Wednesday, June 29, 2011

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. (Button courtesy of Bewitched Bookworms.)

Here's what I'm looking forward to:

Title: The Accident
Author: Linwood Barclay
Release Date: August 9

From Amazon.com:
In this mesmerizing thriller by acclaimed author Linwood Barclay, a typical American community descends into darkness, as an ordinary man is swept into one of the most violent mysteries of modern life.

It’s the new normal at the Garber household in Connecticut: Glen, a contractor, has seen his business shaken by the housing crisis, and now his wife, Sheila, is taking a business course at night to increase her chances of landing a good-paying job.

But she should have been home by now.

Waiting for Sheila’s return, with their eight-year-old daughter sleeping soundly, Glen soon finds his worst fears confirmed: Sheila and two others have been killed in a car accident. Adding to the tragedy, the police claim Sheila was responsible.

Glen knows it’s impossible; he knew his wife and she would never do such a thing. When he investigates, Glen begins to uncover layers of lawlessness beneath the placid surface of their suburb, secret after dangerous secret behind the closed doors.

Propelled into a vortex of corruption and illegal activity, pursued by mysterious killers, and confronted by threats from neighbors he thought he knew, Glen must take his own desperate measures and go to terrifying new places in himself to avenge his wife and protect his child.

Bold and timely, with the shocking twists and startling insights that have become trademarks of this new master of domestic suspense, The Accident is a riveting triumph, a book that moves at a breathless pace to a climax no one will see coming.

Monday, June 27, 2011

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.

Recently read:

  • Groundswell - Katie Lee
    Summary: A young girl marries a famous Hollywood actor and flees to Mexico after she learns of his affair.
I'm reading:
  • Friendship Bread - Darien Gee
  • One-Minute Tips Unclutter Your Mind - Donna Smallin
I'm listening to:
  • The Checklist Manifesto - Atul Gwande
Reading soon:
  • Books Can Be Deceiving - Jenn McKinlay
  • Night Road - Kristin Hannah
What are you reading this week?

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Blog Tour: Groundswell by Katie Lee

Groundswell by Katie Lee

Emma Guthrie is a Kentuckian turned New Yorker when the reader is first introduced to her in Lee's debut novel. She's struggling to make ends meet after she has to give up her college scholarship. Not wanting to return home and face her sister's "I told you so", Emma hangs in there hoping one day things will get easier.

And then they do. She's offered a position as a PA for a Garrett Walker movie. Things begin to move at a rapid pace when Emma first meets Garrett. A quick meeting in his trailer leads to him asking her out to dinner. Before long, they're dating and he's whisking her away to St. Barts for the holiday. As expected their whirlwind relationship leads to marriage and with Garrett's assistance Emma writes a screenplay that winds up being the blockbuster of the summer.

After seven years of marriage, Emma has left her old life behind. Being Mrs. Walker definitely has its perks. Emma's life is good and she appears to be happy and have everything she's ever dreamed of. But when she's given her husband's cell phone by mistake and sees a text from another woman, Emma realizes her world may not be so perfect after all.

Groundswell is the ideal beach read. Immediately I found myself drawn into the story and within two hours, I had read over half the book. Lee begins the story with Emma reading the text on her husband's phone and then flashes back to how they met. The story then returns to Emma and the text and continues from there.

Not much emphasis is placed on the seven years the couple was married. Actually, I didn't have an issue with that. Lee painted a picture of their marriage so the reader did not have to know every detail. At times, the story was predictable and I saw the ending long before I finished the book. I still found myself invested in the story and cheered Emma on.

I do have to say it reminded me a bit of Flirting with Forty by Jane Porter and How Stella Got Her Groove Back by Terry McMillan. A woman decides to travel to escape the craziness of her life and ends up meeting a gorgeous guy. So, if you've read and enjoyed either of these books, then be sure to pick up Groundswell. Even if you haven't read either book (I suggest you do - both are very good), throw Groundswell in your beach bag anyway. Being a little over 200 pages, you can devour it in one sitting.

______________
Book Details:
Pub. Date: June 21, 2011
Publisher: Gallery
Pages: 240
ISBN: 9781439183595
Genre: Beach Read, Contemporary Fiction
Source: Publisher (for participation in blog tour)

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

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. (Button courtesy of Bewitched Bookworms.)

