Bloggiesta - Spring 2014

Ooooooo..this looks like such fun.

I never knew about the Bloggiesta until today.

My List:

• Fix my sidebar so things are in the order I really want them
• Make headers for sections if need be
• TRY to get more books read
• Visit EVERY blog in the list - I love to make new blogger friends - I have visited 18 blogs so far.  Found a few new blogs I never knew about. :)
• TRY to make a moving avatar through MegaPhoto - if anyone knows how to do it, please HELP me.
• Add my "Reading Now" book to Shelfari - DONE.  :)
• Learn how to put Disqus comments on my blog - can anyone help??

That's all for now, but I am excited to be participating.

THANKS. 

My Father - March 11, 2014

We are so very sad about dad.  He was a wonderful, talented man and a terrific father.

NAME: Ralph Coscarelli
AGE: 91
TOWN OF RESIDENCE: New Kensington
DATE OF DEATH: died peacefully in his sleep after a long illness on March 11, 2014

DATE OF BIRTH: November 6, 1922
CITY OF BIRTH: New Kensington
PARENTS NAMES: the late Frank and Elizabeth (Bruno) Coscarelli

SPOUSE NAME: Mary Jane (Greco) Coscarelli

DECEASED FAMILY MEMBERS:  Besides his parents, a brother, Frank Coscarelli and a sister Claire Zuclich

CHURCH: Mt. St. Peter R.C. Church, New Kensington

OCCUPATION:  He owned and operated Ralph’s Cabinet Shop in New Kensington from 1952 to 1967.  He then took up work with P.W. Campbell Contracting as Superintendent until retiring in 1985 due to illness.  Mr. Coscarelli served in the Army during WWll from June 1943 to March, 1946 in the Chemical War Service attatched to the 87th. Division of General Patton’s 3rd. Army, serving in the European Theater of Operations.

He was a member of 7th. St. Sportsmans Club, New Kensington,  Lower Burrell Veterans of Foreign Wars, and New Kensington American Legion. His enjoyment was hunting, fishing and repairing old antique furniture, and spending time with his family.
     
SURVIVORS:  Wife, Mary Jane (Greco) Coscarelli of 67 years, New Kensington, 4 Sons,  Ralph (Ruth Ann) Coscarelli Jr., Natrona Heights, Daniel Frank (Diane) Coscarelli, New Kensington, Michael (Valarie) Coscarelli, Cranberry Twp. and Frank (Carol) Coscarelli, Lower Burrell, 4 Daughters, Kathleen (Edward) Wall, MD, Elizabeth (Andrew) Petrovich, Lower Burrell, Jane (Daren) Kissenger, MD, and Claire (Brian) Hall, MD, 15 Grandchildren and 3 Great-grandchildren.  Also surviving him is a Sister, Joan Henry, Fla. and many nieces and nephews.

The Midnight Rose by Lucinda Riley

Anahita and Princess Indira became inseparable after Indira wanted Anahita to live with her family at the palace.  THE MIDNIGHT ROSE tells their marvelous, admirable story.

How lucky could a girl get?  Moving from a small village to a palace to be friends with a Princess. Was it lucky forever?
 
THE MIDNIGHT ROSE moves from present day back to a diary that Anahita kept of her life in India as well as her life in England. 

You will feel badly for Anahita and feel her shame and pain.  Indira is a character that you want to dislike at times because of her selfishness but can't.  Donald will make you mad as well as feel sorry for.

THE MIDNIGHT ROSE is different from Ms. Riley's other books, but equally as good.  It took a few pages to get into the gist of it, but once England meets up with India and the story of Anahita’s life is revealed, THE MIDNIGHT ROSE will have you quickly turning the pages to see what happens next.  The secrets rolled off the pages and made THE MIDNIGHT ROSE a book you won't want to put down.

THE MIDNIGHT ROSE allows these secrets to be revealed through Anahita's diary.  Diaries and digging into family history is one of my favorite things to read about.  The reader will be transported back and forth from present day to life in an English household in the 1920's and then back to India.  

THE MIDNIGHT ROSE also allows you see the inner workings of the lifestyle of a wealthy English household along with a beautiful love story.  The descriptions of India's beautiful landscape and the lifestyle of its residents was amazing and takes you to India’s abject poverty as well as the oozing wealth.

Don't miss this new book of Ms. Riley's. Even though it takes a few pages to get involved, the storyline is amazing and the ending pages of Anahita's diary are superb.  4/5

This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in return for an honest review.

We Interrupt This Winter for A Summer Beach Break Event With Prizes!

As always, another fun event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey.

Join Silver's Reviews as well as other bloggers for a Summer Giveaway to CHASE this snowy, very cold winter away.

I am ready for beach weather, how about you?

A winner has been chosen:

#6 - Anne

CONGRATS, and thanks to everyone who entered.

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And for my beach giveaway.....

I am giving away a used, paperback copy of Elin Hilderbrand's book, SILVER GIRL.  I read the book back in 2011.

Best of luck in the contest on my blog, and have fun visiting the other blogs for a chance to win their "Chase Away Winter" Giveaway.  

