A Reading Life (26)

More than halfway through the first month of the year. Hard to believe! So glad to be feeling better. Ready to get this year started!

Listening To: Still A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin. I find myself anxiously waiting for my next excursion in the car so I can listen to this. SO good!

Books finished:
The Gods of Heavenly Punishment, Jennifer Cody Epstein (review)

Reading: 
Possession, A.S. Byatt
Doctor Zhivago, Boris Pasternak
The Ghost Orchid, Carol Goodman

Coming Up:  
Becoming Josephine, Heather Webb

Watching: True Detective with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. Really liked it. Also, enjoying the new seasons of Lost Girl, Being Human and the new show,  Bitten. I was really impressed with Bitten. Some people are complaining that Downton Abbey is too boring so far this season, but I have to say that I'm enjoying it. Recording Klondike tonight on the Discovery channel. It also looks amazing. Of course, the best was Sherlock last night. I adore Benedict Cumberbatch! As for at the movie theater...I saw Devil's Due yesterday. It was pretty good, apart from the shaky camera because the husband in the film insisted on filming everything. I was quite nauseated...literally. I didn't really like the ending much either.

Making: Okay, everything I cooked last week was a winner! New recipes I tried that are definitely keepers were Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy, Slow Cooker Crazy Nachos, and Cheesy Hamburger Pie (I added links so you can check out the recipes). My boys were so glad to have me back in the kitchen again. HaHa!

Grateful for: again...finally feeling better!

Looking forward to: mini-bloggiesta this weekend!

Books I received or purchased:

Won...

from the author

Book tour...

Dollar Tree...

library sale...

What's going on in your reading life?

Announcing...Facebook Launch Party for Jeannie Ruesch's Cloaked in Danger

What: Jeannie Ruesch's Facebook Launch Party for Cloaked in Danger
Where: https://www.facebook.com/events/479465215499279
When: Monday, January 27th 3:00 - 7:00pm PST

About Cloaked in Danger
Publication Date: January 27, 2014
Carina Press
eBook
ASIN: B00F93X7ZI

Aria Whitney has little in common with the delicate ladies of London society. Her famous father made his fortune hunting archaeological treasures, and her rustic upbringing has left her ill prepared for a life of parties and frippery. But when Gideon Whitney goes missing in Egypt, Aria must embrace the unknown. Armed with only the short list of highborn men who’d backed her father’s venture, she poses as a woman looking for a husband. She doesn’t intend to find one.

Adam Willoughby, Earl of Merewood, finds London’s strangest new debutante fascinating, but when he catches her investigating his family’s secrets, he threatens to ruin her reputation. He doesn’t intend to enjoy it so much.

When their lustful indiscretion is discovered, Adam finds that he regrets nothing. But now, as Aria’s father’s enemy draws near, Adam must convince his betrothed that she can trust him with her own secrets…before it’s too late.

About Jeannie Ruesch
Jeannie Ruesch wrote her first story at the age of the six, prompting her to give up an illustrious, hours-long ambition of becoming a Dallas Cowboy
Cheerleader and declare that writing was her destiny. That journey to destiny took a few detours along the way, including a career in marketing and
design.

Her first novel, a fairy-tale like historical romance, was published in 2009, but the darker side of life had always captivated her. So after a dinner
conversation with friends about the best way to hide a dead body, she knew she had to find a way to incorporate suspense into her writing. (The legal
outlet for her fascination.) Today, she continues writing what she loves to read – stories of history, romance and suspense. She lives in Northern
California with her husband, their son and an 80 pound lapdog lab named Cooper.

She is also the creator of the WIP Notebook, a writer’s tool to help stay organized while you write, which you can find at her website. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Pinterest.

HFVBT: Jennifer Cody Epstein's The Gods of Heavenly Punishment--Review and {Giveaway} #GodsHeavenlyPunishmentTour

My thoughts
I have not read much historical fiction set during WWII. Not sure if I have shied away due to a lack of interest in the era, or for some other reason. I'm happy to say that Jennifer's book has opened my eyes to the possibility of great historical novels set during the time period.

This book did a great job of making me care about its characters and there lies its strength. Each character is well written and I found myself completely immersed in their stories, almost like I was there.

The historical and technical aspects of the book are well researched and phenomenal. The part of the book following Cam and his experiences in the fighter plane were so vivid and exciting, I found myself holding my breath...waiting to read the outcome. Completely edge of seat!

I really enjoyed Jennifer's writing and will definitely be checking out her previous novel, The Painter from Shanghai. I will also look forward to her future works. If you're looking for a great book set during WWII, I highly recommend The Gods of Heavenly Punishment.

About The Gods of Heavenly Punishment
Paperback Publication Date: January 13, 2014
W.W. Norton & Company
Paperback; 400p
ISBN-13: 9780393347883

One summer night in prewar Japan, eleven-year-old Billy Reynolds takes snapshots at his parent’s dinner party. That same evening his father Anton–a prominent American architect–begins a torrid affair with the wife of his master carpenter. A world away in New York, Cameron Richards rides a Ferris Wheel with his sweetheart and dreams about flying a plane. Though seemingly disparate moments, they will all draw together to shape the fate of a young girl caught in the midst of one of WWII’s most horrific events–the 1945 firebombing of Tokyo.

