One Summer - Final Discussion

Happy Friday!

One Summer was a super quick read for me, and like I mentioned in the prior discussion, it really wasn't what I was expecting after reading another Baldacci book.  It kind of reminded me of when I've read a sappier James Patterson.  It just doesn't work for me.

I wasn't a big fan.  It was an okay book,but I'm not sure I ever really connected to the characters, nor did I find them all very believable.  The kid/teen talk was a little over the OMG top.  And just overall, it fell flat for me, which I was disappointed about.

I think the love that Jack had for his wife shared was an excellent story, but the rest of the book, eh.  There were no surprises, no twists.  Pretty oh hum.  I needed something more.

1. Is the plot engaging—did the story interest you? Is this a plot-driven book: a fast-paced page-turner? Or does the story unfold slowly with a focus on character development? Were you surprised by the plot's complications? Or did you find it predictable, even formulaic?

2. Is the ending satisfying? If so, why? If not, why not...and how would you change it?
3. How do you see Mikki & Liam's relationship in the future?

4. Have you read any other books by Baldacci? How did this one compare?

5. Did the actions of the characters seem plausible? Why? Why not?
Thanks for joining us for the June Group Read!! ;)

Our Insane Camping Checklist...

When I say insane, I seriously mean insane.  So,we bought a pop up camper.  Yeah... My husband sent me a google chat one day and sent me a link from one on craigslist.  I hadn't even known we were in the market for one (we have a 10 ? person tent) but an hour later my girl and I were in the car off to meet him to check it out.  And we bought it.

We go on one camping trip a year.  Sometimes two.  But the prospect of camping in a tent had me wanting anxiety meds and I believe it must have been affecting my hubs too.  So here is our checklist.  And sadly, I don't even think EVERYTHING is on this list.  It is our work in progress.  Hopefully, we don't forget anything important.  Like the kid.  Cuz I didn't per her on the list.  If we forget something, hopefully it won't be too bad cuz we will be with 50 some family members. ;)

Here is the list in all its glory...

Key to reading this.. crossed out stuff is all good to go.  Bold food is stuff we already have in our possession.

Cooking
- 2 empty milk jugs for water
- 6 pack cooler
- blue cooler
- burners
- grill
- propane for grill
- lighter
- tablecloth
- plates (2 real, package of paper)
- 2 coffee mugs
- loons cups
- rest of solo cups downstairs
- silverware
- measuring cups
- aluminium foil
- paper towels (2 rolls)
- trash bags
- empty grocery sacks
- dish soap
- dish cloth / rag
- clothesline
- clothespins
- plastic containers (leftovers/food storage)
- pot
- waffle maker
- tongs
- flipper
- wooden spoon
- hot pads
- can opener
- white table
- mixing bowl
- cutting board
- ziplock baggies
- napkins
- potato peeler
- 2 refrigerators

Food
- Pam Spay
- butter
- eggs
- mac & cheese
- beans
- brats
-pulled pork
- bisquick
- onion
- garlic powder
- vegetable oil
- potatoes
- mustard
- bbq sauce
- soy sauce
- a creamer
- oatmeal
- bananas
- blueberries
- sweet potatoe
- peas
- hot dog buns
- peanut butter
- jelly
- bread
- cheez its
- rice krispie treats
- milk
- applesauce isla

Bedding
- 2 sheets for Isla
- 2 aden & anais blankets for isla
- warmer blanket for isla
- 2 pillows (a)
- 2 pillows (e)
- sheet
- blanket


Shelter
- camper
- mat to put on outside ground
- brush/pan
- lantern
- beach chairs
- camp chairs
- pack n play
- isla’s high chair


