Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! I hope you're having a wonderful day with family and friends.
This was our Christmas card this year. Amber did the painting for the front as she always does....
Saturday Snapshot – December 24
We went to the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History yesterday and these first two photos are from the Hall of Architecture. The first is the Neapolitan Presepio. It was handcrafted by artisans between 1700 and 1830 and re-create the Nativity within a vibrant panorama of 18th-century Italian village life. The second is one of the trees in the room, this one decorated to represent Brazil.
Earlier this month we went to see the Pittsburgh Symphony. This is the tree at Heinz Hall.
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads....
Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod
I had never read anything by Charlotte MacLeod until I read her story in Mistletoe Mysteries a couple of weeks ago. When I was looking for a Christmas mystery that I hadn't read yet, I ran across Rest You Merry. Since her story in the collection had been fine, not one of my favorites but not one I disliked, and this is the first in a series, I decided to give it a listen. I'm glad I did. Peter Shandy is a great character and the way the holiday tied into the mystery was well-done. I don't want to spoil anything but the way the murder was covered up was very Christmassy.
I loved the beginning. After being begged for years to decorate his house for the annual celebration/fundraiser, Peter finally does, and goes purposely way overboard and tacky - and then leaves town. Perfect. Of course, he has to come back and face the (too loud) music earlier than he...
Thursday’s Tale: Twas the Night Before Yuletide
Tracy at Pen and Paper shared this poem the other day. It's a re-working of "Twas the Night Before Christmas," probably written by C.C. Williford, a radio presenter during the 1930's.
Twas the Night Before Yuletide
Twas the night before Yuletide and all through the glen
Not a creature was stirring, not a fox, not a hen.
A mantle of snow shone brightly that night
As it lay on the ground, reflecting moonlight.
The faeries were nestled all snug in their trees,
Unmindful of flurries and a chilly north breeze.
The elves and the gnomes were down in their burrows,
Sleeping like babes in their soft earthen furrows.
When low! The earth moved with a thunderous quake,
Causing chairs to fall over and dishes to break.
The Little Folk scrambled to get on their feet
Then raced to the river where they usually meet.
“What happened?” they wondered, they questioned, they probed,
As they shivered in night clothes, some bare-armed, some robed.
“What caused the earth’s shudder? What caused her to shiver?”
They all spoke at once as they...
2017 Audiobook Challenge
Alright, I'm signing up for another challenge. This is my third for next year. The Audiobook Challenge is hosted by Loupe and Melanie at Hot Listens and Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
The Details:
Runs January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017. You can join at anytime.
The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2016 than you did in 2016.
Books must be in audio format (CD, MP3, etc.)
ANY genres count.
Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, Facebook, LibraryThing, etc.
If you’re a blogger grab the button and do a quick post about the challenge to help spread the word. If you’re not a blogger you can help by posting on Facebook or Tweeting about the challenge.
Updates plus a giveaway will be posted twice during the year. First update in June and last update...
Holiday with a Twist by Shannon Stacey
Holiday with a Twist is just a sweet, feel-good Christmas romance. It's light and fun and a perfect seasonal read for me. Leigh keeping her breakup and quitting her job a secret from her family is silly, but in all honesty I like when the "issue" between the two main characters in a romance isn't a big deal that takes a lot to overcome. Croy and Leigh were friends forever, even if they haven't talked to each other in years, and I like how they settle back in to the friendship. They're a good couple. They know each other well, good and bad, and still fall in love. This is a novella, so the attraction is almost instant and the relationship evolve quickly, but I bought it.
Holiday with a Twist is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you're looking for with an HEA/HFN. It's a promise! Love that! I don't have to worry if it'll work...