Bout of Books 10

Bout of Books begins tomorrow and I am excited to be a first-time participant.  For those of you who do not know what Bout of Books is about:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Goals:  I normally read 2 books (and start the 3rd) and listen to 1 audiobook each week.  For Bout of Books, the goal is to read 4 books.  I plan to read 1-2 hours each day.

Books to Read:  I have 4 library ebooks that all expire in the next 7 days.

1. I've Got You Under by Skin by Mary Higgins Clark
2. Morning Glory by Sarah Jio
3. Skinny Bitch in Love by Kim Barnouin
4. Until You're Mine by Samantha Hayes

Dewey's Read-A-Thon Kickoff!

It's almost 7:30am on the morning of Dewey's Read-a-Thon. And I'm just now signing up! Better late than never, right? To keep with my Read-a-Thon tradition, the cinnamon rolls are currently baking in the oven and my reading spot (my couch) is ready for hours and hours of reading.

Most of my reading will be on my Kindle. I've narrowed it down to 10 books, but we'll see if I will read from that stack or pick something else.

Happy Reading!

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.

Read last week:

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Summary: Lincoln is hired at The Courier, a Nebraskan newspaper, to monitor the company's email.  He reads employees' emails and flags those that are inappropriate and/or personal.  When he comes across several email chains from Jennifer and Beth (both are clearly sending personal emails on company time), he doesn't turn them in.  Although he hasn't met Beth face-to-face, he slowly develops feelings for her.

Zoo by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
Summary: Jackson Oz is a struggling biologist.  When animals turn on humans, he desperately tries to figure why.  (Honestly, this is one of my least favorite JP books.  I just couldn't suspend my belief while listening to the audiobook.)

Reading This Week:

On My Nightstand:

What's on your reading list this week?

Holiday Review: Trading Christmas

Trading Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Narrated by Renee Raudman

Emily is disappointed when her daughter Heather announces she’s not coming home for Christmas.  She calls her friend Faith and explains she will be spending the holidays alone.  Faith, being a good friend, decides to surprise Emily by paying her visit.  Meanwhile, Emily has researched swapping houses for the holiday.  If Heather can’t come home, she’ll go to her.  After all, family should be together during the Christmas season.  In her haste to leave, she doesn’t call Faith to tell her her new holiday plans.

Charles is the man Emily is swapping houses with.  He can’t get out of Boston fast enough.  The holiday carolers, the last minute shoppers and the festivities are too much for him.  Escaping to a small town is just what this man needs.  Until he realizes the town of Leavenworth is even more festive than Boston.  When Faith arrives at Emily’s, she finds Charles there instead.  Not sure what to make of him or their situation, Faith decides not to allow this scrooge to ruin her holiday.

Ray, Charles’s brother decides to visit him after receiving a phone call from their meddling mother.  She claims a woman answered the phone and demands to know if she’s “the one” for her son.  Ray travels to Boston to find out the woman’s identity and meets Emily.

Trading Christmas is a predictable holiday romance.  Grab a plate of holiday cookies, a glass of eggnog and your favorite throw.  Curl up on a cold winter’s day and enjoy this festive story.

Length: 5 hours, 28 minutes

Source: Library

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 (two weeks of reading):

The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D by Nichole Bernier
Summary: A woman inherits her friend's journals when she is killed in a plane crash.

Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand
Summary: Three families are affected when a teenage girl is killed after a graduation party.

Keepsake by Kristina Riggle
Summary: Mary reconnects with her sister Trish to assist her with cleaning her house.  Meanwhile, Trish needs to confront her issues with hoarding.

A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen
Summary:  The author shares the lessons she has learned in life.

Reading This Week:

Goodbye for Now by Laurie Frankel

Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot (audiobook)

On My Nightstand:

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

What's on your reading list this week?

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.)

Title:  The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society
Author:  Darien Gee
Release Date:  January 29, 2013

From Amazon.com:

Welcome to Avalon, Illinois, Pop. 4,243
At Madeline's Tea Salon, the cozy hub of the Avalon community, local residents scrapbook their memories and make new ones.  But across town, other Avalonians are struggling to free themselves of the past:  Isabel Kidd is fixing up her ramshackle house while sorting through the complications of her late husband's affair.  Ava Catalina is mourning the love of her life and helping her young son grow up without his father.  Local plumber Yvonne Tate is smart, beautiful, and new to Avalon, but finds that despite a decade of living life on her own terms, the past has a way of catching up—no matter where she goes.  And Frances Latham, mother to a boisterous brood of boys, eagerly anticipates the arrival of a little girl from China—unprepared for the emotional roller coaster of foreign adoption.

