The Last Winter of Dani Lancing by P.D. Viner (thoughts)

If this novel couldn't be described as haunting then I don't know what else could. I am almost having a hard time putting into words my reading experience with this book.  This is yet another story where from very early on I knew that things were not going to end well (I've read a few books like this lately).  It didn't matter to me.  I was completely drawn into the book as the author portrays how Dani's murder affected the lives of those she loved and those who loved her.  This book is haunting, disturbing, and ultimately one of those gut wrenching experiences while reading that leaves you thinking about it for days afterwards.

In The Last Winter of Dani Lancing we get a glimpse into the lives of Jim and Patty Lancing.  Their only daughter Dani was murdered, and even after almost twenty years her death still plays a huge role in their every day lives.  They both dealt with the death of their daughter differently and it is because of this that they are drawn yet once again into the search for her killer.  Will they finally find the closure and answers that have eluded them after all this time?

This book was a book that kept me reading even when I didn't want to.  It was both engrossing and page turning even though it had some of the most unlikeable main characters that I have ever come across. I think that it is a mark of a good author when they can keep a reader's attention and allow them to connect to a story even though they don't care for the characters.  And that is exactly what this author did!  I may not have liked Patty or really understood Tom (Tom being Dani's old boyfriend) but I wanted to know their story.  I didn't even like Dani's character at times but I wanted to know what had happened to her and why.  I loved that the author painted such a clear picture of how Dani's death ruined the lives of those around her.  I found it entirely too easy to put myself in Dani's parent's shoes if you know what I mean.  It gave the book such an eerie atmosphere and really made it clear that everything couldn't possibly end well.  It didn't stop me from reading though and on the contrary made me want to read the book even more.  I needed to know how everything was going to end even though it felt like a train wreck waiting to happen.  There were lots of aspects of this book that surprised me but overall it was the ending that took my breath away.  This author sure knows how to pack a punch!

Overall, I found this to be a really solid thriller and debut from this new author.  I found it quite intriguing the way the author left the book open towards the end in a way that might mean more books.  I would definitely read more if this was the beginning part of a series (fingers crossed).  I would read more by this author even if this book isn't part of a series because it was such a surprisingly good read.  I'm eager to see what Viner will come up with next!  I noticed that this book was being compared to some of the other big name thrillers that have come out recently.  Do yourself a favor and just ignore the comparisons.  This one stands perfectly fine on its' own two feet in my opinion, and none of the books it was compared to really do it justice.  I would highly recommend this book but be warned that it was not always an easy read. 

Bottom Line:  A thriller that let the tension build until the very last page!

Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this book for review thanks to the publisher.  Thoughts are my own!

Crimson Wind by Diana Pharaoh Francis (thoughts)

Give a brief summary of the book (minor spoilers from book one):

In this book, Max is dealing with all of the aftermath after the ending in Bitter Nights.  She is officially working with Giselle (rather than against her) to begin their fight against The Guardians but first she needs to make sure that her own family will be safe.  The family that doesn't even know that she is still alive.  Or what she has become.  Nothing can go smoothly when Max is involved though so both she and Alexander are going to be up against some of the biggest challenges that they have ever faced.  The real test is going to be if they can finally work together and begin to trust one another.

Likes?

I feel like cheating here and just saying everything.  Last year Bitter Nights was on my top ten reads for the year which goes to show you how much I loved it.  Crimson Wind was just as intense, action-packed, and absolutely unputdownable (which should be a word in my opinion).  Max is such a unique main character that you just cannot help but root for.  She is seriously one of the most kick-ass characters and she is absolutely fearless.  It makes for a breath taking read because you just never know what she will do next.  I love how loyal she is to both her family and friends even when they haven't always deserved it.  The action in this book was non stop yet we also got to see a softer side of Max in regards to her relationship with Alexander.  And the ending was jaw dropping!

Dislikes?

None!  This second book has cemented my love for this series and I'm so excited to continue on with it.  I'm surprised that I haven't heard more about this author and her books because they are definitely that good.  I could say that I disliked the cliffhanger ending but I actually didn't.  I liked it....I kinda sorta saw it coming (maybe not though), and am super glad that I already have my hands on the third book.   So really no complaints over here!

Additional Thoughts?

I really, really love this series!  This is urban fantasy at its' best and I'm so glad that I found this series (and that I have more books to look forward to).  I'm definitely going to be recommending these books to just about anyone.  And I can't help but admit that this is fast becoming one of my favorite urban fantasy series.  I can't wait to see what happens next!

Bottom Line: An urban fantasy series that just keeps getting better and better!

Disclosure:  A copy of this book was provided to me for review thanks to the publisher.  Thoughts are my own!

Here are my thoughts on the first book of this series Bitter Night if you are interested.  You should definitely read this series in order!

What I'm Spending My Sunday Doing...

 

Watching the snow fall outside while blogging...

Watching season 1 of one of my favorite shows (which is an early Christmas gift) and reading...

While sipping on a warm cup of hot chocolate since I've had my quota of coffee for the day.

Life is very good!  Plans for the rest of the day include taking the kids outside to play in said snow while we shovel, laundry (as always on Sundays), and then hopefully the chance to finish up BOTH of the books that I'm currently reading (I'm so close).  After that maybe even more Impractical Jokers.....or just one more episode of the Walking Dead since we are officially on season 3.  Have I told you guys how much I love Sundays lately?

How To Be a Good Wife by Emma Chapman (thoughts)

How To Be a Good Wife is just one of those books that begs to be read and doesn't let you set it aside.  The author creates an underlying thread of tension that is constant throughout the book but grows as you get further in.  The book had its' flaws but is one of those books that I could still easily recommend to many a reader.

In this book we meet Marta and Hector, a married couple who are struggling to figure out their new direction in life after raising their only son and seeing him move out on his own.  Marta begins to glimpse a girl that only she can see and then the world as she knows it begins to change forever....

And that is all that I'm going to tell you because this is another one of those books where knowing less is more.  What really stood out for me in this book was the unreliability of the narrator.  From the very beginning the reader begins to question Marta's motivations, her "visions", and really her overall sanity.  The biggest question that plays out throughout the entire book is if you can trust her or not.  And because I couldn't entirely trust Marta this book pulled at me in so many different ways. There is this ominious aura about the book where you just kind of know that it isn't going to end well.  I should have prepared myself more for this!  But it doesn't matter because you have to read faster just to see how it will all end.  This book was nail bitingly good because of all of this!

Overall, if I'm being honest I was able to figure out a lot of the plot twists pretty early on.  It could probably even have been considered a bit predictable but the saving grace for this book was the questioning atmosphere that the author created.  Because of it I just could not set this book down.  And because of it I was able to easily overlook some of the book's flaws that might have bothered me otherwise.  The ending for one was very frustrating to me because it felt unfinished.  Looking back on it, I actually don't think the author could have ended it any other way better but it was still frustrating to read at the time.  I wanted the truth to really come out and it didn't feel like it did.   It left me thinking though which is always the mark of a good book in my opinion.

For me this book was definitely a worthwhile read that I will be recommending.  I loved the tone that the author created with this book especially since I'm such a sucker for an unreliable narrator.  My best advice for this one is skip the summary describing it and just read.  Because the author does an amazing job of really just pulling the reader into Marta's life in a way that doesn't let you go.  I can't wait to see what this author writes next!  Definitely recommended!

Bottom Line:  A book where the atmosphere sucks you in and doesn't let you go!

Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this book for review courtesy of the publisher.  Thoughts are always my own!

December Reading Plans (Or All the Books)

I love this time of year!  I love that everyone is starting to post their best of lists, and I especially love how much these posts add to my ever growing TBR list (I'm addicted to adding to it if you didn't realize by now).  I also look forward to all of the posts that focus on upcoming releases in 2014.  It is all just so exciting and enough to put this book lover's heart in a state of bliss.  There is this last month of reading though in which I always want to read ALL OF THE BOOKS!!!  It is fun to try and cram in a few more good reads that could have the potential to make it to my favorites of 2013. 

