Monday, January 13, 2014

Bout of Books 9.0 Wrap Up

What an interesting and hard week.  I had to change my page goal on day two to 150 pages each day, thank goodness I met it!  I had quite a few work commitments, book club, pups to take care of, a work event and so on.  With all of this, I am proud of what I accomplished!

My total page count for the week was 1701!
My total book completed count was 6 books and started the 7th.

Here is what I read for this Bout of Books 9.0!

Day 1- Monday, January 6  Total 150
Disconnected by Jennifer Weiner (finished, read 38 pages)
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (read 112 pages)

Day 2- Tuesday, January 7  Total 190
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (finished, read 72 pages)
The Contractors by Harry Hunsicker (read 118 pages)

Day 3- Wednesday, January 8  Total 173 pages
The Contractors by Harry Hunsicker  (read 173 pages)

Day 4- Thursday, January 9  Total 287 pages
The Contractors by Harry Hunsicker (finished, read 218 pages)
After I'm Gone by Laura Lippman  (read 69 pages)

Day 5- Friday, January 10  Total 114 pages
After I'm Gone by Laura Lippman (read 114 pages)

Day 6- Saturday, January 11  Total 313 pages
After I'm Gone by Laura Lippman  (finished, read 147 pages)
Beyond Justice by Joshua Graham  (read 166 pages)

Day 7- Sunday, January 12  Total 474 pages
Beyond Justice by Joshua Graham  (finished, read 281 pages)
Heart on a Shoestring by Marilyn Grey (finished, read 158 pages)

The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick  (read 35 pages)


Sunday, January 12, 2014

It's Monday, What are you Reading?


With the bout of books, I would say this was a good week of reading - I am hoping this is what 2014 will be like!!

A meme hosted by Sheila at BookJourney. 

Finished this past week:
Disconnected by Jennifer Weiner
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
The Contractors by Harry Hunsicker
After I'm Gone by Laura Lippman
Beyond Justice by Joshua Graham
Heart on a Shoestring by Marilyn Grey

Currently Reading:
The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick

Next on the TBR pile:
The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley

Saturday, January 11, 2014

January Book Haul Part 1


Christmas:
Reached by Ally Condie  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Prodigy by Marie Lu  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Champion by Marie Lu  (Goodreads  Amazon)

Review:
End of Days by James Swanson  (Goodreads  Amazon)
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Creating an Ideal Life by Janet Delee  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Kill Fee by Owen Laukkanen  (Goodreads  Amazon)
No Book but the World by Leah Hager Cohen  (Goodreads  Amazon)
The Secret of Magic by Deborah Johnson  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Solsbury Hill by Susan M Wyler  (Goodreads  Amazon)
While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Flowers in the Attic by VC Andrews  (Goodreads  Amazon)
The Unwelcomed Child by VC Andrews  (Goodreads  Amazon)
The Execution by Dick Wolf  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Beyond Justice by Joshua Graham  (Goodreads  Amazon)
The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Two Sisters by Mary Hogan  (Goodreads)

One More Page event:
The Program by Suzanne Young  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Tandem by Anna Jarzab  (Goodreads  Amazon)

Book Club gets:
Speak of the Devil by Allison Leotta  (Goodreads  Amazon)
The Time of My Life by Cecelia Ahern  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Labor Day by Joyce Maynard  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Beyond Belief by Jenna Miscavige Hill  (Goodreads  Amazon)




Friday, January 10, 2014

Review: Short Leash by Janice Gary

Short Leash by Janice Gary

Publisher: Michigan State University
Pages: 246
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Janice Gary never walked alone without a dog by her side-a big dog. Once she was a risk-taker, a girl who ran off to California with big dreams and hopes of leaving her past behind. But after a brutal attack on the streets of Berkeley, her youthful bravado vanished, replaced by a crippling need for safety. When she rescues a gangly Lab-Rottweiler pup she names Barney, Janice is sure she's found her biggest protector yet. But after Barney is attacked by a vicious dog, he becomes dog-aggressive, making walking him almost impossible. After years of being exiled by her terror and Barney's defensiveness, Janice risks taking him to a park bordering the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. There she faces her greatest fears, including loose dogs, strange men and dangers real and imagined. As the leash of the past unravels, Barney sheds the defensive behaviors that once shackled him and Janice steps out of the self-imposed isolation that held her captive for three decades. Beautifully written, Short Leash is more than a dog story or a book about recovering from trauma. It's a moving tale of love and loss, the journey of a broken soul finding its way toward wholeness.


Kritters Thoughts:  A memoir of sorts that chronicles one woman's journey in becoming a writer and overcoming past fears and hurdles, while having a loyal four legged companion by her side through it all.  Set in Annapolis, MD, I loved being close to the action and being able to imagine the weather and the park that she spent quite a bit of time in.

A little on the artsy side and chronicled the author's many feelings and thoughts, but enjoyable for this dog fan!  Janice Gary had quite a few tragedies at a young age and I am not sure if even in adulthood she had dealt with them all.  Through rescuing her companion and eventually nursing him through many ailments, I think she found some of the healing that she needed.

This book may not be for those who find extreme companionship in dogs.  I have two pups who I spend a lot of time with due to the nature of my husband's job and I enjoy the personalities of each of them.  I can appreciate the dependency on dogs, but this book took it to another level!

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

Ebook 2013 Challenge: 80 out of 50

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.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Review: To Tuscany with Love by Gail Mencini

To Tuscany With Love
by Gail Mencini

Publisher: Capriole Group
Pages: 392
Format: book
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Can one college semester abroad change the course of your life?

Bella Rossini, a vivacious college junior, lands in jail overnight with acquaintances whom she mistakes for friends. Shipped off to Tuscany by her mother, Bella is suddenly thrust into living with seven strangers during one life-altering summer. 

Meet Hope, the sturdy and practical girl, steadfast in her loyalty to her boyfriend; Meghan and Karen, identical twins with an eye for fashion and beauty to match; Stillman, haunted by his hard past, and Phillip, an athlete, both fueled by competition; Lee, by family mandate in pre-med; and Rune, the Hollywood-bound wild child. All add sizzling chemistry and rebellious humor to the mix. 
In one whirlwind summer, while uncovering the charms of Italy, they discover both friendship and 
love.

After their summer together, life – and loss – happens. 

Returning to Tuscany 30 years later, their dreams, anger, secrets and disappointments create an 
emotional kaleidoscope. Their reunion sends them on a startling collision course that none of them 
could have predicted.



Kritters Thoughts:  A group of college students are thrust together in a foreign country and become completely connected and after 30 years a reunion is in the works and they are given the opportunity to regroup and catch up.  Bella is the main character of the 8 students and it was easy to become completely attached to her character.  

The unique thing about this book that made me completely fall in love with it was the structure.  The author starts with the students as they go to Tuscany and embark on the adventure.  It was easy to learn each of the characters and the parts they would each play.  The middle section of the book takes place away from Tuscany in each of their respective homes.  It easily time lapses from their time in Tuscany to catch up the reader on their lives and stops right before the 30 year reunion.  Finally the third section is the crazy reunion.

The ending was completely different from what I wanted, but I was still satisfied with how it concluded.  A book that I would recommend at any time of the year and for many types of readers!

Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Ebook 2013 Challenge: 81 out of 50

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



Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Review: The Holdout by Laurel Osterkamp

The Holdout by Laurel Osterkamp

Pages: 236
Format: book
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Robin wanted to win The Holdout, a cutthroat reality TV show, so she gave it her all, challenge after challenge. Then she fell for Grant, with his irresistible eyes and heartbreaking life story. But Grant was only using Robin as they competed for a million dollars. Once home, Robin wants to hide from the humiliation as episodes of The Holdout are aired, and she worries her family was right all along; she's not a survivor. Or maybe she'll have the last laugh Besides, Robin now has jury duty. And as she forges ahead, confronting her demons about bravery, justice, and romance, Robin will come to decide which is more important: the courage to stand alone, or the strength to love again. Laurel Osterkamp's award winning novels have been hailed as funny, intelligent, snarky and poignant. She is the author of four novels and two novellas, including the November Surprise series, which, like The Holdout, features the Bricker family. Laurel was recently on a federal jury, and she loves watching Survivor.


