books read in 2016

The Charm Bracelet by Viola Shipman

the charm bracelet 1

Photo Credit: St. Martin’s Press

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

The Charm Bracelet

Summary from Goodreads:

Lose yourself to the magic of The Charm Bracelet.

Through an heirloom charm bracelet, three women will rediscover the importance of family and a passion for living as each charm changes their lives.

On her birthday each year, Lolly’s mother gave her a charm, along with the advice that there is nothing more important than keeping family memories alive, and so Lolly’s charm bracelet would be a constant reminder of that love.

Now seventy and starting to forget things, Lolly knows time is running out to reconnect with a daughter and granddaughter whose lives have become too busy for Lolly or her family stories.

But when Arden, Lolly’s daughter, receives an unexpected phone call about her mother, she and granddaughter Lauren rush home. Over the course of their visit, Lolly reveals the story behind each charm on her bracelet, and one by one the family stories help Lolly, Arden, and Lauren reconnect in a way that brings each woman closer to finding joy, love, and faith.

A compelling story of three women and a beautiful reminder of the preciousness of family, The Charm Bracelet is a keepsake you’ll cherish long after the final page.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this family story- it was sweet (maybe a bit sappy at times) but it’s my kind of book. The stories of the family. The little secrets. The traditions.

What I loved:

-The Cover (SO pretty!)

-The stories behind the charms. I did not grow up in a “sentimental” family. I try to keep things like this or purchase things to remind me of places, but my mom is not of that spirit. It was nice to see how the charms brought the family together.

 

As I was reading this, I kept thinking of it as a cross between The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood and Hope Floats. In fact, Lolly had me thinking of the mom from Hope Floats each time I would read a section of hers.

All in all, it was a lovely story!

Recommended for fans of women’s fiction or for people wanting to read a “light” story.

 

*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

 

Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,

T @ Traveling With T

traveling with t sign off picture

The Total Package by Stephanie Evanovich

the total package

Photo Credit: William Morrow

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

The Total Package

Summary from Goodreads:

The New York Times bestselling author of Big Girl Panties and The Sweet Spot is back with a funny, sweet, and sizzling novel about the game of love, in which a hot quarterback must figure out how to score big with a beautiful and talented media analyst after a heartbreaking fumble.

Star quarterback, first-round draft-pick, and heartthrob Tyson Palmer has made a name for himself with his spectacular moves. When the head coach of the Austin Mavericks refuses to let him waste his million-dollar arm, Tyson makes a Hail Mary pass at redemption and succeeds with everyone . . . except Dani, whose negative comments about his performance draw high ratings and spectacular notices of her own.

Dani can’t forgive Tyson’s transgressions or forget the sizzling history the two of them shared in college, a passionate love Tyson casually threw away. And even more infuriating, he doesn’t realize that the bombshell with huge ratings is the cute girl whose heart he once broke.

But can a woman trying to claw her way to the top and a quarterback who knows all about rock bottom make it to the Super Bowl without destroying each other? And what will happen when Tyson—riding high now that he’s revived his career—realizes he needs to make an even more important comeback with Dani? Can he make some spectacular moves to get past her defenses—or will she sideline him for good?

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I’m a big fan of Stephanie Evanovich– her books are fun and funny and while Big Girl Panties and The Sweet Spot had a lot going for them- I really think that The Total Package is where she has hit her stride. Continue reading →

#FuturisticFriday: Killer Takeout by Lucy Burdette

killer takeout APRIL

Photo Credit: Goodreads

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

Killer Takeout

Summary from Goodreads:

From the national bestselling author of Death with All the Trimmings.
 
It’s Fantasy Fest at Key West, and food critic Hayley Snow is ready to celebrate. But a killer seems intent on crashing the party. . .

Every year, Key West’s weeklong Mardi Gras–style festival has tourists and locals alike lining up for costumed revelry and delicious eats. Key Zest magazine has assigned Hayley to write a piece on the fest’s grab-and-go food, so she’s planning on hitting up the mobile eateries while checking out the party preparations.

Hayley’s office mate, Danielle, recently elected Queen of Fantasy Fest, is also buzzing between festivities and fundraisers.  But when a former royal rival gets taken out, Hayley needs to put down her party hat and her pen and figure out who served up a side of murder—before Danielle gets crowned a killer. . .

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

If you know me, you know I LOVE Hayley Snow. I love her for many reasons, but my Goodreads review speaks to some good reasons of loving Hayley. Continue reading →

Prime Time (Charlotte McNally, #1) by Hank Phillippi Ryan

prime time by hank p ryan

Photo Credit: Forge Books, February 9th

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

Prime Time

Summary from Goodreads:

Seasoned investigative reporter Charlotte McNally knows that in the cutthroat world of television journalism, every story could be your last. There’s always someone younger and prettier to take your place, always a story more sensational to drive ratings through the roof.

When Brad Foreman’s widow demands to know why Charlie never answered his email, Charlie is confused. She never received his message. What did Brad, an accountant at a pharmaceutical company, want to tell her? As she searches through her computer, she finds an innocent-looking email in her junk mail folder that may turn out to be the biggest story of her career.

Is the encoded email–and the ones that follow–linked to Brad’s “accidental” death? Charlie’s investigation leads her to Brad’s friend, professor Josh Gelston, who is charming and exceedingly helpful–perhaps suspiciously so.

Charlie must decide if she can trust Josh…before a multimillion-dollar fraud ring with murder in its arsenal makes her the next lead story.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts: Continue reading →

Between A Book and a Hard Place by Denise Swanson

between a book and hard place

Photo Credit: NAL March 1st 2016

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

Between A Book and a Hard Place

Shadow Bend is getting good news- it’s getting back it’s library! (Book readers rejoice!)

Dev is happy about the library, but not happy when she realizes how the funds were found to re-open the library. Her mother’s new husband is the man with the money- and Dev is still angry at her mother for how she acted after the ordeal that sent Dev’s father to jail years ago.

So, Dev tries to stay busy and not associate with her mom too much. But, when Jett meets the Grim Reaper- Dev decides to help Yvette- as she worries that her family will be torn apart again. Continue reading →

#FuturisticFriday: The Widow by Fiona Barton

the widow

Photo Credit: NAL 2/16/16

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

The Widow

Jean is a widow. Her husband of many years has recently died- and as Jean looks around the house, their life, the reporters that still come around wanting to talk to her- she wonders what her next step should be.

Jean knows this- she’s in control of the story from now on.

Will Jean reveal the truth? The truth that the town, the community is begging for?

Maybe she will, maybe she won’t. Continue reading →

No Ordinary Life by Suzanne Redfearn

no ordinary life

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

No Ordinary Life

Faye Martin is a mom to 3 children- Emily, Tom and Molly. Faye is a woman who does not have a lot of choices. Abandoned by her husband, Sean, Faye soon realizes that her job as a waitress is not going to be enough to keep 3 kids fed and in a home.

She heads to LA to move in with her mother for a bit- find a new job, save some money, decide what the next plan for life is to be.

Fate, Youtube and Hollywood step in.

On a normal day, a day while Faye is looking for a job- she lets the kids play at the outdoor mall. While they can’t shop- there is plenty to see- street performers and such. Continue reading →