Cover Attraction

Each Wednesday, Marcia from The Printed Page, hosts Cover Attraction. She writes:

"I’m a very visual person and love beautiful cover art. It doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll read the book but at least I might stop and take a peek instead of walking right on by."

I am a visual person as well and have often read books simply because I liked the cover. My cover attraction for this week:


Title: LoveHampton
Author: Sheffi Rifkin

My Cover Attraction for this week is my most recent read. While reading, I often found myself flipping to the front to just look at the cover. The story was good and the cover fits perfectly. Look for my review later this week.

Wishful Wednesday

Each Wednesday, Jenn, of Should Be Reading, asks us to post books we have on our wish lists. Here's what I will buy next or simply wishing for:

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Family Affair
Author: Caprice Crane
Publication Date: September 29

When Layla Brennan married her high school sweetheart, Brett Foster, she finally got the big, loving family she’d always wanted: his. Now she’s closer to Brett’s parents than he is, partners with his sister in a successful pet-photography business, and confidant to his younger brother. She couldn’t be more of a Foster if she’d been born one. There’s just one problem: Brett wants a divorce. Stunned and heartbroken, Layla turns to the Fosters for comfort, only to realize that losing Brett means losing them as well. What else can she do but sue him for the most valuable thing he’s got–namely, his family. Breaking up may be hard to do, but for Layla and Brett it’s even harder to undo.

Fresh, funny, poignant, and brimming with insight into what makes modern families tick–and what can blow them apart–Family Affair proves that in love and war, everything’s relative.
(From Barnes and Noble)

The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow

Book Synopsis:

The circumstances of Molly Marx’s death may be suspicious, but she hasn’t lost her joie de vivre. Newly arrived in the hereafter, aka the Duration, Molly, thirty-five years old, is delighted to discover that she can still keep tabs on those she left behind: Annabel, her beloved four-year-old daughter; Lucy, her combustible twin sister; Kitty, her piece-of-work mother-in-law; Brie, her beautiful and steadfast best friend; and, of course, her husband, Barry, a plastic surgeon with more than a professional interest in many of his female patients. As a bonus, Molly quickly realizes that the afterlife comes with a finely tuned bullshit detector.

As Molly looks on, her loved ones try to discern whether her death was an accident, suicide, or murder. She was last seen alive leaving for a bike ride through New York City’s Riverside Park; her body was found lying on the bank of the Hudson River. Did a stranger lure Molly to danger? Did she plan to meet someone she thought she could trust? Could she have ended her own life for mysterious reasons, or did she simply lose control of her bike? As the police question her circle of intimates, Molly relives the years and days that led up to her sudden end: her marriage, troubled yet tender; her charmed work life as a magazine decorating editor; and the irresistible colleague to whom she was drawn.

More than anything, Molly finds herself watching over Annabel–and realizing how motherhood helped to bring out her very best self. As the investigation into her death proceeds, Molly will relive her most precious moments–and take responsibility for the choices in her life.

Exploring the bonds of fidelity, family, and friendship, and narrated by a memorable and endearing character, The Late, Lamented Molly Marx is a hilarious, deeply moving, and thought-provoking novel that is part mystery, part love story, and all heart.

My Thoughts:

Molly Marx dies at the young age of 35. Proceeding her death, she finds herself in the Duration. While here, she helplessly watches her family and friends mourn her passing. The Duration allows her to hear their inner most thoughts (some she wishes she knew while still alive). It’s here where Molly is truly able to make amends with herself, her marriage and the events leading to her death.

Molly is not perfect, by any means. In fact, it’s her flaws that make her seem so real, so honest. She's married to Barry, mother to Annabel and twin sister to Lucy. Molly attempts to be all to everyone and tries to please them, so much so that she loses herself in the process.

The Late, Lamented Molly Marx, to me, isn't a book about death. It's about the choices we make and the consequences that occur from those choices. As Molly watches the police piece together the events that led to her death, the reader hears Molly's story from her perspective and is able to understand the conflicted life she lead. One cannot help but to empathize with Molly and hopes she will find peace within herself.

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-0-345-50620-7
Pages: 303
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Women's Fiction
Date Finished: July 24
Rating: A

Tuesday Teasers

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

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

My teasers:

"Carlie stares rapt at the camera, perched there on the edge of her white leather settee, alert. It's as if she is but moments away from lunging at the camera. I hope I am correct in believing all the evidence that says she's fine up there without me, because I don't think right now I can watch anymore."
~p. 117, City Dog by Alison Pace~

What's On Your Nightstand?

August 2009

In July, I read the following from my night stand:

• Revelation by Kate Brian
• Paradise Lost by Kate Brian
• Privilege by Kate Brian
• The Beach House by Georgia Bockoven
• The Late, Lamented Molly Marx

I'm currently reading City Dog by Alison Pace and plan to finish it by July 31st.

What's on my night stand for August:

• Swimsuit by James Patterson
• Killer by Sara Shepard
• Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
• Last Christmas by Kate Brian
  
• Red Hot Lies by Laura Caldwell

This list will probably change as I am at the top of the wait list for several books at my library. These books will also be on my night stand sometime in August:

• The Penny Pinchers Club by Sarah Strohmeyer
• The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale
• Hope in a Jar by Beth Harbison
• The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner
• Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Laura Lipton
  

So, what's on your night stand?

Sunday Salon

My Mac, iPhone and Reading

In June, Apple announced a free iDisk app for the iPhone. Users will have access to their documents currently stored on their iDisk. Since this time, I've been patiently waiting (well, sort of) for the release of this app. I keep my TBR List in an Excel spreadsheet and saved it to my iDisk. My list is way too long (with too many columns) to print. For awhile I've been thinking how I can make it more accessible (not only between my MacBook and iMac) when I'm browsing at the bookstore or library. This app will definitely come in handy.

In the meantime, I have decided to redo my cataloging system for my personal library. Last year I tried Book Collector and for awhile it met my needs. About two weeks ago my laptop hard drive died and instead of reinstalling Book Collector, I began searching for a new software program. That's when I stumbled upon Bookpedia. I love the iTunes feel of it. I can customize it, use tags, write notes and create Smart Libraries. Slowly, I'm adding my books to it.

On my TBR spreadsheet, one of my columns is "Date Added". I've always wondered how long it takes me to read a book since the time I added it to my list to the date I actually finished reading it. I'm date-driven (not to mention very visual), so may help me get the list down. In Bookpedia, for my recent purchases and going forward, I've included a "Date Purchased" column. I'm using the same reasoning as the date added in my TBR list. (By default, when I enter the book information to my database, that is the added date, regardless when I purchased it.)

This week, I received an e-mail from Barnes and Noble regarding the e-reader app for the iPhone. I've been intrigued with e-readers, so I immediately went to the app store and downloaded the app. I'm debating to download it to my laptop. I'm not sure if reading a book on my laptop (or desktop, for that matter) is something that I would enjoy doing.

I'm on the fence about purchasing a Kindle (although Amazon lowering the price has significantly pushed me towards "yes" than "no"!). I love the idea of a Kindle, the book prices seem to be fairly reasonable, and I've gotten over reading an actual book versus reading on a Kindle. Where I'm still stuck is purchasing a book versus borrowing books from the library. I love going to the library and love checking out a lot of books (which I've written several posts about). I'm thinking, my library habits may not change. Not all books I read, I want to own. I'm still thinking this one through.

I do have the Kindle app on my iPhone which I use to read sample chapters of books before adding to my TBR List (this alone has helped keep the list from expanding). I can't imagine reading an entire book on my iPhone though.

What about you? Do you read ebooks on your laptop? If so, how is it? Have you read an entire book on your phone? What was that like?

Happy Sunday everyone!

Paradise Lost by Kate Brian

Book Synopsis:

Paradise awaits....

Now that Cheyenne's murderer has been revealed and Reed knows the truth about who's been stalking her, she's ready to leave the heartache and turmoil of last semester behind. And what better way to recover than a five-star Caribbean vacation?

Reed is reunited with former Billings Girls Kiran and Taylor, and she and her friends take over the exclusive island. They spend their days tanning on white-sand beaches and their nights partying on sixty-foot yachts.

It's heaven on earth.

But as they raise their champagne flutes to toast their friendship, Reed worries that it's all too good to be true. Because even in paradise, the Billings Girls are never far from trouble — and nothing's more dangerous than the calm before the storm....

My review:

It's winter break and Reed, her friends and their families head to St. Barths to spend the holidays. The students are still in shock after the latest tragic events on Easton's campus. Reed agrees to the trip as an attempt to move forward. While vacationing, she meets Upton, despite feeling reluctant about dating again, she soon finds herself falling for him. Once again, Reed finds herself surrounded by drama, jealousy and mystery.

Although I thought Paradise Lost was a quick read, it wasn't a favorite from the series. I did like that the story took place away from Easton, however I found myself quickly frustrated with how the other girls treated Reed. Reed considers Noelle to be her BFF, however since the start of this series, I've questioned the sincerity of their friendship. I would like Reed to develop an identity apart from the Billings Girls and not think she has to run to Noelle for everything.

Like the previous books, Paradise Lost ends with a cliff hanger. What happens next? To be continued in Suspicion, book 10, to be released in September.

Recommended for: readers of the Private series.

Book Details:
Series: Private #9
ISBN: 1-4169-5884-3
Pages: 243
Year Published: 2009
Genre: YA Fiction (Series)
Date Finished: July 19
Rating: B-

Friday Finds

Jenn of Should Be Reading asks:

What great books did you hear about / discover this week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

Here's what I discovered while browsing at Books-A-Million during my lunch hour:

• By Invitation Only by Jodi Della Femina and Sheri McInnis
• For Better or Worse by Jill Amy Rosenblatt
  

Book Giveaway

Crystal of My Reading Room is hosting a giveaway for 0 to 60 by Susan Slater.

Contest ends August 14, 2009. For more information, click here.

Booking Through Thursday

Preferences

Which do you prefer? (Quick answers–we’ll do more detail at some later date)

• Reading something frivolous? Or something serious? Frivolous
  
• Paperbacks? Or hardcovers? Paperbacks (but hardcovers to display on my shelves)
  
• Fiction? Or Nonfiction? Fiction
  
• Poetry? Or Prose? Poetry
  
• Biographies? Or Autobiographies? Autobiographies
  
• History? Or Historical Fiction? Historical Fiction
  
• Series? Or Stand-alones? Both
  
• Classics? Or best-sellers? Best-sellers
  
• Lurid, fruity prose? Or straight-forward, basic prose? Straight-forward, basic prose
  
• Plots? Or Stream-of-Consciousness? Plots
  
• Long books? Or Short? Long (short to add variety)
  
• Illustrated? Or Non-illustrated? Depends on the book
  
• Borrowed? Or Owned? Borrowed
  
• New? Or Used? New
  

Wishful Wednesday

Each Wednesday, Jenn, of Should Be Reading, asks us to post books we have on our wish lists. Here's what I will buy next or simply wishing for:

The Izzy McNeil trilogy by Laura Caldwell

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: I, Alex Cross
Author: James Patterson
Release Date: November 16

Alex Cross's niece is found brutally murdered. Overcome with grief, Alex vows to take down her killer before he strikes again. But shortly after he begins the investigation, Alex discovers that his niece had gotten mixed up with some very important, very dangerous people. And she's not the only one who has disappeared.

The hunt for the murderer leads Alex and his girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, to Washington's most infamous club--a place where every fantasy is possible, if you have the credentials to get in. The killer could be one of their patrons, one of Washington's elite who will do anything to keep their secrets buried.

With astonishing plot twists and electrifying revelations that will keep readers on the edge of their seat, I AM ALEX CROSS is James Patterson's most suspenseful Alex Cross novel yet. (From Barnes and Noble)

Cover Attraction

Each Wednesday, Marcia from The Printed Page, hosts Cover Attraction. She writes:

"I’m a very visual person and love beautiful cover art. It doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll read the book but at least I might stop and take a peek instead of walking right on by."

I am a visual person as well and have often read books simply because I liked the cover. My cover attraction for this week:

Title: The Castaways
Author: Elin Hilderbrand

Greg and Tess MacAvoy are one of four prominent Nantucket couples who count each other as best friends. As pillars of their close-knit community, the MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are important to their friends and neighbors, and especially to each other. But just before the beginning of another idyllic summer, Greg and Tess are killed when their boat capsizes during an anniversary sail. As the warm weather approaches and the island mourns their loss, nothing can prepare the MacAvoy's closest friends for what will be revealed.

Once again, Hilderbrand masterfully weaves an intense tale of love and loyalty set against the backdrop of endless summer island life. (From Barnes & Noble)

I loved this cover when I first heard of its release. Now that summer is half over, I can't wait for my vacation. This cover represents what I really need right now: sitting still, doing nothing, relaxing and just being.

Dune Road by Jane Green

Synopsis:

Set in Connecticut's tony Gold Coast town of Highland, Dune Road tells the story of Kit Hargrove, whose divorce has granted her a new lease on life. No longer a Wall street widow with the requisite diamond studs and Persian rugs, Kit revels in her clapboard Cape with the sea green shutters and sprawling impatiens. Her Kids are content, her ex cooperative, her friends steadfast, and each morning she wakes up unable to believe how lucky she is to have landed the job of her dreams: assisting the blockbuster novelist Robert McClore.

A mysterious tragedy drove this famous writer into seclusion decades ago, and few besides Kit are granted access to his house at the top of Dune Road, with it's breathtaking views of Long Island Sound. But all that is about to change. At a rare appearance at the local bookstore, McClore meets Kit's new friend Tracy, whose weakness for older men rivals her powers of self-reinvention. Are the secret visits of of her boss's new muse as innocent as Kit would like to believe? When a figure from her mother's past emerges with equally cryptic intentions just as the bear financial market is upending her best friend's life, Kit discovers that her blissfully constructed idyll - and gorgeous man who has walked into it with creamy white roses - isn't as perfect as she'd thought. Ties to friends and family are further reaching than she had realized - and more crucial than ever before.

Warm, witty, and gloriously observed, Dune Road is Jane Green at her best, full of brilliant insights into the challenges that come with forging a new life.

My review:

Early in the book, I found it quite difficult to follow the plot. The author flowed back and forth between the past and present, that I wasn't sure if the next scene is taking place now or had already happened. It was quite unsettling for me as I thought the storyline was very choppy.

Around page 150 or so, I found my groove and plowed right through it. As I was reading, I thought the plot was very predictable (I knew how Kit's story would end within the first pages of the book) and I didn't find the "mysterious" characters to be all that mysterious.

As Kit struggles with building a new life post divorce, she's also questioning the intentions of those who claim to have her best interests at heart. Ms. Green does an excellent job of reminding the reader that not everyone is as perfect as he/she may appear. Inviting someone new in your life may come with consequences. That being said, one must continue to move forward and not allow others to derail you from doing so.

I've been anticipating reading this book for awhile now, as I've read and heard great reviews about Ms. Green's books. Although this was an okay read for me, I have added The Other Woman, Swapping Lives, The Beach House and Second Chance to my TBR List.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy a light read on a lazy, summer day.

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-0-670-02086-7
Pages: 341
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Women's Fiction
Date Finished: July 17
Rating: C+

Tuesday Teasers

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

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

My teasers:

"The casket is closed-talk about a bad hair day-but I am being buried in a red dress. Okay it's more burgundy, but one thing that's putting a smile on my face (only metaphorically, unfortunately) is that for all eternity I will get to wear this dress, which cost way too much, even 40 percent off at Barneys, where I rarely shop because it's generally a rip-off."
~p. 4-5, The Late, Lamented Molly Marx~

Mailbox Monday

Marcia, The Printed Page, hosts Mailbox Monday each week. She writes:

"Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists."

Here's what I received in the mail last week:

An ARC from Miriam Parker of Hachette books:

Title: I Can See You
Author: Karen Rose

Evie Wilson was the victim of the villain in DON'T TELL, an assault which resulted in paralysis on one side of her face. After her injury, Evie retreated into the virtual realm, seeking refuge from the public eye by interacting with online friends. Now, with the help of a surgeon, Evie's face is restored and she is ready to return to the real world. However, she remains connected to the Internet for her graduate thesis on using the virtual world as therapy to improve self-esteem. She has become an online shopkeeper who sells faces and bodies to users interested in building a new avatar on a website called "Shadowland." In her new role, Evie maintains "surveillance" over her test subjects to ensure they don't become too caught up in the intoxicating virtual realm.

Meanwhile, homicide detective Noah Webster has been investigating a string of suspicious suicides that he believes are connected murders. Noah's investigation leads him to Evie when one of her online test subjects is found dead of apparent suicide, but Evie believes otherwise.

Evie is shocked to find herself drawn to someone for the first time in many years and she's reluctant to trust Noah. However, he's the only one who believes her story about the suspicious death of her test subject, and he soon discovers that many of the apparent suicides in his case had avatars in "Shadowland."

As murder victims connected to the website begin to appear more frequently, Noah asks Evie to be his virtual guide in the investigation. However, they don't realize that the killer is closer than they think--and that he holds a special grudge against Evie.

(From Barnes & Noble)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event to share what we read last week, what we are currently reading and what books we plan to read this week.

Books read last week:

• Dune Road by Jane Green
• Paradise Lost by Kate Brian

Currently reading:

• The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow
• 6 Rainier Drive by Debbie Macomber
  
• Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (audio book)
  

What's to come:
This list will more than likely change by the end of the week. I have several available library holds to pick up, but for now, here's what I will choose from:

• Real Life & Liars by Kristina Riggle
• The Widow's Season by Laura Brodie
  
• Red Hot Lies by Laura Caldwell
• Dial Emmy for Murder by Eileen Davis

What are you reading this week?

50 Harbor Street by Debbie Macomber

Synopsis:

Dear Reader,

Considering that I'm married to Cedar Cove's private investigator, you might think I enjoy mysteries. But I don't -- especially when they involve us! Roy's been receiving anonymous postcards and messages asking if we "regret the past." We don't know what they mean....

On a more positive note, we're both delighted that our daughter, Linnette, has moved to Cedar Cove to work at the new medical clinic. A while ago I attended the humane society's "Dog and Bachelor Auction," where I bought her a date with Cal Washburn, who works at Cliff Harding's horse farm. Unfortunately Linnette is less enthusiastic about this date than I am.

