Sunday, May 28, 2017

Review: A Most Unlikely Duke by Sophie Barnes


A Most Unlikely Duke by Sophie Barnes
Book One of the Diamonds in the Rough series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: June 27, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

He never thought he'd become a duke, or that the secrets of his past would cost him his greatest love... 

Raphe Matthews hasn’t stepped foot in polite circles since a tragedy left his once-noble family impoverished and in debt. The bare-knuckle boxer has spent the last fifteen years eking out an existence for himself and his two sisters. But when a stunning reversal of fortune lands Raphe the title of Duke of Huntley, he’s determined to make a go of becoming a proper lord, but he’ll need a little help, and his captivating neighbor might be just the woman for the job…

After her sister’s scandalous match, Lady Gabriella knows the ton’s eyes are on her. Agreeing to tutor the brutish new duke can only lead to ruin. Although she tries to control her irresistible attraction to Raphe, every day she spends with him only deepens her realization that this may be the one man she cannot do without. And as scandal threatens to envelop them both, she must decide if she can risk everything for love with a most unlikely duke.

What I Liked:

I've read five of Sophie Barnes' previous books, and I think it is safe to say that this is my favorite of hers. Or perhaps this book is tied with The Trouble with Being a Duke, which was the first Barnes book I'd read. I'd been looking forward to reading A Most Unlikely Duke since Barnes announced the book's publication on her social media, and she did a post on the cover photo-shoot. I knew this would be a historical romance novel for me and I am so glad that it did not disappoint!

Raphe Matthews and his two younger sisters have lived by themselves in the slums of St. Giles for fifteen years. Raphe took up bare-knuckle boxing in order to pay off a debt his father left, and to take care of his sisters. One day, just after he accepts a deal to fight the best bare-knuckle fighter known to this underground business, Raphe receives an official letters from the solicitors of the Duke of Huntley... due to deaths and succession, Raphe is the new Duke of Huntley. He moves his sisters to the Huntley properties, but it's obvious that they won't fit in, given their mannerisms, speech, and disdain for society and the ton. But their neighbor, Lady Gabriella, is determined to see the girls succeed. Her older sister was a perfect lady but ran off with an American businessman. So Gabriella, once an awkward, bug-loving girl, must be the paragon of the ton. But she knows how it feels to be ostracized, and she won't let down down the new duke's sisters. But she doesn't expect to fall for the new duke himself, despite her resolve to stay away from him. Marrying into a family with a good reputation and lineage has always been her parents' goal for her, but Gabriella isn't so sure that she wants that. What she realizes is that she wants Raphe, rough background and all. 

I'd been looking forward to reading this new book by Barnes, not only because she's a familiar Avon author, or because the cover is stunning (it really is!). The synopsis sounded fantastic! A rags-to-riches story with a young noblewoman helping the family find their footing and inevitably falling in love with the new young duke? Yes, please!

When I started reading the book, I grew a little uncertain, because of Gabriella's marriage situation. For Gabriella, the story starts with her and Fielding, the young earl who is courting her. Gabriella's parents have doubled her dowry, and Fielding has taken an interest in her. It is clear that Fielding and Gabriella's parents expect things to end in a marriage contract and a wedding. But Gabriella feels stifled by Fielding, and by her parents. Usually this sort of plot would bother me (in which the female protagonist is "engaged" or is courted by another). But it was so clear that Gabriella really did not want to interact with Fielding, and that she was forcing herself to be civil, because she knew how much this match meant to her parents and her family's reputation. 

Basically, the involvement with Fielding was very little, because he had no romantic or sexual interest in Gabriella, and vice versa. On the other hand, as soon as Gabriella saw Raphe, even in his disheveled state, she was intrigued. Their first meeting was a little embarrassing for Gabriella and hilarious for Raphe.

Gabriella is a sweetheart, and so kind to the new duke and his sisters. Despite her parents warning her not to go to her new neighbors, she does so every day, to teach Amelia and Juliette how to comport themselves. And of course, she and Raphe collide and bicker. Gabriella is not a perfect, beautiful lady like she is trying to be - she is more intelligent and a little odd, compared to what society would force her to be. She and Raphe are a lovely pair.

There is only one sex scene in this book (BOOOO), but the chemistry between Raphe and Gabriella is very obvious and yet subtle. They get along very well (even with the initial bickering), and they grow to care for each other very deeply. But they have a lot of tension between them, which I'd been waiting... and waiting... and waiting, to see it all explode. That would be my one complaint - not enough sex scenes!

I loved the bond between Raphe and his sisters - it's a healthy and strong bond. Usually younger sisters are made out to be pompous, bratty, and irritating, in historical romance novels. In this book, Amelia and Juliette are quiet and kind, yet lively and spirited. They are also very respectful of Raphe and very aware of all that he has given up and done for him. They're about as old as Gabriella (i.e. not super young, but not terribly old either), and all three ladies become good friends.

This book has a lot going on, besides the budding romance between Raphe and Gabriella. Raphe and his sisters try desperately to fit into society, though most of the ton won't have them. And then there is Raphe's questionable past as a bare-knuckle boxer - what will happen when polite society finds out that its newest duke used to fight for money? And the deal that Raphe made - will he go through with it, as the new Duke of Huntley? Barnes really covers the whole nine yards in this book - nothing that was brought up in the beginning is left to be forgotten.

The ending is quite a good one! Raphe deserves his happily-ever-after for sure. Everything came together a little too neatly but I'm not going to complain because I'm just happy that Raphe is happy with Gabriella. I can't wait to see cameos from them in subsequent books!

What I Did Not Like:

Like I said, the only thing I would complain about is the lack of sex! There is only one sex scene in the book - at the very end, and it is so brief. Booo! Maybe I'm spoiled? I feel like most Avon-published historical romance novels that I've read have more than one sex scene (and that first sex scene is usually, errr, pretty detailed). More sex is (almost) never bad!

Would I Recommend It:

If you like historical romance novels, then this is a good one to try! I feel like I haven't been reading as many as I used to, so I couldn't tell you too many others that have published already for the year that I liked (maybe Mary Wine's Highland Weddings books that published in 2017 - those are good. Scottish historical romance though, not Regency.). In any case, this book was very good and hey, if you're not a huge fan of sex in romance novels (you like the sweeter/swoonier books versus the sexier ones), then this is definitely one for you!

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars. Still a good rating and still a good that I would highly recommend! With that beautiful cover, and a beautiful story to match, you can't go wrong. Watching Raphe and Gabriella fall for each other was so sweet and I kind of want to reread this book already!


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Sunday Afternoon Tea - Finding peace in the kitchen


There was a day last week when it seemed the rain was unending.  As I looked out my kitchen window, the weeds were growing higher than the grass and a gloom seemed to cover the land.  For rain, when it is needed, creates a cozy atmosphere but one can have too much of a good thing.

I was weary and not a little... edgy.  I longed for a warm and sunny day with a breeze coming in through the open window.  However, since the forecast was for chilly and wet for the next few days, I decided to do something creative.  I baked a Bundt cake and set aside part of it to take to the friend who gave me the recipe many years ago when we were neighbors.

There is something about the precision required in baking that takes my mind off of the unpleasant side of life.  As I blend together the butter and sugar in the mixer, as I scoop flour and swipe a knife over the measuring cup to smooth it out, as I chop the apple for the cake and measure the cocoa, as I spray the pan with coconut oil to make certain it doesn't stick... the alchemy of baking takes me to another place.

As I was baking, it reminded me of two other women I knew who found their peace in the kitchen.

I was just talking to my sister recently about memories of her mother-in-law.  For I can't think of her without remembering what it was like to walk through the back door of that house in the country, with its' view of the river in front and the forest in the back, without thinking of the food which came out of that tiny kitchen.  Especially the baking...

My sister and her husband built a house next to her in-laws (and whether that is wise is a subject of debate but I digress) so many of my childhood memories are of the family gathering at my sister's place and eventually making our way to her mother-in-law's kitchen where she and my mother would chat while delicious aromas surrounded the conversation.

Every Christmas, one of our favorite gifts was the tin of candy and cookies she made as gifts for close friends and family.  For every bite was as delicious as anything made by the finest confectioners in Europe.  It is probably a good thing I didn't develop Juvenile Diabetes until middle age, long after she had gone on to her reward.  For I doubt there would have been any way to overcome temptation.

I didn't know it then but as I got older, I learned more about her and the unhappy circumstances of her life.  It explained a lot about her personality.  I also came to realize she found freedom and peace in that alchemy of baking, in the chopping of vegetables for soup, in the way familiar recipes made for family throughout the years gave comfort.  Not only to them but also to her.

The other woman I knew who found some peace in cooking and baking was my own mother-in-law.  Whenever I think of her, it is in her galley kitchen with a cigarette nearby as she was preparing a meal.  We didn't have much in common except cooking.  Like my sister's mother-in-law, her disappointments in life as well as tragedies affected her personality and at times I found her... difficult.  However, she showed love in the way she created magic with the simplest of ingredients.

Many of the recipe cards which have a home in the vintage card holder in my kitchen came from her.  Over the years, we shared many recipes and a few cookbooks.  I realize now that it was her way of reaching out when at times, she didn't know how.  Every meal at her home was simple but delicious.

I doubt either woman associated food with God.  I do.  I truly believe the way we find peace in the chopping and stirring and mixing and thinking of new ways to use ingredients is part of our original assignment to... create.  These women did not see themselves as artists by any means.  But I do.  For one can be an artist with sugar, flour, and butter just as much as when one mixes watercolors for a painting.

Except our canvas is a table and our art disappears in a matter of minutes.  Not unlike sandcastles at the beach.  Things of beauty to be enjoyed for the moment.  A way to share.  A way to show love.  Perhaps that is why we take photos of food.  Instinctively, we know it is Art... whether a gourmet feast or the simplest meal of a fried egg on fresh asparagus.

