5 Books to Cozy Up with this Fall

It's that time of year again.

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Crisp morning air, colorful leaves, layered clothing, apple cider--what more could you want? 

I'll tell you! 

A perfect fall book to snuggle up with and read til your heart's content.

Delicious Read's 2014 Fall Five

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Suppose your life sucks. A lot. Your husband has done a vanishing act, your teenage stepson is being bullied and your math whiz daughter has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you can’t afford to pay for. That’s Jess’s life in a nutshell—until an unexpected knight-in-shining-armor offers to rescue them. Only Jess’s knight turns out to be Geeky Ed, the obnoxious tech millionaire whose vacation home she happens to clean. But Ed has big problems of his own, and driving the dysfunctional family to the Math Olympiad feels like his first unselfish act in ages . . . maybe ever.

Brooke's Writerly Rant: I loved Jo Jo Moyes' other book, "Me Before You" and so I'm really excited to curl up with this one.



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A fugitive train loaded with the plunder of a doomed people. A dazzling jewelled pendant in the form of a stylized peacock. And three men - an American infantry captain in World War II, an Israeli-born dealer in art stolen by the Nazis, and a pioneering psychiatrist in fin-de-si-cle Budapest - who find their carefully-wrought lives turned upside-down by three fierce women, each locked in a struggle against her own history and the history of our times. And at the centre of Love and Treasure, nested like a photograph hidden in a locket, a mystery: where does the worth of a people and its treasures truly lie? What is the value of a gift, when giver and recipient have been lost - of a love offering when the beloved is no more?
In an intricately constructed narrative that is by turns funny and tragic, thrilling and harrowing, with all the expertise and narrative drive that readers have come to expect from her work, Waldman traces the unlikely journey, from 1914 Budapest to post-war Salzburg to present-day New York, of the peacock pendant whose significance changes - token of friendship, love-offering, unlucky talisman with the changes of fortune undergone by her characters as they find themselves caught up in the ebb and flow of modern European history.
Spanning continents and a hundred years of turbulent history, encompassing war and revolution, the history of art, feminism and psychoanalysis, depicting the range of human feeling from the darkness of a shattered Europe to the ordinary heartbreaks of a contemporary New York woman, Love and Treasure marks the full maturity of a remarkable writer.

Brooke's Writerly Rant: This one sounds like the kind of book that wraps itself around your heart. I love stories with depth and intricate characters. Plus the cover is beautiful. Perfect for a stroll in the park and a good picnic reading.

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***Expected Release Date October 14th!

For more than a decade, Jenna Metcalf has never stopped thinking about her mother, Alice, who mysteriously disappeared in the wake of a tragic accident. Refusing to believe that she would be abandoned as a young child, Jenna searches for her mother regularly online and pores over the pages of Alice’s old journals. A scientist who studied grief among elephants, Alice wrote mostly of her research among the animals she loved, yet Jenna hopes the entries will provide a clue to her mother’s whereabouts.

Desperate to find the truth, Jenna enlists two unlikely allies in her quest. The first is Serenity Jones, a psychic who rose to fame finding missing persons—only to later doubt her gifts. The second is Virgil Stanhope, a jaded private detective who originally investigated Alice’s case along with the strange, possibly linked death of one of her colleagues. As the three work together to uncover what happened to Alice, they realize that in asking hard questions, they’ll have to face even harder answers.

As Jenna’s memories dovetail with the events in her mother’s journals, the story races to a mesmerizing finish. A deeply moving, gripping, and intelligent page-turner, Leaving Time is Jodi Picoult at the height of her powers.

Brooke's Writerly Rant: Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors. I love how in the beginning of her books you'll make a judgment about a character… and by the end you'll completely switch positions, or at least question your original thought. She also pulls in different cultures or something interesting to learn about. I'm really excited for this one!

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Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first men to walk on the surface of Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first man to die there.

It started with the dust storm that holed his suit and nearly killed him, and that forced his crew to leave him behind, sure he was already dead. Now he's stranded millions of miles from the nearest human being, with no way to even signal Earth that he's alive--and even if he could get word out, his food would be gone years before a rescue mission could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to get him first.

But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills--and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit--he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. But will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

Brooke's Writerly Rant: I will admit this is not one I would typically think to recommend . . . however, I've been told about it by three different people whose opinions I value and it's getting solid reviews. So I think I'll give it a shot! It's always fun to try out a different kind of book than what you normally read. 

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When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva.

For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa’s fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling.

