Book Reading Inn

Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang Review

2025-05-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Julie, a simple grocery store worker, leads an ordinary life. But her quiet existence is disrupted by a series of events that throw her into a world she never imagined.
As she delves deeper into the mystery of Chloe, she uncovers secrets that threaten her perception of her own life.
So many twists and turns you don’t see coming. Read this so fast, it was hard to put down. Highly recommend.

Synopsis:

In this razor-sharp, diabolical debut thriller, a young woman steps into her deceased twin’s influencer life, only to discover dark secrets hidden behind her social media façade.

Julie Chan has nothing. Her twin sister has everything. Except a pulse.

Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier with nothing to lose, finds herself thrust into the glamorous yet perilous world of her late twin sister, Chloe VanHuusen, a popular influencer. Separated at a young age, the identical twins were polar opposites and rarely spoke, except for one viral video that Chloe initiated (Finding My Long-Lost Twin And Buying Her A House #EMOTIONAL). When Julie discovers Chloe’s lifeless body under mysterious circumstances, she seizes the chance to live the life she’s always envied.

Transforming into Chloe is easier than expected. Julie effortlessly adopts Chloe’s luxurious influencer life, complete with designer clothes, a meticulous skincare routine, and millions of adoring followers. However, Julie soon realizes that Chloe’s seemingly picture-perfect life was anything but.

Haunted by Chloe’s untimely death and struggling to fit into the privileged influencer circle, Julie faces mounting challenges during a weeklong island retreat with Chloe’s exclusive group of influencer friends. As events spiral out of control, Julie uncovers the sinister forces that may have led to her sister’s demise and realizes she might be the next target.

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Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi Available now on Amazon

2025-03-11T15:17:00.000-07:00

Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First book i've read by this author and wow it did not disappoint. Claire seems to have this wonderful relationship with her boyfriend/ fiancee. It all seems normal except, when she decides to surprise him with lunch at his employment and finds out it was all a lie! Noah doesn't work there , but he goes to work every day. Her world goes upside down and she does not back down. She has to know, where is he? Why won't he answer her texts? Why won't he talk to her? Her friend Sukhi helps her to unweave this mystery. The ending is not what you think! Excellent book.

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Available now on Amazon here https://a.co/d/8521FZZ .

“In this taut psychological thriller, one woman’s desperate quest for answers reveals just how far she’s willing to go for love—or revenge. I devoured this book . . . utterly engrossing!”—Liv Constantine, New York Times bestselling author of The Next Mrs. Parrish

She’s been ghosted. But she won’t be forgotten.

Claire is excited to drop off a surprise workday lunch for her fiancé, Noah. It’s their anniversary, after all. But when the receptionist tells her that no one with Noah’s name works there, Claire thinks there must be a mistake.

Noah isn’t picking up her calls. Her texts go unanswered. It turns out Noah has a different life . . . one with a beautiful girlfriend, a beautiful house. Claire was never really in the picture.

Desperate to speak to Noah and convince him to return to their dream life, Claire plunges into a nightmarish journey of obsession that submerges her deeper into the murky waters of her own past—a past dominated by a manipulative mother who shattered her sense of self.

Will Claire break free from the ghosts that haunt her? Or will they become more costly than any of Noah’s lies?

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt: A Novel by Chelsea Iversen Review

2024-12-03T17:45:00.004-08:00

Get it here 👈

Harriet Hunt is completely alone. Her father disappeared months ago, leaving her to wander the halls of Sunnyside house, dwelling on a past she'd rather keep buried. She doesn't often venture beyond her front gate, instead relishing the feel of dirt under her fingernails and of soft moss beneath her feet. Consequently, she's been deemed a little too peculiar for popular Victorian society. This solitary life suits her fine, though – because, in her garden, magic awaits.

Harriet's garden is special. It's a wild place full of twisting ivy, vibrant plums, and a quiet power that buzzes like bees. Caring for this place, and keeping it from running rampant through the streets of her London suburb, is Harriet's purpose.

When suspicion for her father's disappearance falls on her, she marries a seemingly charming man, the first to see past her peculiarities, in order to protect herself. It's soon clear, however, that her new husband might be worse than her father and that she's integral to a dark plot created by the men around her. To free herself and discover the truth, she must learn to channel the power of her strange, magical garden.

