Books from the Backlog - Too Bad to Die

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!  Today's book is Too Bad to Die by Francine Matthews.

Blurb:  November, 1943. Weary of his deskbound status in the Royal Navy, intelligence officer Ian Fleming spends his spare time spinning stories in his head that are much more exciting than his own life until the critical Tehran Conference, when Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and Josef Stalin meet to finalize the D-Day invasion. With the Big Three in one place, Fleming is tipped off that Hitler's top assassin has infiltrated the conference. Seizing his chance to play a part in a real-life action story, Fleming goes undercover to stop the Nazi killer.

Why I Want to Read it:  I've really enjoyed Ian Fleming's novels and know that he had a rather adventurous life so am curious to read a book with him as the main character.

Ten Books I'd Pack for a Desert Island

This week I'm talking about Books I'd Pack for a Desert Island.  I first saw this list topic on Top Ten Tuesday when it was over at The Broke and the Bookish but I never got to do it.  Now I'm going to leave the how-to-survive books at home and hope that I get stranded with someone who can do all that because survival off the grid isn't really in my skill set.  I'm going to work more on getting a tan and reading!  Really that'd be better for everyone.

The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley - I read the first book in this series and really enjoyed it and would like to continue with the series plus I think this one takes place in a cold climate which might be appealing.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy - This is one of those books I really never expected to read but lately it's been calling me.  I really enjoyed a mini-series adaptation of it and I heard an interview with someone talking about how readable in small doses it really was so I've been seriously considering and it'd be perfect to mix in with the rest of these.

Lost and Found by Jayne Ann Krentz - I do like a bit of suspense and Krentz's books never let me now.  Plus they're not typically the most memorable so it'd probably be a great to reread if I'm there for awhile.

Sullivan Island by Dorothea Benton Franks - I've been wanting to read her books for ages so I'll toss the first one in.

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon - I read a more recent book in this series and really loved it though it's kind of a quiet read.  I'd like to go back to the first book and really get to know the characters.

The Alienist by Caleb Carr - I read this book back when it first came out and remember enjoying it.  We watched the series when it was on and I'm really curious to see how they differ but have yet to feel like I really have time.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls - No real reason for this one other then I've been wanting to read it for ages.  Also it's a bit different from the other books.

Untraceable by Laura Griffin - I love romantic suspense - heavy on suspense  and Griffin never disappoints.  Also, like the Jayne Ann Krentz, I don't find these the most memorable even though I really enjoy them so it's a potential reread.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente - I've heard good things about this one though I don't remember much about just what that was!  It seems like it'd be a nice surprise.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson - I love Jackson's subtle creepiness and somehow never got around to this one.

And just for fun I'm going to throw in a few series I've been wanting to read or reread:

The Mary Russel Series by Laurie R. King

Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman

Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series by Deborah Crombie

So I don't know how I'm getting to this desert island but clearly it's not in a way that involves baggage restrictions!  What books would you take if you were going to be stranded on a desert island?

The Man on the Roof - Mystery Review

Goodreads:  The Man on the Roof by Michael Stephenson

Source: Author

Description:  Someone has been creeping in the dark while the others sleep, and they've done terrible, terrible things.

“There was a man on your roof,” claims curmudgeonly lane-hermit Herbert McKinney. Then, he initiates an unprovoked fight with a local punk. Drama escalates when that punk's dead body is found hanging at mid-street one August morning—a boastful killer messaging their next prey. All fingers point to Herbert as the culprit. Soon, the five couples he calls neighbors come under suspicion, too. When detectives divine blackmail as the motive, eyes cross to find who hides the most shameful secret. Husband versus wife, friend versus friend, the shiny suburban veneer of innocence has been forever tarnished. As hidden deviousness boils from their pores, there lurks a thief, a pill addict and a sadist—secrets worth killing for.

Now, as the man on the roof helps guide justice and watches devious neighbors slip in and out of sleepy houses, confusion and questions persist. Who dies next? What have they learned? Who is becoming a monster? Who already is one? And just how many secrets can a small group of multi-ethnic Ohioans have? Only one cemented truth exists: the killer will kill again.

Genre: Mystery

Why I Picked This Book: I love the idea of a neighborhood brimming with secrets.

My Impression:

The Good:  I loved the atmosphere the author developed.  It was so claustrophobic and subtly unsettling.  Even at the beginning when everything seemed okay it feels like something is lurking in the shadows.

I like the varied relationships between the neighbors.  Some were closer than others and there were hidden resentments and grudges scattered about.  It gave a lot of depth to the neighborhood.

The plot really kept me on my toes.  Who did it?  What was the deal with the man on the roof?  And just what was everyone hiding?  

The Bad:  There are a LOT of characters and while it did help the neighborhood feel like a real place it also made it a little difficult to keep up with who was who.

It just felt too long.  I'm not sure if this was a pacing issue or just too much description padding page count (or a little of both) but at times it felt like I'd been reading the book forever.

The Not For Me:  There are some super dark themes woven through the book that were just a little too dark for me.  I tend to gravitate towards cozies and Agatha Christie style mysteries so I'm definitely kind of a wimp when it comes to evil and violence in my books.  If you're used to a grittier style mystery I don't think this would cause any problems.

This Week in Reading - July 1

It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

A Deadly Brew by Lynn Cahoon - 'Tis the season for Christmas book ARCs so when I saw this wonderfully Halloween-y cover from one of my favorite cozy authors in one of my favorite series there was no way I could pass it up! (NetGalley)

The Corpse at the Crystal Palace by Carola Dunn - I read the first few books in this series ages and ages ago and remember enjoying them and I love mysteries set in the 1920s.  I'm looking forward to continuing with this one.  (Publisher)

The Christmas Star by Donna VanLiere - I read another book by this author a year or two ago and enjoyed it.  This looks like a sweet non-romance Christmas book.  (NetGalley)

Snowfall on Lighthouse Lane by JoAnn Ross - I just read the first (I think) book in the Honeymoon Harbor series and loved it so I'm super excited to revisit.  (Little Bird Publicity)

Currently:

Reading:  Buried in Books by Kate Carlisle and finally back to Rainy Day Friends by Jill Shalvis

Listening:  I've been listening to a lot of podcasts.  The Popcast is my current favorite.

Watching:  I've been enjoying World of Dance.  I like that there's such a variety of ages and styles and the judges are really positive.  I've also been seriously obsessed with YouTube videos.

Off the Blog:

How is July?  School starts back in 1 month and I'm not ready!!  We've had a nice lazy summer so far but haven't done the travelling I'd hoped to do.  But we still have a month left so it's not done yet!  Not much has been happening here which is both good and bad.  I love the downtime we've had and I think it's needed but I do want to do something!  Spraining my ankle definitely cut into my plans but it's doing pretty good so I think I can handle some activities that are slightly more active - though I'll probably skip the hiking for a bit.  

On the Blog:

What Happened:

Monday:  The Cottages on Silver Beach - Contemporary Romance Review

Tuesday:  Summer-y Book Covers I Can't Resist

Wednesday:  Cooper's Charm - Contemporary Romance Review + Giveaway

Thursday:  Only With You - Contemporary Romance Review

Friday:  Friday Linkups - Buried in Books

Saturday:  2018 Second Quarter Check-In

What's Coming Up:

Monday:  Man on the Roof - Mystery Review

Tuesday:  Books I'd Take to A Deserted Island

Wednesday:  Books from the Backlog

Thursday:  Buried in Books - Cozy Mystery Review

Friday:  Friday Linkups with Current Book

Saturday:  Rainy Day Friends + Risk of Rogues - Romance Reviews

Have a great week and happy reading!

2018 Second Quarter Check In

At the beginning of 2018 I made a list of Bookish Goals.  One of my overall goals for the year is to actually accomplish some things I want to do instead of just talking about how much I want to do them.  I've been fairly successful on the non-bookish front but I felt like a check in was needed over here in book land.

Succeeding:

Read 200 Books - Still a bit behind but am catching up and my reading tends to increase pretty dramatically once school starts back in August.

Keep an eye out for independent bookstores - Found a new one in Birmingham - it ended up being a disappointment but I did go!

Make progress on a series I've neglected - Actually doing okay with this one though there are still some gaps in several of the series I enjoy.

Spend some time using a coloring book while listening to an audio book - I've done this a couple of times and it's so relaxing!

Try out some new cookbooks - I have!  I'm turning more and more to my cookbooks again and really enjoying it.

Complete the Modern Mrs. Darcy 2018  Reading Challenge - I have a few categories filled in and a few options for other categories.

Failing:

Create some kind of system for incoming books - This has actually gotten worse since I made this resolution but I have some hope that it will get better.

Focus on reading my own books - Have only read a few out of my own collection this year.  Need to get better about this!

Read more nonfiction - Somehow I've read no nonfiction this quarter. 

Participate in at least one readathon - Big nope here!

2nd Quarter Stats

Books Read So Far This Year: 82

Disappointments: Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen - Wasn't bad just didn't love it as much as I expected.

Books I Loved: Caroline: Little House Revisited by Sarah Mills 
Heaven Adjacent by Catherine Ryan Hyde

How is your reading going this year?

Friday Linkups - Buried in Books

It's Friday linkup time!  I'm linking up with the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer, Book Beginnings of Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, and the Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice

This Week's Book Blogger Hop Question: 

Do you have an Instagram account?  If so, do you only follow book folks?  

My Answer:  

I do have an Instagram account which you can find here  I'd love for you to follow me though I don't have the most exciting account!  I follow a lot of book bloggers (and am always looking for more) but I also follow a few celebrities and friends and a handful of Youtubers.

This week's book is Buried in Books by Kate Carlisle.  I just finished the previous book in this series about a book restorer who stumbles on dead bodies pretty regularly and am excited to start this one.  I haven't gotten very far but I am enjoying it.  The downside is that it makes me want to buy a lot of books - though granted that's not all that hard to do!

The Beginning:

"The name is Wainwright," I said to the conference volunteer seated at the registration table before me.  "Brooklyn Wainwright."

My Thoughts:

Well not the most exciting beginning to a mystery!

The 56:  

Before I could start to get my bearings, the room burst into bright light and there was a loud shout of "Surprise!"

My Thoughts: 

Also not particular ominous or dramatic but I do feel a bit sorry for Brooklyn.  I would hate surprise parties and Brooklyn has never struck me as the kind of character who would enjoy it either.

So what do you think?  Keep reading?

Only With You - Contemporary Romance Review

Goodreads:  Only With You (Man Enough #4) by Nicole McLaughlin

Rating: Good

Source: Publisher

Description:  National Guardsman Aiden King has been attracted to Hannah Walters for a while, but he never made a move because of her close relationship with his best friend. But when circumstances change, Aiden is surprised when his friend gives his blessing. Problem is, there’s a reason he’s still alone after all these years, and as much as he wants her, that secret keeps him from acting on his desires.

Hannah has finally decided to wait for the kind of love you read about in books and see in movies. After her failed engagement, Aiden’s unassuming support has become a touchstone for Hannah. It soon becomes apparent that he may be exactly the kind of man she’s been looking for. But the closer they become, the more he keeps her at arm’s length.

When Aiden suggests a road trip to take Hannah’s mind off her troubles, the two of them go on a journey neither one expected. She just hopes that the final destination is them together for good.

Genre: Romance - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:  I love a road trip in a romance!

My Impression:  This was my first Nicole McLaughlin and I really enjoyed it!  It wasn't quite as light and breezy as I expected.  Both Hannah and Aidan have real issues and this isn't a relationship that is just an instant connection.  The issues that they have are very real (and Aidan's is especially heartbreaking) and it's easy to see what's holding them each back from really becoming a couple at first.

Hannah is very sweet and talkative but there's a lot of insecurity hiding behind her bright façade.  I loved how her job as a 3rd grade teacher was really part of the book and liked her interactions with her coworkers.  It added a bit of depth and a bit of realism to her character and it was nice to have her be able to confide or talk to people who were out of her usual circle of friends.

Aidan is a really wonderful hero.  He's so sweet and kind and a touch shy.  Why he has some very dark demons he isn't bitter or mean he just has a tendency to disconnect to a situation.   There's a disconnect to how Hannah and Aidan interact which leads to some misunderstandings.  Normally this would drive me crazy but it actually worked here.  Part of this is because while the relationship stretches out over the course of months the pacing is very fast so we don't really wallow in the conflict.  As well it just kind of worked for the characters.  Yes they needed to talk to each other but the reasons they weren't wasn't because they were being unnecessarily stubborn but because of their own personal issues.

I really liked the timeline.  This wasn't a whirlwind romance.  While it's a short book the plot stretches out over the course of months which I really liked.  There are some real issues here and McLaughlin doesn't just wave a magic wand and fix everything which I really appreciated.  If you're looking for a fast read with developed and sympathetic characters and a lovely romance this is a great choice!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  I would!  I've already got her next book waiting for me and am looking forward to it.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy contemporary romance with a touch of spice than I think you'd enjoy this one.