The Geekish Reader

Title:   Mother of Pearl Author:   Kellie Coates Gilbert Genre:   Christian Fiction Pages:   303 Published:   September 2012 Publisher:   Abingdon Press Source:    NetGalley Synopsis: Barrie Graeber has two great kids, a loving husband, and a respected job as the high school counselor in her close-knit community. Without warning, everything unravels when her teenage daughter, Pearl, is betrayed by friends and lashes out. Nothing prepares this mother for the helplessness that follows when her attempts to steer her daughter back on course fail and Pearl shuts her out . . . or when she discovers the unthinkable about her nemesis, the football coach. Emotionally riveting and profoundly moving, Mother of Pearl brings us into the heart of a mother bound by an incredible burden, who ultimately finds she must recognize her own vulnerability and learn to trust in something much bigger. Barrie’s life is about to be completely turns upside down and not...

Title:  Binding Arbitration Author:  Elizabeth Marx Genre:  Chick Lit, Contemporary Pages:  404 Published:  June 2012 Publisher:  Createspace Source:  Via FMB Book Tours Synopsis: Through the corridors of the Windy City’s criminal courts, single mother Libby Tucker knows exactly how far she’ll go to save her cancer-stricken son’s life. The undefeated defense attorney is prepared to take her fight all the way to the majors. Circumstances force Libby to plead her case at the cleats of celebrity baseball player Banford Aidan Palowski, the man who discarded her at their college graduation. Libby has worked her backside bare for everything she’s attained, while Aidan has been indulged since he slid through the birth canal and landed in a pile of Gold Coast money. But helping Libby and living up to his biological duty could jeopardize the only thing the jock worships: his baseball career. If baseball imitates life, Aidan admits his appears to be silver-p...

Title: Binding Arbitration Author: Elizabeth Marx Genre: Romance, Family Saga, Contemporary/Chick Lit Publisher: Self Published Paperback/Ebook Pages: 477 Purchase: Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Print) | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Sony eReader | Diesel | Book Description: Through the corridors of the Windy City’s criminal courts, single mother Libby Tucker knows exactly how far she’ll go to save her cancer-stricken son’s life. The undefeated defense attorney is prepared to take her fight all the way to the majors. Circumstances force Libby to plead her case at the cleats of celebrity baseball player Banford Aidan Palowski, the man who discarded her at their college graduation. Libby has worked her backside bare for everything she’s attained, while Aidan has been indulged since he slid through the birth canal and landed in a pile of Gold Coast money. But helping Libby and living up to his biological duty could jeopardize the only thing the jock worships: his baseball ...

A man with handcuffs. A woman with a paddle. Both fly F-16s. Daughter of a world-famous motocross champion, and head-on competitor with three brothers, Captain Leah "Princess" Girardi was born with a need for speed. No one tells her what to do, especially not men with chauvinistic "girls can't be fighter pilots" attitudes. That's what ended her brief relationship with Captain Mike "Strap Happy" Templeton. Now, six years later, he’s been assigned to her squadron, and whoa damn, he’s filled out nicely. Plus he’s cultivated a Zen-like chill factor that pulls at her hormones. Even after four tours, Mike's the new kid in the 64th Aggressor Squadron. That's not the only thing new. Since he last saw Leah, he's learned a few things about himself. A female who outranks him still makes his teeth grind, but in the bedroom he craves the rush of pain inflicted by an adoring, powerful woman. Their reunion is an explosive revelation. Leah is the be...