At once enchantingly mesmerizing and fiercely feminist, perfect for fans of The Magician's Daughter and The Once and Future Witches, the vibrant world-building and sinister undertones of The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt make for the perfect modern fairytale about women taking control of their lives―with a little help from the magic within them.

Harriet Hunt is herself a peculiar person. Lovingly attending to her garden, something that is so part of her being, something she cherishes and looks forward to, even if people thought she was strange and different.

Harriet lived a traumatic life, abused at the hands of her father, her mother mysteriously missing.

My thoughts about the story. The story takes place in London, England I believe around 1800 to 1900 where women were not treated well. Harriet is poor and has mental issues, probably stemming from her abuse. I think the garden is a way she copes. When something is threatening her, the garden rises up "Stop it, she mouthed at the vines. They did not retreat. Instead she saw the ivy twisting and curling overhead, gathering momentum, Don't you dare." I wonder if the garden was really magical or if its her mental way of having a friend, someone to talk to and care for.

The story for me starts a little slow. A lot of talk about her childhood and her father and thoughts on finding her father. She has a dear friend Eunice who is her oldest and only friend who urges her to move to another town with her but Harriet needs to stay to look after her garden and find her father.

She eventually hires help and ends up being very close friends with her.

As the story goes on the abuse starts over. Just as her father abused her , so does her husband. I felt so sorry for Harriet, she is timid and child like and this man took advantage of her . The ending has an hea and hope for Harriets healing!

I’m giving 4 stars, its a little slow at the start but does pick up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark

Book of The Month by Jennifer Probst Review

2024-10-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst, discover Book of the Month…

She’s desperate for another bestseller… and she’ll go to any length to get it. Even if it means sacrificing her pride to chase the hottest bachelor in town and get him to break her heart…

Once the literary world’s golden girl, Aspen Lourde can’t seem to produce another successful book, and the pressure’s on to prove she’s not just a one-hit-wonder. But there’s a catch: her bestseller was a heartbreak hit, straight from her own love life disaster. Without any fresh romantic turmoil to fuel her pen, Aspen needs inspiration quick enough to create a book her agent can sell to her publisher. So she escapes for the summer to the Outer Banks with a plan to live a story worth writing.

Brick Babel is a romance novelist’s dream: a local heartthrob with a reputation as wild as the horses running free in the town. He’s everything Aspen needs for a muse kickstart—gorgeous, moody, and notoriously unattainable. His affairs are legendary in the small town, and every woman warns her off, including her sister.

Too bad a good heartbreak is exactly what she needs to meet her deadline.

But Brick refuses to play the game, rejecting all of her advances. When Aspen hears his tour company is on the verge of bankruptcy, she offers him a deal: fake a whirlwind summer romance, then ditch her, drama guaranteed.

Desperate to save his grandfather’s business, Brick agrees to the ridiculous deal. What starts as a contractual fling spirals out of control as lines blur and real feelings emerge. Brick’s falling hard, and Aspen’s rethinking her plot twist. The novel might be her ticket back to the top, but at what cost?

Because Aspen’s finally found her muse, but some stories may be too true to share.

Book of the Month isn’t just about finding love where you least expect it.
It’s about finding yourself in the pages of life’s unexpected chapters.

I LOVED this story!

Small Town romance ✔

Grumpy guy ✔

Dramady ✔

This has all the fun f eels .

A very popular, # 1 New York Times bestseller now has a major, stressful job of fulfilling one more contract, a third book to win over the hearts of the people and do what she did with her first bestseller.

The problem is, she's lost her mojo, she's in a funk and can't get out. So she decides to go to her sisters, get out of the city, out of her depressive life and take a break.

Her sister Sierra lives in a small, beach town. Everyone knows everyone. After having some much needed sister time, she decides what she needs to write that award winning book.

This is where the fun starts. In comes Brick, yes the name says it all. The love hate that starts winds up being a little more than they bargained for.

Not saying any more . Fun, steamy, did I say STEAMY?!! read. Love Aspens sister tho, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading Sierra's story!

10 stars! Thank you to Netgalley and Blue Box Press for this wonderful book.