USA Entries only please.

Click here for the entry form.

Review and Giveaway of The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh

Beautiful, powerful, mesmerizing....

From England to South Africa.  From wealth to poverty.  From being happy and content to being unhappy and resentful.

Frances had no choice but to move to South Africa after her father died.  She was left with nothing and definitely didn't want to live with her aunt to be a nursemaid or to be treated like help instead of family.  She had to accept Edwin's proposal. Things happened in between her marriage to Edwin, though, that made her second guess her decision to marry him and to move to South Africa.

THE FEVER TREE is written in a beautiful, descriptive style.  The storyline held my interest because of the lifestyle, the setting, the period in history, and definitely because of the characters. You will feel sorry for Frances and really dislike Edwin and William.

Ms. McVeigh has an elegant writing style that immediately pulled me in.  THE FEVER TREE is a book about family, class distinction, making decisions, and a love that endures...find out what this enduring love is as you turn the pages in this haunting, unforgettable read.

You will be able to put yourself in Frances' shoes and feel her despair with her life, her decisions, and her surroundings simply because of the amazing way Ms. McVeigh details every sentence and situation.
               
You will be able to vividly see every detail because of Ms. McVeigh's amazing imagery and feel what Frances and the other characters are feeling because of her writing skill. The description of the African landscape is stunning. You will feel the dust in your clothes and the bleakness of the dry land.

THE FEVER TREE is truly a sultry book you won't want to put down and one you will remember long after you turn the last page.

THE FEVER TREE is a beautiful combination of historical fiction and a passion for life, for causes, and dreams.  Don't miss this mesmerizing debut novel. 5/5

This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in return for an honest review.

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Contest has ended...thanks to all who entered.

#14 - Andrea 

is the winner of THE FEVER TREE if she is a resident of the USA.

Complete this form for the Giveaway.  

USA ONLY please.

Contest runs from February 21 to February 28.

Good Luck!!

My Favorite Books

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My Favorite Books I have read over the years.  Click the title to go to the review on my blog.  

If the title isn't linked, then I haven't reviewed it. It must have been pre-blog days.  :)

Also check my Favorites Shelf down the right-hand side.

Happy Reading!!

1.  The Island House by Posie Graeme Evans

2.  The Lavender Garden by Lucinda Riley - she is similar to Kate Morton

3.  The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure - it is WWII with a different twist

4.  The Funeral Dress by Susan Gregg Gilmore - it is about a girl in the Appalachian Mountains

5.  DollFace by Renee Rosen

6.  The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell - this is one of my favorites and still has me puzzled.  :)

7.  The Wife, The Maid, and The Mistress - it will be reviewed on my blog on January 28.  It is historical fiction...loved it

8.  The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd - she wrote The Secret Life of Bees

9.  Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain - it is a social issue book, but very good.

10. Burial Rites by Hannah Kent - it is a true story, but fictionalized, about a woman in Iceland who was last person to ever be executed - VERY GOOD...my book club loved it.

11.  Meet Me At the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan - it is a light-hearted read

12.  The Time Between by Karen White - very good

13.  The Orphan Train by Kristina Baker Kline - historical fiction...good read

14.  Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

15.  The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin - this is her debut book

16.  The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin - it is about the wife of Charles Lindbergh

17.  City of Women by David R. Gillham - WWII

18.  The Roots of the Olive Tree by Courtney Miller Santo

19.  The House of Serenades by Lina Simoni - about an Italian family.  :)

20.  A Walk Across the Sun by Corban Addison

21.  Little Black Dress by Susan McBride - a fun read

22.  Mudbound by Hillary Jordan - very good

23.  Room by Emma Donoghue - a bit depressing, but good

24. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

25.  The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson

26.  The Shadow of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon 

27.  The Cleaner of Chartres by Salley Vickers

28.  The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

*Image courtesy of:  http://www.cba-va.org/

Becoming Josephine by Heather Webb

When Rose moved from a balmy, beautiful Martinique plantation to a cold, stark Paris, her life followed suit.

She went from a loving, warm family to a husband and a life that was cold and distant.

Rose's arranged marriage was supposed to be one that would be a wonderful new chapter in her life, but it was totally opposite.  Her husband, Alexandre, was a philanderer and very critical of Rose. He thought she was beneath his social stature.

When the French Revolution broke out both Rose and Alexandre were imprisoned in a filthy, demeaning prison.

After her release, Rose was determined to change her life and never want for anything again.  She worked at and reached that goal.  Rose/Josephine was a very determined woman and led quite an interesting social life as she again looked for a husband. It is difficult to believe how she "hopped" from man to man.

BECOMING JOSEPHINE was very well written and kept my interest despite some of the political aspects.  I would recommend BECOMING JOSEPHINE if you are a fan of historical fiction.  It is historical fiction at its best.  Ms. Webb definitely did her research.

I truly enjoy this time period in history with all the fashion.  The strict rules about the rights of women during these times is always puzzling since there was no problem with the women and their sexual behavior.   My rating is going to be a 4/5.

This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in return for an honest review.