Saturday, July 28, 2018

Save the Date by Morgan Matson - Reshelved Books

Hi all!

Save the Date by Morgan Matson was suggested by one of the Spine Breakers as our book for July. 


Unfortunately, it was beaten out by Elin Hilderbrand’s The Perfect Couple. (On a side note, that book was fantastic! Definitely a fabulous beach read!)


I figured “What the heck!” and placed the book on hold with my local library. 

Now. I wasn’t expecting this book to be over 400 pages!  

But it was: 
1. YA fiction  
2. There was an adorable beagle on the cover. 

And, I mean... what other criteria would you possibly need? 

Save the Date takes place over 3 days. Matson invites the reader allow for the ride with Charlie, as she helping her family with the catastrophes that are seemingly arising left and right before, during AND after Linnie's Wedding to Rodney. 


(If Morgan Matson happens to be reading this review, I have one question... was Linnie’s character named after botanist Carl Linnea? Jeffrey, the father to the Grant brood, is a college professor specializing in botany.)

Not only is there a wedding included during this whirlwind weekend but there is also a museum exhibit showcasing Eleanor Grant's syndicated cartoon strip, "Grant Central Station" AND an interview with Good Morning America. (Is that an action packed weekend or what??)

In the beginning, I was laughing with the antics that were going on between the Grant Family.  In some ways, they reminded me of my mom's side of the family and how shenanigans are always happening. 

As the book went on, I was starting to get annoyed at the Grant Family, I felt like they were starting to become a bit much and it was becoming obnoxious.  

I felt bad for Danny’s girlfriend, Brooke. If Danny didn’t want her to be there, he should have been upfront about it. Not allow her to go, just for him not to introduce her to the family and basically ignore her the entire time. I felt that Charlie’s behavior toward Brooke was very juvenile and not necessary. I got the vibe that Charlie’s character was quite jealous. 

Charlie's character does say that she realized how projected how you think someone will be or act, does cloud your abilities to see them.  Charlie always had the vision for Jesse but when she actually got the chance to pay attention to him, interact with him and learn things about him; the person who was in front of her, was not the person she thought. 

This notion can be seen with how Charlie sees her family at the end of the novel.  Before and during the wedding, Charlie holds her family on a pedestal.  She feels that they can do no wrong (I mean, they're her family- so it makes sense that she would feel this way.  I'm not knocking that.)

The book was definitely focused more on the family dynamic than it was Charlie trying to find love.

I can see why Eleanor synadicated a comic strip after her family... they have terrible luck! The reader read about the craziest thing happening that short three day period! I couldn’t imagine living everyday like that.

I will says that I was surprised with the ending.  I wasn’t accepting what was announced to have happened. 

I give this book 3.5 coffee beans out of 5. 

Charlie and her family became too much for me and with there being over 400 pages in this book, that was a long time to have that feeling. 

I have like 3 other drafts sitting in the queue that I need to finish. So you’ll be seeing more of my reviews this week! I’ll get them out ASAP. Jess says I, clogging the queue... I beg to differ...

See ya later!

- Jillian  


Friday, July 27, 2018

Invitation to Poetry & Alignment of Thoughts by Mihai Brinas - Reshelved Books

Hello Dewey Readers!

Mihai Brinas, author of Invitation to Poetry & Alignment of Thoughts asked us to review his books of poems.  Being a poet myself, I COULD NOT WAIT to read his work.  Mihai's work is the encapsulation of thought provoking emotions and images. A few of my favorite poems in his Invitation to Poetry collection are: the healed healer, mathematics and love, no exception, & the work. 

However, out of the two books, Alignment of Thoughts would have to be my favorite.  It just struck a cord with me that's hard to explain.  His words are beautiful. 

If you're looking for a new up and coming poet to read, check his e-book out!  The only thing that would make me love these books more more is if they were in print.  

I give them a total of 4.5 out of 5 Coffee Beans!

~Jessica 

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Leave Me by Gayle Forman - Reshelved Books

Hello Deweys!