Get it on Amazon today! HERE

Coming soon! Book Of The Month by Jennifer Probst

2024-09-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

Publication Date: October 22, 2024

From Goodreads:

From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst, discover Book of the Month…

She’s desperate for another bestseller… and she’ll go to any length to get it. Even if it means sacrificing her pride to chase the hottest bachelor in town and get him to break her heart…

Once the literary world’s golden girl, Aspen Lourde can’t seem to produce another successful book, and the pressure’s on to prove she’s not just a one-hit-wonder. But there’s a catch: her bestseller was a heartbreak hit, straight from her own love life disaster. Without any fresh romantic turmoil to fuel her pen, Aspen needs inspiration quick enough to create a book her agent can sell to her publisher. So she escapes for the summer to the Outer Banks with a plan to live a story worth writing.

Brick Babel is a romance novelist’s dream: a local heartthrob with a reputation as wild as the horses running free in the town. He’s everything Aspen needs for a muse kickstart—gorgeous, moody, and notoriously unattainable. His affairs are legendary in the small town, and every woman warns her off, including her sister.

Too bad a good heartbreak is exactly what she needs to meet her deadline.

But Brick refuses to play the game, rejecting all of her advances. When Aspen hears his tour company is on the verge of bankruptcy, she offers him a deal: fake a whirlwind summer romance, then ditch her, drama guaranteed.

Desperate to save his grandfather’s business, Brick agrees to the ridiculous deal. What starts as a contractual fling spirals out of control as lines blur and real feelings emerge. Brick’s falling hard, and Aspen’s rethinking her plot twist. The novel might be her ticket back to the top, but at what cost?

Because Aspen’s finally found her muse, but some stories may be too true to share.

Book of the Month isn’t just about finding love where you least expect it.
It’s about finding yourself in the pages of life’s unexpected chapters.

Amazon click HERE 👈

The Cemetery Spot by Jenna Moquin

2024-08-14T07:33:00.000-07:00

The Cemetery Spot by Jenna Moquin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a fast read. The twists kept me hooked all the way through. Told in alternating views, the story starts with sisters Ape (April) and Auggie (August) find themselves in a difficult predicament. After talking it through and coming up with a solution, they get to work on getting rid of the problem. What they don't expect is what happens and then the whole situation gets worse. In comes another problem and another view is told. I'm being vague since I don't want to spoil this story. Lots of twists and turns you don't see coming and the whole mysterious thing with Auggie, keeps you wanting to know what's going to happen. Highly recommend!

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Amazon 👉When April arrived at her sister’s house, she didn’t expect to find a dead man…

Auggie has stabbed her abusive husband, Roy. Afraid of the cops due to Roy’s ties with the police force, Auggie convinces April to help her get rid of the body. April agrees because she owes a debt to her sister and wants to keep her out of prison. The two sisters bury Roy in the woods, near an old cemetery.

But someone is watching.

As the investigation into Roy’s disappearance looms closer to the truth, the sisters don’t know who to trust—including each other. The bond that held them together all these years threatens to break. Blood isn’t thicker than water when a life sentence is on the line.

Will the sisters keep this secret buried forever? Or will they surrender to outside forces before destroying each other?

Get it HERE 👈

Currently Reading : The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iversen

2024-08-08T07:41:00.000-07:00

#ThePeculiarGardenofHarrietHunt #NetGalley

Get it on AMAZON Click HERE

True magic is found among the bluebells and brambles

But a woman alone in the world is vulnerable. Soon, a sinister plot involving her father's disappearance begins to take shape, with Harriet herself at its center. Everything she holds dear – from the thorny roses she tends to her very freedom itself – is at stake. To save herself, Harriet will have to unearth her past, discover the secrets of her garden, and finally embrace the wild magic inside of her.

REVIEW: What Does It Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella

2024-08-08T07:33:00.000-07:00

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Short Story of Eve, a successful author, her daily struggles of her life changing diagnosis. What struck me is no matter how hard, how insanely difficult it is to overcome , she still has a sense of humor. The little bits of silliness, turning a struggle into a funny situation. We get a glimpse of her internal struggles and the private break downs. This is not a story of fiction but an autobiography of Sophie Kinsella and her way of telling her own story. Hard to read but appreciate the way she told it. Highly recommend!

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Description:

From #1 bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, an unforgettable story—by turns heartbreaking and life-affirming—of a renowned novelist facing a devastating diagnosis and learning to live and love anew.

“The bravest book you’ll read all year.”—Jodi Picoult

“What Does It Feel Like? is fiction, but it is my most autobiographical work to date. Eve’s story is my story.”—Sophie Kinsella

Eve is a successful novelist who wakes up one day in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Her husband, never far from her side, explains that she has had an operation to remove the large, malignant tumor growing in her brain.

