Mailbox Monday: You Know Your Way Home by Suzanne Jauchius

Thanks for joining me for Mailbox Monday! MM was created by Marcia, who graciously hosted it for a long, long time, before turning it into a touring event. Mailbox Monday has now returned to its permanent home where you can link to your MM post.

I got one book last week when I met the author at the Bloom Book Lunch & Thrive Series here in Portland:



You Know Your Way Home by Suzanne Jauchius

Suzanne is a professional author, radio personality, speaker, and psychic. Yeah, really. I'm a skeptic. But she has a really interesting story to tell about what a mess her life was in -- on her fifth husband before she was 40, and a real wreck when she finally landed in a therapist's office. And she turned it all around. I want to know more.

Happy Independence Day!

Book Beginning: Reagan: The Life by H. W. Brands

THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON FRIDAYS FOR BOOK BEGINNING FUN!

Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author’s name.

EARLY BIRDS & SLOWPOKES: This weekly post goes up Thursday evening for those who like to get their posts up and linked early on. But feel free to add a link all week.

FACEBOOK: Rose City Reader has a Facebook page where I post about new and favorite books, book events, and other bookish tidbits, as well as link to blog posts. I'd love a "Like" on the page! You can go to the page here to Like it. I am happy to Like you back if you have a blog or professional Facebook page, so please leave a comment with a link and I will find you.

TWITTER, ETC: If you are on Twitter, Google+, or other social media, please post using the hash tag #BookBeginnings. I try to follow all Book  Beginnings participants on whatever interweb sites you are on, so please let me know if I have missed any and I will catch up.

YOUR BOOK BEGINNING



MY BOOK BEGINNING

Reagan remembered three things from his childhood: that his father was a drunk, that his mother was a saint, and that his ability to make an audience laugh afforded an antidote to life's insecurities and embarrassments.

-- Reagan: The Life by H. W. Brands.

Brand's new biography of Ronald Reagan is concise, lively, and engaging. With newly available archival materials and interviews, Reagan deserves space on any history-buff's shelf.

Teaser Tuesday: A Batter of Life and Death by Ellie Alexander.

The camera crew returned to shoot footage of Linda at work.  She pounded shortbread cookies into a fine powder for the crust and put on a sweet smile for the camera.

-- A Batter of Life and Death by Ellie Alexander.

This second book in Ellie Alexander's Bakeshop Mystery series finds the owner of Torte competing in a reality show, Take the Cake.  Apparently someone is willing to kill for the top prize.

The series started with Meet Your Baker and is a lot of fun for fans of culinary cozies! The Ashland, Oregon setting is a real treat.

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm, where you can find the official rules for this weekly event.

Mailbox Monday: Summer Fun

Thanks for joining me for Mailbox Monday! MM was created by Marcia, who graciously hosted it for a long, long time, before turning it into a touring event. Mailbox Monday has now returned to its permanent home where you can link to your MM post.

A couple of fun looking, perfect-for-summer books came into my house last week:



An Irish Volunteer by Juliet Cardinal.

This fact-based historical novel tells the remarkable story of Joe Plunkett and Grace Gifford, an unlikely pair of lovers who joined forces during the 1916 Irish Revolution. Joe is a poet, a Catholic, and the son of a Count; Grace is a Dublin artist and a Protestant. Can they risk their lives and their love for their dreams of an independent Irish Republic?



A Batter of Life and Death by Ellie Alexander.

On the lighter side, here is the second mystery in this smart new cozy series of "Bakeshop Mysteries" set in Ashland, Oregon, following the clever debut, Meet Your Baker.