Book Expo Day 1

A lovely, but very tiring first day at Book Expo.

I met many bloggers and authors and picked up these wonderful books.

Which books would you choose to read?

Books Read in May

I had a record reading month!! 

I read SEVEN books and listened to TWO audios.

The audios were Tangerine and The Marriage Lie.

I hope you had a good month too.

Happy June Reading!!

Book Expo 2018

Heading to New York tomorrow, May 29, to visit my son and to attend the Book Expo.

I won't be around too much, but will try to check in. 

I haven't been to the Book Expo for three years, and I am excited to see other bloggers.

Hanging Around With Books

Just “hanging around” with TONS of books at the Book Expo.

Ready to Roll!!

On my way to New York and the Book Expo!! 

Hope to see you there.

Lying In Wait by Liz Nugent

Was his life and his family made of secrets?  That is what it seemed like to Laurence.

Laurence found out that his father had killed someone because she was blackmailing him.  What his parents did with the body and the fact that Andrew killed a woman was a huge secret his father had to keep.  This secret took its toll on Andrew and Laurence.

His mother actually was not fazed by it perhaps because of a deep, dark secret from her childhood that neither Laurence or Andrew knew about and which was another secret that didn't bother Lydia. 

Their home and this totally dysfunctional family was a house of secrets and lies. 

And the lies continued as Lydia thought of ways to hide what happened and how to protect herself.  Lydia was a very cunning woman who made sure everything benefited her.

LYING IN WAIT had a sinister tone from the start, and it continued to grow in intensity and suspense with a chilling ending.

Ms. Nugent has written an engaging, can-this-really-be happening, pull-you-in psychological thriller.

If you enjoy a book that has you biting your nails and wondering what other evil deeds Lydia is planning, LYING IN WAIT will be for you.  5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press.

The Great American Read

Did you watch The Great American Read?

Which book are you voting for?

I am voting for A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN by Betty Smith.

Beach House Reunion by Mary Alice Monroe

Two women coming home for two different reasons to the place they loved and the place with many memories.

Linnea had finished college, and Cara was coming home to be with family.

Linnea came home from college and had no choice but to return, and really didn’t want to be in her childhood home with all the drama and the rules.

Cara came home because her husband had passed away a few years earlier, she adopted a friend’s baby, and she wanted to have her daughter grow up where she grew up with family and summer beach memories.

Both women needed something, and with Linnea being Cara’s niece, the problem was solved because Linnea was going to be Cara’s nanny.  That would save Linnea from staying with her parents all summer and would be a warm remembrance of her childhood times at the beach house, Primrose Cottage.   Cara would get to spend time with her niece to catch up and have someone to finally help her so she wasn’t alone.

BEACH HOUSE REUNION was a very pleasant, heartwarming read that made you want to for the most part be in the Rutledge family and in Primrose Cottage as well as Sullivan's Island.

Everything about the book was comfy and inviting.

The characters and the beachy setting were quite pleasant.

Learning about loggerheads, surfing, seeing the love between family members and others, and joining in the family fun are some of the reasons you will want to read this book.

I actually want to learn more about the sea turtles (loggerheads). It sounded fascinating, and the excitement the characters had about them had me wanting to learn more.

BEACH HOUSE REUNION is an easy, sweet read that will be a perfect addition to your summer reading list. 5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Spotlight and Giveaway of Best Beach Ever by Wendy Wax

Photo Source

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All information in this post is courtesy of Danielle Keir of Penguin Random House and an e-mail from Wendy Wax.  

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Celebrating The Release Of

 BEST BEACH EVER
BY
WENDY WAX

On Sale May 22, 2018

The next novel in the binge-worthy, bestselling Ten Beach Road series about a group of women who renovate houses, build friendships, and fix their personal lives in the process.

