Hoppity Hop Hop: The Book Blogger Hop

It's time for this week's hop from Crazy For Books!

Here's the question of the week: What’s the ONE GENRE that you wish you could get into, but just can’t?


I actually pride myself on being able to read a lot of genres. I do wish I could get into more Thillers. I've read some...some that I've even enjoyed, but it isn't a genre that I go for when it comes to grabbing a book off a shelf, either my own or in a library or book store. I guess I prefer hot spicy sex and a little humor to having my pants scared off me! However in this heat, maybe I do need my pants scared off me!

Book Blogger Hop -- It Has Been Awhile!

It has been awhile since I've done a Hop! Thanks to Crazy For Books for doing this great hop, btw!

This week's Hop question comes from Veronica who blogs at: Read Books, Have Fun
How/Where do you get your books? Do you buy them or go to the library? Is there a certain website you use like paperbackswap?

My books come from various places. I buy a lot...usually at Barnes and Noble, Books A Million or Half Priced Books...uh..or Walmart or Target or Ollies...OK I buy books wherever I see one that strikes my fancy. Oh and I'm a Harlequin subscriber too, so there's that.

I also take part in a lot of book tours, so I get books via those tours as well.

But my favorite place to get books are the swap libraries that my hair dresser and the YMCA have. Bring a book, take a book. What fun!


So I guess I really should say...Hello, My name is Andrea and I'm a book-a-holic! I think I need a 12 step program!

Hopping On Friday

It has been awhile since I've done a Hop. So this week I thought I'd give it a go again.

The Hop comes from Crazy-For-Books

This week's blog hopping question:

"If you find a book you love, do you hunt down other books by the same author?"

I think my yes answer is a given. When I discovered Jennie Tremaine who is Marion Chesney, back when I was in high school, I had to hunt down all of her books and that was no easy fete.  That also happened with Janet Evanovich and Wanda Brunstetter too.

I think it is pretty much a given that if you find one book by an author that you like, you'll probably try to find at least one more, to see if you really love them.

Book Blogger Hop

From Crazy For Books

Here's the blog hop question of the week:

"What are you reading now and why are you reading it?"

 

 

I've been on a mystery kick lately. Both of these are really light fare, but they are both quite good. I'm really enjoying them too. Murder In Plain Sight is my Nook Netgalley read, and Dead As A Scone is my bedside read.

Doing The Hoppity Hop

Jennifer's question this week was: "What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?"

In the grand scheme of things, it has to be the whole Twilight series. I really just don't see what is so fantastic about those books, and I've read the first two. But Twilight is one of those series that you either love passionately or hate passionately, and I'm a hater.  I might have liked it better if I would have read them before a lot of the movie hype started, because I really think that Pattinson was a poor choice for Edward, and his makeup a bit too pale and pasty, but it is my opinion, which is contrary to millions and millions of screaming girls and women.

So what was your pick?

Book Blogger Hop

The Hop is sponsored by Jen over @ Crazy For Books

Along with providing all of the book bloggers with a great way to meet up and find new reads, she has a get to know you question. Here's this week's question:

 "What is your favorite book cover?"

I don't know that I have an absolute favorite book cover, because there are so many gorgeous ones out there. And covers need to reflect the story or the type of story you're reading

So I'm going to give you two covers I love

Book Blogger Hop

The Hop is sponsored by Jen over @ Crazy For Books

Along with providing all of the book bloggers with a great way to meet up and find new reads, she has a get to know you question. Here's this week's question:

"If you find a book that looks interesting but is part of a series, do you always start with the first title?"

I know most of you are going to pull back and cringe when I say, I've started a lot of series with a random book. With the Lady Julia Grey Mysteries, I've read book 2 and 4.

I started the Stephanie Plum books out of order, however I only read one book out of order. I think I might have read book 3 and then started from the beginning.

Granted most of the series I read, I have read in order, but yes, I have read things out of order, or way out of order.

Book Blogger Hop

 

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jen over at Crazy For Books.

This week's get to know you question is:  When you write reviews, do you write them as you are reading or wait until you have read the entire book?

I don't write my reviews until I've totally finished a book. I sometimes jot something down that I want to remember when I'm writing the review, but for the most part everything is written within 24 hours of my turning the last page. If I wait any longer than that, I forget things I want to mention.

Now here are some things going on @ A Chick Who Reads

Giveaway

Wind Warrior Blog Tour. Giveaway ends on Sept 30, so sign up now!!!

Reviews
Vanetta Chapmen - A Simple Amish Life
Eden Bradley - The Lovers
Han Nolan - Crazy

Discussions
What's Your Reading Comfort Zone
Getting Used To The Nook

Book Blogger Hop

This week's get to know you question from Crazy For Books is: Post a link to a favorite post or book review that you have written in the past three months.

I'd have to say Laura Baratz-Logsted - The Twin's Daughter. I reviewed this one for an ARC Book Tour and I really loved it and I think my review adequately reflected that.

