The Big Book Getaway will begin at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 21, with "Pillow Talk," featuring authors Eloisa James, Laura Kaye, Cathy Maxwell and L. Marie Adeline, whose books include historical, paranormal and traditional romances and the erotic S.E.C.R.E.T. series.From 8:30 to 10 p.m., a "Literary Libations" party in the Lansdowne Pub will feature talks by Tim Federle, author of the drink recipe guide, "Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails With A Literary Twist," and Tom Acitelli, author of "The Audacity of Hops: The History of America's Craft Beer Revolution. A literary trivia contest presented by Connecticut Humanities' Connecticut Center for the Book will award prizes.Saturday's talks and panel discussions will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lunch is served at 1 p.m.10 A.M.>>Dr. Ruth Westheimer, author, columnist and recognized authority on sex.11 a.m.>>Novel Ideas: Male Authors in Journalism and Fiction: Norb Vonnegut, Pete Hamill and David Handler.>>Steamy Stories: Bestselling Romance and Erotica Authors: Eloisa James, Laura Kaye, Cathy Maxwell and L. Marie Adeline.>>A Peek Behind The Curtains – Broadway Revealed

: Susan L. Schulman, Jennifer Ashley Tepper and Peter Filichia.>>Addicted? Harvard Doctors Speak Out: Robert L. Doyle, M.D., Joseph Shrand, M.D., and Sylvester "Skip" Sviokla, III, M.D. (Repeated at 3 p.m.)Noon>>P.J. O'Rourke, the satirist with a conservative viewpoint, will discuss his social history and memoir, "The Baby Boom: How it Got That Way. . . And It Wasn't My Fault. . . And I'll Never Do It Again.">> International Thrillers: Vincent Zandri, J.E. Fishman, Kitty Pilgrim and Nick Hahn.>>Ellora's Cave: Erotica, with Avril Ashton, Karen Stivali, Tara Nina and Diana Hunter.>>Touring Connecticut: Tales and Travels, with Diane Smith, Eric Lehman and Garrison Leykam.>>A Writer's Work : The Doubts, Routines, And Decisions Every Writer Faces, with writing teachers Adam Sexton, Julia Pistell, Christopher Castellani and moderator Stuart Parnes of Connnecticut Humanities.2 P.M.>> A Conversation with William Mann, whose biographies include "Kate: The Woman Who Was Hepburn" and "Hello Gorgeous: Becoming Barbra Streisand."

>>Memoirist and librarian Josh Hanagarne, whose book."The World's Strongest Librarian," tells how weight-training helps offset his extreme Tourette's Syndrome.>> Kiss and Tell: Harlequin Romance Authors: Kristan Higgins, Shannon Stacey, Natalie Charles and Kristine Rolofson.>>Telling My Truth: Memoir and the Self: Brando Skyhorse, Karen Dietrich, Mellini Kantayya and Diane Smith.>>A Hero's Tale: Military Memoirs and Biographies: Artis Henderson, Jason "Jay" Redman, Jim DeFelice and U.S. Coast Guard Captain Glenn Sulmasy.3 P.M.>>Delicious Writingfieldings curtains and blinds ltd: Books with Food: Giulia Melucci and Suzan Colón.>>On Water and Relationships: River Journeys: David "Bugsy" Morine, Joseph Monninger, Wick Griswold and Cindy Lovell, executive director of the Mark Twain House & Museum, who collaborated with CNN ireporter Neal Moore on "Down the Mississippi: A Modern-day Huck on America's River Road."lilac polka dot blackout curtains

