Monthly rundown: April!

Boy am I behind...as usual on this!

In April I only got 4 books read...a sad, sad month for reading!

1. The Appeal by John Grisham

2. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

3. Sammy's Hill By: Kristin Gore

4. Summer Breeze By: Catherine Anderson

All four were on my TBR challenge for the year, which I finish at the beginning of May. Boy do I need to catch up on reviews!!

What am I reading?

Right now I am finishing up "Sammy's Hill" By: Kristin Gore. I found this one in the freebies shelf at the library a few years ago, and finally decided to pick it up, so I put it on my TBR challenge list for this year. I am doing really well on that challenge. The challenge is to read 12 books that have been on your TBR shelf for a year or more, over the course of the year. "Sammy's Hill" is the last book for me to finish that challenge! I just finished "Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen this morning! A review on that one will be along shortly.

I am trying very hard to catch up on reviews and posts here. This month has not been good for reading. I have only finished 2 books so far! I am hoping to have 4 finished by months end. We'll see...

Currently Reading: "Sammy's Hill" By Kristin Gore

Why? It is on my TBR challenge for this year

What I just finished reading: "Mansfield Park" By: Jane Austen

What am I looking forward to reading next? "Summer Breeze" by Catherine Anderson. This one is an alternate for my TBR challenge for this year, though I had no problems getting through my original 12 picks for this challenge, I am going to read the two alternates as well! I have read some of Catherine Andersons books before and enjoyed them, they are light easy reads and alot of fun, so looking forward to it!

2012 Book Review #3: Every Breath You Take by: Ann Rule

Title: Every Breath you Take

Author: Ann Rule

Pages: 681

Personal Rating: 5/5

From the Back Cover: In perhaps the first true-crime book written at the victim's request, Ann Rule untangles a web of lies and brutality that culminated in the murder of sheila Blackthorne Bellush-a woman Rule never met, but whose shocking story she now chronicles with compassion, exacting detail, and unvarnished candor. Although happily ensconced in a loving second marriage and a new family of quadruplets, Shelia never truly escaped the vicious enslavement of her ex husband, multi-millionaire Allen Blackthorne, a handsome charmer- and a violent, controlling sociopath who subjected sheila to unthinkable abuse in their marriage, and terrorized her for a decade after their divorce. When Sheila was slain in her home, in the presence of her four toddlers, authorities raced to link the crime to Blackthorne, the man who vowed to monitor sheila's every move in his obsessive quest for power and revenge.

Personal Thought and Reflection: This is my first time ever reading a book by Ann Rule. Never thought I would enjoy a true crime novel so much! I raced out almost as soon as I'd turned the last page and grabbed 3 more of her books and they are currently gracing my TBR shelf now, and there are so many more I want to get from her. Her background info and detail is phenominal. I absolutely could not put this down!!! If you enjoy true crime stories grab a book by Ann Rule, you won't be disappointed!

2012 Book Review #2: The Appeal by John Grisham

Title: The Appeal
Author: John Grisham
Pages: 482
Personal Rating: 5/5




From the Back Cover: In a Crowded courtroom in Mississippi, a jury returns a shocking verdict against a chemical company accused of dumping toxic waste into a small town's water supply, causing the worst "cancer cluster" in history. The company appeals to the Mississippi Supreme Court, whose nine justices will one day either approve the verdict or reverse it.

Who are the nine? How will they vote? Can one be replaced before the case us ultimately decided?

The chemical company is owned by a Wall street predator named Carl Trudeau, and Mr. Trudeau is convinced the Court is not friendly enough. With judicial elections looming, he decides to try to purchase himself a seat on the court. The cost is a few million dollars, a drop in the bucket for a billionaire like Mr. Trudeau. Through an intricate web of conspiracy and deceit, his political operatives recruit a young, unsuspecting candidate. They finance him, manipulate him, market him and mold him into a potential Supreme Court Justice. Their Supreme Court Justice.

Personal Thought and Reflection: This book has sat on my To Be Read shelf for about 3 years now, it was given to me by a friend, and I have never had the desire to pick up a Grisham book before. However, now I can see why he is so popular. He spins a fantastic tale, actually several storylines are spun out in this magnificent piece of fiction. I couldn't put this one down and I definitely plan to invest in more of John Grisham's books in the future.

(Late) March monthly run down

Boy have I been neglecting this blog!!! Oops...Well, the year is still not half over yet, so I still have time to redeem myself!!

Anyway, I had a good reading month in March here is what I got to:

1. Every Breath you Take by: Ann Rule

2. Nostalgic Noel By: Various Authors

3. Girl's Night In By: Various Authors

4. Ask again Later By: Jill A. Davis

5. Waiting to Exhale By: Terry McMillan

And I almost had a 6th finish, but it was finished April 1st...so can't count for March. Sadly, it is the ONLY book I have been able to finish in April. I am currently reading two books which I think I may be able to finish this week, lets hope, or April's list will be VERY sad!