It is time to Blog Hop:) Don't know what that is? Then hop on over to Crazy-For-Books and check it out! It is a great way to Network and find other interesting blogs. I love it because it has blogs all in one place and I can visit all my bloggy companions:)


If you stop by to visit please leave a comment with your blog link so I can visit you and follow you back:)


Til We Read Again,
Bobbie

I have been in a reading slump. The last 4 books I have tried to read have been sent back to the library unfinished. The only one I did finish was The Girl Who Played With Fire but I really didn't enjoy it as much as the first book in the series. I took The Postmistress back yesterday. I started off enjoying the book but half way through I stopped because it was just to choppy and sad.

Of course I know what I need. Inspiration. Where do you find your books? Do you have any good sites that use to browse and find new ones for your TBR list? I would love to hear where you find your book inspiration at:)

Til We Read Again,

Booking Through Thursday Asks:

I wish to introduce you to the fabulous Romance writer Cynthia Roberts. Below is a little bit about Cynthia and an excerpt from her newest book Wind Warrior. Thank you so much Mrs. Roberts for stopping by and introducing yourself to my wonderful readers:)
Til We Read Again,
Bobbie





http://www.romanceauthorcynthiaroberts.com


Read below for an exciting excerpt of:

Wind Warrior ~ The Iroquois Series ~ Book One

Leslie Michaels is a visionary, and only those close to her know of her special gift and the visions that come when her mind and body surrender to sleep.  Fate has a way of righting many wrongs, and for Leslie it is a destiny that changes her life dramatically. But not before she is forced to flee into the wilderness to escape a murderous trapper bent on claiming her for his very own.  Faith and a strong will to survive are her only companions, until she encounters Winnokin, the handsome Seneca war chief who first came to her in her dreams.  Not only does he prove to be her rescuer and protector, he teaches her that tragedy can breed happiness and the passion to live and love deeply once again.

Wind Warrior plunges readers into the intimate depths of a relationship that unfolds like a live drama before their eyes while painting an insightful and intriguing portrait of Native Indian life in the 1800s.  It is a story of longing, of a wanton need to survive all odds, and a love so strong it conquers human evil. Wind Warrior expresses with cunning words the simple, raw human emotions that hold readers spellbound and captivates their hearts.


Excerpt

   Leslie Michaels detected the immediate transformation in the stranger’s eyes after she reached out and stroked the tips of her fingers slowly along the strong, angular curves of his chin and jaw. She looked for a change, some kind of reaction that told her he found her to be too bold or forward. However, his calm reserve gave away no emotion at all.  She was pleased that he did not draw away from her touch or display any signs of displeasure. More than anything, she wanted to know what was going on in his mind.

            Did he find her attractive? Would he want to know her more intimately? She could not believe that those thoughts were even running through her mind. By God, she thought, I’m thinking just like one of those dance hall girls always standing outside the saloon at the settlement.

            She certainly was not the kind of woman to just throw herself at a man.  She was generally shy and reserved, and it normally took a while before she warmed up to someone, especially a man like the one right there in front of her.

            And to think, she sighed, that his lips may just taste sweeter than sugar.   She could feel her cheeks flush and patted them with her palms. This man certainly made her feel brazen. She wondered if he found her touch as pleasing as it was for her. When the moments passed with words unspoken between them, Leslie was afraid she truly overstepped her bounds.

            There must be someone else in his life, a wife or betrothed, she thought. She searched his eyes to see if disinterest reflected in their depths, but he was too difficult to read.  Leslie leaned back slightly and pondered if his lack of response was more out of duty or respect and not wanting to offend her.

            I am such a––a fool––a stupid, crazy ninny, she chastised silently and lowered her head to hide her embarrassment.  Just because I am drawn to him like a bee to honey does not mean he feels the same about me, she argued with herself. After all, we are from different cultures. Those in my world would never approve of such a union.

            Leslie’s heart began to pound rapidly in her chest when he moved slightly and reached out for her. She gasped faintly when he tenderly clasped her chin to raise it and gazed into her eyes. A lump caught in her throat, and she knew she could not swallow even if she tried. Joy filled her heart when she watched as his beautiful, full lips began to slowly curve into a smile.