I have SOOO many books in my to-read pile, it's insane.  Really, it's definitely become a problem.  But despite my current overflow, I bought Gayle Forman's adult fiction novel, Leave Me, at Barnes and Noble the other week, and I don't feel guilty.  I read this book in ONE day.  It was that good.  And even if I didn't read it in a day, it's not hoarding if it's books, right?

So has anyone ever fantasied about running away?  I have! *Raise Hand*  I even took a mini vacation alone recently, but it wasn't as wonderful as my fantasy made me think it would be.  So the premise of the book is sort of like that, a woman who fantasizes about running away, and does.

So in this novel, Maribeth is a mother of two twins.  She lives in the very expensive NYC, so both her and her husband work full-time to support their family.  Between, work, family, and the constant running around of day to day life, Maribeth is exhausted. She's so busy and so involved with her family that she doesn't even realize that she's having a heart attack.  Her gyno realizes something  isn't right with her when she reluctantly goes for a long overdue regular visit.  So Maribeth needs heart surgery.   Her husband calls her mother over to stay and help out at the house, and sure the husband pitches in a little bit, but after a couple weeks the family sort of stops helping.  She's not healed, she needs a break, and she feels like no one cares.  Honestly, it comes across as though they take her for granted.  So, Maribeth leaves a note, withdraws like $25k from their account and moves to.... a city in PA  (Pittsburgh or Philly  I can't remember which...)

This is where the book takes a turn for the fantasy.  She moves to PA, lives a new life in PA, has no contact with her family or young children, misses Thanksgiving....
and....

***Mini Spolier***
Despite her many months of silence, the book ends neat, tidy, and happy.

Is this book realistic?  No.  Do many women (and men) feel like running away?  Definitely?  Would things end well if they did and changed their mind?  Probably not.  My conclusion: If you view this book as an exploration of a fantasy, you'll love it.  If you view it as realistic women's fiction, you won't.  I personally loved the writing, the pace, and the fantasy exploration, so I'm giving it 5 out of 5 Coffee Beans.

~Jessica


Monday, July 23, 2018

Date Like a Woman by Kai Nicole - Reshelved Books

Hello Dewey Readers!

Author of Date Like a Woman, Kai Nicole reached out to us and asked if we would review her book.  And of course, how could we pass up the opportunity?  Our dating lives are a joke.

I enjoyed this book when I approached it as Nicole's personal dating theory.  So get ready Dewey Readers and sit down, tonight were going to have some "real talk."

I am a millennial woman.  I'm 26 years old.  I've been in two very serious LTRs.  Nicole has also been in a couple LTRs, so in this regard we're sort of similar.  

One thing that I wish Nicole mentioned more of in her book was how to online date & how to meet people in person.  When approaching the subject of dating, it's important to keep in mind that the dating world has drastically changed within the past 10 years for the millennial woman.  It's not as easy as it was for our parents, or for friends and family 10+ years our senior.  But why?  I think this is because our society is heavily screen cultured and screen oriented.  All communication is done through a smartphone.  I mean, we order food through an app, schedule doctors appointments through apps, e-mail our co-workers who are sitting upstairs, and yes, we ultimately end up dating through apps.  It sucks, it really does, but that's the world the millennial woman faces.

Because of screen culture, we don't necessarily understand how to approach or communicate with people in person.  I mean how many of us 20-30 somethings would be weirded out if a man suddenly approached us while we were minding out business at the local coffee shops?  More than a few.   So here enters the dating apps.  Everyone's on them: Bumble, Coffee Meets Bagel, Hinge, OkCupid.  That's real life.   My friends and I have pondered "Why can't we just meet men and talk to them in real life? Why can't we meet like our parents?"  or "Why do only creepy old men try to have conversations with us?  Where are the young guys!?" We think it has something to do with our new screen culture and it makes us sad.  Us late 20-somethings still had part of a childhood without smartphones, tablets, and wireless internet. So we have a smidgen of an idea as to what it's like to not be screen oriented.  The younger 20-somethings..... I don't even want to think about it.  

