Cat's Thoughts

Book Review: The After Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The After Girls
Author: Leah Konen
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

Ella, Astrid, and Sydney were planning the perfect summer after high school graduation. But when Astrid commits suicide in a lonely cabin, the other girls' worlds are shattered. How could their best friend have done this--to herself and to them? They knew everything about Astrid. Shouldn't they have seen this coming? Couldn't they have saved her?

As Ella hunts for the truth, and Sydney tries to dull the pain, a chilling message from Astrid leaves them wondering whether their beloved friend is communicating from the after life. The girls embark on a journey to uncover Astrid's dark secrets. The answers to those questions--questions they never dreamed of asking--will change their lives forever.

My Thoughts:
Ella and Sydney are left behind after Astrid’s suicide. Both girls are dealing with not only their own losses, but also the huge guilt they feel over not having seen signs or helped Astrid to avoid such a tragedy. Both girls are coping with their loss in their own ways – and they don’t always agree on how to deal in this situation. Sydney starts acting out more than ever to dull the pain, while Ella becomes obsessed with finding out why Astrid killed herself, especially as weird things start happening.

No one believes Ella when she swears that Astrid has called her, or that she’s seen her in the woods around “their” cabin… And the reality of the situation is far scarier than they ever expected, and Astrid was hiding things that neither girl knows how to deal with.

This book is both sad and mysterious, making it actually fun to read, despite the difficult subject matter. It’s hard to say that this type of book is “fun” – but it’s interesting, engaging, and dramatic, so the reader is sucked in to the story and the lives of the characters. Definitely worth your time for fans of mystery and YA books dealing with tough subjects.

Book Review: Taken

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Taken
Author: Erin Bowman
Where I got it: From Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

There are no men in Claysoot.

There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends . . . and he's gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby's eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he's prepared to meet his fate—until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he's been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets, the Heist itself, and what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot—a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken—or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

My Thoughts:
I’ve seen a lot of different comparisons drawn with Taken as I got ready to read it, and I just have to say that no matter what you try to compare this book to, it doesn’t do it justice. There’s so much action and drama that I didn’t want to put it down, which is extremely trying when you’ve got a new puppy running around, let me tell you!

Grey and Blaine Weathersby were born a year and a day apart. Grey is devastated when Blaine is taken by the Heist on his the eve of his eighteenth birthday, and he knows that his time will be just a short year away. When he finds a mysterious note from his mother, he begins to question everything he’s ever known in Claysoot. He’s determined to find answers, but what’s beyond the wall may be more terrifying than what’s inside.

This book strikes me as just slightly more of a “boy” book than a “girl” book, a distinction I find ridiculous in general but still occasionally feel compelled to make. The main characters are primarily male, and there’s lots of development an action around them, which is the single reason that I say that. There’s still awesome female characters that are hugely significant to the story… Maybe the distinction is pointless. Bottom line, there’s tons of action, adventure, and mayhem, with a tiny dash of romance all mixed up to make this a fantastic, compulsively readable book. I adored it, and I am desperately waiting for more!

Recent Reads

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

In my quest to start liking to read for fun again, I’ve been hitting up the library and reading off TBR a bit more lately, even though it’s putting me behind. It’s good to want to pick up my books. Here’s a smattering of what I’ve been reading lately!

Have you read any of these? What did you think?

Top Ten: Books on Tough Subjects

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, that gives us all a chance to make lists! I love making lists, so this is right up my alley. :-)

Our topic this week is books that tackle tough subjects… So here we go!

I know I missed a bunch of awesome books, tell me what you had on your list!

bout of books 7.0

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Tue, 14 May 2013 02:08:00 +0000

It’s Bout of Books time! This week-long read-a-thon is more about fun than anything else, and I’m definitely hoping to get in some good reading time. The only goal is to read a little more than you usually would – so turn off your TV and pick up a book and join me!

My goals for this week are to get through my library books that are way too near their due dates for my comfort. If I accomplish that, I’ll be tackling my review pile, which is also sadly running behind. Some highlights that I know of include:

This might be wishful thinking, but a girl’s gotta have goals, right?