>>Now Boarding: Travel and Culture: Nina Sovich, Susan Conley and Eloisa James.>>Whodunnit? Mystery and Suspense: Jennifer McMahon, Julia Spencer-Fleming, Rosemary Harris and Hank Phillipi Ryan.>>Toil and Trouble: Witches and the Occult: Brunonia Barry, Marybeth Reilly McGreen and Maggi Smith Dalton and Paul Caranci.4 P.M.>> Reflections in the Light: Christian Writers: Tessa Afshar, Allia Zobel Nolan, Carol Barnier and Lucinda Secrest McDowell.>>Magical Fiction: Spirits, Mystery and Wonderment: Sarah Addison Allen, Karen White and Suzanne Palmieri (who also writes as Suzanne Hayes).>> The Way We Werekato tab top curtains red: Historical Fiction: Charlotte Rogan, Stephanie Lehmann, Donna Russo Morin and Heather Webb.>>New England in Fiction, with Joseph Monninger, Nan Parson Rossiter and Jane Green.5 P.M.>> Debbie Macomber, author of more than 100 novels, nonfiction, cookbooks and children's and inspirational books.curtain pole rings 55mm

Tickets for the Big Book Getaway, Feb. 21 and 22  at Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, are $45 for Friday only, $65 for Saturday only and $100 for both. Two Things That Make A Vehicle Whistle While It WorksConsumer Reports: Benjamin Moore Best Paint, Behr Best ValueGoing Off On 'Pawn Off,' 'Palm Off'Auriemma Turns To Knicks To Pick Up PointersWitnesses Detail Tense Scenes At Bank, Home As Cheshire Trial OpensVet At Center Of Newington No-Smoking Conflict Diesnavy eclipse blackout curtainsYellow and blue patterned tiles mark the entrance of Casa Lucía Boutique Hotel & Yoga Retreat, its deep blue walls setting it apart from the other buildings on a quiet residential street in Granada, Nicaragua.dillards curtains drapes The metal door swings open and I step into the lobby, enjoying the relief from the hot Nicaraguan sun. synagogue ark curtains

Drenched in sweat from a morning hike around the nearby town of Masaya, I am sure I’m quite a sight as Greg Casillas, the hotel’s General Manager, comes to greet me, a bright smile filling his face. But lucky for me, Greg knows exactly what I need. He hands me a cold towel to place on my face, and pours me a glass of chilled citrus water. I can tell from this moment my stay at Casa Lucía will be more relaxing than I ever could have imagined. “I think it’s the little things we pay attention to that make us different,” Greg says. “Every hotel room in the world is a box, but it’s what comes along with it that is the experience and the attention to detail that makes the difference.” Located in a former private home, Casa Lucía opened as a hotel in 2013. It is owned by Eloisa and Arantxa Mayers, sisters from Bermuda and trained yoga teachers with years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry. “We stumbled upon Nicaragua during our travels and decided this was a great place to open the boutique hotel and yoga retreat we dreamed about,” said Eloisa.

“When we saw Casa Lucía we fell in love with the property. It was the perfect canvas on which to create our hideaway boutique hotel and wellness retreat.” Eloisa and Arantxa lovingly renovated the space, building three new bedrooms, refurbishing the interiors of the vacation apartments, tiling the swimming pool and constructing new terraces and outdoor seating areas. Today the intimate hotel has two luxury king bed suites, three deluxe guest rooms and two one bedroom apartments for long term stays. “The inspiration was to create a boutique hotel and yoga and wellness retreat, both unique in its design and concept,” said Eloisa. “We worked with the property’s current layout instead of building something modern in its place.” During my visit, I stayed in one of the deluxe guest rooms. The room was simple, yet elegant and decorated with muted and calming colors. My favorite feature of the room was by far the bed. The orthopedic mattress was truly one of the most comfortable I’ve ever slept on.

