Bad Boys

by Carol10 Comments
Problem is, much as I love the Lord, church-going man never do all that much for me. Kind a man I like ain't the kind that stays around when he done spending all you money. I made that mistake twenty years ago. (The Help by Kathryn Stockett, pg. 22) So many women are attracted to men who are just not good for them. What is the allure of the "bad boy?" Rebellion, a hint of danger, the hope of being able to "help" him? The confidence, the sexiness? Even now, I love a good romance with an alpha hero, strong, independent, confident, assertive, but not steeping over the line into abusive. At least in the teaser above, Abilene realizes that she's attracted to the wrong men and therefore has made the decision to "shut the door on that kind of business." (pg. 22) Her life is too tough without the added complications a "bad boy" brings with him. Personally, I'm thankful to...
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A Scandal in Bohemia by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

by Carol10 Comments
"A Scandal in Bohemia" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle When we watched Sherlock Homes a while back, I mentioned that it made me want to reread the Sherlock Holmes adventures. I started with "A Scandal in Bohemia" simply because Irene Adler was featured so prominently in the movie. "A Scandal in Bohemia," the first of 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories, was published in The Strand Magazine in July 1891. In the story, the King of Bohemia hires Holmes to recover a photo for him. He is engaged and afraid that the photo of him and his former lover, the adventuress Irene Adler, will ruin his future if it is sent to his fianceé's family. I won't tell you the ending, in case you don't know, but Irene Adler is one of the few people, male or female, who manages to outwit Holmes. Irene herself is as sexy as she was portrayed in the movie. She's a singer, prima donna of the Imperial Opera...
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January Wrap-up

by Carol6 Comments
January was cold. That about sums it up. I read nine books this past month, one short story and one fairy tale. The Touchstone by Edith Wharton The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz Rion by Susan Kearney 13 1/2 by Nevada Barr 101 Glam Girl Ways to an Ultra Chic Lifestyle by Dawn Del Russo The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun by Wendie Old The Unusual Suspects by Michael Buckley Still Life by Louise Penny "Hansel and Grethel" from Grimm's Fairy Stories by Jacob Grimm and Willhelm Grimm "A Scandal in Bohemia" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle I did read one classic which is one of my personal goals, to read more classics. My favorite of the month was definitely Still Life, although they all had their good points. I received a few books in the mail that I haven't gotten a chance to read yet. Soulless by Gail Carriger and On the Edge by Ilona Andrews, thanks to...
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Tomorrow’s Groundhog Day!

by Carol5 Comments
The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun by Wendie Old, illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye (Suggested reading level: Grades 2-5) Tomorrow morning, I'll wake up to hear whether or not Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. I'm hoping, as always, that he doesn't. I'm not a winter lover. But why groundhogs and why February 2nd? This fun little book answers those questions and has a lot of other info packed in. It starts off with a description of Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where the event has turned into a three day festival. It also gives facts about groundhogs, their lives and mating habits, and discusses hibernation. I found the most interesting chapter "The Beginnings of Groundhog Day." The author traces it's history, beginning with the spring festival, Imbolc, celebrated by the Celts in ancient Ireland through the day becoming St. Brigit's Day, eventually known as Candelmas. An old German saying is, When the bear sees his shadow at Candlemas, he will craw back into his hole for...
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Winners!

by Carol5 Comments
Congratulations to the winners of Rion by Susan Kearney. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. Freda Mans Vicki Wurgler Jackie B Teresa W. Kelly I'll be e-mailing you all in the morning. I just need your address to pass on to the wonderful people at Hachette Book Group....
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Game Night – Foosball

by Carol7 Comments
Isn't our new Foosball table wonderful? Our old one was getting kind of tired, and all the men were mismatched from being broken during play and replaced. Rob and Kerri (my brother and sister-in-law) got this one for us for Christmas. It's amazing how much use we get out of it. We probably play a few games at least twice a week, and it's great for adults and kids, at least the ones who are tall enough. Notice, Rob and David even attached a couple holders to the ends....
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