One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Internationally bestselling author Cecelia Ahern delivers her biggest and most compelling book yet—a tale of secrets, second chances, and the hidden connections that unite our lives.

Scandal has derailed journalist Kitty Logan’s career, a setback that is soon compounded by an even more devastating loss. Constance, the woman who taught Kitty everything she knew, is dying. At her mentor’s bedside, Kitty asks her, “What is the one story you always wanted to write?”

The answer lies in a single sheet of paper buried in Constance’s office—a list of one hundred names—with no notes or explanation. But before Kitty can ask her friend, it is too late.

Determined to unlock the mystery and rebuild her own shaky confidence, Kitty throws herself into the investigation, tracking down each of the names on the list and uncovering their connection. Meeting these ordinary people and learning their stories, Kitty begins to piece together an unexpected portrait of Constance’s life . . . and starts to understand her own.

my thoughts:

I love summer beach reads - you know, the kind of books that are quick and easy to get through.  Books that are fun and engaging, but totally forgettable.  Chick lit books are my usual go-to for a light, fluff read and Cecelia Ahern has made the cut on several occasions.  I've read P.S. I Love You, Love, Rosie, and If You Could See Me Now - all were delightful, heartwarming reads.  So, of course I jumped at the chance to read her latest, One Hundred Names.  

Kitty Logan is a journalist.  Her last assignment ruined her reputation - she falsely accused a teacher of having affairs with his female students (and possibly fathering a child with one of those students!).  It all hit the fan when the female students came clean and admitted to making up the whole story.  A man's life was ruined and Kitty was out on her ear. 

Life was not looking so great for Kitty Logan, especially with her mentor in hospital.  She had no one to look to for help anymore.  Her best friend was mad at her for becoming so completely self-absorbed lately.  Her landlord was threatening to evict her.  And her love life was non-existent.   She was floundering - even her job at her mentor's magazine was in jeopardy.  The only thing Kitty could do was to prove them all wrong.  So, using her mentor's last words to her for inspiration, Kitty decides to throw herself into a new writing assignment - one that will show everyone just what a great journalist she really is.  Armed with a list of one hundred names written down by her late mentor, Kitty is determined to figure out who these people are and what they have in common.

A wild goose chase ensues, with bits of personal drama thrown in for good measure to make a feel good read about the human spirit.  Kitty tracks down some of the people listed and winds up discovering the purpose of the list of one hundred names.  She also manages to find herself along the way.  Predictable and a bit over the top at times, One Hundred Names turned out to be a typical chick lit read - light, fluffy, and heartwarming. 

I would recommend Cecelia Ahern's, One Hundred Names, to fans of Ahern's works and fans of chick lit. 

Here's the TLC Book Tour schedule for: One Hundred Names

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

GIVEAWAY: The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett

Guess what comes out in paperback on May 27th, 2014?  Charlie Lovett's fantastic novel, The Bookman's Tale.   A story about books, forgeries, and love with a dollop of mystery thrown in, this is one unputdownable read. 

Here's a brief summary of the book:
"In a dusty bookshop in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, Peter Byerly, a widowed American antiquarian bookseller, stumbles across a miniature portrait of his dead wife—but his wife died in 1994 and the portrait is clearly Victorian. When he tries to learn more about the watercolor, Peter is swept up in a web of mystery and intrigue and uncovers what could be the most important (and valuable) artifact in the history of English literature—a book that appears to have marginalia written by William Shakespeare positively proving the identity of the great playwright. But Peter is not the only person interested in the watercolor and the book. Framed for murder and with the killers on his trail, he is desperate to find out if the book is genuine or a forgery. Along the way, the reader is transported back to London in the late sixteenth century and the English countryside in the 1870s, finally discovering not only the truth about the lost book, but also about Peter’s own past and that of his beloved Amanda who died so young."

Sounds amazing, doesn't it!  If you want to read my thoughts on it, then check out my review here. 

And, thanks to the publisher I am able to give away one copy of The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett.  How exciting!!  Just leave me a comment letting me know what the name of your favorite book is.  Don't forget to include your email address, so that I can contact you in case you win.  Open to US/Canada residents only.  Good Luck!!

The Year She Left US: A Novel by Kathryn Ma

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

The Kong women are in crisis. A disastrous trip to visit her “home” orphanage in China has plunged eighteen-year-old Ari into a self-destructive spiral. Her adoptive mother, Charlie, a lawyer with a great heart, is desperate to keep her daughter safe. Meanwhile, Charlie must endure the prickly scrutiny of her beautiful, Bryn Mawr–educated mother, Gran—who, as the daughter of a cultured Chinese doctor, came to America to survive Mao’s Revolution—and her sister, Les, a brilliant judge with a penchant for ruling over everyone’s lives.

As they cope with Ari’s journey of discovery and its aftermath, the Kong women will come face-to-face with the truths of their lives—four powerful, intertwining stories of accomplishment, tenacity, secrets, loneliness, and love. Beautifully illuminating the bonds of family and blood, The Year She Left Us explores the promise and pain of adoption, the price of assimilation and achievement, the debt we owe to others, and what we owe to ourselves. Full of pathos and humor, featuring a quartet of unforgettable characters, it marks the debut of an important new voice in American fiction.

my thoughts:

A dark and thought-provoking read that explores international adoption, family dynamics, and the concept of identity.   

The Year She Left Us was a book that I could not put down - I stayed up until four in the morning reading all about the Kong women and their dirty little secrets.  Told in alternating chapters, we get a glimpse into each woman's perspective on the adoption of Ari, the Kong family's personal history, Ari's decision to run away, and so much more.  I absolutely loved  Charlie and her yearning to be a mother and the profound loss she experiences when her one and only child decides to cut her out of her life.  Ari is a cruel young woman who believes she is lost and decides to take out her misguided anger out on her family.  I hated reading about Ari as I found her to be too self-involved and self-destructive.  I honestly could have cared less what happened to her, except that I knew it would have destroyed Charlie.  I  realize that being adopted affected Ari, but she used her adoption into the Kong family as a means of torturing herself and the people around her.  It was rather disturbing how cold hearted and apathetic she could be.  Regardless of my dislike for Ari, I found myself falling deeper and deeper into the story.  I was HOOKED!  Plus, I wanted to find out if Charlie ever smiled again. 

Kathryn Ma has written a terrific debut novel that I would most definitely recommend to fans of character-driven novels - you will LOVE The Year She Left Us.

Here's the TLC Book Tour schedule for:  The Year She Left Us

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW of Delicious!: A Novel by Ruth Reichl

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

In her New York Times bestselling memoirs Tender at the Bone and Comfort Me with Apples, Ruth Reichl has brilliantly illuminated how food defines us. Now she celebrates this theme in her dazzling fiction debut—a novel of sisters, family ties, and a young woman who must find the courage to let go of the past in order to embrace her own true gifts.

Billie Breslin has traveled far from her California home to take a job at Delicious!, the most iconic food magazine in New York and, thus, the world. When the publication is summarily shut down, the colorful staff, who have become an extended family for Billie, must pick up their lives and move on. Not Billie, though. She is offered a new job: staying behind in the magazine’s deserted downtown mansion offices to uphold the “Delicious Guarantee” –a public relations hotline for complaints and recipe inquiries–until further notice. What she doesn’t know is that this boring, lonely job will be the portal to a life-changing discovery.

my thoughts:

Delicious! is a delectable read by foodie fanatic, Ruth Reichl.  Well known for her restaurant critiques and role as editor-in-chief at Gourmet magazine, Reichl knows food.  She has written two bestselling memoirs already, but decided to try her hand at fiction with Delicious!.  And, I'm so happy she did.

Set in NYC, Delicious! is a fantastic book filled with a cast of charming characters and tantalizing descriptions of food.  Its a mix of mystery, love, and history all thrown together to make a fun and engaging story that will not only capture your attention, but also your heart.  I absolutely loved getting lost in Reichl's delightful and imaginative writing.  She really knows how to make food an integral aspect of the story without detracting from the plot lines.  And, I have to be honest and admit that my favorite parts of the book were the food descriptions - they were so vivid and rich they had my stomach grumbling and my mouth watering.  Be warned - you will get hungry while reading this book! 

Ruth Reichl's novel, Delicious!, was a treat to read.  I would most definitely recommend it to fans of her writing and fans of foodie fiction.  You will love this book!

Check out the TLC Book Tours schedule for: Delicious!

GIVEAWAY:   Thanks to the publisher, I'm able to give away one copy of Ruth Reichl's fantastic debut fiction novel, Delicious!  All you have to do is leave me a comment letting me know you are interested in being entered in the giveaway.  Don't forget to include your email address, so that I can contact you if you win.  US residents only.  Last date to enter is May 26th.  Good luck!!

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW of Dialogues of a Crime: A Novel by John K. Manos

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

In this crime drama, Michael Pollitz must decide whether to protect the mobster who has protected him.

When Mike, a college student in 1972 Illinois, is arrested on drug charges, his father insists he use a public defender. His childhood friend’s father, Dom Calabria, head of the Outfit in Chicago, wants to help Mike by providing a first-rate lawyer, but Mike goes with his father’s wishes. The outcome is a plea bargain for a short stay in Astoria Adult Correctional Facility—but after he’s brutally beaten and raped by three inmates, Mike spends most of his sentence in the infirmary. He doesn’t give up his assailants’ names but threatens their lives right before he’s set to be released. When Mike is picked up by the head of the mob, people notice.

Flash forward to 1994, when Detective Larry Klinger begins investigating the murders of two former Astoria inmates who were violently killed shortly after being released. An informant—the third man who beat Mike—tells Klinger that the murders were committed by Calabria, the kingpin whom Klinger would like to see taken down. Klinger investigates, coming in contact with Mike, and the two form a friendship. When Klinger realizes that Mike will never give up Calabria, he begins to wonder whether it’s even worth investigating the murders of such evil men.

my thoughts:

When I first saw the cover for Dialogues of a Crime I wasn't that interested in reading it.  However, intrigued.  However, once I read the blurb, I became intrigued.  And then when I finally started reading it, well, lets just say that I was HOOKED.

