February's Book of the Month

Hello Everyone! I chose the picture posted above because it reminds me of reading to my daughter Mareena when she was little. Every afternoon until she was about eight or nine years old, we would take one of her books that she wanted to read or that she was reading and we would curl up together on my big bed. 

We would spend an hour or so reading a chapter of her book, and then take a nap together. Her absolutely favorite author at that time was an English author named Enid Blyton. Ahh, nice memories...

My picks for 'Books of the Month' will be decidedly more adult these days, but they will be from almost any genre. February's Book of the Month is: 

Looking Back by Belva Plain

Published as: Looking Back in January 2001

Publisher: Dell

Birth Name: Belva Offenberg

Born: 9 October 1915 in New York City, New York

Died: 12 October 2010 in Short Hills. New Jersey

Canonical Name: Belva Plain

Pseudonyms: None

Looking Back by Belva Plain was the the seventh book that I read in 2011. I have had this book on my TBR pile since 4 February 2011 and it took me two days to read. This book is a definite keeper for me!

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Robert B. Parker - Valediction

11. Valediction by Robert B. Parker (1984)
The Spenser Mysteries Series Book 11
Length: 228 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 25 February 2011
Finished: 26 February 2011
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 11 February 2011
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and have several books by this author on my TBR pile.

The most dangerous man to cross is the one who isn't afraid to die. But the most deadly is the one who doesn't have anything left to live for. Spenser has just lost the one woman who made life worth living. So when a religious sect kidnaps a pretty young dancer, no amount of death threats will make Spenser cut and run. Now a hitman's bullet has Spenser's name on it. But the bad guys have no idea how ready and willing Spenser is to meet death more than half way.

I enjoyed this book even though it was a little confusing towards the end. I sort of lost the thread a little. I gave it a B+!

B+! - (89-85%)


Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Iris Bromige - The House of Conflict

10. The House of Conflict by Iris Bromige (1953)
Length: 357 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 21 February 2011
Finished: 25 February 2011
Where did it come from? From Bookmooch
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 10 January 2011
Why do I have it? This was one of three books that I received all the way from Malaysia. Iris Bromige is a new author for me.

When Pauline Avon arrived at the Cedar house to be a secretary to Mr. Cedar, she never expected mystery and love. Old Mr. Cedar is so wrapped in past memories of his dead son John that he all but ignores his other children. Pauline meets and falls in love with Mark Cedar, but when she thinks her love is not returned Mark's brother Derek - for his own reasons - makes Mark believe Pauline is his mistress.

This is the first book that I've read by Iris Bromige. It was very well-written and suspenseful. I give it an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)


Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Anne Tyler - If Morning Ever Comes

9. If Morning Ever Comes by Anne Tyler (1964)
Length: 256 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 14 February 2011
Finished: 21 February 2011
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 11 February 2011
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and Anne Tyler as an author. I also have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

Ben Joe Hawkes is a worrier. He has been raised in a family of women and during a phone call with his mother, he learns that one of his sisters has taken her baby and left her husband. Ben Joe's worry for his sister propels him home again; away from law school and stability to the confusion of childhood memories and unforseen love.

I enjoyed this book - Ms Tyler's first. In my opinion, it was a little light on plot but very well-written. I give it an A!

A! - (90-95%)


Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Lawrence Sanders - The Fourth Deadly Sin

8. The Fourth Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders (1985)
Edward X. Delaney Series Book 5
Length: 352 pages 
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 11 February 2011
Finished: 13 February 2011
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 11 February 2011
Why do I have it? I do like contemporary mysteries and even though I have quite a number of Lawrence Sanders' books on my bookshelf, I have only read a couple so far.


Edward X. Delaney is a retired cop drawn into one last case: a New York psychiatrist is brutally murdered and there are six suspects - the psychiatrist's six patients. I have to say that I enjoyed this book. I used to read a lot of Lawrence Sanders but got out of the habit. Now, I'm back in the habit again and looking forward to reading more soon. I give it an A!

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Belva Plain - Looking Back

7. Looking Back by Belva Plain (2001)
Length: 394 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 4 February 2011
Finished: 6 February 2011
Where did it come from? From Bookmooch
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 4 February 2011
Why do I have it? I love Belva Plain as an author and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

They were the most unlikely friends - kind, rich Cecile, brave, talented Norma and Amanda the poor girl they met at college. But behind the facade lies a secret that could tear the three friends apart. I was searching for a picture to go in this post and came across some reviews of Looking Back - the majority of the readers didn't like the book at all. I have to admit that I loved this book myself but then, I love Belva Plain's work. In my opinion, she was a brilliant author. She will be missed very dearly.

I enjoyed this book very much and will give it an A+! I tend to ignore readers' reviews until I've read the book, I notice. Sometimes you miss some really good books if you listen totally to readers' reviews, in my opinion.



A+! - (96-100%)


Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Reading Wrap-up for January at Moonshine and Rosefire

Hello everyone out there and I hope that you all had a terrific reading month for yourselves. I am known as Rosefire around the Internet and this is my new personal reading blog. I originally posted my reviews over at my daughter's blog, Emeraldfire's Bookmark but am now in the process of transferring them all over to my own blog. My daughter makes blogging look like so much fun that I thought that I would try it out for myself! :)

Anyway, I started out January with 654 unread books lying around the house and ended the month with 648 books unread. All of the books that I acquired this month came from Bookmooch and Paperback Swap.

Let me try to break down the influx for you:

Rereads
- Random Winds by Belva Plain
- Demon Summer by Elaine Booth Selig

Changes to the TBR pile

Read from my TBR pile (Yes! I am a reading machine :))
- Neighbors by Maureen S. Pusti
- The Greatest Miracle in the World by Og Mandino
- Heaven in Your Hand by Norah Lofts
- Without a Backward Glance by Kate Veitch

Added to my TBR pile (oh well, you win some and you lose some! :))
- Soul Eater by Dana Brookins
- Consequences by Cynthia Victor
- Only You by Cynthia Victor
- Relative Sins by Cynthia Victor
- Leisure Arts 184: More Needlepoint Projects For Plastic Canvas: 16 Projects by Leisure Arts
- Needlepoint by Better Homes and Gardens
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt
- The House of Conflict by Iris Bromige

Taken off my TBR pile and sent to a new home (Yay! Happy Dance! :))
- Hidden Jewel by V. C. Andrews
- The Mallen Girl by Catherine Cookson
- Heart of Darkness and The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad
- Grace Point by Anne D. LeClaire
- The Fly on the Wall by Tony Hillerman
- Mitla Pass by Leon Uris
- Godplayer by Robin Cook
- Silent Treatment by Michael Palmer
- Lie to me by David Martin
- The Midnight Hour by Karen Robards
- Mary Anne by Daphne du Maurier
- The Green Man by Lee Mather

Well, there it is...the breakdown! All in all, a very good reading month for me. Here's a further breakdown:

Books Read: 6
Pages Read: 1,804
Grade Range: A+! to A!

So, there you go! The reading month that was January. I hope that you all had an equally good reading month; if not a little better. :) See you all next month! :)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight