Monday, October 31, 2011

It's Monday! - What Are You Reading?



It's Monday! - What Are You Reading? is hosted weekly on Mondays 
by Sheila from "One Person's Journey"

Post the books you read last week and books you are currently reading.

Books I Read This Week:
        
"Wonderstruck" By: Brian Selznick
"When Beauty Tamed the Beast" By: Eloisa James

Books I'm Currently Reading:
"Lord of Scoundrels" By: Loretta Chase

Sunday, October 30, 2011

In My Mailbox


"In My Mailbox" is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren
It's a great way to showcase the books you've gotten over the week...
whether they are bought, borrowed or free.

Bought:
"Never Love A Highlander" By: Maya Banks

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Library Loot



Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!


"Wonderstruck" By: Brian Selznick
Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.
Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories--Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures--weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful--with over 460 pages of original artwork--Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.

Friday, October 28, 2011

"Saving CeeCee Honeycutt" By: Beth Huffman Review

Today's selection is another one of my book club selections,
"Saving CeeCee Honeycutt" By: Beth Hoffman
Synopsis from bn.com:
Twelve-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt is in trouble. For years, she has been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille-the tiara-toting, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town-a woman trapped in her long-ago moment of glory as the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen. But when Camille is hit by a truck and killed, CeeCee is left to fend for herself. To the rescue comes her previously unknown great-aunt, Tootie Caldwell.In her vintage Packard convertible, Tootie whisks CeeCee away to Savannah's perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricity, a world that seems to be run entirely by women. From the exotic Miz Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who bathes in her backyard bathtub and uses garden slugs as her secret weapons, to Tootie's all-knowing housekeeper, Oletta Jones, to Violene Hobbs, who entertains a local police officer in her canary-yellow peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.

My Thoughts:

     I cannot tell you how great this book is. Definitely one of my favorite books in a long, long time. I know other people have said it, but its just a sweet, feel good book that will leave you smiling when you finish.
     CeeCee is living a hard life as an early teen. Her mother is suffering from a severe mental illness. CeeCee’s Mom is known to dress in prom dresses too tight and flirting with young men. It would embarrass CeeCEe to death. As you are reading, you can feel CeeCee’s embarrassment which is a given conclusion for a child this age. In this relationship, CeeCee is the adult. Her father is almost nonexistent. He is embarrassed of his wife and doesn’t want to admit that she needs help. He is off  most of the time and in the end it was revealed he had a girlfriend in another town. All the more reason for CeeCee’s mother to live in her dream world.
     I don’t’ want to ruin it but something happens to CeeCee’s Mother and she passes away unexpectedly. A great Aunt shows up (Aunt Tootie) to pick up CeeCee and take her home. Initially she is reluctant, but when faced with living with her father, finally comes to accept this as a better option. The pain CeeCee feels at her mother’s death is immense and as a reader it almost paralyzes you. It's so incredibly sad and realistic.

      The story is fabulous, but the language of the novel will sweep you away. The first time I noticed how vivid the imagery was started on page 41. It begins with a conversation between Mrs. Odell (CeeCee's much beloved neighbor) and CeeCee...
     "Life is full of change honey. That's how we learn and grow. When we're born, the Good Lord gives each of us a Life Book. Chapter by chapter, we live and learn."
     "But, Mrs. Odell, I've never heard of a Life Book."
     "It's not a book you can see or touch. It's a book that's held deep within your heart. It's guarded by your spirit."
     "My spirit?"
     "Yes," she said, smoothing a loose strand of hair from my face. "When a chapter of your Life Book is complete, your spirit knows it's time to turn the page so a new chapter can begin. Even when you're scared or think you're not ready, your spirit knows you are."

      This is my second most favorite part of the book. Beth Hoffman's imagery is astounding, it's honestly like you are there. As I read the following passage, all I could think was how awesome the image she was describing was and how well I could picture it.
     I turned to see a face embroidered with a web of deep lines peek out from behind the sunflowers. A threadbare ankle-length slip hung loosely from her thin frame, and tossed over her shoulders was a blue plaid lumberjack shirt, at least four sizes too big. I wondered  what it was she had on her head, and when she took a few steps forward, I realized it was a pink plastic shower cap. Why she was wearing a pink shower cap on a hot summer's day I couldn't imagine, but, in all truthfulness, I have to say it suited her. In her hand was a crooked walking stick, and crouched by her feet was a gray tabby cat with a wide scar across his nose.
     Gorgeous isn't it? Simply gorgeous. This book is a work of art and one of my favorites in a long while. 4 Star out of 5.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

"Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter" By: Tom Franklin Review

Today's review is of a book club pick, 
"Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter" by Tom Franklin


Synopsis from bn.com:

     In the 1970s, Larry Ott and Silas "32" Jones were boyhood pals in a small town in rural Mississippi. Their worlds were as different as night and day: Larry was the child of lower-middle-class white parents, and Silas, the son of a poor, black single mother. But then Larry took a girl to a drive-in movie and she was never seen or heard from again. He never confessed . . . and was never charged.
     More than twenty years have passed. Larry lives a solitary, shunned existence, never able to rise above the whispers of suspicion. Silas has become the town constable. And now another girl has disappeared, forcing two men who once called each other "friend" to confront a past they've buried for decades.
My Thoughts:
     This is a 3 Star out of 5 Star book. I enjoyed it but didn't love it.
Things that I enjoyed-
1. I liked the interaction between the characters of Larry and Silas. Larry was a sympathetically complex character. I enjoyed Silas and felt if I had met him in real life, I would have him as a friend.
2. The mystery was interesting. It was a different kind of story that was approached in a different way. The racial elements of the time were an interesting twist on the missing girl story that made it a "wonder what's gonna happen next" kind of story.
Things that I didn't enjoy-
1. I am not going to spoil anything, but the mystery was incredibly easy to solve. Within the first few chapters you can tell who caused the first girl to go missing and within a few pages you figure out the second girl's disappearance.
2. The big twist in regards to Larry and Silas seemed manufactured just for the sake of it. 
3. I felt so sorry for Larry. He has been accused of this crime and everyone just treats him terribly. I hated feeling so sorry for a character and even in the ending, the true perpetrator being revealed, didn't help it for me.


Check out the following blogs for other great reviews for "Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter"
-The Lost Entwife
-Books I Done Read
-Girl Seeks Space


Product Information:
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 978-0060594671
Date of Publication: May 2011

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday - "The Duke is Mine" By: Eloisa james


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly book meme where we let everyone know what books we are eagerly anticipating the release of. 
Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine
Want to participate? 
Grab the logo on her page, post your own Waiting on Wednesday entry on your blog, 
and leave your link on her blog!


I simply cannot wait to read,
"The Duke is Mine" by Eloisa James

Releasing: December 27, 2011

To win Olivia's hand he would have to give up all the beliefs he holds most dear, Tarquin, the powerful Duke of Sconce, knows perfectly well that the decorous and fashionably slender Georgiana Lytton will make him a proper duchess.
So why can't he stop thinking about her twin sister, the curvy, headstrong, and altogether unconventional Olivia?
Not only is Olivia betrothed to another man, but their improper, albeit intoxicating, flirtation makes her unsuitability all the more clear.
Determined to make a perfect match, he methodically cuts Olivia from his thoughts, allowing logic and duty to triumph over passion...Until in his darkest hour, Tarquin begins to question whether perfection has anything to do with love.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

