My reading has seemed to drop off dramatically in the last couple of weeks, which is really rather surprising, given that I had a to-and-from airplane trip to Hawaii (with no kids!) available to me and eight long days of vacation.  In all that time, I only managed to work my way through two-thirds of The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn (which I’m loving!)

But before I left, a library hold came in for me…and after I came back, another library hold came in for me.  And I received a book for review.  And Jenny Crusie’s Gothic Book Club decided on the next book in the rotation…and I bought the fabulously priced e-book release of a friend…

So now I’m currently reading:

• The Dark Enquiry
• Hourglass by Myra McEntire
• Aimee Come Home by Barbara Michaels
• Let’s Bring Back by Lesley M. M. Blume (which I’m ga-ga over and will be reviewing here on the blog next Wed)
• The Paradise Prophecy by Robert Browne   and…
• Adventures of Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles by Edward A. Grainger

Whew!  I need to carve out a bigger chunk of time for this eclectic mix that includes romantic suspense, YA paranormal, gothic romance, non-fiction, thriller, and western noir!

image via, nostalgia via Let’s Bring Back.

It’s been a long time in coming, but I finally have the cover art for AUSTENTATIOUS! !

And to celebrate, I’m hosting a little giveaway.  To enter, let me know in the comments, here on the blog, on Facebook, or on Twitter what you like best about the cover.  I will draw a winner at random out of all the entries on August 1st, and the winner will receive a $15 gift card to Amazon.com.  

So get crackin’! 

I’ll start…I like how the cover looks simultaniously modern and vintage, which goes very well with the theme of the book.  Okay, now your turn…

I was on the 7:20 p.m. flight out of Honolulu last night after eight lovely days in Hawaii, and rather surprisingly, slept (fitfully) for most of the eight hour flight that got into Houston at 8:00 a.m.  But I’m dragging.  And slurping down caffeine-laced sodas to keep myself coherent.  So a Hawaii post will have to wait.  My impressions… 

• Traffic is insane
• Hawaiians enjoy a very laid back lifestyle
• Island breezes are divine, and the flowering trees are gorgeous
• Sunset is the most important time of the day
• Sand gets in absolutely everything
• Pineapple is KING