Speaking of Cliff, the romance between him and Grace Sherman is back on. But that's only one of the many interesting stories here in Cedar Cove. So why don't you drop by for a coffee at my husband's office on Main Street or our house on Harbor and I'll tell you everything that's new!

Corrie

My review:

There's never a dull moment in Cedar Cove. Grace is trying to win Cliff back after her crush on best friend's brother ends their relationship. Linnette moves home only to have her mom fix her up with Cal, a man she is definitely NOT attracted to. Olivia and Jack settle into their new marriage until an emergency causes them to really think about their feelings for each other. Finally, the reader learns the truth behind those mysterious notes Corrie and her husband Roy have been receiving.

As always, I enjoyed this addition to the Cedar Cove series.

Book Details:
Series: Cedar Cove #5
ISBN-10: 0778322084
Pages: 362
Year Published: 2005
Genre: Romance (Series)
Date Finished: July 12
Rating: B

Sunday Salon

A few weeks ago, I posted about creating a reading schedule. Since that time, I've been diligently working on this schedule only having no schedule still. In the meantime, I've been reading what I want, not reading the books that I wanted to add to my schedule (make sense?). What have I learned? Reading schedules are just not for me. So, I had to back track to my initial reason for creating the schedule and came up with: reading challenges.

Last year was the first year I participated in challenges. It was fun and I read more books than I ever had. I discovered new authors, read more outside my comfort zone and challenges introduced me to the world of blogging.

The difference between my participation last year and my participation this year is that now I'm allowing the challenges to dictate what I read next. Last year I just read what I wanted, when I wanted. If the book could be used for a challenge, great. If not, then that was fine too. I'm such a mood reader and love that I don't have structure to my reading. A few weeks ago, I forgot this very important fact and caused myself unnecessary stress. (Seriously, if it's not broken, why must I break it???)

I've decided to stop focusing so much on challenges and return to reading what I want. I want to have fun with challenges again and go back to the attitude I had last year. I think allowing myself to take a "challenge break" will help. That being said, there is one challenge that I won't finish in time: The Themed Reading Challenge. I did not participate last year, so I was looking forward to it this year. My theme is new-to-me female authors currently living in NYC. I won't have the last two books read by July 31. I just decided to let it go and read the remaining two later. I fear that I will cram them in to meet the deadline and end up not enjoying them.

What about you? Has anyone went into challenges with the purpose of having fun, but found yourself feeling trapped with your reading? Deciding to not read a book because it did not fit the challenge that ends in a week? How do you balance it?

Yesterday I spent most of my afternoon catching up on reviews. I hated that I was so far behind and finally made an appointment with myself to write them all. Look for these reviews this week. I also decided to return to using ratings. The change is I'm using letter grades instead of stars. I've decided to use "plus" and "minus" as well, so I'm still in the process of writing what each letter grade means. For whatever reason, if I rated a book 4 out of 5 stars, it doesn't necessarily mean it will get a "B". I view letter grades a bit differently than I do star ratings. Anyway, when I finish writing my rating system, I will post it.

Last week I attempted to listen to 6 Rainier Drive by Debbie Macomber. As some of you may know, I've been listening to this series back-to-back and discover this audio book is narrated by a new female. And it was not working for me. . .at all. I managed about 90 minutes until I decided I couldn't take it anymore. I'm now reading the book instead.

The good news is I'm listening to Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. This title has been on my TBR list for awhile and so far I really like it. I've only read one book by Ms. Dessen, however I've repeatedly heard positive things about her. Sarah Dessen and Elizabeth Scott are two young adult authors that I've been told I MUST read. (Meg Cabot is also included, however I've read half of her young adult books.)

Well, that's it for me. I'm currently reading Paradise Lost by Kate Brian, the ninth book in the Private series. I'll finish it this afternoon and start The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow for an online book club I decided to join.

I hope all is well with everyone. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

Privilege by Kate Brian

MOST GIRLS WOULD DIE FOR A LIFE OF PRIVILEGE.... SOME WOULD EVEN KILL FOR IT.

Ariana Osgood ruled exclusive Easton Academy — until she was arrested for murdering Thomas Pearson. She's spent the past two years at the Brenda T. Trumbull Correctional Facility for Women plotting her escape and is determined to get a second chance at the glamorous life she left behind. And Ariana will do anything to get her way....

My review:

Ariana Osgood is first introduced in the Privates series by Kate Brian. I strongly recommend you read the first four books (Private, Invitation Only, Untouchable and Confessions) prior to reading this book.

In the Private series, Ms. Brian hints that Ariana is a bit, well. . .unstable. In Privilege, she shows the reader how true this really is. (I find it hard to write this review without giving anything away!) When the reader is allowed to see Ariana for who she really is, well it's a bit scary.

