tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800137992267583392024-02-19T02:11:37.724-08:00Oak City BooksLove to the writers who bravely birth books, one word at a time, and the readers who read them. Pull up a seat and stay for a bit. Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-23809046041754148292023-05-08T06:17:00.002-07:002023-05-08T06:17:32.841-07:00Book Review: Things I Wish I Told My Mother<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwR1XFHMrf-cyIV1ckA6K6RBf8e7MjgD-_fNI5UkZx_pBTj2pMlrVuKj9VZa0ww-8SySregEAU5MNjUYv71VY0WA4fQUu3zhVogREcMFtDpERZHt18RCWCuu9tj3SepHAORo3eSH9hUtePemNWH_FpXdlPzZTKdONnWDyvf4iaTxWfgkAcuxoiWUiBw/s828/Things%20I%20wish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="828" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwR1XFHMrf-cyIV1ckA6K6RBf8e7MjgD-_fNI5UkZx_pBTj2pMlrVuKj9VZa0ww-8SySregEAU5MNjUYv71VY0WA4fQUu3zhVogREcMFtDpERZHt18RCWCuu9tj3SepHAORo3eSH9hUtePemNWH_FpXdlPzZTKdONnWDyvf4iaTxWfgkAcuxoiWUiBw/s320/Things%20I%20wish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Welp. I stayed up really late on a Sunday night to finish this one. Despite thinking I knew how it would end, I wasn't prepared for the twist. And, that's why I had to stay up late to finish it. A very different read for me, but still difficult to put down. I'm not sure what kind of reader I'd recommend this one to. But, 4 out of 5 stars for me. Quick, emotional, endearing, and something a lot of us daughters (and mothers) can relate to. #thingsiwishitoldmymother #bookreviews #lovetoread #readandrun #perfectweekendread #deep #4stars #readersofinstagram </span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-59032274775057155062023-05-03T06:39:00.002-07:002023-05-03T06:39:19.312-07:00Book Review: Happy Place by Emily Henry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElCev52GfEqDUtazQtIlXTTQMAsbyOvTFoZAvAt1N994_PTW-lSRUCSvaX3TVAChp6Jl6zuAm_GhUYniB-MT8O3448jcGjlIswutBqK0eaz5DazVmuWc6CsY6cd1CesbWph9DBYqsJEP_0iV_Uq8zB9Q5IexMpu_pmsuaY6tCNq5tm2ga9MYoDDudXg/s4032/Happy%20Place.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElCev52GfEqDUtazQtIlXTTQMAsbyOvTFoZAvAt1N994_PTW-lSRUCSvaX3TVAChp6Jl6zuAm_GhUYniB-MT8O3448jcGjlIswutBqK0eaz5DazVmuWc6CsY6cd1CesbWph9DBYqsJEP_0iV_Uq8zB9Q5IexMpu_pmsuaY6tCNq5tm2ga9MYoDDudXg/s320/Happy%20Place.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Well, this one didn't disappoint! As a huge fan of Emily's work, I was waiting for new release Tuesday to get my hands and eyes on this newest book of hers. Every book she has, I always find myself telling everyone it's my favorite one. This one was no different. The characters, circumstances, and heartfeels were so well written, you'd think it was nonfiction. Her words are so lyrical, and maybe it's just me but I feel like there are gardens of advice beneath the surface of her words and the experiences of her characters. With people so easy to pull for and fall in love with, Emily has a gift. And, what a true talent it is that she can carry us all so deeply and so far away from our own lives that we can be sucked up in hers for a short while, with people that have left etchings on our hearts while we wait for her next books, stories, and journeys to unfold. If you're looking for your next read, if you're in a rut, or devouring books like your favorite spaghetti, this one is the one. #happyplace #bookreview #favoriteauthor #lovetoread #bookwormsofinstagram #readmoreworryless #readandrun #booksmakemehappy @emilyhenrywrites</p><div class="yj6qo"></div>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-49341405861610287232022-12-22T06:59:00.002-08:002022-12-22T06:59:18.069-08:00A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Au6NKyWjUTjg3YZex4hP9MgW8-ZTr2gAGR-dVaa3wRMB0uDhrAQALSKhsYDWcdVxGYg8JMHSWQLA7UyI_leZwOAJkilvNZr0QLT0exj7GBajcA91SxtH3mbA5APNxfbP5PpD3DxGTEtxcJhOaCzGQ50KwZj-m2S0S1towZV9JV68mKoOUS1OsH037g/s2827/A%20Quiet%20Life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2827" data-original-width="2656" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Au6NKyWjUTjg3YZex4hP9MgW8-ZTr2gAGR-dVaa3wRMB0uDhrAQALSKhsYDWcdVxGYg8JMHSWQLA7UyI_leZwOAJkilvNZr0QLT0exj7GBajcA91SxtH3mbA5APNxfbP5PpD3DxGTEtxcJhOaCzGQ50KwZj-m2S0S1towZV9JV68mKoOUS1OsH037g/s320/A%20Quiet%20Life.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><p>4 Stars for A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella. This was the second book written by Ethan, and I read his first one, A Little Hope so I was elated to see he had written another book. </p><p>Even though I gave the book 4 stars, please understand that I loved it. I was moved by it. I crawled up in it and lived in it. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I struggled to keep all the characters straight at the beginning. One of Ethan's strengths as a writer is his character development. So, about the time I was getting to know one, a new chapter would begin and I had to dive in with another one. As the book progressed, I could see how he used this to keep me coming back, ending chapters in a way that kept me waiting. And then? BOOM- they all came together in a beautiful story of heartache, disappointment, and loss. </p><p>I am an underliner. I underline phrases, words, and sometimes I bracket paragraphs that speak to me or stand out as having something extra in them. This book contains multiple underlines and brackets now. As a result, it will remain on my shelf, snuggled up to A Little Hope. </p><p>In A Quiet Life, Ethan pulls in the significance of the cardinal. The bird that stays behind in the winter. The bird who shows up when all the others have left for the winter. It doesn't necessarily DO anything. The cardinal is symbolic for the gift of presence. How profound it was to see strangers in the book, each with their own suffering and loss, with these acquaintances that weren't able to change anything. But, they were able to show the significance of presence. </p><p>The power of seeing and being seen in our struggles is something I have personally observed to be so significant to us as humans. To be seen in our suffering and not have someone try to fix