My Summer began unlike any other...with a two week tour of Italy. Yes, my husband whisked me away for a 2 1/2 week adventure, sans children, to tour the country of Italy--one of the greatest things I've ever wanted to do. Rome, Venice, Florence, the Chinque Terre, the Lakes, the Tuscan country side. Amazing. Lisa Tawn Bergren's Glittering Promises gave me much to anticipate and I was so excited to see some of the places her characters did. I love it when a story can come alive in such a way.
Enough about me! Let's talk books; it's why were here! Every Wednesday in July I am doing GIVEAWAYS! This week, I want to hear about your summer vacations and what you're reading. We'll start today and go through Thursday, just to kick things off. Every successive Wednesday this month there will be a new book review with a giveaway. We'll even have a guest post by the one and only Jody Hedlund; SO exctied! The books on my TBR from June to July are: Here to Stay, by Melissa Tagg; A Match of Wits, by Jen Turnano, Captured by Love, by Jody Hedlund, Field of Grace, by Tessa Afshar, and Pelican Bride, by Beth White. Some of these have been read already and some have yet to be read, but no doubt, all will be 2-minute reviewed--just for you!
Book: Here to Stay
Author: Melissa Tagg
Publisher: Bethany House
Publishing Date: May 6, 2014
Melissa Tagg: Hilarity. Hope. She does this well. In this adorable, sophomore read (don't miss out on her debut: Made to Last (Sept 15, 2013) as these 2 play off each other.
Message / idea: Identity.
Favorite quote: "What you don't realize, son, is that being a dreamer is a gift. Being able to see something as it could be before its is...not everybody can do that."
Overall: 5 star. Melissa has a movie-style of writing that draws you in. She is humorous, faith-filled, and really makes you feel the story. Here books offer an experience--and a beautiful one at that. I totally want more visits to this town, Melissa! Love it.
Author: Jen Turano
Publisher: Bethany House
Publishing Date: June 24, 2014
Message / Idea: Truly, these books seems to have more entertainment purpose than a true message that is conveied. And that's ok. Everyone needs just a good, funny read sometimes. Kick back, relax; that's what summer time is all about.
Favorite quote: "'How am I supposed to bring that up in the conversation?' 'I'm eight, Uncle Zayne, I don't have all the answers.'"
Overall: Cute. If you like Romantic Comedies, you can't go wrong with reading a Jen Turano book. These are romantically cute, humorous, Gilded Age entertainment that wont let you down. I have laughed out-loud in each and every one. Pick up your copies today. Here's the Amazon link: here.
Today's Giveaway:
1 - $10 Amazon gift card
To enter: Just leave a note in Rafflecopter below on what your summer vacation looks like and/or what's on your summer reading list. Drawing on Thursday. Tune in every Wednesday in July for another great giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Congratulations, Holly!
Check back next Wednesday for another awesome giveaway. ...
I'll probably be trying to read some of the books that have been on my TBR list for awhile since I'm getting behind :)
ReplyDeleteI love the super fast reviews!! That's a great idea! And you've just talked me into adding A Match of Wits to my reading list :) I look forward to reading your reviews in the future.
ReplyDeleteMy summer looks like 4 super happy, and super loud kids at home and a novel in the works. My debut novel is due out late this summer and I'm super excited! At the moment my reading list includes Love Finds You in Maiden North Carolina. What's next?? I'm not sure. I have at least 5 books competing for the chance to be read next :)
Thanks Anita! I'm a mom of two and I love to read but no-way do I have time to sit and read long, detailed, quote-the-back-of-the-book reviews; that's how my blog was born. If anything, it just helps me keep track of what I've read and why I like it. lol.
DeleteCongrats on the debut releasing soon! How exciting!
Enjoy A Match of Wits--especially if you've read the other ones. They are fast, fun reads that I suggest reading in order; though they can stand on their own just fine.
Those were some great reviews :)
ReplyDeleteIn the first weeks of my Summer vacation, i went road trips with my family (parents, granny, sisters) and now, all i do is read. My #summerTBR includes Eleanor and Park, Graduation day and Independent Study (#2 & #3) books of The Testing series 5th Wave, Maze Runner, Don't Look Back, Rebel Belle, The Lunar Chronicles and The Legend trilogy. If get done with these books, I might add more to it :D
Thanks Kavi! Wow, what a list you have going! I'll have to check some of those out. :)
DeleteThis summer I am going to read every book by Linwood Barclay. He is a great mystery author.
ReplyDeletecenya2 at Hotmail dot com
Sounds adventurous, Marjorie! I enjoy James Scott Bell's Kit Shannon series'. Although they're not "mysteries" they have twists and turns of their own since it's courtroom/legal centered.
DeleteOf course there's always Clive Cussler.
This summer I plan on reading more books period. I am trying to read more young adult and dystopian books as well as keeping up with a variety of christian fiction. I am also exploring more historical fiction. You can never go wrong with a good clean book!
ReplyDeleteI lost my job of 23 years in the beginning of May and found a new job in only 4 days! Therefore, I don't have much vacation time for 2014. My hubby and I are doing lots of weekend camping trips to make it feel like a mini vacation. I always bring my kindle with me and I read in the car and at the camp site in the early evenings while cooking supper. We do have a vacation scheduled for the last week in September but we are trying to decide where to go that is not a really long drive from Massachusetts. We are leaning towards southern coastal Maine or western Pennsylvania in the Poconos or Lancaster County.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
It's true: You can never go wrong with a good, clean book! For Historical Fictions, have you tried any Julie Lessman, Karen Witemeyer, or MaryLu Tyndall? Those are some of my favorites.
DeleteMy childhood friend just release her debut dystopian novel; here's the link if you'd like to check it out: bit.ly/jSundin
And last, congrats on the job! I love how God takes care of us and reminds us that he knows what we need even before we do. :)
I'm reading Forget me Not by Amber Stokes on my Kindle and A Lady in the Making by Susan Page Davis in paperback right now... not sure what is next, my TBR stack is huge and I don't keep it in any certain order, I just pick what strikes my fancy at the moment!
ReplyDeleteAs for summer vacation, I'm headed to the Florida Gulf coast next week!
pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
Enjoy the coast! (And that endless TBR stack). ;-)
DeleteAs a teacher, I read a lot with my students during the school year. Summer is time for me to read what I want to read--and I have been blasting through quite a pile of books. I'd rather read than watch TV or a movie.
ReplyDeleteOh, me too! My hubby resets by watching a movie so I cuddle up next to him with my book (and often headphones) and dive in! What do you teach? I'm a teacher too.
DeleteThis summer I plan to reread lots of books and also try to catch up on reading some books and also find new and interesting (most likely series) to read.
ReplyDeleteHave fun discovering new series! I love discovering an author who has been around for a while so I can plow through his/her series instead of waiting for the next release. Do you have a favorite series?
DeletePlease peruse the list on the sidebar for any Historical Fiction and Contemporary Fiction ideas. ;-)
I like your short reviews!!! This summer I plan to read Rainbow Rowell's books, finish some series and reread my favorites books ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Dehidra! What's one (or three) of your favorites that you have on your shelf?
DeleteAnd thank you for introducing me to Rainbow Rowell; I hadn't heard of her before. I love blog comments for the very reason of learning about "new" authors.
I haven't had many adventures, unfortunately. My summer has been filled with books, COD, and occasional outings with family members. I hope to go to an author event on July 24th, but other than that, I've just been knocking down my ridiculous TBR list. :)
ReplyDeleteHolly, no adventures? Sometimes that the whole reason we read, isn't it? ;-)
DeleteI hope you get to go to that author event on July 24th; those are always encouraging, inspiring and fun!
This summer I will be doing a lot of activities with my little girl. She will be starting 4k this coming up school year. The books I am reading right now are the New Species books by Laurann Dohner. I LOVE those books! Books I cannot wait for are Colleen Hoover's Ugly Love and Jennifer Armentrout's Opposition (Lux Series) which don't come out until August. I don't want to wait any more! :( I will mostly be reading though because that is what I do. :)
ReplyDeleteOh...the waiting is killer, isn't it?!
DeleteI see you are reading Tessa Asfars new book, I just finished it, one of the best books of 2014! I'm reading Abandoned Memories by Marylu Tyndall now
ReplyDeleteWhere have I been?! I didn't realize MaryLu's 3rd installment was out! Oh, I feel so foolish. I'm usually all over her stuff! *sigh* Blame it on the travels.
DeleteYou're making me even more excited than I already am to finish "In the Field of Grace." It's already SO good!
I will be doing a WHOLE LOT of reading this summer. I plan on decreasing my To-Read bookshelf, which most likely consists of works by Rainbow Rowell, J.K. Rowling, John Green, plus a few hyped series such as Legend and Shatter Me. :)
ReplyDeleteOh...you're set! :)
DeleteI'm so excited bc I'm seeing a very good friend of mine again! I see her only one time a year. And that's summer vacation in Croatia. ((: This year we have 2 weeks and I'm pretty sure this will be sooo awesome. <3
ReplyDeleteAnd over the rest of my holidays I'll read the 2nd, 3rd and 4th book of the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Lovesong by Gayle Forman, Four by Veronica Roth(!!!), White Hot Kiss by J. L. Armentrout and I'm going to finish My life next door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. (: Got a lot to do! :D
Your excitement over your trip is contagious! Have a great time!
Deleteim a medicine student, and one of my hobbies is reading too much, im gonna spend some of this summer reading too and that excites me too much :)
ReplyDelete