Coming Soon….

Posted on April 30, 2016 by opesopinions

…. On a Bookshelf near you!

In May I hope to read….

The Island House: A Novel

Publication Date: May 31, 2016
Publisher: Ballantine Books

Goodreads: The charms of Nantucket tempt a woman to leave her established life in Kansas City—but with a piece of her heart, and a love interest, in each world, she discovers she must look within to choose the right path.

Every summer since college, twenty-nine-year-old Jenny has traded the familiarity of the Midwest for the allure of Nantucket. Now an established university professor in Kansas City, she finds herself caught between two lifestyles and two very different men. She chooses Nantucket and the glamorous life she associates with it, unaware that the summer will take an unexpected turn, and she will have to let her heart decide what it truly wants.

What is coming soon …. to a bookshelf near you?

Let me know – I am always looking for a good read!

Spun

Posted on April 26, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Catherine McKenzie
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritter’s Ramblings

Goodeads: In this funny and touching novella, bestselling author Catherine McKenzie returns to the story of Amber Sheppard, It Girl and celebrity train wreck from McKenzie’s reader-favourite novel, Spin.

Life has been rough for starlet Amber since leaving rehab. She’s been two years sober, but no one seems to believe her — not the gossip media, not casting agents, and most certainly not her spotlight-loving parents. With her friendships ruined by betrayal and her career at a standstill, Amber’s just trying to get her life back on track. It doesn’t help that her former love, movie star Connor Parks, keeps trying to draw Amber back in, not just to their relationship but to his hard-partying ways. One fateful night, Amber breaks down and agrees to join him on board his private jet as it readies for take-off — a decision that will change her life forever and expose her to a whole new level of scrutiny and heartbreak.

Ope’s Opinion: Hearing Amber’s point of view in this book after just finishing Spin, made it feel like one big book. This was easy to get into because it really did feel like an extension of Spin.

Amber showed how hard it really must be, to be in Hollywood, be well known while trying not to make mistakes. I have always thought that life would be hard.

For such a small book, there was a lot in here.

Spin

Posted on April 21, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Catherine McKenzie
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads: Kate’s To-Do List:

1. Go to rehab
2. Befriend/spy on “It Girl”
3. Write killer expose
4. Land dream job

Piece of cake!

When Kate Sandford lands an interview at her favorite music magazine, The Line, it’s the chance of a lifetime. So Kate goes out to celebrate—and shows up still drunk to the interview the next morning. It’s no surprise that she doesn’t get the job, but her performance has convinced the editors that she’d be perfect for an undercover assignment for their gossip rag. All Kate has to do is follow “It Girl” Amber Sheppard into rehab. If she can get the inside scoop—and complete the thirty-day program—they’ll reconsider her for the position at The Line. Kate takes the assignment, but when real friendships start to develop, she has to decide if what she has to gain is worth the price she’ll have to pay.

Ope’s Opinion: There were times I wanted to shake Kate – this is the interview of a life time, at a job you have dreamed about, you are thirty years old (old enough to know better) and you get drunk! Then I felt sorry for her, she needed help and didn’t even realize it.

Though the subject matter was heavy, Catherine McKenzie’s humor made the story flow for me. She made me like Kate a bit more. It was satisfying to see how Kate handled her ethical choice.

This book did read fast for me – a very slow reader.

This is Where it Ends

Posted on April 18, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Marieke Nijamp
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Source: BEA

Goodreads: 10:00 a.m. The principal of Opportunity High School finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m. The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03 a.m. The auditorium doors won’t open.

10:05 a.m. Someone starts shooting.

Told from four different perspectives over the span of fifty-four harrowing minutes, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

Ope’s Opinion: When you start this book ( which you should right now! ) make sure you have enough uninterupted time to finish it. You will not want to stop reading. Also, take a very large breath because you won’t breathe again until the very end.

In the beginning you will be introduce to may characters and their relationships to each other. Seeing the event from many of these characters perspective moved the story along. These relationships are the center to this story.

I will be looking for more books from Marieke Nijkamp.

