2017 Goals

Just about everyone makes New Year's goals in January, including me! This year was a little different for me since I was pregnant until 6 weeks ago and I couldn't work on a couple of them right away. To keep myself accountable, I wanted to share them with you!

1. Read 80 books

Last year, my goal was to read 100 books and I surpassed that by reading 111! I was super proud of myself for that. The past few years, I've always increased my book goal, but because I was pregnant and knew I'd be a momma soon, I couldn't increase it. In fact, I decreased my goal, which made me a little sad. But I know my focus is going to be more on my son than reading, and I'd rather finish my goal than fall short, so I chose something a little more realistic. I was doing great earlier this year with reading a ton, mostly on the bus to and from work. But since having M, I've been very slow to finish a book. Nevertheless, I still hope to hit 80! I'm almost a quarter of the way there and I know once I go back to work, I'll have time on the bus again, which should help. 

2. Finish my husband's Star Wars blanket

I really love to crochet and in August 2015, I started crocheting a Stormtrooper blanket for my husband since he loves Star Wars. He wanted the blanket to be big since he's 6', but it's turning out to be a little bigger than I anticipated. I'm a little over halfway done with it, but I tend to take breaks and not work on it for a few months at a time. I told him I'd have it finished by the end of the year...so hopefully I can! To be honest, I really want it done by then because it's just hanging over my head at this point and makes me feel guilty. Thankfully he's patient and doesn't mind waiting for me to find the time, especially now that we have a little one at home. 

3. Get back to pre-pre baby weight

Like most people, weight loss is one of my goals this year. But unlike most people, I needed to wait until after M was born before working on this one since I couldn't lose weight while pregnant; quite the opposite actually - I needed to gain weight! But now that M is here, I'm back at the gym and eating a much healthier diet. Let's be honest, when I was pregnant, I didn't eat the healthiest (but thankfully only gained 33 pounds, which is within the recommended 25-35, so I was happy! However, you'll notice my goal is "pre-pre baby weight." Well... I wasn't super happy with my weight and fitness level right before I got pregnant because we kind of fell off the gym bandwagon, so not only do I want to get back to my weight before baby, I want to get back an even healthier weight. 

Not only do I want to get to a better weight, I just want to lead an overall healthier lifestyle. We have M around now, and while my husband and I have always been pretty healthy and active, we want to set a good example for him. 

4. Run a 5k

I've ran 5ks before and I really like having something to work towards. Again, I wasn't able to work on this goal until after M was born, but now that he's here, I've just started running again! I'll post more on my journey with running later. My thought is that I'll complete this by September, but I'm really hoping I can do it before then. It's a slow process for me though. I know some people can jump right back into running, but I certainly can't. I need to work back up to longer distances! My dad also runs 5ks once or twice a year, so we're hoping to do it together. 

I know I'm a little late to be talking about this year's goals, but what are some of your goals this year -bookish or otherwise? 

[Review] We Never Asked for Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

We Never Asked for Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publishing Date: Aug. 18, 2015
320 Pages
Format: ARC, hardcover
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Goodreads rating: 5 stars

Synopsis 

From the beloved New York Times bestselling author of The Language of Flowers comes her much-anticipated new novel about young love, hard choices, and hope against all odds.

For fourteen years, Letty Espinosa has worked three jobs around San Francisco to make ends meet while her mother raised her children—Alex, now fifteen, and Luna, six—in their tiny apartment on a forgotten spit of wetlands near the bay. But now Letty’s parents are returning to Mexico, and Letty must step up and become a mother for the first time in her life.

Navigating this new terrain is challenging for Letty, especially as Luna desperately misses her grandparents and Alex, who is falling in love with a classmate, is unwilling to give his mother a chance. Letty comes up with a plan to help the family escape the dangerous neighborhood and heartbreaking injustice that have marked their lives, but one wrong move could jeopardize everything she’s worked for and her family’s fragile hopes for the future.

Vanessa Diffenbaugh blends gorgeous prose with compelling themes of motherhood, undocumented immigration, and the American Dream in a powerful and prescient story about family.

My Review

I LOVED this book! I thought it was so, so good! I read Diffenbaugh's first book, The Language of Flowers, earlier this year for my book club and fell in love with Diffenbaugh's writing style. That book was so original and full of emotions; I knew I needed to get her next book. When I started reading We Never Asked for Wings, I was immediately hooked. I finished it in three days while traveling to and from Chicago for the weekend. I never wanted to put this book down. 