us, minimize our trials, or change the subject. With the pandemic, the physical and emotional distance we have had to adapt to has had major impact in my opinion on our ability to see one another. To be seen. This book does an absolutely wonderful job of showing how important we all are to each other, and how healing it is to have cardinals in our lives. </p><p>I can imagine this book would be difficult for those who have lost someone recently. I can also see how it could be refreshing, a breath, a beacon for those who feel unsure about tomorrow and how to move forward. And, may we never forget the impact of being someone's cardinal today, of the gift of presence. Of seeing. During the holidays, and for the rest of the year as well. We're all just walking each other home. </p><p>#aquietlife #bookstagram #readaholic #sendmebooks #readforjoy #readtogrow #4stars #bookreview #ethanjoella @joellawriting #cardinal #humanity #loveoneanother </p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-31203827467383048272022-10-28T06:32:00.000-07:002022-10-28T06:32:01.921-07:00These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzRPNUghKvOGgdEInAq_A4BRgiQiXNvKCtb_9WtjbrdWA4JkHUed_iyNcu8mNaNWbNdrnQzRERB_deUCZBSocdIs8OduR8BmNsxaiNjRvVv6826pT5EzU9FCcVgjXoODzgJWXuhvAwP2ZVKsNSVU1aHofuJGB0MMVeX6VSJRvBfS98K-89mXUn2o7SA/s4032/these%20silent%20woods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzRPNUghKvOGgdEInAq_A4BRgiQiXNvKCtb_9WtjbrdWA4JkHUed_iyNcu8mNaNWbNdrnQzRERB_deUCZBSocdIs8OduR8BmNsxaiNjRvVv6826pT5EzU9FCcVgjXoODzgJWXuhvAwP2ZVKsNSVU1aHofuJGB0MMVeX6VSJRvBfS98K-89mXUn2o7SA/s320/these%20silent%20woods.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />5/5 Stars for These Silent Woods. Nothing brings a book blogger out of an almost year in hiding like a solid book. I haven't stopped reading, of course. But, I haven't been reviewing books like before. But then These Silent Woods happened. I picked it up after reading the back of it @bncary. I gobbled it up in 3 days, which is really fast right now for me, considering all the shuffling of the kids, work things, and running I've been doing. <p></p><p>Friends, I am not kidding when I tell you this one is going to sit next to Where the Crawdads Sing. I'm also not kidding when I tell you I may have liked it even MORE. It's written so lyrically well, the words just painted the setting and the characters with such detail that I was there, off the grid and on the edge of the pages with wide eyes and anticipation. </p><p>It's been a long time since I've read a book this good. I don't want to give too much of it away. It is suspenseful but not gory. It is heartwarming but not a sobfest. It is a hell of a book for the crispy fall we are having. I wish I could tell you I'd let you borrow it. But, I want to know I have it. </p><p>So, here's the book that got me back to writing book reviews. Because you NEED to know about this one. </p><p>@kimicgrant please keep writing more. And, thank you for the beautiful gift of These Silent Woods and the characters I grew to love. I am sure I will go back to them over the years. And, I'll introduce others. #thesesilentwoods #bookstagram #bookreviews #5stars #mustread #pageturner #oakcitybook #booknerd #sendmebooks @stmartinspress @macmillanusa #readtolive #readforescape #readtogrow</p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-30551167910960590172022-02-07T12:18:00.000-08:002022-02-07T12:18:00.433-08:00Book Review: Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSeUFjCAUp3ALI48XRG4Q9LqcQlyUoYncf1WBiW2bmhDTYF8ClHbowzr0Wh-99JFkW_wlkUnKC8r4axuxh8p6WQLDvE2dXf2ByICYgZqFK35-DHjWiLNkxPAKfKdHgLA3YCglc_Xg-mj0fh6_O7yZ2rqkKzoT7ynJdApw-s7oDOZmEzHLajU7-4b-xLQ=s1800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSeUFjCAUp3ALI48XRG4Q9LqcQlyUoYncf1WBiW2bmhDTYF8ClHbowzr0Wh-99JFkW_wlkUnKC8r4axuxh8p6WQLDvE2dXf2ByICYgZqFK35-DHjWiLNkxPAKfKdHgLA3YCglc_Xg-mj0fh6_O7yZ2rqkKzoT7ynJdApw-s7oDOZmEzHLajU7-4b-xLQ=s320" width="256" /></a></div>Y'all. I just couldn't finish this one, after it has received great reviews and has been placed in all the prominent places in my local bookstore and all over my bookstagram feed. I wanted to love this one, as this was my first pandemic read, a book truly capturing the pandemic with a new perspective. I found that I was bored at the beginning and middle by the way upper class folks must be coping with their difficult, privileged lives. I think we can all relate to stocking up on the spirits, crackers, and sequestering ourselves away from civilization. But, I don't know any one that has bungalows and invited their friends over to live in them, secluded and enjoying the high life for months on end. That being said, maybe I'm overly sensitive to the romanticism that I felt when reading this, page after page. It got to be too much and I wanted to feel and see some of myself and my experiences in the book. This book was not for me, and I have so many books lined up waiting, that it's time for me to move on to the next bouquet of words. #3stars #couldntfinish #ourcountryfriends #reallytried #betterlucknextbook #bookreviews #honest #everyonegetsanopinion<p></p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-80139993008079230582022-02-01T05:54:00.001-08:002022-02-01T05:54:04.725-08:00Book Review: A Little Hope by Ethan Joella<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0Xqa9TYIvayW5hqEkflia1Qt_uor-cCzxU9flgWqniu7u18pnGtRkVWlbrJ_7VwNWX0k0xfb55iv5V7XYBXkTink903-hjQfAUia4kXKs5yfU0YbFh_04-bM_X-6wMJMhg9jGbEsBwWChd74JY0ltSfCEMV7uvsXGCHOBPkUj-2PSfKFgYyitIw6j2Q=s3261" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3261" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0Xqa9TYIvayW5hqEkflia1Qt_uor-cCzxU9flgWqniu7u18pnGtRkVWlbrJ_7VwNWX0k0xfb55iv5V7XYBXkTink903-hjQfAUia4kXKs5yfU0YbFh_04-bM_X-6wMJMhg9jGbEsBwWChd74JY0ltSfCEMV7uvsXGCHOBPkUj-2PSfKFgYyitIw6j2Q=s320" width="297" /></a></div>5 Stars for A Little Hope by Ethan Joella. I found A Little Hope at BN 50% off. Maybe I needed a little hope and decided, at 50%, it would be worth it. I was right. Chapter 1 hooked me. So much so, that I messaged Ethan myself and let him know I was