Wrapping Up! 2019's Five Star Books and Reading Challenge

Now that the year is coming to a close, it's time to put a bow on the box of great reads of 2019. Back in August, I posted about my favorite books of the summer, and now let's pick up where we left off. Here are my five star reads from mid-August until mid-December:  

THE WHISPER MAN by Alex North – forget whispering, I am shouting about how much I loved this book. Billed as a mystery/suspense/thriller, it is all of those things but to me, it's also got elements of horror. Certain scenes will continue to creep up on you long after you put the book down. 

*****

NINTH HOUSE (Alex Stern #1) by Leigh Bardugo – fantasy is not my usual genre, but this sounded so intriguing and Ms. Bardugo is a hugely popular author, I thought I'd give it a whirl. The result? Loved. It. Dark, gritty and mesmerizing. 

*****

THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS by Lisa Jewell – sometimes Ms. Jewell's books are hit or miss for me. This one? A definite grand slam out of the ballpark hit. The ending was one of my favorite parts. 

*****

DARLING ROSE GOLD by Stephanie Wrobel – I received this as an ARC through a giveaway on Goodreads and it doesn't come out until March 2020, but you might want it on your radar now. I loved absolutely every minute of this warped and wild ride. 

*****

I surpassed my 2019 Reading Challenge goal of 80 books, and I'm excited to set a new one for next year and to get my greedy little hands on some more amazing reads. Here are a handful of books – and this is just in the first half of 2020!– I'm looking forward to:

WHEN YOU SEE ME (#11) by Lisa Gardner (1/20)

DEAD TO HER by Sarah Pinborough (2/20)

BE NOT FAR FROM ME (YA) by Mindy McGinnis (3/20)

EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS by Peter Swanson (3/20)

HE STARTED IT by Samantha Downing (4/20)

IF IT BLEEDS by Stephen King (5/20)

THE DILEMMA by B. A. Paris (6/20}

THE SUICIDE HOUSE by Charlie Donlea (7/20)

*****

Have you read any of my five star faves? Plan on adding them to your TBR list? Did you read anything that blew your mind? Any upcoming titles in 2020 you're excited about? If you had a reading goal for 2019, how did it go? Plan on setting one for 2020? And if we're not already Friends over on Goodreads - and you'd like to be! - please join me over there. 

A Page-Turning Summer

I don't remember summer reading programs being around when I was a kid, but boy howdy, I would've been all over that. Lucky for me, my county library has an adult summer reading program - you read books, review them on the program's website, and for each one, you're entered in a random drawing for weekly and monthly prizes. Last year, I won a drink tumbler. This year, I won a basket of books! Not only that, but apparently the number of participants exploded. The more people reading the better!

I read some amazing books this summer, and since I love to talk books, here are some of my favorites from June through the end of August: 

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh - okay, I'm cheating here because I finished this one at the end of May, but I can't stop thinking about it. You want twists? Get ready. 

*****

The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis - the description on Goodreads says it all: "True Grit meets The Road in this postapocalyptic psychological thriller--narrated by a young girl who has just learned that her adopted father may be a serial killer, and that she may be his next victim." I mean, come on! How awesome is that? I passed this ARC along to my husband, and he was blown away as well. 

*****

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda - I love a good suspense novel, and this one had the added bonus of being told in reverse. Yes, you read that correctly. Reverse. It's well worth your time as both a reader AND a writer.

*****

One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus - I first read this historical fiction novel years ago for a book club. I loved it so much, it's lived on my bookshelf all this time. When it was chosen for a new book club, I re-read it. And you know what? Still loved it. Absolutely loved it. 

*****

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware - a locked room mystery reminiscent of Agatha Christie's works? A murder on a luxury cruise ship yet all passengers are accounted for? I am so there! 

*****

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys - I've been a fan of this author's ever since I read Between Shades of Gray, a young adult historical fiction novel. Here, according to Goodreads, the author "returns to WWII in this epic novel that shines a light on one of the war's most devastating—yet unknown—tragedies." I pretty much wept through the last chunk of the book. An excellent - and important - read. 

