It's Monday, What are you Reading?

An extra crazy week at work and busy nights with fun things and my birthday weekend, so I am impressed with what I finished and am counting down the days til some vacation reading!

A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

At Wave's End by Patricia Perry Donovan
If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss
The End of Temperance Dare by Wendy Webb

Currently Reading:

Girl Last Seen by Nina Laurin

Next on the TBR pile:

The Other Girl by Erica Spindler

Review: At Wave's End by Patricia Perry Donovan

At Wave's End

by Patricia Perry Donovan

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Pages: 366

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  When her estranged mother wins a Jersey Shore bed and breakfast in a lottery and heads east to survey the prize, Faith Sterling fears her mother has fallen victim to yet another scam. Their visit to the B & B confirms her suspicions. Wave’s End is not as advertised—it's nowhere near the beach, it's sorely in need of an overhaul, and its finances are shaky. But despite Faith’s attempts to dissuade her mother, Connie Sterling is determined to try her hand at running the inn.

A frustrated Faith heads back to Brooklyn, dreading the havoc her mother's proximity will wreak on her well-ordered and successful life. She doesn't have to wait long. When a supersized hurricane pummels the East Coast, Faith reluctantly agrees to return and help her mother run Wave’s End…temporarily.

But just as inn life settles into a comfortable rhythm, a grievous secret about Wave’s End surfaces, threatening the inn’s future and fraying the already fragile mother-daughter bonds. 


Kritters Thoughts:  A perfect mother daughter story that isn't too cheesy, but is completely heartfelt.  Faith Sterling has lived in New York City for awhile and is loving being a chef in a kitchen where she can create what comes to mind.  Her mother Connie enters all sorts of contests and is searching for the next thing always.  Connie enters THE contest and wins a B&B on the coast of New Jersey and Faith has to come to the rescue.

I love a good mother daughter story and this one was just right.  I loved all the ups and downs that this mother daughter duo had and learning some details and such about their past throughout the book was so good.  The nuggets were perfectly placed and when the pieces of the puzzle were put together you could see how they had ended up where they were.

I love that this book was "inspired" by the super storm Sandy that hit New York and New Jersey.  Not having lived in those areas and watching the storm hit all via the news, I liked reading a fictionalized tale that was "inspired" by it and read about survivors and what it took to live through that storm.  

I have read both books that Patricia Perry Donovan has written and have loved both.  I can't wait to hear where and when her next book takes place and what inspired it!


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 30 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author.  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: Where I Want to Be by Cortney Roudebush

Where I Want to Be

by Cortney Roudebush

Publisher: author

Pages: 279

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  For Olivia Goldstein, a timid 31-year-old financial analyst from Los Angeles, her passion for wine becomes a catalyst for change. A weekend trip to Napa Valley leaves her thirsty for additional wine knowledge, deeper relationships, and a more gratifying career. When she meets a cute tour guide at a winery who recommends enrolling in a local wine class, Olivia interprets his suggestion as an invitation and puts her life in LA on hold to take in a three-month wine education program.

After stumbling onto the Napa social scene, Olivia befriends three wine-savvy women who teach her more than she will ever learn in the classroom. With their encouragement, she dabbles in the small-town dating pool and learns to take chances with her heart. Despite her failed attempts at love and quite a few hangovers, she sips her way through an impressive selection of wines and finds herself falling in love with Napa Valley. By the time her classes are over and Harvest begins, she is not ready to leave...


Kritters Thoughts:  Olivia has followed her plan for herself and has always done what she was "supposed" to do.  After a quick vacation in Napa Valley she is inspired to take a life and work sabbatical and try something new in Napa and maybe the something new becomes her new normal!

I ADORED this book.  It was just the right amount of work and life drama with friends and love interests and everything to make such a well rounded book.  Most books focus on one or the other, but this book had the right amount of everything to make this character feel full.  

I am also a wine fan and reading a book that completely centers around Napa Valley and the wine industry there was just great.  I loved reading a fiction book that gave me a little extra information about a hobby that I love.  This book made me want to seek out more books that take place in Napa and celebrate the wine culture there.

I completely hope that this is the first in a series and that there are many more books to come in this town and with these characters.


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 29 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author.  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: Searching for Irene by Marlene Bateman

Searching for Irene

by Marlene Bateman

Publisher: Convent Communications

Pages: 268

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  What happened to Irene?