hooked. Sometimes, you read a book and meet these amazing characters and wonder how someone could create something from a blank page that you can see so clearly and relate to so well. This was that book. Multiple characters, chapter after chapter contained so much depth and description that I was committed to the outcomes of each of them, and thoroughly enjoyed how they were all connected by grief, sorrow, and loss. But also, hope. I will remain a little bitter about one of the twists in the book. Without letting too many details fly here, I'll be emailing Ethan again about it. But, in the end I understood that it was all part of the realness of the story. If you're looking for a book that feels very real, allows you not to feel so alone, and shines a light on the ray of hope we are all continually walking towards even though we can't see it, this book is your next read. Thank me later. I check my messages. #alittlehope #5stars #bookfor2022 #wellwritten #risingstarauthor #quickread #sendmebooks #booklover #bookreviewsforfun #lovewriters #lovereaders @joellawriting<p></p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-29160411450414297922022-01-28T06:02:00.002-08:002022-01-28T06:02:33.840-08:00Book Review: Gone With The Wind<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHGbdRWH0qrNFcbxWkSQclDR51ncVyvRmSPV7CFUUZdAhUnQ2so9ixT1Iserp5_6nX-JI27aWg87ml289TMA1FoM294C91MYtvCRaodfED9VgDEuYmrIhzgP8tv0WEB_YrJXhyWRkGDSjKy04MSPnhAoyPZGgW0io9D9AwUGBNXj9Sas9HkTcrmXnyOQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHGbdRWH0qrNFcbxWkSQclDR51ncVyvRmSPV7CFUUZdAhUnQ2so9ixT1Iserp5_6nX-JI27aWg87ml289TMA1FoM294C91MYtvCRaodfED9VgDEuYmrIhzgP8tv0WEB_YrJXhyWRkGDSjKy04MSPnhAoyPZGgW0io9D9AwUGBNXj9Sas9HkTcrmXnyOQ=s320" width="240" /></a></div>Gone With The Wind is such a majorly controversial book. There were so many parts that made my head spin. Alternatively, what an interesting and valuable perspective on historical happenings in the South. This is officially the longest book I've ever read. I was immediately hooked. That being said, I feel that the book is so controversial that it's probably going to disappear from shelves and reading lists and that makes me a little sad. I feel the magic of the writing and the important story (although fiction) would be lost today if this book was re-released or discussed because of the racial themes, descriptions, and happenings. All of that to say, personally I think it's a gem of a book. It's heartbreaking and enlightening. The characters are desperate and vulnerable. A true classic with lots of fuel for heated and loving discussions. Unpredictable, startling, and a cliff-hanger of an ending. 5 bold stars. #margaretmitchell #gonewiththewind #thebookisbetter #historicalread #deepsouth #controversialread #importantstory #bookreview #5stars #sendmebooks #longestbookeverread <br /><p></p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-76665409150905330382021-12-03T12:49:00.000-08:002021-12-03T12:49:45.978-08:00Book Review: Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry Book 2 in The Giver Series<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggKhTRyKP1F3A4HIP4ch3hDN_bZTjvwJn75mP2krFfcgVCfHntuMUN1hpRfQQdr5VEl5svU4tI8b9hsFJPWwaBSplVtVFy9vFLAZuYQN2MxmN4byvzlkzJYmyFWn6fOZ403JCpL3WC2mGo39A3Bk6D8wgIY226ez3b6M3gczIrOi_p2JBiQyYnXHFuIQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggKhTRyKP1F3A4HIP4ch3hDN_bZTjvwJn75mP2krFfcgVCfHntuMUN1hpRfQQdr5VEl5svU4tI8b9hsFJPWwaBSplVtVFy9vFLAZuYQN2MxmN4byvzlkzJYmyFWn6fOZ403JCpL3WC2mGo39A3Bk6D8wgIY226ez3b6M3gczIrOi_p2JBiQyYnXHFuIQ=s320" width="240" /></a></div>5 Stars for Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry. Book 2 in The Giver series, this one did not disappoint. It was different enough from The Giver with many of the same themes and @loislowrywriter painted the characters with a fine-haired brush. Intricately done, with poised and deliberate attention to details, Gathering Blue caused me to slow down and look around in my own life, as I did with The Giver. Even though Gathering Blue is meant to be book 2 in the series, it could be read as a standalone novel. But, it's obvious now that despite each book having their own ups and downs, there is a more sinister rumbling going on, ominous and foreboding. Needless to say, I'm excited to dive into Book 3. This series is different from anything I've ever read. It's refreshing and the details are written so intentionally, it's easy to get sucked in quickly. It's also a much needed reminder for humanity of our great responsibility to each other, our connectedness, and our ability to see the light and sometimes dark in others. I love the broken characters. And, their individual triumphs and relationships. A great read! #5stars #bookreview #highlyrecommend #nextseries #loislowry #gatheringblue #readgoodbooks #underrated #symbolicread #greatfiction <p></p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-54785989203093567022021-12-02T05:24:00.000-08:002021-12-02T05:24:19.065-08:00Book Review: In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIUFsRV8NMTXqko6RTqzRPUGls5J9JBOlQU8DWKd6QdAO1IHbbjjVXik0Gtfcq27rMaCxaw7urZJKgUuziQ5nGyq7FQ3S9r_O2GsPbUtOcwtWfn7O-K3hLn4mr3TWi1anye3WM95gSf-lj-iHMb_vRN0gjEJxAb7FGyctkrnRK82A9eGwyINYmI6WNkw=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIUFsRV8NMTXqko6RTqzRPUGls5J9JBOlQU8DWKd6QdAO1IHbbjjVXik0Gtfcq27rMaCxaw7urZJKgUuziQ5nGyq7FQ3S9r_O2GsPbUtOcwtWfn7O-K3hLn4mr3TWi1anye3WM95gSf-lj-iHMb_vRN0gjEJxAb7FGyctkrnRK82A9eGwyINYmI6WNkw=s320" width="240" /></a></div>A wishy-washy 3 stars for In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren. I don't remember the last time I was so on the fence about a book. The first half was a solid 3 stars. The second half was a strong 4 stars. Maelyn (Mae) Jones has been in love with a close family friend for as long as she can remember. Their families spend the Christmas holiday together every year in a cabin and have a lifetime of memories. When they receive some unexpected news, Mae keeps waking up and experiencing the same few days over and over. She decides to be brave and up front about her feelings, and circumstances begin to