2016 Book Stats

How many books read in 2016? – 47 with a few unfinished.  Just couldn’t get them done in time.

How many fiction and non fiction? Two memoirs (same as last year) and 45 fiction.

Male/Female author ratio? 21 female and 8 male.  About the same ratio as last year which was 25 women and 10 men.  I tried not to double count authors.

Favorite book read in 2016? According to my 5 start goodreads ratings Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter, The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom, The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel.  I’d agree with these.  They are the ones I was most likely to recommend afterwards as well. 

Least favorite? Probably Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell

Any that you simply couldn’t finish and why? None that were so bad that I couldn’t finish but I had to stop Shadow Tracer by Meg Gardner because it was giving me anxiety and I set down with intentions of finishing Ginny Gall and Rare Objects, just have a couple chapers left but moved on and forgot to go back. But I have the best intentions to finish them out ha.

How many books from the library? 15 which is up from 8 from last year!

How many books read did I purchase?  6 new this year all for book club, 1 I bought used from a book sale a few years go

How many were gifts? 2 were Christmas gifts from last year, some of the magic tree houses were gifts /hand me downs and the Ivy & Bean books were all gifts too.

How many borrowed from others? 0

How many were given to me for reviews? 5 of my finished ones were.  2 of my unfinished were, so 7 total.   

How many books read on kindle? Like last year I read a half book of a Linda Castillo novel on kindle and I think I read Wench on Kindle.  So 1 and a half.  I bought a ton of books this year that were cheap on Kindle but I just haven’t read any.  I definitely prefer reading a real book. 

Any re-reads? Nope

Which countries did you go to through the page in your year of reading? Italy, United States, Argentina, Canada, Thailand, Luxembourg, England, France, and Sweden.  There may have been more European countries involved but I can’t remember. 

Which book wouldn’t you have read without someone’s specific recommendation? Beat the Reaper and The Good Neighbors wasn’t on my radar until book club.

Which author did you read the most of? Adriana Trigiani and Mary Pope Osborne ha.  Followed by the authors of the IVY & Bean series I read to my daughter.

What was your best reading month? February and March I both read 6 books.  But it seemed I averaged around 5 books a month.  Except for when I didn’t ha.


What was your worst reading month? August and October I only finished the book club picks.

2016 Reading Goals - revisited...

1. Read 52 books. – 47.  Almost.
2. Complete the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge. – The thing about setting goals is you need to make a plan.  Kind of fell of this plan. Plus I wasn’t really interested in the topics this year.
3. Read more books that I own and continue donating. I donated two more bags of books that I can remember and sold some at a garage sale.  I think I read 2 books that had been on my shelf for awhile.
4. Post more on the blog.  – BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. WHOOPS. 

2017 Reading Goals (why I make these when we all know I don’t actually do work towards them)
1. Read 52 books.
2. Complete the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge.  It does appear more interesting to me this year.
3. Read more books that I own and continue donating.

How many books did you read this year? Did you complete your 2016 reading goals? What are your goals for 2017? Which author did you read the most of? What was your most recommended book? Any you couldn't finish?

Best Books Read in 2016

I've had a pretty decent year reading. Not that I did a good job of sharing it here! I haven't been IN LOVE with anything as this is the best book ever but I've read quite a few enjoyable books this year that I've recommended to others.  I was trying to think of my favorite pick and I just couldn't pick 1 that was the best thing ever this year. So without further ado, here are my picks out of what I've read this year no particular order..

The Boston Girl - Anita Diamant

This book is narrated by Addie who is telling her life story to her grand daughter.  It's a story of immigrants, coming of age and the way of life for young women coming up in Boston during the early 1900s.  The glimpses of how life was like kept me fascinated.  Hearing Addie tell her story in a no nonsense manner and how she came from sharing a bed in a tenement house to married to a lawyer and a professor is quite fascinating.  This was a book club pick.





Brava, Valentine - Adriana Trigiani

This is the second book in a three book series that focuses on Valentine Roncalli , her business adventures, her love adventures and her crazy family.  Sensing a theme here in my reading, this series is also a coming of age story.  I picked the second book to share my love for this series because this is the one I loved the most.  The first book is great and so is the final book, so go beginning to end! But the middle will keep you hooked. 

