Crescendo

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Summary from Amazon

The sequel to the New York Times Best selling phenomenon, Hush, Hush!

Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

My Thoughts

Before it was published I received an ARC of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. I wasn't sure why I received it but I decided to read it anyway. I usually don't find myself reading paranormal, angel, vampire or young adult novels. This was definitely out of my comfort zone. I found myself whizzing through Hush, Hush only to find out the ending was different than the ending in my ARC because there would be a sequel! Inside I was quite happy because I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was looking forward to more to the story. When I saw Barnes and Noble had a Sneak Peek for Crescendo in their book clubs I jumped right on it.

Crescendo continues the story of Nora and Patch which seems to get more complex and complicated. The series continues with it's dark romance between Patch and Nora which of course cannot go smoothly. Nora's friend, Vee adds some humor to the story with her quirky ways. Marcie Millar is the typical teenage bully that we all love to hate. The story takes some unexpected twist and turns which kept me very interested. I found myself liking this second book in the series even more than I liked Hush, Hush. I found it very suspenseful and found myself thinking about the book when I wasn't reading it. Crescendo was the perfect name for this book! This story just keeps building and building! I am looking forward to the third installment, Tempest. I'm just sad that I will have to wait awhile for it.

I received this ARC as part of Barnes and Noble Sneak Peek Program which in no way influenced my review.

Waiting On Wednesday October 27

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

As soon as I saw this cover and heard the title I knew this book would go on my wish list! Sadly, I cannot find a description of the book anywhere yet.



The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
Product Details
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Bantam (March 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0553807226
ISBN-13: 978-0553807226

What books are you "waiting on?"

The Love Goddess' Cooking School

The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate

Summary from Goodreads

Holly Maguire's grandmother was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine–a Milanese fortune teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. Holly has been waiting years for her unlikely fortune: her true love will like sa cordula, an unappetizing old-world delicacy. But Holly can't make a decent marinara sauce, let alone sa cordula. Maybe that's why the man she hopes to marry breaks her heart. So when Holly inherits Camilla's Cucinotta, she's determined to forget about fortunes and love and become an Italian cooking teacher worthy of her grandmother's legacy.

But Holly's four students are seeking much more than how to make Camilla's chicken alla Milanese. Simon, a single father, hopes to cook his way back into his daughter's heart. Juliet, Holly's childhood friend, hides a painful secret. Tamara, a serial dater, can't find the love she longs for. And twelve-year-old Mia thinks learning to cook will stop her dad from marrying his phony lasagna-queen girlfriend.

As the class gathers each week, adding Camilla's essential ingredients of wishes and memories into every pot and pan, unexpected friendships and romances are formed–and tested. Especially when Holly falls hard for Liam . . . and learns a thing or two about finding her own recipe for happiness.

My Thoughts

This was my first taste of reading a book by Melissa Senate. I have to say she has the recipe for a great, feel good story down to a tee! From page one this book had me! The book starts off with Holly making sa cordula otherwise known as lamb intestines to her boyfriend of two years. If he doesn't like it, it means he is not the love of her life according to her grandmother. Of course he hates it and Holly goes home to Maine to be with her grandmother. When her grandmother passes, Holly takes over her business teaching Italian cooking. One problem..Holly can't cook. Holly soon learns that there is more to cooking than following a recipe. She learns more about her grandmother through her grandmother's diaries. Holly's students each have their own story also. I like when secondary characters are given a side storyline. It gives them a life, I think. Makes them a bit more real. I became involved in their stories as well as Holly's. I loved Holly and her grandmother. They had a very special relationship and it was heartwarming to read about. Will Holly be able to keep her grandmother's business going? Will she ever find a man who likes sa cordula? Melissa Senate even included some recipes from the class in the back of the book which I hope to soon try out. If you read this book you will want to try them out too. I was wishing I could reach into the book during the cooking classes and sample the recipes myself except of course for the sa cordula. This book is one that will leave you feeling good and fulfilled at the end. I absolutely adored this book! If you like a warm, charming story than this is the book for you. It is as comforting as the food that was made in the book.

I give this book 5 stars


I received this arc for my honest review from Inkwell Management. Thank you Rose Marie!

