Review: Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen

Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen
Barnes & Noble Classics
Oct 2004 (Originally published 1811)
Format: Hardcover, 312 pages
Source: Personal copy

Jane Austen’s first published novel, Sense and Sensibility is a wonderfully entertaining tale of flirtation and folly that revolves around two starkly different sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. While Elinor is thoughtful, considerate, and calm, her younger sister is emotional and wildly romantic. Both are looking for a husband, but neither Elinor’s reason nor Marianne’s passion can lead them to perfect happiness—as Marianne falls for an unscrupulous rascal and Elinor becomes attached to a man who’s already engaged.  

Startling secrets, unexpected twists, and heartless betrayals interrupt the marriage games that follow. Filled with satiric wit and subtle characterizations, Sense and Sensibility teaches that true love requires a balance of reason and emotion.

My thoughts: One of my reading goals this year was to read a few of the classics I have never read before, and some of Jane Austen's books are on that list. A while back I picked up a bunch of nice hard cover classics from Barnes and Noble, including 6 of Austen's works. Since I've read Pride & Prejudice three times already, I felt it was time to try out her other books and I started with Sense & Sensibility.

One thing to note if you've never read Jane Austen - her books are definitely not quick reads. But, the stories themselves are timeless. In the case of this book, we have two sisters who want nothing more than to find a good marriage for themselves. Elinor is the practical one, willing to give each action careful consideration. Marianne, on the other hand, leads with her heart. The book follows as the two sisters learn all about love and even loss. What's interesting to me is that not only is this pretty much the girls' sole mission in life, but it also becomes everyone else's business, too. How much money a potential interest has and their standing in life is the criteria that most look to when choosing a mate and it seems everyone has their opinion as to who is a better match.

What I think I love most about these types of books is learning about the etiquette of the day. The customs of daily life just seem so foreign to us today. The whole idea of sending notes is almost obsolete thanks to email and texting! Also, girls were not supposed to exchange letters with a man unless they were engaged to him. Then there's the whole idea that girls were not really educated nor expected to have any sort of profession.

I enjoyed reading this and now am anxious to see the film adaption. I've heard the version with Kate Winslet and Emma Thompson is one of the best, so will be looking to find that one.  I do foresee rereading this at some point, definitely, though, after reading Jane Austen's other books. 

Do you have a favorite Jane Austen book?

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Big Sky Wedding by Linda Lael Miller - CLOSED

Big Sky Wedding by Linda Lael Miller
Series: Swoon-Worthy Cowboys, #5 Harlequin HQN 
August 2013 
Format: ARC e-copy, 384 pages 
Source: Netgalley via Little Bird Publicity

The "First Lady of the West," #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller, cordially invites you to Parable, Montana-where love awaits.  

Wedding bells are ringing in Parable, Montana, but Brylee Parrish hasn't enjoyed the sound since being jilted at the altar by Hutch Carmody. She's over Hutch now, and running a multimillion-dollar business is challenging enough for this country gal. So she should avoid falling head-over-boot-heels for A-list actor Zane Sutton. He's come home to his rodeo roots, but Hollywood lured him away once and just might again. Yet everything about him, from his easy charm to his concern for his young half brother, seems too genuine to resist....

Zane didn't come to Parable for love-but count on a spirited woman to change a jaded cowboy's mind. Problem is, Brylee's not convinced he's here to stay. Good thing he's determined to prove to her, kiss by kiss, that she's meant to be his bride.

My thoughts: Oh, Linda Lael Miller - you've done it again...I am totally over the moon with your 'Swoon-Worthy Cowboys' series. This is the 5th book in Linda Lael Miller's Swoon-Worthy Cowboy series and I've been waiting for a long time to see if Brylee ever gets her happily-ever-after and I definitely was not disappointed!

Big Sky Wedding is Brylee and Zane's story. Brylee is still dealing with the humiliation of being left at the alter. It seems everyone else around her has found love but her and she is struggling to believe that there really is someone out there for her. Zane is trying to find himself. He was once a country boy but was lured by the lights of Hollywood. Taking some time to figure things out, he heads to the ranch that he and his brother bought as an investment. Little did he know that not only would he find love, but also the real meaning of family. From the moment he and Brylee meet, the sparks start flying and while neither is looking for anything, it seems love has a different plan. Then there's Nash, Zane's younger step-brother who is dumped on his door. 

While I loved Brylee and Zane's story, it was the story of Zane and Nash that stole my heart. Nash just wanted to be wanted and never knew when he was going to be thrusted onto someone else. As Zane gets to know him and realize just how much his father's actions have damaged this young boy, his guilt gets the best of him. But he realizes he needs to tread slowly - Nash is definitely very slow to trust anyone.

One of my favorite characters in this whole series has been Opal, better known as matchmaker extraordinaire! But, not that she's married herself to the local pastor, she's far too busy to keep up with the matchmaking. Enter Cleo, Zane's overzealous housekeeper from LA. She is one woman I certainly wouldn't want to mess with!

I just love this series and was so excited to find out that there will be another installment coming out early next year. I can't wait to find out who the story will be about!
 
Books in this series: 

1. Big Sky Country
2. Big Sky Mountain
3. Big Sky River
4. Big Sky Summer 
5. Big Sky Wedding 
6. Big Sky Secrets - due out Jan 2014

GIVEAWAY DETAILS  - CLOSED (Continental US only)
Thanks to Sarah at Little Bird Publicity, I have a copy of  Big Sky Wedding by Linda Lael Miller to offer to my readers.

To enter… 

• For 1 entry leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
• Tweet, share on Facebook, or blog for 2 extra entries.
• MUST include email address so I can contact you if you win.

This giveaway is open to Continental US residents only and ends September 5th.

 

Good luck!

Review: Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand

Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand
Reagan Arthur Books
June 2013
Format: Hardcover, 416 pages
Source: Library

A summer wedding stirs up trouble on both sides of the family in this new novel from bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand.

The Carmichaels and Grahams have gathered on Nantucket for a wedding. Plans are being made according to the wishes of the bride's late mother, who left behind The Notebook: specific instructions for every detail of her youngest daughter's future nuptials. Everything should be falling into place for the beautiful event--but in reality, things are far from perfect.

While the couple-to-be are quite happy, their loved ones find their own lives crumbling. In the days leading up to the wedding, love will be questioned, scandals will arise, and hearts will be broken and healed. Elin Hilderbrand takes readers on a touching journey in Beautiful Day--into the heart of marriage, what it means to be faithful, and how we choose to honor our commitments.

My thoughts: One of the things I look forward to the most each summer is the release of a new Elin Hilderbrand book. With each book, I find myself getting to take a vicarious trip to Nantucket through the characters. I've never been to Nantucket, but it's definitely on my bucket list!

Beautiful Day takes place the weekend of Jenna and Stuart's wedding. It is told from the different viewpoints of those involved in the wedding, although not too much from Jenna or Stuart themselves. A big part of the story revolves around 'The Notebook', notes and ideas for Jenna's wedding written by her mother before she died of cancer and realized she would not be around for her youngest daughter's wedding. 

It would have been nice to learn more of the bride and groom's perspectives but really, while it was their wedding, the story wasn't really theirs to tell. It was the bride's sister, Margot and the bride's father Doug, the groom's mother Ann telling the story. It seems like every marriage is on the brink of collapse from the groom's married, divorced, and remarried parents, to one of the newlywed bridesmaids, to father-of-the-bride Doug, who is currently in a loveless marriage, to maid of honor, and divorced, Margot, who we met in the short story prequel, The Surfing Lesson. While they are all excited for Jenna and Stuart to begin their new life together, they seem to be re-evaluating the state of their own marriages.

The book also had some short "outtakes" scattered throughout the book. Mostly, they were brief comments from the minor characters as well as a few from the major characters. I loved these insights just as much as I loved reading all the "advice" that Jenna's mother left for her in 'The Notebook.'

This was the perfect beach read and my only complaint is that I now I have to wait another year for a new Elin Hilderbrand book!

Do you have an author that you associate with a certain season like I do with Elin Hilderbrand and summer?
 

It's Monday...What Are You Reading? (8.26.13)

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.


Lately I feel as if I am all over the place with my reading. I don't know if it's the books I'm selecting to read, or just life getting in the way, but I can't seem to stick to just one book. I'm hoping that is going to change this week. I have one week left before heading back to work and am hoping for a relatively quiet week so I can not only catch up on my reading, but also catch up on my reviews!

 

Books Completed last week:

• The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers (library book)
• The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen (mine)
• A Fitting End by Melissa Bourbon (mine)

Reading Now:  

• Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen (mine, #CTBS, #AustenInAugustRBR)  
• The Hero by Robyn Carr (review e-book)
• Banana Split by Josi S. Kilpack (mine, #CTBS)
• Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan (library audio book) - car

Next:   

• The Other Women by Hank Phillipi Ryan (review book)
• Persuasion by Jane Austen (mine, #CTBS, #AustenInAugustRBR)

 Reviews Completed last week: 

• Three Little Words by Susan Mallery
• Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
• Vanish by Tess Gerritsen
• The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley

 Other posts related to books:

• Bout of Books 8.0: Wrap-Up

Books for which I need to finish reviews:

• Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand
• Hunting Eve by Iris Johansen
• The Witness by Nora Roberts
• Big Sky Wedding by Linda Lael Miller
• Cloaked in Malice by Annette Blair 
• The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers
• The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
• A Fitting End by Melissa Bourbon

Contest information:   

• Three Little Words by Susan Mallery...1 copy and a bridal/pampering kit. Ends 8.31.13 

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

Bout of Books 8.0: Wrap-Up

My Goals:

• To read as much as possible this week
• To finish at least 4 complete books, plus the 1 that I need to finish

What I accomplished:

• The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers - finished
• The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen - completed
• A Fitting End by Melissa Bourbon - completed
• The Hero by Robyn Carr - started
• Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen - started
• Banana Split by Josi S. Kilpack - started 

 So I did ok...not quite what I was hoping for but that's because the week was a bit more busy that I anticipated. Plus, for some reason, I was all over with my reading - I definitely didn't stick to what I planned on reading and as you can see from the 3 started books, I had a hard time sticking with one book at a time. 

I will try to participate in the next Bout of Books, scheduled for January 6th - 12th, but perhaps instead of listing books beforehand, just set of goal of how many books I want to read.

 

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

 

Review: The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley

The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley
William Morrow Paperbacks
February 2013
Format: Paperback, 432 pages
Source: Personal copy

Matt Beaulieu was two years old the first time he held Elle McClure in his arms, seventeen when he first kissed her under a sky filled with shooting stars, and thirty-three when he convinced her to marry him. Now in their late 30s, the deeply devoted couple has everything-except the baby they've always wanted.

When an accident leaves Elle brain dead, Matt is devastated. Though he cannot bear the thought of life without her, he knows Elle was afraid of only one thing-a slow death. And so, Matt resolves to take her off life support.

But Matt changes his mind when they discover Elle's pregnant. While there are no certainties, the baby might survive if Elle remains on life support. Matt's mother, Linney, disagrees with his decision. She loves Elle, too, and insists that Elle would never want to be kept alive on machines. Linney is prepared to fight her son in court-armed with Elle's living will.

Divided by the love they share, Matt and Linney will be pitted against each other, fighting for what they believe is right, and what they think Elle would have wanted resulting in a controversial legal battle that will ultimately go beyond one family . . . and one single life.

My thoughts: I was on the fence about reading this book as I felt that the subject matter might hit a little close to home being that I have struggled with trying to get pregnant myself for a few years. But, after getting the opportunity to meet Priscille Sibley at the Princeton Library this past June and hear her talk about the book, I knew it would be a good story. What I didn't know was just how powerful and touching it would be.

This is the type of book that definitely makes you think...what would you do if you were to find yourself in Matt's position? If you knew your spouse would not want to have life-saving measures taken if there was no possibility of a normal life, would you respect their wishes? Matt is ready to do that after his wife, Linney, suffers a head injury, but is halted when he realizes that despite their years of trying to get pregnant and history of miscarriages, Linney is pregnant. How can he take away the one thing she wanted most in the world? Even if she won't be there to see their child grow up, he knows she would want to be kept alive until the baby is born. Unfortunately, others do not see it his way, mainly his own mother and a man from Linney's past.

What ensues is a struggle to have the right to say what Linney would want. As the story enfolds, we find out the long history between Matt and Linney's families and why Matt's mom is fighting against him. It is a fight that wrenches the heartstrings and causes you to realize just how important it is to have those pertinent documents (living wills, health care proxies, etc) set up for all possibilities.

I loved this story - it was a powerful, heartwrenching, emotional tale that will stay with me always. I had tears streaming down my face as I reached the end of the book - so much so that I had to reread it after I finished my crying jag. It's simply a beautiful story of love.

Review: Vanish by Tess Gerritsen

Vanish by Tess Gerritsen
Series: Rizzoli & Isles, #5
Ballentine Books
January 2005
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library

A blessed event becomes a nightmare for pregnant homicide detective Jane Rizzoli when she finds herself on the wrong side of a hostage crisis in this timely and relentless new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Body Double.

A nameless, beautiful woman appears to be just another corpse in the morgue. An apparent suicide, she lies on a gurney, awaiting the dissecting scalpel of medical examiner Maura Isles. But when Maura unzips the body bag and looks down at the body, she gets the fright of her life. The corpse opens its eyes.

Very much alive, the woman is rushed to the hospital, where with shockingly cool precision, she murders a security guard and seizes hostages . . . one of them a pregnant patient, Jane Rizzoli.

Who is this violent, desperate soul, and what does she want? As the tense hours tick by, Maura joins forces with Jane’s husband, FBI agent Gabriel Dean, to track down the mysterious killer’s identity. When federal agents suddenly appear on the scene, Maura and Gabriel realize that they are dealing with a case that goes far deeper than just an ordinary hostage crisis.

Only Jane, trapped with the armed madwoman, holds the key to the mystery. And only she can solve it - if she survives.

My thoughts: This is the fifth book in Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli & Isles series and as I get further into the series, I find myself more hooked than ever. I've already mentioned in previous reviews of this series that not only am I enjoying the books, but I also love the television show Rizzoli & Isles. The books are definitely darker than the show, but still deal with similar cases. 

This series is definitely part medical thriller, part police procedural and the combination lends itself to an action-packed story with twists and turns that keep you turning the pages. This particular story touches upon human trafficking and we get Mila's story - a story that we flash back to throughout the book. At times, it's very graphic and certainly not for the faint of heart. 

From a corpse on the autopsy table that is not really a corpse to a very pregnant Rizzoli ending up a hostage, the tensions fly high and you are immediately pulled into this thriller. We get into the heads of many of the characters this time around which only heighten the intensity of the book. While there are some lighter moments - Jane dealing with motherhood and trying to come up with a suitable name for her baby girl - they are certainly few and far between in this book.

Having already read book 10 in this series, which is definitely not my MO when it comes to reading series, I find myself paying more attention to the character development as it answers the many questions I had. As I make my way through this series, I kind of like that I know where certain characters end up.

Are you a stickler when it comes to reading series? Do you need to read them in order or do you jump around?

Books in this series:

1. The Surgeon                                7.  The Keepsake            
2. The Apprentice                          8.  Ice Cold
3. The Sinner                                    9.  The Silent Girl
4. Body Double                                9.5  Freaks
5. Vanish                                            9.7  John Doe
6. The Mephisto Club                    10.  Last to Die

 

Review: Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella (audio)

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
Read by Rosalyn Landor
Random House Audio
March 2008
Length: 13 hours
Source: Library

When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she’s in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident—in a Mercedes no less—Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she’s about to find out just how much things have changed. 

Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband—who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she…well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably disheveled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all. 

Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does?

My thoughts:  Sophie Kinsella has a way of sucking you into her books and making you laugh along the way. I first started reading her when her Shopaholic series came out and since finishing those books, I've gone back and read or listened to her stand alone books. These books definitely fall into the category of Chick Lit - they are light, fun reads with some romance thrown in. 

