Book Riot Quarterly Box

Posted in For the love of books by rebeccabook17

So I discovered the coolest thing back in March when I saw on Facebook that one of the pages I follow, Book Riot, does a quarterly shipment of books and book-related items. I’ve heard about a variety of companies that have started doing quarterly shipments, you pay a set fee each quarter and in the mail you get a box of fun surprises. The shipment is technically run through Quarterly Co and they have such a great variety of quarterly shipments you can choose from, like one from Pharrell Williams and gaming, fitness, cooking, hair care, and art. I decided to sign up for the Book Riot Quarterly Shipment to try it at least once and see if I liked it. I am trying to expand my horizons with reading and I thought this would be a fun way to find new books I might like. Each shipment is set to a “theme” and most shipments have 2 books and some extra items, plus there are some lottery items that a certain percentage of all the shipments get as well. So last Friday my shipment came and I was absolutely pumped! I had been looking forward to this since I signed up for the shipments in March and I was not disappointed!

Isn’t it beautiful!? So the theme for this shipment was technology, the internet, and the future of reading. The shipment comes with a pamphlet describing each item that is included and how it fits with the theme.

So now I will talk about each item that I got in my shipment. I’ll start with the book-related items and then talk about the books last.

1. A Grid-It Organizer

This is a handy item for storing all your gadgets. Its got like elastic straps that you can use to hold down the gadgets on this board thing. Could come in handy.

2. Pop Chart Lab Literary Genres Map

I’ve seen this online before and it is so awesome. Its a map of all the different genres of fiction. I can’t wait to hang this one up in my library (once my library is done being constructed).

3. The Word Exchange by Alena Graedon

This book sounds super interesting. Its about a time in the future when all print materials are pretty much extinct but one group of people are working to finish the North American Dictionary of the English Language when the editor-in-chief goes missing. I’m excited to give this one a try. This book also came with a bonus item from the author, a special coda that was written exclusively for Book Riot Quarterly subscribers. The events from this occur after the book.

4. Smarter Than You Think by Clive Thompson

Many people think that technology is making the general population less capable than generations of the past because they end up relying on technology for so many of their tasks through the day. Some have even argues that the over-reliance on technology in the younger generation has made them “dumb.” This book sets out to argue against this idea and prove that technology is improving civilization as a whole. This book also came with a bonus item from the author, an essay for Book Riot Quarterly subscribers about reading War and Peace on his iPhone.

5. Lottery item! Symphony for the City of the Dead by M.T. Anderson

The lottery items are for lucky randomly selected subscribers (less than 5% of total subscribers). Woo hoo I was one of the lucky ones! This book isn’t even supposed to be released until September so this was a big score! The book is about Leningrad in September 1941 and the true story of a composer that wrote a symphony that would rally the city together.

So that was my shipment. I have to say I was extremely please and I can’t wait for the next shipment to come in September! For anyone who’d like to sign up the receive their own shipment, you can do so here. Book Riot also just came out with a YA Quarterly subscription if you prefer YA books. Details on that subscription can be found here.

8May2015

Friday Finds (May 8)

Posted in Book memes, For the love of books, Friday Finds by rebeccabook17

FRIDAY FINDS is hosted by A Daily Rhythm and showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list. Whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

My finds this week include a fiction, a mystery, a young adult historical fiction, a thriller (I think?), and a historical fiction:

1. Whiskey & Charlie by Annabel Smith

I thought this book just sounded really interesting. It is about twin boys who become estranged as adults, citing their irreconcilable differences as the reason why they haven’t talked in years. But when one of the brothers is in a terrible accident, the other twin must come to terms with the past and find a way to move forward. Whole thing just sounds like a winner to me. I’ll probably end up balling my eyes out. “A compelling and unforgettable novel about rivalry and redemption, Whiskey & Charlie is perfect for anyone whose family has ever been less than picture-perfect.”

2. Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman

This book was made into a movie starring Diane Lane, Elizabeth Banks, and Dakota Fanning. When I saw the trailer for the movie I thought it looked really interesting so I will probably try to read the book first. Its about two sisters who do some unspeakable crime and get sent to juvie and then when they get out a similar crime happens so we have to figure out if they did the second crime too. Movie comes out next Friday I think (May 15th).