*****

Watching Edie by Camilla Way - I was going to rate this a solid four stars over on Goodreads, but the last chunk bumped it up to five stars. The structure - two alternating points of view, one in the present, the other in the past - really amped up the suspense. It's a dark story, but one that delves into the concept of what is real, what is our perception - how we see ourselves, how others see us, and the possibility of change. 

*****

If you've read any of these, what did you think? Will you be adding any to your TBR list? What have you read this summer that blew your mind? Looking forward to any new releases in the Fall? If you're not already a friend/follower of mine over on Goodreads, come find me!

*****

(Even though I received an ARC for one book, the opinions here are honest and presented purely because I enjoyed all of these books.)

Summer Reading - The End

Back at the end of June, I wrote about my favorite books of the summer up until that point  in time - Summer Reading - Part I. Here's the wrap-up - from the end of June until August 28th - of the some of the best books I've read this summer -

*****

That Night by Chevy Stevens - I'm not sure she'll ever be able to top her first book, Still Missing, but this thriller comes very close.

*****

Someone Else's Skin by Sarah Hilary - Sarah was one of the first online writers/bloggers I "met" more years back than I care to admit. A few months ago, I saw an ad for her book on Shelf Awareness and promptly added this gripping, compelling mystery to my TBR list. Add it to yours - you won't be sorry.

*****

Torn Away by Jennifer Brown - this YA novel is an utterly heartbreaking story of loss and an amazingly hopeful story of love. This is my new favorite Jennifer Brown novel and easily one of my favorite books of the year so far.

*****

Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf - I read this with my heart wedged up in my throat. If you ever saw a news story and thought something along the lines of "How could he/she do that? That would never happen to me" or "I would never let that happen," think again. Accidents - terrible, horrifying accidents - can and do happen to the best of us. This novel reminds us of that, and shows how healing and hope can still be possible.   

*****

Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work by Tim Gunn (with Ada Calhoun) - A big part of the reason I enjoy watching Project Runway is Tim Gunn's always dapper, always encouraging presence. I use his catchphrase - "Make It Work" - for everything from writing to making dinner. This is a fun read, not only because it's got behind-the-scenes stories of Project Runway, but also because it's full of wisdom and humor and heart.   

*****

Have you read any of these? Do you think you'll give one or two of them a try? What have you read and loved this summer?

Summer Reading - Part I

My husband showed me this article - "5 Best-Selling Author's Favorite Beach Reads" - and it got me thinking about the books I've read this May and so far - the 26th - this June.

Here are some of my favorites: 

Until You're Mine by Samantha Hayes - this suspense novel kept me guessing. So many twists and turns! And the last line of the Epilogue is fantastic!

*****

The Book of You by Claire Kendal - totally creepy. Made me want to keep looking over my shoulder even though I wasn't the one being stalked. 

*****

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - this contemporary YA novel took me by surprise with its voice and its style, including the way Lockhart ratcheted up the tension in increasingly subtle ways.   

*****

Bird Box by Josh Malerman - if you're going to read only one book from this list, PLEASE MAKE IT THIS ONE. Utterly terrifying and psychologically intense, it is easily one of my favorites of 2014.

*****

What are you reading - and loving! - so far this summer? Any titles you're particularly looking forward to? Any favorite summer reading memories?

Recommended Reading - February 2014

It was an awesome month for reading, as you'll see from the Standouts below. And I've decided, since I'm coming across so many great books, to scrap the monthly Recommended Reading posts and just write mini book reviews here whenever I read something I love. I will no longer have to wait to rave about a book! And you will no longer have to wait to add a great read to your TBR list. (Don't grumble about how big that TBR pile is already. You know you love adding to it!)

*****

Books Read in February: 9

Total Books Read in 2014:  15

Standouts:

Fear Nothing by Lisa Gardner - Lisa Gardner is one of my go-to authors for suspense/thrillers. I know that when she has a new book out, I'd better set aside some time because I will be hooked - forget cleaning, forget cooking, my husband and the tortoises are on their own. This particular novel has a fascinating character who has a genetic condition that causes her to feel no pain, and Gardner is excellent at feeding the reader information without lecturing. And although the character of Boston Detective D. D. Warren is a recurring character, the novels work as stand-alones. Next time you're in the mood for suspense, go find one of Gardner's novels. You'll be glad you did. 

*****

You've Got a Book In You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams by Elizabeth Sims - Yes, I know. Most of us need another book on the writing craft like we need another empty notebook, another mug of coffee, another rejection. But this book's subtitle - "a stress-free guide" - is absolutely true. This is a fresh reminder of how much fun writing can be, if we'll only let it. (I actually met Ms. Sims once or twice, and her enthusiasm for writing is absolutely evident.)

***** 

The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh - What really drew me into this novel was the voice - atmospheric without being heavy-handed, dark and foreboding yet subtle. It is a mystery and a love story, and a very good reminder of how secrets can dig deep and take root in the fertile grounds of family dynamics.

* I received an ARC though a Random House giveaway. This novel will be available March 2014. *

*****

Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #2) by Laini Taylor - If you haven't yet read Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1, then do so. Now. Go wander the streets of Prague with Karou and Zuzana and Mik. Meet Brimstone and Issa and Thiago, Madrigal and Akiva and Razgut (who is one of the creepiest characters I've ever met.) Then read Days... where the story continues, where love and war and friendship and sacrifice are all layered and complicated and complex and the usual definitions of monsters and angels are frayed and unravelling right before your eyes. Then…wait with me until April for Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #3). Arrrrrgh!

*****

What have you read and loved recently? Have you read any of the Standouts? Do you plan to? I hope so!

Recommended Reading - January 2014

This year, my goal is to read 85 books. This is a lower goal than I set for myself in 2013 - 100 books. I managed to read 101, but it was a push there at the end. This year, I'm giving myself permission to read a bit less and to, oh, I don't know, write more. Go outside. Spend time with my husband. Do some kind of art work. Breathe.

*****

Books Read in January:  6

Total Books Read in 2014:  6

Standouts:

The Whole Golden World by Kristina Riggle - this is not an easy read in regards to the subject matter, but Riggle does an excellent job of using three different points of view to paint shades of gray on what's usually considered a black and white subject. It's the added dimension and depth that take this contemporary/women's fiction/family drama story to another level.

*****

Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis - this YA dystopian novel flew across the pages. The prose is sharp and tight, the voice tense and tough, and it's because of those things, that when all the emotional and heartbreaking moments hit - and believe me, they will! - they're even more powerful and shocking. And if you're looking for a heroine to give Katniss Everdeen a run for her money, look no further than Lynn. She, along with the other characters in this book, will not soon, or easily, be forgotten.

*****

Have you read anything great during the first month of 2014? Read either of the Standouts or plan to? What books are you looking forward to over the next couple of months? 

Recommended Reading - December 2013

Well, December saw the end of The 2013 Goodreads Challenge, and I am thrilled to say I accomplished my goal of reading 100 books in 2013. I also learned a few things along the way….

The challenge was a great reminder of how much I love to read. I'd gotten lazy - leaving the TV on, checking email more than necessary, surfing the web. The challenge brought me back to my books and my books back to me.

But toward the end of the challenge, reading started to feel a little like homework, and that I didn't care for at all. So, for The 2014 Goodreads Challenge, I'm going to aim for 85 books to give myself a little wiggle room, a little time and space to maybe get up off the couch and go outside…without a book in hand. Gasp!

*****

Total Books Read in December:  12

Total Books Read in 2013: 101

Standouts:

Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson - If I was going to go all geek fangirl on an author (okay, another author), it would be Ms. Jackson. This novel is a love story taken to another level, offering up love in different forms - hopeful and hopeless - and baring its complexities, including its rawness and its sharp edges, its softness and its strength.

*****

The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley - This novel is a great reminder of how, when those cracks develop in the foundation of our lives, of our families, they're so easily and insidiously filled in with lies and secrets and silences. I'm a big fan of Ms. Buckley's first novel, The Things That Keep Us Here, and this one has all the same tension, suspense and deep family dynamics.

I received an ARC through the BookBrowse First Impressions program.
The novel will be available February 2014.

*****

Swimming in the Moon by Pamela Schoenewaldt - I'm a sucker for good historical fiction and this second novel by Ms. Schoenewaldt did not disappoint. We're immersed in Lucia's world whether it's in Naples or in Cleveland, the villa or the boarding house, the vaudeville stage or the union hall. Lucia is a true heroine, one you will root for, cry with, and cheer on with every turn of the page. And the ending - even though you'll need tissues - is perfect.

