Monday, October 11, 2010

Fragile by Lisa Unger



About the book: Everybody knows everybody in The Hollows, a quaint, charming town outside of New York City. It’s a place where neighbors keep an eye on one another’s kids, where people say hello in the grocery store, and where high school cliques and antics are never quite forgotten. As a child, Maggie found living under the microscope of small-town life stifling. But as a wife and mother, she has happily returned to The Hollows’s insular embrace. As a psychologist, her knowledge of family histories provides powerful insights into her patients’ lives. So when the girlfriend of her teenage son, Rick, disappears, Maggie’s intuitive gift proves useful to the case—and also dangerous. 
Eerie parallels soon emerge between Charlene’s disappearance and the abduction of another local girl that shook the community years ago when Maggie was a teenager. The investigation has her husband, Jones, the lead detective on the case, acting strangely.  Rick, already a brooding teenager, becomes even more withdrawn.  In a town where the past is always present, nobody is above suspicion, not even a son in the eyes of his father.  
“I know how a moment can spiral out of control,” Jones says to a shocked Maggie as he searches Rick’s room for incriminating evidence. “How the consequences of one careless action can cost you everything.”
As she tries to reassure him that Rick embodies his father in all of the important ways, Maggie realizes this might be exactly what Jones fears most. Determined to uncover the truth, Maggie pursues her own leads into Charlene’s disappearance and exposes a long-buried town secret—one that could destroy everything she holds dear. This thrilling novel about one community’s intricate yet fragile bonds will leave readers asking, How well do I know the people I love? and How far would I go to protect them?

My Thoughts: Fragile brings to readers a story where a young girl goes missing for a 24 – 28 hour period. During this time, the past seems to be coming back to haunt a few of the people in the small town of Hollows.
The story begins with the town’s “hero” detective dumping something. Throughout the story when the young girl, Charlene, is abducted, we find out that over 20 years ago another young girl, Sarah was abducted and found dead 24 hours later. The Hollows is a small town, and Charlene’s abduction has cropped up memories for everyone, especially Melody, Charlene’s mom, Travis Crosby and Jones Cooper. Why would those three people seem affected more than anyone else, well because they somehow played a part in Sarah’s abduction and death years ago.
The inter-weaving story line between the present and the past was spectacularly written. There were no gaps and there was never a time where I felt like I missed something. The characters were very well developed. The author took their actions and personalities from the present and was able to show the audience, how and why they may have become the person they are now.
This is my first time reading this author and I must say I think I will have to add more of her books on my TBR list.
 I GIVE THIS BOOK:
DISCLAIMER: I was in no way compensated to review this book. These are my opinions of a book given to me by Booksparks PR. These opinions are my own without any influences.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Read-a-thon Update

6:52 pm PST: I'm not even sure what hour it is of the read-a-thon. Considering I started late and not even realizing it started 8EST which is 5 my time. I began at 11 am my time and I just got done with my first book. Quite a bit of distractions, but I will need to take a break to do some school work and then on to my next book.

7:38 pm PST: Getting ready to start my next book - The Red Church by Scott Nicholson 

10:25 pm PST: Not very far into my second book. Have fallen asleep, not feeling well, but I think I got my second wind so I will press on through 

12:00 am PST: I'm still going on. Sleep is calling me but I'm going to try to keep going a little longer. Still haven't put much of a dent in this book. I think because I'm tired and not feeling well.

1:00 am PST: I fell asleep. I guess this means I should go on to bed. 

Here's how I did:
# of hours read: 13.5
# of books read: 2
# of pages read: 521
Books read: Undead & Unfinished; The Red Church


This was a great experience. Hopefully next time I will more prepared. Thanks to all the cheerleaders for cheering me on


Thursday, October 7, 2010

24 Hour Read-A-Thon

I've never done a read-a-thon but I've stayed up for over 24 hours before. So what did I do, I signed up for Dewey's 24-hour Read-a-thon but now of course, I'm like YIKES. I am just going to try my best to read as long as I can and as much as I can and try to enjoy myself while reading. 

