Booking through Thursday - Series Books

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This week's question...

If you read series, do you ever find a series “jumping the shark?” How do you feel about that?

And, do you keep reading anyway?

My answer...

I love series books. I can't think of any, in particular, that have "jumped the shark", but I'm sure it happens. All I ask of a series is that they keep the characters' portrayals consistent with previous books. I hate when someone acts "out of character" unless it's due to a major life event that causes it. It's natural for anyone facing a life changing event to not react like they normally would, but when a character does something that's not usual for no apparent reason - I hate that.

Yes, I would probably continue reading it. Once I start a series, it's hard for me to break away. However, it might take forever for me to get to the next books in the series.


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WWW Wednesdays

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To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?

My answers...

What are you currently reading?



What did you recently finish reading?



What do you think you’ll read next?

Musing Mondays - Suggestions Anyone?

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This week’s musing asks…

If your book group asked you to bring two (2) suggestions for group reads to your next meeting, what two books would you suggest? Why?

My answer...

One book I'd suggest is the one I just finished, Broken Birds by Jeannette Katzir. Although it's a sad book, and we'd all probably end up crying, I think it makes for a thought-provoking discussion. The discussion could revolve around how a tragedy (in this case the Holocaust)shapes the future of the people involved as well as future family members - how different people react to the same event.

The second book I'd suggest is Red Mist by Richard Taylor. Although it's an "old discussion" about JFK's assassination and Marilyn Monroe's death, I've always been fascinated by both tragedies and a discussion about this would be very interesting to me.

Seems like I chose sad books this week, but both books were so very good.

What would you pick?


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Interview with Christian Romance Author Gail Pallotta

Book Give-Away September 27 – October 4: for those interested in Love
Turns the Tide as an E-book download, leave a comment about this interview with your e-mail. International. Visit http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com.

“An unlikely romance begins in the spring when the sunshine sparkles on
the sand in Destin, Florida, and the moonlight dances across a tranquil,
emerald sea.” In Love Turns the Tide Cammie O'Shea, a feature writer for a newspaper, faces a traumatic split-up with her fiancé and has to leave her family and friends to take a new job in Destin, Florida. Heartbroken and alone, she needs God more now than she ever has. But for some reason she can't explain, she feels more estranged from Him. But her real source of anguish turns out to be Vic Deleona, the influential real estate tycoon she must write about to generate interest in the paper. While she refuses to open herself to another painful relationship, he attempts to court her.

Broken Birds, The Story of My Momila by Jeannette Katzir

Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format: EBook

This is a memoir by Jeanette Katzir. She tells the story of Channa and Nathan (her parents) and their struggles as World War II breaks out and they are ripped away from their families forever. It also gives us an insight into how the future of their family was shaped and molded by the horrors Channa and Nathan went through.

We travel with Channa and her brother as they join the Polish partisans and fight their way to stay alive in the forest. Once the war ends, they return to their home only to find their family is gone. They manage to get out of the country and make their way to America to begin a new life for themselves.

Nathan’s experiences were different in that his family was deported to Auschwitz and killed. Nathan was sent Dachau and put to hard labor, but he managed to escape and make his way to America.

Channa and Nathan meet in America, fall in love and get married. However, their individual experiences in the Holocaust shape their lives and the lives of the five children they have. Channa constantly worries that Nathan will leave her at any time and this causes many problems for her children many years later.

Having been taught by her mother to only trust blood relatives and everyone else is a stranger, the author tries to help her siblings with their lives. Sadly, her efforts tend to blow up in her face as her siblings take advantage of her and her husband time and time again.

Once Channa passes away, she leaves everything to her youngest son and completely cuts Nathan out leaving him penniless and even without their home. We are then taken into the legal battles between the siblings as Nathan seems to have accepted that he has nothing and moves on with another woman.

The siblings, however, have not moved on. Instead they enter into a bitter legal battle for what each one feels they deserve. I could totally sympathize with the author and feel every pain she was going through. Of course this is a totally one-sided look into the family dynamics and it would be interesting to hear everyone’s take on the situation.

I was captivated by this book and couldn’t put it down. I would have liked to read more about the experiences Channa and Nathan went through during the Holocaust and a little less of the legal battles the siblings were going through.

This is a captivating book which tugs at your heartstrings and makes you shake your head at the horrible things people do to each other. It is well written and readers can tell this was written from the author’s heart and must have been quite difficult to write.

Boardwalk Empire and True Blood Groups

Last week I watched the new HBO show Boardwalk Empire and it absolutely fascinated me. I loved it, so I created a group for it.

I also became addicted to True Blood and Sookie Stackhouse again. So if you like the show or the books (I'm up to book #3), check out my group for that one.

Click button above to join BoardwalkEmpireHBO

Click button above to join truebloodfandom

Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Genre: Suspense, Thriller

Private Investigator, Jack Morgan, takes over an investigation firm called Private. The firm was given to him by his father, a criminal serving time in jail and not a man Jack ever got along with. Jack surrounds himself with a group of dedicated individuals who help him keep his agency running smoothly as they solve some of the most difficult cases they could imagine.

Jack is presented with a case from his uncle, who owns a football team, which threatens to destroy the NFL. It’s up to Jack to uncover a gambling ring and find out who in the league is cheating and is about to cause a huge scandal which will bring the sport to its knees.

Then, there’s the case of the high school girls who are the victims of a serial killer. The girls are being led to their death in a devious plan which can’t seem to be stopped as the clever murder leaves no clues behind.

The third case hits too close to home for Jack. His best friend’s wife was murdered in what appears to be a mob-related execution. There’s no way Jack will back down on this one, especially since the wife used to be his girlfriend.

Jack fights his own personal demons throughout this book which include his time in the war in Afghanistan, a twin brother who wants nothing to do with him and an office romance which threatens his emotional stability. Toss all these things together and life is not going very well for Jack Morgan.

Talk about a fast-paced book…the pages just fly by in this one. It’s amazing to me that this writing team continues to put out books that I can’t put down. This had a great storyline with a great new cast of characters. I hope there will be another book as I’d love to revisit these characters.



For reading challenge:

James Patterson Reading Challenge

A-Z Wednesday

This is a fun meme hosted by Reading at the Beach

Welcome to A-Z Wednesday!!

To join, here's all you have to do: Go to your stack of books and find one with an author whose first or last name starts with the letter of the week.

Post:

1~ a photo of the book

2~ title and synopsis

3~ link(amazon, barnes and noble etc.)

4~ Come back here and leave your link in the comments.

If you've already reviewed this book you can add it also.

Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment.

(We all love comments, don't we?)

Who knows? You may find your next "favorite" book.

THIS WEEKS LETTER IS: "F"

I have this one for my Nook.



Here's the synopsis:

A man on the run from his wife's wrath after selling her dog. A dozen crash-landed bounty hunter clones. An alien on the tracks of the man who scammed him. An intergalactic detective looking for a mysterious artefact. Above all, a world which is familiar but yet is slightly off - legalized bribery, cities run by gangsters, mysterious sects which believe in the power of jokes. This is the story of Normal Kint and Johnny Goolbhai the android, who are determined to get to Kabul City despite highwaymen, scheming opponents and the occasional cop on the take.

WWW Wednesdays

If you'd like to play along with WWW Wednesdays, just click the button above.


To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?

My answers...

What are you currently reading?




What did you recently finish reading?




What do you think you’ll read next?

Musing Mondays - Where do you get your books?

If you'd like to play along on Musing Mondays, just click the button above to join in.


This week’s musing asks…

Where do you buy / get most of your books?

My Answer...

Since I got my Nook, I'm not buying print books as much but the places I do get them from are Barnes & Noble, Borders, WalMart, Target, and Paperpback Swap. For my ebooks I get them mainly from B&N, but also Fictionwise, Kobo, Smashwords and Sony EBook Store.

I used to only use the library for my DVDs and audio books, but since I got my ereader, I've also been downloading my books from them for free.

I've saved alot of money since getting my ereader because 90% of my book downloads have been for free.


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Sunday Salon - Fall is on the way!

If you'd like to participate with The Sunday Salon, just click the button above.

Wow, I can't believe summer is already over and Fall is pretty much here already. Kids are back to school and the stores already have the Halloween decorations up (I'm sorry, but it just feels too early for that! LOL)

I had a good week. I completed two books:

The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Next book...

Private by James Patterson



I also finished one challenge...

TBR Lite Challenge

Finally had a chance to watch the movie The Time Traveler's Wife, which was good but I have a feeling the book is better. I will eventually get to reading that, it's still in my TBR!

I, also, received an award from Julie P from Reading Without Restraint. Thank you so much, Julie! I'm very honored that you thought of me.
Now, onto the award...



The rules for this award are simple really, just answer this one question and then pass it on to six bloggers of your choosing.

* If you had the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?

My answer..

Mmmmm...that's a hard one. I think I would have finished college and got my degree. I'm not exactly sure what I would get my degree in, but growing up I always wanted to be a nurse. So, maybe I would have done that.

Now, onto the six bloggers I'm passing this award on to...

1) Naida at The Bookworm
2) Suko at Suko's Notebook
3) Mary at BookHounds
4) Michelle at New Horizons Reviews
5) Vicki at Reading at the Beach
6) Kristin at Always With A Book



Hope you all have a great week!



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New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult

Format: EBook

Bella Swan and Edward Cullen are back in the second book of the Twilight saga. Bella and Edward are in love, but Bella finds it very difficult to be in love with a vampire. To protect Bella from his family and himself, the Cullens leave town and Bella is devastated. She befriends Jacob Black and they form a relationship of their own. Little does Bella know that Jacob has some huge secrets of his own.

Although Bella enjoys Jacob’s company, she can’t help but miss Edward and she’d give anything to have him back in her life. Bella finds herself in the midst of one problem after another – from werewolves, to a vengeful vampire enemy, to a group of vampires ready to kill her. The only one who can help her is Edward, but can he even help himself?

This is an adventure and thrill on each page. I enjoyed it, but I can’t say that I’m caught up in the whole Twilight thing as so many others are. I’ll read the rest of the series, but there are other books I’d rather read first.

For Reading Challenges:

A to Z Reading Challenge

TBR Lite Reading Challenge

Read Your Own Book Reading Challenge

A-Z Wednesday

This is a fun meme hosted by Reading at the Beach

Welcome to A-Z Wednesday!!

To join, here's all you have to do: Go to your stack of books and find one with an author whose first or last name starts with the letter of the week.

Post:

1~ a photo of the book

2~ title and synopsis

3~ link(amazon, barnes and noble etc.)

4~ Come back here and leave your link in the comments.

If you've already reviewed this book you can add it also.

Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment.

(We all love comments, don't we?)

Who knows? You may find your next "favorite" book.

THIS WEEKS LETTER IS: "E"

My "E" author has to be Janet Evanovich. I still love her Stephanie Plum series, even though I'm behind on them. The next one I have to read is...



This synopsis is on Janet Evanovich's website:

Personal vendettas, hidden treasure, and a monkey named Carl will send bounty hunter Stephanie Plum on her most explosive adventure yet.



The Crime: Armed robbery to the tune of nine million dollars

Dom Rizzi robbed a bank, stashed the money and did the time. His family couldn't be more proud. He always was the smart one.

The Cousin: Joe Morelli

Joe Morelli, Dom Rizzi and Dom's sister Loretta are cousins. Morelli is a cop, Rizzi robs banks, and Loretta is a single mother waiting tables at the firehouse. The all American family.

The Complications: Murder, kidnapping, destruction of personal property, and acid reflux

Less than a week after Dom's release from prison, Joe Morelli has shadowy figures breaking into his house and dying in his basement. He's getting threatening messages, Loretta is kidnapped, and Dom is missing.

The Catastrophe: Moonman

Morelli hires Walter "Mooner" Dunphy, stoner and "inventor" turned crime-fighter to protect his house. Morelli can't afford a lot on a cop's salary, and Mooner will work for potatoes.

The Cupcake: Stephanie Plum

Stephanie and Morelli have a long-standing relationship that involves sex, affection and driving each other nuts. She's a bond enforcement agent with more luck than talent, and she's involved in this bank-robbery-gone-bad disaster from day one.
The Crisis:

A favor for Ranger

Security expert Carlos Manoso, street name Ranger, has a job for Stephanie that will involve night-work. Morelli has his own ideas regarding Stephanie's evening activities.
The Conclusion:

Only the fearless should read fourteen.

Thrills, chills and possible incontinence may result.

WWW Wednesdays

If you'd like to play along with WWW Wednesdays, just click the button above.


To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?

My answers...

What are you currently reading?



What did you recently finish reading?



What do you think you’ll read next?

The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker

Genre: Suspense, Thriller
Format: EBook

FBI Special Agent Brad Raines is investigating one of the most difficult cases of his career. There’s a serial killer out there killing beautiful women and leaving behind a note and a white bridal veil. The investigation leads Brad to the Center for Wellness and Intelligence, a private hospital for the mentally ill. Each patient possesses a special gift which could help lead Brad directly to the killer’s doorstep.

Paradise, a resident of the Center, possesses one such gift. She sees ghosts. Brad seeks her help in tracking down the killer before he strikes again. When the killer makes it personal, Brad and Paradise are led right into his evil web. Together they must put a stop to these murders, but the killer is always one step ahead of them.

