Little Thoughts About Books and Stuff

I've posted this last year, but this year I'm going to share a little bit more about why I chose this quote to share. I enjoy the holiday, but being interested in history I do have to admit, it's not an all together bright spot in our countries history.  This was the book that really got me to do some serious research into the holiday past what we were taught in school. "Happy kill an Indian and steal his land because God told you to day."

I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014 hosted by Book Dragon's Lair Description of Challenge from sign-up post : Our love of reading can be expensive! Not only are we purchasing books but some of us also need space to keep them. I had so much fun with this challenge last year. Let's do it again! There are a number of levels, for those who don't have a library card yet to those that live there. Enjoy! Requirements: Choose a level - you may move up as needed, just not down. Check books out of the library books may overlap with other challenges any format allowed (print, ebook, audio). Reviews are not necessary but a list of books read is.  Levels: board book - 3 picture book - 6 early reader - 9 chapter book - 12 middle grades - 18 Young adult - 24 adult - 36 just insert IV - 50 I'm aiming for 'just insert IV'.  I'm always bringing books home from work and the last time I did a challenge like this, back in 2011 , I checked out and read 86 bo...

Matzoh and Mistletoe by Jodie Griffin My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received an eBook copy from Netgalley for an honest review. I have not always been a fan of BDSM stories, I feel that sometimes they are just too focused on sex, and I do enjoy a good story along with my hot and steamy. That wasn't a case with this novella. There was a great story and it balanced nicely with the hot and steamy. Also, I liked that the BDSM aspect wasn't so intense that I got turned off by the hot and steamy. Rebeccah has been volunteering for years on Christmas and Easter so those who celebrate the holidays can be at home with their families. For the last five years, she's been partnered up with a police officer named Jeremy. They have both felt attracted towards the other, but because Rebeccah was married neither one acted on the feelings. This Christmas, however, Rebeccah is single. Rebeccah left her husband because he was abusive, both mentally and physically. This sets up so...

Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars I enjoy reading biographies of chefs.  I like to see their journey's to becoming chef and the different things in their lives that lead to that career.  In the past I've read them about the celebrity chefs that I watch on TV so reading one by a chef that I had never heard about was a little strange for me.  So add Gabrielle's strange journey and it was a wholly unique experience.  One where I enjoyed reading about her journey, but by the end of the book, I didn't much care for her. We didn't have a real group meeting this month. I was out sick on both our originally meeting date and our followup date.  Luckily, our evening book discussion group has also read this book and someone was able to cover for me to lead the discussion.  I'm told it wasn't a well liked book.  Knowing my members, I think they probably felt like I did that...

Bellman & Black: A Ghost Story by Diane Setterfield My rating: 5 of 5 stars I received an ebook ARC from Netgalley. This is not my typical book, but I loved it! Book Description from Goodreads: As a boy, William Bellman commits one small, cruel act: killing a bird with his slingshot. Little does he know the unforeseen and terrible consequences of the deed, which is soon forgotten amidst the riot of boyhood games. By the time he is grown, with a wife and children of his own, William seems to be a man blessed by fortune—until tragedy strikes and the stranger in black comes. Then he starts to wonder if all his happiness is about to be eclipsed. Desperate to save the one precious thing he has left, William enters into a rather strange bargain, with an even stranger partner, to found a decidedly macabre business. And Bellman & Black is born! Review: Like I said above, I loved this novel! It took me a few chapters to get into this book.  The writing style was diff...

I've been reading...but I haven't been reviewing. I'm going to be honest, between school work and a new relationship I just haven't had time to sit down and review. I've read some really good things the last few weeks so I've been itching for a chance to sit down and write about them. I Stopped Time by Jane Davis My rating: 3 of 5 stars I reviewed this book for Central New Jersey - JASNA .  You can read my full review there, but I just wanted to share a few thoughts.  I really enjoyed the split perspectives of the story and the fact that they were from two different eras.  I loved the idea behind the title and the way it was used in the novel. What the Bride Didn't Know by Kelly Hunter My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars I received an ebook ARC from Netgalley. I enjoyed the story, but felt there was too much going on for such a short novel. There was the back story of their childhood and how they grew up friends and all went into the same job field w...