Review: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Isla and the Happily Ever After

by Stephanie Perkins

Publisher: Dutton

Pages: 352

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart. 


Kritters Thoughts:  The third in the companion series that takes the reader back to Paris and to the American school with a new group of seniors.  Isla is the middle daughter of a French/American couple who definitely shows the middle child tendencies.  Josh is the child of a state senator and doesn't quite fit the normal mold of a political offspring.  Isla has had a crush on Josh since day one and now in their senior year she may get the guts to make her feelings known.

What a fantastically sweet and realistic love story.  I absolutely stinkin adore the realistic ups and downs of a senior year of high school relationship.  The puppy love was great.  Although it took awhile it was great to have the appearance of the whole crowd - St. Clair, Anna, Cricket and Lola - but what a great appearance!  

A positive and a negative is that these books read so fast, I wish they didn't because I just adore her writing and would love to read books by Perkins again and again!

I don't know that this will happen, but I sure wouldn't mind another book with Isla and Josh at the center.


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Review: The Vineyard by Michael Hurly

The Vineyard

by Michael Hurly

Publisher: Ragbagger Press

Pages: 384

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Ten years after their college days together, three wounded and very different women reunite for a summer on the island of Martha's Vineyard. As they come to grips with the challenges and crises in their lives, their encounter with a reclusive poacher, known only as "the fisherman," forces them to confront their deepest beliefs and darkest fears.


Kritters Thoughts:  Three women - Dory, Charlotte and Turner reunite on Martha's Vineyard for a summer and each one of them is bringing baggage that hopefully they can avoid for a summer.  Although it started in quite a low spot, it picked up pace and completely turned a corner for me.  

Dory, Charlotte and Turner are all dealing with completely different issues.  I loved how they all had different things going on, but it didn't seem outrageous that three friends would be dealing with these things at the same time.  I loved how they each could help each other and had somewhat of unbiased views into each others problems.  

At times, I would almost categorize this in a semi Christian fiction way - don't want to reveal why, but having been raised in a Christian home, I definitely picked up on some things that made it an interesting read for me.  But beware there was definitely some sexy times, but nothing too erotic or out of place.  I would recommend this read with the knowledge that this definitely had some intimate moments.


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

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

Another great week of reading and almost caught myself up!  Thank goodness for a week of awesome reading!

A meme hosted by Sheila at BookJourney. 

Finished this past week:

Return to Oakpine by Ron Carlson
The Paris Winter by Imogen Robertson
Before the Storm by Steena Holmes
Stillwater Rising by Steena Holmes
While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell
A Second Bite at the Apple by Dana Bate
The Reluctant Elf by Michele Gorman

Currently Reading:

Waking Up Joy by Tina Ann Forkner

Next on the TBR pile:
Heart of a Dove by Abbie Williams

Review: Letting Go by Molly McAdams

Letting Go

by Molly McAdams

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 416

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Grey and Ben fell in love at thirteen and believed they’d be together forever. But three days before their wedding, the twenty-year-old groom-to-be suddenly died from an unknown heart condition, destroying his would-be-bride’s world. If it hadn’t been for their best friend, Jagger, Grey never would have made it through those last two years to graduation. He’s the only one who understands her pain, the only one who knows what it’s like to force yourself to keep moving when your dreams are shattered. Jagger swears he’ll always be there for her, but no one has ever been able to hold on to him. He’s not the kind of guy to settle down.

It’s true that no one has ever been able to keep Jagger—because he’s only ever belonged to Grey. While everyone else worries over Grey’s fragility, he’s the only one who sees her strength. Yet as much as he wants Grey, he knows her heart will always be with Ben. Still they can’t deny the heat that is growing between them—a passion that soon becomes too hot to handle. But admitting their feelings for each other means they’ve got to face the past. Is being together what Ben would have wanted . . . or a betrayal of his memory that will eventually destroy them both?

Kritters Thoughts:  In the first chapter, the reader is hooked - Grey is three days away from her wedding and her fiance is on the golf course with his buddies and his heart gives out and he is gone.  Thankfully Grey and Ben were part of a threesome, friends that is, and Jagger is willing to step up and help her cope with her loss and get her through the last two years of their college career.  But things change when they graduate and head back to their small hometown - as they should!

Grey and Jagger take turns narrating the story and thank goodness - it took this book to the next level.  I completely loved hearing both sides of their story and to hear how they both react to the same situation was awesome.  I also loved that since they grew up together and they headed back to that town, all of their family members were able to be a part of the story and their families couldn't be more different.  I find it thankfully realistic when the characters each have different family quirks and it is nice to see that no matter what home you come from, a friendship can still form.  

The darn twist at the end just made the book for me - not expected and completely loved it!  

The first book in a series and if anyone knows how many will be in this series, I would love to know!  

As a side note - I think this book is classified in the new adult genre and I tend to stay away from those because I don't always feel that the book has a story beyond the sexy times - NOT SO with this book, it had a full storyline and the sexy times were in just the right time and place.

Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Ebook 2014 Challenge: 61 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Edelweiss.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Bleeding Heart by Liza Gyllenhaal

Bleeding Heart

by Liza Gyllenhaal

Publisher: NAL Trade

Pages: 352

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  After her accountant husband disappears with millions of dollars stolen from his company’s clients, Alice Hyatt flees New York City and moves to her family’s longtime summer home in a small town in western Massachusetts. There she begins to make a new start, reconnecting with old friends and finding peace—and a growing sense of pride—as a landscape architect.

When extremely wealthy newcomer Graham Mackenzie asks her to design an elaborate garden for him, she can’t turn down the opportunity despite misgivings about Mackenzie’s energy company, which specializes in the controversial practice of fracking.

But just as the project nears completion, she learns Mackenzie’s offer is not all that it seems. Once again, Alice finds herself embroiled in someone else’s crimes, this time putting her newfound success—and possibly her life—in jeopardy....


Kritters Thoughts:  Alice Hyatt has already endured one crazy spouse scandal and I love how this book opens beyond the scandal and even beyond her recovery from the sandal.  She has moved and set up her own business that is slowly building at the perfect pace.  Through a series of events, she ends up working for someone new building in town and although it takes a while drama ensues!

It was so quick and easy to get into this book and to root for Alice.  I wanted to succeed even more so than most folks because of the past that she had overcome.  I also completely enjoyed reading a book about a character that had passion for gardening - I actually learned a few things which is always a plus.  Reading books with characters who have different hobbies is such fun because you as the reader may learn a thing or two, but you aren't aware that you are learning!

When it all started going downhill, it was great to see almost the behind the scenes of Alice's business and see all the threads unravel.  I loved the twists and turns and trying to figure out how these characters were really all connected beyond the superficial that the reader thought was concrete throughout the whole book.  

My first experience with this author and I am already excited to read her previous and upcoming books!

Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Berkley NAL.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Proof of Angels by Mary Curran Hackett

Proof of Angels

by Mary Curran Hackett

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 320

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:   Sean Magee is a firefighter—a hero who risks his own life to save others, running into dangerous situations few have the courage to dare. While fighting a horrific blaze, Sean becomes trapped by flames and is nearly overcome by smoke. Just when it seems that all is lost, he’s led to a window—by what he swears is divine intervention. And then he jumps . . . 

. . . into a new life. For years, Sean has shut down his feelings, existing in a state of emotional numbness. Coming through that fire, he knows that he can no longer be that man whose his heart is closed to the world. But before he can face his future, he must confront his past and everyone in it: the family, the friends, the woman—and the love—he carelessly left behind.


Kritters Thoughts:  Written from a man's point of view, Sean Magee is a firefighter who right at the beginning is faced with tragedy and decides to take this opportunity to turn his life into a second chance.  He has things in his past that he wants to make right, but must get through both physical and emotional therapy to be able to successfully confront his things from the past.

As mentioned above, told from a male's point of view, I loved it.  It was different and I liked different.  Although weird to read from a male who would tend to get a little emotional at times, I appreciated reading it.  I loved seeing the people that surrounded him during his tragedy and after and how he was able to help them heal in ways as they were helping him heal.  

A great book about second chances and using each moment to live life to the fullest was a nice reminder about setting the right priorities.


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

Ebook 2014 Challenge: 60 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: How to Bake a Man by Jessica Barksdale Inclan

How to Bake a Man

by Jessica Barksdale Inclan

Publisher: Ghostwoods Books

Pages: 280

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  When Becca Muchmore drops out of grad school, all she has left to fall back on is her baking. Ignoring her mother's usual barrage of disapproval and disappointment, she decides to start a small business hand-delivering her wares. A friend introduces her to an office of hungry lawyers, who agree to give her a try. Her lizard-booted neighbor Sal is happy to help out when he can, and almost before she knows it, Becca's Best is up and running.

Before she can settle into a routine, things get complicated. The office ogress could easily be Becca's sister and has absolutely no patience with cookies or other frivolities. Even worse, her boyfriend is the man of Becca's dreams--kind, funny, successful, and brain-meltingly gorgeous. As the dark undercurrents threaten to pull her down, Becca swiftly finds herself neck-deep in office politics, clandestine romance, and flour. Saving her business (and finding true love) is going to take everything she's got, and more.


