Monday Run-Down

Back to school madness has begun, and though my own two have not yet returned to school, I have resumed work. One of the bummers about returning to work for me is that it cuts in to my reading time. By the time I come home after work, I am exhausted, especially in the first few weeks when I am adjusting to the early wake-ups and being "scheduled" with my eating and break times. I miss spending all day with a book in my hands! I will continue to bring you all the best books to feature and review here starting with a few this week!

Tuesday
The Gift of Failure  by Jessica Lahey

In this culture of achievement and success, are we actually harming our children by keeping them at bay from failure? Is it important to be on the losing end of the deal every now and then? Learn to let go. I learned a lot, and founf this book very interesting!

Wednesday 

Free books are not an author's best friend, because let's face it, they make more money from bookstore sales and not from online ventures. I recently shared I am becoming a huge fan of the mystery/thriller genre, and I received a recommendation through an author I follow on social media that one of the books featured on that sale was a must-read! I will share that book with you, dear readers.

Thursday

Still Life Las Vegas by James Sie

I will share my thoughts on this book, and why it was so different from any other book I have read. 

Monday Run-Down

I had such a wonderful, eventful week! I had the opportunity to meet Taylor Reid, who is one of my favorite authors! She is so gracious, and wonderful, it is no wonder her books have been such a success. Years ago, I won a copy on Twitter of Taylor's first book, and I was a fan-girl from that day forward. She promises nothing crazy is going to happen in the first chapter in her new book, and I can attest that this is true! Here is the run-down on what is happening this week at Read Baby Read.

Tuesday
It's You by author Jane Porter. I grew to love Jane's work when I was introduced to the Brennan  Sisters' trilogy. It was a fabulous series, and one I recommend time and time again to friends who love books with continuing story lines.

Wednesday

Want to Read Wednesday is brought to you by Mystery/Thriller books by the incomparable Jenny Milchman. Her new book As Night Falls is out now, and you can combine with the audio of The Cover of Snow, which I recently listened to and loved! I have recently begun to read Mysteries, and I am loving it! I believe it is important for us all to expand our horizons and try new things, and you never know-it may just be what the brain needed!

Thursday
Medea Complex by Rachel Florence Roberts is a psychological thriller about the madness that ensues post-birth, and a husband who is torn between helping his wife regain her sanity and trying to save his own ruined career. What is the line between madness and evil?

Friday 

Fun Friday- you will have to stay put to find out whether I loved or hated The Girl on the Train. Should authors entertain the thought of placing unreliable narrators in their stories, or is this the very thing that readers loathe? Unlikeable characters. Love them or leave them? 

Have a wonderful reading week! 

The Monday Run-Down

I wish I could remember who the author of the blog was that stated that summer time is a tough time for reading. While you would think you would have more time to spend reading, often times we over schedule ourselves to keep the kids busy, take lazy naps or just busy ourselves doing other things. I resonate with this big time. I always idealize the summer months as time when I will read ALL THE BOOKS, but I am not a book-a-day person. I can read quickly, but not that quickly. Plus, I shamelessly love Netflix and Bravo TV. Anyhow, exciting things coming up at Read Baby Read!

Tuesday

Review of Jane Green's newest book called Summer Secrets! I adore Jane's work, and was fortunate enough to meet her at the LA Times Festival of Books a few years ago. Speaking of awesome authors, tonight I get to meet up with Taylor Reid at Barnes and Noble in Santa Monica! So thrilled to see her again, and celebrate the release of her newest book Maybe in Another Life.

Wednesday 

This Wednesday's #wanttoread selection is called In the Country, a collection of short stories by Mia Alvar. I originally heard of this title through Books on the Nightstand, and it is generating a ton of buzz on the author, and more for her book, which is supposed to be a stunner.

Thursday

Medea Complex review will be up along with a giveaway! Don't miss out on this new title. 

