Books Etc.

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer TBR List

2013-06-18T12:50:00.000-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

Ah, summer. It's almost here! For a lot of people summer means a lot more reading time. It used to be that way for me, too. When you're in university it's hard to find time to read for pleasure so once summer hit, I tried to fit in as much reading as possible. Now summer means a ton of great books to read. There are some amazing books being released this summer, or have been released in the last month or so. Instead of picking all new books for this list, I've actually compiled my current TBR list - it's literally my summer reading list. Have you read any of these ones yet?

Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating this week!

The Moon and More - Sarah Dessen
As Dessen is one of my favourite authors, this was one of the two books I was most looking forward to this summer (the other was Hidden by Catherine McKenzie and I finished - and loved - that one last weekend). I've actually had this since pub day two weeks ago and I STILL HAVEN'T READ IT. Madness.

The Devil Wears Prada/Revenge Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger
Confession: I haven't actually read the first book. Loved the movie, own the book but haven't found time to read it. I bought the new sequel because: 1. I own book one. 2. I had a gift card. 3. It was on sale for only $15 online. 4. There was free shipping. How could I turn that down??

Crazy Rich Asians - Kevin Kwan
I've been hearing about this book since my internship at Random House Canada earlier this yaer and thought it sounded like a lot of fun. It didn't hurt that everyone who had read it was raving about it. I was actually able to see Kwan, briefly, in the hallway at RHC and get introduced. Fun! And that cover is just so sparkly! Who doesn't love sparkles?

Trains and Lovers - Alexander McCall Smith
This is another one that I was alerted to by my internship. I've never read any of Smith's books but this one intrigued me.

The Search Angel - Tish Cohen
I just got this one in the mail yesterday from HarperCollins Canada after being asked to review it. I think it's a really interesting premise - a search angel is someone who looks for the birth parent(s) of an adopted child - and I've only heard good things about Cohen's work.

The Painted Girls - Cathy Marie Buchanan
I can't believe I STILL haven't read this one. I won a copy in a huge giveaway months ago, received a personalized and signed copy, aaaaand it's still sitting on my shelf. Will have to rectify that soon.

The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion
This is the one book on my list that I don't actually own but I do still have a little bit of gift card money left over from my birthday so I just might have to pick this one up. Once I finish the other nine books on this list!

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - Morgan Matson
Another rare YA book for me but I've heard so many good things about this one and it was staring at me in the face when I was at the library a few weeks ago so I thought I'd give it a shot. That reminds me. I should check the due date...

Lost Without You - Heather Thurmeier
This is the third and final book in a series that I've been loving. It's an awesome romance trilogy with a really cool twist: each story takes place during a different reality TV show. The first was a Bachelor-esque type show, the second was similar to The Amazing Race, and this one...actually, I'm not sure what show it's supposed to be. But I'm really looking forward to reading Zoey's story as she was what you would call a massive bitch in the first two books!

Girls in White Dresses - Jennifer Close
I've had this one on my shelf since last May and that's why it's my next pick for my Taking It Off the Shelf series I started. I also have a copy of her latest that I want to read but I want to read this one first.

Excerpt: The Rockin' Chair

2013-06-18T07:51:00.000-04:00

Earlier this year I read Steven Manchester's novel Twelve Months. It was a nice read (full review is here) so when he asked me to feature his new novel, The Rockin' Chair, I agreed to share an excerpt on the blog. The book is released today so if you like what you read you can now purchase the novel. Enjoy!

It was a bitterly cold Saturday morning when friends from far and wide came to pay their respects. Everyone who knew Alice adored her and equally loved her grieving husband. The McCarthy’s tiny field of granite was filled with mourners. As the preacher spoke, an eerie silence filled the frozen air.

“The Lord blessed each of our lives with the gift of knowing and loving Alice. Now He has taken her home to be with Him. Those who remember her, who loved her, walk with heavy hearts today, but we must also remember that Alice has been freed from the heavy chains of this world. She now walks with the Lord and shall dwell peacefully within His house for all eternity. Until the day we meet again...”

The preacher’s kind words were carried on the icy wind and John listened carefully to each one. Amidst them, a thousand memories reminded him of why he felt such loss. A thousand more reminded him of the void that now filled the desolate chambers of his heart. He stood rigid, conscious not to sway, and nearly snickered when the pastor mentioned “forgiveness.”

While John fought back the tears that burned to be free, the preacher’s drone drifted and became distant. John tried comforting himself with his own thoughts, but the ache in his heart was worse than anything he’d ever imagined. I’m nothin’ without Alice by my side, he thought, and the pain made him want to join her.

The preacher continued to talk above the sniffles. John glanced down at the scarred earth where friends had dug the hole. Beside his parents, Alice’s pine casket was about to be committed. A roll of old burlap covered the hole, while a mound of dirt mixed with snow sat behind them. Interrupting his own prayer, John questioned the Lord. Why ain’t there another hole dug beside her, Father? It don’t make no sense. It ain’t natural for Alice to be layin’ here alone.

John understood the cycles of life and had always been as comfortable with death as he was with life, but putting Alice in the ground alone was a tough one. I got no purpose walkin’ this earth without my wife matchin’ every step. God, how I wish I was layin’ right there beside her in our eternal bed. He became entranced in the fantasy.

Shoulder-to-shoulder, Hank, Elle, Evan and Tara stood across the casket from the old man. In his most difficult hour, Grampa John needed to stand alone and they respected him for it.

Elle rubbed Hank’s back, comforting her husband and ignoring her own pain. She loved Alice too. In fact, for years she loved her like her own mother. Then, when the illness took hold and caused the kind woman to live more in the past than the present, Elle loved her like one of her own children. Either way, the depth of the love never changed. At the end, though—just before Alice passed on—Elle prayed for closure. Realizing the harshness of such hopes, she wanted an end to everyone’s suffering once and for all. It had nothing to do with loving her mother-in-law any less. It had to do with peace. Mercifully, the Lord finally answered her prayers.

Denying herself the permission to mourn just yet, she continued to rub Hank’s back and whisper things in his ear that only he could hear. There will be time for me to cry later, she decided.

Hank stared at the beautifully carved casket and played the same reel of his mother over and over in his mind. He remembered watching her slave away for years in the house. She washed clothes by hand, hung them out and warned Hank, “You best stay clear.” Most of the time, he minded her. She canned vegetables, never stopped cooking and was usually busy working on one of her quilts. She was non-stop. Her routine was no easier than Pa’s, only she was being monitored by the ghosts that watched from frames on the parlor walls.

She was also in charge of haircuts and what a treat they were. If Hank didn’t squirm and fuss, she’d rinse out the bowl when she was through hacking him up and fill it with a few scoops of cherry Jell-O. Hank loved rubbing the new fuzz at the back of his head, as he sucked the sweet slime through his teeth.

Ma was also the self-appointed boss of hygiene. Every Saturday for sure and sometimes once during the week—depending on how much dirt had accumulated—she’d draw him a bath. Hank loved that old porcelain tub. It was like climbing into a swimming pool, with lion’s claws holding up its weight. Ma would leave him be for awhile, then call out, “Cover up your privates. I’m comin’ in.” With strong hands, she’d wash his hair, all the while complaining, “I swear there’s more water on the floor than in the tub!”

He could still see her sneaking dinner up to his room when he was punished, never thinking any less of him for misbehaving; and the wedding ring—from her own finger—that she gave Elle at the breakfast table the morning after he and Elle had eloped. He would never forget the way she always found time to talk, or better yet—to listen; and the ways in which she showered his children with love. The list went on and so did the invisible projector in his head.

Hank struggled to stop it, but the movie kept playing and the emotions he fought to contain finally overwhelmed him. As Elle rubbed his back, telling him, “It’s okay, hon, let it out,” the dam burst wide open. Hank’s whimpers could be heard above them all. Although he was bawling like a child, his embarrassment was suddenly replaced by another truth. This was not a physical pain that he felt. It was his heart and it was breaking. It didn’t matter that he was weeping in front of people. It don’t matter what anyone thinks, he thought. There was great freedom in it.

Hank looked across the casket and noticed his father standing strong. “Pa’s mask is still set in place,” he mumbled under his breath. As Elle leaned in to hear what her husband was trying to say, he added, “I ain’t ever been no match for him but it don’t matter no more.” For the first time, Hank felt sorry for his father.

Evan listened to his father’s labored sighs and childlike sobs. Like a contagious disease passed on by the wind, to his surprise he could feel the man’s pain. With all the resentment he held toward his father, his heart still bled for him. Looking to his side, it amazed him how pain could be such a cohesive bond in bringing people closer together. The bottom line was—they were family. Beyond their differences and hard feelings, they shared a common love and the pain that came from losing it. He’d always thought of his father as being lazy—in a fearful sort of way. Now, he just felt bad for him. Evan realized that his love for his father was stronger than his own pride. He placed his hand upon his pa’s trembling shoulder. Allowing his own tears loose, his mind suddenly flashed Carley’s smiling face. His body shuddered at the unexpected picture, and he realized that the woman he thought was his soul mate had already become nothing more than a bad memory.

Tara huddled against her brother. As the pastor spoke, her thoughts jumped from Lila to Bryce to the possible reasons Georgey didn’t make it to the funeral. Her mind was everywhere and she felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. Her life was in complete shambles, but looking around she discovered that Evan had been right. She wasn’t alone. There was pain etched into every face. All I want is a drink, she thought. Her body craved it terribly. She looked across the casket and noticed Grampa John’s mouth moving. He’s whispering something to Grandma, she realized. That was it. She lost it.

