Jackie of All Trades by Allie Borne

eBook Novella

I read Jackie of All Trades by Allie Borne, which is a novella approximately 132 pages in length! I downloaded this eBook for free to my Kindle from Amazon earlier this year and am giving my unbiased review as follows.

Jackie of All Trades is the last thing I read during the 2014 calendar year just before 2015 rolled around! I am not so sure I was all that thrilled with this novella. Jackie Birch, the leading character, was annoying to me. Jackie has no problem stating her feelings and speaking her mind in this novella, but she certainly puts up a wall/barrier when it came to letting love into her life. She also runs at the first opportunity things seem too difficult or not to her liking. Jackie is also bossy and sticks her nose where it doesn't belong at the start of this novella... Jackie also falls for Jonah Sterling and vice versa... But both Jackie and Jonah seem to have a difficult time connecting emotionally and taking their relationship to the next level. Can they work through their issues or not??

The following is a book summary of Jackie of All Trades by Allie Borne from Amazon:

Jacqueline Birch is thirty-four and doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up. She's worked ten jobs, lived in five towns, been married, and divorced and still can't seem to find what she is looking for. She longs to feel that internal "click," as the parts of her life come together, like interlocking puzzle pieces. Taking stock of her past failures, Jackie realizes she will never be content with the status quo. If she is ever going to be happy, she will have to take a chance and make a change. Walking into her favorite wine shop, she runs smack dab into the most attractive opportunity to date. Too bad there is a handsome man hanging about, threatening to muck it all up. 

Jonah Sterling is loath to rid himself of his best friend's family business, but the old wine shop is a bust. It almost seems too good to be true when Jacqueline Birch shows up, promising to rescue the place. Soon, Jackie has taken over more than just his old friend's business and Jonah is struggling with mixed emotions of resentment, admiration, distrust, and lust.

Somehow, they both must overcome their headstrong notions if they are to make a go of the business and embrace a future full of possibility.

I'm giving Jackie of All Trades a rating of 5 stars out of 10 stars. 

Until my next post, happy reading and see you in 2015!!

2014 End of the Year Reading Wrap Up Post!!!

2014 has been a wonderful year in both reading and blogging for me!! 

Today marks the end of my third year of book blogging. I have had much happiness and joy from reading books and reviewing books here on my book blog... Sharing my reviews of indie bookstores I've visited, sharing interesting book quotes I've discovered along the way... As well as participating in weekly book memes, read-a-thons, and sharing book related news and other fun book related ideas with other like minded readers like you!! I've really enjoyed interacting with other readers and book bloggers. Additionally, I've also enjoyed reading and responding to comments left on my blog posts by the online community at large and am also grateful for those of you who've decided to follow my blog. So, I'm giving a big heartfelt thank you to all of you that have helped me make my book blog a success!!

Here are some highlights of 2014 are as follows:

* 2014 is the year I've made the most blog posts thus far. 
* I've also listened to more audiobooks this year than in previous years... In fact, I listened to a total of 48 audiobooks just in case you were wondering! 
* I've also read a total of 52 books in 2014!! 
* The total number of books read and/or listened in 2014 comes to he grand total of 100 books.

I participated in following fun filled book related events in 2014:

Best of 2013 Audiobook Blog Hop

Bout of Books 9.0

The VA-VA-Voom Read-A-Thon

2014 Book Blogger Love-A-Thon

World Book Night 2014

Liebster Award

Bout of Books 11.0

Tackle Your TBR Read-A-Thon

Book Tag: Seven Deadly Sins

Wonderfully Wicked Read-A-Thon

Ho-Ho-Ho Read-A-Thon

I attended two author events this year:

Author, Nancy Seagal, Discusses & Signs Copies of Book 'Rising Above Mercury'

Dr. Gay Hendricks & Tinker Lindsay Book Signing & Discussion

The following are some of my favorite posts I wrote about on my book blog for 2014:

Tips on How to Keep Your Paperbacks in Good Condition!!

Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site

Classic Reactions Book-Lovers Have to People Who Don't Read

Hercule Poirot's Real-Life Model May Have Been Discovered!

15 Teen Feminist Books to Read!

Which Books Changed How We Feel About Ourselves As Women?

Indie Bookstores Are Perfect Models for American Small Businesses

Quirky Conundrums Book Lovers Understand

Celebrate These 10 Literary Holidays!!

Read Books About Banned & Dangerous Books

Cheers to Authors & the Independent Bookstores They Love!!

25 Websites For Literature Lovers

Happy Wedding Anniversary to Us!!

I've read a total of 100 books this year. Which one is my favorite read for 2014?? Wow, that's a difficult question to answer as I enjoyed reading several books in 2014.

Here are the audiobooks I enjoyed listening to the most in 2014:

1. The Soloist by Steve Lopez
2. The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester
3. The Selkie Spell by Sophie Moss
4. Falling Awake by Jayne Ann Krentz
5. Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert.
6. Steinbeck's Ghost by Lewis Buzbee
7. Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad by M. R. James
8. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
9. Scent of a Mate by Milly Taiden
10. The Pluto Files by Neil deGrasse Tyson

The following is a short list of my favorite books read during 2014:

1. Loser by Jerry Spinelli
2. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
3. Larger Than Life by Jodi Picoult
4. Swan Song by Lee Hanson
5. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
6. Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

7. Pure Sex by Lucinda Betts, Bonnie Edwards, & Sasha White
8. The Love Thief by Daisy Jerico
9. Macaron Murder by Harper Lin

10. Press One For Yes by Falafel Jones
11. Firegirl by Tony Abbott

So, how was your year in reading?? I hope you had an awesome year in terms of reading. Please share some of your reading highlights with me!!

The Velvet Choker by Selena Kitt

Erotica eBook Novella

Yesterday, I read The Velvet Choker by Selena Kitt, which is a paranormal erotica novella approximately 67 pages in length. I was able to download a free copy of this eBook to my Kindle and I am giving my unbiased review of this novella as follows.

The Velvet Choker was a quick read for me... It not only contained elements of erotica and paranormal within the story, but also horror and suspense as well. As far as stories go, The Velvet Choker was okay... The characters were simply so-so as well. Some of the side characters, like the chauffeur were odd and took actions that didn't help propel the story along or enhance the story in anyway. By the end of this novella, I was also left with some questions regarding one of the lead characters, Hugo Kauffman, and his true identity.

The following is a book summary for The Velvet Choker from Amazon:

Lydia has heard the stories from her co-workers about the house at the apex of two dead end roads, but the young immigrant housekeeper isn't scared easily. Working for the strange and reserved jewelry maker Hugo Kauffman pays well, and for that, she's willing to overlook his eccentricities. But when Lydia finds a black, velvet choker in a box she's been forbidden from opening, her life is changed forever, and she finds herself suddenly bound to the strange and eccentric old man who runs the household. Will the introduction and interest of the new, young portrait painter save her from her plight?

I'm giving The Velvet Choker a rating of 5 stars out of 10 stars. Until my next post, happy reading!! 

Mistletoe in Manhattan by Talli Roland

eBook Novella

I couldn't resist reading another holiday themed book before the end of 2014!! So, I chose to read an eBook titled Mistletoe in Manhattan by Talli Roland, which is a novella approximately 60 pages in length. I downloaded this eBook from Amazon for free and am giving this novella an unbiased review.

Mistletoe in Manhattan is the second holiday themed novella I've read by Talli Roland. It's an easy, breezy novella to read and enjoy during the holiday season. Mistletoe in Manhattan has likable enough characters and a nice bit of romance as well, but a the storyline is a predictable! I would have liked a little bit more details with regards to the romance that happened and a little bit more substance to the ending, but overall Mistletoe in Manhattan was a good read.

I did like the message conveyed in Mistletoe in Manhattan... Be careful what you wish for because you may just get it and it may not be what you really want after all!! And also that family and friends come first!!

Book summary for Mistletoe in Manhattan from Amazon:

Holly may never be able to forget this Christmas . . . even if she wants to. 