3. The Revelation of Louisa May by Michaela MacColl

This book is about Louisa May Alcott. It has a few facts thrown in there but is mostly fiction. I love Alcott’s story Little Women and I think it would be interesting to read about her, even if the story is mostly fiction. From Amazon, “Intertwining fact, fiction, and quotes from Little Women, Michaela MacColl has crafted another spunky heroine whose story will keep readers turning pages until the very end.”

4. Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight

This book was actually recommended to me by a quiz I took online, I think it was a BookPage quiz but I can’t remember, about what book I should read next. I just love the last paragraph in the description on Amazon, it sounds like this is going to be a really good novel. “Told from the perspectives of three Ridgedale women, Kimberly McCreight’s taut and profoundly moving novel unwinds the tangled truth behind the tragedy, revealing that these women have far more in common than they could ever have imagined: that the very worst crimes are committed against those we love. And that—sooner or later—the past catches up to all of us.”

5. Swimming in the Moon by Pamela Schoenewaldt

I have found a new love for historical fiction lately, and this one sounds too good to pass up. It starts off in Italy and then moves to America and just sounds like it is going to be full of tension and drama and lots of the feels. It has a ton of great reviews on Amazon. I am excited to read it!

So those are my finds this week! Please feel free to share your finds or leave a link to your own “Friday Finds” blog posting below! Happy Friday!

26Apr2015

#ReadingMyLibrary Challenge – Weekly Update #4 April 25th / Wrap Up

Posted in #ReadingMyLibrary Reading Challenge, 2015, For the love of books, Reading Challenges by rebeccabook17

Gosh, this week was just busy. I’m posting this a little late (its pretty much Sunday) but today was a little crazy. I figured after tax season was over I would just read for all of my free time but I forgot that I would have to add chores back into my schedule and also that it would take me double the amount of time to get home now that I’m back in rush hour traffic. Even with all my obstacles, over this past week I was able to read four books for the reading challenge: Fangirl, My Sunshine Away, The Liar, and Boy Meets Girl. The first two books I got from the Simsbury Public Library, The Liar I got from the Plainville Public Library, and Boy Meets Girl I got from the Terryville Public Library.

As part of the #ReadingMyLibrary Challenge, you get an entry into the challenge giveaway for reading one book as part of the challenge but you get an additional entry for reading 5 additional books (up to two additional entries so 10 extra books). I already have the initial entry book and the next 5 books for an entry. Since I have one more extra entry I can use, my next 5 additional books were last week’s Cat Out of Hell and this week’s Fangirl, My Sunshine Away, The Liar, and Boy Meets Girl. Since I’ve read all the available books for this challenge, this post will also serve as my wrap up. I had a lot of fun participating in this challenge this month, I am a big fan of libraries so it was a great challenge for me! I am looking forward to reading some of the books on my TBR shelf that I bought though. Between the Bingo challenge I did from January to March and then this challenge this month, I have been busy in the challenge department and I still have other goals for the year that I want to work on!

So as part of the #ReadingMyLibrary Challenge, there are optional weekly update posts. The topic for this week’s post is: How often do you visit your library?

The answer is, quite frankly, not as often as I’d like. I try to go to at least one library a week, even if it isn’t my home library. During tax season this doesn’t ever work out for me because I’m always working during the hours that most libraries are open. Luckily for me, I end up having to travel all over the state for work, so I’m able to stop at a good variety of libraries. I have found this to be a really great way to keep finding new books. Libraries all have different collections so having access to more than one collection really gives you a great ability to find most anything you’d like to read.

While it is always nice to visit different libraries, visiting my home library turns into an event for me and I try to get there at least once or twice a month. Its important for me to check in with my “home base” not only to visit with my friends who work at the library but also to get caught up on any events going on at my home library that I might be interested in. Also most libraries are good at assessing the likes and dislikes of their patrons and buying books that they know their patrons will take out and read. Luckily for me, that usually means I have an interest in a lot of the books at my home library!

So what about you all? How often do you get to your library? Do you wish you could go more?

18Apr2015

#ReadingMyLibrary challenge – Library Scavenger Hunt!

Posted in #ReadingMyLibrary Reading Challenge, 2015, For the love of books, Reading Challenges by rebeccabook17

So! As part of the #ReadingMyLibrary challenge, the hosts came up with the brilliant idea to organize a library scavenger hunt! I completed the scavenger hunt at the Terryville Public Library today with my mom. So here are the guidelines for the library scavenger hunt. If you want to participate in the giveaway, please find at least TEN (10) of the following things in your library. If you are unable to find ten of these things, leave a note in your post explaining that. This scavenger hunt was great fun! I used to work at the Terryville Library so it was a little easier for me since I already knew where most things were and from shelving books for 5 years I could think of a few different books to meet the requirements needed. Everyone should try this, it is a great way to get to know your library better!

Make a post on your blog (or Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc) with pictures of the following things:

Your library
Library Card
Old School Card Catalog (we know that not all libraries have one of these, so take a picture of the catalog on a computer instead!)
Your Librarian / Circulation Clerk (ask nicely and I’m sure they’ll let you!)
Date Stamper
Bookmark
An audio book
A DVD
Withdrawn or discarded book (can be controversial, but a part of a book’s life at a library. Most end up for sale)
Fun library furniture
Your favorite library book (could be broken down into F, NF, YA, JF/MG, E, etc)
A large print book
Your library’s event calendar
Flyer for an upcoming event
A fun display
A book from the 800 non-fiction section (a book categorized in the 800s of the Dewey Decimal System)
A set of encyclopedias
Newspaper/Magazine
A graphic novel
Fun round (take a picture with all these books together – make sure you take the stack up to the circ desk when you’re done so they can in-house the books!):
Find a book with a girl in a dress on the cover
Find a book that’s green
Find a book with an author who has the same initials as you
Find a book with a number in the title
Find a cookbook
Find a picture book
Find a book with a picture of someplace you would like to visit
Find a book with more than eight (8) words in the title
Find a book with a one (1) word title
Find a book about libraries or with the word library in the title
Find a book with a duck on the cover

Here is a gallery with all the items from the list I found in my library!

3Apr2015

Friday Finds (April 3)

Posted in Book memes, For the love of books, Friday Finds by rebeccabook17

My finds this week include 2 different YA novels, a historical fiction and of course a romance:

1. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

I’ve always loved mythology, the stories about Greek gods were fascinating to me when I was younger. This book is about a girl who falls in love with a guy named Henry, who turns out to be Hades. And she will get to be a goddess if she decides to marry him. This is the first in a three (I think its only three) book series. It looks really interesting and I can’t wait to give it a try!

2. The Royal We by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan

Royal wedding! Need I say more? This is a love story of a girl name Rebecca (Woo!) who ends up falling in love with a prince. Just awesome all around.

3. At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen

While I haven’t read Water for Elephants yet, I heard it was a great book. And this book sounds like it will be a great hit as well, a man and wife go to Scotland in search of the Loch Ness Monster. I don’t usually include the blurbs here but even the description of the book was so well written. I love this specific piece “Maddie begins to see that nothing is as it first appears: the values she holds dear prove unsustainable, and monsters lurk where they are least expected.As she embraces a fuller sense of who she might be, Maddie becomes aware not only of the dark forces around her, but of life’s beauty and surprising possibilities.” How could you not want to read this book!!?

4. Heartbreak Cove by Lily Everett

I thought this sounded like a sweet love story. Woman sheriff takes her niece to a town for some quiet healing, and the niece likes horses. Nearby guy who rehabilitates abused horses helps out and then him and the sheriff fall in love. Just love the cover.

So those are my finds this week! Please feel free to share your finds or leave a link to your own “Friday Finds” blog posting below! Happy Friday!

29Mar2015

Top 5 books I’m Looking Forward to Reading on the Beach

Posted in For the love of books by rebeccabook17

With summer just around the bend, I am using all my powers of positive thinking to get through the last of the cold days of winter and looking forward to the warmth of spring and summer. And so to prepare for the wonderful upcoming summer, I’ve been considering which books I’d take with me if I were to be laying on a warm beach tomorrow. The following list is the five books I currently would like most to be reading on a beach right now.

1. Desperately Ever After by Laura Kenyon

This book is basically a “where are they now” story about our favorite fairy tale princesses. We catch up with Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Penelopea years after they’ve supposedly obtained their “happily ever afters.” I think this would be a fun book to read on the beach, it sounds funny and I love the fairy tale princesses.