Trapped in his own bitterness, anger and sorrow, John stared at his wife’s coffin. Suddenly, Alice’s bony finger nudged him hard in the back, causing goose bumps to cover his body. It’s her touch, he knew. I’d never miss it. The strong smell of lilac wafted in the air. She’s tryin’ to tell me somethin’.

As if he’d been blinded for days, his eyes reached across the casket and rested upon his family. He gasped at the sight of them. Quickly studying each face, for the first time he could see the pain—and it wasn’t only from grieving the loss of Alice. The entire family was broken. He could feel it as plain as Alice’s message on his back. They were all slumped over from the weight of the cross they each carried. How could I have been so blind? he thought, kicking himself for missing it. If there had been a second hole, he would have endured his own grief and buried their pain instead. His concern had already shifted.

John continued to study their eyes. It was clear. The very fabric of their lives had become stained and tattered. The look on the two young ones only confirmed John’s beliefs of the world beyond the mountains. Like a cruel dream grinder, it’s chewed ‘em up and spit ‘em out.

Their parents weren’t in any better shape. Hank could barely stand, while Elle neglected her own needs—as usual—and tended to him. John felt Hank’s pain and cringed over the doubts of being able to heal the one who needed it most. He shook his head. The quilt that Alice spent so many years on is unravelin’ at the seams, he thought. No wonder she kept pokin’ me until I opened my eyes. While my squaw struggled so hard to remember her own life, her family was all fightin’ to forget their own. He felt one more nudge in the back and grinned. “I know, Alice. I know,” he said aloud. Others glanced nervously at the outburst. John’s grin scared them more.

The preacher had just finished his sermon when John dropped to both knees and spoke to his wife. “I see now, squaw. Seems I still got some chores that need tendin’ to.” He placed his lips to the frozen casket and kissed her. “You’re right, as usual. There’s some mendin’ to be done. So leave the porch light on for me and I’ll be along when I’m through.” Standing slowly, he straightened out his back and steeled himself for the chores ahead of him. I still got a few more miles to go, he decided. And it looks like I’ll be travelin’ all the way to hell to reclaim these kids. It was time to take them back from the evils of society.

Review: Hidden

2013-06-17T07:26:00.000-04:00

Most readers look forward to many new books throughout the year but they usually have that one book they can't wait to get their hands on. For me, the book I was most looking forward to in 2013 was Hidden by Catherine McKenzie. I have read and loved Catherine's previous three novels and am constantly recommending them to others. I was curious to see if her fourth novel lived up to my expectations...it did! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what would happen next in this fantastic novel.

Here's the synopsis:

When a married man suffers a sudden fatal accident, two women are shattered—his wife and someone else's—and past secrets, desires and regrets are brought to light.
While walking home from work one evening, Jeff Manning is struck by a car and killed. Not one but two women fall to pieces at the news: his wife, Claire, and his co-worker Tish. Reeling from her loss, Claire must comfort her grieving son and contend with funeral arrangements, well-meaning family members and the arrival of Jeff’s estranged brother—her ex-boyfriend—Tim.
With Tish’s co-workers in the dark about her connection to Jeff outside the workplace, she volunteers to attend the funeral on the company’s behalf, but only she knows the true risk of inserting herself into the wreckage of Jeff’s life. Told through the three voices of Jeff, Tish and Claire, Hidden explores the complexity of relationships, our personal choices and the responsibilities we have to the ones we love.

One of my favourite things about this novel was that it is told from three different perspectives - Jeff, Tish, and Claire. It's all told in first person and you'd think it'd get confusing but it doesn't. Though, I admit, it did take me until I was about three quarters into the novel before I realized what the (clever) indicator was: different font for the first few words in each chapter. I think it takes real talent to be able to keep each thread both separate and connected, and to know which scenes to repeat from different perspectives and which to only touch on once. I think McKenzie did a fabulous job of telling the story from each perspective and I loved reading the inner thoughts of each character.

I really wasn't sure how things were going to end up by the last page and I loved that. What makes this even better is that even when I thought everything was all sewn up, McKenzie threw in a little twist. Admittedly, I'm not sure if I particularly likes how it ended but I know that was the right way to conclude the story.

As with McKenzie's previous novels, she's given us some fabulous characters. They are in no way perfect (hello, this story deals with a possible affair) but that's what makes them so awesome. They're real and relatable and so much fun to read about (er, perhaps fun is the wrong word to use when one of the characters is actually dead...). Even with the potential of a couple of affairs, you'll still fall in love with the characters and want the very best for them.

Catherine McKenzie has, once again, delivered a fantastic novel. Hidden will definitely make my top ten favourites list for 2013 and will be another novel I push on everyone who is looking for a good book to read. Friends, prepare yourselves!

Check back on Wednesday when Catherine stops by with a great guest post!

*Thank you to The Savvy Reader for inviting me to take part in this tour. An ARC of this novel was provided by HarperCollins Canada in exchange for an honest review.*

CLP Blog Tours: Meeting Miss Mollie

2013-06-13T07:53:00.000-04:00

Today is my stop on the CLP Blog Tour for Di Jones' latest novel, Meeting Miss Mollie. I read Jones' debut novel, Transplanting Holly Oakwood, awhile back (check out my full review here if you missed it) and while I didn't loooove it, it entertained me and had me looking forward to this next book. Meeting Miss Mollie was cute and funny but I found it a little lacking.

Here's the synopsis:

She’s the Agony Aunt who has it all. Except for one small problem – her life is a disaster.
Annabelle is a hard nosed writer with a good marriage, a nice flat, a thriving career at Adorn magazine and a busy social life. She has only one ambition – to be the best known Agony Aunt in the UK.
When her world is turned upside down by her husband’s infidelity she strikes out on her own and goes flatting with a jet setting businessman. But things in her new house aren’t quite what they seem and her problems mount.
Through her ups and downs, Annabelle forges a relationship with the strangest of friends and discovers the best things in life are those she always avoided.

The thing that bugged me the most about this novel was that it was told from multiple perspectives. This is not normally a big deal for me but in the case of Meeting Miss Mollie, there were just too many characters. I can deal with three, at most. This one had the three main characters (including the dog, Mollie, which was actually quite cute), as well as Annabelle's boss, Christian's ex-fiancee, and Annabelle's dad (I feel like I'm missing one but I didn't write them down). It was a little much. Jones did do a good job of making sure most events were covered and there wasn't any duplication of scenes. However, I think the multiple perspectives thing lost a little something at the end because I have no idea what happened between the last scene and the epilogue (I think it was an epilogue...must start writing these things down...also, needing to check things like this is why paper books are better than ereaders). I don't want to give anything away but I needed way more links and connections than I was given. Instead of being happy for the ending, I was left scratching my head.

Enough negative talk. I did have fun reading this book. It was a fairly quick read, as I don't think it quite hit 200 pages, and it was easy to sink into over the course of a weekend afternoon. The story was cute and had a lot of elements that kept it from being too typical. The fact that Mollie got to narrate parts of the book and share her own thoughts was highly entertaining.

Finally, I have to say that I really like the covers for Jones' novels. They're bright and simple but really fitting for the story.

Overall, Meeting Miss Mollie was a nice read but it won't be making any favourite lists for me. That being said, I will keep an eye out for Di Jones' next work. Third time's the charm?

Happy reading :)

Review: Chocolate for Breakfast

2013-06-12T08:33:00.000-04:00

Imagine this: you have a book to read that quite a few people you know have been raving about. You're probably really looking forward to it, right? That was the case with me and Chocolate for Breakfast by Martha Reynolds. Taking a look at my Goodreads page, I could see that a handful of my friends had rated it at 4 or 5 stars. Excellent! I dove into the novel and...was disappointed. I wanted to like it but, unfortunately, it just didn't do much for me.

Here's the synopsis:

Young Bernie (Bernadette) Maguire is in for the journey of a lifetime when her junior year abroad takes her to Fribourg Switzerland. Ripe for love and adventure she is seduced by a handsome Swiss banker. She is horrified when she discovers she's pregnant. Protected and befriended by those who help to keep her secret for as long as possible, this moving rite-of-passage tale will warm the heart as a young woman struggles with an all-too-familiar dilemma. Yet after the unexpected death of her father, Bernie’s life takes some unexpected turns that will take decades to resolve.

One of the things that sort of threw me off was that the book takes place years ago (1978, maybe?). At first I wasn't sure why but once things got going and I realized where the story was headed, I knew that I would probably be put back in the present by the end of the book. It's not that I disliked the fact that it took place in the past. In all honesty, I have no idea why it threw me off.

Also, I have discovered this year that I really dislike books where the main character, usually a teen, gets pregnant. I understand that accidents happen and that's not as bad to read about, but in this case it was just a matter of Bernie being uninformed. I may have even called her stupid as I was reading the scene (not very nice of me, I know). This is a very personal opinion, I think, and everyone will not be as put off by it as I am.

Once Bernie realized she was pregnant, I was able to stop waiting for that to happen and try to enjoy the rest of the story. There were some nice parts to the book - she has a great best friend, Lisa, and I really liked reading the scenes that were just the two of them being typical college girls abroad. I was also happy that she had two adults to help her through a pretty rough time of her life. One was the program coordinator (I suppose that's what he was called) and the other was her doctor, who just happened to be dating said program coordinator. I desperately wished that things had turned out differently for Bernie and Timmy. I wasn't really a fan of how things ended up between them. Communication is key, people!