Book Review: The Best of Us

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The Best of Us
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Where I got it: From the publisher, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

An all-expense-paid week at a luxury villa in Jamaica—it’s the invitation of a lifetime for a group of old college friends. All four women are desperate not just for a reunion, but for an escape: Tina is drowning under the demands of mothering four young children. Allie is shattered by the news that a genetic illness runs in her family. Savannah is carrying the secret of her husband’s infidelity. And, finally, there’s Pauline, who spares no expense to throw her wealthy husband an unforgettable thirty-fifth birthday celebration, hoping it will gloss over the cracks already splitting apart their new marriage.

Languid hours on a private beach, gourmet dinners, and late nights of drinking kick off an idyllic week for the women and their husbands. But as a powerful hurricane bears down on the island, turmoil swirls inside the villa, forcing each of the women to reevaluate everything she knows about her friends—and herself.

My Thoughts:
Sarah Pekkanen writes contemporary fiction like nobody’s business, and The Best of Us is no exception. While the circumstances that surround the story are certainly a bit unusual, the emotions and relationships are spot on and completely believable, which is the best part of the story of these four college friends.

Allie, Savannah, Tina, and Dwight were all close friends in college, but have grown apart to some extent as the years have passed. All are married, and have various family lives that consume their time. But for Dwight’s 35th birthday, his wife arranges an all expenses paid trip to Jamaica for the college quartet and their spouses. But the weather and the intense dynamic wreak havoc in these relationships, and as the week progresses, each woman will have to confront their lives in unique ways.

Pekkanen explores family and friendship dynamics so fantastically well, with a huge dose of realism that makes this book compulsively readable. While I’m not personally in the same position in life that any of these women are, I absolutely could empathize with their situations and the individual stresses and challenges they experience. This tropical vacation will end up being one they won’t soon forget, for many different reasons.

Book Review: The Sweetest Dark

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The Sweetest Dark
Author: Shana Abe
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

For fans of Lauren Kate and Libba Bray, The Sweetest Dark is filled with thrilling romance, exciting adventure, and ancient magic. Shana Abé brilliantly captures the drama of post-Victorian England, while unfolding a passionate love story that defies time.

“With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normal would become forever out of reach.”

Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.

England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.

Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.

Filled with lush atmosphere, thrilling romance, and ancient magic, The Sweetest Dark brilliantly captures a rich historical era while unfolding an enchanting love story that defies time.

My Thoughts:
The Sweetest Dark was a great new twist on paranormal YA, and I am so excited for the sequel to come out after reading it! Actually, to tell a secret, I have a review copy of the next book, and it’s really tempting me right now. If I wasn’t running behind on other stuff right now, I’d probably be reading it. This book has everything you could want – paranormal happenings, UNIQUE paranormal happenings! And romance. And danger and adventure. Definitely a great mix.

Lora’s always had special abilities. After she was institutionalized for discussing them, she learns to hide them, but at her new school, she won’t be able to continue to do that. Jesse recognizes her for what she is, and Lora is drawn to him. But Armand is more than he seems, and he’s inexplicably intrigued by Lora and her abilities… As the danger increases, the three must work together to figure out what’s really going on at the school, before it’s too late.

Welcome to the Family!

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Last fall, we lost our “son” to cancer, which was incredibly traumatic and horrible and I still miss him every day. Oscar was an awesome dog, with more personality than you would ever expect to find in a compact little body. He was a great friend and brother to our two other dogs. This is Oscar (and Madison’s rear):

After spending many many months recovering from our loss, we started working our way around to adopting another pup to round our house back out again. Three dogs seems like a lot to most people, but they’re like our kids and we love them, and the house seemed way too empty when we were one down.

Last weekend, hubs went camping and I “wandered” into the pet store on an adoption weekend. There were two adorable twelve week old pups there, but I knew that there was no way I could integrate a new pup to the house without an extra set of hands, so I cuddled one of them and left. But, they stuck in my head, so we went back on Sunday when hubs got home, and within minutes he’d agreed that this little sweetheart needed to come home with us.

Welcome to the family Ivy!

We’ve had some growing pains in the past week, but we are so thrilled to have this sweet little girl in our home!

Book Review: Moonset

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Moonset
Author: Scott Tracey
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

Moonset, a coven of such promise . . . Until they turned to the darkness.