Nicaragua, with a tropical climate, is hot year round. Thankfully, all the rooms at Casa Lucía have air conditioning. The air conditioning, in combination with the room’s cool tile floors helped keep the space cool and pleasant during my stay. The white stone bathroom fixtures gave the room an extra dose of elegance and the rainfall shower was soothing. The room felt like an oasis unto its own. French doors fitted with breezy white curtains opened up to a garden walkway. I had a private patio with a comfortable seat to sit and reflect in peace. The common areas of the hotel are equally inviting and relaxing. In addition to the swimming pool, the property also has a breakfast nook, comfortable couches and outdoor seating and a mirador roof deck that overlooks Granada and nearby Volcano Mambacho. Casa Lucía was the first wellness hotel and yoga retreat in the city of Granada. Complimentary morning yoga classes take place daily on the property’s yoga shala, an outdoor platform with wood flooring.

During my stay Greg led my yoga class, focusing on helping me start my day by transitioning from sleep to awake through gentle and deep stretching and twisting. After an hour of listening to Greg’s soothing voice and following along with his poses, both my mind and body felt relaxed and ready to begin a day of sightseeing. Greg says yoga classes here are about more than just a session of yoga; they are about healing and learning things you can take back with you. “We like to focus on what you learn on vacation,” Greg said. “What can a guest bring back with them from their time with us?” The hotel’s renovation drew inspiration from Mediterranean and Moorish architecture styles, however in many respects the hotel remains distinctly Nicaraguan. The roofs here are all fitted with Caña Brava, a reed native to Nicaragua that is utilized due to its ability to allow heat to escape. This reed is an important part of traditional Nicaraguan style buildings. Another feature that is typical of Nicaraguan architecture is tile floors.

The rooms and lobby of Casa Lucía are all fitted with tiles hand crafted by Favilli Tiles. The tile factory, operated by Italian immigrants, is just down the street from the hotel. Casa Lucía recently became the first hotel in Granada to use wall tiles, as seen in the Heliconia Suite. Each room is also fitted with unique ceramic objects hand crafted by Nicaraguan artisans as well as art work from the country. But perhaps the most authentically Nicaraguan feature is its spaces that allow for and encourage socialization and connecting with nature. “Nicaragua is a very social country,” said Greg. “Here there is a lot of pride in the family base and multi-generations live together in households. We mirror this by having outdoor spaces and seating that promotes conversation.” Indeed, both mornings during breakfast the communal table invited comfortable conversation with the other guests. Usually when I go to a hotel alone I do not have the opportunity to interact with other guests, but here I did.

It was a welcome change to get to know the other people staying at the hotel and hear about their travel experiences. Speaking of breakfast, Casa Lucía serves a complimentary healthy breakfast every morning prepared with fresh ingredients. “Our meals are farm to table,” said Greg. “We like to serve simple food that marries together ingredients in a unique way so that you have something you’ve never had before.” Case in point, on my final morning I was served french toast stuffed with cinnamon cream cheese and banana, topped with passion fruit syrup. After filling up on a delicious breakfast, Casa Lucía’s central location made it easy to explore the city of Granada. The hotel is just a ten minute walk from the main cathedral and Calle La Calzada, the city’s most happening street that is home to a variety of restaurants, bars and shops. Granada is also located close to many of Nicaragua’s must-see attractions such as Masaya and Mombacho Volcanos and Laguna de Apoyo, so Casa Lucía makes for a great base to explore outside the city center as well.

What impressed me most about Casa Lucía was the staff’s attention to detail and efforts for my personal comfort. Greg is energetic and always around to help, whether it be bringing me more purified water, leading a yoga class or helping me decide where to go on a day trip. It comes as no surprise that Casa Lucía won the Traveller’s Choice Award for Best Hotel in Service in 2015 from Trip Advisor. “I am proud to say we have built a reputation for this since first opening in 2013,” said Eloisa. “This sets a new precedent in the standard of service for hotels in Granada and Nicaragua, and we are a stand-out boutique hotel known for going to the extra mile to make our clients happy. There is something for everyone at Casa Lucía. The hotel offers two one bedroom vacation apartments on property where guests can stay for an extended period of time learning Spanish or volunteering in the community.  Business travelers, families and vacationers will enjoy the appealing location, amenities of a boutique hotel and the peace and privacy of a yoga retreat.