Where Is Your Bookmark? (03/17/2015)

On Saturday, we said goodbye to the last of our company. It was a big relief to have the house to ourselves again. We can finally get back into our comfortable routine. 

Sunday my daughter and I spent a good part of the morning and early afternoon at Mouse's best friend's house. We were attempting to make stepping stones out of plaster that the girls could decorate and maybe step in to capture their foot prints--or even their hand prints. I am afraid the project didn't quite turn out as well as we hoped. The dang plaster dried so fast it was next to impossible to do much with it, no matter what the instructions said. We did our best though. Luckily, each kit comes with ingredients for two stones and so both girls at least got one stepping stone out of the two planned for each. Once Mouse's stepping stone is completely dry, we will attempt to paint it and pray for the best. The girls had a fun afternoon regardless, playing in the mud, coloring, and running around the house while us mothers sat in the garden chatting and listening to the birds. You would never know it wasn't yet spring.

Mouse and her best friend playing in the garden

The thank you cards are made/written. I just need to buy postage for them and then will send them off in the mail. I enlisted Mouse's help in making them since they were, after all, for her birthday gifts. She personalized each one, selecting the shape and how to decorate them. It took a good part of an afternoon to get them all done, but it made for a fun art project. I am sure all the aunts and uncles and grandparents will be pleased. At least I hope so!

On the reading front, I am about half way through Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It's taking everything in me not to read straight through. I am trying to take my time though, having finally caught up to where my husband is.  So far, he's enjoying it. Jane Eyre has long been a favorite of mine, but it has been a good twenty years since I last read it.  I cannot express in words how much I am enjoying re-reading it. I may have squealed a few times as I came upon favorite scenes and melted at the deliciousness of the writing and in my love for Jane's character.  Then there's Helen and Mrs. Fairfax and Grace Poole.  And, of course, Mr. Rochester.  Oh, how I love this book!  

As hard as it was to tear myself away from Jane and Mr. Rochester, I thought maybe it was best to slow down my reading and let my husband again take the lead. And so I read a novella by Rebecca Chastain called Magic of the Gargoyles, which I enjoyed and will be reviewing at some point. It is an urban fantasy tale about a young woman who is enlisted in saving baby gargoyles after they have been kidnapped for evil dark purposes.  Last year I had read the author's full length novel, A Fistful of Evil, and really enjoyed it.

I also have begun reading Elizabeth Haynes's latest crime fiction novel, Behind Closed Doors, the second in the DCI Louisa Smith series. I have only just started it, and so do not have much to say about it yet.

What are you reading right now? Is it anything you would recommend?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies at Broke and Bookish.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday theme is Top Ten Books On My Spring TBR List. I kept this list to books I am excited about and hoping to read this coming spring all things being ideal and perfect. What is the likelihood of that though?  One can hope.  Regardless, I predict a spring full of good books!

1. The Alphabet House by Jussi Adler-Olsen ~ Set during World War II, two British pilots find themselves behind enemy lines, pretending to be insane as their only hope for survival.

2. Diamond Head by Cecily Wong ~ Family saga that takes readers from China to Hawaii. Secrets, murder, sacrifice . . . I cannot resist.

3. The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy ~ I would read anything by this author. Two women's lives are interconnected despite their very different time periods, a modern tale of a woman who desperately wants a child and the story of a long ago mapmaker for the Underground Railroad. I love books that straddle both past and present.

4. Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran ~ Historical fiction set in India during the 1850's as the last Queen of India takes her people to battle against the British.

5. Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman ~ The sequel to Seraphina (which I also hope to read this spring). Dragons?!  I'm there!

6. The Shattered Court: A Novel of the Four Arts by M.J. Scott ~ a fantasy novel described by the publisher as "Entangled in a court ruled by tradition and intrigue, a young witch must come to terms with newfound power and desire—and a choice between loyalty and survival."

7. A Small Indiscretion by Jan Ellison ~ Annie Black's past comes back to haunt her, threatening her family and the happy life she has made for herself.

8. A Touch of Passion by Bronwen Evans ~ Kidnapped for an Arab Harem, her only hope is her brother's friend who has vowed to watch over and protect her.

9. Toured to Death by Hy Conrad ~ A mother/daughter team of travel agents have the perfect murder mystery excursion planned--only, they did not anticipate a real murder to trump their fictional one.

10. At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen ~ Set in the a Scottish Highland village during World War II.

Have you read any of these books?  If so, what did you think?  What books are on your to read list for this spring?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts 

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where  

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a 

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

Here is a snippet from the opening of my current read, Behind Closed Doors by Elizabeth Haynes:

To begin with, nothing was certain except her own terror.