Exquisitely-rendered, The Gods of Heavenly Punishment tells the stories of families on both sides of the Pacific: their loves and infidelities, their dreams and losses–and their shared connection to one of the most devastating acts of war in human history.

Praise for The Gods of Heavenly Punishment
“Epstein’s second novel (after The Painter from Shanghai) is bursting with characters and locales. Yet painful, authentic (Epstein has lived and worked in Asia), and exquisite portraits emerge of the personal impact of national conflicts—and how sometimes those conflicts can be bridged by human connections.” (Publishers Weekly)

“The Gods of Heavenly Punishment is a page-turner thanks to its high-stakes adventure, torrid love affairs and characters so real they seem to follow you around. And in the end, this gripping novel asks us not just to consider a lost chapter of a famous war but also to explore what it means to be lucky—and what it means to be loved.” (Amy Shearn, Oprah.com)

“The Gods of Heavenly Punishment showcases war’s bitter ironies…as well as its romantic serendipities.” (Megan O’Grady, Vogue)

“With stunning clarity, Epstein has re-created Tokyo both before and after the bombing in a novel that raises still-unanswered questions about the horrors of war, the cruelty associated with it and the lasting impression it can make on a person, a people or a place.” (Shelf-Awareness.com)

“An epic novel about a young Japanese girl during World War II underscores the far-reaching impact that the decisions of others can have.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Sweeping….[A] harrowing novel of destruction and creation that will appeal to fans of historical fiction” (Library Journal—starred review)
Buy Links

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
IndieBound
Powell’s

About the Author
Jennifer Cody Epstein is the author of The Gods of Heavenly Punishment and the international bestseller The Painter from Shanghai. She has written for The Wall Street Journal, The Asian Wall Street Journal, Self, Mademoiselle and NBC, and has worked in Hong Kong, Japan and Bangkok, Thailand. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, two daughters and especially needy Springer Spaniel.

For more information, please visit Jennifer Cody Epstein’s website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

Visit other blogs on the tour--Tour Schedule
Twitter Hashtag: #GodsHeavenlyPunishmentTour

Follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form below to enter for a chance to win a paperback copy of The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody Epstein!


a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
A copy of this book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for providing it.
 

Cat Thursday -- Hilarious Miscellany

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy! (share your post in the Mr. Linky below)

What a smart cat! Not one, but two windows opened, but then smart enough to know that it's too damn cold outside! Let's hope Alice never learns how to do this.

This one fits in with Bea's theme from last week. That pesky red dot!

I've seen "stuff on your cat" but this is ridiculous! I cannot believe the cat is still sitting there. Hilarious!

Yup, a gorgeous and expensive cat tower, playground thingy back there and what does the cat play in...but, of course!

Images source: 
lolcats    

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Easy-Linky widget will appear right here!
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For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.

A Reading Life (25)

Yup, I'm behind on these posts again. I was really sick from the weekend before New Year's up until the end of last week so I haven't felt much like putting big posts together. I'm finally feeling better and I sincerely hope I don't get sick again this Winter. I've been sick off and on since November!

Listening To: A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin...decided to listen to it on audio since mom is reading my print copy and I want to finish this one and the next book before the new season of the HBO series starts in April.

Books finished:
Winter Solstice, Rosamunde Pilcher (not reviewed, but wonderful, comforting holiday read)
The Snowman Maker, Barbara Briggs Ward (review)

Reading: 
The Gods of Heavenly Punishment, Jennifer Cody Epstein
Possession, A.S. Byatt
Doctor Zhivago, Boris Pasternak
The Ghost Orchid, Carol Goodman

Coming Up:  
Jubilee's Journey, Bette Lee Crosby
Becoming Josephine, Heather Webb

Watching: Still loving Almost Human, Sleepy Hollow, The Blacklist. Getting ready to watch the premieres of Being Human, Lost Girl and Bitten on SyFy...can't wait. The jury is still out on True Detective last night on HBO, but I really enjoyed Helix on SyFy last Friday. One of my absolute favorites though is American Horror Story: Coven. It is seriously off the hook this season!

Making: I haven't been doing much cooking, as you can imagine. But back in the saddle again this week. I will be making Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy, Slow Cooker Crazy Nachos, Oven Baked Tacos, and Cheesy Hamburger Pie.

Grateful for: the fact that I had the strength on Sunday to get all the Christmas decorations back in storage. Yes!

Looking forward to: this new year and new possibilities.

Books I received or purchased: library sale!

 What's been going on in your Reading Life?

Bout of Books 9.0 -- Goals

STICKY POST

I almost forgot about this! What?! I'm planning on reading on and off all week. Hopefully, more than usual, but we shall see.

Reading List
Possession, A.S. Byatt -- section for TuesBookTalk
Doctor Zhivago, Boris Pasternak
Gods of Heavenly Punishment, Jennifer Cody Epstein
The Ghost Orchid, Carol Goodman

Monday
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Saturday
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Sunday
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Happy Birthday, Reece!

This boy is 11 years old today! Where has the time gone? Happy birthday to my wonderful son. We love you! xoxoxoxo