Mailbox Monday October 14

Happy Monday! I haven't posted a Mailbox Monday post since July so my pile may seem large but these books came over a few months. This month Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Gina of Book Dragon's Lair.

A Man of His Own by Susan Wilson (courtesy of Macmillan Audio)

Someone by Alice McDermott (courtesy of Macmillan Audio)

Morning Glory by Sarah Jio (courtesy of Librarything Early Reviewers)

How To Be a Good Wife by Emma Chapman (courtesy of St. Martin's Press)

Tilted World by Tom Franklin & Beth Ann Fennelly (courtesy of William Morrow)

Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield (courtesy of Simon & Schuster)

The Wednesday Daughters by Meg Waite Clayton (courtesy of Librarything Early Reviewers)

Still Life With Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen (courtesy of Random House)

The Wedding Gift by Marlen Suyapa Bodden
(courtesy of St. Martin's Press)

What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman

Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books; First Edition edition (May 28, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0670025836
ISBN-13: 978-0670025831

Synopsis

A Southern novel of family and antiques from the bestselling author of the beloved Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Beth Hoffman’s bestselling debut, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, won admirers and acclaim with its heartwarming story and cast of unforgettable characters. Now her unique flair for evocative settings and richly drawn Southern personalities shines in her compelling new novel, Looking for Me.

Teddi Overman found her life’s passion for furniture in a broken-down chair left on the side of the road in rural Kentucky. She learns to turn other people’s castoffs into beautifully restored antiques, and eventually finds a way to open her own shop in Charleston. There, Teddi builds a life for herself as unexpected and quirky as the customers who visit her shop. Though Teddi is surrounded by remarkable friends and finds love in the most surprising way, nothing can alleviate the haunting uncertainty she’s felt in the years since her brother Josh’s mysterious disappearance. When signs emerge that Josh might still be alive, Teddi is drawn home to Kentucky. It’s a journey that could help her come to terms with her shattered family—and to find herself at last. But first she must decide what to let go of and what to keep.

Looking for Me brilliantly melds together themes of family, hope, loss, and a mature once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. The result is a tremendously moving story that is destined to make bestselling author Beth Hoffman a novelist to whom readers will return again and again as they have with Adriana Trigiani, Fannie Flagg, and Joshilyn Jackson.

My Thoughts

When Beth Hoffman's first book, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt started showing up around the blogosphere, I knew I had to read it. The synopsis spoke to me. I read it and fell in love with the characters. Beth Hoffman is not only an excellent author but she is a wonderful person as well. She is so supportive to us bloggers and she is as down to earth as he characters she writes about.

I was so excited when I saw Beth had a new book coming out. It was released in May. I apologize profusely for taking so long to write this review but life has been so crazy for me this year. Let me tell you though, Looking For Me is just as fantastic as Saving CeeCee Honeycutt!

The storyline in Looking For Me has many layers and a bit of mystery. Teddi Overman follows her dreams from Kentucky to Charleston where she opens an antique shop. Teddi is a bit of a magician. She takes peoples trash and magically transforms it into treasures. She is successful but yet she is missing something in her life. Her brother, Josh mysteriously disappeared and his disappearance has remained unsolved. Josh is a very natural person who is very into birds and nature. He brings a bit of Native American beliefs to the story. I am not going to reveal too much about the storyline as this is a story to be experienced and savored.

Teddi's life is told both in the present and in flashbacks. The two time periods flow smoothly which is a testament to Beth's wonderful storytelling ability. The characters that the reader meets along the way are rich and memorable. The Southern charm shines through in the story and makes the reader feel right at home.

This book is just as wonderful as Saving CeeCee Honeycutt but is a very different read. I loved the element of mystery along with the Native American beliefs that were presented in the story. The characters were just as I hoped they would be. They felt like old friends and just like a visit with old friends, I was sad to see them go when I finished the book. These friends had me laughing and in tears throughout their visit.

Pick up Looking For Me. You won't be disappointed. It is one of my favorite reads of the year! Definitely a 5 star read for me!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon Update

I will keep posting updates on this post as to not drive my followers crazy.

12:18


How many pages read since last update: 313

How many pages read total: 551 pages

Number of books read since you started: 2

Amount of time spent reading since last update: ? I didn't keep track of my minutes. I found myself getting up and doing other things.

Running total of time spent reading since you started: ?

