In My Mailbox (40)

A few weeks of mailboxes and a vlog to boot! 


A meme hosted by The Story Siren.

For Review:
Why I Love Singlehood by Elisa Lorello
Sins of the Mother by Tara Hyland
Just Say the Word by Carla Salvo

The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams

Does a Bear Sh*t in the Woods by Caroline Taggart


Winnings:
Take it Like a Mom by Stephanie Stiles
Outside Wonderland by Lorna Jane Cook

Bookmooch or Paperbackswap:
Babes in Captivity by Pamela Redmon Satran
Spent by Avis Cardella
Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston
She'll Take It by Mary Carter

A few shopping trips:

Born Bad by Josephine Cox

Intuition by Allegra Goodman

Gift from Jen:

Up From the Blue by Susan Henderson




What came in your mailbox this week?

Review: A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Goodreads: Bennie Salazar, an aging former punk rocker and record executive, and Sasha, the passionate, troubled young woman he employs. Although Bennie and Sasha never discover each other's past, the reader does, in intimate detail, along with the secret lives of a host of other characters whose paths intersect with theirs, over many years, in locales as varied as New York, San Francisco, Naples and Africa.

Kritters Thoughts: A book of disjointed stories that have characters that are interwoven, but I just didn't understand the lack of chronology. We went from present to past to future and I just couldn't handle the ride.

My other main complaint lies in how the chapters were ordered and presented. With a lack of chronology, with each chapter it took me a moment to find out where we were in the years - it made things hard. The other point that I found extremely hard to read was not knowing who the heck the chapter was about until I was at least 6 pages in and then there would be about 14 more pages, where I would get hooked and then the chapter would be over, wasn't a fan.

I say all these things because this was a read for book club and after attending, I appreciated when other people enjoyed it while I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. If I reread this book, I would put it in the pile.

Rating:enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Pages: 274

July-Sept 2011 Challenge: A, An, The

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Birthday to my mom - my partner in crime (especially when it comes to bookish things!)

Review: The Allegra Biscotti Collection by Olivia Bennett

Goodreads: She could be a world-famous fashion designer - but can she pass the 8th grade?

By day, Emma Rose is a quiet, under-the-radar student who doesn't mix with the popular set. But when school's out, she becomes Queen of the Runway - whipping up cutting-edge designs.

When Emma is discovered by a well-known fashionista, the psuedonym Allegra Biscotti is born to protect her from the lime light. She soon discovers balancing a secret identity, boys, school, and friends isn't as easy as she thought.

Kritters Thoughts: A middle grade read that kept me laughing and falling in love with the characters until the last page. If you are a follower of this blog, you know that I don't tend to read middle grade books, but this is one not to pass on. I loved the story of a girl who is an outsider, but finds joy in her talents even though some may say she is too young to be a professional.

The trial and tribulations of high school mixed with the dream of becoming a fashion designer seemed believeable and endearing. More often than not, the reason I don't read this genre is because there is a lack of realistic voice and context - not so with this one, she hit the voice and the drama of that age dead on. I was transported back to that time in my life and made me wonder what things I dreamed of and what pushed my buttons that I wish I had overcome. Such a sweet character, full of honesty.

The random drawings throughout the book gave it character and made you even more connected with Emma Rose - you were in her mind as she sketched what she saw.

I will definitely be looking for the next in this series. A great read for the younger audience as a motivator to dream and how to deal with the mess that life can throw at you.

Rating:absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Pages: 244

July-Sept 2011 Challenge: Real or Not

July - Fireworks, Friends and Fabulous Reads

July - A crazy month of reading by the pool and the start of the police schedule. I am still working out how this schedule works, but will definitely be reading on those nights where he is out on the streets. Thank goodness for two book clubs, gym classes and close friends and family to fill the time!

Books I consumed:
1. Lot's Return to Sodom by Sandra Brannan
2. Inappropriate Men by Stacey Ballis
3. Room by Emma Donoghue
4. The Social Climber's Handbook by Molly Jong-Fast
5. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
6. Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner
7. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
8. Life In Spite of Me by Karen Anderson
9. Unleashed by Emily Kimelman
10. Confessions of a Call Center Gal by Lisa Lim
11. Flawless by Sara Shepard
12. Perfect by Sara Shepard
13. Chasing Amanda by Melissa Foster
14. Unbelievable by Sara Shepard
15. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman
16. Blank Slate by Heather Justesen
17. Only Mine by Susan Mallery
18. Citizen Out by Marie Crist
19. Where You Left Me by Jennifer Gardner Trulson
20. A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Total pages flipped or tapped: 5,986


Where I Was Reading?