Letty is a young mother of two children; she got pregnant at 17 and wasn't ready for motherhood. As a result, her mother raised her two children until one day, her mother and father leave California to return to Mexico. Letty's forced to grow up and start caring for her children. It definitely isn't smooth sailing and they have a lot of issues. But what I loved so much was watching as Letty grew up, matured, and became the mother that her children needed. It's a lot of trial and error with Letty, her son Alex, and her daughter Luna. Alex is a young, high school kid trying to find his way in the world, and Luna is a spunky 6 year old who loves her mother unconditionally. Things don't go perfect, but they are a family and learn to work things out together. This is another really great book by Diffenbaugh; so original and thought-provoking. I really loved Letty and Alex as characters and I couldn't wait to keep reading their story. I wish it didn't have to end! 

I know this book was just released, but I seriously can't wait until Diffenbaugh writes something else! She's easily a favorite author of mine!

[Review] Meant-to-Be Mom by Karen Templeton

Meant-to-be-Mom by Karen Templeton
Series: Jersey Boys, #4
Publisher: Harlequin
Publishing Date: March 17, 2015
224 Pages
Format: purchased, paperback
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Goodreads rating: 3 stars

Synopsis 

LIFE, LOVE AND THE PURSUIT OF FAMILY

Sabrina Noble's Journal

Dear Diary,

You'll never believe who I spotted on my first day back in Maple River -- the one who got away, Cole Rayburn. He's definitely not the same kid I swung on the monkey bars with. In fact, Cole is more handsome than ever and has two adorable tweens.

There's definitely still something between Cole and myself…but I get the sense that his ex burned him and his kids pretty badly. Now that I'm back in New Jersey, I'm spending more and more time with the Rayburn clan, and I'm honestly loving it. But can I be the bonus mom these kids deserve and have the husband I've always dreamed of? Or is it true that you can't go home again?

My Review

I picked up this book because I wanted a quick, easy romance. And that's what I got. It was a short book about two former high school friends. They haven't seen each other in years, and haven't spoken for that long. Something happened between the two of them that we don't really find out until later in the book. But these two fit together well; Cole has two children from a previous marriage and Sabrina dotes on them. Cole's son is a little hesitant to get too close to Sabrina, but she slowly breaks down those walls. I wish there was a little more romance in this book, though. I felt like a lot of it was just building their friendship back up, which is obviously important, but then it's not until the very end that things start to heat up between them. I just wish it had happened sooner and we saw a little more romance with them! Overall, good, quick book. 

[Review] Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Series: Infernal Devices, #1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publishing Date: Aug. 31, 2010
479 Pages
Format: paperback, won
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Goodreads rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis 

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...

My Review

I won a copy of this book from Simon & Schuster in 2014 for a 31 days of reading giveaway. Unfortunately, it's been sitting on my shelf since then! I decided to pick this one up recently, and I'm really glad I did! I really liked this book and I'm very interested in reading the rest of this series and the Mortal Instruments series as well. It's full of fantasy and interesting characters. I wasn't sure if I would be super interested in this steampunk world. But once I started reading, I was hooked. I really liked the characters, especially Tessa, Will, and Jem; they were unique in their own ways. Will was a tough character to figure out, and I'm not sure I quite have, even after the book ended. And I feel really bad for Jem, but I can't elaborate without giving anything away! This book was full of adventure and suspense. I wasn't sure what was going to happen or which characters I could trust. Overall, it kept me interested and wanting to know more. 

Don't be ashamed...

We've all probably heard of slut-shaming. But what about book-shaming? How many times have we seen what someone else is reading and think (or say) "You're reading that?!" Think about it. We've all probably done it when we saw someone reading or raving about Fifty Shades of Grey. I'm pretty sure I've done it. And the more I think about it, I'm not proud of it. 

Don't be ashamed of what you love to read. Whether it's romance, fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, mysteries. Over the last few months, I've realized that it really doesn't matter what I love to read. I shouldn't be ashamed of the fact that I love reading romance novels. Some people might think they're all works of fluff; but I don't. I love reading stories about love and romance and happily-ever-afters. I also really love mysteries; I try to figure out who-dun-it, but it doesn't always happen. Now these aren't the only kinds of books I like to read, but my point is, we shouldn't worry about what other people, other readers, think is "okay" to read. 

