2010 Thriller & Suspense Reading Challenge

I will be participating in the 2010 Thriller & Suspense Reading Challenge here at Crazy-for-Books! 

Hosted by:  Book Chick City (don't you just love this button?!)

Timeline:  January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010

Rules: To read TWELVE (12) thrillers in 2010

Details:

• You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront then you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• If you decide to participate in this challenge please use the links at Book Chick City with the buttons to post on your sidebar, this way others can find their way back to this post and join in the fun.

• If you decide to join this challenge be sure to create a post telling others, please make sure you add a link back to this post so others can join in.

• You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

• There will be a place for you to link your reviews, but this is optional.

I already know of 2 books that I will read for this challenge (Sweetheart and Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain), but I will add the others as I go!  Looking forward to this!

Book List:
1. Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain
2. Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain

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Waiting On Wednesday: November 25, 2009

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pre-publication, "can't wait to read" selection for this week is:

The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen

Publication Date:  March 9, 2010

Synopsis from the author's website:

Reminiscent of Jennifer Weiner’s In Her Shoes and Emily Giffin’s Something Borrowed, this smart, funny and poignant debut novel explores the desire to have it all, the relationships that define us, and the complicated, irreplaceable bonds of sisterhood.

Twenty-nine year old Lindsey Rose has, for as long as she can remember, lived in the shadow of her devastatingly beautiful fraternal twin sister, Alex. Determined to get noticed, Lindsey is finally on the cusp of being named Creative Vice President of an elite New York advertising agency, after years of 80 plus hour weeks, migraines, and profound loneliness. But during the course of one devastating night, Lindsey’s carefully-constructed life implodes.

Humiliated and desperate, she flees the glitter of Manhattan and retreats to the time warp of her parents’ Maryland home. As her sister plans her lavish wedding to her prince charming, Lindsey struggles to maintain her identity as the smart, responsible twin, while she furtively tries to put her career back together. But things get more complicated when a long held family secret is unleashed that forces both sisters to reconsider who they are and who they are meant to be.

I love books about family relationships, so I'm really looking forward to this one!  What is your WoW pick this week?

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2010 Challenge: Reading From My Shelves Project

I've decided to join the:

2010 Reading From My Shelves Challenge

Hosted by:  Bibliophile By the Sea

Here are the rules:

1. Decide how many books you want to read from your shelves (minimum of 20 - no maximum)  --  I am going to set a VERY ambitious goal of 75 books.
2. Find a new home for the books once you read them (gotta love PaperbackSwap!)
   
3. Post the titles and the authors of books you've read and passed on
   
4. Project runs from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010
   
5. Crossover challenge books are allowed
   

Most of the books I read are from my bookshelves, so I think 75 is very doable.  Looking forward to getting some weight off of these shelves!

I will be listing all the books I read and get out of the house in this post!

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On My Wishlist - November 24, 2009

On My Wishlist is a weekly meme hosted by Book Chick City, which allows us to share the books we haven't bought yet but are waiting to be bought and devoured. If you would like to take part and have your own 'On My Wishlist' post then you can find more info here. If you have read any of these books, do let me know if it is worth my time!

Here are the books I've added from November 17 - November 23:

                     

    The Mosts                   Crazy Beautiful        

    Melissa Senate       Lauren Baratz-Logsted      

                                      

The Murderer's Daughters      The Other Side of Blue       
Randy Susan Meyers                    Valerie O. Patterson
       

                      

The Weight of Silence              Some Girls Are
Heather Gudenkauf               Courtney Summers

         

Cracked Up to Be               Happy Hour
Courtney Summers          Michele Scott

The Blind Side by
Michael Lewis





No Covers Yet:

Looking for a Love Story: A Novel :: Louise Shaffer

A Glimpse of Evil: A Psychic Eye Mystery :: Victoria Laurie

What's on YOUR Wishlist this week?

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It's Monday November 23, 2009! What are you Reading?

It's Monday!  What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful J-Kaye where we highlight the books we've read the previous week and what's next on our list!

I had a very slow reading week last week.  I only managed to finish one book, but that one book was REALLY good!!  I didn't want it to end!  It was:

The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate

Click here for my review! 

Want a chance to win a copy? Click Here! 

I have 2 copies to give away to lucky readers of my blog!

Currently Reading:

I just started the latest book by Ellen Hopkins

Tricks

I just love her verse-style of writing.  It works so well for the books she writes!  And you could literally sit and read a 600 page book in one sitting!  The pages just fly by!

Up Next:

Run at Destruction:  A True Fatal Love Triangle by Lynda Drews

I will be hosting a blog tour for this book on Friday, November 27!  Be sure to stop by!

What are YOU reading this week?  Leave a comment and let me know!

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Giveaway: The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate

The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate

Read my review of this book here!  (In short, LOVED it!)

Would you like to win a copy of this awesome book?

You MUST be a follower of this blog through Google Friend Connect and/or signup for email updates (see right sidebar).  I will verify this, so don't forget!  Only followers of this blog are eligible to win the contests!

I have 2 copies to giveaway!  The only thing you have to do is fill out the form below!  I have a new Contest entry method, powered by Contestmachine.com.  Your name and e-mail address will remain private and will be purged at the end of the contest!

The contest will end on December 6!  Good Luck!

Sorry, this contest is open to USA residents only.

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Review: The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate

The Secret of Joy

Author:  Melissa Senate
Trade-Size Paperback
ISBN:  9781439107171
340 pages




Book Description:

As 28 year old New York paralegal Rebecca Strand's widowed father lays dying, he confesses a secret: he had an affair 26 years earlier when Rebecca was just a toddler. Now he wants Rebecca to deliver the secret stash of letters he wrote, but never mailed, to the daughter he fathered. Rebecca's lawyer boyfriend, Michael, is adamant that she forget the woman exists. He's sure the woman will be an opportunist who will demand half of Rebecca's father's million-dollar estate. But Rebecca, now without any family in the world, can't help but wonder about her one living relative. With her relationship with Michael in tatters, Rebecca drives from New York City to Maine to find Joy Jayhawk, who operates a Weekend Singles Tour service out of an orange mini-van that her regulars dub "The Love Bus." Enter a cast of lovable, colorful characters, from Joy's eccentric mother to the singles on The Love Bus, and a sexy carpenter for whom Rebecca finds herself unexpectedly falling in love...

My Thoughts:

Melissa Senate has become one of my favorite authors.  She is able to create such realistic, relatable characters and intriguing storylines, many times drawn from her real-life experiences.  THE SECRET OF JOY is no exception.  I literally did not want this book to end.  I loved all of the characters and the story held so much depth and meaning. 

I have been wanting to visit Maine for years.  This book makes me want to go there SO much more!  Hopefully one day I will be able to take an extended vacation and go there with my husband.  The picture that Ms. Senate paints is one of beauty and peace.  I love reading books set in Maine, so this one was extra special because of that!

Rebecca's journey of self-discovery felt so real to me.  I felt like I was with a friend when I was reading this book.  I'm not going to go through the synopsis again.  The only thing I can say is that if you are a fan of women's fiction, this book is a must read.  I would not classify it as chick lit, because it has much more depth and delves into serious relationships.  It's definitely much deeper than chick lit.

The only thing I can say is that I loved this book and I very highly recommend it!!  5+ stars! 

Interested in winning a copy of this amazing book??  I'll be posting a giveaway shortly, so stay tuned!!! 

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