Friday

"It" book failure? Have you ever picked up the next "It" book, and been disappointed? Guilty! I'll share some of my "It" book failures, and I hope you'll be willing to share yours as well!

Happy Reading, everyone!

The Monday Run-Down

After spending a week sans computer, I am back up and running thanks to helpful You Tube videos and a trip to the Apple Genius Bar. Seriously, what did we ever do before we could Google solutions to a problem? Everything is out there. EVERYTHING! The digital snafu put me a little behind in regard to blogging, but that's not a bad thing! Every could has a silver lining. Here is what's up this week on Read Baby Read.

Monday
The Balance Project by Susie Orman Schnall. As a woman who adored The Devil Wears Prada, I highly recommend Susie's book which is not exactly The Devil Wears Prada, but will leave you feeling fulfilled and happy that you have chosen a great read for your seaside adventures.

Tuesday
Worthy by Catherine Ryan Hyde. If that name sounds familiar, it is because she also is of the Pay it Forward fame. Remember the book and the movie that came out? Yes, that one! I think you will all really enjoy this book.

Wednesday
What to Read Wednesday Summer Recap. If you don't have time to scroll through my blog to find your next read, this post is for you!

Thursday
Throw Back Thursday post. Bringing it back to Taylor's After I Do. You will be thrilled with her newest book, and I just wanted to warm you up!

Friday
Tiny Little Things by Beatriz Williams. She has written many summer hits, and this book is no exception!

Have a fabulous reading week, everyone!

The Monday Run-Down

I have had an incredibly eventful weekend, and meeting wonderful authors was part of that. I had the opportunity to meet Jane Porter tonight at a release party for her newest book titled "It's You." While at Laguna Beach Books for the release party, I also had the pleasure of meeting Kaira Rouda, Beth Albright, and Anita Hughes. I also chatted with Suzanne Redfearn again, which was a treat for me as it has been a while since I last saw her. Being around bookish folks is a huge treat for me, and I loved every minute of it!

Monday
Check out my Instagram @lilmommareader for a giveaway of Wishful Thinking by Kamy Wicoff. This was a wonderful read in Book Spark's Summer Reading Challenge. Please stop by Instagram to enter for a chance to win. You do not want to miss it!

Tuesday
Visit my page to see what I thought of Wishful Thinking by Kamy Wicoff. I posted a while back on my Want to Read Wednesday post, and I was enthralled with this book!

Wednesday
Find out what is up next on my TBR pile! (hint, Jane Green)

Thursday
Throw-Back Thursday to one of my favorite books, and one that I return to time and time again to recommend to friends, family, and strangers!

I hope you have a wonderful bookish week! xoxo

Monday Run-Down

I hope you are starting out bright-eyed and bushy tailed on this fine Monday evening. I am late with this post, but better late than never! Here is the run-down on what'll be on the blog this week.

Monday

You do not want to miss out on this week's giveaway on my Instagram (find me @lilmommareader). This week I am giving away two copies of Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave. There's a signed copy up for grabs as well as an awesome 800 Grapes mug to sip whatever you'd like. Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Laura Dave, and the incomparable Book Sparks team for making this happen for me! From the bottom of my heart, a million thanks!

Tuesday 

Find my review for Eight Hundred Grapes as part of this summer's #SRC2015 reading challenge. Book Sparks is the best, and you won't want to miss this book about the idyllic Northern California wine country.

Wednesday

Curious about what my next #SRC2015 book is? This is a book you will want to add to you reading pile! The balance Project by Susie Orman Schnall. If you have ever wrestled with the balancing act of "how do I get it all done?" This is a perfect book for you. You will have this one read in less than a week! Add it to your summer list now, my friends.

Thursday

Throw back Thursday featuring a back-list book you MUST read before Taylor Reid's newest book hits shelves in July! Forever, Interrupted is a book that I always recommend to friends and family. Heck, I go to the library and pull it off the shelves and tell people to read it. This book is that good, it will blow you away!