Kritters Thoughts:  Becca Muchmore has dropped out of grad school and wants to follow her true passion of baking and falls into a great job baking for a law firm.  Although not an employee of the law firm she becomes embroiled in the office drama and politics and maybe even into the personal lives of some of the employees.  

Becca Muchmore was an interesting character, but the lack of flow in this book kept me from completely falling in love with the character and the book.  There were a few moments where she started daydreaming and it took me a moment to realize that it wasn't live action and that we were just in her thoughts.  The other thing that didn't make me completely love the book was how quickly Becca changed her mind about the men in her life - it was a quick headsnap change and I wish there had been a little more.  

If you love the flightly character and don't mind a quick change of heart, then you may enjoy this book more than I did.  I own another book from this author and will still try it and see what I think about it.


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

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

What a crazy week!  I was baking for the office and for my husband to take to his co workers, spent Halloween night with family and started the to do list for house projects that need to happen before Thanksgiving - not much reading happened!

A meme hosted by Sheila at BookJourney. 

Finished this past week:

One Step too Far by Tina Seskis
The Vineyard by Michael Hurley

Currently Reading:

Return to Oakpine by Ron Carlson

Next on the TBR pile:

The Paris Winter by Imogen Robertson

October - falling into fall

source

The older I get the more I fall in love with fall.  I have always adored spring and summer, but more and more fall is growing on me!  The crisp in the air, we picked apples for the first time, the change in wardrobe, jackets as an accessory not necessity - all fun things about fall.  Fall is also the beginning of crazy reading months because the dogs nor I want to spend too many chilly minutes outside chasing balls!  So here is what I read in October 

1. Painting Juliana by Martha Louise Hunter
2. The Red Hot Fix by TE Woods
3. The Unforgivable Fix by TE Woods
4. An Unseemly Wife by EB Moore
5. The Wonder by Colleen Oakes
6. Land of Dreams by Kate Kerrigan
7. Perfect Girl by Michele Gorman
8. The Mason Jar by James Russell Lingerfelt
9. In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins
10. Halfway to Nowhere by Steena Holmes
11. Bird in Hand by Christina Baker Kline
12. Killer WASPs by Amy Korman
13. Until You're Mine by Samantha Hayes
14. Certainty by Victor Bevine
15. Last Train to Babylon by Charlee Fam
16. Proof of Angels by Mary Curran Hackett
17. How to Bake a Man by Jessica Barksdale Inclan
18. Letting Go by Molly McAdams
19. Bleeding Heart by Liza Gyllenhaal
20. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
21. One Step too Far by Tina Seskis

Total pages read, clicked, and flipped: 6,745

Where Have I Been Reading?:

Austin, TX
Seattle, WA (2)
Los Angeles, CA (2)
London (2)
New York (2)
Montana
Bryn Mawr, PA
Birmingham, England
Newport, RI
Long Island, NY
San Francisco, CA
Paris, France
Massachusetts

Happy Halloween

source

What is your Halloween book of choice?  

Review: Last Train to Babylon by Charlee Fam

Last Train to Babylon

by Charlee Fam

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 352

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Who put the word fun in funeral? I can’t think of anything fun about Rachel’s funeral, except for the fact that she won’t be there.

Aubrey Glass has a collection of potential suicide notes—just in case. And now, five years—and five notes—after leaving her hometown, Rachel’s the one who goes and kills herself. Aubrey can’t believe her luck. 

But Rachel’s death doesn’t leave Aubrey in peace. There’s a voicemail from her former friend, left only days before her death that Aubrey can’t bring herself to listen to—and worse, a macabre memorial-turned-high-school reunion that promises the opportunity to catch up with everyone… including the man responsible for everything that went wrong between she and Rachel. 

In the days leading up to the funeral and infamous after party, Aubrey slips seamlessly between her past and present. Memories of friendship tangle with painful new encounters while underneath it all Aubrey feels the rush of something closing in, something she can no longer run from. And when the past and present collide in one devastating night, nothing will be the same again. 

But facing the future means confronting herself and a shattering truth. Now, Aubrey must decide what will define her: what lies behind… or what waits ahead.


Kritters Thoughts:  Aubrey returns home to bury a friend that maybe wasn't the best of friend in the end and there is a reason why this friendship didn't make it to adulthood, but the reader is left in the dark for a bit to wonder what happened to these two friends.  

