Fall Back into Blogging Challenge - Day 1

The SITS Girls are challenging their readers to "fall" back into blogging now that summer is sadly over...sigh...

So I thought this would be a fun thing to join in on to get back into the blogging groove myself!  You can check out today's prompt about sharing your best school memory HERE and see who else is participating.

It's been quite awhile since I've been in high school and I don't mind admitting that either LOL!  I really enjoy being an adult in the real world, despite all the not so fun responsibilities.  Even though I was a great student, I can't say that I truly enjoyed school all that much.

I thought I would share a memory about one of my favorite teachers and her impact on my life that's still present in me today.  I LOVE to read!  I always have but in high school as a freshman, I was transitioning from young adult books to more adult reading.  My English teacher, Mrs. Petuch, had a small library in the back of the classroom where she encouraged students to "check out" books.

This is the first "grown up" book that I remember reading~

This started a lifelong love of Danielle Steel for me - I've read almost all of her books. I own every single one of them, however I haven't read the newer ones from the last several years yet.  I am always afraid the next book will be her last and then I won't have anything new to read LOL! Silly I know!!

Thanks for stopping by today! I'll be back tonight with something scrappy to share and tomorrow with a new prompt from the SITS Girls!

{Book Review} Severe Clear by Stuart Woods - spoilers included

{This is my 2nd post for today ~ Please scroll down or click HERE to read the first one}

It's been a while since I've blogged about books - I got lazy about posting but I haven't stopped reading! I log everything into my Goodreads profile, if you'd like to follow me there!



Stuart Woods released his latest book on Tuesday and I could NOT wait to start reading it! I held off on Tuesday since it was my anniversary but once I hit lunchtime on Wednesday, I just had to start reading!  It took me about 5 hours total over the last 3 days to read this fabulous installment in the Stone Barrington series.

Here is what Goodreads says about the book:

Stone Barrington is called to Bel-Air to oversee an exclusive event that will gather the top echelons of the beau monde: Hollywood starlets, socialites, politicos, billionaires from overseas. It’s a task in which Stone has a personal stake, and one that is made all the more pleasurable—though somewhat more complicated—with the arrivals of two beautiful women with whom he’s intimately acquainted.

But the grand occasion has also attracted a dangerous criminal group with sinister plans. The hunt to find them leads Stone into a complex web of deceit and misdirection, in a world where the intrigues of government intelligence collide with the clandestine machinations of the upper crust. As he draws nearer to his quarry, he realizes that the stakes are higher than anybody could ever imagine . . . and that the enemies he’s seeking might just be hiding in plain sight.

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Scroll down for spoilers...............







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   Are we clear now??   Okay so I typically tend not to write my thoughts on books just because I like to include spoilers - not on purpose but I haven't figured out how to discuss a book without including juicy details!! 

 Like I said above, this installment is fabulous! Lots of mystery and intrigue and I will admit that I was shocked to the twists and turns.  I tendn to fall in that la di di category when it comes to figuring things out. Mostly because I enjoy reading and don't want to wrack my brain trying to figure out who-dun-it.     I was very surprised to learn that Hamish was a double agent!! I really didn't see that one coming - here's what I'm wondering, did Dick Stone know that before he died (a few books ago?)  Also did Hamish & Mo REALLY die in the van - I wonder if Lance Cabot really knew what they looked like and if the guys in the van could have been decoys.  I'm also wondering just how Lance knew that Dr. Khaul was involved.  Maybe he already had a lead on this guy? It didn't seem like Holly had given him that info. I also read very quickly and may have missed something!   


I am also surprised that Hamish told Kelli Keane to get off the premises - did he really want her to meet him in London or did he have a change of heart and not want to blow up 1+ million people?  I really thought the place was going to get blown to smithereens and that would be the end to the series.  I am obviously thrilled that didn't happen as I love this series but I also realize that 20 something books into a series that someday it may end....    


Anxiously awaiting details of the next book! 

Oh...My...Word!

Yep, it's true. I have no card to share with you today. I have been a reading fool!

Reading what, you ask?

I downloaded the sample when people first started talking about it - maybe a few months ago at this point?  I read it and didn't see the big fuss. Well then as I started hearing more about it, I bought it but didn't starting reading until a few days ago after a bunch of girls in the SNC yahoo group were reading it and already on Books #2, 3 or even finished with the trilogy.

It started off really slow for me and I wasn't sure I would keep reading but once I got past the 100 page mark, look OUT!  I finished it today...in several hours time. I've been glued to the Kindle app on my phone!

I'm definitely intrigued by Ana & Grey's story and can't wait to start Book #2, but I'm holding off for a few days before buying it or else I won't get anything else done!!

I know it's been awhile since I've mentioned the reading challenges that I'm participating in. I've got to update these posts to reflect the last two months.  According to Goodreads, I'm up to 27 books so far this year! I do keep that up to date since it's so easy to do right from my phone.

Have a good night. I'm off to make a birthday card which I can share later this week :)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

I have decided to combine my book blog with my crafty blog...one place for me to post makes my life much easier! 

It's been awhile since I've participated in Sheila's It's Monday! What Are You Reading? weekly book meme.

This week I'm reading another book in the Stone Barrington series ~

Stone Barrington and Holly Barker pursue a master spy and murderer in a tropical paradise where very little is as it seems. 

Teddy Fay, a rogue agent last seen escaping an imploding building in Iron Orchid, has been considered dead for some time now. But President Will Lee thinks Teddy may still be alive. In a top-secret Oval Office meeting, Stone learns that he and his cohorts, Holly Barker and Dino Baldachetti, are being sent to the beautiful Caribbean island of St. Marks, courtesy of the CIA, to track down Teddy once and for all. 

St. Marks is a vacationer's paradise, but its luxurious beach clubs and secluded mountain villas are home to corrupt local politicians and more than a few American ex-pats with murky personal histories. Stone and Holly soon discover that in St. Marks, everyone is hiding something, and Teddy Fay may just be hiding in plain sight.

and on my Kindle I'm reading the 3rd book in the Books by the Bay series~

Olivia Limoges and the Bayside Book Writers are excited about Oyster Bay's newest resident: bestselling novelist Nick Plumley, who's come to work on his next book. But when Olivia stops by Plumley's rental she finds that he's been strangled to death. Her instincts tell her that something from the past came back to haunt him, but she never expects that the investigation could spell doom for one of her dearest friends...

Let's see if I can finish both this week!  The first book is due back at the library on Thursday!