Kritters Thoughts:  A twist on the Survivor tv show with a behind the scenes view as the tv show is unfolding to the public and how this affects one of the females on the show, Robin.  Robin is on a show that is like Survivor and she has already filmed the show and has returned home to get back into the swing of things.

The best thing about this book is how it was told.  I loved that as Robin was getting back into a daily routine after leaving her life for the show, there were bits intermixed in the chapters where the show was being filmed and provided an on the scenes view.  I really enjoyed listening to how a reality television personality reacts and gets reactions from others as the show is on tv, but she knows what is to come next.  

I think most readers will enjoy this one.  It had heart and soul and kept me guessing at a few perfect 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 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.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Review: The In-Between Hour by Barbara Claypole White

The In-Between Hour
by Barbara Claypole White

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Bestselling author Will Shepard is caught in the twilight of grief, after his young son dies in a car accident. But when his father's aging mind erases the memory, Will rewrites the truth. The story he spins brings unexpected relief…until he's forced to return to rural North Carolina, trapping himself in a lie. 

Holistic veterinarian Hannah Linden is a healer who opens her heart to strays but can only watch, powerless, as her grown son struggles with inner demons. When she rents her guest cottage to Will and his dad, she finds solace in trying to mend their broken world, even while her own shatters. 

As their lives connect and collide, Will and Hannah become each other's only hope—if they can find their way into a new story, one that begins with love.



Kritters Thoughts:  Quite the dramatic book!  And completely focused on characters, so with only a little action, this book took a lot of concentration!  Will is a famous author and Hannah is a veterinarian living in North Carolina.  The setting and Will's occupation are the two things that drew me too this book and kept the book going for me.  

To read about the process of a big time author and how a reading slump can occur was very interesting.  Although I have no desire to be an author, I find their lives to be intriguing as to how they find their inspiration and spend countless hours developing an idea into a full novel.  I enjoyed reading about Will going through writer's block and how personal events in an author's life can affect their craft.  

With quite a few family members with mental illness and other drama, this book wasn't light-hearted in the least.  The characters were dealing with some heavy things and it may have been the timing of when I read this, but I found it to be overly heavy and hard to continue reading.  


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.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Review: Starter House by Sonja Condit

Starter House by Sonja Condit

Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 400
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Lacey Miszlak grew up homeless; her crazy mother dragged her from one terrible living situation to the next. But now she thinks the pieces of her life have finally come together. She's pregnant with her first child and she and her husband Eric have moved into the home of their dreams. She knows soon its beautiful sunlit rooms will be filled with the joy of the new family she will build there.

But there's a strange darkness on the stairway and an odd little boy who won't leave Lacey alone and soon she's forced to realize that a danger she never suspected is lurking in the hallways of her beautiful new home. She's going to have to solve a decades-old mystery to save her family from an evil that has lingered in wait for them for years.



Kritters Thoughts:  A creepy creepy book that I am so thankful that I did not start reading until many months after buying my first house!  Eric and Lacey under financial strains still purchase their first house and upon moving in Lacey starts feeling a spirit that is still living in the home.  

I loved the history in the home and how Lacey had to track down where it all began to hopefully solve the mystery.  It was an interesting take on a ghost story and although I am not a fan of ghosts and supernatural, the mystery part of it made it much easier for me to read.  I kind of wish I could have held onto this one for an October read.

The book definitely takes some risks and thankfully the pacing was superb, so it made the book hard to put down!  I would recommend this book to readers who love a little magic/spirits in their reading.

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.




Sunday, January 5, 2014

It's Monday, What are you Reading?


