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.

Here's what I'm looking forward to:

Title: Live to Tell
Author: Lisa Gardner
Release date: July 13, 2010

He knows everything about you—including the first place you’ll hide.

On a warm summer night in one of Boston’s working-class neighborhoods, an unthinkable crime has been committed: Four members of a family have been brutally murdered. The father—and possible suspect—now lies clinging to life in the ICU. Murder-suicide? Or something worse? Veteran police detective D. D. Warren is certain of only one thing: There’s more to this case than meets the eye.

Danielle Burton is a survivor, a dedicated nurse whose passion is to help children at a locked-down pediatric psych ward. But she remains haunted by a family tragedy that shattered her life nearly twenty-five years ago. The dark anniversary is approaching, and when D. D. Warren and her partner show up at the facility, Danielle immediately realizes: It has started again.

A devoted mother, Victoria Oliver has a hard time remembering what normalcy is like. But she will do anything to ensure that her troubled son has some semblance of a childhood. She will love him no matter what. Nurture him. Keep him safe. Protect him. Even when the threat comes from within her own house.

In New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner’s most compelling work of suspense to date, the lives of these three women unfold and connect in unexpected ways, as sins from the past emerge—and stunning secrets reveal just how tightly blood ties can bind. Sometimes the most devastating crimes are the ones closest to home.

(From the author's website)

What's On Your Nightstand?

May 2010

I didn't write a "What's On Your Nightstand?" post last month and wanted to make sure I did for May. Here's what I want to read:

• Get Lucky - Katherine Center (currently reading)
• Live to Tell - Wendy Corsi Staub
• Never Look Away - Linwood Barclay
• Think Twice - Lisa Scottoline
• Just Like Me, Only Better - Carol Snow
• A Soft Place to Land - Susan Rebecca White
  

What's on your nightstand?

Sunday Salon

I haven't participated in Sunday Salon for a few weeks now. Typically I try to keep my Sundays very low-key. I attend church, maybe grocery shop if I didn't go on Saturday and spend my day reading and/or watching movies.

Recently, my Sundays have not gone as planned. To spare you the boredom of my frantic work life (and I'm trying to no longer complain about it - I need to accept it and move on), I have spent Sundays cleaning, running errands and catching up from the weekdays. When I did sit down to read, I fell asleep almost immediately. Things have settled down somewhat and I hope to get myself back on my schedule (both during the week and weekend), so here's looking to brighter days.

Having said that, my reading has suffered somewhat. I'm now behind my goal of reading 144 books this year. By the end of April, I wanted to read 48 books, but it looks like I will finish number 42. I still have plenty of time to make up though, so I don't feel defeated.

Last week I finished The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen, which I thought was a fantastic debut novel. You can read my review here. I plan to finish The Cougar Club by Susan McBride, which I'm really enjoying, this afternoon. This is my first book by this author, although I've read good reviews for her Debutante Dropout Mystery series. Next up is Get Lucky by Katherine Center. I've patiently waited to get my hands on this novel and practically ran to the library the minute my hold became available!

That's pretty much it from the corner of my world. Happy Sunday everyone!

The Opposite of Me - Sarah Pekkanen

Lindsey Rose is at the top of her game. At 29, she's on the path to become the youngest VP Creative Director at her advertising firm. All she has to do is nail this top ad campaign and it's pretty much in the bag. Lindsey is convinced she has nothing to worry about. That is until an announcement blindsides her and sends her crashing on a path she never thought she would find herself on.

With her career and future in shambles, Lindsey decides to leave Manhattan and return home to Maryland to live with her parents while she tries to figure out her next step. There's just one small problem: her parents aren't aware of the REAL reason she came home. She can't tell them, she thinks, as she doesn't want to disappoint them. You see, Lindsey has a twin sister Alex. Alex is the beautiful, outgoing sister and Lindsey has lived (not so comfortably) in Alex's shadow as the smart sister. Lindsey has lost her New York City apartment and status of her job, so keeping her "smart label" is all she has right now.

The Opposite of Me is a story about Lindsey and Alex told through Lindsey's eyes. The reader is privileged to learn about their relationship through flashbacks and current events. Pekkanen does an amazing job with describing Alex from Lindsey's perspective, leaving the reader to form his/her own opinion about Alex. I have to admit, never once did I dislike Alex. I thought there would be more to her than what Lindsey thought she knew and I was happy to learn there was.

Both sisters have lived their lives by a label that was placed on them. As adult women, both have allowed these labels (either subconsciously or consciously) to shape their lives. When the sisters share a life-altering event, they are finally able to rewrite the script for their lives.

What I liked best about The Opposite of Me was I felt I was being told a story instead of reading a story. I easily pictured myself as one of Lindsey's high school friends and we bumped into each other on M Street in Georgetown. We grab lunch and catch up. Lindsey then proceeds to tell me about New York and why she's now back home. Early in the novel, I was lost in the story as the hours slipped by. I think fans of Emily Giffin will love Pekkanen's debut novel.

Ms. Pekkanen is currently working on her second book. I do hope she brings back these characters in the future. Without spoiling the ending, I want to know what's next for them! Highly recommend.

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-1-4391-2198-6
Pages: 373
Year Published: 2010
Genre: Chick Lit
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased from Barnes and Noble

Caught - Harlan Coben

First I have to say I HEART Harlan Coben! I discovered him on a whim while browsing at the library. I only read three books of his before I attended one of his book signings. Within the first ten minutes, he immediately became one of my favorite authors. And since then, I anxiously wait for the release of his latest book.

Having said that, I was so excited to read Caught. And I was not disappointed. The reader is first introduced to Dan Mercer, a likable guy who is a social worker for troubled teens. He innocently answers his cell and agrees to meet a teenage girl that he believes is in trouble. When Dan arrives at the address, he finds himself "caught" on a TV show that sets out to trap pedophiles.

Wendy Tynes is the reporter working on the show "Caught in the Act". She's not totally convinced that Dan Mercer is guilty. When she starts doing a little investigating on her own, she digs up past secrets that indicate people are not always as they appear.

Coben also intersects a missing teenager into the storyline. Haley McWaid has it all: she's 17, athletic, cute, popular and smart. She's basically a good, dependable teenager. So when she goes missing and soon months have passed, it's quite obvious that someone may have harmed her. When Dan and Haley's stories collide, the reader is left breathless as he/she races to reach the last page.

True to the author's style, Caught is filled with twists and turns and a clever, shocking ending. I highly recommend it!

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-0-525-95158-2
Pages: 388
Year Published: 2010
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Format: Hardback
Source: Purchased from B&N.com

Scandal - Kate Brian

Reed, Noelle and the rest of the Billings girls return to Easton Academy from winter break. Upon their arrival, they learn their beloved Billings House has been torn down per the new headmaster's orders. Devastated, Reed vows to reunite the Billings girls.

She turns to Noelle for help and is stunned when Noelle refuses to assist her. Noelle is graduating in a few months and wants to keep a low profile and finish. Reed is at a loss until she is given a present: a book documenting Billings history regarding a secret literary society.

Reed is determined to revive this secret society, but isn't prepared for the backlash it will cause. Friends are divided and new bonds are formed. Even the Billings alumni is against her. When things take a tragic turn, Reed wonders if maybe she has gone too far.
Scandal is the eleventh book in the Private series. Like the previous books, Scandal ends with a cliffhanger and the reader is left wanting the next book NOW! The good news is Vanished will be released August 31, 2010.

Book details:
Series: Private #11
ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-8470-2
Pages: 228
Year Published: 2010
Genre: YA Fiction (Series)
Format: Paperback
Source: Library

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.

Here's what I'm looking forward to:

Title: Runaway
Author: Meg Cabot
Release date: April 20, 2010

Where can you hide
When everyone knows your name?

Em Watts is a prisoner: Brandon Stark, heir to the Stark corporation family fortune, is holding her captive.

Em Watts is a liar: She's told all her friends she loves Brandon, and that everything is fine.

Em Watts is scared to death: She really doesn't know how she's going to get out of this one.

