Monthly Archives: May 2013

Coming Soon….

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                           ….On a Bookshelf Near You!!


This is a look into what I am excited about in June.
 I haven’t met a Hilderbrand book I haven’t liked, so  I am looking forward to this one.

Publication Date:  June 25th
Publisher:  Reagan Arthur Books
Goodreads:   A summer wedding stirs up trouble on both sides of the family in this new novel from bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand.

The Carmichaels and Grahams have gathered on Nantucket for a wedding. Plans are being made according to the wishes of the bride’s late mother, who left behind The Notebook: specific instructions for every detail of her youngest daughter’s future nuptials. Everything should be falling into place for the beautiful event–but in reality, things are far from perfect.

While the couple-to-be are quite happy, their loved ones find their own lives crumbling. In the days leading up to the wedding, love will be questioned, scandals will arise, and hearts will be broken and healed. Elin Hilderbrand takes readers on a touching journey in BEAUTIFUL DAY–into the heart of marriage, what it means to be faithful, and how we choose to honor our commitments.


What is coming soon … On a bookshelf near you?  Let me know – I am always looking for another good read!

My Summer of Pink & Green

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Author:  Lisa Greenwald                                       

Publisher:  Harry N. Abrams
Pages:  272
Genre:  Young Adult
Source:  Purchased










Goodreads:        At the end of My Life in Pink & Green, Lucy Desberg had just won the grant that would save her family’s pharmacy—and turn it into a modern eco-spa. Now it’s summer, and the work has begun in earnest. Lucy figures that with the spa opening and her sister, Claudia, home, she’ll have a great summer. But her sister brings a new boyfriend, and their investor brings his extremely irritating daughter, Bevin. Plus there’s a new spa coordinator in charge of the plans, and so Lucy finds herself at loose ends. What’s a girl to do? A makeover, of course. But this time Lucy’s makeover skills might not smooth over the cracks in her happy family . . .


Ope’s Opinion:  If you are a middle school student or if you know a middle school student, I highly recommend  this book for a good summer read!

                                     The story is a fun read.  It will keep your attention from beginning to the end.  The story moves at nice quick pace.

                                     Lucy is the main character and she is a contrast between being immature and adult like – which I think is typical middle school students.  They are in that time of life where they want to be adults, but are still enjoying their childhoods.  I think Lisa wrote Lucy in a way that most readers can relate to that time in their life – no matter what age they are now.

                                          Let me say that even my almost four year old granddaughter loved the cover!  She picked up my copy of the book and said, ” Can we read this?”.  The nice thing is I felt like I could read it to her – there was no foul language and the characters were ones I wouldn’t mind her knowing. 

Rating:  Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.


Passing it on…

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My love of books was passed on to me from my mother, who was influenced by her mother.  I have passed this love on to my daughters – Kristi of Kritters Ramblings and Jennifer of The Underestimated Mom.  Now I am enjoying the opportunity to pass the love of books on to my granddaughter Emma.

She will tell you, “My number ( her age ) will be four in July. ”  Then she will say, ” What will your number be in July? “.   As young as she is, we have started the I Can Read! series.  Here she is reading her Biscuit book.

Emma’s Aunt KK has a dog named Charlotte, so she enjoys reading books about dogs.
Emma’s other favorite is anything Cars.  So we found her a book about the Cars.
I think there is no better way to share a love of books then introducing a very young person to reading! Enjoy reading on any level!!

The Book of Broken Hearts

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Author:  Sarah Ockler
Publisher:  Simon Pulse
Pages:  352
Genre:  Young Adult / Contemporary                    

Source:  Edelweiss

Goodreads:   When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author ofBittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.



Ope’s Opinion:  I really liked the perspective of the daughters dealing with dad’s illness.  It was a unique look at families dealing with difficulties.  This was a deep story that I think young adults will enjoy and also learn a lot.

                                      The characters in this book are realistic.  They relate to each other the way regular families do.  Jude watching her father slip away a little at a time – over and over again was heart breaking, intense and written so well you could feel and see it.  I felt like Emilio was a comic relief for Jude, since her dad’s situation was so difficult to deal to with.  

                                 I think the only part of the book that I was not fond of was the constant insert of Spanish words.  Yes, the family immigrated to this country – the food was a good expression of that, but the Spanish words were annoying.  I could have lived without Pancake ( the dog ) having such a large part of the story.
 
