Category: Books

I'm definitely a huge fan of author Tracey Garvis-Graves after reading her book “On the Island” a while back, I have made it a point to read all of her other books. “Cherish” is a novella to her book “Covet” that I read about a year ago.

Here's a bit about the book:

Fans of Covet by New York Times bestselling author Tracey Garvis Graves will be delighted by this novella-length sequel.

When Daniel Rush wakes up in the hospital after suffering a gunshot wound to the head, the last person he expects to see at his bedside is his ex-wife Jessica. Their marriage disintegrated after the death of their infant son Gabriel, and Daniel gave Jessie what he thought she wanted: the freedom to start over with someone else. But Daniel never updated his emergency contact information, and Jessie is the one who receives the call with the devastating news.

Daniel was Jessie’s one true love. Together since college, Jessie had dreams of raising a family with Daniel, and growing old together. When Gabriel died, Jessie buried those dreams with her beloved son and shut everyone out, including Daniel.

Daniel faces months of grueling rehabilitation and he’s going to need some help. Jessie is the last person anyone expects to volunteer, but this is her one chance to make amends, giving her and Daniel a shot at getting things right this time.

The road to recovery will be long and arduous. But with Jessie leading the way, Daniel just might be able to get his old life back.

Daniel knows how to covet. But can Jessie help him remember how to cherish?

*Please note that this is a novella-length sequel. Reading Covet before Cherish is highly recommended in order to enhance your reading pleasure.

I really love her novellas because it ties up a bunch of loose ends from the previous book. She does a great job of making you feel invested in the characters and eager to see how their stories continue.

If you haven't read one of her books yet, I highly recommend you do so. They are reasonably priced on Kindle. And her newest book comes out Monday, “Heart-Shaped Hack” and is set in Minneapolis.

There are more reviews to come. I'm behind in writing about the books I've read recently.

Happy reading, friends.

I havent read many books lately. Well, I haven’t finished many books lately. But I really want to get back to reading more because I am happier when I do. I started another book club with some friends after I moved and we meet virtually. It’s really fun and has kept me reading something other than perusing Facebook all day.

A couple months ago, our pick was The Devil in the White City. It was an interesting book. Here’s a little about it:

Author Erik Larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the book’s categorization to be sure that ‘The Devil in the White City’ is not, in fact, a highly imaginative novel. Larson tells the stories of two men: Daniel H. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fair’s construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor.

Burnham’s challenge was immense. In a short period of time, he was forced to overcome the death of his partner and numerous other obstacles to construct the famous “White City” around which the fair was built. His efforts to complete the project, and the fair’s incredible success, are skillfully related along with entertaining appearances by such notables as Buffalo Bill Cody, Susan B. Anthony, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison.

The activities of the sinister Dr. Holmes, who is believed to be responsible for scores of murders around the time of the fair, are equally remarkable. He devised and erected the World’s Fair Hotel, complete with crematorium and gas chamber, near the fairgrounds and used the event as well as his own charismatic personality to lure victims.

I’ll admit, when I started reading, I expected a lot more about the murders and crazy antics. Then when half (or more) of the book was actually dedicated to the history behind it all, I skimmed that and skipped to the chapters about the crazy guy.

Overall, it was interesting, but I didn’t enjoy all the history. It’s just not my thing. I think the title was a little misleading because I expected it to be all about the devil in the city. I did like that a lot of the story was based on facts. That always makes something like this a bit creepier.

Have you read any books recently that you had high hopes for and it just didn’t live up to what you expected?

Happy reading!

A while back, a friend told me to download Larger Than Life when it was free on Amazon because she knew I liked Jodi Picoult. I recently finished reading it and found out it was a prequel to one of her new books, Leaving Time. Then I found out there was another short story about some backstory to “Leaving Time” called Where There’s Smoke and thought I should read that, too since it was free. Here’s a little about them:

Larger Than Life:

A researcher studying memory in elephants, Alice is fascinated by the bonds between mother and calf—the mother’s powerful protective instincts and her newborn’s unwavering loyalty. Living on a game reserve in Botswana, Alice is able to view the animals in their natural habitat—while following an important rule: She must only observe and never interfere. Then she finds an orphaned young elephant in the bush and cannot bear to leave the helpless baby behind. Thinking back on her own childhood, and on her shifting relationship with her mother, Alice risks her career to care for the calf. Yet what she comes to understand is the depth of a parent’s love.

