Just Between Friends by Donna Small

I recently read Just Between Friends by Donna Small. This book follows friends Emma & Layne. Shortly after Layne gets married she begins an affair with a co-worker. She asks Emma who is madly in love with her husband to cover for her.

Janet Evanovich Fan Sites

If you could not tell by my many many posts about Janet Evanovich's books I am a huge fan of hers. She recently started a fan site to earn free products based on her books. For example you can earn a free "I Love Morrelli" shirt. Be sure to each it out! 

Earn cool prizes like me on the Janet Evanovich Community #fancorps! http://fcrps.me/queenreading

My best FREE Purchases! Reward Sites!

      Over the past year I have purchased a Kindle with leather case, Kindle Touch with leather case, Kindle fire, an iPhone and  I just bought: 'Brother XL2600I Sew Advance Sew Affordable 25-Stitch Free-Arm Sewing Machine' all COMPLETELY FREE! I used a few reward sites to earn FREE Amazon & Visa gift cards to purchase everything. It doesn't take that long to earn everything. I spend between 10 and 20 minutes a day to do a few surveys. I am rewarded in points that be cashed out for just about everything including Electronics, Jewelry, Gift Cards for stores such as Amazon, Best Buy, Restaurants and much much more! Check out some of the sites I am a member of Below. Another easy way to earn more points is to ask your friends to join using the assigned links for each site. 

 Several of the sites can be used all over the world! 

 

Swagbucks is a website that rewards you for doing the things you  do  on the web every day:  search, shop, answer polls, and more.  Each  time  you do these things you have the opportunity to earn Swag Bucks,  the  web's premier digital dollar, which can be redeemed anytime for  hundreds  of different prizes including:

  * Gift Cards
  * Video Games
  * DVDs
  * Exclusive Celebrity Photos & Autographs
  * Apparel (T-shirts, Hats, Jackets, etc.)
  * Consumer Electronics (Plasma TVs, iPhones, GPS, etc.)
  * And Much More...

There are many ways to build your bank, and it's always fun, easy and   FREE. Click the following link to register for an account. They'll start   you off with 30 free Swag Bucks!

http://swagbucks.com/refer/BRN2SHOP9
Its free, easy and NO STRINGS ATTACHED. Be Rewarded with Swagbucks!!!

 http://www.opinionoutpost.com/general/en-doi/?Referer=ZLP0a8y8TbhrVXOrvGX3CoR18uK6yp9h
   
 Opinion Outpost is a reward website in which you do survey's and earn points & contest entry's.  In only a year I have earned $270 completely FREE!!! I also have over $50 waiting to be cashed out. Opinion Outpost offers Amazon Gift Cards, Pay Pal, Restaurant.com, & donations to the American Red Cross FREE! They used to offer Visa gift cards. I purchased my iPhone using my rewards, making it FREE! As of January 2013 a similar option to the Visa gift cards should be available! All it takes is 50 points to reach $5 free on Amazon. Typically the survey's are 10 minutes long and reward 10 or more points. Just think for every 5 survey's you do you earn $5 free. So make sure to check it out!

You can win points instantly just by typing in searches throughout the day and you can earn points for each referral you make. Best of all, you get to exchange your points for fantastic prizes like MP3 players, cameras, game systems, etc.

Try us out and see what all the excitement is about! Also, since your I was kind enough to recommend you, they are giving you '50' RazooPoints right off the bat! 


http://www.irazoo.com/ReferedNewUser.aspx?RefBy=brn2shop9

Search, shop, answer polls, and more to earn free gift cards, electronics and more.


http://www.zoombucks.com/join.php?ref=brn2shop9 

CheckPoints 

Get free stuff w/your phone in millions of stores! Download #CheckPoints,use my code,"heariecanal" & we get xtra pts! http://chk.pt/fmbfOx

FreeAppWin for Apple Ipod Touch, Iphone & IPad users and Android Users.

Check out the gift card contests in FreeAppWin for iOS. Download FREE + use my
referral for the $1000 contest: 0BKP0Z. http://bit.ly/Lht25y
or
Get FreeAppWin
on iOS for FREE apps & contests to win great prizes. Make sure you use my
referral code 'H45V7U' in the 'Enter Referral Code' section of the Contests page
Use my code and we get an extra monthly entry. http://bit.ly/pNQmdJ
 

Opinion Outpost!

Opinion Outpost is a reward website in which you do survey's and earn points & contest entry's.  In a year and a half I have earned $270 completely FREE!!! I also have over $50 waiting to be cashed out. Opinion Outpost offers Amazon Gift Cards, Pay Pal, Restaurant.com, & donations to the American Red Cross completely FREE!. They used to offer Visa gift cards that I used to purchased my iPhone using my rewards, making it FREE! As of January 2013 a similar option to the Visa gift cards should be available! So make sure to check it out!  For every 50 points you earn you can cash out for $5 FREE! http://www.opinionoutpost.com/general/en-doi/?Referer=ZLP0a8y8TbhrVXOrvGX3CoR18uK6yp9h
  

Contest Alert.

Emily Giffin has a fantastic contest going on. Win an autographed Emily Giffin case for your iPad, Kindle, Kindle Fire, or Nook! woobox.com/umer96/2albyt

The Best of Us by Sarah Pekkanen

Before I write my review I just want to say that this is my 100th post!!!!! Now onto the review.

Black Jasmine by Toby Neal

I'M BACK! It took fourteen days after the hurricane for my electricity and heat to return. Now I am back. I have to say although it was mentally and physically exhausting, not to mention freezing (it snowed in October!!!!!) I am very fortunate.

Torch Ginger by Toby Neal

You may recall that I read Blood Orchids by Toby Neal a

I Couldn't Love You More by Jillian Medoff

I recently read I Couldn't Love You More by Jillian Medoff. This book was significantly more than I expected. This book focuses on 2 sets of three sisters. The first is Eliot Gordon, Sylvia, and Maggie. They are products of a divorced couple. The father has not been in the picture for most of their lives. The second set are Eliots step children and child, Gail, Hailey & Charlotte.  

This book shows the true trials and strengths of a family and the need to come together when bad things occur. It shows everyone's love despite difficulties within the family. Love always prevails! This book takes everyone on an emotional roller coaster that had me wanting more the entire time. One night I had a very hard time putting it down even though I kept dozing off while reading it (it was 1 in the morning at this point). This book was very well written. I am looking forward to reading Ms. Medoff's future work.

How Lucky You Are by Kristyn Kusek Lewis

I recently read  How Lucky You Are by Kristyn Kusek Lewis.

Finding Out by Sheryn MacMunn.

I recently read Finding Out by Sheryn MacMunn.

A Girl Like You by Maria Geraci

I recently read A Girl Like You by Maria Geraci. The book was very well written. The characters are very well developed. The story follows Emma Frazier, a reporter for a magazine as she deals with love and friends. During a night out she over hears her friend refer to her as the "ugly friend" which sparks her to impress her boss with whom she is infatuated. Emma begins to reconnect with friends from high school one of which she ends up dating the other leads to big life changes for the person. 

The story was truly enjoyable. I loved that the characters in this book can very easily be someone everyone knows. Unlike many other books this book involves a lesbian couple (Emma's mothers). It was nice to see this situation in a book. It makes it seem like this could be anyone's family.

 

 

~I received a free ebook to review. ~

~I was not compensated in any way for my honest review~

Cosmo's Fifty-One Shades of Blonde

I recently read Cosmos Fifty One Shades of Blonde. I know that this must be a parade of Fifty Shades of Grey, however being one of a few people who refuses to read that book I would not know for sure. As far as the book I did read, it was a short story that was pretty well written, the only thing missing was a plot. The story jumped directly to sex without much background or story first. I would have liked to have a story before I read about two people jumping into bed. The potential for this to be a decent story is there, the author just needed to build it up more. Overall the entire story can be read in a half hour, but if something with better reviews comes along I highly suggest reading that instead.

