Always With a Book

k2reader November 16, 2015

Book Spotlight & Guest Post: The Hundred Gifts by Jennifer Scott (Plus Giveaway!!!) – GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Please join me in welcoming Jennifer Scott to Always With a Book. Jennifer’s new book, The Hundred Gifts, was recently published. I’ll be reviewing this book in the coming weeks, but for now, enjoy this lovely guest post and be sure to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a copy of this book! Title: The Hundred Gifts Author: Jennifer Scott Published: October 2015, NAL Format: Paperback, 384…

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k2reader November 15, 2015

The Sunday Post #90 (11.15.15)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. I’m also going to link this up with Kathryn’s It’s Monday post over at Book Date. It seems that I’m always late to…

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k2reader November 15, 2015

#FitReaders: Weekly Check-in November 13

#FitReaders is hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog and That’s What I’m Talking About This week was a pretty good week. I made it to the gym twice – once to work out with a trainer. My gym gives you one free session when you renew your membership so I used my session this week. The trainer really listened to what I wanted. I’m quite intimidated by…

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k2reader November 14, 2015

Short & Sweet Review: 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs (audio)

Title: 206 Bones Author: Kathy Reichs Series: Temperance Brennan, #12 Narrator: Linda Emond Published: August 2009, Simon & Schuster Audio Length: 10 hours Source: Library Cold and alone, bound hands to feet, Tempe Brennan regains consciousness locked in a dark cell—or is she buried alive in a tomb?—and begins to reconstruct the twisted chain of events that led her to this terrifying place. Tempe and Lieutenant Ryan had recently accompanied…

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k2reader November 13, 2015

Review: Pop Goes the Weasel by M.J. Arlidge

Title: Pop Goes the Weasel Author: M.J. Arlidge Series: Helen Grace, #2 Published: October 2015, NAL Format: ARC E-copy, 416 pages Source: Netgalley From the international bestselling author of Eeny Meeny comes the second thriller in the “truly excellent series”* featuring DI Helen Grace. A man’s body is found in an empty house. His heart has been cut out and delivered to his wife and children. He is the first…

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k2reader November 11, 2015

Review: The Last September by Nina de Gramont (audio)

Title: The Last September Author: Nina de Gramont Narrator: Rebecca Mitchell Published: September 2015, Recorded Books Length: 10 hours 19 minutes Source: Personal copy via Audible Set against the desolate autumn beauty of Cape Cod, The Last September is a riveting emotional puzzle that takes readers inside the psyche of a woman facing the meaning of love and loyalty. Brett has been in love with Charlie ever since he took…

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k2reader November 10, 2015

Review: The Far End of Happy by Kathryn Craft

Title: The Far End of Happy Author: Kathryn Craft Published: May 2015, Sourcebooks Landmark Format: Paperback, 432 pages Source: Personal copy Twelve tense hours, three women, and the suicide standoff that turns one family’s little piece of heaven into a scene from hell After enduring years of a struggling marriage, Ronnie Farnham has decided to divorce her husband and is beginning to hope for…

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k2reader November 9, 2015

Review: The Liar by Nora Roberts (audio)

Title: The Liar Author: Nora Roberts Narrator: January LaVoy Published: April 2015, Brilliance Audio Length: 16 hours 41 minutes Source: Publisher The extraordinary new novel by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Collector. Shelby Foxworth lost her husband. Then she lost her illusions … The man who took her from Tennessee to an exclusive Philadelphia suburb left her in crippling debt. He was an adulterer and a liar,…

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k2reader November 8, 2015

The Sunday Post #89 (11.8.15)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. I’m also going to link this up with Kathryn’s It’s Monday post over at Book Date. I’ve been a bit MIA lately,…

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k2reader November 7, 2015

#FitReaders: Weekly Check-in November 6

#FitReaders is hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog and That’s What I’m Talking About What wonderful weather we had this week, so I took full advantage of it and walked outside everyday!!! I had to babysit my 2 adorable nieces on Monday and Tuesday, so I walked with them those days – they love going for walks and looking at all the Halloween decorations that are still…