Where There’s Smoke:

Even as a child, Serenity Jones knew she possessed unusual psychic gifts. Now, decades later, she’s an acclaimed medium and host of her own widely viewed TV show, where she delivers messages to the living from loved ones who have passed. Lately, though, her efforts to boost ratings and garner fame have compromised her clairvoyant instincts. When Serenity books a young war widow to appear as a guest, the episode quickly unravels, stirring up a troubling controversy. And as she tries to undo the damage—to both her reputation and her show—Serenity finds that pride comes at a high price.

Both were really good stories and I couldn’t put them down. I read the second one before bed thinking I would just start it. I always get engrossed in Picoult’s books. I liked having a bit of a backstory to one of her novels. I know I am going to have to read that one now since I read these two books.

They were both really short, so if you’re looking for a fast read and like Jodi Picoult, I definitely think you should read them. And if you have already read “Leaving Time”, let me know what you thought of it!

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon was the pick for my book club this month. We chose it because our city does a program called “OneBook, OneRosemount” where the pick a book for all ages and then have the author come speak. They only do this once every other year. Here is a bit about the book:

In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life’s questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family’s fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.

Overall it was a cute story. It was written for about 6th grade, so it wasn’t a challenging read. But it was a good story with a good message. I didn’t go to hear the author speak, but a friend of mine said she had heard her before and she was inspirational and interesting to listen to.

I’m not really going to recommend this because it was a book for such young readers, but if you have kids, this might be a good book to read along with them. I know a friend of mine had planned to do that with her daughter.

Happy reading!

This was our September book for book club. (We haven’t met to discuss the book yet. We meet on Monday.) First, I’ll give you the synopsis, then I’ll tell you my thoughts.

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?”

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly!

In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

Ok, now on to my thoughts. First, I loved “The Office,” but Mindy’s character was my least favorite. I always found her annoying. I know that she is not the same person in real life, but my perception of her was tainted. I have even tried watching her new show “The Mindy Project”, but found that to be equally as awful as her Office character. So I went into this book not liking her all that much.

On top of that, I have read a couple of choppy books lately. I don’t like that there isn’t much of a story or purpose to the book other than a big fat brain dump. It seems like there are way too many people out there who want to write a book about their lives/thoughts. Just not really what I am into right now.

I don’t seem care for books in the humor/comedy genre either. I must have a strange sense of humor or something, but I just don’t usually find them all that funny. I must be weird or something. Other people love them or laugh hysterically at them. I tend to roll my eyes. Weird, I know.

Also, I’ve been having a hard time being really excited about a book. I think I need to read a few mindless books (or Game of Thrones because Chuck keeps telling me I should read those).

Overall, I didn’t care for the book. That being said, I may not have given it a fair chance considering I went into it not wanting to read it and not being a huge fan of hers. Other people I have talked to have liked the book and thought it was funny. So, if you like her, her shows or comedy/humor books, you may enjoy this one. It just really wasn’t for me.

Happy reading!

For our August Book Club book, we chose Bread and Wine. We decided to try a new genre with food and I think it was a good choice…something a little different. Here’s a bit about the book:

As a follow up to her two bestselling books, Bittersweet and Cold Tangerines, author and blogger Shauna Niequist returns with the perfect read for those who love food and value the community and connection of family and friends around the table.

Bread & Wine is a collection of essays about family relationships, friendships, and the meals that bring us together. This mix of Anne Lamott and Barefoot Contessa is a funny, honest, and vulnerable spiritual memoir. Bread & Wine is a celebration of food shared, reminding readers of the joy found in a life around the table. It’s about the ways God teaches and nourishes people as they nourish the people around them. It’s about hunger, both physical and otherwise, and the connections between the two.

