Get Excited for Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas & Book Giveaway

Oh how I wish I was giving away copies of Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas, but no. I'm afraid I'm going to have to sit tight and wait for this book's release just like the rest of you.

You ARE anxiously awaiting Rainshadow Road, too, right? Did you read the first chapter excerpt on Lisa's website yet? No?! What are you waiting for? Go read it HERE. Go ahead and read it right now. I'll wait for you....

So what did you think? I love this opening scene. Already I'm in love with the Pacific Northwest setting. I was lucky to visit the region two summers ago with my family, so I can attest to the grandness of it's natural and rugged beauty and I can see why Lisa Kleypas chose this particular setting for her Friday Harbor series. It truly is a majestic place and invokes a sense of both peace and wonder.

As for Lucy Marinn and Sam Nolan, in just one opening scene, we can see there's a subtle chemistry between them, don't you think? I can already tell their relationship is going to be a sweet discovery, although it's not going to be so straightforward. There's some obstacles in this love story of which we already know and I'm sure even more to come as the story progresses. One thing we definitely know about Lucy is her strong sense of caution when it comes to relationships with men, and who can blame her after the awful break up she's going through. Oh, but you haven't heard the details of that one yet, have you? Well, as a member of Lisa's Divas I was able to read the second chapter excerpt recently, and let me tell you the break-up is a tough one. I hope Sam is good at convincing Lucy of love and happily ever after. Although, to tell you the truth--he's going to need some convincing of the possibility of that, too! I can't wait to see how Lisa Kleypas brings these two characters together.

To help get you psyched for the February 28, 2012 release of Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas, I'm giving away three beautifully bound hardcover copies of the first book by Lisa that introduces us to Friday Harbor and the Nolan brothers.... Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor.

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor is the story of Mark Nolan and Maggie Collins, the owner of a very special toy store in Friday Harbor. This heartwarming story is so charming and will leave you believing in the magic of love.

You can read my review of Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor HERE. I can't believe I read it way back in October 2010! That was many, many books ago for me, but the characters, their story and the setting!--are still fresh in my mind.

Want to be entered for a chance to win Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor? Just follow these steps and rules:

• Leave a comment below telling me your favorite book by Lisa Kleypas and you're entered in the giveaway.
• Haven't read a book yet by Lisa Kleypas? Then leave a comment below telling me why you'd like to read this one. 
• Be sure to leave your email address in your comment if it is not easily found on your profile.
• Open to US and Canada only. It's out of my budget to mail outside these two zones--I'm sorry.
• Giveaway ends on Friday, February 3, 2012, 5 pm EST at which time I'll use random.org to select three winners.
• Winners will be notified by email and have three days to get back to me with their mailing information or their prize will be forfeited and another winner will be selected.

Good luck!  

To discover more about Lisa Kleypas and her books, visit her website at http://LisaKleypas.com.

There's also a great interview with Lisa that includes a lot of talk about Rainshadow Road at SmartBitches website HERE. The book giveaway is over, but do go read the interview with Lisa--it's very good!


NOTE: I'm one of "Lisa's Divas" - a group of select fans who share info & content related to Lisa's novels and get sneak peeks & swag in return. Including the copies of Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor provided for this giveaway! 

Library Loot XLVI

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries! This week's Library Loot is at Marg's. 


My first library loot post of 2012! Last year, 47 out of the 100 books I read were borrowed from the library! Can you tell I love the library? :)
Cookbooks:

   
Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Recipes from The Moosewood Collective.. lots of contributors!
Eat Well Live Well with Gluten Intolerance by Susanna Holt

Looking for some recipes that I can eat during the detox plan I've been following for the last seventeen days. 17 down 11 to go... To read more about the detox I'm doing, check out these posts.

Craft book:
Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts.
Woops. I borrowed the wrong book. I was looking for the Encyclopedia of Crafts. Oh well, I'll thumb through this one anyway. It's not like I have time to craft or sew anyway these days..

In fiction:



The Next Always by Nora Roberts
I've been on hold for this book for weeks and weeks. Finally it's my turn and the copy my library has is the large print one. I kind of don't want to read it now...





    
King Lear by Shakespeare, graphic interpretation by Gareth Hinds
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, graphic interpretation by Charles Dixon with Sean Deming, illustrated by David Wenzel.
Graphic novels of some classics that I've never read. I'm taking a short cut to gain some basic knowledge of these two stories I've never read.

In music:
Various cds including Eyes Open by Snow Patrol. There's a fun remix version of "Chasing Cars" on this album. I love it! ha! My favorite Snow Patrol song is probably "Run," but unfortunately that's on another album. Have you heard the Leona Lewis version of "Run"? SOoo good. It gives me goosebumps.

Bought from the used book shelf:
I couldn't resist at 50 cents each.

The Christmas Brides by Linda Lael Miller
High Noon by Nora Roberts
WhatHappens In London by Julia Quinn
The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn
Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

What's your latest loot from the library? 

My Favorites of 2011 {Books}

Plus some random book and reading stats thrown in.

I'm finally getting this post up. I started it in the week between Christmas and New Year's and every couple of days I'd make a few tweaks, add some finishing touch, then get distracted, pulled in another direction, etc. You know how it goes. Anyway, here it is-- an overview of the books I read in 2011 by number, genre and favorites.

My 2011 Random Reading Stats: 
I guess I can't really say I read a balanced blend of male and female authors. I read books by female authors over male authors by nearly 8 to 1. Not that it bothers me in the least and I doubt these figures will be much different in 2012.

Male authors read ........ 9
Female authors read .... 69

I read an even 100 books in 2011 which was exactly my goal.  I worked hard at this in the last weeks of December! Some facts on the 100 books I read:

Books read from my shelves ............ 53
Books borrowed from the library ..... 47

Books published in 2011 .......... 28
Books published in 2010 .......... 27
Books published before 2010 ... 45

Books read by genre: 
Romance............................. 37
           Historical Romance............ 16
           Paranormal Romance ......... 13
           Contemporary Romance....... 8

Young Adult ...................... 15
           Urban fantasy/fantasy/PNR ............. 9
           Contemporary .................................. 6

Graphic novel ................... 14
          "Classics" ........................ 5
           Fantasy ........................... 5
           Non-fiction...................... 2
           Contemporary ................ 2

Mystery/Crime fiction..... 14
General Fiction.................. 9
Urban Fantasy .................. 5
Children's Literature.......... 2
Fantasy............................. 2
Steampunk........................ 1
Memoir ............................ 1

I'm happy with the mix of genres I read last year. I'd like to read more... just MORE of everything in 2012, but will make a conscious effort to read more fantasy and steampunk novels this year.

For anyone who's interested, curious or has nothing better to, you can browse my list of the 100 books I read in 2011 HERE.

Otherwise, keep reading for my list of favorites from 2011.

My favorite reads of 2011:
The titles with an asterisk * were published in 2011.

Favorite 'Aren't You Too Old to be Reading That', a.k.a Young Adult:
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Worth Every Single Tear:
The Story of Beautiful Girl * by Rachel Simon
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta


The Best Book Recommendation from a Friend:
The Guernsey and Literary Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I would have completely missed this wonderful read had it not been for Amy sharing her copy of this book with so many blogging friends around the world.

Most Compelling Series:

Guild Hunters by Nalini Singh

Psy-Changeling Series by Nalini Singh

     Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh--definitely one of my very favorite reads of 2011.

Smart & Sexy Historical Romances:
Silk is for Seduction * by Loretta Chase
The Bastard * by Brenda Novak
    Honorable Mention:
    A Lady's Lesson in Scandal * by Meredith Duran

Best Blast from the Past:
The Bride by Julie Garwood

So Good I HAD to Read it AGAIN:
Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh
Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne

Most Heart-Pounding-Edge-of-Your-Seat-Thrilling Read:
Shadowfever *  by Karen Marie Moning

Most Guilty-Pleasure
a.k.a. What IS it about this series that keeps me coming back?
Lover Unleashed * by J.R. Ward

Surprise Favorite Reads:
Elfland by Freda Warrington
The Greyfriar * by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffin
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
I LOVED all three of these books to pieces. I cannot wait to read more by these authors.

Most Read Author of the Year:
Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb with 8 books
followed by Nalini Singh with 5 books

Favorite Cover Art: 
Elfland by Freda Warrington
A Lady's Lesson in Scandal *  by Meredith Duran



 

Were any of these books among your favorite reads in 2011?


Here's to a wonderful year full of great books in 2012!

Reflections on Week 2 : Whole Living {detox} Action Plan

I've just finished Week 2 of the Whole Living Action Plan that I've been following to cleanse my body of impurities, get control over sugar and carb cravings and establish better habits of eating clean {i.e. eating foods as close to their natural state as possible; no packaged or processed foods}.

Carrot Mango Herb Smoothie

How was Week 2? 
Although still challenging to avoid all grains, this week was significantly easier than Week 1. After having eaten ONLY fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and olive oil for a week, I welcomed the addition of seafood, legumes and organic soy in Week 2! These protein and fiber rich foods were more filling and I felt much more satiated after each meal. Here's a list of what I ate in Week 2:

• hot water with fresh squeezed lemon at start of every day.
• detox smoothies for breakfast {Carrot Mango Herb Smoothie is my favorite so far} 
• fresh fruit & vegetables
• steamed or roasted vegetables with olive oil
• nuts & dried fruit trail mix {also Dried Fruit and Nut Bites}
• mixed green salads with black beans and avocado, dressed with lemon or lime juice and olive oil
• red lentil soup
• tofu with red curry coconut sauce
• oven roasted salmon

What have I learned so far?
Be prepared! If you have a few plan-approved snacks prepared in advance, you'll reach for the right foods instead of being tempted by the foods you should be avoiding during the detox. The same goes for the meals. Have a big bowl of greens ready for salads so you can just assemble your salad and eat! Make a big pot of soup in advance and store individual portions in glass jars or microwavable safe containers--ready to heat up when you are.

How do I feel?
I felt really good this week. I have more energy again so I've increased the intensity of my workouts this week almost back to my normal levels. I also feel 'lighter' than I did before starting the detox--which is a good feeling. Not that I thought I felt 'full' or 'bloated' before, but I guess I'm just aware of it now that I feel so much better.

I've lost a total of 6 lbs. on the detox plan so far. This is keeping me motivated to stay on track, although I know this will probably taper off to a rate of 1-2 lbs. a week once I add grains back into my diet.

What do I miss?
Coffee, oh how I miss thee. One afternoon last week I really, really wanted a cookie and a cup of coffee. I survived.

As I forge ahead into Week 3:
In Week 3, eggs and gluten-free grains are re-introduced. I am already planning an omelet with spinach and tomatoes for breakfast tomorrow. I can't wait! I'll also be able to have oats again--I've missed them. FYI, oats are an essentially gluten-free grain, but many popular brands are not able to tout the gluten-free label because they are grown, stored and shipped in ways that may contaminate them with traces of wheat, barely or rye. Since I'm not gluten intolerant, I'm not going to worry about those trace amounts and I'll be digging into my store brand oats this week!

I think the return of eggs and oats in my diet this week will allow me to have a breakfast that will better fuel me for my regular full speed ahead workouts. We shall see..

I already have a few dinners planned this week with brown rice, rice noodles and the superpower grain quinoa. I've only had quinoa a few times in the past, so I'm looking forward to getting to know this grain again.


Here's to healthier, whole living!



For more information about the Whole Living Action Plan 2012, visit Whole Living at http://wholeliving.com/challenge-action.

My First Snowshoe Event

Today was the Romp to Stomp out Breast Cancer Snowshoe 5K and it was a blast! First and foremost, however, with the help of many generous friends, I am pleased to report that I raised $335 for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. Most of this funding is used to provide essential breast care education, screening and support to women without access proper medical coverage.

Thank you very, very much to those of you who made a donation on my behalf--your support is very much appreciated. Every bit will help stomp out breast cancer.

The evening before the snowshoe event, I drove up to the ski resort with one of my friends where we joined a group of women she knew who organized the rental of some condos at the resort. We woke up this morning to several inches of snow on the ground, which to me, made this event so much more exciting. It snowed all day while we were up there and I loved it!

The start line of the Snowshoe 5K. Go pink!

The snowshoe walk took place right on the slopes on trails marked off for walkers right alongside the ski trails. We shared part of the trail with skiers and other parts were just for the snowshoers. I had expected the snowshoe trail to be flat, but we actually had some decent inclines to walk up and down, making for a pretty decent workout! If you are a skier, the steep parts were walking up a blue trail. Of course, being the kickass athletes that we are {haha!}, three of us when up and down the steepest part of the trail three times before continuing on with the rest of the walk! ;)

A pic of me at the finish line. 

I had so much fun snowshoeing that I think I might invest in a pair of my own snowshoes!

Thank you again to those of you who supported my cause today. As always, I appreciate you wonderful support! xo

REVIEW: The Longest Night by Kathleen O'Reilly

Published June 1, 2004 by Harlequin
TBR Challenge 2012 : January : category romance

I just finished reading this book this morning and surprisingly, it's the first book I've read in 2012. I'm off to a very slow start with my reading this year. Hopefully it'll pick up from here.

The optional theme for this month's TBR Challenge was a category romance, so I pulled this one out of the pile. Having thoroughly enjoyed the O'Sullivan trilogy by Kathleen O'Reilly a couple of years ago, I thought The Longest Night would be a good choice. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.

Cassandra Ward is gorgeous, sexy and single. When Cassandra walks into a room, men notice. Those who pursue her learn quickly that Cassandra is willing to play the game of seduction as long as her rules are followed. No emotions, no strings attached--Cassandra is not interested in a long term relationship and marriage is out of the question. Unfortunately, she operates this way because trying to be seen or treated any other way by men has always been futile. If you can't fight 'em, join 'em.

At one time, Noah Barclay turned down Cassandra's attempt at seducing him, not wanting to be one of her boy toys. However, it's been months and he can't get her out of his head. Determined to win Cassandra's attention and affection in a genuine relationship, he proposes to court her the good old fashioned way with dates and kissing only--something no other man has every offered her. Despite this being risky business of breaking her own rules of emotional attachment, Cassandra cautiously agrees. The question is can she truly open up to someone, be herself and fall in love?

The premise of this story is refreshing--a welcomed reversal of a gender stereotype. Unfortunately, it didn't hold up for me. Neither the characters nor the conflict were fully developed, leaving me wanting more on all those fronts. A lot more. For example, we learn that Cassandra was hurt badly by her first love who couldn't trust her, but we never really learn the details of what actually happened between them. This old love even comes back on the scene to try to win Cassandra back, but their dialogue only implies a major fall out over him trusting her, never fully revealing the story to the reader. Knowing Cassandra's past would have helped me relate to her in the present, and perhaps I would have felt more connected to her story. I kept feeling like there was more to know about her, but that information was just out of reach.

As for Noah, his character fell a little flat and well, one dimensional. Yes, he wanted more from Cassandra than just her body, but why? What was it about her other than his physical attraction did he fall for? Her strength, confidence and intelligence? Those are some of Cassandra's best traits that I saw--but if that's what Noah saw, too, it wasn't spelled out in the story. It would have been nice to know why Noah fell for Cassandra.

Overall, The Longest Night didn't impress me, but it was a quick read that entertained me on a flight home earlier this week.

GRADE: C

Reflections on Week 1: Whole Living {detox} Action Plan

Wow. It's been a week since I last posted. I have so much to share. One of the reasons it was so quiet here is because we went on getaway over the holiday weekend and even though I brought my laptop with me, I barely had any time to blog. But I'll tell more about our trip later. Tonight I want to take the opportunity to share some of my reflections on the detox plan I've been following. I think self-reflection is very important in our every day lives, but even more so when we're being challenged--whether that challenge be chosen or forced upon us. For me, putting my self-reflection to words helps even more. In the case of the detox plan, sharing my experience reinforces its purpose and my goals, which will then help me stay inspired and focused in the next week. Sharing it with you just makes it that much more fun!

If you missed my post last week about the detox plan, you can read about it in my previous post, Whole Living {detox} Action Plan. Basically, this detox plan is a food based plan that is designed to sort of reboot your digestive system by eating only pure, whole plant based foods, allowing your body to cleanse itself of impurities. At first this sounded far fetched. Detox your body? By eating vegetables, fruit and nuts? ... But the more I read about the plan, what to do, how it worked and why it's good for you, the more it made sense and the more I wanted to do it. And now here I am already nine days into the plan!

What do I want to get out of the detox plan?
First and foremost, I want to get rid of the cravings for simple carbs such as sugar and wheat based carbs. Foods like bread, pasta, rice, crackers, chips, cookies and other baked treats. If all goes according to plan, if I'm not reaching for those foods anymore, I'll be able to lose weight more readily. Another goal, which I've come to appreciate more as I've learned more about the chemistry of a body cleanse, is to clear toxins from my system and give me a clean start to healthier living.

How did Week 1 go?
It was tough! I had a miserable headache the first day from just after lunch until I went to bed. I'm sure this was due to caffeine withdrawal. I had lingering, mild headaches on and off for the next couple of days, but by the fourth and fifth days, I started to feel better--and different! Even though I was definitely tired in the late afternoon, I wasn't feeling sluggish or bloated anymore. Just wholesomely tired.

What have I learned so far?
I don't eat until I'm full ... I eat until I'm not hungry. Yes, there is a difference.

I start my morning with a mug of hot water with a squeeze of fresh lemon. Sounds terribly boring, but it is actually quite soothing. The lemon juice triggers your liver to release cleansing digestive enzymes

The detox plan is a restful, healing process. I thought I could do my regular workouts during the detox, but after not feeling so great a couple of hours after a tough workout on Day 3, I finally dug up some information on the plan that said Week 1 is a restful, healing week and vigorous exercise should be avoided. Stretching, walking and strength training is okay, but not heavy duty cardio. Oops.

You actually can stick to this detox plan while you travel. It was exceptionally difficult to do, but I did it with only a few minor infringements. I ordered edamame at a Japanese restaurant on Day 5 and only remembered that I wasn't supposed to have soy until Day 7 after I'd eaten most of the beans. Then on Day 6 I was famished and the only food available to eat were these absolutely delicious Indian snacks made with spinach and chickpea flour, which I ate. Again, I wasn't supposed to have chickpeas or other legumes until Day 7. I also had some sips of regular, unsweetened iced tea, which does have some caffeine. Again, it was what was available and I was thirsty! All in all, not such bad cheats while away from home for the long weekend. I forgive myself.

What do I miss?
Coffee!!! Is it the remnants of caffeine addiction or is it just something I really enjoy? The ritual, the smell, the taste?

Any surprises?
I can't believe that I ate ONLY vegetables, fruit, nuts and olive oil, kosher salt and freshly ground pepper for a week. No added sugar, no grains, no dairy, no meat, no alcohol and no caffeine for the last nine days. Except for a few sips of unsweetened iced tea.

I lost about 3 pounds in Week 1.