The final thing that sort of irked me about this book was the ending. The last section put us in present day and, for some unknown reason, into third person perspective. I have no idea why the viewpoint changed but it didn't help my already lacking connection with Bernie.

Overall, Chocolate for Breakfast just wasn't a winner for me. It seems like many others really enjoyed Martha Reynolds' novel (see the book's Goodreads page) so this could be purely a matter of personal taste. Have you read this one? What did you think?

*A copy of this novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Touring My Bookshelves: Shelves 2 and 3

2013-06-09T09:08:00.000-04:00

Time for another tour stop! About a month ago I showed you the large (and full) shelf that still resides at my mom's place. Today I'm showing you one of the large bookshelves I have at my own house. Someday I'll have enough space for all of my books in one place. Maybe in my next place!

This is my bookshelf in all of its glory. Complete with TV seasons on DVD, a few movies, and Tonks' cage beside it. Speaking of Tonks, the bookshelf now has her personal touches on it as she's nibbled the bottom right part of the shelf. Nothing like a few bunny chew marks on a bookshelf! I was OK with it (it's wood, it won't hurt her, and I'd rather her chew that than the trim on the wall) but the boyfriend was not as appreciative as he actually made this shelf back in high school. Ah well. We love the bunny too much to be too mad! In case you're curious, the TV shows include Gilmore Girls, Sex and the City, Bones, House, Glee, and The OC. The movies hanging out over there with the penguins, are my kiddy movies - Cinderella, The Baby-Sitters Club, Cars, Tangled, etc. - and Christmas movies - The Holiday, Love Actually, Polar Express, and so on.

These two shelves are full of books that I really want to read. I've had a lot of them for ages but just haven't had time to read them. This is why I started my Taking It Off...The Shelf feature. I can pretty much tell you when and where I bought each of these books, which were purchased with my staff discount when I still worked at the bookstore, and which were won, freebies, or gifted. I won't bore you with that though! The only books on these shelves that I've read are Beginner's Greek, The Night Circus, and Best Friends Forever. Yep, there are a lot I still need to read. There are so many that I can't wait to get to...both of Beth Kendrick's, These Girls, Juliet, The Next Best Thing, and The Meryl Streep Movie Club, just to name a few. The Devil Wears Prada will be finally read soon (I've only seen the movie) but I have Revenge Wears Prada on its way (a giftcard + just $15 for the hardcover + free shipping = a no-brainer!) Finally, Girls in White Dresses is my next Taking It Off pick. If you want to know some of the other titles (because the picture isn't that great, sorry) just leave a comment and I'll clear things up!

The top shelf in this picture is my random paperback shelf. These are ones that I obviously want to read, since I own them, but don't have high priority (sorry to the authors on this shelf!) The second shelf holds my non-fiction titles. Between the boyfriend and I, we own most of Malcolm Gladwell's titles (the only one we're missing is Blink) but I have yet to read any. I've been meaning to read Becoming Jane Austen since the movie came out ages ago and I really want to get to my won copy of Seen Reading. You'll also notice that this shelf features my Harry Potter books. The set was a combo birthday gift from myself and my mom a few years ago. I haven't actually read my copies yet but I had lent the first three to my former boss. I couldn't believe I was doing it, and it pained me greatly, but she had never read them and I thought that was a greater travesty than lending out my virgin books! My boyfriend got me that gorgeous The Tales of Beetle the Bard set you see there as a gift many years ago. The book is all fancy-fied and there are separate illustrations included. You can also kind of see that I have a wand there. That's Ginny's wand that I bought on my trip to Universal studios last year, because I'm super cool like that.

So there we have it! Tour stop number two has come to an end. I have one more big shelf to showcase as well as a couple of shelves of books that are still residing at my mom's. I've brought so many to her in the last few months that the picture my sister took for me awhile ago is no longer up to date. I'll be there at the end of the month so I'll update the pic and share them with you next month! I hope you enjoyed this little tour :)

Time for an Internship Update

2013-06-08T08:22:00.000-04:00

I'm nearing the end of my internship at Project Bookmark Canada but I wanted to give an update before my final wrap up post. Truth be told, I started this post about two weeks ago but just didn't have the time to finish it. Now instead of six weeks left I have four...maybe. I'm not entirely sure when my last day is! So far, things have been really great. I've been doing a lot of reading and researching, with the odd admin days thrown in. I've got lots of pictures to share that will help tell the story of my internship so far, so let's begin!

So, this is a Bookmark! This is the one that's in my hometown of Midland (bonus points if you're from Canada and know where that is...points not applicable to family and friends) that had recently been graffitied (er, how exactly do you spell that?) The book the excerpt is from is The Queen of Unforgetting, a great read. My sister had given me the heads up that it had been tagged, I told Miranda, and she asked if I would be able to clean it the next time I visited my mom. No problem! We made a family event of it - my mom helped me clean it, my sister took the photos, and my stepdad supervised and pointed out spots we'd missed. As you can see we successfully cleaned it! Yay us!

The main part of my position right now is reading. Specifically, reading books set in Calgary (so if you know of any, let me know!) It's been really interesting and I'm enjoying the fact that I'm recognizing certain landmarks and roads as they come up in multiple novels. It's actually making me want to visit Calgary! My library card is getting quite the workout and so far I've only had one late book. Oops! It was bound to happen with the number of books I have checked out! What I've loved about this is the fact that I'm reading so much great Canadian literature. I went into this internship without much experience reading Can Lit but I've really enjoyed many of the books I've read so far. My favourite definitely has to be The Bone Cage by Angie Abdou. It's about a wrestler and a swimmer who are trying to make it to the Sydney Olympics and is such a good read.

One of the great things about this internship is that I get to work from home. It's a nice change from having to embark on a two hour commute, one way, every day to Toronto. I did have to venture into the big city for a meeting with the lovely Amy from Penguin but it was oh so worth it. I got to pick her brain about social media and then she brought me back to the office and threw some books at me. Not bad for a day of work!

I mentioned having to do some admin stuff. I've gone to Hamilton to work with Miranda at her home office a few times so far. The first couple days I went we organized and shipped off books and Kobos to winners from our recent Page Turner campaign. As you can see from the above pictures, there were a lot of books to mail out! I've also helped her with some bookkeeping stuff (and let me tell you...two bookish people trying to do accounting stuff is pretty funny) and receipting, which I'm used to with my background in nonprofits.

So there we have it. Once I finish my twelve weeks, I'll give you more of my thoughts on the overall experience. I still have no idea what I want to do with my life and I've come close to having a meltdown over the past week but I'll figure it out. Here's hoping I have some good news in my final intern wrap up post!

Review: She's the Boss

2013-06-06T07:43:00.000-04:00

A couple of years ago I read Lisa Lim's debut novel Confessions of a Call Center Gal (the review can be found here) and enjoyed it. When Lisa asked me to review the sequel, She's the Boss, I immediately said yes. As I suspected I was constantly giggling and that really helped me enjoy the novel.

Here's the synopsis:

The Devil Wears Prada meets The Office. Twenty-something Karsynn is now a boss but she's not so much The Devil Wears Prada as she is The Angel Wears Payless. With a brighter career, things should be going better for Karsynn, right? Wrong. There's now a new director at the office--Carter Lockwood, and he's brought his reputation for wrecking havoc amongst the ladies. Karsynn prides herself in being the only one impervious to Carter's good looks. In fact, she takes great pleasure in blowing on the embers of Carter's hostility.
Karsynn thinks Carter is arrogant and obnoxious. Carter thinks Karsynn is an ignorant, sassy spitfire. But when they start working closely together, they discover that first impressions can be deceptive. Karsynn may be winning the battle against Carter, but will she lose the war? And more importantly, will she lose her heart?

One of the things that kind of stuck out for me was that I thought the book actually needed more build up to the romance - it was sort of a surprise when Karsynn realized she liked Carter. (Romance actually seems like a bad word choice as neither Kars nor Carter are particularly romantic!) I know that seems silly because everyone always wishes there was more of a surprise factor when the heroine and hero get together. In this case I was just struggling to understand how their feelings changed. Does that make sense? By the end I could tell that they were going to work well together so that helped reconcile whatever odd feelings I had about the whole situation.

Like I said, this book was funny. Karsynn manages to get herself into some hilarious situations that were a lot of fun to read about. Unfortunately, I didn't make good notes while reading this book so I don't have any specifics. One part that sticks out, and I've actually referenced recently, is when Kars is told that her team needs to cut down on the swearing while working. Her response? To tell her team to replace curse words with a place on the map. Trust me, hilarity ensues.

I also just have to share this:

A snippet from my review of Confessions of a Call Centre Gal made it into this book! Whee!

If you like an offbeat sense of humour, pop culture references, and entertaining stories, give She's the Boss a read. (Though I'd suggest reading Confessions of a Call Center Gal first!) Lisa Lim delivers a great story with crazy characters that you'll find yourself wanting to party with.

Happy reading :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Travel Reads

2013-06-04T11:12:00.002-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is full of books that feature travel in some way. I left out a couple of the obvious titles (Anna and the French Kiss and Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes) because I knew they'd be on several lists and I wanted to feature other titles that some people may not have heard about. I hope you'll find some new reads! Enjoy :)

Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating this week!

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares
Greece tends to feature at least once in each book and there are other road trips and such usually featured.

A Scottish Ferry Tale/Scotland by Starlight - Nancy Volkers
Cassie decides to go on a trip to Scotland to visit her boyfriend but ends up getting dumped. She takes a ferry to an island and finds love there.

The Dressmaker - Kate Alcott
Talk about a trip...this book starts off with the voyage on the Titanic.

All at Sea - Heather Wardell and The Perfect Man - Sheila O'Flanagan
Both of these (excellent) books feature cruises.

Swimming at Night - Lucy Clarke
Katie finds out that her sister has died while traveling abroad in Bali. She decides to retrace her sister's steps to see what really happened. It's not a fun travel book but it's an excellent read.

Stuck on You - Heather Thurmeier
This book features a type of Amazing Race event based in New York. So much fun.

All Roads Lead to Austen - Amy Elizabeth Smith and Under the Tuscan Sun - Frances Mayes
These are two good travel memoirs. I liked the Austen one (which takes place in Latin America) because it worked in some research as well but I also liked seeing exactly what Mayes' life was like (since it's different than the movie!)

Arranged - Catherine McKenzie
Anne decides to take the plunge and goes on an all inclusive trip to Mexico...for an arranged marriage. This is one of my favourite books.

Review: Sea Glass Island

2013-06-04T07:03:00.000-04:00

I had been looking forward to the final novel in Sherryl Woods' Ocean Breeze trilogy because I had enjoyed the first two books so much. Sea Glass Island was a great wrap up to the series and I loved reading it.

Here's the synopsis:

With her two younger sisters heading for the altar, will Samantha Castle exchange old dreams for new ones? Lately she'd rather be on the North Carolina coast with family than in New York with agents and actors. Though she vows not to let her teenage crush on Ethan Cole influence her decision, it's hard to ignore her feelings for the local war hero.
Ethan lost more than his leg in Afghanistan. He lost his belief in love. Even being surrounded by couples intent on capturing happily-ever-after won't open this jaded doctor's heart. It's going to take a sexy, determined woman—one who won't take no for an answer.

I was really interested in seeing how Samantha's story would play out. Ethan was her teenage crush and up to this point, she hasn't had any interaction with him. I didn't find that odd though. They hadn't had any reason to cross paths, even though he was best friends with her younger sister's fiance. The only thing that seemed strange was that the meddling didn't start until now. Of course, that wouldn't make sense in terms of the trilogy so it's easy to overlook! Anyway, I had no idea how Samantha and Ethan would interact and I liked that. All too often there aren't any surprises in a final book in a series like this. I loved reading along and watching as Samantha and Ethan tried to ignore their growing attraction for each other.

This wasn't just a romance novel. Like the other two novels, there was some soul searching required on behalf of the main character. Each sister had to truly think about what she wanted in life, and in love, before she was able to be happy at the end of the novel. In Samantha's case, she had to decide if she wanted to give up her whole actress-in-New-York lifestyle. It was nice to have something else going on other than just the romance - even though this one was a really fun love story to read about!

There's not much else I can say about this series that I haven't already said in my reviews of Sand Castle Bay and Wind Chime Point (links lead to my reviews), though I do think Samantha was my favourite! I definitely recommend Sherryl Woods' Ocean Breeze Trilogy to anyone looking for a sweet and enjoyable romantic read this summer. All three books are now published so no need to wait for another to be released! Go check them out and enjoy.

Happy reading :)

Review: The Karmic Connection

2013-06-03T07:53:00.000-04:00

When author Libby Mercer asked me to review her latest book, The Karmic Connection, I immediately said yes. I don't even think I really paid attention to what the book was about, to be honest. Why? Because I read and reviewed Mercer's second novel, Unmasking Maya awhile ago and loved it and knew I would love whatever she came out with next. I was right. Her most recent work is funny and sweet and thoroughly enjoyable.

Here's the synopsis:

What is the universe up to?

Guilty of nothing more than working too much - or so they say - Adam Stowe is dumped at a "wellness center" in the middle of nowhere by a couple of concerned colleagues. When he meets Lorraine, the beautiful and bewitching yoga instructor, his spirits start to lift, but once he discovers what a flighty fruitcake she is, they drop back down to subterranean levels.

For Lorraine Jameson, Luna Wellness Center was a beacon of solace when her life was falling apart, and she can't stand the way Adam's toxic energy is poisoning the peace. He embodies everything negative about the life she discarded eighteen months ago. Despite being fiercely attracted to the arrogant man, she's determined not to let Adam Stowe anywhere near her heart.

Adam and Lorraine couldn't be more unsuitable as a potential couple... so why is the universe so dead set on uniting these two?

This book was a quick read for me. I was actually able to finish it in one night (granted, it's more of a novella than a full length novel as it clocks in at 144 pages) while I was sitting on the floor watching my bunny run around like the maniac that she is. Since it was getting pretty late, I was glad to have an engaging and entertaining novel to keep me awake while Tonks got her exercise at her own personal gym (aka my living room). I found myself laughing out loud at numerous scenes, especially when Adam got himself into very New Age-y situations and felt incredibly awkward. I wish I had noted which scenes really entertained me but I was too busy enjoying the story to make notes!

I've found that the two books by Mercer that I've read have had similar couples. Not necessarily in personalities but in the fact that the males are more traditional with office type jobs while the females are more free spirits. This really had no impact on the story, I just found it interesting. This does make for a more entertaining story, I think. The couple seems so incredibly unsuited but there's something there (that Mercer is careful to write about in subtle ways) that makes you realize that they're actually meant to be together. I found myself rooting for Lorraine and Adam and couldn't wait for them to realize that the universe was right and they actually belonged together!

I loved all the secondary characters in this novel. I loved Lorraine and Adam too, in case you were worried. Random fact: I was immediately interested in Lorraine once I saw the book's cover because she and I have very similar hair! :) Celeste, the owner of Luna Wellness Center, seems like an awesome lady. I liked that we were introduced to the other visitors at the Center (argh, I want to type that as "Centre!" My Canadian-ness doesn't like typing it "er" hehe) through Adam's eyes. He assumes they're all hippy dippy types and we are led to assume right along with them. Of course, there's always more to someone than initially meets the eye and Mercer allows each character to show why they're at Luna and what they're struggling with. One of my favourite scenes takes place between Adam and the teenage girl who's at Luna because she thinks she's too fat. It's really sweet and helped Lorraine see that there was more to Adam than she initially thought. What can we learn from this? Don't judge someone until you really get to know them!

Overall, I loved The Karmic Connection. Libby Mercer has written another funny and entertaining novel. It has a great mix of romance and sexiness that is so much fun to read. This is a perfect read for a summer weekend for romance and chick lit lovers alike. I can't wait to see what she writes next!

And just because I can...here's a picture of my nutty bunny (though she's not being very nutty in this picture):

*A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Armchair BEA: Wrap Up

2013-06-02T15:29:00.003-04:00

Design credit: Sarah of Puss Reboots

Well, another Armchair BEA has come and gone. I find that I'm a little frustrated with myself for my performance in this week's event because I did a lot of posts last minute and didn't even write posts for every discussion (which is because I was doing everything last minute...there are only so many minutes!) Last year I had everything all planned out the weekend before and that left my evenings free to hop around and "meet" new bloggers and comment on other people's posts. That didn't happen this year. I had great intentions, really, I did. Part of the problem with this week is that it falls on the same week as my birthday. Throw in some birthday celebrations the weekend before the event started and being busy the night of my birthday and that really cuts into blogging time. Excuses? Maybe. I like to think that I balanced everything well but the fact that I'm feeling badly about not venturing to many other blogs shows that I wish I had done more.

I was lucky enough to be a winner twice this week from the wonderful crew behind Armchair BEA. I must say that it took me awhile to figure out what I wanted to win and it wasn't really because of volume (though there were a ton of prizes). No, my issue was having to weed out all of the US only prizes. Then I had to weed out all of the YA titles. Then I was left with some options. I admit, it wasn't as bad as it could be but it's still a constant frustration for myself and my fellow Canadian bloggers. I get it when it's an individual blogger making those decisions but when publishers can't send things over the border I get a little annoyed. I also won a prize from one of the giveaways on day...er...whatever day the prize day was (four?) but I have a feeling I may not actually be able to claim it. I always make sure the contest is open internationally before entering because I don't want to annoy anyone by being one of those people who can't read the rules. Checked this one giveaway, liked it, didn't see any rules on location, entered, won, and then received an email asking for my US address. Um. This is a problem. I even double checked the post to make sure I didn't miss it. I haven't heard back from the blogger yet but I'm hoping something can be worked out. *rereads paragraph* Well, that was a bit ranty, wasn't it? Sorry! I just think it's important for people to realize that there are lots of bloggers up here in Canada who can feel alienated sometimes. Just my two cents!

As much fun as I had with this event, it was bittersweet for me this year. I had said last year that if I was still living in the same city I would go to BEA (while I do live in Canada, I'm only about 40 minutes away from the Buffalo airport...it would take me almost twice as long to drive to Toronto). I'm really not that far from NYC. However, I decided to become an intern this year which means no money for fun things, like a super awesome book conference. Oh well. Next year!

I'm hoping I'll be able to find some time over the next couple of nights to visit some other blogs and see what they have to say about things - particularly on keeping things fresh and on blogger development. I have found a couple of new bloggers to follow, which is nice. There's one in particular, Melissa at Confessions of an Avid Reader, that I'm happy to have met because she's also Canadian and a Toronto Blue Jays fan, woot! Hopefully I'll find some new online blogging friends when I visit other blogs.

Overall, this was another successful Armchair BEA even if it wasn't quite as successful as I'd hoped. Life has been good but nutty over the past week so I have to be OK with how I did. Thank you to those of you who stopped by over the week. I appreciate and enjoy all of the comments.

Until next year!

Armchair BEA: Keeping it Real

2013-06-01T11:05:00.001-04:00

Design credit: Sarah of Puss Reboots

Ah, keeping things real and fresh. I think that's something a lot of bloggers struggle with on occasion. Or maybe you have a fabulous idea but just no energy to implement it. I frequently hear about bloggers going through slumps either with their reading or reviewing. Let me set the record straight here...I'm no different.

I go through little funks just like everyone else. Earlier this year I did an internship that required me to do a two hour commute...each way. Since part of this was on a train I got a ton of reading done but I was so exhausted when I got home that I couldn't bring myself to turn on my computer and write. I was also doing an online course that cut into my free time too. I'm still trying to figure out how to get myself back into the swing of things but I'm getting there. I just started a new feature to help me read the books that have been sitting on my shelf for over a year. It's called Taking it off...the shelf and the book I read last month had been on my bookshelf for almost four years (and if you're interested you can read the review here.) I've also started doing little bookshelf "tours" because I love inspecting other people's bookshelves and I figure others do too. (My first photo tour can be found here.) I really like the idea of writing things other than reviews but I'm so behind on reviews that I need to get ahead so I can get to some other things. This week has been great for reminding me that I like writing about the book world as much as reviewing the actual books.

I've been watching what other bloggers have been doing and have been trying to get inspired by some of their stuff (and by inspired I mean I like the idea, I mention it came from them, and put my own spin on it...not plagiarising...which was probably discussed earlier this week in the ethics discussion that I didn't end up writing about!) Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner has been doing a lot of great stuff lately and it's been a lot of fun to read.

This probably isn't too helpful for other blogger's looking to pick up some tips but it shows you how I'm feeling about blogging at the moment and some thoughts I have to keep things interesting and fun for me. It's all about finding what works and what makes you happy. The minute it stops being fun is when you need to rethink what you're doing. Let me know if you have any fun tips or tricks. I'm open for suggestions! As for right now, I have a bunch of other reviews to go write so I can enjoy the rest of my Saturday! :)

Rereading Sarah Dessen: The Truth About Forever

2013-06-01T07:59:00.000-04:00

Hosted by I Eat Words

Welcome to month four of the I Eat Words Sarah Dessen Read/Reread Challenge! Check out this post that explains the details about the awesomeness that is this challenge. This month we read The Truth About Forever. This is the book that gets recommend the most to Dessen newbies and since I didn't remember loooooving it when it first came out I was interested to find out what I thought after the reading it again. Read on to see what my friend Sandy and I thought of this month's reread.

Synopsis:

A long, hot summer...
That's what Macy has to look forward to while her boyfriend, Jason, is away at Brain Camp. Days will be spent at a boring job in the library, evenings will be filled with vocabulary drills for the SATs, and spare time will be passed with her mother, the two of them sharing a silent grief at the traumatic loss of Macy's father.
But sometimes unexpected things can happen—things such as the catering job at Wish, with its fun-loving, chaotic crew. Or her sister's project of renovating the neglected beach house, awakening long-buried memories. Things such as meeting Wes, a boy with a past, a taste for Truth-telling, and an amazing artistic talent, the kind of boy who could turn any girl's world upside down. As Macy ventures out of her shell, she begins to wonder, Is it really better to be safe than sorry?

About the Story

Main Character: Macy Queen

Age: 17 (I think...she's going to be going into her senior year)

School Year or Summer?: Summer

Boy: Wes

First description of boy: “Now that he was right in front of me, I could see that he was tall and had brown hair that was just a little bit too long. He was also strikingly handsome, with the sort of sculpted cheekbones and angular features that you couldn't help but notice, even if you did have a boyfriend.” (page 23)

Crushable?: Oh, goodness, yes.

Big Secret?: No.

Heavy Storyline?: Sort of...see below.

Parents Together?: No...we find out early on in the story that her dad died a year and a half ago.

Siblings: One sister, two or three years older.

Takes Place In: Lakeview (with some parts in Colby, the beach town)

Cameos: This one required some Google research. Lorna McPhail, weather girl, is mentioned and I couldn't recall if it was That Summer or Someone Like You that she was from (the movie How to Deal screws me up). Turns out she's from That Summer! Thank you to Sandy for finding that one. Also, Wikipedia tells me that Stella, Kristy and Monica's grandmother, is reading a book by Remy's (This Lullaby) mother. Neat!

About the Book

Released: 2004.

Epigraph?: No.

Format (of the copy I read): Hardcover.

Own?: Yes.

Signed?: No. (I'm now kicking myself for not bringing it to get signed.)

Read or Reread: Reread

Age when first read: 17-ish.

New cover vs older cover: Definitely old. I don't understand the point of that bracelet. Or the flower, come to think of it. The bracelet is just weird to me. I do like those turquoise colours more though.

My Thoughts
How did I not love this one when I first read it? I know I said the other month when I read This Lullaby that I wasn't going to pick favourites but I think this one is winning. No wonder everyone recommends starting with this book. I fell head over heels in love with The Truth About Forever this time around. I don't really know what was different. Perhaps it was because I couldn't understand why it was better to be imperfect when I was 17. After all, Macy was about that age and she was struggling. I guess I identified with her so much that I wasn't able to see the benefits for the changes. Does that make sense? It's hard to remember exactly how I felt almost ten years ago!

In case you couldn't tell from the above, I loved this book. I'm so so so glad that I did a reread of this (which seems to be a common theme in my reread reviews, yes?) because I think I understood it a bit better. I think part of what makes this such a popular book to recommend to Dessen newbies is that it includes all of the things that make Dessen's books so amazing - an incredibly real teenage girl, summer, some serious life changes, and a sweet but amazing and funny guy. I also find that siblings (especially sisters) play into her novels quite a bit and they're almost always older and were a bit wilder when they were the age of the main character.

I mentioned the realness of the character and that's probably my favourite thing about Dessen's books. Macy is perfectly imperfect and that's what she needs to learn to accept. What I love about the guys in Dessen's novels (for the most part, anyway...I think in her later novels she allows the romance to end happily more than she did initially, like in, say, Someone Like You) is that they see the best in the girls. They also seem more mature and able to guide the girl into a better life. The two I'm thinking of in particular are Wes in Truth and Dexter in This Lullaby (and I think there's this kind of aspect in Lock and Key but I can't really remember). That seems a little...I'm not sure how to describe it...controlling? That's not the way it is though. They're more like...positive wake up calls. And are usually incredibly swoonworthy. I need a Wes. I mean...I love my boyfriend *waves* :)

Overall, this book is a winner. If you STILL haven't read a Sarah Dessen book (and I'm constantly amazed at how many YA fans out there haven't read her books), you need to run, not walk, to your bookstore and buy this one. And then go back and start with That Summer and work your way up to the one being released on Tuesday. Not a YA fan? Read it anyway. Trust me. This quote alone should be enough to make you want to read it. It's perfection on a page.

Sandy's Thoughts

This is the perfect Sarah Dessen book! The Truth About Forever is full of well-defined and remarkable characters; even the mean girls are interesting. The writing itself, as per usual, is on point with unexpected twists that just appear and are not shoved in the readers face. Some teen novels can talk down to their intended audience and that gets frustrating for the reader and discourages them from reading. Sarah Dessen never does that! Her ability to write from a realistic perspective is why I continue to read her books long into my twenties. She always writes about real life situations and dramas that have real life resolutions by the end of the novel.

In Truth, Macy is stuck between two paths and at first she tries to follow both. But as in life, at some point those paths fork and she has to choose between being “perfect” and being her real self. Macy has to pick between snarky librarians and the life that she built around her boyfriend or chaotic caterers and a new guy with friends that accept her. She is unhappy from the moment her boyfriend leaves and she is forced into a job she has no passion for. When her path intersects with Wish Catering and she learns the stories of its employees her choice is made for her.

She finds kindred spirits amongst Delia, Wes and Kristy. They fill the silence left behind by Jason. From the moment these characters appeared in the novel I loved them. Kristy and Monica (even with her monotone) give Macy more confidence than Jason ever could. Wes is the pinnacle of a literary guy you want to date or even just meet, be his friend, buy a sculpture, anything. Deep down all of us girls pray that this boy exists and Sarah Dessen knows how to write them, so thank you very much to her! She gives us hope. Within a few pages I immediately hated Jason and loved Wes, she writes her characters that vividly. His best line is, and I quote, “ I like flaws they make things interesting.” (page 192) Followed closely by, “ I’m not into appearances.” Sawoon, indeed!

There is a sad undertone to this novel. The death of Macy’s father sends a wrecking ball through her life and the life of her mother and sister. The sudden death of a loved one has a way of doing that. This book is very good at showing all the different ways people grieve. Grief is an innate and natural instinct, just as an individuals reaction to that grief is. Some people hide and deny that anything is different (Macy’s Mom), some choose to plan and focus to control what is left (Macy), some openly grieve and feel free to move on mindful of what they have lost, (Macy’s sister Caroline), some rebel and then step up when they are ready (Wes), and others try to keep the memory alive (Delia). I found it very interesting that each character that had suffered a loss dealt with it in their own way but they did all have to deal with it in the end. I loved this novel and would recommend it to anyone who has lost a loved one. Sarah Dessen breaks down grief and makes it clear that everyone goes through it but with help you can come out the other side.

Macy learns a valuable lesson. The truth about forever. That truth is simple. Forever could end at any time so treat every second like it could last forever. The potential of forever is vast for all of us, how we spend our forever is what defines us.

