I Caved...(A Bookish Haul)

I swear that I always have the best intentions when it comes to book buying bans but then something happens and my plans go awry.  This time I feel compelled to tell you that it wasn't my fault.  We went school shopping for the kids in a city that we don't usually go to that has another branch of my favorite used bookstore.  And while I was able to resist going into Barnes and Noble without bringing anything home, the temptation was too great when I walked into the used bookstore.  It is always fun to see what different books they have and I'm always looking to add to my collection of vintage mysteries.  Here are the books that I managed to bring home with me:

Whee!  I love me some old vintage covers like The Wall has!  I also brought home another book with an equally fabulous cover but soon found out that I already had it on my shelves.  Ugh!  This is the exact reason that I put myself on a book buying ban in the first place.  LOL!  I obviously have too many books if I'm buying duplicates without realizing it.  I'm super excited about G is for Gumshoe though because I was just whining in my last book haul post that my used bookstore didn't have it.  Now I shall continue on with my reading of the Alphabet mystery series! 

There you have it folks!  I am weak with no self control when it comes to books :)  I'm restarting my book buying ban although I'm not sure how long it will last with my birthday coming up next month.  I AM planning on getting a new Kindle but until then I'm NOT buying any more books.  For real.....at least I think.  What books have you bought lately???

The Truth of All Things by Kieran Shields (thoughts)

The Truth of All Things is an engaging historical mystery that is meant to be read slowly and savored.  Filled with historical details that add layers to the story, I found this book to be a solid beginning to this mystery series.  Now I need to find more books just like this to read!

In this book a woman is found murdered in such a way as to cause instant attention and speculation as to the why's of the murder.  Detective Archie Lean instantly realizes that this isn't your typical murder so he calls in help from criminalist Perceval Grey.  It soon becomes apparent that this murder has ties to the Salem witch trials and that their murderer has a strong interest in history.  It will be up to these two men along with the help of a few others to sift through the layers and find the killer.

This book was such an interesting read because of the uniqueness of the murder and the storyline.  The author ties in the Salem witch trials from the very beginning in such a way that I felt like I was learning more about them while reading this book.  The details from history that the author included (and not just about the Salem witch trials but other events) added a depth to this story that isn't always present in other books that I have read.  I also really enjoyed the main characters for a variety of reasons.  One of the main reasons was the uniqueness that each of them shared.  They were both so different from each other.  While the two men didn't always agree with each other, they both brought so much to the table when it came to solving the crime.  I also appreciated that the author took the time to flesh out their different personalities so well.  I'm looking forward to learning more about them in future books.  While I really, really enjoyed most of this book, I did find it to be a bit on the slow side at times.  I think that this was mainly my own mind frame and once I settled into the pacing of the story it didn't bother me as much.  Also the ending was such an abrupt change of pace as all of a sudden everything was happening at once....it took me a minute (and a few pages reread) to catch up.  The ending was really solid though and tied everything up very nicely.

Overall, this was a really solid read that left me eager to continue on with this series.  I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of the second book and I definitely plan on reading it soon.  If you are of fan of historical mysteries then I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this one.  I loved the details and uniqueness of this book which is why I enjoyed reading it so much.  I'm actually surprised that I haven't heard more about it because it was really good.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A standout historical mystery....I want to read more books just like this!

Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this book for review from the publisher.  The thoughts are my own :)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?? (August 12th)

It's Monday! is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and states:

"Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!"

Happy Monday everyone!  I feel like this may be one of the last few Mondays before life gets really crazy with school and sports so I'm trying to enjoy it while it lasts.  It might not happen though as I'm working mandatory overtime for the next couple of weeks.  My paycheck is going to appreciate it so I'm not too worried but it is definitely going to cut into my reading time.  Oh well, what can you do??  Not much else going on in my world besides lots of back to school preparations.  And my jungle of tomatoes is growing quite nicely.  I need to share some pictures so that you guys actually see the craziness that is my tomato plants.  But let's move on to my latest reading news.  Last week I finished the following book:

Echoes at Dawn by Maya Banks was one of those books that I read at just the right time.  I've been in the mood for some romantic suspense and this one really hit the spot.  I started right in the middle of this series though so I'm going to have to go back and read the first book sometime soon.