Nicole mentions that she personally does not like "online dating."  Does anyone really like online dating?  Swiping can be addictive, but I don't think anyone LOVES it.  But because this book is a guide for the millennial woman, I wish it was addressed a little bit more.  How do we navigate these apps to our full potential and how do we approach men in REAL LIFE?  Does that even happen anymore?  (Besides at bars, of course.)  Nicole also mentions throwing your list of the "perfect man" away.  I agree with this to a point.  With real life dating, your meeting someone in person, you see them, maybe it's okay to be flexible.  She begs us to not forget that "men chase and women chose."  We can take these two points and relate them to Dating Apps.  With Bumble for instance, men chase.  They swipe and choose which women they like.  Women also swipe but they can be picky.  They choose which man they want to talk to.  Men CAN'T message men first.  However, because you're the one choosing you have the power to be picky.  Is it bad to be picky?  No.  But if we keep Nicole's warning about the theoretical "perfect man list" in mind, it causes us to pause.  Does it matter that he's a brunette over blonde?  No.  So what if he doesn't like books?  Maybe there's something else there that's important.  For me personally, I think it's important to be picky on some things.  Decent job / goals, good heart, relatively normal.  (It wouldn't hurt if they had a sport car they'd let me drive around, but after reading this book I'll take that off my list.  I PROMISE.)  

There were things that I agreed with that Nicole mentions.  Nicole stress the importance of getting to know a man, and not judging him simply by the way that he looks.  He must be a nice, smart, and successful guy because he has a suit on and drives a BMW, right?  Maybe he stole the suit and it's his grandma's car.  We don't know him, who are we to say? Another excellent thing Nicole mentions is that just because you went on a date (or handful of dates) with a man, does not mean that you're "dating."  Hey, I'm not your girlfriend if the words aren't somehow verbalized either through a talk, introduction, something.  You can't just assume.  

This book made me think about how we date, about millennial culture, and my "list."  I'm taking a break from Dating Apps for now.  I'd like to see if I can attract a man through living life.  Plus, dating would get in the way of my valuable pool time.  I'm taking the summer off, unless something magical happens ala fate.  Maybe I'll start back up in the fall when I'm bored and pool-less (sorry, mom)  or maybe not.  The world will never know.

I give this book 3 out of 5 Coffee Beans.  If you want a dating book that will make you think about the theory of dates, pick this one up!

~Jessica        

(Coffee Bean rating changed to reflect Goodreads rating system as per Publisher / Author request.) 

Sunday, July 22, 2018

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand- Battle of the Book

It's the start of the fourth week of July... 

Which means....

This Tuesday is when The Spine Breakers meet!

Which means... 

This post is for the monthly Battle of the Book!

*The crowd cheers* 

I’m going to start off this review by saying that this is the BEST Elin Hilderbrand book that I’ve ever read.  And I’m totally a fan of her.  When I met her at Bookcon in 2015, I totally had a fangirl moment.

Jess did a really great job at explaining how The Perfect Couple opened. You can read that here.

Just to rehash- Greer Garrison Winsbury is hosting her son, Benji’s marriage to Celeste. The morning of the wedding, Celeste, finds her best friend and maid of honor, Merritt dead! (Yes, you heard me correctly- dead!!). 

Will Celeste still marry Benji? What happened to Merritt?

But, the story isn't all about solving this murder. No no. There is more covered!

Celeste's mother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and her prognosis isn't good.  The story looks at Linda's relationship with Bruce and how Celeste sees them as being the "perfect couple".  The story also looks at the relationship between Greer and Tag - do they fit the notion of being a "perfect couple"?

Heck, are even Celeste and Benji the perfect couple??

Hilderbrand tells the story of what happened and how everything came to be in past tense and present tense. She does so in such a way that it’s not confusing (which is *awesome*).

She also unravels all of these relationships to show what is beneath the surface and how everything isn't always as it seems. 

I'm with Jess on this one - 5 coffee beans out of 5!!

This is seriously an awesome beach (and you betcha I've been telling patrons who check out this book at the library the same thing!).

It's even a great rainy day read! Since that's what the weather will be like here for the next few days.

~ Jillian


Thursday, July 19, 2018

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand- Battle of the Book

Okay, so I finished the last Spine Breaking book a while ago, and I forgot to write the review.  Our next meeting isn't for a couple of weeks. I really hope I don't forget the book by then!

So for July we read Elin Hilderbrand's latest novel The Perfect Couple.  Hilderbrand is the QUEEN of the summer beach read.  It is not summer unless I have a Hilderbrand novel in my hand.  I love the way that she writes so authentically in her own voice while conveying the voices of her multiple characters.  I also love how she gives the Island of Nantucket it's own character perspective and voice.  It's just perfectly well done.

So unlike her other novels, this novel opens up with pure thriller drama.  A body was found in the ocean!  It's very Spine Breaker's-esc. But this body...It was the body of the maid of honor in a wedding that was supposed to happen that very day.  The woman who pulled the body out of the ocean?  That was the bride.  Hildebrand's novel delves into the whodunnit, while exploring family relationships, romantic relationships, life, death, and summertime.  If that doesn't make you want to read this book, I don't know what will.  

I give it 5 out of 5 Sizzling Coffee Beans.  

~Jessica   

P.S.  My Grandma read this book and LOVED it as well.  She probably gives it 100 and 1/2 Coffee Beans.  I'll have to ask her.  

P.S.S.  I wrote this review maybe a week or two ago and forgot to post it.  

The end. 



Saturday, July 14, 2018

The Night the Lights Went out by Karen White - Reshelved Books

Hello Dewey Readers!


I absolutely adore the cover of Karen White's novel The Night the Lights Went Out.  I think it's absolutely gorgeous, or maybe I just like the girl on the cover's outfit.  But nevertheless, this is a book that I was immediately attracted to.   I purchased this book even though my to-read pile is wayyyyy to high.  I also purchased this book while I was at the grocery store, eyeing up the cutest man I have ever seen while he too did his early morning grocery run.  He had a cart full of bananas.  

Anyway, onto the book.  This book takes place down in Georgia (at least I think it was Georgia, don't you hate book brain memory fog?)  and it follows the story of Merilee, a recently divorced mother of two who's husband was cheating on her with their children's elementary school teacher.  The teacher is now pregnant.  It is very scandalous.  So, Merilee rents a home from Sugar Prescott, an elderly woman with a history full of her own stories, secrets, and heartbreak.  Sugar doesn't really like many people, but for some reason she like Merilee. 

So Merilee struggles to fit in with her new town, and specially the mothers at her children's school.  She's a single working mom, and most of the other mothers aren't single and they don't work.  There's a blog that spreads gossip, but it isn't entirely nasty, and actually has the undercurrent to warn people that what you hear may not always be the full story...

This novel switches between Merilee's current story, and Sugar's past, and it also has an interwoven mystery, that appears about halfway through, which was not something that I expected.  Just when the novel began to feel little bit slow, it suddenly became a whole different beast, which I COULD NOT PUT DOWN. My grandma agrees.   

So thank you, grocery shopping banana man, for inadvertently making me buy this book so I would look less awkward.  I'm rating this book 5 out of 5 Coffee Beans

Until the next read!
~Jessica  

Monday, July 9, 2018

A Date for Hannah by Callie Henry- COVER REVEAL


Cover Reveal
A Date for Hannah
Coming August 6th


Special Pre-Order Price of Only $0.99!
Amazon (US): http://a.co/32DzPbY
Amazon (UK): http://amzn.eu/1DkEegQ
Amazon (CA): http://a.co/hSOvujr
Amazon (AU): https://amzn.to/2KRwd8Z
Paperback: COMING SOON!
AudioBook: COMING SOON!