Enter Bettie Shelton, the irascible founder of the Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society.  Under Bettie's guidance, even the most reluctant of Avalon's residents come to terms with their past and make bold decisions about their future.  But when the group receives unexpected news about their steadfast leader, they must pull together to create something truly memorable.

By turns humorous, wise, and deeply moving, The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society is a luminous reminder that the things we hold most dear will last a lifetime.

What are you waiting for?

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:

Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick
Summary: Four college friends are given the chance to fulfill their dreams.  While doing so, past secrets are revealed, new love is found and a relationship is tested.

Private Games by James Patterson & Mark Sullivan
Summary: When a Olympic committee member is killed hours before the opening ceremony, Jack Morgan works with Peter Knight, from the London office, to solve the murder.

Walk in the Park by Jane Green
Summary: Girl meets boy while walking her mother's dog.

My Holiday House Guest by Carolyn Gibbs
Summary:  A thirty-something mother falls for her son's twenty-something friend.

Reading This Week:

On My Nightstand:

What's on your reading list this week?

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.)

Title:  The Lost Art of Mixing
Author:  Erica Bauermeister
Release Date:  January 24, 2013

Lillian and her restaurant have a way of drawing people together.  There's Al, the accountant, who finds meaning in numbers and ritual; Chloe, a budding chef who hasn't learned to trust after heartbreak; Finnegan, quiet and steady as a tree, who can disappear into the background despite his massive height;  Louise, Al's wife, whose anger simmers just below the boiling point; and Isabelle, whose memories are slowly slipping from her grasp.  And there's Lillian herself, whose life has taken a turn she didn't expect. . .

Their lives collide and mix with those around them, sometimes joining in effortless connections at other times sifting together and separating again, creating a family that is chosen, not given.  A beautifully imagined novel about the ties that bind—hat bind and links that break—The Lost Art of Mixing is a captivating meditation on the power of love, food, and companionship. (From Goodreads.com)

I read The School of Essential Ingredients and loved it.  It has a permanent place on my "Recommend List."  I'm excited to continue with Lillian's story and reading about the new people she will meet along the way.

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:

The Diva Haunts the House by Krista Davis
Summary: Sophie volunteers to work on the neighborhood haunted house.  When someone winds up dead at a Halloween party, old stories about a mysterious man resurface.  Everyone seems to think the mysterious man may have something to do with the murder.  It's up to Sophie to solve the mystery and make sure the haunted house goes on as scheduled.

When First They Met by Debbie Macomber
Summary: A quick glimpse of the history between Jo Marie and her husband Paul.  It was love at first sight when she met Paul and before long she knew he was "the one".  Perfect introduction for The Inn at Rose Harbor.

Reading This Week:

On My Nightstand:

What's on your reading list this week?

TLC Book Tours: Things Remembered

Things Remembered by Georgia Bockoven

Life has not always been easy for Karla.  After losing her parents at a young age, Karla and her two sisters, Heather and Grace, are sent to live with their maternal grandmother Anna.  Karla never felt close to Anna and often was jealous of the bond Anna had with her two sisters.

It is out of obligation that Karla returns home to Anna when she falls ill.  Anna is suffering from congestive heart failure and solicits Karla's help with putting her affairs in order.  Early on Karla makes sure Anna knows she only agreed to help her because she's the oldest daughter and she feels responsible for Anna's well-being.  While Anna simply wants to bury the past and try to mend their relationship during the little time she has left.

In Things Remembered, Bockoven wonderfully illustrates the dynamics of a not-so-perfect family.  Each sister has her own personal struggles, insecurities and dreams.  Birth order, letting go of past hurts and perceptions, and starting over are recurring themes in the novel.  Bockoven created two flawed and stubborn characters that the reader can easily sympathize with.  I really liked both Anna and Karla and wanted to see them repair their relationship.

This is not the first book I read by Bockoven.  I thoroughly enjoyed The Beach House and will continue to read more of her collection.  Recommended. 

Visit Georgia's website or find her on Facebook.

To read more reviews on this tour, click here

Read-A-Thon: Update #2

It's hour 13 of the Read-a-Thon.  It seems like this one is moving faster for me than in previous years!


My Progress:

Hours: 12pm-8pm

Currently reading:  Agoraphobics in Love by Lisa Tucker
Time spent reading: 6 hours, 15 minutes
Pages read: 370
Books completed: 1

Books finished:

1. Arranged by Catherine McKenzie

_____________________________
Total time spent reading: 8 hours, 45 minutes
Total pages read: 578
Total books read: 3

1. The God Box by Mary Lou Quinlan
2. Love, Accidentally by Sarah Pekkanen
3. Arranged by Catherine McKenzie

Read-a-Thon: Update #1

It's hard to believe another Read-a-Thon is here!  I wasn't sure if I could participate or not, but I ended up signing up at 7:30am.  By 8:00am, I was still getting prepared, so I didn't officially start until 8:30am.

