pickI‘ve been trying to figure out what kind of romance reader I am. Answer: THIS KIND. This book is perfect, even better than the first in the series. Who would have known this archaeologist, obsessed with all things historical, would find her jam in contemporary romance? Time to go read Alisha Rai‘s entire back catalog!!! I NEED MORE NOW. #romantsy
Baby girl is 6.5 months old, and I finally got 2 hours to myself. She spent some time with dad while I retreated to B & N, got myself lunch, a gorgeous new journal, and the romance everyone seems to be talking about. After 10 years of being glued to my computer for dissertation work, and a serious love of my Kindle, I‘m starting to miss paper. Anyone else a lover of mass-market paperbacks?? #romantsy
Even with our 6.5 month old, experimental vacation has been a relative success. Sad to be headed home tomorrow. #audioknitting #kauai
Baby napping = #audioknitting = bliss
Life slowly settling into the new normal. PhD finished (!), and 4.5 month old awesome baby girl becoming a champion sleeper (!!!, hope I'm not jinxing us). Enjoying my first postpartum, post-doctorate bubble bath, complete with wine, baby monitor, and this scrumptious book. ❤️❤️❤️ to all, I've missed you Littens!
Today, people wear emeralds because they want to wear something that is beautiful but not as brash as diamonds. But two millennia ago, emeralds “said” something different. They were among the most expensive jewels of the Roman and Ptolemaic world, the equivalent of the flashiest diamonds today. But they had another role besides being the ultimate in Ptolemaic bling.
"...the ultimate in Ptolemaic bling." My avocational Egyptologist side loves it!
Never thought I'd be into a comic series...but I LOVE SAGA. Everyone (of a certain maturity level, that is) should read it. So glad to finally be caught up, thanks to many wee hours nursing sessions with baby girl (who's now 8 weeks old!) and the surprisingly effective "guided view" function in my phone's Kindle app. Loving the Lisa Frank vibe of this zebra!! Anybody else??!?
It's been a crazy couple of months. Baby girl is five weeks old, and dissertation defense is tomorrow. Ready to get to all these books I've been stockpiling - so ready!
I'm still pretty new to the romance genre, but loving my explorations so far. Excited for this one to help me through the week: my first @EloisaJames and my first stepback cover!! So pretty!! #romantsy
Enjoying this one this week. Evening reading and relaxing as much as I can has been the only thing getting me through trying to prep my dissertation defense during pregnancy week 38 (tomorrow = officially 39). Gotta keep it up 'til baby arrives, 'cause defense might happen a few weeks after that if I'm "lucky." Great idea right? Guess I have to do what the advisor wants since he's the gatekeeper. Can't wait 'til grad school is OVER.
Essential self-care for the final week of writing my dissertation (440 pages and counting!) and pregnancy week 35. Phew.
Romance set in Tang Dynasty China? This sounds like my kind of catnip! #romantsy
After a long hard week of dissertation work (~2 weeks left!!) and my dear husband on the overnight shift, I was already planning to spend the evening reading for fun for the first time in a long time. Logged on here to find its #litsypartyofone night - perfection! I'm in with my 34-week preggo belly, junk food craving (I know...), comfy pants, newly pampered toes, and silly puppy.
The descriptions of Lestat experiencing bodily functions as a mortal once again are equal parts fascinating, hilarious, and revolting.
You guys, I am SO SO CLOSE to being done with this dissertation draft. Just another 4-5 weeks, if I am lucky and can stay focused. Baby is due in 8 weeks, here's hoping she doesn't come early. Is it weird that I'm super super excited about all the fun reading I hope to catch up on while breastfeeding at 3am?
Ain't that the truth...this dissertation will NOT defeat me.
PERSONAL REMINDER: "Eve, your self-worth has always been focused on your job. Now a relationship has forced you to begin evaluating yourself as a woman...". "...Doing the job was it, all of it...It‘s still important, but it‘s not all anymore.” “I would say, Eve, that you‘ll be a better cop, and a better woman because of it. Single focus limits us...A healthy life needs more than one goal, one passion.” “Then I guess my life‘s getting healthier."
pickI wasn't expecting to love this one; I mostly read it to remove it from my TBR and because I thought that way I'd know I wasn't interested in the rest of the series. I'm not usually into police-thrillers, but it turns out I love the characters of Eve Dallas and Roarke. Yesterday's 3 books for 2 credits Audible sale had me picking up books 2 and 3 in the series - I guess I'm hooked!
I've been in a reading slump for weeks, reading almost nothing due to distractions new (I'm pregnant!) and old (neverending dissertation work, now extra-panicked due to baby deadline). Strangely, it's taken this Santa Fe family history/ghost story to break me out; I've devoured most of it in the last 24 hrs. I find it fascinating, perhaps partly because of my love of New Mexico (diss research is there, plus the food is So Good!). Audio is great.
From our trip to the real O'Malley's territory last fall.
My romance education continues...trying some Old Skool CrazySauce. I do love this cover...and am fascinated by the historical figure this series is (ever-so-loosely) based on.