Brooke's Writerly Rant: This looks like a fun October Halloween-esque read! It also just barely came out and I love reading fresh, new books.

Well that's it for today! I hope this inspires you to grab a soft blanket, light a caramel apple flavored candle and cozy up with a great fall read. Let us know what other amazing fall books you're really looking forward to! As you may have noticed . . .  we're fond of books around here! 

Your Writerly Ranter,

Brooke

Writerly Rants: To Review or Not to Review… That is the Question

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When you're looking for the perfect new beach read this summer, do you check out the reviews? You have to admit, it's pretty helpful to be able to get a sense of the book to decide if it will be something you'll want to rave about to all your friends.

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Have YOU ever given a book a star rating or written a review? It's easy! You don't have to have any qualifications to rate a book and you don't have to come up with a whole breakdown of it. If you want, you can just click on a star rating and leave it at that.

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Goodreads, Barnes and Noble and Amazon all have places for you to give a book a 1-5 star rating and you can also write a review if you want.

But WHY should I give a star rating or write a review?

1) Word of mouth is the most compelling form of endorsement.
2) Positive reviews = more books sold.
3) Reviews have helped you to find good books before… pay it forward!

For example- on Amazon, once a book has between 20-25 reviews, it's in the "also bought" and "you might like this" lists. Once a book hits between 50-70 reviews, it can also be spotlighted online or in their newsletter, which will obviously get it more attention.

Many websites that review or promote books won't even consider the book unless it has a certain number of reviews.

And of course, it really helps the authors move up on the Ratings and Best Sellers lists.

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Ok. Ok. I'll try it out. But what kinds of things could I put in a review?

Pick a few words to describe your overall feel of the book. Think of a few words that pop into your head- Fascinating. A Nail-biter. Awesome. Scary. Thought-provoking. Scandalous. Hypnotic. Funny.

Tell us what you liked! Did you adore a character? Was it so fast-paced that you put off everything you were supposed to be doing? Did it make you laugh? Cry? Are you dying for the next book in the series? Did it keep you guessing until the end? Just pretend you're telling a good friend about it.

Specifics- if you want. You can be as detailed as you want with your favorite parts. Tell us what scenes really moved you or what parts made you feel a connection. Did you love the ending? Will you read other books written by the author?

NO Spoilers without a warning. If you want to give something away… let the readers know. You can just say *spoiler alert right before. On Goodreads there's a box you can check to hide the review unless people want to open it up to see. There's nothing worse than having a major thing revealed before a reader is ready.

Just be honest. You can mention what didn't work for you in a book, but just remember to be tactful in how you say it. Someone spent a lot of time creating something out of a blank page for your enjoyment, so be kind.

Do you recommend it? If you think other's will like it, let us know. If you think that a specific age group will really like it tell us! Or if it will appeal to someone that loves fantasy or beach reads or romance etc… give us the skinny!

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Hopefully next time you finish a great book you'll take a few seconds to add a star rating or give it a quick review. It's super easy, helps the author, and let's other people connect with amazing books!

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It's all about perspective… so give us yours!

Your Writerly Ranter,
Brooke

A Memorial Day Tribute--Four Books to Honor Those Who Serve

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Happy Memorial Day! Today we honor all those who have served or are currently serving for our county and freedom. Today especially, we send you and your families our sincere gratitude.

At Delicious Reads we've read some amazing and inspiring books over the years (2013 Picks, 2012 Picks, 2011 Picks, 2010 Picks, 2009 Picks). Many of these books explore various perspectives of people who have fought for their beliefs. Today I'd like to highlight four of them.

One of my all-time favorite books--and I've read a ton--is Unbroken," by Laura Hillenbrand.

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"Unbroken"is the epic story of WWII hero and survivor, Louis Zamperini (mild spoiler alert for the rest of the paragraph). As a young man Louis competed in the Berlin Olympics right before WWII broke out. He served as a bombardier until his plane crashed in the Pacific Ocean where his resilient spirit and positive attitude fueled his fight to survive. After an unimaginable 47 days, Louis made it to shore and was immediately captured as a POW by the Japanese Navy. He endured unthinkable atrocities, specifically at the hand of one of Douglas MacArthur's 40 Most Wanted War Criminals, a man known as The Bird. Louis Zamperini's attitude about everything he went through is one of the most courageous and inspiring things I've ever come across.

"Unbroken"is mesmerizing, humbling and life-changing. Everyone should read this book. It will make you see the world differently.