Goodbye Stranger

Posted on April 15, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Rebecca Stead
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Genre: Middle Grade
Source: BEA

Goodreads: Bridge is an accident survivor who’s wondering why she’s still alive. Emily has new curves and an almost-boyfriend who wants a certain kind of picture. Tabitha sees through everybody’s games—or so she tells the world. The three girls are best friends with one rule: No fighting. Can it get them through seventh grade?
This year everything is different for Sherm Russo as he gets to know Bridge Barsamian. What does it mean to fall for a girl—as a friend?
On Valentine’s Day, an unnamed high school girl struggles with a betrayal. How long can she hide in plain sight?

Ope’s Opinion: This book started out a little scattered for me. As Rebecca Stead was introducing all the characters in the book, it seemed to jump all over the place. As I got to know each character it came together.

I do feel like Stead really knows how to get in the mind of a middle grade student. I would recommend this one for parents to have their student read. The language, subjects and situations were appropriate for this age group.

There are lessons to be learned from reading this book, but I do not feel like I was hit over the head or preached at. This book could open a lot of discussions with middle grade students.

What We Find

Posted on April 12, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Robyn Carr
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Little Bird Publicity

Goodreads: Join Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Virgin River and Thunder Point series, as she explores the healing powers of rural Colorado in a brand-new story of fresh starts, budding relationships and one woman’s journey to finding the happiness she’s long been missing

Between the urban bustle of Denver and the high-stress environment of a career in neurosurgery, Maggie Sullivan has hit a wall. When an emergency, high-risk procedure results in the death of a teenager, Maggie finds herself in the middle of a malpractice lawsuit—and experiencing levels of anxiety she’s never faced before. It’s in this desperate moment that Maggie’s boyfriend decides he can’t handle her emotional baggage, and she’s left alone, exhausted and unsure of what her future holds. One thing is certain, though: she needs to slow down before she burns out completely, and the best place she can think to do that is Sullivan’s Crossing.

Named for Maggie’s great-grandfather, the land and charming general store at the crossroads of the Colorado and the Continental Divide trails have been passed down through the generations and now belong to Maggie’s estranged father, Sully. Though raised by her mother and stepfather after her parents divorced, Maggie has always adored Sully—despite his hands-off approach to fatherhood. When she shows up unannounced in Sullivan’s Crossing, he welcomes her with opens arms, and she relishes the opportunity to rebuild their relationship.

But when Sully has a sudden heart attack, Maggie’s world is rocked once again. Consumed with his care, she’s relieved to find that Cal Jones, a quiet and serious-looking camper, has been taking over many of Sully’s responsibilities as he recuperates. Still, Maggie is suspicious of this mysterious man’s eagerness to help—until she finds out the true reason for his deliberate isolation.

Though Cal and Maggie each struggle with loss and loneliness, the time they spend together gives Maggie hope for something brighter just on the horizon…if only they can learn to find peace and healing—and perhaps love—with each other.

Ope’s Opinion: This is the beginning of a new series for Robyn Carr, so there was a lot of details in this book. It really helps the reader to be able to see the surrounds and get to know the people that you will see again.

I really liked Maggie and Cal’s story. They are mature adults, who each had hardships before they met each other. They took their relationship slow – I liked their friendship.

Even though Robyn Carr writes predictable stories, there are always twists along that way that keep me reading. Now I am looking forward to the next one in this series.

Thank you Katie from Little Bird Publicity for sending me this book.

This Just In….

Posted on April 9, 2016 by opesopinions

All these books came from Amazon.

Published: February 2, 2016
Publisher: Berkley

Goodreads: When their mother dies, sisters Jules, Brooke, and Lexi breathe a collective sigh of relief. Their days of being hurt and controlled by Juliana Alexander are over.

It turns out, Juliana isn’t about to let a little detail like death stop her.

The three estranged sisters expect to inherit their mom’s beat-up car and outdated condo. Instead, they discover there’s a fortune waiting to be claimed—one they knew nothing about. But in classic Juliana fashion, there’s a catch. Three of them, to be exact.

Now Jules, Brooke, and Lexi find themselves forced to rely on one another in order to become the women their mother wanted them to be. With millions of dollars on the line and as many obstacles in the way, they embark on a hilarious journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and the real meaning of wealth.

Saw this on Book Fan Mary’s blog. Her review made me want to read this!