2. The Marriage Season by Linda Lael Miller

This book is the third in the Brides of Bliss County series by this author. We will read the story of the third in a group of three girlfriends who is going to fall in love with the third in a group of guy friends. I really mostly want to read this story to find out what the other two charms on the charm bracelet are. Silly I know but it still bothers me that we never found out what the charm for the woman in the last book was. Also I think this will be a light, cheerful read which can sometimes make a really good beach read.

3. The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase

This is a debut novel by Chase. The author is said to have a writing style similar to that of Jennifer Weiner and Emily Giffin, both of which I very much enjoy. I think this would be a good one to read on the beach since it sounds really interesting to me and if her writing style really is similar to those two authors I have a feeling this book is going to just suck me right into the story.

4. This One Is Mine by Maria Semple

I read another book by Maria Semple earlier this year and just loved it. It dragged me into the story and didn’t release me. I devoured it in a day. I’m hoping that I love this book just as much. And if it devours me just as quickly, it could make a great beach read.

5. Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

This book sounds pretty scary to me so I think reading it in the sunlight surrounded by a ton of people is the best way to go. Girls going missing and sisters torn apart, and I guess an unexpected twist that you’ll never see coming.

So those are the five books that I am most looking forward to reading on the beach this summer. What about you? What books are you looking forward to diving into on the beach?

27Jan2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Would Want to Read in a Book Club

Posted in Book memes, For the love of books, Top Ten Tuesday by rebeccabook17

Top Ten Tuesday is a book meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday there’s a different bookish topic and bloggers are asked to post their own top ten list based on the topic. This week is a listing of the Top Ten Books you would pick for your book club to read if you were lucky enough to be in a book club (unfortunately I am not so lucky due to a combo of lack of time and resources). So I put my thinking cap on and thought that if I were in a book club, what books would I like to discuss with my fellow club attendees.

1. Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

I am currently in love with Giffin’s books after reading her Something Borrowed and Something Blue recently. Her books are intense and thought provoking and I think that they would make for a great discussion.

2. All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner

This book has been on my to read list since before it came out in 2014. I think the subject of addiction in this book would make for a great discussion starter.

3. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

This was a highly praised book in 2014. I read many good reviews on it and I am honestly fascinated by the topic. A pandemic causes chaos to erupt and a new world forms amongst those who survive. Sounds freaking awesome.

4. The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

A young woman without any prospects is asked to marry a wealthy family’s dead son, well actually to marry his ghost. I think this would be a great book to discuss since its subject is so unique and unusual.

5. Redeployment by Phil Klay

My husband and I met when he was in the Marines. I waited (not at all patiently I might add, though I wish I could say differently) while he went to Afghanistan on deployment. I think that I have to read this book. I think it might give me a better glimpse into the complicated world he lived at that time. I also think it would be a great eye-opener for book club readers.

6. It Was Me All Along by Andie Mitchell

Many women in this day and age have weight issues and body image issues. The media blasts us with images of “beautiful” women, all of whom are a size 0. This just isn’t realistic. This memoir is all about learning to love who you are and learning to love your body. I think this would be essential for a women’s book club and a great discussion piece for book clubs that can be candid with one another.

7. The Pocket Wife by Susan Crawford

This book brings up a big discussion point: mental disorders. In this novel, a woman with bipolar disorder was the last person to see one of her friend’s alive and suspects she might actually be the killer.

8. Wild by Cheryl Strayed

I know this is going to sound like a poor reason to have this on the list, but I heard this turned out to be a great movie. I think it would be an interesting book to read and discuss in a book group.

9. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I almost can’t believe it myself, but I’ve never read this book or the rest of the series. Astonishing, I know, considering how popular the book series was and even how much I have loved the movies so far. For those reasons, I’d love to read this book and discuss people’s thoughts on it.

10. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

This is a classic that I have always wanted to read but never found quite the right motivation to actually pick it up.

So that’s my list! Anyone else see books on my list they’d like to read? Maybe we could start our own book club 🙂 Let me know what you’d put on your lists!

23Jan2015

Friday Finds (Jan 23)

Posted in Book memes, For the love of books, Friday Finds by rebeccabook17

FRIDAY FINDS is hosted by Should Be Reading and showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list. Whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

My finds this week include an upcoming YA release, a gothic mystery / romance and of course a romance:

1. The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

First of all, sick cover. The cover alone would probably make me want to pick up this book. Plus the synopsis of the story sounds really interesting as well. And finally, it is described as being a cross between The Selection (which is very high on my TBR list, I’ve been dying to read this series for awhile) and Graceling (which I hadn’t heard of before but sounds really interesting).