change around her. A feel good book? Absolutely. A struggle at the beginning when she keeps reliving the same moments over and over? Also absolutely. Once the days stopped repeating, I found that I didn't want to put it down. This was a book of the month of mine from last year that I never got around to reading. I'm happy I put it on my holiday reading list and also happy that I pushed through to the end of this one. What are you reading for the holidays? Last year, I gobbled up the Elin Hilderbrand Winter Series and really enjoyed all 4 books. #3stars #bookreview #holidayreads #inaholidaze #christinalauren #bookofthemonth #lovetoread #booknerd #instabooks #mixedreviewOak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-25563313791390641612021-11-30T05:57:00.002-08:002021-11-30T05:57:58.017-08:00Book Review: The Giver<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirkq6i77UsFq_S63yb4GNwPsP2pSI8RD6raLR_exiRs-N5YopugStkwsbieYHHzVCtjigLA1TqoNRjtwaEdpe1EXnof7fpRN4eyYuAYICT5QrpVpAo5o8dm0Md2Hyotflg54zEwU82OU_q_8PNdOrfZv00BTomNPkMD7rAClx-Pla3Y6tZWXOlIuHNTA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1809" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirkq6i77UsFq_S63yb4GNwPsP2pSI8RD6raLR_exiRs-N5YopugStkwsbieYHHzVCtjigLA1TqoNRjtwaEdpe1EXnof7fpRN4eyYuAYICT5QrpVpAo5o8dm0Md2Hyotflg54zEwU82OU_q_8PNdOrfZv00BTomNPkMD7rAClx-Pla3Y6tZWXOlIuHNTA=s320" width="283" /></a></div>5 Moving Stars for The Giver by Lois Lowry. Maybe it's only as adults we can look back with wise eyes and understand the required reading of our pasts. My oldest has been assigned The Giver for school, due in January with a book report. He told me after being about 1/4 of the way in that I needed to read it. Recommendations from a middle schooler? OK. This is something I can get behind. It must be REALLY good. I ordered myself a copy. Started it at 9pm Saturday night. I was introduced to the world of Jonas. I slept and had vivid dreams about the book. By noon on Sunday, I was finished with the book. Reeling. My son has a few chapters left. I ordered the rest of the books in the series. THERE IS A SERIES. I'm glad it's required reading. I can't help but think how different the world would be if everyone read it as adults. It's futuristic, it's scary in the way that Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale is scary. Only, everything is perfect. There is no pain. The world is colorless. It's mind-blowing. If you're looking for some required reading to dig up, with some perspective that will have you looking at the autumn leaves and winter snow with new eyes, The Giver is just the book for you. #5stars #bookreview #thegiver #requiredreading #canwemandatebooks #mandatoryread #eyeopening #lovebooks #loislowry @loislowrywriter<p></p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-29375301940721998292021-11-30T05:47:00.000-08:002021-11-30T05:47:05.205-08:00Book Review: It Ends With Us<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi9OFwLi3jPk_2vQ4bqsWONtccs3CPLXOatvky0gIUPwAGQvAz8dEk6nls-qBf2Z9KiM4VRkZBLQ_LKq1m8WTsp0Zkm7iIns0KRbF7Owz9eYQJzLl7wTlFr0fmNZYfv7HqHzvSCNHuL1ochDRKW9ETtUANOhBTEX43ldrZ1lxeMrPcSDpLZjHca1ZTOA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi9OFwLi3jPk_2vQ4bqsWONtccs3CPLXOatvky0gIUPwAGQvAz8dEk6nls-qBf2Z9KiM4VRkZBLQ_LKq1m8WTsp0Zkm7iIns0KRbF7Owz9eYQJzLl7wTlFr0fmNZYfv7HqHzvSCNHuL1ochDRKW9ETtUANOhBTEX43ldrZ1lxeMrPcSDpLZjHca1ZTOA=s320" width="240" /></a></div>5 Stars for It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover! A page-turner! This was my second book by Colleen Hoover and although completely different than the previous book I read by her, it was just as good! It Ends With Us was powerful, jarring, and extremely eye-opening. I gained new insights about what it is like for women who are abused and why they continue to stay. Told with honesty, integrity, and grippingly suspenseful details, Colleen wraps us up in her characters in the way that only she knows how to do. I cheered for the victim, I was full of hope for the villain. This may be one of the best books I've read this year and is for sure one to discuss in small groups, instaworld, and even with strangers on the bus that may be reading it. It's that good. #colleenhoover #itendswithus #gripping #5stars #quickread #instabook #bookreviews #readgoodbooks #behindonreviews #readtoescape #bookfortravel #flightread #pageturner @colleenhoover<p></p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-29843135097867826942021-11-04T12:23:00.001-07:002021-11-04T12:23:18.577-07:00Two Book Reviews in ONE!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVIJiAFwE1wlqRQTorEzIoLOS2QUNY0YNr5aGXG7LZouxD0ACkwulNXkdvV1fV68XI_Ilt-GFfg_U0B2gy_7ePW2fU4fNlHQR3QlPy_-Nx0hlGI6hq8Ihh1sKj7Vr_gQV4z5Z8p1Gt96nv58jY9uNPta2RJJEG6N5YnTn7tSSpdvFq61DeNdfoAQONsA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVIJiAFwE1wlqRQTorEzIoLOS2QUNY0YNr5aGXG7LZouxD0ACkwulNXkdvV1fV68XI_Ilt-GFfg_U0B2gy_7ePW2fU4fNlHQR3QlPy_-Nx0hlGI6hq8Ihh1sKj7Vr_gQV4z5Z8p1Gt96nv58jY9uNPta2RJJEG6N5YnTn7tSSpdvFq61DeNdfoAQONsA=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br />Both 5 Stars, very similar books about Solitude and an inward journey for peace and acceptance, Fifty Days of Solitude by Doris Grumbach and A Year by the Sea by Joan Anderson both spoke to me on a very deep and personal level. Quite different as far as the perspective from the storyteller, and quite different reasons for seeking solitude, both stories are so inspirational and I found myself underlining them both with understanding and I identified with so much of the thoughts of the authors.<p></p><p>It seems I am on a memoir/ non-fiction binge right now. I don't know why that is. Maybe I'm just needing to hear from real people about circumstances that drove them away from the world, and why. And, just how did they come out on the other side?</p><p>I am inundated with technology. With the internet. Noise. TV. Pings. Even music. So much stimulation. And, I long for a simple life, sheltering my soul and my light from the darkness that comes from over-stimulation and over-production. </p><p>I find myself saying the following (not in either book, strictly mine)-</p><p>1. Even Jesus had to leave civilization by himself to seek peace, pray, and recharge. </p><p>2. Even the crops in the fields have to be rotated in order for the soil to be remain productive.