When Anna Coughlin, a modern 1920’s woman, travels to the secluded hills of Virginia to work for wealthy Lawrence Richardson, she discovers that the previous secretary, Irene, has mysteriously disappeared. Upon arriving at the castle-like mansion, Anna finds that Lawrence’s handsome, but antagonistic son, Tyler, wants nothing more than to have her gone. And he isn’t the only one—

Caught up in a maze of intrigue in a tormented and troubled household, Anna sets out to find the truth behind Irene’s disappearance. She is helped—and often hindered—by the temperamental Tyler Richardson, who—despite her best intentions—begins to steal her heart. 

But even as Anna begins to uncover dark secrets, she must continue to hide a significant one of her own. Then, her life is threatened, and Anna is left to wonder if she’ll be able to unravel the mystery before she disappears as mysteriously as the unfortunate Irene.

Kritters Thoughts:  A book on the shorter end in page count and while in the end I still liked it, I did have one thing that made me debate on if it was a 4 or 5 star book.

A who dun it taking place in 1920 in Virginia (right around the corner from me) about a woman who must go live on an estate to uncover the disappearance of the young woman who was there before her.  She has her own secrets that when revealed take the book to the next level - of course, I won't divulge those here!  

This was such a perfect marriage of historical fiction with who dun it and there quite a few moments where I waffled and wondered who would be the culprit.  I would say this is what bothered me a bit, for it being such a short book, there was a lot of wondering from the main character and towards the end I was over and ready for the reveal.  Now I was not disappointed as to who did it and their reasonings, but I wouldn't have minded it happening a few pages earlier.  

I read this book over two sittings one of which by the pool and I have to say it would be a good addition to your beach or pool bag or to be honest any vacation reading.  It was easy to pick up and put down and not get lost at all.


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

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 28 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author.  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 Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

The Writing Desk

by Rachel Hauck

Publisher: Zondervan

Pages: 352

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Tenley Roth’s first book was a literary and commercial success. Now that her second book is due, she’s locked in fear. Can she repeat her earlier success or is she a fraud who merely found a bit of luck?

With pressure mounting from her publisher, Tenley is weighted with writer’s block. But when her estranged mother calls asking Tenley to help her through chemotherapy, she packs up for Florida where she meets handsome furniture designer Jonas Sullivan and discovers the story her heart’s been missing.

Born during the Gilded Age, Birdie Shehorn is the daughter of the old money Knickerbockers. Yet her life is not her own. Under the strict control of her mother, her every move is decided ahead of time, even whom she’ll marry. But Birdie has dreams of her own. She wants to tell stories, write novels, make an impact on the world. When she discovers her mother has literally destroyed her dreams, she must choose between submission and security or forging a brand new way all on her own.

Tenley and Birdie are from two very different worlds. Yet when Tenley discovers Birdie’s manuscript, their lives intersect. Birdie’s words help Tenley find a way home. Tenley brings Birdie’s writing to the world.

Can two women separated by time help fulfill each other’s destiny? 

Kritters Thoughts:  Two storylines one the present and one in the past, but both take place in the same home I loved the obvious similarities between the two storylines.  There are writers in each storyline and one is having a hard time getting the second book written while the other is having a hard time getting her first published.  As most readers can agree on, we love a book about books!

I love a dual narrative and I loved how obvious the stories were intersecting.  Tenley Roth was great as she went back to reunite with her estranged mom and while nursing her back to health tried to repair the relationship.  And Birdie Shehorn was fierce!  She was trying to do things that at the time were not allowed for women and trying to push the envelope as to what was expected for her by her parents.  I always love a dual narrative, but I absolutely love it when I don't prefer one story to the other, it is nice to love them both so much.  So there was pure love for the plot, but below I divulge something that made this book go down a few notches for me.

As maybe not all of you know, Rachel Hauck is a christian fiction author and some of hers I have loved and some I haven't as much and I know going into each read that her books may have a christian element and most time they work well into the story.  BUT this one for me I was enjoying until the last end and parts of how it ended I didn't love.  I was fine with the character stating that he was refraining from sex due to his beliefs but the things he said after just felt preachy to me and went beyond what I think should happen in some christian fiction stories, totally personal thoughts here.  

All in all, I will read Rachel Hauck because she does a good plot, but I will continue to keep in mind her christian fiction slant and will hope that she can get them to easily weave into the story.


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?

I had a crazy weekend with having my niece last weekend, so not a lot of reading and forgot to post this, so this below is two weeks worth of reading!