Ariana wants to return to her life of privilege. The problem? She's locked up in a correctional facility. So, naturally, there's only one way for her to get what she wants. In order to do so, she must give up the life she knows in order to create the life that she thinks she's entitled to.

My only regret was that I didn't read Last Christmas, the prequel to the Private series, prior to reading Privilege. I believe certain characters and events are mentioned in this book that I was confused about while reading Privilege. Nevertheless, I was still able to follow the book. The ending had a shocking twist that left me wanting to immediately start reading Beautiful Disaster, book two. However, I will refrain until I read Last Christmas.

Recommended for: readers how have read the Private series and want an update about Ariana.

Book details:
Series: Privilege #1
ISBN-10: 1416967591
Pages: 291
Year Published: 2008
Genre: YA Fiction (Series)
Date Finished: July 9
Rating: B+

The Beach House by Georgia Bockoven

Synopsis:

The beach house is a peaceful haven, a place to escape everyday problems. Here, three families find their feelings intensified and their lives transformed each summer.

When thirty-year-old Julia, mourning the death of her husband, decides to sell the Santa Cruz beach house they owned together, she sets in motion a final summer that will change the lives of all the families who rent it year after year. Teenaged Chris discovers the bittersweet joy of first love. Maggie and Joe, married sixty-five years, courageously face a separation that even their devotion cannot prevent. The married woman Peter yearns for suddenly comes within his reach. And Julia ultimately finds the strength to rebuild her life—something she once thought impossible.

With equal measures of heartbreak and happiness, bestselling author Georgia Bockoven's unforgettable novel tells of the beauty of life and the power of love, and speaks to every woman who has ever clung to a child or loved a man.

My review:

I liked how the author wrote this book. The book is divided into parts; each part represents a summer month. During the month, different renters reside in the beach house and the reader is allowed a glimpse into their lives. Near month's end, the current renters prepare the house for the new renters, as everyone knows one another.

It was though I was reading three short stories in one book, however the author did a fantastic job of tying the renters' stories together. The Beach House is about picking up the pieces after a loss and beginning again.

Recommended for: anyone looking for a great read.

Book details:
ISBN-10: 0061727644
Pages: 379
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Fiction
Date Finished: July 5
Rating: A

Revelation by Kate Brian

The biggest mystery of all...and Reed is dying to learn the truth.

Two months after Cheyenne Martin was found dead in her Billings House dorm room, exclusive Easton Academy is rocked by another stunning revelation: Cheyenne was murdered. No one knows who the killer is, but everyone agrees that Reed Brennan, who took over Cheyenne's role as Billings's president, gained the most from her death. Once the most powerful girl on campus, Reed is now powerless to stop her classmates' accusing whispers. Rumors begin to swirl that she killed Cheyenne.

And just like that, Reed is kicked out of Billings.

She's lost everything -- her friends, her home, her boyfriend -- and Reed knows the only way to get it all back is to figure out who really murdered Cheyenne. And she has to do it fast because the killer is still out there. The more Reed investigates, the more she uncovers. And as any Billings Girl knows...secrets can be deadly.

My Review:
In Revelation, Reed finds herself ostracized from the Billings House. She now resides in a single room adjacent to her ex-boyfriend's current girlfriend. Reed is in disbelief with how quickly she has fallen. Once she had everything within her grasp and now, well now. . . she's an outcast.

I liked that Reed had the chance to escape the chains of the Billings House. Together, these girls are so one-dimensional that it's hard to like them. I thought Reed finally had the chance to discover her true self. She oscillated between grieving for her former life and taking a stand against those who doubted her involvement in Cheyenne's murder.

The only issue I had with the book was the author gave away the killer's identity in one innocent sentence. As soon as I read it, I knew this person killed Cheyenne. The sentence was so random, so innocent, that if the reader wasn't paying attention, he/she would have missed the clue. Now, on the other hand, the motive behind the murder and sending Reed those haunting e-mails, was a twist. I didn't see THAT coming at all.

Recommended for: for readers who enjoy young adult series.

Mailbox Monday

Marcia, The Printed Page, hosts Mailbox Monday each week. She writes:

"Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists."

Here's what I received in the mail last week:

I won a giveaway hosted by Mary of Bookfan-Mary:

Title: How to Score
Author: Robin Wells

HER LIFE COACH

Museum curator Sammi Matthews isn't just in a dating slump, she's putting men on the injured list. After giving one date a black eye and cracking another's rib, Sammi decides she needs professional help. Enter life coach Luke Jones, who advises Sammi on how to overcome her klutziness. And their phone sessions work! Sammi soon meets a sexy FBI agent who seems to know just what she needs.