Next Month:

We're reading Dessen's upcoming book The Moon and More. I CANNOT WAIT!!! This will also be the only "read" for this read/reread challenge!

Armchair BEA: Non-Fiction

2013-05-31T12:56:00.003-04:00

Design credit: Sarah of Puss Reboots

When I’m looking for a book to read I don’t normally reach for non-fiction. In fact, I could probably count on one hand the number of non-fiction books I’ve read in the last couple of years. OK, I just created a non-fiction shelf for Goodreads and it appears I have read eight non-fiction books in the past two years. Because there are so few titles I thought I’d list them for you! (Links lead to my reviews.)

Under the Tuscan Sun – Frances Mayes

Bitter is the New Black – Jen Lancaster

The Book of Awesome – Neil Pasricha

The Tall Book: A Celebration of Life from on High – Arianne Cohen

All Roads Lead to Austen: A Yearlong Journey with Jane – Amy Elizabeth Smith

Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon a Project,Read Samuel Johnson, and My Other Experiments in the Practice of Everyday Life – Gretchen Rubin

Mick Jagger – Philip Norman

The End of Your Life Book Club – Will Schwalbe

They’re all pretty similar, right? Some travel, memoirs, biographies with a couple research type books thrown in there too. Obviously I don’t really stray from what I like when it comes to non-fiction. Which, I suppose I sort of knew when it comes to wandering bookstores. I’ll always look in the same few sections.

One of the reasons I don’t read a lot of non-fiction is because I’m really slow at reading them. This is odd and frustrating because I’m such a fast fiction reader. About half of the above books took me forever to read, even though I liked the majority of them. The ones that I gobbled up were The Tall Book, Happier at Home, and The End of Your Life Book Club. (The Book of Awesome is one of those books that I read a few pages at a time over a few months but it could easily be read in an afternoon.) I loved The Tall Book because it was interesting and relatable to me (I’m 6’ tall!) and was full of interesting stats and research. I love the way Rubin writes and combines her research with personal experience and have thoroughly enjoyed both her Happiness Project books. The End of Your Life Book Club was such a moving story and I highly recommend it to everyone.

What I discovered with Mick Jagger was that I’d rather read memoirs than biographies. It also didn’t help that I didn’t like the way Norman wrote or that Jagger didn’t have anything to do with the book. Sure, memoirs may not be super objective but I didn’t feel like this particular bio was objective either (Norman thought the sun rose and set with Mick, I think).

So those are my thoughts on non-fiction! I know I was very specific in titles but I think it does show what kind of books I like when it comes to non-fiction. What about you? Do you read any non-fiction? What are some of your favourite titles?

Armchair BEA: Literary Fiction

2013-05-30T21:29:00.000-04:00

Design credit: Sarah of Puss Reboots

When I’m searching for books to read, I don’t normally turn to literary fiction. The silly thing is that I do enjoy the odd literary novel. I just don’t give enough of them a chance. As I mentioned yesterday, I love chick lit and women’s fiction so those are the books I turn to because I know I’ll enjoy them. I want to focus on one particular part of literary fiction: Canadian fiction. (In case you didn’t know, I live in Ontario.)

Confession: I never used to read much Canadian fiction. Why? In part it’s because I like my chick lit and there aren’t many Canadian chick lit authors out there. Happily, since I’ve started blogging and reading self published works, I’ve come across more chick lit authors (Heather Wardell, Kathleen Kole, and Samantha Stroh Bailey are just a few amazing Canadian chick lit authors).

Another reason is that I had a stereotype in my head that I’m sure is shared by many others: that Canadian fiction is boring. I had kind of bad experiences in English classes in high school and read two really uninteresting Canadian novels (Shhhh…don’t tell anyone but one was a Margaret Atwood novel!)

Now, you’re probably wondering what I’m getting at with this post. I’m here to tell you that I was wrong about Canadian fiction. I will also say that I would not have come to this conclusion had it not been for my current internship. Right now I’m working for a non-profit called ProjectBookmark Canada and this is what they’re all about:

Project Bookmark Canada is a national, charitable organization that places text from stories and poems in the exact, physical locations where literary scenes are set. We’ve established 12 Bookmarks (poster-sized ceramic plaques bearing up to 500 words of text) since 2009, with installations in Ontario, Newfoundland and British Columbia.
Our vision is a network of hundreds of Bookmarks around the country, so that Canadians and visitors can read their way across Canada. Our mandate is to establish a permanent and prominent presence for literature set in Canada—enhancing Canada’s reputation as a nation of storytellers; expanding the readership for fiction and poetry set in Canada; and encouraging residents and visitors to see our literary landscapes, adding to local and national tourism.

Pretty cool, eh? (I figured I may as well play up the whole Canadian thing.) Part of my job right now is to read up on Canadian books – specifically ones set in Calgary, Alberta. I’ve also read two of the books that have already been Bookmarked – one in Ottawa and one in my small hometown. Even though some of them have confused the hell out of me, a lot of them have been really enjoyable. I’m so glad that I’ve gotten the chance to be exposed to so many great Canadian reads and authors through this internship. And, hey, if you’re feeling particularly charitable and think Project Bookmark Canada is a good cause, we’d love donations. (If I can’t use my blog for good, what’s the point? Hehe) I’ll even make things easy…all you have to do is click right HERE to be taken to the donation page.

Because we all love book recommendations, I’m going to give you a little list of books that I’ve read recently for Bookmark. I realized after I'd posted this that I definitely listed a couple of books than aren't technically literary fiction. Silly me. I've left them in because I think they're good reads!

The Bone Cage – Angie Abdou. Do you love the Olympics and sports? Read this one. It’s about a swimmer and a wrestler who are off to the Sydney Olympic Games. (Amazon.com, Amazon.ca)

Swallow – Theanna Bischoff. Darcy has to deal with the aftereffects of her younger sister’s suicide. It’s not what you’d call a light and fun read but it’s a really good story. (Amazon.com, Amazon.ca)

The Enchantment Emporium – Tanya Huff. This book is for the fantasy fans. Alysha inherits a junk shop from her grandmother but there’s a whole lot more going on than meets the eye. (Amazon.com, Amazon.ca)

The Space Between Us – Jessica Martinez. YA fans, this one’s for you! Amelia is always covering for her younger sister Charley. Those antics go a little too far and the girls are forced to move from sunny Florida to wintery Banff, Alberta. (Amazon.com, Amazon.ca)

The Queen of Unforgetting – Sylvia Maultash Warsh. This is the one that’s set in my hometown and was really great. I had no idea how it was going to end and I loved the little history lessons throughout (the main character is researching a Jesuit priest who tried to convert the natives in the area.) (Amazon.ca)

Of course, I’m also a huge fan of Anne of Green Gables and I’ve loved all of Catherine McKenzie’s novels. I also cannot wait to read The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan and Studio Saint-Ex by Ania Szado – two books that have been on my shelf for far too long.

What are your thoughts on literary fiction? How about Canadian fiction? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go check on my igloo and pet moose and have some maple syrup :)

Armchair BEA: Genre Fiction

2013-05-29T21:31:00.001-04:00

Design credit: Sarah of Puss Reboots

Because of birthday celebrations over the weekend and last night, I'm only just now finding the time to write about the second topic for today - genre fiction. These are the books that the snooty English majors wouldn't be caught dead reading, you know, romance, sci fi, fantasy, horror. All that good stuff. (Please note: I know not all English majors are snooty. I know several and they're lovely people with interesting reading tastes. So please don't hate me.) I don't read any of those genres but I do love one that is constantly being ridiculed: chick lit.

I love chick lit and I'm one who doesn't mind calling it that. True chick lit lovers know there's more to the genre than bubblegum pink covers adorned with shoes and cupcakes. Personally, I'm glad the covers are all so bright and distinctive as it's immensely helpful when sifting through books at a used book sale! (True story. Recently I snapped up a copy of I Heart New York because the pink stood out against the books.) Back to what the books are all about...when I think of chick lit, I think of funny, feisty, and occasionally flighty, heroines. They could be in their twenties or their forties. They could be single or married. They could have kids or they could stress about even looking after a plant. They're your every day woman and could easily be your friend (Let's not get into the whole "likeable" debate right now, k?). A romance is usually present, that's true, but it's not really the main point of the book. There could be a career issue, family drama, or backstabbing best friend. Or all of the above. The story is usually light but that doesn't make it mindless.

I've written about chick lit before, on a few occasions, so I don't really want to repeat myself. A year ago I wrote a post about the genre in honour of International Chick Lit Month, which is just wrapping up. The post, which you can read here, talks about why I read the genre and why I don't make excuses for liking it. A week or so later I wrote about the "queens of chick lit" - the authors who immediately come to mind when talking about this genre. For a recent Top Ten Tuesday post, we listed ten books we turn to when in need of light reading. Seven of the ten authors I chose are chick lit authors.

You can see many authors in the links I listed about but I'll give you a quick list here: Emily Giffin, Sophie Kinsella, Jennifer Weiner, Cecelia Ahern, Carole Matthews, Beth Kendrick, Heather Wardell, and Talli Roland.

What genres do you like to read? Do you ever find yourself defending your choices or judging genre readers?

Armchair BEA: Blogger Development

2013-05-29T11:14:00.000-04:00

Design credit: Sarah of Puss Reboots

Today’s post for Armchair BEA is all about blogger development. I like to think I’ve come a long way since I started my blog two and a half years ago. I probably have, but I also know there’s a lot more I could do. Even though I’m not always sure what those other things are!

