Day 19: Mike Zarkades of Home Front

Welcome to Day  of my 31 Days Series!!  Today's book boyfriend is Mike Zarkades of Home Front by Kristan Higgins. 

I loved this book. I loved seeing a female Veteran instead of a male Veteran.  Mike tells his wife, Jolene, that he does not love her anymore right before she is deployed overseas.  This deployment Jolene was not expecting, but now her husband, Mike, has to be both parents.  We see the pov in both Jolene and Mike.

How is Mike a book boyfriend?
Mike
-Hot
-Great dad to his 2 daughters
-a strong spouse with his wife being in the military with all he needs to do when she is deployed.
-Stands by his wife when she comes home injured.
-Takes everything Jolene gives him after she returns home  

Happy Reading!!
Melissa

What are your top 5 (or more) authors?

I was nominated by a friend to list 5 authors I stalk a few weeks ago, but I have been busy reading!.....so here is my list:

1. Lynne Silver

2. Jennifer Bernard

3. Susan Mallery

4. Author Danielle Stewart

5. Ella Jade

6. Kristan Higgins Books

7. Kristin Hannah

8. Shannon Stacey

9. Jill Shalvis

10. Grace Burrowes
11. Gemma Brocato
12. Jean C. Joachim 
13. Debra Ann Fisk
14. Jessie Evans
15. Linda Lael Miller

My list was only 6 (last year), but I have added 9 authors I have learned in the last year, who are Lynne Silver, Danielle Stewart, Ella Jade, Grace Burrowes, Jean C. Joachim, Gemma Brocato, Jessie Evans, and Debra Ann Fisk. 

I have found some new series I love, but I think I will talk about those in a separate post so I can keep up with what I have read and what I have not read.  I am behind in some of the series I now read and I need to play catch up.

I can not pick 5. What can I say? I love to read. Now I don't stalk these authors every day on Facebook. I definitely go to Jennifer Bernard's Facebook Page every Friday for her Happy Firemen Friday!! (I am married to a volunteer fireman!). I have them all in a special category (authors) so I can find them when I want to look at their Facebook page.

What are your top 5 (or more) authors that you stalk on Facebook or their websites?
Happy Reading, 
Melissa

Reading Challenge: The Next Best Thing

For this Reading Challenge, I chose The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins.  I loved it.  It has been awhile since I have read a book by Kristan Higgins.  I have 3 library cards & I used them for e-books.  Only 1 library card I go into to get actual books.  If you can get e-books, I suggest doing it if you can.  If you are in PA, on the back of your library card you should have a blue sticker, that sticker you can get another library card for free.

I kept thinking during this book: How would I feel if I lost my husband, was surrounded by my aunts, who lost their husbands, & my mom lost her husband, my dad?  Think about what that would do to myself/yourself.  Your aunts lost their husbands & now your lost yours.  You have to pick up the pieces of your life & move on with your life.

In the beginning of the book, we meet Lucy, her sister, Corinne, who just had a baby,  with her husband,  Chris.  Lucy tells us that "Corrine lives in terror that her seemingly healthy husband is on the brink of death." (Kindle Page 36).   Corrine is so scared of turning into Lucy that she is driving her husband crazy. Lucy tells us that "given the Black Widow curse, men were scarce in my (her) life.  I (her) had no uncles, no grandfathers, no brothers....." (Kindle Page 48).  Growing up like this would be completely different than most of us has.  Do you have a grandfather or 2, uncles(s), brother(s)?  I do for all of them.  Think about how those men influenced your life.

Lucy's late, husband, Jimmy's parents are still in Lucy's life.  Gianni & Marie are wonderful.   I love how Gianni & Marie treat Lucy. But, I think they think Jimmy walks on water while Ethan is not as good.  I think each child needs to be treated equally.  Marie says "We wanted you here because we love you like you're our own daughter, Lucy, honey.  And Ethan, of course, you're like a son of us." (Kindle Page 106)

I think this book is about family.  Lucy has her family around her after she loses her husband.  Her brother in law, Ethan, helps her, too, along with her mother in law, Marie, & her father in law, Gianni.   Lucy also has her friend, Parker, by her side, but I consider her family.  You would definitely need your friends & family to help you through a loss like this. I also think this book is about following your dreams, but I am not going to say anything else just in case you did not read the book!! ;)  Go after what you want!!


Reading this book makes me miss my favorite bakery.  I was talking with a friend about it tonight.  Their cakes were so good.  I can not remember when they closed it.  It was a tradition in my family to have one of their cakes for our birthdays.  I started that some tradition with my kids.  When Lucy, her mom, & her aunts was in their bakery, Bunny's, it brought back memories of my favorite bakery.


I love the ending!  Once again, I am not going to say what happened for those who did not read it.  I love that we know what happened beyond that.  I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a good read!

Until my next review,
Melissa

Reading Challenge- Catch of the Day

For this review, I chose Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins. This was a very good book. I love it!  I felt so back for Maggie the entire way through the book.  Date after date this poor girl went on.  It did not go well.  Why doesn't it is my question?  Why doesn't these guy like Maggie?  