Feel free to check out any of my other reviews and I always love comments and will come to reciprocate the comments when I get a chance!

Happy Friday everyone!

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Me Friday

The Hop is Hosted By Jennifer @ Crazy For Books.

Each week she poses a get to know each other better question. This week's question is: Do you use a rating system for your reviews and if so, what is it and why?

Right now I'm using stars, hopefully that will change if I can manage to save up for a pretty new template.



1 Star: Not worth the time to read it.

2 Stars: Not terrible but not good either

3 Stars: A good read

4 Stars: A great book that I would recommend to a friend

5 Stars: A keeper shelf book

I use a rating system because I think it is necessary. Some books are better than others. I'm just sharing my opinion, and yes I have used the 1 star rating. Just remember, just because I gave something a low rating doesn't mean you will.






Hosted by Parajunkee

Now onto some of the stuff I've been doing this week, for anyone new who is stopping by via these two features

Reviews
Betty Neels - An Old Fashioned Girl
Nora Roberts - With Open Arms
Danielle Steel - Rogue

Memes Played
Waiting On Wednesday
Top Ten Tuesday
It's Monday! What Are You Reading
Friday Finds
In My Mailbox

Oh and can you guys help me create a reading challenge for the fall? There are more details here

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Me Friday

The Hop is Hosted By Jennifer @ Crazy For Books.

Each week she poses a get to know each other better question. This week's question is: How many blogs do you follow? Well I follow a lot of different blogs in more than just google friend connect where I have 58. The blogs I really love are on a feed on my blogs. That's where I follow most of my author blogs and my really good blogger friends. Plus there are my friends from my personal blog A Little Night Music which is going to turn 8 years old on Sunday! I think I probably follow 100 blogs between feeds and friend connect and my link backs. I'm not totally sure though.




Hosted by Parajunkee

Now onto some of the stuff I've been doing this week, for anyone new who is stopping by via these two features

Reviews
Katherine Arthur - Forecast of Love
RaeAnne Thayne - The Cowboy's Christmas Miracle
Michele Scott - Happy Hour
Robyn Grady - The Billionaire's Fake Engagement

Memes Played
Waiting On Wednesday
Teaser Tuesday
It's Monday! What Are You Reading
On My Wishlist

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Me Friday

The Hop is Hosted By Jennifer @ Crazy For Books.

Each week she poses a get to know each other better question. This week's question is: How many books do you have on your 'to be read shelf’? Oh sweet niblets! This is not a question I want to answer. I think the best way would be to say too many. My mother was a big reader before her eyes got bad and I took after her and my gram. I also have a problem, if I find a book while cleaning and I haven't read it, it goes to the TBR pile before it goes to Goodwill. Yeah...my TBR pile is ginormous. I lost count a long time ago!




Hosted by Parajunkee

Now onto some of the stuff I've been doing this week, for anyone new who is stopping by via these two features

Reviews
James Patterson - Pop Goes The Weasel
Kris Radish - Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral
Leanne Banks - Billionaire Extraordinaire
Cathleen Galitz - The Millionaire's Miracle

Memes Played
Friday Finds
Waiting On Wednesday
Teaser Tuesday
It's Monday! What Are You Reading
In My Mailbox
On My Wishlist

Author Interviews
Sarah Morgan

Book Blogger Hop

Hosted by Jennifer @ Crazy For Books

This week's blog hop get to know you question is: Do you listen to music when you read? If so, what are your favorite reading tunes?

I constantly have music on, so the answer to this one would be yes. I don't know that I have any special reading tunes, but when I have the radio on I usually listen to Classic Hits The Pickle which is our Classic Pop/Rock station. I used to have a huge crush on the DJ there, but alas that was not meant to be. Shakes fist in the air at my bad luck with men.

Some of my favorite artists include, Duran Duran, Erasure, Elvis Costello, The Moody Blues, The Monkees, The Beatles, Keri Noble and Over The Rhine. There are a lot more that I love but this gives you an idea of the eclectic tastes I have when it comes to music, much like my taste in books.

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Me Friday

The Hop is Hosted By Jennifer @ Crazy For Books.

Each week she poses a get to know each other better question. This week's question is: Who is your favorite new-to-you author so far this year? For me it would be Jen Lancaster. I've wanted to read her books for awhile, but I didn't get around to buying one until this spring and once I started reading, I was hooked. Her memoirs are so funny.






Hosted by Parajunkee

Now onto some of the stuff I've been doing this week, for anyone new who is stopping by via these two features

Reviews
Sandra Dark - Old Flames
Linda Randall Wisdom - In Memory's Shadow
Gareth Roberts - I Am A Dalek
Allie Sager - Forgive Yourself
V.C. Andrews - Heavenstone Secrets
Magali - Vanishing Bride
Amber Riley - Flash Of A Firefly

Memes Played
It's Monday! What Are You Reading
Waiting On Wednesday
Friday Finds

Author Interviews
Amber Riley

Book Blogger Hop & Follow My Blog Friday

The Hop is Hosted By Jennifer @ Crazy For Books.