This week I'm currently reading:

I couldn't resist cracking this one open as soon as I found it at the library.  I've loved the previous two books in this series so it is a MUST read for me!  And I'm definitely creeped out by this one already!  You guys should definitely give this author a try if you are a fan of thrillers!

Enough out of me for the day.  Happy Monday and Happy Reading!!!

Three Sister's Island Trilogy (Thoughts on a Reread)

Pre-blogging days I used to read many, many books by Nora Roberts.  Now that blogging has expanded my reading horizons a bit (and led me to a truckload of new authors) I find that I don't read as many of her books any more.  Besides her In Death series under the pseudonym of J.D. Robb there are no books that I enjoy more by her than these three books.  It has been years since I indulged in a reread so I decided that now was a great time to dive back into some of my old favorites and revisit this amazing trilogy.  I can easily say that these books are just as amazing as I remembered them but obviously I'm a bit impartial.  Because of this I thought I would share my thoughts on these with some mini reviews. 

Dance Upon the Air is the first book in this trilogy and by far my favorite.  Nell has done the impossible by faking her own death and leaving her abusive husband.  She comes to Three Sister's Island on an impulse and finds so much more than she could have ever expected.  The problem is that her past is getting ready to come back to haunt her.

Just thinking about this book makes me want to read it again!  I love Nell's character and how we get to see her blossom as a person throughout the book.  Robert's does an amazing job of creating this bond between the three women that are the focus of this trilogy from the very beginning.  The romance that Nell and Zach find is both sweet and believable.  Basically, the book just pulls you in and doesn't let you go until you are wishing that you had the chance to experience life on Three Sister's Island.  I love the fact that there is a paranormal bent to these books without it being the focus.  Instead, the focus of this book is on Nell's growth and finding the courage to stand up for herself.  I love it and loved rereading it!

Heaven and Earth is the second book in this trilogy but it definitely doesn't disappoint!  In this one, Ripley has seen everything that Nell went through to save herself and is forced to come to terms with the fact that she is a witch.  After years of forcing herself to be normal, she struggles with the idea that she might have to use those powers in order to save the island that she loves so much.  Can she overcome her fears and do her part to help save the island??

What I love about this book is the chemistry between Ripley and Mac!  They are by far my favorite couple because they are so mismatched that they just work.  I love seeing their relationship develop as they get to know one another.  For just this fact alone I would reread this book again right now!  But it is also enjoyable to see Ripley begin to reconnect with Mia and begin to use her powers once again.  Ripley is a prickly character whom I just can't help but like especially because she is so stubborn headed.  It is fun to see her and Mia clash with each other but it is even better to see her and Mac clash.  HOT!  Once again Roberts does an amazing job of setting up the ending for this trilogy without making it seem like there wasn't closure with this book.  The ending of this book wasn't as heart pounding as the first book but it still pretty damn good!  Another enjoyable reread!

Last but certainly not least is Face the Fire by Nora Roberts.  By the time I get to this book I am so head over heels hooked on this series that I NEVER want it to end!  Of course it must but usually by this time I'm in denial. 

In Face the Fire, Mia Devlin faces her past when the boy she loved with all of her heart comes back into town.  She may have gotten over her broken heart from years ago but she knows that her destiny may still be tied up in her feelings towards the man that he has become.  But she has an even bigger worry to deal with as the evil that has been haunting the island is ready to make its' final stand against the three sisters.  It is going to take everything that she has to beat the legend and save the island.

I love this book for so many reasons but honestly it is because by now I have become attached to all of the characters.  I usually read these books back to back and all I want is to see how it all ends and make sure that they all get their happily ever after.  I love Mia's character because she is so strong and independent.  And the relationship between her and Sam is both enchanting and dreamy.  I love the way that they have to learn who the other one is now as a person instead of the younger teenage version that they remember.  It makes the ending so much more powerful as the reader is allowed to see everything from each book tie together into an epic finale!

Gosh I love these books!  They are the ultimate comfort reads and reading them again was such a delight.  I could read them over and over again (and I'm actually sure that I will).  I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them at all and in fact usually recommend them over and over to fellow readers. 

Bottom Line:  These books are books that I plan to read again and again.  They are some of my favorites!

