Monday Recommendations

Monday Recommendation List

Random list of 10 books Monday! I have read and enjoyed each of these enough to flag for a potential personal library purchase.

Be bold and just choose randomly, stick to your normal genre...or step outside of your normal reading zone and try something you usually wouldn’t. You can look up the descriptions at Amazon.com, or search my blog for old posts by entering the title in the little search box in the top left-hand corner and clicking the magnifying glass.

This week-- 10 recommendations (in no particular order):

1. The Black Ops Series (first is Show No Mercy) by Cindy Gerard
2. The End of the Affair by Graham Greene
3. The Jonathan Stride series (first is Immoral) by Brian Freeman
4. Beautiful Disaster  by Jamie McGuire
5. Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero  by Chris Matthews
6. Baking with the Cake Boss by Buddy Valastro
7. Unlikely Friendships by Jennifer Holland
8. Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
9. I Shall Not Hate by Izzeldin Abuelaish
10. What’s New, Cupcake  by Karen Tack

Red Hill

Red Hill by Jamie McGuire

Curiously, I’m not sure how an author goes from a steamy romance to apocalyptic nightmare. I tried to get into this one, but couldn't.

Overall, this was not my type of read. If you dig horror you might like it.

Monday Recommendations

Monday Recommendation List

Random list of 10 books Monday! I have read and enjoyed each of these enough to flag for a potential personal library purchase.

Be bold and just choose randomly, stick to your normal genre...or step outside of your normal reading zone and try something you usually wouldn’t. You can look up the descriptions at Amazon.com, or search my blog for old posts by entering the title in the little search box in the top left-hand corner and clicking the magnifying glass.

This weeks 10 recommendations (in no particular order):

1. Historical Fiction: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
2. Sweet Romance: This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
3. Classic War Novel: A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
4. Touching gift to a child who lost his Father: A Journal for Jordan by Dana Canedy
5. For the Entrepreneurial Heart:  The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
6. Thoughtful Parenting: Every Child is a Genius by Elise Griffith
7. Humorous Chick Lit: Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger
8. Dysfunctional Romance: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
9. Suspenseful: Love You More by Lisa Gardner
10. Classic: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Beautiful Disaster

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Sometimes I read a book that touches deep emotions and I’m not sure why. This was one of those. I was thinking to myself “do not like this book!” but my emotions were all over the place. McGuire has written a clearly dysfunctional relationship, and rationally I realize that. But I enjoyed it!

I suppose it comes down to the fantasy of having a man who is oblivious to everything but you. What would it be like to have someone who wants you more than anything in the world? Who doesn’t see anyone in a room, except for you? Pretty amazing, I’m thinking!

Psychoanalyzing myself, I’ve never felt I deserved that much devotion. I saw shades of myself in this book. I can be needy…I want it all. And I have also been a sucker for the “bad” boy.

Personal story--Harry (not his real name of course!!)…was the epitome of the bad boy that I’m a sucker for. I had a crush on him for years. He was quite handsome, with this heart-melting smile. Over the years he would start things with me, and then ignore me for months. Then I would chase him and he would be aloof. When I gave up he would chase me again and I would run. After years of this nonsense he finally caught me. Then it fizzled very quickly and that was the end.  Remembering this particular relationship (dysfunctional!) still makes me feel sad. I idolized this guy. I’m not sure why….even now. When he paid attention to me I felt butterflies. I fell for it all-- the attention, the smile, the compliments. I was a total sucker! 

And I can’t help thinking the girl in this book is a sucker too. Sure, it seems all rainbows and puppies at the end…but I’m guessing at some point in the theoretical future things would turn out not so rosy.