Darkness, and stifling heat, so hot that breathing felt like effort, sweat pouring off her so her skin itself became liquid and she thought she would simply melt into a hot puddle of nothing. She tried crying out, screaming, but she could barely hear her own voice above the roar of the engine, the sound of the wheels moving at speed on tarmac. All that did was give her a sore throat. Nobody could hear her. 

A cold case is reopened when the young woman who had gone missing ten years ago reappears. It appears the girl's disappearance and sudden reappearance could be related to the recent assault and murder DCI Louisa Smith and her team are investigating.

Would you continue reading?

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© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

"As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today." ~ Opening of Before I Go to Sleep

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

Harper, 2011

Crime Fiction (Thriller); 359 pgs

From the Publisher:

As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I'm still a child, thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me...

Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love--all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story.  

Welcome to Christine's life.

If you have ever seen the romantic comedy 50 First Dates, you might be familiar with a similar type of amnesia Christine Lucas suffers from. Every day she wakes up, not really knowing where she is, surprised to find she's middle aged and has lost the memories of  the majority of her adult life.  With the help of a doctor, Dr. Nash, she begins keeping a journal, trying to piece together the life she cannot remember and perhaps try to build memories she can retain.  Is her husband, Ben, who she has no memory of at all, keeping secrets from her, telling her half truths or outright lying? What about Dr. Nash, who has asked her not to tell Ben about him, and wants to write a research paper about her, really in it to help her or just to use her?

This is one of those books that is difficult to talk about without risk of spoiling something. Unlike the movie, 50 First Dates, this is not a romantic comedy by any stretch, but rather a thriller.  There's a sense of foreboding that develops over the course of the book as the reader and Christine learn more about the memories Christine has lost.

As Christine begins keeping a journal, she has doubts of its truth in the beginning which I think was a nice touch by the author to create authenticity. And I liked the questions raised about whether Christine is actually beginning to remember or if she is creating memories because of what she's written in her journal. There is also the question of how much of the flashes of memory Christine does have are truly memories or confabulation, stories she invents or distorts to make up for her lost memory. It makes her an unreliable narrator in a sense.  But one you desperately want to believe.

It took me a little while to get into the rhythm of the novel as I began reading, but once I did, I was engrossed in the story, finding it difficult to put down.  S.J. Watson is good at building suspense as the pieces of the puzzle are collected and begin to fall into place.  While not completely surprising, the climax was nail-bitingly intense--and satisfying. I can see why so many sing the praises of this book. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Rating:  (Good +)

To learn more about S.J. Watson and his books, please visit the author's website.

Source: I bought an e-copy version of this book for my own reading pleasure.

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© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Mouse's Corner: Birthday Wishes

I overloaded everyone on Facebook with photos of Mouse's weekend birthday celebration, but will keep it to a minimum here.  It all began Friday with a party for her friends.  Like in years past, Mouse was able to have her party at school so that all her friends could be there. We rented a jumper, brought pizza and cupcakes and goody bags, played a game and did an arts and crafts project (making Lalaloopsy puppets). The children had a fun time, and Mouse enjoyed playing hostess. All on her own, she brought some of her candy from home to share with her friends, giving them out as prizes after everyone participated in the ring toss game. So much for the bubbles I had brought as prizes (although they got those too--just in their goody bags).

In preparation for Saturday's family party, Mouse and her dad made her birthday cake--a strawberry cake with white frosting and pink trim. She added buttons to the top to give it the final Lalaloopsy touch. It turned out very well and there were many oohs and ahs heard when the cake was finally revealed.  Before cake, however, came our usual Saturday activities. All the grandparents and one of her uncles joined Anjin and I on the sidelines for Mouse's soccer class, followed by play time at the park. When we got home, the girls (the two grandmas, Mouse and I) got out the craft supplies and made birthday decorations for the tree. We had so much fun! We spent some time outside trying out her new scooter, enjoying the breeze and warm weather. It made for a pleasant day.

  

On Sunday, we visited Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant for lunch. The wait staff are always entertaining, singing and joking with the customers. We stopped by Barnes and Noble on the way home, a nice way to end the celebration.

Mouse had the full attention of six adults the entire weekend, and she made sure to take full advantage of it.  Today is her actual birthday, and it was hard to go into work instead of being able to spend the day with her. She and her dad made a birthday cake just for her friends for today. Mouse is so proud to be sharing something she made with her friends. We will probably do something special tonight too--just a little something--to acknowledge the day with the family still in town. I still cannot believe my little girl is four now!

Four years old! She had a dentist appointment Thursday morning, at which time I was told they had time to see me as well (my appointment was scheduled for the following week). I hesitated, pointing out I had Mouse with me. The staff assured me that wouldn't be a problem. She could either sit with me and color or she could stay with the pediatric dental staff and watch cartoons. Mouse chose to stay with me. She colored a pony picture to give to her dentist and played quietly next to me while I was examined. She talked with my dentist and hygienist, impressing them with her good manners, patience, and thoughtfulness. With my mouth wide open, I couldn't say much or even smile--but you can bet I was feeling like the proud mama inside. 

I look at my daughter and I see a girl who is blossoming in front of me. Her curiosity knows no bounds. She loves to learn, takes everything in, observing and asking questions. She is a very hands on learner, as I imagine children her age often are. She is imaginative and thoughtful, dreamy and yet also very logical. She enjoys playing dress up and being a princess just as much as she loves building towers and playing with her trains. She likes to help out in the kitchen.  

She can be very silly one minute and very serious the next. Mouse can be shy around people she does not know, and yet she also isn't afraid to introduce herself to a new child at the park and ask them to play with her. Mouse is extremely affectionate, offering kisses and hugs, and freely will declare you her best friend and tell you she loves you if she deems you worthy. She likes to show off and perform for anyone willing to watch. Mouse is sweet and kind. She likes to share and believes in fairness. 

Mouse has a temper and will definitely let you know when she is upset or wants her way, but she is also easily comforted. Her anger rarely lasts long.  She is still mostly a mama's girl, but she does love her dad and enjoys their time together. Mouse continues to be a picky eater and can be very stubborn about not wanting to go to bed at bedtime.  

If you ask her what her favorite color is, she will tell you "every color of the rainbow!" Her favorite food is pasta (plain, hold the sauce). She's still quite attached to her thumb, but does not really have a favorite toy. She can watch the Lalaloopsy cartoons forever, but she's also quite fond of Handy Manny and Doc McStuffins. And we can't forget the Octonauts and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Don't ask her if she wants to watch a movie. She doesn't. She does not have a favorite book, although she likes to be read to. Mouse still likes to make up her own songs and can often be heard singing. She likes to sing with me, but will tell her dad she doesn't want him to sing along with her if he tries.

I do worry. I worry that she is too kind. Too sweet. I worry that she is too affectionate towards people outside the family. I worry that she is too innocent, that I protect her too much. And yet all of these are things I love about her too.  Anjin and I are not the perfect parents. Sometimes we are harder on her than perhaps we should be and other times we go too easy on her. We include her in just about everything and maybe expect more from her than what her four years deserve. Sometimes we don't expect enough. What I do know, and what I've said a hundred times before, is that Mouse is such a joy to be around. Her smile melts my heart and her hugs make any bad day seem like a good one. She makes me want to be a better person.

Happy Birthday, my little Mouse.  

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© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

From the Archives: Mini Reviews from 2006 of Linda Fairstein's Alexandra Cooper Series

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. The first half of 2006 seemed to be my time for series reading.  I read quite a few books by Linda Fairstein during that time.  Here are some of my reviews from 2006:

Likely to Die (Alexander Cooper, #2) by Linda Fairstein 

Pocket Books, 1997

Crime Fiction; 448 pgs

It has been years since I read the first book in the series, Final Jeopardy, and it was past time I picked up the second book. Although the details of the first book are fuzzy after all this time, I do remember that it took a while for the book to take off and that certainly was true for Likely to Die as well. The story moved along slowly up until about the midway point and then suddenly it took off from there. Alexandra Cooper, a sex crimes prosecutor in New York City, is called to the scene of a brutal murder where it appears the victim, a top neurosurgeon, has been raped and stabbed to death. Alex’s character at times comes across as being over confident. Although her vulnerabilities are alluded to, they don’t really come across in this novel (with the exception of her love life). Because of that, Alex hasn’t yet won a place in my heart as so many of my favorite protagonists are able to do. I’m not sure how I feel about Ms. Fairstein’s character, Detective Mike Chapman. He can be annoying in that his jokes and cockiness get tiring after awhile. Detective Mercer Wallace was perhaps my favorite of the trio; he seemed down to earth and an easy-to-like sort of man. I’ve always been fascinated by the workings of a crime investigation and that perhaps held my interest the most in this novel, Likely to Die. The author herself stood in the shoes of her main character and she definitely knows the ins and outs of the job. There is no doubt I will continue to read more of this series. At this point, I am hopeful the characters will grow on me and I am sure the stories themselves will continue to entertain me.

