Review: End Game by David Baldacci

End Game

by David Baldacci

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Pages: 432

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Will Robie and Jessica Reel are two of the most lethal people alive. They're the ones the government calls in when the utmost secrecy is required to take out those who plot violence and mass destruction against the United States. And through every mission, one man has always had their backs: their handler, code-named Blue Man.

But now, Blue Man is missing.

Last seen in rural Colorado, Blue Man had taken a rare vacation to go fly fishing in his hometown when he disappeared off the grid. With no communications since, the team can't help but fear the worst.

Sent to investigate, Robie and Reel arrive in the small town of Grand to discover that it has its own share of problems. A stagnant local economy and a woefully understaffed police force have made this small community a magnet for crime, drugs, and a growing number of militant fringe groups. 

But lying in wait in Grand is an even more insidious and sweeping threat, one that may shake the very foundations of America. And when Robie and Reel find themselves up against an adversary with superior firepower and a home-court advantage, they'll be lucky if they make it out alive, with or without Blue Man...

Kritters Thoughts:  I am semi embarrassed to say I had not read a David Baldacci book before now, so when Grand Central Publishing sent this review opportunity my way, I jumped at it because I wanted to try a book of his.  He is a local author, I have gone to a signing of his and yet hadn't read him, so putting him on my review calendar would make me sit down and try one!

I knew I was jumping into a series midway, but I also knew that each book was self contained other than a little of the main character growth.  Overall, the book was just fine.  Will Robie and Jessica Reel were great, there was enough detail given to know about the things of the past that probably happened in previous books, so I didn't feel clueless about them and their past with each other.

I would say my biggest complaint is Baldacci in the weirdest parts gets super wordy.  He was over explaining guns or military things or just the most uninteresting parts would get over explained and he lost my interest.  I would have edited down those bits to keep the story moving along.  It ruined the pace and with these kinds of books pace is everything.

I would read another David Baldacci book in the future, but this is not one of those authors where I am going to start hoarding everything from their backlist and go to town.  I think I would read one of his once a year when I need something that turns the page and can just be a "quick" weekend read.


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

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Grand Central Publishing.  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.

Bout of Books 21 Wrap Up

This was a great Bout of Books!  There were some really good days and some days that were a little less, but overall, I know that Bout of Books spurred me to pick up my reading game this week!

Total book count: 5
Total page count:  1774



Day 1- Monday, January 8 Total 120 pages
Sounds Like Me by Sara Bareilles (continued and finished, 120 pages)

Day 2- Tuesday, January 9 Total 344 pages
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See (started, read 340 pages)

Day 3- Wednesday, January 10 Total 164 pages
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See (finished, read 44 pages)
This Love Story Will Self Destruct by Leslie Cohen (started, read 120 pages)

Day 4- Thursday, January 11 Total 453 pages

This Love Story Will Self Destruct by Leslie Cohen (finished, read 114 pages)

The Expendable Man by Dorothy B Hughes (started and finished, read 339 pages)

Day 5- Friday, January 12 Total 300 pages
I Know My Name by CJ Cooke (started, read 300 pages)

Day 6- Saturday, January 13 Total 344 pages
I Know My Name by CJ Cooke (finished, read 84 pages)
The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley (started, read 260 pages)

Day 7- Sunday, January 14  Total 49 pages
The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley (continued, read 49 pages)

Review: A Brush With Love by Rachel Hauck

A Brush with Love

by Rachel Hauck

Publisher: Zondervan

Pages: 150

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Ginger Winters is a gifted hairstylist with scars no one can see. The last thing she expects from the New Year is a new chance at love.

Overcoming a childhood tragedy, Ginger emerges from the pain and trauma with a gift for bringing out the beauty in others. From the top big city salons to traveling the world as personal stylist to a country music sensation, success was almost enough to make Ginger forget she would never be one of the beautiful people, that girl, forever on the outside looking in. But she needs her confidence this weekend. She’s the acclaimed “beauty-maker” for the Alabama society wedding of the decade.

When high-school crush Tom Wells Jr. also returns to town and shows up at her shop looking for a haircut, Ginger’s thinly veiled insecurities threaten to keep her locked away from love, Despite Tom’s best efforts, Ginger can’t forget how he disappeared on her twelve years ago and broke her heart. Can she ever trust him again?

When Tom challenges her to see her own beauty, Ginger must decide if she will remained chained to the past or move freely into a new, exciting future.


Kritters Thoughts:  A novella from Rachel Hauck who is one of the only Christian fiction authors that I will read.  All of her books definitely fit in the Christian fiction genre and you would be remiss not to know that there is definitely some Jesus in each book.  But even though I don't tend to love Christian fiction, I love the plot lines and this one was right up there.  

I loved the characters and loved their back story.  I just loved Ginger's story.  I could have had so much more time hearing about her childhood and how she became the woman she was.  Although I say this again later, I wanted more time with her.  I wanted to hear more about her and wanted more from her.

The one thing I had with this book is I wish it wasn't a novella.  I wish the author had more pages to make the book feel more full.  I felt that the book had a part of insta love and a quick turn around of a main character, but I think it is solely because of the lack of pages and if given a few more pages, she could have built the story out more.  So my wish is for more pages!


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

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 71 out of 50

Review: The City Baker's Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller

The City Baker's Guide to Country Living

by Louise Miller

Publisher: Penguin Books

Pages: 352

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  When Olivia Rawlings—baker extraordinaire for an exclusive Boston dinner club—sets not just her flambéed dessert but the entire building alight, she takes a much-needed weekend break in the idyllic leafy town of Guthrie, Vermont. A weekend soon turns into something more permanent when Margaret Hurley, the cantankerous, sweater-set-wearing owner of the Sugar Maple Inn, needs to recruit a new baker who can help her reclaim the inn’s blue ribbon status at the annual county fair apple pie contest. On paper, at least, Livvy seems to be just who she was looking for.

Livvy’s love life’s a mess and so she does what she does best: relocate. Along with Salty, her gigantic, uberenthusuastic dog with almost too much personality, Livvy, as the Sugar Maple’s new baker, brings her mouthwatering desserts to the residents of Guthrie, home of Bag Balm, the country’s longest-running contra dance, and her best friend, Hannah. And when Olivia meets Martin McCracken, the Guthrie native who has returned from New York to nurse his ailing father, Livvy comes to understand that she may not be as alone in this world as she once thought. With the joys of a warm, fragrant kitchen, the sound of banjos and fiddles being tuned in a barn, and the crisp scent of the orchard just outside the front door, Olivia Rawlings may finally find that the life you want may not be the one you expected—it could be even better.

Kritters Thoughts:  Let me start by being superficial and say that I completely adored this cover.  I don't usually comment on covers, but this one was just a joy to carry around and set the tone for the entire book.  

Olivia is a baker and in the beginning she is working at an exclusive club in the city of Boston.  With a little drama at the club, it sends her to visit a friend in Vermont for the weekend and the weekend turns into so much more!  A small town Inn calls on her to be their baker and the owner may have more than really good sweets to hire Olivia.   And the story goes from there . . .  

I would define this book as a combination of women's fiction and romance.  I say this because what I love about this combo is you don't know if there will be a happy ending like romance, but there is romance in this one.  When women's fiction and romance get together there is more meat and plot and I just love it!

I loved all the hills and valleys of this book.  The ups and downs seemed so right and there wasn't one moment where I rolled my eyes or had one iota of frustration.  I can't believe I hadn't read this book when it came out in hard cover, I am so glad I read it.  When I was pitched the book, I was excited that they told me that they wanted me to include a promotion for her next book - YES!  She has another one coming summer of 2018!

And the publisher wanted me to let you know - Louise Miller's second novel, The Later Bloomer's Club, is forthcoming from Pamela Dorman Books/Viking.
Rating:

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Penguin 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: Artefacts and Other Stories by Rebecca Burns

Artefacts and Other Stories

by Rebecca Burns

Publisher: Odyssey Books

Pages: 156

Format: ebook

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  That dandelion. A flash of stubborn yellow in a dark box of space. It had promised sunshine but had tasted sour.

Artefacts.

A dandelion. A mayfly. A family, bereft.

Items and mementos of a life, lived hard and with love, or long, empty, bitter.

In these sharply drawn and unflinching short stories, Rebecca Burns unpicks the connection between the lives we live and what we leave behind.


Kritters Thoughts:  I have read only a few short story collections, so I don't have a ton to base these off of, but every time I read a new one it makes me want to challenge myself to read more and more!

This collection didn't seem to have a central theme.  After reading the collection I realized that I like collections more when they have a central theme that the stories circle around, they felt disjointed and happenstance.  

Don't get me wrong - I loved the stories.  Some more than others, but I just like it when they all feel influenced by the other.  The key for me is I know I love a collection when there are stories where I wish they had been full novels instead of just short stories.  I could have picked out a few that I wouldn't mind if they were expanded to be completely full novels.

This was my first experience with Rebecca Burns and I would love to read more of her.  Have any of you read anything from her backlist?  I am eyeing The Bishop's Girl, I just may have to pick that one up and read her in "long form."


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

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 70 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: Does this Beach Make Me Look Fat?

