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February 19, 2015

Books on Books on Books

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The #1 New York Times-bestselling author presents a riveting novel where a canine search and rescue volunteer fights danger and finds love in the Pacific Northwest wilderness. 

To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life-a quaint house on an island off Seattle's coast, a thriving dog-training school, and a challenging volunteer job performing canine search and rescues. Not to mention her three intensely loyal Labs. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare... Several years ago, Fiona was the only survivor of the Red Scarf serial killer, who shot and killed Fiona's cop fiancĂ© and his K-9 partner. On Orcas Island, Fiona found the peace and solitude she needed to rebuild her life. But all that changes on the day Simon Doyle barrels up her drive, desperate for her help. 

He's the reluctant owner of an out-of-control puppy, foisted upon him by his mother. Jaws has eaten through Simon's house, and he's at his wit's end. To Fiona, Jaws is nothing she can't handle. Simon, however, is another matter. A newcomer to Orcas, he's a rugged and in-tensely private artist, known for the exquisite furniture he creates from wood. Simon never wanted a puppy-and he most definitely doesn't want a woman. Besides, the lanky redhead is not his type. But tell that to his hormones. 

As Fiona embarks on training Jaws, and Simon begins to appreciate both dog and trainer, the past tears back into Fiona's life. A copycat killer has emerged out of the shadows, a man whose bloodlust has been channeled by a master with one motive: to reclaim the woman who slipped out of his hands.  [picture and summary via good reads] 

This book was a great read. I loved pretty much everything about it. Roberts created two amazing characters and brings them together in a unique manner. What I love about this romance is how real it felt. Quite often the Nora Roberts characters seem so fake even if the story is fun. These two people for once felt like they could be people I knew, just two people with their own drama. Part of me now wants to be a dog search and rescue person because Fiona makes it sound so fulfilling. I admit, the climax of the book was a lil anticlimactic but overall this was a fabulous book in my opinion. Lil word of warning, this has more swear words than any of the other Nora Roberts books I've read, so be prepared. 

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For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined [picture and summary via good reads].
 

I loved this series. Cass did an amazing job writing this fantasy world and the whole Selection process was incredibly fun to read about. I loved the heroine, America, from the beginning and immediately felt the chemistry between her and Prince Maxon. It was pretty interesting, too, how the author set this in the future where the USA and other continental powers are no more. Overall the series was four out of five stars for me, the middle book was the slowest in my opinion. If you want a fluffy, fun and youthful book, I highly suggest you read this series. 

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At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State — and she would do it alone.

Told with suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her [summary and picture via good reads]

I had no idea about the movie hype when I grabbed this book randomly from the library. It looked interesting and I've always been intrigued by hiking. Le Husband and I hike a lot and while this journey is NOTHING I'd want to try, I thought it would be interesting read about. Wild is a good story, but I often got annoyed with the personal struggle of Cheryl. Maybe it's because she and I are polar opposites in our childhood or maybe it's because she sometimes acted so stupid I stopped ready, but I just found myself unable to relate to her and her profound journey. I am glad I read the book, though. The information about PCT was incredibly interesting.

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"The President knows it's a perilous, high-risk assignment. If he gives the order, he has the opportunity to take down a global menace, once and for all. If the mission fails, he would face certain impeachment, and the threats against the nation would multiply. So the president turns to the one team that can pull off the impossible: Will Robie and his partner, Jessica Reel.

Together, Robie and Reel's talents as assassins are unmatched. But there are some in power who don't trust the pair. They doubt their willingness to follow orders. And they will do anything to see that the two assassins succeed, but that they do not survive.

As they prepare for their mission, Reel faces a personal crisis that could well lead old enemies right to her doorstep, resurrecting the ghosts of her earlier life and bringing stark danger to all those close to her. And all the while, Robie and Reel are stalked by a new adversary: an unknown and unlikely assassin, a woman who has trained her entire life to kill, and who has her own list of targets--a list that includes Will Robie and Jessica Reel" [picture and summary via good reads]

Baldacci is one of my favorite authors and he 100% delivered with this book. It's part of a short series, but I've only read one of the three. However, that didn't make a difference into how awesome this story played out. I'm a huge fan of the hero, Robie, and think Reel is a great colleague for him, too. The story jumps with speed and there are lightning fast twists and turns, some I saw coming and some that completely blind sided me. It provided an interesting [albeit fiction] looking into the government and the way things can go south quickly. I particularly devoured the North Korea connection because it brought up a world we know so little about. If you like action packed adventures, you'll love this book.

