Falling

Posted on November 17, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Jane Green
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads:

The New York Times bestselling author of The Beach House, Jemima J, and Summer Secrets presents a novel about the pleasure and meaning of finding a home—and family—where you least expect them…

When Emma Montague left the strict confines of upper-crust British life for New York, she felt sure it would make her happy. Away from her parents and expectations, she felt liberated, throwing herself into Manhattan life replete with a high-paying job, a gorgeous apartment, and a string of successful boyfriends. But the cutthroat world of finance and relentless pursuit of more began to take its toll. This wasn’t the life she wanted either.

On the move again, Emma settles in the picturesque waterfront town of Westport, Connecticut, a world apart from both England and Manhattan. It is here that she begins to confront what it is she really wants from her life. With no job, and knowing only one person in town, she channels her passion for creating beautiful spaces into remaking the dilapidated cottage she rents from Dominic, a local handyman who lives next door with his six-year-old son.

Unlike any man Emma has ever known, Dominic is confident, grounded, and committed to being present for his son whose mother fled shortly after he was born. They become friends, and slowly much more, as Emma finds herself feeling at home in a way she never has before.

But just as they start to imagine a life together as a family, fate intervenes in the most shocking of ways. For the first time, Emma has to stay and fight for what she loves, for the truth she has discovered about herself, or risk losing it all.

In a novel of changing seasons, shifting lives, and selfless love, a story unfolds—of one woman’s far-reaching journey to discover who she is truly meant to be…

Ope’s Opinion: OH My!! Read this book! It is an amazing story. The characters are deep and wonderful. They will slowly seep into your heart.

I have read Jane Green before, but I believe this is a favorite for me. She really showed me that love can come at any time in your life. I held my breath a few times and the ending was very satisfying.

Tiny Pretty Things

Posted on November 14, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult Mystery
Source: BEA 2016

Goodreads: Gigi, Bette, and June, three top students at an exclusive Manhattan ballet school, have seen their fair share of drama. Free-spirited new girl Gigi just wants to dance—but the very act might kill her. Privileged New Yorker Bette’s desire to escape the shadow of her ballet star sister brings out a dangerous edge in her. And perfectionist June needs to land a lead role this year or her controlling mother will put an end to her dancing dreams forever. When every dancer is both friend and foe, the girls will sacrifice, manipulate, and backstab to be the best of the best.

Ope’s Opinion: This is mean girls meets ballerina’s in tutu’s. All the students at the ballet school are out for the prime position. Only one of the girls made me have any sympathy. The rest are backstabbing, self centered, nasty girls that I hope I never meet.

There is a second book to this series. I would like to know if the girls each got what they deserved, but not enough to read the second book.

Dumplin’

Posted on November 11, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Julie Murphy
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genre: Young Adult
Source: BEA 2015

Goodreads: Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.

Ope’s Opinion: In my opinion, this book should be mandatory reading for every middle or high school student. It is a wonderful portrait of how a young lady should look at herself and at others. It also shows how others see us differently then we see ourselves.

Some of the characters are not likeable – welcome to real life in middle and high school. It is good to see how all of this handled.

The ending is perfect because it is not perfect. It is very near to real life.

The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation

Posted on November 8, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Shannon Hale
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Genre: Children’s Book
Source: BEA 2016

Emma has read The Princess In Black before.
This is the fourth in the series. She was very excited about this new one.
We will be reading this one again I am sure.

Emma gave it her five finger approval!

Gilt Hollow

Posted on November 3, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Lorie Langdon
Publisher: Blink
Genre: Mystery / Young Adult
Source: BEA 2016

Goodreads: Willow Lamott’s best friend is a murderer, and no one in the small town of Gilt Hollow will let her forget it. For four long years, she’s tried to fade into the background—but none of that matters when Ashton Keller comes striding into school, fresh out of juvie and fueled by revenge. The moment their eyes meet, Willow no longer feels invisible. Drawn to the vulnerability behind Ashton’s mask of rage, she sinks deeper into his sinister world and begins to question whether he’s a villain, a savior, or both.
Ashton thought he wanted vengeance, until Willow reminded him what he’d been missing. Now he longs to clear his name and become the person she sees in him. But the closer they get to uncovering the truth, the darker the secrets become, and Ashton fears his return to Gilt Hollow will destroy everyone he loves, especially the girl he left behind.

Ope’s Opinion: This book was very intense from the very beginning. Although this is a young adult book, I would say the emphasis was on the mystery. The main characters are in high school, but the situation was very adult.

I enjoyed that the ending made sense and the story took you to the person who was responsible for the death of Daniel. Overall, this was a very good who done it!

Only Daughter

Posted on October 31, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Anna Snoekstra
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Thriller
Source: MIRA

Goodreads: In 2003, sixteen-year-old Rebecca Winter disappeared.

She’d been enjoying her teenage summer break: working at a fast-food restaurant, crushing on an older boy and shoplifting with her best friend. Mysteriously ominous things began to happen—blood in the bed, periods of blackouts, a feeling of being watched—though Bec remained oblivious of what was to come.

Eleven years later she is replaced.

A young woman, desperate after being arrested, claims to be the decade-missing Bec.

Soon the imposter is living Bec’s life. Sleeping in her bed. Hugging her mother and father. Learning her best friends’ names. Playing with her twin brothers.

But Bec’s welcoming family and enthusiastic friends are not quite as they seem. As the imposter dodges the detective investigating her case, she begins to delve into the life of the real Bec Winter—and soon realizes that whoever took Bec is still at large, and that she is in imminent danger.