Hope I'm not oversharing: when husband's grandma passes, even if they weren't close, you drop everything and fly cross-country for fam time. Forced break in dissertation work + airport time = found reading time. Gonna need Litsy this week to keep me sane; love my inlaws but they're hard to be with💐
Well after all that I didn't even have time to start a new novel today. I guess I'll spend a few more minutes with this beast while I wait for my husband to be ready to watch the series finale...
Do you ever spend several indecisive hours looking at your current stack, trying to figure out what to read next? This happens to me all the time. I'm never in the mood for what I have, don't want to start a new series, or whatever, and I end up buying something new even when I'm trying not to...😬
pickWell that was fun! This was my first Kearsley novel and it won't be my last. I thought I had the ending figured out but I was glad to be surprised. Loved the Welsh setting and Arthurian overtones. 🐲
So it's looking like the rest of the day involves a deep clean of the kitchen, a dog walk, and putting together a dish of enchiladas, all of which calls for a new audiobook. This will be my first Kearsley, and from all I've heard, she sounds right up my alley - so excited! ✨
Absorbing a few more tidbits from Herself while I wait for the potatoes to roast...(argh, I totally thought the season 2 finale was tonight! Sad I have to wait 'till next week 😥...I know we're all readers here but I can't be the only one watching the tv adaptation...😁)
It's been a real rough night. Not gonna be able to sleep anytime soon, so it's time for a dose of my ultimate comfort read.
I know Zero about Russian history - I should really remedy that. Trying to come to terms with reading slowly this week - it's probably going to be par for the course until this PhD is done - oh well. I'll live vicariously through y'all's posts until then 😜
Reading slowly this week, and enjoying the snarky yet informative Stoned. This section on Good Queen Bess and her thing for pearls is particularly fun as I am reminded of what a badass she was in so many ways.
Meet Cricket, part-Pekingese super-mutt. She also answers to "Critter". Note the snaggletooth, which is my favorite of her features. We just got back from a walk while listening to Stoned on audio. Currently enjoying the bit on shell beads, which incidentally are central to my dissertation research.
Glad to know my pathetic lack of willpower isn't my fault 😂
Having a bit of a magpie moment, but since real baubles aren't in the budget right now, I thought I'd read about them instead.
so-soThere was a moment in the last few chapters where I briefly thought it might turn out differently, but then I remembered our Judith is a bit of a sociopath. I didn't dislike the book as many did, but I suspect that's largely due to Emilia Fox, a great narrator. If you're going to do it, do audio.
7 bags of pine needles raked from the yard and a dog walk later, I'm 11 chapters in and feeling like I'm watching a slo-mo train wreck and I can't look away. Emilia Fox is a great narrator; I probably like the book better in audio than I would in print. Are there really people like this out there?
pickWell, in charms I've definitely found my collecting passion (other than books, that is). The main value of this little book is in its photos, which are lovely and inspiring. Note my rebel alliance, parasaurolophus skull, and of course, book stack charms, with which I signal my cred to fellow nerds.
It's past time for me to get started on work for the day (oops) but I'm psyched to have my next audiobook queued up already. Looking forward to walking the dog and cooking dinner today...🎧
pickThis was my first "romantic suspense." I'm still exploring romance genres, and I've only read a few by Ms. Roberts, but this was fun (well, not the creepy serial killer bits but YKWIM). Plus, I learned about how canine search and rescue units work, which in itself was worth it for this dog lover!
Sad this has been such a slow reading week - I feel like I need a break from adulting 😐. Time for a little romantic suspense - with dogs!! 🐕🐕🐕
In-between novels and not sure what I'm in the mood for next, I decided to drop back into this beast for some words of wisdom and fascinating tidbits from Herself.
pickOne of my most reread books. I don't know what it is about Wuthering Heights, because all of the characters are despicable people, but something about the bizarre love between Cathy and Heathcliff is just so compelling.
pickRead this on a whim and was unexpectedly blown away. Immediately read the others in the series, even though I'm not usually one for westerns. Beautiful, epic story.
pickI only read this book after being made to watch the movie by my husband's family, who were amazed I hadn't seen it. I can't believe I waited so long. Run, do not walk (for both book and movie)!
pickA little history local to where I live - gotta support the local authors. I learned lots and enjoyed these stories.
pickGet this on audio, of course: read by the author. I loved Rachel Dratch even more after this book, if that's possible.
pickThis series kept me sane while I was living in a hostel in NYC for months on end, conducting my dissertation research. Also helped keep me sane for several days when I couldn't get home from NYC due to Hurricane Sandy. The perfect escapist lit, which will always have a special place in my heart.
pickPerhaps the most useful of all the dissertation-writing books I read. I can imagine this book would also be useful for creative writing...hmmmm 🖋
panSubtitle: "Harnessing the Power of Productive Obsessions." The entire premise is flawed: the author suggests you CHOOSE something to obsess over, and then be productive toward it. But how can you obsess over something you had to consciously choose? True Obsessions are usually far beyond our control.
