Chick Lit

Title: Hysteria (Goodreads) Publisher: Walker Books Source: Netgalley Publication Date: 05 February 2013 Series or Standalone: Standalone ISBN: 0802723101 Format: ebook Pages: 336 The Author on the Web: Megan Miranda - Official Site Megan Miranda - Blog Megan Miranda - Twitter Place(s) Traveled to: New Jersey // New Hampshire Rating: 3 out of 5 stars First Line: My mother hid the knife block. In hindsight, that was the first sign. Ever have one of those books that you just don't know how to review? Ones that you've read a while back and keep meaning to write something about but keep putting it off because there was nothing super memorable about the story? Well, that's how Hysteria by Megan Miranda was for me. This was a book that first attracted me to it by its cover and creepy sounding premise. I liked the idea Mallory might be an unreliable narrator and the idea that she might be a serial killer in the making. I expected Hysteria to be a creepy story but for me it was anything but. And for someone that scares easily that is saying a lot. The main plot line hinted at in this story never materialized until near the end of the book. Then events were just rushed through and resolved before I could even say WTF. Not that this was a WTF story but it just all happened so fast and then blink it was over. Which was a bit of a let down since the set up was so very long in the making. As a character Mallory was a bit blah and whiny and I really wasn't all that impressed with her. Nor did I really care for any of the characters. As I mentioned about the plot was drawn out and rushed at the same time and I'm not sure how I managed to finish this one. I guess I just kept expecting something amazing to happen based on the description and how excited people were for this story. Hysteria was a meh read for me that in the end wasn't very memorable. I had to skim through the book in order to remember basic events in the book. Normally I have a really good memory when it comes to stories so the fact that this one is vague means that its not one that I can recommend. As for reading other books by Megan Miranda I am on the fence. This one left me a bit underwhelmed and so I'm in no hurry to check out her other works.

Have no fear! While the readalong technically starts today through July 27, everyone is of course starting whenever they want to and reading at their own pace. (Which is why there aren't dates on the buttons!) If you'd like to join, click here for the sign-up post.A few questions came up over the past forty-eight hours, and I thought a quick post might be helpful.I read fast and know I'll finish before the deadline.Awesome! Just put together a post to collect and save your thoughts but schedule it to be published on the final date. That way, if you have spoilers you want to talk about, it won't surprise anyone by that point!Er...the Twitter hashtag looks weird...Yes! #domealong could be construed in a VERY WRONG way. Hence, #DomeAlong was born! Capitalize that D and A and no weird spammy things should come our way.Is there anything I should be prepared for with Stephen King?Great question for the new SK reader!Stephen King likes to tell a story. And I mean TELL A STORY. Under the Dome is over a thousand pages, and he is always criticized for having too much story and that everything should have been edited down to 200 pages less. King meanders and tells a tale and he makes no apologies for it. Just give it time and stick with it and it will all make sense.King is not just a mass-market horror writer. It's actually unfair to lump in that category. Does he write a lot of scary stuff? Of course. But anyone who has read 11/22/63 or On Writing, or even Lisey's Story, can tell you that there is so much, much more to his work than just meets the fearful eye. Give him a chance.He does include the bizarre s3x scene or two that sometimes make no sense and really are just out of place. Meh. I'm used to it by now. Although there were a few things in IT I would take issue with.The most important thing is that Stephen King has created this alternate universe and most of his books are somewhat linked together. When you've read a number of his books, you'll realize that characters from one book make an appearance in others, such as Dick Halloran in The Shining, who then makes an appearance as a major character in IT. Or Richie and Bev from IT making a cameo in 11/22/63. Castle Rock and Derry are regularly featured towns in Stephen King's books, they almost take on a life of their own. I also recently learned all of these intertwining tales and characters are crucial to The Dark Tower series, which is on my list to read sometime later this year or next, and only once I've read more of his other works that contribute to that series. There are many more Stephen King tips, so once you start reading his work, don't stop!Other Notes Click here to visit the Official Stephen King page for any insights to the author and books. I'm particularly excited for one of his upcoming pulp novels entitled Joyland that he has chosen to not release as an ebook. Click here for an exclusive excerpt shared by HuffPost Books. His intent is for everyone to purchase it at an independent bookstore. Go, Indies! Not to mention that Dr. Sleep, the sequel to The Shining, will be out this fall. Click here for the Stephen King's Fans Goodreads' page, run by one of the readalong participants Angie!Click here for my tiny Goodreads page for Stephen King and here for my other blog The Stephen King Project. It's been a rare posting or two on that site, but the goal is to get back into it all now that Uncle Stevie has motivated me yet again. I promise I will change the picture so it no longer reads 2012! Click here for The Stephen King Project on Facebook. And TWITTER! Don't forget to participate in the discussion on Twitter by using #DomeAlong.And here are the official participants from Wednesday's sign up post. If you still want to sign up, please do, never too late. Click here to enter in your info and I will update the participants' list below. You can sign up at any time! And to fellow participants, please do what you can to visit each others' sites to read their kick-off post