What are some of the books you're reading now? I need to fill up my kindle for a trip in the near future.

Linking up with *kristin* and *annie*

24 comments:

  1. I want to read that series - totally up my alley and the target sounds like it will make a great movie LOL! xo, Biana - BlovedBoston

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  2. Girl, you've been busy! Perfect timing on this because basketball is {almost} over so I want to get back into reading!

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  3. love the dresses on the book covers. wish they were real if they aren't! hehe. i read wild too. i think it would have been totally different if she did it now as opposed to the 90s. i don't wanna do it, ever.

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  4. I haven't read nearly as many books as I had planned on reading lately. I need to get on that!

    <3, Pamela
    Sequins & Sea Breezes

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  5. Oo that series sounds interesting! Will have to check it out!

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  6. Ah! I need new reads so badly! Maybe the thriller one fo sho!

    Hope you're doing well lady! (and staying warm!) xo

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  7. I love all things Nora Roberts (except the straight up Romance books) so I loved the Search! Even though most of her books follow a similar plot line, I still get sucked in every time!

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  8. Love the Roby series. I love all things Baldacci

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  9. my best friend LOVES nora roberts books! that one sounds good :) xo jillian - cornflake dreams

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  10. I read the Selection series too and loved that it was a fast and easy read. I have Wild on my list to read but I just can't seem to pick it up. I've heard such mixed reviews.

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  11. I love Nora Roberts havent read her in a while so I need to add this one to my list!

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  12. I really enjoyed the selection series, definitely light and fluffy. can't wait for the next one.
    i keep going back and forth on wild - it's like 50/50 with people loving it or finding her annoying. guess i'll have to see for myself!

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  13. I want to read Wild, but I keep hearing the same type of review--that it was a slightly annoying read.

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  14. OMG! I LOVED The Search by Nora Roberts. Honestly, I have reread it a few times. I loved the aspect of the dogs and how she and Simon are both reluctant about falling in love.

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  15. OMG! I LOVED The Search by Nora Roberts. Honestly, I have reread it a few times. I loved the aspect of the dogs and how she and Simon are both reluctant about falling in love.

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  16. I love a good book review and I haven't read any of these! Going to add The Target to my list!

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  17. You have read a lot more books than I have. I'm still trying to finish Steve Jobs biography. Instead of reading that on my one day off this week, I ended up reading blogs. That's a good use of time too. :) If you'd like to say hi, please email me at estherdavison@gmail.com. My blogger account is "no-reply" :(. Esther Norine Designs

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  18. I am struggling with reading lately, I want to but just can't seem to find the time.

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  19. I absolutely LOVED the selection series!! It was definitely a bachelor meets hunger game type set up and I loooooved it!

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  20. I agree completely with your assessment regarding Wild. I'm glad I read it. The hiking story was fascinating, but I just didn't relate to Cheryl. She wasn't anyone I was cheering for. I'm flawed and have made a lot of mistakes, even some similar to hers...I don't know...I just didn't like her. Maybe I'm mean.

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  21. Oh my gosh! I NEED a new series to get into and Selection sounds perfect for me! I can't wait to order them! Thanks for sharing this, girl! I seriously can't even tell you how excited I am to finally have a light, fun series to get into again! Thats the kind of thing I need so that I can tear myself away to be a mom, instead of hiding in my closet trying to get through a book that I can't put down, or that's too intense, ha!

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  22. I just got back from Florida this weekend and your pictures are already making me want to go back!

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  23. I've been wondering if I'd be able to relate to the Wild movie/book. I love Reese Witherspoon and hiking is fun, but I'm definitely not jumping at the chance to see it. I'm pretty sure I'd feel the same as you!

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