Book Beginnings/The Friday 56 3/31/2017

Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice and Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader. The idea is to share a sentence or so from the first page and the 56th page of the book you are currently reading!  Also, I will now also include a brief synopsis.

A Brief Synopsis:  After decades of hiding, the evil Enchantress who cursed Sleeping Beauty is back with a vengeance.

Alex and Conner Bailey have not been back to the magical Land of Stories since their adventures in The Wishing Spell ended. But one night, they learn the famed Enchantress has kidnapped their mother! Against the will of their grandmother, the twins must find their own way into the Land of Stories to rescue their mother and save the fairy tale world from the greatest threat it's ever faced. 

Beginning of the Book

The East was in a period of great celebration.

Page 56

Alex and Conner hadn't looked like identical twins since they were four years old

I should be starting this book sometime today, Friday. I have 20-something pages I think in  Somebody's Baby and then I can finally start on this book.  Loved the first book and hope to enjoy this one, just as much.  With the first book, I got the physical book from the library (at over 400 pages ) reading a hardcover was incredibly heavy and awkward; this time I got it on my Kindle from the library and although I won't be able to enjoy the great cover, it has almost a whole 100 pages more, but it will be much easier to read.

What are your reading plans this weekend?

WWW Wednesdays 3/29/2017

It's time for the weekly meme, WWW Wednesday hosted by Sam
@Taking on a World of Words.

All you need to do is answer the following questions:

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

So let's get onto it!

What are you currently reading?  I am currently reading an ARC of Somebody's Baby by Donna Alward.  I am enjoying it.  It has a dog in it and the guy is a veterinarian, so that's a plus in my book. Its. the 3rd book in a series and didn't know when I read it, but I seem to be having no trouble getting into the story Also, I just started listening to My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor.  I'm only 6% into it, but so far I'm enjoying it.  The narrator is Rita Moreno, who I'm really liking.

What did you recently finish reading?  I finally finished an ARC of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See.  I have to admit, I was disappointed in it. I absolutely love her books, but this one was not quite what I was hoping for.

What do you think you’ll read next? I had a library book come in on my library's Overdrive, The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer.  I lobed the first book in the series when I read it in January and am hoping for another winner. I haven't had that much luck lately reading great books, so we will see how it goes.

What about you?  Have you read any of these or do you plan to? What are you reading?

Book Beginnings/The Friday 56 3/24/2017

Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice and Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader. The idea is to share a sentence or so from the first page and the 56th page of the book you are currently reading!  Also, I will now also include a brief synopsis.



A Brief Synopsis:  Veterinarian Rory Gallagher chose a different path from his brothers, both of whom became first responders in the lovely little town of Darling, Vermont. Rory's always had an affinity for animals--and the ladies. Known for his impressive track record in breaking hearts, Rory never meant to hurt anyone; he's just never been in a hurry to settle down. It's not as if he needs to pay a visit to the town's famed Kissing Bridge to magically find love. He'll know The One when he sees her. . .right?

Oaklee Ferguson is the kid sister of Rory's best friend--and, even now that she's all grown up, remains immune to the pet-doctor's charms. When she shows up at Rory's clinic late one night--devastated after hitting a stray dog with her car--Rory's so-called "bedroom eyes" are the last thing on her mind. Still, his care and kindness toward the dog, and his concern for her feelings, catches Oaklee by surprise. . .and soon the two (and rescued dog makes three!) begin to share a deep connection that neither could have ever imagined. Could it be that love has been waiting for them by the bridge all along?

Beginning of the Book

Oaklee Collier was so sick of attending bridal and baby showers she was thinking of developing a chronic and convenient illness just so she wouldn't have to go.

Page 56

Truth was Rory did think she was lonely.  Sure, she went to work and seemed to love her job, but there was something else about her.  Something he couldn't quite put his finger on, but lurked behind her eyes.