Station Eleven - Emily St. John Mandel

I had heard so much about this book but at first I was leery because I am not typically a dystopian reader.  But I've read a few lately and non have actually disappointed.  I suggested this as a book club pick and we all loved it.  It was actually a local pick for our library's community read awhile ago and I wish we had read it then because I believe the author actually came.

Anywhoo, this books premise is that the world has been infected by a horrible flu and almost everyone dies.  Those that don't are forced into a world with no electricity, no gas, nothing modern.  Thrown back into the world of survival, cults and danger everywhere.  It follows this rag tag group of actors who perform Shakespeare around the area formerly known as Michigan.  SO GOOD!

Good Neighbors - Ryan David Jahn

This book is loosely based off the Kitty Genovese murder in NY in the 1960s.  It is fascinating.  How many people heard/saw things of a brutal attack and murder of a neighbor and no one did anything.  They all assumed someone else would do something or had done something or that they shouldn't get involved.  This is a great book for discussion.  Also a book club pick.  We apparently had a stellar year of picks!

The Kitchen House - Kathleen Grissom

Also a book club pick! ;)

Description:  When a white servant girl violates the order of plantation society, she unleashes a tragedy that exposes the worst and best in the people she has come to call her family. Orphaned while onboard ship from Ireland, seven-year-old Lavinia arrives on the steps of a tobacco plantation where she is to live and work with the slaves of the kitchen house. Under the care of Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter, Lavinia becomes deeply bonded to her adopted family, though she is set apart from them by her white skin.

Eventually, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, where the master is absent and the mistress battles opium addiction. Lavinia finds herself perilously straddling two very different worlds. When she is forced to make a choice, loyalties are brought into question, dangerous truths are laid bare, and lives are put at risk

What are your favorite books of 2016? Did you read any great books with a book club that you think we might like to read this year? We are picking new books in March! 

Meal Plan

I am not as on the ball as I used to be with a monthly meal plan but I have gotten better at doing a weekly meal plan and sticking to it.  This summer we were a HOT MESS in this department but I swear the school year structures us so much better.  And plus since I am not the main chef during the week and we eat later  now that we ever have I've gotten to find the quickest and easiest week day meals.

Monday - Parmesan Pork Chops , Macaroni & Cheese and a Salad

This has become a family favorite and is so yummy.  We actually have never made them with lemon because we forgot to buy it the first time and it's so good without it we don't need it.  We've also discussed making this on chicken.  It is our favorite way to do pork chops for sure!

Tuesday - Tacos and Spanish Rice

Wednesday - Stuffed Broccoli and Cheese Chicken breasts with butter noodles and peaches

Thursday - Homemade Roasted Tomato Soup with Corn Muffins  We made a ton of this soup with tomatoes from our garden and froze it.  So yummy.  Honestly the only tomato soup I've ever liked!

Friday - Leftovers or if we don't have leftovers we are doing breakfast for dinner!

As a weekly meal plan bonus we made Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches on Sunday and they were soooo darn good!

For lunches I am planning on a lean cuisine meal, some salads and maybe soup.  My child will most likely have salami and cheese every day ha.

What's on your menu this week?

Last Week's Workouts

I have really been having a hard time (per usual) maintaining a workout program.  A friend and I were discussing the phrase "it's a lifestyle" and umm what if I don't want it to be a lifestyle but more so a chore that I am consistent with? Such as like how often I clear the counters in my house? That I can get behind.  And like working out, cleaning is also an area where I just don't have a schedule that's consistent, nor a house that is always clean.  So, yeah. 