Ope’s Opinion: This is definitely a thriller. It was a very intense read from the very beginning. If you like psychological thrillers this may be a 5 chair to you. It had a little bit too much gorey stuff in it for me. I am more of a “who done it” reader. The ending was very satisfying, my daughter Kristin at Kritters Ramblings, said that was how I would feel about the ending and she was absolutely right.

This Just In…..

Posted on October 29, 2016 by opesopinions

Publication Date: January 31, 2017
Publisher: HQN Books

Goodreads: Following in the footsteps of her critically acclaimed novel If You Only Knew , multi-bestselling author Kristan Higgins returns with a pitch-perfect look at the affection—and the acrimony—that binds sisters together

Ainsley O’Leary is so ready to get married—she’s even found the engagement ring her boyfriend has stashed away. What she doesn’t anticipate is for Eric to blindside her with a tactless breakup he chronicles in a blog…which (of course) goes viral. Devastated and humiliated, Ainsley turns to her half sister, Kate, who’s already struggling after the sudden loss of her new husband.

Kate has always been so poised, so self-assured, but Nathan’s death shatters everything she thought she knew—including her husband—and sometimes the people who step up aren’t the ones you expect. With seven years and a murky blended-family dynamic between them, Ainsley and Kate have never been overly close, but their shared sorrow dovetails their faltering worlds into one.

Despite the lifetime of history between them, the sisters must learn to put their differences aside and open their hearts to the inevitable imperfection of family—and the possibility of one day finding love again.

It is awesome to see a book at my doorstep that I know it going to be
so much fun to read! Love the cover for this time of year too. Thank you
Little Bird Publicity!

Coming Soon…

Posted on October 28, 2016 by opesopinions

…. On a Bookshelf near you!

In November I hope to read….

Publication Date: November 1, 2016
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Goodreads: Art restorer Emily Price has never encountered anything she can’t fix—until she meets Ben, an Italian chef, who seems just right. But when Emily follows Ben home to Italy, she learns that his family is another matter . . .

Emily Price—fix-it girl extraordinaire and would-be artist—dreams of having a gallery show of her own. There is no time for distractions, especially not the ultimate distraction of falling in love.

But Chef Benito Vassallo’s relentless pursuit proves hard to resist. Visiting from Italy, Ben works to breathe new life into his aunt and uncle’s faded restaurant, Piccollo. Soon after their first meeting, he works to win Emily as well—inviting her into his world and into his heart.

Emily astonishes everyone when she accepts Ben’s proposal and follows him home. But instead of allowing the land, culture, and people of Monterello to transform her, Emily interferes with everyone and everything around her, alienating Ben’s tightly knit family. Only Ben’s father, Lucio, gives Emily the understanding she needs to lay down her guard. Soon, Emily’s life and art begin to blossom, and Italy’s beauty and rhythm take hold of her spirit.

Yet when she unearths long-buried family secrets, Emily wonders if she really fits into Ben’s world. Will the joys of Italy become just a memory, or will Emily share in the freedom and grace that her life with Ben has shown her are possible?

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

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

Snowfall on Haven Point

Posted on October 25, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: RaeAnne Thayne
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Little Bird Publicity

Goodreads: There’s no place like Haven Point for the holidays, where the snow conspires to bring two wary hearts together for a Christmas to remember.

It’s been two rough years since Andrea Montgomery lost her husband, and all she wants is for her children to enjoy their first Christmas in Haven Point. But then Andie’s friend asks a favor—to keep an eye on her brother, Sheriff Marshall Bailey, who’s recovering from a hit and run. Andie will do anything for Wyn, even park her own misgivings to check on her grouchy, wounded bear of a brother.

Marshall hates feeling defenseless and resents the protective impulses that Andie brings out in him. But when a blizzard forces them together for the holidays, something in Marshall begins to thaw. Andie’s gentle nature is a salve, and her kids’ excitement for the holidays makes him forget why he never wanted a family. If only he and Andie can admit what they really want—each other—their Christmas wishes might come true after all.

Ope’s Opinion: Reading RaeAnne Thayne’s book is such a pleasant trip back to where I have been before ( Haven Point ), catching up with old friends and meeting a few new people. Her books are one of my “go-to” reads – I always know I am going to enjoy it.

Snowfall on Haven Point put me the mood to get ready for the holidays ( I know it is early, but I am an early shopper! ). If you are looking for a book gift for someone – this one is coming out September 27th – pick it up and put it away for those cold reading days.

The Lovely Reckless

Posted on October 20, 2016 by opesopinions

Author: Kami Garcia
Publisher: Imprint
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Source: BEA 2016

Goodreads: I’ve become an expert at avoiding things that could hurt me—which means I will figure out how to stay away from Marco Leone.

Seventeen-year-old Frankie Devereux would do anything to forget the past. Haunted by the memory of her boyfriend’s death, she lives her life by one dangerous rule: Nothing matters. At least, that’s what Frankie tells herself after a reckless mistake forces her to leave her privileged life in the Heights to move in with her dad—an undercover cop. She transfers to a public high school in the Downs, where fistfights don’t faze anyone and illegal street racing is more popular than football.

Marco Leone is the fastest street racer in the Downs. Tough, sexy, and hypnotic, he makes it impossible for Frankie to ignore him—and how he makes her feel. But the risks Marco takes for his family could have devastating consequences for them both. When Frankie discovers his secret, she has to make a choice. Will she let the pain of the past determine her future? Or will she risk what little she has left to follow her heart?

Ope’s Opinion: Kami reminds me of Katie McGarry’s writing and subject matter. The nice girl who meets and falls for the guy who is rough and about to self destruct. If you like Katie, then add Kami to your TBR list. You won’t be disappointed.

Ope's Opinions

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