Goodreads Blurb

From the #1 New York Times bestselling creative team of Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell comes a timely picture book about immigration. Raising important identity issues like “Where did we come from?” and “Who are we?” This Is Me is as delightful as it is important, sure to stimulate dinner table conversation.

In This Is Me a teacher tells her class about her great-grandmother’s dislocating journey from home to a new country with nothing but a small suitcase to bring along. And she asks: What would you pack? What are the things you love best? What says “This is me!” With its lively, rhyming language and endearing illustrations, it’s a book to read again and again, imagining the lives of the different characters, finding new details in the art, thinking about what it would be like to move someplace completely different. 

It’s an interactive book, too: Tucked into the back cover is a sturdy pop-up suitcase. And as a younger reader fills the suitcase, he or she learns a lot about what really matters: Now YOU take this case/ and imagine it’s true,/ that you’re leaving and needing/ to choose what says YOU.

My Review

An absolutely fabulous book that we could all relate too. If we only had one suitcase to travel to another Country what would you put in it? I definitely was thinking long and hard. I am a collector of many things books, stamps, shoes, clothing. So I would have a combination of all those things. I loved the illustrations in this book. If you look closely you will find things out of place like snails or something that is funny. My all time favorite is the surprise at the back of the book. It has the reader thinking about what would they choose to bring with them. I loved that this book brought our modern technology, events and the usual things you would find in a kids room today. A fun book for all to read.  I rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Author Biography

Jamie Lee Curtis is a two-time Golden Globe-winning, BAFTA-winning, and Emmy-nominated American film actress and an author of children’s books. Although she was initially known as a “scream queen” because of her starring roles in many horror films early in her career such as Halloween (1978 film), The Fog, Prom Night (1980 film) and Terror Train, Curtis has since compiled a body of work that covers many genres. She has received an Emmy Award nomination and two Golden Globe Awards. Her 1998 book, Today I Feel Silly, and Other Moods That Make My Day, made the best-seller list in The New York Times. She is married to actor Christopher Guest (Lord Haden-Guest) and, as the wife of a Lord, is titled Lady Haden-Guest, but she chooses not to use the title when in the United States. 

Hoping to get through these books in a month or so. Two of them are for Barnes & Noble book club. Check out your local Barnes & Noble for date and time.

My birthday is coming and you get to win a gift. Please join my blog and leave a message below. Good Luck!

Goodreads Blurb

In the thrilling, nerve-wracking finale of Ezekiel Boone’s “hair-raising” (Parade) Hatching series, the United States goes to war against the queen spiders that threaten to overtake the human race forever.

The world is on the brink of apocalypse. Zero Day has come.

The only thing more terrifying than millions of spiders is the realization that those spiders work as one. But among the government, there is dissent: do we try to kill all of the spiders, or do we gamble on Professor Guyer’s theory that we need to kill only the queens?

For President Stephanie Pilgrim, it’s an easy answer. She’s gone as far as she can—more than two dozen American cities hit with tactical nukes, the country torn asunder—and the only answer is to believe in Professor Guyer. Unfortunately, Ben Broussard and the military men who follow him don’t agree, and Pilgrim, Guyer, and the loyal members of the government have to flee, leaving the question: what’s more dangerous, the spiders or ourselves?

My Review

I am upset I didn’t get the outcome I wanted, plus barely any spider action. The story was lacking the action. The book started off with what had happened after the last book but the spider action didn’t pick up until the end. I was hoping to have more gruesome episodes like the first book had. Overall, the story survived the spider apocalypse, I just barely survived reading the most thrilling book I wanted to read this year. Arachnophobia has increased after reading this series. I rated 3 out of 5 stars.

Author Biography

Ezekiel Boone was born in Canada but lives in upstate New York, with his wife and children. The internationally bestselling THE HATCHING series (THE HATCHING, SKITTER, and ZERO DAY) has sold in twelve countries and nine languages. THE MANSION, Ezekiel Boone’s fourth novel, is out December 2018. When not writing thrillers, Zeke writes acclaimed literary fiction under the name Alexi Zentner. Zeke has two poorly behaved dogs and enjoys the outdoors.

Goodreads Blurb

1971.

When a music festival rolls through the sleepy town of Hesterville, Georgia, the Dixon family’s lives are forever changed. On the final night, a storm muffles the sound of the blaring music, and Rachel tucks her baby into bed before falling into a deep sleep. So deep, she doesn’t hear the kitchen door opening. When she and her husband wake up in the morning, the crib is empty. Emily is gone.

Vicki Robart is one of the thousands at the festival, but she’s not feeling the music. She’s feeling the emptiness over the loss of her own baby several months before. When she leaves the festival and is faced with an opportunity to fill that void, she is driven to an act of desperation that will forever bind the lives of three women.

When the truth of what actually happened that fateful night is finally exposed, shattering the lives they’ve built, will they be able to pick up the pieces to put their families back together again?

My Review

A heartbreaking story that will tug at your heart until the very end. The love between a mother and a child is profound. A love that is everlasting. Bette wrote a book with real life circumstances that no one ever should to be in. Rachel’s baby Emily, is kidnapped from her crib at night. I just couldn’t possibly imagine losing a child and not knowing where they are or if they are safe. What Rachel and George went through was felt through ever page of this book. The details of heartbreak, sadness, hope, blame and strength are in-bedded throughout the story. You can feel their pain and frustration. I did feel terrible for Vicki. In the 70’s, no one knew about post par-tum depression. She didn’t get the help she needed. I was truly hoping she would open her eyes and see the terrible thing she did.  What even broke my heart was Angela who is Vicki’s sister. She raised Lara believing she was Vicki’s daughter. When she found out about the secret Vicki kept, it ripped her apart. I was very happy on how the story ended. Forgiveness and knowing Emily/Lara was safe and taken care of bonded both families together.  Bette is a magnificent story teller that will make you feel so many emotions but hope is always there waiting. I rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Author Biography

USA Today Bestselling and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby’s books are “Well-crafted storytelling populated by memorable characters caught up in equally memorable circumstances.” – Midwest Book Review

The Seattle Post Intelligencer says Crosby’s writing is, “A quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life and madcap adventures.”

Samantha from Reader’s Favorite raves, “Crosby writes the type of book you can’t stop thinking about long after you put it down.”

“Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.”

It is the wit and wisdom of that Southern Mama Crosby brings to her works of fiction; the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away. Her work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. She has since gone on to win twenty awards for her work; these include: The Royal Palm Literary Award, the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal, Reader’s Favorite Award Gold Medal, and the Reviewer’s Choice Award.

Crosby’s published works to date are: Blueberry Hill (2014), Previously Loved Treasures (2014), Jubilee’s Journey (2013), What Matters Most (2013), The Twelfth Child (2012), Life in the Land of IS (2012), Cracks in the Sidewalk (2011), Spare Change (2011). A Cupid inspired romance, Wishing for Wonderful, is scheduled for release in November 2014 and Book Three of The Wyattsville Series, Passing through Perfect, will be be available in January 2015.

Your local Barnes & Nobles has been doing a book club since last year. The Guest Book is the next book we will be discussing on June 11 at 7 pm. You can sign up through this link https://customer.barnesandnoble.com/signup/may2019bnbookclub

Goodreads Blurb

The Guest Book follows three generations of a powerful American family, a family that “used to run the world”.

And when the novel begins in 1935, they still do. Kitty and Ogden Milton appear to have everything—perfect children, good looks, a love everyone envies. But after a tragedy befalls them, Ogden tries to bring Kitty back to life by purchasing an island in Maine. That island, and its house, come to define and burnish the Milton family, year after year after year. And it is there that Kitty issues a refusal that will haunt her till the day she dies.

In 1959 a young Jewish man, Len Levy, will get a job in Ogden’s bank and earn the admiration of Ogden and one of his daughters, but the scorn of everyone else. Len’s best friend Reg Pauling has always been the only black man in the room—at Harvard, at work, and finally at the Miltons’ island in Maine.

An island that, at the dawn of the 21st century, this last generation doesn’t have the money to keep. When Kitty’s granddaughter hears that she and her cousins might be forced to sell it, and when her husband brings back disturbing evidence about her grandfather’s past, she realizes she is on the verge of finally understanding the silences that seemed to hover just below the surface of her family all her life.

An ambitious novel that weaves the American past with its present, The Guest Book looks at the racism and power that has been systemically embedded in the US for generations. Brimming with gorgeous writing and bitterly accurate social criticism, it is a literary tour de force. 

In case you are not aware. All Barnes & Nobles will be having a YA (young adult book club) on June 13th at 7 pm at your local B&N. The first book they will speak about at the book club is Again, but Better by Christine Riccio.

Goodreads Blurb

Shane has been doing college all wrong. Pre-med, stellar grades, and happy parents…sounds ideal—but Shane’s made zero friends, goes home every weekend, and romance…what’s that? 

Her life has been dorm, dining hall, class, repeat. Time’s a ticking, and she needs a change—there’s nothing like moving to a new country to really mix things up. Shane signs up for a semester abroad in London. She’s going to right all her college mistakes: make friends, pursue boys, and find adventure! 

Easier said than done. She is soon faced with the complicated realities of living outside her bubble, and when self-doubt sneaks in, her new life starts to fall apart. 

Shane comes to find that, with the right amount of courage and determination one can conquer anything. Throw in some fate and a touch of magic—the possibilities are endless.

Go to the book club to make new friends and have a lovely conversation about the book.

The next two books are below:

• July: We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal, Thursday, July 11, at 7 PM. Set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia, We Hunt the Flame is a gripping debut of discovery, conquering fear, and taking identity into your own hands.
• August: Wilder Girls by Rory Power, Thursday, August 8, at 7 PM. Wilder Girls is a debut novel about three best friends living in quarantine at their island boarding school, and the lengths they go to uncover the truth of their confinement.

Goodreads Blurb

It is 1914 and the world has been on the brink of war so many times, many New Yorker’s treat the subject with only passing interest. Eliza Ferriday is thrilled to be traveling to St. Petersburg with Sofya Streshnayva, a cousin of the Romanov’s. The two met years ago one summer in Paris and became close confidantes. Now Eliza embarks on the trip of a lifetime, home with Sofya to see the splendors of Russia. But when Austria declares war on Serbia and Russia’s Imperial dynasty begins to fall, Eliza escapes back to America, while Sofya and her family flee to their country estate. In need of domestic help, they hire the local fortuneteller’s daughter, Varinka, unknowingly bringing intense danger into their household. On the other side of the Atlantic, Eliza is doing her part to help the White Russian families find safety as they escape the revolution. But when Sofya’s letters suddenly stop coming she fears the worst for her best friend.

From the turbulent streets of St. Petersburg to the avenues of Paris and the society of fallen Russian emigre’s who live there, the lives of Eliza, Sofya, and Varinka will intersect in profound ways, taking readers on a breathtaking ride through a momentous time in history. 

My Review

A prequel to Lilac Girls that revolved in the life’s of three women. Eliza in NY, Sofya in Russia and Varinka in Russia. Eliza and Sofya are friends and Varinka becomes Sofya’s babysitter. The story takes place when Austria declares war on Serbia and Russia. The story was very slow for the first 100 or so pages. It jumped from one character back and forth with very small chapters. I was confused with who the character that was speaking for that particular chapter was and who the other family members were. Eventually I started to get the story and it started getting better. It also had some very unfavorable characters that made you see evil in its true form. Varinka is seen as an abused young lady with no where to go since Taras would find her and punish her. Varinka got attached to Max, Sofya’s baby who she loves very much and decides to protect him and then she ended up not return him to his mom. Taras was something else. Such a evil man with very bad intentions. A monster disguise as a man. I didn’t expect that plot twist between Taras and Varinka. Taras was part of the red army looking to kill all the privileged people from Russia. Sofya was such an amazing character. She was resilient to the very end. She lost everything, but courage gave her strength to go in search of her son.

I was glad I read this book since I didn’t know anything about the true history of Eliza and Sofya. The Barnes & Noble edition provided some feedback on her research and images of locations and pictures of the real life characters in which this book depicts. I also didn’t know to much of the history of this war and how life was at this time in Russia. This book was able to teach you about it. I rated 3 out of 5 stars. In this link you can find the inspiration for Lost Roses https://marthahallkelly.com/lost-roses/historical-inspiration/?fbclid=IwAR18JhmnRInOfi7Xmkg4AYmnHpWDarLLsyPA0LiQeJMBcAap20jI1uaWJJ4

Author Biography

Martha grew up in Massachusetts and now splits her time between Connecticut, New York City and Martha’s Vineyard. She worked as an advertising copywriter for many years and raised three splendid children, while researching and writing Lilac Girls, her first novel. She is excited to share the prequel, Lost Roses, coming this April and is thrilled she doesn’t have to say good-bye to Caroline and Eliza. You’ll find more info about the incredible, true stories behind both books at her website: http://www.marthahallkelly.com and clues about the prequel Lost Roses on her ever-changing Pinterest page. 

Goodreads Blurb

Tens of millions of people around the world are dead. Half of China is a nuclear wasteland. Mysterious flesh-eating spiders are marching through Los Angeles, Oslo, Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, and countless other cities. According to scientist Melanie Guyer, however, the spider situation seems to be looking up. Yet in Japan, a giant, truck-sized, glowing egg sack gives a shocking preview of what is to come, even as survivors in Los Angeles panic and break the quarantine zone. Out in the desert, survivalists Gordo and Shotgun are trying to invent a spider super weapon, but it’s not clear if it’s too late, because President Stephanie Pilgrim has been forced to enact the plan of last resort: The Spanish Protocol. America, you are on your own.

My Review

Another frightening continuation of the spider apocalypse. You can run, but you can’t hide from the flesh eating spiders. They are everywhere no matter how hard you try to protect humans and kill the spiders. Ezekiel wrote Skitter as a possible solution to finally getting rid of these crazy spiders, but unfortunately to no avail spiders have evolved and aren’t going no where. It was insane when the spiders in the first book came out in swarms and ate people alive. But Skitter spiders attack and you cannot move but only hear and feel all the pain and terror. That in itself would scare anyone reading. Want to say this is a perfect cover for this novel. Love the cut that is suppose to resemble a cut a human would get from spiders. As you would all know the book ends with a cliffhanger to the third book. Will humans kill the spiders and survive or will the spiders adapt to there environment and kill the whole population in Earth? We will have to find out… I rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Author Biography

Ezekiel Boone was born in Canada but lives in upstate New York, with his wife and children. The internationally bestselling THE HATCHING series (THE HATCHING, SKITTER, and ZERO DAY) has sold in twelve countries and nine languages. THE MANSION, Ezekiel Boone’s fourth novel, is out December 2018. When not writing thrillers, Zeke writes acclaimed literary fiction under the name Alexi Zentner. Zeke has two poorly behaved dogs and enjoys the outdoors.

Goodreads Blurb

Deep in the jungle of Peru, where so much remains unknown, a black, skittering mass devours an American tourist whole. Thousands of miles away, an FBI agent investigates a fatal plane crash in Minneapolis and makes a gruesome discovery. Unusual seismic patterns register in a Kanpur, India earthquake lab, confounding the scientists there. During the same week, the Chinese government “accidentally” drops a nuclear bomb in an isolated region of its own country. As these incidents begin to sweep the globe, a mysterious package from South America arrives at a Washington, D.C. laboratory. Something wants out.

The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic disaster. An ancient species, long dormant, is now very much awake. 

My Review

This book was top notch frightening. This book gave me a whole new terror for spiders. I still can hear them munching on human flesh yuck!! I was terrified that these spiders were ancient colonized spiders that will stop at nothing. It’s the blob at a whole new level of fear. I loved that the chapter would start at another part of the world and leave you scared wondering what happened next. This book had me hooked like a spider webbing my brain and notching terror through out my body. If I was scared reading this book I can’t wait to see what Ezekiel will come up with the rest of the hatching’s. You won’t be sorry you picked this book to read. But my Arachnophobia readers, you don’t know the new scale of fright till you read this book. Beware!!! I rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Author Biography

Ezekiel Boone was born in Canada but lives in upstate New York, with his wife and children. The internationally bestselling THE HATCHING series (THE HATCHING, SKITTER, and ZERO DAY) has sold in twelve countries and nine languages. THE MANSION, Ezekiel Boone’s fourth novel, is out December 2018. When not writing thrillers, Zeke writes acclaimed literary fiction under the name Alexi Zentner. Zeke has two poorly behaved dogs and enjoys the outdoors.