2015 Books

I changed up the goal up a bit back in June.
Instead of 12 reads, I am going for 12 reads that I would recommend.
Yep, read a lot this year that I wouldn't recommend...
I started to keep track of those, but honestly, why bother?

In no particular order:

1. Viper Game by Christine Feehan (Ghostwalker Series, hardback)
You need to read the series in order.  This is one of the authors that I will not read on kindle.  I still buy the real book and keep it in my library!

2. Obsession in Death by JDRobb (hardback)
You need to read the series in order.  This is one of the authors that I will not read on kindle.  I still buy the real hard cover book and keep it in my library!

3. The Portland Storm series by Catherine Gayle (kindle)...
Okay, I thought about it and I am going to include this romance series. It is a 10 book series (the link connected to the title is only for the first four), so I'm not trying to wimp out on my reading or anything.  Some of the books hit on different topics like Recovering from Abuse (the first one)... There is another about Cancer (two if you count the novella)... And many other real world issues. Now don't misunderstand me - this is a romance series and makes for a good mindless read if you skip over some of the serious issues, but I really enjoyed the deeper story lines and I learned a little bit about hockey in the process. 

4. The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede (kindle)
I have had this book on my wish list for awhile now, but couldn't stomach paying $10 and not have a book to hold in my hand.  Then MBB gave me a kindle gift card for Mother's Day and this was the first one that I grabbed.  Appropriate that I read part of it on the flight to New York where I went to visit the 9/11 memorial (didn't make it to the museum, so I will have to go back)...  I liked the backbone to the book and I liked the human touch, but I was a bit disappointed in the writing for $10. Good book to read if you remember 9/11, but I recommend waiting on a sale.

5. The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell (kindle)
This board is about a family torn apart by hoarding.  I enjoyed the read, but it was deep in spots and flighty in others.  Not sure on the recommendation, but I am going to leave it here.  If a good editor went back over it...I can see much room for improvement!

6. Disney U: How Disney University Develops the World's Most Engaged, Loyal and Customer-Centric Employees by Doug Lipp (kindle)
I enjoyed this kinda sorta story about Disney and kinda sorta self-improvement book.  I really like the concept and kept thinking as I read the book - if only this were still the case today (especially in the Disney Stores, which is also talked about in the book). <-- Recommend for those on a kinda sorta history / Disney kick, though catch on a Kindle Deal of the Day like I did!

7. Terms of Enlistment (Frontlines Book 1) by Marko Kloos (kindle - prime shared 052015)
This series sortareminds me of Hunger Games, a little bit.  Set in the future where life as we know it is no more.  I really enjoyed the first book of the series.

8. Lines of Departure (Frontlines Book 2) by Marko Kloos (kindle - prime shared 062015)
The second book of this series started out very slow (almost didn't keep going), but got better throughout the book to the point that I was waiting anxiously for July so that I could "check out" the third one.

9. Angles of Attack (Frontlines Book 3) by Marko Kloos (kindle - prime shared 072015)
I enjoyed this book and was very disappointed when I realized that Book 4 won't be out until April 2016!

10. The Starbucks Experience: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary Into Extraordinary by Joseph Michelli (kindle)
I loved the concepts in this book, but wish that the Starbucks (especially those in airports) would continue to follow the great ideas that I am reading in the book. 
It does make me giddy when I see what I read in practice!

11. Devoted in Death by JDRobb (hardcover)
You need to read the series in order.  This is one of the authors that I will not read on kindle.  I still buy the real hard cover book and keep it in my library!

12. Killing Lincoln:  The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard (kindle)
This book came highly recommended from a lively discussion about history that I had with a group in San Diego.  I didn't even look at the price, I just ordered it while we were still sitting there talking.  I just finished the book this week and I have to say that I enjoyed it.

And that is all they wrote, or all that I would recommend anyway.
I fell off of the grid with reading lately...been focused on other things.
I even need to go back and see if any of my favorite authors have released new books lately that I missed.

Namaste.