Welcome to another Monday, our time to celebrate Mailbox Monday, hosted this month by Savvy Verse & Wit; and What Are You Reading?, led by Sheila, at Book Journey.
MAILBOX MONDAY:
My mailbox was empty this week, except for one review book from Alison Pace, whose prequel Pug Hill has been on my wish list.
Hope McNeil is an art restorer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. At 31, she thinks she should be getting married and having kids, but she doesn’t like the guy she met via online dating, she has a crush on a coworker, and her parents have asked her to make a speech at their fortieth wedding anniversary celebration despite her terror of public speaking. Her favorite place is Pug Hill in Central Park, where pug fanciers bring their dogs to frolic. Hope doesn’t have her own pug but always feels revitalized just by watching the dogs at play. Signing up for a class on overcoming presentation anxiety, Hope meets quirky people with unusual problems who she wouldn’t have encountered elsewhere and is motivated to try to figure out what she wants in life. Pace’s very leisurely chick-lit novel is at its best when Hope is surrounded by dogs, and its neatly wrapped-up conclusion does promise love. Diana Tixier Herald
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WHAT ARE YOU READING?
I always look forward to Mondays these days, and the opportunity to talk about books I’ve read and books I plan to read.
Here’s My Blog/Reading Activity This Week:
TWO-YEAR BLOGOVERSARY GIVEAWAY
Review: Janeology (e-book), by Karen Harrington
Review: Weekend Warriors, by Fern Michaels
Review: Payback, by Fern Michaels
Review: Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination, by Helen Fielding
Review: Dumpster Dying, by Lesley A. Diehl
(Click the Pictures and/or Titles to Take you to the Product Page)
1. The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
2. The Grief of Others, by Leah Hager Cohen
3. Beautiful Children, by Charles Bock
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And that’s it for the week! Maybe I’ll read something more…time will tell. What about the rest of you? Come on by and share….
AN INTERIOR JOURNEY 
I have a pug book that I must read soon! Enjoy your week of reads!
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Thanks for stopping by, Staci, and I hope you have a great week, too!
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This book has such an interesting premise. It sounds like a fun read. Enjoy your reading week!
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I read and enjoyed A Pug’s Tale, so I’m looking forward to this one. Thanks for stopping by, Laura, and have a great week.
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The cover on the grief of others is so beautiful. 🙂
Follower. 🙂 Come see my Monday plans & Three Awesome Giveaways! Have a great week!
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I love it too, Niina….thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week.
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Looks like you had a really good week!
Here’s Mine
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Yes, I really did, Vicki. A couple of the books I read were not as good as I would have liked, but enjoyable nonetheless. Thanks for stopping by.
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Dumpster Dying sounds fun! I loved the Language of Flowers I hope you do as well
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out
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Oh, I did love Dumpster Dying, and the author tells me there’s a sequel coming out soon!
I’m really enjoying The Language of Flowers….I worked for years as a social worker with foster kids. The story resonates for me.
Thanks for stopping by.
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Enjoy your books. I had a busy week of reading. My goodness. I’m shocked at how many I finished. Come see what I read.
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Yes, I’m always amazed at how many I’ve read, too; not as many as some, but then I get distracted by blogging, movies, TV shows, etc. Not to mention my own writing!
Thanks for stopping by, Sarah, and enjoy your week.
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The Language of Flowers and Beautiful Children are on my wishlist. Lucky you for reading them this week! Have a good week.
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I have had Beautiful Children on my stacks for quite awhile, and I don’t know why I haven’t read it sooner. But I hope to enjoy it. And I’m already loving The Language of Flowers. Thanks for stopping by, Judith.
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You know, I was in the library just now and I SAW Beautiful Children and I picked it up and thought: hey, that’s the book Laurel-Rain is going to read. And still, I put it back because my TBR is just.too.big. And the book is a bit too big to read in between other books. Such a pity though.
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Wow, how amazing is that, Judith? And how disciplined of you to remember your stacks! I wish I did better at disciplining with the books I buy.
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Pug Hill sounds cute. Have a great week!
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Yes, I think so, too, Anna. I read A Pug’s Tale, the second book, a few months ago. Thanks for stopping by.
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Alison writes a cute story and I really liked the character. Have a wonderful week, Laurel, and happy reading!
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Oh, I agree, Kaye. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week!
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Pug Hill looks like such a FUN read .. and every. single. book. on your upcoming reading list is one that I want for myself! You got TONS of reviews written as well! Great reading week for you!
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Thanks, Julie…It was a pretty good week. I think Pug Hill will be fun, too, although I won’t be reading it this week.
Glad you could stop by, and enjoy your week.
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I hope you enjoy The Language of Flowers, I liked it.
New follower here.
Lindsay
http://thelittlereaderlibrary.blogspot.com/2011/10/its-monday-what-are-you-reading.html
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So far, I’m loving it, Lindsay….and thanks for following me here! Hope you have a great week!
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Pug Hill sounds lovely. Enjoy!
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I loved A Pug’s Tale by the same author, so I’m looking forward to this one. Thanks for stopping by, Serena.
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Pug Hill just looks really, really cute. Hope you have a great day.
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Thanks, Ryan…I did enjoy this author’s other book, A Pug’s Tale, so I’m sure this one will be fun. Glad you could stop by!
