Top Ten Authors I’ve Read the Most Books From

by Carol4 Comments
For this week's Top Ten Tuesday, the folks over at The Broke and the Bookish are asking us to name the top ten authors we've read the most books from. Turns out Goodreads.com has a nifty little button, "most read authors." So this is the list of my most read authors since joining Goodreads in September of 2007. I think I've logged most of the books I've read since then. 1. Ngaio Marsh - 16 (Roderick Alleyn series) 2. Louise Penny - 11 (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series) 3. Janet Evanovich - 10 (none of which were her Plum series) 4. Donna Leon - 9 (Commissario Brunetti series) 4. Kate Wilhelm - 9 6. Jim Butcher - 8 (Dresden Files) 7. Jon Cleary - 7 (Scobie Malone series) 7. Getrude Chandler Warner - 7 (Amber went through a boxcar children phase) 9. Agatha Christie - 7 10. Linda Castillo - 6 (Kate Burkholder series) 10. Ruth Rendell - 6 (Inspector Wexford series) 10. Christine Feehan - 6 (Drake Sisters) Yes, I know there are...
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Readers’ Workouts – 8/11

by Carol3 Comments
So, here are my steps for the week. I hit my goal for the week overall even if the end of my week went way downhill. Here's my current plan. I haven't signed up for the race yet, but I'm still planning on it. CT stands for cross-training, SS stands for stretching or strength-training. My week: Tuesday - 3 mile walk. We went to a local lake to go fishing, so I took a walk first. Wednesday - 50 crunches, 10 (girly) push-ups. 30 mins of weights at home with my husband Thursday - 50 crunches, 10 (girly) push-ups. 3.11 mile run. Friday - 45 mins on the bike Monday - 50 crunches, 10 (girly) push-ups I'm down 11 lbs from 5/19. I usually listen to a book while I'm running or walking. This week I'm listening to Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits by Mary Jane Hathaway. How was your week? Readers’ Workouts is hosted by Joy at Joy’s Book Blog. Thanks!...
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Once Upon a Scandal by Julie LeMense

by Carol2 Comments
In a lot of ways, Once Upon a Scandal is a typical romance. She's beautiful and spirited; he's sexy with secrets. She, however, is dirt poor and shunned by (most) of her previous friends due to a her father's scandal and death. He, while seemingly a rich playboy, is actually a domestic spy, keeping an eye on the rich and powerful and it's that bit of intrigue that makes the novel a step above ordinary for me. Benjamin enlists Jane's help, and she, feeling like she really has nothing to lose, agrees. Jane, with the help of Benjamin and an old friend, reinvents herself to help lure the person who stole secret documents relating to the war out into the open. I guess this is the second in the series, but I felt we were introduced to the characters and they're backgrounds well. I assume the first focused on a different couple and featured Jane and Benjamin as secondary characters. The attraction between them...
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The Fold by Peter Clines

by Carol1 Comment
Around my house, the common knowledge is I don't like sci-fi. Amber and David watch sci-fi movies without me, I avoid sci-fi tv shows and rarely read books that fall solidly into the sci-fi genre. I'm not saying all sci-fi sucks; in general it's just not my cup of tea. But, The Fold came up on the list of recommendations when I logged into my Audible account so I decided to give it a shot - turned out it was a good choice. This has been described as Sherlock meets sci-fi and I think that rings true. Mike is a full-out genius with a photographic memory who has been trying to be normal, until he can't pass up his friend's proposition that he head out to California to investigate the Albuquerque door. Turns out he's the perfect person for the job, brilliant, curious, observant but with some common sense. I really liked him. It's no surprise that "folding dimensions" turns out to...
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Thursday’s Tale: The Girl Clad in Mouse-Skin

by Carol2 Comments
Today's story is from Denmark and was told by Benjamin Thorpe in Yule-Tide Stories, 1888. "The Girl Clad in Mouse-Skin" is similar to Maid Maleen from the Grimms, but has a few differences. Once there was a nobleman who had a daughter he loved very much. There was a war going on in the land and the nobleman had a room built into a hill and took his daughter there, along with her dog. He left her provisions for seven years, telling here that if he did not come back for her by then he was surely dead and she should leave the room on her own. She spent her time spinning and sewing beautiful dresses with silver and gold embroidery, but after seven long years, the food ran out and no one came. She began to dig herself out, but it was a long, difficult job.  Her food was gone, but the hill was full of mice, her little dog killed many each...
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