Bookin' it Through the New Year

I'm back with another round of what I've been reading!

I realized that last time I shared my books, I totally forgot about one I'd read--oops! So I'm including that one to start us off!

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
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Part of the Goodreads Synopsis:
"Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastian’s, a boys' school that pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an impossibly dorky accordion player. The boys are no better, from Thomas, who specializes in musical burping, to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop thinking about."
In addition to that, Francesca is dealing with some trouble at home when her mom falls into a depression.

I enjoyed the story, and how Francesca developed and changed throughout the book, as well as how her relationships changed and evolved. This book was short (I think only about 250 pages), but it packs in a good story, and was an easy read. 
I gave it 3.5 stars

The Bay At Midnight by Diane Chamberlain
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Part of the Goodreads synopsis:
"Her family's cottage on the New Jersey shore was a place of freedom and innocence for Julie Bauer -- until tragedy struck when her seventeen-year-old sister, Isabel, was murdered.
It's been more than forty years since that August night, but Julie's memories of her sister's death still color her world, causing turmoil in her relationships with her teenage daughter, Shannon, and her mother, Maria."

This one is a good summer read. It keeps you interested, and the story goes back and forth between present day and the past leading up to the murder, with pieces of the story unfolding a bit throughout. 
It's not my favorite of Diane Chamberlain's books, but I still enjoyed reading it and would give it 3.5 stars.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
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This one had really good reviews on Goodreads (over 4 stars) and it kept popping up in my suggested books to read, so when I got a notice that it was on sale, I bought it and read it. This one was a bit tedious to get through for me. It took me over a month to read it. I just felt like some of the plot line was repetitive and mentioned the same thing over and over again--maybe that was intentional, but it made the book drag for me.  I did really like how the book tied up in the end, though, which made me give it a higher rating than I would have. 
I'd give this one 3 stars.

Guilt by Association by Marcia Clark
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The Goodreads synopsis:
"Los Angeles D.A. Rachel Knight is a tenacious, wise-cracking, and fiercely intelligent prosecutor in the city's most elite division. When her colleague, Jake, is found dead at a grisly crime scene, Rachel is shaken to the core. She must take over his toughest case: the assault of a young woman from a prominent family.
But she can't stop herself from digging deeper into Jake's death, a decision that exposes a world of power and violence and will have her risking her reputation--and her life--to find the truth."

My mom lent me this book and I'm glad that she did. After my previous read that felt like work to get through, this was a welcome change. It was an easy read, I enjoyed the main character, and the story line kept me wanting to read on. I finished this one in a few days and really enjoyed it. I gave this one 4 stars.

That's it for me! Hoping I have some other good ones to share with you next go round!

28 comments:

  1. I've had months where it seems like the books I read weren't the best. The book I'm reading currently is pretty good, it's just taking me a while to read because it isn't that exciting right now. Here's to reading great books in 2017!!
    Sarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts

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  2. Oooh yes, The Bay at Midnight was good. That was the very first Diane Chamberlain book I read and I liked it enough to keep with her.

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  3. I enjoyed Saving Francesca, but I think I liked The Piper's Son even more. It has some of the same characters but is totally different. I still need to seek out a Diane Chamberlain book!

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  4. Guilt by Association sounds right up my ally! I'll have to add that to my list! :)

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  5. I am so excited to start reading more this year! I have been slacking.

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  6. I just bought 2 books on raising twins and 2 books on breastfeeding; I think your choices are slightly more exciting! ;) Let's see if I can get through any of them! XOXO, R

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  7. I really want to read more mystery or crime books in 2017! Guilt by association sounds good. :) XO - Alexandra

    Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

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  8. These books all sound good!! I'm reading two right now but when I'm finished I'll need some suggestions so I'll have to see if these are at our local library!

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  9. I always love your book recommendations :) I literally request books at library based on your reviews haha

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  10. Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors. I think I gave Bay at Midnight four stars. I really liked it!

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  11. Where on the shore is that Chamberlain novel set? I might have to put that on my list for this summer.

    I loved Saving Francesca and Tell the Wolves I'm Home.

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  12. I read another of Marcia Clark's books (Blood Defense) and I really enjoyed it! I didn't know what to expect from it with her background being in the law and not writing.

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  13. Saving Francesca sounds good as does Guilt by Association since I love a good mystery/thriller. Putting both on my TBR!

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  14. I love a good thriller and crime book, so I'll definitely be checking out Guilt by Association! Saving Francesca has been on TBR list for a while, and I'm hoping that I get around to it soon!

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  15. These sounds good I will have to check some out when I'm done the books I have collected on my night stand! Now that Christmas movies are done I will get back into some more reading ;)

    http://brittscozycorner.blogspot.ca/

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  16. Guilt by Association has me so intrigued, definitely adding it to my list!!

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  17. I used to love Diane Chamberlain's books but haven't read one in a while. I remember liking The Bay at Midnight!

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  18. I really want to read Saving Francesca. It sounds so good! I hate when a book drags, it puts me off my reading game.

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  19. aw i'm sad you didn't love saving francesca. i adored it. but, i will fully admit 50% of my love is because of how australian it was. i DESPISED melina marchetta when i was a teenager in high school, how things change ;)
    Tell the Wolves I'm Home is on my list, I think!

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  20. Saving Francesca sounds really good. I have not heard of any of these, thanks for the reviews!

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  21. I still need to read something by Melina Marchetta. I don't know why it's taken me so long, but I'll get to a book by her sometime soon! Hopefully this year! haha

    Sorry you didn't really love Tell the Wolves I'm Home. I was curious about that one, but I'm not sure...

    -lauren

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  22. I have been so bad about reading lately. I haven't read any books by Diane Chamberlain but she seems to always pop up in my "might be interested in" sections, haha.

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  23. I need more books for this year so thanks for posting this! The Bay at Midnight has me intrigued, but I'll wait for warmer weather to start reading it :)

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  24. I never know what to do about books with mixed reviews. Books like Tell The Wolves I'm Home. When the plot seems good but half the readers saw 'nah'. I usually steer clear :) 2017 has started off good for me with reading. Hoping to keep up the streak! Stopping by from Show Me Your Books.

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  25. I'm a huge fan of Melina Marchetta books and enjoyed The Piper's Son (which has many of the same characters) even more. I live in Sydney, so much of the setting is familiar to me.

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  26. i've been debating about reading some marcia clark. i think i'll have to check this one out!
    Trish - tales from trish

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