As Little Missington's first Christmas baby in fifty years and the daughter of Christmas When You Like It party-planners, Holly West has been surrounded by the holiday spirit since birth. Trouble is, she's not exactly filled with festive cheer. In fact, Holly can't wait to ditch the tinsel and Santa suits for champagne and celebs, and become a party-planner to the stars.

When British TV star Dean Layton hires her parents' company to throw his holiday bash in Manhattan, Holly jumps at the chance to help, confident she can handle a little Christmas in exchange for access to Dean's exclusive world.

But New York and Dean's over-the-top demands are more than Holly bargained for. Can Holly deck the halls and make it a party to be proud of, or will this Christmas be one she'll never forget . . . even if she wants to?

I'm giving Mistletoe in Manhattan a rating of 6.5 stars out of 10 stars. Until my next post, happy reading!! 

Top Ten Tuesday ---- Top Ten Goals/Resolutions For 2014

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Here are my 2015 resolutions:

1. Participate in new reading challenges hosted by other book bloggers!

2. Visit the San Francisco Center For the Book and blog about my experience there.

3. Hopefully, attend more author signing/literary events in 2015... I think I only attended two author signings this year.

4. Now that I live in Northern California, I live closer to Salinas... So, I want to visit the National Steinbeck Center as I'm a huge John Steinbeck fan!! And of course, blog about my experience with my readers.

5. Read and/or listen to 100 books or more in 2015!

6. Increase the number of nonfiction books I read in 2015. I read quite a few nonfiction books this year and many of them became my favorite reads of 2014.

7. I admit it, I'm a book buying addict!! I also love trading books with others through Bookcrossing... And, I love downloading free eBooks to my Kindle... I now have more books than I can possibly read in the next couple of years, so I'd like to put a halt on buying books in 2015. Sure, I can trade books through Bookcrossing or receive them as gifts... But seriously speaking, I'd like to see if I can NOT buy a single book during 2015 and focus solely on reading what I already have on my bookshelves... I've tried to make this my goal the past three years without success. I just can't seem to resist buying more books!! *** Note to self... Maybe I shouldn't attend any author signings or literary festivals where I may be too tempted to buy more books!!

8. Visit more independent bookstores in 2015 and share my reviews of the bookstores I visit here on my blog. *** Note to self... Once again, maybe I should reconsider visiting any bookstore as I may be too tempted to buy more books!?!?

9. Explore more new to me authors in 2015!!

10. Finish off reading the His Fair Assassin trilogy by Robin LaFevers as well the Den of Antiquities series by Tamar Myers in 2015.

What are your reading goals/resolutions for 2015?

Secret Santa by Sabrina James

YA Holiday Themed Novel

I purchased a used paperback copy of Secret Santa by Sabrina James at a local used bookstore on Small Business Saturday. 

What initially drew my attention to Secret Santa was the holiday themed title and the artwork on its cover!! Being in the Christmas spirit, I decided to purchase and read this novel during the holiday season.

The funny part about reading Secret Santa is that I didn't realize it was a young adult novel as it was in the romance section for adults section at the bookstore when I bought it last month. It's all good though as Secret Santa is an easy breezy, holiday themed novel that read like a soap opera!!

I enjoyed reading Secret Santa as it is really well written. The story focuses on high school students and  the Christmas holiday. In Secret Santa, the high school students pick names for a week long secret Santa exchange at school with the secret Santa reveal to take place at the Christmas/Winter dance. The characters are well developed and fun. The author, Sabrina James, does a wonderful job of capturing the teenage spirit/mind, the different groups that comprise various teenagers and the cliques they belong to, as well as the holiday spirit and teenage romantic love. 

I would highly recommend reading Secret Santa by Sabrina James as it is really good! I'm giving Secret Santa a rating of 7.5 stars out of 10 stars. Until my next post, happy reading!!

Thriving Indie Bookstores!!

I enjoy reading that independent bookstores are not just surviving, but thriving! I read an interesting article titled Bookstores Write Plot Twist by John Wilkens. In the article, Wilkens writes the following:

When it comes to the story of American bookstores, many people think they already know the ending: extinction.

Maybe so, but right now there’s an interesting plot twist going on. In San Diego and elsewhere, independent bookstores are making a comeback.