One thing I know for sure is that I’m always a little jealous of the professional looking blogs out there. One blogger I follow just redesigned her site and brought on a friend to be another reviewer. I adore her new site (you can see Bookish Comforts here) and was blown away when she said they did it themselves. This made me realize it’s time to learn some new skills, brush up on some old ones, and design something myself. Of course, I just need to find the time to do these things. These sites just look so clean and fresh and I want something like that for myself.

About a year into my blog I because an associate reviewer at Novel Escapes. This has helped me read even more books that I wouldn’t have otherwise and it’s helped me gain a new friend in Lydia, the woman who runs the site. I don’t think I could have asked for a better person to work with because she has been so incredibly when I’ve been delayed in sending reviews or reading books due to several crazy life changes. The reviews I write for her are still in my own voice but I notice that they’re just a little bit different from what I write for my own site. Interesting to note, I think.

When I first started reviewing I didn’t realize how big this book blogging community really is. Because of that, I just started writing in a way that felt right to me – and I still do that. If something reminds me of a story from my own life, I’m going to include it. I love personal touches when I read other blogs and I try to make mine fun and entertaining – and personal.

I also think it’s so important to be honest when writing a review. Let me be clear on what I mean by honest. I don’t mean trashing the book or the author. That’s just rude and inconsiderate. I mean actually writing what I think instead of worrying about hurting the author’s feelings. Is that easy? Absolutely not. Thankfully, I haven’t had to deal with this too often. There are really only a handful of books that I didn’t love, or didn’t like as much as I thought I would, and have caused me some issues when writing the reviews. What makes me feel better about my being honest approach is that I’ve had a few authors tell me that they love my reviews simply because I’m honest. I’m very careful with my five star reviews on Goodreads (Side note: I don’t star things on my blog because it was just one more step I didn’t feel like taking and I also usually don’t put up my reviews on Goodreads – not because I don’t want to, just because I’m lazy. That will be changing soon. I hope.) and will only rate a book that high if I was absolutely, positively in love with it. That does happen though, I promise!

One of the other things I really want to do is create a review archive type page. My mom even suggested I do that, which I thought was cute. It’ll mean a lot of work since I have so many reviews now but it’s something that should be done. I can’t decide if I want to list the review by author, title, or rating. Thoughts or suggestions on that?

I also want to get in touch with more publishers. I have a fabulous relationship with Random House of Canada (the fact that I interned there earlier this year definitely helped matters) but there are still a few other houses that I’d like to work with. Progress is being made but these days I’m more focused on getting myself a job in publishing than getting myself on a list for review copies!

Well, this has been a pretty rambly post but that really shows you what I’m like. I tend to go off on tangents but I usually always end up back where I wanted to be. I hope you enjoyed this post! Tonight I’ll bounce around the blogosphere and see what everyone else has to say about their own development and see if I can pick up any tips!

Armchair BEA: Introductions

2013-05-28T07:17:00.000-04:00

Design credit: Sarah of Puss Reboots

Welcome to my intro post for Armchair BEA! I participated last year and had a lot of fun and since, once again, I wasn't able to make it to NYC for BEA (*sobs*) I'm taking part in this great event again. There will be many posts throughout the week (you can see the whole agenda here if you want to know what's coming up or if you want to take part in the event). For now, I hope you enjoy getting to know me!

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

This is my bunny Tonks!

First things first, my name's Kaley. As of today, I'm 26 (happy birthday to meeeee!). Technically, I started blogging over four years ago but the first two blogs I made were for my university seminar course. Books Etc. has been around for two and a half years. I started it because I was already familiar with how blogs worked and wanted a way to talk about books all the time.

Where in the world are you blogging from?

I'm blogging from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. For those of you who have no idea where that is, I'm about 20 minutes away from this:

And in case you can't tell what "this" is, that's Niagara Falls. I've only been down to the Falls a handful of times. It's always magnificent and I'd love to go a bit more but trying to find parking and then having to pay a ridiculous amount for it is a bit of a negative.

What are you currently reading, or what is your favourite book you have read so far in 2013?

As I write this (the weekend before the post goes up), I'm reading The Queen of Unforgetting, a novel that takes place in my small hometown. Very cool.
I've also decided to cheat a bit and list some favourites in different genres (hey, we all love book recommendations, right?). Literary Fiction: The Bone Cage. Fantasy: The Night Circus. YA (contemporary): Anna and the French Kiss. Chick Lit: Finding Lucas.

If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?

I would love to hang out with Sarah Dessen. She's my favourite author and when I saw her speak about a year and a half ago when she came to Toronto and between that and her excellent tweets, I think we could be good friends.

What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?

I really want to visit Great Britain and would love to see Jane Austen's England, particularly Bath.

Top Ten Tuesday: Happy Birthday to Me...and these books!

2013-05-28T06:04:00.000-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

Today is a freebie Top Ten Tuesday and, as you probably guessed from the title of this post, it's also my birthday! Whee! I had a couple other ideas for what to do for this post: books featuring birthdays or protagonists in their mid-twenties. I discovered that it was a little more difficult than I expected to come up with books for either of those topics. Then I had the brainwave to figure out which books are going to share their birthday with me! As it turns out, May 28th isn't a blockbuster release date but there are some gems hidden in the list of books being published today. Some of these books I want to read, others are just noteworthy titles or authors, and some just looked like fun. Do you plan on reading any of these or have you read any of them already? Am I missing any?

Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating this week!

The Last Camellia - Sarah Jio (really want to read this one!)

Just One Kiss - Susan Mallery

Sea Glass Island - Sherryl Woods (I have this one to read and my review will be up next week!)

Looking for Me - Beth Hoffman

Deeply Odd: An Odd Thomas Novel - Dean Koontz

Boo ABC: A To Z With The World's Cutest Dog - J.H. Lee, photographed by Gretchen LeMaistre (because, why not?)

Dare You To - Katie McGarry

The Girl with the Iron Touch - Kady Cross

I'll Be Seeing You - Suzanne Hayes, Loretta Nyhan

Paperback shout-out: Shadow of Night - Deborah Harkness

A Bunch of Mini Reviews

2013-05-27T07:57:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my first batch of mini reviews! My friend Natalie over at Browsing Bookshelves does a version of this called Ten Second Reviews and I've "stolen" her idea. I have so many reviews I wanted to write so I could acknowledge the books I read but I lacked a lot of time to do full reviews. I hope you enjoy them!

The Second Assistant - Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare
This was one of those early chick lit novels (it was released in 2004) that I had been meaning to read for years but just never got around to it. I saw it at my local library and decided to give it a shot. The novel follows Lizzie as she leaves her political job behind and moves to Hollywood to work as a second assistant to an agent. I found it to be a cross between Lauren Weisberger's novels The Devil Wears Prada (full disclosure: I have yet to read the book but I do love the movie) and Everyone Worth Knowing. I had to keep reminding myself to stop comparing it to her books because just because I read/watched those first doesn't mean that this one wasn't as good. This one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger so I really need to get back to the library to get The First Assistant. I had fun reading The Second Assistant and think other chick lit lovers would enjoy this one too.

Best Friends Forever - Jennifer Weiner
I love Jennifer Weiner so when I was looking for an audiobook (my very first audiobook!) for a road trip to Ottawa I was happy to find Best Friends Forever on my library's shelf. My drive was about six hours each way so I wanted to make sure I got a book I knew I'd like and one that would be long enough to last for the majority of my drive. Well. I have a bone to pick with my library. I knew to check to see if it was abridged or not, I'm not totally new. However, the part of the jacket/case that said it was abridged was cut off and I didn't realize it was adapted for audio until it was finished. And I still had four hours of driving ahead of me. Le sigh. Anyway. That's not really the point. The point is that this was a great read, er, listen. It had a serious plot (check out the Goodreads page to get an in depth synopsis) that discussed weight issues, assault, friendships, mental illness, and infidelity. I was invested in the characters, especially Addie, and wanted everything to work out for them. Apparently I really wanted to read this one because I discovered a hard copy on my shelf a week later that I bought at a book sale last year. *Facepalm* Final verdict of this novel: read it. It was a good one.

A Life That Fits - Heather Wardell
I also love Heather Wardell. I have read eight of her twelve novels and I have loved every single one of them. I've put this book in my mini review pile because I'm running out of ways to gush about her books but still wanted to acknowledge this great novel. Alex was an interesting character and one that I enjoyed learning about. I was invested in her attempt to change her life after her boyfriend of fourteen years walks out on her. Romance is never the main focus of Wardell's novels but almost always plays a large role. The romance in this one is probably one of my favourites. It was both sweet and steamy and I was rooting for the couple. One of the things I love about Wardell's novels are the cameos that pop up in each one. I've been bopping around her list so I hadn't realized that I should have already known some of the characters in All At Sea, which I read last October. If you haven't yet tried Wardell's novels I cannot recommend them enough. They're all just so amazing and well written stories. Bonus: her first, Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo is free at all ebook retailers (check out Kobo, Amazon.ca, and Amazon.com). You can't lose. Trust me!

Taking It Off the Shelf: Beginner's Greek

2013-05-25T08:13:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my first review for my new feature! As you may recall from my intro post, I decided to read Beginner's Greek by James Collins. I have had this on my bookshelf since October 2009. About time I read it, eh?

Once again, I'll provide you with the synopsis:

Is love at first sight possible or just an old-fashioned romantic idea? And what if, to further complicate things, you meet the love of your life and then lose her phone number? Then what if, after the impossible happens and you find her again, she's now about to marry a roguish lothario who is also your best friend? The complications don't end there for Peter Russell, the winning hero of James Collins' charming, generous, and romantic first novel. Part modern-day Jane Austen, part Tom Wolfe,is a romantic comedy of the highest order, with characters who are perfectly, charmingly real as they swerve and stumble from fairy tale to social satire and back again.