A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

The Innkeeper's Sister by Linda Goodnight
Emerald Coast by Anita Hughes
Halfway to Christmas by Steena Holmes
The Girls by Emma Cline
Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
Searching for Irene by Marlene Bateman
Where I Want to Be by Cortney Roudebush

Currently Reading:

At Wave's End by Patricia Perry Donovan

Next on the TBR pile:

If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss

Review: Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery

Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

by Susan Mallery

Publisher: HQN Books

Pages: 384

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Kelly Murphy's life as a tulip farmer is pretty routine—up at dawn, off to work, lather, rinse, repeat. But everything changes one sun-washed summer with two dramatic homecomings: Griffith Burnett—Tulpen Crossing's prodigal son, who's set his sights on Kelly—and Olivia, her beautiful, wayward and, as far as Kelly is concerned, unwelcome sister. Tempted by Griffith, annoyed by Olivia, Kelly is overwhelmed by the secrets that were so easy to keep when she was alone.

But Olivia's return isn't as triumphant as she pretends. Her job has no future, and ever since her dad sent her away from the bad boy she loved, she has felt cut off from her past. She's determined to reclaim her man and her place in the family…whether her sister likes it or not. For ten years, she and Kelly have been strangers. Olivia will get by without her approval now.

While Kelly and Olivia butt heads, their secrets tumble out in a big hot mess, revealing some truths that will change everything they thought they knew. Can they forgive each other—and themselves—and redefine what it means to be sisters?

Kritters Thoughts:  Two sisters and a best friend are the main characters of this book.  Kelly and Olivia Murphy are back living in their childhood home and as they try to live together with their father in the house also drama and secrets unfold and it will take a lot of work to heal this family.  

Kelly Murphy grows tulips and her family has been doing it for generations and it was such a fun profession to read about.  I loved the moments in the book where I was getting to know how she did it and the ins and outs of it all.  Olivia Murphy wants to leave the real estate company she was working for and has many talents that this small town can take advantage of.  I liked reading her bits because it was fun to see a young woman try to create many different jobs to support herself and her talents seemed similar to the things that I think I am good at.  Helen owns the town diner and how she comes into it is such a story that I loved her for being resilient and a survivor.  Because there were three strong, unique female characters this book was just a joy to read.  

Just to set a warning, there were definitely some sexy times in this book and a few times I blushed!  I will say that there is plenty of plot to enjoy the book even if you aren't a sexy times reader.  


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.

Happy Birthday Mom!

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Today is a special day, it is my mom's birthday.  

She is a blogger, a reader and one of my best friends.  

Head over to Ope's Opinions and wish her a Happy Birthday!

July -

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July was a great month! There were many weekends by the pool with just reading on the agenda. I am hoping that August is the same and the last week of August I will be on vacation by a pool hopefully with a stack of books to read!

1. Kiss Carlo by Adriana Trigiani
2. Monticello by Sally Cabot Gunning
3. Mind Virus by Charles Kowalski
4. I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere But the Pool by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella
5. Newsmakers by Lis Wiehl
6. The Candidate by Lis Wiehl
7. The Separatists by Lis Wiehl
8. The Bookshop at Water's End by Patti Callahan Henry
9. Serenity Harbor by RaeAnne Thayne
10. Sweetbriar Cottage by Denise Hunter
11. The Child by Fiona Barton
12. The Last Breath by Karin Slaughter
13. The Memory House by Linda Goodnight
14. The Rain Sparrow by Linda Goodnight
15. The Dress in the Window by Sofia Grant
16. The Innkeeper's Sister by Linda Goodnight
17. Emerald Coast by Anita Hughes
18. Halfway to Christmas by Steena Holmes
19. The Girls by Emma Cline


Total pages read, clicked and flipped:  6,484


Where having I been Reading?:
Philadelphia, PA (2)
Charlottesville, VA
Washington, DC
New York City, NY
North Dakota
Portland OR
South Carolina
Georgia (2)
London
Tennessee (3)
Emerald Coast, Italy
Montana
Los Angeles, CA

Review: Emerald Coast by Anita Hughes

Emerald Coast

by Anita Hughes

Publisher: St Martin's Griffin

Pages: 320

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Lily Bristol arrives at a luxurious resort in Sardinia for the grand opening of her newest home furnishing store on the Emerald Coast. She's a successful business woman with an international chain of stores from San Francisco to Milan. Thirty-two and newly divorced, she's ready to handle things on her own. At least until her private butler, Enzo, escorts her to a beautiful suite where she notices a suspiciously familiar pair of men's slippers and shaving kit.

Lily is horrified. Her ex-husband Oliver moved out of their restored Connecticut farmhouse six months ago, but they booked this trip when they were trying to save their marriage and never cancelled the reservation. Oliver, a food critic for the New York Times, is here covering Sardinia's hottest new restaurant. The only other available room is the adjoining suite; and worse, Oliver isn't alone. He's brought a twenty-something named Angela with him.

