Quoting Nora

 

Decor Tips for Book Lovers

Within a day Xander moved everything he wanted into the house on the bluff. The books

presented the biggest challenge. The library wouldn’t hold all of them.

“I never imagined this house would be too small for anything.”

He shrugged, studying the shelves, now filled with books. And the tubs on the floor, still full of them.

“You don’t want all your books in one place anyway. We should scatter some around.”

“There are too many to scatter.”

“Don’t even think about saying I should get rid of some.”

“Wouldn’t think of it.”

Maybe she had—just for an instant—and had just as quickly rejected the idea.

“I just don’t know where to put them. They don’t deserve to be stuck in tubs either. How will I know what’s in there I want to read?”

“Kevin could do another wall of books.”

“I’d love a wall of books,” she considered. “But I don’t know where.”

The Obsession

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Photo by Shade Abdul Architecture - Discover home office design inspiration

As PBS launches ‘The Great American Read,’ designers 

and actor Ming-Na Wen weigh in on building around books.

Where you read can be almost as important as what you read. 

HOUZZ

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"That's quite a library."

"Oh, that's just some of them."

He stayed where he was when she crossed over. Joyce, Yeats, Shaw. Those were to be expected. O'Neill, Swift, and Grayson Thane, of course. But there was a treasure trove of others. Poe, Steinbeck, Dickens, Byron. The poetry of Keats and Dickinson and Browning. Battered volumes of Shakespeare and equally well-thumbed tales by King and MacAffrey and McMurtrey.

"An eclectic collection," she mused. "And there's more?"

"I keep them here and there around the house, so if you're in the mood, you don't have to go far. A book's a pleasant thing to have nearby."

Born in Shame

Here's What to Wear to the Kentucky Derby

Quite a picture they made, he thought.

Naomi in her flashy red suit, the daughter in her flashy blue, both blond heads gleaming. 

Like a couple of sexy bookends for the tall dark man between them

True Betrayals

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By Bill Brine (Kentucky Derby 2014-0043) [CC BY 2.0

 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Kentucky Derby is the preppy fashion event of the spring. No matter if you're watching the race in Louisville or hosting a Derby-themed party, the key to any fabulous Derby event is dressing the part. Here, we've rounded up the best tips on how to perfect your ensemble for this year's Kentucky Derby.

TOWN & COUNTRY

Host a Chocolate Tasting

"We've got hot chocolate. Chocolate mousse, chocolate drops and chocolate-covered  pretzels."

"Julia chose the menu," Laura put in.

"Butch did." Setting the box down, Julia opened it. "And he's going to really go for these. Have a seat, Naomi, and pull up some calories."

Ian @ MacGregor's Grooms

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Gather your closest girlfriends for a sweet weekend. Sip, swirl, and savor new takes on an age-old classic -- chocolate. 
Follow our no-fail tasting guide to kick-start your sweet escapade.  

BHG

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 Oh, she would treasure that, Naomi thought, closing her eyes. She would remember this single foolish afternoon all of her life.

Ian @ MacGregor's Grooms

Upgrade Your Valentine's Day Flowers

“You want romance? I could bring you flowers.” 

“I don’t have anything to put them in.” 

The Obsession

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Vincent van Gogh [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

(Hint: It's All About The Vase)

There’s a reason why sending flowers for Valentine’s Day never gets old: People love them. As a Rutgers University study points out, subjects receiving flowers responded with more-heartfelt smiles than those gifted candles or fruit baskets—and they even remained happier for the next three days compared to the control group, too.

FORBES

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“Absolutely. You put those flowers in something pretty now. 
They’re too sweet to  stay in that old bucket.”


Heaven and Earth

Compliment Your Mom

Jackie grinned and blew her hair out of her eyes. "I love you, Mother."

Instantly, and in the way Jackie had always adored, 

Patricia's eyes softened. "I love you too, darling." 

Loving Jack

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By I, Alvesgaspar, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2502964

20 Simple Ways to Compliment Your Mom

MSN

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 “My family is important to me. Three Willows is important to me. And so are you.”

 “Well.” Naomi reached for the glass herself, and her hand was unsteady. “Thank you.”

 Kelsey resisted, barely, the urge to kick a pot of geraniums. “It’s hardly a matter for gratitude. You’re my mother. I care about you. I admire what you’ve been able to do with your life. Maybe I’m not satisfied about all the years between, but I like who you are. I’m certainly not going to go scrambling back and pretend you don’t exist because Milicent would prefer it.”

 To keep herself from buckling into a chair, Naomi braced a hand on the table. “You can’t imagine, can’t possibly imagine what it’s like to hear from a grown daughter that she likes who you are. I love you so much, Kelsey.”

True Betrayals

Accidents Happen

“A lot of good things happen by accident.

