Stacking the Shelves

I got these from the library.

I got this from Edelweiss for review.

Feature and Follow Friday

Q.What have you learned from book blogging that you didn't know before about the publishing industry?

A. I'm still learning, but I learned about ARCs. I didn't know they existed before I started blogging.

Review: Capital Girls by Ella Monroe

Title: Capital Girls

Author: Ella Monroe

Pub date: 8/7/2012

Publisher St. Martin's Griffin

Source: Library








Summary from Goodreads:

  CAPITAL GIRLS by Ella Monroe is the first book in a glitzy, fast-paced, fabulous new young adult series set against the backdrop of Washington, D.C. In it, we meet four young women, best friends forever, who must navigate life as the children of some of the most powerful people in the nation. With that life comes not only awesome vacations, beautiful clothes and A-list parties, but also scandal, heartache, danger and the ever-present paparazzi who seem to have a knack for catching them when they're up to something bad!

My thoughts/review:

This is about best friends Jackie, Lettie, Laura Beth, and Taylor being the Capital Girls. Jackie is the girlfriend of the president's son, Andrew. She is known throughout the book as the "It girl" or queen bee of their school. Taylor is killed in a mysterious car accident and now the girls have to befriend Whitney who happens to be the daughter of a gossip columnist. The girls don't like Whitney and think that she is weird with her "California ways". This book felt a little like Gossip Girl. If I were to type cast Jackie would be Serena, Laura Beth would be Blair, and Whitney would be Vanessa. This story had scandals and lots of drama. It was a fabulous read.

Book Review: Unmasking Maya by Libby Mercer

Title: Unmasking Maya

Author: Libby Mercer

Pub date: Dec. 12, 2012

Source: The author












Summary from Goodreads:

 Fresh from a career-killing scandal, New York fashion girl, Maya Kirkwood, arrives in San Francisco to reinvent herself as a fine artist. She's offered the opportunity to create an installation at the Silicon Valley headquarters of a hot new tech company. Fabulous, right?

Not so much.

She can't stand Derek Whitley - wunderkind software genius and CEO of the company. Hot as he may be on the outside, inside the man is a cold, unemotional, robotic type. Way too left-brained for her right-brained self.

As Maya and Derek get to know each other, however, their facades begin to crack. She catches her first glimpse of the man behind the superhuman tech prodigy, and he starts to see her as the woman she used to be. But is this a good thing? Once that last secret is revealed, will it bring them closer together or will it tear them apart?

My summary/thoughts:

 Unmasking Maya is about Maya Kirkwood an artist who falls for Derek who is a nerdy workaholic while she installs her artwork for his company.  This wasn't so much of a romance. It felt more like a chick lit novel. There was a lot of flirting and mysteriousness.  This was a short, light read with some warm and fuzziness at the end. The main character has a lot of male issues because of what her father did. Overall, it was a fabulous read.
 

Follow Friday

Q: Activity! Who do you want to be? If you could choose any character from a book. What do you think that character looks like and what do you have in common?

I have no idea. I'm thinking Chloe from Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Corriell. I think we might have the same optimistic, peppy personality. I think the character looks like Bella Thorne from Disney's Shake It Up. I don't look like Chloe except for Bella's hairstyle with the bangs. I get bangs every winter/spring. :-)

Bella Thorne

Stacking the Shelves

I got these from the library.

Book Review: Killer Librarian by Mary Lou Kirwin

Title: Killer Librarian

Author: Mary Lou Kirwin

Publish date: November 27, 2012

Publisher: Pocket Books











Summary from Goodreads

FILE “M” FOR MURDER. . . .

Champion of the mystery section at a small-town Minnesota library, Karen Nash is about to embark on a dream trip to London—a literary tour inspired by every murderous intrigue, wily suspect, and ingenious crime found in the pages of the British mysteries that she devours. But she’s clueless why the love of her mid-life, Dave, would dump her hours before takeoff—until she spies him at the airport with a young honey on his arm! She decides the best revenge (for now) is to get on that plane anyway . . . and entertain schemes for Dave’s untimely demise while crossing the pond.

 After touching ground in the hallowed homeland of Christie, Sayers, and Peters, she checks into a cozy B & B run by charming bibliophile Caldwell Perkins. Soon she’s spilling tears in her pint at the corner pub, sharing her heartbreak saga with a stranger. That night, a B & B guest drops out of circulation—permanently. And when Dave and his cutie turn up in London, Karen realizes they are an assassin’s target. With the meticulous attention to detail that makes her a killer librarian, Karen sleuths her way through her own real-life mystery—in which library science meets the art of murder.

My Thoughts/ review:

Karen is a feisty librarian who gets dumped by her plumber boyfriend Dave for a young thing right when they were supposed to go to London together. This book was crazy. I didn't like Dave because he did Karen wrong. In London, Karen befriends Caldwell who owns the B&B where she is staying at. When somebody mysteriously dies in the B&B, Karen tries to find out who did it and why. She also does some book shopping amidst all the craziness. I really liked the ending of this book. It was the best ending I have read in a long time.

Bohemia By Veronika Carnaby

Title: Bohemia

Author: Veronika Carnaby

Publish date: 9/12/2012













Summary Goodreads:

In her debut novel, Veronika Carnaby picks up where the Beat Generation left off. Set in 1960, Bohemia chronicles a group of twenty-somethings who defy the "ideals" of a mid-twentieth century society to seek creative fulfillment. In the process, they spotlight the creative path that artists of all mediums tread, all the while depicting the challenges faced by youth in the decade that changed the world.

My thoughts/review:

This book is about a bunch of friends who party and come of age in the 60s. The main character is V. She goes through all of these adventures and changes with her friends. I don't really know much about the 60s, but I guess this is how I would envision life in the 60s would be like. Sometimes I was confused as to what was happening in the story. To me, this group of friends reminds me of today's version of hipsters. This book isn't what I usually read since I can't relate to that decade, but if you are a fan of 60s culture or want to have an idea of that decade then you would enjoy this book.

Follow Friday

Question: Books are turned into movies all the time! Turn it around. What movie would make a great book?

Hmmm. Ok, I wouldn't mind Grey's Anatomy having a book. I think they tried it once but I want a whole series with everybody's points of view. I've thought about this for a long time, seriously. Even thought it's not a movie, it is my favorite show.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights upcoming releases that we're all eagerly anticipating.

Title: Friends and Foes

Authors: ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray

Release Date: February 26, 2013

Publisher: Gallery Books











Summary from Amazon:
The drama is still fresh between Rachel Jackson Adams and Jasmine Larson Bush after each woman attempted to get her husband elected to the coveted position of President of the American Baptist Coalition. Now, everyone’s favorite First Ladies are going at it again.

When Rachel learns that Jasmine is going to be featured on a national television interview—thanks to the publicist she hired—the gloves are off and Rachel is set to do battle.  But unexpectedly Rachel finds herself caught up in a much more ominous plot—one that involves murder—and must navigate these troubled waters with her least-expected ally, Jasmine.
Combining light-hearted action with a message of faith, this book is a delightful read featuring two beloved characters from two exceptional authors.

Book Review: The Color of Tea by Hannah Tunnicliffe

Title: The Color of Tea

Author: Hannah Tunnicliffe

Publisher: Scribner

Pub date: 6/5/2012

Source: The Library








Goodreads summary:

Macau: the bulbous nose of China, a peninsula and two islands strung together like a three-bead necklace. It was time to find a life for myself. To make something out of nothing. The end of hope and the beginning of it too. After moving with her husband to the tiny, bustling island of Macau, Grace Miller finds herself a stranger in a foreign land—a lone redhead towering above the crowd on the busy Chinese streets. As she is forced to confront the devastating news of her infertility, Grace’s marriage is fraying and her dreams of family have been shattered. She resolves to do something bold, something her impetuous mother would do, and she turns to what she loves: baking and the pleasure of afternoon tea.

Grace opens a cafÉ where she serves tea, coffee, and macarons—the delectable, delicate French cookies colored like precious stones—to the women of Macau. There, among fellow expatriates and locals alike, Grace carves out a new definition of home and family. But when her marriage reaches a crisis, secrets Grace thought she had buried long ago rise to the surface. Grace realizes it’s now or never to lay old ghosts to rest and to begin to trust herself. With each mug of coffee brewed, each cup of tea steeped and macaron baked, Grace comes to learn that strength can be gleaned from the unlikeliest of places.

A delicious, melt-in-your-mouth novel featuring the sweet pleasures of French pastries and the exotic scents and sights of China, The Color of Tea is a scrumptious story of love, friendship and renewal.

My review/thoughts:

Grace Miller and her husband, Pete, are living in Macau, China for Pete's work. After they find out they can't have children, Grace opens a cafe called Lillian's where she makes macarons and serves tea. Grace makes friends with people she wouldn't have otherwise known after she opens Lillian's. We meet Marjory, Rilla, and Gigi just to name a few women that Grace becomes close to. Gigi is a feisty character that I liked reading about and was very memorable. This is the first time I've read about China so that was cool since I've never been there. Grace has a lot of issues but she works through them in the book. Overall, this was a light and fast read. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It was a fabulous read. As soon as I finished, I wanted a macaron.

Stacking the Shelves

I ordered these book from the library.

 

 

Book Review: Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secret I Learned While Living In Paris by Jennifer L. Scott

Title: Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris

Author: Jennifer L. Scott

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pub Date: 11/6/2012

Source: Edelweiss








Summary from Goodreads:

Bring home the chic Parisian world of style and charm  When Jennifer Scott arrived at the doorstep of a grand Sixteenth Arrondissement apartment as a foreign exchange student, she was greeted by the woman who would become her mentor and the inspiration for the way she lived long after her time abroad was over. Madame Chic took the casual California teenager under her wing, revealing the secrets of how the French elevate the little things in life to the art of living.

Each chapter of Lessons from Madame Chic reveals a valuable secret Jennifer learned while under Madame Chic’s tutelage in Paris—tips you can incorporate into your own life, no matter where you live or the size of your budget. Embracing the classically French aesthetic of quality over quantity, aspiring Parisiennes will learn to master the art of eating (deprive yourself not), dressing (the ten-item wardrobe), grooming (le no-makeup look), and living à la française. From entertaining with easy flair and formality to cultivating allure while living an active, modern life, Lessons from Madame Chic is the essential handbook for anyone wanting to incorporate that Parisian je ne sais quoi into her daily life.

My review/thoughts:

This book by Jennifer L. Scott is about how to incorporate french values into your everyday life. When I was reading it, I was like I know about this and I've never been to Paris. It reinforced things my mom already told me. It's a great book for people that need a little help on style, entertaining, being organized, being positive and to always look presentable, even while asleep. My favorite part of the book was when she gave stories of when she was in Paris since I've never been. I also like the Le Recap of each chapter. This book is great for people who love French culture or want to learn more about it. The author also has her own website: The Daily Connoisseur. This book was a fabulous read. It's full of wisdom and great advice.

Stacking the Shelves

I got these books from the library and e-library.

Follow Friday

Question: When you step out of your USUAL genre what do you like to read? Best books in genre?

My usual genre is Chick Lit fiction. I like mysteries, foodie lit, memoirs, nonfiction. The genre I've been dipping into lately that's really not my usual is YA and YA dystopian. Favorite books in this genre for me is Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth and Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MzB from Should Be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 My teasers:

No one at Whitney Young High School would have thought we'd end up friends. I matriculated as an unapologetic band geek, playing adequate if uninspired second-chair flute, dating other band geeks for the convenience of it.

p.20, "Off the Menu" by Stacey Ballis

Teaser Tuesday

 Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play long just do the following:

• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page
• Share 2 teaser sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include any spoilers so to not ruin the book for others.
• Include Title and author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.

 My Teasers:

"Bookshops, we call them here." He popped himself in the mouth. "Sorry, bad habit of mine, correcting people's English."

Pg. 208, Killer Librarian by Mary Lou Kirwin

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following: • Grab your current read • Open to a random page • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page • Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following: • Grab your current read • Open to a random page • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page • Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following: • Grab your current read • Open to a random page • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page • Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Review: Pushing Upward by Andrea Adler

Title: Pushing Upward

Author: Andrea Adler

Publication: Hay House Visions

Pub date:  September 21, 2012

Source: NetGalley









Summary from Goodreads:

Pushing Upward is a remarkable debut novel that will sweep you along on one woman’s unforgettable spiritual quest.

The year is 1974. While trying to eke out a living as an actress in L.A., 21-year-old Sandra Billings discovers the I Ching, the ancient Chinese oracle; and uses it as her GPS to navigate a torrid love affair, battle with demons of the past, and search for meaning and truth.

She places a fateful newspaper ad—Drama student in need of RM AND BRD in exchange for housekeeping—and encounters an assortment of outrageous and inappropriate individuals. But it is one unlikely stranger who will change the course of her life.

Events ultimately build to a stunning climax, where everything Sandra has gained is challenged by a poignant and surprising twist of fate . . .

My review/thoughts:

Sandra Billings is a young struggling actress who's trying to break into the business and needs a place to live. She meets Emma an elderly woman who acts as sort a of fairy godmother to Sandra. She helps her get into shape for auditions by telling her how to exercise and eat healthy, while giving advice along the way. Emma also has connections to people in the industry. Along with the I Ching and Emma, you would think Sandra would have a smooth ride, but that wasn't the case. She was stubborn and thought the I Ching was wrong because she wanted to do whatever she wanted. This was a different kind of book than I'm used to reading. It was intriguing and a page turner.

Follow Friday

 

What are you reading right now? How do you like it?

 Right now, I'm reading Jeneration X by Jen Lancaster. I like it very much. She's very funny.

 

Review: Sisters' Guide to NYC Cupcakes by Nanette McLain, Nerisse Pinkston, Nichelle Walters

Title: Sisters' Guide to NYC Cupcakes

Authors: Nanette McLain, Nerisse Pinkston, Nichelle Walters

Publisher: Donning Company Publishers

Pub date: 6/1/2012

Source: NetGalley








Goodreads Summary:

Use this unique travel guide to make the most of your trip to New York City and all the cupcakes it offers. No trip would be complete without visiting Chelsea, Union Square, the East Village, NoHo, SoHo, Nolita, and the Lower East Side. This guide highlights bakeries in each of these areas. The tour was developed based on personal wanderings of three rural Missouri sisters in New York City. The sixty-four-page guide is the perfect size to tuck in a bag while traveling throughout the city. This limited-edition book published by the Donning Company Publishers of Virginia Beach, Virginia, is a must have.

My review/thoughts:
I love this type of book since I love cupcakes. If I ever get a chance  to go to New York, I will be going to some of these bakeries. I love the design of the book and the pictures of the cupcakes. It was very colorful and made me hungry for cupcakes. This is a very useful book to have for a cupcake tour around NYC. I recommend this book for anybody who is in NYC or going to travel to NYC because everybody needs a cupcake break every now and then.

Stacking the Shelves

I got these books from the library.

 

                                            

 From NetGalley: