What are We Reading - Monday

It's Monday, What are You Reading.  Sheila over at Book Journey has an incentive for networking so go over and have fun while continuing to add to your 2011 Wishlist.

I completed

A Verse Novel, my simple pleasure of reading.  Review here.











and

This wasn't my cup of tea.  Review here  Writing negative reviews is so hard, do you agree?











I'm currently reading

I'm enjoying this so far, lots of action, good dialogue with that edge I like.










What is next, not sure actually, maybe.....


 

or















Have a great reading week.

Review - Last Exit in New Jersey by C.E. Grundler

Book Summary

Nice young ladies from the Garden State really shouldn’t be dumping bodies at sea. Then again, 20 year-old Hazel Moran is anything but your typical Jersey girl. Raised aboard a schooner and riding shotgun beside her father in their old tractor-trailer truck, there’s little on the road or water that she can’t handle; it’s her people skills that need work. Normally that isn’t an issue – behind the wheel of a Kenworth most people tend to leave her alone. But when Hazel and her father become the targets of some unsavory characters hunting for her blue-haired cousin, their stolen tractor-trailer truck and a delivery that never arrived, she knows it’s time to heed a lesson learned from her favorite hardboiled paperbacks: playing nice will only end in tears.

Somewhat hard-boiled, slightly noir, Last Exit In New Jersey is an offbeat tale that travels from a Delaware Bay ghost-town to metropolitan north Jersey, where boats and big rigs set the scene for danger, suspense, dark humor and an unlikely bit of romance.


My Review - 2 1/2 Not my Cup of Tea

As many of you know Thriller is my favourite so when an author or Publisher asks me to read their Thriller I always say yes.  it really hurts me for a Thriller not to be my cup of tea. 

In the end I felt I tortured myself and should have gave up on this book the few times I considered it. 

I thought Psychological Thrillers were my favourite but I have now realised I figure a main part out and it takes away from the book for me, I hate this but it has happened a few times now.  Another issue I have is the summary not being accurate, almost purposely putting you off, why do that, ugggh.

I did love the voices and dialogue in this book but it didn't have me on the edge of my seat and even though we were purposely put off from thoughts and thrown this way and that way it just didn't work for me.

The ending was also wrapped up a little nicely, answering questions that came up throughout the book but for me it just felt like it should have had more of an impact.

I also liked the difference of this thriller being on boats, the author did a great job with that. There is a lot of action but for me it just didn't fully entertain me.

I look forward to reading other bloggers reviews on this one.  I would recommend it to fans of Shutter Island and Fight Club types.

Friday Finds

Friday Finds with MizB - Participate, network and get some ideas to add to your TBR list.

I saw this one on the blog - Reviews from the Heart, check out her review.

This was also on her blog.......If you would like to read the first chapter of Vicious Cycle, go HERE.

From my Amazon recommendations.

YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO MAKE A DECISION:
Let A Kidnapper Take Your Child, Or Watch Your Son Die.
Choose!
Sadie O'Connell is a bestselling author and a proud mother. But her life is about to spiral out of control. After her six-year-old son Sam is kidnapped by a serial abductor, she nearly goes insane. But it isn't just the fear and grief that is ripping her apart. It's the guilt. Sadie is the only person who knows what the kidnapper looks like. And she can't tell a soul. For if she does, her son will be sent back to her in "little bloody pieces".

When Sadie's unfaithful husband stumbles across her drawing of the kidnapper, he sets into play a series of horrific events that sends her hurtling over the edge. Sadie's descent into alcoholism leads to strange apparitions and a face-to-face encounter with the monster who abducted her son--a man known only as...The Fog.

Sugar & Spice has become an instant best-seller in the UK.

It's every parent's worst nightmare: A child fails to return home. As hours turn to days, all they can do is hope. Some children never come back...

Sugar & Spice is a ground-breaking new crime-thriller set against the background of Britain's fragmented criminal justice system, with the key protagonists the mother and partner of a murdered child.

Inspired by a news story of a man who begged a Judge to give him a longer sentence, because he knew he would harm another child if released without treatment, Sugar & Spice is meticulously researched, asking the questions society prefers not to have answered. At once disquieting and challenging, Sugar & Spice is car-crash reading.