Clothing
- 2 pairs black flip flops (one for shower) - em
- tennis shoes - em
- 2 pairs shoes - isla
- 2 pairs of socks - em
- 3 pairs of socks - isla
- 4 pairs of underwear - em
- diapers
- water diapers
- swimsuit - isla
- swimsuit - emily
- 5 pairs of pants - isla
- 4 long sleeve shirts - isla
- 3 sweatshirts - isla
- 6 tshirts - isla
- 4 pjs - isla
- 2 sunhats - isla
- sunglasses - isla
- sunglasses - emily
- jeans - em
- black lounge pants - em
- 2 pairs gym shorts - em
- capri’s - em
- 4 shirts - em
- 1 sweatshirt - em
-

Personal
- bug spray
- deodorant
- beach towel (em, a isla)
- shower towel (em, a, isla)
- sunscreen
- toothbrush/toothpaste
- 2 washcloths for isla
- soap for isla
- shampoo & conditioner for emily & anthony
- shaving cream
- razor
- makeup
- hairbrush/pick
- toliet paper
- aleve
- baby ibuprofin
- teething drops
- pacifer

Misc
- walkie talkies
- books/kindle
- reusable bags
- phone
- phone charger
- camera
- tripod for camera
- toys for isla
- islas float
- islas life jacket


Yeah, and I just realized I forgot one of the most important items.  All the wine and beer I am going to need to drink...

Do you go camping?

July's Group Read is...

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese! We had a tie so I used random.org and it picked numero 2 which was Cutting for Stone. ;)

Description: A sweeping, emotionally riveting first novel—an enthralling family saga of Africa and America, doctors and patients, exile and home.

Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon at a mission hospital in Addis Ababa. Orphaned by their mother’s death in childbirth and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution. Yet it will be love, not politics—their passion for the same woman—that will tear them apart and force Marion, fresh out of medical school, to flee his homeland. He makes his way to America, finding refuge in his work as an intern at an underfunded, overcrowded New York City hospital. When the past catches up to him—nearly destroying him—Marion must entrust his life to the two men he thought he trusted least in the world: the surgeon father who abandoned him and the brother who betrayed him.

An unforgettable journey into one man’s remarkable life, and an epic story about the power, intimacy, and curious beauty of the work of healing others.


I'm excited! This has been on my TBR list for awhile.

We will discuss chapters 1-26 on July 13th and the whole book / last part on the 27th!

I hope you join us and don't forget to come back Friday to finish our discussion on One Summer by David Baldacci!

Over the Edge

The third book chronicling Alex Delaware has him reunited with a former patient, Jamey Cadmus.  Jamey is an orphan being raised by his aunt and uncle after the early troubled deaths of his parents.  Jamey is a genius (no, really he is in a program at UCLA) when he met Delaware who was in charge of making sure the kids were adjusted.

Jamey calls Dr. Delaware in the middle of the night mumbling about white zombies, plumes and stinkin' earth.  Clearly disturbed and rambling he keeps going until they are abruptly cut off.  Dr. Delaware realizes he is in a hospital from some of Jamey's rambles and gives them a call.  Jamey  appears to have left and his missing until found holding a bloody knife mumbling about white zombies, plumes and the stinking earth.

Apparently, Jamey has been busy being the Lavender Slasher, a high profile killer who has been targeting gay street kids.  Or has he? Alex is in charge of figuring out of the dim cap defense the attorney wants to use will work.  But, will Alex find out that Jamey is pretending? That Jamey is a killer? Or that Jamey is on high drugs?

This was a good book and I was glad that Dr. Delaware wasn't found backed into a room with no exits as the previous books had him.  Leads a bit more credibility to the series. ;)  Also, I like how I pointed out it reminds me of the Alex Cross series and he takes care of his woman (Robin) like Alex Cross takes care of his lady friends.  And he enjoys cooking.  Like, Alex Cross.  Interesting.  I like the writing of these books better.  Sorry, James Patterson.

One thing that does bother me, is that there seems to be an undertone in his books about everyone picking on homosexuals, except Alex.  He always seems quiet on the matter, but everyone else goes on and on about the deviants.  It's a little disturbing.

Great, quick, read!

Have you dealt with drug use in a loved one?

Some fun on a Friday...

I grabbed this from Lisa. Have a great weekend!!

