February Book Haul

Happy (end of) February friends!

My February Book Haul is up on my YouTube channel. Find all the books I mentioned in the video below. On a budget? Be sure to check out your local Half Price Books. Is there a book I should keep on my radar? Let me know in the comments! Be sure to subscribe to my channel!

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

• Get it from Amazon
• Get it from Barnes and Noble
• Get it from Books-A-Million

Also by Fredrik Backman:

• My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
• Britt-Marie Was Here
• And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer
• Bear Town

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly 

• Get it from Amazon
• Get it from Barnes and Noble
• Get it from Books-A-Million

Want more information on Hidden Figures - check out Margot's website.

The Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett

• Get it from Amazon
• Get it from Barnes and Noble
• Get it from Books-A-Million

Also by Ken Follett:

• Fall of Giants
• Winter of the World
• The Pillars of the Earth
• World Without End

Be sure to check out Ken's website for a complete listing of his novels.

Complete Plays by William Shakespeare

• Get it from Barnes and Noble

Only interested in a specific play? Most book stores carry Shakespeare's works!

CONTINUE READING

September 2016 Book Haul

I have a problem. I cannot help myself from going into a bookstore and buying at least one book - which usually means at least two and sometimes five. Or I buy none - it's really an all or nothing kind of thing. One day I was scrolling through Instagram and one of the accounts I follow (I'd give credit if I could remember the account...) mentioned going to a thrift store to purchase books. WHAT A BRILLIANT IDEA!!!! For whatever reason, this never crossed my mind.  So last week, I went to a couple of my local thrift stores and, well, I may have purchased 8 books (that I haven't read before) - but only spent $11. If this doesn't scream #booksonabudget , I'm not sure what will.

September 2016 Book Haul

September 2016 book haul

Book #1: Dragonfly Amber by Diana Gabladon
Series: yes - #2 in the Outlander series
Length on TBR list: 10ish months (since I finished the first one)
Summary: Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser are back in the second installment of the series. Claire returns with her daughter to Scotland and plans to reveal the truth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones, love that transcends boundaries of time and about Jamie. Claire's daughter will be tested, and Claire continues on her journey of self-discovery in the Paris court of Charles Stuart.

Book #2: At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
Series: yes - #2 about Jeremy Marsh and Lexie Darnell
Length on TBR list: newly added
Summary: Jeremy Marsh was certain that he'd never leave NYC, never fall in love after a failed marriage and never become a parent. Well - turns out he's done all of those things with Lexie Darnell. Jeremy's life seems to be going well, until a mysterious and disturbing email sets off a chain of events that will change the course of the couple's relationship.

Book #3: A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks
Series: not to my knowledge
Length on TBR list: newly added
Summary: Miles Ryan's wife was killed in a hit-and-run accident two years ago. As deputy sheriff, he wants to bring the unknown driver to justice, while continuing to grieve for his wife and worries about their son Jonah. Miles meets Sarah Andrews, his son's second grade teacher. The two fall in love, but they are bound together by a shocking secret that will force them to reexamine everything.

Book #4: Crash & Burn by Lisa Gardner
Series: yes - #3 about Tessa Leoni
Length on TBR list: newly added
Summary: Nicole Frank shouldn't have been able to survive the car accident with the injuries that she sustained. The only thing keeping her going is the thought of Vero. Sergeant Wyatt Foster is frustrated when no one, not even the dogs, can't find the missing child anywhere. Nicole's husband (Thomas) shares that Nicole suffers from a rare brain injury. Basically, the police shouldn't trust a single word that she says.

Book #5: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Series: not to my knowledge
Length on TBR list: about 5 years
Summary: The story is told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price - a Baptist who takes his family on a mission trip to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They bring with them everything that they believe they will need from home - but everything is transformed on African soil. What follows is a family's tragic undoing and reconstruction over the course of three decades in postcolonial Africa.

Book #6: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Series: yes - #3 about Robert Langdon
Length on TBR list: about 4.5 years
Summary: Robert Langdon answers an unexpected summons to appear the US Capital Buidling. His lecture is interrupted when a disturbing object is discovered in the building. Peter Solomon, Langdon's mentor, is kidnapped. Langdon realizes that the only way to save Solomon is to dive into the world of Masonic secrets, hidden history and one inconceivable truth under the watchful eye of the story's villain.

Book #7: The Constant Princess by Philippa Greggory
Series: yes - #6 of the Plantagenet and Tudor Novels
Length on TBR list: newly added
Summary: Katherine of Aragon - known for being pushed off her throne by Anne Boleyn. Katherine's passion turns her arranged marriage to Henry VIII's older brother (Arthur) into a love match. When Arthur dies, the English court and Katherine's parents have to find a new role for the widow. Katherine takes control of her life by telling a lie - a lie that leads to her the very pinnacle of power in England.

Book #8: Thriller edited by James Patterson
Series: no
Length on TBR list: newly added
Summary: A collection of pure thriller stories that offers heart pumping-tales of suspense by 32 critically acclaimed and award-winning names in the game.

What reads have you picked up recently? Let me know!

CONTINUE READING

Books on My 2016 to Read List

There is no way that I can outline the entire list of books I plan to read in 2016. Between this post and today's I'm hoping to tackle at least half of my goal of 50 books. How many books are you trying to read this year?

Without listing every book I plan to read, I want to start working on finishing series that I've started (i.e. Outlander and The Mortal Instruments). But who knows if I'll actually get to that this year. Here are some other books I plan to read in 2016.

Orwell, George. 1949.

1984 by George Orwell
A negative utopian novel that creates a convincing imaginary world that Orwell envisioned when he wrote this book in 1949. The novel focuses on the imaginations of whole generations and a power that grows with the passage of time.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. 1850.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Set in a Puritan community in the 17th century, Hester Prynne is publicly disgraced and ostracized when she engages in adulterous behavior. She has to draw on her strength and spirit to emerge as a heroine in this one.

Cupeco, Rin. 2014.

The Girl from the Well by Rin Cupeco
A girl was thrown down a well by a man 300 years ago. Now she walks the streets hunting murderers. She befriends a young boy who has moved in the neighborhood. Both begin to participate in doll rituals and Shinto exorcisms that take these two from a suburb in America to Aomori, Japan. The boy has a terrifying secret that would kill to be released.

Hodkin, Michelle. 2011.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Mara Dyer wakes in up in a hospital with no recollection of how she got there or what happened. She knows there was an accident, but she thinks that there is more to it that she can't remember. After all, all of her friends are dead, and she is unharmed. To top it all off, she's falling in love too.

Hodkin, Michelle. 2012.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Mara no longer believes that she can run from her past or that her problems are only in her head. The boy she's in love with is still keeping secrets from her. What's going to happen to her?

Brown, Jennifer. 2009.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Valerie was injured trying to stop Nick, and ended up saving the life of a classmate. However, she is still implicated in the shooting because of the list she and Nick created of things and people they hated. Which happened to be how Nick chose his targets. Valerie is forced to face her guilt by returning to school after a summer of seclusion. She is haunted by the memory of Nick and trying to navigate rocky relationships. In order for Valerie to move on with her life, she has to come to terms with her role in the shooting.

Bergin, Virginia. 2014.

H2O by Virginia Bergin
Ruby is at a party where frantic parents are trying to quickly get everyone in the house as it starts to rain because the rain will kill you. Two weeks later, Ruby is alone. Everyone else has died fro being touched by the water. The only drinkable water is running out and she only has one chance for survival: hike across the country to find her father. At this point, Ruby doesn't even know if her father is alive.

Evans, Richard Paul. 2011.

Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans
Alan Christoffersen lost his wife, his home and his business. Leaving everything behind, he sets off with only a backpack to walk to Key West. A roadside stabbing leaves him confined to a hospital bed. With no where to turn, a mysterious woman named Angel enters Alan's life. In order for Alan to continue on his own journey, he must first help Angel with hers.

Gregory, Philippa. 2014.

The King's Curse by Philippa Gregory
Margaret Pole is married off to Sir Richard Pole who is entrusted with the governorship of Wales. Margaret's life is changed by the arrival of the Prince of Wales and his bride. Margaret hides her connections to the Tudors and becomes an advisor and friend to the couple. The bride, Katherine, fulfills the Prince's wishes of marrying his brother Henry VIII. Margaret becomes the chief lady-in-waiting to the Queen. Her charmed life of being of high stature within England only lasts until the rise of Anne Boleyn and the falling of the Tudor court. Margaret has to make a decision on what is most important to her and where her allegiance lies.

CONTINUE READING

My 2016 TBR List

Every year I add an absurd amount of books to my "to read" list. So much, that sometimes its nearly impossible for me to read all of them. Please tell me that other people do this too. From those random finds at the bookstore to anticipated releases - my list just grows and grows.

My goal in 2016 is to read 50 books. That boils down to about a book a week. Here are some of the books that I'm looking forward to tackling in 2016.

Austen, Jane. 1811

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Marianne Dashwood falls for the unsuitable John Willoughby. Her sister Elinor warns her that she will be open to gossip and innuendo do to her rash behavior. Elinor struggles to hide her feelings of love from those around her. The sisters learn that mixing sense and sensibility is a must if they want to find happiness in a society where rules of love are governed by status and money.

Austen, Jane. 1815.

Emma by Jane Austen
Emma Woodhouse is content with her life without love and marriage, but finds great delight interfering with others romantic lives. She attempts to set up Harriet Smith, but her plan unravels with unexpected consequences.

Austen, Jane. 1818.

Persuasion by Jane Austen
Anne Elliot is betrothed to marry Frederick Wentworth, a naval officer. Due to Lady Russell's advice, Anne breaks off her engagement. Wentworth returns from sea as a rich successful captain. Anne's family is struggling financially, and there is tension between everyone wondering if Anne and Wentworth will be reunited.

Bronte, Charlotte. 1847.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre emerges from living as an orphan that has been subject to cruel behavior at the Lowood charity school. She has integrity and an unbroken spirit. Jane becomes the governess at Thornfield and falls love. Jane has a passion for a greater life than what is traditionally allowed Victorian society.

Moriarty, Liane. 2005.

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
Sophie Honeywell dumped Thomas Gordan, the man she believes is the one who got away. Gordan is now married and back in Sophie's life as she inherit's Gordan's aunt's house on Scribbly Gum Island. Sophie moves to the island to begin her life with this family, an unconventional one at that. Sophie's life becomes more and more complicated due to everyone's secrets, and she soon learns that sometimes you have to create you're own happy ending.

Baldacci, David. 2013.

The Hit by David Baldacci
Will Robie is a trained assassin working for the U.S. government. When they call on him to bring in Jessica Reel (a fellow assassin), Robie learns that there is more to her betrayal than what he's seen thus far. Reel's attacks conceal a larger threat that could be detrimental to the U.S. government.

Baladacci, David. 2014.

The Escape by David Baldacci
Robert Puller has escaped from prison. The government believes that only John Puller, his younger brother, can successfully bring Robert back in to face justice for treason and national security crimes. But John isn't the only one searching for Robert. John is soon working with another agent to uncover what happened and to find Robert. As they dig deeper, John learns troubling details of Robert's conviction. He soon fears for the safety of himself and his brother.

Preston, Natasha. 2014.

The Cellar by Natasha Preston
Sixteen year old Sumer Robinson goes missing from the town of Long Thorpe. Those close to her are devastated, but the whole community is suffering - this type of stuff doesn't happen in Long Thorpe. Hopes of finding her quickly fade as there isn't any evidence for police to find Summer. Thirty year old Colin Brown  has no sense of right and wrong due to his abusive childhood. He is desperate for the perfect family and will stop at nothing to achieve it, including referring to himself as Clover.

King, Stephen. 2014.

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
The first book in the trilogy, Bill Hodges is a retired cop haunted by an unsolved crime involving innocent people being run over by a Mercedes months earlier. Hodges receives a letter from the criminal pushing him out of retirement to prevent any more tragedies. Brady Hartfield is eager to feel the same rush he felt from the Mercedes killings. This time it'll injury thousands. Hodges and his allies are the only ones who can stop Hartfield.

Riggs, Ransom. 2011.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Sixteen year old Jacob travels to a remote island off the coast of Wales. There he discovers the ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Jacob explores the ruins and soon discovers that the children may have been dangerous, not just peculiar - and they may still be alive.

CONTINUE READING