Fools Gold, CA
Sturgis, SD
Chicago, IL
Chabot, MS
New York City, NY (5)
Washington, DC
Rosewood, PA (4)
Chicago, IL
Pocatello, ID
Boyds, MD
Rome, Italy
Paolo, KS
Los Angeles, CA

It's Monday, What are you Reading? (32)

A fun weekend off with the boy, meant little reading accomplished. I was able to finish A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan - review to come after I chat with the ladies at book club at One More Page.

Currently Reading:
Ralph's Party by Lisa Jewell

Next on the TBR pile:

Sins of the Mother by Tara Hyland

Review: Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

Goodreads: In the late 1970s, Larry Ott and Silas "32" Jones were boyhood pals. Their worlds were as different as night and day: Larry, the child of lower-middle-class white parents, and Silas, the son of a poor, single black mother. Yet for a few months the boys stepped outside of their circumstances and shared a special bond. But then tragedy struck: Larry took a girl on a date to a drive-in movie, and she was never heard from again. She was never found and Larry never confessed, but all eyes rested on him as the culprit. The incident shook the country - and perhaps Silas most of all. His friendship with Larry was broken, and then Silas left town.

More than twenty years have passed. Larry, a mechanic, lives a solitary existence, never able to rise above the whispers of suspicion. Silas has returned as a constable. He and Larry have no reason to cross paths until another girl disappears and Larry is blamed again. And now the two men who once called each other friend are forced to confront the past they've buried and ignored for decades.

Kritters Thoughts: A read for my book club at One More Page bookstore, it is definitely not one I would have picked off the shelf myself, but that is why I belong to book clubs. So on to my review. I am writing this review a full week after finishing the book and a few days after book club, why you say? Because I still have no clue as to what I make of it.

Confession - the story is about a black boy and a white boy and their relationship as it evolves over time. WELP this girl got the characters mixed up and had to back it up a few (50) pages and re read to get myself on track. So read closely and make sure you know who is talking!

Maybe because of my character mix up or because I just wasn't connecting with the story - I thought the characters were endearing and the story believable and interesting, but I just wasn't drawn to find out what was going to happen next.

Some people at book club empathazied with Larry, while I saw him as meek and a boy/man with very low self confidence. There were several times where I was trying to play therapist and give Larry some pep talks to buck up and confront the townspeople, but alas he just kept keeping on. I guess don't upset the apple cart!

Now without using too many more cliches, I am going to say that it was enjoyable, the writing was very descriptive, but not overbearing and it was worth picking up.

Rating:definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Pages: 274

July-Sept 2011 Challenge: Well Rounded (mystery)

Review: Life's a Beach by Claire Cook

Goodreads: Life's a bit of a beach these days for Ginger Walsh, who's single at forty-one and living back home in the family FROG (Finished Room Over Garage). She's hoping for a more fulfilling life as a sea glass artist, but instead is babysitting her sister's kids and sharing overnights with Noah, her sexy artist boyfriend with commitment issues and a dog Ginger's cat isn't too crazy about. Geri, her BlackBerry-obsessed sister, is also nearly over the deep end about her pending fiftieth birthday (and might just drag Ginger with her). Toss in a dumpster-picking father, a Kama Sutra T-shirt-wearing mother, a movie crew come to town with a very cute gaffer, an on-again-off-again glassblower boyfriend, plus a couple of Red Hat realtors, and hilarity ensues.

Kritters Thoughts: A story with woman who is trying to find her true passion while figuring out what her future will hold. The cast of characters was hilarious and entertaining - her family made the book even more enjoyable. As I have stated before, I have a sister and I enjoy reading about sister relationships - these two made me laugh out loud because I saw me and my sister a few years down the road in their shoes. As the sister obsessed about her upcoming birthday, I giggled as I may obsess about things in my life.

A love triangle which I always enjoy mdae this book a page turner. Sometimes I am sure which guy I want her to end up with and then I would flip a few pages and I was stumped - I had no clue which one would be the best in the end. Between the artsy glassblower and the methodical electrician from the movie set, I just couldn't decide who best fit her. As the story unfolded, I am glad the end came as it did and how it happened.

It may have beach in the title, but that isn't the only reason why I put this book into my beach read list. A light and easy great read that I would recommend to pack in your beach bag. NOTE - I don't have a clue why it was titled as such, didn't quite fit the story.