I have heard that the kitchen is the heart of the home.  Perhaps in many ways, it also functions as an altar.  For it is where many of us meet with God.  Where we pray. Where... in the very process of cooking and baking... we who are created in the image of the Creator... using the products of His earth... create.

Image:  Fresh Bred by Loren Entz

The Bundt cake recipe can be found... here.

Bestseller Blabbing: Boswell Annotated List for the Week Ending May 27, 2017

More of an on-time bestseller list.

1. Evensong, by Kate Southwood
2. Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders
3. A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles
4. Since We Fell, by Dennis Lehane
5. Into the Water, by Paula Hawkins
6. Men Without Women, by Haruki Murakami
7. The Fix V3, by David Baldacci
8. The Book of Joan, by Lidia Yuknavitch
9. Saints for All Occasions, by J. Courtney Sullivan
10. American War, by Omar El-Akkad

Earlier this month, Since We Fell was released by Ecco, Dennis Lehane's new home at HarperCollins. Here's what Neely Tucker in The Washington Post had to say about the new book: "Dennis Lehane’s 14th novel takes the author back to his old New England stomping grounds, that fertile place of Mystic River and Shutter Island This tale, Since We Fell, basing its title on an old torch ballad, is a pleasantly twisted character study and a love story told in no particular rush. It turns, down to the last page, on the captivating heart of a disgraced television journalist named Rachel Childs."

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. Option B, by Sheryl Sandberg with Adam Grant
2. Family Matters, by Robert Evans
3. Strengths Finder 2.0, by Tom Rath
4. Hillbilly Elegy, by J.D. Rath
5. Eat Move Sleep, by Tom Rath
6. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, by Neil Degrasse Tyson
7. Killers of the Flower Moon, by David Grann
8. Churchill and Orwell, by Thomas E Ricks
9. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes, by Dan Egan
10. The Book of Joy, by Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Carlton Abrams

Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom is the new book from Pulitzer winner Thomas E. Ricks. Richard Aldous writes in The New York Times Book Review that World War II redeemed he reputations of both, having fallen out of favor in the 1930s. Aldous notes: "What comes across strongly in this highly enjoyable book is the fierce commitment of both Orwell and Churchill to critical thought. Neither followed the crowd. Each treated popularity and rejection with equal skepticism. Their unwavering independence, Ricks concludes, put them in 'a long but direct line from Aristotle and Archimedes to Locke, Hume, Mill and Darwin, and from there through Orwell and Churchill to the ‘Letter from Birmingham City Jail.'"

Paperback Fiction:
1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon
2. In the Garden of Angels and Demons, by Stephen Anderson
3. My Mother Was a Freedom Fighter, by Aja Monet
4. The Alchemist 25th anniversary edition, by Paulo Coelho
5. LaRose, by Louise Erdrich
6. The Good Doctor, by Michael Kula
7. Lilac Girls, by Martha Hall Kelly
8. Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi (In-store Lit Group discussion Mon 6/5, 7 pm, at Boswell)
9. Those We Left Behind V1, by Stuart Neville (at Boswell Wed 6/21, 7 pm, with Cara Black)
10. The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood

Louise Erdrich's LaRose had not been selling at the level of her last novel, The Round House, but the NBCC award has definitely increased its momentum. The Washington Post noted that Erdrich won this award 30 years ago for Love Medicine. She, along with fellow bookstore owner Emma Straub (Erdrich owns Birchbark while Straub's new store is Books Are Magic, and yes, I've been to both) provided PBS with a summer reading list.

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. Launch, by John Spencer
2. Evicted, by Matthew Desmond
3. Unshakeable Confidence, by Mare Chapman
4. Death from the Skies, by Philip Plait
5. The Collapse of Parenting, by Leonard Sax
6. On Tyranny, by TImothy Snyder
7. Untethered Soul, by Michael Singer
8. Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be, by Frank Bruni
9. The Next American Revolution, by Grace Lee Boggs
10. My Bookstore, edited by Ronald Rice

On The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-Ups, and NPR's Rachel Martin talked to author Leonard Sax on NPR for the hardcover edition: "So many parents think it is their job to be their child's best friend. That's not your job. Your job is to keep your child safe, make sure they get a good night's sleep and give them a grounding and confidence and help them to know who they are as human beings."