I'll be starting this sometime today.  It looks like a nice, easy, hopefully entertaining read.  I have not yet read anything by this author and I found out it is actually the third book in a series, but I was invited to read it by the publisher and I accepted before I realized it was the middle of a series, so I will read it and in time to post my review either by the 2nd or 4th of April.  I've since read a few pages and so far, so good.  Just what I needed, this has been a rough month.  Well, it's suppose to be in the 70s today, so I think I'll try to enjoy it!  Have a good reading weekend and week.

WWW Wednesday 3/22/2017

It's time for the weekly meme, WWW Wednesday hosted by Sam
@Taking on a World of Words.

All you need to do is answer the following questions:

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

So let's get onto it!

What are you currently reading?  I am still reading The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See.  I am so ready to move on to the next book, but I've loved 3 out of 4 of Lisa See's other books and have been eagerly anticipating this one, plus I'm almost at 75%, so I must finish this book.  Hopefully on Friday or before.  The book is getting better, finally!

What did you recently finish reading?  Nothing new that I finished since last week's WWW Wednesday.

What do you think you’ll read next? I have an e-ARC that I must review by either the 4th or 7th, I think its called Somebody's Baby by Donna Alward.  It's a romance so hopefully a quicker read.  A new for me author, so I don't really know what to expect.  I also just got the audiobook of To Kill A Mockingbird, but haven't started it yet.  I can't remember if I read that in high school or not. 

What about you?  Have you read any of these or do you plan to? What are you reading?

Book Beginnings/The Friday 56 3/17/2017

Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice and Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader. The idea is to share a sentence or so from the first page and the 56th page of the book you are currently reading!  Also, I will now also include a brief synopsis.

A Brief Synopsis:  Li-yan and her family align their lives around the seasons and the farming of tea. There is ritual and routine, and it has been ever thus for generations. Then one day a jeep appears at the village gate—the first automobile any of them have seen—and a stranger arrives.

In this remote Yunnan village, the stranger finds the rare tea he has been seeking and a reticent Akha people. In her biggest seller, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, See introduced the Yao people to her readers. Here she shares the customs of another Chinese ethnic minority, the Akha, whose world will soon change. Li-yan, one of the few educated girls on her mountain, translates for the stranger and is among the first to reject the rules that have shaped her existence. When she has a baby outside of wedlock, rather than stand by tradition, she wraps her daughter in a blanket, with a tea cake hidden in her swaddling, and abandons her in the nearest city.

After mother and daughter have gone their separate ways, Li-yan slowly emerges from the security and insularity of her village to encounter modern life while Haley grows up a privileged and well-loved California girl. Despite Haley’s happy home life, she wonders about her origins; and Li-yan longs for her lost daughter. They both search for and find answers in the tea that has shaped their family’s destiny for generations.

Beginning of the Book:

"No coincidences, no story," my a-ma recites and that seems to settle everything, as it usually does, after First Brother finishes telling us about the dream he had last night.  I don't know how many times my mother has recited this praising aphorism during the ten years I've been on this earth.  I also feel I heard versions of First Brothers dream many times.

Page 56

Naturally A-ba and my brothers are against extra schooling for me.  "What husband wants a wife who thinks she is smarter than he is?" A-ba asks Teacher Zhang while he presents the idea, while A-ma looks at him as though he has plague postules.

I'm still very early into the book, just a little past page 56 I think.  I'm reading an e-arc, so I'm guessing more or less where exactly page 56 is, but I think I'm at least close.  I'm kind of feeling like I am in a reading slump, which is unfortunate since I've been looking forward to this next book by Lisa See for a long time.  Her last book, China Dolls came out in June of 2014 and I actually read it in July since my library got it in soon after.

WWW Wednesdays 3/15/2017

It's time for the weekly meme, WWW Wednesday hosted by Sam
@Taking on a World of Words.

All you need to do is answer the following questions:

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

So let's get onto it!

What are you currently reading?  I am currently reading an ARC of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See.  The book is being released next week, the 21st, I think.  I've been looking forward to reading it for awhile.  I'm just not in a reading mood lately, wouldn't you know! 