Each week she poses a get to know each other better question. This week's question is: Tell us about the book you are currently reading.

I'm curretnly reading Amber Riley's The Flash Of A Firefly. It is a vampire book and thankfully it doesn't seem to be much of a vampire romance. I'm about halfway in and I'm enjoying the characters, both vampire, human and werewolf, because they are all strong, with distinctive personalities. The story is fast moving and really great so far!



Hosted by Parajunkee

Now onto some of the stuff I've been doing this week, for anyone new who is stopping by via these two features

Reviews
Amanda Stevens - Matters Of Seduction
Karen Foley - Hold On To The Nights
Barbara MacMahon - Accidentally The Sheikh's Wife


Memes
Friday Finds
Waiting On Wednesday
Top Ten Tuesday
It's Monday! What Are You Reading
In My Mailbox
On My Wishlist

Feature
If You Like

Book Blogger Hop

The Hop is Hosted By Jennifer @ Crazy For Books.

Each week she poses a get to know each other better question. This week's question is:

RIGHT THIS INSTANT, WHAT BOOK ARE YOU DYING TO GET YOUR HANDS ON (PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE)?

Emma Michaels' The Thirteenth Chime is my must read book. Only a few more weeks! It is out on August 13th as many of you already know. I recently interviewed Emma, and you can check out what she had to say here.

Here are some other things that happened this week at A Chick Who Reads

Reviews
Elizabeth Bevarly - Bride Of The Bad Boy
Anne Stuart - The Wicked House Of Rohan
Myrna MacKenzie - The Maid & The Millionaire
Jennifer Crusie - Manhunting
Michelle Reid - The Passion Bargain

Memes
Friday Finds
Waiting On Wednesday
It's Monday! What Are You Reading
In My Mailbox
On My Wishlist

What have you been doing this week?

Blogger Book Hop # 5

Crazy For Books hosts a get to know you blog hop every weekend! I thought that I'd jump in this week and get to know a few more booky blogs.

Each week, Jennifer from Crazy-For-Books will ask a question that you will answer on your own blog hop post on your blog - just a way for us to interact and get to know one another! So, when you enter you blog link below, make sure YOU LINK DIRECTLY TO YOUR BLOG HOP POST for the week!!

This week's question: Tell us about some of your favorite authors and why they are your favorites!

I have a lot of favorite authors let me break it down for you a little.

For the harlequin lines: Hope Tarr's Blaze books are the best. They are hot spicy and great fast reads. I adore all the Blaze historicals she's done.

Stephanie Bond writes for Blaze and does a great series called Body Movers which is a litte Stephanie Plum-ish. Her Blaze books are super sexy and her Body Movers series is funny and suspenseful.

Debbie Macomber who used to write for the Romance line before she took over the world. She writes some of the most wonderful stories of love and family and relationships. She's more than a romance writer, she writes about real life! Her characters feel like family to me.

Now for some non-series authors:

Ann Rice: I'm Team Lestat all the way people. Her books on the early life of Jesus were really great too.

Janet Evanovich: I love Stepanie Plum! I also like her Metro Girl series and all her old reissues from Loveswept!

Jen Lancaster: She's pretty funny for a republican! (That's the last political grumbling you'll hear from me) Everyone needs to read at least one of her memoirs.

Victoria Holt/Jean Plaidy/Phillipa Carr (all of these are pseudonyms btw): This lady writes the best historical fiction, and romantic suspense. I grew up on her books. When she passed away, I was so sad

Richard Paul Evans: I just love everything he writes. It may make you a little sad while you're reading but by the time the book is finished you'll be smiling or crying happy tears.

Those are just some of my favorite authors.


Some of my past posts

Reviews
Stephanie Meyer - New Moon
Rita Rainville - McCade's Woman

Memes
Friday Finds
Waiting On Wednesday
It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Feel free to check out my other posts too!

Book Blogger Hop #4

Crazy For Books hosts a get to know you blog hop every weekend! I thought that I'd jump in this week and get to know a few more booky blogs.

Each week, Jennifer from Crazy-For-Books will ask a question that you will answer on your own blog hop post on your blog - just a way for us to interact and get to know one another! So, when you enter you blog link below, make sure YOU LINK DIRECTLY TO YOUR BLOG HOP POST for the week!!

For the first week, I'm going to make it simple -
Tell us your NAME and WHY YOU STARTED BLOGGING
(in your own blog hop post on your own blog - not in the linky below, please!!!)

I'm Andrea aka The Mistress Of The Dark aka A Chick That Reads. I started blogging nearly 8 years ago with my personal blog A Little Night Music. I also have a blog with some friends called The Certifiable Wenches where we blog about pop culture and current events.

I started book blogging as a way to keep track of my reading. Now it's really become a way to discover new books and share the books I've found with my friends. I hope that those who come here will enjoy my ramblings and reviews and maybe find a new author to love.

I also hope to somehow figure how to get a few authors to do interviews, as I've done some with some indie musicians in the past.