Maybe I should clean my house.
I love summer afternoons in the pool.
People would say that I’m a reader.
I don’t understand why everyone doesn't think like me.  I'm always right, duhh.
When I wake up in the morning I hope for a few moments of adjusting to the day by myself.
I lost my driver's license at my best-friends bachlorette party.
Life is full of surprises
My past is full of wild times.
I get annoyed when people want to take rights away from my vagina and my child's vagina.
Parties are a lot of work, but a lot of fun.
I wish I had more time.
Dogs are annoying, but better than cats.
Cats are creepy.
Tomorrow I’m hopefully going to a park and to a grocery store and maybe the library.
I have low tolerance for ignorance.
I’m totally terrified of wild boars.
I wonder why I am so awesome.  Oh wait...
Never in my life have I sky dived.
High school was stupid.
When I’m nervous I twirl my laugh or nervous giggle or say really stupid funny stuff.
One time at a family gathering I peed my pants because I was having too much fun playing with my cousins outside and couldn't get out of my outfit in time.  Dang one piece outfits.
Take my advice: Read to your kids.  Every day.  From conception til graduation. ;)  I can't rattle of the stats but basically 20 minutes a day = a ton of early literacy knowledge and sooo many other skills/shared memories!!!
Making my bed hasn't happened since about 2007.
I’m almost always thinking about what time it is.
I’m addicted to sweet tea.
I want someone to clean my house for me.

Play along and fill in a couple of the sentences!

Reliving Childhood...

As I was pouring the water into my pasta pot yesterday, it got me thinking about summers of my youth.  I remember my mom pouring water into the pasta pot, just like I was doing to hurry up and make dinner in the morning before the heat of the day made the house unbearable.  We didn’t have air conditioning for my first 16 summers.  We ate a lot of cold chicken macaroni salad.

We also do not have central air.  We have a window unit in our living room which is pretty much useless and a GLORIOUS unit in our bedroom that we just got last year.  I love it.  I would marry it but, I’m already spoken for.

We would also spend alllll day down by the lake.  We had a man made beach and we’d spend time laying on towels drying off, sometimes reading a book, sometimes digging, sometimes just digging our toes down deep watching the water.  Occasionally, we’d fish off the dock, but most of the day we spent in the lake.  Floating, swimming, (more like racing each other or coming up with ridiculous games) jumping off the dock and pretending we were in the Olympics.  We’d have to give each other scores.  And of course you never gave anyone else a high score so they wouldn’t beat you! ;)

Yesterday, after our cold chicken macaroni salad was made, we hurried up to get a mile walk in before the heat got too bad and then we jumped in the pool.  My girl only lasted about 20 minutes before she needed a nap, but I was able to enjoy it for 2 (interrupted) hours.  I had two different friends drop by and it was glorious.  I felt refreshed, everybody was smiling and nobody was claimed by the heat!

I am hoping for more summer days like this.

What fond memories of summer do you have?

Crane Park

In my adventures to tackle as many local parks as possible this month, we started off Monday morning at Crane Park.

It is at the end of a quiet no outlet road in town and it looked like it used to have a sign to designate it as a park but there was just a rusty pole there with a short sidewalk that led into a quiet oasis.

It was a little over an acre or under an acre of grassy open area with 3 regular swings and 1 baby swing.  There was also a tall slide that we didn't use.  It was a real peaceful place and the neighborhood looked really nice.  We heard a TON of birds and saw a few squirrels run through.

It was well maintained and nobody else popped in while we were there.  Isla enjoyed the baby swing for about five minutes and then we got on the swing together and then she played in the wood chips for a bit.  It started sprinkling so we left before we could try out the slide together.

I'd recommend this park for young kids, people looking for a place to read or a picnic lunch.  It probably wouldn't entertain older children for very long.  However, I thought it was super clean, nice and introduced me to a sweet little neighborhood in walking distance of the library!

Sorry, I have no pictures of the place.  So you shall have to take my word on it! ;)

What is your favorite thing to do at the park? Has it changed as you've aged?