I can't remember what it was exactly about this book that made me want to pick it up. Perhaps it was because of the interesting twist on a romance and a second chance at love. Even if it wasn't because of that, the romance aspect was my favourite part of the novel. Peter and Holly had to deal with so many obstacles and I worried that maybe they wouldn't ever get together. I really like second chance novels so it really isn't surprising that I liked this story.

What really took away from my enjoyment of this novel was all the background information on every character. Seriously. I think every character who was featured for more than five pages had a whole back story. It was a little bit ridiculous and a tad frustrating. I found myself skimming a lot because I just wanted to move the action along and was irritated when I had to learn all about the childhood of Peter's fiancée's step-mother. I wanted to learn more about Peter and Holly and I felt like their stories were lacking because they had to share so much page space with the other characters.

All in all, I liked Beginner's Greek by James Collins but it definitely won't make any favourites lists for me. I was worried about this one being a let down since I've had it for so long but I still think it was worth a read. The core plot is a good one. I just wish the story was written in a different way.

For my next pick, I'm going to read Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close (after writing this review I realized that I'm going with two J.C. authors in a row!). The story behind this one is that I had heard amazing things about it and then asked a friend for it for my birthday last year. I haven't had this one nearly as long as Beginner's Greek by I have a shiny new hardcover of Close's new novel The Smart One that I really want to get to soon. Check back next month when I review the next book off my shelf!

Reading Bingo: The Night Circus

2013-05-24T07:06:00.000-04:00

I'm slowly but surely moving along on my Reading Bingo card. I've been meaning to read The Night Circus for forever. I had no excuses, really. I knew it was great. I had even won a signed copy and it was sitting on my shelf, just waiting for me to make time for it. It seemed like everyone but me had already read Erin Morgenstern's novel and I decided I would finally set aside some time to read it. Boy, am I glad I did. This is such a terrific book.

Here's the synopsis:

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

As soon as I started reading this I could see why everyone was raving about it when it was released a few years ago. It was fantastically magical, deliciously twisted, and so odd in a completely understandable way. When I was reading it I knew that it was made up but I still thought, "Of course these illusions could be real. Why wouldn't they be?" Like all fantasy books you have to allow yourself to believe that these things could actually be happening and once you do that you can really enjoy the book.

I really liked how the story was told. There was present day where you, the reader, are visiting the circus yourself. Then there's what I was calling the past-past which starts at the beginning of the challenge (roughly) and moves forward from there. Finally, there was the past that starts with Bailey's story. As the novel went on I was really looking forward to what would happen when the two pasts converged because I knew that would be when I would get most (if not all) of the answers I desperately needed.

I definitely recommend reading this book in one sitting if you can manage it. If not, reserve it for a weekend. I needed to read a book that was a little different after reading two very similar books back to back. This book won for the "little different" aspect and I read the majority of it on my commute to my internship. This, I learned, was a mistake. The Night Circus needs to be savoured and thoroughly enjoyed and that needs to be done on the couch with a mug of tea, not on a packed commuter train!

Overall, I loved The Night Circus. Erin Morgenstern's debut novel is fabulous and I highly recommend it. You need to like those books that are a little different, a little fantastical, to really enjoy this so if that's your thing, make sure you read this one. You won't be disappointed!

I'm now all caught up on my Bingo reviews but I have a couple already set for other squares (Canadian and would have read as a teenager are two of them) so stay tuned for more reviews in the next month or so!

Top Ten Tuesday: Favourite Covers

2013-05-21T08:06:00.000-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

This week we're listing our ten favourite covers from the books we've read. Seems easy enough, right? My list was originally fourteen titles long so my issue came from deciding which ones to cut. I must say, it was really interesting to see which covers appealed to me. Can you see a bit of a pattern? Read on to see which books made the list and have covers that make me swoon.

Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating this week!

Life After Life - Kate Atkinson. A good chunk of my review of this novel is spent talking about how much I freaking love this cover and how much better this Canadian version is than the US and UK versions. I just love it.

Gold - Chris Cleave. I love bold colours, fancy/fun font, and simple graphics. This one has them all (and, bonus, is also a great read).

Bride Quartet series - Nora Roberts. I was drooling over the cover of Vision in White long before I actually read the books. My mom mentioned the series to me and when she finally remembered the title and I looked it up, I said something along the lines of, "Oh, those books with the gorgeous covers!" So pretty.

Vanity Fare - Megan Caldwell. Cookies and books. Need I say more?

Someday, Someday, Maybe - Lauren Graham. There's just something about the blue tone with the pop of red that I really like about this one.

Twilight Saga - Stephanie Meyer. Say what you will about the content (and I'll say they're entertaining) but I really like the covers. It goes back to the simple and bold concept I like.

Emily Giffin's novels. Just lovely. Simple and recognizable.

How to Eat a Cupcake - Meg Donohue. One word: cupcakes.

Winter Wonderland - Belinda Jones. This is just too cute and perfect for this story.

Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell. Once again, simple and striking wins my heart. This perfectly illustrates the start of their relationship and I love it.

Double Dose of Nora Roberts

2013-05-18T10:51:00.000-04:00

I've had a review to write of The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts for well over a month so when I finished Whiskey Beach last night I decided to just combine the reviews into one big Nora Roberts lovefest. Sounds like fun, no? :) I'm not really a true romance reader and I don't frequent that section of the bookstore or library. My mom was the one who got me interested in Nora Roberts when she told me about the Bride Quartet series. I had noticed them because of their gorgeous covers so I gave them a shot and I was hooked! I'll start my mini reviews off with my thoughts on Whiskey Beach and then move to the conclusion of the Inn BoonsBoro trilogy.

Here's the synopsis for the new novel (released April 16th) from Roberts:

For more than three hundred years, Bluff House has sat above Whiskey Beach, guarding its shore—and its secrets. But to Eli Landon, it’s home…
A Boston lawyer, Eli has weathered an intense year of public scrutiny and police investigations after being accused of—but never arrested for—the murder of his soon-to-be-ex wife.
He finds sanctuary at Bluff House, even though his beloved grandmother is in Boston recuperating from a nasty fall. Abra Walsh is always there, though. Whiskey Beach’s resident housekeeper, yoga instructor, jewelry maker, and massage therapist, Abra is a woman of many talents—including helping Eli take control of his life and clear his name. But as they become entangled in each other, they find themselves caught in a net that stretches back for centuries—one that has ensnared a man intent on reaping the rewards of destroying Eli Landon once and for all…

This was a much different book than I was expecting. So far I've only read really romancey novels by Roberts but Whiskey Beach has a mysterious/thriller aspect to it that was really interesting. I liked this because it kept the novel from being too predictable. Abra and Eli will end up together, that's a given, but that didn't really matter to me (though I did hope they'd be able to work through their issues and that there would be a proposal by the end of the novel...and I'm not telling you if I was right or not). What did matter was finding out who the killer is. I was completely invested in Eli's life and desperately wanted his name to be cleared. I was on the edge of my seat at some points because I was so worried about what was going to happen to the characters. Roberts did a great job of keeping things hidden (sometimes literally) and revealing things at just the right moment. There were great twists, an interesting family history, romance, and a dog I really wanted to have for myself (it will make sense when you read it...). Overall, I think Whiskey Beach is a novel for those who like their romance with a little extra something. I really liked reading it and trying to figure out the mystery. This would be great for a rainy weekend read!

Next up, the synopsis of The Perfect Hope, the third and final book in the Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy:

The Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother are breathing new life into the town of Boonsboro, Maryland, by restoring its historic hotel. And they’re finding their own lives revamped by love. This is Ryder’s story... Ryder is the hardest Montgomery brother to figure out — with a tough-as-nails outside and possibly nothing too soft underneath. He’s surly and unsociable, but when he straps on a tool belt, no woman can resist his sexy swagger. Except apparently Hope Beaumont, the innkeeper of his own Inn BoonsBoro. And though the Inn is running smoothly, thanks to Hope’s experience and unerring instincts, her big-city past is about to make an unwelcome — and embarrassing — appearance. Seeing Hope vulnerable stirs up Ryder’s emotions and makes him realize that while Hope may not be perfect, she just might be perfect for him...

I loved this series. Just loved it. So much so that I was actually quite sad when I finished this book. I wanted more! There's really not a whole lot that happens in the series - couples get together, buildings are built, a ghost story is solved - but I think that kind of what makes it enjoyable. I love the small town aspect of it and seeing the couples finally figure out that they're in love with each other. The Montgomery brothers are what make this series so much fun to read, I think. They're your typical guy's guy which, for me, is way more attractive than, say, a dominating billionaire (cough Fifty Shades cough.) I don't know if this was my favourite of the three but it was still a lot of fun to read. Ryder and Hope are both tough and slow to let anyone in so it was sort of even more enjoyable to read as they finally got their act together. I liked being able to see what everyone else was up to and how their stories were moving along in the background. Like I said, I loved this series and think The Perfect Hope was a great conclusion to the Inn BoonsBoro trilogy. Definitely check out this series if you're looking for a sweet and entertaining romance read.

So, there you have it. My Nora Roberts lovefest. My sister and I bought my mom another trilogy for her birthday and Christmas...er...last year?...anyway, so I have that one to dive into later this summer. Until then, happy reading :)