Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Waiting on Wednesday showcases books that we can't wait to read. It is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. My pick for this week is... Tough Customer by Sandra Brown, to be released next week.

Colleagues, friends, and lovers know Dodge Hanley as a private investigator who doesn’t let rules get in his way—in his private life as well as his professional one. If he breaks a heart, or bends the law in order to catch a criminal, he does so without hesitation or apology.That’s why he’s the first person Caroline King—who after a thirty-year separation continues to haunt his dreams—asks for help when a deranged stalker attempts to murder their daughter . . . the daughter Dodge has never met. He has a whole bagful of grudging excuses for wishing to ignore Caroline’s call, and one compelling reason to drop everything and fly down to Texas: guilt.Dodge’s mind may be a haze of disturbing memories and bad decisions, but he arrives in Houston knowing with perfect clarity that his daughter, Berry, is in danger. She has become the object of desire of a co-worker, a madman and genius with a penchant for puzzles and games who has spent the past year making Berry’s life hell, and who now has vowed to kill her.Dodge joins forces with local deputy sheriff Ski Nyland, but the alarming situation goes from bad to worse when the stalker begins to claim other victims and leaves an ominous trail of clues as he lethally works his way toward Berry. Sensing the killer drawing nearer, Dodge, who’s survived vicious criminals and his own self-destructive impulses, realizes that this time he’s in for the fight of his life.

From acclaimed best-selling author Sandra Brown, Tough Customer is a heart-pounding tale about obsession and murder, the fragile nature of relationships, and, possibly, second chances.

Review: Plum Blossom's in Paris

Plum Blossoms in Paris by Sarah Hina

(E-ARC for review from Medallion)

Synopsis:

Post-grad neuroscience student Daisy Lockhart has never been short on brains, but after her longtime boyfriend, Andy Templeton, dumps her through e-mail, she is short on dreams. Alone for the first time in six years, Daisy allows herself to finally be an individual instead of half of a couple. On a mission towards self-discovery, new adventures, and healing her wounded soul, Daisy travels to Paris. Upon her arrival, she meets Mathieu, a mysterious intellectual with a carefree spirit, and Daisy begins to experience the passion and the fulfillment she craves. Daisy's tense battle between possible love and her newly found freedom forces her to decide what she really wants.

Thoughts:

There are a lot of things that I liked about Plum Blossoms in Paris by Sarah Hina. This is a book about a girl who thought she knew everything she wanted out of life and what her future held. But, when she finds herself alone for the first time in a long time, everything she thought she knew goes out the window. I've been there and done that and I can't really say it was fun. But, you learn a lot about yourself and what's really important in life, just like Daisy, the main character in Plum Blossoms in Paris.

Daisy is such a great character. I just loved her. She's smart, strong and adventurous. When she gets dumped she decides to make some changes in her life. See what's really out there. She goes to Paris, on a journey of self-discovery, and along the way she finds out that her neat little plans, were lacking the passion and mystery that she had been craving. This is something every woman needs to do at least once in their life. Do the unexpected. Go to that place you never thought you'd go. Find that lover that is everything you deserve!

I loved this book. It's very witty. Very smart, yet carefree and adventurous as well. I am giving it 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag! Try it... I think you'll like it.

Plum Blossoms in Paris is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

Here is some additional information about Sarah Hina.

Sarah Hina hails from Athens, Ohio. A former medical student and lab rat, Sarah now writes in between mothering two kids, watching films with her husband, and escaping into the outdoors with her camera and dog. Plum Blossoms In Paris is her debut novel.

Review: Simply From Scratch

Simply from Scratch by Alicia Bessette

(For review from Dutton/Penguin)

Synopsis:

Rose-Ellen ( Zell ) Carmichael Roy wears her late husband Nick s camouflage apron even when she s not in the kitchen. That's her widow style.

It s been over a year since Nick died tragically during a post-Katrina relief mission in New Orleans. Long enough, according to the grief pamphlets, to have begun to move on with her life. But Zell is still unable to enter her attic, which is full of Nick memories. She hasn t even turned on her oven because cooking was Nick s chore. That is, until she decides to enter the first annual Desserts that Warm the Soul baking contest, hoping to donate the grand prize to Katrina survivors in Nick s memory. Meanwhile, Zell s nine-year-old neighbor, Ingrid Knox, is learning to cope with the loneliness of growing up without a mother. With an imagination as big as her heart, Ingrid treasures her doting father but begins to plot how she will meet the woman who abandoned her so many years ago. When an embarrassing baking mishap brings Zell and Ingrid together, they form an unlikely friendship that will alter both of their lives forever. Together, and with the help of a lively and loveable cast of friends and family, Zell and Ingrid embark on winning theDesserts that Warm the Soul contest -- and learn that through the many sorrows and joys of life, with a little bit of flour and a pinch of love, anything is possible.

Thoughts:

Alicia Bessette's debut novel, Simply from Scratch really hit the spot for me. It's kind of sad and kind of not. Zell's husband died during the fall out from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and now it's been over a year and she still can't seem to move on. I've been looking for a story set during this time frame in our history, that I liked for quite awhile and this is it. It's quirky, but it's poignant too! It gives the reader a picture of what it's like to face not only a very public tragedy like, Katrina and a private tragedy like grief all in the same package.

