Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

From Miz B:
Here it is… the new version of Musing Mondays! Each week, you’ll see the same set of questions… and you’ll pick which one you want to answer that week. I know this is slightly less exciting than what Musing Mondays has been to this point, but I am burning out on doing daily memes, and need to simplify things a bit. So, I am making MM a little more self-sustaining (where I don’t have to really think about it too much), and will keep my other weekly memes the same, for now. I hope you’ll still play along!

This week’s muse:
Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.

My thoughts:
Today I will describe just one of my reading habits.  I have different reading habits depending on the season.  I am not a fan of winter.  I dislike every aspect, but one,  and tend to slightly hibernate during this time.   Since I was a child, and still to this day, love to read when it is snowing.  I will get comfy, curled up in my reading recliner with a fleece throw, and a  cup of hot coffee or hot choloate.  Since the recliner faces the windows, I will look up every now and then to watch the snow.  For me, it is such a tranquil and warm feeling.

What about you?  Do you have different reading habits depending on the seasons?  What is your’s for the winter?

December is being hosted by Suko’s Notebook

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.
According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
Click on title for synopsis via IndieBound (I am an IndieBound Affliate)

Monday  12/24  Targets Of Deception by Jeffrey S. Stephens from Simon & Schuster
Monday  12/24  Targets of Opportunity by Jeffrey S. Stephens ffrom Simon & Schuster

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Ms. B is taking today off so no question.   Be back next week.

December is being hosted by Suko’s Notebook

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.
According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
Click on title for synopsis via IndieBound and Amazon (I am an IndieBound Affliate)

Monday  12/17 The Seventh Victim by Mary Burton-ARC from Joan Schulhafer Publishing
Saturday  12/22  A Summer Called Angel by Sola Olu-Kindle from WOW!
Saturday  12-22  The Forever Year by Lou Aronica from The Fiction Studio

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

This week’s question:
This week’s musing – courtesy of http://www.kwizgiver.com – asks…
Is there a particular book that is your nemesis–the book you’re determined to one day finish?

My response:
Hmmm…good question.

However, as I look around my office/reading room and see the 3 over loaded bookcases and 2 EReaders, I can’t say there is one particular book.  What I can say, is that I hope one day in the near future, I would and could be able to read at least 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 of the books that are stuffed into these bookcases and transferred into the “read” bookcase.   And as I look around, and see books shoved into these bookcases, I realize that I have a problem, a very BIG problem.  I am definitely addicted to books and need to restrain myself from bringing any more into my house, but I so love being surrounded by them.

What about you?  Is there a specific book that you want to finish?  Or are you like me and just want to dwindle down your stacks?

December is being hosted by Suko’s Notebook

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.
According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
Click on book for synopsis via IndieBound (I am an Indiebournd Affliate)

Shop Indie Bookstores
Tuesday: Friendfluence by Carlin Flora~ARC from Doubleday for PBP

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

This week asks:
What was the last book you could not finish and why?

My response:
This question was hard and took some research.  Thankfully I keep a spreadsheet that contains when the book arrived, title, author, who from, review rating, date finished and what challlenges each book falls under.

In 2012, there was not one book that I DNF.  But there were a few in 2011 and the most recent was Sixty-Nine by Pynk

It’s New Year’s Eve 2008, and best friends Magnolia Butler, Rebe Richardson, and Darla Clark, all born in 1969, are about to turn the dreaded 4-0 in January 2009. Magnolia, a New Year’s Day baby, is childless, and always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Rebe, the mother of a college-aged daughter named Trinity, has just gone through a divorce from a man whose sexual appetite far exceeded her desires and abilities. Darla is also a New Year’s Day baby, still mourning her husband’s death after five years. After way too many glasses of champagne, Rebe, challenges them to open their minds in a way they’d never done before, daring them to try something new…sexually. SIXTY-NINE is a liberating story about sisterhood and friendship, and about how past experiences and beliefs can influence one’s views about life and sex.

Since it was quite a while ago, I needed to refresh my memory with the synopsis and reading my review.  I thought it was going to be a read about friendship dynamics.  However, what I did read, I felt it fell under the genre of erotica.  I don’t consider myself a prude, but I want a book of substance, and this book didn’t have it.

What was the last book that you didn’t finish?

December is being hosted by Suko’s Notebook

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.
According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”

No books for me this week….but I know my TBR will grow as I visit those that received surprises in their mail box.

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

This week’s question:
How do you organize/store your books? Do you go through them often? Or do you pretty much just shelve them and then leave them alone until you need them?

My response:
I love this question and will enjoy seeing how everyone answers.

In my office/reading room, I have 3 bookcases , each having a special purpose.  When I receive a book, the first thing I do is catalogue it to my spreadsheet with the date received, who it is from and any other notations.  I then put a post-it with the same information on the front cover.  I would be lost without my spreadsheet especially for those books that are in my EReaders.

It then goes into my big TBR 5 shelf bookcase, in the order received.  I am now up to 2 1/2 shelves for requested reviews.  The bottom 2 shelves are for personal TBRs that I have either won or purchased.  I also have another smaller 3 shelf bookcase that holds my prized possesions, the signed books, on the first shelf.  The other 2 shelves holds books I have won and need TBR.  The 3rd bookcase is a corner unit, which is a sentimental piece of furniture.  It was my grandmother’s, and even though it doesn’t match the other furniture in my office,  I think of her when I look at it.  This bookcase holds the books I have read along with some photo albumns.

However, there  may be some rearrangement this coming weekend, since I ordered a new desk for my office, which is supposed to be delivered this week.  I am so excited because my desk now is a mess, unable to hold all my computer and office items.  This is the one I purchased:

December is being hosted by Suko’s Notebook

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.
According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
Click on titles for synopsis via IndieBound (I am an IndieBound Affliate)

Monday:  Last Chance Christmas by Hope Ramsay from GCP/Forever
Monday: Hunk for the Holidays by Katie Lane from GCP/Forever
Wednesday: Private London by James Patterson from The Hachette Book Group
Wednesday: Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh recommended by Gina @ Hott Books (personal d/l)
Saturday: Things Left Unspoken by Eva Marie Everson recommended by Gina @ Hott Books (personal d/l)

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s muse:
Have you ever read a book after watching the movie/television version only to find that you don’t like the book as much as the adaptation?

My thoughts:
This week’s question is an easy one for me.  Since I’m not a “movie person”, this situation never occurs.  However, many years ago, I remember watching a movie after reading the book and was quite disappointed in the adaptation.  I would much rather read a book and create my own imagery.

What about you?  Have you ever seen a movie in which you were then disappointed with the book?

November is being hosted by Edgy Inspirational Romance

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.
According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
Click on title for synopsis via IndieBound (I am an IndieBOund Affliate)

Tuesday:  Goodnight, Brian by Steven Machester (ARC) from The Story Plant for Providence Book Promotions

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

This week’s question:
Do you read the ending before you start a book? Do you ever skip ahead to read the ending?

My response:
Two words…never, ever!  In the many years that I have been a reader, I can honestly say, not once have I skipped to the end.

For me, reading is for pure enjoyment and entertainment.   I would much rather read a book, creating my own imagery, than watching a movie.   I have never understood why a reader would “check out” the ending.  I feel that it defeats the purpose of pleasure reading.

Do you read the ending of a book first?  And if so, doesn’t it ruin the whole experience of reading?  Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

November is being hosted by Edgy Inspirational Romance

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.
According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
(I am an IndieBound Affliate)

Shop Indie Bookstores

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

This week’s question:
For this week’s Musing Monday, I’m going to give you the option to answer any of the following questions — or, if you prefer, you can answer them all! Have fun! {questions were supplied by my readers when asked for suggestions}
• If you had to choose only 3 books to read forever, which ones would you choose? {source}
• Is there a character that you absolutely love but that you cannot get a good mental picture of? {source}
• Make a plea for your favorite book. Make others wanna read it! {source}
• If you could create a soundtrack for a book you’ve read recently, which songs would you use and why? {source}
• Do you read outside your preferred genre? Has your preferred genre changed? {source}
• Do you have a favorite book/movie combination? {source}
• Name a book that you thought you wouldn’t like much, but you ended up loving. {source}
• If you were Book Czar of the world, is there one book you would like to require every kid to read? {source}

My pick and answer is:
Today, those that participate in the meme, can choose any or all questions to answer.  I will be responding to 2 of them.  They are:

• Do you read outside your preferred genre? Has your preferred genre changed?
I have always been a mystery/suspense reader, however, I have broadened into different genres over the past few years.   Contemporary literature, especially with family/friend dynamics, I now find to be enjoyable reads.  Another genre, that has interested me that never had, are memoirs.  The ones I have read has left an impact on me.   But one genre, which seems to be very popular, I have no interest in or think I would enjoy is fantasy, PNR, YA etc.   That genre is way out of my comfort zone and think that it will stay that way.

• Name a book that you thought you wouldn’t like much, but you ended up loving.
I tend not to read any espionage or where the synopsis is about international government agencies and that have a lot of legalese, etc.  But have read 2 books by author Mark Gilleo, with some of those elements, and they blew me away.  Both Love Thy Neighbor and Sweat were page turning reads.  Love Thy Neighbor, a debut novel with 400+ pages and a story line of international terrorists, would have been a book that I wouldn’t even think of picking up.  But due to it touring with PICT, I had to read and was dreading because of the plot, a debut novel and number of pages, proved me wrong.  It read as if it was written by a seasoned author, even though it had 400+ pages, I read it in a couple of days because I could not put it down.  The author, Mark Gilleo, is now on my “authors to be read” list.

What about you?  What question would you like to answer?

November is being hosted by Edgy Inspirational Romance

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.
According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
Click on title for synopsis via Amazon

Tuesdsay:  Kiss And Tell by TJ Cooke from Author
Tuesday:  Sinatra And Me by Tony Consiglio from Finn Partners