THE PERFECT MARRIAGE by Jeneva Rose

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this book on Audio from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

I love twists and turns but I also love likeable characters in a book. I didn't really like any of the characters in this story- and maybe that was by design, but I need that in order to love a book, I need someone to root for. Adam was sex crazed and immature (Mama's boy) and hearing his inner thoughts was frustrating - he deserves everything that he is getting in my opinion. I also am not a huge fan of the F word for the sake of using the F word... when other words will do.

What I did really like about this book were what I would consider a well deserved ending and the different Points of View in the book.

I will read more by Jeneva Rose.

#DreamscapeMedia #NetGalley

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LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND by Rumaan Alam

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book.... This very very frustrating book - where do we go from here.

This book has helped me understand that I need a book with a plot. I know there are people who LOVE character stories and I don't want to take this book away from them, but this did not work for me. The beginning of the book took off in the wrong way for me with the use of words that I had to look up in the dictionary. I can appreciate when an author has a wide vocabulary but I felt this one was going a bit overboard. Once I got used to that, I was able to really get into the story and turn after turn I kept waiting for something real to happen - and for the most part - nothing happened. A few strange things occurred that were never explained but for the most part not much even happened to be explained. I read some reviews and thought i would be ok with an Open Ending - but this was more than that. I know that many people loved this book but it reminded me of M. Night Shamalan's THE HAPPENING (i didn't love that either) but at least in the end something happened.

I needed much more from this book and it just didn't deliver. This book has made me take stock in the choices I make next year, this book just wasn't worth all the hype to me. I was so looking forward to reading it and was very disappointed.

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THE RESIDENCE by Andrew Pyper

The Residence by Andrew Pyper
My GoodReads rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an Advanced Readers Copy e-book from Net Galley for a fair and honest review.

I really get upset when I get an ARC and I don't like a book. I am sad to say that I did not enjoy this book much. The Premise of a white house haunting based on some true historical facts made me excited to jump in but it didn't hold my attention very long There were a few creepy, haunting moments that made me hold on. But in the end I just couldn't hold my attention and I kept thinking about what I could be reading. I didn't care much for the characters in the story either - which I think makes a big difference. I love the elements of true story in here, but the horror/haunting pieces didn't work for me.

I see so many good reviews for this book and I'm glad that those folks found this book. Not every book is for everyone - is something that I feel like I'm saying a lot these days... on to the next.

#NetGalley #TheResidence

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THE CUCKOO'S CRY by Caroline Overington

The Cuckoo's Cry by Caroline Overington
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My Personal Rating: C, Average

Interesting take on "What would you do if a long lost or unknown family members come into your life during the COVID pandemic?" Would you let them in? Would you share your space if they had no where else to go? Would you question their motives?

It's super short listen and I didn't dislike the story but it was just Average, as the story goes.

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AGENT 355 by Marie Benedict

Agent 355 by Marie Benedict
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My Personal Rating: C+, Above Average

I enjoyed the main character in this one and the link to historical truths. I think this would have made a really good full size novel. The main character was well written, she was strong and independent and I wanted more details. It was a nice short Audible Original that I wanted more of when it ended. I will check out some of the authors other reads. I also very much enjoyed the Narrator (Emily Rankin).

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ANXIOUS PEOPLE by Fredrik Backman

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My Personal Rating: C+, Above Average

I know many people ADORED this book, I was not one of those people. My first impression of this book was that the title was appropriate because reading the book was making me feel anxious. I couldn't get where Backman was going with the story and right when I wanted to know more about a character - he switched gears to a character or story line that I didn't care about. I enjoyed Zara's character very much and would read another book with her as the main character. But the rest of the book, I just didn't get. I wanted to love this book - I loved A MAN CALLED OVE. This one fell a bit flat for me, but my book club loved it... so there is truly something for everyone.

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THE NESTING by C.J. Cooke

The Nesting by C.J. Cooke
My Goodreads rating: 2 of 5 stars

My Personal Rating: 4/10 (C)

I recieved this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

This book took off to a very good start, it had all the right makings of a Psychological Thriller but in the end it took a turn into more of a Gothic Thriller and just didn't land where I was looking to go.

Lexi's character was sufficiently flawed and there were some good creepy elements, which i love. The author is a great writer and you really felt that gothic atmosphere feeling in the writing but pulling it together in the end - fell short for me.

I do think I would try another by C.J. Cooke.

