This year, one of the Challenges I signed up for is Blog All About It, hosted by The Herd Presents. The guideline is basically a blogging prompt challenge. Each month there’s a different prompt that you can interpret as you’d like then create a blog post around it. The 2018 list of prompts can be seen here on my Challenge Page. I will be posting for this Challenge on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

When we purchased our home in 1985, we had a large oak tree in our backyard that gave us a nice amount of shade. However, we had it removed when we decided to put in a pool to get much more sun exposure plus it helped with the upkeep of the pool without having acorns and leaves falling in. The orange float is my reading float and please excuse the fence, a spring staining is on my husband’s to-do list.

One of the nice things about living in New England is that we get to experience each season by the trees. My favorite is Spring when trees start to bloom and then all the greenery of Summer.

I also love the beauty of when Fall arrives and the leaves change to an array of color.

Even the first snowfall can be stunning, but my least favorite is the Winter when the trees are bare.

Do you have a favorite season in relation to trees?

I am taking part in the 2018 Book Blog Discussion Challenge hosted by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight!

The last Saturday of the month, I will be recapping the books I have read for the month, what I thought and the links to my reviews, and what I hope to read the following month.

Click on titles below to either see my review or to check out the synopsis on GR.

THREE STRIKES by Ross Klavan, Tim O’Mara and Charles Salzberg
Comments: I will posting my review on Oct. 17th. I enjoyed this book and hope to read more work by all three authors.

THE NEW NEIGHBORS by Simon Lelic
Comments: This was SO good! Am looking forward to reading his latest novel, THE LIAR’S ROOM

CROSS HER HEART by Sarah Pinborough
Comments: I wish I could have given this one more than 5 stars! What a trhrilling read!!!

INTO THE WATER by Paula Hawkins
Comments: I enjoyed this book more than THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, written by the same author.

AN ANONYMOUS GIRL by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Comments: This was one heck of of a twisted psychological thriller. Review posted on Sept. 21st.

A STRANGER IN THE HOUSE by Shari Lapena
Comments: After seeing so much buzz on this book, I reserved it at my local library. Review was posted on Sept. 25th.

THE LIAR’S ROOM by Simon Lelic
Comments: After reading THE NEW NEIGHBORS, I was excited to snag an ARC of this book.

Last week I purchased another bookcase for my TBRs, which doesn’t include the several hundred that are on my Kindle, and I still went to the library. I think I have a problem!!

NOT A SOUND by Heather Gudenkauf
Comments: Brought this home from the library

THE BAD DAUGHTER by Joy Fielding
Comments: And this one came from the library too.

BEYOND THE TRUTH by Bruce Robert Coffin
Comments: Harper Collins is touring this book via PICT. I read his previous novel, AMONG THE SHADOWS, which I gave 5 stars so I had to sign up to review this one.

• What did you finish reading this month
• What book(s) should I add to my TBR list

This year, one of the Challenges I signed up for is Blog All About It, hosted by The Herd Presents. The guideline is basically a blogging prompt challenge. Each month there’s a different prompt that you can interpret as you’d like then create a blog post around it. The 2018 list of prompts can be seen here on my Challenge Page. I will be posting for this Challenge on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

When I saw what this month’s prompt was, three things came to mind.

First, is where my husband and I love to escape to for vacation. After our sons graduated from college, found jobs in their fields, moved out, and began their next chapter in life, we decided that it was now our turn to start our next chapter. Every year since then, we travel to Aruba for vacation. The weather is perfect, there is no fear of leaving the resort we stay at and because we go around the same time every year and stay at the same hotel, we meet people who also go around the same time. It’s a totally relaxing vacation. Beach early, breakfast around 10 am, a light lunch delivered to our palapa (hut), back to the room around 6 pm and then out for dinner.

Second, I can’t ever remember being without a book. I escape into my books. I get so engrossed that I sometimes don’t even realize what is going on around me. My husband laughs, since he isn’t a reader and doesn’t understand, will be talking to me and I don’t even hear him. During the summer I am either reading by or in the pool and during the colder months wrapped in a warm throw with a hot coffee.

And on that same note, some days I wish I could escape from the responsibilities of real life and just read. I have so many books that I would need a few extra lifetimes to read them all. And I keep adding to my collection.

What comes to your mind when you hear the word escape? How do you escape?

I am taking part in the 2018 Book Blog Discussion Challenge hosted by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight!

The last Saturday of the month, I will be recapping the books I have read for the month, what I thought and the links to my reviews, and what I hope to read the following month.

Click on titles below to either see my review(s) or to check out the synopsis on GR.

MIAMI SNOW by Darcia Helle
Comments: Wendy, from Wall-to-Wall Books recommended this author to me and I am so glad that she did. Really enjoyed the writing style. Will be reading more by her in the future.