As Eve learns to walk, talk, and write again—and as she wrestles with her diagnosis, and how and when to explain it to her beloved children—she begins to recall what’s most important to her: long walks with her husband’s hand clasped firmly around her own, family game nights, and always buying that dress when she sees it.

Recounted in brief anecdotes, each one is an attempt to answer the type of impossible questions recognizable to anyone navigating the labyrinth of grief. This short, extraordinary novel is a celebration of life, shot through with warmth and humor—it will both break your heart and put it back together again.

“Why did I write such a personal book? I have always processed my life through writing. Hiding behind my fictional characters, I have always turned my own life into a narrative. It is my version of therapy, maybe. Writing is my happy place, and writing this book, although tough going at times, was immensely satisfying and therapeutic for me.”—Sophie Kinsella

“I laughed. And I cried. And then I thought about the meaning of life. It’s a little jewel of a book.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jojo Moyes

“A beautiful love story, and a glowing beacon of hope in the midst of terrible darkness.”—Bestselling author Jenny Colgan

👉Get it HERE on AMAZON

Free Printable Gnomes in Pink! with Gold stars for Planner stickers or Junk journalling, Cricut crafts

2024-08-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

Have fun!

Currently Reading: What Does It Feel Like? Sophie Kinsella

2024-07-31T13:42:00.000-07:00

Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 8, 2024

The Family Experiment by John Marrs -- 5 Stars!

2024-07-01T15:09:00.000-07:00

From the acclaimed author of The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and brilliant speculative thriller about families: real and virtual.

Some families are virtually perfect…

The world's population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, the breaking point has arrived. A growing number of people can no longer afford to start families, let alone raise them.

But for those desperate to experience parenthood, there is an alternative. For a monthly subscription fee, clients can create a virtual child from scratch who they can access via the metaverse and a VR headset. To launch this new initiative, the company behind Virtual Children has created a reality TV show called The Substitute. It will follow ten couples as they raise a virtual child from birth to the age of eighteen but in a condensed nine-month time period. The prize: the right to keep their virtual child, or risk it all for the chance of a real baby…

Set in the same universe as John Marrs's bestselling novel The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate Tamagotchi—a virtual baby.

REVIEW:

To what lengths would you go to have a baby? If you wanted a baby so badly, so passionately... how about, putting your whole life out there, in public, to be in a reality show to win a chance to have a baby!

This is the premise to this sci-fi, dystopian thriller- set in the futuristic virtual reality, desperate clients are chosen for the most anticipated virtual reality tv show. This story was hands down, my fav of 2024. Each client has this dark secret which made it so hard to put down. Had to keep turning the page to see who or what is going to happen next.
Another thing I loved is how the "audience chat" was included so you were really immersed from the tv show , producer, production level to the audience level.

Highly Recommend ! 5 Stars!

https://a.co/d/0cWaMah8 👉Find it on Amazon

The Housemaid Is Watching - The Housemaid #3 by Freida McFadden REVIEW 10 stars!

2024-06-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

COMING JUNE 11, 2024 The highly anticipated third story to The Housemaid series -- 📖

“You must be our new neighbors!” Mrs Lowell gushes and waves across the picket fence. I clutch my daughter’s hand and smile back: but the second Mrs Lowell sees my husband a strange expression crosses her face. In that moment I make a promise. We finally have a family home. My past is far, far behind us. And I’ll do anything to keep it that way…

I used to clean other people’s houses—now, I can’t believe this home is actually mine. The charming kitchen, the quiet cul-de-sac, the huge yard where my kids can play. My husband and I saved for years to give our children the life they deserve.

Even though I’m wary of our new neighbor Mrs Lowell, when she invites us over for dinner it’s our chance to make friends. Her maid opens the door wearing a white apron, her hair in a tight bun. I know exactly what it’s like to be in her shoes. But her cold stare gives me chills…

The Lowells’ maid isn’t the only strange thing on our street. I’m sure I see a shadowy figure watching us. My husband leaves the house late at night. And when I meet a woman who lives across the way, her words chill me to the bone: Be careful of your neighbors .

Did I make a terrible mistake moving my family here?

I thought I’d left my darkest secrets behind. But could this quiet suburban street be the most dangerous place of all?

