Book Review: Seveneves by Neal Stephenson

Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publisher:  William Morrow

Summary: An exciting and thought-provoking science fiction epic—a grand story of annihilation and survival spanning five thousand years.

What would happen if the world were ending?

A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere, in outer space.

But the complexities and unpredictability of human nature coupled with unforeseen challenges and dangers threaten the intrepid pioneers, until only a handful of survivors remain . . .

Book Review: Ross Poldark (The Poldark Saga #1) by Winston Graham

Ross Poldark by Winston Graham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Landmark


Summary: Cornwall, 1783-1787. Tired from a grim war in America, Ross Poldark returns to his land and family, only to find his father has died, his estate is derelict, and the girl he loved is engaged to another. But then he rescues a half-starved urchin girl and takes her home—an act which, it turns out, will alter his life.

#inmymailbox #thebourbonkings #sampler by #jrward the ups guy just dropped it off. I didn't get approved on #netgalley for the 48 hour approvals time but they did send a sample of the first 3 chapters. :) so thanks @penguinusa # romance #currentlyreading #bookstagram #readingnow #fiction #novels #booksineedtoread

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1BTrmyd

Book Review: The A.I. Chronicles by Ellen Campbell

The A.I. Chronicles by Ellen Campbell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publisher:  Windrift Books



Summary: A.I.: Artificial Intelligence. Even today, machines that mimic human thinking surround us. As the intellectual feats of computing machines grow more and more astounding, will there be a day when their apparent intelligence approaches, or even surpasses, that of human beings? And what if these machines then become conscious, self-aware?

In this latest title in the acclaimed Future Chronicles series of speculative fiction anthologies, thirteen authors confront the question of the Singularity: that point of time when A.I. becomes more than simply a human construct. From machine awareness to omniscience, these original short stories explore that territory where human intelligence comes face-to-face with what is either its greatest hope, or its greatest threat.

I #baked a #saskatoonberry #pie for hubs & made it a la mode. #foodstagram #dessert #treats #dessertgram #food #fathersday #baking

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1GgaHkw

#currentlyreading #rosspoldark by #Winstongraham in the run up to #poldark tonight. Extremely readable #historicalfiction i"d not heard of the books or original series until last year when my local #pbs ran the original & gave notice of #poldark2015 being imminent. #bookstagram #books #fiction #novels #bookish #bibliophile #britishfiction #britfic #poldarkpbs #masterpiece

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1Lo1Rb3

#chicken breast #marinated in #sriracha #cilantro #garlic & #lime with green salad to accompany for hubs. It's really good & the sugars in the marinate carnelian the chicken perfectly. Definitely will make this again. #dinner #weeknightdinner #foodstagram #dinnertime #dinnergram #srirachagram

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1dL4WDJ

Book Review: The Vacationers by Emma Straub

The Vacationers by Emma Straub
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Publisher:  Riverhead Books


Summary: For the Posts, a two-week trip to the Balearic island of Mallorca with their extended family and friends is a celebration: Franny and Jim are observing their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, and their daughter, Sylvia, has graduated from high school. The sunlit island, its mountains and beaches, its tapas and tennis courts, also promise an escape from the tensions simmering at home in Manhattan. But all does not go according to plan: over the course of the vacation, secrets come to light, old and new humiliations are experienced, childhood rivalries resurface, and ancient wounds are exacerbated.

#readingnow #seveneves by #nealstephenson #currentlyreading #bookstagram #books #novels #bibliophile #scifi #sciencefiction #fiction #summerreads #weekendreads #speculativefiction #bookish #ebook

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1GCc8xj

#finishedreading #thevacationers by #emmastaub #bookstagram #novels decided to read this as a diversion during a #weekend #fast. Never have I been so hyperaware of food in a book. These people spend two weeks in Mallorca & I can catalogue everything from tapas to pancakes. Good, quick #weekendread about a family vacation & all the emotional baggage they've brought along. #bibliophile #books #fiction #contemporaryfiction

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1ebOUni

Book Review: The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publisher: William Morrow


Summary: A devious tale of psychological suspense involving sex, deception, and an accidental encounter that leads to murder. This is a modern re-imagining of Patricia Highsmith’s classic Strangers on a Trainfrom the author of the acclaimed The Girl with a Clock for a Heart.