Mysterious Galaxy, located in Kearny Mesa, recently moved to larger quarters, doubling its space and doubling down on its future.

“Brick and mortar booksellers remain very important to the reading culture, maybe even more so than in the past,” said Maryelizabeth Hart, the store’s co-owner. “As more and more channels make a huge assortment of titles available, our knowledge and curation are valuable assets to readers.”

Nationwide, the number of independent stores, which had been as high as about 4,000 in the early 1990s before plummeting to about 1,400, went back over 2,000 this year, according to the American Booksellers Association.
Sales have grown at independent bookstores, too, up about 8 percent in each of the past three years.

John Mutter, editor-in-chief of Shelf Awareness, which publishes a newsletter every weekday about the book industry, said the change in fortunes for mom-and-pop stores is due to several factors, including the collapse of the mega-chain Borders and ongoing contractions at Barnes & Noble.

My parents live in San Diego. So, the next time I make a visit to see them, I'll have to stop by Mysterious Galaxy. I've never been there before, but Mysterious Galaxy sounds like my kind of bookstore. Another book blogger had told me about how awesome Mysterious Galaxy is, so I'm am looking forward to making a visit to this indie bookstore!

Which indie bookstores do you visit that are awesome and thriving?!?!

Logos Books & Records in Santa Cruz, California!

Logos Books & Records Storefront

As many of you may already know, I enjoy visiting indie bookstores! This past weekend, my hubby and I visited an indie bookstore in Santa Cruz, California called Logos Books & Records. 

Logos Books & Records has been in business since 1969 and they buy and sell used, collectible and rare books and music. Logos is a pretty large place as it is a 2 story bookstore.

The ambiance at Logos Books & Records is pretty cool and laid back. I liked the layout of the storefront itself. They had a nice selection of books, records, and compact discs. Additionally, Logos Books & Records has good prices on the items they sell. I walked away with a new copy of Stitch N' Bitch by Debbie Stoller for six dollars.

Overall, my experience was a good one at Logos Books and Records... However, my one and only personal experience with an employee at Logos Books & Records occurred at the time I made my purchase. Let's just say that I was less than impressed with the friendliness and customer service of the sales associate who helped me during checkout. 

Good customer service and a positive experience with friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful sales staff makes a huge difference to shoppers in the retail setting. Retailers should keep this in mind when hiring and training sales staff. It makes all the difference in the world.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

eReaders May Disrupt Your Sleep!

I've personally had sleep issues for years now... Basically, I have a difficult time falling asleep and staying asleep. I do spend quite a bit of time on the computer at night and do use an eReader to read many books. 

I did come an interesting article posted on the New York Times's blog titled How E-Books May Disrupt Your Sleep by Nicholas Bakalar. In the article, Bakalar writes the following:

Compared with a printed book, a light-emitting e-book decreased sleepiness, reduced REM sleep (often called dream sleep), and substantially suppressed the normal bedtime rise of melatonin, the hormone that regulates the sleep and wake cycle. The e-book users took longer to fall asleep and felt sleepier in the morning.

“Much more has to be known about the kind of impact these devices have on our health and well-being,” said the lead author, Anne-Marie Chang, an assistant professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State. “The technology moves quickly, and the science lags.”

So, perhaps some of my sleep issues are related to reading books on an electronic devices at night near bed time!?

2015 Audiobook Challenge!!

Yes, I'm totally excited about participating in the 2015 Audiobook Challenge in the new year as I had so much fun participating in this event this year!!

Thank you to The Book Nympho & Hot Listens for hosting the Audiobook Challenge for the 3rd year in a row! It's a super fun event and I hope others decide to join too.

Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015. You can join at anytime.
• The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2015 than you did in 2014.
• Books must be in audio format (CD, MP3, etc.)
• ANY genres count.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, Shelfari, Facebook, LibraryThing, etc.
• If you’re a blogger grab the button and do a quick post about the challenge to help spread the word. If you’re not a blogger you can help by posting on Facebook or Tweeting about the challenge.

Levels:

• Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5
• Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10
• Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) 10-15
• Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
• Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
• My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+
• Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+

I'm hoping to reach the Marathoner Level in 2015!!