Rating:perfect beach read

Pages: 272

Cover Challenge April-June: Doubles

Review: Only Mine by Susan Mallery

Goodreads: You can't win if you don't play . . .

Her town's lack of men may make headlines, but it isn't news to Dakota Hendrix. The beautiful blonde has bigger problems to deal with, such as overseeing the romance reality competition filming in Fool's Gold. Screening eligible bachelors is a difficult enough task, but Dakota hits an unexcepted snag when a sexy stranger comes to town.

Finn Anderssen will do anything to keep his twin brothers - the perfect contestants - off the show. Despite Dakota's beetter judgement, she finds herself drawn to the mysterious outsider. Like her, Finn knows about heartbreak and how a family can fall apart, so she doesn't dare to hope for anything more than a fling. After all, even in the Land of Happy Endings, finding true love is never as easy as it looks on TV.

Kritters Thoughts: A mixed review for me on this book - on one hand I fell completely in love with the characters and the story, but the pages and pages of love scenes was at times uncomfortable and hard to read. Call me a prude, but I would have loved this book even more with a few pages omitted.

The story of an unlikely pair that from the beginning the sparks were flying, but they couldn't see them was written with such heart and truth. I became intrigued to hear more about this town full of women and the reality TV show that invaded it at every spot. The switching between characters to kept the story moving, but added depth.

Maybe I am a little naive or like my books to be a little PG13, but the sex in this book was very explicit and at times made me a little uneasy - I emailed my mom with a warning that you went in the bedroom and the characters' minds in this book.

So if you can handle the bedroom scenes, this book has a wonderful story of how life can take you down a different path, if you will only let it.

Rating:enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Pages: 384

July-Sept 2011 Challenge: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Review copy provided for an honest review by Little Bird Publicity.

Review: Blank Slate by Heather Justesen

Goodreads: Adrianna Mueller may be a world-renowned concert pianist, but when she wakes from her coma after a serious car accident, her ability to perform has disappeared as completely as her lost memory. As she recovers from her injuries, she struggles with the expectations of everyone - her family, friends, and fiance, Brock - who all want everything to go back to the way it was.

Everyone except Gavin Adrianna's brother's business partner, who finds himself drawn to the woman she is now. But he has his own problems. As he tries to get a handle on a former employee's embezzlement, he fights his growing feelings for Adrianna.

And then a trip to the emergency room shakes everything up, leaving her to stumble as she tries to regain her footing all over again.

Kritters Thoughts: A wonderful story full of heart and turmoil that makes you think about how much each person is defined by the people they surround themselves with and the skills and assets they have inherently. A slow start from the beginning, but once the story starts to unfold it is one book that is beyond hard to put down.

I was reminded of a true story where two college girls are in an accident and the one that lives is mistakenly taken care of the other girl's family. A heartbreaking story that may happen more often, but we just don't hear of it. How often are quick judgements made at the scene of accidents?

The characters were endearing and frustrating all at the same time. They were real to the core, which I found refreshing and beyond enjoyable. Their reactions to the situations they were put into was something that I can't rave enough about because I felt it was true each time.

I would recommend this book as a great read at just under 200 pages it is short, but a lot of punch is packed in this little novel.

Rating:absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Pages: 256

July-Sept 2011 Challenge: Well-Rounded (women's fiction)

Review: The Social Climber's Handbook by Molly Jong-Fast

Goodreads: High society can be a killer.

Upper East Side socialite Daisy Greenbaum is accustomed to the finer things - designer clothes, summers in the Hamptons, elite private school educations for their daughters, and a staggeringly exclusive Park Avenue apartment. But Daisy finds her well-heeled lifestyle on precarious footing after her husband, master of the universe Dick Greenbaum, learns about some shady dealings that threaten his position at The Bank.

Daisy refuses to allow her family to slip down the social ladder, so she devises a madcap plan: Anyone who jeopardizes her place at the top will simply have to be dispatched - six feet under. From Dick's arrogant boss to his scheming former mistress to a pair of nosy bloggers, Daisy's hit list is a who's who of big names with even bigger secrets. But with the body count rising as the Dow Jones falls, can Daisy really get away with murder?

Kritters Thoughts: From the description of this book, I was excited to add it to my review pile. But after reading it, I am not so sure about it. With the excessive financial talk and the crazy lady killing, I just didn't enjoy it. I would put it in the genre of dark comedy and although some may enjoy it - not really my thing.