Spoiler Warning: If you have not read this book, stop!  Read the book before reading the rest of my review!!

I do not blame her for the whole priest situation.  He did not try hard enough.  They were in a crowded restaurant & she was working.  How was she to have heard him say he was a priest?  He introduced himself as "Tim O'Halloran. A pleasure it is to meet you"  What priest introduces himself this way?  Majority of priest I have met (I will come to this part in a second) have introduced themselves as Father so & so.  I am Catholic & I have gone to a Catholic Elementary School from Kindergarten to 8th grade.  I have never met one that introduced himself as Tim.  Maggie did what a normal lady, who was looking for a husband, did.  She told her sister.  They did not even know who he was.  Not until the day in church.  They were told Father Morris was retiring & some new guy was filling in.  No name.  The only time Tim used Father was in Church when he told everyone.  He should had told Maggie that when he first met her.  Then, she would not had a crush on him.

I love how Maggie takes care of the lady downstairs.  Her name is Mrs Kandinsky or Mrs K.  She is Maggie's tenant.  Maggie will bring her food home from the diner.  Maggie is the only person she sees.  So very sad.  Her children are all out of state & are all aging themselves. 

Colonel is a great dog!  Followed her everywhere Maggie went!  He reminds me of Zeus, but I need a leash for Zeus because huskies runaway!   I loved how Maggie took Colonel everywhere she went.  I wish I could do that with Zeus especially with his separation anxiety.  It was so sad at 58% into the book (Kindle).  I am not going to say what.  Everyone was so thoughtful, but 1 person.  Again I am not going to say who!  


Maggie's dates: (Not all was a disaster)
1. Roger Martin- I did not like him at all.  He ate like a PIG!!  He is a nurse.  Shouldn't he have more manners?  Maggie thought to herself why would he needed to be fixed up!  He liked being a nurse because of the overtime, benefits, & 401K.  What about his patients?  I would not want him to be my nurse.  I would call the head nurse & ask for a new nurse!  I mean it!  If I was in there to have a baby, I would want a nice nurse & if he was not nice, bye bye you would go!!  I had this happen with my daughter!  First date & he wanted to eat Maggie's food!  Rude!  Roger "communicates with animals who have passed." But, he could not get anything right about Maggie.  He is not that good if you ask me!  Mammal!  Really.  You are guessing a mammal.  Then, Roger leaves her with the check.  Not even enough money for his half.  Cheap skate!  
2. Oliver Wachterski- His hernia popped out & he blamed it on Maggie.  I re-read this part 3 times & I do not see how it is Maggie's fault.  He must of moved wrong.  Then, he wanted her to "pop" it back into place.  Hey, if you do not "know" the man intimately, would you do it?  He was definitively not the One!
3. Albert Mikrete- This date went well, but I am not going to tell you anymore than that. You need to read about this date.  He was charming, but there was one thing that was wrong!  
4. Doug Andrews- a widower, but he could not get himself to the date so Malone filled in for him because Skip Parkinson, the boyfriend from high school, & Annabelle sat down at Maggie's table to torment her.  I swear they did it on purpose.  They have 3 kids & 1 on the way.   Of course, Skip asked Maggie if she wanted to see a picture.

Malone came through for Maggie & she was not expecting it!  He kissed her that night she had that blind date with Doug!  She had a lot of unknowns with Malone.  Father Tim was going to suggest Malone.    Malone does not talk much.  Why is that?  Maggie is wondering who the young beautiful woman Malone was with in front of her diner.  I know, but you need to read the book to find out! There was a few conflicts between Malone & Maggie.  After Malone found out about something, he went to Maggie & did something really sweet for her.  

Maggie's mom has some strange saying like this one "A rolling stone gathers no dirt."  Maggie doesn't even have to say anything to her because she knows what she will say like this: "You need to stop lighting your fire under a bushel."  Another thing Maggie's mom would say is "Fools rush in where angels fear to bed." Maggie is a nice girl & she has a bad luck when it comes to meeting a guy.  Her mom put too much pressure on her about meeting someone.  What about Christy being Perfect?  This is a big issue for Maggie.  Christy is married, has a baby, & has the life that Maggie so badly wants.  Christy is her twin sister & she is married because their mom introduced Will to Christy & not Maggie!!    If I remember correctly, Christy is a social worker.  Her mom is not making this any easier on her.  I love how Maggie told her mom off!!  It is my favorite Maggie phrase: "I'm sick of you disapproving of me, sick of you telling me that my life is a dead end, sick of you comparing me to Christy & her perfect life.  Get out.  Come back when you can act like a mother who loves all her children."  She needs to back off or one day she may not have her daughter!   I can not believe that Maggie's mom did not want her to have her own dog when her heart was broken over Skip.  I loved how her dad got her Colonel to help her get over Skip, but all her mom was worried about was fleas, lice or something else.  What does that tell you about her mother?  I would be comforting my daughter.  I think I would be the one to go get her the dog or taking her to go get her one!  

