Good morning, and welcome to another Monday in which we celebrate bookish things.
Mailbox Monday is hosted through this month by A Sea of Books.
What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Journey.
I like planning out my reading week, so Monday is kind of that day of inventory. We look at the books we received, read, and what we’re planning next.
MAILBOX MONDAY:
This past week, I received one book from another blogger, and the rest were my purchases from Amazon or Borders (going out of business sale).
1. Hot House Flower, by Margot Berwin (Received from Staci, at Life in the Thumb).
Berwin delivers a bangup debut packed with adventure, betrayal, love and, naturally, rare plants. New York ad woman Lila Nova, increasingly disillusioned with her job and the city, becomes enchanted by David Exley, a handsome guy selling plants at a green market. Soon, she’s hooked on him, and her budding fascination with tropical plants leads her to a Laundromat that has a rare fern displayed in the window. Proprietor Armand quickly befriends Lila and gives her a trimming from the fern to take home, telling her if it forms roots, he’ll show her the nine special plants he keeps in the back room. When Exley sees the fern trimming, Lila tells him about Armand’s special plants, and soon the plants have been stolen and Exley has disappeared. Armand guilts Lila into coming to Mexico with him to find replacement plants, and there’s magic, romance, greenery and greed as Lila and Armand venture through the Yucatan, hooking up with potential love-interest Diego and running into the devious Exley. It’s a fun page-turner—escapist and wonderfully entertaining….
2. Rock Bottom, by Erin Brockovich
Environmental and consumer advocate Brockovich has created a protagonist in her own image in this highly melodramatic thriller, the first in a new series. Angela Joy “AJ” Palladino left Scotia, W.Va., population 867, as an unwed 17-year-old mother following a terrible accident that almost killed her. Ten years later, after success and fame in a battle against Capital Power that earned her the sobriquet “the People’s Champion,” she returns to Scotia, to assist lawyer Zachariah Hardy in a fight against Masterson Mining’s new mountaintop removal project. When Hardy dies before AJ’s arrival, she teams with Hardy’s lawyer daughter, Elizabeth, to combat the company owned by dastardly Kyle Masterson and run by Kyle’s son, Cole, father of AJ’s son, David. As the two women wage an uphill battle against murderous opposition, Brockovich’s environmental message gets buried in a sludge pile of clichés….
3. Burnt Mountain (e-book), by Anne Rivers Siddons
From one of our most acclaimed writers comes this dramatic tale of a well-born Southern woman whose life is forever changed by the betrayal of her mother and by the man she loves…
4. An Uncertain Refuge (e-book), by Carolyn Rose
A child orphaned by violence. A woman sworn to protect and raise him. A killer come to claim him. A few deadly minutes in An Uncertain Refuge.
Kate Dalton lives by the rules of honesty and fair play until she steps between a battered woman and the man intent on killing her. Amanda Blake barely survives; her ex-husband dies by Kate’s hand. The repercussions force Kate from her job at a domestic violence shelter. Fleeing unwanted publicity and yearning to break with her past, she heads to the Oregon coast, burdened by a coerced promise to Amanda—to care for the nine-year-old son of the man she killed and shield him from the truth.
For several weeks Kate holds a tattered web of lies together. Then Way-Ray’s vengeful uncle murders Amanda, an ambush journalist tells the story, and the boy bolts in horror. Aided by a dangerous man she only half-trusts, Kate searches for the boy she’s come to love. But a sadistic killer intent on claiming his kin is watching every move.
***
WHAT ARE YOU READING?
In a week filled with blogging, writing, and reading, it’s good to have a chance to reflect on it all.
ON THE BLOGS:
Excerpt from Chapter One of “Embrace the Whirlwind”
Updates in Row 80 Writing Challenge
BOOKS READ & REVIEWED-CLICK TITLES FOR REVIEWS:
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
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
1. The Beach Trees, by Karen White
2. Then Came You, by Jennifer Weiner
3. Summer Rental (e-book), by Mary Kay Andrews
4. Treasure Me (e-book), by Christine Nolfi
***
So that’s it for this week…and since this is the final week in July, next week I’ll be posting my Monthly Wrap-Up, too.
I hope you all are having a great reading week and I’ll see you on the blog hop.
I just finished Then Came You. It’s a quick read. Hope you like it.
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I am looking forward to it, Book Gal. Thanks for stopping by.
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Enjoy your books this week.
My Monday: http://www.rundpinne.com/2011/07/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-49.html
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Thanks for stopping by, Jennifer…have a great week.
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I found Rock Bottom to be quite an enjoyable read. Hope you do too.
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That’s good to know, Shirley. Thanks for stopping by.
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BURNT MOUNTAIN has caught my eye. I hope you enjoy all your books!
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I’ve enjoyed this author in several books, so I’m looking forward to it, Laura. Thanks for stopping by.
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I want to read Summer Rental, Then Came You and The Beach Trees! Great books!
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Yes, Sheila, I think they all sound good, too. Thanks for stopping by.
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Great selection.
Here’s my monday post: http://booksinthesun.blogspot.com/2011/07/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-25-july.html
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Thanks for stopping by, Rachel. I’m excited about my books this week, too.
