Stacking the Shelves 12.27.15

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga @ Tynga's Reviews. Its all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, whether physical or virtual books. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course, ebooks! Tynga posts this meme on Saturdays, but you can post on any day that works best for you! Check out the guidelines by visiting Tynga's blog! 

Christmas Haul!

I received some really great books this year and I can't wait to dive into them all! Here are the 6 that I got:

Friction by Sandra Brown

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

The Noticer by Andy Andrews

The One and Only by Emily Giffin

See Me by Nicholas Sparks

I've never actually heard of The Noticer, but my mother-in-law read it and loved it. So she gifted a copy to me and my three sister-in-laws. I'm just really excited to start them all! Plus I was given a good amount in gift cards, so more books will be purchased, and soon!

Book to Movie: The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks 

Gah! I love Nicholas Sparks' books! Say what you want, but he knows how to write a romance and make women swoon! I loved reading The Longest Ride (see my review here) and I couldn't wait to see the movie when it came out! My friend came down to visit me this weekend and we went to see this together. It's been our plan ever since we found out it was going to be a movie. 

I was a little worried when the movie started because it was quite different from the book. My friend was pretty upset at first, but the more we watched the less upset we were. The way the movie is set up really works well and we talked about it after the movie ended. I think it would have been difficult to follow and maybe confusing if the movie had been exactly like the book. 

One of the differences I noticed was I felt more connected to Sophia and Luke's story when reading the book, but when I was watching the movie, I loved Ira and Ruth's story much more. Sophia wasn't quite what I imagined her to be, so that might have had something to do with it. Or it could have been that the flashbacks were easier to visualize for Ira and Ruth's story in the movie. Regardless, I loved this movie! I laughed...I definitely cried... and Scott Eastwood is incredibly hot! 

Cast

 Scott Eastwood as Luke Collins

 Britt Robertson as Sophia Danko

Alan Alda as Ira Levinson

Jack Huston as Young Ira Levinson

Oona Chaplin as Young Ruth Levinson 

Trailer

[Review] The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks

The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Grand Central
Publishing Date: April 1, 2005
352 Pages
Format: hardcover, purchased
Buy Links: Amazon  |  B&N

Synopsis

When confronted by raging fires or deadly accidents, volunteer fireman Taylor McAden feels compelled to take terrifying risks to save lives. But there is one leap of faith Taylor can't bring himself to make: he can't fall in love. For all his adult years, Taylor has sought out women who need to be rescued, women he leaves as soon as their crisis is over and the relationship starts to become truly intimate. When a raging storm his his small Southern town, single mother Denise Holton's car skids off the road. The young mom is with her four-year-old son Kyle, a boy with severe learning disabilities and for whom she has sacrificed everything. Taylor McAden finds her unconscious and bleeding, but does not find Kyle. When Denise wakes, the chilling truth becomes clear to both of them: Kyle is gone. During the search for Kyle, the connection between Taylor and Denise takes root. Taylor doesn't know that this rescue will be different from all others, demanding far more than raw physical courage. It will lead him to the possibility of his own rescue from a life lived without love and will require him to open doors to his past that were slammed shut by pain. This rescue will dare him to live life to the fullest by daring to love.

My Review

I've read this book more times than I can count, and I never get tired of it. It's one of those go-to books when I'm in the mood for a really good read, or when I just don't know what else I want to read at the time. I haven't read this one in quite some time so I decided that it was a good time for a reread.

I have to say that one of the first things I loved about this book was Denise's son, Kyle. He struggles with a learning disability and Denise has given up her former life in Atlanta and being a teacher to dedicate her time trying to teach Kyle to speak. He has been seen by every doctor and specialist available with no avail. He comes across as an incredibly sweet boy who tries so hard to learn and Denise's dedication is inspiring. Then Taylor and Denise start seeing each other and you can see the sparks fly. And the way Taylor acts with Kyle is very endearing.

But Taylor has so many hidden demons that he tries to bury and not deal with. As the story unfolds, we begin to realize more why Taylor is the way he is. But he still won't accept help from anyone. Denise tries, but he pushes her away. His mom tries, but he won't talk to her about it. Mitch, his best friend, tries, but again, he won't speak of it. My heart ached for Taylor, Denise and Kyle as the story unfolds. They have all been put through so much, and readers can feel their emotions as if they're experiencing themselves. This is easily one of my favorite stories by Nicholas Sparks and I recommend it to anyone any chance I get.

[Review] The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Grand Central
Publishing Date:
292 Pages
Format: hardcover, purchased
Buy Links: Amazon   |   B&N

Synopsis 

In the spring of 1984, high school students Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole fell deeply, irrevocably in love. Though they were from opposite sides of the tracks, their love for each other seemed to defy the realities of life in the small town of Oriental, North Carolina. A loner from a violent and infamous local family, Dawson believed his love for Amanda promised and escape from the darker destiny laid out for him. A golden girl from a well-to-do family with plans to attend Duke University, Amanda saw something in Dawson that spoke to her own rebellious and passionate heart. But as the summer of their senior year came to a close, unforeseen events would tear the young couple apart, setting them on radically divergent paths.

