The Comfort of Lies: Week 1 Questions

Book Lovers Unite people: It’s time! Week 1 discussion questions have been posted!

Remember- we will only discuss the first section of reading- pgs 1-111. I just finished that section last night- and boy, does Randy Susan Meyers know how to write a great opening that will hopefully lead to a GREAT discussion!

Week 1 Questions:

1. Tia- would it be simplistic to say she has “daddy issues” and that’s why she had an affair?

2. Affairs- black and white issue ( affairs are wrong- no question) or gray-issue (it’s not a def “line in the sand” wrong)?

3. Speaking of affairs- who is to blame more- Tia or Nathan? Tia for going after a married man? Or Nathan for breaking his vows? Are they equal in their blame? Can a person be taken that doesn’t want to be taken (at least on some level)?

4. Juliette- when does Juliette go from being a victim to earning a share of blame? When she hides the letter? When she has Caroline over under false pretenses? Or does she still retain her victim status?

5. Should Juliette have left Nathan when she found out about Tia?

6. Is Tia wrong for sending a letter to Nathan? Could her intent have been more malicious than it appeared?

7. Thoughts on Tia getting pregnant- she states about being on the pill since she gave birth. Is that statement telling? Was she not on the pill with Nathan? Was she trying to force Nathan into choosing her by having his baby?

8. Caroline- should Caroline have agreed to adopt Savannah? Or should she have said “no” to adoption? She caved in to her husband’s desires- but what about her own? At what point should 2 people say ” we love each other- but this is a deal-breaker” and part ways?

Thanks for joining in Week 1 of reading The Comfort of Lies!

Thursday Mashup….

Today’s Mashup has several giveaways- so get your book-ish selves to the giveaways!

#giveaways

Luxury Reading is giving away The Lemon Orchard by Luanne Rice

Luxury Reading is also giving away Meet Me at The Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

Luxury Reading is giving away Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman (this giveaway ends SOON!)

Book-alicious Mama is giving away The Panopticon by Jeni Fagan.

My blog, Traveling With T, is giving away The Lake House by Marci Nault!

Book Lovers Unite news

Tomorrow, Aug 9th, the first set of questions will be posted about The Comfort of Lies. Still time to join in- here is the reading schedule.

Literary Crush news!

Team Rob or Team Edmund? #literarycrush from The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley- Here is a blog post that makes an excellent case for whichever side of the aisle you fall on for this! Susanna Kearsely let 2 of her author friends discuss the reasons why they think their #literarycrush is the best! Read the article and then tell me what team you are on!

Author Spotlight: Ashton Lee

Ashton Lee stopped by for an interview- and today he is back for an Author Spotlight! Read on to see who are some of Ashton’s favorite authors- and his #literaryconfession!

Author Spotlight: Ashton Lee

Ashton- who are some of your favorite authors?

Harper Lee, Carson McCullers, Truman Capote, Ayn Rand, Michael Crichton, Michael Morris, Patrick Dennis, Agatha Christie, Ellen Gilchrist, Ellen Douglas, Ronlyn Domingue.

What book (or books!) will you always make room for on your shelf?

(See the works of the above.)

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

There are some classics I couldn’t stand. For instance, I absolutely despised the concept behind “The Scarlet Letter.” The entire persecution angle rubbed me the wrong way, even if it is reflective of that culture. There is so much persecution of all sorts of people in today’s world in so many cultures. I just wanted to punch Nathaniel Hawthorne for going to all that trouble! (Of course, I’d like to think that was his intention—to reveal such persecution as intolerable. But the novel still bothers me!)

Do you have a #literarycrush?

I can’t honestly say I do. I just like literary universes and the way they feel to me as I’m reading.

*Special thanks goes to Ashton Lee for taking time for this Author Spotlight.

If you’ve enjoyed reading Traveling With T’s Interview with Ashton Lee and the Author Spotlight, do check out Ashton’s Facebook page.

Author Spotlight: Marci Nault

Marci Nault has stopped by to reveal her #literaryconfessions and #literarycrush! Be sure and check out the interview and #giveaway about Marci Nault and The Lake House!

Author Spotlight: Marci Nault

Marci- who are some of your favorite authors?

Anne Patchett, Jodi Picoult, John Grisham, Caroline Leavitt, Leslie Lehr, Mary Alice Monroe, Meg Donohue, Lisa Genova.

What book or books will you always make room for on your book shelf?

Chocolat and The Girl With No Shadow, Bel Canto, Stephen King’s On Writing, The Power of Now

Are you a hardback, paperback or e-book kind of reader?