This week we went from 2013 to 2014!  It was the second part of my staycation that was also a readcation, so definitely had a good reading week!  Excited that the Bout of Books starts tomorrow, 2014 reading is starting out with a bang!

A meme hosted by Sheila at BookJourney. 

Finished this past week:
The Edge of Normal by Carla Norton
Women From the Ankle Down by Rachelle Bergstein
Why Can't I Be You by Allie Larkin
The Best Man by Kristan Higgins
The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins
The Fixer by TE Woods
The Taste of Apple Seeds by Katharine Hagena
The Tulip Eaters by Antoinette van Heugten

Currently Reading:
The Contractors by Harry Hunsicker
Next on the TBR pile:
The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick

Friday, January 3, 2014

Bout of Books 9.0

So this marks the second time that I am participating in the Bout of Books Read a Thon.  I love that this is starting on the first Monday of the new year and will start my new year in a good reading speed!

My hope is to read a minimum of 250 pages a day, with a total of 1750 pages for the week.

Below are the books that I am hoping to read this week, maybe a high goal, but I am excited!  

1.  Mrs. Lincoln's Rival by Jennifer Chiaverini  (432 pages)
2.  The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd  (384 pages)
3.  The Contractors by Harry Hunsicker (505 pages)
4.  The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley  (448 pages)
5. The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick (304 pages)

UPDATE
read The Taste of Apple Seeds before the bout of books, so altered the line up a little.





Thursday, January 2, 2014

Review: Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson

Somewhere in France
by Jennifer Robson

Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 400
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Lady Elizabeth Neville-Ashford wants to travel the world, pursue a career, and marry for love. But in 1914, the stifling restrictions of aristocratic British society and her mother’s rigid expectations forbid Lily from following her heart. When war breaks out, the spirited young woman seizes her chance for independence. Defying her parents, she moves to London and eventually becomes an ambulance driver in the newly formed Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps—an exciting and treacherous job that takes her close to the Western Front.

Assigned to a field hospital in France, Lily is reunited with Robert Fraser, her dear brother Edward’s best friend. The handsome Scottish surgeon has always encouraged Lily’s dreams. She doesn’t care that Robbie grew up in poverty—she yearns for their friendly affection to become something more. Lily is the most beautiful—and forbidden—woman Robbie has ever known. Fearful for her life, he’s determined to keep her safe, even if it means breaking her heart.


Kritters Thoughts:  A sweet love story that takes place during war and through a few countries with the two lovers from different "cultures," and how to overcome all of these very large obstacles!  Lady Ashford wants to see what is beyond her upbringing and leaves her cozy family home to help in the war effort while her brother's best friend came from nothing and has become a respected surgeon, but wants to help in his own way with the war effort as well.  Their paths cross a few times, but will it end positively?

I fell completely in love with these characters and the slow blooming love story between them.  I loved how it was almost a take on Romeo & Juliet with the "class" issues, but with the addition of war time there is heightened anxiety about safety and making it through the war.  I was completely surprised by her family and their reactions to her decisions, trying to be vague, don't want to give too much away on this one!

This book was a purely sweet story that makes me even more excited for the books of 2014!

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.


Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2013 in review

2013 was a fantastic year in books.  I read a little bit of everything (minus sci fi/fantasy) and had some really really good reads and even some duds.  

I wanted to take one post and just do a recap of 2013!

Total number of books I read: 216

Total number of pages I flipped, clicked, and so on: 69,361

I have been keeping track of WHERE my books were taking place all year.  Below is the outcome.  There are only 8 states that I didn't "visit," but there are 16 countries other than the US that I spent some time in!

States that didn't make the list:
Rhode Island          Oklahoma            Idaho
Delaware               Kansas                 Utah
Mississippi              Wyoming

Countries accounted for:
Mexico          Italy
Jamaica         Austria
Peru              Czech Republic
Argentina      France
Chile             UK (London)
India             Ireland
Iran               Russia
Greece          Canada
Japan            Wales


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