It's April at last! Time to open my first package - from Lovemylife - it's Bill Bryson's Notes From a Small Island. I've wanted to read this forever -
thanks so much L. :bananadance: :bananadance: :bananadance:
I'll start it tonight. Tomorrow, package #2.

I've been working on your book yesterday and today. I'm really enjoying it, so hopefully it will be a quick read and I'll be sending it to you soon! :waves:

No need to hurry - enjoy!

April 2 and time to open another package. This one is The Santaroga Barrierby Frank Herbert, of Dune fame, copyright 1968. Classic sci-fi by one of the best authors. I've looked high and low for this book, Dancing-dog. Thanks so much! :kiss: :kiss: :kiss:

You're welcome! Wow, I didn't think it would get 3 smileys! :giggle:

Day 3 and I'm home from work - time to open another package! By process of elimination, I think this one's from Ramson. Ramson, are you in Chicago?

This is Flash House, by Aimee Liu. "An impressive...provocative...sweeping
thriller" (Pub Weekly starred review.) It sounds wonderful - thank you so much! :hug: :hug: :hug:

3 days and 3 great books. I love this game!

Nope, not me!

I haven't sent mine out yet. :blush:

:thinking: I thought I'd crossed everyone else out. :blush: I give up.

Thank you so much B. from Chicago. Flash House looks wonderful.
I'd send lovely warm thoughts your way if I just knew who you were. :D

Day 4. Time to open this lovely package from Ctgmom. two books -
A Door Into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski. "The author belongs to that small
group of scientists who grace science fiction not only with their knowledge, but
with their writing ability." Amazon rating 5 *s.
and Seven Dials, a Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novel by Anne Perry.
"Intricately layered, the visual panorama is voluptuous to behold." (NYT)
"One of the best that Perry has written..."
And a lovely handmade bookmark in my favorite colors and featuring my alternate identity. Now I can throw away that magazine insert card I've been using to mark my place. :lol:
- Thank you Ctgmom! I can't wait to start these. :D :D :D

That's from me! (I mentioned in the main Chapter 12 thread that you would be getting one from Illinois. I ordered it from BookMooch.) Glad it made it to you and I hope you enjoy it!

So glad they got there and you liked them.

I was hoping to read the book before sending it out, but looks like that may not be possible... :P
Just planning to pack it right now but it looks too enticing... at least to me...

By all means, read it first. I have plenty to keep me happy for now. Half the fun of reading a book is sharing it with someone else. I was just opening one at a time rather opening them all at once. :D

:bananadance: :bananadance: :bananadance: Thanks FranciJo!

Can someone please send me Rannie's address?? I've had my book ready to go since Saturday, but I have no place to send it! :whistle:

ETA: Thanks to SimplyCee, I now have the address!

Arrived home from a much needed weekend away to find another mystery package.

"Belle Cantrell felt guilty about killing her husband and she hated that. Feeling guilty that is. A lady shouldn't do something she's going to feel guilty about later was a rule Belle kept firmly in mind..." a sexy, sassy story of murder, adultery,
romance, bigotry, and regular church attendance..." How could I resist?

The Bad Behavior of Belle Cantrell by Loraine Despres from USA Sales,
and sent by ??? Thanks - this looks like great fun! :kiss:

That was me! I'm glad to see you got it. I hope you enjoy it. It seemed interesting, let me know how it is when you get around to it :)

Thanks Cee, it looks great! :kiss: :hug: :kiss:

Time to open my next package. From Azuki, The Firebrand, by Marion Zimmer Bradley. "A grand, exciting epic of love and betrayel, wars and kings,
gods and magic" - the story of Kassandra, the prophetess of Troy. Azuki,
this looks great - I loved Bradley's Mists of Avalon and I look forward to reading her Troy - thank you so much! :hug:s & :kiss: s

I've received a beautiful, exotic book - The Sultan's Seal from a beautiful
but not so exotic place (at least to this Savannah native) - Richmond Hill, Ga.

"Intricate and subtle as a Turkish carpet, lush as silk upon the skin, The Sultan's Seal is a fascinating and remarkably knowledgeable look at a society in flux, with its very appealing characters caught between East and West, Islam and Christianity, and bound in a web of murder and treachery that only the lucky few may escape." quote from Diana Gabaldon.

This looks fascinating. Do we have a Chapter in Richmond Hill or was this a PBS?

That would be a PBSer :)

So is this beautiful book from you, Am? :hug: s & :kiss: s

Yep.. Glad it got there in time! :D I was happy to see that it didn't have too far to travel.. :lol:

I hope you enjoy it.. :hug:

I'm sure I'll enjoy it - it looks great. Thanks so much! :bananadance: :bananadance:

Glad you like it. :blush:

Just wanted to let you know that I haven't forgotten you....I'm reading a rather good book to send you, and should be finished with it soon. Sorry I'm so slow! :blush:

Please take your time, Lefty - My TBR stack looks like the Leaning Tower. :D

Opening today's package - from Chambejd I'm guessing? Hanna's Sisters, by Marianne Fredricksson.

From the blurbs, "With uncommon wisdom, Marianne Fredricksson spins a generational tale about the inner lives of women and the ties that bind... a
generous, consuming, and deeply satisfying novel."

"A unerringly perceptive portrait of women in the flux of Scandinavian history."

This looks like a wonderful read. Thank you so much! :hug: s & :kiss: s

:waves: It really is a great book. I tried to find a book that would fit both your liking of historical fiction and books of different cultures. I hope you like it!

I've been so busy reading all these great books, I almost missed by Birthday buddy's birhday. Oops! :rolleyes:

Today I've received another intriguing book - The Island, by Victoria Hislop.
From the blurbs ...Meticulous research into Cretan culture...packed with family sagas, doomed love affairs, devastating secrets ...engrossing... absorbing...
a page-turning tale that reminds us that love and life continue in even the most extraordinary of circumstances...

Ramson, you've got me pegged - this looks terrific - Thank you so much!
:hug: s and :kiss: s

Glad you like it!

Today I received from Yourotherleft Away by Jane Urquhart. From blurbs,
"dazzling" "simply great" "A stunning, evocative novel set in Ireland and Canada."
And from its entries at Bookcrossing, 9 and 10 stars -Wow! :bananadance: :bananadance: Thanks Yourotherleft!

BTW, included was a bookmark with phone numbers on it. Do you need it back?

I mailed your book priority on Tuesday should be there before April is over! Hope you like it.. you were a hard one to pick a book for!

looks like mine is the last one.. everyone elses has been received! Sorry I was soo slow. I have been swamped with farm chores lately!

On the kitchen counter when I came back from the weekend (I think Thing 2
slipped home while I was gone) from the lovely but rather battered Nursiegirl,
The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas. PW says " An endearing story that depicts small-town eccentricities with affection and adds dazzle with some
late-breaking surprises ...combining an authentic look at the social fabric of Depression-era life with a homespun suspense story."

I've heard good things about this book and this author, Nursie. I know
I'll enjoy it - thank you so much! And hope you feel better soon! Sending gentle :hug: s and :kiss: s your way.

Well, that rounds up the month and my chapter. I've had such fun, and I have so many great books to read! :bananadance: :bananadance: :bananadance:
Than y'all so much!