I have lots of books that I would like to get read this month but finding the time to read them all just may pose a problem.  Because there are just so many and I want to read them all!!  For this month's reading plans I am only including print books seeing as I finished absolutely NONE of the books that I had on my reading list for last month (and those were mainly all e-reads). So consider each one of those books a likely candidate for this month as well.  Here are just some of the books that I would like to get read this month:

 

 

See what I mean about wanting to read all of the books??  I'm chomping at the bit to crack some of these open but especially Stranger In the Room considering I loved the first book in this series.  I may be overly ambitious but if I can get all of these books read then I will definitely make my goal of 75 books read this year (I'm at 67 as of right now).  I think I can...I think I can....

So please tell me, what book (or books) is a MUST read before the end of 2013?  Or better yet, what is your favorite book for 2013?  My TBR list will thank you!

The Sunday Salon: Reading, Reading, Reading

Oh my goodness....what a weekend!  I cannot tell you how refreshed I am feeling thanks to four whole days off in a row (with a half day on Wednesday).  It is exactly what I needed to give me a break before I dive into next week and all the overtime once again.  My house is now decorated both inside and out AND I got lots of quality time with my family which makes me the happiest.  I feel like I have so much to catch up on considering I once again took a bit of an unexpected blogging break thanks to sick kids (and then sick everyone...we all shared it this time).  But we are back to being healthy for the most part so I'm very thankful for that!  Not much other exciting news to share besides we've been working our way through the second season of The Walking Dead and that show is so flipping addictive.  I have no clue how we waited so long to watch this show but I am well and truly hooked!

Even though I've been one busy girl getting ready for the holidays I have also been reading plenty. So the good is that I have lots to catch you up on but the bad is that I'm now even farther behind with my reviews.  I'm going to have to buckle down though so I don't go into the upcoming new year without sharing my thoughts on all of these books.  I hate when that happens!  But on to the books that I've read since my last Sunday post.

 

 
The Stranger You Know by Andrea Kane was a fast paced thriller that I hated to set down.  I've already written up my thoughts on this one and you can find them here.

A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean was absolutely delicious!  At first I basically despised the hero and was convinced that this book just would not work for me.  But then it did and oh my!  I just cannot wait to read more by this author!

A Potion to Die For by Heather Blake was a cute cozy that was a surprisingly strong beginning to this new series.  I loved the characters, the mystery, and the town where the story takes place in so of course I'm eager to read more.  Just stinks because I will have a wait until book two is both written and released.  The good part though is that this author has another cozy series that I can try in the meantime. 

In audios, I finished listening to All Around the Town by Mary Higgins Clark which just made me crave more of her books so I went and put another of hers on hold at the library.  I used to read her books all of the time before I started blogging and this was a good reminder why.  Although, I will admit that her earlier books (like this one) were much better than her later ones in my opinion.  I then moved on to Three To Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich.  This one had me in tears at my desk I was laughing so hard!  This is such a fun series to listen to, and I also already have the next one on audio ready for my listening pleasure.  Finally, I finished listening to Angel Falls by Nora Roberts.  This one was good but not as good as I remember it being.  Or maybe I just had higher expectations thinking that I loved it since I read it so long ago.  Who knows?  But it was good just a bit overly long in parts and the heroine annoyed me at times.  So there :)

I'm currently reading the following books:

 
If You Were Here is my print read and good so far although I will admit that the heroine grates on my nerves at times.  I'm eager to see where the story is going to lead especially since it feels like the shit is finally starting to hit the fan.

Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan is my current read on my ipad that I actually just started last night but I'm already engrossed in.  I don't read a lot of Christmas books during this time of year but I just couldn't resist giving this one a try.  It is super cute so far and has had me laughing out loud already so I'm looking forward to getting back to it.

