And One Last Thing... - Molly Harper

Lacey Terwilliger just discovered her husband's affair. He accidentally sent his mistress, aka his personal assistant, flowers and had them delivered to his home address. Lacey, quite stunned and in disbelief, hightails it to her husband's office only to witness their affair first hand.

So what does Lacey do? She writes about her cheating husband's extramarital trysts. I forgot to mention, she writes them in his company's newsletters and emails these newsletters to his clients, family and their close friends. Needless to say, this does not go over well and Lacey quickly realizes she acted purely out of emotion. She retreats to her family's cabin to reflect on their marriage and herself. It's there that she meets Monroe, the quiet, loner "I don't like divorce drama" man who encourages Lacey to pick herself up, dust herself off and begin again.

And One Last Thing... is about a woman who acts impulsively out of emotion (and humiliation) and thinks about the consequences later. Despite her irrational decision to write and send the newsletters, Lacey is a woman that the readers will immediately love. Early on it's obvious her husband Mike doesn't deserve her. He treats her more like his girl Friday instead of his wife. By the end of the novel, I liked that Lacey fought hard to gain her identity back and was given a second chance for happiness.

Ms. Harper is a new-to-me author. I enjoyed And One Last Thing... so much, that I'm looking forward to reading more of her books. Highly recommended.

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-1-4391-6877-6
Pages: 310
Release Date: July 27, 2010
Genre: Chick Lit
Format: Trade Paperback
Source: Publisher

I received a complimentary copy of this book for the And One Last Thing... blog tour. My participation in this tour and receiving a free copy did not influence my review in any way.

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: Mini Shopaholic
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Release Date: September 21

Nothing comes between Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) and her bargains. Neither act of God nor budget crunch can shatter her dreams of wall-to-wall Prada. Every milestone in her well-shopped life (travel, long-lost sister, marriage, pregnancy) inspires new vistas to explore in the name of retail therapy. But now she faces her greatest little challenge yet: Becky’s two-year-old daughter, Minnie.

While motherhood has been everything Becky dreamed it would be—Baby Dior, Little Marc Jacobs, and Dolce & Gabbana for toddlers—adorable Minnie is wreaking havoc everywhere she goes, from Harrods to her own christening. Her favorite word is “MINE!” and her penchant for Balenciaga bags, Chanel sunglasses, and online purchases has no rival under age five.

Becky is at her wits end. On top of this, she and her husband Luke are still living with her parents. Thankfully it appears house buying attempt number four is a go! Until a huge financial crisis causes panic everywhere, and nobody wants to shop—not Becky’s personal shopping clientele, not her friends, nobody. And with Luke in the doldrums, it’s time for Becky to step in—with a party: A surprise birthday party for Luke (on a budget) is the perfect antidote to everyone’s woes. At first.

Will Becky manage to keep the party of the year a surprise? Can she hire jugglers, fire-eaters, and acrobats at a discount? Will enlisting the help of Luke’s unflappable assistant to convince him to have another baby realize her dream of matching pom-poms? Will Minnie find a new outlet for her energetic and spirited nature (perhaps one with sixty percent markdowns)? She is, after all, a chip off the old shopping block. And everyone knows a committed shopper always finds a way. (From Amazon.com)

Sunday Salon

It's another hot day in VA. As much as I loved the hot, muggy days of summer, this weather has been a bit much, even for me. Yesterday felt like a sauna... at 9:00 in the morning! I'm not one who likes to turn on my air condition. I will keep in on during the day for my cats, but when I come home I like to open the windows and enjoy the fresh air. The last couple of days didn't allow me to do that. Opening the windows made my home feel very humid and stuffy. Fortunately next week will be back to the high 80s, low 90s.

I didn't have a productive reading week. I finished one book, Forget You by Jennifer Echols for a blog tour. I wanted to start reading And One Last Thing... by Molly Harper during my lunch hour on Friday, however things did not go as planned. So I started it yesterday and am I a little over halfway. I really like it so far. You can read my review on Thursday for the blog tour.