            The pleasure she felt overwhelmed her and she pressed her fingers to her lips and sighed softly. She did not know his name, where he came from, or what kind of person he was. What she did know was that she felt no fear, no apprehension, in his presence. She did not hold back and drew herself up from her squatting position to kneel before him.

            His beautiful, amber eyes were captivating, and Leslie knew at that very moment that she could get lost in their depths for an eternity. She wanted nothing else. He clasped a hold of her tiny wrists and placed her right hand upon his shoulder.

            She reacted instantly and did not hold back. She needed, wanted, to touch more of him and slowly ran the flat of her palm down the length of his naked chest, feeling the strength of hard muscle beneath his light copper skin.  It amazed her how such a masculine man could feel as soft as a rabbit’s pelt.  Her eyes drifted again to the fullness of his lips, and she craved to have her own held captive by them.

            He was the most handsome man she had ever seen, and even though he was Indian, it did not sway her from wanting to share something more with him.  The comfort and safety she felt was far from odd, even knowing it would prove disturbing to others. Leslie dismissed all doubt and worry from her mind. She never was a person to be affected by what others thought. And she was not about to start now.

           

            If he was an admirable man with a kind and compassionate heart, that was all she needed to know. She felt an immediate connection and shivered slightly when he reached forward to tenderly move a tendril of her hair away from her face.  It seemed natural and right to rest her cheek against the palm of his hand.

            His thumb glided softly against her skin, and she shivered slightly as she tilted her body to nuzzle the side of her face against the warmth of his touch.  He reached his other hand to cup her face and draw her nearer.

            Leslie could feel his breath caressing her skin, and she knew he was going to kiss her.

            “Come. Let us ride the wind together,” he whispered softly in her ear.  Slowly his lips brushed across her cheek, barely touching skin, causing her body to tremble in response.

            This was the moment she hoped for, and she leaned her body closer and raised her chin to meet the pressure of his lips. His powerful arms were tender as they softly folded about her until their bodies were pressed together in a heated embrace.

            The loud, shrilling chatter of gray squirrels playing outside her bedroom loft window jolted Leslie from her sleep as though cold water had just been thrown upon her face, and she bolted upright, into a sitting position.

            “No!” she cried softly.

            She realized it was just a dream as she ran her palm softly across the spot where she could swear she still felt the warmth of the stranger’s touch.  Her eyes scanned every corner of her room, and her heart sank from the disappointing realization that she did indeed dream of the beautiful stranger once again. She turned and watched the humorous antics that continued outside her window.

            Shoo––shoo, you two,” she scolded. “Did you have to choose this very moment to wake me?” she continued as she shook her head and stretched her limbs like a contented feline.

            For a moment she played back the memory of the dream that had haunted her over and over again for the past two months.  When is this going to end? She wondered. What does it all mean?

            It was not just this particular incident that bewildered her. For as long as she could remember, Leslie had always been taunted by such riddles. Early in her childhood, she had learned not to question her special ability to see what would happen in the very near future through her dreams.

She never feared them, because they were so very much a part of her life, and she naturally assumed every one had the same experiences in their life. That is, until she was old enough to speak and express what she saw with her parents.

            Leslie was nearly seven when she finally began to understand what was happening to her, what she was born with. Her mother, Olivia, had sat her down and carefully told her of the special gift they both shared. It was a guarded secret that had been passed down for five generations by the feminine line on her mother’s side.

            Still, the dream she had just experienced was so different and more personal than any she had before. This dream involved her emotions. She knew this particular stranger would play a major role in her future. She just did not know what, or when, or where. Each time he entered her sleep, it became more real, and her attraction for him grew stronger. She was becoming drawn to his long, dark hair and a physique, which looked as though it had been chiseled from stone. He was a mystery for now, and she was certain it was one that would be solved sooner rather than later.

I have decided to do a Thank You Wednesday:) I am sure there are other blogs doing it but the way I see it you can't have enough Thank You's in the world.