REVIEW: ☆☆☆☆☆

And the award goes to : Freida McFadden for a third in a series of an outstanding psychological thriller book! How does she do it? The first chapter had me hooked, a little mystery, a little intrigue. Millie and her family have moves in to this cozy neighborhood, the house they bought at a price they couldn't refuse. As they are getting settled, they notice little things about their neighbors. Hmmm. Not giving anything away, as the book goes on, the nosy neighbor, is really getting on Millies nerve, she's having bad feelings about her neighbors, about the decision of moving...
Of course as I'm reading, I know "who did it" but, as Freida does, there is a twist you don't see coming. Another highly recommended book!

LINKS: AMAZON 👉 https://tinyurl.com/248dx363

GOODREADS 👉 https://shorturl.at/VmfCS

The Locked Doro by Freida McFadden

2023-09-28T16:43:00.002-07:00

The Nurse by Jenna Kernan Publication date October 2, 2023 5 stars!

2023-08-16T19:14:00.003-07:00

My Review:

OK wow! Phenomenal story. Right at the beginning, chapter 1, I was hooked. Very mysterious, with twists and turns you do not see coming. I had to keep turning pages to find out what would happen next. The story is, Emily , finished her nursing degree, answers to a job that is perfect for her. It pays very well and she has to get this job.

The job: to be the nurse of a women who has mental disabilities.

The woman is Sabrina, very wealthy and married to a very well known Psychiatrist, Dr. Roth. Dr Roth is very protective of his wife, he's so doting, loving and gentle. He just wants the best for her .

This job is demanding but Emily needs it so she will follow everything Dr Roth asks of her.

Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Highly recommend this one!

Thank you Netgalley for this awesome read!

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CBMMH4SB
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bookouture (October 2, 2023)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 2, 2023

“Can you start right away?” I can hear the desperation in Dr Roth’s voice. He’s longing for someone to look after his poor, sick wife Sabrina in their perfect Florida home. The job pays an awful lot. And I really need the money. As long as they don’t ask too many questions…

I spend my days by Sabrina’s side. She has everything money could buy – a luxurious home, a handsome, doting husband who would do anything for her. I hate cleaning up her mess, picking her designer clothes off the floor, and driving her to the golf club. I hate how she sneers at me, no matter what I do. But I have to remember why I’m really here.

Dr Roth has made it clear I have to make sure she takes her medication. Because if she doesn’t, there’s hell to pay. Three times a day, I count her sedative pills carefully. Sabrina rambles about the death of a child. About a terrible accident. Dr Roth shakes his head sadly. Delusions are a heartbreaking symptom of his wife’s illness, he says.

But when Dr Roth leaves the house, Sabrina becomes more clear-headed. She tells me she’s done something terrible. And that her husband is lying. He keeps her trapped because of what she did. And I’m the only one who can help her escape.

Can I believe the words of a woman suffering from delusions? Or is Dr Roth not as trustworthy as he seems? Someone is lying. And if the Roths find out why I’m really here, this could take a deadly turn…

An unbelievably gripping psychological thriller with a mind-blowing twist that will have you flipping the pages deep into the night. Fans of The Doctor’s Wife, The Perfect Marriage and The Surgeon won’t be able to put this down!

Get it------- >>> HERE

My review on GOODREADS

Currently Reading: The Nurse by Jenna Kernan

2023-08-10T19:27:00.001-07:00

PreOrder on Amazon :

Here

About Jenna: After writing thirty-five romances for traditional publishers, Jenna Kernan transitioned to thrillers and has since published four books with Bookouture. Her debut thriller, A Killer's Daughter, won the bronze medal in popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards in 2021 and her 2022 domestic thriller, The Ex-Wives, won the gold medal in the same category. Her thrillers are known for their intense, unsettling, and gripping plots with unexpected endings. Jenna's passion for writing began after reading a true survival story about a woman stranded alone in the Rockies during winter, which inspired her debut novel, Winter Woman, set for release as a special edition this fall, marking its 20th anniversary. Originally from the Catskill Mountains, Jenna now lives on Florida's west coast with her family.

Ward D by Freida McFadden (Goodreads Author)

2023-08-01T07:31:00.005-07:00

From Goodreads:

Medical student Amy Brenner is spending the night on a locked psychiatric ward.

Amy has been dreading her evening working on Ward D, the hospital’s inpatient mental health unit. There are very specific reasons why she never wanted to do this required overnight rotation. Reasons nobody can ever find out.

