Teaser Tuesday

I LOVE Teaser Tuesday.
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Prologue...
"Physicist Leonardo Vettra smelled burning flesh, and he knew it was his own."
Angels and Demons
Dan Brown

I started reading this years ago when The DaVinci Code was released. However, I never finished it. Why? I have no idea. Everyone says it's better than The DaVinci Code. I was talking to a friend who mentioned that she had just re-read it. Since I was between good books... I wasn't reading anything that was capturing my attention... I found my copy and am giving it another try. So, far, so good. My friend, R, did say that the illustrated version is the best way to read the book. I'm on the waiting list at the library but I think I'll just order it from Amazon.
I chose this cover to put on my blog because it is an "ambigram". How cool is that?

Wow... it's been awhile since I've blogged. I've been reading other blogs but not really commenting. I need to get back into the "blogosphere". I'm not ready to blog every day like we did in July but if I set a blog goal, I'll have to accomplish it.

I carried my purple Vera Wang hobo bag today. It is absolutely the PERFECT shade of purple. I also have a black Vera Wang satchel that I love and I wish I would have bought it in that shade, too. You see, I have no problem having two bags in the same shade or even two bags in the same style but different colors. It's all about what bag is better to carry on a certain day. If I'm doing a lot of shopping, a shoulder bag is more appropriate. A lunch with my girlfriends... most definitely a satchel is a great accessory. You would think that I put a lot of thought into this, but, really, I don't :o)

Patrick Swayze 1952-2009

Patrick may be gone but Johnny will forever live on in our hearts!

Meggie's Remains by Joanne Sundell

From the author's website...
"Afraid of men, afraid for her sins, afraid for her sanity, and right now afraid for her life, Meggie McMurphy flees Boston once the fiendish terror--so long stalking in her nightmares--surfaces in the light of day. She escapes west to Denver in the wild Colorado Territory, hoping to lose herself among the multitude of townsfolk. The year is 1874.

Twenty-five years old, alone, and near penniless, Meggie struggles to find honest work and to keep the dark secrets of her past just that: a secret. Not so easily done when the handsome, foreboding westerner Ethan Rourke, stumbles upon her on a snowy Denver street. Why it's as if he'd stepped right out of the pages of her beloved romance, Jane Eyre! Safe to encounter such a man on the romance page, it is certainly unsafe, even deadly, for her to encounter such a man in the flesh. Men belong ... six feet under, six feet away ... where to stay safe, the devil must stay!

Hired as a teacher, not in Denver, but in an isolated mountain town in rugged Ute country, Meggie is determined to make a home for herself in Hot Sulphur Springs. There she keeps up her masquerade as Rose Rochester, yearning for a normal life--for companionship and even love--all the while knowing it's only a matter of time until the monstrous changeling from her nightmares will find her, killing any possibility of a life at all."

I was very excited to read this novel for a few reasons...
~ I live in Denver and my best friend lives in Hot Sulphur Springs. So, I am very familiar with the two main settings and was interested to see how Ms. Sundell would capture these towns in 1874.
~I'm a fan of well-written romances. I'm not afraid to admit that I love them.
~As readers of my blog know, I'm a huge fan of first lines and this novel has a great first line.
~Meggie comforts herself in the pages of Jane Eyre, arguably one of the greatest romance novels ever written. I was intrigued to read how Ms. Sundell tied the stories together.

Obviously, I had high expectations and was not, at all, disappointed! This is a fantastic read. Meggie, the heroine, is damaged by her abusive past but determined to make a better life for herself. Ms. Sundell took care to write her main character with depth and believability. Many heroines in romance novels are one-dimensional and, almost, a caricature. This is not Meggie. Her actions and reactions are believable given her past. It's difficult to read some of her flashbacks but it's an insight that the reader needs to appreciate her.

Ethan Rourke has all the great characteristics necessary for a romantic hero without being over the top. This book is definitely not a "bodice-ripper" and Ethan(whose initials mirror those of Jane Eyre's hero, Edward Rochester) is written to be both sensitive and strong. He is confused by Nutmeg (his nickname for Meggie) but comes to love her because of who she is.