Now, twenty-five years later, Amanda and Dawson are summoned back to Oriental for the funeral of Tuck Hostetler, the mentor who once gave shelter to their high school romance. Neither has lived the life they imagined...and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever changed their lives. As Amanda and Dawson carry out the instructions Tuck left behind for them, they realize that everything they thought they knew - about Tuck, about themselves, and about the dreams they held dear - was not as it seemed. Forced to confront painful memories, the two former lovers will discover undeniable truths about the choices they have made. And in the court of a single, searing weekend, they will ask of the living, and the dead: Can love truly rewrite the past? 

My Review

First, I have to say that Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorite authors and I love everything he writes. Unfortunately, this book was not his best. While I still really enjoyed it, to me, it doesn't compare to some of his other work.

I loved Amanda and Dawson, and thought their story had so much potential! They come from two completely different families; Amanda's is a well-known family that has been in Oriental for years; Dawson's family is rough around the edges (quite an understatement, actually). But they have a strong connection and enjoy a beautiful summer together at the home of Tuck Hostetler, who struggles with his own demons, but enjoys the company of the two young kids. I really loved the story line of this book, but about halfway through, it fell a little flat. I wasn't sure where the book was going. Thankfully, it picked up a lot within the last 30 pages or so. Without spoiling this for others, the book has a sad ending, but so many happy things come from it. Overall, it just had a different feel to it than Sparks' other books. That being said, I still think it deserves a good 4 out of 5 stars (:

Top Ten Tuesday! 2.11.14

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the The Broke and the Bookish. Every week she posts an idea for a 'Top Ten' list relating to books, and encourages other book bloggers to respond and participate. All the details are listed on her site. 

This week's topic: Top ten books that will make you swoon!

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks 

Night Tales Series by Nora Roberts

Texas! Trilogy by Sandra Brown 

Sweetest Mistake by Candis Terry 

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson 

Throwback Thursday 2.6.14

Throwback Thursday is a bookish meme hosted every two weeks by Christina @Booksane and Stephanie @Bookfever where you feature books that you've read in the past but are still crazy about. It could be a book you read as a child and still remember and love or maybe just a book that you haven't read in a long time and want to show your love for.Each week we'll be featuring a new random question to answer!

Book pick this week: 

I read this a couple years ago when it first came out and loved it! I would really like to re-read some of Jodi Picoult's books because I love them all so much but haven't read any in a while. It's probably going to be between this one and The Pact for my next re-read. 

Synopsis

Things break all the time.
Day breaks, waves break, voices break.
Promises break.
Hearts break.

Every expectant parent will tell you that they don't want a perfect baby, just a healthy one. Charlotte and Sean O'Keefe would have asked for a healthy baby, too, if they'd been given the choice. Instead, their lives are made up of sleepless nights, mounting bills, the pitying stares of "luckier" parents, and maybe worst of all, the what-ifs. What if their child had been born healthy? But it's all worth it because Willow is, well, funny as it seems, perfect. She's smart as a whip, on her way to being as pretty as her mother, kind, brave, and for a five-year-old an unexpectedly deep source of wisdom. Willow is Willow, in sickness and in health. 

Everything changes, though, after a series of events forces Charlotte and her husband to confront the most serious what-ifs of all. What if Charlotte should have known earlier of Willow's illness? What if things could have been different? What if their beloved Willow had never been born? To do Willow justice, Charlotte must ask herself these questions and one more. What constitutes a valuable life? 

Emotionally riveting and profoundly moving, Handle with Care brings us into the heart of a family bound by an incredible burden, a desperate will to keep their ties from breaking, and, ultimately, a powerful capacity for love. Written with the grace and wisdom she's become famous for, beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult offers us an unforgettable novel about the fragility of life and the lengths we will go to protect it.

Question: Who are your top 5 favorite authors? 

(in no particular order)

1. Nicholas Sparks - He is such a talented writer! I read everything he writes, and always love it! I love that a guy can write such amazing love stories.

2. James Patterson - Up until about two years ago, I never read anything by Patterson. Now, I can't get enough of his work! Whether its the mysteries or romances, they're so good! 

3. Jodi Picoult - Words can't describe how much I love her books and the issues she tackles. I think its incredibly brave to take on these issues because some are so controversial. But I think everything she writes is amazing. The Pact got me hooked and I really need to reread it again soon. 

4. Erin Morgenstern - The Night Circus is one of my absolute favorite books ever. Its the only thing she's published so far, but I can't wait to see what she has for the future!

5. Sandra Brown - one of the first authors (other than JK Rowling and HP) that got me hooked on reading. I used to gobble up her romance novels like they were chocolate. I still love all of her work and I think her romantic suspense novels are equally as wonderful!




What about you? Do you have a book you read a while ago, but really love it, and want to showcase it?!

Top Ten Tuesday 2.4.14

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the The Broke and the Bookish. Every week she posts an idea for a 'Top Ten' list relating to books, and encourages other book bloggers to respond and participate. All the details are listed on her site. 