However, whenever I can make a streak I do like to brag so here I am.  ;)

Monday -  33 minutes on the treadmill and then a mix of strength and core.  I'm most successful when I use the treadmill consistently.  It works for me.  But, I also get bored.  Probably because I also can't run forever and day or fast so it's a chore.  I started with a 3 and a half minute walk, jumped off the treadmill did 10 jumping jacks and then got on for another 3 minutes, hopped off and did squats and so on until I hit around 20 minutes.  I should also say I started super slow and then after I hopped of the treadmill I moved up the speed a tenth each time.  I bottom out at 3.8 and then go down to 3.5 and up again and so.  Also at 20 minutes I hopped off to do weights or calf raises every 2 minutes.  My main goal was to at least hit 10,000 steps on my fitbit and try to beat people that I was in fitbit challenges with.  I like competition ha.

Tuesday - Same story.  Did the time on the treadmill and hopped off to do some strength and core activities.  I had made a list of a bunch of them one other time so I just went down the list as I went.  It definitely kept things moving.  My memory is shot but I may have ran some today too. 

Wednesday -  I did 40 minutes and added some running today as well.  I switched every 2 minutes with increasing speed and then when I got to 20 minutes I walked a minute, ran 30 seconds and did that to 25 minutes.  When I got to 30 minutes I walked a minute, ran a minute and did that up to 35 minutes without hopping off to switch.

Thursday - 25 minutes on the treadmill.  This time I started running at 15 minutes and did 1 minute walk, 30 second run up to 20 minutes.  My legs were feeling the 4th day of working out and were super heavy.  So when I reach the steps I desired I cut short at 25 minutes.

 

Friday - I took a 15 minute walk during my lunch hour.  I found a neighborhood nearby that I can park in that is quiet and easily walkable.  I probably can get up to 30 minutes on a day that I packed a lunch.  Maybe even more just depends on timing!

Saturday - off

Sunday - 30 minute walk , it was beautiful outside so I went for a quick walk

This week I have plans for ore of the same, with increasing my speed and run time.  I made a list of strength/core/leg/butt/lifting moves to do in my hopping off the treadmill time.  But it definitely keeps me entertained.

Did you workout this week? Did you plan ahead or go with the flow?

Five Things Friday!

TGIF!!!!!!!!! I wish I had today off with my kiddo.  She and my dad are hitting up the zoo later today and I am jealous that I am stuck in the office.  Adulting is hard!!!

1.       I am so proud of myself! I’ve worked out 4 days this week!!! 4 days after I my kiddo to sleep I went downstairs and worked out! I did some intervals on the treadmill mixed in with strength and core exercises.  Last week I managed to put ON the workout clothes but THIS week I DID IT!!!! Thank you fitbit for the motivation, and Becky’s ridiculous steps to keep me on the treadmill when I wanted to quit but I also wanted to try to beat her.  Ha.  ;)

 

2.       Devil Food Cake donuts may be the best thing I discovered this week.  See also why I need to work out.  I can’t seem to eat healthy no matter the prepping I do ha.  But OMG these with coffee are the best things right now.

 

 

3.       Kindergarten is hard stuff.  My child is a nightmare.  She is so freaking tired and eats like we never feed her.  I know she is getting good food and snacks and I can’t possibly pack her more of a lunch because she has no extra time to eat more food.  But man.  We have severe emotional events on the daily because of lack of sleep or hunger or because I do not know the words to a dang made up song her teacher taught them about the month of October. I AM NOT A MAGICIAN.  Basically, she gets a nap every day that I can get one in her.  YOU GET A NAP. YOU GET A NAP. YOU GET A NAP.  

at least she's cute???

 

4.       We are planning on going up north to check out M-22’s Tunnel of Trees and I AM SO EXCITED.  We found a groupon for a resort hotel in Bellaire (near Short’s Brewing Company) woot woot and plan on hitting as many wineries as possible.  I am hoping to stop in Fishtown to show Isla the docks and just see the awesome beauty of northern Michigan in autumn! Before I want to curl up and cry for the next who knows how many months that winter will last.

 

5.       I really need to update stuff in my house.  I have been looking at house listings for houses near me and for houses up north where we hope to eventually by a vacation home and my carpet needs gone NOW.  And I need a new couch and a decision to be made on wall colors.  WHY IS THIS SO HARD??? My carpet and walls has been high priority since JANUARY 2015.  I just cannot commit.   I know I want a brown couch.  And brownish carpet.  Not all brown but a mixture.  I see it in pictures what I want but then I go to stores and just no.  Not what I want.  Then I kind of want to have the kitchen painted a dark color and that to extend to the dining area and that opens directly up to the living room so do I want that to be a light tan or what? Then I randomly like blue walls.  But will blue walls go with the furniture? The furniture that we have that is staying are brown shades.  AHHH.  I wish I could make decisions.  Or that my husband could.  For real some first world problems up in here.