If Charles Goodyear hadn’t been clumsy, we wouldn’t have vulcanized rubber.”

“What?”

“Weatherproof rubber—tires, for instance, as in Goodyear. He was trying to figure out how to make rubber weatherproof, dropped this experiment on a stove by accident, and there you go, he made weatherproof rubber.”

Baffled, she rubbed her aching temple.

“I’ve completely lost the point.”

“Not everything has to be planned to work out.”

Obsession

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By Alf van Beem - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24784542

How a Wild Rocket Misfire Created Cape Canaveral

In an excerpt from Spaceport Earth: The Reinvention of Spaceflight, author Joe Pappalardo explores how one errant rocket helped create the U.S.'s most important spaceport.

POPULAR MECHANICS

Mentions in Nora Books

“Do you like eggs Benedict?”

“Never had it.”

“You’ll like it,” Naomi decided, and got out of bed. He was right. The normality of cooking breakfast soothed and calmed. The process of it, the scents, a good hit of coffee. The raw edges of the dream, of memories she wanted locked away, faded off.

And she was right. He liked her eggs Benedict.

“Where has this been all my life?” he wondered as they ate at the kitchen counter. “And who’s Benedict?”

She frowned over it, then nearly laughed. “I have no idea.”

“Whoever he was, kudos. Best four A.M. breakfast I’ve ever had.”

The Obsession

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Eggs Benedict

RECIPE

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There are conflicting accounts as to the origin of Eggs Benedict.

Activity That Instantly Relieves Stress

But the paintings, large and abstract, were explosions of bold and

restless color. Violent works, Kelsey thought, sated with passion and anger. And signed, she saw with a jolt, with a blood red N C.

Naomi’s work? she wondered. No one had mentioned that her mother painted. No amateurish works these, Kelsey decided, but skilled and capable and disturbing.

They should have unbalanced the steady dignity of the room, she thought as she turned away. Yet they humanized it.

True Betrayals

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By Pedro Ribeiro Simões from Lisboa, Portugal [CC BY 2.0 

(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Have you ever watched in pure wonder at artists in full creative mode? It's as though they're channeling another force through their physical body. Their eyes, while fixated on the canvas in front of them, are merely vessels for translating the energy from within into a creative format we can all digest and enjoy. It's a beautiful thing to witness and, according to science, something we should all be doing too.

MY DOMAINE

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She walked to the canvas waiting on an easel, picked up her palette, and began to mix her paints.

Sun streamed through her windows. Several were open for the practical purpose of cross-ventilation, and for the simple pleasure of feeling the breeze. Music pumped passionately out of the stereo. What she intended to paint today required passion.

She could already see it in her mind, feel the power of it gathering in her like a storm.

She raised her brush, swirled it in color for the first stroke.

Her heart lifted. The magnitude of the joy was almost unbearable. She might burst from it if she didn't transfer it onto canvas.

The image was burned in her mind, like a scene etched on glass. With stroke after stroke, color blended on color, she began to bring it to life.

"You know this was always my deepest dream." She spoke conversationally as she worked. "For as long as I can remember I wanted to paint. To have the talent, the vision, the skill to be an important artist."

"Now you have it."

She switched brushes, glancing at Kane before she faced the canvas again. "Yes, I do."

Key of Light

Always Be With Someone Who Lets You Eat Cake

"Want dessert?"

"Damn right."

"Okay, but don't order the tiramisu, because then I'd be forced to beg you for a bite, then two, then I'd end up stealing half of it and go into a coma."

Keeping his eyes on hers, he signaled for the waitress with the casual authority of a man used to giving orders. It made Cybil's brow crease.

"Tiramisu," he told the waitress. "Two forks," and made Cybil weak with laughter.

The Perfect Neighbor

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By Danielle Tsi from Mountain View, CA, USA (Profiterole montage) 

[CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

2- Always Be With Someone Who Lets You Eat Cake

The right man or woman will let you eat cake. Lots of it.

I went out with someone, a very great and kind person, who seeing me struggle to decide on dessert, (really, is it fair to choose between chocolate mousse and cheesecake? I don’t think so) let me order both.

HUFFINGTON POST

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He sampled the chocolate himself. "This is very well named. 'Sin.' " He tormented himself by imagining the taste of her mixed with the chocolate.

It made her stomach jump. "You're going to have to sin by yourself." She picked up her coffee. "I'm resisting."

"One more," he murmured, sliding the fork into the dessert, lifting a tempting bite to her lips. And he was pleased to see, when she took it, that she could indeed be tempted.

IAN @  MacGregor Grooms

Book Organization Style

And Naomi stared, with wonder and delight, at the living room wall of books. “Wow, the rumors of book lover are true. That’s quite a collection.”

“Part of it.”

“Part? You’re a serious man, Xander.”