*****

And speaking of tissues . . . .

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Must. Have. Tissues. Handy. That's all I'm going to say about this one since I am late coming to this novel, there's already been a ton of reviews and there's a movie in the works.

*****

Have you read any of these Standouts? Will any of them make your To Be Read list in 2014? What have you read lately that you've loved? Taking part in any reading challenges this year?

Recommended Reading - November

I am shocked that I managed to read as much as I did during November - NaNo, anyone? I enjoyed a number of books, but it's the two Standouts below I want to highlight. They're both different types of books than I usually read - a humor/comic collection and a short story collection - but I'm so glad I picked them up….

*****

Books Read in November:  9

Total Books Read in 2013:  87

Standouts:

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh - I've been a huge fan of this blog of the same name for awhile now, and I'd made a note of this book way back before it came out. I couldn't wait! And let me just say, it was well worth the wait. There's an honesty here - in both the humor and in the baring of heartache. I laughed out loud (see: "Motivation,"  and "Dinosaur.") I nodded in understanding (see: "This is Why I'll Never be an Adult,") and I even wiped away a few tears (see: "Depression" Parts One and Two, and "Identity" Parts One and Two.) This is a book I will return to again and again, no doubt.

*****

Nine Inches: Stories by Tom Perrotta - I don't usually read a lot of non-genre (mysteries, thrillers, etc) short story collections because I often find them to be too literary and/or the stories themselves too long for my taste. But I'd read and enjoyed Perrotta's work before, so I thought I'd give this collection a try. What I really liked about it was that the stories focused on regular people who struggled with issues that, on the surface seemed ordinary or superficial, but were really forcing the characters to face their own humanity, whether they were aware of it or not. A few of my favorites: "Grade My Teacher," "The Chosen Girl," and "The All-Night Party."

*****

If you participated in NaNo, did you manage to read much - or anything! - during November? Plan on reading either/both of the Standouts? Do you read short story collections, and if so, do you have any you'd recommend? Read anything lately you can't stop raving about?

Recommended Reading - October

October is almost over, but I believe you can read dark and creepy novels all year long. Hmm... unless that's just me?

And for those of you who enjoy a good historical-mystery-love story, look no further than the list below....

*****

Books Read in October:  6

Total Books Read in 2013:  78

Standouts:

Just What Kind of Mother Are You? by Paula Daly - Fast-paced and twisty, this novel takes an already terrifying premise and proceeds to bump it up a few more notches. Add good writing and well-drawn characters to the mix and you've got a novel you won't want to - or be able to - put down.

*****

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King - It's no secret around here that I'm a huge fan of Stephen King. More suspenseful and creepy than outright scary, this novel is full of King's usual complex characters, who really are the heart and soul of the story. It helps a bit for background's sake if you've read The Shining, but I don't think it's necessary in order to enjoy this one.

*****

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes - I'm going to start this mini-review with a complaint, if you can even call it that. I enjoyed the "historical" aspect of this book so much so that I practically groaned every time I was taken out of it to spend time in the "present day" part of the story. That's not to say the present day story isn't good because it is, absolutely. I just fell in love with Sophie's story and was positively desperate to find out what happened to her! This novel's got it all - history, mystery, love, sacrifice, power, pain, hope. Don't miss it!

*****

Do any of these Standouts sound good to you? Have you read anything lately you'd recommend? If you're participating in a reading challenge, like through Goodreads, how on track are you? I'm a few books behind, but this is one goal I love striving for!

Recommended Reading - September

I cannot wait to dive into the piles of books I've got waiting for me - fiction, nonfiction, purchased books, ones from the library, ebooks, novels, novellas, stories, big names (hello, Stephen King!) and debut authors! Whew!

Here are some of my Standouts from September - 

Books Read in September:  10

Total Books Read in 2013:  72

Standouts:

Night Film by Marisha Pessl - if you're in the mood for a dark, creepy, complex novel, this is it. Although I found it a little long, I loved how Pessl used almost a mixed media format, including the protagonist's notes and pages from old newspaper articles and screen shots from websites. Pessl also does a fantastic job of creating memorable and unique characters. (Nora is one of my favorites.)