#TheNesting #NetGalley

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KNOW MY NAME by Chanel Miller

Know My Name by Chanel Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My Personal Rating: C, Average

My view of this book is not a popular one. I wanted to give my self some time to sit with it and see if my feelings have changed. While I do believe that Chanel Miller should absolutely be able to tell her story, and what happened to her is tragic and should happen to no one. I didn't feel that the quality of the story/writing or the inspirational value of the book itself was a 5 star experience. I felt it to be repetitive and not as inspirational as I had read in so many reviews. I also understand that this could be a generational thing, I know that many millenials found this to be very inspirational.

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THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by V.E.Schwab

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
My GoodReads rating: 3 of 5 stars
(rounded down from 3.5)
My Personal rating: 7/10 (B) Enjoyable

I picked this up as a buddy read with a friend and had VERY high expectations. I had just come off of reading THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING by Alexis Henderson (if you haven't read it - you should!). I really did want more of the same eerie feeling from this book that was in THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING but it wasn't there. This book was definitely more contemporary, which is fine and it was a very good book - if maybe just a bit predictable in the end.

I do see what all the hype is about. I love the imagination of this story and the way it was written. It just fell a little short in what I needed in the moment - by no fault of the author. All in all - i enjoyed the story and will look to read more by V.E. Schwab. Nicely Done.

Can't wait to discuss with it with my buddy.

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NIGHT BOAT TO TANGIER by Kevin Barry

Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry
My Goodreads rating: 2 of 5 stars

My Personal rating: 4/10 C (Average)

I had no real preconceived ideas about this book when I started it. This book was chosen by my work book club and although I knew it was more of a character study, which is not my go to, I didn't know much else going in. The first 100 pages were very hard for me to read. The writing style is very different than anything i'd ever read before. There are no quotations to let you know when someone is speaking versus simply thinking or acting. I later learned that this was intentional and that it was meant to be read more like a poem. After the 100 pages though, i did start to get into the groove and was geniunely curious about the characters.

I don't want to give away the ending so I will just say that this book wasn't written for me - and that's ok. I don't regret reading it - i definitely appreciated pieces of this story and seeing another writing style but I don't think I will be picking up another book by Kevin Barry. It's just not for everyone, and it's not for me. I see how much people loved this writing style, but I'm just more of a plot driven reader. Not every book needs to be for everyone.

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THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING by Alexis Henderson

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
My goodreads rating: 4 of 5 stars

My Personal Rating: 8/10 (B+) GREAT!

This was the book that was exactly what I needed just at the right time. I love spooky reads and I love October spooky feelings and this one just hit it right where I needed it to. Although it may be technically YA - I would not hold it against this book.

Immanuelle was a strong independent female character who held the story completely on her own. I would love to see a map of Bethel because the author described it so vividly that I felt I could see it for myself and would love a comparison. This was a really well done book with great character development and a good amount of spookiness and witchcraft.

I hope that this becomes a series because I would immediately pick it up to see the future of Immauelle and Bethel.

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THE TESTAMENTS by Margaret Atwood (THE HANDMAID'S TALE, #2)

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
My Goodreads rating: 4 of 5 stars

My Personal Rating: 8/10 (B+) Great

Ahhh -this book was EVERYTHING that I wanted THE HANDMAID's TALE to be and more. Everything that I felt was missing in THE HANDMAID'S TALE was represented in this book - so thank you Margaret Atwood! So glad I ready THE HANDMAID'S TALE after THE TESTAMENTS came out so I didn't have to wait so long as others did to have this book in my hands. There were moments where I thought I might not want to ready this book, because of I didn't want more of the same. But I am so very happy that my friend and I chose this as our buddy read for October.

So many questions were answered and so much was information was provided in the background that I feel content now. I honestly could have used this being broken into two books - One the Background and one the future state of Gilead... But I will not complain about what we were given as a gift in this story.

I was not a fan of the ending, the wrap-up, but it did not ruin the story for me one bit. Very Enjoyables.

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ONE BY ONE by Ruth Ware

One by One by Ruth Ware
My GoodReads rating: 4 of 5 stars
(Rounded up from 3.5)
My Personal Rating: 7/10 (B) Enjoyable

This is my first book by Ruth Ware and I'll be sure to read more by her in the coming days/years. I definitely see the inspiration from Agatha Christie in this book. I enjoyed every page of this book (well maybe until the end). It is VERY hard to write about this book without spoilers. Let's just say that I was disappointed in the resolution or the "Whodunnit" but enjoyed ever second of the ride - so it still gets a very high rating for me. Sometimes it can be about the journey instead of the destination and this is one of those books. I kept track of each clue in a notebook and kept track of my guesses and just really enjoyed the reading experience of this book.