What did you recently finish reading?  I finished The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel.  That was a pretty depressing book to read about a very difficult topic.  I tried to read the graphic novel Aya by Marguerite Abouef, but just could not get into it.  Not sure if it was that it was a graphic novel or after The Roanoke Girls, I just wasn't in the right mindset.  At least, I am finally feeling better, although it seems my cough is back.

What do you think you’ll read next? I think I need to get a review up on my blog for Somebody's Baby by Donna Alward.  I was sent an invitation and a NetGalley widget to read it and I think it releases early in April.  I'm not sure exactly why I said "yes" to it, since it is book 3 of a series and I haven't red the other 2 and won't be , at least nor before reading Somebody's Baby.

What about you?  Have you read any of these or do you plan to? What are you reading?   I know I need to reply to many of your comments from the last couple weeks, but I've just not been in the mood to do much of anything, even reading and that is unusual for me.

February Wrap Up

I can't believe it is almost mid-March and I haven't posted my February Wrap-Up.  But considering my son and I were sick at the beginning of the month for awhile, it's understandable

3 stars I enjoyed this one, but it wasn't out of this world or anything, but for a debut novel it was good and hopefully, she'll continue to write.  I reviewed this book here!

This was my first Janet Dailey book in a new series entitled New Americana. She originally wrote 50 books in her Americana series. Since the author passed away a few years ago, I do not know if there will be any more to this series. I enjoyed the book and although I give it 3 stars on Goodreads, I actually think it should be a 3 1/2 stars. It centered on Kyra, who lived on a horse ranch in Arizona, where she had a horse therapy program for troubled teens, mix in a troubled army veteran with PTSD This was my first Janet Dailey book in a new series entitled New Americana. She originally wrote 50 books in her Americana series. Since the author passed away a few years ago, I do not know if there will be any more to this series. I enjoyed the book and although I give it 3 stars on Goodreads, I actually think it should be a 3 1/2 stars. It centered on Kyra, who lived on a horse ranch in Arizona, where she had a horse therapy program for troubled teens, mix in a troubled army veteran with PTSD, who was married to her late cousin and is the father of the niece she is raising. Also add several troubled teens, some gentle horses, and a dog, as well as Paige, the little 5 year old girl, who is wiser than her years and you have a winning story. What a shame that this prolific author passed away at only 69 years old. Much thanks to the publisher, Zebra and to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars. This is a middle grade graphic novel, but still can be enjoyed by others of all ages. This book is semi-autobiographical of the author's childhood. At 4 years old after a "normal: baby and toddlerhood, Cece came down with meningitis, which resulted in her deafness. For kindergarten, she went to a deaf school with other deaf and hard of hearing children, but her family moved that summer and she started first grade at a school where she was the only deaf/hard of hearing child. In order to hear her teachers, she wore a sort-of hearing aid called the Sonic Ear, in which she wore a box with wires to her ears that helped her in hearing the teacher, while the teacher wore a microphone-like device. This was the seventies and this technology was nowhere near as good as it is now. This is her story as best she remembers it during the elementary school years. I found this very interesting and enlightening and vaguely remember there was a student in one of the special education classes who wore a similar device, although he had additional disabilities. Since the author is about my age, there were also some cultural references made in this book that I could relate to. I recommend this book to both middle grade children through adults.

I loved this book!  I experienced every emotion while reading this book.  This will most likely be one of  my favorite books of the year and definitely is my favorite book of the month.  5 stars.

I listened to this book and very much enjoyed it.  Sadly, things don't change.  I usually don't read political books, but I\'ve enjoyed quite a few of Michael Moore's books and documentaries.  4 stars.

I loved this book.  It did take me longer to read than usual, but that was not this book's fault.  Life got in the way as it often does and I also read this as a physical book, rather than as an e-book on my Kindle.  I really like reading historical novels, as it is a great way to learn things in an interesting way.  4.75 stars.