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Praise for the Novels of Wendy Wax:

“If you’re a sucker for plucky women who rise to the occasion, this is for you.”—USA Today

 

“Fans of Jane Green and Mary Alice Monroe will adore Wax's lively characters, witty dialogue, and heartfelt prose.”—Booklist 

 

“Wax’s Florida titles [the Ten Beach Road novels] are terrific for lovers of women’s fiction and family drama, especially if you enjoy a touch of suspense and romance.”—Library Journal 

 

“[Wax] writes with breezy wit and keen insight.”—The Atlanta Journal Constitution

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About The Book:

When author Wendy Wax started writing the story of Ten Beach Road set on the backdrop of St. Petersburg, Florida, about a group of women who renovate houses almost seven years ago, she did not intend on writing a series. 

In fact, the first book, Ten Beach Road, was supposed to be a standalone novel. It was not until the book was finished and Wendy and her readers became so attached to Madeline, Avery, and Nikki—three strangers who found an unexpected sisterhood in restoring a house and reinventing themselves together—that she was compelled to continue their story.

Since then, the USA Today bestselling series has garnered even more devoted fans, inspiring them to follow the lead of the ladies of Ten Beach Road and toast to their own “one good thing” at the end of each day, whether that’s enjoying the company of friends or channeling Avery and adding a daily dose of cheese doodles into their lives.

Now, in her sixth book in a series that was inspired by her own childhood summers, Wax picks up where One Good Thing left off in BEST BEACH EVER (Berkley Trade Paperback Original; May 22, 2018; $16.00). Fans will delight in catching up with familiar beloved characters and new readers will have no problem sinking into the witty and uplifting story that’s equal parts authentic and charming. 

After a recent forced move and the loss of their renovation reality TV show Do Over, the friends of Ten Beach Road—Maddie, Nikki, Avery, Kyra, and Bitsy—think things can’t get any worse, but they soon discover just how uncertain their futures are.

Each of them has their own challenge to face. Maddie struggles with dating a rock star whose career has taken off again while Nikki faces the daunting realities of mothering twins at forty-seven. Avery buries herself in a tiny home build to avoid commitment issues, and Kyra fights to protect her son from the Hollywood world she once dreamed of joining. And Bitsy is about to find out whether the rewards of seeking revenge will outweigh the risks.

Luckily, the women of Ten Beach Road know that their friendship can get them through anything. And if there’s one thing they know for sure, it’s that there’s nothing a fresh coat of paint and a few glasses of wine can’t fix. 

 The perfect read for HGTV addicts and fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Jane Green, BEST BEACH EVER is a warm and insightful look at the bonds of true friendship.

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About the Author:

Prior to writing, Wendy worked in radio, television and film, most notably as writer, producer and host of The Home Front, which aired on PBS station across the country, and as the host of a Friday night radio show called Desperate & Dateless when she was both.

The mother of a toddler and a newborn when she first decided to write, Wendy admits it may not have been the best timing in terms of productivity.  “I’m still not certain why I felt so compelled to write my first novel at that particular time,” she says, “but that first book took forever.”

In addition to her Ten Beach Road titles, Best Beach Ever, One Good Thing, Sunshine Beach, The House on Mermaid Point, Ocean Beach, Ten Beach Road and novellas, Christmas at the Beach and A Bella Flora Christmas, she is also the author of A Week at the Lake, While We Were Watching Downton Abby, Magnolia Wednesdays, The Accidental Bestseller, Hostile Makeover, Leave it to Cleavage, Single in Suburbia, and 7 Days and 7 Nights.

When not writing, Wendy visits with readers at bookstores and book events, reads, enjoys her and her husband’s newly empty nest and catches up with her sons on the serendipitous occasions when everyone ends up in the same place at the same time.

Wendy loves to hear from her readers! You can reach her at wendy@authorwendywax.com.

You can find more about her on her website here.

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Giveaway:

I am partnering with Penguin Random House for this giveaway. 

Contest has ended - our winner is:

Bethany from Ohio

Bethany found the giveaway on Litsy.

Congrats, Bethany.

USA ONLY

May 22 - May 29

Enter here
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