Well it was an interesting week but an excellent weekend. My youngest was home sick on Tuesday and Wednesday and then my oldest joined the crowd on Thursday. I hate it when they’re sick – as most moms do – but I have say that only working 2 days a week is wonderful! lol
Then yesterday I met Rosie and Lisabea and their hubby’s, along with my hubby, down in Buena Park. We were to “do” Knott’s Berry Farm but alas it was pouring down rain and the park closed. We took our CT visitors to Hollywood and mosied along and had a wonderful lunch. Today the So. Cal Bloggers got together and omg did we have a great time! There were 11 of us and we just talked about books until we were blue in the face while dining on great food at PF Chang’s. It was so much damned fun I can’t wait to do it again, and soon. Of course it was an extra special treat to have Lisa there to add to our group even though she had a twitchy eye. We tried not to stare. (muah Lb)
So our group consisted of (in picture order):
Blanche, Holly, Lori, Daphne, Moi, Lisabea, Wendy, Rosie, Nikki, Alice & Renee. Aren’t we cute??
So onto what I read this week:
Line of Scrimmage by Marie Force was great. I’ve not read a lot of romance’s that have to do with sports but this one was great. Yes, there were a few misunderstandings that I could have done without but overall I enjoyed it.
Next was Dark of Night by Suzanne Brockmann. My thoughts are below if you’re interested. Loved it.
Everything to Lose…the new novella by Katie Reus. Good book. I really liked that it was a married couple trying to get back together. Similar to what I read in Line of Scrimmage but so completely different. I liked the characters and the sex was pretty darned hot too.
Broken Wing by Judith James was next. I really liked it. I have to say that the hero goes through some tough shit but I couldn’t completely appreciate how he handled everything (can’t give anything away, you know! :)). It didn’t stop the enjoyment of the book for me though. We also got introduced to new characters in this book that I hope will be in future stories.
At Graves End by Jeaniene Frost was pretty good. I didn’t connect with the book like I had the previous two books, but it was still good. Bones, as always is just luciously yummy and I want to eat him up with a spoon. He keeps me coming back for more, that’s for sure.
Bikini Diaries by Lacey Alexander was a book I read for The Book Binge. My review is here.
And last but certainly not least was Gobsmacked by LB Gregg. I really liked this book and give it 4 stars. I thought that the characters were likable and funny and that they just seemed like average everyday people that anyone could find in their town. I love books like this one that suck me in quickly and don’t let go. A great fast paced read!
OH MAN!!! I wish I lived near you guys! It looked like you had a blast! I don’t have any book lovers that live that close to me 🙁 Sigh…I will get to meet Wendy at RWA in DC though! I can’t wait for the conference. Are you going?
I had a blast meeting all of you Tracy…….thanks for inviting me to join you!
Oh and Thank God I was hidden behind all of you beautiful girls in that pic!! 🙂
I hear you’re rooming with Wendy, Barbara! Have a blast! DC is too expensive to stay, otherwise I’d be going again this year 🙁
Oh, puleeze, Blanche, LOL!! You are beautiful 🙂 I’m so glad you joined us. I just hope we didn’t intimidate you. When we get going, we are a loud raucous group.
Trace, I absolutely loved Line of Scrimmage. Great book! And can I say that I just adore the cover of Gobsmacked? Hot. And gorgeous.
Can’t wait to read DoN!!
LOL, Blanche you are too cute!
Tracy, I forget to comment on your reads, lol. I was so excited about the picture. Anyway, I wanted to say I’m happy you liked Broken Wing! It was one of my favs last year. I have to look up the Gobsmacked book one of these days.
THANK YOU so much for inviting me, Tracy. I had such a great time. All you ladies are awesome!
*heavy sigh*
Dang but I wish I lived close so I could have been there too. I think it’s a wonderful thing that you all get together so often. We all have something special in common don’t we?
And as for Broken Wing – yeaaa!! You read it and liked it!!
Tracy, you guys are so dang lucky to live so close that you can have get togethers.
Lovely, lovely!! 😀
The weekend was just sublime. This picture is like…posted everywhere. Wish I would have had a better hair day. 😉
Yeah, I was a bit worried about Blanche and Renee at first – because dang, when we all get going it’s pretty intense! But they held their own just fine 🙂
And don’t get too excited Barbara. Meeting me isn’t all that special – LOL
Barbara – you live near NYC? I don't think Katiebabs and Christine are all that far from you…but I'm not up on all the distances for NY! 🙂
Blanche – I had so much fun! I'm so glad you came with us – hopefully next time I'll get more of a chance to talk with you. And you're beautiful you silly woman!
Lori – Line of Scrimmage was cute. A fast easy read.
Oh I wish I was going to RWA – that was the plan last July but life is getting in the way dammit! lol
Renee – I'm so glad you could make it! It was great to meet you and chat! (nonstop!)
Kristie – It IS nice living nearby all these wonderful women! I had no idea when I started blogging that so many lived so close!
Amy & Katiebabs – It was sooo fun!
Oh Rosie me too! It looked great in the morning and by the time that pic was taken it was horrid! lol It went into a ponytail about 2 seconds after the hubby and I left! 🙂 The weekend was magnificent!!
Wendy – Meeting you IS special – don’t see yourself short! And your hair looked fabulous, my friend. 🙂
Blanche and Renee DID hold their own – I know it can be intimidating but they were troopers! 🙂
I read your post on Google Reader and forgot to come over to comment, sorry!
I’m definitively calling all of you once I got to LA next fall 🙂 you can be sure of it!! Meeting bloggers is just sooo much fun 🙂
Line of Scrimmage… hmmm, still need to read that one!
Wendy’s hair WAS awesome.
You guys are killing me with the hair comments. I give all the credit to the deep conditioning treatment I did that morning…..
Nath we would love to have yet another excuse to get together! Definitely pick up the phone when you’re in town! 🙂
Wendy dahlink…your hair was beautimous as LB said. Whatever you did it was fab! 🙂
OH WOW!!!! How cool is that group visit!!?! I so wish I were there, too! I’m so glad all of you got to meet up and had such a great time.