Back Porch Reading- Guilty Pleasures Edition

A dirty book is rarely dusty.  ~Author Unknown


I 'have to' read The Great Gatsby  for my book club.  Not a chore but a book I'd probably pass up on the shelf of the Kindle store.  Let's face it, for most of us, if they made you read it in high school you probably pass it up as an adult.  In saying this I know I am giving my many family members who taught/teach high school English hives.  I am sorry guys/gals reading for pleasure is so much better than reading by force.


Not saying I hate reading fine literature.  I love a great substantial novel.   Some of my all-time favorite books include Of Mice and Men  and To Kill a Mockingbird.  
But sometimes a girl has got to let her hair down and have a little fun.


Enter guilty pleasure reading.  And when I say this in NO way do I feel guilty about reading any of these books.  I proudly admit to loving these books and the authors who write them.

One of my favorite (not at all) guilty pleasure authors is Marie Force. 

 

 ****-4 star read

I received an advance copy of Marie Force's new book Fatal Consequences, the third in Marie's Fatal series. Giving you a little background on the Fatal Series, Maire felt a challenge to make a romance series using the same couple.  This challenge based on the unspoken rule that you can't use the same couple in a romance series.  Because you know once you fall in love the story is over....


I am glad Marie tackled this challenge, because lets face it love isn't all tea and spontaneous sex scenes in obscure places.  I for one will never believe that sex up against a tree is really that sexy.  Bark up your ass, not pretty.

Back to Fatal Consequences.  Our heroine Sam Holland,  lead investigator for the Washington DC police, finds herself in the middle of another high-profile murder case.  A woman is found murdered and the victim's connection to a U.S Senator leads Sam to investigate one of her fiancce's,  Senator Nick Cappuano, closest allies.  As the investigation starts to unravel a dark secret housed in the hall of the senate threatens to ruin some high-profile political careers and puts Sam in great danger.

In the middle of the investigation Sam's past comes back to haunt her, threatening her relationship with Nick.  Although Sam and Nick's relationship problems are extreme, the underlying issues of honesty and understanding in a relationship is something anyone can relate to.

I'd say Marie is very successful with her self-imposed challenge.  I have read all the Fatal series and Fatal Consequences is the perfect continuation of  Sam and Nick's love story.

You have another two weeks till Fatal Consequences comes out, July 18, giving you plenty of time to read Fatal Affair and Fatal Justice.   I promise you will be hooked from the first word.  Be warned there are some hot and heavy sex scenes,  none take place anywhere near trees.


Read all about the Fatal series at Marie Force's official website.

If you need a few more pleasure books, that will make you feel anything but guilty, check out: 
Falling for You by Julie Ortolon
Romantically Challenged by Beth Orsoff
Staying at Daisy's by Jill Mansell
A Taste of Magic by Tracy Madison
Love at First Flight by Marie Force

This week I am reading:
 
Eyewall by H.W. "Buzz" Bernard


and will be tackling 


 
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald...you know because I 'have to'.

Disclosure: I received an advance copy of Fatal Consequences from Carina Press.  I was not compensated to write this review or was asked to give a favorable review.  The opinions are my own. 

Back Porch Reading Take 2

The back porch/deck is where I read all summer.  Me, my Kindle and a glass of green ice tea.  It's the life. 

****-4 star review

I finished last weeks read,Lot's Return to Sodom: A Liv Bergen Mystery and it kept me up all night.  Sandra Brannan is defiantly an Indie writer to watch.
Here's a little blurb from Amazon:

"The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is no place for button-downed citizens--unless they're trying to hide a murder. Sharp-witted Liv Bergen can't avoid becoming embroiled in murders, it seems. Her family's hometown of Sturgis, South Dakota, is quickly becoming the Sodom of the Black Hills during the dog days of summer as it hosts the infamous rally of grizzled hard-core motorcycle bikers--half a million of them. Crime comes too close for comfort when Liv must solve the mystery of a beautiful young townie to clear her brother's name."

I am weirdly interested in the 1% motorcycle club ideology, thanks 'Sons of Anarchy.'  Loyalty in those types of clubs is astonishing and fascinating.  Getting a little fictional glimpse into this world satisfies my curiosity.
If you like mysteries you will love Lot's Return to Sodom.  Don't forget to read In the Belly of Jonah, the first book in the Liv Bergen Mystery Series.
And PSST!  If you are a Kindle reader Lot's Return to Sodom is free for a short time!

