What I'm Reading

The boyfriend got me a Kindle for Christmas and I admit that I have been very slow to come around to this kind of reading experience. But, as more of my friends as well as other authors are opting for the independent publishing route, I am more open to giving the Kindle a try. Needless to say, I was so excited when the boyfriend showed up with a Kindle for me this holiday season. My first Kindle read was written by my friend, Marie Force entitled, True North. And it's funny that around Christmas time a year ago she and I had met for lunch and she mentioned that she had started seriously thinking about putting her work out there on her own. As she has said many times, rejection has been her friend. Without it, she would not have opted to publish her books herself, she would not have amassed as much success, and she would not have gotten so many good books into the hands of her readers . . . who constantly clamor for more. I loved True North (yes, there are readers who want to read about a supermodel looking for love) and am so happy she took the chance and put her work out there in what was, a year ago, a very unconventional distribution method. Now she is one of the leaders on this new frontier and I wish her continued success!

xoxo,
bex

What I'm Reading

I limited the boyfriend to buying me just one book for Christmas this year. He likes to find me books that are outside my normal reading area, which is great because I do enjoy doing that but it's hard, too, when there are so many new books in my genre that I want to read to stay current of what is being published in the area where I want to be. I just don't have enough time to read as much as I want to! So this year's book was The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown, which was a decent pick since the book is about three sisters raised by an academic and his wife in a college town - all of whom almost always have their noses in a book. What's not to like about a family of readers? There is more to the story than that, of course. When the mother falls ill, the book hits a little close to home so there were some issues in the book that felt very personal to me and were, at times, tough for me to wrestle with. All in all though, I enjoyed the book and think the boyfriend did a good job with his gift selection. Unless, of course, there is some subliminal meaning in the title. My sister and I aren't weird at all!

xoxo,
bex

What I'm Reading

I am reading more romance and women's fiction these days, though over the Christmas break I hope to get back to some YA. In the meantime, I found a book by one of the authors I first started reading way back when, Jude Deveraux. This one was a contemporary romance set in a small town in Virginia - a book in a series that takes place in Edilean. Scarlet Nights lacked some of the sweeping aspects that I remember from some of her earlier books, but I still liked the story. Romance, intrigue, a little mystery, and some contemporary Scottish heroes in kilts . . . there is a lot to recommend this book!

xoxo,
bex

What I'm Reading

I recently had the chance to read The Flirt by Kathleen Tessaro. When I opened it, I had no idea what to expect but as the story evolved I couldn't put the book down. What I loved most about the book was the ensemble idea of it, almost like the movies, Love, Actually, Valentine's Day, or New Year's Eve. I marveled at how she introduced all the characters, kept all those balls juggling throughout the book, and gave them all a satisfying ending. I loved it, and, as a writer, would love to try to write a similarly structured story. Some day.

xoxo,
bex

What I'm Reading

In between all the rushing and wrapping and schlepping I still fit in some time for reading, and was delighted to be able to read Kristan Higgins' latest, Until There Was You. It was one of her usual funny and quirky reads, and delved into the many kinds of family relationships. The book felt whole to me, which is a difficult achievement for writers to evoke. I really liked the book - it's now my second favorite of hers (second to Too Good To Be True - it'll be hard to surpass that one, I'm afraid!).

xoxo,
bex

What I'm Reading

Well, I finally left the islands and jumped into reading a book that takes place around Christmas. Bed and Breakfast by Lois Battle. It takes place in South Carolina and there are a few authors I gravitate towards simply because they truly are Southern writers, writing in that Southern voice, and writing about places I would love to visit. The fact that Bed and Breakfast takes place over the holidays made for a timely read. And if you have family drama with your holidays, you might find some familiar tension in this book.

I must admit, I was pretty taken with the cover of the book and it is what drew me to try it out. Jane Porter recently had a talk about book covers on her blog... either head on over there and chat about it or let me know your thoughts. Do covers make a difference when you're buying books?