2. Miramont’s Ghost by Elizabeth Hall

Said to be reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, this book is described as a dark and thrilling ghost story. I discovered it in an email that Amazon sent me with a listing of popular romance novels, so I’m not sure exactly where the romance will be in this ghost story but I guess we’ll find out! Some of the reader comments look a little dark (and slightly unnerving) so I have to say I don’t think this book will be good for the faint-hearted. I thought it looked interesting though!

3. You’re So Fine by Kieran Kramer

I heard a lot of good things about Kieran Kramer’s March 2014 release Sweet Talk Me. Though I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, it is also on my TBR list. You’re So Fine also looks like a sweet story and a fun read. Might save this one for a beach read for this summer since the cover is.. well a beach 🙂

So those are my finds this week! Please feel free to share your finds or leave a link to your own “Friday Finds” blog posting below! Happy Friday!

14Aug2014

Celebrating Read-a-Romance Month!!!

Posted in For the love of books by rebeccabook17

I was asked to participate in the “Blogger Day” for Read-a-Romance month (http://www.readaromancemonth.com/). My essay, interview, recommendations, and bio are listed below.

What does romance mean to me…

I like to think that I am romantic in nature. Romance really is essentially thinking about the person you love, and thinking about what you can do to make them happy. It’s not rocket science and it isn’t really a difficult thing. I believe that through the years, romance is the glue that holds a relationship together. It’s not necessarily about the grand gestures, but about finding time to care about one another in little ways every day. Through the month of August so far I have been reading the essays from different romance authors on the readaromancemonth.com website, and I have found that a number of the essays have had a common theme – that romance isn’t always the dramatic, over-the-top gestures that we see in some novels but the little things that people do every day to show their love for you. Especially when you consider your partner of 30 years, something as simple as holding their hand becomes meaningful and romantic. As you grow older things are constantly being added to your life; more responsibility at work, kids, pets, house, etc. This leaves less and less time for you to think of your spouse and of the things that you can do to make them happy. There is no longer time to plan a romantic 3 day getaway weekend, you’re lucky if you can find 5 minutes when you can be not only together but also alone. And not only that, but after dealing with all of the problems and issues you encounter during the day, there isn’t always a lot of energy left to think about the other person in your relationship. I really believe that it is important to take those 5 minutes every day to really focus on your spouse and think of something nice you can do for them, even if it’s as simple as vacuuming the house. Those little things can really mean a lot to the person that you love. I have found that romance novels really both remind and encourage me to think of my spouse. I read about these great loves and these dramatic romantic overtures and I think that the least I can do for my husband is something little, like making him his favorite dinner or picking out a movie to watch that I know he’ll like even though I won’t really.

I get asked a lot why I bother reading romance novels. Many people say that they’re just trash and that they have no real substance. Every book is different though, and while I agree you could argue some items are missing from romance novels that you might find in a book of “substance”, I believe that romance novels have a great deal of substance. They have a never-ending depth of human emotions. Great authors will draw you into the story and trap you there, make you feel what the hero and heroine are struggling through together. You get to personally experience their happiness at the end of the story when they discover love.

One of the books that I most remember losing myself in is Once Upon a Tower by Eloisa James. At the time I read that book I was going through a difficult point in my marriage and I very much related to the heroine in the story and her struggles with the hero. I can distinctly remember getting lost in that story and connecting with the heroine at such a depth that I couldn’t distinguish her emotions from my own because they were one in the same. I would stop reading to get a snack or something and my mind would still be stuck in the story.

Getting to the ending of that story and finding Edie and Gowan’s happy ending gave me hope for my happy ending. That’s what I really love about romance novels, that there is always a happy ending and the readers are always left with a deep sense of hope. Life can be really tough sometimes, and there are days that I come home from work feeling defeated and beat down. Life can be overly depressing when you think too hard about how much you work and how little time there is to actually do the things you like to do. Romance novels help me to escape that. Instead of my life, I’m suddenly dropped into London society in 1810, in the midst of a torrid affair between a rogue and a daring young miss. Having that escape is a form of relief for me. It helps me to be better prepared to deal with the rest of my day when I can have that half hour at lunch to go into a different world.

