3 Books To Add To The “To Be Read” List

The “To Be Read List”…. Does it ever decrease? No, not really. It seems to grow exponentially at my house. But Traveling With T is not going to make life any easier- I’ve got 3 more books for you, the readers of Traveling With T, to add to the TBR list!

What Nora Knew by Linda Yellin

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Molly Hallberg is a thirty-nine-year-old divorced writer living in New York City who wants her own column, a Wikipedia entry, and to never end up in her family’s Long Island upholstery business. For the past four years Molly’s been on staff for an online magazine, covering all the wacky assignments. She’s snuck vibrators through security scanners, speed-dated undercover, danced with the Rockettes, and posed nude for a Soho art studio.

Fearless in everything except love, Molly is now dating a forty-four-yearold chiropractor. He’s comfortable, but safe. When Molly is assigned to write a piece about New York City romance “in the style of Nora Ephron,” she flunks out big-time. She can’t recognize romance. And she can’t recognize the one man who can go one-on-one with her, the one man who gets her. But with wit, charm, whip-smart humor, and Nora Ephron’s romantic comedies, Molly learns to open her heart and suppress her cynicism in this bright, achingly funny novel.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I was so excited about this book. I loved the cover, loved the plot. Heck, it even made Futuristic Friday! Continue reading →

The Wishing Thread by Lisa Van Allen

Photo Credit: Goodreads

The Van Ripper women have been the talk of Tarrytown, New York, for centuries. Some say they’re angels; some say they’re crooks. In their tumbledown “Stitchery,” not far from the stomping grounds of the legendary Headless Horseman, the Van Ripper sisters—Aubrey, Bitty, and Meggie—are said to knit people’s most ardent wishes into beautiful scarves and mittens, granting them health, success, or even a blossoming romance. But for the magic to work, sacrifices must be made—and no one knows that better than the Van Rippers.

When the Stitchery matriarch, Mariah, dies, she leaves the yarn shop to her three nieces. Aubrey, shy and reliable, has dedicated her life to weaving spells for the community, though her sisters have long stayed away. Bitty, pragmatic and persistent, has always been skeptical of magic and wants her children to have a normal, nonmagical life. Meggie, restless and free-spirited, follows her own set of rules. Now, after Mariah’s death forces a reunion, the sisters must reassess the state of their lives even as they decide the fate of the Stitchery. But their relationships with one another—and their beliefs in magic—are put to the test. Will the threads hold?

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Magical realism… Some of it works, some of it doesn’t. The summary, the cover- oh this book had such promise for me. I wanted to love this book, I wanted to devour the pages. Maybe, I set my expectations too high because of the summary and the cover; but I was very lukewarm-ish about this book.

The writing, there is nothing wrong with the writing. But, the plot just took longer to get to a point than I cared for.

If you are looking for a light read, a read with magical realism- then this book is for you!

*This book was requested through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,

T @ Traveling With T

Throwback Thursday: Divine Secrets of Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

Photo Credit: Goodreads

So, you know at Traveling With T, books are a big focus. Like HUGE focus. I love books. I devour books. Books, books, books.

I was in college when I read THE DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD for the first time. Specifically, it was in the few weeks prior to the movie being released. Since the movie had Sandra Bullock in it, I was def going to watch it (naturally!) But upon seeing the book in my local Wal-Mart, on a whim, I picked it up. And while then I did not know what I was reading was Southern Lit, it started a lifetime of me looking for good books- with characters that were heartfelt and moving, incredibly layered and beyond interesting. Continue reading →

Author Spotlight: Elizabeth Maxwell reveals her #literaryconfessions

So yesterday, I had Elizabeth Maxwell at the bloggy-blog chit-chatting about Sadie, the cover of HAPPILY EVER AFTER, and much more. Today, though, we’re going to be all relaxed (think fluffy bunny slippers relaxed) chatting about Elizabeth’s #literaryconfessions, fav books, and other things! Continue reading →

Bloggers Made of AWESOME: Crystal in Bookland

Another week of AWESOME! Crystal in Bookland is a person that I met through Meredith @ Pandora’s Books (actually Crystal started following me- and I began checking her blog out!)

Crystal’s blog has a good mix of reviews and giveaways (and ya’ll know how I LOVE when blogs have giveaways!)

Bloggers Made of AWESOME: Crystal in Bookland

Crystal- when did you begin blogging?

August 4, 2013

How did you come up with the name Crystal in Bookland? Is it a play on words like Alice in Wonderland?

It is definitely a play on words like Alice in Wonderland! That is my all-time favorite book, one of the very first that got me started reading.

What are your thoughts on blogging today in an ever-changing book-ish world? Are blogs helping other readers connect with good books?

I believe so. Most of the books I add on my TBR are definitely recommended from other bloggers, whether it be something they posted about on their blog, twitter, facebook, or goodreads.

When you are not blogging (or reading!)- what do you like to do?

Mainly I’m spending time with my family and doing whatever my kids are demanding me to do….which I totally love!

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

Ahhh I haven’t read Divergent trilogy yet.

Honestly I haven’t read a TON of old classics either. For some reason my school never made us read things like that. I haven’t read anything most people had to in high school. So when people reference them…I’m in the dark. I keep saying one day I will read them….but you know how that goes.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

ADRIAN IVASHKOV <3333 He is my numero uno book hubby for life! Yes, while everyone is claiming their book boyfriends I got serious and snagged him up for the long haul…HA! 😉

What books are you looking forward to reading in 2014?

OH MY!! I REALLY don’t think you want that list SO let me just name a FEW. I’m a HUGE Richelle Mead fan so I’m definitely looking forward to Silver Shadows (Bloodlines #5), The Immortal Crown (Age of X #2), Nil by Lynne Matson, The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings, Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes, & Unhinged by A.G. Howard to name a FEW!

What is a book (or 2!) that you’ve read and LOVED- but did not get positive reviews?

Oh this is a tough question….I can’t really think of any I loved that the majority of people didn’t like it. BUT I’m currently in the middle of The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey and noticed that it seems to be a toss-up between if people love or hate it…so far I’m on the loving side. Also The Host by Stephanie Meyer seemed to be a tough one for a lot of people but I loved it.

In your opinion, what book was the best book you read in 2013?

OH GOSH! I don’t even know how to begin to choose….you can’t make me choose Tamara!!! How about this….I will give you my favorite debut author read of the year….The Prophecy by Erin Albert. It is a high fantasy, fans of Game of Thrones and Falling Kingdom series will love it.

You have a beach vacation planned. What are the 3 books that you must bring?

The Golden Lily by Richele Mead, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Crash Into You by Katie McGarry, got a little bit of mixed genres to keep me happy 🙂

Are you an e-book or tree book lover? Or does it not matter?

Definitely tree book lover! I’m pretty bad about buying both print and eBook BUT I will choose a print, hands down, every time. I just LOVE the convenience of an eBook when going somewhere.

How do you find other blogs to read? Recommendations of other bloggers?

Mainly from Twitter. I will talk to people on there then follow their blogs. I have followed several from recommendations from other bloggers also.

Crystal, what are your favorite types of books to read?

Young Adult definitely, more specific….I’ve been one a big contemp and fantasy kick lately, but I’m really not picky and if you tell me to read something 9 times out of 10 I will 🙂

What is the best thing about the book- the cover, the first line or the last line?

The cover, I’m a complete cover snob and I have no shame!

What is a book that you’ve wanted to read, but just haven’t found the time?

There are SO many, off the top of my head because it’s staring at me right now…Shadow and Bone.

In your Twitter bio, you mention you are a contributor to Fresh Fiction. What, exactly, do you write for Fresh Fiction? Reviews of books?

Yes I am a reviewer for them. Shortly after I started my blog I also filled out a form with Fresh Fiction to become a reviewer for them. It’s sometimes hard balancing between reading books for them and the blog but I enjoy it.

Like Crystal in Bookland? Check her blog and Twitter!

Author Interview: Elizabeth Maxwell, author of HAPPILY EVER AFTER (& a giveaway!)

Today, today, today…. Traveling With T has author Elizabeth Maxwell, author of HAPPILY EVER AFTER, hanging out at the blog! I recently read (and pretty much devoured) my review copy of HAPPILY EVER AFTER (note: Do not read in the dentist office if you are prone to laughing out loud #truestory) and I enjoyed it so much, so I was excited to get to chat with Elizabeth. And then…. when I found out there could be a giveaway (well you know how I feel about that! ♥♥♥♥ ) Even better… TWO COPIES to be given away! Two! Count them, two! Twins! Doubles! 2 times the happiness! Continue reading →

We’ll Always Have Paris…Pre-order news!

Photo Credit: Sourcebooks

Back in January (or maybe it was December?) Jennifer Coburn contacted Traveling With T about a possibility of a book review for her mother/daughter memoir WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS (in stores April 8th). The cover drew me in, beckoned to me and said “T, come on, you know you want to read me!” But today’s post is not about the review (which will be coming the week of April 8th!) Or is it even about the guest post that Jennifer will be doing for Traveling With T (again, look for that the week of April 8th!) Today is about what pre-ordering a copy of WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS and what will happen when you do! Continue reading →

The Favor by Megan Hart

Photo Credit: Harlequin

Janelle Decker has happy childhood memories of her grandma’s house, and even lived there through high school. Now she’s back with her twelve-year-old son to look after her ailing Nan, and hardly anything seems to have changed, not even the Tierney boys next door.

Gabriel Tierney, local bad-boy. The twins, Michael and Andrew.

After everything that happened between the four of them, Janelle is shocked that Gabe still lives in St. Mary’s. And he isn’t trying very hard to convince Janelle he’s changed from the moody teenage boy she once knew. If anything, he seems bent on making sure she has no intentions of rekindling their past.

To this day, though there might’ve been a lot of speculation about her relationship with Gabe, nobody else knows she was there in the woods that day…the day a devastating accident tore the Tierney brothers apart and drove Janelle away. But there are things that even Janelle doesn’t know, and as she and Gabe revisit their interrupted romance, she begins to uncover the truth denied to her when she ran away all those years ago.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts

Argh! I wanted to love this book. The plot was so great sounding. A mystery, a love affair, secrets, family drama- oh it sounded so good. Yet….. I just couldn’t get into it. I tried. I tried. I TRIED. And i just never could connect. The book dragged and dragged- all the appeal of the plot was missing.

Still, I kept on. Why? Because I wanted to know the secret. And, in the end, the secret was pretty good. But, but, but.. it was by sheer determination that I hung on reading this book.

Do I recommend this book? Sadly, I have to say not. If it’d been a little shorter, or if the pages just hadn’t dragged on- maybe.

*This book was requested through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,

T @ Traveling With T

Dead Between the Lines (A Devereaux’s Dime Store Mystery) by Denise Swanson

Photo Credit: Goodreads

This book was sent to Traveling With T by author in exchange for a honest review.

Dead Between The Lines

Opening an old-fashioned five-and-dime shop in her small Missouri hometown has been a great change for Devereaux “Dev” Sinclair. But when she hosts a reading group there, she learns that bad writing can mean life or death.

To keep her new business in the black, Dev opens up her shop to local clubs. But in the first meeting of the Stepping Out Book Club, the speaker storms out after members attack his poetry’s sexism and scorn for small towns. Later that night, the poet’s body is found outside Dev’s store.

Dev can’t afford for the murder to close her down, so she does a little stepping out of her own to investigate, with help from her two sexy suitors, Dr. Noah Underwood and Deputy U.S. Marshal Jake Del Vecchio. But when the killer threatens Dev, they will have to use every trick in the book to solve the case before she becomes the final chapter in this murder mystery.…

Ahh… a day in the life of Dev- she’s got 2 men wanting to be with her, 2 men that complement her in unique ways, she worries about her grandmother, and she finds out in this book that her dad will be returning from jail. So, Dev is trying to make the money while the sun is shining- which is why she opens up the Dime Store to clubs for bit of extra cash. The first book club meeting, though, may be the last- as the members get peeved with the author for his attitude toward women and small-town life. Dev knew many were peeved when they left, but she did not know who was peeved enough to kill the author or why they did it- was it because of the book club meeting? Or is there much more to this story?

What Dev knows is this: She can’t afford to be shut down while the police are looking for the killer- so off to work she goes. With a little help from the good doctor, Noah, and the hunk-alicious Deputy US Marshall, Jake- Dev is sure to get to the bottom of this mess, quick, fast and in a hurry. Which leaves her to think about other things- such as who is the yin to her yang?

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I enjoy the Dime Store Mystery series! It’s fun, cute, and Denise writes small-town characters that are interesting and nice to read about. While I’m a bit more of a SCUMBLE RIVER fan, this DIME STORE mystery changed that. Dev has hit a groove with me in reading and I found myself not comparing to Scumble River as I have in the past. One thing I really liked about this book was that Denise is allowing us to see chapters from the male’s point of view- something I don’t remember her doing in Scumble River (although, perhaps I have forgot!) Getting to know Jake and Noah a bit, through their own thoughts and not the actions we see in the Dev chapters, added a bit to this book.

Even though recently, I went on a bit of rant about love triangles and their length, I actually like love triangles (as long as they don’t go on too long!) Right now, the love triangle with Dev, Noah and Jake is fine. Cute. You’ll hear it first when the triangle needs to leave the building, though.

Overall, enjoyable! A nice cozy mystery with some great characters. Definitely add this to the TBR list!

*Dead Between the Lines was sent to Traveling With T by author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,

T @ Traveling With T