Goodreads: The Wonder of You
Published: June 18, 2015
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Mortified after her year abroad is cut short, Amelia Christiansen returns to Deep Haven, certain she isn’t brave enough to embrace the adventures she’s dreamed of. The last thing she expects is for the man who broke her heart to cross the Atlantic and beg forgiveness.

Heir to a European hotel dynasty, Roark St. John has trekked from one exotic locale to another, haunted by tragedy and the expectations that accompany his last name. Amelia is the first woman to give him a reason to stop running. He’ll do anything for a second chance—even contend with Amelia’s old flame, who is intent on sending Roark packing.

While one surprise after another leaves Amelia reeling, Roark’s continued presence only highlights the questions pursuing her. Like him, is she running from the life God has called her to? Could finding her place mean leaving home behind?

Goodreads: You’re the One That I Want
Published: February 1, 2016
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Owen Christiansen has been in a downward spiral since an injury ended his NHL career. But a job on an Alaskan crabbing boat offers a fresh start . . . maybe even a shot at romance with Elise “Scotty” McFlynn, the captain’s daughter.

Used to being one of the guys, to never relying on anyone, Scotty doesn’t believe in happily ever after―especially with someone like Owen. Her instinct is confirmed when Casper Christiansen arrives to drag his prodigal brother home, bringing with him a truckload of family drama―and even worse, the news that Casper is wanted for questioning in connection to a crime back in Minnesota.

But Owen is more than the sum of his mistakes, a truth both he and Scotty discover when she escorts both brothers to Deep Haven as part of her new job on the Anchorage police force. Thrust into an unfamiliar world of family, faith, and fresh starts, Scotty begins to see potential for a happy ending . . . if she’s brave enough to embrace it.

I have been reading Susan May Warren’s Christiansen Family
from the very beginning. I do not want to miss one of her books!
This series is one of the best. Each book is better then the one before.

Just something to go along with my book reading!
Smells so very good!!

When I’m Gone

Posted on April 8, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Emily Bleeker
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads: Dear Luke,First let me say—I love you…I didn’t want to leave you.…

Luke Richardson has returned home after burying Natalie, his beloved wife of sixteen years, ready to face the hard job of raising their three children alone. But there’s something he’s not prepared for—a blue envelope with his name scrawled across the front in Natalie’s handwriting, waiting for him on the floor of their suburban Michigan home.

The letter inside, written on the first day of Natalie’s cancer treatment a year ago, turns out to be the first of many. Luke is convinced they’re genuine, but who is delivering them? As his obsession with the letters grows, Luke uncovers long-buried secrets that make him question everything he knew about his wife and their family. But the revelations also point the way toward a future where love goes on—in written words, in memories, and in the promises it’s never too late to keep.

Ope’s Opinion: Read this book!! It is so good! There are more twists and turn then I have ever read in a book, but they were believable. The characters are amazing. You can feel what they are feeling. This book was put under Fiction and Romance. It is both of those, but I would also put in the Mystery category.

What a ride this book took me on. I did not want to put this book down. I finished while on an airplane. When I was done, I wanted to be able to talk to my daughter about it – it was frustrating to be on the plane at that point. As soon I got off the plane I called her and said OMG! about three times. We both thought it was a great book!

The ending left me wanting to know where everyone is now. I think I need a sequel.

Lies and Other Acts of Love

Posted on April 5, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Fiction
Source: Kristy Woodson Harvey

Goodreads: Dear Carolina was praised as “Southern fiction at its best.”* Now author Kristy Woodson Harvey presents a new novel about what it really means to tell the truth . . .

After sixty years of marriage and five daughters, Lynn “Lovey” White knows that all of us, from time to time, need to use our little white lies.

Her granddaughter, Annabelle, on the other hand, is as truthful as they come. She always does the right thing—that is, until she dumps her hedge fund manager fiancé and marries a musician she has known for three days. After all, her grandparents, who fell in love at first sight, have shared a lifetime of happiness, even through her grandfather’s declining health.

But when Annabelle’s world starts to collapse around her, she discovers that nothing about her picture-perfect family is as it seems. And Lovey has to decide whether one more lie will make or break the ones she loves . . .

