Last week started off with a bang. I got a cold and felt like I was going to die – and frankly at some points I really wanted to! lol However I made it through and got to the weekend – which was really the highlight of the week.
Lisabea came to California to visit with her hubby and I went down to Orange County to spend the weekend with her and Rosie and her hubby. We had so much fun! We talked and talked and talked and ate and drank and talked some more. I just adore those ladies. If that wasn’t wonderful enough we planned a So Cal Blogger get together. This was 6 hours of uber fun, lemme tell ya. And not only was it the regular SCB’s but we had a couple of new ones join us as well as more than a few authors! Yes, I know, we’re so popular. lol Unfortunately the group was so big that I didn’t get a chance to talk to everyone which was a bummer but everyone new that I met was really nice. Bloggers who were there: Lisabea, Wendy, Lori, Nikki, Rosie, Renee, Rowena, Holly, KC and Kristin. Then authors: Danielle Yockman, KB Alan, Tessa Dare, Vivienne Westlake, Rachel Jameson, Helen Kay Dimon, Eden Bradley and Sabrina Darby. We had lunch at The Yard House in Costa Mesa then headed down the street to New and Recycled Romance (which I adore and wish it wasn’t so far away) and then did a book swap that lasted for about 2.5 hours! lol Hopefully everyone as as much fun as I did! Here we are in all our glory:
I’m continuing my love/hate relationship with Bloggers “new” editor. On one hand I absolutely love adding all of my pictures into the queue and having them there ready and waiting for me…and then having them pop into my post right where my cursor is, without having to drag them all over. On the other hand the editor does some funky things. I went to delete a word the other day and it deleted my entire sentence. Talk about frustrating. Of course I know part of this is operator error so hopefully I’ll figure it out soon. 🙂
So on to what I read this week:
First up was Moon Craving by Lucy Monroe. This is book 2 in her Children of the Moon series. You can read my review
Next up was Surrender of a Siren by Tessa Dare. A wonderful book that I really enjoyed reading. I apparently was on the review bandwagon this past week so you can read my review here.
My Tracy’s TBR Challenge Read for the week was Finding Hope by Katie Reus. I won this book at was so excited to read it but for some reason it got lost in the shuffle (sorry Katie). Anyway, it was the story of Hope who may or may not be the missing daughter of some wealthy Cubans. It’s a story of tragedy, discovery, love and hope. 3.75 out of 5
Finding Utopia by KZ Snow (Utopia X book 4) was my next read. This is the final book in the series and it was a good one. My review is here.
My brain is gone! I even wrote this down and still forgot to post about it! I also read Noodle Shop Affair by CJ Michalski (yaoi manga). It was an interesting story about a mob guy falling in love with the noodle shop boy and trying to save him from other mob guys. Lots of blood in this one. Not bad – the noodle shop boy just looked like he was 12. Obviously he was older since he was running the shop by himself but he looked like he was in elementary school. 3 out of 5
Last but not least was The Postmistress by Sarah Blake. This was a book that was sent to me by the publisher, Amy Einhorn/Penguin Group, and I’ll be reviewing it this week.
Happy Reading!
Blogger has a new editor?
Looks like a fun time was had by all. Glad you are feeling better.
I'm not sure how new it is Tam – it may be just new to me. lol Although when you go into settings it does say updated editor. I may just be horribly behind the times. 🙂
Thanks hon, we did and I am. 🙂
I hope you're feeling better Tracy. Your get together sounds wonderful. 🙂
You already know I'm giving Tessa Dare a try since I have all 3 books on my TBR, but now I'm going to have to look up "Finding Hope."
PS: I'm still trying to get used to that darn "new" editor too… (says the clueless blogger).
I had a great time! So nice to meet you, Tracy! Hope to do it again soon! Next time, hopefully we can mix it up a bit more and get to talk to other people! It was such a HUGE table, you could barely hear the other end even when no one else was talking! But it was fantastic, all the same! And oh man, I loved that bookstore!
-Rachel Jameson
p.s. It's Vivienne Westlake 🙂 (http://www.viviennewestlake.com/)
Oh, it was so much fun Saturday! I just wish there was more time to chat with you. I was so talked out by Saturday night, I just sat quietly recovering from the day. lol
I totally stole the picture, so I can post it. 🙂
New editor? Really? Just clicked over to my account and it all looks the same. Oh dear Lord, I hope they're not beta-testing something. That's always a bit bumpy.
I need to swipe Danielle's picture and do a blog post about Saturday. It was fun, but holy cow were we a HUGE group! My Man joked that if we get much bigger we'll need sponsorship 🙂
Hilcia – I think you'll like Finding Hope it's a cute romantic suspense story – more romance than suspense. I did have some unanswered questions at the end of the book but I'm hoping that Katie can clear those up for me. 🙂
Rachel – it was great to meet you too! We'd love to have you join us again! Yes, the table was huge but it was fun all the same.
Thanks for the info on Vivienne. I've made the change to her name and added her link. :):)
Renee – I know what you mean about Saturday. I was thoroughly exhausted by the end but it was so worth it! Steal away…I did! lol
Wendy – as I said it's more like updated, but yet new to me. You have to actually choose the updated editor option in your settings under "basic" or it will just be the same as usual.
Your Man is a funny guy! 🙂
Wow – that's a lot of people! I might have curled into a little ball and hidden under the table. 🙂
I hope you're feeling better now Tracy. Your SoCal Bloggers get-together sounds wonderful!
I didn't know about the new editor, but then I've been remiss on posting of late. Must write faster 🙂
Hi Tracy!
I wish I could have been there, it looks like you all had an amazing time despite the awful rain!!! I can't wait to catch up with all of you the next time!!
Dude. Wendy looks HOT! Go Wendy!!!!
Sounds like you had an absolutely fab time. 🙂
And here I was thinking my head looks ginormous.
As always, so nice to hear about a SoCal blogger get together. Glad everyone had fun! 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful party Tracy! How wonderful you could all get together. 🙂
As always, you are my reading goddess.
If you need any help with your posts let me know. I find it's much easier to manipulate your pictures, text etc. from the HTML window/tab. 😉
Take Care, I hope your cold is better!
L
Wow, great week-end!! and that's a lot of people at the meet!!
and again, good reading week 😀 You're lucky!! You're really one of the most consistent reader I know, Tracy 😀
I had a blast with everyone. It was nice to chat with all our new friends, and like you, there were so many people I wish I'd had the chance to talk more with everyone. But it was a big table, LOL!
You had such a busy week. Which is a great segue into the award I've given you!!
It's here
I switched back to the old editor after about a week of the new one. I just couldn't take it anymore. Drove me nuts.
I'm sure I'll eventually be forced to switch again, but until then I'm holding out. lol
I'm so sorry I didn't respond to everyone. With everything that happened right after this was posted I just forgot. Sorry!
Chris – I'm sure you would have been fine. 🙂
Orannia – I keep thinking I need to read faster but that doesn't ever quite work out for me. lol
Blanche – hopefully you'll be able to join us next time! 🙂
LB – Wendy did look great and the picture reflects that!
Sarah – We did!
Wendy – Hot Wendy, Hot. Not ginormous.
Christine – We did. 🙂
Lea – thanks honey. You're always such a help. 🙂
Nath – I wouldn't know what to do with my free time if I didn't read! lol
Lori – I know, I wanted to talk to more people but it was difficult. Too little time. 🙂
Sayuri – thank you! You rock.
Holly – it's taken me a week or so but I think I've bested it. lol It's taken some trial and error but I'm slowly getting used to it. I WILL conquer it. 🙂