Have a great weekend all, I look forward to your Finds and networking with you.

Winner of Thriller Giveaway

True Random Number Generator
Min:
Max:
Result: 5



Thanks for entering everyone.

The WINNER is.................

Mystica

I asked for a favourite Thriller and Mystica said Still Missing, go over and check out her review and blog here.

This is the Thriller she won, The Third Rail by Michael Harvey.  It is on my list to read next.  Today is the launch date for the paperback.

THE THIRD RAIL by Michael Harvey opens with a woman getting shot as she waits for her train to work. An hour later, a second woman is gunned down as she rides an elevated train through the Loop. Two hours after that, a church becomes the target of a chemical weapons attack. The city of Chicago is under siege, and Michael Kelly, cynical cop turned private investigator, just happens to be on the scene when all hell breaks loose. Kelly is initially drawn into the case by the killers themselves, then tasked by Chicago’s mayor and the FBI to hunt down the bad guys and, all things being equal, put a bullet in them. Kelly, of course, has other ideas. As he gets closer to the truth, his instincts lead him to a retired cop, a shady train company, and an unnerving link to his own past. Meanwhile, Kelly’s girlfriend, Rachel Swenson, becomes a pawn in a much larger game, while a weapon that could kill millions ticks away quietly in the very belly of the city.

Review - Exposed by Kimberly Marcus

Book Summary

Sixteen-year-old Liz is Photogirl—sharp, focused and confident in what she sees through her camera lens. Confident that she and Kate will be best friends forever.

But everything changes in one blurry night. Suddenly, Kate is avoiding her, and people are looking the other way when she passes in the halls. As the aftershocks from a startling accusation rip through Liz's world, everything she thought she knew about photography, family, friendship and herself shifts out of focus. What happens when the picture you see no longer makes sense? What do you do when you may lose everything you love most?

Exposed is Kimberly Marcus's gut-wrenching, riveting debut

My Review - 4 1/2 Great to the last drop

Some of you may remember, Verse Novels are my simple pleasure.  After what I just read I needed something to be able to continue reading and rejuvenate me.  (Yes it was that bad, so hard to review, I will get to it)

I really loved the fact that Kimberly M. got it right with young adults.  The parental guidance, relationship with parents, school life, best friends and emotions during preparation time for college.  This was a YA book that made me remember and appreciate that time in my life.

During this time in Liz's life one thing goes wrong and life just no longer feels and looks the same and can she go on?  Dealing with the what, when and if scenarios.  The consequences of what you say.  I think most females have a friend that they can say anything too and then out of blue its like you said the worst thing and you continue thinking, should I have said that or not.  I enjoyed this feeling getting captured.

This was a great Verse Novel, I like the in your face emotion with minimum words, very effective.  I look forward to more from KimberlyM.


A glimpse into the Verse Novel world with Kimberly Marcus ........

Jack Daniels in Brewster

The first sip sears
the lining of my throat.

I swallow hard
because I need to feel
something.

I swallow more
because I need to feel
nothing.


All Eyes on Me

It's odd to be called as a "witness"
when I didn't witness
a damn thing.

Blog Question - Widgets, Top Commenter and Button

Friends,

I have tried these 2 things but just cannot get it right, please help.

I haven't decided if I really want a top commenters widget because every commenter I appreciate but sometimes I do wonder.  Everytime I try to load it, it just stays blank and it is not an added feature that should make it easy, sigh.

Also, I see on other bloggers blogs the link to add for their blog's button, I have never used that to add buttons but realised this is what others must use, what am I missing?  How do I get the code?  And how do I put that on my sidebar for others to copy and paste?

My email is marceblogspot(at)hotmail(dot)com if you prefer to email me with assistance.

I truly appreciate it.

Is there anything you would like to see on my blog or would like for me to organise better?

Thanks again for following, commenting and networking with me, always lots of fun.

