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WWW.BOOKSHIPPER.BLOGSPOT.COMTinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.comBlogger1432125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-49966223498443795732024-02-09T19:54:00.002-05:002024-02-09T19:54:00.136-05:00BOOK REVIEW for Private Equity, A Memoir by Carrie Sun<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0B9e2PJBFA9KROgT3s2TDAby8KjeDkD3UuV5HjZfP9-XfeI_Y6KE7P2Wf8Sh9bozv-sLqk8gStQn0IzugJQJ4WS9u8Ti72ZU9MJrMojz1sgbiZsoruDWdVzoDbyLZoe0uF1OBM5Itpgugj6wRXrKLVLEc56P_uNSBxHEhnoWuBWuW61s4MM6NNUiYo_o/s2560/Equity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1696" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0B9e2PJBFA9KROgT3s2TDAby8KjeDkD3UuV5HjZfP9-XfeI_Y6KE7P2Wf8Sh9bozv-sLqk8gStQn0IzugJQJ4WS9u8Ti72ZU9MJrMojz1sgbiZsoruDWdVzoDbyLZoe0uF1OBM5Itpgugj6wRXrKLVLEc56P_uNSBxHEhnoWuBWuW61s4MM6NNUiYo_o/s320/Equity.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: red;">Thank you to the publisher Penguin Random House for sending me an electronic copy of this book.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">TITLE: Private Equity, A Memoir</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">AUTHOR: Carrie Sun</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">GENRE: Memoir</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">RATING: 4 stars</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div><b>This is my kind of book. I love memoirs that take a hard look at certain types of companies - fashion, stock market, just to name a few.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Honestly, I did not like any of the characters in this story and it kind of freaks me out that this really happened.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Reading this was like getting an inside look at high finance and let's say it.....privileged white men run the markets. Boone was so typical of some of my bosses, it gave me chills and brought back memories that were not positive...actually made me feel so good about the fact that I am off the crazy rides driven by money.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Having said this, however, Carrie was a pain to read and I don't know why, other than to say that she was frustrating, not being remotely in tune with herself at all. She was so matter of fact about everything, the huge work load, her relationships, her friendships....all she kept saying was "i am tired". He relationship with Josh and her parents are good examples. She just went along, either by tuning out or by letting things go with the flow, which is usually a pretty good way to be, except that she did this with EVERYTHING. Even her ridiculous amounts of gifts and $ left you with a feeling that it was all just MEH!.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>I struggled a bit with the actual writing. The author did not do a great job of linear writing. Josh, for example, has harassed her, for most of the book, and yet she casually drops, into the storyline, that they have started seeing each other again -almost like "oh, I have readers so I should probably tell them that Josh is in my life again" and does the very same thing when they break up again.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>I think real, raw emotion is what is missing in this book. She never cries, she never yells, she never does anything bad.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Still, I loved this story. I know most of this review is pointing out issues with the book, but honestly I just loved to read about all of it, I felt like I got a front rom to such overindulgences.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><div><br /></div></span></div>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-4291608254981891972024-02-05T19:43:00.001-05:002024-02-05T19:43:04.927-05:00BOOK REVIEW for Only Say Good Things by Crystal Hefner<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzW0m9bPoFTWcLBAgKZWbcyI7Rwk84MHwXn3MywDhCj7cwBpDDZOTIfzIN4F-VTOI7wv5tKEA-sc2xjwpSrtCEhlB6hj2ZzDMVitUKlZvQiFa9u6An-tsiQeCFexoTrmE2BoByEeurSUX5zisjTqIGS9kuaj-A9e1LbxrZ1EPMy_MXRWBVd7xD0ZA2xk/s445/crystal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="295" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzW0m9bPoFTWcLBAgKZWbcyI7Rwk84MHwXn3MywDhCj7cwBpDDZOTIfzIN4F-VTOI7wv5tKEA-sc2xjwpSrtCEhlB6hj2ZzDMVitUKlZvQiFa9u6An-tsiQeCFexoTrmE2BoByEeurSUX5zisjTqIGS9kuaj-A9e1LbxrZ1EPMy_MXRWBVd7xD0ZA2xk/s320/crystal.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: times;"><b>TITLE: <span> </span><span> </span>Only Say Good Things</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: times;"><b>AUTHOR<span> </span><span> Crystal Hefner</span></b></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: times;"><b>GENRE:<span> </span><span> </span><span> Memoir</span></b></span></span></p><p><span><span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: times;"><b>RATING:<span> </span><span> </span><span> 4 stars</span></b></span></span></span></p><p><b>It is very hard to give this book a rating.</b></p><p><b>I do admire the author's honesty, even when she does not come out looking all that great. Her writing is friendly and very engaging - loved her writing style, which is why this is a 4 star rate for me.</b></p><p><b>I know that this is mentioned all the time, but I can't help thinking that she stupidly put herself in a position that would demean her. When she describes her first meeting with Hefner, I am completely flabbergasted at how she doesn't even blink at wanting to be chosen, among a sea of half naked, blond women, but also at the fact that she never even questions anything of her surroundings, as she is directed to Hefner's room. I mean, not one second of "wait, one minute, this is not a scene I want to find myself in". She acted like a pro at having sex with random men.</b></p><p><b>Morally, I don't care about, but she set herself up for years of guilt and anger and while she could have left at any time, she kept coming back. Yes, she had hardship in her young life, but hiding behind them does not serve her.</b></p><p><b>I was intrigued by the section where she asks for forgiveness to all the young girls who want to be her -I can fully see how her influence is not a good thing.</b></p><p><b>As it turns out, she spent all of her twenties with a man who build an empire on orgies, power and disrespect for women. I was surprised when she mentioned this because it felt like she was with Hefner so much longer and should be in her mid thirties by now.</b></p><p><b>I hope she finds what she is looking for. </b></p><p><b>Just a side note - Hefner??? I realllllly don't get the allure.</b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-38332470383902019662024-01-18T16:55:00.002-05:002024-01-18T16:55:18.390-05:00BOOK REVIEW for Here with You by Kathy Wagner<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0mn9zvUiYQTG1cegooDpwPJYnxW5nL1-96CJfqGMcLq9wdIUvUVju50tdpOguoGNJwnclsMVdtlpD2DAu429cXXN_kDQ8QuxA6KzRghRF871nreqnjgj3ed1MWRHnldxHTlbBY0qRoCUIXwHufpmOWLZSbJwqJ300miaFOBi9ClEc-mhrwBbV4GvYa4/s2560/here.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1704" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0mn9zvUiYQTG1cegooDpwPJYnxW5nL1-96CJfqGMcLq9wdIUvUVju50tdpOguoGNJwnclsMVdtlpD2DAu429cXXN_kDQ8QuxA6KzRghRF871nreqnjgj3ed1MWRHnldxHTlbBY0qRoCUIXwHufpmOWLZSbJwqJ300miaFOBi9ClEc-mhrwBbV4GvYa4/s320/here.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p><br /></p><b><span style="color: red;">Thank you to Douglas & Mcintyre for the e-copy of this book</span></b><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>TITLE: Here with you</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>AUTHOR: Kathy Wagner</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>GENRE:<span> Memoir</span></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span><b>RATING: 5 Stars</b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>I read a LOT of addiction/recovery books, except that this book is a about addiction - period.</b></span></p><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I have never read a memoir focusing so much on what an addiction does to the people around the addict. Sure, this is always given a chapter or two in most memoir on this subject, but with this one, while the addict's issues are detailed, the equivalent timeline focused on the addict's family and friends.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I also loved how this book talks about the importance of 12 steps - it was very interesting to see how two of Wagner's children had addiction issues and both look towards rehab and 12 steps - and how it worked as a miracle for one of her children's while her other child could not see all the gifts of 12 step.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I admire how brave Wagner is in writing this heart wrenching book. I hope it helped her soul to heal.