Where Jen's Book Thoughts Readers are Reading

Happy Friday, friends. I'm getting a bit of a late start after taking my dog, Rufus, on a hike this morning. It's a gorgeous day here in Northeast Ohio. I hope it is where ever you are, too.

I have a couple items to share before we get to today's special guest. It's almost the end of June now and I have been very remiss about Audiobook Month. So I'll share my review for AudioFile of a book called Lily and the Octopus. This one made me laugh and cry. I would recommend not listening to it on public transportation.  Another outstanding--and earphone award winner--that I reviewed recently is Walter Mosley's Charcoal Joe.

And if you follow the blog's Facebook page, you may have seen me post about this there, but a small school district that doesn't have a library is looking to rebuild and they're in need of donations. If you have some books you can share, they'd be most appreciative.

O.k. on to the fun stuff! Today's special guest is Deborah Ruth from Cincinnati. I have welcomed guests that I've known for some time in this series, but it's been the greatest treat to meet some folks I haven't connected with before. And this is the case with Deborah. So color me tickled today! Here's what she has to say about her fab photo she sent:

I am at the University of Cincinnati outside McMicken Hall with the two lions, Mick and Mack.  I'm almost 64 now, and I know there exists a photo of me as a toddler with Mick and Mack.  I'm in the senior audit program there which allows seniors aged 60 plus to audit classes for free.  What fun!  I always carry my kindle with novels, like Iris Johansen's Shadow Play, which I just downloaded. 

A woman after my own heart! Learning and books...lifelong loves. Deborah, thank you so much for participating. I'm over the moon to "meet" you and am so happy to feature you today. The next time I'm traveling down your way, I'll give you a buzz and maybe we can meet in person. Hope you enjoyed Shadow Play!

Thanks all for stopping by and meeting Deborah. Hope you have a fantastic weekend filled with sunshine and great reads. Happy reading!

Where Jen's Book Thoughts' Readers Are Reading

Happy first Friday of June everyone! I hope the new month is off to a great start for you. I have sunshine and a bird singing outside my window now. *happiness*

I started a very large book about Bobby Kennedy last night and have been listening to Rick Bragg's Ava's Man on audiobook. If you're looking for something to sing to you, wow is Bragg incredible!

But let's get on to today's featured reader. Julie Hyzy is no stranger to the blog and I look forward to every opportunity that I can see her in person. What a fantastic woman! And so much fun. She was a great sport on my Liar, Liar panel at Murder & Mayhem in Muskego. :-) Plus, she's the New York Times bestselling author of  the White House Chef mystery series and the Manor House mystery series as well as some suspense novels she's published as N.C. Hyzy.  If you should meet up with her at a book event or conference, be sure to introduce yourself. She's warm and friendly and a blast. She saves her killing for the pages. ;-) If you can't meet up with her in person, connect with her on Facebook or Twitter.

In the meantime, like many of us in the Northeast, Julie was excited to be able to get outside. Here is her contribution to Where Jen's Book Thoughts' Readers Are Reading:

This was taken at Zabrocki Park, a small gathering spot in Tinley Park. Named for a former mayor, it's a lovely place to read. This is where our village hosts Music in the Park, and where we come every week in the summer for our Farmer's Market. You can see the tower of our Metra commuter station behind me.

I'm reading Duane Swierczynski's Canary in the photo. Loved the book! Fun, exciting, with a lot of real warmth. Have you read it? If not, I highly recommend it! 

Thanks to Julie for giving us a glimpse of where she's reading...among other great things. I want to go visit the farmer's market! I adore this fun woman and hope you've enjoyed her visit, too. Remember to introduce yourself if you talk to her. And give her a hug from me as well. Have a great weekend, friends. Happy reading!

Where Jen's Book Thoughts' Readers are Reading

Happy Friday everyone! For those who are observing it, happy Memorial Day weekend. I hope everyone has a nice book or two to enjoy this weekend.

Today I'm excited to welcome a friend to the blog for Where Jen's Book Thoughts' Readers are Reading. And again, I owe my friendship with her to the blog. So many connections made through this funny phenomenon.

Sarah White also sent me her picture during the winter months, but it's a bit different from last week's. ;-)

Coming to us from Florida, Sarah says this is her favorite place to read.

As a post script she told me, "I moved here for a reason in 1984. Record blizzard in DC, when it thawed I left." I think I know that feeling well.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone, no matter WHERE you are reading!

Where Jen's Book Thoughts' Readers are Reading

Happy Friday friends! We're supposed to have a rather lovely day today and I'm tickled pink at our forecast for the next week. Lots of sunshines and warm temperatures showing on my weather app. I hope it's just as nice in your corner of the world as well.

