Books From the Backlog - British Murder Mysteries Boxed Set

This is a fun meme for sharing your TBR pile! There used to be another meme about neglected TBR books, known as Dusty Reads. That meme died and recently this one popped up. I'm delighted to participate and I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog. Join the fun and share a neglected book from your shelf.

This week's neglected book ~

February Reading Challenge Wrap Up

This year I'm participating in 5 year-long challenges, and may do some short-term challenges throughout the year. Let's see how I did and you can share your accomplishments in the comments.

January Reading Challenge Wrap Up

This year I'm participating in 5 year-long challenges, and may do some short-term challenges throughout the year. Let's see how I did, and you can share your progress in the comments.

2017 HoHoHo Read-A-Thon Sign-up Post

Yes! I've been waiting for this event since last year's ended. The HoHoHo Read-A-Thon is a week long event, hosted by the Caffeinated Reviewer, focused on reading books with winter or holiday themes. They can be any genre - romance, mystery, etc. - and any length.

There will be a Twitter party, games and challenges, and prizes. For all of the details, and to sign up, go here

As always, I have a lot of books that fit this theme. My list is an ambitious one and I likely won't finish them all, but that's part of the fun. :) Also, I tend to be a mood reader so the list is subject to change. I have almost 2 dozen unread holiday/winter books, most of them from previous years so I may read one not on the list below.

Slay Bells Ring by Karen Rose Smith (ebook, mystery) - Read 11/9 - 11/11. Review on 11/27
How the Finch Stole Christmas by Donna Andrews (ebook, mystery) - Started 11/14
A Wedding for Christmas by Lori Wilde (paperback,romance) - changed my mind 
Christmas in Destiny by Toni Blake (paperback, romance) - changed my mind
Burning Bright: Four Chanukah Love Stories (ebook,romance anthology)
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (audio book, classic)
The Chimes by Charles Dickens (audio book, classic) -  Listened 11/9
Holiday Wishes by Jill Shalvis  - Read 11/8
The Negotiator by HelenKay Dimon - Read 11/11. Review on 11/14
Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan - Started reading 11/12
Sleigh Bells Ring by Jodie Griffin - Read 11/13

It's The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day! Celebrate with a Giveaway!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day, usually on the first day of spring, is celebrated nationally at schools, libraries, and bookstores.  The Eric Carle museum, located in Amherst, MA, celebrates it every year with fun art activities. I've been to the museum and it's wonderful. They have amazing exhibits, not just on Eric Carle's works and fantastic programs for children. Today, with help from the publisher, we're celebrating The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day here at the Nook.

Bea Reviews The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services 
Source: purchased
Release Date: May 17, 2012
Challenges: Dust Off Your Classics
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | OmniLit* | Barnes & Noble | goodreads
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

This is Oscar Wilde's tale of the American family moved into a British mansion, Canterville Chase, much to the annoyance its tired ghost. The family -- which refuses to believe in him -- is in Wilde's way a commentary on the British nobility of the day -- and on the Americans, too. The tale, like many of Wilde's, is rich with allusion, but ends as sentimental romance. . .

Quote-Tastic #46 I can always get back if anything goes wrong

Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed you for one reason or another. Everyone's welcome to join in - authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier! Just grab the button and put up your post :) Don't have a blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section.  Quote-tastic is hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup.

This week, the 12th through the  18th, is Children's Book Week. I'm celebrating all week with reviews and giveaways of childrens for kids of all ages. So for today's meme, I picked some quotes from one of my fave kids books, "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe". It's a classic, in kids books, fantasy books, Christian books, and inspirational books. You can enjoy it on one level or many levels.

Review of First (Wrong) Impressions by K. Ball

Publisher: K. Ball
Format Read: Kindle Book
Source: From the author in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: June 2, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon*  | Kobo | Barnes & Noble |
* link goes to my associate link and sales will provide me with a commission.

Blurb from the author:

Lizzy Bennet’s fundraising mission is to keep her homeless centre’s clients well-fed through a cold prairie winter. She meets the snobby and pompous William Darcy of Fitz & William Enterprises. While she'd never dare ask him for help, she can't stop bumping into him -- sometimes, quite literally.

But when Lizzy's campaign is cut short by the disappearance of her sixteen year old sister, William and his younger sister step in to help the woman they want to make part of their family.

Inspired by Jane Austen's classic, Pride and Prejudice, First (Wrong) Impressions is Lizzy's quest for happiness, security, and love in the 21st century. 

New Book by Krista D. Ball!!

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Krista's books. I own all but a few and have enjoyed them. She has something very different coming out next week, not at all like her fantasies and sci fi's. No, "First (Wrong) Impressions" is is a modern update on Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice", and it's available on Sunday, June 2nd. Even better, it will be FREE Sunday through Thursday June 6th so if you aren't sure you'll like this genre switch or you have never read Krista before, you can get it and all it will cost you is your time. It's only available on Amazon on kindle format, but if you need it in another format, you can email Krista and she'll send it to you; kristadball@gmail.com

Happy Birthday J.R.R. Tolkien!

It's J.R.R. Tolkien's birthday today. If he were still alive, he'd be 121 years old, practically a teenager in the elven world.

1892 Christmas card of the Tolkien family

I used to read both "The Hobbit" and The Lord of the Rings" every summer right up until college. My re-readings since then have been sporadic but I've read some of his other works. I was hesitant when it was first announced that The LotR was being made into a movie, certain they would not do justice to the books. I was pleasantly surprised and while I don't love adaptation of "The Hobbit", I'm glad it was done. Tolkien had an incredible imagination, combined with tremendous scholarship and his works have given me many hours of pleasure.

Happy Birthday C.S. Lewis!

Actually, his birthday was yesterday, November 29th, but I was neck-deep in edits; today I'm only hip-deep. :D

Today, Lewis is best known for his children's series, The Chronicles of Narnia, but he wrote many more books. Most of them, I believe, have Christian themes, as do the Narnia books. However, I've only read his Narnia books so I may be mistaken.

As a child I loved the Narnia books, they were among my favorites. I only owned "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" but I regularly checked out the others from my school library, the town library and the base library and read them repeatedly. I just realized, I still only own the first book; I never did get around to buying the entire series. :D Bad Bea!

It wasn't until I was in college that I really realized all of the Christian subtext in the Narnia books. My roommate my sophomore year loved the books also and we stayed up late many nights discussing the books: the characters, the action, the detailing, the themes and subtexts. We had many, many discussions that lasted until the early morning hours.

If you're not familiar with the Narnia books, they take place in another world, accessed from Earth, but they are fantasy, not sci fi. Four siblings travel to Narnia and have many adventures. I loved the talking animals, the mythological creatures, and I really loved that little Lucy, the youngest of the siblings, was the smart, courageous, steadfast one. She was the youngest and the littlest, and on Earth, got the least amount of respect, but in Narnia, she was hot stuff. Being the youngest of four, two boys and two girls, just like the books, I could relate.

I was very happy when the first Narnia live action film came out a few years ago; I hoped it would equal or rival the Harry Potter films but alas, that failed to happen. :( So far, there have been 3 books made into movies; the first is my favorite but it was also my favorite of the books. I still have hope that the remaining 4 books will be turned into films. I would see them for sure! Hey, I've had my ticket to The Hobbit for several weeks now! Only 2 more weeks until it comes out. :)

I don't know how I'll make the time but sometime soon, I need to re-read the series. Library, here I come!