Good morning! Today’s post will link up to Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post, Notorious Spinks Talks Books, , Beauty in Ruins, for Mailbox Monday, and Book Journey, for What Are You Reading?
This has been quite the week! Between reading and reviewing a “banned/challenged book,” (hosted by Sheila) and participating in Bloggiesta, there was plenty of reading that engaged me. I did my work for Bloggiesta on this blog. Note the changes in theme, header, sidebar, and pages. Not to mention the background. Hope you like it.
Last week found me “hunkering down,” with the month half over, and this week revealed how many review books are still left to devour. Forging ahead!
LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:
Monday Potpourri: Musing About “A Dark Mind”
Serendipitous Tuesdays: Intros/Teasers – “Cleans Up Nicely”
Join Our Journey: Waiting for Wednesday
Bookish Descriptions: Imagery Part 2
Thursday Potpourri: Cozy Reading, Pivotal Moments, & Coincidences
Go out on a Limb for Book Beginnings & The Friday 56
Establishing Connections: An Excerpt from “Chasing Stardust”
Review: Happy All the Time, by Laurie Colwin
Review: A Dark Mind, by T. R. Ragan
Review: Cross-Stitch Before Dying, by Amanda Lee
Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky (For Banned Book Week)
Read: Sinnerman, by Jonathan M. Cook (Review will be posted for blog tour stop – 10/17 – Rainy Days and Mondays)
AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE:
Rita, My Home of Books, reviewed my book Web of Tyranny.
INCOMING BOOKS: (All Covers/Titles Link to Amazon)
All of my incoming books came via download onto Sparky this week. The first is a review book, the other two are my purchases.
Murder at Castle Rock (e-book), by Anne Marie Stoddard (Author Request)
Final Sentence (e-book), by Daryl Wood Gerber (My Purchase)
The Girl You Left Behind (e-book), by JoJo Moyes (My Purchase)
***
UPCOMING WEEK ON THE BLOGS: (TITLES/COVERS linked to Amazon)
Cleans Up Nicely, by Linda Dahl (Won from Rose City Reader — thanks!)
Diary of a Wildflower (e-book), by Ruth White (Author Review Request)
Cold Winter Rain (e-book), by Steven P. Gregory (Author Review Request)
***
I have plans to hurry through these books and pick up one or two more…to whittle down those review books on the stacks so I can grab one that I’m drooling over…a book that came in the mailbox last week. Can you guess which one?
Come on by and let’s chat. Bring coffee, because I might be curled up with my breakfast in bed.
SERENDIPITY 
I do want to read The Girl You Left Behind, having liked Me Before You!
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Me, too, Harvee…I had never read this awesome author until Me Before You…and I’ve been drooling over The Girl You Left Behind. Thanks for stopping by.
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The blog looks great Laurel! Final Sentence looks like fun and like you I still have too many books to read and not enough month!
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Thanks, Shelleyrae…it’s fun to do a little makeover, isn’t it?
I’m rethinking this whole review book/challenge thing, as the year quickly speeds along! Next year may be different. Hopefully. Glad you could stop by.
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You always have such a wonderful mix of books and I never fail to find at least one or two (or more) to add to my growing TBR list. Murder at Castle Rock sounds intriguing and for a cozy mystery, you can’t bet Final Sentence. Happy reading!
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
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Thanks, Mason…I do love a nice mix of books; I agree about Murder at Castle Rock and Final Sentence. Glad you could stop by.
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I am hoping to start The Girl You Left Behind this week…it sounds soo good!!! I won a copy of The Final Sentence last month but haven’t gotten around to reading it. I just love cozy mysteries and this one sounds like a fun one!
Have a great week and thanks for stopping by my blog!
~Kristin @ Always With a Book
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I am very excited about the JoJo Moyes book…loved Me Before You. I don’t know when I can read it…too many review books on the queue! But soon, I hope. Thanks for visiting, Kristin, and enjoy your week.
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Looks like you have a busy week ahead. Have fun with it and enjoy!
Cheers!