After the terrorist witch coven known as Moonset was destroyed fifteen years ago—during a secret war against the witch Congress—five children were left behind, saddled with a legacy of darkness. Sixteen-year-old Justin Daggett, son of a powerful Moonset warlock, has been raised alongside the other orphans by the witch Congress, who fear the children will one day continue the destruction their parents started.

A deadly assault by a wraith, claiming to work for Moonset’s most dangerous disciple, Cullen Bridger, forces the five teens to be evacuated to Carrow Mill. But when dark magic wreaks havoc in their new hometown, Justin and his siblings are immediately suspected. Justin sets out to discover if someone is trying to frame the Moonset orphans . . . or if Bridger has finally come out of hiding to reclaim the legacy of Moonset. He learns there are secrets in Carrow Mill connected to Moonset’s origins, and keeping the orphans safe isn’t the only reason the Congress relocated them . . .

My Thoughts:
Scott Tracey is an amazing author, and Moonset is a fantastic start to a new trilogy. I was sooooooo excited to get approved for this one, and once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the magic, the history, and the characters so freaking much you guys!!!

Justin and his siblings aren’t really siblings… They’re a coven, formed of the children of the most notorious coven in the magical community, Moonset. They’ve been under the “protection” of the witch Congress for their entire lives. As the danger surrounding the teens escalates, they’re relocated to the small town where their parents started it all… Either for protection, or as bait – no one knows for sure.

What’s really going on in Carrow’s Mill?

Guys, if you haven’t read Scott Tracey before, you are totally missing out. Moonset is a great opportunity to get started, because it’s just so awesome!

Top Ten: Fun Reads

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, that gives us all a chance to make lists! I love making lists, so this is right up my alley. :-)

Our topic this week is those awesome light, fun reads that get us through when our brains are fried and we can’t think about anything serious… Here’s a selection of my favorites!

Book Review: Sleeping in Eden

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sat, 04 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Sleeping in Eden
Author: Nicole Baart
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

She knew what he wrote . . .

One little word that made her feel both cheated and beloved.

One word that changed everything.

MINE.

On a chilly morning in the Northwest Iowa town of Blackhawk, Dr. Lucas Hudson is filling in for the vacationing coroner on a seemingly open-and-shut suicide case. His own life is crumbling around him, but when he unearths the body of a woman buried in the barn floor beneath the hanging corpse, he realizes this terrible discovery could change everything. . . .

Years before Lucas ever set foot in Blackhawk, Meg Painter met Dylan Reid. It was the summer before high school and the two quickly became inseparable. Although Meg’s older neighbor, Jess, was the safe choice, she couldn’t let go of Dylan no matter how hard she tried.

Caught in a web of jealousy and deceit that spiraled out of control, Meg’s choices in the past ultimately collide with Lucas’s discovery in the present, weaving together a taut story of unspoken secrets and the raw, complex passions of innocence lost.

My Thoughts:
So… I really hate it when I book synopsis focuses on something that either didn’t seem that big in the book, or wasn’t really even in the book in my readerly opinion. If you’re going to read Sleeping in Eden, don’t do it because of the synopsis – it’s a bit misleading to say the least. BUT… Still read it, because it’s a pretty good contemporary mystery.

Lucas and his wife have been on the rocks for eight years, ever since the teen girl his wife took under her wing disappeared. So when Lucas is called to act as coroner in her father’s apparent suicide and uncovers a long buried body, he’s certain that it’s hers. He becomes obsessed with the mystery surrounding a ring found at the scene, and even as the girl reappears in their lives, he cannot let go of his obsession.

Years before, Meg and Dylan were best friends, until Meg began falling for Dylan, despite his bad-boy past and reputation. He’s not willing to give their relationship a chance, so she tries to move on, but can’t seem to let go…

As these separate characters’ lives intertwine, there’s a lot of mystery and background to cover, but the relationships and issues make the story completely readable and relatable. I did find the book a bit long winded at times, it seemed to take a while to bring things together and get some action going, but these were brief moments that didn’t make me put the book down. Definitely a well written and intricate mystery for contemporary fans.

Book Review: Anthem for Jackson Dawes

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Anthem for Jackson Dawes
Author: Celia Bryce
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

When Megan arrives on the cancer ward for her first treatment, she's frustrated to be on the pediatric unit. There's only one other teen there: Jackson Dawes. He's cute, rebellious . . . and obnoxiously charming. Megan can't stand the way he meets his illness with such positive energy. But when her own friends are scared off by her illness, Megan finds she doesn't really mind Jackson's playful antics. As they begin the tentative stirrings of first love, they also start the most aggressive round of treatments on their tumors. Can the power of first love overcome the heartbreak of cancer?

Fans of Lurlene McDaniel will flock to this emotional debut.

My Thoughts:
I have always been a Lurlene McDaniel fan, and I’m oddly attracted to cancer kid books, probably because I went through it with relatives when I was a kid, so it’s easy to identify with the topic in some fashion. Anthem for Jackson Dawes is one of those books that makes you feel all the feels – but ultimately leaves you feeling reasonably decent at the end.

I read this one during the read-a-thon last weekend when I knew I needed a quick read to keep me motivated, and I blazed through it in no time at all. The attitude and relationship between Jackson and Megan is tangible from the get-go in this book, and while I don’t have a ton of comparable experience, it felt realistic to me. The book is both heartbreaking and inspiring, and incredibly emotional overall.

Top Ten: Auto-Buy Topics

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, that gives us all a chance to make lists! I love making lists, so this is right up my alley. :-)

Our topic this week is words and phrases that make me automatically buy a book – so here goes!

Dystopian! I had no idea what this was a year ago, but I’m hooked
Tough issues – no idea why but I’m totally into these
Anything Irish
Anything from the “Ender-verse”
Christmas themed books
Blogger recs – there are some bloggers whose five star recommendations are the end all be all in my mind.

So it’s not ten, but still and all. I read so much that I would go broke if I bought every book that turned my head…

Midway Update

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 00:37:00 +0000

Helllllllooooooooo read-a-thoners!!!! How’s it going? My day is just peachy so far!

I’ve finished The Program, The Archived and The Wrap-Up List, and listened to about three hours or so of my audiobook, Sweet Evil. Audiobooks come in super handy for cheer and move around the house breaks!!!

As far as the menu goes – holy crap you guys, that refrigerator oatmeal stuff I made was amazing! So freaking good, I’m glad I made a couple servings, because I will probably want more today.

How’s your ‘thon???

Read A Thon Starting Line!

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

I say this every ‘Thon, but holy crap 5:00AM is freaking early you guys! I’m so glad I prepped my food in advance, I’m not particularly functional at this hour! But here I am, ready to kick off another awesome read a thon!

The Books:

Here’s some of the top books that I plan on reading today, but this is totally subject to change based on my interest level at any given time. You know how it is.

The Program (Suzanne Young)
20 Boy Summer (Sarah Ockler)
The Wrap Up List (Steven Arntson)
Poison (Molly Cochran)
Sweet Evil (Wendy Higgins) – audiobook

The Menu:

I went all out this year and actually planned in advance, because food is one thing I’ve never done well in previous ‘thons – I’m really hoping this menu turns out well!

Overnight refrigerator oatmeal
Pita chips and hummus
Chips and queso
Veggies and ranch
Frozen pizza
Two kinds of smoothies!
No bake energy balls
Salsa chicken

I was aiming for yummy, but healthy and not going to make me all “blah” from eating too much junk, which is what usually happens to me. All of this has been prepared ahead to the best of my abilities, so eating won’t interfere with my reading! (And of course, I have a huge supply of coffee on standby)

The Plan:

I’ve been listening to audiobooks on my bike lately, so I’m all set to get my rear in gear a few times throughout the day to walk or bike and wake myself up. Hubs also just brought home a new to us patio set, so I’m pretty excited to be able to read outside while it’s still nice out!

As a side note, I’ll also be cheering this time around, so I’ll definitely see y’all around!

Le Sigh

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

You guys, I am in a total slump! I’ve been incredibly busy with *believe* the semester I’m having in school right now! I need a couple of awesome books to keep me interested in something other than Grey’s Anatomy reruns and other crappy TV!

On the bright side, I’ve been super proud of myself lately for starting to work out on a regular schedule again. That’s definitely helping my mood in the face of a ridiculous amount of busyness and drama, but it’s being a total time suck.