Switching between present time and past stories, this book takes the reader on the journey of two friends and maybe isn't the most positive of friendships!  Without completely ruining the core of the book, I loved how the reader finds out what really happened to make this friendship unravel and it made my thoughts change about both Aubrey and her "ex" best friend Rachel - it is kind of fun when your opinions change on characters.  

Although the book is definitely biased in Aubrey's point of view, I still felt like I saw a true picture of Rachel and the other "friends" in their semi group.  I adore when authors send their characters to their hometowns to confront things from the past and it's even better when their hometowns are small and everyone knows everyone and everything!

This was definitely a debbie downer book which made me glad to read it during the fall season and not in the bright sunshine of spring or summer.  If you have read many thriller books, then this book is definitely different then the rest and I would recommend picking it up.


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

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Certainty by Victor Bevine

Certainty by Victor Bevine

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Pages: 320

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  When you're fighting an injustice, can it be wrong to do what's right?

Inspired by the scandalous true story that shocked a nation at the close of WWI.

With America's entry into World War I, the population of Newport, Rhode Island, seems to double overnight as twenty-five thousand rowdy recruits descend on the Naval Training Station. Drinking, prostitution, and other depravities follow the sailors, transforming the upscale town into what many residents—including young lawyer William Bartlett, whose genteel family has lived in Newport for generations—consider to be a moral cesspool.

When sailors accuse a beloved local clergyman of sexual impropriety, William feels compelled to fight back. He agrees to defend the minister against the shocking allegations, in the face of dire personal and professional consequences. But when the trial grows increasingly sensational, and when outrageous revelations echo all the way from Newport to the federal government, William must confront more than just the truth—he must confront the very nature of good and evil.


Kritters Thoughts:  A new look at men in the Navy and while Prohibition was happening, there was also a stigma against a certain population and the Navy weren't quite welcoming to them amongst their ranks.  

A book that focuses on accusations of a priest of homosexual tendencies to the men he was ministering to that were stationed in Newport, RI.  The accusations may be true, but the actions of the officers in the Navy were repulsive and their witch hunt was just crazy to read about.  I am not sure I knew when I started how true that this story was, but after finishing the book and doing some research, I couldn't believe the truth and wanted to read the book again to take the details in.  

Whatever your feelings are towards same sex marriage or homosexuality this book is such a good view of the historical aspect of this debate.  And it is interesting to see what was said back then and compare it to what is being said now.  If you are a historical fiction fan and especially of this time period, this is a book worth picking up and reading about the behind the scenes of the Navy while not in war time.


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

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Until You're Mine by Samantha Hayes

Until You're Mine

by Samantha Hayes

Publisher: Crown

Pages: 368

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  You're alone. You're vulnerable. And you have something that someone else wants. At any cost.
 
Claudia Morgan-Brown finally has it all. Pregnant with a much-wanted first baby of her own, she has a happily established family of two small step-sons and a loving husband with a great career. But she is also committed to her full-time job as a social worker, and her husband travels often. So when Claudia hires Zoe to help her around the house in anticipation of the baby’s arrival, it seems like the answer to her prayers. But despite Zoe's glowing recommendations and instant rapport with the children, there's something about her that Claudia cannot trust.
 
Moreover, there has been a series of violent attacks on pregnant women in the area, and Claudia becomes acutely aware of her vulnerability. With her husband out of town for work and her family far away, who will be there to protect her? And why does she feel unsettled about Zoe? Realizing appearances can be deceiving even in her seemingly perfect world, Claudia digs deeper into Zoe’s blurry past and begins to wonder – how far would someone go to have a child of her own?

Kritters Thoughts:  A psychological thriller with such a fantastic twist that throws the reader for the best loop!  The prologue sets the scene with a woman who has been earning to be a mom for the longest time, but the reader doesn't know who this character is - not until the end!  Claudia is pregnant and her husband will be headed out to sea with the Navy, so they decide to hire a nanny to help with the twin boys and the upcoming arrival.  Zoe is the nanny and the reader gets to read from her perspective as well - so glad!

I loved that as a reader I was kept out of the dark at times and some chapters I didn't even know the character who was doing the talking - sometimes it is nice to be left out in the dark!  I also loved reading about the two investigator's home lives and how that affects them during the investigation into the murders.  It was nice to see that they had a home life beyond the job.  

Obviously I can't talk about it, but the twist in the ending just made the book for me.  I was enjoying it so so, but when the twist twisted - I was hooked and was ready to pass this book onto other mystery/thriller readers.  

After reading this book, I will be on the lookout for Samantha Hayes' previous and future books.

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

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Blogging for Books.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.