Welcome to another edition of our Monday Memes, including Mailbox Monday, hosted this month by A Sea of Books; and What Are You Reading?, hosted by Book Journey.
MAILBOX MONDAY:
This week, I bought three books on sale at Barnes & Noble; I ordered one from Amazon; and received one from a contest win at Book Journey.
1. Island of Lost Girls, by Jennifer McMahon (Book Journey)
McMahon offers a moving if bittersweet portrait of childhood. When a person dressed up in a rabbit costume abducts a little girl out of her car, the lone witness, Rhonda, is too stunned to act. As the small rural town mobilizes a search for the missing child, Rhonda, reeling with guilt, is reminded of another girl who went missing—her closest friend from childhood, Lizzy. Joyful memories of their youth spent putting on plays and exploring the woods alternate with darker moments: losing the love of her life, Lizzy’s brother, Peter, and the year an increasingly disheveled and moody Lizzy stopped talking to her or anyone else. Past and present merge as Rhonda closes in on the costumed abductor and also on the dark family secrets that tore their perfect childhood apart. McMahon spends a good deal of time setting the stage; however, once the pieces of the intricate plot are in place, readers will be hooked on both the mystery element and the coming-of-age aspects of this atmospheric novel….
2. Distant Shores, by Kristin Hannah
From Summer Island to On Mystic Lake to Distant Shores, best-selling author Hannah seems to walk on water. Here, as Elizabeth packs up the beach house after her father’s death, she comes to realize that her own marriage is all washed up.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
3. Commencement, by J. Courtney Sullivan
It isn’t quite love at first sight when Celia, Sally, Bree and April meet as first-year hall mates at Smith College in the late 1990s. Sally, whose mother has just died, is too steeped in grief to think about making new friends, and April’s radical politics rub against Celia and Bree’s more conventional leanings. But as the girls try out their first days of independence together, the group forms an intense bond that grows stronger throughout their college years and is put to the test after graduation. Even as the young women try to support each other through the trials of their early twenties, various milestones—Sally’s engagement, Bree’s anomalous girlfriend, April’s activist career—only seem to breed disagreement….
4. Smash Cut, by Sandra Brown
“This superlative romantic thriller from bestseller Brown (Smoke Screen) features a particularly memorable villain, sociopath Creighton Wheeler, who’s obsessed with re-enacting scenes from films like Strangers on a Train and Frenzy…. Multiple smash cuts (abrupt scene shifts) lead to a wonderfully frenzied finish.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Brown delivers more than a few thrills and surprises in this taut, satisfying page-turner.” — Booklist
5. Then Came You, by Jennifer Weiner
An unexpected love story…
Jules Strauss is a Princeton senior with a full scholarship, acquaintances instead of friends, and a family she’s ashamed to invite to Parents’ Weekend. With the income she’ll receive from donating her “pedigree” eggs, she believes she can save her father from addiction.
Annie Barrow married her high school sweetheart and became the mother to two boys. After years of staying at home and struggling to support four people on her husband’s salary, she thinks she’s found a way to recover a sense of purpose and bring in some extra cash.
India Bishop, thirty-eight (really forty-three), has changed everything about herself: her name, her face, her past. In New York City, she falls for a wealthy older man, Marcus Croft, and decides a baby will ensure a happy ending. When her attempts at pregnancy fail, she turns to technology, and Annie and Jules, to help make her dreams come true.
But each of their plans is thrown into disarray when Marcus’ daughter Bettina, intent on protecting her father, becomes convinced that his new wife is not what she seems…
With startling tenderness and laugh-out-loud humor, Jennifer Weiner once again takes readers into the heart of women’s lives in an unforgettable, timely tale that interweaves themes of class and entitlement, surrogacy and donorship, the rights of a parent and the measure of motherhood.
***
WHAT ARE YOU READING?
Blogging:
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AN HISTORIC TIME
What a great week it has been. After a slow start, I managed to read and review the following books:
1. The Uncoupling, by Meg Wolitzer
2. She Makes It Look Easy, by Marybeth Whalen
3. Afternoon Delight, by Carolyn Hinsey
4. Best Staged Plans, by Claire Cook
What’s Up Next?
1. Never Knowing, by Chevy Stevens
2. Escape, by Barbara Delinsky
3. Heat Wave (e-book), by Nancy Thayer
4. Goodie One Shoes, by Roz Siegel
***
That’s it for this week…hope you all enjoy your reading, and stop on by and share what’s going on…..
I recently read ISLAND OF LOST GIRLS and really liked it. Hope you do, too. And I hope to read HEAT WAVE before the end of the summer. Nice batch of books!
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I’m glad to hear that, Gwendolyn…I’m looking forward to them both.
Thanks for stopping by.
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I’m overwhelmed by all the great stash you received. The Delinsky really makes me jealous.
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I love Delinsky’s books, Diane…can’t wait to dive in. Thanks for stopping by.
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Then Came You looks interesting. I have Never Knowing on my immediate TBR list.
Here is mine
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I’m excited about both…I’m reading Never Knowing now….hard to stop! Thanks for visiting, Brooke.
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Commencement looks like one I would love to read- Great mailbox!
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Yes, Anne, after reading Maine by this author, I couldn’t resist. Thanks for stopping by.
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I hope Escape is good – I recently read a Delinsky that burned me so I am a bit gun shy 🙂
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Oh, I’m wondering which one, Sheila…nosy me! But I know that can happen sometimes. I haven’t experienced that yet with Delinsky.
Thanks for stopping by.
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I am looking forward to reading Never Knowing. Have a wonderful week and enjoy your books.
My Monday: http://www.rundpinne.com/2011/07/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-48.html
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Thanks, Jennifer…I am loving Never Knowing. Can’t wait to read each of my books this week. Glad you could stop by.
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Island of lost girls looks really interesintg.
My monday post: http://booksinthesun.blogspot.com/2011/07/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-17-july.html
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Yes, I think so, too, Rachel…thanks for visiting and have a great week.
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I can’t wait to get these books reviewed. It was one of the best weeks of reading I’ve had in a long time. Please come see what I read.
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Oh, that sounds good, Sarah…enjoy your reading this week, and thanks for stopping by.
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Wow, Island of Lost Girls sounds intense. I’ll be watching for it.
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Definitely!
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Island of Lost Girls sounds intense, I hope you enjoy all your books.
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It does, doesn’t it? Thanks for stopping by, Jess.
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Nice selection you have this week.
I haven’t read a Sandra Brown book in a while. That one sounds like fun, especially since I’ve seen those Hitchcock movies the book is referring to.
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I haven’t either, Leslie, and I have another of her books on my stacks…but there was a sale…LOL
Thanks for stopping by.
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A gorgeous mix of books here. Enjoy them all.
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Thanks for stopping by, Mystica…I’m looking forward to them all.
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Have a great week, Laurel-Rain
carol
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You, too, Carol, and thanks for stopping by.
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Nice mailbox, Laurel-Rain. I haven’t read any of Delinsky’s books but from some of the comments here it sounds like I should. Do you recommend one to start with?
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Wow..there have been so many that I’ve enjoyed, Mary….Maybe Escape will be the one, since I’ve heard so many good things about it. I also enjoyed While My Sister Sleeps. Thanks for stopping by.
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Island of Lost Girls should be good. I bought J. Courtney Sullivan’s new book, Maine, last week. Enjoy!
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I loved Maine! Hope you do, too, Kathy. And I’ve heard good things about Commencement. Have a great week, and thanks for stopping by.
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Laurel, you got some great books this week. I just finished a McMahon book and mini review will post tomorrow. I hope The Island of Lost Girls is different from Don’t Breathe a Word! Heat Wave sounds really good but then, Nancy Thayer usually is. Have a great week and enjoy your new reads!
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I’ve only read one McMahon book, Kaye…Dismantled. And the writing was great, but the subject matter was really creepy. That could be a good thing if you like that kind of book…LOL
Thanks for stopping by. I love Thayer’s books.
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Island of Lost Girls looks good enough for me to maybe give the author another chance, as I really didn’t like Dismantled very much 🙂
You got some wonderful reads in! I just finished Never Knowing, so I’ll look forward to seeing your view on it!
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I agree about Dismantled, Julie, but I do like to give second chances, too. Never Knowing is awesome so far! Thanks for stopping by.
