Top Ten Tuesday...

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly meme hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's theme is a Freebie. So, I'm going with Books with December in the Title. Are you surprised? 😉

One Day in December by Josie Silver

Every Day in December by Kitty Wilson

We Met in December by Rosie Curtis

Always in December by Emily Stone

Dating Mr. December by Phillippa Ashley

Once Upon a December by Amy E. Reichert

A Long December by Richard Chizmar

The Thing About December by Donal Ryan

December's Secrets by A.E. Howe

Black December by Scott Hunter

Happy Reading!

Quick Book Recs...

 

When In Rome by Sarah Adams

Adams has written yet another captivating romance. She's fast becoming one of my favorite romance authors. In this book, I loved her nod to the classic movie Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. And the humor, sweet chemistry, and banter between Amelia and grumpy Noah totally made me smile. I loved this one!

Still Life by Louise Penny

Well, I finally got around to reading this first Armand Gamache mystery, and I loved it. The residents of Three Pines are uniquely fun and Gamache is such a likable detective. I look forward to reading more books in this appealing series. 

Happy Reading!

Snowed In For Christmas by Sarah Morgan

 

5 Things I loved about this heartwarming Christmas novel:

✷ It's set in Scotland! 

✷ Lucy Clarke gets snowed in with Ross Miller and his entire family over Christmas. 

(I love that snowed-in trope!)

✷ Nanna Jean's unapologetic outspokenness & advice when it comes to matters of the heart--"because she's 86 and not getting any younger!"

✷ The banter and loyalty between Ross and his two sisters, Alice and Clemmie.

✷ The romance, friendship, and love between Alice and Nico, Clemmie and Fergus, and Ross and Lucy. 

In tone and content, this one reminded me a lot of my favorite Rosamunde Pilcher books. It's all about family, finding love, and having the courage to speak up and tell your truth. This novel is charming and fun, and all the happy endings made me smile. 

Happy Reading!

Swan Dive: the Making of a Rogue Ballerina

 

Georgina Pazcoguin joined the New York city Ballet when she was just seventeen. In 2013, after dancing ten years in the Corps de Ballet, she was promoted, and became NYCB's first Asian American female soloist. Her candid memoir is a revealing look into the competitive (even cutthroat), demanding, sexist, and sometimes toxic culture that exists at the NYCB. What else comes through is her fierce love of ballet. In her twenty years as a professional ballerina, she's had some exhilarating highs and some devastating lows. She's persevered through it all. And she shares her struggles and her joy with refreshing frankness, honesty, and humor. 

I've always loved reading about anything that has to do with ballet, and this book is a very engaging memoir! It's interesting and eye-opening, and it gave me an even greater appreciation for the years and years of dedication and effort, and all the hard work that these dancers put forth in hopes of becoming a professional ballerina. This book is a 5-star read!

Happy Reading!

Last the best of all the classics...

 

I've read some really good classics this year, but I think The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy is my favorite. It's such a fun adventure! Set in 1792 during the Reign of Terror, the story takes place in England and in France, both places I'd love to visit someday. (Which is why I chose this book for my "Classic set in a place you'd like to visit" for Karen's Back to the Classics Challenge.)

Lady Marguerite Blakeney and her husband, Sir Percy, are at the heart of this novel. She's beautiful, clever, and French. He's handsome, wealthy, and English. But though they had a passionate courtship, "Now they had drifted quite apart, and Sir Percy seemed to have laid aside his love her, as he would an ill-fitting glove. She tried to rouse him by sharpening her ready wit against his dull intellect; endeavored to excite his jealousy, if she could not rouse his love...but all in vain. He remained the same, always passive, drawling, sleepy, always courteous, invariably a gentleman..."

Added to the events of their life together in England, are the daring intrigues of the Scarlet Pimpernel, the mysterious and dashing Englishman who has rescued countless French aristocrats from the guillotine. His brave exploits are the talk of London. But who is he? Lady Blakeney is about to find out. 

I loved this book! It's captivating, amusing, clever, and diverting. And it reads fast. Why couldn't I have read this classic in high school? I'm so glad I read it now. It's the best.

Happy Reading!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

I've been trying to be more aware of my blessings this month, and to be more grateful for all that I have. So this year I thought I'd do an A-to-Z gratitude post (though I cheated a bit with the letter X). Here are just a few of the many reasons I have to be grateful for this year:

A  Alien tape! (because it really works.)

B  Books, bubble baths, booster shots, and blogging buddies

C  Chocolate and crossword puzzles

D  Days off from work!

E  Elephants and electricity. 

F  Family, friends, and freedom

G  Game nights every month and garbage trucks

H  Hawaii (one of my most favorite vacation spots)

I  the Internet

J  Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice

K  Kind comments on all my blog posts from all of you...THANK YOU! 

L  Libraries!

M  Music...all kinds. 

N  Nieces and Nephews

O  Owls (and other birds)

P  Peanuts and popcorn (my two favorite snacks)

Q  Quilts and quiet time

R  Road trips!

S  Sleeping in.  😴

T  Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy...YUM!

U  Utah's scenic beauty from Arches to Zions National Parks

V  Vacations!

W  Wunderbrow long-lasting brow gel

X  all the eXperiences in life, good and bad, that have helped shape me

Y  Yoga

Z  Zebra pens and zip-up hoodies (my favorite weekend wear)

Wishing you and your family a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Top Ten Tuesday...

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly meme hosted by

 That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's theme: Thankful Freebie. But since I already have a gratitude post planned for Thanksgiving Day, I decided to change it up and go with Books With November in the Title instead:

November by Jorge Galan

Mr. November by Lori Foster

Hunting November by Adriana Mather

November 9 by Colleen Hoover

Come November by Katrin van Dam

Butterflies in November by Audur Ava Olafsdottir

The November Girl by Lydia Kang

November of the Heart by LaVyrle Spencer

A Cold November Road by Darla Cain

November's Past by A.E. Howe

Happy Reading!