Here's what I'm looking forward to:

Title: Things We Didn't Say
Author: Kristina Riggle
Release Date: June 28

From the author's website:

What makes up a family? For Casey it’s sharing a house with her fiancĂ©, Michael, and his three children, whom she intends to nurture better than she ever took care of her self. But Casey’s plans have come undone. Michael’s silences have grown unfathomable and deep. His daughter Angel seethes as only a teenage girl can, while the wide-eyed youngest, Jewel, quietly takes it all in.

Then, son Dylan runs off and the kids’ mother, a woman never afraid to say just what she thinks, noisily barges into the home. That’s when Casey decides that the silences can no longer continue. She must begin speaking the words no one else can say. She’ll have to dig up secrets—including her own—uncovering hurts, and beginning healing that is too long overdue. And it all begins with just a few tentative words…

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Review: On Maggie's Watch

On Maggie's Watch by Ann Wertz Garvin

Maggie is eight months pregnant when she and her husband Martin move back to her hometown. She reconnects with her former friend Julia. Maggie is a bit different now that she's back. She suffered a great loss that has changed her views on the world and as a result she becomes obsessed with protecting her unborn child.

She decides to organize her neighborhood watch program which leads to her discovery of a sex offender living in the neighborhood. Sicken by this, Maggie decides to take matters into her own hands to let him know he is not welcomed.

On Maggie's Watch is a portrayal of how unresolved grief can influence one's behavior. At first glance, Maggie appears to be unstable and it's easy to want to judge her, but when the reader learns of her past history and the loss she endured, it's understandable why she does what she does. Don't get me wrong, though. Some of her actions I found to be a bit over the top, but when I've reacted to a situation based entirely on my emotions, my behavior was irrational, but at the same time made sense to me.

I do have to admit, I didn't like On Maggie's Watch as much as I thought I would. I never warmed up to Maggie and at times found her to be exhausting. I did, however, want her to let go of the past so she could fully enjoy the birth of her child. Despite my frustration with Maggie, I still recommend On Maggie's Watch. The story was an emotional roller coaster for me: frustration to pity to sadness to happiness. My suggestion is to read On Maggie's Watch and decide for yourself.

______________
Book Details:
Pub. Date: November 2, 2010
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9780425236789
Genre: Fiction
Source: Crazy Book Tours




I received a copy of On Maggie's Watch from Crazy Book Tours. Receiving this free copy did not influence my review in any way.

Monday, June 20, 2011

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.

Recently read:

  • Better Read Than Dead - Victoria Laurie
    Summary: Abby agrees to read Tarot cards at a wedding reception which leads to her involvement in the mob. Psychic Eye Mystery #2.
  • Go the F**k to Sleep - Adam Mansbach
    Summary: A humorous look of someone trying to put a child to bed.
  • The Bedtime Book for Dogs - Bruce Littlefield
    Summary: A cute story about a dog's adventure without his owner.
I'm reading:
  • Groundswell by Katie Lee
Reading soon:
  • Friendship Bread - Darien Gee
  • TBD
What are you reading this week?

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

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. (Button courtesy of Bewitched Bookworms.)

Here's what I'm looking forward to:

Title: The End of Everything
Author: Megan Abbott
Release Date: July 7

From Amazon.com:
Thirteen-year old Lizzie Hood and her next door neighbor Evie Verver are inseparable. They are best friends who swap bathing suits and field-hockey sticks, and share everything that's happened to them. Together they live in the shadow of Evie's glamorous older sister Dusty, who provides a window on the exotic, intoxicating possibilities of their own teenage horizons. To Lizzie, the Verver household, presided over by Evie's big-hearted father, is the world's most perfect place.

And then, one afternoon, Evie disappears. The only clue: a maroon sedan Lizzie spotted driving past the two girls earlier in the day. As a rabid, giddy panic spreads through the Midwestern suburban community, everyone looks to Lizzie for answers. Was Evie unhappy, troubled, upset? Had she mentioned being followed? Would she have gotten into the car of a stranger?