Sharon
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Thanks for visiting, Sharon, and I hope the week will be fun. Enjoy yours, too.
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Wow! What a busy week! Nice changes to your blog and great new books. You’re inspiring me to whittle down my book piles. These cooler days are more conducive to reading. Have a great week and thanks for visiting my blog.
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Thanks, Catherine…glad you like the new blog look. Whittling down the piles is a never-ending journey…but we will march on! Enjoy your week.
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I’ve been moving away from cozies just a little but the covers are always fun. Final Sentence looks really cute. Have a good week!
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I agree, Vilia…and thanks for stopping by. I have been so consumed with my Amazon Vine review books and the occasional blog tour, that I’ve neglected my Mt. TBR books…..that must change! Enjoy your week.
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I’ve never read anything by Jojo Moyes, but i have heard lots of good things. Time to put some on my reading list, I think!
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
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You’re welcome, Sarah…and thanks for returning the visit. Hope you enjoy JoJo Moyes…a new favorite of mine.
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You have been a busy lady!!!
I am getting to a book this week that I have been wanting to read since I heard about it and seeing it on my shelf has been killing for the past 2 weeks and it’s not a cozy 🙂
Happy Reading!!
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I was just checking out books on the bottoms of my stacks and wondering why I haven’t read them yet! It’s a constant struggle, choosing what to read next. Thanks for stopping by, Lori, and enjoy.
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That is a nice group of books. Happy reading.
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Thanks, Jenea…I am looking forward to them all. Glad you could stop by.
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Busy week for you and what great reads you have coming up. Final Sentence is on my TBR.
Have a great week and thanks for stopping by my blog.
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Glad you could visit here, too, Yvonne…and I hope you enjoy the new week.
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Nice changes to the blog! Very attractive. You have too many books above for me to say “me-too” about 🙂 I don’t have any of them but sure would like to read some. Looking forward to the reviews on some of them. Enjoy the week.
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Thanks, Rita…I always love tweaking the blogs. Glad you enjoyed the visit today…and have a great week.
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I was going to join in on Bloggiesta, but didn’t. I think it’s the first one I’ve missed since I started blogging.
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Yes, it is hard to set aside the time, Vicki; and then I have to decide which blog to tweak. I didn’t have a very large to-do list, but I’d rather have a small one and finish it. Thanks for stopping by.
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Wow, what a week. Good for you! Off to get caught up on some of your posts… as for Final sentence, that cover makes me want to go to the beach. 🙂 And I like the tray at the end!
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Oh, I enjoy that tray, too, Greg, although I find myself too restless to lounge in bed very long. Thanks for stopping by.
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Wow! You had a busy week with Bloggiesta. Final Sentence is on my TBR. I love the new VW look, especially the colors.
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I found the VW for the background on Pinterest; the little bug that is in the middle of the header is a photo of a little one I have (a paper weight). Thanks for stopping by, Belle.
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I also have a big pile to work through; we can do it!
I hope you like Final Sentence better than I did; it started off well I thought but then deteriorated.
Happy reading!
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Oh, that’s too bad, Bea…I hate finding a book disappointing, and I’ve been having that happen lately (two DNFs in the past couple of weeks). Thanks for stopping by.
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The Girl You Left Behind looks fabulous. I need to pick up a copy. Good work on Bloggiesta! The blog looks great.
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Thanks, Lucy, I had fun with Bloggiesta…and I’m excited about The Girl You Left Behind, too. Enjoy your week!
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it’s been a while since i’ve read a cozy mystery. the one you have there looks awesome. thanks for stopping by my StS. happy reading 🙂
-michelle @ Michelle & Leslie’s Book Picks
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Thanks, Michelle….glad you could stop by. I really enjoy a good cozy now and then. Have a great week.
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Wow, great book haul. That cover on Final Sentence is too cute. Happy reading!
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Isn’t it? I think that cover sold me. Thanks for stopping by, Lark, and enjoy your week.
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I’m finally reading Me Before You and I love it so far. It’s making me anxious to read The Girl You Left Behind.
