Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin

After reading two books by Emily Giffin, my mom and I decided to buy her other two books that are out.  The first one I read is Love the One You're With.

Ellen Dempsey has the perfect marriage to her husband, Andy.  One day as she is walking down the street, she passes the one that got away, Leo.  All of a sudden all of these feelings come flooding back to her, and she can't get Leo out of her mind.  They start talking again...

I really wanted to know what was going to happen in this book.  I needed to know if Ellen was going to stay with Andy or go back to Leo.  I don't think this gives anything away, but I was really unhappy with how the book ended.  Emily Giffin writes some questions for a reading group guide at the end of every book, and one of the questions after this book is "Do you think Ellen made the right decision in the end?"  I think this shows that the author expected some people to not like the end!

When you read books, are you ever really unhappy with the ending???

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 19/50 

100+ Books In a Year - 27/100

Look Again by Lisa Scottoline

I read Look Again by Lisa Scottoline in a day.  I couldn't put it down!  Wow!

Ellen Gleeson is a reporter for the newspaper in her hometown. One day, she gets a "Have You Seen this Child" postcard in the mail, and the boy looks like the twin of her adopted son.  Uh oh!  Since she is an investigator, she NEEDS to figure out why this boy and her son look so alike!  Does her son have an unknown twin?  Is the boy her son?  If this boy is her son, should she give him up or keep it to herself?  Wow, what dilemmas!

This book was really amazing.  You feel like you are right there with Ellen, feeling every emotion she feels.  I have never read anything by Lisa Scottoline before, but I will definitely look for more books by her if I ever get through my TBR pile!

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 19/50 

100+ Books In a Year - 26/100

Orchard Valley Grooms by Debbie Macomber

Orchard Valley Grooms by Debbie Macomber contains two books in one, Valerie and Stephanie.  Valerie, Stephanie, and Norah are sisters.  When their dad suffers a heart attack, Valerie hurries home from Texas to be by her dad's side.  Stephanie gets stuck in Italy and her biggest problem becomes finding a way home.  These books are about their love lives after returning home to Orchard Valley.

What fantastic stories!  I always love books that contain recurring characters.  I spent both books wondering if the main girls would end up with their leading men.  You never know, not all books have happy endings!  I am definitely going to be on the lookout now for Orchard Valley Brides, about Norah and Norah's friend Sherry.

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 18/50 

100+ Books In a Year - 25/100

Cross Fire by James Patterson

I was two books behind on the Alex Cross series James Patterson is writing.  I have always loved Alex Cross, and I love these books that focus a little more on him and his life...and his enemies.  This book has Alex Cross on the verge of getting married, which is really exciting.  But, this book also brings back Kyle Craig, one of the worst enemies Alex has ever had.  As a sniper is killing important people across Washington, DC, how will Alex Cross deal with Kyle and also plan his wedding?  Haha, gotta read the book to find out!

I am going to search my bookshelves for the next book in the series, but I'm just not sure if I own it or not :/

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 17/50 

100+ Books In a Year - 24/100

Miracle Cure by Harlan Coben

 

Miracle Cure opens with a letter from Harlan Coben to the reader, telling them not to read this book if they have never read one of his other books.  Uh oh - not a good start!  He says it's because it was his second novel...but who knows the real reason.  I've read one of his books (Just One Look) before, so I decided to go for it.

I have to say, I could not put Miracle Cure down.  I was drawn into the story from the beginning.  This book is about a newscaster woman, her sports star husband who gets sick, and some doctors in a secret laboratory, whose patients are being killed off.  The way the story all comes together is just amazing.  Even though the book had tons of characters, which I normally can't stand, I had no trouble remembering who all of them were.  This book was just as disturbing as the other book I read by him.  I even had tons of nightmares last night after finishing it!  If you are looking for a scary suspense novel, this is for you.

I am going to check our bookshelves to see if we have any other books by Harlan Coben.  I might only read them during the day though LOL

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 16/50 

100+ Books In a Year - 23/100

The Postcard Killers by James Patterson & Liza Marklund

I know a lot of people don't like James Patterson's books anymore, especially the ones he "co-writes" with another author, but I still enjoy all of his books, and The Postcard Killers was no different.  

