A Novel of Suspense

The Collector of Dying Breaths by M.J. Rose
Published: April 8, 2014 by Atria Books
Series: Reincarnationist #6
There are certain types of books that I read and instantly think, this would be one my mom would have loved. These are books with dual story lines in the past and present, especially when there's a mystery solved throughout each time period. And as an added bonus it's books that have some connection to France. So it pains me a little that she's not here, because as much as I enjoyed this book, I think she would have loved it.

This book is a the sixth in a series, and while it's somewhat of a pet peeve of mine, I started with this and didn't read them in order. Thankfully, this one worked as a standalone. There was clearly a back story of Jac and Griffin's relationship, but there is a brief recap of it all. And while at times their relationship felt a bit like insta-love, I think if I had read the books preceding this, it would have had the development I was looking for.

I may not be a perfume expect, but I can say I really appreciated all the details that went into the creation of the perfumes. I can't vouch for their accuracy, but it definitely added an authenticity.

I also really loved everything with Catherine de Medici. While I've read several books where she's been featured, including now this one, I've yet to read anything that specifically focused on her. I know there's a few out there, even some that I already own, so hopefully I'm able to fill that niche for myself soon.

I really enjoyed my time with M.J. Rose, and if I have any complaint it's that I haven't read her earlier books. Even now, knowing how the series will end up, I'm looking forward to going back and reading the rest of the series.

4.5/5

Disclosure: I was provided this book through Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. All opinions expressed are my own.

Mailbox Monday (74)

It feels like weekends are never long enough. But while I'd like it to go on forever, at least one perk of it ending is that it's time to link up with Mailbox Monday to share the books I've added to my to-read pile recently.
From Goodreads
The Last Kings of Sark by Rosa Rankin-Gee
This one is about a young girl who goes to Europe to become a tutor to royalty living on Channel Island, the last place in Europe to abolish feudalism. I can't say I really know a lot about this one, but it does look awfully intriguing, especially with my love of all things royal.

Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good by Kathleen Flinn
While I've never actually read anything by this author, I do at least own her first memmoir The Sharper You Knife, the Less You Cry. While her first was her experience attending Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, this instead is about her childhood and how those experiences lead her towards becoming a chef. I do consider myself a bit of a foodie, so I do think both of her books look like ones I'll enjoy, at least whenever I find the time to read them.

For Review from Historical Fiction Book Tours
Sinners and the Sea by Rebecca Kanner
I wouldn't call myself an expert on Biblical fiction, but of the handful I've read I've always really enjoyed myself. This one is about Noah's wife, and while I obviously know the story, I'm really curious to see what all has been added to get to a full novel.

For Review from Virtual Author Book Tours
Love Will Make You Drink & Gamble, Stay Out Late at Night by Shelly Lowenkopf
This is a short story collection where all stories take place in Santa Barbara. Knowing that for years I was planning on going to college in Santa Barbara, I think this will be an interesting take on what my life could have been like.

What did you find in your mailbox this week?

Dewey's Read-a-Thon Follow-Up

Just like I was late starting the read-a-ton, I'm late recapping it all. Overall, in 24 hours I read for 4 and half hours and read 312 pages. So overall, not that stellar, but for more than I would have read on a normal Saturday. Plus I decided to join the read-a-thon at the last minutes. As for the books read...

The Collector of Dying Breaths by M.J. Rose - Pages 103-365, Finished
On the Rocks by Erin Duffy - Pages 1-50

So again, not the best outing, but not the worst way to start either. Next time though there's a read-a-thon I'm going to decide to do it far earlier, and honestly there's really no where to go from here but up!

Did you participate in the read-a-thon? Or any read-a-thon ever?

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon

So, I'm a little late to the party, but at the very last minute I've decided to join Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon! I want to get me reading started ASAP, but first here are a few questions...

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
I'm outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
Probably On The Rocks by Erin Duffy. I really loved Bond Girl by her and it looks like I fun summer read.

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
Well, since I really didn't prepare for this we don't really have a lot of snacks in the house. I think my options are basically Cheez-its or Zapps Cajun Crawtators.

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
Well in case my blog title, or description on the right didn't give it away, I'm a Southern California girl, who is now living in Louisiana, and has been for almost 8 years now.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?
This is my first, but I'm really looking forward to catching up on my reading. I have 3 books I'm supposed to have finished by next Friday for various reasons, so hopefully today makes that actually possible.

I'll probably be back for an update or two later today, but till then... I'll be reading!

From NY to VA

Driving Lessons by Zoe Fishman
Published: April 8, 2014 by William Morrow Paperbacks
You don't need to be currently experiencing something to be able to relate to a book. After all, I'm not in high school, but I'm still able to look back on my time there and love YA books. But more than that, you don't even need to have experienced something to be able to get it. I'm definitely not in a 30 year long marriage, but I still couldn't help but identify with Leslie in The Last Original Wife. Even so, there's something so perfect and magical even, when you find a book that completely resonates with what you're going through at this exact moment. For me, that was Driving Lessons.

Sarah is in her early 30s, which isn't nearly the same as me since I won't be 30 for a long, long, long time... aka this October. She's also moving from New York City of Farmwood, Virginia, again not quite the same as me, but I did move from California to Louisiana, so the idea of adapting to the South is also familiar. She's trying to decide what she wants in her life from her career, from her friends, for a family, all things I'm grappling with. And while she's in marketing, which I can't necessarily relate to, her husband is a college math professor which is a match for my math Masters degree. There are definitely small details too that if I had read it a few years ago would have likely felt over the top and cheesy, but for me, right now, it was perfect

I absolutely loved the relationships in this book. Sarah and her husband's relationship isn't perfect, but it feels so real. The relationship between Sarah and her best friend Mona is pretty amazing too. They spend a lot of time reminiscing about their past 10 years of friendship, and while I think this could have made the reader feel a bit like a 3rd wheel, it's the opposite here. It makes you feel a part of their friendship, and actually I couldn't help but start to think of my own memories with my best friend. Lastly, while it isn't nearly as big of a part of the plot, I really enjoyed Sarah's relationship with her sister-in-law too. It is a fairly friendship, unlike the other two I've mentioned, but I couldn't help but enjoy how we were able to see start to develop.

While this may be a little superficial I was also a big fan of the cover and title. I think so often you see a cover that's pretty, like this clearly is, but it doesn't reflect the story inside. Thankfully it did here. The title is a similar story. Yes, it's clever and it has an obvious meaning in the story itself, but I think there's also the idea that Sarah's figuring out her life and learning her lessons as she goes.

I do think that for me this book was the absolute perfect fit. That's not to say I wouldn't have enjoyed it if I read it 5 years ago or even 5 years from now. I'm sure I still would have, but it wouldn't have had that special sparkle to it.

5/5

Disclosure: I was provided this book through TLC Book Tours. All opinions expressed are my own.

Peanuts & Crackerjacks

A few weeks ago the boy and I went to our first LSU game of the season. It wasn't a great experience overall, after all the Tigers lost, when we tried to leave we couldn't because we were double parked, and travesty of travesties I only took two photos.
Luckily that wasn't the case this time.
I may not have had peanut and crackerjacks but the boy and I did split a meat pie and jambalaya. Only in Louisiana, right?
And since it was crazy hot, we did both have a snow cone, or snowball as the call it in Louisiana, later on.
Even more fun, we got to see the grounds crew dance, which they've started going fairly regularly, but of course didn't during our disaster of game. And maybe you can tell, but the song they're dancing to is "Everybody" from the Backstreet Boys. Coincidentally, that was the day Nick Carter got married, and I'm sure that had to be their way of showing support for him... right?
But still, the best part of the game had to be that in the bottom of the ninth, tied, with 2 outs, LSU was able to win the game!
Geaux Tigers!
What was your experience like the last time you made it out to a baseball game?

Monday Movie Review

The Grand Budapest Hotel
I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but whatever it was, I found myself pleasantly surprised. It's kind of quirky in a way, and even slow at parts, but still, it definitely is quite an experience.

First there's the hotel itself which you see throughout different times, and in the poster above. It really is an amazing place, and I loved all the little details throughout the place.

The cast too is pretty amazing. It seems every time you blink you recognize someone knew. Although my favorite had to be Saoirse Ronan and her character.

And the story itself is told in a completely unique way. As the boy described it, it's a Russian nesting doll with a story in a story in a story and so on.

Is this a movie you need to run out and see? Maybe not, because it doesn't necessarily need the big movie theater experience. But even so, I'd definitely say it's worth worth catching eventually.