</span></b>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-85950635925999529802024-01-07T21:14:00.000-05:002024-01-07T21:14:02.952-05:00BOOK REVIEW for After the Wedding by Eileen Gibb<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0g7RD-36KiUoJmNfmah-7_igKWlGk8MfMFktayEbUfCtJzGyAAupCHGIMauX9GH8Gmxd01xI_sNmq-_EJl7OuCrSxsd5b7DxslVYGgUc88PrEPAvhPNm6kCm-34c-Ip6a_RNrC5Y4SMt7Zvm_1D-_VFvYRvPilqQ8fRWzAep-lzLJt_GXlU3DvnwULNI/s156/wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="156" data-original-width="98" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0g7RD-36KiUoJmNfmah-7_igKWlGk8MfMFktayEbUfCtJzGyAAupCHGIMauX9GH8Gmxd01xI_sNmq-_EJl7OuCrSxsd5b7DxslVYGgUc88PrEPAvhPNm6kCm-34c-Ip6a_RNrC5Y4SMt7Zvm_1D-_VFvYRvPilqQ8fRWzAep-lzLJt_GXlU3DvnwULNI/w251-h400/wedding.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>TITLE: After the Wedding</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>AUTHOR: Eileen Gibb</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>GENRE:<span> Memoir</span></b></span></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>RATING: 4 stars</b></span></span></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">This book brought out so many feelings for me.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">First off, I want to say that this man was a despicable barely human. Unfortunately, during that time period, "man" was still considered so much higher than women and this comes through clearly in the book. I kept having to remind myself that the generations were different then, not to say that family violence does not exist today though.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Eileen, as a young working woman, applied Christianity to EVERYTHING - to the point where it felt almost "holier than thou". I think the price she put on Christianity was a big reason she met John and ended up where she landed. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">In fact, when she first met John, her comments made it obvious she did not particularly like him as he was not Christian enough (if only she had kept to that), instead she kept forcing religion on him and this would be a theme that would repeat often between the two. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Yet, why on earth would you date him and marry him and then basically proceed, for the entire book, to NEVER open your mouth - not for voicing an opinion, not for saying "no I don't want to marry you", not even for telling someone else about the violence in your home? It was so frustrating to read.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Throughout the entire book, she never defends herself and everyone around her dominates her, in fact, at one point towards the end of the book she actually says something like "i never seem to speak up for myself" REALLY!!??</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The role of Christianity played a huge part in this story and it was painfully obvious that church and praying was something to pull out only when needed. For example Eileen trots out religion but when her husband John does something like stealing, she conveniently puts her beliefs on a shelf. When her daughter's friend says that John molested her, Eileen does nothing about it - does not confront him and does not even ask the child to tell her what happened (if anything, but why would this child say something like that if it were not true). </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">One of my pet peeves are couples that have horrible marriages, yet, continue to make babies. Why, oh why did they have 3 kids? - these poor kids were suffering from PTSD and by the way, if John molested this little girl, don't you think he could have done the same to his own daughter? In fact, their daughter speaks up as an adult and STILL nobody listened, certainly Eileen did not want to hear it, better to pretend its not there. The same way she accepted the cycle of being hit by John, who in turn , would then apologize and do it all over again and again.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I won't even bother talking about that horrid John - he got the ending he deserved. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The writing was very encompassing and Eileen did not shy away from writing about all of it - that is a brave thing to do. Her story brought out so many feelings for me and that is the sign of a good story, in my opinion.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I hope Eileen and her children have gotten the peace they were looking for.</span></b></p><p></p><p><br /></p>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-51852614735425777312023-12-31T23:59:00.003-05:002024-01-01T22:24:01.393-05:00Reading Goal and year 2024<h1 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/11633-2023-reading-challenge?utm_medium=api&utm_source=challenge_widget&utm_campaign=" rel="nofollow" style="color: #78afb6; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="2023 Reading Challenge" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/challenges/1670887106p2/11633.jpg" style="border: 0px none; float: left; margin-right: 10px;" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1621386-tina?utm_medium=api&utm_source=challenge_widget&utm_campaign=" rel="nofollow" style="color: #78afb6; text-decoration-line: none;">Tina</a> has completed her goal of reading 37 books in 2023!</span><div style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(56, 33, 16); color: #333333; float: left; font-family: georgia, serif; height: 8px; margin: 4px 0px 5px 5px; overflow: hidden; text-align: center; width: 100px;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/39484185?utm_medium=api&utm_source=challenge_widget&utm_campaign=" rel="nofollow" style="color: #78afb6; text-decoration-line: none;">37 of 37 (100%)</a></span></h1><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Finished!</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>I realized that I actually had more reading time when I worked - between the bus and the metro rides and reading during my lunch, I use to get through a lot more books than I do now that I am not working.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Also, I find myself so picky and I, at some time, started gravitating towards non fiction a lot more.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>I am going to set 39 books for 2024 and hopefully I will get there.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>After doing the Goodreads Reading Challenge for several years, I realize that reading 37 books in a year is not that big of a deal when I see people setting their goals at 200 or 300 books to read in a year - and they actually meet their goals.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: red;">I WISH ALL OF YOU A HAPPY, SAFE AND HEALTHY 2024.</span></b></div>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-71727313406831885352023-11-01T21:40:00.003-04:002023-11-01T21:40:00.130-04:00BOOK REVIEW for Swarm by Jennifer D. Lyle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwOyou3j1JIUF6YCuhYz7i8BUvxPi6W0REqajROc12cL7-oT0GChZ_J60BGTInK0esDeLQE4BQr-W47wGrdbfHFr0jxzV7K5C6DKO659rEvm8-KvY0FjrQJ467IEm91dfZLm9yta-DoczC_XrrD5OqKHX1yVMIoSn6SjDfL9jwfb7c7LdQiqtpwWy/s400/swarm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwOyou3j1JIUF6YCuhYz7i8BUvxPi6W0REqajROc12cL7-oT0GChZ_J60BGTInK0esDeLQE4BQr-W47wGrdbfHFr0jxzV7K5C6DKO659rEvm8-KvY0FjrQJ467IEm91dfZLm9yta-DoczC_XrrD5OqKHX1yVMIoSn6SjDfL9jwfb7c7LdQiqtpwWy/w268-h400/swarm.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>TITLE: Swarm</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>AUTHOR: Jennifer D. Lyle</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>GENRE: YA horror/thriller</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>RATING: I usually give a max of 5 stars - but this one is 10 stars</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">First, I want to thank Sourcebooks Fire for sending me an e-galley of this book.</span></b></span></p><div class="big450BoxBody" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: repeat-y; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><div class="big450BoxContent" style="overflow: hidden; width: 430px;"><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;"><b>I wish I could rate this as a 10 stars. It is SO GOOD. I could not put it down - seriously, people say that all the time, but I dragged my tablet all around the house, taking even a few minutes of downtime to read. I was sorry to see it end - I mean I LOOOOOOVED this book.<br /><br />I am a huge fan of YA survival stories, mostly with snowstorms, but while this book only touches on snow at some minor point, it uses a very clever idea - taking butterflies, which are traditionally loved and considered beautiful and turning them into, basically very efficient contaminating/killing machines.<br /><br />My skin basically crawled the entire book and I will never look at a butterfly in the same way again. The description of what these beautiful butterflies turned into is a bit shocking and extremely well detailed, making it easy for the reader to imagine.<br /><br />The fact that these YA were basically sheltered into place, trying to keep one step ahead of the butterflies and their prey was nerve wracking. The fact that anyone bitten turned into something akin to zombies (but not exactly) was a nice touch that made the book even more creepy.