Details:
Release Date: August 9th 2018
Series: Love is for Everyone
Genre: YA Romance

"I loved your YA story!  Your fairy tale style is perfect for this age group, with refreshing characters." --former Mills & Boon editor, Tessa Shapcott

Fans of Hallmark movies and sweet stories of first love will adore Callie Henry's new series!
High-schooler, Hannah, has always been self-conscious about her weight, so when hottie swimmer, Liam, pays her extra attention at her sister's wedding, she has a hard time trusting his interest. Throughout the evening, Liam's charm wins her over, until they're falling hard for each other. But the next day, Hannah learns something that may ruin it all.
*****
All stories in the LIFE (Love is for Everyone) series portray true-to-life, teen-aged characters, with real personalities and common issues, who experience the lightning bolt of first love in their own, individual ways!

Excerpt from A DATE FOR HANNAH (Love Is For Everyone, #1) by Callie Henry. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.


“Hey, you know what? You didn’t let me finish my pitch before, when I asked you to go on a date with me.”
She sighed, her eyes losing a little brightness and her smile dimming as she turned away to look at the reception guests on the dance floor. He tilted his head to see her better, and though he didn’t know her well enough to read her expression with accuracy, he saw wariness as her eyebrows knitted together. But when she sucked her lower lip into her mouth, he perceived a little bit of longing too, which made him press his advantage.
“Didn’t you wonder how I knew all that Shakespeare stuff?” he asked.
“Yes, actually,” she said, looking surprised by his question. “Come to think of it, I did wonder, but then you distracted me.”
He grinned. “Good distraction, right?”
She rolled her eyes, but her lips tilted up a little, which made him happy. “You were saying?”
“The OSF is twenty minutes from my house. I worked there taking tickets over spring break last year. So, if you’d like to go with me sometime—as a date—I might even be able to take you backstage. I’m sure Julia would give us a tour of the Allen Elizabethan Theatre.”
“Julia?” said Hannah, raising an eyebrow.
He saw it in her eyes, the way she was mentally backing away from him at the mere mention of another woman. Is that how she saw all men? As players? As someone who’d hurt her and cheat on her if she let her guard down? He couldn’t help the way his feelings for her surged as he watched her—how much he wanted to be the person to prove to her that she could give her heart to someone who would keep it safe.
Julia is my Mom’s friend who works in group sales, is married, and has two kids.” He pulled Hannah’s hand behind his back, holding it hostage and drawing her closer until her chest pressed against his. “And to be clear? I wouldn’t ask you out if I was seeing someone else. I don’t do that. I’m not with anyone right now, Hannah … except you.”
She flinched, and her face went utterly blank, except for her eyes, which looked worried and uncomfortable.
“You’re not with me,” she said softly, loosening her hand from his grasp and stepping away from him.
“I didn’t mean—”
“I have to use the ladies’ room. I’ll find you in a little bit, okay?
She turned and started walking away, while he babbled incoherently at her back:
“Wait. Hannah! No. I didn’t…I just—I just meant…Crap!”
He stopped talking when she was out of sight.
Dang it, Liam! Why do you have to be so freaking intense?
Probably because it bothered him that she kept trying to friend-zone him when he didn’t feel friendly toward her and pretty much hadn’t from the moment he’d laid eyes on her.
There were some girls he met—especially the shallow, self-absorbed ones—who turned him off the moment he met them. Most of the popular girls at his high school thought he was trouble, and even after he’d straightened himself out, they didn’t give him a chance. Not really. They’d fool around with him at a party—there was never a shortage of popular girls who wanted to make out with a bad boy—but on Monday morning, they’d act like they were too drunk to remember kissing him. And it sort of sucked, because Liam Callahan was one of those guys who quietly longed for a girlfriend, even though his reputation had pegged him inaccurately as a player.
He wanted to date someone. He wanted to leave a party with her on Saturday night, and hold her hand when he walked into school on Monday morning. He wanted to be the first person she texted when she was happy or upset about something. He wanted to invite her over for dinner with his mom. He wanted to introduce her to his friends:
You guys, this is my girlfriend.
He’d imagined saying those words about a thousand times, but he’d never had the chance to say them, and it bothered him. A lot.
But tonight? Meeting Hannah? Somehow it felt like maybe what he wanted was actually, finally, possible.
When Hannah looked up at him with those huge, vulnerable, dark brown eyes, he felt hopeful.
“Damn it,” he growled softly, frustrated that he’d pushed her too hard.
Maybe he was being pushy, but he liked her, and for all he knew, she was driving back up to Brookings in the morning. He wanted her to say yes to a date—his heart needed to know that he’d see her again.

Giveaway
Enter Here: https://gleam.io/Dsztf/a-date-for-hannah-prerelease-cover-reveal-giveaway
About the Author
01_KatyRegnery2
Callie Henry is the YA pen name of New York Times bestselling contemporary romance author, Katy Regnery
Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, two dogs, and one Blue Tonkinese kitten create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home.

Keep in Touch
www.katyregnery.com
Instagram: @katyregnery

Special Annoucement!

Good morning, Deweys!

We were asked to participate in the cover reveal for A Date for Hannah by Callie Henry!

We could not be more excited and totally honored to have been asked to participate! 

The release date for this YA title will be August 6th.

We, personally, can not wait for August 6th so we can get our hands on a copy of this book.

- Jessica and Jillian

Saturday, July 7, 2018

A Date with Darcy (Bookish Boyfriends #1) by Tiffany Schmidt - Reshelved Books

July is here!

Here on the East Coast, July decided that it was going to start with a bang... in the form of a heat wave... 

A heat wave that landed me in the bookstore not once but twice in two days. (Yes, I know that I have a book problem.  My book problem is not as bad Jessica's though. haha). 

I've been reviewing a lot of adult fiction lately.  I felt like I needed to go home to my roots and pick up a good ol' YA book. 

You guys, I am so glad that I did. 

When we were at Bookcon this year, I stopped by one of the publisher booths and I picked myself up a copy of this book.  Like some of the other books I have read and posted about here, I first saw this book when it came through as library loan at work. 

I decided that Wednesday would be the day that I would start this book.  I did not think that Wednesday would also be the day that I finished this book.  I did not think that I would start this book at 7:00am that morning (while I was on ambulance duty) and finish it that afternoon. 

It was just THAT good. 

This book also totally fits the criteria for being a beach ride (#deweyattheshore2018)

Onward to A Date with Darcy!

In A Date with Darcy, we are intorduced to Merrilee Campbell, a 15 year old who is a total bibliophile!  Merri always has her head in book, and she believes that boyfriends are better in books (I would like to second this notion, as a 28 year old. haha.)

Merrilee Campbell is a high school sophomore who is a new student at Reginald Hero High.  Her first date at her new school is not off to a good start... She has run in with the Headmaster's son, Fielding Williams when she goes to throw away her garbage in the recycling bin.  (In her staff, the markings for the bins were on the ground and not on the receptacles themselves.)


Fielding makes it VERY clear to Merri that is not amused by her and her "antics".  So much so, that these two develop a rivalry with one another!


On her first day, Merri saw who she thought to be perfect- he has dark hair and was all broody. To her, he would have been her prefect literary boyfriend. 

Little did Merri know, this brooding boy turned out to be a real life Romero.... and not so much in a good way... :/

Moreno (see what Schmidt did there? Genius!) is a high school junior. He’s VERY theatrical. So much so, that he embodied the actions and lines of Shakespeare’s very own character, Romero Montague from the classic “Romero and Juliet”. 

Not gonna lie, when I was reading through everything going on between Merri and Monroe, I was confused as WHY the title involved Darcy and not Romero. Monroe’s character also started to get on my nerves. In the worst way possible. 

I’m glad that Merri came to her senses and was able to dump crazy pants Monroe. Ugh. He gave me a serious case of the heebee-jeebees. 

*****************************************************

This where I’m going to say a spoiler. Soooo if you don’t wanna know that I’d advise not to continue on!! 