I will pick of more of Ware's Books.

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ATHENA'S CHOICE by Adam Boostrom

Athena's Choice by Adam Boostrom
My Goodreads rating: 4 of 5 stars

My Personal Rating: 8/10 Great!

I received an ARC on audio from NetGalley to provide an honest review.

What would the world look like 50 years in the future after a virus wiped out all of the men on earth? Pretty darn awesome. This was such an enjoyable and super fun read - I loved every minute of this book. I do think it would be better reading than listening but I was fully engaged and had no issues stretching my imagination to fit in this dystopian world that Athena lives in. I would love to continue books in this world and learn more about the how the past 50 years developed and what happens next as time goes on. Lots of great imagination in this one and a suprise that a world full of women was written so well by a man.

I will look forward to reading more from Adam Boostrom - Please do so soon Adam!

#NetGalley, #AthenasChoice View all my reviews

IN THE QUICK by Kate Hope Day

In the Quick by Kate Hope Day
My Goodreads Rating: 1 of 5 stars
My Personal Rating: 2/10 (D)... Disappointing.

I received this book as an Advance Readers Copy for an honest review.

This storyline had me so intrigued from the start. Written with an alternate future - a brilliant and troubled young girl enters an astronaut training program in the hopes of one day becoming an Astraunat. She is haunted by an event that happens when she is twelve years old.

I wanted to love this book - I dove right in with hope and excitement but June got the best of me. She was not a likeable character at all. She was a very difficult girl who followed no rules but her own - there are rule breakers and rebels, but she was beyond belief in her ability to just do whatever she wanted to do with minimum consequence. The book required the reader to suspend more belief than I was confortable or able to do. I love books that stretch our minds with alternative futures and ideas, but this was too much for me.

I hate writing bad reviews because I know the author put time and effort into this story and I can appreciate what Kate Hope Day is trying to do here because it's a great premise. I wanted more excitement in space re: Saving Inquiry and less of June's troubles.

I am not clear if this is YA or not - it read very much like a YA book but there was at least one sex scene that to me was not YA considerate (or maybe I am prudish!).

#NetGalley #InTheQuick

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The Switch by Beth O'Leary

The Switch by Beth O'Leary
My Goodreads rating: 2 of 5 stars
Personal rating: 4/10 - C (Average)

I received this Advanced Readers Copy on audio for a fair and honest review.

Eileen Cotton and her namesake granddaughter Leena have decided to switch lives for a short period. Eileen has always wanted to experience London but gave it up to raise a family and Leena is on a much needed forced break from work, so has decided to go back to her home town.

In this swap, they both learn much about their own selves lives and the lives of those around them that they would have otherwise taken for granted.

This was a cute story of a grandmother living out dreams of living uninhibited and a young woman finding her happiness and it often reminded me of a Hallmark Movie, which I do enjoy. But these characters and their stories just didn't pull me in, they fell a little flat for me. It was a nice break from my normal, heavier, type reads so I don't regret reading it. However, I won't be pressing this one into anyone's hands. #NetGalley #TheSwitch

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HOME BEFORE DARK by Riley Sager

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
My goodreads rating: 4 of 5 stars
My Personal rating: 3.5 Stars - 7/10 (B) ENJOYABLE

This is my introduction to Riley Sager as an Author. I had heard so many good things about his writing and they are all true. He is an excellent writer - What I will say is that I adored this book until the ending. The ending just fell flat for me. There were too many red herrings that just made things confusing and then truth was disappointing. It was just not what I was hoping for in an ending but can appreciate what this book had to offer. I thought it was eerie and spooky and held my interest, wanting to know more. The story gives the right amount of intertwining of the scenes out of the book in the story along with the current timeline. It was engaging and exciting to read and unveil.

I still very much enjoyed the ride and will definitely read more of Riley Sager.


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The Love Poems of Rumi: Translated by Nader Khalili

The Love Poems of Rumi: Translated by Nader Khalili by Rumi
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received this book as an ARC in return for an honest review.

I have been a fan of Rumi ever since I was introduced to his work 6 years ago when I was planning my wedding. I was researching quotes and poems and came across Rumi's work over and over again, consistently wonderful quotes and poems. So when I saw this available as an ARC, i jumped at the chance to get my hands on it.

