Search This Blog







2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

2026 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona
- Arkansas (1)
- California (7)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (1)
- Delaware
- Florida (1)
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (1)
- Illinois (2)
- Indiana (1)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (2)
- Maine (4)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (2)
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota (2)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico
- New York (4)
- North Carolina (2)
- North Dakota
- Ohio (3)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (1)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee
- Texas (3)
- Utah (1)
- Vermont (1)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (1)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (2)
- Wyoming(1)
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (6)
- Austria (1)
- Canada (2)
- England (21)
- Fiji (1)
- France (1)
- Ireland (2)
- Italy (1)
- Mexico (1)
- New Zealand (1)
- Norway (1)
- Scotland (1)
- The Bahamas (1)
- Vatican City (1)





2026 Build Your Library Reading Challenge








Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives Bingo



2026 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge





Tuesday, September 08, 2015
Top Ten Tuesday: The Finish Line
9:17 AM
It's been awhile since I participated in Top Ten Tuesday, my favorite bookish meme. The last few topics haven't really piqued my interest, but I love the one for this week: Top Ten Finished Series I Have Yet to Finish. Although I could seriously list about a million answers, I'll try to restrain myself and keep it to just ten :)
If you want to play along, head over to The Broke and the Bookish. Read the rules, make your Top Ten list, share it with the rest of us, then visit other blogs to see lots of fun answers to the question du jour. Simple. It's an enjoyable little diversion that will put a smile on your face while introducing you to tons of great book blogs. What's not to love?
Here we go with my list. In no particular order, here are the Top Ten Finished Series I Have Yet to Finish:
1. Matched by Ally Condie—I enjoyed the first book in this series, but never moved on to the second. Not sure why. At this point, I'd probably have to re-read Matched before picking up the next installment. One of these days ...
2. Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer—This is a series that was already wrapping up when the author died in 2014. Still, the thought of no additional Jacky Faber stories makes my heart sad. She's such a lively, vivid character that I can't imagine not having her in my reading life. Perhaps that's why I'm stalling instead of finishing up the series? Probably. I've read five of the twelve Bloody Jack novels, so I've still got a lot of ground to cover with this one.
3. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon—I was totally absorbed by Outlander, but again, I never picked up another book in the series. Why not? Who knows? I need to since I believe it's now complete?
4. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis—The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe stands out in my mind as one of those reads that just swept me away as a child. As much as I loved the book, I don't think I kept on with the series. My memory ain't what it used to be, that's true, but I'm pretty sure I've never read the rest of the Narnia books. I need to remedy that, for sure.
5. Divergent by Veronica Roth—Again, I enjoyed the first book, but didn't progress beyond the series debut. I've heard not great things about Insurgent, thus my hesitation ...
6. The Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter—These books are so dang fun. I love them! And yet, I've only finished two of the six books in the series. They're easy, entertaining reads, so it wouldn't be tough (in fact, it would be quite enjoyable) to binge-read the rest of them.
7. Virgin River by Robyn Carr—When it comes to creating small, cozy towns that teem with so much life and warmth that I want to move in right away, there is simply no one like Robyn Carr. I adored her Grace Falls series. Her newer ones, Virgin River and Thunder Point, are just as engaging. While the latter continues, I believe the former is complete. I've read 6/20 V.R. books and am always excited to open another one and get back "home" to Virgin River.
8. The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd—I've read 2/3 of this series in 2015. I'm hoping to finish it this year as well.
9. The Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale—I'm halfway through this enjoyable series, but it's been a loooonnnngggg time since I read the first two books (2008 and 2009, respectively). I'll have to re-read them before grabbing the final two.
10. Incarceron by Catherine Fisher—A two-book series should be a cinch to complete, and yet, I'm still only halfway through this one. I proclaimed Incarceron one of my favorite books of 2010. For some reason, though, I never read Sapphique. It's gathering dust on my shelf—methinks it's high-time to re-experience Incarceron and finally get to its sequel.
There you have it, ten of the many, many, many series I've started and never finished. So, where should I start? Which series are your favorite? Which have you left incomplete? Why? Inquiring minds (mine, anyway) really want to know ... I love visiting book blogs, so leave me a comment and I'll gladly return the favor.
Happy TTT!
Monday, September 07, 2015
Contemporary Pandora's Box Novel Asks: How Well Do You Really Know the People You Love?
3:48 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Any other woman would feel totally overwhelmed by the things Cecilia manages to keep in order every day—a lovely home, a comfortable marriage, three high-achieving children, and a thriving part-time Tupperware business. When her friends demand to know how she does it all, "she [doesn't] know how to answer them. She [doesn't] actually understand what they [find] so difficult" (6). Then, Cecilia happens upon her own Pandora's Box. Opening it sends her tidy little life into a mighty, life-changing whirlwind.
Cecilia comes across the dusty envelope one day while searching for an old souvenir in her attic. It's an innocuous, everyday item, something she wouldn't have even noticed except for the mysterious message scrawled across its front: For my wife, Cecilia Fitzpatrick, To be opened only in the event of my death. She can't imagine what on earth John-Paul means by it. It's probably nothing more than a sentimental love letter, but something about it sends a shiver of foreboding down Cecilia's spine. Should she open the envelope, read whatever is inside? Or respect her husband's wishes and set it aside? Cecilia's a very decisive person, so why can't she make up her mind? When she mentions the letter to John-Paul, he rushes home from an overseas business trip in a panic. No longer able to contain her curiosity, Cecilia opens the letter. That one tiny action changes everything. Not just for her, but for two other women.
Unbeknownst to Cecilia, her life is about to intersect with those of Tess Curtis, an advertising guru, and Rachel Crowley, a 68-year-old secretary. Both women are about to receive bombshells that will shatter their lives in irrevocable ways. Tied together by John-Paul's damning secret, every member of the trio will have to come to terms with the ugly truth of what really happened in their shared past and determine how it will affect each of their presents.
As you probably already know, I'm a new—but ardent—fan of Australian novelist Liane Moriarty. I've read three of her books in the last year or so. The Husband's Secret is my least favorite of the trio, but that doesn't mean a whole lot, considering I gave Big Little Lies an A and What Alice Forgot a B+. A B- isn't much of a step down, you know? The Husband's Secret lost a few points with me only because it's not as intricate or suspenseful as I hoped it would be. Still, it has all the elements I've come to expect—and love—about a Moriarty book. With complex, but authentic characters; a twisty, compelling plot; and conflicts that both keep me interested and make me think, this book contains further proof of Moriarty's deft storytelling skills. While I didn't find The Husband's Secret quite as intriguing as its fellows, it still sucked me in. It's an engaging read, one I very much enjoyed.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, sexual content, and mild violence
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Husband's Secret from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Friday, September 04, 2015
The Sparrow Sisters Be-Spells Me Quite Thoroughly Indeed
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Like many other New England beach towns, Granite Point, Massachusetts, exudes a quaint warmth that draws people to its shores. Tantalizing smells from Baker's Street Bakery waft through its quiet streets, mixing with the salty air in a most pleasing medley of scent. The village green beckons, its lush tranquility contrasting with the busy harbor, where sunburned fishermen unload vessels filled with snapping lobster and plump Atlantic cod. Granite Point's real treasure, however, can be found off Calumet Landing, where four acres of sandy soil produces such an array of botanical delights that the Sparrow Sisters Nursery can only be described as, well, magic. Where else can snow-laden roses open on New Year's Day, fruit ripened in summer stay fresh and sweet into December, morning glories bloom all day, and Italian fig trees produce fruit only weeks after being planted?
The Sparrow Family has lived in Granite Point for centuries; now, only three remain: Nettie, Sorrel, and Patience. The three women live together in Ivy House—the ancestral home built by their great-great (and more) grandmother for her sea captain husband—where they care for each other and their plants with a devotion that is almost ... supernatural. Locals look to Patience, with her potent natural remedies, to cure everything from cradle cap to arthritis. They know it doesn't do to spend too much time pondering how the Sparrows do what they do—it's enough to know that whatever the Sisters do do, it works.
Things sail along as they always have in Granite Point until an outsider arrives in town. Henry Carlyle, a young, handsome doctor from Massachusetts General (by way of the U.S. Army), has come to take over the old town doctor's practice. Haunted by what he saw in Iraq, the reserved newcomer hides secrets his new neighbors are eager to extract. A man of science, Henry dismisses the eccentric Sisters' unique hold on Granite Point until a run-in with Patience leaves him thoroughly bewitched. He finds himself falling hard for the enigmatic Sister even as he tries unsuccessfully to understand what makes her tick. When one of Patience's clients dies after consuming one of her cures, Henry becomes even more baffled. Who is this woman, really? And what has she done to him with her otherworldly enchantments? As a modern-day witch hunt ensues, Henry must decide what to think and where to stand on the issue of Patience Sparrow. With his heart overruling his head, the consequences of his choice may be dire indeed ...