This is my first Ted Dekker book and it won’t be my last. The book is unique in that we see the point of view from both the killer and Raines’. It gives the reader a different aspect. Each character is developed very well with the killer and the residents of the Center being the strongest in the book. Although readers know who the killer is from the start, it’s still filled with suspense and a few twists tossed into the mix.

Interview with Adventure Author David J. West

Book Give-Away September 6 - 13: for those interested in Heroes of the Fallen, leave a comment about this interview with your e-mail at http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com. USA and Canada.


“An epic tale of valor and degeneracy where heroes are beset on every side by wicked schemers whose plots, like a flood, threaten to drown them all.” Stand alongside daring heroes with swords bared against sinister villains, never knowing which will fall. Witness the plans of mighty kings and lowly thieves. See the dreams of Bethia, a prophet's daughter, as she runs away from home seeking independence, only to find confusion and wickedness in a land at war. Heroes of the Fallen is full of tragedy and triumph on the American Continent. It echoes universal themes of mankind: fear and courage, faith versus doubt, hunger for power and love, and sacrifice for the greater good.

Sunday Salon - August Wrap Up!

If you'd like to participate with The Sunday Salon, just click the button above.


I had a fairly good month...at least it was for me. I finished 9 books, which is a couple more than I usually finish.

Completed Books...

Red Mist by Richard Taylor
The Temptation of Savannah O'Neill by Molly O'Keefe
The 9th Judgment by James Patterson
The Angel Experiment by James Patterson (audio)
Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension by DCS
Stones Skipping on Water by Richard Taylor
Caught by Harlan Coben
Murder Past Due by Miranda James
How To Wash A Cat by Rebecca H. Hale

All were good.

Completed challenges...

James Patterson Reading Challenge
Women's Murder Club Reading Challenge

The Cozy Mystery Challenge ends at the end of September, but I think I'm going to be two books short. I thought I'd be able to finish the challenge, but the library just got 3 ebooks for me, so I'm trying to finish and read those. No way will I be able to get to the other two cozies, but you never know.

September seems to be starting out slow, but hopefully it will pick up.

Hope you all have a great week!



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A-Z Wednesday

This is a fun meme hosted by Reading at the Beach

Welcome to A-Z Wednesday!!

To join, here's all you have to do: Go to your stack of books and find one with an author whose first or last name starts with the letter of the week.

Post:

1~ a photo of the book

2~ title and synopsis

3~ link(amazon, barnes and noble etc.)

4~ Come back here and leave your link in the comments.

If you've already reviewed this book you can add it also.

Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment.

(We all love comments, don't we?)

Who knows? You may find your next "favorite" book.

THIS WEEKS LETTER IS: "D"

I'm going to go with the book I'm currently reading "The Bride Collector" by Ted Dekker. I've never read this author before. I tried this one first in audio but it wasn't working for me in that format. Then the library had it in ebook format so I downloaded it from them and I'm really enjoying it much more. I guess I couldn't give it my total attention as I listened in the car. This is one that I need to concentrate on and read.



This is the synopsis from Fantastic Fiction:

FBI Special Agent Brad Raines is facing his toughest case yet. A Denver serial killer has killed four beautiful young women, leaving a bridal veil at each crime scene, and he's picking up his pace. Unable to crack the case, Raines appeals for help from a most unusual source: residents of the Center for Wellbeing and Intelligence, a private psychiatric institution for mentally ill individuals whose are extraordinarily gifted.It's there that he meets Paradise, a young woman who witnessed her father murder her family and barely escaped his hand. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Paradise may also have an extrasensory gift: the ability to experience the final moments of a person's life when she touches the dead body.In a desperate attempt to find the killer, Raines enlists Paradise's help. In an effort to win her trust, he befriends this strange young woman and begins to see in her qualities that most 'sane people' sorely lack. Gradually, he starts to question whether sanity resides outside the hospital walls...or inside.As the Bride Collector increases the pace and volume of his gruesome crucifixions, the case becomes even more personal to Raines when his friend and colleague, a beautiful young forensic psychologist, becomes the Bride Collector's next target. The FBI believes that the killer plans to murder seven women. Can Paradise help before it's too late?

WWW Wednesdays

If you'd like to play along with WWW Wednesdays, just click the button above.


To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?

My answers...

What are you currently reading?



What did you recently finish reading?



What do you think you’ll read next?