Those previous posts, though, were in relation to my favourite reads for the year. Today I thought I’d share my list of my five favourite things.
[Disclaimer: this list doesn’t include people because they’re not things. So you’ll have to take it as a given that my family and friends top everything on this list. Also, my list isn’t in order…the order probably changes depending on my mood, time of day and how hungry I am ;-). ]
1. ABBA. I fell in love with ABBA when I was in primary school. And true love lasts a lifetime, right? I remember watching Count Down and cheering every week that Fernando remained at the #1 spot. Last week I was doing the groceries when ABBA came on the sound system in Coles. Everybody I passed was singing along. Happy, happy, happy!
2. My Alannah Hill dress. I’ve never been a pink girl. And to be perfectly frank with you I’d usually much rather wear a pair of jeans. But I adore this dress. I love what it looks like and how it feels when I wear it (and how it makes me feel). I’ve worn it to three different RWAust cocktail parties…just because. Here I am at the most recent cocktail party. Notice the company I’m keeping? It’s down to the dress, people.
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| Me and Captain Jack (otherwise known as Marion Lennox) |
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| Me and Stephanie Laurens |
3. Overseas Travel. I cannot begin to tell you how much joy seeing the world brings me. London, Paris, Geneva, Munich—how I love you all so! And now, as my latest book is set there, I REALLY want to go to Italy.
4. The Beach. I’ve always loved walking by the beach, but last summer I rediscovered my joy in swimming at the beach. Normally I’m not all that enthused about summer—but I’m seriously looking forward to getting some swimming time in when the warm weather hits. And why wouldn’t I when I have this beach practically on my doorstep.
5. Books. I have bookcases groaning under the strain of all of my books. I have cupboards and boxes filled with them. As for my Kindle. I guess when it’s full I can get another one. :) I couldn’t live without books. They feed the soul. They stop me from every feeling lonely. They take me on journeys I would never otherwise experience.
I will admit that release month is also one of my favourite things. REUNITED BY A BABY SECRET hit the shelves last week and I’ve received some gorgeous reviews. Romantic Times have given it 4 stars: “Readers will wonder what they would do if they were in the characters’ shoes and sigh heavily during the many romantic kisses strewn throughout the story." Romance Book Haven also gave it 4 stars: “a very rocky journey to a HEA that will have you smiling.” Harlequin Junkie gave it 4.5 stars: “The characters are so vivid it’s like they’re right in front of you. […] The romance is great and the ending means tissues, but huge smiles.”
So, as you can see, I’ve been having a great time recently! Lots of favourite things to keep my smiling. What about you—what’s been making you smile lately?
Oh, and if you want to check out REUNITED BY A BABY SECRET, the buy links are below. :)
Amazon
iTunes
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Oh Michelle
ReplyDeleteLove your favourite things and I am always singing along to ABBA LOL I don't think anyone of a certain age an help themselves :) but Rod Stewart is my favourite although I haven't travelled a lot overseas I have been on a few cruises and I do love them and would love to be on one now laying back in a deck chair and reading and I do love the beach although I have a bit further to go to get to one :) I don't think I have anything in clothes that I love other than my jeans and of course the books where would we be without them and I did very much enjoy your new book I want to go to Italy as well now :)
have Fun
Helen
Oh, Helen! Relaxing on a the deck of a luxury liner cruising around the coast of Italy with Rod Stewart playing in the background and a few good books surrounding you -- I'm not sure life could get much better than that. :-)
DeleteAnd sending you a huge thank you for all your kind words about Reunited By a Baby Secret!
Michelle, looking at your bookshelves and your mention of getting another Kindle made me think of my Kindle app on my iPad. It's definitely a favorite thing. Reading on it and being able to just scroll and look at all the pretty covers. I have an iPad mini and it holds up to 128Gb of data. That's a lot of room for book if you consider the average Kindle only has 4Gb of data. So the combo of my Kindle app and my iPad mini are definitely one of my favorite things. Keeps my little reading heart happy.
ReplyDeleteAren't my bookshelves appalling, Deanna? So many books, so little space! Which is why I'm becoming VERY attached to my Kindle. That said, I have a new iPad mini and now that you've mentioned it, I'm going to have to look at the Kindle app there. After all, more book space will never go astray. :-)
DeleteI was an Alannah Hill addict for quite some time! I still remember going there to buy an outfit for my 21st birthday. It was the start of a style addiction!
ReplyDeleteBooks always make me smile, so that's nothing new. I guess it goes with the job, right? :)
I've never been much of one for fashion, Stef, so my adoration of all things Alannah Hill took me completely by surprise. But her stuff is fun...and it makes me smile. And surrounding yourself with the people and things that make you smile is the secret to the universe. :-)
DeleteOh, as for books and writers -- yep, that's a hand in glove thing. ;-)
I'm sure you've been in my house taking photos of bookshelves, Michelle. Looks very similar.
ReplyDeleteLove that dress too, BTW. Gorgeous.
Smiling to day because spring is here, the sea is calm and the sun's trying to shove the fog aside.
LOL, Sue. I'm glad I'm not the only one with messy groaning bookshelves. As for my dress, it's a piece of frivolous, materialistic nonsense -- but I'm okay with that. ;-)
DeleteSpring is a very good reason for smiling. So is a calm sea. :-)
Michelle, I'm smiling at your five faves (and doesn't your gorgeous dress rub some great shoulders!) and about the reviews for your latest release! Wonderful! I'm also smiling because we're on the road and travelling at the moment. I love it ... although it's very VERY chilly here in Cobar Outback NSW at the moment!
ReplyDeleteOh, touring the Outback is a brilliant reason to smile, Sharon! I'm looking forward to several (?) pictorial blog posts from you in the future. :-) Spring has sprung in my neck of the woods (24'C yesterday! though cooler again today), but it might take it a little longer to reach further inland. Have fun and stay warm!
DeleteWell Michelle, no wonder we get on so well, we are twins! Your top five would almost be identical to my top five (except swimming in the ocean. I have a shark phobia which is fully justified at the moment!!). I'd have add dancing to ABBA and all things disco.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely receiving all the fabulous review. Certainly something to smile about!!!
Yay for ABBA and Alannah Hill! ;-) Oh, and good reviews too -- always nice to hear that someone has enjoyed our books. :-)
DeleteBut, yes, considering the Great Whites that hung about the Newcastle beaches last summer, I can fully sympathise with all of you in Byron Bay at the moment. Still, they say that you're more likely to be killed in a car accident driving to the beach than being taken by a shark...but I saw Jaws...and sometimes when I'm swimming and that music sounds in my head... ;-)
Like Deanna, I love my iPad mini and the Kindle app for it. Love all the pretty covers :-)
ReplyDeleteLots of things making me smile....
My new oven is making me smile.
Starting a new book is making smile (we'll see how long that lasts...)
The thought of having two weeks off in October is making me smile - just as soon as I'm clear of my projects I'm doing nothing but reading for an entire fortnight!
Red berries on our mulberry tree is making me smile. Mulberry pie is probably one of the first things I'll cook in my new oven!
A video I just saw on FB with a cockatoo screeching into a cup is making me smile.
Guess I'm just easy :-)
I'll make no comment about whether you're easy or not, Amy :-) ...but I bet having so many things to make you smile certainly makes you happy. Yay for holidays! And for starting new books!
DeleteMy iPad mini should've made this list. I'm going to have to write another post titled My Other Favourite Things. ;-)
Michelle, wait till you have your books loaded on your Kindle app on the iPad. You'll see all those pretty book covers lined up and you'll be hooked. :-)
ReplyDeleteDeanna, I did it last night -- downloaded the app to my iPad mini and then all of my bought books. The covers looked gorgeous and it's great to have them all available on my iPad. That said, I prefer reading on my Kindle because the backlit screens give me eyestrain after a while.
DeleteI've been reading on my Kindle app for the past 3 or 4 years now. I had a Kindle but abandoned it for my iPad. I keep the color on the Kindle app at Sepia and keep the general brightness of my iPad turned quite low, so that helps my eyes. Mostly I'm so used to reading on it, it doesn't bother me anymore. I do agree the Kindle itself is gentler on the eyes.
DeleteThanks for the tips, Deanna. I'll give them a whirl. :-)
DeleteMichelle, sorry to be late here, but I so enjoyed your post. I'm currently smiling over spring in the air whenever I walk outside - the scent is lovely. Plus books, and (yes I know they're people but) some special family members.
ReplyDeleteOh, Annie, is there a better reason to smile than spring blooms, books and loved ones? Have to agree that all of those things have an in-built happy factor. :-)
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