I'm also hoping my reading improves a little along with the weather. I've had a run of luke-warm reads (and listens) lately, which has been disappointing. What are you reading that's good?

Last week, as many of you know, I headed out to Chicago for my interview with Fredrik Backman at Anderson's Bookshop. (It was wonderful; he was wonderful; it's all going in my Book of Amazing.) I stopped in to BEA for a few hours on Wednesday and was hoping to see today's featured reader, but alas--no such luck. "Beth Fish" blogs at Beth Fish Reads, she's also a fellow audiobook reviewer at AudioFile. In fact, she was this year's Audio Publishers Association Book Blogger of the Year! I don't think the APA could have made a better choice. So it gives me tremendous pleasure to welcome her to Jen's Book Thoughts today.

And since I'm so far behind, the snow in her picture doesn't look quite so cold now. ;-)

I live in small-town central PA -- outdoor living whenever possible. 

Many thanks to BFR. I know what an outdoorsy person she is since I follow her Instagram feed that includes so many wonderful nature pictures, so this is such a fitting picture of her.

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. Happy Reading!

Where Jen's Book Thoughts' Readers Are Reading

Getting back on track here we have some more readers to spotlight in the coming Fridays! And my inbox is still open for any of you who would still like to send a picture. You don't have to be fancy or extravagant. Just have fun.

I was so delighted to receive this picture from my good friend Theresa. She was around at the advent of Jen's Book Thoughts--we worked together at Foundation Software. She still does and I've changed jobs twice, but we still manage to keep in touch and get together every once in awhile. My heart smiled when I opened her email with her picture, showing her in Parma, Ohio. Please help me celebrate Theresa today!

I just started reading Dangerous Habits. It’s a Leah Nash Mystery by Susan Hunter. This is the first book I’ve read by her and so far I like her writing style. I love getting books on my ipad. Now I can carry a bunch of books with me wherever I go.

Where Jen's Book Thoughts Readers Are Reading

Happy Friday...Happy April...and I hope you haven't been the fool of any jokes yet today. Or at least not too many anyway. Today our featured reader is definitely no fool. She's a talented photographer, a cat lover and a fellow blogger--she's been blogging at Whimpsulive since 2006! Plus, as you'll see below, she has the most excellent taste in books! I'm determined to meet SuziQOregon one of these days in person, but today she's coming to us from home in Oregon--and she chose the most appropriate of Portland settings, Powell's Bookstore.

I live in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon with The Hubster and two incredibly spoiled cats. I'm in the picture that's a closer view of the window. I'm sitting on the bench inside. The book I'm reading in the photo is Sunset Express by Robert Crais.

Where Jen's Book Thoughts' Readers Are Reading

I'm running a little behind this Friday, but for good reasons that I will share as soon as I can. But I hope you all are enjoying a grand end to this week. One more in March, how can that be?

But let's not go down that path, instead, let me welcome a special friend--again, one I met through the avenues of Jen's Book Thoughts--who has become near and dear to my heart even though geographically she isn't quite so near. Many of you, hopefully, already know her as blogger/reviewer/freelance editor/Craisie Pop Culture Nerd. (I hope she has a rack for all those hats!) She's been a world traveler recently (is there space on the rack for this new hat?) so her submission reflects that. Here she is, my good friend reporting in from down under, Elyse:

I thought it'd be fun to show myself reading where an author lives instead of where I live. Michael Robotham, one of my favorite crime-fic authors, lives in Sydney, Australia, so this was the perfect novel to read while there (the book comes out in April in the States). Close Your Eyes made for a good traveling companion--engrossing and never complaining!

Where Jen's Book Thoughts Readers Are Reading

Happy Friday. This week has absolutely gotten away from me. I'm nursing my older Labrador who just had surgery, but the surgery went very smooth and it's a sunshiny day so we're full of smiles around here. I have a ton of content I need to get up here on the blog for you, but today we need to take a peek at where another of our wonderful readers is reading.

Bill Cameron is simply a fabulous guy and I'm so excited he's our guest today! In addition to being witty and very adept with Twitter, he's a super talented writer. He's written short and novel-length crime fiction for adults and this June he dips his toe into the YA end of the genre with his new book, Property of the State (which you may remember from me mentioning in the books I'm looking forward to this year). I'll stop yammering so we can get to the fun part. Welcome Bill Cameron!

Here I am outside the Book Bin in Salem, Oregon—one of my favorite stops whenever I make it to our state capital. And the book I’m reading is also one of my favorites, Lock & Mori: the debut from Heather Petty.  