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You have a couple of summery reads this week.
We are expecting the temps in the UK to get back to reasonable -20’s/70’s 🙂
have a great week
carol
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Wow, your temps sound good, Carol. Hope you have a great week, and thanks for stopping by.
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I’m hanging out to read Never Knowing, Still Missing was brilliant! I like the sound of Burnt Mountain & An Uncertain Refuge, Have a great week and happy reading 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by, Teddyree…I enjoyed Never Knowing and Still Missing. They were books I couldn’t put down.
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Is that the same Erin Brockovich in the movie played by julia Roberts?
An Uncertain refuge looks really intriguing
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Yes, indeed, Novroz. I’m excited to read this one (and the others on my pile). Hope you have a good week….
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Heat Wave was certainly an apt title for most of the country last week….I’ll have to jump over to your review and see what it was about. Happy reading!
Here’s my Monday: http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2011/07/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_25.html
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Oh, absolutely, Bev! I’m already feeling sticky-hot this morning, and it’s only 7 a.m.
Thanks for stopping by!
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All of your new books look great – it’ll be hard to decide which one to read first. I’m intrigued by the Erin Brockovich title.
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Me too, Kathy. I had been wishing for this one, and then found it at my neighborhood Borders, which is closing.
Thanks for stopping by.
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I’ve seen Beach Trees and Then Came You around a bunch this summer, can’t wait to see what you think of them
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I started reading Beach Trees last night and it’s awesome so far! Thanks for stopping by, Helen. Can’t wait to read Then Came You….
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Hot House Flower looks great, I have not seen it before- hope you enjoy it!
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Yes, I think it looks delightful, too, Anne. Thanks for stopping by.
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Hope you enjoy The Beach Trees as much as I did! Happy reading!
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Oh, I’m loving it, Anna…thanks for stopping by.
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Hot House Flower has long been on my wishlist and Burnt Mountain and An Uncertain Refuge sound really good! I’m off to check them out 🙂
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Thanks for visiting, Jenny Q. I’m excited about these books, too.
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An Uncertain Refuge looks intriguing, enjoy! your reads.
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2011/07/mailbox-monday-dark-city-by-catherine.html
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I agree, Mary Ann….thanks for stopping by.
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Reading Heat Wave right now and enjoying it!!! All the other are on or have been added to my wish list. Seems that always happens here!!
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Oh, I hope you like it, Lori…I enjoyed it a lot. Thanks for stopping by.
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Oooh, another Anne Rivers Siddons book. I like her stories. Have a great week and enjoy your new reads, Laurel!
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So do I, Kaye, and it’s been awhile since the last one I read…thanks for stopping by, and have a great week!
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The wackiest book I’m reading this week is Bagelmania. Please come see what else I’m reading.
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Ooh, that does sound like a wacky one, Sarah. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week.
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looks like some fun books! re: your comment on in cold blood, capote is more the story about the book, as you know, but covers a lot of the same ground so i’m not surprised the book seemed repetitive. but it’s really a wonderful classic so i hope you give it a try again some time.
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Yes, I think that I’m going to try one of his others…like Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Thanks for stopping by, Marie.
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The Beach Trees by Karen White, Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner, Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews are books I want to read.
I just received Never Knowing and am thrilled! I loved Still Missing!!!
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Oh, if you loved Still Missing, Vicki, you’re going to thoroughly enjoy Never Knowing. I’ll be watching for your review.
Thanks for stopping by…and I’m loving The Beach Trees and looking forward to the others.
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Beach Trees looks quite promising, perfect for summer.
Here’s my It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?! And don’t forget to enter my July giveaway!
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It is definitely that, and more, Deb. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week.
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Hot House Flower is a nice win! Have a good week 🙂
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Thanks, Mary…glad you could stop by, and enjoy your reading week.
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The Beach Trees was enjoyable. I look forward to Summer Rental.
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I’m enjoying it a lot so far, Nise. Thanks for stopping by….and enjoy your week.
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I liked Hot House Flower (audio) a lot . You really got a few books there I’m drooling about. enjoy
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Oh, good to know, Diane. Thanks for stopping by, and I’m loving the reading week ahead. Enjoy yours!
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Excellent list of books! Enjoy! I’ve been wanting to read Rock Bottom. That looks great.
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Yes, I think so, too, Yvonne. I’ve been curious about this one, and serendipity found me at a Border’s close-out sale. Mixed feelings about that. Good for the sale, bad for the going-out-of-business!
Thanks for stopping by.
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I’m on the waiting list for Then Came You and I’m really looking forward to it. Hope you like it. 🙂
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Yes, the agony and anticipation of waiting…hope you love it when you get it. I’m looking forward to it. Thanks for stopping by, Sami.
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All of your mailbox books have caught my eye! My poor wish list! It keeps growing and growing! I just started Never Knowing…yikes..it is riveting! Have a great reading week!
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Oh, I know…and Never Knowing is every bit as good as Still Missing, in a different way. Thanks for stopping by, Beth.
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Great mailbox and a great stack of reads to come!!
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Thanks for stopping by, Staci…and thanks again for Hot House Flower! Have a great week…..
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