Cold Hit (Alexander Cooper, #3) by Linda Fairstein 

Pocket Books, 1999

Crime Fiction; 464 pgs

Assistant D.A. Alex Cooper is joined by her partners in crime fighting, Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace, in discovering who murdered and raped a wealthy art dealer. The plot thickens as the novel progresses, and Alex definitely has her work cut out for her as she begins to untangle the complex web of the crime. Ms. Fairstein continues to show off her knowledge and expertise as a true-life sex crimes prosecutor. The side stories she adds to her novel are just as interesting, and sometimes more so, than the main story. Compared to the first two books in the series, Cold Hit was more gripping, and I had no trouble being pulled into the story right away.

The Deadhouse (Alexander Cooper, #4) by Linda Fairstein 

Pocket Books, 2001 

Crime Fiction; 528 pgs 

 Prosecutor Alexandra Cooper tried to help Professor Lola Dakota get away from an abusive husband, however, Dr. Dakota’s plans didn’t match up with Alex’s. Suddenly, Dr. Dakota ends up dead at the bottom of an elevator shaft. Was it her abusive husband who had hired someone to kill her or perhaps someone who worked with her at the university? Alex is determined to find out along with the help of her long time friend Detective Mike Chapman. The Deadhouse was an interesting read in part because of the focus on Roosevelt Island and its history. Any mention of one of my favorite women in history, Nellie Bly, is sure to earn some points in my book. Linda Fairstein added more depth to her characters in this novel and I found myself liking them more. I enjoyed the story, finding it entertaining and suspenseful towards the end. 

The Bone Vault (Alexander Cooper, #5) by Linda Fairstein 

Pocket Star Books, 2003 

Crime Fiction, 528 pgs 

Linda Fairstein puts her characters in the middle of the murder investigation involving a young museum employee whose body turns up in an Egyptian sarcophagus. Readers are taken into the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural History as Prosecutor Alexandra Cooper, Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace unravel their latest case. The Bone Vault, the 5th book in the series, was by far the best of the series yet. I was captivated from the very first. I was reminded of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s novels set in the Museum of Natural History as I read this novel and that made the setting seem even more familiar. I was very interested in the history of the museums and their evolution into what they are today. The mystery itself was enjoyable, and I was glad to see that Ms. Fairstein stepped away from the pattern that had been established in many of her previous books by way of how the story unfolds. Maybe this time Alex will be able to actually prosecute one of these big cases instead of acting as a witness! 

In The Bone Vault, as a side story, Ms. Fairstein also took on the difficult subject of September 11, 2001. Many of the mystery series I read have dealt subtly with the events on 9/11, but Ms. Fairstein takes in head on, most likely because her series is set in the very city—and just down the street practically from where the Twin Towers once stood. She pulled no punches and it made for a better book. A side of the annoying jokester, Mike Chapman’s character was shown which endeared him to me just a tad more. I couldn’t get past that particular section of the book without my eyes tearing up. I had a hard time putting The Bone Vault down each time I picked it up. The series is well worth reading just to get to this book.

The Kills (Alexander Cooper, #6) by Linda Fairstein

Pocket Star, 2004
Crime Fiction; 463 pgs

I read an interview recently with Linda Fairstein where she talks about her fans wanting to know more about Mike Chapman on a personal level.  She mentioned that she took that to heart and readers see more of a personal side of him beginning in The Deadhouse.  I think that was the turning point for me and the characters, especially Mike’s character, and that continues to hold true through The Kills.

The Kills opens with prosecutor Alexandra Cooper in the courtroom, about to start the trial of a man accused of raping a woman.  The case is weak at best, and Alex has her hands full trying to keep her case from falling apart.  There are a lot of loose ends that just don't add up and when her key witness in the case is found murdered, Alex and her team of detectives, Wallace Mercer and Mike Chapman, are even more determined to unravel the mystery before them.  With a touch of intrigue, multi-jurisdictional involvement by the FBI, CIA, and the Secret Service, lawyers from all walks of life, coins, collectors, a mistress of a once powerful king, and shady dealings, The Kills is a fast-paced suspense novel that takes off running straight from the first page.  Linda Fairstein has definitely found her stride with the series and I am looking forward to reading the next installment.  

Entombed (Alexander Cooper, #7) by Linda Fairstein 
Pocket Star, 2005

Crime Fiction; 400 pgs

A skeleton is found entombed in the walls of a building where Edgar Allan Poe once lived; and the Silk Stocking Rapist seems to be back on the hunt.  It’s up to sex crimes prosecutor Alexandra Cooper and her two sidekicks, Homicide Detective Mike Chapman and Special Victims’ Detective Wallace Mercer, to get to the bottom of both mysteries before more victims pile up.  I enjoyed the way Ms. Fairstein interwove Edgar A. Poe’s life and literary works throughout the novel.  I learned a few tidbits about the famous man that I hadn’t known before.  Entombed was a fun read and at times emotionally charged due to events surrounding the characters personal lives.  I felt closer to them than I ever have before.  Ms. Fairstein continues to keep me entertained and engrossed in what has become one of my favorite series.

