Currently (June)

Originally, I set out to write a "Currently" post every month in 2017, but after the first three, it began to feel monotonous and seemed that not much changed month to month. I decided that maybe writing one every couple of months would make more sense. My last one was in March and the beginning of June feels like a good time to share what's currently happening in life. 

So, currently, I'm  . . . . .  

Anticipating summer break! My oldest daughter finished her school year just before Memorial Day. My other two, however go trough June 7 (three more days!!!) and, y'all, I am SO DONE! I have ALL the symptoms of parental end-of-school-year-itis. I am ready to spend some lazy days sleeping in, sitting by the pool, NOT packing lunches, and NOT arguing about homework or bedtimes! 

Looking forward to Punta Cana!! Partially because my husband travel so much for work, my girls always want to travel and see new places. Recently, they have been desperately wanting to go somewhere outside the US, so, a few months ago, we got their passports and began thinking about a summer vacation. Of course, one wanted a beach, one did not want just a beach, and one didn't care. We were trying to figure in travel times, time changes, budget, and keeping everyone happy. Finally, we settled on an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic where there is a beautiful beach, but also lots of other things to do. 

I'm already there in my mind!

Reading The  Zookeepers Wife. It was one of the books I had on my lis of Books to Read in 2017. It's the fourth book from the list I've picked up. I read The Mountain Between Us and The Secret Life of Violet Grant. After those, I bought Small Great Things by Jodi Piccoult which had gotten rave reviews. However, I just couldn't get in to it. I read the first section of the book, then, put it on my nightstand and haven't picked it up since. I recently downloaded The Zookeeper's Wife on my iPad and, so far, it is not nearly as engaging as I had anticipated. The narrative skips around and I just finished a painfully slow chapter about some German zookeeper and reverse genetic engineering.  Plus, I remembered how much I dislike reading on a screen - I need to feel the pages between my fingers. I'm about ready to give up oaths one, too and move on to . . . . 

Compiling my list of books to read for the Summer!! Yes, I've only made a 4-book dent in my list of 10 books to read for the year, but summer reading is different, right?? It doesn't mean I'm giving up completely on my original list either, but there can never be too many books waiting to be read and the summer is the best time to read them (at least for me!). Look for that list soon and tell me what's on you summer reading list in the comments! 

Listening to pop music. My kids have recently declared their disdain for the country music I usually listen to and the novelty of show tunes has worn off. So, I've recently become quite familiar with Ed Sheeran, Chainsmokers, and someone named Alessia Cara. Perhaps more familiar than I intended to becasue, while I actually do enjoy most of their music, it seem that opt radio stations have a repertoire of about 6 songs, so anytime I tune in and hear that same 6 songs over and over and over again. 

Planning Vacation Bible School. It is one of my favorite parts of my job, but also one of the ones that takes the most work! Ours isn't until mid-July, but we try to get as much done as possible before people scatter for summer. It's been pretty all-consuming lately!

Feeling excited about the "This is Us" Facebook discussion group I am co-hosting! It is also through work and discussion will be faith based, but it gives me a great excuse to re-watch some of the episodes. Better yet - the group is open to anyone! First set of questions based on the pilot episode will go up tomorrow. If anyone is interested in joining, click the image HERE!  😊 

It's probably only taken me about an hour to write this post, but that hour was split up over three days and so many interruptions I lost count. The last one involved an 8:30pm urgent need for a yellow shirt to wear the next day for field day and the panicked believe that one could not participate if not wearing the appropriately colored shirt assigned to each grade level. Also? As I finally finish this just after 9:30pm on Sunday nigh, I have absolutely no idea what might end up in their lunch boxes tomorrow since I never made it to the grocery store this over the weekend! Seriously y'all, summer cannot get here fast enough! 

What's happening in your life currently?

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My Books to Read in 2017

In January 2016, I posted a list of 10 books I wanted to read las year. Confession - I only read three of them. I started a fourth, but just couldn't get into it and watched a fifth in movie version which was really good, so, then, I didn't read the book. 

I did, however, read a total of 15 books on 2016. That number is tiny compared to some of my friends who read 50+  books last year, but it's a pretty good number for me. Part of the reason I didn't read all 10 of my original list was because I kind of went on a Liane Moriarty tangent reading four of her books. 

My favorite books of 2016 were: 

• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (BEST BOOK EVER!!)
• Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
• The Light of Paris by Eleanor Brown. 