INTRODUCTORY QUESTIONNAIRE

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
I'm reading from Virginia.

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
It's a tie:  The God Box by Mary Lou Quinlan and Arranged by Catherine McKenize.

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
Leftover Ledo's pizza from last night's dinner.

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
My favorite color is orange and I try to incorporate it as much as I can throughout my house.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?
I have a variety of genres in my reading stack:  ebook short stories, picture books, YA fiction and adult fiction.


My Progress:

Hours: 8am-12pm

Currently reading:  Arranged by Catherine McKenzie
Time spent reading: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Pages read: 208
Books completed: 2

Books finished:

1. The God Box by Mary Lou Quinlan
2. Love, Accidentally by Sarah Pekkanen

_____________________________
Total time spent reading: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Total pages read: 208
Total books read: 2

1. The God Box by Mary Lou Quinlan
2. Love Actually by Sarah Pekkanen

Sad Desk Salad by Jessica Grose

Sad Desk Salad by Jessica Grose

Meet Alex.  She's a recent college grad living in Brooklyn with her boyfriend Peter.  She's a blogger for Chick Habit, a website geared mainly for women.  She wakes early every morning scouring the internet to find her early morning post. She initially loved her work, however the pressure to meet her monthly quota and constantly watching the number of hits her posts receive, is starting to
take its toll on her.

During the day, Alex rarely leaves her couch.  When she does leave, her iPhone is always near (can't miss the latest news breaking story!).  She wears the same clothes for several days in a row and is aware this is an issue, however her job takes priority (after all she does work from home so really it's not that serious!).

When Alex receives an anonymous email with a video attachment of a good girl gone bad, Alex thinks this could be her big break.  Despite her internal warnings, Alex agrees to post the video to Chick Habit and becomes an overnight sensation.  What Alex isn't ready for is the impact this decision will have on her life.

Sad Desk Salad is a quick, light read.  It's easy for the reader to get wrapped up in Alex's story, although at times Alex is a bit immature and self-centered.  Character growth doesn't happen quickly.  Alex's path to self-discovery is quite bumpy.  Along the way, she learns valuable lessons about life and the woman she strives to be.

Visit Jessica's website, follow her on Twitter or find her on Facebook.

To read more reviews on this tour, click here

Book Review: Freak by Jennifer Hillier

Freak by Jennifer Hillier

Publisher:  Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Pages:  432
Genre:  Thriller

THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS TO CREEP

Freak is the anticipated follow-up to Hillier's Creep.  Professor Sheila Tao is still recovering from her affair with Ethan Wolfe.  Her upcoming nuptials with Morris is permanently on hold and her job may be in jeopardy.  

Jerry Isaac is forever changed. After Abby attacked him, he has turned into a bitter and angry man.  His hatred for Abby runs so deep, it cost him his marriage.

Now that Abby is behind bars, a new serial killer has emerged.  This one is more sick and twisted than Ethan in Creep.  Young women are being murdered all for the sake of freeing Abby.  The killer is obsessed with Abby and will continue his killing spree until she is released from prison.  Unwillingly Jerry agrees to assist his former partner in tracking down the killer.  Despite his feelings for Abby, he doesn't want any more innocent women killed.

Having read Creep earlier this year (which I loved, by the way), I could not wait to get my hands on Freak.  For the most part, I always have high expectations to a sequel, especially if I thoroughly enjoyed the first book.  So, I'll admit I was a bit nervous to start reading Freak.  I wanted to it to have that same "creepy feel" to it.  I'm happy to say it did (sounds a bit odd to say that!).

In Creep, Hillier created Ethan to be a true psychopath.  He was gorgeous, intelligent and came across as the boy next door.  But his true colors were sick and twisted.  With Abby, Hillier outdid herself.  She created a scary and tormented villain.   Abby was conniving, manipulative and determined.  She was pure evil.  All characteristics that make a thriller so thrilling.

What I liked best about Freak was it turned everything I thought about Creep upside down.  I was 100% certain Ethan killed those women.  Abby was his girlfriend and was mentally and emotionally traumatized because of it.  Well, after getting a glimpse of the real Abby in Freak, I'm not sure sure I believe in her innocence.

I'm not sure what's next for Jerry, Sheila or Abby.  I do hope Hillier brings them back in a third book.  If you enjoy reading thrillers and like being creeped out, I highly recommend Freak.  I do, however, suggest reading Creep first.