WISHING EVERYONE A SAFE AND HAPPYMEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!THANK YOU TO THOSE WHOSERVED AND GAVE THEIR LIVES TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY FREE! As required by the FCC: I received one copy of this book/item in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation for this review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are mine alone. This post and all images contained herein are © 2010 BOOKIN' WITH BINGO's Book Blog. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than BOOKIN' WITH BINGO's Book Blog or its RSS feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is being used without permission.

Jan @ RevGalBlogPals wrote: "In my experience in the United States, people are either 'Dog People' or 'Cat People.' As the graph above illustrates, not everyone is limited to those types of animals. So I am wondering about pets and experiences with them."1. Are you a DOG or a CAT person? Or OTHER?I have had a number of pets — turtles, puppies, fish, kitties, salamander, and a hamster named Herman, for example — but the ones I have bonded with have mostly been cats. Kiki Cat, who came to live with me in 2001, was the most loving pet I ever had. So I guess I'd call myself a "cat person" because I had a very special "person cat" until she died last year.2. Who were the pets of your childhood, and what were they like?When I was nine years old, a neighborhood boy and I were splashing in rainy puddles when a bedraggled kitten found us. My mother said it looked like a drowned rat (well, mouse — the kitten was very small), and Micky's mother wouldn't let him bring it into their house. After due consideration, Mother decided to let me keep the kitten. I named her Duchess, and she slipped right into our family like she had always belonged there and grew to be very regal indeed, a beautiful soft gray cat with white paws and a white spot below her chin that seemed to swing back and forth like a dog's tag when she walked. Duchess had her first litter of kittens in the drawer on top of my socks and underwear — it must have been the softest place available to her at the time. When I was in high school, we rode the regular city buses to school and home again in the afternoon, yet Duchess was always at the bus stop to meet me. How did she know which of the buses that ran every 20-30 minutes all day would be the one I rode? I don't know, but her internal clock was set and there she was, waiting to walk home with me. She was a special cat.3. What pets do you have now?Because my roommate's cat Sammy will turn 18 tomorrow, I have not brought another cat into our home. I'm afraid it would bother her too much, even though she pined for Kiki when she died last summer. Sammy is skittish and doesn't like being petted unless she rubs against my leg first, and then I'm allowed only a short touch before she runs away. She has become friendlier since Kiki died, however, and now comes to tell me "meow" when she wants food or somebody to clean her litter box. That's real progress for a cat who was tossed out in a parking lot where my roommate worked — Sammy didn't even know how to eat yet. Donna had to mother her by giving her a bottle and later teaching her how to eat solid foods.4. Have you ever had any unusual pets in your household or visit your home?It's been too long for me to remember the details about how and why we got a golden hamster, but I do remember Herman. He wiggled and squirmed and turned in our hands so much that one of my children said, "Herman, the Squirmin' German!" All three roared with laughter, and that strange moniker became his name. Since I was the one who spent the most time with him — feeding him, cleaning his cage, giving him water, and trying to find him when he escaped — he became plain ole Herman to me. Herman had a small wire cage with a rattling metal wheel that he would run in, frantically, rapidly, daily, hourly it seemed. The bottom of his cage was covered with cedar shavings, under which a hamster could sleep all covered and snug.I don't have any photos of Herman, but this one from Wikipedia looks a lot like him. He was a smart little fellow who knew if he tried long enough and hard enough, he could open the door of his cage. He would wiggle and squirm and chew and bite: ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-chunk, ch-ch-ch-ch-chatter, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-chuck-chunk. And POP after awhile that door would open! He especially liked the corner behind the four-drawer file cabinet, though I can't imagine how he knew it was heavy and hard to move. Poke along the side with a broom handle, and he'd run