</p><p>So, if you're also looking for some insight. Some real stories about leaving all the things and stress behind on a search for a more creative life, either from choice or from circumstances outside of your control, I think you'll really like both of these books. </p><p>Happy Reading dear friends!</p><p>#5stars #memoirs #olderbooksaregoodtoo #readtounderstand #readtogrow #sendmebooks #whenigrowupiwanttoreadandwrite #bloggerforfun #solitude #peace #innergrowth #creativelife </p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-9872805154458915962021-11-04T12:08:00.003-07:002021-11-04T12:08:51.926-07:00Book Review: A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf<p> 5 Stars!</p><p>Lyrically written, full of descriptions that take you right in the middle of the wilderness, this book by John Muir is exactly what I was craving. </p><p><br /></p><p>A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf was eye-opening. What a brave man! What a visionary! And, what a profound and spiritual being John Muir seems to be. </p><p><br /></p><p>When I started reading A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf, my hope was that the book would satisfy my deep desire and longing to escape on my own for a bit in solitude. What I found, page after page, word after word and journal entry after journal entry, was that it only reiterated all of the reasons I long for solitude on a daily basis. And, what a blessed and fortunate man, to leave all the things "comfortable," to most for his own "comfort." </p><p><br /></p><p>Highly recommend this one if you're looking for a non-fiction, inspirational, colorful, and historic read. </p><p><br /></p><p>#readtoescape #legend #5 stars #bookreviews #Ilovetoread #readthechange #environmentalist #loveroftrees #floraandfauna </p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-70921901368453719162021-10-11T06:40:00.002-07:002021-10-11T06:40:37.825-07:00Book Review: The Wish by Nicholas Sparks<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKtDGcC_kb7h0zk-Dt30QX-s-L6AjCzTKjoGkuNLl7LRa2a9rNEHUS3bKVzV5UbLRNm2eSFvjuCj6IY5wUY1QpozZAszc8NlKNv1NnPOg2LSdGTs3nn34Lz5jtgXH-44RLXGIE0Y1amfxLMBUFcpnhfidZqx_34dStMpDtq4_NWJYygAWdJFC0Yh9cXA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKtDGcC_kb7h0zk-Dt30QX-s-L6AjCzTKjoGkuNLl7LRa2a9rNEHUS3bKVzV5UbLRNm2eSFvjuCj6IY5wUY1QpozZAszc8NlKNv1NnPOg2LSdGTs3nn34Lz5jtgXH-44RLXGIE0Y1amfxLMBUFcpnhfidZqx_34dStMpDtq4_NWJYygAWdJFC0Yh9cXA=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br />5 Tear-Jerking Stars for The Wish by Nicholas Sparks. Having read every Nicholas Sparks novel, I was itching to get my hands on the The Wish. I've been on a thriller cadence lately so I wasn't sure if I was ready for a Nicholas Sparks, if you know what I mean. 12 pages in, I texted my bestie that I was hooked. <p></p><p>Amazing characters, the dreamy setting and heart-wrenching struggles that make us all love Nicholas Sparks were turned up a notch in The Wish. A love story without the ending I hoped for, but with a big happy twist at the end set things right and had the tears falling by the last page. I couldn't put this one down. And, if you have a Nicholas Sparks fan in your life, this is a great one for them to curl up with this fall. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll wake up a little to things you may take for granted. You'll think about the family members that love you most and the ones that have never loved you like you've needed. </p><p>As Mick Jagger says, "You can't always get what you want. You can't always get what you want. But, if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need." </p><p>Thank you to my friends @grandcentralpub for the advanced copy of this one. And, to @nicholassparks for doing what you do best and making it different and the same, every time. This world surely needs dependable storytellers like you!</p><p>#5stars #thewish #nicholassparks #fallread #booktosnuggleupwith #lovestory #withatwist #sendmebooks #bookreviews #readgoodbooks #finishedin2days</p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-47896816682760806582021-09-13T07:29:00.003-07:002021-09-13T07:29:17.141-07:00Book Review: That Summer by Jennifer Weiner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzSwrMj6AG8GhAyBwAPBWt6vntJ4LtFgy2oR7TZ7f4bcLCIIfiJscO4ILqHpV4uPHjpInvnsUhp6LhLQ5eDhfvgbc973AYpY5BrJBLck-QUOW-kAcWE-pEjE3icx-iv5OKIpxUF_q3cov/s2048/that+summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzSwrMj6AG8GhAyBwAPBWt6vntJ4LtFgy2oR7TZ7f4bcLCIIfiJscO4ILqHpV4uPHjpInvnsUhp6LhLQ5eDhfvgbc973AYpY5BrJBLck-QUOW-kAcWE-pEjE3icx-iv5OKIpxUF_q3cov/s320/that+summer.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />4 stars for That Summer by @jenniferweinerwrites! I lugged this one around for a few weeks with me to baseball practice and on dewy mornings out on the porch. It wasn't a quick read for me but great nonetheless. Because I had to read it in pieces over the period of a few weeks, I had a difficult time keeping the Dianas straight at the beginning. Two Dianas have more in common than their names. What starts out as seeking revenge leads to a twist and a great ending! #4stars #bookreviews #readgoodbooks #summerreading #thatsummer #sendmebooks </span></div>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-77839211983173727872021-07-15T09:47:00.000-07:002021-07-15T09:47:07.551-07:00Book Review: What We Find by Robyn Carr<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHV0voFWM1BlnjDlucYLvR34I3-McpRagK0yrNa2Xce2W66yyC5pqiGauTUixyTBFWDC6aN6M0348kmcgFrIT37x0uu5XcnzNwUEss887NXCmMK7Dfxa684ow6Le9yDnvIgnoE5Vb8muw/s2048/what+we+find+cover+by+Robyn+Carr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHV0voFWM1BlnjDlucYLvR34I3-McpRagK0yrNa2Xce2W66yyC5pqiGauTUixyTBFWDC6aN6M0348kmcgFrIT37x0uu5XcnzNwUEss887NXCmMK7Dfxa684ow6Le9yDnvIgnoE5Vb8muw/s320/what+we+find+cover+by+Robyn+Carr.jpg" /></a></div>5 Stars for What We Find by Robyn Carr. <p></p><p>A slow build, a happy ending. Somewhat predictable for me in a time when I needed a good, predictable read. </p><p>Robyn created loveable characters in a beautiful setting, making this book a joy to read and a great escape. </p><p>Two characters find out what really matters when they retreat to a campground after life deals them some crappy cards. </p><p>I'm excited this is part of a series, I'm looking forward to what comes next for Cal and Maggie. </p><p>Great book @robyncarrwriter, keep them coming!