Friday Finds #65

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list...

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

I came away with quite a few eBooks this week from Amazon!! Here are the eBooks downloaded and one physical:

At the End of the Line by Kathryn Longino

Forever Yours This New Year's Night by L. A. Sartor

The Garden on Sunset by Martin Turnbull

The Holly Project by KA Sterritt

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

Thief: The Scarab Beetle Series: #1 by C. L. Stone

Different by Alycia Linwood

Judging a Book By Its Lover by Lauren Leto

Dimitri (Her Russian Protector #2) by Roxy Rivera

The Story of Sushi by Trevor Corson

Phoning Home by Jacob M. Appel

Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers

So, which books did you add to your reading pile and/or wishlist??

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

Top Ten Tuesday --- Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing This Year!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

I wouldn't mind receiving the following ten books from Santa this year:

1. Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers --- I've read the 1st two novels in the His Fair Assassin Trilogy. So, I'm really looking forward to reading the last novel in the His Fair Assassin Trilogy.
2. For All The Tea In China by Sarah Rose --- I love just about all things tea related, so reading about the history of tea is going to be interesting & educational for sure!
3. Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult --- Ms Picoult was one of my favorite new to me authors this year. I'm looking forward to reading Leaving Time as it is the follow novel to her short story, Larger Than Life, which I loved reading earlier this year.
4. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys --- So many book bloggers have been raving about how wonderful this book is... So, I want to check it out for myself!!
5. The Story of Sushi by Trevor Corson --- I love eating sushi and want to learn more about one of my favorite foods!!
6. Life in Motion by Misty Copeland --- I love ballet!! I don't see live ballet performances very often. With that said, 2.5 years ago, my hubby and I had the wonderful opportunity to see American Ballet Theatre perform at the Segerstrom Center For The Arts in Costa Mesa, California. We saw soloist ballerina Misty Copeland perform and she was amazing to see dance!! So, when I learned her memoir was coming out this year, I knew that I wanted to read it.
7. Sekret by Lindsay Smith --- Who can resist a novel about the Soviet KGB and psychic spies!?!?
8. The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo --- This book sounds awesome!! Who wouldn't want to read a "novel infused with Chinese folklore, romantic intrigue, and unexpected supernatural twists."?
9. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell --- Everyone online in the book blogging community has been raving about Rainbow Rowell... Seriously, am I the only person left on Earth who hasn't read one of her novels??
10. Beauty Queens by Libby Bray --- Gotta have a good satire in the mix!! This is another one of those novels that everyone seems to have enjoyed reading.

What books are you looking for to receiving this Christmas from Santa Claus?!?!

Friday Finds #64

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list...

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

I picked up two books this week to add to my ever growing 'to be read' pile as follows:

1. Ah-Choo!: The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold by Jennifer Ackerman

2. The House of Velvet & Glass by Katherine Howe

3. The Nightmare by Lars Kepler

Which books have added to either your wishlist of 'to be read' pile?

2014 Audiobook Challenge Wrap Up Post!!

First off, I'd like to thank The Book Nympho & Hot Listens for hosting the 2014 Audiobook Challenge. I had a blast participating in this challenge as I've seriously become addicted to listening to audiobooks in the past few years. This year I came across some really awesome audiobooks and even discovered some new to me authors in the process!! What more could I ask for?

I listened to 48 audiobooks this year, which far exceeded my expectations as to how many I'd actually listen to in 2014. So, needless to say, I reached the "My Precious" level!!

So, which audiobooks made my top ten list of favorite listens in 2014?? That's a difficult question to answer as I enjoyed listening to so many audiobooks this year. Somehow I managed to narrow down my list favorite audiobooks for 2014 in no specific order as follows:

1. The Soloist by Steve Lopez
2. The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester
3. The Selkie Spell by Sophie Moss
4. Falling Awake by Jayne Ann Krentz
5. Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert.
6. Steinbeck's Ghost by Lewis Buzbee
7. Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad by M. R. James
8. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
9. Scent of a Mate by Milly Taiden
10. The Pluto Files by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Runner up/honorable mention is Sold by Patricia McCormick!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

Top Ten Tuesday --- Top Ten Books I Read In 2014

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Okay, I've read a lot of fabulous books this year in 2014, so narrowing down my list of top ten favorites is going to be difficult to do!! 

