Time 2 Read

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

Rainshadow Road

by Lisa Kleypas

St. Martin’s Griffin Paperback

ISBN 9780312605889

336 pages

Release Date: February 28, 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

Lucy Marinn is a glass artist living in mystical, beautiful, Friday Harbor, Washington. She is stunned and blindsided by the most bitter kind of betrayal: her fiancé Kevin has left her. His new lover is Lucy’s own sister. Lucy's bitterness over being dumped is multiplied by the fact that she has constantly made the wrong choices in her romantic life. Facing the severe disapproval of Lucy's parents, Kevin asks his friend Sam Nolan, a local vineyard owner on San Juan Island, to "romance" Lucy and hopefully loosen her up and get her over her anger. Complications ensue when Sam and Lucy begin to fall in love, Kevin has second thoughts, and Lucy discovers that the new relationship in her life began under false pretenses. Questions about love, loyalty, old patterns, mistakes, and new beginnings are explored as Lucy learns that some things in life—even after being broken—can be made into something new and beautiful.

Available for Pre-Order

AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE

Why I am waiting....

I saw this one on Goodreads when I was browsing the First Reads giveaways. Look at that beautiful cover! The story sounds pretty good, too!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we spotlight upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating!

Review: The Winter Palace

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

The Winter Palace

by Eva Stachniak

Bantam

ISBN 9780553808124

444 pages

Release Date: January 10, 2012

Available for purchase from

AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE

Why did you choose this book? I enjoy historical fiction and recently developed an interest in Russian history

When did you read this book? December 2011

Who should read this book? readers of historical fiction, Russian history

Here is a synopsis of ‘The Winter Palace' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.71 stars.

Source: advanced copy from NetGalley

From award-winning author Eva Stachniak comes this passionate novel that illuminates, as only fiction can, the early life of one of history’s boldest women. The Winter Palace tells the epic story of Catherine the Great’s improbable rise to power—as seen through the ever-watchful eyes of an all-but-invisible servant close to the throne.

Her name is Barbara—in Russian, Varvara. Nimble-witted and attentive, she’s allowed into the employ of the Empress Elizabeth, amid the glitter and cruelty of the world’s most eminent court. Under the tutelage of Count Bestuzhev, Chancellor and spymaster, Varvara will be educated in skills from lock picking to lovemaking, learning above all else to listen—and to wait for opportunity. That opportunity arrives in a slender young princess from Zerbst named Sophie, a playful teenager destined to become the indomitable Catherine the Great. Sophie’s destiny at court is to marry the Empress’s nephew, but she has other, loftier, more dangerous ambitions, and she proves to be more guileful than she first appears.

What Sophie needs is an insider at court, a loyal pair of eyes and ears who knows the traps, the conspiracies, and the treacheries that surround her. Varvara will become Sophie’s confidante—and together the two young women will rise to the pinnacle of absolute power.

With dazzling details and intense drama, Eva Stachniak depicts Varvara’s secret alliance with Catherine as the princess grows into a legend—through an enforced marriage, illicit seductions, and, at last, the shocking coup to assume the throne of all of Russia.

Impeccably researched and magnificently written, The Winter Palace is an irresistible peek through the keyhole of one of history’s grandest tales.

My Review

I did enjoy this book, but I thought the title was a little misleading. The book was not centered around Catherine the Great, and in fact, didn’t cover much of her reign over Russia. The story is really told by a palace servant and most of the story takes place during the reign of Empress Elizabeth.

Barbara is the daughter of a Polish book binder who has brought his family to Russia. The Empress takes note of him when he is able to restore a treasured book. When Barbara’s mother dies, his father asks the Empress to look after his daughter if something should happen to him; he dies shortly thereafter. Barbara is brought to the palace as a lowly servant, and works her way up to become a spy for the Chancellor and the Empress. The Empress also renames her the more Russian, Varvara. Varvara befriends Sophia, the young princess brought to the palace to become the bride of the Grand Duke Peter, nephew of the Empress. Peter is being groomed as the future ruler. Sophia later takes the name Catherine. The story is told through the eyes of Barbara/Varvara and follows the years as Elizabeth rules Russia, and as the reigns of Peter and Catherine follow. But in addition to the story of Catherine, much of the story involves Varvara's personal life and her marriage and motherhood.

I read this book hoping to learn a bit about Russia during this period, and I did. But I sensed the history here is embellished and ‘shaped’ to fit the story. I’m not sure I really have an accurate idea of Russia, and in particular, Catherine and Peter. However it did motivate me to look Catherine up on the internet to read a bit more, so it did serve as an introduction to the period. I look forward to reading more about this era. The Winter Palace is good read if you enjoy historical fiction.

My Rating: ★★★ 3 Stars

Friday Freebie: From The Ashes, Sultana, Long Time Coming

2012-01-20T12:02:00.000-06:00

It’s Friday Freebie time. This week Barnes and Noble is offering a new release ‘From The Ashes’ by Jeremy Burns. This one looks suspenful! You can see at Goodreads, where the book gets. 5 stars, but being a new releaser, there aren’t a lot of reviews there. Maybe you can be among the first. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

A DEADLY CONSPIRACY Graduate students Jonathan and Michael Rickner, sons of eminent archeologist Sir William Rickner, are no strangers to historical mysteries and archeological adventures. But when Michael is discovered dead in his Washington, D.C. apartment, Jon refuses to believe the official ruling of suicide. Digging deeper into his brother’s work, he discovers evidence that Michael was murdered to keep his dissertation research buried. A DEVASTATING NATIONAL SECRET Joined by Michael’s fiancée Mara Ellison, Jon travels to New York where he uncovers the threads of a deadly Depression-era conspiracy – one entangling the Hoover Administration, the Rockefellers, and the rise of Nazi Germany – and the elite cadre of assassins that still guard its unspeakable secret. THE LABYRINTHINE PATH TO THE TRUTH Finding themselves in the crosshairs of the same men who killed Michael, Jon and Mara must navigate a complex web of historical cover-ups and modern-day subterfuge, outwitting and outrunning their all-powerful pursuers as they race through the monuments and museums of Manhattan in a labyrinthine treasure hunt to discover the last secret of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., before their enemies can bury the truth – and them – forever.

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle Nook Sony Reader

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Another freebie being offered this week is ‘Sultana’ by Lisa J. Yarde. This is historical fiction set in thriteenth century Moorish Spain. You can see reader reviews at Goodreads , where the book gets. 3.88 stars. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

In thirteenth-century Moorish Spain, the realm of Granada is in crisis. The union of Fatima, granddaughter of the Sultan of Granada, with the Sultan’s nephew Faraj has fractured the nation. A bitter civil war escalates and endangers both Fatima and Faraj’s lives.

All her life, Fatima has sheltered in lavish palaces where danger has never intruded, until now. A precocious child and the unwitting pawn of her family, she soon learns how her marriage may determine her future and the fate of Granada. Her husband Faraj has his own qualms about their union. At a young age, he witnessed the deaths of his parents and discovered how affluence and power offers little protection against indomitable enemies. Guilt and fears plague him. Determined to carve his own destiny, Faraj struggles to regain his lost inheritance and avenge his murdered family.

Throughout the rugged frontiers of southern Spain, the burgeoning Christian kingdoms in the north and the desert states of North Africa, Fatima and Faraj survive ruthless murderers and intrigues. They unite against common enemies bent on destroying the last Moorish dynasty. While Fatima and Faraj establish a powerful bond, the atmosphere of deceit creates opportunities for mistrust and tests their love.

