Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is hosted by
She Reads and reads (October Host)
This is when we share what books
arrived in our mailbox over the week!

I bought these books and received them:

I received Dark Side from my friend Staci! Thanks so much Staci! Can't wait to read it!

Received these two ARCS from Shelf Awareness!

No Girl Needs a Husband Seven Days a Week by Nina Foxx

No Girl Needs a Husband Seven Days a Week

by Nina Foxx

A husband can be good for a number of things:

• Companionship (when he's home)
• Household repairs (if he's handy)
• Good loving (if you're lucky), but . . . no girl needs a husband seven days a week!

Marie needs her "stay-at-home husband" to clean the house and babysit the kids, so she can take care of business coast-to-coast . . . and enjoy some harmless flirting on the side.

Mai's perfectly content to be the perfect wife to a successful corporate superstar—throwing lavish parties and organizing gala charity fundraisers. But it's funny how quickly everything can change with just a single phone call . . . from prison!

And high-powered ad exec Kennedy believes the best husband is no husband at all. Hot encounters with a succession of studs keep her going strong as she climbs to the top of her profession.

A spouse is fine as long as he doesn't screw up the rest of your life. Now three lovely ladies who think they have this "husband" thing all worked out are about to learn that, when it comes to love and marriage, "perfection" can always be improved upon. And it's going to be one wild ride!

Paperback, 320 pages

Published December 1st 2007 by Avon A

My thoughts:
I came across this book on Goodreads. This is the first book i've read by Nina Foxx and I loved it! I want to read more of her books. There isn't anything about this book that I didn't like or think could have been done different. This book was a quick read and very entertaining.

Kennedy is the kind of woman that goes from man to man and doesn't want to settle for just one man. She meets Troy, and he just won't give up. Here is a quote about Kennedy (p3):

"It had been way to long, so long, in fact, that Kennedy was sure that if the wind blew hard enough, dust would fly from underneath her skirt, and she was ready for some spring cleaning."

Marie travels a lot for work and she flirts with men, but doesn't go any farther than flirting. Her husband is the landlord of apartments and a stay at home dad. One of the tenants in the apartments is really trying to get him to notice her. He has ideas of what his wife does on her business trips, but does he stay faithful?

Mai and her husband seem to have a perfect life together, but then she gets a call that he needs to be bailed out of prison. He is afraid to tell her what is really going on. Their daughter Lishelle is also having problems at school. Mai has a little problem herself that nobody really knows about. I thought for sure Lishelle and her dad would notice each other at the truck stop! Here is a quote from Lishelle (p181)

"One thing she's learned from her parents. The difference between being upstanding citizens, rather than a junkie and a womanizer, was that the upstanding citizens kept all their shit undercover. Likewise, the difference between a good girl and a bad girl was that the good girl didn't get caught."

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars!

Review of Casanegra by Blair Underwood with Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes

Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Story
by Blair Underwood, Steven Barnes, Tananarive Due

From Goodreads:
In this hot and steamy mystery, Tennyson is an actor struggling to hang on to his career and redeem his sex-for-pay history that estranged him from his family---especially his father, a decorated LAPD captain who raised Tennyson to call him "sir." Now, in the wake of his father's sudden stroke, Tennyson has to save himself from taking the fall for a murder. In th ...more In this hot and steamy mystery, Tennyson is an actor struggling to hang on to his career and redeem his sex-for-pay history that estranged him from his family---especially his father, a decorated LAPD captain who raised Tennyson to call him "sir." Now, in the wake of his father's sudden stroke, Tennyson has to save himself from taking the fall for a murder. In the process he discovers his hidden talents---the hard way.
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published June 19th 2007 by Atria (first published 2007)

My thoughts:

AWESOME BOOK!

Tennyson Hardwick used to be in the sex for pay business, but is not in that anymore. He hooked up with a rapper named Serena who he knew from his past. He was really looking forward to spending more time with her, then she is murdered and he is a suspect. That happens right in the beginning of the book. He is determined to find out who did this.

