Review: Golden Lies

Golden Lies by Barbara Freethy
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Source: own ebook

Contemporary romance is not one of my staple diet so I don’t even know why I have this on my tbr… One of my strange moods, I’d say. However, since I drew this for January Random Reads, I stuck to my guns and read it.

It was fairly easy to read. The prologue was certainly intriguing and I do like the pairings. I felt like I was reading a type of soapie though… family drama, old secrets unearthed, unlikely lovers, etc etc etc. There wasn’t anything in particular that is grabby but it was a fair mindless read –perfect for middle of the night breastfeeds.

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My Reading Week

I’ve had the very good luck of catching a cold right before the long weekend so I’ve pretty much spent the weekend at home and probably will not be stepping any foot out the door for the rest of the long weekend except maybe to look for food… the fridge & pantry are looking pretty bare right about now.  Hubby’s about to step out to get us some dinner.  I’ve begged him to get him a small bag of Kettle chips (Honey Soy) and he’s refusing me!  How could he refused a sick wife her comfort food?  Enough whinging on my part!  Hope the rest of you are having a terrific weekend and for all the Aussies, Happy Australia Day!  Don’t forget to enter the Australia Day Book Giveaway Blog Hop!

Update: he loves me after all, he came back with the chips, yay! 😀 ❤

This week is all about books I’ve purchased (erm, yea, book buying ban broken within 13 days from NY day, lol).  A few of these are second hand and about half will fit in my challenges this year.  I was slightly generous and bought one for my son 😉

• Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter ~LOST challenge
• Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner ~LOST challenge
• The Godfather by Mario Puzo ~LOST challenge
• Wattle Creek by Fiona Mccallum ~AWW2014
• Sleep With the Lights On by Maggie Shayne
• Taste of Darkness (Healer #2) by Maria V. Snyder ~I’ve read the eARC but needed the paperback to complete my collection 😉
• Your Best Body by Michelle Bridges ~cuz I loved her ‘Perfect Veggie Casserole’ recipe in this book; I could have it everyday!  The recipe was previously available online on the Penguin Books Australia website but it looks like they’ve taken it down 😦
• An Iron Rose by Peter Temple ~Classics Project
• The Watch Tower by Elizabeth Harrower ~Classics Project & AWW2014
• Dinosaur Rescue! by Penny Dale ~loved how big his eyes get when he saw this 🙂

Currently reading:

• Cecilia, or, Memoirs of an Heiress by Fanny Burney ~this reading a classic a month is just not happening for me… I still intend to finish this brick of a book though.
• The Rule of Knowledge by Scott Baker ~nearly there! 
• The Lost Sisterhood: A Novel by Anne Fortier

What I’ll HAVE to pick up this week:

• The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
• The Yearning by Kate Belle

                    

My Reading Week

Aaah, thanks for coming along on the ride for me, if you’ve been around the past week, you’ve seen that I’ve decided to tackled on both memes I was considering.  We’ll see how long that will last, especially the Truth or Dare -this vlog business is nerve wracking!  Nevertheless, thank you so much for all your encouraging notes about my voice; you guys have definitely made my day. Hugs & Kisses to you all!

It’s been a pretty busy week for me and so, a very very slow reading period.  I went to the movies twice (*gasp* oh, the luxury!) -once with my kiddo for Walking With Dinosaurs in 3D (his first full feature film and he gets to see his fave dinosaurs in 3D -he absolutely loved it) and then, with a couple of girlfriends to see The Railway Man.  I must say that I didn’t really know that much about The Railway Man and I wasn’t really in the mood for a serious movie – I went just to hang out with my friends for a bit.  When discussing this with a friend, she commented how underwhelming my ‘review’ of the movie was… but I just couldn’t help myself.  At the risk of sounding superficial, Colin Firth’s glasses were just so prominent that it really distracted me from the whole movie! I was getting really annoyed with that.  Plus, the young Japanese translator -um, he doesn’t look like he knows if he’s supposed to be there?  The only bit I love, though, was the endin… I haven’t read the book or any reviews so I was really unsure how it was supposed to turn out and I was completely blown away.  The ending sooo saved the movie for me 🙂

Then on Saturday evening, I went to see “An Evening with David Sedaris” at the Sydney Opera House.  It was such a wonderful evening, when the lights came on, I was surpised to find that 1.5 hours have passed.  He’s such a witty story-teller.  He read some of his diary entries, and seriously, I wish my diary entries were like his!  I can’t thank Hachette Books Australia enough for these tickets! My girlfriend and I absolutely enjoyed the night.

The post seems to be geneous this week with 2 deliveries of books.  It’s a thrilling experience each time I ripped into those packages -I’m sure you booklovers will know what I’m talking about 😉  This week I’ve received:

From Hachette Book Australia:

• Pushing the Limits by Casey Stoner ~signed copy
• Ugly: My Memoir by Robert Hoge ~signed copy
• The Girl with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey ~an Uncorrected Proof
• The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd ~an Uncorrected Proof

From Harlequin Books Australia:

• Hunted by Elizabeth Heiter
• The Queen’s Choice (Heirs of Chrior #1) by Cayla Kluver
• Someone Like You (Boys of Summer #2) by Victoria Purman

Currently reading:

• Cecilia, or, Memoirs of an Heiress by Fanny Burney ~it’s sitting on my bedside table UNtouched at the mo… just catching up on some must read to review book!
• The Rule of Knowledge by Scott Baker ~read a few chapters more but as above…
• The Lost Sisterhood: A Novel by Anne Fortier ~started earlier in the week and have probably read 20% of it but again had to put down as per above…

What I’ll be trying to fit in this week:

• The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan

                   

My Reading Week

I’ve been considering of joining in a meme or two but I just can’t decide what would be fun to do without too much of a pressure (ie. more books to read).  For part of last year, I participated in the Random Reads hosted by i’m loving books which were really fun and helped to trim down that TBR.  However, with my focus this year being to complete challenges I’ve taken up, I didn’t really need another book to read per month so I’m shelving this challenge this year.

I’ve always wanted to join in Teaser Tuesdays though I still haven’t fully made up my mind if I wanted to commit a weekly post…. easy as it is!

I also saw Truth {or} Dare hosted by Jenna {does} Books which looks really fun and requires a bit of daring sometimes!  This might come with a bit of pressure depending on the weekly task though.

What do you think?  Help me make up my mind!  I’m a very indecisive person (most times!) so I’m going to need some sort of push one way or another ;p

Currently reading:

• Laskar Pelangi by Andrea Hirata (the English translated version is titled Rainbow Troops) ~ reading it very slowly as my Bahasa is very rusty!  I should finish this week though.
• Cecilia, or, Memoirs of an Heiress by Fanny Burney
• The Rule of Knowledge by Scott Baker ~just started this arvo, a few chapters in and somewhat promising…

What I’ll be trying to fit in this week:

• The Lost Sisterhood: A Novel by Anne Fortier
• King Cave (Forever Evermore #2) by Scarlett Dawn
• The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan