In My Mailbox - 4/25/11

In My Mailbox (IMM) is hosted by The Story Siren.  This is a weekly bookish meme wherein we show what we have received by mail, borrowed, or purchased and allows me personally to keep track of my TBR pile! 

In my mailbox this week is . . .

Red Blooded Murder by Laura Caldwell (thank you paperbackswap.com!!)

A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams (Books By the Bay #1) (thank you paperbackswap.com!!)

Mosaic Bible by Tynsdale Publishers (I won this one from the publisher for being one of the first 100 people to post their contest/giveaway on my blog!!)

What are you reading this week??

Have a great week,
Books Are Life,
Heather

April Showers!

Well, here in the Midwest the weather is definitely taking us on a ride - snow, rain, thunderstorms, a little bit of everything! 
As I was at work today I couldn't help but thing that this is fabulous weather to just tuck in and read your favorite book!

Now that I PASSED my graduate school comprehensive exam I have more time to get back into my reading.  So excited!

What is your favorite genre to read on a rainy day?

Books Are Life,
Heather

IT'S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING??

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag returns with her second thriller in the Deeper than the Dead microseries, exploring the early days of forensic investigation, the characteristics of innocence-and the nature of evil.

Deeper than the Dead was fabulous, so I am looking forward to seeing the ride that this book takes me on!

Happy Monday,
Books Are Life,
Heather

Review - Buzz Off by Hannah Reed

Title:  Buzz Off (Queen Bee Mystery #1)
Author:  Hannah Reed
Publication Date:  2010
Publisher:  Berkley
ISBN: 0425236420

Synopsis: It's September - National Honey Month - in Moraine, Wisconsin. After her mentor in the honey business is found suspiciously stung to death in his apiary, beekeeper Story Fischer must sort through a swarm of suspects, including her ex-husband.

My Thoughts:  I was excited to start this new cozy series as it is set in Wisconsin, the state where I was born and raised.  I did enjoy recognizing Wisconsin landmarks such as Milwaukee where I grew up, but I have to admit that I struggled through this entire book.  For some reason, I just didn't feel connected to any of the characters and found the story slow and somewhat disconnected.  Overall, the book took me way longer than any cozy should.  Not the cozy I expected.

Overall Rating: :) :) :) It was ok!

And remember,
Books Are Life,
Heather

Waiting on Wednesday!!

I'm eagerly waiting for . . .

Lost and Fondue by Avery Aames (Cheeseshop Mystery #2)

What are you waiting for?

Books Are Life,

Heather

National Library Week!!

It's National Library Week!

Let's celebrate our local libraries and our great librarians!

What is your favorite library??

Mine is . . . Vernon Area Public Library Districe

Lincolnshire, IL

Happy Tuesday!

Heather 

Book Blog Hop!!!!

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!  This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below!!

The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don't have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun!  This is a weekly event!  And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added!  We get over 200 links every week!! 

This week's question is . . .
Other than reading, what is your guilty pleasure?

My answer - I have to admit that I love certain reality tv shows like America's Next Top Model, Top Chef, Cupcake Wars, Shear Genius, Biggest Loser,  Chopped, and on and on and on!  There is something just mindless about them :) 

Happy week all,
And remember,
Books are Life
Heather

In My Mailbox - Cozy Mysteries

Happy Sunday all,
   Well I finished my graduate school comprehensive exam on Friday!  I haven't heard the results yet, but it is over!!  After writing non-stop for 4 hours and 40 minutes I decided it was time for a treat and what better treat than NEW BOOKS!
My mom and I went to two different Barnes & Nobles throughout the course of the day and had a cozy mysterypallooza!  I just LOVE my cozy mysteries. 
I picked up:

A Slice of Murder by Chris Cavender (Pizza Lover's Mystery #1)

Murder Uncorked by Michele Scott (Wine Lover's Mystery #1)



Murder of a Small-Town Honey by Denise Swanson (A Scumble River Mystery #1)

Cookie Dough or Die by Virginia Lowell (A Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery #1)

Happy reading,

And remember,

Books are Life,

Heather 

Paperbackswap.com

Paperback Swap

Happy Wednesday all!  Ok, I just discovered Paperback Swap today and I am in love!  I know I am probably behind in this and that everyone probably already knows - I tend to be behind on these things :) !  But, if you don't, list your books on it now and get started.  I had a request for one of my books literally 5 minutes after I posted them.  I am looking forward to receiving my two books that I get (via 2 credits) when I posted 10 books on the site.

Books Are Life,

Heather

March in Review!!

Happy April everyone!  I hope your spring is off to a great start!  Here in the Chicagoland it is still in the high 40's, but it is working on getting warmer!  I know it is coming soon. 

My March reading has been a little slow as I have been studying for my grad school comps exam which is coming up April 8 - aaaaaaahhhhhhh!  I am looking forward to the big test begin finished so I can get back to my life and get back to my reading, reading, and more reading. 

March in Review

Books Read

1.  Voluntary Madness by Norah Vincent (reviewed)
2.  La's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith  
     (reviewed)
3.  Chapter & Hearse by Lorna Barrett (reviewed)
4.  Roast Mortem by Cleo Coyle (reviewed)
5.  Farm Fresh Murder by Paige Shelton (reviewed)

Challenges

1.  Off the Shelf Challenge  (3/15  20% complete)
2.  2011 Reading Challenge from Goodreads  (15/50
     30% complete)


Happy April!

And remember,
Books Are Life,
Heather

Ten Good Things on a Monday . . . Cozy Mystery Series

Ten Good Things is an awesome meme hosted by Nina & Argh @ Brush Up on Your Reading! Make sure to check them out when you can. Every week, we list 10 good things (book related or non book related).

This week I'm listing my 10 favorite Cozy series . . .

1.  Coffeehouse Mystery series by Cleo Coyle

2.  Booktown Mystery series by Lorna Barrett

3.  Cooking Class Mystery series by Miranda Bliss

4.  Bibliophile Mystery series by Kate Carlisle

5.  Cackleberry Club Mystery series by Laura Childs

6.  Cheeseshop Mystery series by Avery Aames

7.  Farmer's Market Mystery series by Paige Shelton

8.  Haly Randolph Mysery series by Dorothy Howell

9.  A Queen Bee Mystery series by Hannah Reed

10.  Books by the Bay Mystery series by Ellery Adams


I am so excited that the Cozy Challenge began April 1!  Yay!!

Have a great week everyone,
And remember,
Books are Life,

Heather