My fave thing used to be the swings but now they make me realllly dizzy.  I prefer going down the slide or sitting on a bench reading a book!

Blood Test

The second book in the Alex Delaware series by Jonathon Kellerman, flew by.  In this installment, Alex is contacted by Dr. Melendez-Lynch, an oncologist, whom Alex used to work with.  He wants Alex to talk to a family and help impress the importance of getting their sick son help.  The family wants no treatment and to take the boy home, but his cancer is very treatable and nothing the doctors say seem to convince the family. 

Then, the boy is whisked out of the hospital and the family can't be found anywhere.  Alex asks his friend Milo for help and we are off on another mystery with Dr. Delaware.

There are a lot of characters introduced and it appears like the theme of this book is that not a single one of them is a good person! We have the good doctor who is super manic (saw that coming!), the social worker who drinks too much and is obsessed with running, a resident who is obviously high on drugs, glorified prostitutes, an abusive ex-husband, a weird cult (is there a normal one??), and perverted old men. 

Also, Alex apparently thinks he can just break into places and do what he pleases even though he is just a psychologist.  He reminds me of Alex Cross (weird they are both Alex's) that appear they are above the law and are awesome and can do what they want.

I am obviously being super critical, but these are just things that bug me.

I read it for a quick thrill and it delivered.

When The Bough Breaks

I'm all about books with series.  Probably, because when I finish a book, I hate to be done with those characters.  I want to continue on into the ever after with them.

I'd heard about Johnathon Kellerman and that he had a series, so last week when I was at the library I picked up the first three in his Alex Delaware series.

Alex is a psychologist who has retired at the ripe old age of 33.  Yeah, he's rich, smart and lazes around in retirement.  His friend Milo is a detective that he met when Milo was investigating a suicide victim in Delaware's office.  In this book, Milo wants Dr. Delaware to meet with a young girl and see if he can get her to help relay the details from a murder in her apartment complex.

Shit gets crazy and he goes from one end of LA to another following leads.  With no experience working for the police he seems to know what to do and does it, without mentioning it to the REAL detective.

The book moved fast and it just was only slightly annoying how he connected all the pervs into a row and solved the crime.  I did find two spelling errors and that always irks me.

Also, it cracks me up that this series started in the 80s.  In the time of no cell phones/Internet and being able to just lie about who you were with no one able to quickly google you to find out that yes, indeed you are lying.

Overall, I think I will enjoy the series.  I liked it better than Alex Cross and less than Rizzoli & Isles.

Have you read the Alex Delaware series?

One Summer - Discussion 1 (ch 1-23)

Welcome to the first discussion of One Summer by David Baldacci.  Wow, I've read one other book by Baldacci (Absolute Truth) and really wasn't prepared for the emotional heart tugging the first part of this book brought.  Yeah, I was laying on the couch sobbing my eyes out. 

I think the writing style hurries through that sadness, but it's still plain sad!  The writing does bug me a bit.  I don't know if I just haven't found the right voice in my head to read this or I just don't like the perspective or what.  But something bugs me about the writing.  Not enough to say, ZOMG I HATE THIS BOOK.  But enough for me to hold some reservations.

I feel so bad for the kids.  I mean, to have to prepare yourself for your father's death and then BAM, your mother is gone and your dad should be following suit pretty fast.  Shipped off to different relatives and then BAM, dad is getting better.  I can't even imagine.  I have two friends who were orphaned by the by 9th/10th grade.  Their mom died from cancer in 1996 and then in 1998 their dad died from cancer.  I cannot imagine how difficult it has been for them.  They had to uproot and move and were kept together, but still.  I cannot imagine.

1. Who do you think is most affected by Lizzie's death? Why?

2. What do you think of Jack's idea to take back his family and then uprooting them to South Carolina?

3. How did you experience the book? Were you engaged immediately, or did it take you a while to
"get into it"? How did you feel reading it—amused, sad, disturbed, confused, bored...?

