Sunday morning, news and more

Happy Valentine’s Day!

We had a wonderful weekend in Boston, walking the Freedom Trail, visiting the sites, meals at the original Cheers and the Barking Crab. The Barking Crab became a ‘must eat’ after my husband and son watched an episode of Man vs Food. I was able to sneak in a visit with a friend on Monday before we boarded the Amtrak for a four hour trip to NYC.

Tuesday was a beautiful day in NYC. I had meetings scheduled for every two hours and must have walked 8-10 miles before heading to the airport. We are home safe from a wonderful trip, thank you to everyone for making time to meet with me! I have some exciting news to share in the next week or two – STAY TUNED!

Look what's coming up this week:

Omaha Bookworm’s: We will be discussing The Day THE Falls Stood Still with author Cathy Buchanan on Tuesday evening. I’m hosting this month and am excited to see my friends and talk with Cathy. My husband taught me how to stream video over our television, so we will not be huddled around a laptop. I will post a recap later this week.

MMBC: On Wednesday night we will be talking with Lori Lansens to discuss The Wife’s Tale (released Feb 10, 2010). This is a special treat for the MMBC as we had the opportunity to read the book before the release date. I have been emailing with many of those reading along with us – everyone is excited for our discussion. I will post the audio from our discussion later this week.

Anna read-a-long: We will start discussing Part 1 of Anna Karenina on Feb 22 (next Monday). Are you enjoying this book? Have you found time to read? Has anything surprised you (ie: how relatable the book is)? I will post a few discussion questions next week.

What I’m reading: While visiting with Miriam (Hachette Book Group) last week she gave me a copy of So Cold the River to read on the trip home to Omaha. I’m about 200 pages in and am enjoying the pace. The story is interesting and you know it’s good when you stop reading to talk about the book.  My son feels like he's reading along with me, ha!

Synopsis: It started with a beautiful woman and a challenge. As a gift for her husband, Alyssa Bradford approaches Eric Shaw to make a documentary about her father-in-law, Campbell Bradford, a 95-year-old billionaire whose past is wrapped in mystery. Eric grabs the job even though there are few clues to the man's past—just the name of his hometown and an antique water bottle he's kept his entire life.

In Bradford's hometown, Eric discovers an extraordinary history—a glorious domed hotel where movie stars, presidents, athletes, and mobsters once mingled, and hot springs whose miraculous mineral water cured everything from insomnia to malaria. Neglected for years, the resort has been restored to its former grandeur just in time for Eric's stay.

Just hours after his arrival, Eric experiences a frighteningly vivid vision. As the days pass, the frequency and intensity of his hallucinations increase and draw Eric deeper into the town's dark history. He discovers that something besides the hotel has been restored—a long-forgotten evil that will stop at nothing to regain its lost glory. Brilliantly imagined and terrifyingly real, So Cold the River is a tale of irresistible suspense with a racing, unstoppable current.