The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post! 

It's Monday What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey - while she is on break you can share your post by tweeting with the hashtag #IMWAYR

I hope everyone in the U.S. had a wonderful 4th of July holiday! We had a great time with family. If you want, you can read about our weekend here. 

Wyatt's bruiser look - headed to the street fair. 

I have also added returning to college to my schedule for the summer. I am enjoying my classes, particularly astronomy, but wow school is much harder with a baby! Lol. 

Finished Reading:

 

Those Girls by Chevy Stevens: A few of Stevens' more recent books have fallen flat for me, but this one was back to her old standards. I couldn't put it down!

Reading This Week:

  

Made in the U.S.A. by Billie Letts: So far, I love it!

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins: I meant to read this last week, but then Those Girls fell into my lap and I was obsessed. 

Watching:

We just watched The Island on Hulu - it was so good!  We also just watched Secrets and Lies- also very good. 

Book Review and Giveaway! Redemption Bay by RaeAnne Thayne

Title: Redemption Bay
Author: RaeAnne Thayne
Source: NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:

McKenzie Shaw would do anything for her beloved hometown of Haven Point. It may be small and struggling, but it's never let her down…unlike gorgeous, infuriating Ben Kilpatrick. He was her childhood hero until he closed his family's factory, leaving the town's economy in shambles. Now he's back—his tech firm is considering opening a local facility. For Haven Point's sake, McKenzie has to grit her teeth and play nice. 

What could a town filled with painful memories ever offer Ben? He left Haven Point behind years ago, for good reason. Yet seeing the town through the eyes of McKenzie—its fiery young mayor—he suddenly has his answer. If only he can resolve the animosity crackling between them, Ben may have found the place where he can build ties and find healing…a place where love arrives when it's least expected.

My Thoughts:

I loved this book! It is the perfect summer read, one to daydream by as you sit on a beach, a plane, or even just your couch while holding your new baby. (like me) I enjoyed Snow Angel Cove, but I liked this one even more! 

McKenzie Shaw and Ben Kilpatrick are interesting characters with a lot of backstory~ I can tell that Ms. Thayne enjoyed writing them, and imagining their world and their history, it was so detailed. McKenzie's father was married when he met her mother, and a weekend tryst resulted in McKenzie's existence. Her mother then died when she was a girl, and she was sent to live with the father she had never met, his wife, and her half-sister. She was accepted whole-heartedly by her father and sister, but there was tension between McKenzie and her stepmother. McKenzie even had to change her name, from Xochilt to McKenzie! I think that would be very traumatic for a child, who had already lost her home and her mother ~ it would be like losing the rest of your identity. But McKenzie flourished and adapted, and became a beloved member of the community, opening her own gift and flower shop in the small town of Haven Point, and later even becoming the Mayor!  

Ben is from an old family of Haven Point, almost like nobility ~ that is, until he shut down the boat works, and putting most of the town out of jobs, and according to most townspeople, letting Haven's Point go downhill. His childhood wasn't great either; an emotionally abusive father, a sister who died from cystic fibrosis. It seems he put Haven Point in his rear view and never looked back - until now. Employed by Aidan Caine from Snow Angel Cove, Ben is in charge of scouting a new location for their company, Caine Tech. Haven Point is on the list of possibilities, but Ben doesn't feel it is the right choice. When McKenzie hears about this possibility, she pulls out all the stops in trying to get Ben to choose Haven Point and revitalize the town. 

The setting is gorgeous, a lake mountain town around the fourth of July, it just sounds so small town idyllic! I am infatuated with the small town setting, and this book definitely feeds that infatuation. The romance is adorable, and the story even has dogs! Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was fun, perfectly seasonal, and took me away on a great trip, far from my living room in Michigan. 

The Giveaway! 

Thanks to Little Bird Publicity, I am able to offer readers in the US a chance to win this fun summer read! To enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post! 

It's Monday What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey - while she is on break you can share your post by tweeting with the hashtag #IMWAYR

The best laid plans and all that...our internet has been sketchy the past week, but should be put to rights tomorrow. I am using my phone right now as a hotspot for my laptop! I am so behind on reviews and as soon as I am reconnected to the internet I will be back posting away!

Read Last Week:

  

Redemption Bay by RaeAnne Thayne: Fun and enjoyable summer read! I will be hosting a giveaway for a free copy of this book on July 1st! Please come back to check out my review and for a chance to enter!

Wide-Open World by John Marshall: I loved this book! I found it is so inspiring and now, I am planning future voluntourism trips for our little family. It will be some ways off, but I am a bit of a dreamer so it works out.

Reading This Week:

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins: From NetGalley. Sounds pretty intense!

Received in the mail:

I won this awesome bag and adorable children's book by Stephanie M. Ward, Wally the Warm Weather Penguin, in a giveaway from Teddyree! I love them both ~ I read the book to Wyatt, who just kind of flailed his arms about but I am taking that to mean that he enjoyed it too. It is a great addition to his growing library! Thanks Teddyree!

Watching:

Still watching Wayward Pines and Aquarius, and we have added The Astronauts Wives Club to the list as well. I love everything about it, but especially how visually appealing it is, all 1960s mod. I will definitely be requesting the book from the library!

The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post! 

It's Monday What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey - while she is on break you can share your post by tweeting with the hashtag #IMWAYR

I hope everyone has a wonderful Father's Day!

We went on our first family adventure outing yesterday to celebrate Father's Day a little early. We went to Belle Isle in Detroit, and bumbled around checking stuff out with the little guy. The Detroit Boat Club was open to the public. This building was so cool! It has been around since 1839 and has a long and varied history. It is in need of serious repairs but you can still see its beauty in its bones. I hope to get back there soon with my camera! We also stopped into the Nature Zoo. One of the showcases had a few stacks of books of recommended reading, so I had to grab a photo of them, to add a few to my TBR. Lol.

The husband and I also went on our first date since having Wyatt! We went to see Jurassic World, which was amazing!! Interestingly, the very first date we ever went on was to see Jurassic Park!

Read Last Week:

Day Shift by Charlaine Harris: I didn't love the first book in this series, but gave it another chance. I am glad I did, because I really enjoyed this book!

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen: This was a reread for me. I picked it for book club, and I loved it just as much the second time around.

Reading This Week:

  

Redemption Bay by RaeAnne Thayne: I am participating in the blog tour for this book! Be sure to check back July 1st for my review and your chance to win a free copy!

Watching:

We have been watching Aquarius, Wayward Pines, and Game of Thrones. Holy moly, the last few episodes!!! Some scenes required me to close my eyes and cover my ears even!

The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post! 

It's Monday What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey - while she is on break you can share your post by tweeting with the hashtag #IMWAYR

Last Sunday I was busy with the baby shower for my sister-in-law! It was such a bright and cheery day, and I loved the pre-celebration before my niece gets here! I can't wait to meet her. She and Wyatt will only be a few months apart! 

In Wyatt news, my little 2 lb 15 oz preemie has made it to 9 lbs, and he is 20 3/4 inches long! He seems so big now! He is doing so well that we no longer have to wake him at night to feed him, and can let him feed on demand overnight. We are able to get some semi-decent sleep finally! Hallelujah!

It's been so humid and rainy around here that my yard looks like a jungle! I haven't had time to do any gardening this year, but I do hope to at least plant some flowers in front soon. Our apple tree is covered in little apples as well- it is so heavily laden that some of the branches almost touch the ground. 

Read Last Week:

 

Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking: I enjoyed this second book in the Kanin Chronicles!

Up at Butternut Lake by Mary McNear: This was an enjoyable, light read for summer. I plan on reading the second one in the series soon. 

Reading This Week:

  

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen: My book club pick for the month.

Day Shift by Charlaine Harris: So far it's interesting!

Watching Right Now:

We are watching Aquarius, which is awesome, Wandering Pines which is riveting, and Orange is the New Black, which is so far ok. Lol. We are also watching So You Think Can Dance, always a summer fave of ours!

Reviewed Last Week:

The Silenced by Heather Graham

Book Review: The Silenced by Heather Graham

Title: The Silenced
Author: Heather Graham
Source: NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:

Lara, a congressman's media assistant, suddenly quits her job—and disappears on the way to her Washington, DC, apartment. 

Novice FBI agent Meg Murray, a childhood friend of Lara's, gets a message from her that same night, a message that says she's disillusioned and "going home." To Richmond, Virginia. Meg discovers that she never got there. And bodies fitting Lara's description are showing up in nearby rivers… Could she be the victim of a serial killer? 

Meg is assigned to work with special agent Matt Bosworth, a hard-nosed pro in the FBI's unit of paranormal investigators—the Krewe of Hunters. They trace the route Meg and Lara took more than once in the past, visiting battlefields and graveyards from Harpers Ferry to Gettysburg. Places where the dead share their secrets with those who can hear… As Meg and Matt pursue the possibility of a serial killer, they find themselves in the middle of a political conspiracy. Is there a connection? And who—besides each other—can they trust?


My thoughts:

I was so excited to read this new installment in the Krewe of Hunters series! I haven't been reading much due to my schedule these days, with a newborn at home and all, and this is one of the first books I had time to read. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my excitement.

This is the first in the series that I haven't enjoyed. I was in love with the setting of the civil war battlefields, especially Gettsyburg, a place I have visited many times, and I was looking forward to a book set in the area.  Alas, this book just felt a little flat and boring to me. The romantic aspect felt blah, like something was missing. There also wasn't enough of the supernatural element at all, which I feel is an important part of these books! As for the actual mystery, it was ok. I didn't feel like I got enough of an explanation on the motivations of one of the characters but otherwise it wasn't too bad. At least it was better than the rest of the book.

Sadly, this book just didn't do it for me this time. I expect these books to be formulaic to a certain extent, but maybe this was just one book too many in the series for me.

Sunday Post/It's Monday What Are You Reading?

 

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post! 

It's Monday What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey - while she is on break you can share your post by tweeting with the hashtag #IMWAYR

I have figured it out, this whole reading with a baby thing. Wyatt unfortunately has acid reflux like a lot of preemies, and I have to hold him upright for at least 30 minutes following every feeding. He also needs to eat every three hours. So, after every feeding time when I am holding him upright, I read. It works perfectly. He always is asleep by the time he is done eating anyway, so these moments have become very peaceful for the two of us.

The rain this week!! I know most of the US is underwater right now, and Michigan, while not flooded in my area, has been getting rain like crazy! Everything is going to be so lush when it finally stops though; my rose bushes are about to bloom and my apple tree has little tiny apples growing! I have to admit, I miss the apple blossom stage - it is gorgeous. I am excited though too for the fall, when our tree is heavy with apples that we can eat. 

  

Read Last Week:

The Silenced by Heather Graham: This was a NetGalley book. I usually really enjoy this series, but this one was meh. Review soon.

Reading This Week:

  

Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking: I have been looking forward to this book since I finished the first in the series, Frostfire

From Beginning to End by Robert Fulghum: I used to read this author all the time! I am kind of excited to revisit him.

Watching:

Wayward Pines, which is freaky deaky. I can't wait for the new season of Orange is the New Black!