To Read, or Not To Read

Title: Santorini Sunsets Author: Anita Hughes Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin Published: August 2, 2016 Paperback, 291 pages ISBN: 978125009124 Genre: Contemporary, Romance Source: Publisher
Summary
The seventh intoxicating love story by Anita Hughes, set in beautiful Santorini, Greece. When a Hollywood superstar and a NYC society girl fall in love, sparks fly and secrets are revealed.

Brigit Palmer is thrilled to be on the Greek Island of Santorini. She's here for her wedding to Hollywood heart-throb Blake Crawford, one of America's most eligible bachelors. Brigit's parents have rented a villa, and soon guests will arrive from all over the world for the intimate ceremony.

Brigit is a New York socialite, and she's just given up her position at a Manhattan law firm to run her father's philanthropic foundation. Things are finally falling into place. Love, career, family. Everything is going so well...until she steps into the garden and sees her ex-husband Nathanie…

What I'm Currently Reading


What I Finished

I didn't finish any books last week.

Reviews I Posted
Bravo and Elphie

The Dollhouse
What I'm Watching
I binged watched this over this weekend. It was so good. This genre is usually not my cup of tea, but I'm glad I watched it. Now I have to patiently wait for season 2. Boo.

Reading Challenge Update Nothing to see here.
New Books I had an unusually good week for new books. 


Have a great week! 

Title: Peregrine Island Author: Diane B. Saxton Publisher: She Writes Press Published: August 2, 2016 Paperback, 288 pages ISBN: 9781631521515 Genre: Contemporary Fiction Source: Publisher

Summary
The Peregrine family’s lives are turned upside down one summer when so-called “art experts” appear on the doorstep of their Connecticut island home to appraise a favorite heirloom painting. When incriminating papers, as well as other paintings, are discovered behind the artwork in question, the appraisal turns into a full-fledged investigation. Antagonism mounts between grandmother, mother, and child, who begin to suspect one another, as well as the shady newcomers in their midst, of foul play.

As the summer progresses and the Peregrines discover facts about their past in the course of the investigation, they learn that people―including them―are not always who they appear to be. But when they uncover the painting’s deepest secret, it gives them the gift of love that they have unconsciously …

Title: Bravo and Elphie Author: Hagit R. Oron  and Or Oron Publisher: Oron Published: July 24, 2016 Ebook, 18 pages ASIN: B01I24M2J2 Genre: Children's Fiction/ Picture Book Source: Author

Summary
Bravo, Elphie’s new pet, is stuck on top of the red slide.
Elphie never climbs the red slide. It's so high, its goes up all the way into the sky.
But now he needs to embrace himself and gather up his courage to rescue Bravo.
Good thing he never leaves the house without his cape!

My Thoughts
I first met Elphie in March earlier this year. The first book in the series, Elphie And Dad Go On An Epic Adventure, Elphie was able to make a mundane, everyday task into an epic adventure. Elphie continues his adventures in this latest book, Bravo and Elphie. 
In this book, Elphie has to try new things, like taking care of his new pet, Bravo, and climbing a tall, red slide. But Elphie is up to the task. After all, he does where a cape. 
Children will love to go on this new adventure with Elphie an…

What I'm Currently Reading

The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman
Brooklyn, 1947: in the midst of a blizzard, in a two-family brownstone, two babies are born minutes apart to two women. They are sisters by marriage with an impenetrable bond forged before and during that dramatic night; but as the years progress, small cracks start to appear and their once deep friendship begins to unravel. No one knows why, and no one can stop it. One misguided choice; one moment of tragedy. Heartbreak wars with happiness and almost but not quite wins.

From debut novelist Lynda Cohen Loigman comes The Two-Family House, a moving family saga filled with heart, emotion, longing, love, and mystery.

What I Finished
I posted my review for The Dollhouse yesterday. Click here to read it.


Mr. Darcy's Pride and Joy is the third book in The Darcy Novels by Monica Fairview.

What I'm Watching Last week was the last week of the Olympics in Rio. I really enjoyed watching it. I can hardly wait to watch …

Title: The Dollhouse Author: Fiona Davis Publisher: Dutton Published: August 23, 2016 Paperback, ARC, 292 pages ISBN: 978110198499 Genre: Contemporary/Historical Fiction Source: Publisher 

Summary"The Dollhouse. . . . That's what we boys like to call it. . . . The Barbizon Hotel for Women, packed to the rafters with pretty little dolls. Just like you."

Fiona Davis's stunning debut novel pulls readers into the lush world of New York City's glamorous Barbizon Hotel for Women, where a generation of aspiring models, secretaries, and editors lived side-by-side while attempting to claw their way to fairy-tale success in the 1950s, and where a present-day journalist becomes consumed with uncovering a dark secret buried deep within the Barbizon's glitzy past.

When she arrives at the famed Barbizon Hotel in 1952, secretarial school enrollment in hand, Darby McLaughlin is everything her modeling agency hall mates aren't: plain, self-conscious, homesick, and utterly …

Madame Presidentess by Nicole Evelina Publication Date: July 25, 2016 Lawson Gartner Publishing eBook & Paperback; 400 Pages Genre: Historical Fiction





*Winner: U.S. Women’s History category – 2015 Chaucer Awards for Historical Fiction

Forty-eight years before women were granted the right to vote, one woman dared to run for President of the United States, yet her name has been virtually written out of the history books.