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k2reader November 5, 2015

Review: Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini

Title: Christmas Bells Author: Jennifer Chiaverini Published: October 2015, Dutton Format: ARC Paperback, 336 pages Source: Publisher New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini celebrates Christmas, past and present, with a wondrous novel inspired by the classic poem “Christmas Bells,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I heard the bells on Christmas Day/ Their old familiar carols play/ And wild and sweet/ The words repeat/Of peace on earth, good-will to men! In…

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k2reader November 2, 2015

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: The Producer’s Daughter by Lindsay Marcott (Giveaway Closed)

Title: The Producer’s Daughter Author: Lindsay Marcott Published: November 2015, Crooked Lane Books Format: Hardcover, 288 pages Hannah Doran is the paparazzi’s dream: a perfect pedigree (wild child of a famous Hollywood producer and his gorgeous society wife, who died mysteriously in her prime); perfect friends (A-list movie stars and celebutantes); and a perfect fall from grace (convicted of grand theft after a night of…

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k2reader November 1, 2015

Month in Review: October 2015

Here are my reading stats for October! Books read: 12 Books I read: Dogwood Hill — Sherryl Woods (audio book) Gossamer Ghost — Laura Childs Marry Me at Christmas — Susan Mallery (audio book) Parchment and Old Lace — Laura Childs Willow Brook Road — Sherryl Woods (audio book) The Last September — Nina de Gramont (audio book) Winter Stroll — Elin Hilderbrand Pop Goes the Weasel — M.J. Arlidge…

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k2reader October 31, 2015

#FitReaders: Weekly Check-in October 30

#FitReaders is hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog and That’s What I’m Talking About This was a tough week. Friday was supposed to be my last day of week but I had to move that up to Tuesday due to a family emergency. I spent Wednesday and Thursday at my sister’s watching my 2 nieces, which was fun, but quite tiring…and I’m heading back there for a few days…

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k2reader October 31, 2015

Review: Gossamer Ghost by Laura Childs

Title: Gossamer Ghost Author: Laura Childs Series: A Scrapbooking Mystery, #12 Published: October 2014, Berkley Format: Hardcover, 336 pages Source: Library Carmela Bertrand knows that Halloween in New Orleans means a week of rabble-rousing, costumed craziness—and she can’t wait to get the party started. But when a local antiques dealer turns up dead, Carmela suddenly finds herself in a real-life danse macabre……

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k2reader October 31, 2015

Book Spotlight: The Barter by Siobhan Adcock

Title: The Barter Author: Siobhan Adcock Published: August 2015, Plume Format: Paperback, 320 pages In today’s “lean in” era, debut novelist Siobhan Adcock casts the issue of whether women can ever “have it all” into a superbly written novel that will have readers everywhere talking. Bridget has given up her career to raise her daughter, but now a terrifying presence has entered their Texas home—and…

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k2reader October 30, 2015

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Untimely Death by Elizabeth J. Duncan (Giveaway Closed)

Title: Untimely Death Author: Elizabeth J. Duncan Series: Shakespeare in the Catskills Mystery, #1 Published: November 2015, Crooked Lane Books Format: Hardcover, 304 pages A Catskills resort’s production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet takes a wickedly ironic turn when the leading lady, Lauren Richmond, is first poisoned and then stabbed. Who would extinguish the life of such a beautiful young thespian? Who wouldn’t?…

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k2reader October 28, 2015

Review: Nine Lives by Wendy Corsi Staub

Title: Nine Lives Author: Wendy Corsi Staub Published: October 2015, Crooked Lane Books Format: ARC Paperback, 288 pages Source: Publisher After the death of her husband, Bella Jordan and her son need a fresh start. But on their way to stay with family in Chicago, they stop in Lily Dale, New York and a storm forces them to spend the night. Brimming with…

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k2reader October 26, 2015

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams (Giveaway Closed)

Next week, Along the Infinite Sea, the latest book by Beatriz Williams comes out (November 3rd!) and I’m super excited about this one. This is the third and final book of the Schuyler sisters and I’ve been looking forward to reading it since finishing the last one, Tiny Little Thing over the summer. I had the please of meeting Beatriz quite a few times and will be seeing her again…

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k2reader October 25, 2015

#FitReaders: Weekly Check-in October 23

#FitReaders is hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog and That’s What I’m Talking About Another week of just squeaking by with my step goal (10k/day) this week, except for Wednesday. I’ve had some long days at the computer this past week, trying to finish up projects at work before my last day, which is this Friday. I foresee another long week of computer time and meetings ahead of…