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Pug Hill looks very cute! I have The Language of Flowers and The Grief of Others on my wish list. I have heard great things about both books so I am looking forward to your thoughts.
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I’m really enjoying The Language of Flowers…and can’t wait for the others. Thanks for stopping by, Beth, and have a great week.
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I’ve heard Pug Hill is adorable – I hope you love it!
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I’m excited about it, Kathy. Glad you could stop by…and have a great week.
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I’ve got The Language of Flowers on my stacks. Will pass on The Grief of Others due to the subject matter, have to be in the right mood.
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Yes, that is so true, Nise….I do try to mix the titles up with light ones, but don’t always manage that! Thanks for stopping by.
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Good way to meet people – at the dog park! All good books. Enjoy!
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Yes, the book is about dogs, but the dog “persons” fill the pages, too. Thanks for stopping by, Harvee, and enjoy your week.
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You had a very productive week. I am hoping to start getting back into my “normal” pattern of reading. Thank you for stopping by my place.
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I read more than usual this week, but I was happiest about moving three books off the old TBR stacks!
Thanks for stopping by, Cheryl…and enjoy your week.
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Would love to read Pug Hill, enjoy!
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2011/10/mailbox-monday_24.html
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Thanks, Nicole…I think it will be a fun read. Enjoy your week!
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Those covers are just beautiful! And how exciting that your blog is 2 years old now! It’s crazy how time flies, isn’t it?
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Yes, I am amazed at how quickly time passes in the blog world….and thanks for stopping by, Crystal. Enjoy your week.
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I’ve never heard of Pug Hill, but I love both the title and the cover. 🙂
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I enjoyed this author’s second book, A Pug Tale, so I’m looking forward to this one. Enjoy your week, Alyce.
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Seeing Pug Hill all over, better look into that one.
HAPPY READING!!!
Here’s my week: http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/
Dollycas
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Thanks for stopping by, Lori…hope you enjoy your reading week!
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Pug Hill sounds like fun… this is the first I’ve heard of that one.
Language of Flowers was one of my favorite reads this year. Hope you enjoy it too.
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I agree, Leslie…and I’m loving The Language of Flowers. I worked in the foster care system for many years (as a social worker), so this book resonates with me. Thanks for stopping by.
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I am reading the third book in a trilogy by Debbie Macomber, “Always Dakota.” I like reading them back-to-back, no waiting a year for the next book. They are older books, (1999-2000) but, I always say, “No matter how old the book, if you haven’t read the book, it is new to you!”
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Oh, I totally agree, Gigi Ann. I have been reading “older” books lately, like the Doris Lessing book I read last week (The Summer Before the Dark). The Macomber series sounds like one I should check out.
Thanks for stopping by and for sharing.
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Oh, Pug Hill looks adorable!
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I think so, too, Mary. Thanks for stopping by!
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Hi Laurel-Rain,
Pug Hill sounds like a great fun read, although not one that I think I will be rushing out to buy, if I am totally honest.
However, your three books for reading this week all sound fantastic and great additions to my reading list. Your background in the child care system means that you will no doubt tackle ‘The Language Of Flowers’ from a different perspective than I would, so I hope that your critical eye is pleased with the way the stroyline has been dealt with by the author.
Enjoy your books
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I am loving The Language of Flowers, Yvonne…children “aging out” of the system was always a very tricky dilemma during my social work years, in spite of the addition of transitional homes in recent years. And how children are treated in care is a constant battle, with investigations going on regularly.
Thanks for stopping by.
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I’ve heard alot about the pug book. It sounds really good. Have a great week!
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Yes, I wasn’t sure I’d really enjoy A Pug’s Tale, but I had a lot of fun reading it; so I definitely wanted to read this one. Thanks for stopping by, Yvonne.
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I’ve heard a lot about Grief of Others. Will have to look it up. Also Beautiful Children looks wonderful. I hope you are having a good reading week!
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So far, so good, Athira…thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy your week, too.
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Glad you’re enjoying The Language of Flowers, it’s a beautiful, realistic book. Pug Hill looks like a fun read. Will have to check out more about The Grief of Others.
Have a great week and happy reading 🙂
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Thanks for visiting, Teddyree….I do love a week filled with a variety of books. Hope you’re enjoying your week, too.
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Laurel…the pug book looks adorable-enjoy your new loot.
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Thanks, Diane…I do love book loot! Have a good week….
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I loved The Language of Flowers! I hope you do too!
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I’ll bet you did, Sharon…it fits right in with your blog, doesn’t it? Thanks for stopping by.
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I do find Pug Hill intriguing – especially since I’ve just finished Becoming Marie Antoinette which features a pug!
I’m feeling much better, thanks. Sometimes I’d like to *bite* Bipolar!
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Oh, life’s challenges can take us for a roller coaster ride…but it’s good to have our books, isn’t it? Thanks for stopping by, Laura, and I’m thinking Pug Hill will be fun.
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I love the cover of “Language of Flowers”! Very tempting even though I have no idea what it’s about 🙂
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Oh, I love it, too, Helen, and I’m glad I looked into it, since it’s a story about foster care and what happens to one specific girl who is shunted around from place to place…a little bit reminiscent of White Oleander.
Thanks for stopping by.
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