However… And this is particularly funny. I finally let hubs get a new car (he’s had a wonderful car that I made him drive into the ground for the past several years) last weekend. He finally got himself excited about it, even though he had to let his old car go, which was nice. And… The last time I drove him, he was all giddy that I was listening to Ready Player One. So the dogs and I got together and got him an iPod Nano for his early Father’s Day gift. We spent a bunch of time last weekend getting it working and downloading audiobooks, and it was actually kinda adorable to see a non-reader excited about reading (or listening!)!

So anyway… I’m running super behind right now on reviews, and I definitely need some incentive to get my butt out of this ridiculous reading slump! Anything you can suggest that would be utterly engaging and thrilling would be appreciated! Please don’t be mad at me if my reviews slow down, I swear I’ll get my head on straight soon – you want reviews, show me some love and recommend some great titles!

Book Review: 17 & Gone

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Title: 17 & Gone
Author: Nova Ren Suma
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Lauren is having visions of girls who have gone missing. And all these girls have just one thing in common—they are 17 and gone without a trace. As Lauren struggles to shake these waking nightmares, impossible questions demand urgent answers: Why are the girls speaking to Lauren? How can she help them? And . . . is she next? As Lauren searches for clues, everything begins to unravel, and when a brush with death lands her in the hospital, a shocking truth emerges, changing everything.

My Thoughts:
Seventeen and Gone was an interesting read, but a little slow for my preferences. I had incredibly high expectations of this one based on the synopsis and all the good things I’ve heard about the author, and that may have contributed to my overall lack of thrill with this book.

The concept is fantastic – a 17 year old girl starts seeing visions of other 17 year olds who have gone missing recently. They share their respective stories with her, and she becomes obsessed with helping them, or at least sharing their stories with their families. As Lauren becomes more involved with the lives of the girls reaching out to her, she begins distancing herself from her real friends and family, to her detriment.

As Lauren’s mental status declines, it becomes more apparent that there’s more to the story than initially presented. I think I was expecting a creepy ghost story than a mental drama that moved a bit slowly for my tastes. I really needed a little more from the story to keep me engaged and interested and wanting to finish the book, but other than that, the book was pretty good. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who knows what they’re getting into and wants it, but if you’re looking for something creepy, this isn’t the book for you.

Top Ten: Books I’m Running Behind On

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, that gives us all a chance to make lists! I love making lists, so this is right up my alley. :-)

We have a “rewind” this week, but I’ve been doing Top Ten Tuesday for so long that I don’t think I’ve missed a topic that I want to do. Not to mention that I’m running incredibly behind on my reading lately, I’m going to highlight some books that I’m sure will be awesome, but I’m behind on.

I’m so flipping excited to read these, but I’m running so far behind!!!! Gotta get there!!!

Tour Giveaway: Hysteria

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:01:00 +0000

I read Hysteria a while back, and I really enjoyed it – you can check out my review if you haven’t seen it already!

Since I liked the book so much, I was super thrilled to have the chance to participate in the blog tour and offer one lucky reader a copy of Hysteria, courtesy of Bloomsbury!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: If You Find Me

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Title: If You Find Me
Author: Emily Murdoch
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

There are some things you can’t leave behind…

A broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and two strangers arrive. Suddenly, the girls are taken from the woods and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world of high school, clothes and boys.

Now, Carey must face the truth of why her mother abducted her ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go… a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down.

My Thoughts:
Carey essentially grew up in the woods, with her erratic mother and her little sister for company. She’s always believed that her mother took custody of them because her father was abusive, and she’s put up with her mother’s addictions and erratic behavior in the interest of surviving. Suddenly, two strangers arrive in the woods, claiming that her mother has abdicated care of the two children, and entrusted them to social services and their father.

As Carey and Jenessa struggle to adapt to a new environment, where there are people, clean clothes, and technology, Carey must deal with the fact that her huge secret is the key to Jenessa’s speech, and their long term happiness in this strange new world.