Disclosure:  All three of these were checked out from my local library which is a shame because I need to own these...looks like I will be getting my own copies the next time I am ready for a reread!

August Reading Plans

August is here and moving along.  School will be starting soon, fall sports, and all of the other chaos that comes along with this time of year.  I'm okay with all of that though because I love this time of year.  I love the beginning of a new school year and the fact that fall is fast approaching.  R.I.P. Challenge anyone????  Yes, please and thank you!  Anyways I'm hoping for a good reading month in August despite all of the upcoming life stuff.  Even though my e-reader recently took a dump I'm still planning on participating with Staci in cleaning up my Kindle.  Because I have such an addiction to NetGalley there are plenty of books that have already released that I haven't read/reviewed that used to be downloaded on my reader.  I'm using this time in between e-readers to catch up on some of those books.  I'm managed to snag some of these books from the library so I need to get to reading.  Here is what I'm planning (hoping) to get read this month:

Lost is the only of one of these books that isn't a review copy from NetGalley or Edelweiss.  Instead, this is a drop everything and read book that I did a dance for when I found it at the library.  I feel like I've been waiting for this one for FOREVER!  I cannot wait to dive in!  Also on the reading list for this month are my current reads which are

There you have it.  My overachieving reading goals for the month of August.  Now the only question is how many of these I actually get read :)  What are you planning on reading this month??

Sweatshirts in July?? and other Rambles

(My family and I this past weekend up at the boat cookout with my parents.)

• We spent this past weekend up on my parent's houseboat for their annual marina cookout.  It is always lots of fun and this year was no exception.  Good food, music, activities for the kids, and a few adult beverages were the way I spent my weekend so I have absolutely no complaints.  

• Except for the fact that I wore a sweatshirt almost all weekend long!  In July???  This is unheard of.  I'm 98% sure that this was the coldest weekend that we've ever spent up on the boat in what is supposed to be the dog days of summer.  Since we are going up again this weekend I have hopes that it gets a bit warmer before Friday.

• It's official: I have both a fifth grader and a kindergartener this year :/  Where did the time go?  No seriously, where did it go?  I'm not ready for my baby girl to be in kindergarten but boy is she ready.  She is super excited although her focus is on making friends and not all of the fun stuff that she will be learning.  This doesn't really surprise me so we will see what I'm in for :)

• Not only have I registered the older two for school but I've also signed them up for football/soccer.  Soccer will be the first sport that my daughter has ever participated in so she is super excited.  And this is the first year when my oldest plays with the "big boys" in tackle.  He played tackle last year but it was a different age group (and probably not quite as serious).  This year should be lots of fun to watch!

• In bookish news my reading slowed down to a dribble last week.  Obviously I've got a lot going on but really.....no books finished??  Luckily I finished up Crimson Wind yesterday which was a super good follow up to Bitter Night.  But the ending was a cliff hanger and now I need to get to book three as soon as possible!!

• I'm undecided still on whether or not to finish reading The Last Victim by Karen Robards.  For now I think that I'm going to let it go back to the library unfinished.  I'm just not sure if I will ever go back to it or not but if I'm being honest then probably not.  Since it is rare for me to not finish a book I've even been considering writing up a DNF post.  We will see...

That's enough rambles out of me for one evening.  I'm probably going to be kind of quiet this week due to lots of overtime AND my stepdaughter will be in town.  Yay!  We get her for two weeks so we will be on the go for most of it.  I will try to keep in touch as I can but I probably won't be posting regularly for a bit.  I hope you all have a great rest of your week!

No Second Chance by Harlan Coben (thoughts)

No Second Chance was everything that I expected it to be.  It was fast paced, page turning action that constantly left me wondering what could possibly happen next.  This is my third book by Coben and although it wasn't my favorite (that still remains as my first read Tell No One by Coben) it was a solid second. 

In this book Dr. Marc Seidman wakes up from a coma to realize that he has lost everything.  His infant daughter has disappeared and his wife is dead.  The worst part of all is that all of Marc's memories from that awful day seem to be unclear and slightly unreliable thanks in large part to the gunshot wounds that he sustained.  But who would want Marc dead and his family destroyed?  And the real question is what happened to his daughter?  Things go from bad to worse as Marc finally hears from his daughter's kidnappers...can he get her back without getting himself killed in the process???