The pages themselves are simply beautiful and are worthy of being framed. It is a gorgeous book - however, the poems were not what I was expecting of Rumi's work as I know it. I know not every work a Poet writes is going to be for everyone - so there is probably something in here for everyone.

My favorite of this group of poems is "If you seek eternity". I still adore Rumi - this book doesn't change that.


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Malorie by Josh Malerman

Malorie by Josh Malerman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

6/10 (B-) Good

I wanted the same creepy and exciting feelings I had during Bird Box to be present here, and they just weren’t there. I enjoyed the continued story and learning about Malorie, it was unique and held my interest but BiRD BOX was so much better. There was only one moment in the story where I felt creeps - this is what I want from a horror novel throughout.

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The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot

The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

5/10 (C+) ABOVE AVERAGE

This was your typical romantic suspense. I enjoyed the story and the characters but overall my feelings were on the mild side. I don’t think I will read on in the series, unless it’s for a buddy or group read. It was a fast and easy read but as soon as I was done the story, I quickly forgot much of the plot and characters.

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Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I read THE SHINING (5 stars) last month and was so excited to grab this book and continue Danny’s story.

I read 30% and just had to stop. I was just so disappointed in this story. At 30% in I didn’t care about any of the characters and the 3 story lines were so obscure I didn’t care to see how they converged and ended. I am not one to stop a story midread but it took me a week to get to 30% and I just couldn’t continue.

It didn’t even feel like a Stephen King novel to me.

I struggled with if I should rate the book or not since I did not finish it, but ultimately decided to rate it because I spent a week attempting to read and care about this story. I do not hold this one against King and I will continue to read his stories as he is the master of horror. But I know that not every book he reads is going to be 5 Stars for me - and that's ok. View all my reviews

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
My GoodReads rating: 4 of 5 stars

My Personal rating: A-, Impressive

As I finished this book - I wanted to both throw it against the wall and immediately pick up the next one. It only scratches the surface of what I want and NEED to know more deeply.

Each time I got invested it shifted gears and I thought more was to come... it was and it wasn’t. I’m both in love with this book and sad that I don’t have my answers. Give me 200 more pages in this book with the details that I need and it would have been 5 stars for me.

I have not seen the Hulu series but now I believe it is time - I’ve been told that this will help fill that itch I have to know more of the details behind EVERYTHING.

And I will be reading THE TESTAMENTS very soon!

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SORRY NOT SORRY by Sophie Ranald

My Goodreads rating: 2 of 5 stars

My Reading Cove rating: 4/10 - Average (C)

Goodreads Synopsis:

Is this all there is? I hadn’t had so much as a sniff of a shag for over a year. I scraped the last dregs of Caramel Chew Chew ice cream out of the bottom of the tub with my finger and licked it. It left a sticky smear on my phone’s screen when I typed into Google, “How to find love, sex and happiness.”

Charlotte has always been a good girl.

She sorts her paper from her plastic. She eats her greens (even Spirulina, whatever that is). Boozy brunches with her best friends on the third Sunday of every month are about as bad as she gets.

But being good is getting boring…

Charlotte’s not just stuck in a rut – she’s buried in it up to her chin. The only company she has in bed is the back catalogue of Netflix and falling in love feels like the stuff of fairy tales. So when she stumbles across a popular podcast, Sorry Not Sorry, which challenges women to embrace their inner bad girl, she jumps at the chance to shake things up.

Old Charlotte would never ask for a stranger’s number, go on a blind date or buy lacy lingerie… But New Charlotte is waving goodbye to her comfort zone (with a side order of margaritas). And it turns out that good things happen to bad girls, as Charlotte finally finds her Mr Right – or so she thinks… Is falling in love too tough a challenge even for Charlotte?

My Thoughts:

This book took way too long for me to read for a "chick-lit" type book. I had personal/work stuff going on so I assumed the reason it was taking so long was because I was distracted but honestly, the book just wasn't grabbing me. I almost stopped reading it at one point but because it was for a Reading Cove book discussion, I was determined to finish. Given this I started to skim and I was about 60% into the book when I finally started to feel like we were getting somewhere and started to enjoy the unwinding.

It has a Bridget Jones feel to it and in the end I didn't fully regret reading it, just how long it took for me to get into it and through it. I think the thing that bothered me about the book most was that Charlotte made herself out to be someone she really wasn't in the beginning - low self esteem maybe? But it was a bit disappointing to learn that she wasn't quite as "regular" as she felt she was. At least with Bridget Jones, she was who she was portraying herself to be.

