2016 Thankfully Reading Weekend: Day Three

ThankfullyReading

 

Happy Day After Thankgiving! How did everyone do yesterday? Full stomachs, plenty of reading time…sounds like bliss to me! I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to a day of reading at home, avoiding the retail madness! I admit do doing a little online pre-Black Friday shopping last night. It was too difficult to resist!

For today’s challenge, I invite you to write about the book you are most thankful for this year. Is it a book written by one of your favorite authors or one you just happened to come upon? Tell us about it!  Include a link to your post below (or if you don’t have a blog, tell us about the book in the comments.


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2016 Thankfully Reading Weekend: Day Two!

ThankfullyReading

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We have a nice low-key Thanksgiving planned. We’re in OH visiting my parents and siblings.  We’ve had dinner catered in (we’re still providing our favorite sides) so I’m looking forward to some quality reading time!

For today’s challenge, let’s talk about a “reading menu.” What makes a good menu to you?  What are your favorite genres, favorite books? Any tactics authors use that drives you crazy (like cliffhangers!?).

Feel free to answer in the comments or below! I’ve also added a Mr. Linky for those updating on their blogs!

 


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2016 Thankfully Reading Weekend Kick-Off!

ThankfullyReading

 

It’s time!!

This is the official kick off post for Thankfully Reading!  Instead of braving the crowds and shopping this weekend, we’re spending our time curled up with a book!

 

Feel free to link up your kick-off post below, as well as any update posts you have. Don’t have a blog? Don’t worry! You can keep us updated on your progress in the comments below, on Instagram  or Twitter (use #thankfullyreading or make sure you tag me so I can see it!) Haven’t signed up yet to participate? Not to worry! There is still plenty of time!

If you don’t know what to post, here are some ideas. But remember there are no rules; feel free to post as little/as much as you like!

  • How will/did you celebrate Thanksgiving?
  • What’s in your TBR pile for the weekend?
  • How much time do you think you’ll have for reading?
  • What book are you starting out with?
  • Are you reading print, ebooks, or audio? Maybe a bit each?
  • What books will you be talking about during Thanksgiving dinner? Be sure to keep track of any recommendations you receive and share when you have the time.If you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, don’t worry, this is a weekend for everyone throughout the world.
  • Pictures and/or vlogs are a great thing to add to your kick-off posts!

Throughout the weekend, feel free to post about your progress or even get some reviews up. Be sure to come back and link up your posts. Then take a break and check out everyone else’s posts. We’re looking forward to seeing how everyone else is celebrating Thankfully Reading Weekend.

Oh and don’t forget that some of your fellow readers will be on Twitter. You can search for Thankfully Reading Weekend tweets and hook up with others by using the hashtag #thankfullyreading.

On Sunday afternoon, we’ll post another link-up for your wrap-up post. Tell us how your Thankfully Reading Weekend went. You could give mini-reviews of your books, tell us how many books and which books you read, number of pages, number of hours, and so on. This is a rule-free, contest-free event, so you can wrap up the weekend however you’d like.


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Review: I’ll Take You There by Wally Lamb

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: I’ll Take You There by Wally LambI'll Take You There by Wally Lamb
Published by HarperCollins on November 22nd 2016
Genres: Contemporary Women, Family Life, Fiction, Literary
Pages: 272
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Felix, a film scholar, runs a movie club in a former vaudeville theater. As he's setting up, he's visited by the ghost from Hollywood's past: Lois Weber, a director from Hollywood's silent film era.   Lois grants Felix a unique opportunity: to relive memories from his childhood, projected like film onto the theater's movie screen.

Felix is granted the opportunity to revisit the women who are most important in his life, those who have influenced his life the most.  From his sister, Frances, and their unique relationship built on a mix of cruelty and compassion, to his daughter, Aliza and her war between her feminist beliefs and lofty career ambitions, Frances gains a new understanding and appreciation for those women he holds close and dear, and the struggles that have faced throughout all eras.

