End of Summer Reads

Greetings! Summer is coming to a close, and now that the kids are back in school, I’m back to work. So, I’m sharing one last end-of-summer reading list with you before I jump into the autumn thriller/mystery season. Fall is amazing. It’s a time of vibrant landscapes, pumpkin spice lattes, soups and stews, football, and it’s a time when writers can justify wearing yoga/sweat pants all day. Even though a lot of us have probably been wearing our jammies or yesterday’s workout gear all along, it is not universally accepted until the weather turns chilly. Then, who cares? We’re all too busy looking at pumpkins and leaves to notice. 

So, here goes. I’ve picked some books I want to read, and a couple I wouldn’t normally read, but probably should. Perhaps, you’ll find a book you come to love somewhere on this list. In any case, enjoy the day and whatever you’re reading!

Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts

The title of this fantasy romance sounds so intriguing I may just buy the book to have it in my library. It helps that Roberts is an amazingly versatile author. She’s written enough books to fill several libraries, and can move between genres, like it’s no big deal. The third book of The Guardians Trilogy is coming in December, so there is plenty of time to read Bay of Sighs and Stars of Fortune before Island of Glass launches.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bay-of-sighs-nora-roberts/1122935473?ean=9780425280119#productInfoTabs

Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton

A new series from a couple of solid authors. Evanovich made a splash with the humorous Stephanie Plum series, and is collaborating again with Phoef Sutton (they co-authored Wicked Charms) to launch the Knight and Moon series. Looks like a fun one. 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/curious-minds-janet-evanovich/1123476321?ean=9780553392685

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer

Comedy is subjective. What one person might find funny another may not. I find humor in a lot of things, but a lot depends on the situation and my viewpoint. What I’m saying, is while I don’t watch Amy Schumer, I have found some of her clips and a couple feature articles about her funny. She’s kind of a big deal right now, so it might be an interesting read.

Notes from Barnes & Noble Overview (from B&N site)

“In The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, Amy mines her past for stories about her teenage years, her family, relationships, and sex and shares the experiences that have shaped who she is—a woman with the courage to bare her soul to stand up for what she believes in, all while making us laugh.”

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-girl-with-the-lower-back-tattoo-amy-schumer/1123499310?ean=9781501139888

Sweet Tomorrows by Debbie Macomber

The conclusion of the Rose Harbor series received a number of positive reviews, I read more of those now that I’m an author, and this might be a series to consider binge reading as the summer heat wanes.

Notes from Barnes & Noble Overview (from B&N site)

“With Debbie Macomber’s trademark charm and wisdom, Sweet Tomorrows brings to a close the journeys of cherished characters who feel like old friends. Macomber has created an enchanting place in the Rose Harbor Inn that readers will never forget.”

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sweet-tomorrows-debbie-macomber/1123626872?ean=9780553391848#productInfoTabs

Summer Reads

I began blogging about summer reads a few years ago and have just enough time between chapters and kid camps to share some new suggestions. Grab a good book, spread a beach towel and enjoy the summer! Feel free to share your recommendations too.

The Pursuit by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Evanovich fans should try this new series with FBI specialist Kate O’Hare and international con man Nicolas Fox. O’Hare caught Fox after a long search, then the FBI recruited him to help take down some of the world’s most dangerous criminals. Now, O’Hare has to work with the thief she stalked and captured. Fox and O’Hare share witty banter, and explore their romantic feelings, as they race to stop ex-Serbian military officer, Dragan Kovic, before he endangers thousands of American lives. I just finished The Pursuit and would say it’s a great summer read.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-pursuit-janet-evanovich/1123601703?ean=9781101965931

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

I picked this up in a local bookstore and just started reading. So far, I like main character Flavia de Luce, an 11-year-old sleuth with a brain and some pluck. I’m interested to follow her on her investigation of a murder in the English countryside circa 1950.