I'm so excited that Unbroken is being turned into a movie scheduled for release at the end of the 2014! Angelina Jolie is directing the Coen Brother's adaptation of the book. Tom Brokaw sat down with Angelina and Louis last month to discuss:

Here's the Summary of our Discussion about "Unbroken."

Here's the Picture Recap of "Unbroken." 

Another book we read this year also took place during WWII and was just released as a major motion picture. "Monument's Men," by Robert M. Edsel is the story of special forces chosen to locate, protect and preserve cultural artifacts during WWII. This story focuses on six men and their quest to preserve artwork from the Nazis.

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Here's the Summary of our Discussion about "Monuments Men."
Here's the Picture Recap of "Monuments Men."

Last year I moderated our discussion of a book that became very dear to me, "Between Shades of Gray," by Ruta Sepetes (not to be confused with Fifty Shades of Grey)...

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This book is an amazing story about a brave Lithuanian girl named Lina. She and her mother and brother are separated from her father and forced under Stalin's orders to work in the coldest camp in Siberia. Lina documents their harrowing 6500 mile journey with secret artwork that she tries smuggle to her father's camp to let him know they are still alive. The book is based on the experiences of the author's family which made it even more chilling.

Here's the summary of our Discussion about "Between Shades of Gray."
Here's the Picture Recap of "Between Shades of Gray,"

The last book I want to highlight for Memorial Day is "The Book Thief," by Markus Zusak.

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The Book Thief has a very different twist of perspective--it is narrated by Death. It's the story of a young foster girl named Liesel in Nazi Germany who decides to steal books as part of her quest. She shares these books with the Jewish man who is hiding in her basement. It's a captivating and touching story that will leave its mark on your heart. It has also been made into a major motion picture:

To all those who have served or are currently serving in the military and their families--a sincere thank you. Thank you for being so courageous and nobel. We honor and remember you today.

Your Writerly Ranter,
Brooke

Delicious Reads…. Finding Some GoodReads

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Welcome to the first editions of Writerly Rants! Just in case you missed it, there's a new line up of Delicious Reads Contributors. I'm Brooke, and I'm an avid writer and voracious reader, which is why I'm really excited to give you the skinny on one of my favorite sites, GOODREADS.

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Goodreads is the largest site for readers and book recommendations- it's where readers unite to share the best of the best, to give everyone a smorgasbord of book options tailored just for them. If someone thinks they don't like to read, it's because they haven't had the right book at their fingertips yet! Goodreads makes it so much easier to find books you'll love.

If you've never tried it before, here are some of the highlights:

• Look Up Book Reviews- Each book has a description, overall star rating of 1-5 stars and reader reviews. Anyone can give a star rating or write a review so it can be as interactive as you choose to make it.

• See What Friends Are Reading- This is a great way to start. Since you probably have things in common with people who are your friends, chances are you'll probable like some similar books. You can even do a search to Compare Books with a friend to see what books you've both read or want to read. It's a quick and fun way to see if you have similar book-tastes and get some ideas.

• Shelves to Track: Currently Reading, Books Read, Books To Read- This is one of my favorite features because it keeps everything organized and user friendly.  When I'm ready for a new book, I can quickly check my To Read shelf and know I have something awesome lined up. 

• Reading Challenge- Goodreads will track the books you've read during the year. Simply set a goal of how many books you want to read and then once you mark them as read, Goodreads will pool them together. You can even put a badge showing your progress on your favorite social media site! Last year I read fifty books as part of the challenge and it was so easy to track and share with my friends from their site.  If you want to get an idea of how it works, here's a post I wrote about how I Read 50 Books in 2013.

• Explore Books and Get Recommendations- Goodreads populates books you might like based on books you've previously given high ratings.  Goodreads also has endless Book Lists you can scroll through to get ideas. 

• Scan Books - If you download the Goodreads app, you can scan a book right from your phone to have it pull up all the information about the book on the spot. It's an awesome trick so you don't have to type in the title and author to get some quick info.

• Follow Favorite Authors- Goodreads is a great place to become a fan of your favorite authors, keep apprised of new book releases and hear about upcoming events.

Just in case you can't tell, I'm a huge fan! If you want to give Goodreads a try, I'll be your first friend- you can Find My Profile Here. As as writer, and someone who has fallen in love with so many books, I want everyone to be able find books that speak to them. Goodreads is the most multi-faceted, user-friendly site I've seen. We even use Goodreads to help us choose our Yearly Line Up!

At DelicousReads, we're all about finding some GoodReads, so let's spread the book-love!

Your Writerly Ranter,
Brooke