Goodreads Monday: Abraham Lincoln

March 12, 2018March 15, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader9 Comments

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren’s Page Turners. To take part, you simply choose a random book from your TBR and show it off. Don’t forget to check out Lauren’s Goodreads Monday blog post to share your Monday selections.

I am currently in Washington, D.C. to attend the 2018 SHRM Employment Law & Legislative Conference (for work) and feeling a bit historical. I thought it would be fun to share books – including a children’s book – about my favorite president: Abraham Lincoln.

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At the same conference a few years back, our keynote speaker was historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. She wrote a book called Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln that I obviously purchased (but, that is still sitting on my TBR…I will get to it this year!).

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Published: October 25, 2005 by Simon Schuster
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Category: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Politics
Winner of the Lincoln Prize, 2016

Goodreads Synopsis:
Acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin illuminates Lincoln’s political genius in this highly original work, as the one-term congressman and prairie lawyer rises from obscurity to prevail over three gifted rivals of national reputation to become president.Read More »

Book Review: The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

March 10, 2018March 10, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader14 Comments

3.5 disco balls

Published: January 2, 2018 by William Morrow
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BOTM $9.99 add-on
Category: Suspense, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction

I really wanted to love this book as I am a big fan of suspense books and the premise of this book was super interesting, but overall it was OK. The ending saved this book for me: and, isn’t that what suspense books are all about (the ending)?Read More »

Book Review: We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

March 8, 2018April 3, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader13 Comments

What drew me first to this book was the cover: its absolutely beautiful.

4 disco balls

Published: February 14, 2017 by Dutton Books
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Category: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

The synopsis on the book jacket is somewhat vague, which I often prefer. It just explains how lead character, Marin, left home with only her wallet, cell phone and a photo. She hasn’t spoken to anyone from her prior life in 3 months; until her best friend shows up to visit for three days.

During this visit we will piece together Marin’s former life and learn why she just picked up and left. Read More »

Talk to Me: Reading Habits

March 6, 2018March 6, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader22 Comments

Of course I can read just about anywhere (commuting, waiting on line, in waiting rooms) but if I am being honest I am most comfortable reading when I am at home in my pajamas. I need pjs, fuzzy socks, a blanket, and my cuddly pug Bailey next to me to really be in reading mode. Lounging in jeans: nope, not comfortable enough. Leggings or sweatpants please: a bonus if they are a cute pattern.

The minute I get home from work the first thing I do is change into comfortable clothes. Like I said, lounging in jeans or work pants: no thank you! The thought of it is sending shivers throughout my body. I am suddenly feeling itchy! 😫 I know, sounds weird, but I am all about comfort.

I noticed I have a bookstagram photo of me on my couch reading and I was wearing jeans !?!?! I am not sure what was wrong with me that day. I must not have been feeling like myself (I would never actively choose to lounge in jeans!). 😂

Question: What are your reading habits? Whether its reading with the music blasting, TV on, or the need for total silence. What is something we don’t know about your reading habits or style?

This isn’t really Bailey, but you can be sure that his favorite thing to do is sleep 23hrs a day!

Goodreads Monday: Rainbirds by Clarissa Goenawan

March 5, 2018March 5, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader12 Comments

I first heard of Rainbirds when I read the Brunette Biblio’s review of the book that I immediately added it to my TBR: so you can imagine how thrilled I am that it’s a March Book of the Month selection!

Obviously it was my March choice and I should be getting it any day now. Woohoo!

Rainbirds by Clarissa Goenawan
Publish date: March 6, 2018 by Soho Press
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BOTM $9.99 add on
Category: Mystery, Fiction, Contemporary

Goodreads Synopsis:

Clarissa Goenawan’s dark, spellbinding literary debut opens with a murder and shines a spotlight onto life in fictional small-town Japan.

Ren Ishida is nearly finished with graduate school when he receives news of his sister Keiko’s sudden death. She was viciously stabbed one rainy night on her way home, and there are no leads. Ren heads to Akakawa to conclude his sister’s affairs, still failing to understand why she chose to abandon the family and Tokyo for this desolate town years ago.

But Ren soon finds himself picking up where Keiko left off, accepting both her teaching position at a local cram school and the bizarre arrangement of free lodging at a wealthy politician’s mansion in exchange for reading to the man’s catatonic wife.

As he comes to know the figures in Akakawa, from the enigmatic politician to his fellow teachers and a rebellious, alluring student named Rio, Ren delves into his shared childhood with Keiko and what followed, trying to piece together what happened the night of her death. Haunted in his dreams by a young girl who is desperately trying to tell him something, Ren struggles to find solace in the void his sister has left behind.

Book Review: Bachelor Girl by Kim Van Alkemade

March 2, 2018March 2, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader17 Comments

4 disco balls

Expected publication: March 6, 2018 by Touchstone
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Category: Historical Fiction

Another great book cover, wouldn’t you agree?

I started reading Bachelor Girl on my trip home from vacation. After reading a little over 2 hours during my flight home I noticed I only got 13% of the way through. 1) Either I am a very slow reader, or 2) this is a long one. I am going to go with #2: the paperback is 416 pages (kindle is listed at 432).

I enjoyed this read and didn’t mind the length, its just not one of those you can plow through in two days. If you could, well then I change my initial answer to #1 – I am a slow reader.

Book Review: The Copenhagen Affair by Amulya Malladi

March 1, 2018March 8, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader14 Comments

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3.5 disco balls

Published: September 26, 2017 by Lake Union Publishing
Purchase: Amazon (kindleunlimited eligible), Barnes & Noble
Category: Fiction, Contemporary

How pretty is this cover? It was what caught my eye while browsing NetGalley for a read.

Sanya has been married twenty years, has a successful career, and a life many people are envy of. It is not enough in the eyes of her family, and she is not enough to keep her career driven husband fully engaged. She suffers what she calls an “implosion” and has been battling to bring herself back; but, she soon realizes she is not the same person and will spend her time trying to figure out what person she actually wants to “bring back.”

Her husband, Harry, suggests a move to Copenhagen with his job in hopes the move will be the change she needs to get back to ‘normal.’ She meets a few couples that are business contacts of Harry’s and will find herself developing feelings for one of them.

The story tells of Sanya’s journey to self as well as what other’s would do to keep the life they are comfortable in, safe.Read More »

Book Review: By the Book by Julia Sonneborn

February 26, 2018April 2, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader29 Comments

Super cute vacation read!

5 disco balls

Published: February 6, 2018 by Gallery Books
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Category: Womens Fiction, Chick-lit, Retelling

I was super bummed when I got the NetGalley rejection email from my request to read the arc of this book. The synopsis looked like a fun, lighthearted read so I wound up pre-ordering on Amazon (and waited a month for the pub date!). I had never done that as usually a rejection email makes me a bit sour on the book (hey, just being honest).

But enough of my ramblings, lets get to the part you want to hear: why I rated it so highly! Read More »

Book Review: The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor

February 23, 2018February 24, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader25 Comments

4 disco balls

Published: January 9, 2018 by Crown Publishing Group
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BOTM $9.99 add on
Category: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

I took The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor with me on vacation: what a travel companion it was. Holy moly creepy. At first you don’t really recognize the creepiness, but then bam! Like what was that? Who can I talk about this with? (obviously I will not discuss it here – not going to spoil anything for you) For my suspense fans, you need to read this. Read More »

Talk to Me: Do Not Finish (DNF) Books

February 21, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader13 Comments

featured photo cred: Intelligence is sexy

So, the other day I was reading a book that I won on Goodreads. There was not much in the synopsis but enough for me to believe it was a romance of some sort between an employee and her forbidden boss (he’s rich and powerful and he pursues her – you know the drill). Well, I got a whole heck of a lot more than that (lets just say it made 50 Shades seem PG-13). At the 27% I knew I didn’t like this book and wanted to put down. But, since I won it in a giveaway I thought I should at least get to 50% so I can give a rating and move on.

Move on? I always tell myself I want to do that but then I get to the 50% mark and say “I already came this far, try and finish the book…”Read More »

Goodreads Monday: An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo

February 19, 2018February 19, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader9 Comments

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren’s Page Turners. To take part, you simply choose a random book from your TBR and show it off. Don’t forget to check out Lauren’s Goodreads Monday blog post to share your Monday selections.

An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo
Published: October 25, 2011 by Feiwel & Friends (first published 2009)
Purchase: Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Synopsis:

With Lizzie’s father fighting in World War II, her mother takes on the job of a zoo keeper to provide for her family. Lizzie, her mother, and her eight-year-old brother Karli have become especially attached to an orphaned elephant named Marlene. The bombing of Dresden is imminent and soon, so the zoo director explains that as a precautionary measure all the animals must be destroyed so that they’re not running wild through the city. Lizzie’s mother persuades the director to allow Marlene, the elephant, to come stay in the family’s garden.

As predicted, Dresden is bombed, and the family, including Marlene, is forced from the city. Lizzie and her family aren’t alone. Thousands of Dresden residents are fleeing to find somewhere safe to stay. Lizzie’s mother has to find a different route out of the city to keep the elephant and the children safe from harm. Once they reach the abandoned home of their relatives, they come across Peter, a Canadian navigator who, by putting himself at risk of capture to save the family, gains their trust.

This unlikely grouping of family, elephant, and enemy turned ally come together beautifully to illustrate the importance of love, resolve, and hope.