Books Books Books!

I know I've shared that I've fallen off of the reading train for a while since Ella was born, and especially since being back at work, but I'm getting back into it and making time for it because I love reading.
In the meantime, I realized that I never shared all of the books that I read this summer while I was on maternity leave (and before), and there were some good ones!

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

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The Goodreads synopsis: "No stranger to the injustice of racial hatred, five-year-old Peekay learns the hard way the first secret of survival and self-preservation - the power of one. An encounter with amateur boxer Hoppie Groenewald inspires in Peekay a fiery ambition - to be welterweight champion of the world."

I got this book from my friend Christy who has yet to steer me wrong with a book recommendation. I must say, the description of the book made me less than excited to read it, BUT this book isn't about boxing. Boxing is the thread that ties this story together but it's more about life, and how meeting certain people can influence and impact you in different ways. I really enjoyed this book--it's over 500 pages and I read it in 2 weeks, reading it every chance that I got. I really enjoyed and loved the main character and everything that he stood for.

There were parts that were VERY descriptive, but I think it added to the book. Overall I gave this one 4.5 stars.

Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben 

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The Goodreads Synopsis:
"Sports agent Myron Bolitar is poised on the edge of the big time. So is Christian Steele, a rookie quarterback and Myron's prized client. But when Christian gets a phone call from a former girlfriend, a woman who everyone, including the police, believes is dead, the deal starts to go sour. Trying to unravel the truth about a family's tragedy, a woman's secret, and a man's lies, Myron is up against the dark side of his business where image and talent make you rich, but the truth can get you killed."

This book passed the time fine. It wasn't my favorite Harlan Coben book, but it still held my attention and had me wanting to know what happened in the story. If you like a mystery read, this might be up your alley. I gave it 3 stars.

No Way Back by Andrew Gross

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Goodreads Synopsis: "A chance meeting with a stranger in a hotel ends in a shocking murder. Wendy Gould is an average mom--and the only witness. Nanny Lauritzia Velez knows a shocking secret that could prove to be deadly. Both of their lives in danger, this unlikely pair must work together against a network of dangerous men who want nothing more than to see them dead."
I stumbled on this book because I was interested in another book by this author that had amazing reviews. I think this one was $1.99 on Amazon so I figured what the heck? I wasn't impressed at all. The story seemed really far fetched, I didn't really like the main character and it just didn't do much for me. I basically skimmed the last part of the book to finish it.
I gave this one 2 stars and wouldn't recommend it. (Keep reading for a rec from this author that I DID love, though!)

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

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The Goodreads synopsis is really long, but basically this is about a woman who has been married for a while, and her marriage is kind of on the rocks. When she chooses a work obligation over holidays with her family, tensions get higher between them. Her family goes off for the holidays, and Georgie (the main character) discovers a way to communicate with her husband from the past, when they were dating which makes her think about and re-evaluate their current relationship.
It sounds far-fetched (and yes, it is), but the story here was actually really cute and kept me interested. If you've read and liked other Rainbow Rowell books, you'll probably like this one. It's a quick and easy read and makes you think about relationships.
I gave this one 4 stars.

The One Man by Andrew Gross

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The Goodreads Synopsis (it's a long one, but good): "1944. Physics professor Alfred Mendl is separated from his family and sent to the men’s camp, where all of his belongings are tossed on a roaring fire. His books, his papers, his life’s work. The Nazis have no idea what they have just destroyed. And without that physical record, Alfred is one of only two people in the world with his particular knowledge. Knowledge that could start a war, or end it.

Nathan Blum works behind a desk at an intelligence office in Washington, DC, but he longs to contribute to the war effort in a more meaningful way, and he has a particular skill set the U.S. suddenly needs. Nathan is fluent in German and Polish, he is Semitic looking, and he proved his scrappiness at a young age when he escaped from the Polish ghetto. Now, the government wants him to take on the most dangerous assignment of his life: Nathan must sneak into Auschwitz, on a mission to find and escape with one man."

This was the original reason I'd looked into the other Andrew Gross book because this one had such good reviews. The story line was super intriguing and I've been into historical fiction since The Nightingale. This book did not disappoint! It was fast-paced, full of tension and drama, and kept me reading. It is intense!

If you love a good historical fiction, mixed with a thrill of a ride, I definitely recommend this one to you. Andrew Gross made up for the dud in No Way Back with this one!

I gave it 4.5 stars

Any must-reads to recommend for me??

What I've Been Reading

The new year has brought with it some pretty good reads for me, and I'm hoping to get more in before baby (and hopefully some after baby, too)!