I am about done for the night. I feel good as I have read two books that I have thoroughly enjoyed. I also peeked at some blogs and had a nice relaxing day.



6:30
We are halfway there! I started late so I am not feeling too bad. I am a second shifter so my second wind will kick in after a bit. Dinner is finishing up in the crockpot- Chicken and dumplings. Reading all day is a luxury for me nowadays so I am in heaven!

Mid-Event Survey

1) How are you doing? Sleepy? Are your eyes tired? The eyes are a bit tired but I am very captivated by the book I am reading which is I'll Be Seeing You by Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan

2) What have you finished reading? I finished Sarah's Key

3) What is your favorite read so far? It's a toss up between both of the books I have been reading.

4) What about your favorite snacks? Cheesy, garlic grits...I could live on them!

5) Have you found any new blogs through the readathon? If so, give them some love! I have found many new ones! It would be impossible to list them all!

3:30

I finished Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay. I plowed through this book today. It is very good and I highly recommend it!

How many pages read since last update: 238 pages
How many pages read total: 238 pages
Number of books read since you started: 1
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 172 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 172 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: 0

Food and beverages consumed since last update: Breakfast- cheesy, garlic grits and two eggs with pumpkin spice coffee, snack- honeycrisp apple, lunch- tomato soup with goldfish, spinach, goat cheese flatbread pizza, iced green tea.

Dewey's Readathon Intro meme

I am getting a late start on the readathon. I am a second shifter so my internal clock doesn't let me get up too early. I am here and ready to read! Check out my intro meme!

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? I am in the beautiful Midawestern US. Southeastern Wisconsin to be exact!

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? I don't have a stack yet. Just flying by the seat of my pants. I am looking forward to finishing Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay which is my current read. I highly recommend this book!

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? I am hoping to make Vanilla Coconut Muddy Buddies.

4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I am the mother of three young adults and one dog and one cat. I was a stay at home mom but now that my kids are grown I have entered the working world again. I work at a cancer hospital which I find very rewarding. I love to read and it is one of the things I miss most since going back to work.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? I did not participate in the last readathon as I was working. I am taking a very relaxed approach to the readathon today. My plan is to read and have fun!

I am off to read now.

Dewey's Read-a-thon October 12, 2013!

As I was reading and catching up on blogs today, I noticed tomorrow is Dewey's Read-a-thon. This is one of my very favorite read-a-thons. I highly recommend it! Tomorrow is supposed to be a bit rainy and cool here. What better way to spend my day than to participate in the read-a-thon. I am sure I won't read 24 hours. I will probably not make the 24 hours but plan on reading when I can. You have no idea how excited I am! I am off to plan my snack and reading list! Are you participating?

Fall Update

It has been far too long since I have posted on this poor, neglected blog. I really didn't mean to take a long break. It just happened.

My mom is still in remission. Every day is a gift. I try to spend as much free time with her as possible. She is back home but not driving so we have to make sure she gets where she needs to be and that she has everything she needs. All this while we hold down full time jobs takes a toll but I would never change a thing. I feel very blessed to have my mom. We have our morning coffee together every day on the phone.

Work has been crazy. We are short help at work and have been all summer. It puts more responsibilities on those of us left behind. At the end of the night we are all exhausted. Hopefully, things will look up soon.

I have been reading a bit. I do have some book reviews I need to get at. I am on vacation this weekend and I hope to do more catching up here and to catch up on my blog reading.

I have missed everyone and look forward to getting back into the swing of things. It has been far too long!

Mailbox Monday July 8

Wow, I had no idea it had been so long since I posted. Life is crazier than ever. My mom is still going through chemo but doing well. Work is crazier than ever. My middle son is engaged, planning a wedding and is in the process of moving out. Life is hectic and crazy!

I am very sad about Google Reader being gone. I am trying out several replacement readers but so far I have not found the one for me. I have tried Inoreader, Feedly and Feedreader and a few others. I sure wish I could find one exactly like Google Reader. Any suggestions?

I hope to post a review this week for Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman. I really enjoyed this book! Beth is a wonderful writer! Her characters always find a special place in my heart!



I have received a few books recently. July's Mailbox Monday host is Tasha at Book Obsessed.




Fin & Lady by Cathleen Schine courtesy of Macmillan Audio
Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Frost courtesy of Ballantine Books



Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain courtesy of St. Martin's Press

What wonderful books made their way into your home?