<br /><br />Now that I think about it, this book could easily have taken part of its plot straight from the COVID pandemic - except we, obviously, did not have to deal with zombie issues. However, the shelter into place, the not knowing, the horrible infections and the overall contagion of the virus can easily have inspired the author.<br /><br />The characters are well fleshed out (no pun intended) and while I did not like the fact that there was a young child AND a cat stuck in the house with these YA, I ended up thinking it was a great addition to the story as it moved it along well.<br /><br />The strengths of this book are the exceptional pacing - such a good job of moving this at just the appropriate speed and the author's vivid descriptions of the butterflies, the (sort of) zombies and the fear each character felt and lived throughout the story.<br /><br />You have to read this book. I am so jealous that you get to read it for the first time!<br /><br />Read my other reviews, very few are 5 stars and very rarely do I praise a book so much - but this story is worth it.</b></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div id="review-like" style="float: right; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: right;"></div><div id="review-follow" style="font-size: 12px; margin-top: 8px;"></div></div></div>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-15215690199861329862023-09-27T03:12:00.005-04:002023-09-27T03:12:00.148-04:00BOOK REVIEW for Behind the Door by Amy Price<p><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1MXpaMRe1iH4zyG1oZuJM77yuI54QIYN57P7wT7LuSXw6yCJ7IU7zsIKUk7xr9QDODZvbNJ_x9u72FVaJn_bIRitVgHzghNdAzmDx3kbHlTMBddG4jy1BTjyK9HntXr0k02tDvqjQHAfaGnFGubFEMJ4KH850y-xmAymXxLokG31_sZLmA683Gp-/s400/cecil.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1MXpaMRe1iH4zyG1oZuJM77yuI54QIYN57P7wT7LuSXw6yCJ7IU7zsIKUk7xr9QDODZvbNJ_x9u72FVaJn_bIRitVgHzghNdAzmDx3kbHlTMBddG4jy1BTjyK9HntXr0k02tDvqjQHAfaGnFGubFEMJ4KH850y-xmAymXxLokG31_sZLmA683Gp-/s320/cecil.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: red;"><br /></span></div><p></p><span style="background-color: white; color: red;"><b>T</b><b>ITLE: Behind the Door</b></span><div><span style="color: red;"><b style="background-color: white;"><br />AUTHOR: <span> Amy Price</span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: red;"><b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: red;"><b style="background-color: white;">GENRE: Non fiction</b></span></div><div><b style="background-color: white;"><br /><span style="color: red;">RATING: 5 stars</span></b></div><div><b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="background-color: white;"><br /><span style="color: red;">Thank you William Morrow for sending me an e copy of this book.</span></b></div><div><b><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;">I loved it. I thought Price did a great job of focusing on her day to day view of the hotel and it's colorful tenants. Basically, this book pretty much screams "the Cecil is more than just creepy happenings". I really enjoyed the history of the hotel and reading about other tenants.</span></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>I discovered the Cecil when I heard about the Elisa Lam case. Price does speak about this horrible event, but honestly, its a very short comment AND she does not go into the "how", which I was a bit disappointed, although the general consensus seems to be that nothing eerie happened.<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;">Her love for the hotel comes through as well. It was a terrific read.</span></b></div>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-73148887187311220572023-08-20T20:54:00.001-04:002023-08-20T20:54:10.726-04:00BOOK review for: I Married A Thrill Seeker by Danielle Kaplan<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #1e1915; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0T_EkdLufpluV98dXpN53nsjiJ5h0lKkrQKTPasNwVY_WVCgMS86qQoJWBP-kvBwH1WMuqBrTcDJfLJQqhQ310hdyFmJtkjOgyFTgdDLDbXuFNQ-lln-Zt-Dy1t6N1yYKZMsmrfa88w53aJXUusbhHArZSciBnKnytt374yW3xtF1Po1hbvc_d6ooNLw/s2560/thrill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1707" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0T_EkdLufpluV98dXpN53nsjiJ5h0lKkrQKTPasNwVY_WVCgMS86qQoJWBP-kvBwH1WMuqBrTcDJfLJQqhQ310hdyFmJtkjOgyFTgdDLDbXuFNQ-lln-Zt-Dy1t6N1yYKZMsmrfa88w53aJXUusbhHArZSciBnKnytt374yW3xtF1Po1hbvc_d6ooNLw/w266-h400/thrill.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p style="color: #1e1915;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">TITLE: I Married a Thrill Seeker</span></b><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">AUTHOR: <span> </span>Danielle Kaplan</span></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">GENRE:<span> </span><span> Memoir</span></span></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">RATING: 5 stars</span></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>I was on social media, and this author popped up. I read the small description of her book, with interest, but the word "novel" was used, so I emailed the author to clarify if this was, indeed, a memoir. She literally answered me 30 seconds after my initial question confirming that it was a memoir. I headed to Amazon. I bought it and read it in 3 days.</b></span></p><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">It's such an excellent book. Despite the difficult subject matter, I just could not put it down. I wish every author would write like Danielle Kaplan.....she writes with honesty and weaves the story so well that you feel everything. I had to put the book down occasionally because I was so caught up in the story. I also LOVE the fact that she doesn't go off on tangents but rather tells the story in a way that is compelling without describing every little detail...the pacing was excellent.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">From a personal point of view, I had a valve replacement (aorta) surgery 4 years ago, and it took me six months to feel like myself as well. So I could doubly empathize with that part of the story.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I am so glad this family is doing so much better despite their hardships, including the loss of important people.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I do have one question. What happened to Danielle's moms dog? She mentions the dog in passing but does not say.</span></b>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-24928950575358637892023-07-03T14:57:00.003-04:002023-07-03T14:57:32.958-04:00BOOK Review for The Glow Up Journal by Danielle Richardson<p> </p><p><span style="color: #555555; font-family: opensans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #555555; font-family: opensans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_5uQZ_vpmwE8CBZ8EjQZD71WZXDkwLMJgCCQEHLKCpxNrSLshxTrnOtuHv1-K9x0evWz0toPVw6wm2T4RfGHGM7j7wax5yyTG_hsXDehOHOSez0E5zZQTHPD0DsDud-kKC0L5Y4-CQA4PDVEIAocdClUUF7YGCKNuOvZz9gQirBypdxwmoX1qnh-GRY/s500/9781507220399.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_5uQZ_vpmwE8CBZ8EjQZD71WZXDkwLMJgCCQEHLKCpxNrSLshxTrnOtuHv1-K9x0evWz0toPVw6wm2T4RfGHGM7j7wax5yyTG_hsXDehOHOSez0E5zZQTHPD0DsDud-kKC0L5Y4-CQA4PDVEIAocdClUUF7YGCKNuOvZz9gQirBypdxwmoX1qnh-GRY/w300-h400/9781507220399.webp" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Thank you wonderful Simon & Schuster and Adams Publicity Marketing for sending me a hard copy of this book. I love it.</span></b></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>TITLE: Glow Up Journal</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>AUTHOR: Danielle Richardson</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>GENRE: Self-help</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>RATING: 5 Stars</b></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial;"><b>Years ago, I took a test geared towards determining my strength and weaknesses. I was surprised to learn that I am VERY goal oriented. At first, I did not agree, but over the years I see how much reaching goals matters to me, both from a personal and professional level. </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #555555;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>While this is great in itself (I think!) I needed something to help me clear my thoughts, so I could focus on what I want and who I am I found that Journaling really helps me. So, I have become a journal freak. Over the years, I have narrowed down my needs when it comes to selecting the perfect journal for ME.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial;"><b>The Glow Up Journal has everything I want. I have been using it for several weeks now and wanted to put down my thoughts.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>First off, it looks great. The look is not the most important thing, but it attracts my eye, making it more fun to write in.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Self Care and mindfulness are important aspects for me and this Journal asks me to really think about what I need - what I feel. It throws out questions and tidbits that challenge you to do more than just say "I want to change" as opposed to "I am changing". Prompts kickstarts my inner dialogue, by writing it out - putting it out there making me feel it is attainable.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Where am I and where do I want to go? How do I get there without forgetting myself for the sake of the dream.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The author has a knack for knowing exactly what to include in this Journal - and EVERYTHING is made towards empowering your best you. Discovering issues/dreams that are maybe way back in your mind.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Lovely, lovely. I carry this with me and find myself pulling it out often during the day.</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><br /></p>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-22657331039254050952023-05-23T15:45:00.005-04:002023-05-23T15:47:50.444-04:00BOOK REVIEW for Most Hated by Kara Alloway<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJlC1o48gHVPyF6FD8WZDzXBJmhdUgOriLYquRGeqkhP7u7RtN8yznOhhQJfXkG6WGKaZxN8eFHnyjfVzd-mUdcndlGePXsmrILj37cgiBGeOY16CV0-a-M7BHEUR11FMuFUzQmyXAPVHB1N8A_GUq09VgmDTS_uvGwh9a2uv93075iF8OfwxrJNI/s400/kara.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="251" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJlC1o48gHVPyF6FD8WZDzXBJmhdUgOriLYquRGeqkhP7u7RtN8yznOhhQJfXkG6WGKaZxN8eFHnyjfVzd-mUdcndlGePXsmrILj37cgiBGeOY16CV0-a-M7BHEUR11FMuFUzQmyXAPVHB1N8A_GUq09VgmDTS_uvGwh9a2uv93075iF8OfwxrJNI/s320/kara.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b><span style="color: red;">A big thank you to author Kara Alloway for sending me an e-copy of this book</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: red;">TITLE: Most Hated</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: red;">AUTHOR: Kara Alloway</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: red;">GENRE: Fiction</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: red;">RATING: 5 stars</span></b></p><p><b>Full disclosure, I do NOT like reality TV shows and this book describes exactly why. This plotline is like a reality (no pun) check on the fact that TV, even reality shows are not "real" enough. </b></p><p><b>This book is like having an "in" on a TV show, as we benefit from all the gossip - ALL the gossip. But we also get to see how each character deals with honesty and their futures. </b></p><p><b>I did not root for the main characters, rather, I just devoured all the insight an average TV viewer would never get to see....and you know what, I totally believe that this book was based on real life events, or at least partly and I would be dying to know who "the most hated" actually is in real life.</b></p><p><b>The best thing though is the writing. The pace is wonderful - my pet peeve is a book that takes pages and pages to get things moving and to get us to the "interesting" places, but that's not the case here - from day 1, we are asked to listen to the gossip LOL and not only listen, but to become part of the circle.</b></p><p><b>Terrific, terrific PS: Great, great beach read</b></p>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-44293834909358016662023-05-01T20:28:00.001-04:002023-05-01T20:28:00.144-04:00BOOK REVIEW for Hey, Hun by Emily Lynn Paulson<p> </p><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"> </pre><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; word-break: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXzrrqHangNoLiwwwJozcm-G_Ss-lwwy9_zsk80WMsEOTFObha4roHXpCGhjldRXPZj7eV16XbyJboxY7d0TryP116Ub--QZq3dzO94YzenjFw-N-7tX0kudiICWR1hJrVf-ppcoHNDN2_M_Aqcgt6_dcuVLQj0CaO70gTzUbYU32p8tWCDMYNyhV/s383/paulson.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXzrrqHangNoLiwwwJozcm-G_Ss-lwwy9_zsk80WMsEOTFObha4roHXpCGhjldRXPZj7eV16XbyJboxY7d0TryP116Ub--QZq3dzO94YzenjFw-N-7tX0kudiICWR1hJrVf-ppcoHNDN2_M_Aqcgt6_dcuVLQj0CaO70gTzUbYU32p8tWCDMYNyhV/w266-h400/paulson.png" width="266" /></a></div><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><br /></pre><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A huge thank you to Row House Publishing for sending me an e-copy of this book.</span></b></pre><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><br /></pre><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><b><span style="color: red;">TITLE: Hey, Hun</span></b></pre><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><b><span style="color: red;">AUTHOR: Emily Lynn Paulson</span></b></pre><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><b><span style="color: red;">GENRE: Memoir/business</span></b></pre><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><b><span style="color: red;">RATING: 4 stars</span></b></pre><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></pre><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The author even makes a small joke about "we are not good with birth control" ----- really? Open condom wrapper and attach - done! Millions of women manage to NOT have 5 kids. This is worth mentioning because it is one of the strong reasons she joins an MLM and the "5 kids" comment is a theme throughout her book. There is nothing wrong with having 5 kids, but constantly complaining about it is annoying.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">The other thing is that I wish she had ended her book a little earlier than she did. The last pages are basically just giving us a bunch of information on MLM. Stuff we could easily Google.
What works so well here is the author's story. I also love how she deals with her drinking and I have already purchased her first book which details her drinking and recovery in detail.
Overall, this is a great read. The author is entertaining and she is honest.
<div style="text-align: justify;">I recommend this one highly.</div></span></span></pre>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-15586795497824804332023-03-14T18:34:00.005-04:002023-03-14T18:53:41.986-04:00BOOK REVIEW for Listen to My Heart by Marie Fredriksson<p> </p><p><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_Xz5RhOkQ0m-SQcBbfJBfqIbVUYujSCaRXX9nt-pKvCmM7sjjTbJlk4tGWZGdRrvrNPRpbth4qi1mjQzYuxoc5B0lp6pGNXlqUqNBNv98IFNDXkIMqvK7-zwAi-ISBQ-_RwAhw_i77Z5jNkIzWxmd8kUAFS3NJguPXrr2FpM9VtHQF9tX6Obio9E/s2560/listen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1764" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_Xz5RhOkQ0m-SQcBbfJBfqIbVUYujSCaRXX9nt-pKvCmM7sjjTbJlk4tGWZGdRrvrNPRpbth4qi1mjQzYuxoc5B0lp6pGNXlqUqNBNv98IFNDXkIMqvK7-zwAi-ISBQ-_RwAhw_i77Z5jNkIzWxmd8kUAFS3NJguPXrr2FpM9VtHQF9tX6Obio9E/s320/listen.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><br /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>Thank you to 1984 Publishing for this complimentary e-book</b>.</span></span></p><p><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="color: red;">TITLE: Listen to My Heart</span></b></span></p><p><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="color: red;">AUTHOR: Marie Fredriksson</span></b></span></p><p><b><span style="color: red;">GENRE: MEMOIR</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: red;">RATING: 4 stars</span></b></p><p><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;"><b>What a touching book.</b></span></p><p><b><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;">I loved listening to Roxette, and I was very excited when I heard about this book.</span></b></p><b><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;">This is not a regular memoir. It is more a book with vignettes and snippets focusing on music and Marie's honest thoughts and emotions towards her illness. Her determination is so inspiring, and this book exists because of her determination.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;">Sad, inspiring, and honest.</span></b><div><b><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;">This book is more about emotion and feeling so, I will leave my review short and encourage readers to discover this wonderful book.</span></b></div>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-88310088819249649282023-01-10T07:26:00.004-05:002023-01-10T07:26:00.208-05:00BOOK REVIEW for The Fraud Squad by Kyla Zhao<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRPGVVZJuDFvZ7g6DidlQQVzAjL5NBbwD5SrSFwfhO2-MRg5vz0pNg6qReUhjX2DsfFF9a8cJdALKyuQhCnhkEZjgxf-ktuahpBxfwxnHl-eK-q-sfACAIrJQePDjEm3NYPAet20NsulO8Tx5aPvHcDmXZfiRMBDRvBCk8E-KeiB1R5bSZgkXdKJc/s2475/fraudsquad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRPGVVZJuDFvZ7g6DidlQQVzAjL5NBbwD5SrSFwfhO2-MRg5vz0pNg6qReUhjX2DsfFF9a8cJdALKyuQhCnhkEZjgxf-ktuahpBxfwxnHl-eK-q-sfACAIrJQePDjEm3NYPAet20NsulO8Tx5aPvHcDmXZfiRMBDRvBCk8E-KeiB1R5bSZgkXdKJc/s320/fraudsquad.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">Thank you to Berkley for sending me an e-copy of this book to read and review</span><span style="color: red;">.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe;">TITLE: The Fraud Squad</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe;">AUTHOR: Kyla Zhao</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe;">GENRE: Debut fiction</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe;">RATING: 3.5 stars</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>This book is interesting. I knew nothing of Singapore and we get to find out what Singapore high society looks like. It kind of reminds me of the novels of the 1980's featuring lavish lifestyles with people with too much money.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>This book shows what happens when you will do anything to get into the "in" crowd. Samantha is ready to be part of this society but its not what she thought it would be and all the hoops she has to go through, dragging her own mother through it all, is ultimately not worth it.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>This, to me, is the best part of this book. Kicking and clawing towards your goal, regardless of what you have to do - made it all worth the read.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />There are a lot of things going on here and not all of it works, but the story is propelled by exciting stories and good writing.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>It did feel a little long towards the end, but overall, this is a compelling debut - reality -vs- fraud. Your version of reality may just be my idea of cheating and pretending - basically of fraud.</b></div><span id="freeText8596972912212409064" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-80757886521313955922022-12-26T20:04:00.007-05:002022-12-31T14:23:35.589-05:00Bye bye 2022 and hello 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSywVdPnd8dZ4uynjMSFFPM3nDSLSalGlLbQwFxK0-xujg3d1GzQjr67xyeYjeNHy5f8KU_95WEc1C_S_q0bBTfOlFErDVE22nKJ-1fPoF8hPaZ8RnH4qWusN7VF3Hf5AiORRrxp3JdihNPpD0pKxWO4sfaxk0TOzCwVhRHAdEs2OuygE2iNoy0SwU/s1200/serenity.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSywVdPnd8dZ4uynjMSFFPM3nDSLSalGlLbQwFxK0-xujg3d1GzQjr67xyeYjeNHy5f8KU_95WEc1C_S_q0bBTfOlFErDVE22nKJ-1fPoF8hPaZ8RnH4qWusN7VF3Hf5AiORRrxp3JdihNPpD0pKxWO4sfaxk0TOzCwVhRHAdEs2OuygE2iNoy0SwU/s320/serenity.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtVXBVIZA6oN3MYi0a_MJ65VpYYXLaxO2ooAYCzxHy5shhPZRtc_VMzdI9yqSZ8Po4IKwhe4x3w3MuanwmRno-Y9hUBstLdSmE1Y7R4jx7O_RYCHFfqgg2-mbbW1g9J16gyraV-x6HNPCPg4C9dMhM9bqFSGwqaVbLnm6azd0PqELPlc8TUc_B_MH/s1360/2022.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="1360" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtVXBVIZA6oN3MYi0a_MJ65VpYYXLaxO2ooAYCzxHy5shhPZRtc_VMzdI9yqSZ8Po4IKwhe4x3w3MuanwmRno-Y9hUBstLdSmE1Y7R4jx7O_RYCHFfqgg2-mbbW1g9J16gyraV-x6HNPCPg4C9dMhM9bqFSGwqaVbLnm6azd0PqELPlc8TUc_B_MH/s320/2022.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wasn't sure I would write a post to close off 2022. I use to do it and I just stopped for a while, but I find myself adding a few book reviews here and thought "what the heck, I am already here".</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">My friend Cindy keeps better track of this than I do, but I believe both of us have had our blogs running and active for 15 years. I can't believe that. I remember when I wrote my first post.....who knew I would have the joy of working with such great publicists both with "paper" copies and now e-books.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am grateful for every book I have ever gotten/read. I don't know a life without books. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thank you for all the good things that happened to me in 2022 and all the life lessons that were delivered to me though painful experiences.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">I look to 2023 with hope and serenity - believing that "I am exactly where I am supposed to be at this moment". I may not always like where I am, but there is comfort in knowing that there is a plan and a reason I am there.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Every person and every experience I have had has made me who I am - yes, even the experiences I reallllly regret (and there are quite a few of those).</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Happy 2023 to all - may you get amazing books to read this year.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><b><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b><p></p>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-75834450356547047632022-11-08T17:00:00.003-05:002022-11-08T17:00:31.745-05:00BOOK REVIEW for Remainders of the Day by Shaun Bythell<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlBYtFt86slHCUy-Yi6UPQNwCKY0lSZvfR1I0V1eiFBWFxN7i1ZBAjO5TwjMdH7nxqGrRcvZl6vxTBAN0B9IlbOUBm1q2KB83blj-FwynYale8_7qe6cXcN9B1KHAbaSxnJEUMa4R0LGVCXAc5G5wr4VXMRVmA_n_lGCu-cmECdr1ZKJFdyAQE6y8/s180/remainder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="112" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlBYtFt86slHCUy-Yi6UPQNwCKY0lSZvfR1I0V1eiFBWFxN7i1ZBAjO5TwjMdH7nxqGrRcvZl6vxTBAN0B9IlbOUBm1q2KB83blj-FwynYale8_7qe6cXcN9B1KHAbaSxnJEUMa4R0LGVCXAc5G5wr4VXMRVmA_n_lGCu-cmECdr1ZKJFdyAQE6y8/w249-h400/remainder.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>TITLE: <span> </span> Remainders of the Day</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>AUTHOR: Shaun Bythell</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>GENRE:<span> Memoir</span></b></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>RATING: 4 stars</b></span></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>This book will be released in December 2022</b></span></span></p><p><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">This is the third book I have read by this author and honestly, I always have a love/hate relationship with his books.</span></b></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-weight: bold;">I owned a used bookstore for 4 years and although it was not an antiquarian shop, I certainly got a lot of experience owning and working in a bookstore. Now, I am sorry I did not keep a diary of my time.</span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">The best parts of this book, for me, are always the (too brief!) description of his buying trips. He does mention that one of the best things about owning a bookstore is the unboxing of books - never knowing what will be in the box. I totally agree with him - loved, loved that part so much.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">I also had my share of particular customers and of funny stories. However, I wonder how his customers feel being basically put down by Bythell. I find him mean in his descriptions and yet, at the same time, he lets his employees and people around him call him horrid names. I don't understand his relationships, for the most part. Since he mentions these in his book, that kind of makes them open to comment.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">I also question, as I did in the first book, where he gets all this $. He wants us to believe that bookselling is not about $ but he sure buys a lot of books, travels and stays in hotels which all cost a lot. It is never cleared up in his books.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">The writing style is engaging, but there is definitely an undertone of....not sure what to call it, other than nastiness that makes me uncomfortable.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">But then again, I suppose I could be accused of doing the same with this review.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">I wanted to wish this author good luck - having two babies at the age of 50 is quite a feat. I bet its a lot more work than owning a bookstore.</span></div></span><p></p>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-20503386134248129392022-09-04T00:00:00.001-04:002022-09-04T00:00:00.173-04:00BOOK REVIEW for Don't Let In the Cold by Keely Parrack<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_x-4p-KHSKpmVZmaSY-feY6-nScYuPPhPBG8rIafqaDgtOfS0zYiWyzghcTN1M6q0kEA0LZe4sGTLNsVZE0r8wnPrZHOTGrp8e1qjWRBNDcebC7CAXffKVwSgTS2H7DHNwltKe38kolhiB5sEZkuGtoNXnXW2_AYPMt7rvSnevko6tYSKoqe0uZE_=s2475" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_x-4p-KHSKpmVZmaSY-feY6-nScYuPPhPBG8rIafqaDgtOfS0zYiWyzghcTN1M6q0kEA0LZe4sGTLNsVZE0r8wnPrZHOTGrp8e1qjWRBNDcebC7CAXffKVwSgTS2H7DHNwltKe38kolhiB5sEZkuGtoNXnXW2_AYPMt7rvSnevko6tYSKoqe0uZE_=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: red;"><b>Thank you to the wonderful people at SourceBooks for sending me an e-copy of this book to read and review.</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>TITLE: Don't Let in The Cold</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>AUTHOR: Keely Parrack</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><br />GENRE: YA Thriller</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>RATING: 3 stars</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I absolutely adored the premise of this book. Isolated cabin (checked) a snowstorm (checked) a survival story (checked).</b></span></p><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><b>
I dove into this one with a lot of interest and the beginning of the story was engrossing and I was hooked. Except that the middle and end parts really dragged down the story. The creepy and scary "stuck in the snowstorm" part got bogged down with scenario after scenario of improbable circumstances and "bad guys" that were, unfortunately, boring and did not make sense within the story.
Also, one of the characters has a dog and I kept worrying about him throughout the story (although I admit this is more my issue than a problem with the book).
I do like the writing style and the plot certainly captured me, but somewhere along the line, the author decided to add bits and pieces that both dragged the story and made it less creepy and interesting. Too many characters that are not fleshed out and were simply dropped into the story to advance it.</b></pre>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-81456982126497392832022-09-01T08:10:00.004-04:002022-09-01T08:10:00.168-04:00BOOK REVIEW for Ratex X by Maitland Ward<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRzyazILT9SIoXI-2AdiKTrBgu7IcF5FHFejQUu0YMJd4yOWAxyEme75pvWVaO_B0L0BqhJdN1ajxFBRFKLvUQQ23HLJmBOwvcegD-wV2OdRrlRadaR2BYST8YZFHJ_6OVIYmSAX0dalWM8S5bhBYWoeW4_cFwSeptph7f4J7fQ8C9t56Kdq91JWk/s475/rated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRzyazILT9SIoXI-2AdiKTrBgu7IcF5FHFejQUu0YMJd4yOWAxyEme75pvWVaO_B0L0BqhJdN1ajxFBRFKLvUQQ23HLJmBOwvcegD-wV2OdRrlRadaR2BYST8YZFHJ_6OVIYmSAX0dalWM8S5bhBYWoeW4_cFwSeptph7f4J7fQ8C9t56Kdq91JWk/s320/rated.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">A big thank you to Atria Books for sending me an e-copy of this book to read and review.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">TITLE: Rated X</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">AUTHOR: Maitland Ward</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">GENRE: Memoir<br /><br />RATING: 3.5 stars</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I normally don't like "when I was young" stories in a memoir. However, I made an exception with this one because Ward did a great job of giving us just enough information to understand what he youth was like.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Surprisingly, there are very few stories of her time on Boy Meets World. I am always annoyed by artists who write memoirs but don't bother to tell us much about their experiences with that TV show, band, etc. Let's get real, this book (and other memoirs) would not even be written if it was not for Boy Meets World as we would have no idea who Maitland was. Sure, she has so many more layers to her life, but what INITIALLY attracts the reader, for the most part, is what they are most known for.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">In Ward's case, she basically has two careers - actress and porn star, but ultimately, I am willing to bet that many of the people who will buy this book are doing so because of her connection to Boy Meets World - whether she likes it or not, so why not embrace it and tell us stories about being on the show = its almost like she is afraid to go there, which is too bad.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">As for the second career, she does a very good job of describing for us, what its like to work in the industry and how it makes her feel as a person. From the very beginning of this book, we are privy to the fact that Ward is constantly trying new things in the hopes of gaining a better understanding of what makes her tick. It is a thread that runs through the book and is quite interesting.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The writing is down to earth and very honest. If you have issues with overtly sexual content, then I would recommend you not read this book.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">For those of us who are okay with it, I find this the most interesting and honest part of her story.</span></b></p>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-38205248436903742942022-08-16T00:00:00.001-04:002022-08-16T12:07:20.374-04:00BOOK REVIEW for Your Table i Ready by Michael Cecchi-Azzolina<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3i9Qujk7rW1CJBAucE_tjWSijyH3VAdwm4ZXjtO1nc1H7xp4iH-8j1WcOD0anvhDWqYRbhHXI89hbgnG1M5cZTCYXCVMmYQ3ie9BotQWtzzhvcH0NnYMSw18qDh0xkZOGRtkWrmk0HwWNNy6cLwQprDQl8s8hX2e7pZhAOXusIdNIC8h8SZfdYbO9/s389/table%20is%20read.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3i9Qujk7rW1CJBAucE_tjWSijyH3VAdwm4ZXjtO1nc1H7xp4iH-8j1WcOD0anvhDWqYRbhHXI89hbgnG1M5cZTCYXCVMmYQ3ie9BotQWtzzhvcH0NnYMSw18qDh0xkZOGRtkWrmk0HwWNNy6cLwQprDQl8s8hX2e7pZhAOXusIdNIC8h8SZfdYbO9/w263-h400/table%20is%20read.png" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: red;"><b>Thank you to St-Martin's Press for sending me this ebook to read and review.</b></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>TITLE: <span> </span>Your Table is Ready</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>AUTHOR: Michael Cecchi-Azzolina</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>GENRE: Non fiction</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>RATING: 4 stars</b></span></p><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I love these juicy, behind the scene looks, especially if they are restaurant tales and involve food, although the food takes a definite back seat to all the characters who walked through the doors of that restaurant.
I have always thought working in the food industry must be really difficult. The good, the bad and the ugly on a daily basis and Michael pretty much confirms all my preconceived ideas.
The author writes his memoir with an open heart and gives us a true insider's world that melds royalty, the rich, the bad and the average guest all of whom give the author a story to tell.
Pacing is excellent and I keep expecting the author to whisper to me "come here girl, I have so much juicy gossip for you". </span></b></pre><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">
As far as I am concerned pacing is EVERYTHING, but if you don't have a flair for telling your story, the book will go nowhere. NOT the case here.</span></b></pre><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Thank you to the author as well for writing such an interesting book.</b></span></pre><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><div class="yiv4074679416gmail_default" style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: normal;"><div class="yiv4074679416gmail_default"><div class="yiv4074679416gmail_default"><div class="yiv4074679416gmail_default"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="yiv4074679416gmail_default"><div class="ydpe2b68b6fyiv4074679416gmail_default"><div class="ydpe2b68b6fyiv4074679416gmail_default"><div class="ydpe2b68b6fyiv4074679416gmail_default"><div class="ydpe2b68b6fyiv4074679416gmail_default"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">#YourTableisReady</span></b></div><div class="ydpe2b68b6fyiv4074679416gmail_default"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="ydpe2b68b6fyiv4074679416gmail_default"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Michael Cecchi-Azzolina</span></u></b></div><div class="ydpe2b68b6fyiv4074679416gmail_default"><span style="font-size: medium;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cecchisnyc/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #196ad4;" target="_blank">@cecchisnyc</a></span></div><div class="ydpe2b68b6fyiv4074679416gmail_default"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div><div class="ydpe2b68b6fyiv4074679416gmail_default"><div class="ydpe2b68b6fyiv4074679416gmail_default"><div style="color: #26282a;"><div><u style="background-color: transparent; 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vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TikTok: </span><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@stmartinspress?lang=en" rel="nofollow" style="color: #338fe9; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@StMartinsPress</span></a></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></pre><pre class="display" id="review-display" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: normal; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: normal;"><br /></pre>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-46785817521542021182022-07-02T02:39:00.000-04:002022-07-02T02:39:00.167-04:00BOOK REVIEW for A Shoe Story by Jane L. Rosen<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFDlM0ID9C4LxIBDhxnrGexg3c5sz3YOnBWvft-6Bt8l2xC1tEdVEbi9gMmxdiDgudg7KTqPwV1I_JuN_Pk_XfBHl3ro4qJPHGQG22A3dTNzYRINt-gMVFsay0kGA0D0xK25_c0paLjfaulCkj8S3yuFjBSninwQ6AsJz8NcTeD0z7LY2YZ1IIsaZ/s400/story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFDlM0ID9C4LxIBDhxnrGexg3c5sz3YOnBWvft-6Bt8l2xC1tEdVEbi9gMmxdiDgudg7KTqPwV1I_JuN_Pk_XfBHl3ro4qJPHGQG22A3dTNzYRINt-gMVFsay0kGA0D0xK25_c0paLjfaulCkj8S3yuFjBSninwQ6AsJz8NcTeD0z7LY2YZ1IIsaZ/s320/story.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>Thank you to Berkley for sending me an ebook to read and review.</b></span></p><p><b><span style="color: red;">TITLE: A Shoe Story</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: red;">AUTHOR:<span> </span><span> </span><span> Jane L. Rosen</span></span></b></p><p><span><b><span style="color: red;">GENRE:<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Fiction</span></span></b></span></p><p><span><span><b><span style="color: red;">RATING:<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> 4 STARS</span></span></b></span></span></p><p><span><span><b>I admit that the first chapter was slow moving, but I am so happy that I persisted as this is one of my favorite books of 2022. Although there is zero similarity (not the same plotline at all) with Bridget Jones Diary, I kept thinking about that one while I was reading - both hit the nail on the head when it comes to be a woman looking for (or not) romance.</b></span></span></p><p><span><span><b><br />Esme our main character is an interesting mix of "I care" and "not very deep" - just like Bridget. I am not sure if the author deliberately gave her character such opposition, but it worked very well and went a long way to explaining Esme - as a human who gets it right and sometimes doesn't.</b></span></span></p><p><span><span><b>The shoes are perfect for representing Esme's core - where she is at on any given day and how her mind is. </b></span></span></p><p><span><span><b>The dog walking gig is the thing that did not really work for me. I hate having any animals in movies, tv or books because I obsess whether they will be killed off.</b></span></span></p><p><span><span><b>I have never had a "thing" about shoes, but I know a bunch of people who do and to them, each and every shoe represents something to them - me, I just grab the closest shoes and hope they match.</b></span></span></p><p><span><span><b>The writing is breezy and the pace is really good. While this book is airy, there are a lot of moments where the writing and the character meet, in order to understand life - while wearing glamorous shoes, of course.</b></span></span></p><p><span><span><b><br /></b></span></span></p>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-80968372510241869312022-06-27T12:01:00.010-04:002022-06-27T12:14:17.617-04:00BOOK REVIEW for Cabin Fever by Michael Smith and Jonathan Franklin<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9D6MLZuZNdYrCC8F5Q0ZzwS0PfE6E4UUVCRDPsRjvY-R6eotWvULOs2AK4etWCRYNpX7duv1iGJiicooNnfBdWcak052kXqBTy0OYUBgPuDvBKp_oMAQUaV2kVMsev1S8FEU3UHzg6mUPnzfjtHTD9nBn5QDyJPufWKQfhFkmT_Tll3cZYPshRvnD/s475/cabin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9D6MLZuZNdYrCC8F5Q0ZzwS0PfE6E4UUVCRDPsRjvY-R6eotWvULOs2AK4etWCRYNpX7duv1iGJiicooNnfBdWcak052kXqBTy0OYUBgPuDvBKp_oMAQUaV2kVMsev1S8FEU3UHzg6mUPnzfjtHTD9nBn5QDyJPufWKQfhFkmT_Tll3cZYPshRvnD/w264-h400/cabin.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><p></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">TITLE: <span> </span><span> </span>Cabin Fever</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">AUTHORS: <span> </span> Michael Smith and Jonathan Franklin</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">GENRE: <span> </span>Non fiction</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">RATING: <span> </span> 4 stars</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The author writes so well and manages to keep me engaged, without a bunch of details I don't need and it kept the story flowing well.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">This is obviously a well researched book and if you can get pass the first chapter, I promise you it will keep you engaged until the end.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The first chapter is, to be honest, boring and I worried that this tone would be set for the book, but it wasn't at all.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I admit that I never gave a second though to people on cruise ships or other countries who were basically stranded when the various governments closed down the world.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">While it was annoying for most in lockdown, we at least had our own stuff and families, but it is not the same for other people and what these people lived through is amazing.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Love the honesty.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Great read.</span></b></p>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-83205396261759906202022-05-29T12:17:00.000-04:002022-05-29T12:17:31.721-04:00BOOK REVIEW for When The Moon Turns to Blood by Leah Sottile<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWgUiGqlr2ZLH2WfUtLn4l8be0sIrmVkCHVIoV2x5t59hv_C3wAbH9w5nKujxRBNmGki8S4vmpzmCe46qt-9CXmo9jYUXkq75gLfdZKW2_0dCbGyTGmAbLaivtZpTvzQlMoIsY7vX_BT9q703em_BDxGSTGeFVp-NC7GscchTrhGtUclzJxfIXBrM/s385/cover250960-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWgUiGqlr2ZLH2WfUtLn4l8be0sIrmVkCHVIoV2x5t59hv_C3wAbH9w5nKujxRBNmGki8S4vmpzmCe46qt-9CXmo9jYUXkq75gLfdZKW2_0dCbGyTGmAbLaivtZpTvzQlMoIsY7vX_BT9q703em_BDxGSTGeFVp-NC7GscchTrhGtUclzJxfIXBrM/s320/cover250960-medium.png" width="212" /></a></div><p><br /></p><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Than you to Twelve Books for sending me an e-book to read and review.</span></b><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>TITLE: When the Moon Turns to Blood</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>AUTHOR: Leah Sottile</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>GENRE: Non fiction</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>RATING: 2 stars</b></span></p><p><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I am very interested in this case and was hoping this book would detail timelines and focus on the situation while supplying pertinent information.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Well, I got lots of details, unfortunately, these details actually managed to ruin the story. This author was all over the place with this book and supplied a bunch of useless info.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Unlike other people who have reviewed this book, I thought there was wayyyyy too much info on the Mormons and the LDS. After which, the author felt the need to spend several pages detailing other women who have killed. Ugh!</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I lost it when the opening line in one of the chapters was "In the 16th century". I just wanted to say "who cares about the 16th century?"</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">After that, I gave up and did not finish the mess that is this book.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">It's pretty hard to turn this true crime story into a boring one, but this author managed to do just that.</span></b></p>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-16515812359545520272022-05-20T00:00:00.001-04:002022-05-20T00:00:00.234-04:00BOOK REVIEW for Two Truths and a Lie by April Henry<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5dDH5W_6Y-x2DmcheAuAnJEqeKnHRo84an9WG5fTE5QkCN54JM3RGM4bET5X_Yj3204bFvn37MDZOC_Z4JDE-qUjqRwRb6soCIT4cSUYFx-Z2DRU-HoGZXujYcf0ij8ZLvCCNUxoKaQ0_9gLVBDmJvR3skBJ_OVipat3DyjAOyFy4PbUr5nacxkDV=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5dDH5W_6Y-x2DmcheAuAnJEqeKnHRo84an9WG5fTE5QkCN54JM3RGM4bET5X_Yj3204bFvn37MDZOC_Z4JDE-qUjqRwRb6soCIT4cSUYFx-Z2DRU-HoGZXujYcf0ij8ZLvCCNUxoKaQ0_9gLVBDmJvR3skBJ_OVipat3DyjAOyFy4PbUr5nacxkDV=s320" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: red;"><b>A huge thank you to <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Christy Ottaviano Books for sending me this e-book to read and review.</span></b></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b><span style="color: #0f1111;">Release date:: May 24, 2022</span></b></span></p><p><b style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">TITLE: Two Truths and a Lie</b></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>AUTHOR:<span> </span><span> </span>April Henry</b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>GENRE: <span> </span><span> </span>Thriller YA</b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>RATING: 4 stars</b></span></span></p><p><b>I literally finished this book in two settings. Admittedly, it is not very big and I could have used a lot more story.</b></p><p><b>This book has everything I ADORE in a thriller. Snowstorm, rundown motel, plenty of teens and a whodunit that had me guessing.</b></p><p><b>All of these pieces fit perfectly into an engrossing plot. Loved how creepy the whole thing felt, although I will admit, the author could have described the snowstorm and the wind a bit more, especially at the beginning of the book.</b></p><p><b>Still, we find young adults that find themselves in the same motel - all stranded with nowhere to go and only a few adults to supervise. Things quickly fall a part when someone suggests pulling out that Ouija Board. That part freaked me out because I sort of believe in the power of the Ouija Board (I know, I am silly)and refuse to even have it in my house. Certainly never played it with my friends, who were equally suspicious of its power.</b></p><p><b>As it turns out, nothing supernatural what happening at the motel and through many, many clues, Nell and Adam, the two leads end up having to deal with very real things such as gas leaks, people getting attacked by cougars and a huge surprise in the back of Brian's truck, parked in the parking lot of the hotel.</b></p><p><b>I did go through several "oh, I know who did it" only to realize that I did not. Plot is well paced and crafted and all of the loose ends get tied off by the end.</b></p><p><b>Writing is on point and doesn't drag the story down with too many useless details.</b></p><p><b>Two points. As mentioned above, I could have used more description about the weather, making it even more creepy. Also, there are A LOT of characters in this story and had to keep going back to figure out who was who - especially in the beginning of the book.</b></p><p><br /></p>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-8506529384868958052022-05-05T20:16:00.000-04:002022-05-15T20:16:31.459-04:00BOO REVIEW for The Hunt by Fake Kellerman<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDknBgMGk_oAXDaFHQc_Jt9LsH8qSKR6UGieWD2mP-kCbaQ6eIpwOBdviwiLHSEmpU2ilbaTHR6k93wyv3BrlX5MzQU4qRGp0uBglEHvL1cWtibo6OpCho2k2IEvPA2DudF9CeRcH42wHCJeyq62GKqhKznS73x3YvhOleBEWIO2UcRPa6EWFcPDT6/s648/hunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="429" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDknBgMGk_oAXDaFHQc_Jt9LsH8qSKR6UGieWD2mP-kCbaQ6eIpwOBdviwiLHSEmpU2ilbaTHR6k93wyv3BrlX5MzQU4qRGp0uBglEHvL1cWtibo6OpCho2k2IEvPA2DudF9CeRcH42wHCJeyq62GKqhKznS73x3YvhOleBEWIO2UcRPa6EWFcPDT6/s320/hunt.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="color: red;">Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for sending me an e-copy of this book to read and review.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>TITLE: The Hunt</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>AUTHOR: <span> </span>Faye Kellerman</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><br />GENRE: <span> </span><span> </span>Mystery/ Suspense</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>RATING: 3 stars</b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><b>I had been waiting for this book for so long. I have read all of the Decker books.</b></p><p><b>This one did not feel like it because there is wayyyyyyy too much time on Gabe and his dad (and mother and siblings). It felt as though Kellerman did not know what to do with Harvard. I say get rid of most of these characters and focus on the characters that make this story move forward.</b></p><p><b>I want a story with Decker and Harvard - everything else is white noise as far as I am concerned.</b></p><p><b>I liked Kellerman's writing style, but this is definitely a miss for me.</b></p>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-49778556315676591922022-03-31T13:46:00.000-04:002022-03-31T13:46:00.971-04:00BOOK REVIEW for Letting Ana Go by Anonymous<p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVp1k2Z5KxnHNTDLtLs0mfEW0Z6T4G_089mm_-ANjJF3RmCqRk_gKPFcuSl4vcIDIFILf-pwxg8sX34Rj5dq13iMqouqA6duCSwgAPaR-jgIS9K_wP4csU5HgZCFuGzKLdk2trIYrJyzUN4qFxJDixINbMylRFsNrXjSRhsIbbKmcESe2YDYl7gXB/s450/anna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="318" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVp1k2Z5KxnHNTDLtLs0mfEW0Z6T4G_089mm_-ANjJF3RmCqRk_gKPFcuSl4vcIDIFILf-pwxg8sX34Rj5dq13iMqouqA6duCSwgAPaR-jgIS9K_wP4csU5HgZCFuGzKLdk2trIYrJyzUN4qFxJDixINbMylRFsNrXjSRhsIbbKmcESe2YDYl7gXB/w226-h343/anna.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><p></p></blockquote><p><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">TITLE: Letting Anna Go</span></b></p><p><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">AUTHOR:<span> </span><span> </span> Anonymous</span></b></p><p><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">GENRE: <span> </span><span> </span>YA</span></b></p><p><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">RATING: 3.5 stars</span></b></p><p><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">This is the second time reading this book and I have not looked at the review I wrote at the time.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I can say that the most distinct feeling I had while reading this book was anger. Anger at this disease, anger at this girl who had such distorted thinking that she ends up killing herself. I cannot believe just how proud and STUPID she was at the end, basically telling everyone, including her mother that she was going to stay thin and that her mother could go to hell. First thing I thought of was "if I spoke to my mother like that, I would have been sent to my room, after she removed all the books in there.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">This book's biggest strength is definitely how well the author shows us how a person with anorexia thinks - how everything is distorted and how powerful the disease is.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The writing is on point and the author does not stray away from how powerfully painful eating disorders are FOR EVERYONE involved.</span></b></p><p><br /></p>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445700998715502898.post-61015436709936571162022-03-06T19:07:00.003-05:002022-03-06T19:08:25.483-05:00BOOK REVIEW for My Friend Anna by Rachel DeLoache Williams<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZROT6Wk0Bfnw0TAJ1eLEVZwOrjp0epT6KRWUEPPPYDKNA4SRWHz18VUyjZ-XdezwrfFtWmf2DFS0g_mcF854iicZucr3k5wys7h6o4wLxNqbpqZYfU-gdqvwzUXlX9MLiuG7fu-Po9luM2SYT3tmD6f7BLmvvsSrYAKNcHfj-RzCrNP9-Q69-G-rh=s2111" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2111" data-original-width="1400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZROT6Wk0Bfnw0TAJ1eLEVZwOrjp0epT6KRWUEPPPYDKNA4SRWHz18VUyjZ-XdezwrfFtWmf2DFS0g_mcF854iicZucr3k5wys7h6o4wLxNqbpqZYfU-gdqvwzUXlX9MLiuG7fu-Po9luM2SYT3tmD6f7BLmvvsSrYAKNcHfj-RzCrNP9-Q69-G-rh=w265-h400" width="265" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">T<span style="font-family: arial;">ITLE: My Friend Anna</span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">AUTHOR: Rachel DeLoache Williams</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">GENRE: True Crime/ Memoir</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">RATING: 5 stars</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I first read this book long before Netflix's "Inventing Anna" and have since then reread it.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I <span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;">reread this book because when I originally read it, I had just had open heart surgery and did not feel as though I could appreciate the story properly, not to mention the fact that I would wake up to find that I had fallen asleep in mid-read (nothing to do with the book being boring).</span></span></b></p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;">I am still amazed by this whole story. Of course, as soon as I started reading, I immediately thought "what would I have done in Rachel's place?"</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;">I think, since I am a lot more suspicious of people, I would have picked up on the weirdness and the clues earlier than Rachel did and I would not have second guessed myself, even after it was obvious that Anna was not who she said she was. But it is easy for me to say this, while sitting in my living room.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /></span></b><div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;">Yes, Rachel is the victim, there is no denying that. Having said that, I can't stop thinking that part of the issue here is that the author's love of her "Sex and the City" lifestyle set her up perfectly. and Anna used it to her advantage. Most people, even in New York, do NOT bar hop every night after work or go to expensive restaurants at the drop of a hat, I don't think.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;">Rachel was successful and already had the magical paid trips, via Vanity Fair and she experienced lots of wonderful events through her job, yet, Anna managed to find her way in. That is scary.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;">Anna had absolutely no shame, no qualms....even when she was pursued. and "the gig" was up. I would never have been able to enjoy my trip or my hotel stays, knowing that anyone could intercept me at any time and demand payment. Just the shame of it would have made me crawl into a hole.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;">I am sure there are a bunch of psychological names fo</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;">r what is wrong with Anna, but just the fact that people like that exist, freaks me out.</span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;">As for the book, it gives us a very clear image of what Rachel went through. She writes it well and is honest. The book is "friendly" to read and I basically could not put it down. Both times.</span></span></b></div>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16011928186368977329noreply@blogger.com1