Is there a more alluring novel setting than a small, colorful beach town where a hint of magic swirls in the briny air? Not for me. Which explains why I was immediately entranced by Granite Point, the seaside village at the heart of Ellen Herrick's debut novel, The Sparrow Sisters. The characters, from the offbeat Sisters to lovestruck Henry, to Ben, the brawny lobsterman, to lonely Matty, slipped right into my heart as well. The novel's slow-building plot made sure that by the time a death occurred, I cared about not just the deceased, but also about everyone in his/her world. Although the book offers a mystery and elements of magical realism as well as compelling discussions of contemporary conflicts like traditional vs. alternative medicine, none of that distracts from what The Sparrow Sisters really is—an intriguing, warm-hearted family drama. All of these things made the book a charming and delightful read, one that be-spelled me quite thoroughly.
(Readalikes: The publisher compares it to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman and Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen; it's been a long time since I've read the former and I've never read the latter, so I'm not sure how apt are these comparisons. The Sparrow Sisters did remind me a little of The Truth About Love and Lightning by Susan McBride, though.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a half dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder invectives) and some sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC and a finished copy of The Sparrow Sisters from the generous folks at HarperCollins via those at NetGalley and TLC Book Tours. Thank you!
Thursday, September 03, 2015
Temple Book an Enlightening, Easy-to-Understand Guide for Newbies and Old-bies Alike
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Although members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints consider what happens inside LDS temples sacred, not secret, there's still a whole lot of confusion surrounding temple worship—not just from non-members, but also from active, LDS temple-goers. In his new book, Understanding Your Endowment, Cory Jensen seeks to bring some enlightenment to the latter group. Although the volume is available to the general public, it's intended for—and will be most helpful to—endowed members of the church. Jensen's readers will, therefore, already be familiar with the general topics he discusses. Still, he hopes even the most seasoned temple worker will be able to find something new within its pages. He stresses repeatedly that the Spirit will teach readers what of the information presented is most truthful and valuable for them.
Without revealing the details of the various ceremonies, Jensen explores the ordinances and covenants associated with temple worship. He uses ancient scripture, religious history, and quotes from modern prophets to further the reader's understanding of temple symbolism, coming unto Christ, how to apply what you learn in these holy edifices to your daily life, etc.
At a mere 130 pages, the book is a quick read, but it still manages to offer a thorough, thought-provoking overview of a complex, multi-layered topic. Jensen's approach is both down-to-earth and respectful. You don't need to be a theologian or a scholar to understand the information he's presenting; likewise, you don't need to be a newbie to gain additional insights into temple worship from this well-researched guide. Personally, I learned all kinds of new things that I intend to ponder next time I attend the temple. Because Understanding Your Endowment is such an easy read, I can definitely see myself turning to it again to increase my understanding of and appreciation for my own temple blessings. If you're looking for an intriguing, easy-to-understand way to enhance your own experience, this is an excellent resource to add to your LDS library.
(Readalikes: The Holy Temple by Boyd K. Packer)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for discussions of sexual intimacy (although it is addressed in a respectful, non-graphic way)
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Understanding Your Endowment from the generous folks at Cedar Fort in exchange for my participation in its virtual book tour. Thank you!
Subscribe to:
Posts
(Atom)

Readin'
Beach Thriller by Jamie Day
Listenin'
Hidden Rooms by Kate Michaelson
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
-
State Of The ARC #656 hours ago
-
July Reading Wrap Up 202610 hours ago
-
Books read in July11 hours ago
-
Astronaut by Oana Aristide11 hours ago
-
Six Degrees of Separation ~ Land16 hours ago
-
The Spy and tge Snake by M J Robotham16 hours ago
-
Randomness...18 hours ago
-
July 2026 Wrap-Up19 hours ago
-
Week in Review #311 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Monthly Round-Up: July 20261 day ago
-
-
-
-
Reading Made Easier Techniques!2 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
June TBR2 months ago
-
-
Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney5 months ago
-
-
Sunday Post #5681 year ago
-
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus2 years ago
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?2 years ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra3 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?3 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge
2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
2023 - Middle Grade Fiction
2022 - Middle Grade Fiction
2021 - Middle Grade Fiction
2020 - Middle Grade Fiction


