Title: The Wedding Dress Author: Rachel Hauck Genre:   Christian Romance, Contemporary Pages:   343 Published:   April 2012 Publisher:   Thomas Nelson Source:   NetGalley Where to buy: Amazon Synopsis: One dress. Four women. An amazing destiny. Charlotte Malone is getting married. Yet all is not settled in the heart of Birmingham's chic bridal boutique owner. Charlotte can dress any bride to perfection-except herself. When she discovers a vintage mint-condition wedding gown in a battered old trunk, Charlotte embarks on a passionate journey to discover the women who wore the gown before her. Emily in 1912. Mary in 1939. And Hillary in 1968. Each woman teaches Charlotte something about love in her own unique way. Woven within the threads of the beautiful hundred-year-old gown is the truth about Charlotte's heritage, the power of faith, and the beauty of finding true love. Charlotte had no idea what came over her when she started bidding on the battered up old...

Title:   Another Man’s Treasure Author:   James. V O’Connor Genre:   Contemporary Fiction Pages:   296 Published:   August 2011 Publisher:   Post Mortem Press Source:   via Author Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: Handsome home organizer Ted has a double dilemma. As a devoted husband, he’s struggling to resist the charm and seductive flirtations of Janet, a divorced client. Circumstances keep bringing her back into his life, fueling his wife’s suspicions and inciting threats from Janet’s jealous ex-husband. Ted must also deal with the ire of James Smith, a demanding client who is convinced his eccentric father died leaving something of great value hidden in his cluttered and mysterious Victorian mansion. Together, Ted and Janet interpret clues that lead to two surprising discoveries—one that captures the imagination of the city, and one that determines their fate. Life sometimes throws us for a loop.  Ted, a talented home organizer is surpr...

Title:   Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink Author:   Stephanie Kate Strohm Genre:   YA, Contemporary Pages:   204 Published:   May 2012 Publisher:   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Source:   Thomas Allen Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: A story of crushes, corsets, and conspiracy. Libby Kelting had always felt herself born out of time. No wonder the historical romance-reading, Jane Austen-adaptation-watching, all-around history nerd jumped at the chance to intern at Camden Harbor, Maine’s Oldest Living History Museum. But at Camden Harbor Libby’s just plain out of place, no matter how cute she looks in a corset. Her cat-loving co-worker wants her dead, the too-smart-for-his-own-good local reporter keeps pushing her buttons, her gorgeous sailor may be more shipwreck than dreamboat — plus Camden Harbor’s haunted. Over the course of one unforgettable summer, Libby learns that boys, like ghosts, aren’t always what they seem. I have to say I really related to Libb...

Title:   Purity Author:   Jackson Pearce Genre:   YA, Contemporary Pages:   218 Published:   April 2012 Publisher:   Little Brown Source:   via Publisher Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: A novel about love, loss, and sex -- but not necessarily in that order. Before her mother died, Shelby promised three things: to listen to her father, to love as much as possible, and to live without restraint. Those Promises become harder to keep when Shelby's father joins the planning committee for the Princess Ball, an annual dance that ends with a ceremonial vow to live pure lives -- in other words, no "bad behaviour," no breaking the rules, and definitely no sex. Torn between Promises One and Three, Shelby makes a decision -- to exploit a loophole and lose her virginity before taking the vow. But somewhere between failed hook-up attempts and helping her dad plan the ball, Shelby starts to understand what her mother really meant, what her father ...

Title:   Monkey Wrench Author:   Terri Thayer Genre:   Cozy Mystery Pages:   288 Published:   May 2012 Publisher:   Midnight Ink Source:   NetGalley Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: A new pattern in our popular quilting mystery series With two weeks left before the annual Quilters Crawl, Dewey Pellicano is excited to showcase her quilt shop after a four-year absence from the crawl. Quilters from all over visit as many quilting shops as they can within a short time. But Dewey's giveaway planning and Twitter promotion are cut short when her assistant manager, Vangie, is implicated in her boyfriend's untimely demise following a protest against a campus drug bust.  I have to admit, I’m a total sucker for a quilting or knitting based novel.  Especially those that are part of a series – after all I own every one of the Elm Creek Quilter’s novels – so this for me wasn’t a question of whether I’d like the book but rather how much was I go...