The First Husband by Laura Dave

I recently read The First Husband by Laura Dave. I had heard fantastic things about this book and was very excited to read it. The book follows Annie Adams who is a travel writer for a magazine. After dating a man for several years she breaks up with him and marries someone she barely knows, thus changing her entire life. They move to a new town where she does not know any one. Happiness does not last forever as her life starts to spiral out of control.


This book was very well written. I did not enjoy it as much as I hoped. While the event in the story can happen, they were not very relatable to real life for me. She rushed into a life that she was not ready for so of course their would be challenges. The story it self was light, and comedic at times. This would be a good beach read.


Everyone check it out and post your thoughts when you are finished!

Carrie Diaries by Candance Bushnell

In preparation for the upcoming CW tv show and being a big Sex and The City fan I recently read The Carrie Diaries by Candance Bushnell. This is a prequal of the the Carrie Bradshow character from Sex and The City. If you were expecting the same sex crazed type of story you would be mistaken. This story follows Carrie as she grows into the character that we all know and love. It starts with her life in high school and how she began her writing career.

Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot

 

I first discovered Meg Cabot's book shortly after the first Princess Diaries (starring Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway) movie came out. My mother walked in and saw me watching it for the millionth time and said to me "You know that's a book right?" At the time I hated reading, but that statement was all it took for me to go running to the library and take out the book. I fell madly in love with them. I soon discovered that not only did she write the Princess Diaries books, but she also used a pseudoname, Jenny Carroll to write The Mediator Series and the 1-800 Missing Series (re-released under the name Meg Cabot). I read every single one of the books almost immediately and counted the days until new books were published. I was ecstatic when 1-800 Missing was turned into a Lifetime TV show staring, Caterina Scorsone (yes the very same person who is currently Derek Shepherd's little sister, Amelia on Private Practice ), and was practically devastated when it did not return for another season back in 2007.

As I got older I began reading her Adult books including the "Boy" books, Queen of Babble Books and one of my favorite series, the Heather Wells books. Counting the days until Meg's new books are published which is why I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to read and review her newest book Size 12 and Ready to Rock (book 4 in the Heather Wells series). 

Once again we see former teen singing sensation Heather Wells working in Fischer Hall at New York College. It's summer and the building is closed for construction, or so she thought. Soon a current rock star, who is also her ex boyfriend's wife takes over the building with her rock school. Things do not go as planned when a that star's life becomes endangered. 

I enjoyed this book. They are fun and have a mystery twist. This book is a quick read and would be great to sit on the beach with. I would love to see them on the big screen!

This book will be published July 10, 2012 but is currently available for pre-order.

The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner

If you have not been able to tell from several other postings I am a very big fan of Jennifer Weiner's novels and short lived TV show.  I have been following Jennifer Weiner on facebook and twitter for years. Unlike some authors she responds to comments, posts and even emails personally. Despite following her for so long I am always shocked when I receive a response from her. Shortly after I shared that she had a free ebook available entitled Swim she sent me a message saying as a thank you she would like to send me an advanced reader copy to read and review. I soon received a box expecting to find a paperback book with the cover marked "advanced reader copy" like most ARC's I have received, instead I find a book so new it has a spiral spine.

Swim turned out to be a republication of a previous story from her book Guy Not Taken that led to a the full novel entitled The Next Best Thing. Once again we follow the life of Ruth Saunders as she leaves her childhood home and follows her dream to Hollywood, CA where she becomes a screen writer. After several years she has created her own show which has been picked up by network tv. We see Ruth as she begins to bring her show to life, but it does not go as she had planned.

This story was great. It was nice to see closure for the character's I fell in love with when I first read Guy Not Taken. Throughout the story I could not help but wonder how much of it is true and based on Ms. Weiner's relationship with the production studio for her show State of Georgia, which stared Raven Symone and the fantastic Loretta Devine. There are a number of scenes in the book that an outsider could see a possible relationship between the two.  I truly enjoyed this story and I hope that everyone else will too.