Thriller Giveaway - The Third Rail by Michael Harvey

THE THIRD RAIL by Michael Harvey opens with a woman getting shot as she waits for her train to work. An hour later, a second woman is gunned down as she rides an elevated train through the Loop. Two hours after that, a church becomes the target of a chemical weapons attack. The city of Chicago is under siege, and Michael Kelly, cynical cop turned private investigator, just happens to be on the scene when all hell breaks loose. Kelly is initially drawn into the case by the killers themselves, then tasked by Chicago’s mayor and the FBI to hunt down the bad guys and, all things being equal, put a bullet in them. Kelly, of course, has other ideas. As he gets closer to the truth, his instincts lead him to a retired cop, a shady train company, and an unnerving link to his own past. Meanwhile, Kelly’s girlfriend, Rachel Swenson, becomes a pawn in a much larger game, while a weapon that could kill millions ticks away quietly in the very belly of the city.

Sounds good doesn't it..........

I will be reviewing this one, but haven't confirmed a date yet, late March, early April I am thinking.

If you are interested please leave a comment recommending one of your favourite thrillers and your email address.

I will choose the winner randomly on the launch date, Tuesday, March 22nd. 

Review - My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Journey

My Review

Some of you may remember I said my 45 year old brother had a massive stroke a month ago.  My blogging friend Christa from blog Mental Foodie:  A Book & Food Lover recommended I read this one.  Thanks Christa.

Another blogger reviewed this one also, here is her review - Julie from My Book Retreat

I am unable to give a true rating to this book because there were was invaluable information at times that is priceless for those that have had to experience stroke in their lives, themselves or a family member.  The memoir parts were shocking and amazing, when she realised she was having a stroke, this was her reaction. "Oh my gosh, I'm having a stroke!  I'm having a stroke! And in the next instant, the thought flashed through my mind, Wow, this is so cool! .... I kept thinking, Wow, how many scientists have the opportunity to study their own brain function and mental deterioration from the inside out?" .... Remember, please remember everything you are experiencing! Let this be my stroke of insight. Talk about a reaction. Some parts of the book are extremely clinical information, tons about the right and left hemispheres, but she does say when she thinks you may want to skip a section which I found interesting from an author.  So at times for me this book was a 3, 4 or 5, very hard to rate.

There are a few quotes, passages I would like to share with you because even if you have never experienced a stroke or someone you love with a stroke it is important information to know, just in case.

Although many of us may think of ourselves as thinking creatures that feel, biologically we are feeling creatures that think.

I had forgotten about my job and all the things in my life that brought me stress-and with this obliteration of memories, I felt both relief and joy.

I wanted my doctors to focus on how my brain was working rather than on whether it worked according to their criteria or timetable.

I desperately needed people to treat me as thought I would recover completely.  Regardless of whether it would take three months, two years, 20 years or a lifetime, I needed people to have faith in my continued ability to learn, heal and grow.

A quote she loves from Einstein.  "I must be willing to give up what I am in order to become what I will be."

I thought the Appendix - Forty Things I Needed the Most - was so important and I wish Doctors could share with all families of stroke survivors.  Here are some of my favourites:

- I am not stupid, I am wounded.  Please respect me.

- Approach me with an open heart and slow your energy down. Take your time.

- Make eye contact with me.  I am in here - come find me.  Encourage me.

- Please don't raise your voice - I'm not deaf, I'm wounded.

- Celebrate all of m little successes.  They inspire me.

- Love me for who I am today.  Don't hold me to being the person I was before.  I have a different brain now.

Jill Bolte Taylor would also like everyone to dial 1-800-BrainBank for more information about donating your brain.

Thanks for reading.

Personal Note - My brother started moving his left side that was completed unresponsive, it has been scary but we have hope.  He is not speaking yet but you can tell he wants to and is trying to communicate with us.  Again thank you for the support and prayers, I truly appreciate it.

This has also been the reason for less reading, blogging, networking etc but my brother is back home in the Bermuda hospital, he was air ambulanced back from Boston once he was stable enough last week.

Any DNF books yet?

I am slightly torturing myself friends, sigh.  I am reading the thriller you see on my sidebar.  I said I am giving up at 50% on Kindle and finally it changed so I think I will complete it.

I realised the reason I am giving this one the additional benefit is because it was requested by the author.  If I had bought it it would have been on the DNF list.  Do you give additional time to author/publisher requests?

