My Little Pocketbooks

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

5 Things I Learned While Not Blogging

As you can see from my Archives list at the bottom of the blog, I have taken some time off from blogging since May. I slowed down a ton and just posted a few things here and there. Of course I posted the D.O.T.S. reading challenge review linky once a month. And yes, I was riddled with blogger guilt. You know what I mean. Feeling like you are a complete slacker for not posting a blog post every single day then every single week. Those feelings of losing all you blog readers are a bit overwhelming at times. And let's not talk about those feeling of not joining all the cool kids on the blog events going on like Bout of Books.
But you know what?
After a month of those feelings I kinda of got over it. Like I almost forgot I even had a blog some days. I don't know how that happened but it did. I had other life stuff going on (and I still do) so there was a reason behind it all.
Now that I am making an effort to blog again I have a few life/blog lessons I thought I would pass on to you. These are the 5 things I learned while I wasn't blogging.

And there is even more »

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

What I Am Reading...

The Mango Season

From the acclaimed author of A Breath of Fresh Air, this beautiful novel takes us to modern India during the height of the summer’s mango season. Heat, passion, and controversy explode as a woman is forced to decide between romance and tradition. Every young Indian leaving the homeland for the United States is given the following orders by their parents: Don’t eat any cow (It’s still sacred!), don’t go out too much, save (and save, and save) your money, and most important, do not marry a foreigner. Priya Rao left India when she was twenty to study in the U.S., and she’s never been back. Now, seven years later, she’s out of excuses. She has to return and give her family the news: She’s engaged to Nick Collins, a kind, loving American man. It’s going to break their hearts. Returning to India is an overwhelming experience for Priya. When she was growing up, summer was all about mangoes—ripe, sweet mangoes, bursting with juices that dripped down your chin, hands, and neck. But after years away, she sweats as if she’s never been through an Indian summer before. Everything looks dirtier than she remembered. And things that used to seem natural (a buffalo strolling down a newly laid asphalt road, for example) now feel totally chaotic. But Priya’s relatives remain the same. Her mother and father insist that it’s time they arranged her marriage to a “nice Indian boy.” Her extended family talks of nothing but marriage—particularly the marriage of her uncle Anand, which still has them reeling. Not only did Anand marry a woman from another Indian state, but he also married for love. Happiness and love are not the point of her grandparents’ or her parents’ union. In her family’s rule book, duty is at the top of the list. Just as Priya begins to feel she can’t possibly tell her family that she’s engaged to an American, a secret is revealed that leaves her stunned and off-balance. Now she is forced to choose between the love of her family and Nick, the love of her life. As sharp and intoxicating as sugarcane juice bought fresh from a market cart, The Mango Season is a delightful trip into the heart and soul of both contemporary India and a woman on the edge of a profound life change.

And there is even more »

Monday, September 7, 2015

Review: Insurgent

Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: Dystopia
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Audiobook: 11 hours and 22 minutes
Narrator: Emma Galvin
Source: Free from e-Library

And there is even more »

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Sunday Delight: Getting Back in the Saddle

Happy Sunday

I know you are wondering what the Apple Cider Vinegar on the header is all about. Well as you may have noticed it's that time of year when the weather is changing. For many of us that means cold season is coming. Apple Cider Vinegar is the best, most natural way to fight the cold going around. NO really it is! I put it up there as a reminder to get your bottle and start by taking it once a week for the month then up it to twice a week or more as needed. It will keep you healthy and if you do get sick, you will not be sick for a long time. There are so many ways to take it but I like to do it first thing in the morning.

1 part honey

1 part Apple Cider Vinegar

1 part hot water

1 pinch of Cayenne pepper (optional)

Other people have different recipes and different thoughts on it. I highly advise you to read as much as you can before taking anything at all. Here is a great place to start

PINTEREST: APPLE CIDER VINEGAR FOR COLDS

Now back to my regularly scheduled blog post.

