Once Upon a Christmas Eve by Elizabeth Hoyt

Once Upon a Christmas Eve by Elizabeth Hoyt

by Carol7 Comments
Once Upon a Christmas Eve made me smile. Adam is a bit of a scoundrel, but has a soft heart, and even though he definitely deserves his reputation with women, he never "ruins" anyone. Sarah has run into at least one rake before, knows Adam and know his type and doesn't want anything to do with him. So of course, in between their verbal jabs and avoiding each other, they fall in love. They make a good couple who will keep each other on their toes. This is a novella, so the romance progresses quickly. To be honest, I wish the story had been longer. I would have liked to see more of Sarah and Adam and had their relationship progress a little more evenly. I love the Christmas house party setting and especially the last scene. I may have to read more of Hoyt's books soon. This was a wonderful Christmas romance — sweet and fun and a tad bit steamy....
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Slay Bells Ring by Karen Rose Smith

Slay Bells Ring by Karen Rose Smith

by Carol6 Comments
Just a note, Slay Bells Ring is the second mystery I've read this year where the victim was killed with a decorative, wooden candy cane. I don't know if that means I should be hyper alert when out and about somewhere with wooden candy canes or that authors should choose another Christmas decoration to kill people off with. Slay Bells Ring is the first I've read in this series. Festive Christmas covers always suck me right in. It stands alone well, though. You get to know Caprice and her whole family well and understand what's important to her: her family, her friends, and animals. I liked Caprice for the most part, but she is just so good and wholesome and in love that she's a bit hard to relate to. I do love that when she knows she's going into a potentially dangerous situation, she makes sure she has back-up, too many amateur female detectives don't take their own safety seriously...
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Readers’ Workouts – 12/12

Readers’ Workouts – 12/12

by Carol8 Comments
I actually made my steps this week again!! This week's activities: Tuesday - Pilates, Jumping jacks Wednesday - Jumping jacks Thursday - Elliptical Friday - Jumping jacks Sunday - Elliptical, Jumping jacks Monday - Jumping jacks Goals for December: Gym - 4 times (Done: 2) Pilates - 12 times (Done: 2) #Starcember - 7/11 so far This week's dinners: Tuesday - Baked ziti Wednesday - Sloppy joe Thursday - Egg and cheese McMuffin Friday - Eggplant rollettes with spaghetti Saturday - Turkey, sweet potatoes, scalloped potatoes Sunday - Tortellini soup Monday - Spinach artichoke chicken Meal ideas for next week: Spaghetti with bolognese Pork chops and apples, sweet potatoes Chili Year Fitness Goals: So, I've failed at these, but we'll see by how much at the end of the year. And think what my goals should be for next year. - Lose weight. Goal - Lose 26 lbs. (Currently at -15.6) - Run 2 5ks, 1 10K and 1 half. Completed - 1 10K; 1 5K (The half I was planning on doing got cancelled.) - Hit my weekly step goal (56,000 steps) for 48 weeks. Weeks completed:...
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2017 Back to the Classics Challenge Wrap-Up

2017 Back to the Classics Challenge Wrap-Up

by Carol2 Comments
One of my goals for this year was to read more classics, so I signed up for the Back to the Classics Challenge, hosted by Karen from Books and Chocolate . The goal was to read between 6 and 12 books, one for each of the given categories. I managed to read 6, which was my goal and also gets me one entry into the giveaway. Romance Classic: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 19th Century Classic: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (published 1890) Classic in Translation: Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (from French) Classic by a woman author: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie Gothic or Horror Classic: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James Classic set in a place you'd like to visit: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (London)...
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