I'm not sure what to read next. I made a reading schedule for the next few months and have been pretty good about following it (which is surprising as I don't do well with reading schedules). I'm not sure if I will read the next book on the list. I checked out several books last week from the library that I want to read now, not to mention I have my own books to read (remember my summer reading challenge?). I just picked up Private, Wanted (anxious to see how the Pretty Little Liars series ends) and Sweet Deceit from the library. House Rules, The One That I Want and Second Time Around (all books I own) have been calling my name for awhile. Decisions, decisions. We'll see... my next read may be one of those or something entirely different. Check back to see what it is.

In the meantime, I hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday afternoon. Stay cool!

Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop: July 23 - July 26

The weekend is here and that means it's time for BOOK BLOGGER HOP!

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer of Crazy-for-Books. This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!

This week's question: Tell us about the book you are currently reading.

I'm currently reading And One Last Thing by Molly Harper for an upcoming blog tour. I just started it today during my lunch hour, so I'm not very far. It's about a woman who finds out her husband is having an affair with his assistant. When she learns about his infidelity, she writes about it in his company's newsletter. After her plan backfires, she is ousted from her town and goes to stay at her family's cabin. Stop by next Thursday to read my review.

What are you currently reading?

If you discovered my blog through the Book Blogger Hop, please let me know. I will also stop by your blog.

ENJOY THE WEEKEND!

Forget You - Jennifer Echols

At first glance, Zoey Commander appears to have it all together. She was taught at an earlier age how important appearances are: she had to be organized and in control at all times. So when her world starts to fall apart, she copes with what she knows. She pretends everything is fine.

The problem is, everything is so not fine. Her father is sleeping with one of his employees and gets her pregnant. She's 24! Oh, to make matters worse, Zoey and the rest of the swim team work for her father during summer vacation and everyone knows. Zoey's mom attempted to kill herself and is currently in a psychiatric hospital. Zoey is now forced to live with her father and Ashley, who are planning to elope in Hawaii.

Zoey's life is so complicated right now. She has a lot of family problems to deal with and her cute, friend Brandon comes to her for dating advice. And then one night Zoey and Brandon become more than friends. Their new relationship is something else that Zoey has to work hard to pretend everything is fine. And finally, there's Doug. Doug is also on the swim team. He has a strong dislike for Zoey. To be fair, it kind of seems he has a dislike for just about anyone! The tension runs deep between these two.

If that isn't enough, Zoey is in a car accident and has no recollection of what happened. The last thing she remembers is arguing with Doug at the football game. She wakes up in her car shortly after the accident as Doug is trying to pull her free from the wreckage. What happened? And most importantly, why is Doug there?

Forget You is a complex young adult read. Zoey is trying hard to be the good girl, that she comes across as being somewhat dense and naive. She repeatedly states "Brandon is my boyfriend" so much, that it really started to grate my nerves. I just wanted to shake her and say "he is NOT your boyfriend! Get over it!" She won't be honest with herself to see their hookup for what it is and why she chose that particular night to lose her virginity. It's quite obvious how Brandon felt about that night. And he has certainly moved on to the next girl.

Unfortunately, Zoey is scared of her feelings and needs to be in control at all times. And the one person who sees through all of this is Doug. Doug is the bright spot in this novel. He has a hard life too and appears to have a chip on his shoulder. As a result he does not allow anyone to get too close. His mother was killed in a car crash, his dad really doesn't care what he does and the other students stay clear of him because of his reputation. Quite honestly, I really liked Doug. He was very protective of Zoey, despite how she treated him and genuinely cared for her.

As the story unfolds and more is revealed about the night of the accident, it's hard not to hope that Zoey and Doug will get together. When Zoey does learn the truth, it forces her to take a long look at who she is and finally she is able to be her true self.

To me, Forget You was an okay read. As much as I wanted to empathize with Zoey, I often found it challenging. She sounded very scripted as I not so patiently waited for her to show emotion about her father, the new baby, her mother's suicide attempt and Brandon. Forget You may not be at the top of my recommendation list for young adult fiction, but I do think other readers will enjoy it more than I did.

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-1-4391-7823-2
Pages:292
Release date: July 20, 2010
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher

I received a complimentary copy of this book for the Forget You blog tour. My participation in this tour and receiving a free copy did not influence my review in any way.