With wonderful recipes included, from Bacon-Wrapped Dates to Mango Chicken Curry to Blueberry Crisp, readers will be able to recreate the comforting and satisfying meals that come to life in Bread & Wine.

I had actually heard about this book from a woman in MOPS. She raved about it and gave a copy away as a prize. I actually enjoyed the book. I thought I might not like it because I feel like I’ve been reading choppy books lately…books with a bunch of random information thrown into a book, not always with any sort of point, order, etc.

I think part of what I liked is that she made it important to eat with friends and family. It’s something we do with the girls, all sit and have dinner together. It was important in my family growing up, too. And I liked that most chapters ended with a yummy recipe. She’s not a fancy chef, but learned some new meals and techniques and likes to play and experiment with food.

I wasn’t sure what to expect since I knew there were some religious references, especially at the beginning, but that didn’t end up being a major trend in the book. Some of the revelations she had from meals or events really struck a chord with me. I recall thinking a couple times “I really needed to read that right now.” So although I couldn’t relate to all of the content, I came away really liking the book and enjoyed it a lot.

If you are looking for a good book with a wide variety of topics with a focus on family, food, entertaining and gatherings, give this book a try. I think this is a book I would like to reread one day because I feel like I could get even more out of it.

Happy reading!

Hollow City is another fabulous book. I read the first book in the series, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and loved it. So I was really excited for this one to come out. Here’s a little about the book:

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was the surprise best seller of 2011—an unprecedented mix of YA fantasy and vintage photography that enthralled readers and critics alike. Publishers Weekly called it “an enjoyable, eccentric read, distinguished by well-developed characters, a believable Welsh setting, and some very creepy monsters.”

This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.

Complete with dozens of newly discovered (and thoroughly mesmerizing) vintage photographs, this new adventure will delight readers of all ages.

I really liked this one, but found it a little confusing at times. There was a lot of time travel and it was hard to keep track of what time they were in. The story was fun and exciting and whimsical, just like the first book. You got to know the characters a bit better and my favorite part about both of these books are the photos that are incorporated throughout the book. It’s a fun addition to an already entertaining book.

Overall, if you liked the first book, definitely read this one. And if you haven’t read the first one, I highly recommend reading it. Everyone I have talked to that has read it has loved it, too.

Happy reading!

First, I love the show True Blood. Second, I was having a terrible time getting through my current book club book, To the Moon and Timbuktu (which I still haven’t finished and we are meeting tonight), so I decided to start a new book. I could get this book from the library right away, so I thought I’d give it a go. Here’s a synopsis if you haven’t read the books or seen the show:

Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out….

Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn’t such a bright idea.

There’s a lot more that happens and the first book was the whole first season of the show. Normally I don’t like reading books where I have a face to put with the characters, but since I love the show and the people they have casted for the roles, I was fine with it. I didn’t remember some of the things that had happened in this book because it was so long ago since the first season of the show aired.

Overall it was a quick read and a fun read at that. I have already downloaded the second book to read until my book club book for August becomes available. I definitely liked this more than I liked the first book in the Twilight series.  So if you want characters that aren’t just vampires and werewolves, but like the vampire-type books, you should check this one out.

Happy reading!

I finished Divergent a couple weeks ago. I was really excited for it because I liked some of the other young adult trilogies in the same genre (The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner) but for some reason I was having a terrible time getting through this one. It could have been because I had just finished the final book in The Maze Runner series or it could have been because I was in another reading slump. First, here’s a summary:

One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior’s society is divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she’s determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.

I thought the majority of the book went pretty slowly (again, possibly due to my reading slump), but by the end of the book, I was very intrigued and really excited to read the next book (which I will admit I haven’t started yet because I have had other books that needed to be read). Overall, it was an interesting idea and I will read the other books in the trilogy. I just need a little time to recover from young adult thriller trilogies first.

I have heard that it was a pretty good movie. I will probably watch it at some point since I have read the book and like watching movies that go with books.

Have you read this one? Finished reading the series? Seen the movie?

Happy reading!