Apparently it’s Monday again, so time to link up with Sheila from Book Journey to share what I am reading.
It’s also Australia Day here in Oz, which means two very important things… firstly, it’s a public holiday (so #yay); and secondly bloggers around Australia are participating in a blog hop / link-up bookish giveaway. Here’s a link to my post if you’re an Aussie dweller and keen to enter, and I’d encourage you to check out Shelleyrae’s blog, Book’d Out, for a list of all of those participating.
What I read
I had a slightly more fruitful reading week this past week.
As planned I read Unlock Your Style, however… I still didn’t get to Simsion’s Rosie Project and / or Effect as some new books appeared.
A novella by Tony Parsons, Dead Time, popped up in my NetGalley approvals; and I received two books via Hachette. (I don’t get a lot of real books so get ridiculously excited by their arrival!) These were my bread and butter type books as well. Alex Kava’s Breaking Creed; and JD Robb’s latest, Obsession in Death. (And regular readers may recall JD Robb is one of my go-to authors and her In Death series one of my coping mechanisms!)
What I wrote
I published reviews of Unlock Your Style and my blog stats for the day increased about ten-fold as the author, Nikki, shared my post on her FB page!
I also published my review of Kava’s Breaking Creed on the blog – a book which was a tad predictable but one I inhaled in a sitting.
My review of The Girl in the Photograph by Kate Riordan went live and I also published my (not-so-positive) review of Tony Parson’s novella Dead Time in Goodreads.
In a book-heavy week I also wrote about non-scale victories and the fact I was dreading my personal training (PT) session during which my trainer would want to weigh me. (And received a lot of useful feedback and lovely support!)
This week’s reading
Graeme Simsion’s two Rosie books still sit in a little pile on my desk – haunting me and flaunting their to-be-readness. #bastards We’ll be seeing their owner soon so I really ‘should’ try to read them. Soon.
I’ve also got a book I won around Christmas time by an Aussie blogger, Kelly Exeter called Your Best Year Yet. It’s only short but probably something which could be useful given that I’ve been in a bit of a grumpy mood of late!
As for this week’s other reading… I’m really not sure. I’ve now finished devouring all of the DVDs I bought at Christmas so have more time on my hands again! You’ll just have to check back in next week to see what I got up to. 😉
What’s on your agenda for the week?
January 26, 2015
You had a great reading week I see. There’s nothing better! I am jealous that you haven’t read the Rosie books yet. You will now have the pleasure of reading them for the first time. I look forward to the review!
Also, thanks for the mention of NetGallery and Hatchette… I am interested to see what they are about and have commenced my investigations 🙂
This week on my reading schedule: slogging through the last 1/3 of Mansfield Park (worst. Austen. ever); sadly finishing my first foray into Manga, with Rurouni Kenshin vols. 1-3; and devouring the rest of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Then… maybe starting Tom Jones? We shall see.
Happy reading!!
January 26, 2015
Yes Kellyanne – NetGalley offers access to electronic books for reviewers – usually just for a limited time etc.
And yes I really must get to The Rosie Project this week.
Deb
January 26, 2015
I’m in awe of how much you can read in a week. It’s a good week for me if I get half a book done.Even if I’m determined to get a lot read, I seem to always end up asleep.
January 26, 2015
I have to schedule the time in Char, but having said that the time I do read (approx 5.30 – 7.30pm) is the only time I struggle. I’ve always lived by myself so am used to it, but for some reason I get really unsettled from late afternoon – guess that’s the time when people with partners and families are catching up at the end of the day, bathing kids, planning dinner etc.
If I get too behind in my reviewing I force myself to skip reading for a few days but I usually miss it.
January 26, 2015
Leaving test comment.
January 26, 2015
Hope you’ve had a great Australian day/weekend. Love public holidays and celebrating your country is extra special. Oh my the latest in Death book, I’m only at #15 completed, but at least I have happy reading for a few more years to come. Hope you enjoy it.
January 26, 2015
I started collecting them and got to about 12 or 13 and the place I got them from ran out. I’ve then got the last 6 or so! (But read them all obviously!)
They’re a must-read for me.
January 26, 2015
Well happy Australian Day!!! That’s pretty cool 🙂
January 26, 2015
Thanks Sheila!
January 26, 2015
I’ve really been wanting to read the In Death series. I have the first one sitting on my Kindle, but just haven’t made it there yet. Hope you have another great week reading. 🙂
Brooke at http://www.brookeblogs.com
January 26, 2015
Oh Brooke, they’re great. I can’t believe there have been 40 of them!!!
Deb
January 26, 2015
Happy Australia Day – reading an Aussie author seems a fitting thing to do this week. Hope you enjoy the Rosie Project as much as I did 🙂
January 26, 2015
I actually read it in a sitting tonight Brona. I’m not sure why I put it off for so long!
Deb
January 26, 2015
Enjoy your new reads, I’m keeping away from Netgalley at the moment, I have too many queued!
Have a great week
January 26, 2015
I’ve only got about 3 waiting for me in NetGalley Shelleyrae, but they aren’t being published until April, so I requested a few today. Fingers crossed!
Deb
January 26, 2015
Seems like you got a pretty interesting week! 🙂 I haven’t read any of J.D. Robb’s works but I’ve heard good things about them.
Happy reading!
January 26, 2015
Aizel, in all honesty each book is probably a 3 star book for me (which is good as I’m a tough judge) but overall the series is a 4 – so it’s one of my favourites.
Deb
January 26, 2015
How great that the author shared your review on FB! I love it when that happens because you know they really appreciated your review. What a shame you didn’t enjoy ‘Dead TIme’ but I guess you can’t love everything! Enjoy Australia Day!! Thanks for sharing 🙂 Have a great week!
My Monday post
Juli @ Universe in Words
January 26, 2015
Thanks Juli!
January 26, 2015
I really like Nikki’s blog, nice to see a real adult woman with a practical style site. Most of the ones I have seen are by early 20 somethings, which is wonderful for other early 20 somethings but not as helpful for me!
January 26, 2015
Ah yes. Someone recently shared a link to some reality TV show which had started here featuring style / fashion bloggers, but they looked more like models or wannabe models. I actually stopped buying and reading any fashion magazines (from Cleo / Cosmo to Vogue / Marie Claire) decades ago because there was no way I was ever going to fit into the sort of stuff they have in them!
January 26, 2015
Enjoy the holiday and your great new books!
January 26, 2015
Thanks so much!
Deb
January 26, 2015
Happy Australia Day! Enjoy the blog hopping.
January 27, 2015
Thanks Catherine!
January 26, 2015
Hello lovely Deb – so thrilled to see my book on your reading list! It’s a ‘one-hour-coffee-break’ read and I hope you really enjoy it (or at least get one little takeaway from it!)
Kel x
January 27, 2015
Thanks Kelly. I’ve started it already and have little tags on some pages and quotes which have ‘spoken’ to me!
January 26, 2015
Hope you had a good Australia day! My sister-in-law gave me some of the In Death series, and I agree they were great! Unfortunately I haven’t continued reading but that may be something I have to remedy soon!
January 27, 2015
They’re easy to read aren’t they? I call them my comfort books cos they always make me feel better. And – on the whole – I can re-read them after a little gap.
January 27, 2015
Happy Australia Day! And have a great reading week….The Girl in the Photograph looks intriguing. Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.
January 27, 2015
Thanks Laurel.
January 27, 2015
Happy Australia Day to you, sorry if I’m a bit late! Nice to discover your blog via Sheila’s meme. Happy reading this week!
January 27, 2015
Hello Lindsay and nice to virtually meet you as well!
Deb
January 27, 2015
A lovely week for you. Hope you had a great Australia Day. Looking forward to Obsession in Death!
January 27, 2015
Ah yes… it did take two sittings but was an enjoyable read!
January 27, 2015
I read the first few J.D. Robb books. I enjoyed them, but I need to get back to them. Very good series.
I hope you have a great week!
January 27, 2015
I clicked on “posting comment” too fast. I wanted to add Happy Australia Day!
January 27, 2015
Thanks so much!
January 27, 2015
I’ve read the first 20 or so a couple of times. Once when I first discovered them and then when I started buying them. I suspect at some point in the future – I might re-read the entire series again in some sort of ‘In Death’ binge-reading fest!
January 27, 2015
Haha, the Rosie books mocking you is cracking me up. It certainly seems like they are asking to be read, doesn’t it?? If it helps, the first book at least was a quick read!
January 28, 2015
Lindsey I finally read The Rosie Project (and read it in a sitting!). I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it – after putting it off for so long!
January 27, 2015
I listened to Naked in Death and enjoyed it, so I went searching the library for the second one on audio. They don’t have it! What kind of tease is that, to have the first but not the second? I need to get over it and just check it out in print but I’m obviously still a little upset. Enjoy your week!
January 27, 2015
Do you believe I’ve never listened to an audio book?! I just don’t think it’s something I’d like though I guess I should try at some point!
January 27, 2015
Im with you on the audio books too!
I wonder why I dont? Ill do e books 🙂 but the listening? isnt reading to me for some reason….
January 28, 2015
I assume people listen to them while doing other things and I can’t imagine how I’d focus enough to get every nuance etc. Plus it would take AGES. I read pretty quickly. But… I should try one sometime!
January 28, 2015
Hope your Australia Day was great Deb! Lady Elliot Island was amazing if you’re into marine and wildlife, which I am. Have you been? Are you in Bundaberg or Gladstone? for some reason I had it in my head you were south of the gold coast?? Can’t believe I’ve not given Lady Elliot a thought before now, being that it’s practically on our doorstep.
I’m hoping to get to The Rosie Project soon, not too sure about the 2nd book though … keen to see your thoughts on it. Have a great week and happy reading 🙂
January 28, 2015
Oh, I thought you were from NSW or SA for some reason. Where do you live? I’m actually in Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast).
February 2, 2015
Hervey Bay aww love that place, my dad is at Tin Can Bay so we are up your way fairly regularly. I’m in Brisbane lol … we were both a little off base.
February 2, 2015
Absolutely. I was in Brissy until my seachange (just over 2yrs ago). I lived in Morningside which was a great spot – though the daily commute to work in the city / valley was pretty horrendous!
January 29, 2015
I am intrigued by Your Best Year Yet. I am sure everyone has aspects of their lives that they would like to change or improve – I know that I do! I will have to check out your review!
January 29, 2015
Will make sure I flag it in next Monday’s post Erin.
January 30, 2015
Hi Deborah! I used to read books by JD Robb’s other identity 😛 Lots and lots of those books, while I was in high school. I read a couple of JD Robb books though, and it’s been a while — very good to see a familiar author’s name pop up again!
Your Best Year Yet sounds great!
January 30, 2015
Hi Ellen, I’m always a bit torn with Nora Roberts’ novels. I’m not a fan of too much fiction but often she gets the suspense / romance balance right and I enjoy them too. (And – like the In Death series – they’re an easy read!)
Deb