Teaser Tuesday's - In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 
- Open to a random page 
- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 


My teaser this week is from Nook page 84 of In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz:

"As far as we knew it was a secret weapons research lab and something had gone real wrong.  What else were we supposes to think? Figured we'd all been irradiated or poisoned."

Book Review - The Expats by Chris Pavone

The Expats by Chris Pavone is a debut work of fiction.  I heard and read so much about this book before it was even released and the plot captured my curiosity immediately.  A lot of people were saying they were number 56, 27 and other random, high-numbered places on the library waiting list.  So, imagine my surprise when I put it on hold at my library and immediately got the book.

I have to admit that I am often let down by books that receive so much hype.  I liked The Expats, though.  However, I am not entirely sure how to review this book.  You see, this story of an expatriate family living in Luxembourg is so full of twists and turns that I really don't want to give anything away.  The book is written, and the story told, in a clever way that definitely had me turning pages.  Kate and Dexter Moore (this name initially bugged me as it's too close to Dexter Morgan but that's just minor on my part) are both deeply involved in their careers and yet neither spose knows the truth about the others work. 

It's Dexter's work that takes the family to Luxembourg and initiates Kate giving up hers.  While it's true that the wives in Luxembourg don't seem to work - it was no easy feat for Kate to walk away from a career that consumed her to the exclusion of truth in her marriage.  The thing is, this is true for Dexter, too.  While this didn't concern Kate at home in Washington D.C. she becomes very suspicious and almost distrustful in Luxembourg.  The reader is left to wonder if her suspicions are founded or the result of some boredom on Kate's part with their new life.  She is certainly not content being a housewife and stay-at-home Mom.

As the story continues, you realize that Kate and Dexter are neck deep in a giant mess.  Some of it is legal, some is not; some of it is of their doing and some is them being manipulated like puppets.  This really is a good story.  I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed.  Which surprised me because the book is lush in detail including much of the European landscape that had me feeling as if I were actually there.  Then it just ended and I was left wondering and wanting a little more.  Overall though, it's a book worth reading.

It's Almost Time -

- for another round of Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon! I really love this event! I think it's amazing that so many readers, all over the world, are taking part in this at the same time.  And it's a lot of fun, too.  I enjoy the mini challenges and cheering on of the readers and of course, all the reading.  Although, I have yet to manage the entire twenty-four hours.  I love the time I do spend participating.  I've mentioned in the past that my children get a kick out of this too - so all the better as far as I'm concerned.

The readathon takes place on April 21st this time.  Just click the link if you are interested in taking part.

Booking Through Thursday - Better

Booking Through Thursday is a fun, weekly, bookish question and response event. This week's question is:

Ever read a book you thought you could have written better yourself? 

Well, this is quite the provocative question.  At first I wasn't going to participate but then decided, why not? I'm certainly not out to bash an author or their work.  That being said, the book I thought I could have written better is New Moon by Stephenie Meyer.  Yes, of the so well-loved Twilight Saga.  Oh, I know I'm opening myself up to all sorts of possible grief over my opinion on this but I just was not fond of this book! It frustrated me on so many levels that I barely made it through the darn book.  In fact, the only thing that kept me reading was all the people telling me how much better Eclipse was and that New Moon set it up.  Sigh.

I am not a Young Adult author and I won't pretend that I know the nuances of writing the genre because I don't.  However, it seems to me that letting the reader in on what was actually going on with Edward Cullen during the majority of the book would have been a good thing! That's the biggest thing I would have done differently had I written the book.  I really do think that would have been much better.  Instead it was page after page after page after page of Bella's angst and stupidity! Oh, it makes me cringe just thinking about it.

I do feel compelled to add that I read the entire Twilight Saga.  While they're not my favorite books ever - the other three in the series were more tolerable to me.  In addition, I really liked Meyer's unrelated-to-Twilight book The Host.

Musing Monday's - Cover Review

Musing Monday's is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. This week’s musing asks:

Would you choose to review a book if its description sounded interesting but the cover was terrible? 

In a word, yes.  I would definitely review a book if the premise of it sounded good.  That being said, I have been known to pick up a book based solely upon a beautiful cover.  I have also passed books by if I find the cover really bad for some reason.  So, while I believe strongly in not judging a book by its cover - I do think the cover is quite important.  A mediocre cover wouldn't keep me from a book that sounded really good; but a great cover would definitely get my attention.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all who celebrate their Irish heritage today! Here are my sweet girls wearing green in the form of Loopy crocheted jewelry I made them.  I hope you all have a wonderful day!

 

 

Book Review - The Surrender of Miss Fairbourne by Madeline Hunter

A year ago, I had not read a book by Madeline Hunter.  Now, I love her and have realized that she will be an automatic read for me when she has a new book.  This was the case with her new book, The Surrender of Miss Fairbourne.  At the end of February I found myself wondering if Ms. Hunter had a new book coming out and went to look at her website.  I was delighted to discover that there was a new book and it came out on March 6th.