Friday

If you haven't heard of The Far End of Happy by Kathryn Craft, then you are in for a treat because Friday I am running a spotlight, and Q & A with Kathryn, and she will blow you away! So insightful, and her book is absolutely gut-wrenching. Please visit back and read about this book, and see for yourselves why Kathryn is such a beautiful soul.   

Have a fantastic week, my reader friends!

Happy Reading!

Monday Run Down

Here's what you can expect to see at Read Baby Read this week!

Just got back form New York where I attended BEA (Book Expo America) for the first time! It was both exciting and exhausting at the same time. I received copies of some wonderful books that I cannot wait to share with you all-my fabulous readers! I also had the opportunity to meet (in real life!) some very special bloggers who I have had the privilege of talking to and sharing friendships on social media. They were so wonderful and we shared hugs. I was fangirling with all the authors, because they are my rockstars! Anyone else act like that when it comes to authors? Sheesh! You cannot take me anywhere. Stay tuned for some wonderful giveaways and swag that is headed your way my lovelies!

Tuesday
Big announcement! I was invited to attend a cocktail party while in New York to celebrate the release of Laura Dave's newest book called Eight Hundred Grapes. It was a fabulous party, and while there I met her publicist at Simon & Schuster. We both started talking about AR (Accelerated Reader for kids) and I mentioned to her that while I was working as a Reading Specialist, our school started a 40 Book Challenge, which was inspired by Donalyn Miller. The students had the whole school year to read 40 books. For every book they read, they received a raffle ticket to enter in our monthly book drawing. I told her adults love giveaways and being rewarded for reading too! She agreed. So, we are teaming up to bring you a #1in1 and #15in15 challenge on Instagram and Twitter! You read one book a month, take a picture of the cover, and tag the publisher, author, and myself and also use the hashtag #1in1, and you'll be entered to win a prize pack each month! If you read more than one book a month, then continue the same process, and you will be entered to win. I am so excited for this challenge to get more of us reading! One book a month is a great goal to set, and you don't have to have superpowers to accomplish reading one book a month. If you read #15in15, which means you participated more than once a month, you will be entered to win a GIANT prize pack at the end of the year. Start tagging my friends!

Wednesday
This #whattoreadWednesday post features an #SRC2015 book, Wishful Thinking by Kami Wicoff. You need to get a copy of this book in your hands. 

Thursday
Throw back Thursday takes us back to last week's review of The Grown Ups by Robin Antalek, except with the added bonus of a giveaway! Holla!

Saturday
Saturday Kid Reads is all about Lynda Mullaly Hunt! I love this lady not only for her fabulous books, but for what she does for teachers. She is positively wonderful on social media as well. 

That's it for this week folks! Happy reading!

The Monday Run-Down

Here's what you can expect to see at Read Baby Read this week!

I'm headed to BEA (Book Expo America) so that I can grab copies of all the latest and greatest books to share with all of my wonderful readers! I cannot wait to share my experience with you all. It is on my bucket list, and thanks to my wonderful husband, my dream is coming true!

Still time to enter my giveaway for The Beautiful Daughters by Nicole Baart: Giveaway here

Tuesday: Things You Won't Say by Sarah Pekkanen review. This book really hit close to home, so stop by Tuesday to find out why it resonated with me.

Wednesday #wanttoread List: The Worrier's Guide to Life by Gemma Carroll. My obsession with graphic novels is reaching fervor thanks to this book!

Thursday: #SRC2015 is traveling to NY with The Grown-Ups by Robin Antalek. Read my review of the book, and sign up for the challenge!

Speaking of bucket lists, I have always wanted to meet Jodi Picoult (fangirl alert!) and it all started when my husband and I started talking about what was on our "bucket lists." He said, "what author would you want to meet given the chance to meet them." My first reply was Jodi Picoult! This Saturday, my friend Nancy and I met her! It was an ultimate fangirl moment, and Jodi thought I should've chosen something more exciting for my bucket list, but I think it was awesome to meet her!