In Remember Me? we meet Lexi who finds herself missing a major chunk of time in her life after being in a car accident. It's a bit far-fetched at times, but definitely a fun read. The premise is one that really makes you think: What if you suddenly had everything you wanted? Would it really make you as happy as you thought it would? I'm sure we all think about it and wonder...but is it really a case of the grass is always greener? 

The characters in this book are great. There are likeable characters and there are some that are just weird and completely unlikeable. I had a really hard time believing that Lexi's husband was sincere. I mean, come on - the marriage manual? Was that created to really help Lexi or for purely selfish reasons? I love when authors give us a little of both - it just makes for a more exciting read!

How about you? Do you like when authors create unlikeable characters?

Audio thoughts: I've listened to Rosalyn Landor narrate a few other books and just love her voice. She's able to create unique personalities for all the characters. I definitely hope to listen to more of her work.

*** Devourer of Books hosts Sound Bytes every Friday - a meme to share the audio books that everyone is listening to. Stop by and you just might find your next audio book!

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Three Little Words by Susan Mallery (CLOSED)

Three Little Words by Susan Mallery
Series: Fool's Gold, #12
Harlequin HQN
July 2013
Format: ARC Paperback, 332 pages
Source: Publisher via Book Trib

Can first love turn into the real deal in a sizzling new Fool's Gold story from New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery? 

Isabel Carlisle thinks she's cursed in the romance department. Her teenage crush, Ford Hendrix, ignored all her letters. Her husband left her for another...man. So Isabel has come home to dust off her passion for fashion and run the family bridal shop until her parents are ready to sell it. Then she'll pursue her real dreams. At least, that's the plan, until sexy, charming Ford returns and leaves her feeling fourteen all over again....

Seeing Isabel all grown up hits bodyguard trainer Ford like a sucker punch. Back when heartbreak made him join the military, her sweet letters kept him sane. Now he can't take his eyes-or his lips-off her. The man who gave up on love has a reason to stay in Fool's Gold forever-if three little words can convince Isabel to do the same.

My thoughts: I've read quite a few books by Susan Mallery - many of her series and most of her stand-alone books. For some reason, I didn't jump on the Fool's Gold band wagon at the beginning and now I'm kicking myself. I've read a few in the series (to-date: books 1, 2, 2.5, 3 and 8), and while I am definitely not caught up, I do enjoy these books. One of the reading challenges I'm doing is Finish the Series and this is one of the series I am hoping to catch up on!

In this visit to Fool's Gold, we get more the Hendrix boys' stories. We meet quite a few of the Hendrix clan in some of the earlier books and I was excited to have both Ford and Kent's happily-ever-after tales. It's no surprise that each guy ends up with the girl they set their eyes on early in the book, and while this book primarily focused on Ford and Isabel, the secondary story between Kent and Consuelo was just as touching. 

My favorite part of these books is the journey that each character takes to get to their happily-ever-after. For some, it's a rather straight-forward journey with a few bumps in the road - obvious at times, but necessary for the story. For others, the journey is more complicated, with lots of heavy stuff thrown in. Creating a balance between the two keeps the series from becoming too predictable and boring.

I loved the letters that start this book. They are the letters Isabel wrote to Ford while he was away in the Army. These letters set the stage for the book and are a unique way to progressing time in a quick, easy way. It's especially heartwarming when we find out where those letters are now.

I'm so excited to continue reading this series - not only the earlier books, but those still to come. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance series!

Books in this series:

      1. Chasing Perfect                     8. Summer Nights
      2. Almost Perfect                      9. All Summer Long
      2.5 Sister of the Bride             9.5 A Fool's Gold Christmas
      3. Finding Perfect                     9.75  Halfway There
      4. Only Mine                               10. Just One Kiss
      5. Only Yours                             11. Two of a Kind
      6. Only His                                  12. Three Little Words                     
      6.1 Only Us                                 12.5 Christmas on 4th Street
      6.2 Almost Summer
      7. Summer Days


GIVEAWAY DETAILS - CLOSED (US only) 

Thanks to Alissa at Book Trib, I can offer one of my readers with a U.S. mailing address the Susan Mallery Foolproof Bridal Kit along with a copy of Three Little Words. This giveaway is open to any one who wants to be a little pampered for a special occasion or just for no reason at all. 

