Good morning, and welcome to another Monday, in which we celebrate our reading, blogging, and life. Mailbox Monday is hosted in September by BooknAround; and Book Journey brings us another edition of What Are You Reading?
This week brought four review books! Delightful!
1. The Book of Neil, by Frank Turner Hollon (Unsolicited from Publisher)
Two billion people on Earth call themselves Christians. A foundation belief among Christians is that Jesus, the Son of God, will again appear in bodily form amongst us. If He returned in this age of consumption, technology, and self-indulgence, what would Jesus need to do to get our attention? What could he do to draw our focus away from reality TV, the internet, and another trip to the shopping mall? That is precisely Jesus’s challenge in this remarkable new novel, Hollon’s ninth. After months of being dismissed as another mentally ill street-preacher who is ridiculed, arrested, and ignored, Jesus robs a bank and ends up on the front page of The New York Times as the Jesus-Bandit. When you close the cover on this lean and powerful novel, one way or the other, you will not be the same.
2. Chalk Valley (e-book), by D. L. Johnstone (From the Author)
In a remote mountain valley in British Columbia, a human monster preys on innocent lives. After teenagers discover the body of a missing girl in Chalk Valley, searchers find the remains of two more victims secreted deep in the woods. A serial killer is at work.
Chalk Valley police detective John McCarty is picked to lead a task force to find the murderer. But inexperience, politics and McCarty’s own inner demons quickly overwhelm him and the investigation falters.
Meanwhile, on a dark, lonely highway many miles from Chalk Valley, RCMP Sergeant Dave Kreaver comes across a van crashed at the side of the road. The driver is anxious to leave the scene. But Kreaver discovers an unconscious teenaged girl in the van. Kreaver feels in his gut that the driver could be the serial killer everyone’s looking for, but his inquiries are ignored. The task force is in well over its head, buried by thousands of leads and potential suspects. His supervisors tell him to back off and let the task force do its job.
Kreaver is in a deadly cat and mouse game with a murderous psychopath, a race against time with innocent victims in play. Operating alone and without official sanction, can he stop the Chalk Valley Killer before he claims more lives?
3. Murder at Blue Falls (e-book), by Maggie Bishop (From the Author)
Arson and murder disturb the Appalachian peace of the Triplett Valley’s Blue Falls Dude Ranch. Jemma Chase, daughter of the ranch owners and trail-ride leader, becomes involved when her horse finds a body. Being an amateur SCI is fun until her meddling puts her life in danger. Detective Tucker’s suspicions disturb and annoy Jemma, but in the end, he becomes the answer to her prayers. Escape to the North Carolina mountains for a week on a guest ranch.
4. An Order of Coffee & Tears (e-book), by Brian Spangler (From the Author)
Angela’s Diner has the reputation of a safe haven where patrons find a moment of peace as they linger over coffee and tears. For one young runaway, Angela’s is more than a place to tell your tale — it’s a place where with the magic of chicken and waffles, and a little bit of trust, may just save your life.
Gabriella Santiago used to be a typical teenager who enjoyed the usual teenage things. That is until a single tragic day ended who she was and within hours she ran from home, never to look back.
Only when Gabby is cold, hungry and at her lowest, does she find Angela’s Diner. Gabby embraces her new life and the family she has found in the midst of strangers and obscurity.
Acceptance is what she craves, but before long, Gabby realizes she’s not the only one in the diner with something to hide. Her new family has a secret too, and some secrets refuse to stay buried.
***
WHAT ARE YOU READING?
Welcome to another new week in our new month. A time to share our reading, blogging, and life adventures, and a time to enjoy our community of book bloggers.
As for the past week, I did some blogging, beginning with a Tuesday Potpourri: Bookish Wishes, Changes, & Fun Reads.
Wednesday brought two posts: Hump Day Potpourri: Recycling & Rearranging…Again! and Row 80 Check-In: How I Manage to Fill My Creative Time.
The end of September brings us Bloggiesta again…Ole! I’ll be working on my Serendipity blog, primarily, but could veer off to one of the others occasionally. I love this event!
Sweet Saturday Samples: Connecting, takes us further on our journey with Martha and Maeve (Interior Designs).
And here’s my Saturday Snapshot, in which I share some holiday memories.
Now let’s talk books.
Read/Reviewed-Click Titles for Reviews:
1. And When She Was Good, by Laura Lippman
2. Little Night, by Luanne Rice
3. Love Anthony, by Lisa Genova
4. Sharp Objects (e-book), by Gillian Flynn
What’s Up Next? (Click Titles/Covers for More Info)
1. Midnight Exposure, by Melinda Leigh
2. The Redgraves, by Donald Spoto
3. Left Neglected (e-book), by Lisa Genova
4. Looking for Mary, by Beverly Donofrio (a graduate of the Old TBR Piles)
***
And that’s my past and future week in books and blogging. I’m eager to see what the rest of you have been doing and plan to do next. Come on by!
You seem to be in a mystery frame of mind!
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You’re right, Patty…it does look like that! Thanks for stopping by.
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I hope you enjoy Left Neglected as much as I did! Have a great reading week.
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I can’t believe I’ve waited so long to read it, Laura; I’ve had it on Sparky for a long time. But after reading Love Anthony, I knew I needed to read it! Thanks for stopping by.
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Your mailbox books are very intriguing to me. Look forward to your thoughts. I enjoyed And When She Was Good (I listened on audio).
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Yes, they are different than my usual…looking forward to them, Nise. Thanks for stopping by.
I loved And When She Was Good, too.
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Wow! Busy busy week 🙂 Hope you enjoyed ’em!
Have a wonderful reading week! Whatcha readin’ this week @ the Brunette Librarian 🙂
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I hope to relax a bit today, but who knows? lol
Thanks for stopping by, Brunette Librarian, and I did enjoy my books last week. Hope you enjoy this week.
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Left Neglected was a great read. Still Alice was even better! (Have you read that Genova?) Have a great week, happy reading! I’m off to check out your review of Love Anthony…
The Relentless Reader
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I have been wanting to read Still Alice….and after reading Love Anthony (and Left Neglected this week), I’ll be adding it, I’m sure. Thanks for stopping by, Jenn.
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On order of Coffee and Tears sounds like a great contemporary read. And I have to tell you I just loved Left Neglected – it completely blew me away. I hope you enjoy all of your reads this week!
Here is what I’m reading this week:
http://www.wordsathome.ca/2012/09/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-37.html
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ugh.. an order… lets proofread Bonnie! 😉
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I have heard so many good things about Genova’s books (and after reading Love Anthony, I have to concur), so this week will be a treat. Thanks for stopping by, Bonnie, and enjoy your week.
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Left Neglected sounds like the kind of book that would really make you take stock of things. I hope you enjoy it!
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I do too, Lindsey…I can tell that this writer takes on important issues, which I admire. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week.
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Enjoy your week of reading. My favorite book this week was Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun by Victoria Laurie. Please come see what I’m reading now.
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What a catchy title, Sarah; thanks for stopping by, and have a great week.
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So many interesting books. Some have been noted. I enjoyed your review of “And When She Was Good”. I can’t wait to read it. Have a great week. Thanks for stopping by. Love you fall mailbox.
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Thanks, Cheryl…I am a Laura Lippman fan, so everything she writes is enjoyable for me…so far.
Glad you could stop by, and have a great week.
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OOhhh The Redgraves one looks intriguing, what a classy family! Here is my Monday post.
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I think so, too, Marie…thanks for visiting, and enjoy your week.
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The Coffee and Tears book looks interesting but as the mother of two teenagers, I don’t know if I could read about a runaway without catastrophizing in my own life! Happy reading this week.
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Yes, sometimes timing has a big effect on what we read. Thanks for stopping by, booknaround…enjoy your week.
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Interesting books…Coffee & Tears looks like an emotional but rewarding read! My Added to the Bookshelf post!
♥ Melissa @ Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf
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I think so, too, Melissa…love the cover, also. Thanks for stopping by…have a great week.
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That is quite a line up!!! I have read a couple and want to read the others. Stopping here always makes my wish list grow 🙂
Happy Reading!
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Thanks, Lori…I know what you mean! Mondays are a big day for adding to the TBRs. Have a good week.
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Hope you enjoy all your new reads. I see you just read Sharp Objects- after reading Gone Girl I’m eager to pick up more of Flynn’s book and that one looks great. Glad you liked it!
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Yes…and I won’t be able to stay away from Dark Places, either. Thanks for stopping by, Lucy. Enjoy!
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An Order Of Coffee And Tears caught my eye.
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/09/mailbox-monday.html
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I was surprised to get the author’s request…and then downloaded it to my Sparky. Thanks for stopping by…enjoy!
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The Book of Neil sounds interesting. Happy reading!
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I wasn’t sure about that one, Anna, but after studying the blurb, etc., I thought…hmm, could be intriguing. Thanks for stopping by.
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I’m not familiar with your mailbox books, Laurel so I’ll be interested in your reviews. Have a good week!
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Thanks, Mary; they are pretty much unknowns to me, too, but I have read one other book by the Appalachian mystery writer, Maggie Bishop. Glad you stopped by.
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I have Chalk Valley on my Nook to read. Hope you have a great week!
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Oh, good to know, Yvonne…hope you enjoy it…and your other reads.
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Great books and so many reviews that I missed out on. I’m off to check out your thoughts right now! 😀
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Thanks, Staci…glad to see you’ve popped in to check out my reviews. Hope you have a great week!
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Little Night sounds intense and interesting. As did And When She Was Good. Have a good week reading, or reading week. 🙂
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I am a big fan of Laura Lippman, Mardel, and this one was unique. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week!
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Love Anthony arrived in the mail today and I am looking forward to it! I’ll have to go and see what you thought of Sharp Objects
Have a great reading week
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out
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Shelleyrae, I thought Love Anthony was awesome….and here I’ve had another of her books on Sparky, not yet read! This week…..
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I’d pass on the tears but an order of coffee sounds great
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Ha-ha…Yes, I’d agree, Jess; I’ve had plenty of orders of tears in my life already….thanks for stopping by.
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I hope you enjoy the books your planning to read! Thanks for stopping by!
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I am looking forward to them, Helene…and enjoying the one I’m currently reading (Midnight Exposure).
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All the books you mentioned look wonderful and I’ve added all of them to my tbr list (I love finding new reads!) I can’t wait to see your new reviews!
Happy Reading!
Check out my It’s Monday! post 🙂
–Kimberly @ Turning The Pages
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Thanks, Kimberly…glad you found some books to add. Enjoy!
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You got some great books. Definitely will be checking a few of them out.
I’m hosting a mini-challenge during Bloggiesta so I hope you will stop by my blog Girl Who Reads
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I agree, Donna…thanks for stopping by…and I’ll check it out!
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I’ve heard good things about Lisa Genova’s writing and keep meaning to read one of her novels, I think I have one somewhere lol
Have a great week and happy reading 🙂
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So have I, Teddyree, and I’ve had Left Neglected for soooo long. But I’ll be reading it this week. That’s how much I enjoyed Love Anthony. Thanks for stopping by…enjoy your week!
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