Rating:not such a good read

Pages: 240

July-Sept 2011 Challenge: JAS

It's Monday, What are you Reading? (31)

Another Monday has come upon us - I am hoping that this week holds a quieter week at work, so I can accomplish my large to do list and a quieter week at home, so I can dive into some great books for review and for pleasure.

A meme hosted by Book Journey.

Currently Reading:

Wicked by Sara Shepard

Only Mine by Susan Mallery

Next on the TBR pile:

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

In My Mailbox (39)

A quiet week in the mailbox and for shopping adventures, but no complaints here because my TBR pile is quite big! Sorry for the lack of vlog and pictures - a crazy week in my personal life and work life, so I am behind on blogging and reading.

A meme hosted by The Story Siren.

For Review:

After the Party by Lisa Jewell

Shut Up & Dance by James Rose

Telling Lies by Cathi Stoler

The Ramble: Signing with Jael McHenry

Another great event at One More Page bookstore - my local independent bookstore in Arlington, VA. Author, Jael McHenry spent time reading her book and then answering questions from the audience. I enjoyed hearing about her experience getting published - the ups and the downs. Especially her story as to how she ended up with the cover of The Kitchen Daughter, which I absolutely love.

After all the questions were answered, we were able to get our books signed and I was able to spend a moment chatting with her about the book and her research. I love the atmosphere at this small bookstore because I really get to have a moment with the author and don't feel like a number in a huge line.

I definitely enjoyed the event, it was a joyto meet her and spend some time at my favorite store!

Review: Chasing Amanda by Melissa Foster

Goodreads: Nine years ago, Molly Tanner witnessed a young girl's abduction in the busy city of Philadelphia, shifting her occasional clairvoyance into overdrive. Two days later, the girl's body was found, and Molly's life fell apart. Consumed by guilt, Molly escaped the torturous reminders in the city, fleeing to the safety of the close-knit rural community of Boyds, Maryland.

Molly's life is back on track, her son has begun college, and she and her husband have finally rekindled their relationship. Their fresh start is shattered when a seven-year-old girl disappears from a local park near Molly's home. Unable to turn her back on another child and troubled by memories of the past, Molly sets out to find her, jeopardizing the marriage she'd fought so hard to hold together. While unearthing clues and struggling to decipher her visions, Molly discovers another side of Boyds, where the residents - and the land itself - hold potentially lethal secrets, and exposes another side of her husband, one that threatens to tear them apart.


Kritters Thoughts: A gripping novel that will keep you in your seat reading until the whee hours because you MUST find out how it will all unfold. A story of 3 lost girls and the woman who has visions as to their whereabouts and how they ended up stolen from their families. A suspenseful book with just a hint of some paranormal twists. I definitely had a hard time putting this one down when it was beyond my bed time! There were a few slow spots that I would have speed up a bit and a lot of searching in the woods for the little girl, but as a whole this book sped along like a train.

I think the one thing that I absolutely loved was the description of the characters and places. I could really picture each character and feel their personalities - they became lifelike. The setting - Boyds, MD was unqiue and described with such detail that I felt as though I could picture it right in front of me. A distinct city with a rural setting that allowed for certain events to occur that could never have happened anywhere else.

As with every suspense, I rate a book as to how far in advance I find out who dun it or if they are in the story at all. I think I realized the captor at the best moment, because I spent the rest of the book trying to confirm my hunches. A perfect amount of hints were given along the way, but nothing too blatant.

A suspenseful book that is definitely worth the grab. A book for both genders and most ages to read whether it be in the middle of summer or curled up in the winter.
Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Pages: 377

July-Sept 2011 Challenge: Real or Not

Review: Inappropriate Men by Stacey Ballis

Goodreads: Sidney Stein (size 24) is as ready for sex as the next woman, but her husband, Mark, hasn't been interested in years. Love-starved Sidney then falls for inappropriate man No. 2, her father's business partner, with whom she begins an illicit affair, only to break it off when she realizes he will never, ever leave his wife. "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it," said Oscar Wilde, quoted in one of the chapter headers, and Sidney does just that, plunging into a new world of email dating, phone sex, and more.

Kritters Thoughts: Short and simple - did not like this one. Way too much language, sex and the like. I was just darn annoyed that a married woman honestly started an affair with another guy.

If you are a fan of the vulgar, this one is for you.

Rating: not such a good read

Pages: 352

July-Sept 2011 Challenge: RDI

Off the Shelf Challenge 2011: 16 of 50

Guest Post - Melissa Foster author of Chasing Amanda

Melissa Foster - author of both Megan's Way and Chasing Amanda and founder of The Women's Nest. A current resident of Maryland, with another book almost complete - Come Back to Me. She is back on the blog with a guest post for her blog tour for Chasing Amanda.