IS CHANGING HER LIFE

When his brother Luke goes into federal protection, FBI Special Agent Chase Jones agrees to cover for him. Then Sammi's hot voice sizzles down the line, and the usual "phone only" rule is out. With "Luke" coaching her by day, and Chase dating her by night, Sammi's confidence soars, along with her appeal. Chase falls hard, but how will Sammi feel if and when he comes clean? Chase would rather she break all his bones than risk breaking her heart.

IN WAYS SHE'S NEVER IMAGINED!

(From Barnes & Noble)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event to share what we read last week, what we are currently reading and what books we plan to read this week.

Books read last week:

• Privilege by Kate Brian
• 50 Harbor Street by Debbie Macomber (audio book)
  

Audio book currently listening to:

Yesterday I started listening to 6 Rainier Drive by Debbie Macomber. As soon as the book started, I realized the narrator is not the same from the previous five audio books. I just couldn't get into it. So, I decided to keep going (you know, stay open) and after 20 minutes I stopped listening. The characters' voices were not the same and I did not feel as connected as I did with the previous audio books. Listening to the previous audio books, I could immediately tell each character without identifying details given.

I want to continue with the series, so I'm debating to a) read the book or b) continue with the audio book. I would like to complete the first eight book prior to book nine's release in September. As of now, I'm currently not listening to anything.

Currently reading:

• Dune Road by Jane Green
  

Up Next:

I'm still working on my reading schedule. I've come to realize that I should turn in several library books unread so I can read my own books and those books I pulled aside for my "beachy" reads. Here's what I've decided on so far (in no particular order):

• City Dog by Alison Pace
• Red Hot Lies by Laura Caldwell
• Dial Emmy for Murder by Eileen Davis
• The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow
• Paradise Lost by Kate Brian
• Beautiful Disaster by Kate Brian

Will I finish the above by next week? Um, no. . . These are six books that I just want to finish before the end of the month.

What are you reading this week?

44 Cranberry Point by Debbie Macomber

Title:44 Cranberry Point
Author: Debbie Macomber
Series: Cedar Cove #4
ISBN-10: 0778320731
Pages: 377
Year Published: 2004
Genre: Romance
Date Finished: July 1

From the back cover:

Peggy Beldon
Thyme and Tide B and B
44 Cranberry Point
Cedar Cove, Washington

Dear Reader,

I love living in Cedar Cove, but things haven't been the same since a man died in our B and B. Turns out his name was Max Russell, and Bob had known him briefly in Vietnam. We still don't have any idea why he came here and-most important of all-who killed him. Because it now appears that he was poisoned. I sure hope somebody figures it out soon!

Now that we're providing the only news in Cedar Cove these day, I heard that Jon Bowman and Maryellen Sherman are getting married. And Maryellen's mom, Grace, has more than her share of interested men! The question is: Which one is she going to choose? Olivia-I guess it's Olivia Griffin now-is back from her honeymoon, and her mother, Charlotte (who's in her mid-seventies at least), seems to have a man in her life, too. I'm not sure Olivia's too pleased. . .

There's lots of other gossip I could tell you. Come by for a cup of tea and one of my blueberry muffins and we'll talk.

Peggy

First sentence: Peggy Beldon walked into her newly planted garden, taking real pleasure in the sights and smells that surrounded her.

Olivia Lockhart, Grace Sherman and their family and friends are back in this fourth installment of the Cedar Cove series. 44 Cranberry Point picks up where 311 Pelican Court ended. Bob and Peggy Beldon find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation and are shocked when they learn the killer's identity and the motive for the murder.

Ms. Macomber continues the stories of the popular characters: Olivia and her mother, Charlotte, Grace and her daughters, Jack Griffin and Cliff Harding. New characters are introduced as well. If you've read the previous novels in the series, you will feel right at home with 44 Cranberry Point.

I do like with each book, more is revealed about each character. It's as though the reader is getting to know a new friend. At times the storyline is predictable, however it doesn't diminish the reading enjoyment. If you are interested in reading this series, I suggest reading them in order as each book flows from one to the other.

Musing Mondays

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about library company…

Who, if anyone usually accompanies you to the library? Is it somewhere you go alone? Or is it a regular outing with family or friends? Which do you prefer?

I go to the library alone. I actually prefer it that way. Going to the library (or book store) is something I do for myself. It's my time to relax and not feel pressured. When I’m book browsing, I like to take my time and spend as much time as I want at the library. If I’m with someone else, I usually feel rushed and quickly skim the shelves, find what I’m looking for and leave.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event to share what we read last week, what we are currently reading and what books we plan to read this week.