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle Sony Reader

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The last freebie this week is ‘Long Time Coming’ by Vanessa Miller. This is contemporary Christian fiction! You can see reader reviews at Goodreads, where the book gets. 3.89 stars. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

Faithful Christian Deidre Clark-Morris is a professional career-minded woman with a loving husband and beautiful home, but no children. Kenisha Smalls has lived in poverty her entire life and has three children by three different men. After learning that Kenisha has inoperable cervical cancer, the relationship between these two women becomes a catalyst of hope, leading them both to a place of redemption and healing.

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle Nook

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Review: Gathering Blue

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

Gathering Blue

by Lois Lowry

Delacourte Books for Young Readers

ISBN 9780385732567

Release Date: 2000

Why did you choose this book? I read The Giver as a book club selection and felt the ending left me hanging, so when I learned it was only the first book in a trilogy, I decided to read them all

When did you read this book? January 2011

Who should read this book? fans of young adult, dystopian fiction; readers who enjoyed The Giver

Here is a synopsis of ‘The Giver' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.77 stars.

Source: ebook borrowed through my local library

In her strongest work to date, Lois Lowry once again creates a mysterious but plausible future world. It is a society ruled by savagery and deceit that shuns and discards the weak. Left orphaned and physically flawed, young Kira faces a frightening, uncertain future. Blessed with an almost magical talent that keeps her alive, she struggles with ever broadening responsibilities in her quest for truth, discovering things that will change her life forever.

As she did in The Giver, Lowry challenges readers to imagine what our world could become, and what will be considered valuable. Every reader will be taken by Kira's plight and will long ponder her haunting world and the hope for the future.

My Review

This is the second book in ‘The Giver’ series. I hesitate to call it a sequel, because it does not pick up where the first book left off, and in fact, does not even mention the characters from ‘The Giver’. Instead, this book tells a concurrent story of a different village, presumably at the same time in the future. This village is relatively primative, with the people living with cooking fires and no running water, etc. The village is also brutal, enforcing a form of ‘sameness’ in its own way. No one less than ‘perfect’ is tolerated. Into this village is born Kira, a young girl with a deformed leg. By rule, she is to be taken from her mother immediately and left to ‘the beasts’. However, because her mother pleads and her father was well respected before his tragic death, she is allowed to live. Her mother is a proficient weaver, and Kira grows to surpass her mother’s skills.

When Kira is twelve, her mother dies suddenly from an illness and is left orphaned, her only friend a young ‘wild thing’ boy from what amounts to ‘the other side of the tracks’. The women of the village have always resented Kira and the fact that she is alive when she should not be. Her survival depends on the recognition of her gift and how she will use it.

There are some parellels to ‘The Giver’. Both communities eliminate anything that might cause disruption to their way of thinking. Both communities depend upon discovering young people with ‘gifts’. But there is no real connection between the two books. You could easily pick up ‘Gathering Blue’ and enjoy it without knowing anything about ‘The Giver’. I was disappointed not to learn the fate of Jonas and Gabe by reading this book, but I did enjoy the book. Not quite as much as I did ‘The Giver’ though, so I am giving it a slightly lower rating.

My Rating: ★★★+ 3-1/2 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday (20)

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

Someone Else’s Life

by Katie Dale

Delacorte Books for Young Readers Hardcover

ISBN 9780385740654

512 pages

Release Date: February 14, 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads

When seventeen-year-old Rosie’s mother, Trudie, dies from Huntington’s Disease, her pain is intensified by the knowledge that she has a fifty-per-cent chance of inheriting the crippling disease herself. Only when she tells her mum’s best friend, ‘Aunt Sarah’ that she is going to test for the disease does Sarah, a midwife, reveal that Trudie was not her biological mother after all... Devastated, Rosie decides to trace her real mother, hitching along on her ex-boyfriend’s GAP year to follow her to Los Angeles. But all does not go to plan, and as Rosie discovers yet more of her family's deeply-buried secrets and lies, she is left with an agonizing decision of her own - one which will be the most heart-breaking and far-reaching of all.

Available for Pre-Order

AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE

Why I am waiting....

I saw this one on Goodreads. I think the story looks like a good one. Can’t wait to read it!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we spotlight upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating!

Rafflecopter Giveaway

2012-01-17T07:18:00.000-06:00

Rafflecopter is having a launch party with a great give away. You are probably familiar with Rafflecopter. Many blogs use Rafflecopter for entries and to select the winner. Now they are giving us a chance to win an iPad 2 or a Kindle Fire! If you win, and you list me as your referrer, YOU get the iPad 2 and I get the Kindle Fire. So let's get started. Enter now! And use me, Kim@Time@Read, as the referrer. Thanks!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday Teaser (21)

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here’s my teaser!

“I said, hold still!” Cinder grabbed Peony by the wrist, swiped at the spot -- and froze!

Dropping Peony’s arm, she stumbled back.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer, pg 48

Review: The Giver

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

The Giver

by Lois Lowry

Houghton Mifflin Company

ISBN 9780395645666

Release Date: 1993

Why did you choose this book? I have heard so many good things about this and it has been on my to-read list for awhile, so I was happy when it was chosen as the December selection for my book club

When did you read this book? December 2011

Who should read this book? fans of young adult, dystopian fiction; parents of students who will read this book

Here is a synopsis of ‘The Giver' from Goodreads, where it rates 4.11 stars.

Source: ebook borrowed through my local library

In a world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness and no unemployment, and where every family is happy, 12-year-old Jonas is chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories. Under the tutelage of the Elders and an old man known as the Giver, he discovers the disturbing truth about his utopian world and struggles against the weight of its hypocrisy. With echoes of Brave New World, in this 1994 Newbery Medal winner, Lowry examines the idea that people might freely choose to give up their humanity in order to create a more stable society. Gradually Jonas learns just how costly this ordered and pain-free society can be, and boldly decides he cannot pay the price.

My Review

This is the story of Jonas, a 12 year old growing up in the ‘perfect’ community. Everyone has plenty to eat and there is no crime. The elderly are well cared for. But the welfare of the community comes first. A council of elders assigns each person their job at age 12, spouses are assigned by the council, and after 3 years, if the match is deemed successful, they can petition for a child; 2 children maximum. And always a boy and a girl. Memories of the past may be painful and disruptive, so they are retained by only one person, the ‘Receiver of Memories’. This is the collective memory of the entire world, so only person in the community is allowed to know the past. Jonah is selected as the new ‘Receiver’ and the current receiver, the 'Giver', transmits the memories of the world to Jonas. Gradually, Jonas learns that his perfect community is not all he believes it to be. I enjoyed this book; it gave me a lot to think about.

My only beef is that the book ends pretty abruptly, and the ending is ambiguous. We don’t really know what happened. (Okay, I know...but only because I read the entire trilogy!) This is a quick read, but be warned, not everyone will enjoy this book. It is a book that has been controversial through the years. Some topics covered in the book include euthanasia and sexual feelings. I don’t think the controversy is about the content as much as about the age that is appropriate to make this an assigned reading. This has been assigned to classrooms as young as 5th grade. I think this is fine for ‘mature’ 5th graders, but many may not be ready for this. If your child is assigned this book, you may want to read it, too, so you can discuss it with them. There is a lot to discuss for kids AND adults. I think this book had led to some of the best discussions are book club has had!

My Rating: ★★★★ 4 Stars

In My Mailbox (25)

2012-01-15T09:26:00.000-06:00

I didn't pick up much this week, but here's what I have...