Does this Beach Make Me Look Fat?

by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Pages: 290

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  The unstoppable, irreverent mother-daughter team presents a new collection of funny stories and true confessions that every woman can relate to. From identity theft to the hazards of bicycling to college reunions and eating on the beach, Lisa and Francesca tackle the quirks, absurdities, and wonders of everyday life with wit and warmth. As Lisa says, "More and more, especially in the summertime when I'm sitting on the beach, I'm learning not to sweat it. To go back to the child that I used to be. To see myself through the loving eyes of my parents. To eat on the beach. And not to worry about whether every little thing makes me look fat. In fact, not to worry at all."


So put aside your worries and join Lisa and Francesca as they navigate their way through the crazy world we live in, laughing along the way. 

Kritters Thoughts:  

Disclaimer:  I read this book months ago and with my review schedule packed, this was the first moment I had to review, so even though this isn't quite a January kind of book, it was perfect for a busy weekend in October!

I absolutely love these collections.  I have quite a few more to go to get caught up, but they are perfect to pick up and put down during a crazy weekend or maybe a week at the beach (can we say that in January!).  With the essays being quick and easy and self contained it is so good to read a few in a row and you can walk away and come right back and deep in for more.  

There are quite a few of the essays that literally had me laughing out loud and during a car trip I may have gotten a few interesting looks from my husband!  I tend to enjoy Francesca's stories a little more, but only because I am more in her age range, but Lisa's are equally funny and entertaining.

I love this mother/daughter duo and because I don't read their column, this is my chance to enjoy their stories and having them in a contained book is just great!


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel (or just more!)

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

What a great week/weekend of reading!  The weather kept me inside all week and weekend, just too cold to do anything else but curl up with a book!


A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

That's Not My Suitcase by Laina Turner
After You by Jojo Moyes
The Promise Between Us by Barbara Claypole White
Funeral Platter by Greg Ames
A Wedding at Two Love Lane by Kiernan Kramer

Currently Reading:

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

Next on the TBR pile:

This Love Story Will Self Destruct by Leslie Cohen

Bout of Books 21 TBR pile

Bout of Books starts on Monday, January 8th and goes through Sunday, January 14th. 

My goal, as it always is, for the Bout of Books 21 TBR pile is to read 250 pages per day, which amounts to 1,750 pages for the whole week.  
 

Doing another round of Bout of Books, we shall see how it goes.  I love participating because there are really no rules, you are just challenge yourself to read more than you typically do.  So I am hoping for a great week in books!  I always love doing the one in January in hopes that it will kick off a good year of reading!

Let's see how this goes!

1. The Expendable Man by Dorothy B Hughes (339 pages)
2. This Love Story Will Self Destruct by Leslie Cohen (336 pages)
3. The Queen by Catherine Ryan (192 pages)
4. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See (384 pages)
5. The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley (702 pages)

This is a total of 1953 pages!

For those that don't know what Bout of Books is... here you go:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 8th and runs through Sunday, January 14th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 21 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Review: The Lost Season of Love and Snow by Jennifer Laam

The Lost Season of Love and Snow

by Jennifer Laam

Publisher: St Martin's Griffin

Pages: 352

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  The unforgettable story of Alexander Pushkin’s beautiful wife, Natalya, a woman much admired at Court, and how she became reviled as the villain of St. Petersburg.

At the age of sixteen, Natalya Goncharova is stunningly beautiful and intellectually curious. But while she finds joy in French translations and a history of Russian poetry, her family is more concerned with her marriage prospects. It is only fitting that during the Christmas of 1828 at her first public ball in her hometown of Moscow she attracts the romantic attention of Russia’s most lauded rebel poet: Alexander Pushkin. 

Enchanted at first sight, Natalya is already a devoted reader of Alexander’s serialized novel in verse, Evgeny Onegin. The most recently published chapter ends in a duel, and she is dying to learn what happens next. Finding herself deeply attracted to Alexander’s intensity and joie de vivre, Natalya hopes to see him again as soon as possible.

What follows is a courtship and later marriage full of equal parts passion and domestic bliss but also destructive jealousies. When vicious court gossip leads to Alexander dying from injuries earned defending his honor as well as Natalya’s in a duel, Natalya finds herself reviled for her alleged role in his death.


Kritters Thoughts:  A historical fiction book that takes you way back into history and at least for me across the globe.  It is 1828 and Russia.  A famous poet and a young girl meet and the story unfolds from there.

I love when historical fiction is based closely on facts.  It always makes me feel like I am learning and getting entertainment at the same time!  I especially love it when it is a time and place that I don't read about a lot and although I am completely intrigued by Russian folklore, tradition, and history, I just don't read about it a lot.  

The story is grouped in chunks of years and I loved how it was set up.  Of course, while I was reading, I was checking the wikipedia page to try to determine facto or fiction and of course I spoiled the ending for myself - stay away this one is too good to be spoiled!

Also while reading, I looked up the author and realized she has two more books set in Russia, I just may have to pick them up soon and enjoy!