My least favorites were:

• Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
• After You by JoJo Moyes (Sequel to Me Before You which I loved. The sequel fell very flat in comparison).

I've been researching and checking out other lists of best 2016 reads and upcoming 2017 reads to compile this list of 10 books I'd like to read this year. Hopefully, I can stick to my list for this go-round! 

Books that will become movies in 2017

• The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman - This is a true story in which Polish zookeepers who, after their zoo is bombed, save hundreds of people fleeing from the Nazis. The movie will star Jessica Chasten and Daniel Bruhl. Click here to watch the chilling trailer.
• The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin. I'm reading this one now. In short, two strangers, Ashley (a writer who is trying to get to her wedding) and Dr. Ben Payne (trying to get home from a medical conference), have their flights cancelled and share a small charter plane in a last ditch effort to get to their destinations. Inevitably, the plane crashes and the two are stranded in the wilderness. Injured and alone, they must depend on each other to survive. The main characters in the movie, set to be released in October, will be played by Kate Winslet and Idris Elba.

Books that will be released in 2017

• The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian was scheduled to be published on Jan. 10. Annalee is a chronic sleepwalker whose disorder has led to some crazy scenarios and, now, she has gone missing. As her daughter, Lianna, tries to uncover the mysteries surrounding her mother's disappearance, she is attracted to the detective on the case, but also unearthing many, many questions. The New York Times deems it "a spine-tingling novel of lies, loss, and buried desire."
• Swimming Lessons by Claire Fullers set to be published on Feb. 7th. Ingrid writes letters to her husband, Gil, but she doesn't give the letters to him. She hides them inside her thousands of books. Twelve years after Ingrid's disappearance, her daughter, Flora, returns home to care for her father and attempts to finally discover what really happened to her mother. She doesn't realize the answers she is seeking are all around her. 
• Into the Water by Paula Hawkins is expected in May 2017. You may remember Hawkins as the author of the oh-so-popular The Girl On The Train. In this novel, also a psychological thriller, females keep turning up dead at the bottom of the river that runs through town. When that leaves a teenage girl alone and parentless, her aunt comes to care for her. But, her aunt had previously - and purposefully- run away from this place, vowing that she would never return. 

Books from 2016 (and beyond) That I Want to Read

• Small Great Things by Jodi Piccoult is not a plot line that I would usually be drawn to, but it has gotten such high praise, I decided to give it a try.  Although Piccoult is an extremely popular author, I have actually never read any of her books. In this one, an African American labor and delivery nurse, Ruth, is told that she is not to touch one of the white infants in the nursery. But, when that infant goes into distress, she has a difficult choice to make. Her decision leads to a court case that becomes a media spectacle and requires people to reconsider things they have been taught their whole lives. 
• The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer is reminiscent of a female Jason Bourne novel, based on the synopsis. An ex-agent with a very specific skill set, is on the run from her former employers. However, she must take on one final case in an effort to clear her name. Goodreads calls it a "gripping, page-turner."
• Commonwealth by Ann Patchett was on my friend Dana's list of holiday season reading suggestions and I was intrigued by her description. When Bert Cousins and Beverly Keating have a little rendezvous, their marriages are dissolved and their families are forever intertwined. Years later, when daughter Franny Keating becomes involved with author, Leon Posen, the story of these two families - four parents and six children - becomes the basis for a book that brings him great success and forces that family to face their feelings head on. 
• The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams is described on BarnesandNoble.com as "a story of love and intrigue that travels from Kennedy-era Manhattan to World War I Europe." Vivian Schuyler is an up and coming professional in 1964 Manhattan when she receives a package that leads her into her family's past and the life of her aunt, Violet Schuyler Grant in 1914 Berlin. Violet is enduring a terrible marriage to support her position as a female, American physicist, but, when a British Army Captain enters the picture, she must make some difficult choices. As Vivian delves into the life of an aunt she never knew, she realizes how much they have in common.
• The Memory of Us by Camille Di Maio is the story of Julianne Westcott, a well-to-do young woman in prewar Liverpool. Julianne learns that she has a deaf and blind brother who was institutionalized since his birth. When she secretly visits her brother, she meets Kyle McCarthy, a groundskeeper studying to become a priest. As war encroaches, Julianne is forced to leave her life behind to protect her loved ones, but after twenty years of hiding from her past, it finally catches up to her. 

There's my list! Putting it all together, I realize that it's quite a bit of historical fiction and suspense. I can't wait to get started!