What are your plans for the weekend? Reading anything good?

Currently

With the cooler weather and less time outdoors I am trying to get back into the blogging groove.  So what I love best.. Feel in the blanks!

Reading: Skip Tracer by Meg Gardiner - I am having a tough time with this.  It's giving me some anxiety and that's no Bueno.  In theory it's a genre I love but I don't know.  It might be because it has to do with a kid and people tracking her down that are not good.  Perhaps I should table it but I started it and now I need to get to the end.  I've been on a Lisa Gardner / Meg Gardiner kick this last month.

Loving: how excited my kiddo is to tell me all about her Kindergarten adventures each day. 

Frustrated: with being a working mom.

Thinking: about trying to get rid of crap from my house and how to best do it.  I want to sell some of my nicer clothes but I hate dealing with no shows.  And I just feel bad donating so much stuff that I could try to sell but I don't necessarily want to hold on to it until our next garage sale in May.  hmm

Feeling: cold.  I hate this weather change.

Anticipating: Bridesmaid dress shopping next month for my sister-in-laws wedding

Watching: The Voice.  We are so far behind in our tv viewing.  We didn't even catch up over the summer.  But this will be good since soon we will have lots of cold weekend days to fill with TV watching ha.

Working: on trying to volunteer more in the community.

Sad: that, people are still so racist, sexist and just so selfish

Grateful: for a healthy kid.

Listening:  I have so many podcasts that I am so far behind on.  Some favorites are Criminal, Mom & Dad are Fighting, Fake the Nation, Stuff Mom Never Told You, and Dear Sugar.

Wishing: that I could stay home.

What are you listening to, anticipating and reading?

The Devil Sent the Rain

You know when you pick up a book and it kick starts a reading frenzy? This book did that just when I needed it.

The Devil Sent the Rain by Lisa Turner is apparently the second book featuring Detective Billy Able.  It alludes to it but this can be a stand alone novel.

Description: The heart can be an assassin. Detective Billy Able knows that from experience.
Fresh from solving Memphis’ most sensational murder case, Homicide Detective Billy Able and his ambitious new partner Frankie Malone are called to a bizarre crime scene on the outskirts of town. A high society attorney has been murdered while dressed in a wedding gown. Billy is shocked to discover he has a very personal connection to the victim. When the attorney’s death exposes illegal practices at her family’s prestigious law firm, the scandal is enough to rock the southern city’s social world.

In a tale of the remnants of Old South aristocracy and entitlement, twisted by greed and vengeance, Billy must confront the secrets of his own past to have any chance at solving the murder of the girl he once knew. But as he seeks the truth, he’s drawn closer to an embittered killer bent on revenge—and eliminating the threat Billy poses.


This is a fast moving book with twists and turns.  You've got the messed up Southern family, eccentric family members and forbidden love.  Lies, twists, revenge, backstabbing, and a tad bit of crazy.  I loved it.  I will most likely be tracking down the first book when I'm at my next loss of what to read next.

This is great for those who like mysteries and thrillers.

Have you read any books by Lisa Turner? What is your favorite mystery author?

If you want to buy this book you can get it through HarperCollins! 

Getting to Know Me Through 17 Questions

1. What brings you the greatest joy? Being on the beach.  Hearing the waves.  Watching the sunset.   A book in hand.  A drink in the other.  Listen to my child laugh and splash and play.

2. What are your vices? Coffee, beer and chocolate.

3. What is on your nightstand? A picture of my daughter, a book I need to donate, Stitch Fix style cards.  It really needs to be cleaned.

4. Do you have a secret talent? None.

5. What is your greatest indulgence? Buying six packs of very expensive make your own craft beer and then sampling.  Or going out to eat far too often.

