Hi Everyone!

It's here! The Bout of Books reading challenge. This event will be held from 5/8-5/14. 

I always enjoy this one very much and I hope that you will join in the fun! :)

More details:
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 8th and runs through Sunday, May 14th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 19 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Will you be participating?


Happy Reading!

April 2017 Rewind

Hi Everyone,

Happy April 2017 Recap. I read 11 books this month! I won’t link to the reviews directly, but if you head over to the side of my blog you can sort my posts by month.

Specifically, I read:
4Books for Review
5 Books I Own
2 Library Books

Highlights of the month included:
*Participating in a number of reading challenges like Spring Bingo, Dewey's, etc.
*Visiting Memphis (hence the BBQ picture above!)
*Continuing to get posts up on the blog every single day :)

I have to say, it turned out to be another busy month! But so much fun :)   I hope that you had a successful month of reading! What’s in your que for May?

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Whole Thing Together

Author: Ann Brashares
 
Summary from Goodreads:
Summer for Sasha and Ray means the sprawling old house on Long Island. Since they were children, they’ve shared almost everything—reading the same books, running down the same sandy footpaths to the beach, eating peaches from the same market, laughing around the same sun-soaked dining table. Even sleeping in the same bed, on the very same worn cotton sheets. But they’ve never met.

Sasha’s dad was once married to Ray’s mom, and together they had three daughters: Emma, the perfectionist; Mattie, the beauty; and Quinn, the favorite. But the marriage crumbled and the bitterness lingered. Now there are two new families—and neither one will give up the beach house that holds the memories, happy and sad, of summers past.

The choices we make come back to haunt us; the effect on our destinies ripples out of our control…or does it? This summer, the lives of Sasha, Ray, and their siblings intersect in ways none of them ever dreamed, in a novel about family relationships, keeping secrets, and most of all, love.


Personal Review:
When I saw that Ann Brashares had a new book out, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I enjoyed her previous books and I am glad for the chance!

In this book, we meet Sasha and Ray. They have complicated families who have had overlapping lives, different lives, and then a meshing of their lives back together again. Throughout the book we get multiple perspectives of their lives and how they did a number of the same things, just at different times in their lives.

I enjoyed this book because it explores complex family emotions. I think that can be a hard topic to write about, but Ann does it in a straight forward way. I recommend this book for those looking for a summery read. I appreciated the opportunity to read this book.
 

• More Info
• Author Bio

Disclaimer: I was awarded this book as part of the Blogging for Books. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.

Happy Reading!

Reading Recap

Hi Everyone!

Hope you are well. Just stopping by with a couple of mini reviews for your reading enjoyment :)

Brain on Fire (my review)
I got this book from a book blogger exchange that I am part of. When another friend mentioned it was being made into a movie, I decided to give a try. I am glad I did. The book was a fascinating read and told from the perspective of someone actually going through a challenging time. I appreciated the information and the personal experience based on the story. I thought that book was well written and I appreciated reading it very much! 

From Goodreads:
An award-winning memoir and instant New York Times bestseller that goes far beyond its riveting medical mystery, Brain on Fire is the powerful account of one woman’s struggle to recapture her identity.

When twenty-four-year-old Susannah Cahalan woke up alone in a hospital room, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak, she had no memory of how she’d gotten there. Days earlier, she had been on the threshold of a new, adult life: at the beginning of her first serious relationship and a promising career at a major New York newspaper. Now she was labeled violent, psychotic, a flight risk. What happened?

In a swift and breathtaking narrative, Cahalan tells the astonishing true story of her descent into madness, her family’s inspiring faith in her, and the lifesaving diagnosis that nearly didn’t happen.

The Art of Racing in the Rain (new review)
This was a book that was recommended to me by another dog lover. I appreciated the story, even if it was terribly sad. The story is very unique in that it is told from the dog's perspective. Many times throughout the book I thought about what it must be like for our pets to make sense of the lives we live and what is going on. I appreciated that creative approach to this book. I would recommend this book for dog lovers, but not for the faint of heart.

From Goodreads:
Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver.

Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it.


Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday: Little Monsters

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week I am excited to feature a book that looks interesting to me. 

Little Monsters
Author: Kara Thomas
Release Date: July 25th, 2017
 
Summary from Goodreads:
For fans of Pretty Little Liars, Little Monsters is a new psychological thriller, from the author of The Darkest Corners, about appearances versus reality and the power of manipulation amongst teenage girls.

Kacey is the new girl in Broken Falls. When she moved in with her father, she stepped into a brand-new life. A life with a stepbrother, a stepmother, and strangest of all, an adoring younger half sister.

Kacey’s new life is eerily charming compared with the wild highs and lows of the old one she lived with her volatile mother. And everyone is so nice in Broken Falls—she’s even been welcomed into a tight new circle of friends. Bailey and Jade invite her to do everything with them.

Which is why it’s so odd when they start acting distant. And when they don’t invite her to the biggest party of the year, it doesn’t exactly feel like an accident.

But Kacey will never be able to ask, because Bailey never makes it home from that party. Suddenly, Broken Falls doesn’t seem so welcoming after all—especially once everyone starts looking to the new girl for answers.

Kacey is about to learn some very important lessons: Sometimes appearances can be deceiving. Sometimes when you’re the new girl, you shouldn’t trust anyone.

Personal Review:


Happy Reading!

Top Ten Tuesday: Covers I Like :)

Hi Everyone!

Happy Tuesday! I hope you are well. This weeks TTT is a Cover Freebie. So I am sharing with you covers that I really like! :) I think sometimes it's okay to judge a book by the cover! (Especially when they are this good looking!) So here we go...

Happy Reading!

It's Coming...

MORE DETAILS SOON!!

:)