Lily is determined to make do and enlists Enzo to find her a suitable man. But it's not as easy to find new love as they both expected. When Lily and Oliver find themselves alone on a very important night, they turn to each other. Sparks begin to fly, but can they be together without breaking each other's hearts?

Kritters Thoughts:  Each time I go into a Anita Hughes book, I am pretty sure I am going to either love it or hate it.  Her writing varies from story to story and her characters are either really interesting and I love or I just can't handle them.  Surprisingly I am completely on the fence about this book.  The chapters flip back and forth from Lily Bristol and Oliver Bristol's point of view as they both end up on the Emerald Coast shortly after their divorce is final and they each have work reasons to be there and keep running into each other.  

Each chapter starts in the present as their time on the Emerald Coast progresses, but within each chapter they have a flashback to when they met or dated or got engaged and those flashbacks are chronological.  I liked the set up, but also found it to be a little cheesy.  It just didn't work for me how they were romancing different people and then each get a thought about their past, the concept was fine, but it just was a little too convenient.  

I didn't love or hate the main characters, they were just fine.  Neither made me want to root for them, but I didn't hate them either.  These characters just didn't grow for me, I felt as though the things that they were trying to overcome in page one was the same 

This is my first Anita Hughes book that just lands in the middle for me, it was fine, but not impressive.  I will still continue to read her books as they come out and I hope the next one has a little more than this one.


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

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 26 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from St Martin's Press.  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 Dress in the Window by Sofia Grant

The Dress in the Window

by Sofia Grant

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 384

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: HarperCollins

Goodreads:  World War II has ended and American women are shedding their old clothes for the gorgeous new styles. Voluminous layers of taffeta and tulle, wasp waists, and beautiful color—all so welcome after years of sensible styles and strict rationing.  

Jeanne Brink and her sister Peggy both had to weather every tragedy the war had to offer—Peggy now a widowed mother, Jeanne without the fiancé she’d counted on, both living with Peggy’s mother-in-law in a grim mill town.  But despite their grey pasts they long for a bright future—Jeanne by creating stunning dresses for her clients with the help of her sister Peggy’s brilliant sketches.

Together, they combine forces to create amazing fashions and a more prosperous life than they’d ever dreamed of before the war. But sisterly love can sometimes turn into sibling jealousy. Always playing second fiddle to her sister, Peggy yearns to make her own mark. But as they soon discover, the future is never without its surprises, ones that have the potential to make—or break—their dreams.

Kritters Thoughts:  A set of sisters after a few life mishaps end up living together with one mother in law and one child and with both having a passion in fashion and the war coming to a close, these sisters are going to fight to make ends meet and move their lives forward.

I loved this different take on the effects of war on Americans and what they do to survive.  With chapters alternating from different perspectives, you were able to see how a widow and a single mom and a mother of a soldier make it in the new life trying to make their own money and keep their families afloat.  It was kind of empowering to read about women who had to get out in the workforce and make something just to keep food on the tables for their families and even in that what families looked like because a lot of men didn't come home.

A historical fiction story with a sociologic viewpoint and this reader loved it.  I will always love a book that teaches me something without me even realizing it!


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 Last Breath by Karin Slaughter

The Last Breath

by Karin Slaughter

Publisher: Witness Impulse

Pages: 176

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Protecting someone always comes at a cost.

At the age of thirteen, Charlie Quinn’s childhood came to an abrupt and devastating end. Two men, with a grudge against her lawyer father, broke into her home – and after that shocking night, Charlie's world was never the same.

Now a lawyer herself, Charlie has made it her mission to defend those with no one else to turn to. So when Flora Faulkner, a motherless teen, begs for help, Charlie is reminded of her own past, and is powerless to say no.

But honour-student Flora is in far deeper trouble than Charlie could ever have anticipated. Soon she must ask herself: How far should she go to protect her client? And can she truly believe everything she is being told?

Kritters Thoughts:  A novella that comes before the first book in a series, so a fun quick start to try to decide before you want to start the new series.  Charlie Quinn is a lawyer and the daughter of a lawyer who has seen quite a few hardships in her life, so she a big heart for people who may be in the same spot she was in.  Flora enters her life in a pivotal moment and tugs at her heart strings and she decides to help her, was it a good idea?

I loved Charlie Quinn.  I loved the quick glimpses that you get into her past and I am assuming that the first book in the series centers around her and maybe using a full novel can spend more time and more detail to tell the full story of what happened in her childhood and how her family was affected.  

I also loved Flora.  As her story is the main part of the whole novella, I can't say much without ruining the whole thing, but I liked how her story started and ended.  

After reading this novella, I will definitely have to read The Good Daughter and soon!  


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

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 22 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Partner in Crime 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.