Bought from library ‘sale’ shelf

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Housseini

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Borrowed from the library

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. The idea is to list all of the books you've placed on your shelf since your last post. You can read more about it read more about it here.

Borrow an ebook?

2012-01-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

Last week I asked for advice about ereaders. Thank you for your comments. I think for now, I’ve decided to keep my Pandigital Novel. It is doing everything I need, and there is no compelling reason to upgrade. Now, if I am blown away by the new iPad, or one of my kids decides they have to have an ereader, that will change things. But for now, I am happy!

So now, I want to know about borrowing ebooks. I have borrowed many books from Overdrive through my local library. But I know that both Kindle and Nook offer ‘lendable’ books. Have you ever loaned a book through your Nook or Kindle? Have you ever borrowed a book? Do you only exchange books with friends, or do you use a ‘matching’ site to find books? Are there other options for borrowing ebooks? Enquiring minds want to know! So tell me.....

Friday Freebies: Don't Know Much About Mythology, 44, Walking On Broken Glass

2012-01-13T09:46:00.000-06:00

It’s Friday Freebie time. This week Barnes and Noble is offering ‘Don’t Know Much About Mythology’ by Kenneth C. Davis. This one looks great for prepping for the upcoming ‘trivia season’! You can see reader reviews at Goodreads, where the book gets. 3.51 stars. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

If you couldn't tell the difference between the Twelve Olympians and the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame, this is the book for you. Kenneth C. Davis, the New York Times-bestselling author of Don't Know Much About History, now turns his attention to myths and legends. As usual, Davis's treatment accents quirky, offbeat aspects of his topic. Pain-free punditry

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle Nook Sony Reader

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Another freebie being offered this week is ’44’ by Jools Sinclair. This is young adult paranormal story. You can see reader reviews at Goodreads , where the book gets. 3.71 stars. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

Last year after falling through the ice, seventeen-year-old Abby Craig woke up from death - but she woke into a world she barely recognizes. She can’t see colors, memories have been erased, and her friends all hate her. And then there's Jesse, who she loves, but who refuses to forgive her the one mistake she made long ago.

Just when she thinks it can't get any worse, the visions begin. In them, she sees a faceless serial killer roaming the streets. While the police believe that there have been a lot of accidents in town lately, Abby knows differently. And she soon realizes that it's up to her to find him. But to stop him, she'll have to confront more than just the killer. She'll have to face something else that was lost in those dark waters: the truth.

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle Nook Sony Reader Kobo

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The last freebie this week is ‘Walking On Broken Glass’ by Christa Allen. This is contemporary Christian fiction! You can see reader reviews at Goodreads, where the book gets. 3.53 stars. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

Leah Thornton’s life, like her Southern Living home, has great curb appeal. But a paralyzing encounter with a can of frozen apple juice in the supermarket shatters the façade, forcing her to admit that all is not as it appears. When her best friend gets in Leah’s face about her refusal to deal with her life, Leah is forced to make an agonizing decision. Can she sacrifice what she wants to get what she needs? Joy, sadness, and pain converge, testing Leah’s commitment to her marriage, her motherhood, and her faith.

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle Nook

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Review: Can't Wait To Get To Heaven

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

When I referred to this book in my review of 'At Home In Mitford' earlier this week, I realized I never reviewed it. So....here is my review of..

Can’t Wait To Get To Heaven

by Fannie Flag

Random House Publishing Group ebook

ISBN 9781588366191

Release Date: November 28, 2006

Available for purchase from

AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE

Why did you choose this book? This was the selection for my November book club.

When did you read this book? December 2011

Who should read this book? anyone looking for a light read with a bit of humor and mystery thrown in

Here is a synopsis of ‘Can’t Wait To Get To Heaven' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.75 stars.

Source: Overdrive epub through my public library

Combining southern warmth with unabashed emotion and side-splitting hilarity, Fannie Flagg takes readers back to Elmwood Springs, Missouri, where the most unlikely and surprising experiences of a high-spirited octogenarian inspire a town to ponder the age-old question: Why are we here?

Life is the strangest thing. One minute, Mrs. Elner Shimfissle is up in her tree, picking figs, and the next thing she knows, she is off on an adventure she never dreamed of, running into people she never in a million years expected to meet. Meanwhile, back home, Elner’s nervous, high-strung niece Norma faints and winds up in bed with a cold rag on her head; Elner’s neighbor Verbena rushes immediately to the Bible; her truck driver friend, Luther Griggs, runs his eighteen-wheeler into a ditch–and the entire town is thrown for a loop and left wondering, “What is life all about, anyway?” Except for Tot Whooten, who owns Tot’s Tell It Like It Is Beauty Shop. Her main concern is that the end of the world might come before she can collect her social security.

In this comedy-mystery, those near and dear to Elner discover something wonderful: Heaven is actually right here, right now, with people you love, neighbors you help, friendships you keep. Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven is proof once more that Fannie Flagg “was put on this earth to write” (Southern Living), spinning tales as sweet and refreshing as iced tea on a summer day, with a little extra kick thrown in.

My Review

This book is about an old woman named Elner Shimfizzle (don’t you love that name?), and set in a small town in Missouri. Elner manages to find the good in every situation and everyone is fond of her. A spunky old lady, she still fends for herself. One day, she climbs a tree in her backyard to gather figs, and falls. She is rushed to the hospital, where she is declared dead. Then the fun starts. Everyone in town is affected and remembers how Elner touched their lives. Meanwhile, Elner goes to heaven, where she meets her Maker and learns the purpose of life.

This is not a deep, thought-provoking book, but it is a fun book. Save it for when you need some light-hearted entertainment.

My Rating: ★★★ 3 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday (19)

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-06:00

Article 5

by Kristen Simmons

Tor Teen Hardcover

ISBN 9780765329585

368 pages

Release Date: January 13, 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

Available for Pre-Order

AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE

Why I am waiting....

I was first attracted to the cover, but I gotta tell you.....this one looks really interesting!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we spotlight upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating!

Tuesday Teaser (20)

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here’s my teaser!

But she had skipped him! He saw the others in his group glance at him, embarrassed, and then avert their eyes quickly. He saw a worried look on the face of his group leader.

The Giver by Lois Lowry, pg 47

I’ve had this book on my TBR for quite awhile, and haven’t managed to make the time to read it. So I was very excited when it was chosen as our January book club suggestion!

Review: At Home In Mitford

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

At Home in Mitford

by Jan Karon

Penguin Group USA ebook

ISBN 9781440629969

464 pages

Release Date: April 29, 2008

Available for purchase from

AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE

Why did you choose this book? This was the selection for my December book club.

When did you read this book? December 2011

Who should read this book? anyone looking for a light read that doesn’t take a lot of energy to follow

Here is a synopsis of ‘At Home In Mitford' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.58 stars.

Source: Overdrive epub through my public library

Combining the stellar script-adaptation skills of award-winning writer Paul McCusker with the best-selling novel by Jan Karon, Radio Theatre's At Home in Mitford will leave listeners longing for more. Set in the charming village of Mitford, this book will delight listeners as it draws them into the life of Father Tim, an Episcopal rector who finds himself running on empty and longing for change. His bachelor existence is changed and enriched by a lovable cast of characters, including a stray dog, a lonely boy, and a comely neighbor.

My Review

Sadly, I have to say I was very disappointed in this book. Several friends have excitedly recommended it to me through the years, so when my book club chose it as the December selection, I was willing to read it. However, it didn’t even approach living up to my expectations!