</p><p>#slowbuild #happyending #lovebookcharacters #5 stars #robyncarr #summerread #sendmebooks #bookreviews #readnext </p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-18488006027351793082021-07-15T09:42:00.000-07:002021-07-15T09:42:35.376-07:00Book Review: The Wreckage Of My Presence by Casey Wilson<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEp6aARXvRfpbwIry1gDEUFzR5mqppsHAz1QNR1geEw4lZw5uhoLVtb4QE1hFPe-C2LzNqVlu-95K8Lv98U5wP7nL5Cwa-g1OqjsJRrUBQouGiUyoe783_tT_D9X8DeV-EfaZwinRZGBK/s2048/The+Wreckage+of+my+presence+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEp6aARXvRfpbwIry1gDEUFzR5mqppsHAz1QNR1geEw4lZw5uhoLVtb4QE1hFPe-C2LzNqVlu-95K8Lv98U5wP7nL5Cwa-g1OqjsJRrUBQouGiUyoe783_tT_D9X8DeV-EfaZwinRZGBK/s320/The+Wreckage+of+my+presence+cover.jpg" /></a></div>4 stars for The Wreckage Of My Presence by Casey Wilson. Equal parts funny and moving, I found tears rolling down my face on page 283 in a letter Casey wrote to her deceased mother. <p></p><p> I would have never picked this one up if not for Drew Barrymore. When I saw Drew openly weeping and shouting its praises on her instagram, I knew I had to pick up my copy and dive in. Unapologetically, brutally candid, open and honest about everything from her past relationships to her failed attempts to find jobs, Casey has a knack for writing in a way that will make you feel like you are a treasured friend and confidant of hers. </p><p>#readgoodbooks #newrelease #sendmebooks #4starreview #thewreckageofmypresence #caseywilson #nonfiction #essays #quickread</p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-11308190916631042242021-06-30T10:53:00.002-07:002021-06-30T10:53:52.300-07:00Book Review: Wintering by Katherine May<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0bchbfPDqfp1OUcSIqkeCk2zqQVh8-NZgtM222rvol_QOJ2HZb1Drs5VbR-f5NgfZy4yb0FtM-DeHhRFuE9_7xkKX30Tr4b5HF3IN-JOcsTYD10OmZG3O_mkAWv2KpwbN_TRJonQk8PC/s2048/wintering+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0bchbfPDqfp1OUcSIqkeCk2zqQVh8-NZgtM222rvol_QOJ2HZb1Drs5VbR-f5NgfZy4yb0FtM-DeHhRFuE9_7xkKX30Tr4b5HF3IN-JOcsTYD10OmZG3O_mkAWv2KpwbN_TRJonQk8PC/s320/wintering+cover.jpg" /></a></div>5 moving stars for Wintering by Katherine May. <p></p><p>You all know that for all kinds of reasons, I limit my non-fiction reads. </p><p>Add this one to the must-read list.</p><p>I'm not sure where I heard about Wintering but I was immediately intrigued with this notion of "winter," as it relates both physically and figuratively. </p><p>I'm a "Wintering," pro. A hunker-downer. A cozy-sock and soft blanket guru. This book talks about how life has all kinds of seasons, and some are longer than others. Wintering is hard on your soul, calls on you to dig deeper within, to hold on tight, to be patient. To sit. Mull. Simmer. Rest. Be quiet. The author shares how she has gone through so many winters. How they can be excruciating and jarring. Catch you off guard, knock you out of sync with everything and everyone. </p><p>For all of those reasons, I gobbled it up quickly and underlined A LOT. </p><p>#wintering #greatread #nonfiction #memoir #readgoodbooks #growyourthinking #stretchyourmind #learnnewthings #sendmebooks #bookreview #5stars #introvertbook #lovetoread</p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-86439477848887840582021-06-14T07:26:00.001-07:002021-06-14T07:26:08.975-07:00Book Review: Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_78f39RMED8xQwdFUCpg4aBlRVmiJ9M6YJEjxz9beBVsbyDGjmwcHWIlBKtazzKUquEuaugIh71EGLB-HE0M-qdt3NEZhKSA1eWwzy-hhTVFBaXZ6qlaRlULBuvUD9GkYWQIdnnvsk3ew/s2048/Evvie+Drake+starts+over+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_78f39RMED8xQwdFUCpg4aBlRVmiJ9M6YJEjxz9beBVsbyDGjmwcHWIlBKtazzKUquEuaugIh71EGLB-HE0M-qdt3NEZhKSA1eWwzy-hhTVFBaXZ6qlaRlULBuvUD9GkYWQIdnnvsk3ew/s320/Evvie+Drake+starts+over+cover.jpg" /></a></div>Another happy 5 stars for Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes. <p></p><p>If you loved Emily Henry's Beach Read and People We Meet On Vacation, you'll also love this one. </p><p>A feel good book and what I would call an easy read. It's filled cover to cover with playful characters and witty dialogue between them. I found it hard to put down, and did read during dinner last night. </p><p>This one would make another great addition to the beach bag, if you're looking for ideas. </p><p>#summerreading #booksofsummer #evviedrakestartsover #lindaholmes #readgoodbooks #summerreadingisthebest #letsread #vacationbook #staycationbook #quickread #5stars #bookreviews #sendmebooks #lifeishort #readalot #nerdalert #loveabook #feelgoodbook @lindaholmes97</p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-69722338515237358992021-06-08T12:27:00.000-07:002021-06-08T12:27:34.108-07:00Book Review: The Shell Collector by Nancy Naigle<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCubq8XWJZSqqZHi1rsZWZvg8lRLHlAAIeqJgw7ELXPT3HfeVyRDgfEIuFLqcI9taWbSIVJoBEGWm6CLpYt0YsqVI_3llM1ds4Tw2H1jHB_4m4lrzodvHDkQTyFf8kXtu5viowMiuVCncZ/s2048/the+shell+collector.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCubq8XWJZSqqZHi1rsZWZvg8lRLHlAAIeqJgw7ELXPT3HfeVyRDgfEIuFLqcI9taWbSIVJoBEGWm6CLpYt0YsqVI_3llM1ds4Tw2H1jHB_4m4lrzodvHDkQTyFf8kXtu5viowMiuVCncZ/s320/the+shell+collector.jpg" /></a></div>5 Stars for The Shell Collector, by Nancy Naigle! @Nancynaigle<p></p><p>I have to admit, it took me a little bit to get into this one. I felt like I knew where the story was headed, that it was predictable. </p><p>What I wasn't prepared for was the way the characters just sucked me right in. </p><p>A widowed military wife heads to the coast to start a new life with 2 small children, a sad heart, and memories. She learns that sometimes, we have to ask for help. And, when we open up our hearts, our families, and our lives to hope and help, things happen as they should. </p><p>I laughed. I cried. Once I got a few pages into this one, I couldn't put it down. </p><p>If you're looking for a good beach read, this one will do just the trick! The setting, the people, and the struggles will have you longing for that coastal life we all dream of here in the city.</p><p>#beachread #nancynaigle #quickread #coastallife #shellcollector #seashells #ncauthor #loveanauthor #readmorebooks #readgoodthings #takeavacationinabook #sand #waves #heartwarming </p><p><br /></p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-35565237316693104882021-05-28T05:42:00.002-07:002021-05-28T05:42:18.154-07:00Book Review: People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPORoJgvly36Tqw7P9m8gb9BfY2unUcGg6RDtvq5qvlxCeUPHsZzmSX_5MyW3AM3K-i4LvXP2Gu4QH5OjbLl1z5tq1vOB_kEWSLL5p3RWVYOhCzYCInA0kg0Rh92EOYtYlPerzJy-xRr76/s2048/the+people+we+meet+on+vacation+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1642" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPORoJgvly36Tqw7P9m8gb9BfY2unUcGg6RDtvq5qvlxCeUPHsZzmSX_5MyW3AM3K-i4LvXP2Gu4QH5OjbLl1z5tq1vOB_kEWSLL5p3RWVYOhCzYCInA0kg0Rh92EOYtYlPerzJy-xRr76/s320/the+people+we+meet+on+vacation+cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>5 Stars for People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry. <p></p><p>Oh, Poppy and Alex. My goodness, what a story. Was this book as good as Emily Henry's last book? Definitely yes. Is this book a must read? Definitely yes. Why? Well, because I felt I was with them on all of these summer vacations- in every detail, right down to the humidity and sticky bar floors. </p><p>Emily's ability to describe the surroundings has this magical way of putting the reader right with her characters. </p><p>A quick read. </p><p>Perfect for a book hangover or rut. Perfect for when you don't know what you want to read next. </p><p>It will break your heart and bring you full circle. You won't be able to put it down. </p><p>I double-dog dare you to try.</p><p>Meanwhile, I'll be <strike>patiently</strike> impatiently waiting for more books by @emilyhenrywrites. </p><p>Maybe I'm taking a break from thrillers and mysteries. Is "feel good book," a new genre? If so, I'm so in. And, I'm bringing this book with me. In flipflops with big celeb sunglasses. </p><p>Hello summer!</p><p>#greatread #quickread #amazingcharacters #inlovewithAlex #peoplewemeetonvacation #setting #emilyhenry #summerreadinglist #beachbook #carbook #bookhangoversolution #youwillloveit</p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-64902483724658051722021-05-27T07:38:00.002-07:002021-05-27T08:03:55.991-07:00Book Review: It's Already Tomorrow Here by Lucetta Zaytoun<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhv5U5nFJ9JgisDAW-DBovAWAekbf7FNIEorJfecS5NSfDDvi_Ay3fjBxr_7kLzpHZnkMV0YO7hHEgVtUykenCPLk_42SgxJ5ZAEwe5LDQ1_oT9b0IFlCQn3v4XipywpYmyvyekKwOJUjz/s2048/It+already+tomorrow+here+cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhv5U5nFJ9JgisDAW-DBovAWAekbf7FNIEorJfecS5NSfDDvi_Ay3fjBxr_7kLzpHZnkMV0YO7hHEgVtUykenCPLk_42SgxJ5ZAEwe5LDQ1_oT9b0IFlCQn3v4XipywpYmyvyekKwOJUjz/s320/It+already+tomorrow+here+cover.jpg" /></a></div>5 Full- hearted stars for It's Already Tomorrow Here by Lucetta Zaytoun. <p></p><p>Full disclosure, I finished this book more than a week ago. I've been struggling to find words that would convey how valuable and moving this book is. I still haven't found them. So, I'm just going to let what comes, spill out. And, I'll hope it comes close to being enough since it will be untidy, from the heart, and as high-level as I can be about it. </p><p>It's Already Tomorrow Here shows the power of the written word and the profound impact that sharing paths, stories, triumph, and devastation can have. It paints the way I believe that true healing happens. Healing happens with people and healing happens alone. The books shows how people dance in and out of our lives, when there is music and when there are tears. All different kinds of people. People we welcome in, and those strangers that somehow show up just at the right times. All contributing somehow to our journey, our path, and our healing. </p><p>Reading It's Already Tomorrow Here is like a warm blanket and a big bowl of chicken noodle soup. It's both pulled curtains, and an open door with a breeze. It's hiding, and it's celebration. It's broken, and it's patched up and stronger in the parts previously torn by life's disappointments. </p><p>But mostly, it's honest. And, a true representation of how it feels to have (and need) both roots and wings. Of feeling planted and free. It's about getting to the bottom of who you are, when you look up and see that for so long, what you thought was so real, so concrete, so lasting, vanishes. Walks away. Finds someone else. And you're left in the aftermath of all the feelings and fears. The quiet. The lonely. </p><p>If you know of anyone going through anything... this book is for them. And, for you. Although I don't think the point of the writing was to be for you. It was just to let it all out. And, that is exactly what Lucetta does in the book. She puts it out there, raw. Unashamedly. Stripped down and looking upwards for hope, for light while standing in the middle of the dark. If you haven't been there. You will. And, I hope you'll remember this book. Because, healing happens alone. And with others. </p><p>This book lifted me in ways I really needed. And, the timing of it could not have been more personal or relevant for me. Maybe it's like that for everyone who reads it. I don't know. This book is eye contact. It is intimate in the way that you'll feel seen and be able to fully see someone else. And, what a better world this would be if we all took a little bit of time, and appreciated the dancing in and out of the people in our lives and really understood that we are all just welcoming each other home. One journey, one heartache, one tear, one belly laugh, one