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

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The Goodreads synopsis: 

"Allyson Healey's life is exactly like her suitcase—packed, planned, ordered. Then on the last day of her three-week post-graduation European tour, she meets Willem. A free-spirited, roving actor, Willem is everything she’s not, and when he invites her to abandon her plans and come to Paris with him, Allyson says yes. This uncharacteristic decision leads to a day of risk and romance, liberation and intimacy: 24 hours that will transform Allyson’s life."

This was a cute, easy, light read for me. It brings you back to when you were in that transition time between high school and going off to college. And then you add in Europe as the backdrop for much of the story and it made it that much more fun to read. This would be a perfect beach/pool read.

I gave it 3.5-4 stars

The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass Series, Prequel), by Sarah J. Maas

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Part of the Goodreads synopsis:

"Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan's most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin's Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. In these action-packed novellas - together in one edition for the first time - Celaena embarks on five daring missions. "

I have Kathleen to thank for this recommendation. I was worried about this being too much fantasy for my liking, but it wasn't. The mini stories kept me engaged and I really liked seeing how the main character develops. I haven't read any of the other books in the series yet, but I definitely plan to in the future.

I gave this one 4 stars.

Blood Defense, by Marcia Clark

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Part of the Goodreads synopsis:

"Samantha Brinkman, an ambitious, hard-charging Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, is struggling to make a name for herself and to drag her fledgling practice into the big leagues. Sam lands a high-profile double-murder case in which one of the victims is a beloved TV star—and the defendant is a decorated veteran LAPD detective. It promises to be exactly the kind of media sensation that would establish her as a heavy hitter in the world of criminal law."

I'd read another of Marcia Clark's books and I'll be honest, I liked the other one better. This one wasn't bad, it just wasn't as good as the last one I feel. As usual, there are lots of moving parts in the story here, which made it fun to read and keep up with. It was an enjoyable read, though and definitely an easy one to breeze through.

I gave this one 3.5 stars

The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah

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The Goodreads synopsis:

"Despite their differences, sisters Vianne and Isabelle have always been close. Younger, bolder Isabelle lives in Paris while Vianne is content with life in the French countryside with her husband Antoine and their daughter. But when the Second World War strikes, Antoine is sent off to fight and Vianne finds herself isolated so Isabelle is sent by their father to help her. 

As the war progresses, the sisters' relationship and strength are tested. With life changing in unbelievably horrific ways, Vianne and Isabelle will find themselves facing frightening situations and responding in ways they never thought possible as bravery and resistance take different forms in each of their actions."

I'd seen this book in blogland for quite some time and just never got around to downloading it, or didn't feel in the right headspace to read a WW2 book. But after Katie raved about it, and I'd just finished a book, I figured why the heck not and boy I'm glad that I did. This book.....just everything. I loved everything about it. It is SO well written, and you totally engage with the main characters, especially the further you get into the book. What I liked most about this book was the perspectives of two women during WW2. Most WW2 books are about the front line, soldiers fighting, etc. This one was what it was like to be occupied by the Germans and I found it heartbreaking, but also so interesting.

If you haven't read this one yet, read it.

I gave this one 5 stars.

Right now I'm over halfway done with a book that's been super good too. Can't wait to share that one with you once I'm done, too!

Hoping your reading has been fruitful and fulfilling! :)

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!

Bookin' through October

I slowed down a little bit on my reading this month since a lot of my reading was about pregnancy and other things, but I still managed to finish two books!

Memories of Heaven by Wayne Dyer

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My mom gave me this one when I was having a particularly sad time, thinking about how I wish my dad was around for us to tell him about our pregnancy. And then my mom shared that, although it's not in the way I'd thought about and hoped for, that she was sure my dad had already met MG's and my little one, and that this book might help me feel that too.

It's a bunch of stories about children who mention their time before being born either being with God, picking out their family, or being with relatives that were deceased before the child was even born. 

I know that not everyone is religious, or even spiritual, but I'm definitely spiritual and this book, especially the first half just made me feel comforted that although my dad might not be here in the physical form, to hold and love on my baby, that I'm sure he did at some point. I'll be curious to see if our baby has any of these same stories to share with us. 

I gave this one 3.5 stars because I loved the beginning, and by the end it felt like a lot of the same stories over and over again. 

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

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This one I got from my friend Christy and was immediately intrigued when she raved about how good it was. 

The brief synopsis is A.J. Fikry is a bookstore owner and has gone through some hard times, and is hardened by the world. Two events happen to him that change his life forever.

I won't say anymore because I don't want to ruin it. But this book is sweet. It's about life, love, and if you like books, it has a very unique way of tying in books throughout this one. 

I gave it 4.5 stars and definitely recommend it for a good read! I think I read this one in about 2 days because I couldn't put it down.

Tears may have been shed while reading both books. Blame it on the quality of the books or the pregnancy hormones. Either way, I liked them both!

Hoping I can make it through a few more next month, but I was glad I found two feel-good books this month! 

Showin' You My Books

The last month I slowed down with reading a bit since I started work, but I still managed to get through 4 books!

Secret Lives by Diane Chamberlain

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This one was written in the early 90's, so when you read it, keep in mind when she talks about "word processor" just pretend she means "laptop". 

This is a story about an actress who goes back to her hometown in order to research more about her mother (a famous author) who was known as kind of a recluse. Along the way, she discovers some deep seeded family secrets. There's also a love story that has it's own complications, too.

I really enjoyed this book, and it was the second Diane Chamberlain book that I read, that convinced me that I really like this author.

I give this one 4 out of 5 stars.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child -Parts One and Two by J.K. Rowling

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I was incredibly excited when I saw that a new HP book was coming out, but then I saw some mixed reviews on this one and it got me wondering. My father-in-law gave me this one (he's the best) and I read it in about 1 day I think. You have to keep in mind that this is a play, so it doesn't read like a typical Harry Potter book does. There's not as much character development, and things/time skip around, much like they would in a play. I think I would have liked this better if I'd SEEN the play, rather than reading it. I gave it 3 stars since it was still enjoyable (mainly halfway through it got better), but it wasn't up to my expectations of a typical HP book.

Stepdog by Nicole Galland

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I got this one from my mom and was immediately intrigued since I love stories centered around animals, especially dogs (hello, Art of Racing in the Rain!). This story is about a guy who isn't a citizen, but gets into a relationship with a coworker, and subsequently inherits her dog as part of the relationship, which he's not thrilled about.

They get into some adventures with another character in the book (I won't give it away), and that part of the book kind of drags on for a bit too long, in my opinion. I also felt disconnected from the main character because he wasn't connected to the dog, and I just couldn't relate. 

The story was still interesting, but it definitely dragged towards the middle/end of the book. I gave it 3 stars.

Keeper of the Light (Kiss River #1) by Diane Chamberlain

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Another Diane Chamberlain book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I borrowed this one from my friend Trish (again--she's a good friend!) and I'm so glad that I did. It's another older book of Chamberlain's but the story is still good.

It starts off a bit slow, but picks up pretty quickly and soon you're really invested in the characters.

I'll give you the Goodreads synopsis, since I'm not really sure how to put it into words well:

"Dr. Olivia Simon is in the middle of treating a gunshot victim while on duty Christmas night when she realizes that the patient is Annie O'Neill, the woman with whom her husband, Paul, is in love. Despite Olivia's best efforts to save her, Annie dies in surgery. For Olivia, Paul and Annie's husband, Alec, life will never be the same."

This was the book that I was reading every night last week, and even while Bravo shows were on, because I wanted to find out what happened. I definitely recommend this one.

I gave it 4 stars.

That's all I got through this month. Hopefully I'll get into a few more good ones in the coming weeks!

Extra Extra Read All About It! {Books}

I'm back here again, with a bunch of good book recommendations for you! 

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I forgot to review this one last month, so I wanted to include it here. 
The general gist of the story is that the main character in this book, Emma, loses her husband in a plane crash. She deals with that loss and eventually moves on to find new love. And then she finds out that her husband wasn't dead after all....(I didn't ruin anything--that detail is in the synopsis on Goodreads)
The concept of this book really intrigued me. I love books that make me think "what if I was in that situation?" and this one definitely did that. I thought it was interesting how everything happened and resolves itself. This one gets 4 stars.

The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

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I love Liane Moriarty's books, and this was one of the last ones of hers that I hadn't read, but got thanks to my bestie. As in most of her other books, the story alternates between the two characters, Ellen and Saskia. I actually found the story really fascinating and loved that I could definitely 'hear' the different characters in the alternating chapters. 

I will say, I would not have been as calm about things as Ellen was throughout the entire book if my boyfriend/husband and I were being stalked by his ex, but I thought the story was good and kept me interested throughout. This one gets 4 stars from me, also.