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: Georgia's Kitchen
Author: Jenny Nelson
Release Date: August 3, 2010

At thirty-three, talented chef Georgia Gray has everything a woman could want—the top job at one of Manhattan’s best restaurants; a posse of smart and savvy gal pals who never let her down; and a platinum-set, cushion-cut diamond engagement ring courtesy of Glenn, the handsome entertainment lawyer who Georgia’s overbearing mother can’t wait for her to marry. The table is set for the ambitious bride-to-be until a scathing restaurant review destroys her reputation. To add salt to her wounds, Glenn suddenly calls off the wedding.

Brokenhearted, Georgia escapes to the Italian countryside, where she sharpens her skills at a trattoria run by a world-class chef who seems to have it all—a devoted lover, a magnificent villa, and most important, a kitchen of her own. Georgia quells her longings with Italy’s delectable offerings: fine wine, luscious cheeses, cerulean blue skies, and irresistible Gianni—an expert in the vineyard and the bedroom. So when Gianni tempts Georgia to stay in Italy with an offer no sane top chef could refuse, why can’t she say yes?

An appetite for something more looms large in Georgia’s heart – the desire to run her own restaurant in the city she loves. But having left New York with her career in flames, she’ll need to stir up more than just courage if she’s to realize her dreams and find her way home. (From Amazon.com)

Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop: July 16 - July 19

The weekend is here and that means it's time for BOOK BLOGGER HOP!

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer of Crazy-for-Books. This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!

This week's question: Right this instant, what book are you dying to get your hands on (past, present, or future)?

There are two books I'm anxiously waiting for. The first is Cross Fire by James Patterson. It will be the latest in the Alex Cross series - which is my favorite series.

Next is The Life You've Imagined by Kristina Riggle. I loved her debut novel Real Life and Liars (here's my review), so I'm looking forward to reading her second novel.

If you discovered my blog through the Book Blogger Hop, please let me know. I will also stop by your blog.

ENJOY THE WEEKEND!

If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now - Claire LaZebnik

Rickie is a young, single mom to six-year-old Noah. Noah is shy and extremely self-conscious. He's constantly picked on by his classmates for being "different" (he has food allergies) and tends to stay to himself. Rickie tries hard to be a good mother to him, but often appears to be distracted. She's aware of Noah's lack of friends (she really doesn't have any either) and the teasing he endures at school. So when Noah comes home and spins his side of the story about what went down in gym class, Rickie immediately heads straight to the school.

She is fuming mad when she meets Noah's gym coach. Andrew is young and cute (okay, very cute!) and attempts to calm Rickie before explaining that Noah exaggerated the story. And the scene is set for If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now.

It's quite obvious how the story will end for Rickie and Andrew. LaZebnik takes her time getting them there. After all, Andrew is currently with the gorgeous Gracie and Rickie has a "friends with benefits" relationship with her brother-in-law. But over the course of time, Rickie and Andrew get to know each other and well... you know the rest.

Let me pause here and say, it's really difficult for me to review this book. And here's why: Rickie. Initially, I liked her. She was a different female, lead character to me. She didn't care about her looks, her attitude was, "I'll do what I want, say what I want, etc." But quickly, I realized what I thought I'd like about her, started to get on my nerves and I couldn't take her anymore.

She's 25 years old, living at home, unemployed and her parents are paying for their grandson's private school tuition. Let's stop right there. Seems to me, she should be grateful. Instead she came across as entitled. Her mother, being her mother, wants her to grow up and take more responsibility for her life. Rickie becomes annoyed with her and says she is working on her college degree (she dropped out to have Noah), but is only taking one class.

And then there's Noah. She knows Noah has food restrictions. But yet she forgets... on several occasions. How does one forget this? I just wanted to shake her. In all fairness, I guess I couldn't relate to her. When I was twenty-five, I moved to a state where I knew no one to begin graduate school. I was on my own for the first time. And it was exciting, but yet terrifying.

What made the book for me was Rickie's half-sister Melanie. I just adored her. Her husband left the family for another woman and Melanie temporarily moved home to cope. At times, Melanie did not always say the right things and allowed her emotions to get the best of her. But you know what? She was real. She was honest and she was mature. She was someone I could connect with. How I wished this was her story and Rickie was a secondary character.