I have been an avid reader my whole life and enjoy reading a multitude of genres. Through the years though, romance novels seem call to me in a way that no other genre really has. The romance niche has it all and has a genre for everyone: suspense, paranormal, historical, contemporary, cowboys, pirates, there is absolutely something for everyone. And I think everyone needs a dose of love and of hope in their lives to get through the day.

Interview:

1 – Describe the most daring, adventurous or inspiring thing you ever did.

Probably the most daring thing I ever did was fall in love with a Marine who lived 3,000 miles away from me. We met at a graduation party of a mutual friend and exchanged phone numbers. From there we became good friends and correspondents. And from there we fell in love. Before I met my now husband I never knew I liked to travel or that I was slightly adventurous. I ended up driving cross-country to CA for a summer and that was probably one of the most adventurous experiences of my life thus far.

2 – Tell us about your journey to becoming a writer. (How did you decide to get started? Did you always know or was there a specific moment when you knew?)

I have trouble thinking of myself as a “writer” even though I end up writing a blog post almost every day some weeks. Compared to the authors I read though, I couldn’t imagine writing something as interesting as they do. My journey as a blogger began this past year. My mom and I both set goals for this year (hers was in quilting, mine was to read 60 books). I suggested that my Mom start a blog on her quilting to help her keep track of her completed projects through the year (you can see her blog at http://joanne94w.wordpress.com/). And in about February of 2014, my husband also suggested that I start a blog for my book challenge.

3 – Tell us about The (or A) Book That Changed Your Life. (Why?)

It’s hard to pick one. Romance novels have gotten me through some tough points in my life and I’ve loved a good variety of genres. I think if I had to pick a book I would have to say that I was really drawn into the world of romance novels when I started reading Linda Howard’s romantic suspense. Now You See Her and Mr. Perfect both drew me in and I think were the first books that I really got caught up in the emotions and the drama of the heroine. Both are great romantic suspense novels.

Recommendations –

I’m new to the world of blogging so I haven’t been able to explore other blogs as much as I would like yet. I do really enjoy the Rakes and Rascals blog (http://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com/) which also features mostly romance novels.

As for authors, I probably have too many favorites to name. Stephanie Laurens, Jennifer Ashley, Elizabeth Hoyt, Julie Garwood, Linda Howard, Sandra Brown, Jayne Ann Krentz (and all her other pen names), Kristan Higgins, Meg Cabot, Nora Roberts, Vicki Lewis Thompson (the nerd series is one of my absolute favorites) are some of my all-time favorites.

I’m becoming more interested in different authors lately as well: Elizabeth Lowell, Elizabeth Boyle, Jane Graves, Eloisa James.

I could probably keep naming but you get the idea 🙂

Bio –

Rebecca Lyman began blogging in February of 2014. Since then she has posted a total of 83 blog posts, including both book reviews and articles on other book-related topics. By day she works as an accountant at a national auditing firm. She has been an avid reader since she was very young and always has at least one if not two books with her at all times. She is well known at her local library and worked there during her high school years. She hopes to someday return to working at a library as an accountant.

1Jun2014

Quilting Retreat 2014 (aka Reading Retreat)

Posted in For the love of books by rebeccabook17

So every year I go with my mom on her Quilting Retreat. Her Quilt Guild goes on a three-day retreat where they quilt pretty much non-stop. I never caught the quilting bug but I tag along and spend the whole weekend reading. Its a fantastic weekend every year. We arrive Friday morning and unpack all our multitudes of items and we stay until just after lunch on Sunday. We stay at the Incarnation Center in Ivoryton. It has a large middle room where all the quilters set up and two wings of rooms attached off the large main room. We get three meals a day, all of which are quite delicious. Last night for dinner we had grilled steak, a sweet potato mash, and roasted asparagus. Yum! And the best part is we don’t have to worry about doing any dishes!

I was able to finish 2 (and a half) books this weekend. I also got to exercise and spend some time relaxing with friends. And my husband even drove down yesterday to spend some time with mom and me. During the weekend, we also go to a nearby quilt store and a couple wineries during the weekend. The Incarnation Center is a great spot, they have hiking trails, a large lake, and a lot of animals on the grounds. My favorite animals are the burros that live behind the building we stay in. I’ve included some pictures in this blog post of our fun adventures this weekend! Also be sure to check out my mom’s blog to see what she got done this weekend!

Link to Mom’s log: http://www.joanne94w.wordpress.com