This is the story of a priest in a small, southern town. I use the word ‘story’ loosely, because a real storyline never developed. At one point, late in the book, it appeared that the author was going to pursue a storyline, and then just let it die out. To me, this read more like a happy memoir, and as regular followers of my reviews know, I am not a fan a memoirs! I don’t think I would have raved about the book under any circumstance, but the fact that our November selection, ‘Can’t Wait To Get To Heaven’, was also a ‘light’ read just added to my boredom.

Before you decide not to read it, though, I want to acknowledge that a lot of people LOVE this book, and you may be one of them. Before you rule it out, I recommend you read the reviews on Goodreads to see if this book is for you!

My Rating: ★★ 2 Stars

In My Mailbox (24)

2012-01-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

Here is a list of books I picked up over the holidays...

ebooks from the library

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

The Messenger by Lois Lowry

I read 'The Giver' for book club and decided to finish the series!

print books

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series

The Lightning Thief

The Sea of Monsters

The Titan's Curse

The Battle of the Labyrinth

The Last Olympian

My son bought the series at book fair and gave it to me for Christmas!

Kindle....Nook.....iPad...or....???

2012-01-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

Let’s talk about ereaders today. Do you have one? If not, do you read ebooks on your phone or computer? Tell me how you read your ebooks and what you like about your ereader. Also tell my what you dislike.

I have a Pandigital Novel, bought in August 2010. That doesn’t seem like long, but in the work of ereaders, it is pretty ancient. When I bought it, I had 3 requirements. First, it HAD to be backlit. No e-ink for me! I like to read in the dark. Second, I absolutely HAD to have the ability to check out ebooks from the library. And third, but not a deal breaker, I was hoping to be able to read Nook books on my ereader. I was really tempted to get a Nook, but at the time, there was no Nook Color yet, so no backlit display. And Kindles could not access ebooks from the library until just a few months ago. Lucky for me, the Pandigital Novel came out and fulfilled all my requirements. Even better, I recently was able to upgrade the software so that it is a low level Android tablet. I was able to put Overdrive software on my reader that allows me to download my library books to my reader wirelessly, without having to hook up to a computer! I also was able to put the Kindle software on, and can now use ‘whisper-sync’ to download and sync my Kindle library. So I pretty much can read books in any format on this thing, and that is awesome!

That said, I am still considering upgrading to a better ereader and passing this one down to my son. The problem is....what ereader to upgrade to? My requirements haven’t changed all that much; I still expect it to be backlit, and to be able to access ebooks from the library. However, now I’m kind of spoiled. Not only to I expect to be able to READ library books on it; I also expect to be able to download them wirelessly! AND I want to be able to read both books in both the Nook format and the Kindle format! I would also like to be able to do some web browsing at night, and perhaps check my email. And it would be nice if my bookmarks, address book, and calendar synced with my computer. That pretty much leaves only one option, I think, and that would be an iPad. However, it is a little bigger and heavier than the ereader I have now, and I KNOW it is a lot more expensive. Are there any other alternatives you can recommend? Tell me about them! Just leave a comment and share what you know!

Friday Freebies: I Used To Know That, The Witness, Assault With A Deadly Glue Gun

2012-01-06T07:51:00.000-06:00

Welcome back to Friday Freebie. It’s been a long break! This week Barnes and Noble is offering ‘I Used To Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School’ by Caroline Taggart. This is non-fiction, and sounds like a great way for me to get ready for the coming trivia season! You can see reader reviews at Goodreads, where the book gets. 3.41 stars. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

If you've forgotten the capital city of Chile; the basics of osmosis; how to solve a quadratic equation; the names of the Bennet sisters in Pride and Prejudice; who wrote the famous poem about daffodils; the use of a conjunction or the number of continents in the world, I Used to Know That will provide all the answers.

A light-hearted and informative reminder of all the things that we learned in school but have since become relegated to the backs of our minds. I Used to Know That features hundreds of important snippets of wisdom, facts, theories, equations, phrases, rules and sayings.

It is a practical guide to turn to when an answer is eluding you, when helping a child with homework or preparing them for the new school year, or maybe just to brush up on trivia for the pub quiz.

I Used to Know That covers English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography and General Studies, so never again will you find yourself stumped!

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle Nook Sony Reader Kobo

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Another freebie being offered this week is ‘The Witness’ by Dee Henderson. This is a contemporary Christian romantic thriller. You can see reader reviews at Goodreads, where the book gets. 3.91 stars. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

Police Chief Luke Granger's witness to a murder, Amy Griffin, has been on the run for years. Her family thinks she was murdered eight years ago, but Amy chose to accept a life in the shadows in order to protect her sisters' lives. Now unveiled secrets about their father have thrust the sisters into the public spotlight. The man who wants Amy dead now sees her sisters as the way to locate her. Luke and two of his homicide detectives are determined to stand in the way. They are each falling in love with a different sister, and it's become a personal mission to keep them safe. But chances are that at least one of them will fail, and facing the future will take a faith deeper than any of them currently knows.

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle Nook Sony Reader

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The last freebie this week is ‘Assault With A Deadly Glue Gun’ by Lois Winston. This cozt mystery is the first in the author’s ‘Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries! You can see reader reviews at Goodreads, where the book gets. 3.37 stars. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

A debut mystery featuring innovative crafts projects

When Anastasia Pollack's husband permanently cashes in his chips at a roulette table in Vegas, her comfortable middle-class life is suddenly kaput. She's left with two teenage sons, a mountain of debt, and her hateful, cane-wielding Communist motherin-law. Not to mention stunned disbelief over her late husband's secret gambling addiction, and the loan shark who's demanding fifty thousand dollars.

Anastasia's job as crafts editor for a magazine proves no respite when she discovers a dead body glued to her office chair. The victim, fashion editor Marlys Vandenburg, collected enemies and ex-lovers like Jimmy Choos on her ruthless climb to editor-in-chief.But when evidence surfaces of an illicit affair between Marlys and Anastasia's husband, Anastasia becomes the number one suspect.

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

2012 Challenges

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-06:00

Earlier I made a list of potential challenges to consider for 2012. Originally I had 16 challenges I planned to sign up for, but I did not want to be overwhelmed, so I have narrowed it down to 9.

Here are the challenges I will be participating in this year.

In addition, I am considering joining the 2012 Debut Author Challenge and the 2012 Historical Fiction Challenge. I am not planning to sign up right away, but I will be tracking my reading, possibly joining a little late.

You can follow my progress towards my goals by clicking on the '2012 Challenges Progress' tab at the top of this page.

And if you are still looking for challenges to join, check out the '2012 Challenges' tab at the top of the page for some ideas. Good Luck in meeting your goals for 2012!

The Best (and worst) of 2011

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

More 2011 wrap-up....
Today I'm going to tell you about some of the reads that stood our for me this past year. Click on the titles to read my reviews.

I read a lot of good books in 2011, but only 4 were given a 5-star rating!

The Year She Fell by Alicia Rasley

Go Down To Silence by G. K. Belliveau

Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand

The Accident by Linwood Barclay

There were also a couple that stood out as 'stinkers'. These were ones I didn't like enough to finish, though I did read enough to feel I gave them a fair chance. (I realize that not everyone thought they were awful, so use your own judgement when deciding if you should read these.)

Sarah's Child by Linda Howard

Women, Food, and God by Geneen Roth

There were others that were not terrible, but were a disappointment to me. These are mostly books that I heard many good things about, or I'd read and enjoyed previous works from the author. Though I enjoyed them, they did not live up to my expectations.