1. Larger Than Life by Jodi Picoult

2. Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert

3. The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

4. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

5. The Soloist by Steve Lopez

6. Pure Sex by Lucinda Betts, Bonnie Edwards, & Sasha White

7. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

8. Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

9. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

10. The Selkie Spell by Sophie Moss

Above links are to my reviews of each of the above books in case you wanted to read my personal thoughts for each book on my Top Ten Tuesday post this week!

So, which books became your favorite books in 2014?

Bout of Books 12.0 Sign Up Post

I'm so excited about the upcoming Bout of Books 12.0 Read-A-Thon taking place in January 2015!! Yes, I'll be participating once again in this fun filled reading event. Learn more about Bout of Books 12.0 as follows:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 5th and runs through Sunday, January 11th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 12 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Until my next post, happy reading!! 

James Patterson --- The Henry Ford of Books?

I read a wonderful article in Vanity Fair Magazine about James Patterson titled How James Patterson Became the Ultimate Storyteller by Todd S. Purdum. I learned more about James Patterson in this particular Vanity Fair article than I ever knew about him before. In the above article, Purdum writes the following: 

It seems somehow fitting that James Patterson, the advertising Mad Man turned impresario of the global thriller industry, spends his summers perched high above the Hudson River in Westchester County, halfway between Don Draper’s Ossining and Washington Irving’s Sleepy Hollow, where the Headless Horseman once roamed the roads by night. Perhaps no author in literary history has more seamlessly melded commerce and creepiness to create an international brand, one that has transformed a wide swath of the publishing industry and given Patterson not only a Rockefeller’s river view but a Rockefeller’s bank account to boot.

With 305 million copies of his books in print worldwide, Patterson is the great white shark of novelists, a relentless writing machine who has to keep swimming forward in order to feed, and who, together with his army of about two dozen credited co-writers, has been the planet’s best-selling author since 2001 (ahead of J. K. Rowling, Nora Roberts, Dr. Seuss, and John Grisham). Of all the hardcover fiction sold in the U.S. in 2013, books by Patterson accounted for one out of every 26. Altogether, he has produced more than 130 separate works—the “books by” page in his latest novels actually takes up three full pages. Forbes estimates his income for the year ending last June at $90 million. When I had a chance to ask Patterson about that figure, he at first said, “I don’t know,” and then followed up with “Yeah, probably.”

Learn much more about James Patterson by clicking on the above link to read the full story!! 

The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler

Unabridged Audio Version

I haven't read an Anne Tyler novel in decades and truth be told, I can't remember which title it was that I read all those years ago!!

Anyway, I decided to try another novel by Anne Tyler and listened to the unabridged audio version of the The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler and narrated by Kirby Heyborne. Playing time for The Beginner's Goodbye is approximately 6 hours, 12 minutes.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started listening to The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler. I can say right off the bat that I was blown away by the narration that Kirby Heyborne gave for this novel... A good narrator makes all the difference in the world when listening to an audiobook. Audio quality was also great for this novel as well.

As far as the storyline goes, I enjoyed reading The Beginner's Goodbye very much. I also liked the characters and how the story unfolded. I think the only issue I had with The Beginner's Goodbye was that it was a bit slow in parts. Otherwise it was a good read.

The following is the publisher's summary from Audible:

Anne Tyler gives us a wise, haunting, and deeply moving new novel in which she explores how a middle-aged man, torn apart by the death of his wife, is gradually restored by her frequent appearances: in their house, on the roadway, in the market.

Crippled in his right arm and leg, Aaron spent his childhood fending off a sister who wants to manage him. So when he meets Dorothy, a plain, outspoken, self-dependent young woman, she is like a breath of fresh air. Unhesitatingly he marries her, and they have a relatively happy, unremarkable marriage. But when a tree crashes into their house and Dorothy is killed, Aaron feels as though he has been erased forever. Only Dorothy's unexpected appearances from the dead help him to live in the moment and to find some peace.

