Reconstructing Amelia- Week 2 Thoughts/Discussion

So Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club folks- we are beginning week 2 of Reconstructing Amelia- and I’m hearing a lot of “I Love It” and “It’s so hard to put down”. I LOVE that you are loving this book!

Thoughts/Questions for Week 2:

1. What are you thinking about the Magpies?

2. Are you picking up on any red herrings? I’m seeing a couple of ways this could go- but, are they red herrings? Or what?

3. Do not reply with a name or anything- but is anyone getting a suspicion as to who Amelia’s dad might be?

4. What is the Magpies motivation?

5. Sylvia- BFF or frenemy?

6. What do you think should happen to social media after you die? Should someone just delete everything? Or not?

7. GraceFULLY is written by someone who is in the know. Is the author everywhere or are there more than 1 authors?

8. Should the school be held liable for some of the things we are finding out? While most is not taking place on school ground, exactly, some of the things are being discussed and planned on school grounds. Should the school be more involved? Or are they as involved as possible?

9. Dylan- queen bee, wannabe, or an actual nice person who may or may not be game playing?

Thursday Mashup

#giveaways

Book-alicious Mama is giving away all 3 of Erika Marks books (Little Gale Gumbo, The Mermaid Collector and The Guest House).

The Book Wheel is giving away The Rebellion of Miss Lucy Lobdell ( a SIGNED copy!)

Hallie Sawyer wants to make amends to us followers of her blog since she’s been slacking about posting 🙂 She’s giving away a signed copy of Erika Marks latest book, The Guest House.

More Summer Reading Lists:

Chicago Tribune has posted their summer reading list- The Lake House by Marci Nault, The Wednesday Daughters by Meg Waite Clayton, The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan, The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiSclafani– are the ones that I’m most looking forward to reading 🙂

Great Thoughts has posted their Summer Reads Week 1: A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams, The Widow Waltz by Sally Koslow, and Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger- all sound great!

Working Mother posted 8 Summer Books for Working Moms- Time Flies by Claire Cook, The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio, Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman are 3 of the 8 books (but the other 5 sound just as great!)

Good Housekeeping has posted their list for Best Beach Reads- A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams, Finding Colin Firth by Mia March, The Engagements by J.Courtney Sullivan are just a few of the books that made the list!

She Reads reveals The Books of Summer- instead of focusing on 1 book for June- they want to share with the readers several books! It’s a great list that should be checked out!

If you can’t find a book to read this summer, look over some of these lists for inspiration!

Random Mashup:

Want to know more about Erika Robuck and Call Me Zelda? Leah’s Thoughts has the scoop!

Jen Doll writes about The Quiet Shame of the Half-Book Reader- it’s an interesting article that needs to be read.

A Place at the Table by Susan Rebecca White

Susan Rebecca White’s A PLACE AT THE TABLE is a story that is entertaining- it has family drama, social issues, being at peace with yourself and your past and food- glorious food.

The main characters of the story are Bobby, a young gay man originally from Georgia and Amelia, a posh woman from Connecticut. Alice, a chef and author, originally from North Carolina- is a character that is also very central to the story. While at first the reader will not understand the connection between the 3 characters, Susan Rebecca White creates a story that connects them in a way that is memorable.

Bobby and his life in Georgia is good- but Bobby knows as he grows older that he is different. Being different is not something he wants, and yet- he must be true to himself. As his story is revealed bit by bit, the reader finds out exactly how he came to live in New York City- and how love and acceptance of him made a difference in Bobby’s life.

Amelia, a mother of teenager girls, is living with her husband in Connecticut. Amelia suspects things about her husband- and yet, she loves him. With the girls being out of the house, Amelia has a firsthand look at how her life could be and how it is- and she makes a choice.

A Place at the Table takes characters that on the surface have nothing in common- except that they are humans- and yet as the story goes- each character has plenty in common- a need for nourishment for the stomach and soul, a need to find a place where they can be- no judgments. These characters face trials and tribulations- but, they form connections with the reader- and the reader wants to know what happens next and wants them to find their “place at the table”.

A Place at the Table is a book that makes the reader think, think about social issues, think about love, finding yourself, being true to yourself. As you read, you’ll find that you understand the characters and their need for nourishment, their desire to find places of love and acceptance. After the book is finished, it will be a book that stays in a person’s thoughts for days.

Recommended.