I’m really upset that Merri didn’t pick Toby!! He seems so cute and he seems that he really does care for her and that he would be a good boyfriend to her. 

It made me sad....

Spoiler over. 

*****************************************************

I would give A Date with Darcy a solid 4 coffee beans out of 5. 

It was a cute story and I’m very excited for the books that will proceed this one. 

(Check out my photo posted to IG to see what the author, Tiffany Schmidt, thought! This is the second time an author has commented on one of our photos and let me just say, it’s the coolest feeling!) 

I have a review that I’m waiting to take a bookstagram over and type up.  Hopefully I’ll get that up tomorrow since it’s going to be short and sweet. 

See ya back here then!

- Jillian aka “The Bookterminator”

Friday, July 6, 2018

The Lost For Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland- ReshelvedBooks

Dewey Readers! 

I subscribed to a book box that I am absolutely in LOVE with.  What is this magical book box you ask?  The Once Upon a Book Club Box!  Every month a book is sent to my house in an adorable box, accompanied with 3 wrapped gifts.  The gifts are to be opened at certain points during the reading of the book.  Little post-its are placed strategically inside to tell the reader when to open their gift.   It really makes the reading experience an interactive one.

This month's book was The Lost For Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland.  OH MY GOD.  I ADORED THIS BOOK.  This novel takes place in England and follows the story of Loveday.  It's separated into sections between the past (History) and the present (Poetry).  Growing up, Loveday had it hard.  Her father, who was out of work, was physically abusive to her mother.  Now, Loveday is living her dream, working in a Bookshop amongst the pages and words that that have both saved and consoled her.  She's afraid of love.  Afraid of being vulnerable.  Afraid of getting heartbroken.  She's tried to have relationships before and they have failed, so she's starting to think that maybe she's just better off alone with her books.  Actually, in this sense Loveday reminds me of myself, which is maybe why I liked the book so much.  But then one day a man comes into the bookshop and he gives Loveday his phone number by slipping it inside Jane Eyre.... I'm a sucker for a bookish romance.

I give the book 5 out of 5 Coffee Beans.  

~Jessica 

P.S. The gifts were FABULOUS.  I could not have dreamed up a book box of higher quality.  I can't wait until next month!


Sunday, July 1, 2018

The Wife by Alafair Burke- Battle of the Book

What's up everyone? 

I hope all is well!

The June book for The Spine Breakers was The Wife by Alafair Burke

Yes, another psychological thriller.  This book club group seems to be following the theme.
That being said The Wife was definitely the psychological thriller that I enjoyed the most. 

Angela (nee Mullen) Powell's husband, Jason is accused of rape and sexual misconduct toward two women.  

Burke's story follows Angela has she discovers his husband's infidelities and how her past that she worked so hard to keep buried in the past, might come to light. 

Is Jason innocent? Did he really do the things that he's being accused of? Will Angela always be faithfully by his side? 

In between character narratives and flashbacks, Burke weaves in emails and police reports to help tell this story. 

Burke made sure that the story wrapped up nicely at the end. (Which, is a big thing to me!).  I saw a few people on Goodreads had asked questions about if there would be a sequel.  I gotta be honest, I don't think that I would want there to be a sequel.  I liked it just the way it ended. 

Bookpage conducted an awesome interview with Alafair Burke.  You can check out the interview here

The Wife tackles topics that are very irrelevant for 2018.  Which, to me at least, kicks it up a notch. 

Jessica read the book before I did and I remember texting her being like "Colin did it, didn't he!?".  Followed up with "NO! It wasn't Colin.... It WAS Jason!"  I was all over the place with my guesses but that's what made it fun.  Trying to figure out what happened and the who done it.  I'm sure for some people, it's going to be totally obvious who did what - but for me, I had no idea. 

I definitely think that The Wife qualifies as a beach read. I give The Wife 4.5 coffee beans out of 5.  It was a definite page turner.  I liked how the ending played out and I thought it was well written and that it brought to light a topic that is very much real and happening in 2018. 

~JB