Lizzie takes up her own furtive pursuit of the truth, prowling nights through backyards, peering through windows, pushing herself to the dark center of Evie's world. Haunted by dreams of her lost friend and titillated by her own new power at the center of the disappearance, Lizzie uncovers secrets and lies that make her wonder if she knew her best friend at all.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Review: Ten Beach Road by Wendy Wax

Ten Beach Road by Wendy Wax

Now that the hot, humid weather has arrived, my thoughts are turning to my summer reading list. As I began scanning my list, one author just grabbed my attention: Wendy Wax. Ms. Wax has been on my “new-to-me” author list for a while. I thought Ten Beach Road would be the perfect way to kick off my summer reading.

In Ten Beach Road, the reader is introduced to three women at various stages of life. First is Madeline. She’s a wife and mother and is looking forward to having an empty nest. Dreams fill her mind about what the future holds for herself and Steve, her husband, when she finds herself blindsided by her husband’s secret.

Next is Avery. She’s the co-host of the popular cable home improvement show Hammer and Nail. On the day she learns her contract will not be renewed, she is also told her inheritance from her father’s estate is gone. Now with no job or money, Avery is at a standstill for the first time in her life.

Finally there’s Nicole “Nikki”. She’s a successful matchmaker with offices in LA and New York. Business is well as evident by her lifestyle. Growing up with parents who could not afford the luxuries of life, Nikki promised herself that she nor her brother would ever go without. And now her worst fear has come true.

The three woman have are forced together when they learn their financial advisor stole their investments and made them co-owners of a run-down Florida beach house. Facing dire situations, the woman have no choice but to work together and trust each other in order to get back on their feet.

At first glance, Ten Beach Road can be viewed as a quick, light read. As the story unfolds, themes of self-growth and perseverance begin to emerge. Each woman is tested as they work together to rebuild the house to its original beauty.

So, if you’re heading out to the beach or the park or simply reading on your deck, Ten Beach Road is the perfect companion for a lazy afternoon spent reading.

______________
Book Details:
Pub. Date: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 432
ISBN: 9780425240861
Genre: Fiction
Source: Library

Monday, June 13, 2011

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.

Recently read:

  • Ten Beach Road - Wendy Wax
    Summary: Three women lose their life savings after trusting their financial advisor. They inherit a run-down beach house and must work together to restore it.
  • On Maggie's Watch - Ann Wertz Garvin
    Summary: Maggie, who is eight months pregnant, and her husband return to her hometown in Wisconsin. Maggie organizes the neighborhood watch and becomes obsessed with one particular neighbor.
I'm reading:
  • Better Read Than Dead - Victoria Laurie
Reading soon:
  • Gone with a Handsomer Man - Michael Lee West
  • Groundswell - Katie Lee
What are you reading this week?

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

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. (Button courtesy of Bewitched Bookworms.)

Here's what I'm looking forward to:

Title: Best Kept Secret
Author: Amy Hatvany
Release Date: June 7

From B&N.com:

Cadence didn’t sit down one night and decide that downing two bottles of wine was a brilliant idea.

Her drinking snuck up on her - as a way to sleep, to help her relax after a long day, to relieve some of the stress of the painful divorce that’s left her struggling to make ends meet with her five-year old son, Charlie.

It wasn’t always like this. Just a few years ago, Cadence seemed to have it all—a successful husband, an adorable son, and a promising career as a freelance journalist. But with the demise of her marriage, her carefully constructed life begins to spiral out of control. Suddenly she is all alone trying to juggle the demands of work and motherhood.

Logically, Cadence knows that she is drinking too much, and every day begins with renewed promises to herself that she will stop. But within a few hours, driven by something she doesn’t understand, she is reaching for the bottle - even when it means not playing with her son because she is too tired, or dropping him off at preschool late, again. And even when one calamitous night it means leaving him alone to pick up more wine at the grocery store. It’s only when her ex-husband shows up at her door to take Charlie away that Cadence realizes her best kept secret has been discovered….

Heartbreaking, haunting, and ultimately life-affirming, Best Kept Secret is more than just the story of Cadence—it’s a story of how the secrets we hold closest are the ones that can most tear us apart.