                                   I have heard Sarah’s book Bittersweet is a better read. I will  try another Sarah Ockler book. 


Rating:  Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.

                 FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 
      I received one copy of this book free of charge from Edelweiss. 
            I was not required to write a positive review
                 in exchange for receipt of the book;
         rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                       


The Apple Orchard

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Author:  Susan Wiggs

Publisher:  Harlequin                                     

Pages:  432
Genre:  Romance
Source: Harlequin
Goodreads:      “Sometimes you stumble across a treasure when you’re looking for something else entirely.”#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs brings readers to the lush abundance of Sonoma County in a novel of sisters, friendship and how memories are woven like a spell around us.


Tess Delaney makes a living restoring stolen treasures to their rightful owners. People like Annelise Winther, who refuses to sell her long-gone mother’s beloved necklace—despite Tess’s advice. To Annelise, the jewel’s value is in its memories.

But Tess’s own history is filled with gaps: a father she never met, a mother who spent more time traveling than with her daughter. So Tess is shocked when she discovers the grandfather she never knew is in a coma. And that she has been named in his will to inherit half of Bella Vista, a hundred-acre apple orchard in the magical Sonoma town called Archangel.

The rest is willed to Isabel Johansen. A half sister she’s never heard of.

Against the rich landscape of Bella Vista, Tess begins to discover a world filled with the simple pleasures of food and family, of the warm earth beneath her bare feet. A world where family comes first and the roots of history run deep. A place where falling in love is not only possible, but inevitable.

And in a season filled with new experiences, Tess begins to see the truth in something Annelise once told her: if you don’t believe memories are worth more than money, then perhaps you’ve not made the right kind of memories.



Ope’s Opinion:  This review is hard to write.  I was in the  middle of moving both my daughters into their new houses when I was reading this.  I was interrupted and didn’t have a chunk of time to enjoy reading.  

                                      My interest in the book came and went.  Parts of it grabbed my attention and I wanted to keep reading and other parts were boring to me.  The overall story line itself was very good.

                                      The genre says romance and there was some, but I thought it was more of a mystery.  It was about figuring out secrets from the past.  I liked the twists and turns and where it took me as a reader.

                                     If you enjoy history and figuring out how it effects the people in the present – you will enjoy this book.

Rating:  Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.


                 FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 
      I received one copy of this book free of charge from Harlequin. 
            I was not required to write a positive review
                 in exchange for receipt of the book;
         rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                       

Gaithersburg Book Festival

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My daughter Kristi of Kritters Ramblings and I spent the day at the Gaithersburg Book Festival.  What an awesome book day!

Our first stop was a booth for an independent author.  Her name is Eileen K. Parsons.  Her book is The First Rose of Summer.

We went to hear Lisa Greenwald read her latest book My Summer of Pink & Green.  Lisa was fun to talk to and we were able to get the book signed.

It was a drizzly, cold ( for May ) day.  So we searched for something to warm us up and found the best crab soup we have had!  
We saw Jami Attenberg and Jennifer Close next.  They shared their books and a conversation with us.
My favorite part was meeting Jane Green.  She told us a little about her personal life – which was very interesting!  She is an awesome speaker.  She also shared a reading of the book she will be releasing next.  It was really cool to get a glimpse into her next book  Tempting Fate.

Tara Conklin and Jeanine Cummins shared their books and Q & A.  
Our last stop was Therese Anne Fowler and Caroline Leavitt.  They were enjoyable to listen to.  
What an wonderful way to spend the day with my daughter!  She always coordinates the best events for us to share.  

Black Tuesday

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                                           Author:  Susan Colebank
                                           Publisher:  Dutton Juvenile    
                                           Pages:  208
                                           Genre:  Young Adult
                                            Source:  Purchased

                      Goodreads:   Everything is going just the way super achiever Jayne Thompkins planned. She’s at the top of her class and captain of the girls’ varsity tennis team. Her ultimate goal? Harvard. She wouldn’t be killing herself with all these extracurriculars otherwise. But her life changes when she crashes into another car and a little girl dies as a result. Will she ever be able to live with the guilt she feels over this accidental death? A gripping and fast paced story about guilt, anger, forgiveness, and second chances by first time author Susan Colebank.

Ope’s Opinion:  I really enjoyed this book!  It was a well written story.  The story line was fascinating.  The book kept my attention from the beginning through to the end.

                                     It is amazing how a moment in your life can change everything.  This book made me think about those moments in my life that made a big impact on me.

                                    There are so many lessons in this book, but it doesn’t feel like a lecture.  You learn them through the characters, as you watch them deal with what life has handed them.  You need to find your own path in life and some times it takes a life altering situation to make the path clear.

                                    I would suggest this to anyone that is about to start driving.  It might be the wake up call need to keep your eyes on the road.  

                                      


Rating:  Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.


Moving…. Moving… Moving!

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My husband and I have two daughters.  Kristin of Kritters Ramblings and Jennifer of The Underestimated Mom.  Each daughter closed on a house – three days apart!!!

Now we are moving furniture and helping with house projects at both houses – as well as updating somethings at our house.

Now that we have room to spare at my house, I am getting a library room!! I am so excited.

This is the book case with the door in the middle.  We decided it made the middle one look to short.  So we tried it on the tall one.
We like this better, so now we have to order another set of door.
Well, with all this moving going on at all three of our houses – I may not have as many posts as usual.  The reading time has been set aside.  Please don’t give up on me – just a short MIA and I will be back to  my regular schedule.

The Repeat Year

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Author:  Andrea Lochen
Publisher: Berkley Trade                

Pages: 400
Genre:  Young Adult
Source:  BookSparks

Goodreads:  Everyone has days, weeks, even months they wish they could do over—but what about an entire year? After living through the worst twelve months of her life, intensive care nurse Olive Watson is given a second chance to relive her past and attempt to discover where she went wrong… After a year of hardships, including a messy breakup with her longtime boyfriend Phil, the prospect of her mother’s remarriage, and heartbreaking patient losses at the hospital, Olive is ready to start fresh. But when she wakes up in her ex-boyfriend’s bed on New Year’s Day 2011—a day she has already lived—Olive’s world is turned upside down. Shouldering a year of memories that no one else can recall, even Olive begins to question herself—until she discovers that she is not alone. Upon crossing paths with Sherry Witan, an experienced “repeater,” Olive learns that she has the chance to rewrite her future. Given the opportunity of a lifetime, Olive has to decide what she really wants. Should she make different choices, or accept her life as she knows it, flaws and all?


Ope’s Opinion:  I know this is a young adult book, but it didn’t feel like it. The story line was very captivating – who would not want a do-over in some part of your life.  Maybe not an entire year, but some small part.  It would be strange though to wake up and not realize at first that you were getting the chance for that do-over.  When I started reading, I didn’t think about the fact that Olive wasn’t the only one getting a year to do over.  Everyone in her life was, although they didn’t know it.  

                                   It had very developed, complex characters.  It was interesting to see how Olive’s choices effected other people and their choices.  

                                  I think it was fun to read and very different from a regular relationship in most books. I liked the writing style of Andrea, so I would read another story by her.   I would recommend this to anyone.


Rating:  Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

                 FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 
      I received one copy of this book free of charge from BookSparks. 
            I was not required to write a positive review
                 in exchange for receipt of the book;
         rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                       



One Summer

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Author: David Baldacci
Publisher:  Grand Central Publishing                

Pages: 352
Genre:  Women’s Fiction
Source:  Purchased

Goodreads:  It’s almost Christmas, but there is no joy in the house of terminally ill Jack and his family. With only a short time left to live, he spends his last days preparing to say goodbye to his devoted wife, Lizzie, and their three children. Then, unthinkably, tragedy strikes again: Lizzie is killed in a car accident. With no one able to care for them, the children are separated from each other and sent to live with family members around the country. Just when all seems lost, Jack begins to recover in a miraculous turn of events. He rises from what should have been his deathbed, determined to bring his fractured family back together. Struggling to rebuild their lives after Lizzie’s death, he reunites everyone at Lizzie’s childhood home on the oceanfront in South Carolina. And there, over one unforgettable summer, Jack will begin to learn to love again, and he and his children will learn how to become a family once more.


Ope’s Opinion:  Before you start reading, go get a box of tissues.  It is such a good story, but it starts out sad.  This is a fast paced story with a lot of emotion put into it.

                                       All the characters are believable and relatable.  You will ache for their hurts and wish them well, all the way to the end.  You will not want to put this book because you will want to know what happens to each person.

                                      It was nice to read a great book with little to no foul language and no explicit sex scenes, yet it had all the emotion and connection between the characters you could want.  Great writing!

                                    I would recommend this book to anyone who likes family drama.  If  David Baldacci writes more stories like this one, I will be reading them!


Rating:  Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.