Wow. What an experience.  What makes this even so exhilarating is how my experience and considerations for this book transformed as I read it.

I’m no fan of film history. I get that there are a great number of people who are, so when the author delved into that word of Hollywood magic I went along for the ride.  True, I found myself skimming through bits and pieces until “POW, ” the introduction of the ghosts of Hollywood’s past paid a visit.  That journey they presented Felix with not only affected is outlook, but my own as well.

Through Felix’s journeys through his past, we are introduced to a host of women fighting a battle we’ve been fighting all of our lives: for appreciation, understanding, respect, equal treatment, and much, much more. Lamb touches on a wealth of difficult issues, from eating disorders and abortion, to infidelity and the right to love whomever we want, no matter the gender. What makes this all so tremendous is that it isn’t a sudden release of all these weighty issues, but a slow and sudden stream of realization and understanding.  Upon assembling them all together and reviewing the full scope of the novel (especially the second to the last chapter), we then realize the true impact and resolve of these women in his life.  They were all trailblazers, fighting and desperate to rise above the restrictions society has placed upon them in an effort to attain the life and status they deserve.

This is the book to read now of all times, when once again we face a social climate in which our rights, our bodies, our lives are put into question.  It reminds us that we women have been facing this battle for years.  Feminism has changed over the decades.  It’s moved from burning bras to social media and hashtags declaring our voices. Yet, despite these differing methods of action, our message is still the same. We are all fighting this continuous battle…and we must come together to fight it as one.

Highly, highly, highly recommended.

 

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Winter Book Preview: December 2016

Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these! Many apologies!

Following are the December titles I’m looking forward to! It’s a really quiet month in publishing so this is quite the short list! This is a good thing; I feel December (and the holidays in general) give us all a chance to catch up on our reading!

 

9780425283387_e82bcSpouse on Haunted Hill  by E.J. Copperman (Dec. 6):

Where Alison Kerby’s ex-husband goes, trouble follows. Unfortunately this time he’s brought that trouble right to her doorstep. On the run from a business deal gone bad, Steven, aka “the Swine,” owes some scary people a staggering sum of money.

Before Alison has a chance to read Steven the riot act, he disappears—after a mysterious man trailing him ends up full of bullet holes. Now the police are next to darken her doorway. Soon with the help of ghosts Maxie and Paul, Alison sets out to find her ex and clear him of the murder. But if the bad guys get to him first, he may not have a ghost of a chance…

 

This is the sixth book in the Haunted Guesthouse cozy mystery series.  I’m a huge fan, devouring each one as soon as it releases. This one comes out in perfect time for my Cozy Mystery Week, too!

 

 

9781455554119_269afHow Will I Know You by Jessica Treadway (Dec. 6):

On a cold December day in northern upstate New York, the body of high school senior Joy Enright is discovered in the woods at the edge of a pond. She had been presumed drowned, but an autopsy shows that she was, in fact, strangled. As the investigation unfolds, four characters tell the story from widely divergent perspectives: Susanne, Joy’s mother and a professor at the local art college; Martin, a black graduate student suspected of the murder; Harper, Joy’s best friend and a potential eyewitness; and Tom, a rescue diver and son-in-law of the town’s police chief. As a web of small-town secrets comes to light, a dramatic conclusion reveals the truth about Joy’s death.

There’s something about curling up with a thriller on a cold winter afternoon! Treadway is the author of Lacy Eye, I’m interested to see where she’ll take us with this most recent endeavor!

 

9780316354219_9dd5aKill the Next One by Federico Axat (Dec. 13):

Ted McKay had it all: a beautiful wife, two daughters, a high-paying job. But after being diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor he finds himself with a gun to his temple, ready to pull the trigger. Then the doorbell rings.
A stranger makes him a proposition: why not kill two deserving men before dying? The first target is a criminal, and the second is a man with terminal cancer who, like Ted, wants to die. After executing these kills, Ted will become someone else’s next target, like a kind of suicidal daisy chain. Ted understands the stranger’s logic: it’s easier for a victim’s family to deal with a murder than with a suicide.

However, as Ted commits the murders, the crime scenes strike him as odd. The targets know him by name and possess familiar mementos. Even more bizarrely, Ted recognizes locations and men he shouldn’t know. As Ted’s mind begins to crack, dark secrets from his past seep through the fissures.

This one sounds twisty. My kind of read!
Which December titles are you looking forward to most!
Posted in Bookish Chatter | 1 Comment

Review: The Magnolia Story by Chip & Joanna Gaines

Review: The Magnolia Story by Chip & Joanna GainesThe Magnolia Story by Chip Gaines, Joanna Gaines
Published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing on October 18th 2016
Genres: Biography & Autobiography, Entertainment & Performing Arts, General
Pages: 208
Format: Hardcover
Source: personal copy
Chip and Jo Gaines are one of the most renowned couples in the home improvement television business. Their famous line "Are you ready to see your fixer upper" sends chills of excitement down the spines of viewers around the world. From Chip's quirky personality and Jo's phenomenal design taste, they have quickly won the hearts of their fans.

This book shares their journey from struggling newlyweds just trying to keep their heads above water to a couple who has warmed the hearts of fans.

I don’t know about you, but events as of late have had me in a reading funk. I was scrambling for a book to keep my attention when I saw this one sitting next to my reading chair, beckoning me.

Within just a few moments I forgot what was going on in the world around me and instead was wrapped up in the heartwarming, challenging, quirky, but most of all, hopeful and loving, world of Chip and Jo Gaines.

Most of us know them from their highly successful television series, but not about their lives as they lead up to it.  I found myself giggle as Jo retold the story of their meeting, their first date, and their wedding.  It’s told largely from her perspective, with Chip jumping in every now and then telling his side of a story or adding additional information.

My takeaway? Sometimes we need to step away from the craziness of the world around us an immerse ourselves in what is most important: love, happiness, and family. The Gaines didn’t start out wealthy or successful in the least, but it was this lesson, this reminder to focus on family first, is what actually led to their success.

This simple reminder has lifted my spirits and has given me a new outlook on life and the current situations we face as a nation.  I implore you do to the same: step away from the news, the politics of the world, and surround yourself in the warmth of love and family.

Posted in Autobiography, Non-Fiction, Review | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

2016 Thankfully Reading Weekend!

ThankfullyReading

Egads! Where has the time gone!?

Thanksgiving is just right around the corner. With that comes the dreaded Black Friday (well, now lately, it’s Black Thursday, too!).

I’m pleased to announce that I will once again be hosting Thankfully Reading Weekend, November 23-27th! Want to avoid the crowds & shopping on Black Friday? Plan on spending a nice, quiet holiday at home? Join us!

Just what is this Thankfully Reading Weekend I speak of?  Here are the details:

There are no rules to the weekend, we’re simply hoping to devote a good amount of time to reading, and perhaps meeting some of our reading challenges and goals for the year. We thought it’d be fun if we cheered each other on a bit. If you think you can join in, grab the button  and add your sign up post to the link-up below. If you don’t have a blog, you can sign up the comments or sign up using a link to your Twitter account or Facebook page!

Want to host a challenge? Email me directly at jennsbookshelf@gmail.com.

We’ll also be checking in on Twitter using hashtag #thankfullyreading. Join in for the weekend or for only a single day. No rules, no pressure!

Stay tuned; more details to come!


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Review: Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Everything We Keep by Kerry LonsdaleEverything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale
Published by Lake Union Publishing on August 1st 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Contemporary Women, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 296
Format: Paperback
Source: the publisher
Aimee Tierney's wedding day turns into a funeral service when her childhood sweetheart James Donato disappears during a boating trip.  Two months later his body is recovered and Aimee must prepare for a life without him instead of a future with him.  As if that isn't enough, a woman approaches her at the service, claiming that James isn't dead.

Forced to replan her future, Aimee plans to follow her dream and open a coffee house.  Still in the back of her mind, though, is the possibility that James is alive. As she digs through the clues, she uncovers secrets meant to keep her safe, ones that question the life they had together. Is this...closure she's attempting to gain worth all the pain she is uncovering?

Let’s start with what I loved about this book!  I loved Aimee’s character. I felt great sympathy for her ordeal. I can’t imagine the pain she must be feeling.  I appreciated that she attempted to move on with her life, opening the coffee shop she dreamed of. I understood her reluctance to accept her fiance’s death, especially given all the clues that presented themselves. The flashbacks to their childhood and the evolution from a friendship to romance felt genuine and completely heartwarming.

What I didn’t like about the book: the last quarter. What was revealed seemed rushed, not at all as fleshed out as the rest of the novel. While I was surprised at what transpired, it was quite disappointing to say the least.  Also, the sex scenes. There are only two, but they felt as though they were the same, only with different people.  The same descriptors were used, including the sound of the foil wrapper opening.

Overall, I wouldn’t say this was a wasted read, but it certainly had much more potential.  Apparently it is the first book in a series.  I won’t be rushing out to read the next book, but may give it a try.

Bottom line: This is certainly an escapist read, but lacking in substance.

 

Posted in General Fiction, Review | 1 Comment

2016 Murder, Monsters & Mayhem Wrap-up/Month in Review

2016mx3

It’s November 1, which means my month-long celebration of all things spooky and terrifying has drawn to an end.  I’m still not over my horror fix; you know I sneak in horror whenever I can.

That said, let’s take a look at the titles I reviewed this month:

17 titles in total reviewed. While there were a few misses, I’d say 98% of the titles I read this month were a hit!

 

How was your reading month?

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Audiobook Review: The Family Plot by Cherie Priest

Audiobook Review: The Family Plot by Cherie PriestThe Family Plot by Cherie Priest
Also by this author: Maplecroft
Published by Macmillan on September 20th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Gothic, Urban
Pages: 336
Format: Audiobook
Source: personal copy
Music City Salvage, owned by Chuck Dutton, thrives on stripping historic buildings and reselling what they've salvaged.  Business has been slow, so Chuck is thrilled when he gets a call from Augusta Withrow.  Her offer is risky but has the potential to be quite lucrative.  She's offering the entirety of her family estate, no questions asked, for a single price.  The price is hefty, but the potential for it to be a goldmine makes it worth the risk.

Chuck assigns his daughter, Dahlia, to oversee the project. Dahlia takes a small crew, a few trucks and some equipment and drives down to Chattanooga. Upon their arrival, they find the home, along with a barn and carriage house full of resellable fixtures and pieces.  It's in remarkably good shape, considering it's due to be demolished in a matter of days.

It's not long before they understand Augusta's desire to destroy the home.  Something very angry is in the home, something or someone tied to the family plot on the property.   An evil buried for decades, one that has one last chance to get revenge before the house is gone forever...

Already a fan of Priest’s work, I was thrilled to see that she was writing a haunted house novel.  The moment I had an opening in my audio book schedule, I squeezed this one in. Boy, was it worth it!

Priest already excels at writing the dark and creepy. Something about this one, however, sent chills down my spine.  Could it be the fact that I listened to it, showcased by the stunning narration of Kate Udall (a new-to-me narrator).  There isn’t a think about this novel I would change.

A fan of restoration shows on television, I had an instant connection before I even began to listen. It was much like my favorite salvage show, Salvage Dawgs. Having this familiarity made it easy for me to connect to the characters, to become engrossed in what transpired. Add to that Priest’s truly talented writing and this is truly a gem of a listen.  The fact that my audiobook kept pausing itself at particularly chilling scenes added to the atmosphere of the read.  I most definitely blame this on my quirky phone rather than something form the beyond…or do I?

In any case,  whether you are a fan of Priest’s writing or new to her work, I can’t recommend this title enough. Highly, highly recommended.

 

Posted in Audiobook, Murders, Monsters, & Mayhem | 2 Comments