Death Dance (Alexander Cooper, #8) by Linda Fairstein
Pocket Books, 2006

Crime Fiction; 340 pgs

A famous ballerina disappears after her performance at the Met, opening doors that some would prefer remain closed as prosecutor Alexandra Cooper and detectives Chapman and Mercer begin their investigation.  Several people have a lot to lose as secrets are brought into the limelight namely in the name of greed and possibly fame.  As Alex and the NYPD try to uncover the truth behind the stage, Alex is also contending with the investigation of two Canadian women who are drugged and raped by a man they thought they could trust and a rapist in Riverside Park whose identity is discovered through questionable means.  She has her hands full in Death Dance.  The author takes readers behind the scenes of the theater world in New York, including glimpses into its history.  I enjoyed Ms. Fairstein’s latest Alex Cooper novel but not quite as much as I’ve enjoyed the last three.  I wasn’t drawn into the theater-related thread as much as I would have liked.  I was more eager to learn what was going on with the two side stories that the author had running.  Unfortunately, they didn’t get nearly enough word space.

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© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: Shady Cross by James Hankins

"You just got out of jail? Seriously?" ~ Opening of Shady Cross

Shady Cross by James Hankins

Thomas & Mercer, 2015

Crime Fiction (Thriller); 298 pgs

From the Publisher:

In one hand, small-time crook Stokes holds a backpack stuffed with someone else's money -- three hundred and fifty thousand dollars of it.

In the other hand, Stokes has a cell phone, which he found with the cash. On the line, a little girl he doesn't know asks, "Daddy? Are you coming to get me? They say if you give them the money they'll let you take me home."

From bestselling author James Hankins comes a wrenching story of an unscrupulous man torn between his survival instincts and the plight of a true innocent. Faced with the choice, Stokes discovers his conscience might not be as corroded as he thought.

The description is what initially drew me to this novel, which is kind of ironic given I generally avoid child abduction stories.  Just goes to show, I suppose, that there are exceptions to every rule. Shady Cross once began as a idyllic place, beautiful and a haven for those who lived there. As time passed, it became less so, "shady" no longer meaning what it once did.  

I knew going in that Stokes is not what I would call a nice man.  He doesn't like to get attached and he gave up on earning an honest living long ago.  When he comes across a bag of money, he is serious about running with it even despite the debt he owes one of the two Shady Cross loan sharks and even despite the girl whose only hope of rescue is no longer available. 

The kidnappers are serious though. They want their money and the evidence the girl's father has taken from them. For every misstep made, the girl will come to harm.  It doesn't take long for Stokes to figure out just how true that is--and it's finally what proves there might be a heart beating inside his chest after all. 

I enjoy a good anti-hero now and then, and Stokes certainly fits that bill. I will not pretend I liked Stokes by the end of the book, not exactly, although I didn't hate him either. I wanted him to come out on top.  Stokes isn't the easiest to like--but I appreciated how honest he was about the kind of person he is. And I came to have some respect for him, for the efforts he went through to help that little girl. He may not have been the best of men, but he wasn't the worst of them either. He really did want to do the right thing in the end. 

One aspect of the book I liked in addition seeing Stokes grow as a character, was the juxtaposition of his situation and what he was trying to do with those he went to for help.  Just because someone is an upstanding citizen on the outside, doesn't mean that person actually is underneath. For all that Stokes was a shady character, those who were supposed to be better than him were sometimes worse.

There is much in the way of twists and turns in this book, many of which are unexpected. I had a couple different theories about how it would all turn out as I read, some of which was correct  and others came as a surprise.  Shady Cross definitely earns its thriller label. There was only one scene in the novel that made me queasy, in which I wondered if I could read on, but my desire to see good prevail over evil was strong. I am glad I stuck to it.

Shady Cross by James Hankins is gritty and suspenseful.  I enjoyed it quite a bit.  Stokes is racing against the clock, and Hankins does a good job of keeping up the intensity of events as they unfold. It was a hard book to tear my eyes away from, I just had to know how it would all turn out.


Rating:  (Good +)

To learn more about James Hankins, and his books, you can find the author on Facebook, GoodReads, Twitter, and on his website.

I hope you will check out what others had to say about Shady Cross on the TLC Book Tours route!

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. The publisher provided me with an e-copy of the book via NetGalley for review.

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© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.