*****

Hate List by Jennifer Brown - this is one of Brown's older titles, and it's already been nominated/won numerous prizes and received acknowledgements all over the place, and deservedly so. I enjoyed her more recent work better, but Hate List is an important read and extremely well done.

*****

Charm and Strange by Stephanie Kuehn - if you like dark, layered YA novels, definitely check this out. There's something about it that draws you in and compels you to keep going even though the closer you get to the truth, the more you want to close your eyes so you don't have to see it coming.

*****

What are you looking forward to reading over the next few months? Do you plan on checking out any of the Standouts? What are you currently reading? Any recommendations?

Recommended Reading - August

I don't know if I was channeling my inner student this past month or if I was just nostalgic for those Summer Reading Lists because I found myself reading a lot of Contemporary Young Adult novels, a genre I rarely read. But I tell you, the Standouts below should be - if they aren't already - on school reading lists everywhere.

Books Read in August:  11

Total Books Read in 2013:  63

Standouts:

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick - this is an uncomfortable and unsettling book to read. It pulls us and pushes us to places we don't really want to go, but we will because we want to know what happens. My heart hurt for pretty much every character in it. An excellent read.

*****

Right Behind You by Gail Giles - another difficult, emotional read but it feels less raw, less gritty than the one mentioned above. It is so well done that I made a note of the author so I can hunt down more of her work. And because I was just so blown away by the brief summary of the novel, I'm sharing it right here:

When he was nine, Kip set another child on fire. Now, after years in a juvenile ward, he is ready for a fresh start. But the ghosts of his past soon demand justice, and he must reveal his painful secret. How can Kip tell anyone that he really is--or was--a murderer? (Goodreads)

*****

Thousand Words and Bitter End by Jennifer Brown - these are two books I wish every teenager - not just the girls! - would read. Thousand Words is about "sexting" and Bitter End is about teen dating abuse, but both novels are really about choices and decisions - good and bad - and taking responsibility.

*****

Have you read any of the Standouts? Will you add any of them to your To Read list? How did your summer reading go? Read anything fantastic? Read something that disappointed you? 

Recommended Reading - July

Most of July was a tough one for Standout books. Either that, or I'm getting too picky. I read a number of books that I liked. That's it. Liked. I enjoyed them but then put them in the donate pile. I also started a bunch of books that I didn't finish.

But, by the end of the month, my Standout drought was over! I was swept away by an historical fiction novel, creeped out by a thriller, and I absolutely fell in love with a contemporary YA book.

*****

Books Read in July:  10

Total Books Read in 2013:  52

Standouts:

The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline - I had this book sitting in my TBR pile for quite awhile, and I'm kicking myself that I didn't pick it up sooner. I enjoyed everything about it - the story, the writing, the characters, the way the past and the present day story lines paralleled each other yet managed to bring everything together at the end. Also, I was fascinated by the "orphan trains," a part of US history with which I was unfamiliar. In the back of the edition I read, the author included some of her research and actual photos from the time. If you enjoy coming of age novels, US historical fiction of the 1920s on, and "nice" reads with some humor and lots of hope, definitely pick up this book.

*****

The Never List by Koethi Zan - I read this book with my heart in my throat and with a creepiness that crawled over me time and again. It's a taut, suspenseful psychological thriller that will keep you reading...but only with the lights on. It's definitely a dark read, but I was relieved that it wasn't nearly as graphic as I was afraid it was going to be. I thought the author did a great job of giving the reader just the right amount of horror, of terror, without going over the line.

*****

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - I loved loved loved this contemporary YA novel. It was smart and clever and funny and sweet without being goopy. It reminded me of what it was like to be young again. This book was so well written that the story existed not only on the page but also off the page - in what was said, in what wasn't said, and in what was happening among the characters. [And if you don't believe me, check out M.J.'s review. She is totally right about everything, especially the novel's ending.]

*****

How about you all? Have you read anything wonderful so far this summer? Or are you kind of experiencing a Standout drought? Plan on reading any of the books mentioned above, if you haven't already?