I am just wrapping up Water for Elephants for my book club and than I can start:

Smokin' Seventeen

and than I have the pleasure of previewing :

 

Fatal Consequences 

Marie Force is my guilty pleasure author of the moment.  Fatal Consequences has not been released, I received an advanced copy from the publisher.  Stay tuned next week and I will let you know what I think!

What are you reading this week?

More fun summer reads:

The Help 

The Mudlark

Skipped Parts

Alice at Heart

*All links are through the Amazon Associate Program.  If you click on the link and purchase the book I receive, VERY small, compensation.   

Back Porch Reading

What are you reading this week?  I am reading

Lot's Return to Sodom: A Liv Bergen Mystery  By: Sandra Brannan
The second in the Liv Bergen series, the first being In the Belly of Jonah. 
Liv Bergen is a strong female lead (yeah girl-power!).  Indie author Sandra Brannan shows great promise with this series and I can't wait to read more!


Water for Elephants
BOOK CLUB!  I have to jump on this months Book Club selection.  I have heard nothing but good things about this book, although I have heard it starts a little slow.
Have you read Water for Elephants?  What did you think of it.

Other book suggestions:
How I Learned to Love the Walrus by Beth Orsoff
The Overnight Socialite by Bridie Clark
and The Last Block in Harlem by Christopher Herz

Happy reading!

Summer Binders

I try to start our summer off with some sort of:
1. Plan for activities and outings
2. Organization for all the classes/sporting events I have to take the children to.
Of course by mid-July- oh all right 2 weeks into summer vacation- all my organization and planning falls apart.
I will not be deterred this year.  I will plan and organize and pray to the goddesses of whatever goddesses are meant for domestication, that all my hard work is not for naught.
This year I am testing out "The Summer Binder."  All my children's summer needs contained in one white, organized book.
Here is how it looks inside:

Binder pencil cases are the GREATEST things ever.  I purchased mine at the dollar store than went to Wal-mart and found them for $.97 and when I got home one of the dollar store pouches zipper broke.
F-U dollar store F.U.
In the pencil cases are pencils (duh) and dry erase markers.

The first page is the oh so dreaded CHORE CHART! NOOOOOOOOO!
I have all their daily chores listed for the week.  I slipped the chore chart, as well as the other papers in the binder, in a plastic sheet protector.   Plastic sheet protectors are the greatest thing EVER.  You can write on the sheet protector with dry-erase marker and wipe it off at the end of the week. 
I found a bunch of AWESOME chore charts here.

 This is a basic run down of all of one child's summer activities.  I listed time, date and location for an easy reference.

Customized, printable calendars are the greatest THING ever!
I used a great printable calendar site (here) and listed what each child has each day.  The kids are going to be mighty busy this summer.  Weekends I left for visits to MiMi's and surprise trips.

Here is a list '100 things for kids to do when they are bored',  I found it here.  I tweaked it a bit to fit our needs.

Nolan came home with a lot of flash cards and learning aids he used during the school year.  Did you know children can lose two months worth of learning during the summer?  Having these cards on hand will hopefully keep their minds in learning mode.

Some cute folders to hold our reading log sheets!  Does your local library have a summer reading program?   Did you know that Barnes and Noble AND Borders rewards your children with free books when they read over the summer?
Who doesn't LOVE free books?  They are the GREATEST THING EVER!

10 Questions Moms of Sick Children Ask Themselves

1. Did I brush my hair today?
2.  Did I brush my teeth today
3. Did I take a shower today?
4. WTF day is it?
5. Can I wear these pajama pants to bed even though I wore them all day?
6. How long has this  puke been on my shirt?
7. How can he sleep through the kids puking at 2am?
8.  How did the can opener get in the freezer? 
9.  Is it possible to be immune to the smell of vomit?
10.   WILL THESE KIDS EVER GET BETTER???

Will I Watch The Lovely Bones Today?

Long ago I read The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, a beautiful yet soul wrenching book.  I had a real physical reaction when I read it.  Literally after reading that one part, that I won't spoil, I was dry heaving with my head resting on the toilet.  For reals.

I almost didn't finish it.  I pushed through and I am glad I did.  It is on my list of top 20 books.

Last month when we had an HBO free preview weekend I noticed the film version of 'The Lovely Bones'  was playing.  I taped it planning to watch it that night.  Well nerves and the desire not to go to bed and have bald Stanley Tucci nightmares, I held off.  Days turned into weeks.  Weeks turned into months and I still have yet to watch that movie.
This is not a decision I take lightly.  Watching 'The Lovely Bones is a commitment I have to fully give of myself.

Every morning I ask myself:

"Will Today Be The Day That I Watch 'The Lovely Bones?"

Then I give myself this simple quiz:

1. Are you happy this morning?

yes: Today is not a good day to watch The Lovely Bones, be happy and enjoy this good feeling

no: Go to question 2

2. Are you sad this morning?

yes: You are overly emotional and need to center yourself, no Lovely Bones for you today!

no: You seem to be at a normal temperament proceed to question 3.

3.  Have you watched any news channels in the past 48 hours?

yes: Truth is stranger the fiction.  Try not to watch the news tonight and start again tomorrow.

no: You are safe to proceed to question number 4.

4.  For any reason, be it necessary or for vanity reasons, are you wearing make-up today?

yes: Due to your overemotional self and the possibility of raccoon eyes you have to put off watching 'The Lovely Bones' for one more day.

no: You may jump to question 5.

5. Are you sick, stomach ache or any type of virus?

yes: Sorry, get well and try again when you feel better.

no: Go to question 6.

6. Are the kids home all day?
yes: Totally inappropriate for young viewers, try again on Monday!
no:  You are a go for question 7.


7. Can you imagine Marky Mark as a father?
yes: Yeah that man looks good no matter what character he plays, proceed to question 8.
no: Get over it and come back tomorrow, you can't live in the 90's forever.


8. Are you expecting an important phone call?
yes: Probably best not to have any distractions, keep the phone on and try again later.
no: Turn the ringer off and proceed to question 9.


9.  Do you have a bottle of wine on hand?
yes: pour yourself a glass and proceed to the last question.
no:  WHAT!  Go out a buy a bottle now! Try again later.


10.  Are you ready for possible anxious behaviors?
yes: The wine is working already.  Sit back and enjoy the movie.
no: Get a grip, have a Xanax and try again tomorrow.

I have yet to pass all 10 questions.    Someday.  Someday.....

Pepsi Refesh Vote Needed!

 One of my blogging friends, and cousin IRL, is working hard this week to get the word and the vote out on her very special Pepsi Refresh Project.  She could use your help, go here and vote for her project!
Now if you are a wise voter, which I am sure you are, you want to know what you are voting for.   Patty is trying to start a Lego Skills Club for children on the Autism Spectrum in her local area.  What is a Lego Skills Club you ask?

"Children come together each week in developmentally staged groups from ages 5-17 years. During the sessions they focus on collaborative projects in a specifically designed LEGO® room. To prompt interaction among the children and help them come up with their own solutions, adult coaches divide up tasks so they have joint and interactive jobs to do. This collaboration requires close interaction and communication among group members naturally reinforcing social contact and good behavior."  From CNNH.org

Supplies and training are need to get the Lego Skills Club off the ground and EVERY vote, EVERY day is important!
So go to the Pepsi Refresh Project and cast your vote.  Then check out their Facebook page for more information!

                   

Don't Breathe a Word

Don't Breathe a Word by: Jennifer Mcmahon
Release Date: May 17, 2011
Rating: ****

I am totally one of those people that totally commits to a book, I dive right in and become totally invested in the story.  I can suspend reality for a brief time and swim in the pool of make-believe.  Then I leave the water and come back to reality where everything is real and explainable.  Where everything has a reason and a place...

Okay I am not that delisional.  Not everything is explainable.  Not everything is cut and dry. 

Fantasy has really become a booming genre.  Fantasy is fun and not your everyday.  Don't Breathe a Word embraces the idea of what if your normal, real life holds an element of fantasy.  Our those stories that seem un-real real?  Can you easily explain them away?   What do you do when a fantasy becomes your reality?

This book is not to be read in the dark, the subtle suspense leaves your heart racing and your palms sweating.  If you like the fantasy genre but want to read a more thought-provoking book this ones for you.

Book summary from publisher Harper Collins:
They say if you pass by on the right night of the year, you'll hear the devil whisper your name . . . 

Once upon a soft, summer night in a small New England town, a 12-year-old girl named Lisa went into the woods behind her house and never came out again. Before she disappeared, she told her little brother Sam about a door—hidden among the ruins of an old town long forgotten—that led to a magical place.

A series of eerie occurrences—beginning with a mysterious phone call—begins to challenge Sam's hard-headed realism. Could there be a world beyond their own and is Lisa somehow a part of it? As events spin out of control, the couple finds themselves falling deeper into a vortex of evil and  terror. And suddenly Sam is reminded of a terrible promise he made years ago . . . a promise that could destroy them all.