This book had me almost on edge from the very beginning.  A missing child??  That's a sensitive subject for me as a parent so I was unsure if I would enjoy the book or not if I'm being honest.  But even though I was uneasy about the subject matter I soon found myself caught in the author's tangled web.  I COULD NOT put this book down!  The thing about Coben's books is that they are so easy to say one more chapter to.  And that one chapter leads to another and then another....before you know it is 1:00 AM and you need to be up in less than five hours for work.  Yep, I was that girl thanks to this book.  My only slight complaint with this book was that I managed to guess the bad guy halfway through.  It didn't matter because I wasn't for sure and this is an author that constantly keeps you guessing.  But the ending was a slight let down because I realized that I had figured it out.  Even though I really hadn't.  If that makes any kind of sense to you :)  What the author did do well with the ending was come up with a realistic solution for the way things were resolved.  I'm always careful about spoilers but I will say that I was wondering how in the world he was going to be able to tie everything up.  And he took something that would have been a horrific experience for any parent and ended it in a satisfying way.  I'm not going to say any more than that so don't ask!  (Unless you've read this book that is and then we can discuss!)

Tense?  Thrilling?  Unputdownable?  Yes, yes, and a resounding yes!  This book practically had me biting my fingernails at times because of the suspense.  I'm a huge fan of this author and I've only read three of his books.  If you are a fan of thrillers and haven't read Coben before now then why not???  He is quite a talented author with a knack for keeping you guessing until the very end.  I would definitely recommend this book to those readers who are fans of suspense.  And don't let the touchy subject matter keep you from trying this one because it is definitely worth the read!  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A breathtaking read that caused me to lose sleep!

Disclosure:  This book was loaned to me from a kind coworker.

High Summer Read-a-thon and other Reading Ramblings

Yay for week long read-a-thons!!!  They are the only ones that I have a real chance of succeeding at.  LOL!  I was just thinking the other day that I hadn't participated in a read-a-thon lately and then I came across a post for this one.  Serendipity! 

I don't have any set goals for this read-a-thon but I'm hoping to finish the three books that I'm currently reading.  Yep, somehow I find myself in the midst of three books.  I hate when I do that because then I end up reading less than usual somehow (don't ask me why but it is true).  Since my reader died I picked up The Last Victim from the library to finish.  Unfortunately it is just not the book for me.  If I wasn't 3/4th's of the way through it I would probably already have set it aside.  (And if you are wondering it didn't get really weird/uncomfortable until this point)  I was going to just call it quits but I can't help but wondering if the end will make up for everything.  I highly doubt it but I have to find out.  I'm also hoping to finish Vanish With the Rose by Barbara Michaels and Crimson Wind by Diana Pharaoh Francis.

 So these are my goals/reading plans for the High Summer Read-a-thon.  I'm also looking forward to participating in a Twitter chat or two and hopefully meeting some new bloggy friends :)  In other reading news last week was a bit more quiet for me reading wise.  I only finished one book (in large part to the reading blahs I got from Robard's book).  I finished reading:

 Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery was a fun contemporary romance that was cute.  It wasn't an outstanding read but I did like it enough to gobble it down in a couple of days.  I'm eager to see how the other books in this series compare because sometimes the first book can be one of the weaker ones.  I'll definitely be reading more about Fool's Gold!

I stood strong on my book buying ban this week which is a good thing for my shelves.  I did bring home a few from the library but I'll share about those in a library loot post.  I'm hoping to start back on a running/walking schedule again this week.  I've let myself get a bit lazy but it is beyond time to get my butt back in gear!  And I've also got the urge to pop out some book reviews.  Considering how behind I am I'm going to go with it.  I might end up posting a bunch this week so be warned :)  That's definitely enough rambling out of me for one Sunday. 

Happy Reading and Happy Sunday!

The Hunter by Monica McCarty (thoughts)

Scottish highlander romance?  Yes, please and yum!  I'm a sucker for a good historical romance lately so I couldn't resist joining in on the blog tour for this book (even though there are like six books before this one).  And since I have never read a highlander romance before I wasn't exactly sure if I was going to like it or not.  That being said I had my expectations set low/medium but they were shattered as I tore thru this book in less than three days.  I can't wait to go back to the first book in this series to see how it all began!

