Books Read-2016 – Page 2 – Cindy's Love Of Books

Review/ The Widow by Fiona Barton

Posted on April 19, 2016April 6, 2016 by Cindy

The Widow by Fiona Barton is a debut novel that I have been hearing all the buzz about lately and every time I have been in Chapters the girls are always pitching me this book because they know that I enjoyed Gone Girl and Girl on the Train so when I noticed that chapters was offering 2x the points when you purchased the book and it happened to be on sale so I figured it was time to pick it up.

What can I say for this book except for the fact that I think there was more twist and turns then any book I have recently read. I really enjoy books like that because you are lead to think one thing and then question everything else. I hate when you know what happens half way through and this has you sitting on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I should say that we know what has happened and they are basically trying to find a way to proof that it was done. That is the thing that I thought was interesting about the book. Its easy to point the finger at someone but you have to have the proof to put them away.

One thing I have to say is that even though the storyline is disturbing the author kept all the graphic material out. Which I have to say I appreciate as a mother. We all know from the premise of the book that a little girl is taken from her yard but we know really know how she died and I am okay with not knowing that just as long as she is found so that a family can be put to rest.

I really tried to hold myself back from trying to read it in one sitting and honestly it was hard because so much was happening that you wanted to stay and read to find out what was going to happen. It was a page turner.

The story is told in various view points such as the widow, reporter, detective, and there is alot of flipping back from 2006 to 2010 so you really have to keep on eye on who is talking in that chapter and what year it is. At first I found it to be a little distracting and trying to keep the story straight but once I kept track of the speaker and dates it was a little easier. I think it would have made it a little easier to read had it begun in 2006 and worked its way to 2010. That is just my personal thought.

Over all it was an interesting read but I have to say that its not really a Gone Girl or Girl on the Train kind of book that it was hyped to be like. So if you are expecting that you might be disappointed.

Review/ Monument 14: Sky On Fire

Posted on March 10, 2016February 25, 2016 by Cindy

Sky on Fire (Monument 14, #2) by Emmy Laybourne
Format: Hardcover
Published by Feiwel & Friends on May 28th 2013
Pages: 215
Goodreads

Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope.
Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once. . . .
Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with Niko and some others in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected. . . .

I am so happy that I had book two on stand by because I am loving this series and I am trying hard not to zip right through this one but its really hard because you are sucked in right away. It was hard to put this book down at times.

This is just like the first one, it will take you on a roller coaster ride and have you flipping the pages and sitting on the edge of your seat.

Sky On Fire picks right up where Monument 14 (book 1) left off. Most of the kids have left the Greenway and Dean, Astrid,Chloe and the twins have remained behind. Alot has gone down in the first book that carries over into this book. The kids quickly realize that the Greenway is no longer a safe haven so the kids who have left in the bus are determined to make it to Denver and get help back to the kids still at the Greenway.

Alex and Dean are the narrators this time around and each tells their story in alternating chapters so you got a feel of what was going on in the outside world and what is happening in Greenway. Each tell quite the story of what is happening in both places.

I am trying really hard not to say to much about the book and spoil it for those that want to read it. So I will tell you is that you will not expect that things that happen in this book to happen. There is so happy endings and there is some sadness but I think that is to be expected.

I am excited to start the third and final book in the series and my review should be posted the day after this one goes up.

Does this sound like something you would read?

Book Spotlight, Review & Giveaway/ Hop Into Easter! Personalized Books For Every Basket

Posted on March 8, 2016February 24, 2016 by Cindy

Format: Hardcover

Today I am very happy to share with my readers an awesome give away. Put Me In The Story is an amazing company that offers beautiful personalized books that are reasonably priced at $29.99 US

This Easter, Put Me In The Story wants to help you put a personalized book in your child’s Easter Basket.

Today I am going to be spotlighting three books from the Easter Collection.

This Easter, take your little one on an “eggs-traordinary” egg-hiding adventure around the world!

As fun and festive as an egg hunt, An Easter Surprise gives your child the chance to plan his or her very own Easter mission! Soaring as high as the moon in a hot air balloon, delivering eggs all over town, and stashing tasty treats all down the streets, your little one will be thrilled at the surprise twist in this Easter adventure!

Make Easter morning extra magical! Personalize this exciting Easter storybook with your child’s name and hometown, along with a special message and photo on the dedication page. A sweet Easter surprise your little one will cherish long after the holiday is over!

There’s only one rule in Larry’s book–don’t push the button. (Seriously, don’t even think about it!)

Even if it does look kinda nice, you must never press the button. Who knows what would happen?

Okay, quick. No one is looking… press the button.

Uh, oh.

Larry is a lovable monster, if a bit too curious for his own good. And now, you can join in on his fun adventure!

In the personalized version of this interactive story, your child will discover all the surprises around that big red button. Read, play, and laugh along while your little one investigates just how BIG one little push can be!

The perfect Easter treat to add to your little “honey bunny’s” basket! I Love You Honey Bunny by Sandra Magsamen is a fun and heartfelt story to remind your little one just how much you love and cherish them. Cuddle up close and enjoy something sweet together!

Celebrate your child by letting them know how they fill the world with love! Personalize this book with your honey bunny’s name, photo, and sweet message on the dedication page. You will also have the option to customize the pronoun in this book to become “I” or “We” Love You, Honey Bunny. A darling tale with a loving message that will stay with your little one forever!

We Love You Honey Bunny is the one I will be reviewing for you today. I was graciously provided with a code to obtain the book. They retail for $29.99 US each. As you can see they are personalized and its so easy to do all you have to do is just follow the easy instructions on the page and that is is within 5 minutes I had the in my cart and ready to go. Shipping was super fast and I had the book within a week of ordering it.

The book is beautifully bound like a regular hard cover picture book and it arrived in perfect condition.

I spent quite a bit of time trying to pick out the right book and I have to say that I think this is the perfect book. I loved reading it just as did Michael. I think this is perfect for kids no matter what age they are as the message is beautiful as is the story.

The illustrations are bright and colorful and I think this could attract readers of all ages. The story line is easy and simple and its just great words kids should hear from their parents.

You are our bright and shining star. We know your dreams will take you far. You are a gift in so many ways.

Those are just a few of the phrases from the book. I wish this was around 12 years ago because I am sure I would have order each and everyone of their books. I just love the books that I have gotten from them so far.

Its nice that you can personalize the books with your child’s name and you can even add a photo of them inside the book as well. I think it makes the book even more special in my opinion. I know Michael loves the books because he knows I pick them out especially for him. He still loves to read a good picture book here and there.

Put Me In The Story, the #1 personalized books site in the U.S., has hundreds of personalized books and gifts for newborns, kids, and even grown-ups! With a diverse selection of personalized story books, activity books, adult coloring books, adorable plush and more, Put Me In The Story is a fantastic spot to find personalized gifts that become beloved keepsakes.

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Review/ Monument 14

Posted on March 4, 2016February 25, 2016 by Cindy

Monument 14 (Monument 14, #1) by Emmy Laybourne
Published by Square Fish on May 28th 2013
Pages: 352
Goodreads

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.

Your mother hollers that you're going to miss the bus. She can see it coming down the street. You don't stop and hug her and tell her you love her. You don't thank her for being a good, kind, patient mother. Of course not—you launch yourself down the stairs and make a run for the corner.Only, if it's the last time you'll ever see your mother, you sort of start to wish you'd stopped and did those things. Maybe even missed the bus.But the bus was barreling down our street, so I ran.Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong.
In Emmy Laybourne's action-packed debut novel Monument 14, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart.

I can’t believe that I haven’t read this book sooner. Its been sitting on my shelf for a little while now and I finally took it down and read it.

This is the first book in a three book series and a debut novel. I have the following reviews coming up next week so be sure to check back for those.

When I first picked up the book to read I didn’t realize that I was going to be sucked in right away. I pretty much tried to read this in a few sittings but it was hard to do that. I really love reading books like that. Books that will suck you in right away and give you the ride of your life. This was one of those books.

This seems to be one of those series that was flown under the radar because I don’t recall alot of reviews on it or hearing much about it when it came out.

Emmy Laybourne did a fantastic job with the writing. As I was reading it could actually envision this happening in the future with the wonky weather, the chemical warfare and everyone going bonkers due to all the chemicals in the air.

Alex and Dean wake up one morning thinking this was just going to be a ordinary day with going to school and then coming home like normal but they soon realize that things are about to change. On the way to school the weather turns with huge hail falling from the sky. The bus that Dean is on flips over due to the damage of the hail and the size of the hail. The bus that Alex is on manages to follow and rescue the kids. The driver drives her bus into a Greenway, which is a huge grocery store. I should warn you that there is alot of blood and death in the book.

The bus driver leaves the kids (6 high school, 2 eight graders and 6 little kids) secure in the Greenway to go for help and before long the high school kids have taken over to bring some order to the place once the security gates close them off from the outside world. At first its all fun and games but when the teenagers realize that they are on their own with the little kids and its not pleasant outside they all go into survival mode. They seal the gates up properly so that the chemicals won’t enter their air supply. The make the Greenway their home until they get rescued and they realized that someone had to step up to lead the way and I think that worked for them.

It was nice to see how the kids seemed to mature as the book progressed. At times I felt there was too many characters but I think it worked just perfectly with the book granted I had to keep a little note inside the book just so I could remember who was who.

This book was non stop action and sitting on the edge of the seat the whole way through. I had a hard time to put the book down at night. Thankfully the book ended with a cliff hanger so I didn’t have to wait long for the next book because it was sitting on my shelf.

Momument 14 is told from Dean’s writing that he has started inside the store. Its documented daily. Which I have to say I really enjoyed this aspect of the story telling.

Can you image being stuck in a huge grocery store? What would you do first?

Review/ SEAL Wolf In Too Deep

Posted on March 3, 2016February 25, 2016 by Cindy

SEAL Wolf In Too Deep (Heart of the Wolf, #18) by Terry Spear
Format: Paperback
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on February 2nd 2016
Pages: 352
Goodreads

Debbie Renaud is a police diver working on criminal cases with SEAL Allan Rappaport. She admires him greatly for his missions in the Navy, plus he's just plain HOT. Allan seems to share her attraction, but what she doesn't know is that her partner is wolf shifter.
Allan is really hung up on his smart, beautiful dive partner, but he can't get involved with a human outside dive duty. Yet when she gets between a werewolf hunter and his intended victim, one of the members of Allan's pack, they run into real trouble, and their lives are altered forever.

What can I say about Terry Spear’s that I haven’t already said except to say that she is so amazing. I love her writing and her books. I am so happy that I was introduced to her books a few years ago. Terry is my automatic buy author and I don’t say that about alot of authors.

SEAL Wolf In Too Deep is her 18th book and its part of her SEAL Wolf series. You can read each book as a stand alone because each book has their own story the only thing you might find is previous characters being mentioned in this book. Its okay it won’t affect your thoughts on the book.

This was a page turner like all her other books and I always manage to read them rather quickly even though I try to savour the books I just can’t. She sucks you in right from the get go. Which is one of the reasons I love reading her books I know I will never be disappointed.

In Too Deep is Allan’s story and if you have read the previous books in this series you will discover that he was mentioned before so it was nice to see Allan get his own book and storyline because he was a character I always wanted to know more about.

Allan is a shape shifter and a diver with the local police. When his partner gets injured he is forced to work with a new one and that new one happens to be Debbie who comes highly recommended. At first their relationship is strictly professional and he is trying to keep the wolves a secret to her but gradually he is no longer able to do that when she gets shot at. Someone is killing humans and wolves thinking they are one of the same.

Who is behind the killings and will they be caught before its too late?

What will Allan do when he discovers what the pack has done?

If your looking for a fun and exciting series of books I highly recommend these books hands down you won’t be disappointed.

Review/ November 9

Posted on March 1, 2016February 19, 2016 by Cindy

November 9 by Colleen Hoover
Format: Paperback
Published by Atria Books on November 10th 2015
Pages: 310
Goodreads

Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Colleen Hoover has been one of those authors that I have always wanted to read and I am not quite sure why I didn’t pick up her books sooner. I know I have a few on my Kobo and Kindle app that I picked up along the way but for some reason I never read but after reading this I have to say that I will be digging into those ebooks to read.

I didn’t realize that when I picked up this book that I would be walk till all hours of the morning reading this and I read it pretty much in one sitting. I had such a hard time putting the book down. I was literally sucked into the book from the get go and even still I think about the book.

November 9 is a roller coaster of emotions and I should say you should have some tissues on hand just in case as I doscovered.

This is a standalone book so you don’t have to worry about reading her previous books.

The only thing I know about the book is that two people, Fallon and Ben meet each other every November 9 and that was all I wanted to know about the book. I didn’t want to know to much because I wanted to go into this not knowing anything else and I have to say I am happy that I didn’t know more.

Fallon was a child star who lost it all in a house fire that left her scared and no one wanting to work with her or touch her. For Fallon her career as an actress ended abruptly. Her father is also a actor and you can see they are completely like night and day and he comes off as a real jerk who discourages Fallon any chance he gets it seems like.