Sometimes it's not quite so direct as someone saying something; it could be a passive aggressive post in the blogging world or just the perception The time I feel like this happens the most is when I go to write a review and I see how other people didn't like it as much as I did. But that shouldn't change my thoughts on the book I read. Sure, it might make me think about it a little more, but generally it doesn't change my opinion much. Just because someone else doesn't like that book, or that genre, doesn't mean it's less or inferior to other books or genres. 

Life's too short, and there are too many books to not read what you like. 

Book Podcasts!

I've been listening to podcasts, which is very new to me and a little hard to get used to! The first one I listened to was the podcast Serial hosted by Sarah Koenig - if you don't know it, check it out! The whole podcast is about one story; a man name Adnan is convicted of murdering his high school girlfriend. It's a true story and we learn a little each week as Sarah interviews Adnan and other witnesses to try to figure out if Adnan actually did it. It's really interesting and a great listen! 

But okay, back to my original point. After I listened to Serial, I realized there are so many great podcasts out there! And then I thought, why not find book podcasts since that's what I love so much?! So a few days I decided to look some up and I've found a few that I really like thus far. Funny enough, a lot of these podcasts come from Book Riot!

Does anyone else listen to podcasts, book or non-book related? What are some of your favorites? I'd love to hear from you all!

Book Riot - The Podcast

What it's about: Book Riot - The Podcast is a weekly news and talk show about what's new, cool, and worth talking about in the world of books and reading, brought to you by the editors of Book Riot.

Dear Book Nerd

What it's about: Dear Book Nerd is a bi-weekly show about life, love and literature. 

All the Books

What it's about: All the Books is a weekly show of recommendations and discussions about the most interesting and exciting new book releases. - I actually haven't listened to this one yet, but I'm going to tomorrow at work! 

Reading Lives

What it's about: It's an interview podcast about interesting people who love books. 

The Bookworm Podcast

What it's about: Intellectual, accessible and provocative literary conversations

[Review] The Manning Brides by Debbie Macomber

The Manning Brides by Debbie Macomber
Series: Those Manning Men, #1-2
Publisher: Mira
Publishing Date: Aug. 1, 2008
475 Pages
Format: paperback, purchased
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Goodreads rating: 3 stars

Synopsis 

Rich Manning and Jamie Warren have always been friends; and nothing but friends. However, that changes when she asks him to father the child she so desperately wants. Rich agrees; if she'll marry him. Because he thinks their Marriage of Inconvenience could become a real marriage instead.

Paul Manning, a grieving widower with three small children, turns to Leah Baker for help and comfort. When that comfort begins to grow into something else, Paul discovers that he wants more than a Stand-In Wife.

My Review

I've always been a big Debbie Macomber fan. I started reading her books when I was younger and she was one of the first authors to introduce me to the world of romance novels. I fell head over heels in love with her characters, so every time I come across one of her books, I love picking it up. 

Both of these stories were good and a lot of fun to read. Rich and Jamie have been friends for years. She asks him to be a sperm donor because she wants a child so badly. Their relationship takes a different road once this happens and they both realize how they feel about each other. Paul is leaning how to move on after his wife dies, and her sister, Leah, helps him cope with being a new single dad. 

I enjoyed reading these stories. Both were relatively quick and light reads. These weren't my favorites of hers, but nonetheless, still fun. 

[Review] Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

Let The Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

Series: Sky Fall, #1

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Publishing Date: Jan. 1, 2013

404 Pages

Format: paperback, won

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Goodreads rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis 

Vane Weston should have died in the category-five tornado that killed his parents. Instead, he woke up in a pile of rubble with no memories of his past - except one: a beautiful, dark-haired girl standing in the winds. She swept through his dreams ever since, and he clings to the hope that she's real.

Audra is real, but she isn't human. She's a sylph, an air elemental who can walk on the wind, translate its alluring songs, even twist it into a weapon. She's also a guardian - Vane's guardian - and has sworn an oath to protect him at all costs.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both their families, Audra has just days to help Vane unlock his memories. And as the storm winds gather, Audra and Vane start to realize that the greatest danger might not be the warriors coming to destroy them, but the forbidden romance growing between them.