Books read last week:

• The Beach House by Georgia Bockoven
  
• Revelation by Kate Brian
• 44 Cranberry Point (audio book)
  

Audio book currently listening to:

• 50 Harbor Street by Debbie Macomber

Up Next:

Over the weekend, I realized I need to make adjustments to my summer reading plan. I'm really not one that plans what I will read next, however recently I've joined the Amazon Vine Program, signed up for blog tours, and started receiving ARCs, while trying to balance reading books checked out from the library and my personal books. In order to stay on top of things, I created a summer reading schedule. It was working well. . .until this weekend.

Needless to say, I have to spend time this week revising my plan to allow for more flexibility. This is all new for me (having a reading schedule) and I think I just need more time to find what works and what does not. So, as of now, I'm not sure what I will read next.

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot

Title: Being Nikki
Author: Meg Cabot
Series: Airhead #2
ISBN-10: 0-545-04056-6
Pages: 336
Year Published: 2009
Genre: YA Fiction (Series)
Date Finished: June 28

From the dust jacket:

Things aren’t pretty for Emerson Watts.

Em was sure there couldn’t be anything worse than being a brainiac in the body of a teenage supermodel.

But it turned out she was wrong.

It turns out she has a mother who’s gone mysteriously missing, a brother who’s shown up on her doorstep demanding answers, a former best friend who’s intent on destroying Stark Enterprises, and a British heartthrob who’s written a song about her that’s topping the charts.

How can Em balance all that with school and runway shows — especially when she’s got ex-boyfriends crawling out of the woodwork who want more than just a photo op, a sister who is headed to the high school cheerleading championships, and a company she represents that seems to be turning to the dark side. . .

Not to mention trying to convince the love of her life that models aren’t really airheads after all. . .especially one model in particular.

But then, nobody said it was going to be easy being Nikki.

First sentences: I’m cold. I’m freezing, actually.

Review:
Being Nikki is the follow-up novel to Airhead. In Airhead, the readers learned how Emerson “Em” Watts became Nikki Howard. In Being Nikki, we learn more about Nikki’s personal life.

The story centers around Em adjusting to Nikki’s high-profile lifestyle while balancing her school work, family and trying to be friends with Christopher. When a mysterious stranger shows up at her Manhattan loft unexpectedly, the story takes off and the mystery begins.

I have to admit, I thought Being Nikki was much better than Airhead. Airhead was too repetitive for me. In Being Nikki, Ms. Cabot did a quick recap and immediately jumped into the storyline.

At times, the plot was predictable, however Ms. Cabot did end the book with a great cliff hanger. I’m looking forward to the third book in this series, Runaway.

Recommended to readers: who love Ms. Cabot's young adult novels.

Ambition

Title: Ambition
Author: Kate Brian
Series: Private #7
ISBN-10: 1-4169-5882-7
Pages: 279
Year Published: 2008
Genre: YA Fiction (Series)
Date Finished: June 27

From the back cover:

The higher you climb, the farther you have to fall....

Reed Brennan knew being elected president of exclusive Billings Hall would change her life. What she didn't count on was being dumped by her boyfriend, Josh Hollis, or being held responsible for a fire that destroyed Easton Academy's oldest building.

And now the administration wants to shut Billings down. Forever.

As president, it's up to Reed to save Billings Hall. What better way to win over the head­master than to host a glam fund-raising event in New York City? Everyone needs a date, and the newly single Reed is the most eligible girl on campus. All of Easton's hottest boys are angling to take her out, and for once, Reed's biggest problem is which one to choose.

Reed has never felt so popular or powerful — until the police start asking questions about Cheyenne Martin's death. Excited party buzz quickly turns to whispered rumors and dark moods, and one thing becomes clear: There is someone who wants to see Billings, and Reed, go down. And they will do anything to make it happen.

First sentence: I sat in the front row of folding chairs in the Great Room of Mitchell Hall and stared at the gray, unfeeling faces that hovered over the long table before me.


Ambition is the seventh book in the Private series. Reed finds herself up against the head-master and the Easton alumnae after a fire destroys one of the buildings on campus. A fire that occurred while Reed and other students were sneaking off campus to attend the Legacy, an annual, exclusive event.

Reed comes up with the idea of a fund raiser in NYC and asks several of her Billings sisters to assist her with the planning. One of which is Noelle. As Reed coordinates meetings and appointments, it appears as though Noelle is trying to sabotage her.

Meanwhile, everyone on campus is shocked to learn that Cheyenne’s suicide may have been a homicide instead. Another murder investigation on campus.

Just as things are starting to look up for Reed, the secret she’s been hiding since the Legacy, is revealed. One night, one mistake can change Reed’s life at Easton forever.

Like the previous novels in this series, Ambition is a quick read. While reading, I couldn’t help but feel this novel is more of a “filler” to prepare the reader for Revelation, where Cheyenne’s murderer is revealed. There are a lot of clues in this book and hints about what’s to come. I’m looking forward to reading the next book soon.