4. Are the characters convincing? Do they come alive for you? How would you describe them — as sympathetic, likeable, thoughtful, intelligent, innocent, naive, strong or weak? Something else?

5. And in a light-hearted Jezebel attempt, what did you eat or drink while reading the beginning? ;)
The next discussion will be on June 29th and focus on chapter 24-end with whole book stuff throwin in. ;)  Thanks for joining!

Suggestions for July's Group Read

What shall it be this July?  Last July, we discussed Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and in July 2010 we discussed the Secret Garden.  Apparently, July must be the month we read stories based in other countries? ;)

Here is what we've already read..

One Summer
The Year of Fog
Winter Garden
The Violets of March
Rebecca
State of Wonder
The Invisible Bridge
The Postmistress
The Scent of Rain and Lightning
Still Missing
The Sandalwood Tree
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
Something Borrowed
The Blue Orchard
Sammy's Hill
In the Woods
Shanghai Girls
The Weight of Water
Water for Elephants
The Color Purple
The One That I Want
The Secret Garden
House Rules
American Wife
Firefly Lane
Middlesex
The Reader
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The Awakening
Pride & Prejudice
I See You Everywhere

What do you want to read in July? Suggestions will be open until the 17th.

Back in the game...

I will be the first to admit that I went through a huge reading slump this winter.  I was exhausted, tired and trying really hard to keep up with my Internet friends / real friends and reading took a biiiiig backseat.  I officially was done working for the year on June 1st.  I've read about 4 1/2 books since then and been to the library about 4 times.  I keep adding books to my TBR list, I'm in 2 book clubs, I have two books to read for reviews coming up.. Baby, I'm back!

Here are some books that I've recently added to my To Read List...

The Whipping Club by Deborah Henry - This book takes place in Ireland in the 1950/1960s and includes an unwed Catholic mother who has to give up her babe and then years later tries to reclaim him.  Abuse, secrets and more.. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn  - On her 5th wedding anniversary, Amy disappears.  Her husband Nick is an immediate suspect and there are lots of twists and turns.  I've heard REALLY great things about this one!

Only One Life  by Sara Blaedel - She is a writer from Denmark who apparently has an amazing series featuring Inspector Louise Rick.  We all know how I feel about series! ;)  Both book blurbs I read about the series had me already checking to see if my library has it!

The Paris Detective by Gerald Jay - Former French intelligence officers hire a German hit man to kill an American industrialist but things go amok and he kills not only the American but his wife and their friends.  A local detective, formerly of Paris is put in charge and he along with an American DA (daughter of some of the victims) dig into the case. 

Also, I've picked up the beginning books of the Alex Delaware series by Johnathon Kellerman, the beginning of the Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay and plan on continuing the Lisa Gardner series.

What is on your summer to read list?

Hide - Lisa Gardner

Anyone who knows my reading, must have guessed that once I started a new series, I would go full throttle on it! I finished up Hide by Lisa Gardner in a day!  I even made my old self stay up til 1:30 in the morning.  Sadly, I have two book club books that NEED to be read now so I will be taking a small break from Lisa Gardner, reading some David Baldacci and Lisa Genova and I did also pick up the beginning of the Dexter series and the Alex Delaware series by Jonathon Kellerman.

Back on topic..

Hide is the second in the D.D. Warren series and I liked this one even better than the first one.  The case this time was related to the first case where we met D.D, so this meant Bobby Dodge was back as well.  Someone discovered 6 young girls bodies buried in the yard of an abandoned state mental hospital.  The setup was similar to how Richard Umbrio kept Catherine Gagnon and raised the eyebrows of D..D and Bobby.  Was it a copycat? Were these bodies before Catherine? Did he have a partner?

Then the most startling.  The one girl identified of the six, reappears.  She isn't dead, but that name has been dead for over 25 years.  Was she the real target? Was her dad the killer? Is she still in danger?