I could really imagine this book being made into a movie. I see Tennyson as a very hot and sexy man. This book has some steamy sex scenes! The characters really came alive for me and I really got immersed in this book. I really liked Tennyson, but really his character got me when it came to 14 year old Chela. Not everyone would have done what he did for her and it really showed how much of a caring man he is.

I am really glad I read this book. It was very action packed and really held my interest. I definitely want to read the next book!

5 out of 5 stars!!!

Review of Think of a Number by John Verdon and GIVEAWAY

Think of a Number by John Verdon
When Dave Gurney, retired NYPD homicide detective, is contacted by an old college acquaintance about some startling letters he's been receiving, it is at first little more than a diverting but sinister puzzle. Until the acquaintance is brutally killed. Suddenly Gurney finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation that makes no sense.
Paperback, 512 pages
Published August 5th 2010 by Penguin (first published 2010)

My thoughts:
Well, I got up to page 165 or somewhere around there. This book just didn't hold my interest. I tried reading it and read some other books in between. I decided that I really didn't care what happened, and I kind of flipped around and didn't want to waste my time any further with this book when I have so many other good books that I want to read.

1 star

GIVEAWAY!

If anyone would like to read this book, let me know. I am willing to give it away. It does have some good reviews from other people, so who knows, you may like it. The book I have looks different than the picture because it's an advance reader copy that I got from Shelf Awareness.

Review of Fight Fair by Tim Downs

Fight Fair by Tim Downs
From Goodreads:

When couples fight, tempers flare, tongues loosen, and behavior occurs that can cause major damage to the relationship. Tim and Joy Downs have written Fight Fair! to teach couples how to have healthy disagreements. It is a 'rulebook' for married couples to ensure that their conflict is God-honoring and respectful of their partner. Readers will find this book full of helpful, very practical tips they can immediately apply to ensure that future conflicts don't create permanent scars.
Paperback, 192 pages
Published July 1st 2010 by Moody Publishers (first published August 1st 2003)

My Thoughts:

I read this book over the course of several weeks and it did have some valuable information in it. There were a lot of bible references and it seemed a little preachy, but it makes you stop and think about conflicts and how to overcome them. It did make references to marriage being like a game and penalties and fouls and referees. It also had several pages at the end where spouses can go over and write down items that were talked about in the book that pertain to their marriage and how they ...more I read this book over the course of several weeks and it did have some valuable information in it. There were a lot of bible references and it seemed a little preachy, but it makes you stop and think about conflicts and how to overcome them. It did make references to marriage being like a game and penalties and fouls and referees. It also had several pages at the end where spouses can go over and write down items that were talked about in the book that pertain to their marriage and how they can resolve issues. Conflict is ongoing, but we have to learn how to cope with it and resolve our issues.

Here is a good quote from the book (p.118):
"You don't marry one person; you marry three: the person you think they are, the person they are, and the person they are going to become as the result of being married to you." Richard Needham

I received this book from Net Galley

Library Loot - Sept. 25

Here are the latest books that I got from the library. I got a few more than this, but I got it down to what I think I will actually want to read:
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The first two books are by author Richard L. Baldwin. He will be at our local library on October 7 for book signings, so I want to read some of his books before then and go to the book signing!

from the library's facebook page:
Aitkin Memorial District Library Get in the mood for Halloween on Thurs, Oct 7 at 6:30 pm as author Richard Baldwin comes to the Library to speak and sign books. Baldwin is the author of several murder mysteries set in Michigan. His latest book, “Murder in Tip-Up Town” is set in the Houghton Lake area. Other books include “Buried Secrets of Bois Bl...anc: Murder in the Straights of Mackinac,” “Murder at the Ingham County Fair,” and many more.

