June 27, 2014

I finally took The Goldfinch off of my currently reading list.  I haven’t even started it, and every time I look at the big brick of a book, I immediately start something more manageable.  

Currently Reading:         

• The Untold by Courtney Collins (received through LibraryThing)
• The Martian by Andy Weir (received through Blogging for Books)
• The Bookman’s Tale by Charlie Lovett (received through NetGalley)

Recent Reviews:

Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston (received through NetGalley)

5 stars

I finished this book and have spent a day thinking how to review it.  It was a fascinating and realistic portrayal of a family in upheaval.  Justin, the oldest child of the Campbells, went missing four years ago.  Each member has dealt with the tragedy in their own desperate way which is laid out in alternating perspectives.  When Justin unexpectedly returns, the family must figure out how to be a family while dealing with Justin’s mysterious past.  At times, this book is heartbreaking but each character is trying to do the best thing for their family and Justin.   This is one of the better books that I have read on the issue of child kidnapping that is both realistic and hopeful.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Secret Lives - June 23, 2014

Currently Reading:

• Goldfinch by Donna Tartt            
• Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
• Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston (received through NetGalley)

Recent Reviews:

The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames by Kai Bird (received through Goodreads)

5 stars

If you ever wanted the inside story of life as a spy, this book is about as good as they come.  Robert Ames worked for the CIA during an interesting turning point in Middle East politics.  He fostered controversial relationships with high-ranking Palestinians who were thought to be behind terrorist actions.  He had a better understanding of the Middle East than almost anyone else at the time and he struggled against higher powers with political motives.   The writer of this book was a one-time neighbor of Ames and his fascination with the man comes through, but I didn’t feel as if that got in the way of a well-rounded story.  The sources in this book are extensive and impressive and since it is extremely readable, I felt as if I learned a great deal about the situation surrounding the Palestinian’s and the United States’ role.  I would rank this as one of the best biographies that I have read and I highly recommend it.  I received this book through the Goodreads First Read program.

Never Been Kissed by Molly O’ Keefe

4 stars

Ashley Montgomery, member of the Georgia’s first family, is kidnapped by Somali pirates and held for ransom.  Brody is her former bodyguard and the man hired to bring her home which he does…to his home in Bishop, Aransas.  I haven’t read the other book in this series so this is my introduction to the town of Bishop but I really like it as a backdrop for a romance series.  The characters are all interesting and the romance is intense without being too melodramatic.  The dialogue was snappy and really funny and I liked that there was a side romance with Brody’s brother and a local chef. The only thing about this book that really bothered me was the cover on the e-book which really did not portray an accurate description of the book or the characters.  Fortunately, in an e-book you don’t have to look at the cover too often so I let it go.  Overall this is a great book and a promising series.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Summer Reading - June 21, 2014

Currently Reading:

• Goldfinch by Donna Tartt            
• The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames by Kai Bird (received through Goodreads)
• Never Been Kissed by Molly O’ Keefe

Recent Reviews:

Wicked Temptation by Zoe Archer (received through NetGalley)
4 stars

I found myself in the mood for a good historical romance and this book ended up being completely perfect.  Marco is a spy and one of the founders of the do-gooder group Nemesis.  Bronnwyn is a recent widow and current recipient of Nemesis’s help in locating her lost money.  The romance is mixed in nicely with a dose of adventure and travel as they track down a dangerous gang.  Both characters are intelligent and they grow in nice ways as the story progresses.  This book had everything I want out of a historical romance.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Return from Fantasyland - June 19, 2014

I recently returned from a week-long vacation at Disney World with three small children.  To say I had no time to read is somewhat an understatement.  For the first time in probably forever, I did not pick up a single book or read a single line unless it described roller coaster rides and princess schedules.  Strangely, I found this to be a nice break.  Lately, I have been reading at a breakneck speed in order to keep up with reviewing books on time.  Now that I am hopelessly behind anyway, I plan to slow down the pace and enjoy the rest of the summer.  I hope that with this new outlook, reading will become a relaxing and meditative part of my day once again. 