Books for Kids:
1. All American Boys, by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
2. Trash, by Andy Mulligan
3. The Someday Birds, by Sally J. Pla
4. There Grows the Neighborhood, by Sharp Literacy and Will Allen
5. The Great Treehouse War, by Lisa Graff
6. A Study in Charlotte V1, by Brittany Cavallaro (event Thu 6/29 at Boswell, with Mackenzi Lee)
7. The Trials of Apollo V2, by Rick Riordan
8. Oh the Places You'll Go, by Dr. Seuss
9. Windfall, by Jennifer E. Smith
10. The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors, by Drew Daywalt with illustrations by Adam Rex

I always like to see what other retailers are doing with books. Target has a book club program where they do a run of books with their logo on them. Sometimes I think they are reading our blog and email newsletter, as there have been several books that they got behind that were not exactly national bestsellers. I was particularly surprised to see Jessica Chiarella's And Again, a book that folks, when they read, really love, but it's hard to get them past the premise, so I'm wondering how it does in a mass merchant, where there's no bookseller to force the issue. I also recently (and yes, this is how it comes down to the kids books comment) saw the Target Book Club*edition of A Study in Charlotte. I'm sure they've done this before, but I certainly didn't spot other YA titles on this display. So there you have it, Cavallaro's novel is a great adult cross-over, per at least one other buyer.

*Yes, I'm linking to a competitor. It's not like you couldn't do this yourself.

Journal Sentinel Book Editor Jim Higgins reviews David Sedaris's Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002) (the event is sold out, but if you have patience, you can meet Sedaris on the signing line). He notes: "My gold standard for this kind of project among living writers is the Alan Bennett diaries, which the English playwright excerpts annually in the London Review of Books and which he has distilled into several books. Happily, I can report that this volume of Sedaris' entries is as good as Bennett's. Like Bennett's collations, the Sedaris diaries are laced with snark, wit and trenchant observations, personal and public; also like Bennett, Sedaris tells on himself."

At the Journal Sentinel, Mike Fischer reviews The Factory Girls: A Kaleidoscopic Account of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, from Christine Seifert. It's targeted to the YA market. Fischer isn't a fan.

Laura Patten writes in the Journal Sentinel about Samantha Irby's newest, We Are Never Meeting in Real Life, which also got a great read from Boswell's Sharon. From Patten: "Most of her essays will turn your cheeks scarlet. Irby is complex, riddled with hang-ups and likes talking about things that are smelly, SOMETIMES IN ALL CAPS. She shares her inner monologue whether or not we’re prepared to hear it — but not for shock value. She writes because she has something to say, in the way that only Irby can." We hosted Irby for her last collection, back when she lived in Chicago, and she's as funny (and off color) in person as she is in her book.

And on top of that, it's time for 101 books for summer reading. I'm sort of crying here, because my favorite novel of spring, Don Lee's Lonesome Lies Before Us, made the list. Lee is coming June 15.

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Review: Spectacle by Rachel Vincent


Spectacle by Rachel Vincent
Book Two of the Menagerie series
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Publication Date: May 30, 2017
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

In this riveting sequel to New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent's acclaimed novel Menagerie, Delilah Marlow will discover that there is no crueler cage than the confines of the human mind…

When their coup of Metzger's Menagerie is discovered, Delilah and her fellow cryptids find their newly won freedom brutally stripped away as they are sold into The Savage Spectacle, a private collection of "exotic wildlife." Specializing in ruthless cryptid cage matches, safari-style creature hunts and living party favors, the Spectacle's owner, Willem Vandekamp, caters to the forbidden fetishes of the wealthy and powerful. At the Spectacle, any wish can be granted—for the right price. 

But Vandekamp's closely guarded client list isn't the only secret being kept at the Spectacle. Beneath the beauty and brutality of life in the collection lie much darker truths, and no one is more determined than Delilah to strip the masks from the human monsters and drag all dark things into the light.

What I Liked:

Let me say two things before I start my commentary: (1) This book is not bad, and I think it will be very successful and a good addition to the series. Please read my full thoughts before jumping to the conclusion of "Alyssa gave the book three stars so it must not be good!". (2) This review might be shorter than usual because my thoughts and feelings on this book are not going to be an accurate reflection of the book's quality. Usually I write my reviews based on technical aspects and categories (character development, plot, world-building, etc.), but I don't think I can construct a fair review based on those items, based on my physical reaction to this book. You'll see what I mean.

Actually, this review is going to be somewhat similar to my review of Menagerie. I thought that book was good, well-written, but I suffered as I was reading it. Like Menagerie, there are cruel and disgusting aspects of this book. Unlike Menagerie, or compared to Menagerie, the cruel and disgusting aspects get worse, in Spectacle

In essence, Delilah and the Menagerie gang get kidnapped and forced into the Savage Spectacle, which is different from the Menagerie. The Savage Spectacle is cleaner with better conditions... yet, worse conditions. Each cryptid is outfitted with a collar that has needles that go directly into the spine, which can sense neural and hormonal impulses. Every impulse, action, even thought is controlled. Worse - the Spectacle is all about private engagements and satisfying clients with cryptid fetishes. Yep. Reread that again and imagine what I'm talking about.

Vincent did an amazing job with this story - I can't imagine it having been easy to write. Every disgusting act, every choice taken away, every forced action - I hated all of it but I can't deny that everything was well-written and not without its place. 

