Library Reading Challenge ~ DONE!

I recently finished a fun challenge through my local mid-continent public library.   It was called Read to Reel. You had to read 5 books between January 15th and March 15th.  I thought they were supposed to be books that were turned into movies which is what the program stated online but the librarians said it could be any book really.  I kept to the books that were turned into movies as it was fun to read them and I picked up books I hadn't read before.  The library had lots of recommendations to choose from, with descriptions of them and most of them were checked out via electronically for online reading so it was hard to get them.   I had to find others that weren't as popular and not on the list.  Here's what I ended up reading.  Since, I completed the challenge I got the fun mug pictured above!

1.  The Last Song by Nicolas Sparks
        YouTube Trailer - The Last Song
2.  The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
        YouTube Trailer - The Girl on the Train
3.  This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
         YouTube Trailer - This is Where I Leave You
4.  The Choice by Nicholas Sparks
         YouTube Trailer - The Choice
5.  Still Alice by Lisa Genova
         YouTube Trailer - Still Alice

After reading all 5 books I started checking out the DVD movies from the library and watching them. Like always, some of them followed the books really well and others not so much but I really enjoyed all the books I picked out and the movies were all pretty good as well!   

Looking at the list above here are my thoughts on each.  

• Nicholas Sparks -  You can never go wrong with his books.  They pull you in from start to finish. 
• Paula Hawkins - Wow!  This book had me on the seat of my pants.  Make sure to write down the characters to help keep them straight or you will be flipping back trying to figure out who is who.  Great movie as well!
• Johnathan Tropper - I had no idea what this book was about when I got it.   It was on the list from the library but I forgot what it was about by the time I got it on my kindle.   It pulled me in rather quickly as it's about a family that loses their father and they come together and have to sit Shiva for a week.  But with all the dysfunction it is a long hellish week.  Read it to find out what all happens in this drama. 
• Lisa Genova - I knew that this movie was  out, but wanted to read the book first and this challenge gave me a good reason to finally pick it up.  It was kind of a tough read for me as my Grandma passed away from Alzheimer's and it was very hard to see her deteriorate and not be herself anymore.  But in the end this book was great and made me feel better and understand the disease.  Praying for a cure!

Reading Recommendations from the challenge HERE!

#lovetoread #books

On the Edge of Your Seat!

Sooo, I went to the book store the other day to use a gift card I had gotten and had no clue what to get.  I asked the book store associate to give me some ideas and they directed me to the favorites section that the employees pick out.  After looking them all over I found several books that I hadn't heard of before that I thought would be good reads.   Before I bought the books though, I called the library right then and there in the book store to see if I could get it from them for free to read and then buy a book that the library didn't carry.  Well this particular book the library had so I didn't buy it at the bookstore.  The library did have to get it from another library in town but I got it the next day and started reading it.  I actually had to order the one book that I wanted and go back a week later to get it.  I'll do a review on that one later after I read it. 

This particular book, you won't want to put down (It's definitely a Thriller)!  It keeps you coming back for more as each chapter passes and you will want to know what's going to happen next.  It's all about One Road in and No Road Out....but what does that mean?   Ethan Burke a secret service agent is headed to town with his partner to find two other agents that have gone missing.  What happens next is just mind blowing.  He wakes up from an accident with no id, no cell phone, nothing.  The town seems to good to be real and no one really wants to help him get out.  He keeps on having to go back to the hospital but they are messing with him so he goes to the authorities for help, but that doesn't happen either.  Read the book to find out what happens to Ethan Burke.  

Plus, they made it into a television series on FOX.  At this point I can't find any links to watch session #1 but session #2 is coming out this summer 2016 so hopefully I can catch session #1 then, in order to catch up for the new session coming out!  Someone else put out there that the book and movie didn't follow each other completely but it doesn't seem like they ever do, when they make a book into a TV show or movie.    

PINES....A Wayward Pines Thriller 
By Blake Crouch

Thought I better finish up this post and just looked up the author and found out this was a Trilogy series, now I have two more books to read.  I loved the first one and can't wait to read the next two.  

Check out all 3 Wayward Pine books at Author Blake Crouch's website HERE. 

I gave this book 5 stars, hands down on Goodreads.com

PICK UP A BOOK AND READ!

#love to read #books

What have you read lately?

Here's a list of the last three books I sank into:  

• Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
• Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
• Top Secret Twenty-One  by Janet Evanovich.  

These books were all totally different reads (love story, serious and true, funny and myterious) and I enjoyed them all!

The Longest Ride was a book about a younger couple and an older couple and the love that they shared.  They went back and forth in the book with their stories and how they fell in love.  The oder couple Ira and Ruth take you back in time on how they met.  Ira is in a terrible accident and hangs onto the memories of him and Ruth to stay alive.  The younger couple Sophia and Luke met and start a story of their own.  Sophia is a senior in college and Luke a cowboy are from different background and worlds but can't shake each other from their thoughts, so their story grows!  Check out the book today and read it.

Unbroken: A World War II Story is about a man named Louis

 Zamperini.  It started out by telling about his life and growing up in the United States and becoming a famous runner.   But then one day he decided to enlist into the military and become an airman.  World War II took place between 1939-1945 and it told about the many trials that the airman faced when flying and what happened if they crashed.  It was a lot harder back then to find someone that crashed.  When Louis plane did goe down in the ocean and then they were captured you will go through the torture that these men faced back in the war.  It is horrific what they put up with.  I have to say I don't know if I could do what they did.  I also have to say that these men are brave and courgous and I have more respect for them then ever after reading this book.  It really opened my eyes to the world.  



Top Secret Twenty-One is the 21st book in the series.  I would highly recommend starting with the first book One for the Money

and go from there but you can jump in at book #21 because the author always gives a little recap of the main characters in the book just in case you haven't read the series.  Yes, I've read all 21 books so far and for the most part they have all been fantastic.  There were a few that didn't pull me in as much but it didn't stop me from gettting the next book when it came out. I've have been caught up for several years now so I have to wait until she writes a new book about every 6 months or so.  In this book Stephanie Plum who works as a bounty hunter for her Uncle Vinne is helping out her HOT friend Ranger throughout the book and they run into to plenty of problems along the way.  Through her bond job, her and her partner Lula are looking for Jimmy Poletti who give them a run for their money.  Along with gaining a roommate, Randy Briggs who isn't  on the top of her roommate list.  But what's a girl to do for a guy in need.  It's always a crazy time with these characters finging the bad guys.  Have fun reading Top Secret Twenty-One!

Pick up a book and read!

Reading time is back!

I've been in a reading slump lately and finally got out of it and read two great books!

Why was I in a reading slump?  Well, my parents werein town about a month ago and my Mom mentioned that she likes to play solitaire on her phone.  I ended up getting the app on my Kindle and the it is way to addictive.  Especially since you can play game after game so easily.  The rest is history, that's what I've been up too instead of reading a good book.  I've been getting sucked into playing solitaire on my Kindle.  

Here are the two books I just recently read after taking the solitaire app of my Kindle. 

Accidental Book Club

By Jennifer Scott

This book is about a group of six ladies that come together in a time of need and support one another through their ups and downs in life.  Jean's neighbor Loretta talked her into starting it after Jean's husband passed away.  The book club is an excuse to get away and have some fun and discuss whatever book they are reading for the month.  It ends up being more than just a book club as they have a potluck each time, wine and become better friends along the way!  It has lots of twist and turns throughout as each character deals with their daily lives.  

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodread.com ~ I really liked it!

Flowers in the Snow
By Danielle Stewart

I love, love, loved this book.  I've read a lot of her other books in the past and this is a new series off of the Piper Anderson Series.  I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads.com ~ it was AMAZING!!!!

This book is ALL about Betty growing up and what she went through.  It based on growing up in the 60's in the south before Civil rights went into effect in Edenville.  The whole family gathered around Betty after she received a letter and she shared her story and everything that happened along the way.  

LOVE TO READ!

#lovetoread #books #flowersinthesnow #theaccidentalbookclub