Gradually he discovers, as he works in the family's vanity-publishing business, turning out titles that presume to guide beginners through the trials of life, that maybe for this beginner there is a way of saying goodbye.

A beautiful, subtle exploration of loss and recovery, pierced throughout with Anne Tyler's humor, wisdom, and always-penetrating look at human foibles.

I'm giving The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler a rating of 7 stars out of 10 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

6 Bookstores to Visit in Australia!!

I've yet to visit the country of Australia. It's on my bucket list of places to visit for years now. There are so many places I want to see while visiting Australia... Like the usual tourist hotspots: The Great Barrier Reef, The Sydney Opera House, Uluru (aka Ayers Rock) and the Daintree Rainforest, and so on...

And as a booklover, I now have the added desire of visiting at least one of the six must visit bookstores in Australia!! I came across an article on Cheapflights titled 6 Must-Visit Bookstores in Australia by Shanny Matterson. In Matterson's article, I read the following information:

If you’re an avid reader like myself, you may have wondered where all the good bookshops have gone. Just as vinyl records, VHS tapes and dial-up Internet have all been replaced with high-tech digital equivalents, it seems that books have also become a casualty of the 21st century.A side effect of this evolutionary progression – from printed paper to digital downloads – is the abandonment of the good old dusty bookstores that used to house the words of the world’s greatest writers, thinkers and creators.

However, if you dig deep enough, you can still find some little gems hidden within our cities, just waiting for you to discover them. These little slices of literature heaven are keeping the tradition of print publication well and truly alive, and their curators have lovingly added their own special touches. No matter how tech savvy we get in this world, I still crave and desire to wander a bookshop with shelves crammed with masterpieces for me to discover, to cherish, and to lose myself in.

Here are six of the best bookstores in Australia to discover, before they disappear.

Checkout which Australian bookstores made the must visit list!!

Friday Finds #63

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list...

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

This week I added a single title to my collection!! I added an unabridged audio version of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

Which books have you added to your reading collection or reading wishlist???

Tips on How to Keep Your Paperbacks in Good Condition!!

I discovered an article on Lifehacker titled How to Keep Your Paperback Books in Good Condition by Herbert Lui. This is an article for any book lover who wants to learn how to keep their paperback books in good condition! Check out the article and learn a few new tips.

Dashing Through the Snow by Mary Higgins Clark & Carol Higgins Clark

Unabridged Audio Version

December is upon us and I'm in a festive holiday mood!! Eager to celebrate the upcoming Christmas holiday, I've been busy reading or listening to holiday themed books since the beginning of November. 

I recently finished listening to the unabridged version of Dashing Through the Snow by mother and daughter writing duo Mary Higgins Clark & Carol Higgins Clark. Dashing Through the Snow is read by Carol Higgins Clark and the approximate playing time for this novel is 5 hours and 12 minutes.

I enjoyed listening to this easy, breezy, fun filled holiday novel. It offered a large cast of characters, interesting storyline and the right amount of humor and suspense. So, if you're looking forward to a no fuss holiday themed novel to get you through the holiday season, then this may be the one for you.

The following is the publisher's summary for Dashing  Through the Snow, which I discovered from Audible:

From beloved mother-daughter duo Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark comes a holiday treat you won't want to miss.

In the picturesque village of Branscombe, New Hampshire, the townsfolk are all pitching in to prepare for the first (and many hope, annual) Festival of Joy. The night before the festival begins, a group of employees at the local market learn that they have won $160 million in the lottery. One of their co-workers, Duncan, decided at the last minute, on the advice of a pair of crooks masquerading as financial advisers, not to play. Then he goes missing. A second winning lottery ticket was purchased in the next town, but the winner hasn't come forward. Could Duncan have secretly bought it? 

The Clarks' endearing heroes - Alvirah Meehan, the amateur sleuth, and private investigator Regan Reilly - have arrived in Branscombe for the festival. They are just the people to find out what is amiss. As they dig beneath the surface, they find that life in Branscombe is not as tranquil as it appears. So much for an old-fashioned weekend in the country.