6. What should everyone try at least once in their life? Riding on a boat

7. What makes you laugh? My child, my husband, the male idiot running for President.

8. What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?  I am extremely socially awkward.

9. What is on your bucket list? Buying a lake house

10. What is on your feet right now? socks

11. How did you make your first dollar? Babysitting, but I made my first 10 cents getting my uncle a glass of water.  He always paid us 10 cents to do him favors ha.

12. What superstition do you believe in? Karma.

13. What items in your closet do you wear the most? right now my maxi skirts and tank tops

14. What is the best gift you’ve ever received? My grandma's rings, Garth Brooks tickets or my necklace that is a heart engraved with my daughters name.

15. What is on your liquor shelf? We have a lot of randoms.  But I know we have Jim Beam, whipped cream vodka, butter shots and vodka.

16. What is on your kitchen counter? Too much crap.  A bunch of garden vegetables we need to deal with, coffee pot, bowl of vegetables/fruits, box of camping stuff.. lots of crap.

17. What would you never leave home without? My phone and my wallet.

What is the best gift you've ever received? What is on your bucket list?

What I've Read Recenty

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

I really loved this book and read it for book club in June.  Lavinia is orphaned on her families voyage to America from Ireland.  The ship's captain takes her as an indentured servant and sells her brother to make up for the money her parents owed.  She lives and works in the kitchen house with the slaves.    Long story short things get messed up, and there is a heck of a story here.  Great read!

Me Before You - JoJo Moyes

I had gotten this book for Christmas in 2014 but hadn't read it yet.  It was the July pick for book club.  It was just eh to me.  And I called the story from the beginning and it just was blah to me.  I'd like to give some of her other books a chance but I'm unsure.

Description: Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick. What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane. Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that. What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

The Expats - Chris Pavone

I got this book Summer 2014 at my local library's Used Book Sale.  I am really trying to get through the books I own to make way for new books ha.  I haven't allowed myself to go to the used book sale in about a year.  This was a great spy thriller in that I read in a quick 24 hours while camping.

Description: Kate Moore is a working mother, struggling to make ends meet, to raise children, to keep a spark in her marriage . . . and to maintain an increasingly unbearable life-defining secret. So when her husband is offered a lucrative job in Luxembourg, she jumps at the chance to leave behind her double-life, to start anew.

She begins to reinvent herself as an expat, finding her way in a language she doesn’t speak, doing the housewifely things she’s never before done—play-dates and coffee mornings, daily cooking and unending laundry. Meanwhile, her husband works incessantly, doing a job Kate has never understood, for a banking client she’s not allowed to know. He’s becoming distant and evasive; she’s getting lonely and bored.

Then another American couple arrives. Kate soon becomes suspicious that these people are not who they claim to be, and terrified that her own past is catching up to her. So Kate begins to dig, to peel back the layers of deception that surround her. She discovers fake offices and shell corporations and a hidden gun; a mysterious farmhouse and numbered accounts with bewildering sums of money; a complex web of intrigue where no one is who they claim to be, and the most profound deceptions lurk beneath the most normal-looking of relationships; and a mind-boggling long-play con threatens her family, her marriage, and her life.

Tricky Twenty-Two - Janet Evanovich

I made a quick stop into the library this week and found a copy of the newest Janet Evanovich book so of course I had to read it. I'm fully committed to seeing this series through at this point.  However, it's getting lamer and lamer and I need some action to occur.  Hilarious as always!






What books have you read recently? Anything good? Anything you've had on your shelves for awhile?

Lately

Reading:  Me Before You by JoJo Moyes.  It’s for book club and it’s okay.  Not in love, not in hate.  Just okay.  I need to find something to sink my teeth in! We are going camping for 5 days soon and I want to bring some good reads with me!

Loving: more day light,  It’s amazing the motivation to do things after working all day when it’s warm and nice outside!

Thinking: about how crazy hour life will be soon when my baby starts Kindergarten!!!

 

 

Feeling:  unsettled and I don’t really know why.   

Anticipating: a wedding away with the hubs this weekend and then like I mentioned before our camping trip.  It’s going to be crazy getting ready for it.

