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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Book Review

Sidney Sheldon's Chasing Tomorrow by Tilly Bagshawe

Monday, October 20, 2014

A Book A Week
Review / archive
For years, Tracy Whitney and Jeff Stevens were an unstoppable con team. Together, they pulled off impossible heists against rich, greedy, and corrupt people, and earned enough money to afford them comforts for the rest of their lives. But the illustrious couple gave up the excitement of their criminal lifestyle to opt for something more normal...marriage.

In the time following the wedding, their lives seem to be going great. Jeff gets a job curating an exhibition at the British Museum, putting his passion for antiquities and sharp mind to good use. Meanwhile, Tracy makes plans to fill her time by having a baby. Jeff excels at his new career, but Tracy struggles to conceive. This causes her to long for the thrill of her con days. Naturally, this begins to eat away at the couple's indestructible relationship. When accusations of infidelity are brought to light, the relationship reaches a breaking point, and Tracy leaves Jeff.

Ten years later, the two are leading separate lives. Jeff, who is back in the con game, still thinks of Tracy everyday. More than anything, he just wants to know that she is alive a doing well. Tracy has retreated to a quiet life in Colorado, and has completely given up a life of crime. She knows that Jeff is a good man, but she can't let him back into her life. She is shocked when a French Interpol officer contacts her at home. She did a thorough job of erasing her past, but it seems that it may finally be catching up with her. The officer informs her that he has connected a series of ruthless murders to heists in cities that Tracy was active in. Tracy is disturbed at the thought that someone could be framing her for these crimes and worse, that the person doing this could be Jeff!

Again, Tilly Bagshawe publishes a novel under the late Sidney Sheldon's name. This is a sequel to Sheldon's If Tomorrow Comes. I didn't read the book by Sheldon, so I can't speak to Bagshawe's continuation. That being said, the fast pace, relatable characters, and intriguing twists make this a quick and enjoyable read that works just as well as a standalone novel. I was surprised at how much I sympathized with Tracy and Jeff. The family drama that they deal with helps the reader realize that despite being criminals, they are everyday people with everyday problems.  These traditional human elements mix with the thriller aspects to create a fun, exciting novel that completely does justice to the legacy of Sidney Sheldon.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and GoodReads.

(2014)
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  1. Wow, you have such an amazing blog - I can't believe I hadn't found it before! Following you via GFC & Fab post - thanks for sharing =)

    Benish | Feminist Reflections

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