I know I am late with this today. I have been having internet problems.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!(make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I am reading The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

Here is my teaser:
"I mean to help"
"You're running away," she leveled at him. "You are running"

I started off really enjoying the book but now I am finding it to be choppy. I am sticking with it though because I would like to know what happens.

What are you are you reading? I am still on the lookout for new books for my TBR list, lol.

Til We Read Again,

I would like to introduce you to a great bloggy buddy Heather from Proud Book Nerd. Her blog is really great and even though it got off to a rocky start she has picked it back up and done wonderful with it. I really hope you will stop by and say hi:) Also, if you would like to guest post here please send me an email! Thanks Heather!
Til We Read Again,
Bobbie



I have been blogging for a couple of years now. I have tried a few different platforms, and primarily ended up with Blogger. My primary blog on Blogger is Ramblings & More, and I used to post EVERYTHING on it. Everything. I started posting a few book reviews here and there, finding it was kinda nice to share my thoughts on books I'd read. I won some free books on Goodreads.com, and shared my reviews. Then it escalated. I found other means of obtaining books for the purpose to review Ð and even some copies to give away. Before I knew it, my blog was getting cluttered and disorganized.

It was time to branch out, so Proud Book Nerd was born. I was nervous about starting over for various reasons, not the least of which was I didn't really have too many book-blogging friends/followers. I've been following a few book blogs here and there, but none (that I knew of anyway) were paying much attention to me. I was fine with that, but worried that my new blog would be a flop.

I was thrilled when during the first week of launching Proud Book Nerd I had 19 followers. Then my blog got corrupted, and I had to start over. And the followers were lost. I was beyond discouraged, and decided to keep going. And I'm glad I did.

I have found that I love the book-blogging community. Everyone is so friendly, supportive, and ready to embrace new bloggers! It's great! I have found the general blogging community to be somewhat competitive, but not the book bloggers. At least not the ones I've met so far.

So, to my fellow book bloggers: Thank you. Thank you for embracing me, supporting me, and allowing me to become a part of your community. I am honored to be amongst your ranks, and promise to support others as you have supported me.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading. This is hosted by Book Journey

I am reading The Postmistress by Sarah Blake. So far I am enjoying it.

What are you reading this week?

Til We Read Again,
Bobbie

I have decided to participate in the EW (entertainment weekly) Summer Book Challenge hosted by Booking Mama .

There are different levels and I have decided to do the Guppy level which is 4-6 books.

This will be added to my main challenge page in a bit.

Til We Read Again,
Bobbie

I would like to congratulate Book Sake for winning my first ever give away:) Please send me your mailing address to tilwereadagain@gmail.com


Thanks to everyone that entered! I will be having more give aways so please keep checking back!


Til We Read Again,

Good Morning everyone:) It is a fabulous day here! I am going to be making a library run here shortly. Finally the Postmistress by Sarah Blake is in and I cannot wait to read it. Library runs are sometimes bittersweet. While I will be giving new books a temporary home for awhile it is sad to see old books go back. Going back today is
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. I actually ended up not finishing the book. Not because it was bad but because I just don't think I was in the mood to read it. Sometimes I feel you need to be in the mood to read certain books and this is one of them. I found my attention scattered. So I am taking it back and will re-check it out at a later date.

My Rare Beasts giveaway ended yesterday and I will be announcing a winner this weekend. Please check back if you entered the give away. There will be more giveaways in the next few weeks. Also, I have found on another blog an easier way to do give aways with extra entries, YAY!

Also, please do not forget I am looking for guest posters. The response so far has been very positive. If you are interested in being a guest poster please email me at tilwereadagain(AT)gmail(DOT)com.

What are you reading this weekend?

Til We Read Again,

Booking Through Thursday Asks:

Last week I tried to do the Wednesday Recipe exchange but someone gently told me that there were already a couple of blogs doing this. So I decided to do a Thank You Wednesday:) I am sure there are other blogs doing it but the way I see it you can't have enough Thank You's in the world.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!(make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I have just started reading The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. Here is my teaser sentence:

 I said "I can't. But I tell you something. My father used to hang a bull's heart in the chimney, stuck with pins. He kept it there to keep evil spirits away. I know how I'd explain that."