John K. Manos has written a truly unputdownable novel about Chicago's underworld - the Mob.  In 1972 a crime was committed and a young man named Michael is convicted.  While in prison he is raped and badly beaten.  His best friend's father makes sure the perpetrators who hurt Michael are taken care of (you know, like swimming with the fishes).  And, twenty years later, a cop shows up at Michael's doorstep with some questions regarding the murder of these men.  Hmmm...maybe you shouldn't let the Mob handle your business after all, eh?

Dialogues of a Crime is a smart novel that explores the concept of revenge, friendship, and loyalty.  Spanning over several years, the story shows us how much the reactions to a crime can overshadow it.  In fact, through these characters' eyes we are able to gauge their perception of what happened and how they've accepted (or denied) their roles in it all.  Filled with compelling dialogue, this book is easy to get lost in and makes for quite an unforgettable read.

I would most definitely recommend Dialogues of a Crime to anyone and everyone looking for a great new read - you won't be disappointed!

Check out the TLC Book Tours schedule for: Dialogues of a Crime

GIVEAWAY:  Thanks to the publisher I am able to give away one copy of Dialogues of a Crime.  Just leave me a comment telling me you want your name thrown in the hat for this giveaway.  Don't forget to include your email address, so that I can contact you in case you are the winner.  Open to US/Canada residents only.  Last day to enter is May 25, 2014.  Good luck!!

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Moon Sisters: A Novel by Therese Walsh

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

This mesmerizing coming-of-age novel, with its sheen of near-magical realism, is a moving tale of family and the power of stories.

After their mother's unsettling and unresolved death, sisters Olivia and Jazz take steps to move on with their lives.  Jazz, logical and forward-thinking, decides to get a new job, but spirited, strong-willed Olivia - who can see sounds, taste words, and smell sights - is determined to travel to the remote setting of their mother's unfinished novel to lay her spirit properly to rest.

Already resentful of Olivia's foolish quest and her family's insistence upon her involvement, Jazz is further aggravated when they run into trouble along the way and Olivia latches on to a worldly train-hopper who warns he shouldn't be trusted.  As Jazz and Olivia near their destination, each hiding something from the other, their journey toward acceptance of their mother's death becomes as important as their journey to understand each other and themselves.

my thoughts:

Beautiful, lush, and moving are the words I would use to describe Therese Walsh's novel, The Moon Sisters. I was absolutely hooked by the story of Jazz and Olivia - two very different sisters who are traveling together in order to bid their late mother "adieu".  Along their journey we discover the difficult relationship both women had with their mother and one another.  This book is riddled with family drama, a cornucopia of themes (regret, love, forgiveness, and guilt), and a touch of magical realism.  Walsh has created a story that is engaging, complicated, and powerful.  The characters are fully developed to the point that you can't help but root for them or throw your hands up in frustration when they choose the wrong option.  The Moon Sisters was unputdownable!

I would most definitely recommend this book to fans of novels about sisters and family dramas.  You will fall in love with this magical read!


Thank you to Crown Publishers for providing me with a copy of this book!

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW of The Garden Plot by Marty Wingate

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

In an entirely appealing mystery debut, Marty Wingate introduces readers to a curious Texas ex-pat whose English gardening expertise on occasion leads her to unearth murderous goings-on.

Pru Parke always dreamed of living in England. And after the Dallas native follows an impulse and moves to London, she can’t imagine ever leaving—though she has yet to find a plum position as a head gardener. Now, as the sublet on her flat nears its end, the threat of forced departure looms. Determined to stay in her beloved adopted country, Pru takes small, private gardening jobs throughout the city.

On one such gig in Chelsea, she makes an extraordinary find. Digging in the soil of a potting shed, Pru uncovers an ancient Roman mosaic. But enthusiasm over her discovery is soon dampened when, two days later, she finds in the same spot a man’s bludgeoned corpse. As the London police swarm her worksite, ever inquisitive Pru can’t quite manage to distance herself from the investigation—much to the dismay of stern Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Pearse. It seems that, much as he tries, even handsome DCI Pearse can’t keep Pru safe from a brutal killer who thinks she’s already dug up too much.

my thoughts:

Cozy mystery - I just love those words.  They are the epitome of the perfect weekend read.  Just throw in a cuppa and a comfy chair, and you will have the recipe for a jolly good time.  I absolutely loved getting all snuggled up with my copy of Marty Wingate's debut novel (the first in a series), The Garden Plot - Saturday and Sunday seemed to float right on by.

So what kept my attention for two days straight?  Pru Parke.  An independent and strong-willed woman from Dallas who has chosen to make a life for herself in England.  She's given herself a deadline - one year to find gainful employment or else she'll return to the US.  Unfortunately, there is only a month left and Pru's prospects looking so good - it seems no one is in need of a head gardener.  Ugh! What's a lady to do?  Take on as many gardening gigs as she can and hope for the best.  Determined to stay in England, Pru keeps applying for jobs and avoiding her best friend's phone calls (Lydia wants her to come back to Dallas and take her old job back).  And so, she winds up taking on a new client - the Wilsons.  This older couple have moved into a new home and Mrs. Wilson has decided to spruce up the garden - she wants to surprise her husband, Harry.  Pru loves the Wilson's affability and believes that she wrangle the mess out back into something with a bit of curb appeal for them.  However, things take a turn for the worse when she stumbles upon a dead body in the Wilson's gardening shed early one morning.  Yikes! Looks like, life is about to take a rather unexpected turn for Pru Parke.

The Garden Plot was a delight to read.  I found the book to be amusing, engaging, and chock full of gardening ideas.  The characters are easy to fall in love with - especially Pru, who I rooted for from the beginning.  I loved reading about Pru's involvement in the case and her burgeoning relationship with a certain DCI Pearse.  I also loved reading about the lovely gardens described in vivid detail - having lived in England for years, I'm kicking myself for never paying much attention to these garden hot spots.  Oh well, just means that I have to make another trip across the pond at some point in the future.

As for Marty Wingate- she's an author whose work I look forward to reading.  I can't wait to see what happens next for Pru and DCI Pearse. So, yes, I would most definitely recommend The Garden Plot to fans of cozy mysteries - you are going to fall in deep with Pru Parke and London!

Here's the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The Garden Plot

GIVEAWAY: 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW of The Quick: A Novel by Lauren Owen

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

London, 1892: James Norbury, a shy would-be poet newly down from Oxford, finds lodging with a charming young aristocrat. Through this new friendship, he is introduced to the drawing-rooms of high society, and finds love in an unexpected quarter. Then, suddenly, he vanishes without a trace. Unnerved, his sister, Charlotte, sets out from their crumbling country estate determined to find him. In the sinister, labyrinthine city that greets her, she uncovers a secret world at the margins populated by unforgettable characters: a female rope walker turned vigilante, a street urchin with a deadly secret, and the chilling “Doctor Knife.” But the answer to her brother’s disappearance ultimately lies within the doors of one of the country’s preeminent and mysterious institutions: The Aegolius Club, whose members include the most ambitious, and most dangerous, men in England.

my thoughts:

Love. Love. Love.  I absolutely fell in deep with Lauren Owen's novel, The Quick.  A slow-paced, well written gothic story set during the Victorian era that is chock full of vampires - how could I not love this book? 

The Quick is a terrific mixture of adventure, mystery, and the supernatural.  Told through the perspectives of the vampire and the quick (non-vampires), we get the ins and outs of the history of the vampire (rules, experiences, powers), along with "the quick's" own mission to not only survive living amongst the undead but also fight them if necessary (which it always is).  We also get to experience London in all its glory - the exciting, fast-paced big City and its dark, ominous underbelly.   With such vivid details, you can almost smell the dank and grimy streets being described - which I loved (made the story feel even more authentic).  Plus, Owen does such a wonderful job of creating fully developed characters, a rich plot line filled with twists and turns, and an 'edge of your seat' tone that you can't help but be mesmerized by her storytelling.  Now, I realize that I'm not really giving you much in the details department, but that is because you need to read this book for yourself.   All you need to know is that its not your typical vampire story and that you are in for quite a treat (family dysfunction, first love, murder, vampires, societal pressures, London, and so much more).

I would most definitely recommend The Quick to fans of Gothic fiction, and fans of vampire stories - you will love this book! 

Here's the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The Quick

GIVEAWAY: Thanks to the publisher I am able to give away one copy of The Quick.  Leave me a comment letting me know that you would like to be entered in the giveaway.  Don't forget to include your email address, so that I can contact you in case you are the winner.  Open to US residents only.  Last day to enter is May 20, 2014.  Good luck!!

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Reading Rob Lowe

I watched Rob Lowe's interview on Oprah a few weeks ago, because it was on TV and I was bored.  As a result, I realize that I actually do like Lowe and wanted to read his books.  So, I downloaded Stories I Only Tell My Friends and Love Life.  Here's what I thought:


In Stories, we learn about Lowe's life growing up as a child of divorce, his interest in acting, his first big movie role ( The Outsiders), his alcoholism, meeting his wife, and the acting roles and people who shaped him to be the person he is today.  His writing is candid, engaging, and rather amusing at times.  I found myself reading this book with Lowe's voice in my  head, which I loved.  I have to admit that though I've always found Lowe to be attractive and have enjoyed his work (The West Wing - love Sam Seaborn; Parks and Recreation - Chris Traeger), I have never really followed his career (or seen that much of his work).  So, I loved learning about the ups and downs of a career in Hollywood.  The laborious auditions (Coppola sounds crazy!), the bad reviews, the office politics (think West Wing snubbing), and the thrill of finding a role of a lifetime.  Lowe writes about his life with such ease and clarity that imagining the steps and stumbles he's taken along the way is captivating.  I truly enjoyed getting to know this actor in all his glory - both personally and professionally.  In fact, I've just started re-watching The West Wing on DVD and have started crushing on Sam Seaborn all over again.

In Love Life, Lowe does explore his career once again, but this time round he touches on more personal stories involving his wife, children, friendships, love, sex, and rehab.  This book is definitely different from his previous one - the tone is more confident, the subject matter is more in depth, and the writing is much more poignant and humorous.  Lowe has definitely found his voice - Stories showed it in spades, but Love Life shouts it out from the rooftops.  I found myself even more intrigued by what this man had to share with us.  We learn about his time at rehab and what lessons he took from there - Remember Buck.  We learn about his role as a parent and the pride he takes in being a father - chaperoning field trips, coaching his sons in sports, dropping his eldest son off at college, and marveling at the two boys he's helped create.  We learn about his diehard love for his wife and the passion they have for their family and one another.  And, we learn about Lowe's decision to move forward in his career by pushing boundaries - taking on roles that stretched his acting chops and shielded his good looks (Drew Peterson Lifetime Movie - Untouchable;  Behind the Candelabra - Liberace's plastic surgeon).   His book, Love Life, shows us once again what a talented individual he truly is. 

I would definitely recommend both books, Stories I Only Tell My Friends and Love Life, to fans of Rob Lowe and fans of autobiographies.  You will LOVE these books!!  And, you will want to watch Rob Lowe movies and TV shows as a result - I'm going to watch St. Elmo's Fire later this week!

Under A Silent Moon: A Novel by Elizabeth Haynes

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Devour the Book
Connect the Clues
Discover a Killer

P. D. James meets E. L. James in Under a Silent Moon, this first novel in an exciting British crime series—a blend of literary suspense and page-turning thriller that introduces formidable Detective Chief Inspector Louisa Smith—from suspense talent Elizabeth Haynes, author of the bestselling Into the Darkest Corner.

Two women share one fate.
A suspected murder at an English Farm.
A reported suicide at a local quarry.
Can DCI Louisa Smith and her team gather the evidence and discover a link between them, a link which sealed their fate one cold night, Under a Silent Moon?

A tense, compelling and unsettling novel brimming with source material and evidence set over just six days, Under a Silent Moon will keep you gripped until the very last page and asks:

Can you connect the clues to discover the Killer?

Solve the crime alongside DCI Louisa Smith and her team.

my thoughts:

Normally I'm a huge fan of Haynes' works (Into the Darkest Corner, Human Remains) - I just love the way she writes about such difficult and often disturbing topics (with brutal honesty).  So, I couldn't help but get excited at the prospect of jumping into her new book, Under A Silent Moon.  Its the first in a new series she's writing and it deals with a police intelligence analyst (think CSI). From the blurb on the back, it sounded like it was going to be quite an intriguing read.  Unfortunately, I never got that far into the book.  For some reason, I just could not engage with the story at all.  I found it to be somewhat confusing and didn't really enjoy reading the procedural aspect of the investigation.  I never connected with DCI Louisa Smith and didn't really care what happened to her.  As much as I wanted to enjoy this book, I found that I couldn't.  It was a DNF for me.

But don't listen to me.  According to other bloggers, this book is a terrific story filled with loads of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.  Check out what else they had to say about Under A Silent Moon here.

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Cover Reveal of First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love, and Jane Austen by Charlie Lovett

How exciting! The cover reveal of Charlie Lovett's upcoming novel, First Impressions (Oct. 16, 2014).  As a huge fan of Lovett's last book, The Bookman's Tales:  A Novel of Obsession (here's the link to my review), I have been eagerly anticipating the release of his next work.  And now, thanks to Viking Books I can see what the book cover will look like and find out what the story will be about:

Book lover and Austen enthusiast Sophie Collingwood has recently taken a job at an antiquarian bookshop in London when two different customers request a copy of the same obscure book: the second edition of Little Book of Allegories by Richard Mansfield. Their queries draw Sophie into a mystery that will cast doubt on the true authorship of Pride and Prejudice—and ultimately threaten Sophie’s life.

In a dual narrative that alternates between Sophie’s quest to uncover the truth—while choosing between two suitors—and a young Jane Austen’s touching friendship with the aging cleric Richard Mansfield, Lovett weaves a romantic, suspenseful, and utterly compelling novel about love in all its forms and the joys of a life lived in books.

Sounds fantastic, doesn't it?  Books, Austen, mystery, intrigue - what more could I ask for?  Now all I have to do is wait until this fall to get my hands on a copy of it.

The Divorce Papers: A Novel by Susan Rieger

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Twenty-nine-year-old Sophie Diehl is happy toiling away as a criminal law associate at an old-line New England firm, where she very much appreciates that most of her clients are trapped behind bars.  Everyone at Traynor, Hand knows she abhors face-to-face contact, but one week, with all the big partners out of town, Sophie is stuck handling the intake interview for the daughter of the firm's most important client.

After eighteen years of marriage, Mayflower descendant Mia Meiklejohn Durkheim has just been served divorce papers in a humiliating scene at the popular local restaurant, Golightly's.  Mia is now locked and loaded to fight her eminent and ambitious husband, Dr. Daniel Durkheim, chief of the Department of Pediatric Oncology at Mather Medical School, for custody of their ten-year-old daughter, Jane.  Mia also burns to take him down a peg.  Sophie warns Mia that she's never handled a divorce case before, but Mia can't be put off.  The ways she sees it, it's her first divorce, too.  For Sophie, the whole affair will spark a hard look at her own relationships - with her parents, colleagues, friends, lovers, and, most important, herself.

A rich, layered novel told entirely through personal correspondence, office memos, e-mails, articles, handwritten notes, and legal documents, The Divorce Papers offers a direct window into the lives of an entertaining cast of characters never shy about speaking their minds.  Original and captivating, Susan Reiger's brilliantly conceived and expertly crafted debut races along with wit, heartache, and exceptional comedic timing, as it explores the complicated family dynamic that results when marriage fails - as well as the ever-present risks and coveted rewards of that thing called love.

my thoughts:

I was looking forward to reading Rieger's book, The Divorce Papers.  I'd read that it was an epistolary novel, which I just love.  So, of course I expected there to be emails, letters, memos, depositions, articles, and various legal documents - legalese was to be included throughout the story.  After all, the premise was about an attorney handling her first divorce case.  What I didn't expect was that I would get tired of all the documents so fast.  I wanted a story to fall into, not a brief espousing the issues with divorce settlements and child custody laws.  If I had wanted to learn about the ins and outs of a divorce trial I would have asked my sister or best friends (they are all attorneys).  There was just too much documenting and not enough storytelling.  I was so disappointed.  I felt like the idea had potential, but the execution of it just fell flat.  In the end, I grew bored and wound up not finishing the book.  The Divorce Papers wound up being a DNF.


Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book.

Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line - an original mystery by Rob Thomas

about book:

Ten years after graduating from high school in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars is back in the land of sun, sand, crime, and corruption. She’s traded in her law degree for her old private investigating license, struggling to keep Mars Investigations afloat on the scant cash earned by catching cheating spouses until she can score her first big case.

Now it’s spring break, and college students descend on Neptune, transforming the beaches and boardwalks into a frenzied, week-long rave. When a girl disappears from a party, Veronica is called in to investigate. But this is no simple missing person’s case; the house the girl vanished from belongs to a man with serious criminal ties, and soon Veronica is plunged into a dangerous underworld of drugs and organized crime. And when a major break in the investigation has a shocking connection to Veronica’s past, the case hits closer to home than she ever imagined.

In Veronica Mars, Rob Thomas has created a groundbreaking female detective who’s part Phillip Marlowe, part Nancy Drew, and all snark. With its sharp plot and clever twists, The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line will keep you guessing until the very last page.

my thoughts:

I am a marshmallow and proud of it! I've seen the entire series of Veronica Mars and actually squealed with glee when a movie was mentioned.  I downloaded my copy of the film and excitedly got lost in Neptune, California.  I absolutely loved watching Veronica get back to her familiar roots and take charge of exonerating her ex-boyfriend, Logan - he'd been charged with murdering his girlfriend ( famous pop star).  Danger looms, red herrings fly left and right, hearts break, and corrupt cops roam the streets - another day and life in Neptune, California.  I loved it!  Of course, I wasn't too happy when Veronica dumped Piz (he was so cute and sweet!), but if this show's taught me anything, its that Veronica Mars is a sucker for bad boys, and Logan Echolls is the resident bad boy (or at least he used to be - he's in the navy now.)  Of course, their love story is "epic", so what did I expect.  Aside from that, I really did enjoy watching the movie.  So, when I heard about a book coming out, well, I knew that I would gobbling that up ASAP!

The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas (the creator of Veronica Mars) proved to be a thoroughly engaging read filled with loads of twists and turns.  I stayed up late reading the book until the wee hours of the morning - seriously, I was like a zombie the next day.  Anyhow, I found the story to be fast-paced, captivating, and filled with all the comforts of a Veronica Mars episode.  There was a scene with Weevil, a fight with her dad to add a little family drama, a hug from Wallace, a lot of hacking for Mac to do, a few broken connections with Logan, and a LOT of unexpected danger and drama for Veronica to deal with.  Plus, a mystery to solve.  All in all, it was a terrific treat to read.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the Veronica Mars series and fans looking for a new mystery book to get lost in. 

More Mini Reviews...

Okay, so I have been on a reading binge lately and it is crazy!! I have been reading a book a day and absolutely loving it.  Of course, my sleep is getting pushed aside in favor of late night reads, but I can't seem to help it.  Here are a few of the fun and fast reads that I have been devouring recently:

about book (from Goodreads):  On a day that started like any other...Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, admiring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. In an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the only decision she has left. It is the most important decision she'll ever make.

Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, this is a romantic, riveting, and ultimately uplifting story about memory, music, living, dying, loving.

my thoughts:  Cry, cry, cry.  That is all I did reading this heartbreaking story about a young woman choosing to live or die.  Her entire family has been killed in a horrible car accident and she is in a coma.  She can hear her grandparents, best friend, and boyfriend pleading with her to live, but she's not sure that she wants to.  Without her mom, dad, and little brother, she feels so alone.  How can she imagine a life that doesn't include them?  As she struggles to come to a decision, we learn about her falling in love for the first time, we learn about her musical ambitions, and we learn about her family's deep love for one another.  Would definitely recommend this book to fans of Gayle Forman's works and fans of YA fiction - you will fall in love with Mia!

about book (from Goodreads):  It's been three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life.

And three years he's spent wondering why.

When their paths cross again in New York City, Adam and Mia are brought back together for one life-changing night.

Adam finally has the opportunity to ask Mia the questions that have been haunting him. But will a few hours in this magical city be enough to lay their past to rest, for good - or can you really have a second chance at first love?

my thoughts:  Not sure about the sequel to If I Stay.  It felt too melodramatic (even for YA fiction) and somehow didn't have the same urgency that If I Stay did.  Of course, in the first book, Mia is struggling to decide whether or not to accept death or life.  In this new book, we get Adam's perspective of how the accident affected Mia, him, and their relationship.  I guess this obsessive and tortured love angst is normal in a YA book, but for some reason, I just didn't buy into it.  I feel that a sequel told by Adam's point of view was not necessary and that it didn't really add anything more to the story of Mia and Adam.  I would recommend you skip this sequel.

about book (from Goodreads):  Can Anna find love in the City of Light?

Anna is happy in Atlanta. She has a loyal best friend and a crush on her coworker at the movie theater, who is just starting to return her affection. So she's less than thrilled when her father decides to send her to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year. But despite not speaking a word of French, Anna meets some cool new people, including the handsome Étienne St. Clair, who quickly becomes her best friend. Unfortunately, he's taken —and Anna might be, too. Will a year of romantic near misses end with the French kiss she's waiting for?

my thoughts:  Loved this book!  What a sweet read!  Anna finds herself in Paris and discovers love along the way.  Of course, being in high school means that there is drama with friends - think friends falling in love with the same boy (UGH!).  There is petty jealousy, miscommunication, family dysfunction, and so much more.  Stephanie Perkins has written a truly sweet look at first time love in the City of Light. I would definitely recommend this story to fans of YA novels!

about book (from Goodreads):  Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket, a gifted inventor, steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

my thoughts:  I have to admit that I read this book right after finishing Anna and the French Kiss (which I LOVED!!), so I was expecting to fall in deep with Lola and the Boy Next Door.  Well, it didn't happen.  As much as I tried to like the story I just didn't.  There were too many dramas to deal with and frankly it really annoyed me when Lola's parents' called her Dolores (her real name) because it would jolt me out of the story.  For some reason I would forget that Lola was Dolores.  Anyhow, the only highlight of the story was Anna and Etienne (from Anna and the French Kiss) making an appearance as Lola's friends from work.  Definitely not a book I would recommend.

about book (from Goodreads):  "Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . "  

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.  When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.  By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.  What would he say . . . ?

my thoughts:  I was so looking forward to reading this one.  Especially after reading Eleanor and Park ( a story I LOVED!!!) - plus, everyone seems to have loved this story by Rowell as well.  So, imagine my disappointment when I didn't fall in love with this book.   I was all excited to get lost in Lincoln's world, but found that I just couldn't.  I just never got on board with Lincoln continuing to snoop on Beth and Jennifer (after he falls in love with her ) - why didn't he just delete their emails and introduce himself?  I get that he's super shy and awkward, but seriously?!  He managed to make friends and get a job, so he can't be that uncomfortable around people.  I did enjoy reading Beth and Jennifer's emails though - I loved their friendship.  And though I did finish the book, I wasn't a huge fan of it. 

about book (from Goodreads):  A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.  Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.  Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.  Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.  For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?  Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?  And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

my thoughts:  Loved this book!  I read Fangirl directly following Attachments, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  After disliking Attachments so much I was on the fence about Fangirl, but after reading so many positive reviews of it by bloggers I follow, I figured I'd give it a read.  I'm so happy I did, because I really enjoyed the book so much.  Fangirl had family dysfunction, twin sibling disconnection, first love, college roommates, Simon Snow (a character that was obviously Harry Potter, which I LOVED), and so much more.  Rowell created a fantastic set of characters with this book, along with a fascinating rewrite of Harry Potter in the guise of Simon Snow.  I noticed that some people didn't care for the sections devoted to Simon Snow, but I actually did.  For some reason, every time I read the Simon Snow excerpts I got the urge to re-read my Harry Potter books or watch the movies.  Aside from Simon Snow, I loved reading about Cath(er) find herself in college - she discovered her talent as a fiction writer (and I don't mean her fanfiction) and she realized that she is capable of falling in love.  I thought Fangirl was a terrific read and would most definitely recommend it to fans of Rowell's writing and anyone looking for a great new read to get lost in. 

about book:  The New York Times bestselling author of Blackberry Winter imagines the inspiration for Goodnight Moon

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (Goodnight Songs) is an adored childhood classic, but its real origins are lost to history. In Goodnight June, Sarah Jio offers a suspenseful and heartfelt take on how the “great green room” might have come to be.

June Andersen is professionally successful, but her personal life is marred by unhappiness. Unexpectedly, she is called to settle her great-aunt Ruby’s estate and determine the fate of Bluebird Books, the children’s bookstore Ruby founded in the 1940s. Amidst the store’s papers, June stumbles upon letters between her great-aunt and the late Margaret Wise Brown—and steps into the pages of American literature.


my thoughts:  I've never read Goonight Moon, so I have no idea why everyone's obsessed with this children's book.  Of course, after reading Sarah Jio's latest novel, Goodnight June, I think its time I gave Moon a read.  In Goodnight June, we have the character of June - a young woman bent on being successful at work, no matter the cost (think family, love life, etc.). When June finds out that her aunt Ruby has left her her children's book shop, Bluebird Books, she begins to reevaluate her priorities in life.  Jio writes about June's journey of self-discovery, but she also writes about the author of Goodnight Moon.  She creates a deep friendship between Ruby (June's aunt) and Brownie (Goodnight Moon author, Margaret Wise Brown) and shares their sisterly love via letters that Ruby has left behind for June to discover (along with two very big secrets).  I read this book in one sitting and found myself easily lost in June's new life in Seattle.  At times the story was a bit too predictable with story lines and parallels, but overall Goodnight June proved to be a fun and engaging read.  I would definitely recommend to fans of Sarah Jio's works and fans of women's fiction.


Not a bad bunch of books, eh?  Even though I didn't LOVE them all, I did enjoy being on a reading binge.  Finishing one book and then diving into the next one was quite a thrill.  I'm in the middle of Love Life by Rob Lowe right now (after having finished Banana Yoshimoto's, The Lake) and am already looking at my shelves to see what book will be next.  Happy reading!!

Leaving Everything Most Loved: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

London, 1933. Two months after Usha Pramal’s body is discovered in the waters of a city canal, her brother, newly arrived in England, turns to Maisie Dobbs for help. Not only has Scotland Yard made no arrests, but evidence indicates they failed to conduct a full investigation. Usha had been staying at an ayah’s hostel, a refuge for Indian women. As Maisie learns, Usha was different from the hostel’s other residents. But with this discovery comes new danger, as a fellow lodger who was close to Usha is found murdered.

As Maisie is pulled deeper into an unfamiliar yet captivating subculture, her investigation becomes clouded by the unfinished business of a previous case, and by a growing desire to see more of the world. At the same time, her lover, James Compton, gives her an ultimatum she cannot ignore. Bringing a crucial chapter in the life and times of Maisie Dobbs to a close, Leaving Everything Most Loved signals a vital turning point in this remarkable series.

my thoughts:

I love me some Maisie Dobbs, so of course I jumped at the chance to read her latest book in Winspear's wonderful series.  Now, I'm going to admit that I have not read all of the books, so at times there were bits of information that surprised me and kind of threw me for a loop, but overall I felt right at home with Maisie and 1930s London.

In this latest installment we have murders to solve, a runaway to find, and a HUGE decision to make.  Life is getting a bit more complicated for Maisie Dobbs and I'm not referring to the cases she's working on.  Maisie is now living with James Compton and their relationship has reached an impasse.  He wants to get married and she doesn't.  James is about to embark on a lengthy trip to North America and would like for Maisie to accompany him.  He wants reassurance that their relationship is moving forward in the right direction.  However, Maisie is feeling the need to travel to India - she wants to see the world and experience it on her own.  As much as she loves James, she's not ready to commit to him in such a permanent manner - of course, she's not ready to let him go either.  Hmmm....decisions, decisions.  Along with her personal drama, Maisie has to deal with her work and her employees' own dramas.  Looks like Billy has never fully recovered from the traumatic beating he took when he was investigating a case for Maisie - his work is sub par and his mind is distracted by a co-worker (yep, Sandra is making eyes at Billy and Maisie is not happy about it at all).  Oh, and did I mention that Maisie's father has been acting a bit strange lately - he's a got a secret!

Winspear has once again written a terrific story involving the inimitable Maisie Dobbs.  There is mystery, intrigue, danger, romance, and unexpected surprises.  I found myself falling in deep all over again with familiar characters, London, and Winspear's writing.  Leaving Everything Most Loved was a such a treat to read.  I would most definitely recommend this book to fans of Winspear's Maisie Dobbs' series and to readers looking for a new series to get lost in - you will LOVE this book!

Here's the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Leaving Everything Most Loved

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!