The Postcard Killers mainly takes place in Europe.  There is a couple going around Europe killing other couples, sending a postcard to a journalist before each murder.  A NYPD detective who lost his daughter to these killers goes to Europe to help track them down.  Who are the killers?  Why are they murdering people? Will Jacob find any peace?  You have to read the book to find out!

I really liked this book and could hardly put it down.  I had to know how it would end, and I have to say I was shocked by the ending.  Have you ever read this book?  Are you good at guessing book endings?

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 15/50 

100+ Books In a Year - 21/100

Something Blue by Emily Giffin

After finishing Something Borrowed, I immediately started reading Something Blue.  I think I read it for a day and a half or something because I had to know how it ended!

Something Blue is told from the point of view of Darcy, the best friend of Rachel, the main character in Something Borrowed.  I hated Darcy by the end of the book, so I was nervous to read a book all about her.  And I have to admit, I loved hating her through a lot of this book as well.  In this book, Darcy goes to London to start over, except the people in London don't love her like the people in New York used to.  Will she change?  Will she go on blaming everyone but herself for her problems?  I highly recommend reading this book and finding out.

My mom ordered a few of Emily Giffin's other books from a used bookstore down south.  I am really excited that we are going to go pick them up this weekend!

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 14/50 (I have to get back to work on this!)

100+ Books In a Year - 20/100

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Ack, I didn't read a book for almost a week!  I finally got back on track, and read Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin in about 2-3 days.  My mom read it before me and couldn't put it down, so I had high expectations for it.  Somewhere along the way, I also remembered it was a movie I had wanted to see but never got around to.

Something Borrowed is about Rachel White, a nice attorney from New York who has always been passive, and who has always put her best friend Darcy's needs above her own.  On the night of her 30th birthday though, she ends up alone with Darcy's fiance, Dex, and they confess their feelings for one another!  Eek!  Will Darcy stay true to her friend or follow her heart?

This was a great book.  Emily Giffin's writing style is fantastic.  I felt like I was with the characters in the book the whole time, and I am almost scared to watch the movie now because what if the actors aren't how I pictured everyone?  I have to watch it anyway though, just to find out!  I hope my mom will watch it with me since she enjoyed the book as much as I did.

Now I have started Something Blue, a book that takes place after the end of Something Borrowed.  Have you heard of these books/the movie?  Have you read them/seen it?

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 14/50 (I have to get back to work on this!)

100+ Books In a Year - 19/100

Legacy by Danielle Steel

                                               

Danielle Steel is someone I can read again and again.  While her stories all kind of follow the same plotline - man & woman fall in love, have a conflict, then live happily ever after, the location always changes so I am good to read a few of her books each year.

Legacy is about Brigitte Nicholson.  Brigitte plays it safe - all the time!  She has had the same boyfriend for years, their relationship has plateaued.  She has been at the same job for 10 years - turning down promotions because she is content being third in command.  She has been working on publishing a book that she never has time to finish.  One day her life is suddenly turned upside down and she ends up agreeing to help her mother research their family genealogy.  Along the way Brigitte learns that she had a Sioux Indian ancestor named Wachiwi, who somehow married into her family from France.  The book is really neat because while you are reading Brigitte's story, you are also reading Wachiwi's story.  At times I forgot about Brigitte and thought I was reading a book about Wachiwi.  If you want to find out how Wachiwi got into Brigitte's family and how Brigitte's life ends up, you will have to read this book!

I love Danielle Steel, but is she on the list of authors you read?

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 14/50 (I have to get back to work on this!)

100+ Books In a Year - 18/100

Deep in the Valley by Robyn Carr

Deep in the Valley is book #1 in the Grace Valley Trilogy by Robyn Carr.  This series revolves around Dr. June Hudson, a local who moved back to town a few years back to become the town doctor.  Grace Valley is a town where everyone knows everyone...you know how that goes!

In the first book, tons of characters are introduced, including a mysterious DEA agent.  We also meet June's aunt and father, some people who live in the hills outside of town and more.

This book was fantastic.  I could hardly put it down!  I am going to comb the thrift stores in the next few days to see if I can find the other two books in the trilogy before I pay full price for them online!  A+!

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 14/50

100+ Books In a Year - 14/100

The Hunger Games

I bought The Hunger Games last year from The Book Depository and just never got around to reading it.  But with the movie coming out next month and my blog reading challenges, I knew it was time to read the book!  And...I read the whole thing in a 24-hour time period!

I'm sure I am the last person on earth to read this book, but I will still do my usual plot summary anyway.  North America as we know it is gone, replaced by Panem.  Panem consists of 12 districts and the main character, Katniss Everdeen, is from District 12, the slum of all the districts.  The Capitol of Panem hosts The Hunger Games each year, a fight to the death between a boy and a girl from each of the 12 districts.  The fighters are called tributes, and are drawn at random.  When Katniss' sister Prim's name is drawn, Katniss volunteers to go in her place.  The rest of the book is the training for and then fighting of The Hunger Games.  If you haven't read it, you'll have to read it to see who wins!

This book raised many questions for me about the YA genre.  What makes a book classified as YA?  This book about fighting to the death doesn't seem so appropriate for young readers.  I know I always read books above my age level, and don't think this book would have been appropriate when I was 9 or 10.  So, what do all of you think about that???

Progress toward:

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 13/50

100+ Books In a Year - 13/100

Magnificent Folly by Iris Johansen

I am pretty sure I bought Magnificent Folly at Borders when they were closing, and I'm also pretty sure that I failed to read that it has a touch of the paranormal.

The story kind of starts off with the main character, Lily Deslin and her daughter, Cassie on the beach.  They are being watched by a mysterious man up overlooking the beach.  Lily notices the man for days, and finally gets worried enough that she decides to go see him the next day.  He isn't there the next day though...because he sensed that she was going to come up so he came down.  Lily finds herself falling for this stranger named Andrew, who seems to know a lot about her and her daughter.  Who is Andrew, and how does he know so much about Lily and Cassie?  Why is Andrew so secretive about what he does for a living?  Will their relationship go anywhere?  And where does the book become paranormal?  Read it to find out!

Do any of you like paranormal books?  I generally don't but this one had minimal paranormal discussion in it so I did okay. :)

Progress toward:

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 12/50

100+ Books In a Year - 12/100

While My Pretty One Sleeps by Mary Higgins Clark

"While My Pretty One Sleeps" looks like a garage sale buy....yay for cheap books from garage sales!  This book was awesome!

Neeve Kearny owns a high-end boutique in New York called Neeve's Place.  She becomes concerned when one of her regular customers, author Ethel Lambston, doesn't come to pick up an order one Friday.  But Neeve is the only one concerned, because Ethel can be a bit much to handle.  As people begin to realize that Ethel might actually be missing, suddenly everyone seems like a suspect.  And somewhere along the way, Neeve herself begins to feel like she might be in danger.  Who killed Ethel?  Is Neeve really in danger?  Read the book to find out!

I always forget I love Mary Higgins Clark, but I do.  I should really hunt for more of her books at used book stores, garage sales, etc :)  Do you have a favorite author?

Progress toward:

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 11/50

100+ Books In a Year - 11/100

Rogue by Danielle Steel

Danielle Steel is one of many authors whose books I buy the second they come out in paperback.  I love her writing style - I am always so invested in her characters and I care so much about what happens to them.  I have laughed, cried, and gotten angry - all while reading her books.

Rogue is centered around Dr. Maxine Williams.  She is very serious, down-to-earth, career-driven, etc.  Her ex-husband Blake, an early dot.com gajillionaire, is care-free, wild, and everything else Maxine isn't.  Despite it all, they stay friends after their divorce.  Neither of them have seriously dated anyone since their divorce about 5 years ago.  Suddenly, Blake meets Arabella and Maxine meets Charles.  Their kids are extremely unhappy, but they are both smitten with their new love interests.  You can see where this is going.  Will Blake stay with Arabella?  Will Maxine marry Charles?  Or will Blake and Maxine get back together, which various people think will happen throughout the book.  You'll just have to read the book to find out!

I seem to have missed many of Danielle Steel's books since this one.  Hopefully I will find some of them as I continue to make my way through my TBR pile!  Have you ever read a book by Danielle Steel?  If so, did you like it?

Progress toward:

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 10/50

100+ Books In a Year - 10/100

A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

I think America cheered when Jaycee Dugard was found.  I was too young when she was taken to remember it, but I definitely remember her rescue!  When she wrote a book, I wanted to read it just to better understand what would make someone stay with their captor for 18 whole years!