Sounds charming uh? So far it has been an interesting read. I am not sure how I feel about it yet. If you are coming over from Teaser Tuesdays please leave me a link to your teaser so I can come check out your book:)

Til We Read Again,

This meme is hosted by a wonderful blogger, Sheila of One Persons Journey Through a World of Books

Right now I am reading Murder at Longbourn by Tracy Kiely. It is a fabulous book so far and I have had a lot of fun reading it. I was thrilled the author is from MD and only lives about 2 hours from me. It really brought another connection with the book.


This weeks reading includes:
The Girl Who Played With Fire
Stieg Larsson's seething heroine, Lisbeth Salander, once again finds herself paired with journalist Mikael Blomkvist on the trail of a sinister criminal enterprise. Only this time, Lisbeth must return to the darkness of her own past (more specifically, an event coldly known as "All the Evil") if she is to stay one step ahead--and alive. The Girl Who Played with Fire is a break-out-in-a-cold-sweat thriller that crackles with stunning twists and dismisses any talk of a sophomore slump. Fans of Larsson's prior work will find even more to love here, and readers who do not find their hearts racing within the first five pages may want to confirm they still have a pulse. Expect healthy doses of murder, betrayal, and deceit, as well as enough espresso drinks to fuel downtown Seattle for months


The Little Stranger
Doctor Faraday, a lonely bachelor, first visited Hundreds Hall, where his mother once worked as a parlor maid, at age 10 in 1919. When Faraday returns 30 years later to treat a servant, he becomes obsessed with Hundreds's elegant owner, Mrs. Ayres; her 24-year-old son, Roderick, an RAF airman wounded during the war who now oversees the family farm; and her slightly older daughter, Caroline, considered a natural spinster by the locals, for whom the doctor develops a particular fondness. Supernatural trouble kicks in after Caroline's mild-mannered black Lab, Gyp, attacks a visiting child. A damaging fire, a suicide and worse follow. Faraday, one of literature's more unreliable narrators, carries the reader swiftly along to the devastating conclusion.


Even though I am not done my reading list for the week I am already on the prowl for my next books. What are you reading this week? If you are coming over from Book Journey please leave a link to your post so I can come visit and maybe add some books to my TBR list:)


Til We Read Again,

I would love to spotlight some of my bloggy friends so I am looking for some guest posters. If you would like to guest post about books, do a review, or just talk about your experiences blogging please email me. I am looking for roughly 5 to 10 people and will be spotlighting 1 person each week. My contact info is on the side bar.

Til We Read Again,

Twilight The Graphic Novel-Volume 1
Before I start this review let me just say I am not a huge fan of graphic novels. Really the only reason I wanted to read this book was because it was of Twilight and I love Twilight. So with that being said I will get to my review.

The story itself was really good. It was a very broken down version of Twilight. I think that is the reason I am not a big fan of graphic novels. There stories are very choppy.  However I was very suprised to find I was really caught up in this version. The pictures a long with the words really gave the whole series a new take. I was very pleased with the book and find that I am looking forward to the second volume.

The artwork was stunning. Considering the fact that 95% of the book is in black and white I was amazed by the detail. I don't even want to think about how long it took to draw it. The characters look very different then the movie and even more different then what I envisioned when I first read the book. They are still insanely beautiful but they look more like what they should. The only thing I found that really stood out to me  was the color version of the meadow. Everyone that has read the books knows Bella's eyes are a chocolate brown. In the meadow  her eyes are gold. I guess the reason it stood out to me was because The Cullens eyes are gold and Bella's don't turn gold until after she has been a vampire for awhile. So that did strike me as odd.


All in all I really enjoyed it and if you are a Twilight Fan I would recommend it to you to read. Also, if you have older kids this may be a good version to keep them interested. I know my youngest loves graphic novels more than regular books. So this may be a good alternate version for them. I borrowed this book from the library but I will be adding it to my personal library.

Til We Read Agian,

As I stated in an earlier post I am doing some more changes to the blog to make it more user friendly. One of the biggest changes is the header. I made it a little more visually appealing and fixed my grammar mistake. My grammar is horrible and I have just come to terms with it, lol. I am getting a lot better though the more I write and the more I learn.