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? What books are on your 2017 reading list?

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Best Books From Summer 2016

It's hard to say when our summer was officially over. My oldest went back to school on August 3rd which was insanely early. On the other hand, my two younger girls were some of the last ones in our area to return to school. They were still sleeping in and spending days in the pool right up until the end of August. It was a strange limbo, and unlike some parents who couldn't wait to get the kids back in school, I was sad to see the summer end.

It's been a month since the first day that everyone went back and it feels like we are still struggling to settle into the routines of early mornings, school days, and homework. We've barely begun and I already miss the lazier pace of summer immensely.

Mostly, I love fall. I'm a big fan of cooler weather and fall colors, but with all that comes the frantic pace of busy school days. In the midst of that busyness, one thing I miss is having time to read. Years ago, I used to love to read, but forgot that passion when my kids were little and I was knee deep in dirty diapers and temper tantrums. Over the last couple of years, I have rekindled my enjoyment of picking up a good novel and getting lost in the story. With our feet firmly planted in the craziness of fall, I may not be able to read as much as I would like, but I will still be keeping a book on my nightstand and clinging to the memories of all the books I read this summer.

This summer, I read seven books and wanted to share them with all of you.

My three favorites were . . . . . 

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. 
Somewhat reminiscent of The Girl on the Train, this book is a page turner. Lo, the main character, is a journalist trying to figure out where her life is going when she gets an amazing opportunity - a week on a small, luxury cruise liner with a small group of wealthy people. However, the trip quickly takes a terrible turn when Lo thinks she witnesses a murder. There are lots of surprises and twists that I never saw coming as Lo struggles to solve the mystery and the ultimate outcome was not at all what I predicted.


Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.
This was the second of three Liane Moriarty books I read this summer and was, by far, my favorite. Three mothers - Celeste, Madeline, and Jane - unlikely friends who have two things in common.  1)Their children are in kindergarten at the same school and 2) they are all hiding something. With outtakes from witnesses artfully woven in, the book tells the story of their lives from the start of kindergarten up until the fateful night when someone ends up dead.

The Light of Paris by Eleanor Brown.
I've been to Paris once and that was enough for me to fall in love with the city, so I may have had a slightly biased opinion of this book. Madeline is tired of living a life in which she has deserted her own dreams and aspirations in order to meet the expectations of her mother, her husband, and "society." When she nears a breaking point and returns to her mother's home, she discovers her grandmother, Margie's, journal written while she spent time in 1920s Paris. Reading the journals reveals a version of her grandmother Madeline has never known and helps her to make some decisions about her own life. This wasn't a thrilling page turner, but a story that unfolded steadily and I found myself desperately wanting to know how what paths Margie's and Madeline's lives would take.

My second place choices were . . . . .

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley.
Ten people on a small, private plane over the Atlantic ocean on a foggy night. One of those ten was Scott, an unknown, unsuccessful painter. He and a  four year old child, now heir to his family's immense wealth, were the only survivors when the plane went down. The chapters alternate between the past lives of each passenger leading up to the crash and the aftermath of it for Scott and others in present time. Was the crash purely chance? Bad weather? Or sabotage?

Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty
This was the third Moriarty book I read over the summer and I enjoyed it. Cat, Lyn, & Gemma are not only sisters, but triplets. They are best friends, but have very different lives. Lyn, the compulsive list maker, has her almost perfect little family. Cat  is struggling with infertility and a marriage that's on the rocks. Gemma is a drifter who can't seem to make a relationship last for more than six months at a time. This book chronicles the story of their 33rd year and all the ups and downs of life they endure together. 

A couple honorable mentions . . . . 

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
This was the first Moriarty book I read. In it, Alice, an almost 40 year old mother, takes a nasty spill at the gym and, bumping her head, wakes up thinking she is 29 & pregnant. She has no recollection of the past ten years of her life. She must put all the pieces of her life back together as she learns (and re-learns) all the things she has forgotten. So, why an honorable mention? Well, I personally found the premise to be rather ridiculous which made the whole thing feel like a bad soap opera episode. However, I really enjoyed Moriarty's style of writing (which is why I decided to read some other books by her) and that made the book entertaining despite my failure to embrace the plot.