And as the hours tick by, Amy grows increasingly convinced something terrible is happening within these tightly secured walls. When patients and staff start to vanish without a trace, it becomes clear that everyone on the unit is in grave danger.

Amy’s worst nightmare was spending the night on Ward D.

And now she might never escape.

GenresThrillerMystery ThrillerAudiobookMysteryFictionSuspenseHorror

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 8, 2023

I very much enjoyed this story! Read it at night in bed, don't recommend doing that lol. This is an edge of your seat, psychological thriller!

The story keeps you interested , wanting to keep you reading to find out what is going on.

Amy is the main character. A medical student who is signed up to work the night shift in a psychiatric ward . Amy is scared, over the top frightened to work at the ward but she has no choice.

The story is told in alternating time periods, when she was a teenager and the present. I really enjoyed reading the past, which helped to understand the characters, Amy and her best friend Jade.

Not saying any more. I loved it and looking forward to reading more from this author!! 10 stars for me

https://www.amazon.com/Ward-D-gripping-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B0BXHSFMF4/ref=sr_1_5?qid=1690900340&refinements=p_27%3AFreida+McFadden&s=digital-text&sr=1-5

Book Spotlight: With One Stone by Mark Jenkins

2023-04-30T06:58:00.000-07:00

With One Stone by Mark Jenkins

How far is someone willing to go to keep her at the top?

Nina Travers is a number one bestselling author of psychological thrillers. That is, she was, before a series of tragedies knocked her off her perch, and her once picture-perfect life now sits in the dark shadows of a fallen career and crumbling marriage.

Sadly, Nina’s former spot on the charts has been snatched up by her competitors. But her family and friends are desperate to get her back at the top, where she belongs.

Desperate enough to lie.

Desperate enough to keep horrific secrets.

Desperate enough to kill.

As the bodies stack up one by one, Nina is terrified she may be to blame for these untimely deaths. But she’s even more terrified she may be next.

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 20, 2023

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/135762680-with-one-stone

First Book of 2018 Here We Go!

2018-01-01T11:47:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year ! 2018 promises to be an awesome year.

To kick off the year, Sheila over at Book Journey, has a yearly tradition, 1st Book Of The Year .

This is what she says:

Here is what First Book is. The first book of the New Year should be:

A. A coveted book that you have wanted to read but have just not found the time.

B. A delicious favorite… one you have read before, but crave to read again.

C. Really whatever you want it to – it is after all YOUR First Book Of the year.

Make it AWESOME.

My first book of the year is ..... drumroll please.........

The Man In The Black Suit by Sylvain Reynard

If you have never read a book by this author, waaahh??? GO GET IT!!! If you love a good, romantic love story, GO NOW!!

About this book:

Brazilian Acacia Santos excels at her job as concierge at the prestigious Hotel Victoire in Paris. When her senior colleague is attacked and sent to the hospital, she is tasked with serving one of the hotel’s most mysterious and attractive guests.

Nicholas Cassirer checks into the hotel under an assumed name every three months. Usually, he stays in the penthouse suite with a beautiful female companion but on this occasion, he arrives alone and is displeased in having to deal with someone new. A match of wits ensues as he tests Acacia’s expertise with a series of almost impossible demands. Her intelligence and creativity rise to the challenge, earning his respect.

They strike a tenuous accord until Acacia discovers a famous stolen painting in his suite. Compelled to report her discovery, she contacts a former boyfriend who works for the elite BRB, a unit of French law enforcement that deals with stolen art.

Nicholas is questioned by police and released when it is revealed the painting is a reproduction. Irked with her behavior, Acacia’s supervisor demotes her, threatening dismissal and the cancellation of her work permit.

But Acacia has already attracted Nicholas’s attention. Remorseful that she may lose her job on his account, he offers her a choice—she can wait until her supervisor dismisses her, or she can leave the city of lights behind and become his personal assistant.

Acacia initially refuses his offer, but Nicholas is persistent. He reveals himself as a man who quietly acquires stolen art in order to restore it to its rightful owners. Faced with mounting familial debts and the possibility of dismissal and deportation, she agrees to work for him.

Nicholas opens up a whole new world of beauty and intrigue to Acacia as they travel the globe. Soon the line between employer and assistant is blurred, and the two lonely people embark on a passionate relationship.

Secrets and danger abound as Nicholas and Acacia try to solve the mystery of a piece of stolen art. But Acacia may prove to be the most dangerous mystery of all.