The Other Half by Sarah Rayner

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This was another find off of my bestie's Kindle and I figured it would be a typical summer/beach read which is just what it was. Following the affair unfolding was interesting. I just didn't find myself really liking any of the characters. I definitely sympathized with the wife, and probably liked her most, but the husband was a total douche.

It was good for a nice pool/beach, easy read. I didn't expect literary genius from this, and it wasn't. But it still passed the time just fine. 3 stars for this.

The Things We Wish Were True by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

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I actually got this as one of the Kindle First books for the month of August. The book chapters alternated between multiple characters in this neighborhood, and each chapter gave way to a tiny bit more of each person's story. I liked reading and learning about all of the characters, but I felt like I was getting teased throughout the book with the eluding to everyone's secrets, without much new information, until EVERYTHING came apart seemingly at once, and then quickly resolved and wrapped up. I did enjoy reading the book and would recommend it for an easy, interesting read. I'd give this one 3.5 stars. Leaning towards 4 for enjoyment factor.

The Secret Life of CeeCeeWilkes by Diane Chamberlain

You have to just go with the plot of this story because it's somewhat unbelievable, but once the "big event" happens in the book, it was gripping. I kept reading to find out what happened next, watching the main character's life unfold, and in the end how it all kind of comes to a head. I read the majority of the book in a day and a half because I was so engrossed in it. After reading this book, I looked into other books by this author because I enjoyed it so much. 4.5 stars for me!

What books have you been reading?

Books for Days!

I've whipped through another 4 books since the last time I posted, and it just so happens to be Stephanie's link up, so I'm gonna share my most recent reads with ya!

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

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The Goodreads summary is really long, so I'll tell you that this book is about two sisters in their 30's, still dealing with the aftermath of the loss of their brother earlier in their lives. One sister is married with a kid, and the other sister is a school teacher, wanting a family. The book follows their relationship, and their own journeys.

I love Emily Giffin books. I will say that this one was ok for me. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. I ended the book feeling like not that much actually happened. I'll say I liked this story better than One and Only. I'd give this book 3 stars....maybe 3.5.

The Vacationers by Emma Straub

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The Goodreads synopsis is:
"For the Posts, a two-week trip to the Balearic island of Mallorca with their extended family and friends is a celebration: Franny and Jim are observing their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, and their daughter, Sylvia, has graduated from high school. The sunlit island, its mountains and beaches, its tapas and tennis courts, also promise an escape from the tensions simmering at home in Manhattan. But all does not go according to plan: over the course of the vacation, secrets come to light, old and new humiliations are experienced, childhood rivalries resurface, and ancient wounds are exacerbated."

I read this one thinking it would be fun to read while on vacation. It was probably my least favorite book that I've read this summer. The characters in the book aren't very likable. They all seem kind of spoiled and bratty. The only really redeeming part was the ending and the "moral of the story" if you will. 
Would I recommend this book? Maybe if you didn't have any other books to read, and you didn't pay for it. I originally rated it as 3 stars on Goodreads, mainly because of how it tied up at the end. But overall, the book was 2.5 stars for me.

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

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Part of the Goodreads Synopsis:
"After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season and shore leaves are granted every other year at best, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.... "

The rest of the story unfolds in some interesting ways.

I'd had this book on my to-read list for a while, and thanks to Christy for letting me borrow it, I was able to finally read it, and before the movie comes out!

I'll say the book started off very slowly in the beginning with some tedious descriptions about lighthouses, etc. But, once the story picks up, it was hard for me to put it down. It was definitely worth the read. I'm interested to see it on the big screen!

I give this one 4 stars only because of the slow start in the beginning. The book was beautifully written overall.

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

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The Goodreads Synopsis:

"Suppose your life sucks. A lot. Your husband has done a vanishing act, your teenage stepson is being bullied and your math whiz daughter has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you can’t afford to pay for. That’s Jess’s life in a nutshell—until an unexpected knight-in-shining-armor offers to rescue them. Only Jess’s knight turns out to be Geeky Ed, the obnoxious tech millionaire whose vacation home she happens to clean. But Ed has big problems of his own, and driving the dysfunctional family to the Math Olympiad feels like his first unselfish act in ages... maybe ever."

I love Jojo Moyes and I was excited to read another one of her books. I love the wide range of things that she writes about too, and this book was no exception. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book and watch the relationship unfold. It was a perfect read while I was at the beach!

I rated this book 4 stars.

That's what I've been reading lately! I'm reading another Liane Moriarty book now, hoping to read her new book, and maybe pack one more in before the school year starts! Any books that are must-reads?

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