Watching: the Blacklist.  We are almost all the way caught up finally.  We’ve been trying to do a show a night lately because we recorded so many shows this year and have so many to catch up on since apparently we do things other than just watch tv ha

Working: summer hours so that’s nice.  We get out at 3 on Friday’s but I really don’t feel like it helps any except for when we are leaving for the weekend and can get a head start.

Grateful:  that I am going to be able to adjust my hours at work this school year so I can drop the kiddo off at school every day before work.  Which means we do not have to pay for the before care program.  I was dreading that, not because it’s expensive, but because of the time I’d need to drop her I’d be paying someone to have her line up and wait.  So this is nice.

Listening:  to a ton of podcasts.  I have a problem.  Too many podcasts, not enough time.

Wishing: for a cleaning fairy!

What are you reading, listening to and watching lately?

All the Single Ladies

My obsession with books set in the South is nothing new here.  When I was given the opportunity to read Dorothea Benton Frank’s newest book, All the Single Ladies, I jumped on it! I LOVE HER books set in the South Carolina Lowcountry!

All the Single Ladies is about perseverance, love, doing what’s right and friendship.  With a lot of family drama thrown in!  If you are looking for a light hearted easy beach read, here you go! Perfect for the beach bag. 

Description: The perennial New York Times bestselling author returns with an emotionally resonant novel that illuminates the power of friendship in women’s lives, and is filled with her trademark wit, poignant and timely themes, sassy, flesh-and-blood characters, and the steamy Southern atmosphere and beauty of her beloved Carolina Lowcountry.

Few writers capture the complexities, pain, and joy of relationships—between friends, family members, husbands and wives, or lovers—as beloved New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank. In this charming, evocative, soul-touching novel, she once again takes us deep into the heart of the magical Lowcountry where three amazing middle-aged women are bonded by another amazing woman’s death.

Through their shared loss they forge a deep friendship, asking critical questions. Who was their friend and what did her life mean? Are they living the lives they imagined for themselves? Will they ever be able to afford to retire? How will they maximize their happiness? Security? Health? And ultimately, their own legacies?

A plan is conceived and unfurls with each turn of the tide during one sweltering summer on the Isle of Palms. Without ever fully realizing how close they were to the edge, they finally triumph amid laughter and maybe even newfound love.

Like her other books there is a light of great one liners.  I would love to rock on a porch swing with Dorothea and just listen to her talk.  I imagine she’s full of some good stories.  This is not a thinker, it’s fun quick and if you can imagine live as a single 50 something year old with some great gal pals it is perfect for you!  It may also test your feminist patience and your sense of IS THIS FOR REALSSSS.  Not my favorite by DBF but a great trip back to the lowcountry!

What author would you like to share an afternoon of porch rocking?

I received this book from TLC book tours but all thoughts and opinions are my own!

All the Single Ladies

My obsession with books set in the South is nothing new here.  When I was given the opportunity to read Dorothea Benton Frank’s newest book, All the Single Ladies, I jumped on it! I LOVE HER books set in the South Carolina Lowcountry!

All the Single Ladies is about perseverance, love, doing what’s right and friendship.  With a lot of family drama thrown in!  If you are looking for a light hearted easy beach read, here you go! Perfect for the beach bag. 

Description: The perennial New York Times bestselling author returns with an emotionally resonant novel that illuminates the power of friendship in women’s lives, and is filled with her trademark wit, poignant and timely themes, sassy, flesh-and-blood characters, and the steamy Southern atmosphere and beauty of her beloved Carolina Lowcountry.

Few writers capture the complexities, pain, and joy of relationships—between friends, family members, husbands and wives, or lovers—as beloved New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank. In this charming, evocative, soul-touching novel, she once again takes us deep into the heart of the magical Lowcountry where three amazing middle-aged women are bonded by another amazing woman’s death.

Through their shared loss they forge a deep friendship, asking critical questions. Who was their friend and what did her life mean? Are they living the lives they imagined for themselves? Will they ever be able to afford to retire? How will they maximize their happiness? Security? Health? And ultimately, their own legacies?