A Stolen Life really makes you understand why Jaycee stayed with her captors for 18 long years!  Not only did she write down her memories in the memoir, but she also included journal entries and pictures.  Can you imagine being 11 years old and being mind controlled by such an awful man????  If you've ever had any questions about Jaycee Dugard's story, you should read this mind-blowing book.  Parts of it were definitely tough to read, but I feel like I really understand her unfortunate situation now.

Progress toward:

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 9/50

100+ Books In a Year - 9/100

January, 2012 Books Read

I did it!  I hit my goal of reading 8 books this month!  I wasn't sure if I could do it because I have never read that many books before, but I actually finished early and took the last few days off.  Below are links to my reviews if you missed them.

1. Toys by James Patterson

2. Worst Case by James Patterson

3. Veil of Night by Linda Howard

4. Protecting Their Baby by Sheri Whitefeather

5. Treachery in Death by JD Robb

6. Born to Die by Lisa Jackson

7. 1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber

8. Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

If I had to pick favorites, I would probably pick Veil of Night, Treachery in Death and Private.  But all of the books I read were great.  I can't wait to see what great books February brings!

Did you read any books in January?  If so, which one was your favorite?

Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Yay for a new series by James Patterson.  The Private series is about former Marine Jack Morgan - who runs a private investigation company named Private.  Private is the debut book in this new series.

Private revolves around Jack Morgan and all of the cases his company is working on.  In his book, the company is working on a serial killer who is killing schoolgirls, a huge NFL scandal, and the murder of Jack's best friend's wife.  Wow.  It is awesome to have a book that revolves around so many cases.  You are definitely never going to be bored while reading this book!

The next book in the series is out in hardcover so I will be waiting to buy it when it comes out on paperback!

Progress toward:

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 8/50

100+ Books In a Year - 8/100

1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber

It was bittersweet when I decided to read 1225 Christmas Tree Lane.  I knew that after I read this book, I would never get to read a new Cedar Cove novel again!  I know Debbie Macomber will write more book that I will love, they just won't include all of these characters that I feel like I know!

1225 Christmas Tree Lane revolves around Beth Morehouse, her Christmas tree farm, the puppies that were dropped off on her doorstep, and her ex-husband, Kent.  What a great group of characters!  The book also mentioned a bit about every other character in the series so that you kind of felt like you were getting some closure on all of them.

Well, I just have to hope that Debbie Macomber creates a new series that I will love as much as I loved the Cedar Cove series.  :)

Progress toward:

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 7/50

100+ Books In a Year - 7/100

Born to Die by Lisa Jackson

I think I have only read one book by Lisa Jackson before.  Her books all sound good, so I would love to read more of them now that I have read two and liked two.

Dr. Kacey Lambert is the starring character in Born to Die.  When women who happen to look just like her start dying, she starts worrying that she may be next!  Kacey soon discovers some of the women had a link to the man she just started seeing - rugged Trace O'Halleran.  Soon Kacey, Trace and Detectives Selena Alvarez and Regan Pescoli are all working - both together and independently - to find out why a killer is targeting lookalikes of Kacey.

I think I have read one of the "to Die" series before.  I don't remember it but since the detectives weren't prominently featured in the book, I didn't feel like I was missing anything.  I am going to be digging through my TBR pile now to see if I have any more books in this series to read!

Progress toward:

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 6/50

100+ Books In a Year - 6/100

Treachery in Death by JD Robb

J.D. Robb / Nora Roberts is one of about five of my all-time favorite authors!  I love the books she writes under both names - they couldn't be more different!  Robb's "In Death" series revolve around Lieutenant Eve Dallas and take place around the year 2060.  I love reading about Dallas and her futuristic world.

Treachery in Death is all about a dirty cop....ooooh!  Dallas' partner, Detective Delia Peabody is taking a shower after a workout when she hears two cops start arguing about someone being murdered.  She brings everything she learns to Dallas and they go from there.  This book totally had my interest from the very beginning through the last page.

Whether or not you have ever read one of the "In Death" books, you should check this one out.  It's easy to pick up these books from any point in the series and quickly figure out who everyone is.  This book is different because you know who the bad cop is - you aren't spending the whole book wondering who did it.  This time you are wondering...how will they prove it?

Progress toward:

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge - 5/50

100+ Books In a Year - 5/100