Other books by Sylvain Reynard

Get Your Kids Signed Up For this Free Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge!

2015-05-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge™

is a free online reading program for children.
Join today and let’s set a new reading world record for summer 2015! (May 4 - Sept 4, 2015)
Grand Prize:

the schools with the most minutes read will win a visit from
Michael Northrop (top elementary school), and Varian Johnson (top middle school).

What is the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge?

Now in its 9th year, the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge is a free online/mobile reading program dedicated to stopping the “Summer Slide” by encouraging kids to read throughout the summer months when school is out.
Starting May 4, 2015, kids can log their reading minutes (online and on smartphones) as they Read for the World Record, enter sweepstakes to win fabulous prizes, and earn digital rewards when they complete weekly reading challenges. (Pre-Registration for educators begins on April 6, 2015.)
This year’s theme is "Power Up and Read," sponsored by ENERGIZER^®.
12 Scholastic authors will create our first-ever, collection of summer short stories that kids can “unlock” throughout the summer.
In 2014, Scholastic inspired more than 275,000 kids from 4,600 schools in all 50 States and 29 countriesto set a new record for summer reading of 304,749,681 minutes!

So How Do You Participate?

Follow this link: Summer Reading Challenge

Kids!

Read & log minutes all summer

Unlock stories & earn rewards

Help set a new reading
world record!

GO!

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Everyday Bento by Wendy Thorpe Copley

2015-04-25T16:40:00.000-07:00

Everyday Bento: 50 Cute and Yummy Lunches to Go
by Wendy Thorpe Copley

A fun, colorful book full of step by step instructions on how to create a Bento Box.

What is a Bento you ask?

ben·to

ˈbentō/

noun

a lacquered or decorated wooden Japanese lunchbox.
- a Japanese-style packed lunch, consisting of such items as rice, vegetables, and sashimi (raw fish with condiments).

Bento's Box lunches are a fun way to add a little art and

imagination to your meal. They can be very simple as in a salad and sandwich or very detailed with characters and cutting different shapes. What do they look like?

Everyday Bento shows detailed, colorful pictures of how to build your box.

It also gives you step by step instructions along with the recipe to make them.

At the beginning of the book, it gives you food ideas and also color ideas along with a list of tools that you can use to make your fun Bento Box!

The actual Bento Box can be found in Asian stores or online. You can also use the Rubbermaid or Glad containers you find in the grocery stores.

Kids love these fun meals. It encourages them to make them and to learn to eat healthy!

Oh and there is also a "grown up" section in the book to for grown up Bento ideas.

They can be very detailed and cute! I found these on Pinterest.

So if you're just getting started or you're interested in learning more, I highly recommend Everyday Bento to get you started to making fun, cute meals!

100 MILLION MINUTES! WOW GO KIDS!

2014-06-04T12:33:00.001-07:00

photo credit: Moonsub Shin Illustration

Can you believe the kids have read over 100 million minutes !!

That is so awesome.

This is what Scholastic says:

At approximately 4:15pm EST yesterday (June 3^rd), Scholastic’s free, annual summer reading initiative, Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, hit an epic milestone.

Kids have officially read 100 million minutes.!!

This beats the world record from 2012 (95,859,491 minutes). The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge aims to prevent the “summer slide” - or the learning losses a child experiences when he or she does not read over the summer months.

Here are some highlights!

HIGHLIGHTS:

· Free parent resources – a press release sent yesterday (link: bit.ly/1pCBP9c ) highlights access to booklists, expert advice and more

· Planetarium events - This year’s theme is “Reading Under the Stars.” Scholastic partnered with planetariums across the country with their museum sleepovers (e.g. The Smithsonian, Adler Planetarium (Chicago), California Academy of Sciences (San Francisco) and more) to get kids reading about science, STEM and more.

· Governor Spouses Show Support - To support the students in their states and encourage summer reading throughout America, many of the U.S. Governors and Governors’ Spouses are joining Scholastic as “Reading Ambassadors.”

Join in on the fun and head on over to Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge and sign up today! Its Free!

Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge! Sign up today.

2014-05-05T12:25:00.000-07:00

Exciting news about the Summer Reading Challenge !

We all know that kids reading all summer is a priority, but motivating kids to read all summer can be a challenge.