https://www.amazon.com/Sweetness-Bottom-Pie-Flavia-Mystery/dp/0385343493

Stone Cold by C.J. Box

After finishing my first C.J. Box thriller, I immediately went out and bought another. I enjoyed Box’s description of wide-open spaces and the dangers inherent in the remote Wyoming wilderness. In this book, Game Warden, Joe Pickett, has been assigned the task of looking into a suspicious ranch owner in the remote Black Hills of Wyoming. Danger lurks beneath the surface and it’s sure to be a wild ride to the end.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stone-cold-c-j-box/1115700115?ean=9780425272824

Summer Entertainment: Books & Movies

Summer is the perfect time to get swept away in a good book or movie. Over at NPR, they've come up with more than 100 movie and book recommendations and staff picks. It's worth checking out just to see the graphics of all those book and film covers. My to be read and watched lists just grew exponentially. Thanks for all the ideas, NPR. :)

Track time…

Why are there so many cars in Red Ochre Falls?

Because my life is filled with cars. 1) I married a car guy who plays and works with cars. 2) My husband and I went to High Performance Driving School (before children, and it was so much fun we still talk about it). 3) After kids we bought a minivan, which I drove long enough I started fantasizing about other cars—any car other than mine with crumpled tissues, sticky cup holders, and pulverized cereal constantly accumulating on the interior.

My life, and these car fantasies, helped me write about the vehicles Mattie and Garrett would have and want to drive in Red Ochre Falls. Of course, my husband was more than happy to act as research liaison, looking at car specs and answering questions along the way. It was a lot of fun to dream of Maseratis and Hellcats while toting my babies around in an aging box, but once the first book was written, I started thinking of ways to add some new twists to this aspect of the series.

Enter, track season. The days, nights, and weekends my husband gets his fix watching all kinds of cars racing at all kinds of tracks, under all kinds of conditions. He also takes his old beauty (the car, not me) to the track. It’s a family affair and I bring the kids to see him when they aren’t in school. I sometimes drive, having taken our ‘ten-foot’ track car around GingerMan Raceway after an all-nighter on a hotel couch soothing a teething toddler. Thankfully, we survived, and turned in some good lap times.

Since the 2016 season is now in progress, inspiration is everywhere. I’m getting some great ideas watching everything from 1970s era classics to modern hot rods and Formula 1 cars running hot laps. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll have my own sports car. If our little driver-in-training has anything to say about it, it’ll probably be fast, like a Hellcat.

Self-Published Surprises: 'The Martian'

When I come across interesting information, I like to share it to encourage interest in books, but also to put a human face to writers and publishers. This is a quick NPR interview about Andy Weir's self-published book "The Martian"and its evolution. 

Weir's candid response about his chances at mainstream success is great, "I thought it was just - oh, you know, it's just a book, you know, by a dork for dorks." I laughed because it's funny to think this self-published "book by a dork" earned Weir a deal with Random House and went on to become an award winning movie. While this doesn't happen to every writer, if you love the story and stick with it, it just might. 

NPR Books: 'The Martian'

Book Giveaway!

If you don't have a copy of Red Ochre Falls this is your chance to get a free one! Click the link then open the gift box to see if you win, it’s that easy. No purchase necessary.

If you already have a copy of Red Ochre Falls, you can still win and give your free copy to a friend, family member, or anyone you know!

Cheers!
Kristen

https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/496ea9db1b259533

Books to Movies 2016

It's no secret I love books and entertainment. Just read any of my Summer Reads book posts, or search the TV show updates I've posted. Many of them involve me going on about legal shows, dramas and music—I'm a true blue Nashie, among other things.

While I'm busy raising a family with my husband and writing the second Harper & Mackenzie novel, there are times I have to be away from my kids, notes, computer, phone, you get the picture. Sometimes I just need a break. So, when there are books lists, television programming updates or movie trailers to be found, I'm there!

I found this list of 19 books hitting the silver screen this year compiled by BuzzFeed and thought I'd share. If you are bored or just unsure of what to do this weekend, you might check this out and head over to your local library or bookstore. 

