Book 16 and I'm on track!

Unwind!: 7 Principles for a Stress-Free Life by Michael Olpin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

GREAT non-fiction read. This book is so applicable to my life right now. The idea that "real" stress is rare and that everything else is about how we respond to external influences was enlightening to me. It is very logical. I'm really only as stressed as I allow myself to be.

Everything else in here was logical and I knew but a refresher is good. I did learn some relaxation techniques that I have already put to use and it always helps me get to sleep.

The other thing I liked about the book were the Sam Bracken stories woven throughout. The authors mix science with application and stories.  This is a must read.


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Book 15

Second Honeymoon by James Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Quick read and entertaining. There are two storylines running throughout the story and luckily the two do not intersect. I hate books where it's just TOO coincidental. This is a great car ride or aiplane read. You can put it down and pick it back up again and not feel like you missed anything.

I liked the John O'Hara character.


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BEA ARC and book #14--finally a good one!

Uncaged by John Sandford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an ARC that I picked up at BEA--on sale July 22, 2014.  It's a YA novel by John Sandford and Michelle Cook. I suspect this is more Cook than Sandford. I like John Sandford but I didn't hear much of his voice in this.

It was actually pretty good--I give it a B/B+ for young adults. The story moved quickly and cohesively. I liked and cared about the characters. I really enjoyed reading a YA novel that wasn't dystopian!

This is obviously the start of a series and I will read book 2 when it comes out.



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Book 13 towards my goal of 24!

The Stone Wife by Peter Lovesey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good book--not great and it took me forever to get through because I was not engaged in the characters. Although I would like to see a series about Ingeborg. And I did enjoy the Chaucer history.

I like Peter Lovesey but this is not the best of the Peter Diamond series.  I was not satisfied with the ending--there were just too many unanswered questions and not in a good way.


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Book # 12

The Big Hit by James Neal Harvey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked this up at BEA because I liked the cover and the description. It was a quick read, entertaining, and suspenseful. I liked the main characters, the bad guy was sufficiently bad, and the Hollywood money laundering underworld story was enlightening. I'll certainly look for more books by James Harvey.


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Book 11--The fault isn't in us, it's in the alignment of the stars--loved that thought

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Exactly the book I expected it to be. It kept my attention, I cared about the characters, and the author did add a twist. This book is this generation's Love Story. Teenage girls will see the movie and I hope read the book. And most importantly, I hope everyone who read it takes the time to ponder the questions.

I really did enjoy the thought-provoking questions it asked. And I could't help but wonder what kind of cancer carrier I would be. Would I accept it gracefully? Would I fight? Would I be the joker? Would I be depressed? Or would I be all of those things.

The book also helped me to clarify what I believe in--what the great S is.

And lastly, what kind of parent would I be? I hope I never have to find out but I'm afraid I'd be the crier.


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#10 book of my 2014 challenge

Lucky Us by Amy Bloom
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I just didn't like this book--at all. And from the description I was very excited to read it. My interest would wax and wane--it took me a two months to complete it and not because it was difficult reading but because it was difficult to care. I didn't love the flawed characters. They made stupid choices that I simply could not understand nor empathize with. But, I did finish it. Not sure I understood how it ended, I was just glad that it ended.


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