Emma Fairbourne is the daughter of an auction house owner, Maurice Fairbourne, who has recently passed away.  With her father dead and her brother presumed dead - something Emma refuses to accept - she is left to run the family business.  Of course, she lives in a world where a woman running a business would be quite frowned upon.  So she devises a plan with one trusted friend and an equally trusted, but reluctant, colleague to run the auction house herself.  Naturally her plan is almost immediately put the test.

The test appears in the form of Darius, the Earl of Southwaite.  Emma learns that he and her father were in actuality, business partners.  With her father's untimely death, the Earl of Southwaite wishes to sell the auction house.  This is completely unwelcome news to Emma and she does her best to outwit Darius and his unwanted plan.

At first Emma and Darius barely tolerate one another.  Before long though, there are sparks of attraction flying between them.  Now they are faced with not only what to do about the auction house but what to do about one another.  This is a wonderful book and I adore Emma and Darius as a couple.  There are also secondary characters in the book who I assume will be featured in the coming installments of The Fairbourne Quartet.  I believe most who enjoy a historical romance will enjoy The Surrender of Miss Fairbourne.

Teaser Tuesday's - The Expats by Chris Pavone

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 
- Open to a random page 
- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 


My teaser this week is from page 14 of Chris Pavone's The Expats:

"This was, in fact, exactly what they'd dreamt; starting a new life abroad.  They both felt like they'd missed out on important experiences, both encumbered by circumstances that were exclusive with carefree youth.  Now in their late thirties, they still yearned for what they'd missed; still thought it was possible. Or never allowed that it was impossible."

Musing Monday's - What Book and Where

Musing Monday's is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. This week’s musing asks:

What book do you wish you were reading right now? Where would you take it to, if you could go anywhere to read for a while?

Well, I don't wish I was reading a different book but I am looking forward to one I got from the library a few days ago.  It's called The Expats and I've been hearing a lot of good things about the story.  So, while I am enjoying my current books - I'm slightly anxious to being done with them.


As for where I'd like to be reading - I could go for a tropical island.  My family, a book and sand, surf and seafood sound rather heavenly to me right now.

Teaser Tuesday's - Wuthering Heights

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 
- Open to a random page 
- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 7 of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights:

"Here, take a little wine.  Guests are so exceedingly rare in this house that I and my dogs, I am willing to own, hardly know how to receive them.  Your health, sir?"

Book Review - Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb

To those who know me - in real-life and through book blogging - I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I've read Celebrity in Death, the latest in J.D. Robb's near future homicide detective procedurals.  I have to say that the book did not disappoint at all.  Every thing I love about this series was present; the ever-evolving relationships amongst the characters, a great murder mystery and of course, the love between Eve and Roarke. 

In this 34th installment of the series - there is a movie being made about an earlier case that Eve, Peabody and the rest of the cast worked tirelessly to solve.  Now, the Icove case is being made in to a major Hollywood movie - much to Eve's dismay.  Fortunately, she is generally all right with the way the movie is coming together although it does creep her out a bit.  And the majority of the cast are decent people.  Of course, there is the bad apple, K.T. Harris, the actress playing Peabody.

Harris turns up dead in the pool at a party given by the movie big wigs.  A party Eve, Roarke, Peabody, McNab and Dr. Mira were all attending off duty.  Of course, being off-duty does not prevent the case from becoming theirs.  And while they turn up a lot of bad stuff about Harris - she is still their victim.  They do not stop until they solve her murder.

The book is written with Robb's trademark humor and insght into the human condition.  This is a stellar installment into a strong series.  One that I recently learned Robb plans to continue for the long haul.  Personally, I am very happy to know this as I completely adore the characters within this series.

Pitching a Book

Last night I wrote - and immediately sent off - a two hundred word pitch for one of my completed novels.  Of course I am thrilled that I did this but right now, I am forcing myself not to think about it.  Why? Because it is horribly nerve wracking to me! Generally, I'm not a person who suffers with self doubt but pitching my novels makes me insane.  Did I write the best pitch I possibly could have? I keep wondering if two hundred words is even enough to properly convey a sixty-five thousand word book? My gut reaction is no it is absolutely not! Then I take a deep breath and change my mind.  If I can't catch a readers attention - in this fast-paced world we live in - within two hundred words then sixty-thousand more aren't going to make much difference.

So, I do believe I wrote a great pitch.  There's no way it covers every thing in my book but it would get my attention if it was a book blurb.  My husband also likes it and as he's my biggest supporter so that means something to me.  Now the waiting game begins.  I think, rather than make myself too anxious over the wait - I'll just start writing a new book.