Enjoy!
Kristen

Goodreads Giveaway!

Starting December 18, 2015, you can enter for a chance to win a copy of Red Ochre Falls. Click the Goodreads Book Giveaway link below to enter.

If you can't wait to find out if you won, you can buy Red Ochre Falls right now. :) Happy reading!

 
 

    Goodreads Book Giveaway
 

   

       
   

   

     

          Red Ochre Falls
     
     

          by Kristen Gibson
     

     

         
            Giveaway ends January 09, 2016.
         
         
            See the giveaway details
            at Goodreads.
         
     
   
   

    Enter Giveaway

Winners selected!

The #AmazonGiveaway is over, but you can still get it on Kindle or Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Red-Ochre-Falls-Kristen-Gibson-ebook/dp/B018YCDGKG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1449346302&sr=1-1&keywords=red+ochre+falls

Red Ochre Falls Now Available!

You can preview and order it here: http://www.amazon.com/Red-Ochre-Falls-Kristen-Gibson/dp/0990905802/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449258748&sr=8-1&keywords=Red+Ochre+Falls

Additional formats are coming!

Fall Reads & Formatting

Formatting and editing are in full swing here. Work, school and family activities take priority, but I still search for good books to read when I have downtime. 

Here is a Huffington Post list of 10 Fall Books That Should Be On Your Nightstand. Not sure, but I plan to check out this list, and the reviews, before I add them to my Goodreads shelf. 

Here's the link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sharon-greenthal/best-fall-books_b_8113614.html

Enjoy!

Summer Reads: Kid Reads

Our family loves books! This week while searching for interesting kid books, I found some suggestions worth sharing from The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC).

Kids can learn and get so much enjoyment from books, so read with them, it really does make a difference! I grouped these by age to make things easier for parents, aunties, and anyone looking for children’s books.

What do you like to read to your kids, neices/nephews, grandkids? Feel free to add to this list in the comments section. 

Listed with books good for grades K-2 (ALSC)

Hi Koo! A Year of Seasons by Jon J. Muth

Like pandas? How about Haiku? Koo the panda is back and discovering each season through poetry.  This looks fun!

How Big Were Dinosaurs? by Lita Judge

Because…dinosaurs.

In a series of charming portraits, dinos of all sizes are compared to real-life objects in the modern world.

Listed under books good for grades 3-5 (ALSC)

The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure by Doreen Cronin

Crime-solving chickens. Why didn’t I think of this?

Meet the Chicken Squad: Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie. These chicks are out to solve some mysteries. First in a series.

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

Twelve-year-old Rump goes on a quest to discover his true identity and to break a magical curse in this humorous take on the classic fairy tale.

Listed under books good for grades 6-8 (ALSC)

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan

In an epic novel, three children find their lives changed through a magic harmonica and their own self-resilience.

Magic harmonica. ‘Nuf said.

Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper

So. Curious.

Flapjack, Elirio, and Lupe build a custom out-of-this-world lowrider car to enter in the Universal Car Competition. They hope to win the cash prize and open their dream garage. First in a series.

Summer Reads: Five for Friday

This week I noticed a lot more back-to-school chatter. Summer vacation has ended for some, and is coming to a close for others. This is both good and bad news. Yay, school and learning! Boo, end of lazy, summer days (if you had a chance to enjoy any)!

There are still sunny days left before we head back. I want to spend most of them playing outdoors with the kiddos and reading great books long after sunset without an alarm at reveille. So, here’s a Five for Friday list in case you want more summer reading ideas.

Now go, pack in as much fun as you can, and squeeze in a few more good books before summer sails off into the horizon.

Enjoy!

Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins by Susan Casey

If the title and the cover are any indication, this is going to be an incredible book.

Inspired by a chance encounter with spinner dolphins off the coast of Maui, Casey decided she wanted to learn more about dolphins. The book is said to explore dolphin science and cultural meaning, but also discusses the importance of protecting the species from hunters.

