It's Monday, What are you Reading?

A quiet weekend full of reading!   

A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

Rainy Day Sisters by Kate Hewitt
Now and Then Friends by Kate Hewitt
Falling by Jane Green
Forever Fredless by Suzy Turner
Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom
Like a River From its Course by Kelli Stuart

Currently Reading:

Since She Went Away by David Bell

Next on the TBR pile:

The Valley by Helen Bryan

Review: Now and Then Friends by Kate Hewitt

Now and Then Friends

by Kate Hewitt

Publisher: NAL

Pages: 368

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Childhood best friends Rachel Campbell and Claire West have not only grown up, but after fifteen years, they've also grown apart...
 
After her father left, Rachel had to dedicate her life to managing her household: her two younger sisters, her disabled mother, and her three-year-old nephew. When Rachel’s not struggling to look after all of them, she makes her living cleaning the houses of wealthy families—inclulding the Wests, where a surprise now awaits her. . . .
 
A lifetime of drifting in other people's currents has finally left Claire high and dry. First it was her parents, then the popular crowd in school, and finally her fiancé. Now she’s returned to Hartley-by-the-Sea to recover. But running into Rachel brings back memories of past mistakes, and Claire wonders if she now has the courage to make them right.
 
Soon Claire’s brother, Andrew, asks Rachel to keep an eye on Claire, which is the last thing either woman wants. But as their lives threaten to fall apart, both Claire and Rachel begin to realize what they need most is a friend. The kind of friend they once were to each other, and perhaps can be again. . . .

Kritters Thoughts:  The second in a series, this story centers on Rachel and Claire who were friends in primary school, but grew apart before they ever left their small hometowns.  Rachel stayed there and has been the backbone of her family as her father left, her mother had a tragic accident and her sisters aren't quite stepping up.  Claire returns after a stint in rehab and a potential break up with a fiance and is trying to decide what is next for herself.  

Just as in the first book in the series, this book is told in alternating perspectives and both Rachel and Claire have the opportunity to tell their story.  And just like the first book in the series, the female friendships are the foundation of the story and of course there is romance involved, but the drama of their friendship is the center.  

Something I didn't mention yesterday was the setting.  I loved the small English town where news flies by lunch time!  I loved that even the characters that had grown up there were surprised that their news had spread around town so quickly.  

If there is a book three, I will definitely continue in this series, but I would maybe advise against reading it all in a row.  I read the first two in a row and it was fine, but the format and stories would get repetitive.  


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

Ebook 2016 Challenge: 19 out of 50

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: Rainy Day Sisters by Kate Hewitt

Rainy Day Sisters

by Kate Hewitt

Publisher: NAL

Pages: 368

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Welcome to Hartley-by-the-Sea in England’s beautiful Lake District, where two sisters who meet as strangers find small miracles tucked into the corners of every day....

When Lucy Bagshaw’s life in Boston falls apart, thanks to a scathing editorial written by her famous artist mother, she accepts her half sister Juliet’s invitation to stay with her in a charming seaside village in northern England. Lucy is expecting quaint cottages and cream teas, but instead finds that her sister is an aloof host, the weather is wet, windy, and cold, and her new boss, Alex Kincaid, is a disapproving widower who only hired her as a favor to Juliet.

Despite the invitation she offered, Juliet is startled by the way Lucy catapults into her orderly life. As Juliet faces her own struggles with both her distant mother and her desire for a child, her sister’s irrepressible optimism begins to take hold. With the help of quirky villagers, these hesitant rainy day sisters begin to forge a new understanding…and find in each other the love of family that makes all the difference.


Kritters Thoughts:  Julie and Lucy are sisters, but only in formality.  They were not raised in the same home and only share the same crazy mother.  When Lucy's life falls apart she decides to escape across the pond to a small town in England where her sister owns a B&B.  As each of these sisters had very different but interesting relationships with their mother, I loved seeing both sides of the coin.

Told through both of their points of view, I loved getting to see the story move forward piece by piece from both of the sisters.  I appreciated that the author gave each sister their own story and both stories felt true.  I actually loved both equally!

There were a few times where I wanted to sit the characters in the room and say - YES you both had crappy childhoods for different reasons but lets gang up together against mom instead of against each other!  

Let me say that this is my kind of "romance."  There was a full plot surrounding these two sisters and also they each had interesting and honest love stories.  The love stories were just a part of their story as it should be!  I loved that the drama of their sister relationship took the forefront while the love was there but not front and center.  

Tomorrow, I will review book two which focuses on two different characters in this small town.


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

Review: Little Girl Gone by Gerry Schmitt

Little Girl Gone

by Gerry Schmitt

Publisher: Berkley

 Pages: 336

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  In the first Afton Tangler thriller, the unforgiving cold of a Minnesota winter hides the truth behind an even more chilling crime...

On a frozen night in an affluent neighborhood of Minneapolis, a baby is abducted from her home after her teenage babysitter is violently assaulted. The parents are frantic, the police are baffled, and, with the perpetrator already in the wind, the trail is getting colder by the second.

As family liaison officer with the Minneapolis P.D., it’s Afton Tangler’s job to deal with the emotional aftermath of terrible crimes—but she’s never faced a case quite as brutal as this. Each development is more heartbreaking than the last and the only lead is a collection of seemingly unrelated clues.

But, most disturbing of all, Afton begins to suspect that this case is not isolated.  Whoever did this has taken babies before—and if Afton doesn’t solve this crime soon, more children are sure to go missing . . .

Kritters Thoughts:  A baby goes missing and because of the high profile parents, the FBI and police are all brought in to find this baby and bring her home.  At the same time the reader gets to also see the story from the kidnapper and the motives behind the kidnapping.

I love mystery/thrillers, but I especially love them when I/the reader know more than the characters.  I enjoy reading when I get to watch the detectives put the puzzle pieces together and some I know since I am seeing the suspect's point of view and some I might not have seen through their eyes.  

Although I read this in the summer, I loved the fact that the cold weather of Minnesota impacted their investigation and I maybe would have loved reading this book even more if I read it when it was snowing outside at my house.  

I am excited that this is the first in a series and to start with it at the beginning.  I am absolutely going to look forward to the next read and see where Afton Tangler is in that book.


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 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: Everywhere and Every Way by Jennifer Probst

Everywhere and Every Way

by Jennifer Probst

Publisher: Gallery Books

Pages: 367

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Ever the responsible eldest brother, Caleb Pierce started working for his father’s luxury contracting business at a young age, dreaming of one day sitting in the boss’s chair. But his father’s will throws a wrench in his plans by stipulating that Caleb share control of the family business with his two estranged brothers.

Things only get more complicated when demanding high-end home designer Morgan hires Caleb to build her a customized dream house that matches her specifications to a T—or she’ll use her powerful connections to poison the Pierce brothers’ reputation. Not one to ignore a challenge, Caleb vows to get the job done—if only he can stop getting distracted by his new client’s perfect…amenities.

But there’s more to icy Morgan than meets the eye. And Caleb’s not the only one who knows how to use a stud-finder. In fact, Morgan is pretty sure she’s found hers—and he looks quite enticing in a hard hat. As sparks fly between Morgan and Caleb despite his best intentions not to mix business and pleasure, will she finally warm up and help him lay the foundation for everlasting love? 

Kritters Thoughts:  HGtv meets romance for this book.  My first Jennifer Probst book, but obviously not my first romance book and it had been a long time since I had tried a new romance author.  

The Pierce brothers have been through a lot.  They lost their mother in a tragic accident and now their father has unexpectedly passed away.  In their father's will, they must live in the same home and turn a profit to be able to keep the business.  At the same time Morgan is working for a celebrity couple and must have the Pierce brothers build their home.  

Unlike the romance readers that I have come to follow and love, this book lacked a little in the plot department.  The foundational plot was great, but I felt like it was lacking in a few spots and the sexy times took over.  I am not a prude and get that their are sex scenes in romance, but in this one it felt as though they overpowered the plot of the book.

I am not sure I will read on in this series, I may give it one more shot, but I was just disappointed in the lack of plot/character development where the author put more focus on the sexy times and lust each character had for the other.

If you are a romance reader that can forgo a little plot for some sexy, then this may be more your speed!

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

Review 2016 Challenge:  18 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Sullivan and Partners.  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.

Happy Fourth of July!

For the second year in a row we will be celebrating the 4th of July at Nationals Park watching baseball!  

One of my favorite places to be!

Happy Fourth of July!!

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

We are in the middle of a holiday weekend that is full of baseball for me!  I am hoping to read a few more before its back to work on Tuesday.

A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

The Hummingbird by Stephen P Kiernan
The Gilded Years by Karin Tanabe
Everywhere and Every Way by Jennifer Probst
Little Girl Gone by Gerry Schmitt

Currently Reading:

Rainy Day Sisters by Kate Hewitt

Next on the TBR pile:

Now and Then Friends by Kate Hewitt

June in review

source

June was interesting.   Work was crazy.  The home life was crazy.  Thank goodness I got a ton of reading done!