In The Hunter, Ewen Lamont is part of the notorious highland guard that is fighting to get King Robert the Bruce crowned as king.  He is known for his attention to detail and ability to find/track anything.  When he meets a nun named Sister Genna his entire world is turned on its' axis.  How can he possibly be attracted to a nun?  And what kind of nun acts like she acts?  What he doesn't know is that Genna has secrets of her own that will make their paths cross in dangerous ways.  But it is the chemistry between them that causes them both to start reevaluating their lives and plans for the future.

Yowsers!  This book instantly captured my attention from the very beginning!  I couldn't put it down and flew through the pages which left me wanting more.  Luckily I have the first six books in this series to look forward to because I NEED more!  I'll admit that the first few chapters had me on edge.  I don't want to go into spoilers but there was an event that had me uncomfortable and left me wondering if I was going to be able to get past it.  But before I knew it I found myself immersed in the book wanting to know what was going to happen next.  I loved the fact that Genna stood up for herself and was so independent.  I also liked that she didn't want to change just for marriage.  I really respected that about her.  But I also LOVED the chemistry between her and Ewen.  Whew!  There were a few very HOT pages in this book if I do say so myself.  I wasn't completely thrilled with the ending but it wasn't bad.  Just not what I was expecting I guess.  Don't let that stop you from reading this book though because it is definitely worth the read!

Overall, this was a book that kept me engrossed and left me wanting more.  I have no complaints other than why did I never try a highlander romance before now???  I've definitely been missing out if they are all like this!  If you are a fan of historical romances with LOTS of chemistry then definitely give this one a try.  As for me, I have to go back to the beginning now.  Even though I didn't miss out (at all based on my reading experience) starting this series so far into it, I really want to see how it all began.  I want to get to know the other members of the highland guard so I plan on doing just that.  Definitely a book that I would recommend especially for your summer reading pleasures :)

Bottom Line:  A book that had me captivated from beginning to end! 

Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a TLC book tour.  The thoughts are my own!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (July 15th)

It's Monday! is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and states:

"Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!"

Good morning my lovely readers!  I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend!  I definitely did even though as always it went by way too fast.  I've said this a couple of times recently but I have been a bit absent around the blog as of late especially when it comes to visiting/commenting on other blogs.  It sucks but it is probably going to stay this way for a bit longer as my Kindle died last week.  Ugh!  I was so bummed but what can you do??  The damn thing tries to turn on but won't get past the starting point.  Makes me a bit crazy so I've put it up for awhile.  Seeing as that was the main way I read most of your blogs (yes, I know it was meant for books but...) I may seem more quiet than usual.  My birthday is coming up in a few months so I'm going to wait patiently until then before I get a new reader.  The only positive is that with less distractions I've been a reading machine!  Seriously, since I last shared with all of you I have finished four books.  FOUR BOOKS!  I'm so impressed with myself :)  Here is what I've been reading:

Blackout by Mira Grant was just as AMAZING as I hoped.  I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to write up a coherent review of this book but be warned that gushing will ensue!

Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis was cute and a fun read.  It didn't knock my socks off (but I blame Blackout for that) but I'm so glad that I finally read it.  I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd book soon.   

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz was a crazy but delightful read.  This book had me cracking up at times and I'm eager to see what future hijinks Isabel can get herself into.  I pulled this one off of my own shelves (I'm so proud), and I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner!

Finally, The Hunter by Monica McCarty was a historical romance that read just the way I like.  Hot chemistry between the two main characters kept me turning the pages way too fast and I was sad to see it end.  Thank goodness that I have the first 5 or 6 books of this series to enjoy next.

I'm currently reading the following book:

I love me some Barbara Michaels and I was delighted to find this one at our local Goodwill.  Since my shelves are currently overflowing I decided to start with this one.  And speaking of my shelves....look what else I picked up at the buy one book, get one free sale while I was at Goodwill:

How could I resist all of this wonderfulness???  I couldn't I tell you!  It makes me feel better to tell you that at least half of these will be going to my sister for her to read first the next time she is in town.  But considering that my shelves are now seriously sagging I'm going to have to put myself on a book buying ban.  For real!  (This does not count my library books...just saying)  Enough out of me though!

Happy Monday and Happy Reading!