I have a list of books I'm thinking about and hoping some of you can help me choose a couple to start with. Here goes.


Totally Postal Thursday

Last week I thought I needed BBA therapy. I think I'm way past that point right now. I need a serious intervention. I keep saying I'm not buying anymore books until I read some of the ones on my TBR but I keep buying for my Nook and keep signing up for more review opportunities. So this week I have a pretty good list for 'Totally Postal Thursday'. Here goes:
Deadly Little Secrets (Touch Series #1) - Laurie Faria Stolarz
City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare
City of Glass - Cassandra Clare
Torment - Lauren Kate
Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick
Let the Right One In - John Ajvide Lindqvuist
As I Die Lying - Scott Nicholson
Windows to the Soul - J.M. Barlog
The Tle of Halcyon Crane - Wendy Webb
The Strain (Strain Trilogy #1) - Guillermo del Toro
Kell's Legend - Andy Remic

Barnes & Noble just opened up their PubIt where authors can self-publish electronic books directly to their website so I'm thinking I may be in trouble in the near future.

So what made you totally postal this week? You can make a post on your own blog List all the books you’ve received since last Friday and then tell us how you got them and where on your TBR list they will be and then link up (direct URL, please) here:

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Totally Postal Thursday

I think I need BBA therapy. In the last week, although I said I wasn't going to buy anymore books and actually made a list of the books I have that I want to read, I still ended up with books. So I decided to start a new meme called 'Totally Postal Thursday'.
Each week I will list the books I have acquired that week, whether through an author for review, a friend or on my Nook. To participate, list your books that you have acquired for the week. I'm sure with all the books, there will be more I will want to add to my list...LOL

Here's my list:

The Postcard Killers - James Patterson
The 7th Victim - Alan Jacobson
Crave - J.R. Ward (pre-order)
Crush - Alan Jacobson
House - Ted Dekker & Frank Peretti
Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare

This may not seem like a lot to others, but these were purchased after I ordered 6 books for my son.

So what made you totally postal this week? You can make a post on your own blog List all the books you’ve received since last Friday and then tell us how you got them and where on your TBR list they will be and then link up (direct URL, please) here:

Saturday, September 25, 2010

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

 October is National Reading Group Month!
Hello, everyone. I was perusing through Barnes and Noble's boards and found something that said October is National Reading Group Month. I'm sure most of the experienced bloggers already know but I thought I would post a reminder. There's some information from the post on the board that I will include.  Happy Reading :-)
Here's the post from bn.com:

Hello Booklovers/Bookclubbers,

Reading groups are proving that good books bring people together.National Reading Group Month salutes reading groups. It fosters their growth and promotes the love of literature. It's an opportunity for reading groups to reflect on their accomplishments and plan for the future — the perfect time to join or start a group!

On our site (http://www.nationalreadinggroupmonth.org/) you'll find the story behind NRGM, a calendar of nation-wide events, and resources and tips for enhancing book discussions. Whether you're a reading group member, author, bookseller, librarian, or publishing industry professional, get involved in National Reading Group Month.


WOMEN'S NATIONAL BOOK ASSOCIATIONPromoting the value of books and reading since 1917.
For more information, visit http://www.wnba-books.org/


WNBA-NYC will celebrate National Reading Group Month
with our annual author panel on Tuesday, October 19th at
Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

Open to the Public, Free Admission!
Visit: http://abookstoreinbrooklyn.blogspot.com/


Thursday, September 23, 2010



First I want to thank everyone who entered to win my very first giveaway, E is for Ethics by Ian James Corlett. I would also like to thank BookSparks PR for providing me the opportunity to do this giveaway. Please come back again when I have another giveaway.

Here goes. The winner was chosen through random.org. The winner is: H.MCNARON

Congratulations