More from Jennifer Hillier:
Creep


(Print copy provided by the publisher for review)

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.

It has been a very, very, very long time since I participated in this weekly meme.   I won't bother you with the details of why.  Instead, I'm just jumping back in!

What I read last week:

Brava Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
Summary: After her grandmother remarries and relocates to Italy, Valentine finds herself in charge of the family shoemaking business.  Her brother also joins her to assist her with the financial aspect of the business.  Valentine learns lessons in family and in love. (audiobook)

Freak by Jennifer Hillier
Summary: Innocent women are being killed with the saying "Free Abby Maddox" carved in their backs.  Abby knows the truth about the killings.  She'll assist them under one condition:  her freedom.

Reading This Week:

On My Nightstand:

What's on your reading list this week?

TLC Book Tours: 15 Seconds by Andrew Gross

15 Seconds by Andrew Gross

It's About:  15 Seconds can tear your life apart. . .

Henry Steadman didn't know what was about to hit him when he pulled up to a red light.  A successful Florida plastic surgeon, he is in town to deliver a keynote address at a conference when suddenly his life becomes an unrelenting chase to stay alive.

The situation escalates when he is stopped by the police for a minor traffic violation and pulled from his vehicle, handcuffed and told he is under arrest.  Several other police cars arrive and the questioning turns scary, but just as Henry is released and about to move on, a blue sedan pulls up and the officer is suddenly killed.  As the car speeds away, there is only one suspect left behind⎯Henry.  In that moment, his idyllic life becomes a free fall into hell as he becomes the target of a police manhunt, as well as being pursued by a cunning, unnamed perpetrator bent on some kind of vengeance.

When Henry turns to a close friend for help, and he, too, ends up dead, Henry realized he's being elaborately framed.  But in a chilling twist, the stakes grow even darker, and he is unable to go to the police to clear his name, without bringing on dire and deadly consequences.

With breakneck pacing and nonstop action, 15 Seconds shows what can happen when even the best life is turned upside down in an instant.  It is also the story of an innocent man, framed for murder, who has to save the person he loves the most, all while being drawn closer and closer to an inevitable face-to-face standoff with a man determined to destroy his life. (From the inside cover)

My Review:  I've read several thrillers Gross co-authored with James Patterson and enjoyed them.  When I was given the opportunity to participate in his 15 Seconds book tour, I jumped at the chance.  I was curious to see if Gross could deliver a thriller on his own.  And I'm happy to say I was not disappointed!

Gross initially unfolds the plot slowly for the reader.  One by one the reader is first introduced to the key players in the novel:  Henry Steadman, the policeman and the killer.  After that single moment when all three come into contact, the story takes off at a fast pace.   As Henry moves against time to clear his name and track down the killer, I found myself reading each page faster to keep up!  The novel is filled with suspenseful twist and turns that will keep the reader glued to the pages.   15 Seconds read like a movie as I could vividly see the characters come to life in my mind.  

What I like best about plot-driven novels is the coming together of the story lines.  Gross provides the right amount of back story for each character, to allow the reader a quick look into their lives, while at the same time keeping the plot moving.  At times, significant clues are revealed to the reader prior to Henry's knowledge and I did not consider that to be a bad thing.  I usually try to figure out the mystery before the protagonist does!  

I enjoyed reading 15 Seconds.  It was the perfect way to unwind after a long day at work.  If you enjoy reading a thriller that's fast-paced, and at times predictable, then I recommend adding 15 Seconds to your summer reading list.  As for me, I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

________________________

ISBN: 9780061655975

Pub. Date: July 10, 2012

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages:  336

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Source: TLC Book Tours

Connect with the Author:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

15 Seconds TLC Tour Stops:

Tuesday, July 10th: Drey’s Library
Wednesday, July 11th: Luxury Reading
Thursday, July 12th: Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile
Friday, July 13th: Iwriteinbooks’s blog
Monday, July 16th: Jen’s Book Thoughts
Tuesday, July 17th: M. Denise C.
Wednesday, July 18th: My Book Retreat
Thursday, July 19th: Me and Reading
Friday, July 20th: One Book at a Time
Monday, July 23rd: a novel toybox
Tuesday, July 24th: No More Grumpy Bookseller
Wednesday, July 25th: Book Him Danno!
Thursday, July 26th: Me, My Book and the Couch
Friday, July 27th: My Two Blessings
Monday, July 30th: Reviews from the Heart
Tuesday, July 31st: Book Addict Katie
Wednesday, August 1st: Musings of an All Purpose Monkey
Thursday, August 2nd: I Read. Do You?
Friday, August 3rd: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers