Tuesday, March 29, 2016

7 Of My Most Recent 5 Star Reads


 

I am continuing with the Top Ten Lists from the The Broke and the Bookish blog!   This week the topic is 7 Of My Most Recent 5 Star Reads.
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7 Of My Most Recent 5 Star Reads

I have picked books I have recently read and reviewed! 
 

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What books would you give theme songs too? 

Enjoy your Tuesday & Happy Reading!  

Monday, March 28, 2016

Backlist Books Reading Challenge 2016

backlist books
  
So I decided a little last minute to join the Backlist Books Reading Challenge hosted by Pretty Deadly Blog.


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Here is some information about the challenge:
The deets

  • This is a 2016 challenge, running from January 1st, 2016 to December 31st, 2016
  • For these purposes, I’m counting backlist books as anything published a year or more before the day you read it. So if it’s January 21st, 2016, the book you’re reading must have been published on January 21st, 2015 or earlier
  • Books must be read and reviewed. You do not need a blog to enter, but a tumblr, a Goodreads account, just some place to put a little blurb after you’re done reading. A review can be a traditional review, a booktube video, a few sentences on GR. It’s up to you
  • I’m not going to have any levels or anything like that. Read as much or as little as you want!
  • At the end of each month, there will be a check-in post where everyone can link up their reviews
The giveaways

  • There will be two giveaways – one at the end of June, and one at the end of December
  • The giveaways will be international, but you must be signed up in order to enter
  • Every backlist review is another entry
  • The giveaways will be for 2 backlist titles, for one winner
To enter

  • Leave the link to you blog or Goodreads profile in the linky below
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 Here is my list of books that I have read that are over a year old:
  

The Dream Shelf - Jeff Russell (Book Review)

23654044The Dream Shelf by
Genres: Fiction, Mystery
Publication date: May 3, 2014
Publisher:  California Times Publishing, Los Angeles
Format: ebook, 192 pages
How I got it: From Jeff Russell, Thank you for letting me read this book!

Buy it: Amazon Barnes & Noble
  Smashwords
My rating: 4/5
 

The Dream Shelf follows Sam Archer on a journey of hope, frustration, elation and shame as he struggles to uncover the secret of his father’s hidden past. Along the way it examines the basis of human  motivation, asks whether doing the wrong thing can sometimes be the right thing to do and highlights lessons in sacrifice and integrity that one generation must pass on to the next.

No pictures, no past and yet his dreams were left on the shelf. A book, a toy, a framed quote and a plaster bust symbolized the places Sam’s father wanted to see and things he wanted to do. But that was all that remained of the man who sacrificed everything for his son. The rest of Robert Archer’s life was a mystery, deleted from the pages of time, and when he died unexpectedly Sam was left with the bitter regret of not having done more to learn the truth.

Things change with the discovery of a hidden yearbook, a list of names and a government document. Sam’s interest in his father’s life becomes a surreptitious tale that ignites a passion to know what happened to him and why his secret could not be shared. He embarks on a quest for ‘his story’, one with the promise of closure but also the threat of learning more than he should know. The trail leads to Gus, a WWII veteran whose cryptic ramblings suggest a horrific plan to end the war in Europe, and to his daughter Karen, who is torn between helping Sam and protecting her father. Together they learn the dark secret behind the Dream Shelf, the high cost of integrity and the lessons a father left behind for his son.

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My thoughts:

This book has everything in it I could want, a mysterious father and the beginning of a love story.  Sam's father passes away unexpectedly and he is left with never really understanding much about his father's childhood/early adulthood.  Sam is a history teacher and prides himself on the past, so this is a big deal to Sam not knowing this about his father's past.  He begins to research what happened after he finds a yearbook and note from his father with a list of names.  The story begins to unfold from these tiny clues.

I am not a history buff, I can place events in the past, but sometimes I only know the overall picture of what happened in the end.  I think the details given regarding the Civil War and WWII are perfect in the story.  The author does a great job elaborating on these events so the reader doesn't really need to know everything about these wars.  The author makes these events easy to follow for the reader with just enough information to keep the story moving, but not boring someone who is not really a history buff.

I loved how the story unfold and the clues that lead Sam throughout the book.  The clues unfolded at a steady pace to keep the reader intrigued while still allowing the writer to expand upon what we were learning.   We got to learn about Sam's dad as he learned about him.  There was small foreshadowing, but everything was pieced together in the end of the book.  I also loved how The Dream Shelf became the mystery the title is perfect for this book.

Another aspect of the book that I loved was the side story that was written in.  Sam was working on writing a book about how one decision can change the course of history based on a diary he found from the civil war.  I loved how this story paralleled the story of Sam's father and he didn't even know it at the time.   It really makes you think as a reader that one decision can completely change the history of the world. 

Other aspects of the book that I loved was Karen whose entire job was to protect her father.  Karen's character was very well written we got to see parts of the story told through her eyes, which helped me as a reader see who Karen really was and what she valued.  Karen was willing to open up to the right person she just hadn't found them yet.  Karen also really loves her father and wants to protect him at all costs.  It is great to see a strong father/daughter relationship. 

I would suggest this is a nighttime read, it is easy to pick up and put down without losing your place.  It is easy to follow story and gives you a lot to think about.  The mystery is easy to piece together in the end.
 
I was received this book from the author Jeff Russell for the purpose of providing an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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About the Author


Jeff  RussellI am a tale-spinner. My childhood heroes were Jules Verne and Victor Appleton II, architects of fantastic adventures. Hemingway stepped in when I discovered that the trials and triumphs of real people – those with limited physical and financial resources – were even more intriguing than science fiction. Today I try to follow that example with my own characters. They are the ‘you and me’ of the world, ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances, beaten down perhaps and yet determined to succeed. Invariably they find adventure, romance and self-fulfillment, as should we all.

When not absorbed in the pages of some new author or hammering away at my latest manuscript I can be found living and running in Wilton, CT. Visit my website at www.CabsLantern.com and feel free to drop me a line at CabsLantern@gmail.com.
Happy reading!

Author Links:
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Sunday, March 27, 2016

Weekly Unwind # 11 3.27.16

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog. 

Welcome to my weekly recap!
So this week ended up being super crazy, which I probably should have called from last weekend.  I took my husband early Sunday morning to the airport for his flight and then came back and cleaned the house and attempted to pack for my trip.  Finally late Monday night I completed my packing for my Tuesday morning flight.   Flying Tuesday morning became a challenge, my entire family was calling me nonstop to make sure I can get through airport security and felt ok to fly.   (A side note I fly at least once a month I have never seen someone try and fly without a valid ID, there were two people with expired ID's and security was crazy.  I would suggest checking this before going to the airport!!!)

I got a lot of reading done on the plane ride out I completed two books! I need to work on writing the reviews for them today.  I went to Vegas this week for work so any additional reading was nearly impossible to get done.  We had to walk the show for 6 hours on Wednesday and after the show my legs felt like they were going to fall off.  We had tons of lunches and dinners while we were there and minimal downtime.  I did have the best dinner ever at the MGM CraftSteak.

My best friend came in from North Carolina on Saturday so we got to go out to eat and hang out for hours! It was great seeing her since I don't usually see her and she just got married.  
I am also participating in the March Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge, which is really helping me focus on my reading.  I have made a great list and have already finished 14 books.  I hope to finish 1 more this weekend
 
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Last Week On the Blog:
Give It Back - Danielle Esplin (Book Review) 
{Blog Tour} Night Shift - B.R. Myers (Book Blitz)
Five Books I Really Love But Feel Like I Haven't Talked About Enough/In A While 
{Blog Tour} The Art of Hero Worship - Mia Kerick (Review & Giveaway) 
Clean - Mia Kerick (Book Review)
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This Week On the Blog:  
10 Of My Most Recent 5 Star Reads
The Dream Shelf -- Jeff Russell (Book Review)
It's Okay to Laugh: (Crying is Cool Too) - Nora McInerny Purmort  (Book Review)



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Currently Reading 
Cape May -- Holly Caster
Barking Madness - Ryan Hill
Midnight Burning - Karisa Laurel

No One Knows - J.T. Ellison 

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Goals for the Week on the Blog:
My goal is to catch up on my reviews for the week!! I also need to visit other blogs!


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{Blog Tour} Make Me Crave - Katee Robert (Review)

Have you Pre-ordered MAKE ME CRAVE Yet? In MAKE ME CRAVE by NYT Bestselling Author, Katee Robert, Roman Bassani will do anything to ...