Here is my DNF books of 2010 

If I decide to not finish this one I will email the author and let him know why.

Also, there are 2/3 books I can recommend that have similar theme (executed better) but realised recommending them also gives away the 'supposedly shocking part'.

Have you ever been given a recommended book (you should read this if you liked that scenario) and thought I wander what the similarities are, get excited and then went into the book with the thought but it spoiled the plot for you?  (Does that make sense?)

Read, Reading and going to Read - Monday

It's Monday, What are You Reading.  Sheila over at Book Journey has an incentive for networking so go over and have fun while continuing to add to your 2011 Wishlist.

Last week I completed

  I loved it - 5 Tea Time Perfection, My Review Here

and

 This one didn't impress me - 3 More Sugar Please, My Review Here.  If you want to try Lisa McMann go for the Wake Trilogy.


I am currently reading

  This is different so far, it is a thriller.

and

I am still working my way through this one.  It is a little clinical at times but what I have learned to support my brother has been priceless, so worth reading if you have been touched by someone who has had a stroke.





What is up next next


Go here for my Giveaway of this thriller and the summary.


I hope everyone has a great week, stay healthy and enjoy your reading time.

Review - Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Summary from Goodreads
The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.


My Review - 3 More Sugar Please

Well, sigh........ I have figured out why I don't love YA, it is just to G rated for me.  I LOVED the Wake Trilogy, everything about it, was shocked because it was YA but read the whole trilogy last year because I just had to finish the story.

On to the Cryer's Cross

I do enjoy Lisa McMann's writing style, right to the point, grips you in a fascinating way, I do think she has a great future ahead of her.  This book just could have been longer, more explained, creepier, so much was missing for me.

Kendell the main character was developed nicely.  It was great to see how her OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) was used throughout the story.  It made me think how hard it must be for those with OCD to live and made question how well known it is understood.  One great occupation I can see them in is being an amazing sales lady/men, the ones that keep boutiques looking amazing, you don't even want to touch the goods :-)

Children are going missing, it could be really creepy but the book just never takes you there.  Kendell loses her best friend/boyfriend, he is the 2nd child to go missing.  Finally you realise oh wow is Kendell possessed, then you think no, then yes, then its almost the end of the book and all is explained and its over, sigh.  I do like the title but it makes you want to know more about Cryer and why everything is still a secret.

Oh why do I bother with YA, I always miss the detail of the what, how, why and some edge of your seat details.

I would only recommend this one to YA fans but I highly recommend the Wake Trilogy, they are so short if you enjoy Wake just go for it and read them all together.

ARC Review - Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Product Description from Amazon
 

For a mother, life comes down to a series of choices. 

To hold on…

To let go..

To forget…

To forgive…

Which road will you take?

My Review - 5 Tea Time Perfection

Kristin Hannah blew me away, I hardly ever shed a tear but this one gripped every emotional feeling I had and begged for a reaction, which was many tears.  So so sad in a beautiful way.  This book is about choices, consequences, fear, parenting, friendships, grief, generations and courage, all wrapped up with Love. 

The parents, Jude and Miles were great parents, in Lexi's eyes the perfect parents.  Lexi is the girl that becomes friends with their twins, Mia and Zach.  There are so many special moments and memories. The dynamics of becoming friends, the parents embracing Lexi into their family and home and then BANG it is taken away from all of them.

From the outside looking in, others probably thought they had the perfect life, I loved how KristinH made them real.  Definitely a you are who your parents groomed you to be story.  A background story was about Jude and her mother, I loved how this had its own story and message, then it all came to together in the end, no strings left undone.

Night Road was so honest that it will make you feel like you are being emotionally ripped apart and hoping you never have to live the nightmare they did.  Kristin Hannah is on my list as a favourite emotional adult fiction author.  I loved this.  There is so much I can say but I left many details out in order not to spoil the experience of reading for yourself.

I have only read Firefly Lane and now Night Road.  Firefly Lane was in my top ten of 2009 but I read it before blogging so no review.  What has been your favourite Kristin Hannah novel, I definitely want more?

I read this one for the challenge I am hosting, I Want More Challenge.