This sounds like the perfect blend of heart and science. The kind of summer read that reminds us all of earth’s many wondrous creatures.

X by Sue Grafton

Kinsey Millhone is a pretty strong character. She’s a private investigator who’s seen her share of bad guys. In her latest installment of the alphabet series, X, Millhone has to identify and help catch a serial killer before he catches her.

Reviews are listing this as an “intense” and “chilling” novel. Grafton crafts Millhone with the characteristic pluck, intensity, and humor readers enjoy while creating a psycho serial killer to ratchet up the anxiety while Millhone works her investigative magic.

Leaving Berlin: A Novel by Joseph Kanon

Looked so interesting, I may just have to buy it right now.

Excerpt of Amazon's Overview:

The acclaimed author of The Good German “deftly captures the ambience” (The New York Times Book Review) of postwar East Berlin in his “thought-provoking, pulse-pounding” (Wall Street Journal) New York Times bestseller—a sweeping spy thriller about a city caught between political idealism and the harsh realities of Soviet occupation.

All the Old Knives: A Novel by Olen Steinhauer

This book delves into a CIA hostage rescue mission that went sideways. The Vienna agents on duty, lovers at the time of the incident, meet up six years later to piece together what really happened, and find out if one of their own had been compromised.

The Little Paris Bookshop: A Novel by Nina George

A man named Monsieur Perdu is a self-described literary apothecary. He runs a bookstore from a barge floating on the Seine, prescribing “novels for the hardships in life.” (Amazon) He just has trouble finding the right prescription for his own loss, until he reads a letter from a great, lost love.

This book is on Oprah’s Book List under the tab ‘Books for When Your Brain is Melted’. Sit back, relax and travel with Perdu as he ventures out to heal others, and possibly, himself.

Summer Reads for Your Journey

Photo Copyright: Windswept Sands by K.Gibson

I compiled this book list for a variety of summer readers. Here are three interesting picks for those who wish to take a literary journey; leap into pet-parenthood with their kids; or adventure with authors to new lands.

Whether you read one or not, I invite you to find and share your favorite summer reads in the comments.

Enjoy!

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Summer is the perfect time to get swept away. This Pulitzer Prize winner could do just that. Some of the reviews I read are saying this beautifully written book has well-drawn characters and a story that flows. If those aren’t good enough, the page-long overview on Barnes & Noble might help sway you.

Here’s part of the Overview from Barnes & Noble:

Doerr’s “stunning sense of physical detail and gorgeous metaphors” (San Francisco Chronicle) are dazzling. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, he illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, a National Book Award finalist, All the Light We Cannot See is a magnificent, deeply moving novel from a writer “whose sentences never fail to thrill” (Los Angeles Times).

What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Seuss

Are your little ones asking for a pet? This could be a fun book to help you settle on the right one, or just get the conversation rolling in a fun way. Since our kids have been asking for everything from puppies to ponies, it’s time we pick this one up and read together.

Not sure? Here’s a brief clip from Barnes & Noble:

This never-ever-before-seen picture book by Dr. Seuss about making up one’s mind is the literary equivalent of buried treasure! What happens when a brother and sister visit a pet store to pick a pet? Naturally, they can’t choose just one! The tale captures a classic childhood moment—choosing a pet—and uses it to illuminate a life lesson: that it is hard to make up your mind, but sometimes you just have to do it!

An Innocent Abroad by Don George

Anthologies are a recurring theme for me this summer. I enjoy them because you can sample short stories from a variety of authors. It’s a great way to find out whether I like a writer’s style before committing to a longer length novel.

This anthology sounds just right for all those rushing to fit in last-minute travels before heading back-to-school.

Overview from B&N:

An Innocent Abroad: Life Changing Trips From 35 Great Writers is everything a travel anthology should be, ranging from funny to touching to heartbreaking while always remaining engrossing. The anthology features a diverse and wide ranging number of contributors, from writers Dave Eggers and Ann Patchett to seasoned travel chroniclers like Jan Morris.