Annabelle Granger, had her normal life thrown into chaos on a late fall afternoon when her dad told her to grab 2 things and they were leaving.  Never again was she called Annabelle.  They moved to Florida, Arizona, Seattle, St. Louis, all over the country, new names, new stories and Annabelle never knew why. 

She leans on D.D and Bobby to help her figure out WHO has she been afraid of all these years? Is she still in danger?

I liked the fast pace, the introduction of a couple of theories and in the end, I liked the resolution.  That's key for me when I read suspense/crime books.  There needs to be some sort of reality involved even when it is a bit unbelievable! ;)

My only complaint so far with these books is Gardner's tendency to overuse a phrase.   In the FBI profiler series she seemed to say good news/bad news department approximately 234324 times.   In the D.D. Warren series she says 'to the party,' (as in the ME joined the party) approximately 234324 times.

Great series, and perfect for my speed reading summer pace!

What good books have you read recently?

Gone

Okay, before I talk about Gone by Lisa Gardner, I have to let you know that my overactive imagination had me up late the other night.  I have read so many thrillers, read articles/watched tv shows about horrible people doing horrible things.  I made the mistake of looking at the newest addition to the FBI Most Wanted List and convinced myself I had seen him pumping gas earlier in the day.  Then I got out of the shower and my screen in my bedroom had popped out.  And I was in the middle of this super good book.  Yeahhhh, around midnight when it was pitch dark and silent in my house I was completely waiting for this dude to come and kill us all in our sleep.  I need to chill or get on some serious meds!

Anywhoo, Gone by Lisa Gardner is apparently the 5th book about Rainie and Quincy.  Hmpth.  I hate that I read this one first, but can tell you that it doesn't really matter too much! ;)  I wish in the book jackets they would tell you this stuff.  This isn't the first series or author I've been mad when this happens to me.  I mean, goodreads just told me, but I wasn't on goodreads when I was standing in the library looking at books!! Hmpth.

We start the book with Rainie dealing with some terrible nightmares and the knowledge that she is alone.  She ends up going for a drive, pulls into a bar, thinks better of it, ends up on a desolate back road in a downpour crying her eyes out and BAM.  Bright white lights.

Somebody has kidnapped her.  Is it the random cowboy from the parking lot? Is it her estranged husband? Is it a stranger? A serial killer? Someone from her past?

The next morning a note appears at the local paper and it is from the kidnapper, who had obviously planned to kidnap someone because he mailed it before she went missing! He demands money and swears he isn't a monster, he just was fame, fortune and apple pie. ;)

Quincy, ex-FBI profiler that he is, helps out the local police and worries he won't be able to save Rainie from the kidnapper or herself.  His daughter and her boyfriend help out, the local sheriffs office helps, the Oregon State Police runs the show, but in reality, the kidnapper runs them all.

I really liked this book, but I know it's always time to maybe take a break from thrillers or any genre when my practical side says, YEAAAAAAAAAH RIGHT about things that really, as a reader I just have to accept because it is NOT REAL ha.  I have issues with that.

I will most likely eventually get around to reading all of Lisa Gardner's stuff but I won't make the mistake of reading out of order again, I am going to read her books in order, (well after I finish Hide haha).

Do you like to read books in a series in order or do you mind skipping around?

First Day of Summer Vacation..

Yesterday was my first day home all day with Isla.  I've been looking forward to/ freaking out about this for a few months.  I think we rocked our first solo day.

I woke up around 8 and read some in bed, she woke up around 8:30.  We nursed, ate breakfast.  She had an egg, banana, bread, milk and a few bites of strawberries.  I had a glass of water and strawberries.  Then we got dressed and headed over to visit my dad.

I've had light issues with my car for months and yesterday my dad finally helped me out.  We only needed one MORE trip to town to get an extra light.  I call that success! While he worked, we took a mile walk in the neighborhood and when he finished he took us on a walk around his yard and he pointed out his garden to Isla and then we dipped her toes in the chilly lake.

All this outdoor time tired the munchkin out so we headed home and she took a TWO HOUR NAP. Woo woo.  While she napped I warmed up jambalaya and sipped on a Pepsi while catching up on blog reading. 