Realizing we needed to catch up on some popular TV series of days past, Melody of Hollywood The Write Way and I decided to do a Watch Along. We took a vote and Gilmore Girls won. Melody has the guidelines for Week Two on her blog. On to this week's episodes! (Season 1, episodes 8-12)Love and War and SnowSnow is coming town, and Lorelei loves snow. She has a date with Max (who just "happens" to be stranded there) and she invites him into her house, breaking a rule she's always had to protect Rory. Rory has dinner with her grandparents as usual, as has to spend the night due to the bad roads. Lane feels like Rory doesn't have time for her anymore.Several great reaction shots in this ep. Luke looked really disappointed when he saw Lorelei cavorting in the snow with Max. Lane was grossed out/envious of Rory and Dean kissing. After all the talk about running hands through hair (Lane did it to her crush and was mortified), Lorelei ran hers through Max's hair, which was hilar.I also loved that Rory teaches her grandparents the joys of frozen pizza ("something you'd eat at a carnival" says a scandalized Emily).Rory promises Lane that they'll spend more time together, so I hope this happens! Reminds me of my own teen life: I can understand Lane's feelings of being left out because her best friend is dating someone. Very well. Rory's DanceThere's a big dance at Chilton, and Emily insists that Rory go. Rory asks Dean, and he agrees. Emily comes over to witness the pre-dance festivities and get photos, but is alarmed that Dean honks instead of coming to the door. Also, Rory and Dean end up falling asleep and staying out all night.Paris' date admits he's Paris' cousin, but Rory doesn't seem to care. Paris confronts Rory about it, and ends up revealing this pathetic fact to her whole class herself. Paris seems to be her own worst enemy!Rory and Dean clarify their relationship -- awww! And they fall asleep reading together - double awww!The fight that ensues early the next morning when Rory comes in at 5:30 am is very illuminating. Lorelei seems more upset by the fact that Emily witnesses Rory's mistake more than she's upset by the mistake itself - which Rory calls her on. Emily tells Lorelei point blank that she's disappointed in her and afraid that her way of bringing Rory up is going to result in Rory making the same bad choices. But really - Lorelei's style implies way more trust than Emily's ever did, and Rory is very concerned about keeping this trust.Reminds me of my own teen life: I went to three high school dances. Only one of them was with an actual date. Forgiveness and StuffLorelei is disinvited to Emily's annual Christmas bash, and Richard has a health scare.I loved Lane's speech about the importance of choosing a gift, and that if you choose the wrong one, you might end up at a Korean Bible Camp for the summer. Ha! And great Luke-Lorelei interaction: he makes her a special Santa burger! He closes down shop to drive her to the hospital. Reminds me of my own teen life: Visiting the hospital. Unfortch.Paris is BurningLorelei gets scared and decides she should break up with Max for Rory's sake. Then she's caught kissing Max on teacher's day by Paris.No Dean? Sacrilege! An interesting look at Lorelei's thought process and how she's tried to shape her dating life so it doesn't affect Rory. It was pretty cold how she scoffed at Sookie for her lack of dating though - good for Sookie that she asked someone out!Looks like Paris and Rory have the first kindlings of non-hate!Reminds me of my own teen life: We didn't have parents' day, but I did go to a friend's school and pretend to be an exchange student from Spain. And people believed me. Double DateLane asks Rory to set her up with Dean's friend and Sookie has her first date with Jackson but begs Lorelei to go with her as a date for Jackson's cousin Rune.Rune is horrified by Lorelei's height, and doesn't want to go on their double date. Lane discovers that Todd is boring, a

It’s the Bella Andre Summer of Love Mixtape Contest! Visit Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks from May 22nd – May 31st and create your SUMMER OF LOVE Mixtape for a chance to win a trip for YOU and THREE friends to Las Vegas. *No purchase necessary. Ends May 31, 2013. One lucky Luxury Reading winner will also win a fabulous beach bag with summer essentials from hot brands such as O.P.I., Evian, Not Your Mother’s Hair Care, and Unisun Eyewear! Enter below – open to US Residents only. a Rafflecopter giveaway Pin It

So I actually read Samantha Young's debut contemporary romance On Dublin Street quite awhile ago. And then I just never reviewed it. It may have simply gotten lost in the shuffle or I got distracted by some shiny object or what have you. The thing is, I enjoyed it fine. It lingered around the edges of my consciousness enough that I was looking forward to the sequel and immediately purchased a copy upon its release earlier this month. Down London Road takes place not long after the events of On Dublin Street and focuses on Joss' friend and co-worker Johanna. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, given that Johanna was not the most sympathetic of characters in the first book. But I'm coming to learn that those somewhat acerbic, occasionally deceptively simple side characters often come into their own with a vengeance when it's their turn in the spotlight. And I so love it when that happens. I was also awfully eager to return to the setting itself. I didn't get to spend as long as I'd have liked when I was in Edinburgh and I've longed to go back ever since. Happily, reading these books sent me straight back to wandering those same streets, ducking in and out of cafés, and generally soaking it all up.Jo Walker has perfected the art of keeping all her balls in the air. From a young age, she's been the responsible one in her family (and I use the term "family" very loosely). Having bid good riddance to her deadbeat dad, Jo supports her alcoholic mum, her teenage brother Cole, and herself secretarying by day, bartending by night, and professionally girlfriending both day and night. Ever since the day she realized she could attract rich older men, she's taken that role seriously. And she's never been without a sugar daddy for long. The lives of three people depend upon it, in fact. And so while she never stays in a dead end relationship and she always chooses her partners with the utmost care, she's also never really been in love. Money always trumps emotions when it comes to keeping food on the table, taking care of Cole, and ensuring that the blackness that touched her own life growing up never stretches out to mar his. And she's learned to be all right with it. Really, she has. But when she attends an art exhibition on the arm of her current boyfriend Malcolm and makes the acquaintance of one Cameron MacCabe, the sparks (both good and bad) that fly threaten to throw off her delicate juggling act. And when she winds up helping Cam out by putting in a good word for him at the bar where she works, Jo unwittingly sets in motion a series of events sure to get in the way of the safe, structured course she has all mapped out.I fell in love with Jo before I knew what had happened to me. Ms. Young proved to be exceedingly clever when it comes to her characterization of this steely young woman. Because I really did not care for her in the first book. But it turns out that I, like every other character present, was seeing her but not really seeing her. We all of us were only grasping the barest slice of what made up Johanna. Then all of a sudden, in this installment, I became privy to what was really going on behind the curtain. As Cameron later observes, this is one complex lady. And I loved her so very much. My heart broke over Jo (and Cole) over and over again as I watched them shoot for normal and miss by a mile. The demons in their past are dark and the ones in their present are little better. But, page after page, it was as though I could feel the strength in her spine, immutable and unwavering. I didn't wonder at Cameron falling in love with her. I only wondered that out of her long string of sophisticated, urbane boyfriends not one realized just exactly what he had. Though Jo does have self-preservation down pat, and that includes a rather alarmingly efficient smoothing away of anything that could be perceived as a flaw to potential providers. Which is why Cameron presents such a problem. Essentially the polar opposite of a potential

Please welcome Angela Hunt, author of The Offering, who is touring the blogosphere with Litfuse Publicity! Reviewed by Amanda Schafer I do not begin to presume I have all the answers, but I love it when authors write books that tackle tough subjects and do it in such a way that leaves the reader satisfied with the decisions of the characters even if they might not particularly agree with it. The Offering is such a book. Mandy Lisandra is married to her protective Cuban husband who is a part of a Special Forces Team with the military and they have a beautiful daughter named Marilee. Their extended family is loving and boisterous and full of pride in their heritage. Mandy works at her in-laws’ Cuban grocery but knows that money is tight and they’ll never get where they want to be without more income. Mandy decides to become a gestational donor, basically being a surrogate for a couple who cannot have their own biological child. Gideon is hesitant at first but comes around and agrees to Mandy’s idea. After some time, Mandy becomes pregnant with a French couple’s baby and she begins the long journey of carrying their baby to term. During her pregnancy, Gideon goes on special missions a few times and Mandy struggles emotionally to make it through those weeks. She emails constantly with the Amblours in France to keep them updated on the progress and they are anxiously awaiting that one call to know that Mandy is in labor. When bad news comes from the military, it throws Mandy into labor and she gives birth to a healthy baby boy. Dealing with her own losses, Mandy sells her house and moves in with her in-laws while she gains her footing and finds her way. Two years pass and Mandy is finally able to see a picture of the baby she bore for the Amblours. What she sees is her husband’s eyes, mouth, and coloring. Knowing in her heart that this is her own son, Mandy decides to embark on a fight to get back the child she handed over two years before. But can she do it? Can she really rip this boy away from the only family and only home that he’s ever known? Or does she love him enough to let him go? Angela Hunt is a wonderful author and I believe she’s hit a home run with this novel. While some of her novels are intense, The Offering seems to tackle something that will resonate with every mother who picks it up. What would *I* do if it were *my* child living with another couple? How far would *I* go to get him back? I don’t believe any of us can know for sure how we would behave, but Hunt finds a way to show us both sides of the decision. Rating: ★★★★☆ Amanda lives in Missouri with her engineering husband, two sons, and one daughter. In between homeschooling and keeping up with church activities she loves to read Christian Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and any Chick-Lit. She never goes anywhere without a book to read! Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Howard Books. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received. Pin It

