January 2011

Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugton (January 1, 2011)
Great book to start off my year!  Also a great first book to read on my new Kindle :)  I like the idea of this story...how far would you go to protect your child?  It was a great story and I really admired Danielle for risking it all to protect her son.  However, I knew who the murderer was almost immediately.....it kind of disappointed me that I knew, but the reveal was fantastic.  I never would have imagined the reasons behind the killer.  Also, the ending?  Did that mean what I think it meant?  EEK!


Rescue by Anita Shreve (January 2, 2011)
This book was kind of a disappointment to me.  The flashbacks were good, but the present was not fleshed out.  I felt that we really didn't see Rowan's "downfall".  All I saw was a girl who got drunk twice....that's called being 17.  Yes, one of those times was horrible but I felt that Shreve could have given us a better build up to that event.  Not one of my favorites.


Goodbye, Friend:  Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet by 
Gary Kowalski (January 7, 2011)
Today was a hard day.  We had to put our 15 year old puppy, a member of our family, down.  Mooch Matilda was the best dog ever and it was such a heartbreaking week.  I was in such a depression all week thinking about today and haven't left my bed very much.  I knew I loved Mooch, she's been part of my life for more than half of it.  But when I knew we were going to lose her, the grief was staggering and unexpected.  It knocked me to my knees and this book really helped me to know that it isn't uncommon to feel this way.  RIP Mooch Matilda, I love you very much and I'll miss you so much.  "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."  - Anatole France


I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder (January 9, 2011)
Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder (January 9, 2011)
Far From You by Lisa Schroeder (January 9, 2011)
So clearly I've had a busy day reading Lisa Schroeder.  What can I say?  I was (am) depressed, and I needed to read depressing (yet somewhat uplifting stories).  The quickness of each book was an added bonus.  I loved these books and I have to say that Lisa Schroeder has found a new fan.                          


Leaving Home by Jodi Picoult (January 27, 2011)
I was so excited when Amazon started the Kindle Singles program.  The first story was really good, I thought the grief that they shared was so real.  The ending was strange though!  The middle story was a letter to her son as he went to college and I think it was my favorite.  It was all the advice that I wish I had gotten before going to college, and I actually I think I could use this advice now!  The last story was about a mother who took a vacation from her family, and I thought her struggles were very real.  Also, this was a nice way to tide me over until March when her new book is released.


These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf (January 28, 2011)
Ms. Gudenkauf is becoming one of my favorite authors!  I loved her first book, The Weight of Silence, and I loved this book.  I had an idea of the three characters being connected in some way, but I was shocked at how it all turned out!  I don't want to give too much away, but when the truth came out I was truly shocked and kind of scared.  Gudenkauf does a great job of building suspense and then throwing you for a loop!  Great book.


Morning Glory by Diana Peterfreund (January 29, 2011)
Easy book to read, fun but nothing spectacular.  I haven't seen the movie, so I can't compare.  I will definitely see the movie though because I love Rachel McAdams.  


Faithful Place by Tana French (January 30, 2011)
This was a great mystery.  Tana French always hooks me, and I had no idea what was coming.  Sometimes I got a little lost in the "Dublin speak" but it didn't take away from the story.