About Me

The story behind A Book A Week, and the reader behind the reviews.

It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Back in 2011, I was an avid reader who had somehow lost my way with reading. Between working and being a full-time student, reading for pleasure had slowly fallen by the wayside.

I wanted to change that. So I gave myself a New Year's resolution to read one book every week for a year. I started A Book A Week on January 1, 2012 as a way to hold myself accountable and share what I was reading along the way.

I didn't quite reach my goal that first year, but I kept reading. I kept reviewing. And all these years later, I'm still here, looking forward to whatever book comes next. Some years I crush my goals, some years I don't, but my love for a good book has never wavered.

Line drawing portrait of Ethan

Hi, I'm Ethan

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

I'm a lifelong reader with a particular soft spot for mysteries and thrillers. I've always loved the genre, and I credit those stories—the twists, suspense, and need to know what happens next—with keeping me a reader as an adult. My reading has taken me in all kinds of directions since then, but I'll always come back to a good mystery.

I love creepy horror novels. A fascinating work of nonfiction can completely pull me in, too. And I've found plenty of favorites in science fiction, literary fiction, romance, and other genres I might never have picked up when I first started the blog. That's part of the fun. I never quite know what kind of story is going to grab me next.

When I'm not reading or writing reviews, you'll usually find me at home with my husband and our pets. I'm a classically trained musician and composer, an enthusiastic home cook, and a backyard gardener. There's usually a trip to look forward to or some new project that has caught my interest, too.

At the end of the day, I just really love books. There's nothing quite like discovering a story I can't put down or finding an author I can't wait to read again. Even when a book doesn't quite work for me, I still enjoy thinking about why and putting those thoughts into words. That's what keeps me reading, reviewing, and sharing it all here on A Book A Week.

Loose hand-drawn fountain pen illustration

Review Disclaimer

Honest reviews, always.

Some of the books I review are ones I've purchased myself. Others are provided by publishers or authors in exchange for an honest review. Either way, what I write here is always what I really think.

Not every book is going to work for every reader, and that's part of the fun of talking about books. I'll tell you what worked for me, what didn't, and hopefully give you enough to decide whether a book might be right for you.

Good, bad, or somewhere in between, you'll always get my honest take.

Contact

Have a question about the blog, a book you think I should read, or just want to say hello? I'd love to hear from you.

Drop me a note using the form below.

Let's Connect

I'm always happy to hear from readers, publishers, authors, and fellow book lovers.

Review Copies

I'm always open to considering books for review. I read across a pretty wide range of genres, though mysteries and thrillers tend to be particular favorites. If you'd like me to consider a book, send along a little information about it and why you think it might be a good fit for A Book A Week.

Publishers & Authors

Review requests, interviews, features, or something else you have in mind? Send me a note. I'm always happy to hear about new books and opportunities that might be a good fit for the blog.

General Inquiries

Have a question, a recommendation, or just want to talk books? Those messages are welcome, too.

Find Me Elsewhere

Send a Message

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Archive for 2015

Gone by James Patterson

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Gone by James Patterson

If you've ever read a novel by bestselling author James Patterson, you pretty much know what to expect from him. Usually assisted by a...

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Anomaly Flats by Clayton Smith

Monday, November 30, 2015

Anomaly Flats by Clayton Smith

At first glance, Anomaly Flats is the picture perfect example of an old fashioned small town. Located somewhere off the main highway, the ...

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Stolen Years by Reuven Fenton

Monday, November 16, 2015

Stolen Years by Reuven Fenton

Less than a year away from the next United States Presidential Election, Americans are talking about the issues that matter to them and th...

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Fan Feature: The Oldest Living Graduate by LTG William J. Ely

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Fan Feature: The Oldest Living Graduate by LTG William J. Ely

Congratulations to our first ever FAN FEATURE Winner, Richard Ely. Below you will find a guest post where he summarizes the book The Oldes...

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After Alice by Gregory Maguire

Friday, November 13, 2015

After Alice by Gregory Maguire

"How very like a dream this all is." Gregory Maguire, author of the bestselling novel  Wicked , is back with his latest novel,...

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Slade House by David Mitchell

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Slade House by David Mitchell

A few years ago, I succumbed to the pressure of numerous recommendations and read David Mitchell's acclaimed novel Cloud Atlas . While...

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Friday Flicks: Jaws

Friday, October 23, 2015

Friday Flicks: Jaws

Noted for being the first summer blockbuster, Steven Spielberg's 1975 adaptation of author Peter Benchley's Jaws  was a groundbrea...

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Tiger Heart by Katrell Christe

Monday, October 19, 2015

Tiger Heart by Katrell Christe

Katrell Christie never expected to start a charitable non-profit organization in India. In fact, she never had any intentions to even visi...

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From Poetry to Music: A Process of Composition

Thursday, October 8, 2015

From Poetry to Music: A Process of Composition

In honor of today being National Poetry Day, I though I'd write a post about how poetry has influenced my own creativity. As you may o...

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Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

"Why did it have to be her?" Julia Carroll was a shining star. She was beautiful, intelligent, loving, the kind of person her ...

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Friday Flicks: Psycho

Friday, October 2, 2015

Friday Flicks: Psycho

Can you believe that it is already October?! This month marks the beginning of my favorite time of the year. The weather is cooler (I live...

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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Introducing . . . Fan Feature!

I'm excited to announce a new monthly feature here at A Book A Week. One of the great joys of blogging has been connecting with indie au...

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Not on Fire, but Burning by Greg Hrbek

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Not on Fire, but Burning by Greg Hrbek

"What they're doing down there is mourning. As millions of people across the infinitude of the grid shall always be mourning, cop...

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To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Thursday, September 17, 2015

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Harper Lee's acclaimed novel, To Kill A  Mockingbird  has long been considered one of the top books in American literature. I still re...

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Messages From Henry by Rebecca Scarberry

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Messages From Henry by Rebecca Scarberry

It's no secret that the ways in which readers consume books has changed drastically in the last few years. The introduction of e-reade...

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Friday Flicks: Rosewater

Friday, September 11, 2015

Friday Flicks: Rosewater

Since Jon Stewart vacated his post as longtime host of The Daily Show earlier this year, the internet has been rampant with articles specu...

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Giveaway - The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Giveaway - The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan

Author Stephen P. Kiernan writes about life, death, and love in his remarkable new novel The Hummingbird . I'm pleased to have two cop...

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The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan

A couple of years ago, author and journalist Stephen P. Kiernan made his fiction debut with his novel The Curiosity . That book, about a m...

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The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is not an easy book to begin. From the start, readers are treated to the horrifying description of Susie ...

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Author Feature: Andrew Joyce

Friday, August 28, 2015

Author Feature: Andrew Joyce

My name is Andrew Joyce, and I write books for a living. Ethan has been kind enough to allow me a little space on his blog to promote my ...

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