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

EXCITING NEWS! DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....

You guys, I've been itching for WEEKS to share some exciting news that I've been hoarding selfishly but finally, the wait is over, I can spill the blogging beans!

For years I've had a vision of what I hoped my book club and blog could grow into and I'm tickled pink and to announce that my vision is starting to become reality. I've been wanting to expand the blog in all directions for YEARS but the time was finally right to put together some AHH-MAZING contributors who will now be posting three times a week, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You won't have to read too many of my boring posts now because I have created a buffet of bloggers for you!

After meeting to discuss a blog plan with all of the talented contributors I am excited, more than ever, to watch the changes that are coming!

We have a great group of talented, beautiful gals that I choose carefully for their individual strengths pure and utter awesomeness and diverse interests and I know they are going to do great things.

So buckle up and keep on reading because this ride is one we are going to take together as blogger and reader!

Without further adieu......

.....MEET THE NEW CONTRIBUTORS!

Hi I'm Ashley and I love to laugh. If that is all you know about me, it is enough. 

Oh… you’re still here!? Well, let me go on… 

I am currently living the dream. At any given time, you can find me in a pair of leggings, an oversized sweatshirt, a big bun on top of my head, peanut butter all over my fingers, a kid in my lap, and a book in my hand. It really is the best. I have three kids who keep me laughing all day long. My four-year-old thinks she is Beyonce, my two-year-old is potty training, and my new little babe laughs like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Again I say, I am living the dream!

Here on Delicious Reads, I am so excited to share with you my love of children’s literature. As a former children’s librarian, I am passionate about getting books in kids’ hands. I will be focusing my efforts on encouraging us all to raise a reader. Whether it is reading to your wee ones or convincing your grown ones to read on their own, we will get our kids reading!

Favorite Book: East of Eden. If you haven’t read it yet, I am judging you…. Ha! I would never do that! But I would plead with you find a copy ASAP and dive in. It is vulnerable and strong at the same time. You see yourself in every character. The minute you get to the end, you want
to start again from the beginning. So, there you have it! Timshel, you amazing readers!

Brooke Hargett is an aspiring author, obsessed with debuting her first novel- "RE(M)ality," where an untraceable person from a parallel reality of dreams causes people to commit murder in their sleep. Think you're immune? Think again… everybody has to sleep sometime.

Brooke is currently working on her second book, "Project Evie," about a feisty woman who discovers her fiancé led a double life when he is murdered and she is forced into the witness protection program, unable to let go of a past she never knew she had.

Brooke posts once a week on her BLOG where she gives inspiring-yet-unsolicited advice, shares book reviews from her 50-books-a-year challenge, stimulates conversation-starters and features writing samples. She's the mama of one ridiculously adorable boy and step-mama to three fabulously sweet girls. She can be bribed with coffee, wine, or a trip to the beach.

Brooke's series on Delicious Reads is called "Writerly Rants" where she gives tips on ways to incorporate writing in your own life and features coping mechanisms for other bookaholics.

 Favorite Books: It's equal parts Night Film, Kite Runner, The Fault In Our Stars, The Kitchen House, The Goldfinch, The Book Thief, Gone Girl and Unbroken. She loves them all for different reasons and cannot possibly choose.

Hi, I'm Elizabeth, it is more likely that you will find me hiking, playing tennis, or cooking, than quietly reading. I love all things event -- food, hosting, socializing, creating, organizing, cooking and, in a word, fun. My two young children and husband can always count on me to plan a fun outing that includes much of the above, but hopefully not too much. I do love reading, but I'm the person that falls asleep watching movies and reading books, so it can be a little tricky. This book club has pushed me to find ways and time to rediscover the companion of a good book.  

Favorite Book: One of my all-time favorite books is My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok. If you were to look in my library bag, it would be full of at least 20 children’s books. We love reading together. One of our current favorites is Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Rosenthal.

Jacque and Emily are two best friends from Salt Lake City and San Diego. They met in high school and lost track of each other, then bumped into one another 4 years later in college and have been more like sisters ever since. Together, they write a beauty and style blog called looksbylovelies.

Jacque works as a pediatric acute care speech therapist and Emily works for a prestigious interior design company.

Their Favorite Books: They both love to read and share a love for Pride and Prejudice and the Shopaholic Series. A personal favorite of Jacque is anything written by Marian Keyes and Emily loves To Kill a Mockingbird and Catcher in the Rye.

Hi I'm Kate! I am an art history enthusiast who loves to travel and throw fun, themed parties. To see photos from all my travels and soirees, check out my personal blog, My Musings,

I also have a passion for cooking, especially baking, and always love a fun DIY project. I adore books and always look for ways to incorporate them in my interior decorating and party decor. My posts will be drawn from these passions of mine, and will be focused around DIY, crafts, and book styling ideas. I love reading, and I am drawn to books that expand my mind, have beautiful descriptions, and wonderful characters.

All time favorite book: Carter Beats the Devil which has all of   the things I mentioned above and much, much more, its definitely a must read!

Robin King received her Bachelor's degree in education from Brigham Young University and has been instructing children and young adults for over ten years. When she's not helping her students remember the quadratic formula, she leads a dual life as a mother of five. Don't tell anyone, but she's also an undercover novelist, marathoner, photographer, singer, seamstress, baker, and household appliance repairman!

Spying on authors and hiding out at local book events is where Robin gets her kicks. She reports her missions in our "Author Stalker" and "In Our Backyard" series.

                                                      Favorite Book: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenster.

Well hello there! Nice to meet you, I'm Kelly and I guess you could call me the ultimate Book Club Starter/ Organizer/ Designer/ Blog Runner/ Picture Taker/ El Presidente/ Party Thrower extraordinaire. Or you could just call me Kelly, I respond to both.

Delicious Read’s Book Club is my BABY (second of course to my actual baby) but I LOVE IT! Our book club started out like any other, discussing a book around a plate of cookies at my kitchen table but has since evolved into something much bigger than I ever imagined.  My book club combines all my loves into one: reading, food, organization, a scheduled girls night each month (you've got to have those), throwing themed parties, thinking outside the box, great discussion, meeting new people, and helping others find the joy in stories and books.

My life outside of book club consists of recalling what I learned from my Psychology degree in an attempt to outwit my baby girl who has already learned how to bend me to her will. (Don't worry, she's still in diapers.) I also love to bake, because that's the best part of dinner, take photos like the crazy aunt at reunions, sleep when its raining outside, travel when I get the chance, make lists, check things off my list, read to my daughter, eat everything under the sun, learning...I love to learn, high fiving my husband when I get excited about things, cuddling my dog when I'm stressed, cry in my closet when the occasion calls for it (don't judge, I'm a private crier) and exploring, there's something so satisfying about exploring the world around you. 

I will continue to blog our over the top book club meetings each month so make sure to read and follow along with us!

Favorite Books: Sense & Sensibility, The Night Circus, The Fault in Our Stars, The Forgotten Garden and of course, the Harry Potter series (I know everyone says they love HP but is because J.K is a flipping GENIUS!)