My Review

I won this book in a giveaway last year from Simon and Schuster, and unfortunately, it had been sitting on my shelf ever since. But I've decided to make an effort to read book that I've had for a while, or slowly start to get rid of them. I'm a bit of a book hoarder, so this is going to be difficult. But at least I started and picked up this one from my piles! 

Audra is Vane's guardian and has been watching over him for the last 10 years, without him knowing. Her job is to protect Vane and eventually teach him about his past and how to learn about the wind. Vane is a bit cocky, which is kind of funny since he apparently hasn't had a girlfriend or a successful date. And Audra is all work and no play. She's determined to teach Vane what he needs to know, but can't let herself become involved with him. 

This book is an interesting concept and something I wasn't sure how I'd feel about. I've picked it up a few times thinking I'd read it next, but then picked something else. But I set my mind to it this time and read it. The writing is well done and the characters are pretty well developed. You can tell how much they care about each other by the way they interact. However, this wasn't my favorite book. Just something about it didn't hold my interest as much as I hoped. 

Others in the Series

[Review] Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty 
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Publishing Date: July 29, 2014
Format: paperback, purchased
460 Pages
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Goodreads rating: 5 stars

Synopsis

Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.

New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive. 

My Review

I couldn't wait to start this book! I received it as a Christmas present and I should have picked it up a lot sooner, but like so many of you, my TBR pile is never ending and always growing. So my book club finally picked this one to read and I couldn't have been more excited. Thankfully, this book lived up to everything I wanted it to be. 

I was immediately sucked into this book. Each of these women appear so different. Jane is quite, shy, and like her name suggests, somewhat plain. Celeste, on the other hand, is beautiful and appears to have it all, with two cute twin boys and a doting husband. Madeline is the outspoken one of the group. Although they all seem to have things together, they are all broken in their own way. Celeste has a secret that she doesn't think she can share with anyone; Madeline's daughter has chosen her ex-husband over her; and Jane is struggling to be a single mother with a secret about her own past. We watch as Madeline and Celeste welcome Jane to their community and the three become good friends. They slowly open up to each other and their friendship continues to grow. We learn all of their secrets and the tension slowly builds to the schoolyard scandal and murder... 

There were so many times during this book that my jaw dropped; so many twists and turns that I wasn't expecting, but added so much to the story. I couldn't put it down and stayed up way past my bedtime in order to finish this one! I cannot wait to see what the other girls in book club thought about this one. And I can't wait to get to Moriarty's other work! I have The Husband's Secret sitting on my shelf and I certainly won't be waiting too long to read that one! 

[Review] The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publishing Date: April 3, 2012
Format: paperback, purchased
352 Pages
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Goodreads Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis 

The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen and emancipated from the system with nowhere to go, Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger has her questioning what’s been missing in her life. And when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

My Review

My friends and I picked this book for our book club read for May. It had been on my TBR list for a while, but I never got around to buying or reading it. So this was the perfect reason to do so. Plus, it was on my other friend's list to read as well, so we both wanted this one. 

I have to say that this was unlike any other book I've read. I've never loved reading about flowers and their meanings so much. It was really interesting to read about Victoria's life. I loved how the book flipped back and forth between the past and the present. I felt like we really got to know Victoria so much more than if it had been in chronological order. 

Victoria was an interesting character. She was pretty harsh in some ways, a sometimes unfortunate consequence of growing up in the foster system. She was sent from one house to the next to the next, never having a true place to call home. And then she meets Elizabeth, who loves her without reservation, despite all Victoria does to try ruin it. Elizabeth is the first person to teach Victoria about the language of flowers, how each flower has a different meaning and the messages you can convey with flowers. We watch as Victoria sabotages her relationship with Elizabeth, grows into a young, lost woman, and eventually starts to learn who she really is through her flowers, Grant, Elizabeth, and Hazel. 

I've never wanted to learn about flowers as much as I did while reading this story. Right when I got done, I wanted to run out a buy a book on different flowers. I've always liked them, but never really learned the different names, other than the few popular ones. But after reading this, the flower beds at my house will certainly have some new plants and flowers in them! This book was really well written and I enjoyed Victoria's character. She was real and original, and I can't wait to see what else Diffenbaugh has in store for us. 