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

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: Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley

Death Below Stairs

by Jennifer Ashley

Publisher: Berkley Books

Pages: 336

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Victorian class lines are crossed when cook Kat Holloway is drawn into a murder that reaches all the way to the throne.

Highly sought-after young cook Kat Holloway takes a position in a Mayfair mansion and soon finds herself immersed in the odd household of Lord Rankin. Kat is unbothered by the family’s eccentricities as long as they stay away from her kitchen, but trouble finds its way below stairs when her young Irish assistant is murdered. 

Intent on discovering who killed the helpless kitchen maid, Kat turns to the ever-capable Daniel McAdam, who is certainly much more than the charming delivery man he pretends to be. Along with the assistance of Lord Rankin’s unconventional sister-in-law and a mathematical genius, Kat and Daniel discover that the household murder was the barest tip of a plot rife with danger and treason—one that’s a threat to Queen Victoria herself.

Kritters Thoughts:  The first in a series with a cook of a home taking center stage as she takes a new position and shortly after a murder occurs.  Kat Holloway, our cook, has to decide whether she is going to get to the bottom of this murder or let someone else do the job.  Of course she has to take on the investigation, but it takes her to a place she couldn't have predicted!

When pitched this book to review, I remember a nod to Downtown Abbey and even though I didn't watch that show, I still love a Victorian set anything like most folks.  I love the commentary on class system and reliving the days where women had their place to be and nowhere else!  

I loved the combination of historical fiction with a mystery involved.  It was so fun to read two of my favorite genres at the same time, I am not sure I get to do it that often!  Although the murder takes an interesting turn and sent Kat and her friend Daniel down a road that I couldn't have imagined, it was interesting.  I will have to admit to being a little disappointed that it veered off so far from the murder, but still a good read.  

I am intrigued to see where this series could go and what characters will be in the next book and what mystery they will have to solve.


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

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 72 out of 50

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

2018 Reading Goals

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As we enter a new year, the spreadsheets are nice and new and the goals are set.  

Looking at my reading challenges that I participated in last year, here are the reading challenges I have put as my goal for reading in 2018.

1.  I want to read a minimum of 218 books in 2018.  I didn't hit my goal last year, but I was awful close, so I don't want to take it down this year, I had two months where my reading was less than stellar, so I think I can hit this this year.

2.  I want to read at least 100 ebooks in 2018.  I completely surpassed my goal in 2017, so I would like to up it this year, I would like almost half my reading to be ebook as I think I read faster and it makes me try to pick up my phone and read just about anywhere!

3.  I want to read more off my shelves of books that I own.  I have set this as a goal in years past and have yet to accomplish it.  I want to do a first on, last off shelf challenge, where I read at LEAST one book a month from my shelf in order of what went first on my goodreads books I own shelf.  These are books that I have had since at least 2010, so 8 years later I want to get them read and then send them on their way.


And the challenge that I love to do (partly because it is easy) is:

Where Are You Reading?
In this challenge, I keep a Google Map (link to my google map for 2018) and place a pinpoint at each spot where a book takes place.  The link to my google map will also be in the sidebar all year round, so anyone can check out where I have been reading!

If you would like to participate - check out Book Journey.  She hosted this challenge in the past, not sure if she is hosting again, but as this is my favorite thing to do, I am continuing!

2017 Reading and Challenges Wrap Up

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Just like last year, I wanted to take one post and just do a recap of 2017!  I did this exact post last year and the year before and loved seeing it throughout the year.  This year I will compare 2017 to 2016, let's go!

Total number of books I read in 2016: 237
Total number of books I read in 2017: 214


Total number of pages I flipped, clicked, and so on in 2016: 77,778
Total number of pages I flipped, clicked, and so on in 2017: 67,360

To recap, I read more in 2016.  I had a few months where my full time job took front and center and even a lot of my personal time.  I hope that I can get a little more balance in 2018 and my reading can increase just a little.

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I have been keeping track of WHERE my books were taking place all year.  Below is the outcome.  There are 13 states that I didn't "visit," which is worse than last year, so need to make an effort to "travel" the states a little more this next year!  And my country number went down from 16 to 12 this year, so definitely need to make better efforts next year.

States that didn't make the list:
Rhode Island     Iowa                Nebraska            Nevada
Delaware          Missouri           South Dakota
West VA            Arkansas          Wyoming
Kentucky          Oklahoma         New Mexico
Countries accounted for:
Canada       Sweden      France           Ireland
England      Italy           Thailand         Poland
Germany     Scotland    Switzerland    Australia

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As far as the Ebook Challenge is concerned, I challenged myself to 50 ebooks and finished the year at 75.  I am so excited that I completely exceeded this one!  I am going to up the ante on this one next year!