I fought the e-reader for a long time, until my agent gave me one for Christmas. I still love paperback books. Hardcovers for me are too heavy to read in bed or to carry on planes and I travel quite a bit. I love my e-reader for travel. I can be a world away from home and have a complete library at the touch of a button.

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

I’m so afraid to say this, but I didn’t like Wuthering Heights or Ayn Rand. I’ve been told to give Wuthering Heights another look, and maybe I will someday.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

I have to admit that I have a crush on Tommy from my own novel, The Lake House. Boy do I wish he were real!

What books are you looking forward to reading in 2013?

Becoming a published author I’ve been able to meet so many great authors and my to-be-read is piling up. I’ve started about three books that I’m really enjoying, but I realize I want the time to sink in, so I’ve put them aside until I can take a vacation. Love, Water, Memory, This is Tomorrow, What a Mother Knows.

What is the best book you have read (so far) in 2013?

Fully completed (because the books I’ve mentioned above are all wonderful) – The Language of Flowers.

Some say books go best with chocolate- what do you think books go hand in hand with? Chocolate? Wine? Dessert?

I love a great book and a cappuccino from a small local coffee shop. A glass of wine on a Sunday afternoon while sitting in a vineyard is a favorite. I live surrounded by wine country so I can do this. I spent many hours in Piazza Signora in Florence eating truffles and reading, so good chocolate is always a choice. Good literature and something yummy is just what makes life decadent!

*Special thanks to Marci Nault for this author spotlight!

Marci Nault’s debut novel, The Lake House (Gallery/ Simon & Schuster) was a Chicago Tribune, Cape May Herald, CBS, and Amazon Premier summer read pick. Originally from Massachusetts, today she can be found figure skating, salsa dancing, hiking and wine tasting around her home in California. Marci is the founder of 101 Dreams Come True, a motivational website that encourages visitors to follow their improbable dreams. Her story about attempting to complete 101 of her biggest dreams has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and she regularly speaks on the subject on radio stations in both the United States and Canada. She’s also the owner of www.Elegantbridaldesigns.com, a couture lingerie, dress, and jewelry store.

Bloggers Made of AWESOME: Leah @ Leah’s Thoughts

Leah @ Leah’s Thoughts is a relatively new blog to me. One day, through that magical place called Twitter, I saw a tweet about Leah interviewing Erika Robuck. Since I think Erika is adorable- I checked out the interview, then the blog. Leah’s Thoughts is not about just books- it’s more of a mix of things- but, it’s definitely a cute and AWESOME blog!

Bloggers made of AWESOME: Leah @ Leah’s Thoughts

Leah- when did you begin blogging?

I started blogging in December 2009. It was my New Year’s goal to write more and blogging was my strategy.

Leah- your blog is a mixture of things. Books . Cooking. Crafts. Did you consider starting another blog at one point so that you could have blogs focused on 1 thing? Or do you like having a blog with multiple subjects?

I like having a blog that reflects who I am, which is a mixture of someone who loves writing, reading, cooking, crafting, and spending time with my family. I think the variety keeps the content fresh and my readers seem to respond to that, which is why I think they continue coming back. I have considered starting another blog for my writing and marketing business, which would focus on writing and social media for business. But that’s a project for another day!

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

I love how blogging has opened up new books and made authors more accessible to lay readers. I have found so many great books and writers just from reading other blogs. Truth be told, that’s how I find most of my books these days. I love that this new blogging world gives authors/writers a chance to market their work to readers when they are not getting the same marketing support from publishers they did in the past. I also love how supportive the blogging/author community seems to be. Writers are genuinely touched and happy to promote their books on blogs. And now I can actually converse with my favorite writers through blogs and afterwards on social media.

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

When I’m not blogging or reading (or reading other blogs!), I am usually spending time with my 5-year-old daughter, Sophie. I also like to cook and bake. And when I’m not doing all those things, I’m working on my writing and marketing business.

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

I have not read Pride and Prejudice! This isn’t so much of a concession, but more of a rule. If I don’t like a book – or cannot get engaged with the story in the first 25 pages – I stop reading. Life is too short to read a bad book. And I have a HUGE stack that needs reading.

Do you have a #literarycrush? (One of mine is Peeta from the Hunger Games)

I haven’t read Hunger Games either! Shameful, I know. I don’t have crushes so much as there are characters I admire. I always find myself thinking of Jo March from Little Women. I so respect her strength and courage to move beyond what is comfortable and take a chance in life.

What books are you looking forward to reading in 2013?

I have Khaled Hosseini’s new book (And the Mountains Echoed) in my TBR stack. I loved his other two books. I am also dying to read Jeannette Walls’ The Silver Star.

In your opinion, what book has been the best book you have read (so far!) in 2013?

