Monthly Archives: June 2015

Books from BEA

Posted on by
3

There are always a few special books that draw me to BEA.
These are a few of my favorites from this year.

if you only knew

Publication Date:  May 26, 2015
Love Kristan Higgins!

winter stroll

Publication Date:  October 13, 2015
I will save this for the first snow!

dancing through life

Publication Date:  August 1, 2015
This was an unexpected find.

summertime girls

Publication Date:  August 4, 2015
This is a new author for me.
And the cover is awesome!!

unlovely

Publication Date:  January 2, 2015
Celeste Conway was fun to talk to at BEA.
I love the cover! I want to frame it.

nowhere but here

Publication Date:  May 26, 2015
Katie McGarry is a favorite of mine.

Eight Hundred Grapes

Posted on by
2

Author: Laura Dave                   800
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Fiction
Source: BookSparks

 

 

Goodreads:  A breakout novel from an author who “positively shines with wisdom and intelligence” (Jonathan Tropper, This Is Where I leave You). “Laura Dave writes with humor and insight about relationships in all their complexity, whether she’s describing siblings or fiancés or a couple long-married. Eight Hundred Grapes is a captivating story about the power of family, the limitations of love, and what becomes of a life’s work” (J. Courtney Sullivan, Maine).

There are secrets you share, and secrets you hide…

Growing up on her family’s Sonoma vineyard, Georgia Ford learned some important secrets. The secret number of grapes it takes to make a bottle of wine: eight hundred. The secret ingredient in her mother’s lasagna: chocolate. The secret behind ending a fight: hold hands.

But just a week before her wedding, thirty-year-old Georgia discovers her beloved fiancé has been keeping a secret so explosive, it will change their lives forever.

Georgia does what she’s always done: she returns to the family vineyard, expecting the comfort of her long-married parents, and her brothers, and everything familiar. But it turns out her fiancé is not the only one who’s been keeping secrets…

Ope’s Opinion:  I really hope this book is the first in a series.  It has so many amazing characters that I would like to revisit.  Laura Dave does a such a great job of developing each of the characters.

Watching Georgia struggle to figure out what she wanted and who she wanted kept me reading.  I liked that she was not closed to forgiving and would listen to explanations even when things looked very messed up.  Her whole family had different relationships to work out.

There is a lot of family drama in this book.  Some of it seemed to be resolved by the end, but I think there is a lot more I want to read.  Please Laura – tell me there is more!!

Rating: 5 – This book is so good it will be passed on and on and on….

One Wish

Posted on by
Reply

Author: Robyn Carr                                  one wish
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

 

 

Goodreads:  Grace Dillon was a champion figure skater until she moved to Thunder Point to escape the ruthless world of fame and competition. And though she’s proud of the quiet, self-sufficient life she’s created running a successful flower shop, she knows something is missing. Her life could use a little excitement.

In a community where there are few eligible singles, high school teacher Troy Headly appoints himself Grace’s fun coach. When he suggests a little companionship with no strings attached, Grace is eager to take him up on his offer, and the two enjoy…getting to know each other.

But things get complicated when Grace’s past catches up with her, and she knows that’s not what Troy signed up for. Faced with losing her, Troy realizes Grace is more than just a friend with benefits. He’s determined to help her fight for the life she always wished for but never believed she could have—and maybe they can find real love along the way.

Ope’s Opinion:  This is another good book by Robyn Carr.  You know that Grace and Troy will be happy at the end, but getting there is always fun!  Catching up on other Thunder Point characters was enjoyable too.

Watching Grace become independent after such a dependent childhood made me respect her character.

I am looking forward to the next Thunder Point book.  I want to see how Grace and her mom work out their relationship.  I also want to see all the new babies that are on the way.  It should be another great read.

Rating: 4 – I like the book so much I know several friends to share it with.

The Bigger Book of Parenting Tweets

Posted on by
4

Author: Jessica Ziegler, etc.
Publisher: Science of Parenthood   tweets
Genre:  Humor
Source:  BookSparks

 

 

Goodreads:  Following the enormous success of their first book, The Big Book of Parenting Tweets, Science of Parenthood and Kate Hall are back with The BIGGER Book of Parenting Tweets, featuring EVEN MORE of the funniest parents on Twitter!

Venturing deep into the Twitterverse in search of even more hilarity, these intrepid editors discovered more than FIFTY of the funniest comedians who just happen to be parents. Together with still more of Science of Parenthood’s signature cartoons and special “behind the tweets” stories, Book Two is BIGGER … it’s BOLDER … and gosh darn it, people LIKE it!

With its dynamic mix of moms’ and dads’ voices and parenting topics—toddlers to teens—The BIGGER Book of Parenting Tweets is guaranteed to make new parents, veteran parents, grandparents and expecting parents laugh out loud at the unbelievable (yet somehow still endearing) crazy that comes with raising children.

Here is just a peek at some of what you’ll find inside:

I don’t believe in spanking my children, but I do believe in flipping them off from the other room.
— Jewel Nunez (@OneFunnyMummy)

Ope’s Opinion:  I am a grandparent and I can relate to so many of these tweets.  Wish I had had them when I was raising my kids.  You need to laugh about parenting – it will keep you sane.

I passed this book on to my daughter!  I wanted her to enjoy parenting and laugh about  the hard parts.

This book made me giggle, laugh, and read some of it over and over again.

Rating: 4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.