I finished this early on March 1st and therefore will count this as being completed in February.  For all of the 1st half  and part of the 2nd, I wasn't very impressed about it,  the last third picked up, but overall I wasn't wowed by this at all.  When I wrote my Goodreads review a couple days after completing the listening of this book, I was already getting fuzzy about this book and things have not improved since then.  This is a shame since, this the second book in The Midwife of Hope River series and I had really enjoyed that book, but this one fell flat for most of the story.2.75 stars.

It seems like so long ago since I read these, but my favorite book in February was A Dog's Purpose.  I don't think I Mentioned it in the January Wrap-Up, but my favorite book during January was  The Wishing Spell in the Book of Stories series.

Book Beginnings/The Friday 56 3/10/2017

Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice and Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader. The idea is to share a sentence or so from the first page and the 56th page of the book you are currently reading!  Also, I will now also include a brief synopsis.

A Brief Synopsis:  Vowing to discover the fate of her missing cousin, a woman returns to her family’s Kansas estate where she spent one haunting summer as a teen, and where she discovered the dark heart of the Roanoke clan that left her no choice but to run.

Beginning of the Book:

The first time I saw Roanoke was in a dream.  I knew little of it beyond the name and it was in Kansas, a place I had never been.  My mother only mentioned it when she had too much, her breath turned sweet and her words slow and syrupy like molasses.

Page 56

I wake with a pounding headache, my tongue whiskey thick and stuck to the roof of my mouth.  I may be in a different state, but the outlines of my life are depressingly familiar.  It's only late morning, but the sun roars in through the sheer curtains making me realize how gentle the sun was in California.  There it bathes you.  Here, it smacks you across the face. 


So far, so good; it has drawn me in! You find out some of the secret early on, but it continues to draw you in and you want to keep reading to find out the whole story. 

WWW Wednesdays 3/8/2017

It's time for the weekly meme, WWW Wednesday hosted by Sam
@Taking on a World of Words.

All you need to do is answer the following questions:

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

So let's get onto it!

What are you currently reading?  I am currently reading Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

What did you recently finish reading?  I finished the audiobook, The Innocent  by David Baldacci and Black Stars of the Civil Rights Movement by James Haskins.

What do you think you’ll read next? Right now I don't have any audiobooks on my Overdrive app, but I have the graphic novel, Aya by Margeurite Abouef checked out from the library and am planning to read the ARC, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See.  I am very excited to read it and it is the book I am most looking forward to this year. 

What about you?  Have you read any of these or do you plan to? What are you reading?

Book Beginnings/The Friday 56 - 3/3/2017

Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice and Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader. The idea is to share a sentence or so from the first page and the 56th page of the book you are currently reading!  Also, I will now also include a brief synopsis.

A Brief Synopsis:  "My father had more than fifty children." So begins the haunting memoir of Anna LeBaron, daughter of the notorious polygamist and murderer Ervil LeBaron. With her father wanted by the FBI for killing anyone who tried to leave his cult--a radical branch of Mormonism--Anna and her siblings were constantly on the run with the other sister-wives. Often starving and always desperate, the children lived in terror. Even though there were dozens of them together, Anna always felt alone. She escaped when she was thirteen . . . but the nightmare was far from over. A shocking true story of murder, fear, and betrayal, "The Polygamist's Daughter" is also the heart-cry of a fatherless girl and her search for love, faith, and a safe place to call home. 

Beginning of the Book

Prologue

At the age of nine, I had forty-nine siblings.

I didn't play hopscotch with my school friends at recess or watch The Brady Bunch on television with my siblings. My mother didn't pack my school lunch and my dad didn't give me a hug at the door, wishing me a good day. Instead, my parents who were on the run from federal authorities, abandoned me in Mexico for about a year, leaving me with a family I didn't know.  A family that included a man named Rafael.

Page 56

"Do you know how to make coffee?" he asked

"Yes." I said, I had never made coffee in my life. But my father had just spoken to me for the first time. I would do anything he asked

I am 76% done with this.  I got it as an ARC through NetGalley and it will be published later this month.  I'm hoping to finish this tomorrow by the end of the day, but we'll see since I hoped to be done with this, but got very little reading done on Wednesday, since I wasn't feeling well.

What do you think?