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

The Silver Boat by Luanne Rice

At Home In Mitford by Jan Karon

A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel

A Visit From The Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

How does this compare with your 2011? What were your best and worst?

2011 Wrap-up: Coming Reviews

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

Since I've neglected my blogging during the holiday season, I decided to do a quick post highlighting some of my reading the past few weeks. I will review these books in detail over the next few weeks, but here is a quick summary of what I've read.

True Colors by Kristin Hannah - 3 stars

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges - 4 stars

At Home In Mitford by Jan Karon - 2 stars

The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak - 3 stars

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay - 3 stars

The Giver by Lois Lowry - 4 stars

Look for reviews to come stating next week!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T14:17:00.000-06:00

It's a new year and time to catch up. I've neglected my blog during the holiday season. (I hope you noticed!?) I did NOT neglect my reading though; consequently I am waaayyy behind with my reviews.
This week I am going to do some blogging on random topics and MAYBE work on a new look for my blog.

One thing I've learned this year is that having some rough idea of a blogging schedule helps keep me on track, so I am going to adopt a schedule.

Here is my planned schedule.

Sunday: In My Mailbox, a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, where I list all new reads that have come into my possession in the past week. (or whenever I've last blogged my IMM!)
Monday: book review (maybe 2!)
Tuesday: Tuesday Teaser, a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, where I give a short teaser or 2 from my current read.
Wednesday: Waiting On Wednesday, a meme hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading where I tell you about a 'not yet published' book that has caught my eye
Thursday: book review
Friday: Friday Freebie, where I highlight some free ebooks available for download
Saturday: random blogging; this may be another review, a challenge catch-up, or really, anything that I want to blog about

I don't plan to start this schedule until Sunday. I will use this week for random blogging, and MAYBE work on a new look for my blog. AND once I start, this schedule is subject to change. If I think of something interesting I want to write about, I will. It may result in an extra post here and there, or just a temporary break from the 'schedule'. Reading and blogging are meant to be fun, after all!

HAPPY NEW YEAR and GOOD LUCK in reaching your reading goals for 2012!

2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge

2011-12-30T16:52:00.005-06:00

The Young Adult Reading Challenge hosted by The Eclectic Bookshelf. Young Adult fiction is something I’ve really learned to appreciate in 2011, though I’m not always sure whether a book is Young Adult. Sometimes I will find copies of the same book shelved in my local library in Young Adult, ‘regular’ Adult, and Juvenlie, so it seems I’m not the only one for whom the distinction is ambiguous!

The Rules

Anyone can join.
You don't need a blog to participate.
Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post on Jamie's blog.
Audio, eBooks, paper, re-reads all count.
No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

Levels

The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
The "Fun Size" YA Reading Challenge – Read 20 Young Adult novels.
The Jumbo Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 40 Young Adult novels.
The Mega size YA Reading Challenge – Read 50+ Young Adult novels.

I haven’t quite decided on my goal yet. I think I am going to go with the ‘mini’ for now, but if I decide Young Adult encompassed books at the ‘middle grade’ level like the Percy Jackson series, I will up my goal to the ‘fun size’ level.

2012 New Author Challenge

2011-12-30T16:39:00.002-06:00

The ‘New Author Challenge’ is hosted by Literary Escapism. This one keeps tracks of books I read by ‘new’ authors. The ‘new’ refers to authors that are ‘new-to-me’, meaning I’ve never read them before, and not necessarily first time authors. Since about half the books I’ve read in 2011 were authors I’d not read before, this one seems pretty easy to me.

The Rules

The challenge will run from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.
Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels. Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from anthologies.
I want this to be an easy challenge, so you can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors. It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be. For me, I want to say I’m going to do another 50 new authors, but with two kids, I didn’t made my goal in 2011, so I’m going to be smarter and say 25. If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop. Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky. We all want to know about your new experience.
After reading your new author, write your review and then come back here and add your link to Mr. Linky. Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.
Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome. You don’t have to have a site to participate. You can link up via Facebook, GoodReads or even Amazon if you’d like.

I’m tempted to go with the medium level - 25 books since most of the books I read in 2012 were by ‘new-to-me‘ authors. But I’m also a little hesitant because I really enjoyed some of the authors I discovered in 2011 and plan to read them again. I think I will stretch myself though, and go with 25 authors.

2012 Free Reads Challenge

2011-12-30T16:10:00.000-06:00

The ‘Free Reads Challenge’ hosted by Bookish Ardour is another challenge I am participating in. It really goes along well with the ‘Off the Shelf’ and ‘Read Your Own Books’ challenges, since a lot of the books I read for these will also count as ‘Free Reads’. Any book I haven’t paid for, other than library books, will count for this AND I can also count books I add to my shelves in 2012.

The Rules

The Main Rule: Read books you’ve received without purchasing, gifts, ARCs, prizes (not library books), that you haven’t read yet.
Running Dates: 1st of January – 31st of December 2012
When Can I Sign Up: All the way up to the last two weeks of December 2012!
Crossover Genres: Anything! As long as they were free when you got them, it doesn’t matter..
Mr Linky: To use the Mr Linky you’ll need to click on the graphic then enter your link. These will be updated and posted into this page every couple of weeks or so.
Further Details: Crossover challenges are fine, you can change levels at any time, this is eBook, short story, and graphic novel friendly, and you don’t need a blog to join in (read further for details).

Levels

For Me? – Choose 5 books to read
On The Cheap – Choose 15 books to read
Bargain – Choose 30 books to read
Presents – Choose 50 books to read
So Free – Choose 75 books to read
Gift Addict – Choose between 76-135 books to read
Speechless – Choose between 136-200 books to read

I almost never PAY for a book. I either get them from others as gifts, or just ‘recycled’ when they are through with them, or get them as freebie ebooks. I also have quite a few that I’ve won in blog give-aways. But I get most of my reads from the library, and I DO buy a box full at book fair each year. So I am going to stick to level 2 - On The Cheap!

2012 'Off the Shelf' and 'Read Your Own Books' Challenge

2011-12-29T19:44:00.000-06:00

It’s been a great break, but now it’s time to look ahead to 2012! I haven’t done much blogging, and very little reading this past month, but I have done some thinking about my 2012 reading. I’ve already mentioned a few of the challenges I hope to complete, and today I have two more to add. I am doing both, because they pretty much involve reading the same books; those I already own. The idea is to try to get my bookshelves cleared to make room for more books! (Winter book fair is coming up in Feb!)

The first is the 2012 Off The Shelf Challenge hosted at Bookish Ardour.

The Rules

The Main Rule: Do not include books acquired during 2012, it defeats the purpose, read those books from before 2012 started!
Running Dates: 1st of January – 31st of December 2012
When Can I Sign Up: All the way up to the last two weeks of December 2012!
Crossover Genres: Anything! The name of the game is to turn those unread books into read ones.
Mr Linky: To use the Mr Linky you’ll need to click on the graphic then enter your link. These will be updated and posted into this page every couple of weeks or so.
Further Details: Crossover challenges are fine, you can change levels at any time, this is eBook, short story, and graphic novel friendly, and you don’t need a blog to join in (read further for details).

Levels

Tempted– Choose 5 books to read
Trying – Choose 15 books to read
Making A Dint – Choose 30 books to read
On A Roll – Choose 50 books to read
Flying Off – Choose 75 books to read
Hoarder – Choose between 76-135 books to read
Buried – Choose between 136-200 books to read

I have won 4 books in give-aways in the past 2 months, and my sone gave me the complete ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ series for Christmas, so without even trying, I have 8 books to read. It shouldn’t be hard to work in another 7, so I am aiming for the ‘Trying’ level; 15 books.