I have also changed my book rating image. My blog was becoming very image heavy and while that is not a bad thing I feel it can distract from the true meaning of the blog, my reviews and posts. So I made cute little smiley faces that will be easy to type in.

On the side bars you will notice scroll bars. I have made my lists using those so the sidebars are a little more easier to navigate. Also, it will allow me to add more things.

Another thing I have changed is my siggie. It was also graphic heavy so I made a simple one.

I have some more changes coming soon. Also, I have another give away coming up and please don't forget my Rare Beasts one!

'Til We Read Again,

I took a library run this morning and was so excited because all 4 books I wanted was in:) YAY! It will be a good reading week. I just love my library. I was a little disappointed our library didn't have something special going on for the National Library Week but we are a small library so that may be why. The bigger libraries in the county may have been having activities. So do you want to see what I got?


Twilight-The Graphic Novel
I am a huge fan of Twilight so when I saw the graphic novel was out I had to get it. I am not really big on graphic novels but I thought it would be fun to read this one and get a different take on Twilight.
When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret...


The Girl Who Played With Fire
I have been dying to get my hands on this book every since I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo during Dewey's 24 hour read-a-thon.
Stieg Larsson's seething heroine, Lisbeth Salander, once again finds herself paired with journalist Mikael Blomkvist on the trail of a sinister criminal enterprise. Only this time, Lisbeth must return to the darkness of her own past (more specifically, an event coldly known as "All the Evil") if she is to stay one step ahead--and alive. The Girl Who Played with Fire is a break-out-in-a-cold-sweat thriller that crackles with stunning twists and dismisses any talk of a sophomore slump. Fans of Larsson's prior work will find even more to love here, and readers who do not find their hearts racing within the first five pages may want to confirm they still have a pulse. Expect healthy doses of murder, betrayal, and deceit, as well as enough espresso drinks to fuel downtown Seattle for months


 The Little Stranger
This one has been on my list a little while. It really sounds like something I would be interested in. I hope it is as good as it sounds:
Doctor Faraday, a lonely bachelor, first visited Hundreds Hall, where his mother once worked as a parlor maid, at age 10 in 1919. When Faraday returns 30 years later to treat a servant, he becomes obsessed with Hundreds's elegant owner, Mrs. Ayres; her 24-year-old son, Roderick, an RAF airman wounded during the war who now oversees the family farm; and her slightly older daughter, Caroline, considered a natural spinster by the locals, for whom the doctor develops a particular fondness. Supernatural trouble kicks in after Caroline's mild-mannered black Lab, Gyp, attacks a visiting child. A damaging fire, a suicide and worse follow. Faraday, one of literature's more unreliable narrators, carries the reader swiftly along to the devastating conclusion.
Sounds a little morbid but no worse than King. I may save this one for night time so I can get goose bumps:)


Murder at Longbourn
This is another one that has been on my TBR list for awhile. However, I actually picked it up at the library as an after thought. I am not sure if that means it was time for me to read it or I was just in a grabby mood at the library.
Elizabeth Parker, a fact-checker for a D.C.-area newspaper who's struggling to lead a healthier lifestyle. Elizabeth resolves to give up fatty foods, along with her two-timing lobbyist beau, before leaving northern Virginia for a restorative New Year's Eve at her great-aunt Winnie's bed-and-breakfast on Cape Cod. In tribute to Jane Austen, Winnie has named the property the Inn at Longbourn (Longbourn being the name of the Bennet family's residence in Pride and Prejudice). There Elizabeth encounters dashing, Darcyesque Peter McGowan, her childhood antagonist; a Clue-worthy clutch of guests gathered for Winnie's gala murder mystery fete; and then—you guessed it—an actual murder. That, and an abundance of clam chowder, are among the few predictable elements of an engaging adventure that will hopefully be but the first of many.
I love Austen, cozy mysteries, and books about murder so I am hoping this will be a good read I enjoy.Of course I will be reviewing these books after I read them.


Til We Read Again,