Recommended Reading - June

I tend to devour mysteries and thrillers in the summer months. Give me suspense while the sun shines bright. I want a book to give me the chills while I'm sweating in the Florida heat. Throw in some horror, which is much easier to read since it stays lighter outside longer.

And while all the Standouts below contain a mystery of sorts - a disappearance, murder, an unsolved crime - they're also complex stories of lost love and family dynamics and growing up.

*****

Books Read in June:  8

Total Books Read in 2013:  43

Standouts:

Joyland by Stephen King - It's no secret I'm a big fan of King. It's also not a secret that I like the dark and creepy tales he tells. But what keeps me coming back to his work is his characters. And this novel is no exception. More mystery and ghost story than horror, it falls along the lines of King's The Body (the movie, Stand By Me) and Rita Hayworth and the The Shawshank Redemption. It's the perfect summer read.

*****

Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole - By the time I finished reading David's first letter to Elspeth and her reply, I was ready to be swept away by their story. This novel has it all - great characters, friendship, love, foreign countries, war, poetry, mystery. Oh, and the ending! A great read all around.

I received an ARC through BookBrowse's First Impressions program.
Novel is available July 9th.

*****

The Mourning Hours by Paula Treick DeBoard - This novel has a well drawn out element of suspense,  and I was left guessing right up until the end. One thing I particularly enjoyed was seeing what happened to Stacy Lemke through the eyes of Kirsten as child, and then later seeing the aftermath through her adult perspective. It's definitely a gripping, emotional mystery.

I received an ARC through a Goodreads giveaway.
Novel is available now.

*****

Do you plan on reading any of the Standouts? If you already did, what did you think? Do you enjoy a good mystery in the summer months? What's the best book you've read so far this summer?

Recommended Reading - May

Well, May was a very good month for books!

The three Standouts below are either Young Adult or Middle Grade novels. Now, before those of you who don't read YA or MG stop reading, please just don't! These three books have such wonderful crossover appeal that I bet you'll find something to like in at least one of them.     

*****

Books Read in May:  8

Total Books Read in 2013:  34

Standouts

If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch - YA - This book is one of my favorite books of 2013. It is equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, and its complex story of love is heartrending and joyous. You will root for sisters Carey and Jenessa, and also for the people who come to love them. Carey is a true heroine, a contemporary Katniss Everdeen. This story will stay with you long after you've finished reading.

*****

Doll Bones by Holly Black - MG - This was the first novel I'd read by this author but it won't be my last. On one level, this is a quest story with a creep factor kids will love. On another, it's about the bittersweet ache of growing up and believing you have to leave behind certain things, like playing and imagination. And, while to some degree, this is true, you don't have to abandon them totally. This is a sweet and spooky story with a cast of lovable and complex characters.

*****

In the After by Demitria Lunetta - YA - I was hooked right from the novel's creepy, suspenseful start. Nice twists keep the tension high throughout. It's got great characters, and the relationship between Amy and "Baby" add a deeper layer to this survival/dystopian story. It sort of reminds me of the TV show, The Walking Dead...but without the zombies. (You'll just have to read the book to understand that weird comparison!)

I received an ARC of this through a Harper Collins giveaway.
The novel will be available June 25, 2013.    

*****

Did you read anything this month that blew you away? Do you regularly read YA and/or MG? Have you read any of these or do you plan to?

Recommended Reading - April

It was a fantastic month for reading! Three of the six books I read this month are what I consider Standouts. I love when that happens! 

*****

Books Read in April:  6

Total Books Read in 2013:  26

Standouts:

Close My Eyes by Sophie McKenzie - make a note of this book or reserve it at your library NOW. It doesn't come out until July 2013 but it's going to be big. If you enjoyed Before I Go to Sleep, Into the Darkest Corner and/or Gone Girl, definitely check this one out. I had to suspend belief a little more than I care to in a few spots, but the underlying tension and sweeping suspense carried me through. 

(I received an ARC of this from BookBrowse for an unbiased review.)

***

The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell - here's another one to add to your list or to request as soon as possible since it comes out next week. This is historical suspense at its best! The closer I got to the end, the more I wanted to read the pages peeking through my fingers - I had a pretty good idea of what was about to happen but I had to see it through, no matter what. 

(I received an ARC through Goodreads for an unbiased review.)