Murder at the Ingham County Fair by Richard Baldwin
Judge Winston Breckinridge, a Republican candidate for a seat in the Michigan Legislature, is murdered at the Ingham County Fair while manning his party's booth. It seems the judge was not well-liked by many, but who would go to such extremes? Once again, mystery writer Richard Baldwin gives readers what they crave...a good plot, interesting characters, some excitement, an ...more Judge Winston Breckinridge, a Republican candidate for a seat in the Michigan Legislature, is murdered at the Ingham County Fair while manning his party's booth. It seems the judge was not well-liked by many, but who would go to such extremes? Once again, mystery writer Richard Baldwin gives readers what they crave...a good plot, interesting characters, some excitement, and, when all is said and done, justice. (less)
Paperback, 220 pages
Published 2009 by Buttonwood Press

A Final Crossing: Murder on the S.S. Badger (Louis Searing and Margaret McMillan Mysteries) by Richard L. Baldwin
Paperback, 233 pages
Published June 15th 2004 by Buttonwood Press (IL) (first published June 2004)

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I am not sure how I found this book, but I never knew 50 Cent was a writer, so I had to check it out!

Blow by 50 Cent, K'wan
Prince, Killa-E, Daddy-O, and Danny grew up together in the projects, moving crack and cocaine, and answering to Diego, the neighborhood drug lord. They were small-timers playing for low stakes- until Prince is introduced to a heroin connect. Overnight they go from soldiers to bosses, and their crew is held together by loyalty and love. But taking the reins of power comes ...more Prince, Killa-E, Daddy-O, and Danny grew up together in the projects, moving crack and cocaine, and answering to Diego, the neighborhood drug lord. They were small-timers playing for low stakes- until Prince is introduced to a heroin connect. Overnight they go from soldiers to bosses, and their crew is held together by loyalty and love. But taking the reins of power comes at a high price. Now, with Diego at their back and a traitor in their midst, they find themselves between a kilo and a hard place, ready to spill blood to stay on top.

======================================

I liked the last story I read by LaJill Hunt, so I had to check this one out too!

Drama Queen by La Jill Hunt
Kayla Hopkins is young, beautiful and can't win for losing. That's why everyone calls her the Drama Queen. She doesn't go looking for drama, it just happens to her. Take for instance, her love life. Kayla's not satisfied with just one man. She has two-one she's in love with and another whom she's pregnant by. A ready-made formula for disaster, but will Kayla see it before ...more Kayla Hopkins is young, beautiful and can't win for losing. That's why everyone calls her the Drama Queen. She doesn't go looking for drama, it just happens to her. Take for instance, her love life. Kayla's not satisfied with just one man. She has two-one she's in love with and another whom she's pregnant by. A ready-made formula for disaster, but will Kayla see it before everything blows up in her face? Her track records says no, but her friends and family can only hope. Drama Queen is a hilariously funny and fast-paced novel that offers king-size drama and entertainment. Urban Books, a new line of books focusing on the drama and grit of inner-city life, featuring edgy, and exciting new voices-writers who tell it like it is. (less)
Paperback, 300 pages
Published October 1st 2007 by Urban Books (first published 2003)

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I read the first book in this series, so I had to keep going on with it!

