August Best of the Bookshelf

Today is the first day of school for those of us who have children on the Playground, which means we will seriously need to veg with a good book today while the kiddios are off on new adventures (including middle school for one of mine, yikes!). So this is the perfect day to share this month's Best of the Bookshelf picks.



We have an eclectic group this month, including some non-fiction. Here’s what we’re reading on the Playground!

Having the Billionaire’s Baby by Sandra Hyatt -- Smarty Pants



I decided my second book will be a secret baby book. Then I realized I actually haven't read that many. To the Nook store I went where I downloaded several, including this one. I was tickled to find out this is actually Sandra's debut book. After sitting through her ex's wedding and finding out the bride is pregnant (after he insisted for years he didn't want kids) Callie throws caution to the wind and has an anonymous affair with a handsome stranger at the reception. Turns out it’s the bride's brother and one of the clients of her PR firm. Oops. Then she finds out she's pregnant. Double oops. Nick is determined to have his child in his life and Callie too, but she refuses a marriage without love. A great story with some interesting characters. I especially liked his intuitive grandmother who was constantly knitting blue and pink baby clothes before anyone told her they were expecting. :)

Divorce Sucks: What to do when irreconcilable differences, lawyer fees, and your ex's Hollywood wife make you miserable by Mary Jo Eustace -- Playground Monitor



I’m reading this because I saw the author appear on Joy Behar’s show and when the book was offered as a free Kindle download I figured what the heck. I’m enjoying reading it because obviously the author understands all the emotion and the work involved in a divorce. And I agree with her – divorce sucks.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling -- Problem Child



I really wanted to re-read the entire Harry Potter series before I saw the last movie. I was under deadline though when HP 7.2 was released, and AC was not going to hold out while I re-read the series to prepare. So I went to see the movie without all my background knowledge refreshed. ~grumble~ But revisiting Harry Potter and Hogwarts is so much fun. The stories never lose their charm (and you know they must be charming if I’m willing to suspend my disbelief to read any kind of fantasy… but that’s a different blog post). I just recently started Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and am being sucked back in as always. But one of the best things about the Harry Potter series is that it’s something AC really loves, and so it’s something we can share. She is, of course, practically an expert on all things Harry and Hermione, so not only are we able to talk about the books, she gets to feel like she’s teaching Mom something. It’s one way to bond, right?

The Gathering by Kellie Armstrong -- Instigator



I just finished reading The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong, the first book in her new Darkness Rising trilogy. While this book isn’t directly connected to her Darkest Powers trilogy, it again follows a group of teenagers with unusual gifts as they learn what they are and how to deal with this newfound knowledge about themselves and the world. Armstrong’s amazing world building, interesting characters and heart pounding plot lines kept me turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning. After finishing this book I immediately went in search for the release date of book two. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to wait until next April. Considering that’s my only complaint about the series, I highly recommend checking it out.


Savor the Danger by Lori Foster -- Angel



I started reading this series earlier this year, and the newest installment fell into my greedy grasp last week. Here, Jackson Savor, security expert, finds himself in the crosshairs when he’s slipped a roofie and has a forgotten night of hot sex with his boss’s sister. Alani Rivers cherishes her time with Jackson, only to find he has no memory of the sex – or the words of love he spoke to her. The danger quickly escalates from drugs to car crashes to physical attacks in classic Foster style. It’s a roller coaster ride to a surprise ending. I highly recommend it if you like romantic suspense.



There are our suggestions for the month! Tell us what you recommend for our next trip to the bookstore!

Angel