"The Art of Racing in the Rain" By: Garth Stein Review

Today we are featuring the book, 
"The Art of Racing in the Rain" By: Garth Stein
Synopsis from Barnes and Noble:
      Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals. 
     On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side. Having learned what it takes to be a compassionate and successful person, the wise canine can barely wait until his next lifetime, when he is sure he will return as a man.
My Thoughts:
      I thought this was a great story from a unique point of view. This was the very first book I had ever read that was from the point of view of a dog. Seriously, who thinks to write a book from a dot's POV? It was such a unique concept and when we decided this was a book club pick, I couldn't wait to read it.
      Enzo is living a great life. He loves his human "Denny," Denny's wife Eve, and Denny's daughter Zoe. Denny's wife becomes ill and this is where the meat of the story happens. You are able to see what is happening in Denny's life through Enzo's eyes. You understand what is going on even if Enzo doesn't. Eve eventually passes away leaving a custody problem between Denny and Eve's parents. You can feel Enzo's sadness at losing his family and his frustration with not being able to help the situation.
     This is just a great book. It starts out slow but it builds quickly and by the end you are smiling and crying. The ending is well justified and leaves you feeling fulfilled. 
      During my book group today we talked about the differences in the human experience when compared to Enzo. We could all see one another in the character...and he was a dog. Every chapter there was something to relate to. Perhaps the funniest part of the book (the part we liked best) was Enzo's dislike of Eve's parents whom he called "the twins." He couldn't tell them he didn't like them, so he used sneaky ways to share his views with them. We all laughed...with the reading of this story we all will be looking at our dogs a little differently now.
     Please pick this book up if your interested in a fun fiction book. It's different than anything you'll ever read but its enjoyable. Perhaps the best thing about the book is that it will make you smile. Gorgeously written story - 4 Stars out of Five.


Check out the following blogs that have great reviews of this book:
- Annotation Nation
Bookfoolery


Product Information:
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 978-0061537969
Date of Publication: June 2009

Monday, October 24, 2011

It's Monday! - What Are You Reading?


It's Monday! - What Are You Reading? is hosted weekly on Mondays 
by Sheila from "One Person's Journey"

Post the books you read last week, books currently reading,
 and books you plan on finishing this week.

                  



Books I Read This Week:
"Night Circus" By: Erin Morgenstern
"Abandon" By: Meg Cabot
"Scandalous Desires" By: Elizabeth Hoyt
"A Scarlet Thread" By: Francine Rivers (DNF)

Books I'm Currently Reading:
"The Wolf Next Door" By: Lydia Dare

Sunday, October 23, 2011

In My Mailbox


"In My Mailbox" is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren
It's a great way to showcase the books you've gotten over the week...
whether they are bought, borrowed or free.

Bought:
"Scandalous Desires" By: Elizabeth Hoyt

Amazing story! Review coming up soon!

Library Loot


Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!

Kind of a quiet week, 
but I did bring home 
"Abandon" by Meg Cabot 
from my local library!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

"Change of Heart" By: Jodi Picoult Review

Today's review is of an older novel,
"Change of Heart" By: Jodi Picoult

Synopsis from bn.com:
Can we save ourselves, or do we rely on others to do it? Is what we believe always the truth? 
One moment June Nealon was happily looking forward to years full of laughter and adventure with her family, and the next, she was staring into a future that was as empty as her heart. Now her life is a waiting game. Waiting for time to heal her wounds, waiting for justice. In short, waiting for a miracle to happen. 
For Shay Bourne, life holds no more surprises. The world has given him nothing, and he has nothing to offer the world. In a heartbeat, though, something happens that changes everything for him. Now, he has one last chance for salvation, and it lies with June's eleven-year-old daughter, Claire. But between Shay and Claire stretches an ocean of bitter regrets, past crimes, and the rage of a mother who has lost her child. 
Would you give up your vengeance against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you love? Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy's dying wish? 
My Thoughts:
    So essentially this is only the second Jodi Picoult book I have read. I previously read her Amish story and thought it was ok. I had a long trip to Illinois and I picked up the audio book. I got through 3 CD's of the audio book before I could pick up the book and boy was I glad I did. As with most Picoult's book, each chapter is told from the point of view of someone different.
     I really liked this book. The story starts out with June Nealon telling her story. She had opened up her home to a man named Shay Bourne and within a few months, Shay had killed both her daughter and her husband in a double homicide one night. This part of the story is truly heartbreaking and I honestly teared up and she described her daughter's death. June is pregnant when her family is taken from her and later gives birth to a daughter named Claire. Claire has a heart defect and needs a heart transplant to live to adulthood...and her sister's killer, Shay Bourne, wants to give it to her.
    The story then skates forward to one of the jurors named "Michael." He is a juror in Shay's trial and votes for Shay to receive the death penalty for his crime. After the trial, Michael decides to become a priest. Later in the story, Michael becomes the spiritual advisor to Shay without telling him he had been on his jury.
    One of Shay's fellow inmates, Lucious, is the main person who witnesses "Shay's miracles." He lives in the cell next to Shay and witnesses him turning water to wine, resuscitating a dead bird, and other miracles. Lucious is in prison for killing his lover whom he had caught with another man. He suffers from AIDS and Shay seems to cure Lucious from his illness through his miracles.
    The final main character who tells the story is Maggie, an ACLU lawyer who takes Shay's case. Shay doesn't wish to postpone his execution or even to have his sentence converted...he just wants to be able to give his heart to Claire, June's daughter. Maggie was my favorite character. She was a strong lawyer but you could feel her distaste of fighting to end one's life.
    It was an exquisitely written book that has it all. Religious themes, a little mystery, a little romance, and great relationships between characters makes this a creative story that will keep you up reading all night. Wonderful story with a twist at the end, when I finished I was smiling. I hope it makes you smile too. 4 Stars out of Five!

