Hops, Tags, and More!

10:42 AM Elizabeth Seckman 71 Comments



Love this hop! Leave it to the creative minds of Alex Cavanaugh and Ciara Knight to come up with such a marvelous idea.

Just like those wonderful sleeper films that don't get the attention of the blockbusters, many books are waiting on to be read lists and deserve some love.

I've read several books this year...and here are my favorites...in a nice mannerly alphabetic list. :)


Amazon Link


Jesse Andersen's book has the coolest cover of the year. I think it's totally awesome. And the story was a great read too. Jesse took a tough issue (teen pregnancy and abortion) and emerged with a wonderful, thoughtful story.








Amazon Link 









I just started reading this book, and even though I am only a third of the way in, I have to add it to the list. Medeia Sharif has that "voice" we hear so much about. Add in her touch of humor and I am excited to keep reading.






Amazon Link


Being a huge fan of Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar", I fell in love with this book. Annalisa Crawford doesn't just let the reader peak into the head of a troubled teen, she sucks you in. I read this novella in a day and will definitely visit this story again.



Amazon Link




Jay Mims created a charming soft shoe detective who drops one liners like a millionaire drops dimes. This book was fun from beginning to end.


Amazon Link



I love a good romance...and Kyra Lennon delivers. I love her style, love her humor, love her characters...even the rotten, but redeemable Radleigh.






Amazon Link



This was a sweet read with a nice twist at the end. Jolene Perry is a master of the teen love tale, but so far, this one is my favorite.










Linda Sands wove a masterful, mutli-generational tale with characters so out of the ordinary they felt like people I knew. Linda is a smart, talented writer and her stories show it.







*Yes, I violated the rules by not picking one book. Sue me...I've got a few pennies left. :)



Now for some bloggie awards!

Thanks to Rachel Shieffelbein




Thanks to Tammy Theriault











And since this is already a long post, I've combined the questions choosing this and that from each list to make a list of lucky 7.

1. Favorite Movie? "Gone with the Wind"
2. Chocolate or vanilla? chocolate~ dark chocolate, milk chocolate, mixed, poured, or added in...love it in any form
3. Favorite Holiday? Christmas!! Love it...even when it starts in October.
4. When do I crave sweets the most? morning, noon, and sometimes even at night
5. Favorite Author? John Steinbeck
6. Favorite Pet? I love animals. I have dogs, frogs, hamsters, and a cat. Animals are awesome, even if they are a lot of work. But since I'm NOT running for political office...I will answer the question with a direct response: of all the wonderful critters in the world...dogs are tops. 
7. Favorite subject in school and why? History. I'd rather visit a museum over Disney World any day. 





71 comments:

  1. Interesting post - technically cheating, I guess, but some great picks! Visiting from the blogfest - lots of great books to add to my ever growing list ;-)

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  2. I crave sweets at the same times! LOL. Great picks for the bloghop!

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    1. But you carry that sweet addiction much better than I do...but I blame being forty-ish, not the over consumption of calories!

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  3. What a lovely surprise to see my book on your list! Thank you so much :-)

    Kyra's book is such a good read, and I've got Not Drowning, Waving on my TBR list.

    Completely agree with your chocolate answer too!

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  4. Bless your heart! That's so awesome that you picked my book amongst some amazing ones! Thank you very much! <3

    Annalisa's book is FABULOUS!

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    1. I was thinking last night...which one should I pick. But they are all so different and each are special...and me being a girl who likes the variety box of chocolates over a single flavor...I had to list them all!

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  5. Thanks for sharing all those wonderful books. I'm seeing some of them for the second time on the blogfest.
    I'd rather a museum than a theme park too.

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    1. Smart lady :)
      (though people hate to go with me because I like to read the placards and stuff)

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  6. What a list, and they all sound worthy of recognition. :-)

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  7. Wow! You've outdone yourself on this post. Lots of books to consider. Thanks.

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    1. Going overboard is something I excel at...my kids love me at Christmas!

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  8. Great list! I hope Medeia finds her book!

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  9. Oh, love your book choices! And yes, glad not to be the only one who chose several.

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  10. Rule breaker! LOL, I love it. Great choices. I know almost all of them. Thanks for participating.

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    Replies
    1. You guys are too nice to smack me for it :)

      Thanks for hosting...what a great idea!

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  11. wow thats a lotta romance from alotta locals (in the blogosphere!)
    awesome you've read them!

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  12. I definitely want to read Cat and the Dreamer and Game On! I love their (Annalisa Crawford\Kyra Lennon) blogs so I have to read their books one of these days!

    I love chocolate, too and I definitely should watch Gone With The Wind! Congratulations on the awards, Liz! You very much deserved them :)

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    1. Thanks Livia! I'm pretty sure "Game On" is in the Kindle Direct program, so if you're a member, you can download it free.
      Both books are excellent...you'll be glad you read them.