I'm giving Dashing Through the Snow a rating of 6.5 stars out of 10 stars. Until my next post, happy reading!!

Love Birding? Checkout These Books on Birding!!

Do you or someone you know love birding?? Then checkout an article on the Star Tribune titled Best birding books by Jim Williams that I came across earlier today. These books may make excellent holiday gifts!

Top Ten Tuesday -- Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2014

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

I had a difficult time deciding which authors to add to this list as I've come across so many wonderful new to me authors this year!! Here are my top ten new to me authors I've read in 2014:

1. Laurie Halse Anderson
2. Lewis Buzbee
3. John Green
4. Jodi Picoult
5. M. R. James
6. Simon Winchester
7. Steve Lopez
8. Sophie Moss
9. Bonnie Edwards
10. Sasha White

Share with me your favorite new to you authors for 2014!!

Gift Ideas For Book Lovers

Looking for some unique gift ideas for the book lover in your life? Sometimes I like to look beyond giving them a gift card to their favorite bookstore or a book on their wishlist. 

So, checkout the following article I stumbled upon titled Gift Ideas For Book Lovers: 12 Presents To Buy Your Bookworm This Christmas by Nicole Massabrook from the International Business Times website as it certainly offers some interesting gift options for book lovers!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

Compass Books @ San Francisco International Airport

Compass Books Store Front in Terminal 2 @ SFO

For the Thanksgiving holiday this year, I flew down to San Diego to spend it with my parents. I departed for San Diego out of the San Francisco International Airport. After passing through the TSA checkpoint in Terminal 2, I discovered the Compass Books store front!! 

Wow, what a lovely bookstore! Compass Books is one of the best airport bookstores I've ever come across, not that I fly all that often. It's a fairly large airport bookstore filled with a diverse selection of the latest book releases and older releases as well --- plus magazines, cards and postcards. I enjoyed interacting with the friendly staff member on hand during my brief visit. Additionally, I enjoyed seeing the staff recommendations for books.

Close up picture of The Press

I also enjoyed viewing "The Press" sculpture created by sculpture Shawn HibmaCronan, which I read on the Compass Books website "represents Freedom and the tremendous impact that type and the written word has had on the history of civilization."

Next time you're flying in or out of the San Francisco International Airport, I encourage avid readers and book lovers alike to make a visit to Compass Books in Terminal 2!

Please share with me, your favorite airport bookstore!

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Banned Books Challenge 2015

Buckling Bookshelves is hosting a Banned Books Reading Challenge for the 3rd year in a row in 2015!! I've decided to participate in this reading challenge as I usually read a few challenged books each year -- Especially around/during Banned Books Week. So, deciding to participate in this reading challenge is a no brainer decision for me.

The Banned Books Challenge 2015 begins on January 1, 2015 and last through December 31, 2015 and is a very low pressure event!! The basic rules are simple and easy to follow. Click on the above link to sign up for the Banned Books Challenge 2015!! 

As far as my personal reading goals go, I'm setting the bar pretty low to keep this challenge as low pressure and fun as possible. For me, this means that I'm planing to read 3-5 challenged books in 2015. So, I'm aiming for The Trouble Maker Level*. If I happened to read more than 5 challenged then kudos to me!

I hope you decide to participate in the Banned Books Challenge along with me in 2015. I feel that the written and spoken word shouldn't be censored, challenged or banned... It's all about the freedom of expression and our ability to decide what we want to read, think, and how to express ourselves as individuals in an open society. 

Until my next post, happy reading!!

* You can read about the levels and select which level you'd like to achieve on the Buckling Bookshelves website by clicking on the Banned Books Challenge 2015 link above.

Friday Finds #62

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list...

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

Last weekend, I supported Small Business Saturday by shopping at a local indie bookstore where I purchased two used cozy mystery novels. The following four titles I purchased were as follows:

1. Evil In Carnations by Kate Collins

2. Night of the Living Dandelion by Kate Collins

3. Secret Santa by Sabrina James

4. Naked in Death by J. D. Robb

I also purchased the following knitting book title from Joann Fabric & Craft Stores for 40% the retail price on Cyber Monday:

Learn to Arm Knit by Leisure Arts