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I was very excited to discover a New Favorite Author, after reading Me Before You. Hope to love The Girl You Left Behind. Thanks for visiting, Kathy, and enjoy your week.
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I haven’t been keeping track of which books that I’ve read this year have been banned. Since I have been reading a lot of new books I imagine that some of them will probably be banned eventually ( any truly creative book has something in it that is sure to offend someone at some point). I mean really, how can you make an impression with a story, have an effect on people, without offending someone?
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So true, Alyce…when I first saw the lists of banned books, I could not believe that some of my childhood favorites were on it (Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn), not to mention favorites of adulthood. Yes, if I love something, it is probably offensive to someone! lol
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You must speed read! I’m curious about The Girl You Left Behind.
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Oh, I have been focusing a lot on my reading for the past couple of weeks…and some weeks are better than others. Thanks for stopping by, Andrea…and I’m curious about TGYLB too!
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Love JoJo Moyes, such an amazing writer. Great haul, happy reading.
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Thanks, Trish…I totally agree! Glad you could stop by, and enjoy your week.
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Glad you accomplished much during bloggiesta. Just can’t sit long enough to work on the blog, even though it needs it desperately! Oh well, there is always next time. I am sure you will be digging into The Girl You Left Behind soon! Have a good week.
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I hope to do just that, Nise…along with last week’s W is for Wasted. Makes me want to stop accepting so many review books. Thanks for visiting, and have a great week.
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Hi Laurel-Rain,
A few fellow bloggers have already read and reviewed the Jojo Moyes book and universally, all have been singing its praises, so you should be set for a good read there!
I love the cover of ‘Murder At Castle Rock’ and am tempted to add it to my list.
You are always so busy with your books and reading, that it is hard to keep up with you, but I hope that you enjoy every moment of your latest finds.
Yvonne
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Thanks, Yvonne…I do like to keep busy, but it’s good to slow down and savor the reads. Glad you could stop by, and have a great week.
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Awesome haul! Enjoy all your new books!
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Thanks, Danielle…I am looking forward to them all. Enjoy your week!
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Laurel, I have to jump on the bandwagon and say that the JoJo Moyes book interests me, too–a lot! Enjoy all of your new books and blogging this week. Your new blog design is wonderful.
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Thanks, Suko…and I’m grateful for Bloggiesta and the opportunity to tweak the blog(s). I am very excited about the JoJo Moyes book.
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GREAT books and week for you. I like the first two mysteries.
ENJOY!!
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Mailbox Monday
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I think they look promising, too, Elizabeth…thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week.
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Wow! You had a busy week. Great haul! Hope you have another great week 🙂
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Thanks, Chelsea…and I hope the same for you. Enjoy!
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I’ve got The Girl You Left Behind waiting patiently for me, *sigh* shouldn’t have said yes to so many review & NetGalley books lol. Love the background on your blog, it’s soooo cute!!
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Thanks, Teddyree….I love the background, too….from Pinterest. The colors make me feel happy, not to mention the VW Bug!
I had planned to stop accepting so many reviews…and then, suddenly, I had another stack of them. Taking the attitude of: Oh, I’ll just take this one.
Glad you could stop by…I want to read that book soon, too!
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The spruced up theme is looking good. I like the changes. Bloggiesta is great for learning and getting new ideas. Great week in books too. You’ve been busy!
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Thanks, Leslie, and I agree about Bloggiesta, even though some of the mini-challenges are beyond my technological expertise…lol.
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Thanks for stopping by my blog. Sorry to be late getting back to you. I was traveling Sunday and Monday! It looks like you had a great week and also picked up some great books.
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Thanks for stopping by, Jan…and it’s nice to get visitors, no matter how late! lol Glad you enjoyed your weekend.
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I can’t wait to see what you think of the Moyes book. It’s in my review pile, but I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. Hope you’re having a great week so far!
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I am sure I’m going to love it! I thoroughly enjoyed Me Before You. Thanks for stopping by, Anna.
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I hope you love The Girl You Left Behind!
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I can’t wait to start reading it, Mary, but first….some more of my review books! Thanks for stopping by.
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