Books
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Three Christmas Reads for Wednesday
It was 95º here in the Dallas area today, a continuation of the warm weather we’ve been experiencing….so of course, I’m reading Christmas fiction! This week, I have three Christmas stories for you – perfect for getting into the holiday spirit. (Especially when it’s warm outside.) Christmas is quite possibly my favorite holiday season, and these books are just the thing to get me ready and help me through the crazy that the season can be. This is the late-night “it’s still Wednesday somewhere” Christmas story edition of What I’m Reading Wednesday!!! First on my list is actually a novella. Merry Mary, by Ashley Farley, is a story about a…
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What Im Reading Wednesday: Little Girl Gone
I’m back with another truly gripping novel! This week’s pick is NOT a light read – it’s a tale of psychological suspense. And my lovely UK readers – this one you won’t have to wait for, as this is the UK version! (No fears, my lovely fellow Yanks – there’s a version for us, too.) I’m really anxious to talk about Little Girl Gone by Alexandra Burt! <“https://jenncaffeinated.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/LittleGirlGone-pinterest-photo-393×1024.jpg” alt=”LittleGirlGone pinterest photo” width=”393″ height=”1024″ /> This book has been compared to “Gone Girl” and “Girl on a Train”. I think the only similarity between these books (aside from the words “Girl” and “Gone” in the title) is the use of the unreliable narrator;…
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Read This: The Ripper Gene
Hey everybody, I’ve been waiting to share a GREAT thriller that I just finished. It’s titled The Ripper Gene, the debut novel for author Michael Ransom. And you know me – I’m not the most patient person – so of COURSE, there will be a good reason for holding off on the review. drumroll I had the opportunity to interview Michael Ransom, and I’m really excited to share the exchange because he has a fascinating background: Michael is also a molecular pharmacologist and an expert in toxicogenomics and pharmacogenetics (dumbed down, the study of the effects of environmental toxins on cells and tissues, and the study of genetic differences that…
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#WIRW: The Boys of the Dixie Pig
No, you’re not stuck in a time warp – it’s not Wednesday. This post did not go live as it was supposed to, yay, me. So lucky you, you’ll likely see TWO posts from me today. Go, me. Happy Wednesday Thursday! This week’s pick for What I’m Reading Wednesday is The Boys of the Dixie Pig by Stacy Childs. What a fun, wild ride it was!! I’m seeing it touted as a medical thriller, but while one of the two main storylines has a medical bent not far off of what you might see with Robin Cook, I’d likely classify it as a thriller, plain and simple. Ok, so I…
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WIRW: Books to Get Lost In
Before you say anything…I know…never end a sentence with a preposition. That’s why I’m reviewing the books and not writing them – I get so excited when it’s time to review books sometimes that I just can’t come up with a title suitable to reflect how I feel. In this case, I have the added problem writing a title for two entirely different stories in two different genres. So why review them together? They both sucked me in so quickly, they BOTH proved to be a great escape. Ok, so I basically sat and did nothing until I finished these books. You caught me. I don’t care. Let’s start already,…
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Middle School is Tough. (These Books Aren’t)
This summer, my soon-to-be middle schooler lodged a complaint: “Why is it that so many books talk about how awful middle school is?” I took a look at his bookshelf and have to admit, it’s true. I didn’t want to admit that since middle school can be pretty miserable in real life, it’s a relatable topic for kids and easier to laugh at than cry with – I want him to look forward to middle school, after all! So we talked about what is happening in the books he’s read, and how the real meat of the story is in how the main character conquers his fears, or overcomes a huge challenge, or…
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#WIRW: The Late Night Edition
With memories of summer vacation fading faster than my tan and the kids back to school and so organized that I’m hardly needed in the mornings, I had great plans of conquering my to-do list in record time, all while re-establishing a semblance of routine. Ah, the best laid plans, all felled by a single sentence, an opening chapter, a stack of to-be-read thrillers and crime fiction. You got it. Little has been ticked off of my to-do list except for going to the gym, and I’ve had to add “drink coffee” and “read 6 chapters” to that list just to be able to tick something off. It hasn’t helped that these books…
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Dress Code Crazy
I appreciate the importance of school dress codes, but some of the latest rules are just crazy. Who knew that collar bones are the devil’s instruments? Apparently, bra straps are too. Leggings are distracting because they show the shape of girls’ legs – gasp – girls have legs? I’ve never heard my 11-year-old son say “Mom, I can’t understand fractions because Sarah wore leggings.” If he did, though, I’d knock him upside the head – figuratively speaking. I pity the girl who got her Wonder Woman lunchbox taken away because violent characters are banned in the dress code? Wonder Woman is a super hero, and super heroes portray violence, ergo Wonder Woman is violent. That’s like saying cake is…
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What I’m Reading Wednesday – The Murderer’s Daughter
This one has had me on the edge of my seat as I raced to the finish; I’m sure it’s still Wednesday in the Pacific Northwest so I think I can legitimately put this one under “What I’m Reading Wednesday”. This week’s book choice is the standalone novel The Murderer’s Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman. I’ve long been a fan of Jonathan Kellerman and his Alex Delaware character; while Delaware makes a cameo in this book, trust me, this isn’t an Alex Delaware novel. This is a much darker, and much more twisted psychological thriller. Five year old Grace Blades was taking care of herself, living on leftovers her slacker, shoplifting,…
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What I’m Reading Wednesday: Two Powerful Tales
Oh, you guys. Remember how I promised you that I have weeks and weeks of What I’m Reading Wednesday reviews of awesome, soon to be released books? I still do. (Along with a few just released, because it’s summer and my kids think that mom on the computer is the perfect time to pick a fight/ask her questions/spill something on the rug/<insert your favorite distraction here>.) As I mentioned previously, I read ALL the books on my summer vacation that had “hold ’til publication” requests forthe reviews (and the books I could review were unread). What can I say – sometimes, a book description hits your mood or something clicks and you just…