Die Trying (Jack Reacher #2) by Lee Child
Television writer Lee Child's otherwise riveting first thriller, Killing Floor, was criticized by some reviewers because of an unconvincing coincidence at its center. Child addresses that problem in his second book--and thumbs his nose at those reviewers--by having his hero, ex-military policeman Jack Reacher, just happen to be walking by a Chicago dry cleaner when an at ...more Television writer Lee Child's otherwise riveting first thriller, Killing Floor, was criticized by some reviewers because of an unconvincing coincidence at its center. Child addresses that problem in his second book--and thumbs his nose at those reviewers--by having his hero, ex-military policeman Jack Reacher, just happen to be walking by a Chicago dry cleaner when an attractive young FBI agent named Holly Johnson comes out carrying nine expensive outfits and a crutch to support her soccer-injured knee. As Holly stumbles, Reacher grabs her and her garments--which gets him kidnapped along with her by a trio of very determined badguys. "He had no problem with how he had gotten grabbed up in the first place," Child writes. "Just a freak of chance had put him alongside Holly Johnson at the exact time the snatch was going down. He was comfortable with that. He understood freak chances. Life was built out of freak chances, however much people would like to pretend otherwise." Lucky for Holly--whose father just happens to be an Army general and current head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, thus making her a tempting target for a bunch of Montana-based extremists--Reacher still has all the skills and strengths associated with his former occupation. And Child still knows how to write scenes of violent action better than virtually anyone else around. --Dick Adler
Hardcover, 374 pages
Published July 20th 1998 by Putnam Adult (first published 1998)

Review of Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Deadly Little Secret (Touch #1)

by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Hardcover, 252 pages
Published December 16th 2008 by Hyperion

From Goodreads:
Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. She's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help--but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret.

From the best-selling author of Blue is for Nightmares comes a story of paranormal romance that's sure to be a thrilling and chilling teen favorite.

My thoughts:
I read this with a Pen Pal on Goodreads and we both pretty much had the same thoughts about this book.

The first half of this book reminded me a lot of Twilight, but not near as good as Twilight.

Ben says that Camelia is in danger and everyone thinks that Ben is a danger to her, but he says there is something else. He wants to help her.

This book was a quick book to read. At first I thought it was okay, but when I stop back and think about the book, I kind of draw a blank since it was a few days ago that I read it. So it's a pretty forgettable book.

2 stars out of 5

Review of Around the Way Girls by Dwayne S. Joseph, Angel M. Hunter and La Jill Hunt

Around The Way Girls

by La Jill Hunt, Angel M. Hunter, Dwayne S. Joseph

From Goodreads:
There's a saying in Brooklyn that if you come from my part of town that you're from around the way. Around the Way Girls is a fast paced look at the life of some street smart women who think they know it al,l but are about to get the lessons of their lives.
Paperback, 350 pages
Published March 1st 2007 by Urban Books (first published 2004)

My thoughts:
The first story was by Angel M. Hunter called Busted and Disguster. It is about a stripper named Cream White. She wanted to get out of stripping and came up with a scam to try and get out.

The second story is Southern Comfort by LaJill Hunt. Sydni wanted to get out of Brooklyn and go off on her own, but she needed the money to do it. She had a white guy friend named Byron. He wanted to be more than friends with her. There was also a guy named Darrius who she could not stand. Her ...more The first story was by Angel M. Hunter called Busted and Disguster. It is about a stripper named Cream White. She wanted to get out of stripping and came up with a scam to try and get out.

The second story is Southern Comfort by LaJill Hunt. Sydni wanted to get out of Brooklyn and go off on her own, but she needed the money to do it. She had a white guy friend named Byron. He wanted to be more than friends with her. There was also a guy named Darrius who she could not stand. Her brother Aaron and sister Magic said they think she is in love with Darrius, but she doesn't believe it. Then there is Mr. Joe, who wants to marry their mom, but something about him just doesn't seem right. At the end I was surprised about who was left.

The last story is Played by Dwayne S. Joseph. Angel met this guy Frido. He always seemed like he had business to do, but Angel was not sure what kind of business he was in. She was told his was into dealing drugs. Normally she would have nothing to do with that scene, but she just couldn't but like him. Frido would come and pick her up from work every day, but then things changed. I really hated Frido. He acted like he was all that, but the way he treated Angel toward the end I just couldn't believe.

I loved this book and gave it 5 out of 5 stars!

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday
is hosted by Kathy of Bermudaonion's Weblog (September Host)http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com/
We share what books that we found
in our mailboxes last week.

