Always With a Book

It's Monday...What Are You Reading? (1.30.12)

2012-01-30T08:14:00.000-05:00

It’s Monday What Are you Reading , hosted by Sheila, is the perfect way for me to begin my week and allows me to focus on what needs to be read and to see what I have or have not accomplished the previous week. I also enjoy discovering new books by visiting other participants blogs.

Well, I was able to get a ton of reviews done last week as well as some decent reading time in!!! My husband and I went up to our cabin for the weekend and it was really cold up there. I stayed in and read while hubby was out cutting trees and playing around with the dog. It was a great weekend - peaceful, relaxing and I was able to finish 2 books and start a third...that's my kind of weekend!

Books Completed last week:

Pleating for Mercy by Melissa Bourbon (mine)
Whispering Rock by Robyn Carr (e-book)
The Summer Garden by Sherryl Woods (review book)
Sew Deadly by Elizabeth Lynn Casey (library book)

Reading Now:

Home at Rose Cottage by Sherryl Woods (e-book)

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer (library book)
The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen (library book)

Reviews completed last week:

The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
Eve by Iris Johansen
Quinn by Iris Johansen
Bonnie by Iris Johansen
Make, Take, Murder by Joanna Campbell Slan

Other Posts related to books:

In My Mailbox: 1.29.12

Books for which I need to finish reviews:

Tailspin by Catherine Coulter
Private: #1 Suspect by James Patterson
Pleating for Mercy by Melissa Bourbon
Whispering Rock by Robyn Carr
The Summer Garden by Sherryl Woods
Sew Deadly by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

Contest information:

More giveaways coming soon!

What about you? What does your reading week look like this week? Whatever it is, happy reading and have a good week!

Review: Make, Take, Murder by Joanna Campbell Slan

2012-01-30T08:02:00.000-05:00

First line: I was rummaging around the trash Dumpster searching for my lost paycheck, when I reached down and grabbed Cindy Gambrowski's severed leg.

From the back cover: Dumpster diving for her lost paycheck is definitely the low point of Kiki Lowenstein's day - that is, until she finds a severed leg thrown in with the trash. Who'd toss a body part in the garbage outside the scrapbook crafts store where Kiki works?

Accompanying the grisly "gift" is a creepy computerized voice message, a warning to the store's "rich and snotty" female shoppers. Kiki soon discovers that the leg belonged to Cindy Gambrowski, a customer with a tyrannical and violent husband - who's now harassing Kiki. Combing through Cindy's scrapbook projects for hidden clues, Kiki tries to find the killer. Was it a crime of marital malice, or did someone else beat Cindy's husband to the punch?

My thoughts: This is the 4th book in Joanna Campbell Slan's Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-n-Craft Mystery series. Normally the books are pretty light-hearted - well as light-hearted as you can get in a murder mystery. This one is a little different. The overall theme is pretty dark and there are a lot of serious topics discussed such as cancer, infidelity, and domestic violence. While this series is still considered "cozy", the subject matter in this particular installment is serious and eye-opening.

When Kiki discovers a severed leg in her dumpster at work, she is set on a roller coaster ride to find out who it belongs to, and why it was left in her dumpster. When the owner of the leg is confirmed as one of her customers Kiki is determined to bring the killer to justice. She starts looking into things while running the scrapbook store during the busy holiday season, and during all this, she copes with a hostile co-worker whose history forms part of the plot of the book.

Not everything is resolved at the end of the book, making me anxious to read more about Kiki in her next book. Joanna Campbell Slan deals with some heavy issues in this story, but does it in such as way as to make the reader stop and think - what would we do in the same situation.

(I borrowed this book from the library.)

Books in this series:

Paper, Scissors, Death
Cut, Crop and Die
Photo, Snap, Shot
Make, Take, Murder
Ready, Scrap, Shoot - to be released in April, 2012

In My Mailbox (81) 1.29.12

2012-01-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

For Review (1)

The Summer Garden by Sherryl Woods

Library (3)

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

Sew Deadly by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

Purchased (8)

Only Us: A Fool's Gold Holiday by Susan Mallery (e-book)

Spying in High Heels by Gemma Halliday (e-book)

Second Chance Pass by Robyn Carr (e-book)

Temptation Ridge by Robyn Carr (e-book)

Paradise Valley by Robyn Carr (e-book)

My One and Only by Kristan Higgins (e-book)

All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins (e-book)

That Holiday Feeling by Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods, Robyn Carr (e-book)

Free Downloads (0)

Borrowed from family member (0)

From Paperback Swap (0)

Won (0)

What's in your mailbox?

Review: Bonnie by Iris Johansen

2012-01-27T09:49:00.000-05:00

First line: "What star is that, Mama?"

From the inside cover: When Eve Duncan gave birth to her daughter, she experienced a love she never knew existed. Nothing would stand in the way of giving Bonnie a wonderful life - until the unthinkable happened and the seven-year-old vanished into thin air. Eve found herself in the throes of a nightmare from which there was no escape. But a new Eve emerged: a woman who would use her remarkable talent as a forensic sculptor to help others find closure in the face of tragedy. Now with the help of her beloved Joe Quinn and CIA agent Catherine Ling, Eve has come closer than ever to the truth. But the deeper she digs, the more she realizes that Bonnie's father is a key player in solving this monstrous puzzle. And that Bonnie's disappearance was not as random as everyone always believed...

My thoughts: I have been reading Iris Johansen for so long I don't remember when I started, but I do remember picking up that first book of hers, The Killing Game, and becoming totally enthralled. I loved it and then went back to read the first one in the Eve Duncan series and have gone on to read every other book in the series as well as some of her stand alones. I find Iris Johansen to be one of those writers that I can't seem to get enough of.

The unsolved disappearance of Eve's daughter Bonnie years ago has literally haunted her and has always been the unresolved issue in her life. In this special trilogy about Eve, Quinn, and Bonnie, we are able to learn about the backgrounds of the characters and the events that led up to Bonnie's disappearance.

Bonnie begins with a touching flashback describing the last night shared between Eve and Bonnie. Then the book moves quickly to the chase. Joe, Eve, Catherine Ling and John Gallo resume their hunt with a quick and exciting pace. Eve is eventually taken away from the others and is forcibly led through a Georgia state park. During this journey there are moments of hope and anticipation. There are also moments of despair and disbelief. Through it all Eve learns exactly what happened to Bonnie that last day in the park and let me tell you, it was heart-wrenching. I was never particularly happy with the paranormal aspect that came later in the series but it makes sense here and adds to the satisfying conclusion.

For Eve's sake, I am glad that she (and as a result, us as the readers) finally have the closure about what happened to Bonnie. I hope, though, that this doesn't mean the end of the Eve Duncan series...that would be very unfortunate. Iris Johansen creates some interesting chemistry between her newest characters, Catherine Ling and John Gallo, and I would love to see what comes of that in the future. I would also like to see how Eve and Joe deal with their relationship now that Bonnie's disappearance no longer hangs over them.

As I mentioned in my review of Eve, I purposely waited until all three books were released before reading them and I am so glad I did...the first two left the reader with quite the cliff-hanger and the third tied up a lot of the loose ends.

(I borrowed this book from the library.)

Books in this series:

Eve
Quinn
Bonnie

Review: Quinn by Iris Johansen

2012-01-26T15:12:00.003-05:00

First line: Stop me.

From the inside cover: As a former Navy Seal turned cop, Joe Quinn has seen the face of evil and knows just how deadly it can be. When he first met Eve Duncan, he never expected to fall in love with a woman whose life would be defined by her dual desires to bring home her missing daughter and discover the truth behind her disappearance - no matter how devastating. With the help of CIA agent Catherine Ling, they make a shocking discovery that sheds new light on young Bonnie's abduction and puts Quinn squarely in the crosshairs of danger. Eve's first love, John Gallo, a soldier supposedly killed in the line of duty, is very much alive - and very much a threat.

Emotionally charged, with one shock after another, Quinn reveals the electricity of Joe and Eve's first connection, and how they fell in love in the midst of haunting tragedy. As their search takes them deeper and deeper into a web of murder and madness, Joe and Eve must confront their most primal fears...and test their resolve to uncover the ultimate bone-chilling truth.

My thoughts: This is the second in Iris Johansen's Eve trilogy. The purpose of this trilogy was to answer the question that readers have been dying to know in the Eve Duncan series - what happened to Eve's daughter Bonnie.

In this book, we get to go back in time to when Eve and Joe first met and follow them as their relationship develops. The story goes back to when Bonnie was first abducted and Joe Quinn makes his appearance in Eve's life. We get Joe's perspective of what was happening during those early days and how he fell for Eve almost instantly. Since her disappearance, Eve has always been able to "see" Bonnie and it wasn't until many years later that Joe was able to "see" her, too. As he lies in his hospital bed at the beginning of this story, he is with Bonnie, trying to figure out if he will join her or go back to Eve.

The story then brings the reader to the present where Quinn, Eve, and CIA agent Catherine Ling continue to pursue John Gallo, Bonnie's father, who is believed to have knowledge about who kidnapped her many years ago. There is quite a lot of time devoted to Catherine and Gallo - perhaps there is a new relationship worth pursuing in subsequent books?

As I mentioned in my review of Eve, the first book in this trilogy, I waited to read this series until I had all three books at once. With the first two books ending with crazy cliff hangers, I am definitely glad I did.

(I borrowed this book from the library.)

Books in this series:

Eve
Quinn
Bonnie

Review: Eve by Iris Johansen

2012-01-25T17:56:00.006-05:00

First line: Two minutes.

From the inside cover: Eve Duncan's mission in life is to bring closure to the families who have experienced the agony of a missing child. As a forensic sculptor, she is able to piece together bones, create a face, and match a name to a child who would have otherwise gone unidentified. Eve is brilliant, driven, and tormented - because her own daughter, Bonnie, was taken from her years ago. Now, with the help of CIA agent Catherine Ling, a startling piece of evidence is uncovered in the quest to find Bonnie, leading to a connection that had been all but buried.

Catherine challenges Eve with a name: John Gallo, a man from Eve's own past, seemingly raised from the dead, whose whereabouts are unknown. Could Gallo be the missing piece to the puzzle that has haunted Eve for years? Why was he in Atlanta just before Bonnie's disappearance? And what kind of darkness was he hiding. With a brilliant narrative that exposes Eve Duncan's early life, exploring her history and motivations like no other novel before, Eve reveals long-guarded secrets and is guaranteed to keep Johansen fans holding their breath for more.

My thoughts: I have been reading Iris Johansen's Eve Duncan series for years now and I have absolutely love each one of them. The stories are suspenseful and full of crazy twists and turns and throughout the entire series (16 books to date) there has always been one unanswered question: What happened to Eve's daughter Bonnie?

In Eve, we find out more about Eve's early life - her meeting Bonnie's father John Gallo (another mystery solved) and their tumultuous time together. It picks up right where Chasing the Night leaves off and we get a glimpse into Eve's background as a teenager and the conception of Bonnie, the little girl that is behind everything that Eve does. The story starts in the present and then goes back to when Eve was 16. After filling us in on what happened during that time, the story moves back to the present when Gallo reappears in Eve's life and then the hunt for him after he takes off.

The question throughout the book is the same as in all Eve Duncan novels - who killed Bonnie. In this novel we look at Gallo; Black, a psychopathic pedophile killer who is an assassin for the CIA; and Queen, a rogue CIA agent who controls both of them.

I devoured this book and I knew I wouldn't want to wait at all before reading the next book, so I decided to wait until the library had all three books available at the same time and then read them one after the other. It was well worth the wait, especially with the crazy cliff hangers at the end of the first two.

(I borrowed this book from the library.)

Books in this series:

Review: The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (audio book)

2012-01-25T09:43:00.000-05:00

From the back of the audio case: Thirty-year-old Willa Jackson hails from a fine old Southern family that met with financial ruin generations ago. The Blue Ridge Madam - once Walls of Water's grandest home - has stood for years as a lonely monument to misfortune and scandal. And Willa herself has long strived to build a life beyond the brooding Jackson family shadow.

No easy task in a town shaped by years of tradition. But Willa has lately learned that an old classmate - socialite Paxton Osgood - has restored the Blue Ridge Madam to her former glory. Maybe the troubled past can be laid to rest while something new and wonderful rises from its ashes. But what rises instead is a skeleton, found buried beneath the property's lone peach tree. The bones are not all that lay hidden. Long-kept secrets surrounding the troubling remains have also come to light, seemingly heralded by a spate of sudden strange occurrences throughout the town.

Now, thrust together in an unlikely friendship, untied by a full-blooded mystery, Willa and Paxton must confront the dangerous passions and tragic betrayals that once bound their families - and uncover truths of the long-dead to touch the hearts and souls of the living.

Read by: Karen White

My thoughts: This is the first book by Sarah Addison Allen that I've read (or in this case, listened to) and I loved it. The story had me hooked from the opening lines and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next, especially when the secrets started coming to light.

The Peach Keeper is set around The Blue Ridge Madam - a mansion in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina that was built by Willa Jackson's once well-to-do family. The house is being restored as a historic bed and breakfast by Paxton Osgood and along with the restoration comes the unearthing of some long-ago secrets. It also brings together four people who weren't exactly the best of friends in high school - Willa was the silent class joker; Paxton was the goody goody popular girl; Sebastian was the oddball outcast; and Colin, Paxton's twin, was the slightly stiff hunk. Fast forward to today, when they are all in their 30s and their lives are now intertwined.

Filled with a little mystery, a little magic, and a little romance, it is easy to become completely absorbed in the story. The characters are truly likeable and I enjoyed how it goes back and forth between Willa and Paxton's point of view. I am definitely going to be picking up Sarah Addison Allen's other books - I have one sitting on my shelf and cannot wait to start reading it.

(I borrowed this audio book from the library.)

Review: The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

2012-01-23T13:29:00.000-05:00

First line: Bad things come in threes.

From the back cover: After the unexpected death of her parents, shy and sheltered Ginny Selvaggio, a young woman with Asperger's syndrome, seeks comfort in the kitchen. The rich aroma of ribollita, painstakingly recreated from her Italian grandmother's handwritten recipe, calms her senses. But it also draws an unexpected visitor - the ghost of Nonna herself - and Ginny soon discovers she has the power to call forth the spirit of any dead person whose dish she prepares. As her pragmatic sister pushes her to sell the only home she's ever known, Ginny finds evidence of a provocative riddle from her parents' past that could be the key to her uncertain future. But can she cook up a dish that will bring them back long enough to help her solve it? Not to be rad on an empty stomach, The Kitchen Daughter is an "intelligent and moving" (Publishers Weekly) debut from a brilliant new literary talent that considers the question: What does it really mean to be normal?

My thoughts: This is the type of book that grabs hold of you and you don't want it to end. I was immediately enthralled with the characters and despite the fact that the book delves into some magical realism, which I don't particularly care for, in this case, it worked to enhance to story.

The Kitchen Daughter is a story with ghosts, but it's not a "ghost story." It's a story about somebody with a syndrome, but that syndrome is not the focus of the story; rather, it provides the lens through which the story is seen. And finally, it's a story about food, written with such obvious passion and expertise that you swear you can smell the food being described. As Ginny struggles with expressing her feelings to her sister, she discovers family secrets hidden in her home. Wishing to find answers to her questions, she continues cooking, finding recipes from her mother and father which enable her to speak with them. What their answers reveal teach Ginny more about herself than anything else and she learns that "normal" is different for everyone.

I really enjoyed this story and loved all the recipes that are included. While I am not much of a cook, I love reading about characters and their passion with cooking...it inspires me to want to learn more. I hope to see more from this author.

I received a complimentary copy of The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry from Ayelet at Simon and Schuster

It's Monday...What Are You Reading? (1.23.12)

2012-01-23T09:29:00.000-05:00

Last week was one of those weeks where I didn't feel up to writing reviews and so once again I have quite a back log of reviews to get done. I did manage to get a lot of reading done, though, so I guess it was a somewhat productive week.

Books Completed last week:

Bonnie by Iris Johansen (library book)
Make, Take, Murder by Joanna Campbell Slan (library book)
Tailspin by Catherine Coulter (library book)
Private: #1 Suspect by James Patterson (mine)

Reading Now:

Pleating for Mercy by Melissa Bourbon (mine)

Whispering Rock by Robyn Carr (e-book)
Home at Rose Cottage by Sherryl Woods (e-book)

Reviews completed last week:

None

Other Posts related to books:

Book Blogger Confessions: #2 - Reading/Blogging Slumps
In My Mailbox: 1.22.12

Books for which I need to finish reviews:

The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
Eve by Iris Johansen
Quinn by Iris Johansen
Bonnie by Iris Johansen
Make, Take, Murder by Joanna Campbell Slan
Tailspin by Catherine Coulter
Private: #1 Suspect by James Patterson

Contest information:

January Giveaway - 4 books available, 4 winners. Ends Jan. 25th

What about you? What does your reading week look like this week? Whatever it is, happy reading and have a good week!

In My Mailbox (80) 1.22.12

2012-01-22T09:22:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

For Review:

Agony of Leaves

by Laura Childs

This is the latest in Laura Child's Tea Shop Mystery series and I cannot wait to read it.

Purchased:

Infidel

by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

This is our book club pick for February - I've heard great things about this one.

Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years

by Barbara Leaming

I have a crazy obsession with the Kennedy's and I couldn't resist picking this one up.

Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride (e-book)

by Sandra Bricker

This looks like a fun read. I have the first one, Always the Baker, Never the Bride on my Nook and am looking forward to reading both.

What's in your mailbox?

Book Blogger Confessions #2 (1.16.12)

2012-01-16T13:28:00.000-05:00

Book Blogger Confession is a new blog meme hosted by Tiger of All Consuming Books and Karen of For What It's Worth. The meme will run on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month to discuss some of the frustrations that are unique to book bloggers.

You can read the introductory post here.

Q: Have you ever had reading/blogging slumps? How do you work through them or work around them?

I can't remember the last time I had a reading slump. For me the problem is more that I run into times when I don't get any reading in because too much else is going on in life. There may be a few days where I just don't find any time during the day to read and then I end up so tired that when I get in to bed to read, I only get a few pages done. Luckily for me, this doesn't happen to often.

As far as blogging slumps - I've found myself in a few. The first time it happened, I had been trying to post something every day and just simply burned out. I then realized that it was ok not to post every day, which is really just a personal choice, but one you have to be able to live with. I also stopped participating in all the memes I used to do. I was trying to do almost one every day. Doing all these memes when I first started blogging did help, as it allowed me to find some really good blogs out there that I still follow today. I just realized that it would stress me out if I couldn't get to the meme or commenting on other blogs who were doing the meme. So then I stopped with the memes and just concentrated on posting book reviews. That became another stress because then if I didn't get a chance to write up so many reviews each week, I felt I was neglecting my blog. My solution was to pick a few memes that I would be ok with missing if life got in the way and I try to post a review or two each week - nothing set in stone. Since deciding on this plan, it doesn't stress me out if I don't get to my blog for a few days.

I never want blogging to become a "I need to blog" type of hobby. I want it to be fun and for the most part it is. I enjoy getting review books and posting my thoughts, but recently I have cut back on taking too many review requests. I have so many books on my shelves that I have not had time to read yet and this year I am focusing on reading them. I think this will also help to prevent any reading or blogging slumps. I am free to pick what I want to read when I want and then I feel that my reviews are that much easier to get done.

So what about you? Do you find yourself in the occasional reading or blogging slump? If so, what do you do to get out of it?

It's Monday...What Are You Reading? (1.16.12)

2012-01-16T07:10:00.000-05:00

It was a pretty quiet week and I got a bit of reading in. Now that winter has made it's presence known in the Northeast, I plan on staying in more and reading more!

Books Completed last week:

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (library audio book)
Eve by Iris Johansen (library book)
Quinn by Iris Johansen (library book)

Reading Now:

Bonnie by Iris Johansen (library book)

Make, Take, Murder by Joanna Campbell Slan (library book)
Tailspin by Catherine Coulter (library book)
Mr. Darcy Takes Wife by Linda Berdoll (library audio book)

Reviews completed last week:

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
Skirting the Grave by Annette Blair

Other Posts related to books:

In My Mailbox: 1.15.12

Books for which I need to finish reviews:

The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
Eve by Iris Johansen
Quinn by Iris Johansen

Contest information:

January Giveaway - 4 books available, 4 winners. Ends Jan. 25th

What about you? What does your reading week look like this week? Whatever it is, happy reading and have a good week!

In My Mailbox (79) 1.15.12

2012-01-15T14:26:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

Purchased:

The Winter Palace (e-book)

by Eva Stachniak

Another book about Catherine the Great...very excited to read this.

The 7th Month (e-book)

by Lisa Gardner

Special e-book to hold me over til the next Detective Warren book comes out.

What's in your mailbox?

Review: Skirting the Grave by Annette Blair

2012-01-13T11:58:00.000-05:00

First line: Eve Meyers, my BFF, a gothic fashionista with a steampunk edge, tall in her black and brass Lindi Buckle Leather Booties, invaded my vintage dress shop with mischief aforethought.

From the back cover: Even though Maddie is swamped running Vintage Magic and dealing with the consequences of the visions she gets from certain of her fashion treasures, she's agreed to plan her sister Sherri's baby shower and mentor a design intern. But when Maddie goes to the Mystic train station to pick up her new student, she finds a murder scene instead. The victim: intern Isobel York. Cause of death: suspicious circumstances.

Later that evening, a woman claiming to be Isobel appears on her doorstep, and Maddie knows it's not just a case of "whodunit" but "who-is-it." Luckily a gift of lusciously luxe vintage clothes offers clues, and though the '50s wardrobe and accessories are to die for, Maddie is determined to iron out the wrinkles before the murderer can return to put an end to a promising fashion career...

My thoughts: This is the fourth book in Annette Blair's Vintage Magic Mystery series and I found it to be a quick, fun read. I love the fashion descriptions and the storyline of Maddie being able to "read" fashions. And author Annette Blair has a way of describing the vintage fashion that makes me long to go and shop at Maddie's store.

In this installment, Maddie reluctantly takes on an intern that her do-gooder sister, Brandy, foists on her. Maddie goes to pick Isobel York up at the train station only to find her dead and the police already there, including Lytton Warner, lead detective and a man from her childhood that she is attracted to. Although there are no obvious signs of murder, Werner and Maddie are both sure Isobel has been killed. Maddie is perplexed though because Isobel is wearing very ordinary clothes and is not the fashionista that she was led to believe her new intern was. Then, to only add to the confusion, Isobel shows up later that night on Maddie's doorstep, along with Maddie's on again-off again love interest Nick Jaconetti.

The rest of the book has twists and turns as to who has been murdered and why. It also deals with the love triangle that Maddie has recently found herself in, between herself, Nick and Werner. And of course, there is lots of fashion. In this case, the fashion is from the 1950s, so Maddie's flashbacks take her back to a time of car hops, which was fun to read about. The problem of having these flashbacks is that only two people really know about this gift Maddie has, so she has to be careful how she drops these clues she learns that she knows will help solve the case.

I really enjoy reading this series and am excited to see how the love triangle continues to play out as well as what other fashions Maddie gets her hands on. The next installment, Cloaked in Malice, comes out this summer and I can't wait!

(I purchased this book.)

Review: Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

2012-01-11T12:05:00.000-05:00

First line: This will be a good weekend for reading.

From the back cover: Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, the tiny town of Big Stone Gap is home to some of the most charming eccentrics in the state. Ave Maria Mulligan is the town's self-proclaimed spinster, a thirty-five-year-old pharmacist with a "mountain girl's body and a flat behind." She lives an amiable life with good friends and lots of hobbies until the fateful day in 1978 when she suddenly discovers that she's not who she always thought she was. Before she can blink, Ave's fielding marriage proposals, fighting off greedy family members, organizing a celebration for visiting celebrities, and planning the trip of a lifetime - a trip that could change her view of the world and her own place in it forever. Brimming with humor and wise notions of small-town life, Big Stone Gap is a gem of a book with a giant heart.

My thoughts: I first came across Adriana Trigiani when I found her book, Very Valentine, in the library. I picked that one up, loved it and then read the next one in the series, Brava Valentine. I found her writing to be refreshing and her stories engaging. I have since read a few other of her books and then last year, I got the four books of the Big Stone Gap series.

Big Stone Gap is a romantic novel that makes you yearn for the traditional values of the past. Filled with honor, chivalry and small-town life, it is easy to get pulled in and feel that you are right there in the town of Big Stone Gap. Ave Maria is the main character and the one who is narrating the story. She is a young woman who is the town pharmacist and the "unmarried" one. She is happy with her life but misses her mother who passed away and left her with a secret regarding who her real father is. The story unfolds from there as Ave Maria confronts her feelings of love for a man who is almost too good to be true. The people of Big Stone Gap will have you laughing and cheering their antics.

There are many threads throughout this story, which helps to keep the pace moving. It also highlights all the different relationships that are out there, and we get a look at each one - mother/daughter, father/daughter, men and women as friends, men and women as more than friends, and the different types of relationships that exist between girlfriends.

I enjoyed my visit to Big Stone Gap and look forward to reading the next in this series, Big Cherry Holler.

(I got this book from Paperback Swap.)

It's Monday...What Are You Reading? (1.9.12)

2012-01-09T06:40:00.000-05:00

It was a good week...I got some reading time in, I did some reviews, and I signed up for all the challenges I want to do for this year. These challenges are really going to be what drives my reading for the year, with the primary goal being to read all those books I have sitting on my bookshelves that have not yet been read!

Books Completed last week:

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani (mine)
Skirting the Grave by Annette Blair (mine)
The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry (review book)

Reading Now:

Eve by Iris Johansen (library book)
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (library audio book)

Quinn by Iris Johansen (library book)
Bonnie by Iris Johansen (library book)
Mr. Darcy Takes Wife by Linda Berdoll (library audio book)

Reviews completed last week:

On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts
Kismet by Carly Phillips
Death by Diamonds by Annette Blair

Other Posts related to books:

Book Blogger Confessions #1
January Giveaway: 4 books for grabs, 4 winners. Ends Jan. 25th
In My Mailbox: 1.8.12
I also posted all the pages for the challenges I signed up for - 8 challenges! (They are all listed in the side bar.)

Books for which I need to finish reviews:

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
Skirting the Grave by Annette Blair
The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

Contest information:

January Giveaway - 4 books available, 4 winners. Ends Jan. 25th

What about you? What does your reading week look like this week? Whatever it is, happy reading and have a good week!

In My Mailbox (78) 1.8.12

2012-01-08T08:22:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

Purchased:

Private #1 Suspects

by James Patterson

New James Patterson book - of course I bought it!!!

At the King's Pleasure

by Kate Emerson

The 4th in Kate Emerson's Secrets of the Tudor Court.

From the library:

Eve

by Iris Johansen

This is the 1st book in Iris Johansen's Eve Duncan trilogy and I can't wait to start it.

Quinn

by Iris Johansen

The second in the Eve Duncan trilogy.

Bonnie

by Iris Johansen

The third in the Eve Duncan trilogy - they were all at the library and I wanted to be able to read them one after the other so I picked them all up!

Tailspin

by Catherine Coulter

This is the 12th in Catherine Coulter's FBI series and I am desperately trying to get caught up.

The Peach Keeper (audio)

by Sarah Addison Allen

I've heard great things about this author.

Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife (audio)

by Linda Berdoll

This is supposed to be the sequel to Pride and Prejudice, one of my all-time favorite books!

Make, Take, Murder

by Joanna Campbell Slan

This is the latest in Joanna Campbell Slan's Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-n-Craft Mystery series.

What's in your mailbox?

Monthly Giveaway: January (CLOSED)

2012-01-07T13:38:00.001-05:00

Back by popular demand, here are this month's selections:

Silver Girl

By: Elin Hilderbrand

Format: Audio

My review

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

By: Rhoda Janzen

Format: Paperback

My review

What I Thought I Knew

By: Alice Eve Cohen

Format: Paperback

My review

Sand in My Eyes

By: Christine Lemmon

Format: Paperback

My review

How to enter:

This contest is open to entries from the U.S. only.

The deadline for entry is midnight, January 25th. I will draw the winners on January 26th and post the winners' names as soon as I have heard from all of them.

FORM CLOSED

Good Luck!!!

Review: Death by Diamonds by Annette Blair

2012-01-07T08:23:00.001-05:00

First line: As I drove to work that morning, I remembered the dream I'd had last night: Me as a toddle being passed between my mother and Aunt Fiona, the two of them dancing and chanting in rhyme beside the Mystic River beneath a full and magical moon.

From the back cover: Madeira loves her Vintage Magic boutique, but the visions she gets from the garments can be hard to handle, especially when she knows the garments' owner. At first she's thrilled to receive a package containing the beautifully bejeweled dress she designed for actress and old friend Dominique Delong while in fashion school. But the dress comes with a disturbing note from Dominique, who it seems took her last bow under very mysterious circumstances. Now Maddie needs to use her second sight to shine a spotlight on the actress's entire entourage - including a bitter ex, a rival ingenue, and a very catty "best friend" - and make sure that this was the killer's final act.

My thoughts: This is the third book in Annette Blair's Vintage Magic Mystery series and it was a fun, quick read. Despite the fact that I do not usually care for the paranormal, in this case, it works. Madeira's psychic gift of "reading" clothes while wearing or touching them adds a unique touch to the storyline as does the appearance of the resident ghost, Dante, who lives in Mad's vintage shop.

In Death by Diamonds, Mad ends up in New York for much of the novel in an attempt to solve her old friend Dominique's death. There, she uncovers plenty of murder suspects: Dom's current understudy; Dom's ex-husband, who may well inherit the business they jointly own; a jealous rival; Dom's personal chef, who wanted her to set him up in his own restaurant; Dom's toy boy; and just about anyone who knew about the missing diamonds Dom wore on stage. Along for the ride to NY are her best friend, Eve; her on-again-off-again steamy love interest FBI agent Nick Jaconetti; and Detective Lytton Werner, the local sheriff who Mad has a sort of love-hate relationship with.

The descriptions of the vintage fashions and the fashion quotes that precede each chapter are probably my favorite part of this series. And now that we seem to have a love triangle going on between Mad, Werner and Nick, especially after the "thermonuclear kiss," I am eager to get my hands on the next book in the series, Skirting the Grave, to see how it plays out.

(I purchased this book.)

Review: Kismet by Carly Phillips (e-book)

2012-01-07T01:53:00.000-05:00

First line: On a mission, Elisabetta Gardelli walked into Consign or Design, a small shop off Main Street in downtown Serendipity known for high-end outfits bought on consignment and unique items crafted by the owner, April Mancini.

Synopsis from GoodReads: Elisabetta Gardelli thought she'd spend her days serving coffee and writing obits for the town paper. But then an unexpected opportunity results in her dream job as a real journalist for the News Journal. Now, divorced and determined to make it on her own, Lissa is assigned to write a series of interviews about entrepreneurs who’ve made their mark at an impressively young age. First up? Wall Street mogul Trevor Dane - Lissa's first love. Lissa hasn't seen Trevor since he left the small town of Serendipity to earn his spot on the right side of the tracks. Ten years have passed but neither has really moved from their super-passionate teenage affair - or the heartbreak that followed. This reunion can be their second chance or it can provide much needed closure. It all depends on Trevor. Can he forgive Lissa or will the past continue to stand in their way?

My Thoughts: This novella is part of Carly Phillips' newest series, Serendipity. It is a story about second-chance love and even though it is a story story, it is still filled with the steaminess that I have come to love and expect when reading Carly Phillips.

Finally making a name for herself as a journalist, Elisabetta starts a new series about entrepreneurs who have made it to the top at a young age. The one thing she wasn't expecting was to have to interview her very first love Trevor Dane. Elisabetta and Trevor were an item in high school and then fate stepped in the way and things ended. Neither has seen or heard from the other since then and when they are face-to-face again for that first time, sparks fly. Will they be able to get past what happened in high school and find a way to be together now?

Carly Phillips gives us an emotional story about love, heartbreak and forgiveness and despite the fact that the story was a short one, it is still easy to get wrapped up in the characters. This was a fun, short visit to Serendipity and I cannot wait to visit again with the next book in the series, Destiny.

(I purchased this e-book.)

Review: On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts

2012-01-04T08:38:00.000-05:00

First line: Glen Fredericks slapped the back of his last departing Thanksgiving dinner guest.

From the back cover: At Christmastime, it seems as though a woman's work is never done. Trimming the tree, mailing the cards, schlepping to the mall, wrapping gifts - bah, humbug! So this year, Joy and Laura and the rest of their knitting group decide to go on strike. If their husbands and families want a nice holiday - filled with parties, decorations, and presents - well, they'll just have to do it themselves. The boycott soon takes on a life of its own when a reporter picks up the story and more women join in. But a Christmas Day approaches, Joy, Laura, and their husbands confront larger issues in their marriages and discover that a little holiday magic is exactly what they need to come together.

My thoughts: This was a funny, heartwarming novel that touches the very core of the Christmas spirit. It is a tale about women who go on strike in order to make their husbands realize all that goes into having festive holidays. One husband loves huge seasonal parties as long as he is just the participant; another hates big holiday affairs to the chagrin of his fun loving wife. Still others are stingy, and even some too afraid to welcome back the holiday after losing loved ones. This is a smart, sassy, witty look at the craziness we women tend to impose upon ourselves during the holidays. Though it is light reading, there is a gentle message - respect, love and understanding are priceless and highly sought-out gifts, not only at Christmas but year round.

I enjoy reading Sheila Roberts and love that she always includes little messages in her books. I think I've now read everything she has published to date and look forward to seeing what she writes next.

(I got this book from Paperback Swap.)

Book Blogger Confessions #1 (1.3.12)

2012-01-03T13:41:00.000-05:00

I'm a little late with this post, but I am really excited to participate in this new meme and I would love to hear your thoughts on your book blogging journey - either leave a comment or if you participated in the meme, leave a link to your post.

Welcome to the very first Book Blogger Confessions, a meme co-hosted with Tiger from All-Consuming Books and Karen at For What It's Worth Reviews. The meme will run on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month to discuss some of the frustrations that are unique to book bloggers.

You can read the introductory post here.

If you want to participate just one of the buttons and include it in your post with a link to either All Consuming Books or For What It's Worth. They will be providing a linky at the end of their posts so people can "hop" to see all the participants answers.

Q: How has the "job" of book blogging changed your reading habits? Both pro and con.

THE GOOD:

For me, book blogging has been a great journey. I have always been an avid reader and love finding new authors and then sharing that with others. Since I started book blogging, I have come across so many new books and authors that I might not have picked up. I believe this is in large part to the book blogging community - we all share the same passion for books and love sharing our thoughts on what we read. I feel that I have connected to these other book bloggers and really look to them for their thoughts on books.

Because I have my book blog, I actually feel productive if I spend a whole day reading or working on my blog. Especially when I have lots of review tours scheduled, I am ecstatic if I can devote a whole day to reading. But even if I can't devote the whole day, I do try to fit in at least an hour a day (not counting the time I spend reading before bed) to read. To me, this is an ideal job, and I would love nothing more than to spend all my time reading/blogging.

Another part of book blogging that I have come to enjoy is all the challenges out there. I love participating in these - they are fun and have helped me to read off that never-ending TBR pile that always seems to grow and never shrink. This year in particular I picked challenges that will help me with some personal reading goals I have - start some series I've been wanting to, catch up on other series that I've started but fallen behind on, use my Nook more, etc. I am amazed at just how many challenges are out there. I don't think I would have thought of some of these challenges and kept track of them on my own if it were not for my blog.

THE BAD:

At times, though, I do feel as if blogging is almost like a full-time job. Not that anyone is watching over my every step, but I always feel bad if I don't post something every single day. Of course, there are many times when I don't post everyday, but I really just need to be OK with that. I love participating in some of the weekly memes and I love reading what everyone else does for the memes. It's the reviews that sometimes become the chore. I think I need to rethink my reviewing format to make it easier for me.

Before book blogging, I would choose my next book to read by whatever I felt interested in at that time, or I would go through all my library books so that I could return them on time. Now, when I am ready to select my next book to read, I have to think about what books I have scheduled for reviews. Sometimes this makes selecting the next book easy, but at times it has been challenging because I might not be in the mood for a particular book, but if I don't start it at that moment, I might not finish it before I need to post the review.

What about you? How have your reading habits been changed during your time as a book blogger?

2012 Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge

2012-01-03T08:43:00.005-05:00

The Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge is hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I love reading cozy mysteries and think this will be a fun challenge to join!

I'm joining at the Super Sleuth level, which means I need to read at least 13 cozy mysteries in 2012. I'll keep track of them here along with links to the reviews.

Skirting the Grave by Annette Blair (Vintage Magic Mystery #4)
Make, Take, Murder by Joanna Campbell Slan (A Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mystery #4)
Pleating for Mercy by Melissa Bourbon (A Magical Dressmaking Mystery #1)
Sew Deadly by Elizabeth Lynn Casey (Southern Sewing Circle Mystery #1)

2012 Finish the Series Reading Challenge

2012-01-03T08:39:00.006-05:00

The Finish the Series Reading Challenge is hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews, and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I love reading series and have quite a few that I really need to catch up on.

I'm joining at the Level 3, which means I need to complete three or more series (and hopefully I'll be able to do more!). I'll keep track of them here and I'll also link my reviews once they are posted.

These are the series I am hoping to finish:

The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson (need to read 2)
The FBI Thriller series by Catherine Coulter (need to read 4)

Tailspin (#12)

The Virgin River series by Robyn Carr (need to read 16)

Whispering Rock (#3)

I will add the books that I read in each series after I finish them...hopefully I will be successful with this challenge!

***Additional series that I completed:

Eve, Quinn and Bonnie by Iris Johansen (3 books)

2012 1st in a Series Reading Challenge

2012-01-03T08:36:00.005-05:00

The 2012 1st in a Series Reading Challenge is hosted by Bibliophile By the Sea, and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I have quite a few series that I've been wanting to start and this is the perfect challenge to help me along.

I'll be joining at the Series Lover level, which means that I have to start 6 series. I'll keep track of them here. I'll also link my reviews to the list.

Here are the series I am hoping to start:

Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series by Tess Gerritson
The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
Magical Dressmaking mysteries by Melissa Bourbon

Pleating for Mercy

Piece of Cake mysteries by Jaclyn Brady
Elm Creek Quilts series by Jennifer Chiaverini
Tess Monaghan series by Laura Lippman

I will add the titles and reviews of each book that I read after I finish them...hopefully I will be successful with this challenge!

*** Additional 1st books that I read

The Eve, Quinn, Bonnie series by Iris Johansen

Eve

Southern Sewing Circle Mystery series by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

Sew Deadly

2012 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

2012-01-03T08:33:00.001-05:00

The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge is hosted by Historical Tapestry, and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I participated in this challenge last year and ended up reading 13 historical fiction books so I am going to push myself to read a few more this year.

I'm joining at the Undoubtedly Obsessed level, which means I need to read at least 15 historical fiction books in 2012. I'll keep track of them here.

2012 E-Book Reading Challenge

2012-01-03T08:24:00.001-05:00

The 2012 E-Book Reading Challenge is hosted by Bumps in the Road (The Eclectic Bookshelf), and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I have a Nook and am hoping to get to all the books I've added to it over the past year.

I'm joining at the Jumbo Size level, which means I need to read at least 20 e-books in 2012. I'll keep track of them here.

Whispering Rock by Robyn Carr

2012 Off the Shelf Reading Challenge

2012-01-03T08:16:00.007-05:00

The 2012 Off the Shelf is hosted by Bookish Ardour, and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I participated in a similar challenge last year and it helped me get through the many books I have sitting on my book shelves. At last count, I have about 150 books on my shelves that I have not read yet.

I'm joining at the Making a Dint level, which means that I need to read at least 30 books from my book shelves. I'll keep track of them here. I'll also link my reviews to the list.

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
Skirting the Grave by Annette Blair
Pleating for Mercy by Melissa Bourbon

2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge

2012-01-03T08:14:00.008-05:00

The 2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge is hosted by The Eclectic Bookshelf, and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I love my local library and love doing this challenge. This is my third year participating!

I'm joining at Level 4, which means I need to borrow at least 37 books from the library in 2012. I'll keep track of them here along with links to the reviews.

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (audio)
Eve by Iris Johansen
Quinn by Iris Johansen
Bonnie by Iris Johansen
Make, Take, Murder by Joanna Campbell Slan
Tailspin by Catherin Coulter
Sew Deadly by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

2012 100+ Books in a Year Reading Challenge

2012-01-03T08:12:00.011-05:00

The 2012 100+ Books in a Year Reading Challenge is hosted by Book Chick City, and it goes from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. I participated in this last year and ended up reading 123 books - I'm hoping to surpass that number this year.

***For this challenge, I am only including physical books/e-books that I've read...I am not including audio.

I'll keep track of what I read here along with links to the reviews.

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
Skirting the Grave by Annette Blair
The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry
Eve by Iris Johansen
Quinn by Iris Johansen
Bonnie by Iris Johansen
Make, Take, Murder by Joanna Campbell Slan
Tailspin by Catherine Coulter
Private: #1 Suspect by James Patterson
Pleating for Mercy by Melissa Bourbon
Whispering Rock by Robyn Carr
The Summer Garden by Sherryl Woods
Sew Deadly by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

It's Monday...What Are You Reading? (1.2.12)

2012-01-02T08:49:00.000-05:00

Last week, I was a review writing machine...I can't believe I managed to get seven reviews done - the end of the year was a great motivator to catch up! Later today I will be posting all the challenges I am participating in and these will help drive the books I choose to read in this new year.

Books Completed last week:

The Next Always by Nora Roberts (library book)
On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts (mine)
Kismet by Carly Phillips (e-book)
Death by Diamonds by Annette Blair (mine)

Reading Now:

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani (mine)

The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry (review book)
Alex Cross Trial by James Patterson (mine)

Reviews completed last week:

Secrets of the Tudor Court: Between Two Queens by Kate Emerson
Knit the Season by Kate Jabobs
Secrets of the Tudor Court: By Royal Decree by Kate Emerson
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
The Next Always by Nora Roberts

Other Posts related to books:

Month in Review: December 2011
Year in Review: 2011
2012 Goals for Reading/Blogging/Life in General

Books for which I need to finish reviews:

On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts
Kismet by Carly Phillips
Death by Diamonds by Annette Blair

Contest information:

None at this time

What about you? What does your reading week look like this week? Whatever it is, happy reading and have a good week!

2012 Goals for Reading/Blogging/Life in General

2012-01-01T17:27:00.000-05:00

I've seen a few other blogs put down their goals for this new year and I thought I would do the same. Part of the reason for doing this is that my life as I know it is about to change half way through the year - a change that I am eagerly awaiting...I am pregnant with my first child. Due to this, I realize that I might not have as much time to devote to just reading or even to my blog as I have for the past two years. I do not plan on giving up reading or blogging, but will probably not be taking on as many reviews this year (especially in the latter half of the year) and at times, my posts might be sporadic.

Of course, reading will continue to be a major part of my life and I hope to instill my love of reading into my child's life as well. I foresee possibly incorporating reading to baby as either an extension of this blog or creating an entirely separate blog...still playing around with this and luckily I have time!

Reading Goals:

Reading Challenges - I really enjoy participating in these (posts will go up in the next few days of the challenges I am signing up for) and I have picked ones this year that I really want to do.
My bookshelves - I am going to concentrate on reading the books I already have. To this end, quite a few of the reading challenges I will be participating in lend themselves to this.

Blogging Goals:

Reviews - I am hoping to stay current with my reviews. I might change up the format of these - at times I feel writing reviews becomes a chore.
Commenting - I am hoping to be more diligent on responding to comments left on my blog as well as commenting on all the blogs I follow.

Personal Goals:

Exercise - I enjoy working out and this year it's even more important that I continue to make this a priority in my life as I progress through my pregnancy.
Organization - I really need to work on keeping my house, and subsequently my life, organized...with baby coming this June, I really want to make sure everything has a place and my life is as clutter-free as it can be.

I have really come to enjoy blogging and look forward to this upcoming year. It promises to be an exciting year and I hope you, my readers, continue to visit and share this journey with me.

Year in Review: 2011

2012-01-01T09:49:00.000-05:00

2011 has been a great year. I've been blogging for almost two years now and am always humbled when I read your comments and see that I have new followers. I have been introduced to so many great authors and books as a result of blogging. Thank you to all who visit my blog.

So, here are my stats for 2011. Overall, I completed 145 books (that includes audio books) which is the most I have ever read in one year! I also participated in some fun challenges that caused me to alter some of my reading habits - all for the good.

Challenges participated in that have ended:

2011 100+ Reading Challenge

Goal: 100+ books

Completed: 123 books (did not include audio books in this challenge)

Support Your Library Challenge

Goal: 50 library books

Completed: 50 books

Spring Reading Thing Challenge (Mar 20 - Jun 20)

Goal: 20 books

Completed: 18/20 books plus 14 additional books not on original list

Fall Into Reading Challenge (Sept 23 - Dec 21)

Goal: 25 books

Completed: 24/25 books plus 9 additional books not on original list

James Patterson Reading Challenge II (ended Aug 31, 2011)

Goal: 10 books

Completed: 10 books

E-Book Reading Challenge

Goal: 12

Completed: 12

Reading From My Shelves Project

Goal: 25

Completed: 24 (I am in the middle of book 25)

Audio Book Challenge

Goal: 20

Completed: 23

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Goal: 10

Completed: 13

Cruisin' Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge

Goal: 13

Completed: 18

In the next few days I will be adding the challenges that I plan on participating in during 2012.

Thank you again to all my readers - I love reading and sharing with you my thoughts on the books I read. I also love reading all your blogs. I look forward to seeing what 2012 brings for my reading.

Month in Review: December 2011

2011-12-31T16:53:00.000-05:00

Here are my reading stats for December!

Books read: 10

Books I read (reviewed ones have * and link to review; books not yet reviewed will be linked up once review is posted.)

Inseparable* by Dora Heldt
Knit the Season* by Kate Jacobs
Secrets of the Tudor Court: By Royal Decree* by Kate Emerson
Still Alice* by Lisa Genova
The Nine Lives of Christmas* by Sheila Roberts
Shanghai Girls* by Lisa See
The Next Always* by Nora Roberts
On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts
Kismet by Carly Phillips
Death by Diamonds by Annette Blair

Favorite Book of December:

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

2011 Challenge Update:

100+ Reading Challenge -- Books Read: 123/100
Support Your Local Library Challenge -- Books Read: 20/50
E-Book Reading Challenge -- Books Read: 12/12
Reading From My Shelves Project -- Books Read: 24/25
Audio Book Challenge -- Books Read: 23/20
Historical Reading Challenge -- Books read: 13/10
Cruising Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge -- Books Read: 18/13+

Review: The Next Always by Nora Roberts

2011-12-31T09:51:00.000-05:00

First line: The stone walls stood as they had for more than two centuries, simple, sturdy, and strong.

From the back cover: #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts introduces you to the Montgomery brothers - Beckett, Ryder, and Owen - as they bring an intimate bed-and-breakfast to life in their hometown.

The historic hotel in Boonsboro has endured war and peace, the changing of hands, and even rumored hauntings. Now it's getting a major face-lift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. As the architect in the family, Beckett's social life consists mostly of talking shop over pizza and beer. But there's another project he's got his eye on: the girl he's been waiting to kiss since he was sixteen.

After losing her husband and returning to her hometown, Clare Brewster soon settles into her life as the mother of three young sons while running the town's bookstore. Though busy and with little time for romance, Clare is drawn across the street by Beckett's transformation of the old inn, wanting to take a closer look...at both the building and the man behind it.

With the grand opening inching closer, Beckett is happy to give Clare a private tour - one room at a time, in between blueprint meetings and kindergarten pickups. It's no first date, but these stolen moments are the beginning of something that could arouse the secret yearning that resides in Clare's independent heart - and open the door to the extraordinary adventure of what comes next...

My thoughts: This is the first in Nora Roberts' newest series, Inn Boonsboro Trilogy. In this installment, we are introduced to the three Montgomery brothers, but the main focus is on Beckett.

The Montgomery family is restoring an old inn in Boonsboro. The family consists of a widowed mother and three grown sons. You can easily see that they love and support each other even while the brothers pick at each other. This romance stars Beckett who is the architect in the family but who also doesn't mind turning his hand to any carpentry tasks or other needed tasks in the inn restoration project. His other focus has turned onto Clare Brewster, the girl of his dreams since high school. Now that she's back in town, he takes all the opportunities presented to him to see her. Having her help with the pamphlet about the inn means they will be crossing paths quite often.

I enjoyed getting to know the people in Boonsboro. There's the definite small-town feel to the book, where the people in the town really care about each other, rejoicing in the good times and lending support in the difficult ones. I look forward to getting to know the other Montgomery brothers in each of the subsequent books in this trilogy.

(I borrowed this book from the library.)

Review: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

2011-12-30T09:24:00.000-05:00

First line: "Our daughter looks like a South China peasant with those red cheeks," my father complains, pointedly ignoring the soup before him.

From the back cover: In 1937 Shanghai - the Paris of Asia - twenty-one-year-old Pearl Chin and her younger sister, May, are having the time of their lives. Both are beautiful, modern, and carefree - until the day their father tells them that he has gambled away their wealth and that to repay his debts, he must sell the girls as wives to suitors who have traveled from Los Angeles to find Chinese brides. As Japanese bombs fall on their beloved city, Pearl and May set out on the journey of a lifetime, from the Chinese countryside to the shores of America. Though inseparable best friends, the sisters also harbor petty jealousies and rivalries. Along the way they make terrible sacrifices, face impossible choices, and confront a devastating, life-changing secret, but through it all the two heroines of this astounding new novel hold fast to who they are - Shanghai girls.

My thoughts: I have come to really enjoy Lisa See's books. They are not fast reads by any means, but rather are the type of books that leave you knowing a little about a part of the world not too familiar and, at least for me, leave me wanting to know more. I always get completely engrossed in her writing and find that the stories stay with me long after I've read the last page. I first came across Lisa See when my book club picked Snow Flower and the Secret Fan to read, which I absolutely loved. I then had the opportunity to go see Lisa See when she was promoting her latest book, Dreams of Joy - she is an amazing speaker and I really enjoyed listening to all her stories. You can see my write-up of that talk here.

In Shanghai Girls, the setting of the novel is Shanghai in the 1930s and later the US. Lisa See paints a vivid portrait of life in pre-World War II Shanghai and takes the reader on an unforgettable journey through the Japanese invasion of China and its aftermath. It is a fascinating and intense look into life for the Chinese at the time of their war with Japan and their experiences with trying to fit in with the Americans.

Lisa See tells a beautifully crafted story of the struggles faced by the two women as they adjust to life with a new family and in a new country. It is a story about assimilation and trying to retain some of your ethnic identity. It is about family hardships that bind people closer together, or form bonds that were not previously there. It is about unconditional love for siblings and children that can be hurtful and unpleasant. This is a book that almost everyone can relate to, even if you have no Chinese ancestry, or it has been a dozen generations since anyone in your family was "FOB - Fresh off the boat".

I've been wanting to read this book for a while now, and am glad that I finally did. Now I can't wait to start Dreams of Joy which continues where Shanghai Girls leaves off.

Review: The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts

2011-12-29T18:00:00.001-05:00

First line: When a guy is in trouble he starts making deals with his creator, and Ambrose was dealing like crazy.

From the inside cover: Two people are about to discover that when it comes to finding love, sometimes Christmas magic isn't enough...sometimes it takes a pesky orange cat named Ambrose.

When a guy is in trouble, he starts making deals with his Creator...and Ambrose the cat is no exception. In danger of losing his ninth and final life, Ambrose makes a desperate plea to the universe. He'll do anything - anything! - if he can just survive and enjoy a nice long, final life. His prayer is answered when a stranger comes along and saves him - but then Ambrose is faced with having to hold up his end of the bargain.

The stranger turns out to be a firefighter named Zach, who's in need of some serious romantic help. If Ambrose can just bring Zach together with Merilee, the nice lady who works at Pet Palace, it's bound to earn him a healthy ninth life. Unfortunately for Ambrose, his mission is a lot harder than he ever thought. Merilee is way too shy to make the first move on a ladies' man like Zach, and Zach thinks he's all wrong for a nice girl like Merilee. Now it's going to take all of Ambrose's feline wiles - and maybe even a good old-fashioned Christmas miracle - to make them both realize that what they're looking for is right in front of their eyes.

My thoughts: This was Sheila Roberts' newest holiday book and it was a fun, quick read - I ended up reading it in one afternoon! The story is told from three different points of view from the residents of Angel Falls - Ambrose the cat, Zach the firefighter, and Merilee the nice lady at the pet shop. It weaves seamlessly back and forth between these characters, telling a tale that at it's simplest form is about finding the spirit of the season in unexpected places. At times, it reminded me of the holiday movie, It's a Wonderful Life...Ambrose, cat matchmaker extraordinaire, pulled some good stunts to get Zach and Merilee together. The question is whether they can each move past their own insecurities and see what's right in front of them.

I enjoy reading Sheila Roberts' books - they always have subtle messages woven in. I look forward to seeing what she writes next!

(I purchased this book.)

Review: Still Alice by Lisa Genova (audio book)

2011-12-29T13:06:00.000-05:00

From the back of the audio case: Fifty-year-old psychologist Alice Howland is content with life. Not only is she a revered Harvard professor, but she also has a successful husband and three grown kids. However, Alice's life is turned upside-down when she succumbs to a degenerative brain disease, leaving her perfect family reeling from her sudden memory loss.

Read by: Lisa Genova

My thoughts: I first came across Lisa Genova when I listened to Left Neglected, which I really liked. I had heard good things about Still Alice, so I decided to listen to it as well, especially when I saw that it was the author herself that did the narration. I really enjoyed the story, and felt that I could somewhat relate, after seeing my great-aunt go through the beginning stages of Alzheimer's.

Still Alice is a beautifully written, heartbreaking novel about the devastating affect Alzheimer's has on its victims and their families. Author Lisa Genova's choice of Alice - young, in shape, and intelligent (she's a Psychiatry Professor at Harvard) - shows that Alzheimer's can strike anyone, not just the elderly. The book is written from Alice's viewpoint, but Lisa Genova does a good job of showing the affect of Alzheimer's not only on Alice, but how her family (John, and their adult children Anna, Tom, and Lydia) struggle with the changes in Alice. I felt that the author also does an excellent job of describing what is going on in Alice's head as the dementia increases. In fact, she does such a good job that I sometimes forgot the book was fiction and not about a real person.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, not just those affected with this dreadful disease. I look forward to reading more from Lisa Genova.

(I borrowed this audio book from the library.)

Review: Secrets of the Tudor Court: By Royal Decree by Kate Emerson

2011-12-28T07:00:00.002-05:00

First line: On the twenty-ninth day of January in 1542, twenty-six eligible young women sat at the table in White Hall Palace with King Henry.

From the back cover: Charming. Desirable. Forbidden. Brought to court with other eligible young noblewomen by the decree of King Henry VIII, lovely Elizabeth "Bess" Brooke realizes for the first time that beauty can be hazardous. Although Bess has no desire to wed the aging king, she and her family would have little choice if Henry's eye were to fall to her. And other dangers exist as well, for Bess has caught the interest of dashing courtier Will Parr. Bess finds Will's kisses as sweet as honey, but marriage between them may be impossible. Will is a divorced man, and remarriage is still prohibited. Bess and Will must hope that the king can be persuaded to issue a royal decree allowing Will to marry again...but to achieve their goal, the lovers will need royal favor. Amid the swirling alliances of royalty and nobles, Bess and Will perform a dangerous dance of palace intrigue and pulse-pounding passions.

Brought to glowing life by the talented Kate Emerson, and seen through the eyes of a beautiful young noblewoman, By Royal Decree illuminates the lives of beautiful young courtiers in and out of the rich and compelling drama of the Tudor court.

My thoughts: This is the third in Kate Emerson's Secret of the Tudor Court series and once again I really enjoyed it. I think my favorite aspect of the series is that they all focus on the side playing courtiers of the Tudor Court, those that get mentioned here and there, but we never get their full story. Kate Emerson has brought these characters to life in her series.

This installment tells the story of Elisabeth Brooke and William Parr, who have quite the interesting story. They went to through hell to be together and through all the pain and heartache they believed it was worth it. As the story progresses, Bess matures into an amazing, intelligent woman who has the smarts to navigate the perils of court life while keeping her head and Will's. She survives the end of Henry VIII's reign, Edward's short reign, the ill-fated reign of Lady Jane Grey, and the heretic-burning reign of Mary, all the time fighting to be with Will and while trying to play the winning side of the constant political turmoil in that period of British history.

I find this series really helps me understand all the players involved during the Tudor period. There are many stories out there about the kings and queens, but not as many about the courtiers and I think that's why I really enjoy this series. I look forward to reading the next installment: The Secrets of the Tudor Court: At the King's Pleasure which is due out early next year.

(I purchased this book.)

Review: Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs (audio book)

2011-12-27T14:20:00.000-05:00

From the back of the audio case: The upcoming holiday season is all about showing off her talents as a pastry chef for college-age Dakota Walker - when she's not busy stitching at Walker & Daughter, the coziest little yarn shop on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Now, with the help of the family that's always sustained her, including the women of the Friday Night Knitting Club, Dakota remembers what is truly important. As the year draws to a close, Peri, Darwin, Lucie, KC, and Catherine gather to plan the long-awaited wedding of elegant Anita Lowenstein and her beau, Marty. With a new romance in full bloom, Catherine is making plans of her own, and she's not the only one. The possibility of a Christmas visit to Dakota's beloved Gran in Scotland, accompanied by her mother's parents and brother, tempts with the potential for illuminating revelations about her mother, Georgia Walker, from her childhood pranks to her happy holidays past to her blissful moments as a doting young mom.

From Thanksgiving through Hanukkah and Christmas to a spectacular New Year's wedding reception, Knit the Season is a tender story about the richness of family bonds, the magical power of memory, and the everlasting joys of friendship.

Read by: Carrington MacDuffie

My thoughts: This is the third book in Kate Jacobs' Friday Night Knitting Club and the first of the series that I listened to. I found the story to be a heartwarming tale of the holidays where the characters take to reminiscing about Georgia Walker who is no longer with them.

By using memory flashbacks from various characters' perspectives, we get a closer look at how one character can influence the life path of others. These flashbacks also serve to enhance the characterization of Georgia Walker in her role as mother, sister, daughter, granddaughter, lover, and friend. Like the Christmas tree garland she and her Scottish grandmother knit over the years, the characters are connected to each other by Georgia and form a strong chain that can't be broken by the passage of time, distance, or age.

This is the perfect kind of book to read around the holidays as it is a feel-good holiday book that celebrates friendships, family, new milestones, and unlimited possibilities for the future. I hope there will be more stories about The Friday Night Knitting Club as I really enjoy catching up with them in each book.

(I borrowed this audio book from the library.)

Review: Secrets of the Tudor Court: Between Two Queens by Kate Emerson

2011-12-27T07:59:00.000-05:00

First line: The distance across the Narrow Seas between Calais, the last English outpost on the coast of France, and the town of Dover, in Kent, was less than twenty-five miles.

From the back cover: Pretty, flirtatious, and ambitious. Nan Bassett hopes that an appointment at the court of King Henry VIII will bring her a grand marriage. But soon after she becomes a maid of honor to Queen Jane, the queen dies in childbirth. As the court plunges into mourning, Nan sets her sights on the greatest match in the land...for the king has noticed her. After all, it wouldn't be the first time King Henry has chosen to wed a maid of honor. And in newly Protestant England, where plots to restore the old religion abound, Nan may be the only one who can reassure a suspicious king of her family's loyalty. But the favor of a king can be dangerous and chancy, not just for Nan, but for her family as well...and passionate Nan is guarding a secret, one that could put her future - and her life - in grave jeopardy should anyone discover the truth.

Based on the life of the real Anne Bassett and her family, and drawing extensively from letters and diaries of the time, Between Two Queens is an enthralling picture of the dangers and delights of England's most passionate era.

My thoughts: This is the second in Kate Emerson's Secrets of the Tudor Court series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This time the author brings to life the character she imagines as Nan Bassett. Called 'Nan' by her friends, there is not a lot known about Anne Bassett, this mistress of Henry VIII, except that he had courted her briefly. How far that went is unknown, but Henry seemed to be fond of her. Nan is brought to court to serve Queen Jane shortly before Prince Edward is born. She is hoping to find herself a good husband, with wealth and title. The story covers Nan's journey through court while she serves the last four of Henry's six wives, where she quickly learns that the Tudor Court is a dangerous place to live, with games and intrigue around every corner.

I liked the way Emerson started each chapter with a passage from actual letters from the period that were about the historical figures in this story. It added a more authentic feel to the book. I also appreciated that there was a family tree, some maps and a list of who's who of historical characters included in the book. I found myself referring to all three quite a bit as I was reading. The Tudor period is one of my favorite time periods and while I have read quite a few books about this era, I still have a hard time keeping track of who is who.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series: The Secrets of the Tudor Court: A Royal Decree.

(I purchased this book.)

It's Monday...What Are You Reading? (12.26.11)

2011-12-26T12:19:00.000-05:00

As you can see, not much happened on my blog last week and not much reading got done either. Now that Christmas is over, I am hoping for a quiet week where I can get some reading done - I still need to finish up some of the challenges I am participating in - and hopefully find some time to catch up on my reviews.

Books Completed last week:

The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts (mine)
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See (mine)

Reading Now:

The Next Always by Nora Roberts (library book)

On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts (mine)
Death by Diamonds by Annette Blair (mine)
Solitary Man by Carly Phillips (e-book)

Reviews completed last week:

None

Other Posts related to books:

Book Spotlight: The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry
Fall Into Reading 2011: Wrap Up

Books for which I need to finish reviews:

Secrets of the Tudor Court: Between Two Queens by Kate Emerson
Knit the Season by Kate Jabobs
Secrets of the Tudor Court: By Royal Decree by Kate Emerson
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Contest information:

None at this time

What about you? What does your reading week look like this week? Whatever it is, happy reading and have a good week!

Book Spotlight: The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

2011-12-22T20:48:00.000-05:00

Now available in paperback with a cool new cover:

About the book: After the unexpected death of her parents, shy and sheltered Ginny Selvaggio, a young woman with Asperger’s syndrome, seeks comfort in the kitchen. The rich aroma of ribollita, painstakingly recreated from her Italian grandmother’s handwritten recipe, calms her senses. But it also draws an unexpected visitor—the ghost of Nonna herself—and Ginny soon discovers she has the power to call forth the spirit of any dead person whose dish she prepares. As her pragmatic sister pushes to sell the only home she has ever known, Ginny finds evidence of a provocative riddle from her parents’ past that could be the key to her uncertain future. But can she cook up a dish that will bring them back long enough to help her solve it?

***I will be reviewing this book in the near future...can't wait to start reading it!!!

Fall Into Reading 2011 Challenge - Wrap Up

2011-12-22T12:07:00.000-05:00

Another challenge has come to a close. As you can see from my list, I finished reading 24 out of the 25 books I had listed and I am in the middle of reading the last one right now. I was also able to read an additional 9 books during this time that were not on my original list. That puts my total number of books read from September 23 to December 21 to 33 books!!!

Here's my original list:

~~The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin~~
~~Pumpkin Roll by Josi S. Kilpack~~
~~A Lawman's Christmas by Linda Lael Miller~~
~~Paris Noire by Francine Thomas Howard~~
~~Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins~~
~~It's a Waverly Life by Maria Murnane~~
~~Inseparable by Dora Heldt~~
~~The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts~~
~~True Colors by Kristin Hannah~~
~~Larceny & Lace by Annette Blair~~
~~Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook~~
~~Peony in Love by Lisa See~~
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - READING NOW
~~The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig~~
~~Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson~~
~~The Diva Haunts the House by Krista Davis~~
~~Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs~~
~~The Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson~~
~~Between Two Queens by Kate Emerson~~
~~By Royal Decree by Kate Emerson~~
~~The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson~~
~~Angel Lane by Sheila Roberts~~
~~Night Road by Kristin Hannah~~
~~An O'Brien Family Christmas by Sherryl Woods~~
~~1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber~~

Additionally I read:

Navy Baby by Debbie Macomber
Serendipity by Carly Phillips
The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner
Perfect on Paper by Maria Murnane
Flirting With Mermaids by John Kretschmer
Skeleton Letters by Laura Childs
Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
Bring Me Home for Christmas by Robyn Carr
Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Thank you to Katrina over at Callapidder Days for hosting this challenge!!! I got a lot of books read that have been sitting on my bookshelves, in addition to all the review books I had to read. I particularly enjoyed the weekly questions that Katrina came up with each week. It was a great way to get to know the other participants a little better.

I read a lot of great books this time around and it's hard to pick one favorite, but some of the top books were: The American Heiress and Left Neglected.

This is the first time participating in this kind of reading challenge where I actually got to all the books I listed ahead of time. I didn't finish them all - still in the middle of the last one, but usually I have at least one on the list that I didn't even start. And as usual, I managed to read quite a few additional books not on my original list, so I ended up reading more than I initially planned. This time around when selecting my original list, I was quite strategic - I picked books that would help me finish other reading challenges that I am participating in that end at the end of the year. I have to say, the strategy worked as I am almost certain I will complete all challenges!

What about you? Did you participate in the challenge and if so, how did you do?

It's Monday...What Are You Reading? (12.19.11)

2011-12-19T06:59:00.000-05:00

Another week of not much reading happening. I have been busy trying to finish up my Christmas shopping as well as finish up some projects I started that will be Christmas gifts. Hopefully once the holidays are over, my reading pace will pick back up!

Books Completed last week:

Secrets of the Tudor Court: By Royal Decree by Kate Emerson (mine)
Still Alice by Lisa Genova (library audio book)

Reading Now:

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See (mine)
The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts

The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry (review book)
The Next Always by Nora Roberts (library book)

Reviews completed last week:

The Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson
True Colors by Kristin Hannah

Other Posts related to books:

In My Mailbox: 12.18.11

Books for which I need to finish reviews:

Secrets of the Tudor Court: Between Two Queens by Kate Emerson
Knit the Season by Kate Jabobs
Secrets of the Tudor Court: By Royal Decree by Kate Emerson
Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Contest information:

Inseparable by Dora Heldt - 1 copy available - ends 12/22

What about you? What does your reading week look like this week? Whatever it is, happy reading and have a good week!

In My Mailbox (77) 12.18.11

2011-12-18T06:54:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

Purchased:

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

by Robert K. Massie

I have always been fascinated with Catherine the Great and I knew I had to get this one.

What's in your mailbox?

Review: True Colors by Kristin Hannah (audio book)

2011-12-17T12:58:00.000-05:00

From the back of the audio case: The Grey sisters had only each other when their mother died years ago. Their father provided for them physically on Water's Edge, the ranch that had been in their family for three generations; each of them, however, longed for their father's love.

Winona, the oldest, knew early on that she could never get it. An over-weight dreamer and reader, she didn't exhibit the kinds of talents and strengths her father valued.

Vivi Anne, the youngest, had those things. And it was Vivi Anne who only ever saw a glimmer of their father's approval.

When Vivi Anne makes a fateful decision to follow her heart, rather than take the route of a dutiful daughter, events are set in motion that will test the love and loyalties of the Grey sisters.

With breathtaking pace and penetrating insight, Kristin Hannah's True Colors is a novel about sisters, vengeance, rivalry, betrayal - and ultimately what it truly means to be a family.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this story. Maybe because I have two sisters myself or maybe just because of the insightful writing of Kristin Hannah, but I felt I could really connect with these characters.

The Grey sisters are characters we can all relate to. Winona is the oldest sister and one who has never fully felt loved from her father, so she constantly seeks his approval. Aurora is the middle child, the one always wishing for peace amongst everyone, and always putting others before herself. Vivi Ann is the youngest and the child everyone loves so dearly, someone beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. True Colors chronicles the lives of the sisters over a few decades as they each suffer through heartbreak, found love, lost love and more.

This story is truly the portrait of a relationship over the course of a lifetime. Beginning in 1979, when the Grey girls are teenagers, and extending to the present, the book traces the ways in which sisters grow apart and come together again, often for surprising reasons and in unexpected ways. It is particularly interesting watching how Vivi Ann's son, a troubled and violent boy who takes after his absent father, becomes the catalyst for Winona's redemption and the sisters' eventual reconciliation.

I really enjoy reading/listening to Kristin Hannah's books and I am trying to catch up on all her previous works. I find her books are the perfect stories to listen to as she always manages to tell captivating and emotionally-charged tales that keep your attention even with long breaks from listening.

(I borrowed this audio book from the library.)

Review: Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson

2011-12-13T11:22:00.000-05:00

First line: I was a child of eight in April of the year of our Lord fourteen hundred and ninety-eight.

From the back cover: Beautiful. Seductive. Innocent. Jane Popyncourt was brought to the court as a child to be ward of the king and a companion to his daughters - the princesses Margaret and Mary. With no money of her own, Jane could not hope for a powerful marriage, or perhaps even marriage at all. But as she grows into a lovely young woman, she still receives flattering attention from the virile young men flocking to serve the handsome new king, Henry VIII, who has recently married Catherine of Aragon. Then a dashing French prisoner of war, cousin to the king of France, is brought to London, and Jane finds she cannot help giving some of her heart - and more - to a man she can never marry. But the Tudor court is filled with dangers as well as seductions, and there are mysteries surrounding Jane's birth that have made her deadly enemies. Can she cultivate her beauty and her amorous wiles to guide her along a perilous path and bring her at last to happiness?

Basing her gripping tale on the life of the real Jane Popyncourt, gifted author Kate Emerson brings the Tudor monarchs, their family, and their courtiers to brilliant life in this vibrant new novel.

My thoughts: This is the first in Kate Emerson's Secrets of the Tudor Court series and I really enjoyed it. I absolutely love reading about the Tudor period and what I like about this series is that the main focus is not on the Tudors themselves, but the other people at court during the Tudor reign. Yes, we still get to see the Tudors, but they are not at the forefront of the story.

The Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace is based upon Jane Popyncourt, a member of the Tudor Court and of whom very little is known, giving the author more leeway to craft her tale. The novel is full of historical tidbits as far as how the courtiers dressed, their jewels, the pageants and parties, and the card games they played; just enough information to not sound like non-fiction but more to give us a sense of being right there in Jane's presence. It is a novel full of romance, mystery and intrigue. I really liked the fact that Kate Emerson gives you the family trees of the English and French Nobility of the period, along with a who's who in the back of the book. I've read quite a few books set during the Tudor period, but I still get confused as to who is who.

I found this to be an engrossing read and I can't wait to pick up the next in this series: The Secrets of the Tudor Court: Between Two Queens.

(I purchased this book.)

Giveaway Winner: Bring Me Home for Christmas

2011-12-13T07:35:00.000-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS

Mo Wilson

winner of

Bring Me Home for Christmas by Robyn Carr

Random.org selected the winners.

Thanks to all who entered the giveaway!

It's Monday...What Are You Reading? (12.12.11)

2011-12-12T03:18:00.000-05:00

The last two weeks have gone by in a blur and I'm sorry to say that I haven't accomplished much reading-wise or review-wise. Part of it was due to my work schedule being completely hectic, but the other part is that I am just about 3 months pregnant and have been so tired that I often fall asleep when I sit to read. Hopefully my energy level will be back to normal soon. At least work will be quiet until after the new year.

Books Completed in the last 2 weeks:

Inseparable by Dora Heldt (review book)
Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs (library audio book)

Reading Now:

Secrets of the Tudor Court: By Royal Decree by Kate Emerson (mine)
Still Alice by Lisa Genova (library audio book)

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See (mine)
The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry (review book)

Reviews completed in the past two weeks:

Peony in Love by Lisa See
Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook
Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson
Inseparable by Dora Heldt

Other Posts related to books:

Author Interview and Giveaway: Adrienne McDonnell
Fall Into Reading 2011: Reading Question #10
Month in Review: November 2011
Fall Into Reading 2011: Reading Question #11
In My Mailbox: 12.11.11

Books for which I need to finish reviews:

Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson
True Colors by Kristin Hannah
Secrets of the Tudor Court: Between Two Queens
Knit the Season by Kate Jabobs

Contest information:

The Doctor and the Diva by Adrienne McDonnell - 2 copies available - ends 12/13
Inseparable by Dora Heldt - 1 copy available - ends 12/22

What about you? What does your reading week look like this week? Whatever it is, happy reading and have a good week!

In My Mailbox (76) 12.11.11

2011-12-11T09:20:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

*** This is for the last 2 weeks.

For Review:

The Kitchen Daughter

by Jael McHenry

This just came out in paperback and I can't wait to read it.

From the library:

Knit the Season (audio book)

By Kate Jacobs

This is the 3rd book in Kate Jacob's Friday Night Knitting Club series.

What's in your mailbox?

Review & Giveaway: Inseparable by Dora Heldt (CLOSED)

2011-12-08T14:18:00.001-05:00

First line: Forty-four years old.

From the back cover: As Christine approaches her forty-fourth birthday, life isn't looking particularly rosy. Admittedly, her career has never been better, but her personal life has been pretty much dead in the water since she discovered her husband was sleeping with her (former) best friend. Now, not only is Christine divorced and childless - she doesn't even have a cat! - she is beginning to fear that she has been putting too much faith and trust in her girlfriends. Alarmed by Christine's growing despair, her sister and a longtime pal hatch an ambitious plan to prove her wrong. They will gather together all of Christine's old friends from the various stages of her life and throw a surprise party the likes of which she have never seen. Of course, finding all of those women turns out to be easier said than done! Nonetheless, the final result proves to be a priceless gift, a moving and laugh-out-loud funny portrait of one woman's life as told through the stories of her friendships.

My thoughts: I found this to be fun and quick while at the same time also quite a thought-provoking read about the importance of girlfriends.This is a sequel to Life After Forty, although I did not read that one, and felt that Dora Heldt gives enough background to not be lost in this one.

Christine has always had girlfriends that have come and go and once they are gone, they tend to be a thing of the past. It takes the brainstorm of her current friends to decide the perfect way to celebrate Christine's forty-fourth birthday - find all her old best-friends, have them fill out a questionnaire they devised, and invite them to the party. I loved the concept of the questionnaire and thought the questions were very thought-provoking but fun.

The story flows seamlessly between the present and the past. We are able to see the friendship that Christine had with each girl, while at the same time getting a glimpse into their present-day lives. Dora Heldt also includes some of the articles that Christine writes for the magazines she works for and I have to admit they are quite entertaining.

I think I would like to go back and read Life After Forty and then the other two stories that come after, if they are ever translated into English (the author is German).

I received a complimentary copy of Inseparable by Dora Heldt from Sarah at Little Bird Publicity to review.

Giveaway Information:

This contest is open to entries from the U.S. only.

The deadline for entry is midnight, December 22nd. I will draw the winner on December 23rd and post the winner's name shortly after that.

FORM CLOSED

FIR '11: Reading Question #11

2011-12-07T16:39:00.000-05:00

FIR is hosted by Katrina at Callapidderdays.

Every Wednesday this fall, Katrina will be posting a question about reading.

This week's question: Share a special memory relating to books or reading — something you’ll never forget.

I have a lot of memories relating to books and reading but the best one I have involves my dad reading to us at the dining room table during dinner. He was an elementary teacher and then principal and was big into using picture books in the classroom. Whenever he went away to conferences he always managed to find little mom-and-pop type book stores and would come home with a pile of new picture books. He would usually read one or two to us. I loved listening to him read a story - he always used just the right expressions and as I got older I could see his passion come across when he read to us. He also used stories when giving homilies (he was a deacon in the Catholic Church) and was always able to find the perfect story to go with the message he was trying to convey.

While he's now retired, he still has a good collection of picture books and can tell quite a few from memory now. His love of books and a good story is definitely something I have inherited and something I hope to pass on to my children some day.

What about you? Do you have a special reading memory — from your childhood, teen years, or adulthood — that you’re willing to share?

Review: Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson

2011-12-06T10:02:00.000-05:00

First line: It began with President Coyle's children, Ethan and Zoe, both high-profile personalities since they had arrived in Washington, and probably even before that.

From the inside cover: THE ONLY WAY

Detective Alex Cross is one of the first on the scene of the biggest case he's ever been part of. The president's son and daughter have been abducted from their school - an impossible crime, but somehow the kidnapper has done it. Alex does everything he can but is shunted to the fringes of the investigation. Someone powerful doesn't want him too close.

TO STOP ALEX CROSS

A deadly contagion in the DC water supply endangers the capital, and Alex sees the looming threat of the most devastating attack the United Stated has even experienced. He is already working flat out on the abduction, and this massive assault pushed him completely over the edge.

IS TO KILL HIM

With each hour that passes, the chances of finding the children alive diminishes. In an emotional private meeting, the First Lady asks Alex to please save her kids. Even the highest security clearance doesn't get him any closer to the kidnapper - and Alex makes a desperate decision that goes against everything he believes. A full-throttle thriller with unstoppable action, unrestrained emotion, and relentless suspense, Kill Alex Cross is the most gripping Alex Cross novel James Patterson has ever written.

My thoughts: As many of my readers know, I am a huge James Patterson book and I especially love the Alex Cross series. This is one author that I definitely make sure to buy the hardcover version of his books to add to my collection. Except for the Maximum Ride series, the Witch and Wizard series, and the Daniel X series, I tend to read everything by James Patterson.

In this latest Alex Cross saga, the 18th in the series, we are once again confronted with non-stop action that starts right from the beginning. There are old characters who return and new ones are introduced, and as the story is told from many points of view rather than just from Alex's this time it gives a bigger picture of this exciting tale as it unfolds.

The basic premise is that Alex Cross is called upon by the President of the United States to locate his kids who were abducted. Like many other books in the thriller genre, Cross encounters barriers from within and not everyone you think is helping to find the kids really is. Meanwhile, as he looks for these famous kids, someone is wreaking havoc with the city through the main water supply of Washington, D.C. As you might imagine with two big cases, Cross is super busy trying to save the country from imminent disaster while also trying to prevent the President's children from certain death. The ending is a typically great, surprising Patterson ending that you'll want to read more than once to make sure you really got it.

I look forward to the next installment of Alex Cross, but am wondering if there really will be a cross-over between Alex Cross and the Women's Murder Club as was hinted in the previous Alex Cross book, Cross Fire? Maybe it will happen in the next Women's Murder Club book - 11th Hour - due out in May of 2012. Who knows if it will ever happen, but regardless of the answer, I plan on continuing to read both series!

(I purchased this book.)

Review: Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook

2011-12-05T08:01:00.000-05:00

First line: I decided to listen to my family and get back out there.

From the back cover: Voluptuous, sensuous, alluring and fun. Barely 40 DWF seeks special man to share starlit nights. Must love dogs.

Life after divorce for Sarah Hurlihy consists of juggling her job as a preschool teacher and the demands of her interfering family. Then her bossy big sister decides to place a personal ad for her, and the unexpected becomes a daily event. Everybody wants Sarah to put the past behind her and take a bold step toward a fresh start. But when Sarah winds up with a lot of new men - and rambunctious dogs - in her life, along with plenty of awkward situations, unexpected emotions, and not-so-easy decisions, she wonders whether those mindless evenings sitting along and watching The Brady Bunch were really all that bad...

My thoughts: I saw the movie version of this book when it first came out and had never heard of Claire Cook or was aware she was an author at that time. Since then, I have read just about every book she has written, so of course I needed to pick this one up, despite already knowing the story.

I found this book to be a light, fun read. Claire Cook takes us on a life journey with Sarah Hurlihy, 40 year old divorcee, pre-school teacher, and member of a large, wild and rowdy Irish American family, who just can't keep their noses out of each other's lives. When she decides to "get back out there", there is enough comic relief to fuel her through one disastrous encounter after another. In her first foray into the world of personal ads, Sarah manages to select a Mr. Right who is none other than her own widowed father. Will she have any better luck when her sound-alike sister writes a personal ad for Sarah, and records a voice message? With her large and colorful family trooping in and out of her life at inopportune times, with troubles and demands of their own, Sarah's challenges are huge and her privacy non-existent. Every failed encounter, foible and mis-step is grist for the family rumor mill.

I love reading Claire Cook's books and look forward to her next new book when it comes out.

(I got this book from Paperback Swap.)