Books to Movies! July - December 2015

Another great batch of books are getting turned into movies! My last post featured Books to Movies from January to June 2015. This time I'm featuring books being released from July to December! Again, I hope to read the books before I see the movie, which I think I've been pretty good! Have you read any of these books? Are you thinking of seeing these movies? Let me know what you think!

1. 2. 3.

4.  5. 6.

7.

1. Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman 

• What it's about: When two little girls, Alice and Ronnie, find an infant in an abandoned stroller, a terrible incident shatters three families. Years later, the girls are 18 and trying to find a new start, but the crime keeps haunting the families and the police — especially when another child disappears.
• Starring: Dakota Fanning, Danielle Macdonald, Diane Lane, Elizabeth Banks 
• Releasing May 1 - Ok, so I cheated a little on this one since it should have been in the last post, but I didn't know about it then! 

2. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

• What it's about: A woman is struggling to get over the brutal murder of her family and the secret society wants her to revisit the crime to find out what really happened.
• Starring: Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Mortez, Christina Hendricks, Nicholas Hoult and Corey Stoll
• Releasing: Aug. 7

3. Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

• What it's about: In this love story, young Louisa forms a bond with Will, the paralyzed man she is employed to help.
• Starring: Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin
• Releasing: Aug. 21

4. The Scorch Trials by James Dasher

• What it's about: The second book in the Maze Runner series, Thomas and the Gladers are entering phase two of their “trials” and race to earn a cure for the Flare virus. Chased by Cranks and facing a series of dangerous weather conditions, the boys attempt to complete their mission. 
• Starring: Dylan O'Brien
• Releasing: Sept. 18

5. Mockingjay, Part 2, by Suzanne Collins

• What it's about: The last book of the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay is the completion of Katniss Everdeen’s rebellion against the Capital and her fight to bring President Snow down.
• Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
• Releasing: Nov. 20

6. The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

• What it's about: A lighthouse keeper and his wife discover a baby and a dead body near their home off the coast of Australia after WWI. 
• Starring: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander

7. Room by Emma Donoghue 

• What it's about: The story follows a child, Lenny, who has been raised in a small room by his mother after she was abducted and kept prisoner there for years. 
• Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, William H. Macy

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

The 8th Confession by James Patterson

The 8th Confession by James Patterson 
Series: The Women's Murder Club, #8
Publisher: Grand Central
Publishing Date: 2009
Format: purchased, paperback
352 Pages
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Synopsis 

As San Francisco's most glamorous millionaires mingle at the party of the year, someone is watching--waiting for a chance to take vengeance on Isa and Ethan Bailey, the city's most celebrated couple. Finally, the killer pinpoints the ideal moment, and it's the perfect murder. Not a trace of evidence is left behind in their glamorous home. 

As Detective Lindsay Boxer investigates the high-profile murder, someone else is found brutally executed--a preacher with a message of hope for the homeless. His death nearly falls through the cracks, but when reporter Cindy Thomas hears about it, she knows the story could be huge. Probing deeper into the victim's history, she discovers he may not have been quite as saintly as everyone thought.

As the hunt for two criminals tests the limits of the Women's Murder Club, Lindsay sees sparks fly between Cindy and her partner, Detective Rich Conklin. The Women's Murder Club now faces its toughest challenge: will love destroy all that four friends have built? The exhilarating new chapter in the Women's Murder Club series, The 8th Confession serves up a double dose of speed-charged twists and shocking revelations as only James Patterson can. And remember, this is the only Murder Club episode of the year.

My Review

I always look forward to picking up another book by James Patterson. I'm a huge fan and love how fast his books are to read! I'm slowly building up my library to own all of his books and I'm making good progress! In the mean time, I actually need to read them all :) I was in the mood for a quick read and a mystery, so I knew I had to pick up one of Patterson's. 

This book, like most of his others, was a really quick read. I love the short chapters because I feel like I'm always telling myself, just one more chapter... and then 5 chapters go by... Lindsay is a great character. I think she makes a really good detective and she's not willing to settle on a case until she can solve it. I also really like the addition of her partner Rich Conklin. He's been in a few of the books so far and I think he's a great addition. I really like Jacobi and I'm glad he's still part of the books, but Conklin is fun. I know some people are frustrated with Lindsay in this book since she can't seem to make her mind up about the men in her life, but I think that can sometimes be common in real life. While you may not want to be with a certain person, you like the attention they give you and don't necessarily want to give that up. I think she made the right decision and I'm curious to see who their relationship will play out in the next books. 

I liked this book and it was interesting to see how it all played out. It probably wasn't my favorite of this series, but I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to The 9th Judgment! 

Stacking the Shelves 4.12.15

 

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! 

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Bought

I went to a few garage sales yesterday with my husband and was lucky enough to grab a few good books! I was pretty happy with my haul since I probably only spent $5 total on all of these (: 

Emma by Jane Austen

1984 by George Orwell

Tick Tock by James Patterson 

National Geographic Traveler - Greece

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

The 9th Girl by Tami Hoag

Such a Pretty Face by Cathy Lamb 

The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline

Accused by Lisa Scottoline

I also went to Bookbub.com and downloaded a bunch of their free books from Amazon! There's way more than I can count at this time and it would take me a while to go back through them, so I'm not listing them all today (: But I would definitely suggest people check out their website for free or cheap ebooks! 

[Review] The Next Always by Nora Roberts

The Next Always by Nora Roberts
Series: Inn BoonsBoro, #1
Publisher: Berkley Publishing
Publishing Date: 2011
Format: paperback, purchased
324 Pages
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Synopsis 

The historic hotel in Boonsboro has endured war and peace, changing hands, even rumored hauntings. Now it’s getting a major facelift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. Beckett is the architect of the family, and his social life consists mostly of talking shop over pizza and beer. But there’s another project he’s got his eye on: the girl he’s been waiting to kiss since he was fifteen.

After losing her husband and returning to her hometown, Clare Brewster soon settles into her life as the mother of three young sons while running the town’s bookstore. Busy, with little time for romance, Clare is drawn across the street by Beckett’s transformation of the old inn, wanting to take a closer look . . . at the building and the man behind it.

With the grand opening inching closer, Beckett’s happy to give Clare a private tour - one room at a time. It’s no first date, but these stolen moments are the beginning of something new - and open the door to the extraordinary adventure of what comes next . . .

My Review

I'm a big Nora Roberts fan and have read so much of what she's written. I knew when I saw this one, I had to grab a copy. While I liked this book, it wasn't my favorite of hers. I thought the storyline was interesting and I love that the Montgomery men, along with their mom, are fixing up an old building and turning it into an inn. I also liked the ghost that lives in the inn - she's intriguing and I want to know who she was and how she's related to the house! I wish the story talked about her a little more (which surprises me since I've never been into ghost stories before). 

There's also a little suspense in this book that I wasn't expecting at all! I've read a few of Roberts' books with suspense in them and she does it really well. I think because that's not what this story was about, it wasn't as good as I was expecting. 

Even though there were some things I didn't like about this book, there were still many things I did! I enjoyed Clare's character. She clearly has had a tough life and is raising three young boys on her own. Beckett's had a crush on her since high school and now that he can, he's taking a chance on showing his heart to Clare. I love how Beckett interacts with Clare's children. He can empathize with them since he also lost his father and he shows them what it's like to have a father-figure around. Each of the three boys are so sweet, but I especially liked Harry, the oldest. He feels like he has to look out for his mom and the rest of his family since he's the "man of the house" now that his dad's gone. He's a cute kid! I own the third book in this series but not the second, so I think I'll just jump to that one unless I come across the second sometime soon. 

Others in the Series

If You Liked The Notebook....

Here's another "If you liked this...read this!" Like I said, I'm always looking for book suggestions when I find something I really love. So I wanted to share with others books that I think are similar. I haven't read This Song Will Save Your Life, but I've heard such great things about it, and it's on my TBR list. Just a disclaimer, in this little series of "If You Liked This..." I'll be posting, I won't have read all of the books, but I've read a lot about them to think they're similar. I hope you all enjoy! I'm always open to suggestions, so if you think other books are similar to these, please comment!! 

[Review] Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight

Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight
Publisher: Harper
Publishing Date: April 14, 2015
Format: Paperback, ARC
336 Pages
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis 

An idyllic suburban town. A devastating discovery. Shocking revelations that will change three lives forever.

At the end of a long winter in well-to-do Ridgedale, New Jersey, the body of a newborn is found in the woods fringing the campus of the town's prestigious university. No one knows the identity of the baby, what ended her very short life, or how she wound up among the fallen leaves. But among the residents of Ridgedale, there is no shortage of opinions.

