Hola! Hopefully, you are keeping warm this fine Sunday morning. We were in the single digits this morning and did not break out of the low teens yesterday at all. It was a perfect day for finishing up the seasonal decorating, so that’s exactly what we did. The tree is up, the stockings are hanging on the mantel. I suppose this means that I need to break out the cookie recipes next.
I am happy to report that the acquisition project that has kept Jim in California for most of the year is now essentially over. The final transition occurred last week, and he is hoping that other than a few trips to tie up loose ends he is done traveling so extensively. It is not the end of his business travels, but it should be the end of the week-long or month-long trips. Perhaps this means that 2014 will be our first “normal” year as a family.
We are now in my busy season. I have already had my annual inventory trip to Mexico and will be hitting the other two plants over the next two weeks. Between that and preparing for next year’s audit, ’tis the season for cramming as much work as possible in the remaining days of the year. It’s a good thing Jim will be home now because I see some long hours in my future.
Speaking of the season, last week was the last Badger home game. It means we finally have free weekends for the first time since August. Phew. That is me heaving a HUGE sigh of relief. It has been a fun and intense few months, but I am really excited about the possibility of a long and quiet winter. Besides, it means more time to read!
Title: The Rosie Project Author: Graeme Simsion Narrator: Dan O’Grady ASIN: B00DEKLXXQ Audiobook Length: 7 hours, 32 minutes Genre: Fiction; Romance; Comedy Origins: Recorded Books; Release Date: 1 October 2013 Bottom Line: Adorable Synopsis: “Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his…
Title: Plague Author: Lisa Hinsley ISBN: 9781476733364 No. of Pages: 200 Genre: Science Fiction Origins: Pocket Star Release Date: 9 December 2013 Bottom Line: Frightening depiction of the breakdown of society Synopsis: “In this enthralling debut thriller written in the vein of Contagion, a young couple struggles to save their plague–stricken son as they desperately fight back against a tyrannical government. A…
Title: Game: A Thriller Author: Anders de La Motte ISBN: 9781476712888 No. of Pages: 400 Genre: Suspense Origins: Atria/Emily Bestler Books Release Date: 3 December 2013 Bottom Line: Decent thriller with plenty of potential Synopsis: “One Sunday morning after a long night of partying, Henrik “HP” Pettersson, a slacker with a lot of ego and very little impulse control, finds a cell…
Title: Elizabeth of York: A Tudor Queen and Her World Author: Alison Weir ISBN: 9780345521361 No. of Pages: 608 Genre: Biography Origins: Ballantine Books Release Date: 3 December 2013 Bottom Line: Fascinating topic but the excessive details bog down the narrative Synopsis: “Many are familiar with the story of the much-married King Henry VIII of England and the celebrated reign of his…
Hosted by Sheila from Book Journey, this is a weekly event to share what we’ve read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind. Finished Last Week: Currently Reading: Currently Listening: Up Next: What are you reading?
Title: The Lavender Garden Author: Lucinda Riley Narrator: Gerri Halligan ASIN: B009ZOZSQI Audiobook Length: 15 hours Genre: Historical Fiction Origins: Recorded Books; Atria Books Release Date: 11 June 2003 Bottom Line: Much better in print but that’s not saying much Synopsis: “La Côte d’Azur, 1998: In the sun-dappled south of France, Emilie de la Martinières,…
Title: Rain Village Author: Carolyn Turgeson ISBN: 9781932961249 No. of Pages: 320 Genre: Fiction Origins: Mine. All mine. Release Date: 28 October 2006 Bottom Line: Beautiful Synopsis: “Young Tessa is a diminutive girl, far too small for farm work and the object of ridicule by both her own family and the other children in their isolated Midwestern community. Her father seems to…
Title: The Kindly Ones Author: Jonathan Littell ISBN: 9780061353468 No. of Pages: 992 Genre: Historical Fiction Origins: Mine. All mine. Release Date: 3 March 2009 Bottom Line: Tough book to read for its physical descriptions and flights of fancy; not for the weak Synopsis: “A former Nazi officer, Dr. Maximilien Aue has reinvented himself, many years after the war, as a middle-class…
Title: My Cousin Rachel Author: Dame Daphne du Maurier ISBN: 9781402217098 No. of Pages: 383 Genre: Classics; Suspense Origins: Mine. All mine. Release Date: 1 July 1951 Bottom Line: Atmospheric and suspenseful but to be avoided by those not comfortable with ambiguity Synopsis: “Philip Ashley’s older cousin Ambrose, who raised the orphaned Philip as his own son, has died in Rome. Philip,…
Mother of two and full-time senior accountant just trying to maintain some sort of balance between family, career, and personal interests! If I'm not online writing or reading reviews, I can usually be found with my nose in a book! After checking out my review policy, please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding this policy or my availability as a reviewer.