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

I love reading books by Anne Rivers Siddons. There are such emotional undercurrents in all of her books and a deepness that often brings tears to my eyes when I read her. She has a lyrical quality to her prose and I can't help but be sucked in to each story. In the past year I saw her book, Up Island, at my local bookstore and felt that I had to have it - it's set on Martha's Vineyard, a place I love, and it was great to, again, be transported to an island. Funny thing is that I saw the book jacket, read the cover blurb, and didn't realize it was a reissue. It wasn't until I got to a certain point in chapter one that I remembered that I had actually read it before. One scene had stayed with me all these years, but I had forgotten how it ended . . . so I read it again! I am so glad I did - it is always a great reading experience when you are confronted with such good writing.

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

Being obsessed with beach reads and the island of Nantucket, even now with winter threatening, I jumped at the chance to purchase Nancy Thayer's Beachcombers when I saw it at a used book sale. As always, I loved being transported to that magical place. It is a story about family, sisters in particular, and I loved nearly all of the characters and was eager to find out what would happen to them. They all experience some sense of love and loss, and it's about rebounding when life knocks you down. I don't doubt that Nantucket has all the healing properties that this book portends.

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

For those of you who haven't seen The Guardian article about Nora Roberts, you have missed some staggering statistics about what this woman has done for the romance genre. She is a publishing powerhouse, which has many of us shaking our heads and marveling at her prolific productivity. If I could be 1/3 as productive as she is, I would be a grateful and satisfied writer, indeed.

I had a Nora book in my TBR pile and this article prompted me to pick it up and read it over the holiday weekend. Homeport takes place in Maine and Italy, which are two of my favorite places. I think I would have picked the book up regardless, but with Nora at the helm it was a suspenseful story with a yummy hero and a satisfying romance. When you've read a Nora book, it's easy to see why she's the queen!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

I sometimes think about online dating and what a true leap of faith it is to trust that the great someone you've met through a dating site is actually the person he or she claims to be. In one conversation I've had I mentioned that for all you knew, that guy could be just like Clark Rockefeller, looking the part, sounding the part, acting the part -- embracing the part so well, how could he be anyone else?

I just finished reading The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor by Mark Seal. It is a remarkably researched and well-told story that peels back all the layers of that question.

Truth is stranger than fiction, and it is hard to believe that this man, often referred to, in hindsight, as a psychopath in the book, duped so many people. But it was pre-Internet, and without those resources at one's fingertips I think it would have been incredibly hard to fact check all the information he spun at people. Then again, he had his details correct and his facts straight, so who knows if the vast amount of online information available would have been helpful in detecting him more quickly, or if it would have just helped him become more armed and dangerous.

It is a fascinating story of how one man was driven to become the somebody he always wanted to be and the price that so many other people paid for it.

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

I am such a fan of Elizabeth Adler but don't seem to come across her books as often as I used to, so when I saw There's Something About St. Tropez in my local bookstore, I grabbed it up. I love that her books have intrigue, suspense, murder, and great characters with everything taking place in some fabulous part of the world. In St. Tropez, she introduced an ensemble cast that had me rooting for each one.

With winter fast approaching, who wouldn't want to escape to St. Tropez?

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

A while back I won a book through the Chick Lit Is Not Dead blog (always the best and most fun surprise!) and I finally have had the chance to read it. I was intrigued by the book, because it is loosely (supposedly) based on the writer's living in close proximity to Danny Moder and his ex, before he became Mr. Julia Roberts, and she wrote it wondering how awful it must be to lose your husband to one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. Sounds pretty horrible to me!

As if that very public break-up in the book wasn't hard enough, the main character faces a number of other life-altering events throughout the story. At times both funny and sad, Irene Zutell's Pieces of Happily Ever After will have you cheering for a happy ending.

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

We are having a freak snow day here in the Northeast, which makes for a great day to curl up and read. I found another YA in my TBR pile and it was so good I just flew through reading it. One of the things about Leap Day by Wendy Mass was that the book reminded me of the movies Love Actually and Valentine's Day. Though the story is about one character's leap day birthday, you get the sense of an ensemble story with alternating chapters devoted to the characters' internal thoughts. I liked the perspective these chapters gave. It's different and effective. I am so glad I found this book!

xoxo,
bex

What I'm Reading

As a librarian, I couldn't resist picking up Brad Meltzer's book, The Inner Circle, during my recent travels through the Denver airport. I was so afraid I'd run out of reading material so I picked up this extra book at Hudson News (so glad book stores still at least exist in these places!).

I love a good thriller as well as books set in Washington with some political intrigue, and this book has all of that PLUS a lot of the action takes place in the National Archives AND the main protagonist is an archivist! There are some unexpected twists that keep you turning the pages, so if you're a fan of all those things I mentioned you'll want to head out and get this book.

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

A long plane ride is a great time to curl up with a book so for my recent trip to Colorado I made sure to pack a book for my return trip. Of course, I started When Good Wishes Go Bad by Mindy Klasky before my time in Boulder ended, and I was so happy I'd have such a good read to finish on my trip home. The book made me wish I had a genie and some fairy godmothers of my own!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

In writing YA, I am always contemplating the things that cause rifts between teens, but in the book, A Most Uncommon Degree of Popularity, Kathleen Gilles Seidel explores what happens when the teens' parents are also close, inseparable friends. When one daughter is on the outs with the other girls in the group, how does one mom's friendships suffer, too? I thought the story idea was a brilliant one. Plus the book is set against the tony backdrop of one of Washington DC's most affluent neighborhoods, which is a setting I am absolutely obsessed with. I love getting glimpses into how the other half lives!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

I read a lot of fiction but always try to make room for some self-help books along the way. I bought Bethenny Frankel's, A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life as a gift for my sister but I was eager to read it, too. Whether you like Bethenny or not, the advice in her book is actually quite practical and helpful. I liked the book a lot, and have found myself thinking back on it and trying to use some of the rules she imparts. Lord knows I have yet to get everything out of life that I want, so I am willing to try new things to bring about the positive change I seek.

The other great thing about Bethenny's advice? The tips are all things we change within ourselves. I like that she encourages you to be the best self you can be. Her stories are a little crazy, but they are her stories. Take the best of what she has to say and make it work for you. What have you got to lose?

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

I love reading a wide variety of books because I think all writers can learn lots of things by applying breadth to our reading choices. Having said that, it has been too long since I have immersed myself in YA literature so I am trying to get back to it (despite the fact that the Barnes and Noble I recently visited near my workplace offered less than half the romance and YA selection that my beloved Borders, formerly across the street, used to offer). I need to stock up on recent releases and look forward to a big book shopping trip, if not in a local brick and mortar store then it will be off to Amazon for me. But I digress...

That convenient Barnes and Noble had just one book on my list of possibilities, so when I saw Love Story by Jennifer Echols I grabbed it straight away. I had looked forward to reading this new release as I had really enjoyed one of her previous titles, Going Too Far. I write contemporary YA romance, but I was intrigued with the notion of romantic drama, which Jennifer does so well. I liked Love Story and I do recommend it, but it was a different kind of book from GTF.

I look forward to my big shop and getting some more new YA for my TBR shelves, after all, it may be reading but it's still considered "research."

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

The writing isn't going so hot for me right now and all I want to do is lose myself in reading for as long as I can. I know I will have to come out of my reading hiding place at some point, but for now I am trying to enjoy this departure for as long as it can last.

I have been reading all kinds of things and the latest is a work of fiction by Andrew Wilson called The Lying Tongue. It is a freaky and interesting read. One character is hurt, bitter, and mentally unwell and the other is a sociopath. But the interesting thing is that you truly don't know which one is which until the very end. It was a twist I did not expect and I am still processing the ending. It's a creepy book, which makes it all the more successful of a story.

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

I am a book buyer and my budget is super tight right now so I have not been able to load up on my YA purchases in a long time. So I was super psyched to find Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti waiting for me in my TBR pile.

As librarians we try to recommend books for readers based on the authors we know they like. So, if one of my patrons likes Gossip Girl, I might recommend they try the Private series by Kate Brian. In this case, if a reader likes books by Sarah Dessen, she might also want to try books by Susane Colasanti. At least, that's what I was told and I was not disappointed! And now I am excited to have another author whose work I know I will like, simply because of the kinds of stories she tells.

What about you? Have you found other authors based on recommendations from librarians or booksellers -- if you like X AUTHOR, you should try Y AUTHOR? Inquiring minds want to know!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

My getaway weekend also allowed me the chance to read another fun book: Josie Brown's Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives. I had read some feedback about the book that compared it to the show, Desperate Housewives, and I suppose to a certain extent there is a resemblance. On the outside, the book takes place in a wealthy, idyllic community, while below the surface the relationships are cutthroat and dysfunctional and couldn't be farther removed from their appearances. In this book, as so often happens in real life, you see how people create more harm to and problems for themselves and it is validating to see that in this story the most "normal" people triumph in the end.

It is a fun and quick read and if you miss the souped up drama on Wisteria Lane, you'll no doubt savor this book.

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

It seems the only opportunity I have for reading these days is if I take some vacation time and get away from my day-to-day. I am working on fixing that! Over my weekend getaway I had a chance to tackle my TBR pile and came across Crossing Washington Square by Joanne Rendell. Since I work in academia, I am drawn to books with academic settings and this is the second of hers that I've read set in the fictional world of Manhattan University.

Academia is (still) an interesting place for women and the tension in making it as a female professor is a great backdrop in which to explore the relationship between an established scholar and an up and coming star. That these two women have more in common than they realize helps set them on a path to heal their personal hurts and bring them together from their once diametrical opposing positions.

It's a story about friendship and healing, love and success. And who doesn't want that?!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

I recently saw the movie, The Conspirator, and came away realizing how little I knew about that period in our country's history. A while back, my fellow Muse blogger, Barb Wallace, recommended the book, Manhunt: The 12-Day Hunt for Lincoln's Killer so when I had the chance to start reading my next book I borrowed it from the boyfriend. I got hooked pretty quick and was riveted by James L. Swanson's tale.

His writing of the accounts of those twelve days was riveting, but equally impressive was the meticulous research he undertook to get as much detail as possible. Reading the book felt more like reading a suspense novel than a nonfiction book.

Even if you're not interested in history, this book will hold your interest captive.

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

I just finished another great book that was laugh-out-loud funny. I had Meg Cabot's The Boy Next Door somewhere in my TBR pile for over a year, and when I found myself wanting something different for my latest read I knew this was the one. The story is told completely in email format, and the tale unfolds in the sharing of messages between the different characters in the book. It is a quick and easy read, but the writer in me can only imagine how incredibly difficult it must have been to maintain the story thread with this format and using so many different points of view. Of course, it's Meg Cabot and her adept hand does this masterfully.

What a fun and funny book!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

Several years ago I read Frederick Forsythe's book, The Day of the Jackal, and I loved it so much I was eager to read more books just like it. I shortly thereafter found The Bourne series by Robert Ludlum, but after the third in that series it started to peter out for me. By chance, a few years later, I stumbled upon a book by Ted Bell that set up a similar kind of spy adventure series, an almost even better series than the ones I had previously read. That's when I fell for the dashing Alex Hawke, and became enamored with his cast of colleagues - Ambrose Congreve, Stokely Jones, Harry Brock, and Stoke's sidekick, Sharky. Part English aristocracy, part James Bond, part British and U.S. special forces, part independent mercenary contractors, this thrilling series spans the globe with a team of likable and brave heroes fighting the bad guys in our modern world. Warlord was the most recent installment in Alex Hawke's story, and I couldn't read it fast enough. If you haven't check it out, head straight to your local bookstore or library and get your hands on some Ted Bell.

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

Hurricane Irene gave me the downtime to read another book, and I went back to the setting of Nantucket with Belonging by Nancy Thayer. I am seeing a pattern with my Nantucket reads! What I love about books like these is that they let me visualize some of the things I wish I had in my life - a dynamic and successful career, the financial freedom to buy my own home (a second home on Nantucket would be great, too) . . . just the ability to create the life you dream about. I think that's why I am so drawn to this setting - it spurs life fantasies!

Do you have a favorite setting for books you read? Inquiring minds want to know!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

My storm watch also gave me the chance to dip back into the backlist of one of my favorite authors, Elin Hilderbrand. I had The Blue Bistro in my to-be-read sights, but it wasn't until I saw the recently released mass market paperback edition in my local grocery store that I picked it up and put it on top of my pile.

This was another perfect choice for my power outage. I couldn't wait to read through it. Another transport to Nantucket. Another reminder of summer. In these fleeting days of the season, it was a balm for my heart. I think The Blue Bistro is my new favorite book of hers. I just loved it.

Who are your favorite go-to writers? Isn't it the best when you find a book of theirs that tops what you've read before?