1. Sunshine Beach by Wendy Wax
2. Flight Patterns by Karen White
3. Radio Girls by Sarah-Jane Stratford
4. By the Numbers by Jen Lancaster
5. Midnight at Tiffany's by Sarah Morgan
6. Sleepless in Manhattan by Sarah Morgan
7. Forever Beach by Shelley Noble
8. A House for Happy Mothers by Amulya Malladi
9. June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore
10. Keep You Close by Lucie Whitehouse
11. Liar Liar by MJ Arlidge
12. Riverbend Road by RaeAnne Thayne
13. All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank
14. 25 Sense by Lisa Henthorn
15. Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford
16. The Sweetheart Deal by Polly Dugan
17. The Space Between Sisters by Mary McNear
18. The Hummingbird by Stephen P Kiernan
19.  The Gilded Years by Karin Tanabe
20.  Everywhere and Every Way by Jennifer Probst

Total pages read, clicked, and flipped: 7,056

Where Have I Been Reading?:
Florida (2)
London (2)
Chicago, IL
New York City, NY (3)
India
Ohio
Southampton, England
Charleston, SC
Idaho
Los Angeles, CA
Portland, OR (2)
Minnesota
Poughkeepsie, NY
New York

Review: The Hummingbird by Stephen Kiernan

The Hummingbird

by Stephen Kiernan

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 320

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Deborah Birch is a seasoned hospice nurse whose daily work requires courage and compassion. But her skills and experience are tested in new and dramatic ways when her easygoing husband, Michael, returns from his third deployment to Iraq haunted by nightmares, anxiety, and rage. She is determined to help him heal, and to restore the tender, loving marriage they once had.

At the same time, Deborahs primary patient is Barclay Reed, a retired history professor and expert in the Pacific Theater of World War II whose career ended in academic scandal. Alone in the world, the embittered professor is dying. As Barclay begrudgingly comes to trust Deborah, he tells her stories from that long-ago war, which help her find a way to help her husband battle his demons. 

Kritters Thoughts:  A hospice nurse is sent on her next case and she is the third called to this home just from her agency, so she knows that she is in for a doozy!  Barclay Reed is a retired professor and knows that his days are numbered, but doesn't know how and when the end will come.  While this hospice nurse has enough on her plate, she is also dealing with personal tragedy as her husband is suffering PTSD as he has come home from another tour of duty and this one may have been the worst.  

This book was jam packed, but didn't seem overwhelming.  There was a lot going on, but it didn't feel like too much and there isn't anything I would have edited out.  I have now read a few books with veterans from our current war and it so very interesting to read how current combat affects their minds and even though technology has improved over the years, the act of killing someone is still traumatic.

One other thing that was interesting about this book was the story that was inserted throughout the main plot.  It chronicled the story about a Japanese fighter pilot who's plot to set fire to parts of Oregon went unnoticed in the history books.  The reader finds out semi early on that this story is Barclay's work that hasn't been published for many reasons and may or may not be true.

At first I wasn't sure about this one with a hospice nurse at the center of the story, but as the story progressed, I fell in love with her and her ability to prepare people for the end of their lives.  I came to respect the stress that she endured on the job dealing with both death and family members as they also prepare to say goodbye and THEN she went home to deal with her own personal dramas.  I couldn't imagine being about to do her job and also going home to even more stress.

I am definitely intrigued by this author and his ability to make me get interested in characters that I wasn't so sure about - the definition of great writing!  I am excited to read The Curiosity his previous work and what may come next.


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: The Gilded Years by Karin Tanabe

The Gilded Years

by Karin Tanabe

Publisher: Washington Square Press

Pages: 400

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Since childhood, Anita Hemmings has longed to attend the country’s most exclusive school for women, Vassar College. Now, a bright, beautiful senior in the class of 1897, she is hiding a secret that would have banned her from admission: Anita is the only African-American student ever to attend Vassar. With her olive complexion and dark hair, this daughter of a janitor and descendant of slaves has successfully passed as white, but now finds herself rooming with Louise “Lottie” Taylor, the scion of one of New York’s most prominent families.

Though Anita has kept herself at a distance from her classmates, Lottie’s sphere of influence is inescapable, her energy irresistible, and the two become fast friends. Pulled into her elite world, Anita learns what it’s like to be treated as a wealthy, educated white woman—the person everyone believes her to be—and even finds herself in a heady romance with a moneyed Harvard student. It’s only when Lottie becomes infatuated with Anita’s brother, Frederick, whose skin is almost as light as his sister’s, that the situation becomes particularly perilous. And as Anita’s college graduation looms, those closest to her will be the ones to dangerously threaten her secret.

Kritters Thoughts:  What a piece of work!  A fictional tale about a woman who can pass as Caucasian but comes from a home with negro blood in her past and uses her situation to get the best education to hopefully further her place in life.  Anita tells a few lies because if she told the truth her merit wouldn't get her into Vassar because of the family she comes from.  

I loved this story.  I loved the exact glimpse that Karin Tanabe picks in Anita's life where it starts and where it ends.  Not to spoil, but I am glad that Tanabe takes the story beyond Anita's years at Vassar and shows the reader how her life ended up after her stint at Vassar was done.  I am so glad she included it in the story and didn't end it earlier.  

