Home Front by Kristin Hannah

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Home Front” is the newest novel by one of my favorite authors, Kristin Hannah. I have been waiting for this book to released for months now, and I even had it written in my calendar – and circle in red pen.



And you KNOW things are important when they are circled in red pen!



“Home Front” is about Jolene and Michael Zarkades. They have been married for about twelve years and have two daughters. Their marriage is falling apart, because things are just so overwhelming– bills, careers, and raising a pre-teen daughter. Michael is a defense attorney, and Jolene is a military helicopter pilot (which Michael hates) in the National Guard.



Jolene gets deployed unexpectedly, and their home and family life are turned upside down.



Without giving any of the story away, this books really does a great job of showing the heavy toll war can take on this everyday family. The author does a fantastic job of making everything seem so realistic, and I couldn’t bear to put this one down. I finished it VERY quickly, and can’t wait for her next book.



This is a very emotional book. Really, all of Kristin Hannah’s books are emotional, but this was a completely different level than I am used to from her.



I definitely recommend this book!







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Save Me by Lisa Scottoline

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Let me start off by saying, I really wanted to LOVE this book.

I was intrigued by the teaser of this book. Rose McKenna is a mother to Melly (Melinda), who is in the third grade. Rose volunteers for lunchroom duty at the school because Melly has been bullied by some of the girls in her grade due to a large birthmark on her face. Every day at lunch, Melly is upset by bullying, taunting and teasing, so she retreats to the restroom to hide, or she eats lunch with her favorite teacher, Miss Canton.

One day as all the students are eating lunch, Rose notices a group of three girls making fun of Melly. As usual, Melly runs to the restroom to hide, and Rose becomes very upset. She goes over to talk to the mean girls as all of the kids are filing outside to go to recess.

Suddenly, there is a huge explosion in the kitchen and the entire cafeteria is utter chaos. As the whole place is in shambles and flames threatening to kill all of them, she must make a choice: Does she get those three girls out, knowing if she does– she won’t have time to go back in and save her daughter from the restroom? OR, does she let those mean girls fend for themselves so she can save her daughter?

What would YOU do?

I won’t give any spoilers, but I will say that this book was really good. Until about the halfway point. The second half is so unbelieveable and unrealistic that it turned the book from inspiring and thought-provoking to just plain annoying.

The last several chapters ended with such finality that I was continuously shocked to turn the page and find– ANOTHER CHAPTER! So many times the author could have ended this book and the reader would have been satisfied, but she just kept going ON and ON and ON.

Maybe others will like this book better than me, and judging from the reviews, the results are mixed. You will either love this book or hate it. Or you could be like me and simply be on the fence about it. I didn’t LOVE it, but it wasn’t a complete waste of my time or money, either.


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Well, here’s the list of books I read in 2011. I didn’t make my goal of 75 books, but I did manage 66. Whew! (What was I thinking setting such a HUGE goal, anyways?

To follow my 2012 goal (which is a substantially smaller number: 52), check out the “I’m Reading” page of my site.

Books I’ve Read in 2011

2011 Reading Goal: 75

A ‘*’ indicates books read on my Nook Color.

1. A Summer Affair – Elin Hildebrand

2. Firefly Lane *- Kristin Hannah

3. Winter Garden *- Kristin Hannah

4. Nineteen Minutes *- Jodi Picoult

5. Home Again *- Kristin Hannah

6. Between Sisters *- Kristin Hannah

7. House Rules *- Jodi Picoult

8. Baby Bonanza *- Maureen Child

9. The Bride’s Baby *- Liz Fielding

10 The Things We Do For Love *- Kristin Hannah

11. The Doctor is In, In, In *- K. Lyn

12. Magic Hour *- Kristin Hannah

13. Comfort & Joy *- Kristin Hannah

14. Heaven is For Real *- Todd Burpo

15. Slow Hands *- Leslie Kelly

16. Not My Daughter *- Barbara Delinsky

17. A Very Special Delivery *- Linda Goodnight

18. Sing You Home *- Jodi Picoult

19. Handle With Care *- Jodi Picoult

20. Perfect Match *- Jodi Picoult

21. Speed Dating *- Nancy Warren

22. Night Road *- Kristin Hannah

23. Not Ready for Mom Jeans *- Maureen Lipinski

24. The Kept Woman – Susan Donovan

25. Room *- Emma Donoghue

26. The Deep End of the Ocean * – Jacquelyn Mitchard

27. Fools Rush In * – Janice Thompson

28. I’ll Walk Alone * – Mary Higgins Clark

29. Plain Truth – Jodi Picoult

30. The Adoption Decision: 15 Things You Want To Know… - Laura Christianson

31. Once A Cowboy* – Linda Warren

32. Adopting the Hurt Child: Hope for Families with Special Needs Kids – Gregory C. Keck, Regina M. Kupecky

33. Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch* – B.J. Daniels

34. Three Little Words* – Ashley Rhodes-Courter

35. Throwaway* – Heather Huffman

36. I Beat The Odds * – Michael Oher

37. Jailbird * – Heather Huffman

38. Dating a Cougar * – Donna McDonald

39. The Help* – Kathryn Stockett

40. True Colors* – Kristin Hannah

41. Live Like You Mean It* – TJ Addington

42. The Color of Heaven* – Julianne McLean

43. Hot Wheels & High Heels* – Jane Graves

44. Irresistible Forces* – Brenda Jackson

45. Tall Tales & Wedding Veils* – Jane Graves

46. Summer Island* – Kristin Hannah

47. Distant Shores* – Kristin Hannah

48. Happy Hour* – Michele Scott

49. Just the Way You Are* – Barbara Freethy

50. Megan’s Way * – Melissa Foster

51. Baby, I’m Yours * – Stephanie Bond

52. Seriously… I’m Kidding * – Ellen DeGeneres

53. In on It: What Adoptive Parents Would Like You to Know About Adoption: A Guide for Relatives and Friends * – Elisabeth O’Toole

54. The Perfect Christmas * – Debbie Macomber

55. Watch Mommy Die * – Michael Benson

56. Bring Me Home for Christmas * – Robyn Carr

57. A Child Called It * – Dave Pelzer

58. The Lost Boy * – Dave Pelzer

59. The Bible in 90 Days * – Ted Cooper, Jr.

60. Attaching in Adoption – Deborah Grey

61. Parenting the Hurt Child - Gregory Keck

62. Gracelynn * – Mirriam Smyth

63. Just For Kicks * – Susan Andersen

64. Playing Dirty * – Susan Andersen

65. Daffodils in Spring * – Pamela Morsi

66. Edith * – by Mirriam Smyth

I knew when I set my reading goal for 2011, I was aiming pretty high.    I planned to read 75 books in the GoodReads challenge. 

While I didn’t make it to 75 books read, I managed to read 66. I didn’t think that was too bad, considering it was more than a book a week.

I read some amazing books, and I read some duds, too. I have discovered new favorite authors like Kristin Hannah, and read more of authors that I already knew I loved (Jodi Picoult).

For a list of the books I read in 2011, check out my list. I plan on setting another goal for 2012, but haven’t decided yet how much I will scale it back. Maybe 50?