by Sara Stringer As a book lover, I often overspend on books, much to the chagrin of my wallet. Before my eReader, I was spending hundreds of dollars a year on hardcover favorites and trashy paperbacks. It wasn’t pretty, but as a voracious reader that was the amount of books I needed to sustain my appetite. I can’t tell you the countless times I went into a bookstore hoping to only purchase one book and came out with a sack full of them. Only, with books, you never have buyer’s remorse, because they’re such fantastic things. You simply become broke over time and are left scratching your head, wondering just how you became so carried away. Since I received my eReader for Christmas a year and a half ago, I’ve learned to save so much money on books. I don’t just buy eBooks. I also buy paperbacks and hardcovers, but I’m buying them less and employing some savings tips I’ve picked up along with way. For you book shopaholics out there, these tips are designed to help you satisfy your literary cravings without depleting your savings. Read Free eBooks Even if you don’t have an eReader, Kindle and others offer their applications for free. This means you can download free books onto your phone, tablet, or computer. There are millions of free eBooks out there. Some may even be available from your favorite authors. For romance lovers, nearly every Jane Austin novel is available at no charge, as an eBook. Go to the Library Libraries are now lending to eReaders, so even if you’ve made the change to digital, you can still borrow your favorite authors. If you haven’t made the switch from paper to digital, then the library is home to thousands of free books, just waiting to be borrowed. Your continued patronage keeps this wonderful establishment in business, so visit often. Plus, your library card is free, it’s among the original no annual fee cards. Buy Used Books Amazon.com has so many used books, all sold at a magnificent discount. If online shopping isn’t your thing, you can find used books at garage sales, book swaps, and used book sales. Many consignment shops and thrift stores are also home to a large amount of used books. You may even want to call up a few of your literary inclined friends and host your own book swap, trading your collection for a new one. Employ Smart Savings Strategies If you really can’t curb your addiction to hot-off-the-racks, full-price bestsellers, then maybe you need to employ smarter savings. You can pick a date each month to do your book shopping and then save for this date. Save what you can and spend only what you save. Be smart with your money. If you lose your job, don’t take an early payout on your 401k. You should be asking yourself questions like, “can I rollover my 401k into a Roth IRA?” Join a Rewards Program Again if buying used just isn’t for you, it’s time to get smart about how you’re spending at the bookstore. You should join your bookstore’s rewards program. These programs are typically free to join and result in discounts, free shipping, and sometimes even free books. Wait… Finally, it’s all about when you buy, as opposed to what you buy. Of course, James Patterson’s newest novel is going to cost a lot more when you buy it the day it hits the shelves. New releases sell for more than older titles. So, wait for the price to go down and you’ll save big. Pin It

Reviewed by Alysia George There is a sad, shameful chapter of American history that I knew nothing about until reading Christine Baker Kline’s novel, Orphan Train. Less than 100 years ago, orphaned children were herded onto trains and taken as far west as it took to get them adopted. At each stop they were treated as commodities, and handed over to just about anyone who was willing to take them. Adoption was not necessary, just a roof, food, and schooling. Since no one was closely monitored, even these basic essentials were more theoretical than anything. Unless they were cute little babies, the children were typically chosen by their new guardians for their strength and abilities. Essentially, they were free labor and household help. It was a time of great widespread hardship in this country, so poverty was a normal state for many. Therefore, the children were often given over to despicable living conditions, with the attitude that it had to be better than living in an orphanage or on the streets. Orphan Train chronicles two parallel stories, one of a modern day teenager in the year 2011, and another of a Depression era young girl beginning in the year 1929. One is experiencing the trials and tribulations of the foster care system, and the other is a rider of an orphan train. When 17-year old Molly meets a rich old lady, Vivian, she cannot imagine that they will have anything in common. Before long it becomes clear that they are kindred spirits and an unlikely friendship is formed. Heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time, Orphan Train is the story of a lonesome way of life, not just for Molly and Vivian, but for thousands of other children who have endured (and continue to endure) similar hardships. Some children are lucky and find themselves in loving homes, treated as family. Others are not so lucky, and although they may (or may not) be safe and cared for on the surface, they may not feel loved or feel truly a part of a family. They may feel that they have been chosen for a home based on what they can bring to that home (today, payment for foster parents), and sadly, in many cases that is the ugly truth. While conditions may have improved, and safeguards are in place that were not there in the days of the orphan trains, the experiences of the children are not so different. Rating: ★★★★★ Alysia lives in Metro Detroit with her husband and four children. She writes about family life, parenting issues, and other things of interest to her on her blog, Michigal. Review copy was provided free of any obligation by William Morrow Paperbacks. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received. Pin It