By the end, my feelings for Rickie shifted...a bit. She started to grow up and realized life is not just about the "happenings in her world". Although I didn't love this one, I think other readers may disagree with me.

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-0446555012
Pages: 331
Release date: September 27, 2010
Genre: Chick Lit
Format: Paperback
Source: Crazy Book Tours

I received a copy of If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now from Crazy Book Tours. Receiving this free copy did not influence my review in any way.

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: Mothers & Other Liars
Author: Amy Bourret
Release Date: August 3, 2010

How far will a mother go to save her child?

Ten years ago, Ruby Leander was a drifting nineteen-year-old who made a split-second decision at an Oklahoma rest stop. Fast forward nine years: Ruby and her daughter Lark live in New Mexico. Lark is a precocious, animal loving imp, and Ruby has built a family for them with a wonderful community of friends and her boyfriend of three years. Life is good. Until the day Ruby reads a magazine article about parents searching for an infant kidnapped by car-jackers. Then Ruby faces a choice no mother should have to make. A choice that will change both her and Lark's lives forever. (From Amazon.com)

29 - Adena Halpern

Ellie Jerome has regrets. Moments before blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, she realizes she has regrets. And not small, trivial regrets. No, they're big. Did she marry the right man? Was she a good mother? What if she made different choices? What would her life be like now as she's celebrating her 75th birthday?

If only she could go back in time. To her younger self...when she was full of life and the whole world was at her feet. Yes, if only she could rewrite her past. These are her last thoughts prior to blowing out her candles.

The morning after her party, Ellie wakes up and feels different. She can't put her finger on it, but she knows something is a bit off. Imagine her surprise when she sees herself—her 29 year old self—in the bathroom mirror. And so begins 29 by Adena Halpern.

Ellie is delighted her birthday wish came true. She's 29 again and can make a new life for herself. She's having the time of her life and a bit leery when her granddaughter Lucy finds out the truth. Lucy is initially stunned to see her grandmother as a young, vivacious woman. She quickly recovers and together the women decide to have a girls' fun-filled day.

Problems arise when Barbara, Ellie's daughter, and Frida, Ellie's best friend, become suspicious of Ellie's whereabouts. The two women team up to find the missing Ellie, both with concerns about what may have happened to her.

I absolutely loved this book! Ellie is a cute, delightful character as a young woman and at 75. Readers can't help but to love her. I did feel for Ellie as she's among family and friends and all she can think about is the life she could have had. Many of us would like to turn back time and choose a different path, but instead of looking back, we continue to move forward vowing to make better decisions in order to have the life we still dream of.

Despite the lightheartedness and humorous plot, Ms. Halpern does a great job with character growth and reflection regarding Lucy, Ellie, Barbara and Frida. Themes include mother and daughter relationships, being true to oneself, living your life without holding on so tightly and accepting that you're where you're supposed to be.

29 is a great way to spend a day at the pool or reading outside on the deck. I highly recommend this novel.

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-1439171127
Pages: 269
Release date: June 15, 2010
Genre: Chick Lit; Women's Fiction
Format: eBook
Source: Personal copy

Sunday Salon

Another weekend has come and it's almost over. How can this be? It feels like I just came home from work Friday evening. Whew! Time is just moving by so quickly...

Despite all the craziness of work, I had a really good week. I stuck to my workout schedule and completed my 6 workouts. Four of which were runs. In fact, I ran over 15 miles, something that I haven't done in awhile...too long to be honest.

I also read every day this week. I'm trying really hard to read during lunch. Unfortunately this past week, I wasn't able to take my lunch hour and sat eating and working at my desk. The positive side is I was able to read for at least an hour (or more on some evenings) when I came home. Between working out and reading, I think this may have helped me not feel quite as overwhelmed with work.

Here's what I read last week (reviews are forthcoming):

1. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - Stephenie Meyer
2. High School Musical Mystery Part 1 - Stefan Petrucha
3. If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now (for Crazy Book Tours)

Yesterday I started The 9th Judgment by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro and finished reading it this morning. True to Patterson's style, it was a quick read. You may read my review here.

Next up is Husband and Wife by Leah Stewart.