I received the following two books from Shelf Awareness:



Running the Books: The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian

by Avi Steinberg

From Goodreads:

Avi Steinberg is stumped. After defecting from yeshiva to Harvard, he has only a senior thesis essay on Bugs Bunny to show for his effort. While his friends and classmates advance in the world, he remains stuck at a crossroads, unable to meet the lofty expectations of his Orthodox Jewish upbringing. And his romantic existence as a freelance obituary writer just isn’t cutting it. Seeking direction—and dental insurance—Steinberg takes a job as a librarian in a tough Boston prison.

The prison library counter, his new post, attracts con men, minor prophets, ghosts, and an assortment of quirky regulars searching for the perfect book and a connection to the outside world. There’s an anxious pimp who solicits Steinberg’s help in writing a memoir. A passionate gangster who dreams of hosting a cooking show titled Thug Sizzle. A disgruntled officer who instigates a major feud over a Post-it note. A doomed ex-stripper who asks Steinberg to orchestrate a reunion with her estranged son, himself an inmate. Over time, Steinberg is drawn into the accidental community of outcasts that has formed among his bookshelves — a drama he recounts with heartbreak and humor. But when the struggles of the prison library — between life and death, love and loyalty — become personal, Steinberg is forced to take sides.

Running the Books is a trenchant exploration of prison culture and an entertaining tale of one young man’s earnest attempt to find his place in the world while trying not to get fired in the process. (less)
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published October 19th 2010 by Nan A. Talese

The False Friend by Myla Goldberg

From Goodreads:

From the bestselling author of Bee Season comes an astonishingly complex psychological drama with a simple setup: two eleven-year-old girls, best friends and fierce rivals, go into the woods. Only one comes out . . .

Leaders of a mercurial clique of girls, Celia and Djuna reigned mercilessly over their three followers. One after­noon, they decided to walk home along a forbidden road. Djuna disappeared, and for twenty years Celia blocked out how it happened.

The lie Celia told to conceal her misdeed became the accepted truth: everyone assumed Djuna had been abducted, though neither she nor her abductor was ever found. Celia’s unconscious avoidance of this has meant that while she and her longtime boyfriend, Huck, are professionally successful, they’ve been unable to move forward, their relationship falling into a rut that threatens to bury them both.

Celia returns to her hometown to confess the truth, but her family and childhood friends don’t believe her. Huck wants to be supportive, but his love can’t blind him to all that contra­dicts Celia’s version of the past.

Celia’s desperate search to understand what happened to Djuna has powerful consequences. A deeply resonant and emotionally charged story, The False Friend explores the adults that children become—leading us to question the truths that we accept or reject, as well as the lies to which we succumb. (less)
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published October 5th 2010 by Doubleday

Review of Body of Evidence by Roy Glenn

Body of Evidence by Roy Glenn
Paperback, 300 pages
Published October 1st 2007 by Urban Books

From Goodreads:
Panthea Daniels is stunned and devastated when she learns her husband of seven years is having an affair. She visits attorney Marcus Douglas to begin divorce proceedings, but sparks immediately begin to fly between the two. Things take a dramatic and unexpected turn as the two engage in an illicit affair. After receiving pictures of the woman It s not everyday that you see your husband s mistress. - Panthea is arrested and charged with her rival s murder. The victim, Abril Arrington was involved with several men, and was conning them all out of money- including Panthea s husband Scott. Soon, Marcus is convinced that each man, and not his client turned lover Panthea, have a compelling reason for killing Abril. But as the investigation continues, Marcus is faced with undeniable facts that leave him questioning everything he know he knew, including whether she s capable of murder!

My thoughts:

I can't believe Marcus started a relationship with Panthea when she was accused of murdering Abril Arrington. He should have been more professional, especially since she was married. Yes, her husband was having an affair, but it doesn't mean she needs to go out and have an affair herself. She is bad news.

I got kind of lost sometimes because there were so many different names going around in the book, but it was a good book and had a surprising twist at the end.

Gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.