The next one, very similar, is the 2012 Read Your Own Books Challenge hosted at Tales From The Crypt.

The Rules

Starts January 1, 2012 and ends December 31, 2012
Anyone can join
You don’t have to have a blog to participate.
Non-Bloggers feel free to share your list of books in the comment section of the monthly link up post.
Reviews though not required are always nice.
Audio, E-books, Bound all count
Re-reads DO NOT count
There is no need to come up with your list of books in advance.
Challenge crossovers ok
Create a sign up post and link up in the linky below.

Levels

Level 1 – Read 1-5 Your Own Books
Level 2 – Read 6-10 Your Own Books
Level 3 – Read 11-20 Your Own Books
Level 4 – Read 21+ Your Own Books

Since I have set my goal for the ‘Off The Shelf’ Challenge at 15 books, I will be aiming towards completing level 3 for this challenge; 11-20 books.

2012 Ebook Challenge

2011-12-15T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is another that is easy for me to decide to join. I love reading on my ereader. I can look up a new vocabulary word and place bookmarks so easily. And I LOVE being able to enlarge the font when my eyes are tired! Here are the details for the 2012 Ebook Challenge hosted by Workaday Reads.

Challenge Guidelines:

This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
Anyone can join, you don't need to be a blogger. If you don't have a blog, feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc).
Any genre or length of book counts, as long as it is in ebook format.
You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.
You can move up levels, but no moving down.
Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

Levels:

Floppy disk - 5 ebooks
CD - 10 ebooks
DVD - 25 ebooks
Memory stick - 50 ebooks
Hard drive - 75 ebooks
Server - 100 ebooks
Human brain - 150 ebooks

So far, I have read about 20 books on my ereader in 2011. I think I can match that next year. But because of guideline #6, I am going to go for Level 2 - CD, or 10 books. Once I have passed that, and I will, I probably will reset my goal for 25 books. I don't think there is a realistic chance of doing 50 books, unless I ONLY read on my ereader, and that won't happen. I have too many print books on reserve through the local library! How 'bout it? Want to play along! Just go to the sign up page here!

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

Dead to You

by Lisa McMann

Simon Pulse Hardcover

ISBN 9781442403888

256 pages

Release Date:February 7, 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It's a miracle... at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn't going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together. But there's something that's keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable...

Available for Pre-Order

AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE

Why I am waiting....

With several cases in the news in the past few years of abducted children coming home alive, this one sounds interesting.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we spotlight upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating!

Tuesday Teaser (19)

2011-12-13T07:01:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here’s my teaser!

In the antechamber to his rooms, Catherine sat patiently for hours until he relented and ordered me to allow her in. When he did, I would open the door to the sight of her face, white and drawn.
The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great by Eva Stachniak, pg 110
I got interested in Russian history when I read ‘Winter Garden’ by Kristin Hannah. This was available through Netgalley, so I picked it up.

Review: The Accident

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

The Accident

by Linwood Barclay

Random House Publishing Group Hardcover

ISBN 9780553807189

400 pages

Release Date: August 9, 2011

Available for purchase

AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE

Why did you choose this book? A friend recommended a previous novel by Linwood Barclay, so I picked this one up when I saw it was available in ebook format

When did you read this book? November 2011

Who should read this book? readers who enjoy contemporary mystery and suspense

Disclosure: The copy I read was checked out through my local library in ebook format

Here is a synopsis of ‘The Accident' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.86 stars.

In this mesmerizing thriller by acclaimed author Linwood Barclay, a typical American community descends into darkness, as an ordinary man is swept into one of the most violent mysteries of modern life.

It’s the new normal at the Garber household in Connecticut: Glen, a contractor, has seen his business shaken by the housing crisis, and now his wife, Sheila, is taking a business course at night to increase her chances of landing a good-paying job.

But she should have been home by now.

Waiting for Sheila’s return, with their eight-year-old daughter sleeping soundly, Glen soon finds his worst fears confirmed: Sheila and two others have been killed in a car accident. Adding to the tragedy, the police claim Sheila was responsible.

Glen knows it’s impossible; he knew his wife and she would never do such a thing. When he investigates, Glen begins to uncover layers of lawlessness beneath the placid surface of their suburb, secret after dangerous secret behind the closed doors.

Propelled into a vortex of corruption and illegal activity, pursued by mysterious killers, and confronted by threats from neighbors he thought he knew, Glen must take his own desperate measures and go to terrifying new places in himself to avenge his wife and protect his child.

Bold and timely, with the shocking twists and startling insights that have become trademarks of this new master of domestic suspense, The Accident is a riveting triumph, a book that moves at a breathless pace to a climax no one will see coming.

My Review

A friend recommended Linwood Barclay to me and I certainly can see why. This book was amazing. Glen, the main character, is up late worrying about his wife and why she has not yet arrived home. He soon learns she is dead as the result of a car accident. Even worse, she has been driving drunk! Glen knows this is not characteristic of her, and refuses to accept this conclusion. While dealing with his shock and grief, he allows his 8 year old daughter to play at her best friends house. However, the visit is cut short when his upset daughter calls for him to come and get her. There have been some mysterious happenings at the friends house and Glen learns they are involved in some not quite legitimate things. There are many twists and turns as Glen uncovers the truth about his wife’s accident, and by the end of the story, over half a dozen people are dead! This is a real thriller and I definitely recommend it, however, I recommend you don’t pick it up until you have time to read it through, because you are NOT want to put it down! Enjoy!

My Rating: ★★★★★ 5 Stars

In My Mailbox (23)

2011-12-11T06:00:00.000-06:00

Here's what I've added to my stash this week...

From the Christmas book exchange at book club this week

The Facts of Life: And Other Lessons My Father Taught Me by Lisa Whelchel

ebook Freebies

Griselda Takes Flight by Joyce Magnin

Highland Blessings by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Oh, That I Had Wings by Sarah Pawley

Tiger Eye by Marjorie M. Liu

On Sparrow Hill by Maureen Lang

The Journey Home by Michael Baron

Library ebooks

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Won from A Bookish Affair give-away

Wings by Karl Friedrich

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. The idea is to list all of the books you've placed on your shelf since your last post. You can read more about it read more about it here.

Friday Freebies: Skipped Parts, O Little Town, The Santa Shop

2011-12-09T07:41:00.001-06:00

It’s Friday Freebie time. This week Barnes and Noble is offering ‘Skipped Parts’ by Tim Sandlin. This is a young adult coming-of-age story. You can see reader reviews at Goodreads, where the book gets. 3.93 stars. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

Banished to the hinterlands of Wyoming, rebellious Lydia Callahan and her thirteen-year-old son Sam have no choice but to cope. But while Lydia drinks and talks to the moose head on the wall, Sam finds a friend in local girl Maurey Pierce.

One of the wildest, raunchiest, most heartfelt coming-of-age novels of the past thirty years, Skipped Parts puts Tim Sandlin in the upper echelon of contemporary comic novelists..

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle Nook

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Another freebie being offered this week is ‘O Little Town’ by Don Reid. This is Christmas story, if you haven’t guessed. You can see reader reviews at Goodreads , where the book gets. 3.72 stars. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

Christmas, 1958: Elvis is on the radio, Ike is in the White House, the Lord is in his holy temple...but there is no peace in Mt. Jefferson.