I would once again like to thank Jennifer Weiner and Simon & Schuster for sending me the book.  This book will be published on July 3, 2012 and is currently available for pre-order.

~I received a free ebook or book to review. ~

~I was not be compensated in any way for my honest review~

Recalculating by Jennifer Weiner

It was around mid October 2011, shortly before Halloween when Ms. Weiner posted on facebook about her crazy GPS and wondered if she could turn it into a story. Several days later she posted "Jonesing for a new book? I wrote a spooky short story about a possessed GPS. Fingers crossed you'll be able to buy it on Amazon on 10/31. Happy Halloween!" That short story is Recalculating. It follows a women whose abusive husband passes away. While cleaning she finds a gps which turns out to be possessed.

It amazes me that Ms. Weiner was able to write a story so quickly. This book was great, but like most short stories it leaves you wanting more.

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner

I would like to thank Jennifer Weiner for taking the time to send me this book via kindle when she saw a posting stating that I was not allowed to bring a book to work, but was able to sneak my kindle in.This story follows the lives of four women one in school looking for money to help a family member, one looking for money to support a growing family, one wanting to have a child and one in a surprising situation.

Ms. Weiner has a very unique way of having her characters live completely separate lives that some how find away to connect. The story was fantastic, but  it left me wanting more. I hope that she decides to make a sequel to this story so I can dig deeper into the characters lives.

Swim by Jennifer Weiner

 

Swim by Jennifer Weiner was first published as a short story  in her book Guy Not Taken (my review can be found here. It follows Ruth who is a writer on a popular tv show. Do to a series of events her life does not turn out the way she thought it would. She uses swimming as a way to escape the real world.

The first time I read this story I remember thinking I wish she would take this story and turn if into a full novel. Well I am very excited to report that she has. Her book The Next Best Thing will be published July 3, 2012. I have already read it and have a review coming soon. Stay tuned!

Explanation for Lack of Postings

I would like to explain the reason why I have not had any postings the last few weeks. The initial reason was because after 4 very long years I graduated from graduate school with my doctorate. I had paper work, meetings and end of my externship that I was taking care of along with doctoral hoodings and graduation ceremonies. 

This Saturday, the day before my brother and I's graduation my grandfather passed away. We have been dealing with trying to mentally and physically process this loss and sitting shiva.

I will continue to be taking a break from the blog for another week or so, but soon I will have several reviews up of several books including Jennifer Weiner's Then Came You, Recalculating, & Swim, Sophie Kinsella's Six Geese a Laying, Janet Evanovich's Love in a Nutshell and many others.

Thank you all for your support.

~Queen of Reading~

AKA: Dr. Queen of Reading (LOL)

These Girls by Sarah Pekkanen

I recently read These Girls by Sarah Pekkanen. This story follows the lives of Cate, Renee and Abby. All of whom of moved to New York from other regions. Through a series of unfortunate events their lives end up tailspin. This book follows how Cate, Renee and Abby ended up in New York and how there lives have been since. 

I truly enjoyed this story. Ms. Pekkanen has a way of making you feel what her characters are feeling. She shows how the lives of these women have come together. The characters are very easy to relate to as well. This book is just as lovable as her other books.

Help Me Earn an Iphone & you can earn free items too!

Help me earn a free iPhone by joining Superpoints. http://superpoints.com/refer/MWSuperPoints 

 This is a 100% legitimate site. I already earned a free kindle from them. If you join you can earn gift cards, electronics, jewelry and more!  Thank you!

 Superpoints offers a Super Lucky Button which you get about 30 spins a day as a basic member, 50 spins a day if your a gold member (2 friends join), and 100 spins a day when you are platinum member (if 5 friends join). Using this button along with the other methods such as taking surveys, watching videos and more you earn points. You even get Super Lucky Emails containing anywhere from 1 point to 100 points. Join, and validate your profile (via email as well as directly on the site) to use the Super Lucky Button. The points get cashed out for items such as electronics, gift cards and more. The spins take between 5 and 10 minutes a day. I typically can earn a $5 gift card every 2-3 days.

