Sunday Post (8) / It's Monday What Are You Reading

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next. I will also be sharing my It's Monday post on Twitter #IMWAYR.

I was supposed to be visiting my parents for my mom's birthday this weekend but unfortunately bad weather (heavy rain/thunderstorms) got in the way of my plans. I hate driving in torrential downpours especially since my car has been having issues. I made it a little more than an hour from where I live and it got so bad that I couldn't really see and didn't have a way to get off the highway. Thankfully I made it through and was able to wait out the heavy rain at a Starbucks before turning around and heading back home. I am getting my car fixed in a few days so that won't be a problem anymore but it made me sad to miss out. At least they got to visit with my sister and brother in law yesterday. I will be seeing my parents in a couple of weekends when we all go to Canada for my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary party.

Summer reading at my library is going well though I don't have as many people signed up as I'd hoped for. This is the first year we are not giving away gift baskets which were always popular but kind of expensive to put together but the baskets were a great way to advertise the program. Instead we are giving away gift cards and an iPad Mini 3 which I'd think would be more popular than a gift basket. The idea of book bingo might have scared some participants away too but with a bigger prize we wanted people to earn it. Hopefully the participation numbers will go up. I also have two programs left. Our first ever ladies clothing swap is on Saturday. I have no idea what the turnout will be like or how much stuff we'll get. I limited it to spring and summer clothes and accessories to make it a little easier. If all goes well I am also planning one in August for kids' clothing. 

Last week on my blog:

Top 10 Anticipated Upcoming Releases of 2015 (post)
Letters to the Lost by Iona Gray (review)

Books read:

The Secrets of Lily Graves by Sarah Strohmeyer

I liked Lily as a protagonist. She is smart, quirky and opinionated. Her family is fun and a little wacky too. I did have some issues with the mystery and how things were resolved but I enjoyed the book as a suspenseful page turner.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

This was probably my most anticipated debut novel of 2015 so I was worried it would disappoint me. Thankfully it did not and I mostly thought it was a good start to the series. I would have liked some more of Sharzad's tales (I think she only shared two) and there is somewhat of a love triangle but it looks like the feelings are one-sided from one of the guys (hopefully that won't change in the sequel).

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

I'd heard that this book would be darker than a lot of her others but I didn't find it that way. There wasn't that much humor but I thought it was a fantastic novel that dealt with some tough family issues.

A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev

This contemporary romance received good reviews from NPR, Romantic Times, and Library Journal and the premise made me give it a try. While I liked Mili as the heroine (though she is naive it is understandable from the way she was raised), it took me awhile to warm up to the "hero" Samir who behaved like a jerk at times (he improved in my estimation as he spent time with Mili and we got his backstory). I loved the descriptions (especially the food!) and wanted Mili and Samir to have a happy ending. 

Currently reading:

The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker

This is not being marketed as teen fiction but I added it to our teen fiction collection at the library though I may also buy a copy for our inspirational fiction for adults. The author is the daughter of Christian fiction writer Ted Dekker. The premise is a futuristic society controlled by The Authority who practice a warped form of religious devotion to God. Women are valued as "help-mates" whose primary duty is to be "Chosen" to be a wife and mother. Girls who are not selected at the Choosing ceremony become "Lints", menial drudges. There is also a serial killer attacking the Lints. I don't normally read Christian fiction these days but it sounds interesting doesn't it? So far the book reminds me a little of both Matched and Delirium. 

What I might read next:

Flame Tree Road by Shona Patel

Flame Tree Road is sort of a companion novel/prequel to Teatime for the Firefly (a novel I loved but never wrote a review for--bad me!). This book tells the story of Biren Roy, who in Teatime is a grandfather raising his granddaughter. I loved his character in that book so I am looking forward to reading about him as a young man fighting for women's education in India.

The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore

We will be discussing this book in my evening book group this month. I thought it was Southern fiction but it is actually set in small town Indiana in the 1960s and the 2000s.

New books received:

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray (review book)

P.S., I Still Love You by Jenny Han (library book)

The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker (library book)

The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore (library book)

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (purchased)