What happens in Week 2?
I can't believe today is the end of Week 2 Day 2 already, but it's true! Having come this far, I feel like I've sealed the deal and I'm sticking through to the end. In Week 2, seafood, legumes and organic soy are re-introduced. I'm hoping the addition of these protein sources will give me what I need to pick up the level of my workouts again. I miss running around, jumping, kicking and pedaling!

Here's to healthier, whole living!



For more information about the Whole Living Action Plan 2012, visit Whole Living at http://wholeliving.com/challenge-action .

Whole Living {detox} Action Plan 2012

Beet Carrot Smoothie 

All my talk last week about getting back on board with calorie counting on the Lose It app?

That's going on hold.

I decided to do something different to jump start my way to healthier eating this month. On Monday, I started the 21 day detox plan that's featured in the January-February 2012 issue of Whole Living magazine. and can also be found online at http://wholeliving.com/challenge-action. It's called the Whole Living Action Plan 2012 and is basically a detox plan that's designed to give your liver and entire digestive system, really, a break from the stresses of the foods so typical in our diets. I'm looking at as a way to give my mind and body a clean slate for the New Year and hopefully eliminate cravings for sugar and simple carbs that seem to be the pitfall of healthy eating and living.

Foods that are completely off limits for the entire 21 days [28 days if you do the bonus week] are processed foods and beverages, added sugar, dairy, gluten, caffeine and alcohol. No coffee... :(

Week 1: Eat ONLY fruits, vegetables and plant-based fats such as nuts, seeds and oils.

Week 2: Reintroduce seafood, legumes, beans and organic soy.

Week 3: Reintroduce eggs and gluten-free grains.

Week 4 [the Bonus week]: Reintroduce lean proteins such as chicken and beef, dairy and grains with gluten [wheat, barley, rye..] in moderation. Maybe a sip or two of coffee? 

I started this plan on Monday, so I've survived the first two days! Although I am about to go to bed a little hungry, at least today I didn't have that awful caffeine withdrawal headache I had yesterday.

Have you ever followed a detox or cleansing plan before? Survived coffee withdrawal? 


Interested in joining me? 

If you're interested in learning more about the plan, visit Whole Living at http://wholeliving.com/challenge-action . You can also follow Whole Living magazine on twitter at @WholeLiving and or follow participants like me [@ChristineA] on the plan with the hashtag #WLActionPlan.

Wish me luck! :)

TBR Challenge 2012

Host: Wendy the Super Librarian

Challenge: Read one book per month from your TBR pile in 2012 and post commentary on it somewhere by the third Wednesday of the month. There are optional monthly themes as well.

Time frame: January to December 2012

The TBR Challenge was one of the first reading challenges I ever signed up for back in 2008 when Keishon was the host. I was never able to keep up with the scheduled dates and didn't do well with the pressure of having to write reviews as part of the requirement. I kind of missed the challenge, though. There's something extra satisfactory about pulling a book off your own shelf that has been there for so long and finally reading it. So I'm going to give this challenge a go again.

For more information about this challenge, including the monthly review days and theme suggestions and to sign up for this challenge, visit Wendy HERE.

Wish me luck on this one! January's read is due in 10 days!

I'll keep a list of the books I read for this challenge and links to their reviews and or commentary here in this post:

January:      a category romance 
February:    a recommended read
March:        series catch-up
April:          new-to-you author
May:           old school [published prior to 2000]
June:           western
July:            how did this get here?
August:       steamy reads
September:  genre other than romance
October:      paranormal or romantic suspense
November:  all about the hype 
December:   holiday themes  


January:       The Longest Night by Kathleen O'Reilly
February:
March:
April:
May:
June:
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:

The Big Book Challenge 2012

Host: orannia from Walkabout

Challenge: Read one big book before the end of 2012 that is over 400 pages, preferably one you have been putting off reading because of its length.

Time frame: January 1 to December 31, 2012

My goal: Read TWO big books in 2012.
[Since I failed to read ONE last year... ]

I will read Eon and Eona by Allison Goodman.

For more information and to sign up for this challenge yourself, go HERE.