Priceless

Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures by Robert K. Wittman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've thought about and referenced this book a lot more than I expected I would. Really quite interesting.

Me Before You

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

On the library stacks: Adult fiction
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This is the story of Lou Clark and Will Traynor. Lou's life has no direction, but she doesn't really mind. She lives with her parents in their small, quaint British town that boasts a castle and not much else. She loves working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and even though she doesn't really love her boyfriend, she expects they will get married.

Will Traynor had everything he wanted in life until his accident left him a quadriplegic. When Lou loses her job, Will's family hires her as a companion to Will. At first neither one of them realizes how much they need each other. And their lives are forever changed by their relationship.

This is a book that I loved when I finished (through my tears, I might add) but I think I love it even more now that some time has passed. It's the kind of book that sticks with you and I find myself thinking about it from time to time. This was a book club choice and we all really liked it. We had a lively discussion and there are plenty of moral/ethical dilemmas in this one to discuss. Definitely recommended.

Also reviewed by: Love, Laughter and a Touch of Insanity ~ Gerbera Daisy Diaries ~ Book Addiction ~ Booking Mama ~ Linus's Blanket ~ Literary Grand Rounds ~ Your link here?
Source: Library

Gone Girl

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

On the library stacks: Adult fiction
Awards:Romantic Times (RT) Reviewers' Choice Award for Suspense/Thriller Novel (2012), Edgar Award Nominee for Best Novel (2013), Goodreads Choice Award for Best Mystery & Thriller (2012), Women's Prize for Fiction Nominee for Longlist (2013), Grand Prix des lectrices de Elle - policier (2013)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book has been taking the book reading world by storm over the last 10 months or so. You see people reading it everywhere. I struck up a conversation on an airplane with a lady who was reading it just last month. Book clubs are reading it, and my personal copy is making the rounds in my neighborhood. Because it is so popular, it is a great book for connecting with others.

I was hooked once I started reading. It is dark and disturbing so, to be honest, I kind of wanted to read it quickly. It's not a place I really like to dwell. The characters are totally insane, so that just kind of boggled my mind. But I have to admit, I found the story pretty compelling.

Definitely rated R for language and content.

Also reviewed by: Sports Shoe Diva ~ One Literature Nut ~ Sam's Book Blog ~ Bermudaonion's Weblog ~ Lost in Books ~ Capricious Reader ~ The Bluestocking Society ~ Gerbera Daisy Diaries ~ Rivers I Have Known ~ My Book Retreat ~ Beth Fish Reads ~ Piling on the Books ~ Busy is Reading ~ Bibliophile by the Sea ~ Love, Laughter and a Touch of Insanity ~ The Insatiable Reader ~ My Friend Amy ~ The Boston Bibliophile ~ Bloggin' 'bout Books ~ Avid Reader's Musings ~ Stephanie's Written Word ~ Your link here?
Source: Gift

The Secret Keeper

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

On the library stacks: Adult fiction
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There were quite a few twists and turns as I read this book. Plus, it has been so long since I read it, I really couldn't keep it all straight to give a plot summary anyway. So here's the official one:

During a party at the family farm in the English countryside, sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson has escaped to her childhood tree house and is dreaming of the future. She spies a stranger coming up the road and sees her mother speak to him. Before the afternoon is over, Laurel will witness a shocking crime that challenges everything she knows about her family and especially her mother, Dorothy. Now, fifty years later, Laurel is a successful and well-regarded actress, living in London. She returns to the family farm for Dorothy's ninetieth birthday and finds herself overwhelmed by questions she has not thought about for decades. From pre-WWII England through the Blitz, to the fifties and beyond, discover the secret history of three strangers from vastly different worlds--Dorothy, Vivien, and Jimmy--who meet by chance in wartime London and whose lives are forever entwined.

This was a book club read and we all really liked it. I was able to guess the final twist but I really enjoyed the journey. I really love books that vacillate between time periods, and I enjoyed the different voices in this novel. This was my first Kate Morton and I am looking forward to reading The Forgotten Garden next.

Also reviewed by: Girl Who Loves to Read ~ Gerbera Daisy Diaries ~ A Reader's Journal ~ The Bluestocking Society ~ Books, Belles, and Beaux ~ The Eclectic Reader ~ A Bookworm's World ~ Your link here?
Source: Kindle Purchase

Full Moon Over Madeline Island

Full Moon Over Madeline Island by Jay Gilbertson

Publication date: November 20, 2012
Pages: 256
Series: #3 of 3 (Madeline Island)
Click here to purchase!

Disclaimer: Although I have, unfortunately, never met him, I am indirectly related to the author.

 I am totally ignorant when it comes to the Midwest, so reading this novel was quite a delightful experience for me. Set in Wisconsin, on an island located in Lake Superior (who knew!) this book will certainly appeal to the chick lit audience.

Eve and Ruby live on Madeline Island year-round with a crew of close friends nearby. Together, they run a shop making custom aprons and in this novel they open a safe home for pregnant mothers. There is a fantastic cast of supporting characters and I enjoyed all their quirky characteristics and wacky adventures. They even own a Duck!

While this is the third book in the series, I didn't feel like I was too out of the loop having not read the previous two. I think it would be a blast to live with Eve and Ruby and I really enjoyed the time I spent on the island with them.

Source: I was graciously provided a copy by the author.

The Book of Mormon Girl

The Book of Mormon Girl: Stories from an American Faith by Joanna Brooks
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

She makes some valid points, but she strikes a self-righteous tone that I had a really hard time with.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cute. A little over the top to be believable though.

Carry On, Warrior - TLC Book Tour

Carry On, Warrior: Thoughts on Life Unarmed by Glennon Melton

Publisher: Scribner
Publication date: April 2, 2013
Hardcover: 288 pages
Price: $25.00

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Perhaps like many of you, I read Glennon's essay in the Huffington Post as it made the rounds through Facebook last year. I felt like she was writing things I have thought in a way that I wish I had 1/100th of her talent to express.

I am delighted to be on this book tour. The book combines many of her essays from her blog with a few new items so that the book flows and carries some important threads throughout.

I really loved this book. Not because I agreed with everything she said, because I didn't. But she is refreshingly honest and true to herself and her readers. She made me think about how I view myself and others, and especially about my relationships with my family. And while a lot of the book is pretty serious, there are some essays that had me laughing so hard I couldn't wait to share them with my husband. And then we laughed together some more.

Connect with Glennon at Momastery.com or on the Momastery Facebook page.
 Check out the other great reviews on this tour!

Source: I received this book from the publisher as part of the TLC Book Tour.

Edenbrooke

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

On the library stacks: Adult fiction
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I really didn't know very much about this book before I read it. I just knew that people whose book tastes are similar to mine raved about it and that was good enough for me. It's a Regency romance akin to Georgette Heyer, but with a little more modern feel.

While I won't share any of the storyline, this book is just absolutely delightful. It makes me happy just to think about it. If you are a sucker for a clean romance, this is your book. You may have to purchase it, but it's worth it.

Also reviewed by: Bloggin' 'bout Books ~ I Am A Reader, Not a Writer ~ It's All About Books ~ Girl Who Loves to Read ~ Gerbera Daisy Diaries ~ The Bluestocking Society ~ Books, Belles, and Beaux ~ Good Clean Reads ~ Your link here?
Source: Gift

The Only True Genius in the Family

The Only True Genius in the Family by Jennie Nash

On the library stacks: Adult fiction
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Claire is a middle-aged woman who is a food photographer. Her father is a legendary landscape photographer and he has just passed away, causing her deal with a lot of things in her past that she would rather not. As a result, her own career hits some major stumbling blocks.

Meanwhile, Claire's daughter is graduating from art school where she has been enjoyed fantastic success as a painter. Claire is jealous of her daughter, even while feeling very proud of everything she has accomplished.

This is a book about family relationships and how we identify ourselves within the various familial roles and responsibilities we have. I wanted to like Claire, but when she tossed her camera into the ocean, I lost a lot of respect for her. In the end, I really liked Claire's husband the best.

This is a good book to spend a rainy afternoon with. It was a nice change of pace from what I have been reading lately. It would also make a good book club discussion.

Also reviewed by: At Home With Books ~ Your link here?
Source: Purchased