Mailbox Monday October 25

Mailbox Monday is meme created by Marcia from The Printed Page. Marcia says,"Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists." Mailbox Monday is on tour and this months hostess is the delightful Avis of She Reads and Reads. Thank you Avis for hosting this month!

I can't believe that October is almost over! Where did the month go? I didn't receive any review books this week but I am okay with that. I did get a couple books from Amazon, one book that jumped into my cart at Target, and I hit our library sale on Saturday and picked up a few goodies.



The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson (this was the book from Target)
The Girl With The Dragon tattoo by Stieg Larsson
(I felt like I was the only person not to have read these books so I decided to pick them up)
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin (I bought this used on Amazon but it actually ended up being a brand new book)
My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira (this has been on my wish list for quite some time)




These are my library sale finds. They were each a dollar so I only spent $5 and I got a few books that have been on my wish list. There weren't too many donated books this time. Most items were withdrawn from the library.

Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon (audiobook)
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh
Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson
The Girls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow

Now I am off to see what wonderful books made their way into your home!

Waiting On Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This is my first WOW post. I am anxiously and not so patiently waiting for the following book to be published:




I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

To be released November 9

A major new novel--the first in four years!--by the irresistible bestselling author of Can't Wait to Get to Heaven, Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!, and Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café.

Though her friends think Maggie has the perfect life, she's actually perfectly miserable. The former Miss Alabama is worried about how her life has turned out--she's given up on her dream of living in a beautiful home like Crestview, and instead is a real estate agent in Birmingham. But just when Maggie begins to wonder if there's much point in going on, her life takes a wild turn, and she finds herself catapulted into one surprising discovery after the next. As Maggie learns valuable lessons about the nature of friendship, the challenges of modern life, and the dangers of impossible dreams, she starts to see how much more there is to life than what can be listed in a Miss Alabama bio. Bestselling author Fannie Flagg's trademark comic flair is out in full force in this fabulous new novel about the unpredictability of life.

I love Fannie Flagg and I can't wait to get my hands on this book!

What books are you anxiously waiting for?

Backseat Saints

Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson

Summary from Goodreads

Rose Mae Lolley is a fierce and dirty girl, long-suppressed under flowery skirts and bow-trimmed ballet flats. As "Mrs. Ro Grandee" she's trapped in a marriage that's thick with love and sick with abuse. Her true self has been bound in the chains of marital bliss in rural Texas, letting "Ro" make eggs, iron shirts, and take her punches. She seems doomed to spend the rest of her life battered outside by her husband and inside by her former self, until fate throws her in the path of an airport gypsy---one who shares her past and knows her future. The tarot cards foretell that Rose's beautiful, abusive husband is going to kill her. Unless she kills him first.

Hot-blooded Rose Mae escapes from under Ro's perky compliance and emerges with a gun and a plan to beat the hand she's been dealt. Following messages that her long-missing mother has left hidden for her in graffiti and behind paintings, Rose and her dog Gretel set out from Amarillo, TX back to her hometown of Fruiton, AL, and then on to California, unearthing a host of family secrets as she goes. Running for her life, she realizes that she must face her past in order to overcome her fate---death by marriage---and become a girl who is strong enough to save herself from the one who loves her best.

My Thoughts

This is the second Joshilyn Jackson book I have read. I must say I like that her characters are well developed and most have a quirkiness about them. This cover caught my attention right off the bat. There had to be a great story as to why this woman would cut off her beautiful hair and hold it in front of herself while looking down. As I read and got acquainted with Rose Mae Lolley, I found myself having a love/hate relationship with her. There were times I wanted hug her and tell her everything was going to be all right. Other times she did things that were absolutely crazy. The story does deal with domestic violence and while it is a heavy subject, there were times I found myself laughing at some of the antics in the book. Rose Mae Lolley was quite the character and needless to say so were the people who were part of her life. This book took me on a roller coaster ride and in the end gave me one final twist which was a doozy! There are some pretty graphic scenes in the book, some sexual and some violent. Just a warning for those who don't wish to read that sort of thing. I hope to read more of Joshilyn Jackson's novels. I have all ready picked up a few more of her books.