This Thursday SuperPoints is doubling the number of spins everyone will receive.

"Bonus Spins Day will be this Thursday April 19, 2012!! All Superpoints Members will receive double the chances to win on the Super Lucky Button! For example, if you are a Gold Member you will receive 100 clicks instead of 50! We truly value all our members and we can't wait to show you our appreciation with more chances to win on Thursday!"

My invite code is:

http://superpoints.com/refer/MWSuperPoints


Although the above link does not expire they do have special bonus codes. These codes are worth 25 bonus points upon joining and another 25 points once you validate your profile: 

http://superpoints.com/join/iyxjmf

http://superpoints.com/join/iyxjmf

 

 

Another Piece of My Heart

I recently read Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green. Before I begin my review I have to say that I am a huge fan of Jane Green. Her books are always passionate.

  The title of her new book always makes me think of the Janis Joplin song, Piece of My Heart. This book leaves you feeling like the line from the song "you know you got it, if it makes you feel good."  This book follows Andi has always dreamed of being a mother. She finally meets her match later in life. Ethan is divorced with two daughters one of which she instantly loves the other can be quite a challenge. This book follows her life as a wife, stepmother and dream of being a mother to a child of her own. It also follows her step daughters point of view as a daughter, step daughter and so on (I do not want to give too much away).

This book was brought out so many emotions. I loved this book, and I hope that you will too.

I Scream You Scream by Wendy Lyn Watson

I recently read I Scream, You Scream by Wendy Lyn Watson. This is the first book in the Mystery a la Mode series. The book follows a recently divorced Tally as she opens her ice cream business. After a party she catered for her ex husband the new girlfriend is murdered. She soon becomes the lead suspect. Tally begins investigate to find out who the real killer is. 

I enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to reading  the remaining books in the series.

40 love by Madeleine Wickham

I recently read 40 Love by Madeleine Wickham. Sophie Kinsella is her pseudo name. This book follows a series a friends who gather for a tennis party. One more stuck up then the other.

While I enjoy the books under the name Sophie Kinsella. Ms. Wickham's books have a different feel to them. I enjoyed this book, but not as much as her other books. This was the first book she wrote. She has improved significantly since then.

Update: Macmillan Audio saw my posting and was nice enough to send me an audio clip for everyone to enjoy. I would like to thank the publisher once again for send it!

If the link above wont play here is a direct link.
http://media.us.macmillan.com/video/olmk/macmillanaudio/40LoveClip.mp3

Deeply, Desperately by Heather Webber

I recently read Deeply, Desperately by Heather Webber. This is the second book in the Lucy Valentine Series. This book begins where Truly, Madly ends. Lucy has found love with the former firefighter turned private eye Sean. Both work in Lucy's family match making business. On the side Lucy works with the police department to find missing people. Lucy soon finds her self working a possible murder case. 

This book was a fun, fast light read. I cannot wait to read the third book in the series.

Dune Road by Jane Green

Dune Road is a great summer beach/pool read.  While it is not one of my favorite books by M.S. Green it was still enjoyable.  This book follows a newly divorced women as she ventures into the working life. She has to gain new friends and a new life. This books shows the strength of friends.

SuperPoints Update

Today alone I earned 208 points from SuperPoints. For every 500 points you earn on SuperPoints you can cash out for FREE gift cards to various places. I typical get Amazon but they have hundreds to choose from, all free. I joined the end of July since then I bought a kindle using my points and I earned $60 free in December, $45 free in January and $60 free in February (so far!). 