Enter Ben who is a college student and he is sitting behind Fallon and her dad and he hears their conversation and he feels for Fallon and he swoops in almost to save the day and pretends to be Fallons boyfriend and tells her dad a think or two to put him in his place.

Ben knows Fallon is moving to NYC so they make the best of the little time they have together. He lets Fallon know that he is a writer and that he thinks their story would make the perfect book. He thinks that documenting the next five years could be fun and the reason its five years is because of something Fallon’s mom had said and I think personally I love that idea because if its meant to be then it will be.

So with this arrangement of meeting on November 9 for the next five years they each give the other a little home work assignment to be completed before the next meet. They can’t communicate via texts, calls anything.

I have to say that I loved Ben because he looked past the scars Fallon had and he made it his mission to make her feel pretty and comfortable with herself and that she was pretty no matter what and at first I found it hard to believe because so many guys base things on girls appearances and nothing else matters.

It was sweet to see this relationship develop and how they managed to keep it going was amazing. I don’t think i could have done that once feelings started to develop. Could you?

I have to tread lightly because I know I am going to give away the book and I really think you should go and pick up a copy to read as soon as possible so that you can experience this feeling too.

With that I am just going to say that i felt like I was on a roller coaster reading this book, My feelings were all over the place but I have to say I am happy that I finally read this. I look forward to reading Colleen’s other books.

Other books by Colleen Hoover:

Slammed Series:

Slammed
Point of Retreat
This Girl

Hopeless Series:

Hopeless (have this on my kindle app)
Losing Hope
Finding Cinderella (have this on my kindle app)

Never Never Series:

Never Never 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3 (have part one on my kindle app)

Maybe Someday:

Maybe Someday
Maybe Not

Standalones:

Ugly Love
Confess

Review/Those Girls

Posted on February 16, 2016February 13, 2016 by Cindy

Those Girls by Lauren Saft
Format: ARC
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on May 3rd 2016
Pages: 336
Goodreads
Genres: Adolescence, Dating & Sex, Friendship, Girls & Women, Love & Romance, Social Issues, Young Adult

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.

Some girls will always have your back, and some girls can't help but stab you in it. Junior year, the suburbs of Philadelphia. Alex, Mollie and Veronica are those girls: They're the best of friends and the party girls of the school. But how well does everybody know them--and really, how well do they know one another? Alex is secretly in love with the boy next door and has joined a band--without telling anyone. Mollie suffers from a popular (and possibly sociopathic) boyfriend and a serious mean streak. And Veronica just wants to be loved--literally, figuratively, physically...she's not particular. Will this be the year that bonds them forever or tears them apart for good?In a debut novel that is raw, honest, hilarious, and thought-provoking, Lauren Saft masterfully conveys what goes on in the mind of a teenage girl and how often even the closest of friends walk the thin line between love and hate.

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

As I was reading Those Girls it made me wonder if this is what girls are really like in a private school setting? Granted school is so much different from when I was in high school some 20+ years ago and I don’t recall if it was like that when I was there.

The book is told through each girl so you get to know the girls a little better.

Alex, Mollie and Veronica basically claim that they are all best friends but in reality I think they were more like frenemies then anything else. They are all nice to each others face but as soon as their backs are turned it basically any man for himself. There is jealousy amongst them.

I think the only one I liked in the book was Alex. She is starting to see the drama between them and you can see she doesn’t want to be a part of it so she starts doing things on her own like join a band which I think was good for her because it caused her to come out of her shell even though she was comfortable who is was. The one little thing that got to me was that she was in love with her best friend but he has no clue because she keeps it hidden (and we discover that is mutal) and then when she pushes Veronica to him and they connect she gets jealous.

Veronica is that party girl and she drinks, partyies and sleeps with guys to get the one thing that she truly longs for and that is unconditional love and she doesn’t realize she is going about it all wrong. Then when she has it she ruins it. Her parents aren’t there and always seem to be away so she is basically raising herself and doing what she thinks is best but its not.

Mollie is a whole other character. She is jealous, she is mean (and I don’t think I would ever cross her and get in her bad books) and she knows on some level that her boyfriend cheats on her but she puts up with it because it seems like that is all she knows.

I feel bad that I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I was hoping that I would. When I first heard about the book I was excited to read it and as I was reading it I was making my way through it because I wanted to know what was going to happen with all three girls.

All I can say is thank god I am no longer in school especially if this is what is going on now amoung the girls.

This is a debut novel and I have to say that I would give Lauren another chance because I did like her writing.