Chronicle Books introduced this program where you can post a list of books you would love to have (up to $500) I was thrilled to comply. Here is my Merry Christmas wish list. If you are interested in purchasing any of the titles, please tab over to my Barnes & Noble button to check them out, or use the Chronicle Books Link in this article.

Savory Baking by Mary Cech 24.95
Stonewall Kitchen Breakfast by Jonathan King 19.95
From Our House to Yours by Meals on Wheels San Francisco 19.95
Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson 40.00
Flour by Joanne Chang 35.00
Tartine by Elizabeth Prueitt 35.00
Cake Pops by Angie Dudley 19.95
Southern Pies by Nancy McDermott 22.95
Very Merry Cookie Party by Barbara Grunes 19.95
Gingerbread by Jennifer Lindner McGlinn 19.95
Creme Brulee by Lou Seibert Pappas 14.95
Killer Pies by Stephanie Anderson 16.95

Hmmm. I am only at 289.55. Must add some titles

Follow Friday #2

Pick a blog to follow and support your fellow bloggers. Head over to the link to register your blog for the list.

http://www.parajunkee.com/

In My Mailbox #1

Our featured book for the first edition of In My Mailbox is Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger. I received this arc from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. This book is a fictional account of the lives of Lady Duff Gordon and looks to be an adventure across London to the dry climate of Egypt and the Nile. For more information on In My Mailbox, started by The Story Siren, please visit :http://www.thestorysiren.com/ List your blog and what you got in the mail, checked out from the library or picked up at your local bookstore. Happy reading everyone!

New zombie blog!

Join me for some zombie fun at my new blog!

http://zombiegirlshambling.blogspot.com/

Book Eternity: Oogie a dog only a family could love Review and Gi...

Book Eternity: Oogie a dog only a family could love Review and Gi...: "If you are an animal lover you'll simply adore this book,I own 4 dogs and just couldn't put this book down, but since I have other occupati..."

Introducing Follow Friday.

Follow Friday was started by Parajunkee.com and has become a great way to support fellow bloggers. Click the link to her website to check out the latest. Leave me a comment about who you are following.http://www.parajunkee.com/

This week's follow is http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/. Follow along and maybe leave your blog so we can follow you too.

Nightshade

This book had a razor edge and kept me turning the pages. Loved the werewolf action and plot. Check it out!

A great read for Halloween!

If you haven't checked out the Splat books, you are in for a treat this Halloween! The illustrations are beautiful and the story endearing.

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Batik quilts.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review.
The colors of this book drew me in from the start. I love the combinations of the batik designs. The photography from Bali adds depth to the story behind the quilts. It brings to life the culture and majesty of this land that is rich in tradition and craftsmanship.
Pamela Mostek was asked to give a textile tour to Bali. So she brought her traveling companion Susan Nelsen with her and the rest is history.
Follow Pamela and Susan as they talk about the weaving methods used to create the unique batik patters.
There are eight gorgeous patterns to delight quilters of all levels of skill. A keeper for my library shelf.

My rating is 5 out of 5. Love this book. Beautiful!

Tadpole being cute.

It is way too early to be awake today, but the bookstore awaits. Lots of Christmas cards to stock and new books to play with.

This little guy is my inspiration. Tadpole is a little miracle rescue puppy with a heart of gold.

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A note on bullying

Were you ever bullied? How did you deal with it? What would you tell kids that are dealing with it in today's world? What would you say to the kids who recently committed suicide as a result of it? Check out the ongoing conversation on Dana's YA Bookpile.http://danasyabookpile.blogspot.com/

A Myriad of Books: ZOMBIES VS UNICORNS

A Myriad of Books: ZOMBIES VS UNICORNS: " My first blog review ever... but here it goes!! Right down to business... ZOMBIES VS UNICORNS published October 2010 OVERALL RATING: 9, ..."

Delicious desserts on display.

Me and Erin Hicks Miller

Having fun with Erin Hicks Miller...

Tonight I got to spend some time with the amazing Erin Hicks Miller, author of Houston Classic Desserts. Her book signing and release party was held at Arturo's Uptown Italiano Restaurant in the Post Oak section of Houston, TX.

The desserts made their grand entrance and I was mesmerized. In the picture to the left you see the mini Fresh Pear Bundt Cakes from Dacapo's in the Heights, Fluffernuters by Rebecca Mason and Pecan Pralines from Molina's Cantina.

I also sampled the mini Blueberry Tart by Mark's, White Chocolate Bread Pudding from Ruggles Grill (my favorite), Crema Catalana from Arturo's Uptown Italiano, Creole Bread Pudding with Rye Whiskey Sauce from Brennan's and finally the Tres Leches Cake from El Tiempo Cantina.

These desserts were created by Houston's favorite chefs and the city's most celebrated kitchens. This book is a great gift for the holidays and a must for anyone who loves to bake. Everything I tried was wonderful and worth investgating one recipe at a time.

Tadpole sleeping.

This little guy is my knitting partner, writing inspiration and at the moment, asleep on my knitting. Today is a quiet day for writing my YA book, doing some work around the house and reading. I am currently reading Angelfire by Courtney Moulton. What are you reading today?

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Great new titles!

If you are a blogger or book reviewer, I encourage you to sign up for Net Galley.  It is the best! Kind of compare it to checking out an e-library book, but for longer.  It is easy to download the books into Adobe Digital Editions and you can even side load them onto a nook. (I have one and it is great to be able to use product from other sources to take with me everywhere.)You read, review and pass along your thoughts to publishers. All on books that aren't even out to the general public, so you can blog and talk about titles early. There are more publishers participating than ever before. I had to admit I was impressed with the selections.

Teen has a good array of titles and the cookbook section had me kind of drooling. Okay, yes I totally was. Some of the titles I saw are going to be big this holiday season. Very cool indeed.

The book table.

There can never be enough books in my mailbox.

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Shay Doran's Shadow Days: Dear Diary . . . wait, scratch that

Shay Doran's Shadow Days: Dear Diary . . . wait, scratch that: "var _gaq = _gaq []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-18225298-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = docu..."

Libraries...physical book vs. e-branch.

I work in a bookstore. What do I need a library for? Well, a lot of things actually. Last March I drove up the street to our local library here in Tomball, TX and was completely surprised at how it has changed. The updated computer systems have replaced the old card system I remembered from my college days when I worked behind the circulation desk. Interlibrary loan emails you when your books come in. Amazing! But the best was saved for last. They now have an e-branch. Who knew?

Some of you may be asking, "What is an e-branch?" Well, it is the ability to sit at home in front of your computer (in your nightgown) and check out library books and build wish lists. They have books and audio books. You can use your IPod to listen to books and if you have a Nook (everyone should), you can read and listen to audio books at the same time. What could be better?

If you live in Texas, all you have to do is come to a Harris County Public Library and sign up for a card. My suggestion is to head up to the Tomball branch and ask for the wonderful Monica Colson, who can walk you through the entire process.

For those of you who do not live in Texas, check with your local library branch and see if they have a program. Many large cities are in contact with Overdrive Media and are setting up digital programs. They are easier for the libraries to maintain.

In summary, the library is still an important part of our community. They need all of our support, so visit your library today and check out what it has to offer you. Maybe they will have a knitting class!

To contact the Harris County Public Library system: http://www.hcpl.lib.overdrive.com/