Superpoints offers a Super Lucky Button which you get about 30 spins a day as a basic member, 50 spins a day if your a gold member (2 friends join), and 100 spins a day when you are platinum member (if 5 friends join). Using this button along with the other methods such as taking surveys, watching videos and more you earn points. You even get Super Lucky Emails containing anywhere from 1 point to 100 points. Join, and validate your profile (via email as well as directly on the site) to use the Super Lucky Button. The points get cashed out for items such as electronics, gift cards and more. The spins take between 5 and 10 minutes a day. I typically can earn a $5 gift card every 2-3 days.

This is an invite only site. My invite code is:
http://superpoints.com/refer/MWSuperPoints
This code does not expire. Free to join & Free to earn!

Blood Orchids by Toby Neal

 

I recently read Blood Orchids by Toby Neal. This is my first book to review as a BookSparks Groupie. This is a very interesting book. It is a crime novel, which is not something I typically read. What makes this book interesting is it mostly focuses on Lei, a police officer, however it does give us glances into the murders head.

Lei and her partner Pono discover two dead young adults. While investigating their murder Lei discovers she has a stalker. 

Parts of the book are written in pidgin, make it extremely hard to follow. As a stickler for somewhat proper English, the pidgin made it extremely difficult to focus on the story. It took me 3 days to read the first one hundred pages because I had such a hard time focusing. Despite my rocky beginning with this book I truly enjoyed it. I read the remainder of the book in one night. I found the whole murder mystery, stalking situation incredibily captivating!

I am honestly surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. From the title and the summary of the book I did not think I would because it is very unlike the books I usually read. This just shows never to judge a book by its "cover."

~I received a free book to review. ~

~I was not compensated in any way for my review.~

Guy Not Taken By Jennifer Weiner

Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner has been on my to be read pile for a very long time. I must say how sorry I am that it sat there for so long! Unlike Ms. Weiner's other books this one is a series of short stories. The stories show the many sides and strengths of women. She even references her character's from Good In Bed. 

If you have not read this one yet I highly recommend you do. 

Spin by Catherine McKenzie.

I recently read Spin by Catherine McKenzie.

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

I am very honored that I was chosen to review Sophie Kinsella's

Smokin Seventeen

I finished Sizzling Sixteen the day before Smokin Seventeen was published. Talk about timing! Seventeen begins with the discovery of a dead body on the ground's of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. The love triangle between Stephanie, Morrelli and Ranger intensifies during a misunderstanding.

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

The title says it all Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich truly does Sizzle! Stephanie has to deal with Vinnie's gambling debt which is causing problems with the entire Vincent Plum Bail Bonds company. This books dives more into Vinnie's life then the other books do. The typical love triangle and chaos remains.

P.S. One For The Money movie is released today! Go see it!

Live Out Loud by Heather Wardell

I recently finished Live Out Loud by Heather Wardell. This story follows Amy's (AKA: Misty) as she becomes a famous singer songwriter.  Amy is soon torn between what she believes are her dreams and being famous. 

Initially, I was not sure I would like this book because it was very stereotypical to rumors about famous starlets. The further I read the more I realized that was not actually the case. This books shows the strength it takes live your dreams, even if it means possibly hurting someone from the past. I highly recommend you read this book. And remember Live Your Life the way you want!

~I received a free ebook to review. I was not compensated in any way for my review.~

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Finger Lickin Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Finger Lickin Fifteen follows Stephanie Plum as she tries to find a top chef's murderer. Look for dynamic interactions between Morrelli, Ranger and Stephanie as the typical craziness ensues.

I absolutely love this series. Can't wait to see the movie!

Overbite by Meg Cabot

 

Overbite is the sequal to Insatiable. In this story we follow Meena Harper as she works with the  Palatine Guard. The Palatine Guard are a group aimed to fight vampires from taking over. Love and Life interfere. 

I first must say that I am not one to read supernatural books. I read Meg Cabot's because she is one of my favorite authors. This book was not as good as Insatiable. I missed the thrill and excitement of not knowing that the first book had. I did enjoy the book but it was not what I expected Meg's writing to be. 

If you have read it how did you feel about this book? If you have not read it yet please read it and let us know what you thought.