Bookish (and not so bookish) thoughts

by Carol1 Comment
Bookish and Not So Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things encountered during the week, etc.) Head over to her blog to link-up. 1. Bout of Books wraps up today. I read a lot during the beginning of the week, but the end of the week went blah. only finished two books total. 2. My husband's softball game on Tuesday got rained out so they play this Tuesday instead. Their season is lasting forever this year. 3. School starts this week for my daughter. Amber's a senior this year. I wonder if she'll let me take a first day of school picture. Probably not. I can't believe summer is almost over. I feel like we really didn't have many hot days - and it was way too rainy. 4. I'm trying a 30 Day Paleo Challenge...
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For the Love by Jen Hatmaker

by CarolNo Comments
For the Love is more a collection of essays, and random funny bits, centered around loving ourselves and loving others, rather than a unified book. I wasn't expecting that, so it kind of put me off at first, but once I got into the groove I found a lot it relatable and funny and occasionally inspirational. I really enjoyed Hatmaker's voice. For a Christian writer, she is hilarious and hits on some of the exact things I feel. The book is pretty light overall, in part because of the amusing tidbits and asides. It's about loving others, near and far, but there isn't really much new in it. At the same time, her love of Jesus, of the church, of people shines through. Some things that stood out for me: "We need to quit trying to be awesome and instead be wise." (7) "If it isn't also true for a poor single Christian mom in Haiti, it isn't true." (19) Two of the later chapters were...
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Thursday’s Tale: Beauty and the Goblin King

by Carol1 Comment
Beauty and the Goblin King is definitely a re-telling for grown-ups. Our beauty, Sabela, goes the Goblin King's castle by choice. Her family needs the gold that the Goblin King gives to girls willing to spend the night with him. Okay, her family definitely pressures her to do it, but she always been a bit fascinated by the stories and this gives her an excuse to allow herself to go. This is erotica. There are several steamy scenes, but you do get to actually like Sabela and Nyar, the King, and believe in their relationship. She's brave and curious and open-minded. He's caring, under his rough exterior, and sexy. It's only 150-ish pages so we don't get quite as much character and world-building as we might in a longer story, but I think I prefer my erotic romances on the shorter side. I was rooting for their happily-ever-after, which they do get. As a re-telling it borrows mostly from Disney's version, complete with animate...
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by Carol3 Comments
Yesterday's Bout of Books Challenge: Book Spine Rainbow Take a selection of your favorite book spines to make a rainbow! Share on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #bookspinerainbow and #boutofbooks! https://www.instagram.com/p/BYKFltZAsyX/?hl=en&taken-by=carolsnotebook https://twitter.com/carolsnotebook/status/900727596094279680...
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Clink Street Blogival: The Expansion by Christoph Martin

by CarolNo Comments
The Magic of Collaboration The Expansion is the first in a series of political thrillers written by a collaborative writing team: Christoph Martin Zollinger and Libby O’Loghlin. Here, Christoph and Libby talk about the collaborative writing process. Christoph Martin Zollinger I came up with the idea for The Expansion book while I was in the air, on a flight from Panama to Switzerland, and I knew it was going to need to be a collaborative effort from the beginning, because the scope of the story is huge! It starts in the UK, moves to Switzerland, then to Panama and the US (Washington, D.C.), and amongst all that we have a cast of very colorful characters who carry the story through all the politics and clandestine twists and turns behind the ‘seemingly’ straightforward project: the expansion of the Panama Canal! One of the best aspects of working as a writing team is that Libby’s and my skills and strengths are very complementary, but we have...
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My Favorite . . Drink to Read With

by Carol5 Comments
My Favorite.. is a weekly meme hosted by Maureen’s Books. In this meme we share every week something we love with each other. Because let’s face it.. The world can be a dark place and it’s time to share something positive. For more info: My Favorite Meme. My favorite drink to read with is hot chocolate. It's hot and chocolatey and really, what could be better? I know it's usually a fall/winter drink, but I love it all year round. What's your favorite drink to read with? Join in at Maureen's Books....
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