I don't always read the end notes, but I read this author's note about where the fiction started and the truth was and I appreciated being told where the fiction was in this fictional story.  I always know that when I read historical fiction there is fiction within it, but there is always some truth that lies underneath.


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel  
     (or just something else from this author!)

Ebook 2016 Challenge: 17 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Atria 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.

Review: The Space Between Sisters by Mary McNear

The Space Between Sisters

by Mary McNear

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 336

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Two sisters couldn’t be more different. Win organized and responsible; Poppy impulsive and undependable. Win treads cautiously and plans her life with care; Poppy bounces from job to job and apartment to apartment, leaving others to pick up the pieces. But despite their differences, they share memories of the idyllic childhood summers they spent together on the shores of Butternut Lake. Now, 13 years later, Win, recovering from a personal tragedy, has returned to Butternut Lake, settling into a predictable and quiet life. 

Then, one night, Poppy unexpectedly shows up on Win’s doorstep with all her worldly possessions and a mysterious man in tow. And although Win loves her beautiful sister, she wasn’t expecting her to move in for the summer. Still, at first, they relive the joys of Butternut Lake. But their blissful nostalgia soon gives way to conflict, and painful memories and buried secrets threaten to tear the sisters apart. 

As the waning days of summer get shorter, past secrets are revealed, new love is found, and the ties between the sisters are tested like never before…all on the serene shores of Butternut Lake.

Kritters Thoughts:  The fourth in the series, but before you click away this is one of those series that takes place around a lake, but each book centers around a different neighbor that lives around the lake.  I have only read book one and now this book four, so you can definitely skip around in this series.  

Now with the business out of the way.  I loved this book.  I loved the mix of the sister relationship and romantic relationships.  I loved seeing that Poppy and Win came from the same crazy set of parents and turned out completely different people - this hits home!  I don't have crazy parents, but I do have a sister that is completely different from me on a different path and I loved seeing these sisters help each other with their flaws in their adult years.  

The romantic relationships reminded me of the romance books that I read.  I was pretty sure I knew where this one would end, but it wasn't as sure as most romance books are.  I did enjoy that unlike romance books both relationships felt real and authentic and had true ups and downs.

I look forward to reading book two and three in this series and the what comes next in this series.


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

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?

A crazy week in our house as my husband had surgery.  I have been playing nurse and full time dog mom this week!   A little reading was accomplished, enough for me to feel satisfied.

A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

25 Sense by Lisa Henthorn
Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford
The Sweetheart Deal by Polly Dugan
The Space Between Sisters by Mary McNear

Currently Reading:

The Hummingbird by Stephen P Kiernan

Next on the TBR pile:
The Gilded Years by Karin Tanabe

Review: The Sweetheart Deal by Polly Dugan

The Sweetheart Deal

by Polly Dugan

Publisher: Little Brown

Pages: 320

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Leo has long joked that, in the event of his death, he wants his best friend Garrett, a lifelong bachelor, to marry his wife, Audrey. One drunken night, he goes so far as to make Garrett promise to do so. Then, twelve years later, Leo, a veteran firefighter, dies in a skiing accident. 

As Audrey navigates her new role as widow and single parent, Garrett quits his job in Boston and buys a one-way ticket out west. Before long, Audrey's feelings for Garrett become more than platonic, and Garrett finds himself falling for Audrey, her boys, and their life together in Portland. When Audrey finds out about the drunken pact from years ago, though, the harmless promise that brought Garrett into her world becomes the obstacle to his remaining in it.

Kritters Thoughts:  Two men are friends from a young age, through high school and then into adulthood.  One decides to be a firefighter while raising a family and sees the danger in his daily life due to the job he chose.  One New Years eve he is really feel the anxiety and asks his best friend to swear that if he were to die, he would marry his wife and help raise the three boys they have.  Trust me no spoilers, but he does in a skiing accident and Garrett is held to the promise he made on a drunken New Years eve.  

First, this may be minor, but I love how this book was written.  Most of the characters involved in the story get an opportunity to tell the story from their perspective.  The wife of the deceased, the friend and all three of their sons each take chapters to move the story along and tell their story.  I LOVE multiple perspective books, I love seeing the same story from more than just one character's point of view.  

This book felt familiar.  The storyline felt familiar, but not in a negative way in the least.  I feel as though I have recently read a book where a dying wish was made and the characters felt as though they had to do anything to uphold the wishes of the deceased.  This plot was also easy to predict.  BUT the ending.  Without spoiling anything, I felt as though this book ended in such a weird spot and I wouldn't have minded a chapter or two more.  I was almost nervous that I was missing a few pages!

After reading this book, I looked up the author and was excited to see that she has another book published, so I am in pursuit to read that one and see if she will be added to my authors to watch.  


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 BooksSparks PR.  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.