***

Wool by Hugh Howey - I read the Omnibus (Wool #1-5) and was totally unprepared for how much I enjoyed this and wanted more, more, more! I felt like I was reading a sci-fi Stephen King tale. Even if science fiction isn't usually your thing - it's not really mine, either - I would still thoroughly recommend this. The characters are probably what made me enjoy this as much as I did. 

*****

Has anyone read any of the Standouts? What did you think? Do you plan on reading any or all of them? What are you reading and loving lately?

Recommended Reading - March

For some people this March meant spring temperatures and basketball, but for me, it meant a fantastic month of reading! I've got three Standouts listed below, but I also read a number of really good ones. (If you'd like to know more about those, go ahead and visit me on Goodreads.)

*****

Books Read in March: 8

Total Books Read in 2013:  20

Standouts:

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - I love a book that has me rooting for pretty much everyone and everything in it! It uses quick, sharp lines spoken by flawed complex characters to ask questions, such as what it means to live a full, bold life, and to show us the persistence and the power of different kinds of love. I literally laughed out loud reading one page, then teared up as I read the next. Warning: have tissues handy.

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult - I've been a fan of Picoult's books for a long time, and while I enjoyed her recent ones, it's this one that reminded me of how good Picoult really is at taking complex issues and presenting them in ways that are both entertaining and thought-provoking. One of my favorite things about her novels is how they ask more questions than they answer, leaving readers to decide for themselves. A quote from this book sums up Picoult's work in general - "It's easy to say you will do what's right and shun what's wrong, but when you get close enough to any given situation, you realize there IS no black or white. There are gradations of gray." A great example of this: Minka's story will live on in my memory for a long time, and so will Josef's, but for very different reasons. That is the power of a Picoult novel.

A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy - Reading a Maeve Binchy novel is the equivalent of eating comfort food, and this, her last one, is no exception. I felt as if I was sitting around the table at the Stone House myself! When I finished reading, I wanted to turn back to the first page and begin again, not only because I knew how good it was, but also because I knew there would be no more books after this one. That these characters would not make an appearance in the next one or the one after. There is nothing like a Maeve Binchy novel and there never will be.

*****

Have you all read any of these Standouts? Do you want to? What are you reading right now? What's up next on you To-Read list?

Recommended Reading - February 2013

Even though I'm behind in my Goodreads Challenge, I'm happy with my progress (12 books read toward the goal of 100), and I am really enjoying the many different books I'm reading.

Unfortunately, though, I've started a handful of books only to stop reading and start feeling disappointed. I took a chance on buying a few hardcovers I'd heard good things about - yeh, gift cards! - only to regret my decision. One of novels became plodding and heavy-handed, while the other started out with a great narrative voice but once the characters started talking to each other, the dialogue came across as stilted and forced. But it's all just my opinion and, even though I was kind of annoyed at using my gift cards, I re-framed it as supporting a couple of debut authors. I didn't care for the books, but I'll pass them on to someone else, someone who might just love them.

*****

Books Read in February:  6

Books Read 2013:  12

Standouts -

Kings of Colorado by David E. Hilton - this coming-of-age novel reads like a cross between Stand By Me (The Body) and Lord of the Flies. It's raw and heartbreaking and bittersweet and if the first sentence doesn't pull you in, the voice will.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey - this novel is like a fairytale for adults. I curled up with it and a cup of tea, and I was lost in a different place (the Alaskan wildness) and a different time (the 1920s.) It's a love story about love in its many forms - between an older married couple, for a child, for friends, and for the wild, brutal, beautiful place where the story takes place. If you're looking to lose yourself in a book, this is the one.

*****

Have you read either of the Standouts? What were you thoughts? Think you'll pick up one of them? What have you read and loved lately? 

Recommended Reading - January 2013

We're a little over a month into 2013 and, as always, I'm excited about all the new books and stories and authors to discover. It's been a good month for me in terms of reading. I joined GoodReads - check out the sidebar then, if you want to, come find me and friend me or whatever they call it over there. I'm also making progress - even though I am a bit behind - on my goal to read at least 100 books this year.

*****

Books Read in January:  6

Standouts:

The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon - I've enjoyed all of her books, but this is her best yet. I was freaked out by page five! The creepiness and suspense never let up, but it's really the excellently drawn characters that take this story to the next level.