While I requested this book expecting something creepy (which seems to be a theme lately, and I think I need to just actually pick creepy books myself), I still absolutely adored If You Find Me, even though it’s not creepy in the slightest. This is a touching, dramatic, and impressive novel that deals with touchy subjects in a delicate and realistic manner. I definitely enjoyed it, and I completely loved Jenessa and Carey, more than I ever would have expected.

Book Review: When She Was Gone

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Title: When She Was Gone
Author: Gwendolen Gross
Where I got it: From Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

What happened to Linsey Hart? When the Cornell-bound teenager disappears into the steamy blue of a late-summer morning, her quiet neighborhood is left to pick apart the threads of their own lives and assumptions.

Linsey’s neighbors are just ordinary people—but even ordinary people can keep terrible secrets hidden close. There’s Linsey’s mother, Abigail, whose door-to-door searching makes her social-outcast status painfully obvious; Mr. Leonard, the quiet, retired piano teacher with insomnia, who saw Linsey leave; Reeva, the queen bee of a clique of mothers, now obsessed with a secret interest; Timmy, Linsey’s lovelorn ex-boyfriend; and George, an eleven-year-old loner who is determined to find out what happened to his missing neighbor.

As the days of Linsey’s absence tick by, dread and hope threaten to tear a community apart. This luminous new novel by the acclaimed author of The Orphan Sister explores coming of age in the shadows of a suburban life, and what is revealed when the light suddenly shines in. . . .

My Thoughts:
When She Was Gone sounded like an intriguing and engaging mystery that would keep me guessing and turning pages from beginning to end. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite as thrilling as I was hoping – I found the stream of consciousness narrative somewhat difficult to follow, and not always the most interesting. There were times that I had a hard time picking this one back up after I’d put it down, but I was curious enough about what happened to Linsey to keep at it.

In the end, I found this one a bit anticlimactic, and I was a little sad that I had put in the time to finish it because the ending wasn’t as impressive as I kept hoping it would be. I would probably pass this one up given the chance to go back in time, but if you loved it, tell me why!

Book Review: Just One Night–Exposed

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Just One Night – Exposed
Author: Kyra Davis
Where I got it: From Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

Part 2 of the Just One Night series. One passionate night with a stranger turned Kasie's world upside down, and just when she thought she was getting the hang of things, her fiancé finds out...You should sleep with a stranger--those words whispered in her ear by her best friend became a challenge Kasie took to heart. Suddenly, the man who gave her the most shocking pleasure in that upscale Vegas hotel--a man whose name she never bothered to find out--is her company's biggest client.

As this unknown man becomes Mr. Dade at the office, and Mr. Dade becomes Robert in the bedroom, Kasie discovers her true nature and begins to question the carefully controlled, modest image she has crafted to please her family and friends. But when her fiancé, Dave, finds out, his rage and desire to both keep her and punish her could cost her everything--including Robert, the only man who has wanted Kasie for who she really is and the only man who makes her feel truly alive.

My Thoughts:
I don’t entirely know what I think of part two of the Just One Night trilogy. On the one hand, the character growth is pretty solid, but on the other, the whole thing just seems a tiny bit ridiculous. Granted, a lot of smexy books are a little ridiculous, but for some reason, this one started to get on my nerves at times. There’s almost too much conflict, not enough happy times in between.

However, although there are times that the story got to me a little, I still enjoyed the book and I will still be looking forward to the next installment. I’m hoping that the next one ties things together a bit better.

Book Review: Heart Like Mine

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Heart Like Mine
Author: Amy Hatvany
Where I got it: From Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

Thirty-six-year-old Grace McAllister never longed for children. But when she meets Victor Hansen, a handsome, charismatic divorced restaurateur who is father to Max and Ava, Grace decides that, for the right man, she could learn to be an excellent part-time stepmom. After all, the kids live with their mother, Kelli. How hard could it be?

At thirteen, Ava Hansen is mature beyond her years. Since her parents’ divorce, she has been taking care of her emotionally unstable mother and her little brother—she pays the bills, does the laundry, and never complains because she loves her mama more than anyone. And while her father’s new girlfriend is nice enough, Ava still holds out hope that her parents will get back together and that they’ll be a family again. But only days after Victor and Grace get engaged, Kelli dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances—and soon, Grace and Ava discover that there was much more to Kelli’s life than either ever knew.