A plan is conceived and unfurls with each turn of the tide during one sweltering summer on the Isle of Palms. Without ever fully realizing how close they were to the edge, they finally triumph amid laughter and maybe even newfound love.

Like her other books there is a light of great one liners.  I would love to rock on a porch swing with Dorothea and just listen to her talk.  I imagine she’s full of some good stories.  This is not a thinker, it’s fun quick and if you can imagine live as a single 50 something year old with some great gal pals it is perfect for you!  It may also test your feminist patience and your sense of IS THIS FOR REALSSSS.  Not my favorite by DBF but a great trip back to the lowcountry!

What author would you like to share an afternoon of porch rocking?

I received this book from TLC book tours but all thoughts and opinions are my own!

The Bridge Ladies

I've enjoyed reading books about women who've lived through the 40-60s.  That generation is fascinating to me.  So close to mine but very different lives. The Bridge Ladies by Betsy Lerner is a non-fiction look at this generation through the eyes and voice of one of its daughters.

Description:  After a lifetime of defining herself against her mother’s Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell generation, Betsy Lerner, a poster child for the Sex-Drugs-and-Rock ’n’ Roll generation, finds herself back in her childhood home of New Haven, Connecticut, not five miles from the mother she spent a lifetime avoiding. When Roz needs help after surgery, it falls to Betsy to take care of her. She expected a week of tense civility; what she got instead were the Bridge Ladies. Impressed with their loyalty, she realized her generation was lacking. Facebook was great, but it wouldn’t deliver a pot roast.

Tentatively at first, Betsy becomes a regular fixture at her mother’s Monday Bridge Club. Before long, she braves the intimidating world of Bridge and comes under its spell. But it is through her friendships with the ladies that she is finally able face years of misunderstandings and family tragedy. The Bridge Ladies become a Greek chorus, a catalyst for change between mother and daughter.

By turns darkly funny and deeply moving, The Bridge Ladies brilliantly weaves the stories of the Bridge Ladies, along with those of Betsy and her mother across a lifetime of missed opportunities. The result is an unforgettable and profound journey into a hard-won—but never-too-late—bond between mother and daughter.

I really liked when Betsy went and visited the ladies and asked them questions outside of their Bridge gatherings.  They are all fascinating people and would reveal more when not around the others.  I also found it interesting how non-emotional/touchy feeling the group was, even after being together for so long.  However, I do think of my own grandmother and she was like this as well.  She had a group of friends she'd get together with often and for years and some that were closer than others but maybe only one of them she'd share personal stuff with, but how do I know?  It is interesting how we are more of a sharing age than ever before.

The book jumps from bridge games to interviews and is heavy on bridge.  My favorite parts were the interviews or conversations.  But, I also know nothing about Bridge.  I do recommend this.  It's a fast book that's about relationships and generational differences. 

How many non-fiction books have you read this year? Have you read anything recently that you'd recommend?

I received this book from TLC book tours but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Father's Day

I may be a sucker for a good emotion packed read.  Just from the first few words of the back cover, "At the age of six, a little girl named Harvey learns that her parents have died in a car accident."  I knew I had to try this book by Simon Van Booy out.

Description:
When devastating news shatters the life of six-year-old Harvey, she finds herself in the care of a veteran social worker, Wanda, and alone in the world save for one relative she has never met—a disabled felon, haunted by a violent past he can't escape.
Moving between past and present, Father’s Day weaves together the story of Harvey’s childhood on Long Island and her life as a young woman in Paris. Written in raw, spare prose that personifies the characters, this novel is the journey of two people searching for a future in the ruin of their past.
Father's Day is a meditation on the quiet, sublime power of compassion, and the beauty of simple, everyday things--a breakthrough work from one of our most gifted chroniclers of the human heart.

Harvey and Jason's story alternates between the past and the present, starting with Harvey's life before the accident that left her orphaned and then to present day Paris, Harvey has created a Father's Day box for Jason containing objects that stand for a vital moment in their lives. Each day Jason removes one of the gifts and opens it during their travels around Paris. The gifts then are followed with flashbacks explaining the significance to their relationship. All of the gifts lead up to mysterious revelation Harvey plans to make to her father on his last day visiting.

