Top Ten Tuesday - Oct. 7

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  So go there to check out more info, link up and see the future topics. 

This week's topic is:

Ten Books For Readers Who Like Character Driven Novels

• Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker (and One Little Lie)
• The Nova Series by Jessica Sorenson (Breaking Nova, Saving Quinton, etc.)
• Then Came You by Jill Shalvis

• Pieces of Olivia by Melissa West
• Upside Down by Lia Riley
• Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

• Arranged by Catherine McKenzie
• The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand
• In This Moment by Autumn Doughton

• Straddling the Line by Jaci Burton

What's on your list? Share your link or share some of your suggestions to me in the comments.

Currently Reading: Tick Tock by James Patterson and Michael Ledwedge

Tick Tock by James Patterson

Obtained From: Library
Why I chose this one: wanted to catch up with the Michael Bennett series

Date Started:10/6/14

About Tick Tock:
NYC's #1 detective, Michael Bennett, has a huge problem—the Son of Sam, the Werewolf of Wisteria and the Mad Bomber are all back. The city has never been more terrified!

Tick -- a killer's countdown begins

A rash of horrifying crimes tears through the city, throwing it into complete chaos and terrorizing everyone living there. Immediately, it becomes clear that they are not the work of an amateur, but of a calculating, efficient, and deadly mastermind.

Tick -- Michael Bennett is on the chase

The city calls on Detective Michael Bennett, pulling him away from a seaside retreat with his ten adopted children, his grandfather, and their beloved nanny, Mary Catherine. Not only does it tear apart their vacation, it leaves the entire family open to attack.

Tock -- your time is up

Bennett enlists the help of a former colleague, FBI Agent Emily Parker. As his affection for Emily grows into something stronger, his relationship with Mary Catherine takes an unexpected turn. All too soon, another appalling crime leads Bennett to a shocking discovery that exposes the killer's pattern and the earth-shattering enormity of his plan. From the creator of the #1 New York detective series comes the most volatile and most explosive Michael Bennett novel ever.

What Are You Reading Monday #7

Come post weekly and see what others are reading too just so you can add to your tbr - I always do! For more information see Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books and join in!

Books Completed Last Two Weeks:

• Confessions: The Private School Murders by James Patterson (library) 
• The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith (library)
• Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson (library)
• Cross My Heart by James Patterson (library)
• The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand (library)
• Gossamer Ghost by Laura Childs (review)

Reading Now: 

• Tick Tock by James Patterson and Michel Ledwidge
• Game Changer by Collette West (for Ramblings from this Chick)
• Game on by Tracey Solheim (for Ramblings from this Chick)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (just because) 
• A Place Called Harmony by Jodi Thomas (review)

Next:

• The Betrayed by Heather Graham (review)
• Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline (library)

Summary -
The first week started off with a bang, but then things became busy again and my reading slacked off.  I am picking back up now.  I've also been listening to some health podcasts on my way to work instead of audiobooks.  Will get back to the audiobooks soon, just wanted a little break and podcasts are a great way to learn new things. I've been listening to Balanced Bites and I am loving the information they give out.

Tell Me Something Tuesday 9/30

Tell Me Something Tuesday is hosted at Rainy Day Ramblings where Heidi discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging and encourages people to weigh in on the subjects in the comments or in their own blog posts.  I've been reading her posts for awhile, but when I saw this week's question I had to join in:

Library Love: Do you support your local library and take advantage of all it has to offer?

I love, love, love my local library and while I don't take advantage of all it has to offer, I do take advantage of most of it's reader services.  I check out & reserve books, audiobooks and movies.  I love talking to the library staff and listening to their suggestions for me since they have gotten to know me pretty well from my coming in there for years, using their reserve system and just generally checking out stacks of books at a time.

In  fact, my library pile has about 14 books in it right now and I just checked and I have 4 that came in today.  So it appears I love my library.

And while I go through phases where I like to read real books and phases where I prefer ebooks, the library seems to be where I mostly get my real book fix as of late.  And audiobooks, I fell in love with audiobooks because of my local library.

Currently Reading: A Place Called Harmony by Jodi Thomas

A Place Called Harmony by Jodi Thomas

Obtained From: Author for blog tour

Why I chose this one: I've been reviewing the Harmony books for Jodi since the start and I look forward to each new one.  And getting a look at how the whole town started has me really excited.  I love the town as much as each love story so this should be a great one!
Date Started: 9/27/14


About A Place Called Harmony:
New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas has captivated America with her novels set in the small town of Harmony, Texas. Now she tells the story of the three hard-luck men who first settled the town, a place where last chances and long-awaited dreams collide…
 
Desperate to escape his overbearing father, Patrick McAllen disappears with his bride, heading north to build a new town—discovering strength, honor and true love along the way.

After drinking away the grief from his family’s death, Clint Truman avoids jail by taking a job in North Texas and settling down with a woman he vows to protect but never love—until her quiet compassion slowly breaks his hardened heart wide open…

All Gillian Matheson has ever known is Army life, leaving his true love to be a part-time spouse. But when a wounded Gillian returns home to find her desperately fighting to save their marriage, he’s determined to become the husband she deserves.

Amidst storms, outlaws, and unwelcome relatives, the three couples band together to build a town—and form a bond that breathes life into the place that will forever be called Harmony.

Currently Reading: Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson

Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson

Obtained From: Library
Why I chose this one: Time to play catch-up with the Alex Cross series

Date Started:9/25/14

About Alex Cross, Run:
DON'T LOOK, ALEX CROSS 
Top plastic surgeon Elijah Creem is renowned for his skills in the operating room, and for his wild, no-expense-spared "industry parties," bringing in underage exotic dancers and models for nights of drugs, champagne, and uninhibited sex. That is, until Detective Alex Cross busts one of Creem's lavish soirees and ruins his fun. Now Creem is willing to do anything to avoid going to jail. 

DON'T THINK, ALEX CROSS 
But Alex doesn't have time to dwell on that case. A beautiful woman has been found murdered in her car, a lock of her hair viciously ripped off. Then a second woman is found hanging from a sixth-floor window with a brutal scar slashed across her stomach. When a third mutilated body is discovered, rumors of three serial killers on the loose send Washington D.C. into an all-out frenzy. 

JUST RUN 
Alex is under so much pressure to solve these three grim cases that he hasn't noticed that someone else investigating him-someone so obsessed and so twisted that they'll do anything-ANYTHING- to get the vengeance they require. Alex Cross, Run is James Patterson's most unrelenting story yet-a white-hot, sensational thrill ride with the most extreme and gripping characters Patterson has ever brought to life.

Just Finished/Review: The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Poppy
Pages: 337
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 0316254770

My Review:
What a fun and cute story.  No real angst, a little love at first sight, but distance presents problems so I felt it and understood it.  Both characters have their own family issues but I like how those are worked through in the book.

Cute start with the elevator breaking down and the blackout in New York City bringing these two characters from two different economic backgrounds together and they find common ground and bond during those hours together.  Because Lucy lives in the building and Owen is the super's kid, these are not kids that would normally meet, but they do and it works.  Lucy is not worried with her status in life, she just wants to see the world and explore.  Owen longs to do the same thing but has been brought to NYC against his better judgment.  But just as these two get to know each other their families unknowingly pull them apart.

But I like them apart, it gives them time to grow without the other one affecting them.  It's interesting how they keep coming together and how they are always on each others' minds even when things aren't smooth.  The Geography of You and Me was a fun book and a great one that explores growing up and finding your way on your own and hopefully finding your way back to that true love you have found but didn't really realize how much it meant.  I loved this book, read it in one day and now cannot wait to go back and read Jennifer E. Smith's backlist books.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

Summary

Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

Lucy and Owen's relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and -- finally -- a reunion in the city where they first met.

A carefully charted map of a long-distance relationship, Jennifer E. Smith's new novel shows that the center of the world isn't necessarily a place. It can be a person, too.

Buy Links

Author Biography

Jennifer E. Smith is the author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, The Storm Makers, You Are Here, and The Comeback Season. She earned her master's degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and currently works as an editor in New York City. Her writing has been translated into 28 languages.

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***I received this book from my wonderful local library for my reading enjoyment.