Happy Sunday everyone!

The 9th Judgment - James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

Lindsay, Claire, Yuki and Cindy are back for the ninth installment of The Women's Murder Club series. A serial killer, penned the Lipstick Killer by the police, is terrorizing the streets of San Francisco. Mothers and their children are being targeted and killed in a vicious manner. The killer only leaves one clue: a message in lipstick "WCF". Lindsay and her partner, Rich Conklin, are angry that someone is killing mothers and innocent children. They are determined to bring the killer to justice.

Lindsay and Rich are also pulled into the "Hello Kitty" case. A robber, who breaks into homes while the home owners are entertaining, to steal their jewelry. This time, the jewelry thief breaks into the home of actor Marcus Dowling and before the night is over, Casey Dowling, his wife, is shot and killed. Given his celebrity status, Lindsay and Rich have their hands full trying to solve his wife's murder.

I really enjoyed The 9th Judgment. It started out with a bang—literally—and did not slow down until the final page. The authors did a good job with going back and forth between the two cases. What helped with the transitions were reading the perspectives from both the Lipstick Killer and Hello Kitty. I do have to admit, I wasn't prepared for knowing the identities of both from the beginning. It added to the suspense when Patterson and Paetro revealed more of their private lives.

All in all, The 9th Judgment is a great addition to The Women's Murder Club series. Fans will sympathize with the police force as they race to stop the Lipstick Killer from killing innocent mothers and children. True to Lindsay's style, she risks her life to make sure justice is served. As usual, I'm waiting for the tenth book to be released. I do hope Patterson will soon allow Lindsay and Joe to marry. I want Lindsay to receive her happy ending—she definitely deserves it!

Book details:
Series: The Women's Murder Club #9
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-03627-6
Pages: 355
Release Date: April 26, 2010
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Format: Hardback
Source: Library

Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop: July 9 - July 12

The weekend is here and that means it's time for BOOK BLOGGER HOP!

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer of Crazy-for-Books. This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!

This week's question: Tell us about some of your favorite authors and why they are your favorites!

• James Patterson - I love the short chapters and the suspense. Alex Cross is my favorite series.
• Mary Higgins Clark - started reading her in high school and haven't stopped.
  
• Wendy Corsi Staub - reminds me of MHC. Also I love that all her plots are thrilling and I can never figure them out!
• Emily Giffin - has a way of writing that makes it seem as though you're being told a story instead of reading a story. LOVE THAT!
• Jodi Picout - tackles difficult subject matters and always leaves me thinking long after I close the book.
• Harlan Coben - can write a great, suspenseful novel. Not to mention he's very likable (and funny) in person.

New to the list:

• Allison Winn Scotch - loved all of her books. Excited to read The One That I Want.
• Katherine Center - Loved Get Lucky, my first read by her. She can really write a good - read real with feeling - story.
  
• Sarah Pekkanen - Her debut, The Opposite of Me, was fantastic. While reading, I felt as though I was catching up with an old friend. Anxiously waiting for her follow-up novel.
  

If you discovered my blog through the Book Blogger Hop, please let me know. I will also stop by your blog.

ENJOY THE WEEKEND!

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: Don't Blink
Author: James Patterson
Release Date: September 27, 2010

The good

New York's Lombardo's Steak House is famous for three reasons—the menu, the clientele, and now, the gruesome murder of an infamous mob lawyer. Effortlessly, the assassin slips through the police's fingers, and his absence sparks a blaze of accusations about who ordered the hit.

The bad

Seated at a nearby table, reporter Nick Daniels is conducting a once-in-a-lifetime interview with a legendary baseball bad boy. In the chaos, he accidentally captures a key piece of evidence that lands him in the middle of an all-out war between Italian and Russian mafia forces. NYPD captains, district attorneys, mayoral candidates, media kingpins, and one shockingly beautiful magazine editor are all pushing their own agendas—on both sides of the law.

And the dead

Back off—or die—is the clear message Nick receives as he investigates for a story of his own. Heedless, and perhaps in love with his beautiful editor, Nick endures humiliation, threats, violence, and worse in a thriller that overturns every expectation and finishes with the kind of flourish only James Patterson knows. (From the author's website)