I adored Delilah, and Gallager, and the crew. I hated what was done to them, but I loved seeing their strength and self-preservation win out. 

No romance in this book, though there are some... odd things that happen. 

In general, it's a sequel that will rip you apart and hurt you, but it is a good book.

What I Did Not Like:

There are so many things wrong with this story, I can't even begin to list them even if I wanted to (but I won't, because of spoilers). Notice I'm talking about the story and not the book (note the distinction). Vincent is shining a light on some gruesome and horrible topics, and I take no issue with that. Sort of. 

I think my problem is that I hated everything that happened in this book, and I didn't - couldn't - enjoy the story. There are no trigger warnings, nothing to help someone decide if this is a book for them. Let me just say: there is rape in this book. There is lack of consent. There is sexual abuse and sexual harassment. Wills (willpower) are taken, choices are taken, freedom is taken. A person's body is not their own, physically, mentally, or in a reproductive way. Loss of memory, loss of control, loss of the ability to communicate - the story is filled with these things.

Can you imagine? 

I needed warnings. Put yourself in the shoes of a rape survivor, or sexual abuse survivor. This book is disturbing and horrifying - as it is meant to be! - and I could not enjoy it. I do not begrudge anyone their high rating or praise of this book, but I couldn't enjoy this story. I recognize that it is not the book itself that should be put down - but I'm being honest here: I hated the story. 


Three stars, because it's not the book, it's the actions and behaviors that exist in this world and should not be ignored. But, three stars, because I could not stomach this story. Call me whatever name you want, but I couldn't do it. Yes, I finished the book. Yes, I know, all of the things in this book exist (in some way) in real life. 

In Menagerie, I sort of got used to the "disturbing" aspects of the story. In Spectacle? Everything was one hundred times worse. Menagerie seemed just barely disturbing compared to Spectacle. So there was no way for me to "get used to anything", to become desensitized.

Would I Recommend It:

I do not recommend Spectacle. I do not recommend Menagerie. These are not easy books to read, and honestly they get worse and worse in terms of graphic content. Worse NOT in terms of the quality of the storytelling, but worse in terms of what the characters have to experience and face. Call me a snowflake, call me fragile, I don't care - these books are not for everyone. Definitely (unfortunately) not for me. I thought I could handle it with Menagerie, but clearly I was wrong with Spectacle. I can't finish this series. I can't think about how bad book three will be.

Don't take my word for it though, if you've already read Menagerie and you're really interested in this book. But if you haven't read Menagerie, think about what you'll be reading before you start the book. Message or email me with questions, if you want. Although I have to say, I'm going to be trying really hard to forget what I read, in both books.

Rating:

3 stars. I honestly don't know how to rate and review this book, because it's me and my thoughts/opinions that I'm writing about, and not necessary technical aspects (writing, world-building, character development, etc.). I rarely write this type of review (based on my thoughts/opinions alone), but I'm so shaken and unsettled, and I really don't know how to write this review any other way. Hopefully I've conveyed something useful to any reader of this reviewer. I'm not trying to tear down the author or this book - but I am trying to warn any reader who, like me, shouldn't be reading this book but don't know that they shouldn't be, because they don't know enough information about the book (see above, about warnings). 


Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Living the Pantry Lifestyle - Those things you don't think about!


I've been thinking this week about those items we should have at least one "extra" put back and we don't.  Mainly because we don't think of them as a pantry item.  Well, Saturdays are about living a Pantry Lifestyle, which is about living a life where we think through being prepared as much as possible for what life throws at us.  So let's ponder the possibilities.

We think of food and water first, of course.  Our priorities are usually to stock extras of essentials so we don't have to go to the store in the middle of a recipe when we have run out of an essential ingredient.  It is wise to have everything we need on hand for our five basic meals we make the most often.  But sometimes what we need right away is not food related.

As usual, when something happens during my week, I think of meeting you here on Saturdays and what else would be a good idea to have at least "one extra" that we may forget.  It reminded me that I need to start a new non-food Priority List like I once kept.  For I can think of a need one minute and forget it the next.

For instance, I picked up my new glasses this week but I'm keeping my old pair even though they are no longer my prescription.  If there was an option, I'd purchase a second pair of the new prescription but that isn't a priority right now.  Now, I had two sisters who had to reach for their glasses first thing in the morning or they could not see their way to the kitchen.  They would have required a backup!

What is a priority for me, however, is to purchase an extra pair of reading glasses.  I have the cheap pair I bought while waiting for my new glasses to arrive but it is wise to have a nicer pair, too.  The last thing I want (horrors) is to not be able to read at all... having just gone through a couple weeks of eye strain.

We must remember that most of us are not preparing for an End of the World scenario.  When we think only in terms of a huge stock up of items, we get overwhelmed and don't add just "one extra" from time to time.  We have had two different seasons of long term unemployment and I can assure you, anything we didn't have to purchase was a life saver.  (Now, if you consistently put a little extra aside when you go to the store, though, you will be surprised how quickly you can deepen your pantry.)

Some items you may not think of?  

Well, for us a priority has to be extra bags of water softener salt.  If we run out, within a day or less our water turns orange and begins to harm the pipes in the house.  Not to mention our laundry.

You may think to keep an extra package of batteries for your flashlight but what about your digital camera or channel changer?  The way Direct TV is set up, you must be able to use the channel changer.

Have you ever put a load of laundry into the wash and realized you are out of laundry detergent?  I have used (and loved) Charlie's Soap since my daughter introduced me to it when her first child was a baby.  Since there are only two of us at home now, one bag lasts a few months.  I think Stephanie buys it by the bucket.  ;)

Why keep a non-food Priority List?

For one thing, if you have a list in one place... whether it is a piece of paper taped to the inside of a kitchen cabinet or on an app created for such things... one you look at often.... then it gets you to thinking about those items you might dismiss otherwise.

I realized the need to keep extra batteries on hand for the channel changer when the one I use for Direct TV started going out and I had a hard time changing channels.  Yikes!  Not that a day or two without satellite TV would be a disaster (have you seen my bookcases?) but if that happened when I could not get to the store then it would be different entirely. Especially during a Finding Bigfoot marathon.

Another reason a list is a good idea is that it keeps these items in your thinking when they go on sale and you can stock up a bit.  Batteries often go on sale around Christmas.  Canning equipment and jars go on sale in a couple stores where I live in Autumn.  If you need something to cook on in an emergency, grills often go on sale at the end of Summer.  Etc.

Not to mention it brings these items to mind when someone asks you what you want for your birthday.  One year I told Stephanie what I wanted most were a couple bags of Charlie's Soap!  One does get to a point when there is no better way of saying I love you than laundry detergent.  Unless it is Mrs. Meyers dish soap.

I know this isn't exactly profound but it has worked for me.  I have written about keeping a standard pantry wish list over the years.  I usually know what I need when I have the opportunity to stock the pantry but I also have looked over that wish list and remembered an item that was a priority.

Everyone needs an ongoing grocery list, which can include pantry items when we notice a sale in the Sunday Supplement (we receive the same store flyers in the mail).  So why not keep a non-food Priority List, too?  Really... just tape it inside a kitchen cabinet and it is quite handy when you think of something.

There are other priorities for the pantry other than chocolate and coffee.  Maybe.

Items mentioned in this Post
Charlie's Soap... info here.

Disclaimer:  Most links to Amazon.com are Associate links.

Friday, May 26, 2017

Stacking the Shelves (#231)


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, in which bloggers share the books and swag they've received in the past week!


So, what did I get in the week of Sunday, May 21st to Saturday, May 27th?


(all links to Goodreads are provided!)


In the mail:



Unsolicited shiny hardcovers - thank you, Knopf, S&S, and Tor Teen!



My preordered copies are finally here! I am in love. :D You can check out my review of Flame in the Mist HERE.



A welcome surprise from Scholastic! Thank you so much. I've adored all of West's previous novels!



AYYY! Thank you, Katherine! Now my set is complete! Pictures to follow - I need to do a photo-shoot with all five Cashore ARCs. :D


From NetGalley:



Thank you, Julianna and NetGalley! I'm nervous but excited to read this book. I've read five of her previous books and enjoyed them all, so I'm hoping this one is no different!


Sooooooooo I graduated on Wednesday! As promised, I posted pictures. I may do a full blog post, but for now, enjoy what I posted on Twitter!




Thank you so much for your support, whether from one day ago, or for all four years, or since I began blogging midway through my senior year of high school. πŸ’—πŸ’—

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Review: Here Lies Daniel Tate by Cristin Terrill


Here Lies Daniel Tate by Cristin Terrill
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 6, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the author

Summary (from Goodreads):

A young, street-savvy runaway looking for a place to call home realized he might have conned his way into the wrong family in this fast-paced and thrilling novel from award-winning author Cristin Terrill.

When ten-year-old Daniel Tate went missing from one of California's most elite communities, he left no trace. He simply vanished.

Six years later, when he resurfaces on a snowy street in Vancouver, he's no longer the same boy. His sandy hair is darker, the freckles are gone, and he's initially too traumatized to speak, but he's alive. His overjoyed family brings him home to a world of luxury and comfort he can barely remember. In time, they assure him, he'll recover his memories; all that matters now is they're together again. 

It's perfect. A miracle. Except for one thing.

He isn't Daniel Tate.

He's a petty con artist who accidentally stumbled into the scam of a lifetime, and he soon learns he's not the only one in the Tate household with something to hide. The family has as many secrets as they have millions in the bank, and one of them might be ready to kill to keep the worst one buried.

What I Liked:

This book was trippy! It's a thriller and mystery novel, though it sort of reads as a psychological thriller (maybe it is one?). We have an unreliable narrator here, in the form of "Daniel Tate" who isn't actually Daniel Tate. I really enjoyed this book, though I want more. I couldn't believe it, when it ended!

Our protagonist, "Daniel Tate", isn't actually Daniel Tate. One day, to escape some trouble at a shelter for homeless kids, he gets into a tough spot, and he decides to impersonate a boy who has been missing for six years - Daniel Tate. This boy was ten at the time, the fourth child of a very rich family. It's the perfect scam for our protagonist, especially since he and Daniel would be around the same age, and their appearances are pretty similar. The family seems to welcome him back, though his mother and second older brother are a bit hostile. But as each day passes, he begins to realize that things are a little too perfect, and that he is in too deep to leave again. Things in this household are not as they seem, and something big is building up, waiting to explode. 

Here Lies Daniel Tate is nothing like All Our Yesterdays, a book that I read and loved several years ago. The two books are so different, yet equally as strong standalone novels. It's a true mark of an author's creativity, when he/she can write across different genres, and he/she does it well.

First, can I talk about the title of this book? I love it so much. It implies death - "here lies ___" is a phrase associated with death and cemeteries and tombstones. BUT. It is perfect because our protagonist, "Danny", is not actually Danny Tate, and he is such a liar. So it's like, here (at this place) lies (not telling the truth) Daniel Tate (not Daniel Tate). I love it!

I don't know what to call the protagonist other than "Danny", because we never find out his real name. The first thirty or so pages of the book show Danny's life in Vancouver, how he is homeless and destitute, living off help from shelters and temporary homes with other homeless boys. But it doesn't last, because he gets into some trouble at one place. He does a little research and decides to impersonate Daniel Tate, at least for a little bit, until he can run again. But things get a little out of hand when the family of Daniel Tate believe him, take him in, and completely integrate him into their lives. Danny is a petty con artist by circumstance, forced to survive in any way he can, but he didn't plan for everything to go so far. 

Danny is a hard character to crack. We know from the start that he isn't Daniel Tate - we get to see exactly how he "chose" Daniel Tate, but we don't really get to know much about him. He is a good actor, and a skilled liar. He looks out for himself, but as the story goes on, he finds that he can't just walk away from this family.

The family is made of four siblings (not including Daniel) and Jessica, their mother. Patrick and Lex are from Jessica's first marriage, and Nicholas, Daniel, and Mia are from her second marriage. Patrick and Lex are both in their twenties; Patrick is a lawyer and handles all of the legal work for Danny's return, and Lex is a 24-year-old on-and-off college student who is a stand-in mother for Danny, since Jessica is not interested in being anyone's mother. Mia is eight (I think?) and the cutest and most accepting sibling. Nicholas is seventeen and it's clear that he doesn't like Danny. Despite that, familial relationships are pretty important in this book (and not just in the way you think), even if Danny isn't actually related to any of these people.The family is dysfunctional at best, but Danny grows to care about each family member. 

Until things take a dark turn.

I won't share too many details about the rest of the story (which is about half or more). I don't want to spoil a thing, because it is rather twisted and I was guessing wrong the whole time. I love how Terrill set things up that way! I'm impressed by how well the mystery aspect of the story was constructed. And how much I grew to like many of the characters - that was surprising, because each one of them had something to hide.

Romance takes a backseat in this book, and so it's there but not really. Danny meets a girl and they hang out from time to time. Ren is really cool and a little odd in her own way, but I like how free-spirited she is. I wish the romance had gone deeper or further, but at the same time, I like that the author didn't take it further. It makes sense, given who "Danny" is.

The ending does not disappoint, in that it is just as trippy as the whole book! Seriously, you will be just as surprised and perplexed. Read the book to find out what I mean!

What I Did Not Like:

No real complaints from me! This book is very different compared to my usual, and I liked it a lot!

Would I Recommend It:

If you're into thrillers and mystery novels, this is a good one! It's a combination of both and it will leave you questioning everything. Danny is the most unreliable narrator I've ever come across, which was amusing, rather than frustrating. Like I said above, this isn't my usual type of read, but I liked it and I wouldn't mind reading more books like this!

Rating:

4 stars. I wonder what the author will come up with next! I'm still hoping for a sequel to All Our Yesterdays, but I'm actually not crying for a sequel to this book. Given the ending, I think this book works really well as a standalone. But I think I need more Terrill stories!


Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Pre-Order Blast and Giveaway: Forbidden Promises by Katee Robert


Welcome to the pre-order blast for Forbidden Promises by Katee Robert! This book publishes on Tuesday, and do not want to miss it. Read on, and enter the giveaway!



About the Book:


Forbidden Promises by Katee Robert
Book Four of the O'Malleys series
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: May 30, 2017

Summary (from Goodreads):

All Sloan O’Malley ever wanted was a simple life—and now she’s finally got it. She’s left everything behind in Boston—her family, her money, even her name—and set herself up in a tiny seaside town in Oregon. What she doesn’t plan for? Her mysterious and painfully attractive neighbor, Jude.

