Bel Canto

Title: Bel Canto
Author: Ann Patchett
Publisher: Harper Perennial

ISBN: 978-0-06-083872-0

Why Read?: For fun

Thoughts: A deep, literary work that tricks you into feelings of hope only to have them dashed at the end.

Rating: 3 stars

In the Box: July 2015 Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss

This month's Fresh Fiction box, was a great one.  Instead of one paperback, like in the first two, this box contained three: Second Chance Summer by Jill Shalvis, Lady be Good by Meredith Duran, and Dragon Fall by Kate MacAllister.  I am definitely excited about Dragon Fall because MacAllister's writing is very fun.  The ebooks I received links/codes for were Dream Man by Kimberly Dean, Doughnuts & Deadly Schemes by Janet Gradowski, Men & Martinis by Delancy Stewart, and The Same Side by GM Doporto.  I am loving the cozies from Gemma Halliday publishing that I have received so far, so I know Doughnuts & Deadly Schemes will be awesome, and The Same Side is a YA (the second in a series, but the 1st is supposed free right now), so that is awesome, too.

The swag definitely fit with the "Back to School" theme: pens, paper, tote bag, and this awesome screen wipe with stylus.  The candy has not been interesting me, and this one is bubble gum flavored, which makes it rather unappealing to me as I only like that flavor in actual gum.

A pretty awesome Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss.  While this month had 3 paperbacks, each box will have at least one paperback and 3-6 ebooks, along with swag, for $25 a month (you can skip months). 

Secret of the Painted Lady

Title: Secret of the Painted Lady
Editor: Elizabeth Ashby & Christina A. Burke
Publisher: Gemma Halliday

ISBN: 9781940371627

Why Read?: Fresh Fiction
Challenges: n/a

Thoughts: A fun cozy, complete with secret passages.  I do hope this is not the only Danger Cove Renovation mystery.

Rating: 4 stars

Rescued by the Buccaneer

Title: Rescued by the Buccaneer
Editor: Normandie Alleman
Publisher: Stormy Night

ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: Fresh Fiction Box
Challenges: n/a

Thoughts: The cover showed it would be a historical bodice-ripper, but was not expecting BDSM, some of which was not consensual at the start, so that was a major killer for me.

Rating: 1 star

I'd Tell You I Love You, but Then I'd Have to Kill You

Title: I'd Tell You I Love You, but Then I'd Have to Kill You
Editor: Ally Carter
Publisher: Brillance

ISBN: 9781423311799

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: n/a

Thoughts: Fun, but I honestly expected more mystery or suspense, not just all young YA romance.  I also took me a while to adjust to the narrator's voice.

Rating: 3 stars

Childhood's End

Title: Childhood's End
Editor: Arthur C. Clarke
Publisher: Del Rey

ISBN: 0-345-28465-8

Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: n/a

Thoughts: So very 50s.  Some really good parts that could have led to a great ending, rather than one that left me scratching my head.

Rating: 3 stars

Stacking the Shelves: 7/19-7/25

First Reads from Goodreads:

Peter Huddleston & the Rites of Passage by Miguel Lopez de Leon

The Hiding Place

Title: The Hiding Place
Editor: Corrie Ten Boom
Publisher: Hovel

ISBN: 9781596446823

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: n/a

Thoughts: A simply amazing book.  Possibly the best memoir about the Nazi occupation.  A must read.

Rating: 5 stars

Stacking the Shelves: 7/12-7/18

First Reads from Goodreads:

Fat Ballet by T. R. Whittier

Merit Badge Murder by Leslie Langtry

The Secrets of Lake Road by Karen Katchur

Swapped for on My Subscription Addiction:

In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume

The Secret Recipes by Dominique Ansel

Stacking the Shelves: 7/5-7/11

For review:

Frosted Blood by Larry Pellitteri

In the Box: June 2015 Awesome Pack

Late posting on this again!  June, though had an awesome Awesome Pack Big Kid Pack. The subscription is $44.99 a month and you can choose the Big Kid option (for those without kids - like me), or the Family option.  Their site does not have referral links set up yet, nor can you log into your account yet, but they do have a referral program, so if you do decide after reading my review to try it, I would very much appreciate if you told them you heard about it from me, rickimc [at] aol [dot] com.

For June, the main game was Helios (a $64.99 value) from Z-Man Games. I received some Z-Man games last month, and already knew this was a great game publisher.  Helios is based on fantasy/mythology, so I know I will love it!

My smaller game this month was really small!  Karma Mini Round (a $5.00 value) is a mint-tin sized portable card games by the makers of Set (which is one of the best games ever!).  I also received this box of 10 Wild & Wonderful puzzles (a $36.99 value), which I busted open immediately.

The collectible this time was a Series 1 Micro Figure (a $3.95 value).  As they are not LEGO, I really had no interest and already traded them.  However, the Awesome Pack swag this month was a cool bookmark, which I love!

Aside from the colectible which was a bust for me, this month's Awesome Pack was awesome!  The items actually added up t0 an amazing $110.93 value, and I got it all for $44.95, which included shipping.  If you would like to subscribe, once again, I ask that you say you heard it from me, rickimc [at] aol [dot] com.  (Please note: as games and collectibles can vary in price based on demand, I tried to take the price from the manufacturers site whenever possible.)

Blood Music

Title: Blood Music
Editor: Greg Bear
Publisher: Ace

ISBN: 0-441-06797-2

Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: n/a

Thoughts: Interesting concept with some interesting twists, but just did not keep my attention and some parts just did not make sense.

Rating: 2 stars

Stacking the Shelves: 6/28-7/4

For possible review (on Bookloons):

Damage Done by Amanda Panitch

Stone Rider by David Hofmeyr

Swann's Way by Marcel Proust, Stephanie Heuet, & Arthur Goldhammer

First Reads from Goodreads:

The Aries Appointment by Kathy T. Kale

LibraryThing Early Review:

The Salvation of Gabriel Adam by S. L. Duncan

Code Name Verity

Title: Code Name Verity
Editor: Elizabeth Wein
Publisher: B0linda

ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: n/a

Thoughts: Simply amazing!  Tightly woven, full of adventure and intrigue, plenty of fact mixed in, appealing to all ages, this is one of the best WWII fictions I have ever read.

Rating: 5 stars

Arkadium Rising

Title: Arkadium Rising
Editor: Glen Krisch
Publisher: JournalStone

ISBN: 9781940161891

Why Read?: Early Review
Challenges: n/a

Thoughts: Interesting concept, but dragged too much. Plus, there were just a few things that seemed off, like why a girl he picks up outside of Springfield (must be IL since they are talking of crossing the river into STL) is attending Webster at the KC campus instead of the main one, and other local inconsistencies.

Rating: 2 stars