She woke up and I gave her a lunch of some chicken noodle soup, red peppers, cheese, tortilla and water.  We chatted and then we played and she was very antsy and the weather looked like rain so instead of going next door to the park, we headed to the library.  I needed to pick up One Summer for our book club and Still Alice for my Books & Bars book club.  I found One Summer and then we headed down to the kids area so she could play with the toys down there, I read her a couple books and we got her signed up for the summer reading program.

We headed home and she climbed on top of the laundry basket, fell off and decided she wanted cuddle time.  So we cuddled and then she started yawning so she went down for ANOTHER nap. 

Then my husband came home, we re-heated leftovers, I broke a bowl, and then I headed out the door to grocery shop.

She hung out with her daddy and by the time I came home she was fast asleep.

I think we did good!

Now here's to the rest of summer break!

PrintRunner Giveaway!

I have the awesome opportunity to giveaway 5 by 7 postcards (100!!) from Printrunner! 

Looking around their website, you can find so many different products.  I was especially interested in postcards, because I have a personal goal of sending out a piece of mail at least once every other week this year.  Personalized postcards would be perfect!  I like browsing online printing companies, such as PrintRunner, for ideas, much more than in-store because there are sooo many options and pretty colors distract me!

I also like that you can design your own and with a click print postcards that have sentimental meaning, are goofy or are just plain fun!

 Here are the nitty gritty details:

Details of the giveaway prize:        Postcards

Postcard Size                :        Postcards 5x7

 Quantity                :        100

Colors                        :        4/0 Front Only

 Printing Paper                        :        14 PT. UV Coating on Front,

 Rounded Corners         :        Yes

 Proof                        :        None

Ready to Ship In        :        4 Business Days

*Giveaway is open to US Residents only, ages 18 years old and above.

I really recommend checking out all they have to offer!

 Entries will be open through Friday, June 8^th.  You can get an entry by commenting on this post (please leave an email so I can contact you!) and an extra entry by tweeting about this giveaway.  Just leave a comment letting me know you sent out a tweet!  One tweet per day. ;) 

After entries close, I will be contacting the winner to get their name and email address to send to PrintRunner who will take over from there!

 Thank you to PrintRunner for providing this giveaway, I will receive a set of postcards for hosting this giveaway.   

Writing from the Male Perspective..

He hit the ground running.

He ducked inside an open doorway, catching his breath.  He quickly peeked out.  No one.  This wouldn’t last long.  He looked back around the room.  Dark, dusty, cobwebs, an old desk and a window.  Thank god.  He quickly climbed on top of the table and as quietly as he could he opened the dirt covered window.  Thankfully, there wasn’t a screen.  He paused.  Footsteps from the hallway, but no one outside.  He pulled himself up and blinked his eyes as the bright sun glittered above.  He looked around.  He was smack dab in the middle of a bustling Paris street.  People and cars whizzed by.  No time to daydream.  He headed off down the street as quickly as he could without attracting suspicion.

            He walked a block down before dipping into a café.  He took a seat against the wall next to the back exit.  He grabbed a coffee from the waitress and waited.  Sure enough, two men in black suits and shades passed the café at a fast clip.  They each had a hand on their belt clip, at the ready.  They glanced in the café but didn’t spot him.  They kept on down the bustling street. 

            John waited a few more minutes but saw no one else of notice pass the café.  He paid for the coffee and a newspaper and stepped out the door.  He paused as if to check the details of the front page as he quickly scanned the street.  No suits.

            He headed to the right at a fast pace.  They had found him.  That meant he couldn’t head back to the apartment.  They’d probably be at his office at the museum.  His brother’s apartment was probably compromised.  However, Sylvie’s should still be safe.  He quickly headed towards the dance studio.

I'm linking up with Write on Edge today, and the prompt was to write in the opposite perspective than you normally write.  I typically always write in the female perspective.  So today, I tried out a male fiction piece.