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k2reader October 19, 2015

Review: Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery (audio)

Title: Marry Me at Christmas Author: Susan Mallery Series: Fool’s Gold, #19 Narrator: Tanya Eby Published: September 2015, Brilliance Audio Length: 6 hours 37 minutes Source: Publisher Wish upon a Christmas star with New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery’s sparkling Fool’s Gold romance! To bridal boutique owner Madeline Krug, organizing a Christmas wedding sounds like a joy—until she finds out she’ll be…

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k2reader October 18, 2015

The Sunday Post #88 (10.18.15)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. I’m also going to link this up with Kathryn’s It’s Monday post over at Book Date. Fall is definitely here! We had our…

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k2reader October 18, 2015

#FitReaders: Weekly Check-in October 16

#FitReaders is hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog and That’s What I’m Talking About I ended up going away last weekend and I didn’t get a chance to post, so here is 2 week’s worth of steps. I haven’t made it to the gym in a while, but last week, I forced myself to hit my goal of 10k steps each day and I felt good doing that.…

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k2reader October 16, 2015

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Nine Lives by Wendy Corsi Staub (Giveaway Closed)

Title: Nine Lives Author: Wendy Corsi Staub Published: October 2015, Crooked Lane Books Format: Hardcover, 288 pages After the death of her husband, Bella Jordan and her son need a fresh start. But on their way to stay with family in Chicago, they stop in Lily Dale, New York and a storm forces them to spend the night. Brimming with psychics and mediums, Lily Dale…

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k2reader October 13, 2015

Review: Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand

Title: Winter Stroll Author: Elin Hilderbrand Series: Winter #2 Published: October 2015, Little Brown & Company Format: ARC Paperback, 272 pages Source: Publisher The Quinn family celebrates their most dramatic Christmas yet in this enchanting sequel to Elin Hilderbrand’s bestselling Winter Street. Christmas on Nantucket finds Winter Street Inn owner Kelley Quinn and his family busily preparing for the holiday season. Though…

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k2reader October 8, 2015

Review & Giveaway: Parchment and Old Lace by Laura Childs

Title: Parchment and Old Lace Author: Laura Childs Series: A Scrapbooking Mystery, #13 Published: October 2015, Berkley Format: Hardcover, 336 pages Source: Author The New York Times bestselling author of Gossamer Ghost returns to the Big Easy and the historic Garden District, where scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand discovers a bride-to-be murdered in the legendary Lafayette Cemetery… Carmela couldn’t imagine a…

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k2reader October 7, 2015

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Another Woman’s Daughter by Fiona Sussman (Giveaway Closed)

Title: Another Woman’s Daughter Author: Fiona Sussman Published: October 2015, Berkley Format: Paperback, 304 pages Set against the tumultuous background of apartheid South Africa, a powerful and moving debut about family, sacrifice, and discovering what it means to belong… Celia Mphephu knows her place in the world. A black servant working in the white suburbs of 1960s Johannesburg, she’s all too aware of her…

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k2reader October 7, 2015

Review: The Admissions by Meg Mitchell Moore

Title: The Admissions Author: Meg Mitchell Moore Narrator: Allyson Ryan Published: August 2015, Random House Audio Length: 14 hours 34 minutes Source: Personal copy via Audible The Admissions brilliantly captures the frazzled pressure cooker of modern life as a seemingly perfect family comes undone by a few desperate measures, long-buried secrets—and college applications! The Hawthorne family has it all. Great jobs, a beautiful…

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k2reader October 5, 2015

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Chance Harbor by Holly Robinson (Giveaway Closed)

Title: Chance Harbor Author: Holly Robinson Published: October 2015, NAL Format: Paperback, 448 pages From the acclaimed author of Beach Plum Island and The Wishing Hill… “No one does it better than Holly Robinson.”—Susan Straight, National Book Award Finalist and Author of Between Heaven and Here Catherine and Zoe are sisters, but even their mother, Eve, admits her daughters are nothing alike. Catherine is calm…

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k2reader October 4, 2015

The Sunday Post #87 (10.4.15)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. I’m also going to link this up with Sheila’s It’s Monday post over at Book Journey. It was a crummy week weather-wise, which…

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k2reader October 4, 2015

#FitReaders: Weekly Check-in October 2

#FitReaders is hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog and That’s What I’m Talking About This week I had no motivation…none! Work is definitely getting the best of me and not in a good way 🙁 I’m frustrated beyond belief and stressed but have no desire to workout. The steps I got were from walking the dogs and then from running around like a crazy woman at work –…

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k2reader October 4, 2015

Review: The Dance Begins by Diane Chamberlain Plus Spotlight of New Book

Title: The Dance Begins Author: Diane Chamberlain Published: August 2015, St. Martin’s Press Format: E-book, 44 pages Source: Personal copy In this short story prequel to Pretending to Dance, psychologist Graham Arnette longs to dance the way he used to, before illness stole his ability to walk. Graham lives on one hundred acres of family land with his daughter Molly and…

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k2reader October 1, 2015

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Night Blindness by Susan Strecker (Giveaway Closed)

Title: Night Blindness Author: Susan Strecker Published: September 2015, St. Martin’s Press (first published 2014) Format: Paperback, 320 pages One October night, when Jensen Reilly is sixteen, she and her high school sweetheart are involved in a horrible accident. Ever since then Jensen has been running from her past. But when Jensen’s beloved father is diagnosed with a brain tumor, she returns to her childhood home…

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k2reader October 1, 2015

Month in Review: September 2015

Here are my reading stats for September! Books read: 13 Books I read: Come Away With Me — Karma Brown 206 Bones — Kathy Reichs (audio book) The Girl in the Spider’s Web — David Lagercrantz (audio book) The Paris Key — Juliet Blackwell (e-book) Real Murders — Charlaine Harris (audio book) The Middle of Somewhere — Sonja Yoerg The Admissions — Meg Mitchell Moore (audio book) Little Black Lies…

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k2reader September 30, 2015

#30 Authors Day 30: Liza Klaussmann recommends A Manual for Cleaning Women: Selected Stories by Lucia Berlin

I’m so excited to be participating in a second day of this year’s #30Authors event and on the final day…what a great event this has been and I’m so honored to have been a part of it! Today I have Liza Klaussman here to discuss Lucia Berlin’s A Manual for Cleaning Women. And don’t forget to check out the amazing giveaway below as well. But first, here’s a little bit…

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k2reader September 29, 2015

Review: Christmas in Mustang Creek by Linda Lael Miller

Title: Christmas in Mustang Creek Author: Linda Lael Miller Series: The Brides of Bliss County, #4 Published: September 2015, HQN Books Format: ARC E-copy, 272 pages Source: Netgalley via Little Bird Publicity No one does the holidays like Linda Lael Miller, whose Christmas novels have warmed the hearts of millions of readers the world over! Charlotte Morgan grew up in Mustang Creek, Wyoming,…

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k2reader September 28, 2015

Review & Giveaway: A Perfect Heritage by Penny Vincenzi (Giveaway Closed!)

Title: A Perfect Heritage Author: Penny Vincenzi Published: October 2015, The Overlook Press Format: Hardcover, 768 pages Source: Publisher The House of Farrell – home of The Cream, an iconic face product that has seen women flocking to its bijoux flagship store in the Berkeley Arcade since 1953. At Farrell, you can rely on the personal touch. The legendary Athina Farrell remains the…

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k2reader September 27, 2015

The Sunday Post #86

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. I’m also going to link this up with Sheila’s It’s Monday post over at Book Journey. Busy, busy, busy!!! That’s what it’s been…

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k2reader September 27, 2015

#FitReaders: Weekly Check-in September 25

#FitReaders is hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog and That’s What I’m Talking About This was a tough week…it was hard getting in my 10k steps, but luckily my dogs help with that. They need their walks and so by default, I do, too! I didn’t make it to the gym this week, but did try to get up at least once an hour to move around for…

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k2reader September 25, 2015

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks (Giveaway Closed!)

Title: The Secret Chord Author: Geraldine Brooks Published: October 2015, Viking Format: Hardcover, 320 pages A rich and utterly absorbing novel about the life of King David, from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of People of the Book and March. With more than two million copies of her novels sold, New York Times bestselling author Geraldine Brooks has achieved both popular and critical acclaim. Now,…

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k2reader September 23, 2015

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Laguna Nights by Kaira Rouda (Giveaway Closed!)

Title: Laguna Nights Author: Kaira Rouda Series: Laguna Beach, #1 Published: July 2015, Real You Publishing Group Format: Paperback, 250 pages Madison Alcott left her Laguna Beach childhood in the past as soon as she could, never imagining she’d be forced to return. Caring for her ill mother and holding down a high-pressure position at the best resort in town, Madison’s life is…

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k2reader September 22, 2015

Review: Everything I Never You by Celeste Ng

Title: Everything I Never Told You Author: Celeste Ng Published: May 2015, Penguin Books Format: Paperback, 292 pages Source: Publisher Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet . . . So begins this debut novel about a mixed-race family living in 1970s Ohio and the tragedy that will either be their undoing or their salvation. Lydia is the favorite child…

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k2reader September 21, 2015

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: After You by Jojo Moyes (Giveaway Closed!)

Title: After You Author: Jojo Moyes Series: Me Before You, #2 Published: September 2015, Pamela Dorman Books Format: Hardcover, 368 pages How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living? Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is…

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k2reader September 20, 2015

The Sunday Post #85 (9.20.15)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. I’m also going to link this up with Sheila’s It’s Monday post over at Book Journey. Wow, did this past week fly by!…

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k2reader September 20, 2015

#FitReaders: Weekly Check-in September 18

#FitReaders is hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog and That’s What I’m Talking About It ended up being a crazier week than I anticipated due to work, which I have the feeling is going to be the case for a while now. Being involved in those FitBit weekly challenges does help motivate me to get my steps in which is a good thing, especially when I’m stuck on the…

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k2reader September 19, 2015

Short & Sweet Review: Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs (audio)

Title: Devil Bones Author: Kathy Reichs Series: Temperance Brennan, #11 Narrator: Linda Emond Published: August 2008, Simon & Schuster Audio Length: 10 hours Source: Library Following her most successful book to date, Kathy Reichs — international number one bestselling author, forensic anthropologist, and producer of the Fox television hit Bones — returns to Charlotte, North Carolina, where Temperance Brennan encounters a deadly…

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k2reader September 18, 2015

Review & Giveaway: The Middle of Somewhere by Sonja Yoerg (Giveaway Closed!)

Title: The Middle of Somewhere Author: Sonja Yoerg Published: September 2015, NAL Format: ARC Paperback, 336 pages Source: Publisher A troubled, young widow hikes from Yosemite Valley deep into the wilderness on the John Muir Trail to elude her shameful past in this emotionally gripping story from the author of House Broken. With her thirtieth birthday looming, Liz Kroft is heading for…

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k2reader September 17, 2015

Review: The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams

Title: The Secret Life of Violet Grant Author: Beatriz Williams Published: May 2014, G.P Putnam’s Sons Format: Hardcover, 448 pages Source: Personal copy Passion, redemption, and a battered suitcase full of secrets: the New York Times-bestselling author of A Hundred Summers returns with another engrossing tale. Manhattan, 1964. Vivian Schuyler, newly graduated from Bryn Mawr College, has recently defied the privilege of her storied old…

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k2reader September 16, 2015

Cover Reveal: Lies and Other Acts of Love by Kristy Woodson Harvey (with a Giveaway!!!)

I am so excited to be part of the big cover reveal today of Kristy Woodsen Harvey’s second book, Lies and Other Acts of Love, due out April 4, 2016. I absolutely loved her debut novel, Dear Carolina, and am looking forward to reading this new book. Here’s what’s already being said about this book: “We loved everything about LIES AND OTHER ACTS OF LOVE. From the strong plot about…

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k2reader September 15, 2015

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Dark Waters by Chris Goff (Giveaway Closed!)

Title: Dark Waters Author: Chris Goff Series: Raisa Jordan Thriller, #1 Published: September 2015, Crooked Lane Books Format: Hardcover, 352 pages Raisa “Rae” Jordan, an agent for the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, isn’t in Israel for more than a day before her predecessor is gunned down in a Tel Aviv square by a sniper. Assigned to investigate the assassination of one of her…

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