Rising from the shame of an abusive childhood, Victoria Woodhull, the daughter of a con-man and a religious zealot, vows to follow her destiny, one the spirits say will lead her out of poverty to “become ruler of her people.”

But the road to glory is far from easy. A nightmarish marriage teaches Victoria that women are stronger and deserve far more credit than society gives. Eschewing the conventions of her day, she strikes out on her own to improve herself and the lot of American women.

Over the next several years, she sets into motion plans that shatter the old bo…

Title: Rarity From the Hollow Author: Robert Eggleton Publisher: Dog Horn Publishing Published: March 16, 2012 Ebook Genre: Science Fiction Source: Author


About the BookLacy Dawn's father relives the Gulf War, her mother's teeth are rotting out, and her best friend is murdered by the meanest daddy on Earth. Life in The Hollow isn't great. But Lacy has one advantage -- she's been befriended by a semi-organic, semi-robot who works with her to cure her parents. He wants something in exchange, though. It's up to her to save the Universe.

Will Lacy Dawn's predisposition, education, and magic be enough for her to save the Universe, Earth, and, most importantly, protect her own family?

Rarity from the Hollow is adult literary science fiction filled with tragedy, comedy and satire. It is a children's story for adults, not for the prudish, faint of heart, or easily offended.
My ThoughtsRarity From the Hollow by Robert Eggleton was an interesting yet sometimes hard to stom…

Currently Reading
I just started this debut novel by Fiona Davis. So far, so good.

What? Shut up. Yes, I'm still listening to Britt-Marie
What I Finished Reading



What I'm Watching

I have been watching the Olympics pretty much non-stop when I have the chance. Of course I have to sleep and work and stuff, but when I'm not doing that, I'm watching.
Reading Challenge Update
The Selected Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder will go towards my Nonfiction Challenge!

New Books


That's it for last week. How was your week?

Title: Hitched (Imperfect Love Volume 1) Author: Kendall Ryan Publisher: Everafter Romance Published: July 5, 2016 Paperback, 255 pages ISBN: 9781533384223 Genre: Romance Source: Publisher

SummaryMarry the girl I’ve had a crush on my whole life? Check.

Inherit a hundred-billion-dollar company? Check.

Produce an heir… Wait, what?

I have ninety days to knock up my brand-new fake wife. There’s only one problem—she hates my guts.

And in the fine print of the contract? The requirement that we produce an heir.

She can’t stand to be in the same room with me. Says she’ll never be in my bed.

But I’ve never backed down from a challenge and I’m not about to start now.

Mark my words—I’ll have her begging for me, and it won’t take ninety days.

On the heels of her smash hit and New York Times bestselling SCREWED series, Kendall Ryan brings you HITCHED, a romantic comedy that delivers heart and heat. A NYC playboy turned business mogul has ninety days to win over the woman he's always desired in order to save…

Title: The Selected Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder Author: William Anderson Published: March 8, 2016 Published by: Harper Hardcover, 432 pages ISBN: 9780062419682 Genre: Nonfiction Source: Publisher
About the BookAvailable for the first time and collected in one volume, the letters of one of America’s most beloved authors, Laura Ingalls Wilder—a treasure trove that offers new and unexpected understanding of her life and work.

The Selected Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder is a vibrant, deeply personal portrait of this revered American author, illuminating her thoughts, travels, philosophies, writing career, and dealings with family, friends, and fans as never before.

This is a fresh look at the adult life of the author in her own words. Gathered from museums and archives and personal collections, the letters span over sixty years of Wilder’s life, from 1894–1956 and shed new light on Wilder’s day-to-day life. Here we see her as a businesswoman and author—including her beloved Little Hou…

Hi there. We have a feature on To Read, or Not To Read. It's called New Books on the Block. It's a feature where we highlight new and new-ish books that come out every month. It doesn't matter if it's self-published, indie, or traditional. So if you have a book that fits this category, and you'd like it to appear on this feature, then fill out the form below. We post this the first Friday of every month. September's NBOTB will post on September 2. Click here for a direct link to the form.






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What I'm Currently Reading

I made little progress with Britt-Marie this week. I was able to listen to only two chapters. I am still enjoying it, though.

I started reading this book for the #DashnerDash Binge Read. Unfortunately, I was unable to finish this book due to life getting in the way of my reading time. I hope to finish it this week.
I've read and reviewed the fourth book in this series, A Little Knowledge. I'm really enjoying this series. I've since bought books two and three. 

What I Finished Reading







What I'm Watching

I'm not much of a fan of sports, but I love the Olympics! I really should have cleared my schedule for the next two weeks because all I want to do is watch. I love swimming, track, and gymnastics. Go Team USA!

Reading Challenge Update
Not much progress here.
New Books

Received a box full of goodies from @BookSparks to celebrate Hitched by Kendall Ryan. I'll be reading Hitched this week and reviewing it next week. Stay tuned! I
What ar…