I was a little concerned when I realized this book contained "paranormal" aspects, as I don't usually like that genre. The paranormal aspects in Meggie's Remains are integral in the storyline. I never felt, when reading, like it was added just to satisfy a genre "requirement"... sadly, I've read books where that was not the case.
Whether a fan of "paranormal" or not, a reader will not be distracted by these events. There was not a time when I thought it was contrived or the author tried too hard.

I never leave the dust jacket on a hardback I am reading. I was pleasantly surprised when I took it off to find that the cover was "printed" on the book itself. I wish more hardbacks were published like that. It was also printed on whiter paper than most hardbacks. This made it a lot easier on my eyes... especially right before bed :o)

I really enjoyed reading this novel. It was well-written, which is an absolute must for me. I read this book with a more critical eye than usual as I knew I'd be reviewing it. It is, in my opinion, carefully plotted, populated with interesting secondary characters and a perfectly descriptive tour of my beloved Colorado as I imagine it was in 1874. Meggie's Remains was a wonderful introduction to a new-to-me author, Joanne Sundell, as well as a reminder of a classicly beautiful romance, Jane Eyre.

September 11th

The Good Old Days

I was flipping through the channels yesterday and saw this documentary on Turner Classic Movie channel. It is a "travelogue" of sorts of 1949 New York City. I LOVE classic movies but to see the real thing was truly fascinating. My favorite... the clothing. People just dressed better back then. Women were wearing dresses, gloves and hats. Men were in suits and Fedoras. While I appreciate casual attire, it saddens me a bit how our society has devolved (yes, it's a word. I looked it up) in terms of what's considered appropriate public attire. I'm not saying that I want to wear a hat and gloves when I'm at the grocery store, although, I distinctly remember my grandmother wearing both to church every Sunday, I do not ever care to see a pair of underwear hanging out of a pair of pants. Can someone please tell me who decided that pajama pants should be worn at Target? I LOVE pajama pants!! I have probably five pairs and I change into a pair as soon as I get home but, I won't ever wear them in public. With my luck, I'd wear them to drop M at school and, on that day, have to go into the school for some unexpected reason! Yes, I know I'm very old-fashioned but, really... watch this video and appreciate their style.

Today, we celebrated my sister's birthday. My mom always makes the dinner of choice for whoever is celebrating their birthday. K's choice? Breakfast for dinner!! We had pancakes, eggs, sausage, toast, bacon and OJ! Breakfast for dinner ROCKS!! It's a mix of comfort food and breaking the rules, I think, that make it so much fun. My Dad would always make it for us when my Mom was not home for dinner.

I carried my zebra tote today. Sometimes, I wish I designed handbags... as I would never use a black fabric for the lining. It's such a pain to try to find anything in the black abyss that is some of my bags. I would line all my bags in a bright purple Pucci-esque print.

Teaser Tuesday & 100

I LOVE Teaser Tuesday.
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
"Percy swallowed hard. She was unprepared for this question."
page 14
The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker
Leanna Renee Hieber


I was browsing at Barnes & Noble and found this book. The title as well as the cover caught my attention. Reading further, though, I realized it also has paranormal aspects to it. I don't usually read paranormals but this has so many aspects of novels I love, I'm going to try it. The setting is especially my "cup of tea". It's set in Victorian London amidst "the growing shadows of The Ripper". So, I'll read at least my 100 pages and, hopefully, it'll be great as it's the first of a series. I love series... always something to look forward to.


I did end up with a new phone. No, it's not the latest and greatest Iphone... I'm just not that cool! M actually considers it a downgrade as it's an LG EnV and I had the LG EnV2. I just like front of the new phone better. it doesn't look like a calculater :o) It's basically the same QWERTY keyboard on the inside but just better keys on the outside. I also like the color...it's an "Army" green... the same color as the Jeep
I want. Yeah, I'm "matchy-matchy" like that.

This is my 100th blog post! It is surprising to me that I love to blog as much as I do. Here's to my next 100! Thanks for reading.

First Line Friday

FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside. So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book. Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?

"1874~Colorado Territory
The stench of death hung in the air, molded, gray, dank rotting."
Meggie's Remains
Joanne Sundell

This first line is very descriptive... almost too much so. Not in a bad way, though. It throws me right into Meggie's dream. I'm wondering if it's really a dream or a flashback remembered in her dream.