I am thrilled to say as of right now (Thursday night) I have officially gotten my blogging back in the saddle. I have 10 scheduled blog post!!! Whoot! Whoot!

And there is even more »

Cover Characteristics: Chess Pieces

Hosted by Sugar and Snark

Each week we will post a characteristic and choose 5 of our favorite covers with that characteristic. If you want to join in and share your 5 favorite covers with the weeks particular characteristic, then just make a post, grab the meme picture (or make your own) and leave your URL in Linky (so we can visit).
You don’t even need to participate, just stopping by and saying hi would be great! Don’t forget to stop by the other participants!

I have missed doing this meme so much. I am a book cover judge and I have been judging for years. So to get to do a whole meme dedicated to just covers is like second nature for me and fun. Today's theme is all about Chess pieces. My revelation about this was chess piece on the cover means thriller/mystery. Hmmm! Oh by the way, I didn't pick Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer because I thought everyone else would pick it.

Your move.

Click on the book titles below to go to their Amazon page.

~ Chess Pieces ~

1. Chessboard Planet by Henry Kuttner

2. The Pawn by Steven James

3. The Rook by Steven James

4. The Chess Queen Enigma by Colleen Gleason

And there is even more »

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Review: Paper Towns

Paper Towns
Author: John Green
Genre:YA
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Release Date: October 16, 2008
Audiobook: 8 hours and 3 minutes
Narrator: Dan John Miller

Source: Free from BEA14

And there is even more »

Friday, September 4, 2015

Book Blogger Hop: Years of Blogging

Hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Happy Friday everyone.

TGIF!!!!! So glad today is Friday. I have been waiting on this three day weekend for the longest. Just kinda freaked out that my finals start on Monday. ARGH! The perils of online classes. They don't care about holidays.

What is Book Blogger Hop all about?

Each week the host at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted writer will prompt a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun! No really it is!

This Weeks Topic/Question

September 4th - 10th: How many years have you been blogging, and is there a story behind your blog's name? (submitted by Elizabeth)

And there is even more »

Thursday, September 3, 2015

#ReadingQueue: September 2015

Reading Queue is a monthly meme hosted by Book Tasty and Books: A True Story.

Welcome to the Reading Queue.

What is the reading queue all about?

Reading Queue is a monthly meme where you share what books you plan to read for the month. You can hop to other blogs and see what others are reading and maybe find someone reading the same thing as you! Or you can ask for people to vote on what you should read next if you can’t decide.

This month will be interesting because I have a full time job as most of you know but I will be taking three classes as well. One of them is Entertainment Law and I have a feeling there will be a lot of reading to do. I will try and keep this list very realistic. So here is what I have lined up for the month of September. (Click the links below to go to the books Amazon page.)

And there is even more »

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: Dumplin'

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme, hosted by Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating. With so many books on my shelf right now I know I shouldn't be doing this but here is a book I might like to read soon. And I honestly thought this book was out already.

This weeks "can't wait to read" selection is...

And there is even more »

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Diversity on the Shelf 2015: September Review Link-Up

http://littlepocketbooks.blogspot.com/2014/12/diversity-on-shelf-2015.html

Welcome to the September review linky of Diversity on the Shelf 2015 Reading Challenge.

Every month I will post a linky for you to add your reviews. Please have a direct link to the book you are reviewing to the linky. No links to blog home pages please. If you don't have a blog, please link to your Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook, LibraryThing or other account where you are reviewing the books for this challenge.

Books that qualify for this challenge are by people of color or with a main character of color. All shades and races of color are welcomed and encouraged here. If you still need more clarification on what a person of color is Click Here.

If you haven't signed up for the challenge yet, don't fret you still have time. Just sign up here!

If you need a few suggestions on what to read for this challenge check out the list of links to blogs, book list and more. (Links here)

August Stats
(as of 8/31)
26 books read and reviewed

First reviewed book by Shan @Curled Up with a Good Book and a Cup of Tea