Sunday Delight: A Light at the End of the Tunnel

Happy Sunday Everyone!
I have to say that I am surprised at a few things going on with me and with my blog.  Number one.  I have caught up on my reviews.  YEAH!  I feel like at one time I was about 15 books behind.  But now as of today I have 3 mini reviews and 3 regular reviews to do.  That might seem like a lot to you but for me that is so much better than I have been doing.  I plan on drafting one of them as soon as I finish this post too.  So hopefully, when the Review-A-Thon hosted by The Book Vixen rolls around I will only have 1 or 2 to do.  Then I am caught up!!
What is that? A light at the end of the tunnel?
Then.. I have been on a mission to write a blog post a day and now I have 3 days scheduled.  YEAH!!  This is mostly due to the slow phase we are in at work so I'm getting back to my old blogging self.  Ok.  Then...one more thing on the personal.  I am getting soooo caught up on paying off debts and bills.  I have been throwing money at them for the past 6 months and they are shrinking and shrinking like the wicked witch when hit with water.  Credit card debit is at half way.  Back taxes...paid.  Insurance...paid.  All monthly bills...zero balance.  YES!!! 
 I see you light at the end of the tunnel. 

Here and Now

Time: 7:55 am
Drinking: English Breakfast tea with Honey

Eating: Strawberry Yogurt with trail mix
Listening To: Zero 7 Radio on Pandora.
Watching: Nothing!

Radiant Orchid Book Covers

 

Every year the Pantone company of all things color selects a color of the year. Once the announcement is made various companies, designers, fashionista and color lovers start production of new productions with that color.  I know it sounds like a scene from the movie The Wiz. 

But it really happens.  Last year the color was Emerald Green.  This year the color is Radiant Orchid.

The publishing world even added Radiant Orchid on a few of the new book releases of 2014.  

Check out these Radiant Orchid book covers.

Quicky Review #22: The Initiate, The Son and The Traitor

Welcome back to another Quicky Review.  

A lot of the time I like to read short stories, prequels and free audiobooks that are short and sweet.  But why do a full review on a book that is say...80 pages long.  So I do Quicky Reviews for the shorties and children books as well.  Basically, the short stories get short reviews.

Here are just a few sentences on two books  (about 20 pages or less).

There are other Quicky Reviews for you to check out too and don't worry there will be more to come. I like short stories because most of them are FREE and I can get in and out of one in no time.

Previous Quicky Review

Quicky Review #19: The Free, Not A Match and Homeland
Quicky Review #20: How to Be Beyonce? The Nerd's Guide to Being Confident and Are You Lonesome Tonight?

Quicky Review #21: Go the F**k to Sleep & Seriously, Just Go to Sleep

Thoughtful Thursday: Book Swag

Hosted by Reading Is Fun Again

Pam over at Reading Is Fun Again started this meme to get a book blogger thoughts on a few bookish things. You know how much I love sharing my thoughts/opinions on stuff, so I thought it would be perfect to add my two cents in too! Stop by her blog and join in on the Thoughtful meme.

I created Thoughtful Thursday, because bookish thoughts kept popping up in my mind while reading, and I wanted to explore these questions and get your opinions too! -From Reading Is Fun Again

Thoughtful Thursday Question

August 28: Does book swag inspire you to give the book a try?

Waiting on Wednesday: What I Know For Sure

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme, hosted by Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating.

I'm back again with another WoW post.  I don't do this post often but when I do you know I am really excited about a book.  

This week's "can't wait to read" selection is...

Bout of Books 11: Wrap Up

Hosted by Bout of Books

It's done! That's a Wrap!

I did it and I completed my easy goal!  YEAH!

This Bout of Books my goal was to start and finish two books.  And I did it!  I also started a third book.  Now I need to get on the ball and get a few reviews done. 

Books Completed

Review: Carter Finally Gets It

Carter Finally Gets It Author: Brent Crawford Genre: YA Fiction Publisher: Brilliance Audio Release Date: April 7, 2009 Audiobook: 8 hours and 21 minutes Narrator: Nick Podehl Source: Free from Audiobooksync.com

Sunday Delight: Bout of Books Week

Happy Sunday Everyone!

How are you? Did you have a productive weekend?  Did you participate in the Bout of Books read-a-thon?  I did..kinda.  I hosted my first Bout of Books Mini-Challenge and it was amazing.  I have never had so many people participate in a non-hop giveaway. I loved the excitement and the fun everyone had with it.  I am going to post more about the Book Spine Poetry Challenge later and a wrap up of the Bout of Books event.

Here and Now

Time: 7:55 am
Drinking: Water
Eating:  I made egg fritatas for the first time and they came out perfect.  I made 6 with a biscuit bottom.  I love those the best. Those are the ones in the back that look like muffins.  My honey says he liked them but I can't tell if he was just being sweet.  I'll just take the compliment and move on.  LOL!

Egg fritatas with zucchini, onion, soy chorizo and cheese

Listening To: Gospel Radio on Pandora.
Watching: Nothing!

Review: (ARC) The Barbarian Nurseries

(ARC) The Barbarian Nurseries Author: Hector Tobar Genre: Contemporary Fiction Publisher:  Picador Release Date: September 4, 2012 Paperback: 432 pages Source: Free from SCIBA event

What I Am Reading...

The Last Dickens

Bout of Books 11: Update and Winner

Hi All!

Just wanted to post a few Bout of Books updates to let you know how I am doing so far. 