We cry with Zell as she remembers her last memories of Nick, just before he leaves on the relief mission. We laugh with her when she "accidentally" meets Ingrid. This is a book that discovers new ways to grieve and to get back into life. Zell's way back to her own life involved cooking a task that usually Nick's job, but when she and Ingrid enter the "Desserts That Warm the Soul" contest, she finds peace in the process.

I really liked this book a lot and I think readers will be really impressed with Bessette's first novel and will look for more great things from her.

Simply From Scratch is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I am giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

Here is more information about author, Alicia Bessette.

Alicia Bessette was born and raised in central Massachusetts and graduated from La Salle University in Philadelphia. A pianist and freelance writer, she and her husband, novelist Matthew Quick, live near Philadelphia with their adopted racing greyhound, Stella. Simply From Scratch is Alicia’s first novel.

Teaser Tuesday (30)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read.

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and the author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

My teaser this week comes from, Simply from Scratch by Alicia Bessette, page 175.

"It's okay," I said. He snuggled against me, and somehow I fell asleep, feeling almost guilty for my comforts: my husband's arm around me in our warm bed, Ahab stretched across my feet. And just a few hours after that, I awoke to Nick kissing me goodbye.

Facebook Launch Party: Steven James

I want to remind everyone that Steven James, author of the Patrick Bowers series is having a Facebook launch party for his latest novel, The Bishop. The launch party is tomorrow night, August 4th, from 7-9 P.M. This is live author event which should allow readers to chat with James and learn more about the series and the latest edition to the series, The Bishop. Just click the button on my sidebar and we'll see you there!

Simply Marvelous Monday (32)

Shelia at, One Person's Journey Through a World of Books, gets all the credit for this one.

On Simply Marvelous Monday here at Debbie's Book Bag we want to know... What are you reading?

FINISHED LAST WEEK:

Too Rich and Too Thin: Not an Autobiography by Barbara Deshong (For review from Phenix Publicity)

The Seeker by Ann Gabhart (For review from Revell)

Damaged (Kate Lange Thriller series - Book 1) by Pamela Callow (For review from Media Muscle)

Waking The Witch (Women of the Otherworld series - Book 11) by Kelley Armstrong (For review from Dutton/Penguin)

To Conquer Mr. Darcy by Abigail Reynolds (For review from Sourcebooks)

Blind Hope: An Unwanted Dog and the Woman She Rescued by Kim Meeder & Laurie Sacher (For review from Waterbrook Multnomah)

50 Harbor Street (Cedar Cove series - Book 5) by Debbie Macomber (Audio book from the Library)

I really enjoyed my reading this week. The Seeker is a book set in my home state of Kentucky. Waking the Witch sated my paranormal appetite and To Conquer Mr. Darcy, my historical tastes. Blind Hope was just a great feel good story and 50 Harbor Street was listened to purely for pleasure. Too Rich and Too Thin was an interesting take on a mystery and Damaged was a great first effort. I liked them all LOL... That's why I read!

READING OR LISTENING TO THIS WEEK:

Simply From Scratch by Alicia Bessette (For review from Dutton/Penguin)

Plum Blossoms in Paris by Sarah Hina (E-ARC for review from Medallion)

The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell (For review from Henry Holt)

The Bishop (Patrick Bowers series - Book 4) by Steven James (For review from Revell)

Kaleidoscope: Seeing God's Wit and Wisdom in a Whole New Light by Patsy Clairmont ( For review from Thomas Nelson)

I'm really hoping for the best this week. My niece is getting married and I'm making the mints and the Wedding Cake, sooooo I'm not sure how much reading I can squeeze in. But these five are already in the works, so I'm optimistic! Simply From Scratch is excellent so far!

UP NEXT:

Theater of Illusion (Spirit of the River series - Book 3) by Kathy Steffen (E-Arc for review from Medallion)

Emma and the Vampires by Wayne Josephson (For review from Sourcebooks)

Vanishing Act by Liz Johnson (For review from the author)

With One Eye Open by Polly Frost (For review from the author)

His Princess Girl Talk With God: Love Letters and Devotions for Young Women by Sheri Rose Shepherd (For review from Revell)

The Paris Vendetta (Cotton Malone series - Book 5) by Steve Berry (For review from Media Muscle)

Looking forward to Emma and the Vampires, first one of this type I've had the chance to review. Liz Johnson the author of Vanishing Act was one of my publishing contacts and I look forward to reviewing her first book. I am always on the lookout for good devotionals, this one is right up the alley for my oldest daughter, His Princess Girl Talk.

Have a great reading week!!!

Winner: July Comment Giveaway

The July Comment Giveaway ended last night at midnight. There were 5 Top Commenter's: Llehn, Mystica, Marjorie, fredamans, and Brandlwyne. I will be contacting the winner , shortly. I used random. org to choose the winner. Without further ado, the winner is.....

Llehn