On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. But their game turns dark when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.” 

From there, Ted and Lily’s twisted bond grows stronger as they plot Miranda's demise, but soon these co-conspirators are embroiled in a game of cat-and-mouse--one they both cannot survive--with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail.

Book Review: Between a Rock and a Hard Place: A Potting Shed Mystery by Marty Wingate

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: A Potting Shed Mystery by Marty Wingate
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publisher:  Alibi

Summary: After her romantic idyll with the debonair Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Pearse culminates in a marriage proposal, Pru Parke sets about arranging their nuptials while diving into a short-term gig at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. At hand is the authentication of a journal purportedly penned by eighteenth-century botanist and explorer Archibald Menzies. Compared to the chaos of wedding planning, studying the journal is an agreeable task . . . that is, until a search for a missing cat leads to the discovery of a dead body: One of Pru’s colleagues has been conked on the head with a rock and dumped from a bridge into the Water of Leith.

 Pru can’t help wondering if the murder has something to do with the Menzies diary. Is the killer covering up a forgery? Among the police’s many suspects are a fallen aristocrat turned furniture maker, Pru’s overly solicitous assistant, even Pru herself. Now, in the midst of sheer torture by the likes of flamboyant wedding dress designers and eccentric church organists, Pru must also uncover the work of a sly murderer—unless this bride wants to walk down the aisle in handcuffs.

#currentlyreading #theaichronicles #thefuturechronicles #anthology edited by #ellencampbell #bookstagram #readingnow #scifi #sciencefiction #fiction #speculativefiction #bibliophile #reads #reading I never seem to get around to #shortstories & #anthologies on my #tbrlist so I'm glad I picked this up. Definitely enjoying so far. It's my #amazonprime freebie this month. #novels

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1KlhnmL

Book Review: The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publisher:   William Morrow

Summary:  On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the stunning and mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing very intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage that’s going stale and his wife, Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. Ted and his wife were a mismatch from the start—he the rich businessman, she the artistic free spirit—a contrast that once inflamed their passion, but has now become a cliché.

#currentlyreading #betweenarockandahardplace by #martyWingate I've read the first two in the series so was glad to get this on #netgalley. as one which knows nothing about gardening, I really enjoy this series. #bookstagram #cozymystery #bookseries #amateursleuth

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1BOtuBx

#currentlyreading #TheKindWorthKilling by #peterswanson #bookstagram #books #mystery #thriller #fiction #novels #reads #contemporaryfiction #readingnow #fridayreads

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1QbME09

Sale at Smitten Kitten Knits Shop!

Sale on select items from June 5, 2015 through June 8, 2015. Get the jump on autumn & winter now, receive 20% off cowls & infinity scarves. No code will be needed & items ship 1-3 days after payment received.

Book Review: Whisper (Aidan Falls 0.5) by Crystal Green

Whisper by Crystal Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Publisher:  Intermix


Summary:   “Confess What You’re Hiding , Show Who You Really Are, Meet Others Just Like You..."
That’s the promise of the social media app called TellTale, and shy new girl Carley Rios is drawn by its lure of finding friendship…and maybe even more than that. Since she dropped out of college, she’s been aimless and lost in Aidan Falls, a town where everyone seems so tight-knit.

When she comes across an anonymous, heartfelt confession on TellTale that seems to be about her, she feels a spark of hope. And when one sexy, sinful confession leads to another, she becomes swept up in a game of secret admirer. All signs point to her admirer being another newcomer in town, Micah, who’s quickly gaining a reputation as a lothario.

Book Review: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Publisher:  Kensington


Summary:   No one cooks up a delectable, suspense-filled mystery quite like Hannah Swensen, Joanne Fluke’s dessert-baking, red-haired heroine whose gingersnaps are as tart as her comebacks, and whose penchant for solving crimes—one delicious clue at a time—has made her a bestselling favorite. And it all began on these pages, with a bakery, a murder, and some suddenly scandalous chocolate-chip crunchies. Featuring a bonus short story and brand new, mouthwatering recipes, this very first Hannah Swensen mystery is sure to have readers coming back for seconds…

#knitting #onmyneedles #knitstagram #scarf #wip #knitscarf #yarnstagram #straightknitting

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1FlX5Tq