Check out the following blogs for other reviews of "Change of Heart":
-Simply Books
-Read or Eat
-Old Fashioned Reader

Product Information:
Publisher: Washington Square Press
ISBN: 978-0743496759
Date of Publication: December 2008

Friday, October 21, 2011

The Dewey Decimal Challenge


My FIRST challenge! 

I decided to participate in my first challenge this week and I've already read one of the titles! Time flies when your having fun.

Rules:
Read any non-fiction book(s), adult or young adult. That's it. You can choose anything. Poetry? Yes. Memoirs? Yes. History? Yes. Travel? Yes. You get the idea? Absolutely anything that is classified as non-fiction counts for this challenge. 
Levels of Participation: Dilettante - Read 1 Nonfiction Title  Explorer - Read 2 Nonfiction Titles    Seeker - Read 3 Nonfiction titles    Master - Read 4 Nonfiction Titles
This challenge lasts from January 1 - December 31, 2011 and you can sign up at any time of the year. 

I am going for the "Master" title 

The titles I chose:
1. "Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure" by Matthew Algeo (finished)
2. "Daughter of the Saints: Growing up in Polygamy" by Dorothy Allred Solomon
3. "Unlikely Friendships" By: Jennifer Holland
4. "Large Print: an Unshelved Collection" by Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum


"The Night Circus" By: Erin Morgenstern Review


Today's review is of
"Night Circus"
By: Erin Morgenstern

Synopsis from Barnes & Noble:
     The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
     But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
    True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per¬formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

My thoughts:
     So I have just finished “Night Circus” and all I can say is Wow. I may have a different view of the book the longer I am away from it, but this is one of those books when you don’t know whether you liked it or whether it was just too strange.
     I read one review (gosh, I wish I remembered which one and I am sorry I can’t remember the source) that said the book had a great story but you just don’t care much for the characters. I can totally see that now that I am reflecting on the story. The story surrounds many characters – from acrobats to contortionists, to ring leaders to magicians. However, the main story is between the two magician apprentices – Celia and Marco.
     Celia is placed into this magical competition by her Father, “Prosper, the Magnificent” at about age 6. Marco was an orphan who was adopted by the very mysterious Mr. Alexander (or The Man in the Grey Suit) as a child and placed into the competition around the age of 14. What follows is the story of a circus, the people living within the circus, and the competition of Celia and Marco against one another. The issue of the competition is very complex and even now I don’t think I can fully explain what it meant…
     Everything in their world is Black and White – which works on so many different levels. People within the circus don’t seem to age. No one dies. No one is born. No one is sick. People don’t remember certain things; they just remember feelings of things such as wonderment or bewilderment.
     My favorite characters were the twins, born on the first night of the circus. They seemed the most real to me. I enjoyed the story of Celia and Marco, but I didn’t like them very much. Neither seemed very interested in the competition that was forced upon them…nor did they seem very motivated to end the competition. It felt like the author had to have a reason to keep bringing the characters together and she did it through this competition. All in all, a good story but you won’t get too invested in the characters.
     The story is beautifully written though. It seems like each chapter skips to a different year so you have to kind of watch that…however, the writing is almost musical. You can see everything very clearly. Morgenstern creates a unique world that completely draws you in and makes you feel a part of the characters. Even the complex parts of the circus are clearly described. Honestly, if the circus was to set up in my hometown, I would have no problem finding my way through.
     I wanted to finish with the quote that is at the beginning of the book. A very apropos quote for the story and the feeling you have after the book. “A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” – Oscar Wilde

Product Details -
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
ISBN: 978-0385534635
Date of Publication: September 2011

Thursday, October 20, 2011

"Widow of the South" By: Robert Hicks Review





One of the book clubs I belong to recently read the book,
"Widow of the South" by Robert Hicks.

     "Widow of the South" tells the story of Carrie McGavock, her family, her slaves, and the soldiers involved in the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee. 

Synopsis (from BN.com)
      In 1894 Carrie McGavock is an old woman who has only her former slave to keep her company…and the almost 1,500 soldiers buried in her backyard. Years before, rather than let someone plow over the field where these young men had been buried, Carrie dug them up and reburied them in her own personal cemetery. Now, as she walks the rows of the dead, an old soldier appears. It is the man she met on the day of the battle that changed everything. The man who came to her house as a wounded soldier and left with her heart. He asks if the cemetery has room for one more...
    The novel flashes back thirty years to the afternoon of the Battle of Franklin, five of the bloodiest hours of the Civil War. There were 9,200 casualties that fateful day. Carrie's home -- the Carnton plantation -- was taken over by the Confederate army and turned into a hospital; four generals lay dead on her back porch; the pile of amputated limbs rose as tall as the smoke house. And when a wounded soldier named Zachariah Cashwell arrived and awakened feelings she had thought long dead, Carrie found herself inexplicably drawn to him despite the boundaries of class and decorum. The story that ensues between Carrie and Cashwell is just as unforgettable as the battle from which it is drawn.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday - "Trouble at the Wedding" By: Laura Lee Guhrke


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly book meme where we let everyone know what books we are eagerly anticipating the release of. 
Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine
Want to participate? 
Grab the logo on her page, post your own Waiting on Wednesday entry on your blog, 
and leave your link on her blog!


I cannot wait to read,
"Trouble at the Wedding" by Laura Lee Guhrke

Releasing: December 27, 2011

Trouble at the Wedding is the third unforgettable walk down the aisle by the always delightful RITA Award winning author. The marriage ceremony of a Victorian heiress to the “perfect man” is most rudely interrupted by a meddlesome duke who’s convinced the bewitching lady is making a the biggest mistake of her life. 

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

"A Thousand Splendid Suns" By: Khaled Hosseini Review



I just finished "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini,
 and can't wait to talk about it! 

 Synopsis (from BN.com)     
A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan's last thirty years — from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding — that puts the violence, fear, hope and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives — the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness — are inextricable from the history playing out around them.


My Thoughts:
   "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini is essentially the story of two very different women pushed together by fate and war. The story essentially evolves around two women and their "shared" husband. 
     The first part of the book tells the story of Mariam, a poor Afghan girl born the illegitimate daughter of an Afghan merchant. Her life is poor, she lives in a hut with her mother, essentially at the edge of town. She thinks she has a good life and loves her father intensely. As always, that idyllic life doesn't continue and she is thrust into a marriage with a much older man (Rasheed) who lives hours away. As Mariam's marriage quickly spirals out of control with abuse, miscarriages, and the harsh life of years of Civil War in Afghanistan...a young girl down the road named Laila is growing up.
     Laila is the focus of part two, a happy girl living with her family down the road from Mariam and Rasheed. She has a privileged life with a loving father and an emotionally distant mother. Her siblings are off fighting for Afghan independence. Laila has a close friend named Taliq who eventually becomes her romantic interest. Through the course of events Tariq and her parents are taken from her, leaving Laila alone pregnant in the harsh Afghan culture. Laila eventually marries Rasheed and becomes a sister wife to Mariam.
     The third part of the story switches between Laila and Mariam. Laila is much younger and with all relationships, Laila and Mariam go through an adjusting phase. Finally the two women create a close relationship with one another through trials and hardships.
     The fourth and final part of the story focuses on Laila. I don't want to ruin the ending and give up any spoilers but its exciting and surprising to say the least.

I loved, loved, loved this book and give it five stars! I haven't read such a good book in a long, long time. The characters are richly written, the story seems real, and the women are strong living in a harsh climate. It's simply an incredibly well written book that I think people should read.

To be honest, I would never have read this book if I hadn't had to read it for book club...but I simply loved it. 



Product Information:
Published by: Riverhead TradeISBN: 978-1594483851Publication Date: November 25, 2008

Monday, October 17, 2011

It's Monday! - What Are You Reading?


It's Monday! - What Are You Reading? is hosted weekly on Mondays 
by Sheila from "One Person's Journey"

Post the books you read last week, books currently reading, and books you plan on finishing this week.


















coverBooks I Read This Week:
"Unclaimed" by Courtney Milan
"Saving CeeCee Honeycutt" By: Beth Hoffman
"Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children" By: Ross Riggs

Books I'm Currently Reading:
"Night Circus" By: Erin Morganstern


Sunday, October 16, 2011

In My Mailbox


"In My Mailbox" is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren
It's a great way to showcase the books you've gotten over the week...
whether they are bought, borrowed or free.

Kind of a boring week...but I did buy:


Synopsis: They may enforce the rules, but when men in uniform are off duty and under teh covers, they're experts at breaking them. In this searingly sexy anthology, popular authors Maya Banks, Sylvia Day, and Karin Tabke present men in uniform-unzipped...

"Unclaimed" By: Courtney Milan Review

Today's review is "Unclaimed"
by one of my absolute FAVORITE new authors...
Courtney Milan!
Synopsis from bn.com:
Her only hope for survival…Handsome, wealthy and respected, Sir Mark Turner is the most sought-after bachelor in all of London—and he's known far and wide for his irreproachable character. But behind his virtuous reputation lies a passionate nature he keeps carefully in check...until he meets the beautiful Jessica Farleigh, the woman he's waited for all his life.
Is to ruin the man she loves…But Jessica is a courtesan, not the genteel lady Sir Mark believes. Desperate to be free of a life she despises, she seizes her chance when Mark's enemies make her an offer she can't refuse: seduce Mark and tarnish his good name, and a princely sum will be hers. Yet as she comes to know the man she's sworn to destroy, Jessica will be forced to choose between the future she needs…and the love she knows is impossible.


My Thoughts:
     First off, I love Courtney Milan's stories. If you haven't read a book by her, you have no idea what you are missing. They are amazing. The stories are rich in characterization and ambiance. The love stories make you sigh and the lovin' is just the right kind of naughty if you know what I mean.

     When I picked up "Unclaimed" I wanted to love it but it was pretty average for me (3 Stars out of Five). Jessica is a courtesan and Mark is the resident expert on chastity. Jessica's old protector offers her money to disgrace Sir Mark by sleeping with him. It seemed like a good premise of a story but it just seemed so dull. 
     The first 200 pages not much happens. I kept reading hoping it would get better and it never did. Finally around page 250 the romance really started and it became interesting. Jessica and Sir Mark were not very great characters. They seemed boring. You want to like them but both of them just come off as whiny. The premise becomes pathetic and I kept reading just to finish the book.
    Definitely not Courtney's best endeavor. If you are a fan of Milan's work, I would recommend this sotry so you can see what's going on with the Turner family. However, if you are a first time Courtney Milan reader, please start with "Proof by Seduction" or "Unveiled"


Check out the following blogs for other great reviews for "Unclaimed"
-The Book Binge
-Dear Author
-Smexy Books


Product Information:
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 978-0373776030
Date of Publication: September 2011

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Library Loot



Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!




                      
We all know I'm a big library lover :) 
This week I found some good ones and brought home 
"The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern and
 "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs