Avoca Book Club discussion

I decided to take somewhat of a break from murder & mayhem....LOL. I've had this 3 book series on my bookcases for awhile. I hate that! I buy books & place them on my bookcase & then forget about them...or decide to read something else. ANYWAY...LOL...I'm starting the YA bookFallen by Lauren Kate. I have read mixed reviews on it. I guess it's sort of like the Twilight series..you either love it or hate it. I loved the Twilight books! I just saw Breaking Dawn Part 1 yesterday. I own all the movies..yes, I am a Twilight Junkie and PROUD of it!! :)

I haven't seen or read any of the Twilight books. My daughter-in-law likes them too and can't believe I haven't broken a cover open. I am so glad to be done with my latest book- what a nightmare (ha). I was talking to my husband about the book last night over supper and he tells me to move on, but I couldn't but now, I wish I had. Oh, well....you live and you learn.

Sandy wrote: "I haven't seen or read any of the Twilight books. My daughter-in-law likes them too and can't believe I haven't broken a cover open. I am so glad to be done with my latest book- what a nightmare (h..."

Sandy! You must read Twilight!! LOL
I'm sorry your last book was a dud! I hate that!! I'm like you...once I start a book, no matter how bad it is, I will finish it. I know to some it's a waste of time, but it's just a quirk (one of many LOL) I have. Hope your next book is better for ya!

I read the first book in the twilight series. I liked it, but I liked the sookie Stackhouse one by Charlaine Harris better......

Insatiable

Is kinda a funny poke at all the vampire stuff in the movies and books... With its own twist of having vampires... it is what I'm reading now

Tonight I'm starting Gone for Good by Harlan Coben. I'm excited!! I haven't read any of his yet which I didn't like!! Ok...I know this is only the 3rd (?) one I've read, but he's got a perfect record from me so far.

I must decide..... Probably a library book...

Magpie67 wrote: "I must decide..... Probably a library book..."

Here's an idea...line them up (or stack them), close your eyes & just pick one...lol

Magpie67 wrote: "I must decide..... Probably a library book..."

Here's an idea...line them up (or stack them), close your eyes & just pick one...lol

I almost forgot...have you read the Linwood Barclay book yet?? No Time For Goodbye....I'm trying to help you decide...hee hee

I decided (with my twin sis' help...wink wink) to start The Book of Bright Ideas by Sandra Kring. I'm hoping this one will go quick. I read 10 books last month & want to see if I can read that many (or more!) this month.

OMG! Magpie, you were so right! This book is fantastic!! I can't put it down!! Thank you for telling me it was FAB! LOL

I would like to get 10 done this month too!!!!

Yes, I picked up No Time for Goodbye and I want to finish Jenna's Cowboy: A Novel

I knew you would love it!!!!! Have I steered you wrong yet????? LOL!

Magpie67 wrote: "I knew you would love it!!!!! Have I steered you wrong yet????? LOL!"

Ummmm...that would be...a big fat NOPE!!! LOL

HeeHee....... Have you found Night Swimming yet?? Or have I told you to read it?

Thought about that book again and how much I loved it.....

No, I haven't & no you didn't (I think!)...LOL!! Will look for it after I read these 10 library books I have in the den. :)
Side note on current book I'm reading: I know hate is a strong word, but I HATE Button's mother!! OMG! If I were in front of her, I would tell her to SHUT UP or I would shake her until her damn teeth rattled in her head! OMG! I can't believe the anger she invokes in me! I feel so sorry for Button! In a way, I can sort of relate to her...my mother could be somewhat cruel at times. Anyway...just wanted to share my thoughts on smacking the CRAP out of Jewel! LOL

I am reading The Flight of Gemma Hardyjust because I liked the cover. I really feel sorry for her as she is trying to fit in and just when she thinks life is good, bam! it falls apart. Not saying that she has bad luck but that it doesn't work out for her. Can't wait to see how it ends.

LOL about Jewel!!!! I'm still working on No Time For Goodbye

Since my friends in IOWA seem to be getting ALL of my snow (hee hee), I decided to read this book set in Alaska in the 1920's.....The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. I guess if I can't see it in person (the snow), I might as well read about it! :)
Come on ladies...don't be stingy....send some snow my way!! :)

You are welcome to visit anytime and I would love to send some to you. Big snowflakes, slushy snow this time that was hard to shovel (yeah, like I shoveled it this time- ha) but I heard him complaining when he came in. He said a car came by when he was scooping down by the street and got him good (ha- I'm laughing as I type). Wish I would have seen that (darn!) as his pants were soaking wet on one side and totally dry on the other. I thought Iowa people were nice.

I'm reading A Girl Named Zippywhich I am really liking. She grew up in the mid 1960's in a small town of about 300 people and she talks about her life growing up with her family. Parts are funny, a light read and I am relating to the era so that's good too.

LOL LOL LOL!!!! Oh Sandy...too funny!!! I can imagine it! I wish I could've seen the look on your hubby's face when it happened! :)

is good so far. I can't put it down. We'll be leaving for dinner soon and I sooo wish I could take it with me, but I guess that would be rude, huh?! The book is listed under fantasy but I'm not so sure....
I'm hoping since we are celebrating tonight, I can lay on the couch all day tomorrow & read & maybe, just maybe finish it. I haven't read anything like this before & I just can't seem to stop long enough to even type this. :)

I know I am getting a head of myself but I guess I am getting excited with all of these books I want to read and then March books get posted and then WOW, I go crazy and start reading them.....like a crazy woman. So now I am reading Takeover and it has basically taken over my life the past 2 days. I didn't think at first I would like it. They start to investigate a murder scene and now it is like I am in a middle of a standoff in a bank. Every chapter is a different time in this 8 hour "takeover" and I can't read fast enough. Another one of those, read while I do my hair, eat breakfast, any 15 minutes- I am getting sucked into this book. Gotta go- the book is calling :)

Ohhhhhhh that book sounds good!! Yet another I MUST add to my TBR! Thanks Sandy!!!! :)

Last night I started reading The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry. The main character's name is Ginny & she has Asperger's Syndrome. I love the fact she cooks to calm herself down. She has rountines which she sticks to or she feels out of sorts. This book is of course fiction, but my neighbor's son has the syndrome & it's helping me to better understand him. Like Ginny in the book, he doesn't like crowds, loud noises & doesn't like to be touched or hugged. The book also includes some recipes I may have to copy before returning it to the library...LOL

Back to Jenna's Cowboy: A Novel

WhooHoo on the Takeover book!!!! I have it so, its looks to be a great reading weekend. I also have book 2 in the series!!!! Exciting!!!

You got me started on a series??? What are you doing to me??!! I am going to have to go to the library this weekend and check this out (shame on you!) LOL
Ginger, The Kitchen Daughter looks good as it's listed as a paranormal book? I'm anxious to see if you like it as I just might have to read it (imagine that).
I am reading Never Let Me Go and it's different. Only about 4 chapters into it and I really hope it gets better.
Now to check the library to see if they have Lisa Black's other books :)

Sandy, The Kitchen Daughter is listed as paranormal because it has ghosts in it. It was so good. I really felt sorry for Ginny and her difficulties. If you decide to read it, please let me know if you like it or not. Thanks! :)

Tonight, I am going to start reading Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie. It has a dog in the story & I'm a dog lover, so what can I say?! Thought it might be a fun read.

I put The Kitchen Daughter on my to-read list and hopefully I will get to it in March. I just got done with Never Let Me Go and I was totally disappointed and gave it 3 stars, only because it ended good. I wanted to give up on it so many times but I just bought the darn thing on Amazon and wanted to read it so bad. Live and you learn, I guess! Going to read Casting Stones as I have been wanting to read that and I got a free copy (yeah!). There are so many dog books out and lots of them look good, as long as they are the heros. I watched A Dog Named Christmas many times this past winter and that is a tear-jerker.

Sandy....word of caution: The Kitchen Daughter makes you want to cook! LOL
I've been thinking about that book so much & today I bit the bullet & went to the grocery store...haha...I came home & made brownies from scratch, I'm having Baked Ziti for dinner along w/Texas Toast! I also bought some other things to cook this weekend! :)
Wish me luck that the brownies turn out...I've only ever used a box mix....lol....never from scratch. But the batter tasted good! HEE HEE

So you are supposed to cook the brownies? Ah, I have been doing it wrong too. I love batter and I love brownies and that is why I never, and I mean never make them is because I would eat them ALL!!! Let me know at the end of the weekend how many are left LOL They are my true weakness. Now I am thinking brownies- thanks :) You didn't make frosing did you or add chocolate chips, did you?? Man!! And then you made pasta too with texas toast, girlfriend! How much is an airplane ticket?? What did you do to me....hmmmm, maybe Tay will help me eat the brownies if I made them tonight before he goes back to college on Sunday?

You can always purchase a 1-way ticket & then go back whenever you feel like it! :)
I shared some brownies w/my neighbors because we get our eggs from them....we haven't had to buy eggs in almost a year!! They have 8 hens & they get up 2 DOZEN eggs a day!! So, they're always giving us an 18-pack. We save the shells, crush them up & the hens luv, luv, luv it!
I didn't make frosting or put choc chips in them, but I did add a cup of chopped walnuts. If you want the recipe, send me a private msg here on GR & I'll hook you up!! I'm willing to bet you have everything you need to make them & they were easy. The recipe called for vanilla extract & I didn't realize I was out...so, I used almond extract & it didn't affect the recipe. Ask Tay if he wants brownies...lol...and I'll send the recipe! :)

I broke down and bought a box of Pillsbury Frosted Brownies at Walmart when we stopped tonight- see what you did to me! LOL So are they really good? I might just have to have the recipe. We got lots of vanilla so I could make a lot. I bring home vanilla from Mexico as it's good stuff and it's cheap there. We're headed there again at the end of the month again- more vanilla!!!

Sandy, have you ate all the brownies, yet?! LOL
I'm starting In the Woods by Tana French. I've read some great reviews on it.....just hope it doesn't turn out to be a dud!

After completing the worst book in the world, I'm now reading The Witch Doctor's Wife by Tamar Myers.

This morning, I started Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky. I was in the mood for a bit of chick-lit this weekend. :)

I am reading The Dispatcher and it is really good. He never believed his daughter was dead but after all these years. She finally escaped from the basement where she has been hidden and she made a call to 911 where her dad is in law enforcement but the call was short. Her kidnappers got her back and they are on the run with her. The kidnappers are crazy and off-the-wall. Find her!!

Ginger, how was your book? I might have to read that one since I can relate to that one. I was a teen mom so that might be a good one for me.

Sandy, I haven't finished it yet but I hope to tonight. I, too can relate. I turned 21 2 months after my daughter was born....and I was single. There are so many aspects of this book that hits home for me. I'll let you know what I think after I finish. I'm quite sure it's going to be a 5 star read for me.

Oh the adventures we lead and what great people we turn out to be. I tell people that I am who I am because of the road I lived. I had my son one month after turning 16 and dropped out of school. But I loved every minute of him!!

Wow! You go Sandy! You are an awesome, amazing woman & I am so glad we met here on GR!! I, too would not change one minute of the days with my daughter. It made me grow up rather quickly, but that was needed at the time. I probably would've killed myself partying. I was single & remained single until my daughter was almsot 8. Her father was NEVER in the picture, but I did fine (he was an a@$!). I believe you & I are stronger for going thru things like that. :)

Tonight I'm starting Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens. I read the other book by this author (Still Missing) and really enjoyed it. Hope to start & finish it this weekend.

I'm starting Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. It's been a few years since I read any of his books.

The Sixty-Eight Rooms and The Peach Keeper

Magpie67 wrote: "The Sixty-Eight Rooms and The Peach Keeper"

Very cool!! The Peach keeper is on my list of top 24 books to read this year!

Since my mood has been everywhere for reading.... I'm now reading a J.D. Robb book along with my other titles. Hoping to get a few finished this week cause I'm only 1 book ahead now. Darn! Wish I was as far as Sandy!

In a few weeks.... t.v. shows will be done and I will have more time. ;o)

I am now starting Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay. It sounds soooo good! I read hubby the description & he wants it after I'm done. That's saying something!! :)
I believe I am 8 books ahead in my goal for this year. I'm so proud of myself! Not trying to sound conceited...just happy!

I am reading Shelter as I won it on Goodreads. Plus I just got the new The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier cookbook- yeah!