Title:   The Sweetheart Hoax Author:   Christy Hayes Genre:   Contemporary Romance Published:   January 2012 Publisher:   Christy Hayes Source:   via Author Where to buy:   Smashwords ~ Amazon Synopsis: When urbane architect, Phil Williams, must bring a woman home to quell rumors he's gay, his only choice is the one woman least likely to impress: his dowdy receptionist. Margot Manning has been secretly in love with Phil for years. She's just quit her job and is ready to begin her life anew as a nurse. Phil's outrageous offer is one she can't refuse. As Margot readies to accompany Phil to his hometown, she steels herself for heartbreak. After Margot's makeover and a weekend spent attached at the hip, Phil admits he misjudged his former employee. He's ready to pursue her in earnest, if only her scandalous past didn't stand in their way. I was totally thrilled with Christy contacted me to review “The Sweetheart Hoax”, as I loved the co...

Title:   I've Got Your Number Author:   Sophie Kinsella Genre:   Contemporary Romance Pages:   448 Published:   February 2012 Publisher:   Random House/Dial Press Source:   NetGalley Where to Buy:   Amazon Synopsis: I've lost it. The only thing in the world I wasn't supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It's been in Magnus's family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I've lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate Poppy. Stay positive!! Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry the ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her 'happy ever after' begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring but in the panic that followed, she has now lost her phone. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect! Wel...

Title:   A Little Night Magic Author:   Lucy March Genre:   Contemporary, Paranormal Pages:   320 Published:   January 2012 Publisher:   St. Martin's Source:   NetGalley Where to Buy:   Amazon Synopsis: Olivia Kiskey needs a change. She’s been working at the same Nodaway Falls, New York, waffle house since she was a teenager; not a lot of upward mobility there. She’s been in love with Tobias, the cook, for the last four years; he’s never made a move. Every Saturday night, she gathers with her three best friends—Peach, Millie, and Stacy—and drinks the same margaritas while listening to the same old stories. Intent on shaking things up, she puts her house on the market, buys a one-way ticket to Europe, and announces her plans to her friends . . . but then she meets Davina Granville, a strange and mystical Southern woman who shows Olivia that there is more to her life than she ever dreamed. As Liv’s latent magical powers come ...

Title:   The Social Climber's Handbook Author:   Molly Jong-Fast Genre:   Contemporary, Murder Mystery Pages:   240 Published:   April 2011 Publisher:   Villard Synopsis: HIGH SOCIETY CAN BE A KILLER. Upper East Side socialite Daisy Greenbaum is accustomed to the finer things—designer clothes, summers in the Hamptons, elite private school educations for her daughters, and a staggeringly expensive Park Avenue apartment. But Daisy finds her well-heeled lifestyle on precarious footing after her husband, master of the universe Dick Greenbaum, learns about some shady dealings that threaten his position at The Bank. Daisy refuses to allow her family to slip down the social ladder, so she devises a madcap plan: Anyone who jeopardizes her place at the top will simply have to be dispatched—six feet under. From Dick’s arrogant boss to his scheming former mistress to a pair of nosy bloggers, Daisy’s hit list is a who’s who of big names with e...

Title:   Jaded Author:   Kenya Carlton Genre:   Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery Pages:   160 Published:   March 2011 Publisher:   Parker Publishing Source:   via Bewitching Book Tours Synopsis: War correspondent Mia James is back on US soil and ready to tackle a juicy political story that could make national headlines.  A politician’s aid goes missing, and the son of the wealthiest family is the only suspect.   Determined to take down the mayor of the small seaside town, Mia comes up against an angry ghost with her own agenda.  Afraid she may be suffering from post traumatic stress Mia figures that she’s way over her head and enlists the help of resident black sheep Gabe Montgomery.  Now, she must solve the mystery of her not so friendly ghost, stop herself from falling in love with the mysterious winery owner, all while making it out alive. Don't let the cover on this book fool you!  This sto...