That’s a tough question because I’ve read some really good ones! I really liked Julie Kibler’s Calling Me Home. I just finished The Outcast, by Jolina Petersheim, who is a phenomenal blogger. We’ve been following each other’s blogs for years, so it’s really exciting to see her publish her first novel. And it was really good too!

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

My husband and I say that our ideal vacation is going away to a beach house or cabin to just read books. Lucky for me, I’m married to a fellow bookworm too. The next three books on my list are: The Snow Child (Eowyn Ivey), Sisters (Nancy Jensen), and The Other Typist (Suzanne Rindell). Of course, there are dozens more waiting when those are done!

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

I’m still a tree book lover. I love the feel of actual paper and a book in my hands. And since I’m on the computer all day working, I like to turn off the electronics to enjoy my books.

If you could have dinner with a collection of characters from books you’ve read- what characters would you pick? And why?

I would love to have dinner with the March sisters (Little Women) or watch one of their plays. I’ve always been partial to that book because I’m one of four sisters as well. But I have to admit that walking the halls of Hogwarts with Harry, Ron and Hermione makes me pretty excited too.

*If you enjoyed reading about Leah- check out her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

The Lake House by Marci Nault

Marci Nault’s The Lake House is a tale of love, forgiveness, being true to yourself, and finding peace.

Victoria- one of the original Nagog residents. She and her girlfriends make the pact to never leave Nagog and live life there forever- with husbands, children, grandchildren. Then the war comes, the ladies sweethearts leave, and Victoria gets restless. She longs to experience life beyond the area of Nagog. Victoria breaks the pact and leaves- creating a rift with her friends. A rift, that for some, may never be able to be repaired.

Heather- from the outside she has everything. A career that she’s proud of, a man that cares for her, and a diamond engagement ring- Heather appears to be set for life. Except, she’s not. She doesn’t feel content or safe- and she longs to have a place, a life that is hers- a place where she won’t feel if she makes a mistake, life is over. Heather finds a place in Nagog and feels the stirrings of safety- so she buys the place.

Nagog, though, does not welcome either Heather or Victoria with open arms. Resentment burns through some of the community toward Victoria for past differences, misunderstandings and hurt feelings. For Heather, the residents do not want young people moving in the area- so they do everything to make the place least welcoming as possible.

Heather and Victoria strike up a friendship- and although neither are aware- both fill a need in each other’s life. As their friendship grows, secrets and advice are shared- and the bond deepens.

Can Victoria make amends to the community and people she left behind? Can Heather find the safety and happiness she has been craving? Read The Lake House to find out!

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Enjoyable read. Well thought out characters. Great setting. Wonderful storyline. A perfect read for pool-side or lake/beach-side. Victoria and Heather- characters that have had sadness- but deserve some happiness. You, as the reader, root for them to find their happy ending. Recommended.

The Engagements by J.Courtney Sullivan

A Diamond is Forever…. and what stories could a diamond tell if it could talk…..

J. Courtney Sullivan’s The Engagements tells the tale of 4 different people- 4 people who have experienced the range of emotions a marriage can provoke. The happiness, the sadness, and more. Each person in this book has a story about marriage- a reason for it, a reason for marriage and love not working, or a reason for never wanting to experience the life of being married. In between each story, we, the readers, meet Frances Gerety- a young ad writer for De Beers- who wrote the game changing line- A Diamond is Forever.

Evelyn has seen the bittersweetness of a a marriage and also the joys of one. Delphine learns that while passion may be hotter than a predictable man, passion fades and what is left is not always enough to sustain the long term. James, a paramedic, who has made some mistakes in life; but is trying to make life the best possible for his wife. And Kate- a woman who has watched countless friends get married- and yet has no desire to experience it herself.

J. Courtney Sullivan takes these stories, these experiences of marriage- the white- hot passion, the predictability, the love, the sadness, and all the good, bad, and ugly- and writes a story that is entertaining and heartwarming. J. Courtney Sullivan connects these characters, these characters that experience marital highs and lows, and connects them in surprising and satisfying ways.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Fantastic book. Loved how J. Courtney Sullivan revealed her master plot with The Engagements piece by piece to create a story that was smart, funny, heartwarming at times, and highly entertaining. Plus, I loved how she inserted Frances Gerety into the story- it was very interesting to hear more about role in the A Diamond is Forever tagline. Recommended.

* I won this book in a giveaway from the effervescent Sarah McCoy. Thank you Sarah for sending me a copy of The Engagements!

The Lemon Orchard by Luanne Rice

Bittersweet love story as two unlikely lovers are coping with grief of losing their daughters..

Two people, 5 years earlier, both lost their daughters. Julia lost her daughter in a car crash and Roberto’s daughter has not been found after they were separated crossing the border. Two people who share no connection, except grief and sadness about their daughters, meet 5 years later. Can a understanding of grief and sadness lead to a friendship between Julia and Roberto- who come from different backgrounds?

Julia and Roberto begin to share slices of their life with each other- Roberto tells the story of him and his daughter attempting to cross the border; Julia tells of stories of Jenny and her on anthropology trips. Julia even talks of her marriage and how it became broken. Roberto is careful, cautious with Julia at first. He knows he has a good job at the orchard, at her family’s place- and yet, he can’t deny a connection, an attraction he feels for Julia.

Julia begins and impossible search- a search for Roberto’s daughter, Rosa. Reaching out to her anthropology contacts, she knows it may be a long shot- but feels it is worth it. Searching for Rosa has also made Julia feel closer to Jenny, to bring back the memories of anthropology trips with Jenny when she was younger.

Five years earlier, Julia was at the beginning of the worst kind of grief a mother can experience. As the years went by, her grief grew. With Roberto- hearing his story, feeling an attraction to him- Julia begins to feel better, like the grief she feels for Jenny is not some overwhelming.

Together, Julia and Roberto begin to fall in love- although their future is uncertain- especially when there is a development in the search for Rosa. Both have choices to make- forge a life together or enjoy the love they share- even if it’s only for a short time.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Julia and Roberto’s story is a sweet love story- a love that was brought forth by their grief. Their love story, while bittersweet, still was enjoyable. The storyline was interesting. The characters were well thought out. And the setting was remarkable. Enjoyable- a nice read.

*This book was provided to me through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Pickle in the Middle Murder by Jessie Chandler

Shay and her girlfriend, JT, are spending a day at the Renaissance Festival. While not normally Shay’s scene- JT enjoys them and Shay enjoys seeing her girlfriend happy. It’s a nice day until Shay finds a body- and then has to watch her girlfriend, a cop, get arrested in broad daylight.

The man that JT is accused of murdering is the scum of the Earth, JT was involved in a undercover case to bring his operation down, but because of her actions; he was let go. Did JT exact her revenge?

Shay doesn’t think so- and she sets out to find a way to prove that to everyone. With her friends, Eddy and Coop, Shay teams up them and others to find a way to clear JT’s name. Along the way, Shay learns about things that JT has not revealed- and a past incident that started JT on the path to becoming everyone’s protector.

Can Shay help clear JT? Or will the job be too much for Shay and her buddies? Read Pickle in the Middle Murder to see if Shay was able to clear JT out of the “pickle” she’s in!

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Harder edge mystery for a cozy-type book. Language and content are more graphic. While the book and the plot were fine, for me, I did not quite connect to the characters- so will probably not be reading more of Jessie Chandler’s books. However, if you are looking for a hard-boiled cozy- this could be it.

*This book was provided to me through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Author Spotlight: Stephanie Evanovich

In a previous post, I blogged about meeting Stephanie Evanovich. Talking to her was so nice and she was so interesting- my notebook was filled with things to blog about- so I decided to make this a two-part post!

Author Spotlight: Stephanie Evanovich:

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Susan Elizabeth Phillips, S.E.Hinton, Catherine Coulter, Anthony Robbins and Jill Shalvis.

What’s going in your beach bag to read on vacation?

It Had To Be You by Jill Shalvis and Ladies Night by Mary Kay Andrews.

What is the best book of 2013 that you’ve read so far?

Stephanie alerted me to the fact that between edits of Big Girl Panties and touring- that she really has not read much this year. However, she did read the 50 Shades of Grey series- and said she liked it. As Stephanie said to me in the book store” 50 Shades of Grey wasn’t War and Peace– but she was entertained.” She also read Breathing Room by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and liked that as well.

How long did it take to write Big Girl Panties?

Three years- but not every day writing. About 9 months of working hard on Big Girl Panties.

What is your writing routine?

I write best from 5am-9am- and I do not write in coffeehouses. I have to have my own space to write!

While writing, did you have a soundtrack in mind for the book? Or to set certain scenes?

The whole time I was writing this book, I listened to Lifehouse’s album Who We Are. The songs that set the scene for Logan and Holly are songs 7,8,9. Song 7 is Easier to Be, Song 8 is Make Me Over, and song 9 is Mesmerized.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

Bobby Tom Denton in Heaven Fall.

Do you have a #literaryconfession?

When I was teen, I discovered S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. After reading and loving the book, I used to pretend that S.E. stood for Stephanie Elizabeth (which is my name!)

*Special thanks to Stephanie Evanovich for answering these questions and revealing her #literarycrush and #literaryconfessions!