Sunday, June 1, 2014

Sunday Salon and Post - This Week in Reading




It's Sunday so it's time to talk about what happened in my book world with the Sunday Showcase from Books, Biscuits and Tea and the Sunday Post from the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

What I Got:

NetGalley:

Sweetshop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan 
Rosie Hopkins is happy with her life in London and isn't all that thrilled about going to help her Aunt Lillian in her sweetshop in a small village but does so out of family duty.  She becomes more involved and finds it more interesting than expected.  Plus it has recipes!

Seagrass Pier by Colleen Coble
A woman has a heart transplant and begins having strange disturbing memories.  Memories that aren't hers.  With the help of FBI Agent Marc Everton she must figure out what the memories mean before someone silences her for good.

Other:


A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy
It's a crumbling mansion in Ireland that a woman is going to restore and turn into a hotel.  This hits so many of my favorite topics that if it could have just shown up on my doorstep it would've.  I haven't read any Maeve Binchy but I've heard she has a tendency to be a bit formulaic.  Since this is the first one I'll read hopefully that means I want be used to the formula yet!

Dream Lake by Lisa Kleypas
This is a reread that I've actually already reviewed.  Given all the books in ARC form or books that I own but haven't read yet I have no business rereading this one.  I just finished a book about a woman who had turned her life around after a drug dependency and I remember loving how Kleypas handled Alex's alcoholism.  It's one of those books that I absolutely loved the book until the end which kind of took it down a few notches for me (review)

Other Reading Stuff:

What I'm Reading:

Twelfth Night by Deanna Raybourn
This is a novella in her Lady Julia mystery series and so far I'm enjoying it.  The plot isn't huge but it's a good way to get to know some of the main characters in the series without having to figure out the mystery on top of everything else.

Crooked House by Agatha Christie
An Agatha classic.  One of the residents of the house killed the rich old man but which one?  There's a beautiful much younger wife supposedly having an affair with the tutor.  There's the old man's adult children and their spouses who all have their own reasons for wanting his money sooner than later.  It's a fun read with interesting characters.

On the Blog this Past Week:

A book that was basically a perfect storm of my least favorite plot devices yet still kept me reading (Review)
I knocked Bill Bryson's At Home off my TBR list
My review of one of my favorite mysteries this year
My Top Ten Tuesday list about the books I'd buy if I was let loose in a bookstore
2 quick reviews on 2 contemporary romances
And finally for Memorial Day the story of my almost Grandfather

Coming Up:

A review of Arthur Hailey's classic Hotel
My Top Ten Beach Bag books
A review of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
A review from my TBR pile
Friday 56/Book Beginning from the book I'm reading Friday
And at least one other book review!

Have a great week and happy reading!

41 comments:

  1. What a very nice week for you. You were quite busy.

    The cover of Twelfth Night is gorgeous. I love any Agatha Christie book. ENJOY all your books and your week.

    Give the Book Blogger Hop a try if you like. It is at this address every Friday.

    http://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com/

    Hope to see you and any friends there. We talk about bookish things. It is fun seeing everyone's answers.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Blog

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    1. Oh thank you! I will definitely give the Book Blogger Hop a try this Friday! I love talking about bookish things.

      The cover of Twelfth Night is actually what made me pick it up! It was a quick read and an interesting one. I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series. Agatha is definitely one of my favorite writers and this is one I always enjoy rereading!

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    3. Great on the book blogger hop. Will look forward to seeing you there and your answers.

      Invite others too.

      I am a cover nut. They always draw me in.

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  2. I read one Lisa Kleypas book from her Friday Harbor Series...and enjoyed it. This one looks good. I also want to read the Maeve Binchy.

    Enjoy your week...and here's MY WEEKLY SUNDAY/MONDAY UPDATES POST


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    1. Sweetshop of Dreams sounds good. Hope you have a great week!

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    2. I liked this one and the first 2 of the Friday Harbor Series but didn't care for the 4th.
      Really looking forward to Sweetshop of Dreams! Sounds so fun!

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  3. Haven't heard of these books but I hope you will enjoy these!
    Paulina @ TangledInPages

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  4. Okay, I want all those books. :D have a great week.

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    1. I know what you mean. These linkups wreak havoc on my TBR as well!

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  5. Twelfth Night looks so good! I cannot wait for your review. Have an awesome weej my friend!

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    1. It was good though it's a novella which isn't my favorite. It's definitely an interesting mystery series. Raybourn can draw some great settings and characters. Have a great week!

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  6. You're reading three of my favorite authors, Maeve Binchy, Agatha Christie, and Deanna Raybourn. Enjoy!

    Thanks for visiting my blog--have a wonderful week.

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    1. So far I've only read 2 out of 3 but I'll take that as a good sign that I'll like Binchy! Have a great week!

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  7. I know who did it in the Agatha Christie book but I'll keep my mouth zipped ;) Have a great reading week !

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    1. The thing is so do I! Or at least I think I do - it's been awhile since I've reread it. I enjoy them just as much knowing who the killer is as when it's a surprise!

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  8. I have to admit i haven't heard of any of these books before but i've made a not to check them all out on goodreads!
    Enjoy your haul :)
    Lily

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    1. These linkups are dangerous for me! I always stumble on about 6 books that I've never heard of but absolutely must have!

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  9. I totally spaced on Friday 56 this week. :( I'm with Bea. I want all of those books! :O) When we win the lotto, I'm buying that house on the cover of "A Week In Winter"! ;)

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    1. Isn't it gorgeous! It's on some cliff in Ireland too. How are we supposed to resist that? Have a great week!

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  10. Sounds like good week for you! I'll look forward to your Beach Bag list and review of A.J. Fikry... really want to read that one.

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    1. It was a pretty good week! I love the Beach Bag topic. My brain is a little fried during summer between the heat, the garden and the kids being home so it'll be fun to round up some books that will be good summer reading!

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  11. So many good books, where to start! Thanks for sharing these titles. I would like to read a Maeve Binchy, this one or perhaps another. I have heard good things about Deanna Raybourn so I should check her out further. I did read a Friday Harbor book, the first in the series, name escapes me at the moment. I enjoyed it but haven't yet read more by Ms. Kleypas. Have a good week.

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    1. The where to start question gets me every time! I love books where they're renovating/restoring houses for some reason so that's why Week in Winter grabbed me but she has so many that look interesting. I've been pleased with Deanna Raybourn. Her characters are definitely unique. I really loved the first 3 Friday Harbor books but the 4th was not for me!

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  12. Great haul!! Sweetshop Of Dreams sounds good as does A Week In Winter! Hope you enjoy.

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    1. I'm really looking forward to all of these. Now if I can just sit down long enough to get any of them read! Have a great week!

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  13. The cover of Twelfth Night is so pretty! Have a wonderful week! :)

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    1. Isn't it! That's probably the main reason I picked it up if I'm being honest! Love a good cover.

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  14. Sweetshop of Dreams looks good to me. I am hoping to get some good reading in this week.

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    1. I'm excited about it! I love the premise so hopefully it will live up to my expectations!

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  15. I am really curious about A Week in Winter. Crooked House sounds really good! I hope you are enjoying it.

    Have a great week, Katherine!

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    1. Crooked House is a pretty fun read but I'm looking forward to getting to the Poirots and Marples. I'm looking forward to A Week in Winter too. I've never read any Binchy but this sounds right up my alley!

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  16. I have heard amazing things about Mauve Binchy's books. I used to work in a book store and people were always asking me where her books were! :)

    I hope you enjoy all of your books and thanks for stopping by my showcase sunday! :) xx


    Alex @ The Shelf Diaries

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    1. Thank you! I'm looking forward to giving her a try! Have a great week!

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  17. It looks like you grabbed some great books last week and I'm going to have to check out your favorite mystery book post. I love Mauve Binchy's books. Scarlet Feather is one of my favorites of hers. Wishing you a great week and happy reading!

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    1. Oh thanks for the recommendation! I'll have to add that to my list. Have a great week!

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  18. Sweetshop of Dreams sounds good (I love it when they include recipes!). Thank you for visiting my blog and have a great week!!

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    1. I'm looking forward to reading it! Thanks for visiting!

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  19. The Maeve Binchy and Sweetshop of Dreams both sound good. And Christie is always fun! I enjoyed Dream Lake, but I still like Kleypas' historicals better. Now I need to check out your review of At Home, which I loved.

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    1. I agree about Kleypas. I absolutely love most of her historicals but her contemporaries have never really grabbed me. I loved the first 3 of the Friday Harbor series but wasn't 100% satisfied with the endings in any of them.

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    2. Love Jenny Colgan - will put you in a good mood no matter what :)

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