Mailbox Monday May 20

My Mailbox Monday post is a day late. Yesterday was my birthday, a very BIG birthday. A birthday I have been dreading. All I will say is I don't feel as old as I am. Anywho..I received some great books this past week so I wanted to be sure to share them with you.

This month's MM host is 4 the LOVE of BOOKS.

I am so excited about my first book! I love Beth Hoffman! She is such a sweetheart. Beth sent me a signed copy which I will always treasure! I found this book in my mail after work at 11:00 last night. It was all I could do not to start to read it. I knew that once I started I would have a hard time putting it down! Thank you again, Beth! I will be starting this one today! I can't wait!



Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman



These two books I received through Amazon Vine.


Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham

And Then I Found You by Patti Callahan Henry

That is what I received last week. What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman for $2.99

It is no secret that one of my very favorite authors, Beth Hoffman has a new novel coming out later this month! I am so looking forward to reading Beth's new novel, Looking For Me. Beth is one of the first author's who became a friend when my blog was fairly new. She is such a lovely, warm person which comes out in her writing. She writes the type of stories I adore! It's also no secret that I love a good bargain!



Today, in anticipation of the release of Looking For Me, you can purchase Beth's first novel, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt for just $2.99. It is a wonderful story that warmed my heart! You can read my review here. You can check out Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman here. The e-book is available in all platforms. If you missed this novel, you should purchase it today! You won't be disappointed! $2.99 is a great deal for this wonderful novel!

Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline

Summary from Goodreads

Bestselling author Lisa Scottoline has thrilled millions with her emotionally-charged novels that feature strong women exploring the boundaries of family, justice, and love. In Don’t Go, she breaks new ground and delivers the story of a soldier who discovers what it means to be a man, a father, and ultimately, a hero.When Dr. Mike Scanlon is called to serve as an army doctor in Afghanistan, he’s acutely aware of the dangers he’ll face and the hardships it will cause his wife Chloe and newborn baby. And deep inside, he doesn’t think of himself as a warrior, but a healer.

However, in an ironic turn of events, as Mike operates on a wounded soldier in a war-torn country, Chloe dies at home in the suburbs, in an apparent household accident. Devastated, he returns home to bury her, only to discover that the life he left behind has fallen apart. His medical practice is in jeopardy, and he is a complete stranger to the only family he has left - his precious baby girl. Worse, he learns a shocking secret that sends him into a downward spiral.

Ultimately, Mike realizes that the most important battle of his life faces him on the home front and he’ll have to put it all on the line to save what’s dearest to him – his family. Gripping, thrilling, and profoundly emotional, Don’t Go is Lisa Scottoline at her finest.

My Thoughts

This was the first Lisa Scottoline book I have read but it won't be my last! I am not a big suspense book reader but I this book grabbed my attention.

The book starts out with a woman, Chloe, who is dying on her kitchen floor. Someone walks in and instead of helping her, walks out the door. Who was it? Was it the murderer? Who would want to kill this young mother and wife I was hooked!

The story then shifts to her husband, Mike who is deployed in Afghanistan. Mike deals with not only the death of his loving wife, but also deals with the effects of war. When Mike comes home from Afghanistan he has so much to overcome. His infant daughter doesn't know him, his in laws don't understand him, and he is obsessed with solving the questions surrounding his wife's death.

The book kept me guessing as to who murdered Chloe. The rest of the story was a bit predictable and maybe a bit far fetched but it did keep me reading. I I enjoyed the combination of suspense and drama. There was more to the story than just someone being murdered and who did it. I found this book entertaining and will be reading this author again.

Mailbox Monday May 6

I missed Mailbox Monday yesterday. Life has been busy here. And to top it off, spring has FINALLY arrived here. My yard sure needed some serious attention and it took up much of my spare time. It's slowly looking good and hopefully will be ready for planting flowers and some veggies soon. I hope everyone is enjoying some nice weather. Winter sure has been a long one here in the Midwest! I can hardly wait to get outside to read in the mornings before going to work.

My mother had her CT scan. Her tumor is shrinking. They may stop her chemo treatments soon. She finally has some energy and is feeling pretty good. Thank you all for your well wishes, thoughts and prayers. They all mean so much and I do believe that it all helps!

I received some books for review and purchased a couple of books from my must read list. This month Mailbox Monday is being hosted by 4 the LOVE of BOOKS.



The Best of Us by Sarah Pekkanen(purchased)

The House At The End of Hope Street by Menna van Prag (purchased)

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham(Courtesy of Amazon Vine)

And Then I Found You by Patti Callahan Henry (Courtesy of Amazon Vine)

Have you read any of these books?

I am hoping to get some book reviews posted soon. I have been reading but am behind on reviewing.

Mailbox Monday April 22

Mailbox Monday is a day late this week. My Monday was a bit crazy this week. I had errands to run before work which always makes for a hectic morning.

This month's Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Mari of MariReads.



Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinksy (courtesy of St. Martin's Press)

Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole (courtesy of Ballantine Books)

Whistling Past The Graveyard by Susan Crandall (courtesy of Gallery Books)



Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer (courtesy of Macmillan Audio)

In The Body of the World by Eve Ensler (courtesy of Macmillan Audio)

Mailbox Monday April 15

Hi all! It's Monday again! Time for another Mailbox Monday post. Life has been crazy here. My mom has had three rounds of chemo now and things are looking good. She will be going for a CT scan next week. We are hoping for good news.

I received one book for review and I purchased four books. Nook had some really good deals that I couldn't pass up!

This month's MM is being hosted by Mari at MariReads. Thank you Mari!



Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline(courtesy of Amazon Vine)



While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax



The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman



The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult



Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

Have a great reading week!

Mailbox Monday April 1

It is Monday and time for a Mailbox Monday post. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I made a nice Easter dinner yesterday. I discovered scalloped pineapple yesterday....oh my goodness! Where has this dish been all my life? It goes very nice along side ham.

I received some books last week. Some were surprises that I wasn't expecting. Tis month's Mailbox Monday host is Mari from MariReads. Thank you Mari!



The Crime of Privilege by Walter Walker (courtesy of Random House)

The Lost Art of Mixing by Erica Bauermeister(courtesy of Amazon Vine)

I Kiss Your Hands Many Times: Hearts, Souls, and Wars in Hungary by Marianne Szegedy-Masak(courtesy of Random House)

Those are the books that made their way into my home. What wonderful reads did you find in your mailbox?

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! I hope this holidays finds you all well! We are having a quiet holiday this year. However you celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful day!

Mailbox Monday March 18

Just a quick Mailbox Monday post. I received some great reads in the mail and I also pre-ordered a book I am so excited about so of course, I had to share it with you! This month's host for MM is Caitlin from Chaotic Compendiums. Thank you Caitlin!



Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan (courtesy of Macmillan Audio)

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler (courtesy of Macmillan Audio)

The Lost Husband by Katherine Center(courtesy of Amazon Vine)

Out of the Easy by Ruth Sepetys (purchased)

I usually do not pre-order books but this book is one I didn't want to miss! I loved Beth Hoffman's first book, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt and have been anxiously awaiting her new book!




Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman

I did a happy dance when I saw this book was available for pre-order!

So that is what came to my mailbox(and what will be coming in the future). What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

Thank you all!

I just wanted to pop in and thank you all for your kind words, thoughts and prayers! You can't imagine how much it means! Book bloggers are the best!

Mom had her second round of chemo yesterday. So far, so good. Her hair has begun to fall out this week which was hard for her. She is trying to decide what she wants to wear, a wig or a hat.

I have been slowly reading The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen. It is my first read from this author but will not be my last. Not sure what took me so long to get to her books.

I have peeked at everyone's blogs and as a result have pre-ordered some really good books for the spring. Now if spring would just hurry and get here! Old Man Winter just does not want to leave here!

Thank you again for your kind words!

A Life Update

I was trying to get the blog up and running again but sometimes life takes a turn and things don't go as planned. My mom, who is 88, was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma. She had a biopsy on February 14, which did not go as planned. She ended up having to have a tracheotomy. She is responding well to treatment and we are hopeful. I will try to pop in now and then but with work and taking care of mom, there isn't much spare time these days. My mom is my best friend in the world so I try to spend as much time with her as I can. Thank you for bearing with me!

Mailbox Monday February 4

Hi! Remember me? I cannot believe that I haven't posted since October! Life has been busy with work and juggling responsibilities. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and is doing well. I have peeked in on a few blogs now and then when I get home from work. I am still working nights and it looks like it will be that way for quite some time. It's okay but it sure makes it hard to keep up with everything.

I recently received some books in my mailbox. I thought this was a perfect post to dive back into the blogging waters.

Mailbox Monday is being hosted this month by Audra at Unabridged Chick.

A Thousand Pardons by Jonathan Dee

Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Random House (March 12, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0812993217
ISBN-13: 978-0812993219

Summary
Once a privileged and loving couple, the Armsteads have now reached a breaking point. Ben, a partner in a prestigious law firm, has become unpredictable at work and withdrawn at home—a change that weighs heavily on his wife, Helen, and their preteen daughter, Sara. Then, in one afternoon, Ben’s recklessness takes an alarming turn, and everything the Armsteads have built together unravels, swiftly and spectacularly.

Thrust back into the working world, Helen finds a job in public relations and relocates with Sara from their home in upstate New York to an apartment in Manhattan. There, Helen discovers she has a rare gift, indispensable in the world of image control: She can convince arrogant men to admit their mistakes, spinning crises into second chances. Yet redemption is more easily granted in her professional life than in her personal one.

As she is confronted with the biggest case of her career, the fallout from her marriage, and Sara’s increasingly distant behavior, Helen must face the limits of accountability and her own capacity for forgiveness.

See Now Then by Jamaica Kincaid

Audio CD
Publisher: Macmillan Audio; Unabridged edition (February 5, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1427226490
ISBN-13: 978-1427226495

In See Now Then, the brilliant and evocative new novel from Jamaica Kincaid—her first in ten years—a marriage is revealed in all it’s joys and agonies. This piercing examination of the manifold ways in which the passing of time operates on the human consciousness unfolds gracefully and Kincaid inhabits each of her characters, a Mother and Father, their two children living in a small village in New England, as they move, in their own minds, between the present, the past, and the future—for, as she writes, “the present will be a now then and the past is now then and the future will be a now then.” Her characters, constrained by the world, despair in their domestic situations. But their minds wander, trying to make linear sense of what is, in fact, nonlinear. See Now Then is Kincaid’s attempt to make clear what is unclear, and to make unclear what we assumed was clear: that is, the beginning, the middle, and the end.

Starting Now: A Blossom Street Novel by Debbie Macomber

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books (April 2, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345528816
ISBN-13: 978-0345528810

#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber returns to Seattle’s beloved Blossom Street in this heartfelt tale of friendship, renewal, and discovering what’s truly important in life.

For years Libby Morgan dreamed only of making partner in her competitive, high-pressure law firm. She sacrificed everything for her career—her friends, her marriage, her chance at creating a family. When her boss calls Libby into his office, she assumes it will finally be good news, but nothing can prepare her for the shocking reality: She’s been let go and must rebuild her entire life . . . starting now.

With no job prospects in sight, Libby reaches out to old friends and spends her afternoons at A Good Yarn, the local knitting store. There she forms a close bond with Lydia, the sweet-natured shop owner; Lydia’s spirited teenage daughter, Casey; and Casey’s best friend, Ava, a shy yet troubled girl who will shape Libby’s future in surprising and profound ways.

As A Good Yarn becomes a second home—and the women a new kind of family—Libby relishes the different person she’s become. She even finds time for romance with a charming and handsome doctor who seems to be her perfect match. But just as everything is coming together, Libby must make a choice that could forever change the life she holds so dear.

Seduction: A Novel of Suspense by M.J. Rose

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Atria Books (May 7, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1451621507
ISBN-13: 978-1451621501


From the author of The Book of Lost Fragrances comes a haunting novel about a grieving woman who discovers the lost journal of novelist Victor Hugo, awakening a mystery that spans centuries.

In 1843, novelist Victor Hugo’s beloved nineteen-year-old daughter drowned. Ten years later, Hugo began participating in hundreds of séances to reestablish contact with her. In the process, he claimed to have communed with the likes of Plato, Galileo, Shakespeare, Dante, Jesus—and even the Devil himself. Hugo’s transcriptions of these conversations have all been published. Or so it was believed.

Recovering from her own losses, mythologist Jac L’Etoile arrives on the Isle of Jersey—where Hugo conducted the séances—hoping to uncover a secret about the island’s Celtic roots. But the man who’s invited her there, a troubled soul named Theo Gaspard, has hopes she’ll help him discover something quite different—Hugo’s lost conversations with someone called the Shadow of the Sepulcher.

What follows is an intricately plotted and atmospheric tale of suspense with a spellbinding ghost story at its heart, by one of America’s most gifted and imaginative novelists.