A Place at the Table was provided to me by Touchstone Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The above thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

The Guest House by Erika Marks

Sometimes the greatest secrets are those we keep from ourselves.

The Guest House by Erika Marks

The folks of Harrisport know that when summer arrives- the influx of summer visitors will bring in a different ambience to Harrisport. Traffic, more people; but yet townsfolk do not mind much because while summer visitors turn the sleepy town to a busy area- they also being cash to help line the wallets of Harrisport residents. Summer brings some inconveniences, but it can be overlooked. For 2 women of Harrisport, though, summer is a reminder of the heartbreak they suffered at the hands of Moss men.

Lexi, returning home to Harrisport after 2 years in London, is connecting with friends and reliving summer traditions when she gets a random phone call. Cooper Moss, younger brother of Hudson, is looking for an experienced photographer for the Moss home. Lexi agrees to take the job- knowing it’ll be good for her photography portfolio. Even though hearing from Cooper reminds Lexi of her last night with Hudson, she is determined to be professional. Being professional with Cooper Moss may be tougher than Lexi anticipated, though.

Edie, Lexi’s mother, is looking for work for her all-women construction crew. With the Moss’s guest house needing renovations- it seems Edie’s crew has found a great job. However it may be more than Edie can handle- between the ongoing feud between her family and the Moss family and the uncovering of heartfelt sentiment.

Told in alternating tales, current time and the summer of 1966, The Guest House has themes of love, family secrets, growing up, letting go and finding that happiness can and should be embraced whenever possible.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

The Guest House is a beautiful story. Wonderful characters. The reader will want to know more about Lexi, Edie, and others. Be warned: After reading The Guest House, two things may happen: a longing to be at the beach and finding a new #literarycrush.

The Roots of the Olive Tree by Courtney Miller Santo (TLC Book Tour 6)

Photo credit: TLC Book Tours

Courtney Miller Santo, author of The Roots of the Olive Tree confesses that she knows too much about Saved by the Bell, has read Gone With the Wind 12 times and that Anna Karenina is her favorite book. To find out more about Courtney Miller Santo, visit her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest pages. To read an excerpt of The Roots of the Olive Tree, visit here. Courtney’s most prized possession is a picture of the 5 generations of women in her own family.

The Roots of the Olive Tree

ISBN:978-0062130525

Paperback: 336 pages

Publisher: William Morrow

Purchase: Amazon, IndieBound, Barnes and Noble

Source: TLC Books

Photo credit: TLC Book Tours

The Roots of the Olive Tree is a tale of 5 generations of women in the Keller family- Anna, Bets, Callie, Deb, and Erin. Anna is the 2nd oldest person in the world- and she longs to be the oldest person in the world.

Callie is interested in finding out if the Keller family has a special gene or something of that nature that leads to a longevity of life. When she finds out about Dr.Hashmi and his study with genetics- she contacts him and he agrees to come study the Keller women. While Callie is excited about this, some of the other Keller women do not share her enthusiasm.

The Keller women, like many generational families, have secrets. Some of the secrets are a deep as the roots of a tree- anchored in the ground, and not willing to be revealed without a lot of work.

Each chapter in the book is titled with a name, the town or a word that relates to the tone of the chapter. Courtney Miller Santo weaves together family secrets, interesting characters, love, generational stories, and much more to create The Roots of the Olive Tree.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

The description of The Roots of the Olive Tree sounds like a book that is the kind of book I like to lose myself in. Family drama, secrets, a tale of generational women and a beautiful setting in California- what is there not to like? The Roots of the Olive Tree is good- it’s interesting, the characters are characters you want to know more about- although at times, the characters can be unlikeable- but like any family, that is true. Overall, from beginning to end- the good outweighs any negative- and I think The Roots of the Olive Tree will satisfy most readers.

Winner of A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY GIVEAWAY!

People:

Ya’ll amazed me yesterday. I was worried that my giveaway would be unpopular. I was worried that no one would enter. I worried that I’d have to claim the book for myself. Or beg someone to enter.

I WORRIED FOR NOTHING.

Thank you for the turnout! Thank you for entering! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The winner is:

STACIE AMELOTTE.

She has been notified and accepted the title of winner- and cannot wait to receive the book!

If you DID NOT win, I’m sorry. I really am. However, fear not- because there are other blogs giving A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY away – and I’m sweet enough to provide a link! HERE is the link!

Special thanks and snaps to Kate Carlisle and Cozy Mystery Reviews

Thanks again for the turnout- you all rocked my socks off!

Best,

Traveling With T

The Original 1982 by Lori Carson (TLC Tour 5)

Lori Carson, author of The Original 1982, writes a book that is daring- yes, I say daring. The Original 1982 based on book cover and synopsis has the potential to sound like a perfect beach read- but this book is a book that is more. It’s daring, and has these sections of honesty, real life feel. To find out more about Lisa, her music and other things, please visit her website or connect with her on Facebook.

The Original 1982

ISBN:978-0062245298

Paperback:240 pages

Publisher: William Morrow

Purchase: Amazon, Indiebound, Barnes and Noble

Source: TLC Books

The Original 1982 is a story of a choice- a choice that was made to appease a lover; not because it is what Lisa wants. Lisa is pregnant and her lover, Gabriel, does not want to a father. The story that follows is a 2-sided look at life- what really happens in Lisa’s life after the choice and what could have happened if she had not made that particular choice.

The story is written in almost a diary format- a diary to Lisa’s unborn child. Lisa writes about life- her daughter being born, daily struggles and more. As Lisa tells the story, she sometimes begins speaking of how things really happened instead of how she dreams life to be.

However, Lisa does not make the life she did not choose easier. Lisa writes a realistic life for a single mother in the 80’s in New York City. Later, the book allows the reader to see, in part, what made Lisa consider what would have happened if that crucial choice had not been made.

Lisa’s story, the story to the daughter, the re-writing of life- is partly bittersweet, but mostly daring. With The Original 1982– readers are exposed to 2 worlds- and the differences, yet similarities in how life could have played out.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

From the cover and the description, I thought of this book as more “chick lit” and was curious about the book. Then I opened the book and began reading- this is not “chick lit”- it’s not a fluffy beach read. The Original 1982 is more serious- alternating between the 2 lives, with each life being a viable and fulfilling option- and shows how life happened for Lisa. The topics introduced in The Original 1982 are serious and the ending is fitting for the type of story that Lori Carson wrote.

Did I like this book? Yes, yes, I did. I have no regrets about reading The Original 1982. Do I wish that it was the fluffy beach book I envisioned? No, not really. I think Lori Carson did a terrific job with the writing- and had it been any other way- it would not have been meaningful. This book is a book to add to the TBR list.

A Cookbook Conspiracy by Kate Carlisle (Author Q&A and Giveaway)

Today on Traveling With T, I have an Author Q&A with Kate Carlisle and a giveaway of her latest book, A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY (June 4th). Take some time, read the Q&A and then enter the giveaway!

Kate Carlisle, author of the Bibliophile Mystery series, says that a life-long love of books lead her to the writing of the Bibliophile Mystery series. To find out more about Kate, visit her website or her About Me page. To connect with Kate, check out her Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest pages. To see the list of Bibliophile mystery books, visit her Books page.

To buy A Cookbook Conspiracy, visit Amazon, Indiebound or Barnes and Noble.

To read an excerpt of A Cookbook Conspiracy, read HERE.

Author Q&A with Kate Carlisle:

1. What drew you to writing cozy mysteries? What inspired you to write the Bibliophile mysteries?

I’ve always loved to read mystery series, where you really get to know the characters. After the first book, they feel like friends, so it’s a reunion and a celebration when the next book in the series comes out. I love that the culprit is always caught, I love the humor in the genre and the fact that the violence is not the sort of gore you get in thriller novels.

My tagline is “Smart. Funny. Murder.” and I think that really captures the feeling I so love when reading – and writing – cozy mysteries.

As for what inspired me to write the Bibliophile Mysteries, book binding has been a hobby of mine for many years. I try to take at least a couple of classes in book arts every year. The process of restoring well-loved books has always fascinated me. I wanted to write a book series that centered around books in a different way than any other author had done. And so Brooklyn Wainwright, world-class bookbinder, came to be.

In each Bibliophile Mystery, Brooklyn is asked to restore a different rare book. She can bring any book back to life. Sadly, she doesn’t have the same power to revive the murder victims she finds. Somehow, their death is linked to the book she’s restoring, and Brooklyn is doggedly determined to bring the killer to justice.

2. Do you have a favorite character in your series? A character that is fun to write?

I adore so many of the characters, it’s hard to choose just one! I love writing Derek Stone, Brooklyn’s love interest. Derek is a British security expert – like James Bond, but without the license to kill and without the fear of commitment. He’s smooth, sexy, and he has an edge of danger that I personally find irresistible. So does Brooklyn!

I also love writing Brooklyn’s parents. Jim and Becky Wainwright followed the Grateful Dead on tour for years and named their six kids after the place each was conceived. When they got off the road, they raised their kids on a wine country commune. Through hard work and smarts, they helped the commune thrive, so that now all its members have beautiful homes and plenty of cash.

In A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY, the character I really enjoyed getting to know better was Brooklyn’s sister Savannah. Savannah is a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef who specializes in vegetarian cuisine with gourmet flair. When Savannah is discovered over her ex-boyfriend’s dead body with a bloody knife in her hand, Brooklyn knows instantly that she must prove her sister’s innocence. But it won’t be easy – there are so many people with a grudge against the obnoxious celebrity chef, that Brooklyn will have a tough time figuring out which one took that final, irreversible step. All she knows is that it wasn’t her sister.

** For the giveaway- please make a comment and leave your email address (you may use the AT and DOT to help prevent spam). The giveaway will end Monday night, 11:59pmEST. A winner will be randomly selected from the eligible entries (Sorry! US Only)

While, it will not add extra chances to your potential of winning- I do hope that you’ll consider either following the blog or “liking” me on Facebook- that would be the extra sprinkles on my ice cream sundae of a day 🙂

Literary Friday, ya’ll…..

Friday. Ahhhh…..

1. Deep South Mag and their #literaryfriday: Sinning across the South, book signings and more!

2. Boston Herald reveals it’s Summer Book Club: 10 hot reads to pack in your beach bag. The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan made the list- which I’m super excited about because I won an ARC from the adorable Sarah McCoy, author of The Baker’s Daughter. Look for my review of The Engagements to be posted in a couple of weeks!

3. A Novel Review is giving away Sarah Jio’s newest book, The Last Camellia!

4. She Reads featured today The Blog Network Recommends– 3 great sounding books were recommended- The Last Camellia, The Third Son, and The Outcast.

5. Drey’s Library is also giving away The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio (plus she has a fabulous interview with her!)

6. Today, Traveling With T, began Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club– come join in the fun as we talk about Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight. The questions for Week 1 discussion have been posted- so plenty of time to join in!

7. ICYMI: I reviewed Never Tell by Alafair Burke and Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman this week.

8. My #fridayreads are Reconstructing Amelia and A Place at the Table by Susan Rebecca White.

9. Traveling With T will have #giveaways next week! Come and visit 🙂 A Cookbook Conspiracy by Kate Carlisle will be given away MONDAY JUNE 3rd. Don’t miss it!

Happy Reading!

Reconstructing Amelia- Week 1 Questions/Thoughts

It’s here! It’s here! The day we thought would never arrive! Throwing confetti in the air, pouring glasses of champagne kind of day- Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club begins!

Reminder: We’ll only be discussing the assigned reading for the week- and this post (Week 1) is the place to discuss. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

I began reading last night on the Kindle- and I’m enjoying so far!

Questions and Thoughts:

1. From the first page- I’m getting the feeling that RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA has a Gossip Girl/The Skulls/possibly a Mean Girls feel- is anyone else picking up on those movie/TV shows feelings?

2. Let’s talk about first thoughts of this cover: It’s dramatic. It’s interesting. It’s fitting for the book (at least my first impressions). Sometimes a cover does not match up with the book- did the cover art folks for Reconstructing Amelia nail it or not? (It’s ok if you change your mind later on- we’re going on first impressions here!)

3. The title- Reconstructing Amelia- a simple, yet poignant title. Reconstructing means to put something back together in the simplest terms- so the title is telling. However, is there a possibility that there is going to be more to this title?

4. We’ll discuss this as the month goes on; but what are your thoughts on teenagers, social media, and their parents? Is the teenagers just having normal “teenage rebellion”? Or is social media adding an extra layer to the normal “teenage rebellion” and making interactions between teenagers and parents harder?

5. What do you think of how the school environment is portrayed? Is this an accurate look? Or is this more of an East Coast prep school type portrayal that we see in books and movies? Is it a stereotype or is it accurate?

I can’t wait to see everyone’s thoughts and opinions!