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
In 1977, Victoria's world is changed forever when she becomes "the chosen one" that popular Caitlin decides to take to her father's home on Martha's Vineyard for the summer. Although they are very different and their lives take very different paths, summers on the Vineyard become a tradition that solidify their friendship and bind them together as Summer Sisters. This book might have gotten a second place ranking if it had been authored by any other person. It was well written, but it had a fair amount of cursing and sex. I simply could not get over the fact that Judy Blume was the same person who wrote a book called "Freckle Juice" that my daughters loved when they were in SEOCND GRADE! It's typecasting and I wholeheartedly admit my guilt, but I just couldn't get past it enough to really enjoy the book. 

Now that summer is over, I know that time to sit and read will be scarce, but I have a Goodreads list full of possibilities and plenty of hours to spend in carpool lines!

Have you read any of the books on my list? What did you think of them? Got any others you would recommend?

20 Books You Need to Read Recommended by Bloggers Who Know! (And a $225 Amazon Gift Card!!)

I've been on vacation with my family this week at the beach. When my kids were smaller, of course, my beach days were spent relentlessly applying sunscreen, keeping an eagle eye on my kids near the edge of the water, and building sand castles. Now that my kids are a bit older, my days on the beach are a little more relaxing. I still have to remind them a million times to reapply sunscreen and we certainly still watch them in the water, but it's nothing like having toddlers. That means, while I sit on the beach, I actually have time to read!! 

I hope you will be able to find some time to relax and read this summer, too. Don't know what to read? No worries!!! 

Twenty of us blogging gals have teamed up with The Mom of the Year and Normal Level of Crazy virtual monthly book club to create a list of exactly what belongs on your summer reading list. Not only do these books come highly recommended (along with the reason you need to be reading them!), we are giving eleven of them away to one of you, along with a $225 Amazon giftcard. I know, it's insanely awesome! More details on the giveaway at the end of the post. For now, log into Goodreads, start Pinning, grab a notepad, or settle in with however you track your to-read list and start adding these titles.

20 Books that Belong on Your Summer Reading List:

1. Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini (Toulouse and Tonic) is a GREAT summer read. Leah Remini doesn't hold anything back, from her decades-long experience with Scientology to celeb encounters along the way, especially experiences within Scientology. If you want to hear all the dish on Tom Cruise, including his "Scientology arranged and groomed" girlfriend and then his marriage to Katie Holmes, get the book now. Her honesty and lack of pretense is refreshing. I couldn't put it down!
2. The Storied Like of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (The Not So Super Mom) This is a bit of a quirky book, but it is perfectly quirky without falling into the creepy or just plain confusing. A.J. Fikry is not the most immediately likable character but you find yourself rooting for him (and his bookstore) anyway. I appreciated that he was a bit of an oddball, because who in our lives isn't without their own idiosyncrasies? I enjoyed the themes in this book--loss, romance, mystery--all peppered with humor and the format--each chapter moves the story forward in time and serves as an ode to one of Fikry's favorite books--was different but enjoyable to any book lovers who try to find themselves in the stories they read.
3. Smart Women by Judy Blume (Meraki Lane) I was a huge Judy Blume fan when I was a kid (Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself was my favorite!), so it's no surprise I jumped with joy when I discovered she writes novels for adults as well, and this book did NOT disappoint. If you like a light read with a little racy romance thrown in, this is the perfect summer pick!
4. A Window Opens by Elizabeth Egan (Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms) A great novel with a fresh, funny voice guiding it, this book tackles the classic struggle of moms trying to have it all and stuck with us to the point of recommending it to others long after we turned the last page.
5. Beyond the Break by Kristen Mae (Kristen Mae) Quoted from Melissa Mowry of One Mother to Another's review on Amazon: "This book absolutely crushed me. The writing is hauntingly beautiful and full of depth, with well-rounded characters and gorgeous imagery. As a card-carrying heterosexual, I expected to feel a little squirmy about the girl-on-girl aspect and was just reading because I love this author's writing. I was SO WRONG. The sex was, in a word, mind-blowing. None of that lazy, euphemistic smut book language (you won't find talk of anyone's blossoming flower here) just seriously hot, almost artistic love scenes. Hazel is a flawed but loveable main character with a haunting past and so much dimension. Claire is absolutely magnetic; even I was attracted to her. You owe yourself the pleasure--and I do mean pleasure--of reading this book. It will change everything you thought you knew about love, sexual attraction, and chemistry."
6. Summer Sisters by Judy Blume (Herd Management) Summer Sisters provides a fascinating view into the inner workings and dynamics of a close female friendship over the duration of their journey from young teens into adulthood. Many women will be able to relate to the power that female friends have over one another's hearts, and their ability to shatter them completely sometimes. Riveting, relatable, and emotional.
7. The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews (Confessions of a Mommyaholic) This summer/beach town set book is the absolute perfect read this summer while you are sitting beach or poolside that is filled with just enough intrigue, suspense, drama, romance and more.
8. Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher (See Mom Click) This is one of those books that draws you in and won’t let go, even after you’ve put it down. Senna Richard wakes up on her 33^rdbirthday, locked in a house in the snow in the middle of nowhere, full of clues she has to piece together to gain her freedom. Not just a mystery, but a rip-your-heart-out love story, the author keeps you guessing while you become totally wrapped up in these characters’ lives.
9. Dear Mr. You by Mary-Louise Parker (Shakespeare's Mom) In this collection of personal essays, Parker writes beautifully about her encounters and relationships with various men in her life - everyone from her grandfather to ex-boyfriends, to, in an essay that manages to be both brutal and hilarious, a male goat. I read the whole book in one day. I had to ignore my children and personal hygiene to do it, but finding myself sucked into the book's spellbinding word-webs was totally worth it.
10. Not Without My Father by Andra Watkins (Andra Watkins) This story is a great summer read because we all struggle with loved ones. It's an easy, yet poignant, read that changes a lot of people.
11. Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window by Tetsuko Kuroyangi (Femme Frugality) This true story of alternative education in WWII era Japan serves to inspire. If you've ever known a kid that doesn't seem to fit into a traditional education system, Tetsuko Kuroyangi's story will warm your heart and give you hope. Kuroyangi, after getting kicked out of a traditional school, grew up to be one of Japan's media sweethearts and a great, hands-on philanthropist.
12. A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley (The Whimsy One) will take you on a waltz between present day and the 18th century as Sara (present day) tries to decipher a journal written by Mary during the Jacobites uprising in Paris (1732) what she discovers in the handwritten pages is not at all what she was expecting.
13. Summerlong by Dean Bakopoulos (Jana Says) I fell in love with this author after reading another one of his books but this one, a stunning, sad, sometimes funny, heartbreaking, (mostly) realistic portrayal of a marriage in crisis and its subsequent implosion during a summer long Midwestern heatwave, solidified him in my top 5 favorite authors.
14. What Alice Forgot By Liane Moriarty (Tamara (Like) Camera) This book gripped me - I felt all the joys and pains. I recommended it to both of my sisters who are still postpartum.
15. Mosquitoland by David Arnold (Kiss My List) You will not regret spending an afternoon curled up with this smart, funny, and poignant novel about a teenage girl's bus ride back to her mom in Cleveland. Mim’s journey from Mississippi is filled with people who could be fascinating main characters in their own books.
16. Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (The Golden Spoons) Hawley alternates between perspectives of different characters as well as switches from past to present in this story of 11 people - some connected, some seemingly out of place - whose lives are changed or lost when their private jet goes down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Martha's Vineyard on a foggy August night.
17. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (The Lieber Family) This second Cormoran Strike novel follows our detective as he investigates the disappearance and later death of a controversial, not-well liked author whose last novel didn’t have anything nice to say about…well, anyone!
18. You: A Novel by Caroline Kepnes (Pulling Taffy) If you love a good, creepy thriller, with an occasional chuckle, this is a great summer read. By the end you will be rooting for the serial killer and hoping his intended victim dies (Please. End. Her. Incessant. Whining.)
19. The Show by Filip Syta (Normal Level of Crazy) I'm taken by Amazon's description of the book, "Think of the greatest tech company in the world. Imagine getting a job there. Picture the perks: free gourmet food, free booze, a gym, a swimming pool, and a holiday bonus . . . every month. Brilliant coworkers. No dress code. Great parties. More money. Everyone’s admiration." You know there are inevitably problems that will arise, but it sounds so exotic in comparison to my world, that I can't wait to dig in!
20. The Tulip Factory by Kacie Davis Idol (The Mom of the Year) Amazon's description makes it sound like the perfect dreamy, fun summer book: "Before they exchange even a single word, Corrine knows that James will change everything. And sure enough, their serendipitous meeting in a North Carolina coffee shop sets off a whirlwind of desire and possibilities for the two."

 Now that you've got the whole list, I know you're anxious to get started! How about a little help?? 