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Island of Lost Girls caught my eye. Hope you enjoy your new books!
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Thanks, Anna…glad you could stop by!
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You had a great week, Laurel-Rain!
Heat Wave sounds like a really good book. Unfortunately, we can’t say we have one here at the moment, it’s raining. 😦
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Oh, thanks for stopping by, Judith…and heat waves are a mixed blessing, aren’t they? But I’m looking forward to the book.
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A lot of people have been reading Never Knowing. I hope you enjoy it!
thanks for stopping by!
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I’m loving it so far, Bev. Have a great week, and thanks for stopping by!
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I haven’t read any of these, and it looks like you have a great reading month ahead of you. Enjoy.
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Thanks for stopping by, Laura…hope you enjoy your week!
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I just finished Escape, I have Distant Shores on my bookshelf, It seems I’ve read it before, however, I can’t remember anything about the story, So I plan on reading it again in a few weeks.
This week I am reading a Murder, She Wrote, Nashville Noir book. I always liked that TV show, so I read a book now and again to get my shot of J. Fletcher.
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I had the same thoughts about Distant Shores, but after glancing through it, decided I must have just missed that one. I love Kristin Hannah’s books, though; and I can’t wait to read the Delinsky book. Thanks for visiting, Gigi Ann.
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Hi!
Great list of books. Island of Lost Girls sounds like a great book. Love the book cover for Goodie One Shoes. Have a great day!
Sherrie
Just Books
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I like that cover, too, Sherrie…hope you enjoy your reading week, and thanks for visiting.
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Delinsky, Hannah and Weiner..it doesn’t get much better than that! Enjoy your fabulous list of books!
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Oh, I totally agree, Beth. They are among my favorites! Thanks for stopping by.
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What a great list of books! The Island of Lost Girls sounds really interesting
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I agree, Helen. Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your week!
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The cover of ‘Never Knowing’ really looks interesting – makes me want to read it just because of it. I am a new email subscriber and am following you on Twitter, I am @Celtic_Girl. If you have the time I would love it if you would stop by my blog, Hardcover Feedback.
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Oh, I love that cover, too, Megan. Thanks for “following” me and subscribing. Thanks for stopping by.
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Looks like some good reading. It’s been a while, but I’m pretty sure I liked Distant Shores. Hope you do!
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Yes, I’m pretty sure I’ll love it because I’ve enjoyed every Hannah book that I’ve read. Thanks for stopping by, Joy.
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The Kristin Hannah book looks so good. Enjoy your books!
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I’m excited about it, too, Yvonne. Thanks for stopping by.
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Island of Lost Girls sounds interesting. I have yet to read anything by Jennifer McMahon, although she’s on my to read list.
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Thanks for stopping by, Dixie. Dismantled was the only other book I’ve read by this author; I had mixed feelings about that one, but mostly about the characters.
This one sounds better to me.
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Never Knowing is a page turner! Enjoy.
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I just finished it yesterday, and you were right about starting at the beginning of the day…I couldn’t put it down, Nise. Thanks for stopping by.
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So many great ones, I lost track of what to respond to, wow, hope this week is just as good.
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So far so good, Marce. Thanks for stopping by!
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Wow it looks like you are going to have a really great week! The cover of Never Knowing creeps me out a bit!
Bonnie @ HandsAndHome
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Ah, yes, I think so, too, Bonnie, but the story is creepy-good! Just finished it. Thanks for stopping by.
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I’ve heard such good things about Never Knowing, hope you enjoy it 🙂
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Oh, I loved it, Crystal…check out my review here: http://takingarisk.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/the-price-of-finally-knowing-a-review/
Thanks for stopping by.
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Looks like you picked up some great books, and have some good reading planned. Enjoy!
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Thanks for stopping by, Carol…enjoy your reading!
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I have “Island of Lost Girls” on my physical shelves and haven’t gotten to read it yet. Love to hear how you like it. Also, I recently up ‘Never Knowing’ on my wish list.
You have a great list of books there! Thanks for sharing!
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I really loved Never Knowing! I’m excited about reading the rest of my books, too. Thanks for stopping by, Kristal.
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