Feature and Follow Friday! 8.8.14

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: Social share! What is your favorite social network? Leave us a link so we can join you! 

Facebook!

[Review] Leaving Home: Short Pieces by Jodi Picoult

Leaving Home: Short Pieces by Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publishing Date: Oct 1, 2011
Format: audio, library
2 CDs
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Synopsis 

Leaving Home brings together three, previously published short pieces, each dealing with a variation on the theme of leaving home. The first, “Weights and Measures,” deals with the tragic loss of a child; the second is a non-fiction letter Picoult wrote to her eldest son as he left for college; and, “Ritz” tells the story of a mother who takes the vacation all mothers need sometime.

My Review

I found this Audio CD at the local library and couldn't pass it up! I'm a huge Jodi Picoult fan and have read almost everything she's written (I just bought Lone Wolf, so after that, it will be everything :)). The first short piece in this set was a letter she wrote to her son when he left for college. I really liked this letter; it was so real. I don't know whether her son appreciated it as much when he first got it, but I think as time goes on, he'll treasure that letter. The great thing about it being published is that he'll always have a copy of it.

The second story was Weight and Measures, which deals with the loss of a child. The couple in this story is struggling so much to continue on with day-to-day living. Both parents are dealing with the loss in different ways, and don't completely understand or relate to how the other parent is coping. I wish this story had been longer because I felt like it was just cut off. I also wish I knew more about what happened to the daughter, because it was a little vague. But overall, I still liked it.

The third story, Ritz, was probably my favorite of these three. Its about a mom who takes a vacation from her family. When she does this, her family has to learn to cope without their rock that's holding the family together and keeps everything moving. I didn't like how she went about taking this vacation, but I think she got her point across to her family. She needed to remember who she was as a person, other than a mom and a wife.

[Review] How Do I Love Thee by Lurlene McDaniel

How Do I Love Thee by Lurlene McDaniel
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Publishing Date: Dec. 24, 2002
Format: paperback, purchased
272 Pages
Links: Goodreads

Synopsis 

Though written more than a century ago, Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s beautiful sonnet rings true today for three young couples who believe in the power of love.

In “Night Vision,” Brett finds a way to brighten a special girl’s lonely existence. “Bobby’s Girl” features Dana, who must choose between two brothers, both of whom she loves. “Laura’s Heart,” the third story, introduces 16-year-old Laura Carson, who is hospitalized on a regular basis because of her weak heart. But when tragedy strikes a loved one, she realizes her heart is stronger than she thought and that love lives on forever.

My Review

This was a reread for me; I had read so many Lurlene McDaniel's books when I was younger, and when I saw this for only $1.00 at my local book store, I couldn't pass it up! I loved all of her work and couldn't read it fast enough! There's something about her stories that just draws you in and won't let go. 

This novel is comprised of three short stories: Night Vision, Bobby's Girl and Laura's Heart. Each is unique, but all the the theme of finding love and terminal illnesses. Night Vision is a short and sweet story. The characters fell in "love" too fast, but overall, it was a great short work. I wish it was longer so I could learn more about the characters!

Unlike when I started Night Vision, I didn't remember Bobby's girl at all from when I was younger. As the story went on, pieces came back to me, but overall, the story was still 'new' to me. The MC in this novel faces a difficult decision when she has to choose between brothers. I couldn't decide who I was rooting for: Steve or Bobby, but either way, the story was still good. 

The final short story, Laura's Heart, also wasn't familiar to me but it was pretty good. I'm thinking Night Vision was one that stuck out because it involves a disease that I had never heard of before. Regardless, it was very enjoyable to reread these stories. Took me down memory lane to my childhood a bit (: I have another McDaniel book on my shelf now (also $1.00!), and since they're fairly quick reads, I'll be starting that soon! 

Top Ten Tuesday 8.5.14

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 question: Top ten books (and authors) I'd recommend to those who haven't read mysteries. 

I absolutely love mysteries and I feel like they often get left out in the book blogging world where young adult tends to take over. I read pretty much any genre, so you'll see a wide variety on my blog, but within the last few years, I've really gotten into mysteries!

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

This is the first book I've read by this author and I really enjoyed it! 

James Patterson 

Ok, I'd recommend pretty any one of his books because I love them all! I've mostly been reading his standalone novels and the Women's Murder Club series, but I am going to slowly make my way to the Alex Cross series (: The Postcard Killers and Women's Murder Club are probably among my favorites of his. 

 

Blue Smoke and the Nightshade Series by Nora Roberts

These books are romantic suspense, so it's definitely what drew me to them first. I used to only read romance novels, but after these, I started reading more suspense/mystery. 

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

I LOVED this book. It's about a girl who dies and her mom tries to figure out what happened to her. Highly recommend! 

Lisa Gardner

My first book of hers was The Neighbor and I've been hooked ever since! Her Detective DD Warren series is the one I'm currently working on, but I've found a few of her other novels and series that I can't wait to start! 

   

In The Woods by Tana French 

First novel of hers that I read, but it won't be the last! She knows how to suck you in with these mysteries!

Missing You and Six Years by Harlan Coben 

I've only discovered Coben within the last year or so, but I can't get enough of his work! 

Chill Factor by Sandra Brown

If you like a little romance, then pick up this mystery/suspense! It's a great way to ease into mysteries if you're not too sure. This is one of my absolute favorite novels of hers! 

Iris Johansen

She's good. I haven't read her work recently, but I have one or two on my TBR pile to get to! 

 

[Review] The Goodbye Summer by Patricia Gaffney

The Goodbye Summer by Patricia Gaffney 
Publisher: Avon by Harper Collins
Publishing Date: May 2004
Format: paperback
460 Pages
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Synopsis 

From New York Times bestselling author patricia gaffney comes an unforgettable novel about daring to love, braving a loss, and setting yourself free.

For thirty-two-year-old Caddie Winger, one summer makes the whole world look different. Jolted from her comfy, self-made nest and forced to see the world with new eyes, Caddie begins to take charge of her future—finding a new best friend, taking risks she never dreamed she could, and navigating the depths and shallows of true love and crushing heartbreak. And in the course of one extraordinary season, Caddie Winger will learn how to trust other people...and, ultimately, how to trust herself.

My Review

This book has been sitting on my shelf for a while; I think I got it from my mom years ago, and never really looked at it until now. I figured it was finally time to get it off my shelf. I haven't read anything by Patricia Gaffney before, and this sounded interesting, so I gave it a try!

This was an interesting read. It didn't suck me in and I don't think it was an amazing book, but I liked it. It kept me interested in reading and I wanted to figure out what happened to the characters. Caddie lives with her grandmother until her grandmother goes to Wake House because she injured her leg. Caddie is living alone for the first time in a while and doesn't quite know how to adjust. As the book goes on, we see Caddie grow and become slightly more confident in herself. She forms new relationships with other residents of Wake House, like Thea, Magill, and Cornel. She struggles with finding her independence, but ultimately, this summer transforms her life completely.

Overall, it was a good book, but not great. There wasn't really anything wrong with it, but it didn't have the 'wow' factor I was hoping for throughout the story.

Stacking the Shelves 8.1.14

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! 

I haven't gone to the bookstore in a while to buy anything, but I did go to the library last night and picked up some audio books! Lately I've really enjoyed listening to books, mostly when I'm driving, but sometimes when I'm doing things around the house (which only happens when my fiance isn't home because he wouldn't listen to them with me). So after returning Fangirl (see my review here!) I picked up 4 more and I can't wait to start them (: 

I love everything she writes, so I can't wait to hear these short pieces! 

I read this book years ago and absolutely loved it. So I picked up the audio version (though I own the paperback copy) to reread and I can't wait (: 

I've read most of her work and love it all. This looks like a great new (to me) series to start! 

I've heard/seen so many great things about this book! When I saw the audio was available at the library, I couldn't pass it up! 

Feature and Follow Friday! 8.1.14

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: What is the biggest city you live near (or interesting landmark)? Show us a postcard picture!