Eleven of these books (Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, The Storied Like of A.J. Fikry, The Weekenders, Not Without My Father, Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window, Beyond the Break, The Tulip Factory, The Show, A Desperate Fortune, Before the Fall, You: A Novel) are up for grabs in addition to a $225 Amazon gift card! 

11 books you need to read and a $225 Amazon gift card giveaway! @TheGoldenSpoons #books #bloggers

You can start with these 11 books and use the moo-la to purchase others - or, for this sweet amount, even snag a new Kindle for reading on-the-go! As long as you are 18 or older and live in the continental United States, you are eligible to enter the Rafflecopter below. All entries must be received before 7/8/16 at 5:30am ET.

 Here's to a summer of fab books, friends! And as always, happy reading!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

****This post is not sponsored or compensated in any way. We are grateful to the following publishers for providing copies of the books for our giveaway: Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Grand Central Publishing, Kristen Mae, Algonquin Books, Sourcebooks, Andra Watkins, St. Martin's Press, Kodansha, and Inkshares. We bloggers have all chipped in together to provide the Amazon giftcard--because we love Amazon and we love you ;) ****

Second graphic credit: depositphotos.com, image ID:18594985, copyright:peshkova

Horizontal line of books in last graphic: depositphotos, image ID:6984753, copyright:aboikis

Books to Read in 2016

It surprises some to know that, even thought I am a writer and lover of words, I have never been an avid reader. However, one of my 2015 resolutions was to read at least six novels. In February of last year, I made a list of books I wanted to read and actually read seven during the year! Seven may not seem like a lot to some people, but going from zero to seven was a big accomplishment for me. 

I've really enjoyed reading and want to keep it going. One thing that helped a lot last year was having a list at the ready. So, I decided to make another list this year. I asked for suggestions on my Facebook page; checked out suggestions from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads; and read book reviews from my reading hero and blog friend, Dana to come up with this list of 10 books I hope to read in 2016.

1. After You by JoJo Moyes - This book is the sequel to Me Before You which I read in 2015 and LOVED!
2. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - The story of two Parisian sisters, each on their own path of survival in WWII occupied France. I've been told this book is brilliant and it has been highly recommended to me by multiple people.
3. Passenger by Alexandra Bracken - This is one I chose based solely on the online synopsis. A little bit of historical fiction; a little bit of time travel; a little bit of romance; and a little bit of mystery all rolled into one.
4. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin - The story of Ellis Lacey, who grew up in small town Ireland after WWII and then is given an opportunity to come to America where she finds work and love.
5. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff - The truths and secrets of a marriage from different perspectives over a twenty-four year period.
6. City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg - set in New York City, 1976. A diverse group of people who are all somehow tied to the mystery of a shooting in Central Park.
7. Every Day by David Leviathan - I was intrigued by Dana's inclusion of this book on her Top Ten Books of 2015 list. The story of a man who wakes up in a different body, a different life every day.
8. The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom - To quote Goodreads, "This is the epic story of Frankie Presto - the greatest guitar player who ever lived - and the six lives he changed with his six magical blue strings."
9. Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson - Recommended by a friend on Facebook (Thanks, Teresa L.!), this is the story of a woman, Christine, who loses her memory every time she falls asleep.
10. The Martian by Andy Weir - Before it was a Matt Damon movie, it was a novel about astronaut Mark Watney who finds himself stranded and completely alone on the surface of Mars. I'm not usually a sci-fi fan, but this one seems to have just enough "real life," humor, and suspense to be interesting to me. 

My 10 must-read books of 2016! What books are on your list? @TheGoldenSpoons

Hopefully, by Dec. 31st, I can come back and report on my success in getting all the way through the list and maybe even add some reviews! 

Have you read any of these? What did you think of them? What books are on your list for 2016?

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This post was part of the One Word Blog Linkup hosted by, Janine of Confessions of a Mommyaholic and me! This month, the word prompt choices were Never, Old, and Brilliant. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Books That May Become My Favorites! {#TuesdayTen}

Did you know that February is Library Lovers Month? In honor of libraries everywhere, we thought it would be a great idea to share our favorite books for the first Tuesday Ten of the month. 

I had just one problem, though. The truth is that I really don't read many novels, so I can't  list my 10 favorites. I read plenty of blogs and I read magazines, but rarely anything longer than 2,000 words. You may ask why someone like me who loves words and enjoys writing would not also be an avid reader. Well, the answer is time.