This Bout of Books I haven't participated as much as I did in the past.  I don't have time to try out the great list of mini-challenges. And I am doing mostly audiobooks this time so I can sit and listen while at work, driving to work, driving home from work and while at home doing housework.  Dang!  The word "work" is a bit to much.  What the ...?  What happened to just reading time?

But that is how my Bout of Books is going to have to go this time. 

So on to the updates.

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop

Hosted by Bookhounds and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

Thank God I get email reminders about all the giveaway hops I sign up for.  When I was cleaning up and organizing my bookshelf last month I signed up for this one and then quickly forgot about it.  OOPS!  

Bout of Books Challenge: Book Spine Poetry

 
Welcome Fellow Bout of Bookers!
Today is Day 2 and I hope you are all getting a few pages turned in your read-a-thon book.
I am reading Me Before You by Jojo Moyes right now and hopefully I will finish it before the last day of the read-a-thon.  I know you didn't come here to chat about the read-a-thon but to have some fun in the hopes of winning a great prize.  So here it is...

Bout of Books 11.0: Goals

 
Hosted by Bout of Books

Yep! I am going to try and get a book (or two) off of my DNF list.  I have a ever growing DNF list this year.  Last year there were just two books and only one from the year before.  Right now as it stands I have 5 books started and not completed. 
So my Bout of Books goal is to get one of the five off the Did Not Finish List.

Diversity on the Shelf: Approved Books pt. 7

 

Inspired by POC Reading Challenge

All of the participates of the Diversity on the Self 2014 Reading Challenge (aka D.O.T.S.) have been keeping up and reading a wide variety of books as well as doing an amazing job of reading, reviewing, and linking up books by People of Color.  

You can see the books and linky here

January Review Link Up
February Review Link Up

March Review Link Up  

April Review Link Up 

May Review Link Up

June Review Link Up 
July Review Link Up 

August Review Link Up

  Every month I will post 12 more books in various genres and release dates that are...what I like to call "Diversity Approved Books"to promote books to you and the D.O.T.S. participants.  All of these books are by a person of color OR have a main character of color.  

Sometimes these books don't get the love they should and hearing about them is so very rare.

Diversity on the Shelf: Approved Books: pt. 1

Diversity on the Shelf: Approved Books: pt. 2

Diversity on the Shelf: Approved Books: pt. 3 

Diversity on the Shelf: Approved Books: pt. 4 
Diversity on the Shelf: Approved Books: pt. 5 
Diversity on the Shelf: Approved Books: pt. 6 

By the way, it's not to late to sign up.  Click the reading challenge button and link up your sign up post.  Non bloggers are welcomed too.

Sunday Delight: Unbalanced

Happy Sunday!
How was your weekend? Do anything exciting? Last Sunday, I mentioned I was getting over a cold. Well, most of it is gone but I have a few lingering symptoms that I wish would just go away. But overall I am feeling so much better. I am still drinking my lemon and honey tea. That is my personal cure all for whatever is ailing me. This week was busy at work but I think things will slow down a bit more so I will get back to blogging soon. I feel like I have been slacking a bit and only posting here and there. It's funny how one thing added or taken away in your life will knock everything off balance. Add a new job then reading is reduced. Take away reading a book a week then there is less to blog about. Hmm. One thing leads to another.

Here and Now

Time: 10:11 am
Drinking: Hot Green Tea with Lemon and Honey
Eating: Hmm! Well I need to go shopping so nothing yet.
Listening To: The Brand New Heavies Radio on Pandora.
Watching: Nothing!

Review: Home

Home Author: Toni Morrison Genre: Adult Fiction Publisher:  Random House Audio Release Date: May 8, 2012 Audiobook: 4 hours and 29 minutes Narrator: Toni Morrison Source:  Free from E-Library

What I Am Reading....

The Magician's Assistant

Review: Attachments

Attachments Author: Rainbow Rowell Genre: Adult Contemporary fiction Publisher:  Brilliance Audio Release Date: April 14, 2011 Audiobook: 9 hours and 7 minutes Narrator: Laura Hamilton Source: Purchased from Audible.com

Sunday Delight: Yucky Colds

Happy Sunday!

How was your weekend?  Do anything exciting?  I currently am fighting a cold.  Yep!  A Cold in the middle of summer.  It's been two days tons of cups of tea with lemon and honey followed by meds.  Cause I might need some back up with this fight.  This is day 3 and I have to say it is not as bad as I know it can get but still...

Here and Now

Time: 11:20 am
Drinking: Hot Green Tea with Lemon and Honey

Eating: Might make some eggs soon

 Listening To:  My Gospel Playlist on iTunes
Watching: Last night my honey and I saw Get On Up: The James Brown story.  It was great!!!  You have to go see it.  The music and acting were Oscar worthy.

August 2014 Reading Queue

 Reading Queue is a meme hosted by Book Tasty and Books: A True Story.  Click the covers to read more about the books I list below.

 Bye Bye July!!!

I didn't get to read as much as I wanted to this month.  I think I have not been in a reading mood as much as I thought I would be.  I started a few books and put them down.  For some reason, I thought I would have a few of my DNF books completed.  LOL!  Nope! Didn't happen.

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.

So here is what I have lined up for the month of August.

Book Club Pick for August

Diversity on the Shelf 2014: August Review Link-Up and Giveaway

 

Inspired by POC Reading Challenge

Summer Time!  Summer Time!  It's all about enjoying the sun and having some fun!  I love summer and July is the best time to get some sun and reading.  

Welcome back to Diversity on the Shelf 2014 Reading Challenge.  This is the August review link up.

Every month I post a linky for you to add your reviews towards this challenge.  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 or the side bar menu.