When freelance journalist, and recent Ridgedale transplant, Molly Anderson is unexpectedly called upon to cover the disturbing news for the Ridgedale Reader—the town's local paper—she has good reason to hesitate. A severe depression followed the loss of her own baby, and this assignment could unearth memories she has tried so hard to bury. But the history Molly uncovers is not her own. Her investigation unravels a decades-old trail of dark secrets hiding behind Ridgedale's white picket fences.

Told from the perspectives of three Ridgedale women, Kimberly McCreight's taut and profoundly moving novel unwinds the tangled truth behind the tragedy, revealing that these women have far more in common than they could have ever known. That the very worst crimes are committed against those we love. And that—sooner or later—the past catches up to all of us.

My Review

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book and when I received a copy from the publisher, I was so incredibly excited! I really wanted to stop the book I was reading and start this one. Just like Reconstructing Amelia, this book sucks you in and won't let go! The synopsis got me interested, but the story and writing kept me reading. Molly is an interesting character and I liked her a lot. I felt so bad for all that she's gone through, but you can tell that the story she's covering really helps her come out of her depression and giving her something to work towards. 

There are other characters who have chapters in their point of view, but I always felt like Molly was the main character and the others, like Sandy, Jenna and Hannah, are supporting characters. That being said, I really liked them all. I didn't like Jenna too much at first, but she changes a little towards the end and I feel like I can understand a little better why she's done what she did. 

There's quite a lot that goes on in this book between the different characters and they're all connected somehow. It's fun finding out how each person fits into someone else's story and this book didn't let me down. I felt like I had a few ideas of what happened, but they changed often, keeping me on my toes! I would definitely recommend this to everyone (: If you liked Reconstructing Amelia, you'll definitely like this next novel by McCreight. 

Top Ten Tuesday 2.10.15

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 question: Top ten likes and dislikes about romance in books.

Likes

1. The feels! There's so much going on all the time and I love it!

2. The chase. It's so fun reading about the couples growing relationship
3. Hot men. I mean come on... What's not to like?!
4. What the stories symbolize. There's so much hope and happiness in each story.
5. Shows people at their most vulnerable.

Dislikes

1. It's not real life!

2. People seriously don't meet so easily and fall in love so quickly now days (I've certainly never met any decent men at a grocery store!)

3. The huge fight/blow-up that always happens. I don't know many relationships like that, and I certainly didn't have that in mine, but we're still very much in love and very happy! I have a love/hate relationship with this -- I hate it, but I love the emotion that it brings to the story.
4. Love triangles. Again, this isn't THAT common in real life, is it??

Want to see more
1. What daily life is like. The stories are all about bigger events in a person's life, but that's not what life is always like. 
2. I want to see more after they fall in love and after they make-up or get married. Life isn't super easy after you get married; it's a lot of work and we never get to see that! 

2015 Reading Challenge

Another reading challenge that I'm going to participate in! I just found this one on Facebook I think, so I'm not sure if someone is hosting it, or if its just a generic challenge. Either way, I'm looking forward to it! This isn't about reading a particular genre or type of book, but rather covers so many different things! Its just a little different than other challenges I've participated in. Plus, it should help me with my TBR Pile Challenge, too! Some of these will be easy, while others are going to be much harder for me to find/read! Let the fun begin! 