Fall Into Reading Question #4

I am participating in the Fall Into Reading Challenge. Every week Katrina at Callapidder Days has posted a question for us to answer. It's fun to see what everyone's reading habits are. This weeks question is:

Do you ever dog-ear the corners of book pages to mark your spot? Or are you a faithful bookmark user, refusing to damage the pages of your books? OR do you have another way to keep track of where you are in a book?

I do not dog ear books now but that was not always the case in my teenage years. Now I just can't bring myself to do that. I have many bookmarks, some which have been given to me by friends that are very dear to me. If I don't have a bookmark handy I will use a scrap of paper or whatever is handy until I can get to my bookmarks.

Now for my progress on the FIR Challenge. I have finished 4 out of the 10 books I have listed. Not bad at this stage of the game.

Do you dog-ear or are you a bookmark user?

Mailbox Monday October 18

Mailbox Monday is meme created by Marcia from The Printed Page. Marcia says,"Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists." Mailbox Monday is on tour and this months hostess is the delightful Avis of She Reads and Reads. Thank you Avis for hosting this month!




I have an amazing stack of books this week! I received one book for review. The rest are books that I got from swapping books with a book loving friend!

First off I received The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate. I am excited to read this book. It seems like I book I will enjoy. Thank you to Rose Marie from Inkwell Management.

Holly Maguire's grandmother was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine–a Milanese fortune teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. Holly has been waiting years for her unlikely fortune: her true love will like sa cordula, an unappetizing old-world delicacy. But Holly can't make a decent marinara sauce, let alone sa cordula. Maybe that's why the man she hopes to marry breaks her heart. So when Holly inherits Camilla's Cucinotta, she's determined to forget about fortunes and love and become an Italian cooking teacher worthy of her grandmother's legacy.

But Holly's four students are seeking much more than how to make Camilla's chicken alla Milanese. Simon, a single father, hopes to cook his way back into his daughter's heart. Juliet, Holly's childhood friend, hides a painful secret. Tamara, a serial dater, can't find the love she longs for. And twelve-year-old Mia thinks learning to cook will stop her dad from marrying his phony lasagna-queen girlfriend.

As the class gathers each week, adding Camilla's essential ingredients of wishes and memories into every pot and pan, unexpected friendships and romances are formed–and tested. Especially when Holly falls hard for Liam . . . and learns a thing or two about finding her own recipe for happiness.

The rest are the book I received from my book angel! Thank you book angel! I hope you enjoy the books I sent to you too.

Summer's Child by Diane Chamberlain
A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve
The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner
The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf
Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand
A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand
True Colors by Kristin Hannah
The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain
Summer People by Elin Hilderbrand
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Something Blue by Emily Giffin
The Last Child by John Hart
The Last Will of Moira Leahy by Therese Walsh
Catching Genius by Kristy Kiernan
Matters of Faith by Kristy Kiernan

What books made their way into your home?

Somewhere Inside; One Sister's Captivity in North Korea and the Other's Fight to Bring Her Home

Somewhere Inside; One Sister's Captivity in North Korea and the Other's Fight to Bring Her Home by Laura Ling & Lisa Ling
I have been a huge fan of Lisa Ling ever since she was on The View. In fact when she left I pretty much stopped watching it. I liked how she would bring stories to our attention that I never knew were going on. When the story of how her sister Laura Ling and her colleague, Euna Lee had been captured and were being held prisoner in North Korea broke, I was surprised to learn that she had a sister in the same field as she. I was very concerned for Laura and Euna Lee and prayed for them. The two were working on a documentary about North Korean defectors who had fled the terrible conditions in their country only to end up in some terrible situations in China. While near the China- North Korean border the girls were captured by North Korean soldiers and dragged into North Korea where they were imprisoned. The book is told alternately through both Laura's eyes and Lisa's eyes. Laura tells of her ordeal in prison and being tried in North Korea. She was determined to survive and find a way out of what seemed to be a no-win situation. Lisa tells of what it was like waiting and wondering and how she diligently worked to find a way to bring her sister home. I don't think two sister's could be any closer to each other. You will want to hug your sister tightly after reading this book.

I also have Euna Lee's book The World Is Bigger Now and am looking forward to reading it as Laura and Euna Lee were separated for most of their imprisonment. I am wondering how Euna Lee was treated and what her experience was like.

I borrowed this book from my local public library. I would give it 5 stars.

Dewey's Nine Lives

Dewey's Nine Lives by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter

Book Summary from Penguin
The cat that captured America's hearts returns, to share more of his special brand of magic.

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World was a blockbuster bestseller and a publishing phenomenon. It has sold nearly a million copies, spawned three children's books, and will be the basis for an upcoming movie. No doubt about it, Dewey has created a community. Dewey touched readers everywhere, who realized that no matter how difficult their lives might seem, or how ordinary their talents, they can-and should-make a positive difference to those around them. Now, Dewey is back, with even more heartwarming moments and life lessons to share.

Dewey's Nine Lives offers nine funny, inspiring, and heartwarming stories about cats--all told from the perspective of "Dewey's Mom," librarian Vicki Myron. The amazing felines in this book include Dewey, of course, whose further never-before-told adventures are shared, and several others who Vicki found out about when their owners reached out to her. Vicki learned, through extensive interviews and story sharing, what made these cats special, and how they fit into Dewey's community of perseverance and love. From a divorced mother in Alaska who saved a drowning kitten on Christmas Eve to a troubled Vietnam veteran whose heart was opened by his long relationship with a rescued cat, these Dewey-style stories will inspire readers to laugh, cry, care, and, most importantly, believe in the magic of animals to touch individual lives.

My Thoughts

I received this book and was a bit afraid to read it. I'm always afraid these types of books will be too sad. While there were a few sad parts, I found the stories to be very heartwarming. The cats in these stories all filled a void and played an important role in someone's life just as Dewey did. Each story is unique and touching. My favorite story was about a cat who rode a motorcycle, truly a remarkable cat! Also there a couple of new Dewey stories included in the book. If you love cats or pets, I think you will be touched and love each story as much as I did. It was so moving that I read the whole book in one sitting. Definitely a five star read!

I received this book for my honest review from Penguin

Mailbox Monday October 11

Mailbox Monday is meme created by Marcia from The Printed Page. Marcia says,"Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists." Mailbox Monday is on tour and this months hostess is the delightful Avis of She Reads and Reads. Thank you Avis for hosting this month!



Salting Roses by Lorelle Marinello

I received this book for review from Avon through Shelf Awareness.

The next four books I won from Vera at Luxury Reading. Thank you so much Vera!


Cowboys Never Cry by Tina Welling


The Book of Peach by Penelope J. Stokes



The Threadbare Heart by Jennie Nash


Welcome to Harmony by Jodi Thomas

What books made their way into your home?

Deweys 24 Hour Readathon Wrapup

End Of Event Meme

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? about 11;30-ish when I dozed off.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? I think the thing to do is to read your favorite types of books and keep them light.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? nope
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? It all worked great, the cheerleaders, the mini-challenges, the hosts,
5. How many books did you read? finished 2 and started 2
6. What were the names of the books you read? Somewhere Inside and Dewey's Nine Lives
7. Which book did you enjoy most? I enjoyed them both equally
8. Which did you enjoy least? Not applicable
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? Not applicable
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? I would be a reader again. It is great motivation for me and it helps get me cracking on the TBR piles!

First off I want to thank all those who stopped by to cheer me on! You guys are great! The posts kept the spirits high and made me laugh! And thank you to those who organize and helped out with Readathon!

Totals
Number of books finished- 2
I also started two more books.

Pages since last update- 124 pages and 2 hours of audio.

Total pages read during the Readathon- 598

Time spent reading since last update- 240 minutes

Total time read read during Readathon- 684

3 mini challenges completed

All in all in was a good readathon for me. I had a great time as always and am looking forward to April when I can do it all over again.

Readathon Update

So it's not going too well right now. I listened to my audiobook Backseat Saints and after 2 hours fell asleep. The dog just got me up to go out.

Stats are the same except for 2 hours of Backseat Saints and I had a bowl of vanilla frozen yogurt topped with crushed Heath bar bits.

Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenge: Title Word Scramble

Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenge: Title Word Scramble

1. Firefly Lane
2. East Of Eden
3. Water For Elephants
4. To Kill A Mockingbird
5. The Great Gatsby
6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
7. The Art Of Racing In The Rain
8. The Time Travelers Wife
9. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
10. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
11. A Wrinkle in Time
12. The Polar Express
13. Love Walked In
14. Where The Wild Things Are
15. The Shining
16. Goodnight Moon
17. Interview With a Vampire
18. The Secret Life of Bees
19. The Search
20. The Help


This was fun..I love a puzzle!

Dewey's 24 Hour Mid Event Survey and Update

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now?
I just finished Dewey's Nine Lives and will be picking up Crescendo.
2. How many books have you read so far?
I have finished 2 books
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
Backseat Saints(audiobook)
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
Not really..my kids are older so they pretty much do their own thing on the weekend anyway. I just had to get snacks in order.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
I have had tons of interruptions...the dogs especially and a few phone calls. I learned to grab my book as I go out the door with the dogs. I kept the phone conversations short.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
I am surprised at how much I am getting read considering I started the day out tired. I feel pretty good yet too which is very surprising.
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
Next time I will try to get more sleep the night before.
9. Are you getting tired yet?
Not tired yet!
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?
I can't think of tips as of yet...

Update

Title of book(s) read since last update: Dewey's Nine Lives;The Legacy of a Small-town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter

Number of books read since you started: 2

Pages read since last update: 306

Running total of pages read since you started: 474

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 276 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 444 minutes total

Mini-challenges completed: 2 mini challenges completed

Food consumed: General Tso's Chicken leftovers found lurking in the fridge, Artichoke dip and crackers, apple juice popsicle, and Minute Maid Cherry Limeade juice

Readathon Update #1

I am doing okay. I didn't get as much read as I had hoped. Many interruptions...phone, dogs and I decided to wash my bedding. I love crawling into april fresh sheets at night, in my favorite jammies with a good book. I have found the laundry is a good idea. I have to get up and go downstairs to change it which gets me up. I finished one book and I was so into the book I sat in the same position for too long and was pretty stiff when I did get up. I finished Somewhere Inside by Laura Ling & Lisa Ling. It was a very good book. I'll be posting a review next week sometime.

Title of book(s) read since last update:1 book read, actually finished- I had started it last week.

Number of books read since you started:1

Pages read since last update:168 pages read

Running total of pages read since you started:168 pages total

Amount of time spent reading since last update:168 minutes(how crazy that my minutes and pages are the same)

Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!)168 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: 2 mini challenges completed

Okay I am off to tackle Dewey, the library cat.

Readathon Hour One Challenge

The fun has begun! And so has the first mini challenge!

Where are you reading from today?

I am reading from home in Wisconsin where it is a summerlike day...I may be doing some reading outside

3 facts about me …

I love pomegranates..anything pomgeranate flavor and I have to try it.
I love my coffee...the day doesn't start without it!
I brake for squirrels...okay that one is lame but I am trying to get back to reading

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

nine books in the pile but there are more piles where those came from..
Backseat Saints(audiobook) by Joshilyn Jackson
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
The Queen of Palmyra by Minrose Gwin
Angel Song by Sheila Walsh & Kathryn Cushman
Dewey's Nine Lives; The Legacy of the Legendary Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter
Room by Emma Donoghue
Sabbath by Wayne Muller
The Recipe Club by Andrea Israel & Nancy Garfinkel
Somewhere Inside by Laura Ling & Lisa Ling


Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

I'd be happy getting two books finished but would be really happy if I finished more.

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

This is my third readthon I believe...my advice would be to have a template for updates and get up and move around once in awhile. I read on the treadmill at some point to keep from getting too achy. Most all...HAVE FUN! Let the fun begin!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon: The Stack

I finally have made a decision of what books to try and tackle. I will be lucky to finish two but I am a mood reader so I wanted to have all my bases covered. An audiobook is good for when the eyes get tired. I have a stinking headache this morning so I'm thinking the audiobook will come in handy. Our dog had a little incident with chocolate and the past 24 hours have been stressful. He is okay, fingers crossed, but I am looking forward to just sitting and reading. Good luck to all my fellow readathoners and a special thank you to those who are behind the scenes and make this possible for us all! I appreciate every single one of you!



Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

The Queen of Palmyra by Minrose Gwin

Angel Song by Sheila Walsh & Kathryn Cushman

Dewey's Nine Lives; The Legacy of the Legendary Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter

Room by Emma Donoghue

Sabbath by Wayne Muller

The Recipe Club by Andrea Israel & Nancy Garfinkel

Somewhere Inside by Laura Ling & Lisa Ling

I believe I have word verification turned off now but if you find otherwise please let me know.

Let the reading begin!

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is meme created by Marcia from The Printed Page. Marcia says,"Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists." Mailbox Monday is on tour and this months hostess is the delightful Avis of She Reads and Reads. Thank you Avis for hosting this month!

I received three books in my mailbox this past week. Two were purchases and one came for review. The book summaries are borrowed from Goodreads.



The Recipe Club: A Tale of Food and Friendship by Andrea Israel & Nancy Garfinkel

Loyalty, loss, and the ties that bind. These are the ingredients of The Recipe Club, a "novel cookbook" that combines an authentic story of friendship with more than 80 delicious recipes.

Lilly and Val are lifelong friends, united as much by their differences as by their similarities. Lilly, dramatic and confident, lives in the shadow of her beautiful, wayward mother and craves the attention of her distant, disapproving father. Val, shy and idealistic—and surprisingly ambitious— struggles with her desire to break free from her demanding housebound mother and a father whose dreams never seem to come true.

In childhood, "LillyPad" and "ValPal" form an exclusive two-person club, writing intimate letters in which they share hopes, fears, deepest secrets—and recipes, from Lilly's "Lovelorn Lasagna" to Valerie's "Forgiveness Tapenade." Readers can cook along as the friends travel through time facing the challenges of independence, the joys and heartbreaks of first love, and the emotional complexities of family relationships, identity, mortality, and goals deferred.

The Recipe Club sustains Lilly and Val's bond through the decades, regardless of what different paths they take or what misunderstandings threaten to break them apart . . . until the fateful day when an act of kindness becomes an unforgivable betrayal.

Now, years later, while trying to recapture the trust they've lost, Lilly and Val reunite once more—only to uncover a shocking secret. Will it destroy their friendship, or bring them ever closer?

I received this book for review from Harper Collins. I believe it came for review as a win from Librarything Early Reviewers. I won a copy back in December and never received it. I think this might be it. No matter what I am thrilled to receive it as I think it sounds like a great read!



Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller


In today's world, with its relentless emphasis on success and productivity, we have lost the necessary rhythm of life, the balance between work and rest. Constantly striving, we feel exhausted and deprived in the midst of great abundance. We long for time with friends and family, we long for a moment to ourselves.

Millennia ago, the tradition of Sabbath created an oasis ...more In today's world, with its relentless emphasis on success and productivity, we have lost the necessary rhythm of life, the balance between work and rest. Constantly striving, we feel exhausted and deprived in the midst of great abundance. We long for time with friends and family, we long for a moment to ourselves.

Millennia ago, the tradition of Sabbath created an oasis of sacred time within a life of unceasing labor. Now, in a book that can heal our harried lives, Wayne Muller, author of the spiritual classic How, Then, Shall We Live?, shows us how to create a special time of rest, delight, and renewal--a refuge for our souls.

We need not even schedule an entire day each week. Sabbath time can be a Sabbath afternoon, a Sabbath hour, a Sabbath walk. With wonderful stories, poems, and suggestions for practice, Muller teaches us how we can use this time of sacred rest to refresh our bodies and minds, restore our creativity, and regain our birthright of inner happiness.

I bought this to read as part of a readalong and study. I'm very excited to get started on it.



Between Friends by Kristy Kiernan

A provocative new novel about birth, death, and the stuff in between, from the award-winning author of Catching Genius.
Thanks to modern reproductive technology - and the gift of her friend Cora's eggs - Ali Gutierrez is the mother of a fourteen-year-old daughter.
Now, yearning for a second child, Ali asks Cora's permission to use another of the frozen embryos that have been stored away in anticipation of this decision. But Cora has a secret that could not only change Ali's plans for the future, but tear apart her life right now.

Another purchase(I was really bad this week) from my wish list I found while browsing Amazon.

What wonderful books made their way into your home?