In a small town where everybody seems to know everybody, there are still a few secrets. Three families find they are connected in ways they never suspected: an angry teen, a dying man, a lonely wife, a daughter in trouble...just ordinary people, muddling their way through ordinary challenges. Illness. Marriage. Bad decisions. Friendship. Faith. Forgiveness.

Spanning three generations, O Little Town is a tender tale of love and redemption...and a lonely gravesite where roses mysteriously appear every Christmas. It will touch your heart.

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle Nook

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The last freebie this week is ‘The Santa Shop’ by Tim Greaton. This is another holiday story! You can see reader reviews at Goodreads, where the book gets. 4.37 stars. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

A homeless man's journey from despair back to life and Christmas. Secrets revealed lead to an emotional and magical holiday. The perfect present: hope between two covers. Skip Ralstat is a man so steeped in grief and despair that life seems no longer possible. After the death of his wife and child, Skip blames himself. He has given up his friends, his job, and even his home. Now, homeless, he survives on the mean streets of Albany. He knows it can't go on, that life must end. But will it.Come join him on his most unusual road to redemption. The salvation of one life...lies along this road.Let the healing from "The Santa Shop" begin.

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle Sony Reader Kobo

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Review: Bumped

2011-12-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

Bumped

by Megan McCafferty

Balzer & Bray Hardcover

ISBN 9780061962745

323 pages

Release Date: April 26, 2011

Available for purchase

AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE

Why did you choose this book? The cover caught my eye first; then I started noticing it mentioned many book blog and decided I had to read it.

When did you read this book? November 2011

Who should read this book? older teens; some of the language and circumstances are probably not appropriate for anyone younger than 16

Disclosure: The copy I read was checked out of my local library

Here is a synopsis of ‘Bumped' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.14 stars.

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

From New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty comes a strikingly original look at friendship, love, and sisterhood—in a future that is eerily believable.

My Review

This one is really hard for me to review, because I’m still not sure what I thought of it. I first noticed the cover several months ago and thought it was interesting, but really didn’t know what they book was about. Then it started showing up all over the blogging world and I saw the synopsis, as well as many favorable reviews.

The premise is certainly interesting. About 25 years into the future, a virus has attacked the world and rendered everyone over 18 infertile. Suddenly teens, who can still reproduce, become essential for the continuation of the human race. And older couples, being those over 18, must PAY if they want a baby to raise. Teens are encouraged to ‘pregg for profit’ in order to fill this demand for babies, and girls are cultivated as young children to become a desirable surrogate who can command a huge contract for ‘bumping and delivering’.

Unfortunately, though the premise was interesting, the story was not so much. For one thing, all the slang got in the way. ‘Pregging’ was just the start of it. And for me, anyway, the constant theme of teens having sex got to be too much. The characters didn’t have a lot of depth to them either.

Having said that, the story did get a bit interesting in the last third of the book. Before that, there was a lot of time spent on Melody, and why she hadn’t bumped yet. But once her ‘match’ was found, and her twin, Harmony, got involved in a case of mistaken identity, the story picked up a bit. It was interesting enough that when I was left hanging, wondering what happens with Melody and Harmony, I wanted to know more. Lucky for me the sequel, ‘Thumped’ is due out next spring. At least I think it is lucky. Because it did get interesting towards the end, I am giving this a generous extra 1/2 star.

My Rating: ★★+ 2-1/2 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday (17)

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

A Good American

by Alex George

Penguin Group USA Hardcover

ISBN 9780399157592

400 pages

Release Date: February 7, 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

An uplifting novel about the families we create and the places we call home.

It is 1904. When Frederick and Jette must flee her disapproving mother, where better to go than America, the land of the new? Originally set to board a boat to New York, at the last minute, they take one destined for New Orleans instead (What's the difference? They're both new"), and later find themselves, more by chance than by design, in the small town of Beatrice, Missouri. Not speaking a word of English, they embark on their new life together.

Beatrice is populated with unforgettable characters: a jazz trumpeter from the Big Easy who cooks a mean gumbo, a teenage boy trapped in the body of a giant, a pretty schoolteacher who helps the young men in town learn about a lot more than just music, a minister who believes he has witnessed the Second Coming of Christ, and a malevolent, bicycle-riding dwarf.

A Good American is narrated by Frederick and Jette's grandson, James, who, in telling his ancestors' story, comes to realize he doesn't know his own story at all. From bare-knuckle prizefighting and Prohibition to sweet barbershop harmonies, the Kennedy assassination, and beyond, James's family is caught up in the sweep of history. Each new generation discovers afresh what it means to be an American. And, in the process, Frederick and Jette's progeny sometimes discover more about themselves than they had bargained for.

Poignant, funny, and heartbreaking, A Good American is a novel about being an outsider-in your country, in your hometown, and sometimes even in your own family. It is a universal story about our search for home.

Available for Pre-Order

AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE

Why I am waiting....

I love historical fiction and the fact that this one takes place in Missouri in 1904 really caught my eye. (If you live in St. Louis, you know that 1904 was the year of the Worlds Fair). Can’t wait to read this one.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we spotlight upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating!

Tuesday Teaser (18)

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here’s my teaser!

Unfortunately, I knew for a fact that monsters and faeries existed. I might even be one of the monsters. And there was nothing science could do about it.
The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges, pg 46

I’ve seen this on many WoWs and love the cover! So when I saw it was available as an ARC on Netgalley.com, it was an easy decision to go for it.

Teaser Tuesday (17)

2011-11-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here’s my teaser!

Only a small sliver of light filtered through the stained-glass window, making it difficult for her to see in the otherwise dark room. As she stepped through the door, she at first did not see the small figure of a boy approaching her obscuring his eyes with his left hand. When she did finally see him, it was too late.

The Queen’s Mistake by Diane Haeger, pg 102

I saw this on a shelf in the library. I enjoy novels set in the era of Henry VIII, so I picked it up and brought it home!

2011-11-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

This blog is on Thanksgiving break!

Enjoy your holiday, or weekend, if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving.

Be back soon!

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

2011-11-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

Defending Jacob

by William Landay

Delacorte Press Hardcover

ISBN 9780385344227

432 pages

Release Date: January 31, 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: His fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student.

Every parental instinct Andy has rallies to protect his boy. Jacob insists that he is innocent, and Andy believes him. Andy must. He’s his father. But as damning facts and shocking revelations surface, as a marriage threatens to crumble and the trial intensifies, as the crisis reveals how little a father knows about his son, Andy will face a trial of his own—between loyalty and justice, between truth and allegation, between a past he’s tried to bury and a future he cannot conceive.

Award-winning author William Landay has written the consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis—a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control.

Available for Pre-Order

AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE

Why I am waiting....

This contemporary thriller sounds like a page turner that will be hard to put down!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we spotlight upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating!

Teaser Tuesday (16)

2011-11-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here’s my teaser!

She's been waiting for this news for years. It certainly complicates my plans to get Melody to get married and live with me and Ram in faith and fellowship as all good and obedient Church girls should.

Bumped by Megan McCafferty, pg 74

I'm reading this one because I like the cover and I've seen it reviewed all over the internet. The premise is an interesting one.

Review: Flygirl

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-06:00

Flygirl

by Sherri L. Smith

Putnam Juvenile Hardcover

ISBN 9780399247095

256 pages

Release Date: January 22, 2009

Available for purchase

AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE

Why did you choose this book? I saw the cover and thought it looked interesting.