This week's topic: Top ten books that will make you cry

1. The Rescue

I've read this book so many times, and it never fails to make me cry! I'm a huge Nicholas Sparks fan, so pretty much anything that he writes, I read, and I cry. 

2. My Sister's Keeper, Handle With Care, Nineteen Minutes

Anything written by Jodi Picoult makes me cry. She writes such beautiful stories that tug at your heartstrings. 

3. Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

Pretty sure I cried throughout this whole book! I love that James Patterson can write beautiful love stories and also edge-of-your-seat thrillers. 

4. A Child Called It 

For anyone who hasn't read this, it will definitely be a book to make you cry! I cannot get over the things this child was put through! My heart just breaks every time I think about this book and child abuse. 

5. Anything by Lurlene McDaniel

I used to read her books constantly when I was younger, but I haven't read any of them lately. I do remember, however, that these books ALWAYS made me cry! Especially the series above, the Angels Trilogy. 

  

6. Harry Potter Series

Of course I can't forget this series! Such amazing books, and really kick-started my love of reading! These last two books in particular made me cry a lot.

Not quite ten listed, but if you count all Jodi Picoult books and all Nicholas Sparks books... well, then I'm well over 10 (: 

Tell Me Something Tuesday 2.4.14

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Heidi @ Rainy Day Ramblings. Each week a new question is presented. Check out Heidi's blog for all the details :)

This weeks question:

Book Boyfriends....Who are some of your favorite all-time book boyfriends?

Well the first guy that comes to mind is Noah from the Notebook! I absolutely loved his character and he was so freaking sweet! I also really love Taylor from The Rescue (also by Nicholas Sparks - man, this guy knows how to write romance!!) 

  

I know I could probably list tons of book boyfriends, but these are the first two that come to mind and I absolutely love both of these books (: 

Tell Me Something Tuesday 1.21.14

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Heidi @ Rainy Day Ramblings. Each week a new question is presented. Check out Heidi's blog for all the details :)

This weeks question:

What are some of your favorite pick-me-up reads? 

Well, I love a good book with a happy ending and romance novels. Some of my favorite are probably:

Yes, there are some sad parts in this book, but it's always been one of my favorites, and I've reread it so many times. 

Anything that Nora Roberts rights with romance is usually one of my go-to books if I need something light and fun. 

  

I also really love the Texas! Series by Sandra Brown and the Dakota Series by Debbie Macomber.

And give me anything that's young adult and I'll love that as well, so I generally reread them a few times :) 

Feature and Follow Friday! 12/20

Feature and Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. The purpose is to meet new people and gain more followers in the book blogging community. If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers. But you have to know, the point of this hop is to follow other blogs also. I follow you, you follow me. 

The general rules are: 

- Follow the Feature and Follow Hosts (Parajunkee and Alison Can Read)

- Follow the Featured Bloggers

- Put your Blog name and URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts. 

-Grab the button up there and place it in a post. This post is for people to say hi and that they are now following you in your comments. 

-Follow, Follow, Follow as many as you can. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Don't just follow, comment and say hi in the post! Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say 'hi'

-If someone comments and says they are following you, please follow back! 

This weeks question:

Pick a book in your favorite genre that you would recommend to a reluctant reader. 

That's a tough one because I don't know if I really have a favorite genre... Mostly I read general fiction, so one of the books I would recommend is: 

I guess this is kind of a romance more than anything, but it's easily one of my favorite Nicholas Sparks books (:  I would also highly recommend this book: 

[Review] The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Grand Central
Publishing date: September 17, 2013
398 pages
Format: hard cover
Review copy

Synopsis 

Ira Levinson is in trouble. At ninety-one years old, in poor health, and along in the world, he finds himself stranded on an isolated embankment after a car crash.

Suffering multiple injuries, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes and comes into focus beside him: his beloved wife, Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by reminiscing about their lifetime together - how they met, the precious paintings they collected, the dark days of World War II, and its effect on them and their families. Ira knows that Ruth can't possible be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories, reliving the sorrows and joys that defined their marriage.

A few miles away, at a local bull-riding event, a Wake Forest University senior's life is about to change. Recovering from a recent breakup, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes are high: Reward and ruin - and even life and death - loom large in every day life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans - a future that Luke has the power to fulfill... if the secret he's keeping doesn't destroy it first.

Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart.

My Review

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Nicholas Sparks does it again. Unlike any other author, he knows how to bring you and and keep his hold until beyond the very last pages. Even after you finish reading his stories, you continue to think about the characters in the book and wonder what became of them. I loved learning about the characters in these books. Its a story about true love and how it changes but never leaves; from the beginning stage of lust, physical attraction, chemistry (whatever you want to call it), to the love that develops as you grow old together, battling ups and downs in your relationship. Ira and Ruth are a beautiful couple that I truly envy and can only hope that the love I have for my fiance will grow to the same love they had for each other. I truly recommend reading this story, and not just for those who like romances. I think this story can teach you a lot about love and life, and help you realize the meaning of so many things.

Buy on Amazon