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

This past weekend I kicked it old school, reading by candlelight. Well, not exactly candlelight . . . the northeast got hit by Hurricane Irene and I lost power for 36 hours (I consider myself lucky I got my power back so soon!). That first day without power was pretty peaceful and relaxing and as day turned into night, I switched on my flashlight and read into the wee hours.

I read a few books during that time, partly because one of those books -- Vanished -- was written by one of my favorite thriller writers, Joseph Finder and I rushed to read through it. One of the things I love about his writing is the incredibly fast pace of his books. It is a rare gift to be able to tell such a quick, riveting story and when I read him I hope to learn a little bit more of that part of the trade. This particular book was not as fast paced as some of his earlier work, but it was a compelling read with a layered plot -- lots of unexpected twists and turns, which made it hard to pull my nose out of the book. I was so happy I stopped by the library to get it for my storm watch!

Who are some of your favorite thriller writers? Inquiring minds want to know!

xoxo,

bex

Friday Check-In

The last few Fridays have been busy yet unproductive, so not only have I not had much time to post but I haven't had much to say! This week we prepare for our first 2011 hurricane as she comes barreling up the east coast. She sounds like a doozy, folks are frantically stocking up and clearing the decks, hoping we will weather the crazy weekend as best as we can. After having experienced a rather unexpected earthquake in this part of the country this week as well, things have been a little unsettling to say the least!

With this forced hibernation coming for the weekend, it's a great time to stock up on books and writing supplies. In the event we lose power, I need to have sufficient distractions and may have to trade in my trusty laptop in order to write longhand. It's been a while since I've written that way, and it may be a good experiment to get back to my roots and commune with the writing the way I grew up doing it.

Stay safe out there everyone!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

After having spent some time at Harvard as both a graduate student and an employee, I fell in love with the place and so many of its people, and list it as one of my favorite places on Earth. My experience as a grad student though would be very different from that of a Harvard undergraduate student, so when I stumbled across Ross Gregory Douthat's book, Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class, I was eager to read about the perspectives of someone who got to see and experience Harvard through those four, formative undergrad years.

It's a very different experience than the one I had -- either as a grad student at Harvard or as an undergrad at my state university. Reading the book was like getting glimpses into the natural habitats of some very rare species. Interesting, unusual, and sometimes pretty foreign but nonetheless fascinating and informative.

For anyone interested in looking behind the curtain of the Ivy League, I recommend it!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

Deb Caletti has become one of my go-to YA authors and I am excited to have had the chance to explore her backlist this summer. My most recent foray into her past titles was for The Secret Life of Prince Charming. What I liked about it was the stories, good and bad, about love experiences from all ages of the women in this book. What good love should be like. Warning signs for bad love. How incredibly lucky you are when you find decent, happy, and healthy love.

For anyone who has ever had a broken heart, you will see some familiar things in the pages of this book.

Happy ending included.

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

I am slightly obsessed with entrepreneurs. I have a number of friends who have gone this route, who have made millions and lost millions, if not more. They inspire me in more ways than I can account and my hope is to someday go as boldly as they have done; to leverage fearless creativity with entrepreneurial courage and solve problems, create something important, and live my version of the dream.

When I heard that the founder of CD Baby, Derek Sivers, wrote a book about his experience in creating this indie music super site, I couldn't wait to read it. Anything You Want is a short but awesome read for anyone interested in entrepreneurial pursuits or just following your interests doing something you love.

And another cool thing, he is offering over 200 free MP3s from his favorite musicians to anyone who purchases the book. There is a secret code located on the book itself, but I won't divulge the secret here. You're just going to have to go out and get a copy for yourself! A great story, a helpful business lesson, and free music?! It's a bargain!

xoxo,

bex

P.S. - Derek Sivers is not one of my entrepreneur friends, but it would be really cool if he was.

What I'm Reading

I am just back from vacation where I had the chance to do a little (a very little) writing as well as catch up on some reading. I found a book in the remainder bin at my local grocery store and the premise really appealed to me. I thought it would make for some fun reading while away:

"Realizing she needed to do serious work on her junk food/junk sex–littered lifestyle, Alter, a recently divorced thirty-seven-year old freelance writer, decided to spend each month of the coming year following the advice of a major women's magazine without question. She picked nine titles focusing on a how-to ethos more or less aligned with her own demographic:Elle, Marie Claire, O, Allure, Self, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, InStyle and Real Simple. Each month she'd work on a particular damage zone—diet, social fears, clothes, relationship snafus, cooking, sex, etc.—and follow the advice of her chosen magazine as earnestly as possible. Meanwhile, she'd also begun dating a new guy, which brought up relationship challenges her magazine mentors loved to address—spicing up the sex, learning to cook instead of eating out and deciding if his birthday present meant a marriage proposal was imminent. While she ends up feeling positive about the self-improvement her magazine experiment has brought, she knows if she hadn't been ready and willing to change, all the advice in the world wouldn't have helped."

Up for Renewal by Cathy Alter was a pretty personal, honest telling of a woman at a destructive crossroads in her life who turns to the advice in magazines to help her turn her life around. The book chronicles her year of self-discovery and, ultimately, her self-actualization.

I love books that have a happy self-help ending, and it was interesting to read how this particular author found hers.

xoxo,

bex

Friday Check-In

It's been a while since I shared a Friday check-in, mostly because I've been so busy enjoying summer! I am so grateful to have been able to have so many fun things planned this year. It is such a stark contrast to the angst and stress from a year ago and I have been determined to enjoy every minute of it!

Other news is that the first words have been written on the new book! It is quite possible that this will be the first of many false starts, but we have to start somewhere. Confucius says, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step." That's the way it is with writing a book as with so many things in life . . . as well as life itself. So we take the first step then another and another and see where they lead.

Fingers crossed that this book will take this writer and you readers on a great journey!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

I just read another island book, though when I first picked it up that theme wasn't necessarily running through my head . . . but I won't lie either -- the setting was a total lure. A fictional island in the Mediterranean with a family comprised of sisters, stepsisters, stepmothers, and husbands and boyfriends from New York, London, Prague, Paris . . . Megan McAndrew wove an intricate tale pulling all these complex relationships and cultural differences together. Add a little mystery, and Going Topless becomes a tempting summer read! I hope you'll give it a try and let me know what you think.

xoxo,
bex

Beach Books

So funny! I just looked back at the last few books I posted here to my reading list on ye olde blog and noticed that they have beachy covers to them. It's not that big a surprise -- I mean, I grew up at the beach as often as I could possibly get there and love the surf, sun, and sand. Some of my favorites reads bring me back to the beach in mind and spirit, so it's not a total shock to see that I've spent a lot of my summer reading with the beach on my brain.

Makes me think I should be writing a beach-set beach read instead of just reading them! Hmm . . . some definite good food for thought!

What's your favorite beach scene? The turquoise, tropical vista of the islands? The grassy, craggy shoreline of New England? A mid-Atlantic boardwalk? The rocky outcroppings of the Pacific Northwest? The dreamy escape of the Mediterranean? Inquiring minds want to know!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

Just a quick post to check in and mention the latest book to leave the TBR pile. It's Seven Year Switch by Claire Cook. Have you read it? What do you think? Inquiring minds want to know.

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

A few of my favorite authors were coming out with new books this summer, which propelled my reading anticipation to pretty tall heights. Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand was one of the books I had most looked forward to reading. It was another story set on Nantucket and, as always, I loved being transported to the island through the characters and their lives. It's a timely tale, too, as the main story line happens around a woman who learns she had been married to a Bernie Madoff caliber of lying, deceptive swindler, and she soon becomes the most hated woman in America. She retreats to Nantucket with her oldest (now only) but estranged friend, where she struggles to piece her life and relationships back together.

This book makes me an even firmer believer that a summer on Nantucket can cure just about anything. I have never been to the island, but it's on my life's to-do list!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

I have revisited some specific things in my summer reading -- a lot of YA books and books that take place at the beach or on an island, specifically Nantucket. As I've mentioned before, I love reading Elin Hilderbrand but there is another author who works the setting of Nantucket that I am just now discovering and I am so excited I did! In reading Summer House by Nancy Thayer, I was again transported from my stuffy, cramped, landlocked apartment to the open air, bright skies, and sea breezes that come from summer on the island.

The book explores generations of one family and how family comes together in different ways, for different occasions. There's nothing like the differences and tensions within family on which to build conflict, so as a reader -- and a writer -- there is a lot of ripe material to puzzle through.

I can't wait to pick up another of her books.

xoxo,

bex

Friday Check-In

Last summer was a tough one for my family so this year I vowed things would be different. I want to seize every weekend to do something fun or interesting so as to wring the most out of my favorite season as I can. Of course, this commitment to fun throws my time management skills into a tailspin . . . skills that are severely tested under normal circumstances.

I find that I get bits of things done here and there, but when it comes to my writing it just doesn't feel good enough. I am eager to get started on the newer of my new book ideas, and I had some good pieces fall into mental place this week, but I have not had the chance to sit down and map out where these pieces should go. I still have a lot of pre-writing I need to do before I am able to actually start working on the book, and so that's the goal I need to focus on for next week. As I look at my schedule I have just one day where I am not booked, but I hope to keep finding those here and there pockets of time so I can at least get a few things accomplished. Time is one of the things I prize most, and the thing I have the least freedom with.

How I envy people who have more flexibility and freedom in their lives! My friends in this boat have worked hard for it, and they give me faith that if I keep working towards my goals I can find a little bit of that freedom and flexibility, too.

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

What Happened to Goodbye has been one of the books I most looked forward to reading this summer. Sarah Dessen is one of my go-to writers, for both books I know I will enjoy reading as well as inspiration for the kind of writer I want to be/stories I want to tell.

Here's a blurb about the book from Sarah-Land:

Another town. Another school. Another Mclean. Ever since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her father have been fleeing their unhappy past. And Mclean's become a pro at reinventing herself with each move. But in Lakeview, Mclean finds herself putting down roots and making friends---in part, thanks to Dave, the most real person Mclean's ever met. Dave just may be falling in love with her, but can he see the person she really is? Does Mclean herself know?

If you haven't checked it out, I hope you will! Do you have a favorite Sarah book? Inquiring minds want to know!!

xoxo,

bex

Friday Check-In

It's 4th of July weekend! I can't believe it's here already. Unlike most of my friends, I am *not* at the RWA national conference this week. Wah. But I have had a silver lining kind-of-week and I now am preparing for a get-away weekend, so while I miss my friends I at least made the most of this quiet time. Since it's been a hectic week with lots going on, this Friday check-in will be a brief one.

This week I started reading Sarah Dessen's latest book and I can't wait to share a post about it the next time I update my What I'm Reading series.

I also started the synopsis on the newer of the new projects and am still struggling with elements of the story. But . . . I know if I keep tossing it to the back of my brain, I will continue to puzzle over the pieces and slowly but surely help will emerge. Until then, I am working on finding the right starting point for the story and will also be thinking about my anchor scenes (I think lots of folks think of these as turning points).

Other than that, I am trying to make better health decisions and working on my wellness while also brainstorming other job ideas. I watch far too much Bravo TV and though I love it, I find myself wanting to work on my lifestyle to emulate that of the rich and fabulous. I know, I know. You don't have to tell me.

Have a great holiday! Until next week!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

Last year I bought the book Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan and I am just now having the chance to read it . . . a read that I thought was timely seeing as though it's graduation season. I have worked in higher ed almost all my adult life so I naturally gravitate to books set in academia.

It's an interesting book that follows four friends from the time they first meet in college to the first few post-graduate years as they confront so many life changes and decisions in that uncertain time just after school. If you like stories about women and friendship, give Commencement a read.

xoxo,

bex

Friday Check-In

Everyone's been talking about the RWA conference taking place in New York next week and since I won't be going I am feeling a little bummed as I read about all the mounting excitement. I am OK in not being there but it's still a bummer to know that so many of my friends will all be together in one place, making it a lot easier and more likely that I'd be able to see them and get the chance to visit. One of the amazing things in being a member of RWA is that you get to meet and make friends from across the country and around the world, and sometimes the only time you get to see them is once a summer at the national conference.

But even though I am disappointed to be missing out this year, I have lots of other really good things going on that I am excited about . . . things I wouldn't be able to do if I were in New York for the conference so the best thing I can do is make the most of the other opportunities to have come my way. That's how life works, right? Doors closing and windows opening and all that metaphorical stuff.

I am still working on the pieces to the newer of the new book ideas and, slow as molasses, things are taking their time. The more I think about this book though, the more excited I get about the possibilities. I just want to make sure I think big enough because it would soooooo stink to craft a story that didn't give this really great idea the wings it needs to fly. That's one of my worries -- that I am finally hatching some high concept ideas but the story and the writing won't do the idea justice. I know I can't think that way; that I just have to do . . . not overthink. It can still be tough though, when you are so eager to do better and be smarter than you were in the book before.

I keep turning to my YA role models -- Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, Susane Colasanti, Elizabeth Scott, and Kieran Scott -- for inspiration. They are doing it the way I want to do it and I figure if I keep reading their books, following their posts on blogs and Twitter, and Facebook, and watching and learning (in a healthy, non-stalkerish way), I will increase my chances of following in their footsteps. And, of course, working on and writing my own stories and writing and writing and writing some more.

Now back to work!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

I have been on a YA binge lately and I've been loving it. For my latest read, I turned to another author favorite: Melissa Kantor. I have had The Darlings Are Forever on my TBR pile for a bit, and I am psyched I chose to wait until summer to read it. I love a good summer read, and I am so glad that I've had such a great string of books lately that have given me such reading happiness!

Another cool things about The Darlings? There's another one in the works!

xoxo,
bex

Friday Check-In

I've been feeling kind-of split this week . . . winding up work on the current book and getting started on the next one. But a weird thing happened . . . I had been letting thoughts on the new book perk in the background throughout the writing of the current book and was eager to get started on it. Until one day this week, out-of-the-blue, a new, pretty compelling book idea came out of nowhere. It's so strong that it's getting in the way of plotting out the book I had planned.

I've run both ideas past some trusted friends to get some feedback, and each time they've reacted to the new idea. As one friend put it, THAT'S THE ONE YOU NEED TO WRITE. So . . . I've got a really good problem in that I think I have a great idea, but I am not ready to write it yet. My job this summer is to flesh the idea out and work through all the story elements so that I can get writing on it as soon as possible. I have been gripped by the idea, and am pretty excited about exploring its possibilities.

Fingers crossed!

xoxo,
bex

What I'm Reading

I have a few books on my to-be-read shelf that I have been saving for the perfect occasion -- a rainy day, a break in my writing schedule, a bad chunk of time, even a happy summer weekend -- so the stars aligned and I recently and finally picked one off the pile that I have been **so anxious** to read: Anna and the French Kiss! This debut from Stephanie Perkins had gotten such great buzz and a writer friend of mine recently talked it up so much I knew it had to be one of my next summer reads. All I can say is magnifique! Paris and a really cute boy? It makes me wish I had studied there, too! I think you'll love it!

xoxo,
bex

What I'm Reading

My summer reading keeps rolling along and I am LOVING IT! I just finished reading another great YA by one of my faves - Sarah Dessen. I know her new book just came out (it's one of the next ones I can't wait to read!!) but I wanted to hit an older one of hers before launching into her latest. Keeping the Moon was a fun read about summer, finding love, and loving yourself. I always recommend Sarah's books and this one is no different.

One exciting side note -- I had a breakthrough on the new book I am trying to start as I was reading this one. Yet another reason why I love reading Sarah Dessen. She makes me want to be a better writer!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

This year I discovered a YA writer I hadn't read before and after reading a few I quickly decided that I love her books. She has a new one out this summer, which is getting great reviews and I can't wait to read it, but the other really awesome thing is that my summer reading will include much of her backlist. I just finished reading The Fortunes of Indigo Skye, which is a book about a girl who comes into a lot of money and how this windfall changes her, the people around her, and they way they treat each other when this 8oo pound gorilla gets introduced into the room.

Deb Caletti wrote another winner with this one! If you're looking for a fun summer read, definitely pack this book in your beach bag.

xoxo,

bex

Friday Check-In

I haven't much to report on these past two Fridays. One fell on my vacation week while the other was part of my post finish-the-book and take a breather break. During this breather I am working on query letters and fine tuning the other pieces to my submission package so I can start sending my manuscript out into the world. Now if I could only find a few extra hours each day and get rid of these allergies, I might be able to get everything done that I need to do.

Hope work is going well on your end!

xoxo,

bex