Lock & Mori is a wonderful offering to the world of Sherlock Holmes, a unique and striking look at how Holmes and Moriarty not only first met, but how they worked together to solve a challenging series of murders in London. Set in contemporary London during the pair’s teen years, we see “Lock” as a young man and “Mori” as a young woman, both in their larval forms—already brilliant, already competitive, but raw and vulnerable. The writing is as sharp as the characters’ keen intellects, and the plot as rich as aficionados of Holmes have come to expect. This is a fabulous book worthy of multiple readings. I can’t recommend it more highly.

Such a great contribution to the series. We seem to be bouncing back and forth from coast to coast. Last week we had Judy from the Midwest. Now that the weather is improving I'm hoping to hear more from the middle of the country...and beyond. :-) Check back next week to see where (and what) our next reader is reading. Have a great weekend and happy reading!

Where Jen's Book Thoughts Readers Are Reading

Happy Friday everyone! It's been a great week here in NE Ohio. Lovely weather, a visit from Markus Zusak (more on that next week)...what more could we ask for? I hope you've had a great week as well.

A couple small things before I bring on our special guest today. The first is that the Nerdy Special List for March is up over at Pop Culture Nerd. You can check out what I'm recommending and what my well-read cohorts are recommending as great reads for March.

If you are connected with me on any of the social media platforms, you probably know I've been taking some photography classes--I'm hoping to get a website set up soon to share my photos and track my progress as I try to improve my skills. Because I've been such a big fan of the group I'm taking my courses through--Shaw Academy--I've recommended them to numerous people. I have also taken their classes on graphic design and website development and am planning to take numerous other offerings in addition to more photography classes. So I decided to add a link to their site here. It's over in the side bar under the Shaw Academy header if you'd like to take a look at their course offerings. They have quite a few and continue to add more programming. I'm one of those weird people who just love to learn, so these classes have been a real treat for me. When I have my site ready to go, I'll share that with you as well.

O.k. so enough blather from me. Now on to a very beloved reader of the blog. If you spend much of any time conversing with folks in the crime fiction community, you probably know Judy Bobalik. She's a voracious reader and a familiar face at book conventions and events. I got to know Judy at my second major book event--Murder & Mayhem in Muskego. We shared a room, and she made it through the weekend without killing me, so I knew right away she was going to be a life-long friend! :-) And as extra proof of that friendship, she came to Ohio and spent a weekend with me making my library!

And Judy's put her creative touch on this project. I love this picture! She took me to 3 Floyds on one of my visits to her house. Like Judy, I'm not a beer drinker, but I was taking gifts back home, so I was tickled to receive her submission for the project.  I'll let Judy take it from here.

Being a non-beer drinker I brought two books to 3 Floyds Brewing Company in Munster, IN. I am reading BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO WEEP by Kristi Belcamino and SNOW BLIND by Ragnar Jonasson.

I've shared a lot of literary firsts with Judy (and many other fun adventures) and this May I'm going to see Fredrik Backman with her. So my heart is full today to feature her on the blog. Thank you, my friend! xoxo

As the weather is starting to break in many places now, I hope you'll consider sending your own pictures, if you haven't already. I'm so delighted at the various contributions that are coming in from all over. I'm excited to see where more of you are reading as well!

Where Jen's Book Thoughts' Readers Are Reading

We shall kick off the March segment of this feature with a humorous contribution from Brad Parks. I know you're stunned that he'd submit something humorous, right? Well the Shamus/Nero/Lefty award-winning author of the Carter Ross mystery series--and upcoming thriller, Say Nothing--doesn't let us down.

That’s me with Catriona McPherson’s outstanding THE CHILD GAME, wearing my favorite T-shirt from Aunt Agatha’s Mystery Bookshop. I’m being photographed on the shore of the Rappahannock River, which I’m happy to say also serves as my front yard. And, yes, before you can ask: Those are REAL imitation Crocs.

I'm sure with his shoe fashion sense we'll be seeing him on the Paris runways soon. In the meantime, I'm still waiting for my Elvisgram from the Interns. Have a fabulous weekend, friends, and happy reading!

Where Jen's Book Thoughts' Readers Are Reading

It still amazes me every day. The unforeseen outcomes of this blog--I never anticipated most of them when I started it over eight years ago. The greatest, by far, has been the friendships developed over mutual love of books. Some of those friendships have only ever been virtual; I've met some people at conferences and book events; and some people give me a place to stay when I'm traveling. Like my guest today. Lauren O'Brien has become one of my nearest and dearest friends over the past eight years, even though we live across the country from each other. Lauren's had a bumpy few months...o.k. more than a few...but she found some time to get a picture for our series at her current temporary home. Please welcome my very good friend, fellow book lover and dog lover, Lauren O'Brien!

I have spent my entire life living on the other side of this bridge. Traveled across it too many times to count as my cousins live on this side of it, but until I started staying with Aunt Joy I've never experienced living on the north side. It's quite nice, and although it's a few more steps to go to get to the ocean, I'm still just across the street. So while this isn't where I live, it still feels a bit like home. 

And you can check out Lauren's blog, Malcolm Avenue Review, where she has a wonderful style of book reviewing. I know you'll love her wit as much as I do.

I'm adoring how each person is making this feature their own, reflecting their own creativity and personality. I hope you'll consider sending a contribution as well. I'm excited about the posts still to come and would love to meet some more of you I haven't met before. I'd love to know you're out there and have the chance to say, "hi." Here's the original post on the project. The invitation is still open to one and all.

Have a great weekend everyone and happy reading!

Where Jen's Book Thoughts Readers Are Reading

These submissions are so much fun! I hope you're enjoying them as much as I am. I'm delighted to see some of you for the first time and excited to hear about what you're reading.

I'm posting Gail's gorgeous picture as I look out the window at snow on the ground. *sob* And kudos to Gail for those regular 10 mile bike rides. I think a good book is a great reward for that exercise!

Gail Churchill is reading Greg Iles' The Bone Tree at the fountain in front of the library (and other municipal buildings) in Peachtree City, Ga. We park our truck here and ride bikes (10 miles) on the golf cart paths every Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Today Jan 16, 2016 it was 61 degrees!

Thanks so much to Gail for this outstanding submission and for reading the blog. She even managed to make me a little warmer today. Gail, I hope the weather is permitting you to ride this weekend as well. Happy reading to all!

Where Jen's Book Thoughts Readers Are Reading

I was absolutely delighted with last week's response to the beginning of Where Jen's Book Thoughts Readers Are Reading. I'm so happy you enjoyed it and I hope you all will continue to send your pictures in for the feature. But let's get on to today's reader. I was so thrilled that Rochelle submitted this picture because I HAVE been following her hikes on Facebook. So fun. Hope you enjoy!

While writing the Mind for Murder novels set in Los Angeles, I fell in love with L.A. history. To research my next series, also set in L.A., I take weekly hikes through neighborhoods with historical significance. A few weeks ago, my hiking partner and I planned a hike in the hills of the Pacific Palisades overlooking the Pacific Ocean, where history layered on history. One of the first landmarks was the building pictured behind me that housed actress Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe in 1934, the last place she was seen alive the night of her mysterious death (unsolved) in 1935. Some say her ghost still haunts the halls. That fact was interesting enough, but when I found out that Raymond Chandler reimagined Todd's café into the fictional sidewalk café in FAREWELL MY LOVELY, I had to read the novel before taking the hike! (Who could resist a reason to reread ANYTHING by Chandler? His writing is a treat.) Quoting Marlowe from chapter 8, paragraph three: "...I drove past and gave the sidewalk cafe my business to the extent of using its parking lot." The day of the hike we followed Marlowe's path from the café to the 280 step staircase he climbed to the home of a client in fictional Montemar Vista. So much fun.

 Rochelle Staab, pictured holding her copy of FAREWELL, MY LOVELY on the pedestrian bridge crossing Pacific Coast Highway to the roadhouse, is the author of the bestselling Mind for Murder series. Follow her weekly hikes through Los Angeles on Facebook. More info at www.rochellestaab.com

Where Jen's Book Thoughts Readers are Reading

Today kicks off the Where Jen's Book Thoughts Readers are Reading and I'm so excited. People have been so creative with this and I'm excited to share all the fun pictures that are coming in from super wonderful readers. Keep the pictures coming in and I'll keep running the feature. I'm going to put together a slide show of the images and I started a map to pin our locations. So let's get this party started shall we?

Appropriately enough, the first reader is also the first person I saw--and who welcomed me with warm smiles--at my first Bouchercon. Kaye Barley is a wonderful friend and prominent member of this crazy book community. You can check out her blog, Meanderings and Muses, for more about this lovely lady. And I will tell you that Kaye is seen here with the statue of Doc Watson--and a Charlaine Harris mystery--that sits on a corner in downtown Boone, where Kaye and her husband, Don, and their dog Harley call home.

Thanks for kicking off this celebration of the blog's readers, Kaye! And I wish you all a very happy Friday and of course, happy reading!