Review: Family Patterns by Kristin Eckhardt

Title/Author: Family Patterns by Kristin Eckhardt
Number of pages: 319
Series: Patchwork Mysteries #1
How I got it: Picked it out for free at Book Barn Book Exchange for purchasing more than $20 worth of books
Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Summary:

Sarah Hart, expert in vintage quilt restoration, finds herself in position to solve the hundred year old mystery of her grandmother's disappearance, and clear her grandfather's name. Takes place in the small town of Maple Hill, MA. First in a series.


My Review:
I really scored with this one. As the girl at the counter rung up all the books I ordered she told me since I spent atleast $20 I could pick out 2 free books on this particular $1 shelf behind me. I honestly picked this book because the cover stood out the most. I didn't even read what it was about because I was in a rush to go. Well let's just say that my instincts impressed myself ... hahaha..

The story takes place in a sweet little town with a sweet older lady, Sarah Hart as the protagonist. Even though Sarah is 60 years old, I really didn't have a problem relating to her. Her son and his family move in to town and move into her dad's old house that he grew up on, which is how Sarah's mystery solving begins. The disappearance of her grandmother has plagued her family since it happened 90 years ago, since her grandpa was the only suspect. Once she finds her dad's old quilt that supposedly disappeared the same night as her mom, she cannot fight the urge to restore the quilt for her father and finds the rest of the missing pieces to this mystery.

I wont lie, I got confused in acouple parts but its understandble, to me atleast. The mystery in this story takes place in the 1920s (and earlier) so theres like 6 generations of people in this family you will learn about. I think my favorite part about this book is that the mystery took place so long ago. Sarah is trying to solve this mystery of her missing grandmother to clear her grandfather's name, bring peace to her father, and finally learn who her grandmother molly was.

I've never really payed attention to quilts (even though I have one on my bed) and especially not the process of quilting but since Sarah restores old quilts, you learn about her love of quilts and all the hard work that really goes in to them. I definetly have a new appreciation for them.

I was interested throughout the whole book while Sarah discovered new clues. There's also a "side dish mystery" (as I like to call it) that involves one of Sarah's young tenants that will keep you interested as well.

I recommend this book 100% to anyone who loves cozy mysterys. The author's writing style is very smooth and thorough. I cannot wait to get the next book in the series!


Reading Challenges: 100 Books in 2011 ; 1st in a Series ; Mystery and Suspense

I WANNA WIN SOME BOOKS!

holy moly... one of my fav authors is given away batches of books..

and these books would make perfect additions to my collection. ;D

Check her out...... HERE!

Saturday Snapshot (2)

Saturday Snapshot is a meme started by At Home With Books

This is a picture I took while stopped at a stop light. Some rich couple driving around Miami with their pampered little pooch. lol too cute.

xox

Annie

Five Question Friday! (1)



I decided to start doing this every friday =] Click button above to get involved!

1. Can you drive a stick shift?
- Nope.. but I'm dying to learn because my mom just got a corvette. She wont let me learn on her new vette though, so I have to find someone who will let me borrow their car to learn. =[



2. What are two foods you just can't eat?
- Pork/Ham and middle eastern food. :x


3. Do you buy Girl Scout Cookies? What is your favorite kind?
- My parents buy them but I dont really care for them.



4. How do you pamper yourself?
- This past year I've really been slacking on my pampering =[ Since I quit my job I can't really splurge like I use to. I get my eyebrows threaded often and I'll get a pedicure about once a month or so.... other than that I do my own pampering myself. booooooo



5. What is your nickname and how did you get it?
- Eh.. I dont really have a nickname.. my name pretty much sounds like a nickname. My mom calls me "boo" (short for boo-boo... like Yogi & Boo Boo. apparently I use to follow my big bro around like boo boo all the time) and my boyfriend calls me "Bbyluv" (our version of Baby Love)  which is something we created back before we were too shy to say I Love You or give eachother cute nicknames lol.



In My Mailbox # 6

In My Mailbox is a wonderful meme hosted by The Story Siren

This week I slacked alot. Only one goody this week!