Currently Reading:

• Goldfinch by Donna Tartt            
• The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames by Kai Bird (received through Goodreads)
• Wicked Temptation by Zoe Archer (received through NetGalley)

 
Recent Reviews:

Like No Other by Una LaMarche (received through the First to Read Program)

4 stars

Devorah and Jaxon live in the same neighborhood but in very different worlds.  Devorah’s Hasidic family is close knit but very insular in keeping with their traditions.  Meeting Jaxon opens her up to love and a whole new world of freedom and personal choice.  This book excels at setting up the very complicated issues that this couple deals with and really explores Devorah’s world and its confines.  Devorah and Jaxon are likable and intelligent characters who try to be good people and do the right thing.  Overall, it is a realistic portrayal of young love and culture clash and I enjoyed it to the end. 

 

Brutal Youth by Anthony Breznican

4 stars

This strangely fascinating novel follows several freshmen as they enter into their first years at St. Michael’s catholic school in the 1990’s.  The school is brutal (thus the title) and the freshmen are bullied relentlessly by upperclassman, teachers and school administrators.  It is amazing out of this dark material that the characters are still sympathetic.  The cycle of brutality at the school is to such an extent that no one really knows how to stop it, but only how to survive until it is all over.   While at times this book is overly distraught as no one in these students’ lives really stand up for them, it does tell depict and honest portrayal of how these situations repeat themselves.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Next Stop, Vacation - June 5, 2014

This is my last post before a week-long family vacation. There will be no beach reading for this momma of three but after a fun and energetic week I hope to be ready for some relaxing book time. 

Currently Reading:

• Goldfinch by Donna Tartt            
• Like No Other by Una LaMarche (received through the publisher)
• The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames by Kai Bird (received through Goodreads)
• Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston (received through NetGalley)

On Deck:

• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
• Colonel Roosevelt by Edmund Morris
• Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
• The Angry Years: The Rise and Fall of the Angry Young Men by Colin Wilson (received through NetGalley)

Recent Reviews:

The Three by Sarah Lotz (received through NetGalley)

4 stars

This is a very strange and fascinating book.  Four planes crash on the same day and the three children who miraculously survive become the poster children for a fundamentalist end-of-days movement.  I don’t want to go into too many details as part of the fun of this book is trying to guess just what is going on.  I thought the format which included interviews, transcripts and electronic messages was interesting and I read it all compulsively.  I am not sure all the details always made complete sense but overall, it was an enjoyable summer read.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Heavy Reading - June 4, 2014

Currently Reading:

• Goldfinch by Donna Tartt            
• Like No Other by Una LaMarche (received through the publisher)
• The Three by Sarah Lotz (received through NetGalley)
• The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames by Kai Bird (received through Goodreads)

On Deck:

• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
• Colonel Roosevelt by Edmund Morris
• Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
• The Angry Years: The Rise and Fall of the Angry Young Men by Colin Wilson (received through NetGalley)

Recent Reviews:

Natchez Burning by Greg Iles (received through the publisher)

4 stars

This book took so long for me to finish because I had to set parameters for reading it.  I couldn’t read it while eating because there were some very gruesome descriptions, I couldn’t read it right before bed because it was violent and disturbing and I could only read it for short periods before I needed a mental break.  That said, I thought it was extremely well written and the plot complex and fast moving.  Penn Cage is the Mayor of Natchez, Mississippi and when his physician father is arrested for murder he is forced to confront an ugly and complicated past including KKK members and crooked businessmen.  Even though it was hard to take at times due to the subject matter, it was definitely worth reading overall.  I received this novel from the publisher. 

 

Starstruck by Nicole Ciaccchella (received through NetGalley)

3 stars

The heroine of this book has gotten out of a bad marriage that involved intense emotional and verbal abuse.  She is now untrusting, broken and fearful of new relationships.  She also has a three year old son.  Jaron was her best friend until he couldn’t stand to watch her in the unhealthy relationship so he left her behind to pursue a career in Hollywood.  Now he is a famous actor back in his hometown to shoot a movie and he wants to rekindle their friendship and maybe something more.  I liked these two characters and the scenes between them were sweet and positive.  They were good people with baggage but they worked hard to be together even when it wasn’t easy.  The book lost momentum during the long and monotonous inner monologues while each character dissected every thought and feeling excessively.   However, I enjoyed reading about these characters and found myself rooting for them to end up together.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.