It's a fast paced book that quickly changes times.  A little long and a little sentimental.  You may or my not need some Kleenex.  Especially in the beginning.  Maybe.  You may or may not get aggravated a time or too.

Basically, a feel good story with a tinge of sadness but a heck of journey to get there. ;)

What do you think of naming a girl Harvey? What is your first impression about a disabled felon being allowed to adopt a 6 year old girl? Have you read any books by Simon Van Booy?

I received a review copy of this book from TLC Book Tours but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rare Objects

I love a book where you pick it up and next thing you know you are 100 pages in and you didn't even think you were reading that long! Rare Objects by Kathleen Tessaro quickly sucked me into the world of 1930s Boston.  Maeve is the only daughter of a long widowed Irish woman.  Her mother has instilled in her that she not everyone else and not 'common.'  With a desire to be more she leaves behind a boyfriend and her friends for a new adventure in New York.

Sadly, New York during the depression just wasn't what she had hoped and dreamed. Maeve got into a bad place and ended up in a psychiatric hospital and after her release she went home to Boston with a made up story and friendships to mend.  Boston wasn't doing much better in terms of jobs but Maeve works herself into a very interesting job where her past comes back.

This book was quick and fun.  I liked how it touches on fate and luck and different things that did and didn't happen and actions surrounding them.  If you are looking for a quick fun historical book this one would do it.  Perfect for a quick weekend read. 

Do you have a good luck charm? Any superstitions?

I received this book from TLC book tours but all thoughts and opinions are my own!

The Girl Who Stayed

I am a sucker for books set in South Carolina.  I devour books by Dorothea Benton Frank and have savored Pat Conroy tales.  I will try just about anything to get a little Charleston / Sullivan Island / Folly's Beach in my life.  Which is super strange since I have never been there but have planned many vacations there that have yet to happen.

Description: Zoe Rutherford wasn't sure what she was expecting when she returned to Sullivan's Island. The house on Sullivan's hadn't represented home to her in decades. It was the place where she endured her father's cruelty. It was the place where her mother closed herself off from the world. It was the place where her sister disappeared. But now that her parents are gone, Zoe needs to return to the house, to close it down and prepare it for sale. She intends to get this done as quickly as possible and get on with her life, even though that life seems clouded by her past, both distant and recent. But what she discovers when she gets there is far beyond her imagining and will change her in profound ways.

This book sounded like my kind of book.  And it started out that way.  It had mystery.  It had beach.  It had a potential for danger.  It had a learning to be yourself aspect.  There was beer.  And wine.  And grandma's who told Gullah stories.  And somewhere after the first couple of pages it started to just fall flat.

I was even okay with it being a feel good story and not that horrifying or awful in the mystery/suspense aspect until the second to last chapter, I believe.  Then I was just annoyed with the ending.  I felt I deserved a better ending for reading the book.

Also? I wanted to like the main character.  Really did.  The components were there.  But just fell flat.  I was disappointed because I really wanted to love it.  Like I said, it possessed all the things I love, it just didn't jive for me. 

About the Author:  Tanya Anne Crosby is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-five novels. She has been featured in magazines, such as People, Romantic Times and Publisher's Weekly, and her books have been translated into eight languages. Her first novel was published in 1992 by Avon Books, where Tanya was hailed as "one of Avon's fastest rising stars." Her fourth book was chosen to launch the company's Avon Romantic Treasure imprint. Known for stories charged with emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters, Tanya is an award-winning author, journalist, and editor, and her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. In 2013, she penned her first romantic suspense novel, Speak No Evil, which appeared on the USA Today list. The Girl Who Stayed brings her full circle to work with Lou Aronica, President and Publisher of The Story Plant, who first published Tanya at Avon Books. Tanya and her writer husband split their time between Charleston, SC, where she was raised, and northern Michigan, where the couple make their home.

Is there a certain geographical area that you are drawn to read about? What types of descriptions make you want to pick up a book? Have you been to Sullivan's Island?

I received a copy of this book from TLC tours.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.