Wow, it's been two weeks since I last blogged. School started for J and M. They just finished their first week. It was great but already...a lot of homework. Tomorrow is M's 11th birthday. She is foregoing a party. Instead, she is going to a movie and lunch with her BFF. She's so grown-up... that's exactly the way I like to spend my birthday. Although, their choice of movie wouldn't be mine...but then, I'm not a sixth grade girl.


My bag today was a white bag. I still follow the "No White after Labor Day" rule, so I've been wearing a lot of my white bags. I know it's silly but I just can't seem to wear white comfortably after that day...even if Stacy and Clinton say it's OK.

First Line Friday

FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside. So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book. Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?

"Gwenda was eight years old, but she was not afraid of the dark."
World Without End
Ken Follett


I love first lines that begins with a character, rather than something like, "The sky was blue and the grass was green." While that is one way to begiin a novel, I love when you are immediately introduced to a chracter. Is Gwenda the heroine of World Without End? Will she make it out of the dark? Is her lack of fear a catalyst for a bigger event? Those are things I think about when I read this line.

World Without End is the sequel to Pillars of the Earth. I loved Pillars, even with it's flaws. It's a novel that readers either really like or really hate. I think it has one of the best first lines, though... "The small boys came early to the hanging."

I finally bought World as a paperback... although, at over 1000 pages, it's still a hefty read. I'm not sure when I'll start reading it. It's just nice to know it's there. Sometimes, I'll look at my bookshelves and my TBR pile and wait for something to jump out at me. I know this will be a go-to book... when nothing else strikes me. I'm not saying that this isn't going to be a great read as I'm sure it is. I just know it'll be a book I can put down and come back to... a "comfort" book, so to speak.


Today, I carried two different bags. I used a Kathy Van Zeeland Cheetah print bag for work and, later, when we went shoe shopping for J, my bag was my Vera Wang black satchel with patent trim. Before you think I'm crazy, I have to say that I'm completely organized and switching bags is a very simple process. With minor changes... my wallet is a Dooney & Bourke, my planner is a black & white Fleur-de-Lis and my phone now has a white faceplate... this is all I carry...

Teaser Tuesdays and Teachers

I LOVE Teaser Tuesday.
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

"They talk for ten more minutes, interrupted only by the woman getting up put more quarters in her dryer. Finally they finish, and the woman gathers up her papers before retrieving her clothes."
page 40
New Tricks
David Rosenfelt


These setences touch on one if the funniest parts of this series. Andy's friend, Kevin, runs a combination laundromat/legal aid. It's called The Lawdromat.

This is the latest in the Andy Carpenter series. He is a New Jersey lawyer who inherited a subsrantial fortune from his father. As a result of that, he can pick and choose which cases he takes. Dogs, especially Andy's Golden Retriever Tara, play a significant role an each novel. I'm a cat person (we have three) and like dogs when they're someone else's so I was surprised how much I enjoy these books. I think it goes beyond the dog. It's really about being an animal lover. These novels are also just really good mysteries. My favorite thing, though, is Andy. The stories are told in first person and in a very conversational way. While the author is great at setting scenes and creating dialogue, it's Andy's voice that is at the heart of the novel. He is witty, wry, clever and very smart.

Today was Registration for J & M. They will be in 8th and 6th grade, respectively. We went to J's school first. He wasn't even with us as he didn't feel so great. It started at 11am and we showed up at 10:45 and were probably sixth in line. Not bad... considering when we left, there were probably 75 families in line. It's a small school so I'm hoping that when we go back tomorrow to get J's picture taken, we won't have to wait too long.

M's Registration was a fiasco! I'm not sure why, though, nothing changed from years before. The line to pay fees was at least a half hour long. "I should have paid online" was something I heard several times and something I thought, too. I was helping at the PTA table so I made M stand in line. She had a great time because some of her friends were with her. She really wanted Mr. A. He's the only male teacher (besides the PE teacher) in the school and he's very cool! J was in his class two years ago and it was the best experience! Mr. A had told me that he was pretty sure he'd have M in his class as the school tries to put siblings with the same teachers if it's a good fit and with M... it's a great fit. She was so excited. She was on the phone all evening with her friends discussing who is in which teacher's class. One of M's friends, H, is having a hissy fit because she's not in Mr. A's class with M and some other girls. Apparently, her Mom will be calling the school tomorrow to try to switch her into that class. Good luck! Our school is very strict on changing student's class assignment. There has to be a very valid reason and H's hissy fit isn't one. I'd be very surprised if they change it. The sixth grade is set up so that they change classrooms for Math, Social Studies, Science in order to get them prepared for middle school. So, H will see all theses girls, anyway. M even told me that she gave H seven reasons not to switch classes... not because she doesn't want H in her class but because M's a little politician and is trying to be diplomatic :o)


Because I had so many registration papers, a water bottle and, of course, my book, I carried my huge black woven tote. It's large enough to carry it all and still fit over my shoulder.

First Line Friday & Handbag Genius

FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside. So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book. Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?
"I was arrested in Eno's Diner."
Killing Floor
Lee Child
That is a perfect first line. Short, to the point and really creates anticipation as to what happens next. It also says, to me, something about the narrator. He is a no-nonsense man who gets right to the point. I can truly appreciates first lines that meander... with a enough description to fill a paragraph. However, reading a first line like that is a pleasure, as well. Several of the author blurbs on the back actually mention the first line and first scene.

This book is our November book club choice, so it's actually pretty far down in my TBR pile. Like I said before, some book club books are out of my comfort zone. This is definitely another one. I would not have chosen this if I was browsing at Barnes & Noble.


My bag today was my Liz Claiborne cheetah print bag with red patent handles. I wore black, white and red and it set the bag off perfectly. There is a zippered divider pocket in the bag that always fall down... drives me crazy! Today, I put my planner in it to hold it up. I'm a genius! It worked... the bag stayed divided. Wow...I'm sure MENSA will want me now... NOT!!!!

Teaser Tuesday

I LOVE Teaser Tuesday.
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
"He nodded in agreement. The boat began the broad left turn that would take them into the canal of Arsenale."
page 111
Death at La Fenice
Donna Leon

This mystery is our September selection. Technically, it's not my current read as I will begin it tonight when I go to bed. I've never read one of these mysteries as I didn't think it would be appealing to me. That's one of the great things, I think, about belonging to a book club... reading books that you might not have otherwise. I now read several authors that I found through my book club, ones I know I never would have chose off the bookstore shelf.

My book club met tonight an there were three new people. They were a welcome addition to our discussion. We read a superb mystery, The Dark Horse by Craig Johnson. I cannot recommend this series highly enough but the books need to read in order. We read his latest in anticipation for his visit to our group in about two weeks. He is one that a book club friend recommended and that we later read and discussed. I'm very happy to have found him.

My purse for today a black studded "motorcycle" bag. I absolutely love "motorcycle" handbags. I have four of them... two black, one burgandy and one dark hunter green. They're a little edgy without being gaudy. A lot of women won't carry black bags in the summer but one of my favorite summer color combinations is black and white. If white is the dominant color in my outfit, a black bag just "pops" the outfit.

31 of 31 YAY!!!

FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside. So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book. Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?

"If it had been raining twenty miles west of Dallas on April 1, 1934, H.D. Murphy probably wouldn't have become the most famous dead motorcycle cop in America.
Go Down Together
The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde
Jeff Guinn

I love "what if" sentences. Although I know the premise is false but it gives a sense what what is to come. And, obviously, with the subject being Bonnie and Clyde, it won't be good.

I'm probably like most people, I know the "legend" of the Bonnie & Clyde... mostly from the "romanticized" movie version with Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway. The truth of their story is far from that. It did, however, launch them into infamy.
From Publishers Weekly...
"Starred Review. Journalist Guinn (Our Land Before We Die), in this intensely readable account, deromanticizes two of America's most notorious outlaws (they were never... particularly competent crooks) without undermining the mystique of the Depression-era gunslingers. Clyde Barrow, a scrawny kid in poverty-stricken West Dallasin the late 1920s, stole chickens before moving on to cars, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Buck. In 1930, he met 19-year-old Bonnie Parker, and during the next four years Clyde, Bonnie and the ever-revolving members of the Barrow Gang robbed banks and armories all over the South, murdering at least seven people. Bonnie, who fancied herself a poet, wrote, Some day they'll go down together, and they did, in a Louisiana ambush led by famed ex–Texas Ranger Frank Hamer. With the brisk pacing of a novel, Guinn's richly detailed history will leave readers breathless until the final hail of bullets."

Wow!! I did it. I blogged every day in July! There were only a few days when I think I rambled... just to write something on that day. I may do it again... not soon, though. Thanks to everyone who read and commented during July. I love to read the comments. Please keep commenting if you read something interesting... or something maybe not so interesting :o)

Not only did I blog every day in July but my good friend, Lori at http://lori-thequeensnewthrone.blogspot.com/, did too! Hey, Lori...WE ROCK! Congratulations, my blogging buddy :o)

I did notice that I'm concluding my month of blogging every day with my own "First Line Friday". It's kind of karma, I think.


My bag today was my big Zebra handbag. M carried a cheetah print bag. It was like our own little zoo...lol.

30 of 31

My Favorite Reads is hosted by Alyce from At Home With Books every Thursday. What a great way to read reviews of books that were mainstream (or not!) a while back but have faded off the radar of what is "hot" right in the land of literature. You should also check out Misfitandmoms blog at misfitandmom.livejournal.com as she is blogging about forgotten gems as well.


The Family Name by Jan Washburn. It was a Whitman hardback book that I read in the 1970s. If you're around my age and were a young girl at the time, you probably remember the Whitman books.

The Family Name was about a girl named Kathryn Drews whose nickname was Ryndy. I was convinced that I would name a daughter that... I loved the name so much. She had three older sisters who were all very talented in some area. Ryndy didn't really feel like she fit in as she didn't have a unique talent. She and her best friend, Gloria, nicknamed GoGo or Go, are involved in a boating accident. Ryndy is injured. At the hospital, she meets a little boy whose older brother she has a older brother she has a crush on. With her entire family, GoGo and the new boyfriend (whose name I've forgotten) watching her, she wins a very important swim meet. All's well in the end as she realizes that she has lived up to The Family Name. I loved this book so much that I would put slash marks on the front page every time I read it. I can't remember exactly how many there were but I would venture to say more than twenty. I have no idea where this book is right now. It might still be at my Mom's house in a box somewhere. I should really look for it as I'd liked M to read it.


I carried my black Dooney & Bourke Donegal Crest satchel today. It's one of my favorite black bags... but then, I have a lot of favorite black bags :o)

29 of 31

This is the forecast for our area tomorrow. I love it! Even the weather girl :o) said it was like October weather. I'm so ready for it to be October. We haven't had a really hot summer, yet. We haven't even had a 100° day. I've said it before but I'm ready to wear my fall wardrobe. Today and tomorrow's weather are just teasing me. It felt like fall today. It was cloudy, cool and rainy. As a matter of fact, I just finished a cup of hot tea.

We went to the library today. Our favorite librarian was there and recommended some great books for both J and M. She and J have very similar taste, but now... she and M are enjoying the same kids of books. She recommended Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator to M and she LOVES them and is very excited to read Gilda's latest adventure. They talked me into reading the first one, so we checked it out and I promised M I'd read it.


My bag today was my huge brown woven tote. I've noticed that I hadn't carried it in a while. Maybe it's because it matches a pair of my boots and I think of it as more of a cold weather bag. However, it was kind of cool today :o) so, why not? I love this bag.

28 of 31

I LOVE Teaser Tuesday.
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

"She spent the next ninety minutes floating around the vast chasm of the Internet. She searched out Moriarty and Foo, discovering that both of them were dead."
page 444
Careless In Red
Elizabeth George


There is nothing about Elizabeth George's novels that I don't love. She is a flawlwess author who created Thomas Lynley... what more can a reader want? Her series is a perfect combination of mystery, setting and, above all, characters. Everyone I know who reads these books agrees that the main chacracters absolutely drive these novels. The central relationships between Thomas, Barbara, Helen, Simon and Deborah are complex yet so real with emotions that are ones we all feel. It takes a very talented writer to create a mystery series that is read almost more for those characters than anything else. That said, however, the mystery that is the basis of the story is always intriguing and meticulously plotted. It's really not my intention to try to solve it. I read Elizabeth George to appreciate a great author and her ability to craft a superb novel.


My bag today was a red and pink bandana tote bag. The handles looked rather odd in this picture but when all my things are in it, it fits fine on my shoulder.