☐ A book with more than 500 pages
☐ A classic romance
✓ A book that became a movie
    -- Still Alice by Lisa Genova
✓ A book published this year
    -- Crash & Burn by Lisa Gardner
✓ A book with a number in the title
     -- The 8th Confession by James Patterson
☐ A book written by someone under
    30
✓ A book with nonhuman characters
    -- Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
    -- Alienated by Melissa Landers
☐ A funny book
✓ A book by a female author
    -- Running on Empty by LB Simmons
    -- Recovery by LB Simmons
    -- Running in Place by LB Simmons
✓ A mystery or thriller
    -- Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner
✓ A book with a one-word title
    -- Recovery by LB Simmons
    -- Alienated by Melissa Landers
✓ A book of short stories
    -- Barbara the Slut and Other People by Lauren Holmes
✓ A book set in a different country
    -- Since You've Been Gone by Mary Jennifer Payne
    -- One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
✓ A nonfiction book
    -- The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
✓ A popular author's first book
     -- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
✓ A book from an author you love that
    that you haven't read yet
    -- One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
☐ A book a friend recommends
☐ A Pulitzer Prize-winning book
✓ A book based on a true story
    -- The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
✓ A book at the bottom of your to-read
    list
    I Do (But I Don't) by Cara Lockwood
☐ A book your mom loves
☐ A book that scares you
☐ A book more than 100 years old
✓ A book you were supposed to read
    in school but didn't
    -- Night by Elie Weisel
✓ A memoir
    -- The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
✓ A book you can finish in one day
    -- Recovery by LB Simmons
✓ A book with antonyms in the title
    -- Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
✓ A book set somewhere you've
    always wanted to visit
    -- Since You've Been Gone by Mary Jennifer Payne
☐ A book that came out the year you
     were born
☐ A book with bad reviews
☐ A trilogy
☐ A book from your childhood
☐ A book with a love triangle
☐ A book set in the future
✓ A book set in high school
     -- In the Middle of Nowhere by Julie Ann Knudsen
     -- Burn for Burn by Jenny Han
☐ A book with a color in the title
✓ A book that made you cry
    -- Me Before You by Jojo Moyes -- sob is more like it!!
☐ A book with magic
☐ A graphic novel
✓ A book by an author you've never read before
    -- Running on Empty by LB Simmons
✓ A book you own but have never read
    -- Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey
☐ A book that takes place in your hometown
✓ A book that was originally written in a different language
    -- The Drowned Boy by Karin Fossum (Norwegian)
☐ A book set during Christmas
☐ A book written by an author with your same initials
☐ A play
☐ A banned book
☐ A book based on or turned into a TV show
✓ A book you started but never finished
    -- Oh! You Pretty Things by Shanna Mahin

[Review] Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner

Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner
Series: Tessa Leoni, #2
Publisher: Signet
Publishing Date: Feb. 5, 2013
Format: paperback, purchased
442 Pages
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Synopsis 

This is my family: Vanished without a trace…

Justin and Libby Denbe have the kind of life that looks good in the pages of a glossy magazine. A beautiful fifteen-year old daughter, Ashlyn. A gorgeous brownstone on a tree-lined street in Boston’s elite Back Bay neighborhood. A great marriage, admired by friends and family. A perfect life.

This is what I know: Pain has a flavor…

When investigator Tessa Leoni arrives at the crime scene in the Denbes’ home, she finds scuff marks on the floor and Taser confetti in the foyer. The family appears to have been abducted, with only a pile of their most personal possessions remaining behind. No witnesses, no ransom demands, no motive. Just an entire family, vanished without a trace.

This is what I fear: The worst is yet to come…

Tessa knows better than anyone that even the most perfect façades can hide the darkest secrets. Now she must race against the clock to uncover the Denbes’ innermost dealings, a complex tangle of friendships and betrayal, big business and small sacrifices. Who would want to kidnap such a perfect little family? And how far would such a person be willing to go?

This is the truth: Love, safety, family…it is all touch and go.

My Review

This is the second book in the Tessa Leoni series and I really enjoyed it. It did take me a little bit to get into, but I think that had more to do with starting it around Christmas and getting a bunch of new books that I really want to read. This book had a lot going on right away; the Denbe family goes missing and we start learning about all these secrets each family member harbors. I really like Tessa as a character in this series. If you read the previous book in this series, Love You More, you'll know why she's such an interesting character. I don't want to say too much about it, but Tessa claims to have shot her husband in self-defense (this is on the synopsis of the book, so I'm not ruining anything). We really see her grow throughout these two books, both as a law enforcement personnel and as a mother. She works on this case with a sheriff's officer, Wyatt, and you can feel their chemistry from the beginning! 

What I really liked about this book is it was so detailed. The business of Denbe Construction was described really well and we found out all the key players in the business. There were so many times I thought I knew who kidnapped the family, but then something else happened and I couldn't be sure any more! Once the holidays were over, I began reading this again and couldn't put it down. I ended up staying up well past my normal bedtime to finish and couldn't wait to tell my husband about it the next day. I recently received an ARC of Crash & Burn, the third in the Tessa Leoni series, and I can't wait to dive in! I want to know if anything happens between Tessa and Wyatt! I always love a little romance between characters, even if it isn't the main part of the story. 

Others in the Series