I'm also still currently reading A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway but for some reason it hasn't really grabbed me yet so I decided to set it aside for now.  I think that I will go back to it after I finish my Christmas romance :)  I'm listening to Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn and I cannot believe that I had forgotten how dark this book is!  I've actually had to stop listening to it a couple of times because just....wow! This author writes these books that are so dark and yet are so engrossing.  I just have no words.  And the narrator is just amazing for this book as she is actually how I would picture Camille's voice to be.  Wow!

Today I plan on reading, fitting in a few loads of laundry, running, and then also hopefully getting a few blog posts pre-scheduled.  I'm also going to enjoy my last day of freedom before it is back to the working grind.  I'm sorry that I've been a bit absent from your blogs the past couple of weeks but I definitely hope to remedy that as well.  Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!!

The Stranger You Know by Andrea Kane (thoughts)

Wow!  This book was so fast paced and intense that I just could not put this book down.  I flew through the pages and was utterly satisfied by the end.  I may have started on the third book of this series but it didn't affect my enjoyment of this book at all.  I was completely hooked from the beginning to end!  And I cannot wait to read more by this author!

In The Stranger You Know,  a killer is attacking and killing college girls who all look eerily similar to one another.  The killings are also very reminiscent of a past serial killer who is still locked up behind bars.  It is into these bizarre cases that Casey Woods and her team find themselves caught up in as they struggle to figure out the identity of this new killer.  But the killer has a end target and that focus seems to be on Casey herself.  Will she and her team be able to figure out who the murderer is before he gets his hands on her?

This book was such an intense read that I cannot even begin to explain how hard it was for me to put down.  Even coming into this book without having read the previous two didn't take away from the intensity.  Instead I was turning the pages and reading as fast as I could.  I just couldn't wait to see what would happen next!  This book is focused on Casey Woods and the group of investigators that she works with that make up the Forensic Instincts team.  I really liked the entire cast of characters and can't wait to read more about them. I am eager to go back to the beginning of this series to learn more of the history that they have with one another....and I'm eager to see how it all began.  Casey and her team are trying to find a killer that seems to have many links to Glen Fisher, a serial killer that they helped put behind bars.  Glen is one of the creepiest characters that I've come across in awhile.  He gave me chills!  Yuck!  But once again it helped to create such a piercing and dark atmosphere where I just could not turn away.  I was well and truly hooked. 

One of the things that I liked most about this book was how easily I found myself drawn into the mystery that the book focused on.  I've been having a hard time lately when it comes to reading series books out of order and this book was different for me.  Yes, I'm eager to start back at the beginning and see how everything came about but it didn't feel necessary to me enjoying this book.  And enjoy it I did!  I also liked the way the author gave clues on certain plot points but others came as a complete surprise.  I was able to guess a few things as I read the book in regards to who the killer was (that kind of stuff) but I was nowhere close to having it all figured out.  And I really appreciated that I wasn't able to figure out everything before the end.

All in all, this book was quite a page-turner that left me very eager to read more.  I believe I already have more of this author's book on my shelves so it won't be long before I try her again.  I'm actually pretty excited that I found a new author to follow and read.  There are
a few graphic parts in this book that might turn off some readers but overall I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to fans of suspenseful thrillers. 

Bottom Line:  This is the type of thriller that will keep you up at night!  (both from turning the pages and being creeped out by the killer...I can't decide which kept me up later)

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a TLC book tour.  The opinions are my own.

Forgiving Lies by Molly McAdams (thoughts)

Forgiving Lies wasn't an easy book to read at times but it was a good read that left me eager to get my hands on the next book.  This was my first time reading a book in the New Adult genre and it was darker than I expected it to be.  It was also one of those books that was so easy to sink into that I found myself reading for hours on end.  Overall, I found that it left me excited to not only read more books by this author but also more books just like this.

In this book Rachel is a college student floating along in life after the death of her parents.  After a bad experience in her last relationship, she isn't eager or looking to get involved with anyone else for a very long time.  But then Kash moves in next door to her and everything changes.  Kash and Mason are undercover detectives that are investigating a pretty big case involving a serial killer.  Kash doesn't mean to get involved with Rachel either but he can't seem to resist her fiery attitude.  Will the two of them be able to figure out their feelings for one another?  And can their relationship even survive when it is all based off of one lie?

