Fall Reading Challenge 2015

Fall Reading Challenge 2015
sponsored by BookSparks
(details here)
The Fall annual reading challenge sponsored by BookSparks is starting up next month!

JOIN in and treat yourself to some amazing reads!

Here are the books I plan on reading:
SEE details (here) for complete list

Crooked Little Lies
by Barbara Taylor Sissel
Amazon | Goodreads | my reviewCourse Title: Manipulation Sciences
Department: Suspense
Course Date: September 7
Description: Seeing is not always believing. Unravel the mysteries behind Crooked Little Lies by Barbara Taylor with this deep dive into the deceptions lurking within your own memories.

The Legacy of Us
by Kristin Contino
Amazon | Goodreads | my reviewCourse Title: Ancestry 101
Department: Women’s Fiction
Course Date: September 28
Description: Track one woman’s journey through the generations and learn to identify key heirlooms and clues in tracing your lineage with The Legacy of Us taught by Kristin Contino.

The Admissions
by Meg Mitchell Moore
Amazon | Goodreads | my reviewCourse Title: Sociology 101
Department: Women’s Fiction
Course Date: October 5
Description: Put today’s modern “has-it-all” family under the microscope in this revealing course by Meg Mitchell Moore.

Sleeping With The Enemy
by Tracy Solheim
Amazon | Goodreads | my reviewCourse Title: Scandal Studies 101
Department: Romance
Course Date: October 12
Description: Study heartbreak, jealousy, attraction and grudge-holding during this juicy course by Tracy Solheim.

The Good Neighbor
by A.J. Banner
Amazon | Goodreads | my reviewCourse Title: Bad Behavioral Studies
Department: Suspense
Course Date: October 19
Description: Examine community and neighbor relations under a microscope in this mysterious course from AJ Banner.

Beautiful Affliction
by Lene Fogelberg
Amazon | Goodreads | my reviewCourse Title: Anatomy & Physiology
Department: Memoir
Course Date: November 2
Description: Take an honest look at growing up on the verge of death by following the life of Lene Folgelberg, a double open-heart surgery survivor.

The Word Game
by Steena Holmes
Amazon | Goodreads | my reviewCourse Title: Advanced Trauma & Recovery
Department: Women’s Fiction
Course Date: December 7
Description: Go inside the complicated world of sisterly relations, family secrets and unthinkable acts with this course by Steena Holmes. Past students are still talking about it!

Put A Ring On It
by Beth Kendrick
Amazon | Goodreads

Postcards from the Sky: Adventures of an Aviatrix
by Erin Seidemann
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

~*~
* head over to get more details and to signup for this challenge (here) - books provided for honest reviews

The Legacy of Us by Kristin Contino

The Legacy of Us
by Kristin Contino

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
Website
Blog
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
Twitter @kristinco

Just released: August 18, 2015
Publisher: SparkPress
Genre: Chick-lit, Italy, Women's Fiction
Paperback: 360 pages
Rating: 4

First sentence(s):
My Grandma died in the middle of House Hunters International.

Liz Moretti thought she knew almost everything about her grandmother, Ella, from her love of "The Golden Girls" to the perfect pound cake recipe. But when Ella passes away and Liz finds a cameo locket with a marriage proposal engraved inside (from a man who was not her grandfather), she realizes that sometimes a person's secrets are discovered only after they're gone.

On top of losing Ella, Liz's career as a jewelry designer is stagnant and her love life lacks sparkle, too. When she reconnects with the one who got away, Liz thinks maybe things are finally starting to look up. But after a few drinks and a trip down a flight of stairs, Liz wakes up to realize the cameo is gone. Her ex offers to look for it, but so does Justin, the intriguing new guy in her apartment building.

While dealing with her feelings for two very different men and generally trying to reinvent her mess of a life, Liz finds answers and solace in Ella's diary. The story of the cameo, and the relationship between her grandmother and great-grandmother, an outspoken socialite from Italy, inspires Liz to grow up and accept responsibility for her missteps. Eventually she must choose between the life she thought she wanted and the promise of something better.

My two-bits:
I found this to be a gentle chick-lit read.

Three generations of love and relationships intertwine in a way to affect and guide the present and future. The mix of the past (1900's) and present ways of woo-ing and dating were interesting to compare.

Got me thinking of past loves and friendships and if they are worth rekindling.

Loved the cameo/locket presence which kind of presents itself as a character of its own. In general they are mysterious items holding secrets. Images of loved ones and engravings that are special only to the owner. You can bet I will be eye-ing them on my next antique store run ;-)

About the author:

Kristin Contino has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. Her childhood love of reading and writing translated into a career as a freelance writer and editor, and her work has appeared in retail, business, and parenting publications. She lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her family, but dreams of moving to her favorite city, London. The Legacy of Us is her first novel.

--~ Book Giveaway ~--
WIN a copy of this book on Goodreads (here) - ends Aug 17


~*~
* added to COYER challenge/scavenger hunt (details)

* review copy courtesy of book tour sponsored by BookSparks @booksparks

Stacking the Shelves - 8.1.15

Stacking the Shelves
hosted by Tynga's Reviews (details)
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

~*~
Freebie kindle:

Insanity
by Cameron Jace
-Horror, YA, Alice in Wonderland theme
Amazon | Goodreads===> Just HAD to get this after seeing it on fellow blogger's Stacking the Shelves, because of the dark Alice theme.


For Review:

The Witch of Bourbon Street
by Suzanne Hayes Palmieri
-Fantasy, Witches
courtesy of BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge 2015
Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

The Legacy of Us
by Kristin Contino
-Romance, Women's Fiction
courtesy of BookSparks tour
Thanks !
Amazon | Goodreads -signup for giveaway, ends Aug 17

A Woman of Note
by Carol M. Cram
-Historical
courtesy of BookSparks tour (in October)
Thanks !
Amazon | Goodreads

Reading the Sweet Oak
by Jan Stites
-Women's Fiction
courtesy of BookSparks tour (in October)
Thanks !
Amazon | Goodreads

Vengeance Road
by Erin Bowman
-Historical, Western, YA
courtesy of author
Thanks !
Amazon | Goodreads=====> YIPEEEEEEE! I was wanting this since I started seeing it on blogger shelves last month :-)

Library:

The Darkest Minds
by Alexandra Bracken
-Dystopia, YA
Amazon | Goodreads
When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government "rehabilitation camp." She might have survived the mysterious disease that's killed most of America's children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she's on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her-East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can't risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

=====> listening to the audio version and engrossed

AND binge watching:

Parks and Recreation
tv series, season two
-Comedy
Amazon | imdb
The absurd antics of an Indiana town's public officials as they pursue sundry projects to make their city a better place.

=====> Hilarious! Love the Leslie Knope character

Books based on tv show:

Pawnee: The Greatest Town in America
by Leslie Knope
Amazon | Goodreads

~*~
* some of these may be offered as giveaways within the next two months

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

* per usual, check out the sidebar for my current giveaways offers

Happy Release: The Legacy of Us by Kristin Contino

The Legacy of Us
by Kristin Contino
Release date: August 18, 2015
Amazon | Goodreads

Liz Moretti thought she knew almost everything about her grandmother, Ella, from her love of "The Golden Girls" to the perfect pound cake recipe. But when Ella passes away and Liz finds a cameo locket with a marriage proposal engraved inside (from a man who was not her grandfather), she realizes that sometimes a person's secrets are discovered only after they're gone.

On top of losing Ella, Liz's career as a jewelry designer is stagnant and her love life lacks sparkle, too. When she reconnects with the one who got away, Liz thinks maybe things are finally starting to look up. But after a few drinks and a trip down a flight of stairs, Liz wakes up to realize the cameo is gone. Her ex offers to look for it, but so does Justin, the intriguing new guy in her apartment building.

While dealing with her feelings for two very different men and generally trying to reinvent her mess of a life, Liz finds answers and solace in Ella's diary. The story of the cameo, and the relationship between her grandmother and great-grandmother, an outspoken socialite from Italy, inspires Liz to grow up and accept responsibility for her missteps. Eventually she must choose between the life she thought she wanted and the promise of something better.

~*~
* looking forward to participating in this blog tour, so you will hear more about this one soon ;-)