When did you read this book? November 2011

Who should read this book? readers who want to learn more about the role of women in WWII

Source: library checkout

Here is a synopsis of ‘Flygirl' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.88 stars.

Ida Mae Jones dreams of flight. Her daddy was a pilot and being black didn't stop him from fulfilling his dreams. But her daddy's gone now, and being a woman, and being black, are two strikes against her.

When America enters the war with Germany and Japan, the Army creates the WASP, the Women's Airforce Service Pilots - and Ida suddenly sees a way to fly as well as do something significant to help her brother stationed in the Pacific. But even the WASP won't accept her as a black woman, forcing Ida Mae to make a difficult choice of "passing," of pretending to be white to be accepted into the program. Hiding one's racial heritage, denying one's family, denying one's self is a heavy burden. And while Ida Mae chases her dream, she must also decide who it is she really wants to be.

My Review

I really enjoyed this book. I had heard about the WASP in WWII, but really didn’t know much about it. It was a surprise to me to learn that the WASP were not ‘officially’ part of the military. I think it will be interesting for young women born after 1970 to learn just how ‘unaccepted’ women were in a traditionally male occupation, and give some insight into how many more choices they have than did women just a few years older than them.

I also enjoyed reading about Ida Mae’s experiences as she passed for white and how difficult this role was for her. Though she didn’t actively decide to be white at the beginning, she did allow others to draw their own false conclusion. This created tension for her in keeping up the pretense, and division at home when her family did not support this pretense. It was frustrating, but enlightening, to see just how bad things were for African Americans in the 1940’s.

While I really enjoyed this book, one thing I really did NOT like was the ending. It just kind of left things hanging. The war ends, the WASP dissolves, and Ida Mae.....well, what DOES Ida Mae do? There are decisions to be made, but we really don’t know what she decides. Even so, this is a book worth reading and I recommend it for anyone middle school or above.

My Rating: ★★★★ 4 Stars

2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge

2011-11-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

Participating in the 2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge is an easy call for me. So far this years I've read at least 3 dozen books that I checked out of the library (ebooks count!). I've checked out many more that I only skimmed or read part of, but I'm not counting those. Here are the details of the 2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge, hosted at The Eclectic Bookshelf.

Rules:

Anyone can join.
You don't need a blog to participate. If you are a Non-blogger please leave a comment with a link (if you review elsewhere) to your review or with the book(s) you read.
Audio, ebooks (some libraries allow ebooks to be checked out), bound books are ok.
No re-reads
Create a sign up post and post the link in the linky below.
Challenge goes from January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Levels

Level 1 - Read 12 library books
Level 2 - Read 24 library books
Level 3 - Read 36 library books
Level 4 - Read 37+ library books

I read 36 library books so far this year, and if I can read 36, I can read 37. So I'm going for broke. My goal is complete 37 or more books, or level 4. You can sign up to participate in this challenge, too! Here is the sign-up page.

Friday Freebie: Tiger Eye, On Sparrow Hill, Griselda Takes Flight

2011-11-18T09:25:00.000-06:00

It’s Friday Freebie time. This week Barnes and Noble is offering ‘Tiger Eye’ by Marjorie M. Liu. This paranormal romance is the first in her ‘Dirk and Steel’ series! You can see reader reviews at Goodreads, where the book gets. 3.84 stars. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

Long ago they roamed the earth — dragons, tigers . . . shapeshifters — men who wore the forms of beasts. Their world was magic. Now it is gone. But some remain . . .

He looks out of place in Dela Reese’s Beijing hotel room— exotic and poignant, some mythic, tragic hero of an epic tale. With his feline yellow eyes, he’s like nothing from her world. Yet Dela has danced through the echo of his soul and knows this warrior will obey her every command.

Hari has been used and abused for millennia. But he sees, upon his release from the riddle box, that this new mistress is different. There is a hidden power in Dela’s eyes—and with her, he may regain all that was lost to him. Where once he savaged, now he must protect; where before he knew only hatred, now he must embrace love. Dela is the key.

For Dela, he will risk all.

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle Nook Sony Reader Kobo

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Another freebie being offered this week is ‘On Sparrow Hill’ by Maureen Lang. This historical fiction story is the part of the author’s ‘The Oak Leaves’ series! You can see reader reviews at Goodreads, where the book gets. 3.79 stars. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

Two time periods--Victorian Ireland and contemporary England--are again woven together in this sequel to The Oak Leaves. Rebecca Seabrooke is a commercial manager for Quentin Hollinworth's family manor and is focused on two things: running the best historical home in the country and forgetting about the childhood crush she's had on Quentin ever since her father worked as the valet for his family. They don't, after all, run in the same social circles. When Quentin's distant cousin Dana Martin Walker comes to visit the Hollinworth estate, Rebecca realizes she must confront some of her preconceived ideas about herself . . . and about Quentin. Dana wants to learn more about her ancestors--especially about Berrie Hamilton, who in 1852 decided to fulfill her sister-in-law's dream of opening a school for the mentally challenged. Dana also discovers that, despite their precautions, she and her husband are expecting, and their unborn child may turn out to be like many of Berrie's students. It will take reading Berrie's letters--written a century ago--for Dana and Rebecca to learn the importance of serving others and to realize that ultimately, even our best-laid plans are not always God's plans.

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle Nook

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The last freebie this week is ‘Griselda Takes Flight’ by Joyce Magnin. This contemporary Christian mystery is part of the author’s ‘Bright’s Pond’ series! You can see reader reviews at Goodreads, where the book gets. 3.35 stars. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

Now that her morbidly obese sister, Agnes Sparrow, is comfortably dieting at the Greenbrier Nursing Home, Griselda learns to fly-literally-after a pilot makes an emergency landing and creates quite a ruckus in the otherwise sleepy town of Bright's Pond.

But Griselda's newfound freedom-and her flight time with handsome pilot, Cliff-is hampered by other happenings in town. Like the gold digger who prances around town and is supposedly engaged to Stella Kincaid's brother-the lottery winner who is in a coma. And there's Ivy Slocum's dog, Al Capone, whose adventures continue long after they should.

When Chief of Police Mildred Blessing starts investigating the gold digger, however, things really heat up-for Griselda and all the residents of the unique Pennsylvania hamlet called Bright's Pond!

You can pick it up in any of these formats.

Be sure to check that it is still a freebie before adding it to your cart!

Kindle

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

2012 Reading Addict Challenge

2011-11-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

A few days ago I listed some of the challenges going on in 2012. I hope you took a look and started working on your plan. (If not, you can see the list here.) Now I need to work on planning my challenges for next year.

The very first one I am starting with is the Reading Addict Challenge. This is a good challenge for me, because it is one that will help me track my challenges to see if I meet my goals. Here are the details.

Rules:

This challenge will begin on January 1, 2012 and end on December 31, 2012.
Write a starting post joining the challenge and outlining your challenges.
Track all of your challenge accomplishments - good & bad.
Stop by to join us in the mini-challenges, updates & extra giveaways throughout the year.

How addicted are you?

Easy as Pie: 1-5 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
On the Roof: 6-10 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
In Flight: 11-15 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
Out of This World: 16+ Challenges (Entered & Completed)

Right now, I have a list of about 12-15 challenges to try. A lot of those have similar requirements, so the same books would count for both. Just the same, I don't want to bite off too much, so I will probably narrow this down a bit. So for now, I am going for the 'On the Roof' level by participating in 6-10 challenges. If you'd like to join in, hop on over to the sign-up page!