Swapped from Paperback Swap

1. Abby Copper: Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie



Follow Friday (4)



weekly meme by Parajunkee !

Q. Share your current fav television show! Tell us a bit about it...

Okay I have quite a few favorites! I'm able to watch all these great shows because of the wondering invention of DVR <333

The Golden Girls - These old ladies are HILARIOUS and each one is so different from the other! I could only hope to be as awesome as these ladies when I get old. I wish I could travel back in time & move in with them! I've pretty much seen almost ever episode but I dont mind watching them again. I always have their theme song in my head too "Thank you for being a friend!"

Roseanne - Another hilarious show! This crazy lower-middle class family is just all kinds of messed up and obnoxious. I can't say I wish I was part of their family but I sure do wish I lived in the neighborhood to listen to all the drama.

How I Met Your Mother - Oh how I wish I was part of a tight-knit group of friends like these characters. I would love to join in on all their wild shananigans. I still haven't figured out who the mother is but I plan on finding out without cheating! I can't help but love Barney, it's so hard to believe he's gay in real life when his character is such a womanizer! haha

The Big Bang Theory - Who would of thought abunch of geeky scientists could be so entertaining! I would shoot myself if I had to hang around Sheldon all day but it's hilarious to see him annoy the crap out of everyone else!

Glee - I thought this show was so stupid before I even watched it, but once I saw my first episode I was HOOKED! I plan on going out and buying all their soundtracks. I wish I had alittle Rachel Berry in my life, and Lord knows I could listen to her sing all day long!

Gilmore Girls - Okay I don't watch this show anymore, only because I've watched the seasons TWICE. But its still my hands-down absolute fav. show of all time. I WISH I could find a town exactly like Stars Hollow, I'd move their in a heart beat!! I love Lorelai's character so much that I even plan on naming my daughter after her (true story). I would love to have this super mother-daughter bond that these two share. It's unbreakable <3

what are some of your favs? Do you share the same love as me?

xox

Annie

Review: Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett

Title/Author: Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett

Number of pages: 281

Series: A Booktown Mystery #1

How I got it: Paperback Swap

Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Summary:
When she moved to Stoneham, city slicker Tricia Miles met nothing but friendly faces. And when she opened her mystery bookstore, she met friendly competition. But when she finds Doris Gleason dead in her own cookbook store, killed by a carving knife, the atmosphere seems more cutthroat than cordial. Someone wanted to get their hands on the rare cookbook that Doris had recently purchased-and the locals think that someone is Tricia. To clear her name, Tricia will have to take a page out of one of her own mysteries-and hunt down someone who isn't killing by the book 


My Review:
I'm going to start off by saying I LOVED this book! Tricia is recently divorced and decided to move to a quiet town in New Hampshire to start a mystery bookstore, which she has always wanted to do. I really related to Tricia because I've always (and probably will always) have a secret desire to open my own shop. I also love her sassy cat, Miss Marple. What I loved best about this book is that it didn't lag. There were clues and twists popping up constantly. The characters were all enjoyable and quirky as well. You just never know who you can trust in this town! I kept thinking I figured out the mystery... about 3 different times... and I pretty much did figure it out for myself probably right before the characters did. I suggest this book to everyone, especially cozy mystery lovers! Read about how this town lost its title as "Safest town in America"!


  Reading Challenges: 100 Books in 2011 ; 1st in a Series ; Mystery and Suspense

In My Mailbox #5

Thanks to The Story Siren for doing this weekly meme!

Here are the treasures I have received this past week!!

Swapped from Paperback Swap

1. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by JoAnne Fluke

2. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

3. The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Swapped from Paperback Swap

4. Wizard's Ward by Deborah Hale

5. Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

Bought from Target

6. Curiosity Thrilled the Cat by Sofie Kelly

7. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Bought from Barnes & Noble

8. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

9. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

What do you guys think of my goodies ?!

xox

Annie

Happy Valentine's Day lovelies!

Happy Valentine's Day to all you book lovers!! I hope your day is filled with love and happiness.

From me & my hunny, to you & yours :)



Joined a book club !!

I was browsing around Yelp last night looking at upcoming events in my area and I saw that they will be having a new book club meeting at a near by bookstore. soooo...

i joined my first book club !!

i'm so stoked and nervous at the same time. haha yep i'm a dork. I don't even know how book clubs work? I think I'm suppose to read Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by March 6, maybe take some notes? Then talk about it with the club when we meet. Simple...?

Any pointers for the newbie?? haha

xox

Annie

Saturday Snapshot (1)

Saturday Snapshot is a meme started by At Home With Books.

This is a snapshot that I took of a newspaper in Mexico. When we went to Mexico in November for a wedding, part of our hotel blew up in a "freak" explosion. Apparently it had something to do with the hotel being built on top of swamps and natural gases building up. 7 people died and about 15 hurt, mostly Canadians visiting for a wedding as well. Our wedding party was so freaked out that most of them were able to change their flights to leave that day (explosion was at 8 in the morning) and the rest of us were moved to a different resort.

Thankfully, everyone in our party was fine but I feel so horrible for the lives that were lost. I can't imagine the pain the families went through. My heart really goes out to them.



In My Mailbox #4

Here's my 4th "In My Mailbox" that The Story Siren has going on! ;D

This week is going to be easy peasy because I got them all from the same place this time!

Swapped from Paperback Swap

1. The Chocolate Cat Caper by JoAnna Carl

2. The Trouble with Magic by Madelyn Alt

3. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

4. Yankee Wife by Linda Lael Miller

5. Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas

Review: Evermore by Alyson Noel

Title/Author: Evermore by Alyson Noel

Number of pages: 301

Series: The Immortals #1

How I got it: Paperback Swap

Rating: 4.5/5

Goodreads Summary:
Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste… 

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.


My Review:
I read this book in one day! I actually only stopped once to eat dinner and then kept on truckin'! I enjoyed this book so much. The "love story" kind of reminded me of twilight... well actually, no I take that back.... Damen, the mysterious new hottie at school, reminds me alot of Edward Cullen. Ever is this beautiful girl who's scarred from her past... and haunted by her hilarious dead little sister.

Damen's so wishy washy it's hard to tell if he's the good guy or bad guy. It's hard to tell who's the bad or good guys with a few of the characters which makes it that more interesting for me.

I would totally recommend this book. But honestly I haven't decided if I'll continue with the series. This book ended so well that I don't feel like anything was left unsaid or left out. There wasn't a cliff hanger or anything like that. I might put the sequel on my "reminder" list to check it out later and see how I feel about it then.

 Reading Challenges: 100 Books in 2011 ; 1st in a Series

Review: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Title/Author: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Number of pages: 381

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #5

How I got it: Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Summary:
All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of a victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows.

While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.
 
My Review:
I read the first 4 books in this series a year ago and I have no idea what took me so long to purchase this last book. I loved all the books, including this one. I wish I wouldn't have waited so long to read this one because it took me a while to remember all the details of the previous stories.

What I really love about Riordan's stories is that they are action packed from the first chapter. This specific book had the whole "end of the world" feel to it which made me feel anxious and what could possibly go wrong next? The main characters really have a string of bad luck but they are so determined! I caught myself cracking up acouple times and remembered I did the same with the other books in this series. Most of the characters are pretty funny in their own ways.

If you've ever had even just the tiniest interest in Greek Mythology, I totally recommend this series. The characters are all great and well developed as well. Can't wait to get started on the spin off series, starting with "The Lost Hero".


Reading Challenges: 100 Books in 2011

New Challenge !!! - 1st in a Series

I have decided to join another book challenge! yayyyy! It's hosted by A Few More Pages.. and here are the guidelines::

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. If you're not a blogger, leave your information in the comments.


2. There are four levels for this challenge:

Series Novice: Read 3 books that are the first in any series.
Series Lover: Read 6 books that are the first in any series.
Series Expert: Read 12 books that are the first in any series.
Series Fanatic: Read 20 books that are the first in any series.


You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you. Any genre counts.
3. The challenge runs from January 1 through December 31, 2011.

4. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2011.

5. If you're a blogger, write up a sign-up post that includes the URL to this post so that others can join in. Feel free to use the button above. When you sign up in the Linky, put the direct link to your 1st in a Series Challenge sign-up post.


I really love starting new series so I think this will be great! ;D

Review: One in a Million by Kimberla Lawson Roby

Title/Author: One in a Million by Kimberla Lawson Roby

Number of pages: 192

Series: N/A

How I got it: Barnes & Noble

Rating: 3/5

Goodreads Summary:

Kimberla Lawson Roby's touching new novel is a tale of the amazing ways life continues to surprise- and confound- us with surprises, coincidences and interruptions just when we least expect it.
It's the story of a woman who has received the best news of her life, just as her husband receives the worst news of his. The shocking consequences of this one day will change their lives forever

My Review:

**THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS**

Okay well let me start off by saying that the goodreads summary is not accurate. It should read that the woman receives and best news of her life and the worst news, from her husband, all on the same day. I'm sure most of you could probably guess what the bad news is, I did atleast.

This was a short-ish story. I kind of feel like it would be an empowering novel for a woman to read that was going through a divorce as well. The husband in the story really pissed me off so much that I ended up skipping a chapter or two just because I didn't want to read about him anymore.

The end has a crazy turn of events that will make you laugh out loud. Karma's a b****h! I really loved that the author gave the main character a strong faith in God, which helped her through this divorce. The author portrayed the power of prayer very well and also showed how rewarding it is to give to others in need or who really deserve it. 

This story also made me not ever want to win the lottery!! .... or get married for that matter. lol. 

It was a okay, short read but not anything I would go around recommending. Except, like I said before, to a woman going through a divorce. She would be able to relate, find some comfort and even take some notes on how to cope, like the character in the story. 

Reading Challenges: 100 Books in 2011 

Review: The Last Summer (of You & Me) by Ann Brashares

Title/Author: The Last Summer (of You & Me) by Ann Brashares

Number of pages: 320

Series: N/A

How I got it: Barnes & Noble

Rating: 3.5/5

Goodreads Summary:

In her first adult novel, the author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants makes a journey to Fire Island, where 21-year-old Alice and her slightly older sister, Riley, are sharing a home and an infatuation. Boyish lifeguard Riley values her closeness with longtime neighbor Paul, but their "best friend" relationship has less pull than the attraction he shares with Alice. To protect Riley's feelings, the pair try to keep their blossoming romance secret. In the land of fiction, as in the real world, such furtiveness can't be sustained indefinitely, but in The Last Summer (of You & Me), complications and surprises confront us around every turn

My Review:

The book wasn't what I thought it would be based on the summary. I thought it was going to be a love-triangle but that wasn't necessarily the case. It's actually kind of hard to explain my feelings on this book.

Not a typical "love story". The characters were well developed and the story was very believable. The POV hopped around from Alice, Paul, and Riley... but it was like they were talking in 3rd person? ... The POV switched around usually without any warning so that was the only thing that bugged me. I also didn't understand why they called their parent's by first name but that wasn't really a big deal.

I did cry at one point, I'm a sucker. lol. I just couldn't get over the love everyone has for eachother.

blahh i feel like this is such a boring review!! haha but I honestly don't know what to say about this book. It was kind of deep for a "summer read" and even though it claims to appeal to the "grown up" crowd, I think teens will enjoy it just as much.

Simple, sweet, and heart breaking :( 

Reading Challenges: 100 Books in 2011 

In My Mailbox #3

Heeeeey bookers! Here's my 3rd "In My Mailbox" that was started by The Story Siren. I didn't get nearly as many this week as I did the past 2 weeks. I'm trying to manage my bookly income simply because... I'm running out of room!!! haha ;]

Swapped from Paperback Swap

1. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

2. Leaving Eden by Anne D. LeClaire

Bought from Moore Books - bookstore in Key Largo, FL

3. Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts

4. The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

[NOT PICTURED]

Bought from Barnes and Noble

5. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Let me know what goodies you got this week!!

xx

Annie