beer, and one all-in watergun fight at a time. </p><p>#mustread #bookofmyyear #almosttomorrowhere #laughed #cried #rootsandwings #beautifulbook #welcomehome #onward #forward #heal #lovecompletely #lovewins #lovedoes </p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-59295941484134902352021-04-19T09:38:00.002-07:002021-04-19T09:38:20.684-07:00Book Review: When Ghosts Come Home by Wiley Cash Release Date 9/21/21<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX1pOCDxJ530fT7JDrFkDILYvy7xoX6ryc_Q-npU3bEkCNO8jRSsFZ6vRyiq-_NvswY6xbTxatVnlUpBn15JpDHuQ7P0p5eZOp6Tei_tXeerQv8r2ffF9LS1Jkp9W10FZuNqGf3A2xGOW/s2048/When+Ghosts+Come+Home+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX1pOCDxJ530fT7JDrFkDILYvy7xoX6ryc_Q-npU3bEkCNO8jRSsFZ6vRyiq-_NvswY6xbTxatVnlUpBn15JpDHuQ7P0p5eZOp6Tei_tXeerQv8r2ffF9LS1Jkp9W10FZuNqGf3A2xGOW/s320/When+Ghosts+Come+Home+Cover.jpg" /></a></div>5 Stars for When Ghosts Come Home by Wiley Cash. <i>(Release Date 9/21/21)</i><p></p><p>Wiley takes us to a different time in one of my favorite coastal areas- the area surrounding Wilmington, NC. A plane crash in small town with a dead man start off the book with a lot of questions and puzzle pieces that don't seem to quite fit. In the midst of this chaos and brackish details, there are also political games at play. The sheriff is up for re-election. And, the one thing that a quest for power can do, is put a town at odds with each other, neighbor against neighbor. Very quickly, racial tensions mount and create an intense and gut-wrenching read. There were multiple times that I shuddered at the language, treatment, and historical relevance threaded in this book. </p><p>A surprising ending with a lot of turbulence along the way makes this Wiley's best book yet. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced copy of one of my favorite NC authors in exchange for an honest review. </p><p>#WhenGhostsComeHome #NetGalley #5stars #bookreview #comingsoon @WilliamMorrowbooks @customhousebooks @wileycashauthor #NCauthor </p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-43092364008381024862021-04-01T06:30:00.001-07:002021-04-01T06:30:29.374-07:00Book Review: The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives by Kristin Miller Release Date 7/20/2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9w3hsSU1e2jDq0ed55rSQwzHD-2u1OlKCuznWNaNTeLysgOzjecwaTZWHu6awy4b4z8G2p8i61CjzEmAf6FzUBLdsyClYCuMzrX7zax7rvNxmk_ASHGuSqldId4HLM4ha8n3EqIITNpFh/s1280/The+sinful+lives+of+trophy+wives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9w3hsSU1e2jDq0ed55rSQwzHD-2u1OlKCuznWNaNTeLysgOzjecwaTZWHu6awy4b4z8G2p8i61CjzEmAf6FzUBLdsyClYCuMzrX7zax7rvNxmk_ASHGuSqldId4HLM4ha8n3EqIITNpFh/s320/The+sinful+lives+of+trophy+wives.jpg" /></a></div>5 Nail-Biting Stars for The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives by Kristin Miller. The perfect ratio of suspense, mystery, friendship, and curiosity made this one a lightning read for me. <p></p><p>Kristin Miller captured my interest by inviting me into the secret lives of extremely wealthy women in a secure, tightly knit neighborhood. Once the effects of the chardonnay and botox begin to fade, so does the illusion of perfection. </p><p>Georgia St. Claire has lost two husbands in a short amount of time. Gossip precedes her wherever she goes. Now that she's engaged again to another very wealthy man, only time will tell if their deaths were related or the accidents that Georgia claims they were. </p><p>I immediately loved Brooke, the new wife on the block. And, of course there's Erin, Georgia's best friend. Erin is the one who knows all of Georgia's secrets. Together, the three of them will have you hiding away to read, trying to piece together the perfect and relentless twists that Kristin Miller weaves in so perfectly. </p><p>Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse @penguinrandomhouse for the ARC. I can't wait to see how fast this one rises to the top when it's released in July. </p><p>#5stars #quickread #trophywives #bookreview #kristinmiller #chardonnayandbotox #perfectsummerread #mystery #bookwithtwists #bookish #sendmebooks #readtoescape</p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-580013799226758339.post-89885745123144442312021-03-30T07:49:00.004-07:002021-03-30T07:49:52.134-07:00Book Review: The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiEqw0PyaapY0TWGFcp1Q1Uj3bMwj8LuTUnoX_4Fak1C_q8uEAQ12UJ4nLdgZs0qF8voSoPRRU1oP1g181w7FvxzHMRczDa2cvYgN1rPrZ3sx4Pscp9iOV2IwSEyEiRNMwrKhHZbKXmAB/s2048/The+Lost+Apothecary+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiEqw0PyaapY0TWGFcp1Q1Uj3bMwj8LuTUnoX_4Fak1C_q8uEAQ12UJ4nLdgZs0qF8voSoPRRU1oP1g181w7FvxzHMRczDa2cvYgN1rPrZ3sx4Pscp9iOV2IwSEyEiRNMwrKhHZbKXmAB/s320/The+Lost+Apothecary+Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>5 fascinating stars for The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner! <p></p><p>When I closed the book after finishing it, I literally said, "Wow."</p><p>I finished this book in 2 days, reading every chance I got. Including at the dinner table (gasp)! </p><p>Immediately, I was drawn to the main character, visiting London alone after finding out her husband had cheated on her. She finds a treasure while doing touristy things and unravels a mystery over 200 years old. </p><p>Told from two different perspectives, the way each chapter switches from 200 years ago to present day will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, waiting on the next chapter to begin. </p><p>I wasn't so sure about this book, as it is very different from other books I have read. I may have loved that about it the most. And, like any good mystery, there are a few excellent, eyebrow-raising twists waiting. </p><p>Beautifully written with exquisite detail to characters, setting, and suspense, this one is surely to be one you can't put down either. #authordebut #lostapothecary #historicalfiction #mystery #5stars #bookreview #quickread #mustread #pageturner #booklover #bookstagram #readgoodbooks @sarah_penner_author</p>Oak City Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04136227907717523740noreply@blogger.com0