I've never been the kind of person who could sit down with a book and get so engrossed that I can't put it down and, three hours later, it's finished. That's not me. I tend to read in short spurts. I read during carpool line or while I'm waiting for my kids to finish their riding lesson. Sometimes, I read at night after they go to bed, but by then, I'm so exhausted that I'm falling asleep after a chapter or two. So, I average a chapter a day and, instead of hours, it takes me days (even weeks) to get through an entire novel. 

For the past few years, I have made a resolution to read more and failed. This year, I made a more specific goal to read 6 books in 2015. I decided that, to further my goal and for today's list, I would go ahead and choose some specific books to put on my list to read. Maybe it will spur me on to be an overachiever and I'll read all 10!!! Who knows? Maybe some of them will become my favorites! Here are 10 books I hope to want to plan to WILL read in 2015! 

• Landline by Rainbow Rowell  - I've already read this one! I read it in January and thought it was pretty good. In the book, Georgie & Neal already have a rocky marriage, but when Georgie has to skip out on a trip to visit Neal's family over Christmas due to work it gets even rockier. Then, Georgie calls Neal using the landline at her mom's home and the strangest thing happens! 

• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - I've started this one already and I'm hooked, so don't spoil the ending for me!  Nick and Amy have moved form NYC back to Nick's small hometown in Missouri. On their fifth wedding anniversary, Amy disappears. I'm halfway through this one and I cannot wait to finish it and find out what really happened to her!

• Outlander by Dana Gabaldon - I like historical fiction and a handful of friends have told me I should try this series. It was even made into a TV series, so it must be pretty good, right?  (When 1945 combat nurse, Claire, touches an ancient boulder, she suddenly becomes and "outlander" in 1743 Scotland.)

• Me Before You by JoJo Moyes- Touted as "a love story for this generation," I have heard nothing but good things about this book.

• All the Light We Cannot See  by Anthony Doerr - Another historical fictions book this one is about "a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II." The summary sounds very intriguing.

• The Light Between the Oceans by M.L. Stedman- This one is also historical fiction and sounds really compelling. Tom, a light house keeper in Australia and his wife, Isabel,have been unable to have a child. When a boat washed up on shore with a baby and a dead man inside, Isabel convinces her husband to keep the child. When they return to the mainland two years later with the child, they learn the consequences of their choice.  

• After Birth by Elisa Albert - This book is scheduled to be released on Feb. 15, 2015. A departure from the other fiction on my list and with a focus on the struggles of early motherhood. A year into motherhood, Ari is still trying to get acclimated. When she meets Mina, who is alone and nine months pregnant, the two become friends.

• The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins- Rachel takes the same train every day and see the same couple on her trip. One day, she sees something shocking and cannot keep it to herself. Referred to as a "Hitchcockian thriller," this one promises to be full of suspense!  

• Cutting Teeth by Julia Fierro- From Barnes and Noble: "Cutting Teeth takes place one late-summer weekend as a group of thirty-something couples gather at a shabby beach house on Long Island, their young children in tow. . . . .  about the complex dilemmas of early midlife—the vicissitudes of friendship, of romantic and familial love, and of sex. It’s about class tension, status hunger, and the unease of being in possession of life's greatest bounty while still wondering, is this as good as it gets?" 

• The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd- This one was on Dana's list of her favorite books from 2014. Again, it's historical fiction - the story of two young girls, one a slave given to the other on her 11 birthday. The novel follow their lives and relationship over the next 35 years.

A couple honorable mentions that might make my list IF I can fit them in:

• Paper Towns by John Green - From Barnes and Noble: "When Margo Roth Spiegelman beckons Quentin Jacobsen in the middle of the night—dressed like a ninja and plotting an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows her. Margo’s always planned extravagantly, and, until now, she’s always planned solo. After a lifetime of loving Margo from afar, things are finally looking up for Q . . . until day breaks and she has vanished. Always an enigma, Margo has now become a mystery. But there are clues. And they’re for Q."

• The Secret Keeper  by Kate Morton - This one is also from Dana's list. At age 15, Laurel witnesses her mother commit a shocking crime. Fifty years later, her mother is 90 and Laurel is searching for clues and answers before it's too late.

Have you read any of these books? What books are on your reading list right now?

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Come link up again next Tuesday, February 10! In honor of Valentine's Day, we'll be stealing an idea from one of our loyal linkers, Dana, (with her permission, of course!) and sharing our own loves lists! What are 10 things you love right now? (See an example HERE and more here)

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