Jude MacNamara has been many things in his life—pampered son of a prestigious family, only surviving heir to a lost legacy, hit man—but now he’s out for revenge on the man responsible for the death of his father and brothers—Colm Sheridan. He’s tracking Colm’s sister when he encounters Sloan living with her in her beach house. He’s a patient hunter and he’s willing to sit back and wait for his prey...he just doesn’t expect for this woman to give rise to emotions he hasn’t felt in years.

He doesn’t want to see Sloan hurt, but in order to protect her, he will have to turn his back on the one thing he’s spent his life pursuing—revenge. Even then, there’s no guarantee either one of them will make it out alive.



About the Author:


New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it 'a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension."  When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


The Excerpt:

Up until this point, Sloan O’Malley has been kind of lost in a sea of the strong personalities in her family. She’s the quiet one. The wallflower. The obedient one. But now she’s out of Boston and out of that life behind, and she’s stepping out to stand on her own for the first time in her life. She wants her freedom, but more than that, she wants to live. What better way to do that than to give into the desire that sparks an inferno between her and the gorgeous guy next door?

All her hard-won calm disappeared when she saw Jude lounging in the corner booth. Lounging wasn’t the right word. He looked like a big cat who was as likely to tear out her throat as purr and rub against her.

Rub against…

She tried and failed to shut the thought down. From there, it was a slippery slope to thinking about what she’d done last night while picturing him.

It was almost enough to make her flee into the kitchen again. Or it would have been if not for the knowledge that Marge had given her a chance, and the woman wouldn’t take kindly to her hiding in the back when there were customers to be served.

Sloan took a careful breath and approached Jude. “What can I get you?”

“I feel like I’m perpetually apologizing to you, but I left abruptly last night and I’m sorry.” He didn’t wait for her to respond. “Come out with me after your shift.”

She blinked. Did he just…“I’m sorry, what?”

“I’m going to take you out. Tonight.” His intense dark eyes never wavered, though she was wondering how she ever labeled them cold. Right now, they were so hot, they were liable to turn her into a pillar of flame.

The only question was if she’d perish in the fire or emerge as something altogether different.

That thought should have scared her, but she’d been afraid for so long. Maybe it was time to do more than think about taking the first step into the future. Maybe she needed to actually put herself into motion. Sloan licked her lips, aware of the way he tracked the move. Everything about Jude was intense. He’d toned it down for her last night, but he wasn’t even trying right now. She shifted her stance, still torn. “I’m not exactly in a good place to date right now.”

He considered her, and she suddenly got the impression that he was choosing his words with care so as not to spook her. “What is it, exactly, that you think I’m asking?”

“I, ah…” She clutched her little notebook to her chest, painfully aware that the handful of diners in the place were blatantly eavesdropping. “I don’t know.”

He lowered his voice to the point where she had to inch closer to hear him clearly. “Let me show you.”

And, suddenly, she wanted to do exactly that. Sloan found herself nodding even though every instinct she had said that Jude was trouble in the worst way. But, whatever he was, he was vitally different from her brothers and father back home. He might seem brutal and dangerous and intense to a criminal degree, but this wasn’t Boston. This was Callaway Rock. No matter how dangerous he seemed, odds were that he wasn’t a man who had skeletons in his closet—literal or otherwise.

That made him safe in a way none of the men she’d ever known were.

Jude’s gaze sharpened. “That’s a yes.”

“That’s a yes.” Her voice was too breathy, too irregular to pass for anything other than nerves, but she didn’t care. If she fell flat on her face, at least she was living.

Copyright © 2017 Katee Robert


The Video:



Praise for The O’Malleys Series

"It can be hard to make a ruthless assassin into a sympathetic character, but Robert handles the task with ease. She also deftly shows Sloan’s transformation from a pampered and protected naΓ―f to a strong woman with a backbone of pure steel. A tension-filled plot full of deceit, betrayal, and sizzling love scenes will make it impossible for readers to set the book down."—Publishers Weekly on FORBIDDEN PROMISES

“You will finish it in one sitting and die after you’re done because the next book isn't out yet. This was one sexy ride!”—Reviewer Top Pick, Night Owl Reviews on FORBIDDEN PROMISES

“Two story lines end up converging into one explosive finale at the end.  A great read from the talented Robert!” —RT Book Reviews

“Katee Robert's has created a fictional underworld of such veracity, that one almost expects the characters to turn up on the front-page news. It never feels over the top or implausible; the author writes extremely well-crafted stories… The romance between Cillian and Olivia is very beautiful, tender and real.”—Fresh Fiction on AN INDECENT PROPOSAL

“Will keep you turning pages.”—RT Book Reviews on THE WEDDING PACT

“If you like angsty reads, this book is right up your wheelhouse.”—Heroes & Heartbreakers on THE WEDDING PACT

"Dark, dirty, and dead sexy."—Tiffany Reisz, bestselling author of The Original Sinners series, on THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT


The Giveaway:


a Rafflecopter giveaway