This week was another relatively relaxed week. No fires or smoke in the microwave so that was a plus! (Although that smell is still lingering every time we turn on the microwave!). The girls and I just watched movies yesterday and had fun hanging out and being cozy while it rained outside.
The highlight of my week was on Saturday the hubby and I went to a monumental event – my friend Claire’s 100th birthday party. She turned 100 on Nov. 16th and on the day of the party she told us she was 103. We just kind of looked at her funny and she said, “I’m 100 years and 3 days old and I want credit for every minute of it!” lol She’s so funny – and wonderful – and adorable – and I just can’t say enough about how much I love this woman. She has led an amazing life – she was a public health nurse and was in Pearl Harbor when it was bombed. She’s lived in the Philippines, Hong Kong & Hawaii (and Hawaii is one of her favorite places on earth hence the lei’s) as well as many other places in Asia while raising two great sons. She’s taken adventures and just lived a full and happy life. It was a great party and I was so glad I was asked to be a part of it. Here we are enjoying ourselves on Saturday night:
On to the reading…
I started the week with In the Eye of the Beholder by Beverly Cialone. This was the second book that I had read by this author and it was incredibly similar to the first in extreme ways. You can read my reviews for both of this authors books here. 1.5 out of 5
Next up was the book I read for my TBR Challenge which was Heart of Fire by Linda Howard. This was the story of an expedition in the Amazon and a romance that happens along the way. I really liked this book a lot and loved the hero, Ben. I may have to steal his ass from Rowena and Holly. You can read my review here. 4.5 out of 5
Next up was the third book in the Limit War Series by Nico Rosso, The Limit of Desire. This was about a Jessa and Ryder who have had a fling and enjoyed every moment of it but Jessa is Ryder’s commanding officer and though Ryder wants more from the relationship Jessa is hesitant due to many reasons. You can read my review of this very good book here. 4.0/4.25 out of 5
Love, Come to Me by Lisa Kleypas is a re-release that I read for The Book Binge. This book was originally written in 1988 and one of her earliest works. I very much could tell the incredible changes that have been made in her writing since she first began. I actually had to remind myself a couple of times who the author was! The story was right after the Civil War and is about a southern man falling in love with a northerner. They have their many ups and downs and of course a huge lack of communication but eventually work it out. I liked the book but it was definitely my least favorite of Kleypas’s work so far. 3 out of 5
Between Seasons by Aida Brassington was another book that I read for The Book Binge. This was the story of 19 year old Patrick who dies in his home back in 1970. He becomes a ghost there and the story tells of him from 1970 until 2010 (not EVERYTHING! lol) when someone new buys the house. Patrick falls in love with the new homeowner and aches because he can’t be with her in human form. Strange things happen and soon not only can the homeowner, Sara, hear him but she can eventually see him. It’s a bizarre but beautiful tale of love and I very much enjoyed reading it. 4.5 out of 5
Next was the novella, Hopes and Fears, by Rowan Speedwell. This is a follow up story of Brian McCarthy from Finding Zach. Brian has finished his book about Zach but now he’s living in Chicago and trying to deal with his life and the different feelings he’s trying to work through. He meets Jerry who is his physical therapist and is completely interested. Brian however only does hook-ups/one night stands and Jerry only dates men he might consider being with long-term. The story is so good and the tale of their relationship and how the two men get together is just told incredibly well. If you read Finding Zach then I highly recommend you reading this one as well. 4.5 out of 5 (Thanks to Tam for telling me about this one!)
Last for the week was GhosTV by Jordan Castillo Price. I hate to say that this is my Tracy’s TBR Challenge read for the week (yes, I’ve been sadly falling down on the job with this personal challenge lately) but I have had it for a while. This is book 6 in the series and while I didn’t like it quite as well as the last few it was still very good. The story was about Vic and Jacob heading to California when they find out that their friend Lisa is missing from her school, PsyTrain. They have to deal with people they don’t care to deal with, Vic meets up with someone from his past which is a shock and there are more than a few surprises in the book (not to mention kind of cliff-hanger at the end). It was a really well written and engaging and a definite read if you’ve read books 1-5. (In fact, if you haven’t read books 1-5 then don’t read this one as you’ll be completely lost! lol) 4.25 out of 5
My Book Binge reviews that posted last week:
Happy Reading!
What a sweetheart. Congrats on making it to 100.
You might try boiling some vinegar and water in the microwave. Just let the container boil for awhile, maybe the vinegar would remove the burnt smell by pushing through all the vents. Or else your house will smell like salad dressing after, which might be an improvement on burnt food.
Glad you enjoyed that book. I've not read the Finding Zach one and still enjoyed it. Ghost TV was great, but I agree, definitely not a stand-alone.
Tracy that's just a gorgeous picture! Happy 100th and 3 days birthday to Claire! That's just wonderful. 😀
I love Linda Howard and I happen to have Heart of Fire in my TBR too! I loved your review and now that book is getting moved up. Thanks!
Wow–100 and she looks great! And still has a great sense of humor as well, according to your story! 😀
Three books in a row that I plan on adding to my list (from Howard to Kleypas), though the Kleypas one I already have on my list, but simply haven't bought yet. The other two, however, sound great!
Enjoy!
TBQ
Oh yay, Clare!
I've been eating up those Psycop novels with a spoon. Really liked the first three and got #4 on my Kindle just now.
Wow, you go, Clare! 🙂
I'll have to remember there's a follow up book for when I get around to reading Finding Zach…
I loved GhosTV – in fact, I read, then reread the other books and read it again… in a week.
She's a sweetheart and will be thrilled to hear all of the well wishes! Thanks all!
Tam – I will try that vinegar and water suggestion. Anything's better than the smoke smell. yuck!
Oh I didn't realize you hadn't read Finding Zach yet. Good to know you can read it on its own.
Yeah, I would have been completely lost had I tried to read GhosTV without reading the other books first.
Hilcia – Heart of Fire sounded good but I wasn't completely sold until Holly and Rowena pounced. lol I'm happy I listened to them. Hope you enjoy it. 🙂
TBQ – I hope you enjoy all of them! Let me know what you think of the Kleypas.
Joanna – Psycop novels #4 & 5 were my absolute favorites of the series. So damned good. They're all good but those just rocked.
Chris – I really want to go back and re-read the Psycop novels – they were just so good. I just get caught up in reading the new stuff and never go back. I need to MAKE time! 🙂
Awesome for your friend, Tracy! 100, wow!!
Hmmm, I almost bought Love Come to Me, but I remembered it was a re-print… There are some authors whose works you love no matter what time it was written, but others whose works just doesn't stand time, mostly because their styles have change so much and you're so used to what you know.
Looks to me you had a pretty good week 🙂
Well, happy birthday to Claire! WOw! 103!!! She sounds like a gem. And how lucky to have you as a friend. 🙂