That’s why Scholastic is excited to announce the 8^th annual Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge – a free online reading program where kids can read what THEY want, and log their reading minutes to earn rewards and help set a new world record for summer reading. It is a fun and friendly competition among schools to see who can read the most – and the school that logs the most minutes at the end of the summer, wins a visit from bestselling authors: David Shannon (elementary school prize) and Gordon Korman (middle school prize).

Starting TODAY, parents and teachers can register their kids for the 2014 Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge at scholastic.com/summer.

To help parents prepare for summer, Scholastic is hosting a live Facebook Live Chat (via Scholastic Parents Facebook) moderated by Lori Ess (Scholastic) and Betsy Bird (New York Public Library), on Monday, May 5^th at 9 PM (ET), titled: “A Virtual Book Swap on Summer Reading.” Please help us make 2014 the biggest Summer Reading Challenge EVER by sharing with your readers.

And be sure to like us on Facebook:facebook.com/scholasticparents ! We’ll have free resources PLUS sweepstakes every Friday!

Thanks Scholastic for a fun challenge for the kids.

Outlander eNovella Is available now!!

2014-04-16T14:37:00.003-07:00

I just received an email about Diana Gabaldon's Novella The Space Between !!

Dear Reader,

Looking for a way to bide the time until Written In My Own Heart's Blood?

#1 New York Times bestselling author Diana Gabaldon returns to her Outlander universe in The Space Between, an irresistible novella brimming with adventure, history, and suspense—and available for the first time as a standalone eBook for only $1.99.

Joan MacKimmie is on her way to Paris to take up her vocation as a nun. Yet her decision is less a matter of faith than fear, for Joan is plagued by mysterious voices that speak of the future, and by visions that mark those about to die. The sanctuary of the nunnery promises respite from these unwanted visitations . . . or so she prays. Her chaperone is Michael Murray, a young widower who, though he still mourns the death of his wife, finds himself powerfully drawn to his charge. But when the time-traveling Comte St. Germain learns of Joan's presence in Paris, and of her link to Claire Fraser—La Dame Blanche—Murray is drawn into a battle whose stakes are not merely the life but the very soul of the Scotswoman who, without even trying, has won his heart.

Even better: This eNovella also features a preview of the forthcoming and much-anticipated Written in My Own Heart's Blood!

Pulitzer Prize fiction winner : Donna Tartt - The Goldfinch

2014-04-16T11:38:00.003-07:00

Congrats to Donna Tartt -Pulitzer Prize Winner

From Amazon:

Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his longing for his mother, he clings to the one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the underworld of art.

As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love-and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.

THE GOLDFINCH is a mesmerizing, tell-all-your-friends triumph, hailed by Stephen King as "a rarity that comes along perhaps half a dozen times per decade, a smartly written literary novel that connects with the heart as well as the mind." (New York Times Book Review)

Link to Pulitzer fiction list here

Donna Tart Facebook page

Back To School Reading Challenge

2013-07-29T20:40:00.003-07:00

August 1, 2013 - September 30, 2013

A fun challenge hosted by Joy's Book Blog ! Here's what she says about it:

August and September are a favorite time of year for me — back to school season! I love the early apples, store displays of school supplies, and my first sighting of a big yellow school bus. I would love to send each of you a bouquet of sharpened pencils. My reading orientation turns from the purely pleasurable beach book to another kind of pleasure: learning something new. To give myself and others a little structure during this transition, I’m starting the Back to School Reading Challenge and Wednesday Book Club to run during the months of August and September.

No one fails at the Back to School Reading Challenge, so choose a level that works to challenge you but not so much it causes stress. Here are the levels:

Freshman: 1-2 books
Sophomore: 3-4 books
Junior: 5-6 books
Senior: 7-8 books

Read books on one topic or eight different ones or anything in between. Fiction is fine. I’ve learned a lot of history from novels set in other times and a lot about other cultures from novels set in other places. As long as you’re reading the book to learn something new, it counts for the Back to School Reading Challenge.

A sign-up post is not required, but it does help spread the word. If you write one, link it below so we can all see who is playing. Feel free to grab the logo and to ask for suggestions for books in your categories of study.

There will be a new post each Wednesday in August and September with a link list for any discussions or reviews related to the Back to School Reading Challenge. On four Wednesdays, there will also be a Twitter Chat. More about that later. We may also do a read-along if there’s interest.

I signed up for the Sophomore challenge - 3-4 books.

What will you try?

Be sure to visit her page and sign up on Mr. Linkys widget.