She's still in shock over the fact that the girl whose life she was forced to take over when her brain was transplanted into her body is alive—alive and furious with her for stealing what she claims was rightfully hers...

...including Brandon Stark, who's intent on finding out what that girl's secret was, and using it to get revenge on his father.

But that's not all Brandon wants…he wants Em. And not just to use her to trick Nikki into revealing that secret, and helping him secure his place as head of Stark Enterprises once and for all.

But Brandon's not the only one who wants something from Em. Christopher wants to use her to hurt Brandon…for taking her away from him, and to destroy Stark Enterprises.

Em Watts is tired: She's tired of being used. Tired of being lied to. Tired of being told who she can and cannot love. Tired of the lies she's being forced to live.

With everyone she loves furious with her for things she can't explain, Em's reached the end of her rope...what's the point of even going on?

But when she discovers the truth about Nikki's secret, she knows there's only one person she can turn to.

Will Christopher be able to put aside his personal feelings and help her expose her employer to the world? Is it even fair to get Christopher involved — since if he agrees, there's every chance that Stark Enterprises will try to have them both killed—this time, permanently?

Maybe it would be better for Em to just keep on running...


(From the author's website)

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:

"When people learn I have a twin, the first thing they ask is whether we're identical. Unless, of course they see Alex and me together, in which case their brows furrow and their eyes squint and you can almost see their brains clog with confusion as they stutter, 'Twins? But. . . but . . . you look nothing alike.'"

~p. 13, The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen~

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Sheila, of One Persons Journey Through a World of Books, is the host of It's Monday! What Are You Reading? This 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.

What I Read Last Week:

• Scandal - Kate Brian
  
• Caught - Harlan Coben
  

I'm Reading:

• The Opposite of Me - Sarah Pekkanen
  

What I'm Reading Next:

• Between Sisters - Kristin Hannah
• Live to Tell - Wendy Corsi Staub
  
• Never Look Away - Linwood Barclay

My reading schedule may change by the end of the week. I have several books on hold that may be available for pick up later this week.

Reviews to write:

• Scandal - Kate Brian
• Caught - Harlan Coben
  

What are you reading this week?

Love in Mid Air - Kim Wright

Meet Elyse Beardon. As a stranger taking a look into her life, it appears Elyse has it all. She's married with an adorable little girl. She lives in a quiet, middle-class suburb, owner of her small business and has a tight bond with her friends. But take a step closer and really look at Elyse. There is something missing from her life. She doesn't love her husband.

It all started innocently enough. Elyse was nice enough to change seats on her flight home. This one considerate act opens up a door she never thought she'd enter. It's during this flight from Phoenix to Dallas where she meets Gerry. A casual conversation between two strangers ends with a kiss in the airport as both race to catch their connecting flights.

Elyse returns home and initially tries to forget this encounter. However, her present circumstance and unhappiness prevent her from doing so. Next thing she knows, she's meeting Gerry once a month and is involved in an extra-martial affair.

The character of Elyse in a complex one. On one hand she's a doting mother and dedicated to her business. She tries to make her marriage work by suggesting marital counseling and even agrees to meet with her pastor, who is also her husband's best friend. On the other hand, she's restless in her marriage and finds herself "going through the motions", lacking fulfillment and happiness. She believes she has exhausted all possibilities to save her marriage and gives into the affair.

Love in Mid Air will cause the reader to stop in think. The subject matter is relevant to current times as more and more extramarital affairs are being revealed. Granted at times, Elyse is not very likable and it's easy to question her decisions. However, her life is complex and she felt trapped by a marriage she considered to be a mistake and desperately wanted to free herself in order to move forward. Although the her story doesn't end "with the little red bow", it seems fitting to the plot.

Love in Mid Air would be a great selection for a book club. The subject matter will definitely spark interesting discussion.

This book was provided by Miriam Parker, of Hachette Books, for review as part of the blog tour.

Want to read more reviews? Check out other blog stops for this tour:

www.madhattermom.com
http://www.stacievaughansblog.blogspot.com
http://ilratb.blogspot.com
http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com
http://www.sharon54220.wordpress.com
http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com
http://www.acircleofbooks.blogspot.coom