Narrated by Grace and Ava in the present with flashbacks into Kelli’s troubled past, Heart Like Mine is a poignant, hopeful portrait of womanhood, love, and the challenges and joys of family life.

My Thoughts:
The more I read of Amy Hatvany’s work, the more I love it. Her stories are complex, emotional, and well integrated. In Heart Like Mine, Grace, Kelli and Ava share an entangled relationship. Kelli is Victor’s ex-wife and mother of his two children, having a difficult time dealing with her past and the present loss of her husband. Ava is her thirteen year old daughter who has been thrust into the role of caretaker for the family. Meanwhile, both of them are dealing with the growing relationship between Grace and Victor…

Grace is one of those women who never wanted kids of her own, so when she meets Victor, a part time every other weekend father, she thinks she’s got it pretty good. Until Kelli passes away suddenly, leaving them to adapt to a completely new household dynamic, and help the kids cope with their incredible loss.

Told in alternating perspectives with snapshots of both the past and present, Heart Like Mine explores the far reaching affects of guilt, the dynamics of increasingly complicated family relationships, and the many shades of love between people. This is an amazingly realistic story, both in the well written narrative and the fact that this type of blended family exists more and more often today.

I completely identified with Grace, which really made the reading experience awesome for me. I felt for Grace within pages of starting the book – the constant judging of her desire to have a career over family, and the complete paralysis she experiences when learning to interact with the kids. I loved the complex dynamic and the completely believable conflict among all the characters. I could easily see this story playing out in real life, and I loved every page of it.

Top Ten: Books I Read Before I Blogged

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, that gives us all a chance to make lists! I love making lists, so this is right up my alley. :-)

Our topic this week is favorite books from our pre-blogging days… Many of which I’ve shared with you in other top ten Tuesday posts, but they’re so awesome that I don’t mind talking about them again!

I’ve been a reader since practically before I was born, there a tons of books I remember loving from childhood to when I started blogging, there’s just not enough room for all of them!

Book Review: After the Ending

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Title: After the Ending
Author: Lindsey Fairleigh & Lindsey Pogue
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

The virus spread. Billions died. The Ending began. We may have survived the apocalypse, but the virus changed us.

When people started getting sick, "they" thought it was just the flu. My roommate, my boyfriend, my family...they're all gone now. I got sick too. I should have died with them--with the rest of the world--but I didn't. I thought witnessing the human population almost disappear off the face of the earth was the craziest thing I'd ever experience. I was so wrong. My name is Dani O'Connor, I'm twenty-six-years-old, and I survived The Ending.

The Virus changed everything. The world I knew is gone, and life is backwards. We've all had to start over. I've been stripped of my home, my dreams...all that is me. I'm someone else now--broken and changed. Other survivors' memories and emotions haunt me. They invade my mind until I can no longer separate them from my own. I won't let them consume me. I can't. My name is Zoe Cartwright, I'm twenty-six-years-old, and I survived The Ending.

We've been inseparable for most of our lives, and now our friendship is all we have left. The aftermath of the Virus has stranded us on opposite sides of the United States. Trusting strangers, making sacrifices, killing--we'll do anything to reach one another. Fear and pain may be unavoidable, but we're strong...we're survivors. But to continue surviving in this unfamiliar world plagued by Crazies and strange new abilities, we have to adapt. We have to evolve.

And more than anything, we have to find each other.

My Thoughts:
This is an absolutely incredible post apocalyptic book reminiscent of White Horse – dystopian for grownups!!! Seriously you guys, I started this book and couldn’t put it down to save my life. I am pretty sure I actually growled at hubs at one point when he tried to talk to me and I had only minutes left to go… And then the ending!!!! I’m literally still dying inside thinking about it, and I have to wait for the next book!!!!!

The story is told in alternating perspectives between Zoe and Dani – they both survived the Virus that killed the majority of the population, and as they struggle across the country to reunite, they each face incredible dangers and unique discoveries. Through it all, they are just trying to survive to reunite and support each other as best they can… While dealing with strange new abilities, avoiding Crazies, and scavenging for the bare minimum supplies to survive.

This is an incredibly dramatic, intricate, complicated, enthralling book. I couldn’t put it down, I loved it all! You definitely gotta check this one out, STAT!