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  13. Lots of great books to add to my list now. All these sound wonderful, thanks for the introduction!

    Nas

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  14. I definitely remember you loving At What Cost. Best Ramandon Ever has a story line that makes me laugh and Game On is a book I've been aching to buy. Nice choices Liz and congrats on the blog awards.

    My fave animal: Cats.
    Subject: Literature but History is a close second. I enjoy remembering the past and visiting a museum is a good trip any day.

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    1. I love cats too. I really like to have both, but if forced to only get one, it would be a dog. "Game On" is free right now through Amazon direct (and with the direct program, there will be a few days it's totally free to everyone...keep your eye on it and download it then!)

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  15. Thanks for the book recommendations. I've heard of a few of them but haven't read them yet.

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    1. There are so many good ones, so many excellent suggestions...how do you ever get to them all?!

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  16. Hey, I know most of those authors! Very cool.
    Thanks for participating in our blogfest.

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    1. Thanks for hosting!! (and not sending a ninja strike force to take out the rule breaker!)

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  17. Wow...you alphabetized your selections. Hmmm OCD much? Lulz.

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    1. Ah, Michael, I have days I wish I was a little more OCD! Maybe my life would be in better order. Nope, I am not OCD, just trying to do the list without appearing biased.

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  18. Thank you so much for featuring my book here. *blushes*

    I'd like to read all of these. I also love Sylvia Plath.

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    1. I'm loving Almira...even if she is crushing on best friend's guy. ;)

      I loved "The Bell Jar", I've read it over and over.

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  19. Great list! I crave sweets all the time too.

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    1. I bought a pack of cream horns a few weeks ago...ate the whole pack in a day. I justified it by not eating real food and cutting calories that way. I know...stupid and ridiculous, but the desperate brain can rationalize anything!

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  20. Great books on this list! I loved Cat and the Dreamer. Beautiful book.
    I agree that dogs are top, although horses are a close second. ;)

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    1. Rachel, I'm going to tell you a secret...I think horses LOOK awesome...powerful, majestic..but they scare the holy crap out of me! I rode one ONCE. My heart raced the whole time and I had a broken down mare who was more interested in eating than moving.

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  21. That's so nice that you picked Medeia's book too.

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  22. You cheater and non-follower of blogfest rules!!!!

    But, it's OK, 'cos you good peeps with few pennies :)

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    Replies
    1. Bwa ha ha!!! And you're right poor peeps got to stick together!

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  23. Great answers anyways...wow, that WOULD have been a long post!

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    1. I had such a hard time with the alphabetizing...how blond is that? And kept having to fight the pictures, so I was worn out by the end. But you had awesome questions!

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  24. Rules are only guidelines. Break away.

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  25. You chose some good books. I've read Medeia's and enjoyed it.

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  26. That Game On cover just makes me smile!!! :)

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    1. It is way cool. I like it. And it's fun, just like the book!

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  27. OMG so many GREAT books! You're right, the cover to At What Cost is eye-catching!

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    1. For months I thought it was a peach, until I looked closer. Astaea Press has excellent cover designers.

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  28. Lots of ways to spend money here! And I totally agree with you on #4. ;)

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    1. I've been so lucky getting books at blog give aways, I have a stack of free reads a foot high!

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  29. Hey we chose the same book Game On! Radleigh is indeed rotten yet redeemable ha ha. Great choices!

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    1. We have good taste! And yes, as long as they are redeemable, we can love him.

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  30. I love following Medeia! I really need to read her book. And i don't think you broke the rules... just stretched them a bit ;)

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    1. So far it's a good read. And you're right, it was a stretch...and my intentions were good. :)

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  31. Holy... you went above and beyond with this fest!!! A+, Elizabeth. :)

    And loved reading your answers... History all the way!!! :D

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    1. Yay for team history!
      And thanks for noting my extra work, instead of calling me cheater...hehe

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  32. Elizabeth,

    Love that you broke the rules!!!!

    Love Gone with the Wind, and chocolate -- all chocolate!

    So nice to meet you via this blogfest!

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    1. Nice to meet you too! I love meeting good people...and chocolate loving "GWTW" appreciating gals are my kind of people!

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  33. Replies
    1. It's a good read...and it's on the KDP program right now. If you have a Kindle and are a Prime member, you can get the book for free.

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  34. That kind of rule breaking is fine. You made the day of many authors, way to go!

    I used to participate in this meme where our entries had to be ONE HUNDRED WORDS using a prompt. As a writer, you know hitting 100 exactly is hard. We had several who'd just ramble on...250+ words. I got so pissed off I quit. I'm a math nerd and a word nerd and a former teacher. Sometimes rules are there for a very good reason!

    Anyway, nice to meet you and thanks for the follow.
    Tina @ Life is Good
    http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/

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