Without further ado - here is Melissa Foster.

How Reading Makes Me a Better Writer

Reading is fundamental - that's what teachers have been touting for years. I've never questions the prospect of reading being essential. I've been a reader since I was just a tyke. I've preached the importance of reading to all of my children, and can't imagine how many hours would be empty if reading was not a part of our lives. What I hadn't really thought about was how reading would make me a better writer.

I'm often asked who my favorite author is and what books I have enjoyed. My standard answer is that I have many favorite authors, and that I glean something from every book that I read. This is true, and I will explain why.

Even those books that may not have a storyline that I find compelling offer something that I can learn from. Whether I'm picking up on different ways to describe scenarios or characters, or learning which writing styles I might want to steer away from - it all helps to enhance my writing. Increased vocabulary is another benefit to reading. I always have my handy-dandy electronic dictionary nearby to look up words I may not have heard of before.

Another advantage of reading is to enjoy the escape. Believe it or not, even writes need an escape from writing, and time to rejuvenate our own thoughts.

The next time you hear that reading is fundamental, I hope you will smile and think to yourself, What can I learn from this book?

Interested in writing, or simply want to chat about books? Drop me an email: thinkhappygirl (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Thank you to Melissa for sharing her thoughts. I am a reader and a blogger and always love to hear about other's thoughts on reading and the impacts it can have throughout one's life.

Blogfest Giveaway Winner

Congrats to Alex Connolly for winning my Blogfest 2011 Giveaway!

Review: The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman

Goodreads: Be careful what you wish for. A small town librarian lives a quiet life without much excitement. One day, she mutters an idle wish and, while standing in her house, is struck by lightning. But instead of ending her life, this cataclysmic event sparks it into a new beginning.

She goes in search of Lazarus Jones, a fellow survivor who was struck dead, then simply got up and walked away. Perhaps this stranger who has seen death face to face can teach her to live without fear. When she finds him, he is her opposite, a burning man whose breath can boil water and whose touch scorches. As an obsessive love affair begins between them, both are forced to hide their most dangerous secrets - what turned one to ice and the other to fire.

Kritters Thoughts: A book that flowed like a stream consciousness - which unfortunately I wasn't a fan of. The story overall was intriguing, but because of the writing style, it wasn't my favorite.

The use of strong adverbs made me fall in love with her descriptions of the "effects" of lightning strike survivors. I adored the relationship between the brother and sister and how the early death of their mother affected the both of them in two totally different ways. But through these likes, I still had a hard time reading and enjoying this one.

I would only recommend this book to those who love things that are artsy. Imagery and visualization would be key when reading this book.

Rating:enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Pages: 211

Cover Challenge April-June: The Royal Flush

Off the Shelf Challenge 2011: 13 of 50

Review: Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell

Goodreads: Lipstick Jungle weaves the stories of Nico O'Neilly, Wendy Healy and Victory Ford, numbers 8, 12 and 17 on The New York Post's list of "New York's 50 Most Powerful Women."

But this 21st Century New York, and to get ahead and stay ahead, these women will do anything, including jeopardizing their personal and professional relationships. Take for example, Nico, editor-in-chief of Bonfire magazine, who betrays her boss to rise to the top of the entire magazine division at media mega-giant Splatch-Verner. As president of Paradour Pictures, Wendy may be poised to win an Oscar for her 10-year labor-of-love, Ragged Pilgrims, but her marriage is in shambles and her children care more about a $50,000 pony than their mother. And for single, 43-year-old fashion designer Victory, pleasing tough critics may be more important than ever finding the real relationship she's convinced herself she doesn't need.

Kritters Thoughts: First, I must admit that I haven't had the pleasure of reading Sex and the City, so this is my first adventure with Candace Bushnell. I thoroughly enjoyed this book with three females as the center. I loved that each character was unique, but their friendships with each other were genuine and I could imagine how they became friends and why they stayed friends.

A story of their adventures in New York and the trials that women face. I absolutely adored how the women in this story were successful and powerful. It was interesting to read how the men in their life reacted to their successes. I enjoy reading books were the men are put into a different position and how the dynamics of the family must change due to the role reversals.

A great chick lit that made me want to continue reading Candace Bushnell. A must read for all chick lit fans.

Rating:definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Pages: 496

Cover Challenge April-June: All Made Up