Ope’s Opinion: When I started reading this book, I felt like I was sitting with an old friend telling me her story. The book kept calling me back to spend time with that friend. As I continued to read I was totally surprised by the twists and turns. This wonderful story drew me and kept me coming back for more.

The ending was perfect – it tied things up and let you know where everyone is now.

I am looking forward to Kristy Woodson Harvey’s next book!

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

This Just In….

Posted on April 2, 2016 by opesopinions

All of the books this week came from
Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Published: February 26, 2015
Publisher: William Morrow

Goodreads: Summer has arrived in the Cornish town of Mount Polbearne and Polly Waterford couldn’t be happier. Because Polly is in love: she’s in love with the beautiful seaside town she calls home, she’s in love with running the bakery on Beach Street, and she’s in love with her boyfriend, Huckle.

And yet there’s something unsettling about the gentle summer breeze that’s floating through town. Selina, recently widowed, hopes that moving to Mount Polbearne will ease her grief, but Polly has a secret that could destroy her friend’s fragile recovery. Responsibilities that Huckle thought he’d left behind are back and Polly finds it hard to cope with his increasingly long periods of absence.

Polly sifts flour, kneads dough and bakes bread, but nothing can calm the storm she knows is coming: is Polly about to lose everything she loves?

This is the second in a series. I have the first one on my shelf.
I am excited to have both of them!!

Published: March 1, 2016
Publisher: Penguin Random House

Goodreads: When it comes to family, Ruby Baxter hasn’t had much luck. The important men in her early life abandoned her, and any time a decent boyfriend came along, she ran away. But now Ruby is thirty-one and convinced she is failing her teenage daughter. Mia is the one good thing in her life, and Ruby hopes a move to Kansas will fix what’s broken between them.

But the road to redemption takes a detour. Hank McArthur, the biological father Ruby never knew existed, would like her to claim her inheritance: a dusty oil ranch just outside of Unforgiven, Oklahoma.

As far as first impressions go, the gruff, emotionally distant rancher isn’t what Ruby has hoped for in a father. Yet Hank seems to have a gift for rehabilitating abused horses—and for reaching Mia. And if Ruby wants to entertain the possibility of a relationship with Joe Dawson, the ranch foreman, she must find a way to open her heart to the very first man who left her behind.

This is a new author for me!

Published: March 15, 2016
Publisher: William Morrow

Goodreads: The New York Times bestselling author of Big Girl Panties and The Sweet Spot is back with a funny, sweet, and sizzling novel about the game of love, in which a hot quarterback must figure out how to score big with a beautiful and talented media analyst after a heartbreaking fumble.

Star quarterback, first-round draft-pick, and heartthrob Tyson Palmer has made a name for himself with his spectacular moves. When the head coach of the Austin Mavericks refuses to let him waste his million-dollar arm, Tyson makes a Hail Mary pass at redemption and succeeds with everyone . . . except Dani, whose negative comments about his performance draw high ratings and spectacular notices of her own.

Dani can’t forgive Tyson’s transgressions or forget the sizzling history the two of them shared in college, a passionate love Tyson casually threw away. And even more infuriating, he doesn’t realize that the bombshell with huge ratings is the cute girl whose heart he once broke.

But can a woman trying to claw her way to the top and a quarterback who knows all about rock bottom make it to the Super Bowl without destroying each other? And what will happen when Tyson—riding high now that he’s revived his career—realizes he needs to make an even more important comeback with Dani? Can he make some spectacular moves to get past her defenses—or will she sideline him for good?

This looks like a good one!

Published: March 15, 2016
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Goodreads: Dear Luke,First let me say—I love you…I didn’t want to leave you.…

This one I was told will make me cry, so don’t read it in public!
I will probably read this real soon!!

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Ope's Opinions

Blogging about books, life, and the beach.

Monthly Archives: April 2016

Coming Soon….

…. On a Bookshelf near you!

What is coming soon …. to a bookshelf near you?

Let me know – I am always looking for a good read!

Spun

Spin

This is Where it Ends

Goodbye Stranger

What We Find

This Just In….

When I’m Gone

Lies and Other Acts of Love

This Just In….

So many books, so little time!