Still Alice by Lisa Genova - I could kick myself for waiting so long to read this. To be fair, I read Left Neglected first, was blown away by it, then made a note to read pretty much everything else Genova wrote/writes. One of my favorite things about her books is how she takes these sad, frustrating, terrifying situations and delivers them with tight, crisp, clear prose so that there is little to no melodrama and over-sentimentality. Pretty much the only weeping done is by the reader. Have tissues handy.

*****

Have you all read anything that blew you away lately? Are you looking forward to anything coming out in the next few months? (I'm looking forward to new novels by Lisa Gardner and Jodi Picoult coming in February!)

2012 Standouts - December Recommended Reading

Over the past year, I wrote a handful of posts talking about the books I read and loved, and I thought it might be fun to put them all in one place. When I look over the titles, I'm struck by the mix - fiction, nonfiction, YA, mystery, thriller, women's fiction. It really just goes to show how a good story transcends any label or page.

If you click on the month, it'll take you to that post so you can read, or re-read, the mini reviews in case you'd like to add any of the books to your TBR list. So, here it is - my Standouts of 2012:

JANUARY
The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen
A Killer's Essence by Dave Zeltserman

Also, in January, I did a separate post about of A Grown Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson

FEBRUARY
Night Road by Kristin Hannah
The Widow's War by Sally Gunning
Diamond Ruby by Joseph Wallace

MARCH
The Heroine's Bookshelf: Life Lessons, from Jane Austen to Laura Ingalls Wilder by Erin Blakemore
All Woman and Springtime by Brandon Jones

APRIL
Chomp by Carl Hiassen

MAY

The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian
The Blue Orchard by Jackson Taylor

JUNE
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The Last Bridge by Teri Coyne
Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

JULY
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker
One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf
Gold by Chris Cleave

AUGUST
Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison
The Secret River by Kate Grenville

SEPTEMBER
The Sea Captain's Wife by Beth Powning
When We Were Strangers by Pamela Schoenewaldt

OCTOBER
The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti
The Floor of the Sky by Pamela Carter Joern

NOVEMBER
Every Day by David Levithan
Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

DECEMBER
December was a good month for the quantity of reading I did, but not so much for the quality. Don't get me wrong - I read books I enjoyed. They just didn't blow me away or make me want to tell everyone about them or give them as gifts. Basically, I didn't come across any Standouts.

Books Read in December:  6

Total Books Read in 2012:  74

*****

Have you read any of the Standouts? What did you think? What were some of your favorites from 2012? (You know I need to add more books to my 2013 TBR list!)

November Reading Recommendations

Even though I'm no longer participating in the Off The Shelf Challenge, I'm still reading lots of books and, as you all know by now, one of my favorite things to do is talk about the books I recently read and loved. So, here are my...

Standouts in November:

Every Day by David Levithan - Every day, our protagonist - 'A' - wakes up in the body of someone else. 'A' has gotten used to it - going so far as to set up rules, such as do no harm and don't get attached. It's all good until the day he wakes up in Justin's body . . . and falls in love with Justin's girlfriend.

Now I know some of you are shaking your head and saying it's not your genre or your kind of thing but please, please don't dismiss it so quickly. I don't care if you never read YA, PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. It is smart and fresh and complicated, and 'A's voice is so clear and true you'll think 'A' is in your head. The ending is both perfect and heartbreaking, and it will stay with you long after the book is done.

Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes - This is a fantastic mystery/thriller in a similar vein to S. J. Watson's Before I Go to Sleep. One of the things I like about this book is the way Haynes tells Catherine/Cathy's story in alternating timelines, one in the present and one three years before. Even though it's the same POV character, Catherine/Cathy changes so much over those three years it almost feels like we're reading about two different people. Also, we're able to trace what happened to Catherine then to how and why Cathy does what she does now. Oh, and for you all you NaNoWriMos out there - this book started as a 2008 NaNo novel!

*****

Books read in November:  7

Total Books Read 2012 (so far!):  69

Have you read either of these two and if so, what did you think? What are you reading and loving - or maybe not loving so much - right now? What's next in your TBR pile?