Chantel is a friend of Maggie.  I am not going to say much about her, but I am going to leave some questions.  Do you believe what Maggie thought?  Do you believe that Malone could had been the one?  I did not.  I believed it was Jonah.  I even have it written in my notes of my Kindle app!  Chantel only went to Malone because he told her in high school that he would be a shoulder to cry on.  I have learned that not everything is what is appears to be.  Maggie needs to see that.  

I love the speech Maggie gave to Malone!  Then, Emory, his daughter said to him "What was that all about?  I love the ending!  Read the book to find out!  You knew I was going to say that right!  

Keep on Reading!
Melissa

P.S. Something for you:

1. What are the reasons for Maggie being Mrs K food home?  
2. Who was fixing Maggie up on these dates & why?
3.  What was wrong with Albert Mikrete?

4. How kids does Skip Parkinson have with Annabelle?  Names?  
5.  Why couldn't Doug go on the date with Maggie? 
6.  Do you think Maggie grew up some during this book?  
7. Are you okay with what happened with Maggie's parents?

Top 5 Favorite Authors

I got this idea from HERE. I would love to hear what your 5 Favorite Authors are, too!

What are your Favorite Authors?

1. Susan Mallery

2. Nora Roberts

3. Nicholas Sparks

4. Linda Lael Miller

5. Kristan Higgins

6. Shannon Stacey

Which books would you recommend from those authors?

Susan Mallery- Fool's Gold series, Buchanan Series, Los Lobos, Lone Star, .

Nora Roberts- Stanislaskis series, Bride Quartet series.

Nicholas Sparks- The Lucky One,  Dear John, The Last Song, The Best of Me.

Linda Lael Miller- The Creed Cowboys Series.

Kristan Higgins- All I Ever Wanted, Fools Rush In.

Shannon Stacey- Kowalski Series

As you can tell, I love series!  With series, you learn about the character while being introduced about new characters.  My favorite series are Fool's Gold, Buchanan, Stanislaskis, Bride Quartet, The Creed Cowboys (What can I say about Cowboys? Yum!!) & the Kowalski Series.  When I found out that Susan Mallery was bringing Cowboys to Fool's Gold, I thought YEA!  I read The Creed Cowboys Series last year & I loved it.  I could not wait to read about her Cowboys!  =)

What are your 5 Favorite Authors?  There are a few more authors I want to read like Kristin Hannah & Jodi Picoult.  I really want to read her Home Front.  I have a list of books to read by Jodi Picoult.  I have this thing that I stick with my favorite authors.  If you check my Goodreads, you will see that my read list is basically those 6 authors I have listed.

I want to hear your top 5 Favorite Authors!

Melissa

Reading Challenge: The Best Man

Once again I got an e-book from one of my libraries, this time I chose The Best Man by Kristan Higgans. I love reading the Dear Reader section.  There was a paragraph about the Finger Lakes.  Shawn's family lived there at one time & we are going to be taking the kids there.  Not sure when.  Not anytime soon.  From what Shawn told me, it is a beautiful area.  I love how Kristan described the area.  It was like I was already there.  Another thing I loved about this book is for the main character to have epilepsy.  It is a great way to raise awareness on any disease!  I already know which book of hers I will be reading next.  Read this book to find out!  There is an excerpt on the end of The Best Man!

On to the book, I love this book.  I do not know what I would do.  What would you do if your soon to be husband to be told you he is gay, but he did not tell you, but the best man did?  I think I would do what Faith did-leave your hometown & go somewhere new.  Start over.  I think it is best that Faith found out before they were married & especially before they had children.  Think how that would had affected the children involved.  I know Faith is upset when she heard it all coming out of the best man's mouth, but in the long run, I think it is for the best for Faith & Jeremy.  In the town she lived in, everyone knew what happened, too.

Faith went home to do some work on her family's winery, but even after many years she still heard  someone was telling her how sorry they were.  I think she made the right decision by leaving when she did.  I am not going to tell you when, how, etc.  Yes, you are going to have to read the book!  When Faith returned to town, do you think Jeremy is there?  If he is, how do you think they were together?  Old friends?  Did not talk to one another? 

I think my favorite "funny" part in the book was in Chapter 5 when Faith hide in the bathroom.
Levi says to Faith "That happens to me all the time." This earned another glare. "So you decided to climb out the window?" 
Faith says "Mmm-hmm." 
Levi says "Where you are now stuck."
Faith says "Wow. Those analytical powers of yours are just stunning, Levi.  No wonder you're a cop."
(Kindle page 101-102)
Love this part so much.  I am not going to say anything more for those of you that have not read the book. 

This book review is going to be short.  I loved this book, but there is so much more I could put into.  I do not want to give too much of the book away.  I love the ending.  The Best Man is a must read!!

Keep on Reading!
Melissa