“About books, anyway.”

She glanced around. “Very efficient space, and that is one of the best uses of a wall I’ve ever seen. Color, texture, dimension.”

“Not to mention words.”

He walked over, offered her a glass of wine, took the bottle from her.

“Yeah, words. I like to read as much as the next guy—unless you’re the next guy.”

“That’s the plan.”

She laughed, waving him off as she walked up and down the wall. “But this is art.

You’re smart enough to know your furniture is absolute crap. You don’t care about that.

You’ve arranged your space for efficiency and highlighted a passion. 

And by highlighting it, created art.”

The Obsession

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By David Joyce (http://www.flickr.com/photos/deapeajay/2701178993/) [CC BY-SA 2.0 
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

What Your Book Organization Style Says About You

It's almost more telling than ​what ​you read. ​

It's not just the subject matter of the books you read that reveal insights into your personality — the way you organize said spines is very telling, too. You see, some arrangements are all about being practical, while others focus more on being style-forward. Find out what your method says about you:

HOUSE BEAUTIFUL

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“Is there a system to the way you shelve the books?”

He glanced up. “Where they fit, why?”

“You have Jane Austen beside Stephen King.”

“I don’t think either one of them would mind, but if you do, you can move books around.”

“No, that’s part of the point. It’s a wall of stories. Take out any one, go anywhere.
It’s . . . Storyland.”


The Obsession

Jump-Start Your Collection

"Actually, Naomi, I have a little business proposition for you."

"Business?" She gave him a blank look as their appetizer plates were removed and the entrees served.

"One I hope will be as much a pleasure for you as it will be for me. I want to remodel one of my spare rooms into a library. I have a design in mind that I wanted you to look at and offer suggestions on. Then I'd hoped you could give me some help with setting up my collection."

"Yes, of course." She fought off a wave of disappointment, telling herself it was better this way. Of course he was interested in her on a professional level. What else could she expect? "You're interested in rare books, for investment purposes?"

"No, not necessarily. I want a library, not a museum. I want a comfortable room, and I want the books varied. I don't want anyone to feel as if they should sign a waiver if they take a book off the shelf. I'd want to start with my personal favorites—most of which I own already. Then I'm willing to explore."

Ian

- MacGregors' Grooms -

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© Jorge Royan / http://www.royan.com.ar, via Wikimedia Commons

Recommendations for a well-rounded bookshelf

Spring is a time for starting that project you’ve always wanted to do. What better reason to finally put up that shelf and start your book collection? While we don’t discriminate over how you read (your phone or eReader are perfectly acceptable!), let’s just say we’re partial to cracking a spine and turning the pages. Call us old-fashioned.

Those who have been out of the book-buying game for a while (or have never bought a physical book since high school) may be thinking that the bookstore is so extensive you don't know where to start. Fear not, reader. We’ve come up with 15 categories that will help you find your way in the world of endless books, as well as some personal recommendations to christen your bookshelf with renewed style.

THE READING ROOM

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"Oh, Ian, it's wonderful. It's more than wonderful." 

Eyes shining, she turned to look around the room, where the beautifully 

trimmed,  built-in shelves were lined with books. 

Old worn spines, new glossy ones, embossed leather and tattered covers.

Ian

(MacGregors' Grooms)

Grooms' Amazing Reactions to Seeing Their Brides

My grandson took him a wife last week. And I can tell you the scents in the air of the church, the colors of the light that streamed through the windows, the full rich sound of the music that swelled when little Naomi stood at the back in her glittering white gown, with a bit of MacGregor tartan showing and the MacGregor veil covering her shining black hair.

Brides glow. They say that as well. And so she did. It's love that brings that shining beauty to a woman's face. And one more in love I've yet to see.

And Ian, handsome as a prince as he waited for her. They don't say a man glows, but perhaps they should. I can't think of another word for the look on his face as he watched her walk to him. And not being such a pinhead after all, what did he do? He took her hand, and the other as well, and as the music died off, and before the priest could open his mouth to start the business of it, Ian said, "I love you, Naomi," his voice as clear and strong as the bells that rang after the deed was done.

And if there was a dry eye in the whole of the church at that moment, well, it wasn't Daniel MacGregor's.

MacGregor Grooms - Ian

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---


Burke stood with his hands at his side and his face carefully blank and wondered what in the hell he was doing.
Then he saw her.
Her hair was glowing, warm and vibrant under layers of white tulle. She seemed pale, but her eyes met his without hesitation. How was it he'd never noticed how small she was, how delicate, until now, when she was about to become a permanent part of his life? Permanent. He felt the quick sliver of panic. Then she smiled, slowly, almost questioningly. He held out a hand.
Her fingers were icy. It was a relief to find his equally cold. She held tight and turned to face the priest.

Irish Heart