The gift bag includes the following and is valued at $40:

• A wedding-themed bottle of OPI nail polish
• Not Your Mother’s® Rise & Shine™ Silky Smooth Shine Mist
• Manicure set (includes emery board, small and large nail clippers, tweezers, cuticle stick and nail polish remover pad)
• Heart-shaped compact mirror
• 12-piece E.L.F. eye shadow kit
• Travel makeup brush set
• Makeup remover wipes
• Lip gloss
• Travel sewing kit
• Kleenex®
• Secret® deodorant
• Razor and Gillette® Shave Gel
• Nivea Creme
• Wisps toothbrushes
• TRESemmé® hairspray

To enter… 

• For 1 entry leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
• Tweet, share on Facebook, or blog for 2 extra entries.
• MUST include email address so I can contact you if you win.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and ends August 31th.

 

Good luck!

Bout of Books 8.0: Updates

I'm going to use this post to keep track of my progress during the Bout of Books 8.0 Read-a-thon:

My Goals:

• To read as much as possible this week
• To finish at least 4 complete books, plus the 1 that I need to finish

My List of Books (a combo of review books, library books and fun books): 

• The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers - need to finish
• Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen
• Persuasion by Jane Austen
• The Other Woman by Hank Phillipi Ryan
• A Fitting End by Melissa Bourbon
• The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen

Monday:
Number of pages read: 212 pgs
Books I read from: The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers

Total number of pages read: 212 pgs
Total number of books I’ve read: 1

Challenges: Did both Bookish Bucket List @ Sarah Says Read (attend BEA at least once) and Pairathon @ Book Pairing (The Comfort of Lies and a Starbucks Chai Latte) 


 

It's Monday...What Are You Reading? (8.19.13)

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.

Last week was a great week filled with lots of family-time! We spent three days at the beach with my sister-in-law and her 4 year-old son, and my in-laws came over one day. Then we spent a day with my family for a joint christening for 2 of the 3 babies born this year. As one of seven, it's not often that we all get together, especially with us spread out up and down the east coast of the US and one in London. So, when we are all in one place, it's great hanging out. I definitely treasure these times - all my siblings in one place with all their kids.

Here's a picture of all of us...my parents, the seven kids and all their significant others and 9 grandkids. I'm on the left. 

Needless to say with all the family stuff going on, I wasn't very active on the blog, but I did get a bit of reading in.

 

Books Completed last week: 

• Big Sky Wedding by Linda Lael Miller (review e-book)
• Cloaked in Malice by Annette Blair (mine)
• Three Little Words by Susan Mallery (review book)

Reading Now:  

• The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers (library book, Book Lovers Unite Book Club read-a-long) 
• Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan (library audio book) - car

Next:   

• Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen (mine, #CTBS, #AustenInAugustRBR)
• Persuasion by Jane Austen (mine, #CTBS, #AustenInAugustRBR)
• The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen (mine, #CTBS)
• A Fitting End by Melissa Bourbon (mine, #CTBS)

 Reviews Completed last week: 

• The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro

 Other posts related to books:

• Bout of Books 8.0: Sign-up & Goals
• Stacking the Shelves (57) 8.18.13

Books for which I need to finish reviews: 

• The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley
• Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand
• Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
• Hunting Eve by Iris Johansen
• Vanish by Tess Gerritsen
• The Witness by Nora Roberts
• Big Sky Wedding by Linda Lael Miller
• Cloaked in Malice by Annette Blair

Contest information:   

• Can't Help Falling in Love by Bella Andre...1 copy. Ends 8.19.13 

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

Stacking the Shelves (57) 8.18.13

Tynga of Tynga's Reviews is starting a new meme to spotlight the books we receive each week.  
    

Here's what I got:

 

For Review:

 

The Spymistress by Jennifer Chiaverini
 
A new historical fiction set during the Civil War by Jennifer Chiaverini - I can't wait to read this one.

Covet
by Tracey Garvis Graves

This was sent to me along with the Jennifer Chiaverini book and sounds quite interesting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What did you get this week?