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CRAZY IN PARADISE by Deborah Brown

My Goodreads rating: 2 of 5 stars
My ReadingCove rating: 3/10 (C-) BELOW AVERAGE

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Madison Westin, the main character, inherits her aunt's beachfront motel in the Florida Keys, or so she thinks. Tarpon Cove is not your typical sleepy beach town: Seduction, drunks, ex-cons and fugitives are not the usual fare for someone looking to start a new chapter in their life. Wrestling control of the property from both the lawyer and the conniving motel manager will be no easy feat. But Madison likes living on the edge so she feels right at home. Bullets fly, a dead body turns up, a kidnapping and blackmail. Madison really has to learn not to leave home without her Glock or it could get her killed.

My Thoughts:

Crazy in Paradise is an apt title for this book. I thought the beginning had promise, I like quirky.

But I started to struggle with the first couple of interactions between Madison and Zach and it made me start to check-out on the story but I kept reading because I was reading this book as a Buddy Read and wanted to give it a chance. Madison to me was way too insecure and cried too much over her insecurities. I get she's been through a lot, and that this is human nature, but I like to see stronger women characters (especially when it comes to relationships) in my books. I was disappointed in the way the case was resolved from a mystery perspective however, the redeemer of this book to me was the ending. I think the ending was a great twist and well written, so it brought up the rating for me.

This is the first book in the series but I do not think will not be reading on, it just missed the mark for me. I was hoping for something more like the Stephanie Plum series characters and it fell a little short.

This was a Reading Cove Buddy Read

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THE TWENTY-THREE by Linwood Barclay

The Twenty-Three by Linwood Barclay
My Goodreads rating: 2 of 5 stars
My Personal rating: 4/10 (C) AVERAGE

Amazon.com Synopsis:
From New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Linwood Barclay comes the jaw-dropping finale of the Promise Falls Trilogy.

It’s May 23, and small town Promise Falls finds itself in the midst of a full-blown catastrophe with dozens dead from a flu-like virus. Investigator Cal Weaver quickly zeros in on mass poisoning and a tainted water supply.

Meanwhile, a college student has been murdered, and Detective Barry Duckworth recognizes a killer’s handiwork from the unsolved homicides of two women in town. Suddenly, the strange events from the last month start to add up….Bloody mannequins in car “23” of an abandoned Ferris wheel…a fiery, out-of-control bus with “23” on the back…“23” on the hoodie of a man accused of assault.

The motive for hurting the people of this town points to the number 23—and working out why will bring Duckworth closer to death than ever before.


My Thoughts:

In book 3 of the Promise Falls Series - I was very invested in knowing who the overall killer of the three women were, as well as who was the cause of the "23" labelled incidents that have been a common theme throughout this series. Are these related or is were the timings coincidental?  All the unanswered questions.  I also expected chaos to ensue in the town with other events, as Linwood Barclay has done so well throughout the series.

The opening line, pulled me right in:
"I know I won't be able to get them all. But I hope I'll be able to get enough."

The wrap-up of these two areas listed above, were perfectly done. I would have liked to see more of a wrap-up on the Samantha/David incident at the end, I need a little more closure on that story line. I felt that the middle dragged on a tad long, with the water poisoning - which is why the rating dropped to a C for me.

David Harwood and the others in Promise Falls have become well developed characters over three books in the series, and I've enjoyed the ride.  If more were written, I would continue to read them.

Even though I only rated this book a C, it doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the story and Barclay has become a new favorite author of mine for sure. I love his writing and I look forward to reading more of his books.  If you have any suggestions, please post them below.

This was a buddy read for the The Reading Cove.


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2020: A Look Forward

Happy New Year Everyone!

I trust you all had a safe and happy holidays, as the New Year has come I am looking forward to my plans for the year.  I have decided to set a goal for 35 books this year and my January reading plans will get me started in the right direction.

Here is my current plan for January:

1. THE TWENTY THREE by Linwood Barclay for a buddy read in The Reading Cove book group.
2. CRAZY IN PARADISE by Deborah Brown a buddy read in The Reading Cove book group.
3. SORRY NOT SORRY by Sophie Ranald for The Reading Cove Group Read
4. THE CHESTNUT MAN by Søren Sveistrup for my work book club (Odessa Book Club)
5. THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR by Shari Lapena for my neighborhood book club (Pagewalkers Book Club)

and If by chance I have any free reading time:

• BLIND SIDE - a recommendation from a friend 

All this said, I typically read 2 books a month on average so I definitely have some reading to do to keep up with this.

Looking forward to talking books with you this year!