This book had some ups and downs for me but overall I found that I really enjoyed it.  Easily the best thing about this book was the chemistry between the two main characters.  I loved that they didn't just jump into a relationship and instead started off with a friendship.  It made it that much more satisfying because we were then able to see them grow together.  And then when they did really figure out their feelings for each other the heat between the two of them was off the charts.  I loved it! Without sharing spoilers (see below if you don't mind them) I thought that the author did a really great job of handling a tough subject in a sensitive manner.  She didn't gloss over it and I thought Rachel's feelings came across very genuinely.  Because of this I had a very hard time setting this book down and would find myself thinking about it for awhile afterwards.  Especially because I never knew what was going to happen next.  I found this book to also be creepy at times because of a certain character.  The suspense from that character really made me want to read this book even faster.

*Spoilers*

Okay, now be warned from here on out there are going to be spoilers so don't read this section if you don't want the book spoiled.  But there are things that I definitely want to discuss so here we go.  First off was the touchy subject that I alluded to earlier.  In the beginning of the book Rachel is raped.  I think that the author did a really solid job of handling it but this is the kind of thing that will put some readers off.  Because it definitely wasn't easy to read about Rachel trying to deal with it afterwards and boy did I want to shake her "best friend" Candace for not believing her.  Ugh!  I really didn't care for Candace's character AT ALL!  Rape is never an easy issue to read about which is why I couldn't help but mention it.  While I liked most of the book there was a believability factor that this book lacked.  And the ending really cemented that for me.  WTF?  I am so lucky that I peeked at the last few pages before I read the ending of the book (and yes I do that sometimes but not often) because I would have been pissed otherwise.  I hate when books have cliff hangers for endings and this one comes with a huge blow!  I found myself shaking my head with both disbelief and frustration.  Really, how many bad things can happen to Rachel?  It wasn't enough to take away from my overall enjoyment of the book but it was enough to effect my reading experience in a negative way.  It also means that I will be picking up book two as soon as it comes out so there is that I guess.  In the end, I'm curious to see how other readers are going to feel about this book and the ending.  If you've read it then definitely share your thoughts with me so we can discuss!

*Spoilers Over*

Overall, I liked this book and am very, very eager to get my hands on the second book.  I loved the chemistry that the author created with these characters.  The author left me with lots of questions at the end so I just cannot wait to see happens next.  I hope she also features more of Mason because I think that he would be a great lead for the next book!  I'm excited to start trying more books like this filled with some angsty romance and lots of heat.  This book took my expectations and completely shattered them in multiple ways.  That is what I get for judging a book based off of its' cover.  Lesson learned yet once again :) I would recommend this book with only one minor hesitation.

Bottom Line:  This was an intense read that left me wishing for the second book!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this books thanks to the publisher as part of a TLC book tour.  Thoughts and spoilers are my own!

The Sunday Salon: Let's Talk Books

Let's talk books today, shall we?  I have been such a bad, lazy blogger as of late with no real good excuses except work, work, work.  But while I may have been a bad blogger, I have been a much better reader which means I'm even more behind in reviews.  I'm going to try and not dwell on that though because since I'm feeling slightly more motivated than usual I have hopes to knock out a few today.  A girl can hope and dream, can't she??

Besides writing up some reviews I'm hoping to share a book haul post.  I know that I KEEP saying that I'm going on a book ban (and I really, really am) but sometimes I just cannot resist.  And really who can stop themselves from browsing anyways?  It isn't my fault that they seem to all come home with me afterwards, is it?  My shelves blame me though so I am absolutely, definitely, positively banning myself from book buying after this.  FOR REAL THIS TIME!  So anyways look for that post soon too.  But onwards to the books I have been reading as of late.  Here are the books that I finished last week:

The Last Winter of Dani Lancing by P.D. Viner was an intense, dark thriller but it left me with a few mixed feelings at the end.  I'm not sure if the author is planning on making this into a series (I definitely think that he probably could) but I would read more by this author without hesitation.  I'm hoping to write up my thoughts on this one for this week, and I'm eager to see what other readers think about this book.

Forgiving Lies by Molly McAdams was my very first foray into the New Adult genre but it won't be my last!  It was both cute and fun at times but with very serious undertones.  The ending was disappointing but I will talk about that more in my review which will be up tomorrow as part of a TLC book tour.  I liked it enough that I will be picking up the next book for sure!

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs was a reread for me and absolutely, positively just as good as the first time that I read it.  I actually managed to read this one in less than two days which just goes to show you how unputdownable I find these books to be.  I can't wait to move on to the next book (the last book for me to reread) so that I can move on farther into this series.

Finally, I finished on audio Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling this week.  I cannot tell you guys how much I am loving listening to these books on audio!  The narrator does a fantastic job and I find myself completely immersed once again in Harry's world.  In fact, I'm a bit nervous about continuing to listen to this series at work because I'm convinced that I will find myself listening while crying at my desk during the sad parts.  LOL!  I'm sure you can imagine how that will look to my coworkers :)

This week I'm currently reading the following books:

I haven't even cracked open The Stranger You Know but I will hopefully later on today.  I'm reading this book as part of a TLC book tour as well so I need to get moving on it.  I have been failing miserably with my reading plans so far in November (meaning not reading ANY of my e-books) but I'm hoping to really make some progress with A Study in Silks this week.  On audio, I'm currently listening to All Around the Town by Mary Higgins Clark.  I used to read this author all of the time before I started blogging and listening to this book has reminded me why. It is both creepy and tense and I'm loving the narrator for this one as well.  I'm still sticking with listening to audiobooks of books that I have already read so this week at the library I grabbed Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn and Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb for future listens.  I can't wait to re-experience them both!

Today I'm hoping to fit in a lot of review writing, some commenting/blog visiting, and lots of laundry.  Hopefully I will also manage to fit some reading in between all of this.  I hope you guys have a great week and an amazing Sunday!

Happy Reading!

Reading Plans (Or Where I Get Overly Ambitious)

November is here, the colder weather is starting to arrive, and I'm already starting to think about the upcoming new year.  It all just goes by so fast that I can't help but want to make a final push and get some major reading done in the next two months.  Because I have entirely TOO many books loaded on to my ipad I've decided to use this month as a way to focus on e-books.  I find it very, very easy to add books to my e-reader without feeling guilty because I don't have to see them physically.  It's addictive!  I have found two challenges focusing on cleaning out some of those e-books and review copies so I'm joining in on both.

The first challenge that I'm joining in with is for NetGalley November.  I NEED to join this challenge just so I can get a few of those countless review copies finally read.  I love, love, love NetGalley but I'm way, way, way behind so this challenge fits me perfectly.  I'm aiming low with the easy level (1-4 books) but I would really like to read more.

I'm also joining in with the Clean out your E-reader Challenge.  I buy entirely too many books for my e-reader and this will be a great motivation to get some of those read as well.  I'm assuming that this challenge also includes review copies but that is why I'm joining both just in case.  If I manage to do well on these two challenges it will also mean that I've finally knocked a few extra books off of my ipad.  A definite win in my book!

But now for the fun part.  Here are just a few of the books that I would like to read this month for these two challenges:

 

 

These are all books that I have purchased for my ipad but haven't yet read.  Looking through the books on my e-reader makes me realize that I really, really need to stop buying books.  Yikes!

 

 

And these are all of the review copies from NetGalley that I would like to get read.  I'm actually currently reading A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway which is quite good so far.  Now it may not be very likely that I will be able to get through all of these but I'm sure going to try!  I also have two print review copies for blog tours that I HAVE to get read for this month...and a dozen library books that I would sure like to read.  LOL!  I told you that I was feeling ambitious :)

What are you planning on reading in November? And are you feeling the urge to read more like me??